Chapter 204: Human nature, no martial ethics Speaking of Wang Can, he was actually a descendant of a prominent family. His great-grandfather Wang Gong was the Grand Marshal, and his grandfather Wang Chang was the Minister of Works. Even his father, Wang Qian, was the chief secretary under General He Jin. In terms of family background, he was also a descendant of one of the top wealthy families in the late Han Dynasty. But Wang Can was not worthy of his family background. He was not good-looking, thin and small. He was a talented writer and was good at writing poetry and prose, and was one of the Seven Sages of the Jian'an Period. The acquaintance between Wang Can and Qin Zhen began when Cai Yong came to Beijing. However, it is said that Cai Yong did not listen to Qin Zhen's advice and was summoned by Dong Zhuo to go to the capital. At that time, Cai Yong enjoyed great reputation among scholars all over the world. There was an endless stream of scholars visiting him every day, and his living room was often full of guests. When Wang Can heard of Cai Yong's reputation, he naturally came to Cai Yong's mansion to pay a visit.

This sight made Cai Yong realize Wang Can's talent, and he sighed: "This boy is a genius. I am ashamed to say that I am not as good as him. I should give all the books in my home to him." So he accepted Wang Can as his last disciple. Originally, if they had come to this point, Qin Zhen and Wang Can would only be brothers in name, and would not have the chance to meet each other. But later, with the death of Dong Zhuo, Wang Yun began to settle accounts with Dong Zhuo's former subordinates, and Cai Yong knew that he would not live long. Thinking of Qin Zhen's advice in the past, Cai Yong's heart was naturally filled with regret. It’s not that he regretted entering the capital, but that he regretted not leaving Cai Yan and others in Yanzhou. In desperation, he asked Wang Can to escort Cai Yan and others back to the east so that he could marry Qin Zhen. Although Wang Can only studied under Cai Yong for one year, he knew that it was difficult to repay his teacher's kindness. Afterwards, he took his cousin Wang Kai and his friend Sun Meng to escort Cai Yan and others to Dongjun. At that time, Qin Zhen had just helped Cao Cao defeat more than 100,000 Black Mountain bandits including Yu Du, Bai Rao, and Sui Gu, and stabilized the situation in Dongjun. When she saw Wang Can escorting two younger sisters over, she knew that her father-in-law would not live long. But Chang'an was far away and difficult to rescue, so he had to follow Cai Yong's instructions and marry Cai Yan first. Arriving here, Wang Can accomplished his mission and prepared to head south. However, Qin Zhen wanted to keep this junior brother for Lao Cao, so he often interacted with him. The two of them called each other brothers and had a deep friendship. As a result, after paying respect to his father-in-law, Lao Cao killed Bian Rang in a rage. This made Wang Can quite dissatisfied. He left a letter and left without saying goodbye, heading south to Jingzhou to join Liu Biao's army. Although Lao Cao was quite dissatisfied with this action, it did not affect the relationship between the two brothers. Over the years, the two of them kept in touch until Qin Zhen left Cao Cao's army, at which point they lost contact.

Qin Zhen was of course happy to meet them in Jingzhou at this time. But unexpectedly, as soon as he opened his mouth, Wang Can said that he was about to face a disaster. He thought to himself, I just laughed twice, could there be a large army behind me? Unable to figure it out for a moment, he quickly asked Wang Can: "Please forgive my stupidity, brother. What do you mean by this? I don't know how to interpret it." As soon as he asked, Wang Can smiled and said: "Brother, you didn't study the classics well with Master Cai before. But now, Envoy Liu heard that you were coming and has summoned a group of scholars to debate with you." "I haven't seen you for many years, but I know you don't like to debate." "Now many great scholars are waiting for you in Jingzhou. Isn't this a disaster for you?" He was not a person who cared much about trivial matters. He was so serious just now because he wanted to scare Qin Zhen. Seeing Qin Zhen like this, he thought to himself that he had succeeded and told him the truth. When Qin Zhen heard this, he rolled his eyes at Wang Can, pointed at him and scolded him with a smile: "Good boy, I haven't seen you for a few years. You may not have grown taller, but you have become more cunning!" "You're threatening me like that. I thought you were coming with your troops to arrest me!" Wang Can laughed when he saw him like this, and said: "I know that Brother Qin has always been very brave. If it weren't for this, you wouldn't be kidding!" As he spoke, he saw Qin Zhen's indifferent look, and asked curiously: "I see that you didn't change your expression when you heard that the scholars had arrived. Aren't you afraid of them?" When Qin Zhen heard this, he shook his head and smiled: "They are just a bunch of poor and pedantic scholars. Even though they have studied the classics for a lifetime, I am not afraid of them!" He thought Liu Biao could come up with some tricks, but in the end, he just wanted him to have a debate with the scholars! However, this strategy seems feasible, but in fact it is useless. You should know that the debate with scholars is just a fiction. In the original story, Zhuge Liang went to Jiangdong and met Sun Quan. There was no such scene at all. Even if there was, Sun Quan was using Zhuge Liang as a gunman to convince his subordinates. After all, in the novel, Sun Quan is a staunch advocate of war, but he has too many pro-surrender people under his command, so he is not without determination at all. The reason for arranging a debate with Kong Ming was, firstly, to test Kong Ming's character, and secondly, to get Kong Ming to convince the group of fence-sitters under his command. If Zhuge Liang could convince Sun Quan, then he could take advantage of the situation and advocate war. If he couldn't convince him, Sun Quan also had other ways to act. The current situation is that the emperor has issued an edict to Liu Biao to send troops, and it has come here as an envoy to discuss the issue of sending troops. Liu Biao's behavior was probably because he didn't want to send troops and wanted someone to silence him. He only needed to convince Liu Biao to succeed and did not need to face the challenge of these old scholars at all. That's why when Wang Can asked him, he showed no panic at all.

As soon as he finished speaking, he heard a laugh behind him: "What a bunch of poor and pedantic scholars! Brother Qin is really courageous!" Amidst the laughter, Huang She walked out of the cabin, laughing as he walked: "In fact, I also don't like those people who pick out sentences from books. Brother Qin has the talent of managing the world, so you shouldn't pay attention to them!" Seeing Huang She walking out of the cabin like this, Wang Can secretly thought that something was not good. He thought that although Qin Zhen was his senior brother, he was still from Jingzhou after all. Leaking information in this way may seem like collusion with outsiders. He didn't know how much Huang She had heard, so he could only bow and say: "I didn't expect that the Lord of the Mansion is here. I wonder when he got here?" Huang She saw this and stepped forward to return the greeting. "Mr. Wang, there is no need to be so polite. I came from Zhangling because I saw Mr. Qin coming from afar, so I came to escort him!" "I just heard you two talking, so I came out to see you!" Wang Can heaved a sigh of relief when he heard this. Huang She probably only heard what Qin Zhen said when he replied. "So that's how it is. Your Majesty is thoughtful. In fact, I came here to meet Brother Qin on Liu Mu's orders!" "Brother Qin and I are old friends. I was just joking, but I didn't expect that the Lord of the Mansion would hear it!" "I have not heard the whole story, I only heard the great words of Mr. Qin!" Huang She smiled, looked towards Xiangyang from afar and said: "Since Liu Mu has already sent someone to contact us, then send the shot here!" "After crossing the Han River, Xiangyang is to the south, but it is inconvenient for me to go any further." "I am very happy to have made friends with Mr. Qin, but I am deeply regretful that I have never seen his masterpieces." "If we can meet again in the future, I will look forward to seeing you!" Seeing that he was about to say goodbye and leave, Qin Zhen couldn't help but nodded and smiled: "If I feel inspired to write something in the future, I will first present it to you in a letter." "Thank you for seeing me off all the way, we will meet again someday!" He had a really good impression of Huang She. After all, the man came all the way here not for any gain, but just to entertain people for the sake of his hobby. Although he was not a colleague, he could still be a friend. Since the person likes poetry so much, he could copy one and send it to him before he leaves tomorrow, as a way to thank the person for his kindness. When Huang She heard this, he smiled happily, bowed and left. Therefore, Qin Zhen bid farewell to Huang She and headed towards Xiangyang City. After crossing the Han River, a towering city appeared before our eyes, standing on the south side of the Han River, echoing Fancheng in the north. In the original process, the reason why Guan Yu was able to flood seven armies, successively conquer Xiangyang and threaten Fancheng was because the two cities were both located on the side of the Han River and were very close to each other. Once the flood occurred, both cities would be submerged by the Han River, giving Guan Yu an advantage.

But in a sense, the two cities are one. If Fancheng is not captured, it will be of no use to take Xiangyang alone. This is also the fundamental reason why Guan Yu was reluctant to withdraw his troops. When Qin Zhen saw Xiangyang at this time, he took a closer look and said with emotion: "It is a truly magnificent pass. If a good general is called upon to guard the city, it would be difficult to break through even with many times the number of troops!" Wang Can, who was beside him, heard this and said with a smile: "When ordinary people see this city, they only praise its prosperity, but you, Qin Zixuan, want to attack the city as soon as you arrive here!" "Could it be that you also intend to seize this place for Liu Yuzhou?" Qin Zhen heard this and shook his head and said: "These are Zhongxuan's words, not mine. Please don't accuse me of them!" Seeing that he did not admit it, Wang Can leaned over and whispered: "Others may not know my virtuous brother, but I also don't know him?" "Every time you go to a place, you must first investigate it thoroughly and learn about its attack and defense strategies so that you can visit it again in the future!" "Now that you see this majestic city, don't you want to explore it in detail?" "Brother, there is no need to hide it. Liu Jingsheng appears generous but is actually jealous. He is good at judging people by their appearance. He is not a wise leader. I do not want to follow him." "In fact, I came here to meet you with the intention of following you. I wonder if you are willing to accept this!" When Qin Zhen heard this, he looked at Wang Can and smiled, thinking to himself, I didn't let you go south at the beginning, but you didn't listen. Now look what you have done, being ignored by Liu Biao! He knew that Wang Can's words were sincere, because in the original process, Liu Biao disliked Wang Can's ugly appearance and weak health, which led to Wang Can not being valued in Jingzhou. Now that Liu Bei has risen, it is only natural for him to want to follow him and join his forces. In fact, he also wanted to take Wang Can with him this time. After all, Wang Can was one of the Seven Sages of the Jian'an Period, a man of great literary talent and a master of public opinion warfare. Seeing his statement at this time, he patted Wang Can's hand and said: "You and I are brothers, why bother talking so much? Just tell me to come over, and I will make the bed ready for you!" Wang Can was moved when he heard this. He had experienced the fickleness of human nature in Jingzhou over the years. Now it seems that the person who treats him sincerely is his own senior brother! He was so moved that he was about to say a few more words when Zhuge Liang reminded him: "Sir, Kuai Gong has come to greet you!" When Qin Zhen heard this, he looked up hurriedly and saw a scholar in black waiting outside the city. While he was observing, he suddenly heard Wang Can beside him reminding: "This is Kuai Liang and Kuai Zirou, the chief clerks under Liu Jingsheng!" "The people behind him are Fu Xun, a clerk from the Eastern Cao, and Pei Qian from Hedong. They are all good friends of Can!"

Faced with Wang Can's reminder, Qin Zhen felt relieved. Before coming, he heard Wang Can say that it was Kuai Yue's intention to let Wang Can come to greet him this time. Now Kuai Liang brought Wang Can's friends Fu Xun and Pei Qian with him. This is obviously not a simple welcome, but a release of goodwill! The underlying meaning was to tell Qin Zhen that it was not the Kuai family that was making things difficult for him. The aristocratic families in power in Xiangyang right now are the Kuai family and the Cai family. If it weren't for the Kuai family helping to make things difficult, then it would only be Liu Biao and the Cai family! Thinking of this, he stepped forward and said with a smile: "Could it be that this is what Yong Ji said, that Kuai Zirou and Kuai Gong are in front of us?" Kuai Liang had already seen Qin Zhen, and was surprised when he heard this. It should be noted that "Yong Ji's Theory" was the words of praise that Liu Biao said when he assisted Liu Biao in entering Jingzhou! This discussion is quite private, Qin Zhen shouldn't know it! How come Qin Zhen seems to know him so well? With such a reaction, he hurried forward and said with a smile: "General Qin, you are overpraising me. What Yong Ji said is all nonsense. I don't deserve such praise!" "Now that my Lord has heard that the General is coming, he has decided to meet him at the state office today!" "The banquet is ready, and all the wise men have gathered, waiting only for the general." "I hope the general will come to my front palace to meet me first!" Because Qin Zhen's current official title is General of the Five Officials, which is a military position, he is directly referred to as the general. When Qin Zhen heard this, his face darkened and he thought that this old man Liu Biao really had no martial ethics! When you meet an envoy normally, you don't have to fast for three days, burn incense and take a bath. At least you have to wait for us to enter the city and rest for two days. As a result, as soon as he arrived, Liu Biao invited him to a banquet. Could it be that he wanted to take him by surprise and end the battle quickly? From this point of view, this old guy has a very bad conscience! If Wang Can hadn't informed him in advance, he would have been caught off guard! Thinking of this, he looked at Kuai Liang with a fake smile and said: "I will go into the city to rest for a night and then visit Liu Mu tomorrow." "I didn't expect Liu Mu to be so hospitable. As the saying goes, a guest should follow the host's wishes." "Since Liu Mu has prepared the banquet, sir, just lead the way!" Since he was already here, he might as well make the best of it. Now that he was in Xiangyang, he wanted to see what tricks Liu Biao could play. So he simply followed Kuai Liang into the city. (End of this chapter)