After three rounds of wine, Liu Bei could no longer take it. Under the Kuai Family's good intentions, Liu Bei stayed in the Kuai Manor to rest.
His clothes were completely soaked. If he squeezed a little, he could even squeeze out some water. Of course, this was not sweat, but the fine wine from the banquet just now.
"Mister Kuai Liang, we will take our leave first!"
"Take care, take care!" Kuai Liang felt at home during his birthday celebration. The servants of the Kuai Clan floated the heads of the landowning clans onto the carriages. Kuai Liang stood at the door and watched them leave with a smile on his face.
After sending off the last Patriarch, Kuai Liang stepped into the hall.
His elder brother, Kuai Yue, was already waiting for him. Another person also appeared. It was the Patriarch of the Cai Family, Cai Mao, Cai Desi.
"Brother Desi!" Kuai Liang greeted Cai Mao.
Cai Mao walked over and bowed apologetically to Kuai Liang, "Brother Zi Rou, I am sorry for not being able to come today. I hope Brother Zi Rou will not take offense!" Cai Mao was apologetic because he was not able to come today. According to the relationship between the Cai Family and the Kuai Family, he had to be present at the birthday celebration.
"It's fine. It's fine. Since Brother Desi has already made up his mind, I am very grateful. " Kuai Liang was very magnanimous. He knew that Cai Mao wasn't here today because he was busy. The business between Yangzhou and Jingzhou all started from Nanyang County. With Cai Mao as a middleman, he could easily earn a lot of money.
Another reason was to avoid arousing suspicion. You should know that the Cai family and the Feng family already made Huang She feel uneasy. If Cai Mao came today, then the surveillance of the Cai family and the Feng family would be even deeper. Therefore, Cai Mao didn't come and instead sent a representative.
"Where is Liu Bei now?" Cai Mao asked Kuai Yue. Kuai Yue was the Kuai Family's Patriarch.
"Ran 'er, go and call Liu Bei over!"
"Liu Bei is drunk today. He should be asleep!" Kuai Ran replied.
"Hehe, he's asleep!" Cai Pa, Yue Kuai Liang, and the other two smiled at each other.
"Ran 'er, go ahead and call him. If he's drunk, then he's not Liu Bei, Liu Xuande! Kuai Liang waved his hand at his nephew. Kuai Ran was still young and inexperienced.
"Hmm? Although Kuai Ran did not understand, he still sent someone to Liu Bei's room.
Sure enough, as the three of them expected, Liu Bei quickly tidied himself up and came over. He had even just finished bathing and changed into a new set of clothes. There is no need to explain why he changed his clothes. Every time they toasted each other, our friend Liu Bei would feed the wine in his cup to his own clothes. Naturally, it would be uncomfortable for him to be soaked all over.
Seeing that Cai Pa, Kuai Liang, and Kuai Yue were all here, Liu Bei's eyes lit up. They were Liu Bei's' benefactors'. If he wanted to annex Jingzhou, it would take at least a few years. Although Huang She trusted him, he was also on guard against him. Moreover, the Huang Family's influence in Jingzhou was not undeserved. The Huang Family's generals were all over the army.
Even if his third brother infiltrated and became the Huang Family's general, he could only command three thousand men. The rest of the troops could only be mobilized with Huang She's Tiger Tally.
But if he could get the support of these three people, then it would be a different story. Cai family and Feng family were now occupying Nanyang County. Their strength was not much weaker than Huang She. Huang She had a lot of soldiers and horses, but he didn't have many elites. If both sides were to fight, then he wouldn't be able to gain any advantage.
These three clans, in addition to his own troops, his third brother, and Pang Shiyuan, his two spies, it would be difficult for him to not obtain Jing Province.
With that thought, Liu Bei bowed to the three of them. "Liu Xuande greets the three of you!"
At this time, it would be difficult for the three of them to hide. The three of them stood separately and no matter which direction they went, there would always be people in the other line of defense who were within range of Liu Bei's bow.
However, at this time, the three of them did not care so much. It was late at night and they did not see anything.
"Lord Xuande is too courteous!" Cai Mao and the others smiled and returned the bow.
"I wonder if the three of you have something important to discuss with me in the middle of the night?" Liu Bei asked with a smile. He was retreating in order to advance. He was deliberately feigning ignorance and letting the three of them speak first. This was a negotiation technique. Generally speaking, the one who revealed his low price first would suffer a loss.
"Lord Xuande, why are you asking when you already know the answer?" Kuai Liang was not polite at all and directly exposed Liu Bei's act.
"Yes, Lord Xuande. A straightforward person does not resort to insinuations. Right now, there are only you, me, my second brother, and Brother Desi in this hall. Since we have called you here and you are also here, you must know what we want to do!" Kuai Yue said.
Liu Bei knew that he could no longer play dumb. He bowed slightly and said, "Please feel free to speak!"
"Lord Xuande, what do you think of our current Military Advisor in Jingzhou?" Cai Mao asked Liu Bei.
"Military Advisor?" Liu Bei knew that this was the main topic. "Handsome, young, and dignified!" The Military Advisor in Jingzhou was naturally Huang She. Liu Bei's two sentences seemed to be praising Huang She.
"Haha!" Cai Mao and the others laughed. These two sentences were indeed praising Huang She. Huang She was handsome, and also young.
However, if these words were used on someone with a high position, it would be derogatory. Previously, Cai Mao had said that Huang She was the Military Advisor. However, he had used the word 'dignified' to describe his position. This meant that Liu Bei did not care about Huang She's ability at all.
In other words, Huang She was only left with a good appearance. In fact, he was an idiot on the inside.
"What about our Governor of Jingzhou?" Kuai Liang continued to ask.
"Governor!" Liu Bei looked at the expressions of Cai Mao, Kuai Liang, and Kuai Yue. He felt a little strange. He did not know if it was his imagination or something else, but he could see that Cai Mao's face was filled with anticipation and nervousness. However, Kuai Yue and Kuai Liang did not seem to care at all. It was as if the Governor of Jingzhou had nothing to do with them. They were terrifyingly calm.
"The Prefecture Overseer of Jing Province is still young. However, despite your young age, you have already displayed a kind of majesty. You have chosen virtuous ministers in Jing Province and your small body has shouldered the burden of the entire Jing Province!" This sentence was really a genuine boast. "However!" Liu Bei's tone changed. "After all, the Governor is still young and cannot distinguish between the loyal and the traitors. However, some people have confused the Governor's eyes!"
These words were interesting. How exactly were the loyal and traitorous officials differentiated? Who were the loyal officials and who were the traitorous officials?
Liu Bei's seemingly casual words left a way out for himself.
"That's right!" Cai Mao nodded. "Yes. After all, the Governor is still young and has been confused by others. He has allowed the traitorous officials to control Jingzhou. He has even appointed a high position with the person who killed his father!" Cai Mao's words were straightforward.
The current Governor of Jing Province is Liu Zong. His father is Liu Biao. Everyone is well aware of the person who killed Liu Biao. That person is none other than our classmate Liu She.
"Everyone in Jingzhou is worried. We are also helpless. However, the traitorous officials are too powerful! Today, Lord Xuande has come to Jingzhou. This is good news for Jingzhou. If Lord Xuande is willing to help us get rid of the traitorous officials and return the power to the Governor, there will definitely be a place for Lord Xuande in Jingzhou! "Cai Mao painted a pie in the sky for Liu Bei.
Although Liu Bei already knew that Cai Mao and the others had invited him to discuss the alliance, Liu Bei did not immediately agree. "What if I don't?"
"If Lord Xuande is not willing, then please leave!" Kuai Liang spoke. He did not like Liu Bei to begin with.
"Oh? Aren't you afraid that I will tell the Military Advisor what you said today? " Liu Bei was a little curious. The Kuai brothers and Cai Mao did not seem like people who were in a hurry to seek an alliance. On the contrary, Liu Bei was really anxious. However, on the surface, Liu Bei appeared very calm.
"Tell the Military Advisor? Haha! " Cai Mao laughed. "If Lord Xuande is willing, then let's go!" Cai Mao did not care at all. Firstly, the Cai Family and the Kuai Family had already formed their own faction in Nanyang Prefecture. Although they still paid taxes to Huang She, whether it was in terms of military or civil affairs, Huang She's people could not enter Nanyang Prefecture. After Huang She killed Liu Biao, many civil affairs officials were ashamed of Huang She's actions and came to Nanyang Prefecture. Nanyang Prefecture could be said to be a gathering of talents now. If it was not for the fact that Nanyang Prefecture did not occupy a lot of land, perhaps Huang She would have to rely on the Cai Family and the Kuai Family to survive.
Even so, Huang She did not dare to touch the Cai Family and the Kuai Family because he knew that it would not be good for anyone to fall out with them.
Right now, Huang She's strength was equivalent to the original Huang Family and Liu Biao's foundation. The Liu Family and the Huang Family were only fighting with the Cai Family and the Kuai Family. Once they fell out with each other, both sides would suffer.
Another reason was that Liu Bei did not dare to go to Gao Yi because of one of the most important reasons. How did you know about the conversation between Cai Mao and the Kuai Brothers? How did you negotiate with the two of them? Why did they look for you?
Liu Bei himself was not clean. Liu Bei believed that if he went to Huang She and told Huang She about it, he would be furious. However, he would not be able to do anything to the Cai Family and the Kuai Family. Then, when he calmed down and thought about it, Liu Bei would immediately be alienated by Huang She.
The gains did not make up for the losses.
Hearing the laughter of Cai Mao and the others, Liu Bei was naturally a little angry. He originally wanted to use this tone to threaten the three of them and give himself more bargaining chips in the upcoming negotiations. He did not expect to be ridiculed. This naturally made Liu Bei a little unhappy.
He snorted coldly. "Of course, I won't do it. My master is Master Lu Zhi. I still understand the etiquette!" Liu Bei gave himself a way out and even beautified himself. It was as if the threat did not come from his mouth.
Although Cai Mao and the others wanted to laugh in their hearts, they still maintained a serious expression on their faces. "We can trust Lord Xuande's character! “
"But I don't have to work with the three of you!" Liu Bei began to threaten again. That is, I can choose not to join you. You can do whatever you want. "
"Lord Xuande, are you willing?" Kuai Yue finally spoke.
"Willing?" Liu Bei furrowed his brows.
"Lord Xuande!" Kuai Yue took two steps forward. "Lord Xuande, you didn't want a good foundation in Yuzhou. Instead, you ran to Jingzhou. Do you really want to be the governor of Jiangling County?" Kuai Yue asked.
When Liu Bei entered Jingzhou, he still had some capital in Yuzhou. The few counties near Runan were also under his control. Although Liu Mang wantonly destroyed them and moved most of the people there, there were still some refugees who went to Yuzhou to cultivate. When Liu Bei left, he was reluctant to leave behind more than ten thousand soldiers and horses. He also left behind Sun Qian as a backup plan.
"What do you mean?" Liu Bei narrowed his eyes. Did Kuai Yue see through his plan? Liu Bei was on his guard. If that was the case, Liu Bei would be in danger. At that time, he wouldn't have to worry about whether Liu Bei would tell on them. Instead, he would have to worry about whether the three old foxes would tell on him.
Kuai Yue had been observing the changes in Liu Bei's expression. When he saw Liu Bei's cautious expression, Kuai Yue couldn't help but sneer in his heart. As expected! Liu Bei didn't come to Jingzhou with good intentions.
Kuai Yue was pretending to be confused.
"Although Jingzhou isn't as big as the northern provinces, we still have hundreds of cities and dozens of counties!" Kuai Yue purposely said, "Lord Xuande, if you return to the Prefecture Overseer with us, you will take over the Huang Family's position. Apart from Xiangyang, Jiangling and Jinnan will all belong to you! We will rule half of Jingzhou! "Kuai Yue was painting a pie for Liu Bei.
Hearing Kuai Yue's words, Liu Bei let out a sigh of relief. Kuai Yue wanted to replace the Huang Family as the third largest family in Jingzhou. However, it was a pity that Liu Bei wanted this family. He also wanted Jinnan and Jiangling. He wanted the entire Jingzhou and Yi Province.
However, Liu Bei also knew that this pie couldn't be swallowed in one go. It had to be eaten bit by bit. Cooperating with the Cai Family and the Kuai Family was the right thing to do. After destroying Huang She and taking over Huang She's foundation, he would turn around and deal with the Cai Family and the Kuai Family. If they knew what was good for them, Liu Bei would naturally give them face. If they didn't, then they couldn't blame Liu Bei. "Mr. Kuai Yue, what do you want to do?"
"They took the bait!" Kuai Yue sneered in his heart. Liu Bei was using them, but they were also using Liu Bei. However, none of this was part of King of Han's plan.
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