Chapter 397 (1/2)

“Come! Brother Liu! This King offers you this cup as thanks for Brother Liu’s warm hospitality!” Liu Mang raised a cup to the Governor of Xinye who was sitting at the lower seat.

The governor was Liu Biao’s eldest son Liu Qi. As Liu Mang was royalty, Liu Qi should be sitting at the lower seat according to etiquettes.

Liu Qi was like his father who favoured position and appearances. Unfortunately, he himself was silent just like the Chinese proverb that babies who don’t cry will not get milk. After the death of his mother Lady Chen, Liu Qi lost his inheritance. On the other hand, his little brother who was the Cai Family’s stepson became favoured due to the Cai Family’s influence. Liu Qi still remained silent. He did not bother to go and look for support from the other influential families such as the Kuai Family or the Pang Family. He already had no place left in Jingzhou.

Liu Mang never expected Liu Qi to become the Governor of Xinye. Originally, he would have lost his position to Wen Pin. Right now, only a few places left were under Liu Biao’s control. The other places had already been caught up in war. Liu QI could be a good governor but he would not be able to perform as well at war. It was also fortunate that Liu Qi was the governor as Liu Mang may not even be able to enter Xinye otherwise. Liu Mang had just only found out about the death of Jingzhou’s envoy. If the Governor of Jingzhou had been someone short tempered, it was likely that a war would start.

“You flatter me! This is something that I should be doing.” Liu Qi was a simple and honest person. He was an extremely tolerant and generous person. If he lived in the modern era, he could even be a natural celebrity. Unfortunately, Liu Qi had no place in these turbulent times. In the original timeline, Liu Qi would be forced into a corner.

“Come! Brother Liu! This Liu Mang offers you another cup for our shared name!” Liu Mang was not a descendant of the first Han Emperor, Liu Bang but he was now King of Shu. On the other hand, Liu Qi was an actual descendant. According to their positioning, the both of them could be brothers. Liu Mang also changed the way he addressed himself from ‘this King’ to saying his own name.

“I don’t dare to accept Your Majesty’s compliments!” Sharing the same name. Liu Mang was just saying it as courtesy but Liu Qi was taking it seriously. If this was during peaceful times, even Liu Biao had to kowtow towards Liu Mang when they meet. On top of that, Liu Mang was a general. All things considered, Liu Qi should be a subordinate to Liu Mang.

“Why not? The both of us are descendants of the same person. In these chaotic times, we should be standing out a.s.sisting each other for the sake of the Han people!” Liu Mang spoke this general truth. He had learned how to speak like that from previous generations. These were all just empty words but they were words the ancient people loved to hear. Saying things like ‘for land and profit’ would make a person vulgar while saying things like ‘to protect the Han people’ would make them enthusiastic. Even Cao Cao controlled his people saying such things. It would be even better if a person could add in tears while saying such things like Liu Bei.

Liu Bei had truly attracted many talented personnel with his crying. Amongst those attracted were his two brothers Guan Yu and Zhang Fei.

“Your Majesty!”

“Sigh. Stop calling me Your Majesty. Call me Hanyang!” Liu Mang was seen unfavourably at Jingzhou. So he had to win people over, starting to Liu Qi.

“B… Brother Hanyang.” Liu Qi stuttered a bit. To be able to call a royalty his brother made him excited. As Liu Qi was older, he should be the elder brother. However, Liu Mang did not bother correcting him as the man might end up cowering in awe and fear.

“Brother Liu Qi. This Liu Mang offers you this third cup as this may be the last time we drink together. It is possible our next meeting would be after death!” Liu Mang said with a sorrowful expression. He was not able to cry but he was still able to frown.

Liu Qi became alarmed once he heard this. “Brother Hanyang, don’t say such words. Is Brother Hanyang worried about the trip to Xiangyang? Don’t worry. My father is a benevolent person. He would certainly provide warm hospitality.” Liu Qi tried to speak up for his father.

“Haha. Brother Liu Qi. I am not worried about myself but about you!” Liu Mang was not worried about his life at all. It was unlikely the two armies would fight unless Liu Biao wanted to die together with the Lu Bu’s Army. Besides that, a living Liu Mang had more practical value than a dead Liu Mang. So, it was also unlikely for Liu Mang to be executed.

“Worried about me?” Liu Qi was confused. Liu Mang entering Jingzhou was simply making himself more vulnerable. Yet, Liu Mang was worried about Liu Qi instead of himself.

“Sigh. Brother Liu Qi has such a father and also a n.o.ble character. However, the Heavens are jealous of heroic geniuses. Alas, such n.o.ble characters would attract crafty villains and face terrible fates.

“Ah! Brother Hanyang. How am I going to suffer?” Liu Qi asked in alarm after hearing Liu Mang’s words.

Liu Mang laughed to himself once he heard Liu Qi’s words. Liu Qi had already taken the bait and had already become his ally. He looked at Liu Qi with a regretful expression and shook his head. “Brother Liu Qi. This thing is not good for me to say.”

“What is there that should not be said?” Liu Qi became more worried that Liu Mang’s words were genuine.

“This is related to Brother Liu Qi’s relatives!” Liu Mang divulged a little. These were not words that could be said immediately. n.o.body would take it well if they were told that their family members were out to kill them.

Liu Qi heard this and frowned in discomfort. Regardless of what his family affairs was like, this was his business while Liu Mang was simply an outsider. Although he was about to get angry, Liu Mang’s words did not seem like lies to him. He started to think about his family members. There was his father Liu Biao, his little brother Liu Zong, and his stepmother Lady Cai.

Liu Mang saw Liu Qi’s expression and continued, “Sigh. Brothers in a Lord’s family are truly ruthless. Yuan Shao has three sons but two of them are not filial. They both want to usurp their father’s position and ended up killing each other.”

Liu Qi heard this and could not help but put himself in their scenario. Although Liu Biao had one son less when compared to Yuan Shao, Liu Biao had a nephew Liu Pan who could take Yuan Xi’s place. Both of them were talented individuals with no right of inheritance.

“Those that don’t establish an heir would always face such problems!” Liu Qi said one of the things in Confucianism. Usually the eldest son of the first wife would get the inheritance. That way, even if the other sons were more talented than the elder brother, they would not kill each other.