After all, there were only a few people like Pang Degong who were indifferent to fame and wealth and refused to accept official salary. Although there were occasional people who refused Liu Jing's solicitation, there were undoubtedly many more people who agreed.
General Anyuan's Mansion has become the most lively place in Xiangyang. New talents are joining every day. Talented people from Jingzhou, Sili, Yong, Yan, and Yuzhou gather together. The occasion is unprecedented. Compared with the lack of talents in Jingnan,
The situation of distress is completely different.
But it was said that Huang Zu, Huang She and his son decided to surrender to Liu Jing. After making some arrangements, they immediately set off northward. They traveled quickly and traveled all the way, and finally rushed back to Xiangyang on September 14th, which was the day before Liu Biao was buried.
Huang Zu, Huang She and his son both led large counties and guarded Jiang and Han. Whether they fought or surrendered would directly affect the future trend of Jingzhou.
Now that the two of them had surrendered the county and saved Jingzhou from internal strife, Liu Jing naturally treated them with special gifts and personally went out of the city to welcome them for such a great contribution. Such treatment had almost never happened before.
When Huang Zu and Huang She got off the ferry, they were surprised to learn that Liu Jing was waiting for them on the shore. This honor made both father and son flattered, and at the same time they felt relieved.
Before coming to Xiangyang, Huang Zu, Huang She and his son had a dispute. Huang She's idea was to let his father Huang Zu stay in Jiangxia while he went to Xiangyang alone to meet Liu Jing.
After all, the father and son are Liu Biao's confidants, and they have been in trouble with Liu Jing in the past. If the father and son came to Xiangyang together, Liu Jing might not kill them because of his reputation, but there is no guarantee that he would not put them under house arrest and rob them.
Jiangxia, there is no need for them to take this risk.
Huang Zu did not agree with his son's suggestion. He naturally wanted to solve the problems that Huang She could think of, but he had to come to Xiangyang.
On the one hand, Huang She went to Xiangyang alone, which showed a lack of sincerity. This move will definitely make Liu Jing dissatisfied and even suspect that the father and son have different intentions and are not sincere in their submission, which will lead to the catastrophe of overthrowing the family and annihilating the clan.
On the other hand, Huang Zu, a tinsmith with a humble background, became as powerful as he is today because of Liu Biao's kindness. When Liu Biao was buried, he had to come back to mourn his late master no matter what, so as to live up to his ruler and ministers.
Fortunately, seeing Liu Jing's attitude, most of the worries in the hearts of the father and son were immediately eliminated.
Huang Zu and Huang She were led to Liu Jing's command. Neither father nor son had seen Liu Jing before, but they did not dare to look more. After a quick glance, they hurriedly bowed down and said, "Sinner Huang Zu (Huang Zu)"
Shoot), kowtow to the general."
"Huang Jiangxia, Huang Zhangling, please rise." Liu Jing raised his hands to support them, and then comforted the two of them: "My father and son have strong soldiers in their hands and dominate the country, but they understand the righteousness and know how to obey and rebel. Now they are returning with their troops to restore peace to Jingzhou."
, the people were saved from misery, and it was a great achievement. Where did the crime come from?”
Liu Jing's words were not polite. Grandfather Huang did not have the strength to compete with him, but he was more than enough to hold him back.
Liu Jing was familiar with the historical process, and he knew very well that after Yuan Shao died of illness, Cao Cao officially began to countdown to unifying the North. In a few years, Cao Cao would dominate China, leaving Liu Jing with little time.
At this critical moment, if Grandfather Huang were to hold him back for a year and a half, it would greatly affect Liu Jing's plan. Surrendering without a fight would be the best outcome.
Huang Zu was not a good talker, so he turned to look at Huang She. Unlike the vulgar Huang Zu, Huang She had read poetry and books since he was a child and was quite eloquent. "Back then, Ji Bu served as Xiang Yu's general and embarrassed the emperor several times. Later, Xiang Yu was defeated."
"Gaozu offered a thousand gold reward for the capture of Ji Bu. Anyone who dares to hide Ji Bu will be guilty of the crime of the three clans. This is evident from the depth of Gaozu's hatred."
"My father and son used to overestimate their capabilities and often opposed the general, and they were always afraid in their hearts. The general was generous and generous, and did not remember old grudges. He treated my father and son with this courtesy. In the past, I often heard about the general's virtues, and the people of Jingchu were all admired by the local customs.
My father and my son know it now that they are righteous and willing to serve as my concubine. In the future, they are willing to serve as generals and die without hatred."
Liu Jing was overjoyed when he heard this, and then said sincerely: "My father and son are the heroes of Chu. Huang Jiangxia has been in charge of Shaxian for more than ten years. He has defeated the barbarians internally and defended Jiangdong externally. He has shocked the two countries of Chu and Wu. Huang Jiangxia has guarded the east for me.
What else do I have to worry about? Huang Zhangling is also very intelligent and agrees with me well. How about staying in Xiangyang to make plans for me and discuss big plans together?"
After saying that, Liu Jing looked at Huang Zu, Huang She and his son with a smile, waiting for a reply.
Huang She did not hesitate and readily accepted the order: "This is also the wish of my subordinates. I am afraid that my lack of talent may disappoint the general's high expectations."
Huang She knew what he was worth. How could he be Liu Jing's mastermind? This was just Liu Jing's excuse to keep him.
Huang Zu, Huang She and his son had imagined many possibilities. The worst outcome was naturally to be killed, the next was to be placed under house arrest and idle, and the third was to be transferred elsewhere...
In contrast, Liu Jing's willingness to let Huang Zu continue to guard Jiangxia was the best outcome that the father and son could think of.
As for Zhang Ling, Huang She didn't even dare to hope for it. Zhang Ling was the northern gateway of Jingzhou, bordering Cao Cao's forces, and its importance was even higher than that of Jiangxia. Liu Jing must guard it with his trusted people, and he would never use Huang She, an outsider.
.
Just as Huang She thought, Liu Jing was indeed planning to let his elder brother Liu Zong serve as the governor of Zhangling to guard the north for him and guard against Cao Cao.
Mr. Liu is not only his clan brother, but also one of the few people under his command who can take on such responsibilities. After comprehensive consideration, Liu Zong is the best candidate.
The vacant post of Wuling Prefect was taken over by Liu Zong's younger brother Liu Cheng. The latter is currently in Wuling, presiding over county affairs, and is actually the Wuling Prefect. What he lacks is just his title.
In addition to the previous appointment of Zhao Jian as the prefect of Nanyang, now, except for Huang Zu, the prefects of the eight counties in Jingzhou are all appointed by Liu Jing.
They are Liu Yao, the Grand Administrator of Changsha, Huan Yi, the Grand Administrator of Guiyang, Liu Cheng, the Grand Administrator of Wuling, Xu Shu, the Grand Administrator of Nanjun, Zhao Jian, the Grand Administrator of Nanyang, Liu Zong, the Grand Administrator of Zhangling, and Liu Jing himself, the Grand Administrator of Lingling, who strictly acts as a county magistrate.
These seven people may be from the same clan as Liu Jing or are Liu Jing's confidants. Even Zhao Jian, who has recently joined, has won Liu Jing's respect and trust.
Compared with these seven people, Liu Jing did not trust Huang Zu. Although he promised Huang Zu to continue to serve as the governor of Jiangxia, he would certainly not completely delegate power like Liu Biao and must be restricted.
Liu Jing planned to start from both the civil and military aspects. On the civil aspect, he would send his cronies to serve as county magistrates, and the county would be engaged in order to divide their power.
In terms of military force, he promoted his generals Su Fei, Deng Long and others to weaken his military power, and sent troops to garrison Zhukou, Xiakou and other important towns to form a clampdown on Sha Xian.
Of course, Liu Jing's purpose was to restrict Huang Zu's power, not to force the opposition, so things had to be done step by step and slowly, and he must not act rashly to avoid self-defeating.