Chapter 285 Recovering Strength
Since the end of spring plowing, the young people and teenagers who had dispersed from Chang'an University have gradually gathered and returned.

As usual, Zhuge Jin got up early, washed, took his bowl, and lined up with other scholars and young students for food.

No matter how tense the situation is elsewhere, food at Chang'an University will still be given priority.

But they no longer provide full rations, only 70% of the rations and wild vegetables.

A bowl of thick and sticky millet porridge and two wild vegetable dumplings became Zhuge Jin's breakfast.

For a young student, such a breakfast is barely enough to fill you up; but for an adult like Zhuge Jin, it is obviously not enough.

But what can be done?
In Guanzhong today, even if you spend money to buy rice, how many days can you eat the expensive rice?
Anyway, two bowls of millet porridge in the morning and evening and four wild vegetable dumplings are enough to ensure that he will not starve to death. He will be safe and secure, which is much better than other places.

The weather was clear in the early morning, and the sunlight was somewhat stinging on my body.

Zhuge Jin was standing on the roadside eating breakfast, holding a bowl with a vegetable dumpling in his left hand, and a wooden spoon with a vegetable dumpling in his right hand.

Use a wooden spoon to scoop a piece of millet porridge ball and put it in your mouth, then take a bite of the vegetable ball. It tastes better this way.

Not only Zhuge Jin, but scholars from all over the country all had similar eating postures.

The construction of a canteen is not a matter of a day or two. The scholars were busy copying the Six Classics, so just having a place to eat and sleep would be enough.

Many people will eventually leave here and return to their hometown to run their family business.

Wang Can doesn't have to eat while standing, so the canteen area has not been started since the beginning of spring.

When Zhuge Jin was eating, Yan Jun also brought in the freshly prepared food. Yan Jun sat on the ground to eat without caring about his image, and said to Zhuge Jin who was squatting beside him: "Zi Yu has a brother named Zhuge Liang?"

"That's right. My second brother, third brother and little sister followed my uncle to Yuzhang to take up his post. How did you hear about my second brother's whereabouts?"

Zhuge Jin was emotionally stable. At that time, he had to take care of his sick stepmother and manage the family business. Xuzhou was in chaos, and his uncle became the governor of Yuzhang County and sent someone to pick them up. After some discussion at home, Zhuge Liang and a few others were allowed to go first.

But Zhuge Xuan was soon defeated by others, and Zhuge Jin thought that Zhuge Xuan would live in Jiangdong.

Therefore, during the Guandu Rebellion, Zhuge Jin took his fellow villagers on a boat south, and then traveled around the Three Wus, but he never found Zhuge Xuan's whereabouts.

Although the surname Zhuge is quite unique, he has also heard of the son-in-law of the Huang family in Jingzhou named Zhuge Liang, but his courtesy name is Kongming... This makes Zhuge Jin feel that his brother, as an outsider, cannot become the son-in-law of the Huang family or the son-in-law of the Cai family.

Zhuge Liang's calligraphy was different from what was originally agreed upon.

In addition, his money was exhausted and his fellow villagers had already taken root in Jiangdong, so Zhuge Jin gave up the idea of ​​going to Jingzhou to investigate.

Seeing Zhuge Jin's flat reaction, Yan Jun said directly: "I just heard a few people talking about this Zhuge Liang. They said that he was a disciple of Pang Degong of Lumen Mountain, and was called Crouching Dragon Hermit. He and Pang Shiyuan of Jingzhou were also known as Crouching Dragon and Phoenix. He has entered the government, and was initially a clerk in the Ministry of Finance. The day before yesterday, he was transferred to Jingzhao Duwei and the magistrate of Shangluo."

"I know him. He is similar in age and name. He is unlikely to be my second brother."

Zhuge Jin ate the last bit of vegetable dumplings and said to Yan Jun, "I heard that the model stone tablet of the Golden Book will be completed in two or three months, and everyone can make rubbings. We are short of money now, so I am afraid it will be difficult to hold on."

"The Danshui Canal will soon be open for transport. I think the money and silk sent by Yuan Tan has arrived on the way."

As Yan Jun was talking, he saw Ge Guangcai, who had woken up late, come to the queue. He couldn't help but smile and continued to say to Zhuge Jin: "We can wait for another half a month. If we can't get the money and silk, we can work for the shogunate. We can borrow some money and send the copied silk book back to Jiangdong."

Zhuge Jin nodded and suggested: "You and I have been entrusted by Lord Yuan Tan, so why don't we pay a visit to Master Cai now? If we can get in touch with the Golden Book Stone Stele earlier, we can also make some rubbings. Completing Lord Yuan Tan's commission will also make it easier for you and me to find a way out for ourselves."

Yan Jun thought about it and nodded, feeling a little anxious.

Now is a great opportunity to enter officialdom. Yan Jun has always felt that his talents are not as good as Zhuge Jin's, but Zhuge Jin has a generous character and is willing to support him.

Even if Zhuge Jin had entered officialdom later, he would still have been able to rise quickly; unlike him, if he had entered officialdom even later, he would have been much slower.

He was from Pengcheng, and could be rounded off to Liangpei. They had similar accents and both ate from Sishui, so he was naturally a fellow villager of the Grand Marshal.

The earlier he enters office, the greater his advantages.

As a native of Pengcheng, Yan Jun was responsible not only for his own career, but also for the careers of other people from Pengcheng and Xuzhou.

The life in Chang'an University Town made Yan Jun feel like he had returned to his childhood.

There is no need to worry about war and you can focus on your studies. Although the food is not good, it is much better than a life of uncertainty, displacement and clan separation.

While they were talking, in front of a nearby signboard, Pan Jun was chewing millet and smearing some on the wooden signboard with his fingers.

Then he took out a page of yellow bamboo paper, spread it out carefully, and pasted it on the notice board.

After checking again and again that the official documents and notices would not fall off, Pan Jun led his two companions to the next notice board to post them.

After they left, nearly a hundred scholars gathered around. Ma Jun, who was thin and had a white cloth wrapped on his head, barely squeezed to the front row and saw a notice that read: Recruiting people who are good at drawing and improving equipment. Those who are proficient in arithmetic and like carpentry and smelting will be given priority. Anyone interested should go to the east gate to register and take the examination.

Ma Jun looked at the golden calligraphy on the official document. Although he couldn't understand what was so good about it, he just felt it was pleasing to the eye and kept looking up.

At this time, a five-foot-tall boy around his age asked his attendants, "Why don't you have a salary?"

Seeing that this person should be a newcomer, young, and with a friendly accent, Ma Jun turned around and explained, "There is a shortage of food in Guanzhong. We will not be given salaries for the time being, only rations."

At this time, another villager with a similar accent explained, "Once the autumn grain is stored in the warehouse, the official ranks will be sorted out and the salaries will be paid. I heard that it will take until August, and we have to wait for nearly four months... five months, and this year there is an extra June."

"Yes, there are still five months before the salary is paid. I don't know how much the Grand Marshal will pay."

Everyone started discussing the generous salary. Ma Jun turned around without thinking and walked towards the east gate.

Although he was from the Maoling Ma family and he recognized the Maoling Ma family, they would not recognize him now.

There are not many people at home. What should he do if the university no longer provides breakfast and dinner?
There was little hesitation, and I was chosen to be a clerk, which was better than such a life. After becoming a clerk, the learning environment was better.

As Ma Jun left, the young boy beside him hurriedly followed and greeted him: "Brother, I am Lu Zhi from Mei County, eleven years old."

Ma Jun slowed down his pace and waited for Lu Zhi to catch up, then he said, "I am Fufeng Ma Jun, thirteen years old."

Soon, the twenty or so scholars here turned around and headed for the east gate. After hearing the news, the scholars who arrived here later also sent out their people one after another.

Some of them simply had nothing to do, so they ran to the East Gate to watch the fun.

Today, the Danshui canal was opened.

The first boat gang set sail. Bu Zhi stood at the bow, looking at the mountains passing by on both sides. He emptied his mind and immersed himself in this unique canal transport team.

The ship he was on was hoisting sails, the canvas bulging in the southeast spring breeze, and there were two sailors rowing together at the stern.

Bu Zhi looked at the steady canal boat in front of him, analyzed it for a moment, and couldn't help but squint his eyes.

With the smooth transportation of grain, Jingzhou's grain can be transported to Guanzhong in an endless stream. Doesn't this mean that the soldiers in Guanzhong can launch wars against other countries again?

After looking for a while, Bu Zhi returned to the cabin and took out Gu Yong's letter to read.

This time, Bu Zhi not only brought money and silk for the living needs of Zhuge Jin and others, but also brought gifts from Gu Yong to Cai Zhaoji and her sister, including wedding gifts.

The situation in Jiangdong was not good, and many people were not optimistic about the Battle of Jiangxia that Sun Quan was destined to launch.

Compared with Sun Quan, the big families and powerful people in Jiangdong wanted to support Liu Fu, the governor of Yangzhou, more.

Many people saw him as a rebel following Liu Fu, and he was also a patriot determined to restore the Han Dynasty.

As for following Sun Quan to support the country, I always feel that the investment is large, the risk is high, and the return is low.

In the front row of the boat, Pei Qian stood on the command platform in the sparrow room with his hands behind his back. The southeast wind blew from behind, and his robe and scarf were blown up.

He squinted at the green water, but what he was thinking about was the possibility of Jingzhou getting out of control.

I wanted to continue staying with Liu Qi, but conflicts have arisen recently. If I don't leave, the conflicts will tend to escalate.

There was no other choice but to resign.

The people of Jingzhou could allow Fu Xun to stay with Liu Qi because Fu Xun was old and did not have so many ambitions; most importantly, the relationship between Fu Xun and Liu Qi was just average.

And Pei Qian was already a friend of Liu Qi before he entered the officialdom, which is very crucial.

Pei Qian could use personal feelings to influence Liu Qi in addition to his official stance.

Not wanting to make things too embarrassing, Pei Qian decided to return to Guanzhong to report on his work.

Keeping a certain distance from Liu Qi was actually beneficial to maintaining the precious personal friendship between them.

When the time comes, this personal friendship may play a decisive role!

As for Pang Tong... Pei Qian didn't think Pang Tong could succeed.

It’s not that Pang Tong’s personal ability is inadequate, but the overall environment is that Jingzhou no longer has a strong army, and lacks the kind of unstoppable momentum and overwhelming force.

The only chance for Liu Biao and the people of Jingzhou would be when Liu Yan died. At that time, they would be able to control Jing and Yi in one battle, which would be another strategic posture.

Even the atmosphere and image within Jingzhou and Liu Biao himself were completely different from today.

If he had controlled Jing and Yi back then, given the arrogance Liu Biao had shown in recent years, he would have proclaimed himself the King of Chu long ago, established his own system, and turned his subjects into subjects, making him like an iron barrel.

It’s a pity that Liu Biao didn’t dare to gamble back then, and then he fell into a quagmire.

Slow development does not necessarily mean stability.

Liu Biao's development was slow enough, but everyone around him could bully Jingzhou, and there was also internal discord.

Compared with Jingzhou, what about Guanzhong?

The black bear fought so fast that it was hard for people to keep up.

Then, although there were various problems internally, a consensus and ambition to conquer the world was also fostered.

The world is so big that black bear can’t eat it all by himself, so everyone can share the profits.

Compared with the foreseeable future gains, what does the loss and injustice suffered at the hands of the black bear matter?
Therefore, under this overwhelming consensus, internal contradictions have weakened and cohesion has increased.

On the contrary, Cao Cao, who had lost Guanzhong and Hedong after the defeat in Liyang, had begun to shatter his confidence in following the emperor's orders to punish disobedients and then unify the world. Many people no longer cared about long-term interests, and they focused on immediate gains and losses, so the contradictions became more intense.

Before this conflict broke out, many people started to run away. If they ran slowly, they might be swallowed up and torn apart by the storm.

Pei Qian thought about it again and again and had already sentenced Cao Cao to death.

During this period, he also came into contact with Liu Bei. Cao Cao's attitude towards cooperating with the court was problematic, and his methods of integrating the four states of Guandong were problematic. He wasted the court's righteousness in vain. In Cao Cao's hands, the court's prestige would only continue to rise and fall until its prestige collapsed.

So what about Liu Bei?
Liu Bei is no longer important. Now that the canal transportation has been restored and grain is being transported continuously, Liu Bei has no chance!

(End of this chapter)