The city is still very prosperous, and the people live and work in peace and contentment.
However, the tense posture of the soldiers guarding the city and the spies from the state and pastoral offices everywhere in the city all tell the grim story behind the peace.
The news that Jiangling City was destroyed suddenly came, causing violent shocks throughout Jingbei.
I have been comfortable for too long, and I am somewhat unable to accept everything in front of me.
No one thought that the weak and incompetent Liu Qi would have such courage!
After receiving the news that Jiangling had changed hands, Cai Mao responded quickly and immediately led 30,000 elite troops southward.
There was only one intention: to take advantage of the Jingnan Army's unstable foothold and the lack of popular support to recapture Jiangling City.
Cai Mao was lightly armed and simple, hoping to catch Jingnan's army by surprise because of his superior military strength and speed.
Unfortunately, when the army reached Dangyang, they were ambushed by Liu Qi's army.
Liu Bei made a head-on surprise attack. When the battle was fierce, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei and others set up ambushes, and the Jingbei army suddenly fell into chaos.
Seeing that the situation was not good, Cai Mao had no choice but to flee in panic. Without a commander, his 30,000-strong army collapsed and became more panicked.
In just one battle, the Jingbei army was almost completely wiped out. Cai Mao only led a few hundred people and fled back to Xiangyang in embarrassment!
If the loss of Jiangling City sounded the alarm to the Jingbei clan, Cai Mao's defeat was a head-on blow to the Jingbei clan!
Due to the wear and tear of successive battles over the years, the entire army in northern Jing Dynasty only numbered one hundred thousand.
Jiangling was lost and Dangyang was defeated, which immediately reduced the strength of the Prefectural Mufu to 50,000.
Among them are the 20,000 navy troops controlled by Huang Zu of Jiangxia!
In other words, the entire state pastoral office in Nanyang County and Nanjun area only has 30,000 horses.
These 30,000 people still need to be stationed in various counties to maintain stability.
Nowadays, the 20,000 troops in Xiangyang City are considered the last strength of the Prefectural Mufu.
Once Liu Qi's troops come to the city, life or death will depend on the 20,000 people!
In the Prefectural Mufu's Office, Liu Biao, who had not paid attention to political affairs for a long time, was now taken out.
There is no way, the current situation can no longer be handled by Cai Mao alone.
Especially when it involves Liu Qi, the eldest son of Jingzhou Shepherd Liu Biao.
The previously deserted meeting hall was finally filled with people again.
Liu Biao looked at the scene in front of him and was filled with emotions.
The restoration of the bustle here is due to my son...rebellion!
"Degui, how is the situation in Dangyang? Has the traitor made an advance?"
A full half month has passed since Cai Mao's defeat, and the entire state pastoral office has been enveloped in a huge depressive atmosphere.
There is a question in everyone's mind, whether Liu Qi will take advantage of the victory and advance.
If the troops approach the city, can the Xiangyang defenders be able to block Liu Qi's offensive?
"Lord Zhou Mu, Liu Qi's troops and horses are still parked in Dangyang. I don't know what their intentions are."
Even though half a month had passed, Cai Mao still didn't dare to be careless at all.
I am afraid that the accident in Jiangling City will happen again in Xiangyang City.
"This traitor is quite measured and hasn't done anything too much!"
Liu Biao's inner thoughts were complicated, or he had expectations and resentment for Liu Qi's sudden rise.
The rights of the state pastor had long been completely eliminated by Cai Mao and Kuai Liang. Liu Biao was completely in name only and was kept captive in the mansion by Mrs. Cai.
If Liu Qi hadn't suddenly attacked, Liu Biao would have been in a state of intoxication all day long.
It can be said that Liu Biao felt happy after learning that Liu Qi had severely beaten Cai Mao.
But thinking that his eldest son was about to compete with his younger son for power, Liu Biao felt complicated inside.
Especially when he learned that Liu Bei was under Liu Qi's command.
"Degui, what do you mean by this rebellious son? Could it be that Cheng Cheng wants to gain a foothold in Jingbei?"
Dangyang is still more than two hundred miles away from Xiangyang. If Liu Qi has ideas about Xiangyang, he will never stop moving forward.
If you want to maintain a deterrent effect against Xiangyang, you must at least march to the vicinity of Yicheng.
Dangyang is more like a place to deal with the safety of Jiangling.
Cai Mao glanced at Liu Biao angrily and kept cursing in his heart.
You still have the nerve to ask me, isn't he your son?
The father is not a thing, and the son is also a beast!
"Lord Zhou Mu, Liu Qi's military front did not stop at Dangyang!"
"According to the latest intelligence reports, Liu Qi has marched in all directions and occupied various counties in Nanjun. He has captured Zhouling in the east and Zigui in the west."
Zhou Ling's strategic intention is very obvious, and it can contain the sudden attack of the Jiangxia navy.
The role of Zigui is also obvious. It can not only keep a safe distance from Yizhou, but also keep an eye on Yufu's army and not act rashly.
Liu Qi assumed this posture and seemed to have switched from offensive to defensive.
Liu Biao nodded slightly. At present, this is the best news.
"Degui, send someone to contact this traitor and ask him what he wants to do?"
"If you just want to gain a foothold in Jiangbei, don't use weapons rashly."
Cai Mao frowned, he could not agree with Liu Biao's opinion.
"Lord Zhou Mu, have you forgotten Liu Bei, the big-eared thief?"
"The big-eared thief blatantly led himself as the governor of Nanjun and placed all his generals in various places in Nanjun. His intentions are obvious!"
"The general feels that it is this thief who encouraged Liu Qi to attack Jingbei this time!"
Thinking of Liu Bei's lucky escape in Xiangyang City that day, Cai Mao became furious!
Liu Bei humbly begged him for Jiangling, and in the blink of an eye he took the position of the governor of Nanjun!
Especially the confrontation between the two armies that day, Liu Bei's heart-wrenching words and humiliation made Cai Hao unable to let go.
If Liu Bei had not provoked him, he would not have led his troops to advance lightly, let alone fall into an ambush!
"Degui, we currently don't have enough self-protection, how can we make progress?"
"Once we are defeated again, I'm afraid Xiangyang City won't be able to defend it."
Ninety percent of the entire Nanjun territory has been occupied by Liu Qi, and the area controlled by the Prefectural Mufu has been compressed near Xiangyang City.
Liu Qi occupies four counties in Jingnan, plus Nanjun, which is almost completely occupied, and his strength has surpassed Jingbei, which is occupied by the Prefectural Mufu.
It's not that Liu Biao didn't want to take back Nanjun, but 30,000 people had just been defeated, so what was the point of sending another 20,000 people?
When Cai Mao heard this, he became very anxious. He thought that if the big-eared thief rode on his head, he would be worse off than dead.
"Lord Zhou Mu, Liu Bei is so ambitious that once he is allowed to gain a foothold in Nanjun, there will be endless troubles!"
"As long as Lord Zhou Mu sends Huang Zu here, I am willing to join forces with the Jingzhou clans to drive Liu Bei out of Nanjun!"
Liu Biao sighed, then shook his head.
"Degui, don't you understand what's going on with Huang Zu? Do you think he can listen to me at this time?"
Jiangxia County was nominally returned to the Prefectural Mufu, but in fact it was Huang Zu or the Huang family who had the final say, almost following the instructions but not the propaganda.
If Liu Qi's troops approach Xiangyang City, Huang Zu may send troops to rescue him, but if he is ordered to raise troops to attack Jiangling, he will probably have 10,000 reasons to shirk!
Cai Mao was unwilling to give up. He knew that Liu Biao did not prevaricate him, but he just couldn't swallow this breath.
"But...!"
"Degui!"
Liu Biao raised his hand to interrupt Cai Hao, and then showed a slightly meaningful look in his eyes.