Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Xu You paused for a moment, a shrewd glint in his eyes as he continued, "Liu Bei has formidable generals like Guan Yu and Zhang Fei under his command. Each of them is a skilled warrior, capable of taking the enemy's head amidst a mighty host. This time, they can demonstrate their prowess and play a crucial role in our campaign against Cao Cao. Once we successfully defeat Cao Cao, the world will be entirely under our control. By then, even if Liu Bei possesses all sorts of abilities, he will still be at the mercy of you, Lord Jingsheng."

At this point, Xu You paused deliberately, observing Liu Biao's expression. He then added emphatically, "Duke Jingsheng, as the head of the Han royal family, holds an incomparably high position. At that time, whether to continue supporting Liu Xie or to establish the late emperor's orphan as emperor will be entirely up to you. With such a clever plan, Liu Bei will surely be bound to your chariot like a rope, serving you wholeheartedly and contributing to your great cause in these troubled times."

Xu You seemed to have anticipated Liu Biao's concerns. He smiled gently and spoke calmly, "Lord Jingsheng, Liu Bei is obsessed with supporting the Han Dynasty and rallying the people. Now that we've clearly agreed to his conditions for enthroning the late emperor's orphan, he will undoubtedly spare no effort to achieve this goal. If you're worried that Liu Bei will be difficult to control in the future, that's easy. You could simply take the orphan into your care. Think about it, Liu Bei has publicly agreed to enthroning the late emperor's orphan, and as a member of the Han royal family, you have a legitimate lineage. How could you possibly harm the orphan? Even if he's wary of you, the battlefield is a complex and volatile situation. If he doesn't trust you, what can he do?"

Xu You leaned slightly closer to Liu Biao, his eyes brimming with confidence as he continued his analysis, "Since he wants to leverage your power to accomplish his grand mission of supporting the late emperor's orphan, how could he not trust you? After the campaign against Cao Cao, you'll hold the late emperor's orphan as your trump card. Liu Bei will be wary of using it, and won't he be willing to fight for you? Even if he harbors ulterior motives, with the orphan in your hands, he'll have to consider his own strength and not act rashly. This way, you'll not only leverage Liu Bei's power against Cao Cao, but also control the situation after the war, forcing him to obey your orders. It's truly killing two birds with one stone, Lord Jingsheng."

As Liu Biao listened to Xu You's analysis, the doubt in his eyes gradually dissipated, replaced by a hint of excitement. He stroked his beard, pondered for a moment, and said, "Mr. Xu, your plan sounds comprehensive. However, every step must be taken with caution. The slightest mistake could lead to a lot of trouble. Allow me to discuss it carefully with Kuai Yue, Cai Mao, and other ministers to see how to implement this plan more safely."

Xu You was secretly delighted to see Liu Biao's attitude soften, and he quickly said, "Lord Jingsheng has been thoughtful and as it should be. This matter is of great importance, and naturally requires consultation with your important ministers. I believe that with the wisdom of Lord Jingsheng and the others, we will be able to plan this matter flawlessly. I will wait patiently for your good news."

Xu You and Yuan Yao bid farewell to Liu Biao, who, as a courtesy, arranged for them to stay in the finest inn in Jingzhou and promised to reply as soon as possible. Xu You left with a smile on his face, yet he couldn't conceal his excitement. He thought to himself that Liu Biao's ease in revealing such a confidential matter was truly unexpected. If Liu Biao was so careless, it was no wonder Xu You was so ruthless.

Xu You's counsel to Liu Biao naturally had ulterior motives. He calculated that if Liu Biao truly followed his plan, once Cao Cao was defeated, it would be the perfect opportunity for him to unleash his scheme. He simply needed to secretly dispatch someone to execute the so-called orphan of the previous emperor while Liu Bei and his army were still waiting to return to Jingzhou. This would ensure that Liu Bei would be convicted of Liu Biao's actions, and the two would inevitably become enemies. Jingzhou would then be in chaos, making it easy for Yuan Shao to seize the opportunity and launch an attack on the province.

The more Xu You thought about it, the more he felt his plan was flawless, as if he had already glimpsed Yuan Shao's grand blueprint for world domination. Returning to the inn, he remained composed and continued his conversation with Yuan Yao as usual. But inwardly, he was calculating every detail: how to ensure the smooth implementation of his plan, how to strike a fatal blow at Liu Biao at the right moment, and how to ensure Yuan Shao captured Jingzhou with minimal cost, thereby ultimately controlling the world.

After Xu You left, Liu Biao immediately discussed with Kuai Yue and Cai Mao whether the plan proposed by Xu You was feasible.

Liu Biao looked at Kuai Yue solemnly and spoke first, "What do you think about what Xu You said about Sun Quan?" Kuai Yue narrowed his eyes slightly, thought for a moment, and said, "Mingsir, what you said about Sun Quan earlier was just an excuse. However, Sun Quan is a fickle man and deserves a lesson. We might as well send some spies to Jiangdong to spread rumors within their territory and cause them to worry. This wouldn't be a big deal. This would not only test Sun Quan's attitude, but also weaken his power to a certain extent, preventing him from making any rash moves against Jingzhou."

Liu Biao nodded slightly, and then asked, "What about what he said about using Liu Bei?" Kuai Yue frowned slightly when he heard this, with a thoughtful look on his face, and said slowly, "From the perspective of the strategy itself, it is indeed a good strategy. Taking advantage of Liu Bei's eagerness to support the orphan of the late emperor, let him send troops to fight against Cao Cao together. After defeating Cao Cao, use the orphan of the late emperor in his hands to control Liu Bei, which can be said to kill two birds with one stone. But..." Kuai Yue frowned even tighter when he said this, as if he was thinking hard about something.

Seeing Kuai Yue hesitate, Liu Biao quickly pressed, "Just what? Feel free to tell me." Kuai Yue hesitated, then voiced his doubts, "Just why Xu You is so devotedly planning this matter for our lord is truly questionable. As Yuan Shao's advisor, he should be fully committed to Yuan Shao. Yet, he's so deeply concerned about our Jingzhou affairs, even offering us his advice. I'm afraid there's something else going on."

Cai Mao, standing by, waved his hand dismissively. "In my opinion, he simply wants us to join Yuan Shao in an expedition against Cao Cao. To achieve this goal, he's doing his best to plan for you, my lord, so you don't have to worry. After all, Cao Cao's power is immense, and Yuan Shao truly needs our support in Jingzhou if he wants to win."

Liu Biao listened to Cai Mao's words and nodded in agreement. He said, "That must be the case. Otherwise, why would he be willing to offer us such advice? Xu You's actions are ultimately for the benefit of his lord, Yuan Shao, and he wants to draw us into the cause."

Kuai Yue, despite listening to Liu Biao and Cai Mao's analysis, still felt something was amiss, though he couldn't quite put his finger on it. He felt as though Xu You's plan was somehow shrouded in conspiracy, but he couldn't find any concrete evidence to support his suspicions. He could only silently remind himself to exercise caution in future decisions and actions, keeping a close eye on Xu You's every move to prevent Jingzhou from falling into an unknown crisis.

Liu Biao clapped his hands and said, "In that case, Liu Bei is still waiting to be summoned. We have left him alone for so long. We might as well follow Xu You's plan and call him over to help us in Jingzhou." Upon hearing this, Kuai Yue and Cai Mao looked at each other, then put away their doubts and showed a tacit smile on their faces.

Immediately, a servant hurried off to fetch Liu Bei. For over a year, Liu Bei had been profoundly depressed. Living in a small city like Xinye, they possessed lofty ambitions but struggled to realize them. Helplessly, they now depended on Liu Biao for survival. Seeking further opportunities, Liu Bei was also busy, cultivating friendships with Liu Biao's subordinates.

To say Liu Bei did nothing is not entirely true. Liu Biao was currently facing the dilemma of choosing a successor. Liu Qi, his eldest son, was in a difficult position due to his mother's early death. To maintain stability in Jingzhou, Liu Biao had married Cai Mao's sister, Cai Shi. The Cai family had extensive influence in Jingzhou, with generations of marriages to the Huang family, making them a prominent local clan. It was thanks to the Cai family's strong support that Liu Biao was able to single-handedly pacify Jingzhou. After Cai Shi gave birth to Liu Biao's youngest son, he naturally doted on him. Furthermore, Cai Shi's frequent whispers and Liu Biao's reliance on the Cai family to balance the power of the various clans in Jingzhou led to a decline in his regard for Liu Qi. Liu Qi, constantly dejected by his father's lack of attention, felt deeply frustrated. Coincidentally, Liu Bei arrived in Jingzhou, and their shared suffering led to a close relationship.

The relationship between Liu Qi and Liu Bei grew increasingly close, gradually forming a unique network of contacts within Jingzhou. Yi Ji was one of the key figures actively fostering this rapprochement between Liu Bei and Liu Qi. Yi Ji was a man of intelligence, alertness, and foresight. He understood that Liu Bei possessed considerable talent and ambition, and would never remain subordinate to others. He also sympathized with Liu Qi, the eldest son yet neglected by his father. Therefore, he frequently acted as a liaison between Liu Bei and Liu Qi, fostering their friendship and sharing news and developments regarding the various factions within Jingzhou.

The Ma Liang brothers, members of the prominent Ma family of Jingzhou, also had frequent interactions with Liu Bei and Liu Qi. Known as "the best of the five Ma clan members," Ma Liang possessed a sharp mind and exceptional insights. The Ma brothers valued Liu Bei's reputation for benevolence and ambition, believing he could bring a new future to Jingzhou. They also sympathized with Liu Qi's plight. Leveraging the Ma family's influence in Jingzhou, they facilitated interactions between Liu Bei and Liu Qi, offering them advice on various matters and becoming a key advisor within this friendly circle.

General Wen Pin also enjoyed a close relationship with Liu Bei. A capable general under Liu Biao, Wen Pin was loyal, upright, and steadfast in his loyalty. Although serving Liu Biao, he deeply admired Liu Bei's heroism. In their daily interactions, Wen Pin witnessed Liu Bei's unwavering ambition despite difficult circumstances, a sentiment he felt deeply in awe of. He also understood Liu Qi's difficult position in Jingzhou and did not object to Liu Qi's closeness to Liu Bei. Wen Pin would occasionally exchange military insights with Liu Bei, a sentiment of mutual admiration that further solidified the friendly relationship between Liu Bei and Liu Qi, providing this group with a degree of military support amidst the complex situation in Jingzhou.

These forces gathered together, centered around Liu Bei and Liu Qi, and quietly formed an undercurrent that could not be ignored in the power structure of Jingzhou.