Chapter 116: Jing Sheng’s Concerns
News of Yuan Shao’s serious illness also reached Xiangyang. That morning, Guan Yu escorted Liu Bei to Xiangyang.
It was early summer, with light rain falling across the world. Liu Biao brewed wine and sat with Liu Bei in front of the hall, gazing at the rain threads outside. Liu Biao sighed, “At fifty, one knows the mandate of heaven. At our age, we can feel that life is like nature—everything is fated by heaven, just like this light rain outside the hall. Year after year, it comes and never changes. That is nature, and life is no different. We strive and fight, but in the end, everyone is the same, all turning to dust, with no difference.”
Liu Bei smiled bitterly, “With elder brother saying that, I can’t even open my mouth. Today was another wasted trip.”
Liu Biao chuckled, “No matter, younger brother, speak freely. I may sigh, but since we eat the white rice of this world, we must do the things of this world. We can’t avoid worldly customs.”
“I heard Yuan Shao doesn’t have much time left. Does elder brother know?”
Liu Biao nodded, “I’ve heard too. At fastest, a few months; at longest, he’ll last half a year! Once he dies, his several sons will fall into chaos.”
“Elder brother, Cao Cao has stationed heavy troops along the Dangyin and Fanyang line and hasn’t launched an offensive. He’s just waiting for Yuan Shao to die. Once Yuan Shao dies, Cao Cao will surely attack Hebei with full force. This is our chance! Nanyang Commandery is in elder brother’s hands, only two or three hundred li from Xuchang. The army can reach Xuchang in a few days. If elder brother sends 100,000 troops, Xuchang can be taken in one battle. Elder brother can then welcome the Son of Heaven to Xiangyang. As a Han Dynasty clansman, elder brother can rally hundreds to respond with one call and command the world. Xiangyang will become the center of the world. Elder brother, consider it! This is a once-in-a-century opportunity!”
Liu Biao smiled without speaking, poured Liu Bei a full cup of warm wine, and said, “Cao Cao is an extremely cautious man. I’m afraid things won’t be as simple as younger brother thinks.”
Seeing Liu Biao lacked confidence, Liu Bei grew anxious. He steeled himself, glanced around to ensure no one was nearby, and whispered lowly, “Welcoming the Son of Heaven to Xiangyang—if elder brother wants to take his place, I will surely support it!”
Liu Biao’s face changed drastically. He stood up abruptly, retreated several steps, and sternly said, “Does younger brother want to trap me in unrighteousness?”
Liu Bei quickly bowed and apologized, “It was from the bottom of my heart, with no ill intent. Please, elder brother, don’t blame me!”
Liu Biao waved his hand, “Fine! This time, I’ll take it as a slip of the tongue. Please don’t mention it again.”
“I won’t be rash again!”
The two drank a few more cups of wine, and Liu Bei took his leave.
After seeing Liu Bei off, Liu Biao became restless. Liu Bei’s words were like piercing a layer of window paper, suddenly exposing the secret hidden deep in his heart.
How could Liu Biao not want to ascend to the supreme position? But his plan was to wait for Cao Cao to usurp and ascend the throne, then inherit the Great Han orthodoxy in Xiangyang and preserve the Great Han state. He had never thought of replacing the Son of Heaven to become the supreme ruler of the world.
But Liu Bei’s statement suddenly made Liu Biao see another possibility: the Son of Heaven appoints him as imperial granduncle, then abdicates, and he becomes the Great Han Son of Heaven.
Liu Biao stood with hands behind his back, gazing at the misty fine rain in the sky. At this moment, his heart wavered.
Just then, a guard reported, “Reporting to the lord, General Cai has an urgent matter and seeks an audience!”
Liu Biao truly did not want to see Cai Mao. Every time Cai Mao came, he urged him to appoint the second son as heir, which annoyed Liu Biao greatly. This was not just Cai Mao’s attitude, but pressure from the entire Jingzhou aristocratic group.
After hesitating a moment, Liu Biao still nodded, “Invite him to see me!”
Soon, Cai Mao hurried in. Cai Mao was about thirty-six or thirty-seven, tall and imposing, not only skilled in martial arts but also well-learned—truly accomplished in both letters and arms. His family background was prominent: the eight great families of Jingzhou—Cai, Huang, Deng, Kuai, Pang, Ma, Yang, Xiang—with the Cai Family ranked first.
It was precisely with the Cai Family’s full support that Liu Biao could firmly control Jingzhou.
Currently, Cai Mao served as Liu Biao’s strategist, held military power, was relied upon by Liu Biao, and was indisputably Jingzhou’s second-in-command.
Although Cai Mao insisted on appointing the second son Liu Cong as heir, which greatly annoyed Liu Biao, he knew in his heart it was just an internal contradiction—after all, Liu Cong was his son.
Cai Mao walked into the hall, cupped his fists in salute, “This subordinate pays respects to the lord!”
Liu Biao did not want to talk much and got straight to the point, “Strategist, you said there’s an urgent matter. What is it?”
“Reporting to the lord, this subordinate received a scout’s express report. Yuzhang Commandery is actively preparing for war. Soldiers have stopped leave, the government office is purchasing large quantities of tung oil from Jiangdong, but tung oil is hard to buy on the market. Miners in Xizhi have exceeded 10,000, and artisans from various places in Yuzhang Commandery have been concentrated in Nanchang County. All signs indicate Gan Ning is preparing for a major battle.”
Liu Biao pondered briefly and said, “Could he want to annex Lujiang Commandery?”
“It won’t be Lujiang Commandery. They have allied with Jiangdong and promised not to cross the Wanshui River again. If they wanted to annex Lujiang Commandery, they wouldn’t ally with Jiangdong. This subordinate believes they want to attack Jingzhou—either Jiangxia’s Huang Zu or our Changsha Commandery.”
“Makes sense. Does Huang Zu have preparations?”
“Huang Zu is also preparing for war. He just borrowed 200,000 shi of grain from us. This subordinate was about to report to the lord.”
“Borrowing grain again!”
Liu Biao frowned, “Last time he borrowed 300,000 shi and hasn’t repaid it. Now another 200,000 shi—where do I have that much grain to lend him?”
“Reporting to the lord, Huang Zu also faces difficulties. He must maintain 40,000 troops, but taxes are insufficient. He now has one tax in twenty; Wuchang Commandery has one in thirty. If he raises taxes again, a large population will flee to Wuchang Commandery. He can barely maintain now.”
“Who’s to blame? How did I advise him back then? I told him not to build Queyue City, but he insisted, concentrating years of accumulated money and grain there, only for Gan Ning to rob it all. He made a huge mistake himself, yet now wants me to bear the consequences. What kind of logic is that? Tell Huang Zu to streamline troops; 30,000 is enough. If he doesn’t listen, I won’t give him a single grain.”
Liu Biao was very dissatisfied with Huang Zu. Back then, if Huang Zu had listened and not built Queyue City, continuing to hold Xiling County, he wouldn’t have lost so badly. Now he wants me to bear the consequences, desperately borrowing grain, treating me like a fool. Liu Biao was truly at the end of his patience.
“This subordinate will relay it to Huang Zu. Also, we must guard against Gan Ning attacking Changsha Commandery. This subordinate suggests reinforcing Jiangling, ready to send troops at any time.”
“Jiangling already has 30,000 troops. Isn’t that enough?”
“This subordinate suggests increasing to 50,000 troops, and sending the Second Young Master to station there, to deter Gan Ning.”
This was Cai Mao’s true intention: let the Second Young Master Liu Cong gradually grasp military power. As long as he holds military power, even if Liu Biao doesn’t want to appoint him as heir, he will have to in the end.
Sending Liu Cong to station in Jiangling is the first step to controlling military power.
Although Liu Biao was somewhat unwilling, considering Jiangling plus Changsha Commandery would account for half his total troop strength, it indeed needed one of his sons to station there. The eldest son Liu Qi was responsible for Nanyang, so Jiangling could only be stationed by the second son.
Liu Biao finally agreed, “Alright, reinforce Jiangling with 20,000 troops, have the Second Young Master station in Jiangling, with Cai Yan assisting!”
On the road back to Xinye County, Guan Yu couldn’t help asking, “Elder brother persuaded Liu Jingsheng for the Northern Expedition. Did he agree?”
Liu Bei said indifferently, “I offered him a condition he couldn’t refuse. Unless unexpected, he will surely agree to the Northern Expedition.”
“If Liu Jingsheng launches the Northern Expedition, how confident is elder brother of success?”
Liu Bei shook his head, “With Cai Mao and others checking him, I estimate Liu Biao won’t send too many troops. Success is unlikely.”
Guan Yu was puzzled, “If so, why did elder brother still persuade Liu Jingsheng for the Northern Expedition?”
Liu Bei sighed, “Some things, even if hard to succeed, we must do. If we don’t, the world will gradually forget us. Only by doing it will the world know there is still a Liu Xuande who, though defeated repeatedly, spares no effort to support the Han Dynasty.”
“Elder brother is deeply farsighted. I understand!”
The two sped up, galloping toward Xinye County under the protection of 300 cavalry.
====
【September 1st quietly goes on sale, earnestly asking fellow readers to continue subscribing and support Old Gao to finish this book】
