Huang Gai put down his wine glass, clasped his fists and said, "Since the governor has decided to go, Huang Gai is willing to accompany you!"
"No!" Zhou Yu waved his hand and said, "General, if you kill Huang Zu, I'm afraid you won't even be able to get through Xiakou. We are going here to discuss how to deal with the enemy, so we can't create any more trouble. You can just guard Chaisang for me!"
Huang Gai knew that Huang Zu's son Huang She was in Xiakou. In fact, they were from the same branch and both were descendants of Huang Xiang. Ever since he had to kill Huang Zu last time, even people in Lingling wrote letters to accuse him.
If we go to Xiakou now, once a conflict occurs, it will backfire. He sighed helplessly and said, "When we get to Xiakou, burn a stick of incense to Ziyi for me!"
Zhou Yu urged Huang Gai to drink, and the two of them drank and chatted. Huang Gai poured out his worries, and before he knew it, he was drunk and fell into a deep sleep.
The next morning, Zhou Yu wrote a letter and ordered someone to send it to Jiangdong. He took Xiao Qiao and sailed to Xiakou, then turned onto the Han River and headed straight for Xiangyang.
The two funerals in Jiangdong caused the whole country to mourn, but at this time there was jubilation in Xiangyang and the people were celebrating.
This year has been full of happy events. Liu Biao completed the writing of "Five Classics", Liu Qi took over Yizhou, and Yuelu Academy in Xiangzhou was completed. The father and son became famous far and wide.
Shi Xie, who was far away in Jiaozhi, sent his eldest son Shi Xin to visit Liu Qi to express his intention to surrender. He also asked for three carts of classics from Xiangyang. From then on, Jiaozhou was under the control of Liu Qi.
Now he has retired behind the scenes and concentrated on writing. He feels refreshed and with the treatment of Hua Tuo and others, he has a second life and marries Liu Bei's wife, Mi, which gives Liu Qi a big surprise.
It turned out that Mi had been with Liu Bei but had no children. In addition, the three-year mourning period had expired, so according to etiquette she could return home.
Mi didn't want to remarry, but A Dou had grown up and had a son with Madam Gan, and he was often distracted and lonely. Madam Gan took the initiative to mediate and make the marriage happen.
The hostess' mother hosted the ceremony herself, and the Mi Zhu brothers were also happy to see it happen. Guan Yu couldn't say anything, but he didn't want to make it public, so he held a family banquet privately and moved to the mansion after the ceremony.
Liu Qi married Wu in Chengdu, but he didn't dare to bring her to see Liu Biao when he returned to Xiangyang. He explained the situation guiltily. It was not that he did not value etiquette, but that he had no choice.
Before he finished speaking, Liu Biao stroked his beard and laughed, called out Mi, and asked Liu Qi to call her "mother". Liu Qi was so shocked that he didn't react for a long time.
When Liu Qi returned triumphantly, Liu Biao invited all the celebrities to celebrate the victory. The banquet lasted for half a month. He also invited Liu Zhang and his son to his house to reminisce about the past. It was truly like a family getting together behind closed doors.
When Liu Qi returned home, he was naturally met with resentful looks, so he had no choice but to take Mrs. Wu with him to apologize to each of them one by one. At night, the two of them took turns serving the ladies in order to get to know them better, one per day, and they were busy day and night.
On this day, Shi Xin was given a farewell party. Shi Xin said with a smile: "I have heard for a long time that the general is talented in both literature and military strategy. He conquered Yizhou in one year, which shows that his strategy is amazing. But I have not seen his literary talent, which is a great pity. Now that we are about to leave, can you give me a poem so that I can show it to my father when I return."
Liu Qi said with a smile: "Your father is a well-educated man. I have heard for a long time that there are many famous scholars in Jiaozhi who are good at studying and have written books and biographies. How dare I show off my skills in front of an expert?"
Shi Xin smiled and said, "My father has also long heard of your great name. If it were not for your advanced age and inconvenience in traveling so far, he would have come to Xiangyang to pay a visit to you in person. I have heard that the literary style of the Central Plains scholars has changed. Since the establishment of the Hongdu School, poetry and prose have led the literary world. The general is also unique, so there is no need to be modest."
Liu Qi thought for a moment and thought this was a good excuse to start writing seven-character poems, so he said, "Most of the poems in the Central Plains are in four- and five-character styles. Although the style of the Book of Songs is exquisite, it is sometimes difficult to express one's feelings. I have read Li Sao a lot recently, and it is very catchy and touching. I am afraid that I will be laughed at if I write seven-character poems occasionally."
Shi Xin was very surprised and said hurriedly: "I have never seen a seven-character poem before. If I were the first to hear it, how lucky I would be."
Liu Biao was also quite curious: "My son, do you have any new works?"
Liu Qi smiled and said, "This time when I was returning to Jiangling from Jiangzhou, I went down the river and saw the picturesque scenery. I felt relaxed and wrote this poem."
Shi Xin clasped his fists and said, "I am all ears!"
"Then I will show you my ugliness!" Liu Qi raised his voice softly and chanted slowly:
"I left Baidi in the morning amid the colorful clouds and returned to Jiangling a thousand miles away in one day.
The monkeys on both sides of the river kept crying, and the boat had already passed through thousands of mountains.
"Wonderful!" Shi Xin clapped his hands and praised: "General, your literary talent is indeed amazing. This poem is heroic and free and unrestrained. Please write it down. I will take it back and frame it for the people of Jiaozhou to admire."
"Yes, yes, it should be framed!" Liu Biao thought about it for a while and nodded, saying, "My son's poem is a pioneering work in literary style. It should be hung in the main hall."
Liu Qi had no choice but to write two pieces of calligraphy before he gave up, but he did save some money.
Shi Xin returned all the gifts originally given to him, saying that Liu Qi's words were worth a thousand gold coins, and he would be satisfied with just taking this calligraphy back.
As they were bragging about business to each other, Liu Neng walked out from the back hall and whispered a few words. Liu Qi was startled, said goodbye to everyone and left, asking Yi Ji, Liu Xian and others to accompany him.
After leaving the back hall and heading straight for the inn, Pang Tong's loud laughter came over: "It's rare for Zhou Lang to come to Xiangyang. I'm sorry for not welcoming you. To express my apology, I'd like to invite you to Shuiyunfang for a meal. All expenses will be charged to General Liu!"
Zhou Yu sighed, "I came here to discuss important matters, so I have no mood for entertainment. Shi Yuan knows what's going on, so why tease me?"
Pang Tong chuckled and said, "The eldest master once said, one day of sorrow is one day of laughter, so why not be happy? The happiness of Shuiyunfang is beyond your imagination!"
"Humph, the same trick you used against Lu Zijing again?" Zhou Yu sneered, "Take me to see the person I should meet right now!"
"Boring, you are so boring!" Pang Tong said puzzledly: "My wife has been taken away by Zhao Yun. I will keep this matter a secret. What else do you have to worry about?"
Zhou Yu said impatiently: "A real man should be loyal and righteous first. I cannot serve the country, and I cannot redress the grievances of my friends. How can I enjoy myself?"
"Everyone says Zhou Lang is a dashing and elegant man, but I think he is just an old-fashioned guy, no different from that nerd."
When Liu Qi entered the room, he saw Pang Tong leaning on the sofa drinking tea, shaking his head and sighing. Zhou Yu was standing in front of the window with his hands behind his back, looking anxious.
Zhou Yu saw Liu Qi and hurried over. Without even a second to greet him, he asked anxiously, "General, the sun has already set. Why are you here so late?"
Liu Qi did not expect that Zhou Yu would come to Xiangyang in person. When Liu Neng saw him as a guest, he hesitated for a long time before he dared to come in to report, which delayed him for nearly half an hour.
While he was still explaining the reason, Zhou Yu hurriedly dragged Liu Qi out: "Take me to see the person!"
Liu Qi laughed and said, "What the governor said is absolutely right. I will take you to see Mr. Hua now. I guarantee that the medicine will cure your illness."
Zhou Yu was startled, and seeing Liu Qi's secret glances, he nodded and smiled, "That's right, the news from Huainan has made me extremely worried, but the illness has not improved, and I can't share the worry for my master, so I have to take the risk and rush to Xiangyang."
Pang Tong followed behind, shaking his head and complaining: "This Zhou Gongjin, he only cares about state affairs all day long, he doesn't understand life at all!"
The three of them went out and took a carriage to Huaping Medical College. A servant from the inn secretly followed them out and went to a cloth shop in East City to report the news.