Guy was notorious because of Cao Cao, and Liu Cong's ascension lacked legitimacy; Liu Bei has the name of benevolence and righteousness, and Liu Qi is the heir officially confirmed by Liu Biao during his lifetime.

Wang Kai, Zhang Cun, Xi Zhen, Han Ran and other more than 20 officials and scholars in the state capital abandoned their officials and went out of the city to join Erliu because of their disdain for Liu Cong, Cai Mao and others; Thousands of people in Fancheng were afraid of Cao Cao's troops, tried to take refuge with Liu Bei, and then went south.

With the beginning, there was a follow-up, and when Liu Bei chose to accept the people of Fancheng, the people in the countryside outside Xiangyang City were afraid of war, and they also thought of Liu Bei's benevolence and righteousness, or because Liu Qi was the orthodox lord of Jingzhou, there were many people who went south with the army.

In order to let the people retreat first, Liu Bei had to lead the army to disembark and go ashore on foot. And this walk on the shore led to more and more people following him, and the number of people reached tens of thousands.

For example, Zhonglu County ordered Xiang Lang to know that Cao Jun was going south, and as a friend of Ma Liang, he also had contact with Liu Bei, so he abandoned the official and followed Liu Bei south. As an official of the herdsmen, the people of Zhonglu County saw it, and there were many people who followed Liu Bei to the south.

Tens of thousands, hundreds of large and small cars, and thousands of backpackers. There were a large number of people, and a large number of luggage followed, which could no longer be carried by 200 large and small ships. In desperation, the boat sailed on the Han River, and Liu Bei led the army to march on the bank of the Han River.

Walking south, Liu Bei deliberately passed by Liu Biao's tomb, thinking that he would worship Liu Biao.

Two or three days after his death, Liu Cong was anxious to ascend to the throne, and worried about the decay of the corpse, Liu Cong, Cai Mao and others hurriedly buried him.

As a prince in charge of millions of living beings, Liu Biao's tomb is not small, built on the hill, the tomb is several zhang high, and the tombstone made of white marble is engraved with the words "Liu Jingsheng, the general of the Han chariot cavalry, Jingzhou Mucheng, the Marquis of Wu". Although it was the height of summer, there was a great sadness around the tomb.

Liu Bei stood in front of Liu Biao's tomb, and he suddenly felt an inexplicable sense of sadness welling up in his heart, and he couldn't help shedding tears, saying: "Woohoo lament! Jingsheng's brother Enwei Wu Chu, for the south of the Han Dynasty, unfortunately abandoned the world, and he was prepared for pain! ”

Saying that, Liu Bei bowed his hand to Liu Biao's tomb, and said sadly: "My brother has no virtue and no talent, and he has the entrustment of his brother." Let Kuai Yue and Cai Mao coerce Zhong Huang to surrender to Cao Cao, it is difficult to protect the foundation of his brother, and it is already ashamed to see his brother today. Now I dare to ask my brother for the heroic soul, save the people of Jingxiang, help prepare for the defeat of Cao, and prosper the dying Han family. ”

Lu Su took the opportunity to hand over the towel and asked Liu Bei to wipe away his tears, and said: "I hope that the Lord will mourn the change, now that the enemy is present, and tens of thousands of people are with him, it is necessary to discuss the military as soon as possible." ”

Liu Bei's eyes were red, he wiped his tears with a towel and nodded in response.

Perhaps influenced by the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Liu Beiren is too described, and he often writes about his crying, so that future generations have many misunderstandings about Liu Bei, thinking that he is similar to the hypocrite of a hypocrite.

But Liu Bei, who is from Youyan, is such a person, with clear love and hate, and good thoughts, which is always a portrayal of him. Only after experiencing the years and more than ten years of turbulence and displacement, he has transformed into a hero and knows how to choose. However, even if Liu Bei, who became a hero, could not treat the people like Cao Cao, he was like a mustard.

After easing his emotions, Liu Bei woke up his nose and asked, "Zijing, where have Cao's soldiers and horses arrived today?" What are the number of civilians with our army? ”

Lu Su groaned a little, and said: "According to the scout after staying, the general of the Cao army, Xu Huang, led the vanguard cavalry into Tunfan City, and Cai Mao sent people to meet Xu Huang. Zhang Liao and Cao Chun led the elite cavalry to die, and they arrived in Fancheng in a few days. ”

"Su checked the number of people with Zhang Churen, Xiang Juda and others, and there were about 80,000 people who went south with the lord, nearly 90,000 people. About 20,000 or 30,000 people came to Xiakou by boat, mostly old and weak, women and children, carrying vehicles and luggage. Although most of the people who travel south with the army today are young men and women, our army can only travel about 20 miles a day. If Cao's elite cavalry gallops day and night, they will be able to catch up with our army. ”

Liu Bei grabbed the reins, turned over on his horse, and asked, "Zijing, do you have a high insight to teach me?" ”

In Liu Bei's eyes, he is good at tactics and short at strategy. And Lu Su's ability at the grand strategic level is comparable to Huo Jun, Zhuge Liang and others, because Huo and Ge have their own heavy responsibilities, it is almost difficult to leave Jiangzuo in person, so he has taken Lu Su with him for a long time, thinking that he is a staff officer for military affairs.

Lu Su stroked his beard and said: "Cao Cao's victory in Xiangyang is a foregone conclusion, and he led hundreds of thousands of troops to the south, drinking the water of the Majiang River, and the troops were in Jingchu. Therefore, the lord should retreat to Xiakou, raise the left soldiers and horses of the Jiang, and resist Cao Cao according to the Jianghan. ”

"Therefore, at the moment, our army is moving slowly, and the Cao army is chasing after it, and I am afraid that it will be defeated, unless we can defeat the Cao army's pursuers here and frustrate its edge. and Poyang Sailor arrived, and under the response of the boat, the army and the people could be safe. ”

Liu Bei held the reins in his hand and said worriedly: "When Cao's army first went to the south, Wu Chu and his troops forced it back. Now Cao Cao has led the people from the north to Jingchu, and the two thieves Cai and Kuai coerced Liu Cong to surrender to Cao Cao. Cao Cao got the soldiers and horses of the Jiang and Han dynasties, and the soldiers gradually flourished, and the power was in Jingnan, and the soldiers pointed to Wu Chu. ”

"A certain fear Bowei saw that Jingzhou could not be guaranteed, and it was difficult for the left soldiers of the Jiang to resist the north, and he was slandered by the villain, and raised the left soldiers and horses of the Jiang to surrender to Cao Cao. At that time, our army will retreat to Xiakou, and there will be no retreat! ”

Liu Bei knows a lot about his nephew, Liu Qi has no knowledge of soldiers, only the comparison of the number of soldiers and horses, and his prestige in Jiangzuo is weak and his ears are soft. In front of Cao Cao's army, he was afraid, and under the long-term persuasion of everyone, it was not impossible to raise the river and surrender.

Lu Su frowned slightly and said, "Although Liu Yangzhou is cowardly and encouraged by other people's words, he is also bloody. And Liu Yangzhou is convinced that General Huo, with General Huo by his side, will be able to appease the hearts of Jiangzuo. ”

"If the lord is worried, he can let Zhuge go to Wu County, talk about the depth of the benefits, and prevent the villain from slandering, and General Huo is included. Under internal and external persuasion, Liu Yangzhou will definitely send troops to help. ”

Jiang Zuo's group of leading brothers, Lu Su knew their interests and stakes very well. Now Cao Cao moved the people from the north to the south, not only the Jingxiang scholars were vying to be the first to surrender, but the group of Jiangzuo scholars were also looking forward to surrendering. Not to mention that the group of Jingzhou scholars beside Liu Qi may also persuade Liu Qi to surrender.

"Yes!"

Liu Bei nodded and said: "Kong Ming is quite virtuous among the Jiangzuo scholars, and if he can stop the villain's slander, and with Zhong Miao's talent and prestige, he will be able to properly arrange the military strategy." A certain garrison soldier Xiakou thought it was based on the enemy. ”

"And what about our army now?" Lu Su asked.

"When you follow Zijing's words, you can thwart Cao's soldiers here."

As he spoke, Liu Bei drove his horse uphill, looked at the surrounding terrain, and said: "Although Cao's army is elite and brave cavalry, it is a thousand miles away, and most of them are exhausted. If I chase it now, I will lead my troops to resist it, and I will be able to win it. ”

Lu Su rode his horse and said: "There are only thousands of soldiers under the lord, and there are protectors going south, although the enemy is tired, but it is difficult to break it, so the lord can let General Guan lead his troops to support." ”

Liu Bei felt a little regretful and said: "Yun Chang is approaching Jiangling, and I don't know if he will succeed or not. If you succeed in Gangneung and lead the army to evacuate, it will be a pity! ”

Lu Su groaned and said: "Cai Mao and Kuai Yue surrendered to Xiangyang, and they should be prepared for the weight of Jiangling. From a solemn point of view, Gangneung may be difficult to take. Even if General Guan can get Jiangling, because there are few soldiers and generals, the land is thousands of miles away, and our army is stationed in Xiakou, and Jiangling is difficult to preserve. ”

"Today's situation has changed drastically, the lord should be willing to be willing, don't be greedy for small things, and damage the general. If the lord defeats Cao Cao, Jiangling will also win; It is true that if the lord is defeated by Cao Cao, let alone Jiangling, even Danyang may be difficult to preserve. ”

Jiangling is very crucial, in addition to a large amount of money, food and military supplies hoarded in the surrounding area, it is also a place that connects the north and south of Jingzhou. This is also the reason why Liu Bei went to Jiangling after losing Fancheng in history.

But the current situation is different, Liu Bei's foundation is in Jiangzuo and Xiakou, and Jiangling is separated by 1,4500 miles, respectively at the east and west ends of Jingzhou. Now that Liu Bei went to Jiangling, he cut off his retreat and separated himself from Jiangzuo. Moreover, although Gangneung is close to the Yangtze River, it is surrounded by land on all sides.

When Cao Cao saw Liu Bei throwing himself to Jiangling, his first reaction was to be overjoyed. led a large army south to isolate the inside and outside of Gangneung, and stormed Gangneung City; He also ordered people to attack Xiakou and contain Jiangzuo's soldiers and horses.

As for Jiangdong sending troops against the current to support Jiangling, Huo Jun was powerless to take care of it, and in the face of Cao Cao's soldiers and horses, he could only stick to Xiakou and Weixukou.

And even if the sailors can master the route of the Yangtze River, it is one thing to go ashore to fight. Cao Cao raised the elite people, and he was most willing to fight a field battle, not a water war.

If you want to hold Jiangling, unless you can integrate the soldiers and horses of Jingnan. At present, it is good that the four counties of Jingnan do not vote for Cao, and it is a fool's dream to integrate the four counties.

According to Liu Bei's plan, he wanted to rush into Xiangyang in advance, and with the help of the sailor to enter the Han River, the city was strong, and he bought time for Liu Qi to integrate the soldiers and horses of Jingzhou. But it is a pity that the plan to enter Xiangyang failed, and the most secure plan at the moment is to go to Xiakou and raise the left soldiers and horses of the river to resist Cao Cao.

"Zijing's words, how can I not know, only reluctance." Liu Bei said with a sigh.

"The lord is wise!"

(End of chapter)