No one would have thought that Liu Mang would send out his troops without even asking for an envoy. Sending out troops meant declaring war. Currently, most of the troops in Jingzhou were in Jiang Xia. Even if there were extra troops, they would be the elite navy and not the army. Starting a war with Liu Mang's Army on land was simply asking for trouble.
"Since things have come to this point, don't any of you have any ideas?" Liu Biao stared coldly at the civil and military officials below.
Jingzhou was not prepared for war. Once war broke out, they would really fall out with Lü Bu. Although Jingzhou was on the other side of the Yangtze River, there were many places that bordered Liu Mang's Army, such as Xinye and Jiang Xia.
"Degui, you say it! What should we do now? Should we send you out to lead the troops, or should we surrender to Xinye? " Liu Biao's eyes were almost filled with anger. Although Xinye was small, it was still a county with eight counties under his command. If he lost Xinye, Liu Biao would be heartbroken.
Pang Tong had entered Xiangyang. Although the Pang Family was powerful in Jingzhou, they were not powerful enough to cover the sky with one hand. If Pang Tong wanted to kill Liu Mang's envoy, how could he do it without Cai Mao's permission? Did he really think that Xiangyang's troops and intelligence officers were useless? Therefore, Cai Mao was the one who instigated the enmity between Liu Biao and Liu Mang's Army.
"This, this!" Cai Mao also did not know what to do. As mentioned before, although Liu Biao wanted to keep the Yangzhou Army in check, he did not want to offend Liu Mang and Lü Bu. Otherwise, he would not have to compensate Liu Mang with provisions instead of gold. If he gave Liu Mang provisions, Liu Mang would definitely accept them. This was because what Liu Mang lacked now was provisions. If he gave Liu Mang gold! How could Liu Mang lack gold? Liu Biao wanted Liu Mang to come to Jingzhou as a hostage. Then, he would sell provisions to Yangzhou to help Yangzhou get through this crisis. After that, he would not care about the grudges between Liu Bei and Liu Mang.
However, Liu Mang directly sent troops. This stunned Liu Biao. He wanted to restrict Liu Mang's Army, not to start a war with Liu Mang. Although Jingzhou's Jingzhou's resources, it would not be able to withstand a war. This was equivalent to pushing the Lvbu's Army to the Jiangdong Army.. Cai Mao regretted not asking about the matter that night because of the daughter. If Liu Mang's envoy was still here, this situation would not have happened.
Although Cai Mao was the military advisor of Jingzhou, he rarely led troops into battle. When Huang Zu was still the governor of Jiang Xia, it was usually Wen Pin who represented Jingzhou. But now, Wen Pin was sent to Jiang Xia. Jingzhou had many talents, but these talents were rarely loyal to Liu Biao. Even if there were, Liu Biao did not know who they were. For example, Wang Wei, Huo Jun, Huang Zhong, and Gan Ning were either good generals or fierce generals. However, Liu Biao could not use any of them. Wang Wei, Huang Zhong, and Gan Ning were currently in Liu Mang's Army, while Huo Jun was in Jiang Xia.
If Liu Mang attacked Xinye, there would be no good general to resist Liu Mang's Army. Cai Mao had Zhang Yun, but Zhang Yun was a naval general. Liu Mang's Army would not engage in naval warfare with him.
"Huang She, what about you? What do you think? " Liu Biao looked at another person. This person was an old acquaintance of the Lvbu's Army. He was the son of the governor of Jiang Xia, Huang Zu, Huang She. This Huang She was really a blessing to the Lvbu's Army. It was this person who cheated his father and caused his father, Huang Zu, to lose his integrity in his old age. It was not the first time that Huang She had killed an envoy. Last time, the envoy of the Lvbu's Army was also killed by Huang She. This also led to the Lü Bu's capture of Huangzhou and the start of the war in Jiang Xia. Originally, the Lvbu's Army would have been blocked in Huangzhou by Huang Zhong, a veteran general, and the Jiang Xia's Army. It was also this Huang She who destroyed the Great Wall in order to seize power and forced Huang Zhong, a general, to join the Lü Bu's Army. Huang She also firmly slandered Liu Mang's faction in Yangzhou. He was basically on the same side as Cai Mao and Pang Tong.
"Milord, there is no need to panic. As long as Milord gives me 10,000 troops, I will definitely defeat the enemy and let Yangzhou Liu Mang have a taste of the glory of Jingzhou's men!" Huang She was still the same. He was crazy about military power. Because of Huang She's deceitful behavior, his father was also very vigilant about Huang She joining the army. Therefore, while Huang Zu went to Changsha, he left Huang She in Xiangyang and let him work under Liu Biao as a civilian.
"10,000 troops!" Liu Biao was so angry that he laughed. Did Huang She really think that he was a grandson or the God of War Bai Qi? Even if he was a grandson, he did not have the confidence to use 10,000 troops to fight against the enemy's elite cavalry. With Huang She's numerous misdeeds, how could Liu Biao send troops to him? 10,000 troops? Even a hundred thousand soldiers and horses would not be enough for him to throw away. It was truly a case of a tiger father and a dog son. His father, Huang Zu, was a valiant general. Back then, he had even shot down Sun Jian, the fierce tiger of Changsha. All these years, because of his old age, his body could no longer support him. That was why he was suppressed.
If he is just a mere trash, then it would be better. At least he has some self-awareness. But this idiot's heart is higher than the sky. He has always thought that he is a genius with great ambition. Even the last time he lost to Lu Bu's army, he thought that it was Huang Zhong's scheme. Huang Zhong was disloyal, otherwise he would have won.
"Go down!" Liu Biao simply could not stand it. If he saw Huang She again, he did not dare to imagine whether he would pull out his sword and chop him up.
"Haha, haha!" While the civil and military officials present were frowning, only one person was laughing in his heart. This person was Liu Bei's envoy from Yuzhou, Liu Bei's Army's military advisor, Pang Tong.
Of course, Pang Tong was happy. He originally came to Jingzhou to ask for grain. However, when he saw the envoy from Liu Mang's Army, he learned from Ban Chao and killed the envoy in order to make Jingzhou's Liu Biao and Yangzhou's Liu Mang start a war. However, who would have thought that Jingzhou's Liu Biao was a cautious person. Regardless of whether the envoy was killed by Liu Biao or not, Liu Biao could have ignored Yangzhou's Liu Mang. However, Liu Biao still sent over ten thousand shi of grain as an apology. Pang Tong had offended Liu Mang, but he was afraid of offending Liu Mang. Therefore, he asked his chief strategist, Kuai Yue. Kuai Yue's plan was to let Liu Mang personally come to Jingzhou to discuss the matter of grain. Although Pang Tong was unwilling, he was able to let Liu Biao's Army put Liu Mang under house arrest. When he arrived at Jingzhou, he would naturally have the opportunity to deal with Liu Mang.
Now, Liu Mang actually ordered his army to go south. Wasn't this exactly what Pang Tong wanted? Fight, fight! Pang Tong could not wait for Liu Biao and Liu Mang to fight. Once the war started, Liu Biao would definitely give his lord, Liu Bei, food! Not only would the problem of grain be solved, but they would also be able to take over Xinye. With the support of Jingzhou's money and grain, they could even take over Yangzhou. Why not?
"What's the current situation in Yidu?" After circling around, Liu Biao could only look at Kuai Yue. Kuai Liang did not participate in the meeting because he was angry at Liu Biao's actions. How many opportunists had good endings? As Kuai Liang's elder brother, Kuai Yue was also very helpless. When he saw his lord, Liu Biao, asking him, he immediately stood up and said, "My lord needs to be polite first. Send a messenger to bring my lord's letter to ask His Highness, the King Of Shu, what's the matter? It would be great if we could bury the hatchet! " “
"How can we bury the hatchet?" Liu Biao smiled bitterly and shook his head. The messenger was killed. Although Liu Biao had given compensation, the people who sent the grain were from the Cai Family. It was obvious that their attitude towards the Yangzhou Army was equivalent to charity. Previously, when Jingzhou sat on the mountain to watch the tigers fight, he had already angered Liu Mang. Liu Mang had allowed Wei Yan to take over Jingzhou's Yiyang and Zaoyang Cities. Liu Biao knew that he was in the wrong and did not say anything. This time, it was even worse. If it was just not selling the grain, it would be fine. However, even the messenger was dead. Yet, he still wanted Liu Mang to come personally. If this was not a humiliation, what was Liu Biao was not confident of burying the hatchet?
Burying the hatchet? How could Pang Tong give him this opportunity? He gave a look to a scholar from the Lumen Academy who nodded and walked forward.
"Milord, since things have already reached this stage, how can Liu Mang let this go? Based on my plan, instead of sending a messenger, why don't we send troops to fight Liu Mang to the death in Xinye? "
"If we can't bury the hatchet, then we can only use our troops! Sending a messenger is a form of etiquette. We cannot lose our etiquette. " Kuai Yue looked at the scholar from the Lumen Academy and said. The Lumen Academy was determined to make Jingzhou and Yangzhou go to war. Although Kuai Yue was unhappy, he did not show it. "As for the troops, we will send them to Xinye and wait for the enemy to arrive on the other side of the Yangtze River. Also, Shiyuan, Lord Xuande's troops should not have any horses in Nanshan, right? "Kuai Yue looked at Pang Tong.
Pang Tong was delighted when he saw Kuai Yue's gaze. He cupped his fist and said, "Liu Jingzhou and Mister Yidu, please be at ease. My lord, Lord Xuande, will not sit idly by as Liu Mang invades Jingzhou. As long as the soldiers can eat their fill, they will die for him!"
Pang Tong's words sounded grand, but in reality, he was revealing a message. Give them rations! The soldiers could only fight if they were full. Pang Tong originally came to Jingzhou to buy rations, but now, he did not mention money. As long as Liu Mang sent troops, Liu Biao would definitely need Liu Bei's help. Then, the rations that Liu Bei lacked would not be a problem. As long as Liu Biao gave them a little, Liu Bei's Army would have enough.
Once the rations problem was solved, they could continue to ask for weapons and armor. With such a big boss in front of them, it would be a waste if they did not eat it.
The most important thing was to make Liu Biao's Army and Liu Mang's Army become enemies.
"Oh?" Kuai Yue narrowed his eyes and sized up Pang Tong. Back then, Liu Biao dared to raise Zhang Xiu and give him all the money and rations because Zhang Xiu did not know how to govern and was not ambitious enough. However, Liu Bei was different. Liu Bei's ability to bewitch people was very strong. Sun Qian, Jian Yong, and the others under him were talents who could govern a region. If such people were to be raised by Jingzhou's rations, they would not be able to do anything. However, what could be done? Yangzhou's Liu Mang had already sent out his troops. Kuai Yue was also shaking his head. Why was the King Of Shu so impulsive? If Liu Mang came to Jingzhou, he could solve Yangzhou's rations problem and gather Yangzhou's strength to deal with Liu Bei in Yuzhou. As long as the Lvbu's Army existed, even if Liu Biao controlled Liu Mang, he would not dare to touch Liu Mang. He even had to treat Liu Mang well. As long as he showed that he was cooperating with Jiangdong, Liu Biao would probably send Liu Mang back.
However, the King Of Shu was too reckless this time. He could not endure it and directly sent out his troops. Although Liu Mang sent out his troops, the one who benefited was Yuzhou's Liu Bei.
Kuai Yue could not change Liu Mang's decision. The only thing he could do was to arrange Jingzhou's rations well and reduce Liu Bei's rations as much as possible.
"Then, Shiyuan, please help me thank Xuande!" Liu Biao said to Pang Tong. He did not want to start a war with Liu Mang. Although Jingzhou was rich, it would not be able to withstand such a war. Xinye was the North Gate's barrier, while Jiangxia was the East Gate's barrier. Now that they were facing enemies from both sides, it was difficult to endure. Liu Biao did not want to lose Xinye. Xinye was still a county. How many officials could be placed in a county? How many nobles could be appeased? Once Xinye was broken, this power would be diluted.
"This is what my Lord should do!" Pang Tong smiled and accepted Liu Biao's gratitude. Yangzhou's Liu Mang was Liu Bei's enemy. It was only a matter of time before they started a war. Now that Jingzhou was providing the rations, soldiers, and armor, it was equivalent to Liu Bei using Jingzhou's money to do his own thing. Liu Biao thanked Liu Bei. In reality, it was Liu Bei thanking Liu Biao for his generosity.
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