Tiger Owl

Chapter 126 A Scheming Deal
Cai Mao immediately went to see Liu Biao.

"Reporting to my lord, the intelligence spies I sent to Nanchang have discovered some evidence that Huang Zhong may be secretly colluding with Gan Ning."

Liu Biao's face darkened. "What do you mean by that?"

"My intelligence scouts discovered that Huang Zhong's personal guards appeared twice at the Marquis of Wuchang's military residence. This happened two months ago. The scouts sent a message by pigeon, but I didn't receive it. Today, the scouts sent a replacement message, and I only just found out. This explains many of the doubts."

"To be more specific, what is it that you're wondering about?"

"There are two main questions. First, the surprise attack and fall of Liling County is very strange. How could the Yuzhang Army not alert the intelligence spies in Yichun County? Who leaked the secret?"

Secondly, in the Battle of Dongting Lake, the enemy's main logistics camp was on land. If Linxiang County had sent troops to cooperate with the navy, the outcome would have been completely different, and the Second Prince would not have been captured. I once questioned Liu Xin about why he didn't send troops to cooperate with the navy. He replied that it was Huang Zhong who refused to send troops.

Cai Mao took out Liu Xin's pigeon message and presented it to Liu Biao. "This is Liu Xin's pigeon message. It says very clearly that he wanted to send troops, but Huang Zhong stopped him. Why did Huang Zhong stop him from sending troops?"

Before Cai Mao could finish speaking, Liu Biao slammed his fist on the table and gritted his teeth, saying, "This traitor dares to betray me?"

Cai Mao understood Liu Biao very well. On the surface, Liu Biao was kind and humble, but deep down he was extremely hypocritical and arrogant. This disastrous defeat at Dongting Lake not only hurt Liu Biao because his son was captured, but also because of Liu Biao's proud self-esteem.

Cai Mao knew that Liu Biao was eager to find someone to take responsibility, so Cai Mao put Huang Zhong out there. Sure enough, Liu Biao didn't even consider the obvious flaws in this.

Many people know that there are spies in Yichun County, so why is it said that Huang Zhong leaked the secret? How did Cai Mao know that Liling County was attacked and lost? How could Huang Zhong's personal guards be discovered by Gan Ning's intelligence spies when they sent them to make contact?

Liu Biao ignored all the obvious inconsistencies and readily believed Cai Mao's words that Huang Zhong had betrayed him, leading to the disastrous defeat at Dongting Lake.

Rather than saying that Cai Mao was framing Huang Zhong, it would be more accurate to say that Liu Biao desperately needed someone to take responsibility.

Of course, Liu Biao still had to give the Huang family some face. He couldn't openly say that Huang Zhong colluded with Gan Ning. He could only say that Huang Zhong had selfish motives and refused to send troops to attack the Yuzhang army by land and water, which led to the disastrous defeat of the Jingzhou navy in Dongting Lake. This excuse was enough.

Cai Mao then said, "This humble servant suggests that we first take Huang Zhong's family into custody, and then, when Huang Zhong returns, our lord can interrogate him properly."

Liu Biao nodded, "Immediately send men to take Huang Zhong's family into custody!"

"Your subordinate obeys!"

…………

A general led 500 soldiers to surround Huang Zhong's mansion. Huang Zhong's two sons had died early, so he adopted his nephew Huang Kuan to continue the family line. His wife, Wang, was also in the mansion.

The mansion was surrounded, and everyone was on edge. Madam Wang sent Huang Kuan to find out what was going on.

Before long, Huang Kuan ran back and said, "Mother, something terrible has happened! Governor Liu suspects Father of colluding with the Yuzhang Army and has placed us under house arrest!"

Madam Wang was shocked and exclaimed, "How could this be? How could your father betray the governor? Have you found out the truth?"

“I know the guard commander. He told me that my father refused to send troops to assist the navy, which led to the annihilation of the entire army.”

At this point, Huang Kuan lowered his voice and said, "He said that actually, Governor Liu wanted to find someone to take responsibility, and since he couldn't shift the blame to Liu Xin, he put the blame for the defeat on my father."

Wang was speechless for a long time. She sighed and said, "Your father was loyal to him for so many years, but he still didn't have a good end!"

At this time, all the servants in the Huang family were driven away, leaving only one personal maid for Wang. The main gate was sealed, and besides Wang, the only other people in the mansion were her adopted son Huang Kuan and his wife and children.

…………

Two days later, Gan Ning's special envoy, Cui Jun, arrived in Xiangyang, causing a sensation. Cui Zhouping had actually become Gan Ning's special envoy! Liu Biao ordered Kuai Yue to receive him and arranged for Cui Jun to stay at a prestigious guesthouse. "Brother Zhouping, you're doing quite well!" Kuai Yue joked.

Cui Zhouping feigned helplessness and said, "I am the Prefect of Wuchang County. General Gan temporarily conscripted me to be a military officer and then sent me to Xiangyang. I really didn't want to come, but I can't disobey military orders. Sigh!"

Kuai Yue secretly scoffed; it was hardly the case that he didn't want to come.

Kuai Yue said solemnly, "Commander Cui, let's talk about serious matters."

Cui Jun also stopped smiling and waved his hand, "Please!"

The two sat down in the lobby, and a subordinate served them tea. Cui Jun took out a document and handed it to Kuai Yue, saying, "This is our proposal. Brother Yidu, please take a look!"

This kind of negotiation is relatively rare. They laid out all their demands directly. Of course, the other side had Liu Cong in their hands, so they were confident.

Kuai Yue silently read through the three proposals, then nodded. "I understand. I need to go back and report. We need to discuss this internally tomorrow, and we may be able to give an answer to Cui Sima the day after tomorrow. I will try my best to give an answer tomorrow."

Cui Jun handed him the plan, saying, "This is for you; I have a copy for myself!"

"Then my dear brother, you should rest well! I'll take my leave now."

Kuai Yue went directly to Liu Biao's official residence, where Liu Biao was still waiting for him. Cai Mao was also standing next to him.

"Your Majesty, I have already spoken with the other party, and they have presented their proposal. Please take a look."

Liu Biao quickly took the document and unfolded it to read it carefully. There were three clauses in total. The first clause was to exchange Linxiang County for Liu Cong. This was within Liu Biao's expectations. Liu Biao had long been prepared. Not to mention Linxiang County, even if it were Changsha Commandery, he would have agreed without hesitation. No matter how important these lands were, they were not as important as his son.

The second condition was that the Yuzhang Army could return 10,000 prisoners of war, but Liu Biao had to publicly acknowledge that Changsha Commandery belonged to Gan Ning's territory. Liu Biao did not want to agree to this condition, and it was simply impossible for him to publicly acknowledge that Changsha Commandery belonged to Gan Ning. This would be too much of a blow to his reputation and prestige. He would rather use money and grain to redeem the prisoners of war than admit that Changsha Commandery belonged to Gan Ning.

However, Liu Biao was very shrewd, and his face showed no sign of anything unusual. He continued to look at the third clause, which was simple: if the families of prisoners of war were willing to go to Changsha County, the other side should not stop them. This was a minor issue, as there had always been a steady stream of northern immigrants fleeing to Jingzhou, and as soon as one group left, another would come.

"Take a look, strategist Cai!"

Cai Mao already knew these three conditions, and he pretended to read them carefully. After a moment, he slowly said, "The second condition is a bit troublesome!"

Cai Mao's words struck a chord with Liu Biao, who nodded slightly, "The second condition is impossible to agree to."

Cai Mao then said to Kuai Yue, "Lord Kuai, could you discuss the second condition with them again, and have them replace it with something else, such as money or grain, or perhaps simply cancel the second condition altogether?"

Kuai Yue knew that the second lord would not accept it, so he nodded and said, "I will talk to them again tomorrow morning. Since it is a negotiation, there will definitely be bargaining."

The following morning, Kuai Yue formally negotiated with Cui Jun, and the two sides first agreed on the first and third points.

Kuai Yue then said, "My lord really cannot accept the second condition. Please ask Commander Cui to come up with a different plan, either money and provisions, or cancel the second condition."

Before his departure, Cui Jun had received instructions from his lord, and he knew his lord's intentions.

"If General Zhennan cannot accept the second condition, then let's try another plan! Exchange 10,000 prisoners of war for Huang Zhong's family."

This condition shocked Kuai Yue, who sighed inwardly, "Whether this condition is true or not, it confirms the claim that Huang Zhong secretly colluded with Gan Ning."

This was a cunning plan: Gan Ning would exchange 10,000 prisoners of war for Huang Zhong's family. Once the deal was finalized, Huang Zhong would have no chance of returning to Jingzhou.

(End of this chapter)