I, Zhou Cang, am the number one tank in the Three Kingdoms.

When Liu Bei and Xu Shu heard Pang Tong utter the words "Liu Jingsheng," they were both stunned and speechless.

The two looked at each other, but each saw only confusion in the other's eyes.

While the two were still puzzled, Pang Tong stretched and pulled out a map from the messy bamboo slips beside him.

"Please take a look, you two." Pang Tong unfolded the map while drawing Liu Bei and Xu Shu's attention back to him.

"Cao Cao is in the north, and Sun Quan is in the east. If you are prepared, you will have no worries. But if Jingzhou turns against you, you may have nowhere to go."

"General, you are currently a powerful figure in Runan and have extensive connections in Bowang. In Liu Jingsheng's eyes, you are nothing more than a fierce tiger guarding his gate and courtyard." Pang Tong showed no mercy and drew half a circle on the map with his hand.

"Therefore, Liu Jingsheng and the general's agreement is probably similar to Zhang Xiu's agreement in Wancheng in the past, and it is nothing more than mutual exploitation."

"However, if the new city of Hefei rises, the thousand-mile-long river defense that Liu Jingsheng has been building for ten years will be broken."

Xu Shu disagreed and asked, "What do you mean by that?"

Pang Tong said in one breath, "Firstly, Liu Biao's dominance in Jingzhou and Xiangyang is merely a means of self-preservation by blocking the river. He can travel freely through Jiangling, Chaisang, and Xiangyang. However, if you establish your base in Hefei, the Jianghuai region is fertile and vast. Once you have a foothold, you will no longer rely on Liu Biao. This would be tantamount to driving a wedge into the middle of the Yangtze River. In the future, your warships will enter the river from Chaohu and sail upstream to cut off Jiangxia's grain supply route—"

"How could Liu Jingsheng tolerate having a sword capable of cleaving rivers beside his bed?"

"Secondly, the people of Jingzhou are divided into three groups: the local powerful families seek stability, the exiled northern scholars yearn to return home, and the young and strong men aspire to make a name for themselves."

"If the general merely resides in Runan and guards the Nanyang-Xia Road, he will be nothing more than a border guard. But with the general's prestige, he could sit in Hefei and overlook the Jiangdong region..."

"Do you two believe that Liu Jingsheng is capable of having his men arrive in a day or two to join him?"

Hearing this, Xu Shu silently nodded in agreement, but Liu Bei remained skeptical, saying, "Jing Sheng and I are both descendants of the Han Dynasty. How dare I covet my brother's legacy?"

Pang Tong smiled and said, "General, you are a virtuous and noble man. But do you know that Liu Biao entered Jingzhou alone and killed 55 generals at a banquet in one night? He is no ordinary person."

Seeing that Liu Bei no longer objected, Pang Tong suddenly thought of something and asked Liu Bei, "General, what do you think of our current strength compared to that of Yuan Shao in the past?"

Liu Bei said, "It's not as good."

Pang Tong asked, "General, are you familiar with the story of Liu Bei and Yuan Shao?"

Liu Bei said, "Yuan Shu is a usurper and a traitor; the whole world should punish him."

Pang Tong shook his head and said, "No, no!"

"Back when Yuan Shu first occupied Nanyang, Liu Jingsheng also donated grain and the city to jointly fight against Dong Zhuo. How similar his actions are to those of the general today!"

Pang Tong then swiftly drew a line on the map, speaking rapidly:

"But once Yuan Shu intended to use Nanyang as a base to connect with Hanzhong in the west and Tao Qian in the east, the two began to fight each other in less than a year. Even the valiant Sun Wentai of Jiangdong died at Xian Mountain."

"I possess the imperial edict written in blood on the emperor's robe; I am not one of Yuan Shu's ilk." Liu Bei still did not quite agree.

Pang Tong sighed and said, "That's precisely why it's even more dangerous."

"Yuan Shu did not yet have any real power to usurp the throne, but Jing Sheng already regarded him as a wolf—and he only wanted to use Nanyang as a springboard back then, while the general wanted to establish an unshakeable foundation on the shore of Chaohu Lake."

"Do you two know that when Yuan Shu occupied Nanyang, the northern soldiers of Jingzhou were still observing the situation? But when he moved his troops to Shouchun, there were strategists and generals in Xiangyang who secretly communicated with him."

"I did indeed judge you by my own petty standards. If you don't believe me, General, you can ask Liu Jing about the Hefei matter." Seeing that Liu Bei was still hesitating, Pang Tong simply gave up on explaining.

"Sir, your considerations are far-reaching. Please allow me to think them over carefully..." Liu Bei said softly.

Seeing that they couldn't get along, Pang Tong didn't give him any face and shouted, "Boy, see the guest out!" He then got up and went into the house.

Liu Bei looked at Xu Shu, who simply shook his head, and the two of them had no choice but to leave awkwardly.

Zhang Quan and Zhou Cang, standing outside the door, had no idea what was happening inside. Seeing their lord and strategist leave empty-handed after a long time, Zhang Quan whispered to Zhou Cang, "Is this Mr. Phoenix Chick so difficult to invite?"

Zhou Cang said, "Such virtuous scholars should not be allowed to leave the mountain so easily."

You have no idea there was a Mr. Zhuge Liang, I really want to tell you the story of his three visits to the thatched cottage...

On the way back, Liu Bei and Xu Shu remained almost completely silent.

Pang Tong was indeed more arrogant than imagined, and he made some startling remarks, directly questioning the relationship between Liu Bei and Liu Biao, which made Liu Bei unconvinced.

When Liu Bei returned to Liu Biao's residence, it was already late, and Liu Biao's servants were already waiting for him.

"Uncle Liu, tomorrow's harvest ceremony is a major event for our state. All the officials will be gathered in Xiangyang. My lord requests that you attend without hesitation." After saying this, he handed over a letter.

Liu Bei nodded in agreement: "In that case, I should attend and dare not refuse."

After the servants left, Xu Shu said, "My lord, you might as well ask Jing Sheng about the Hefei matter during the banquet tomorrow, and you will know what Shi Yuan said."

Liu Bei recalled Pang Tong's words and nodded.

The next morning, Liu Biao, dressed in brocade robes and crown, accompanied Liu Bei, hand in hand in a carriage, to attend the harvest ceremony, offer sacrifices to the five grains, and receive the greetings of officials from all over Jingzhou.

After the ceremony, Liu Biao held a grand banquet in the hall, and specially arranged for Liu Bei to sit at the head of the table, ahead of Kuai Liang and Kuai Yue.

After several rounds of drinks, Liu Biao noticed that Liu Bei seemed troubled, so he asked, "What's troubling you, my good brother?"

Liu Bei bowed and said, "To be honest, brother, there was Li Shu of Lujiang who was besieged by Jiangdong. He had no hope of getting help from Cao Cao, so he came to submit to me from afar."

"However, before I could personally go to Wancheng, Li Shu died in a plot by Jiangdong. The soldiers and civilians in the city were leaderless, hence their worries."

Liu Biao was somewhat surprised upon hearing this and said, "Wan City is isolated in the Jianghuai region, which is indeed a cause for concern... I wonder what my virtuous brother intends to do?"

Liu Bei said, "I intend to relocate the soldiers and civilians in the city to Hefei. What do you think, brother?"

Seeing that Liu Biao remained silent, Kuai Liang continued, "I have heard that Hefei is now an empty city, desolate for miles around. Does Your Excellency intend to rebuild Hefei?"

Liu Bei nodded and said, "That is indeed the intention. I wish to rebuild Hefei as my base of operations, but the project is enormous and not easy to undertake. I would like to seek your advice!"

Upon hearing this, the room fell silent.

All the officials and guests in Jingzhou were focused on Liu Bei and Liu Biao.

Liu Bei also looked at Liu Biao, who was stunned for a moment before putting on a smile and pouring himself a drink.

"My worthy brother's plans are quite grand, hahahaha." Liu Biao laughed and suddenly uttered these words before turning away and leaving the room.

The others ignored Liu Bei, and the banquet soon ended.

Liu Bei then began to believe Pang Tong's words and returned to his residence, whereupon he immediately told Xu Shu about the banquet.

Xu Shu suggested, "Tomorrow, our lord can request an audience with Jing Sheng and ask him to lend us grain, fodder, and ships for the relocation of the city, and see what Jing Sheng thinks."

Liu Bei readily agreed.

For three consecutive days, Liu Bei's invitations to meet him were rejected. Liu Biao was either unwell or had important business to attend to, giving Liu Bei no chance to meet him at all.

Liu Bei was completely convinced by Pang Tong's assessment and regretted his hesitation and suspicion that day. He hurriedly summoned Xu Shu.

"Strategist, since things have come to this, why don't we visit Mr. Fengchu again tomorrow?"

Xu Shu nodded helplessly.