The Intent Behind Liu Bei's Change of Personnel

Lan Tian shook his head and explained, "How can learning ever be exhausted? Boyang and Zhongling are still too young. If you discover any shortcomings in them later, Chancellor, then for the sake of our friendship, you must point them out and have them correct themselves.

"The ready-made disciple I mentioned is not one of my own sons. His surname is Jiang, his given name Wei, and his courtesy name Boyue—a famed qilin child of Tianshui Commandery."

Zhuge Liang suddenly understood. "Could it be Jiang Wei, whom Yide abducted from Liang Province several months ago? Rumor has it that he was the general's enemy and was sent by Yide to Yangping Pass to be dealt with. How did he—"

Lan Tian smiled faintly. "Yide was likely concealing it from the outside on purpose. Jiang Boyue bears no real grudge against Mengqi. He is currently in Mianyang studying agricultural colonies under Shizai. He has some standing in Tianshui Commandery; when Yide attacks Liang Province again, he will surely bring him along."

Zhuge Liang raised his head in thought. How could someone Lan Tian had set his eyes on be lacking? Yet he himself had spent these past years chiefly managing internal affairs. If he took this disciple in, would he end up delaying the young man's future instead?

"Military Adviser, you should know this. Not long after I took Shizai as my disciple, Boyang and Zhongling came into the world one after another. It truly would not be appropriate for me to take on another disciple. Otherwise, would I have left him for you?" Lan Tian deliberately teased.

Zhuge Liang clasped his hands in thanks. "How could I fail to live up to Ziyu's goodwill? Since Boyue will be going to Liang Province with Yide, I shall ask Shiyuan to assess