"Ahem!"

Liu Biao was coughing there with one hand covering his mouth, and beckoning Liu Bei to sit down with the other.

In the side hall, all the maidservants retreated, and only Liu Bei and Liu Biao were present. Liu Bei stepped forward in small steps and patted Liu Biao's back with his hand.

After a few breaths, the trachea was cleared, and Liu Biao's breathing became normal.

"Xuande has a heart."

Liu Biao wiped the stains on the corners of his mouth with a towel and sighed: "Since the age of sixty, my brother's health has deteriorated, and he is riddled with diseases, and it is difficult to recover. Today, Guanxuande has a tough body and can go on a horse to fight, and his brother is very envious. ”

Liu Bei sat opposite Liu Biao and said worriedly: "Now that Yuan Benchu is dead, the person who can resist Cao Cao in the world must be Brother Jingsheng!" My brother has a great responsibility for the country, so he should take care of his health. ”

Liu Bei laughed at himself and said: "Bei is also getting old, and his skills are not as vigorous as before. From now on, I have no children to follow, and I am very envious of my brothers and grandchildren! ”

Liu Biao smiled and said: "Xuande is more than forty years, and it is also feasible to accept a few beautiful concubines and have children in old age." ”

Saying that, Liu Biao sighed and said: "Although my brother has three heirs, none of them are successful. So far, only Bo Wei and Zhong Huang can be used, but the two sons also have shortcomings. Now Cao Cao is in the Central Plains, and he is about to go south to Wu Chu, from the overall situation, those who can take on big things, Bo Wei can be the heir. ”

But Cai Mao and Kuai Yue didn't like Bo Wei, and wanted to help Zhong Huang succeed him. Zhong Huang, although he is a corporal of Lixian, is not good at military strategy, has little experience, and may not be able to take on great responsibilities. Therefore, it is the matter of the heir, and he is worried. ”

If you follow the historical route, Liu Qi did not go to Jiangdong, because of the rejection of Cai Mao, Kuai Yue and other Xiangyang scholars, Liu Biao thought deeply, in order to resist Cao Cao, he had to choose Liu Cong as his heir.

In this plane, Liu Qi went down to Jiangzuo, and with the support of Huo Jun and Wen Ping, who were powerful warriors in Jingzhou, he was able to compete with the Xiangyang Shi clan represented by Cai Mao, Kuai Yue and others. Under the balance of forces between the two sides, Liu Biao made it difficult to establish an heir.

Liu Bei wanted to persuade Liu Biao to make Liu Qi his heir, but remembering Huo Jun's words at the beginning, he hesitated a little and said: "Now that Zhang Liao has committed Jiangxia, Cao Cao has the intention of going south, why don't my brother take advantage of watching the war to weigh Bo Wei and Zhong Huang." After all, the elder brother is old, and if he does not determine the position of heir, he is afraid of civil strife. ”

Liu Biao raised his head, slightly surprised, and said: "I thought that Xuande would persuade my brother to make Bowei his heir, but I never thought of such a thing. ”

Liu Bei's heart was slightly fast, and he said: "Bo Wei, Beizhi's nephew; Zhong Huang is also Bei's nephew. Although his heart is towards Bo Wei today, he does not dare to forget the kindness of his brother's containment. Now I think about my brother's great cause, so I have this saying. ”

"Xuande, a kind person!"

Liu Biao said with emotion: "When the former brother accepted Xuande, some people thought that Xuande had been in the Central Plains for a long time, experienced a hundred battles, and was a hero in the world, and it was difficult to resist it. Thinking about it for many years, Xuande is benevolent, and he is really my brother! ”

Liu Bei's good reputation is not blown out, but done in real time. As the No. 1 thug in the Central Plains, Liu Bei is doing his best to work for Gongsun Zhan, Tao Qian and Yuan Shao. As for turning his back on Cao Cao, killing Che Zhou, and separating Xuzhou, Liu Bei also has righteousness in hand.

Since entering Jingzhou, Liu Bei has also been working diligently, putting aside the behavior of making friends with guests and being strong, Liu Bei is undoubtedly a qualified thug in attacking Jiangzuo. After years of friendship and trust, Liu Biao has become more and more trusting of Liu Bei.

After a pause, Liu Biao held Liu Bei's calloused hand and said sincerely: "Xuande, if my brother unfortunately dies in the world, my son is not talented, and the generals will gradually wither." After my brother died, Xuan De should assist my son to govern Wu Chu and control Cao's army. ”

"Brother!"

Liu Bei looked sad and said: "Why did my brother say this, now he should be worried about illness and recuperation, how can he say words lightly." ”

Liu Biao leaned on the table, coughed a few times, and said, "My own body, how can my brother not know." The matter of life and death is in the hands of the command, and it is not what we want. ”

As he spoke, Liu Biao patted Liu Bei's palm and said softly: "Zhang Liao invaded Jiangxia, and Yun Changruo forced him back. There is Lao Xuande's troops in Xiakou, thinking that it should respond to Jingyang Erzhou. ”

Liu Bei's heart was moved, but he excused himself and said: "Jiangxia already has Huang Bozhong too much, and it is okay to help him retreat, but it is not appropriate to prepare troops in Xiakou today." And the Jingkou is dangerous, and the preparation must also be taken into account, and the barrier Jiangzuo is on the left. If the elder brother is worried about the lack of Jiangxia soldiers, he can order his son Long Yibing to support Jiangxia. ”

Liu Biao frowned slightly, and said: "Since Huang Zu died, the army was defeated, the sailor was destroyed, and Jiangxia's troops were empty. Huang shot his people, who was slightly inferior to his father, entrusted him to lead Jiangxia to guard too much, with the intention of comforting Huang Zu's death in battle, and thinking that Jiangxia had no worries about soldiers. Now Cao's army is heading south, and it is no longer the enemy of yellow shooting. ”

Then, Liu Biao lowered his voice and said: "Xuandetun soldiers in Xiakou, if you get your brother's will, you can drive your troops to Xiangyang by boat, go against the Han River, obey my order, assist my brother's heir, sit in Fancheng, and resist the strong enemy in the Central Plains." Danyang County, Xuande can still be concurrent; Jingkou, you can order your cronies to guard it. ”

Liu Bei knew in his heart that Liu Biao was planning the situation after his death. Most of the forces in Xiangyang City are Kuai Yue and Cai Mao, and no matter who is in power, the situation will get out of control.

He stationed troops in Xiakou, nominally responding to the battle situation between Jingyang and Yang, but in fact as Liu Biao's backhand. Once he died, he led his troops into Xiangyang, which would serve as an important weight to balance the two sides and consolidate the chaos at that time.

Whether it's this plane, or the original history. Liu Biao not only used Liu Bei, but also checked and balanced Liu Bei. In the original history, a few years before Liu Biao's death, he had ordered Liu Bei to move to Fancheng and let him balance the political pattern in Xiangyang City.

At this time, Liu Biao, who spans two states, still chooses Liu Bei to move to Xiakou. It can not only prevent Liu Bei from annexing Jiangzuo after his death, but also allow Liu Bei to be an important pawn to balance the political balance in Xiangyang City.

Although Liu Biao was indecisive and difficult to make up his mind, he still used his political means to try to balance the forces of both sides under his rule. The Xiangyang Shi clan has been entrenched in Xiangyang for a long time, and Kuai Yue's political methods are clever, and if a brave man like Liu Pan enters Xiangyang, it is estimated that they will eat people with bones, and there will be no scum left. Only by introducing Liu Bei, a tiger, into Xiangyang can we balance Kuai Yue and Cai Mao, the head snakes of the ground.

Knowing Liu Biao's intentions, Liu Bei was not ambiguous, and said: "Please rest assured, brother, prepare troops in Xiakou, follow my brother's military orders, and go to Jingyang to save the war." ”

Before Liu Bei's words fell, Cai's scolding voice came from outside the hall door, and said, "Don't you two know who I am?" Let me in! ”

Immediately afterwards, Cai broke through the guards and forcibly pushed open the door.

Liu Biao stood up to greet him and said with a smile: "Why is Madam so angry? ”

Cai Shi glanced at Liu Bei and said, "My husband is sick, and now I forgot to drink medicine, and my concubine is worried, so I will take a look." ”

Liu Biao smiled helplessly and said, "Cao Jun is about to go south, and he talked about military affairs with Xuande, and almost forgot to take medicine on time. ”

As he spoke, Liu Biao looked at Liu Bei and asked, "Xuande, Yun Chang is still some distance away from Jiangxia, and now Zhang Liao's troops are surging, and I am afraid that others will save him temporarily." ”

Liu Bei ignored Cai's and said, "Brother, I am going north to Xiangyang with Bo Wei, and there are thousands of people in my hands. In a crisis of military strength, Bei can order Uncle Chen to protect thousands of people, temporarily support Xiakou, and slow down Zhang Liao's troops. ”

Liu Biao bowed his head slightly and asked, "When is Xuande going to return, do you need to set up a banquet for my brother to say goodbye?" ”

"My brother is sick, so he should recuperate. Now the military situation is urgent, so I dare not stay, so I will return by boat immediately. Liu Bei said.

"Xuande go slowly!"

Under Cai's gaze, Liu Bei left the side hall and then left the house.

Outside the mansion, Lu Su was waiting there early, and when he saw Liu Bei's figure, he greeted him and asked, "Lord, how is the situation?" ”

Liu Bei boarded the carriage and replied, "As Zijing expected, Kuai Yue, Cai Mao and others want Zhong Miao to resist Zhang Liao's soldiers. Now it has been vetoed by me, and let Yun Chang send troops north to support Xiakou. We will return immediately to prevent Cao Cao from using troops to the left. ”

Lu Su looked around, lowered his voice, and asked, "I don't know what the general of the chariot and the lord talked about?" ”

Liu Bei whispered: "Brother Jingsheng is planning for the things behind him, and now he is forcing Zhang Liao to retreat, and let a certain soldier Xiakou to deal with the war in Wu Chu." ”

Hearing this, Lu Su looked surprised and asked, "Is the general of the chariot really bad?" ”

Liu Bei sighed and said, "Although Brother Jingsheng's mind is still sharp, his body is old and his expression is haggard, which is visible to the naked eye. ”

"For the position of heir, can the general of the chariot cavalry reveal the candidate?" Lu Su asked.

Liu Bei shook his head and said, "Brother Jingsheng bluntly said that it was difficult to decide, and he did not specify the specific candidate!" ”

Lu Su stroked his beard and said with a smile: "I have already been selected for the heir of the general of the Che Cavalry, and it is not clear today that just because the Cao army is about to go south, I don't dare to cause more trouble!" ”

(End of chapter)