Riding and cutting the imperial pirates of the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 639 Turmoil
When Cai Mao entered the room, Liu Biao's eyes shone with anger, his lips trembled for a long time, but he still couldn't say what he was holding back in his heart.

Kuai Liang had a panoramic view of this scene. He opened his mouth, as if he wanted to say something, but was stopped by Kuai Yue, who was beside him, tugging at his sleeve, while Liu Cong stood by the couch, just clenched his mouth tightly. Liu Biao's hand showed a look of grief.

So far, apart from Cai Hao, only a few people, including Kuai Liang, Pang Ji, and Liu Cong, have been allowed to enter the inner hall to visit. The other civil and military officials are all waiting outside the hall. Seeing the figure of the eldest son Liu Qi.

"How is my lord?"

Just looking at it, Cai Mao felt relieved, Liu Biao's deathly expression showed that he could not see the sun tomorrow, but just to be on the safe side, he asked the doctor, "Is there really no cure? "

"General, it is so." The medical officer replied cautiously in a low voice: "Not only is the pulse weak, but the heart stopped beating once just now. It is a miracle to be able to support itself until now, but it is also hopeless."

At this moment, Liu Biao suddenly shook off Liu Cong's hand, and pointed tremblingly at Cai Mao.

"My lord, the subject is here,"

Seeing this scene, Cai Mao's eyes flashed with pride, but his face immediately showed a sad expression. He quickly moved to the bed, knelt down, and tightly held Liu Biao's hand: "What do you want to say?"

Suffering from the deep poisoning, Liu Biao couldn't speak, so Liu Biao had no choice but to focus his dim eyes on his face, showing an extremely complicated expression, including anger, hatred, and even mixed with unwillingness.
But the most is still doubts!

Among the people present, apart from Liu Biao himself, probably only Cai Mao could understand what Liu Biao was wondering about.
"My lord, you have been a king and minister for many years, how can I have the heart to let you be a fool before you die?"

Cai Hao's eyes were red with tears, but there was a faint smile on the corner of his mouth, which looked very strange. He leaned closer and said slowly in a voice so small that only Liu Biao could hear, "Are you wondering, Why hold on until now, the eldest son and Wenpin haven't appeared yet?"

Facing Liu Biao's pupils that suddenly dilated, he said word by word: "My lord, I underestimated my ability too much. In Xiangyang City, there are some things that can only be known by those who are allowed by me."

"As for how the lord was poisoned, hey."

Speaking of this, the rippling at the corner of Cai Mao's mouth became bigger and bigger, until the weird and crazy smile covered his whole face, he suddenly pointed to Liu Cong at the side, and shouted presumptuously: "This is all thanks to the second son!"

Hearing this, Liu Cong's body trembled violently, but he didn't make a sound, while Liu Biao's eyes were wide open, shining brightly, showing an expression of disbelief. Immediately, a rapid "ho ho" sound came out of his throat. He tried hard to turn his head away and question his son, but suddenly his whole body trembled violently when he was halfway through the turn.

The next moment, Liu Biao's head was turned sideways feebly, and he passed away.

"Father!"

Liu Cong, who was ashamed, couldn't help the tears gushing out, crying heartbreakingly, Kuai Liang and others beside him also had complicated expressions, knelt down one after another, and began to cry bitterly.

Amidst the heaven-shattering cry, Cai Hao suddenly stood up, looked around at the people kneeling on the ground, and shouted coldly: "Did you all hear what the lord said just now?"

Hearing the sudden crying in the hall, the civil and military officials outside the hall had already realized something, and everyone's face was full of uneasiness and hesitation.

And when Cai Mao, Kuai Liang and others appeared in front of them, the first sentence confirmed their guess: "The lord has passed away at the end of the day."

As soon as these words came out, the faces of the crowd immediately showed a bit of mourning, but Cai Mao's next words made them forget about their grief and remember Liu Biao.

"However, just before the lord's death, he issued a verbal order, ordering the second son Liu Cong to inherit the title of Marquis of Wu and serve as the lord of Jingzhou."

As soon as this remark came out, the officials were shocked.

what?
Before the lord died, he ordered Liu Cong to succeed to the throne?

The civil and military officials present, if you look at me and I look at you, you all know how important Cai Mao’s words are. Although Liu Cong was indeed more favored by Liu Biao than Liu Qi because of Mrs. Cai’s pillow style a few years ago, But he has always attached importance to etiquette, and has never really made up his mind to abolish the elders and establish the younger ones.

This was the case before, not to mention that Mrs. Cai is not here now. Besides, what is the meaning of Liu Biao's various actions a while ago? Anyone with a discerning eye can see that it is to suppress Cai Mao, so how could he be interested in Cai Mao who has always supported What about Liu Cong?
Some officials who supported Liu Qi immediately expressed doubts: "What General Cai said, who can prove it?"

Cai Mao smiled slightly, since he dared to say this, he was naturally prepared, without hesitation, he pointed to Brother Kuailiang and Pang Ji and others beside him and said: "Just now, all the lords are also in the room, and they are also listening to the lord's oral instructions. Everything is clear, and everyone can testify to it!"

The lobby full of discussions suddenly fell silent, and all eyes fell on the three of them.

The answers of Kuai Liang and others were not unexpected. They all insisted that Liu Biao left an oral order before his death, letting his second son Liu Cong inherit the title and serve as the lord of Jingzhou.

"Did the lord really give an oral order?"

It would be fine if Cai Mao had found someone else, but they were Kuai Liang and Pang Ji. They were not only Liu Biao's masterminds, but also had high positions and powers, and they were also representatives of the two great families in Jingzhou. Now that he has expressed his position, together with Cai Mao, it means that the gentry in Jingzhou are unanimous in supporting Liu Cong.

Under such circumstances, it doesn't matter whether Liu Biao's verbal instructions are true or not. Whether they believe it in their hearts or not, they can only believe it.After realizing this, most of the officials on the field tended to recognize this verbal instruction.

Seeing that the overall situation was about to be settled, although Liu Cong still had sadness on his face, he couldn't help but flashed joy in his eyes. The matter has progressed to this point, it can be said to be extremely smooth. Although Liu Biao's death was a bit abrupt, the medical officers did not find any obvious signs of death. As for the question, all the officials have no doubts. Once everyone present agrees and recognizes the legitimacy of this oral order, then the probability of Liu Cong successfully succeeding Jingzhou Mu will reach [-]%.

At that time, even if Liu Qi heard the news and came here, even if he was unwilling in every possible way, it would be difficult to make a comeback!

But at this moment, a loud shout suddenly sounded from outside the hall: "Even if the lord left an oral order, it would definitely not be such words!"

Who is so bold?

Everyone was amazed, and followed the prestige, only to see a young general with a plume crown and armor striding forward, it was Wei Wenpin from the Dian Military Academy who had heard the news.

Seeing that it was Wenpin, Cai Mao narrowed his eyes slightly, a cold smile flickered across his mouth, and said lightly, "Why did Xiaowei Wen say that?"

"Abolishing the elders and establishing the younger ones is a big violation of etiquette, and the eldest son has always been dignified and dignified, and he has never lost his virtue,"

Wen Pin stared at Cai Mao coldly: "To act like this is the way to create chaos. How wise is your lord, how can you do it?"

Cai Mao was furious, with a cold murderous intent flashing in his eyes, he said in a deep voice, "You mean to write a fake will?" Then he yelled, "Come on!"

In the clattering sound, a group of soldiers stepped forward to promise, Cai Mao asked, "What's the military law for disrespecting the superior?"

"General, beheaded!"

Cai Mao sneered, pointed at Wen Pin and said, "Give this dog to the general to rectify the law on the spot!"

"promise!"

As soon as he said that, all the people present changed their faces, but Wen Pin smiled contemptuously, drew his sword out of its sheath, and faced a group of wolves and tigers without any fear.

Seeing that a battle of swords was about to start, Kuai Liang suddenly said unexpectedly at the critical moment, "Wait a minute!"

Kuai Liang stepped forward, first slightly shook his head at the angry Cai Mao, then turned to look at Wen Pin, and said seriously: "Zhongye, the lord has indeed left an oral order, and the second son Liu Cong will succeed the lord of Jingzhou. "

"Humph."

Seeing that Wenpin had a mocking smile on his face when he heard this, Kuai Liang sighed inwardly, and continued to say: "You just said a good thing, abolishing the elders and erecting the younger is against etiquette, so if it is not for the eldest son to act It’s not right, the lord would not have made such a decision.”

"Eldest Prince misbehaved?" Wen Pin was startled when he heard the words, "How do you say that?"

"My lord fell ill last night, and it has been more than half a day now." Kuai Liang said: "All the civil and military personnel of the Manchu Dynasty have arrived, even you who are in the military camp in the north of the city have rushed over, but only one person is missing, you Didn't you find it?"

As soon as these words came out, not only did Wen Pin's expression change, but all the civil and military officials present were moved in their hearts. They looked around and looked around, only to be surprised to find that Liu Biao had passed away and Liu Qi hadn't appeared yet, and there was an uproar.

"Where is the eldest son? Why haven't you shown up yet?"

"The lord has abandoned the world. If he didn't show up, that would be a great disobedience!"

"This"

Wenpin's originally high-spirited momentum suddenly faltered. He just said that Liu Qi had never done anything wrong, but he was immediately slapped in the face by Kuai Liang. The Han Dynasty really ruled the world with filial piety, which is different from the later dynasties. The mainstream of society Among the values ​​of the family, the natural kindness of parenting is overriding everything, including loyalty to the emperor and patriotism.

To give a very simple example, in the Han Dynasty, even if the father committed a felony such as treason, the law did not allow the son to report, otherwise he would be sentenced to death for the crime of unfilial piety.

It is precisely because of this that the consequences that Liu Qi has not shown up to now can be regarded as a very serious act of immorality!

"My lord actually didn't intend to blame the eldest son, it's just that."

Kuai Liang explained to Wenpin: "All the officials have come, the second son and other relatives have also come, but the eldest son is missing. No matter what the reason is, it is against filial piety. , there must be disasters, the lord finally made the decision to let the second son succeed when he was dying, and it was also for the sake of the overall situation."

Wen Pin was silent, but Kuai Liang's explanation was reasonable.

The reason why he insisted that what Cai Mao and others said was false was because Liu Biao not only revealed his intention to suppress Cai Mao when he was spying that day, but also made it clear that he would not abandon the elders and make the younger ones, and that he would train them well Liu Qi, let him succeed as Jingzhou Mu in the future.

That being the case, how could he suddenly change his mind in just a few days?

But if it's for the sake of the overall situation, it's really hard to say.

Because the medicine provided by Cai Mao was not poisonous, Liu Biao's stroke and death, although sudden, seemed very natural, so until now, except for Cai Mao and Liu Cong who were involved, almost no one has discovered the truth of the matter.

That being the case, in the eyes of the uninformed people like Wenpin, Liu Biao made a compromise after knowing that his life was not long. For the sake of the overall situation, it made sense to let Liu Qi succeed him.

Because there is no time to cut off the power of Cai Hao and the Cai clan, if he insists on making the "unfilial" Liu Qi the lord of Jingzhou, it is very likely that Jingzhou will immediately fall into a civil strife, and even the coveted foreign forces, such as Wang Zheng and Cao Cao. The others also have a reason to launch a crusade!
"It is the Lord's will."

After thinking for a long time and weighing the pros and cons, even though he still had doubts in his heart, Wenpin, who is from Nanyang, finally decided to focus on the overall situation of Jingzhou, and sighed: "The last general will naturally follow his orders."

As he spoke, he cupped his fists and stepped forward, bowed to Liu Qi and said, "The last general, Wenpin, pays homage to the young master."

Although Liu Biao's death was many years earlier than the original history, the result is still the same.

Liu Cong, who had won the support of the local forces in Jingzhou, defeated the eldest son Liu Qi almost without any suspense, and won the unanimous support of all the officials. At the same time as mourning, he sent envoys to Xudu to invite The emperor ordered.

After Liu Biao's coffin was buried, Liu Qi was accused of "unfilial piety" by Cai Mao, expelled from Xiangyang, and sent to any county magistrate in Jiangxia.

Not long after Liu Qi left the city gate, Cai Mao called the lieutenant general to give some instructions, and then a group of light cavalry rode out of the city gate. A few days later, there was a news that Liu Qi encountered bandits on the way to his post, and unfortunately suffered disaster.

After the troubles were eliminated and the mourning period was over, Cai Mao made Liu Cong the leader and stationed himself in Xiangyang, while the rest of the Cai clan led the Jingzhou soldiers.

Although he hated Wenpin deeply, Jingzhou was currently surrounded by foreign enemies. At the time of employing people, Cai Mao temporarily suppressed his personal grievances and ordered him to lead his troops to Luo County, Changsha. Go east and help Hua Xin.

Of course, Cai Mao at this time was still thinking about intimidation.

Although when Liu Biao was alive, Cai Mao held great hostility towards Wang Zheng, and his attitude towards Yangzhou was a typical hawk, and he fought hard, but when he really became the talker of Jingzhou, he became less unscrupulous.

After all, Wang Zheng's achievements in the past few years are there. If the opponent is willing to stop the pace of conquest, that is naturally the best. If not, at least put an attitude first, let Wang Zheng know that Jingzhou will never sit back and watch them conquer Yuzhang. Annex the whole territory, gain a firm foothold and enter the thorns again!
Considering Jingzhou's intervention, Gan Ning's soldiers and horses are obviously not enough, so it is possible to redeploy and dispatch troops in the future, which gives Cai Mao enough time to find an alliance to fight against the king.

The sudden mobilization of a large group of soldiers and horses on the border of Jingzhou really had an effect. After receiving the information, Gan Ning immediately stopped his offensive against Jianchang, and while withdrawing to Nanchang, he sent his fast horses back to Shouchun to report to Wang Zheng.

(End of this chapter)