Chapter 124 Send troops to Jingxiang to lure the enemy into attack!
Liu Biao died of illness.

After Liu Bian learned this information, he felt a little emotional!

Although he had never met Liu Biao formally, Liu Biao had always been in line with the court in Jingzhou, fighting against Yuan Shu in Nanyang and others, expressing his loyalty to the court.

Regardless of whether Liu Biao had selfish motives or not, at least in terms of justice, he was a loyal and patriotic man.

A loyal minister of the Han Dynasty died of illness, which made Liu Bian sigh with regret!

Liu Bian looked at Liu Biao's memorials, and both memorials finally fell into his hands.

The Jinyiwei spies even wrote a separate secret report to inform Cai of the details of his tampering.

This is the control Liu Bian has over every state and county in the world now!

The first memorial.

Liu Biao revealed all his experiences, insights, and efforts in governing Jingzhou. He did not ask for any reward for his descendants, nor did he pray for Liu Bian to open up.

In fact, this is the smartest approach.

Although Liu Bian seemed to be decisive in killing people, he was always kind to the loyal ministers of the Han Dynasty!

Even those families who knew the times and surrendered early were not killed!
During his time in Jingzhou, Liu Biao performed very well and was always loyal to the court and Liu Bian.

It is reasonable and moral for Liu Bian to leave some dignity for Liu Biao's descendants!
When he saw the second memorial, Liu Bian still saw Liu Biao's selfishness in it!

This second memorial was not only to test his wife's family, the Cai family, to see if Mrs. Cai would deliberately tamper with the will, but also to express Liu Biao's last wish.

Because this second memorial will definitely be presented to Liu Bian through the Jinyiwei spies.

Liu Biao's selfishness could not be hidden from Liu Bian's keen eyes.

Judging from Liu Biao's political performance, he naturally knew that Liu Bian could see it, but as a dying man, his only wish was the future of his descendants.

Liu Bian naturally understood this.

After reading them, Liu Bian passed both of Liu Biao's memorials to his civil and military officials.

Liu Bian asked: "What do you think about this?"

...

“Your Majesty, the current chaos in Jingzhou is all caused by Liu Biao’s wife’s family, the Cai family. Moreover, the Cai family dared to tamper with and forge the memorials Liu Biao submitted to the court. This is truly deceiving the emperor and deceiving his superiors. We must kill the chicken to scare the monkey and set an example.

"Besides, deposing the eldest son and enthroning the youngest is a recipe for chaos. Liu Biao's legacy still needs to be inherited by his eldest son Liu Qi. But the position of Jingzhou is of great importance, and I don't know if Liu Qi is qualified for it.

"But considering Liu Biao's contributions and his dying wish, we can give Liu Qi some time and opportunity to practice politics!"

After brainstorming, everyone came up with the same idea.

Although Liu Bian wanted to launch the imperial examination system, due to the lack of talent, he actually only considered children from aristocratic families.

However, compared to the previous recommendation system, which was just a formality, there is now an additional assessment to screen out those who are seeking fame and reputation.

Even if you are recommended to be an official, there are assessments and time limits, and if you fail to meet the standards, you will be dismissed.

Liu Bian actually had the same idea. Liu Biao's long-cherished wish before his death, to recommend his eldest son Liu Qi, was about to come out.

Giving him an internship period would allow Liu Biao to die in peace, and it would also be a way to win the hearts of the loyal ministers of the Han Dynasty.

Even though Liu Biao was already dead, Liu Bian could just ignore it. But the loyal ministers of the Han Dynasty all over the world were watching, and the Han Dynasty clan members were also paying attention.

If Liu Bian did a good job in the aftermath work for the loyal ministers of the Han Dynasty, it could also boost the morale and loyalty of the army. Otherwise it would be disheartening.

Thinking of this, Liu Bian nodded and said:

"When Liu Biao was in power in Jingzhou, he performed his duties faithfully and made great military achievements.

“When the imperial court sent troops south, the aristocratic families of Jingxiang opposed it. Although Liu Biao was seriously ill and the power fell into the hands of the Cai family, they secretly instigated the rebellion of the five counties in southern Jing, giving the imperial court a legitimate reason to act. This was a great achievement!
"Summon them and promote Liu Biao's eldest son Liu Qi to be the governor of Jingzhou. Cai Shi tampered with the will and deceived the emperor, and his family was confiscated and exterminated. Liu Biao's wife Cai Shi and second son Liu Cong were demoted to commoners and guarded Liu Biao's tomb!"

Liu Bian's edict was actually Liu Biao's long-cherished wish. His eldest son Liu Qi inherited Liu Biao's legacy, and his wife Cai and Liu Cong were given a break. Liu Bian gave them a decent gift and let them guard the tomb and enjoy their old age.

As for the Cai family and those rebels who rebelled against the imperial court and Liu Bian, they were all killed without mercy.

After hearing this, the civil officials and military officers shouted: "Your Majesty is benevolent! Your Majesty is wise!"

As for Liu Biao's funeral and other matters, the officials in charge of etiquette were naturally responsible. Finally, Liu Bian was transferred to Jiangdong.

All the generals worked together and agreed that——

The Jingxiang family and the Cai family will definitely not sit idly by and wait for death, and may even collude with Jiangdong.

The imperial navy could be ordered directly up the river to enter Jingxiang in the name of mourning for Liu Biao.

If they resist, we will defeat them in one fell swoop!
In addition, he could also contact loyal court officials such as Liu Yao in Yuzhang and Nanchang, and take the opportunity to take action in the heart of Jiangdong.

Jiangdong will be attacked from all sides and will be defeated in one battle!

Liu Bian thought it made a lot of sense.

This is a strategy to lure the enemy into attacking!

...

After the imperial edict was conveyed, Jingxiang was indeed shocked!
The Cai family was in disbelief and terrified!
Cai Mao was horrified and said, "We tampered with the will and forged it perfectly. How did His Majesty find out? Could it be that there were spies infiltrating Jingxiang?!"

"It is said that the Jinyiwei under your majesty's command are omnipresent. There must be Jinyiwei infiltrating this place."

The Cai clan members said, "What should we do now? My eldest sister is mourning for Liu Biao and has ignored the family's discussion. It's disheartening!"

"Humph, in the imperial decree, although Liu Cong did not get Liu Biao's succession, the court still favored my eldest sister! She can stay out of it and even enjoy her old age in peace, but our Cai family will be confiscated and exterminated!"

"What should we do now?! Are we just going to sit there and wait for death?!"

Because of the imperial edict, all the plans of the Cai family were in vain. Even if Liu Qi, the eldest son of Liu Biao, was allowed to inherit the post of governor of Jingzhou, the Cai family would be liquidated.

"Of course we can't just sit there and wait for death. We must do something while our Cai family still controls the navy of Jingzhou."

Cai Mao said with a gloomy expression.

What else can Cai do? !

They contacted the aristocratic families in Jingxiang, but their former allies now avoided the Cai family as much as possible, and only a few families were willing to fight side by side.

Because after the imperial edict was issued, it meant that Liu Cong would lose the inheritance of Jingzhou Governor, and the Cai family would be confiscated and exterminated.

At this time, the Jingxiang family had already lived up to the friendship of the Cai family by not taking advantage of the situation.

Only those families who resist stubbornly and refuse to change will continue to fight to the end!
It is obviously difficult to stop the imperial army with this force alone.

Cai contacted Jiangdong.

It was at a time when the Jiangdong navy was suffering successive defeats. It was defeated by the imperial navy on the Yangtze River and was harassed by Liu Yao and other forces in the heart of Jiangdong.

When facing internal and external troubles, it is a good time to join forces with Jingxiang.

Keep each other warm!

But in such a passive situation, Jiangdong and Jingxiang must find a breakthrough and make up for the disadvantage through a victory.

Even gain military morale through victory!
Just as the imperial court sent a naval fleet to express condolences for Liu Biao and a team of envoys to Jingxiang to appoint Liu Qi as the governor of Jingzhou, Jiangdong and Jingxiang decided to take advantage of this opportunity!

Cai Mao led the Jingzhou navy southward, and Zhou Yu sent the Jiangdong navy to attack, and they set up an ambush near Sanjiangkou.

If the imperial navy fleet wanted to enter Jingxiang, it had to merge the Yangtze River into the Han River, and Sanjiangkou was the fork in the river.

Because it is located at the confluence of the Han River and the Yangtze River, the water flows rapidly and the terrain is complex, making it perfect for naval battles and ambushes.

(End of this chapter)