Xiangyang City, the state pastoral mansion.

The old man, eight feet long, with a gentle appearance, just a sickly pale, could not hide the old age of the twilight West Mountain.

This person is Jingzhou Mu Liu Biao, who has been sitting in Jingxiang for 18 years.

Outside the hall, Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang entered one after another, Liu was overjoyed on the surface, and forced him to get up with a bamboo cane.

Liu Bei hurriedly stepped forward in a few steps, and before Liu Biao got up, he helped him to sit down, and said with concern: "My brother is not in good health, so don't move lightly." ”

Liu Biao took Liu Bei's hand, coughed and said: "My old bones are terminally ill, I'm afraid I won't be able to last a few days, and after I die in the future, my virtuous brother can be the lord of Jingzhou." ”

Liu Biao suddenly said such words, Liu Bei and Zhuge Lianggu were shocked, Zhuge Liang's eyes flashed with a hint of joy, and he hurriedly signaled Liu Bei with his eyes.

Liu Bei was terrified, and said in a trembling voice: "Why did my brother make such unlucky words, how could Bei be responsible for such an important task, and be prepared to assist my brother, even if there is an emergency, Bei should also devote himself to assisting the virtuous nephew and protecting the foundation of Jingzhou." ”

Zhuge Liang listened to Liu Bei's answer, and his brows couldn't help frowning slightly.

Liu Biao's pale face showed a little comfort, he clasped Liu Bei's hand tightly, and said, "With a virtuous brother sitting in Jingzhou, I will be relieved." Now that Jiangxia is lost, Huang Zu was killed, and his brother wants to ask his brother to lead the Jingzhou army to crusade against Sun, recapture Jiangxia, and avenge Huang Zu, I don't know what the virtuous brother wants. ”

Liu Bei looked at the opposite side, Zhuge Liang shook his head slightly, and Liu Bei said: "Huang Zu's surname is irritable and has no tolerance for people, so this disaster has occurred." Although the Sun family broke through Jiangxia, but the foothold is not stable, will not dare to make any more moves for a while, and now Cao Ying is practicing the water army in the Xuanwu Pool, not to say that it will be a southward expedition, if my army is transferred south, and Cao Ying's army comes north, but it should be helpless. ”

Liu Biao thought for a moment and said: "Brother Xian's words are reasonable, but Jiangxia is the gateway to Nanjun, and now it is occupied by the Sun family, so Jiangling is directly exposed to the threat of the Sun family, and it can't be ignored." ”

Liu Bei pondered for a moment and said: "Nanjun is in danger of the upper reaches, the Jiangling soldiers are full of food, and the Sun clan is eager to conquer, and there is Changsha County in the south that threatens its flank, so I think the Sun clan will not dare to move lightly." And if you confront the Sun family, you must have a strong navy, and the main force of Xiangyang's navy cannot be moved lightly, so if the elder brother trusts Beibei, he will order the defeated army of Jiangxia to be retracted, retrain a naval army, and when the army's spirit is revived, then lead the army south to recover the lost territory in the south of the Jiangxia River in one fell swoop. The elder brother can not move the main force of Jingzhou and concentrate on defending the Cao army in the north, which is a foolproof strategy. ”

Liu Biao pondered for a long time and said: "It seems that this is the only way at present, for the sake of my brother's declining health, I will have to worry about this matter for Brother Lao Xian." ”

Liu Bei got up and said: "Thank you brother for your trust, this matter is very important, don't dare to delay, so I will retire first and plan to reorganize the Jiangxia Navy as soon as possible." ”

Liu Bei then said goodbye to Zhuge Liang and went out of Xiangyang City, Zhuge Liang saw that there were no outsiders around, so he said: "Lord, just now in the state pastor's mansion, Liu Jingsheng is entrusted by Jingzhou, why don't you agree to be a favor, this is a God-given opportunity." ”

Liu Bei shook his head and said: "Liu Jingsheng treats me with great kindness, how can I take advantage of his illness and decline to take his career." ”

Zhuge Liang sighed: "The lord is really the lord of benevolence and righteousness, but in this troubled world, benevolence and righteousness alone are not enough to succeed, and some extraordinary measures must be done when necessary." ”

Liu Bei smiled faintly and said, "Having said that, but the military advisor really thought that if I had agreed at that time, would Liu Jingsheng really give up Jingzhou?" Hehe, I'm afraid that the disaster will not be far away. ”

Zhuge Liang was stunned, lowered his head and pondered for a long time, and said: "Liu Jingsheng has recently spoiled his young son Liu Cong, and this Liu Cong is supported by Cai Mao and Kuai Yue, plus that Mrs. Cai, it is very difficult for the people to squeeze out the son Liu Qi. I'm afraid that in the future, Liu Jingsheng may pass Jingzhou to Liu Cong, and then Liu Cong and others will be the most fearful, except for Liu Qi is the lord. Could it be that the lord is worried about Liu Jingsheng's words today, but it was designed by Cai Kuai and others to deliberately test and lure the lord? ”

Liu Bei rode his horse a few steps forward and threw his entourage farther away, Zhuge Liang understood, so he also followed closely, Liu Bei said: "What the military advisor said is exactly what I am worried about." The thrill of the previous Xiangyang banquet is still vivid, and I sent someone to secretly inquire at that time, and I heard that Cai and Kuai were slandering Liu Jingsheng behind their backs, saying that I wanted to seize Jingzhou. Afterwards, Liu Jingsheng did not punish the two, so it can be seen that even if he did not nod his head, at least he acquiesced. And not long after the incident, he suddenly said such things again, I can't help but be on guard. ”

The two returned to Fancheng between discussions, and as soon as they arrived in the mansion, Liu Qi, the eldest prince outside, asked to see, and both of them were surprised, so Liu Bei asked someone to invite in.

Not long after, a haggard son walked into the hall, it was Liu Biao's eldest son Liu Qi.

Liu Beifang wanted to get up to see him, but Liu Qi knelt down and cried on the ground: "Please uncle save me!" ”

Liu Bei was taken aback, knowing that Liu Qi must be unusual here, he stepped forward to help him up, and said, "Why did the virtuous nephew say this?" ”

Liu Qi cried and said: "Uncle should have heard about it a long time ago, recently, my father has been indifferent to me after listening to my stepmother's words, and Cai Mao, Kuai Yue and others have said bad things about me to my father from time to time. If it goes on like this, I am afraid that sooner or later a catastrophe will come, and my uncle is the closest and most respected nephew in addition to my father, how can I not save him when he dies. ”

"This ......" Liu Bei looked embarrassed, turned to look at Zhuge Liang, and Zhuge Liang shook his head slightly.

Liu Bei then said: "The so-called tiger poison does not eat children, how can Jingsheng listen to slander and hurt his flesh and bones, and the virtuous nephew Xiu should be too worried." ”

Liu Qi became more and more sad, and said: "My father is sick, his mind is inevitably faint, and it is not impossible to listen to slander, can my uncle really bear to watch our Liu family stage a scene of cannibalism?" ”

Seeing Liu Qi so sad, Liu Bei couldn't bear it, so he said: "Such a tricky matter is foolish for the uncle, and it is still necessary to discuss with the military advisor." ”

When Liu Qi saw Liu Bei's promise, he couldn't help but burst into tears and laughed, bowed three times, and bowed deeply to Zhuge Liang: "Mr. Wanwang gave him a good plan, and Liu Qi's surname was entrusted to Mr. ”

Zhuge Liang was reluctant, but he had to comfort him with kind words on his face: "Son, go back, let me think about it and see if there is a way to get the best of both worlds." ”

After sending Liu Qi away, Zhuge Liang complained: "The lord is in trouble, now Liu Cong's party and the eldest prince are on the same footing, they are already afraid of us, and now if we help the eldest prince again, wouldn't it make them hate them even more, and the lord should not have promised it." ”

Liu Bei sighed: "I don't know, it's just that Qi'er was born with a good surname and has always respected me very much, and now he asks for it like this, I really can't bear to refuse, so please ask Mr. to think of a good way." ”

Zhuge Liang shook his head and sighed: "It's also thanks to the benevolence of the lord, so let's think twice." ”

Zhuge Liang said goodbye and returned home, just happened to meet Shang Shao to show his skills and cook a few new dishes, but Zhuge Liang, who has always been greedy, seems to have no appetite this time.

This couldn't escape Fang Shao's eyes, so he asked with a smile: "Mr. doesn't know how to eat, but what problems have you encountered?" ”

Fang Shao can now be regarded as Zhuge Liang's most trusted person, so although he is still a chef, he can eat at the same table with Zhuge Liang. Therefore, Zhuge Liang did not hide it, so he told Liu Qi about it.

Fang Shao thought for a while and said, "Sir, I think that the benefits of helping Liu Qi still outweigh the disadvantages, you should help him." ”

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