On August 20, the thirteenth year of Jian'an, the morning seemed to be particularly cold. In ancient times, when the sun rose and the sun set, no one would get up so early. Early in the morning, on the main road from the north gate of Xiangyang City to the Prefecture Thorn Mansion, the sound of carriages and horses was deafening, and the soldiers and civilians on both sides of the street were awakened by the neighing of war horses and the "popping" sound of the wheels of the chariots crashing with the bluestone slabs due to galloping. But none of them would be curious to stick their heads out the window to see what was going on? Born in troubled times, they all know that this is the voice of "passing soldiers". Xiangyang City is about to change, this kind of thing happened many years ago, and the older people fell into memories. It was when Liu Yuanjun came out of Jingzhou, and nineteen years passed in a blink of an eye.

Yes, the people guessed right. A group of foot soldiers marched towards Liu Biao's mansion with neat steps. Columns of galloping cavalry whistled by, and judging from the speed at which they galloped, they were in a hurry. These are Cai Mao's troops. He decided to get his hands dirty!

"Who are you? Who allowed you all to come here without the orders of the Lord? The former Iraqi of Liu Biao's mansion was indignantly reprimanded the soldiers who wanted to take over the defense of Liu Biao's mansion. The order these soldiers received was not a coup d'état, but to prevent the intrusion of thieves and strengthen the defense of Liu Biao's mansion. Therefore, in the face of such a high-ranking official as Yizhi, Cai Mao's soldiers were at a loss, so they could only bow their heads and let Yizhi reprimand. But they couldn't go either, because the military orders were like a mountain. Yi scolded for a long time, and he was tired, and found that these guys were really stones in the pit - smelly and hard. It's useless to scold. "Yo, who is this? So much anger early in the morning? Yi looked up, but it was Cai Mao and Kuai Yue. Both of them are dressed in military uniforms. Behind him was a group of imposing sergeants. The official position of the Yi nationality is lower than that of Cai Mao and Kuai Yue, and according to the etiquette of the Han Dynasty, it is necessary to salute when meeting, although the Yi nationality is very reluctant. But he still stepped forward and saluted respectfully, "General Cai, Lord Kuai!" ”

Cai Mao glanced at Yi Yuan and said with a smile: "Who should I be?" It turned out that it was Iraq who joined the army. "The Iraqi official Bai Assassin Shi joined the army.

Yi Ji didn't have the patience to talk nonsense with Cai Mao, raised his head, and looked angry, "Excuse me, my lord, are these soldiers your people?" ”

Cai Mao looked disdainful, and her words were provocative: "So what? ”

"How?" Yi was surprised by Cai Mao's arrogance, although Cai Mao was tyrannical before, he was not so blatant, let alone such a major event as privately mobilizing the army. There was a faint uneasiness in Yi Yuan's heart. "Without the lord's order, mobilizing the army without permission is a great crime of rebellion!"

"Ha Lu Ha Yi joined the army, I Cai Mao joined the army less, and I fought for half my life, do I still know the crime of Lu Dao transferring the army without permission? Still need you to teach me? ”

"And the general, are you still there?" Yi had a premonition that something was wrong, and sweat oozed from his forehead.

"Yi joined the army, although you and I don't drink on weekdays, I still admire your talent and character. Today's matter is not for you to change, I advise you to hurry home quickly! ”

Yi Ji raised his eyes and glanced at Cai Mao, then looked at Kuai Yue beside him, sighed, and left Liu Biao's mansion with a step.

Cai Mao looked at the back of Yi Yuan leaving, and sighed: "It's also a talent!" It's a pity that it can't be used for me! What a pity! What a pity! ”

Walked into Liu Biao's mansion. At this time, a servant walked out of the backyard, trotting all the way, looking panicked, and saw Cai Mao and his party hurriedly catching up, and whispered in Cai Mao's ear.

"What?" After listening to the servant's words, Cai Mao's face changed greatly. Waving his hand for the servants to stand down.

Seeing the servant walking away, Kuai Yue hurriedly stepped forward and asked, "Brother Deqi's expression has changed greatly, could it be that something has changed?" ”

Cai Mao's face was sad, and her eyes were red: "Sister-in-law, he ......"

"What's wrong with him?"

"It's heavenly!"

"Ahh Kuai Yue was also surprised, although he knew that this was a matter of time or time, but when he really realized that Liu Biao had really died, he couldn't help but feel a little sad in his heart. After all, they are friends who have shared weal and woe for more than ten years, although differences in political views have led to having to meet each other, but from a personal point of view, it is inevitable to be sad. This is the helplessness of politicians. Two close personal friends could be politically incompatible rivals, such as Wang Anshi and Sima Guang. Kuai Yue was the one who had seen the wind and the big Lang, and quickly broke free from his grief, comforting Cai Mao and persuading: "Brother Deqi, the lord returns to heaven, you will inevitably grieve, but now that Jingxiang Nine Counties have no owner, the situation is dangerous, at this time when the life and death of Jingzhou are at stake, you have to make a decision immediately!" Hearing these words, Cai Mao woke up like a dream. Walked quickly to the door of Liu Biao's mansion and shouted: "The generals will listen to the order!" The soldiers outside the palace bowed down one after another. Cai Mao held the arrow in his hand, his eyes blazing.

"All the soldiers, the Cao army is overwhelmed, but the lord is seriously ill and difficult to control, and the situation is extremely critical! The lord entrusted me to take charge of all important military and political affairs in Jingzhou from today onwards, and if there are those who do not obey orders, they will be engaged in military law! "The subordinates are all Cai Mao's subordinates, where can anyone question it?

"Yes!" The sound was neat, as if it had been made by a person. Cai Mao was very satisfied with the soldiers' reaction. So the deployment began.

"General Zuo Ying led a team of soldiers and horses to take over the four gates of Xiangyang, from now on, without my order, no one is allowed to enter and exit at will, and those who violate the order will be engaged in military law!"

"Yes!"

"The general of the right battalion led a team of soldiers and horses to take over the defense of Xiangyang, check the weapons, grain and grass, city defense and other corresponding matters to prevent thieves from attacking!"

"Yes!"

"The former battalion general led a team of men and horses to inspect the whole process of Xiangyang, from now on, the whole city of Xiangyang will be under martial law, and those who do not obey the order will be punished as spies!"

"Yes!"

"The general of the rear battalion led a team of men and horses to guard the Assassin's Mansion day and night, without my order, no one is allowed to enter or leave, if you let out a person, I will ask you!"

"Yes!"

"The guerrilla general led a team of soldiers and horses to the mouth of the Han River to assist General Zhang Yun to pay close attention to the movements of Jiangxia County in case of change!"

"Yes!"

"When the Chinese army joins the army, you can lead a team of soldiers and horses to notify the officials and generals of Jingzhou one by one, and meet in the conference hall tomorrow to discuss important matters! No one is allowed to be absent! One less, I want your head! ”

"Yes!"

The generals were ordered to go their separate ways! Cai Mao turned around and asked Kuai Yue with a smile: "What does the different degree think of such scheduling?" ”

Kuai Yue stroked his beard with his hand and replied with a smile: "Foolproof!" ”

The two looked at each other and smiled. At this moment, a fast horse galloped and neighed, and the fast horse stopped in front of the Thorn Mansion. The soldier turned over and dismounted, knelt down and saluted, and reported: "General, the assassin Shi joined the army and did not listen to the order, and rode a fast horse alone, wounded the soldiers guarding the door, and quickly rode out of the north gate!" ”

"What? Rubbish! Don't go after it yet! Cai Mao was shocked.

"The gatekeeper has already led someone to chase him, and he will come to report at the end of the day!"

Cai Mao thought for a while and said, "Let the gatekeeper not have to chase!" Let him go! ”

"Yes!" The soldiers mounted their horses and galloped away! Kuai Yue was very surprised that Cai Mao didn't chase after Yi nationality, "What does Brother De Jue mean?" ”

"All I'm worried about is Liu Qi! Now that the Iraqi nationality is leaving the north gate, it seems that it is not Liu Qi's person. Most of them are not Cao Cao's meticulous work, or Liu Bei's internal response! If it was Cao Gong's people, I would have wanted to be obedient, so let's run away! If it is Liu Bei's, now that Cao Gong's army is coming, he can't take care of himself, he knows the way, what kind of wind can he make with his little people? ”

After listening to this, Kuai Yue nodded in agreement.