“Milord!” The soldiers escorting Liu Mang knelt towards Liu Biao.
“Your Majesty King of Shu. Your presence in Xiangyang has been an honor. I have been looking forward to this for a long time!” Liu Biao approached before Liu Mang could say anything. Although Liu Mang was forced to come to Jingzhou, Liu Biao still had to receive royalty according to etiquette.
“Uncle, there is no need to be like this!” As Liu Biao showed courtesy, Liu Mang had to reciprocate. After all, he was the one that is requesting for help. Just as Liu Biao addressed Liu Mang as royalty, Liu Mang addressed Liu Biao as his senior. Even though Liu Mang was of higher rank, Liu Biao was still the Emperor’s uncle.
“Come, come. Let me introduce you to my subordinates. This is Kuai Yue Kuai Yidu!” Liu Biao said as he pointed towards a scholar.
Liu Mang’s eyes lit up. “Teacher Kuai Yue. I have heard of your distinguished name before. It is truly a blessing for me to have met you today!”
“I don’t deserve such praise!” Kuai Yue replied as he subconsciously kept his distance. It was not that he refused to become intimate with Liu Mang. He simply knew that Liu Mang had already offended many people. He did not want to participate in that mess. Liu Mang also did not really care that Kuai Yue gave him the cold shoulder. With Jia Xu present, another additional sly fox would not be much difference.
“And this person here is Cai Mao Cai Degui.”
“Military Advisor Cai? It is an honor to meet you!” Liu Mang was extremely respectful to Kuai Yue but did not give such a huge reaction when greeting Cai Mao. He did not bother showing so much manners to a general that was weaker than a merchant.
“Hmph.” Cai Mao was no interested. He was simply present as courtesy. He also didn’t expect Liu Mang to show him any courtesy as he had schemed against Liu Mang before. However, the difference in attitude showed towards him and Kuai Yue still made him feel uncomfortable. After all, he and Kuai Yue were supposed to be equals.
Liu Biao saw Cai Mao’s expression and laughed lightly. Even though he also felt uncomfortable, he was still able to be cordial.
Liu Biao proceeded to introduce the other generals and scholars to Liu Mang. Liu Mang took note of a few of them but he also did not spare a glance to some others. Amongst all of the ones introduced, one of them had been his friend. This was Kuai Liang, Kuai Yue’s little brother. Kuai Liang had showed Liu Mang goodwill so Liu Mang had responded politely. Liu Mang then looked for Pang Tong but ended up feeling disappointed as Pang Tong was absent.
“Let’s go! Your Majesty, we have prepared a banquet for you to welcome your arrival. Let us go drink our fill!” Liu Biao was already old. Standing at the gates for too long would be too tiring for him. So, he invited Liu Mang in to drink and chat merrily.
While everybody looked joyous on the outside, they were scheming on the inside. Cai Mao, Huang She and the Lumen Academy were all hostile towards Liu Mang.
When Liu Mang entered the building, the banquet had already been prepared. Jingzhou was so prosperous that there were over a hundred dishes prepared for the banquet.
“Come! Your Majesty! Let me offer you a cup as a representative of Jingzhou!” Liu Biao spoke.
“I don’t dare. Uncle, you are being too courteous to me. When I was in Yangzhou, I heard my father-in-law say that there are only three heroes in this world that would make feel inferior.
“The first was Zheng Xuan.” The person Liu Mang spoke of is a Chinese philosopher following Confucianism in the late Han dynasty. His concept of Confucianism would eventually become mainstream for centuries. “Zheng Xuan had even studied abroad. Even when old, he continued to pass down his teachings and had at least eight hundred disciples! This is a person that can be described as a hero!” Everyone nodded towards Liu Mang’s words.
The scholars all respected Zheng Xuan. While the generals may not understand who Zheng Xuan was, the man was still a reputable person whose name had spread far and wide. So, the generals also nodded along with the scholars.
“Zheng Xuan is truly a hero!” Liu Biao agreed. Zheng Xuan was more influential than Pang Degong.
“It is unfortunate that Zheng Xuan became miserable in his last few years. During the Battle of Guandu, Yuan Shao had his son Yuan Tan force Zheng Xuan to go with the army for influence. Zheng Xuan had to follow them helplessly but once he reached Yuancheng, he could no longer escape. He would later fall ill but even while sick, he continued to add to the Book of Changes.”
The scholars all turned silent as they heard about Zheng Xuan’s death.
Liu Mang then broke the silence again. “The second hero my father-in-law admires is Cao Cao, Cao Mengde!” Liu Mang’s words caused a commotion. Perhaps the common people in his territory considers him a respectable person. However, Cao Cao is known as a villain elsewhere. Calling Cao Cao a hero would definitely cause an uproar.
“That traitorous Cao is a villain! How is he a hero?” Some scholars raised their voice.
“That’s right! For the villain to become a hero. Cao Cao and Lu Bu must truly be birds of a feather!”
Liu Mang listened to those words and sneered. If Cao Cao was a traitor, what about these nobles who immediately flocked to Cao Cao in the original timeline?
“Cao Mengde may be a stubborn person but there are not many that would follow the law. Just like how Cao Cao placed multi-colored stakes outside his office and ordered his men to flog anybody that violated the law, including officials. During the Yellow Turban Rebellion, he helped to quell the rebellion and killed hundreds and thousands of rebels. During Dong Zhuo’s tyranny, he helped form the coalition to fight against Dong Zhuo. How many men in this world would be willing to serve the Emperor so diligently? How many of them would be willing to fight until the end? Once again, it was Cao Cao who fought until his army was completely wiped out and he almost lost his life!” When Liu Mang spoke about Dong Zhuo, the others could not refute. After all, even Liu Biao did not participate.
“Cao Cao may be an enemy but even my father-in-law respects him for being strict and wise.”
Liu Mang bragged about Cao Cao but never spoke of his bad parts. After all, nobody was perfect.
“Your Majesty. This Cao Cao is a descendant of an eunuch!1 The Han Dynasty is separated because of the eunuchs! How could their descendants be heroes? It is not surprising the Slave of Three Surnames who doesn’t know of the world consider them heroes.” One young scholar said as he gave Liu Mang a cold look.
“May I know who this daring person is?” Liu Mang asked for this person’s name instead of retorting immediately.
“I do not dare accept your praise. I am Pang Shanmin. I am simply someone who writes down orders for Liu Jingzhou.”
“Pang Shanmin?” Liu Mang did not know who that person was. However, he was happy enough to know that this person was from the Pang Family. Did Pang Tong become too afraid to see others and sent someone else in his stead?
Liu Mang did not know that Pang Shanmin actually had higher status compared to Pang Tong. As he detested the Pang Family either way, he would not give up this chance to humiliate them.
“Mister Pang Shanmin! Have you read any books before?” Liu Mang asked indifferently.
“Hm?” Pang Shanmin immediately became angry when he heard this question. The Pang Family of Jingzhou and the Lumen Academy. Both of this had one thing in common and that is scholarly knowledge. All of the people in Lumen Academy were all well read. Yet, Liu Mang asked whether he had actually read any books before. This is like questioning the entire academy and ridiculing the Pang Family at the same time. “Pang Shanmin is not very proficient but he has read books before.”
“Since you know how to read books, why do you say such rebellious words?” Liu Mang lowered his cup as he chided.
