Sun Jian was furious, but he still sent people to send grain, horses, ordnance and other items back to Kong Ni... He had to swallow this breath if he didn't want to.
Kong Niao was so happy that he almost burst out of joy. Not only did he take back the 200,000 stones of grain and fodder that he had given away, but he also got some horses and weapons for free. Although it was not much, who in this world would dislike others for giving less?
But what made him most happy was the support he received from Yuan Shu.
Kong Ni's mouth was filled with an excited and overflowing smile all day long, making the pottery man shake his head.
Finally unable to hold it back any longer, the pottery merchant decided to give some advice to Kong Ni.
"Uncle Shi, my nephew has spoken out boldly, please forgive me...I think you should restrain yourself."
Kong Min asked doubtfully: "What does my nephew mean by this? Is my behavior very arrogant?"
Tao Shang shook his head: "I can't say he is arrogant, but Shi Shule has not shut his mouth all day long... The person who was responsible for escorting the grain and grass for you just now has a dark face. Could it be that Shi Shule didn't see it?"
Kong Niao didn't have a long memory at all. He stroked his beard and laughed and said: "I was excited for a moment and didn't pay much attention...Why should my nephew be so careful about such a big thing? He's overthinking it."
The pottery merchant really hated iron for not being made into steel at this moment: "My nephew is not cautious... In my conscience, it is not a good thing for a scholar to be too shameless, but he should not be too shameless! Sun Jian was extremely depressed at the moment. If his envoy went back to destroy the world,
I can describe my uncle's wonderful expression to him. Uncle Shi, can you guess what Sun Jian's expression will look like? My nephew thinks this will lay the foundation for disaster."
Kong Miao waved his long sleeves carelessly: "Now that I have surrendered to Mr. Yuan, what can he do to me? My nephew is too worried! Come, come, let me introduce you to someone."
Having said that, he no longer listened to the potter's advice and got up first and went to the side hall of the mansion.
Tao Shang said this and said no more... Since he wanted to die himself, there was nothing he could do to stop him.
Following Kong Niao to the side hall, I saw a tall scribe in Tsing Yi sitting in the hall. When he saw Kong Niao and the pottery merchant approaching, he immediately stood up and saluted.
Kong Min smiled and introduced the pottery merchant, saying: "This is Duke Xu of Xu Jing of Runan. As I mentioned to you before, it is all thanks to Duke Xu's ability to go to persuade Yuan Shu this time."
The pottery merchant hurriedly greeted Xu Jing: "Young pottery merchant, I have met Mr. Xu."
Although Xu Jing was nominally working under Kong Min, after all, he was once the minister of Luoyang, and later moved to the position of censor Zhongcheng. He was a deputy who assisted the censor to supervise hundreds of officials...a somewhat modern version of the Second Supervision Department of the Supreme Commission for Discipline Inspection.
A leader-level existence! That’s why Kong Ni and him are called masters and slaves, but in fact they are both teachers and friends.
Xu Jing had high qualifications, but he really didn't have that much airs in front of the pottery merchants. He returned the gift with a smile and asked Kong Wan: "Gongxu, could this be the art of dividing Yuan for you?
The Tao family’s son Sun Jian’s plan?”
Kong Min nodded and said, "This is the boy. What do you think of Mr. Xu?"
Xu Jing couldn't help but nod. If he had WeChat, he would definitely give the pottery merchant a big thumbs up and comment a string of 666.
"The person who can come up with such a plan is definitely not an ordinary Confucian scholar. That old guy Tao Gongzu is not very capable himself, but the son he gave birth to is really great."
The pottery merchant asked Xu Jing curiously: "Does Mr. Xu know my father?"
Xu Jing laughed loudly and said: "Of course I recognize it. When your father was appointed Yilang in Luoyang, the two of us had many contacts in government affairs... As the years passed, we both got older. The young master was still young, but he was already in office.
The duty of supervising an army is truly that of a young hero."
"I dare not accept Mr. Xu's false praise..." Tao Shang said with a bitter smile: "Young man is just a piece of grass. His job as a military supervisor is just to inherit the virtues of my ancestors and to share my father's worries."
Xu Jing smiled: "If nothing else, let's just look at how Mr. Tao saved Kong Gongxu from the siege this time. He is so mature and strong... With the ability of Mr. Tao, he will be able to fly in a few years, so why bother to commit suicide?
Where's the bitch?"
Kong Min next to him interjected: "You two have been chattering for a long time. I am tired of listening. Come and come, come and follow me to the front hall. Kong will prepare a small amount of wine to celebrate the achievements of the two heroes and chat to help them!
"
The three of them returned to the front hall, where food and wine were ready. The three of them poured their own glasses of wine and drank to their heart's content.
Looking down at the wine cup in his hand, the pottery merchant sighed secretly. Every time he drank this wine, it felt a little too bland...
Xu Jing saw the pottery merchant staring at the wine cup thoughtfully, and wanted to test him. He asked: "In my opinion, what are the chances of the princes winning against Dong Zhuo this time?"
The potter laughed dryly, picked up the flask, poured himself a drink, and said, "Young man is young and ill-informed, and he talks nonsense. I'm afraid he will make Mr. Xu laugh at you."
Xu Jing shook his head and said: "Master Tao is a well-known and benevolent man, and he is a member of our generation. Why should he be too humble? And what is ridiculous about talking about a banquet? Let's help the wine."
Kong Min spoke up and said, "That's right, my dear nephew, we are all so familiar with each other! There is no need to be modest. Mr. Xu is a well-known and observant person in the world. He takes both black and white..."
"Ahem!" Upon hearing these words, Tao Shang choked without finishing his gulp of wine, and Xu Jing's face became a little stiff for a moment.
Tao Shang secretly sighed, right and wrong... This is obviously what I said. Kong Min didn't let me say it before. It's a good thing for this old fool. Today he said that he was bald in front of others.
.
Kong Min also came to his senses and hurriedly changed his words: "Both the government and the public know it, haha, know it, know it... If my nephew has something on his mind, just tell him, there will be no harm in it."
The potter raised his eyebrows.
It seems like I have to open some plug-ins today to show off my foresight advantage.
"That kid is just a little bit ridiculous. In my opinion, the attack on Dong will not fail, but it will be very difficult to succeed."
Xu Jing was curious: "What does Mr. Tao mean by this? Please explain in more detail."
Tao Shang was thinking about the words as he said: "Dong Zhuo occupied Luoyang, holding the Central and Central Imperial Army, the Yulin Army, the Southern Army and the Northern Army, the Xiliang Army, and the Bingzhou Langqi who surrendered to him with Lu Bu. Looking at it, the army is indeed the most powerful in the world, but
He was too wanton and indulgent and killed too much, which was tabooed by the people of the world. Therefore, the princes of Guandong took the initiative in people's opinions. Although the princes were not as powerful as Dong Zhuo, they were strong enough to fight together. Dong Zhuo fought against the world with his own strength.
, this alone is at a disadvantage. Therefore I say that if the princes challenge Dong, they will not be defeated."
Xu Jing stroked his long beard and nodded, saying: "Then why can't you win?"
Tao Shang sighed: "Didn't Mr. Xu see this with his own eyes? The battle has not even started yet. On our side, Yuan Shu and Sun Jian have already begun to plot allies. First, they are the governor of Jingzhou, and then the governor of Nanyang.
Now Governor Kong almost fell into their scheme again... It is said that the princes are united and work together to kill the thieves, but in fact, who is not a little evil? People will have selfish motives, Yuan Shu and Sun Jian have it, Yuan Shao and Gongsun Zan in the north,
People like Cao Cao are also selfish, and everyone has their own agenda... May I ask Mr. Xu, how can we win this battle?"
Xu Jing sighed and remembered that he went to Luyang to work as a lobbyist for Kong Ni. Although Yuan Shu seemed cheerful, his behavior did not consider the court at all... This child was young, but he saw clearly.
"Then Mr. Yi said that the result of this challenge to Dong is likely to be in vain, with a beginning and no end?"
The pottery merchant nodded and said, "I'm not sure I can say yes, but I guess it's close to ten."
Xu Jing nodded and said, "Be taught."
The pottery merchant waved his hand quickly: "Xu Gong's words make the younger generation ashamed, but they are just drunken gibberish."
Xu Jing did not respond to his words, but suddenly changed the subject and said: "Master Tao, have you ever accepted the National Examination?"
"Ah?" The pottery merchant couldn't help but be confused after hearing this... What does it mean?
Xu Jing misunderstood Tao Shang's expression and said with a smile: "It turns out that Mr. Tao has not promoted filial piety and integrity to the official position. Your old father is really confused. Although he is now the governor of Xuzhou, if he wants to appoint you as an official in the future, everything still needs to be done."
Isn't it just a matter of rules? How can a father not consider his son's career at all?"
Tao Shang couldn't help but feel ashamed when he heard this... Tao Qian was not responsible for this fact... It was really because the previous owner of the body failed to live up to expectations and did not want to be an official!
The pottery merchant turned to look at Kong Niao, and saw the little old man with a happy face and said happily: "Master Tao, congratulations, Mr. Xu is willing to honor you as Xiaolian. This honor is rare. Don't look at Xu.
Although the Duke is my retainer, when he fled Luoyang...he came out with the official title and seal of the Yushi Zhongcheng! The filial, honest and talented person who can be personally promoted by the Yushi Zhongcheng, looking at the thirteen states of my Han Dynasty, is also
Not many."
Although the pottery merchant was stunned for a moment, he soon came to his senses.
By the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, the inspection and examination system had been basically monopolized by aristocratic families... mutual flattery and deception had become the basic rules for promoting filial piety and integrity, and most of the inspection and evaluation systems were untrue.
But the pottery merchant didn't mind this kind of lax assessment... He followed the trend and used Xu Jing's personnel resources to make a name for himself. Why not do such a cost-effective deal... Besides, this was Xu Jing's fault, and he didn't have it.
beg him.
"In that case, I would like to thank Mr. Xu for his kindness."
Xu Gong nodded and said: "Don't worry, young master, you saved Kong Gongxu's life. As his good friend, how can Xu not repay you generously? General Xu Shao of Runan is my cousin, please treat me."
Please tell him to pick a day and let your name appear in the "Monthly Review"."
Xu Jing also spent a lot of money to repay the pottery merchant this time. Not only did he promise to personally promote the pottery merchant's Xiaolian as the censor Zhongcheng, but he also promised to let him appraise the pottery merchant on the first day of the month.
If these two things are really at the bottom, Xuzhou Tao Gongzi's virtuous reputation can be regarded as resounding throughout the world.
The potter's expression was obviously not as ecstatic as Xu Jing and Kong Niao imagined...
The boy frowned and thought for a long time, and then slowly said: "Does this count as cheating?"
Xu Jing and Kong Min were choked up when they heard this.
Look at this kid breaking his chatter into pieces.
"Son." Kong Min said earnestly: "How can this be considered cheating? You are a talented person in this world, and Mr. Xu recommends talents for the 'Yuedan Ping', which is true and practical!"
The pottery merchant nodded and asked, "How do you plan to evaluate me in the 'Yuedan Review', Mr. Xu?"
Xu Jing thought for a while and said: "A hero in times of peace and a hero in troubled times. Can I see my wise nephew?"
The pottery merchant shook his head and said: "Gong Xu praised me too much, and I feel that the name is not worthy of the name."
Xu Jingqi asked: "Then according to my nephew's opinion, how should we evaluate it?"
The pottery merchant thought for a long time and said slowly: "I think a gentleman is a gentleman in peace and a loyal man in troubled times... A lower profile is more in line with my nephew's style."