Chapter 53: How dare Liu Bei to do that? The chance to turn against him has come!

"Where did I say you had to discuss this with me? I'm just speaking up for my sister~~"

Zhuge Rong hurriedly denied it, picked up the tea and drank it to hide her "guilty conscience".

Zhuge Liang smiled and said disapprovingly:
"My eldest sister is a daughter of my Zhuge family. How could she not know the big picture? Didn't she just say that it is natural for a brother-in-law to take a concubine? Taking the daughter of the Zou family is even more of a relief for the master."

"My eldest sister doesn't seem unhappy, so why are you so angry, second sister?"

Zhuge Rong's thoughts were touched again, and she glared at Zhuge Liang with her almond-shaped eyes:
"Why am I angry? I just said a few words casually. Am I angry?"

Zhuge Liang was so rebuked that he dared not say a word, fearing that if he continued to argue, his sister would initiate bloodline suppression.

So he yawned, pretended to be sleepy, and ran away.

"You say I'm angry, what should I be angry about?"

"He is only my brother-in-law, not my husband. Even if he takes ten concubines, it has nothing to do with me..."

Zhuge Rong muttered something to herself, and her excitement gradually subsided.

Suddenly there was silence.

After an unknown amount of time, a faint sigh of loss was heard in the hall.

...

Three days later, Liu Bei officially announced that he would implement the military farming system in Wancheng, Yuyang, Yexian and other counties under his control.

Immediately afterwards, Sun Qian, Jian Yong and many other clerks were sent to various counties to investigate the occupation of land.

According to Xiao Fang's proposal, Lao Liu adopted a policy of appeasement as the main approach and intimidation as the auxiliary approach towards the powerful families in Nanyang.

Therefore, when it comes to investigating land occupation, the bottom line for the powerful is that no matter how much they have taken in before, they have to at least spit out a few ounces.

It is absolutely impossible for you to be stingy.

Perhaps frightened by Zhang Ji's burning, killing and looting, Liu Bei's new master seemed like a savior in the eyes of the Nanyang nobles.

Therefore, the wealthy families in various counties were surprisingly cooperative with the policy of clearing land, and the amount of land they handed over far exceeded Xiao Fang's initial estimate.

After all, Liu Bei only wanted them to cut off a few pounds of meat, but Zhang Ji wanted to squeeze the marrow out of them.

Naturally, these powerful people vied with each other to offer land, fearing that the new ruler of Nanyang would resort to hard tactics and follow the example of Zhang Ji.

Of course, there are also some stubborn ones, mainly concentrated in southern counties such as Yuyang.

Because these counties were close to Liu Biao's ruling area, most of the abandoned farmland was occupied by the Cai and Kuai clans.

No matter whether it was Yuan Shu or Zhang Ji, whoever occupied Nanyang before gave some face to the Kuai and Cai clans and never touched their interests in Nanyang.

Now that Nanyang has changed hands again, the Cai and Kuai families naturally think that Liu Bei will be no exception and still dare not touch them.

So after the order for the investigation was issued, the Cai and Kuai clans simply treated it as waste paper and arrogantly chose to turn a blind eye.

Wei Yan would naturally not indulge them. Since soft tactics didn't work, he resorted to hard tactics and immediately sent troops to use force to forcibly take back the land occupied by the two families.

The news quickly spread from Nanyang to Xiangyang.

...

Xiangyang City, Cai Mansion.

In the main hall, Kuai Yue and Cai Mao sat and drank.

"Yi Du, I heard that Liu Bei is investigating occupied land in various counties in Nanyang, and wants to learn from Cao Mengde to promote military farming."

"Do you think he dares to touch the land and property of our clans in several counties of Yuyang?"

Cai Mao lowered his voice, with a hint of worry between his brows.

Kuai Yue stroked his thin beard and said with a hint of confidence:
"Whether Liu Bei was investigating occupied land or promoting military farming, his goal was to restore agriculture in Nanyang so that he could feed his more than 10,000 soldiers and have the confidence to resist Cao Cao."

"In the final analysis, it's nothing more than trying to defend this corner of Jingbei."

"Although Liu Bei was born in a humble family, he was the governor of Xuzhou after all. He should understand that without the tacit consent of you and me, no one can gain a foothold in Jingbei."

"Then according to Degui's opinion, would he be so foolish as to touch the land and property of our two families in Jingbei?"

These eloquent words instantly dispelled Cai Mao's worries.

Cai Mao raised the corner of his mouth and sneered:

"Yi Du's words make sense. It seems that I was worrying too much."

"Even Liu Da'er doesn't have the guts to take away the flesh of our two families."

Kuai Yue glanced to the east, with a hint of worry in his eyes.

"With Liu Bei helping us to resist Cao Cao, the threat to the north of Jingzhou has been resolved."

"But the little tyrant Sun Ce has swept across Jiangdong, winning every battle and conquering every enemy. He is as powerful as his father Sun Jian was in the past."

"This man's ability in commanding troops is ten times greater than Liu Bei's. He is the real threat to our Jingzhou."

"I predict that after Sun Ce pacifies Jiangdong, he will sooner or later lead his troops westward to invade Jingzhou to avenge his father."

"We must remind the Lord as soon as possible to take Yuzhang first and prepare for the defense against Sun Ce..."

Cai Mao agreed with this deeply. Recalling the crisis when Sun Jian attacked Jingzhou, he was suddenly filled with fear.

So the two of them turned their attention to Jiangdong, and seemed to have forgotten about Liu Bei.

Footsteps were heard and Cai He hurried over, his face solemn and mixed with a bit of anger.

"Brother, there is news from Yuyang."

"Liu Bei appointed Wei Yan, the magistrate of Yuyang County, to send troops to forcibly take back our land in Yuyang County."

"Except for Yuyang, the farmland in several counties including Nieyang was also forcibly seized by this Wei Yan."

"Not only our Cai family, but also the Kuai family's land and property were forcibly taken back."

Cai He reported with an indignant look on his face and handed over the secret letter.

Cai Mao and Kuai Yue's faces suddenly changed. They looked at each other anxiously, with surprise in their eyes.

"Liu Bei actually has the guts to do this?"

Cai Mao jumped up and snatched the secret letter.

The more he looked, the gloomier his expression became, and the surprise in his eyes gradually turned into anger.

"Yidu, you've made a mistake!"

"Liu Bei treats you and me like nothing. He even allowed his subordinates to rob us of all our land in Yuyang County!"

"You are going too far!" "Liu Bei, you are going too far!"

Cai Mao cursed loudly and threw the secret report onto the table.

Kuai Yue took it and looked at it carefully, and confusion gradually appeared in his surprised eyes.

He really couldn't understand where Liu Bei got the courage to dare to go against the will of the emperor and cut the flesh of the Cai and Kuai clans.

Even someone as reckless and violent as Zhang Ji knew how to give these local tyrants some face.

Could it be that Liu Bei's political level is worse than Zhang Ji's?
"I heard that Liu Bei's plan of cultivating land and investigating occupied land was proposed by Xiao Fang."

"This Yuyang County Magistrate Wei Yan is also from Yiyang, Jingzhou. He is from the same hometown as Xiao Fang. It is said that he once served in our army."

Kuai Yue saw some clues from the secret report and guessed:

"Could it be that Xiao Fang and Wei Yan, these poor scholars from Jingzhou, are holding a grudge against our two families, and are intentionally inciting Liu Bei to harm our two families?"

Cai Mao's body was shocked, his eyes rolled a few times, and he suddenly realized.

So he slammed the table and said angrily:

"In the seven counties of Jingxiang, there are many people who are dissatisfied with our family, but they dare not speak out."

"Zhuge Xuan, my nephew's son-in-law, is just a country bumpkin. Who would give him the courage to be an enemy of you and me?"

The two looked at each other, suspicion flickering in their eyes, but they couldn't figure out why for a moment.

"Brother, different dimension."

"No matter where Xiao Fang got his courage from, and no matter whether Liu Bei instigated him, it is an indisputable fact that Liu Bei allowed his subordinates to forcibly seize the land of our two families."

"If we keep silent and do nothing, I'm afraid it will shake the prestige of our two families in Jingxiang."

Cai He interrupted their speculation and reminded them with a serious look.

Cai Mao's heart was shaken, and murderous intent suddenly burned on his face. He snorted coldly:
"Since Liu Bei is not content with his lot, we cannot tolerate him continuing to occupy Nanyang. Otherwise, once he grows stronger, he will become a disaster sooner or later."

"Yidu, it seems that your previous plan to use Liu Bei to defend Jingxiang for us was a miscalculation."

"You and I will go to see the Lord immediately and ask him to send troops north to drive out Liu Bei and recapture Nanyang!"

Cai Mao jumped up and went to the provincial capital immediately.

However, Kuai Yue stretched out his hand and grabbed Cai Mao.

"My lord, you are afraid of being slandered for using force against your own clan, so how could you easily use force against Liu Bei?"

"Besides, Liu Bei was investigating the occupied land in the counties under his jurisdiction, and did not involve the lord's jurisdiction. What reason do we have to persuade the lord to send troops?"

Cai Mao was speechless.

Although he encouraged Liu Biao to send troops, his motive was to defend the interests of the Cai and Kuai families.

But such words can only be known in the heart, but cannot be put on the table as a reason to persuade Liu Biao to turn against his fellow clansmen and use military force.

Using military force for personal gain is like using no justification at all.

"What should we do? Are we just going to swallow our anger and sit back and watch Liu Bei, under the instigation of that country bumpkin Xiao Fang, harm our clan?"

Facing Cai Mao's questioning, Kuai Yue pondered in silence, his eyes rolling darkly.

After pondering for a long time, a hint of playfulness appeared at the corner of his mouth.

"We want to convince the Lord to send troops. All we need is a legitimate reason."

"You and I can propose to the Lord that Deshun replace Wenpin to guard Rang County and command the troops in northern Jing."

"At that time, Deshun could lie that Liu Bei allowed his troops to plunder the countryside of Rangcheng, and then use this as an excuse to suddenly send troops north to recapture Yuyang in one fell swoop."

"If Liu Bei leads his army to seize it, we can use Liu Bei's invasion of the south as an excuse to persuade the lord to lead his army north."

"If Liu Bei swallows his anger and dares not send troops to retake it, we can not only take back the abandoned land that was forcibly taken, but also use it to pressure Liu Bei."

"What do you think, Degui?"

Kuai Yue spoke eloquently and proposed a strategy.

The De Shun he mentioned was Cai He.

Cai Mao's eyes lit up and he praised happily:

"Okay, okay, Yidu, this is a brilliant plan. I will immediately ask the Lord to transfer my third brother to replace Wen Pin to guard Rangcheng!"

"Liu Bei and Xiao Fang dare to look down on our clans. We will give them a warning and let them see the strength of our Cai and Kuai clans!"

...

Half a month later, Wancheng.

The Xiao Mansion was decorated with lights and was extremely lively.

There was a constant stream of traffic in front of the mansion, and guests came one after another to attend Xiao Fang's ceremony of taking a concubine.

A secret room in the inner courtyard.

Xiao Fang, dressed in wedding clothes, left all the guests behind and had a secret meeting with Mi Zhu and Guan Yu.

"Wen Chang sent a secret letter, saying that he had followed the military advisor's instructions and forcibly reclaimed all the land occupied by the Cai and Kuai clans."

"But as for Xiangyang, there has been no sign that Liu Biao is going to send troops."

"The only change is that Cai He replaced Wen Pin and took over the Rangcheng troops."

Mi Zhu handed a secret letter written on silk to Xiao Fang.

Xiao Fang took it, and after looking at it carefully, his eyes gradually focused.

"If Cai Mao and Kuai Yue want to persuade Liu Biao to send troops, they must have a legitimate reason."

"They moved Cai He to Rang County, probably to stir up conflict and create an excuse for Liu Biao to break up with him!"

"Our chance is coming!"

Xiao Fang threw the secret letter away, picked up a pen and wrote a book immediately. He then put it in a brocade bag and gave it to Mi Zhu.

"I predict that Cai He will soon launch an attack on Yuyang!"

"Zi Zhong, quickly send this brocade bag to Yuyang and give it to Wen Chang. Tell him to closely monitor the movements of the Jingzhou army in Rang County."

"Once you discover that Cai He has sent out his troops, immediately open the brocade bag and act according to the plan!"

　Please read on, please recommend, please vote for me, please vote for me monthly, go to Sanjiang!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)