Some things may really be providential.

Because under normal circumstances, Guan Yu and Cai Mao would not have any intersection at all. Even, Guan Yu's perception of Cai Mao is not very good, Guan Yu always feels that Cai Mao has a kind of businessman's cunning, not the kind of honest person who can communicate with others.

However, this time, Guan Yu directly became Cai Mao's nominal head commander, so he naturally had a certain amount of negotiation with Cai Mao. In addition, Cai Mao seems to have deliberately contacted Guan Yu, and seems to have a lot of respect for Guan Yu, and he respects Guan Yu for a while, which makes Guan Yu somewhat different from Cai Mao, at least, when he is still the nominal commander of the Jingzhou Army, Guan Yu will not deliberately alienate or treat Cai Mao with a wary or even hateful mentality.

There is another reason, that is, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei have been in Xinye for a long time with Liu Bei. Usually, I drink with Zhang Fei at the wine shop in Xinye City, and occasionally I hear a lot of gossip news and gossip.

You know, Zhang Fei, this guy, likes to drill there wherever there is excitement. Therefore, Guan Yu also heard some unconfirmed rumors. In fact, although these are rumors, but in Guan Yu's ears, he feels that some rumors are not groundless, and there should be some basis for those gossip rumors.

Well, what the hell is the gossip rumor? These are mainly the rumors of the people about Liu Yi's affair.

For ordinary people, they like to talk about it the most. Treat some things as drunken gossip, naturally how the daughter-in-law of such and such a family is, or something new about a certain big person. And Lewy's romantic deeds. It is exactly what ordinary people talk about when they are drinking and tea. Among them, there is the matter of Liu Biao's wife Cai, after one to ten, ten to hundred, and then through the people's brains, Liu Biao's wife Cai has been directly said to be how Liu Yi snatched love with a knife, and how to provoke Liu Biao's wife Cai, a fierce woman. The matter of how to subdue this fiery horse is very eloquent, as if they really saw it with their own eyes.

Anyway. After letting them go through artistic processing, many things that were originally made out of nothing were made up of facts.

For this kind of drunken gossip, Guan Yu naturally has heard it. I don't bother to find out anything. But. When these things were heard in Guan Yu's ears, Guan Yu would also smile in his heart, thinking that the process in the process may not be as everyone said, but Liu Biao's wife Cai, I am afraid that she really has a little unclear relationship with Liu Yi.

For the romance of the brother Lewy. Guan Yu naturally wouldn't doubt it, because. When he was in Xuzhou, when he and Zhang Fei almost killed Liu Yi by mistake, Liu Yi was stealing incense and stealing jade.

In addition, Guan Yu also knows that Liu Yi, this guy, for the sake of women, has even done the thing of breaking into Cao Ying alone, when he was in Baimen Tower, Guan Yu thought about it afterwards, and only then did he understand a little, why did Liu Yi show up to save Lu Bu, it should not only be for Lu Bu, if it wasn't for Lu Bu's daughter to show up, then Liu Yi may not show up, and has to show up, it is estimated that Lu Bu's daughter appeared to save her father Lu Bu, and Liu Yi showed up.

Anyway, Liu Yi's brother, Guan Yu thinks everything is good, but he is too attentive to women. Regarding the rumors of Liu Yi and Liu Biao's wife Cai, Guan Yu is also the kind of mentality that would rather believe what he has than what he doesn't.

It is precisely because Guan Yu has heard about the little affair between Mrs. Liu Biao's Cai and Liu Yi, so when treating Cai Mao, Guan Yu still unconsciously pays attention to him, and even, if Cai Mao has something and needs Guan Yu to take action, Guan Yu may also make a move.

There is no way, who called Cai Mao Cai's younger brother? With this relationship, and under the situation that Cai Mao deliberately stammered Guan Yu, even if Guan Yu had a not very good impression of Cai Mao, he would not refuse his flattery.

Coming and going like this, although Cai Mao has not won Guan Yu's trust, he can also say a few words to Guan Yu like an ordinary general friend.

This is enough for Cai Mao.

When he asked Guan Yu to resign, he also deliberately told Guan Yu privately that Liu Bei was held hostage by Liu Biao, and he didn't know about it, and he didn't participate in it.

In this way, he intends to clear up his relationship with Liu Biao, or to show Guan Yu that his relationship with Liu Biao is not as close as the outside world sees. Anyway, as long as Guan Yu leaves such an impression, or even a thought, then it is enough. In the future, when Cai Mao wants to reveal something to Guan Yu, Guan Yu will at least be suspicious, so as not to believe it completely.

This is also because Cai Mao knows the true relationship between his sister Cai and Liu Yi, so he dares to contact Guan Yu like this. There are some things, Cai Mao believes that Liu Yi may not reveal his affairs with women to others, not to mention that although Guan Yu has some relationship with Liu Yi, he is not Liu Yi's subordinate after all, so he doesn't think that Guan Yu can know about his sister and Liu Yi.

Cai Mao led the army and horses of his headquarters and hurriedly returned to Xiangyang. At the same time, naturally, Huang Zu also led his headquarters military horses back to Xiangyang.

Although the Jingzhou Army transferred two generals and some military horses back to Xiangyang, the defense strength in Jiaxia, Anzhong and other counties did not weaken. As soon as the military horses in Jingzhou returned to the defensive areas of Jiaxia and Anzhong, they returned to their previous defensive positions on their own, and there was no need for Guan Yu to make any further arrangements.

The Jingzhou army withdrew from before Wancheng, which was equivalent to the real elevation of Guan Yu's commander-in-chief, and after the Jingzhou army entered the defensive positions they were originally stationed in, there was no need for generals like Guan Yu and Zhang Fei to command them. Guan Yu and Zhang Fei are needed on the position, just to use the prestige of these two generals, to deter the military horses, and to boost the morale of the army.

Not to mention Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, they still don't know that a conspiracy to kill Liu Bei is unfolding, and they are at this moment. After listening to Liu Yi's analysis at the beginning, they could only stop mentioning the matter of immediately returning to the New Han Dynasty, and Guan Yu wanted to avoid killing Liu Bei because of his change with Zhang Fei. They could only obey Liu Biao's order and withdraw the army to the area of Jiaxia and Anzhong County.

Let's talk about Cai Mao, he returned to Xiangyang and went to see Liu Biao as soon as possible.

Because of Liu Biao's suspicions, he transferred back Cai Mao and Huang Zu, and did not discuss with the Kuai Yue brothers and other civil and military forces who stayed in Jingzhou, which made Cai Mao and Huang Zu lead the army back a little abruptly. But. The explanation given by Liu Biao is that in Dongting and Xinzhou, the naval army of the New Han Army is eyeing Jiangling. He transferred Cai Mao and Huang Zu back because these two generals were both generals who were proficient in water warfare, and he planned to transfer them to Jiangling, or leave one general to guard Xiangyang. For this explanation. It's also decent. And it doesn't raise suspicion.

However, Liu Biao only summoned Cai Mao and Huang Zu for a secret discussion at the first time.

When Cai Mao and Huang Zu met Liu Biao, there were only three of them.

"De Jue (Cai Mao), Taihua (Huang Zu). You're back, and you've worked hard all the way. ”

Liu Biao lay on the bed and beckoned to the two, but he looked weak.

"Brother-in-law. Now it's just us and Taihua, so we don't have to pretend anymore. Get up and walk around. Cai Mao didn't realize that Liu Biao was really sick for a while, he occasionally called Liu Biao his brother-in-law in front of Liu Biao's close confidants, so that, first, it can show that his relationship with Liu Biao is close and cordial, and second, it can also make those cronies around Liu Biao understand that even if you win Liu Biao's trust, you can't kiss the fact that we are Liu Biao's wife and brother, so you listen to Liu Biao in front of Liu Biao, but usually, you have to give us Cai Mao face.

This is some communicative art, and only a guy like Cai Mao, who knows the way of doing business, can use these seemingly casual things without a trace.

"No, no...... cough cough ......" Liu Biao wanted to wave his hand hard, but he was too hard and couldn't help coughing violently: "Cough cough...... Alas, the illness is like a mountain, don't mention it......"

Seeing this, Huang Zu was suddenly taken aback, and said suspiciously: "Lord, ...... are you?"

"Ahem...... I—I'm not pretending, but I'm really sick. Liu Biao didn't hide it from the two generals, and said bluntly: "I was sick not long ago, and I didn't expect that I would be caught with a cold and couldn't get out of bed." ”

"Huh? So, did you see the doctor? How so? Huang Zu said anxiously.

"I secretly showed the doctor, and the doctor said that I was too worried during this time, and I occasionally contracted a wind disease, and I needed to rest for a while to get better."

"Secretly let the doctor see it? Brother-in-law, what are you? ”

"Well, don't say it." Liu Biao sighed silently again and said, "You don't know, the current situation in our Jingzhou is probably really turbulent. I was worried that the situation would change, so I hurriedly transferred you back. ”

"Huh? What happened? "Cai Mao and Huang Zu don't quite understand what changes will happen to the situation that Liu Biao said.

"Hmm...... Dejue, what do you think of your brother-in-law's treatment of you? Liu Biao looked at Cai Mao at this time and asked.

"Brother-in-law, why are you talking about this at this time? If there is something, you can say that it is okay, my brother-in-law treats me Cai Mao like a brother, if there is no brother-in-law you, there will be no one of my Cai family's current qiē, at least, it will not reach the prosperity of becoming the first family in Jingxiang area now. Cai Mao said honestly about this.

"Hehe, don't talk about this, to be honest, I, Liu Biao, came to Jingzhou to serve as the pastor of Jingzhou, if it weren't for the strong support of your Cai Mao and Cai family, I'm afraid it would be difficult for me Liu Biao to gain a foothold in Jingzhou. It's a pity...... Your sister is too willful, or ......"

"Brother-in-law, don't worry, don't listen to the gossip outside, those are all groundless. Although my sister is a little willful, sometimes, maybe a little greedy for money, but she is definitely a woman who abides by women's morals. Also, she cares very much about our Cai family, and for your brother-in-law, she may be a little jealous of her, but she is absolutely loyal to your brother-in-law. Cai Mao doesn't dare to say that her sister has already become Liu Yi's woman, anyway, as long as Liu Biao doesn't confirm that his sister has betrayed him, Cai Mao herself will definitely explain her sister's innocence.

"Hehe......" Liu Biao shook his head noncommittally and said: "Okay, my own wife, I still don't know what kind of person she is?" Don't worry, I didn't suspect anything about her, it might be that my Liu Biao took a concubine behind his back. It really hurts her, and if I go and pick her up again, she probably won't come back. It's just that. Now that we have a relationship with the New Han Dynasty, it's really hard for me to leave Jingzhou and go to Luoyang. ”

"Taihua, what about you?" Liu Biao looked at Huang Zu again.

Huang Zu couldn't be as casual as Cai Mao, so he quickly knelt down and responded: "My lord, Huang has lived in Jiangxia for generations, but he has been suppressed by the local gentry. What's more, the lord is the rightful lord of Jingzhou, and Huang can also work for the lord. Never give up! ”

"Good!" Liu Biao said happily: "Taihua, to be honest, you are one of the generals that I Liu Biao admires the most." There is something I want you to do when I call you back this time. ”

"My lord. But there are commands. I don't hesitate to go to the soup and fire! ”

Cai Mao and Huang Zu knelt in front of Liu Biao's bed together.

"Okay, I'm relieved to have you here. Get up and speak. Liu praised and raised his hand.

The two generals stood up and stood aside, waiting for Liu Biao's orders.

"Hmm......" Liu Biao pondered for a while, seemed to clear his head, and said slowly: "Two, you already know." How did we make Guan Yu and Zhang Fei enemies of our Jingzhou and the New Han Army? And that Liu Bei, the reason why I, Liu Biao, want to pretend to be sick. Let him come forward to preside over the overall situation of Jingzhou on behalf of a certain person, in fact, this is just to stabilize Liu Bei, so that Guan Yu and Zhang Fei can have concerns on the front line and dare not disobey our orders. But...... Now I feel that if we do this, I am afraid that we will lead the wolf into the house. ”

"Oh? Lord, why do you say that? Now, everything is in our hands? Huang Zu asked puzzled.

"Humph!" Liu Biao snorted coldly and said, "You don't know, according to my observation and temptation. In this matter, I am afraid that there are already some fake dramas that are really done. I don't know what Liu Bei poured into the Kuai brothers, we originally let the Kuai brothers monitor Liu Bei, but I didn't think about it, now, they really seem to be wearing the same pants as Liu Bei, and they actually speak for Liu Bei everywhere, and they don't even listen to me. Well, I might as well tell you that I am sick, and I don't dare to disclose it to them. That's why I secretly summoned you back, and I also secretly invited the doctor to come to see you. ”

"What? No way? Is there such a thing? Brothers of the Kuai family, they should be loyal to the lord, right? ”

"Huh...... It's hard to say this, their Kuai family, originally in Xiangyang, is a famous family, and its prestige and status are still above the Cai family, but now? was pressed by the Cai family, and it was inevitable that they would have some jealousy and hatred in their hearts. Sometimes, it is difficult to draw the skin of the tiger, and it is not surprising that they know the face but do not know the heart, if they think that it is because of my Liu Biao's bias towards the Cai family, they are dissatisfied with my Liu Biao because of their interests. ”

"This ......"

Huang Zu glanced at Cai Mao and was silent.

And Cai Mao's expression was also a little embarrassed, because, secretly, he was indeed not very harmonious with the Kuai brothers, and often quarreled over some interests.

For these, Huang Zu is also clear, if it is extended from this aspect, to say that the Kuai family betrayed Liu Biao, it is not that it is impossible.

"So, what are you going to do with that brother-in-law? Or, let's send troops with General Huang Zu to arrest them all? Cai Mao seemed to be cautious.

"No, no, no......" Liu Biao hurriedly said: "At this time, you must not do anything to our ministers in Jingzhou, especially the Kuai family, whose family is deeply rooted, and in terms of fame and connections, it will not be worse than us." Now that they are moved, Jingzhou is in danger, and we are afraid that it will not be protected. Therefore, they are absolutely immovable. ”

"If we can't move them, what are we going to do?"

"Well, I've been thinking about this these days. The source of a qiē should be on Liu Bei's body. That's what I just said, luring the wolf into the house. I admit that we all underestimated Liu Bei, thinking about this Liu Bei, when he was in Xuzhou, he could turn the clouds and rain in Xuzhou, and now, let him go to our Jingzhou, how can he be willing? Therefore, I think that Liu Bei really can't stay. If Liu Bei is allowed to continue like this, after he sells the civil and military forces of Xiangyang and gains the support of our wealthy families in Xiangyang, he may really replace my Liu Biao and become the real lord of Jingzhou. ”

"What? What do you mean, my lord...... Are you planning to ask us to kill Liu Bei? This...... If Guan Yu and Zhang Fei knew that we had killed Liu Bei, and he wanted to avenge Liu Bei, how would we resist the enemy? ”

"Don't worry, Liu Bei wants to kill, but we can't let us kill ourselves." Liu Biao can become the lord of Jingzhou, naturally he is not an idle person, although he is a bit of a straw bag in the eyes of the world, but he still has a strategy in his head.

"How?" Both generals were a little anxious to hear Liu Biao's plan.

"Well......" Liu Biao looked at the two generals, and then said: "Two, we actually had a way at the beginning, but we haven't implemented it yet." That is, we have to stink Liu Bei's reputation first, hasn't he Liu Bei always been known for his benevolence and righteousness? Well, now, we will hype up for Liu Bei, let's just say that during the period when Liu Bei governed Jingzhou and presided over the overall situation of Jingzhou on behalf of Liu Biao, he won the hearts of the people of Jingzhou because of his outstanding performance. Now, Liu Bei has shown signs of truly replacing Liu Biao and becoming the lord of Jingzhou. And, publicizing to the outside world, now, Liu Bei has sent a circular to me Liu Biao, asking me Liu Biao to pass on the lord of Jingzhou to him one day. (To be continued......)