Tiger Owl

Chapter 182 Liu Biao is critically ill
On the sixth day of the first lunar month, the New Year holiday ended, and Gan Ning returned to his official residence.

Just as Gan Ning sat down, a guard at the door said, "Reporting to the general, Military Advisor Pang has urgent business to discuss!"

"Invite him in!"

A moment later, Pang Tong hurried over, bowed and said, "Reporting to the general, there are two important pieces of information that I need to report to you."

"Please say!"

"The first important piece of intelligence is that Cao Cao was appointed Chancellor on the last day of last year and was granted the title of Duke of Wei."

Gan Ning nodded. "There were signs of it before!"

"That's right. Hua Xin had previously submitted a memorial to the emperor, requesting the abolition of the Three Dukes system and the restoration of the prime minister system. This should have been Cao Cao's idea."

Gan Ning remained silent for a moment, pondering. History had been moved forward, and Cao Cao's southern expedition was also very likely to be brought forward. He had to speed up his war preparations.

"I understand. Now, let me tell you the second important piece of news."

"Reporting to the general, the second important piece of news is that Liu Biao is critically ill."

"Critically ill? When?"

"It was also at the end of last year, when Liu Biao was critically ill, that he transferred all power to his second son, Liu Cong."

If the news of a truly critical illness is made public, it won't be made public; if the news is made public, then it wouldn't be a critical illness.

Gan Ning sneered, "Is he critically ill or is this a secret?"

Pang Tong nodded. "This humble servant also suspects that Liu Biao is dead, and Cai Mao is concealing the news from him to quickly hand power to Liu Cong. Once news of Liu Biao's death spreads, I fear the Liu brothers will turn on each other."

Gan Ning shook his head slightly. "The infighting among the Liu brothers is not important. What is important is that smiling tiger in the north. This is his opportunity, and he will definitely not stand idly by."

Pang Tong hesitated for a moment before saying, "The gentry of Jingzhou may not support Liu Bei."

Gan Ning pondered for a moment and said, "I deduce that Liu Bei intends to enter Shu, and Jingzhou is merely a stepping stone for him. Perhaps this is also our opportunity."

"General, this may also be Cao Cao's opportunity!" Pang Tong warned.

Gan Ning paced back and forth a few steps with his hands behind his back, and slowly said, "Let's prepare first and observe the situation in Jingzhou!"

In Xiangyang, Cai Mao paced back and forth in his official residence, looking somewhat agitated. At this moment, his trusted confidant Zhang Miao hurriedly walked down to the hall and said, "Strategist, the ice has been harvested. Transporting it into the mansion now might be too conspicuous and arouse suspicion!"

"Fool!"

Cai Mao's face darkened, and he rebuked, "Won't you send it to the manor tonight?"

"I know I was wrong, I'll make the arrangements right away!"

Zhang Miao was so frightened that he quickly bowed and left. Cai Mao let out a long sigh. Even such a small matter required his decision. He was really a handful!

Liu Biao died suddenly half a month ago due to excessive drinking. The news has been kept secret by Lady Cai and Cai Mao. It's still okay now that it's winter, but spring is coming soon, and the body will be difficult to preserve. Even ice can only prolong the time.

The problem now is that his negotiations with several powerful families have not gone well. Everyone wants more benefits, and when you calculate it, the Cai family will get the least benefit, which Cai Mao is not happy about.

Moreover, a group of powerful families and officials supported the eldest son Liu Qi, and even Liu Bei's army was making unusual moves. This put Cai Mao under immense pressure, and he felt that one wrong step would lead to utter ruin.

At this moment, a guard reported, "Zhang Yun requests an audience!"

"Let him in!" Zhang Yun and Cai Mao were related by marriage, making them natural allies. Zhang Yun was also Cai Mao's most trusted subordinate.

Zhang Yun entered and reported: "I have just received news that Liu Bei has personally led tens of thousands of troops into Xinye. Lord Cai, could it be that Liu Bei knows the truth?"

Cai Mao shook his head. "He couldn't possibly know, but he would prepare in advance. He has no excuse to attack Nanjun. The key is Liu Qi. If Liu Qi invites him into Jingzhou, things will get complicated."

Zhang Yun suggested, "Then we should use Liu Biao's critical illness as an excuse to summon Liu Qi to Xiangyang to see his father one last time, and control him. Then Liu Bei will have nothing to do with it."

Cai Mao nodded. "We've reached the same conclusion. In fact, we sent someone to Jiangling yesterday to deliver a letter to Liu Qi."

Zhang Yun hesitated for a moment and then said, "Lord Cai, should we also send a letter to Prime Minister Cao?"

"Cao Cao?"

Cai Mao raised his eyelids and stared sharply at Zhang Yun.

Zhang Yun knew his in-law well, and he smiled faintly, "Lord Cai can't be a steward for life! Lord Cai knows Liu Cong better than I do. Is it really worth it for you to serve him?"

"But Cao Cao isn't a good person either!" Cai Mao sighed softly.

"Cao Cao's greatest strength is his use of local people. Cai Gong has rendered him service, so he will definitely entrust Nan Commandery to you. Moreover, without strong external support, it will be difficult for us to gain the upper hand. There are so many officials supporting Liu Qi, Liu Bei is eyeing the spoils, and so many powerful families are like crows waiting to eat the scraps. I'm worried that in the end..."

"I see!"

Cai Mao interrupted him, "We'll proceed in two steps. If Liu Qi falls for the trap and is brought under our control, then we won't need to notify Cao Cao. If Liu Qi doesn't fall for it, I'll write to Cao Cao immediately."

"Lord Cai is wise!"

Zhang Yun took his leave and left. After leaving the military advisor's residence, he got into his carriage, took out a letter from his pocket, beckoned a trusted subordinate to come forward, handed him the letter, and instructed him: "You must immediately ride two horses to Xuchang and deliver this letter to Prime Minister Cao as quickly as possible."

"Your subordinate obeys!"

Zhang Yun squinted and sneered, "If you don't seize the opportunity I gave you, don't blame me for getting there first!" His trusted subordinate took the letter and left.

In Jiangling City, hundreds of guards escorted a carriage out of the city on horseback. Inside the carriage was the eldest son, Liu Qi. Liu Qi was filled with worry. He had just received a message from his father's guards that his father was critically ill and wanted to see him one last time. Liu Qi set off without hesitation. Although Liu Qi was mediocre in ability, he was definitely a filial son.

Just as the carriage left the city gate, several horsemen came galloping towards them from the opposite direction. The leader waved and shouted, "Young master, please wait!"

It sounded like Yi Ji's voice. Liu Qi opened the window and peered out. Sure enough, it was Yi Ji. He quickly ordered, "Stop the car!"

Yi Ji had once been Liu Qi's chief clerk, and the guards all knew him. They brought him to the carriage, and Liu Qi asked, "What business does Uncle Ji have with me?"

"I have urgent business, and I also have letters from Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang."

"Let's talk in the car!"

Liu Qi ordered the carriage to stop temporarily by the roadside, and Yi Ji stepped onto the carriage: "Xiangyang is a trap. If the eldest son goes to Xiangyang, he will surely die."

Liu Qi hesitated for a moment and said, "Let me see the letter first!"

Yi Ji took out the letters from Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang and handed them to Liu Qi. Liu Qi opened the letters and read them carefully. The contents of Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang's letters were almost identical. They said that summoning him to Xiangyang was a trap set by Cai Mao and Liu Cong. If he went, he would fall into Cai Mao's hands and be doomed.

Liu Qi lowered his head and remained silent. Of course, he knew that going to Xiangyang was dangerous, but his father was critically ill and wanted to see him one last time. How could he not go?

Seeing Liu Qi hesitate, Yi Ji said, "There are some things that are inconvenient to write in a letter, so Military Advisor Zhuge asked me to dictate them. He believes that the governor has actually passed away."

(End of this chapter)