Mythical Three Kingdoms

"I used to refute you simply for the sake of refuting, but not anymore. I have my ideals and no longer need to use the will of the people as a cover. My lord may have numerous shortcomings, but he accepts me wholly. His will is the direction I strive toward. I trust him!" Pang Tong slowly turned back to face Sun Ce, then his grim visage shifted, and a trace of resolution emerged on his face.

"I expected as much," Zhuge Liang said with utter calm. "I don't have many close friends, but you qualify as one. However, as an opponent, you are equally fitting. If I ever have the chance to meet Sima Zhongda, I will introduce him to you. Aside from you, he's the only person in our field that piques my interest."

"It's a pity—I no longer wish to compete with our generation. The wars of this world don't grant favors for age or experience, just as this battle doesn't," Pang Tong sneered, his nose flaring as his twisted smirk made his face appear almost menacing.

Zhang Song, standing in the rear and not particularly sharp of hearing, managed to catch snippets of the exchange. Pang Tong's age stunned him while simultaneously filling him with shame. He couldn't help but sigh—indeed, the Central Plains are a land of outstanding talent and brilliance.

"I never claimed I aspired to compete with our peers. Perhaps someday, when you meet him, you will understand," Zhuge Liang said calmly. "My presence here speaks volumes, and I imagine you have already discerned the significance."

"It's no more than Liu Xuande deploying forces in Yuzhou. What is there to fear? I trust Zhou Gongjin and your elder brother!" Pang Tong remained utterly unperturbed. "Even if the Three Lius join forces, what of it? Liu Xuande cannot commit his entire army, and without Liu Xuande, none of the feudal lords across the realm stand a chance against our forces."

"What a shame the Yuan Family is divided; otherwise, there would have been one worthwhile opponent to contend with," Zhuge Liang countered sharply.

As Pang Tong had noted, without Liu Bei, Sun Ce, bolstered by the consolidated forces under Yuan Shu, was enough to face any feudal lord singly. Furthermore, excluding Yuan Shao, the foundation of Yuzhou and Yangzhou under Yuan Shu provided the strength to confront the combined might of the realm's feudal lords. Alas, to what end? Liu Bei didn't need to exclude any single feudal lord.

"Being one step ahead—what's to fear?" Pang Tong stared at Zhuge Liang, sneering coldly.

"One step ahead begets every step ahead. You fail to understand." Zhuge Liang sighed. Pang Tong, after all, had never personally witnessed Mount Tai, nor did he know the full scope of its preparations. As for Zhuge's elder brother, Zhuge Jin, though he had done his utmost to overestimate Mount Tai, the practical results held no substantial worth.

"Failing to understand?" Pang Tong sneered but refrained from elaborating. Mount Tai might currently be resplendent with prestige, but directly opposing Mount Tai lay Yuan Benchu. The clash between Yuan and Liu—Pang Tong deemed it unlikely to conclude within three to five years. By the end of those years, when the North had been resolved, Sun Ce would have long since solidified his foundation.

"Indeed, you do not understand." Zhuge Liang shook his head. "Just as Assistant Officer Zhang and others only perceive their advantages and the promise of victory while overlooking the calamities hidden beneath that triumph."

"Don't underestimate your comrades!" Pang Tong sneered. "Though I might sound boastful, they are not weak. I can even say if I hadn't resorted to my trickery, I wouldn't merely have been defeated—I'd have been utterly crushed."

"You've misunderstood, and you wouldn't have been utterly crushed. At worst, your victory might've seemed unimpressive. The allure of triumph has blinded you, Shiyuan. You do not comprehend the disparity between Yuuyang and Qing and Xu." Zhuge Liang responded with a wistful expression. There were matters he could not divulge, even if he did, Pang Tong likely wouldn't believe him.

"Let's leave our reminiscing here. Due to our differing convictions, it's impossible for us to reconnect as we once did. Public and private matters—can anyone truly discern them, or clearly separate them? Next time, we may not even manage such calm dialogue." Pang Tong abruptly interrupted Zhuge Liang.

Zhuge Liang remained silent. Pang Tong's words also made him realize that the two of them, who had once debated heatedly over right and wrong for three days and nights, could never go back to that. Public and private matters—when had they ever been wholly segregated?

"Let's preserve our memories at the point of our last quarrel when I stormed off angrily. Let our bond end there. If we desire not to damage our personal connection, the most correct path would be to never face off against one another—but alas." Pang Tong sighed deeply, and with that sigh, everything seemed to disperse.

Was Pang Tong going to spare Liu Bei out of familiarity with Zhuge Liang? Likewise, would Zhuge Liang spare Sun Ce for Pang Tong? Since neither would hesitate in making moves against the other, what was there left to discuss? When encountering each other on the battlefield, only their respective abilities would determine their fates. Sentimental displays were unsuitable for Zhuge Liang and Pang Tong.

"All right, then." Zhuge Liang glanced at Pang Tong with a faint trace of reluctance, but his demeanor quickly reverted to detached indifference. "So be it."

Initially, Pang Tong's gaze held a hint of warmth, but Zhuge Liang's response gradually chilled that warmth. Pang Tong observed Zhuge Liang's expression before finally yanking his reins and riding off, his demeanor as cold as the distant road ahead.

Zhuge Liang watched Pang Tong's retreating figure. For a moment, he wanted to reach out and stop him. Yet, his shoulder shifted slightly, but he didn't raise his hand and instead slowly turned his horse around.

[Kongming, when we meet again, neither of us should hold back. Your ideal is simple—to restore the Han Dynasty. I once thought that I shared your goal of restoring the Han Dynasty, but only later did I realize that I wasn't.]

Pang Tong's pony walked sluggishly, seemingly aware of its master's foul mood, its normally headstrong disposition subdued.

Taishi Ci, sharp of hearing, had caught every word exchanged between Zhuge Liang and Pang Tong. Seeing Zhuge Liang return, he noticed the strategist's somber mood and immediately attempted to console him, only for Zhuge Liang to dismiss him with a wave of his hand. Zhuge Liang said nothing more.

"Shiyuan, why sever the friendship?" Sun Ce caught hold of Pang Tong, showing no regard for the dignity of his military strategist. "Next time, we'll capture him alive and make him your scribe—how's that?"

"Let me go! Release me!" Pang Tong struggled, but compared to Inner Qi Manifestation, his current physical quality was far from sufficient. Strangely though, after Sun Ce's antics, Pang Tong's mood lightened significantly.

With Jiang Qin steadfastly leading the troops, Sun Ce had no concerns about any accidents and continued to harass Pang Tong merrily.

"If you truly manage to capture him and make him my scribe…" Pang Tong mused whimsically. "That'd be quite thrilling!"

"Ziyi, recall the troops." Zhuge Liang barked coldly, visibly trembling slightly.

"I think I should fight the opposing side first and capture that Pang Shiyuan to make him your scribe." Taishi Ci said, his fiery gaze locked on Sun Ce's position.

"A ruler must not wage war out of anger, nor a general out of indignation. There is no need to act hastily." Zhuge Liang responded with a neutral expression. When it came to major matters like warfare, he would not tolerate any misstep.