Cao Cao's army invaded Nanyang, which shocked Jingzhou. Rumors spread that Cao Cao's army was besieging Wancheng, and Liu Qi was unable to support him alone, causing panic.
Liu Xian, who did not drive, and Fu Xun, who commanded Dongcao, all persuaded Liu Biao, asking him to transfer Liu Qi back, send envoys to apologize to Cao Cao, and cede Nanyang to resolve the crisis.
Liu Biao spent all day writing in the academy with Qi Wukai, Song Zhong and others, leaving military and political affairs to Kuai Yue and Liu Pan without paying any attention to them.
Zhang Ji went to Xiangyang to diagnose and treat Liu Biao. After his condition improved, he concentrated on his writings and no longer interfered with political affairs. He was determined to complete his "Five Classics Chapters and Verses" and leave it to future generations.
After experiencing the Cai family incident, Liu Biao truly understood that the biggest regret in his life was not Jingzhou, but that he had spent his whole life studying the classics and the lectures on Yi Zhixue that he had not written.
When Song Zhong saw Liu Biao driving these officials away, he sighed: "Cao Cao has been coveting Jingzhou for a long time. Nanyang is in a hurry. Why does Ming Gong turn a deaf ear?"
Liu Biao smiled faintly: "My father and son were ordered to guard Jingzhou. We should govern together in life and die together in death. What should we fear? As long as these classics are passed down to future generations, there will be no regrets in this life!"
Song Zhong caressed his beard and sighed: "What Ming Gong said is absolutely true. I am waiting for the book to be written, just like a general going into battle to kill the enemy. I will kill my heart and brains without hesitation."
Liu Biao nodded and said with a smile: "My son has grown up. He has defeated Cao's army several times. He has taken Nanyang and captured Cao Ren. He is enough to stand out among the heroes. If he is defeated by Cao's thieves, it will be God's will! If the sky destroys the Yan Han, what can manpower do? ?”
When the Confucian scholars heard what Liu Biao said, they immediately shook their heads and sighed. Over the years, if Liu Biao had not taken them in, established academic officials, and sought Confucian scholars, their life and death would have been uncertain, let alone talking about books.
In the government office, Liu Pan was worried after learning the information about Nanyang. He discussed with Kuai Yue: "Dalang is surrounded by Cao's army in Wancheng. Should we send troops to rescue him?"
Kuai Yue shook his head and said: "The eldest son is no longer what he used to be. If we haven't mobilized our troops, we can't act rashly. The most important thing now is to stabilize the people in the country, prepare food and grass, and ensure the stability of the army."
Liu Pan asked: "Is Zhuge Kongming really talented in the world?"
Kuai Yue said with a smile: "Is the reputation of Crouching Dragon and Phoenix Young in vain? I have met Kong Ming several times. This man is extraordinary in demeanor and knowledgeable. Not only is he talented like Guan Zhong and Le Yi, he also went to Wudang Mountain to seek Taoism for three years. His mastery of geography, yin and yang and eight trigrams is comparable to that of Zhang Liang and Deng Yu."
"There is such a strange person?" Liu Pan was secretly surprised.
Zhuge Liang's sister is Kuai Liang's nephew-in-law. Considering that Liu Qi went to Wollongong twice to find this person, he became more confident.
Thinking of this, Liu Pan said again: "I heard that Pang Shiyuan returned to Xiangyang a few days ago. Since Wolong has assisted the eldest son, why not ask him to serve as an official to protect Jingzhou together?"
Kuai Yue sighed: "Compared with Kong Ming's elegance and seriousness, Pang Shiyuan is cynical. It may not be easy to invite him to come out."
Liu Pan smiled and said: "I will go and invite him personally. Dalang invited Wolong to go there twice. At most, I will go there three times."
Kuai Yue nodded slightly and suddenly said: "Feng Chu is the best thing in the cup. If the general can send some good wine, maybe it can impress her."
"What's so difficult about this? I'll go now!" Liu Qi was overjoyed and couldn't wait to invite Feng Chu.
Liu Qi asked him to stay in Jingzhou just to stabilize the rear. Although he still had a heavy responsibility, he always felt a little regretful that he did not go to the front line in person. Finally he could do something to help directly.
Rumors were spreading in Xiangyang City, and undercurrents were surging. In Liu Qi's house, Du Ling'er felt a little uneasy after hearing the news.
Returning to the bedroom, he took out a secret letter from the box, read it for a long time, bit his plump red lips, and wrote a reply.
It is raining continuously in Jingzhou, but the sun is shining brightly in Chai Sang, and the waves are shining on Poyang Lake.
When Sun Quan learned that Cao Cao's troops had entered Nanyang, he rushed to Chaisang from Jianye to discuss with Zhou Yu how to attack Jiangxia and raise troops for revenge.
Zhou Yu was not in a hurry to send troops at this time, saying: "The situation in Nanyang is still unclear, so we must not act rashly."
Sun Quan said doubtfully: "Cao Cao is very good at using troops. Lu Bu, Yuan Shu, and Yuan Shao were all destroyed by him. It is difficult to compete with Liu Qi as a child. Now he is trapped in Wancheng, and his life or death is uncertain. How can I doubt it?"
Zhou Yu said: "My lord, you only see the situation, but not the strength of the troops! Liu Qi made a surprise attack on Nanyang. Cao Ren and Xiahou Dun were defeated, and more than 100,000 Cao Jun troops were lost. Although Cao Cao is powerful now, he is a soldier who has been tired for a long time in the north. He is suspicious. The public, once it encounters a setback, will surely fall apart.”
After listening to Zhou Yu's analysis, Sun Quan suddenly woke up and nodded: "What Gong Jin said is absolutely true. Cao Cao conquered Hebei last year and went south before resting. His soldiers were tired for a long time, and not all of the Yuan clan he gained may have surrendered. , is really a bunch of rabble."
Zhou Yu sneered: "Now all the people in Jingzhou are united to resist Cao Cao. After the consecutive victories, the army's power has been greatly strengthened. Liu Bei's old troops are eager to avenge their previous humiliation. They use the tiger and wolf divisions to fight against the long-tired soldiers. They have taken advantage of the time, location, and people, and have established a strong position." Invincible!"
Sun Quan was not willing to be just a spectator, and said: "Now the two armies are facing each other in Nanyang, and they have no time to divide their forces. Let's take this opportunity to take Jiangxia. Huang Zu can't support him alone. Isn't this a good opportunity for revenge?"
Zhou Yu's eyes were slightly gleaming, and he cupped his fists towards Sun Quan and said, "My lord, if you have personal vendettas and focus on the immediate situation, it will be easy to send troops at this time to capture Jiangxia; if you want to achieve a great cause and consider the overall situation, you must be patient and wait for Jiangdong's fate!"
"Jiangdong Tianshi?" Sun Quan asked in confusion: "What does Gong Jin mean by this?"
Zhou Yu said slowly: "Cao Cao was determined to get rid of Liu Qi and avenge his humiliation. He mobilized nearly half a million troops from the Central Plains, which cost countless chariots, horses, money and food. If he captured Nanyang and Jingzhou, he could surely dominate the world. However, if he failed and defeated Nanyang, the consequences would be What will happen?”
"Cao Cao was defeated and left Nanyang?" Sun Quan was startled, stroking his beard and thinking silently.
In his mind, Cao Cao was already too powerful to be defeated, otherwise he would not have obeyed his orders many times, and even wanted to send his son to Xuchang to accompany him.
Even if he confronts Liu Qi, he will be able to retreat unscathed, and he will continue to send more troops to Nanyang. Sooner or later, Jingzhou will not be protected.
If, as Zhou Yu said, Cao Cao returned with a great defeat, not only would the north be shaken, but all the soldiers and horses in the Central Plains would have been mobilized, wouldn't it be a golden opportunity to march into Xuzhou?
Thinking of this, Sun Quan became excited: "Gong Jin is talking about the soldiers of Huainan?"
Zhou Yu nodded and said: "Huainan soldiers and horses alone may not be able to capture Xuzhou. I am waiting for the opportunity to move down the river and advance directly to the Central Plains by land and water."
"So that's it!" Sun Quan was overjoyed when he heard this. He put his hands on his hands and smiled and said, "Brother once said that you should not ask Gong Jin for foreign affairs. I am sincere and will not deceive me. If I can develop a foundation for the Sun family and wait for revenge, I think my father and brother will do it." I can forgive you."
Zhou Yu smiled calmly and said: "Huang Zu has become a withered bone in the tomb, so there is nothing to fear! Even if we get rid of this thief, the land in the north of the Yangtze River and the isolated city cannot be defended. Wouldn't it be surrendered to the thief Cao? I will keep him for a few more months." It is actually to hinder Cao Cao's troops. Even if Cao Cao wins in Nanyang and the lord sends troops from Huainan, Cao Cao will be unable to reach him even if he wants to rush for reinforcements!"
"High, really high!" Sun Quan suddenly realized.
Without Huang Zu guarding Jiangxia, Cao's army could have gone down the river and taken Huainan. Zhou Yu's foresight convinced Sun Quan completely.
He couldn't help but stood up and grabbed Zhou Yu's arm, saying with great pride, "I only have Gong Jin, so why worry about the uncertainty of the matter?"
