Tiger Owl

Chapter 116 Jing Sheng's Concerns
News of Yuan Shao's serious illness also reached Xiangyang. That morning, Guan Yu escorted Liu Bei to Xiangyang.

It was early summer, and a light rain began to fall. Liu Biao and Liu Bei sat in the hall, brewing wine. Gazing at the rain outside, Liu Biao sighed, "At fifty, one knows the will of Heaven. At our age, we can understand that life is like nature, and everything is preordained by Heaven. Just like this light rain outside the hall, it comes year after year and never changes. This is nature. Isn't life the same? In the end, everyone is the same, turning into dust. There is no difference."

Liu Bei said with a wry smile, "If you say that, I can't bring myself to speak. It's been a wasted trip today."

Liu Biao chuckled, “It’s alright, my good brother, please speak frankly. I may have my own feelings, but since I’m eating rice from the human world, I still have to do worldly things. I can’t escape the mundane.”

"I've heard that Yuan Shao's days are numbered. Does my brother know this?"

Liu Biao nodded. "I've heard about it too. It'll take at least a few months, and at most half a year! Once he dies, his sons will be in chaos."

“Brother, Cao Cao has stationed a large army along the Dangyin and Fanyang line, but has not launched an offensive. He is waiting for Yuan Shao to die. Once Yuan Shao dies, Cao Cao will definitely launch a full-scale attack on Hebei. This is our opportunity! Nanyang Commandery is in your hands, and it is only two or three hundred miles away from Xuchang. Your army can reach Xuchang in a few days. If you send 100,000 troops, Xuchang can be captured in one battle. You can then invite the Emperor to Xiangyang. As a member of the Han imperial family, you will be able to command the world and Xiangyang will become the center of the world. Brother, please consider this! This is a once-in-a-century opportunity!”

Liu Biao smiled without saying a word, poured Liu Bei a cup of warm wine and said, "Cao Cao is an extremely cautious man. I'm afraid things are not as simple as you think, my brother."

Seeing that Liu Biao lacked confidence, Liu Bei grew increasingly anxious. He steeled himself, glanced around to make sure no one was watching, and whispered, "Welcome the Emperor to Xiangyang. If you wish to usurp the throne, I will certainly support you!"

Liu Biao's expression changed drastically. He stood up abruptly, took a few steps back, and said sternly, "Brother, do you want to frame me unjustly?"

Liu Bei quickly bowed and apologized, saying, "My words came from the bottom of my heart and I meant no harm. Please don't take offense, brother!"

Liu Biao waved his hand, "Alright! I'll take this as a casual remark this time, please don't mention it again."

"I will not be reckless again!"

After the two drank a few more cups of wine, Liu Bei took his leave.

After seeing Liu Bei off, Liu Biao began to feel uneasy. Liu Bei's words were like tearing through a layer of paper, exposing the secret hidden deep in his heart.

Liu Biao also longed to ascend to the throne, but his idea was to wait for Cao Cao to usurp the throne, and then he would inherit the Han dynasty in Xiangyang and maintain the Han dynasty's rule. He never thought of replacing the emperor and becoming the supreme ruler of the world.

But Liu Bei's statement suddenly gave Liu Biao another possibility: the emperor could appoint him as the Imperial Uncle, then abdicate, and he would become the emperor of the Han Dynasty.

Liu Biao stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at the misty rain in the sky. At that moment, he felt a sense of unease and unease.

Just then, a guard reported, "Your Majesty, General Cai has urgent business to discuss!"

Liu Biao really didn't want to see Cai Mao. Every time Cai Mao came to see him, he would urge him to make his second son his heir, which really annoyed Liu Biao. This was not just Cai Mao's attitude, but the pressure from the entire Jingzhou gentry group.

After hesitating for a moment, Liu Biao nodded, "Please invite him to see me!"

Before long, Cai Mao hurriedly entered. Cai Mao was about thirty-six or thirty-seven years old, tall and imposing. He was not only highly skilled in martial arts, but also very knowledgeable, making him both a scholar and a warrior. At the same time, he came from a prominent family. Among the eight great families of Jingzhou, the Cai family ranked first: Cai, Huang, Deng, Kuai, Pang, Ma, Yang, and Xiang.

It was precisely because of the Cai family's full support that Liu Biao was finally able to secure his hold on Jingzhou.

Currently, Cai Mao serves as Liu Biao's strategist, wielding military power and being highly valued by Liu Biao. He is undoubtedly the second most important figure in Jingzhou.

Although Cai Mao insisted on making his second son Liu Cong his heir, which greatly troubled Liu Biao, Liu Biao also understood that this was just an internal conflict, since Liu Cong was also his son.

Cai Mao entered the hall, clasped his hands in greeting, and said, "This humble servant greets my lord!"

Liu Biao didn't want to talk to him any longer and went straight to the point, "The strategist said there's something urgent, may I ask what it is?"

"My lord, I have received a report from my scouts that Yuzhang Commandery is actively preparing for war. Soldiers have stopped taking leave, and the government is purchasing large quantities of tung oil from Jiangdong, but it is very difficult to find on the market. The number of miners in Xiazhi has exceeded ten thousand, and artisans from all over Yuzhang Commandery have been gathered in Nanchang County. All these signs indicate that Gan Ning is preparing for a major battle." Liu Biao pondered for a moment and said, "Could it be that he intends to annex Lujiang Commandery?"

"It can't be Lujiang County. They have allied with Jiangdong and promised not to cross the Wan River again. If they wanted to annex Lujiang County, they wouldn't have allied with Jiangdong. I think they want to attack Jingzhou, either Huang Zu of Jiangxia or our Changsha County."

"That makes sense. Has Huang Zu made any preparations?"

"Huang Zu is also preparing for war. He just borrowed 200,000 shi of grain from us. I am about to report to my lord."

"They need to borrow grain again!"

Liu Biao frowned. "He borrowed 300,000 shi of grain last time and hasn't paid it back. Now he wants to borrow another 200,000 shi. Where am I going to get so much grain to lend him?"

"Reporting to my lord, Huang Zu is also facing difficulties. He needs to maintain an army of 40,000, but the tax revenue is insufficient. He currently pays one-twentieth of the taxes, while Wuchang County pays one-thirtieth. If he increases the taxes again, a large number of people will flee to Wuchang County. He is already struggling to maintain his position."

"Whose fault is that? I advised him against building Queyue City, but he wouldn't listen and insisted on building it, concentrating all the money and grain he had accumulated over the years into one place, which was then all robbed by Gan Ning. He made a huge mistake, but now I have to bear the consequences. What kind of logic is that? Tell Huang Zu to train his elite troops. Thirty thousand soldiers are enough. If he doesn't listen, I won't have a single grain of food."

Liu Biao was very dissatisfied with Huang Zu. If Huang Zu had listened to him and not built Queyue City, but continued to maintain Xiling County, he would not have suffered such a terrible defeat. Now, however, Huang Zu was making him bear the consequences, desperately borrowing grain, and treating him like a sucker. Liu Biao was really getting fed up.

"I will pass this on to Huang Zu. In addition, we must also guard against Gan Ning's attack on Changsha County. I suggest that we send reinforcements to Jiangling. We can send reinforcements at any time."

"Jiangling already has 30,000 troops, isn't that enough?"

"I suggest increasing the army to 50,000 and sending the Second Prince to oversee the situation, so as to deter Gan Ning."

This was Cai Mao's true intention: to gradually allow his second son, Liu Cong, to gain control of the military. As long as Liu Cong held military power, even if Liu Biao did not want to make him his heir, he would eventually have to do so.

Having Liu Cong stationed in Jiangling was the first step in gaining control of the military.

Although Liu Biao was somewhat reluctant, considering that the combined forces of Jiangling and Changsha already accounted for half of his total military strength, it was indeed necessary for his son to be in charge. Since his eldest son, Liu Qi, was in charge of Nanyang, his second son had to be in charge of Jiangling.

Liu Biao finally agreed, "Very well, send 20,000 troops to Jiangling, with the Second Prince stationed there, assisted by Cai Yan!"

On the way back to Xinye, Guan Yu couldn't help but ask, "Brother, did Liu Biao agree to your advice to launch a northern expedition?"

Liu Bei said calmly, "I have offered him conditions that he cannot refuse. If nothing unexpected happens, he will definitely agree to the Northern Expedition."

"If Liu Biansheng launches a northern expedition, how confident are you, brother, of his success?"

Liu Bei shook his head. "With Cai Mao and others holding him back, I estimate that Liu Biao won't be able to muster many troops, and the chances of success are slim."

Guan Yu asked in bewilderment, "If that's the case, why did you still urge Liu Biao to launch a northern expedition?"

Liu Bei sighed and said, "There are some things that we must do even if they are difficult to succeed. If we don't do them, the people of the world will gradually forget us. Only by doing them will the people of the world know that there is still a Liu Xuande who, despite repeated defeats, is still doing his best to support the Han Dynasty."

"Brother's wisdom is profound; I understand!"

The two quickened their pace and, escorted by three hundred cavalrymen, galloped towards Xinye County.

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(End of this chapter)