Just when Zhang Xiu, Jia Xu and Deng Zhi were discussing the route of dispatching troops around the sand table, someone outside the door came to report: Cai Mao came from Xiangyang and would arrive in Wancheng soon.
Zhang Xiu and the other three looked at each other.
Jia Xu twirled his goatee and guessed with a bright light in his eyes: "My lord defeated Cao Cao. Liu Biao is both happy and afraid of us now. I'm afraid he sent Cai Mao here to find out what my lord said."
The young Deng Zhi nodded in agreement and further explained: "Liu Biao is not good at military affairs. He wants his lord to station troops to guard Nanyang to protect his Jingzhou foundation from Cao Cao's threat, but he is also afraid that his lord will seek revenge from him, so Liu Biao is very conflicted now. "
Zhang Xiu sneered: "Is there any reason not to avenge my uncle? But now that Liu Biao is worried too much, I can't focus on him yet."
But the etiquette was still in place, and the three of them left the governor's house and went to the city gate to greet Cai Mao.
When we arrived at the south gate of Wancheng, there was a gorgeous carriage parked at the gate, followed by a group of people carrying various gifts.
When Cai Ji saw Zhang Xiu coming out, he hurried to the carriage to report.
As the carriage rocked, Cai Hao got out of the sedan wearing a warm brocade robe and looked at Zhang Xiu with a breath of heat.
This was the first time Cai Mao met Zhang Xiu.
The first impression that Zhang Xiu left on Cai Mao was the powerful and cool tone.
The cold wind blew Zhang Xiu's robe, and his mighty body was a head taller than Cai Hao. Cai Hao had to look up at Zhang Xiu's breathing, giving him a sense of oppression.
Meeting Zhang Xiu's leering gaze made him feel a panic in his heart, and his heart twitched twice.
In order to cover up the panic in his heart, Cai Mao struggled to squeeze out a smile from his face, raised his head and said: "Xuan Hou is really a hero of the world. He defeated the many with less, the weak defeated the strong, and Cao Cao was defeated by Du Yang. The city is so impressive!”
Seeing Cai Mao, the memory of Zhang Xiu's original owner came to mind.
That is the memory of his uncle Zhang Ji. Zhang Ji had no children, so he regarded Zhang Xiu as his son and his only heir, and cared for him meticulously.
When Zhang Ji died in Rangcheng, Zhang Xiu was furious and wanted to fight Liu Biao to the death. At that time, Jia Xu came and persuaded the furious Zhang Xiu.
Zhang Xiu was so angry that he passed out...
When seeing Cai Mao now, the memory of the original owner emerged. Zhang Xiu's chest was beating loudly, and he felt something hot rushing to the top of his head. Unconsciously, a cold murderous intention flashed in his eyes.
Cai Hao shivered in fright, his smile froze on his face, and a layer of sweat broke out on his head.
Zhang Xiu took a deep breath, suppressed the hatred in his heart, bit his cheek and said, "It's just that the immediate danger has been relieved. How can I sit back and relax like Liu Biao?"
Cai Mao knew that Zhang Xiu was mocking Liu Biao, so he smiled dryly and said: "How can Liu Shijun have the courage to declare a marquis? He heard that Xuanhou defeated Cao's army, so he specially ordered me to come with a gift to express condolences."
Jia Xu knew that Zhang Xiu's old hatred was aroused, and he was afraid that he would do something out of control, so he immediately said: "Since it is Liu Shijun's wish, it should be accepted. Our army and Shijun will rely on each other to fight against Cao Cao, and return the favor to Cao Cao." Please invite General Cai inside for a banquet."
As if grasping a life-saving straw, Cai Mao smiled cheerfully at Jia Xu: "General, how dare you refuse the invitation? Please!"
Zhang Xiu snorted coldly and agreed to him.
Returning to the governor's house, a banquet was arranged, and charcoal fire was burning in the brazier to drive away the cold air in the room.
Cai Mao's expression softened.
After drinking for three rounds, Cai Hao saw that Zhang Xiu's expression had softened. He toasted tentatively and asked: "Xuanhou is brave and powerful in the world. He is a hero in the world. He will definitely be a prince in the future. I..."
Zhang Xiu looked sideways at Cai Mao, his eyes burning.
I felt disgusted when I heard this guy say a lot of high-handed things. Seeing that he was going to say more, I immediately interrupted him and said bluntly: "If you have any advice, just say it! No need to beat around the bush."
"Uh..." Cai Mao was embarrassed. The manuscript he had prepared behind him was stuck in his throat and he couldn't spit it out. His face turned red and he swallowed, "Has Xuanhou ever been married?"
"Um?"
Zhang Xiu was stunned.
Jia Xu and Deng Zhi looked at each other in surprise.
Cai Mao was afraid that they would misunderstand, so he immediately explained: "This is not the intention of the emperor, but the intention of my Cai family. I have a niece who is already in her hair. She is the daughter of Huang Chengyan. If she can marry the general, haha, she can make both of us The family can always be friends with Qin and Jin."
After finishing speaking, Cai Hao narrowed his eyes and waited for Zhang Xiu and Jia Xu to get excited and pour themselves tea and wine. After all, the lintel of his Cai family was very high, and Zhang Xiu could enter the lintel of their Cai family. It's a high climb.
Huang Chengyan’s daughter?
A name immediately popped into Zhang Xiu's mind: Huang Yueying.
Zhuge Liang's future wife?
He remembered that in later records, Huang Yueying's appearance was: ugly, with yellow hair and dark skin.
Zhang Xiu couldn't help but think: 'Is this a combination of Africa and Europe? '
Jia Xu considered the pros and cons of both parties.
After all, marriages between noble families put interests first, and Cai Mao's purpose of proposing marriage to Zhang Xiu was also in the interests of the Cai family.
The Cai family is a powerful force in Jingzhou. If Zhang Xiu marries a powerful person in Jingzhou, when planning for Jingzhou in the future, he will naturally get the advantage first.
Deng Zhi is also considering this issue.
Zhang Xiu was not born into a powerful noble family. If he could climb the lintel of the Huang family in Jingzhou, he could get rid of the label of being a poor family and recruit some high-spirited noble people to join him.
What's more, I can get strong support from Cai, and it will be harmless.
Besides, Zhang Xiu is already twenty-two years old and has not married yet.
After thinking about this, Deng Zhi turned his attention to Jia Xu, who twirled his beard and nodded.
After seeing them briefly weighing the pros and cons, Cai Mao's eyes lit up with excitement, and he suddenly felt proud. He straightened his back unconsciously, picked up the wine comfortably, and tasted it carefully.
Sure enough, the two of them excitedly said to Cai Mao: "General Cai's kindness is really..."
"General Cai is very kind and considerate, but my foundation has not yet been completed and my own safety is not guaranteed. How can I save my wife?"
Facing Cai Mao's proposal, Zhang Xiu was sensitive to the ancient "parents' orders and matchmaker's words" and rejected it without even thinking about it.
He also knows that by marrying Huang Yueying, he has gained the support of the Cai family, but he will eradicate these cancers of the gentry in the future, how can he be complicit?
Zhang Xiu's decisive refusal surprised everyone.
Cai Mao felt that the wine in his mouth had lost its taste instantly, and he looked at Zhang Xiu with incredible eyes.
He never thought that Zhang Xiu would refuse.
The excitement of Jia Xu and Deng Zhi solidified on their faces like cold lard. They never imagined that Zhang Xiu would refuse such a great opportunity.
After half a day, Cai Mao came out of the shock and asked uncertainly: "Could it be that Marquis Xuanwei was joking?"
Zhang Xiu asked with a serious face: "General Cai, do you think I am joking?"
When Cai Hao saw that Zhang Xiu was not joking, he suppressed the smile on his face. He felt that Zhang Xiu was a bit contemptuous of him. Suddenly, he felt a flash of anger and stared at Zhang Xiu with a raised eyebrow: "Don't you look at it, Marquis Xuanwei?" Do you want to come to the door of my Cai family?"
Deng Zhi and Jia Xu saw this, but did not say anything.
After all, they didn't know Zhang Xiu's thoughts, but they absolutely could not object to Zhang Xiu's decision on this occasion.
Zhang Xiu sneered and read out the sentence, "Zhu Cai is the most prosperous." Then he said, "There is no need to emphasize the strength of your Cai family here, but I, Zhang Xiu, need to explain to you my actions?"
Cai Mao tightened his grip on the wine bottle, biting his cheek and staring at Zhang Xiu.
Afterwards, Cai Mao stood up angrily and said in a cold voice: "Yuan Shu rebelled in Shouchun and ordered me to come to ask Xuanhou to raise an army for a expedition. I asked you to send 10,000 troops, led by General Wenpin. I wonder what Xuanwei Hou wants? "
Jia Xu immediately said: "Let the envoy prepare the ships. Our coalition forces will go down the Han River and cooperate with Cao's army to threaten the Lujiang River. We can meet up with Sun Ce at the Lujiang River."
Cai Hao didn't want to stay any longer. He snorted, clasped his fists as a gesture and went out.
At this moment, his chest was burning with rage.
