Wei Xiaobao's Three Kingdoms Adventure

Chapter 142: Xiangyang Persuading Surrender
Guan Yu, Zhang Liao, and Wei Xiaobao were drinking in Jiangxia City when a scout arrived with a report: "After Liu Biao's death, the Cai family joined forces with their brother Cai Mao to support Liu Biao's youngest son, Liu Cong, as the successor to the post of Governor of Jingzhou."

Guan Yu said, "Those who dethrone the eldest son and enthroned the youngest son have always suffered a bad end. The lessons of the Han Dynasty and the Yuan family are still fresh in our memory. How dare the Cai family of Jingzhou still do the same?"

Wei Xiaobao also keenly sensed that something big was about to happen: "Second brother, General Wenyuan, if you two were Sun Quan, what would you think when you heard this news?"

Zhang Liao drank a glass of wine and said, "This is surely a great relief! Huang Zu died in the chaos, and now Liu Biao is also gone. Sun Quan's revenge has been fulfilled."

Wei Xiaobao shook his head. "Although I've never met Sun Quan, judging from the battles I've fought with him over the past few years, his ambition and tenacity are even greater and stronger than his brother Sun Ce's. To him, the revenge for his father's murder is just an excuse to win over Sun Jian's former subordinates."

Now that Liu Biao has died, his wife has given birth to a child who has taken over as the governor of Jingzhou. Doesn't that mean Madam Cai and her brother Cai Mao still have the final say? As the old saying goes, when a woman is in charge, the house collapses. Wasn't Empress He and He Jin a precedent?

In this situation, the most likely thing Sun Quan would do is to seize Jingzhou!"

Guan Yu nodded and said, "What Bozhi said makes sense. When Liu Biao was alive, Sun Quan still had his guard up. Now that a child is in power, I'm afraid Sun Quan will lose his patience."

Wei Xiaobao continued, "Second brother, let's take this opportunity to disrupt him. We can't let him seize Jingzhou so easily."

Guan Yu immediately wrote a letter to Xuchang, asking Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang if they could take the opportunity to launch a surprise attack on Jingzhou.
After receiving the letter, Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang both thought that Wei Xiaobao's idea was very good. Unfortunately, when they sent the letter back to Jiangxia, it was too late. Sun Quan had already occupied Jiangling and Nanjun. Now the only territory left to Liu Cong in the entire Jingzhou was Xiangyang City.

After this incident, Zhuge Liang also began to consider delegating command power.

After discussing with Liu Bei, he decided to hand over the two counties of Jiangxia and Lujiang and the navy to Guan Yu, and let him supervise the military and act at his discretion.

At this point, a strange situation was formed in which Guan Yu's army surrounded Sun Quan, and Sun Quan surrounded Liu Cong.

Wei Xiaobao also found the three circles drawn on the map in front of Guan Yu amusing. "We are on the outermost circle. It will be difficult for us to capture the two inner circles. It will also be difficult for Liu Cong, who is in the innermost circle, to escape."

Guan Yu, reminded by Wei Xiaobao's words, laughed heartily and said, "If the largest and smallest circles join forces to attack the middle circle, wouldn't it be easy?"

Wei Xiaobao understood immediately and volunteered, "Brother, let me go to Xiangyang! I'm getting bored staying in the city all day. I'll go to Xiangyang and persuade Liu Cong to join forces with us."

Guan Yu was worried about Wei Xiaobao's lack of experience, so he said with some embarrassment, "Cai Mao and Madam Cai are in charge of all matters in Xiangyang City. Do you have the confidence to convince them?"

Wei Xiaobao laughed inwardly, "I have the best way to deal with old women."

Wei Xiaobao didn't dare to speak carelessly in front of Guan Yu. After thinking for a moment, he said, "Let Jian Yong go with me. He's a good speaker and should be able to handle it."

The next day, Wei Xiaobao and Jian Yong dressed up and drove a small boat across the river to Xiangyang to meet Liu Cong and others.

Liu Cong, no more than five or six years old at the time, nestled in Madam Cai's arms, his face brimming with childish bewilderment. Cai Mao was the first to question him, "Liu Bei is plotting to seize Jingzhou from us, and now he's sending you two as envoys to persuade us to form an alliance with him against Sun Quan. His ulterior motives are obvious, aren't they?"

Jian Yong was still organizing his thoughts when Wei Xiaobao asked back, "How much of Jingzhou do you still own?"

After these words were spoken, everyone present was speechless.

Wei Xiaobao continued, "The Emperor wanted Liu Jingzhou to go to Xuchang to enjoy his life, but you guys stopped him. I know you were just worried about being powerless after leaving Jingzhou, but you ended up letting a wolf into your house, allowing Sun Quan to take over most of the world of pleasure.

Someone once told me, "Whoever steals our women and money, we'll beat him up! Anyone who doesn't dare to take action is a coward!"
I understand that you disobeyed the imperial court and wanted to be king in your own territory! But I don’t understand why you’re still hiding here like a turtle when your family is almost robbed by others!

Jian Yong, who was standing by, couldn't help but praise Wei Xiaobao's words. Although Wei Xiaobao's words were crude, they were able to touch the hearts of the people of Jingzhou.

In fact, what Jian Yong didn’t know was that Wei Xiaobao’s principles were all copied from Chen Jinnan and Kangxi.

At this moment, a man stood up and clasped his fists. "General Wei, my name is Ma Liang, courtesy name Jichang. In my opinion, what you've said is a complete misreading of right and wrong. Since becoming Governor of Jingzhou, my lord has been loyal to the court, diligent in his duties and caring for the people, never slacking off in the slightest. Unexpectedly, Liu Bei, resentful of Huang Zu's surprise attack the other day, took his anger out on my lord and launched an attack, allowing these Jiangdong cowards to take advantage. Could it be that the current situation is entirely due to you?"

Wei Xiaobao laughed heartily. "Sun Quan was beaten to his knees and begged for mercy by my eldest brother, yet he still found an opportunity to rebel. You could have taken in anyone else, but you took in this traitor. Even if my eldest brother hadn't come, Jingzhou would have been taken by Sun Quan sooner or later. Can you defeat Sun Quan with just a few of you?"

Another man stood up and said, "Everyone says Zhou Yu's navy is powerful, but I, Zhang Yun, am not afraid of it!"

Wei Xiaobao taunted, "Why don't you lead your troops to challenge Zhou Yu now?"

Zhang Yun said, "Now that the ports are occupied by Zhou Yu, how can we use our navy?"

Wei Xiaobao said, "Our navy is ready and can attack Wulin and Jiangjin ports at any time. Since General Zhang is confident of defeating Zhou Yu, I can recommend you to my second brother and assign you a unit as a vanguard."

Zhang Yun turned his head away from Wei Xiaobao and muttered, "The generals of Jingzhou are not used to commanding the navy of Yangzhou."

Wei Xiaobao knew he was just refusing to admit defeat, so he ignored him and clasped his fists towards Madam Cai, who was sitting in the upper seat, and said, "Liu Jingzhou and my eldest brother are both royal relatives, and we can be considered brothers with the same surname. Now that my brother's family is in trouble, how could my eldest brother just sit back and do nothing? Putting aside the gains and losses of Jingzhou, if Sun Quan led his troops to attack Xiangyang, Madam Cai and my nephew would probably be in danger."

These words hit the nail on the head about what Mrs. Cai was most worried about.

Wei Xiaobao continued, "I followed the Emperor through the Ten Attendants' rebellion and Dong Zhuo's hegemony. I know how pitiful it is for an orphan and a widow to be manipulated. What happened to Empress Dowager He when she refused to listen to advice? Aren't those officials under her still officials?"

After saying that, Wei Xiaobao glanced around and saw that some people had already lowered their heads in shame.

(End of this chapter)