There are gentlemen in the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 171 Father Sells His Son

This kind of strategy of mutual assistance between the inside and the outside, was commonly used by the warlords in the late Eastern Han Dynasty, and it can be said that it can be found everywhere.

Among them, the person who used this method most handy should be Liu Biao. He himself was in the center of Xiangyang to support him, but he ordered his confidant general Huang Zu to lead a heavy army to guard Jiangxia. Shi.

Later, when Cao Cao rose to power, Liu Biao took in Zhang Xiu, a warlord of Xiliang, and stationed Xiliang soldiers in Wancheng.

After Zhang Xiu surrendered to Cao, Liu Biao lost his outpost in Nanyang County, but he was not afraid. He used Liu Bei's front line in the north to defend him against powerful enemies for seven years.

Until Liu Biao's death, no strong enemy could make a deep military invasion of Jingzhou, including Cao Cao.

Looking at Liu Biao's life, it is not only his ability to do this, but also strategically, the Jingzhou boss has been using this internal and external method to protect Jingzhou, and it is an unexpected success.

Tao Qian couldn't help but feel comforted after hearing the advice from the pottery merchants that both inside and outside complement each other.

This son of mine has really matured. Compared with his first glimpse of talent before he left Xuzhou, the current pottery merchant is more rounded and far-sighted in terms of political ability and thinking. .

"Son, you are very good." Tao Qian said with a smile: "I am very happy for my father to be able to think so far. To be honest, you suddenly brought back so many soldiers from other places. I don't know how to deal with it. Xuzhou's local gentry and gentry are also quite scrupulous about this, especially Cao Bao and Mi Zhu! If you can lead them all to Danyang County, one of them can become our Tao family outside of Pengcheng. With the great help of you, you and I can unite inside and outside, shocking the gentry in Xuzhou, and secondly, breaking the small thoughts of the local aristocratic families. It can be said to kill two birds with one stone, but "

Speaking of this, Tao Qian paused, and then said: "It's just about Er Yuan, how should we explain it? Settling in Danyang County, maybe they will offend both of them."

The Tao merchant straightened his expression, and said to Tao Qian: "Er Yuan's side, it is impossible not to offend even if you think about it. In this world, if we father and son want to not offend all parties, unless it is surrender, but father may not Would you like it? Therefore, the two Yuans are fighting, and we can only choose one and follow."

The potter was silent for a while, and said, "Who do you prefer?"

"Baby, I have taken the initiative to get close to Yuan Shao when I was in Luoyang."

Tao Qian stroked the white beard on his chin, and said calmly, "But as a father, I prefer Yuan Shu."

The pottery merchant smiled and said, "What's the reason why father likes Yuan Shu?"

"This..." Tao Qian's hand touching his beard suddenly stopped moving, as if he was a little embarrassed.

The reason why the old man likes Yuan Shu is nothing more than two reasons. One is that Luyang, where Yuan Shu currently lives, is located in the middle of the world. Once he conquers the three counties of Runan, Jiujiang, and Lujiang in the east, he can directly attack Xuzhou with his army. , and Yuan's ancestral home in Runan had a great influence on his land, so if Yuan Shu wanted to occupy Runan and the two adjacent Huainan counties, it would not be very difficult in principle.The second is that in the Yuan family of the fourth generation and the third lord, Yuan Shu is the legitimate son, and his status is higher than that of Yuan Shao.

Tao Qian cleared his throat, and the old god said, "Father likes Yuan Shu, so there is a reason why he likes him. You see, first of all, this is Yuan Shu."

The pottery merchant smiled: "Yuan Shu's geography is close to us, isn't that true?"

Tao Qian was taken aback when he heard the words, then shook his head immediately.

As an old man, if his son guessed what he was thinking, how would he be able to hang around in the circle of princes in the future.

"No, actually, it's because Yuan Shu has one compared with Yuan Shao."

Tao Shang continued: "He has taken up the status of a concubine, and Yuan Shao is a concubine, what does father want to say?"

After hearing the words of the pottery merchant, Tao Qian's complexion was obviously not very good-looking.

This stinky boy has guessed all his reasons, where do you want me to put my face?

"Judging from what you said, it seems that you don't like Yuan Shu very much. The old man asks you, what's so good about Yuan Shao?"

Seeing that Tao Qian was a little annoyed and not in a hurry, Tao Shang slowly persuaded him: "Father, let's put it this way, the boy is in front of you at this moment, no matter how powerful Yuan Shao is, the father must not be convinced. Two things are used as arguments to explain why we must get close to Yuan Shao and give up Yuan Shu."

"Which two things?" Tao Qian said slowly.

"The first thing is that Yuan Shao is a bastard, but in the alliance of princes, he overwhelmed Yuan Shu to become the recognized leader of the princes and alliance. Based on this alone, it is not something ordinary bastards can do. Although Yuan Shu is not an idler, but Compared with Yuan Shao, no matter in terms of courage and ability, it is more than 01:30 points behind."

Tao Qian was thoughtful when he heard the words, and after hesitating for a while, he said, "What about the second thing?"

"Before going to the Suanzao Huimeng, Hai'er once united with Kong Ni in Yingchuan, and Yuan Shu and his vassal Sun Jian secretly broke the wrists. My son felt that Yuan Shu's ambitions were quite large. His strategy was to cross Jing, Henan, and Yang. The land of three states, dominating the south, if Yuan Shu really achieves this goal, father thinks, can we still have a peaceful life in Xuzhou?"

The second reason was really put into Tao Qian's heart just now.

"Father, my son feels that it doesn't matter who is more powerful, Yuan Shao or Yuan Shu. The important thing is to see who is the biggest threat to our Xuzhou right now. To be honest, Yuan Shu is close by. If we don't want to contain him, we will wait for him to develop in the future." After becoming the hero of the southeast, Xuzhou will be in danger. According to Yuan Shu's character, father would think that he will not plot against our Xuzhou after he becomes powerful."

Tao Qian let out a long sigh.

What the pottery merchant said is indeed reasonable. Right now, it is really not a question of who has the ability to develop, but who has the greater greed for Xuzhou.

Yuan Shaoyuan was in Jizhou, but he could not pose a threat to Xuzhou for a while, but Yuan Shu developed in the south, which can be said to be a real strong neighbor.

Thanks to the child's suggestion, I really have a picture.

"Son, according to your words, the post of Danyang County Sheriff must be accepted?"

The pottery merchant nodded, and said: "It must be picked up. Father sits in Pengcheng in the north and takes an overview of the internal affairs. He plans to take over the two counties of Xiapi and Guangling with peace of mind. Hai'er, Wang Lang, and Zhao Yu will respectively go to serve as the prefects of the three counties in the south. I am in Danyang. Raise soldiers in the fields, develop the inner formation, and train a powerful army for my father. Our father and son echo each other from the south to the north. We unite with Yuan Shao in the north and restrain Yuan Shu in the west. "

Tao Qian couldn't help being happy when he heard this: "It's just you? Just relying on Danyang County, you want to replace Yuan Shu's position in the south?"

The pottery merchant was not angry because of Tao Qian's teasing, but replied solemnly: "Yuan Shu can become a climate with only Nanyang County, why can't I do it with Danyang County?"

"Okay!" Tao Qian waved his hand, obviously not very interested in the potter's bragging: "Whatever you say, but you just have a reasonable sentence, let's echo each other from the south to the north. Things still matter, and the Baibo army was taken to Danyang County by you, which really saved the old man a lot of trouble, anyway, the old man will get close to Yuan Shao and support you to serve in Danyang."

The pottery merchant bowed his hands to Tao Qian, and said with a smile, "Thank you, father, for your success."

"However, not only Bai Bojun, Wang Yun and Huangfusong, you also have to take them to Danyang."

When the pottery merchant heard this, his smile froze.

"Why take them away?"

Tao Qian dissatisfied: "Nonsense, the two of them, one is more senior than the other, and they are both leaders of the world's gentry, if they don't go with you, will they still have to stay here to harm the old man?"

What you said is really unreasonable, if you don't stay here and harm you, just stay by my side and harm me?

"This" potter hesitated to refuse.

"This matter is settled like this." Tao Qianxiong's son is obviously very good. He stood up, stretched his waist, and said slowly: "You have to lead the people to Danyang County to take up the post. I need to discuss with everyone carefully. Discuss carefully, since you are back, you have the right to rest for a while. After the ceremony, you can go to Danyang County to take office. During this time, you are also walking around in Pengcheng, especially Mi Zhu and Cao Bao. You must not lose your courtesy .”

Crown ceremony?

The pottery merchant touched his nose hesitantly, and hesitantly advised Tao Qian, "Father, according to the Book of Rites, a man should be twenty and crowned?"

Tao Qian was taken aback when he heard the words, then looked at the pottery merchant with a blink of an eye, and said uncertainly, "Aren't you still twenty?"

Pottery: ""

This kind of father actually forgot what grade his son should be in. The potter really didn't know what kind of evaluation he should give him.

"Father, the child seems to have just turned eighteen."

Tao Qian seemed to be stunned when he heard the words, nodded and said: "Yes, yes, I have just turned eighteen, and my memory is fine. It's not bad for those two years. Besides, how can the crown ceremony of the princes be the same as others? Duke Zhou was twelve years old. Guan, it is normal for the children of the gentry to have the crown ceremony earlier, it is already too late for you, hurry up and do the crown ceremony first, and then the old man can arrange the marriage for you conveniently."

The pottery merchant was stunned when he heard the words.

"Father, where is this going?"