“Milord! Jiangling has fallen!” The messenger
“What did you say? Jiangling has fallen?” Liu Biao could not believe his ears. “How could it be?” Liu Biao would not react this way even if Xiangyang were to fall as it was easy to attack after capturing Fancheng. It was why Liu Biao panicked after Liu Bei captured Fancheng but right now, Cai Mao’s men were stationed there. If Cai Mao were to rebel, Liu Biao would be able to believe it since they had a falling out. However, it was different for Jiangling. Jiangling was the second largest city in Jingzhou and its second capital.
Liu Biao wanted to leave an escape path for his descendants as a precaution in the case of his death. Take Gongsun Zan, Tao Qian and Yuan Shu as an example. They were initially doing well but the moment they were defeated, they could not even protect their family. Even if the victors do not kill you, someone else would just to please their new masters.
That was why Jiangling was not just a city to Liu Biao but an escape route. With Jiangling, Liu Biao would be able to rest in peace even after his death. Even if they were to lose Jingzhou, his descendants would be able to make a comeback from Jiangling. In the past few years, Liu Biao had also sent some money to Jiangling to prepare more troops there. He also did not allow any influential family to interfere with Jiangling. With the Yangtze River on one side and the Huarong Road on the other, it was basically impenetrable. Liu Biao could not believe this news.
“What happened?” Liu Pan frowned. He had only just interfered with Jiangling recently to wipe out the Wu Family and annoy the Huang Family. Besides that, he also obtained Governor Dong Zhi as his ally. With that man around, it could be said that half of Jiangling already belonged to him. Yet now he was being told that Jiangling has fallen. What about the troops and the provisions there?
“Didn’t they already block up the Yangtze River?”
“They came through the Huarong Road and attacked the East gate!” The messenger explained.
The Huarong Road was so dangerous that people naturally avoided it.
“The Huarong Road? Impossible! That is a forbidden area. Anyone who enters would be lucky to even escape alive. How could they have marched through the Huarong Road?” Liu Pan immediately objected.
“They have the Wu Family’s map!” The messenger replied and talked about Wu Mi’s survival and her actions.
“The Wu Family?” The thoughts of those present turned to influential family that lived in Jiangling. When Jingzhou was ruled by w.a.n.g Rui, the Wu Family were Jiangling’s governors. So it was not strange for them to have a map of the Huarong Road.
“So the Wu Family still have survivors!” Liu Pan sneered. This was definitely evidence that the Wu Family were traitors as they had collaborated with Yangzhou attack Jiangling.
Meanwhile, Huang She was beginning to sweat. He was just only pleading for the Wu Family’s case saying that the Wu Family had been loyal. Now that the Wu Family had rebelled, the Huang Family may be implicated as well.
“Why did the Wu Family give the Yangzhou Navy that map? When have they begun to collude with each other? Could it be that there are other conspirators?” Liu Pan asked as he tried to involve the Huang Family.
“Milord. The Huang Family have always been loyal to you! My father is guarding the borders while I am the head of your bodyguards! How could we betray you?” Huang She was already about to beg.
“This person must be lying about the military situation! Milord, please investigate this clearly!” Huang She glared at the messenger. This messenger had brought such grievous news that it could wipe out the Huang Family. That was why Huang She wanted the messenger dead as well.
“I am accused wrongly!” The messenger panicked. If he was taken away by Huang She, he was definitely dead. “Milord, I am just a mere messenger. I would not dare to lie! The Wu Family really did bring a map Yangzhou Navy! It is that that the eldest daughter of the Wu Family wanted to take revenge which is why she brought the map to the Yangzhou Navy!” The messenger said as he knocked his head on the floor.
So it was now known to those present that the Wu Family was forced to act this way. And who was the one who forced them to act this way? The answer was obvious. Liu Pan immediately started to panic.
“You speak nonsense!”