EBE Chapter 397 Zhuge Jin: Ah Liang is well, but Jingzhou is going to surrender?
Chapter 397 Zhuge Jin: Ah Liang is well, but Jingzhou is going to surrender?
"Nephew greets his cousin-in-law."
"Are Aqi, Aliang, and Ajun all alright?"
After paying his respects to Liu Biao, Zhuge Jin inquired about the situation of Zhuge Qi, Zhuge Liang, and Zhuge Jun.
Liu Biao smiled kindly and said:
“Aqi is gentle and virtuous. If it weren’t for her concern for Aliang and Ajun, she would probably have a long line of suitors coming to propose marriage.”
"Ah Liang and Ah Jun are both clever and quick-witted."
"Especially Ah Liang, after his coming-of-age ceremony, developed unique insights into the state of the world."
"Mr. Shui Jing brought him to the academy to study, and he became friends with Cui Zhouping, Shi Guangyuan, Meng Gongwei and others."
Upon hearing this, Zhuge Jin was secretly surprised.
Mr. Shui Jing, also known as Sima Hui, was the number one Confucian scholar in Jingzhou. He learned from the Yingchuan Academy model of the Xun family in Yingchuan and founded the Shui Jing Academy in Jingzhou.
Zhuge Liang had his coming-of-age ceremony the year before last, and he is exactly eighteen this year.
Cui Zhouping, Shi Guangyuan, Meng Gongwei, and others were all renowned scholars in Jingzhou, all over thirty years old.
Zhuge Liang's ability to gain their approval and become their friend speaks volumes about his exceptional talent.
Zhuge Jin was very proud of his younger brother's abilities.
The Zhuge family of Langya was undoubtedly a prominent clan in Langya.
Our ancestors included some famous figures during the Han Dynasty.
However, the father of Zhuge Jin, Zhuge Liang, and Zhuge Jun had passed away when they were young.
They were raised by their uncle, Zhuge Xuan.
Several years ago, on the eve of the warlords' campaign against Dong Zhuo, Uncle Zhuge Xuan was appointed by the court as the governor of Yuzhang and led the four Zhuge siblings from Langya in Xuzhou to Yuzhang in Yangzhou.
(According to clear historical records, Zhuge Liang left Langya in Xuzhou with Zhuge Xuan when he was nine years old, in 190 AD.)
(So stop believing those marketing accounts that say Zhuge Liang left because Cao Cao massacred the city of Xuzhou.)
(Moreover, Langya is located in the northeast of Xuzhou, and at that time it was under the jurisdiction of Zang Ba. Cao Cao's army did not even reach Langya County, but only advanced in the Pengcheng area.)
But Zhuge Xuan was really unlucky.
Upon arriving in Yuzhang, he was met with discontent from the local powerful clans, which sparked a rebellion.
After quelling the rebellion with tremendous effort, a man named Yuan Shu arrived!
Not only did he kill Chen Wen, the governor of Yangzhou appointed by the imperial court, but he also ordered Zhuge Xuan to hurry up and go to Runan to see him!
Zhuge Xuanren was dumbfounded.
You bastard, don't you even look at the map to see how far it is from Yuzhang to Runan!
Moreover, there was constant warfare throughout this period.
I abandoned all affairs in Yuzhang to go to Runan to see you. How could my Yuzhang not be in chaos?
Zhuge Xuan refused Yuan Shu's offer.
At that time, Yuan Shu had just inherited many political assets from the Yuan family and was in the prime of his life.
Zhuge Xuan's disobedience was truly a blow to Yuan Shu's pride.
Therefore, Yuan Shu instigated local powerful families in several other counties of Yangzhou to send troops to deal with Zhuge Xuan.
Zhuge Xuan was exhausted from dealing with internal and external troubles and died.
Before his death, he wrote a personal letter to Liu Biao, entrusting Liu Biao with the care of Zhuge's four siblings.
Thus, the four Zhuge siblings traveled back and forth, from Langya in Xuzhou to Yuzhang in Yangzhou, and then from Yuzhang in Yangzhou to Xiangyang in Jingzhou.
Liu Biao treated the four Zhuge siblings very well, giving them the best education and care.
However, in pursuit of his ideals, Zhuge Jin left Xiangyang four years ago and went to Jiangdong to join Sun Ce.
Zhuge Qi was only one year older than Zhuge Liang.
Logically speaking, at nineteen years old, she should have been married long ago in the late Han Dynasty.
However, because Zhuge Jun is only eleven years old, Zhuge Qi, as the eldest sister, is worried about her younger brother.
Therefore, when Madam Cai tried to introduce Zhuge Qi to potential marriage partners, Zhuge Qi politely declined.
She plans to get married in another year or two.
Hearing that his younger sister and brother were both safe and sound, Zhuge Jin was relieved.
Immediately afterwards, he took out Sun Quan's handwritten letter and handed it to Liu Biao.
After reading it, Liu Biao was neither angry nor shocked, but simply lamented the passage of time.
"I never imagined that Sun Zhongmou, who was only nine years old at the time, dared to go to Xiangyang to retrieve his father's body, would now be the ruler of Jiangdong, and doing a very good job."
"I am old."
Upon hearing this, Zhuge Jin felt a lump in his throat and his eyes welled up with tears.
The four Zhuge siblings were all grateful people.
To put it simply, if Liu Biao hadn't been willing to take them in back then...
They could never live such a life today.
Don't be fooled by the fact that the Zhuge family is a relatively famous family in Xuzhou.
But compared to Yuan Shu at his peak, he was nothing!
Zhuge Xuan offended Yuan Shu, and the Zhuge family in Langya adopted a "let them go" attitude.
In short, they will not provide protection for Zhuge Xuan and his four siblings!
Only Liu Biao dared to take them in at that time.
Although Liu Biao and Yuan Shu were mortal enemies, Liu Biao had the ability to protect the four Zhuge siblings.
Before the warlords officially began their campaign against Dong Zhuo, Liu Biao and Yuan Shu had already fought fiercely over Jingzhou and Nanyang.
But the four Zhuge siblings will never forget this kindness.
"Alright, Tzuyu, it's just an alliance."
"If Sun Quan can temporarily set aside his father's death, what else can I say?"
"That's how it is..."
Before Liu Biao could finish speaking, Kuai Yue cupped his hands and said:
"My lord, you must not form an alliance with Sun Quan!"
Zhuge Jin was suddenly startled.
However, Kuai Yue was the Prefect of Jingzhou, a high-ranking and powerful official, and could not be easily offended.
Therefore, Zhuge Jin held his breath and waited quietly for Kuai Yue's next words.
Liu Biao was also surprised and said:
"Why do you say that, Otherworld?"
Kuai Yue pointed to the map behind Liu Biao.
"Reporting to my lord, after Cao Cao conquered the north, he bordered both Jingzhou and Jiangdong."
"But there is no natural barrier like the Yangtze River between us and Jingzhou."
"If our lord were Cao Cao, would you attack Jingzhou first, or Jiangdong first?"
Liu Biao fell silent.
This has always been his biggest concern.
After Cao Cao occupied Wancheng, the terrain from Wancheng to Xiangyang was almost entirely flat, except for a tributary of the Han River.
Liu Biao had no confidence that he could defeat Cao Cao's elite troops!
But Jiangdong is different.
If Cao Cao wanted to attack Jiangdong, he first had to win the naval battle against Jiangdong, that is, capture Ruxukou.
Even if Cao Cao's army was strong in land warfare, it couldn't make the most of its naval capabilities.
As Guo Tu and Sun Quan analyzed earlier.
When Cao Cao attacked Jiangdong, the only army he could actually deploy was his own navy!
The advantage is mine!
But it was different for Liu Biao.
Once war breaks out, what awaits him is a ferocious invasion from Cao Cao's camp!
Kuai Yue took a deep breath and said to Liu Biao:
"My lord, times have changed."
"With only the territory of Jingzhou, it is no match for Cao Cao, who controls eight provinces!"
"The most urgent task is to be on good terms with Cao Cao and repair diplomatic relations between the two sides."
"Once we formally form an alliance with Jiangdong, Cao Cao will see it as a provocation and a declaration of war!"
Liu Biao was speechless.
Zhuge Jin was in a panic.
No... you, Kuai Yue, clearly had a grudge against Cao Cao's camp before!
How did they suddenly become "pro-surrender faction"?
In response, Kuai Yue said, "So what if the master surrendered? So what if there are grievances?"
Compared to his life and the survival of his family, the minor frictions he had previously had with Cao Cao's camp were of no importance.
Even surrendering is better than foolishly making an enemy of Cao Cao and getting killed as a prime example!
……