In Xiangyang City, Liu Pan received the news of the troop dispatch. He jumped for joy and rushed to the government office to report the news to Liu Biao.
"What? You... say it again!" Liu Biao sat up from the bed, his messy white beard trembling.
"Da Lang defeated Cao's army, captured Cao Ren alive, and has completely taken Nanyang!"
"Good, great!" Liu Biao was excited and murmured, "My son is indeed not a fish in the pond. Great, great!"
After a period of recuperation, Liu Biao's condition improved slightly. Although he still felt sad for Madam Cai occasionally, he hated the Cai family even more when he learned that the medicine had been tampered with.
Liu Pan said: "Da Lang is preparing to dispatch 30,000 troops to support Wancheng and fight against Cao Cao."
"Thirty thousand?" Liu Biao was furious.
Liu Pan hurriedly explained: "Uncle, Nanyang is short of troops. If Cao's army attacks..."
"You guys treat military affairs as a joke?" Liu Biao said dissatisfiedly, "At least 50,000 troops should be dispatched."
Liu Pan nodded and said, "Uncle, what you said is absolutely right. I will mobilize the troops right away."
"Wait a minute!" Liu Biao ordered, "We must also collect food and grass from all over the country as soon as possible to fully support Dalang in his fight against Cao."
"Yes, sir!" Liu Pan left happily.
"Da Lang..." Liu Biao lifted the quilt, got off the bed, staggered to the window, bathed in the warm spring light, and burst into tears: "The Liu family has an heir!"
Once upon a time, he rode alone into Jingzhou, full of high spirits and ambition.
But after stabilizing Jingzhou, he was already old and frail, and seeing that his two sons were useless, he gradually lost his ambition. What was the point even if he wanted to dominate the world
There is no greater sorrow than a dead heart. All I want is to hold on to Jingzhou, enjoy my old age in peace, and keep my descendants.
Now Liu Qi's temperament suddenly changed. After getting rid of the Cai family, he took over Nanyang in the blink of an eye. He was like a completely different person.
When Liu Biao was critically ill and in despair, he saw new hope, and his condition improved greatly, just like the clouds had cleared and the sun appeared.
All parents hope their children will become successful. It is rare that Liu Qi has such ambition, so he naturally wants to support him with all his strength, even if it means sacrificing the entire Jingzhou.
Anyway, this foundation was almost usurped by Cai Mao, and Liu Bei, Cao Cao, and Sun Quan were all coveting it. Rather than letting them snatch it away in the future, it would be better to take a gamble.
As Liu Pan mobilized his troops, the news of the war in Nanyang swept across Xiangyang like a spring breeze and spread throughout Jingzhou. The officials and people were surprised, but also felt mixed emotions.
Liu Qi became famous in one battle, but it also meant angering Cao Cao!
Now that Cao Cao has pacified the north, dominated the Central Plains, and occupied half of the country, he will surely face a thunderous revenge. Can Liu Qi resist it
In the courtyard of the Kuai family mansion, Kuai Liang sat under a paulownia tree, looking at the tender leaves growing on the bare branches. Kuai Yue stood beside him waiting for his reply.
After a long time, Kuai Liang sighed and said slowly: "Liu Qi kept a low profile and made a stunning debut. He also had Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Xu Shu and others to assist him, which made him even better than his father. Our ancestor of the Kuai family maneuvered in the chaotic times and planned for the King of Qi to divide the world into three parts and form a tripartite alliance. Now Sun and Cao each occupy one side. Liu Qi was entrusted by Liu Bei to revive the Han Dynasty. He can form a tripartite alliance and complete the achievements of our ancestor by occupying Jingchu!"
Kuai Yue's eyes were slightly stern, and he bowed and said, "Brother, what you said is absolutely right."
The two brothers nodded in tacit understanding. Liu Qi's rise was unstoppable. From now on, they had no choice but to be tied to him. Success or failure depended on this one move.
…
In Shuijing Villa, the sound of piano can be heard and the air is refreshing.
There are bamboo forests, clear springs, and green grass in the back garden. In the pavilion, a young man in snow-white clothes is sitting on a stone bed, playing the piano with his head down.
Suddenly, someone laughed and said, "Kong Ming's zither music suddenly became turbulent, he must be worried!"
A man walked out of the pine forest. It was Sima Hui. He was holding an orchid in his hand and planting it.
The young man looked up, and I saw a handsome man with a silk scarf on his head, sword-like eyebrows, a body as straight as a pine tree, and a temperament as elegant as an orchid.
Hearing this, he burst into laughter and shook his head, saying, "Master, please forgive me for making a fool of myself."
Sima Hui put down the orchid, clapped his hands and walked over: "Liu Qi chased Yuan Zhi under the moonlight, and now he has defeated Cao Ren and taken Nanyang. He has already shown his prowess!"
Zhuge Liang looked towards the north and said calmly, "I am a student who lives in the mountains and forests. How dare I ask about the affairs of the world?"
Sima Hui shook his head and sighed, "Confucius said: A man should be established at the age of thirty! Kong Ming has not found a master yet, and has wasted his time and talent. Isn't he like this orchid growing among the grass? Although it admires its own beauty, it will eventually rot like the grass and trees. What a pity!"
Zhuge Liang stood beside the pond with his hands behind his back and said with a smile: "Liu Qi has Yuan Zhi's assistance, so he can accomplish great things. Why should I, a student, add unnecessary details?"
Sima Hui stroked his beard and laughed, "If a snake has toes, it will become a dragon, right?"
Zhuge Liang was startled, then shook his head and said, "I have been enjoying farming for a long time, and I am too lazy to deal with the world. I am content with a simple life."
"Okay!" Sima Hui nodded, put a piece of paper on the table, strolled into the pine forest, and laughed: "The golden scales have turned into a dragon, when will the sleeping dragon fly?"
Zhuge Liang looked down, his eyes slightly stern: "Golden fish... How can it be kept in a pond?"
There were four lines of words written in a flamboyant style on it. They were the poem by Liu Qi that had been circulating in Jingzhou recently.
…
Jiangxia County: Since the Wu army was defeated in Xiakou three years ago, Sun Quan has been busy pacifying the Shanyue and has not sent out troops again, so the territory is stable.
"Great victory in Nanyang, the eldest son Liu Qi captured Cao Ren alive and recruited soldiers to fight against Cao..."
At this moment, there was a sudden sound of gongs and drums on the street, and the police held a notice and posted it on the street.
Upon hearing the news, the people moved and crowded into the street, talking about the matter.
Across South Street, in front of a tavern.
A man was sitting leaning against the doorstep with his knees hugged, holding a half-pot of wine in his hand. He looked up when he heard the noise, with thick eyebrows and big eyes, and a defiant aura.
The purple silk ribbon made of Shu brocade tied her hair together, shining brightly, but her brows were filled with desolation.
"Liu Qi, can he defeat Cao Ren?" The man laughed at himself, picked up the wine pot and took another gulp, muttering: "I, Gan Xingba, when will I be able to make a name for myself?"
"Xingba, you are here!" At this moment, a man came from the street, went to the door and pulled him into the tavern.
The bartender recognized the man as Su Fei, the commander of Jiangxia, and quickly invited him into the private room.
"Xingba, why are you drinking to drown your sorrows again?" Su Fei sighed helplessly and said anxiously: "Do you know that Jingzhou has changed and the world has turned upside down!"
Gan Ning shook the wine pot and said with a wry smile: "There is something mysterious in the wine."
Su Fei snatched the wine pot and said solemnly: "Time passes, how long is life? You are a hero, how can you be so depressed? You should set your ambitions early and meet someone who understands you."
Gan Ning's eyes flashed with a gleam of light, and then he sighed: "I only regret that I was young and hot-tempered, relying on my strength to flee to the rivers and lakes, and made a big mistake. Although I regretted my past mistakes and changed my ways, I was still not accepted by others. Brother Su knows my intentions, but what can you do?"
Su Fei said, "The saints said: There is no greater virtue than to know one's mistakes and correct them. It is a pity that you did not meet a wise ruler before and were trapped here. Now a wise ruler has appeared, the Han Dynasty will rise, and it is time to make achievements. I have come to help you."
Gan Ning paused for a moment, shook his head and sighed, "I have been in Jingzhou for two years, but have not been valued. Even if Liu Qi is lucky enough to defeat Cao Ren, Liu Biao and his son may not be Cao Cao's opponents."
"My dear brother, you are wrong!" Su Fei poured tea for the two of them and said with emotion: "The eldest son made a great success. I have read the Nanyang battle report. Let me tell you in detail..."