Chapter 2, Interview

At this moment, Zhang Xi was also feeling a bit strained, primarily due to the obvious disdainful expression of that burly man, which seemed to convey a deep fear that you might not realize how much he looked down on you

Zhang Xi understands the general meaning of "Longzhong Dui" and can articulate it. However, memorizing "Longzhong Dui" does not hold much significance.

Have you ever seen a company where the HR manager does not meet with candidates first, but they go directly to see the boss?

In his early years, he cultivated his studies at home, later pursuing his education under the Xun family in Yingchuan, where he became quite proficient in various disciplines.

I have heard that Lord Liu is benevolent and just, spreading righteousness throughout the world, and eagerly seeking talented individuals. Today, upon meeting him, it is indeed not in vain... How fortunate, how fortunate!

Adjusting his mindset slightly, Zhang Xi responded in a serious tone according to the customary exchange of scholars, "I come from Yingchuan, wishing to travel to Xiangyang to study under Master Pang De. Passing through this place, I heard that Master Liu is actively seeking talented individuals, and I have come here to recommend myself."

It is said that, whether in history or in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Liu Bei seems to treat talented individuals quite well, as long as they do not act as foolishly as Peng Yan, at most he would simply not employ them... ? ... But would you dare to bet on it !

Liu Bei indeed did not understand much; upon hearing this, he frowned and asked, "May I ask, what is the way of numerology?"

Realizing the situation, Zhang Xi felt somewhat awkward, but Liu Bei did not. He reached out and grasped Zhang Xi's wrist, smiling as he led him inside, saying, "I have established this Hall of Worthies solely to meet the talented individuals of the world. Today, I am fortunate to make your acquaintance. Would you kindly come in and have a discussion with me?"

What is the grain and fodder ledger?

Liu Bei still said nothing, leading Zhang Xi into the front hall of the Recruitment Pavilion, where they took their respective seats.

Moreover, among the heroes who manage to rise in chaotic times, none rely on flattery and sycophancy; even Yuan Shu would not resort to such tactics

There is only one purpose; regardless of whether you, Liu Bei, believe it or not, at least on the surface, I am the strategic talent you currently need

Zhang Xi tidied up his emotions, put on a smile, and after bowing respectfully, addressed the burly man at the door, saying, "I am Zhang Xi, courtesy name Yuanchang, a native of Yingchuan, here to pay a visit to the master of the establishment. I kindly ask you to relay my message."

Then it could not be said any further

Liu Bei, in response to Zhang Xi's flattery, merely smiled faintly and said, "I dare not, I dare not, in the presence of *Tu* and *Shu*... Since you are a gentleman from Yingchuan, may I ask what brings you to Jingzhou?"

Upon hearing this, the burly man slightly changed his expression; the scrutinizing gaze he had been directing vanished, replaced by a look of disdain in his eyes

"The Longzhong Plan" is an outline, a strategic proposal put forward by Zhuge Liang to Liu Bei.

Zhang Xi smiled faintly, silently reciting the words she had prepared yesterday, and said, "In ancient times, those who understood the way adhered to the principles of yin and yang, harmonized with the arts of numerology. Those who could calculate were attuned to the numbers of heaven and earth; if one grasped the numbers of heaven and earth, then the Great Way lies within. To contemplate the creation and devise extraordinary strategies is the essence of the practitioner..."

Zhang Xi was pulled by Liu Bei and naturally walked towards the Recruitment Hall. At this moment, if he still failed to react, there would be no need to enter for a discussion; the interview would end right at the door.

Zhang Xi originally felt that the attitude of that burly man might lead to a report about him, and it was uncertain when such a report would be made. He had even prepared himself for the possibility of being left in the lurch.

Liu Bei's reaction makes it somewhat difficult for Zhang Xi to provide an evaluation

The middle-aged man arrived at the door, bowed deeply to Zhang Xi without saying a word, and performed a formal greeting.

Who would have thought that Liu Bei, a dignified Governor of Yuzhou and Left General, would be idly sitting in a recruitment hall?

This is the etiquette for making a visit.

The matter of dividing the family is not easy to bring to the forefront, so Zhang Xi sought a way to frame it as a study abroad opportunity

But why does the official title of the chief ledger need to be prefixed with the words "grain and fodder"?

It is necessary to make up for it, to compliment this boss, and to flatter a bit to enhance the level of goodwill... Otherwise, what if they think you were too slow to react or lacked perceptiveness when you were just standing there dumbfounded at the door

Zhang Xi originally thought that coming to the Recruitment Hall for an interview would at most allow him to meet a certain civil servant under Liu Bei. If he could meet figures like Jian Yong or Mi Zhu, it would already be considered a great fortune

Regardless of the type of interview, even if one believes it to be a mere formality, there will still be a degree of nervousness

There are also rules governing study tours

Only after completing all the knowledge with one teacher and obtaining the teacher's permission can one qualify for study abroad. In other words, without a certain level of knowledge reserve, one is not qualified to engage in travel and study.

If Liu Bei were to truly discuss the strategic issues of the "Longzhong Plan" with Zhang Xi, it would not take long for Zhang Xi to reveal his shortcomings, thereby leaving Liu Bei with a negative impression of being "boastful" and "exaggerating".

During the Han Dynasty, it was quite common for individuals to travel for study. Liu Bei also engaged in such pursuits in his early years and, as a result, studied under the esteemed scholar Lu Zhi.

After saying this, the man took Zhang Xi's invitation letter, did not pay attention to Zhang Xi's reaction, and directly turned around to enter the inner room

In Xinye County, within the Recruitment Hall, a person who claims to be "extremely honored" ...! ... Surely, his surname cannot be Zhang!

When such talents come to seek your support, even if you do not believe me, you must be aware of the saying "spending a thousand gold pieces to buy a bone"

It can be considered as expected; after a lengthy and incoherent ramble from Zhang Xi, Liu Bei, despite not understanding, was still willing to grant Zhang Xi an official position

At this moment, one can no longer maintain a relaxed attitude; Zhang Xi must demonstrate his capabilities to Liu Bei at this time

The position of Chief Clerk is quite significant. Although Liu Bei currently has no territory, the Chief Clerk serves as the deputy of a prefecture, so it cannot be said that Liu Bei is merely assigning Zhang Xi to a minor official position.

If Zhang Xi claims to be "well-read," it is certainly an exaggeration; even if he has read many books, it does not necessarily mean he comprehends all the content and meanings within them

Do not mention it; Zhang Xi actually thought about this during the simulated Q&A at the inn yesterday, but later he overturned his own thoughts.

As for whether this would lead to Liu Bei not relying on himself due to excessive nonsense... Zhang Xi felt that this was also unlikely

Zhang Xi was also unaware of the rules of the Recruitment Hall; since that is the case, it would be best to follow the customs of a formal visit.

Rather than claiming to specialize in something, it is more appropriate to say that I delve into the "path of numerology," which is not commonly studied by the average person

The art of numerology at this time is not the later-day charlatanism of the so-called "minor path," but rather a discipline that predates Daoism, serving as an auxiliary knowledge for emperors and forming the foundation for the study of the "I Ching". It is not the same as modern mathematics, yet it undoubtedly requires knowledge of mathematics.

After a lengthy discourse filled with classical Chinese, even Zhang Xi felt some of the phrases were awkward to articulate, yet he ultimately managed to impress Liu Bei

In Zhang Xi's exposition of the Way of Numbers, why does the text emphasize from the outset that the Way of Numbers can "calculate the heavens and the earth" and can "contemplate the creation, strategize the marvelous"?

However, Zhang Xi feels that she really cannot blame herself for this matter

However, Zhang Xi does not believe that Liu Bei went to meet Zhuge Liang merely to listen to him recite the "Longzhong Plan". The two must have discussed for a long time how to implement the strategies outlined in the "Longzhong Plan". It was at this time that Zhuge Liang initially gained Liu Bei's recognition.

What is Liu Bei's current situation

What would you like to teach me? Should we start with the "Longzhong Dialogue" to vie for Zhuge Liang's position?

Zhang Xi certainly does not possess the numerical techniques of this era, nor does he engage in the superstitious practices of the lower-tier "small paths". He is only familiar with the modern mathematics taught in the nine years of compulsory education

The prevalence of the trend of study tours can also be attributed to the fact that during the Han Dynasty, the system of recommendation was employed; to enter officialdom, one had to be recommended by an official. Traveling to study in various regions was also a means to network with scholars from different areas and, consequently, to establish connections with local officials.

After standing and waiting for about ten seconds, the door opened inward

However, in reality, Zhang Xi and the others did not have to wait long, as they soon saw a burly man with a dark expression following behind a middle-aged man, who was walking briskly towards the door with a beaming smile.

Could Liu Bei still be unaware of the reasons for his inability to succeed? If he truly did not know, would he lower himself to visit Zhuge Liang three times to invite him out of retirement?

Zhang Xi is aware of his own capabilities. While he can rely on his so-called foresight or some additional knowledge to make himself feel more comfortable, when it comes to planning military strategies, he is no better than Ma Su.

Upon seeing this situation, Zhang Xi quickly performed a bow and salutation, repeatedly saying, "I dare not, I dare not..."

This is a statement that Zhang Xi had long prepared.

Well, this Liu Bei... seems to be quite resistant to this approach

Furthermore, Zhang Xi also has her own narrative

Since you are skilled in the art of numbers... there is still a need for a grain and provisions accountant in the accounts. May I ask if you would be willing to take on this role?

In this regard, Zhang Xi believes that he should be much stronger than most people who study mathematics... At the very least, he is proficient in systems of multivariable equations

Bamboo slips are cumbersome, and their capacity for text is limited, which results in the inconvenience of book circulation. Furthermore, the aristocratic families, in order to maintain their "right to annotate" knowledge, adopt a possessive attitude towards books. Consequently, the great scholars of this era do not dare to claim that they are well-versed in all the classics; most only specialize in a single classic.

It was not discomfort from being stared at, but rather a recognition from her subconscious that such scrutinizing gazes from a burly man were a very rude behavior. At that moment, what Zhang Xi should do most was to turn away and leave.

If one feels insulted and turns to leave without offering a greeting, people will only say that Liu Shijun disrespects talent. However, now that one has presented a greeting but the host is absent, it instead implies that Zhang Xi looks down on Liu Shijun

The most striking feature was a pair of eyes, not only bright and spirited but also watching Zhang Xi with a sense of vigilance and suspicion, remaining motionless for a long time.

Zhang Xi's statement conveys to Liu Bei that although he is currently engaged in scholarly pursuits, he would be willing to accept an official position if recommended by Liu Bei

The door was opened by a large man, standing over 1.8 meters tall, his body bulky and muscular, clearly the type with well-developed muscles

Ma Su has read military books for many years, while Zhang Xi, in his two lifetimes, can only recite one phrase: "War is a matter of great importance to the state, the path of life and death, and must not be neglected."

After much contemplation, Zhang Xi ultimately decided to temporarily endure this grievance and quietly wait at the door.

To engage in some polite conversation, one must first understand the other person's identity, which is not difficult, as the individual just introduced themselves... Then Zhang Xi was somewhat taken aback

The arrival of the sage is an immense honor, and I regret that I could not welcome you from afar. I hope you will forgive my shortcomings and my offense

What is "preparation"

Liu Bei naturally understood, smiled slightly, adjusted his attire and cap, and then asked, "Oh, since that is the case, may I ask what you excel in, and how can you teach me?"

In this era, books are extremely precious

Whether in ancient times or in modern times, there are people who openly look down on you yet can still smile and converse with them... Well, in any case, Zhang Xi is incapable of doing that

Seeing Liu Bei's bewildered expression, as he nodded continuously in a seemingly confused yet understanding manner, Zhang Xi realized that he had truly managed to baffle him this time

After sitting down, Zhang Xi of the *Illustrated Book* took the initiative to speak before Liu Bei could say anything.

Although Cai Lun improved the papermaking process and significantly reduced the cost of paper production, the writing and preservation of Caihou paper were quite inconvenient, making it less practical than the original bamboo slips. Therefore, the primary medium for books remains bamboo slips.

This can be considered a procedural expression for job interviews in this era

The issue is that the tribute has already been sent; it is not something you can simply walk away from at will

After silently rehearsing the "interview speech" for a while and feeling confident, I took a deep breath, adjusted my attire, took out my business card, and went to knock on the door

Standing at the entrance of the Recruitment Pavilion, Zhang Xi is momentarily too preoccupied to appreciate the chill in the air, as he is about to face an important interview

In fact, Zhang Xi does not understand what the way of numerology truly is; he merely combines some seemingly relevant content about numerology from the "Suwen" and "Hanshu" that he has read in his memory, misleading others.

Zhang Xi deliberately said this to prevent Liu Bei from genuinely verifying his knowledge... He even suspected that Liu Bei had never read any works related to mathematics at all

The door rang three times, and I stood sideways by the door, waiting for someone to open it

As for Liu Bei ... ...

Zhang Xi is feeling very unwell

can

The first impression in an interview is very important

In this day and age, the path of mathematics is exceedingly difficult, and there are very few who are willing to put in the hard work to study it. Not to mention the masters of the field, many people have not even managed to get through the "Nine Chapters on the Mathematical Art".

There is no way around it; we are here to seek employment, and we cannot give up an interview opportunity simply because the receptionist is in a bad mood. This is the reason why Zhang Xi ultimately made her decision

The air after the heavy snow is exceptionally cold and crisp

Realizing the situation, Zhang Xi quickly relaxed his body and followed Liu Bei into the Recruitment Hall, while smilingly responding, "In that case, I must trouble you, Lord Liu!"

Prepare

At this moment, Zhang Xi really felt like just walking away.

Please wait here, do not enter without permission

Since Liu Bei does not accept this approach, Zhang Xi can no longer continue to flatter; otherwise, he would become a sycophant

Indeed, such an impressive work as "The Art of War" by Sun Tzu, Zhang Xi only remembers this one sentence

This is the standard question-and-answer procedure between the sovereign and the minister

Repeatedly defeated in battle, besieged in Xinye, and dependent on others for shelter