Chapter 234 The Storm in Jingzhou on the Eve of the Civil War 2
Chapter 234 On the eve of civil strife, storm in Jingzhou (2)
Shonan is very close to Liling, about 80 kilometers away, and can be reached directly by waterway.
Take Lianshui to enter the Xiangjiang River, then walk south for a section of the waterway to the entrance of Lushui River, and then go east to Liling.
Zhuge Liang set out on the evening of February 6th, and by noon on February 7th, after sailing for about eight hours, he arrived at Liling County.
The county is surrounded by mountains, and there is a large area of fertile soil outside the city. It is spring in February, and the mountains are covered with wild flowers and lush green. Outside the city, there are dense trees and lush branches.
In the Han Dynasty, the main food in the south was rice. Now along both sides of the Lu River, it was the time of spring plowing, and countless people were busy in the fields, creating a busy farming scene.
There was no one near the dock at this time, but there were some soldiers guarding it. When they saw a ship under Liu Bei's flag coming suddenly, the originally lazy soldiers just took a look at it and didn't take any more precautions.
Since Liu Bei and Liu Pan were stationed very close to each other, they moved around a lot. Liu Bei and Liu Biao maintained a superficial relationship. In addition, both parties were better friends with Liu Qi, so they gradually became familiar with each other.
Hostile.
However, the soldiers quickly went to the city to report to Liu Pan. When Zhuge Liang got off the boat, a Qu Junhou from the dock came up to him, asked about the situation, and learned that he was here to see Liu Pan, so he led the way.
They pass.
On the way, Liu Pan came quickly on horseback. Zhuge Liang and Liu Qi had a good relationship, and Liu Qi was Liu Pan's cousin. Naturally, they had known each other for a long time. He hurriedly dismounted and came up to greet him, smiling: "Kong Ming."
"Brother Yijian!"
Zhuge Liang smiled and cupped his hands and said, "I'm sorry to bother you so much, please forgive me."
"What brings Kong Ming to Liling?"
Liu Pan was a little confused after meeting him. He knew that Zhuge Liang was following Liu Bei, but Liu Bei had gone to Xichuan now. He didn't know why Zhuge Liang suddenly visited.
"Let's go to the city first and then talk about it later."
Zhuge Liang smiled and walked on the road into the city with Liu Pan. He looked around and said, "It's spring plowing too."
"yes."
Liu Pan said: "This year has been very busy. After the evacuation from Yuzhang, we moved many people to Changsha County, and we have to open up a lot of fields. Otherwise, it will be difficult for the people and the army to maintain their existence."
Zhuge Liang asked strangely: "Isn't there any food and grass coming from Xiangyang?"
Liu Pan shook his head and said: "Originally, it was shipped once every six months. There was a shipment in September last year. A new batch was supposed to be shipped next month. However, after my uncle became seriously ill, there seemed to be no approval. I have already sent a letter to Xiangyang.
If the food doesn’t arrive next month, I’m afraid there won’t be enough food.”
"I see."
Zhuge Liang thought in his mind that Liu Pan's garrison of 20,000 troops would be difficult to support with Liling's population.
It used to be transported by water from Xiangyang, but now there is no response. It seems that Xiangyang is likely to be stuck with grain and grass from various places.
However, there is currently no shortage of food in Liu Bei's place. Liu Bei helped Liu Biao fight in the north and south, defeated Cao Cao and Liu Zhang, and also pacified the rebellious Jingnan barbarians. Although Liu Biao consciously controlled the food supply to prevent him from growing stronger, he could not provide it before.
Little, lots of inventory.
While the two were talking, they had already arrived in Liling County. After sitting down in the county government hall, Liu Pan asked: "Kong Ming, what is going on?"
"Brother Yijian, please take a look."
Zhuge Liang handed over the letter in his arms and Liu Qi's seal.
Liu Pan took it and opened it. Due to the improvement of papermaking technology, paper took root in Jingzhou and gradually replaced bamboo slips in the upper layer, so it was much lighter.
He took out the letter, and his face became very solemn while he was reading it. After waiting to read it, he looked at the seal again and said silently: "It turns out that my uncle has passed away, and I don't even know about it."
"Cai Mao, Kuai Yue and others blocked the news. If someone in Xiangyang City hadn't risked his life to send a letter to the eldest prince, I'm afraid something unexpected would have happened to the eldest prince."
Zhuge Liang said in a deep voice: "How should we deal with Brother Yijian?"
Liu Pan smiled bitterly and said, "I don't know either."
Zhuge Liang said: "Brother Yijian should understand that the second prince is weak by nature and controlled by Cai Mao, Kuai Yue and others. Once he ascends the throne, all Jingzhou will be controlled by these two people, and your majesty's foundation will be destroyed. How can brother Yijian bear to do this?"
?”
Liu Pan hesitated and said: "But... you want me to fight with Xiangyang? How can this be done?"
Zhuge Liang advised: "The eldest prince has no heirs. The reason why we raised the army is to take back the Liu family's foundation. Even if the throne is passed in the future, he will still be the heir of the second prince. Jingzhou should be regarded as the Liu family's property. How can it be controlled by outsiders?"
"Let me think."
Liu Pan hesitated.
Zhuge Liang did not force him. After all, although Liu Pan and Liu Qi had a good relationship, they must be cautious when it comes to such a major matter.
Once Liu Qi and Liu Cong turn against each other, the entire Jingzhou will fall into civil strife.
Just like Yuan Shao in the north, he had so much power, but after his death, his two sons fought with each other, so that everyone in the world knew that the north would definitely be captured by Cao Cao. This was something that the Liu clan in Jingzhou did not want to see.
More importantly, Zhuge Liang expected that Xiangyang would definitely send someone to persuade Liu Pan, and Liu Pan would definitely not want to get involved in the dispute between the two brothers.
So the worst outcome is that they don't help each other.
But who knows, Xiangyang may make a bad move, such as seizing Liu Pan's military power.
The two talked about other things.
After waiting for two hours, at three quarters in the afternoon, Liu Pan invited Zhuge Liang to have dinner in the hall.
"Report!"
While I was eating, someone suddenly came in from outside: "An angel from Xiangyang sent an edict."
"oh?"
Liu Pan looked at Zhuge Liang doubtfully: "Kong Ming?"
Zhuge Liang put down his bowls and chopsticks, shook his feather fan lightly and said with a smile: "Yi Jian, why don't you go see him."
"good."
Liu Pan stood up and said, "I'll go take a look."
He went out to meet him.
After a while, Liu Pan came in with a strong man and several followers.
The strong man saw Zhuge Liang and said suspiciously: "General Liu, who is this?"
"This is the military chief register."
Liu Pan lied and said, "I'm not an outsider."
The strong man nodded and said: "That's just right. I will ask him to report to me the number of men and horses in the army later."
As he spoke, he took out a roll of silk and said loudly: "Your Majesty has an edict. In the third year of Changping, the Emperor Liu Biao of the Han Dynasty issued an edict."
The front is the format of the edict. Changping is the reign name of Liu Biao. He ascended the throne and proclaimed himself emperor in 206 AD. It is now the third year. The following is the content.
Probably because of his illness, he needed to arrange for the clan to return to Xiangyang to take charge of the overall situation and stabilize the situation, so he asked Liu Pan to step down from military duties and immediately set off back to Xiangyang.
As for Liling's army, leave it to that strong man.
The strong man named Yuan Long was a general of Cai Mao's tribe. Historically, he surrendered to Cao Cao with Cai Mao. After the Battle of Chibi, he belonged to Jiangdong and was stationed in Liling. Later, Guan Yu flooded seven armies and shocked China. So he responded to Guan Yu and captured and killed for Lu Dai.
At this moment, Liu Pan's face changed drastically after listening to the edict. At this time, he already knew the news that Liu Biao had died of illness, but Liu Biao's edict was sent from Xiangyang. Even a fool knows what happened.
He has a strong personality and wanted to explode on the spot, but Zhuge Liang said: "General, you should kowtow to thank God."
He said and winked at him.
Liu Pan resisted his displeasure, took the roll of silk with both hands, and said, "Respect the emperor's edict."
After he finished speaking, he opened the edict and read it, confirming that the handwriting on it was not Liu Biao's own handwriting, but it had the emperor's seal engraved by Liu Biao, so he frowned and said, "How come this is not your Majesty's handwriting?"
Yuan Long explained: "Your Majesty is seriously ill and cannot write, so he can only do it for you by a close servant."
"I see."
Liu Pan said: "Since we are handing over military affairs, we also invite General Yuan to rest in the backyard. I will immediately summon all the generals to hand over the military affairs on the spot."
"Then it will be hard work."
Yuan Long was quite polite and had no doubts. He was happily led to the backyard.
After he left, Liu Pan said angrily: "Kong Ming, I wanted to tie this guy up and kill him, why did you stop me?"
If Liu Biao seizes his military power, Liu Pan will naturally have no complaints or regrets. The problem is that it is clear that Cai Mao, Kuai Yue and others are at work, trying to deceive him in Liu Biao's name.
After all, he was Liu Biao's nephew, and he had made outstanding achievements in conquering Jiangdong. Not only did they want to seize his military power, but they also deceived him into taking him to Xiangyang. It was unclear whether he would be killed or imprisoned. Liu Pan was naturally furious.
Zhuge Liang smiled and comforted him: "Brother Yijian, don't be impatient. Please listen to me slowly."
"you say."
Liu Pan sat on the table unhappily.
Zhuge Liang came to his side, waving his feather fan slightly and said with a smile: "Don't you Yi Jian hear the general's plan? There are still soldiers and horses in the four counties of Jingnan. Jin Xuan, the prefect of Wuling, Liu Du, the prefect of Lingling, Zhao Fan, the prefect of Guiyang, and the prefect of Changsha
The four Han and Xuan will definitely be captured by Cai Mao and Kuai Yue. If we kill the angel at this time, we will not be able to capture Jingnan for the eldest son."
Liu Pan's expression changed, he nodded slightly and said, "What does Kong Ming mean?"
"Yi Jian, please listen to me."
Zhuge Liang whispered a few words beside him, which made Liu Pan nod frequently and his eyes flashed brightly.
"good."
Liu Pan said happily: "That's it."
Now Cai Mao and Kuai Yue want to seize his military power and trick him into going to Xiangyang to die.
If Liu Pan had not been told the news by someone sent by Liu Qi in advance, he might have been fooled.
Now it becomes a matter of life and death. Even if he wants to remain neutral, he can't.
So I immediately decided to join Liu Qi’s team and work together to achieve great things.
And just when Zhuge Liang successfully persuaded Liu Pan to join Liu Qi's camp, power transfers were also taking place in other places in Jingzhou.
In the next few days, messengers rushed everywhere in Jingzhou, even as far as Jiaozhou. Messengers from both sides were busy scrambling for time, and there were even several armed fights.
Among them, those most affected by Liu Cong and Liu Qi's struggle for military power were the many generals and prefects of Nanyang and Jingnan.
The four counties in Jingbei are Nanyang County, Zhangling County, Nanjun and Jiangxia County.
This Zhangling County did not exist in the Eastern Han Dynasty. During the Liu Biao period, part of the original Nanyang was cut off and renamed Zhangling County.
Its approximate location is from Zaoyang City to Suizhou City, Hubei Province in later generations. It is located around Tongbai Mountain and Dabie Mountain. It is adjacent to Jiangxia, Nanjun, and Nanyang, and it is a transportation artery for the three places.
Needless to say about Jiangxia County, after Huang Zu became Sikong, Liu Qi was promoted to the prefect of Jiangxia and took control of Jiangxia County. At this time, the prefect of Zhangling County was Huang She, Huang Zu's son, so Zhangling County joined Liu Qi's camp.
Wang Yi, the prefect of Nanyang, was a close confidant of Liu Biao and had a good relationship with Shen Chen and Huangmenting. He was first the magistrate of Xinye County and later promoted to the post of Cheng Cheng of Nanyang County. He made great contributions to the dealings with Zhang Xiu, Cao Cao and others. He became the Grand Administrator of Nanyang.
But he did not defect to Liu Qi because of his relationship with Huangmenting, but chose to follow Xiangyang's orders. The main reason was that his attitude was not important. The situation in the Nanyang Basin was extremely complicated, and he could not make any decisions.
Nowadays, the forces in Nanyang Basin are intertwined, and there are many troops and horses. Cai Mao, Kuai Yue and others are trying their best to fight for it. Among them, Wen Pin's attitude is temporarily unknown. Han Xi and Lu Jie support Liu Cong, Gan Ning and Huang Menting support Liu Qi. Zhang Xiu remained neutral.
However, Wenpin has always been loyal. If it is true that Liu Cong becomes the successor, then he will most likely follow Xiangyang. Therefore, the four counties in Jingbei are now Nanyang County, Jianan County, opposite Zhangling County and Jiangxia County. .
Needless to say, the four counties in Jingnan naturally defected to Liu Cong. Liu Pan was also successfully replaced by "Yuan Long", but Liu Pan suddenly fell ill when he went north to Xiangyang and temporarily recuperated in Liling.
For a time, by late February, most of Jingzhou's troops and horses were controlled by Xiangyang, except for Jiaozhou, which had not yet given a clear answer due to its remote location.
And this secret confrontation is still going on, from the governors and generals from various places, to the aristocratic and powerful families from all over Jingzhou.
Except for the Pang family and the Huang family who stayed out of the matter from the beginning, and there are elders like Pang Degong and Huang Chengyan who have high prestige among scholars, officialdom and aristocratic families in the family, Cai Mao, Kuai Yue and others are not easy to persecute. The whole family is threatened by them.
This led to the internal turmoil in the matter in Jingzhou. Many aristocratic families and powerful clans had to choose sides. Governors and generals from various places also had to clearly choose which side to stand on.
By the beginning of March, the storm had swept across Jingzhou and Jiaozhou, and even spread to the south, causing changes in the war in Yizhou and Jiangdong.
The first is Sun Quan.
After forcing Huang Zu out of Jiangxia, he stationed troops in Yuzhang. At this time, he heard that there was an internal change in Jingzhou, so he secretly sent more troops in order to win in the chaos.
Followed by Liu Bei, Liu Bei had not yet entered Xichuan and became the target of competition between both sides.
Although many people know that Liu Bei and Liu Qi have a good relationship. In his early years, Liu Bei stationed troops in Wancheng and often went to Xiangyang to visit Liu Biao. Liu Qi received him every time. The two sides had a deep friendship.
But Liu Bei was a very powerful force at this juncture, so Cai Mao and Kuai Yue did not dare to offend him rashly, even if he remained neutral, so he sent an envoy to explain the situation to Liu Bei, hoping that he would leave for Xichuan as soon as possible to participate in the war between Liu Zhang and Zhang Lu the struggle between.
It's just that Liu Bei has been stationed in Baidi City, Wu County, Zigui County and other places in the Three Gorges on the grounds that the follow-up food and grass have not arrived yet, so as to wait and see the situation. Obviously, for him, he has already made arrangements.
Finally, there is the chaos in Nishikawa.
Zhang Lu drove Cai Mao out of Xichuan and began to besiege Chengdu without stopping.
Liu Zhang defended his troops around Chengdu, and the two sides were in a stalemate for a long time.
Taking advantage of the civil strife in Jingzhou and having no time to worry about Xichuan, Zhang Lu apparently planned to completely eliminate Liu Zhang's power and expand his Five Pecks of Rice Cult to the entire Bashu.
However, in history, Liu Bei fought for two years, let alone him, so progress was slow, and even Chengdu's peripheral barrier, Niutian County, had not yet been broken through.
By the end of March, the competition between the two sides had basically come to an end, with both sides accusing each other of being rebellious.
For a time, both sides were mobilizing troops and generals, and the war was about to break out.