"Big brother, you can't do that!" Cai He jumped in shock and shouted,""This must be Cao Ang's plan. He wants to take the opportunity to kill us. Besides, when the two armies are fighting, what does he want to see you for? If you don't do well, the news will spread to Jingzhou. Brother-in-law might blame you. Big brother, since we can't win this battle, second brother has also returned. Let's go back to Xiangyang!"
Cai Mao did not answer. He only lowered his head and looked at Cao Ang's letter, which read," Cai's wealth and honor, Jingzhou's crisis and ups and downs, are all in your hands. Cao Ang swears to the heavens that he has no evil intentions. Don't doubt him!" Don't be suspicious!" Cai Mao rubbed his head as he felt a headache, then raised his head and asked Cai Zhong,""What kind of person is Cao Ang?”
Cai He stuttered,""Quite... He was a pretty good person…He spoke very politely…She was being polite, not yet…He doesn't put on airs." When Cai Mao heard this, he pondered for a long time. His gaze wandered as he looked at the words 'honor and disgrace' on the letter. He made up his mind and gritted his teeth."I'll go all out. I'll fight him for letting you come back!”
An Le County was located at the border between Wan City and Anzhong County. The terrain of the county town was not large, but it had been turbulent for the past three days. Both sides had secretly arranged their troops here. After all, it was related to the commander, so they had to make arrangements. Of course, they had to investigate the arrangements in the local area.
On the third day of the storm, An Le County welcomed the two most important people, Cai Mao and Cao Ang! The two of them only brought three to five people with them to show their sincerity, but they did not know how many soldiers they had planted in the county and how many soldiers they had deployed outside the county.
Cao Ang had chosen the place to meet him. It was quite far away from the noisy market. It was just a remote and quiet small courtyard. There were fewer people, so there was less gossip. When Cai Mao led his trusted aides to the courtyard, Cao Ang and the others were already there. They saw fragrant tea on the stone table in the courtyard, looking quite elegant.
"General Cai, please take a seat." Cai Mao looked a little surprised. Although he had prepared for this, he still didn't feel good when he saw Cao Ang at such a young age. He had actually lost to someone who was less than half his age. Thinking about it carefully, Cai Mao felt really uncomfortable.
"Young Master Cao." After a casual bow, Cai Mao sat down opposite Cao Ang. After all, they were enemies and had been defeated by Cao Ang. Cai Mao's hatred towards Cao Ang was not lacking.
"Hehe, General Cai, do you want some tea?”Cai Mao merely glanced indifferently at the tea set in Cao Ang's hand, then closed his eyes and said,"There's no need. I'm not good at this.”
"Oh." Cao Ang did not seem angry. He just took back the teacup and tasted it carefully. Then, he closed his eyes and carefully tasted it. To be honest, Cao Ang did not have the habit of drinking tea at first. However, in the future, he was used to drinking Coke and Pepsi. It was really a little boring to drink plain water every day. Therefore, in this era, tea ceremony that could slightly taste tea became Cao Ang's biggest hobby.
Looking at Cao Ang who was enjoying the aftertaste, Cai Mao's expression was unfriendly. He sneered and said,"Young Master Cao, you are really bold!”Cao Ang came back to his senses and asked in confusion,""General Cai, what do you mean?"
Cai Mao laughed coldly." You're bold. You actually dared to ask me to meet you here. Aren't you afraid that I'll kill you?"”Cao Ang didn't seem to be afraid at all. He just smiled and said,"General Cai is right, but do you know that if you touch me now, General Xu Huang will make you die even more miserably than me! Including your soldiers stationed in Jing state, I guarantee that none of them will return to Jing state alive."
Cai Mao's expression changed when he heard this. He glared at Cao Ang with bright eyes, but Cao Ang only smiled at him. In a moment, Cai Mao's eyes retreated, and under Cao Ang's bright gaze, his eyes flickered and became erratic. Seeing this, Cao Ang secretly laughed in his heart. Thinking back to the past, this young master and my deskmate competed in class every day without blinking. You want to play with me? Yours Truly has always been looking at the tip of your nose!
After a while, Cai Mao coughed and changed the topic,""Young Master Cao, the two armies are at war. As commanders, you and I shouldn't have met. However, Cai Mao came today to thank you for sparing my brother.”
Hearing this, Cao Ang looked at the guards behind Cai Mao, seemingly puzzled. "These are my trusted men," Cai Mao hurriedly said,"Young Master Cao, please speak your mind."”
"Good!" Cao Ang laughed out loud. With General's words, I'll be blunt. The reason why I'm meeting you today is to discuss peace with you. I'm also thinking about the honor of the Cai family and the future of Jingzhou.”
"Negotiate peace?" Cai Mao hesitated for a moment, then said disdainfully,""Young Master's words are just an alarmist. What does peace with you have to do with the future of Jingzhou?”Cao Ang laughed and said," General, you don't know what's good for you. Do you think that if Yuan Shu fled south after his defeat, Jingzhou would be safe from disaster?" Let Liu Jingsheng sit and watch the world?"
"What do you mean?" Cai Mao asked in confusion.”Cao Ang pointed to the southeast with a smile and said softly,"In the past, X Wentai died. I wonder if General still remembers who killed him?”
Cai Mao's face turned green. Cao Ang sneered,""Sun Jian died in the hands of Huang Zu, and now Sun Ce is in the six counties and eighty-one states of Dong Wu. He is not thinking of revenge at all times. Jingzhou is like a tiger in the neighborhood. Liu Jingsheng does not know the times and actually dares to invade the territory of the Son of Heaven.”
Cai Mao couldn't help but ponder upon hearing this. Cao Ang sneered,""If it wasn't for his reputation as a member of the Han clan, how could my father have spared him? At that time, he would have to ally with Sun Ce from the east and attack from both sides to punish him for disrespect!”After saying that, he slammed his left hand heavily on the stone table, causing Cai Mao to be stunned.
"Moreover, the general is being used by others, and he doesn't even know that he is working for Liu Jingsheng! How sad." When Cai Mao heard this, he was stunned at first, then he mocked,""Young Master, you're wrong. Liu Jingzhou is my brother-in-law. We're in the same boat! How could it be like what you said? Your words of provocation are too vulgar.”
"Brother-in-law?" Cao Ang sneered and said softly,"When Liu Jingsheng entered Jingzhou alone, he immediately married the general's sister. He was merely borrowing the Cai family's reputation and strength to rule Jing state. Now that Jingxiang has been pacified, but the Cai family is powerful, I wonder if you have thought about why Liu Gong did not personally attack this time, but appointed you as the governor and gave you all the military power? It was indeed a plan to kill with a borrowed knife. These words might be too much, but at the very least, it would weaken the general's forces. His achievements would shock the Lord, and since ancient times, it would be difficult for the Lord to tolerate it!”
These words were something Cao Ang had discussed with Sima Yi long ago. They would use the fact that Liu Biao had not personally led the army to confuse Cai Mao. Even if Cai Mao did not believe it, Cao Ang believed that it would definitely leave an impression on him.
As expected, Cai Mao thought about it suspiciously for a moment, then looked at Cao Ang and said,"This matter doesn't matter if it's true or false! But why are you telling me this? Isn't he plotting something!"
Cao Ang smiled and did not refute. He said softly,"That's right. I have a plan. I want to not invade Jingzhou and be on good terms with it forever. After all, there are many powerful enemies around my father. I really don't want to be enemies with Liu Jingzhou.”
Cai Mao didn't expect Cao Ang to admit his scheme so easily. He was stunned for a while before he said hesitantly,"But why is Eldest Young Master telling me this? Lord Sikong should have sent an envoy to Xiangyang to discuss this with Liu Jingzhou, right?”
Cao Ang shook his head and said," If Liu Jingzhou was a reasonable person, my father would have sent people to Xiangyang long ago. General Cai, Liu Jingzhou is old and muddle-headed. It is a mistake to send troops to Wan City this time. Think about it, if Sun Ce takes advantage of the weakness to attack, without the general leading the navy to resist, who in Jingzhou can stop Sun Ce? Therefore, after thinking about it, compared to Liu Jingzhou, I feel that it's better to discuss such a big matter with the Cai family.”
Seeing Cai Mao's smug expression, Cao Ang continued,""The Cai family is a powerful family in Jingzhou. Your uncle is the former Grand Marshal Zhang Wen. In Cao Ang's opinion, the general is not inferior to Liu Jingzhou's Han family.”At this moment, Cai Mao finally smiled at Cao Ang.""Young Master praises me too much. Sigh, to be honest, my lord is already in his fifties and his mind is sometimes a little unclear. I also strongly disapprove of this expedition, but my lord is bent on doing things his own way. Sigh, I have no choice.”
Cao Ang smiled understandingly." I know of General Cai's difficulties. I only hope that after you return to Xiangyang, you can persuade Liu Jingzhou to guard against Wu and not do such an unwise thing again.”
Cai Mao sighed." I'm very grateful for your honesty, Eldest Young Master. It's just that although the Cai family is quite powerful in Jingzhou, they're only lowly officials. Their words carry limited weight.”Cao Ang smiled and said," General Cai, you are too modest. We have long wanted to be friends with the Cai family. Why don't I discuss with my father after we return to the capital and make a memorial to the throne. You will be the prefect of Nanjun, your brother Cai He will be the prefect of Nanyang, and Cai Zhong will be the prefect of Jiangxia. What do you think, General Cai?"”
As soon as he finished speaking, Cai Mao's mind immediately buzzed! If so, then Cai has real power in Jingzhou, and his name is enough! Cai Mao pondered for a moment and then said hesitantly,""Young Master, if the Emperor only values the Cai Clan, I'm afraid Liu Jingzhou will be dissatisfied with the Cai Clan." Cao Ang laughed and said,""Don't worry, not only the Cai, Kuai, and Huang families, but all of them will be given titles. I only hope that everyone can speak to Liu Jingzhou in front of him for the sake of our two families!”
"Definitely, definitely!" Cai Mao's eyes couldn't help but shine brightly, and he hurriedly said,""If that's the case, the Cai family will definitely not let Cao Gong down. I will definitely do my best to persuade my lord not to invade Cao Gong and to be forever in an alliance!”Cao Ang laughed loudly. The two of them chatted happily until night fell. Cai Mao left. The feeling of holding hands with Cao Ang was very different from when he first came during the day.
" Hehe," Cao Ang couldn't help but smile as he watched Cai Mao and the others leave." Come out."”As soon as Cao Ang finished speaking, all the Tiger Warriors in ambush, including General Sima Yi, came out from every corner of the courtyard.
"Zhong Da, your suggestion is very good.”Cao Ang looked up at the setting sun in the distance and said faintly,""I'll bestow titles to the great clans of Jingzhou and befriend them. Firstly, I can make them feel grateful to my father and dissuade Liu Biao from raising an army to the north. Secondly, it could increase the internal instability of Jingzhou, making Liu Biao focus on dealing with the internal forces of Jingzhou.”
Sima Yi said calmly," Jingzhou is full of powerful families and the Tu people are thriving. It's different from the north. If Liu Biao doesn't agree to the appointment of the three Cai prefects, it will be a violation of the king's orders and he will offend the Cai clan. Once he obeys, the Cai clan's power will spread all over the counties outside Xiangyang. At that time, Liu Biao will have to spend a lot of effort to keep the Cai clan in check and will not have the strength to send troops elsewhere. Lord Sikong could then deal with the strong enemies in the north, and he only needed to send a general to guard the south.”
Cao Ang also smiled and said," That's right. Just now, I borrowed Cai Mao's words and agreed to let my father submit a memorial to the Emperor to reward the talents of the other clans in Jingzhou. When the time comes, I'll be happy to be rewarded. How can I not be satisfied?" All the races are fighting for power. I want to see how Liu Biao will deal with it.”At this point, Dian Man sighed,"I heard from Cai Mao that Liu Biao is fifty-six years old this year. Isn't he a little too pitiful at such an old age…"
Cao Ang couldn't help but smile faintly when he heard that. He turned to Sima Yi and said,""Head Chief Sima, look at how vicious your plan is. Even Dian Man can't stand it.”
Sima Yi replied casually,"If it weren't for General Cao's accurate judgment of people and his ability to guess what kind of person Cai Mao was without even seeing him, how could my plan have worked?"”As soon as he finished speaking, Sima Yi instantly realized something and hurriedly lowered his head in panic,""Sima Yi was too pleased with himself and teased the general. Death penalty!"
Cao Ang didn't say anything. He only looked at Sima Yi with a deep gaze for a while before he suddenly smiled and said,""It's fine. I hope that the Head Chief can be like this in the future and tease me more. It might not be a bad thing.”
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