Early the next morning, Liu Bei and Lan Tian took a boat out of the harbor and headed for Xiangyang.
Thinking of meeting Guan Yu and Zhang Fei soon, the cold wind on the river blew across the bow of the boat from time to time, but Liu Bei was proud of the spring breeze and his horse's hoof was broken, and his face was radiant as he waited for the brothers to reunite.
In winter, the river is slow and the boat ride is very smooth. It took several days to reach Xiangyang.
Liu Bei remembered that the last time he came here was when Liu Biao was in charge of Jingzhou. Thinking about it now, it felt like a lifetime ago.
Guan Yu and a group of civil and military personnel greeted him at the pier. As soon as Liu Bei got off the boat, he saw two familiar figures. Zhang Fei pulled Guan Yu and ran over excitedly.
"Brother..."
"Second brother, third brother..."
Guan Yu pulled Zhang Fei and bowed down on one knee to Liu Bei. At this moment, they forgot that the person in front of them was the King of Hanzhong, as if they were still in the peach garden.
Liu Bei squatted and helped the two of them up. The burning brotherhood was difficult for the generals to understand. Lan Tian, who was standing behind, looked up at him. No one noticed that the corners of his eyes were moist.
The Three Heroes of Taoyuan held hands and looked at each other for a while. Although they didn't say a word in the process, they seemed to have said a lot, because the expressions on Guan Yu and Liu Bei's faces changed from joy to relief.
"Ziyu, let's go into the city." Liu Bei finished reminiscing with the two brothers, not forgetting Lan Tian standing behind him.
"Okay." Lan Tian walked over.
Zhang Fei, still showing his big white teeth, came over and held Lan Tian's hand: "Ziyu, I'm here to guide you..."
"Third brother, Ziyu came to Xiangyang with you last time." Guan Yu reminded with a frown.
"Really? I forgot..." Zhang Fei let go of his hand again and scratched his head as if he was confused.
Liu Bei was very pleased to see that the brothers were in harmony. He smiled and came to Zhang Fei's rescue: "Let's go together. I haven't been to Xiangyang for more than ten years. I have to pay homage to Brother Jing Sheng tomorrow..."
Liu Bei called Lan Tian to his side. Guan Yu and Zhang Fei walked forward side by side. Meng Da, Pang De, Gao Shun, Guan Ping and more than 20 major generals stood neatly by the roadside waiting.
"Your Majesty..."
"General Lan..."
"gentlemen..."
...
Lan Tian followed Liu Bei, clasping his fists and nodding in return, then changed his horse and galloped into Xiangyang.
Liu Bei stayed in Xiangyang for several months. The people in the city knew his reputation for benevolence. News of the visit of the King of Hanzhong to Xiangyang spread like wildfire. The people supported the old and the young to welcome the new master.
Guan Ping led his army to clear the way ahead, and the Baijie soldiers escorted Liu Bei through the streets and alleys, and finally reached the prefect's mansion with difficulty.
Liu Bei entered the hall and sat facing south, with Guan Yu and Zhang Fei on his right, Lan Tian and Xu Shu on his left, and the rest of the generals took their seats in strict order according to their official positions.
While chatting with everyone, Xu Shu reported the compiled intelligence to Liu Bei. Cao Cao came with an army of 100,000 to take advantage of the excitement. He fought with Guan Yu more than ten times and won less but lost more. In the end, with the loss of more than half of the total force, he could only Reluctantly, he chose to withdraw to Wancheng, while Fancheng and Deng County were completely controlled by Guan Yu.
Liu Bei nodded in affirmation, "When I was negotiating with Ziyu in Jiangxia, I knew that my second brother defeated Cao Cao, but I didn't expect that they were damaged so much. Who would Cao Cao leave to guard Nanyang?"
"The troops and horses stationed in Wancheng are temporarily under the control of Zhang Liao, the general who conquered the east. Cao Ren, the general who conquered the south, accompanied Cao Cao back to Yecheng. It seems that Cao Cao has been cold these days..." Xu Shu replied.
"Cao Mengde is six years older than me. He is already sixty-five this year, right? If you get cold at this age, I'm afraid it will take a long time to recover." Liu Bei frowned.
Lan Tian thought that historically speaking, Boss Cao didn't have many days left to live, but he didn't know if there would be any changes. He sighed and said, "Cao Cao worked very hard in his military life, and every time there was a war, he had to do it himself. How can such hard work last long?" ?”
"What did Ziyu want to say?" Liu Bei asked curiously.
"Uh... I couldn't sleep last night, so I went to the boat to watch the stars. Cao Cao's star was dim. He may not have many days left..." Lan Tian said under the guise of astrology.
Zhang Fei on the opposite side jumped up, "Then what are you waiting for? Cao Cao is about to die. Second brother, let's just send troops to take Xudu."
Guan Yu shook his head and replied: "Jingzhou's soldiers and horses have just experienced a big battle, and the soldiers are exhausted. Moreover, our troops are not enough now. Xudu is already in the hinterland of the Central Plains and has dense cities. If the battle line is extended, we must win quickly, otherwise the food and grass supplies will be unsustainable." ."
"There is not much food left in Jingzhou now." Xu Shu reminded.
"Ah? So Cao Cao's death was in vain?" Zhang Fei showed a disappointed expression.
"Ahem, Zhang Wenyuan is no idler. Anyway, now is not the time to send troops." Guan Yu replied affirmatively.
Liu Bei frowned when he saw this: "Ziyu's predictions have always been accurate. If Cao Cao's death is really an opportunity, will there be turmoil within the Wei State due to the succession?"
Lan Tian shook his head and replied: "Since Cao Cao has decided on Cao Pi, the possibility of civil strife in Wei is unlikely. Cao Cao transferred Cao Rendu back to Yecheng, probably to control the situation, but the replacement of old and new will definitely create opportunities. Perhaps Wei will have a great influence on Yongliang The control has been weakened, so the Wudu garrisoned by Yide should have a chance."
"Haha, then I am rich." Zhang Fei was ecstatic.
"Wudu was forcibly relocated by Cao Cao after the war in Hanzhong. The supplies for the garrison there were all shipped from Hanzhong. Providing supplies to Yongliang is a big problem. Deng Shizai is currently stationed in Hanzhong. Kong Ming recommended at least three years of rest and recuperation..." Liu Bei looked troubled.
"Hey, all your happiness is in vain." Zhang Fei sat down.
Lantian smiled and said: "It is indeed unrealistic to use large-scale troops against Yongliang, but Yide can take advantage of the change of power in the Wei state to do something near Liangzhou. How did Zhang He go over the mountains to Badong to rob people? Yide will Why go to Liangzhou via Qishan Road to rob people? Aren't you familiar with guerrilla warfare?"
Zhang Fei slapped his thigh fiercely, pointed at Lantian and praised Liu Bei: "Brother, look at it, I admire Ziyu the most right here. He always finds ways to seize opportunities."
"Yide must remember to disturb the officials rather than the people. The purpose of the harassment is to snatch back the people of Wudu and weaken the overall strength of Liangzhou. The king will eventually take control of Liangzhou." Lan Tian reminded.
Zhang Fei nodded, turned to the right and said, "Don't worry, second brother, prepare some boats for me tomorrow. I will go directly to Hanzhong by water. It will be faster to get to Wuhan."
"Uh..." Guan Yu looked surprised.
Liu Bei quickly asked: "Third brother, don't you come back to Chengdu with me first?"
"I won't go back, national affairs are the most important thing." Zhang Fei replied, patting his chest.
Lan Tian suddenly remembered that Zhang Fei's ship carrying seafood was still in Panyu Port, so he couldn't help but joke: "Yide, your ship is still docked in Guangzhou, and there is no time to load the seafood."
Zhang Fei waved his hand quickly: "Now that the Han River has been connected, Ziyu, please prepare the things and transport them directly to Hanzhong. Wei Wenchang will not covet my things."
Zhang Fei seemed rough, but in fact he was very thoughtful and he would not treat himself badly, so as soon as he finished his words, everyone burst into laughter.
Liu Bei then asked Xu Shu to prepare a banquet, and he wanted to celebrate the victory of the soldiers in Xiangyang.
Because Xiangyang had already made preparations, the celebration banquet was quickly arranged. Everyone in the palace barely moved their seats, and fine wines and delicacies were brought in one after another.
Not long after the banquet started, Xu Shu took out a piece of silk and read it out, which Liu Bei and Lan Tian had planned on the boat.
Guan Yu's official position could not be promoted, and because the Han Shouting Marquis was granted by Emperor Xian, Liu Bei could not arbitrarily increase the title for the time being, so he ordered that Jiameng County be changed to Hanshou County and become Guan Yu's fiefdom, adding 2,000 households to the city;
Lantian was granted the title of Marquis of Dengxiang; Zhang Fei was granted the title of Duxiang Marquis and moved to be the governor of Liangzhou; Xu Shu was moved to be the prefect of Nanjun and granted the title of Marquis of Guannei; Fazheng was granted the title of Marquis of Guannei;
Gan Ning moved to conquer the east general and the governor of Jiangxia; Meng Da moved to conquer the south general and the governor of Nanxiang; Pang De moved to conquer the north general;
He was promoted to Guan Ping to the general of Dang Kou; Zhou Cang was promoted to the general of Zhe Chong; Su Fei was promoted to the general of Hengjiang and moved to the governor of Jiangxia;
Xiang Xun and Liao Hua were promoted to partial generals; Li Yi was promoted to general Pi;
Mi Fang moved to Changsha and was appointed governor of Changsha; Hu Xiu was demoted and appointed as governor of Wuling;
Fu Fang, the governor of Nanxiang who died in battle, was granted the title of Marquis of Guannei...
