There are gentlemen in the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 6 No one is good

Mi Zhu listed three strategies and invited Tao Qian to join the alliance, but Cao Bao asked Tao Qian to sit in Xuzhou on the grounds of Zang Ba.

Mi Zhu's words were indeed reasonable, but Cao Bao's words were not made up.

Zang Ba is a native of Hua County in Mount Tai, and a native of Xuzhou. When he was young, he was convicted and arrested for his father. Zang Ba led a dozen people and rescued his father abruptly. The drive and courage of the Liangshan hero to rob the execution ground.

The underworld big brother is usually made in this way.

Good things don't go out, but bad things spread thousands of miles. Zang Ba became famous because of his deeds of robbing the prison and saving his father, and the limelight was second to none in Xuzhou.The fathers of every household use Zang Ba as an example to teach their children how to be a son at night!

After Tao Qian entered Xuzhou, because of his admiration for Zangba's reputation, he was recruited into an official position, that is, he was appointed as the captain of cavalry, and he was ordered to break the Xuzhou yellow scarf.

If it were an ordinary person, he would get an official position for nothing, and he would be so happy to fart that Zang Ba is not an ordinary person!

Come to think of it, those who rob the court are generally unwilling to be recruited.

After Zang Ba assisted Tao Qian to break the Yellow Turban, taking advantage of Tao Qian's unstable foothold in Xuzhou to clean up the internal affairs situation, he took the opportunity to station troops in Kaiyang, and joined forces with the Taishan thieves to form a faction of his own.Opening up the territory and expanding the territory to be an independent side, so far it has become a tripartite rivalry with Tao Qian in Xuzhou.

From an exiled prisoner, he became a tyrant who restrained the governor of Xuzhou in less than two years. He received a lot of attention wherever he went. Zang Bazu was ranked No. [-] in Xuzhou at that time.

Such a person is in Xuzhou, and Tao Qian really can't stop walking if he wants to go west.

"That's right, Zang Ba didn't listen to the old man's orders, he set up troops to open up the plains, neither fought nor accepted, he could only restrain the old man, it's really difficult to go west." Tao Qian seemed to be talking to himself, and seemed to be telling everyone.

Mi Zhu said: "My lord, if this is the case, are you afraid that Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu will take this opportunity to attack me in Xuzhou in the future? In my lord's mind, are two Yuans easier to deal with than a mere Zang Ba?"

"Oh..." Tao Qian had a complete headache, Mi Zhu's words were true, now it's neither advancing nor retreating, it's not good to fight well, it's not good to fight hard, even though the sky is not dead, but the sky is trying to run on the old man to death ?

"Don't worry, is there a good way to break this deadlock?" Tao Qian couldn't count on others at this time, so he had to count on Mi Zhu.

Mi Zhu hurriedly said: "The words of General Cao Shicai are very reasonable. It is true that neither the envoy nor General Cao should leave Xuzhou. In this case, why not entrust someone who can represent the envoy to participate in the alliance, how about it?"

After hearing this, Tao Qian nodded his head. After today's analysis, Tao Qian has more or less understood the situation of this expedition. Although there are various disadvantages, what Mi Zhu and Wang Lang said is old-fashioned. No matter what difficulties there are, Xuzhou must fight to maximize the benefits by standing on the sidelines, but the future development of Xuzhou is more important, so Xuzhou must contribute and show sincerity to the people of the world and the princes.

"Don't drive, who should be appointed to represent the old man?"

Mi Zhu arched his hands and said, "It must be the eldest son."

Tao Qian's expression didn't change, but the potter who was sitting and listening was taken aback.

wait!What's the situation?I offered a plan to ask Dad Cheap to send troops to challenge Dong, but I didn't say that I would go by myself?That's war, just kidding!

Shouldn't my responsibility be to plan thousands of miles away?It shouldn't be my responsibility to pin the head to the waistband, right?Typical pit son!

As soon as Mi Zhu said this, everyone in the hall whispered.Cao Bao even showed a noncommittal, slightly sarcastic smile.

It's no wonder that Tao Qian and Mi Zhu are the only ones who know about the changes in the pottery merchants. In the hearts of others, this eldest son is still just a dull and mediocre son.

Mi Zhu regarded everyone's discussion as nothing, and said: "Your envoy and General Cao need to stay in Xuzhou, and they cannot march eastward. If they send others to go, I'm afraid that Er Yuan will not see my sincerity in Xuzhou, and plan to make Xuzhou fall for him in the future." To tell the truth, looking at everyone now, only the eldest son is the son of the lord and the eldest son, so he is qualified to go to the alliance for the lord, so it will not be true, and the eldest son is about to turn seventeen, and he is already a member of the crown ceremony. In the new year, the lord is getting older, but he works hard every day, the father works and the son is idle, the way of non-filial piety is for the future, for Xuzhou, and it is time for the eldest son to practice and experience, so as to share the worries of the lord."

The corners of the potter's eyes twitched a little, Mi Zhu didn't discuss it beforehand, could it be revenge for me asking him to borrow money?

"Well, father, this arrangement doesn't seem to conform to the etiquette system, does it? Firstly, I have never led a soldier, and secondly, I have never held any position. Suddenly, I will lead an army myself. I'm afraid it will be hard to convince the crowd."

Mi Zhu smiled and said: "According to the usual practice, there is indeed no precedent, but now the situation is special, and in today's world, the world is unpredictable, so it cannot be judged by common sense. It doesn't matter if you have not led the army before, you can send other good generals to lead the army. The position of supervising the army, the supervising army, can be guaranteed without hindrance."

Hearing this, Tao Shang felt somewhat relieved. He had never killed a chicken in his previous life, so it was a joke for him to suddenly lead troops into battle.

If it's a supervising army, it's more or less better, and at worst, it's better to hide behind. If something happens, it's not impossible to get on the horse, turn around and leave.

The ancients were not stupid, generals who lead troops every day, you modern people can beat the shit out of them as soon as you come back to lead the troops?People's experience in leading soldiers has been brought into the dog's stomach?Everyone eats whole grains, and no one is better than the other.

Tao Qian stroked his beard, pondered for a while, and said slowly, "I'll let the old man think about it for now, so let's go back and settle down on your duties. It won't be too late to make a decision after the old man thinks it through."

Seeing that Tao Qian could not make up his mind for a while, everyone got up and retreated one by one. The potter and Tao Ying belonged to the last generation, and they were left for the last. When they were about to leave, they heard Tao Qian shout.

"You two stay."

Tao Shang had guessed that Tao Qian would keep the two of them here, while Tao Ying was bewildered and confused.

"Did you all hear clearly what was said at the court meeting just now?"

Tao Shang and Tao Ying stood in front of Tao Qian, looked at each other, and remained silent for a long time.

But Tao Qian suddenly showed a warm smile, and said: "Actually, after hearing so much, I also understand that it is the best policy to send troops to participate in the alliance. It's just that Cao Bao used Zang Ba as Xuzhou's confidant, and he didn't want me to send troops. Mi Zhu I also advised Shang'er to go to the alliance instead of the old man, what do you two think about this?"

Tao Ying still looked dull, and shook his head: "Go back to father, the child has no idea."

Tao Qian sighed, with a helpless expression on his face: "It's true that you said it so directly."

After finishing speaking, the old man turned his head to the potter and said, "What about you? What do you think about Mi Zhu recommending you to be an alliance? What is Mi Zhu's intention?"

The pottery merchant lowered his head, and quickly pouted at a blind spot where Tao Qian couldn't see.

Although he was a little surprised to hear Mi Zhu recommending himself just now, after such a short time, he has roughly figured out the key point.

"Family feud."

Tao Qian was refreshed, and hurriedly pointed to the kneeling couch where he was lying down: "Sit down and talk."

The potter's knees are numb from kneeling all morning. He really doesn't want to kneel anymore, and he doesn't know the perverted psychology of the Han people. If you have a butt, you don't have to kneel with your legs.

"This is the court meeting place, children dare not presume in front of their father, just stand."

Tao Qian also didn't understand how sitting was considered overstepping, but he didn't bother: "If you want to stand, just stand, and tell me what you think?"

The pottery merchant considered the words for a while, and said: "Although the child rarely participates in political affairs, but through his daily understanding and observation just now, he probably understands a little bit. My father's main reliance on Xuzhou is Mi Zhu, Cao Bao, and Zhao Yu." Among them, Mi Zhu is in charge of grain, Cao Bao is in charge of soldiers, Zhao Yu is in charge of Ji, and Wang Lang is in charge of officials. The four have their own duties and balance each other, but in fact, no one is convinced by the other in their hearts, and they all want to fight for more benefits for their own family. And power, the world is changing now. Once the princes attack Dong Zhuo, once they mobilize troops, it will inevitably affect the balance of interests of the four major families in Xuzhou. Cao Bao is unwilling to send troops, not because of Zang Ba, but because once he goes out, he will dispatch troops to send him The current situation in China is changing rapidly, and important positions in the army can easily be taken by people from other families, so Cao Bao's bargaining chip in Xuzhou will be relatively weakened."

Tao Qian let out a long breath. When he and his eldest son had a private discussion on the issue of meeting the alliance to discuss Dong, he felt that this boy was different from before, and his thinking was much more far-reaching, but he still had some doubts about this son's talent, but After asking today, Tao Qian discovered that this child may have really grown up!

Tao Qian stroked his long beard and looked at the potter carefully for a while, his eyes were full of approval and relief.

"Okay, okay! Then tell the old man, what is the purpose of Mi Zhu recommending you to go out?"

The pottery merchant thought for a while and said, "Mi Zhu's thoughts are not difficult to guess. Cao Bao didn't want to use troops, so he used his tricks. He recommended me to join the alliance for his father to ask Dong, and asked me to be the supervisor of the army, but the supervisor was not unified. Bing, after all, there must be a general who can lead the army. Cao Bao had already said enough in the court meeting, and he blocked his own mouth. I am afraid that the position of commanding the army cannot be mixed. Mi Zhu will definitely recommend it to his father. With one of his own people leading the army to march west, the Mi family who has been in charge of managing money and food, even if they have extended their hands into the army, judging from this alone, Mi Zhu is better than Cao Bao."

Tao Qian nodded, and said: "This is what I am worried about. I am not afraid of Mi Zhu sending people to meddle in the military, but if I agree to Mi Zhu's request, I am afraid that I will offend Cao Bao in a good way. It is not my wish. The lord of a state should not offend these families, only balance is the best policy."

Tao Qian's words made the Tao merchant very disapproving. According to common sense, what Tao Qian said was right, and the balance between left and right is right, but if he was afraid of offending others, the governor of Xuzhou would be too useless. After all, it is not so pleasant.

In terms of IQ, Tao Qian has no problem, but what is lacking is that the old man is somewhat soft in character.

"Father, there is nothing wrong with the balance, but it doesn't have to be to appease these families. Sometimes my father tries to provoke their relationship. Maybe he can be more comfortable in mediating by himself."

Tao Qian raised his eyebrows slightly: "What does my son mean by that?"

"Mi Zhu wants to extend his hand into the army. Father may as well agree to him. He can also find Cao Bao later, arrange the Cao family to manage political affairs, and help allocate money and food logistics for this western expedition. This means that the Mi family has managed the soldiers of the Cao family. , but at the same time, the members of the Cao family also stretched out their hands to manage the food of the Mi family. In this way, they constrained each other. After a long time, they must not see each other. Support, when the time comes, you watch the two of them quarrel, and then reconcile left and right to be a peacemaker, isn't it much more comfortable than going back and forth to appease you?"