Xiangyang Storm (1)

  After chatting with Fu Xun, Liu Xuan's response dispelled his last bit of worry, and he set off feeling carefree.

  Liu Bei took a glance at the excitement between Liu Xuan's eyebrows, slightly raised an eyebrow, but didn't take it to heart. He looked towards Xiangyang and ordered Zhao Yun to urge the army to advance quickly once again.

  As the army marched again, Huang Zhong led the Jingnan army to separate and leave. The Jingnan army lined up on one side, Huang Zhong's face was stern, his eyes shining brightly as he looked at Liu Bei, his voice loud and clear: "Liu Xianxiong, I bid you farewell here..."

  "Take care on your journey." When Liu Bei heard this, his tone was somewhat reluctant to part with him, and his eyes seemed to have a misty air. Before leaving Jiangxia Prefecture, Wen Ping led 20,000 troops from Xiangyang to garrison Jiangxia Xia Kou, strictly preventing Eastern Wu.

  And this time Jiang Xia's change also because of Zhang Wu, Chen Sun's death gradually subsided, Huang Zhong returned to Changsha.

  Liu Bei's words moved Huang Zhong deeply...Huang Zhong bowed his head and said, "Take care, Uncle!"

  "Han Sheng Bao Zhong!"

  Huang Zhong responded with a loud cry and suddenly turned his horse's head towards Jingnan, the great army of Jingnan also followed closely.

  "Zhōngbó, yī lù shùn fēng."

  Translation: "Good luck on your journey, Zhongbo."

  Liu Xuan suddenly appeared beside Liu Bei and said loudly: "Xuan has time, he will definitely go to Changsha to take a look."

  "Hehe, if the young master comes, Zhong Ding will sweep the floor to welcome him..."

  Huang Zhong's bright and clear voice came over again.

  Huang Zhong's departure was just a small episode... Liu Bei and his party set off again, rushing to Xiangyang City at high speed.

  Xiangyang City, in the elegant and refined room of Huiyang Wine House, surrounded by a faint fragrance, Ma Da stood in front of the wooden window, gazing at the endless stream of people, secretly admiring that Xiangyang City indeed lives up to its reputation as the first city of Jingzhou, what prosperity!

  Unfortunately, his master was mediocre...

  Ma Da smiled as he watched all this, and then a series of footsteps came, Ma Da asked faintly without turning his head: "Is Liu Bei coming back soon?"

  "Yes, young master." Still dressed in black, Si Yi replied respectfully: "Just now, I investigated and found that there is a strange movement within the Cai Manor."

  "Can't Cai Man bear it anymore?" Ma Da turned around, a sly smile spreading across his face, "Huiyang Wine House isn't bad."

  Ma Da sat down under the seat, his eyes fixed on Si Yi, and said lightly: "Next, let's spread the story of how Liu Bei defeated Zhang Wu and those two fools Chen Sun."

  "Remember, the more exaggerated the better."

  Saiyuki was taken aback and didn't understand what Mada meant: "Young master, the more exaggerated the better? This..."

  "Right, the more exaggerated the better... Liu Bei and Cai Mao were not on good terms to begin with, once the two were at odds. Ma Da's face was filled with a warm smile like a spring breeze... but no matter how you looked at it, it seemed like a sly smile. "Now if Cai Mao hears that Liu Bei has launched a campaign to pacify Jiangxia and quell Zhang Wu, Chen Sun, what do you think Cai Mao will think, heh heh..."

  "What we need to do now is to stir up discord between the two of them, and then sit back and enjoy the show... get it?"

  Yes.

  "Alright, go and arrange it."

  Zhou Mu Fu, inside the study.

  Liu Biao's face turned red with rage, and he roared in anger: "What does Cai Mao want to do? Is the lord of Jingzhou me or him?"

  "Doesn't he even put me, Liu Bei, in his eyes?"

  Kuai Yue and Kuai Liang exchanged a glance, secretly smiling wryly: "You're right, it's possible that Cai Mao never even considered you."

  Since Cai Mao's power grew, he also became increasingly arrogant.

  Kuai Liang prepared his words and stepped forward with a frown, saying in a soft voice: "My lord, please calm your anger for the time being."

  "My lord, why is Cai Mao so audacious and presumptuous? My lord must also be aware of this."

  "My lord... the 50,000-strong Xiangyang army has already had 30,000 of its men bought over by Cai Mao. The navy is practically Cai Mao's personal army. Many naval officers and soldiers only know of Cai Mao and not of you, my lord. If you make a rash move, I fear it will be..."

  Although Kuai Liang's words are not clear, his meaning is very obvious... You Liu Biao now do not have the power to fight against Cai Mao, even if we want to help you, there is no way. Who let Cai Mao control nearly half of the military power in Jingzhou?

  Liu Biao also thought of these things, and suddenly let out a deep sigh. At this moment, Liu Biao was filled with deep regret, wondering why he had listened to the instigations of the woman in the backyard, allowing Cai Mao to gradually gain power.

  It's all caused by yourself. Liu's face was a bit sorrowful.

  "Zi Rou, Yi Du!" Liu Biao suddenly said: "You say, can what I previously said be achieved?"

  Liu Biao still held a glimmer of hope, saying that even if the hope was slim, Kuai Liang and Kuai Yue exchanged a bitter smile, both thinking to themselves: "My lord, at this time you're still thinking about such good things?"

  Do you want to establish Liu Qi as the successor? Will Cai Mao agree? I'm afraid that as soon as you say it, Liu Qi will be in danger.

  Of course, these words cannot be said openly. Khaiwai glanced at his brother and forced himself to say: "Your Excellency, I think it's a bit inappropriate."

  "Cai Mao holds Xiangyang with an army of 30,000. If the lord makes a wrong decision, I fear that the crown prince..."

  Liu Biao's face trembled slightly, and in an instant, he understood Kuai Yue's meaning. His eyes were filled with thick gloom and resentment. When did I, Liu Biao, have to look at someone else's face even when choosing a successor?

  At this moment, Liu Qi suddenly walked in quietly and said softly: "Father, two gentlemen."

  Liu Biao nodded slightly, his eyes benevolent as he gazed at Liu Qi. Suddenly, he felt a pang of guilt towards his eldest son. This period of time, Liu Qi's performance had been seen by Liu Biao, and this further solidified his determination to make Liu Qi his successor.

  "Perhaps, with Xuande's assistance, Qi'er will be better off?" Liu Biao suddenly thought to himself.

  "Qí ér, yǒu hé yào shì?"

  Translation: "Qi'er, what's the matter?"

  "Father, Uncle is already in Xiangyang City, not far from here..." Liu Qi said with a bow, "In just one incense stick's worth of time, we can return to Xiangyang."

  "Xuande is back?" Liu Biao's eyebrows finally flashed a hint of joy, Liu Bei had made great contributions this time by eliminating Zhang Wu and Chen Sun. Originally, Liu Biao only had a handful of men under him, and after Huang Zu's death, he was even more hard-pressed. Liu Bei's arrival gave Liu Biao a sense of security, like having someone to send pillows while sleeping.

  "Hurry up, Zi Rou, it's a different degree." Liu Bei suddenly stood up and chuckled softly: "Follow me out of the city to welcome Xuande. Cough cough cough..."

  It seemed to be caused by excitement, and Liu Biao suddenly had a series of violent coughs.

  Liu Qi saw that his father was ill to such an extent, and a hint of worry flashed in the depths of his eyes. He said softly, "Father, you're not feeling well, let me go welcome Uncle instead."

  "This?" Liu Biao looked at Kuai Liang and Kuai Yue, slightly moved.

  Kuai Liang nodded slightly: "Your Excellency, let the eldest young master go then."

  Liu Biao wanted exactly this sentence from Kuai Liang. After hearing Kuai Liang's words, he immediately slapped the board and said: "Qie er, quickly go to welcome your uncle, and have a banquet set up in the government office to entertain him."

  "Yes!" Liu Qi immediately withdrew.

  Kuai Liang and Kuai Yue saw that Liu Biao seemed somewhat fatigued, so they both bowed their hands and said: "My lord, we take our leave."

  "Hmm..." Liu Bei weakly waved his hand and said: "Zi Rou, you may withdraw."

  Kuai Liang and Kuai Yue slowly exit the study, outside the study, Kuai Liang and Kuai Yue stroll forward.

  Kuai Yue's eyebrows were tightly locked, his eyes suddenly fixed, staring at Kuai Liang, and said in a low voice: "Brother, I have something to say, I don't know if it should be said or not."

  "Huh?" Ku Liang first looked at his younger brother Ku Yue in surprise, then smiled lightly: "Yi Du, if you have something to say, just say it. What can't two brothers talk about?"

  "How does the elder brother view Liu Bei?"

  "Liu Bei?" Kuai Liang furrowed his brow, his tone slightly solemn: "Liu Bei is a man of great ambition and extremely skilled at hiding his true intentions, he's no ordinary person."

  "Brother, you are indeed insightful. I also think so." Kuai Yue's eyes flashed with a hint of mysterious brilliance as he said in a low voice: "Brother, I observe that Liu Bei has the demeanor of a ruler and also has ambitions to swallow up the world."

  Kuai Liang was very clever, and Kuai Yue's subtle words made him understand. He stopped in his tracks, "Does that mean our Kuai family is betting on Liu Bei?"

  "Does brother think it's impossible?" Kuai Yue said seriously: "Brother, you also know the current situation of our Kuai family. Since the Cai family rose to power, our Kuai family has been declining gradually. Although this phenomenon is small, brother should also be able to see..."

  "The master has long been worn down by the years and has lost his will to fight, how can he compete with the young and vigorous Cai Mao? Although the eldest son is wise, I'm afraid he may not be a match for Cai Mao's cunning and experience." Kuai Yue sighed: "We have no choice but to think of the family..."

  Kuai Liang hung his head and pondered for a moment, then reluctantly said: "What Yidu said makes sense, but this matter is of great importance, prosperity and decline are decided in an instant, we can't be careless... Let's just observe for now."

  At the east city gate of Xiangyang, Cai Zhong glared at Zhao Yun with a fierce gaze and said in a gloomy tone: "General Zhao, I've spoken. Please ask your lord to come out and talk. You...are not worthy."

  Zhao Yun's eyes flashed with a hint of anger, and he was about to step forward when Zhao Yun's arm blocked him. With a hint of a smile on his lips, Zhao Yun looked at Cai Zhong with disdain in his eyes, saying coldly: "General Cai Zhong, don't be so overbearing, or else I can take your head off within three steps... Hmph!"

  Frosty to the extreme, icy to the extreme, Zhao Yun's majestic aura suddenly enveloped Cai Zhong.

  Cai Zhonglian retreated several steps in a row, his face shocked and staring at Zhao Yun.

  Dozens of guards rushed forward to surround Cai Zhong, shouting loudly and calling him General, with a malicious gaze at Zhao Yun.

  Zhao Yun's mouth curled up in a slight sneer, his eyes coldly staring at Cai Zhong, and suddenly he snorted with laughter: "You're also qualified to be a general?"

  Cai Zhong's face turned red with rage as he shouted: "Zhao Yun! I'll fight you to the death!"

  "Give me the upper hand and let this fellow be captured by our general."

  "Stop..."

  Liu Bei rode his horse slowly forward, Liu Bei originally wanted to watch from the sidelines with a cold eye, but seeing that the situation was not in his favor, he hastily shouted loudly to stop it. Liu Bei's eyes stared at Cai Zhong, and he sneered: "General Cai has such great military power..."

  Cai Zhong stared at Liu Bei, his eyes burning with anger, and drew his sword, pointing it at Liu Bei: "The lord has given orders, you cannot enter the city with troops without permission..."

  Liu Bei slightly furrowed his brow, then suddenly shifted his gaze and looked at Zhao Yun, saying in a low voice: "Zilong, you go and settle the troops first, then come back to find me. I'll go look for Jing Shang's brother..."

  Zhao Yun responded with a sound, hastily leading the soldiers to rush out of the city to the military camp. Liu Xuan also followed Liu Bei into the city. As he passed by Cai Zhong, Liu Xuan's eyes looked at him with disdain and suddenly coldly smiled: "General Cai, I don't know how Cai Chong is doing? Tomorrow, this young master will definitely visit your nephew, haha..."

  Cai Zhong's anger surged, his eyes wide with rage as he stared at Liu Xuan's departing figure, his two hands clenched into fists crackling with energy.

  Liu Qi also led some of the civil and military officials of Jingzhou to hastily leave the city, and upon seeing Liu Bei, he joyfully said: "Nephew greets uncle, Uncle, Father has already set up a banquet in the government office to welcome you and wash away your dust..."

  Liu Bei's eyes were warm as he looked at Liu Qi, and he smiled lightly: "Qi'er, your demeanor is even more impressive than before."

  "There, there," said Uncle with a chuckle. Liu Qi smiled awkwardly.

  "Brother, you look pretty good now, did you use what I gave you..."

  As soon as Liu Xuan spoke, Liu Qi's eyes twitched slightly, and he immediately made a gesture with his eyes. Liu Xuan secretly made a hand gesture, and Liu Qi nodded weakly. Only then did a sly smile appear on Liu Xuan's lips.

  Liu Bei looked suspiciously at Liu Qi and Liu Xuan, not knowing what kind of evil intentions they had, but at this time Liu Bei was eager to see Liu Biao, so he didn't investigate further.

  "Uncle is inviting you over..."

  Liu Qi immediately took Liu Bei and Liu Xuan to rush to the residence of the General of Southern Conquest...

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