From the perspective of the military system of the Han Dynasty, the first person in the military is the general, followed by the hussar general, the chariot general, then the guard general, followed by the front, rear, left, and right generals, and then the four expeditions, four General Zhen.
In other words, Liu Bei's current military rank is second only to Zhang Liao, and he is the same as Jiuqing. It can be said that he has unparalleled glory.
This alone is enough to make the people in Liu Bei's forces extremely happy, and for them, the governor of Changsha is more important than the former general.
Currently, the actual person in charge of the four counties of Lingling, Wuling, Guiyang and Changsha is of course Liu Bei, but morally it is Liu Qi's name. At least, in the eyes of Jingxiang's generals, Liu Qi is the Their master, Liu Bei, is not.
But now, Liu Qi has been deposed as the governor of Changsha and replaced by Liu Bei. This is equivalent to helping them change from the actual person in power to a legitimate existence. Everyone needs to agree with this fact.
"Haha, it's good now. Brother's hard life is finally over. With this edict, all the heroes from all over the world will come to join him." In Zhang Fei's eyes, his brother is certainly worthy of this position.
However, before this edict came, the master of the four counties was Liu Qi after all, and those young talents might be wary even if they wanted to defect.
Well now, the position of the Changsha Governor is equivalent to correcting the identity of the eldest brother. From now on, no one in the civil and military circles of Jingzhou will say that the eldest brother is bewitching Liu Qi.
Guan Yu also smiled and nodded. It was just when he was stroking his beard to make comments in agreement that he realized that his hands were empty. When he looked down, his heart ached and he didn't want to say anything.
"It's really unexpected. I thought that after His Majesty returned to Xuchang, Lin Mo would be greedy and accuse me of committing rebellion based on the incident in Yang'anshan. I didn't expect that this would be the result." Liu Bei himself was a little confused.
He even doubted whether Lu Lin really returned power to the emperor, otherwise there would be no reason to do so. Liu Bei was ready to refute again that it was Lu Lin who blackmailed the emperor to issue the edict, just like Cao Cao, who blackmailed the emperor to order the princes.
Who would have thought this would be the result.
In the hall, Zhuge Liang frowned, with an uneasy look on his face, "This Lin Yunwen is truly an unparalleled genius, my lord, I'm afraid his use of His Majesty is far superior to that of Cao Cao!"
"Why is Kong Ming so panicked?" Liu Bei looked at him blankly.
"My lord, we have always cooperated with you tacitly. Whether we fight against Lu Lin or against Cao Cao, we are all based on the premise of helping him regain Jingxiang.
But now, your majesty's edict denies all of this. On the surface, it seems to have corrected the lord's position. But the problem is that most of his subordinates are loyal to the prince. Now he has been demoted to the magistrate of Xinye County. The lord has sole control of the military and administration of the four counties, and the soldiers under his command may have misunderstandings.
At this time, as long as the young master opens his mouth."
Zhuge Liang paused and said seriously, "Civil strife in Jingzhou will break out immediately."
Hearing this, Liu Bei just frowned slightly, and then said: "I have also thought about this section. I will explain to the young master later that this is just Lu Lin's conspiracy. He is still the Lord of Jingzhou. I I will help you wholeheartedly.”
Zhuge Liang shook his head and sighed, "It's useless. This is Lin Mo's brilliance. With this edict, the young master's fear of the lord has already formed. Even if the lord really discusses all matters with the young master like before, But deep down in his heart, he will ask himself every day, who is the master of Jingzhou."
Liu Bei's pupils suddenly gathered. Speaking of this, he certainly understood the stakes here. This was not a favor, it was clearly a divorce plan.
Lin Mo used this method to alienate his relationship with Liu Qi.
Because regardless of whether the edict is accepted or not, Liu Qi will tacitly agree in his heart that he is no longer the lord of Jingzhou, and the rhetoric he once promised to help him regain Jingzhou will also change with the change of position.
Once such suspicion is formed, Liu Bei and Liu Qi can only accommodate one side in these four counties from now on. Even if Liu Bei wants to go back to the past, Liu Qi will not agree in his heart.
They said they wanted to drive away Liu Qi, but that was really impossible. Apart from that, most of the 20,000 navy troops brought back actually believed that Liu Qi was the leader, and they must only follow Liu Qi's lead.
There is an even more terrifying figure, Changsha Barrier Huang Hansheng. He is also someone who absolutely supports Liu Qi. If he raises his arms again, the only one who cannot stay in these four counties will be himself, and it will never be Liu Qi.
"This Lin Mo City is so deep and evil-hearted that even Cao Cao can't compare to him." Liu Bei panicked for a moment. This method of planting seeds of suspicion on the side of the weak was different from Cao Cao's previous behavior of coercing the emperor and ordering the princes. The style is completely different.
But the effects couldn't be compared. Now he finally understood why Zhuge Liang said that the emperor must not fall into Lu Lin's hands. This kid's calculation of people's hearts is really outrageous.
"I'm going to find the young master." The person who tied the bell had to be tied to untie the bell. Liu Bei knew that if Liu Qi was not allowed to untie the knot and completely believe in him, then things would develop as Zhuge Liang expected, and civil strife would break out in the four counties.
When the time comes, Cao Cao will take advantage of Lu Lin's actions and annex them.
Vicious, vicious.
After asking around before going out, he found out that Liu Qi had gone to Huang Zhong's mansion. Liu Bei's heart sank, and he really began to be afraid.
At this time, instead of discussing with himself, he ran to Huang Zhong. This was already stating his inner thoughts. Liu Bei felt that this trip was quite stressful.
"My lord, I have something to say. If it is inappropriate, please forgive me." Before going out, Zhuge Liang approached Liu Bei and whispered.
"Kong Ming, you and I have become one. There is nothing we can't say."
Hearing this, Zhuge Liang was still a little moved in his heart. He took a deep breath and muttered: "Lin Mo's skills of control, control, control, and control are even better than Cao Cao's. He knows how the emperor uses them, and he also knows how not to leave a bad name for himself. , if things go on like this, Cao Cao, Sun Ce and even the lord will be annexed by him sooner or later."
Liu Bei nodded, this is the truth.
Cao Cao often played with things like the emperor's edict, but it was rare to say that one act could cause serious consequences.
Of the four edicts issued this time, two were directed to Jingnan and two to Jingbei.
Although Liu Bei didn't know the situation on the other side of Xiangyang now, he could guess that Cao Cao must have a huge headache now.
The influence of the Cai family in Jingzhou is not something that Cao Cao can easily control at this stage, especially after losing the Central Plains. If Cai Mao is removed based on his suspicion, it is very likely to trigger civil strife in Jingzhou.
The emperor had just acquired it, but he, Lin Mo, was so proficient in using it. It was foreseeable that if he didn't take the initiative to make some changes, he would be defeated by him sooner or later in the future.
"Kong Ming, these are extraordinary times. If you have any ideas, please tell me." Liu Bei turned around and looked around. No one was there.
"From a territorial point of view, Lin Mo deliberately blocked the war horse channels of Cao, Sun, and Liu to ensure absolute stability in the Central Plains. But if he wants to unify the world, the next battle will definitely be a water battle. .
At present, Jiangxia has been lost, and our army only has 20,000 naval troops. The expansion is too slow. If Cao Cao can stabilize the situation, then the 70,000 Jingxiang naval troops in hand can also be saved.
Furthermore, although Sun Ce suffered a huge defeat, most of the casualties were infantry, and the navy could still accumulate some strength. "
Zhuge Liang hadn't finished speaking yet, but Liu Bei had already understood what he meant, and couldn't help but take a step back with a suspicious look on his face, "You want to join forces with Cao Cao and Sun Ce to fight against Lu Lin?"
"Lord, this is the only way to survive at the moment, otherwise Cao, Sun and Liu will be annexed by Lu Lin one after another."
Liu Bei took a step back, and Zhuge Liang stepped forward and said in a deep voice: "If Cao Cao is a national thief, then Lu Lin is a national thief. The matter is serious. If we want to fight against Lu Lin, who has the power to engulf the world, the only way is to unite. There are two remaining forces.”
In this dimension, Cao Cao's biggest evil deed against the Han Dynasty was actually the infamy of coercing the emperor and ordering the princes. In other aspects, he did not go beyond it.
For example, there is no testing of human nature like Xu Tian's hunting, no overbearing ambition to become the king, no rebellious behavior of poisoning the imperial concubine, and no intention to advance to the throne among the factions on the Tongque Platform.
Because there is no such series of evil deeds, naturally, in Zhuge Liang's heart, this has not reached the level of heinous crime.
To put it into detail, there are also a series of achievements in supporting and protecting the Han Dynasty, including the alliance between the princes and Qin Wang.
What's more, compared to Cao Cao, Lu Lin is now the real threat to the Han Dynasty.
"Kong Ming, there are things a man should do and things he should not do. Cao Cao's past behavior is despised by the world. I am based on benevolence and righteousness, how can I associate with the wolf!" Liu Bei refused very decisively, almost with an attitude that could not be criticized.
"My lord, this is just a temporary measure. Once the North-South War begins, the main opponents on the battlefield will be Cao Cao and Lu Lin. At that time, my lord can watch the fire from the other side.
If Lu Lin wins, we can take advantage of the situation and seize Yizhou to seek for a successor; if Cao Cao wins, we can take advantage of the situation and march to Huainan to open the door to the Central Plains.
At this point, there is a place to raise troops and compete with others! "
Zhuge Liang's words made people excited. It must be said that Liu Bei, who had suffered a lot of defeats, was tempted at this moment.
But in the past, I kept calling Cao Cao a traitor to the country, so I always used this sentence to refute the emperor's edicts for things that were simply impossible.
Now, running to form alliances with others as soon as the situation changes, it feels a bit self-destructive no matter how you look at it.
He pondered, pacing back and forth, hesitant.
"My lord, behind the emperor's edict, there is another evil intention of Lin Mo, which I have not made clear." Seeing his hesitation, Zhuge Liang finally spoke.
"Just tell me."
"He didn't want us to form a three-way alliance, so he dismissed the young master from the post of governor. In this way, the alliance between Jingnan and Jingbei is no longer an alliance between the young master Liu Qi and Cao Cao, but an alliance between the lord and Cao Cao.
He had calculated that his lord valued honor and integrity more than his life and would rather die than do it. "
At this point, Zhuge Liang lowered his eyebrows and sighed, and said with great sincerity: "But my lord, those who achieved great things in ancient times were by no means simply lying on their backs and tasting courage. Four words can describe the hardship and bitterness involved.
Please imagine, my lord, whether my lord's benevolence and righteousness should give way compared to the four hundred years of Han Dynasty's foundation. "
Liu Bei's heart felt like it was hit by a heavy hammer, and he felt his heart tremble.
Unexpectedly, Zhuge Liang would say such a thing.
Yes, my benevolence and righteousness are nothing compared to the four hundred years of Han Dynasty's foundation, and my humiliation is nothing compared to Your Majesty's puppet career that has never seen the light of day.
So, he made a decision that went against his ancestors and nodded heavily, "I understand."
After saying that, he slowly walked out of the General's Mansion and walked in the direction of Huang Zhong Mansion Garden.
Inside Huang Zhong's mansion.
Liu Qi cried like a child in front of Huang Zhong, and his tears were like a bursting dam that could not be stopped at all.
It is true that his situation is indeed very embarrassing. His father is dead, the Cai family wants to harm him, and even Huang Zu, who is confident in his heart, betrays him. When such things happen one after another at his age, the blow is indeed not small.
Before he could digest all this, the emperor's edict arrived again. In the end, even Liu Bei could no longer rely on him. After Liu Qi learned the news, he was not panicked, but directly frightened and ran to Huang Zhong and burst into tears.
He felt that the only person he could rely on now was Huang Zhong. The problem was that Huang Zhong was just a military commander after all, and he didn't have too deep thoughts.
Men who narrowly escape death on the battlefield never believe in tears. Liu Qi certainly had a miserable experience, but when you choose this path, you should be aware of these possible situations.
Just like a military commander who chooses to pick up the three-foot green peak, he must be prepared to die on the battlefield.
Therefore, Liu Qi could go to Huang Zhong to complain, analyze, and discuss, and even ask him to stand up and shout, calling on the army to drive away Liu Bei, but he could not cry.
Tears, in Huang Zhong's case, would only attract disgust and contempt.
And this patience is all for Liu Jingsheng's sake.
Cao Cao has a saying that is familiar to later generations, "You should have a son like Sun Zhongmou," but many people don't know that this sentence is followed by another sentence, Liu Jingsheng's son has the ears of a pig!
I have to say that this is the most realistic summary of brothers Liu Qi and Liu Cong.
Liu Qi is indeed not an independent person, and because of this, he chooses to accept Liu Bei and let him control everything.
Now, when it was time for him to stand up, he could only shed tears, which made Huang Zhong feel even more sad.
Until Liu Bei arrived at the house, Liu Qi was still sobbing. Looking at the emperor's uncle whom he once trusted most, he had mixed emotions in his eyes, and his instinct was fear, and he retreated behind Huang Zhong.
Liu Bei has seen this subtle change, and the momentum is not very good. If he is not convinced today, he may really call on the Jingzhou Ministry to drive him out.
"Master, could you please take a moment to speak?" Liu Bei made up his mind, then stepped forward and asked kindly.
Liu Qi first glanced at Liu Bei, then at Huang Zhong, and muttered: "If you have anything to say, just say it."
Hearing this, Liu Bei sighed, then took off his sword and handed it to Liu Qi respectfully.
Just when Liu Qi and Huang Zhong were confused, Liu Bei said in a deep voice: "Master, the edict is Lin Mo's conspiracy. He just hopes to plant the seeds of doubt in the master's heart. If the master is really worried about me, then Please take your sword and kill me."
The attitude is very sincere, but people are like this. Once there is suspicion in their hearts, everything the other party says will be questioned.
The incident between Huang Zu and Wei Yan was still fresh in his mind, and the Jiangxia coup was only a month away. To say that Liu Qi would believe Liu Bei because of these words, he was underestimating himself.
Liu Qi did not pick up the sword, nor did he respond to Liu Bei, feeling a little at a loss.
"If you can't bear to take action, then I'm here to say goodbye to you today." Liu Bei still held the sword in both hands.
"Farewell? What do you mean by this?" Liu Qi finally spoke.
Liu Bei's face was as deep as water, and his eyes showed the vicissitudes accumulated over the years, but at this moment he showed helplessness, "Because the young master's eyes tell me that the young master no longer trusts me. In this case, I am willing to take my second and third brothers with me." Leave this place with Kong Ming and the others, only in this way can the young master feel at ease."
If Liu Bei had said this in the past, Liu Qi's first reaction would have been to panic. In fact, he also understood that he was a person with no independent opinions, and lacked far-reaching strategic vision. Without Liu Bei's protection, let alone resisting Cao Cao, Cai Mao and Liu Cong would persecute him. Unable to resist.
But now, after hearing what Liu Bei said, he blurted out out of reflex, "When will the emperor prepare to set off?"
Ah this
Aren't you going to save it?
Liu Bei's heart skipped a beat and he swallowed, "I bid farewell to the young master today and went back to the house to clean up. That's what happened in the past few days."
At this time, Liu Qi didn't speak, not even a symbolic attempt to persuade him to stay. Of course, Huang Zhong didn't speak, and the scene was a bit embarrassing for a time.
After all, Liu Bei was a man who had seen the wind and waves. He quickly adjusted himself, took a deep breath, and said meaningfully: "Master, there is only one thing I want to remind you before leaving."
"Uncle, please tell me."
"After the scouts reported Cao Cao's defeat, an unstable situation emerged in Jingzhou. In order to calm the civil strife, he has gathered troops in Jiangling. It seems he has a plan. After I leave, the young master must beware of Cao Cao."
In this era, it is relatively common for internal conflicts to turn into external wars.
Therefore, Liu Qi did not doubt Liu Bei's words.
Just imagine, if Cao Cao wants to compete with Lu Lin, he should really reunite the land of Jing and Chu, and then combine the logistics support of the Kingdom of Abundance. In fact, he may not be unable to fight.
But if all this is true, it means that Cao Cao may take action against the four counties in Jingnan at any time. If Liu Guan, Zhang and Zhuge Liang are gone, then Liu Qi will be unable to withstand Cao Cao's momentum.
He was very torn in his heart. Let Liu Bei go. Of course, his position as the lord of Jingzhou was as secure as a mountain, but he could not fight against Cao Cao. Let Liu Bei stay. God knows if time goes by, everyone will think that he, Liu Bei, is the master of Jingzhou.
Just when he was in a dilemma, Liu Qi's eyes lit up. He suddenly thought of his father, so he stepped forward and held Liu Bei's hand and said: "Uncle Emperor, where can you go? Why don't you lead troops to garrison in Baqiu?" , I will provide you with all the food, grass and equipment, so that whether it is Cao Cao or Lin Mo, if there is any change, you and I can get together in time."
Liu Bei's eyes darkened and he looked at Liu Qi blankly. This was how Liu Biao sent him to Xinye back then. Is he following the same pattern now?
But Liu Bei had to agree to this.
It was really time to get desperate. Liu Qi had the ability to summon soldiers and horses from the four counties, but he might not be able to mobilize the army even with this edict.
After hesitating for a moment, Liu Bei gritted his teeth and nodded heavily.
As long as he can stay here, he can eventually work out his righteousness with Liu Qixiao, and if he comes forward to join forces with Cao Cao, things will be easier to handle.
"I will do as you command." Liu Bei's cheek flesh twitched and he had no choice but to take back his sword.
"Okay, okay, I'll go and have someone throw a banquet to celebrate the emperor's uncle." Liu Qi showed a long-lost smile.
Liu Bei smiled bitterly and nodded, thank you.
(End of chapter)
