Wuxia: The Super Slave Master

Page 356

"Cao Cao pacified Hebei in the east and conquered Liaodong in the north. What do you think will happen next?" Luo Chen asked.

Zhang Juzheng hesitated: "It's hard to say. They might head south, or they might head west to confront us."

Luo Chen smiled and shook his head, saying nothing more. Zhang Juzheng's analysis was undoubtedly flawless and very reasonable. Unfortunately, Luo Chen still had a significant advantage: he was familiar with the history of the Three Kingdoms period. Once Cao Cao conquered Hebei, Liu Biao would be doomed. Cao Cao's cavalry would first enter Xinye and Fancheng, then reach Jingzhou, and finally occupy the entire Jingzhou region. Continuing south, the Battle of Red Cliffs would erupt, severely weakening Cao Cao. Naturally, he would be unable to contend with Luo Chen any longer.

What Luo Chen had to do was ensure that this historical process unfolded step by step. Perhaps the details at the beginning could be different, but the Battle of Red Cliffs had to be carried out.

In addition, Zhang Juzheng stated that he no longer wanted to serve in Yizhou.

"Why?" Luo Chen asked, somewhat surprised.

“I have almost completed my mission. The equal-field system and the military system have been implemented, and the bureaucratic system has been established. I want to return to Chang'an; this place is too remote,” Zhang Juzheng replied confidently.

"This..." Luo Chen hadn't thought about this question yet. He'd been busy with the planning and the war against the Xiongnu lately, and hadn't had the energy to consider it. Besides, Zhang Juzheng hadn't informed him beforehand. "What are you going back to Chang'an for? And who can replace you if you leave?"

"Xu Shu, Fa Zheng, or anyone else will do," Zhang Juzheng said casually. He seemed determined to leave Yizhou. "I'm going to Chang'an… Is the lord organizing an intelligence network?" Zhang Juzheng said with a sly smile.

Luo Chen was taken aback. What a brilliant idea! He was in Tongguan for a meeting, gathering only a few trusted confidants. Zhang Juzheng was in Chengdu, too far away; Luo Chen had simply sent someone to inform him of the situation. This Zhang Juzheng was a powerful minister of the Ming Dynasty; how could he function without some intelligence and espionage capabilities? Besides, Zhang Juzheng was someone he had obtained from within the system, making him relatively reliable.

"Sure," Luo Chen agreed immediately with a smile. He was just worried about who would take on this task. Yan Qing was also barely managing to do it; it was said that the spies he was training were not making any progress, and the whole operation was very difficult to advance.

“Then I will return to Chang’an in a few days.” Zhang Juzheng was overjoyed.

“No…” Luo Chen said immediately. “Not now… Fa Zheng and Xu Shu are both at the front lines and can’t come back to take over your work. Zhuge Liang is in charge of logistics and allocation, which is obviously a heavy task. The other generals all have their own tasks. You will stay here until the war against the Xiongnu ends, and your term will not be over.”

Zhang Juzheng had no choice but to agree dejectedly. He had originally intended to suggest that Lü Bu temporarily take charge of Yizhou, but unexpectedly, Luo Chen ordered Lü Bu to lead 50,000 light cavalry to the northern front immediately.

Chapter 83 Xinye

After Luo Chen's southern inspection, approximately 150,000 cavalrymen quickly rushed to the northern battlefield, bringing the northern forces to 550,000, far exceeding the total strength of the Xiongnu.

The people of the Central Plains were naturally quite shocked. Although most of the smaller warlords in the Central Plains had been annexed, only Liu Biao and Sun Quan remained in the south. Hebei in the north clearly wouldn't survive more than two months. However, the atmosphere in the southeast of the Central Plains was still relatively positive, with many scholars debating the issue. Since it was about fighting the Xiongnu, the people of the Central Plains naturally supported it unanimously. However, many also saw the immense strength of Luo Chen, which was in no way inferior to Cao Cao's. He had amassed an army of approximately 600,000 in a short time; such mobilization capabilities were astonishing.

Luo Chen ordered Xu Da and Chang Yuchun to hold off on their attack for the time being, as their troops and equipment were not yet ready. However, Chang Yuchun had repeatedly requested permission to fight. Luo Chen held back for the time being. Zhong Ping's forces reacted quickly, and Xu Da was unable to pinpoint their main force, forced to search diligently. Chang Yuchun encountered a formidable enemy—Yesuo. This man was cunning and extremely difficult to deal with. Chang Yuchun struggled to discern his tactics, whether his main force was deployed as before, or even whether there was an ambush. Unsure, Chang Yuchun had to proceed with caution. Currently, Xu Shu 433 had marched north to Jiuyuan County to oversee the formulation and review of the battle plan. Luo Chen also ordered Zhang Heng to send gunpowder teams to survey the terrain to see if they could be used. However, Zhang Heng seemed pessimistic; he only allocated some gunpowder to Shuofang City. As for the vast grasslands, gunpowder seemed unlikely to be of much use until portable firearms and artillery were manufactured.

Luo Chen's next stop was Shangyong City, under Huang Zhong's command. Huang Zhong was overjoyed; his two generals had already led their troops out of the country to the northern battlefield. Half a day after Luo Chen arrived in Hanzhong, Xiahou Yuan received orders to send troops, and a day after arriving in Chengdu, Lü Bu was ordered to lead light cavalry north. Now that Luo Chen had arrived in Shangyong, Huang Zhong had already prepared the Guanzhong iron cavalry and the more elite cavalry of Shangyong, forming an army of 100,000, ready to march at any time. He no longer had to see Yu Jin's gloomy face every day; that guy's negativity made Huang Zhong feel quite disheartened, even though he was now a general under Luo Chen, and Luo Chen relied on him greatly.

Unexpectedly, he received a strict order from Luo Chen: to garrison Shangyong and protect the safety of the eastern gate of Yizhou.

(baed) Huang Zhong was on the verge of tears, listening bitterly as Luo Chen explained the crucial importance of Shangyong to the overall situation: "Now, Tongguan in the north and Shangyong in the south are the gateways to Guanzhong and Yizhou. Xiahou Yuan and Lü Bu in the south have both been transferred to the front lines, so Huang Zhong's troops must remain in Shangyong to protect the safety of Yizhou. As long as Shangyong is safe, Yizhou is safe. And if Yizhou is safe, the overall supply of grain and provisions will be smooth."

Luo Chen had to ensure that there would be a major battle in the southeast, and that he would be appointed as the vanguard general.

Luo Chen's final stop was Xinye, Liu Bei's base. Luo Chen decided to secretly visit Liu Bei. The day before, Liu Bei was in Shangyong, but due to the tense situation at Tongguan, Luo Chen couldn't leave. He ordered Zhang Juzheng, the highest-ranking official in the south, to go to Liu Bei in his place and persuade him to join his camp. Unexpectedly, Liu Bei politely declined. This time, Luo Chen wanted to see Liu Bei in person and try his luck again.

Once they left Shangyong and headed south into the southern lands, the scenery was indeed noticeably different. The southern sun was gentle, the scenery enchanting, and the vegetation lush and verdant, possessing a refined and graceful charm—a stark contrast to the ruggedness of the north. Further north from the Central Plains, the landscape became even rougher, even primitive. Huang Zhong personally accompanied Luo Chen. Because Yan Qing was absent, Huang Zhong felt it was highly inappropriate for Luo Chen to venture into enemy territory so lightly. If anything were to happen to Luo Chen, Huang Zhong would obviously bear considerable responsibility. After much deliberation, Huang Zhong decided to personally accompany Luo Chen to Xinye. Before leaving, he sent someone to inform Liu Bei.

Huang Zhong's Shangyong and Liu Bei's Xinye were not far apart, and the two sides occasionally exchanged information. For example, if Xinye had a good harvest, Huang Zhong would send people to congratulate them... and so on. Luo Chen's southern tour was no secret, and Liu Bei should have heard about it. However, after arriving at Huang Zhong's Shangyong, the outside world heard that Luo Chen had gone north to the front lines to command. This was roughly in line with everyone's expectations; after all, Luo's army had invested heavily this time, so how could Luo Chen not personally oversee the command?

The path was overgrown with fragrant grass, surrounded by scattered poplar groves and rice paddies—a typical scene in the Jianghuai region. Liu Bei, however, was mesmerized. Having spent several years in Chang'an, he had almost grown accustomed to the life of a northerner. This time, traveling south to the Jianghuai region, he felt a sudden sense of homecoming. The old man and the young man, Huang Zhong and Luo Chen, rode slowly along. According to Liu Bei's reply, he had already urgently mobilized troops for security and protection, and indicated that he would return to welcome him.

Sure enough, they hadn't gone far when a dozen or so riders came galloping towards them. Luo Chen recognized the leader as a handsome young man in silver helmet and white armor, wielding a long spear. Luo Chen guessed he was Zhao Yun. Huang Zhong obviously recognized him too. The young general bowed and said, "This humble general is Zhao Yun, here to greet Prime Minister Luo on the orders of Liu Bei." Luo Chen quickly returned the bow. Well, it's the same old routine again. Several more groups of people will likely come to welcome him soon. Liu Bei's methods of winning people over are truly impressive.

As expected, Luo Chen met Zhang Fei and Guan Yu separately, and finally, Liu Bei led all his advisors five miles outside Xinye City to give him a grand welcome. Liu Bei really went all out to welcome Luo Chen…

Luo Chen and Liu Bei walked side by side. Liu Bei said, "Prime Minister, you are truly awe-inspiring. This time you have gathered 600,000 troops and stationed them on the border between Han and Xiongnu... Your morale is truly high, and the people of the Central Plains are all greatly encouraged..."

As was customary, Luo Chen expressed humility and flattered Liu Bei. Luo Chen decided not to waste time; the situation in the north was constantly changing, and his prolonged absence wouldn't be good. He needed to get to the front lines as soon as possible. Luo Chen harbored some hope that if he could persuade Liu Bei to join his group, his generals would be incredibly brave and unparalleled, whom he could take directly to the northern grasslands. Liu Bei invited him to a grand banquet, but Luo Chen firmly declined: "Uncle, I have important matters to discuss with you. Firstly, time is urgent, as war in the north is imminent. Secondly, I have come alone, which poses many safety risks, and staying too long would be detrimental… I hope you understand…" Since Luo Chen had made his point clear, Liu Bei immediately expressed his understanding.

The two sides held talks at Liu Bei's residence. Liu Bei, true to form, brought his core members: Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Zhao Yun, the Mi brothers, Sun Quan, Qian Jun, and Jian Yong. All others were sent back.

Chapter 84 The Turmoil in Jingzhou

"Time flies... Uncle Liu, I heard of you, my lord, as a hero and a benevolent man in Chang'an several years ago. The Battle of Hulao Pass is known throughout the land." Luo Chen spoke with a touch of nostalgia. "Later, you wandered from place to place, and I, Luo Chen, also faced hardship several times. When we allied with Yuan Shao, I had a chance to meet you, but fate played a cruel trick on me..."

"Yes, I've heard about it too. Before leaving Yuan Shao, I heard that Prime Minister Luo sent his important minister Xu Shu to Yuan Shao. I wanted to meet him, but I was forced by circumstances," Liu Bei said with a sigh. "Many years have passed in the blink of an eye. The heroic spirit of yesteryear is gone, the flesh on my thighs has grown back, and there are strands of white hair on my head... But my achievements are still far away, and I feel quite hopeless about the future..." Liu Bei became increasingly saddened.

"How are you feeling, my lord, with Liu Biao? Are you satisfied?" Luo Chen asked tentatively.

“Liu Biao treated Liu Bei very well, and regarded me as his younger brother, for which Liu Bei was very grateful.”

"Cao Cao is now advancing eastward into Hebei. Does Your Excellency have any plans? After Cao Cao takes Hebei, the situation in Jingzhou will not be optimistic..." Luo Chen probed again.

Clearly, Liu Bei has been pondering this matter recently. After Cao Cao conquers Hebei, he might continue his fierce battle with Luo Chen, or more likely, he might march south to seize Jingzhou, expand his territory, and strengthen his power in preparation for the final battle to unify the world. If Cao Cao chooses to march south, then Liu Bei's hold on Jingzhou will likely be short-lived. Forget establishing a foundation, Liu Bei's very survival will be in jeopardy.

"Does Your Excellency know Guo Jia, Cao Cao's top strategist? He has a strategic judgment that is widely circulated and has caused a stir throughout the Central Plains," Luo Chen asked.

"At the foot of Tongguan Pass... Guo Jia believed that we should have taken Tongguan Pass at all costs. If we had chosen to give up, we would not have been able to take it again for decades, and we could only expand our strength and wait for an opportunity," Liu Bei said.

“Exactly! It seems Your Excellency is indeed paying close attention to the situation in the north,” Luo Chen said with satisfaction, as if this statement was nothing out of the ordinary. At the time, however, everyone thought this judgment was quite risky. “I can tell Your Excellency that Guo Jia does indeed hold this view; he expressed this idea when we negotiated with Cao Cao,” Luo Chen said. “Now… Your Excellency should understand that we have finally reached a reconciliation with Cao Cao. After Cao Cao finishes his campaign in Hebei, I can basically predict that he will head south to seize Jingzhou.”

A flicker of panic crossed Liu Bei's eyes, but he quickly regained his composure. Liu Bei said frankly, "Since it is unavoidable, there is nothing we can do. We can only unite with the forces in the southeast and rely on the natural defenses of various places to resist."

Luo Chen laughed heartily, secretly admiring him. Facing a large army, he wasn't intimidated but calmly confronted them – true heroism. Without such composure, one wouldn't dare face the Battle of Red Cliffs. "Your courage, my lord, is truly admirable," Luo Chen said, bowing. "However, I must remind you, my lord, that there are many who advocate surrender in Jingzhou. Whether Liu Biao can stabilize the situation in Jingzhou is still a question."

"Yes." Liu Bei did not hide his concern. "The Cai family is quite powerful. If they can control the situation, they will inevitably choose to ally with Cao Cao to maximize their benefits."

"What are your plans at present, Your Excellency?" Luo Chen asked.

"I have repeatedly advised Liu Biao to take advantage of Cao Cao's main force advancing eastward and send troops north to attack Xuchang, but Liu Biao is unwilling to take the risk," Liu Bei said with a sigh. "Prime Minister Luo is a man of great talent and ambition; could you please offer some guidance?"

Luo Chen couldn't help but give a wry smile. He had come to persuade Liu Bei to join his Luo Chen Group. Therefore, he had warned Liu Bei of the unimaginable difficulties ahead. Unexpectedly, Liu Bei showed no fear, instead asking for his advice, as if Luo Chen had become his strategist. But Luo Chen still answered earnestly: "The difficulties you face, my lord, are clearly twofold, one external and one internal. Externally, there's Cao Cao; internally, there are the pro-surrender faction in Jingzhou, or those who oppose you, or those who support Liu Cong." As he spoke, Luo Chen looked at Liu Bei and smiled knowingly.

Liu Bei said helplessly, "I originally did not want to get involved in the succession dispute in Jingzhou. However, the Cai family faction supports the youngest son and has made me their enemy from the start, attempting to depose the youngest son by favoring the eldest. Therefore, others will inevitably categorize me as supporting the eldest son, Liu Qi. But Liu Qi's faction is quite weak and is being ostracized everywhere."

"My lord needs a plan for retreat," Luo Chen blurted out, but immediately regretted it. He hadn't decided whether to help Liu Bei. He had initially wanted to recruit Liu Bei, but giving him full support would only bolster his power... Now Luo Chen faced two options: one was to recruit Liu Bei, strengthen his own forces, and then secretly manipulate the Battle of Red Cliffs; the other was to ensure Liu Bei's survival, allowing history to unfold naturally. In that case, Luo Chen would have to send Zhuge Liang to help Liu Bei... Clearly, the first option was the best, as it would both strengthen his own power and consolidate his control over the south. The second method was also a viable strategy, but it carried greater risk.

· Requesting 0 flowers ····

"What retreat strategy?" Liu Bei asked hastily.

Helpless, Luo Chen could only say, "Now that you and Liu Qi are aligned, you can't escape responsibility. I suggest you send Liu Qi to Jiangxia to garrison. That way, even if the Xiangyang area of ​​Jingzhou surrenders to Cao Cao under Cai's control, you can still go to Jiangxia as a backup plan." This was Zhuge Liang's idea, which Luo Chen borrowed. However, since Liu Bei could no longer visit Zhuge Liang's thatched cottage three times, Zhuge Liang wouldn't offer him advice. If Luo Chen didn't suggest this, Liu Bei might be doomed in the future.

....... ....... .......

"This plan is brilliant! A truly far-sighted strategy!" Liu Bei clapped his hands in delight. "Thank you so much for the suggestion, Prime Minister Luo. It's a real eye-opener!" He then repeatedly bowed and expressed his gratitude.

Luo Chen felt a mix of emotions, wondering if telling Liu Bei about this plan would ultimately be beneficial to him...

"As you have said, Cao Cao's southward advance is unavoidable, and we can only actively resist by relying on the strategic locations we have. This goes without saying. However, regarding internal affairs, if the surrender faction within our territory surrenders Jingzhou and Xiangyang, then even with your great talent and unwavering will, it will be useless, and we will have no choice but to retreat hastily," Luo Chen said. "Therefore, the fundamental issue in the matter of Jingzhou this time is not Cao Cao's invasion, but rather who truly holds the power in Jingzhou."

Liu Bei's face showed a look of realization. He seemed to have suddenly understood, nodding repeatedly and agreeing. However, Luo Chen felt that he couldn't say anything more, otherwise Liu Bei would be too clear-headed and directly seize Jingzhou, creating another difficult force to deal with in the south.

Luo Chen felt it was best to try again. Liu Bei should understand the general purpose of his trip, so Luo Chen stopped beating around the bush: "This time, Your Excellency faces many difficulties, both internal and external. I only suggest that Your Excellency and I, Luo Chen, join forces. In this way, I can send troops to help Your Excellency control the south, and then we can work together to deal with Cao Cao... If Your Excellency agrees, you will be the King of the South forever, and the title will be passed down through generations."

Chapter 85 Alliance

Luo Chen then detoured through Xinye to personally persuade Liu Bei to join his cause. However, Liu Bei seemed resolute and not one to easily abandon his ambitions. Left with no other option, Luo Chen spoke frankly, promising him a high-ranking position.

Liu Bei was taken aback. Luo Chen's words were quite direct, so he could only stammer, "This... Prime Minister Luo, I am not very talented..."

Seeing this situation, Luo Chen knew that the chances were slim and that things were probably going to fall through again. So he said, "Please speak frankly, my lord. Do you want to remain independent or cooperate with me? I will respect your choice."

Seeing there was no room for evasion, Liu Bei sighed and said, "Lord Luo should understand. I, Liu Bei, left my hometown with my two younger brothers and the Sun brothers, the Mi brothers, and others to start our business. First, we defeated the Yellow Turbans, then fought Dong Zhuo, traversing the north and south, our footprints covering the Central Plains. We were truly adrift and without a home. Although we had no real power and suffered repeated defeats, our ambition remained undiminished, and we still hoped to achieve great things." As he spoke, "307" couldn't help but shed tears. "Although my thighs have grown back now, if Liu Bei had even a little bit of foundation, the mediocre people of the world would be nothing to worry about!"

For a moment, Luo Chen was in a daze. He had seen this character countless times in novels and TV dramas, imagined his way of speaking, and marveled at his grand ambitions. But now, Liu Bei was right before him, a living, breathing person. Only then did Luo Chen realize that he had truly entered history. He was dressed in the casual clothes of a Han general, a sword at his waist, deeply worried about the affairs of the world, including the Xiongnu and Cao Cao. He was in history; he was creating history; he was history itself.

Luo Chen said sincerely, "I understand your intentions, Your Excellency, and I will certainly respect them. Please do not hesitate to ask if you ever need my help."

Liu Bei repeatedly expressed his gratitude.

Huang Zhong was quite embarrassed when he saw that Luo Chen's persuasion had failed again. He whispered in Luo Chen's ear, "Although we can't persuade him to join, our two sides can form an alliance." Luo Chen thought this was a good plan. Although they couldn't directly use Liu Bei to intervene in Jingzhou, they could form an alliance with Liu Bei, which would indirectly influence the affairs of Jingzhou.

"My lord, General Huang Zhong suggests that although our two families cannot merge, we can form an alliance so that we can support each other in the south in the future."

Upon hearing this, Liu Bei immediately agreed. He was isolated and powerless in Jingzhou, desperately needing support. An alliance would guarantee his independence, allowing him to remain independent without joining, while also securing substantial support from Luo Chen. Liu Bei repeatedly said, "This proposal is excellent; a partnership between the two sides would be perfect."

"General Huang Zhong," Luo Chen said in a commanding tone, "you are responsible for liaison with Liu Bei. In the southeast, you must cooperate closely with Liu Bei! If Liu Bei has any requests, or if the situation is urgent, you do not need to notify him; you can handle it immediately on your own!" "Yes!" Huang Zhong immediately agreed.

Luo Chen had a meal with Liu Bei briefly, but without lingering for a moment, he immediately headed north to command the Han-Xiongnu war.

Liu Bei was filled with emotion.

Where lies the way out? In the south, Liu Biao of Jingzhou and Sun Quan of Eastern Wu possessed wealthy and strategically advantageous states. However, compared to the powerful economic and military strength of the Central Plains, they could only seek self-preservation. In the north, the two behemoths of the Central Plains, Cao Cao and others, were eager to expand their power. Only he himself remained confined to a corner, dependent on others. If the north expanded southward, he would inevitably be the first to collapse. He would flee again in panic. But where could he flee to? The trend of unification and annexation was becoming increasingly clear; even if he fled again, he could not escape the Central Plains, and would likely die far from home.

In short, without a foundation, grand ambitions are utterly hopeless. Now, Cao Cao's rise is like a raging flood, crumbling local powers wherever he goes. To become a hegemon, one must first survive; the longer one survives, the stronger one becomes. How to survive? A foundation, territory! Unfortunately, Liu Bei lacked both!

"Young Master Liu Qi requests an audience," Zhao Yun announced as he entered.

"Liu Qi? Why is he here?" Liu Bei was annoyed. Didn't he know to avoid suspicion? He was already overwhelmed with many things and had enough to worry about. This Liu Qi was just adding to the trouble.

"Let him in," Liu Bei said reluctantly.

"Uncle!" Before Zhao Yun could invite him, Liu Qi stepped in. This Liu Qi was thin, slightly dark-skinned, and had an ordinary face, much like his father Liu Biao. His every move seemed hesitant and thoughtful, much like his father's temperament. However, Liu Biao had entered Jingzhou alone and dominated the southeast for several years, gaining experience and a sense of composure. Liu Qi, on the other hand, was a wealthy young master, inexperienced and seemingly impulsive, lacking in composure.

“Nephew…” Liu Bei was about to reprimand him, but that seemed rather impolite, since it was hard to say that Liu Qi and he had a very close relationship.

"Uncle, save me!" Liu Qi cried out. He then knelt before Liu Bei.

"What's going on?" Liu Bei asked hurriedly. "Don't panic!"

"I've been assassinated twice this year..." Liu Qi said, bursting into tears. "Last night, I was fast asleep when suddenly there was a shout outside. I vaguely saw a figure flash by, and heard the sound of tiles falling from the roof. A man in black, holding a short sword, was there to assassinate me!"

"Such a thing has happened!" Liu Bei exclaimed in shock. "What happened afterward? Was my nephew injured? Has the culprit been caught?"

"No, it was all thanks to Mubin Yiji. He persuaded my father to send people to protect me secretly. The murderer was discovered in time, so I was safe and sound... Otherwise, I might not have seen my uncle again!" Liu Qi cried, tears streaming down his face. "The murderer saw that there were too many guards and he couldn't escape, so he cut his own throat and committed suicide."

"What is the killer's identity? Can we find out?" Liu Bei asked.

"How could that be! The murderer's identity is mysterious and cannot be identified. My father has already asked the Court of Justice to investigate, but the Court of Justice Cai He is a distant relative of Cai Mao, so how could they possibly investigate seriously!" Liu Qi said with a sigh.

"Cai Mao? You suspect Cai's faction?" Liu Bei pretended to be confused, even though he knew the truth.

"Of course! Uncle, you don't know this? How could that be? The Cai family has been trying to depose the eldest son and install the younger one for a long time. If this continues, I'll die sooner or later! I might escape the third day, but I won't escape the fifth!" Liu Qi said, kneeling down again and crying out, "Uncle, save me! Only you can save me now! Most of the other ministers are allied with the Cai family. If you don't save me, my life is in danger."

"Get up, get up..." Liu Bei said helplessly.

"If my uncle doesn't save me, I will kneel here forever..." Liu Qi simply resorted to shamelessness.

"This..." Liu Bei said helplessly. But he immediately thought of the plan Luo Chen had given him, and this was an opportunity... "Alright, I promise you, I guarantee I will design a way to protect your safety." Liu Bei said in a helpless tone.

"Thank you, Uncle! Mr. Yi Ji is right, Uncle has indeed given me your full support!"

"What? Mr. Yi Ji? I wholeheartedly support you?" Liu Bei was somewhat annoyed. Wasn't this openly assigning him to a faction? Wouldn't the Cai family become even more hostile towards him in the future?

Chapter 86 Jingzhou City

"How could you say such a thing, Mr. Yi Ji?" Liu Bei asked, frowning. "Nephew, although your uncle supports your succession, the factional struggles in Jingzhou are complex. With such a high profile, I, Liu Bei, will surely be in trouble myself. How can I possibly help you!"

“That’s true…” Liu Qi said, scratching his head. “Mr. Yi Ji also said that Liu Biao consulted his uncle, wanting to hear his uncle’s opinion on establishing an heir. His uncle supported me, saying that the power of the Cai family could be gradually weakened.”

Upon hearing this, Liu Bei was thunderstruck and nearly lost his footing. What the hell! How did Yi Ji know about this?! Liu Qi was still spouting nonsense and making things up! If the Cai family found out, he'd be facing assassins in no time.

"This matter cannot be spoken carelessly!" Liu Bei said angrily. "How did Yi Ji know this? This matter is top secret!"

"It's all over the place," Liu Qi said. "It wasn't Mr. Yi Ji who spread it; he overheard people talking about it by chance. Now all the ministers know about it, but Uncle is still kept in the dark."

Liu Bei was at a loss for words. He was now completely bound to Liu Qi's side. All the political forces in Jingzhou knew that he, Liu Bei, supported his eldest son, Liu Qi. Of course, some might insist that Liu Bei intended to usurp Liu Biao's throne. But it didn't matter anymore; he was now embroiled in the political infighting of Jingzhou. Moreover, most of the Jingzhou forces were hostile towards him. The Cai family had placed members and confidants in many important positions in Jingzhou, their influence spreading throughout the region. Military power in Jingzhou was largely controlled by Cai Mao and Zhang Yun. Just a few months ago, Zhang Yun had married Cai Mao's sister, formally uniting the two families through marriage, and Zhang Yun had joined the Cai family's ranks. Now, the Cai family was probably seething with resentment towards him.

“My lord,” Sun Qian entered, “a letter has arrived from Jingzhou, saying that Huang Zu, the governor of Jiangxia, has been defeated and Jiangxia is in grave danger. Governor Liu of Jingzhou requests that you come over to discuss the matter.”

"Okay, I'll go right away," Liu Bei said.

"I'll go prepare." Sun Qian bowed and slowly withdrew. In the past, Sun Qian had always been by Liu Bei's side, ready to offer advice at any time. Although Sun Qian's strategic thinking was limited, he was quite capable in diplomacy, and Liu Bei, lacking important strategists, often relied on him.

"Wait..." Liu Bei called out to him, "Tell Zhao Yun to take a thousand men and wait here. This is no ordinary matter..."

“Yes.” Sun Qian knew Liu Bei was referring to a security issue, so he agreed and left.

"Liu Qi, you should never speak ill of your uncle again..." Liu Bei sighed. "And do not come to Xinye lightly, otherwise my safety will be in serious trouble. Entering Jingzhou now would be quite risky... During this discussion about Jiangxia, I suggested to Liu Biao that we send you to Jiangxia when the opportunity arises, away from the political vortex of Jingzhou. This way, we can ensure your safety and also allow us to garrison troops and prepare provisions for the future."

"A brilliant plan!" Liu Qi exclaimed in sudden realization, overjoyed.

"If the people from Eastern Wu come, what should we do?" Liu Qi asked.

This put Liu Bei in a difficult position. Liu Qi's leadership skills were lacking, and he was no match for Zhou Yu, Han Dang, and the rest of the Wu forces. Now, even Huang Zu, the general of Jiangxia, was struggling, let alone Liu Qi. It was said that Sun Quan had recently appointed a new general named Gan Ning, a fearless and ruthless fighter who was said to be planning to take Huang Zu's life.

"What do you think we should do, my dear nephew?" Liu Bei asked.

"Wouldn't it be better if Uncle came with me?" Liu Qi said.

Liu Bei gave a bitter smile. Even if Liu Bei wanted to go, it was impossible. Liu Biao had already transferred him to Xinye, partly to keep him away from Jingzhou and avoid influencing the regime, and partly to defend against Cao Cao in the north. Jiangxia was a strategic location with abundant grain supplies; it couldn't be handed over to others so easily. Prince Liu Qi might be acceptable, but Liu Bei was absolutely out of the question.

"Let's talk about this later." Liu Bei couldn't think of a solution for the time being, so he had no choice but to put the matter aside for the time being.

Inside Jingzhou city, Liu Bei rode his magnificent horse, Lu, followed by Zhao Yun, Sun Qian, and dozens of guards. Zhao Yun looked quite vigilant; Liu Bei had already informed Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and Zhao Yun of the situation. Liu Bei did not allow his son, Liu Qi, to travel with him, but instead sent him ahead via a side road to Jingzhou to avoid drawing too much attention.

"Uncle Liu!" The people murmured among themselves, some even bowing and burning incense on both sides of the road. Liu Bei had no choice but to return their greetings: "Zhao Yun, you go ahead and clear the way. Let's hurry. There are too many people here; it's too much of a fuss."

"Understood," Zhao Yun said, spurring his horse forward.