As early as April of the 25th year of Jian'an, Cao Pi had already planned to usurp the throne.
The spies arranged by Shen Chen in the north have already noticed some clues, but the information has not yet been confirmed, so they dare not report the unconfirmed information and want to wait until there is conclusive evidence before passing the information back.
This was done out of caution, because Shen Chen repeatedly issued orders to try his best to confirm that the information he got was factual before reporting it, otherwise it would be easy to get false information.
If Shen Chen's spies immediately arranged for someone to pass it back this time, if the news was false and Cao Pi did not usurp the throne, it would probably delay Liu Bei's group's campaign to conquer Wu. Therefore, the spies were still very serious and wanted to get the exact news.
By July, Liu Zhen's second attempt to persuade people to move in was far smaller in scale than the third attempt in August, and it was only spread on a small scale. Only a small number of courtiers knew about it, so logically it should not have been leaked.
But Xu Yin, the internal agent at Zhu Shuo's residence, received a piece of news that shocked him extremely. When Zhu Shuo was talking to people in the residence, he revealed that Cao Pi had snatched the imperial seal from Liu Xie.
It was useless to block the news now. Xu Yin quickly contacted Zhou Ai and Li Mu and quickly conveyed the matter back to the south.
Due to the lag in information caused by the underdevelopment of transportation in ancient times, Shen Chen's spy network in the north was unable to open a post station and conduct expedited delivery of goods traveling four hundred miles a day.
In addition, Liu Bei was in the process of conquering Wu at the time and was not in Xiangyang, so the news went round and round, and it took two months before he was sent to Yangzhou.
So in early September, when Liu Bei had just wiped out Soochow, he got the bad news that Cao Pi had usurped the Han Dynasty.
But even so, it is much faster than in history.
Now Liu Bei, Cao Pi's side, knew the information right after he usurped the Han Dynasty. Historically, he didn't know it until the beginning of the second year, which was more than three months later than now. This shows how difficult it was to circulate information at that time.
Yangzhou, Jianye.
Liu Bei had just finished setting up Jiangdong and learned the news before he left.
"His Majesty!"
In the original residence of Marquis Wu, after Liu Bei heard the news from the messenger, he felt dizzy and almost fainted.
Everyone hurriedly came forward to support him.
Guan Yu supported Liu Bei and asked with concern: "Brother, brother."
"Your Majesty, please cheer up."
"The news coming out now is that Cao Pi has snatched the emperor's seal and has not yet usurped the throne. There may be a turn for the better."
"Yes, Your Majesty, the Emperor still needs Your Majesty to intimidate him from outside to be able to act properly. If Your Majesty cannot cheer up at this time, I'm afraid Cao Pi will really usurp the throne."
Many ministers quickly gave advice.
After hearing everyone's persuasion, Liu Bei finally came to his senses, waved his hands with difficulty and said, "I don't mind."
After Guan Yu helped him to a table, he sat slumped on the ground and said sadly and angrily: "Cao Pi is going to usurp the throne. How can I just sit idly by and ignore it? We should immediately send troops to the north to attack Cao Pi!"
"Your Majesty."
Ma Liang stood up and said: "Now is not a good time for the Northern Expedition. Jiangdong has just been decided, and people's hearts are floating. The land of Yizhou and Jingzhou only experienced two wars last year. The people are poor and the state is short of money and grain. Forcibly sending troops will only increase the number of troops." The losses have made people's livelihood more difficult. I hope the king will think twice before taking action for the sake of the common people."
Liu Bei was furious: "The Han Dynasty is about to perish. As a descendant of the Han Dynasty, I should fight vigorously. How can I stand still at this time and watch the Han Dynasty perish?"
"It's just that now we really can't start a large-scale war anymore."
Yang Yi also advised: "Yizhou almost emptied the state capital last year. Although the situation in Jingzhou is slightly better, it also suffered military disasters and floods. Supporting us to pacify Jiangdong is already the limit. If we launch another Northern Expedition, Cao Pi only needs to stick to it
Guanzhong, Henan and other places can drag us down."
"Yes, Your Majesty, what's more, the news from the north was only two months ago. No one knows the current situation. It's hard to say that His Majesty has already..."
"What?"
When Liu Bei heard this, he became even more angry and said angrily: "If Cao Pi has usurped the Han Dynasty and the Han Dynasty is destroyed, your majesty must have been poisoned by Cao Pi's little thief. I will launch an army for the Northern Expedition. I will launch an army for the Northern Expedition. I will definitely
We cannot let Cao Pi succeed, even if he has usurped the Han Dynasty, I will avenge His Majesty!"
"Brother."
At this time, Guan Yu also advised: "You are right, you are right. Now is indeed not the time for the Northern Expedition. My eldest brother has been marching and fighting for many years. How can he not know that we need to recuperate now so that we can accumulate strength and send out troops?"
"I"
Liu Bei glanced around, and suddenly noticed that Shen Chen beside him had been silent, and said hurriedly: "Xiaoqing, can you make the Northern Expedition?"
Shen Chen thought for a while, then raised his hand and said: "It's not necessary, but your Majesty should not send troops now. Jiangdong is peaceful, Jingzhou's supply of food and grass is very reluctant, and the land thousands of miles south of Huainan has been deserted, and there is no way to replenish food on the spot. Even Sun Quan has to
By water transport from Ruxushui to the north, we transport grain from Jingzhou to Yangzhou, and then from Yangzhou to the north. It takes a long time and has too many disadvantages. We should consider it in the long run."
"Yes, brother."
Guan Yu also advised: "The Northern Expedition must be the Northern Expedition, but it is not easy to win by sending troops hastily. We should be fully prepared before sending troops to the north."
"well."
How could Liu Bei not know this? Historically, when he first heard the bad news about Guan Yu, he immediately wanted to send troops to Jingzhou to avenge Guan Yu.
But at that time, he had just finished the Battle of Hanzhong. After the loss of Jingzhou, everything was bleak.
In the case of internal and external fraud, forcefully sending troops is tantamount to death.
Therefore, he finally suppressed his grief over the deaths of Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, and patiently prepared for more than a year before attacking Sun Quan.
It is a pity that the Battle of Yiling suffered a disastrous defeat and Yizhou was almost destroyed. If Zhuge Liang had not turned the tide, perhaps there would have been no more magnificent history of the Three Kingdoms.
The same is true with the current situation.
Liu Bei had just finished the Battle of Guanzhong and the Battle of Jingzhou, and he was very reluctant to send troops to Jiangdong. It was because Sun Quan had lost all Chinese power in the Battle of Yixian, the Battle of Hongkou and the Battle of Jingzhou, so he easily won it.
However, the foundation of the Northern Wei Dynasty was not lost, Chang'an was impregnable, and heavy troops were deployed along the Henan and Huainan routes in the south. They sent out troops forcefully, just like a lion that had just finished fighting the enemy and then rushed thousands of miles to attack another tiger that had already had a certain period of rest.
, the possibility of winning is really very small.
"Your Majesty, please return to Xiangyang first and summon all your ministers to discuss it together."
Shen Chen said.
"I see."
Liu Bei sighed and said, "Then Yunchang will be stationed in Jiangdong first, and we will return to Xiangyang."
After saying that, he waved his hands and dismissed the discussion.
The next day, Liu Bei took everyone back to Jingzhou.
There were not many people when the group came, but when they returned, there were more faces.
Zhuge Jin, Lu Xun, Gu Yong, Zhang Zhao and others all followed Liu Bei to Xiangyang.
According to the political practices of Liu Bei's group, or the political practices of the entire Han Dynasty, the "Three Mutual Laws" did not allow local nobles to serve as local officials.
Therefore, if the surrendered officials in Jiangdong who originally belonged to Sun Quan wanted to continue serving as officials, they would have to serve as officials elsewhere.
This will definitely involve a series of personnel arrangements and political exchanges.
For example, the Jiangdong family had to hand over most of their land and population before they could serve as officials, and they also had to go to other places and could not continue to stay in Jiangdong.
Also, as the newly surrendered Jiangdong gentry, their status is definitely far inferior to that of the Jingzhou and Yizhou factions who followed Liu Bei earlier.
Therefore, as a big family of the Yangzhou faction, it is extremely painful now.
Not serving as an official?
Without political status, how to protect family rights and interests?
When the policy is issued, the land and population will still have to be handed over, and the family will not even have an official.
Become an official.
Handing over land and population and becoming an official in a different place cannot protect family rights and interests.
So this is why they tried their best to help Sun Quan resist Liu Bei.
But unfortunately they failed.
Now we can only accept the arrangement of fate. After all, there are examples of resistance, but it is basically a dead end.
Liu Bei's political direction is destined to win the support of the lower class people in Yangzhou and the Shanyue people.
Because the Jiangdong family fully supported Sun Quan, the family's population was almost wiped out, and it was difficult to organize a force to resist.
Without support from the grassroots and unable to recruit troops, they naturally cannot set off a wave of resistance.
Therefore, for the current Jiangdong family, there is basically only one way to choose - to become an official.
At least some of the family's interests can be barely guaranteed, and the future may not be hopeless.
Zhuge Jin, Lu Xun, Gu Yong, Zhang Zhao and others were all smart people and could not choose to fight to the end, so they all chose to submit.
In the end, the person who surrenders first gets the benefit first, which is better than nothing.
In early October of the 25th year of Jian'an, Liu Bei went upstream and returned to Xiangyang, Jingzhou.
After that, he immediately ordered Zhuge Liang, Jia Xu, Fazheng, Pang Tong, Zheng Du, Jiang Wan, Fei Yi, Mi Zhu, Liu Ba, Liao Li and others to come one after another.
In addition to Xu Shu who is currently guarding Hanzhong, Deng Zhi and Li Yan who followed Zhang Fei to Liangzhou, and Sun Qian and Jian Yong who had died of illness long ago, almost all the officials of the Liu Bei Group in Bashu came over and vacated the Jiangzhou administrative office.
.
It was not until November of the twenty-fifth year of Jian'an that Liu Bei's three ministers, nine officials, many senior ministers, ministers, ministers, etc. had all arrived, and Liu Bei held a court meeting to discuss the matter.
By this time, the news that Cao Pi had succeeded in usurping the Han Dynasty in September had also spread to the south. There were rumors that the emperor Liu Xie had been murdered by Cao Pi. Liu Bei was so sad about this that he mourned Liu Xie and gave him the "
The posthumous title of "Emperor Xiaomin".
On November 8th, in Xiangyang's former Chu Prince's Mansion, the matter was again hung with white cloth. The main hall in the backyard was decorated like a mourning hall. Liu Xie's memorial tablet was erected inside, and there was a coffin in the middle. There was only one coffin in it.
Jade pendant.
That jade pendant was something Liu Bei carried with him. It came from Liu Xie who gave it to him personally when he was in Xuchang. Liu Bei regarded it as a treasure and always carried it with him. But now I heard that after Liu Xie was killed by Cao Pi, he didn't have it because he didn't have it. Liu Xie's body was buried, so he buried this jade pendant as a tomb.
Liu Bei wore mourning clothes and led others to offer incense to Liu Xie before convening a meeting in the front hall to formally discuss the Northern Expedition.
At this moment, all the ministers gathered.
In addition to Zhuge Liang, Pang Tong and others, Taifu Xu Jing, Taichang Lai Gong, Guang Luxun Huang Zhu, Shaofu Zhang Song, Zong Zheng Liu Yan, Tingwei Wang Mou, Tai servant Zhou Lin, Da Sinong Li Hui and others also arrived. .
There are also Xiang Lang, Xi Zhen, Yin Guan, Xi Zhu, Pan Jun, Pang Lin, Hao Pu, etc. of the Jingzhou faction, plus a few Jiangdong faction, there are actually hundreds of people.
Fortunately, the Chu Palace that Liu Biao originally built was built according to the specifications of a palace. The front hall is as big as the Deyang Hall of the Luoyang Palace and can accommodate so many people. Otherwise, many ministers may not even have a place to sit.
In terms of status, Xu Jing, Mi Zhu and others were at the forefront, followed by Shen Chen, Zhuge Liang and others. Important figures and those who could speak were basically from the Yuancong faction and the Jingzhou faction.
Even the Yizhou faction like Fazheng Zhang Song, who sought Yizhou for Liu Bei and made great achievements, was located in the middle and front, not at the front.
The venue was silent at this moment, everyone raised their heads and looked at Liu Bei above.
Liu Bei sat on the main seat, looked down at everyone, his face was sad, and he sighed softly: "Cao Pi is a little thief who plots to harm the emperor and usurp the Han Dynasty to establish itself. I will fight until death. This year I plan to send troops to the Northern Expedition. What do you think?"
"Your Majesty, I am afraid that we are a little too hasty in sending troops this year."
Pang Tong quickly said: "Now the land of Bashu has just recovered and Jingzhou has also sent troops and people and food to attack Jiangdong. The people are tired and sick. If we don't rest for a few years before heading north, I'm afraid it will damage the foundation of the south."
"Yes, Your Majesty, you should think twice before you act."
"This time Jiangdong has just been leveled, and money and grain are scarce, so we should slow down."
"Your Majesty, please do not resort to force and forcefully send out troops. This will destabilize the state capital."
Everyone also gave advice one after another.
Liu Bei hesitated for a moment, then thought for a while and said: "Huainan, how about I just take Huainan?"
Pang Tong asked: "What does the king mean?"
"There are only thousands of troops from Cao Wei in Huainan, and Yunchang is still in Jiangdong. This year, Jiangdong will rest for half a year. Maybe Yunchang can be ordered to raise food and grass in Jiangdong, and go north from Ruxu River to capture Hefei?"
Liu Bei thought of a way.
He has also been in the army for many years, and he actually understands that it is not wise to forcefully attack the north now.
But if Cao Pi usurped the Han Dynasty and didn't do something, how would the world think of him?
At least they have to capture Huainan to prove their position.
After the south has recuperated for two years, it may be possible to formally send troops to the Northern Expedition and revive the Han Dynasty.
However, Zhuge Jin hurriedly stood up and said: "No, Your Majesty, the people's livelihood in Jiangdong is in dire straits now. The people are looking forward to your Majesty's benevolent government, lenient taxation, and light corvee. If the war breaks out again, I may lose the hearts of the people in Jiangdong."
"Huainan only has a few thousand Cao troops, can't we capture it?"
Liu Bei frowned.
Lu Xun said: "Your Majesty, although there are only a few thousand Cao troops in Huainan, Cao Pi has deployed heavy troops in Xuzhou and Henan. Once a war breaks out, reinforcements can be rushed within ten days. Moreover, the city of Hefei is strong. Once the reinforcements arrive, it will not be possible until March or May. If we seize it and it becomes a protracted battle, Jiangdong will be extremely difficult. I hope your Majesty will think twice."
"this"
Liu Bei's face was not very good. He hesitated for a long time, looked at Zhuge Liang who had not spoken yet and said, "What do Kong Ming think?"
Zhuge Liang stood up and said: "What you said is absolutely true. It is really not appropriate to use troops immediately."
"Xiaoqing."
Liu Bei looked at Shen Chen with hopeful eyes again.
If all the ministers are against it, then only Shen Chen's opinion may be able to convince everyone.
Because every time he made a decision, he was right. Just like when Shen Chen overturned Fa Zheng's plan and finally secured the entire south for him.
However, Shen Chen did not support Liu Bei in sending troops to the Northern Expedition as he thought. Instead, he stood up and said: "Your Majesty!"
"Xiaoqing, can you attack Huainan?"
Liu Bei was eager to get the answer.
Shen Chen shook his head and said: "Chen Chen thinks that the king should clearly distinguish the priorities before making a decision!"
"Prioritize?"
Liu Bei was puzzled and said: "Xiao Qing, please tell me."
Shen Chen looked around and said: "Your Majesty, everyone, before we consider whether to send troops, we now have to face another problem, which is more important than whether to send troops."
"what is the problem?"
Liu Bei asked.
Shen Chen raised his head and looked at him, looked at him seriously, and then said word by word: "The great king, the great man, is dead!"