The thirteenth year of Jian'an is 208 AD. It is destined to be an extraordinary year. Many decisive events took place in this year.

In the spring of 208, under the leadership of Sun Quan, the Sun family of Jiangdong broke through Xiakou City (now Hankou, Wuhan) in one fell swoop, killing Liu Biao's general Jiangxia Taishou Huangzu, and the world was shocked.

Shocked, of course. Because this battle means that Sun Quan's power has expanded to the west, and the next step will be to covet Jiangling and covet Xiangyang. The whale swallowed Jingzhou.

At this time, Cao Cao immediately felt that time was running out. In fact, he had coveted Jingzhou for a long time, and the remnants of Yuan Shao's forces had been wiped out, and northern China was almost completely clean, and northern China was almost completely captured.

In the first month of 208, Cao Cao returned to Yecheng after defeating Karasuma. Build a basalt pool and train the navy.

In June, Cao Cao abolished the three dukes of the Han Dynasty (i.e., Situ, Sikong, and Taiwei) without authorization, and set up the positions of prime minister and imperial historian. Cao Cao himself assumed the position of prime minister.

After Cao Cao himself became prime minister, he monopolized power and forbade it, so Cao Cao pointed the finger at Jingzhou.

At this time, Cao Cao could completely capture Jingzhou, and he must also capture Jingzhou.

In July of that year, Cao Cao conquered Liu Biao and waved his army south.

Jingzhou's doom is coming.

The previous "Romance" talked about the battle of Bowangpo. Just after Xiahoudun led the remnants of the army to be defeated, after returning to Xudu.

Cao Cao then began to really go south.

In fact, when Cao Cao went south, he personally led an army of 500,000 troops, divided into five teams, to set foot in the south of the Yangtze River. This is the data that "Romance" gives us.

Kong Rong persuaded Cao Cao not to fight such an unrighteous battle, and his entire family was killed.

As for Jingzhou, Liu Biao's condition deteriorated day by day, and Liu Biao sent someone to invite Liu Bei, entrust his two sons to him, and ask him to take over Jingzhou's affairs. Liu Bei cried and said, "I must do my best to assist my nephew, and I don't dare to have other plans." At this time, someone reported that Cao Cao led a large army to attack Xinye, and Liu Bei hurriedly resigned and went back when he heard the news.

August 208 A.D. Liu Biao died of illness.

After Liu Biao's death, Cai, Cai Mao, and Zhang Yun forged a will and made her biological son Liu Cong the lord of Jingzhou.

Liu Cong took full control of Jingzhou. Moreover, Mrs. Cai and others' practice of "abolishing the long and standing young". Completely ignoring the opposition and doubts of the outside world.

And Mrs. Cai and others also deliberately concealed Liu Biao's death from Liu Qi and Liu Bei. The Jingzhou army was completely controlled by the Cai clansmen, and the Cai family and Liu Cong were stationed in Xiangyang to guard against Liu Qi and Liu Bei.

Could Liu Cong be Cao Cao's opponent?

As it turned out, he wasn't.

Cao Bing came to Xiangyang, and Cai, Kuai Yue and others advocated surrendering to Cao Cao. Moreover, Liu Biao's old subordinates Han Song, Fu Xun (read Ruxun) and others also persuaded Liu Cong to surrender.

So many people persuaded Liu Cong to surrender. Will Liu Cong surrender? Liu Cong was reluctant to surrender. But here's the hard reality.

Next, the author will analyze whether Liu Cong's situation should be surrendered.

Liu Cong's initial wish was to be with the generals. Keep the legacy of your ancestors. That is, Liu Biao's foundation. to observe the changes in the world. Besides, there is Liu Bei.

But Liu Cong's idea is not realistic.

First, to confront the lord of man is to resist obedience with rebellion; Fighting the central government with the local is fighting the strong with the weak; To fight against Cao Cao with Liu Bei is to hit a stone with an egg. If you can't do it in three aspects, you have to resist Wang Shi. That's looking for death.

Second, when Cao Cao unified most of the north, Cao Cao appointed himself prime minister. Use the army of justice to crusade against the little Jingzhou. Jingzhou will be defeated, this is the trend. Besides, Cao Cao's army and power are so powerful. Can the little Liu Cong be able to fight it? Besides, there was no outside force to help Liu Cong against Cao Cao. All or nothing will happen.

Third, even if there is a Liu Bei in Liu Cong's Jingzhou. Then there were only two outcomes. If Liu Bei can't defeat Cao Cao, Liu Cong can't protect himself; If he can beat Cao Cao, will he be General Liu Cong's subordinate again? The answer is no.

In fact, Liu Cong thought that he could not compare to Liu Bei.

Liu Cong is also a self-aware person. In many cases, it is guaranteed that Liu Cong cannot protect himself. So, he also had only one thought, and that was to surrender.

So, Liu Cong decided to surrender.

In the end, Liu Cong had no choice but to order Song Zhong to deliver the surrender letter.

After Cao Cao received Song Zhong's surrender, he must have been overjoyed. Because he saw yet another person who did not dare to oppose him, he surrendered.

And Liu Bei is not included here.

Later, Cao Cao asked Song Zhong to go back and tell Liu Cong that as long as he went out of the city to meet Cao Jun, he would make him the lord of Jingzhou forever.

On the way back, Song Zhong was captured by Guan Yu, and Liu Bei learned that Liu Biao was dead.

This is described in the Romance.

How does the official history record that Liu Bei knew that Liu Cong was preparing to surrender to Cao Cao?

According to the official history, after Liu Cong surrendered, when Cao Cao's army was like no one, Liu Cong sent someone to tell Liu Bei.

Liu Bei must have been shocked when he heard the news. He drew his knife and said a famous word to the visitor. This sentence is: "Even if I kill you today, I don't want to get rid of my hatred, but I don't want to stain my knife!" ”

In the end, no matter how Liu Bei knew. Anyway, Liu Bei knew.

Later, the strategist Yi persuaded Liu Bei to capture Liu Cong in the name of mourning and get rid of Cai's comrades, but Liu Bei refused. Because Liu Bei also understood at this time that no matter how much Liu Cong and Cai's party were rectified, it no longer made sense. Now Cao Cao sent a large army to fight. The first thing Liu Bei should do is to "run". And run as fast as possible. As long as you don't get chased by Cao Cao's army, it's fine.

At this time, Liu Bei and the others heard that Cao Jun had arrived at Bowangpo. So Liu Bei decided to abandon Xinye and flee to Fancheng to avoid Cao's army.

At this time, Liu Bei asked Zhuge Liang to arrange for his men and horses to retreat to Fancheng, and on the other hand, he transferred troops to intercept Cao's army.

After the arrangements were made, Zhuge Liang and Liu Bei came to the top of the mountain to watch the development of the war and wait for the news of victory. The two of them sat opposite each other with umbrella covers, drinking and feasting, leisurely.

At this time, Cao Jun came. Cao's general Xu Chu led his troops into the Quewei Slope, and saw Liu Bei, Zhuge Liang was drinking and having fun on the mountain, and he was furious, so he led the army to find the way up the mountain. Unexpectedly, there were trees on the mountain, and the cannon stones rolled down, and Cao's army could not advance. At this time, Xu Chu could only stare at dry anger.

At this time, Cao Ren led the troops to Xinye, and saw that the city gate was open and there was no one in the city, so he led the army to the city and stationed it. In the middle of the night, the wind blew fiercely, and the city was on fire, and the whole of Shinno became a sea of fire. Cao Ren led the soldiers to flee to the east gate, and then saw Zhao Yun leading the troops to pursue. As a result, Cao Ren was defeated and fled.

This story is the story of the burning of Xinye described in "Romance".

Let's not talk about whether this story is recorded in the history books. The burning of Shinno. It can still be reminiscent of the reader.

At this time, Cao Ren led the remnants of the army to flee to the White River, and the sergeants saw that the river was not deep, so they all dismounted and drank water. At this time, Guan Yu ordered the soldiers to remove the sandbags that blocked the water upstream, and for a while, the water was monstrous, rushing downstream, and Cao soldiers and horses were drowned countless times.

Cao Ren's defeated army marched to the Boling Ferry, and suddenly heard a loud shout, it was Zhang Fei who came to intercept the road. Xu Chu faced Zhang Fei, the two armies fought for a while, Xu Chu did not dare to fight, and took the road away. Zhang Fei led the army to meet Liu Bei and others and went to Fancheng together.

It is recorded in the history books that Liu Bei fled quickly, and Cao Cao chased after him quickly. Cao Cao personally ordered 5,000 elite cavalry and chased them at a speed of 300 miles in one day and one night. tried to annihilate Liu Bei, a thorn in the eye and a thorn in the flesh.

Later, "Romance" said that Zhuge Liang expected that Fancheng would not be able to defend it, and asked Liu Bei to take Xiangyang. The people of Fancheng and the people of Xinye who followed all the way all said that they wanted to cross the river with Liu Bei, and for a while, the people helped the old and the young, dragged men and women, and crossed the river one after another.

When Liu Bei saw this scene, he sighed and said, "I came to protect the people, but I didn't expect the people to suffer. ”

There is a record in the official history. When Liu Bei passed through Xiangyang, many scholars, ordinary people and Liu Biao's old troops followed him to retreat south, with more than 100,000 people and thousands of baggage, and he could only walk dozens of miles a day.

Liu Bei led the army to Xiangyang, Liu Cong closed the city gate and did not come out, and Cai Mao also asked the archers at the head of the city to release arrows. At this time, Wei Yan, the defender of Xiangyang, opened the city gate and wanted to welcome Liu Bei into the city, but was blocked by another guard, Wen Ping, and the two fought together. Liu Bei saw the slaughter inside Xiangyang City and refused to enter the city. Wei Yan also defected to Changsha Taishou Han Xuan.

Later, Liu Bei led more than 100,000 people and slowly went to Jiangling. Seeing that the cavalry of the Cao army behind was about to catch up, the generals persuaded Liu Bei to quickly lead the army to go first, but Liu Bei was unwilling to leave the people.

At this time of crisis, Liu Bei, who was in danger, refused the suggestion to take the first step. Insist on walking slowly with the people. And Liu Bei's explanation is: "To achieve great things, we must be people-oriented." Now that people live and die with me, how can I bear to abandon them! ”

As soon as Liu Bei finished speaking, the generals and the people were very moved.

This may also be the most shining stroke in Liu Bei's life.

So what's going on in Jingzhou now?

September 208 A.D. Cao Cao's soldiers went to Fancheng and sent people to Xiangyang to summon Liu Cong to meet him. Liu Cong didn't dare to go because he was timid. He sent Cai Mao and Zhang Yun to go. The two came to Fancheng and curryed favor with Cao Cao in every possible way, and Cao Cao also gave the two official positions and asked them to tell Liu Cong that he would always be the lord of Jingzhou.

The next day, Liu Cong and Cai crossed the river to meet Cao Cao. Cao Cao entered Xiangyang City, but named Liu Cong the history of Qingzhou and let him set off on the same day. Liu Cong was shocked and repeatedly refused, but Cao Cao did not allow it. Liu Cong had no choice but to set off with Cai's to Qingzhou.

Later, what happened to Liu Cong?

Soon after Liu Cong and his party set off, Cao Cao ordered Yu Ban to lead the cavalry to chase and kill them, so as to prevent future troubles. Yu Ban soon caught up with Liu Cong and others, although the general Wang Wei tried his best to protect him, but after all, he couldn't resist Yu Ban, and Liu Cong and Cai's were both killed by Yu Ban.

So what happened to Liu Bei leading his father and fellow villagers in the end? It can be said that the consequences are very serious.

Cao Cao soon caught up with Liu Bei, and the two armies met at Changbanpo in Dangyang (northeast of present-day Dangyang, Hubei).

And then what happened?

Please follow below.