At this time, Yuan Xi and Yuan Shang were killed by Liaodong Gongsun Kang, and the entire Hebei area had been pacified. The hundreds of thousands of troops surrendered by Cao Cao returned to Xudu for a short rest, and prepared food, grass and baggage to go south to Jingzhou, hoping to decide the world in one battle.

.

In June of the 13th year of Jian'an, Emperor Xian of the Han Dynasty Liu Xie was reinstated as Prime Minister and Imperial Censor, and promoted Sikong Cao Cao to Prime Minister.

Liu Biao in Xiangyang was critically ill and could not speak. When Liu Qi got the news in Quanling, he was in chaos.

"Ziyu, I want to go to Xiangyang to visit my father, and I will leave Lingling to you... It doesn't matter whether I am here or not..." Liu Qi began to speak incoherently.

Now Liu Qi wanted to fulfill his filial piety, and Lan Tian couldn't persuade him much, so he sent Gan Ning to escort him by water.

Liu Bei will take over Jingzhou's political legacy in the future, and Liu Qi's existence is too important.

After Gan Ning and others left, Gao Shun saw that Lan Tian had a sad look on his face, so he asked, "I have seen Mr. Lam Tian's eyebrows look dull recently, but what difficulties have you encountered?"

Lan Tian shook his head and sighed: "Cao Cao has pacified the north last year and is expected to go south to Jingzhou soon. Cai Mao, Kuai Yue and others are still fighting among themselves for personal gain at this time, and they don't know how the victory will be in the future..."

Gao Shun comforted him and said, "Cao Cao surrendered all the soldiers from the north. They will definitely be unaccustomed to the climate when fighting in the south. In the past few years, Mr. Liu has helped Liu Shijun farm and grow grain and restore people's livelihood. With Lingling and Guiyang as a barrier, he may not be unable to fight."

.”

"Lingling and Guiyang are not enough, at least Wuling and Changsha must be added." Lantian said softly.

Gao Shun's eyes widened, thinking that if he didn't sing, he would be astonishing if he did.

"Although I have tens of thousands of people, most of them are newly recruited Yue people. With General Gan's two thousand naval troops, I should have no problem in capturing one of the counties, but I will not be able to capture two counties."

, unless you ask for help from General Guiyang Yide." Gao Shun analyzed.

Lan Tian smiled and said: "The military advisor is Zhuge Kongming. I can't do this arrogant thing. You can quickly go to station near Xiangxiang County. When the time comes, just take Wuling County. I will help others to take Changsha County. Then go up.

As for the military plan, it is not necessary to use swords and guns to capture these two counties. It will only be determined when the time is ripe or when a message can be sent."

"What time?" Gao Shun looked confused.

"Liu Biao died, when the eldest son became the Lord of Jingzhou." Lan Tian said with a slight smile.

"This...how long will it take? Didn't you say that Cao Cao is coming south?" Gao Shun asked.

"I estimate it will be within the next month or two." Lan Tian confirmed.

Seeing Lan Tian's determination, Gao Shun thought to himself that the gentleman's mouth had never made any mistakes, and he was afraid that Liu Biao would be alive in a few days.

Because Gao Shun had escorted the people for spring plowing in the Xiangxiang area two months ago, there was no panic when he went there again. In addition, it was an excuse to help the people harvest, so he was warmly welcomed by the locals.

While Gao Shun was stationed in Xiangxiang, he not only helped with harvesting but also trained his troops. He only waited for the general from Lantian to order his march north to Wuling.

Liu Qi went to Xiangyang to visit his father. Cai Mao was afraid that Liu Biao and his son would be sentimental about meeting each other and would hastily hand over Jingzhou to Liu Qi, so he was blocked from the house and asked his comrade Zhang Yun to persuade him to return to Lingling.

Zhang Yun was Liu Biao's nephew. He was favored by Liu Biao because of his family relationship. He was won over by Cai Mao and Kuai Yue in Xiangyang and became a staunch supporter of Liu Cong.

"Cousin, I heard that my father is seriously ill, and Qi came from Lingling to beg for a visit..." Liu Qi burst into tears.

Zhang Yun shook his head and sighed: "My uncle ordered you to govern Lingling. Your responsibilities are very important. Now that you have come here at the expense of others, your uncle will definitely be angry. Injuring your relatives' happiness will only make them sick, which is not the way to be filial. Besides, you are not

Doctor, it is useless to meet each other."

Liu Qi was stunned when he heard this. He did not expect that Zhang Yun would use such an excuse to excuse him. He suddenly remembered that he often went to Zhang Ji for consultation and medicine, and said happily: "Zhang Zhongjing of Nanyang is in Guiyang. I will go and invite him here in person."

"

"Brother Kun, please go and invite him as soon as possible. Just tell him to come to Xiangyang. You'd better manage Lingling well." Zhang Yun planned to leave first.

Liu Qi then went to Chen County by water, intending to take Zhang Ji with him to Xiangyang, but at this time, Zhang Ji's medical school had all moved to Jiangxia.

After Sun Quan massacred Jiangxia, due to poor disposal of corpses at that time, many epidemics occurred in Jiangxia city. In order to prevent the plague from spreading to the navy, Liu Bei dispatched Zhang Ji's medical school to Jiangxia to deal with it.

Feeling a little tired from running around for days, Liu Qi rested in Chen County for a few days before taking a boat again to go to Jiangxia to invite people.

It was already midsummer in July. Cao Cao had finished resting in Xudu and began to move south to attack Jingzhou. The news spread to various places as if it had wings.

When Liu Qi came to Jiangxia, he saw that Zhang Ji's medical hall was busy all day long, so he could only stay in the city and wait.

The war was imminent, and it was impossible for Zhuge Liang to send Zhang Ji to Xiangyang. If such a capable man was sent to Cao Cao, the acclimatization would no longer be a problem for the Northern Army.

In August of the thirteenth year of Jian'an, Liu Biao died of illness in Xiangyang. Cai Mao and Kuai Yue supported their youngest son Liu Cong as the Lord of Jingzhou. When Liu Qi heard the news, he looked north to the Yangtze River and cried.

Wenpin could not resist the locust-like Cao army in Wancheng, so he could only slowly retreat to the south and send people to Xiangyang to request reinforcements.

Although Liu Cong was smart, he was only fourteen years old after all. When he succeeded to the throne, he encountered Cao Cao's thunderous troops. After receiving Wenpin's letter asking for help, he summoned his ministers to discuss a strategy to retreat from Cao Cao.

The officials who originally supported Liu Qi were either demoted by Kuai Yue and Cai Mao, or they took the initiative to flee. At this time, all the people left in Xiangyang were close to Cao Cao.

It is said that it is easy to enjoy the shade under a big tree. Cao Cao's tree is far more leafy than Liu Biao's. Changing the master actually has no impact on them. Those who should be officials will continue to be officials, and they will even be promoted due to merit.

Kuai Yue, the prefect of Zhangling, advised Liu Cong: "As the saying goes, there is a general rule, and strong and weak have certain trends. To use ministers to reject the master is the opposite. If you use the newly created Chu to defend China, it will be in danger. It is better for the lord to surrender with everyone.

Cao, to protect the people of Jingzhou."

Liu Congcai had only been in power for a few days when he hesitated and said, "You said you wanted to help Cong govern Jingzhou and preserve my father's inheritance. However, Cong has only been in office for a few days, so you want to persuade me to surrender?"

Dong Cao's Fu Xun added: "At this time, at that time, Cao Cao threatened the emperor with orders to disobey him. At that time, he was weak and could defeat the powerful Yuan Shao. Now he comes with millions of armors. How can the people of Jingzhou be worthy of him? May I ask my lord?

How is it compared to Mr. Cao?"

"It's not as good as Cong..." Liu Cong replied softly.

Fu Xun smiled and said: "In that case, why do you need to use the mantis as a chariot?"

Liu Cong:......

"Prime Minister Cao treats his soldiers with kindness. My lord, don't worry. You can protect yourself by surrendering to Cao Cao. My uncle will not lie to you." After Cai Mao said this, all the officials in Jingzhou agreed.

Seeing that the ministers were unanimous, Liu Cong agreed to surrender the entire state to Cao Cao.

In early September, Cao Cao's army arrived in Xinye, and Liu Cong ordered Wen Pin to submit a letter of surrender.

Cao Cao received the letter of surrender and followed him south into Xiangyang. He also ordered Cao Ren to continue south to capture Jiangling. The north bank of the Yangtze River was in Cao Cao's hands in a short time.

Liu Cong's surrender to Cao Cao was expected by Zhuge Liang. At Zhuge Liang's suggestion, Liu Bei petitioned the court to certify Liu Qi as the governor of Jingzhou.

Lan Tian was very concerned about the situation in Jingzhou and sent many scouts to Jiangbei during this period. When he heard the news that Cao Cao was going south and Liu Cong surrendered, he decisively sent Gao Shun's troops out of Xiangxiang to capture Wuling, and asked Gan Ning to mobilize troops to You County to capture Changsha.

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To seize all four counties in Jingnan and seize the initiative in the battle of the Yangtze River, this is the strategy formulated by Lan Tian and Zhuge Liang without telling Liu Bei.
Chapter completed!