News has arrived!

  For several days in a row, Fu Xun was like a carefree person, doing whatever he wanted to do, handling all the big and small government affairs of Jiangling City as usual. A large number of bamboo slips were placed on the low table, which was quite impressive, but in Fu Xun's eyes, it seemed to have passed by like a spring breeze blowing through the willows.

  Liu Bei's eyes were complex and surprised as he watched Fu Shou's swift and god-like review, his eyebrows furrowing from time to time before relaxing again. In an instant, a batch of government affairs was reviewed, and Liu Bei couldn't help but raise an eyebrow, silently comparing Fu Shou with his own ministers Sun Qian, Jian Yong, and Mi Zhu in his heart. The result was self-evident. Liu Bei's expression turned slightly gloomy, and thinking back to Fu Shou's astonishing move the day before, he felt even more weighed down in his heart.

  Liu Bei hung his head in thought, his eyes flashing with uncertainty. After a while, Fu Shou stretched out and let out a sigh of relief: "I've finally finished reviewing these government affairs... Ah..." Fu Shou smiled and shook his head, casting a sidelong glance at Liu Bei, who was still deep in thought.

  Fu Shuo's mouth corner revealed a hint of a smile, unhurriedly stood up and came to Liu Bei's side, softly said: "When did General Xuande arrive, why didn't you remind me?"

  "Doesn't this make Lord Guan's heart uneasy?"

  "Alas, I see that the Duke is busy with official duties, how can I disturb him?" Liu Bei heard Fu Shao's respectful words and secretly rejoiced in his heart, smiling: "Besides, I have just arrived not long ago..."

  Fu Sheng smiled and said, "Lord Xuan De has probably also understood some of the situation in Jiangling over the past few days?"

  "Jiangling is indeed one of the major cities of Jingzhou, with high walls and abundant food supplies, rich in materials, its people living in peace and prosperity, a truly thriving place." Liu Bei heard this and sighed, then smiled lightly and said: "Of course, what's lacking is the blood and sweat of Gong Du."

  Liu Bei seemed to be speaking carelessly, but in Fu Shuo's ears, it had another meaning. Fu Shuo smiled slightly and nodded his head, saying lightly: "What Lord Xuande said is not wrong, Jiangling City is a place where four roads meet and eight paths converge, a place that military strategists must contend for. Does Lord Xuande know what the most precious thing in Jiangling City is?"

  "What is the most precious thing in Jiangling City?" Liu Bei was taken aback, his mind filled with doubts. He then asked softly, "I really don't know, please enlighten me."

  "Lord Guan should know that Jiangling was once the seat of Jingzhou, but later our lord moved to Xiangyang, and Jiangling became the location of the largest treasury in Jingzhou." Fu Shuo smiled slightly, stroking his beard: "Jiangling used to be the seat of Jingzhou. In recent years, our lord has ordered that the military supplies and wealth of Jingzhou be gradually transferred to Jiangling..."

  "I don't deceive you, Lord Guan, the military supplies and funds in Jiangling are enough to equip an army of 100,000."

  "'A hundred thousand troops?' Liu Bei's expression changed, and his eyes flashed with an inexplicable light. He said in a low voice: 'That Gong Du...' Before he could finish speaking, a burly man walked into the hall from outside, his footsteps heavy and steady. Liu Bei and Fu Shao couldn't help but smile as they looked over at him."

  This sturdy man is Liu Biao's nephew, Liu Hu. Liu Hu was defeated by Huang Zhong a few days ago and felt resentful. Seeing that Zhao Yun, a general under Liu Bei, was evenly matched with Huang Zhong, he plucked up the courage to ask Liu Bei to let him engage in a martial arts contest with Zhao Yun.

  Liu Bei was entangled by Liu Hu and had no choice but to order Zhao Yun and Liu Hu to make contact. After several days of effort, under Zhao Yun's careful and strict guidance, Liu Hu's martial arts skills have improved greatly, and now he can hold his own against Huang Zhong for over 40 rounds without being defeated. (Huang Zhong is suspected of going easy on him!)

  In the past few days, Liu Bei and Fu Shou had not been idle either. Under the guidance of Deputy General Han Xi, they had roughly grasped the situation around Nanjun, while at the same time sending out a large number of scouts to gather intelligence on the latest situation in Jiangxia Prefecture.

  Finally, heaven rewards those who are diligent! Today, I finally see the results. Liu Hu strode into the conference hall with big steps, followed by Han Xiang. When he saw Liu Bei and Fu Shou, he immediately raised his voice and said: "Uncle, Governor Fu, you're both here, so I don't have to send someone to look for you."

  "Little tiger, is something wrong?"

  Liu Bei smiled and asked, although he had only been in contact with Liu Hu for a few days, but Liu Bei had already figured out Liu Hu's temperament. With Liu Hu's infatuation with martial arts, he was too lazy to care about these things, otherwise Liu Biao would not have sent Han Xun and Fu Shou to assist Liu Hu, which means that Liu Hu was just a nominal governor.

  "Uncle, the scout who went to Jiangxia County has returned." Liu Hu said in a low voice.

  Liu Bei and Fu Shou's expressions suddenly turned grave, their eyes fixed intently on Liu Hu. Liu Bei hastily asked: "Is there news of Huang Zu?"

  Liu Hu's face sank like water, and he nodded silently, his eyes glanced at Han Xi behind him. He took a bamboo slip from Han Xi's hand and looked at Liu Bei with a low voice: "Uncle, please take a look at this." Liu Hu handed over the bamboo slip, and immediately snorted in anger, saying: "I didn't expect Huang Zu to be so useless, holding three thousand elite soldiers but ending up like this. He deserved to die."

  Liu Bei scanned the contents of the bamboo slips hastily, his face dark and frightening. He closed his eyes slightly, handed the bamboo slips to Fu Shou beside him, who also received them with a gloomy face and examined them carefully.

  A moment later, Fu Shuo's face turned gloomy like Liu Bei's, with a mixture of shock and anger. He sighed and said: "I had told the lord long ago that Huang Zu was arrogant and self-willed, with a violent temper, speaking without thinking, and would eventually bring great disaster..."

  "My lord insisted on acting alone, and now we have this disaster... Alas, alas..."

  "Lord Guan, this is not the time to talk about this. Huang Zu was one of our lord's most trusted and beloved generals. With his death, it will be difficult for our lord to explain...". Han Xi spoke up at this moment, while Liu Hu also glared and growled: "This Huang Zu, truly a man who fails in every endeavor!"

  "Alas, with Huang Zu's death, the situation in Jiangxia is even more obscure... shrouded in thick fog that cannot be seen through." Liu Bei sighed and his expression was quite helpless. Fu Shu at this time had a solemn face and spoke with concern: "At this moment, I fear that Your Excellency will hear of Huang Zu's death and be filled with anger, losing rationality, and without regard for the complex situation, lead the army to attack Jiangdong."

  "What Gong Ti said is not unreasonable." Han Hui frowned and spoke out, paused for a moment, and then said: "Now our main task is to figure out whether Jiang Dong has joined forces with Zhang Wu and Chen Sun."

  "If they were united together, this situation would be even more complicated."

  Liu Bei, Fu Shou and Liu Hu heard the words all felt reasonable, Liu Bei hung his head in silence, Fu Shou half-closed his eyes as if thinking about something, Liu Hu suddenly glared angrily and shouted: "What's the big deal? As long as Uncle gives the order, I'll be the vanguard to kill Sun Quan at Chaisang and present his old head..."

  This fierce momentum is quite similar to that of Zhang San, the northerner. Liu Bei listened to Liu Hu's words and looked at him with a headache, saying in a low voice: "Tiger son, you must not be reckless."

  "Uncle... me." Liu Hu said with a hint of surprise.

  "Sit down!" Liu Bei's eyebrows furrowed, and he said in a low voice.

  "Yes, Uncle." Liu Hu shrunk his neck, looking quite fearful of Liu Bei. Although Liu Hu had only been in contact with Liu Bei for a few days, he was deeply impressed by Liu Bei's temperament and charm, and he obeyed him without daring to disobey.

  Liu Bei saw Liu Hu sitting obediently, then shifted his gaze to stare at Fu Shao and Han Xi, spreading his hands in a helpless gesture: "You two, do you want to report this matter to Brother Jing Sheng?"

  Han Ji and Fu Xun exchanged a glance, both sighing helplessly. After a moment, Fu Xun spoke in a low voice: "We can deceive for a while, but not forever. In my opinion, it's better to report this." He paused, then continued with a serious tone: "Let's submit our opinions together and hope that our lord still has some wisdom left."

  Liu Bei and Han Xuan nodded silently, Liu Bei furrowed his brow as if recalling something, then immediately looked at Han Xuan beside him with a serious expression: "General Han, recently, the area around Nanjun must be on high alert, all armored soldiers in Nanjun are to enter a state of readiness."

  Huan Ji knew what Liu Bei meant and replied solemnly, "Don't worry, Lord Xuande. Huan Ji will take care of everything and not let certain people get the chance to stir up trouble!"

  Liu Bei heard this and slowly exhaled a mouthful of turbid air, his gaze sweeping across the hall, staring straight ahead, unaware that the sun had already set in the west, with only a last hint of sunset lingering on the horizon. Suddenly, Liu Bei felt a sense of impending storm in his heart.