Chapter 22 Xu Shu helps Liu Wu seize Jingzhou

Everyone in the hall was in an uproar. Some were angry at Xu Shu’s rude and sharp words, and some were shocked and panicked when Xu Shu said that the 40,000 troops in Nanyang now all held such magical weapons and had formed an alliance with Jiangdong through marriage.

“Bastard, you dare to threaten me like this? I feel like no one in Jingzhou will support you!”

Cai Mao was shocked and angry. He felt ashamed and said angrily.

As Cai Mao shouted angrily, the guards around him all moved and drew their swords.

Xu Shu saw that the upper echelons of Jingzhou in the hall were all furious because of what he said, but he understood that these people were expressing fear because of what he said.

Xu Shu was very satisfied with the effect.

Now Nanyang has just been smelting iron in blast furnaces for a few months, and has sent a lot to Jiangdong. Without iron and stone, it is naturally impossible to equip 40,000 soldiers with steel knives and swords.

We have only equipped 5,000 troops now, and have not even started making armor.

But that didn’t stop him from saying it.

“I am right here. If you feel that what I said humiliates the Lord, you can kill me on the spot!”

Xu Shu raised his arms and acted as if he was going to kill anyone, which made Liu Biao, Cai Mao and others in the hall very angry. However, they did not dare to give the order.

Let’s not talk about it first. When two armies are fighting, they don’t kill envoys.

Xu Shu came to deliver weapons and express gratitude to Xinye for taking him in. If they killed him, their reputation would be ruined.

What’s worse, Liu Bei actually had magical weapons in his hands and had equipped an army of 40,000. This looked terrifying to everyone in Jingzhou.

After all, Jiangdong defeated Huang Zu and reached the city of Xiling with only a few thousand swords. If Liu Bei’s army was really equipped with 40,000 soldiers, it would be a huge threat.

“My lord, please calm down. Liu Xuande sent an envoy here with magic weapons to express his gratitude. He came with goodwill and should not be going to challenge Xiangyang.”

Yi Ji stood up, first bowed to Liu Biao, then looked at Xu Shu and said:
“Xu Yuanzhi, I don’t know if what I said is correct or not?”

Yi Ji stepped forward to smooth things over. Liu Biao, Cai Mao and the others had a way out. They stopped talking and looked at Xu Shu.

Xu Shu looked at Yi Ji and said with a smile:

“Yes, I am here on behalf of my lord to visit Jingzhou with good intentions.”

“Goodwill? If it was goodwill, why would they join forces with Jiangdong to attack Jiangxia? And why would they marry into the Jiangdong clan?” As soon as Xu Shu finished speaking, Cai Mao couldn’t help but said.

He was always wary of Liu Bei because of the example of Xuzhou, and he always felt that Liu Bei had ill intentions towards Jingzhou.

Xu Shu paused, glanced at Cai Mao, his eyes calm, and continued to bow to Liu Biao and said:
“It’s not that Nanyang wants to join forces with Jiangdong to attack Jingzhou. The truth is, your army is about to attack Nanyang, and it’s impossible for Nanyang to do nothing, right?”

“I said that I came with good intentions. My master once said that if General Zhennan is willing, as long as he does not send a large army to attack Nanyang, Nanyang is willing to make an agreement with General Zhennan that it will never join forces with Jiangdong to attack Jingzhou.”

“Moreover, my master is willing to sell the magic weapon to General Zhennan. We are like one family. I wonder if General Zhennan and you gentlemen are willing?”

Xu Shu’s voice resounded throughout the hall, and everyone from Liu Biao to the civil and military officials were stunned by his words.

Liu Bei was willing to make a deal with them? As long as they didn’t attack Nanyang, they would never join forces with Jiangdong to attack Jingzhou? He was even willing to sell them the magic weapon?

How could such a good thing happen in the world?

“Messenger, are you serious? If you really want to sell me your magic weapon, just tell me what you want!”

Liu Biao also felt that what Xu Shu said was too considerate and somewhat unreal, and he couldn’t help but speak out.

Mrs. Cai, who had been silent the whole time, looked at Xu Shu with her beautiful eyes narrowed, as if she wanted to see through Xu Shu.

Xu Shu smiled and said to Liu Biao: “I, Nanyang, do have one request, that is, I, Nanyang, will engage in trade and business with Jingzhou, and General Zhennan cannot stop us!”

“To start trade and business, that’s it?”

Liu Biao, Cai Mao and others looked at each other.

“What’s the matter? Do you have any tricks?” Cai Mao asked Xu Shu with a snort.

Hearing this, Xu Shu shook his head and said:

“There is nothing fancy about it. My lord is kind and benevolent. He wants to see stability in Jingzhou and Nanyang. If you are still worried, I will make my own decision and propose marriage for my lord’s brothers to the aristocratic families of Jingzhou.”

“My lord’s brother Liu Wu has arranged a marriage with Sun Shangxiang, the wife of Sun Quan of Jiangdong, some time ago. If you are willing, I can act as a matchmaker. I have heard that the most beautiful woman in Jingzhou is the daughter of General Zhennan’s military advisor. Liu Wu married Sun Quan’s sister, which made Nanyang and Jiangdong deeply involved. If he marries with a Jingzhou family, Nanyang and Jingzhou will also be closely related. Nanyang County borders Cao Cao’s forces, and my lord killed Cao Ren, Cao Cao’s cousin. Cao Cao will definitely not let Nanyang go. Therefore, my lord is willing to make friends with Xiangyang. I wonder what General Zhennan’s military advisor thinks?”

Xu Shu’s words echoed in everyone’s ears. Liu Biao, Cai Mao, Kuai Yue, Kuai Liang and others looked at Xu Shu. They suddenly felt that Xu Shu did not seem to lie to them.

It is no longer a secret that Liu Bei seized Nanyang County, killed Yu Jin, and then took Cao Ren’s head. Everyone knows that Cao Cao will certainly not give up.

However, they suddenly sent a large army to station troops in the north of Xiangyang, preparing to take over Nanyang County which was conquered by Liu Bei.

Therefore, Liu Bei had no choice but to unite with Jiangdong, marry into the Jiangdong clan, and threaten Jingzhou so that they would not dare to act rashly.

Now, they are worried that Liu Bei will play tricks with his magic weapons. Liu Bei has a powerful enemy Cao Cao in the north, so he is probably also worried that they will cause trouble in Xiangyang!

Otherwise, even if Liu Bei had magical weapons, those weapons could not defeat the whole world. If Liu Bei was attacked from both the north and the south by Cao Cao and their Jingzhou, he would probably find it difficult to resist.

“Hahaha, interesting, indeed interesting. After Lord Xuande entered Jingzhou, Degui repeatedly targeted Lord Xuande, and I have seen all of this. Now, Lord Xuande actually wants to marry Degui. This is really repaying evil with kindness, which is extremely benevolent and righteous.”

Liu Biao, who was sitting in the main seat, suddenly stroked his gray beard and laughed, calling him “Lord Xuande”.

Liu Biao smiled, and Cai Mao, Kuai Liang, Kuai Yue and others all understood that Liu Biao was completely relieved and obviously believed what Xu Shu said.

Cai Mao was very confused at this time. Liu Bei actually wanted to marry him?
It’s really off the mark.

Cai Mao waved his hands and said to Xu Shu: “This matter is not urgent. After all, marriage is a big deal.”

Xu Shu smiled when he heard this.

By the time he had set up his plan, Jiangdong had already formed an alliance with Liu Wu, and the Jingzhou families might not take the initiative. Jiangdong had a close relationship with Nanyang, so Liu Biao might even urge them to do so.

Of course, Liu Wu prepared three kinds of wealth traps for the Jingzhou families that were enough to make a fortune. They haven’t arrived yet, but once they arrive, the Jingzhou families will probably go crazy.

However, Xu Shu saw three businesses prepared by Liu Wu that were impossible to refuse, and owning one of them would allow him to accumulate wealth that could rival a country.

With the threat of Nanyang’s powerful army outside and the betrayal of the noble families inside, the change of Jingzhou’s ownership is not far away.

Thinking of the 200,000 to 300,000 troops in Jingzhou, the countless naval warships, and the warehouses full of food, Xu Shu could not help but feel excited and was eager to see them taking over Jingzhou’s harvest.

“I wonder if General Zhennan is willing to reconcile the two families. If Nanyang and Xiangyang reconcile, my lord is willing to sell the magic weapons to General Zhennan?”

Xu Shu suppressed his inner excitement and asked Liu Biao.

Liu Biao now became more energetic and amiable, and said with a smile:

“Cao Cao is indeed a great threat. I am willing to reconcile with Xuande. Please let the messenger tell Lord Xuande.”

“Yes!” Xu Shu bowed with a big smile on his face.

(End of this chapter)