"Don't worry, my lord, the general will definitely protect the eldest son." Wang Wei immediately said in a deep voice.
"Go and get ready." Liu Biao waved his hand and asked Wang Wei to step back.
"No." Wang Wei bowed to Liu Biao and retreated.
Liu Biao looked at the bamboo slips on the table, was silent for a while, threw the bamboo slips into the charcoal stove aside, clasped his hands and said to himself: "I will let you be arrogant for a few more days."
…………….
In the study of Cai Mansion, a man in black in his forties was standing in front of Cai Mao. After explaining the assassination in detail, he said: "My lord, although I didn't take too many pictures this time.
People went to assassinate Liu Qi, but none of the sixteen black-clothed guards sent came back. This shows that the strength around Liu Qi cannot be underestimated. The subordinates thought that the lord should get rid of this person as soon as possible to avoid future troubles."
Cai Hao shook his head and said: "No, the assassination of Liu Qi was just to test Liu Biao's reaction. If he really doesn't care about his son, he will kill him. But if he cares about his son, killing Liu Qi will only make Liu Biao step up his attack on us. Cao Mao
The time for the Duke's unification of the north is coming soon, we only need to be patient for a while and then we can offer Jingzhou as a stepping stone, and it will not be difficult to deal with Liu Biao when the time comes."
"I think the news of Liu Qi's assassination has reached Liu Biao's ears. Then Liu Biao has summoned Wang Wei. I wonder what the result will be?" The man in black is obviously very familiar with the situation in Xiangyang City, and even the specific time when Liu Biao summoned Wang Wei
I also know it very clearly.
"I'll leave the assassination to you. If Liu Biao doesn't make any sign before Liu Qi lands, the black guards will assassinate Liu Qi to avoid future troubles. The black guards have not been dispatched for more than ten years. Don't let me down this time.
Yeah." Cai Mao took a deep look at the middle-aged man in front of him.
"Lord, don't worry. After this incident, many people will think of the black guards again. Then we will see who dares to go against my lord." The middle-aged man bowed and smiled, full of confidence in assassinating Liu Qi.
"Okay, if you, as the leader of the Black Guards, can't handle this matter, I think the Black Guards have no value in continuing to exist." Cai Hao said with a half-smile.
The middle-aged man was shocked and immediately said solemnly: "Lord, don't worry, Liu Qi will not be able to return to Xiangyang this time."
"Well, if you know, then go ahead." Cai Hao waved his hand to signal the man in black to leave.
"My subordinates say goodbye." The man in black bowed to Cai Hao, turned around and walked out.
After the man in black left, Cai Hao raised his head and looked out the door, his eyes flashing: "The guards in black have lacked control over the years. It seems they need to be beaten."
Two days passed quickly, and the news of Liu Qi's assassination did not spread. However, some wealthy families had already received the news. They secretly sent spies to find out the news while paying close attention to Liu Biao's reaction.
However, Liu Biao only summoned Wang Wei but did not summon anyone else, and Wang Wei was no different from before when he came back from the Prefecture Mufu.
The aristocratic families were all cautious and secretly drew a line with Liu Qi. Rumors of Liu Qi's abandonment had spread among the aristocratic families. Some aristocratic families even forcibly ordered their family members not to associate with Liu Qi, and even a few people who were close to Liu Qi.
He was also ignored. The situation in Xiangyang seemed to become clear all of a sudden, and Liu Cong was already considered the most likely person to inherit Jingzhou.
……………………
"Lord, we're almost there." Wang Yi pointed ahead. Not far ahead was the Xiangyang Ferry. From such a distance, he could already see the shaking figures and noisy shouts on the shore.
"Well, have the spies we sent out come back?" Liu Qi stood on the deck and looked ahead.
"He's back. The news of my lord's return today has not been leaked, and no one has come to gather at the ferry. This is good for my lord's safety." Gan Ning said on the other side.
"Oh, is there any news coming from Xiangyang City?" Liu Qi couldn't help but feel a bit of hope in his voice.
"No news came out in Xiangyang City. After General Zhennan received the letter from the Song envoy that day, he immediately summoned General Wang Wei. After that, General Wang came out of the Prefectural Shepherd's Mansion. He did not see any action.
"Gan Ning naturally knew the reason for Liu Qi's question, and felt a bit disgusted with Liu Biao in his heart.
"Oh, no news?" Liu Qi murmured, with a bit of disappointment on his face. After all, Liu Biao didn't make any remarks or send anyone to comfort him. He seemed to have abandoned his eldest son.
"Is there any news from the military advisor?" Liu Qi shook his head and put the matter aside for the time being. Liu Biao did not interfere. Cai Hao's assassination would only become more unscrupulous, and he had no time to consider Liu Biao's thoughts.
"General Ma is already at the ferry to meet him, and he is accompanied by nearly a hundred Jinyi guards. They have been secretly ambushing near the ferry. If the lord is in any danger, they will show up to help as soon as possible." Gan Ning said.
"Isn't it a lot more dangerous over there with the military advisor?" Liu Qi turned around and asked.
"The military advisor has sent someone to send a message saying that arrangements have been made and everything will be fine, so the lord must be careful," Gan Ning said.
Liu Qi breathed a sigh of relief and said: "Go and ask the Song envoy to come. He said that he will soon arrive in Xiangyang."
"No." Immediately, two Flying Tiger Guard soldiers went to report it. Not long after, Song Zhong, who was an official, came out surrounded by more than ten guards. After the assassination that day, Song Zhong was killed.
Liu Qi arranged to go on the same big ship. During the period, the two talked many times. Liu Qi admired Song Zhong's talent very much, and Song Zhong also had a better impression of Liu Qi.
"Song Zhong came to see the eldest son. He came late because he had to bathe and change clothes. Please forgive me." After saying this, Song Zhong bowed to Liu Qi.
"Envoy Song, you don't have to be polite. My father sent the envoy Song to greet me, but I frightened the envoy Song on the ship. I have to ask the envoy Song's forgiveness for this."
Song Zhong smiled heartily and said, "Young Master, you're welcome. How about we both stop mentioning what happened that day?"
"Just follow what the envoy from Song Dynasty said." Liu Qi nodded in agreement.
"Envoy Song, I returned early and didn't say hello before. Will my father blame me for being rude?" Liu Qi said with a smile.
"The eldest son is joking. The eldest son has returned. The lord is so happy that he can't blame the eldest son in time. Besides, the eldest son is forced to return early. I think the lord will not blame the general even if he knows about it." Song Zhong waved his hand.
"How does the envoy of the Song Dynasty think we can enter the city?" Liu Qi asked. In the past two days, Liu Qi has been thinking about whether to enter the city secretly or with great fanfare. If he enters the city secretly, he will look a little petty, but if he enters the city with great fanfare,
It will reveal that their goals are not good and the situation will be messed up.
Song Zhong was silent for a while and said: "Do you think you can enter the city secretly at this time?"
"Huh?" Liu Qi looked at Song Zhong for a while and then suddenly realized that although they had speeded up, it was very easy for those wealthy families to find out their whereabouts. Wouldn't it be like clowns to secretly enter the city?
, "Then how does Ambassador Song think we can enter the city?" Since Song Zhong said this, he already had a way to deal with it.
Song Zhong raised his head and said, "My eldest son, why don't you just go into the city as usual. There is no need to make a big show of it, and there is no need to go into the city secretly to hide your whereabouts."
"In that case, just follow what the envoy from Song Dynasty said." Liu Qi took a slight look and figured out the key. Entering the city this way will neither look stingy nor cause chaos, making it easier to deal with.
"Inform all ships and prepare to disembark." Liu Qi immediately ordered the soldiers behind him.
"No." More than ten Flying Tiger Guards immediately went to convey the order. Half an hour later, the soldiers on the more than ten large ships were all ready, and at this time, more than ten large ships had also approached the Xiangyang Ferry.
The formation of more than ten large ships was majestic, and the ships were heavily guarded, giving off an aura of majesty. All the ships near the ferry moved away to make room for Liu Qi and others.
The Xiangyang ferry was very busy and the terrain was open. Even when all ten of Liu Qi's ships docked, the ferry was still not full. People on the shore looked at the ten ships and secretly guessed the identities of the people on board.
Among the crowd, a young man dressed as a guard looked up from time to time. Seeing Liu Qi's big ship, joy flashed in his eyes, and he quietly made a gesture to two vendors not far away.
The vendors nodded vaguely, separated, and slowly thought about approaching the ferry.
The young man was Ma Zhong. When he heard that Liu Qi was about to arrive, Ma Zhong immediately led the Jin Yiwei to come to the rescue. At this time, nearly a hundred Jin Yiwei had been hidden among the surrounding crowds, occupying various favorable terrains to respond immediately if any changes occurred.
In a stone pavilion not far from the ferry, two men in black were drinking tea. One of them was the three leaders who assassinated Liu Qi a few days ago, and opposite him sat a man in his forties.
This middle-aged man, with a white face and a gentle demeanor, seems to be a learned man, and he is the second leader of the black guards.
"It seems that Liu Qi is coming." The second leader said calmly while drinking tea.
The three leaders opposite also smiled slightly and said: "Yes, this Liu Qi has been traveling day and night for the past two days hoping to rush back to Xiangyang. Little did he know that he was here to die. Hundreds of black-clothed guards have been deployed here. It is more than enough to assassinate Liu Qi. Even if
Wang Wei personally came to help, but I'm afraid he couldn't save him."
"Hahaha, I haven't been out and about for a long time, and the weapons in my hands have become a lot different, but I don't have to do it myself to assassinate Liu Qi." The middle-aged man laughed.
"Second brother, what are you talking about? It's more than enough to assassinate Liu Qi's little brother alone. I will teach him how powerful my black-clothed guards are. Second brother can just raid the formation from the side." The three leaders immediately shouted.
"Okay, in that case, I wish the third brother success in advance." The second leader bowed his hands to the third leader, with a bit of teasing in his eyes.
Suddenly the second leader turned his head and said in a deep voice: "Here we come." The third leader on the side was also shocked.