In Xiangyang City, a handsome scholar was sitting on an inconspicuous boat. Apart from a boatman and a servant, there was no other person on the boat.
"Young Master, it's already noon. Should we set sail?" The boatman stepped forward and asked the handsome scholar. This young man had rented his boat earlier and said that he wanted to go to Xinye. The boatman had arranged for the boat to be in place at five o 'clock. The young man arrived quickly, but he sat on the boat and said that he was waiting for someone. This wait lasted for half a day. The boatman was trying to make a living. Although the young man had already paid for the boat, he couldn't delay like this. If this continued, he wouldn't be able to do business anymore.
The handsome scholar heard that although the boatman was respectful, there was a trace of complaint in his tone. Although this person was a descendant of a noble family, he did not have the arrogance of a noble family descendant. If it was an ordinary noble family descendant, then the boatman's complaint would have been met with retaliation or even cold words. "Let's wait a little longer! The scholar smiled and said to the boatman.
"But!" The boatman was just a commoner. He didn't know when to advance or retreat. He didn't know what gentleness was. He only knew that if he delayed any longer, he would only be able to take on this small business today.
"Defu, double the price for this shopkeeper!" The scholar had not only read thousands of books, but also traveled thousands of miles. Naturally, he knew the hardships of making a living. He didn't make things difficult for the boatman and directly doubled the price. This way, the boatman wouldn't rush him anymore.
Sure enough, when the boatman heard that the price was doubled, he immediately beamed with joy. "Sir, please wait patiently. There's no rush, there's no rush!" This young master was equivalent to two people. Originally, his small boat could only travel between Xiangyang and Xinye once a day. Sometimes, if the boat was slow, it could only make half a trip a day. But now that he was paid double the price, it was a free trip. So what if he had to wait for 45 minutes?
Another hour passed, from morning to noon. If they continued to wait like this, the sky might turn dark.
"Master, this young man probably won't come!" The servant named Defu suggested to the handsome scholar. "Let's set sail!"
He couldn't wait aimlessly. The elegant scholar still had important matters to attend to. The letter in his bosom had just warmed up.
"Yes! The handsome scholar nodded, "If we have half a cup of tea's time, we'll set sail!"
"Understood, Master!" The servant instructed the boatman, and half a cup of tea's time passed very quickly.
A look of disappointment appeared on the handsome scholar's face. He waved his hand and prepared to let the boatman set sail. Suddenly, a shout came from the shore. "Wait, boatman, wait!" Another scholar rushed towards the shore.
"Master, Young Master Shanmin is here, Young Master Shanmin is here!" The servant pointed at the figure on the shore and shouted to his master.
Hearing the servant's call, the handsome scholar also looked towards the shore. It was indeed that person. The handsome scholar smiled, "I knew that Brother Yamanin would come to send me off! Boatman, stop the boat! "
The boatman quickly lowered the plank of the boat and brought the scribes on the shore into the boat.
The two young scholars glanced at each other, and their eyes were filled with smiles. "Brother Qishan, Brother Shanmin!" “
It turned out that one of the two scholars on the boat was Pang Shanmin, and the other was Pang Shanmin's best friend, Tang Yun, Tang Qishan. One was the mountain, the other was the people. The two of them had a natural friendship, and were childhood sweethearts.
"I thought that Brother Shanmin had already forgotten about me!" Tang Yun, Tang Qishan spoke first, and he spoke in Nuo Yi's tone.
"I wouldn't dare! Your Brother Qishan is my best friend. If I didn't come to send you off, your Brother Qishan would eat me up! "Pang Shanmin also laughed and joked with Tang Yun.
"I wouldn't go so far as to eat you up. However, Brother Shanmin, I'm afraid that sister-in-law will find out about the good wine in your study!" Pang Shanmin loved wine, but his body couldn't drink too much. Pang Shanmin was an honest person, but when such an honest person got drunk, it was as if he became a different person. He was extremely wild, as if he had lost his soul. He had even pointed at his father's nose and scolded him. Pang Degong was so angry that he almost chased him out of the house. Tang Yun found it funny. With such a high alcohol tolerance, naturally, Pang Shanmin's wife wouldn't let him drink. Therefore, Pang Shanmin could only satisfy his cravings in the study.
"Don't give me that. If your sister-in-law finds out, you can prepare to drink alone!" Pang Shanmin said snappily. "This diplomatic mission is a secret. But Brother Qishan, you!" If it was just for Tang Yun's trip, Pang Shanmin would have come long ago. However, this time, he hesitated for a long time. This was because Tang Qishan had been entrusted by Liu Jingzhou and Kuai Yue to go to Yangzhou. It was very secretive and he was afraid that people would find out.
"Haha, I can distrust anyone in this world, but I have always believed in you, Brother Shanmin. Would Brother Shanmin reveal my whereabouts?" Tang Yun teased. The two of them were childhood friends. In layman's terms, they grew up wearing the same pair of pants. The two of them had a very close relationship. Other than their wives, they would share everything good. Even Tang Yun called Pang Shanmin's father Uncle instead of Pang Degong.
"It's better to be careful! It's better to be cautious! "Pang Shanmin was still worried about his close friend.
"Since when did Brother Shanmin become Uncle?" Uncle was naturally Pang Degong. As a teacher, Pang Degong naturally liked to preach.
"Are you confident about this diplomatic mission?" Pang Shanmin was still worried about his good friend because he was going to Yangzhou. Pang Shanmin had never met Liu Mang in Yangzhou, but he had heard from his second brother, Pang Tong, that this person was a hypocrite. He pretended to be benevolent and righteous, but millions of people did not have enough to eat and wear. Moreover, he was the son-in-law of Slave of Three Surnames, Lü Bu. Therefore, Pang Shanmin did not have a good impression of Liu Mang. He was on the verge of becoming one of those evil people.
"Would you believe me if I said I wasn't confident?"
"If you aren't confident, then don't go!" Pang Shanmin dissuaded him directly. "If Liu Mang's army comes, then let them come. Those who act rashly will not be any better. It might be dangerous to stay here. It's better to speed up the transportation of provisions and get rid of the danger in Nanyang. Let Ambassador Liu help Jingzhou defend against the enemy!"
The Ambassador Pang Shanmin was talking about was not Liu Biao, but Liu Bei. Tang Yun looked at his close friend and knew that he was worried about him. However, Tang Yun also knew that if Liu Mang was not a good person, then Liu Bei was not a good person either. If Pang Tong had not killed Liu Mang's envoy in Xiangyang, there would not have been such an outcome.
When Tang Yun went to Yangzhou, it could not be said that he was not confident or that he was dead. It was a fifty-fifty chance. If Liu Mang was really a headstrong person, then Tang Yun's trip would be useless. If Liu Mang was a person who could endure or did not like war, then Liu Biao's conditions would definitely make him retreat. No matter which outcome it was, Tang Yun would not be in any danger.
"Everything depends on effort. Brother Shanmin, Jingzhou is the last paradise in the world. You cannot let it be invaded by war!" One of the reasons why Tang Yun and Pang Shanmin could become close friends was that both of them did not wish for war. Instead, they wished for peace and prosperity.
"If that's the case, then Brother Qishan, please take care!" Pang Shanmin knew that he could not dissuade Tang Yun. It was getting late. If he delayed any longer, Tang Yun might not be able to reach Xinye in time.
"Take care!" Pang Shanmin got off the boat. The boatman rowed the boat and it went westward along the Yangtze River.
Pang Shanmin watched the boat disappear into the crowd of boats before he turned around and walked back to the Pang residence in Xiangyang.
As soon as Pang Shanmin left, someone came to the place where Pang Shanmin was looking into the distance and muttered to himself, "Grey cloth, white sail, ten-material boat!"
…
The boat continued to move forward. The wind was not strong today. Although the boat was going against the current, it was still very cheerful. In half a day, they had already covered more than half the distance.
After eating in the boat for a while, Tang Yun lifted the curtain and asked the boatman, "Boatman, how far is it from here to Xinye?"
"How far?" The boatman was just an ordinary person who made a living. How could he know how far it was? He could only explain, "Young Master, we're halfway down the road. In another hour, we'll reach Luokou Du. After that, we'll reach Xinye in four hours!"
"Four hours!" Tang Yun listened to the boatman. Four hours was enough for him to read several pages of books. He turned around and walked into the cabin. "Remember to call me when we reach Xinye!"
"Yes, Young Master!" The boatman nodded in response.
Luokou Du was just a tributary of the Yangtze River. Its waters were very shallow and it was difficult for large warships to cross. However, it was not a problem for small boats. This was why many small boats used Luokou Du. As the waters were shallow, it was much faster to get to Xinye than to take the main waterway. Furthermore, there were no official checkpoints, so it was very convenient. After Luokou Du, it was truly Xinye's territory.
In the cabin of the ship, Tang Yun was reading a book called Gongyang Chunqiu. Every bit of information in this book was copied by Tang Yun himself. At this time, books were as precious as gold. Only nobles would have books. This caused many poor children to be unable to see books. Although Tang Yun and Tang Qishan's Tang Family were nobles, they weren't a big aristocratic family. This Gongyang Chunqiu was borrowed from the Pang Family. Therefore, Tang Yun treasured this book very much.
"Gong Yang Chunqiu" was one of the classics of Confucianism. It started in the first year of Duke Lu Yin and ended in the fourteenth year of Duke Lu Ai, the same time as "Spring and Autumn". It was said that the author was a disciple of Zi Xia, Gong Yang Gao of Qi during the Warring States Period. At first, it was only passed down orally. During the time of Emperor Jing of the Western Han, it was passed down to his great-grandson, Gong Yang Shou. Together, Gong Yang Shou and Mother Hu Zidu wrote the book on bamboo and silk. And the book in Tang Yun's hands that was dedicated to the Spring and Autumn Annals was written by He Xiu of the Eastern Han Dynasty.
Just as Tang Yun was reading with relish, the boat suddenly shook violently, as if it had hit something. Tang Yun didn't pay attention and the book in his hand was thrown out. Fortunately, Tang Yun stabilized his body in time and picked up the book.
"What's going on? Have we reached Xinye? "
Outside the small boat, it was already surrounded by three other small boats.
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