Three Kingdoms

Wancheng.

The whole city is plain.

Not only are white hemp displayed on street shop signs, but even restaurants and other entertainment facilities have been temporarily closed.

Although Pangshan people did not issue an order to ban these sounds of silk and bamboo, the shops in the city still took the initiative to do these things.

These days, it’s better to be careful.

What's more, no matter from which perspective, Pang's governance in Wancheng cannot be considered bad, and he can even be rated as an outstanding prefect of the Han Dynasty, if there is such a title.

Do not disturb people.

Don't be overbearing.

Of course, it is impossible to completely eliminate corruption in Wancheng, and there are also some corruption, but it is within a limit, not too excessive, and even better than other Shandong counties.

Yes, the only thing more disgusting than corruption is corruption for the sake of corruption.

So in a sense, Wancheng is a pretty good place, and this credit is all attributed to Pang Degong.

But let’s talk about how sad everyone in Wancheng was about the death of Pang Degong...

This is a matter of opinion.

Pang Tong, dressed in coarse linen mourning clothes, sat in the mourning hall.

This is the inner mourning hall.

The inner mourning hall is very simply decorated.

Several gray, black and white linen curtains constitute the main color of the whole.

There was no one in the inner mourning hall except Pang Tongyi, who was kneeling on one side.

No outsiders come to pay homage, because there is a mourning hall outside, which also has coffins. The decoration is more grand than that in the inner mourning hall, but the clothes of Duke Pang De are placed in the coffin in the outer mourning hall.

Pang Degong likes purity.

Therefore, both Pang Shanmin and Pang Tong hope that after the death of Pang Degong, he will not be disturbed by more complicated things.

There was not much sadness on Pang Tong's face.

Some people smile every day, which does not mean that they are not sad at all, but that they hide their sadness in their hearts.

Burn paper money?

Sorry, this is not customary yet.

At present, the Han Dynasty only has the custom of burying the deceased with the items he used during his lifetime. The so-called burning paper money, not to mention that paper is still a relatively expensive item in the Han Dynasty, and the custom of burning the so-called paper ingots to the underworld is also a Buddhist custom. Derivatives from the time when it was popular, it was not until after the Tang and Song dynasties that such a custom gradually emerged.

The sound of footsteps came, and Pang Shanmin, also dressed in mourning clothes, walked into the hall, sat next to Pang Tong, and then let out a long breath.

Pang Shanmin was very tired.

Different from Pang Tong, Pang Shanmin also has the position of governor of Wancheng. He cannot say that he has completely abandoned all affairs. He not only needs to be on duty at the outer mourning hall, but also needs to come forward to handle some matters in Wancheng, so he also It is impossible to be sad and painful, just cry to yourself and let go of everything else.

Wancheng is small because there is only one city, but Wancheng is also very big because it is almost a place where goods from east to west, north and south are distributed.

For Pang Tong, Pang Shanmin and other relatives of Pang De Gong, the death of Pang De Gong is of course a very important matter, but for many people in Wancheng, at most they just feel sorry. To say that they are extremely sad, and then to Thousands of miles of farewell and so on. In fact, everyone knows that if it is not that serious, if some people do behave particularly outrageously, they are probably pretending to be sad for a certain purpose, or they are half fake crying and half true.

Pang Shanmin was also very tired from dealing with these people.

He sat next to Pang Tong, was silent for a while, and then said: "When my father was alive, he was most bothered by these customs. He even said many times that there was no need to build a mourning hall and no need for a grand burial... But he never thought, phew, this death The first thing to do next is that an unfilial son disobeys his father..."

Pang Tong patted Pang Shanmin's arm.

The ancestors have passed away, but the living are still living in the mortal world.

"It's already simple," Pang Tong said, "Brother mountain people don't need to blame themselves." 』

Pang Shanmin responded in a low voice and sat on one side, silent for a long time.

At this moment, just like Confucius scolding Zigong, sometimes some things cannot be based on personal emotions, especially when a person has more positions and represents more symbols.

If Pang Shanmin was not the governor of Wancheng and did not represent anyone else's interests, Pang Shanmin could completely follow Pang Degong's request and silently find a geomantic treasure on Lushan, so that Pang Degong could quietly see flowers in spring and summer without being disturbed by outsiders. Look at the water, look at the fallen leaves in autumn and winter...

The funeral culture of the Han Dynasty was characterized by generous burials.

Even in Chang'an, the issue of frugal burials and the promotion of frugality has been raised in the Qinglong Temple Lectures, and extensive discussions have been held. However, the habit of frugality in funerals must not be affected from the Qinglong Temple Lectures to the daily lives of ordinary people. In life, it still takes some time. Not having a grand burial or a grand burial represents the concept of unfilial piety, which is still popular in many places, especially in places like Wancheng, where many people from Shandong are mixed.

This concept of generous burial is beneficial to the clan.

Although the most famous members of the Pang family are Pang Shanmin and Pang Tong, it does not mean that they are the only two people in the Pang family. The concept of "filial piety" still occupies the mainstream among the Han people.

"Now that we've reached that stage?" Pang Tong asked.

"When we arrived at "Xiao Lian"..." Pang Shanmin replied.

Funeral activities in the Han Dynasty had a lot of content. In order to express respect for the deceased, the specific rituals included "soul summoning, bathing, eating, praying, funeral and roadside sacrifice". Each link also had specific details. It was very interesting. Cumbersome.

For example, "Xiao Lian" in funeral activities is to reflect the simple wish of the deceased to become an immortal and reach bliss as soon as possible, but it is not "simple" at all. There are many levels depending on the status of the living person when he was alive. For example, "Book of the Later Han Dynasty" contains: "When the emperor died, he contained pearls." The "Book of Rites Translation and Annotation" also pointed out that "the emperor's quilt weighs one hundred and twenty on the collar, the duke's quilt ninety, and the doctor's quilt fifty." The title, the scholar's quilt, the thirty title, etc. are all like this.

Pang Tong sighed slightly, "Then what were they making noisy about just now?" 』

"They are arguing about which word to use..." Pang Shanmin sighed, "I think '德' is very good... but they say it is my father's name, how can I use it?" 』

"The people of Suirou call him virtue." To make the people live in peace and the people to live in peace. Pang Tong said, "The word "virtue" is very good. You don’t need to say anything about this first, you just need to reject the bad ones... I will take care of the other things. 』

Pang Tong had no idea of ​​not using the same name. He thought "virtue" was very good.

Generally speaking, a posthumous title like this would be initiated by the local government, select a few words, and then ask the court agency for approval. For Pang Degong, it was naturally decided by the Xishang Shutai.

After a while, Pang Shanmin got rid of his sadness and said slowly, "There is news from Xiangyang. Jiangdong seems to have the intention to attack Jingzhou again. Cao Jun is transferring to Jingnan... I think this is an opportunity." ...』

Pang Tong closed his eyes slightly and said after a moment of silence: "This is false." 』

"What? Pang Shanmin couldn't react for a moment, "What's fake?" 』

"Koto. Pang Tong said, "Jiangdong's internal affairs are unstable, the generals are at odds with each other, the Jiangdong gentry and the Sun family are like fire and water, and Zhou Gongjin is trying to appease both parties. In addition, the Zhang family, young and old, are greedy for their reputation and want to protect themselves... Unless something happens in Jiangdong." What kind of huge changes... and Zhou Gongjin is in charge, what kind of changes can happen? Could it be that... it's still impossible. If something happens to Zhou Gongjin, the Jiangdong army will be greatly weakened. How can it be possible to march into Jingbei? Therefore, this matter must be false and there is something fishy about it. 』

After hearing this, Pang Shanmin suddenly realized, "So, I'm afraid he's coming for you?" 』

Pang Tong nodded and said, "That should be the case." 』

Pang Shanmin was silent for a while and said, "What do you need me to do?" 』

Pang Tong was silent for a moment, and then said, "Brother Shanmin, Tong has some doubts. Please give me some advice." 』

"Don't dare. Please say. Pang Shanmin said.

"What is a scholar?" Pang Tong asked slowly.

Pang Shanmin was stunned for a moment, and then smiled bitterly, "Your question is simple to say the least, but complicated to say... To put it simply, Shi Nai is the representative of the axe." Counting begins with one and ends with ten. Scholars, from one to ten. It is recommended that the ten combined into one be a scholar, so it is called a scholar. Anyone who can do his job can be called a scholar. 』

The characters created in ancient times were not written randomly.

Unlike those countries that created characters for the sake of making characters, the earliest Chinese characters pursued the unification of sound, shape, and meaning...

This is the word scholar.

Moreover, this earliest font has not changed from ancient times to the Zhou Dynasty, from the Zhou Dynasty to the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, and to the Han Dynasty, which seems to illustrate some problems.

Pang Tong nodded, "Brother is right. 』

"But that's all. Pang Shanmin sighed, "I can serve as an official, or as a governor, but when it comes to matters, I am not as good as you, Shiyuan..."

Pang Tong's eyes turned to the coffin aside, "I also asked my father about this... He said he couldn't explain clearly and asked me to find the answer myself..."

Pang Shanmin's eyes also followed the coffin, and he couldn't help but reveal some sadness in his eyes. Even if one understands that at such an age, Pang Degong can already live a long life, and at the same time understands that Pang Degong's current body will suffer if he is dragged down, he still inevitably feels great sadness.

When parents are alive, life knows its origin, but when parents die, life is left with its end.

The medical conditions in the Han Dynasty were not very good. Even with the dedicated care of doctors from the Hundred Medical Centers, the ravages of time could not be undone. What's more, Pang Degong's problem is rheumatism, which is difficult to treat even in later generations.

When I was young, I seemed invulnerable to fire and water, running around with my legs exposed in the winter. When I got older, my knees were red and swollen and rheumatism. In severe cases, I could only use a wheelchair. Whose fault is it? Is it down to the doctor's incompetence? Or scolding your own children for not taking good care of you?

Pang Degong was very open-minded before leaving, and even comforted the two sad brothers, saying that he could finally get rid of this heavy illness and no longer have to suffer in the mortal world...

When you see a living person with your own eyes, who is so skinny and weak due to the torture of illness, no matter who it is, even if you are not a relative, you will feel that something has hurt others.

If there is still life and hope of saving, of course it is best to be cured and restored to health, but if someone like Pang Degong is old and frail, tortured by repeated illnesses, and cannot eat or sleep, Unfortunately, when even the most basic human dignity cannot be maintained, and it lasts for a long time, death is actually a kind of relief.

Pang Degong welcomed his death happily, but he failed to solve the problems caused by Pang Tong. Perhaps Pang Degong felt that his experience was only suitable for solving old problems, and now the new problems of the Han Dynasty required Pang Tong to come up with new solutions.

Obviously, Pang Shanmin could not solve this problem in Pang Tong's mind.

This is a seemingly simple question, just like Pang Shanmin's answer, but it is also very difficult.

"Back then, I discussed this matter with my lord under Lushan Mountain," Pang Tong said. "I thought I understood it at the time, but in fact I didn't understand it, or maybe I just understood it a little bit... Forget it, I'll think about it later. Regarding this matter, let’s solve the current troubles of the Cao family in Jingzhou first..."

……(╥╯^╰╥)……

Cao Zhen realized that he was in trouble.

The plan may not go as smoothly as he imagined.

Because his informants who stayed in Wancheng all swore that they had seen Pang Tong leave the city.

"Tell me the details!" 』

Cao Zhen had a headache.

"The villain saw with his own eyes the fat man with a black face leaving the city!" Even if you dress up in disguise, you can't hide it from the villain! "One person said hurriedly, "He wore an ordinary cloth robe, sat in a carriage and went out of the east gate! 』

"No, no, he didn't go out of the east gate, and he didn't wear a cloth robe and ride in a carriage. He disguised himself as a coachman, wore coarse linen, and followed the caravan out of the south gate! ” Another person said, “Although he smeared ashes on his face, I can still recognize him! 』

"You are all wrong, he left the west gate!" "A person on the side became anxious and said, "I saw him mixed in with a group of soldiers, and he was escorted out of the west gate by the soldiers! This is true! You both have been lied to! 』

Cao Zhen was silent for a long time, and then asked about the relevant details in detail. All three people confirmed that they saw Pang Tong, or at least someone very similar to Pang Tong, with a black face and a fat man.

But soon, the three people started arguing over the fat man's size. Some people say that Pang Tong is as wide as two people, others say that Pang Tong is short and fat, and another person says that Pang Tong is not a dwarf, at least what he sees is not a dwarf...

Cao Zhen realized that he was in trouble now.

Is that the real Pang Tong?

Or maybe none of it is true?

The painting techniques of the Han Dynasty can be seen from the remaining paintings of the Han Dynasty in later generations. The meaning is more similar to the shape. What is pursued is a kind of artistic conception in art, which is a technique that transcends the original reality. However, this method made it difficult for Cao Zhen's people to identify.

Cao Zhen had met Pang Tong, but not everyone had met Pang Tong. Therefore, most of these people who followed Pang Tong judged Pang Tong based on his main characteristics.

Black and fat.

It seems very accurate, but is it actually...

Now the consequences appear.

Cao Zhen's men all thought they saw Pang Tong, but they were only sure that they saw the fat man with a dark face. As for whether it was the real Pang Tong, Cao Zhen could only judge it himself.

After Cao Zhen thought for a moment, he suddenly laughed, "What a Pang Shiyuan!" Pang Shiyuan must still be in the city! This Lord Pang De has not yet been laid to rest, so how could he leave first? ! If nothing goes wrong, the people from the three groups are all pretending! 』

Cao Zhen's men looked at each other in confusion. After a while, one of them asked, "General, since you know that Pang Shiyuan has not left, why don't you take the opportunity to lead troops to besiege the city..."

"You idiot!" ” Before Cao Zhen could say anything, another person slapped the person who spoke previously on the back of the head. They are Cao Zhen's confidants, and they are relatively less restrained. However, the stupid words that the man said before still made the people on the side couldn't help but beat him. Is the Lord ridiculed by everyone in the world? ! 』

"Forehead! That's not what I meant..." The man from before also knew that he had a bad idea and apologized repeatedly.

Cao Zhen waved his hand, indicating that he would not pursue the matter.

In any case, the Han Dynasty still has some ancient customs of the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods.

"In that case, general, do we still have to go back and watch?" 』

Cao Zhen shook his head, "No need. Since you came here in a hurry, Pang Shiyuan must have known about it... There is no point in going back..."

The current situation is that Pang Tong knows that Cao Zhen is watching him, and Cao Zhen also knows that Pang Tong knows that he is being watched.

Cao Zhen felt at the moment that the only advantage he had was that he knew that Pang Tong would definitely take the Wuguan Road!

……─=≡Σ(((つ·ω·)つ……

"That's right, we can only take Wuguan Road. Pang Tong said slowly.

"But Cao Jun must have set up an ambush in Wuguan Road!" Pang Shanmin said, "The Cao family sent people to keep an eye on the four gates. They must be here for you, Shiyuan." How about I order Wancheng to be closed down and investigate the spies in the city? 』

Pang Tong shook his head, "No need." Even if the city is closed down, it may not be possible to track down the spies. 』

Wancheng is a large commercial city with a mixed population from various counties and counties. To put it simply, it is like an urban village in a metropolis in later generations. There are people with various legal and illegal identities. Even in later generations with various surveillance systems, computer systems, etc., it is difficult to interrogate. What’s more, right now?

It cannot be checked, and once the city gate is closed, it means that Pang Tong is still in the city on the one hand, and it also shows weakness to a certain extent.

What Pang Tong needed was not to show weakness.

There are indeed many roads back to Chang'an, but the nearest one is Wuguan Road.

"Then why not ask General Wei to come?" Pang Shanmin said, "Isn't General Wei training troops in the Wuguan Lantian area?" If he comes, Cao will definitely not dare to act rashly. 』

Pang Tong nodded and said, "I have sent someone to contact you..."

Pang Shanmin was stunned for a moment, "When were they sent out?" Oh, I understand, it’s the same groups of people from before...』

"However," Pang Tong said, "Wei Wenchang has always been fond of taking risks and greedy for merit..."

Pang Shanmin said in surprise, "You mean... you can't?" 』

Pang Tong was silent for a while, "I'm still thinking..."