Ji Han Da Sima

Chapter 206 It’s hard to establish an heir
"lady?"

Liu Biao woke up from his coma, his thin face was bloodless, he opened his lips slightly and shouted.

The maidservant who was waiting nearby saw Liu Biao waking up from his coma and shouted happily: "Tell Madam, the master of the house is awake."

After a while, Cai's hair was messy and she was wearing a single coat. She came in a hurry. When she saw Liu Biao lying on the couch, she quickly asked: "How is your husband's health?"

Liu Biao shook his head and murmured, "Didn't Bo Wei come to Xiangyang?"

Cai's heart tightened, and she sighed and said: "My husband's letter was sent to Jiangzuo. Bo Wei said that Jianghuai's military and political affairs are very important, so he dare not leave easily. I just ask that my husband take care of himself and recover as soon as possible."

Liu Biao first closed his eyes, then sighed and said in a low voice: "Gu Shang is dying, how can Bo Wei be so ignorant."

"Husband, do you need to summon a doctor?" Ms. Cai asked with concern.

Liu Biao murmured: "The time of death is approaching, how can the body recover?"

"Husband!"

There were tears in Cai's eyes. There was a big age difference between her and Liu Biao, but after many years of getting along, how could they not have feelings for each other.Now that I heard Liu Biao's words, I felt very sad.

Liu Biao forced a smile, stretched out his hand to hold Cai's hand, and said, "My husband is seriously ill and has not yet produced an heir. The generals in Jingzhou are feeling uneasy. Madam, can you pass on the order to the civil and military forces in Jingzhou for me?"

Mrs. Cai was about to respond, but she was afraid that Liu Biao wanted to make Liu Qi his heir, so she asked tentatively: "Husband, Bo Wei has not arrived in Xiangyang, is it feasible to make an heir now?"

Liu Biao closed his eyes and fell asleep, saying: "It's feasible, why not!"

Hearing this, Mrs. Cai, who looked sad, suddenly felt a trace of joy on her face and said, "Okay! Husband, please take a rest for now. I will inform Xiangyang Civil and Military Affairs immediately."

Regardless of her own clothes, Cai ran out and shouted: "General Chariot and Cavalry has an order. First, please invite military advisor Cai, Kuai Zhangling, and Mr. Cong to enter the palace. After half an hour, you will inform the rest of the Xiangyang civil and military personnel to enter the palace."

Previously, Liu Biao relied on Xiangyang scholars to resist Cao Cao, and Kuai Yue was promoted to Zhangling Prefect.But as Liu Biao became seriously ill, Kuai Yue also returned to Xiangyang from Zhangling County.

"promise!"

The servants in the house responded to the order and rushed to the three people's houses quickly, allowing them to enter the house to discuss matters.

After a while, Cai Mao, Kuai Yue, and Liu Cong arrived at the Cavalry General's Mansion in batches in carriages. Cai had also finished dressing up and met the three of them in the inner hall.

When he first entered the bed, Mr. Cai said: "The general woke up from a coma, thinking that he had not yet established an heir, and wanted to summon Xiangyang Civil and Military Affairs to announce the establishment of an heir."

Liu Cong was anxious and asked: "Mom, what does father want now? Who does he want to make as his heir?"

Cai's eyebrows were dancing and she said: "I used words to test, and the general said that it doesn't matter whether Liu Qi comes to Xiangyang or not. From what he said, it seems that the general intends to make Zhong Huang his heir."

Cai Mao was overjoyed and said: "Kuai Jun and all the civil and military leaders, if Ming Dynasty public Zhong Huang is his heir, great things will come true!"

"it is good!"

Liu Cong smiled brightly and pumped his fists repeatedly to express the joy in his heart.

Compared to the excited three people, Kuai Yue was not that happy, but frowned slightly.

"Big things are about to happen, why isn't Kuai Jun happy?" Cai Mao asked puzzledly.

Kuai Yue stroked his beard and said: "When Ming Gong was seriously ill, he called Liu Qi to Xiangyang many times, with the intention of making him his heir. However, due to the isolation of letters, it was difficult to reach him. After he woke up, he suddenly changed his mind and established Cong. The young master is the heir, so there may be something unusual."

Liu Cong disagreed and said: "When my father was seriously ill, a certain person served decoctions and medicines without taking off his clothes, and he acted benevolently and filial piety. I am a polite and virtuous corporal, and I have many relatives and friends in Xiangyang, so my reputation gradually increased. In order to frighten Yizhou, a certain person visited Jiangling and made meritorious deeds. And I have my mother taking care of me, and my father praises me a lot."

"From this point of view, it is natural for the father to designate someone as his heir."

Seeing Liu Cong's confidence, Kuai Yue shook his head and was speechless.Liu Biao is entrenched in Wu and Chu, with a territory spanning thousands of miles, a heavy army in his hands, and a city in his heart. He should be regarded as a hero.Unexpectedly, he gave birth to such a stupid son, which is really ridiculous.

Kuai Yue didn't want to say anything more. He just looked at Cai Mao and said, "Degui, if something unexpected happens before you are on the bed, you should look at my eyes and act accordingly."

Cai Mao seemed to understand Kuai Yue's worries, nodded and said, "Please rest assured, Mr. Kuai!"

Liu Cong didn't know what Kuai Yue said. At the moment, he was already dreaming of inheriting Jingzhou Mu.

"Mr. Cai, what should I do if I succeed as the shepherd of Jingzhou and Liu Qi is in Yangzhou and refuses to obey his orders? And what should I do if Cao Cao takes the opportunity to go south to attack me?"

Cai Mao smiled and said deceitfully: "Young Master has great righteousness. If Liu Qi refuses to obey, it will be great righteousness. At that time, our Jingzhou soldiers and horses will go down the river, and we can easily level Jiangdong. If Cao Cao takes the opportunity to go south and press the border with his troops, Young Master can use brotherly love and borrow the opportunity." With cold words on his lips, he advised Liu Qi to put aside the past grudges and fight against Cao Cao together."

Liu Cong raised his eyebrows, clapped his hands and said, "The strategy of the military advisor is indeed a brilliant one!"

Cai Mao and Kuai Yue looked at each other and smiled tacitly.

The four of them discussed for a while, and senior officials from Jingzhou arrived one after another.The four of them walked out of the inner hall with sad faces and entered Liu Biao's bed.

Under Cai's call, Liu Biao reluctantly opened his eyes and looked at Liu Cong, Liu Xiu, Kuai Yue, Cai Mao, Zhang Yun, Song Zhong, Pang Ji, Han Song, Cheng Qi, Wang Kai and other Jingzhou key figures standing in front of the couch. There are more than a dozen civil and military personnel.

Cai Mao stepped forward and said respectfully, "May I ask how your father is doing?" Liu Biao asked Cai to help him up, and said feebly, "It is difficult to cure with medicine and stone, and the disease is terminal. I have called you here to express my wish to entrust you with great things." King, let’s talk about the matter of establishing a successor.”

Liu Cong stood beside the couch and puffed out his chest, as if he was the heir Liu Biao mentioned.

Kuai Yue, Cai Mao, the leaders, and more than ten civil and military personnel raised their hands and said, "Please give me your orders, and we will be at your service."

Liu Biao looked around, coughed and said: "I have to rely on you all to ride into Xiangyang alone. Now Cao Cao is in the north, eyeing Wu and Chu. I am seriously ill and it is difficult to protect him. After thinking about it, the eldest son Liu Qi has quite a military strategy. If you are able to obey others, be respectful, benevolent and filial, you can become your heir. How about leading chariots and riding generals and taking over the land of Wu and Chu after being alone for a hundred years?"

"what?"

Hearing this, everyone present was shocked.They did not expect that Liu Biao would reveal his true intentions and directly tell everyone that he wanted to make Liu Qi his heir.Liu Cong and Cai's eyes widened, and they couldn't believe it. They never thought that Liu Biao had played a trick on them.

Pang Ji coughed lightly and said, "Ming Gong, do you need to think more deeply? If you set up the second young master, he is very talented, knowledgeable and ambitious. He has always been praised by Xiangyang scholars."

Pang Ji, a member of the Pang family in Xiangyang, was on good terms with Kuai Yue.The two of them once persuaded the traitors who had crossed Jiangxia to surrender to Liu Biao.

Liu Biao shook his head and said: "Cong'er is not yet mature enough. If he succeeds to the throne in a hurry, it may be difficult to manage the government. Moreover, Qi'er's wife is jealous and unfilial. Now she wants to divorce her, or she can accept the daughter of Yidu (Kuai Yue) as his wife. .”

Liu Cong clenched his hands, and his heart was filled with anger.It's just that I don't dare to have an attack easily because I'm in front of everyone.

Kuai Yue raised his head and glanced at Liu Biao, and said respectfully: "I would like to inform you, Duke Ming, that Yue's daughter has promised Degui's son to be his wife, and a marriage contract has been made. The eldest son has always been a wise man, but he cherishes his daughter and has no luck in serving him. I hope you will forgive me. !”

Liu Biao murmured: "That's such a pity!"

In fact, Liu Biao did not want to break up with Kuai Yue, Cai Mao and others in a showdown, but he really had no choice.He originally wanted Liu Qi and Liu Bei to enter Xiangyang, and then make Liu Qi his heir.

Unfortunately, the people he sent several times were intercepted by Cai, and the letters could not be delivered to Jiangzuo at all.After some thinking, Liu Biao realized that his communication with the outside world had been controlled by Cai and Liu Cong.

Today he is seriously ill and cannot delay it any longer.This was the only way to let everyone know that he wanted to make Liu Qi his heir, and to see if he could find a breakthrough from Kuai Yue. Unexpectedly, Kuai Yue was determined and stood with Cai Mao.

Kuai Yue winked at Cai Mao, Zhang Yun and others, and said: "Ming Gong, although the eldest son is virtuous, he is greedy for women, and he relies on Liu Bei to go to Jiangzuo. Liu Bei is a tiger and wolf man. He betrays the court and kills chariots. Zhou, we are taking Xuzhou to rebel. Now we are in Danyang, and we have tens of thousands of troops, and it is difficult for the eldest son to defend him. People on the left of the Yangtze River know more about Liu Bei, but they don’t know about me in Jingzhou."

"The more you risk your life to make suggestions, and think about the great plan of the Ming Dynasty for a hundred years, and prevent Liu Bei from plotting on the left side of the Yangtze River, we sincerely ask the Ming Dynasty to make Mr. Cong the heir. Mr. Cong is polite and virtuous, capable of literature and military, and respectful and filial to his father and brother. He is loved by the people of Chu. If I can inherit the position of Ming Gong, it will make it difficult for Liu Bei to seek Jiangzuo, and I can also protect the Duke's foundation."

After saying that, Kuai Yue led Cai Mao, Zhang Yun, Pang Ji, Han Song and most of the people, knelt down and said: "I beg you to make Mr. Cong your heir."

Song Zhong, Cheng Qi, and Wang Kai looked at each other, but they were a little at a loss.Song Zhong was a great scholar of Confucian classics. As a native of Zhangling County, he did not want to get involved in the matter of seizing the heir.As Liu Biao's confidant, Cheng Qi stood by Liu Biao, but seeing everyone's attitude, he did not dare to speak due to the situation.

As for Wang Kai, who couldn't even speak, he could deliver the message to Liu Qi, Liu Bei and others that he was Liu Biao's son-in-law and could enter and leave the chariot general's palace.If he speaks for Liu Qi, he will be kicked out of Xiangyang City and rolled to Jiangzuo like Yi Ji the next day.

Seeing everyone's attitude, Liu Biao sighed and said, "What I said is inappropriate. We will not discuss the matter of establishing an heir for the time being."

Cai Mao took matters into his own hands and said in a deep voice: "I sincerely ask the Duke of Ming Dynasty to make Mr. Cong your heir."

Liu Biao closed his eyes and did not want to pay attention to Cai Mao's words.

Cheng Qi came out at the right moment, calmed down the atmosphere, and said: "Ming Gong is not feeling well, so Qi and everyone will step aside for the time being. It is better to wait until Ming Gong's health improves, and then discuss the position of heir."

"Exactly!"

When Song Zhong saw Liu Biao being forced by Cai Mao, he felt unhappy and said, "Ming Gong is not feeling well, so we are temporarily discussing his successor."

Kuai Yue took the lead and stood up, cupped his hands and said: "The position of the successor is related to Wu Chu's important affairs. Ming Gong is not feeling well, so we will leave for now."

"Yes!" Liu Biao responded softly.

Everyone came out of the hall one after another, but Liu Cong walked out angrily.

Mrs. Cai glared at Liu Biao and wanted to say something cruel, but she felt a little soft-hearted and said angrily: "I'll take good care of Ming Gong. If anything goes wrong, I'll put them all to death."

After saying that, Ms. Cai left the inner room without looking back.

Outside the hall, Cai Mao asked in confusion: "Why didn't you take the opportunity to make Ming Gong Zhong Huang your heir? Instead of humbly retreating and leaving."

Kuai Yue glanced at Cai Mao, sighed and said: "Ming Gong has been in charge of Jingzhou for more than ten years. He has governed the people with benevolence and virtue, and the scholars in the north and south are very grateful to him. How can he be so coercive? He can just retreat if he knows how to do it."

Liu Biao was not a virtual king. Although he was bound by the Xiangyang gentry, he had governed Jingzhou for more than ten years and had his own cronies and disciples.If the persecution goes too far, it will really look bad. If word of what happened today spreads, it will definitely affect their reputation.

People like Kuai Yue cherish feathers, but he is not as reckless and greedy as Cai Mao.Liu Biao treated him well, and he didn't want to quarrel and show each other's cards.

"Now that Duke Ming wants to make Liu Qi his heir, what should we do now?" Cai Mao asked.

"If Ming Gong can do this, I expect that his life will be long ago."

Kuai Yue stroked his beard and said: "The more you convince Song Zhong to be used by us, Cheng Qi and Wang Kai need to be closely guarded, and they must be carefully checked inside and outside Xiangyang. If the two Lius know about today's events, there will be turmoil." . And order the letter to be sent to Xuchang quickly, so that Duke Cao can go south as soon as possible to avoid changes."

"it is good!"

　I'm late
　　
　
(End of this chapter)