NOVEL NEXT Chapter 21
Rangcheng.
Within the mansion.
Liu Biao was stroking his half-white beard and studying a letter in his hand.
"This Liu Xuande was so confident that he wrote a book to persuade me to make peace with Zhang Ji! With a sneer on his face, Liu showed the letter in his hand to his two ministers, Wen and Wu.
Wen was Kuai Yue, the head of Jingzhou's civil servants.
The general was Cai Mao, the leader of the generals. After reading it, Cai Mao raised the corners of his mouth and sneered:
"Liu Bei was just a mat weaver and shoe seller. He got lucky and worked as a herdsman in Xuzhou for a few days, but was beaten back to his original form by Lu Bu."
"He felt good about himself, and really thought that if he entered the ranks of princes, he would be on an equal footing with the Lord."
The sarcasm and contempt in Cai Mao's words was quite explicit.
Liu Biao just stroked his beard and said nothing, and did not show any verbal contempt for Liu Bei.
But silence also represents an attitude.
As a man with a strong roots, The royal family of the Han Dynasty, who came from a prominent family, had a natural sense of superiority towards the so-called wild descendants of the Han Dynasty like Liu Bei.
What's more, Liu Bei lost Xuzhou and fled to Runan as a bereaved man with less than ten thousand soldiers. How desolate.
In such a situation where you can't protect yourself, you still want to intervene in the dispute between him and Zhang Ji?
It's too overestimating your capabilities.
"Although Liu Bei lost Xuzhou, he heard that before fleeing Xuzhou, he defeated Lu Bu once"
"It can be seen that although this person is mediocre, he is also somewhat talented."
Quai Yue's evaluation of Liu Bei was somewhat objective.
Liu Biao pondered for a moment, and then asked:
"Then according to different opinions, how should I reply to Liu Xuande?"
Kuai Yue sipped the tea and said calmly:
"Liu Bei stated in the letter that if Zhang Ji did not listen to his advice and refused to make peace, he would lead his army to help his lord recover Wancheng."
"Now Zhang Ji ordered Zhang Xiu to lead his army to attack Rangcheng again. Apparently, he ignored Liu Bei's persuasion for peace and intended to show his lord's toughness."
"Then according to what Liu Bei said, he should lead his army into Nanyang, come to join the lord, and help us regain Wancheng"
"Liu Bei has some generals, and although his troops are a ragtag group, there are at least more than 10,000 men."
"At this time, the lord can let Liu Bei take the main attack and confront Zhang Xiu to consume the Xiliang army."
"When the time is right, my lord will lead our elite troops from Jingzhou to attack again, and we will be able to defeat Zhang Xiu in one go and take advantage of the situation to regain Wancheng!"
Kuai Yue stroked his short beard, and with a strategizing smile on his face, he offered a plan.
Liu Biao's eyes brightened, and he nodded and said:
"This plan of Yidu is very clever. Since Liu Xuande wants to meddle in other people's business, it will be used by me."
At this time,
Cai Mao frowned and reminded:
"But Liu Bei will not help us in vain. He said in the letter that if he helps the lord drive away Zhang Ji's uncle and nephew, he would like to ask the lord to give Wancheng to him as a place for him to gain a foothold."
"Could it be that after we worked so hard to capture Wancheng, we really want to give it to Liu Bei?"
After being reminded like this, Liu Biao then remembered that there was such a condition in Liu Bei's letter. He took the letter again and read it carefully, Liu Biao couldn't help but frown.
"Liu Bei took the initiative to get involved. I guess he just wanted to attach himself to his lord and find a place to stay."
"The lord can agree to him first. After Wancheng is recovered, the lord can find an excuse and give him another reward."
"With his strength, how dare he have any objections?"
Kuai Yue had a sneer on his face, and in just a few words, he offered Liu Biao a solution.
Liu Biao suddenly understood, and the corners of his mouth rose, flashing a sneer with deep meaning.
"Yidu is worthy of being the most wise man in Jingzhou and my mastermind."
"Okay, it's up to you"
"Since Liu Xuande wants to attach himself to me, then I will do what he wishes and turn him into one of my eagle dogs."
…
Shangcaicheng, county seat
"Zhang Ji ignored his lord's persuasion and not only refused to shake hands with Liu Biao and make peace, but also sent his nephew Zhang Xiu to lead the army out of Wancheng and advance towards Rang County!"
In the palace, Sun Qian read out the latest information from Nanyang.
Liu Bei looked suspicious in his eyes and looked at Deng Mu:
"Ziyu, Zhangji regards me as nothing and refuses to listen to my persuasion. This is to be expected."
"But he had just suffered a defeat and was hit by a target. Why did he attack Rang County again when he should be on the defensive?"
Guan Yu, Zhang Liao and everyone else also looked at Deng Mu with puzzled faces.
"Zhang Ji deliberately wanted to demonstrate to his lord and show his contempt for him."
"Secondly, he also wanted to use advance as retreat, to show Liu Biao his toughness, so that he would not dare to attack Wancheng."
Deng Mu sipped the fragrant tea in the cup, revealing Zhang Ji's thoughts.
Liu Bei suddenly understood.
Deng Mu then asked Sun Qian:"Where is Liu Biao's response?"
"Liu Biao replied with a letter, saying that Zhang Ji refused to make peace and allowed his lord to take action to help him regain Nanyang."
"Liu Biao also promised that if his lord helped him drive away Zhang Ji, he would give Wancheng to his lord."
Deng Mu sneered.
Just as he expected, Liu Biao agreed to Old Liu's conditions.
This old fox had a wishful thinking. He wanted to make Liu Bei his eagle dog to guard his home and hospital, just like in history.
"Ziyu, I have written these two letters as you asked."
"Could it be that your plan is to join forces with Liu Jingsheng, help him defeat Zhang Ji, and then borrow Wancheng from him?"
Liu Bei made such a guess from these superficial articles.
Before he finished speaking,
Guan Yu snorted coldly:
"Then Liu Biao used troops against Zhang Ji just to take Wancheng and Nanyang into his hands."
"I don’t believe it. If we help him get rid of Zhang Ji, he will give Wancheng to his brother as promised!"
Mi Zhu and others all said yes.
Liu Bei hesitated and looked at Deng Mu.
After all, he didn't want a bloody battle, but he worked for Liu Biao in vain, and ended up with nothing.
"How could Liu Biao, that old fox, be willing to cut off his flesh and give Wancheng to his lord?"
"My lord, there is no need to join forces with Liu Biao, we can just do it ourselves and defeat Wancheng!"
A secret flashed across Deng Mu's eyes.
Everyone was shocked.
"If we want to capture Wancheng, we must march from south to north, so we must first go to Rangcheng."
"In this case, how could it be possible not to join forces with Liu Biao?"
"Furthermore, Zhang Xiu, commanding the elite troops of Xiliang, has advanced towards Rangcheng. It will not be easy for us to defeat Zhang Xiu and capture Wancheng with our own strength alone."
Liu Bei was in high spirits and expressed his concerns.
"Who said we were going to capture Wancheng from south to north..."
Deng Mu raised his lips with a hint of meaning.
Liu Bei was stunned.
Everyone present looked at a loss.
Wancheng is north of Jingzhou, not from south to north. , how else to fight?
Deng Mu slowly stood up, came to the map, raised his hand and pointed:
"Zhang Ji's main force is now in Rangcheng, so Wancheng must be empty of troops."
"The lord then ordered a general to pretend to go to Rang County to meet Liu Biao under the banner of the lord."
"The Lord personally led my main force to the north from Runan, passing through Cao Cao's Yingchuan County, and then quickly traveled from north to south!"
"Let's destroy Guo with one false move, catch Wancheng by surprise!"
False way to destroy Guo?
Liu Bei's expression suddenly changed, he stood up and rushed towards the map.