Chapter 63: Midnight Decree

  A matter of great importance, Liu Xuan finally got a certain degree of resolution through his various efforts and some luck.

  Tao's generosity and magnanimity exempted Gan Ning from repaying the thousand taels of gold, so that he would no longer suffer any loss in this matter, and also relieved Liu Gong's feelings of guilt.

  In addition, the Tao family also re-signed a contract with him to buy and sell slaves, perfectly filling in the last loophole. In this matter of slave trafficking, Gan Ning's role became that of an agent, replacing Liu Xuan to go to Ru'nan to buy slaves.

  Thus, the entire event was complete in terms of procedure and law, leaving Zhang Yun with no room for attack.

  Since noon, he has been busy with the situation and didn't stop until dusk. Liu Xuan finally let out a long sigh of relief, and his heart that had been hanging in mid-air could finally be put down halfway.

  Now he just needs to wait for the last two hundred slave contracts to be delivered, and all the legal documents will be in place. Tomorrow, he can report this matter to Liu Biao.

  Liu Xuan felt as if he had put down a heavy burden and returned home with an unprecedented lightness.

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  But the operation of all things in the world has its own rules, and nothing will be smooth sailing. It is precisely the ancient saying 'the planning of a thing is in man's hands, but the outcome is in heaven'. Often when a big deal is about to be settled, an unexpected event quietly arrives.

  Liu Xuan paced back and forth in the room with his hands behind his back, it was already the fourth watch, but the last two hundred slave contracts had not been delivered yet, Liu Xuan's heart hung again.

  Judging from the time, these two hundred slave contracts should have been completed long ago. Why haven't they arrived? Did something unexpected happen?

  Liu Jiong was getting anxious, not because of the two hundred slave contracts, but because he was worried about the reason that would affect these two hundred slave contracts. There must be some major changes that led to this unexpected event.

  Just then, a faint sound of horseshoes came from afar, and in the quiet night, it sounded particularly far away. Liu Jing suddenly stopped his footsteps, perked up his ears, and had a very strong premonition that the horseshoes were coming towards him.

  The sound of horseshoes disappeared at his door, followed by a 'bang! bang!' knocking sound, very urgent, someone shouted: "Gongzi Xuan! Gongzi Xuan!"

  Before Meng Shu went to open the door, Liu Jue had quickly walked into the courtyard and opened the gate. Outside were two guards, whom Liu Jue recognized as Zhang Zhi and Luo Zhuo, two of Liu Biao's most trusted attendants.

  "What's wrong?" Liu Xuan asked with some trepidation.

  Zhang Yi took out Liu Biao's silver token and bowed his head saying: "The Provincial Governor orders the young master to return to the mansion immediately."

  Liu Jue sighed inwardly, he had already guessed it, Liu Bei must have summoned him back to the mansion because of those two hundred slave contracts.

  "Alright! I'll just pack a few things and then I'll go with you."

  Liu Jiong took all the documents with him, led out the horses and went out of the gate, galloping together towards the south gate of Fan City.

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  Inside Liu Biao's study, Wang Can stood with his hands hanging down and his head lowered, his face filled with despair. Liu Biao walked back and forth in the room with his hands behind his back, his face full of anger. He couldn't help but turn around again to glare at Wang Can furiously, "You're really bold, how dare you do something like this?"

  Wang Yun secretly resented Cai Mao, but didn't know how Cai Mao found out about his forgery of the census and contracts. He secretly informed Liu Biao, who then sent guards to the county office to search for the two hundred slave contracts, making a big fuss over the matter.

  Wang Can was Liu Biao's son-in-law. This matter Liu Biao did not make public, but instead called him back to the mansion and severely reprimanded him.

  "This thing I handled improperly, but the law also allows for a supplementary contract after the fact."

  "How dare you still try to argue!"

  Liu Bei shouted in anger, "Today is dawn, you take advantage of this opportunity to help him make up for the missing contract, is this a normal behavior? You say it yourself!"

  Wang Jue sighed deeply and didn't dare speak again.

  At this time, a report came from the guard outside the door: "Your Lordship, Gongzi Xuan has arrived."

  "Let him in!"

  In a moment, Liu Xuan quickly walked into the room, knelt down and paid his respects, "Nephew pays respects to uncle."

  Liu Biao glanced at Liu Xuan with great dissatisfaction. In just two months, he had caused so many troubles. This nephew was really not simple!

  Liu Bei walked back to the table, threw a thick stack of slave contracts in front of him, and said coldly: "You confess yourself! I don't want to hear any more excuses."

  Liu Jing thought about it all the way, this matter he couldn't hide anymore, continuing to hide would only make himself more passive, so he might as well be frank and open.

  "Uncle, may I have a word with you in private?"

  Liu Biao nodded and said to Wang Yi: "You can go! Write a letter of guarantee for me, promising not to commit the same offense again."

  "Yes! I bid you farewell."

  Wang Jun did not dare to look at Liu Xuan, and he retreated with his body lowered. Liu Biao closed the door and sat back in his own seat. Only then did he slowly say: "Now there are only two of us in this room, you'd better tell me honestly what's going on?"

  Liu Jiong then started from the beginning of his visit to Youzhou, first telling about his grudges with Zhang Yun, and then detailing everything that had happened today without hiding anything. Finally, he took out all the documents and contracts from his bag and laid them out in front of Liu Bei.

  "I've actually done everything perfectly, taking all the responsibility on myself. If Wang Jun doesn't have an accident tonight, then this matter will be flawless. But no matter what, I won't hide it from Uncle Bo, this is just my explanation to Gong."

  Liu Bei picked up the documents one by one and examined them carefully. He was extremely surprised in his heart, he never expected that his nephew would handle this matter so perfectly within a short half-day, not only did he get the county government to issue a new slave contract, but also persuaded the Tao family to re-establish the sale of slaves contract, this is not something an ordinary person can do.

  He sank into thought for a moment and then asked: "How did the Tao family agree to help you with this?"

  Liu Biao was extremely astute, and the county government's willingness to compensate for the slave contract must have been at Kuai Yue's behest. But what about the Tao family? They had always kept a distance from him, so how could they help Ju'er in such a big way, even waiving the 1,000 taels of gold that Gan Ning had offered as a deposit? This was no small favor! Liu Biao realized that his nephew and the Tao family must have some sort of connection.

  Liu Xuan hesitated for a moment before saying: "I don't know if Uncle knows, but I killed Huang Zu's nephew, Huang Yi, in Wuchang City."

  Liu Biao picked up Huang Zu's letter of apology from the table, took a look and said: "I know about this matter. It is said that Huang Yiguo was killed by someone in the chaos while he was abducting a civilian girl under broad daylight, but it wasn't your doing."

  "Yes! Actually, the one who really killed Huang Yi was the daughter of the Tao family, a young and ignorant girl. Because after the incident, I took all the blame upon myself, the Tao family was extremely grateful to me and specially sent someone to Xiangyang to thank me, so I had a connection with the Tao family."

  Liu Biao nodded, and Huang Zu's report also said that the real killer of Huang Yi was related to the Tao family, which coincided with Liu Xuan's statement.

  Liu Biao walked a few steps with his hands behind his back, this matter shocked him, he only knew that his nephew Zhang Yun had secretly hidden private intentions, and even privately traded military slaves, everything was concealed from him, no wonder he was so enthusiastic about this matter, it turned out to be a trap set by him.

  Liu Biao took another look at Liu Xuan, from his initial anger towards Liu Xuan to gradually understanding the situation and appreciating his abilities.

  At this time, Liu Biao's dissatisfaction with Liu Xun in his heart had slowly dissipated by more than half. Liu Xun did not hide anything at all, which made Liu Biao feel deeply gratified. Moreover, Liu Xun handled the matter very satisfactorily, and his ability was truly impressive.

  Liu Biao thought of Kuai Yue's evaluation of Liu Xun, a rare great talent, indeed not bad! No wonder Kuai Yue was willing to help him with this matter. This Kuai Yue is quite insightful and has his heart set on winning over Liu Xun.

  Liu Bei's expression eased up and he asked again: "Why are you so biased towards Gan Ning, willing to take such a great risk for him? Why is that?"

  Regarding the matter of Gan Ning, Liu Qi had always wanted to persuade Liu Biao, but unfortunately, Liu Biao was too concerned about his reputation and refused to reappoint Gan Ning. Liu Qi was worried that after this incident, Gan Ning would not want to stay in Jingzhou anymore. Today, no matter what, he must make Liu Biao understand the importance of reusing talent.

  "Uncle, actually Gan Ning and my nephew have never met, but my nephew has long heard that he is highly skilled in martial arts, with a bold and exceptional character. Such talent is exactly what we will rely on to resist Cao's army marching south in the future. My nephew does not want him to be stifled in Jingzhou and turn to Jiangdong instead."

  He said, "You should know that both Cai Zhong and Zhang Yun have personal grudges against him. If Uncle cannot support him, it's likely that Zhang Yun and Cai Zhong will take advantage of the situation to drive Gan Ning away, which is the last thing I want to see."

  "Is this what you really think?" Liu Biao gazed at Liu Xun.

  Liu Jue nodded, "My nephew is worried that once Cao's army advances south, how much determination will the gentry of Jingzhou have to resist Cao's army? We must prepare for a rainy day!"

  Liu Jue's one sentence pierced Liu Bei's heart disease, and he was silent for a long time. Finally, Liu Bei said lightly: "Alright! I won't blame you for this matter. Since you've already done it perfectly, the matter of the 500 military slaves is settled. As for Gan Ning's matter, I have my own arrangements. You can go back now!"

  "Yes, nephew is taking his leave!"

  Liu Jue let out a long sigh of relief in his heart, handed over all the documents to Liu Biao, and then retreated.

  Liu Bei stood at the window with his hands behind his back, deep in thought for a long time without speaking. Although his nephew was a great talent, he had to be controlled by himself in order to let him play a role, and not let him steal the spotlight from his own son.

  Liu Biao immediately ordered: "Bring Zhang Gongzi here!"

  Before long, Liu Qi walked into the study room, knelt down and saluted, "Father, please give your instructions."

  "What do you think of Jing Er?"

  "Brother Jing is a young man who has matured early, he is clever and capable, and can be entrusted with great responsibilities!"

  "Be quiet for a moment," Liu Biao asked again, "Do you think he is that kind of ambitious person?"

  Liu Qi shook his head, "Father, he's only sixteen! He's been in Jingzhou for just over two months, how could he have any ambitions? Father is worrying too much, I don't think he has any ambitions."

  "But your mother told me that Jing'er is very ambitious and wants to replace you brothers."

  Liu Qi bit her lip and said, "Jingdi is a very proud person with a strong sense of self-respect. He doesn't know how to yield or compromise. Because of the marriage alliance between the Cai family, he has already fallen out with his mother. His mother hates him deeply, so I hope Father can understand the situation."

  Although Liu Biao was a suspicious person, he wouldn't suspect his nephew of having ulterior motives just because of one or two words from his wife. It's just that Liu Xun had been too eye-catching for the past two months, overshadowing his son and making Liu Biao somewhat worried.

  But then again, a nephew is just a nephew. Unless he was specifically designated by his uncle, he had no legitimate claim to inherit the estate. No matter how capable he may be, the officials would not recognize him as the master of Jingzhou.

  Liu Biao's heart was comforted once again, and he temporarily put aside his worries about Liu Xuan. He then said to Liu Qi: "Gan Ning is indeed a talented person, and I don't want him to be forced to leave Jingzhou either. Zhang Yun might not treat him well tomorrow, so you can take this opportunity to stop Zhang Yun and make Gan Ning grateful to you, making him loyal to you. Do you understand what your father means?"

  Liu Qi nodded silently, "I understand, child!"

  Liu Bei gazed out at his eldest son's departing figure, a cold smile flashing in his eyes. Zhang Yun... Hmph!