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Liu Biao's birthday was November 20th, the 60th birthday of the previous year. Because of his wife's miscarriage, he was in a bad mood and canceled the original birthday celebration.

Last year, he was not in a birthday celebration because he was ill and did not celebrate his birthday for two consecutive years. This year is the 62nd birthday, and it is also a great victory for Jiangxia and Jingzhou is jubilant. Liu Biao finally decided to hold a grand birthday ceremony.

Not only did they ask officials from all over Jingzhou to gather in Xiangyang, but they also sent invitations to the 50 families of Jingzhou families and invited them to Xiangyang to attend the celebration.

Invitations from all over the country were issued in late October. After November, the atmosphere began to become lively day by day. The two cities of Xiangfan were decorated with lights and clean water, and everyone was put on new clothes, and everyone was happy.

Teams to celebrate birthdays in various places also began to arrive in Xiangyang one after another. For a time, the hostels in Xiangyang and Fancheng were full, and the government organized more than ten uninhabited houses to accommodate officials from all over the country to celebrate birthdays.

In the evening, five large ships from Jiangxia slowly arrived at the Xiangyang Wharf. This was Liu Jing's ship. Before the big ship could dock, the news of Jinggong's arrival spread like a gust of wind outside Xiangyang City.

Hawkers setting up stalls outside the city, guests from the taverns, passers-by, and even people near the north gate in the city received news and rushed to the pier.

After a moment, the dock was filled with thousands of people, and everyone was filled with excitement and expectation. When Liu Jing's figure appeared on the side of the boat, the crowd on the dock immediately cheered.

Many people shouted loudly in excitement, "Welcome to Gong Jing back"

Liu Jing didn't expect to encounter this scene in Xiangyang. Looking at the excited and grateful faces, he felt an indescribable touch in his heart. He raised his hands high and said, "Thank you for your welcome and thank you everyone."

Cheers sounded again on the dock, and more and more people gathered, and even many soldiers guarding the city came secretly. Wangjiang Tavern even took out the gongs and drums used for celebrations. More than a dozen bartenders beat the gongs and drums, and the weather was noisy.

On the top of the city, Cai Zhong, who was demoted to the Marquis of the City, looked coldly at the lively scene beside the dock. His eyes were full of jealousy. Although the Jingzhou reinforcements were defeated in Jiangxia and he was unshirkable, Liu Biao gave him lightly for Cai Mao's sake, fined him one year's salary and demoted him by two levels.

Cai Zhong also became low-key, leaving early and returning late every day, working diligently, but this does not mean that Cai Zhong repented from now on. Inadvertent moments, his inner world will still be revealed. For example, now, five or six thousand people welcome Liu Jing on the dock, which makes him very annoyed.

He turned his back and said, "Check me out, which soldiers ran to the riverside, each of them beat a military stick."

He snorted heavily, turned around and left in a hurry.

...........

Cai Zhong trotted and just ran to the front of the Cai Mansion gate. He happened to meet Cai Mao's carriage coming from the opposite side under the escort of dozens of people.

Cai Zhong hurriedly ran forward and stopped the carriage, "Brother, there is something to do."

A crack in the car window opened, and Cai Mao asked unhappily: "I'm anxious and panicked, what's the matter?"

"Brother, Liu Jing is here."

The carriage suddenly fell silent. After a long time, Cai Mao said, "Come to my study and talk."

Cai Mao was cautious about Liu Jing's affairs and could not talk about it in the street. When he returned to the study, Cai Zhong followed him in.

Cai Mao sat down, looked at Cai Zhong and asked, "Where is he now?"

"His boat just arrived at the dock, and thousands of people went to greet him, which was even more spectacular than when the state Mu Nanzheng returned from the battle."

Cai Mao snorted coldly, "He is so majestic."

"Yes, I wonder what the provincial governor would think when he saw this scene. Do you want to tell the provincial governor?" Cai Zhong suggested carefully.

"He will naturally know that I don't have to worry about it."

After a pause, Cai Mao asked again: "How many people did he bring?"

"Five big ships came, and the side of the ship was full of soldiers. I guess at least four or five people."

"Hmph, he treats himself as Huang Zu."

Cai Mao paced back and forth in the room with his hands behind his back. Although he had repeatedly considered how to deal with Liu Jing, when Liu Jing really arrived, he suddenly realized that his thoughts were simple again.

At this time, Cai Zhong couldn't help but remind him: "If you have any doubts in your heart, you might as well go and ask your second uncle."

One sentence made Cai Mao wake up after a dream. Yes, such a major thing, why didn’t I ask my second uncle?

However, Cai Mao did not thank Cai Zhong for his reminder. How could he need a fool like Cai Zhong reminder. Cai Mao stretched his face and said in a lesson: "Your sin in Jiangxia is enough to make you die once. Although the governor of the state will spare you, you cannot be complacent. You must be a human being with my tail between me and not cause trouble. Especially Liu Jing, you cannot provoke him, otherwise you will die without hearing it."

Cai Zhong lowered his head after being taught a lesson. He was extremely dissatisfied, but he did not dare to talk back to Cai Mao, so he had to hold back and say, "I understand, I understand."

Cai Mao glared at him fiercely, "Go"

Cai Zhong slowly retreated, Cai Mao walked a few steps in the room, pondered for a while, then turned around and said, "Prepare a car for me and go back to Caili."

.........

The welcoming ceremony on the dock lasted for half an hour before the welcome crowd gradually dispersed.

Seeing the crowd gradually dissipating, Liu Jing touched his face, which was a little sore, and shook his head with a bitter smile. This kind of respect for all the people is certainly a kind of honor, but it is also a burden.

At this time, Tao Zhan came out of the cabin and walked slowly to Liu Jing. When she saw Liu Jing sweating heavily and a bitter face, she couldn't help but cover her mouth and burst into laughter.

"Jinglang looks like he is running to Xiangyang to hide his debts."

"Do I look like it?"

Liu Jing touched his face and couldn't help laughing, "I'm like this, it's almost the same as collecting debts."

Tao Zhan took out his hand towel, carefully wiped the sweat from his forehead and neck for him, looked at it again, and smiled, "I don't look like a debt hiding person now, I'm much more calm, like a scholar who comes to ask for help."

Speaking of scholars, Tao Zhan remembered something again and whispered: "I received a letter from Yueying. She invited me to stay at her house for a few days when she came to Xiangyang. I want to go see her tomorrow or the next day."

"This is a good thing. I will lead a team of soldiers to escort you."

"What are you going to do?"

Tao Zhan said inexplicably, "Yueying doesn't want to see you."

"I didn't say I wanted to see her, can I see her husband?"

Tao Zhan then realized that a trace of cunning flashed in her eyes and said with a smile: "Do you want me to help you walk on the lady line?"

Seeing that she was really smart, Liu Jing guessed her intention. It was really good to have such a mother. He scratched his head and smiled, "If you don't mind destroying your friendship with Mrs. Huang, then I'll trouble you a little bit."

"Originally, my friendship with Yueying is not deep enough. It is difficult to help you such things, but since you speak up and don't help you, and you can't get through it, then okay, I can only help you slowly. Don't expect me to succeed tomorrow, at least one or two years."

Another main purpose of Liu Jing's visit to Xiangyang this time was to recruit some talents to Jiangxia, so he brought Xu Shu back to Xiangyang.

On his list, Zhuge Liang was naturally the key figure, but he also knew that it was not easy to convince Zhuge Liang. In history, Zhuge Liang observed in Xiangyang for many years before finally deciding to follow Liu Bei, which was not as simple as looking at the cottage.

It just so happens that Tao Zhan and Huang Yueying have a good relationship. If you walk the wife line, it might be a shortcut. Thinking of this, Liu Jing bowed deeply to Tao Zhan and said, "Then thank you for your mother first."

"Who is your mother going, don't want to take advantage of me."

However, Tao Zhan felt a sweet feeling in her heart. She covered her mouth and smiled slightly, and then remembered another imminent thing about Liu Jing. Alas, this guy has to worry about everything for him.

She asked with a smile: "I'll ask you, this time I came to Xiangyang, have you and the soldiers thought about where to live?"

This is also a big problem for Liu Jing. According to regulations, an army of more than 20 people cannot enter Xiangyang. If he has five people, he will definitely not be able to enter Xiangyang, and he can only live in Fancheng.

But the original military camp had already been stationed, and he had just heard that the hotel was nervous. Not to mention five people, it was difficult to arrange even fifty people. Do they want their soldiers to live on the boat?

At this time, he saw Tao Zhan’s smile on his face, and suddenly moved his heart and asked with a smile: “Do you have any solutions?”

A naughty smile surged on Tao Zhan's pretty face, "What do you think?"

Liu Jing stretched out his index finger and pointed it at the tip of her nose, and smiled and said, "I know that the Dow Trading Company occupies a lot of land, but can it accommodate five soldiers?"

"At most, eight guys lived."

Liu Jing's heart was immediately let go. The Dow Trading Company was close to the city gate. If there was anything, he could hurry to the dock.

He waved his hand and called Li Qing, the military marquis, and ordered him: "The ship is stopped in Fancheng, and the brothers will temporarily stay in the Tao Trading Company. We must strictly enforce military discipline and not cause trouble."

"See the orders in a low voice"

Liu Jing told him a few more words, and Li Qing hurried away.

Liu Jing turned around and smiled at Tao Zhan: "You are going to Xiangyang with me now, or..."

"I have not promised you to live in Tao's business, so you made a decision without authorization. Now you have to decide where I will go, and I don't want to pay attention to you."

Tao Zhan gave him a blank look, turned around and left gracefully, but after walking a few steps, he turned around and looked at Liu Jing with a smile. His beautiful eyes were filled with autumn waves, and his endless delicate and charming.

Liu Jing felt aroused in his heart. He wanted to go back with her now, but he restrained his emotions and waved to her with a smile. Tao Zhan turned around and returned to the cabin.

At this time, the crowd on the dock had completely dispersed. Liu Jing watched the five big ships sailing to the other side, and kept watching the big ships reaching the other side. He took twenty soldiers and rode to Xiangyang City.

.........

When passing by the urn city, Liu Jing suddenly heard a series of sad screams. He couldn't help but be stunned. Looking down the sound, he saw more than 20 soldiers being pressed to the ground at the corner of the city wall not far away. The executioners raised their five-color killing sticks and beat the soldiers on the ground.

"Sima, it seems that welcoming our soldiers on the dock." A entourage recognized the more than 20 soldiers who were beaten.

Liu Jing felt uncomfortable immediately. The soldier who welcomed him was beaten. Isn’t this a pity for Liu Jing?

He urged the horse to run up, "Stop it all for me." He shouted loudly.

The executioner stopped the big stick. The chief of the prison guard met Liu Jing and hurried forward to salute, "See Liu Sima"

Liu Jing pointed to the soldiers with a whip, "What crime did they commit? Such a heavy responsibility"

"Report to Sima, they left their posts."

It is hard to say when the post is off duty and he should be beaten with a heavy stick according to military rules. Liu Jing couldn't find a reason for it. At this time, the beaten soldiers shouted: "Mr. Jing, we have not left the post, we are not on duty."

Liu Jing's face sank and glared at the head of the village, "Since it's not on duty, there's no question of leaving the post. What's the crime?"

Tunchang looked embarrassed and murmured: "I am just carrying out the orders of the military marquis, and I don't know the specific details."

"Who is your military marquis asking him to come to see me?" Liu Jing was the chief general in Chaisang for more than a year and commanded a battle of ten thousand people. Naturally, there was a kind of majesty between his words.

At this time, a cold voice came from behind him, "I am the Marquis of North City."

The voice sounded quite familiar. Liu Jing turned around and saw Cai Zhongzheng staring at him with his eagle-like eyes, and his tone changed from cold to mockery, "Can Liu Sima also want to train soldiers for me?"

Liu Jing stared at him, his eyes became sharper. He turned over the horse, took off his long halberd, and ran towards Cai Zhong. Suddenly he shouted loudly and stabbed Cai Zhong in front of his chest.

There was a burst of exclamations around him, and Cai Zhong was also shocked. He was a little confused at first, but suddenly he realized that Liu Jing was coming fiercely and was about to kill him. He reacted. He screamed in shock, turned over and fell to the ground, and avoided Liu Jing's chest attack.

Unexpectedly, Liu Jing was not going to assassinate him. He tied the reins, jumped high on the front hooves of the war horse, and stopped in front of Cai Zhong. Cai Zhong was about to turn over and roll away, but the cold tip of the halberd had already pressed against his neck, making him feel extremely stinging.
Chapter completed!