Pang Tong spent a lot of time and finally succeeded in persuading Liu Zong and allowing him to go to Xiangyang to persuade Liu Cong to surrender. However, he did not set off immediately. It was already getting late and it was inconvenient to travel.
Besides, Liu Biao's body was still cold. If he went to mourn at this time, he would definitely be regarded as a provocation and humiliation by Liu Cong. Not only would it be more difficult to persuade Liu Cong to surrender, but there would also be a risk of angering Liu Cong.
Pang Tong is planning to leave tomorrow morning. This time is neither too early nor too late, just right.
Not long after Pang Tong and Liu Zong had a secret meeting in the rear chamber, the conversation had to be terminated because of the large number of Xiangyang scholars and people who came to visit.
Liu Biao's death was like the last straw that broke the camel's back. Many noble families who were watching changed their stance and rushed to Caizhou regardless of the weather to pay a visit to Liu Zong. For a time, Caizhou was full of people and people.
cloud.
The noble families were not the only ones affected by Liu Biao's death. Late that night, Xiangyang Dongmen Colonel suddenly led his troops across the city and went straight to Liu Jingjun's Mianbei camp to ask for surrender.
When Liu Cong heard about it, he was so frightened that he broke out in cold sweats. Fortunately, this man only led his troops to surrender. If he had secretly contacted Liu Jingjun, thinking that he was an insider, the consequences would be unimaginable.
This also reminded Liu Cong that he was definitely not the only one who wanted to surrender. In order to eliminate hidden dangers, Liu Cong's brother Zhang Yun and his close associates took over the defense of Xiangyang City.
As for Liu Bei, who nominally "supervises the military in Jingzhou", Liu Cong cannot even trust the people of Jingzhou now, let alone Liu Bei, an outsider.
Facts proved that Liu Cong's decision was necessary. In the middle of the night, there was a sudden cry of killing in the south of Xiangyang City, which lasted for nearly an hour and did not completely subside until dawn.
Afterwards, Zhang Yun reported that rebels and civilians were trying to attack the South City Gate. Fortunately, he had been on guard and prevented the rebels from succeeding.
Although the rebellion was successfully suppressed, Liu Cong was not happy at all. As soon as his father left, the soldiers and people in Xiangyang became disloyal and rushed to join the enemy. How could he not feel chilled?
This once again confirmed his worries for the past few days. Trying to rely on the distracted Xiangyang to resist Liu Jingjun was tantamount to wishful thinking.
The current situation is that he cannot fight again and again, cannot move away yet, and cannot defend yet. Liu Cong inevitably has the thought of surrender in his heart. This is not the first time he has had this thought.
When Liu Biao was dying, Liu Cong wanted to express his feelings, but his father hated Liu Jing deeply because of the death of his brother Liu Qi. He would rather give the Jingzhou foundation to Liu Bei, an outsider, than give in to Liu Jing. Therefore, Liu Biao did not swallow his last breath.
Even in one breath, he didn't dare to say it.
"Alas..." Liu Cong sat alone in the hall and sighed heavily. If possible, he would of course want to follow his father's legacy and protect the foundation of Jingchu.
However, despite his father's wisdom, when he was at his peak, he could not help but lose consecutive battles against Liu Jing, losing his troops and territory, and died of illness. His wisdom was far inferior to that of his father, and he was trapped in an isolated city with only a few troops, and he was no match for Liu Jing.
Already.
Liu Cong sat in the hall, thinking all night. When the sky and the earth broke, the balance in his heart completely tipped to one side...
The news of Liu Biao's death, after a night of fermentation, has spread throughout the city, and is known to all women and children. As the sky dawns, the people of Xiangyang go to the state headquarters to verify the authenticity.
Pang Ji, Kuai Liang and other high-ranking officials in the prefecture naturally denied it and reassured everyone that Liu Biao was only suffering from a recurrence of illness and was not seriously ill. This rumor was deliberately spread by the enemy and should not be believed.
However, this explanation cannot calm people's hearts at all. Liu Biao has not appeared in public for a long time. Who knows whether he is alive or dead?
After that, more and more people gathered in front of the state department, lingering and talking endlessly.
At sunrise, an infantry and cavalry team of about 2,000 people made their way south along the Feishui River and arrived at Fancheng.
Wenpin rode his horse to the bank of Mianshui River and looked at the Liu Jingjun warships that were densely packed on the river. Wenpin's resolute face was full of solemn worry.
Wenpin was born in a wealthy family in Nanyang. During the Zhongping period, he was recruited to fight for the Yellow Turbans. During this period, he made many military exploits and was a powerful figure in Hanmi. He became a famous general in Jingzhou.
He had a generous nature. When Liu Biao and Yuan Shu were fighting, he ignored Yuan Shu's solicitation and resolutely joined the weak Liu Biao's side, helping Liu Biao drive away Yuan Shu and regain Nanyang.
After that, Wenpin was stationed in Nanyang and guarded the north for Liu Biao. He was responsible for the area and his power was so great that few foreign generals could match it.
Wenpin was a loyal man and Liu Biao recruited him. He did not hesitate and immediately led his troops to help. Unfortunately, even if he traveled under starry night, he was still a step too late and was blocked by Liu Jingshui's army in the north of the Yangtze River. Xiangyang was clearly in front of him, but he could only
Looking at the river here, I sigh and feel helpless.
Going south to Xiangyang, of course, there is more than one road in front of you, but no matter which road you take, you cannot avoid Mianshui in the end.
Liu Jingjun's warships are everywhere on the river. If you want to cross the river under their noses, the chance of success is very slim. The most likely possibility is that Liu Jingshui's army will intercept you during the crossing, and the two thousand soldiers will become fish and crabs in the river.
At the same time, the arrival of Wenpin and his men also attracted Liu Jingjun's attention, and many warships sailed towards the north bank.
The Wenpin Department rushed for more than a hundred miles one night. At this time, it was already at the end of the battle. When they saw Liu Jingjun's large ship breaking through the waves, Wenpin decisively chose to retreat and led his troops into Fancheng to rest.
When Liu Jingjun saw the enemy retreating into Fancheng, he did not land rashly. After showing off his power on the shore, he turned around and returned to the river.
The information was sent back to Caizhou. Pang Tong, who was dressed in plain clothes and was about to leave, said to Liu Zong with certainty: "This must be Wenpin's army."
This is not difficult to guess. At present, in the entire north, only Wenpin has the ability to send reinforcements.
Although Pang Tong had little contact with Wenpin, he knew that this man was loyal, resolute, capable of leading troops, and was the leading general in Jingzhou.
But now we have blocked the entire Han Mian River. No matter how talented Wenpin is, he can only stare at the Mian River.
Liu Zong didn't care much, not to mention that Wenpin couldn't cross the river now. What would happen even if he did? Famous generals in Jingzhou? Kuai Yue, Liu Pan, Deng Fang, Cai Mao, Wang Wei... there were not many famous generals in Jingzhou who died in their hands.
.
In contrast, Liu Zong cared more about Pang Tong and sent him all the way to the ferry, saying: "In the past, Li Shi did not waste a single soldier. With just a sharp tongue, he said that he would surrender to the king of Qi, and more than seventy cities in Qi were destroyed.
Surrender in battle. I hope Shi Yuan can persuade Liu Cong to surrender Chu like the ancients."
Pang Tong smiled confidently and said: "Tong will do his best to complete his mission."
Regarding going to Xiangyang to persuade him to surrender, he was only 50% sure when he proposed it yesterday. However, with the return of Xiangyang East Gate Colonel and his troops last night, it proved that the internal turmoil in Xiangyang was far more intense than imagined, and he is now 80% sure.
Seeing that the time was almost up, Pang Tong said goodbye to Liu Zong, took only three or five followers with him, boarded a large barge, left Caizhou, and headed north up the river.