Liu Bei led his army to Xiangyang.

Mi Fang was ordered to enter Xiangyang City in disguise first.

In Xiangyang City, Ma Liang's residence.

Ma Liang and Mi Fang sat in the study facing each other, in addition to the two of them, there was also a teenager sitting there.

This person is somewhat similar to Ma Liang's appearance, but the two white eyebrows on Ma Liang's face are as black as thick ink on his face.

He is none other than Ma Liang's fellow brother Ma Yan.

"Xuande Gong lost Xinye?" Ma Liang asked Mi Fang.

"It was Cao Zirong who attacked Xinye." Mi Fang said: "Ma Gong also knows that the soldiers under Cao Zirong's command are brave, and our army is not their opponent at all. Leading the army south is our only way out. ”

"Avoid its edge, Xuande Gong should indeed do this." Ma Liang then asked, "I wonder what Xuande Gong plans next?" ”

"How do you plan to fall second?" Mi Fang said: "The important thing is that he heard that Cai Mao intends to dedicate Jingzhou to the Cao family. ”

"That's the thing." Ma Liang said: "Cai Mao has just returned to Xiangyang, and this should be to discuss with Mrs. Cai how to give Jingzhou to the Cao family." ”

"Jingsheng Gong has been running Jingzhou for many years, is it possible to give it away like this?" Mi Fang asked.

"What can be done then?" Ma Liang sighed and said: "Now that Jingzhou is in the hands of Liu Cong, it is Mrs. Cai who is really in charge. Cai Mao is not one or the other in Xiangyang? If he wants to sacrifice Jingzhou, we can only admit it. ”

"You don't feel sorry for Jingzhou, but Xuande Gong is very distressed." Mi Zhu said: "If no one in Jingzhou is willing to serve the main family to resist the Cao army, Xuande Gong is willing to defend Xiangyang and keep this place for Jingsheng Gong." ”

Staring at Mi Zhu, Ma Liang asked, "What does General Mi mean?" ”

"As long as someone is willing to help Xuande Gong get Xiangyang, he will definitely lead the army to defend it." Mi Zhu said: "Wait until you repel the Cao army and return Jingzhou to Liu Qi's son." ”

Ma Liang also supported Liu Qi earlier, but because the power of Jingzhou was in the hands of Cai Mao and others, he could only sit back and watch Liu Qi be sent to Jiangxia to take over Huang Zu's territory.

Liu Bei sent Mi Zhu to Xiangyang and told him this, of course Ma Liang would not believe it easily.

He frowned slightly, and asked Mi Zhu: "In case Xuande Gong doesn't return Jingzhou in the future, who else can do anything to him?" ”

"Brother." Ma Jian on the side said: "Xuande's surname is Liu, and Jingsheng's surname is also Liu." Even if Jingzhou falls into the hands of Xuande Gong, it is better than falling into the hands of the Cao family. ”

The corners of Mi Zhu's mouth twitched slightly, and he didn't say anything, just looked at Ma Liang.

Glaring at Ma Yan, Ma Liang said, "Huangkou Xiaoer, what do you know?" ”

"Why don't I understand?" Ma Jian said: "If the Duke of Xuande gets Jingzhou, he will definitely govern the place with benevolence, and if the Cao family gets Jingzhou, the people will suffer." My brother has always told me that the people should be the most important thing in the world. Now that the people are hanging upside down, why is my brother hesitating? ”

When Ma Tan said this, although Ma Liang's face was still not very good, he didn't scold him again.

"Ma Gong." Mi Fang took the opportunity to say: "Youchang is actually right, but Xuande Gong never thought of taking Jingzhou for himself. When he repelled Cao's army, he would definitely return Jingzhou. ”

"What are the plans of Xuande Gong?" Ma Liang finally relented.

"The army will arrive in Xiangyang in a few days." Mi Fang said: "Please ask Ma Gong to contact the manpower and open the city gate while Cai Mao and the others are unprepared." As long as the army enters the city, what else can Cai Mao do to give up Jingzhou? ”

"With what?" Ma Liang asked.

"Outside the city raised fire to attack the city, Ma Gong opened the city gates." Mi Fang said: "As long as a city gate can be opened, this credit will be made by Ma Gong." ”

After thinking for a moment, Ma Liang said: "Well, as you often said, Jingzhou is much better in the hands of Xuande Gong than in the hands of the Cao family." I'll help Xuande Gong this time. ”

At the same time that Mi Fang and Ma Liang discussed opening the gate of Xiangyang, Cai Mao had already come to Mrs. Cai.

Knowing that Cao Shuo was willing to let their mother and son go, Mrs. Cai breathed a sigh of relief.

She asked Cai Mao, "How credible do you think Cao Zirong's words are?" ”

"Sister!" Cai Mao said: "If you don't believe Cao Zirong, now we have other choices? ”

was stunned by Cai Mao's question, and Mrs. Cai didn't know what to say.

Cai Mao continued: "Cao Zirong has always rarely given promises, and he can fulfill his promises every time. He had previously told Jingsheng Gong that as long as Liu Xuande's head was sent, the Cao family would definitely not embarrass Jingzhou. But Jing Shenggong never got Liu Xuande's head, and now the Cao family's army is coming, most of it is for Liu Bei. It can be said that today's calamity was caused by the benevolence of Jing Shenggong's thoughts. Although Jingzhou can mobilize 100,000 soldiers and horses, it is said that the Cao family has an army of 830,000. ”

"Eight hundred and thirty thousand?" Mrs. Cai was startled, she almost couldn't sit still, she trembled slightly and said: "If that's the case, we in Jingzhou really can't hold ......."

"My sister also knows that Jingzhou can't be defended, rather than defending it, in the future, Xiangyang City will fall to the ground, so it's better to simply sacrifice Jingzhou." Cai Mao said: "Even if there is no power in the future, because of the meritorious service of Jingzhou, the Cao family will not embarrass my sister and son." If they dare to do anything, the spit of the people of the world will drown them. ”

Mrs. Cai nodded: "You're right, but I don't know when Cao Zirong will be able to arrive in Xiangyang?" I've been feeling unsettled lately, as if something is about to happen. ”

"It's not Liu Xuande yet." Cai Mao said: "I went to see Cao Zirong this time, and he specially reminded him to beware of Liu Xuande. ”

"Liu Xuande is not in Xinye? What to watch out for him? Mrs. Cai asked in surprise.

"Xinye has long been lost by him." Cai Mao said: "This should be leading a large army to Xiangyang, trying to seize Xiangyang and resist the Cao family to the end." ”

"What will happen if Liu Xuande gets Xiangyang?" Mrs. Cai asked.

"Liu Xuande used to support Liu Qi." Cai Mao said: "If he gets Xiangyang, he will definitely kill his sister and son first in the name of Liu Qi." Unable to repel Cao's army, he would lead his army to Jiangxia to join Liu Qi. If he is allowed to win, he will lead Liu Qi to Xiangyang and intercept and kill him in the middle of the road. Kill Liu Qi, Jingsheng Gong has no descendants, didn't Jingzhou fall into the hands of Liu Xuande? ”

"So, if he is allowed to get Xiangyang, our mother and son will definitely die?" Mrs. Cai asked in amazement.

"Of course." Cai Mao replied.

"You'll have to keep an eye on it." Mrs. Cai hurriedly said: "Even if Xiangyang is burned, don't let it fall into Liu Xuande's hands." ”

"Sister, don't worry." Cai Mao stood up, bowed to Mrs. Cai and Liu Cong, and said, "I'm going to inspect the city defenses, as long as we can intercept Liu Xuande from Cao Zirong, he will never have a chance to capture Xiangyang." ”

(End of chapter)