Chapter 89 Chapter Eleven

The two were having a good time drinking, when suddenly the sky darkened, dark clouds covered, and a heavy rain was coming.The two lost interest in wine at the same time. Cao Mengde was full of pride and said to Liu Bei in a long voice: "Do you know the change of the dragon?" "I don't know much, and I want to hear the prime minister's opinion." Liu Bei said. Cao Mengde made a great poem, saying: "The wind rises from the end of Qingping, and the dragon is born in the big lake. The dragon can be big or small, can rise or hide, big can make clouds and fog, and small can hide its shape. It is soaring in the universe, and hiding in the waves. Now is the deep spring time, and the dragon is changing with the time, just like a man who achieves his will and crosses the world. The dragon is a thing, like a hero in the world."

Liu Bei was fascinated by this, and repeatedly praised: "Prime Minister Xianglong's insights are really incisive, and he deserves to be a generation of writers. I admire, admire." Cao Mengde changed the subject and said: "Xuande has traveled all over the world and read all the vicissitudes of life. He must know the heroes of today. Why don't you tell me and let me see and see." Liu Bei felt that there was profound content hidden in Cao Mengde's words, so he warned himself not to utter wild words. "I'm just an ordinary person, so I don't have the insight to recognize heroes." Liu Bei said.

Cao Mengde was a little unhappy. People said that Liu Bei's city mansion was very deep, and it was true.Cao Mengde sneered secretly in his heart, the city, the city of the dumb is deep, the dumb has farts! He suddenly looked down on the big ears of this so-called hero. "I really don't like people who pretend to be too humble." Cao Mengde had made up his mind to listen to Liu Bei's views on heroes, so he used words to provoke him. Under pressure, Liu Bei said: "I was recommended by the prime minister to serve in the imperial court. I have never met the heroes of the world."

"It doesn't matter, it's okay to tell them their names?" Liu Bei was cornered and meditated for a while. Liu Bei said cautiously: "Yuan Shu in Huainan has enough food and supplies. I wonder if he can be called a hero?" Cao Mengde smiled contemptuously, and blurted out: "Yuan Shu is just an old bone in the wilderness, I can catch him sooner or later." Liu Bei then moved out of Yuan Shao, thinking that Yuan Shao would definitely meet Cao Mengde's heroic standards. Cao Mengde just shook his head. Liu Bei was a little unconvinced, and he argued: "Hebei Yuan Shao, the fourth and third prince, was born in a famous family, with a noble status and a wide range of connections. Now he is in Jizhou, and there are many capable people in his subordinates. I want to be regarded as a hero of the time. .”

Cao Mengde said: "Yuan Shao likes to bluff, but he doesn't have much courage. Although he has a bit of strategy, he can't make a quick decision. Although he has the ambition to do great things, he cherishes his body too much. He doesn't have the courage to sacrifice his life for pursuit. He forgets big principles when he sees small gains. Such a person is certainly not a hero.” After listening to Cao Mengde's analysis, Liu Bei also felt that it made sense. "Liu Biao of Jingzhou, Wei Town of Kyushu, known as Bajun. I don't know if he can be called a hero." Seeing that the atmosphere was harmonious, Liu Bei let it go.

"Liu Biao has a false name and no strength, so he is not worthy of the name of a hero." Cao Mengde easily rejected Liu Bei's proposal. "Jiangdong Sun Ce, who is full of blood, dominates one side, can he be called a hero?" "In the name of my father, how can I be considered a hero." "Can Liu Zhang of Yizhou be called a hero?" "Although Liu Zhang belongs to the clan, he sits on the mountain and eats nothing. He is just a guard dog, and he is not worthy of being called a hero." "Zhang Xiu, Zhang Lu, Han Sui..." "A mere child is even more worthless."

Liu Bei racked his brains to list a large number of influential people today, but was denied by Cao Mengde. "Then, what is a hero, I can only ask the Prime Minister to enlighten me." Liu Bei really wanted to embarrass Cao Mengde in turn to frustrate his spirit. Cao Mengde said: "Huang Shigong, the old man of Shiqiao, presented Zhang Liang with a military book called "Three Strategies". The unrivaled heroes who are in chaos, but the brave men who are willing to pour out their wisdom for the country and sacrifice for their ideals." Liu Bei secretly admired Cao Mengde's views on heroes.He said: "The prime minister's insights are profound and unique, which made me suddenly understand. However, the hero you mentioned is probably the flower in the mirror, the moon in the water, which is beyond reach."

Cao Mengde pointed to Liu Bei, then turned to point to himself and said: "Looking at the world, there are only Liu Shijun and I, Cao Mengde, who are qualified to be called heroes today." When Liu Bei heard this, his heart was shocked, and the spoon in his hand fell to the ground.At this time, a thunderbolt rolled across the sky, and Liu Bei returned to normal in an instant. He calmly picked up the spoon on the ground, and laughed at himself: "The roar of the tiger and the thunder are so majestic." Cao Mengde saw Liu Bei's gaffe just now, and said meaningfully: "Are heroes also afraid of thunder?"

Liu Bei thought for a while, and said calmly: "The sage said that 'thunder and fire will change', how can you not be afraid?"