Chapter 561

"De Gui, how are the troops in Xiangyang currently?"

"Lord Xuande, rest assured. There are over seventy thousand troops in the vicinity of Xiangyang. I control ten thousand in Xiangyang city, while Cai Zhong and Cai He command fifteen thousand stationed at Fancheng."

"As for the remaining fifty thousand, Kuai Yue controls about fifteen thousand, and thirty-five thousand are under Liu Biao's command, led respectively by his nephew Zhang Yun, his nephew Liu Pan, and the veteran general Wang Wei."

Cai Mao said, somewhat seeking credit,

"Zhang Yun and Wang Wei have already secretly pledged their allegiance to us. Liu Pan is still hesitating, but once Liu Biao passes away, he will surely pledge his allegiance to Lord Xuande!"

Liu Bei really wanted to laugh.

This Cai Mao was truly a pig teammate.

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

Liu Bei nodded.

"Good, you have done very well. Do not be too high-profile recently; just contact people in secret."

The two discussed matters further, and Cai Mao returned in high spirits.

Actually, Cai Mao was not that stupid; it could only be said that Liu Biao acted too convincingly, and he too had been blinded by the impending victory.

Liu Bei did not state 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 should not be this severe. I fear there is truly a trap!"

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

Lu Su frowned.

"My lord, this Cai Mao has only received secret promises from Zhang Yun and the others. In reality, among the sixty thousand-plus troops in Xiangyang, he only controls ten thousand!"

Guo Jia added,

"As far as I know, this veteran general Wang Wei is very loyal and righteous; how could he possibly pledge allegiance to Cai Mao?"

Lu Su also said,

"Today, when my lord entered the city, the commoners lined the streets to welcome you. Besides the commoners' genuine welcome, I feel that someone was secretly fanning the flames, especially with the 'Lord Xuande' that rang throughout the city. How would the Governor, Liu Biao, think of this?"

Liu Bei smiled.

"Previously, Kongming wrote to me, saying that Cai Mao is as stupid as a butcher, and advised me never to believe what Cai Mao says—not because he has ulterior motives, but because he lacks the ability."

Everyone nodded; Kongming's assessment was very apt!

Only Zhang Fei became angry.

"Did the butcher offend him? This Kongming is really something! Who is he looking down on!"

Liu Bei laughed again.

"Yet this Cai Mao has quite a large ambition; he wants to be the Inspector of Jingzhou, or the Governor of Jingzhou."

Zhang Fei's eyes widened.

"This fellow is really asking for a beating!"

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

Gan Ning cupped his hands.

"My lord, this Liu Biao appears humble on the surface, but is actually ruthless at heart. I fear he intends to plot against you!"

Zhang Fei became 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 flaws. We shall adapt to circumstances; perhaps this is the best opportunity for us to take Jingzhou!"

The live broadcast room's chat also began to increase.

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

"The eared thief is playing with fire. With tens of thousands of troops in Xiangyang city, how can he escape?"

"The ancients are all cunning as ghosts. If it were me going, I fear I wouldn't survive three episodes!"

0 ······Begging for flowers······ ·······

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 Liu Biao's shadow should be in this as well."

Liu Bei indicated he knew.

"There is also news that Sun Ce has already secretly arrived in Yuzhang with his elite troops."

Guo Jia and Pang Tong exchanged glances; this truly was the wind rising before the storm!

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 in Jingzhou for Liu Bei.

"The Cai family, Huang Chengyan's family, and my Pang family will definitely support you with all our might. The Ma family has done a lot of business with Guanzhong over these years and is also your supporter."

"Others like Xi Zhen, Xi Zhen, Yang Lu, and Yang Yi have also admired Lord Xuande for a long time. The Li Yan family and Huo Jun family of Nanyang are also your supporters."

Guo Jia sighed with emotion.

"My lord, you have many supporters because you follow the Dao. This is the reason why Liu Biao is wary of you. Once he passes away, no one will be able to stop you from taking control of Jingzhou."

The group discussed until late at night, then returned to rest.

........... 0

In Liu Biao's bedroom,

"Yidu, I intend to let Liu Bei have Jingzhou tomorrow."

Kuai Yue was stunned. What is this 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, with countless strategies. We can only make him arrogant, letting him think victory is in his grasp, so that we can take the opportunity to capture him!"

"Zhang Fei, Gan Ning, Taishi Ci, Zhang Liao, Zhang Ren, and others are all fierce generals. The five thousand elite troops outside the city can withstand thirty thousand troops. With the traitor Cai Mao secretly assisting, we can only kill him in one blow once Liu Bei relaxes his vigilance; otherwise, the future troubles will be endless!"

If Cai Mao's ten thousand troops open the city gates and Liu Bei brings his troops, Liu Biao feels he might not be able to stop them.

Liu Biao does not want to let Liu Bei run away. If he brings hundreds of thousands of troops to attack Jingzhou, he asks himself if he has the ability to stop them.

Liu Biao snorted.

"Back then, Tao Qian offered Xuzhou, and he refused repeatedly! I also offered Jingzhou last time in Linxiang city, and he still refused. This time he will definitely refuse again, but in his heart, he will surely believe that I will not live much longer. When the time comes, taking his place will be as easy as turning over one's hand!"

Kuai Yue cupped his hands.

"My lord is wise!"

Early the next morning,

News came from the Governor's mansion: Liu Biao is critically ill!

Everyone hurried to the Governor's mansion!

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

Liu Biao lay on the sickbed; it is said that he even vomited blood today.

"Xuande, has Xuande arrived?"

Liu Bei took a few steps forward and held Liu Biao's hand.

"Brother Jingsheng, I am here."

Liu Biao's old tears flowed, his hair was 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.

"Virtuous brother, I am already terminally ill and will not live much longer... I have thought it over and over; my two sons are both incompetent and cannot support Jingzhou. After I die, virtuous brother, you can take Jingzhou for yourself!"

The crowd was in an uproar!

Cai Mao was naturally ecstatic.