Silver Fox of the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 291 Liu Jingzhou

Sure enough, Luocheng was breached.

Hearing the messenger's words, Zhuge Liang and Shen Chen looked at each other and nodded slightly.

Liu Bei turned his head to look at the two of them, and then said without hesitation: "Stop sending troops, you go back and tell Yuan Zhi and Shi Yuan, and we will talk about it after I mourn Bo Rui first."

"only!"

The messenger stepped back and left without stopping.

After he left, Liu Bei looked at Zhuge Liang and Shen Chen and said, "Kong Ming, Xiaoqing, you don't blame me for not sending troops at this time, do you?"

"will not."

Shen Chen shook his head and said: "Naturally, it is the best time to send troops, but it would be too heartbreaking to leave without dealing with the eldest son's funeral."

If Liu Bei chooses to send troops ruthlessly and unjustly now, then he is not Liu Xuande who values ​​love and righteousness.

"Ugh."

Liu Bei sighed: "I'm not afraid of hurting the hearts of Jingzhou scholars and people, but since I promised Burui to take good care of his wife, children and brothers, I dare not leave at this time, at least I have to deal with the funeral and settle his relatives. Go after you're done."

Zhuge Liang hesitated a little and said: "It's just that this may delay the war. The eldest son has a lot of virtue. Not only the officials from Jiangxia and Jingnan will come to express their condolences, but even Jiangdong, the imperial court, and Cao Cao will send people to come. Once the funeral is done, it may be one or two times." months, or even several months, if Liu Zhang can't hold on, Yizhou will "

Shen Chen suggested: "You can order General Guan to go ahead along the river to the north, first to take Ba County, and wait for the follow-up food and grass to be replenished, and then go up the river. While watching the situation, we will take every step of the way, waiting for General Zuo to arrive."

"Ah."

Liu Bei thought for a while and said, "Then send someone to inform the second and third brothers Yuan Zhi and Shi Yuan, let them take a step ahead and enter Jiangzhou, and wait for me to take care of Bo Rui's funeral before heading to Xichuan."

This is a rather helpless choice.

For the capture of Xichuan, Liu Bei had to be present in person.

Because of course their purpose is not to defeat Zhang Lu and save Liu Zhang, but to capture Hanzhong and Yizhou.

As the backbone, he must be present in person.

Whether it is saving Liu Zhang, how to let him give Yizhou to himself smoothly, or how to appease the people and calm the hearts of Yizhou gentry, he must do it.

The simplest example is that many officials in Yizhou are already dealing with Liu Bei.

For example, Zhang Song, Fazheng and others.

If Liu Bei did not communicate with them in person, but instead sent others, it would appear that he did not respect or value them, which would make Zhang Songfazheng and others feel grudges.

Secondly, it is also difficult to have a stabilizing effect, and it will make those who take refuge in him loose and retreat.

Therefore, Liu Bei must personally handle such major matters of seeking the country.

Otherwise, like Yuan Shao, who obviously has the most suitable time, but refuses to go because of his son's illness and other bad things, and regrets his life when he does big things, how can this work?
Immediately, Liu Bei sent someone to inform Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, asking them to take a step ahead and station in Jiangzhou to wait and see the situation.

Throughout March, the world is changing.

Jiangdong and Jingzhou kept exchanging envoys and letters to discuss the details of the alliance. Originally, Sun Quan wanted to marry Sun Shangxiang as soon as possible, so that Liu Bei could relax his vigilance, but it was also delayed by Liu Qi's death.

Cao Cao in the north was defeated at the beginning of the year. For three months, he has been sitting in the court of Chendu, constantly cutting off heresies and rejecting Zhongliang. Among them, Kong Rong, a doctor of the Taizhong, was exterminated by Cao Cao.

The main reason is that after Cao Cao's defeat, his prestige plummeted, and the royalist faction in the rear made a noise, and gained momentum in the court, which meant to overwhelm Cao Cao's faction.

After losing Wang Bi, his confidant, Cao Cao sent another confidant, Xi Ji, to control Liu Xie.

But Xi Xi is not as ruthless as Wang Bi. Although he is responsible for helping Cao Cao with dirty work like Wang Bi, but after all, he comes from a famous family, so he still has to show face, and he dare not do many things secretly.

In addition, Xun Yu, Yang Xiu and others did not suppress the royalists at all, but secretly helped them, so that the royalists such as Kong Rong grew stronger, which made Cao Cao afraid.

This time when Cao Cao returned to Chendu, he was ruthless, and immediately signaled Chi Chi to frame the royalist faction, killing Kong Rong and many other loyal officials of the royalist faction.

For a time, the court was silent like a cicada, Liu Xie was more tightly controlled, and no one dared to oppose Cao Cao.

However, due to Cao Cao's defeat, he needed time to regain the north, so in order to appease Liu Qi and Liu Bei, he announced to the world that Liu Biao was deceived by others, so he would not be deprived of his title of king of Chu, and Liu Qi would take over the title.

It's a pity that Liu Qi died of illness just after the imperial edict arrived in Jingzhou, and before his death, he had already presented to the imperial court, asking the imperial court to appoint Liu Bei as Jingzhou shepherd.

However, in order to respond to Liu Bei, Cao Cao re-drafted the edict, continuing to retain the lineage of the king of Chu, which was inherited by Liu Biao's third son Liu Xiu, and no longer established Jingzhou animal husbandry, but directly under the jurisdiction of the Chu palace.

Obviously, he definitely didn't want Liu Bei to get Jingzhou justifiably.

It's just that Liu Cong was a false emperor when he ascended the throne, so he is not suitable to inherit the position of king of Chu.Otherwise, he would definitely let Liu Cong become the prince, so that Liu Bei could not directly manage Jingzhou, which would revive Liu Cong's faction and cause civil strife in Jingzhou.

By the end of March, envoys from the imperial court and Jiangdong had come to mourn Liu Qi.

On this day, near the beginning of summer, the sun was shining brightly, and the spring flowers were blooming. After seeing off Zongzheng Liu Ai, who was on a mission as an envoy, Liu Bei returned to Chu Palace.

In the side hall, several people are already waiting.

Shen Chen, Zhuge Liang, and a dry and emaciated old man who was nearly sixty years old with a goatee beard.

"Lord."

"General Left."

When Liu Bei came in, all three of them stood up and saluted.

"Mr. Wenhe."

When Liu Bei saw the old man, he also saluted him, "Sir, please sit down."

"Thank you General Zuo."

The old man with the goat beard is Jia Xu.

After Liu Cong's defeat, he abandoned his official position and fled back to Zhangxiu in Rangcheng.

During the Battle of Pingting, Jia Xu persuaded Zhang Xiu to help Liu Bei.

After this battle, the two sides had many contacts and exchanged letters with each other.

Now that Liu Qi died of illness, Jia Xu and Zhang Xiu immediately came to formally join him in the name of condolences.

After Liu Bei sat down, he shook his head and said, "Cao Cao really said that although I didn't want to seize the same family's foundation, but now I also bear Burui's expectations, he let Liu Xiu take over the title."

Shen Chen said with a smile: "He has considered the face of the court, otherwise, if Liu Cong is allowed to attack the prince, after the general goes to Yizhou, the rest of Liu Cong's party will take the opportunity to make trouble. This should be what Cao Cao wants to see the most. , Unfortunately, if he does this, it will only damage the majesty of the court."

"Has he done less damage?"

Liu Bei's complexion suddenly sank, and he remembered Yi Dai Zhao, which was a past event he had personally experienced. Cao Cao's murder of noble concubines, princes and uncles, and the murder of more than ten ministers were still vivid in his mind.

Zhuge Liang shook his head and said: "Although Cao Cao hijacked the emperor himself, mutilated the ministers, and damaged the majesty of the court, he still has to maintain the court's laws outside, because the stability of the north now requires the court's face to maintain it, otherwise, who would defect to the court? he?"

Liu Bei said: "It's just that now the imperial court named Liu Xiu the king of Chu, and ordered him to come to Fuzhou as the king of Chu, but I can't justifiably control Jingzhou."

Jia Xu smiled and said: "Although the general has not become the shepherd of Jingzhou, who knows that Cao Cao hijacked the emperor? Why should the general care about Cao Cao's edict? This big man is not Cao Cao's big man, but the Liu family and the people of the world." Big man."

Liu Bei asked in surprise, "What do you mean, sir?"

Jia Xu clasped his hands in his sleeves, and said softly, "The general wins the hearts of the people of Jingzhou. If the King of Chu leads officials of all sizes in Jingzhou, and the people of the city invite the general to attend the affairs of Fuzhou, it is only natural for the general to accept."

Zhuge Liang and Shen Chen looked at each other, and they both got up and said: "That's right, before the Eldest Young Master died of illness, he also surrendered the state three times. The general is winning the hearts of the people. The people of Jingzhou all hope that the general can control Jingzhou and assist the king in his affairs."

"Well."

Liu Bei nodded noncommittally, got up and said, "Now all over Jingzhou, the imperial court Jiangdong, have mourned Bo Rui, and Bo Rui will be buried tomorrow, so I will accompany him."

After finishing speaking, he left the side hall and went to the main hall of the mourning hall.

After he left, Shen Chen looked at Jia Xu and said with a smile: "Mr. Wen He used to be the tutor of His Highness the King of Chu, and he was highly respected in Jingzhou. This time, he should be among the top three in persuading him."

Jia Xu looked at Shen Chen, rolled his eyes and said, "Xiaoqing was once a trusted general of His Royal Highness the King of Chu, and now he is also the God of War in Jingzhou. The eldest son entrusts most of Jingzhou's soldiers and horses to Xiaoqing's hands, which shows that he has great respect for Xiaoqing." Trust, how can you fall behind when you are persuaded to advance now?"

Shen Chen rolled his eyes, and said, "Forget it, I'd better take a seat at the back. If something happens, let my grandfather take the top."

"Ah!"

At the moment in Deng Hong's mansion, Deng Hong somehow felt uncomfortable in his nose and sneezed.

The next day.

Liu Qi will be buried soon.

All the officials in Jingzhou, big and small, came to the front of the hall.

Liu Biao's Chu Palace is actually very large, covering an area of ​​more than 300 mu. There is a huge courtyard in front of the central main hall, and there are nearly a hundred people densely packed in the courtyard.

The entire courtyard is now covered with white plain onyx, and the character "Dian" is hung on the hall of the main hall, and the coffin is placed in the center of the hall.

Although Liu Qi died of illness before the edict of the King of Chu was issued, the imperial court did not take away Liu Qi's title of King of Chu, but let Liu Xiu inherit it, so he was still buried as King of Chu, and the specifications were also princely.

All kinds of spices, cattail grass, and ice cubes were piled all over the ground in the hall. Although embalming work had been done, the corpses were still deformed.

Therefore, put it into the coffin early and bury it as soon as possible.

In fact, the Han Dynasty was considered good, and the emperor usually stopped for a month or two, and it was almost time to be buried.

During the Spring and Autumn Period, it was tragic that the emperor of Zhou was gone. He had to wait for the princes from all over the country to express his condolences before he could be buried. It could take half a year if it was faster, or a year or two if it was slower.

At this time, Liu Bei was kneeling beside the coffin in the main hall, and Liu Qi had no family members, only two younger brothers and a few concubines, all of whom were crying and crying.

The officials and close relatives who came to the funeral outside the hall were arranged in this way.

Standing at the front is Liu Qi's third younger brother Liu Xiu, the current king of Chu, followed by Jia Xu, Liu He, Liu Xian, Deng Hong, Wen Ying, Liu Guan, Cheng Qi, Wang Wei and other former important officials of Liu Biao and He Zhou. Government is engaged in.

In addition, Liu Cong, Zhang Xiu, Liu Pan, Huang Zhong, Huang She, Wen Pin, Lai Gong, Han Xi, Kuai Jun, Kuai Qi, Zhang Cun, Xi Zhen, Yang Yi, Xiang Lang, Song Zhong, Qi Wukai, Wang Can, Fu Xun, Du Kui, Meng Yao, Xu Si, Hu Fu, Liu Rui, Cai Yan, Cai Zan, Cai Du and other generals, families and officials were almost all present.

Among them are some people who should not be here, but appear here.

For example, Huang She just handled the funeral for his father last month. He was supposed to be a filial piety for Huang Zu, but now he is going to attend Liu Qi's funeral.

Also, Lai Gong was the governor of Jiaozhou sent by Liu Biao. He was driven away by Cangwu prefect Wu Ju and came back by himself.Needless to say, the rest of the people are all respectable scholars from Jingzhou. They were scattered all over the place, and they all came back.

Only Cai Mao and Kuai Yue were not there. They were exempt from capital punishment, but living crimes were inevitable. They were imprisoned as sinners and were not eligible to participate.Originally, Liu Cong was the same, but he is Liu Qi's younger brother, so it is a special kindness to be able to stand here with a corner.

There are more than a hundred people outside the hall, which are the current Jingzhou officials.

Shen Chen was also among them.

His position is still very high, just behind Deng Hong, he is considered to be the top five big men in Jingzhou.

On the contrary, except for Chen Dao, who was in charge of guarding the palace, only Zhuge Liang was present in Liu Bei's faction, and the rest of them have now gone to Yizhou in a mighty way, preparing to seize Bashu.

Soon everyone arrived, and the time was almost up.

Liu Bei got up, and Chen Dao led the guards at the door. He came out of the hall, looked around the crowd, and said loudly: "Everyone, brother Bo Rui is going to mourn today. After I help Ling to bid farewell to my brother, I will also lead the army to fight. Jingzhou will be handed over to the King of Chu."

Liu Xiu glanced around, a little dazed, and suddenly saw Jia Xu winking at him, so he hurriedly stood up and said, "I invite General Zuo to come to Fuzhou!"

After speaking, he came to Liu Bei, bowed his hands and bowed to salute, the etiquette standard was very high.

"I also invite General Zuo to come to Fuzhou!"

There was a crowd of black people under the stage, and they all bent down and cupped their hands.

Liu Bei was startled, and quickly went up to support Liu Xiu and said, "What's the reason for King Chu?"

Liu Xiugui is a king, and his title is far above Liu Bei's Tinghou. Such a big gift is indeed something that Liu Bei did not expect.

"Although I was entrusted by the imperial court to become the king of Chu, I am not competent because of my lack of talent and virtue."

Liu Xiu said according to the words Jia Xu taught him: "Nowadays in Jingzhou, people with both ability and political integrity are needed to be the masters. Before my brother died of illness, he repeatedly told us that only General Zuo can guard Jingzhou and revive the clan of the Han Dynasty. Give in to the state."

Liu Bei hurriedly said: "I was originally invited by Bo Rui to help him quell the chaos. Although Bo Rui repeatedly asked me to lead Jingzhou myself, I never thought of taking over the same clan's foundation. Now that Ji Xu is the king of Chu, I should cheer up Jingzhou It is."

Liu Xiu had already been supported by Liu Bei, but he lowered his head and cupped his hands and said, "But I don't have the talent to lead Jingzhou, and I just want to bury my head in the scriptures and write articles."

"This"

"For my elder brother's sake, General Zuo, please agree."

"General Zuo please agree!"

Many state capitals also said in unison.

Liu Xiu said again: "If the general doesn't want to, I'll abandon my title and go, I'd rather escape into the mountains."

"Ugh."

Liu Bei let out a long sigh and said, "Although I can't bear to take away the same family's foundation, I am moved by Bo Rui, Ji Xu and everyone's fist-fighting heart. Anyway, let's rely on you."

"Thank you General Zuo!"

The crowd shouted again.

At the moment, under the leadership of Liu Bei, Liu Qi went to the funeral.

On the second day, Liu Xiu personally wrote an edict to the imperial court, stating that Liu Bei was the shepherd of Jingzhou, and Liu Bei had full power to manage Jingzhou. He was only willing to be an idle prince without power.

Cao Cao saw that he couldn't stop it, so he finally agreed. Once he pushed the boat along the way, it was considered to appease Liu Bei and buy him time to recover the north.

The second and most important point is that it doesn't really matter whether he agrees or disagrees.

For example, when Liu Bei was the Xuzhou shepherd in the early days, he was not the Xuzhou shepherd conferred by the imperial court, but Tao Qian was elected by Xuzhou officials after his death.

So as long as all officials in Jingzhou recognize Liu Bei, he actually has nothing to do with it.

Since then.

Liu Bei's name is justified, and he controls Jingzhou!

(End of this chapter)