Volume 3: The Land of Jingchu Chapter 216: Argumentative Spirit Comes East
Huang Zu has been in a bad mood recently. When Bai Tu appointed Sun Ce as the governor of Danyang, he expected this day to come, but he didn't expect that Yuan Shu would be finished so soon!
Sure enough, this spring, after Bai Tu wrote a righteous manifesto to Liu Biao, he began to dispatch troops to Jingzhou, among which Sun Ce was the one leading the troops in Jiangxia.
Huang Zu never thought of surrendering...
It’s not that he has a lot of backbone, but Sun Ce is the son of Sun Jian, and Sun Jian died at his hands.
Even if he surrendered, Sun Ce would not let him see the white map!
What's more, one of Bai Tu's reasons for declaring war was that Huang Zu had killed an official appointed by the imperial court without authorization - it was obvious that it was Sun Jian who had secretly kept the imperial seal at that time, so he intercepted him halfway, right?
Huang Zu also understood that it would be a waste of time to talk about this with Bai Tu, so the right thing to do was to actively prepare for war!
He has been in Jiangxia for so many years, but he has not been able to cultivate his character. The fierce tiger of Jiangdong, Sun Jian, was killed here. It is not easy for Sun Ce to come in.
But... Liu Biao was distracted at this time and sent a guy who was not troublesome but very annoying - Ni Heng.
Although this guy was famous, Huang Zu always felt that when he talked to him, he seemed to look down on him!
Ni Heng, courtesy name Zhengping, was the most argumentative and sarcastic master in the Eastern Han Dynasty.
In the original history, he was a famous scholar recommended to Cao Cao by Kong Rong, and he was very famous in the world.
He was arrogant because of his talent, and left behind the allusion of "cursing the thief while naked". From the perspective of Cao Cao being a "Han traitor", Ni Heng really enjoyed cursing, and there are many praises for Ni Heng in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, but... there was really no logic to Ni Heng's curse.
It would have been fine to scold Cao Cao for his ambition against the Han Dynasty, but Ni Heng started saying that Cao Cao had no one under his command, Xun Yu was only fit to cry at funerals, Xun You could only guard graves, Cheng Yu should be the night watchman, Guo Jia could write sour poems, Zhang Liao was a good drummer, Xu Chu should be herding cattle, Le Jin could read notices, Li Dian's speed should be used to deliver letters, Xiahou Dun could only protect himself, Cao Ren was only good at asking for money, and finally there was one sentence - those not mentioned are not as good as the above, they just have mouths to eat!
Moreover, he even compares himself to be "knowledgeable about astronomy and geography, comparable to the ancient wise kings and enough to make Confucius ashamed." In short, he has nothing in common with you vulgar people!
Even though Cao Cao was a tolerant person, he was still very angry with Ni Heng. Zhang Liao, who was standing next to him, wanted to chop him up, but was stopped by Cao Cao. However, in order to humiliate Ni Heng, Cao Cao asked him to beat the drum to cheer him up... Then, Ni Heng took off his clothes, beat the drum and cursed, with rhythm.
However, Cao Cao was indeed a man who had suffered losses before - because the scholars in Yanzhou mocked him as the grandson of a eunuch, Cao Cao went on a killing spree in Yanzhou. As a result, the Yanzhou gentry took advantage of his attack on Xu to turn against Lu Bu.
Cao Cao remembered this lesson. Even though he was called a grandson this time, Cao Cao did not do anything to Ni Heng. He just sent him to Liu Biao, ostensibly to persuade Liu Biao to surrender.
On the one hand, he wanted to disgust Liu Biao, and on the other hand, he also wanted to kill someone with a borrowed knife!
It can be said that Ni Heng is worthy of being called a "nitpicker + troll". Even the white map effect did not change his life trajectory much.
It was just that the excuse for being sent to Jingzhou by Cao Cao was changed. When the court conferred the title of "Marquis of Chu" on Bai Tu, Liu Biao sent people to Xu Du to protest. Afterwards... the envoy sent by Cao Cao was Ni Heng!
Logically speaking, if Ni Heng couldn't stand Cao Cao's ambition, he should have some good feelings towards Liu Biao, who came from a royal family?
Although Liu Biao's royal family origin is very distant from that of the current emperor, and can be traced back to Emperor Wu of Han in the Western Han Dynasty, he is still a descendant of the Liu family.
However, as Ni Heng was the most combative troll among trolls, he secretly ridiculed and spoke harshly to Liu Biao when he met him, which made Liu Biao so angry... that he sent him to Jiangxia.
Liu Biao was not stupid. Cao Cao was afraid that killing him would ruin his reputation, so wasn’t Liu Biao afraid?
Send him to Jiangxia to be killed by Huang Zu - this is probably the chain of contempt, Cao Cao despises Liu Biao, and Liu Biao also despises Huang Zu, even though... the latter two have some vassal relationship.
As for Huang Zu, Ni Heng said something that really showed his level!
Huang Zu asked Ni Heng if there were any remarkable people in Xudu. In the novel, Ni Heng’s answer was: There was a great talent Kong Rong and a minor talent Yang Xiu, but the rest were useless…
Wow, just look at the two people he admires, and you can probably get an idea of his level.
As for now, Huang Zu asked Ni Heng the same question at the banquet, and Ni Heng said directly: "After Wen Ju went south, half of the Central Plains Wen Dao also went there!"
Huang Zu didn't need to be reminded to know... Where's the other half? The other half is him, Ni Heng!
More importantly, Huang Zu also did not understand the situation and specifically asked, "Then how do you think I compare with Prime Minister Cao?" Naturally, he was humiliated by Ni Heng.
"You? When you face a mere white map, you are looking forward backward. How can you have any fighting spirit?" Ni Heng said directly.
Huang Zu was so angry that he wanted to behead Ni Heng on the spot. Fortunately, history was a little different this time. Huang Zu's eldest son Huang She pleaded for mercy in time and saved Ni Heng - he had become Ni Heng's buddy.
After being stopped by his son, Huang Zu calmed down a little and knew how to consider the pros and cons.
Think about Ni Heng's journey, from Xudu to Xiangyang, and then to Echeng... Why is he still alive today?
Huang Zu felt that he could not be taken advantage of, so he laughed and said, "Hahaha, Zhengping, you are right! I was actually testing you... As expected, you are so courageous. I will give you an important task! Didn't you say that I dare not declare war on Bai Tu? Well, then I will send you to declare war on that Han thief who deceives the world and steals his reputation... Let's set off tonight!"
Huang Zu said that he had seen through Liu Biao's little trick, and... mysteriously confidently put Bai Tu at the bottom of his contempt chain.
So, soon after Sun Ce saw the "Wu Ya Great Warship" and its supporting fleet, when he was ordering the navy to run in, a scout came to report that there was a small boat coming from upstream, claiming to be Huang Zu's messenger.
Although Sun Ce hated Huang Zu so much that he wanted to eat his flesh and sleep on his skin, since Huang Zu was an envoy, Sun Ce still went to meet him specially.
"Are you Huang Zu's subordinate?" Sun Ce asked while sitting firmly in the central military tent.
"Huang Zu is just a clay god in the temple. How can he control the sun, moon, dragon and phoenix?" Ni Heng said with a sneer.
Sun Ce: ???
Sun Ce was considering whether to call a military doctor over.
Zhou Yu, standing aside, specially interjected, "Haha, I've heard of Pingyuan Ni Heng's name for a long time. Today... it's better to meet him in person than to hear about him."
Sun Ce thought to himself: Is it very famous? Why haven't I heard of it?
However, after cooperating with Zhou Yu for a long time, Sun Ce knew what Zhou Yu meant. After Zhou Yu secretly urged him with his eyes, he still said, "Ah! It turned out to be Ni Heng. I am so sorry."
"But... since you are so disdainful of Huang Zu, why did you send a declaration of war to Huang Zu?" Sun Ce asked.
"Oh, I saw through Huang Zu's cowardly appearance and said that he didn't dare to declare war on Bai Gong. But who would have thought that he was not only cowardly, but also brainless and irritable. He actually asked me to send him a declaration of war." Ni Heng said disdainfully.
Sun Ce: ...
So you are blocking both ends? If the other party was not Huang Zu, Sun Ce would really have sympathized with him.
"Then I can write a letter to avoid my elder brother's misunderstanding." Sun Ce said kindly.
Unfortunately, he didn't understand Ni Heng yet. Hearing what he said, Ni Heng glared and said, "Sending a letter? What letter? If Bai Tu is really worthy of his reputation, he will naturally tolerate me and recognize me. If he is not worthy of his reputation, then let alone sending a declaration of war to Huang Zu, even if I, Ni Heng, humiliate him on behalf of all the people in the world, what's wrong with that?"
Ni Heng is about the same age as Bai Tu and Sun Ce. His clothes and boots look very old, and his long hair is draped behind his back, tied only with an old headband. However, when it comes to arguing with or scolding someone, he can stretch his neck as long as two fists, looking... lifelike.
Sun Ce was also irritated by this little nagging spirit, and sneered, "How can you be qualified to criticize my elder brother?"
"Me? I know astronomy and geography, even better than Yao and Shun!" Ni Heng said with his neck stiff.
"Oh, so... apart from delivering letters to Cao Cao, Liu Biao and Huang Zu, what else have you done?" Sun Ce dug his ears and blew on them frivolously.
"You... huh, a blind beggar on the street, how can you recognize Baoyu? You still thought that the white map would be any different. Now looking at his subordinates like this, I'm afraid they are also people who seek fame and reputation." Ni Heng stretched his neck a little more, and excitement appeared in his eyes, as if... it feels good for him to scold people?
"I don't know whether Cao Cao, Liu Biao and Huang Zu were blind beggars, but do you know what the biggest difference between my eldest brother and them is?" Sun Ce calmed down instead, his face and eyes were very cold.
"Would you be more suitable to be an actor?" Ni Heng and Sun Ce looked at each other. It must be said that Ni Heng was not inferior to others in courage.
Actor, that is, the actor in the old days...
There were rumors in the Central Plains and Jingzhou that Bai Tu not only indulged himself in watching dances and listening to operas in Jiangdong, but he even favored the actors. He often ignored government affairs and fooled around with the actors. Someone even saw him singing with the actors in person without any dignity and moral conduct!
This statement would spread in the Central Plains and Jingzhou. Needless to say, it was secretly promoted by Cao Cao and Liu Biao. Mutual slander was also a common tactic among the princes. If Bai Tu's reputation was worse, they would even dare to say that Bai Tu ate raw human hearts and livers.
However, this is not groundless. During the Chinese New Year this year, Bai Tu, under the pretext of "sharing happiness with the people", specially hired actors from Jiangdong, Huainan, and even from Central Plains, Guanzhong, and Jingzhou to come to Jinling. He did personally interfere with their rehearsals, and there are even now performances of "The Peacock Flies Southeast" in Jiangdong and Huaiyang.
At first, Yan Xiang, who had taken refuge in the General's Mansion, told Bai Tu a story about King Zhou's favorite entertainer...
However, within two months, Yan Xiang came to apologize to Bai Tu again - not only did Old Yan dare to say it, but he also dared to admit when he was wrong!
He saw the role these actors played among the people and understood that Bai Tu was not doing it for pleasure. He also appreciated Bai Tu's intentions, so he apologized to Bai Tu specifically.
Bai Tu not only did not blame him, but rewarded him with brocade and encouraged him to continue to "dare to speak" in the future.
However, Ni Heng didn't know all this, he just heard some rumors, so he used this as an excuse to ridicule Bai Tu!
“No, the biggest difference between my elder brother and them is that they dare not kill you because of your reputation, but my elder brother will not kill you only because of the kindness in his heart. Your reputation is worthless in front of my elder brother, and... as long as you dare to say this in front of people in Jinling or Yangzhou, the people will beat you to death first.” Sun Ce stared at him and said.
"Oh? So the public security in Yangzhou is very bad? That's right, Wang Lang is just good at talking and the Ministry of Justice is even more clueless, it's normal for it to be like this!" Ni Heng argued.
Sun Ce really began to consider whether he should continue to be his brother here, so as to avoid causing more trouble for his elder brother if he went to Jinling!
