Chapter 126: Open Deal
Cai Mao immediately went to seek an audience with Liu Biao.
“Reporting to my lord, the intelligence scout I sent to Nanchang discovered some evidence. It seems Huang Zhong is secretly colluding with Gan Ning.”
Liu Biao’s face darkened. “How so?”
“My intelligence scout discovered that Huang Zhong’s personal guard appeared twice at the Marquis of Wuchang’s army manor. This happened two months ago. The intelligence scout sent a carrier pigeon letter, but I did not receive it. Today, the intelligence scout sent another one, and I just found out. This explains many puzzling matters.”
“Be more specific. What puzzling matters?”
“There are mainly two major puzzles. First, Liling County was sneak attacked and fell, which is very suspicious. The Yuzhang Army surprisingly did not alert the intelligence scouts in Yichun County. Who leaked the secret?
Second, in the great battle at Dongting Lake, the enemy’s logistics barracks were on the shore. If Linxiang County had sent troops to coordinate with the navy, the outcome would have been completely different. The Second Young Master would not have been captured. I once questioned Liu Xin why he did not send troops to coordinate with the navy. He replied to me that Huang Zhong refused to send troops.”
Cai Mao took out Liu Xin’s carrier pigeon letter and presented it to Liu Biao. “This is Liu Xin’s carrier pigeon letter. It states clearly that he wanted to send troops but was stopped by Huang Zhong. Why did Huang Zhong stop the troops from being sent?”
Before Cai Mao could finish, Liu Biao slammed his fist on the table and gnashed his teeth. “This thief dares to betray me?”
Cai Mao knew Liu Biao very well. Liu Biao appeared broad-minded and humble on the surface, but deep down he was extremely hypocritical and arrogant, and also extremely proud. This disastrous defeat at Dongting Lake struck not only at his son being captured, but also at Liu Biao’s long-held proud self-esteem.
Cai Mao knew Liu Biao was now eager to find someone to take responsibility, so Cai Mao threw Huang Zhong out. Sure enough, Liu Biao did not even consider the obvious flaws in this.
Many people knew about the scouts in Yichun County. Why say it was Huang Zhong who leaked the secret? How did Cai Mao know that Liling County fell to a sneak attack? How could Huang Zhong’s personal guard contacting Gan Ning possibly be discovered by their intelligence scouts?
Liu Biao ignored all these obvious inconsistencies and unhesitatingly believed Cai Mao’s words. It was Huang Zhong who betrayed him, leading to the disastrous defeat at Dongting Lake.
Rather than saying Cai Mao was framing Huang Zhong, it was more that Liu Biao desperately needed someone in his heart to take responsibility.
Of course, Liu Biao still had to give face to the Huang Family. He could not publicly say Huang Zhong colluded with Gan Ning. He could only say Huang Zhong had selfish motives and refused to send troops for a land and water pincer attack on the Yuzhang Army, which led to the Jingzhou navy disastrous defeat at Dongting Lake. This excuse was sufficient.
Cai Mao continued, “I suggest first controlling Huang Zhong’s family members. When Huang Zhong returns, my lord can interrogate him thoroughly.”
Liu Biao nodded. “Immediately send people to control Huang Zhong’s family members!”
“Your subordinate obeys the order!”
…………
A great general led five hundred soldiers to surround Huang Zhong’s mansion. Huang Zhong’s two sons had died early, so he adopted his nephew Huang Kuan to carry on the family line. There was also his elderly wife Wang Shi in the manor.
With the mansion surrounded, everyone inside was very tense. Wang Shi immediately sent Huang Kuan to inquire about the situation.
Soon, Huang Kuan ran back and said, “Mother, this is bad. Governor Liu suspects Father of colluding with the Yuzhang Army and has placed us under house arrest!”
Wang Shi was shocked. “How can this be? How could your father betray the governor? Did you inquire clearly?”
“I know the garrison commander. He told me that Father refused to send troops to assist the navy, leading to the entire army’s defeat.”
At this point, Huang Kuan lowered his voice. “He said it’s actually that Governor Liu wants to find someone to take responsibility. It’s inconvenient to push the blame onto Liu Xin, so he’s pinning the defeat on Father.”
Wang Shi was speechless for a long time. She sighed deeply. “Your father has been loyal to him for so many years, yet in the end, he does not meet a good end!”
At this time, all the servants in the Huang mansion were driven away. Only a personal maid was left for Wang Shi. The gates were sealed. Besides Wang Shi in the residence, there was the adopted son Huang Kuan and his wife and children.
…………
Two days later, Gan Ning’s special envoy Cui Jun arrived in Xiangyang, causing a stir. Cui Zhouping had actually become Gan Ning’s special envoy. Liu Biao ordered Kuai Yue to receive him and arranged for Cui Jun to stay in the guest house.
“Brother Zhouping, you’re doing well!” Kuai Yue teased.
Cui Zhouping pretended to be helpless. “I am the prefectural assistant of Wuchang Commandery. General Gan temporarily drafted me as army Sima and sent me to Xiangyang. I really didn’t want to come, but I cannot disobey military orders. Sigh!”
Kuai Yue secretly despised him. Where did he look like he didn’t want to come?
Kuai Yue’s face turned serious. “Sima Cui, let’s talk business.”
Cui Jun also put away his smile and waved his hand. “Please!”
The two sat down in the main hall. Subordinates served them tea. Cui Jun took out a document and handed it to Kuai Yue. “This is the plan we propose. Please review it, Brother Yidu!”
This kind of negotiation was quite rare, directly laying out all demands. Of course, they had leverage because they held Liu Cong.
Kuai Yue silently finished reading the three plans and nodded. “I understand. I need to go back and report. Tomorrow we need internal discussions. We may reply to Sima Cui the day after. I’ll try to reply tomorrow.”
Cui Jun handed him the plan. “This is for you. I have my own copy!”
“Then rest well, younger brother! I will take my leave first.”
Kuai Yue went directly to Liu Biao’s official residence. Liu Biao was still waiting for him? Cai Mao was also standing nearby.
“Reporting to my lord, your subordinate has already talked with them. They also put forward a plan. Please review it, my lord.”
Liu Biao hurriedly took the document and unfolded it for careful reading. There were three items in total. The first was exchanging Linxiang County for Liu Cong, which was within Liu Biao’s expectations. He had been mentally prepared. Not to mention Linxiang County—even if it were Changsha Commandery, he would agree without hesitation. No land was more important than his own son.
The second item: The Yuzhang Army could return ten thousand prisoners of war, but Liu Biao must publicly acknowledge that Changsha Commandery belongs to Gan Ning’s base. Liu Biao did not want to agree to this. It was impossible. To publicly acknowledge Changsha Commandery as Gan Ning’s would be a huge blow to his reputation and prestige. He would rather use money and grain to redeem them, forgo the ten thousand prisoners of war, than ever admit Changsha Commandery belongs to Gan Ning.
But Liu Biao was very deep-scheming, and no abnormality showed on his face. He continued to the third item. The third was simple: If prisoners of war’s family members wished to go to Changsha Commandery, the other side must not obstruct. This was a minor issue. Northern immigrants had always been fleeing to Jingzhou continuously; one batch leaves, another comes.
“Military Advisor Cai, take a look.”
Cai Mao had long known these three items. He also pretended to read them carefully. After a moment, he slowly said, “The second item is a bit troublesome!”
Cai Mao’s words hit Liu Biao’s heart. Liu Biao nodded lightly. “The second item cannot be agreed to.”
Cai Mao then said to Kuai Yue, “Can Master Kuai discuss the second item with them again? Have them replace it with some other demand, like money and grain, or just cancel the second item?”
Kuai Yue also knew the second item was unacceptable to his lord. He nodded. “Early tomorrow morning, I will talk with them again. Since it’s negotiation, there will surely be bargaining.”
The next morning, Kuai Yue formally negotiated with Cui Jun. The two sides first settled the first and third items.
Kuai Yue added, “My family’s lord truly cannot accept the second item. Please, Sima Cui, change to another plan—or money and grain, or cancel the second item.”
Cui Jun had received instructions from his lord before departure. He knew his lord’s intentions.
“If the General Who Pacifies the South cannot accept the second condition, then let’s change to another plan! Exchange ten thousand prisoners of war for Huang Zhong’s family.”
This condition shocked Kuai Yue. He sighed inwardly. “With this condition from the other side, whether true or not, it confirms the claim that Huang Zhong is secretly colluding with Gan Ning.”
This was overt scheming. Gan Ning using ten thousand prisoners of war to exchange for Huang Zhong’s family—once the transaction was completed, Huang Zhong could no longer return to Jingzhou.
