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Today is the 70th birthday of the Tao family master, but it is the Jiangdong army's massive siege. The bloody killing and the sorrows of the city are definitely an ominous sign for an old man's birthday. The Tao family was also forced to cancel this birthday.

All the signs and words related to birthday will be cancelled, and all the guests who came to celebrate the birthday will also give a generous gift. As an apology from the Tao family, after the battle, the guests left Chaisang one after another, and the Tao Mansion finally calmed down.

Liu Jing didn't know that the birthday celebration had been cancelled. He just rode a horse to the door of the Tao Mansion, but unexpectedly found a white banner on the front of the Tao Mansion. This made him stunned. Today is Tao Lie's 70th birthday, why did the Tao family also hang the mourning flag? This is not auspicious matter. Who has gone to the Tao family?

He urged the horse to the front door and turned over and got off the horse. But suddenly he saw Tao Zhan running out of the gate, wearing mourning clothes, and his face was full of tears. Liu Jing's mind suddenly became blank. What's going on?

Tao Zhan rushed to Liu Jing, covered his mouth with his hands, and tears fell down. She wanted to restrain her sorrow, but in the end she burst into tears, "My mother, she died of illness."

Liu Jing then remembered Tao Zhan's mother and felt sad. He had prepared gloves and masks just for Tao Zhan's mother, but it was not useful in the end. Tao Zhan's mother was unable to return to his home and died of illness in the temple.

Liu Jing patted her hand and wanted to say something, but couldn't say anything. He had to sigh and help her walk towards the mansion.

"My mother was chanting my name at the last moment, but I couldn't stay by her side. I...I am an unfilial daughter..."

Tao Zhan became more and more sad as he cried, and kept blaming himself. Liu Jing had to comfort her softly and said, "You can't blame you. It was Jiangdong who attacked Chaisang and the city was blocked, and you couldn't go out. Besides, you also visited your mother before. Your mother should understand your intentions. You won't blame you, and you won't blame you."

"But my mother left alone and had no family around her. How painful it was she..." Tao Zhan choked and couldn't say anything. She closed her eyes in pain and let tears roll off her beautiful face.

Liu Jing no longer advised her, but just held her hand, sat next to her silently, and accompanied her. After a long time, Tao Zhan's mood calmed a little, and then he realized that Liu Jing had been holding his hand. Her face turned red, and she quickly pulled her hand back, took out a handkerchief to wipe her tears.

After a while, she whispered again: "Father said that my mother's coffin cannot be stored for a long time. She will be buried early tomorrow morning. I will go to the temple to watch over her tonight."

Liu Jing nodded and comforted her, "I will be with you tonight."

.........

Although Tao Zhan's mother was the mistress of the Tao family, she was highly respected by the Tao family, and even Tao Lie liked this daughter-in-law.

However, because she died of an epidemic, the Tao Mansion did not dare to take her coffin back to the Tao Mansion, so she could only park it in the temple. Even the mourning hall was arranged in the temple. Even the custom of burying the coffin in the Japanese side was not cared for. She would be buried in a hurry early the next morning.

At this time, all the people from Tao Mansion went to the temple to guard the temple, making the mansion deserted, especially the East Courtyard, where guests were originally full of birthday wishes. As soon as the war ended, the guests fled to Chaisang and left most of the guests in just two hours.

In the afternoon, news came that the Tao Mansion's mother died of illness. The remaining guests heard that they died of an epidemic and left in panic. When it got dark, only Liu Jing and his men were left in the entire East Courtyard.

In fact, most of Liu Jing's subordinates lived in the Chaisang Military Camp. They all held positions above the rank of the uncle and above, controlled the Chaisang Army. Only Liu Jing and Xu Shu lived in the entire East Courtyard for the time being.

In the room, Liu Jing walked slowly with his hands behind his back. He pondered for a moment and said to Xu Shu: "The most urgent task now is to keep the civilians and turn them into regular troops. We must ensure that there are thousands of permanent troops in Chaisang City."

"Are you worried about Huang Zu?" Xu Shu felt a little worried in Liu Jing's heart.

Liu Jing nodded, "Chaisang has always been a strategic center in Jiangxia, and it is also important to Huang Zu. From Huang Shexian leading 5,000 people to help, it is enough to see Chaisang's position in Huang Zu's heart. In fact, I feel that Huang Zu would rather Chaisang be occupied by the Jiangdong Army than to fall into my hands."

"The public's worries are indeed likely to arise, but the public promised that once the war would be over, they would return home. Now that the war is over, the public does not want to let them go, will it affect the public's credibility?"

Liu Jing sighed, "I'm just worried about this."

Xu Shu shook the feather fan and smiled, "Actually, there is no way."

Liu Jing was immediately overjoyed and said anxiously: "How do you say this?"

"The public can walk in two steps."

Xu Shu stroked his beard and smiled, "The first step is to tell the civilians that the Jiangdong army will not come again, and there will be no war in the next few years to calm their hearts; the second step is to lure them for profit, give them money and food benefits, and then let them choose for themselves. I think as long as it is profitable, most civilians will stay for the army. Anyway, they are voluntarily staying, which has nothing to do with the promise of the public, and others have nothing to say."

After pausing, Xu Shu said again: "Actually, I care more about Gan Ning. This is a rare talent. You should not let him run away."

Liu Jing pondered for a moment and said, "I still plan to let Gan Ning go to Yangxin County. In fact, Huang Zu mainly controls the river along Jiangxia County. In the inland hinterland of Jiangxia, his control is relatively weak. I want to fight Huang Zu. It is not possible to rely on a Chaisang City alone. As long as Gan Ning goes to Yangxin County, he can occupy the hinterland of Jiangxia for me in one year. With Huang Zhong’s support and Jiangxia’s hinterland as support, I can force Huang Zu to death step by step and seize Jiangxia.”

"In fact, he can ask Liao Hua to go to Yangxin County, keep Gan Ning by his side, and let Liao Hua go to Jiangxia's hinterland to quell the bandits. With his qualifications as the Left King of Jiangxia, he can easily quell the bandits and recruit at least 5,000 people, and it will also be beneficial to Liao Hua's reputation. What does he think?"

Liu Jing did not expect the benefits of suppressing the bandits. Xu Shu reminded him in one sentence. Liu Jing pondered for a moment: "I'll consider this matter again."

At this time, the subordinates came from the courtyard, "The Tao family asked the Duke to come out."

Liu Jing nodded and said to Xu Shu: "I want to keep my soul for Jiu Niang's mother. I won't come back tonight. I have to work hard to sort out the money and food again to see how much I can leave after the pension."

"Don't worry, I'll sort it out tonight and hand it over to the public tomorrow morning."

...........

There were several carriages parked outside the Tao Mansion. Next to the carriage, Tao Lie was wearing a black cloak and was waiting patiently for Liu Jing. His expression was a little complicated, and his old eyes were confused about the future of the family.

Almost every thing that is born with many things is closely related to the interests of the family, and every thing that the family has never encountered. Even people like Tao Lie who have experienced the vicissitudes of life feel powerless and helpless.

At this time, Liu Jing walked out of the mansion quickly, and the housekeeper of the Tao Mansion hurried forward and said, "Mr. Jing, the master of the hometown is invited."

Liu Jing saw Tao Lie, nodded, walked up to him and bowed, "Let the master of his hometown wait for a long time."

In the past few days, Liu Jing led the Chaisang military and civilians to fight against the Jiangdong Army, and the killing was decisive and ordered him to go down like a mountain. In addition, he had served as a military marquis for several months before, and his every move had an invisible majesty.

Tao Lie also felt this. Liu Jing was a little different from the first time he met him. This made Tao Lie suddenly realize that Liu Jing was about to be the Lord of Chaisang, so will he become the Lord of Jingzhou one day?

But this thought just flashed, and Tao Lie smiled and said, "Please get in the car, I may have a message you are interested in to tell you."

Liu Jing and Tao Lie got on the carriage, and the carriage started and drove towards the outside of the city. Tao Lie's carriage was very wide, with dim light in front and back rows in the carriage, and only the moonlight shone through the window, so that a little outline could be seen in the carriage.

When the carriage left the city, Tao Lie sighed and said, "Today I received news from Jiangdong that Wu Hou's mother passed away. Jiangdong mourned the whole country. All entertainment and drinking were prohibited within one month."

This news made Liu Jing stunned. He vaguely thought of the withdrawal of the Jiangdong Army. Is this the reason?

Sun Quan's mother was of course the mother of the country. When the mother of the country passed away, the whole country mourned, entertainment and drinking were prohibited, and military affairs were naturally prohibited. Even if Sun Quan was unwilling to give up Chaisang, at this time, he could only withdraw his troops with regret.

Liu Jing was almost certain that it must be because of this that the Jiangdong Army was forced to withdraw.

After pondering for a while, Liu Jing asked again: "Will the Tao family receive an invitation to attend the funeral?"

Tao Lie nodded, "I have attended both Sun Jian and Sun Ce's funerals. I guess I will receive invitations tomorrow and the day after tomorrow. Oh, I must go there."

Tao Lie said to Liu Jing again: "This time I go to Jiangdong, I plan to take Zhan'er and her brother with me. The Tao family also has its own mansion in Dongwu, and it is Uncle Zhan'er who is taking care of you. Don't worry, I won't let her show up in public, and there will be nothing wrong with her aunt."

Originally, it was Tao Lie's decision to let Tao Zhan go to Dongwu for a while, but unexpectedly, Liu Jing intercepted Tao Zhan again, which made Tao Lie feel very difficult. He also realized that it would take Liu Jing's agreement to send Tao Zhan away. Tonight, Tao Lie was just to discuss the matter with him.

Liu Jing was also stunned. He didn't expect Tao Lie to tell him about this. He thought about it and asked with a smile: "I don't understand why I have to send Jiu Niang away. Is it okay to stay in Chaisang? If the Tao family was worried that Huang Yong would hurt Jiu Niang, I don't think there is any need to send her away."

Liu Jing heard Tao Zhan say before that because Huang Yong ran to Chaisang to harass her, the Tao family had to send her to Aunt Dongwu's house for a while. Is the Tao family still worried about Huang Yong this time?

Tao Lie heard that Liu Jing seemed to have something in his words. He hesitated and asked, "I heard that Huang Yong's whereabouts are unknown. Could it be that the prince knows his whereabouts?"

Liu Jing laughed, "I might as well tell my hometown the owner frankly that Huang Yong will be buried near the school grounds. In a few days, I will take his head to Xiangyang."
Chapter completed!