"Xianhe, long time no see. Do you still recognize my voice?" A hearty laugh came from outside the door. Jian Yong was momentarily stunned, then suddenly remembered who it was. He burst into laughter and quickly opened the door.
Standing at the door was a refined scholar, dressed in simple yet elegant attire, with a gentle smile on his face that exuded the demeanor of a cultured man.
"Ji Bo, it's been a long time!" Jian Yong greeted Yi Ji warmly and invited him inside. He then peeked outside to check the surroundings and signaled Wu Anguo to keep an eye out before carefully closing the door.
"Phew, it wasn't easy getting here," Yi Ji exhaled deeply. After all, he was nominally a subordinate of Liu Biao, and coming to Xiangyang, now under Yuan Shu's control, was quite a risky endeavor.
"What brings you here so suddenly? This is Xiangyang, after all. If you get caught, no one will be able to save you. Liu Jingsheng's current strength is not enough to retake northern Jingzhou, let alone defend southern Jingzhou," Jian Yong whispered, his voice filled with concern, as if afraid someone might overhear. In reality, with Wu Anguo standing guard outside, there was no need to worry.
"Eh?" Yi Ji was a bit surprised. During their last meeting at the Taishan Alliance, he had gotten to know Jian Yong quite well, recognizing him as a diplomatic talent rather than someone with strategic insight.
"Well, ahem, after spending some time in Taishan, I've been exposed to a lot. I have a bit more understanding of the current state of the world," Jian Yong admitted with a lighthearted chuckle, not hiding his growth and newfound awareness.
"Taishan truly is a remarkable place," Yi Ji remarked with a sigh. "I believe I'll have the chance to visit again."
A glimmer of light flashed in Jian Yong's eyes, but it quickly faded, unnoticed by anyone.
"I requested this trip from my lord. What you mentioned before was indeed true—southern Jingzhou is vast and sparsely populated, with dangerous beasts, swarms of insects, and rampant barbarian raids that consume much of my lord's resources. Although Kuai Yue has made plans, it's ultimately a losing battle," Yi Ji candidly revealed the dire situation of Liu Biao.
"Is it really that bad?" Jian Yong was taken aback. He had overheard Jia Xu and Li You discussing Liu Biao's predicament—how even if Liu Biao displayed brilliance as a ruler, and even if Kuai Yue were a genius strategist, and Huang Zhong an unparalleled warrior, it would still be impossible to reclaim northern Jingzhou.
Liao Li, Gu Yong, and Yu Fan, though not as skilled as Kuai Yue, along with Jiang Qin, Wen Pin, and Dong Xi, who were not as valiant as Huang Zhong, had ten times the resources and ten times the grain supplies. There was no need to fight; they could simply watch as Huang Zhong and Kuai Yue depleted their provisions and were forced to retreat.
With such overwhelming advantages in troops and supplies, Wen Pin and Gu Yong could easily wear down their opponents without much effort.
"The population in southern Jingzhou is too small, and with a mixed population of Han Chinese and barbarians, the people are fierce and unruly, refusing to submit to authority. The Wuxi barbarians frequently clash with my lord's forces. Although they lack proper military tactics, their advantage lies in the terrain, and Kuai Yue has struggled to find an effective solution," Yi Ji said helplessly. The Wuxi barbarians were indeed formidable in battle.
In truth, the so-called Wuxi barbarians and the Shan Yue were essentially Han Chinese who lived in the mountains, isolated in remote areas with difficult living conditions. Their fierce nature made them formidable in mountain warfare.
As for Huang Zhong, while his strength was undeniable, there was only so much he could do. The Wuxi barbarians had learned to either surrender or fight to the death when facing him. After suffering several defeats, they had become more cautious, but they still occupied vast territories. So far, Kuai Yue had been unable to devise a strategy to fully subdue them, leaving the situation to drag on.
"Enough of that. I came here for two reasons. The first is that Huang Hansheng's son needs to be taken to Taishan for medical treatment," Yi Ji said, looking at Jian Yong with a clear gaze that surprised him.
Seeing Jian Yong's startled expression, Yi Ji continued, "It was my suggestion to General Huang, and although he initially refused, his love for his son eventually made him agree. However, once Huang Xu leaves, there will be no more Huang Xu in southern Jingzhou."
Jian Yong took a deep breath, deeply impressed by Yi Ji's persuasive abilities. That someone as heroic as Huang Zhong could be convinced by Yi Ji was remarkable, though it was clear that Huang Xu's dire condition played a significant role. Yi Ji's ability to achieve this spoke volumes.
"Yong here thanks Ji Bo on behalf of the General Who Conquers the East," Jian Yong said with a deep bow. He had long suspected that Yi Ji harbored a strong affinity for Liu Bei, though his loyalty to Liu Biao had prevented him from showing it. Yet now, Yi Ji had delivered such a valuable gift.
"Please, Xianhe, take care. Whether it succeeds or not will depend on the young man's fate," Yi Ji said gravely, making his intentions clear. "But do not bear too much burden. Even if it doesn't work out, I have a sixty percent chance of ensuring success."
Jian Yong nodded, though he placed great faith in Hua Tuo's medical skills, so he wasn't overly worried. Yi Ji's words, however, did alleviate some of the pressure. Jian Yong hadn't expected Yi Ji to have such connections with Huang Zhong.
"Rest assured, with Hua Tuo in Taishan, as long as he's still breathing, there's hope," Jian Yong said confidently. Yi Ji nodded in agreement. If it weren't for Hua Tuo's widespread reputation, Huang Zhong would never have agreed to the plan. After all, even though Zhang Zhongjing couldn't cure Huang Xu, he had managed to keep him alive.
"Now for the second matter, which is the main reason I came here. Strategist Kuai asked me to inquire when Taishan plans to move against Yuzhou," Yi Ji asked with a serious expression.
"I don't know," Jian Yong replied, shaking his head. While Chen Xi and Jia Xu often talked about attacking Yuzhou, it was clear they hadn't taken any actual steps yet. Instead, their focus remained on the ongoing conflict with Yanzhou.
"My lord Liu Jingsheng hopes to form an alliance with the General Who Conquers the East to restore the Han dynasty and drive away the shadow cast by the Yuan family over the empire," Yi Ji continued. "Both of our lords are related to the Han imperial family, with no conflicts between them. In fact, Jingsheng has long admired Xuande."
"I can't make that decision, but I can relay the message to my lord Liu Xuande. Whether it happens or not, you'll receive an answer. However, I think the likelihood of agreeing is quite high," Jian Yong mused after some thought, deciding it was best not to outright refuse.
"Thank you, Xianhe," Yi Ji said with a nod. Unlike Jian Yong, who was purely a diplomat, Yi Ji had his own understanding of the broader situation. While Liu Biao's position in southern Jingzhou wasn't strong, the Yangtze River provided a natural defense. Offensive capabilities might be lacking, but defending against attacks was well within their means.
Leaving southern Jingzhou and moving into the open plains of northern Jingzhou, however, would be a different story. For this reason, Yi Ji suspected that Kuai Yue's plans might harbor some ulterior motives. Yet, even after Kuai Yue had spelled out the risks, Liu Biao had still chosen that path, leaving Yi Ji with little room to dissuade him.