Chapter 428

Although Liu Biao was still the major shareholder, he did not have absolute control.

The shares held by aristocratic families like Cai, Kuai, and Huang added together far exceeded Liu Biao, the major shareholder.

Of course.

This was not to say that Liu Biao was a puppet.

In fact, Liu Biao still had some power in his hands, at least much greater than the power in the hands of his son Liu Cong.

Therefore, in original history, Jingzhou did not formally surrender to Cao Cao until after Liu Biao passed away.

But when Cai Mao, Kuai Yue, and others took Liu Biao's son Liu Cong to surrender to Cao Cao.

Could Liu Cong resist?

Even if he harbored the heart to resist, it would be of no avail in the end.

Because surrendering to Cao Cao in original history was the unanimous choice of the Jingzhou aristocratic families.

Jingzhou's unique ruling system destined Liu Cong to only follow the majority and surrender to Cao Cao together with the Jingzhou aristocratic families.

And now.

Sun Ce did not possess the conditions to attract the Jingzhou aristocratic families to surrender to him at all.

In other words.

He didn't have the slightest attraction to the Jingzhou aristocratic families.

Under such circumstances, why would the Jingzhou aristocratic families pay attention to him?

Therefore, if he wanted to attack Jingzhou, for Sun Ce, he could only gnaw on it hard.

After listening to Zhou Yu's analysis, Sun Ce quickly shook his head and sighed:

"Gongjin, the variables in attacking Jingzhou and Liu Biao are too great."

"Besides Liu Biao, do we have any other choices?"

Zhou Yu shook his head with a bitter smile.

In fact, in his heart, there was one last option he hadn't said.

He was just afraid that after saying it, Sun Ce would be shocked to the ground on the spot.

Therefore, Zhou Yu chose to put this option behind his head for the time being.

If time passed and the opportunity was ripe, it wouldn't be too late to bring this option up.

……

In sharp contrast to the worries of Sun Ce and Zhou Yu.

Recently, Liu Biao's little life could be said to be quite good.

Ever since Liu Biao became the Jingzhou Governor.

The local area of Jingzhou had never encountered any war.

Compared to the war-torn north, the nine commanderies of Jingxiang were living in peace and prosperity.

The relationship between the Jingzhou aristocratic families and Liu Biao was also becoming increasingly solid.

Especially, Liu Biao's second wife, Lady Cai, had recently given birth to a pair of twins for Liu Biao.

Up to this point, plus Liu Cong, Lady Cai had already given birth to three children for Liu Biao.

One must know.

Liu Biao was already over fifty years old now.

Yet he could still see such high production on Lady Cai.

This was enough to boost Liu Biao's confidence in himself in a certain aspect!

However.

Just when Liu Biao was preparing to further discuss the baby-making plan with Lady Cai at night.

Cai Mao and Kuai Yue suddenly came to visit the Provincial Governor's Mansion.

Facing these two, Liu Biao naturally wouldn't refuse to meet them.

The three major aristocratic families of Jingzhou, Cai, Kuai, Huang.

The person in charge of the Cai family was Cai Mao, and the person in charge of the Kuai family was Kuai Yue.

Plus the person in charge of the Huang family, Jiangxia Governor Huang Zu.

These three had a status in Jingzhou second only to Liu Biao.

On this land of Jingzhou, they could be called "below one person, above ten thousand people."

After Cai Mao and Kuai Yue arrived, the expressions on their faces appeared quite rich.

Liu Biao couldn't help but feel puzzled.

Jingzhou had been living in peace and prosperity for too long, so long that it hadn't caused the ruler any trouble for a long time.

But now, seeing the appearance of these two, Cai Mao and Kuai Yue, I am afraid things were not simple.

Sure enough.

Kuai Yue was the first to speak in a deep voice:

"My lord, that scoundrel Liu Xuande has sent an envoy over."

Just this one sentence made Liu Biao's eyes, which had already become a bit turbid, suddenly become shrewd.

Liu Bei sent an envoy to Jingzhou.

The first person to know the news.

Was not him, Liu Jingsheng, the Jingzhou Governor.

Instead, it was Kuai Yue and Cai Mao.

Hehe, what did this explain?

It explained that the envoy sent by Liu Bei was not targeting Liu Biao, but was targeting Cai Mao and Kuai Yue.

In other words.

Liu Bei's purpose was precisely to persuade Cai Mao and Kuai Yue to achieve a certain goal.

And now.

Looking at Cai Mao and Kuai Yue, they seemed to have been slightly moved.

Thinking of this, Liu Biao raised his eyebrows slightly, waiting quietly for the follow-up from Cai Mao and Kuai Yue.

Seeing this, Kuai Yue and Cai Mao looked at each other.

Subsequently, the two asked Liu Biao with cupped hands in unison:

"My lord, please tell your subordinates, if Gu Linzhi really pacifies Jiangdong, how will you conduct yourself in the future?"

Hearing this.

Liu Biao stood up slowly from his seat, sighed slightly, and smiled:

"What do you two think?"

"My Jingzhou is a place that has been away from war for a long time."

"If war can be avoided, that would naturally be the best."

To tell the truth.

Liu Biao did not want to be enemies with Gu Yi.

Or rather, he did not have the confidence to be enemies with Gu Yi.

The nine commanderies of Jingxiang sounded good.

But in reality?

Jingzhou was divided into two regions, Jingbei and Jingnan.

Jingbei was north of the Yangtze River; if Gu Yi wanted to attack Jingbei, he could do it at any time.

Jingnan was south of the Yangtze River, but its population and prosperity were far inferior to Jingbei.

If he lost Jingbei, Liu Biao estimated that he could only be reduced to a warlord of the level of Shi Xie.

Therefore.

Liu Biao had always insisted on paying tribute every year to the Han court controlled by Dong Zhuo.

After Gu Yi took over Dong Zhuo's team, Liu Biao was even more fawning as always.

However, Liu Biao was a warlord after all.

Behind him, he also had to represent the interests of the Jingzhou aristocratic group.

Jingzhou's unique ruling system, plus the fact that Liu Biao did not possess "absolute control" in his hands.

Led to his personal will often needing to compromise with the collective interests of the Jingzhou aristocratic families.