Taishi Ci and his team followed Zhou Tai's escort fleet southward and set out from Tangshan Port to Jianye Port. They didn't even get off the boat, but just replaced the flag with the flag of the Jingzhou Navy. Then, with Cai He who was greeting them, he went up the river together, floating on the water for more than half a month before he got ashore at Xiangyang Port. These two thousand elite cavalry soldiers were even shaking while standing. It seemed that the cavalry could not replace the Marine Corps.

Representatives of the Jingxiang clan, such as Cai Mao, Kuai Liang, Kuai Yue, and Pang Ji, all welcomed Taishi Ci's arrival at the dock. The scene was neither big nor small. It was low-key and grand. Those who didn't care much about this may not know that Taishi Ci had arrived in Xiangyang at all, but those who were always paying attention to Xiangyang would naturally know that Cai Mao's strong aid had arrived.

Among the people who follow, there are indigenous people and players. Among the indigenous people, Liu Bei is naturally concerned about this matter. Liu Bei's representative Sun Gan has arrived in Xiangyang in advance and has been negotiating with Cai Mao and others for quite some time, bargaining over the division of the forces in Jingzhou.

One side had ulterior motives and wanted the other side to go to the front to hit the thunder, and the other side wanted to make a fortune and tried every means to take away the richest place in Jingzhou. Fortunately, there were not many people in the Jingxiang clan who could fight, but there were many people who could talk, so it was not inferior to Sun Gan at all, and it was even better!

The arrival of Taishi Ci naturally increased the pressure on Sun Gan. In fact, the biggest bargaining chip that Sun Gan can suppress the Jingxiang clan is the overwhelming advantage of military power. Now Cai Mao’s strong aid will almost certainly have a serious impact on the negotiations. Even if the Jingxiang clan suddenly overturned some consensus reached before, Sun Gan was not surprised.

Perhaps, in the end, I have to fight a little bit and then things will be easier.

Taishici only attended the first night's welcoming banquet, and refused to attend the party afterwards. Moreover, Taishici arranged his residence at Cai Mao's home and expressed his absolute support for Cai Mao, which made Cai Mao very pleased and also made many of the small thoughts of the Jingxiang clan disappear.

According to Taishi Ci's request, Cai Mao gathered elite defenders from all over the country towards Xiangyang so that Taishi Ci can select the strong training of them into Xiangyang's core combat power. Through this filtering, other troops can also be controlled in disguise in Cai Mao's hands, waiting for training after the training. Then they will be re-arranged and sent back to the local area as a favorable means for Cai Mao to strengthen the central control.

Of course, Cai Mao didn't know that Taishi Ci was carrying private goods in this plan, so Taishi Ci would certainly not go stupid to inquire about Huang Zhong and Wei Yan from Cai Mao.

However, Cai Mao would not believe Taishi Ci completely. Therefore, he wanted to mix sand for Taishi Ci. Taishi Ci naturally agreed immediately, so Kuai Yue became the Sima of the newly formed Xiangyang Jianqi Camp, Pang Ji as the Chief Shi, Zhang Hu, Chen Sheng as the Commander of the left and right infantry army, Wen hired as the Commander of the Former Army, and Huang Zu as the Commander of the Later Army.

Seeing that Taishi Ci agreed to the relevant personnel arrangements without hesitation, the Jingxiang clans who were still highly vigilant of Fang Zhiwen slightly let go of their worries and began to believe that Fang Zhiwen really just wanted commercial interests in Jingzhou and a certain influence. However, this influence needed to be achieved with the help of the Jingxiang clan's strength. Therefore, the basis of cooperation between the two parties is indeed quite reliable, which is why Taishi Ci cooperated with each other.

Not to mention how the Jingxiang clan led by Kuai Yue found small trouble for Taishici, and wanted to make things difficult for Taishici but failed. After Liu Bei from Wancheng got Sun Gan's information, he immediately reorganized his army toward Xinye, hoping to give Cai Mao a little color, and by the way, he also saw the bottom line and attitude of the Jingxiang clan.

Of course, if the Xiangyang army can be defeated directly, it will naturally be acceptable. At most, don’t go too far at that time. As long as the Jingxiang clan obediently gives up Xiangyang County, you won’t be too concerned about it!

Of course, Liu Bei just fantasized about it like this. It is not only difficult to break Xinye, but more importantly, what's the use of Xinye's breakthrough? If you can't take Xiangyang in one go, Liu Bei confronts Cai Mao under the city of Xiangyang, and the Yellow Turban Army behind him will blow Liu Bei's anus, or the aristocratic tribes in the Central Plains will not miss this opportunity in vain.

Therefore, Liu Bei rushed south to demonstrate more, and then fought against Taishi Ci's arrogance, so that Cai Mao would not think that with Fang Zhiwen's support, he could lift his tail up to the sky. It would be better to return to the negotiating table honestly!

Taishi Cicai established a structure for the Jianqi Camp in Xiangyang. On the other hand, Liu Bei's army had already arrived outside Xinye City. Cai Mao's face turned pale. Fortunately, there was a wise man, Kuai Liang, comforting him and analyzing that Liu Bei didn't dare to do anything at all. At most, it was to scare people. The problem was that Liu Bei's army was really capable of scaring people. Xinye's aristocratic races had fled into Xiangyang City and asked Cai Mao to cry!

When Cai Mao took Kuai Liang to find Taishi Ci, Taishi Ci was discussing with Kuai Yue and Wenpin in the military camp in Xiangyang City about how to rebuild the training ground. When he heard the news that Liu Bei went south to Xinye, Taishi Ci just smiled faintly and asked:

"Does Lord Cai hope I will drive Liu Bei back or destroy him?"

Cai Mao was stunned for a moment, and Kuai Yue rolled his eyes in dissatisfaction, obviously not interested in the big talk with Taishi Ci, while Wen Pin frowned and was thinking about something.

"General Taishi, don't joke. As long as the general can block Liu Bei, I will be satisfied!" Cai Mao touched Mao's forehead and said.

Taishi Ci curled his lips, glanced at the people with heavy expressions, and said proudly: "Mr. Cai's requirements are really low! But it's good that the lord of the lower lord and Liu Bei has a passionate relationship, so it's not advisable to act too ruthlessly. Speaking of which, the lord still hopes that all parties in Jingzhou can restrain them. If there are any conflicts, you can discuss them at the negotiating table! Now that Liu Bei is leading his army south, I'm afraid he's going to hunt in autumn. Since that's the case, what if we go and hunt with him?"

"General, we are just this little person now. Are you sure you won't be swallowed by others?" Kuai Yue said sarcastically.

"Sima Kuai, please ask the commander Wenpin to see if he thinks his front army will be swallowed by Liu Bei in one mouthful?"

Not only Kuai Yue, but everyone's eyes looked at Wen Pin. Wen Pin was stunned for a moment and said solemnly: "No, if my former army had occupied Xinye City, in less than a month or two, Liu Bei's army would not even think of taking Xinye."

Taishici smiled coldly: "The front army has only 20,000 people. The Wenpin Duwei dares to say that he will protect Xinye for more than a month. I, Taishici, have two thousand elite soldiers. I really want to see who in the world dares to swallow it in one mouthful!"

Kuai Liang's eyes lit up and he spoke, "Since that's the case, how about hunting in the north for autumn?"

Cai Mao also figured it out at this moment. No matter what, Liu Bei's provocation must be continued and he must not hide. Once he hides himself, the morale of the entire Jingxiang clan will collapse and the hearts of the people will disperse. Now Cai Mao is forced to take the lead. Although it is very honorable for all Jingxiang clans to follow their leads. But at the same time, this responsibility is also very heavy, and this heavy weight is far more unbearable than the rise and fall of the Cai family. Cai Mao feels that he is indeed not a qualified leader.

Looking at everyone's ardent or playful gaze, Cai Mao gritted his teeth and said, "Then go north to Xinye, everything depends on General Taishi!"

Taishi said solemnly: "It should be all the soldiers of Lai Jianqi Camp!"

"Yes. Everything is in their hands, all the soldiers of Lai Jianqi Camp, the future of Jingxiang, and the welfare of the elders of Jingxiang. It is now in their hands!"

Taishi Ci bowed and said, "This is what it should be. They are the soldiers of Jingxiang. Who else can they protect without protecting their elders?"

After saying that, Taishi Ci turned around and said to the generals behind him: "The central army of the Jianqi camp, the front army is reorganized and prepared for war. The soldiers will be launched in Xinye tomorrow, and the Sima of Kuai Yue will accompany the army. After the other follow-up troops arrive in Xiangyang, they will immediately start training according to the training scripts that the commanders have obtained. Please ask the Chief Pang Ji to be responsible for supervision. Dear masters, please gather in the military camp at the next day tomorrow."

"promise!"

"Abide by the order!"

The military camp immediately became lively, and the departments began to pack up their luggage and prepare for logistics. The newly built command structure of the Jianqi camp immediately began to face the test.

....................................................................

When Liu Bei and his three brothers led 20,000 infantry and cavalry to Xinye, Taishi Ci had already led Wen Pin's 20,000 front troops and his elite guards to greet each other ten miles outside the city, as if they were ready to fight.

Cai Mao sat on the horse with a sweat all over. Although Cai Mao was the commander of the Xiangyang Navy Army, he had never fought a real battle. On the water, there were many ships in the Xiangyang Navy Army. Fighting water thieves was simply bullying and could not fight at all. In general, Cai Mao, a general, was basically a newcomer on the battlefield!

Compared to Cai Mao's nervousness, the Kuai brothers performed better. Kuai Yue would always be able to save face no matter when, while Kuai Liang firmly believed in his inference and believed that Liu Bei was not here to fight, so his mentality was very stable.

Taishi Ci quickly swept across everyone's faces. Sure enough, the judgement of Tathagata's elder brother before that the most valuable among the Jingxiang clans were the Kuai family brothers, and now the only generals who can fight the war are Wen Pin. As for Huang Zhong and Wei Yan, they have not been found yet.

Liu Bei's army rushed forward with smoke and dust until it was only about one mile away before stopping the troops and starting to reorganize the army, quickly setting up one formation, and looking like they were ready to start a war.

"Mr. Cai, Liu Bei's army training is still good, and he can basically implement orders. However, the troops of the central army and the front army should be of the elite level. The left and right armies are slightly worse, and the rear army is the worst. It should be the strong army level. The cavalry on both wings is a total of 4,000, which is completely useless."

Taishici commented on Liu Bei's army casually, and his relaxed attitude gradually eased Cai Mao's nervousness. As he began to follow Taishici's guidance and carefully observe the enemy, the fear and worry in his heart were forgotten.

"If the war really starts, my cavalry will attack from the left and right wings. After defeating the opponent's cavalry, they will completely disperse the enemy's rear army, and then wander behind them and wait for the opportunity. The enemy will inevitably be in a dilemma. As long as our infantry set up a formation and stick to it, we will win this battle!"

Cai Mao breathed a sigh of relief, and the solemn and gloomy face disappeared. After changing into a smile that has been rare in the past few days, he looked much gentler.

At this moment, a horn suddenly sounded from the opposite side, and a team of cavalry rushed towards him!

"What's going on? They started a war?" (To be continued...)
Chapter completed!