Chapter 232 Crouching Dragon and Phoenix
Pang Tong?
This is obviously not a case of a duplicate name, it's Pang Tong from Jingzhou.
His arrival surprised Qiao Yan.
It's really no wonder she behaved like this.
Even those who are unfamiliar with the history of the Three Kingdoms will probably remember the phrase "If you can get one of the two, you can pacify the world."
Regardless of whether he can bring peace to the world, Pang Tong, this young genius, is as famous as Zhuge Liang in Sima Hui's evaluation, and is definitely not an ordinary talent.
At this time, I suddenly heard that Zhuge Liang and Pang Tong met, and in a way that was almost controversial. It sounded like they were destined to be friends.
At the suggestion of Xun Yu, Zhuge Liang moved from Xuzhou to Bingzhou and entered Leping Academy. He did not avoid the war in Jingzhou as in history, but still had such a meeting with Pang Tong from Jingxiang in the Hongwenguan in Chang'an. Who says this is not a kind of fate.
Qiao Yan immediately became interested, put down the pen in his hand, stood up and prepared to go to Hongwenguan.
She didn't know if it was some kind of bad taste, but she felt that at this time, Yang Xiu was actually sent to be Lu Bu's messenger because of his reading comprehension problems, so it was a pity that he was not here.
He should be allowed to see this historical reenactment.
However, her fight with Yang Xiu in Luoyang was a policy essay on a self-selected topic, while the one between Zhuge Liang and Pang Tong was more like a debate.
When Qiao Yan arrived at the Hongwenguan, he saw the two young men of similar age standing opposite each other, surrounded by a circle of adult scholars who were much older than them. He found it interesting no matter how he looked at them.
The young man standing opposite Zhuge Liang looked ordinary, but his temperament was outstanding. According to the person who brought the news, when he didn't speak earlier, he looked somewhat simple and honest, but when he opened his mouth, he showed a bright and energetic look.
"It sounds a bit like Military Advisor Xun?" Qiao Yan commented with interest.
Cui Jun, who welcomed her in from outside, didn't know whether her interest was due to Zhuge Liang, whom she had already included in her observation because of the cottonseed separation machine, or to Pang Tong who had just appeared.
He said, "I just asked someone to find out. This Pang Tong is fourteen years old this year. He is a member of the Pang family in Xiangyang. He originally came to Chang'an with his cousin Pang Shanmin to see the scene here."
When Cui Jun said this in a low voice, he pointed to a young man in his twenties in the crowd and added, "His father is the hermit Pang Degong from Xiangyang."
He brought the topic back and continued, "Pang Tong heard about the situation in Hongwen Hall, so he asked his cousin to bring him here. He originally had no intention of speaking, but because someone in Hongwen Hall mentioned Xu Zijiang and Xu Wenxiu today, and talked about the evaluation of people in the early years, he and Zhuge Liang had a casual chat, and the two had some different opinions, so they started arguing."
"I heard it." Qiao Yan replied.
Although she arrived fairly quickly, debates don't take much time.
Young talents like Zhuge Liang and Pang Tong were young, but they had a lot of literary knowledge in their heads, so it was obvious that they would not talk in circles.
However, not hearing the previous rebuttal did not affect her ability to understand the arguments of both parties based on what was said afterwards.
Zhuge Liang believed that if one wanted to evaluate a person, one should make an appropriate and thorough evaluation based on his talents and abilities, as well as what he could not do, and one should be open and honest and hold him accountable for his actions. There should be no exaggerated or specious comments.
However, Pang Tong felt that in today's chaotic and disaster-ridden environment, there were not as many good people as in times of peace and order. In this environment, it is really necessary to give higher evaluations to those with good character, so that others can see such people being praised, and thus be inspired to do good.
“Come to think of it, this seems to be the same idea as when Jun Hou first started the miscellaneous chat project in his Leping Monthly.” Cui Jun said.
The gossips at that time did not even record anecdotes like Yuan Shao counting wheat, but served as a column for good people and good deeds to guide the people of Bingzhou to be kind.
However, after the people of Bingzhou were able to have enough food and clothing, Qiao Yan felt that this way of recording could only play a limited role. Instead of recording this matter, it would be better to make use of the entertainment value of the monthly report.
She nodded and said, "Yes, an example of this idea being taken to the extreme is Guo Linzong, who also promoted his reformation in his evaluation of the characters."
So if we have to say it, Pang Tong's statement is also inevitable in the era.
But we cannot say that there is anything wrong with Zhuge Liang's pragmatic and truth-seeking idea.
If a person who is overrated is placed in a high position that he does not deserve, it will cause greater damage to society.
However, Zhuge Liang added something to this statement. He felt that this so-called mismatch should be called pragmatic but not assertive.
Qiao Yan looked at the record of the two people's arguments in front of him, flipped through it casually, and took a general look at their previous arguments.
It’s no wonder Pang Tong had such an idea.
His uncle Pang Degong was a well-known commentator on people in Jingxiang, but most of the time, he didn't like to speak and even lived in seclusion in Lumen Mountain.
Pang Tong still had some youthful spirit, and felt that if he could use this as a tool to help maintain a clean and upright atmosphere, there might not be so many refugees and unrest in Nanyang, and there wouldn't be so many bandits causing trouble in Jingzhou.
Of course, his statement does not mean that he wants to force his uncle to go from seclusion to social life, but that he wants to become the person who has the confidence to judge people.
In his argument, he seemed to be striving to be the best.
He should be considered a potential madman.
When Qiao Yan saw this, he did not make it clear which side he supported. He just looked at Zhuge Liang and Pang Tong standing opposite each other and smiled.
These two people are not yet of formal commissioned age, but she can already vaguely glimpse their future achievements, and she should feel happy about this.
As for the fact that only Zhuge Liang was under her command, Pang Tong, a native of Jingzhou, was not considered a problem.
He is already in Sili, how can he run away?
This may also be a reflection of Qiao Yan's confidence in himself.
Although it had not been long since she entered the Hongwenguan, the scholars present, while focusing their attention on Pang Tong and Zhuge Liang, could not help but notice her appearance.
There is only one female duke of eighteen years old wearing a golden seal and purple ribbon in the city of Chang'an. There is no way anyone could mistake her identity.
What is even more unique is that after she welcomed Liu Yu to the throne, she still held military power and the authority to judge affairs.
She had already relied on her performance of welcoming the adult emperor and humbly giving up the position of general to make Xun Yu, Lu Zhi and others fail to see that she had any intention of being disloyal to the Han Dynasty.
But this is just one thing, it cannot change her position as a powerful official in everyone's mind.
In the current situation where the world has not yet been unified, there are certainly many people who are attracted here by Liu Yu's wisdom, but if those who are truly capable are asked to choose between being Liu Yu's close minister and sitting high in the temple, or being Qiao Yan's subordinate and conquering the world, most of them will probably choose the latter.
So instead of going through a round of screening through the four directors of Hongwenguan, it would be better to contact Qiao Yan directly.
There is no guarantee that you won't rise rapidly if she notices you.
This is also the reason why Qiao Yan is confident in winning Pang Tong over to join the group!
But this concentration of gazes made one person feel pressured.
This person certainly would not be Qiao Yan, nor would it be Zhuge Liang and Pang Tong who felt they had met their match at this time, but Tian Feng.
He was responsible for recording the speeches of the scholars in the Hongwenguan. Although Zhuge Liang and Pang Tong were young, they were also included in the record.
As luck would have it, right when the fight between the two men just started, he was drafted into the army by Cui Jun.
Cui Jun really didn't recognize Tian Feng. He just felt that Tian Feng was somewhat familiar because he and he had the same Hebei accent, so he chatted with him from time to time. This was different from the situation where Xun Yu was told by Qiao Yan to pretend not to know Tian Feng.
But no matter whether he really didn't recognize him or was pretending, Tian Feng was now the center of everyone's attention.
When Qiao Yan reached out and picked up the previous sheets of recording paper, Tian Feng's entire mind was in a tense state, fearing that Qiao Yan would discover something wrong with him.
If others knew that Yuan Shao's adviser had gone undercover in a recruiting place like the Hongwenguan in Chang'an, they would probably laugh at how Chang'an could be infiltrated in this way, and would also accuse Tian Feng of not following the rules.
If he could go back.
This is also very likely to become one of the reasons why Qiao Yan launched an attack on Yuan Shao.
He must not leave such things to be talked about!
Tian Feng tried hard to reduce his presence.
However, as he wrote this, he also felt emotional. There were already quite a few talented people who had been appointed under Qiao Yan's command, especially the scholars from the Yingchuan faction. As she entered Guanzhong and supported the emperor, their group expanded at an incredible speed, playing an amazing role in formulating laws, implementing military farming, and recruiting talents.
How come there are such young and talented people now?
Looking at Zhuge Liang and Pang Tong, Tian Feng could easily imagine what these two people would be like in a few years.
But when he thought about the many talented people in her Leping Academy, there were far more than just two of them, so Tian Feng simply gave up and didn't want to think about it anymore.
He was still immersed in his thoughts, which did not stop him from writing, and he recorded the words of the two people truthfully.
Fortunately, this multitasking did not last long, at least before Tian Feng subconsciously thought in his heart "I should remind you to be alert to this matter" and wrote down this sentence. The voices of the two people stopped when Pang Tong said "Why not see it with actual evidence someday", and Tian Feng could also stop writing.
It was at this moment that the two people who were still arguing looked in the direction of Qiao Yan.
As if they were a little embarrassed for attracting Leping Hou's attention to the matter and for affecting the normal communication here, they first bowed to the people around them apologetically and then stood there straight.
The sound of Qiao Yan clapping his hands broke the silence that had fallen here in an instant.
“Interesting.”
Her words were somewhat interesting and could be considered a compliment, because her next sentence was: "In the past, Yang Dezu and I were at the Dingzhong Temple in Luoyang, presenting our essays to the famous scholars in the temple. At that time, Xu Zijiang commented on it with the phrase 'young phoenix has a clear voice'. Seeing your debate today, I can't help but think of those days."
In this sentence, she actually compared herself to Yang Xiu by Zhuge Liang and Pang Tong.
But when everyone thought about it carefully, they felt that they were indeed similar.
Chen Ji was also in the Dingzhong Temple back then, and he is here today too.
The only difference is that Xu You, Xu Shao, Chen Lin and others at that time were replaced by Xun Yu, Wang Yun and Cui Jun of today.
The weight is not lighter than it was back then, on the contrary, it is even greater.
Not to mention that Qiao Yan, the Grand Marshal and General of the Cavalry, is here.
However, this makes people think that it has only been less than eight years since then, and Qiao Yan has gone from being a "young phoenix" to a person who controls the world today. It is also -
Today's reviewer.
She said, "Back then, Mr. You Zijiang gave me a hope, which led to my meeting with the emperor. Today, I happened to see this scene. If I could comment on it, it would be a good opportunity to pass on talents and pass on the torch."
Seeing that Zhuge Liang and Pang Tong had no objection to her commenting, she raised her hand and someone immediately brought paper and pen and placed them in front of her.
In the brief moment when she laid the paper in front of her, her eyes inadvertently swept across the people present.
After all, the Hongwenguan is a place that selects talents for the Han Dynasty court. Since she now has to work hard on common affairs while seeking a higher position, it is not appropriate for her to have too much contact with these people. Instead, she should let things take their course and wait for them to jump into her job.
At least after getting the position of Grand Marshal, through the dispatch of talent positions, there will be an opportunity to cultivate him into a confidant and arrange him in a position closer to himself.
So she actually only came here once, when it was first completed.
But today's unexpected debate between Zhuge Liang and Pang Tong gave her a legitimate opportunity to come here, and an opportunity to create a good story.
Who can say this is not a kind of luck?
It only took her a moment to think, and then everyone saw her write twelve words on the paper.
These twelve words seem to be both a comment on the two young men and a comment on the couplet written in the Hongwenguan.
Because it was written on the paper——
"The great scholars talk and laugh like phoenixes, and the handsome men come and go like dragons."
After writing these two sentences, she looked at Zhuge Liang and Pang Tong and said with a smile: "You two are still young, so why not use the names of Crouching Dragon and Phoenix Child? However, you have not yet completed your studies. This is an exaggeration, intended to encourage young people to emulate you and strive to be the best. But five years later, I want to see this come true. I wonder if you two have the courage to try for this name?"
The phrase "exaggerated" corresponds to Pang Tong's point of view, while "this is true" is clearly Zhuge Liang's idea.
Zhuge Liang and Pang Tong exchanged a glance, then turned back to meet Qiao Yan's gaze, and bowed to her at the same time, saying, "I am willing to accept your words, Your Excellency."
Just as Qiao Yan thought, the person who was criticized at that time, after coming to power, saw the young people arguing and gave another hope. This is a beautiful story that must be spread along with the name of Hongwenguan.
Neither of them intends to live in seclusion from the world, and each of them has their own ambitions. If this name can promote them, it will undoubtedly be a pleasant surprise.
The only problem is...
After standing up, Pang Tong saw his cousin in the crowd again and suddenly realized something.
He had clearly come to Hongwenguan to take in the sights and sounds, but the words "I am willing to accept your words, sir" were like signing a contract to sell himself with a five-year observation period!
Even though Qiao Yan did not say it explicitly and insisted that he fulfill the title of Phoenix Cub in five years in front of her, if he returned to Jingzhou, could he really grow up to be a rival to Zhuge Liang?
Pang Tong looked at Zhuge Liang, who was only two years younger than him, and couldn't help but fall into deep thought.
He seemed to have a definite answer in his mind.
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