Liu Ba was sitting on the carriage without an umbrella, sweating profusely, and his robes were sticky and clinging to every inch of his body. But Liu Ba still sat still like an old monk, closing his eyes and concentrating.
Liu Cong came closer, held up his hands, sat down on the front of the car and said, "It's such a hot day and your heart is not at peace. How can you not be hot?" He didn't even think about who caused others to bask in the sun here.
Seeing that Liu Ba ignored him, Liu Cong continued: "Zichu, you have great talent, but why do you want to go north to join Cao Cao?"
Liu Ba opened his eyes, held the hilt of the sword with his left hand and said, "Mr. Cao, he has the ability to quell troubles, has the ability to stabilize the country, and is courteous to virtuous officers, unlike some people!" He gave Liu Cong a vicious look.
Liu Cong touched his nose and said: "Zi Chu, those who achieve great things do not stick to trivial matters. You are a famous scholar in Jingzhou and you have great talents. There is no way I will let you vote for Cao Cao."
"How about this, you follow me first, and I won't let these people watch you. If you want to leave, I won't stop you, but only if I don't know. Just leave as long as you leave. If you are caught by me, I will also
I won’t punish you, just continue to follow me. How about that?”
Liu Ba raised his eyebrows and said, "How do I know if you will arrange someone to monitor me?"
Liu Cong jumped off the carriage and laughed loudly: "Zi Chu, you have misjudged me, Liu Cong. Although I want talents and am ambitious, I disdain these small means. It's hard for you and me to be like this now.
I say this because I am confident that if you follow me, I can win you back!"
Liu Ba pondered for a moment, stared at Liu Cong and said, "If I can really leave, you can't stop me!"
"Deal!" Liu Ba didn't see the cunning light flashing in Liu Cong's eyes.
In the Fancheng Prefect's Mansion, Liu Cong was sitting at the top, looking at Wenpin who was kneeling below.
Wenpin, courtesy name Zhongye. According to history, Liu Cong was unwilling to meet Cao Cao after his surrender, so he was late. Cao Cao asked him why he was late. He said that he could not help the former lord defend his foundation and protect the weak (Liu Cong), so he came back shamelessly. Cao Cao expressed his gratitude.
His loyalty allowed him to garrison Jiangxia. He garrisoned Jiangxia for decades, but Sun Quan repeatedly invaded and failed.
Wenpin, who is stationed in Fancheng and is also in charge of Fancheng's internal affairs, is not wearing armor today, but his face is full of seriousness.
Liu Cong looked at Wenpin's behavior and couldn't help but sigh. There was no shortage of famous generals and counselors in Jingzhou in history. As long as Liu Biao had the ambition to conquer the world, he might not be able to succeed as an emperor.
"I wonder what the young master is here for? If there is no big deal, Pin will go to train sergeants, so I won't accompany you." Wen Pin also received the news that Liu Biao had made Liu Cong his heir. But he still looked down on Liu from the bottom of his heart.
Cong used to be the way he was, so his words were a bit harsh when he spoke.
Liu Cong was also helpless in his heart. What he did in the past was an indelible stain, but when he achieves great things, everyone will feel that he is hiding his clumsiness!
Liu Cong sat at the top, stared at Wenpin and said, "Zhongye (Wenpin's word), I heard that you were promoted by General Cai?"
Wenpin didn't think much about it and replied: "Yes, General Cai has been kind to me."
Liu Cong nodded and said: "It is a good story that a thousand-mile horse meets Bole. Zhongye is indeed a good general. I have a question. Can Zhongye answer it for me?"
Wenpin asked curiously: "I wonder if the second young master has any questions?"
Liu Cong smiled, picked up the tea on the table, took a sip, and said unhurriedly: "If one day, General Cai wants to kill my father and son and establish himself as the lord of Jingzhou, Zhongye will repay you."
Bole?"
"Bang!" Wenpin didn't care about the tables that he knocked over. He knelt down in the hall and said with cupped hands: "Young Master, I am loyal to my lord and will never betray my lord. If General Cai really has such a day, Pinpin will
I am willing to be a pioneer and fight against the bandits!"
"Hey, General Wen, what are you doing?" Liu Cong stood up hurriedly, walked to Wenpin and helped him up. "I'm just talking, don't think too much about it. My father often told me that General Wen has a big problem."
You are a good general. Before I came here, you told me that you were a loyal minister and good general that he could entrust with his future affairs!"
Liu Cong suddenly thought of something, and waved to Pang Tong who was sitting there eating and drinking: "Oh, by the way, Shi Yuan, where is the letter from my father? Didn't you say you want to show it to General Wen? Take it out quickly.
."
Pang Tong wiped his hands on his clothes. He reached into his arms and groped around: "Lord, here you go."
After Liu Cong took it, he opened it and showed it to Wenpin and said, "Did you see it? After the death of the father, the son succeeds him! Father also stamped the seal of Zhou Mu! Father thinks that you are a loyal minister and good general, General Wen, he entrusted you with the safety of Jingchu."
For you, this is the intention of entrusting an orphan."
Wenpin was stunned for a moment by Liu Cong's deception, but he was not a traitor in the first place. Cai Hao was a supporter of him. However, in Wenpin's heart, Jingzhou could only belong to his lord Liu Biao and the Liu family.
!So he clasped his fists and knelt down on one knee again and said: "I will swear allegiance to my lord and my young master to the death!"
Liu Ba saw Liu Cong subduing the good general Jing Chu so easily, and he couldn't help but ask himself: Could it be that I really made a mistake? Could this bastard really be a hidden dragon?
Liu Cong laughed: "Zhongye, get up, I have trusted you. I came to Fancheng just to meet you, a good general."
"Lord!" Huo Jun and Wei Yan walked in at this time.
The two of them looked at Wenpin, but stopped talking.
Wenpin was not a fool either. He cupped his hands in front of Liu Cong and said, "Young Master, there are still some matters to be dealt with among the last generals. Please excuse me first, Young Master."
But Liu Cong grabbed him and said, "The affairs in the army are not of today." He then asked Wei Yan and Huo Jun, "Wen Chang, Zhong Miao, what's the matter?"
When the two of them saw Liu Cong's behavior, they no longer tried to hide it: "My lord, Liu Bei has stationed troops in the new territory. Zhuge Kongming followed him down the mountain the day before yesterday."
Wenpin also understood that Liu Cong did not avoid him when discussing matters, which was a sign of trust.
Liu Cong thought for a while and asked Wenpin: "Zhongye, what do you think of Liu Bei?"
Wenpin replied without hesitation: "Liu Bei can be described as a hero!"
Liu Cong added: "Yes, he is indeed a hero. Zhongye, who is stationed in Wancheng and how many troops and horses are there?"
Wenpin has been in Fancheng all year round and is naturally very familiar with the situation in Wancheng: "It's Cao Ren. He has 20,000 soldiers and horses. But there are 5,000 cavalry among them! Alas, there are many horses in the north, and they are not comparable to those of Jingchu." He said and moved again.
He moved his mouth, but didn't speak.
Liu Cong saw that Wenpin still wanted to speak, but was hesitant, so he said again: "Zhong Miao, if you have anything to say, you might as well speak freely."
Wenpin hesitated for a moment, then said: "Young master, Cao Ren often leads troops to harass Xinye. The general was once ordered by the lord to help Liu Bei resist the enemy. Cao's army is indeed the strongest in the world. According to the general's opinion, if Cao's army goes south, the Han River will
The land and cities to the north may not be able to be defended. Only by shrinking the defense line, gathering troops in Xiangyang, and relying on the favorable geographical location of the Han River can we have a chance of victory."
Historically, when Liu Cong surrendered, Cao Cao's army entered Xiangyang directly, then received troops from Jingzhou, chased Liu Bei on Changbanpo, and then went down to Jiangling. Liu Bei retreated to Jiangxia, united with Sun Quan, and Sun and Liu allied forces went up the Shuo River, and Cao's army was stationed on the Yangtze River.
On the north bank (Wulin), the coalition troops were stationed on the south bank (Chibi).
But now it is impossible for Liu Cong to abandon the two important towns of Xiangyang and Jiangling to surrender. Historically, Liu Bei occupied Nanjun, and even Jiangling was in the hands of Soochow, so he could only station troops and police. It can be seen that if he abandons the cities north of the Yangtze River, no matter who is in Jingzhou
If you occupy it, your strength will be greatly reduced!
Wenpin's idea coincided with Liu Biao's. In fact, Liu Cong and Pang Tong discussed it and they both thought the same.
"What Zhong Miao said is very much in line with my heart. You are stationed in Fancheng. Don't move lightly and wait for my orders at any time." Liu Cong said to Wenpin seriously.
"The general will definitely live up to the great trust of the young master!" Wenpin replied.
At this time, Pang Tong walked up to Liu Cong, shook his feather fan and said, "My lord, I want to go to Xinye to see Kong Ming."
Liu Cong's eyes flashed with sparkle, and he said, "It's time to go to Xinye to see the emperor's uncle!"