What is the world?
The Book of Zhou states: "The royal position is based on the origin of virtue; the common people follow the laws of the world, making the king's light shine bright."
The world is everything under heaven; it is all of creation.
Zhuge Liang pondered for several months. When he met Shaodian Qingnu again, he sighed and bowed with his hands clasped, saying, "Liang is ashamed. Months ago, Jade Color asked for my view on the world. I have thought long and hard, yet I still only possess these shallow insights."
"I believe the world... is named the world, but in reality, it is not! It is the people."
"The people are the world."
As he spoke, Zhuge Liang’s expression held a hint of genuine shame.
He was likely not the first to say such things, but other than this, he did not know how else to explain the concept of the world.
But such an explanation was already excellent! Or rather, it was exactly as it should be.
Shaodian Qingnu’s gaze settled on Zhuge Liang. She paused for a moment before suddenly asking, "Then I wonder if Kongming has the desire to step forth and support the world, to bring relief to the common people?"
Without hesitation, Zhuge Liang nodded and replied, "Naturally, I do! It is only..."
He hesitated, a shadow crossing his brow.
Shaodian Qingnu’s eyes flickered slightly. "Only what?"
"My learning is shallow, and my talents are meager. I fear I am not up to the task!"
Zhuge Liang sighed, but after finishing his sentence, he saw an undisguised smile on Shaodian Qingnu’s face.
Seeing her laugh, he couldn't help but ask in confusion, "Jade Color, what are you laughing at?"
"If you wish to learn, I will teach you!"
"Whether it is astronomy or geography, classics or historical records, or even military formations and the education of the masses! As long as you wish to learn, I will teach you. What do you say?"
Shaodian Qingnu made this offer to Zhuge Liang.
"Jade Color..."
Zhuge Liang stood dazed, staring at Shaodian Qingnu for a long while before suddenly performing a deep formal bow. "... No, Master!"
Shaodian Qingnu waved her hand dismissively. "Do not call me Master. I will still call you Kongming, and you should still call me Jade Color."
Hearing this, Zhuge Liang gave a heavy nod. "Very well!"
Once he began studying under Shaodian Qingnu, Zhuge Liang truly realized the vastness of her knowledge. How could such a young woman understand so many classics and possess such wisdom!
What Zhuge Liang did not know was that Shaodian Qingnu admired him as well.
She was merely relying on her long life and wide experiences, but Zhuge Liang was different.
He truly used his mortal body to uphold a nation's military, politics, civil governance, economy, and various industries. He was truly worthy of being honored by later generations as the prime minister of the heavenly pivot.
Shaodian Qingnu stayed in Longzhong for two years. Before departing, she handed a military treatise to Zhuge Liang.
"This is Han Xin’s military treatise. Kongming, take it!"
"This..."
Zhuge Liang looked astonished.
Who in the Han dynasty did not know the great name of Han Xin? But he had been executed early on by Empress Lu. To think such a complete military treatise had been passed down?
Zhuge Liang did not believe Shaodian Qingnu was lying to him; there was simply no need for it.
Shaodian Qingnu had taught the contents of this treatise to the Yellow Turban Army as well, but not everyone possessed the talent of a Wei Qing or Huo Qubing. She looked at Zhuge Liang and cautioned, "Kongming, study it well! However, do not believe every word in it. Remember, the most important part of military strategy is knowing how to adapt to changes."
"Jade Color! I can never repay the debt of such teaching!"
Zhuge Liang bowed deeply to Shaodian Qingnu.
Shaodian Qingnu watched him for a moment before clasping her hands. "Kongming, I await the day you achieve fame and merit. Farewell!"
Zhuge Liang personally escorted Shaodian Qingnu for thirty li.
"Jade Color, take care on your journey!"
"You take care as well."
Shaodian Qingnu withdrew her gaze and bid farewell to Zhuge Liang.
...
In the region of Xiapi, there had been countless large-scale battles throughout the generations.
At the end of last year, Cao Cao and Liu Bei led their troops to besiege Xiapi. By the end of the year, Xiapi had no soldiers left to resist.
After all, although Lu Bu was matchless in bravery, he was, in the end, only one man.
After parting with Zhuge Liang, Shaodian Qingnu had come all the way to Xiapi. She had originally wanted to see this legendary number one warrior of the Three Kingdoms, but she didn't know if she had arrived at a bad time or a perfectly coincidental one, as she encountered Lu Bu while he was drunk.
She saw Lu Bu collapsed drunk inside a pavilion. For such a grand general, there was not a single person attending to him in the residence.
"Inconsistent and deserted by all."
Shaodian Qingnu’s voice reached Lu Bu’s ears. He sat up instantly and roared, "Who? Who is noisy in the shadows! Who dares to speak ill before this general?"
As soon as his voice fell, he saw Shaodian Qingnu jump down from the corridor. "If I said it, then what?"
Hearing the voice, Lu Bu looked over with a face full of rage, but the moment he saw Shaodian Qingnu’s face, he suddenly froze.
Before Shaodian Qingnu could make a move, he suddenly stood up, his shock replacing his drunkenness.
He asked, "Are you... human or ghost?"
When Lu Bu asked this, Shaodian Qingnu was stunned. She looked him up and down before asking in a low voice, "Why... why would you ask such a question?"
"I saw you in Duling!" Lu Bu muttered to himself.
Duling?
Shaodian Qingnu frowned. Lu Bu seemed to have sobered up instantly; he suddenly left the pavilion and ran toward the house.
Shaodian Qingnu paused for a moment before following him. She saw Lu Bu rummaging through chests and cupboards in the room, finally pulling out a scroll of silk painting from the bottom of a chest.
On the silk painting, the ink was faint, depicting Shaodian Qingnu’s likeness.
"This painting... it came from Emperor Xuan’s tomb. It looks exactly like you! Are you... human or ghost?"
"Or are you... a god?"
Shaodian Qingnu’s gaze fell on the painting, and she suddenly understood.
She remembered now.
Over two hundred years ago, Liu Xun had said he would take everything about her into Duling.
After two hundred years of twists and turns, she never expected it would be dug up by Lu Bu.
At this thought, Shaodian Qingnu’s expression suddenly changed. She rushed forward and kicked Lu Bu down, then gave him a severe beating, cursing, "You brat! I haven't even gone to raid the imperial tomb yet, and you dared to beat me to it! Take this—!!"
"The Greenwood and Red Eyebrows raided it too!" Lu Bu argued.
Shaodian Qingnu added, "So I beat them up too!"
He wanted to resist, but he was no match for Shaodian Qingnu and could only take the beating in earnest. Finally, Shaodian Qingnu destroyed the silk painting.
Number one warrior of the Three Kingdoms?
Pah!
Grave robber!
When Lu Bu woke up, he felt pain all over his body. Shaodian Qingnu was long gone.
Before he could react, people rushed in, bound him tightly, dragged him out of the general’s residence, and brought him before Cao Cao and Liu Bei.
Cao Cao sat high in the hall, looking down at Lu Bu.
Liu Bei sat beside him.
"Fengxian, you were exceptionally heroic at Hulao Pass in the past. Did you ever imagine this day? You are inconsistent, allying with Yuan Shu and obstructing my army for many months. You truly deserve to die!"
Lu Bu’s hands and feet were bound, but hearing this, he laughed and said to Cao Cao, "Your Excellency's only worry was me. Now that I am captured by the Prime Minister, I am willing to surrender. In the future, if the Prime Minister leads the infantry and I lead the cavalry, no lord in the world will be a match for us!"
Upon hearing these words, Cao Cao was indeed somewhat moved, but he did not agree immediately. Instead, he looked at Liu Bei and asked in a low voice, "What does Xuande think?"
Liu Bei’s gaze fell on Lu Bu. After a moment, he said to Cao Cao, "Does the Prime Minister not recall the matters of Ding Yuan and Dong Zhuo?"
Ding Yuan! Dong Zhuo!
At the thought of their ends, Cao Cao sighed.
What a pity for such a brave general!
The surrounding men stepped forward to drag Lu Bu away. He hurriedly shouted, "Prime Minister, wait... I still have a secret of the Han house to report! Han has a goddess—!!"
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