With Cao Cao by my side, what do I have to fear from the world?

Chapter 245, Cai Mao Faces Death with Equanimity

Jia Xu accompanied Liu Xie on a walk in front of the Imperial Secretariat, and the conversation naturally turned to Guo Jia.

"Previously, I suggested to Your Majesty that you should get rid of Guo Jia if necessary, but Your Majesty has not taken any action so far. Could it be that Your Majesty is reluctant to do so and intends to let Guo Jia go?"

Liu Xie stopped and nodded. "I did have the idea of ​​killing him before, but after so many things have happened, I think it would be better to keep him alive. It would be more beneficial to the overall situation."

Jia Xu said, "How do you know? Guo Jia is highly intelligent and Cao Cao values ​​him greatly. If we can get rid of him, it will be like cutting off one of Cao Cao's arms."

Jia Xu was a cunning strategist, not only highly intelligent but also ruthless and decisive. Being targeted by him was like being targeted by a venomous snake.

Liu Xie shook his head. "Guo Jia is a man with a great sense of the big picture. I have observed him for a long time. He is more stable than Cheng Yu, Xun You, and Man Chong. He knows better how to maintain harmony between the ruler and his ministers. Unless absolutely necessary, he would never want me to break with Cao Cao. Therefore, as long as Cao Cao does not turn against me, there is no need to get rid of Guo Jia. Perhaps, there will be no need to kill him in the future."

"However, Guo Jia is not loyal to His Majesty. His stance has always been the same as Cao Cao's. Keeping him around will always be a threat to our health."

Liu Xie agreed, saying, "You're right. Guo Jia is indeed loyal to Cao Cao, but they'll only dare to turn their spears against me when Cao Cao regains the initiative. Will that day ever come?"

"What Cao Cao needs to do next is to continuously expand his territory and accumulate strength and prestige. He needs to occupy at least half of the country before he can have the confidence to contend with me."

"Let's suppose that day really comes, what would Cao Cao do? Would he directly declare war on me?"

Jia Xu shook his head. "Probably not. Cao Cao still has many concerns. He absolutely does not want to bear the infamy. He will probably have his subordinates unite to urge him to ascend the throne. He wants to be granted the title of Duke or even King, and then gradually weaken the power of the Han Dynasty."

Liu Xie said, "This path is not so easy. Besides, we will not stand still. Cao Cao wants to control half of the country. How can I let him have his way? As long as my strength is not inferior to his, Cao Cao will not pose a threat to me, and there is no need to get rid of Guo Jia."

Although the two were discussing a very serious topic, Liu Xie appeared very confident; he was no longer the same person he used to be.

A man with confidence is the most handsome!

The two continued their stroll. Although it was early winter, there were still patches of greenery in the palace, thanks to Xun Yu, who had transplanted many plants suitable for winter growth.

After a while, Liu Xie said again, "After the New Year, I am determined to take Qingzhou. We have also intervened in Jingzhou. Liu Xie is already overwhelmed with troubles. He is old and I'm afraid he won't be able to hold on for much longer."

Jia Xu sneered, "If Zhang Xian hadn't suddenly died of illness, Liu Biao would have had a long time to quell the Changsha rebellion. Jingzhou is a place of constant warfare. Liu Biao is weak and incompetent; how could he be a match for Your Majesty?"

Compared to the emperor, Liu Biao was far inferior, and Jia Xu was full of confidence that he would one day occupy Jingzhou.

Suddenly, Jia Xu seemed to realize something and said, "Your Majesty, you asked Zhuge Liang to devise a plan to help deal with the Cai family, but you seem to have forgotten one thing."

"what?"

"The relationship between the Cai family and the Huang family is not simple. Huang Chengyan is Cai Mao's brother-in-law, and he is even his biological brother-in-law."

"Ha ha--"

Liu Xie laughed, "Wenhe, you're overthinking it. I admit that the Cai family has complicated relationships with other families in Jingzhou, but they are not on the same side. If the Cai family is in trouble, the other families will never get involved. They will only try to distance themselves from the Cai family as soon as possible. Besides, it is Liu Biao, not me, who is dealing with the Cai family!"

Liu Xie corrected him, saying, "My target from the beginning has been Liu Biao. Gan Ning caused a great disturbance in Xiangyang, and the Cai family just happened to run into him. We can't blame anyone else for that. At most, Gan Ning hit the Cai family members, but it was Liu Biao who wanted to kill them."

“If we only consider the relationship of kinship, Cao Cao is my father-in-law, yet he still keeps looking for opportunities to suppress me. Liu Biao is my relative, but he still doesn’t obey my orders.”

Huang Chengyan's wife was Cai Mao's sister, but at this time, Liu Xie believed that no one would lend a hand to the Cai family.

…………

Jingzhou!

The streets of Xiangyang were packed with people, so crowded that it was impossible to count them all.

When Liu Biao appeared, countless eyes immediately fell on his face.

When Liu Biao saw Cai Mao, he almost didn't recognize him; it was truly tragic.

Cai Mao's clothes were worn out, covered in mud and blood, and his face was covered in bruises. The onlookers had also thrown a lot of vegetable leaves at him.

Fortunately, people weren't that wealthy, otherwise, someone would have thrown eggs at them.

"My lord, save me! My lord, save me!"

When Cai Mao saw Liu Biao, he was as if he had seen a relative and hurriedly called out to him.

He suffered greatly along the way, with onlookers hurling insults and throwing things at him. Cai Mao had never been treated like this before.

All he wanted to do was get out of this damn place as soon as possible.

Gan Ning looked at Liu Biao and said jokingly, "Governor Liu, Cai Mao is hoping you will come to rescue him. I really don't understand, Cai Mao has already been executed, how come another one suddenly appears?"

Liu Biao's face was ashen, his brows furrowed. He really didn't want to admit that he knew Cai Mao, and he didn't want to have any connection with the Cai family whatsoever.

"General Gan."

Since Gan Ning was confirmed to be transferred away from Xiangyang, Liu Biao still felt that this way of addressing him sounded more affectionate.

Liu Biao said in a consultative tone, "Hand Cai Mao over to me and let me take him back to deal with him."

With so many people and so much noise on the street, Liu Biao was afraid that Cai Mao would sell him out, so he decided to take him away first.

Gan Ning shook his head. "Governor Liu, what if another Cai Mao appears in a few days?"

Liu Biao forced an awkward, bitter smile. "How could that be? Don't worry, I will personally execute him."

Gan Ning shook his head again, deliberately raised his voice, and said loudly, "Governor Liu, Cai Mao had already been executed, but he has somehow come back to life. I think you don't need to go back to deal with him. Why not settle things here today in front of everyone, as a way to give us all an explanation?"

As he spoke, Gan Ning jumped off his horse and said to the surrounding people, "Everyone, step back a bit. Let's welcome the governor to conduct his work on the spot, shall we?"

"it is good!"

Of course, everyone is happy about this.

If the person gets taken away, we won't be able to see any excitement, which would be so boring.

Gan Ning personally directed everyone to step back a few meters to create an open space.

Gan Ning's subordinates also dispersed to maintain order, while Gan Ning crossed his arms and looked at Liu Biao with great interest.

Liu Biao was caught in a dilemma, unable to back down. With so many people watching, it seemed impossible to take the person away. Kuai Yue hesitated for a moment, not only refraining from going over to offer Liu Biao advice, but also taking a few steps back, afraid that Liu Biao would discover him.

Liu Biao wanted to take action against the Cai family, but Kuai Yue absolutely did not want to get involved.

If it was Kuai Yue who suggested that Liu Biao kill Cai Mao, then the Cai family would definitely blame Kuai Yue in the future.

Pang Ji looked back and saw that Kuai Yue had already disappeared far away. He also hurriedly retreated a distance. The Pang family did not want to get involved in this mess.

Gan Ning was overjoyed. Now, no matter what, Liu Biao had no way out.

He not only wanted to execute Cai Mao, but also to massacre the entire Cai family.

Chen Gong also rushed over upon hearing the news. After finding Gan Ning, the two stood side by side.

Chen Gong sighed and whispered to Gan Ning, "Liu Biao would have been better off executing Cai Mao last time. Now, not only is Cai Mao doomed, but many others will also be implicated."

Gan Ning asked curiously, "Do you think Liu Biao will investigate further?"

Chen Gong shook his head slightly. "Even if they don't really investigate, they should at least put on a show. Otherwise, how can they silence the public? How was Cai Mao switched out of town for no reason? And those people from the Cai family who went out of town to pay respects to their ancestors today are probably in trouble too, because they were the ones who covered for Cai Mao and led him out of town."

Gan Ning grinned. "Cai Mao has really become a jinx this time. He's dragged so many people down with him."

Seeing Liu Biao's uncertain expression and continued hesitation, Gan Ning had no choice but to add fuel to the fire.

"We request that the governor conduct an on-site investigation and severely punish Cai Mao."

"We request that the governor conduct an on-site investigation and severely punish Cai Mao."

Others responded in unison, shouting in unison.

Liu Biao's brows were furrowed so deeply he thought to himself, "This is so hard for me!"

With so many people watching him and so many people joining in the commotion, if Liu Biao insists on taking the person away, it will definitely cause dissatisfaction among everyone. Besides, Gan Ning might not allow him to take the person away either.

With a clang, Liu Biao suddenly pulled a steel knife from one of his guards and strode toward Cai Mao.

Cai Mao was terrified and hurriedly shouted, "My lord... you are my brother-in-law! Are you going to kill me? No!"

Liu Biao strode forward and raised his sword. Gan Ning hurriedly shouted, "Governor, killing someone like this isn't in accordance with the rules. The matter hasn't been clarified yet!"

The common people didn't want this to happen either. Everyone wanted to know what had happened and who had let Cai Mao escape.
Liu Biao had no choice but to put down his sword. He gritted his teeth, glared at Cai Mao, and demanded, "Cai Mao, tell me the truth, who released you from prison?"

Cai Mao finally understood that Liu Biao would not save him; in fact, he really wanted to kill him quickly and decisively.

Then, Cai Mao stared straight at Liu Biao and shouted, "It was you! It was you who let me leave! You told me to leave Xiangyang as soon as possible, to hide my whereabouts, and never to come back!"

Liu Biao's facial muscles twitched violently. In a fit of rage, he slammed the back of his knife into Cai Mao's face, causing Cai Mao's cheek to swell and two teeth to fall out.

Liu Biao roared like a madman, "You scoundrel! This is outrageous! You've framed me!"

Cai Mao was quite reckless, "Slander? Bah! I'm telling the truth."

Cai Mao's answer caused an uproar, and everyone looked at Liu Biao in confusion.

Liu Biao's face burned with shame and indignation, and he was also in a panic.

If Cai Mao insists that Liu Biao orchestrated everything, then Liu Biao is finished.

Liu Biao anxiously racked his brains for a solution, his eyes darting around, and soon he had an idea.

He stepped closer and said in a voice only the two of them could hear, "Cai Mao, the Cai family is now surrounded by my men. Think of your sister, think of your family. The life and death of the Cai family are now in my hands."

Cai Mao's eyes widened instantly, staring angrily at Liu Biao, wishing he could pounce on him and bite him a few times.

He actually used his family to threaten me!
Seeing that Cai Mao had not completely lost his mind, Liu Biao breathed a slight sigh of relief and said, "Cai Mao, you'd better think carefully about what you should and shouldn't say. As long as you tell me who let you go that day, I promise you that I will not implicate the innocent."

Cai Mao was somewhat bewildered. It was Liu Biao who had let him go, but now he was being asked to name others.

Liu Biao waited a while, then deliberately prompted, "Tell me, is it Cai Zhong or Cai He?"

As he spoke, Liu Biao winked at Cai Mao.

Cai Mao really wanted to curse Liu Biao out. This old guy was too damn cunning. Wasn't he obviously trying to make him expose Cai Zhong and Cai He so they could be buried together?

But when he thought about how his family's lives were in his hands, Cai Mao hesitated. He really couldn't bring himself to expose Liu Biao without considering the consequences.

Because the Cai family was already surrounded by Liu Biao.

"Rest assured, I will handle this impartially and will not implicate the innocent," Liu Biao reassured Cai Mao once again, making a promise.

Gan Ning watched for a while and whispered, "I feel like those two are whispering to each other, discussing something."

Chen Gong nodded. "Of course. Didn't you hear Cai Mao just point him out? It was Liu Biao who did this."

Gan Ning said, "Since that's the case, why don't we go directly to expose Liu Biao and confirm the matter?"

Chen Gong shook his head. "Liu Biao would never admit it, even if he died. Let His Majesty decide. Anyway, Jingzhou will be ours sooner or later, so why rush it? After this incident, Liu Biao's reputation is pretty much ruined, if not completely tarnished."

Cai Mao finally gave in and nodded helplessly, "That's right, it was Cai Zhong and Cai He who secretly let me go."

Liu Biao nodded in satisfaction: "Good! I'm going to execute you on the spot today. What else do you have to say?"

Cai Mao stared directly at Liu Biao with an unusually fierce look, which startled Liu Biao.

Cai Mao gritted his teeth and threatened, "If you dare to implicate the innocent and my family, I will haunt you even as a ghost."

Liu Biao was so frightened that he broke out in a cold sweat and nodded reluctantly. Cai Mao finally behaved himself, turning his head to look in the direction of the Cai family, his eyes full of helplessness and longing.

Fearing that he might change his mind again, Liu Biao mustered his courage and walked over, raising his steel knife in front of everyone once more.

Hearing the wind behind him, Cai Mao remained motionless, facing death with equanimity.

Because his family was his weakness, he feared that if he did not submit, Liu Biao would massacre the Cai family, leaving no one alive!
(End of this chapter)