"If you slander, sycophant, and greedy people, keep them away. This servant can do whatever you can." [Answer to Luo Sheng Shu]
Just when the Guanzhong court was carrying out the war against Shu in full swing, trying its best to deal with the ensuing drought locusts and other disasters, as well as the movements of the Qianghu in Yongliang, the Kanto princes who were watching the situation saw this, and they also responded in April.
It's time to start taking action.
Youzhou Mu Gongsun Zan and Jizhou Mu Gongsun Zan started a new round of fierce battles in Zhuojun, Hejian and other places in early spring. While Yuan Shao led the main force to deal with Gongsun Zan, Pingdong General Cao Cao personally led his troops to suppress the entrenched troops.
The bandits in Taishan County coordinated the war between Yuan Shao's subordinate Zang Hong and Yuan Tan, Qu Yi, Gao Lan and other generals in Qingzhou from the southwest. With the coordination of both sides, they finally defeated Tian Kai, the governor appointed by Gongsun Zan, and led the army to attack Qingzhou.
Guo, Le'an and other counties confronted Beihai Prime Minister Lu Bu.
At the same time, Xuzhou Mu Tao Qian, who was over sixty years old, saw the rotten situation in Xiapi, Guangling and other counties and was helpless. He finally couldn't support his sick body and fainted on the bed, dying.
East China Sea, Tancheng.
The old man finally regained consciousness after tossing and turning, and when he looked around, he saw his two sons, Tao Shang. Tao Ying was kneeling on the side of the couch, his head drooping in tears, and his close confidant Cao Hong was standing silently not far away.
"Envoy." Cao Hong was looking around with his small eyes. He quickly caught a glimpse of the old man's movement, immediately walked over, bowed and said, "Are you feeling better?"
Tao Qian shook his head laboriously. He had just seen the crowds of people outside the door and knew that many people in the state were extremely anxious because of his illness. But why he was anxious, Tao Qian didn't even want to know. He asked: "Everyone outside is worried."
Anyone?"
"Prime Minister Donghai and Captain Diannong are both here...and General Cao is also guarding outside the door." Cao Hong paid attention to Tao Qian's expression and saw that he was indifferent, so he couldn't help but kneel down between the two Tao Shang brothers.
Putting one hand on the bed, he reminded softly: "The captain of the Diannong School was gathering the people in Xiapi'an. When he heard that the emperor was ill, he immediately rushed back on a fast horse. The emperor, be careful about what this person has planned...
"
"Call Chen Yuanlong in." Tao Qian ignored him and spoke.
Cao Hong suddenly became anxious and hurriedly said: "Why are you calling him?" After he finished speaking, he realized that his voice was too loud. Both Tao and Shang looked at him angrily, so he could only say in a low voice: "Chen Deng, these
What kind of thoughts do people have, and you still don’t understand? Isn’t it possible that Xuzhou, a prosperous land, is willing to give up... just, and never... think about these two gentlemen? "
"Cao Hong, don't talk nonsense here and confuse people's minds. When the imperial court moved the capital, it was cut off from all directions, and only my father sent envoys to contribute. The emperor's loyalty to the imperial court can be seen from the sun and the moon, and he will never become a rebellious minister and traitor!
"The eldest son, Tao Shang, stood up. First he stared at Cao Hong with indignation, then leaned over and said to Tao Qian: "Ah, officers and titles are the tools of the master, not to mention the high position of Zhou Mu... I have no virtue.
, and he is not the Liu family, so he cannot accept it!"
"Yes, Aweng." Tao Ying is also a sensible person. He glanced sideways at Cao Hong and then said to the side: "Don't listen to the villain's words and ruin the Tao family's reputation for generations."
If you really care about your reputation over the years, then when Pi Quexuan claimed to be the emperor to rebel, who was there with him to invade the country? Cao Hong thought with disdain, but did not dare to reveal it to his face at this moment. He has always been Tao.
The slanderous people trusted by Qian's close relatives served as his eyes and ears to monitor the local powerful and his fists to kill dissidents. Such a cruel official like him had offended too many local powerful people. If Tao Qian passed away, he would be the first to be buried with him.
it's him.
In order to save his life and continue to maintain his current position of power, Cao Hong tried his best to let the Tao family inherit the position of state pastor, but who knew that none of the Tao brothers had this intention. Seeing this situation, he was greatly embarrassed.
The two hands kept squeezing each other, and said earnestly: "Hey, you two gentlemen, why are you doing this! It won't be like this, as long as we..."
"Stop talking." Tao Qian weakly interrupted, his attitude extremely determined: "Call Chen Yuanlong in."
While Cao Hong was hesitating, the pottery merchant on his side stood up on his own and walked straight to the door to summon him.
"Your Majesty..." Cao Hong called someone while the Tao merchant was leaving. He leaned down again with his back to Tao Ying, as if he wanted to say something in Tao Qian's ear.
Tao Qian had already closed his eyes, sighed silently, and said: "For the sake of our past kindness, you should go back to Danyang now."
Cao Hong is a native of She County, Danyang County, and is Tao Qian's township party. When Tao Qian summoned the Danyang disciples to form an army and went to Xuzhou to help suppress the Yellow Turbans, Cao Hong and his clan kinsman Cao Bao both surrendered to Tao Qian and were driven by him.
To fight against local tycoons for Tao Qian, it can be said that he put all his efforts and put his fortune and future on the line. But at the end of the day, he was asked to give up his current power, hide his brocade, and return home at night?
How could this be what Cao Hong wanted!
He glared at Tao Qian fiercely. Since the other party had no intention of doing so, don't blame him for finding another way out.
"Thank you for your blessing," Cao Hong said in a deep voice, and then stood up and walked towards the door. At this time, a young man in his twenties came towards him. Maybe he had something in his heart, maybe he was
Deeply jealous of this person, Cao Hong took a quick glance and felt that the person's thick eyebrows, round eyes, handsome face, and razor-sharp face were all hidden under the gentle smile at the corner of his mouth.
Xia Pi Chen Deng, Chen Yuanlong.
"Chen Jun." Tao Ying followed Cao Hong and walked over. When he saw Chen Deng, who was about the same age as him, he bowed respectfully.
Chen Deng returned the greeting with a faint smile, and then walked straight to Tao Qian's bed without even looking at Cao Hong.
In the bedroom, there were only two people, Tao Qian and Chen Deng.
Chen Deng looked at Tao Qian for a long time, then smiled and said, "It would be great if Duke Hua was still here."
Tao Qian opened his eyes and took a deep look at Chen Deng: "If you are here or not, you will die. You don't have to talk about those gossips."
If he were really here, he would have died early and late.
Tao Qian originally didn't know that Chen Gui and Hua Tuo had a recommendation background. Last year, he was covetous of Hua Tuo's medical skills, so he refused to hand it over to the court easily. It wasn't until Wang Duan sent the text several times and learned from other sources.
After learning about Hua Tuo's background, he began to worry about the difficulty of this person, so he had no time to think carefully about why Dahong and Zhou Huan never mentioned this person to him, but just pushed him away.
Now that his condition has worsened, Chen Deng still said these words to stimulate him.
"I promise." Chen Deng responded calmly, and then said: "It seems that Mr. Tao has made a decision."
The room became a little quiet for a moment. Chen Deng knelt down and sat on the couch beside him silently, without saying a word and waiting quietly.
Nowadays, the situation in Xuzhou is not optimistic. Inside, Zang Ba, Chang Xi and others have stationed troops in Langxie, and they have begun to lose control and refuse to obey orders; while Xiapi, Guangling and other places have been severely damaged by Zuo Rong and have not recovered yet. Outside.
An old enemy, Cao Cao, surrendered to the bandits in Taishan County and selected their elites to join the army. He seemed to have the intention to go directly from Taishan County to the East China Sea, bypassing the defense lines such as Peixian County that Tao Qian had painstakingly built.
As for Yuan Shu, Tao Qian's former ally, he was also called Xuzhou Bo a few days ago and declared his ambition towards Xuzhou.
This land of the Fourth War is already a fire pit that burns people's butts, rather than the fertile land of Xu Fang that outsiders envy. Even if Tao Qian had the intention to pass on the family business, he would not force his two sons to die.
, what's more, even if he has this intention, some people who have already made up their minds will not allow it.
"Hmm..." Tao Qian groaned, slowly breathed a sigh of relief, and said, "Without Liu Bei, this state cannot be settled."