Chapter 38: The Lord Intends to Attack Xiangyang

Faced with Huan Shao's inquiry, Zhao Shaojie certainly could not reveal that he possessed foreknowledge of history. He offered a faint smile and replied, "This is merely one piece of intelligence I brought back from the northern lands."

The group was astonished. How exactly had Zhao Shaojie managed such a feat in the north? To know the date of the Cao army's southward advance a year in advance—could he perhaps be an insider from Cao Cao's own estate? Observing their expressions of confusion and awe, Zhao Shaojie simply smiled and remained silent.

The following day, the main army set out. Mi Fang, Xu Shu, Huang Zhong, Wei Yan, Zhao Shaojie, Liu Yan, Yi Liao, Qian Bo, and Ma Su, leading a force of ten thousand, marched toward Cangwu.

Upon arriving in Cangwu, Wu Ju, Qu Jing, and Yuan Lin had already made the necessary preparations. However, as Mi Fang and his men were weary from days of marching, they rested for another day in Guangxin. There was much wining, dining, and casual conversation. Among them, the three former colleagues—Qu Jing, Qian Bo, and Yi Liao—reunited. To the surprise of Yi Liao and Qian Bo, they discovered that Qu Jing was remarkably eager to engage in battle against Cao Cao.

"Do you truly believe Liu Bei is a match for Cao Cao?" Yi Liao asked softly.

Qu Jing laughed heartily. "I do not know. But Yuan Lin has followed Lord Xuande since his days in Runan, with unwavering loyalty until death. Wu Ju and I are of like mind, and we hold Lord Xuande in the highest esteem. We once followed Zhang Jin, bringing only harm to the soldiers and the people; now that we can follow such a hero, what else is there to fear?"

Hearing this, Qian Bo and Yi Liao felt a touch of shame, yet they were also touched by Qu Jing’s boldness. Their hearts settled significantly. After another day of feasting, the troops were readied, and they marched northward. The combined forces, numbering over ten thousand, left a letter for Shi Ren and Hao Pu in Yulin. A few days later, they reached the border between Jiaozhou and Jingzhou. They did not launch an attack immediately, however, choosing instead to send scouts to assess the current situation in Jingzhou.

***

Meanwhile, in Fancheng:

"The Cao army has moved south and reached Ye County. Prepare the entire army; the moment news of Governor Liu’s death arrives, we shall depart for Jiangxia!" Liu Bei issued his orders.

Zhuge Liang and the others were puzzled. Why was Liu Bei so certain that Liu Biao would die? Though Liu Biao had been ailing, the timing of such a prediction seemed uncanny.

Across the river in Xiangyang, Liu Biao had also received word of the Cao army's advance. He was struck as if by a thunderbolt, falling into a state of profound panic. At that very moment, he lacked even the strength to rise from his bed.

"Someone, fetch Liu Bei..." As he spoke, Liu Biao collapsed, his breath ceasing.

News of Liu Biao’s death spread throughout the estate. Cai Mao and his associates were the first to learn of it and immediately summoned everyone to the Governor's mansion to enthrone Liu Cong. There was little opposition to this; Liu Qi was not present, and even if he had been, no one supported him.

Liu Cong was pushed onto the throne in a daze, looking out at the crowd with a panicked expression. Though young, he understood that Jingzhou had become a hot potato—with Cao Cao moving south, Liu Bei in the north, and Liu Qi in Jiangxia, everyone coveted the province.

"My late father has passed. You were all his pillars of support. Now that Cao Cao is moving south, how shall we respond?" Liu Cong asked, mimicking the tone and vocabulary his father had used in the past.

"Cao Gong comes representing the Imperial Court. It is only right that we submit to the Court," Cai Yue stated.

Though young and having never enjoyed the pleasures of absolute power, Liu Cong felt he could not simply surrender without a fight. He frowned and asked, "If I join you in defending Jingzhou to protect the legacy my father left behind, and we wait to see how the situation in the world unfolds, is that not an option?"

Fu Xun immediately retorted, "There is a distinction between order and rebellion. Jingzhou is under the jurisdiction of the Court; to use its troops to resist the Court is to rebel, which will surely lose the hearts of the people. Furthermore, in terms of strength, how can Jingzhou compare to the Central Plains, Hebei, or Yongliang? Even if we resist, we are destined for failure! And then there is Liu Bei. You are the master of Jingzhou; relying on him to resist the Court is equally inappropriate. Therefore, if we insist on fighting the Imperial army, the result will surely be destruction."

"Finally, I wish to ask you, General: how do you compare yourself to Liu Bei?"

Liu Cong thought of Liu Bei—the man his father both feared and trusted, and the man his brother revered completely. He shook his head. "I am not his equal."

Fu Xun nodded and said earnestly, "If you insist on using Liu Bei to resist Cao Cao, there are only two outcomes. First, Liu Bei holds Jingzhou. But if that happens, do you think he will enthrone you, or your brother Liu Qi? Or will he make himself the master of Jingzhou? Second, Liu Bei fails to resist Cao Cao, and the result is obvious: he will be defeated, and you will be implicated and destroyed as well. Which of these outcomes do you desire?"

Liu Cong was stunned; he desired neither. He looked to the others. Cai Yue, Han Song, Wang Can, and the rest spoke in succession.

"Surrender!"
"Cao Gong comes representing the Court; if we surrender, we will surely be treated well and retain our titles!"
"General, for your own sake and for the sake of the people, surrender is the optimal choice!"

Liu Cong sighed. With his subordinates unwilling to defend the province and Liu Bei’s support uncertain, he said powerlessly, "Send word to Cao Cao—I am willing to surrender."

***

Almost at the exact moment the discussion was taking place in Xiangyang, Yi Ji brought the news of Liu Biao's death to Liu Bei.

"Liu Biao is truly dead?" the men in Fancheng asked in disbelief.

Liu Bei’s expression turned somber. Although Liu Biao had often been wary of him, he had treated him well enough. Liu Bei looked up at the group and said, "Liu Cong must have surrendered."

The group was even more incredulous. "That cannot be!" Yi Ji exclaimed. Others were equally shocked—would Liu Cong surrender the moment he took office?

Liu Bei recalled the history he knew: Liu Cong had surrendered while he was still preparing for war in Fancheng, never seeing the reinforcements he expected from Xiangyang. It was only when Cao Cao reached Wancheng that he finally learned of the surrender.

"It must be true!" Liu Bei said, his expression hardening. He looked at his men. "Immediately dispatch fast ships to Jiangxia. Tell Liu Qi to go with Zhang Fei to Jiangling. Once Jiangling is taken, seize all ordnance and provisions, but do not hold the city!"

"Guan Yu, attack the Deng Stockade. Tell them that Governor Liu is dead and Liu Cong has surrendered. Those who wish to surrender along with Liu Cong are my enemies; those who do not, come with me to resist Cao! Once the water stockades are broken, move down the Han River, clearing every stockade you encounter, gathering ships, and withdrawing everyone to Jiangxia."

Guan Yu and the others took their orders and departed. Watching Liu Bei issue his rapid-fire commands, the men felt a growing sense of unreality, as if everything were unfolding exactly according to his foresight.

"Gentlemen, follow me to Xiangyang!" Liu Bei commanded.

Zhuge Liang’s eyes brightened. "My Lord, are you finally going to attack Xiangyang?"

Liu Bei shook his head. In the past, he had been deceived so deeply by Liu Cong that he hadn't attacked Xiangyang then, and he certainly wouldn't now, even knowing of the surrender. "I am going there to confront Liu Cong!"