Xinye County, Taishou Prefecture.

Liu Qi has gained a lot of weight recently, and he also has a few concubines in the house, and his life is leisurely and happy, very comfortable. When he was in Xiangyang, he not only had to face Liu Biao's harsh criticism, but also Liu Cong's blows, and he was worried all day long, which was very hard. After arriving in Xinye, everything was thrown to Liu Bei to deal with, and he left it alone, very easily.

Liu Qi didn't have any big ambitions, so he didn't fight with Liu Bei. happens to be like this, the relationship between him and Liu Bei is also very harmonious, and there has never been a contradiction.

On this day, Liu Qi was reading in the study.

"Knock Knock"

There was a knock on the door, which rang out outside the room.

The attendant stood outside the door and reported: "My lord, Uncle Liu Huang and Mr. Zhuge have arrived and are waiting for you in the hall." ”

"I'll be there soon. ”

Liu Qi put down the book in his hand, got up and walked to the hall.

When he came to the hall, Liu Qi saw Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang. Seeing that both of them had solemn expressions, Liu Qi asked with a smile: "Xuande Gong and Kong Ming are worried, what happened?"

Liu Bei said in a deep voice: "Young Master Qi, Bei just got the news that Jingsheng Gong died of illness. ”

"Ahh

With an exclamation, Liu Qi's thighs were weak and he fell directly to the ground.

Liu Bei hurriedly got up to help, and after Liu Qi stood up, he motioned for Liu Bei to let go of his hand, but he still felt incredible. After he sat down, he motioned for Liu Bei to sit down.

Then, Liu Qi asked, "What the hell is going on, why did my father die suddenly?"

Liu Bei sighed lightly and explained: "According to the news from Xiangyang, it was Gongzi Xiu who gained the trust of the state pastor, made a big move, and then cut off Cai Mao's power in the officialdom and the army on a large scale, and even demoted Cai Mao to the gate post of the state pastor's mansion. ”

Cai Mao was angry, so he united with Gongzi Cong to rebel. ”

Liu Bei said: "Cai Mao's rebellion failed, so that he was finally defeated and killed. During the attack on the state governor's mansion, Gongzi Cong also died in the battle. Liu Jingzhou experienced these things, was overly sad, and also passed away. ”

Zhuge Liang sighed lightly and said: "The news should be true, but according to the speculation below, Cai Mao's rebellion should have been deliberately forced by Liu Xiu, so that Cai Mao had to rebel." This matter is Liu Xiu's calculation, and the final outcome is unknown whether Lord Zhou Mu really died of illness. ”

After a pause, Zhuge Liang said: "But according to the news sent back, Jingsheng Gong also wrote a will, and Liu Xiu inherited Jingzhou. From this, it is concluded that Liu Jingzhou should really die of illness. Surprisingly, Liu Xiu not only had a will made by the state pastor, but also an edict from the Son of Heaven appointing Liu Xiu as the Jingzhou pastor. Now, Gongzi Xiu has taken over Jingzhou and has become the new pastor of Jingzhou. ”

brush

When Liu Qi heard this, his face changed greatly.

This news hit Liu Qi even harder.

Although Liu Qi is kind and cowardly, and he doesn't even like to meddle in government affairs, it doesn't mean that he has no idea about the position of the state pastor.

In his heart, he still wants to inherit Jingzhou's pastor.

As a pastor in Jingzhou, he can do whatever he wants, and he is even more comfortable.

But the matter has come to this, especially when Liu Biao arranged for Liu Xiu to inherit Jingzhou, Liu Xiu still has the edict of the Son of Heaven, and Liu Qi's heart can no longer have the idea of fighting.

Liu Qi sighed lightly and said, "Since the third brother has inherited Jingzhou Mu, let him be." Whether it is my father's order or the arrangement of the Son of Heaven, I cannot refute it. ”

When Liu Bei heard this, there was a trace of disappointment in his eyes.

Liu Qi's temperament is too weak, and he is a little submissive.

I don't have the heart to fight at all

In this way, it is really not easy to incite Liu Qi to rebel against Liu Xiu.

Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang looked at each other, and Zhuge Liang spoke: "Young Master Qi, there is one more thing. I just received an order from Xiangyang, ordering you to go back to the funeral immediately. ”

Liu Qi didn't think about it, and said directly: "Okay, I'll go back." My father died of illness, and I deserved to go back. He didn't think about his situation at all, and directly chose to agree.

Moreover, before going north to Nanyang County, the relationship between Liu Qi and Liu Xiu was okay. Therefore, Liu Qi didn't think that Liu Xiu would target him, after all, he was quite good to Liu Xiu before.

Zhuge Liang frowned and said, "When Gongzi Qi returns to Xiangyang, don't you think about the consequences?"

"What are the consequences?" Liu Qi asked.

Liu Qi thought to himself, is there anything that can't be done

Zhuge Liang sighed lightly and said, "Gongzi Qi is kind and kind, and he doesn't want to think badly. It is indispensable to prevent people's hearts, and I think that the reason why Liu Xiu hurriedly recruited you back to the funeral is because of two intentions. ”

Liu Qi asked, "What are the two intentions?"

Zhuge Liang replied: "First, it is indeed to mourn Jingsheng Gonggong, and second, it is to control Qi Gongzi. ”

Speaking of this, Zhuge Liang said in a serious tone: "Once Gongzi Qi returns to Xiangyang, the good result is that Liu Xiu will put you under house arrest." Since then, Qi Gongzi has been the canary of the state pastoral mansion and can no longer be free. The worst result is that Liu Xiu found a reason to kill Qi Gongzi for a hundred years. In this way, no one poses a threat to Liu Xiu anymore. ”

Liu Qi was startled, with a frightened expression, and said, "No, there won't be such a bad result." The third brother is still good, and he won't do this. ”

He thinks that Liu Xiu should not treat him like this.

Zhuge Liang said: "For the sake of power, the matter of the brother's wall is not an accident. This kind of thing, anything is possible, and the probability is very high. ”

When Liu Qi heard this, he panicked in his heart.

Not to say that he didn't know, but after saying that, he began to worry about his safety in his heart.

After a moment of silence, Liu Qi said: "Mr. Zhuge is resourceful, and there must be a perfect plan to ensure my safety." Mr. Zhuge must help me. ”

Zhuge Liang shook the feather fan lightly and said slowly: "There is only one way to solve it, stay in Xinye and not return to Xiangyang." As long as Qi Gongzi returns to Xiangyang, he will be trapped in the shallows and will never be able to get out of the cage again. ”

Liu Qi frowned and said, "But my father died of illness, and I, as the eldest son, stayed in Xinye and did not return to Xiangyang. ”

Zhuge Liang said: "Outside the general, the military order is not subject to it." Moreover, the situation in Xinye is critical, and it may be attacked by Cao's army at any time. If Qi Gongzi leaves Xinye, who will be in charge of the overall situation, even if Qi Gongzi does not return to Xiangyang, no one will blame him. ”

Liu Qi said: "But"

In Liu Qi's heart, there was still some hesitation.

Liu Bei saw that Zhuge Liang had not succeeded, so he took over and persuaded: "Young Master Qi, Jingsheng Gong is in the spirit of the sky, and he will not blame you." Because when you return to Xiangyang, there will be a situation of cannibalism. If you stay in Xinye, you can avoid such a thing, and you can also guard Nanyang County and keep the foundation of Jingsheng Gong. So, the Jingsheng Guild will forgive you. ”

As soon as Liu Bei spoke, Liu Qi's furrowed brows relaxed.

Cannibalism

It's a good reason, it's a good excuse.

Zhuge Liang admired in his heart, but the lord hit the nail on the head and said to Liu Qi's heart.

Liu Qi sighed lightly: "If I don't go back, there is another problem, the third brother will definitely think that I want to compete with him." When the time comes, the third brother will also target me everywhere. ”

Liu Bei's eyes were soft, and he said slowly: "Does Gongzi Qi think that Gongzi Xiu is a benevolent person?"

Liu Qi said: "The third brother is a person, which is not bad. ”

Liu Bei shook his head and continued: "If Liu Xiu is merciful, he will not urgently order you to go back, he will just inform you of the news and let you choose whether to return to Xiangyang or not." ”

Now, he hurriedly ordered you to go back to Xiangyang, just to solve the trouble. ”

"Young Master Qi, Liu Xiu is unkind and unjust, what's the point of you going back?"

Liu Bei raised his voice and said loudly: "Gongzi Qi is the eldest son of Jingsheng Gong, with outstanding talent and outstanding ability. Now, Liu Xiu is targeting Qi Gongzi everywhere, is Qi Gongzi willing to let him take care of it?"

"Although Bei is not capable, he will never sit idly by. ”

"In fact, Gongzi Qi is the eldest son of Jingsheng Gong. In terms of the first choice to inherit Jingzhou, it should be the son of Qi, and it is not Liu Xiu's turn to inherit Jingzhou as a concubine. ”

Liu Bei's tone and grammar were serious, and he said urgently: "As the eldest son of Jingsheng Gong, is Qi Gongzi willing to hide in Xinye for the rest of his life, is he willing to be suppressed by Liu Xiu for the rest of his life, Jingsheng Gong has been a hundred years, Qi Gongzi always has to go back to worship his ancestors, and he always has to go to Jingshenggong's grave to worship." Mo Feiqi Gongzi plans not to worship Jingsheng Gong for the rest of his life. ”

When Liu Qi heard this, there was a hint of hideousness in his eyes.

Avoiding Liu Xiu all his life

I don't go to worship Liu Biao for the rest of my life

A lifetime of exile

He can't do such harshness.

Liu Qi took a deep breath, looked at Liu Bei, and arched his hand: "Please help me with Xuande" Liu Bei's intentions, Liu Qi saw it, but he was also unwilling in his heart and did not want to be suppressed for the rest of his life.

Liu Bei had a smile in his eyes, and said, "Don't worry, Gongzi Qi, everything will be handled by Bei." What Qi Gongzi has to do is to wait to return to Xiangyang. ”

Liu Qi nodded, and there was a trace of ambition in his heart, if only he could really go back to Xiangyang, there would be no need to be exiled.

Liu Bei changed his words and said: "Jingsheng Gong died of illness, although Qi Gongzi can't go back to Xiangyang, he can't do nothing. In Xinye, Jingsheng should also be clothed and mourned. I will send someone to help Gongzi Qi handle this matter as soon as possible. ”

Liu Qi arched his hand and said, "Thank you Xuande Gong." ”

Liu Bei said: "What is within the division, why worry about it. Qi Gongzi mourned, and he still had political affairs to deal with, so he took his leave. ”

Liu Qi said: "Slow down and don't send"

Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang left the Taishou Mansion, and after returning to their own mansion, they sat down in the study.

Liu Bei's eyes flashed with a fine light, and he said in a deep voice: "Military advisor, Liu Xiu occupies Jingzhou, not only has Liu Biao's will, but also the edict of the Son of Heaven, which is already justified. How to confront Liu Xiu now is easy to say, but it is quite difficult to do. ”

Zhuge Liang smiled at the corner of his mouth and said, "Don't worry, my lord, I have already started to lay out the layout a long time ago. Now with Liu Qi's support, you can start to open it. ”

"Oh, how does it work?"

Liu Bei's eyes showed a look of surprise.

Liu Bei didn't interfere in the big and small things in the army, and let Zhuge Liang play.

Liu Bei only did one thing, holding the hearts of the military officials under his command to the death, and making everyone loyal to him. Under this premise, Liu Bei didn't worry about Zhuge Liang at all, and let Zhuge Liang display his talents with all his might.

Zhuge Liang smiled and said, "My lord, in the name of Liu Qi, we now declare that we do not agree with Liu Xiu's Jingzhou Mu. At the same time, Liu Qi was appointed as the pastor of Jingzhou. ”

Liu Bei said: "Is this okay?"

Zhuge Liang smiled and said: "First stand on your own and confront Liu Xiu, and then do this, the situation in Jingzhou is beyond Liu Xiu's control, and we will negotiate with Liu Xiu to divide Jingzhou." Now if you want to attack Xiangyang, it is difficult to overthrow Liu Xiu in one fell swoop. Therefore, it can only be divided and ruled temporarily, otherwise in the event of a real civil war, it can only be cheap Cao Cao and Sun Quan. ”

Liu Bei was speechless for a while, and said with emotion: "The strategy of the military advisor is admired." ”

He was surprised, but he didn't expect Zhuge Liang to foresee the situation after Liu Biao's death early and make arrangements early.

Zhuge Liang said modestly: "The lord praised it falsely. ”

Liu Bei shook his head, in Liu Bei's opinion, Zhuge Liang was simply a celestial. Fortunately, Zhuge Liang worked for him, allowing him to rise quickly.

Early the next morning, a notice came out of Shinno.

Liu Qi established himself as the pastor of Jingzhou, refused to accept Liu Xiu, and ruled by Liu Xiu