Chapter 318

Miss Zhu Rong and the others wanted to find Liu Bei to celebrate, but unfortunately, Liu Bei had no time.

The civil and military officials of Jingzhou and the gentry around Xiangyang came one after another, each bringing gifts to pay a visit.

Liu Bei drank and chatted happily with everyone, winning the hearts of many civil and military officials!

Liu Bei also had people find a new batch of young talents in Jingzhou: Yang Yi, Zhen Jiang Wan, Ma Zhang Liang, Xi Zhen, and so on.

Ma Su was still young, so Liu Bei didn't need to listen to his "talking on paper"; giving him a civil post in the future would be quite good!

This man Xi Zhen was also quite loyal; when Lu Meng raided Jingzhou, many surrendered, but he did not, resisting to the death and eventually cutting his own throat.

Yang Yi, Zhen Jiang Wan, and Ma Zhang Liang were all glowing with health. Being named by the world-shaking Lord Liu Xuande to meet them naturally meant they would be heavily used in the future!

Liu Bei’s place was bustling with visitors, and he received wave after wave of people, quickly bringing the centrists under his command.

Liu Biao, on the other side, was furious, doubting his own life.

"How could it be like this? How could it be like this!"

Liu Biao had not expected that his fake yielding of Jingzhou would now backfire and become a real yielding of Jingzhou!

Liu Bei usually refused; why didn't he refuse this time!

"Because I fainted? Bah!"

Kuai Yue cupped his hands.

"My Lord, Liu Bei is too treacherous. He actually took the opportunity to accept the civil and military officials of Jingzhou. Today alone, Liu Bei has met no fewer than a hundred Jingzhou officials."

"The Ma family, Zhen Jiang family, Yang family, Huang family, Cai family, Pang family, and others have all gathered at the relay station. Liu Bei acts as if he has already become the master of Jingzhou."

Kuai Yue hurriedly tried to put eye drops in Liu Biao’s eyes; he was also nervous. This Liu Bei was too popular; even his own servants were discussing this matter and actually approved of it!

"My Lord, now the whole city of Xiangyang knows, and Jingzhou will soon know too. Even the street vendors are discussing it."

Liu Biao was enraged. He wasn't dead yet! How did the relay station become the Governor’s Mansion!

Liu Biao cursed loudly,

"Liu Bei is indeed treacherous!"

But he did not see that everything started from his attempt to plot against Liu Bei...

Liu Biao was overcome with anger and anxiety, suddenly spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, and fell backward!

Kuai Yue?!

"Quick, quick, call the physician!"

Liu Biao didn't wake up until the second half of the night.

He summoned his nephew Zhang Yun, his nephew Liu Pan, his son Liu Qi, and Kuai Yue.

"Liu Bei becoming the master of Jingzhou—are you willing?"

These people were naturally unwilling. They were all Liu Biao’s nephews and sons; if Liu Bei entered and ruled Jingzhou, they could not possibly be as they were now.

Zhang Yun hurriedly shook his head.

"My Lord, Jingzhou was conquered by you and managed with great effort; how can it be cheapened for an outsider!"

Liu Pan also said,

"Liu Bei has no more than six thousand troops. This nephew is willing to be the vanguard and kill him until he is scattered!"

Liu Biao coughed for a while.

"Good. In the city, Cai Mao only has ten thousand troops. You and Kuai Yue have fifty thousand troops combined; you will certainly not fear Liu Bei’s troops."

"As for Liu Bei, I’m afraid he is still dreaming of being the Jingzhou Governor. When a person is complacent, they become negligent!"

Liu Qi felt a joy in his heart; it turned out his father was only pretending to yield Jingzhou.

Liu Biao, dragging his sick body, began to make arrangements.

Kuai Yue felt a joy in his heart; once Liu Bei was dead and Liu Biao died, Cao Cao could take Jingzhou without any effort!

Liu Biao, however, was thinking of killing Liu Bei, making Kuai Yue take the blame, and letting Liu Bei’s subordinates seek revenge from Cao Cao!

The next day, the news in Xiangyang City intensified.

Lord Liu Xuande becoming the new master of Jingzhou and Jingzhou connecting with Yizhou and Guanzhong seemed to be a done deal.

In the morning, Gan Ning rushed back to the relay station.

"My Lord, I contacted several former colleagues last night. They are now serving as military commanders or captains under Zhang Yun, each with several hundred men under them, and they have all decided to pledge loyalty to you."

Liu Bei nodded.

"Good, Gan Xingba has worked hard. You rest first; we will surely have a great battle soon!"

"Understood!"

Pang Tong cupped his hands.

"My Lord, adding the troops controlled by the children of the Huang, Pang, Ma, and Yang families, we actually have no fewer than Liu Biao."

Liu Bei looked around.

"How do you think Liu Biao will arrange things?"

Guo Jia thought for a moment.

"My Lord, Liu Biao is using the strategy of the arrogant soldier; he must want to make us relax our vigilance. If I were Liu Biao, I would lure you into the Governor’s Mansion, surround you with heavy troops, and then send troops to raid the relay station and the military camps outside the city."

Liu Bei was thoughtful.

"In other words, the next time Liu Biao invites me over, it is very likely a Hongmen Banquet, or perhaps there won't even be a banquet, just blade-and-axe men."

"The ones doing the killing will likely be Liu Biao’s nephews, right?"

Pang Tong was more aggressive.

"Liu Biao is unrighteous. My Lord came to help him treat his illness, and he actually wants to harm you. Why don't we strike first?"

Liu Bei shook his head.

"No, we must strike only after the enemy has struck, so that we can smoothly accept Jingzhou without leaving any handle for others to gossip about."

Guo Jia frowned.

"In that case, my Lord, you will have to take a risk. You need to pretend to be arrogant and relax your vigilance, wait for Liu Biao to make a move, and then counterattack."

"Our army brought elites this time; we can have some of them disguise themselves and mix into the Pang and Huang mansions to act as private soldiers, turning the situation around at the critical moment."

"The other gentry children can also act as inside agents, turning against them at the critical moment."

Over the next few days, Liu Bei held grand banquets, inviting many powerful families of Xiangyang. During the banquets, he drank until he was dead drunk and looked very happy. Lady Cai went to advise Liu Bei not to drink too much, but was scolded until she cried.

Liu Bei naturally gave the Oscar-winning Lady Cai many encouragements in secret.

Liu Biao received the intelligence and knew it was about time, so he began to make arrangements.

"This Lady Cai deserves it; she didn't marry me, but instead went to Liu Bei’s place to be bullied!"

"Tomorrow night, say that I have suddenly become critically ill, and have Liu Qi immediately lead Liu Bei to the Governor’s Mansion so he has no time to think, and then let ten thousand arrows fly!"

Kuai Yue cupped his hands.

"My Lord is wise. Liu Bei will certainly be anxious to come to the Governor’s Mansion to receive the seal, and naturally will have no defenses."

Liu Biao coughed.

"Discuss these matters with Zhang Yun; I am a bit tired."

"Yes, my Lord."

Kuai Yue cursed Liu Biao as an old fox; when the time came, he would push everything away cleanly.

Zhang Yun deployed troops and generals, but one of the captains and military commanders had secretly defected to Liu Bei.

The Jingzhou soldiers and generals that Bai Yuekui had spent a lot of money to infiltrate also played a role.

Zhang Yun’s subordinates had more or less many gentry children among them.

This Zhang Yun was also a straw bag, thinking he controlled the army.

The deployment of the Governor’s Mansion was basically known to Liu Bei without a single error.

Liu Bei began to secretly deploy troops and generals at the relay station.

"Gan Gan Xingba, you lead men to ambush on the only path Liu Pan will take to bring troops. Once Liu Pan arrives, you must let ten thousand arrows fly and kill him!"

"Understood!"

"Pang Tong, Ma Chao, you lead the soldiers who have mixed in, and you must open the city gates to let the troops outside the city enter."

"Understood!"

"Zhang Fei, Taishi Ci, you follow me to the Governor’s Mansion!"

"Understood!"

Liu Bei also summoned Cai Mao.