The Three Kingdoms: Zhaolie, the strategist, and the rise of the Han Dynasty

Chapter 265: Sun Shi of Jiangxia Seeks Revenge; Crippled Brothers Cause Trouble in the Chu Palace

Meanwhile, the war between Qi and Wei came to a temporary end.

Chancellor Li Yi led troops to Ye, the capital of Wei, to negotiate a peace agreement with Cao Cao.

Because Li Yi's conditions were extremely harsh, Cao Cao resolutely refused to accept them.

Therefore, the negotiations reached a stalemate for a time.
The two sides remained locked in this stalemate, neither willing to give in.

Meanwhile, the war in Jiangnan was also raging.

Originally, the State of Chu and the State of Wei had signed an alliance agreement to jointly attack the State of Qi.

After the victory in the war, the two sides divided the lands of Huainan and Yangzhou.

Unfortunately, despite the great victories achieved by the State of Qi, including the killing of Xiahou Dun and the flooding of the seven armies, the State of Chu was unable to provide any real assistance to Cao Wei.

It wasn't that Liu Biao was unwilling, but rather that he simply didn't have the time or resources to spare.

On the battlefield in Jiangnan, he was hampered by Sun Wu.

Sun Quan appointed Zhou Yu as the commander of the vanguard and Lü Meng as the commander of a separate division.

Ling Cao and his son Ling Tong were appointed as vanguards, and Chen Wu was appointed as the Fenwei Colonel.

They dispatched 20,000 troops and fought against the Chu army at Xunyang and Songzi.

They killed and captured more than 10,000 enemies, achieving a great victory since the start of the war.

Huang Zu, the governor of Jiangxia, sent his general Jiang Su with 5,000 troops to launch a fierce attack on Chaisang, the stronghold of the Sun family.

Zhou Yu led his army in a counterattack, captured Jiang Su, and inflicted a major defeat on Huang Zu's navy.

After the two battles, the money, grain, and ships captured by the Sun family piled up like mountains, innumerable quantities.

This is also one of the reasons why the Sun family prospered.

As mentioned before, the land of Eastern Wu was extremely poor and backward at the end of the Han Dynasty because many swampy areas remained undeveloped.

Furthermore, development also requires a high cost.

However, through the efforts of Sun Ce and Sun Quan, the Wu region was successfully developed into a powerful stronghold in the south.

And the angel investor for this great project is from Jingzhou.

Jingzhou is incredibly wealthy.

During Sun Ce's reign, he decisively defeated Huang Zu in the Battle of Shaxian.

More than 6,000 ships were seized, and valuables were piled up like mountains.

During Sun Quan's reign, he also seized a large amount of grain, fodder, and military equipment by attacking Huang Zu of Jiangxia.

These became important initial funds for Sun Quan to develop the Wu region.

As for the labor force, that's even easier to handle.

The Wu and Yue regions are mostly mountainous and inhabited by the Yue people, which became the main source of manpower for the Sun family.

This is not only a source of manpower, but also a natural replica of the famous generals cultivated by Sun Wu.

Anyone who needs to fight to level up, accumulate experience and military merits can just go and fight the Yue tribes.

These things are easy to bully and can be kidnapped to be used as slaves.

Even in the later stages of the Three Kingdoms period, the Yue people were still a breeding ground for famous generals of Sun Wu.

For example, Zhuge Ke, the great general of Eastern Wu, was Zhuge Liang's nephew.

He rose to power by gaining military merits through fighting the Yue people in the mountains.

It can be said,
The people of Jingzhou and the Yue people of the mountains played an indelible role in Sun Wu's rise to power in Jiangdong.

Of course, this was also due to Liu Biao's incompetence.

Logically speaking, Jingzhou was the third most powerful region in the country at that time, after Henan and Hebei.

Even if Eastern Wu had a group of famous generals, with the overwhelming strength of its nation, it shouldn't have fought so badly.

It's one thing to be unable to defeat Sun Ce, but to be utterly humiliated by Sun Shiwan is truly shameful.

Liu Biao was actually quite helpless about this.

It's not that he lacks ability,

He had been the governor of Jingzhou for almost twenty years, and Jingzhou was known for its more than 100,000 armored soldiers.

But Liu Biao could only muster about 20,000 troops at most, if that was enough.

Take the conflict between Jingzhou and Sun Wu as an example.

It's more accurate to say that Sun Wu was attacking Jiangxia rather than Jingzhou.

Can a state be compared to a county?
Huang Zu was also unlucky; he was located at the southeastern gateway of Jingzhou.

If Sun Wu wants to invade, who else should we attack if not you?
Unfortunately, Huang Zu could only rely on the strength of Jiangxia to fight against the entire Eastern Wu.

Troops from other counties did not come to provide support at all.

In this way, the country would lose its advantage in terms of national strength.

In military command, Huang Zu was completely outmatched by Zhou Yu.

Therefore, over the years, Jingzhou has practically become Sun Wu's ATM.

Sun Wu relied on Jingzhou to make his fortune.

Sun Quan was also outstanding in domestic affairs.

He did not squander the wealth he plundered in Jingzhou.

Instead, the focus shifted to developing handicrafts, shipbuilding, salt production, and commerce.

Thus, while the three families of Cao Cao, Liu Bei, and Yuan Shao were vying for control of the Central Plains and the world, they had no time to look south.

Meanwhile, the Wu state in the south was also secretly making a fortune.

In the eleventh year of Jian'an, spring began in the first month.

Sun Quan has completely gained the upper hand over Jingzhou.

They then discussed advancing troops to attack Huang Zu and seize Jiangxia County.

In fact, as early as the time of Sun Ce, Sun Wu had occupied Jiangxia more than once.

However, the policy adopted by Sun Yat-sen was always to sustainably exhaust the resources available for exploitation.

In other words, after I capture the land, I'll loot it and leave; the local area doesn't want it anymore.

Because the Sun family knew that Jiangxia was backed by the entire Jingzhou region.

Even if everything is looted, Liu Biao will continue to supply Jiangxia with resources in order to strengthen the eastern defense line.

After he had recovered to a near-complete state, Sun came to snatch him again.

This cycle repeated itself, and the animosity between the two families grew increasingly deep and complex.

However, on the other hand,

This also proves that in ancient times, conquering and seizing territory did not necessarily require occupying the place directly for the greatest benefit.

The key is whether it meets your strategic needs.

Now that Sun Quan is discussing the campaign against Huang Zu of Jiangxia again, his intention is to first directly control the Jiangxia region.

This was mainly in response to the call from the State of Qi.

On the surface, Sun Wu was allied with Qi to oppose the alliance between Cao Wei and Chu.

However, Sun Quan was also cautious and only attacked Huang Zu in the area around Chaisang.

With the Qi state having slain Xiahou and flooded the seven armies, victory seemed inevitable.

Sun Quan knew it was time for him to make his move and officially take action against Jiangxia.

Because the situation was still unclear, Sun Quan did not dare to venture deep into the heart of Jingzhou.

Liu Biao was ineffective in external wars, but he was quite formidable in protecting the internal affairs of Jingzhou.

After all, this involves the core interests of local powerful families, and they will naturally defend it to the death.

If they were to be attacked by Cao Wei and Jingchu in turn, Sun Wu would not be able to withstand it.

But now that Cao Wei has been defeated, it no longer poses much of a threat.

Sun Quan then consulted with Zhou Yu:

"Our army is now winning victory after victory. I intend to take Jiangxia directly, so as to prepare for the future capture of Jingzhou."

"However, there are many who oppose it, and I do not understand its meaning."

"Gongjin, you can teach me a good strategy."

Zhou Yu immediately replied:
"The year before last, we repeatedly defeated Huang Zu of Jiangxia; he was no match for our army."

"The Han dynasty is declining day by day, and treacherous heroes have seized power. It is still unknown who will emerge victorious."

"Jingzhou is a strategically vital location that military strategists must contend for."

"In my opinion, Liu Biao and his ilk are nothing but bandits guarding their own homes, and they have no foresight whatsoever."

"His sons were mostly mediocre, weak, and foolish, and were unable to inherit the family business and carry on the legacy."

"You should plan this as soon as possible, my lord."

"If we delay, Cao Cao and Liu Bei will surely get there first."

"We can take advantage of the fact that the Central Plains are too busy to look south and attack Jiangxia."

“Huang Zu was old and senile, and focused on profit.”

“Extorting money from officials and the people will cause widespread resentment.”

"Without repairing weapons, there is no law in the army."

"If Your Excellency attacks, your forces will surely be defeated."

"Having defeated Zu's army, we will march westward, seize the Chu Pass, and then conquer Ba and Shu. Our hegemony can then be established."

Zhou Yu's strategic policy was always to take Jingzhou first, and then take Bashu.

According to his plan

After Eastern Wu occupied the three provinces of Jing, Yang and Yi, the power struggle in the Central Plains would have already been decided.

Then they would contact Han Sui of Liangzhou and attack the then-dominant power in the Central Plains.

Once the matter is accomplished, the world can be at peace.

This was also the strategic blueprint that Zhou Yu, in history, planned for Sun Quan.

This strategy was also approved by Lu Su.

However, the two disagreed on some details during implementation.

It ultimately ended due to Zhou Yu's untimely death.

Sun Quan was overjoyed and took his hand, saying:
"This is a brilliant argument; I am willing to follow Gongjin's words!"

He then appointed Zhou Yu as commander of the land and naval forces, and Lü Meng as the vanguard.

Dong Xi and Ling Tong served as deputy generals, raising an army of 30,000 to attack Huang Zu.

Spies had already reported back to Jiangxia, and Huang Zu hurriedly dispatched his deputy general Zhang Shuo to meet the enemy.

Sun Quan sent his vanguard, Ling Tong, to attack.

Ling Tong was only seventeen years old. Although young, he was exceptionally brave and resourceful.

That night, the moon was dim and the stars were few, and the river was shrouded in mist.

Ling Tong selected fifty strong men and, in a light boat, quietly crossed the Youjiang River.

Zhang Shuo, while patrolling the river, relied on his strength and courage and was not prepared.

When Ling Tong's boat reached the middle of the river, he suddenly heard a commotion.

The enemy ships were brightly lit, and the soldiers were all drunk.

His advisors said, "The enemy outnumbers us; we should retreat for now."

Ling Tong drew his sword and shouted:

"Now that the enemy is unprepared, this is the time to make our mark. Why should we retreat?"

He then ordered the fleet to advance swiftly.

As the two boats came together, Ling Tong leaped over them.

With a swift stroke, he beheaded Zhang Shuo in the cabin.

Shuo's army was thrown into chaos. Commander Ling led his warriors in a fierce charge, and the enemy soldiers were routed.

In a short while, they captured the entire crew of the ship and seized countless flags, drums, and weapons.

When dawn broke, Quan heard the good news and clapped his hands in laughter:

"Ling Gongji defeated the enemy ships with only fifty men; he is truly a tiger general!"

"I have a proven track record, what do I have to fear from Liu Biao!"

He then generously rewarded the commander, which greatly inspired the entire army.

When the news of the defeat reached Huang Zu, he was shocked and immediately ordered two large warships to be moored at the mouth of the Mian River.

The ships were all secured to heavy stone piers weighing thousands of pounds at the bottom of the river using palm-fiber cables three feet thick.

More than a thousand soldiers were on board the ship, armed with powerful bows and crossbows, firing in a crisscross pattern.

Arrows flew like locusts, and Wu's fleet was unable to advance.

Zhou Yu, seeing this from the warship, frowned and said:

"If we don't destroy these two ships, our army will be unable to advance an inch!"

Generals Shi Lingtong and Dong Xi stepped forward and said in unison:

"This humble general is willing to lead his brave warriors to defeat them!"

He then selected one hundred strong soldiers, each wearing double layers of iron armor, and they sailed upstream on a large, imposing ship.

Arrows rained down on the river, obscuring the sun, and Dong Xi stood at the bow of the boat, wielding a large sword.

Arrows were stuck into his armor like a hedgehog, yet he still shouted to advance.

As they approached the enemy ship, Dong Xi leaped into the air.

With a swift stroke, he cleaved the thick palm cable in two!

Ling Tong also swung his knife and cut the other cable.

But the two massive warships, now freed from their restraints, began to drift sideways with the waves.

Seeing this, Wu Jun rallied his troops and advanced.

Huang Zu's naval commander Deng Xian hurriedly led his warships to meet him, only to encounter Lü Meng.

The two generals clashed for less than ten rounds when Lü Meng roared and beheaded Deng Xian in the river.

When the news of the defeat reached Xiakou, Huang Zu was greatly alarmed and exclaimed:

"I never imagined the Sun family had become so powerful!"

Those around him advised:
"Now that the Sun family is powerful, we should avoid their sharp edge."

"Retreat to Zhangling first and seek the assistance of Duke Chu."

"After acquiring the Jingchu navy, we will make further plans."

Huang Zu agreed with his words and hurriedly opened the city gate to leave.

Unexpectedly, Ling Tong had already divided his forces to take Jiangxia first, cutting off their retreat.

Huang Zu fled alone to Xian Mountain, when suddenly he heard a horn sound.

Sun Quan's valiant general Chen Wu led his iron cavalry out and, with a swift stroke, beheaded Huang Zu.

Sun Quan was overjoyed upon receiving the news and ordered that Huang Zu's head be placed in a lacquered box as a sacrifice to his deceased father, Sun Jian.

The soldiers of the three armies were greatly encouraged upon seeing this.

In this battle, Wu's army became a force to be reckoned with in Jingzhou and Xiangyang, and the foundation of Jiangdong was further solidified.

……

News of Jiangxia's fall had not yet reached Xiangyang.

However, trouble broke out within Xiangyang.

It turns out that Liu Jingsheng, who was in charge of the nine prefectures of Jingzhou, was known as a good governor in troubled times.

However, due to neglecting family affairs, misfortune befell his descendants.

His eldest son, Liu Qi, courtesy name Ziyu.

He was born with a face as handsome as jade and eyes as bright as stars, bearing a striking resemblance to his father in his youth.

Whenever Liu Biao saw Liu Qi, he would pat him on the back and sigh, saying:
"This is my family's finest steed!"

He then often took him with him when he went to and from the prefecture and government offices to observe the administration and ask him questions.

At that time, there was a powerful family named Cai from Xiangyang, which was located in Jingzhou.

Lady Cai was Liu Biao's second wife, and she was extremely jealous.

Her niece married her second son, Liu Cong, and Cai then extended her affection to him as well.

He favored his younger son Liu Cong and disliked his eldest son Liu Qi.

That's right, in the novel, Liu Cong is Lady Cai's son.

However, the two were not biologically related in history. Lady Cai was not only Liu Cong's stepmother but also his aunt.

Therefore, Lady Cai intended to support Liu Cong as the legitimate heir.

However, the decision to depose the eldest son and establish the younger son in favor of the eldest son faced immense public pressure at the time.

Although Madam Cai had the backing of the Cai family, she didn't have enough power to influence this matter.

Therefore, Lady Cai spoke to Liu Biao day and night, offering her advice:

"Although Cong'er is young, he is humble and polite, much like you were back then."

"Although Qi'er is grown up, she is stubborn and headstrong, and I'm afraid she is not a good person to maintain the status quo."

At first, Liu Biao was able to distinguish right from wrong, but Cai was eloquent and persuasive, and at the same time, Cai Mao was in charge of the Xiangyang navy.

In addition, Zhang Yun, another general in Xiangyang who held military power, also supported Liu Cong's succession.

In fact, many scholars and military officers in Jingzhou supported Liu Cong.

Because Liu Cong has a weak and easily manipulated personality.

To put it bluntly, everyone just wants to install a puppet regime.

After all, although Liu Biao was known as "in name only," he was still able to keep the powerful families of Jingzhou under control.

But once Liu Cong ascends the throne, the powerful families can treat him like a child.

So, with everyone's encouragement,

Whenever he was in court, Liu Cong's virtue and talent were praised. Whenever Liu Cong studied or practiced calligraphy, his teachings were widely disseminated throughout the prefectures and counties.

If they make a mistake, they will try their best to cover it up.

They also planted spies throughout Xiangyang to spy on Liu Qi's actions.

One day, Liu Qi went on a banquet and returned a little late.

Cai Mao then informed Liu Biao, saying:

"The eldest son's indulgence in wine and women is not a blessing for the country."

Another day, Liu Qi returned from training his troops, and Zhang Yun then slandered him:

"The eldest son secretly made friends with the soldiers; his intentions are difficult to fathom."

As time went on, Liu Biao gradually became suspicious of Liu Qi and intentionally distanced himself from him.

Soon, news of Jiangxia's fall reached Xiangyang.

Liu Biao was greatly alarmed upon hearing this and cried out in pain:
"Bitter!"

The carbuncle on his back flared up, and he fainted on the ground.

Those around him quickly lifted him up and summoned a doctor to examine him.

The doctor advised that he needed to rest, so Liu Biao had no choice but to remain bedridden.

Lady Cai was secretly pleased to see that Liu Biao was seriously ill and unable to manage state affairs.

He then replaced all the servants inside and outside the mansion with Cai's trusted confidants.

All food, soup, and medicine had to be prepared by Madam Cai.

When guests come to visit, the first thing to ask is their purpose.

Anyone who mentions Liu Qi will be immediately dismissed.

Anyone who mentioned the military situation in Jiangxia was prevented from doing so.

Although Liu Biao was bedridden, he felt as if he were imprisoned.

They are closed-minded and unaware of outside affairs.

And so, it dragged on for a while.

Liu Biao was already old, and his daily life was not well taken care of.

His illness gradually worsened.

Seeing that the time was right, Lady Cai secretly summoned Cai Mao to her inner chamber to discuss important matters.

Cai Mao said in a low voice:

"Now that Duke Chu is ill and his health is failing, I fear he will not live much longer."

“If the mountain collapses and is destroyed, and Liu Qi has troops outside, he will certainly not submit to orders.”

"It would be better to make a grand plan as soon as possible, establish Liu Cong as the leader, and eliminate future troubles."

Madam Cai frowned and pondered for a moment before saying:
"Liu Qi is, after all, the eldest son of the Duke of Chu. It would be difficult to depose the eldest son and establish the younger one in his place."

Cai Mao sneered:

"How can it not be easy?"

In my opinion, this matter is not difficult.

"Only when the Duke of Chu passes away can we forge an order to summon Liu Qi back to Xiangyang for the funeral."

“If we ambush them on the way, our armored soldiers will kill them, and then the matter can be settled.”

Madam Cai was overjoyed and nodded in approval.

He repeatedly urged Cai Mao to be extremely careful if he were to do this.

Jingchu was, after all, a paradise for scholars, and many famous scholars came from Hebei and Henan.

Although many court officials supported Liu Cong, the common people and scholars did not buy into it.

If they find out about this scandal, even if Liu Cong successfully ascends to the position of Duke of Chu, he will not be able to hold onto it for long.

Cai Mao immediately patted his chest and declared:

“When Lord Chu was alive, it was not easy for me to make a move.”

"Now the Duke of Chu is bedridden and unable to get out of bed, his senses are closed and he is unaware of outside affairs."

"With the troops of Xiangyang in my hands, killing Liu Qi is as easy as killing a rat or a sparrow!"

He then ordered his trusted confidants to make arrangements and wait for the opportune moment.

Unexpectedly, the news of this matter was leaked.

Perhaps someone couldn't bear to associate with the Cai siblings, so they reported the matter to Liu Qi overnight.

At this time, Liu Qi was leading troops in Xinye, a county outside Xiangyang.

He held lavish banquets for his guests every day, completely unaware that Liu Biao was seriously ill.

However, it is said that Pang Degong of Xiangyang was a virtuous scholar of his time who lived in seclusion on Mount Xian, enjoying his life of farming and reading.

He then invited him to a banquet, intending to recruit him to serve as his advisor.

Pang Degong, however, was happy to remain idle and refused to leave his mountain retreat.

Then someone advised Liu Qi:
“Back then, when Lord Xuande was in Xuzhou, he was just a guest general.”

"No general surpasses Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, no scholar surpasses Jian Yong."

"It was only because he sought out the renowned scholar Tian Shu that he rose through the ranks."

"In the end, he achieved imperial power, making all the heroes of the world take notice."

"Now that Pang Degong is also a recluse, why don't you go and seek him out, sir?"

"If things go well, then I can become Liu Bei."

"Even if things don't go well, we can still preserve Jingzhou and secure our position as Duke of Chu."

Liu Qi was annoyed by the fact that he was being targeted by Cai Mao and his stepmother, Cai Shi, every day.

He now desperately desires the assistance of a renowned scholar.

Although he admitted that he was not as good as Liu Bei, Liu Bei did indeed begin to establish his kingdom after obtaining the help of Master Tian Shu.

Liu Qi's starting point was even higher than Liu Bei's back then.

He believed that he and Liu Bei were perhaps only one Tian Shu away from each other.

Therefore, he adopted the suggestion of the guests and personally went to Xian Mountain to visit Pang Degong.

When the carriage arrived at the fields, it saw Pang Degong and his wife tilling the fields, looking quite content.

Liu Qi then alighted from the carriage, bowed, and went straight to the point:

"Sir, you are a man of great talent. Why not take office and serve the people?"

Pang Degong smiled but did not answer, and continued to hoe the fields.

Liu Qi then said:

"Sir, you are only concerned with your own well-being and protecting yourself."

"Why not extend this benefit to all under heaven and protect all people?"

Upon hearing this, Pang Degong stood leaning on his hoe and leisurely replied:
"The swan builds its nest in the tall forest, where it can roost at dusk."

"Turtle and soft-shelled turtle dwell in deep abysses, and have a place to return to at night."

"The way people go is like the nests of birds and beasts, each finding its own place of peace."

"It is not my duty to protect the world."

In short, whether the world is at peace or not is none of my business.

I only need to take care of myself.

However, Liu Qi did not give up; he longed to have a Master Tian Shu himself.

Seeing that Pang Degong's will was unwavering, he then pointed to the sight of his wife and children working in the fields and asked:
"The gentleman tilled the fields himself and refused to serve in an official position."

"What will I leave to my descendants a hundred years from now?"

Pang Degong smiled calmly and replied:

"People only know how to pursue fame and fortune, leaving their descendants in danger."

"I will live in peace and prosperity, leaving peace and prosperity for my descendants."

"Although what I have left behind is different, my descendants are not necessarily inferior to others."

Liu Qi was greatly puzzled and quickly asked:
"Why do you say that pursuing fame and fortune is to leave danger to one's descendants?"

Pang Degong then spoke seriously:

"In the past, Yao and Shun abdicated the throne to virtuous ministers, without favoring their sons."

"So that Danzhu and Shangjun could live among the common people and thus save their lives."

"When it came to Yu and Tang, they passed the throne to their sons."

"Jie fled to Nanchao, and Zhou hung his head on the Zhou flag, and his clan was wiped out."

"Were Yu and Tang more foolish than Yao and Shun? It was their selfishness that led to this!"

"When the Duke of Zhou became regent, he executed Guan Shu and exiled Cai Shu, causing brothers to kill each other."

"If Duke Zhou had been content with a simple diet of wild vegetables and lived under the shade of weeds, how could they have ended up harming their own flesh and blood?"

"For example, when you came here to invite me to come out of seclusion, wasn't it also to deal with my own brothers?"

Upon hearing this, Liu Qi remained silent for a long time.

It is:

The pursuit of fame and fortune often brings trouble.
Farming and reading bring peace and tranquility.

If all the people in the world could understand this...
Why must war disrupt the country?

Liu Qi shrugged and sighed:
"Sir, your insights are beyond the reach of ordinary people."

"But if you were in my position, you probably wouldn't be able to say it so easily."

"I do not wish to concern myself with worldly affairs, for I fear that worldly affairs will come to question me."

After saying that, he went back dejectedly.

While they were halfway there, a scout suddenly came to report.

She told Liu Qi about the Cai siblings' conspiracy.

Upon hearing the news, Liu Qi was greatly alarmed and wept as he said to those around him:

"My father is critically ill, and treacherous people have isolated us from the outside world, severing the bond between my father and me."

"Now you want to harm me again, what should I do?"

Those around him advised:
"The Cai family is powerful, and Xiangyang is no longer a place for you to live."

"It would be better to temporarily avoid confrontation and wait for the opportune moment."

Liu Qi sighed with tears in his eyes:

"How can the bond between father and son be severed?"

"However, as you gentlemen have said, if we return to Xiangyang, we will surely be killed."

"But if I don't go, I'm afraid I'll be branded as unfilial."

Just as they were hesitating, someone suddenly made a suggestion.

Since we haven't gone far yet, we might as well go back and consult Pang Degong.

Let's see if he has any way to save you, young master.

Liu Qi agreed with his words and immediately ordered the driver to drive back.

Upon reaching the thatched hut in the mountains, Pang Degong rested with his hoe.

Seeing Liu Qi arrive in a flustered state, I already knew his intentions, but I pretended not to know and asked with a smile:

"...Why did you return so quickly after leaving, young master?"

Liu Qi got out of the car and immediately bowed, weeping as he said:
"Sir, save me!"

“Cai Mao conspired with my stepmother to kill me.”

"Qi has nowhere else to go, so I have come to seek your guidance!"

Pang Degong then helped Liu Qi to his feet and led him to the thatched cottage, where he brewed tea to entertain him.

Liu Qi recounted in detail Cai Mao's conspiracy.

Pound said:
"Has the young master not heard of the story of Shen Sheng and Chong Er?"

"Shen Sheng died while inside the palace, while Chong Er lived peacefully while outside."

"Now that Huang Zu has just died, Jiangxia is lacking people to defend it."

"Why don't you speak up and ask us to station troops in Jiangxia? That way we can avoid disaster."

Liu Qi shook his head helplessly:
"Those around me also advised me to avoid disaster in Jiangxia."

"However, Cai Mao was very powerful and held great power over the troops in Xiangyang."

"The stepmother also controlled the inner chambers, and all the people around the father were her confidants."

"I fear Qi will ultimately not escape his clutches. Do you have any better advice for me, sir?"

Pang Degong pondered for a moment, narrowed his eyes, stroked his beard, and said:

"Jiangxia may be strategically located, but it is an isolated city that is difficult to defend."

"Since you, sir, wish to seek a long-term solution, why not seek Liu Bei's assistance?"

Upon hearing this, Liu Qi looked troubled and sighed:

"Sir, you may not know this, but when the states of Qi and Wei were at war, my state of Jingzhou sided with Cao Cao and not with Liu Bei."

"The two families are now at odds."

"Now that I am in dire straits and seeking help, I fear that Lord Xuande will not be willing to assist me."

Pang Degong suddenly burst into laughter, his voice echoing through the thatched hut, and said:
"How pedantic you are, young master!"

"Politicians around the world are only interested in profit; they never remember old grudges."

"Liu Bei held sway over the Central Plains, and controlled five of the nine provinces of the world."

"Now that he is at the height of his arrogance and success, why would he hold a grudge against him?"

"Jingzhou is a major province in the country, a prosperous land."

"If you, sir, wish to visit him, he will certainly not turn you away."

After a slight pause, Pang Degong added:

Even if Liu Bei is unwilling, the capable and extraordinary people under his command will surely persuade him to accept the prince!

Liu Qi was still somewhat skeptical and asked:

"Why are you so certain, sir?"

Pang Degong gazed into the distance and said meaningfully:
"...because the young master is Liu Jingsheng's eldest son."

"Since ancient times, deposing the eldest son in favor of the youngest has been a path to chaos."

Having said this, Pang Degong stopped talking.

Because he couldn't bear to tell Liu Qi a cruel truth.

That means if Liu Qi really went to join Liu Bei, he would become a pawn, or even a puppet, in Liu Bei's struggle for Jingzhou.

However, given Liu Qi's current situation, he has no better option than to join Liu Bei.

What else do you have besides being the eldest son of the legitimate wife?
We need soldiers, but we don't have any.

We need land, but there isn't any.

We need people, but we don't have any.

No wonder Cao Cao said:

"A son should be like Sun Quan; Liu Biao's sons are like pigs and dogs!"

Young master~
I really don't want to discourage you, but you're really living a failed life.
If you join Liu Bei, at least given his character, he won't treat you badly after taking Jingzhou.

Besides, don't think that being Liu Bei's pawn is bad.

Given Liu Bei's current strength, no matter how many people in the world want to be his pawn, they can't.

If it weren't for your status as Liu Biao's "eldest son," you wouldn't even be qualified to meet Liu Bei!

Seeing that Liu Qi did not understand and was about to ask further, Pang Degong changed the subject and said:

"If you are still worried, I can write a letter to my nephew Pang Tong."

“He is currently in power in the State of Qi, and may be able to lend you a helping hand, my lord.”

"This is to repay the kindness of the young master for his visit today."

Liu Qi asked in surprise, "Your nephew is actually Mr. Fengchu?"

"...Pang Tong, also known as Pang Shiyuan, was as famous as that Mr. Tian Shu."

Pang Degong smiled calmly:
“…Exactly.”

"But you are overestimating my nephew by comparing him to Tian Shu."

“Shi Yuan is a disciple of Tian Shu, how can he be ranked alongside him?”

"Isn't this a reversal of the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches?"

"When Mr. Shui Jing, Sima Decao, visited Xuzhou, he compared Li Ziyu to Tian Shu and called him the crown of all scholars in the world."

"The Crouching Dragon and the Young Phoenix reside below him, with the Heavenly Pivot as the leader."

As they were talking, Pang Degong picked up his brush and wrote the letter.

He handed it to Liu Qi and said:
"Although Shiyuan was arrogant, he valued loyalty and righteousness."

"Upon seeing my letter, I will certainly not refuse it; please do not doubt me, sir."

Liu Qi received the letter, feeling somewhat relieved, and bowed again, saying:
"Thank you so much, sir, for saving my life! I am deeply grateful!"

Pang Degong helped him up and once again gave him meaningful advice:

"My lord, remember this: those who achieve great things must know the meaning of 'leveraging power'."

"This journey is not only for survival, but also..."

He stopped abruptly at this point.

……

(End of this chapter)