I, Zhou Cang, am the number one tank in the Three Kingdoms.

On the way back to Xiangyang, Xu Shu was preoccupied with worries.

In the end, Sima Hui, known as "Mr. Water Mirror," never told him why it was "the right time" to invite Pang Tong to serve.

Moreover, based on my understanding of my old friend Sima Hui, his refusal was entirely in the manner of "a secret that cannot be revealed."

This indicates that the issue of "timing" is quite serious, and may even be a matter of life and death.

Before leaving, Sima Hui told Xu Shu that, as a friend, he agreed with and supported Xu Shu's invitation to Pang Tong to come out of seclusion.

This was like giving Xu Shu another reassurance, and thus Xu Shu could be considered to have achieved the purpose of his trip.

As dusk approached and fearing the city gates would close, Xu Shu raised his whip and rode off into the distance, no longer hesitating.

When they returned to Liu Biao's residence, the banquet had ended, but there seemed to be conversations still taking place inside Liu Bei's room.

Inside was Yi Ji, who had a pleasant conversation with the lord yesterday. He sat opposite the lord, with Zhang Quan standing to the side and behind Liu Bei.

Upon seeing Xu Shu slowly enter, Yi Ji quickly stood up and bowed.

"Where did the strategist go?" Liu Bei asked impatiently as soon as he saw Xu Shu, then looked behind Xu Shu and saw that there was no one else.

Xu Shu was about to answer when he glanced at Yi Ji and hesitated.

Liu Bei said, "It's alright, Mr. Yi is no outsider."

"I'm seeking out an old friend who is also on good terms with Pang Shiyuan," Xu Shu replied briefly.

Upon hearing that Xu Shu and Liu Bei also intended to visit Pang Tong, Yi Ji interjected, reminding them, "I've heard that Shi Yuan (Pang Tong) intends to leave his seclusion and join Jiangdong. If Your Excellency wishes to seek out Shi Yuan, this matter must be done as soon as possible!"

"Oh?" Liu Bei and Xu Shu exchanged a glance, both showing surprise.

"Why don't we set off tomorrow?" Xu Shu suggested.

Liu Bei nodded: "That's feasible, but if Lord Jingsheng comes to invite us again tomorrow, what reason will we give to refuse?"

Xu Shu was stumped by the question, but Yi Ji spoke up: "This is easy. Jingzhou has a specialty called lacquerware, which is extremely beautiful. However, the best pieces are very rare, and even my lord's mansion has few of them."

"If our lord comes to invite you tomorrow, just say you want to purchase the finest lacquerware, and you can leave. Our lord will not stop you." After saying this, Yi Ji bid farewell to the three of them.

Liu Bei thanked him and saw him off as he entered the house.

The next morning, Liu Biao indeed came to invite him again. Liu Bei declined according to Yi Ji's teachings, but Liu Biao readily agreed.

Liu Bei and his party of four, carrying gifts such as gold, silver and silk, were led by Xu Shu. Less than half a day after leaving the city, they arrived at a thatched cottage outside Xiangyang City, nestled against the mountains and overlooking the water.

Liu Bei nodded in approval and exclaimed, "Indeed, this is the place where a virtuous hermit lives."

As everyone dismounted, Xu Shu suddenly turned to Liu Bei and said, "My lord, Pang Tong is a rare talent in the world, and he is inevitably arrogant. If his words offend you, please do not be angry."

Liu Bei nodded and said, "Alright."

The group then crossed the small bridge and headed straight for the thatched hut. Liu Bei stepped forward and gently knocked on the wooden door. A young boy poked his head out and asked, "Who are you?"

Liu Bei straightened his clothes, bowed, and said, "General of the Left, Marquis of Yicheng, and Governor of Yu Province, Liu Bei, has come to pay my respects to Master Phoenix!"

Before the boy could react, a loud voice came from the courtyard: "Since the general has accomplished such great feats, why seek out a hermit in the mountains?"

Liu Bei was caught off guard by the sudden rebuke, as if he had been doused with a bucket of cold water, and was immediately speechless.

Zhou Cang, listening from behind, also felt it was a bit too much. In the book, Pang Tong was indeed an arrogant person, but to come all this way and mock him before even meeting him seemed a bit excessive...

Xu Shu simply smiled, gesturing to his lord Liu Bei not to take it to heart, and then called out, "Shiyuan, how have you been? Your humble brother has come to pay his respects!"

Pang Tong, who was in the courtyard, seemed to have noticed Liu Bei's predicament and called out, "Since Yuanzhi is here with you, General, please come in."

Ignored by Pang Tong, Liu Bei remembered Xu Shu's instructions and tried to control his emotions. He then instructed Zhou Cang and Zhang Quan to wait outside before following Xu Shu inside.

In the center of the courtyard stands an ancient pine tree, beneath which sits a large rock. Beside the rock is a straw mat with a pile of bamboo slips on it. In the middle is a small table with wine, melons, and fruits on it. A man dressed in plain clothes with disheveled hair sits on the mat with his back to the large rock. This man is none other than Mr. Phoenix Chick, Pang Tong, also known as Pang Shiyuan.

Upon seeing the two men enter, Pang Tong did not rise to greet them, but simply raised his hand and said, "Yuanzhi, General, this thatched hut is simple; please take a seat here!"

As Pang Tong spoke, the boy went into the house and fetched two prayer mats, handing them to Liu Bei and Xu Shu.

After they were seated, Xu Shu spoke first: "When I rashly wrote to seek your guidance before, I was fortunate to receive your insightful advice, Brother Shiyuan. My mind was suddenly enlightened, and I have come here to express my gratitude!"

Pang Tong didn't even look at Liu Bei, but smiled and asked Xu Shu, "Oh? Since Yuanzhi has listened to my advice, why don't you hurry to repair the city and pacify the people? What are you doing here?"

Before Xu Shu could reply, Liu Bei preemptively kowtowed and knelt on the straw mat, saying, "It is because of this matter that I have been unable to sleep day and night!"

"Sir, your insightful views are a sound plan for the next century, and I truly admire them."

However, the thought of relocating hundreds of thousands of soldiers and civilians from Anhui is too much for me to bear. The hardships they will endure and the desolate landscape are unbearable. Moreover, the area around Hefei is barren, and I have been racking my brains trying to figure out how to help them take root in this landless place. Therefore, I have come to seek your guidance!

Seeing Liu Bei perform such a grand ceremony, Pang Tong became restless and rose to help Liu Bei up, saying, "General, there's no need for such a grand ceremony."

However, Pang Tong did not immediately answer Liu Bei's question. Instead, he asked Liu Bei in return, "Since you know the location of Hefei, do you know its strategic importance?"

Liu Bei replied, "I believe that Hefei is a wedge. If Cao Cao looks south, the wedge can block his advance; if Sun Quan advances west, the wedge can blunt his momentum."

"From here, one can retreat to defend the Jianghuai region and connect with Jingxiang, or advance to look towards the Central Plains and enter Jiangdong."

"Therefore, this is a plan for the next hundred years."

Pang Tong saw that Liu Bei's words were largely correct, glanced at Xu Shu, and Xu Shu quickly lowered his head to drink his tea.

"Very well, now that you know the strategic importance of Hefei, General, I have three questions for you."

Liu Bei said, "Please speak, sir."

Pang Tong suddenly stood up and casually asked, "How many battles of city walls are planned for Hefei's new city? With the land redistributed to the displaced people, will there be more military households or civilian households? If a new city is built, can the general guarantee that Hefei will be free from war for three years?"

Pang Tong's three questions in one breath almost made Xu Shu spit out his tea.

Isn't that why we came to see you this time?

You turn around and ask your lord what this means?

Pang Shiyuan, you...

Upon hearing these questions, Liu Bei was speechless again. He quickly had to give up thinking and bowed once more, saying, "Please teach me, sir!"

Pang Tong answered in one breath: "In order to secure Hefei for ten years, the city walls must be at least five zhang high, and the moat must be three zhang deep and six zhang wide."

"The refugees and military households in Wancheng were all half-military and half-civilian, wielding sickles in their spare time and spears in times of emergency."

"In addition, the route from Wancheng to Hefei is very humid and hot, and disease will inevitably break out before the rice ripens. Before moving the city, we need to prepare a thousand dan each of Atractylodes lancea and Artemisia argyi to protect the lives of the soldiers and civilians."

"As for the third question, how can we guarantee that there will be no war in Hefei for three years? I have another question."

Liu Bei was completely bewildered by Pang Tong's rapid-fire questions and answers. Without time to think, he wiped the sweat from his brow and replied, "Please speak, sir."

"General, if the new city of Hefei is completed, whose thorn in your side do you think you will become?"

"Sun Quan of Jiangdong?"

"No."

"Uh... Cao Cao?"

"No, no! That's completely wrong!"

This surprised not only Liu Bei but also Xu Shu, as both answers had been ruled out.

Xu Shu looked up at Pang Tong suspiciously and asked, "What does Brother Shiyuan mean?"

"Liu Jingsheng," Pang Tong replied coldly.