Kuai's house, study.

Kuai Liang Kuai Yue and Liu Xiu, the guests and hosts sat down.

Liu Xiu returned to Xiangyang to visit Kuaifu, which has become a common practice. In fact, when Kuai Liang and Kuai Yue learned that Liu Xiu was back, they were already waiting.

Liu Xian sat down and said in a sincere tone: "Mr. Zirou, Mr. Yidu, I already know the ins and outs of this return to Xiangyang. The problem now is that Cao Rentun is stationed in Nanyang County, and there is always a threat in Xiangyang, so I can't stay in Xiangyang forever. If you stay, you will be trapped in Xiangyang in disguise. ”

Liu Xiu said solemnly: "The most important thing now is how to get out of trouble? If you don't leave Xiangyang, everything will be closed." Do the two gentlemen have a plan to get out of trouble?"

Kuai Liang said: "Unless you can prove that Cao Ren will not go south, it is basically impossible to leave. Or, you can use your incorruptible tongue to convince the lord to let you go. ”

Liu Xiu shook his head, it was too difficult to persuade Liu Biao to agree to his departure.

Kuai Yue continued: "Cai Mao just wants to trap you in Xiangyang, with Cai Mao here, he will definitely oppose you leaving." However, when it is really dangerous, you can fake the news of Yuzhang County, saying that Yuzhang County and even Changsha County are in an emergency, and they can still leave. But in the end, such a strategy cannot be used. ”

Liu Xiu nodded, Kuai Yue's analysis made sense.

However, Liu Xiu believes that there is always a hidden danger if the threat posed by Cai Mao is not resolved.

Liu Xiu changed his words and said, "When I came back, I encountered a strange thing. As he approached Xiangyang, he encountered an Assassin. However, instead of using a conspiracy to assassinate, the assassin swaggered out of the road, asking for my name before assassinating. After a slight fight, they all withdrew, as if they had done it on purpose. ”

Kuai Liang Zhengse said: "Before you came back, there was suddenly countless news in the streets of Xiangyang, saying that as long as you returned to Xiangyang, you could resist Cao Ren. Now when you come back, you're met with a bizarre assassination. Xiu Gongzi, this scene is not simple. Maybe it's Cai Mao, maybe it's Jiangdong, maybe it's Cao Cao in the north, but it can't be found out for the time being. Xiu Gongzi can only brake quietly, deal with it carefully, and don't make mistakes. ”

Liu Xiudao: "Mr. Zirou reminds me to keep it in mind. ”

Kuai Liang said: "Has the lord ever talked to you about Cao Ren in the north?"

Liu Xiu shook his head and said, "My father said that I would rest today, and early tomorrow morning, I would convene civil and military talks." ”

Kuai Liang said: "Regarding the arrangement to resist Cao Ren, there is only one suggestion, that is, Xiu Gongzi does not grasp the power of the army, not in anything in the army, but just to be a person who makes suggestions. ”

Liu Xiudao: "Don't grasp the military power?"

At this time, Liu Xiu's heart was a little doubtful, not grasping the military power, which meant that he was an empty shelf. And if he doesn't take the initiative to perform, maybe Liu Biao will think he is negative.

Kuai Liang looked serious and said, "If you seize the military power, it will make the lord jealous." If you don't seize the power of the army, you will not be proactive enough. So the next suggestion is that you offer to help Wen Ping and help him with his advice. Wen Ping is the confidant of the state pastor, and if he holds the military power, the state pastor will not be suspicious. ”

"Whew!"

Liu Xiuchang breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Thank you, Mr. Zirou, I understand." ”

......

Xiangyang, somewhere in a residence.

Lu Meng was wearing a strong suit and was practicing martial arts in the courtyard.

He has been in Xiangyang for a few days, and he methodically proceeded according to the plan formulated by Zhou Yu, and even pretended to be a businessman and visited Cai Mao in person. After contacting Cai Mao, Cai Mao really adopted his suggestion and transferred Liu Xiu back from Yuzhang County.

There is no doubt that the start of the plan was perfect.

"Step, step!"

There was a sound of footsteps coming from outside the courtyard.

A middle-aged man dressed in ordinary clothes with a stern face walked in and stood respectfully.

Lu Meng stopped and asked, "What's the news?"

The middle-aged man lowered his head and reported: "Liu Xiu returned to the city today, and half of the people sent to assassinate Liu Xiu died. The rest of the people have gone into hiding. ”

Lu Meng snorted and scolded: "These wastes, let them pretend, they are half dead, it's too useless." But it's better to die, you can arrange to kill all the people who got it back. ”

"No!"

The middle-aged man got the order and said, "Humble and go to carry out the order." ”

Lu Meng said: "Wait a minute, in addition to killing the people who fled back, we also have to spread a message." This assassination was planned by Liu Xiu himself, and he deliberately pretended to be pitiful in front of Liu Biao, trying to please Liu Biao. Got it?"

"Understood!"

The middle-aged man nodded and immediately went down to make arrangements.

......

The next day, in the morning.

Governor's House, Hall.

Liu Biao summoned the civil and military generals under his command to discuss Liu Xiu's resistance to Cao Ren. Liu Biao's spirit looks very good, full of energy, and there is no feeling of dying old at all. Liu Xiu looked at it and knew that Liu Biao must have taken ginseng to refresh himself in advance.

Liu Biao's eyes were sharp, his gaze swept over everyone, and he said in a deep voice: "Xiu'er has returned to Xiangyang from Yuzhang County, what do you think about Xiu'er's arrangement?"

Cai Mao took the initiative to stand up and suggested: "My lord, I think that Master Xiu can take charge of the army in Jingzhou, and then prepare to resist Cao Ren's army. ”

Saying this, Cai Mao glanced at Liu Xiu, and a smile tugged at the corner of her mouth.

Cai Mao is very clear about Liu Biao's character, and Liu Xiu's desire to grasp the military power of Jingzhou is tantamount to seizing power from Liu Biao's hands, which is impossible. He took the initiative to recommend Liu Xiu, but it was in line with his suggestion to recall Liu Xiu, and it blocked Liu Xiu.

Liu was expressionless and said, "What about the others?"

Yi Zhengse said: "Although there is news of Cao Ren's dispatch of troops in Nanyang County, so far, I have not received any news from Liu Bei. In the following opinion, the issue of sending troops can be ignored for the time being. ”

Yi is also very clear about Cai Mao's purpose, but he can't make Liu Biao suspicious, so he can't take the initiative to help Liu Xiu, so he can only take such a neutral attitude, which is equivalent to talking nonsense.

Liu Biao bowed slightly, looked at Kuai Yue, and asked, "What about Xeno?"

Kuai Yue said: "I will follow the arrangement of the lord." ”

Liu Biao bowed slightly, his eyes fell on Liu Xiu's body, and asked, "Xiu'er, what do you think?"

As soon as these words came out, Liu Xiu knew that the critical time had come. Liu Xiu had already received Kuai Liang's entrustment, so he naturally knew how to answer, and he said neither humbly nor arrogantly: "Back to my father, my son thinks that my son is not suitable for leading troops to fight." ”

"There are three reasons for this!"

"First, my son is good at strategy, and in the past, he was a general under his command. All the son did was to arrange the troops behind the scenes. Let his son personally lead the troops, which belongs to chasing ducks to the shelves, which is not appropriate. ”

"Second, General Cai Junshi Wen and General Zhang in the army are all veterans of the battlefield, with rich experience and outstanding ability. Compared with them, the son is inexperienced and lacks prestige. To lead the troops into battle, they are also the ones who lead the troops. ”

Third, the son thinks that the most suitable position for him is a military advisor or staff officer. In the affairs of the army, my father can arrange it directly. After the battle, his son drew up a strategy according to the battle situation, and then the Jingzhou general led the troops to fight. ”

Liu Xiu did not mention the clerkship, because he was worried that it would be difficult to do it. His expression was neither humble nor arrogant, and he arched his hand and said, "My son's immature thoughts, please correct my father." ”

After Liu Biao listened, he laughed, and his heart was even more relieved.

He likes Liu Xiu's sensibility even more. Liu Biao's gaze swept over the civilian and military generals under his command, and said: "Xiu'er's words are very reasonable, no troops will be sent for the time being, and after Cao Ren really approaches Xiangyang, Xiu'er will make a plan." ”

After hearing this, Cai Mao sighed lightly in her heart, Liu Xiu, this kid is really cunning, and he can actually find out Liu Biao's temper. It seems that it is impossible for him to use military power to let Liu Biao suppress Liu Xiu.

......

One day, in Xiangyang City, the news that Liu Xiu planned to assassinate him was very loud.

And the people of the city talked about it.

The major families and even the officials in Jingzhou knew the news.

After Liu Xiu got the news, he didn't panic in the slightest, but calmed down. He had been haunted by the assassination, and now that he had just returned, there were rumors that he had arranged the assassination.

Obviously, there is a force in Xiangyang City that is fueling the troubles.

Is it the Cai family?

At present, only the Cai family has such a motive that Liu Xiu can consider.

It's just that Liu Xiu thinks that Cai Mao has achieved his goal by transferring him back, and then arranging artificial rumors to make trouble, but it will add to the snake. Once exposed, it is easy to put the Cai family in a dilemma, and the people behind this matter, in Liu Xiu's judgment, the Cai family does not have the greatest suspicion and motive.

Liu Xiu went to meet the person in charge of the Pang family and the Huang family in Xiangyang City, and asked the two families to mobilize their forces to investigate. But in the end, I couldn't find out where the rumors came from, so I could only let the rumors spread for the time being