Chapter 763: Clash of Beliefs

When Zhuge Liang followed Taishi Ci out of the camp with his soldiers, Sun Ce's army had already formed ranks in front of them. However, seeing that Taishi Ci's troops were advancing and retreating in perfect order, Sun Ce lost any desire for a full-on battle.

"Zhuge Kongming..." Pang Tong narrowed his eyes as he looked at the white-clad Zhuge Liang. He wasn’t sure when it had started, but he had developed a distaste for white garments. Instead, he always wore dark silk robes.

"Is that guy Zhuge Liang?" Sun Ce curiously glanced at Pang Tong and asked.

"Yes, that's him..." Pang Tong stroked the few strands of his beard with excitement. "No wonder he felt familiar before. So it's him... It's been a long time..."

Sun Ce slowly edged away from Pang Tong. He sensed something was off with him. The sight of Pang Tong's ugly face combined with his strange smile sent a chill down Sun Ce’s spine.

"Zhuge Kongming..." Pang Tong pressed his horse forward, his sinister smile shifting to one of joy, as if reuniting with an old friend. He charged towards the middle ground between the two armies.

"Hehehe, Pang Shiyuan..." Zhuge Liang, also smiling brightly, spurred his steed and rode out to meet Pang Tong.

"Shiyuan, it’s been a while. How have you been?" Zhuge Liang asked, his face full of genuine warmth.

"I’ve become the military advisor to General Sun. How about you, Kongming?" Pang Tong responded with a smile, the pride evident on his ugly face. Not yet even twenty, he had become the trusted advisor of a powerful warlord, and he couldn’t help but feel smug about it.

"Being younger than you, Shiyuan, I still have much to learn. Currently, I only serve under the Han, a humble post in Qing Province," Zhuge Liang said modestly. While his position as a mere official in the Han court may have seemed small, it carried more legitimacy than Pang Tong's title as a general in Sun Ce’s army, making Pang Tong's face darken.

Pang Tong's pride took a hit, but his quick thinking returned as he chuckled and replied, "Well then, let me congratulate you on your official title, Kongming. But isn't your role in Qing Province? What brings you here? Aren't you worried about abandoning your position and losing that hard-earned title?"

Zhuge Liang's expression darkened. When he was dispatched to Yizhou, his official title was not revoked, leaving him in a precarious position. Technically, he wasn't yet fully part of the military.

"I came not for personal gain but to support my fellow kin. We, as kinsmen, must stand together and restore the Han," Zhuge Liang responded meaningfully, casting a glance at Pang Tong.

For a brief moment, Pang Tong felt like he had grasped something deeper in Zhuge Liang's words, but his thoughts were too preoccupied with the current conversation to fully process it.

"Supporting Yizhou, you say? That reminds me of the conflicts between Western Qin and Tian Qi," Pang Tong retorted, openly mocking Yizhou's position. "What do you think? Alliances formed from mutual benefit are nothing new."

"The Han Emperor still reigns, and my lord and the lord of Yizhou share the same bloodline. How could we act like rebels and traitors?" Zhuge Liang smiled, subtly attacking Pang Tong. No matter what Pang Tong said, Zhuge Liang’s response pointed to Sun Ce's questionable possession of the Imperial Seal.

"Have you never heard of brothers turning against each other? And besides, why should I believe that your Lord Liu Bei’s ambitions align with those of Liu Zhang? Their goals are entirely different. Who's to say who will end up as the rebel?" Pang Tong countered with a mocking grin.

Pang Tong wasn’t one to back down easily. If Zhuge Liang wanted to talk about the past, Pang Tong was ready to challenge him with the future. After all, it was common knowledge that Liu Bei’s ambitions far exceeded Liu Zhang’s modest goals as a local ruler. If Liu Bei were to succeed, it would likely cause friction with Liu Zhang's plans.

"Who can truly know the future? Dragons can be great or small, rise or remain hidden; when they are great, they summon the clouds and rain, but when they are small, they hide in the depths of the waters. Do you truly know the extent of a dragon’s potential?" Zhuge Liang calmly replied, his voice filled with wisdom, showing his deep belief in Liu Bei’s potential.

"Enough with the jokes," Pang Tong abruptly stopped, his expression turning serious as he looked closely at Zhuge Liang. He quickly assessed the situation but felt no fear. The Yizhou army was no longer a threat, and he didn’t see Liu Bei’s forces as a formidable challenge. Still, he spoke with newfound gravity. "Are you here to stop me?"

"I’m simply here to guide you back to the right path," Zhuge Liang said, staring at Pang Tong, though he knew deep down he wouldn’t receive the answer he hoped for.

"We’re not children anymore, Kongming. What is the right path? I don’t know, and neither do you. But I know this—following Bofu feels right," Pang Tong turned to glance at Sun Ce before looking back at Zhuge Liang. "Liu Bei’s ideals may be noble, but Sun Bofu’s honor resonates with me even more."

"Sun Bofu is indeed an outstanding leader, but one who is rigid and liable to break under pressure. Without Zhou Gongjin by his side, he will eventually fall prey to treachery. And you, my friend, are no Zhou Gongjin," Zhuge Liang said sincerely, trying to offer Pang Tong a warning.

"Rigid and liable to break? Hmph, you speak of a dragon's transformation, yet you forget that even Liu Bei would not be where he is without Chen Zichuan’s support. You, Zhuge Kongming, are no Chen Zichuan," Pang Tong retorted, mentioning Liu Bei’s top strategist. His expression remained calm, and he chose not to refer to Liu Bei by his title, "Lord."

The two stared at each other, knowing that their paths were set. Their choice of lord was not a matter of childish bickering; it was a decision borne out of maturity.

"My lord Liu Bei will pacify the land and restore the Han, and you, along with Sun Bofu, will stand in his way," Zhuge Liang stated firmly, his voice unwavering, brimming with conviction.

"Who’s to say who’s standing in whose way?" Pang Tong shook his head lightly. "There’s no point in discussing this now. We both serve our masters. At least, under Sun Ce, I’m content, and Zhou Gongjin has treated me well."

"It seems we are destined to be adversaries," Zhuge Liang said quietly. "You excel at taking risks, and you’ve chosen a master who shares that trait. But the path to kingship is not built on schemes and tricks alone."

"Haha," Pang Tong chuckled softly but didn’t offer an argument. He understood Zhuge Liang’s words. "Not everyone has the resources of Liu Bei or Yuan Benchu. And though you see Liu Bei as heaven’s chosen, he didn’t receive all that he has from you."

"True, but does that really matter? One man’s ambition pales compared to the hopes of countless commoners. I can still tell which is more important," Zhuge Liang replied, his expression calm yet glowing with the conviction of his beliefs.

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