Ji Han Da Sima

Chapter 264

Changsha County governs Linxiang, which is more than [-] miles away from Hanshou by waterway.Just when Liu Pan led his army to Hanshou, Changsha Governor Liu Xian was already on the road, taking the Xiang River, crossing the Xianshui River, and entering the Yuan River to Hanshou.

Boats and boats are sailing on the Yuanshui waterway, and reeds are swaying on both sides of the river.

Liu Xian stood on the deck, with his hands behind his back and a slightly heavy expression.

Although Liu Xian's surname was Liu, he was not from the Liu Biao clan, but from the Lingling Liu clan, and had a close relationship with Liu Ba, who fled to Jiaozhou.

Liu Xian, as Liu Biao's most important minister and confidant, can be said to be the asset left by Liu Biao for Liu Qi.The old generals of Jingchu, represented by Liu Xian and Wang Wei, gave the coalition a lot of help in the Battle of Chrysostom.

Nephew Zhou Buyu came out of the cabin and saw Liu Xian's gloomy expression and asked, "Isn't uncle worried about your illness?"

Zhou Buyi, a man with straight writing style, was Liu Xian's nephew.When he was young, Zhou Buyi's parents died early, and Liu Xian personally raised Zhou Buyi.

Zhou Buyi is a rare talent, smart and agile, and is deeply loved by Liu Xian.In order for Zhou Buyi to receive a better education, he once wrote a letter asking Liu Ba to accept Zhou Buyi as his disciple. Unfortunately, Liu Ba declined Liu Xian's request.

Liu Xian sighed slightly and said: "Since the Battle of Chrysostom, Cao Cao was defeated in Jianghan, and Jingchu was not long in peace. Although the envoy was not a British master, he was able to keep Jingchu safe in troubled times. It has not been long since the envoy took over as the governor of the state. He was frightened and fell ill, and the young king was short-lived, and tigers and wolves from outside the territory were watching. It is really not Jingchu's luck!"

Zhou Buyi, who was still young, thought for a moment and said, "Since you are seriously ill, you should call your uncle to Hanshou to consult your heir. The matter of your heir is related to the safety of Jingchu. I wonder what my uncle thinks about it."

Liu Xian shook his head and said, "I don't know how to make a decision now. I want to see what your envoy wants and then consider my words."

The incident happened suddenly. Liu Xian hurried on his way without any other thoughts.

Zhou Dou asked: "If you want to take your eldest son as your heir and inherit the inheritance of Jingchu, I wonder what my uncle would think?"

Liu Xian pondered for a while and said: "I don't know the eldest son, but according to other people's words, the eldest son is raised in the hands of the back house. He has neither great virtue nor great strategy, so he is not like you!"

After a pause, Liu Xian said: "Let more people from the Jun clan stay in Xiangyang, if the Young Master Xiu is here. Now there are not only the eldest Young Master to choose from, but also the Young Master Xiu who can carry on the great things. We must have the kindness left by the late monarch, and Wu Chu With the assistance of all the civil and military forces, we may be able to protect Jingchu from danger."

Liu Xian once served as a farewell driver. At that time, he had a lot of contact with the three brothers Liu Qi, Liu Cong and Liu Xiu.Later he served as a local official and had little contact with Liu Pu, the son of Liu Qi.

In Liu Xian's eyes, if Liu Xiu were here, with Liu Xiu's ability, he would be more capable of inheriting Liu Qi's position than Liu Pu.However, Xiangyang was captured by Cao Cao, and Liu Xiu followed his army to move north, leaving Liu Qi alone with few clansmen.

Zhou Busuo thought about it and said: "Your Majesty is suddenly ill, and things happen in a hurry, and there may be trouble in Jingchu. Besides, my uncle is not a close confidant of your Majesty's, so it's hard to know what he is thinking. Now that I have entered the Han Dynasty, it is better for my uncle to obey your Majesty's instructions." As for fate, don’t give advice or give advice, just observe the direction of the situation and act according to the situation.”

Although Zhou Buyi is young, he is smart and has been by Liu Xian's side for many years.Under the influence of his ears and eyes, he can also understand the politics of Jingchu to some extent.As a veteran of Jingzhou and a member of a wealthy family with the surname Liu in southern Jingzhou, Liu Xian was a local snake.

However, Liu Xian did not have much contact with Liu Qi, and he was not Liu Qi's confidant.According to Zhou Buyi's wishes, he asked Liu not to rush to express his position or to take sides.Let the bullets fly for a while, and then let Liu Xian stand in line as the governor of Changsha and an old minister of Jingchu.

Liu Xian nodded slightly and said in approval: "The straightforward words are very reasonable. Let my uncle meet the envoy and hear what he has to say."

While the two were talking, the boat was already approaching the dock of Han Shou.

"Master Fu, Hanshou has arrived~"

"it is good!"

Not to mention that Liu Xian first arrived in Hanshou, Liu Qi, who had now regained consciousness, was summoning Liu Pan alone.

The air in the Zhou Mu Mansion is filled with a strong smell of herbal medicine. If you look for the root and smell it, the place with the strong smell of herbal medicine must be Liu Qi's room.

"Cough cough~"

Liu Qi leaned on the pillow, his face sallow, and asked: "Guo'an, Gu Zeng heard what outsiders said, you are leading the soldiers to enter Hanshou. Is this possible?"

Liu Pan stood in the house and said with sincerity: "I dare not deceive you. I heard that there was an earthquake in Jingnan, which made you frightened and sick. I was extremely anxious and worried. Remembering the words of the past, I was worried about your safety, so I came with my troops. If you wish to caress Hanshou, no thieves will disturb the envoy."

Liu Qi raised his lips slightly and said happily: "There are only two of you and me in the room now. We can treat each other as brothers, no need to be polite."

"Brother!"

Liu Pan nodded and asked with concern: "Brother is in his prime, why is he suddenly suffering from illness? I wonder what the doctor said?"

Liu Qi shook his head from side to side and said, "Brother, my body has been in deficit for a long time. In the depth of winter, my body is infected with wind and cold. The medicine and stone are useless now, and the food I eat is getting less and less. I should think about the future."

Liu Pan's eyes turned red and he said: "Brother, if he is well and nursed back to health, he will be able to get rid of his illness, so why should we talk about the future?"

Liu Qi gasped and said: "The commander's destiny is in heaven, and it is not something you or I can change!"

As he spoke, Liu Qi took a few deep breaths to relieve the shortness of breath in his chest, and said: "I am not worried about anything else at the moment, but I am worried about Pu'er. Pu'er is better than a woman's hands, has few ambitions, is indecisive, has an impatient temper, and is afraid. It is difficult for a king in troubled times.”

"Guo'an, if I unfortunately pass away, will Pu'er be able to continue Wu Chu's great cause?"

Liu Pu is the legitimate son of Liu Qi and the Yuan family.Due to Yuan's impatience and strong desire to control, Liu Pu was weak in temperament and did not dare to oppose Yuan.In today's terms, Liu Pu has a tendency to be a mama's boy.

Liu Pan wiped away his tears and said: "Although Pu'er's talent is a little shallow, he is fortunate to be young. With a little training, he may be able to maintain the foundation of my Liu family. No matter what, Pan will obey his brother's wishes and assist Pu'er in governing the country."

"Protect the Liu family's legacy?"

Liu Qi read a few words silently and sighed.Although Liu Qi's ability is not strong, Liu Qi is self-aware.He knew very well how talented he was, and he was lucky to be able to defeat Cao Cao and defend his territory.

At present, his son's abilities are far inferior to his, and it is not easy to defend himself.Not to mention that Cao Cao and Liu Bei were both great men, but just talking about the current situation within Jingchu, Liu Pu was afraid that he would not be able to handle it.

Drawing on the lessons of his father Liu Biao who was dominated by the Kuai and Cai tribes, Liu Qi has been balancing various forces since he took charge of Wu Chu. He appointed Huo Jun, reused Liu Pan, and got close to Liu Xian. He used the unique identities of the three to maintain the balance within Jing Chu. .

Over the past few months, the three forces have begun to take shape. However, if he dies, the three forces may quickly become unbalanced, resulting in a series of chain reactions.

After a long silence, Liu Qi asked: "Pu'er is in trouble. Since Guo'an is an orphaned younger brother, he has been famous for his bravery in battles since the war. In an emergency, he may succeed Jingzhou."

Liu Pan, who was wiping tears after hearing Liu Qi's words, was shocked, and then turned to surprise.Although Liu Pan wanted something from his heart, he did not dare to express his true inner thoughts.

Liu Pan was surprised, but also said in a humble tone: "Brother, why did you say this? Since my brother has a son, how can I succeed to the throne? Wu Chu is the foundation of my brother and the Liu family. I should protect him with all my heart." Wu Chu’s foundation must not be taken away by outsiders.”

Liu Qi looked at Liu Pan and asked, "What if Duke Xuande wants to take it?"

Liu Pan looked stern and said: "My ancestors and my brother treated Liu Bei kindly. If he comes to capture Jingchu, it will be against benevolence and righteousness. Pan will lead his army to attack him."

"What about Wu Chu's future?" Liu Qi asked again.

Liu Pan hesitated for a moment, then raised his hands and said, "Wu and Chu have formed an alliance. If Liu Bei doesn't invade Jingzhou, I won't invade Jiangzuo. The two families live in harmony and work together to defend Cao Cao." "Then when Cao's army goes south, who can defend it?"

"North of Jing is guarded by Huonan County. If there are few soldiers, let Zhongmiao control them. If there are many soldiers, let Jingnan have troops and horses to strengthen them." Liu Pan said.

"it is good!"

Liu Qi seemed to have gotten what he wanted to know. He waved his hand and said, "I am exhausted because of my brother. Guoan can temporarily withdraw. There is no one in charge of Jingzhou now, so Guoan can stay and temporarily discuss government affairs with Liu Changsha and Huonan County." "

"promise!"

When Liu Pan was ordered to leave the house, Liu Qi coughed a few times and ordered the attendants on the left and right, saying: "I have ordered someone to send an order to Jiangdong. Yan Gu is seriously ill. Let Liu Yangzhou come to Hanshou in person, or ask Military Advisor Kong Ming to go there."

"promise!"

After being ill for many days, Liu Qi gradually realized that his inheritance issue was not only a matter for Jingchu family, but also for Jiangzuo.Now he must understand Liu Bei's true thoughts in order to reassure him.

However, not long after Liu Pan, Liu Qi was preparing to take a rest, and his attendants came again to report to Liu Xian for an audience.

As a last resort, Liu Qi steeled himself and lay on the couch to meet Liu Xian.

"I would like to pay my respects to you first. I wish you good health and a speedy recovery!" Liu Xian saluted.

Liu Qi nodded as a sign of goodwill and said weakly: "I am lying on the bed sick, and the First Emperor is laughing at me."

Liu Xian looked sorrowful and said: "I sent your troops to the left of the Yangtze River, and joined forces with Wu and Chu to defeat Cao Cao. He helped the world with bravery and became one of the best in the world. He is now lying ill on the bed. It is really Wu Chu's misfortune."

"Sit down!"

After coughing a few times, Liu Qi said: "Sir, as an important minister of the late emperor, I owe you a lot for your help in the battle of Chrysostom. I summoned Mr. Gujiang from Changsha not for any other reason, but because I am afraid that I will not survive for a long time. Now I am only worried about my death." Regarding the matter, only Mr. Guoan, Guoan and Huonan County can be trusted."

"Please give me your orders!"

Liu Xian rushed to his seat and waited quietly for Liu Qi's instructions.

"Who do you think, sir, can succeed me?" Liu Qi asked.

Liu Xian was silent for a while and then said: "I first thought that Young Master Xiu could succeed Jingzhou as pastor."

Liu Qi looked confused, and then said: "The third brother returned to Cao Cao, and there are only a few members of the solitary clan, except for his two sons and his younger brother Liu Guoan."

Liu Xian straightened his back and said: "I am willing to listen to the envoy's instructions and assist the heir with all his heart to protect the inheritance of Jingchu."

Liu Qi saw that Liu Xian's answer was not what he asked, so he sincerely asked for advice: "Sir, he is an old minister of the previous emperor, and he has served a lonely man. Can you tell me who can be his heir?"

Liu Xian hesitated for a while and replied: "In today's troubled times, it is not advisable to lead young ministers to be strong. You should learn from your ancestors and appoint a successor early to avoid internal strife and outsiders taking advantage of it." .”

"How about being a lonely brother?"

Liu Xian's face moved slightly and he said: "Liu Wuling is brave and capable of fighting, but the importance of Jingchu lies within, not outside."

Liu Xian could not agree with Liu Pan's promotion.In his eyes, Liu Pan was brave but without any plan, which was rare in the hearts of Jingchu scholars.

"How about the lonely eldest son?"

"The eldest son is weak and has an impatient temper. If he can accept advice with an open mind and rely on talented people, he may be able to do his job." Liu Xian commented: "If you can make your heart belong to you, I will first be willing to assist you."

Liu Qi sighed. He understood what Liu Xian meant. The two heirs he chose were too bad.But no matter what, once he determined his successor, Liu Xian was willing to assist him.

After a brief chat, Liu Xian left.

Looking at Liu Xian's back, Liu Qi suddenly remembered the incident between Sun Ce and Sun Quan.

At that time, Sun Ce handed over Jiangdong to his younger brother Sun Quan instead of his son. Perhaps he knew that his son would not be able to secure Jiangdong, and only his younger brother Sun Quan could be the master of Jiangdong.

So would he make the right choice by choosing Liu Pan?
But Liu Pan was brave but lacked strategy. He could be a general, but could he be a monarch?

If his son can't do it, and Liu Pan can't do it, then who can?

After Liu Xian left, Liu Qi asked, "When can Huonan County come?"

The attendant replied: "Huonan County is in the police station. Judging from the distance, I should be able to reach Hanshou in two or three days."

"it is good!"

Liu Qi was on the hospital bed, waiting for Huo Jun to arrive at Hanshou.At this time, most of the Jingzhou scholars in Hanshou City knew that Liu Qi was seriously ill, and they were vaguely aware of the pending successor.

At the corner of the State Shepherd's Mansion, Zhang Cun and Xi Zhen had a private discussion.

Zhang Cun sighed and said, "I have made you ill and become increasingly haggard. However, we have been unable to decide on a successor for a long time. This is not a wise move."

Xi Zhen frowned slightly and said, "Your Majesty is here to summon all the ministers one after another to discuss the matter. However, it has been undecided for a long time. It is not that you are unwilling, but that you are unable."

As he said that, Xi Zhen thought deeply and said: "The only ones who can succeed to the throne are the eldest son and Liu Wuling. However, these two are not suitable candidates. Now that the two monarchs are allowed to succeed Jingzhou Mu, the future of Jingchu will be complicated. material."

"And Liu Yangzhou is not a man without long-term vision. He has great ambitions and wants to revive the Han Dynasty. He is a hero in the world. Although Wu and Chu are in alliance now, there will be disputes in the future."

It is not difficult to predict that Wu Chu will have disputes in the future, it is almost obvious.After all, Liu Bei was named Yangzhou Mu, but in fact he only had four counties. The three counties of Yuzhang, Poyang, and Luling were still in Liu Qi's hands.

However, Xi Zhen, Zhang Cun and other Jingzhou scholars who had contact with Liu Bei knew that there might be conflicts between Wu and Chu in the future, but they did not reject Liu Bei and even admired Liu Bei.

After a little hesitation, Xi Zhen came up with a bold idea and said: "It is difficult for the king to appoint a successor because the eldest son, Liu Wuling, is not talented enough to take over. But Xuande Gong is capable enough to dominate. If you make the king Being able to give up the position of Zhou Mu to Liu Yangzhou will not only eliminate the dispute between Wu and Chu, but also..."

Zhang Cun was slightly surprised, stroking his beard and said: "However, the land of Jingchu has been owned by the ancestor and the envoy for two generations, so you can easily give it to outsiders."

Xi Zhen joked: "Gong Xuande is not an outsider, he is the uncle of Shijun. Moreover, Duke Xuande holds Yang and Jingzhou. Even if he cannot revive the Han Dynasty, he can still separate one side and coexist with Cao Cao. As for Shijunzi Heir, in the name of Xuande Gong's benevolence and righteousness, he will be treated kindly."

Zhang Cunfuxu was silent and thoughtful!
　I originally wanted to combine two into one, but it was too slow to write, so I started with 4k words.There is another 3k chapter in the evening.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)