Cao Cao knew that this was impossible, and this time was not even enough for his army to attack Tancheng, Tao Qian's seat.
Cao Cao said: "In other words, if you want to occupy Xuzhou, you can only use political means to solve it! Fortunately, Tao Qian is seriously ill and his time is running out. Xuzhou is no longer a territory for him, but a huge burden.
, as long as we can get what Tao Qian needs, it may not be impossible to get Xuzhou!"
The big men in this timeline are completely different from the big men in history. Because of the pressure from Lei Gong, the strength of the various princes is much stronger than in the original history, and the power of the princes is also much less than in history. If they are about to
Excluding the perished Liu Zhang, strictly speaking, there are now only four vassal forces left in the Han Dynasty.
Compared with the power of Liu Bei and Yuan Shao, Cao Cao and Tao Qian were much weaker. Last year, Cao Cao helped Tao Qian teach Yuan Shu a lesson. Tao Qian also intended to form an alliance with Cao Cao to jointly deal with the situation of the Han Dynasty, so the two sides began to become allies.
They communicated with each other and even helped Cao Cao raise soldiers for several months. The two weaklings hugged each other to keep each other warm. Cao Cao wanted to conquer Xuzhou this time because Tao Qian was running out of time, otherwise he would have continued to join forces with Tao Qian to keep warm!
It was because Tao Qian was seriously ill that he was able to get Xuzhou. However, Cao Cao also understood that this friendship alone was not enough for Tao Qian to hand over Xuzhou to him. He had to find a way to get what Tao Qian needed!
Guo Jiadao said: "Tao Qian has been seriously ill since this year. His two sons, Tao Shang and Tao Ying, cannot convince the public at all, and Tao Qian dare not hand over the position of Xuzhou Mu to them!"
Liu Bei is now dealing with Liu Zhang, who was passed down from father to son. Liu Yan and Liu Zhang's father and son are Han clan clans after all, and they have two reputations. Tao Qian's status is far inferior to Liu Yan, so he dare not bring up the matter of father to son.
! Moreover, he is not optimistic about the talents of his two sons, and has not allowed them to enter official careers until now.
"Now we are not the only ones who have thoughts about Xuzhou. The imperial court and Yuan Shao also have thoughts about Xuzhou. The imperial court is said to have sent Zhang Wen, an old minister, to Xuzhou. Zhang Wen was Tao Qian's former master. His coming to Xuzhou will definitely cause great harm to Tao Qian.
Under the influence of Tao Qian, Wang Lang and Zhao Yu, who are engaged in the governance of Tao Qian, also have their hearts set on the imperial court. During this period, they have been constantly persuading Tao Qian to hand over Xuzhou to the imperial court.
In the hands of the imperial court!" Guo Jia said worriedly.
The current situation is too difficult for Cao Cao. There is no prince that is easy to deal with. Every force is stronger than Cao Cao. If Xuzhou also falls, there will be no potential for Cao Cao's forces to develop. Conquering the world is a game.
It was simply a hell difficulty, which made him feel helpless!
But when Xun You heard Zhang Wen's name, his eyes lit up and he said, "My lord, it may not be impossible to get Xuzhou! The court has made a mistake this time!"
Cao Cao immediately asked: "What went wrong?"
Xuzhou is really too important to him. Without Xuzhou, his power would have no potential to develop. Then why would he spend so much energy to offend the powerful nobles to improve their strength?
It would be better to directly seek refuge with Yuan Shao, his younger brother. With his relationship with Yuan Shao, it is not easy for him to become the ninth minister!
Xun or Danding smiled and said: "Although Zhang Wen appears to be Tao Qian's old master, in fact Zhang Wen and Tao Qian have a grudge!"
Guo Jia was also surprised and said: "How could there be a grudge?"
Xun Yue said: "Tao Qian is a man of upright character and hates evil! His career was not smooth at that time. He was just a small 600-year-old man in Luoyang City, but Huangfu Song knew his talent and was the first to promote him.
Strictly speaking, Huangfu Song is Tao Qian’s old master!"
"In March of the second year of Zhongping (185), Beigong Boyu and others led the Qiang and Hu to invade Sanfu. The Guanzhong army could not resist, so the late emperor dispatched Zuo Chaqi General Huangfu Song, who had already suppressed the Yellow Turban Army.
During the crusade, Huangfu Song asked military generals to accompany him, and summoned Tao Qian, who was still a member of parliament at the time, to join him as the captain of Yangwu. However, in July, Huangfu Song had previously offended the ministers Zhao Zhong and Zhang Rang, and was unable to follow the instructions of the late emperor.
He wanted to put down the rebellion, so under the slander of the eunuchs, Huangfu Song was demoted and reduced in rank."
"The imperial court appointed Sikong Zhang Wen as a general of chariots and cavalry to go on a crusade. Zhang Wen invited Tao Qian to join the army, and the reception was very favorable. However, Tao Qian believed that it was Zhang Wen's relationship that caused Huangfu Song to be dismissed from office. In addition, Zhang Wen's military ability was far superior.
Far inferior to Huangfu Song, Tao Qian despised Zhang Wen's actions and felt dissatisfied. Even later, when the Western Expedition army returned to the court, Tao Qian openly humiliated Zhang Wen at a banquet of hundreds of officials. Zhang Wen was furious and planned to move Tao Qian away.
He went to the border and took Tao Qian back after being persuaded by others. Zhang Wen greeted Tao Qian at the palace gate, but Tao Qian did not appreciate it."
"So Zhang Wen is not so much an enemy to Tao Qian as his old master! If the court sends someone else, we have little hope, but by sending Zhang Wen, we may not have no chance!"
Cao Cao suddenly realized that the reason why Tao Qian became an enemy of Zhang Wen was because Huangfu Song's kindness was too great.
Captain Yangwu is a high-ranking official with a salary of 2,000 shi, which means he has entered the upper echelons of the Han Dynasty. If you look at "The Romance of the Three Kingdoms", you will find that there is a sentence that often appears in it, that is, the world is worth 2,000 shi!
If four generations and three nobles are the standard for top families, then the standard for aristocratic families is whether they can produce high-ranking officials with 2,000 shi. Every generation of high-ranking officials who produce 2,000 shi is a noble family. A family that has produced 2,000 shi is at least a powerful family.
2000 stone official, you are from a humble family. It can be said that Huangfu Song's promotion has directly raised the Tao family to the level of a powerful family. This kind of kindness is not ordinary, so Tao Qian will fight against the three princes.
One Zhang was warm.
Guo Jia's eyes lit up and he said: "Lord, this moment is a matter of life and death for us in Qingzhou. Without Xuzhou, our power has no future at all. Jia invites your lord to go to Xuzhou to meet Tao Qian, so that we can control Xuzhou at any time.
situation, and at the same time, it can also let Tao Qian see our sincerity!"
This chapter is not finished yet, please click the next page to continue reading the exciting content! Cao Cao understands what Guo Jia means, and now it’s time to fight. Without Xuzhou, his Qingzhou pastoral work is meaningless. Not only will he offend the Qingzhou family,
The nobles still have to risk their lives on the front line against Lei Gong? It's not like Cao Cao is sick, they might as well retreat to Jingzhou and become a rich man!
In this case, the safety of Qingzhou Mu is not that important!
After thinking for a long time, Cao Cao decided to give it a try, and then firmly said to Xun He: "Wen Ruo, I will leave the government affairs of Qingzhou to you. Fengxiao and I will go to Xuzhou to visit Tao Qian! This time we will make no progress or retreat!"
Seeing such a determined Cao Cao, Xun Yu did not persuade him. If Cao Cao failed in Xuzhou, at most he would be arrested, and his life would not be in danger. With the current situation, this Qingzhou shepherd may not have an easy life as an ordinary citizen!
The next day, Cao Cao took Guo Jiadianwei and a hundred-man cavalry team and rushed all the way to Tancheng, Xuzhou in the name of visiting Tao Qian!
Xuzhou, Tancheng, Zhoumufu!
Tao Qian, who was seriously ill, kept recalling his past while lying in bed. He might be really dying, and his memories of the past became extremely clear!
The sorrow of losing his father when he was young, the dissolute youth, the excitement of being favored by his father-in-law, the depression of his unsuccessful official career, the high-spiritedness of being favored by Huangfu Song and becoming the captain of Yangwu, the dangers of the expedition to Xiliang, and the peace of farming in Xuzhou
, the honor of becoming Xuzhou Shepherd, his life came to an end so quickly.
Tao Qian was not unwilling to give in. His father was just the magistrate of Yuyao County. He also died when he was young. The Tao family was just a poor and poor family. And he, Tao Qian, now worships Xuzhou Mu, General Anton, and he
He is already the most outstanding disciple of the Tao family in hundreds of years. In the future, he will definitely call him the ancestor of the Tao family. What else can he be dissatisfied with!
Now the only people Tao Qian can't worry about are his two sons, Tao Shang and Tao Ying. His two sons don't have much talent at all. If the Han Dynasty was still in its prime, relying on their own fame, they might even be able to become 2,000-shi merchants.
Prefect, but in such troubled times, Tao Qian's greatest hope is to save their lives and continue the incense of the Tao family!
Just as Tao Qian was reminiscing about the past, his son Tao Shang came to Tao Qian and whispered: "Father, Wang Lang, who is in charge of the government, and Zhao Yu, who is leaving, are asking for an audience!"
Tao Qian said: "Let them come in!"
Wang Lang, who was engaged in the administration, and his companion Zhao Yu saw Tao Qian saluting and asked, "Is my lord in good health?"
Tao Qian smiled and said: "It's still the same as before. From now on, Xuzhou's affairs will depend on you!"
Zhao Yu whispered: "Yuan Shao's chief minister, Xu You, came to Xuzhou and wanted to see his lord. The Prime Minister of Langxie sent news that Cao Cao, the pastor of Qingzhou, led 100 guards to Xuzhou and wanted to see his lord's condition!"
Tao Qian smiled bitterly and said: "I am an old man who has not made much achievements in my life, and I don't have much fame! Isn't it worth their while to visit me? Why don't they all rush to Xuzhou!"
Tao Qian had no intention of letting his son take over as the pastor of Xuzhou. He had the indifference of an outsider and could easily see their purpose! He also stated their purpose nonchalantly.
Then he looked at Wang Lang and Zhao Yu and asked: "Who do you think Xuzhou should be handed over to? Cao Cao? Yuan Shao? Or Liu Bei?"
Wang Lang and Zhao Yu looked at each other and then Wang Lang said: "Ming Gong, we naturally want the imperial court to take over Xuzhou, but it's a pity that everyone's idea is to maintain the current situation in Xuzhou unchanged. They don't want people from the imperial court to take over Xuzhou!"
Now Xuzhou is divided into three factions, namely the local faction, the faction that seeks refuge with Yuan Shao, and the faction that seeks refuge with the imperial court. As for Cao Cao, basically no one likes him. His strength is too weak.
The wealthy nobles in Xuzhou could see it more clearly. Under such circumstances, naturally no one would value Cao Cao. If they really wanted to join Cao Cao, their family property would probably turn into Cao Cao's military expenses!
Wang Lang and Zhao Yu were royalists. Historically, Wang Lang and Zhao Yu suggested to Tao Qian that they pay tribute to Emperor Xian, who was still a puppet at the time, to show support for the Han Dynasty. Emperor Xian appreciated Tao Qian's memorial and was promoted.
Tao Qian was appointed as Xuzhou Mu and General Anton, Zhao Yu was appointed as the Prefect of Guangling, and Wang Lang was appointed as the Prefect of Kuaiji.
But the royalist faction in Xuzhou is not very powerful, and the local faction is the strongest. They want to elect a Xuzhou shepherd among the powerful locals in Xuzhou to maintain the current situation in Xuzhou, and no one will join them!
To be honest, the noble families in the Han Dynasty have the best life in Xuzhou. They are far away from Hebei and do not have a strong sense of crisis. The noble families in Xuzhou have basically maintained the original treatment of the wealthy noble families in the Han Dynasty, but have not increased their responsibilities much. Others
The princes are all thinking of ways to launch military campaigns. Cao Cao has an army of 150,000 in Qingzhou. Although the combat effectiveness is not strong, the number is scary enough. Xuzhou, which is richer than Qingzhou and has a larger population, only has 5 people now.
Ten thousand troops!
And such a huge army naturally costs a lot of money. Cao Cao's acquisition of 30 million acres of land from the nobles alone made the local nobles in Xuzhou look down on Cao Cao!
The court represented by Liu Bei was even more disdainful to them. Firstly, Liu Bei was from a humble background and was not favored by Xuzhou's wealthy nobles. Secondly, Liu Bei implemented a policy of dividing the land between people and restricting the powerful in Yangzhou and Jingzhou. Salt and Iron
Official camp, these are completely the tyranny of the former Han Dynasty. Such policies will naturally not be liked by the wealthy nobles in Xuzhou. Except for the real royalists, there are really few people in Xuzhou who want to join Liu Bei!
Relatively speaking, they like Yuan Shao more. He was born in a famous family and is famous all over the world. The three states of Sili implement the policy of the nobles and nobles sharing the world. It feels like the big nobles rule the world together.
If the privileges of these powerful noble families are stipulated by law, this can be said to be their utopia.
But their only dissatisfaction is that Yuan Shao's power is too tilted towards the military side. In the land of three states, he actually supports 300,000 troops. Naturally, such a huge army cannot be supported by clay legs. The most they can do is to send troops.
Man, who is paying?
Of course, they are the wealthy nobles. The wealthy nobles in Xuzhou do not want to raise an army of 100,000 in Xuzhou, and it is also a well-equipped and fully armed army. To arm such an army, at least billions will be plundered from them.
come out!
Therefore, although the noble families in Xuzhou are close to Yuan Shao, they do not want to take refuge with Yuan Shao. They think it is good to maintain the current relationship. They close their doors in Xuzhou and live their own good lives without paying attention to the disputes outside!
After hearing this, Tao Qian smiled bitterly and said: "There will be such good things there. Now we are fighting for hegemony in troubled times. If the forces in the world do not advance, they will retreat. You see, Cao Cao can be regarded as the weakest prince in the world, but he is still risking his life.
If we want to expand our own power, how can we in Xuzhou stay out of it! If we don't choose anyone, the most likely possibility is that Xuzhou will be carved up by Cao Cao, Liu Bei and Yuan Shao. They are all now thinking of ways to improve their strength to deal with Hebei's Lei Gong. Yes
It is impossible for us in Xuzhou to stay out of the matter!"