Xu's explanation sounded quite plausible.
Qiao Jingjing listened attentively.
However, Xu had a unique analysis: "Sister-in-law, if there is something that Liu Bei and my second brother have to sit down and discuss, I think there are only two possibilities. One of them is that Zhou Yu and my second brother want to take this opportunity to capture Liu Bei!"
It's truly remarkable that Xu, a woman, possesses such insightful views.
But Xu then offered another possibility:
"Liu Bei isn't stupid! He's so old, he's suffered a lot of losses. How could he come to Jiangdong and Jingkou without any precautions? Isn't he afraid he won't come back?"
At this point, Xu looked around warily to make sure no one was there.
Xu leaned close to her sister-in-law Qiao Jingjing's ear and whispered mysteriously, "I suspect that my second brother and Zhou Yu have discussed a marriage alliance!"
After announcing the marriage, Madam Xu returned to her seat, sat upright, and looked at Qiao Jingjing with great seriousness.
Compared to Xu Shi's serious demeanor, Qiao Jingjing seemed completely indifferent.
Arranged marriage.
Who doesn't know? The marriage alliance between Sun Quan and Liu Bei is so famous in history.
Nineteen-year-old Sun Shangxiang married forty-nine-year-old Liu Bei.
"But Ah Xiang has already left. Ah Xiang is currently in Jiaozhou, and she and her beloved young man have practically eloped together!"
"Second brother, if you absolutely have to form a marriage alliance with Liu Bei, what will you use to do it? Sister-in-law, what will we in Jiangdong use to lure Liu Bei to Jingkou? Liu Bei isn't that stupid; he wouldn't be unaware that Ah Xiang has run away, would he? And Zhuge Liang, with his mystical and ingenious methods, isn't he supposed to be all-powerful?"
Xu explained it so clearly.
Qiao Jingjing remained unmoved, even indifferent.
It seems that Sun Quan can arrange any marriage alliance as he pleases, since Sun Shangxiang is not here at the moment.
No matter how much Sun Quan thought about it, it was all in vain.
Madam Xu blushed with anxiety at her sister-in-law Qiao Jingjing's appearance:
"Sister-in-law, sister-in-law, are you daydreaming? Are you even listening to me? Ah Xiang isn't here! Besides, even if she were here, she wouldn't agree to marry Liu Bei. How can we form a marriage alliance with Liu Bei?"
Xu pulled Qiao Jingjing along and shook her twice.
Qiao Jingjing seemed to have been shaken awake.
She comforted Madam Xu:
"Not necessarily! It's all just hearsay!"
However, Xu was not naive and sweet.
“Sister-in-law! You and my elder brother were deeply in love back then, and for so many years, he only had eyes for you! You have no idea how powerful intermarriage between families can be! I think that this time, my second brother must make sure to forge a deep alliance with Liu Bei.”
Why!
Qiao Jingjing told Xu Shi not to get agitated.
Drinking tea.
Alliance! Alliance!
Do we really have to form an alliance to fight together against Cao Cao? Even if we were to marry, wouldn't our relationship still break down?
Didn't Xu Jiao and Sun Quan's relationship break down?
Historically, five years after Sun Shangxiang married Liu Bei, the couple's relationship broke down.
Why bother? Even if it's a marriage alliance, it will only lead to tragedy.
Of course, no one knew at the time that it would inevitably be a tragedy.
Zhou Yu's plan for Sun Quan was to use the pretext of inviting Liu Bei to Jingkou to discuss the marriage, and then detain Liu Bei in Jingkou, either killing him or placing him under house arrest forever.
Then, the territory of Jingzhou naturally fell into Jiangdong's hands.
Sun Quan also thought this was a feasible idea.
After all, Sun Quan had wanted Jingzhou for a long time.
Everyone in the world knows that Jingzhou is the throat of Jiangdong. If Jingzhou is in someone else's hands, no matter if it's Cao Cao or Liu Bei, and regardless of whether Liu Bei and Sun Quan ever had a pleasant collaboration, Jingzhou cannot belong to anyone else; Sun Quan will not allow it.
Because that would make Sun Quan restless and unable to eat or sleep.
The information about the Xu family is well-founded.
Zhou Yu did indeed discuss that matter with Sun Quan, and Sun Quan did indeed make that decision.
Because he was far away in Jingzhou, Zhuge Liang had already set his sights on Da Qiao of Jiangdong.
During the Battle of Sanjiangkou, Zhuge Liang saw Da Qiao in person and was impressed by her knowledge, courage, wealth, and power. He wishfully believed that Da Qiao was a perfect match for Liu Bei, who had lost his husband.
Zhuge Liang secretly orchestrated this meeting.
This prompted Jiangdong to be the first to feel uneasy and demand an alliance.
Zhou Yu was stationed in Nan Commandery and had been trying to reclaim Jingzhou. He went to ask for it again and again, trying both persuasion and force, but Zhuge Liang kept making excuses and even made a promise to Zhou Yu: "Once Liu Bei takes Yizhou, he will return Jingzhou to Jiangdong!"
That's why Zhou Yu resorted to this inferior strategy.
Lu Su set off from Jingkou to personally contact Liu Bei in Jiangling and conveyed the message from a high-ranking leader of the Jiangdong Group.
Lu Su then said to Liu Bei, "Uncle Liu, you have recently lost your wife and are in a bad mood. There are many beautiful women in Jiangdong. Why don't you go to Jingkou to relax? Firstly, you can find another beautiful and fair-skinned wife. Secondly, you can discuss with my lord Sun Quan the important matter of continuing to jointly resist Cao Cao in the future."
Lu Su brought with him his boundless enthusiasm.
But there was no calculation involved.
How did Liu Bei respond?
To be honest, Liu Bei was secretly overjoyed.
Who else could be the most beautiful woman in Jiangdong but Da Qiao?
Besides Da Qiao, there's also Xiao Qiao. Of course, Xiao Qiao already has a husband, or there's Xu Shi!
Even if all else fails, Sun Quan still has a younger sister named Yunying who is still unmarried.
It's all thanks to Zhuge Liang's constant brainwashing.
Liu Bei had long been yearning for the beauties of Jiangdong, but he had to feign reluctance: "No! Strategist, you are joking! How could I possibly be worthy of the late Marquis of Wu's wife? Strategist, please don't cancel."
Zhuge Liang understood perfectly well that Liu Bei was being hypocritical.
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