Chapter 197: Pushing the envelope
It is said that the Cai family has deep roots in Xiangyang. The Cai family was very angry because of Liu Cong's kidnapping.
Chen Long's letter, especially the sentence saying that Liu Qi could also take over, deeply stimulated Cai's heart. In order to squeeze out Liu Qi, the Cai family did not know how many military generals they had won over and how many officials who opposed Liu Cong were squeezed out. It can be said that the Cai family has placed all its treasures on Liu Cong for future glory, leaving no room for Liu Qi at all. At the same time, he has no room for maneuver. It can be said that if Liu Qi comes to power, the Cai family will slide off the cliff unless he launches a rebellion. This is a risk that the Cai family cannot take.
Su Fei and Jia Long knelt on the ground in the hall. Jia Long knew it well. Su Fei was very angry when he saw his mistress. He knew that he could not do anything good today, so he said with a heartbeat: "My lord, my sin is unpardonable. Please cut me off." Get killed in something."
Cai said angrily: "What's the use of your head! Come, tie up Su Fei first." The soldiers did not wait for Liu Biao to say anything, and came up to tie up Su Fei first.
Liu Biao finally seized the opportunity and said loudly: "Su Fei, please tell me in detail what happened last night!" Cai's anger was not extinguished and shouted: "Why are you still asking about cause and effect? Now that Cong'er is in the hands of the kidnappers, is it possible to find it? Aren't you afraid of losing your vote? For the current plan, we can only do what others ask for! Only then can we get a living Cong'er back!"
Liu Biao wanted to ask about Su Fei's situation, but was interrupted again. He was extremely depressed. He stood up and shouted angrily: "Come here, tie up Jia Long first!" All the officials whispered, if at this time Killing Jia Long will undoubtedly formally break with Yizhou. Moreover, no one could figure out that Jia Longhui was related to the kidnapping of Liu Cong. After all, Yizhou was now an ally of Jingzhou.
Cai yelled again: "Why are you tying him up! Just follow what the letter said and drive away the Yizhou soldiers! Drive them away! They all blame you for trying to capture Lingling! You are plotting to capture Jingzhou! Now even Cong'er has lost it." ! If Cong'er comes back with the jade intact this time, just give it back! If anything happens to Cong'er, you and I will pay with our lives! Forget it and return home as soon as possible!"
Liu Biao was so scolded that he wanted to seize Lingling, which was why he was so passive today. He thought that with the Yizhou Qi soldiers, this time he would not only be able to get rid of the bad breath of Chen Long who took Changsha away , and was able to take over Chen Long's old lair. Unexpectedly, Changsha and Wuling were lost, and his successor was kidnapped. It was a complete defeat.
Jia Long was not tied up because of Cai's obstruction. After Liu Biao vented his anger, he drafted a notice to dissolve the alliance and the Yizhou army to withdraw from Jingzhou within three days, and directly asked Jia Long to lead it. With his followers, he went to Jiangling to deliver the order. The alliance between Jingzhou and Yizhou had collapsed.
On a warship on the Han River, Kuai Liang stood on the bow, looking anxiously at the approaching Xiangyang City on the opposite side. Originally, Fancheng was surrounded by war clouds, and Zhang Yun was under considerable pressure. He relied entirely on Kuai Liang to make plans. If the lord had not ordered the Yizhou soldiers to withdraw within a few days, Kuai Liang would not have returned in a hurry.
The lord's decision is tantamount to giving up the great advantage over Lingling that he has worked so hard to build. In the future, if there is no advantage in military strength, there are few cities, and there is no way to recover Changsha and Wuling, Jiangling and Xiangyang will be exposed to the firepower of Chen Long's Qinglong Army at any time. How can we resist Chen Long's attack? There will only be failure in the future.
Kuai Liang was a smart man and knew that his mistress must be feeling sorry for her young son. However, given the general situation in Jingzhou, how could he give up everything in the future just because he cherished the life of Liu Cong. And if he doesn't take advantage of the situation to kill Chen Long this time, he may have to surrender sadly in the future. The lord still has the eldest son to take over, but if it doesn't work, you can have another one and train him again!
As you can imagine, Kuai Liang was scolded by the Cai family and sent back to the front line of Fancheng. Jia Long had already set off for Jingzhou with a notice to withdraw his troops. Everything was irreversible. Liu Biao just wanted to calm the Cai family and could no longer care about it. Think about the future.
The news quickly reached Chen Long's ears, which made Chen Long a little surprised. He didn't expect Liu Biao's announcement to be issued so quickly, and he couldn't help but re-evaluate Liu Cong's important position in Jingzhou. In fact, without the help of Yizhou soldiers, Liu Biao would have been at an absolute disadvantage in the battle for Jingzhou. Even if he survived, he would have been unable to develop further south.
Chen Long reconsidered his future strategy and did not want to let Liu Cong go immediately. But if the Yizhou soldiers withdraw, will Liu Cong be replaced by Jiangxia or Jiangling? Being so aggressive, I wonder if Liu Biao will attack Lingling again at all costs? Moreover, he would leave a reputation of being unscrupulous and not keeping his promises. In that era where reputation was very important, it was still very dangerous.
However, since the Yizhou soldiers were ordered to be expelled, I believe Liu Biao can only retreat to Jiangling for the time being, rearrange his defense, and beware of the Qinglong Army taking the opportunity to counterattack. Chen Long no longer waited and quickly went south along the river. He met a responding ship near Jiangxia. After crossing the river, he received a surprising news in Baling.
It turned out that Yizhou Liu Yan was completely unwilling to withdraw from Jingzhou like this, and wanted to take advantage of it. Yan Yan's army happened to have moved near Wuling, and he secretly ordered Yan Yan's army to attack Wuling.
Wuling was originally abandoned by Xi Zhicai's strategy. After a slight resistance, the defenders all retreated to Lingling. Yan Yan's army stationed in Wuling and refused to leave. This gave Chen Long an excuse not to let Liu Cong go. At this time, Cai was furious and Liu Biao was furious. He ordered an all-out attack on Wuling, and Yizhou and Jingzhou were completely separated. At the same time, Liu Biao revealed that he would exchange Wu Ling for Liu Cong's life, and even hoped to cooperate with Chen Long to defeat Yan Yan.
At this time, Chen Long finally returned to his hometown in Lingling, and his whole family was reunited, and they were all very happy. Especially a few beauties who are as beautiful as flowers and have deep love and loyalty. How can they not be happy when their husbands finally come back after waiting for them for so long. Chen Long comforted all his beloved wives one by one. The issue of heirs was once again brought up by his subordinates, and Chen Long was helpless. Will people who travel through time lose their ability to reproduce?
Several major conspirators in Lingling gathered together, and Chen Long was personally stationed here. Forces were mobilized frequently, and the strategic goal was still to completely capture the entire territory of Jingzhou. On the other side, Cai Mao and Wenpin sent troops to really fight Yan Yan. However, Yizhou's warships came again along the river. Jiangling had to let Cai Mao divide his troops to meet the enemy. For a while, Jiangling and Wuling were in flames of war. The navy and army were fighting fiercely. Chen Long took the opportunity to rest, and at this time Lingling ushered in Liu Biao's secret envoy.
Liu Biao was already overwhelmed by the three-front battle, but Chen Long had not yet taken action. In the upper part, Fancheng was confronting Zhang Xiu, in the lower part, Yan Yan was fighting Wenpin in Wuling, and in the middle, Cai Mao was confronting the Yizhou navy and Jiangkou. Liu Biao was already in dire straits, but at this turbulent time, two masters at the time, Pang Degong of Xiangyang and Huang Chengyan, actually came to Xiangyang together and had a long talk with Liu Biao.
Although Liu Biao was not a hero, he was still the overlord of the party. Although he suffered successive fatal blows, he was able to understand the current situation clearly after his talks with Pang Degong and Huang Chengyan.
Pang Degong and Huang Chengyan were famous people in Jingzhou. Pang Degong's eldest son Pang Shanmin even served as an official under Chen Long. It is conceivable that Pang and Huang came for peace in Jingzhou, and at least wanted to promote cooperation between Liu Biao and Chen Long.
At this time, Liu Biao's secret envoy arrived in Lingling and asked to see Chen Long. Chen Long only received him a few days later. At this time, Liu Biao's situation was getting worse and worse, and he was wasting heavily every day. Chen Long deliberately delayed so that Liu Biao had no conditions for negotiation.
