Chapter 182: Liu Biao Critically Ill
On the sixth day of the first lunar month, the New Year holiday ended, and Gan Ning also returned to his official residence.
Gan Ning had just sat down when a guard at the door reported: “Report to the general, Strategist Pang has an urgent matter and requests to see you!”
“Invite him in!”
Moments later, Pang Tong hurried in, bowed, and said: “Report to the general, there are two important pieces of intelligence that need to be reported to the general.”
“Speak!”
“The first important intelligence is that Cao Cao was appointed chancellor on the last day of last year and was ennobled as Duke of Wei State.”
Gan Ning nodded. “There were already signs of this before!”
“That’s right. Previously, Hua Xin submitted a petition to the Son of Heaven requesting the abolition of the Three Excellencies System and the restoration of the Chancellor System. This must be Cao Cao’s intention.”
Gan Ning fell silent for a moment. History had been advanced, and Cao Cao’s southern campaign was very likely to be advanced as well. He needed to accelerate war preparations.
“I understand. Now tell me the second important news.”
“Report to the general, the second important news is that Liu Biao is critically ill.”
“Critically ill? When?”
“Also at the end of last year. When Liu Biao was critically ill, he handed over all power to his second son Liu Cong.”
True news of critical illness would not be made public. If the news is public, then it is no longer critical illness.
Gan Ning sneered. “Is it really critical illness, or are they secretly concealing the death?”
Pang Tong nodded. “This subordinate also suspects that Liu Biao is already dead, and Cai Mao is concealing the news, seizing the time to put Liu Cong in power. Once the news of Liu Biao’s death spreads, I’m afraid the Liu brothers will engage in internal strife.”
Gan Ning shook his head lightly. “Internal strife among the Liu brothers is not important. What matters is that smiling tiger to the north. This is his opportunity, and he certainly will not stand idly by.”
Pang Tong hesitated and said: “The Jingzhou aristocracy may not support Liu Bei.”
Gan Ning thought for a moment and said: “I infer that Liu Bei wants to enter Shu, and Jingzhou is merely his springboard. Perhaps this is also our opportunity.”
“General, this is probably also Cao Cao’s opportunity!” Pang Tong reminded.
Gan Ning paced back and forth with his hands behind his back and slowly said: “Make preparations first and observe the situation in Jingzhou!”
In Xiangyang, Cai Mao paced back and forth in the official residence with his hands behind his back. He appeared somewhat annoyed. At this time, his confidant Zhang Miao hurriedly came to the hall below and said: “Strategist, the ice has been collected. Transporting the ice into the mansion now would be too conspicuous and might arouse suspicion!”
“Idiot!”
Cai Mao’s face darkened as he rebuked: “Can’t you deliver it to the mansion at night?”
“This subordinate knows his mistake and will make arrangements right away!”
Zhang Miao was startled and hurriedly bowed before leaving. Cai Mao let out a long breath. Even such a small matter required his decision—truly not reassuring.
Liu Biao had actually died suddenly half a month ago due to excessive drinking. Madam Cai and Cai Mao had been sealing off the news. It was still winter now, so it was fine, but spring would come soon, and the corpse would be hard to preserve. Ice could only extend it for a short time.
The current problem was that his negotiations with several noble families were unfavorable. Everyone wanted more interests. In the end, the interests gained by the Cai Family would be the least, and Cai Mao was not willing to accept that.
Moreover, there was a group of noble families and officials supporting the eldest son Liu Qi, and even Liu Bei’s army showed signs of unrest. This put enormous pressure on Cai Mao. He felt that one wrong step would lead to utter doom.
At this time, the guard reported: “Zhang Yun requests an audience!”
“Let him in!”
Zhang Yun and Cai Mao were relatives by marriage and natural allies, and also the subordinate Cai Mao trusted the most.
Zhang Yun came in and reported: “We just received news that Liu Bei has personally led tens of thousands of army into Xinye. Lord Cai, could it be that Liu Bei knows the truth?”
Cai Mao shook his head. “He cannot know, but he will make preparations in advance. He has no pretext to attack Nan Commandery. The key is Liu Qi’s side. If Liu Qi invites him into Jingzhou, things will be troublesome.”
Zhang Yun suggested: “Then use Liu Biao’s critical illness as a pretext to summon Liu Qi to Xiangyang to see his father for the last time, and control him. Then Liu Bei will have nothing to do with it.”
Cai Mao nodded. “We are of the same mind. In fact, we already sent someone to Jiangling yesterday to deliver a letter to Liu Qi.”
Zhang Yun hesitated and said: “Lord Cai, should we also send a letter to Chancellor Cao?”
“Cao Cao?”
Cai Mao raised an eyebrow and stared sharply at Zhang Yun.
Zhang Yun knew this relative by marriage well. He smiled faintly and said: “Lord Cai, you can’t be a butler forever! What kind of person Liu Cong is, Lord Cai knows better than I. Do you find it interesting to serve him?”
“But… Cao Cao is no saint either!” Cai Mao sighed softly.
“Cao Cao’s greatest characteristic is using local people. If Lord Cai renders merit to him, he will surely entrust Nan Commandery to you. Moreover, if we do not have powerful external support, it will be hard to gain the upper hand. There are so many officials supporting Liu Qi, and Liu Bei covetously waiting to divide the spoils, plus so many noble families waiting like crows to pick at the scraps. I worry that in the end we will…”
“I understand!”
Cai Mao interrupted him. “We will proceed in two steps. If Liu Qi takes the bait and is controlled by us, then there is no need to notify Cao Cao. If Liu Qi does not take the bait, I will immediately write to Cao Cao.”
“Lord Cai is wise!”
Zhang Yun took his leave and left. He exited the strategist’s mansion, got into his own carriage, took a letter from his bosom, summoned a trusted subordinate, handed him the letter, and instructed: “Ride a relay horse immediately to Xuchang and deliver this letter to Chancellor Cao’s hands at the fastest speed.”
“This subordinate obeys the order!”
The trusted subordinate took the letter and left. Zhang Yun narrowed his eyes and sneered: “If I give you a chance and you don’t seize it, don’t blame me for acting first!”
In Jiangling City, hundreds of guards escorted a carriage riding out from inside the city. Inside the carriage was the eldest son Liu Qi. Liu Qi was deeply worried. He had just received a letter from a guard by his father’s side saying his father was critically ill and wanted to see him for the last time, so Liu Qi set out without hesitation. Although Liu Qi’s abilities were mediocre, he was absolutely a filial son.
The carriage had just passed the city gate when several horsemen galloped rapidly from the opposite direction. The leader waved his hand and shouted: “Young Master, please stay!”
This seemed to be Yi Ji’s voice. Liu Qi opened the window and looked closely. Sure enough, it was Yi Ji. He immediately ordered: “Stop the carriage!”
Yi Ji had once been Liu Qi’s supervisor, and the personal guards all recognized him, so they brought him to the front of the carriage. Liu Qi asked: “Ji Bo, what matter do you have for me?”
“I have an urgent matter, and also letters from Liu Huangshu and Strategist Zhuge.”
“Get in the carriage and talk!”
Liu Qi ordered the carriage to temporarily stop by the roadside. Yi Ji boarded the carriage and said: “Xiangyang is a trap. If the eldest son goes to Xiangyang, he will undoubtedly die.”
Liu Qi pondered for a moment and said: “Show me the letters first!”
Yi Ji took out the letters from Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang and handed them to Liu Qi. Liu Qi opened the letters and read them carefully. The contents from Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang were similar: summoning him to Xiangyang was a trap dug by Cai Mao and Liu Cong. If he went, he would fall into Cai Mao’s hands and face utter doom.
Liu Qi lowered his head in silence. Of course he knew going to Xiangyang was dangerous, but his father was critically ill and wanted to see him for the last time—how could he not go?
Seeing Liu Qi hesitate, Yi Ji said: “Some words were inconvenient to write in the letters, so Strategist Zhuge had me relay them orally. He believes the governor has actually already passed away.”
