cite Han

Chapter 247

With the active retreat of the Jingzhou Army, the crisis in Liling was successfully resolved, and Liu Jing was finally able to devote himself to managing the autumn harvest.

In August, after Cao Cao sent troops to capture Hanoi County on the north bank of the Yellow River, he once again preemptively sent Zang Ba to attack Qingzhou.

In September, Cao Cao returned to Xudu and turned his attention to Jingzhou.A few months ago, he personally met the emissary of Zhang Xian, the prefect of Changsha, and learned the detailed information about Jingnan. Unfortunately, he was restricted by Yuan Shao in the north and could not send troops to help.

Liu Biao and Yuan Shao are allies, and the main force of his army was dragged to Jingnan, which can be regarded as a solution to Cao Cao's big trouble. Now the only person he worries about is Zhang Xiu in Nanyang.

Although Zhang Xiu was weak, he caused Cao Cao to run into obstacles many times and suffered heavy losses. Yuan Shao also knew that Zhang Xiu was a strong enemy of Cao Cao, so he sent people to recruit him to surrender.Just when Zhang Xiu was about to agree, Jia Xu stood up, rejected Yuan Shao's envoy in front of him, and urged Zhang Xiu to submit to Cao Cao.

In November, Zhang Xiu obeyed Jia Xu's advice and led the crowd to surrender to Cao.

Zhang Xiu was Liu Biao's northern barrier. Once Zhang Xiu fell, the north of Xinye was no longer blocked, and Liu Biao had to redeploy his troops to the north.

However, as the saying goes, "blessings come without pairs, misfortunes never come singly."

In December, after Sun Ce defeated Liu Xun, the prefect of Lujiang, he took advantage of the victory and went straight to Jiangxia.Lead Jiangxia prefect Xing Jianwei Zhonglang general Zhou Yu, Guiyang prefect Xingzheng Zhonglang general Lu Fan, Lingling prefect Xingdang Kou Zhonglang general Cheng Pu, Xing Fengye school captain Sun Quan, Xing Xiandeng school captain Han Dang, Xing Wu Feng Xiaowei Huang Gai advanced at the same time.

When Liu Biao received Huang Zu's request for help, he did not dare to neglect, and immediately sent his son Liu Hu and general Han Xi with five thousand spearmen to support Huang Zu.

On December [-]th, Sun Ce led his army to defeat Huang Zu's army, captured his wife and seven men and women, killed more than [-] people below Liu Hu and Han Xi, and drowned more than [-] people and more than [-] ships.Huang Zu escaped with his life, but hid in the sand and couldn't get out.

The news of the defeat spread back to Xiangyang, and Liu Biao was so angry that he almost fainted on the spot. This year, first Cai Mao was defeated by Liu Jing, then Zhang Xiu surrendered to Cao Cao, and now Huang Zu was defeated by Sun Ce.

But at this moment, Liu Biao finally heard the good news——Zhang Xian fell ill.

…………

During the Zhengdan Festival, the whole family was supposed to be reunited and full of excitement, but the city of Linxiang seemed lifeless, with no joy at all.During the more than one year of being besieged by the Jingzhou army, Linxiang scholars and people have been exhausted physically and mentally, and their daily lives are like walking dead. What's more frightening is that this kind of life seems to be endless.

However, there is a gossip circulating in Linxiang City recently that the prefect Zhang Xian is seriously ill and will die.As the saying goes, "it doesn't come without reason." Thinking about it carefully, Zhang Xian has indeed not appeared in front of everyone for a while.

Changsha County Mansion, Prefect House.

"Cough, cough, cough..." Liu Pan stood under the wall of the prefect's house, leaning on the wall with one hand, bent over and coughed repeatedly, once so violently that people worried that he would cough up his lungs.

Huan Jie patted Liu Pan on the back, comforting him, and asked worriedly, "Yuanlong, are you okay?"

Liu Pan's chest kept heaving, his forehead and cheeks were flushed abnormally, and he panted, "It's okay...cough cough...maybe it's because of the occasional cold...cough cough..."

Huan Jie shook his head slowly and said: "Yuan Long, the Fujun has already..." After all, he didn't say the words "the end is coming", Huan Jie sighed: "You must take care of your health."

Zhang Xian's deadline is approaching, this is the conclusion they came to after visiting Zhang Xian a few days ago.

Since the beginning of last year, Zhang Xian's health has been deteriorating, and he has been plagued by various diseases. Especially after entering November, his condition has deteriorated sharply, and he is bedridden and almost unable to manage affairs.To be honest, his ability to survive until the fifth year of Jian'an (200 AD) was beyond their expectations.

Not long after, the haggard Zhang Yi came in a hurry, and said to the two of them with a sad face: "Gong Cao, five sense organs, my lord summons you to enter the room."

Huan Jie and Liu Pan looked at each other, and couldn't help sighing in their hearts, knowing that Zhang Xian knew that his death was approaching and was about to explain his funeral.The two immediately followed Zhang Yi into Zhang Xian's bedroom.

As soon as they entered the door, the two smelled a strong and pungent herbal smell. At this time, Zhang Xian had been tortured by a serious illness, and his whole appearance was haggard, like a skeleton.Zhang Xian used to be quite fit, but now his weight is probably not even half of what he used to be.

"Bo Xu, Yuan Long..." Zhang Xian sat on the couch, tremblingly raised his hand, pointed at Huan Jie and Liu Pan, and called softly.

"Your Majesty..." Huan Jie and Liu Pan leaned on Pingji, looking at Zhang Xian's dying appearance, with a look of sadness on his face.

"Ahem..." Liu Pan's throat was so itchy, he immediately covered his face with his sleeve and coughed again.

"Is Yuanlong sick too? Now that Linxiang is in critical condition, it is just when you are needed. You must not fall ill." Zhang Xian sighed.Then he called his eldest son, Zhang Yi, to the front of him, took his hand, handed it to the two of them, and said, "Although my son Zhang Yi is not outstanding, he is talented enough to inherit my position as prefect of Changsha. , I hope you can assist him and continue to fight against the Northern Army."

"No." Huan Jie and Liu Pan replied without hesitation.

Zhang Xian blinked his eyes in relief, and said again: "With my son's prestige, he is not enough to fight against the northern army alone. Therefore, I deliberately recommended Liu Zhongda as the prefect of Lingling and Duke Huan as the prefect of Guiyang. What do you think? "

Huan Jie and Liu Pan couldn't help but looked at each other, speechless for a moment.

Liu Jing is Liu Pan's younger brother, and Huan Yi is Huan Jie's younger brother. Zhang Xian obviously wanted to win them over by doing this, and let them assist Zhang Yi wholeheartedly after his death.After all, the two of them are just old officials of Zhang Xian, and they don't have much loyalty to Zhang Yi.

Of course, the officials of Lingling and Guiyang counties were willing to follow Zhang Xian to resist Liu Biao, but it did not mean that they were willing to have an extra prefect on their head, especially when Zhang Xian was dead.

With Liu Jing's reputation, prestige, and the army under his command, he might have some confidence in becoming the leader of Lingling, but it's hard to say for Huan Yi, at least with his own strength, he will never succeed.

Zhang Yi's eyelids twitched when he heard it, Zhang Xian never discussed this matter with him.But he also had to admit that Jiang was still old and spicy. What he worried most was that after his father died, the officials in Changsha lost the will to resist and betrayed him in exchange for his life and even his advancement.

Huan Jie and Liu Pan are worthy of being the crown of Changsha scholars. Only when they are firmly tied to the boat can his position as Changsha prefect be secured.

Liu Pan was the first to agree, and Huan Jie did not delay. If they refused, Zhang Xian, Zhang Yi and his son would not feel at ease.

That day and night, Zhang Xian was so angry that he entered his deathbed. In the second half of the night, his soul returned to Jiuquan. After all, he failed to see the sun of the next day.

(End of this chapter)