"Madam, forgive me, Liu Mang, Liu Hanyang, for speaking frankly. Even if your brother exchanged Jingzhou for the wealth of the Cai Family, I would like to ask, what will you and Liu Zong do?" Liu Mang looked at Madam Cai with his bright eyes.
"Will I be the Magistrate of Jingzhou under Mr. Cao?"
"Is that so? Is that possible? " Liu Mang sneered. "Jingzhou has already been given away by the Cai Family. Do you think Cao Mengde will let Liu Zong be the Magistrate of Jingzhou? Jingzhou was a fertile land. Not only did Jiangdong want it, Cao Mengde also wanted it. Even the nobles who lived in Yanzhou with Cao Mengde also wanted it! Madam, do you think Liu Zong can keep his position as the Magistrate of Jingzhou? "Liu Mang sneered.
"To put it bluntly, you and your mother will be superfluous in Jingzhou. In order to fully take over Jingzhou, Liu Zong will have to move to Xudu. As for you, Madam, you will be a plaything of Cao Cao and Cao Mengde. You won't even be able to keep your name!" Liu Zong was Liu Biao's son. Even if he was the youngest son, the father inherited the son's business. The foundation of Jingzhou that Liu Biao left behind should belong to Liu Zong and Liu Qi. Just as Madam Cai was afraid of Liu Qi, Cao Cao was also afraid of Liu Zong. This was because Liu Zong was the rightful Magistrate of Jingzhou, while Cao Cao was just occupying Nestle. In order to make those ambitious people or those loyal to Liu Biao give up, Liu Zong's ending would not be good.
There were many such people in history. Let's not talk about the distant ones. Let's talk about the recent ones. Both of Tao Qian's sons disappeared without a trace. Liu Mang knew that Lu Bu did not kill Tao Qian's two sons. At that time, when Old Cao almost conquered Xu Province, Tao Qian's two sons completely disappeared.
It went without saying who did it. It was Liu Bei, Liu Big-eared. Tao Qian offered the entire Xuzhou City to take over his two sons and the entire Tao Family. However, in the end, not to mention the Tao Family's status as a landowning household, he couldn't even protect his two sons. The entire Tao Family was destroyed. Cao Cao and Cao Mengde were more ambitious and ruthless than Liu Bei. After conquering Jingzhou, would Liu Zong still be alive?
In history, Liu Biao had two sons. Liu Qi and Liu Bei used Liu Qi's name to conquer Jingzhou. A few months later, Liu Qi died of illness. Liu Zong was moved away by Cao Cao after the Cai Family took over Jingzhou. He became the provincial governor of Qingzhou and disappeared from history.
In history, the most tolerant person was Zhao Kuangyin, Emperor Taizu of the Song Dynasty. He gave the Chai family the greatest honor, the Red Ink Iron Certificate. It was not a rebellion, but it was not a criminal law. However, it was inevitable to be monitored. Even so, Chai Jin still went to Liangshan. It showed that in the face of power, all friendship and credit were fake.
"In the end, Madam died. I, Liu Mang, don't know if Madam's tombstone will be inscribed with Madam Liu Mang or Madam Cao!" Liu Mang's sarcastic words made Madam Cai speechless.
"In short, Madam did something for the Cai Family, but in the end, she didn't even have the qualifications to enter the ancestral tomb of the Cai Family! You can only waste your youth for nothing! " In ancient times, the status of women was very low. A married woman was like spilled water. She couldn't return to her mother's home. Even if she died, she wouldn't be buried in the ancestral tomb. She wouldn't even have a name after death.
"But the Cai Family is where I was born and raised!" Madam Cai's eyes were filled with confusion. Liu Mang was right. She helped the Cai Family, but in the end, what did she get in return? In the Book of Rites, the Three Obedience and Four Virtues were written as follows: "Before marriage, obey the father. Once married, obey the husband. If the husband dies, obey the son." A woman's life was very simple. Madam Cai didn't have any feelings for her husband, but she did give birth to her son. Even if she didn't care about herself, she had to think about her son.
Madam Cai's elder brother, Cai Mao, treated her well. The Cai Family also treated her well. That was why Madam Cai hesitated.
Seeing her hesitation, Liu Mang continued, "Madam, you've already repaid your debt to the Cai Family. You've spent decades of your youth. That's more than enough for you to repay your debt." Without Madam Cai's sacrifice, the Cai Family wouldn't have reached this level. Cai Mao was Jingzhou's military advisor, with hundreds of thousands of troops under his command. He was also in charge of Jingzhou's finances. If Cai Mao had any ambitions, he could've become independent. That was why Liu Biao had used Huang Zu to keep him in check.
Madam Cai had used her youth to exchange for all of this. A woman's most prosperous period was between sixteen and twenty-six years old. Madam Cai had already contributed the essence of her life to the Cai Family. It was enough for her to repay her debt.
"So, Madam, are you still hesitating?"
"But!" A woman's hesitation was the biggest weakness of a woman.
"Madam, you have two choices. First, you can give up everything for the Cai Family, including yourself and Young Master Liu Zong's status as a plaything. Second, Young Master Liu Zong will die a horrible death!"
"No, I don't want that!" When Lady Cai heard Liu Mang's words, Meng De shook his head. She could sacrifice herself, she could do anything for the Cai Clan. However, her son, Liu Zong, was her everything.
"Then there's another choice." Liu Mang's lips curled up. "That is to form an alliance with Yangzhou. Cao Cao and Jiangdong's Sun Ce can coexist with each other! "
"What if Yangzhou has the ambition of a wolf?" Madam Cai glared at Liu Mang. Liu Mang's words scared her, but she was more afraid of falling into the hands of a hungry wolf. She would die either way. It was better to die early.
"Don't worry, Madam. As long as Jingzhou has Madam, Yangzhou has me, Liu Mang. As long as Jingzhou doesn't attack Yangzhou, Yangzhou will not invade us. Madam, do you think Yangzhou has a chance of annexing Jingzhou in the face of Cao Cao's strong enemy? Without the lips, the teeth will feel cold. I believe Madam Cai knows this. "Liu Mang explained to Madam Cai.
Although Madam Cai knew that the agreement between the vassals was fake and could be torn down at any time, she still believed it. There were two reasons. First, Yangzhou should consider how to prevent itself from being annexed by Cao Cao instead of plotting against an ally. Secondly, Yangzhou did not have a strong navy. Even if Liu Mang's Gan Ning's navy destroyed 30,000 Jiangdong's navy, it was only a few thousand soldiers. Jiangdong still had two elite forces and Jiangxia had even more navy. If they were to risk their lives, the 100,000 strong navy would be useless against Gan Ning's navy.
Madam Cai was tempted. She looked at Liu Mang and thought that it was a good idea to form an alliance with Yangzhou. Not only would she be able to get rid of Sun Ce, but she would also be able to rely on external help. As long as Liu Mang was not destroyed, Jingzhou would be safe. Even if Yangzhou was destroyed, Cao Cao would be greatly weakened. After all, Lü Bu was not someone to be trifled with. Otherwise, Cao Mengde would not be unable to sleep soundly because of the tiger's escape. At the very least, it would guarantee Jingzhou's safety for 20 years. Why not?
"I agree to your alliance!" Madam Cai nodded and said to Liu Mang.
"Are you serious?" Liu Mang's eyes flashed.
"Why would I, the Madam of Jingzhou, lie to you, the King Of Shu? Aren't you afraid of being disrespected by the King Of Shu? "Madam Cai rolled her eyes at Liu Mang. "But I have to say this first! Jingzhou's provisions are not for free. You have to buy them for the King Of Shu! "
"Of course, of course!" Liu Mang was simply ecstatic. What Yangzhou was lacking right now was provisions and fodder! The one thing they didn't lack the least was money. Buying provisions would solve the biggest crisis in Yangzhou. Once they survived this year, then after next year, Yangzhou would be self-sufficient. The population of one million people would truly belong to Yangzhou. It wouldn't be like a heavy bomb hanging in the air that could bury the entire Yangzhou at any time.
Once Yangzhou is on the right track, then Lu Bu would have to make plans with Liu Bei. Lu Bu would also be able to expand his territory and not be unable to satisfy his own rule like he is now.
"Leave it to me!" Madam Cai nodded. Liu Mang was rich. He just wanted to buy provisions. He was not like Liu Bei of Yuzhou. Madam Cai only said a few good words in front of Liu Biao. She would still take the money.
"If that's the case, Liu Mang will take his leave!" Since Liu Mang had solved his biggest problem, he was naturally ecstatic. As long as the provisions were sold to Yangzhou, his task would be completed.
Just as Liu Mang was about to leave, Madam Cai stopped Liu Mang. "Wait!"
"Huh?" Liu Mang looked at Madam Cai suspiciously. "Madam Cai, do you have something else to say?"
"Come here!" Madam Cai waved at Liu Mang.
Liu Mang walked over to Madam Cai's bed. As soon as he sat down, Liu Mang's eyes widened. Madam Cai had pressed him down on the bed.
Lady Cai had already jumped out of her bed, and her clothes, including her undergarment, were nowhere to be seen.
"This time, you're on top!" Madam Cai's face was red as she whispered into Liu Mang's ear. The poison in her body had not been completely detoxified. She was the one who sold the Drunken Immortal Dew, so she knew the dangers of an incomplete detoxification. Therefore, she directly pressed Liu Mang on top of her and started galloping on the grassland.
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