Chapter 58: Shattering Old Liu's Shackles! Liu Bei: If Liu Biao Wants War, So Be It—I Will Seize Jingzhou!

Liu Bei was utterly bewildered by Zhang Fei's abnormal reaction.
Wei Yan had captured Rang County and even beheaded Cai He.
Who was Cai He? He was Liu Biao's brother-in-law and a legitimate scion of the influential Cai family!
Would Liu Biao let this matter rest?
Would Cai Mao let this matter rest?
Fearing that they would mobilize the troops of Jing Province at any moment and rush to Nanyang to exact revenge and wipe out the humiliation.
With such an overwhelming enemy force pressing at the borders and the situation so perilous, how could you still be beside yourself with joy?
It was almost as if you were desperately hoping for Liu Biao to launch an attack!
"Third Brother!"
Guan Yu had to let out a few dry coughs to remind Zhang Fei not to give the game away.
Only then did Zhang Fei snap back to his senses, hurriedly masking his wild euphoria with a pretense of righteous indignation:
"Elder Brother, that scoundrel Liu Biao has finally lost his patience and made a move against us!"
"Fortunately, Wei Wenchang responded appropriately, shattering the invading enemy force, executing that scoundrel Cai He, and seizing Rang County."
"Elder Brother, since Liu Biao has turned hostile first, what regard should you still have for our shared ancestral ties? Let us mobilize all our forces and march south, charging across the Han River in one single, mighty push to capture Xiangyang!"
With Zhang Fei taking the lead, the rest of the assembly chimed in immediately, all of them expressing righteous indignation and petitioning for battle.
Yet Liu Bei suppressed his profound shock, his face full of perplexity as he asked:
"Since Liu Jingsheng previously withdrew his troops back to Xiangyang, he tacitly acknowledged our occupation of Nanyang."
"Now, for no apparent reason, why did he suddenly order Cai He to launch a surprise attack on Yuyang?"
Old Liu had spotted the suspicious anomaly.
Guan Yu and the others exchanged glances, instantly growing tense as they worried that Liu Bei might perceive the hidden scheme behind it all.
Zhang Fei hastily waved his hand and clamored:
"Elder Brother, why are you overthinking this? In any case, it is a fact that Liu Biao struck us first."
"Never mind what his reasons might be; just dispatch the troops southward and take his Jing Province already~~"
The gathered commanders shouted their agreement in succession.
Xiao Fang, however, understood that with Old Liu acting as their lord, he was not someone who could be fooled so easily. Even if they were to wage war against Liu Biao, it had to be a war declared with complete clarity and justification.
"In my view, this is most likely related to our policy of investigating and verifying occupied lands."
"In the southern counties such as Yuyang and Nieyang, the vast majority of abandoned farmlands have been usurped by the Cai and Kuai families."
"Wenchang's land census will inevitably infringe upon the interests of both the Cai and Kuai clans."
"I suspect this is a stratagem devised by Kuai Yue, ordering Cai He to arbitrarily dispatch troops and launch a surprise raid on Yuyang, all to safeguard the landholdings of the Cai and Kuai families in Yuyang, while simultaneously intimidating and warning our lord."
Having reached this juncture, Xiao Fang saw no further need to deceive Old Liu, choosing instead to directly point out the underlying cause.
After all, paper could not wrap up a fire, and Old Liu would sooner or later discover the truth within; it was far better to make a clean breast of it in advance.
Besides, Liu Biao had already fired the first shot, and their objective had been achieved.
A sudden flash of realization dawned upon Liu Bei, and he could not help but sigh:
"I was indeed negligent in this regard, failing to thoroughly investigate how the Cai and Kuai clans had also encroached upon lands in Nanyang, inadvertently trespassing upon their interests with this land census policy."
Xiao Fang, however, was unimpressed, and countered:
"Taking advantage of the displacement of the Nanyang populace, the Cai and Kuai families relied on Liu Biao's patronage to seize abandoned fields as their private property—an act utterly devoid of righteousness."
"When our lord conducts the Nanyang land census, even knowing that the Cai and Kuai clans hold usurped lands, should he harbor fear and hesitate to touch them?"
"If that were truly the case, what would the other prominent clans and powerful gentry think in their hearts? Would they ever submit to our lord with genuine respect?"
Xiao Fang's series of rhetorical questions landed with such force that Liu Bei felt a jolt in his chest, a sense of sudden enlightenment taking root.
"Unless our lord wishes to be like Liu Biao, having to read the expressions of the Cai and Kuai families in all matters and living entirely under their thumb!"
"Therefore, I believe that regardless of whether our lord knew of it beforehand, as long as he wishes to establish a firm foothold in Nanyang, offending the Cai and Kuai clans is completely unavoidable!"
Liu Bei's body shook slightly as a profound clarity opened before his eyes, a surging wave of heroic ambition igniting across his face.
"The Strategist's words are entirely correct. Though Bei is weak and humble, I am nevertheless the master of this Nanyang territory. How can I possibly bow to the whims of the Cai and Kuai clans!"
"If I were to grant clemency to the Cai and Kuai families and spare their usurped lands from investigation, where would justice reside? How could I possibly command the obedience of the masses!"
At this very moment, a faint aura of dominating authority imperceptibly radiated from Liu Bei.
Xiao Fang nodded inwardly.
Old Liu remained that very same Old Liu who had dared to angrily whip the imperial tax inspector; how could he ever stoop to acting like Liu Biao, who willingly endured the condescending glances of subordinates like the Cai and Kuai clans merely to secure his position as the Governor of the Province?
"This battle of Yuyang was initiated by Liu Biao attacking our lord first; the so-called shared ancestral ties were torn to shreds by Liu Biao himself."
"Since matters have come to this, why should our lord continue to bind himself with scruples and hesitations?"
"In my view, our lord should immediately assemble the troops, direct the banners southward, and capture Jing Province in a single stroke."
"Only with Jing Province in hand will our lord truly possess the hope of reviving the Han Dynasty and restoring the rivers and mountains!"
Riding the momentum, Xiao Fang immediately bowed and petitioned for battle.
At this moment, Zhuge Liang, who had been listening quietly on the side, also stepped forward and raised his voice to remind them:
"Let us not forget, My Lord, that the Son of Heaven has issued a clear imperial decree appointing General Yunchang as the Administrator of Nan Commandery."
"For our lord to mobilize troops in obedience to the imperial edict and expel Liu Biao from Xiangyang is an action entirely justified by righteous authority!"
Xiao Fang's persuasive counsel, coupled with Zhuge Liang's supplementary reminder, completely shattered the remaining hesitation lingering within Liu Bei's heart.
After a brief moment of silent contemplation, Liu Bei's tall frame trembled as he suddenly stood up, his fists clenched tight while a roaring blaze of battle intent surged furiously within his eyes.
It was true that he was benevolent and magnanimous, and it was true that he had previously hesitated out of regard for their shared ancestral lineage.
Yet this did not mean he was weak and easily bullied, nor did it mean he was foolishly pedantic and incapable of adapting to circumstances.
The fact that Liu Biao had turned hostile and struck first had shattered the spiritual shackles weighing upon him.
What reason did he still have to stubbornly cling to his own views and reject the fervent petitions of his followers?
Right at that moment, a personal guard hurried into the hall and reported in a loud voice:
"Reporting to My Lord! Another urgent dispatch has arrived from General Wei Wenchang."
"Liu Biao has already led nearly thirty thousand Jing Province troops across the Han River, marching north from Fancheng, and is now rapidly approaching Xinye."
"General Wei urgently requests My Lord to dispatch the main army to reinforce Rang County!"
Liu Bei's eyes narrowed sharply, and the very last trace of hesitation vanished like smoke in the wind.
He had originally harbored the thought that once Liu Biao realized Cai He had acted out of selfish family interests and provoked his own destruction through a unauthorized military venture, he would surely avoid raising a massive army and plunging the realm into turmoil merely to protect the private assets of the Cai clan.
Yet, precisely as Xiao Fang had predicted, Liu Biao was ultimately hijacked by the interests of the Cai clan and still launched a massive military expedition northward.
"Jingsheng, since you have resolved to make war against me—your own kinsman—for the sake of the Cai and Kuai families, then I, Liu Bei, shall gladly accompany you to the end!"
With his mind firmly made up, Liu Bei drew in a deep breath and declared in a stern, resolute voice:
"Pass down the command: immediately assemble the troops and march with all haste to Rang County."
"In this battle, Bei shall fight shoulder to shoulder with all of you, shatter Liu Biao, and conquer Jing Province!"
Xiao Fang, Guan Yu, and the others exchanged glances, all of them wearing smiles of relief as they breathed heavy sighs of release.
...
Xinye.
Tens of thousands of Jing Province soldiers marched northward along the grand thoroughfare, pouring into this pivotal strategic stronghold of northern Jing Province.
The columns stretched for miles, their tail completely out of sight.
Standing atop the city walls, Liu Biao looked down upon the imposing, grandly arrayed army, a look of absolute certainty and anticipated victory overflowing across his brow.
The sound of heavy footsteps echoed as Cai Zhong ascended the ramparts.
"Reporting to My Lord, our secret agents have sent back a confidential intelligence report."
"Leaving Guan Yu behind to garrison Wan City, Liu Bei has already led over fifteen thousand troops south toward Yuyang, evidently intending to reinforce Rang County and engage our army in a decisive pitched battle."
Liu Biao's brow furrowed deeply, and his expression turned gloomy.
He had originally assumed that by mobilizing a grand army of forty thousand men, Liu Bei would be intimidated by the massive disparity in troop strength and would most likely bow his head in submission to sue for peace.
To his utter astonishment, not only did Liu Bei show zero inclination toward seeking peace, but he had instead mobilized his entire strength, making it blatantly clear that he intended to fight a hard-to-the-death battle with him.
"That big-eared scoundrel is truly outrageously arrogant!"
"He treats My Lord with utter contempt, acting as though our Jing Province's forty thousand heroic soldiers are of no consequence whatsoever!"
Cai Mao gnashed his teeth in fury, immediately pouring oil on the fire to fan the flames of conflict.
Liu Biao's self-esteem was deeply wounded, a searing wave of anger igniting across his face as he spoke in a frigid tone:
"Since matters have reached this pass, this mere weaver of mats and seller of straw sandals still shows not the slightest shred of remorse, then do not blame this old man for casting aside the bonds of our shared ancestry!"
"Issue the order: the army shall press northward day and night. I intend to seize back Rang County before Liu Bei arrives, and execute Wei Yan to avenge Deshun!"
Seeing that Liu Biao's resolve for battle was unshakable, Cai Mao breathed a secret sigh of relief while the corners of his mouth curled upward in a hidden smirk.
At that moment, Kuai Yue's eyes rolled slightly before he raised his hands in a respectful salute:
"In this campaign, our army must seek a swift and decisive victory to prevent dragging things out and affording Cao Cao an opportunity to meddle."
"If My Lord recaptures Rang County first, I fear Liu Bei may be overawed by My Lord's martial prestige and lead his forces to retreat back to Wan City."
"If he chooses to fortify his defenses and refuse to give battle, breaking Wan City swiftly will be no easy task."
Shifting his tone abruptly, Kuai Yue allowed a cunning, sinister smile to touch his lips:
"Yue has a stratagem; we might use Rang County as bait to annihilate Liu Bei in one single stroke!"