The Three Kingdoms: Hindsight is 20/20, and the Three Revivals of the Han Dynasty

Cao Cao may seem to have taken control of Yi Province, but in reality, he is riddled with internal conflicts. If he wanted to resolve these internal conflicts directly in Yi Province, it would take at least three to five years.

However, Cao Cao could not wait three to five years.

Once Cao Cao resolved his internal conflicts, Liu Bei was able to march south and capture the dragon.

Therefore, the most effective way is to turn internal conflicts into external ones. Whether it is the old subordinates or the powerful clans of Yizhou, as long as they receive enough benefits, even the biggest grievances can be alleviated.

Only by capturing Jingzhou could Cao Cao turn the tide of the battle.

After being threatened by Cao Cao, Cai Zan fled back to Xiangyang in a panic. Upon learning of Cao Cao's attitude, Cai Mao was also filled with fear.

Cai Mao had a deep understanding of what kind of person Cao Cao was when he visited famous scholars with Cao Cao in Luoyang. Over the years, after observing Cao Cao's actions, Cai Mao became even more wary of him.

"If you want to kill General Zhennan in just one month, the only way is to start with his medicine." Cai Mao murmured, his eyes filled with hesitation and doubt, but then his resolve hardened.

Although Liu Biao has provided considerable support to the Cai family over the years, he is merely a partner to them. When it comes to the Cai family's survival and future, Liu Biao is just a pawn that can be discarded.

If we go back another ten years, Cai Mao would never have dared to have such an idea.

When Liu Biao rode alone into Jingzhou and lured and killed more than fifty bandits, he was no different from someone who could kill people with ease, as if he were turning his hand over and laughing.

But now it’s different.

Not only was Liu Biao old, but his eldest son Liu Qi was also dissatisfied with him. In addition, the Cai family's power was rapidly expanding in Jingzhou. Liu Biao, the former hero, was just a sick tiger in his twilight years.

In particular, Liu Biao's carbuncle recurred, which gave Cai Mao an opportunity.

Cai Mao then summoned Lady Cai and instructed her to feign illness and send Liu Cong to deliver medicine to Liu Biao, ostensibly out of filial piety, but in reality to find fault with Liu Cong.

Liu Cong was not Lady Cai's biological son, and he might not have been willing to listen to Cai Mao's advice and surrender to Cao Cao if he did not have any leverage over her.

Mrs. Cai did not object to this.

Lady Cai could not openly commit the murder of her husband; with Liu Cong doing it for her, she could extricate herself from the situation afterward.

Furthermore, Liu Cong was spoiled by Lady Cai and was far less intelligent than his brother Liu Qi. Therefore, he had no doubts about the medicine and delivered it to Liu Biao every day as Lady Cai instructed.

Herbal medicine can cure diseases, but it can also kill.

There's no need to poison it; just don't use the wrong medicine.

Liu Biao was already old, and it was common for someone his age to suffer from carbuncles that were difficult to cure.

In just over ten days, Liu Biao's condition had deteriorated to the point of near death.

Cai Mao was also cunning. A few days before Liu Biao fell seriously ill, he changed the medicine to the normal one. Liu Biao was so ill that even if Hua Tuo or Zhang Zhongjing came, they would have to prepare for his death. Naturally, there was no need to change the medicine to make people notice.

Since it was Liu Cong who delivered the medicine, Liu Biao did not suspect that there was anything wrong with the medicine. He only lamented the impermanence of life and that living to sixty-five was already far better than most people.

The death of Liu Biao, orchestrated by Cai Mao, appears to be a normal death from illness.

Although Kuai Liang and Kuai Yue had suspicions, they couldn't produce any evidence. They couldn't very well suspect that Lady Cai and Liu Cong had conspired to murder Liu Biao, could they? Considering the interests of the Kuai family, Kuai Liang and Kuai Yue didn't investigate further. Instead, they worked with Cai Mao and others to handle Liu Biao's funeral arrangements and enthroned Liu Cong as the Governor of Jingzhou and General Zhennan.

With Liu Biao's sudden death, Cao Cao in Baidi City also marched his troops towards Jingzhou.

With Cai Mao's inside help, Cao Cao captured Zigui with almost no effort. He then divided his forces to take Jiangling and Fangling. Fangling Prefect Kuai Qi knew he could not defeat them by force and repeatedly sent messages to Xiangyang requesting reinforcements.

Just as Liu Cong was preparing to send troops, Cai Mao secretly approached him again and told him that there was a problem with the medicine, which almost scared Liu Cong to death.

In this era where filial piety was highly valued, even if Liu Cong hadn't poisoned his father but had neglected the medicine, causing his death, it would have been enough to nail Liu Cong to the pillar of shame.

"You, you, how could you do this to me!" Liu Cong stammered, both angry and terrified.

Cai Mao then dropped the pretense and said frankly, "I want to surrender to Cao Cao, but the brothers Kuai Yue and Kuai Liang want to help Liu Bei. For the sake of the Cai family's foundation, I have no choice but to do so. Don't worry, you are now my nephew-in-law, and I will definitely treat you well. Whatever wealth and honor the Cai family has, you will also have. Of course, you can choose not to listen to me, but without me, you can only be a rich old man under Liu Bei."

Liu Cong, who had no particular ideas to begin with, was intimidated by Cai Mao and readily agreed.

After persuading Liu Cong, Cai Mao then had Liu Cong gather a crowd and announce his surrender to Cao Cao.

Despite strong opposition from Kuai Yue, Kuai Liang, and others, Liu Cong insisted on surrendering to Cao Cao with the support of Cai Mao and others.

Only then did the brothers Kuai Liang and Kuai Yue understand why Cao Cao had suddenly attacked Jingzhou and deliberately stationed his troops at Baidi City.

Fearing that Cai Mao might resort to desperate measures and annex the Kuai clan as well, the brothers Kuai Liang and Kuai Yue feigned agreement to surrender while secretly sending someone to inform Liu Qi, who had just arrived in Fancheng.

In order to eliminate any potential threat, Cai Mao lured Liu Qi back to Xiangyang under the pretext that a son should attend a funeral, intending to capture Liu Qi and hand him over to Cao Cao.

In this way, Cao Cao could gain full control of Jingzhou, and even use Wancheng as a springboard to retake Xuchang.

Upon learning that Cai Mao had persuaded Liu Cong and the people of Xiangyang to surrender, Liu Qi, who was in Fancheng, was terrified. If he entered Xiangyang, he would not be able to return to Wancheng alive.

"You old bastard Cai Mao, how dare you harm me!"

Liu Qi was both shocked and furious. He fled to Wancheng with Hao Pu and others that very night. He also sent messengers to Wuguan to inform Zhuge Liang that Liu Cong, Cai Mao and others had surrendered Jingzhou.

When Cai Mao saw Liu Qi escape, he immediately knew that someone had leaked the information. Although he was furious and guessed who had leaked it, he did not dare to turn against the brothers Kuai Yue and Kuai Liang before Cao Cao entered Xiangyang.

The brothers Kuai Yue and Kuai Liang were also afraid that Cai Mao would turn against them, so they spread the news that Liu Cong wanted to surrender to Cao Cao, and even led their relatives and soldiers to leave Xiangyang and head towards Wancheng.

In a short time, no fewer than 100,000 people fled Xiangyang with the brothers Kuai Yue and Kuai Liang.

Because so many people had fled, and with Kuai Yue and Kuai Liang leading the way, Cai Mao dared not send troops to intercept them. He only sent someone to urge Cao Cao to enter Xiangyang as soon as possible. When he learned that the plan had gone wrong, Cao Cao dared not stay in Fangling any longer. After leaving Xiahou Yuan and Yu Jin to continue besieging Fangling, Cao Cao personally led the main force into Xiangyang.

And at Wuguan.

Upon hearing of the changes in Jingzhou, Guan Yu reacted swiftly: he sent someone to inform Zhuge Liang in Chang'an while simultaneously leading his troops directly into Fangling.

Kuai Qi, the prefect of Fangling, was Zhuge Liang's brother-in-law. Given Fangling's strategic location, seizing it would allow Cao Cao to march south to Zigui and sever Cao Cao's connection with Yizhou.

Similarly, if Cao Cao were to capture Fangling, he could connect Zigui, Fangling, and Xiangyang into one region, directly controlling the entire southern part of the Han River. Even if Zhuge Liang personally led his troops, it would be difficult for him to break through the Han River. (End of Chapter)