Liu Bei has already imagined that as long as he can control Liu Qi, Jingzhou will be his back garden. It's ridiculous. The civil and military members he brought during this trip still won't let him go to the banquet? What's wrong with Sun Qian? There is no good banquet, and it is not suitable for outsiders to interfere with other people's family affairs.
But look at it now, is this someone else’s family matter? Can I not go? This has almost become my family matter!
As soon as he left the building, Liu Qi quietly told him about the conversation between Kuai Yue and Liu Biao, and kindly asked Liu Bei not to ride the horse again, saying that the horse would hinder the master.
Liu Bei smiled slightly after hearing this, and faced Liu Qi, Yiji said cheerfully: "God controls human life and death, so how can a horse interfere with it?"
When Yiji heard Liu Bei's bold words when he was in high spirits, he immediately admired Liu Bei's insight and saved Liu Bei's life.
While they were talking, the group arrived outside Yu Fei Tower, and Kuai Yue came out to greet them. Behind them were Liu Cong and a group of servants from the Liu family who were responsible for the reception. At this time, officials from all counties in Jingzhou had basically arrived, and Kuai Yue, as Liu Biao, was seriously ill. During this period, he was the executor of orders and greeted every official who came. In fact, Liu Qi should have been standing here to take charge of this matter together with Kuai Yue, but he thought he had more important things to do, which was to pick up the officials. Liu Bei, therefore, did not welcome the guests with Kuai Yue. Besides, Liu Qi thought that he, the future lord of Jingzhou, was not suitable for this kind of work of bringing people back and forth. This was the job of his subordinates and subordinates. Kuai Yue had Liu Biao He had to obey his orders, but his unsatisfactory brother Liu Cong just had to do it. Maybe he could only do these things in the future.
"Uncle Liu Huang, you are late!" Kuai Yue walked down the steps with a smile and greeted Liu Bei and his party from a distance.
As Liu Bei dismounted, he heard Kuai Yue's greeting and laughed. He narrowed his eyes slightly and responded: "Oh, thank you for your hard work, Mr. Kuai! Liu Qi, why did you let Mr. Kuai greet the guests alone? Didn't your father ask you to be responsible for this? Is this a big banquet for officials?"
Liu Bei mocked Kuai Yue with sarcasm as he went about his errand to welcome the guests, and took the opportunity to retaliate against Kuai Yue for telling Liu Biao that the "Luma" he sent as a gift was a hindrance to the Lord.
But Kuai Yue looked like he didn't understand. He nodded and bowed like a slave: "There, there, this is the duty of subordinates. The young master is the superior one. He should go in to receive guests. How can he stay here? Hurry up. , Young Master, please invite your uncle in, as long as I’m here!”
Liu Qi was very satisfied with Kuai Yue's knowledge of current affairs. He smiled slightly and led Liu Bei into the Yu Fei Tower hall with great pride. When passing by Liu Cong, who had always lowered his head, he snorted with disdain.
However, Liu Bei did not intend to let go of the opportunity to harm Kuai Yue. When he stepped up the steps, he suddenly turned around and said to the servant who was tethering the horse: "Hey, take my 'Lu Ma' to the backyard. Don't worry." It hinders Lord Kuai’s future..."
Amid the jeers of Liu Bei and Liu Qi, Kuai Yue looked at Liu Bei with a smile. After Liu Qi entered Yu Fei Tower, Liu Cong, who had been feeling aggrieved for a long time, also left.
Then I saw Kuai Yue suddenly shaking off his servant appearance, slowly retreating into a side door of Yu Fei Tower, and asked in a deep voice into the darkness: "Are you all ready?"
Behind the dark side door, after Kuai Yue's seemingly unintentional question, someone suddenly replied: "My three younger brothers have received the military talismans of you and me to guard the east, south and north gates respectively. There is a guard outside the west gate. Tanxi is unguarded for the time being, so there should be no big problem. I myself will command five hundred swordsmen and axemen here to prepare for any eventuality!"
After the speaker answered Kuai Yue's question, he revealed his majestic figure. This person was clearly Liu Biao's brother-in-law, Cai Mao, the number one man in the Jingzhou army!
"Very good!" After hearing what he wanted to hear, Kuai Yue turned around and was about to leave when Cai Mao suddenly asked again: "Let's deal with that Liu Bei together!"
When Kuai Yue heard that Cai Mao had not spared Liu Bei, he also said that Cai Mao had seen the scene that had just humiliated him and wanted to avenge him. He couldn't help but objected: "Harming Liu Bei will lose people's hearts. Besides, he is Yuan Shao's man. At this time
Don’t kill innocent people indiscriminately!”
"Huh!" Cai Mao's voice came up again: "This is on General Cao's order!"
When Kuai Yue heard that it was Cao Zhi's intention, he was stunned and said no more. While letting Cai Mao prepare, he asked casually, "When will Duke Cao arrive?"
"After today's business, let's welcome Mr. Cao!"
After Kuai Yue finished his business outside, when he came to the Yufei Tower Hall, all the officials had already gathered together. Wenpin, Wang Wei and other foreign generals were also surprisingly back today. The gathering of civil and military officials was an unprecedented event.
The hall is spacious and comfortable, and the walls are covered with landscapes, calligraphy and paintings, which makes it feel like a Confucian wonderland.
But the strange thing is that there are seven large screens placed across the north of the seat leading to the back hall, extending a long distance under the main seat, completely blocking the way back, which looks very weird.
But thinking that this was the only way for Liu Biao to come out to host the banquet later, it was not surprising that he was pretending to be mysterious.
But Liu Bei is a person who is born with a sense of vigilance. When he saw these screens and the layout of the hall, he felt a sense of insecurity. No one in the world has this ability like Liu Bei. This is also the reason why Liu Bei has been in danger many times.
The magic weapon that was finally preserved.
As soon as Liu Bei entered the hall, although he was still immersed in ridiculing Kuai Yue and felt happy. But as soon as he realized the danger, he couldn't help but look at the screen. He immediately felt that this arrangement was against common sense.
inappropriate
When Liu Bei was invited to the table again, his face had darkened with a cold expression. He still couldn't help thinking that if there were armored soldiers behind him, as long as the screen was pushed down and the crossbows were fired from behind the screen, no one here would be able to escape alive.
There is only one possibility for this arrangement, that is, someone is going to launch a coup today! Is that Liu Qi, Liu Cong, or Liu Biao himself?
At this time, Liu Qi had already sat down at the host's banquet in front of the screen at the north end of the hall, and gestured to Liu Bei to ask him to sit at the lower right hand corner. Liu Bei first observed Liu Qi's performance and style, and did not look like he wanted to preemptively strike. Then Liu Bei
Biao had already revealed that he would be announced as the "Crown Prince" today. He wouldn't want to wait until Liu Biao had announced the title of "Crown Prince" before killing his unsatisfactory brother, and then annihilate the party members who supported his younger brother in one fell swoop, right?
Impossible, definitely not possible! Even if Liu Qi wanted to do this, he would discuss it with his imperial uncle in advance. Besides, his father Liu Biao would not agree to his doing this. So who hid the armored soldiers behind this screen?
Did Liu Biao arrange this in order to prevent accidents? This is also impossible! He can still control Jingzhou, and those officials obey what he says. Even if he wants to announce the heir apparent, there is no need to lay down armored soldiers?
Then there is only one possibility! Liu Cong, the second youngest son of the Liu family who has always been disliked, wants to stage a mutiny and kill his father and brother!
Liu Bei's face changed slightly when he thought of this, and he hurriedly glanced at Liu Cong. It was probably the first time for Liu Cong to experience such a grand banquet. At this time, he was sitting in an awkward position, looking a little unnatural, but he could not tell the difference at all.
Nervousness before the mutiny, or other inappropriate behavior.
When Liu Bei's expression changed again, his mind was racing, he gritted his teeth, walked to Liu Qi and sat down, secretly took out a dagger and hid it in his hand in case he needed it in case of emergency.
Today, Liu Biao's chairman is located at the northernmost end of the hall, and the other three parties have arranged three rows with a total of more than 60 seats, with two or three people at each seat, or one person and one seat like Liu Cong, a total of more than 100 people. It can be said that there are officials of all sizes in Jingzhou.
Everyone has arrived.
The fact that Liu Cong sat alone did not mean that he was aloof, but that he had few supporters who were willing to share the banquet with him.
In the past, he had Cai Mao as his uncle, but today Cai Mao did not attend. As usual, Cai Mao should still attend such occasions, but because of Liu Biao's awakening, Cai Mao, and even the entire Cai family, were no longer popular in Jingzhou officialdom.
He was even suppressed, so Cai Hao, who knew he had lost power, did not come today because he was ill.
As a result, Liu Cong seemed even more lonely. He kept his figure as low as possible and did not look at anyone. When anyone greeted him, he ignored them, maintaining a rare low profile.
This kind of banquet is not only a banquet in the traditional sense, but also a social and political gathering. Of course, wine is an indispensable thing for this kind of occasion, and the food is full of meat. In this era, meat is still expensive.
, but the cooking methods of southern cuisine are still very different from those of the north. Although they are also plates of meat, they still have a unique flavor.
At this time, except for Cai Mao's excuse for the future, Liu Biao's nephew Zhang Yun, who was still leading the army, was not present. All other Jingzhou officials who could come were present, except for Liu Bei, Kuai Yue, Fu Xun, Wenpin, etc.
He Guibin, the high-ranking official, was naturally one of the candidates for the first few seats under the chair. Fu Xun and Kuai Yue sat at the same table opposite Liu Cong, next to Liu Qi and Liu Bei's seats, while Wenpin and Wang Wei sat at the same table.
Liu Cong's next seat.
But the most nervous person at this time is still Liu Qi, who is sitting at the bottom of the northernmost throne, because Liu Biao will announce his promotion to "Crown Prince" later. He will become the future legal heir and future master of Jingzhou.
This kind of thing is still very nervous for Liu Qi, who is less than 20 years old.
But at this time, no one noticed that the most nervous person in the living room was Liu Bei. Liu Bei was placed on the right side of Liu Qi, the first seat below the main seat. On one side was Liu Cong, and on the other side was the expressionless Fu Xun.
, Kuai Yue, and Wen Pin.
Being among these people, Liu Bei was already sweating profusely, and his hands and feet were cold. Needless to say, there were armored soldiers hidden in this hall, and one party would definitely have ill intentions towards the other.
But no matter which side deployed the armored soldiers, Liu Bei suddenly felt that at this moment, the death stretch that he had never felt before was approaching him.
He shouldn't interfere with other people's family affairs. This is muddy water. Why didn't he listen to his brother-in-law Mi Luan and Sun Qian? If he had known that he wouldn't be here today, he would come back to congratulate and take advantage when the dust settles. No
Is it the same? Alas, I only blame myself for being frivolous and being radical. I shouldn’t, I shouldn’t!