Chapter 468

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

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?"

Liu Biao, sitting in the main seat, looked at the group of advisors and generals below and said with a loud laugh.

As for Huang Zhong's two hundred thousand Vermillion Bird Legion, hehehe.

Without warships, the two hundred thousand troops couldn't even cross the Yangtze River.

As for Liu Bian having a navy under his command,

don't kid yourself; they simply wouldn't believe that Liu Bian had a navy.

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

"Hahaha..."

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

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 not take Liu Bian seriously.

However, thinking of Nanyang Commandery to the 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 Xiangyang."

Wen Pin, upon hearing this, also responded respectfully:

"This general accepts the order!"

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

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

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

Hearing Liu Biao's words, the crowd all felt a jolt, and Wen Pin immediately cupped his fists 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 Vermillion Bird Legion 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 solemnly to Liu Biao:

"My lord, I agree with my elder brother's words. At this time, we truly should not continue to fight with 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 voiced their agreement one after another.

Hearing the words of the group of advisors, Liu Biao's expression also became solemn.

At this time, it was indeed not appropriate to continue to be at odds with Sun Jian, so 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 fists and said:

"I am willing to go to Changsha on your behalf, my lord!"

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!"

Yin Ji, upon hearing this, also responded somewhat flattered:

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

That evening, Yin Ji arrived at 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 gathered his advisors and generals.

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

At this time, Sun Jian sat in the main seat, tapping his fingers on the chair, and asked the crowd.

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

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 all rebels against the imperial court."

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

"His Majesty has even taught us martial arts cultivation techniques, but outsiders do not know these things."

"I do not want outsiders to keep misunderstanding, 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 we don't make good use of it, it would be a 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.

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

This 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 in the north, which were still under Liu Biao's control,

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

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

His eldest son was quite good in terms of martial prowess, and 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 easy."

Just at this moment, a handsome young man below said to Sun Jian with full 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.

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

"My lord, why don't we feign an alliance with Liu Biao, and at the critical moment, we will deal 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, let us follow Gongjin's plan. We will feign an alliance with Liu Biao, and when the time comes, we will deal him a fatal blow."

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

Sun Jian, after hearing Zhou Yu's words, 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 make him bleed a little!"

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

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

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. How can an alliance be formed without sincerity!"

"I suggest we ask Liu Biao to provide us with fifty thousand shi of grain to deepen the friendship between the two families!"

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

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

And at the same time, Liu Yao in Yangzhou had the same idea as Liu Biao.

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

As for Liu Zhang in Yizhou, he did dispatch his army to strictly guard all the passes.

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

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

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