The Duke of Shu Han began guarding Jingzhou in place of Guan Yu.

Chapter 14 Reunion with Poon Chun
"People with lofty ambitions are ultimately a minority."

Upon hearing this, Mi Wei suddenly understood.

To preserve one's life in chaotic times is only human nature!
Even Zhuge Liang had such plans when he was young.

Asked again:
"Then what do you think my uncle thinks?"

"Ha, how dare I presume to know what the Lord is thinking!"

Mi Wei waved his hand: "Speak freely!"

Jiao Zhong stroked his sparse white beard and said, "Lord Mi is slightly different from the local gentry; he is an outsider."

Guan Xing also became interested at this point and interjected:
“The prefect has always been an official who is not based locally, but in the court and on his own reputation. He is indeed different.”

Upon hearing this, Jiao Zhong shook his head and said, "No, that's not entirely true."

"Although Lord Mi came to Jingzhou following the King and his elder brother, ever since General Anhan followed the King into Shu, he has been secretly planning to establish his own power base in Nanjun."

"Over the years, he has done a lot to win over the local gentry... probably hoping to be accepted by them."

Mi Wei recalled what he had seen and heard in the prefectural government during this period, and it was indeed true.

Although when a prefect is parachuted into a place, he will often invite local talented and virtuous people to serve as his officials in order to gain the support of local forces.

However, the proportion of local scholars under Mi Fang's tutelage was too high, with almost no direct followers.

Thinking about it this way, Zhan Sifu, the barbarian gatekeeper, seems rather complicated.

This was in case a conflict arose with the locals, and a barbarian who was not involved in the interests of the local gentry was needed to guard the most critical position and ensure his personal safety.

The Pope's Swiss Guard?
The Balkan personal guards of the Austrian Sultanate?

Miwei suddenly had a better grasp of his uncle's mindset.

"One last question: Has my uncle been accepted by the local gentry?"

Jiao Zhong replied without hesitation this time:
"I'm afraid it's still far from perfect."

"But the two sides have remained at peace... after all, General Guan is a formidable figure over everyone!"

Upon hearing this, Mi Wei suddenly understood.

Seeing this, Guan Xing couldn't help but ask:
"Lord Deer, have you come up with a good solution to break this deadlock?"

Mi Wei: "It's not so much that I have a plan, but I have a clearer understanding of the situation in Jiangling, Nanjun, and even the whole of Jingzhou than before."

Guan Xing became even more curious.

Before he could ask any further questions, the governor's mansion suddenly reopened its gates.

A servant came out to deliver a message, saying that Pan Jun had instructed his disciple Mi Wei to come in immediately.

Pan Jun specifically emphasized the identity of "disciple," which clearly did not include Guan Xing and others.

"That man surnamed Pan has ill intentions. Perhaps you shouldn't go, Lord Mi?"

Mi Wei shook his head: "We still need to meet him."

"The current situation is like a game of chess."

"If I make a move and he makes a move, and everyone follows the rules, the situation will not get out of control."

Guan Xing's eyes lit up:
"Like the chess game between the two wise men Zhang Liang and Fan Zeng at the Feast at Hongmen?"

Mi Wei thought to himself, "Isn't this a plot from a movie that's been drastically altered? This part isn't in the historical records."

But he quickly realized that Guan Xing's "playing chess" meant the same thing as what he had just said, it was just a metaphor.

He nodded and said, "That's right."

But as soon as he said it, he realized his mistake.

No, why are you comparing me to Zhang Liang again?!
I don't have that skill level, you know?

However, Guan Xing had already grabbed his hand and they walked together toward the gate of the governor's mansion.

As they walked, they continued with great interest:
"If Lord Mi is Zhang Liang, the strategist, then I will be Fan Kuai, the bodyguard!"

Mi Wei thought to himself: No, buddy!

……

When they met again, Poon Chun had changed into a more formal outfit and wiped his face clean.

He also became more direct and straightforward in his speech.

"This son resembles his father."

Pan Jun pointed to Guan Xing, whose face was ruddy.

"No matter how many books one has read, one is still more courageous than strategic."

"But judging from his recent actions, he seems to have a certain method, which means he must have gained a wise strategist by his side."

After saying that, Pan Jun stared intently at Mi Wei.

Mi Wei subconsciously turned his head to look at Guan Xing.

As it turned out, Guan Xing was already watching him.

Mi Wei sighed inwardly and could only turn to Pan Jun and say:

"Since you already know about our recent actions, why not give us a straight answer: will you help us or not?"

"Or to put it more clearly, sir, do you intend to help Liu or Sun?"

Pan Jun stroked his beard, his face ashen.

The atmosphere became tense for a moment.

"Disciple understands."

Mi Wei bowed slightly, then looked up and said:

"What are your instructions, Master?"

Pan Jun then spoke:
"Although Mi Zizhong is a kind and upright man, he has never been good at handling practical affairs. I never expected that he would have such a son." As soon as these words were spoken, Mi Wei was still unaware of what was happening, but Guan Xing next to him had already snorted coldly.

Then Mi Wei realized that Pan Jun was scolding his father to his son again.

Why does Old Deng always talk badly about people behind their backs?

At this moment, Pan Jun took out a scroll of bamboo slips from his sleeve.

“My teacher Song Zhongzi once wrote a commentary on Yang Ziyun’s Fayan, and this is one of the volumes.”

"Now that you have become my disciple, you shall begin by learning from this very volume."

Yang Ziyun is the same Yang Xiong mentioned in the saying "Zhuge's thatched cottage in Nanyang, Ziyun's pavilion in Western Shu".

He was a prominent Confucian scholar in the late Western Han Dynasty.

Although his works were not the "classics" most valued by scholars at the time, they still had a significant influence.

Mi Wei took the bamboo slips and found that one of the bamboo slips was turned outwards, revealing a line of characters:

[A person who does not learn, though free from worries, is no better than a bird.]

Guan Xing's cold snort came from beside him again.

Miwei was a beat too slow to react.

Pan Jun was satirizing him for neglecting classical studies, indulging in cunning and unorthodox methods, and being unproductive.

But how to say it?

Miwei didn't feel mocked.

The main reason is that, as a person from later generations, he was not interested in the tedious study of the classics.

You know it's because there's a lack of immersion!
What he said to Guan Xing last night wasn't entirely to take care of the other person's feelings.

He truly believed that in chaotic times, learning to defeat ten thousand men was more meaningful than studying scriptures.

At this moment, Pan Jun saw that Mi Wei only paused slightly when he saw the words he had deliberately revealed before calmly accepting them.

He showed not the slightest bit of shame or annoyance.

This was in stark contrast to Guan Xing, who was standing next to him, always jumping up and down in surprise.

A slight tremor ran through my heart:
"So young, yet possessing such composure, he's not easy to deal with..."

Just as I was thinking about how to continue making my move, Mi Wei spoke first:
"Judging from your complexion, you do not seem to be unwell. May I ask what ailment you are currently suffering from?"

It is only natural for a student to care about their teacher's health.

But Poon Chun certainly didn't only think about this one aspect.

Is this an attempt to exploit my "feigning illness to avoid trouble" argument?
Or perhaps we should turn the tables and find someone to replace me in my position at the state level?

Pan Jun immediately thought of many possibilities.

But he's not worried.

In particular, the positions were replaced.

His true reliance was never his position as the Chief Administrator of Jingzhou.

It wasn't even an appointment by Liu Bei to stay and manage the affairs of the prefecture.

"Reputation" is what matters.

Why do prefects and governors always like to recruit local celebrities into their ranks?
Why did scholars in the Han Dynasty often cultivate their reputation by declining official positions?

Because a person's reputation in Shilin is the foundation upon which he obtains authority.

Not the other way around.

The scholar-officials of the Han Dynasty had been playing this game for hundreds of years.

As one of the best, Poon Chun was naturally skilled.

He calmly replied:
"At first, I just couldn't eat."

"Later, I gradually felt unbearable abdominal pain. I sought medical treatment everywhere, but my condition did not improve. I was almost ready to prepare for a funeral."

"Fortunately, I later met a great doctor who said that my illness was not in my abdomen, but in my heart, and that it was a 'heart disease'. He said I should rest at home for a while."

"Speaking of which, this miracle doctor's surname is Zhang... he is the one who cured you earlier."

Both witness testimony and physical evidence are available.

Flawless.

Mi Wei and Guan Xing exchanged a glance.

Seemingly surprised and somewhat unwilling, he continued to press for answers:

"Since it is a 'mental affliction,' may I ask what is troubling you, sir?"

Pan Jun looked at Guan Xing, sneered, and remained silent.

The meaning couldn't be clearer: it was because of Guan Yu's suppression.

This makes it even more flawless.

Mi Wei seemed to give up on further probing, exchanged a few polite words, and then took his leave with Guan Xing.

As Pershing watched the other man's departing figure, he chuckled to himself.

"After all, he's just a greenhorn..."

……

When Guan Xing came out, he was looking very depressed.

Unexpectedly, Mi Wei grabbed his hand forcefully and whispered:
"Lord Guan! Please help me find out the truth about two things immediately, and quickly!"

(End of this chapter)