Pang Tong was dull and ignorant when he was young. But his uncle Pang Degong, a great celebrity, spoke highly of him and thought he was unusual. At that time, Si Mahui was a native of Yingchuan, with elegant manners and integrity, and was known as a knowledgeable person. Pang Tong went to visit him. When they met, Si Mahui was picking mulberry trees, so Pang Tong sat under the tree and talked to him. The more they talked, the more speculative they became, so they chatted under a tree until late at night. Si Mahui felt that Pang Tong was really extraordinary, and sincerely praised Pang Tong as the leading talent in Zhou Nan, and praised: "Pang Degong really knows people, and Pang Tong is really different!" Since then, Pang Tong's reputation has gradually become prominent. Pang Degong tied him with Zhuge Liang and Si Mahui, saying that Kongming was Wolong, Pang Tong was Feng Chu and Si Mahui was a water mirror.
Soon, the county appointed Pang Tong as Gongcao. Pang Tong knows people very well. He likes to judge people's character and cultivate others' reputation. But when he praises others, he often goes beyond their actual talents and has a lot of compliments.
Sometimes people feel strange and ask why. Pang Tong said, "There is great chaos in the world today, and the scholars are late. There are few good people, but many bad people. We want to promote customs and long-term career. If it is not beautiful, it means that the reputation is not good enough to admire the enterprise, and there are very few people who are not good enough. Today, if you pull out ten and lose five, you will get half of yours, but you can worship the world and let those who are willing to do so forget themselves. " (Biography of the Three Kingdoms Shu Shu Pang Tong)?
Pang Tong was as famous as Zhuge Liang in Jingzhou in his early years, and he was known as "Feng Chu". He once talked with Lu Ji, Gu Shao and other figures in Dongwu, and said to himself, "As for the emperor's secret strategy, it seems that I have a day's worth." (Biography of Pang Tong). Liu Bei led Jingzhou Pastoral and Pang Tong to surrender, but they were not reused. However, he was engaged in keeping the Leiyang order, died in the county, and was exempted from official duties. Later, under the strong recommendation of Zhuge Liang and Lu Su, Liu Bei summoned Pang Tong again to discuss military affairs with him. He was highly valued, so he worshipped Pang Tong and soon became a military commander with Zhuge Liang. Zhuge Liang and Lu Su's broad mind of recommending talents is admirable, but Pang Tong's extraordinary talent is probably the fundamental reason why he finally stood out.
More importantly, Pang Tong is an indispensable talent to realize the Longzhong strategy, and his joining provides an opportunity for Liu Bei Group to make a further leap. According to the plan of "Long Zhong Dui", the first step is to gain Jingzhou, gain a firm foothold, then take Bashu from the west, cross Jingxiang, then divide the troops into two ways to destroy Cao Cao and finally unify the world. Liu Bei and Wu Dong teamed up to defeat Cao Cao in Battle of Red Cliffs, and took the opportunity to gain four counties in Jingnan and enter Nanjun, which can be said to have achieved the initial goal of "Long Zhong Dui". The change of Pang Tong's position also reveals an important message: because the military commander is not an ordinary military adviser, the latter stops military planning, while the former not only makes suggestions for decision-making, but also controls military power. Liu Bei has set up two military commanders, which means that the troops will be divided into two parts to carry out two major tasks.
Soon after, after careful planning, coupled with the coordination of Zhang Song, Fazheng, Mengda and others in Yizhou, the time was ripe to March into Sichuan, so Zhuge Liang and Pang Tong performed their respective duties. The former is responsible for staying in Jingzhou and consolidating the rear, while the latter is responsible for assisting Liu Bei and occupying Yizhou. It is also of great significance to make such a division of labor between the two. At that time, capturing Yizhou and consolidating Jingzhou were equally important events. Without the invasion of Yizhou, the great cause of unifying the whole country and revitalizing the Han Dynasty could not be realized. If Jingzhou is not consolidated, the invasion of Yizhou will lack reliable rear support. To accomplish these two major events at the same time, Zhuge Liang's first-class talents are needed to assist Liu Bei. Looking at Liu Bei's early advisers' group, we can see that "Elk Zhu, Jian Yong and Yi Ji are graceful and courteous, and they are courteous to the world" (The History of the Three Kingdoms, Volume 8, commented by Chen Shou), but strategizing and winning thousands of miles is not their strong point. There is no doubt that Zhuge Liang is the most suitable candidate for both the occupation of Yizhou and the consolidation of Jingzhou, but he has no time to take care of one side; And Pang Tong is not only knowledgeable, good at knowing people, but also has the ability to "discuss the emperor's secret policy and lean on it", which is just suitable for assisting Liu Bei to occupy Yizhou. In the process of entering Sichuan, Pang Tong not only helped Liu Bei make several correct decisions of great significance, but also freed Liu Bei from the bondage of loyalty and forgiveness with his unique intelligence, which laid a solid foundation for pacifying Xichuan in the future. It's a pity that Pang Tong was shot dead by an arrow when he besieged Luocheng. He is only 36 years old.
Zhou Yu, the general of the State of Wu, helped Liu Bei capture Jingzhou and served as the prefect of Nanjun, while Pang Tong was still a hero. After Zhou Yu's death, Pang Tong was sent to the State of Wu. Everyone in Wu knows his name. Therefore, when he wants to return to Jingzhou, many famous people will come to Nagato to see him off. Lu Ji, Gu Shao and Quan Cong all attended the party. Pang Tong began to comment on characters again. He said: "Lu Zi can be said that Ma Xu has the power to escape, and Gu Zi can be said that Xi Niu can carry a heavy load and go far." Then, he said to Quan Cong, "Your kindness is like Fan Zhaozi in Runan. Although there is not much intelligence, it has been a while. " Lu Ji and Gu Shao said to Pang Tong, "To make the world peaceful, you must learn from your friends all over the world" (The History of the Three Kingdoms Shu Shu Pang Tong). So Pang Tong made friends with them and came back.
Pang Tong was asked afterwards: "In your opinion, is Lu's performance better than Gu Shao?" Pang Tong said, "Although Xu is excellent, he only chooses one person. Niu Yi walks 30 miles a day. Where is the weight of only one person? " It is said that Gu Shao went to see Pang Tong and stayed with Pang Tong, and they talked. Gu Shao asked, "You have a good reputation for knowing people. Tell me, who is better than you? " Pang Tong said, "I can't compare with you in terms of worldly cultivation and synthetic characters. However, if it comes to the emperor's secret strategy, I will win over you. " Gu felt that Pang Tong's words made sense, so he befriended him.
Liu Bei occupied Jingzhou and appointed him as a shepherd. In this capacity, Pang Tong tried the Leiyang county magistrate. He was dismissed from office, regardless of the county government, because of his poor performance. Wu wrote Lu Su to Liu Bei and recommended Pang Tong. The letter said: "Pang Shiyuan is not a talented person, so we should give full play to his clues in the treatment" (Biography of the Three Kingdoms Shu Shu Pang Tong). Zhuge Liang also told Liu Bei about Pang Tong. So Liu Bei summoned Pang Tong. The two talked about the past and the present, and Liu Bei valued him very much and appointed him to be loyal. After that, Liu Bei relied heavily on Pang Tong, second only to Zhuge Liang. Pang Tong and Zhuge Liang are both military commanders.
Once, Liu Bei chatted with Pang Tong and asked him, "You used to be a hero of Zhou Yu. I heard that when I went to Wu, Zhou Yu sent a secret letter to Sun Quan, asking him to detain me. I wonder if this really happened. Under whose hand, of course, you should be loyal to whom, and you don't have to hide it. " Pang Tong replied: "This is indeed the case." Liu Bei sighed sincerely: "At that time, I was in danger and wanted Sun Quan, so I had to see him. I almost fell into Zhou Yu's hands when I went! " Liu Bei also said: "People with great wisdom think alike. Kong Ming also advised me not to go at that time, insisting again and again, probably for fear that Sun Quan would detain me. I thought at that time that Sun Quan should be on guard against Cao Cao in the north. He should want me to help him, so he insisted on seeing him without doubt. Now that I think about it, this is indeed an adventure, not a panacea. "
In the 16th year of Jian 'an (2 1 1), Fa Zheng went to Jingzhou on the orders of Liu Zhang, the pastor of Yizhou, to welcome Liu Bei into Yizhou and refuse Zhang Lu. Fa Zheng privately offered Liu Bei a plan and asked Liu Bei to take the opportunity to make profits. Liu Bei hesitated, unable to make up his mind. Pang Tong advised him, saying, "Jingzhou is deserted and dilapidated, and the characters are tired. Moreover, with Sun Quan in the east and Cao Cao in the north, it is difficult to make great progress. Yizhou has millions of families with fertile land and rich products. If you can really grasp this place and take it as the foundation, you can achieve great things. " Liu Bei is still worried: "What is different from me now is Cao Cao. When Cao Cao is anxious, I will be generous. Cao Cao is bullying, so I am kind. Cao Cao is cunning, so I am loyal. Everything goes against him, and it is possible to win the hearts of the people and achieve something. Now, for the sake of profit, you have broken your promise, can you? " Pang Tong said, "In troubled times, we can't stick to the rules. We should exchange flail for it. What's more, it is what the ancients paid attention to, annexing the weak, attacking the darkness, obeying orders, and repaying kindness with righteousness. As long as the matter is settled and a piece of land is returned to him, who can say that you have broken your promise? If we don't attack Yizhou now, others will take the lead. " Liu Bei thought that Pang Tong was right and decided to leave Zhuge Liang and Guan Yu to guard Jingzhou, while himself led Pang Tong and tens of thousands of soldiers into Yizhou.
Liu Zhang, a shepherd from Yizhou, met Liu Bei in Fucheng. Pang Tong offered a plan: "If we meet today, we can leave, and the general will be in a state where there is no war." Liu Bei said, "I'm new to a foreign country and I don't have a thank-you letter. This is necessary (Biography of the Three Kingdoms Shu Shu Pang Tong). Liu Zhang gave a grand reception to Liu Bei and his men, allocated a lot of troops, grain and munitions to Liu Bei, and even handed him the white water of the strategic pass, ordering him to lead the troops to attack Zhang Lu. Liu Zhang confessed and returned to Chengdu. Liu Bei came to Jia Mengguan.
At this time, Liu Bei's strength increased greatly, with more than 30 thousand people in the department. Horses and chariots are in order, armor is clear, food and grass are sufficient, and morale is uplifting. However, he did not attack Zhang Lu immediately, but stopped in Meng Jia, and built a good tree to win the hearts of the people.
In December of the seventeenth year of Jian 'an (2 12), Liu Bei had been stationed in Jiamengguan for one year. Pang Tong put forward three secret strategies to Liu Bei on strategic issues: "Choose the best soldiers in secret, travel day and night, and attack Chengdu all the way.". Zhang is unarmed and unprepared. When the army arrives, it will be decided in one fell swoop. " . Yang Huai, Zhang and other famous generals, each fighting, at a critical juncture, heard that Zhang had a letter to remonstrate and ordered the general to return to Beijing. Before the general arrived, he was sent to hear that Jingzhou was in an emergency and wanted to be saved. He put on his costume and set up his position. The second son not only served the general's reputation, but also liked the general's whereabouts, so he planned to come to see him on Qingqi. So the general persisted and his soldiers improved. He went to Chengdu, which is also a move. Return, even Jingzhou, Xu also, is also a plan. If you don't go, you will be sleepy, and you won't last long "(Biography of the Three Kingdoms Shu Shu Pang Tong).
Liu Bei thought this move was very reasonable and acted according to the plan. Cut Yang and Pei, and lead troops to Chengdu. All the way, like bamboo, was successfully conquered, and soon arrived in Fucheng. In Fucheng, Liu Bei met the soldiers, bought wine and had fun, and was full of ambition. He said to Pang Tong drunkenly, "Today's meeting is a pleasure." Pang Tong said, "It's fun to attack the country, but being heartless is also a soldier." Liu Bei was drunk and said angrily, "The King of Wu attacked Zhou, singing before the song and dancing after it. Is it evil to be unkind? Get up quickly if you can't speak neatly? " So Pang Tong got up and left. Liu Bei immediately regretted it and asked him to come back. Pang Tong returned to his original position and sat down, without looking at Liu Bei or apologizing, eating as cool as a cucumber. Liu Bei said, "whoever follows, who loses?" Pang Tong said: "Both the monarch and the minister are lost" (Biography of the Three Kingdoms Shu Shu Pang Tong). Liu Bei laughed, and the atmosphere of joy was restored at the party.
Pei Songzhi commented on the argument between Liu Bei and Pang Tong, saying: "Although the plot to attack Liu Zhang was based on unity, it was successful in antonym. It is because of sophistry and guilty conscience that I am willing to fall. So, I heard that I am very happy, but I don't think I am right. " When preparing a sumptuous banquet, everything shares joys and sorrows. I have no sense of shame since I played against the king. This establishment is correct and unified. His' loss of both the monarch and the minister' covered up the slander. "
Soon, Liu Bei surrounded Los Angeles (now Deyang Guanghan area). Pang Tong led a siege and was shot dead by an arrow. He is 36 years old. Liu Bei deeply regretted it and wept when he talked about Pang Tong. In recognition of his achievements, his father was appointed Ichiro, and later he was promoted to Dr. Suggestion. Liu Bei made Pang Tong Shanhaiguan Hou and posthumous title Jing Hou.
Pang Tong was buried in Luofengpo after his death, and the cemetery only had simple maintenance. It is said that this is the cemetery chosen by Liu Bei for relatives, but it is a treasure trove of geomantic omen and has tombstones.
About 2 kilometers away from Pang Tong's tomb, there is a shrine tomb built by Liu Bei, with a three-in-one layout and a four-in-one layout. Stone and wood structures (stone walls, stone pillars, stone corridors, stone windows) are simple and solemn. Shanmen, Dragon and Phoenix Second Division Hall, Qifeng Hall and Pang Tongling are arranged in turn. There are sculptures of Pang Tong and Zhuge Liang in the temple, as well as a large number of precious cultural relics and historical materials such as plaques, inscriptions, calligraphy and painting. Lu You, a scholar in the Song Dynasty, wrote a poem when he passed by Pang Tong's ancestral grave:
Reuters Mountain passes Pang Shiyuan's tomb.
Shiyuan died a thousand years ago and mourned the ancestral temple.
It is often difficult to get together in the sea, and the heavenly heart is easy to know.
Heroes hate the ages, and fathers miss the old.
Moss is ruthless, and Qiu Lai is full of broken monuments.
Comments: Pang Tong, who is good at reading people, talks about Yingfa. He is really a generation of talents. Unfortunately, he died young and failed to achieve great success.
a two-part allegorical saying
When Pang Tong was the magistrate, he was overqualified.