In fact, if according to Zhuge Liang's original plan, Xiangyang should not be fought so early, although in addition to Xiangyang, Jingxiang Nine Counties, almost all have become Liu Bei's territory, but in fact, Liu Bei's control over the place is not enough, Liu Pan, Han Xuan, although these former Taishou are now willing to support Liu Bei, but the military power is still controlled by the local Liu Bei actually controlled places, and there are only Nanyang and Jiangxia, in addition, Liu Pan is also very close to Liu Bei because of his relationship with Huang Zhong, and he can be regarded as his own person, but other places, Liu Bei's control is not enough. Pen ~ fun ~ pavilion www.biquge.info

According to Zhuge Liang's plan, Cai Mao is of great significance, so that Liu Bei can use the pretext of fighting Cai Mao to extend his tentacles into the counties little by little, and it only takes another year or two for Jingxiang's 180,000 troops to be obtained by Liu Bei in a peaceful process, and by then, Liu Bei will have enough strength to enter Xichuan.

It's a pity that the plan can never catch up with the changes, originally Lu Bu captured southern Hebei, but for Liu Bei, it didn't have much impact, but the messenger sent by Cao Cao before vaguely reminded Dao Hanzhong may have been obtained by Lu Bu, which made Zhuge Liang unable to calmly help Liu Bei collect the power of Jingxiang counties.

Among the strategies formulated by Zhuge Liang for Liu Bei, Shuzhong is the most critical link, Jingzhou is the place where it comes in, and Shuzhong is the rear of Zhuge Liang's plan for Liu Bei.

Combined with Lu Bu's previous performances, it is obvious that from the beginning, Lu Bu's goal was Hanzhong, and as for southern Hebei, it can only be said to be incidental.

While hinting that Liu Bei promised Cao Cao's alliance, the war in Jingzhou must also end as soon as possible, and if Xiangyang is still hanging here, it will be easy for accidents to occur after a long time.

If you stand from Lu Bu's point of view, Zhuge Liang is quite in favor of Lu Bu's strategy of abandoning the Central Plains and attacking Xichuan first, but standing on the opposite side of Lu Bu, Zhuge Liang's mood is naturally not good for Lu Bu to choose this strategy, Lu Bu This is the rhythm of annexing the world, if Shuzhong is really taken by Lu Bu, the situation in the world will become weird next, but no matter how it changes, unless the three can really be united, not an alliance, but to complete unification, it is possible to fight against Lu Bu, but this kind of thing is obviously unlikely.

Sitting in the bumpy carriage, Zhuge Liang closed the map, sighed lightly, looked at Liu Bei beside him and said, "There are capable people around Lu Bu!" ”

forced himself to capture Xiangyang as soon as possible, but even if he captured it, it also made Liu Bei lose a good opportunity to integrate Jingxiang's interior, and it might become a hidden danger in the future.

Liu Bei smiled when he heard this, and laughed a little bitterly, there are capable people around Lu Bu, and there is more than one, from the earliest Chen Gong, to the later Jia Xu, Liu Bei has actually been very greedy for Lu Bu, even if there is Zhuge Kongming now, as well as Cui Zhouping, Shi Guangyuan These capable officials, but Lu Bu also recruited frustration, Guanzhong is growing stronger and stronger, and he Liu Bei, who has been adrift for most of his life, has really gained a foundation until today, and the wings around him are gradually plump.

"Kong Ming, according to the detailed report, there are still 20,000 elites in Xiangyang City, and our army is now only waiting for 30,000 miscellaneous troops, which may be difficult to overcome." Liu Bei looked at Zhuge Liang with some concern, although Zhuge Liang was very confident, but Liu Bei was still a little worried, the 30,000 miscellaneous soldiers put it bluntly, it was a rabble put together, Liu Bei had participated in the alliance of princes, maybe it couldn't be considered a rabble alone, but together, it was really a rabble.

And Cai Mao is a general who has commanded the army for many years, especially in siege warfare, Cai Mao's defense can definitely be said to be leaky, and the gap is by no means something that one or two fierce generals can make up.

"Don't worry, my lord." Zhuge Liang shook the feather fan in his hand, and sighed lightly: "The army attacks the heart, the next plan, and then the siege of the city, Liang Ben is ready to attack the heart, the soldiers are not bloody, and the Lord takes Xiangyang, when will I not wait, Lu Bu entered Hanzhong, there is not much to do in the Lord to receive Xiangyang peacefully, but the siege is the lowest strategy, the wise man does not take, now Xiangyang is isolated, Cai Mao has committed chaos, has already lost the hearts of the people, all the people in the city are eager for the benevolent lord to come, the lord's benevolence is all over the sea, the people of the world are eager to attack, this time there is no need to attack, All the people of the city will seek to open the gates of the city to the Lord. ”

Sometimes, praising people is also a kind of technical work, at least Zhuge Liang's words are so righteous and righteous, Liu Bei felt comfortable from the bottom of his heart, and he was modest, and began to discuss with Zhuge Liang how to appease the scholars around the country after taking Xiangyang, of course, the most important thing is how to fool the military and political wealth from the scholars.

Although Nanyang is doing well, it is because the Nanyang family moved south, so that Liu Bei was able to follow Lu Bu in Nanyang, but when it comes to Xiangyang, if he really does that, I am afraid that even Zhuge Liang will have to oppose it, Liu Bei is also very clear about this, he hopes to have the best of both worlds to solve this problem, and at the same time obtain the support of the family, he can control the power in his own hands to the greatest extent.

"In the past, Jingzhou Cai Kuai Pang Huang four families were the main, the Huang family with the Huang grandfather and son died in Jiangxia, has declined, Pang Shiyuan devoted himself to Guanzhong, so that the Pang family for the scholars spurned, has lived up to the glory of the past, these two families can be appropriately wooed, the Cai family through this incident, the reputation will inevitably plummet, but its heritage is still there, this battle Cai Mao will die, but not at the hands of the lord, as for the Kuai ......family" Zhuge Liang smiled and shook the feather fan and said: "Liang has been arranged, the lord can sit and watch the results." ”

"In this way, there will be Lao Kongming." When Liu Bei heard this, he didn't ask more, which is also Liu Bei's biggest personality charm, he is not suspicious of employing people, he doesn't need to be suspicious, he dares to delegate power, and he can give his courtiers the trust to the greatest extent.

Zhuge Liang nodded, the four great families have been the leaders of the Jingzhou family for so many years, if you want to take back the rights, these four great families must be suppressed, but they can't be killed with one shot, after the fight, they have to be co-opted, and Liu Bei has a good foundation in the small and medium-sized families, as long as these four families are cleaned up, the next thing will be much easier.

"Governor, Liu Bei's army has arrived fifty miles away from Xiangyang, is it out of the city to fight?" Zhang Yun hurriedly came to Cai Mao's mansion with an anxious look.

"Shut the gates of the city, and no one is allowed to leave the city without my order!" Cai Mao shook his head, carefully looked at the Xiangyang defense map in front of him, and said in a deep voice: "Order all departments to guard the door alternately." ”

"Why is that?" A trace of anxiety flashed in Zhang Yun's eyes, and then he looked at Cai Mao with a puzzled look.

"I suspect that someone in the army has secretly voted for Liu Bei!" Cai Mao glanced at Zhang Yun coldly, and that gaze made Zhang Yun shudder.

"Yes, my subordinates will do it." Zhang Yun hurriedly bowed and left Cai's Mansion in a hurry, while ordering people to go to the battalions to pass orders, but he turned a corner and took the news from the Kuai family.

"Who is it?" Looking at the back of Zhang Yun leaving, thinking of the letter sent by someone that day, Cai Mao was a little upset in her heart and didn't want to believe it, but it was about her own life, Cai Mao had to think about it.

"Dejue." A cold voice sounded, and the figure of Mrs. Cai appeared in the hall, looking at Cai Mao who was frowning, and said indifferently.

"Sister." Cai Mao hurriedly bowed.

"If you can't do it, you should make some decisions!" Cai said indifferently.

"But...... I still have 20,000 elites, as well as Xiangyang Jiancheng, and the grain and grass in the city, which is enough for me to support for three years, and there may not be no turnaround! Cai Mao is very serious on this point.

"You and I were born into a family, and we should know that sometimes, our own destiny is not decided by ourselves, and for the benefit and continuation of the family, some sacrifices have to be made." He glanced at Cai Mao lightly and said.

"Sister, I'm ......" Cai Mao looked at Cai incredulously.

"If you don't die, the Cai family will die!" Cai Shi looked at Cai Mao, and he couldn't hear too many emotional fluctuations in his voice, but said coldly: "You have missed the best opportunity to grasp the power of Jingxiang, even if you are willing to surrender, Liu Bei may not tolerate you, because he wants to control Jingzhou, he is not Liu Jingsheng, and he will not be at the mercy of the family, and as the head of the Cai family, there are too many things in your hands, and they will become the root cause of the destruction of the Cai family." ”

Cai Mao shook her head with difficulty, shrugged her throat, looked at her sister, and was speechless.

Cai came to Cai Mao's side, groped Cai Mao's cheek, and his voice softened, but the chill in his words was chilling: "You should know that in this city, someone has already fornicated with Liu Bei." ”

"That letter ......," Cai Mao looked at Cai in disbelief.

Cai shook his head, a little disappointed: "If it were me, I wouldn't remind you of this, it doesn't matter whether Xiangyang needs to be a traitor or not now, idiot, do you know that although you are proficient in the art of war, but back then, why didn't my sister want you to sit in the position of the head of the family?" ”

"For ...... Why? This is a thorn in Cai Mao's heart.

"Because you lack the vision and skill to balance the interests of a family owner." sighed, then shook his head and said: "The family wants to survive and continue, as the head of the family, the most important thing is not how to fight, but how to choose, when Liu Jingsheng died, you had the opportunity to unify Jingxiang, but unfortunately because of your wrong choice, you pinned your hopes on Cao Cao, blindly followed Cao Cao's advice, and lost the opportunity to unify Jingxiang, and now, as the head of the family, you should know that Xiangyang cannot be kept for a long time, whether it is the Kuailiang brothers or that Zhang Yun, they all understand this truth, but you don't understand." ”

"You mean, they ......" Cai Mao's eyes widened in disbelief.

"Yes, although there is no evidence, this is the most correct choice as a family head, but you don't see it." Cai shook his head and sighed.

Cai Mao's breathing became heavy, he was unwilling, Cai's words were very right, but the indifferent tone pierced his heart like a thorn.

"If you have any wishes, my sister will try to help you." Cai said indifferently.

"I want you to ......" Cai Mao suddenly went crazy and tore Cai's clothes open.

Cai Shi didn't panic, just looked at Cai Mao lightly: "Don't be here." ”

An indescribable sense of frustration rose from the bottom of Cai Mao's heart, Cai's cold gaze seemed to be splashed with cold water by a person, Cai Mao silently let go of Cai's, glanced at her, and turned to leave (to be continued.) )