As the drought worsens, the number of refugees increases.
Zhang Xiu immediately organized people to set up porridge stalls at various intersections, especially those near Yuan Shao and Cao Cao's territory. People who ate the porridge had to go to Chang'an, and Chang'an was in charge of food and housing.
It was in the year of famine that the benefits of Zhang Xiu's governance of the people were revealed.
After occupying Nanyang and Guanzhong in 197, they distributed land and implemented a policy of light corvee and low tax. Every household had surplus grain in their hands. Coupled with Zhang Xiu's support, every household could live frugally and live safely. There is no need to become a refugee in this famine year.
At this time, the people's support for Zhang Xiu was unprecedentedly strong.
In the realm under Zhang Xiu's rule, anyone who dares to say bad things about Zhang Xiu will end up being drowned in the spit of the common people.
Therefore, refugees can only be found from other places. Cao Cao's management is still good. At least there is no particularly large number of refugees going out. Yuan Shao is different.
First, they experienced the Battle of Youzhou, which consumed a lot of food and grass. When the harvest was dry, they launched a war against the Southern Xiongnu, but were intercepted by Zhuge Liang at Manhan Mountain. Later, they attacked Qingzhou and fought with Cao Cao.
In the past two years, all the gold and silver have been consumed by Yuan Shao.
After the famine came, the people in Bingzhou and Jizhou could not survive, so they began to leave their homeland and look for a way out. When they heard that Zhang Xiu had established a rice porridge in Hexi, a large number of people came to him.
Cai Mao selected the young and strong among them and incorporated them into the road construction brigade. He arranged the young and strong wives and families of each household to form a village on both sides of the road to form a village. Water canals were opened on both sides of the road. It can provide the village with water for farming, and can also achieve the purpose of opening roads and building canals.
Using refugees to build roads and canals can achieve the goal and still leave a lot of money.
This deal is really a good deal.
Starting from April to the end of November 1999, it took eight months and 100,000 people to finally dig out the five roads, which also added hundreds of thousands of people to Zhangxiu.
But in this year of famine, Liu Biao was dying.
Since his defeat in the last battle and the cession of territory, Liu Biao has been seriously ill and his body has been declining day by day. He often coughs until midnight and sometimes falls into a coma.
Kuai Yue was distraught.
Since Liu Bei and others entered Chu, they have won the favor of Liu Biao, and the two of them are clan relatives. However, all of Liu Biao's sons have failed to live up to expectations and have no ability to rule Jingzhou. After repeated thinking, Kuai Yue defected to Liu Bei, thinking that Let Liu Biao give Jingzhou to Liu Bei.
Liu Biao also wanted to send him, but he was unwilling to do so.
This is also the reason why Kuai Yue is anxious. If he didn't tell him before he was alive, and after Liu Biao's death, Liu Bei would not be able to be justified, and there would definitely be civil strife.
Now, with Sun Ce on the right and Zhang Xiu on the north, Jingzhou is in a very dangerous situation. If civil strife breaks out again, the consequences will be disastrous. Therefore, no matter what, Liu Bei must die before Liu Biao.
If it doesn't work, then force the woman into the palace.
Chen Gong, Chen Deng, Jian Yong and others were also ready to force the palace.
Liu Biao was lying on the couch, his breath was weak, and the faint light in his eyes flickered, and he lay down. Liu Bei took good care of him, without any agitation, and waited patiently.
A little further away, Kuai Yue, Chen Gong, and Chen Deng stood with their hands hanging.
Liu Biao's weak gaze swept across the crowd, and finally rested on Liu Bei. Looking at Liu Bei's calm face, his heart trembled slightly.
Liu Bei's city was deep, but he still felt the ambition revealed.
I felt bitter in my heart. I didn't expect that I would lead a wolf into the house. But compared to Zhang Xiu, it would be better to hand over Jingzhou to Liu Bei. After I pass away, my two sons will not be able to hold Jingzhou, and they will be captured by Zhang Xiu and Sun Ce in the long run. If it is handed over to Liu Bei, , his two sons can also become rich men.
I already had a conclusion in my mind.
Liu Biao raised his voice and said, "Xuande, come here!"
Liu Bei's heart skipped a beat, and he hurried over and grabbed Liu Biao's hand. His calm eyes showed anticipation. Kuai Yue, Chen Gong, Chen Deng and others behind him immediately held their breaths.
"My dear brother! I am old and sick this year, and I may die soon. I hope my dear brother can take charge of the overall situation in Jingzhou. After my death, I will be the lord of Jingzhou."
Liu Bei knew that he could not agree immediately, so he immediately said: "I surrendered in a difficult situation, and now that I have done so without any reason, the world will regard Bei as an unrighteous person!"
Liu Biao naturally knew that this was Liu Bei's nonsense, so he said: "Today the Han Dynasty is in decline, Haiyu has been overthrown, I am old and sick, my two sons are not talented, and cannot bear the heavy responsibility of the country. My wise brother is a member of my emperor's family, with great virtue and talent, but Lead Jingzhou."
Liu Bei: "Although Bei is a descendant of the Han Dynasty, he has little merit and virtue. How dare he have such different intentions?"
Liu Biao sneered in his heart, and if he had other intentions, he would not let the people behind him come to force the palace. He said: "I am critically ill and there is no way to save me day and night. I hope that Duke Ming will take pity on the Han family because the city is important. If he receives the seal of Jingzhou, I will die." Close your eyes!"
Liu Bei: "How prepared are you for this important task?"
Liu Biao took a deep breath and said slowly: "Kuai Yue is my old minister. He has both ability and political integrity, and extraordinary strategies. You should do good things for him."
Liu Bei paid homage and said, "Since my brother has given me sincerity and Bei has been disrespectful, I will do my best for the sake of our Han Dynasty, even to the death."
Liu Biao stopped talking and waved his hand gently.
The servant came out with the seal and handed it to Liu Bei.
From then on, Liu Bei led Jingzhou Mu and became the new lord of Jingzhou. He took charge of the nine counties of Jingzhou and began to carry out drastic reorganization, recruiting talents and reorganizing the army.
The first thing Liu Bei did when he took office as the pastor of Jingzhou was to send someone to make friends with Liu Zhang and Sun Ce.
Liu Bei and Liu Zhang will face the threat from Zhang Xiu together, and Zhang Xiu is as powerful as a tiger. Even if they join forces, they may not necessarily be Zhang Xiu's opponent, but they can still make the other party fearful.
More importantly, Liu Bei wanted to directly annex Yizhou, expand his territory, and then recharge his batteries. When the time is right, he would take over the world.
But the situation he faced was also very difficult.
Sun Ce and Zhang Xiu have a city-based friendship. If he attacks Zhang Xiu, Sun Ce will definitely respond. When the time comes, he will be the one who suffers. Nanyang and Caizhoubu have 50,000 heavy troops. This is what Zhang Xiu added after the battle. Recruited and formed, their strength cannot be underestimated.
"Xidu, now the land of Jingzhou is exhausted, how should I deal with it?"
Kuai Yue was a local. Faced with such a situation, Liu Bei could only ask him for advice.
Kuai Yue said: "I wonder how bold my lord is?"
Liu Bei looked at Kuai Yue in surprise: "How can you say this?"
Kuai Yue: "The Lord has as many strategies as he dares to do. Although we are surrounded by dangers on all sides, we also have to seek victory in danger."
"Oh! Tell me quickly!" Liu Bei became interested.
Kuai Yue said: "Our army occupies nine counties in Jingzhou. The people are rich and powerful, with sufficient food and grass. We recruit soldiers to wait for the weather. This year, there will be a famine in the north and there will be many famines in the world. After the famines, Yuan Shao north of the Yellow River will be the first to fight. If you can’t hold back, when the time comes, Zhang Xiu and Cao Cao will jointly seize the northern territory. At that time, we can take the opportunity to march into Yizhou. Although we occupy the land of the two states and have 200,000 elite soldiers, we can go north to seize the world."
When Liu Bei heard this, he was overjoyed.
