The summer night came late, it was already midnight, but the afterglow of the setting sun was still there, but half of the sky was filled with colorful clouds, like a raging fire. The scene was undoubtedly so beautiful that I sat in the yard and drank alone. Pang Tong was actually immersed in it, staring up at the fiery red with blank eyes. The wine bowl in his hand never came to his lips.
"Tuk, Tuk, Tuk..."
Just when Pang Tong was drunk, there was a sudden knock on the door, which woke Pang Tong out of his reverie.
"May I ask, sir, is this Mr. Pang Shiyuan?"
Although he was very unhappy to be disturbed by others, Pang Tong still stood up angrily, walked to the door, pushed open the ajar door, and immediately found a stranger standing outside the door. There was a middle-aged scribe, followed by several followers. Pang Tong couldn't help but was stunned. Before he could ask a question, he saw the middle-aged scribe politely raised his hand and asked.
"This is Pang Tong, I don't know who sir is..."
Although he was sure that he did not know the middle-aged scribe in front of him, it could be seen that he was very respectful and courteous. Pang Tong did not want to lose his etiquette. While returning the courtesy, he also asked half of his words.
"Someone, Xue Yi, who works in Bohai County, came here to visit Mr. Feng Chu on the order of my lord."
The middle-aged scribe was Xue Yi. After finding Xu Shu, he rushed to Pang Tong's residence. The reason for his haste was that he was an envoy and it was not easy to act alone.
"Oh? Mr. Xue, please come in and talk."
Hearing Xue Yi announce his family name, Pang Tong immediately guessed the purpose of the other party's visit. He couldn't help but raise his eyebrows. His already ugly face inevitably looked a bit more vulgar. However, Xue Yi did not He was not moved at all, but still had a respectful expression. When he saw this, Pang Tong felt a burst of hope in his heart. Nothing else. Last year, he was able to serve in Jingzhou because of Pang Degong's recommendation, but because of his appearance, Because of his poor performance, he was not reused by Liu Biao, and he only had the false title of meritorious officer. He was thinking about resigning and going elsewhere. Jiangdong and even Xudu were within the scope of Pang Tong's consideration, but he couldn't help but worry. He would suffer the same setbacks as Jingzhou, but now that he saw that Gongsun Ming had actually sent someone here, he began to think about investigating the other party.
"Then Xue is so shameless."
Xue Yi was actually very surprised by Pang Tong's ugliness, but Gongsun Mingming had explained it before he came, but he did not dare to show the slightest disrespect.
"Is it drinkable?"
After letting Xue Yi into the courtyard, Pang Tong didn't say much to greet him. He just took an extra bowl from the kitchen, filled it with wine, put it in front of Xue Yi, and asked casually.
"good."
Pang Tong didn't want to say anything, so Xue Yi followed his lead and drank three large bowls of wine with Pang Tong in silence. Fortunately, he had a large capacity for drinking, so it wouldn't be a big problem.
"General Gongsun, do you have any orders?"
Pang Tong also drank a lot. Even though he had drunk a lot before, he and Xue Yi drank three bowls in a row. His expression did not change at all, but he did not persuade him to drink again, but asked a question in a calm tone.
"Mr. Haoming learned that my lord has only one thing to tell you: The mountains and rivers thousands of miles away are as beautiful as picturesque, and you can use them as you wish."
Xue Yi was obviously waiting for Pang Tong's question and gave the answer almost without thinking.
"When will Mr. Xue return?"
Hearing Xue Yi's answer, Pang Tong's eyes suddenly lit up, and the hand holding the wine bowl couldn't help but tremble because of it, but he didn't make any comments and quickly changed the subject. .
"In three days at the earliest."
Xue Yi's only clear mission here was to discuss the possibility of alliance with Liu Biao. Regarding this, Liu Biao's attitude was very ambiguous. He neither said no nor agreed. He was drinking and drinking every day. They were hosting a banquet, obviously not very interested in the alliance, and wanted Xue Yi to retreat in fear of difficulties. However, because the real mission had not yet been achieved, Xue Yi stayed on and refused to leave. Now the person he should find is The search was almost complete, and all that was left was to send a letter to Longzhong. His mission was considered to be over, and he could set off at any time. Just out of caution, when Xue Yi answered Pang Tong's question, Still leave some extra margin.
"Shan, it's time for a certain person to meet up with the teacher halfway."
Pang Tong nodded thoughtfully, and then made a clear promise.
"Thank you, sir. Xue will take his leave."
Hearing that Pang Tong agreed to go north with him, Xue Yi's goal for this trip was basically completely achieved. He couldn't help but feel a burst of ecstasy in his heart. He originally thought about having more tricks with Pang Tong, a person who was destined to be reused by Gongsun Ming. After getting close to each other, he suddenly remembered Gongsun Ming's previous explanation, so he didn't dare to act casually. He stood up, bowed deeply to Pang Tong, and left.
"Youzhou? Youzhou!"
Pang Tong originally agreed to go to Youzhou, just to see what happened before making a decision, but now seeing Xue Yi's extraordinary performance, he couldn't help but feel a little more confident and fond of Gongsun Ming, so he went to Youzhou. The heart of the state has become a little stronger...
"Report to my lord. Governor Gongsun has an urgent letter here. Please have your lord take a look."
While Xue Yi was drinking with Pang Tong, Gongsun Ming, who had been busy all day, was also having dinner. He had just picked up the bowl, and before he could take a few mouthfuls, he heard the sound of hurried footsteps. In the middle, a courier dripping with sweat hurriedly rushed into the lobby. He knelt on the ground towards Gongsun Ming, raised a letter high above his head with both hands, and reported it breathlessly. One sentence.
"Um."
In order to ensure the concealment of the construction of the salt field, Gongsun Ming himself has never been to the salt field these days. As for technical guidance, he can only rely on correspondence. There are many letters exchanged with Gongsun Fan who is in charge of the salt field. I had been used to it for a long time, and now I couldn't help but think that Gongsun Fan had encountered some technical difficulties again, so he didn't care much. He put down the bowl and chopsticks casually, reached for the letter, and tore it open. He sealed it and poured out the letter from inside. As soon as he looked at it, his eyes suddenly lit up and he couldn't help but burst into laughter.
"Come, go, call the head of the Zheng family, Zheng Cheng, immediately."
Seeing that Gongsun Ming was so excited, the servants who were accompanying him couldn't help but be surprised. Their eyes looking at Gongsun Ming had a baffled meaning, but Gongsun Ming didn't say much to explain. , he just drank loudly, and a personal guard rushed down the hall in a hurry as he promised.
