In July 208 AD, Cao Cao conquered Jingzhou to the south. In August, Jingzhou Mu Liu Biao died of illness. The time when Cao Cao went south to attack Jingzhou and the time when Liu Biao died was not only a coincidence, but also very close, giving the impression that Cao Cao seemed to know Liu Biao is about to die, because many people in the Liu Biao regime are family friends with Cao Cao.
For example, Kuai Yue, Cai Wei and others have known Cao Cao a long time ago, and as soon as Liu Biao died, they persuaded Liu Cong to surrender Cao Cao. Therefore, it is very doubtful that Cao Cao knew that Liu Biao was seriously ill, and therefore chose this time to go south to Jingzhou. , Because this is the most favorable time for Cao Cao to attack Jingzhou.
Liu Biao has two sons: the eldest son Liu Qi and the second son Liu Cong. The second son Liu Cong takes over from Liu Biao’s class. Liu Cong surrendered without a fight under the pressure of the surrender faction in Jingzhou. Handed over Jingzhou to Cao Cao, and Liu Biao’s eldest son, Liu Qi, served as Jiangxia prefect a year before Cao Cao’s south. After Liu Cong surrendered, Liu Bei was unwilling to surrender and fled from Fancheng all the way south because he was walking along the road from Fancheng. Slowly, he was overtaken by Cao Cao's tiger and leopard cavalry in Changbanpo. Liu Bei fled to Jiangxia County to seek refuge with Liu Qi, while Cao Cao continued south to Jiangling City, the capital of Nanjun, which is today's Jingzhou City.
The reason why Liu Bei chose to join Liu Qi was probably something Zhuge Liang had planned long ago, because before Liu Qi became the prefect of Jiangxia, he once asked Zhuge Liang how to resolve his dilemma of not being reused. Zhuge Liang used Jin Kingdom in the Spring and Autumn Period. The son Shen Sheng was executed because he stayed in the country, while another son Chong'er saved his life because he was in exile. Liu Qi was persuaded to leave the political center. Liu Qi followed Zhuge Liang's persuasion and came to Jiangxia County. This also prepared an example for Liu Bei. Foothold.
Liu Qi came to Jiangxia as prefect in 208 AD. Liu Bei also fled to Jiangxia in the same year to join Liu Qi. Although the whole Jiangxia County belongs to Liu Qi in name, Liu Bei is the actual controller. At the same time, Liu Bei also conquered the four counties of Jingnan in the name of Liu Qi, and the court named Liu Qi as the governor of Jingzhou. In the following year, Liu Qi died in 209 AD.
In other words, in the second year of Liu Biao's death, his eldest son Liu Qi died. Therefore, Liu Qi's death is particularly suspicious, so how did Liu Qi die?
First estimate how old Liu Qi is? Liu Biao was 66 years old when he died. Liu Biao’s son was born to his ex-wife. If the average age of marriage in the Han Dynasty is 13 or 14 years old, then Liu Qi’s oldest may be 52 years old . If Liu Biao’s marriage and childbearing are late, Then it is impossible to judge Liu Qi's age.
Judging from Liu Biao’s family background, he is a descendant of the Han family. He was well-educated since childhood. He also participated in the Tai Student Movement. He was also one of the famous eight talents at the time. Therefore, Liu Biao’s chance of getting married early is very high. The age of Liu Qi is likely to be around 50 years old. At that time, Liu Bei was 49 years old. It is very likely that Liu Qi and Liu Bei are about the same age.
If Liu Qi was really about 50 years old, then it is normal to get sick and die. After all, the average age of the ancients was only about 30 years old. At that time, Zhou Yu was only 36 years old when he died, and Lu Meng was only 43 years old when he died. Lu Su He was only 46 years old at the time of his death, not as long as Liu Qi, so it is possible that Liu Qi died of illness. This is based on his age.
From a logical point of view, if Liu Qi is alive, it will be of great benefit to Liu Bei’s political career. Because of Liu Qi’s special status, he is Liu Biao’s son, and Liu Biao is the master of Jingzhou, so as long as Liu Qi is alive, Then Liu Bei can use Liu Qi's name to regain Jingzhou, which is legitimate.
So when Liu Bei went south to attack the four counties of Jingnan, he used the name of Liu Qi, so the four counties of Jingnan soon surrendered to Liu Bei. After all, the four counties of Jingnan only surrendered with Liu Cong. A few months, and decades of allegiance to Liu Biao, so the name of Liu Qi is very useful for Jingzhou, and it has a certain appeal. This is like Chen Sheng and Wu Guang fighting against Xiang Yan and Fusu when they rebelled. The same is true of the banner.
At the same time, as long as Liu Qi is alive, Liu Bei will be able to ask Sun Quanming for Nanjun in the name of Liu Qi.There is no problem of borrowing, because nominally speaking, after Liu Biao died and Liu Cong surrendered, the owner of Jingzhou should be Liu Qi. Sun Quan just joined forces with Liu Bei to defeat Cao Cao. You can never defeat Cao Cao. Go to Jingzhou .
Although it was troubled times at that time, there is a name for eternal political correctness in troubled times, which is of great benefit. It can gain a lot of political benefits, such as borrowing from the South County. Liu Qi is alive, and Liu Bei asks Sun Quan for Nanjun in the name of Liu Qi. Sun Quan cannot refuse. If he refuses, the alliance between Sun and Liu will go bankrupt. At that time, Sun Quan and Liu Bei were still in the honeymoon period.
At the same time, after borrowing from Nanjun, Liu Bei could not return it for the same reason. Because Liu Qi was there, Liu Bei could not return Jingzhou in the name of Liu Qi, so in politics, Sun Quan would have no choice but to use Liu Bei. , Because Jingzhou is indeed Liu Qi's family. At the same time, Liu Bei can also do many things in the name of Liu Qi, such as attacking the Jingzhou site occupied by Cao Cao.
At the same time, Liu Bei is not worried that Liu Qi will greatly affect his political interests, because Liu Qi has no ability, and he is squeezed out by Liu Cong in Jingzhou. He needs this Liu Bei. A natural political ally, Liu Qi will rely on Liu Bei. For a long time, Liu Bei naturally controlled Liu Qi. Liu Qi became a nominal leader with no real power in Liu Bei’s hands. It has the same meaning as Cao Cao’s holding the emperor to make the princes. But Liu Bei can only be used in Jingzhou.
There are always people who say that Liu Bei killed Liu Qi, but there must be a motive for harming others. Liu Bei did not have the motive to kill Liu Qi, but instead has the motive to protect Liu Qi and let Liu Qi live, so that Liu Bei’s political interests can be maximized. Therefore, for political benefit, Liu Bei could not kill Liu Qi's .
