(ps: Two updates today, the second update will be in the evening.)

"What do you mean by my son?" No matter how savvy Tao Qian was, he couldn't help but be stunned by Tao Ying's answer. He asked in surprise: "Ying'er, since you have identified yourself as the father and now have an heir, you will be successful."

Xuande Gong’s trick, why do you want to persuade him to establish a direct heir for his father and jump into Xuande Gong’s trap?”

"Father, my son suggested that this method of establishing an heir is different from the ordinary method of establishing an heir." Tao Ying said with a smile: "The ordinary method of establishing a legitimate son is either to designate a legitimate son in advance, or to establish a legitimate son at the end of his life. Both of these methods have disadvantages and are easily abused.

People take advantage of loopholes. The method proposed by Hao'er is to establish a direct heir in secret."

"How to establish a direct heir in secret?" Tao Qian asked quickly.

"Ask your father to build an iron box and set up three copper locks." Tao Ying was not afraid of taboos and directly suggested: "Then my father summoned all the officials and hid the document of succession in the box in public, locked the iron box, and affixed a seal.

, and then hid the iron box on the beam in the lobby of his father's governor's office in public, and gave the three keys to three important officials of Xuzhou whom his father trusted. After his father had passed a hundred years later, these three people could open the iron box in public and take out his father's

The document of succession is read out and the father’s successor is established!”

"Wonderful!" Tao Qian's political talent is definitely more than a hundred times as good as his military talent. After listening to Tao Ying's words, Tao Qian immediately slapped his thigh and said happily: "My son's plan is brilliant. In this way, as a father,

Not only do we get rid of the entanglement of hundreds of officials, but we don’t have to worry about the transfer documents being altered or forged in the future, ensuring that Xuzhou is passed on to the person designated by my father!”

"At the same time, you can also disgust a few people." Tao Ying said with an extremely loyal smile: "Haier suggested that before his father takes action, he can summon Mi Biejia alone once and have some confidential talks with him, and then his father can announce in public,

My father made this decision after listening to Mi Biejia's advice. As a result, Xiaopei's Duke Xuande, who is eager to inherit Xuzhou, can no longer be suspicious of Mi Biejia."

Tao Qian showed joy again and laughed: "Ying'er, your name as the Gentleman Army seems to be a bit untrue?"

"My child is just trying to treat others in his own way. He was forced to take this trick." Tao Ying smiled even more honestly and said: "My child dares to suggest that father's three keys should be

The secret was given to three important officials of Xuzhou, but none of them could be handed over to Mi Biejia. At the same time, his father had to arrange an illusion to make the world think that Mi Biejia had one. In this way, Mi Biejia was in front of Xuande Gong.

, even if it has a hundred mouths, I can’t even explain it clearly.”

"Hahahahaha...!" Tao Qian laughed, patted Tao Ying's shoulder and said with a smile: "Ying'er, why didn't father think of letting you become an official earlier? If you could have been an official a few years earlier,

Father doesn’t have to work so hard.”

Tao Ying was humble again, but Tao Qian smiled more and more happily and said repeatedly: "Okay, okay, my son's plan is really brilliant. I listen to you as a father, so let's do it like this!"

At this point, Tao Qian suddenly stopped laughing and asked Tao Ying with a smile: "Ying'er, whose name do you want to be written for your father on the document of succession? Yours or your brother's?

?”

"My child is not a sage. Of course I hope my father will write my child's name." Tao Ying replied without blushing, and then he handed over his hands and said: "But Xuzhou is his father's inheritance. Whoever passes the throne to his father will be decided by his father alone. Ying'er

He has no right to interfere, so no matter whether the father chooses his elder brother, his son, or even Duke Xuande, his son will fulfill his filial piety, obey the imperial edict, and assist them with all his strength."

Tao Qian laughed again, very satisfied with his son's hypocrisy and slickness. After thinking for a moment, Tao Qian asked Tao Ying again: "My son, do you suggest that my father should not give any key to Mi Biejia? Then

My father listens to you, and my father will test you again. In your opinion, who will my father give the three keys to?"

"Then the child dares to guess his father's thoughts." Tao Ying knew that Tao Qian was testing himself, and at the same time, there was no need to hide his clumsiness in front of Tao Qian, so Tao Ying quickly replied: "If the child's guess is correct,

Among the three keys, General Cao Baocao, the chief general of Xuzhou, will definitely get one, and Chen Gui and his son, a wealthy family in Xuzhou, should also have one. As for the third key..."

Speaking of this, Tao Ying was really hesitant, and after a while he added: "The third one may be General Cao Hongcao, right? Or General Xu Danxu from Xiapi is also qualified to hold one."

"The first two guesses were correct, but the third guess was not correct." Tao Qian smiled and shook his head, saying: "Xu Dan doesn't need to give it. He is Cao Bao's deputy. He always listens to what his father and Cao Bao say. Cao Bao has one

There is no need to give it to him. As for Cao Hong, although he is his father's accountant and is responsible for supervising the safety of his father's imperial edict, he has offended countless powerful people and officials in Xuzhou in order to do things for his father over the years.

His reputation is extremely bad. In addition to being attached to our Tao family, no matter who he takes refuge in, he will not be able to protect his glory and wealth, and may even be in danger of his life. Therefore, his loyalty to our Tao family is unquestionable, and as a father, there is no need to add any unnecessary extravagance to others.

A key representing status was given to him for safekeeping."

"My father is brilliant, and my children admire him so much." Tao Ying's flattery came from the bottom of his heart. At the same time, Tao Qian's words also gave Tao Ying a great inspiration. After closing his triangular eyes and thinking for a moment, Tao Ying suddenly opened his eyes.

, blurted out: "Does father want to kill two birds with one stone and hand over the third key to Cavalry Captain Zang Ba for safekeeping?"

"My son is brilliant! Just one click!" Tao Qian applauded loudly and said with a happy smile: "Ying'er, you are more and more impressive to my father. Tell me, how do you plan to kill two birds with one stone?"

"Zang Ba, the captain of the Cavalry, came from a humble background and was never tolerated by the Xuzhou nobles who valued their family status." Tao Ying quickly replied: "At the same time, Zang Ba also has an unruly personality. The Xuzhou clan cannot tolerate him, and he can't stand it either.

The family status in Xuzhou caused Zang Ba to hate his family and his family. He couldn't get along with his father who always valued the family members. He would rather hide in Kaiyang and be self-sufficient and live a hard life than go to Xuzhou and be looked down upon by powerful people. His father was dissatisfied with him.

But there is nothing you can do against him."

"And now, my Xuzhou energy is seriously injured and surrounded by enemies. I urgently need Zang Ba's powerful force to supplement it, so my father wants to take this opportunity to win over Zang Ba and let Zang Ba participate in the affairs of Xuzhou's direct descendants, so as to deal with Zang Ba.

He entrusted his confidants with important tasks to elevate Zang Ba's status in Xuzhou, satisfy Zang Ba's vanity and self-esteem, bring Zang Ba closer to him, and then use Zang Ba's team for his own use."

Tao Qian stopped talking again, staring at Tao Ying for a long time without saying anything, and secretly thinking in his heart, "Ying'er's talent and scheming are more than a hundred times better than his elder brother. He is indeed my ideal successor, but why does Ying'er have to be

What about the second son? If I abolish the eldest son and establish a younger son, what will Shang'er think? What should I do?"

"Second brother! Second brother! Second brother——!"

A sudden loud shout interrupted Tao Qian's thinking. Immediately afterwards, Tao Qian's eldest son, Tao Shang, rushed in like a gust of wind, stumbled in front of Tao Ying, and before Tao Ying could leave his seat and bow, he

He hugged Tao Ying and shouted with choked sobs: "Second brother! Second brother! My good second brother, you are finally willing to come back! Do you know how much I miss you, brother? Why did you return to Xuzhou?

If I didn’t tell you in advance, Brother Yu could pick you up!"

After shouting, Tao Shang actually hugged Tao Ying and burst into tears. His longing for his brother was beyond words. Tao Ying was also extremely moved. Mi Zhu brothers invited Tao Shang to the banquet to do something immoral. Tao Ying just used a little foot.

You can guess it by thinking with your fingers. Cao Hong deliberately asked Cao Hong to send someone to inform the pottery merchant. In fact, it was just to test whether the potter's brother had such thoughts and to see if the pottery merchant could still think about it in the face of the temptation of brother Mi Zhu.

He was his biological brother whom he had not seen for more than three months, and now the pottery merchant not only came immediately, but also rushed over immediately after missing a shoe. He also hugged Tao Ying, his younger brother, so emotionally. Tao Ying finally understood that he did have something.

What a good brother.

"I'm too worried." Seeing the potter's feelings for Tao Ying, Tao Qian was moved and happy, but he couldn't help but laugh to himself: "I worry about it for nothing, it's for nothing."

In a rare moment of true love, Tao Qian held each other's arms and cried, telling each other how much they missed each other. It was already dark, so Tao Qian ordered people to bring food and wine, and then he and his two sons shared the family happiness in the back room.

At this time, Tao Qian and Tao Ying realized that the pottery merchant had not eaten either. It turned out that when Cao Hong sent someone to deliver the news to Mi Mansion, the pottery merchant who was still drinking threw down his wine glass and chopsticks and rushed out of Mi Mansion. What happened to the brothers Mi Zhu and Mi Fang?

There was nothing he could do to stop him, so the pottery merchant didn't say he was full, but he didn't even drink enough wine.

"It's my crime to disturb my brother and Mi's farewell party." After listening to the pottery merchant's introduction, Tao Ying raised his glass to the pottery merchant in embarrassment and said, "I'd like to give you a drink, brother, please forgive me."

"Brother, you and I are flesh and blood brothers, why do we need to say such kind words?" Tao Shang smiled and raised his glass with Tao Ying. After putting down the glass, Tao Shang smiled again: "Besides, it's not comfortable to eat with Brother Mi Zhu, even if

Second brother, if you don’t send someone to deliver the message, Brother Yu won’t be able to enjoy the wine in Mi Mansion.”

"Why?" Tao Ying asked very curiously: "Mi Biejia sincerely invited my brother to the banquet, but why did my brother say that drinking wine makes him unhappy?"

"What kind of sincere invitation? Hongmen Banquet!" Tao Shang Dali snorted, "I thought it was something, but I didn't know until I arrived at Mi Mansion that the two brothers wanted to encourage Brother Yu to fight for the position of heir. They also said that as long as Brother Yu opens his mouth, they will

Even if the two brothers carry it on their shoulders, they will carry Brother Yu to the position of heir."

"Then how did brother answer?" Tao Ying asked calmly.

"Brother Yu told them directly. The talent of a wise brother is a hundred times better than that of a foolish brother. Therefore, the father should choose a wise brother when he wants to be his heir." Tao Shang replied frankly: "Brother Yu also asked brothers Mi Zhu and Mi Fang to write a letter asking my father to choose a wise brother.

If the younger brother is his heir, the foolish brother will also speak in front of his father and ask his father to make the virtuous younger brother his heir. As a result, the expressions of the two brothers immediately changed."

Tao Ying and Tao Qian secretly looked at each other and laughed secretly in their hearts. They said in their minds what it means to put a hot face on a cold buttocks, or to show charming eyes to a blind man. Brother Mi Zhu meant to put a hot face on a cold buttocks, and to show charming eyes to a blind man.

!

"Good brother, Brother Yu has spoken first. The position of legitimate son is yours. Don't give in to Brother Yu." Tao Shang said sincerely to Tao Ying: "Brother Yu may be stupid, but Brother Yu has self-knowledge. In the future, only if my father passes the throne to you can Xuzhou be able to do so."

With peace, our Tao family will be more prosperous. If you, the wise brother, are humble, you must give up the position of heir to the foolish brother. The foolish brother will definitely destroy the Tao family's ancestral business. Therefore, it is the foolish brother begging you, the wise brother, that you will be the heir.

Bar."

"Brother, you must not say that." Tao Ying smiled bitterly, "Since ancient times, there has been a distinction between superiority and inferiority. Brothers are orderly. How dare I...?"

"Shut up." Tao Qian interrupted Tao Ying's hypocritical modesty and scolded him with a smile but not a smile: "You two unfilial sons, my father is still sitting here, but you are in front of my father,

We’ve just discussed what will happen after our father’s death? Are there any sons like you in the world?”

"If you are unfilial, please ask your father to punish you." Both Tao Shang and Tao Ying were startled, and hurriedly left the table to worship.

"Okay, get up." Tao Qian waved his hand and said: "You two are not allowed to mention the matter of establishing a direct line of succession from now on! Also, you brothers, don't forget that my father has twice proposed to give Xuzhou to Xuande Gong.

So besides you brothers, I have a third choice as a father, and there is no need for you two brothers to push each other here."

After that, Tao Qian pointed at the pottery merchant and ordered: "Shang'er, please remember this. If brothers Mi Zhu bring up the matter of establishing an heir in front of you in the future, you can tell them that your father has not yet made up his mind.

If I’m not satisfied with the performance of you two brothers, I might give up Xuzhou to Xuande Gongsan.”

"Father, my second brother is so virtuous? Why did my father give Xuzhou to outsiders?" the potter asked in confusion.

"Is your second brother really virtuous?" Tao Qian was helpless with his eldest son, and asked angrily and funny: "How come you can't see that as a father? It's rare that you have the ability to recognize people, and you are still a father.

superior?"

"I don't dare, kid." The potter was startled and quickly shut up.

"By the way." Tao Ying suddenly remembered an important event and hurriedly asked Tao Shang: "Brother, I almost forgot a little thing. Today, brother Mi Bieji invited his brother to the banquet. I wonder if he mentioned the marriage to his brother.

thing?"

"Marriage? What marriage?" The potter was even more confused.

"Fortunately, those two young men didn't use a honey trap on me, a stupid brother, otherwise I would be embarrassed to compete with this stupid brother." Tao Ying breathed a sigh of relief and said with a smile: "I heard that Mi Biejia

My younger sister, Miss Mi Zhen, is as beautiful as a flower and is in her mid-twenties. My brother, you haven’t been engaged yet, so you thought that Brother Mi would take the opportunity to propose marriage.”

"No." Tao Shang shook his head and replied: "Aside from encouraging Brother Yu to seize the legitimate son, the Mi brothers did not mention marriage."

"Ying'er, you suddenly asked about Mi Biejia's sister. Could it be that my son is tempted?" Tao Qian interrupted and asked.

Tao Ying did not dare to answer, but just giggled. The potter opposite clapped his hands and laughed and said: "Second brother, no wonder you want to ask about Brother Yu's marriage. Brother Yu has also met Miss Mi Zhen, Mi Biejia's sister.

Once upon a time, she is indeed beautiful, dignified and virtuous, and she and my virtuous brother are a match made in heaven!"

"No wonder my son rejected General Cao Bao's proposal of marriage. I see." Tao Qian suddenly realized it and said with a smile: "That's good, since my son has fallen in love, how can I not do my best to make it happen? My father is planning to summon me tomorrow.

Mi Zhu, my father will mention your marriage to Mi Zhu in person at that time, and please Mi Zhu to promise your sister to my son."

"Then..." Tao Ying blushed and said coyly, "Then the child should thank his father."

"Don't thank me too much. Success or failure are two different things. My father is just trying my best to help you get a chance." Tao Qian smiled and murmured: "This is also an opportunity that my father gives to their brothers."
Chapter completed!