On February 10th, Cai Mao and Liu Bei launched an attack at the same time.
Cai Mao held off Liu Zhang's main force on the front line, and Liu Bei went around and fought all the way from Wushan to Zigui. It can be said that there were sparks and lightning along the way, and the fire was burning all the way.
By February 12, Wu Yi already knew the news that the rear area had been blasted. He was shocked and wanted to counterattack.
However, Liu Bei held Xinling Township, which was later known as Zigui County. He sent troops to control both sides of the Yangtze River. Wu Yi's food route was cut off, making it difficult for him to fly.
On February 27, after being trapped for more than ten days, Wu Yi's army ran out of food and was finally forced to surrender to Liu Bei. Liu Bei obtained all his troops and, following Liu Biao's orders, continued to march westward, controlled Yufu County, and entered Quren.
, troops came to Bajun.
For a time, the whole Yizhou was shaken.
Because Wu Yi had already taken away three-fifths of Yizhou's troops and horses, and there were not many people left in Ba County behind, Liu Bei used Wu Yi's seal to falsely open the city gate, threatening Ba County and making Liu Zhang extremely uneasy.
He quickly sent someone to sue for peace.
In early April of the 10th year of Jian'an, Liu Biao learned about this and was overjoyed. Now Huang Zu occupied Yuzhang in Jiangdong, and Liu Bei invaded Bajun in Yizhou. His power surged again, and he began to make noises for proclaiming himself emperor.
In mid-April, a stone tablet was found in the Yangtze River in Jiangxia, with a motto written on it: "With the decline of the Han Dynasty, the world will perish. The one who saves the country will come from Jingxiang. The grandson of the Red Emperor will be virtuous. If Liu is promoted three times, he will be king of the south!"
In late April, someone saw another black snake causing trouble in Wudang Mountain. It uttered human words and said that it was the son of the Black Emperor and that it wanted to replace the Red Emperor. Liu Biao, the king of Chu, sent people to kill it.
In May, after a heavy rain, colorful clouds gathered on the city of Xiangyang. Many fortune tellers in Jingzhou said that Xiangyang had the aura of an emperor.
In less than two months, various rumors, nursery rhymes, and proverbs spread throughout Jingzhou, building momentum for Liu Biao to proclaim himself emperor.
Liu Bei, who was in Quren County, also heard about this.
In the Quren County Yamen, Liu Bei and Xu Shu and Chen Chen were sitting separately. Liu Bei's face was very solemn, and his eyebrows were knitted together.
He looked at the two of them and said: "There have been a lot of rumors in Xiangyang recently. The King of Chu is really going to proclaim himself emperor."
"yes."
Shen Chen sighed, shook his head and said: "The stronger the strength, the more ambitious people will be. Especially since King Chu is over sixty years old, he can't wait that long."
Liu Bei said: "When I was in Xiangyang, I made good friends with Liu Qi, the prince of Chu. He sent me a letter asking me what should I do?"
"I also received."
Shen Chen said: "I replied to him and asked him to advise the King of Chu."
Liu Bei nodded: "I think so too. Although the young gentleman told me that the King of Chu might proclaim himself emperor, I would still advise him to think twice before making any move."
"Then let's go to the table together."
Shen Chen thought for a while, then frowned and said, "Forget it, I'd better go back to Xiangyang myself."
Xu Shu wondered: "Ah Chen, since you have guessed that the King of Chu is going to proclaim himself emperor and have planned to assist General Liu in capturing Jingzhou, why do you want to go back to persuade the King of Chu?"
Shen Chen said seriously: "I want to assist General Liu because I know he wants to become emperor and I don't want to follow his mistakes. But before he becomes emperor, I still have to do my duty and give him advice.
To advise and to oppose those who should be opposed, this is to do one's best and obey the destiny."
Although what Shen Chen said was sometimes double-standard, what he did was never double-standard. For example, he promised to protect the people. Even when he attacked Xudu, he never harmed the people along the way and even distributed a lot of food.
give them.
The only thing that seemed to be a problem was that two thousand acres of farmland were destroyed during the attack on Yingyin to kill Zaozhi. Calculated at three stones per mu, it was only six thousand stones of grain. Shen Chen later distributed more than ten thousand tons of grain to the people around Xudu. One hundred thousand stones.
Later, when he explained the strategy to Liu Bei in Kunyang, he did not mention Liu Biao at that time. He only said that if there were changes in Jingzhou in the future, such as Liu Biao's death or Jiangdong Yizhou conquering Jingzhou, he could replace him.
When he was in Xinye, he talked about the issue of Liu Biao meeting to proclaim himself emperor.
But after all, that is just an inference.
As the saying goes, one doesn’t care about one’s heart when it comes to deeds.
The real situation of Shen Chen in these years is that it was not until last year that he was promoted as a distinguished scholar by Liu Biao, completed a series of recruitment procedures, and officially became an official under him.
Xinye was right before this period of time, and since then he has never given advice to Liu Bei, nor has he been Liu Bei's subordinate.
At least so far, Shen Chen has been helping Liu Biao, helping him increase grain production, expand land, strengthen his troops, and even attacked Liu Zhang to help Liu Biao repel powerful enemies.
Therefore, everything Shen Chen did had never harmed Liu Biao. If someone said that it was with Shen Chen's help that Liu Biao developed the desire to become emperor, it would be speechless.
Because this is Liu Biao's own problem, what does it have to do with Shen Chen?
So now that Shen Chen has become an official under Liu Biao, he has to fulfill his duty as a subordinate and persuade Liu Biao not to do this.
This is what is called doing your best and obeying destiny.
Anyway, I have always fulfilled my duty and affection. Whether Liu Biao listens or not is another matter.
After Shen Chen discussed with Liu Bei, Liu Bei wrote a letter of admonition in his own hand and gave it to Shen Chen to take back. Shen Chen went south along the river non-stop to Jiangling.
It took four or five months to just open the road from Xiaoling to Wushan, but it was much faster to go south by boat. We set off almost in the morning and arrived in Jiangling in the afternoon. Then we stationed troops in Jiangling County and headed north immediately.
By the early morning of the next day, Shen Chen had arrived outside Xiangyang City.
At this moment, Xiangyang City is still very lively inside and outside.
Although this war has been going on for two years, it is a good thing after all.
Liu Biao defeated Sun Quan in the east and Liu Zhang in the west, and his prestige greatly increased.
Families from all over the country came to congratulate him.
When Shen Chen arrived at Prince Chu's residence, he saw countless carriages outside the residence.
After asking around at the door, he found out that the King of Chu was hosting a banquet for various aristocratic families today, and anyone who knew what he was doing knew what he was doing.
Shen Chen did not go in for the banquet, but returned to Deng Hong's mansion. He estimated that the guard would definitely report the news of his return to Liu Biao, and Liu Biao would summon him soon, so he might as well go and rest.
In the evening, Shen Chen, who had slept all day, was woken up by Deng Pi and Shen Qi, who told him that Liu Biao had summoned him.
So he got on the carriage and headed to the Prince of Chu's Mansion.
At this time, all the carriages outside the mansion had left. He entered the mansion and went all the way to the small hall in the backyard, where Liu Biao was already waiting for him.
"Achen, are you back?"
Liu Biao was wearing a loose royal robe, his face was slightly flushed, he seemed to have drunk some wine, and his expression was beaming.
"King!"
Shen Chen first bowed his hands in salute, then knelt down on one knee and said, "Your Majesty, I heard about something recently, so I rushed back to Xiangyang overnight."
"What's the matter?"
Liu Biao asked.
Shen Chen smiled bitterly and said, "I heard that the king wants to proclaim himself emperor?"
Liu Biao looked to his left and asked: "Where did this rumor come from? Ah Chen just needs to concentrate on fighting and ignore it. By the way, the army is in short supply of food and grass. Do you want me to send someone to transport a batch there?"
Shen Chen put Liu Bei's letter in his hands and said seriously: "Your Majesty, it's better not to worry about proclaiming yourself emperor. Yuan Shu's matter is at hand. Your Majesty, please think twice. This is General Zuo's letter. Please consider it carefully." Take a moment and think twice before you act.”
"Well"
Liu Biao responded noncommittally, took the letter, opened it, glanced at it, and frowned.
When he first used Liu Bei and Shen Chen, he realized that this was a double-edged sword.
Because both Liu Bei and Shen Chen were loyal to Liu Xie, he had known this for a long time and had tested it before, so he tried to use it as much as possible.
But today, there is no other way. If you use them to defeat Liu Zhang's army, you have to be prepared for a backlash.
Now the backlash has indeed come.
When they heard that he planned to proclaim himself emperor, the two men immediately opposed it and advised him not to do so.
But Liu Biao in history was not that powerful, yet he already had the ambition to become emperor, not to mention that his current strength is more than twice as powerful as it was in history?
So in the face of the two people's persuasion, he just gently put the bamboo slips on the table, tapped the table gently and said: "Ah Chen, I told you that this is a rumor. How can you believe the rumor?"
"Your Majesty, don't try to deceive me."
Shen Chen looked at him seriously and said: "If it were just a rumor, how could there be so many miracles in Jingzhou? Behind this, it must be the king's instigation. Today, when the major families come to the banquet, it must be the king who is testing them."
"Asshole!"
Liu Biao furiously slapped the case and said, "Achen, could it be that Suigu has dissatisfaction with the imperial court?"
"I"
Shen Chen was stunned for a moment, and then said dejectedly: "I beg you to resign."
"Go for it!"
Liu Biao waved his hand, obviously still angry.
Shen Chen left sadly.
Watching his leaving figure, Liu Biao's expression also looked a little sad.
He had watched Shen Chen grow up. He had been admitted to the Xianshan Academy since he was a child. He went to the Prefectural Mufu Mansion no less than ten times a month. He had already treated him as his nephew.
But Shen Chen's performance today still left him a little disappointed.
He thought Shen Chen could understand him, but after all, he was difficult to tolerate and still unwilling to support his great cause.
This made Liu Biao feel a little depressed.
Fortunately, Ah Chen had a good relationship with Bo Rui. Bo Rui fled to Jiangxia and was taught by Ah Chen.
Thinking about it, even if something unexpected happens to him in the future, it will always be because of his past kindness, and he will take care of and assist Berry.
A trace of sadness flashed in Liu Biao's eyes.
This imperial industry.
Who doesn’t want to?
"Your Majesty."
After Shen Chen left, Jia Xu's ghostly figure emerged from behind the screen.
Liu Biao sighed: "Sir, you are right, Ah Chen."
Jia Xu said: "Shen Chen is an upright man and will definitely advise the king. If the king doesn't listen, he has no choice but to leave. But don't worry, the king. Shen Chen has a good relationship with Young Master Qi and has a mortal enemy with Cao Cao. As long as he If the king can completely pacify Jiangdong and Yizhou and gain the south, he will still come back."
"Ok, I know."
Liu Biao nodded. He actually felt that his health was getting worse, so to a certain extent, Shen Chen was preparing for Liu Qi in the future.
At least now he has reached his peak by punching Sun Quan and kicking Liu Zhang, so it doesn't matter if Shen Chen is no longer needed.
"Now I'm worried about Liu Bei."
Liu Biao frowned and said, "Liu Bei has elite soldiers. If I rashly declare myself emperor, will he immediately rebel against me?"
Jia Xu immediately said: "This possibility is very high, so I ask the king to transfer Liu Bei to another place immediately. There has been war in Jiaozhou, Jingnan recently. The king can let Liu Bei go to Jingnan."
"What does this mean?"
Liu Biao was puzzled.
Jia Xu said: "Liu Bei has a very benevolent government in Wancheng and has won the hearts of the people. He cannot be allowed to return to Nanyang. Jingnan is remote and Liu Pan is by his side. Even if Liu Bei makes any changes, he will not be able to win the support of the local people and families. Secondly, Liu Bei will not be allowed to return to Nanyang."
Even if there are obstacles, great things will not be accomplished."
"Um."
Liu Biao stroked his beard and nodded, laughing loudly and said: "That makes sense. Thank you sir for helping me realize my long-cherished wish. I have sir. He is truly a gift from heaven."
"They are all just serving the king."
Jia Xu said with a smile and cupped his hands.
The ideas he gave Liu Biao were always right, otherwise he would not gain Liu Biao's trust.
This strategy, at least on the surface, did keep Liu Bei far away from his base in Wancheng, making it difficult for him to develop in the remote areas of Jingnan.
It's just that Liu Biao ignored one thing.
That is, the Jingnan area is not convinced by him.
Zhang Xian's prestige was much higher than that of Liu Biao. Liu Biao killed Zhang Xian. Many people in Jingnan who had received favors from Zhang Xian deeply hated him.
Therefore, at least in the public mind, the people of Jingnan were just attracted by Liu Biao's power and did not truly surrender.
If one person stands high and shouts, there will probably be countless people who oppose Liu Biao.
"Next spring, I will officially proclaim myself emperor!"
Liu Biao's eyes flickered.
At that time, Yuan Shu had been building momentum for two years in order to proclaim himself emperor.
But he couldn't wait that long.
He will build momentum in the second half of this year. Next spring, he will offer sacrifices to heaven and earth and officially proclaim himself emperor!
Jia Xu smiled slightly at the side, cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, sir."
"Hahahahaha."
Liu Biao laughed, his eyes filled with madness for the throne.
I only updated two chapters of 8800 words today. I got up too early in the morning and was delayed on some things. I am very sleepy now. I plan to go to bed early. Everyone should have a rest early. The plots in the future will be more exciting one after another. Don’t say anything else.
I broke my guard. It was you who asked me to put my explanation in the writer’s words. It’s just that the tone of cerebral congestion is a bit strong, because some readers’ words really make people have high blood pressure. When I see high blood pressure comments in the future, I will recite ten silently.
Don’t be angry at all. I don’t get angry when others are angry. If I get angry, no one can help me. If I get angry to death, no one will be happy. Besides, it’s nerve-wracking and laborious. This rhyme rhymes so much that I almost want to take the postgraduate entrance exam after learning it.