My father Liu Xuande

Chapter 483: All the talents have arrived
In late August, Liu Feng personally led Jia Kui's army into Xiangyang.

As a result, most of the garrison in Xiangyang had already withdrawn, leaving only some local Xiangyang faction members and their subordinates who did not want to follow Cai Mao north.

When Liu Fengjun arrived in Xiangyang, these people seemed to have planned it in advance, and immediately opened the city gates of Xiangyang and went out of the city to welcome him.

Under Liu Feng's orders, Jia Kui led his troops into the city first, took over key locations such as city defenses, warehouses, government offices, prefectures, and markets, and posted notices to reassure the people.

After sealing the treasury, Zhuge Liang led a group of clerks to conduct an inventory and inspection. Lu Xun, along with Jia Kui, began to patrol the city, checking its defenses and reassuring the people. Pang Tong, meanwhile, stayed by Liu Feng's side, introducing him to the local gentry and powerful families of Jingzhou who had come to greet them.

Originally, Liu Feng did not have any goodwill towards these powerful clans. In his view, the reason why these people did not follow Cai Mao north to join Cao Cao was probably because they were reluctant to give up their fields and houses in Xiangyang, Nanjun, and Jiangxia.

However, as Pang Tong explained, Liu Feng's expression gradually changed.

"My lord, this is Pan Jun, also known as Pan Chengming, a renowned scholar from Jingnan. He is from Hanshou County, Wuling Prefecture, and is a fine young man from Jingnan."

"My lord, these two are the virtuous brothers Xi Zhen and Xi Bozhang, and Xi Hong and Xi Deyu of the Xi family of Dengcheng, Xiangyang. The elder brother is skilled in military strategy, and the younger brother is adept at planning. They are known as the two outstanding members of the Xi family."

"My lord, this is Feng Xi, the young clan leader of the Feng family in Zhonglu, Xiangyang. He is brave, righteous, and chaste."

"My lord, these are the Ma brothers, renowned scholars from Yicheng, Xiangyang. The five brothers are all upright and virtuous. Their youngest brother, Ma Liang, is both virtuous and talented, brimming with wisdom and resourcefulness, and is worthy of being the leader of the five brothers."

"My lord, this is Fu Tong Fu Nanhe from Yiyang Township, Pingshi County. He is resolute, courageous, and valiant."

At first, Liu Feng was somewhat indifferent as Pang Tong introduced each person. But when he heard familiar names pop up one by one, he immediately perked up.

Liu Feng was genuinely surprised that these people didn't leave with Cai Mao, after all, Cao Cao's reputation was much stronger now than in the original timeline.

The main reason was that the existence of Yuan Shao and Liu family made the relationship between Cao Cao and Emperor Liu Xie far less tense than it was in history.

Despite his timidity, Liu Xie was quite shrewd.

The reason he and Cao Cao had such a bitter feud in the original timeline was ultimately because no one helped Cao Cao divide his power. The only one, Yuan Shao, was Liu Xie's mortal enemy, making him an even worse choice than Cao Cao.

But now things are completely different. With Liu Bei and his son in the picture, Liu Xie has much more room to maneuver. Even though Liu Feng and Liu Xie had a falling out, Liu Bei still maintained a good relationship with the emperor.

Liu Bei's growing power was itself the greatest benefit to Liu Xie.

Liu Xie wouldn't even need to do anything; Cao Cao would naturally back down.

With Cao Cao backing down, Liu Xie had a chance to catch his breath and more room to make deals with Cao Cao.

It's no wonder that Cao Cao's reputation improved.

However, it seems that the Ma, Xi, Fu, and Feng families have made a different choice from the Cai family, preferring to side with Liu Bei rather than Cao Cao.

This is clearly something that deserves recognition, encouragement, and praise.

Given Liu Feng's current status, simply chatting with the other party for a few minutes and offering a few approving smiles was enough to stir the other party's emotions, making them willing to serve him.

Considering that these people were all his father's loyal followers in history, and that they had all repaid his father's trust and reliance with practical actions, Liu Feng immediately decided to recruit and appoint them all.

That evening, the local forces in Xiangyang joined together to host a banquet for Liu Feng, who gladly accepted.

Throughout the banquet, all the powerful and influential families, celebrities and scholars who remained in Xiangyang City attended and gathered together in celebration.

Besides Pan Jun, Feng Xi, Fu Tong, the Xi brothers, and the Ma brothers, there were also Deng Fang, He Pu, Liu Yong, Fu Kuang, Jiang Wan, Fei Yi, Dong He, Yang Yi, Fan Zhou, Liao Hua, Huo Du, Huo Jun, Wei Yan, and others, all of whom were famous scholars and powerful figures in Jingzhou. Most of them were local gentry and powerful families from Xiangyang and Nanyang.

Compared to the descendants of prominent families such as Pan Jun, Feng Xi, the Ma brothers, He Pu, Liu Yong, and Yang Yi, the others seemed less impressive. In particular, renowned generals like the Huo brothers and Wei Yan were still just minor officials at this time, and would probably not have been qualified to attend the banquet if not for Liu Feng's personal selection.

The Huo brothers were in a slightly better position, holding the official rank of Dubo and leading several hundred followers they had raised, making them a sort of unofficial Jingzhou army. Wei Yan, on the other hand, was a legitimate member of the Jingzhou army and also a Dubo, but at this moment, he only had a few dozen loyal followers left; the rest had followed Cai Mao.

The banquet went smoothly. Liu Feng was all smiles throughout, reassuring the scholars present and encouraging the powerful to join the army, which gradually calmed people's hearts.

Meanwhile, Liu Feng was also observing these people throughout the process.

Jiang Wan was Pan Jun's cousin, but in reality, Pan Jun was the one in charge between them. Pan Jun and Fan Zhou did not have a harmonious relationship; the former looked down on the latter.

Yang Yi was quite interesting. At this time, he was adept at social maneuvering and eloquent, and had a harmonious relationship with everyone present. He showed no signs of the arrogant and domineering demeanor that would later become universally disliked.

Although the Ma brothers were somewhat overrated, all five brothers were competent enough, including the famous Ma Su.

Ma Su was a man of exceptional talent and charisma. At a young age, he was already adept at social maneuvering, and his speech and manners were exemplary.

Compared to Ma Liang and Ma Su, the other three brothers of the Ma family were indeed much less capable.

Feng Xi appeared quite composed, though somewhat reserved, and inwardly quite self-assured. However, when facing Liu Feng, Feng Xi was remarkably submissive, praising Liu Feng's achievements and expressing great admiration.

Fu Tong stood out among the powerful figures. He was tall and robust, yet humble and reserved, never competing with Feng Xi, which caught Liu Feng's eye.

The Huo brothers were very low-key, and Liao Hua was a typical scholar.

Wei Yan desperately wanted to make a name for himself in front of Liu Feng, but due to his low status, he didn't even have a chance to speak, let alone have any other thoughts.

Liu Feng felt secretly satisfied, but then a headache started to creep in.

To absorb the troops from Jingzhou, it is imperative to expand the army. It would be best to draw some troops from Xuzhou and Yuzhou, and then send some more troops from Jingzhou.

However, there's no rush. I can first inform my father and hear his opinion before making a decision.

Looking at the people in the hall, Liu Feng pondered to himself that he had plenty of soldiers and generals, but only a shortage of commanders.

As things stand, at least two more armies need to be added. Kuai Yue can be considered one as the commander of the army, but the other one needs careful consideration. It's a pity that Marquis Wu is still young and Boyan is still inexperienced; otherwise, both of them are capable commanders and big shots at the Martial Temple level, so I wouldn't need to worry about them.

However, speaking of which, it is indeed time to further cultivate Zhuge Liang, Pang Tong, and Lu Xun.

Liu Feng had high hopes for these three and had carefully formulated a training plan. Now that they had been by his side for more than a year, it was time to let them go out and gain experience.

After the banquet, Liu Feng rested in his study for a while before summoning Zhuge Liang and the other two. Once they were seated, a maid served tea, and Liu Feng then asked, "Kongming, Shiyuan, Boyan, you have been by my side for over a year now. Do you have any plans for the future?"

After a moment of silence, the three men bowed in unison and said, "We are willing to follow the general's wishes."

Liu Feng chuckled. Zhuge was a renowned family from Langya, and Zhuge Xuan was still alive, so naturally, they wouldn't be forgotten after someone's passing. The Pang and Lu families were even more prestigious and prominent families in the county, and they would naturally have made arrangements for the future of their children long ago.

However, judging from Liu Feng's words, it seems that he has other plans for them.

The three were not only meticulous and intelligent, but also of impeccable character. In that short moment, they all made the decision to follow Liu Feng's arrangements.

"Uh-huh."

Liu Feng nodded, a satisfied smile appearing on his face: "Now that Jingzhou is pacified, the next step is to recuperate and rebuild. If nothing major happens, there shouldn't be any major battles in the next two years."

Liu Feng had thought it through clearly; he would not attack Yizhou at this time.

The eight hundred li of mountains and rivers in Yizhou are full of strategic passes and dangerous points; they are not so easy to attack.

It's rare that Liu Jiyu likes to live in his own little world, so why should I provoke him?

Now that he has driven out Liu Biao, he has avenged Liu Jiyu's past grievances. Liu Feng will surely send envoys to Yizhou to exchange goods and services. If an alliance can be established and trade can be established, that would be even more to Liu Feng's liking.

"Now, within my territory, only Jiaozhou still needs someone to pacify it for me."

Liu Feng spoke his mind: "You are all my close followers. I intend to send you to Jiaozhou to stabilize the situation and win over the people."

Jiaozhou will definitely be utilized, but the pressure from the north is increasing, so the south will naturally prioritize stability and avoid unnecessary turmoil, temporarily following the established practices.

As long as the powerful clans and gentry of Jiaozhou do not openly rebel against him, Liu Feng will not touch their privileges for the time being.

However, not granting them special privileges doesn't mean they won't be dealt with. Even the Han Dynasty had taxes to collect, not to mention that Liu Feng owed Cao Cao a huge debt in order to acquire Jiaozhou. Cao Cao would directly demand money and provisions from him, so these provisions had to be secured.

"We are willing to serve our lord!"

Zhuge Liang and the other two exchanged a glance, then immediately rose and bowed with their hands clasped in respect.

"Everyone, get up."

Liu Feng smiled and raised his hand: "I regard you all as brothers, there is no need for such formalities."

Although Zhuge Liang and the other two appeared calm, their hearts were stirred and filled with excitement by Liu Feng's simple words.

This is understandable, given Liu Feng's renowned reputation for treating scholars with respect and valuing talent, and his ability to recognize and appreciate talent is deeply ingrained in people's minds. He also treated them with utmost care and consideration on a daily basis.

Humans are not plants or trees, how could they be without feelings? Zhuge Liang and the other two were naturally grateful and willing to do their utmost for him.

"Originally, I wanted to arrange for you to go to Jiaozhou to help me seize real power in Jiaozhi and other prefectures."

Liu Feng was speaking from the heart; that was indeed his initial intention.

“But Jiaozhou is far away and remote, and there are mosquitoes and miasma. The Shi family is highly respected in the local area and can command a lot of support.”

At this point, Liu Feng shook his head and denied it, saying, "Training you all is for your future use. How could I bear to let you suffer like this? If anything happens to you, I would be heartbroken."

Hearing Liu Feng's blunt and straightforward words, Zhuge Liang and the other two felt ashamed, but at the same time, they were deeply grateful for Liu Feng's thoughtfulness.

"Let's make this training ground in Jingbei."

Liu Feng tapped on the table and began to make arrangements: "Kongming will go to Nan Commandery, Boyan will stay in Xiangyang, and Shiyuan will go to Jiangxia Commandery."

Zhuge Liang and the other two looked at each other in bewilderment. Although they were no longer commoners and had joined Liu Feng's general's staff, they were actually lowly in rank but powerful in authority. Even the prefects of various counties and the chief officials of various departments not only dared not offend them, but would also take the initiative to befriend and get close to them, intending to win them over.

The reason why Zhuge Liang and the other two could stay by Liu Feng's side for so many years was that, despite their low rank, they could rely on their personal relationships and close proximity to Liu Feng to have the right to offer advice that even the governors of other prefectures and the chief officials of various departments did not have. Moreover, they could gain a strategic perspective from Liu Feng's side, acquire more intelligence and secrets, and thus gain more useful decision-making experience.

However, regardless of the circumstances, none of the three are currently qualified to serve as regional marquises; they lack the experience and achievements even as county magistrates.

Therefore, at this moment, Zhuge Liang and the other two felt more doubt than joy.

The three men looked at each other, hesitated for a moment, and then Zhuge Liang spoke up, reminding them, "My lord, we should wait..."

"It doesn't matter."

Liu Feng was prepared and naturally understood what Zhuge Liang and the others were worried about. He immediately waved his hand and explained, "I mentioned to you in my spare time before that the three of you will definitely be recommended for the civil service this year."

Upon hearing Liu Feng's words, Zhuge Liang and the other two finally understood. After exchanging glances, they couldn't help but want to humbly decline.

"Alright, I've made my decision. There's no room for refusal."

Liu Feng glared at the three of them with annoyance. Last year, he wanted to recommend Zhuge Liang and Lu Xun for the civil service examination, but they declined.

We absolutely cannot listen to them this year, otherwise it will affect Liu Feng's subsequent arrangements.

"Liu Qi is currently serving as the Prefect of Nan Commandery. I can have him recommend Shi Yuan as a candidate for the civil service examination. I will personally recommend Boyan and Kongming."

Liu Feng is currently the Left General, holding the title of Grand General of the Left, a high-ranking position equivalent to one of the Nine Ministers. Therefore, the Left General has the independent power to recommend candidates for the civil service examination, though he can only recommend one candidate per year. However, Liu Feng also holds the position of Governor of Yangzhou, which allows him to recommend Lu Xun, a native of Wu County under Yangzhou's jurisdiction.

After explaining in this way, Pang Tong's eyes were filled with envy, all for his colleagues Zhuge Liang and Lu Xun. Of the three, only Pang Tong's recommender was not Liu Feng, which undoubtedly made Pang Tong's own application for the civil service examination somewhat pale in comparison, and Pang Tong himself felt quite uncomfortable.

Liu Feng could only offer some words of comfort to Pang Tong, as this was a helpless measure. If Pang Tong also wanted to be recommended by Liu Feng as a candidate for the civil service examination, he would probably have to wait until next year.

Time was of the essence, and Liu Feng naturally didn't want to affect the subsequent plans, so he could only ask Pang Tong to make do.

(End of this chapter)