Liu Bei's side defeated Cao's army, while Jiangxia Huangzu led his troops to block Sun Quan's army outside the city, but was defeated by Sun Quan's army, and Huang Zu himself was beheaded by Lü Meng.

After losing Huang Zu, Jiangxia City surrendered without a fight.

However, although Sun Quan captured Jiangxia City, his own losses were not small, only 60,000 of the 100,000 army remained, and there was a lot of food and grass loss, and Jiangxia County still had many counties that did not fall, once Liu Biao's army came, Jiangxia City was like a lonely city, not easy to defend.

Zhou Yu suggested that Sun Quan give up Jiangxia City's garrison Chaisang, anyway, Xiakou was in hand, and Wu Bing could come to Jiangxia City again at any time. This move was to lure Liu Biao to send heavy troops to come, and Sun Quan waited for work, and then defeated Liu Biao's army and took Jingxiang directly.

As Zhou Yu expected, Liu Biao heard that Huang Zu was defeated and killed, and he was indeed ready to send heavy troops to Jiangxia to avenge Huang Zu.

It's just that Liu Biao had concerns, so he didn't send troops immediately, but first invited Liu Bei, who had just won a big victory over 100,000 Cao troops, to come and discuss.

At this time, Liu Biao was seriously ill, and he also knew that his life was short, Cao Cao threatened in the north, Sun Quan was eyeing him in the east, Jingzhou was attacked on both sides, the eldest son Liu Qi had a cowardly personality, and the second son Liu Cong was also young and had little talent, so he was not a person who could defend Jingzhou.

Liu Biao knew that Liu Bei was talented, and Liu Bei had just defeated 100,000 Cao troops, which showed that Liu Bei was a true hero, and Liu Biao wanted to give Jingzhou to Liu Bei after his death.

"I am old and sick, and I am willing to entrust Jingzhou to my virtuous brother after I die."

As soon as Liu Biao's words came out, Liu Bei's heart pounded violently, Jingzhou, not only is it a vast territory, but also a population of three or four million, he dreamed of it, Liu Biao actually opened his mouth and gave Jingzhou directly to him after his death, this is like a huge pie suddenly falling from the sky, it is false to say that he is not excited, and he does not want it.

However, Liu Bei's city is extremely deep, and he can endure what ordinary people can't bear, he is not sure whether Liu Biao is sincere or tentative, and he has been in the name of benevolence for many years, no matter what, it is impossible to agree to it in this situation.

Liu Bei shook his head again and again and said: "Brother, why did you make such a joke, Bei'an dared to take on such a heavy responsibility!" ”

This is not only a doubt about whether Liu Biao is tempted, but also knows that if he takes over Jingzhou like this, Mrs. Cai, Liu Cong, and many of Liu Biao's subordinates will definitely not be convinced, and it will be difficult for him to take charge of Jingzhou.

Liu Bei refused again and again, and Liu Biao didn't say much, so he talked about Xingbing to avenge Huang Zu and asked Liu Bei's opinion.

Zhuge Liang had already seen through Zhou Yu's strategy and had already discussed it with Liu Bei in advance. Therefore, Liu Bei persuaded Liu Biao to postpone avenging Huang Zu, and only sent another person to lead a small number of soldiers and horses to defend Jiangxia and monitor Sun Quan.

Liu Biao agreed, postponed the raising of troops, but did not decide who to send to defend Jiangxia, and Liu Bei did not have a suitable candidate to recommend for a while, so he first resigned from Liu Biao and went back to his residence to think about it.

Liu Qi has been worried since Liu Biao was seriously ill, knowing that his stepmother Mrs. Cai did not like him and did not want him to inherit Jingzhou, but hoped that Liu Cong would inherit Jingzhou, and he was afraid that as soon as Liu Biao died, he would also be killed by Mrs. Cai and Liu Cong.

Knowing that Liu Bei came to Xiangyang, and his father Liu Biao valued Liu Bei, Liu Qi came to Liu Bei for help.

Liu Bei was embarrassed, and after discussing with Zhuge Liang, he suggested that Liu Qi go to Liu Biao and ask for troops to guard Jiangxia and avoid the edge of Mrs. Cai and Liu Cong.

With Mrs. Cai and Liu Cong threatening from time to time, Liu Qi did not dare to continue to stay in Xiangyang for a long time, and if he got this life-saving strategy, where was there any hesitation, he immediately went to ask Liu Biao for his life.

Liu Biao didn't want Liu Qi to go to guard Jiangxia, but Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang persuaded Liu Biao to finally agree.

Liu Qi was killed, and the next day he led 10,000 troops to leave Xiangyang non-stop and avoid Jiangxia.

After Liu Qi went to Jiangxia, Liu Bei also resigned and returned to Xinye.

Liu Biao's illness became more and more serious, and he was gradually unable to govern, so Mrs. Cai and Cai Mao controlled the guards, and only waited for Liu Biao to die of illness and set up Liu Cong, the son born to Mrs. Cai, as the lord of Jingzhou.

Liu Biao didn't know the ambitions of Mrs. Cai and Cai Mao, but he was powerless to stop it.

A month later, Liu Biao died of illness, and Mrs. Cai and Cai Mao faked Liu Biao's suicide note and finally established Liu Cong as the lord of Jingzhou.

This is another move to abolish the long-term and the young. Flying

Yuan Shao's camp was in civil strife because of the abolition of Chang Liyou, and was easily destroyed by Cao Cao, and now Mrs. Cai and Cai Mao also abolished Chang Liyou, and there are naturally many generals in Jingzhou who are not satisfied, so that the political situation in Jingzhou is extremely unstable.

"Lord, with Liu Biao's words that Zeng Chan let Jingzhou go before his death, the lord should take advantage of this chaotic situation to enter Jingzhou!" Zhuge Liang persuaded Liu Bei to take the opportunity to seize Jingzhou Road.

Liu Bei didn't agree immediately, but said: "My brother treats me like a mountain, and now he has just died of illness, but I take him Jingzhou, which is unkind and unjust." ”

In fact, Liu Bei didn't want Jingzhou, but he had established the name of benevolence for many years, and he was afraid that if he seized Jingzhou like this, he would be tainted in the name of his benevolence and lose the hearts of the people, so Liu Bei hesitated.

Liu Bei hesitated, but Xu Du Cao Cao did not hesitate at all.

Cao Cao summoned Wenwu and said: "Liu Biao is dead, Mrs. Cai and Cai Mao jointly abolished Chang Liyu, Jingzhou is unstable, a God-given opportunity, not to be missed, I should personally lead the army to seize Jingzhou!" ”

After a pause, Cao Cao continued: "In order to prevent Liu Yu's thieves from taking advantage of my heavy troops to go south, and go east to Tongguan again to threaten Xudu, Lejin and Xiahou Yuan, I order you two to lead 100,000 troops to defend the line of Hongnong and Luoyang. ”

Le Jin and Xiahou Yuan received the order, and on the same day, they led 100,000 troops to Hongnong and Luoyang to defend on the first line.

At the same time, Cao Cao gathered all the remaining troops that could be mobilized, a total of 400,000, to conquer Jingzhou in person.

All of a sudden, the entire Jingzhou was shrouded in war clouds.

Guanzhong.

The news of Cao Cao's 400,000 heavy troops to the south came.

Liu Yu was happy, Cao Cao finally marched south, as long as Cao Cao's southern expedition was defeated, and hundreds of thousands of troops were damaged in the Yangtze River, then the moment for him to really rise to strength has come.

Chen Gong didn't know what Liu Yu was thinking, but persuaded Liu Yu: "Lord, if Cao Cao captures Jingzhou, his power will rise again, and the lord should lead the troops eastward, and then point to Xu Du, forcing Cao Cao to return to the army and give up the capture of Jingzhou." ”

Liu Yu shook his head and said with a smile: "Cao's army is not good at water warfare, Cao Cao's heavy army marches south, once it is defeated, it will definitely hurt his vitality, how can I stop Cao Cao's southern expedition, it will be a big deal." Not only can I not stop Cao Cao's southern expedition, but I should also form an alliance with Liu Cong, Sun Quan, and Liu Bei to resist Cao Cao, and I will definitely let Cao Cao's troops and horses go south to lose all of them. ”

Guo Jia discussed with Liu Yu in his early years, and supported Liu Yu at this moment: "What the eldest brother said is very true, Cao Jun is not good at water warfare, and Cao Cao will return with a great defeat in the southern expedition this time. ”

Liu Yu superficially mentioned Liu Cong, but in fact he knew that Liu Cong did not want to resist Cao Cao, and soon surrendered to Cao Cao without a fight, so Liu Yu only sent someone to contact Sun Quan to form an alliance with Liu Bei, but did not contact Liu Cong.

At the same time, Liu Yu secretly went to Shangyong in order to wait and see the situation at any time.

Jingzhou.

Cao Cao's 400,000 heavy troops were approaching.

The political situation is extremely unstable, and people are even more panicked at the moment.

Although Liu Cong is already the lord of Jingzhou, he is still young and has no talent, and the military and political power is still in the hands of Mrs. Cai and Cai Mao, he doesn't know what to do. Mrs. Cai and Cai Mao were afraid of Cao Cao's prestige, and they also didn't know what to do, and they didn't have the slightest confidence in being able to resist Cao Cao.

At this time, someone offered a suggestion to Mrs. Cai: "Cao Cao is powerful, it is better to offer the land of Jingxiang to Cao Cao, Cao Cao will not treat his wife and lord badly, but he can ensure that his wife and lord will be rich in the future." ”

When Mrs. Cai heard this, she was moved, since she didn't know how to resist Cao Cao, it was better to directly offer Jingzhou to Cao Cao to ensure that she and her son would be rich in the future.

Cai Mao also had no opinion, because he also did not have the slightest confidence to resist Cao Cao.

Immediately, Mrs. Cai and Cai Mao drew up a letter of surrender, and after Liu Cong stamped it, she sent someone to Cao Ying quickly.

……