In the blink of an eye, another year passed, and the time entered 195 AD, the third year of Jiankang.

The pottery merchant who went to Xuzhou to attend the funeral for his father finally arrived in Xuzhou.

He rushed to Tancheng in a dusty journey.

At this time, Tao Ying in Tancheng had received Liu Qi's letter.

As soon as this letter arrived, Tao Ying's lungs almost exploded with anger.

The tone of the letter was polite, but it was full of threats.

The content of Liu Qixin's letter was concise and comprehensive, and the general meaning was that he would report to the court that Tao Ying should be the Mu of Xuzhou, and at the same time ask the court to appoint the pottery merchant as the governor of Qianwei County, and he would take office after three months of mourning.

In fact, this was a good thing for Tao Ying, but Liu Qi's tone in the letter was really not very polite.

The general meaning of the letter is that if you are obedient, I will naturally make you a Xuzhou pastor. If you are disobedient, let alone Xuzhou pastor, Mr. Liu will kill you sooner or later if you stay in Xuzhou.

"Liu Qi, he actually dares to threaten me!"

Tao Ying threw the slips heavily on the ground and shouted: "This Jing dog only occupied Jing and Yi states, so he dares to be so arrogant? Why should I listen to him! He is the state shepherd."

, I am also a state pastor of a state, why should I listen to him?"

Next to Tao Ying, Mi Zhu, a wealthy man from the East China Sea, picked up the letter and read it roughly.

When he was young, he saw Mi Zhu closing the slip and said to Tao Ying: "Don't be angry, young lord. Liu Qi now spans the two states of Jingyi and has huge power. He and Yuan Shao are one to the south and one to the north. They are two powerful figures. They have many soldiers and generals. They are very powerful."

It is reasonable for him to look down on Shaojun, but regardless of Liu Qi's arrogance, his proposal is still very good. Today, Liu Qi will be recognized as the emperor's brother, and he will be the help and support of the Han court in the south.

If he advises the emperor, the lord's position as Xuzhou Mu will be confirmed, and the pottery merchant will be recalled to the south by him, which will not pose any threat to Shaojun's foundation. This is a great good thing, Shaojun

I can bear my anger for a while and agree to Liu Qi to treat the pottery merchant well, so that I can gain both trust and fame."

Tao Ying said aggrievedly: "It's just that I feel really unhappy."

Mi Zhu sighed and said: "In the current situation, Gongsun Zan is going south, and Cao Cao is also planning to launch an army to the east. We are surrounded by enemies on all sides. If Shaojun even takes the position of Xuzhou Mu, how can Xuzhou do this?

Is it safe? Please bear with your anger for a while and don't become Liu Qi's enemy."

As soon as Tao Ying heard Mi Zhu talk about the military strength in the north and west, he felt his head pounding.

"Gongsun Zan is going south. Cao Bao has led his troops to resist, but the fighting situation has not been good. If Cao Cao sends troops to invade the country again at this time, it will be difficult for us to resist. Please ask Zizhong for help and find a way for me."

Mi Zhu said: "At this time, we must negotiate peace with Cao Cao, give him money, food and goods, and implore peace between the two families. As long as we can stabilize Cao Cao, even though Gongsun Zan's troops and horses alone are difficult to defeat, we will not be destroyed."

disaster."

In this time and space, Tao Qian never dared to offend Liu Qi and responded to Yuan Shu because the pottery merchant was in the hands of Liu Qi. Therefore, Xuzhou did not form an antagonistic relationship with Yuan Shao and Cao Cao, and there was no incident where Cao Cao destroyed pottery and massacred Pengcheng.

.

And Cao Cao's father, Cao Song, did not die at the hands of the Xuzhou people, and has now arrived in Puyang safely.

Therefore, although the relationship between the Cao and Tao families was relatively normal, it was by no means as bitter and bitter as in history.

As long as the conditions offered by Tao Ying are generous enough, Cao Cao can still be stabilized.

Although the counties in Xuzhou have experienced many wars in recent years, they have not suffered any fatal blows.

Therefore it is quite abundant.

"Okay, then let's follow what Mr. Zizhong said and send Sun Qian as an envoy to see Cao Cao in Puyang... As for my brother, that's it, treat him well and let him come back to Jingzhou in peace and safety. As long as he Just don’t cause trouble..."

"Young Master is wise."

…

Tao Shang returned to Tancheng to pay homage to his late father, and then visited his younger brother Tao Ying. The two brothers held each other's hands and cried in the mourning hall.

Of course, the potter's tears are more real, while Tao Ying's tears are more fake.

Later, in front of everyone, Taoying took out the seal of Xuzhou Mu and asked the pottery merchant to take it. He also said that since ancient times, the family business should be inherited by the eldest son.

But the pottery merchant refused to comply.

He said that Xuzhou Mu was a court position, not a private property of the Tao family, and he should abide by the court's will. The court had already issued an edict to make him the governor of Qianwei County, and took the post in an affectionate manner. After he kept his filial piety, he should return to Yizhou. Xuzhou Mu has no relationship with him.

Tao Ying repeatedly requested, but the pottery merchant simply refused.

Seeing his brother's sincere retreat, Tao Ying softened his heart. At the same time, he felt a little guilty in his heart. Was he being too guarded against his brother?

From childhood to adulthood, the pottery merchant has always given way to himself, and he is truly a gentleman.

Tao Ying then accepted the seal and the ribbon, and the two brothers treated each other honestly.

Three months later, the pottery merchant asked Tao Ying for orders to go to Zhuge's house in Langya County and visit Zhuge Xuan, a famous scholar in Langya, for Liu Qi.

Zhuge Xuan used to be an official of Liu Biao, but later resigned and returned to his hometown and returned to Xuzhou. Tao Ying knew this.

Liu Qi, the representative of the pottery merchant, went to visit him. He only wanted to talk about things in Jingzhou, which did not have a big impact on Tao Ying, so he readily agreed.

The pottery merchant immediately went to Zhuge's house.

Zhuge Xuan worked as an official under Liu Biao. Later, when he heard that his brother Zhuge Gui had died of illness, he resigned and returned home to take care of the family business in his brother's stead. This passed quickly for many years.

The Zhuge family had contacts with Yuan Shu in the past. Yuan Shu admired Zhuge Xuan's reputation. Last year, he wrote a letter and wanted to commend him as the governor of Yuzhang County. He asked his family to move south to Lujiang and granted him an important assignment.

Zhuge Xuan was a little hesitant about this and didn't know what to do.

Until Tao Qian died of illness and Gongsun Zan led his troops south to attack Xuzhou, Zhuge Xuan vaguely felt that Xuzhou seemed to be a little uneven.

At this time, the pottery merchant representing Liu Qi came to see Zhuge Xuan.

Tao Shang was Tao Qian's son and Liu Qi's envoy, so Zhuge Xuan had to treat him with caution.

Although he had never seen him before, Zhuge Xuan still greeted the pottery merchant warmly.

The pottery merchant was not polite and told Zhuge Xuan that Liu Qi wanted Zhuge Xuan to move his family to Jingzhou.

At the same time, Liu Qi also expressed his willingness to go to the court and agree with Yuan Shu's petition to invite Zhuge Xuan to be the governor of Yuzhang County. He just hoped that Zhuge Xuan would not go to Lujiang but come to Jingzhou to take up the post.

After all, most of the area under Yuzhang County was in the hands of Sun Jian. Even if Zhuge Xuan had received the imperial decree, he would be just courting death if he took office directly.

Zhuge Xuan was very hesitant when he heard this.

"Xuanxin accepts General Zhenxi's kindness, but Zhuge Xuan has never interacted with General Zhenxi before. Why does General Zhenxi treat me so kindly?"

Tao Shang said: "General Zhenxi crossed Jingzhou and Yizhou. He was a hero of the time. He studied from Liu Jingzhou, and he often thought of this world-famous sage of Confucian classics. The Zhuge family in Langya was a famous noble family, and General Zhenxi had long admired his name.

, he hopes that the Zhuge family can go to Jingzhou, live and work in peace and contentment, study and become officials. This can be regarded as General Zhenxi preserving a famous family for the Han Dynasty. This is the original intention of General Zhenxi, nothing more."

Zhuge Xuan sighed in his heart and said: "But Yuan Gongli invited me to Lujiang first. If I don't respond, I might be criticized by others."

Tao Shang said: "Yuan Shu has great ambitions and talents, but now he has conquered the Yangtze and Huaihe Rivers and levied excessive taxes, and he does not know how to care for the people. Jingzhou is the land of Fengle, and is protected like an iron barrel by General Zhenxi. Only by going to Jingzhou can Zhuge Gong make his family peaceful and prosperous."
Chapter completed!