Liu Biao fell ill.

The battle ahead continued to lose, the Xuzhou army had forced the city of Xiangyang, coupled with the unfortunate death of his beloved son Liu Qi, the bad news came, Liu Biao's original old and weak body could no longer bear it, and fell ill in despair. Before Liu Biao was sick, Cai Mao was also in charge of state affairs, but most of the time Cai Mao had to report to Liu Biao, Liu Biao agreed, and Cai Mao could obey the order, if Liu Biao did not agree, Cai Mao did not dare to overstep his authority. This time, after Liu Biao lingered on the sickbed, Cai Mao was the real monopoly of power, arbitrary, and unscrupulous.

Most of the officials in Jingzhou were afraid of the Xuzhou army's pressure on the border, and many proposed to relocate Jiangling to avoid its front. Since the Xuzhou army invaded Jiangxia in February, it has been all the way, Jiangxia County has been lost, Zhangling County has been lost, Xinye has been lost, Jiangxia infantry army has been defeated, the cavalry army has been defeated, and finally even the naval army that Jingzhou people are proud of has been defeated, Huang Zu has died, Liu Pan has died, Wen Ping has surrendered, and even his son Liu Qi has disappeared in the Han River without explanation. A series of defeats made the people of Jingzhou panic and the army had no fighting spirit, and it is no wonder that many people put forward the idea of moving to Jiangling.

But is moving Gangneung really a foolproof strategy?

Cai Mao didn't think that way at all, although fleeing to Jiangling could temporarily avoid the edge of the Xuzhou army, but Xiangyang was lost, the Xuzhou army could go south in a moment, Jiangling was on the north bank of the Yangtze River, and the Xuzhou army was driven south, what could the Jingzhou army rely on to hold Jiangling? So Cai Mao didn't think about relocation at all, but is it difficult to hold Xiangyang? Although the Jingzhou Army in Xiangyang still has more than 100,000 water and land troops, it is in front of the powerful Xuzhou Army. Cai Mao knows this point, and if he wants to win this battle, unless a miracle happens, it is impossible at all.

Since he couldn't hold it, but he didn't want to run, no one could figure out what kind of medicine Cai Mao's gourd was selling. But Cai Mao's heart is like a mirror.

Cai Mao is ambitious, he is not willing to be only a messenger under Liu Biao, he seems to be majestic, but he is constrained by Liu Biao everywhere, and many things do not have Liu Biao's nod. He simply couldn't do it. The Cai family is one of the most powerful families in Jingzhou. When Liu Biao first entered Jingzhou, he got the support of the Cai family and the Kuai family, and leveled the Jiangnan sect thieves in one fell swoop, so that he sat firmly in the position of Jingzhou pastor. Although Cai Mao was in charge of Jingzhou's military power. But for example, he was very angry at Liu Biao's arrogant instructions. Chang Si didn't have the help of the Cai family. You Liu Biao is just a lost dog, how can it be your turn to come to Jingzhou to shout three and four. Therefore, Cai Mao is very respectful to Liu Biao on the surface, but secretly he often harbors the heart of rebellion and self-reliance.

However, although Cai Mao's sister became Liu Biao's steproom. Cai Mao also got his wish and became the governor of Jingzhou, but in Jingzhou, he is not a person who covers the sky with one hand after all, not to mention Liu Biao's attitude, just Huang Zu, Wen Ping, Liu Pan These people do not deal with him Cai Mao, Huang's grandfather and son one is Jiangxia Taishou, the other is Zhangling Taishou, Wen Ping is the general who guards Jingbei, Liu Pan is Liu Biao's nephew, commanding the cavalry, brave and good at fighting, and loyal to Liu Biao, although Cai Mao is a little cautious, but he does not dare to show it, he can only wait for the opportunity.

The westward invasion of the Xuzhou army undoubtedly brought Cai Mao an unexpected opportunity, Huang Zu died in battle, Huang shot died in battle, and Liu Pan, who made Cai Mao most jealous, also died heroically in the annihilation of the whole army in Anlu. Although Liu Pan's death was related to his reckless and reckless advance of light troops, Cai Mao's immobility, slow march, and failure to provide support by land and water when Liu Pan'an and Lu were besieged was undoubtedly another important reason for Liu Pan's death. Cai Mao's watching the fire from the other side, the final result was that the Xuzhou army defeated Liu Pan's reinforcements lightly, conquered Xiakou City, and solved two potential opponents at once.

Although some officials complained about Cai Mao's inaction and reported to Liu Biao to demand that Cai Mao be disposed of, Cai Mao escaped punishment with Cai Biao's pillow blowing wind on Liu Biao's pillow. After eliminating Huang's grandfather and Liu Pan, Cai Mao's ambitions began to swell, and he began to implement the plan he had to replace him, and the Wen Ping stationed in Xinye was Cai Mao's next target to deal with.

Cai Mao's plan is very simple, that is, to transfer the army of Jingbei garrisoned by Wenpin to Xiangyang, so as to completely cut off Wenpin's military power, and now Jingzhou's land and water army, except for Wenpin's one, is all led by Cai Mao or his cronies, after Wenpin's army is transferred to the south, Cai Mao can monopolize all the military power in Jingzhou, as long as the military power is in hand, forcing Liu Biao to give way is a matter of capture.

But to Cai Mao's surprise, Wen Ping would disobey the order and insist on sticking to Xinye, and got Liu Biao's support, which made Cai Mao very angry. In the end, Cai Mao weighed the pros and cons, and set up a desperate poison plan, ostensibly welcoming Liu Biao's decision, and expressing his attitude to pay the arrears of the Xinye garrison in full, but secretly sent his brother Cai He, the commander of the Su Dynasty, to mix a large amount of croton powder into the grain and grass, and sent these poisonous grains and grasses to Xinye.

Wenpin's army accidentally ate these poisonous grains and grasses, and their combat effectiveness plummeted, and they were defeated in a battle, and Xinye soon fell into the hands of Liu Ze. Cai Mao is not worried about the leakage of the news, Wen Ping signed a military order in front of the army, Cai Mao has long ordered people to wait at the ferries in various places in Hanshui, as long as he sees Wen Ping defeated and flees back, he can't be said to be captured immediately, he will not have a chance to see Liu Biao again.

As for the situation in Xiangyang after the loss of Xinye, Cai Mao was not worried, he was confident that with the huge strength of Jingzhou's 80,000 naval army, it would be easy to block the Xuzhou infantry cavalry without any warships. But the ending surprised him, Liu Ze actually used a catapult to launch a stone bullet that could explode, which made the Jingzhou Navy wolf unbearable, and the Hanshui moat was completely lost, and the Xuzhou army forced Xiangyang City, so that Cai Mao couldn't help but mess up.

However, the battle of Hanshui is still a good thing for Cai Mao, that is, the son Liu Qi was drowned in Hanshui, it can be said that Liu Qi is the last obstacle for Cai Mao to seize the throne, Liu Qi is dead, all the people who hinder Cai Mao's ascension to the throne are dead, it is time for Cai Mao to realize his ambitions.

But Liu Ze has become Cai Mao's most troublesome person at the moment, dealing with Huang Zu, dealing with Wenpin, dealing with Liu Qi, Cai Mao can also use the means of black belly, but against Liu Ze, Cai Mao has nothing to do. However, this didn't stop Cai Mao, he secretly thought in his heart, it seemed that it was time to change his plan.

Walking through the long passage, Cai Mao came to Liu Biao's back house. After Liu Biao became seriously ill, Cai Mao asked Liu Biao's back house to be sealed, and except for some of his cronies, other Jingzhou officials were not allowed to approach Liu Biao.

Cai Mao stepped into the room, and Liu Biao's coughing could be clearly heard, and Cai Mao was facing Cai Mao in the outhouse.

"Sister, he'...... Are you okay? Cai Mao gave a salute and asked Cai.

Cai Shi glanced at the inner room and said indifferently: "I am seriously ill this time, and it is estimated that I will not have a few days to live." "Cai's is quite colorful, dressed very pretty, far younger than her real age, halfway couples originally did not have that kind of affection for each other, not to mention Cai's marriage to Liu Biao, more of a political marriage, a young woman, guarding a bad old man, how to have true feelings in it, it is estimated that her current mind, has long been looking forward to Liu Biao's death, so judging from her expression, she has a thin and indifferent look.

Cai Mao naturally understood his sister's thoughts, and said with a gloomy smile: "The matter will be done, and my sister will not have to suffer this sin anymore." ”

Cai's face was overjoyed and said, "Really? ”

Cai Mao nodded and said: "Huang Zu, Liu Pan, and Wen Ping have been removed, and he is already lonely at the moment, even if he is seriously ill this time, he will never let him live through tomorrow!" ”

Originally, the two sisters and brothers spoke in a very low voice, but Cai Mao laughed proudly twice, and Liu Biao in the inner room still heard a movement, coughed a few times, and asked, "Is De Jue here?" ”

Cai Mao had no choice but to interrupt the conversation with Cai's family, entered the inner room, saluted Liu Biao, and said, "Lord, Mao Te came to visit, I wonder if the lord's health has ever improved?" ”

However, after a few days, Liu's surface was like a withered and dull appearance, and the whole person was leaning on the couch, prostration, and the appearance of a wind candle in his last years, he couldn't stop coughing and wheezing, and asked, "How is the situation outside?" The foundation he founded was about to collapse, and coupled with the loss of his beloved son, Liu Biao was overwhelmed, exhausted, and depressed.

Cai Mao said: "The Xuzhou army has crossed the Han River in a big way, and at present, Liu Ze has stationed troops in Nizui Town, according to the Tanmalai report, the forward troops of the Xuzhou army seem to have the intention of attacking Xiangyang, and it is estimated that in a few days, the Xuzhou army will definitely come to the city." ”

When Liu Biao heard the news, he sighed gloomily, his expression shriveled a little, his face was like ashes, he shook his head and sighed, and said, "It's a failure...... Go down in flames...... I didn't expect that my Liu Biao would fall like this, and Jingzhou might not be able to hold it. ”

Cai Mao took a step forward and said: "What the lord said is extremely true, and his subordinates also have this intention, Jingzhou is in danger, and if this battle continues, it will only increase casualties. ”

Liu Biao's eyes suddenly flashed a fine light, and he looked straight at Cai Mao, and said sharply: "Cai Mao, I can't imagine that when you are in danger, you actually have the idea of selling the lord to seek glory, you-can you be guilty?" (To be continued......)