Chapter 90

How do you deal with the group? Does anyone know? I've been fiddling with QQ for a while but can't figure it out...

With these words, Gan Ning felt all his grievances smoothed over, feeling that Lord Liu Bei valued him greatly, and it was just a misunderstanding.

"Zhongkang, untie Xingba's ropes," Chen Xi said to Xu Chu, turning his head. As long as Xu Chu was by his side, there was no need to worry even if Gan Ning suddenly became violent.

"I offended you before." Xu Chu bowed and then untied Gan Ning's ropes and released the seal on his internal energy.

"Let's have a match on the water when we have the chance!" Gan Ning accepted Xu Chu's apology, but he was still unhappy about his defeat. He felt he could defeat Xu Chu on the water.

"I wonder if my previous words will make Lord Xuande bear a grudge against me," Gan Ning said to Chen Xi, his tone weak, lacking the boldness he had before. After all, everything was a misunderstanding, and he had criticized Liu Bei in front of others. In this era, face was more important than life.

"Anyone who dares to issue a recruitment order, if they had such a narrow mind, would have been dead long ago. Recruitment orders are issued in remote areas where virtuous people do not come. Only ambitious rulers dare to do this. Those who respond are either arrogant geniuses or overconfident talents. Others don't have the courage to accept!" Chen Xi said with a smile, "Do you think Yan Zhaowang or Qin Xiaogong were petty people?"

"Listening to you, it does make sense. But if that's the case, what about the other scholars who came to Mount Tai?" Gan Ning nodded, acknowledging this point. Those who responded to the recruitment order were likely those others didn't dare to hire. If they were talented and behaved normally, they would have been recruited long ago.

"For the core figures, it's the same wherever they work. Where there's a recruitment order, there are bound to be vacant positions. It's that simple," Chen Xi said with a smile, "Xingba, you should know which category you belong to."

"Since I left Shu, I thought I was invincible. But first, I met an old man with white hair on the Yangtze River, who left me helpless after ten moves. Then, I met Zhou Tai on the river, and it took over a hundred rounds to barely defeat him. And this time..." As he spoke, Gan Ning turned to look at Xu Chu, his eyes burning with the desire to fight. He wanted to fight Xu Chu on the water to compare him with the old man with white hair. He could better estimate Xu Chu's strength.

"An old man with white hair?" Chen Xi thought for a moment and understood who Gan Ning had met. It was almost certainly the white-haired demon Huang Zhong. Compared to Lü Bu's combat power, Huang Zhong, who was at his peak, might even be stronger. It wasn't a problem for him to leave Gan Ning helpless in ten moves, especially since Gan Ning was overconfident after leaving Shu. If it were a real fight, Gan Ning might end up like Hua Xiong facing Guan Yu...

"Xingba, be patient. It's already October, and in about ten days, Zilong, Yunchang, Yide, and Ziyi will return from Qingzhou. At that time, you can spar with them. For now, focus on recovering. Lord Xuande is very interested in his naval commander, so don't lose your manners," Chen Xi said with a smile, secretly laughing to himself. This group will definitely make you understand what a happy life is.

Gan Ning looked at Xu Chu and said loudly, "Alright, I'll wait ten days, and then we'll see who's better."

Xu Chu silently turned away, not responding. Not just you, Gan Ning, even Lü Bu might have trouble facing all of us in succession, especially Zhao Zilong, who is a typical counter to you...

Gan Ning had no idea what kind of miserable days he was about to face, and he was happily waiting for Zhao Yun and the others to return to spar with him.

"Since it's settled, Xingba, let's go see Lord Xuande and Lu Jicai. As for the salt merchant incident, please don't spread it. This is the capital for Lord Xuande to govern Qingzhou," Chen Xi said, bowing to Gan Ning.

"Of course, of course. My men are all from Shu, and they won't ruin Lord Xuande's plans. Please lead me to Lord Xuande and Lu Jicai; I am willing to accept punishment," Gan Ning bowed respectfully, showing that he was not stubborn despite his arrogance.

"Good, while you were unconscious, Lord Xuande had already handled the matter, taking all the responsibility. Xingba doesn't need to worry about it. Lu Jicai is not an unreasonable person and won't pursue it further," Chen Xi said with a smile.

After that, Chen Xi led Gan Ning to Liu Bei's hall, expecting another low-level hospitality meal with a bronze tripod cooking mutton.

Sure enough, Liu Bei had set up a bronze tripod cooking mutton, a dish with no particular flavor. However, seeing Lu Jun, who was sitting at the lower seat, looking very satisfied, it was clear that he was not interested in the food but in the high-level hospitality.

Thinking about it, Chen Xi realized that among the current warlords, only Liu Bei, a member of the Han imperial family, could do this. Others didn't have the status. Thinking of this, Yuan Shao's use of a bronze tripod to cook beef in the alliance camp was already a breach of protocol. Perhaps the leader of the loyalist alliance had some special privileges, but with the imperial edict already issued, using a bronze tripod to cook beef was not a big deal. In the past, such a breach would have resulted in beheading.

Because of this, Lu Jun was even more satisfied with Liu Bei. Bringing out such a high-level hospitality showed that Liu Bei really valued him. Apologizing was not just empty words; this meal alone was enough to make him put aside any grievances, even if his servants had all died.

"Jicai, Xingba was unaware of the matter, which is why he did such a thing. Xuande offers this cup of wine as an apology," Liu Bei raised his cup and drank it in one go.

Scholars, they flatter each other. As long as you give them face, they will give you face. Chen Xi had told Liu Bei long ago that for those scholars who were famous worldwide but had average abilities, the key was to lower your stance and make them feel honored. If you couldn't make them feel honored due to your status, at least make them feel comfortable. In short, make them feel good, and everything will be easier to discuss.

Liu Bei's current behavior made Lu Jun feel honored. Not only was it the highest-level banquet, but he also toasted first as an elder, elevating him to the pinnacle. Though he didn't say any flattering words, his actions were more touching than words.

By the time Chen Xi and Gan Ning arrived, Lu Jun had already had a heart-to-heart talk with Liu Bei. He even expressed his intention to invest heavily in Mount Tai upon returning home and kept asking Liu Bei what Mount Tai lacked, offering to help acquire it. Upon hearing that they lacked food, Lu Jun immediately said that Jiangdong had plenty of food, and he would buy old grain from other families if Liu Bei could take it.

"Hero Gan, drink this cup of wine. On this journey, you did not mistreat us in the slightest, and you acted out of a sense of patriotism. Jicai, on the other hand, could not speak openly due to the Lu family's century-old reputation, leading to a misunderstanding. Drink this cup of wine, and we will be friends!" Lu Jun, seeing Gan Ning enter, picked up his cup, walked to Gan Ning, and said solemnly.

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