Chapter 195: The Hidden Pawn

Three days later, Liu Bian's imperial edict had spread throughout the entire Great Han world.

In Jingzhou, inside the Inspector's Mansion.

"Hahaha, tell me, what exactly is that little emperor thinking?"

"With one million two hundred thousand troops, he is actually fighting on six fronts simultaneously!"

"How does he dare? Who gave him the courage?"

Sitting in the main seat, Liu Biao looked at the advisors and generals below and laughed.

As for Huang Zhong's two hundred thousand Zhuque Legion troops, hehehe.

Without warships, the two hundred thousand troops could not even cross the Yangtze River.

As for saying that Liu Bian had a navy under his command,

don't be ridiculous; they simply would not believe that Liu Bian had a navy.

Not to mention whether warships could be built, even if there were warships, one could not train a qualified navy without three to five years.

"Hahaha..."

The civil and military officials below could not help but laugh upon hearing this.

Two hundred thousand troops sounded like a lot, but they in Jingzhou also had twenty-eight thousand troops.

Among them were fifty thousand cavalry, one hundred and fifty thousand infantry, plus the eighty thousand Jingzhou navy.

This was also the reason why they dared to not take Liu Bian seriously.

However, thinking of Nanyang Commandery north of Xiangyang, Liu Biao also said to his subordinate general Wen Pin:

"Wen Pin, lead fifty thousand troops to support Yuan Shu in Nanyang Commandery. If you cannot hold, you may retreat to defend Xiangyang."

Upon hearing this, Wen Pin also respectfully responded:

"This general accepts the order!"

"However, my lord, if we truly cannot hold, should Yuan Shu be saved?"

Upon hearing this, Liu Biao immediately gave a sinister smile and said to Wen Pin:

"Hehehe, tell me, is there any need to save someone who has no utility value at all?"

Hearing Liu Biao's words, everyone's bodies shook. Wen Pin immediately cupped his hands respectfully to him:

"This general understands!"

Just after Wen Pin left, Liu Biao's advisor Kuai Liang reminded Liu Biao with some worry:

"My lord, now that the imperial court has dispatched Huang Zhong's two hundred thousand Zhuque Legion troops to attack our Jingzhou, we should at this time unite with Sun Jian of Changsha Commandery to resist the imperial army together."

After Kuai Liang finished speaking, a middle-aged scholar sitting below him also stood up and said to Liu Biao with a grave expression:

"My lord, I agree with my elder brother's words. At this time, we truly should not continue to fight Sun Jian!"

This person was Kuai Liang's clan brother, Kuai Yue.

"I second this!"

After Kuai Yue's voice fell, Liu Biao's advisors Liu Xian, Deng Yi, Han Ji, Han Song, Yin Ji, and others echoed one after another.

After hearing the words of the advisors, Liu Biao's expression also became grave.

At this time, it was indeed not appropriate to continue to be at odds with Sun Jian. He immediately said to the crowd:

"Good, since that is the case, who among you is willing to go as an envoy to Sun Jian in Changsha on my behalf to facilitate an alliance?"

After Liu Biao's voice fell, Yin Ji immediately cupped his hands and said:

"I am willing to go to Changsha on my lord's behalf!"

Upon hearing this, Liu Biao was overjoyed and said excitedly to Yin Ji:

"Good, since you are willing to go, then I entrust this matter to you!"

Upon hearing this, Yin Ji also replied somewhat flattered:

"Please rest assured, my lord, I will definitely persuade Sun Jian to reach an alliance!"

That same evening, Yin Ji arrived in Changsha Commandery and told Sun Jian of Liu Biao's intention to form an alliance.

Sun Jian did not express his stance immediately, but told him to stay for the night and he would give him an answer tomorrow.

After Yin Ji left, Sun Jian also summoned his advisors and generals.

"Everyone, speak up. Yin Ji has already arrived in Changsha and expressed Liu Biao's desire to form an alliance with me to jointly resist General Huang Zhong's Zhuque Legion. How should we reply to Liu Biao?"

At this time, Sun Jian sat in the head seat, tapping his chair with his hand, and asked the crowd.

"Father, why don't we control him first? When General Huang Zhong's Zhuque Legion arrives, we will directly cooperate with him to attack Liu Biao together."

After Sun Jian's voice fell, Sun Ce, standing below, immediately said to him.

"Bofu, in the eyes of outsiders, we, like Liu Biao and the others, are rebels against the imperial court."

"However, they do not know that we have long secretly defected to His Majesty."

"His Majesty even passed down martial arts cultivation techniques to us. However, outsiders do not know these things."

"I do not want outsiders to continue to misunderstand, so we must do something!"

"And at this time, Liu Biao sent Yin Ji to form an alliance with me—such a heaven-sent opportunity, if not utilized well, would be a great pity!"

It turned out that four months ago, after receiving Liu Bian's imperial edict summoning all the lords of the world back to the capital, Sun Jian had originally intended to return to the capital.

It was Liu Bian who, upon seeing Sun Jian's choice, contacted the Shadow Guards and told him to first lie low in Jingzhou.

The purpose was to stir up the muddy waters of Jingzhou.

And Sun Jian had successfully completed Liu Bian's decree.

Of the seven commanderies of Jingzhou, except for Nanyang, Jiangxia, Nan, and Wuling commanderies in northern Jingzhou, which were still under Liu Biao's control,

the three commanderies of Changsha, Lingling, and Guiyang in southern Jingzhou were all under Sun Jian's control.

Hearing Sun Ce's words, Sun Jian could not help but say with some disappointment.

His eldest son was quite capable in terms of martial prowess; over the years, he had even earned the title of "Little Conqueror of Jiangdong."

However, in terms of literary talent and strategy, he was somewhat lacking.

"My lord, this matter is quite easy."

Just then, a handsome young man below said to Sun Jian with a face full of confidence.

"Oh, Gongjin, what good strategy do you have? Why not tell us?"

This person was the famous handsome man of Jiangdong, Zhou Yu, Zhou Gongjin.

Seeing everyone looking at him, Zhou Yu smiled confidently, cupped his hands to Sun Jian, and said:

"My lord, why don't we feign an alliance with Liu Biao, and when the critical moment comes, we will give him a fatal blow."

After Zhou Yu finished speaking, flashes of killing intent flickered in his eyes, and a trace of internal energy fluctuated from his body.

"Good, we shall follow Gongjin's plan. We will first feign an alliance with Liu Biao, and when the time comes, we will give him a fatal blow."

"Tomorrow morning, I will reply to Yin Ji regarding the alliance!"

After Sun Jian heard Zhou Yu's words, he immediately decided to do as Zhou Yu said.

"My lord, it is Liu Biao who wants to form an alliance with us. Before that, why don't we ask him, Liu Biao, to bleed a little first!"

Just after Sun Jian's voice fell, Zhou Yu suddenly rolled his eyes and said with malicious intent.

"Oh, what brilliant plan does Gongjin have again!"

Upon hearing this, Sun Jian also asked impatiently.

"My lord, this time it is Liu Biao who took the initiative to form an alliance with us. If this alliance lacks sincerity, how can it work!"

"I suggest asking Liu Biao to provide us with fifty thousand shi of grain and fodder, which will also deepen the friendship between the two families!"

"Hahaha, Gongjin's words are very true..."

Hearing Zhou Yu's words, Sun Jian immediately laughed happily.

Meanwhile, in Yangzhou, Liu Yao had the same idea as Liu Biao.

He also did not take Zhang Liao's Xuanwu Army to heart.

As for Liu Zhang of Yizhou, he had dispatched his army to strictly guard all the passes.

One must know that Yizhou had been separated by various natural barriers since ancient times.

It was a historically famous place that was easy to defend and difficult to attack.

Without a map of Yizhou, it would be very difficult for outsiders to attack Yizhou. ===== CHAPTER 196 =====