Mythical Three Kingdoms

In a certain place in Danyang, Eastern Wu, the Zhang Family who moved from Xuzhou to Eastern Wu now reside under the Zhang Family of Eastern Wu. Zhang Zhao and Zhang Hong looked at the letter in their hands, a hint of bitterness appearing on their faces. The two brothers exchanged glances, each seeing the bitter taste in the other’s eyes.

Once, when Liu Bei had just entered Mount Tai, they had sent someone to invite them, yet they were not even allowed through the door. Thinking back now, if they had agreed then, they might be sitting in Lub Su’s position today.

Once, when things were starting to pick up at Mount Tai, after Liu Bei had been rejected, he had the leisure to personally go to Xuzhou to invite them once more. Unfortunately, the Zhang Family shut their doors and ignored Liu Bei completely. Thinking back now, if they had showed a little more face at the time, the two brothers might be presiding over their own region by now.

The third time, when Liu Bei was building up Fenggao City, he invited them again. Unfortunately, while the first two times he came personally, the third time it was merely a letter that summoned them, which greatly displeased the brothers.

The messenger’s parting words, ”You will regret this,” made the brothers laugh heartily for a long time. They were men of great talent and intelligence in the world. Would they feel regret for a little feudal lord?

But later, they truly regretted it. Liu Bei rose like a comet, unstoppable, defeating the Yellow Turbans, overcoming Yuan Shu, defeating Cao Cao. At that time, they truly regretted it. If Liu Bei had sent a letter at that time, giving them a step down, they would have surely followed him.

But Liu Bei came and left without giving them a step down. Perhaps they did think too highly of themselves, for they certainly couldn’t achieve such a rise like Liu Bei. Being incapable yet arrogant, should indeed come with regret.

In fact, Chen Xi did not advocate for the so-called ”inviting three times and not meeting, then inviting again,” this notion of respecting the wise. A monarch has so much free time; it would be more effective to do something else.

Chen Xi believed that things should not be done thrice; as for Zhang Zhao and Zhang Hong, Chen Xi gave them enough face. At the time in Yingchuan, the Xun Family at least met with him, even if the person wasn’t there. Yet Zhang Zhao and Zhang Hong directly shut their doors against Liu Bei, who had personally come to invite them.

The third time Liu Bei wanted to go personally, it was Chen Xi who stopped him. A letter was enough; whether they came was not important. Holding others too high, and seeing oneself too low was not good. There would be a time for regret, and that phrase was something Chen Xi specifically asked the messenger to convey.

From then on, Liu Bei never invited or summoned anyone more than three times. Three times was enough; beyond that was not sincerity, but teasing.

As Chen Xi said, ”If you want to be an official, enter service. If you don’t want to, then don’t boost your own reputation. Stop pretending!”

Chen Xi sent this statement especially to those capable officials who didn’t come when invited, specifically meaning the Zhang Brothers. Having Lub Su, Chen Xi couldn’t be bothered with them anymore. Later when Li Youu came, and they even captured Zhuge Liang, Chen Xi completely lost interest in those two turncoats.

Admitting that you Two Zhangs are among the top ten in internal governance in the world, so what? We have enough people; one more of you is not more, one less is not less. If you want to come, I’ll give you a position, using only talent. If you don’t want to come, I will definitely not invite you. We are not so cheap as to let you Zhang Family people humiliate us.

Thus, the Two Zhangs drifted further from Liu Bei, yet Liu Bei grew stronger, and the Two Zhangs regretted more and more. They finally understood why the last messenger who came to invite them left and returned to say to them, ”My master’s strategist wishes me to tell you two, ’You will regret this.’

Because of this one sentence, they couldn’t yield, regret as true as it was. But with that sentence in the way, if they were to go and submit to Liu Bei, how could they face themselves?

”Alas, cousin, we truly had eyes but were blind back then,” Zhang Zhao said, tossing the letter aside, a faintly desolate look appeared on his face, blocked by a single phrase from Chen Xi. As Liu Bei grew stronger and even reached the peak, both began developing a mental block, growing more and more frustrated.

”That one probably foresaw this situation back then. We gave Liu Xuande the cold shoulder, and he took away our step in return, a case of tit for tat,” Zhang Hong said, raising his head slightly and closing his eyes with a sense of helplessness. ”Who would’ve thought that young man back then would have such means.”

”Alas, what do we do now?” Zhang Zhao said gloomily, blocked for years by that phrase, unable to resolve their inner knot.

”Let’s go, admit our mistakes. Even if they say we have no integrity, so be it. Who asked us not to recognize the gold inlaid jade back then?” Zhang Hong sighed.

After leaving Xuzhou, Zhang Zhao and the others paid attention to the four corners often, and among the few who stood out as feudal lords in their eyes, only one could compare to Liu Bei, and that one had already fallen. Of course, the Zhang Brothers were not great at recognizing people.

”…” Zhang Zhao remained silent. He was unwilling; the events of the past three years deeply affected him. Liu Bei turned from a nobody to the mightiest overlord in the world.

”I am unwilling,” Zhang Zhao said after all, being younger than Zhang Hong and having not yet mastered the art of maintaining composure. And to Zhang Hong’s suggestion, he merely replied in silence.

”I am also unwilling, but no matter how much unwillingness, what’s the use? Do you want to bury your talents in the mountains and forests?” Zhang Hong said helplessly. Learning martial arts and civil warrior techniques to serve the emperor was most people’s idea in ancient times. Without other options, no one would choose reclusion.

”Alas…” All of Zhang Zhao’s unwillingness melted into this long sigh. If only he had realized today, he wouldn’t have regretted the past!

Thus, Zhang Zhao and Zhang Hong prepared to cross the river from Danyang, intending to return to Xuzhou. Unfortunately, by this time, the Yangtze River was already blocked by Yuan Liu, leaving Zhang Zhao and Zhang Hong no choice but to go to Shouchun and wait for an opportunity.

”This Sunx Bofu has some capabilities as well,” Zhang Zhao and Zhang Hong observed while walking down the main street in Shouchun.

”Pretty much,” Zhang Hong did not bother responding to Zhang Zhao. He knew Zhang Zhao was unwilling, after all, the phrase ”You will regret this” still lingered in their minds, occasionally striking a blow at their hearts.

On the other side, Zhou Yu, along with Zhuge Jin, Gu Yong, Yuy Fan, Lyu Fan and others, was handling government affairs. As for Pang Tong, he was already dead drunk. In all of Sunx Ce’s realm, Pang Tong was probably the only one with such privileges.

Pang Tong blatantly claimed he didn’t understand government affairs and only knew military strategy. Even so, under circumstances where he could still handle the work, he chose to get himself drunk rather than manage the tedious affairs.

While handling affairs, Zhou Yu suddenly sensed something as Zhang Hong and Zhang Zhao entered a certain range, abruptly lifting his head, but then lost the perception of spiritual talent.

”Someone, go inform Bofu,” Zhou Yu thought for a moment and decided to notify Sunx Ce first. (To be continued. If you like this work, please vote for it on Qidian (qidian.com) with recommendation votes and monthly votes. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.)