Chapter 606
Due to the pressure from Yangzhou, there were official meetings every day at Xiangyang. Liu Biao had no choice but to drag his ill body out early in the morning.
“Everyone. Are there any important matters?” Liu Biao asked the officials. Most of it were usually minor matters like the livelihood of the people, or about some scholar. Although Liu Biao was fidgety, he would still have to listen to everything as only a diligent Lord would be able to gain the people’s loyalty.
“Milord. This general has an important matter to report!” The commander of Liu Biao’s bodyguard himself was the first to speak up.
“Huang She?” Liu Biao looked at the man kneeling at him with doubt. Huang She was with Liu Biao the entire day so why bring the matter up now? That being said, he did not stop Huang She from speaking. “Speak!”
“Milord. I want to impeach someone. This person is throwing his weight around and used Milord’s authority to harm loyal subjects!” Huang She started to speak. However, the others already knew who Huang She was referring to even before Huang She had finished speaking. There was only one person who would make Huang She act this way.
As expected, Huang She soon turned and pointed angrily at Liu Pan. “I want to impeach General Liu Pan.” However, Liu Pan only laughed indifferently.
“General Liu. How much hatred did you have for the Wu Family for you to have slaughtered all of them and burn their residence?” Huang She asked loudly.
Huang She’s words immediately caused an uproar. They did not know about this matter but they certainly knew of the Wu Family in Jiangling. After all, the Wu Family had been very influential and only grew in power after allying with the Huang Family. Yet, now they were hearing that the Wu Family were exterminated by Liu Pan?
“The Wu Family?” Liu Biao initially did not care but Huang She’s words reminded him of the Wu Family who was a noble family. How could they have been exterminated like this? These nobles were one of the reasons for his successful career.
“My child. What happened?” Liu Biao asked with a frown.
“Father. Have you forgotten that the County Officer from Shiyang named Wu Lin came from this Wu Family. Because of Wu Lin, our Shiyang fell easily to Yangzhou. That is why you made me investigate the Wu Family.” Liu Pan explained himself.
“The Lord ordered you to investigate the Wu Family so you slaughtered them all?” Huang She asked angrily.
“No.” Liu Pan shook his head. “I wouldn’t have known if I did not investigate but what I found after investigating was frightening. The Wu Family works in the shipbuilding business. According to their ledger, they have sold ships to Jiangdong! Father, please look at this.” Liu Pan took out a ledger. He was obviously very prepared for this. On top of that, the ledger wasn’t forged but authentic.
“Selling ships to Jiangdong?” Liu Biao skeptically took the ledger. The moment he read it, he immediately became angry. The Wu Family had indeed sold ships to Jiangdong though it was over a year ago. On top of that, they sold mengchong. That year, Jiangdong and Jingzhou were fighting against each other so selling ships to the enemy was like helping the enemy.
Huang She immediately realized that the situation was turning bad for him. Trade between Jiangdong and Jingzhou were quite common as both were at the Yangtze River. It was normal for there to be trade or else the nobles would end up poor and hungry. Selling ships was also normal as long as it was not large like towered ships but the Wu Family still sold mengchong. When the Huang Family controlled Jiangxia, they too sold salt and iron to Jiangdong. All of these businesses gave Jiangdong business and life though it is not something they would declare openly.
“Even so, you should not have exterminated the entire family!” Huang She accused. “Today is the Wu Family, what about tomorrow and the day after? Who would be next? The Zhou Family? The Li Family? I am afraid only the Kuai Family, Cai Family and Huang Family will be left in the future!”
Huang She’s words made all the other officials start to become hostile towards Liu Pan. They were nobles too so the extermination of the Wu Family did not sit well with them. Their expression towards Liu Pan changed.
“I initially thought of sending them to Xiangyang to be convicted but I never expected the rebels to try and surrender to Yangzhou. My subordinates had to defend themselves!” Liu Pan shook his head and said to Liu Biao.
“Bullshit!” Huang She shouted angrily. Huang She would never believe that the Wu Family would surrender to Yangzhou as both families had a very intimate relationship. Wu Fan even thought of marrying his daughter to Huang She. If the Huang Family were enemies with Liu Mang, it was unlikely for the Wu Family to surrender to Liu Mang.
“Haha. Father. This is the Governor Dong Zhi’s testimony!” Liu Pan stepped forward to give Liu Biao a letter. Written on it was Dong Zhi’s testimony regarding the Wu Family’s crimes. Even trivial matters were included in attempts to implicate the Wu Family as Yangzhou’s allies. Some examples were things like the Wu Family having several concubines from Shouchun, or any business dealings with Yangzhou.
“You are just pinning crimes!” Huang She glared angrily at Liu Pan. The Wu Family was like the Huang Family’s arm. Yet it was cut off. How could Huang She not feel angry?
“Haha!” Liu Pan did not refute it. The fact that he killed the Wu Family was already there and there was nothing Huang She could do about it.
“Report! An urgent report from Jiangling!”
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