"What are Tao Qian and his son planning to do?"

Our Duke Xuande was completely confused by Tao Qian and Tao Ying. When Tao Qian held out the token seal representing the identity of Xuzhou Mu, Liu Bei was already shocked. Tao Qian held the token seal in front of him again.

At this time, Liu Bei, who vaguely guessed Tao Qian's intentions, could not help but his heart beat faster and his breathing became rapid. However, when Tao Ying jumped out and sang this song, Liu Bei couldn't understand it at all.

"Cousin, are you crazy?!" The person who screamed was Tao Qian's nephew, Tao Ying's cousin, Tao Ji who once served as the governor of Jiaozhou in Soochow in history, and Tao Jilian, who is currently only seventeen years old.

He was not qualified to sit down and drink together, but in his full spirit, Tao Ji still exclaimed: "Xuzhou is my uncle's inheritance, how can I give it up to others?!"

"My dear brother, what you said is wrong." Tao Ying retorted loudly: "Xuzhou is the land of the Han family, and my father is just a pastor for the emperor. How can you say that I am the foundation? There is an old saying: Destiny is permanent, and only the virtuous will live there.

In other words, Uncle Liu is a Miao descendant of the Han Dynasty. He is highly respected in both civil and military affairs. He has driven thousands of miles to kill Cao Cao's thieves and saved thousands of people in Xuzhou from danger. He should take over from his father and take charge of Xuzhou!"

Tao Ji's eyes widened, and for the first time he realized that his second cousin was not only honest, but also stupid! The Xuzhou civil and military officials next to him were also dumbfounded, looking at Tao Ying as if they didn't know each other. Tao Qian was even more confused and surprised.

I looked at my son for a long time and couldn't say a word.

"Tao Shijun, are you kidding me?" Liu Bei was the one who broke the silence and asked Tao Qian in an extremely surprised tone.

"No, no." Tao Qian finally came to his senses, quickly shook his head, and presented the sign to Liu Bei with both hands, and said sincerely: "Mr. Xuande, although Quanzi is ignorant, what I just said is exactly what I said.

What I'm thinking. Today, the world is in turmoil and Wang Gang is weak. Mr. Xuande is a clan member of the Han Dynasty, so it is time to help the country. I am old and incompetent, and I would like to give up Xuzhou. Mr. Xuande, please do not refuse, and write your own words humbly.

Report to the imperial court."

"Tao Shijun, you are joking." Liu Bei quickly knelt down on his knees, clasped his fists, and said to Tao Qian with great solemnity: "Although Liu Bei is a descendant of the Han Dynasty, he has little merit and virtue, and he is afraid of being incompetent for the post of Pingyuan Prime Minister. Today

Out of great righteousness, I came to help you. When I say this, do you suspect that Liu Bei has the intention of annexation? If you have such thoughts, God will not bless you!"

"Sure enough." Tao Ying sneered in his heart, "Liu Bei, Liu Bei, your acting skills are indeed superb, but it's a pity that you haven't returned home yet! - If you really don't want to seize Xuzhou, why were you secretly clenching your fists just now?"

"Uncle." After muttering in his heart, Tao Ying quickly raised his hand and said: "Uncle, please don't refuse. Please listen to my nephew. The traitor Zhang Kai was greedy for money and killed people, and brought great disaster to Xuzhou. Cao Cao took the opportunity to raise an army.

, killed millions of soldiers and civilians in Xuzhou, and the city of Xuzhou was in danger. It was all thanks to my uncle who sent troops to rescue him. He drove away Cao's soldiers and saved thousands of people in Xuzhou. It was a great contribution. In both emotions and reasons, my father should give up Xuzhou. I hope my uncle will do it.

The army and people of Xuzhou plan to succeed my father and take charge of Xuzhou."

"Cao's soldiers haven't retreated yet!" Tao Ji shouted angrily, "Cao's thieves are still besieging the city on all sides and may raise troops to attack the city at any time!"

"Shut up, brother Ru is talking to Mr. Xuande, don't interrupt." Tao Qian scolded angrily.

"Third brother, you don't have to worry about this." Tao Ying turned to Tao Ji and said sincerely: "Third brother, haven't you heard of General Guan Yunchang's famous reputation of warming wine and killing Hua Xiong? Never heard of Liu, Guan,

The unparalleled heroics of three generals Zhang and three heroes fighting against Lu Bu? And general Zhao Zilong fought against Wen Chou at Jiehe River, killing Yuan Shao until Yuan Shao lost his helmet and armor and was completely defeated. Now that they are all in Xuzhou City, they are still worried that Cao's troops will not retreat and Cao's thieves will not be destroyed?"

Having said this, Tao Ying turned to the Xuzhou civil and military officials present and asked: "My lords and generals, do you think so or not?"

Most of the civil and military officials nodded in agreement, and Mi Fang even echoed loudly, "What the Second Young Master said is absolutely true. With the three generals Xuande Gong and Guan, Zhang and Zhao here, even if Cao Cao has millions of soldiers, we can rest easy...

...." Before she could finish her words, Mi Fang was glared at by her brother Mi Zhu, who was so flustered that her voice involuntarily lowered her voice.

Tao Ying had already spoken to this point, and Liu Bei had no other choice but to bow his hands to Tao Qian and said: "Tao Gong loves you so much that he is prepared to die in repayment. However, Cao's troops have not retreated yet, so we should discuss the retreat first.

Wait until Liu Bei has defeated Cao's soldiers and lifted the siege of Xuzhou, and then he will start to make excuses."

"What Mr. Xuande said is absolutely true." Mi Zhu also stood up and said respectfully to Tao Qian: "Although the Lord has good intentions, Cao's thieves are now approaching the city, and they must discuss the strategy of retreating from the enemy. When things calm down, we will

It’s okay to discuss compromise matters.”

"In that case... let's discuss it after Cao's soldiers have been retreated." Tao Qian hesitated for a moment, and finally took back the seal and looked at Tao Ying again, his eyes were very complicated.

"Retreat Cao's soldiers? It's easy to say." Tao Ji sneered in his heart, thinking that if Cao's soldiers were so easy to retreat, they would have retreated long ago. How about waiting for the two or three thousand soldiers and horses in Liu Guan and Zhang's hands? But that's fine, as long as you

If we are willing to go out of the city and fight Cao Cao's thieves, no matter we win or lose, my uncle and we will reap the benefits.

At this time, Tao Qian asked Liu Bei about his retreat strategy. Liu Bei thought carefully for a moment and replied solemnly: "The right way is to be polite before sending troops. Bei should first send a letter to Cao Cao to persuade him to reconcile. If Cao Cao refuses, Bei will lead the troops again."

It’s not too late to fight him.”

"Revise a book to persuade peace?" Tao Ji almost laughed out loud at how displeased Liu Bei was. He said to himself that if Cao Cao could accept the peace proposal, he would have accepted other people's advice for peace long ago. Why are you waiting for you, a mat weaver and shoe seller?

only?

"Sure enough." Tao Ying smiled even colder in his heart, "I'm just wondering why Liu Bei sent a letter to Cao Cao after saving Xuzhou. He did it for a long time because he wanted to preserve his strength and didn't want to waste it in a head-on fight with Cao Cao."

Tao Qian obviously didn't expect Liu Bei to give such an answer. He nodded after a while, coughed and said, "That's okay, that's okay."

Seeing that Tao Qian agreed with his suggestion, Liu Bei immediately ordered someone to get pen, ink and silk, and wrote a letter to Cao Cao in public, persuading Cao Cao to stop the war. After the letter was written, Tao Ying immediately stepped forward to ask for the order and said respectfully to Liu Bei.

: "Uncle, how about asking my nephew to arrange for someone to send this letter to Cao Cao?"

"Then there is Lao Xian's nephew." Liu Bei didn't think much, put the silk with written words into the lacquer basket and sealed it, and handed it to Tao Ying. Tao Ying took it respectfully with both hands, and obtained Tao Qian's consent.

Soon I went out to arrange for someone to deliver the letter.

…………

After Tao Ying left, the banquet ended quickly. Tao Qian was old and sick and could not stay with Liu Bei for long, so he ordered Mi Zhu brothers to arrange a hotel for Liu, Guan, Zhang and Zhao to stay, and asked Chen Deng and Tao Ji to arrange wine and meat to reward Liu Bei.

team, arranged a camp for Liu Bei's team, and Tao Qian himself returned to the back room to rest with the support of the pottery merchant.

After arriving at a deserted place, Tao Qian suddenly whispered to the pottery merchant: "Send someone to find your second brother and ask him to come back immediately after finishing the matter. As a father, I have something to discuss with him. Don't alert others."

The pottery merchant was really honest. He was naturally shocked when he heard his father's order. Tao Qian impatiently urged: "Go and make arrangements immediately. Remember, don't let others find out." The pottery merchant nodded.

Quickly arrange for servants to go to the church to call Tao Ying.

…………

It was not just Tao Qian and his son who were also discussing in secret. At the same time, Liu Bei temporarily dismissed the three generals Guan, Zhang and Zhao on the pretext of restraining his soldiers so as not to disturb the people. He and Mi Zhu's brothers went to the hotel to stay alone. On the way, Liu Bei smiled and asked Mi Zhu

: "Zizhong, Tao Shijun's second son seems different from what you described?"

"Mi Zhu is also wondering about this matter." Mi Zhu said doubtfully: "Logically speaking, the lord asked Duke Xuande to take over Xuzhou. He and the eldest son should firmly oppose it. Why would he express support and offer a concession before the lord?

Xuzhou?”

"Perhaps he, like my lord, was afraid of being killed by Cao Cao, so he and my lord came up with the idea of ​​giving the red-hot coals of Xuzhou to Duke Xuande." Mi Fang interjected: "Perhaps this matter was simply caused by the Lord.

Otherwise, with his little ability, he would never have been able to say so many appropriate words."

"It's not from Tao Shijun's instruction." Liu Bei shook his head and said with a smile: "I can see that he took the lead in proposing to give up Xuzhou. The surprised look on Tao Shijun's face is definitely not fake. This is enough to prove that before Tao Shijun

I definitely have no quarrel with that Second Young Master Tao."

"Did this stupid boy get enlightened and become smarter?" Mi Zhu also felt that Tao Qian's surprise was not fake, and sighed: "Whether this second young master Tao has enlightened or not, he took the lead in proposing to hand over Xuzhou to Xuande.

It also unintentionally caused some trouble for Xuande Gong. If it was the lord who first proposed to cede Xuzhou to Xuzhou, then no one in Xuzhou would dare to object - but now the second master Tao proposed to cede Xuzhou first.

, some people have the courage to oppose it.”

"It doesn't matter, Bei has no intention of annexing Xuzhou. Second Young Master Tao can let him play tricks if he likes." Liu Bei replied easily, then frowned and murmured: "Speaking of little tricks, Second Young Master Tao

What he said next seemed like a trick, saying that as long as I was around, there would be no worries about Cao Cao's troops retreating. These words seemed flattering, but in fact they were a test of my determination to retreat from Cao Cao, and a run to encourage me to leave the city to fight.

Cao.”

Mi Zhu was stunned and subconsciously reined in the horse's head. After carefully recalling it for a moment, Mi Zhu exclaimed in a low voice: "Xuan Degong said so, Mi Zhu also felt that something was wrong. The words of Master Tao Er seemed to be flattering and even-keeled, but in fact

But it was a clever test, instigating Duke Xuande to send troops to retreat from Cao, and at the same time, he blocked the way for Duke Xuande to take over Xuzhou immediately, forcing Duke Xuande to retreat Cao's troops first, and then discuss state affairs."

Liu Bei nodded silently, admitting that what Mi Zhu said was true, while Mi Fang said contemptuously: "That idiot also has this ability? I'm afraid it's a coincidence, right?"

"I hope it's a coincidence." Liu Bei sighed secretly, and then said quietly: "In short, this Second Young Master Tao is not that simple."

"Mi don't drive! Mi don't drive!"

Suddenly, nervous shouting came from the front of the street. A member of the Xuzhou Hundreds rushed over, grabbed the reins of Mi Zhu's horse, and shouted with sweat: "Stop, something big has happened! General Cao Bao"

I will immediately pay my respects to my lord at the end of my life. Where is your lord?"

"Don't be impatient. Speak slowly. What happened?" Mi Zhu asked.

"Second Young Master..., Second Young Master!" The hundred men wiped away their sweat and stammered, "Second Young Master, he is out of the city!"

"The second young master has gone out of the city? Where is he going out of the city?" Mi Zhu was very surprised. He thought to himself that Cao's soldiers were besieging the city on all sides, and if he went out of the city, he would be seeking death. Why did Tao Ying's son go out of the city?

"He went out of the city to deliver a message! Go to Cao Ying to deliver a message!" The hundred people shouted at the top of their lungs: "The second young master said that he is the son of the lord and should contribute to the army and people of Xuzhou, so the second young master took Xuande Gong's advice.

and a letter, and went to Cao Ying to deliver the letter in person! The second young master also said that if he can't come back, please ask us to kowtow to the lord on his behalf and apologize, saying that he can no longer fulfill his filial piety under the lord's knees!"

Liu Bei, Mi Zhu, Mi Fang and others were all stunned. The soldiers and civilians of Xuzhou who were watching were also shocked. They never expected that the legendary cowardly and incompetent Second Young Master Tao could have such a brave and righteous side, and could do it for Xuzhou.

The soldiers and civilians were saved from being massacred by Cao's army, and he personally went to Cao's camp to deliver a letter asking for peace!

"My lord, rest in the mansion, come with me." The matter was serious, and Mi Zhu did not dare to neglect it. He quickly led the hundred generals to Tao Mansion to deliver the message, and arranged for Liu Bei to rest at the post. Mi Zhu entrusted it to

Brother Mi Fang.

"It seems that I am too worried." Looking at Mi Zhu's hurried away figure, Liu Bei breathed a sigh of relief and said with a smile in his heart: "Mi Zizhong is right, a fool is a fool, even the ridicule of Cao Cao in my letter

Even if you don't notice it, you dare to go to Cao Ying to deliver the message in person. This second master Tao will definitely not come back."

"That's wrong!" After thinking about this, Liu Bei suddenly remembered something and turned to Mi Fang beside him and asked: "Zifang, does anyone in Cao's camp know this Second Young Master Tao?"

"No one should know him." Mi Fang said easily: "Second Young Master Tao lives in seclusion and spends his days either practicing martial arts or studying. Even in Xuzhou City, not many people know him. No one in Cao Jun's side probably knows him."

"That's good." Liu Bei sighed and said slowly: "Fortunately, no one in Cao camp knows the second young master - otherwise, the second young master will definitely not be able to escape the murderous hands. Tao Gong is old and sick. If he receives love

Bad news about my son, I'm afraid..."

"Ah, why did I forget this?" Mi Fang woke up with a startled scream, and whispered into Liu Bei's ear: "Don't worry, Mr. Xuande, someone in Cao Ying will definitely recognize the second young master!"

Liu Bei remained calm, turned his horse and said: "Master Mi, please go and make arrangements over at Guanyi. I am going to see Mr. Tao. The second young master Tao went out of the city to deliver a message and went deep into the dragon's pond and tiger's den. He is going to go to Mr. Tao to ask for orders."

Go to battle and rescue the second young master."
Chapter completed!