In the end, Liu Mang decided to give the position of Xinye Prefect to Liu Biao's eldest son, Liu Qi. After all, Liu Qi was someone who had helped him before. When he first arrived in Jingzhou, Liu Mang's first ally was Liu Mang. However, Liu Qi's strength was too weak, so he could only rely on Liu Mang. In order to gain Lady Cai's trust, Liu Mang even sold Liu Qi out.
If Liu Mang accepted Xinye, then the current Governor of Xinye would be transferred away. The current Governor of Xinye was Liu Qi. The other generals and officials of Xinye did not care as it was just a change of position. Liu Qi, on the other hand, was different. If Xinye belonged to Yangzhou, then Liu Qi would have no place to go. Originally, the Cai Family and the Lao Family wanted to kick Liu Qi out so that Liu Qi would be in the center of Jingzhou. In Jingzhou, there were four border regions. In the east was Jiangxia. Now that Jiangxia was at war, Liu Qi could not go there. In the south, Changsha was the territory of the Huang Family. It was impossible for the Huang Family to place Liu Qi there. When the time comes, who would listen to him would be a problem. Who would want to be the local emperor and have a retired emperor as their leader?
As for Nanyang Prefecture, the Zhang family was waiting for an opportunity to turn themselves into an aristocratic family. How could they let Liu Qi go there? Therefore, once Xinye was given to Yangzhou, Liu Qi would be considered to have been demoted.
No matter what, Liu Mang and Liu Qi were friends. Liu Qi was an honest person. Liu Mang wouldn't go too far.
"Milord, will Liu Biao agree to let Liu Qi continue to be the Prefect of Xinye?" Jia Xu asked doubtfully. One must know that Liu Biao was Liu Biao's son. No matter what, he was still a successor. Now that his son was going to be the Prefect of Yangzhou, Liu Biao might not agree. After all, he was living under someone else's roof.
"Liu Biao will agree!" Liu Mang said with a smile. Although Liu Biao wasn't willing, the other nobles in Jing Province would definitely agree. Especially the Cai Family and the Feng Family. They probably couldn't wait for Liu Mang to leave Jing Province. Now that Liu Mang had given them an opportunity, how could they not grasp it?
"What we need now is whether Brother Liu Qi agrees or not." Liu Mang said to Jia Xu. It was all up to Liu Qi. If Liu Qi was not willing, Liu Mang would not be able to convince him. "Brush, ink, paper, and inkstone! I'll write a letter to Brother Liu Qi. Wen He, quickly send it to Xinye. "
Soon, Liu Mang finished writing the letter and gave it to Jia Xu. Then, Jia Xu sent someone to deliver it to Xinye.
When Liu Qi received Liu Mang's letter, he couldn't help but read it. Everything written in it was Liu Mang's true feelings for Liu Qi. Liu Qi was an honest person. He didn't have much ambition. Even if he had ambition, he wouldn't be able to realize it. What Liu Qi learned was self-preservation. He wanted to do something for the people. Because of this, the people in Xinye were still living a good life. Liu Mang had no reason to let such a talented person go. In the letter, Liu Mang told Liu Qi that once Liu Qi chose to stay and join the Yangzhou Army, then Liu Qi would have no chance to become the Lord of Jingzhou. The nobles in Jingzhou wouldn't support someone who was a subordinate of another Marquis. It could be said that Liu Qi would be completely removed from Jingzhou's officialdom.
Liu Mang also said that even if Liu Qi chose to leave, he wouldn't be able to become the Lord of Jingzhou. In Jingzhou, his second brother had the support of the Cai Family and the Zong Family. Liu Qi had no chance of winning. The Huang Family also wouldn't choose Liu Qi. Although the Huang Family and the Cai Family didn't get along, Liu Biao used it to keep the Cai Family in check. In the end, it would be left to his second brother, Liu Zong. If Liu Qi insisted on going back, then there would be no other way for him, only death.
It wasn't easy for Liu Mang to convince Madam Cai to let Liu Qi go. If Liu Qi went back, then Liu Mang wouldn't be able to protect him. After all, he couldn't start a war with Jingzhou just because of Liu Mang.
"Master, the carriage has been prepared. Madam asked me to ask you when we're leaving. " The steward came in and asked Liu Qi respectfully. His master was originally the governor of Xinye. Now that Xinye was going to belong to Yangzhou, his master's position as governor was going to come to an end. Without the governor's position, he naturally had to move out of the governor's residence and return to Jingzhou.
The housekeeper had been in Liu Qi's house for a long time. His master could still take care of himself in Xinye, but if he returned to Xiangyang, he would have to go back to being a recluse. He had to be careful everywhere. Otherwise, if he was caught, he would have a hard time living in peace.
"Ma Dong, do you think it's better for me to stay in Xinye or go back to Xiangyang?" Liu Qi asked the housekeeper.
The housekeeper replied without hesitation, "Of course it's better for you to stay in Xinye." After saying that, he realized that he had misspoken. As a servant, how could he interfere with his master's decision? "I'll listen to you, Master."
However, Liu Qi didn't blame Ma Dong. "Do you think it's better for you to stay in Xinye?" Liu Qi felt helpless and smiled bitterly. No matter what, Jingzhou was his home. However, this home had never given him any warmth. Liu Qi knew that he would be monitored again when he went back to Xiangyang. His every move would be watched by the Cai family. As the eldest son of Jingzhou, he hadn't seen his father for more than a year.
If he went back to Jingzhou, he would be put under house arrest. However, he could move freely in Xinye. After thinking about it, Liu Qi nodded and made a decision. "Ma Dong, let the boatman go back."
"Master?" Ma Dong didn't understand. What was wrong with Master? The things had already been loaded and they were about to leave Xinye for Xiangyang. Was Master not leaving?
"Your master is not leaving!" Sure enough, just as Ma Dong had guessed, his master, Liu Qi, was not leaving.
"Master, you're not leaving?" Ma Dong was stunned for a moment, then a trace of joy appeared on his face. If Liu Qi wasn't leaving, then so be it. After all, he would suffer if he went back to Xiangyang. He might as well stay in Xinye. After all, Liu Qi had some extra money over the years. He could use this money to become a rich man in Xinye. "Master, I'll go inform the boatman now. At the same time, I'll ask around if there are any properties in Xinye for sale." Xinye belonged to Yangzhou. Naturally, the gentry in Jingzhou would have to migrate. The properties they left behind weren't expensive and were ready to be sold. "This time, we must move to a bigger house."
"Move to a bigger house?" Liu Qi was stunned for a moment. However, he reacted with a smile and said, "There's no need to move to a bigger house. This governor's residence is quite good. "Liu Qi still had some feelings for the Xinye governor's residence.
"Yes, this governor's residence is quite good!" Ma Dong also nodded. After living here for so many years, it would be a lie to say that he didn't have feelings for it. However, he still had to move.
"Why do we have to move?"
"Master, the new governor will be living here." The governor's residence wasn't a private property. Ma Dong tactfully reminded his master that the Xinye governor was going to be an official of Yangzhou.
"Haha, that's right. The new governor will be staying in the governor's residence. Ma Dong, why aren't you putting down the things on the carriage? Otherwise, where are you going to sleep at night? Your master still has to work."
"Ah ah ah?" Ma Dong pointed at Liu Qi and was speechless. "Master, you are the Xinye governor?"
"What's wrong? Don't I look like one? I was in the past, I am still in the present. As for the future, I don't know. "
"But, but!" Ma Dong wanted to say that the current Xinye governor was an official of Yangzhou. Master, you are the eldest son of Jingzhou. They are two completely different people.
"Your master, I, am going to write a letter to the governor of Jingzhou." Liu Qi's heart couldn't help but ache when he mentioned the governor of Jingzhou. His son couldn't be filial to his father and had to be an official of another family. This was a type of irony.
"Master!" Ma Dong wasn't a fool. Otherwise, he wouldn't have become Liu Qi's housekeeper. Liu Qi was now a governor. Ma Dong could naturally see the bleakness on his master's face. Whether it was because of the Cai family or Liu Biao's family, his master wanted to be filial to his father, but he was rejected time and time again.
Liu Qi didn't want to stay in Xinye and be an official. It was just that the situation forced him to.
"Master, will he be an official of Yangzhou in the future?" Ma Dong still wanted to persuade his master. No matter what, his master was still the successor of Jingzhou. After the Governor of Jingzhou passed away, his master also had the right to inherit. However, once he joined Yangzhou, he would have no chance of inheriting the position.
"What's wrong with Yangzhou? Isn't Yangzhou also under Great Han? "Liu Qi had thought it through. Since his father didn't like him, why should he go back and make things uncomfortable? Why not stay in Xinye? His Highness the King Of Shu?
Liu Qi looked at the letter on the table and thought of that person. Liu Qi and the King Of Shu weren't close friends. They only had a long conversation. Liu Qi could see that the King Of Shu's Yangzhou was full of vitality. Xinye was a necessary place for business between Jingzhou and Yangzhou. Liu Qi also saw many scholars from Jingzhou moving to Yangzhou. Many merchants even sold their businesses in Jingzhou and went to Yangzhou. Liu Qi saw this but didn't say anything. Right now, Liu Qi wanted to be like those scholars and make a good career in Yangzhou.
"Father, Jingzhou! I'll let you see. Without Jingzhou, I, Liu Qi, can still make a career! The position of Jingzhou's Magistrate will be mine sooner or later! "Liu Qi's fighting spirit was ignited. He remembered what Liu Mang said to him. If Jingzhou was under Yangzhou, then the position of Jingzhou's Magistrate would be his.
"Master, I'll go and pack up." Ma Dong looked at his master. He hadn't seen his master like this for a long time. He didn't know if it was a good thing to join Yangzhou, but it wasn't a bad thing.
… …
"Is Moran not coming back?" Liu Biao looked at the letter sent from Xinye and asked with a bit of sadness.
Cai Mao and the others did not immediately say anything. The one who said that was Liu Biao's eldest son, Liu Qi's courtesy name.
Nanyang Prefecture had begun withdrawing their troops from Xinye. They were preparing to switch positions with Liu Mang's Yangzhou Army. Who would have thought that the Governor of Xinye would stay behind and not come back?
If it was someone else, it wouldn't have caused such a big reaction. However, the Governor of Xinye had another identity, Liu Qi. Cai Mao was laughing in his heart. The King Of Shu was really generous. Exchanging Xinye for Nanyang Prefecture was a good deal in Cai Mao's eyes. This was because the Nanyang Prefecture could allow his little brother, the Zhang family, to become an aristocratic family. In this way, the alliance of the Zhang family, the Cai family, and the Zhang family would have 70% of the authority in Jingzhou. He didn't expect the King Of Shu to send such a gift.
Liu Qi couldn't come back to Jingzhou. Now, there was only one successor left in Jingzhou, and that was his nephew, Liu Biao. The position of the Lord of Jingzhou was already set in stone. However, Cai Mao couldn't laugh out loud because Liu Biao had already shown his affection for him. If he laughed out loud at this time, wouldn't he be looking for trouble?
"Milord, Young Master Liu Qi is already 30 years old. Perhaps Young Master Liu Qi wants to do something for Milord." Someone comforted Liu Biao.
"Yes, he is already 30 years old!" Liu Biao's eyes revealed his affection for his eldest son. Liu Biao was only born a few years ago, but his eldest son had accompanied him for most of his life. How could he not have feelings for him?
Seeing Liu Biao's affection for his son, Cai Mao couldn't help but thank the King Of Shu and Liu Mang. He was going to invite Liu Mang to the banquet after this. His Lord's affection for his eldest son was very deep. If Liu Biao was still in Jingzhou, it would be a joke if Liu Biao passed the Jingzhou throne to Liu Qi. However, the threat was much smaller now.
"Milord, isn't Young Master Liu Qi in Yangzhou the same as in Jingzhou? We are allies with His Highness King of Shu. If Milord misses Young Master Liu Qi, all you need to do is send a letter and Young Master Liu Qi will come back! Under my Lord's command, Liu Qi will not let go no matter what. " Cai Mao stepped forward and said to Liu Biao. Now, Cai Mao was praising Liu Qi as a filial son. In any case, Liu Qi was no longer a threat to him, so it didn't matter if he praised him a few more times.
"Yes!" Liu Biao was also sad. When he was young, Liu Biao wasn't the governor of Jingzhou yet. At that time, Liu Biao said that he wanted to be a high official, higher than his father, and be filial to his father. Liu Biao's eyes were almost red.
"I'm afraid that's not the case!" A harsh voice came from the other side.
"It's him again?" The group of civil and military officials looked at the person who spoke. Wasn't that the eldest son of the Huang family, Huang She? He was simply an awkward person.
"My Lord, you are already old. You must be careful not to listen to slander." Huang She's words basically showed his ending. Liu Biao was pretending to be old. However, the older a person was, the more they didn't like to hear others say that they were old. Huang She was saying that he was old and useless.
Liu Biao's face was gloomy, but Huang She didn't see it. He continued, "My Lord, Yangzhou is a wolf with wild ambitions. Perhaps he didn't want Liu Qi to stay, and the King Of Shu, Liu Mang, just wants to learn from my Lord and keep the hostage."
"Pfft!" The group of civil and military officials below almost vomited blood. Who was this Huang She's subordinate? Although Jingzhou kept the King Of Shu, Liu Mang, and didn't let Liu Mang go back, it was true that they wanted to keep Liu Mang as a hostage. However, this could only be said secretly. On the surface, they wanted to keep the King Of Shu as a guest.
However, Huang She wasn't wrong. If Liu Qi was really deliberately kept, then it was possible that Yangzhou was prepared to keep the hostage.
If this was really the case, Cai Mao would be happy. Liu Qi's death was in Cai Mao's best interest. However, Cai Mao still stood up, "My Lord, the punishment for you last time wasn't enough, right? Liu Mang was Cai Mao's ally. Naturally, Cai Mao stood up for Liu Mang.
"Did I say anything wrong? Military Advisor Cai, I'm afraid that some people can't wait for Liu Mang to not come back! "Huang She knew that Cai Mao would help Liu Mang, so he was not polite to Cai Mao.
"You!" Cai Mao pointed at Huang She and couldn't say anything. Cai Mao also couldn't argue. After all, it was a fact that he supported Liu Zong. After all, his uncle naturally supported his nephew. This battle for the successor could only be discussed secretly and not openly.
"My Lord, Mao's loyalty to my Lord can be seen by the sun and the moon." Cai Mao simply didn't argue and directly knelt in front of Liu Biao.
"Hmph, Military Advisor Cai, did I say anything wrong?" Huang She stood up proudly. He was very happy to see Cai Mao kneeling in front of Liu Biao in fear and trepidation.
"Shut up!" Liu Biao on the stage suddenly became angry and directly threw the letter in his hand at Huang She's face.
"My Lord?" Huang She was stunned.
"Huang She, let me tell you. If it wasn't for your father, Huang Zu, I would have already taken you out and beheaded you." Liu Biao burst out in anger. They were originally using affection for each other, but Huang She turned it into fratricide. Do you think Liu Biao is willing to see this? Yuan Shao's two sons killed here and there. Liu Biao was already very uncomfortable.
"My Lord, I'm here." Huang She also knelt down and looked at Liu Biao. He still wanted to argue.
"Open your dog eyes and take a good look at that letter!" Liu Biao pointed at the letter and said to Huang She. Huang She picked up the letter and read it. After reading it, he realized where he was wrong.
How was this coercion? This was completely voluntary. The Yangzhou Army had not reached Xinye yet. Right now, Xinye was just the Jingzhou Army retreating.
Where did this coercion come from? Liu Qi was completely willing to stay in Yangzhou. In the letter, he also wrote that his father did not need to worry about him and that he would do well in the King Of Shu to show his father.
Huang She said that there was a conspiracy. This Huang She was thinking too much. It would be strange if Liu Biao gave Huang She face.
"My Lord, please forgive me. Please forgive me!" Huang She knew that he was completely different from Liu Biao. He also knew that he was wrong and knelt down.
"Men, drag this person away and put him in prison!" It was impossible to kill Huang She, but it was still possible to put Huang She in prison and make him suffer.
"My Lord, my Lord!" Huang She screamed miserably as he was dragged away. However, no one sympathized with him.
"My Lord, why don't you reply to the Eldest Young Master?" Cai Mao was really good at flattering. Liu Biao was feeling guilty towards his eldest son. He could write a letter to express his guilt and also show that he was a father and son.
"I want him back, I want him back!" Liu Biao picked up a brush and ink. It was fine if he did not write, but once he wrote, he wrote thousands of words. It was all about a father's love for his son. Liu Biao almost let Liu Qi come back. Thinking about it, they had not seen each other for many years. Fortunately, Liu Qi was no longer in Yangzhou. Otherwise, Cai Mao would be even more vigilant.
His Highness the King Of Shu was really a good person. Helping the Cai family could be considered as removing the last stumbling block.
Thinking about this, Cai Mao's gratitude towards Liu Mang became deeper.
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