The five years of Jian'an (200 AD) was destined to be a turbulent year. This year, the four counties of Jingnan have all fallen into the hands of the Han army.
Cao Cao in the north has destroyed Yuan Kui in Yuzhou and occupied Yuzhou. The sphere of influence includes Sizhou, Yanzhou, Xuzhou and Yuzhou. The areas controlled by Cao Cao contained hundreds of cities, large and small, with more than 8 million people, thousands of soldiers, and 500,000 to 600,000 soldiers.
Yuan Shao of Hebei also eliminated Zhang Yang and other forces in Hanoi, and his forces extended to Qingzhou. It occupies all areas of Union, Hebei, Qingzhou and most of Youzhou. There are eight or nine million people, and more than half a million soldiers.
At this time, there are a total of 14 states in the world, with a total population of more than 30 million. Jiaozhou has a sparse population of only about one million. Yizhou and Jingzhou are the two largest states, each with a population of more than three million. Each of the remaining eleven states has a population of more than two million. There are about ten counties in each state, and each county has a population of two to three hundred thousand.
Cao Cao and Yuan Shao each occupies one-third of the land and population. Obviously, they are super princes, whose strength is not comparable to other princes.
Guo Bang and Li Que of Chang'an occupy the entire territory of Yongzhou, and they have more than 200,000 soldiers, and their strength is not weak. Liu Zhang from Yizhou, Ma Teng from Xiliang, and Han Sui also ruled one side, controlling a population of millions and an army of more than 100,000. Zhang Lu in Hanzhong is slightly weaker, but he also has tens of thousands of troops in his hands.
In addition, Sun Ce of Jiangdong conquered Jiujiang, Lujiang and other counties, and his sphere of influence extended to the five counties of Jiangdong, pressing Yangzhou governor Liu You in Yuzhang County. With the addition of Shouchun County in Yuzhou, Sun Ce has occupied the land of six prefectures at this time, with a population of one million and an army of more than 100,000.
Liu Biao of Jingzhou is no longer as courageous as he used to be. There are only four counties left on the site. Moreover, Liu Biao's condition is getting more and more serious. Military and political power has long been in the hands of the Cai family. Liu Biao’s army is dominated by the navy, and Cai Hao is the chief general of the Jingzhou navy. With the support of the navy, Cai Tao started to do things even more unscrupulously.
Liu Biao knew that his body was not as good as each day, and his eldest son Liu Qi was in Xiangyang and had not seen each other for a long time. As the saying goes, "A bird will die, and its sound will be sad; if a man will die, its words will be good." Although Liu Biao didn't like Liu Qi, he hoped to meet Liu Qi before he died.
Liu Biao also knew that his two sons were not in a climate, and wanted Liu Bei to take care of Jingzhou.
After making up his mind, Liu Biaoqiang recruited Jingzhou Bie Yue with his spirit, and explained to Kuai Yue that he had recruited the eldest son Liu Qi and the governor of Jingzhou Liu Bei. Now Liu Biao was in bad luck. Because this Kuai Yue, Cai Hong and others are all in the same group, they are all famous pro-Cao faction. Kuai Yue reported the news that Liu Biao wanted to recall Liu Qi to Cai Tao.
Cai Wei has always wanted to support his nephew, Liu Cong, in the upper ranks. When he heard that Liu Biao was about to recall Liu Qi, he was shocked. They hurriedly recruited Fu Xun, Han Song and others to discuss. These people are all pro-Cao faction, because they have formed a small group with the same interests to advance and retreat together.
"This time the lord recruited his son Liu Qi, doesn't he want to give up the seat of Jingzhou Mu to Liu Qi?"
Han Song said first, his eyes kept rolling. Han Song is a famous pro-Cao faction. At that time, Liu Biao sent Han Song to Xu Du to view Cao Jun's falsehood and reality. Han Song was bluffed by Cao Cao's army, and accepted the many gold and silver treasures that Cao Cao gave him. Moreover, Cao Cao forced the Han Emperor Xian to designate Han Song as a servant and moved Lingling to the prefect. Han Song was naturally very grateful to Cao Cao. After Han Song came back, he kept praising Cao Cao's moral character, and actually persuaded Liu Biao to surrender Cao Cao. Liu Biao was furious, thinking that Han Song had betrayed him, so he wanted to put Han Song to death.
Fortunately, Mrs. Cai, Kuai Yue and others were on the sidelines to persuade Han Song to survive. However, from now on, Han Song hated Liu Biao, and joined Cai Tao's small group. His goal was simple: to get rid of Liu Qi and support Liu Cong to take the throne.
"It's possible. After all, Liu Qi is the eldest son."
Kuai Yue stroked his beard and said, thoughtfully.
"This can't be done by him. Now the Jingzhou navy is in our hands. Liu Biao is already seriously ill and dim-eyed, so it can't help us anymore."
Cai Wei clenched his fist and said, it seems that the heart of usurpation has been around for a long time. Cai Wei thought to himself that Liu Cong had a cowardly character and was his own nephew. If Liu Cong takes the position, the power will inevitably be in his own hands. At that time, you can force Liu Cong to surrender to Cao Cao, so that he has made great contributions in front of Cao Cao. Maybe Cao Cao is happy to give himself the seat of Jingzhou Mu.
"If you stop constantly, you will suffer from the chaos, and the only solution for the present is..."
"kill!"
Before Fu Xun finished speaking, he was interrupted by a female voice.
Everyone followed the prestige, and saw Mrs. Cai walk in, "Now Liu Qi has long been at heart with Liu Bei, and Liu Bei has a deep conflict with us. If Liu Qi succeeds Jingzhou Mu's position, it will mean that all Jingzhou will fall into Liu Bei's hands. , Liu Bei absolutely can't tolerate us."
After hearing Mrs. Cai's fallacy, everyone agreed very much. This group of people is really frantic. Liu Biao just wanted to meet Liu Qi, but they came up with such an idea. They are really forgotten. In my heart, there is no relationship between people and family members.
"But if we kill Liu Biao rashly, Liu Bei of Xiangyang will definitely not let us go."
Kuai Yue expressed his concerns. After all, Liu Bei and Liu Biao share the same ancestry. If Liu Biao is killed, Liu Bei will not leave it alone.
After hearing Kuai Yue's words, everyone felt like Liushen Wuzhu. They wanted to kill Liu Biao, but were also afraid of Liu Bei's revenge.
"General Cai, Kuailiang, please see me."
At this time, Cai Hao's Jia Ding suddenly reported.
"Okay, it's just right, I'll have you soon."
Cai Tao said quickly. This Kuailiang is the elder brother of Kuai Yue and the master of Jingzhou, who has quite a strategy.
When Liu Biao first arrived in Jingzhou, Jingzhou was in turmoil and thieves were rampant. He once asked Ji Yu Kuailiang. Kuailiang believed that heavy codes must be used in troubled times, and suggested that Liu Biao set up a Hongmen banquet to invite all the leaders of more than fifty thieves. During the feast, Jingzhou ambushes killed all these thief leaders, and Jingzhou was put down since then. It can be seen that Kuailiang is a man with a vicious plan and a city in his heart.
After Kuailiang came in, Cai Wei told Kuailiang the whole plan he had just decided. After Kuailiang heard this, he pondered for a while, and then waved his hand again and again. He said: "Now Liu Bei's strength far exceeds ours. He has long coveted Jiangling. If Liu Biao is rashly removed, this will give Liu Bei a chance to attack Jiangling."
"However, if Liu Biao passed the seat to Liu Qi, the situation would be even worse."
Cai Hao said hurriedly, he has always regarded Liu Bei as a great enemy. From the moment Liu Bei stepped into the boundary of Jingzhou, Cai Tao always guarded Liu Bei. Now, with Liu Bei's support, Liu Qi becomes the prefect of Xiangyang, and Cai Hao hates Liu Bei even more.
"There's a tactic at the bottom, you can kill two birds with one stone."
Kuailiang's eyes turned, and his heart came to mind.
"what?"
After hearing this, everyone's eyes lit up and they all looked forward to Kuai Liang's plan.
Kuailiang paused and said slowly, "Liu Biao is already in the dying state of illness, and he won’t need us to do anything. He won’t live long. This time we can take the opportunity to recruit both Liu Bei and Liu Qi to Jiangling and take them to meet Liu Biao. We can have a dinner Entertain, kill them all during the dinner, and then..."
"Then taking advantage of the Han army's group of dragons without a leader, we can eliminate them and re-occupy the nine counties of Jingxiang. This is really killing two birds with one stone."
After speaking, they all laughed frantically. Cai Hao had a dream of Spring and Autumn, thinking that he could really kill Liu Bei.
Cai Hao and others thought that their strategy was perfect, but they didn't expect to be heard by the confidant that Yiji arranged next to Cai Hao. Yiji was a doctor in Jingzhou, and knew that Liu Bei could achieve great things, so he wanted to take refuge. Liu Bei asked him to stay in Jiangling so that he could listen to news about Lingling. Now it really comes in handy. After Yijitan heard the news, he hurriedly sent his confidant to Xiangyang to deliver the letter he had written to Liu Bei.
Liu Bei in Xiangyang City is in a very good mood recently. Because the four counties of Jingnan have fallen into his own hands, he now has five counties under his control. One day, Liu Bei set up a family banquet to entertain Zhuge Liang, Zhang Fei, Guan Yu and others, by the way, to discuss the next strategy.
"Now that we have five counties with sufficient food and grass, how should we develop next?"
After three rounds of wine, Liu Bei put down the wine jue and asked Zhuge Liang beside him. After fully seeing Zhuge Liang's talents, Liu Bei almost obeyed Zhuge Liang's words, and he must first follow Zhuge Liang's suggestions for everything.
"In the next step, we must first occupy the entire territory of Jingzhou. Then, expand the army and seize the land of Shu to the west."
Zhuge Liang's answer was concise and clear.
"Liu Biao, this guy is simply fainted. Everything is left to the Cai family. The people of Jingzhou can be harmed by them, and they should have taken Jingzhou away."
Zhang Fei was drinking and talking, seeming to be very dissatisfied with what Liu Biao and Cai's did.
Liu Bei ignored Zhang Fei at this time, frowning, and said thoughtfully: "When I was desperate, Liu Jingsheng took me in. Now I have occupied the land of the five counties of Jingzhou. How can I bear to fight for him? The only four counties in hand."
"Liu Biao is dying and power has fallen into the hands of the Cai family. Cai Tao has always been close to Cao Jun. When Liu Biao dies, he will probably take the four counties of Jingzhou to join Cao Cao. By then, our tens of thousands of troops will not belong to Cao Cao's hundreds of thousands of troops. opponent."
At this time, Liu Xun couldn't help but express his views. The analysis of the current situation is very thorough.
"Oh..." Liu Bei sighed deeply, and then said: "I understand all the truths you said. However, I, Liu Bei, always take the world with benevolence and righteousness, and I do things contrary to Cao Cao. Cao Cao is impatient with people. , I will be generous to people; Cao Cao uses violence against people, I am kind to people; Cao Cao is treacherous to people, I will be loyal to people; If I seize the territory of brother Jing Sheng, then I will lose faith in the world."
Liu Bei's remarks are in place, accurately speaking the difference between himself and Cao Cao. He is not blindly benevolent and righteous, but is purposeful. He does not want to occupy the entire territory of Jingzhou, but he is afraid of breaking his trust in the world.
After Zhuge Liang heard Liu Bei's words, he was very impressed, "The lord's words are true. But at this time, at another time. I watch the sky at night, and Liu Jingsheng will die soon. At that time, Jiangling will become a city without an owner. At that time, the lord can take it without worry."
Liu Bei felt relieved a lot, he sighed in relief, and said, "Well, I'll talk about it then."
"Report... Lord, a letter from Jiangling."
A soldier said, and handed the letter to Liu Bei.
Liu Bei knew by and large that this letter should have been sent by Yijiu. What happened