Chapter 87 The Truth Draws Near

  The middle-aged man was Jia Yu, with slightly dark skin, a thin face, a hawk-like nose, a goatee under his chin, narrow eyes, and eyelids that covered more than half of his pupils. When he smiled, he would involuntarily reveal a hint of sinister intent.

  Jia Xu's surrender to Cao Cao was not long, only more than two years, but he had a reputation for being reused by Dong Zhuo and Li Jue one after another, and his status was once prominent. Of course, this is related to his origin from the Western Liang faction.

  After surrendering to Cao Cao, Jia Xu served as the Golden Guard and was enfeoffed as Marquis of Duting. Compared to Cheng Yu and Xun Yu, he did not receive significant favor. Jia Xu understood that the deaths of Cao Ang and Dian Wei were directly related to him, and Cao Cao only used him for his reputation. How could Cao Cao not harbor resentment towards him in the still of night?

  This time, Xiahou Yuan attacked Xinye Liu Bei. Cao Cao considered Jia Xu to be more familiar with the Nanyang area, so he sent him to assist Xiahou Yuan. However, he was still one step late and happened to encounter Yu Jin's defeat.

  "Victory and defeat are common occurrences in military households, General Xiahou need not blame himself."

  Jia Xu sensed Xiahou Dun's self-blame and regret, so he comforted him with a smile: "At present, we still have 20,000 troops, including cavalry, holding an advantage. As long as the next battle is fought well, it will be possible to turn the situation around."

  Jia Xu's words of consolation made Xiahou Dun feel somewhat comforted. After some thought, he realized that there was nothing else to do but to plan for the long term. He sighed and said, "Everything depends on you now, sir."

  Jia Xu nodded, "The enemy's situation is unclear at present, and we cannot act rashly. General, you can send more scouts to investigate Liu Bei and the Jingzhou army's situation. Know yourself and know your enemy, then you can deploy troops."

  "What the teacher said makes sense!"

  Xiahou Dun immediately dispatched several hundred scouts to investigate the situation, and several hundred scouts galloped along the forest path towards the south at high speed.

  At this time, a soldier came forward and reported: "Reporting to the commander, General Yu said there is important information."

  Xiahou Dun hastened his steps to Yu Jin's side, where he lay on a stretcher. A military doctor was treating the arrow wound on him. Seeing Xiahou Dun approach, Yu Jin let out a sigh and said: "Just now when I was ambushed, I encountered Liu Xun."

  Xiahou Dun was taken aback for a moment and did not react immediately. Who is Liu Xuan?

  Jia Xu asked in surprise: "Is that Liu Xun, the nephew of Liu Biao, who even fooled the Prime Minister during the Battle of Ru Nan?"

  Yu Jin nodded, "It's him, he seems to be leading the Jingzhou army, with over a thousand men."

  Xiahou Dun finally understood, "Could it be that the one who defeated our Jingzhou grain transport army last night was this very person?"

  "It must be him, in just over half a year he hasn't been seen, his martial arts have advanced by leaps and bounds, making one wonder, I had thought to take the opportunity to kill him, but unfortunately encountered Zhao Yun, and thus missed my chance."

  Yu Jin's tone was filled with endless sighs, his heart extremely disappointed. This time he failed to kill Liu Xuan, this man would become the nightmare of his life, and it would be difficult for him to shake off for his whole life.

  Liu Xuan's sudden appearance was unexpected, and Xia Hou Dun seemed to have thought of something, but couldn't see through it. He turned his head towards Jia Xu, who was deep in thought and didn't speak.

  "Sir, it seems there's something to be done here." Xiahou Dun asked tentatively.

  Jia Xian smiled and said, "We can first exit Lin Dao, have the troops set up camp, and then consider our next move."

  Xiahou Dun nodded and immediately ordered: "Speed up the vanguard, station troops outside the forest!"

  The army of Cao Jun hastened its pace and marched southward in a mighty torrent.

  In the team, Xiahou Dun thought for a long time. The news that Liu Jue was in Liu Bei's army always made him anxious and uneasy. He slowed down his horse speed and rode alongside Jia Xu.

  "Sir, don't you think this man can be of use? He is Liu Biao's nephew." Xiahou Dun said in a low voice.

  Jia Xun lightly stroked his goat beard and smiled, saying: "He is certainly very important. The key to this battle lies with him. I suggest that the general send more men to keep an eye on him."

  Jia Xu whispered a few words in Xiahou Dun's ear, which coincided with Xiahou Dun's intentions. He was overjoyed and said: "Indeed, just as you said, sir!"

  He immediately dispatched three hundred of his most elite scouts to thoroughly investigate Liu Cong's movements.

  。。

  Liu Bei's army quickly cleared the battlefield and escorted several thousand prisoners of war back to Xinye County. Xinye County was a large county with a population of over 2,000 households, but with the outbreak of the two battles of Wan City, a large number of people migrated south, causing the population of Xinye County to swell rapidly. In just a few years, the population exceeded 4,000 households and over 30,000 people.

  However, the county seat of XinYe is quite large, with a circumference of nearly 20 miles, a height of three zhangs, and a sturdy thickness, which is conducive to defense. This was also influenced by the Battle of Wan Cheng, and Liu Biao specially sent people to increase the height and thickness of the city wall.

  Liu Bei was then in Nanyang County, he burned down the military camp at Bowang Slope and hastily retreated south, rushing back to the county seat.

  But Liu Bei did not intend to withdraw his troops to Xiangyang, on the one hand, Liu Biao had sent reinforcements, hoping he would resist Cao's army and disapprove of his withdrawal.

  On the other hand, it was also because Xiahou Dun had three thousand elite cavalrymen. If he retreated southward, he would inevitably be pursued by the cavalry and might suffer a complete defeat. This risk Liu Bei could not ignore.

  Inside the military tent, Liu Bei paced back and forth with his hands behind his back, occasionally walking to the table to gaze at a map of Nanyang Commandery. In preparation for Cao's army marching south, Liu Bei had made extensive preparations, including sending out elite scouts to infiltrate various counties in Nanyang Commandery. He had just received some unexpected intelligence.

  Xiahou Dun's grain and fodder logistics were not in Wan City, but in Ye County, which is located in the northeastern part of Nanyang Commandery. Ye County is close to Yingchuan Commandery and is an extremely important transportation hub, making it convenient for the transfer and transportation of grain and fodder. At the same time, Xiahou Dun's troops were dispatched urgently, and a large amount of grain and fodder logistics could not be transported to Wan City in time.

  This is an opportunity! Liu Bei has found a way to thoroughly defeat Xiahou Dun, but the current problem is that Xiahou Dun's army has blocked the road northward, making it impossible for him to send troops northward. He must think of a way to divert Xiahou Dun's army.

  Liu Bei sank into deep thought, unable to think of a good strategy for the time being. At this moment, a soldier outside the door reported, "Report to General Liu, the governor of Jingzhou has sent an urgent letter and at the same time, the soldiers who brought the letter from General Wen have also arrived."

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  Not far from the county government office, there is a training ground covering an area of over 30 mu, which was originally a training ground for the military. It is now temporarily used as a barracks for the Jingzhou Army. On the empty land to the south of the training ground, dozens of tents have been set up, and more than 1,000 soldiers of the Jingzhou Army are stationed here.

  In a corner of the school grounds, Deng Wu was teaching his son Deng Ai how to ride a horse. Deng Ai was about 7 or 8 years old, with clear and elegant eyebrows and eyes, sturdy build, refined manners, extremely polite, yet strong and powerful, wielding a sword with vigor, somewhat resembling a perfect blend of literary and martial arts.

  Deng Wu loved his son dearly and had already decided that after this campaign was over, he would take him to Xiangyang and find a way to send him to the Lu Men Academy for further study.

  "Uncle Cui, this horse is too strong, I can't hold it with my legs."

  Deng Ai rode on Liu Zhong's war horse, the Luoma horse was extremely majestic and seemed to be somewhat annoyed at the young boy riding on its back. The hooves struck the ground, making a loud noise. Deng Ai was still young and his strength was far from enough, he couldn't control the war horse, so he shouted loudly.

  Liu Jue smiled and stepped forward, gently stroking the warhorse's face, whispering a few words to it. The slightly irritated warhorse calmed down again, walking slowly and steadily with Deng Ai on its back.

  Deng Ai was both shocked and delighted, "Uncle Jing, can your horse communicate with humans?"

  Liu Jing said helplessly: "First, it doesn't understand human language, it only knows I'm comforting it. Second, don't call me Uncle Jing again, just call me Big Brother Jing."

  Deng Ai stuck out his tongue and chuckled, "It's Father who told me to call you Uncle Jing. If you don't like it, go discuss it with Father, I wouldn't dare disobey his orders."

  After finishing speaking, he secretly took another glance at his father. Deng Wu said with a bad tone: "You little brat, what do you mean by 'old man', am I that old?"

  Everyone burst out laughing, at this moment, someone shouted: "Liu Xiang came."

  Liu Jue turned around and saw Liu Bei hurrying over with a dozen or so attendants, and quickly stepped forward to pay his respects. "Junior nephew pays his respects to the imperial uncle!"

  At this time, a messenger from Wen Pin knelt down on one knee and handed over an order arrow, "General Wen has ordered the Jingzhou army to return to the main camp immediately, no delay is allowed!"

  Liu Jue slowly accepted the command arrow, feeling somewhat bewildered. Why was he suddenly ordered to return? What had happened? He looked towards Liu Bei.

  Liu Bei sighed and handed a letter to Liu Xuan, "It's not just the military order, your uncle also sent someone with a letter, asking you to return to Jingzhou immediately, it seems he has fallen ill."

  Liu Jue was taken aback, took the letter and read it once, it was Liu Qi's proxy writing, the letter was written to Liu Bei, asking him to arrange for Liu Jue to return to Jingzhou immediately, because Liu Biao had fallen ill.

  At the end of the letter, Liu Qi wrote a sentence to Liu Xuan: 'Father's illness is serious, and he misses you very much. I hope you will put filial piety first and return to Xiangyang quickly.'

  "The war is in full swing, but Jing Sheng unfortunately fell ill, which is a misfortune for Jingzhou."

  Liu Bei let out a long sigh, and then said to Liu Xuan: "Filial piety is the most important, take advantage of the fact that Cao's army has not yet surrounded the city, you should set off immediately, I will make arrangements for you."

  Liu Bei hastily left, and Deng Wu stepped forward in a low voice: "Could it be that the governor is worried that you are in danger, so he let you leave Xinye?"

  Liu Jue thought to himself, "I left the Jingzhou army camp last night and now it's only afternoon. The messenger must have used the fastest speed. From this urgency, it should not be that he is avoiding me being with Liu Bei, but rather worried that I will get into danger and affect the overall situation in Jingzhou. After all, I am his nephew, if something happens to me while fighting against Cao's army, he cannot just stand by and do nothing."

  Actually, Liu Jue did not want to leave, and he was hesitant in his heart. Deng Wu saw through his thoughts and sighed: "The military order of General Wen is like a mountain, we cannot disobey, and it seems that Emperor Liu also does not hope that we will stay."

  In fact, Liu Bei had already driven him away.

  One of Liu Bei's personal guards hastily ran over, bowed and said, "The captured military supplies are all ready. The prisoners of war are not convenient to take on the road. My master says that they will be sent to Xiangyang later. It is getting late, please hurry up and lead the troops on the road."

  Liu Jing was deep in thought and didn't speak. He still felt that there was something fishy about this, it's impossible for his uncle to be ill and ask him to return, what hidden situation is being concealed here?

  Deng Wu smiled wryly and said to Liu Xuan, "Since the master has already given the order to expel us, let's have our brothers gather their things. Before Cao's army arrives, we should hurry up and leave!"

  At this time, a thought suddenly emerged in Liu Jue's mind. Could it be that Liu Biao wanted to use Cao Jun's hands to get rid of Liu Bei, and since he was in Xin Ye, Wen Ping would have to come to his aid, thereby affecting Liu Biao's plan.

  So he didn't mind using filial piety to suppress himself and force himself to leave.

  Liu Jue had a faint feeling that he was close to the truth. Why did Wen Pin's army station thirty miles away and refuse to come to Xinye? Why didn't Liu Biao allow Liu Bei to withdraw south?

  All these signs aren't Liu Biao borrowing a knife to kill someone? Liu Biao is very clear in his heart, knowing that Cao Cao will not attack Jingzhou at this time.

  Liu Biao actually didn't need to send reinforcements at all. He sent reinforcements only for one reason: to prevent Liu Biao from retreating southward.

  As for himself bringing grain, it was entirely because Wen Ping did not understand Liu Bei's true intention, so Liu Bei had to urge him to leave in such a hurry.

  How could Liu Bei, with his deep and subtle plans, fail to see Liu Biao's intentions? He should have stayed behind himself.

  Since it's like this, why is Liu Bei urging himself to leave in such a hurry? What kind of clever plan is he thinking of?

  But there was no more time for Liu Xuan to consider further, he hastily called out to Deng Wu, "Wait a minute!"

  "What's wrong, young master?" Deng Wu asked with concern, noticing Liu Xuan's worry.

  "I'm worried we'll be ambushed by Cao's army." Liu Jue said with a troubled mind.

  Deng Wu was shocked, "No way! Cao Jun hasn't arrived yet, how is that possible?"

  "Just a hunch."

  Liu Xuan sighed inwardly. This intuition of his originated from Jin Yu, who had recognized him on the battlefield. Would they take advantage of this opportunity to deal with him?

  "You stay in the new field, I'll go back alone."

  Deng Wu looked embarrassed, "But military orders are like mountains, Commander Wen's temper you're not unaware of, disobeying military orders is punishable by beheading."

  Liu Jiong bit his lip and said, "I'll go explain the situation to Wen Shuai. In any case, you brothers must stay behind."

  "What if the young master is intercepted by Cao's army?"

  Liu Jue hesitated for a moment, then said: "There is a way to solve this. I will take 100 cavalrymen and leave. This way, we can move quickly. Even if Cao's army discovers that I have left, they won't be able to intercept us in time. At most, it will take half an hour, and I can rush back to the main camp."

  Deng Wu thought for half a day and had no choice but to do so.

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  One moment later, Liu Xuan led one hundred Jingzhou cavalrymen, under the reflection of the setting sun, left XinYe county city and rushed southward at high speed.

  Just as Liu Cong led his army out of the gate, a dozen or so Cao scouts immediately galloped northward.

  Liu Bei stood on the city wall with his hands behind his back, watching Liu Jing's cavalry disappear into the distance. He let out a cold laugh and muttered to himself: "Liu Jing, do you think I, Liu Bei, am a fool?"