Three Kingdoms: My Strategy Simulator.

Liu Biao's anger turned to joy upon hearing this, and he said.

“Qi'er's filial piety is commendable, and I am very pleased as your father…”

After a pause, Liu Biao waved his hand and said with a smile.

“This situation was long within my expectations. It seems fraught with danger, but it is actually a good opportunity to snatch chestnuts from the fire, and even seize Yizhou in one fell swoop, right now.”

“Please instruct me, Father,” Liu Qi said.

Liu Biao used tea to write the name Liu Bei on the stone table and said.

“Liu Xuande of Yang Province has great ambitions, but he is burdened by his reputation. He seems to be repeatedly stationing troops in Chaisang and sending envoys to probe and coerce Liu Zhang, but he will definitely not dare to act first and destroy the foundation of his reputation. He is not worth worrying about.”

After speaking, Liu Biao raised his hand and erased Liu Bei's name, then wrote Yuan Shu's name and continued.

“Yuan Gonglu is naturally arrogant and reckless, brave but indecisive. Although he has many soldiers under his command, he lacks virtuous ministers and fierce generals. He seems to occupy a large and fertile land, but in my eyes, he is just a skeleton in a tomb, not worth fearing.”

“Even if Yuan Gonglu intends to take the opportunity to attack Jingzhou, it is only necessary to send a good general to defend the strong city and send an eloquent person to negotiate and deceive him with words, which is enough to make his soldiers hesitate.”

After speaking, Liu Biao erased Yuan Shu's name again, and finally wrote Liu Yan's name, saying.

“Yizhou is coming aggressively, but Liu Junlang is terminally ill, half-dead, and his only heir is not in Yizhou. Therefore, the soldiers sent by the lord will inevitably have wavering morale and dare not use their lives.”

“In addition, Zhang Lu of Hanzhong has a feud with Liu Junlang, and the barbarian tribes in the south often cause chaos, so Liu Junlang will not be able to mobilize many soldiers.”

Hearing this, Liu Qi was also greatly encouraged and interjected.

“In this case, Father only needs to send a strong force to guard the line from Zigui to Yiling, and no matter how fierce their momentum is, they will not be able to do Father any harm.”

“Wrong!”

Liu Biao's expression sank slightly, and he said.

“If that's all there was to it, why would I bother to bring Liu Zhang here? Do I really have to wait for Liu Junlang to die? And then use the name of a descendant to knock on the gate of Yizhou?”

“If I really did that, I would be laughed at by future generations even if I ascended the throne one day.”

Liu Qi was a little afraid of Liu Biao's majesty and asked cautiously.

“Then what does Father mean?”

Liu Biao stroked his three-inch beard and said.

“Lure the enemy in deep, destroy the Yizhou army, and then take the opportunity to kill into Yizhou.”

“Liu Yan has been seriously ill for many days, and the news of Liu Zhang's attack and disappearance has been spread early, causing panic among officials in various parts of Yizhou. I have secretly sent confidants to win over officials and guards in various parts of Bazhong, Yizhou.”

“Once the Yizhou army is defeated, those officials and guards who are still wavering will know that Liu Yan's power is gone, and they will have to welcome the new lord… ”

“With such internal and external troubles, once my Jingzhou army arrives, it will be able to occupy Yizhou at a speed that Liu Bei and Yuan Shu cannot react to. By then, even if Liu Bei and Yuan Shu want to contain Jingzhou, it will be too late.”

After speaking, Liu Biao, with a smug look, looked at Liu Qi, wanting to see how Liu Qi would react.

This plan was naturally not something Liu Biao had come up with on the spur of the moment.

When he decided to attack Liu Zhang, Liu Biao had already gathered a group of confidants to discuss the matter and decided on a strategy to lure Liu Yan to send troops out of Sichuan.

The only thing that surprised Liu Biao was that Liu Yan was so impatient that he couldn't help but send troops just after the spring plowing.

This made Liu Biao even more convinced of Liu Yan's physical condition, which might be more serious than he had imagined, so he had to resort to force to force Jingzhou to return Liu Zhang.

As for Liu Qi, whose ability was actually just average, he naturally could not find any fault with Liu Biao's plan.

However, whenever Liu Qi thought of Li Ji's distant gaze, he always felt that things might not develop as Liu Biao had predicted, and there might be a risk of being seen through.

However, during this rare father-son heart-to-heart talk, Liu Biao had shown his dissatisfaction twice, both explicitly and implicitly. Liu Qi really did not dare to say anything that would displease Liu Biao, so he could only praise him a few times before asking.

“Then I don't know how I can help Father and share his worries?”

“Hmm…”

Liu Biao pondered for a while before slowly saying. “This battle with Yizhou will determine the fate of our father and son in the future. We can only win and not lose.”

“Therefore, I will personally lead the Jingzhou army, and Xiangyang cannot be without someone. Therefore, Qi'er's important task is to defend Xiangyang. No matter what, you must not lose Xiangyang, do you understand?”

Perhaps Liu Biao said it easily, as if the surrounding forces would disappear with a wave of his hand, but Liu Biao was also betting all his chips.

However, Liu Biao firmly believed that destiny was on his side and that he would be the victor.

However, Liu Qi, who had never been so valued and trusted by Liu Biao since he was a child, was so moved at this moment that he knelt down and said.

“I will be in the city, and the city will be there. Even if I die, the city will not be lost. I will never let Father down.”

“Good, good, good.”

Liu Biao helped Liu Qi up and said softly. “I also know that Qi'er is filial and determined, and only by entrusting Xiangyang to Qi'er can I feel at ease leading the army to battle…”

After a pause, Liu Biao whispered in Liu Qi's ear.

“I know that the Cai family is a jealous person, and Qi'er has suffered some grievances over the years. However, I need to rely on the Cai family to balance the various forces and control Jingzhou, and I still need the Cai family to work hard in this expedition.”

“After taking Yizhou, when I ascend the throne, I will naturally remove the mother and leave the son, and will not allow anyone to threaten Qi'er's position as crown prince. Qi'er can rest assured about this.”

Liu Qi was even more moved when he heard this. It turned out that his father had always had him in his eyes.

“I don't care about the position of crown prince. I only hope that Father will lead the army smoothly this time, and everything should be based on your own safety.”

Even though Liu Qi's words were not pleasant to hear, Liu Biao couldn't help but reveal a hint of relief in his eyes.

The Liu family has always had two extremes in their personality: either they are loyal and righteous, or they are cold-hearted.

Liu Biao was undoubtedly a cold-hearted person, but precisely because of this, Liu Biao was most at ease with Liu Qi's foolish filial piety.

Just now, it was also Liu Biao's secret test of Liu Qi.

If Liu Qi really showed a sense of urgency about the position of crown prince and removing the Cai family, then Liu Biao would prepare to reconsider the candidate to stay in Xiangyang.

The city of Xiangyang is crucial.

Whoever controls Xiangyang is almost equivalent to controlling most of northern Jing.

Even though Liu Biao had made many arrangements against Liu Bei and Yuan Shu, he still needed to consider the worst-case scenario.

Defending Xiangyang was Liu Biao's bottom line.

Otherwise, if Xiangyang was lost, it would mean that Liu Biao would lose control of the entire Jingzhou, and it would be useless even if he captured Yizhou. (End of chapter)