"I was about to attack Jincheng in one go, why did my father summon me back?" Ma Chao walked in the door and asked Ma Tengdao directly.

Ma Teng's thick eyebrows furrowed slightly, and he sighed: "Cao Cao sent someone to summon his father into the court, and the holy decree of the Son of Heaven was reached, and the father had to do it." ”

Ma Chao heard the words and said: "Cao Cao's old thief is scheming, and he previously asked his father to send my brother into the office as a hostage, but in order to fight a decisive battle with Yuan Shao, he was afraid that his father would lead his troops to attack the back of his ears. Now that my father has entered the court, he must have wanted to avoid future troubles for his southern expedition to Liu Biao. Father, don't go! ”

Ma Teng said entangledly: "But the edict of the Son of Heaven has been fulfilled, how can the father resist the will of the Son of Heaven?" ”

"The Han family is declining, and the Son of Heaven is held by Cao Cao, although it is the edict of the Son of Heaven, it is Cao Cao's will. If his father goes, he will be placed under house arrest for Cao Cao. It is better to unite the generals of Guanzhong to resist Cao Cao, the father only needs to sit in Sanfu, and the child is willing to lead the army to be Cao Jun for his father. Ma Chao said in high spirits.

Ma Teng shook his head again and again: "No!" My Ma family is the great Han Fubo general after Ma Yuan, and he enjoys his prestige. Now that his father has returned to the court, how can he be the one who repeats himself? ”

Ma Chao had no choice but to stop persuading Ma Teng, and said that after Zhang Ji returned to Guanzhong, he was afraid that things would change, so he ordered all counties to reserve food and materials in case of contingency. Zhang Ji also ordered officials with more than 2,000 stone to meet Ma Teng in the suburbs, and Ma Teng had no choice but to enter the court.

Cao Cao then named Ma Teng as the captain of the guard, moved Ma Teng's family to Yecheng, and named Ma Chao's two younger brothers, Ma Xiu and Ma Tie, as the lieutenants of Fengche and Qidu. Only Ma Chao stayed in the land of Sanfu, and Cao Cao made Ma Chao a partial general and a marquis of Duting, and commanded Ma Teng's troops.

Cao Cao was relieved of his worries, and ordered Zhang Liao, Le Jin, Xu Huang and other generals to lead the army to Nanyang first. The land of Jingxiang is in danger, and at this time Liu Biao is seriously ill, Liu Bei's garrison is in Fancheng, and Liu Biao's troops will be difficult to resist the edge of Cao Cao's army.

Wuling County guarded the mansion, Liu Du learned that Cao Cao's army was about to march south, and urgently summoned Zhuge Liang, Jia Xu, Li Ru and others to discuss, Zhuge Liang said: "The situation is urgent, we should send someone to Jiangdong to contact Han Hao as soon as possible, and make an appointment to come to discuss the matter of resisting Cao's army." ”

Li Ru sighed: "Liu Biao is critically ill, and his son can't take charge. If the Cai clan is afraid of Cao Cao and leads the crowd to surrender to Cao, and Cao Cao collects his army to the south, then my Wuling will definitely bear the brunt of Cao Cao's army. ”

Liao Li, Liu Ba and others also had a lot of discussions for a while, but they didn't have a way to resist Cao Cao. Liu Du was depressed in his heart, at this critical time, Han Xuan actually went to Liaodong, and now he can only rely on him to resist Cao Cao.

Zhuge Liang saw that Liu Du was worried, so he said to Liu Du: "Lord, Liang is willing to lobby Liu Biao and Liu Bei to discuss the matter of resisting Cao. ”

"There's a military division of Lao Kongming! I ordered Zhao Yun to escort you. Liu Du can only pin his hopes on Zhuge Liang, hoping that he can beat the ghost Guo Jia.

Let's say that Zhao Yun escorted Zhuge Liang to Xiangyang, and was welcoming Liu Bei from Fancheng to discuss with Liu Biao, but Liu Biao was too sick to come. Liu Bei first discussed with Zhuge Liang, and Liu Bei said: "Mr. Kong Ming is extremely wise, the alliance between my three Jingzhou families has been decided in the past, and now the great enemy is now, Mr. Wang will not hesitate to give advice." We can fight together to resist Cao Cao's army! ”

"Cao Cao has a strategist named Guo Jia, whose wisdom is not under the light. With him, it is difficult to break Cao. It should be rejected by the regular soldiers, but Liu Jingsheng is seriously ill, and his wife and enemy are afraid that they will surrender to Cao......" Zhuge Liang shook his head and said.

While they were discussing, someone suddenly reported that Liu Qi, the son, had come to see him. Liu Bei took Liu Qi in, Liu Qi cried and bowed to Liu Bei: "Stepmother is incompatible, her life is only on the eve of the day, I hope my uncle will save her." ”

It turned out that Liu Biao married his stepwife Cai's niece to Liu Cong, and Cai loved Liu Cong and hated Liu Qi. Cai's younger brother Cai Mao and Liu Biao's nephew Zhang Yun were both Liu Biao's cronies, and they often praised Liu Cong and slandered Liu Qi.

Now Liu Biao is seriously ill, and he is about to die. Liu Qi was uneasy, afraid that Cai Mao and the Cai family would abolish Chang Liyu, so he came to ask Liu Bei to help him.

Liu Bei said: "This virtuous nephew has a family matter, why do you ask me? ”

But seeing Liu Qi crying very sadly, Liu Bei asked Zhuge Liang for advice, Zhuge Liang shook the feather fan and said: "This Liu Gongzi's family affairs, Liang dare not hear about it." ”

It didn't take long for Liu Bei to send Liu Qi out, and whispered to Liu Qi in his ear: "In the coming day, I will ask Kong Ming to return to pay homage to the virtuous nephew, but in this way, he must have a clever plan to tell him." ”

Liu Qi thanked him and left. The next day, Zhuge Liang went to visit Liu Qi, Liu Bei kept Zhao Yun, prepared a banquet and told Zhao Yun about the old friendship. Zhuge Liang took several entourages to Liu Qi's house and dismounted, and entered the door to see Liu Qi.

Liu Qi invited Zhuge Liang to the back hall, and after drinking tea and chatting, Liu Qi said: "Qi is not allowed to be allowed by my stepmother, please ask Mr. to find a way out for me." ”

Zhuge Liang shook his feather fan and said: "Liangke is here, how dare he have anything to do with human flesh and blood?" If there is a leak, it will be harmful. ”

Zhuge Liang got up to say goodbye after speaking, but Liu Qi wanted to force him to stay: "Since you accept patronage, you dare to say goodbye." ”

Liu Qi then invited Zhuge Liang into the secret room to drink together, and when he was drinking, Liu Qi said: "My stepmother is not visible, and Mr. Qi will save me with a word." ”

Zhuge Liang excused himself and said: "This is not what Liang dares to do." ”

Zhuge Liang was about to leave again, Liu Qi stood up and said, "Mr. doesn't say anything, why do you want to go?" ”

Zhuge Liang had to come back and sit down, Liu Qi said: "Qi has an ancient book, please take a look." ”

Liu Qi led Zhuge Liang up to a small building, and Zhuge Liang asked, "Where is the book?" ”

Liu Qi cried and bowed to the ground and said: "Stepmother is gone, Qi's life is on the verge of death, and Mr. can't help him without saying a word?" ”

Zhuge Liang got up with his clothes and prepared to go downstairs, only to see that the stairs had been removed by Liu Qi's order. Liu Qi said to Zhuge Liang: "Qi wants to ask for advice, but Mr. is afraid of leakage and refuses to speak; Now it does not reach the sky, it does not go down to the earth, and the words come out of your mouth, and enter the ears of one person. It can be taught. ”

Zhuge Liang sighed: "'Inseparable relatives', how can Liang seek for his son?" ”

Liu Qi cried again as he spoke, Zhuge Liang couldn't help but sigh, this Liu Qi really won Liu Bei's true biography. Liu Qi wiped his tears and said, "Mr. is unfortunate to teach Qihu in the end!" Qi's life is not guaranteed, please die before Mr. ”

Liu Qi picked up the sword and was about to kill himself, but Zhuge Liang stopped him and said to him: "Liang has a good plan. ”

Liu Qi bowed and said: "Wish is to teach." ”

Zhuge Liang said: "Doesn't the son hear about Shen Sheng and heavy ears? Shen Sheng died inside, and Chong'er was at peace outside. Now Cao soldiers from Nanyang to the south, Jingzhou's army to the north to resist, Jiangxia lack of people to guard, why don't the prince say anything, begging soldiers to guard Jiangxia, you can avoid trouble. ”

Liu Qi thanked Zhuge Liang again for his plan, so he ordered someone to take the stairs and send Zhuge Liang downstairs. Zhuge Liang said goodbye and came back to see Liu Bei, seeing that Zhao Yun was gone. It turned out that Zhao Yun saw that Zhuge Liang had not returned for a long time, so he went to Liu Qi's mansion to look for him.

Zhuge Liang told Liu Bei that he asked Liu Qi to beg Liu Biao to guard Jiangxia, Liu Bei was overjoyed when he knew, he was worried that the troops were not enough, and it was not enough to guard the northern counties of Jiangxia. So Liu Qi led his troops to defend the north of Jiangxia, and Liu Beide had gathered his troops and horses to accumulate strength.

In July, Zhang Liao, Le Jin, Xu Huang and other generals led troops to capture the northern counties of Nanyang County, and Cao Cao personally led a large army to follow. Liu Biao was on the hospital bed at this time, and was taken aback when he heard the news, and discussed writing a will, so that Liu Bei assisted his eldest son Liu Qi as the lord of Jingzhou.

Cai was furious when he heard this, closed the inner door, and asked Cai Mao and Zhang Yun to hold the outer door. At this time, Liu Qi was in Jiangxia, and when he learned that Liu Biao was dying, he came to Xiangyang to visit the patient, and just arrived at the outer gate, Cai Mao stopped him and said: "The son was ordered by his father to guard Jiangxia, and his responsibility is very heavy; If the Eastern Wu soldiers arrive, what can be done? If you see the lord, the lord will be angry, and the illness will increase, and it will not be filial piety. It is advisable to return quickly. ”

Liu Qi stood outside the door and cried, got on the horse and returned to Jiangxia. Liu Biao's condition deepened, and when he saw that Liu Qi did not come to visit, he was so angry that he screamed several times and died.

Liu Biao died, and Mrs. Cai, Cai Mao, and Zhang Yun discussed writing a fake will, so that Liu Biao's second son Liu Cong would succeed to the throne, and then mourn the funeral.

Liu Cong was twelve or thirteen years old at this time, smart and clever, so he said to everyone: "My father passed away, my brother is now in Jiangxia, and my uncle Liu Xuande is in Xinye." If you set me up as the master, how can you explain it if your brother and uncle Xingbing ask for sin? ”

Before the officials could speak, Li Jue, the official of Liu's cousin, replied: "The words of the prince are very good. Today, you can urgently send a letter of mourning to Jiangxia, and ask the eldest prince to be the lord of Jingzhou. He ordered Liu Bei to be a member of the board of directors, unite Liu Du and Han Xuan, and defeat Cao Cao. This is a foolproof strategy. ”

Cai Mao said: "Who are you, dare to speak nonsense to disobey the lord's will!" ”

Li Qi pointed at Cai Mao and scolded: "You are conspiring with friends inside and outside, pretending to be a widow, abolishing the elder and younger, and seeing the land of Jingxiang sent to Cai's hands!" Therefore the Lord has a spirit, and he shall curse you! ”

Cai Mao was furious and ordered him to be pushed out and beheaded. So Cai Mao set up Liu Cong as the lord of Jingzhou, and the Cai clan led the soldiers of Jingzhou, ordered Deng Yi to govern Zhongzhong, don't drive Liu Xian to guard Jingzhou, and bury Liu Biao's coffin in the plain of Hanyang in the east of Xiangyang City, and did not inform Liu Qi and Liu Bei.

(End of chapter)