Liu Jing pondered for a moment, and he was thinking about how to express his opinion, whether to be polite first, then soldiers, or polite first, then polite. After pondering for a long time, he slowly said: "This time I came to visit my senior because I wanted to discuss with my seniors."

Cai Xun stroked his beard and smiled without saying a word. He seemed to have a calm expression, but he was very nervous. It was related to the interests of the family. He would not let go of every word Liu Jing said.

"Due to the occupation of Cao's army, Xiangyang counties were disbanded and government affairs were suspended. I am considering the candidate for Xiangyang prefect. Can I ask my senior to recommend a suitable candidate for the prefect?"

Cai Xun's eyes narrowed with a smile and asked himself to recommend it. What does this mean? He has so many people in Jiangxia, but is he really short of the candidate for the prefect? ​​He has already understood what Liu Jing meant, which is to give the prefect to the Cai family.

However, Cai Xun also knew that Liu Jing would never give this opportunity to the Cai family in vain. He came to the Cai family in person, but in fact he was here to bargain. So what conditions would he have to do?

Cai Xun was thinking, and Cai Yan next to him smiled and said, "I heard that Deng Yi rejected Cao Cao's reward and returned to his home in Nanyang. Why didn't the prefect of the prefect of Xiangyang not allow him to be the prefect of Xiangyang?"

Cai Xun's heart was shocked. This is not possible. Since Liu Jing gave this opportunity to the Cai family, he must not let it go. Before Liu Jing answered, Cai Xun interrupted Cai Yan's recommendation, "I have a few words to talk to Zhou Mu, you can step down first!"

Cai Yan dared not disobey his father's words. He stood up and bowed, and then retreated. At this time, only Cai Xun and Liu Jing were left in the room. Cai Xun looked at Liu Jing and said, "Prince, we might as well talk openly! If I recommend my son Cai Yan as the prefect of Xiangyang, what are the conditions for the provincial governor?"

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The conversation didn't take long. After about a quarter of an hour, Liu Jing got up and said goodbye. Cai Yan sent Liu Jing away all the way, and then rushed back to the guest hall. Unexpectedly, his father had already learned the study room. He rushed to his father's study room again. As soon as he entered the door, he saw his father standing in front of the window with his hands behind his back and pondering.

Cai Yan hurriedly asked, "Father, what conditions did Liu Jing offer?"

Cai Xun sighed, "What other conditions can he offer? He wants the land of the Cai family!"

Cai Yan was stunned. He actually wanted the land of the Cai family. Land is the fundamental interest of the Cai family. How can that be done? After all, Cai Yan has been a prefect for many years and is still calm. He asked again: "Can your father tell the child, what does he say in detail?"

Cai Xun slowly turned around and waved his hand and said, "Sit down! Sit down and I'll talk to you."

Cai Yan and his father sat down, and Cai Xun said worriedly: "He proposed to let you become the prefect of Xiangyang. As a condition, the Cai family must hand over half of the land."

"So much!" Cai Yan was shocked.

"It's really a lot." Cai Xun showed a bitter smile on his face, "But at least you can still get the position of Xiangyang Prefect."

Cai Yan was silent and asked again, "What if we don't agree?"

"This is what I want to tell you. If you don't agree, the land will still be handed over, but by then, the Cai family will have nothing."

Cai Yan understood what his father meant. Liu Jing was actually just polite first and then soldiers. If the land was not handed over, Liu Jing would forcibly confiscate the Cai family's land.

Cai Yan felt a cry of sorrow in his heart. The day really came. After a moment of silence, he asked again: "Does my father plan to agree?"

"So what if I don't agree?"

Cai Xun sighed and said, "I have considered it. Since I can't escape this level, I simply agree. At least the Cai family still has a status in Jingzhou. This is actually very important, but I don't know how to explain it to the family."

In fact, Cai Yan also wanted to take up the position of Xiangyang Prefect. He is only forty years old this year, which is the golden age of his career. He doesn't want to take up his old age at home. Now that Liu Jing proposes to let him become Xiangyang Prefect, he is already moved.

Cai Yan carefully advised his father: "Father will tell the truth. I think that except for Songzhu Hall, the other four halls will understand the importance of this matter. At that time, everyone will vote. As long as three votes pass, the matter can be explained."

Cai Xun sighed and finally agreed, "Okay! I'll explain it to them one by one now. Yan'er, I can't tell Uncle Qi about this for the time being. I'll tell him when the vote is voting, so I can't give him the opportunity to collude with others."

"The boy understands, he will never tell him!"

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In Jiangling City, Nanjun, just three days after Liu Jing captured Xiangyang, Liu Bei's fleet finally returned to Jiangling. In fact, not long after Liu Jing left, he also left Dongwu City and returned to Jiangling.

During this trip to Jiangling, due to Liu Jing's pressure, Liu Bei was unable to reach an alliance with Jiangdong to jointly deal with Jiangxia, which made Liu Bei return disappointed.

But on the other hand, he gained something, that is, Jiangdong also recognized Liu Qi as the lord of Southern Jingzhou and was willing to become allies with Southern Jingzhou to deal with Cao's army southward.

In other words, Jiangdong recognized the split of Jingzhou, Liu Jing was the northern Jingzhou, Liu Qi was the southern Jingzhou, and both Jingzhou governors Jiangdong recognized it.

Although Liu Bei was still a little uncomfortable, he also understood in his heart that this was the limit that Jiangdong could do. After all, Jiangdong and Jiangxia reached a covenant to fight against Cao's army, and that covenant was the core interest of Jiangdong.

"Uncle Emperor, Sun Quan is so sinister!" In the cabin, Pang Tong sighed and said to Liu Bei.

Liu Bei sat in front of the boat window and looked out the window from time to time, looking a little absent-minded. He was about to arrive in Jiangling. He was filled with the joy of going home and did not react to Pang Tong's sigh.

"What did you say?" Liu Bei suddenly woke up.

Pang Tong was really annoyed. He advised Liu Bei twice during this trip to Jiangdong, but Liu Bei politely declined.

Including his advice to Liu Bei not to accept the so-called recognition of Nan Jingzhou, it is equivalent to indirectly acknowledging Liu Jing's legality. If he attacks Jiangxia in the future, Wuming will be appointed. However, Liu Bei still did not accept his suggestion. Obviously, Liu Bei would rather lose both birds than kill him.

Now he reminded Liu Bei again, but he did not listen to what he said. Pang Tong resisted his anger and said, "I mean that Sun Quan admitted that Jingzhou in the north and south was actually trying to provoke the struggle between the two families. He came to reap the benefits of the fisherman.

Maybe he won’t do it now, but after fighting Cao’s army, he will definitely do it. His purpose is to annex Jingzhou. The emperor’s uncle should not have too much hope for him.”

Liu Bei smiled slightly and said, "I also know this. Before leaving, Kong Ming also mentioned that Jiangdong and Jiangxia will not be eternal allies. When there is trouble, they will fight against Cao together. But once the disaster passes, they will inevitably break out of a battle to share the spoils. At that time, we must take advantage of the conflict between Jiangdong and Jiangxia and seek the greatest benefit. Shi Yuan is at ease. I understand Sun Quan's thoughts very well."

"Since Kong Ming has expected it, I'm relieved!"

When Pang Tong heard Liu Bei use Zhuge Liang to answer him again, he couldn't help but feel extremely depressed and angry. He responded lightly, then turned his head and stopped talking.

Liu Bei knew what Pang Tong was thinking at this time, but in fact, many of Pang Tong's suggestions were not wrong. For example, he advised himself to use Kuai Yue to surrender to Cao as an excuse to seize the Kuai family's land and use this land to reward military merits.

For example, he advised himself to use his former friendship to invite Wu Ju to Nanjun to discuss the plan to fight against Cao, and then took the opportunity to imprison Wu Ju and seize Jiaozhou; in addition, he advised himself to build a school, select Jingnan talents, etc.

These are all golden and jade words, but for some reason, Liu Bei always felt that his thinking was a little in line with his own pace, such as luring Wu Ju. Liu Bei felt that it was not benevolent and righteous enough, and he didn't want to adopt it. Although running a school was feasible, Liu Bei wanted to recruit northern gentry even more.

More importantly, Liu Bei felt Pang Tong's dissatisfaction and jealousy towards Zhuge Liang. He even knew that Pang Tong had advised Zhuge Liang not to surrender to him, which made Liu Bei somewhat dislike Pang Tong.

However, Liu Bei would not show his displeasure in his heart. Seeing that Pang Tong seemed a little dissatisfied, he smiled and comforted him, "Although Kong Ming had a plan, he had time to consider it incompletely. With the help of Shi Yuan, many things would be perfect. Shi Yuan was my confidant's plan, so how could I not listen? I have remembered all the words of Shi Yuan's gold and jade in my heart."

Pang Tong sighed, "Although I am a little talented and knowledgeable, I am loyal to the emperor and will do my best to serve the emperor!"

"Haha! The sincere heart of Shi Yuan is remembered in his heart."

As the two were talking, a loud shout came from outside the cabin: "Jangling has arrived, ready to dock!"

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On the dock, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Wang Jie, Wang Ji, Pang Ji, Chen Zhen and other civil officials were waiting for the arrival of Liu Bei's ship. Zhuge Liang was the only one among the crowd. He was sick these two days and could not come to welcome Liu Bei's return for the time being.

The big ship slowly landed, and the boatmen were busy stopping the ship, and a wide board was placed on the shore.

"Uncle Emperor is coming out!" Someone shouted, but Liu Bei came out of the cabin, his face slightly pale. He smiled and waved to everyone, and everyone met them together.

"Uncle Improving hard all the way!" Wang Jie stepped forward and bowed. He served as the chief secretary of Jingzhou, in charge of government affairs of various counties, and had the highest status.

Liu Bei smiled, "I've let everyone wait for a long time."

He walked off the boat slowly. Perhaps because he had been on the boat for too long, Liu Bei's legs were a little weak, and his body shook slightly on the board. Zhang Fei's eyes and hands were quick, and he quickly stepped forward and supported Liu Bei, "Be careful, brother!"

"Thank you, brother!" Liu Bei gently patted Zhang Fei's back of his hand.

"Thank you all for coming to greet you!"

Liu Bei bowed to everyone, but did not see Zhuge Liang. He was slightly stunned, "Why didn't Kong Ming come?"

Before Liu Bei could ask, Wang Ji smiled and said, "Kong Ming is sick and cannot come to pick up the emperor's uncle for the time being. He asked the emperor's uncle to forgive him!"

"Haha! Of course I won't blame him."

Although he said this, Liu Bei still felt something was wrong. He felt that Zhuge Liang seemed to be deliberately avoiding him. At this time, Liu Bei winked at him when he saw Guan Yu's expression was strange, and he became even more confused.

But he didn't show any expression on his face and said with a smile: "Since you have received it, everyone is back together."
Chapter completed!