Seeing Zhuge Liang's sharp words, the Confucian scholars were even more unwilling to give up and raised even more pointed questions in an attempt to stump him.
However, no matter how difficult the problem was, Zhuge Liang was always able to deal with it calmly. His answers were not only reasonable and well-founded, but also full of wisdom and wit.
During the debate, the clash between the Confucian scholars and Zhuge Liang intensified, their words like swords clashing, sparks flying. Every sentence was full of challenge and confrontation, and every response displayed wit and composure.
The atmosphere in the banquet hall was tense, like a taut bowstring, ready to snap at any moment.
However, no matter how the scholars challenged him, Zhuge Liang remained calm and composed. With a gentle wave of his feather fan, each of his answers was like a spring breeze and rain, easing the tense atmosphere.
His words not only demonstrated his wisdom, but also reflected his composure and intelligence in the face of danger.
In the end, after a heated debate, the scholars were speechless and slunk away from the hall.
Watching the scholars walk away, Zhuge Liang sighed inwardly, his heart heavy.
After the scholars left, Sun Quan coldly remarked, "What a sharp-tongued Zhuge Liang!"
Zhuge Liang bowed slightly and said, "Lord Sun, you flatter me!"
Sun Quan snorted coldly and said, "You are really amazing. You debated with a group of scholars and did not lose out."
Zhuge Liang replied calmly and confidently, "I am merely stating the facts!"
He looked up at Sun Quan and said slowly, "The three counties of Jingzhou should rightfully belong to my Yizhou, not to Jiangdong!"
"presumptuous!"
After Sun Quan finished speaking, he stood up and left, leaving Zhuge Liang alone at the table.
After Sun Quan left, Zhuge Liang closed his eyes and fell into deep thought. After a long while, he finally let out a long sigh.
"Alas, it seems that there is no way to take back the three counties of Jingzhou through normal means."
Zhuge Liang stood up, preparing to leave the banquet hall, when Lu Su strode in, cupped his hands in greeting, and said, "I am Lu Su, Lu Zijing! Greetings!"
"So it's Brother Zijing! Brother Zijing's name is renowned far and wide. It is my great honor to meet you today!"
As the saying goes, one shouldn't hit a smiling face. Since Lu Su was so polite, Zhuge Liang naturally wouldn't be too impolite.
After exchanging a few pleasantries, Lu Su asked, "I've heard that Kongming debated with a group of Confucian scholars and held his own. He's truly remarkable!"
"Brother Zijing, you may not know this, but I just had a heated debate with the scholars, which caused Lord Sun to leave..."
Lu Su frowned and said, "Kongming, I, Lu Zijing, am an honest man, so I will tell you the truth."
"Killing Guan Yu was not my lord's intention; it was Lü Meng who acted on his own initiative!"
Zhuge Liang, however, was not buying it. No matter what you said, Guan Yu was killed by your Jiangdong.
Shouldn't this matter be given an explanation?
"Zijing, isn't Lü Meng from Jiangdong?" Zhuge Liang pressed.
“Lu Meng is from Jiangdong, so we in Jiangdong know we are in the wrong in this matter,” Lu Su said with a wry smile.
"However, with Zhou Yu occupying the three commanderies of Jingzhou, even the Marquis of Wu... probably couldn't command this Grand Commander of Jiangdong."
Zhuge Liang raised an eyebrow, keenly sensing something unusual.
In Jiangdong, one plays the good cop and the other the bad cop.
Sun Quan directly pinned the blame on Zhou Yu, and then sent Lu Su to negotiate. This is probably the reason he hosted the banquet tonight.
"Brother Zijing, what do you mean by that?" Zhuge Liang pressed.
Lu Su sighed: "Although my lord Sun Quan is the ruler of Jiangdong, his army is entirely in the hands of Grand Commander Zhou Yu."
"As you know, Gongjin and the late Lord Sun Ce were like brothers. There are many things that even Lord Sun cannot decide for him!"
Zhuge Liang immediately understood, and he asked with a cold laugh, "Then, in your opinion, Zijing, what should be done?"
Lu Su said, "I am determined to give Lord Liu an explanation for this matter. I am willing to hand over Lü Meng, and I ask you, Kongming, to take him back to Yizhou to report."
"Brother Zijing, you make it sound so easy!" Zhuge Liang retorted sarcastically.
Are you kidding me? What's the use of just handing over Lü Meng?
Kongming's main purpose in coming here was to reclaim the three counties of Jingzhou; whether Lü Meng lived or died was no longer of much concern.
"Sun Quan is the lord, and Zhou Yu is the minister. Yet the lord cannot be the lord of the minister. Jiangdong has truly impressed me!"
"Thank you, Brother Zijing, for informing me. This gives me even more confidence to wage war against Jiangdong!"
After speaking, Zhuge Liang turned around and strode away from the banquet hall.
Seeing Zhuge Liang leave, Lu Su's eye twitched slightly.
This Zhuge Liang is indeed difficult to deal with, even more so than the rumors suggest!
After the banquet, Zhuge Liang immediately returned to his residence to rest.
Kongming gently waved his feather fan, his gaze piercing through the lamplight and landing on the deep night sky outside the window.
He knew that although he had won the debate, it would be no easy task to reclaim the three counties of Jingzhou!
"It seems we need to devise another plan," Zhuge Liang muttered to himself.
The next morning, just as dawn was breaking, a knock on the door startled Zhuge Liang awake from his sleep.
"Who?" Zhuge Liang shouted in a low voice.
A servant's voice came from outside: "Mr. Kongming, my master invites you to his residence for a meal!"
Zhuge Liang opened the door and asked, "Who is your master?"
"Lu Su, Lu Zijing!"
Zhuge Liang smiled and nodded, saying, "Alright, lead the way."
Afterwards, Zhuge Liang followed his servant to Lu Su's residence.
Lu Su was already waiting outside the door.
"Kongming, please," Lu Su invited.
Zhuge Liang didn't stand on ceremony and strode inside.
Upon entering Lu Su's residence, Zhuge Liang looked around and found that the residence was simply furnished, somewhat similar to his own villa, but more spacious.
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