This strategy of mutual assistance between the inside and the outside was commonly used by warlords in the late Eastern Han Dynasty. It can be said that this strategy is common.
Among them, the person who is most skilled in using this method is probably Liu Biao. He himself was in Xiangyang to provide support, but he asked his confidant Huang Zu to lead a heavy army to guard Jiangxia. They coordinated internally and externally to guard against the most threatening Yuan Shu and Sun
Shi.
Later, when Cao Cao rose to power, Liu Biao took in the Xiliang warlord Zhang Xiu and allowed Xiliang soldiers to garrison in Wancheng. The two sides responded to each other and resisted Cao Cao for several years, preventing him from advancing southward.
After Zhang Xiu surrendered to Cao Cao, Liu Biao lost the 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 powerful enemy, including Cao Cao, could make a deep military incursion into Jingzhou.
Looking at Liu Biao's life, he was able to do this not only because of his ability, but also strategically, this Jingzhou boss had been using this internal and external method to protect Jingzhou, and it was an unexpected success.
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After listening to the complementary advice from both internal and external potters, Tao Qian couldn't help but feel greatly comforted.
This son of mine has really matured. Compared with the first glimpse of his talent before he left Xuzhou, the current pottery merchant appears to be more mellow 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 to have such profound thoughts. To be honest, you suddenly brought back so many foreign soldiers. For a moment, my father was really happy.
I don’t know how to deal with it. The local gentry in Xuzhou are also very worried about this, especially Cao Bao and Mi Zhu! If you can lead them all to Danyang County, one can become our Tao family outside Pengcheng.
With the help of my great help, you and I can work together internally and externally to intimidate all the noble families in Xuzhou, and on the other hand, we can also cut off the petty ideas of the local aristocratic families. It can be said that we kill two birds with one stone, but..."
Having said this, Tao Qian paused and then said: "But how should we explain it to Er Yuan? If we settle in Danyang County, we might offend both of them."
Tao Shang straightened his expression and said to Tao Qian: "It is definitely impossible not to offend Er Yuan's side even if you think about it. In this world, if we, father and son, want to avoid offending all parties, unless we surrender, I'm afraid my father will not."
Are you willing? So the two Yuans are fighting, and we can only choose one to follow."
The pottery merchant was silent for a while and said, "Who do you like more?"
"My child is arrogant. When I was in Luoyang, I already took the initiative to get close to Yuan Shao."
Tao Qian touched the white beard on his chin and said calmly: "But as a father, I prefer Yuan Shu."
The potter smiled and said: "What is the reason why my 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 for two reasons. One is because Luyang, where Yuan Shu currently lives, is located in the middle of the world. Once he captures Runan, Jiujiang, and Lujiang counties in the east, he can directly send his army to invade Xuzhou.
, and the Yuan family's ancestral home is in Runan, which has a great influence on the area. Therefore, if Yuan Shu wants to occupy Runan and the two adjacent counties of Huainan, it is not very difficult in theory. Secondly, among the Yuan sect of the fourth generation and the third Duke, Yuan Shu
He is the legitimate son and has a higher status than Yuan Shao.
Tao Qian cleared his throat, and the old god said: "My father likes Yuan Shu, so there is a reason why he likes him. You see, first of all, Yuan Shu..."
The pottery merchant smiled: "Yuan Shu is close to us, isn't that right?"
Tao Qian was stunned when he heard this, and then immediately shook his head.
As a father, if my son guesses his thoughts, how will he be able to hang out in the circle of princes in the future?
"No, actually, it's because Yuan Shu and Yuan Shao occupy one..."
Tao Shang continued: "He has assumed the identity of a legitimate son, and Yuan Shao is a concubine. What does father want to say?"
After hearing what the potter said, Tao Qian's face looked obviously not good-looking.
This brat has guessed all his reasons. Where do you want me to put my face?
"From what you said, it seems that you don't think highly of Yuan Shu. Then I ask you, what good is Yuan Shao?"
Tao Shang saw that Tao Qian was a little worried, but he was not in a hurry. He slowly tried to persuade him: "Father, let's put it this way, the child is in front of you right now. No matter how powerful Yuan Shao is, my father must not be convinced. The child just says
These two things serve as arguments to show why we must stay close to Yuan Shao and abandon Yuan Shu."
"What two things?" Tao Qian said slowly.
"The first thing is that Yuan Shao is a common son, but in the alliance of princes, he overpowers Yuan Shu and becomes the recognized leader of the princes alliance. This alone is not something that ordinary common people can do. Although Yuan Shu is not an ordinary person, but
Compared to Yuan Shao, both in terms of courage and ability, he is more than a little behind."
Tao Qian was thoughtful when he heard this. After hesitating for a long time, he said again: "What about the second thing?"
"Before going to the Jujube Alliance, Boyer had united with Kong Zhi in Yingchuan to have a secret fight with Yuan Shu and his vassal Sun Jian. Boyer felt that Yuan Shu had great ambitions and his strategy was to span Jing, Yu and Yang.
The land of three states, dominating the south, if Yuan Shu really achieves this goal, my father thinks, can Xuzhou still have a peaceful life?"
The second reason was the one that really entered Tao Qian's heart.
"Father, I think it doesn't matter who is more powerful, Yuan Shao or Yuan Shu. What's important is to see who of them poses the greatest threat to us in Xuzhou right now. To be honest, Yuan Shu is very close. If we don't find a way 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, my father would think that he would not plot our Xuzhou after becoming powerful."
Tao Qian let out a long sigh.
What Tao Shang said is indeed reasonable. At the moment, it is really not a question of which of the two Yuan has the ability to develop, but who is more greedy for Xuzhou.
Yuan Shaoyuan was in Jizhou and posed no threat to Xuzhou for a while. However, Yuan Shu was developing in the south and could be said to be a real strong neighbor.
Thanks to the advice from having children, I am really in love with myself.
"Son, according to you, I must take over the post of Danyang County Sheriff?"
The pottery merchant nodded and said: "We must accept it. My father is stationed in Pengcheng in the north, overseeing the internal affairs, and planning to conquer the two counties of Xiapi and Guangling with peace of mind. The child, Wang Lang, and Zhao Yu are respectively going to serve as the governor of the three counties in the south. I am in Danyang.
We will cultivate troops in the fields, develop internal formations, and train a strong army for my father. We, father and son, are in harmony with each other from the south to the north. We will unite with Yuan Shao in the north and contain Yuan Shu in the west. Within a few years, I, Tao, will be able to replace Yuan Shu and dominate the southeast.
"
Tao Qian couldn't help but feel happy after hearing this: "Just you? Do you want to replace Yuan Shu's position in the south with just Danyang County?"
The pottery merchant was not angry because of Tao Qian's teasing, but solemnly replied: "Yuan Shu can become a leader 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 pottery dealer's braggadocio: "Whatever you say, kid, but what you just said makes sense. We are echoing each other from the south to the north. This matter
The matter still needs to be done, and the fact that you brought the Baibo army to Danyang County has indeed saved me a lot of trouble. Anyway, I will get close to Yuan Shao and support you in going to Danyang to take up the post."
The Tao merchant bowed his arms to Tao Qian and said with a smile, "Thank you, father, for this."
"But, not only Bai Bojun, but Wang Yun and Huangfu Song, you also have to take them to Danyang."
When the pottery merchant heard this, his smile suddenly froze.
"Why take them away?"
Tao Qian said dissatisfied: "Nonsense, one of them is more senior than the other, and they are both leaders of the world's noble clans. If they don't go with you, will they have to stay here to harm me?"
What you say really makes no sense. If you don’t stay here to harm you, just stay with me and harm me?
"This..." The pottery merchant hesitated and wanted to refuse.
"This matter is settled." Tao Qian Xiong's son was obviously very good at it. He stood up, stretched out, and said slowly: "I need to discuss with everyone the matter of you leading everyone to Danyang County to take up the post."
Let's discuss it 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 Pengcheng, especially Mi Zhu and Cao Bao. You must not lose your etiquette.
.”
Crowning ceremony?
The potter touched his nose hesitantly, and admonished Tao Qian with a slight hesitation: "Father, according to the Book of Rites, a man should be crowned at twenty, right?"
Tao Qian was stunned for a moment when he heard this, blinked and looked at the pottery merchant, and said uncertainly: "Don't you have twenty yet?"
Potter: "..."
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 be just eighteen."
Tao Qian seemed to be enlightened when he heard the words, and nodded: "Yes, yes, I have just turned eighteen. Look at my memory... It's okay, it's not missing those two years. Besides, how can the crown ceremony of the princes be the same as others? Zhou Gong Shi
Secondly, when it comes to crowning, it is normal for children of noble clans to be crowned earlier. It is already too late for you...Hurry up and hold the crowning ceremony first, and then I can easily arrange your marriage."
The pottery merchant was stunned when he heard this.
"Dad, where is this going?"
Tao Qian rolled his eyes and said, "What are you following? At today's banquet, when Wang Situ and I were drinking alone, they had privately discussed the matter between you and his righteous daughter, and since you were on the Moon Dan Review,
Mi Zhu and Cao Bao have also secretly approached me to discuss your marriage. Judging from their intentions, it seems that they also want to marry me."
When the pottery merchant heard this, the corners of his mouth twitched involuntarily.
Tao Qian said to himself leisurely: "Back then, none of the Xuzhou nobles looked down on my son. Now, even Wang Yun wants to marry me. Hey, this marriage between nobles and tribes is an academic thing. What can I say?
I have to sell you at a good price."
The potter's face turned dark: "Dad, I'm listening to you."
Tao Qian seemed to be drunk and laughed loudly: "Just listen, it doesn't matter, it's all knowledge!"
After that, he stopped looking at the pottery man and wandered out of the room, leaving the pottery man alone to stare blankly at the old man's background, thoughtfully.
If your own father is like this, what else can a real Nimafu ask for?