Chapter 56: The Second Liu (Seeking Votes)

  Xiangyang City, Provincial Governor's Office.

  In the main hall, Liu Biao was holding the letter in his hands, frowning and reading it carefully.

  In a moment, Kuai Yue and Cai Mao, along with other civil and military officials, entered one after another.

  "The master has urgently summoned us to come forward, surely there is some urgent matter?"

  Kuai Yue was best at observing facial expressions and guessing what was on people's minds. As soon as he entered the hall, he noticed that Liu Biao had something on his mind.

  "Take a look at this letter first." Liu Bei said calmly and handed the letter over to those on either side of him.

  Kuai Yue continued to pass it around for everyone to see. When they saw the signature on the letter, they couldn't help but reveal a hint of surprise and curiosity.

  The signature in the letter is none other than Liu Xuan De, the Emperor of Great Han.

  Liu Biao stroked his beard and said slowly, "Sun Qian, Liu Xuande's aide, arrived in Xiangyang early this morning. He claims that Liu Xuande wants to join forces with me to destroy Yan Liang together. What do you all think about this?"

  The hall fell silent in an instant.

  Liu Biao had thought that as soon as he spoke, the hardliners in the hall such as Cai Mao would be greatly excited and clamor to join forces with Liu Bei to avenge their past grievances against Yan Liang.

  Everyone's silence made Liu Biao feel somewhat unexpected.

  "How is it that no one agrees to join hands with Liu Xuande?" Liu Bei asked in surprise.

  Kuai Yue coughed a few times and slowly stood up.

  "He cupped his hands and said: 'My lord, Liu Xuande is a powerful hero. I think that if we join forces with him, even if we get rid of Yan Liang, it will be like driving out the wolf at the front door and welcoming the tiger at the back door - endless troubles.'"

  As he spoke, Kuai Yue gave Cai Mao a wink.

  Cai Mao hastily said: "Liu Xuande, although he is known to have over 10,000 troops in Runan and has a grand presence, this man's military victories are few and his defeats many. If we rashly form an alliance with him, what if we again suffer the same fate as Cao Hong? Wouldn't that be losing the big picture for the sake of a small gain?"

  Old matters brought up again, a hint of fear flashed across Liu Biao's aged face.

  The pain of two consecutive defeats, Liu Biao could hardly forget.

  "You two are right, it seems I should decline Liu Xuande's offer."

  At this time, Kuai Yue shook his head and smiled, "Liu Xuande's good intentions, how can the lord refuse? The lord should have agreed readily instead."

  Liu Biao was confused by Kuai Yue's contradictory words, which made him dizzy.

  "My lord can pretend to agree with Liu Xuande, and claim to send troops to support him. In reality, we will sit back and watch the two tigers fight each other. If Yan Liang wins, then so be it. But if Liu Bei wins, we can take advantage of the situation and launch a surprise attack on Xin Ye, reaping the benefits without doing any work."

  Kuai Yue stroked his mustache and said with a hint of complacency.

  His strategy this time is similar to the previous one, but this time it's changed to temporarily not sending troops. Obviously, the failure of the last time has made him lose his confidence in must-getting.

  Liu Biao nodded secretly and praised: "This plan is excellent, I will write a letter immediately, let Liu Xuande and Yan Liang fight each other to the death."

  "My lord is wise." Kuai Yue bowed his hands in compliment.

  At dusk, a lone rider left Xiangyang City, Sun Gan, who had Liu Biao's letter of alliance in his possession, took a shortcut to bypass Xinye and headed east.

  When Sun Qian set out at the same time, a army with Liu Bei's flag also departed from Xinye and headed towards Bixiang.

  Biyang City is a must-pass place from XinYe to RuNan Prefecture, and its location is just in the middle of XinYe City and AnCheng, the capital of RuNan.

  Because it is a small and poor place compared to Yangdi, far from Xiangyang, and not a strategic location, it has never been paid attention to.

  When Yan Liang first attacked Jingzhou, Biyang City was not guarded by a single soldier. He also occupied Biyang without bloodshed and then continued to advance westward, defeating Wen Ping's army near Xinye.

  This time, Yan Liang chose a tactic other than "defending the enemy at the national gate". Before Liu Bei entered Jingzhou, he sent Liu Pi to lead his army to camp in Biyang.

  As Liu Bei's army entered Bixiang, hundreds and thousands of civilians were also dispatched from the seven counties of Xinye to transport grain and fodder to Bixiang day and night.

  Five days later, outside fifteen miles east of Bixian City, the shadow of Liu Bei's army finally appeared.

  At dusk, Liu Bei approached within a few miles of Bixiang City with over ten riders of his personal army and under the escort of Guan Yu to observe the enemy situation.

  Climbing a small hill, Liu Bei reined in his horse and gazed out at the entire city of Bixiang.

  Guan Yu pointed to the enemy city and said slowly, "According to the scouts' report, there are only over a thousand enemy soldiers entering Boma Yang City. The enemy general is Liu Pi, a Yellow Turban bandit, just as brother guessed. Yan Liang was indeed afraid of being ambushed by Liu Biao from behind, so he left most of his troops to guard Xinye."

  Guan Yu's tone was full of unreserved admiration for Liu Bei's strategy.

  "The lord's plan to spread Liu Jing's intention to unite with the new wild is indeed wonderful, and it would be strange if Yan Liang didn't fall for it." Sun Qian also praised on the other side.

  Liu Bei stroked his short beard, his face calm as water, but in the narrowed eyes, a faint sense of complacency flashed by unintentionally.

  "As long as Yan Liang is eliminated and the counties of Xin Ye are taken, the Battle of Guandu will be like this: if Cao Cao wins, I can borrow Liu Biao's strength to resist Cao Cao in the north; if Yuan Shao wins, I can take advantage of the situation and borrow Yuan Shao's power to help me take Jingzhou in the south. In any case, I will be able to stand on unshakeable ground..."

  Liu Bei was thinking about a beautiful blueprint in his heart, and a faint smile flowed from the corner of his mouth.

  After a moment's thought, Liu Bei pointed to Biyang with his whip and said coldly: "Since Yan Liang does not dare to lead the main force here, what is this trivial matter of Liu Pi? Cloud Long, pass on the order, let the whole army have a good meal tonight, and attack the city at dawn tomorrow.

  Liu Bei's tone was full of confidence, as if taking down Biyang would be as easy as turning over his hand.

  "Elder brother, rest assured, tomorrow at this time, I will definitely plant your flag on top of Bixiang City."

  Guan Yu accepted the order with a heroic spirit, and his expression and tone of voice also revealed an air of disdain for the world.

  The two brothers looked at each other and couldn't help but burst out laughing.

  That night, Liu Bei ordered his army of 100,000 to set up camp on all four sides of the city, surrounding the small city of Bixiang like a watertight seal.

  To show his benevolent heart, Liu Bei specially ordered the writing of hundreds of letters of persuasion, which were shot into the city by archers, advising Liu Bi and others not to resist his great army with all their might, but to open the gates and surrender as soon as possible, so as to avoid the suffering of the people in the city from the flames of war.

  When the moon was full in the sky, a figure emerged on the city wall, resembling an iron tower.

  Those blade-like eyes gazed far out at the Liu Bei camp outside the city, where fires burned brightly, and a faintly sinister smile flickered across his cold, stern face.

  The footsteps sounded, and Liu Bi hurriedly climbed up onto the city wall.

  "General, this is a letter of surrender shot into the city by Liu Bei. Please take a look." Liu Bi presented the silk letter with both hands.

  By the light of the torches, Yan Liang took a rough glance at the silk book.

  "Our Liu Xiang is indeed benevolent, saying repeatedly that he doesn't want the people in the city to suffer. If you don't attack the city, then naturally the civilians won't have to endure the suffering of war."

  Yan Liang sneered and muttered to himself, his tone revealing disdain.

  Liu Bei pointed at the enemy camp outside the city and laughed, saying: "Liu Bei has set up a camp under the city wall, it seems he is completely unaware. Your plan is indeed brilliant."

  Liu Bei's words showed no disguise of his admiration for Yan Liang.

  Yan Liang tore the silk book to shreds and casually threw it into the wind, his eyes turned back to the enemy camp outside the city, with a surge of murderous intent in his gaze.

  "Liu Bei, this is your fault for coming to provoke me. Since you've delivered yourself to my doorstep, let me show you the prowess of Yan Liang."