Chapter 316

“De Gui, how are the troops in Xiangyang now?”

“Lord Liu Xuande, rest assured, there are over seventy thousand troops near Xiangyang. I control ten thousand in Xiangyang City, and Cai Zhong and Cai He control fifteen thousand stationed in Fan City.”

“The remaining fifty thousand are controlled by Kuai Yue, about fifteen thousand, and thirty-five thousand are controlled by Liu Biao, led by his nephew Zhang Yun, his nephew Liu Pan, and the old general Wang Wei respectively.”

Cai Mao said somewhat boastfully,

“Zhang Yun and Wang Wei have already secretly defected to us, and Liu Pan is still hesitating. Once Liu Biao passes away, he will inevitably defect to Lord Liu Xuande!”

Liu Bei really wanted to laugh.

This Cai Mao was truly a pig teammate.

In reality, he only controlled twenty-five thousand troops, and fifteen thousand were stationed across the Han River in Fan City. If something happened in Xiangyang, could his fifteen thousand men fly into the city?

Liu Bei nodded,

“Good, you have done very well. Don't be too high-profile recently; just contact people secretly.”

The two discussed for a while, and Cai Mao left happily.

In fact, Cai Mao wasn't that stupid; it was just that Liu Biao acted too much like it, and he was also carried away by the impending victory.

Liu Bei didn't say it clearly either, keeping Cai Mao to confuse Liu Biao.

Guo Jia, Lu Xun, Lu Su, Zhang Fei, and others walked in.

Guo Jia cupped his hands,

“My lord, I heard from Hua Tuo that Liu Biao’s illness shouldn't be this serious. I fear there really is a trap!”

Liu Bei revealed to everyone what Cai Mao had just said.

Lu Su frowned,

“My lord, this Cai Mao only obtained secret promises from Zhang Yun and the others. In reality, of the sixty thousand troops in Xiangyang, he only controls ten thousand!”

Guo Jia added,

“As far as I know, this old general Wang Wei is very loyal; how could he defect to Cai Mao?”

Lu Su also said,

“When my lord entered the city today, the people lined the streets to welcome you. Besides the people genuinely welcoming you, I feel someone was secretly fueling the flames, especially the ‘Lord Liu Xuande’ that echoed throughout the city. How does that make the State Governor Liu Biao feel?”

Liu Bei laughed,

“Before, Kongming wrote to me saying that Cai Mao is as stupid as a butcher and advised me not to believe what Cai Mao says—not because he has ulterior motives, but because he lacks the ability.”

Everyone nodded; Kongming’s evaluation was very fair!

Only Zhang Fei was angry,

“Did the butcher offend him? This Kongming is really! Looking down on whom!”

Liu Bei laughed again,

“And yet this Cai Mao’s ambition is quite big, wanting to be the Inspector of Jingzhou or the Governor of Jingzhou.”

Zhang Fei’s eyes widened,

“This guy is truly asking for a beating!”

Liu Bei waved his hand; this matter could be discussed later.

Gan Ning cupped his hands,

“My lord, Liu Biao is humble on the surface but ruthless at heart; I fear he is plotting against you!”

Zhang Fei was anxious,

“Big Brother, let me escort you out of the city quickly!”

Liu Bei waved his hand,

“No rush. Where there is danger, there is opportunity. Since Liu Biao wants to kill me, he will reveal his flaws. We will adapt to the situation; perhaps this is the best time for us to take Jingzhou!”

The livestream chat also had many more comments,

“Brother Bei is awesome; Liu Biao wants to plot against him, but he wants to plot against the entire Jingzhou.”

“The big-eared thief is playing with fire. With tens of thousands of troops in Xiangyang City, how can he escape?”

“The ancients were all devious; if I went, I fear I wouldn't live past three episodes!”

Late at night,

Pang Tong hurried back from the Pang family,

“My lord, I fear Liu Biao has a trap! Kuai Yue is in close contact with Cao Cao, and there should be Liu Biao’s shadow in this.”

Liu Bei indicated he knew,

“There is also news that Sun Ce has secretly arrived in Yuzhang with elite troops.”

Guo Jia and Pang Tong looked at each other; this was truly a case of the mountain wind blowing before the rain!

Guo Jia cupped his hands,

“My lord, we can tell Huang Zu about Sun Ce’s news.”

Liu Bei’s eyes lit up; this could be done.

Pang Tong began to analyze the other families of Jingzhou for Liu Bei,

“The Cai family, Huang Huang Chengyan’s family, and my Pang family will inevitably support my lord with all our might. The Ma family has been doing a lot of business with Guanzhong over the years and is also a supporter of my lord.”

“Others like Xi Zhen, Xi Zhen, Yang Lü, and Yang Yi have long admired Lord Liu Xuande. The Li Yan family of Nanyang and the Huo Jun family are also supporters of my lord.”

Guo Jia sighed with emotion,

“My lord has gained much help because of your righteousness; this is why Liu Biao fears you. Once he passes away, no one will be able to stop my lord from taking over Jingzhou.”

The few discussed until late at night and went to rest.

[...... ..... 0]

Liu Biao’s bedroom,

“Yidu, I intend to give Jingzhou to Liu Bei tomorrow.”

Kuai Yue was stunned; what was Liu Biao doing?!

He immediately reacted,

“My lord, are you doing this to lower Liu Bei’s guard?”

Liu Biao nodded,

“Liu Bei is brave and skilled in battle, and his plans are endless. I can only make him proud, letting him think he has the victory in his grasp, so I can take him down!”

“Zhang Fei, Gan Ning, Taishi Ci, Zhang Zhang Liao, Zhang Ren, and others are all fierce generals, and the five thousand elite troops outside the city can resist thirty thousand troops. With the traitor Cai Mao secretly assisting, only by waiting for Liu Bei to relax his vigilance can I kill him in one blow; otherwise, there will be endless trouble!”

Cai Mao opening the city gates with ten thousand troops—Liu Biao didn't think he could necessarily block Liu Bei.

Liu Biao didn't want to let Liu Bei run away, bringing hundreds of thousands of troops to attack Jingzhou; he asked himself if he had the ability to block that.

Liu Biao snorted,

“Back then, Tao Tao Qian offered Taking Xuzhou, and he refused it repeatedly! I offered Jingzhou in Linxiang last time, and he still refused. This time, he will definitely refuse again, but he will surely conclude that I won't last long, and it will be easy to take my place!”

Kuai Yue cupped his hands,

“My lord is wise!”

Early the next morning,

News came from the State Governor’s Mansion that Liu Biao was critically ill!

Everyone hurried to the State Governor’s Mansion!

After Liu Bei arrived, he found that even more people had come this time: the Cai family, the Kuai family, Zhang Yun, Liu Pan, Huang Huang Chengyan, Yi Ji, and others all arrived.

Liu Biao lay on the sickbed, and it was said that he had vomited blood today.

“Liu Xuande, has Liu Xuande arrived?”

Liu Bei stepped forward a few steps and gripped Liu Biao’s hand,

“Brother Brother Jingsheng, I am here.”

Liu Biao was streaming with tears, his hair sparse, and he was exceptionally weak.

If Liu Bei hadn't smelled the faint scent of chicken blood remaining in the room, he would have truly believed it.

“Younger Brother, I am terminally ill... and will not last long... I have thought it over and over, and neither of my two sons is capable of supporting Jingzhou. After I die, you may take Jingzhou for yourself!”

Everyone was in an uproar!

Cai Mao was naturally overjoyed.

— Author's Notes —

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