In the main hall of Fanxian's mansion, Emperor Liu Xie was holding a pot of fresh broth, drinking it deliciously.
Even when he is growing up, he only eats meat early in the morning. This child's living habits are really out of this world.
While the food was delicious, a waiter reported to Liu Xie that a pottery merchant had come to see him.
Naturally, Liu Xie had no reason not to miss this popular man who was currently being favored.
After a while, I saw a pottery merchant entering the hall.
Seeing Liu Xie's mouth full of oil-stained twists, Master Taiping couldn't help but frown, feeling somewhat disgusted in his heart.
It’s not that the pottery merchant himself is very clean, the problem is that this naughty kid’s eating habits really cannot be promoted. He drinks broth for breakfast, and then you are not allowed to take off at lunch?
Years of wandering around have worn away the little imperial spirit in this child, and instead he has turned into a pure snack.
He also has a round face in the morning and evening.
"I, the pottery merchant, pay homage to your majesty. Long live your majesty."
When Liu Xie heard the title Long Live, his face lit up with joy.
This is really comforting to hear.
"Ai Qing Ping Shen! Ai Qing came to court so early. Could it be that there is something important to do?"
Tao Shang took a deep look at Liu Xie and suddenly said: "My spies in Jizhou reported that after receiving your majesty's edict, Yuan Shao immediately mounted his army, turned back to Liyang, and headed straight for Fan County.
As for Tian Kai, Kong Rong and others, they have been in Xuzhou for a long time. In a blink of an eye, they will arrive with their father to escort them together. Cao Cao will also come soon. When the dragon and tiger meet, they will
It’s time for Your Majesty to show off his skills and re-establish the principles of the government.”
When Liu Xie heard that all the princes had arrived, he couldn't help but feel a little excited for no reason.
This is a spectacle that has not been seen in many years!
Since the last time the Kwantung princes attacked Dong Zhuo, they have never gathered for my safety.
From this point of view, my move to Fan County this time is really a move that shocked the world!
The fact that he was treated so seriously by the princes was all due to the Tao Taiping in front of him.
Liu Xiegang wanted to praise the pottery merchant, but he heard the pottery merchant suddenly ask: "Your Majesty, my spies in Hebei also brought back a message, saying that in the edict written by Yuan Shao, your Majesty mentioned that he would be conferred the title of general.
One thing, I wonder if this is possible?"
Liu Xie was stunned when he heard this.
"Aiqing's spies are so powerful, they can even find out everything in the edict I wrote to Yuan Shao... He is a real person, so he will give me two servants later."
When the pottery merchant heard what Liu Xie said, he knew that what Ma Xun said was indeed accurate.
"Your Majesty, the position of general is of great importance. I am young and inexperienced, and have no significant contribution to the court. If you rashly appoint me to this important position, I may not be accepted by the world."
Liu Xie was stunned when he heard this.
He originally thought that this incident would be a surprise to his pottery merchant, but he never expected that the pottery merchant would refuse the matter to the end.
Some time ago in Puyang, Jia Xu went to see Liu Xie late at night and told him that the pottery merchants would probably take the opportunity to welcome him and leave Puyang in the near future.
And if the pottery merchant takes the emperor to Pengcheng, it means that the pottery merchant is the same treacherous person as Dong Zhuo, Li Jue and others, and must not be trusted!
But Tao Shang has the reputation of a gentleman after all. If he is willing to let Liu Xie establish his own government and help Liu Xie to control various princes for Liu Xie's future plans, it means that this son is a rare loyal minister in the world.
Then Liu Xie must find a way to win over him.
Liu Xie asked Jia Xu at that time how to win over the pottery merchants. But Jia Xu, an old fox, did not tell him directly. Instead, he gave Liu Xie a tips bag and asked him to open it when he needed it.
This was not Jia Xu deliberately pretending to be sophisticated in front of Liu Xie, but a roundabout psychological tactic that made Liu Xie, who was only thirteen years old, feel that this tip could be saved under a mysterious illusion.
The clever plan of the Han Dynasty, so he was convinced of it.
After arriving at Fan County, Liu Xie opened his brochure, and Jia Xu indeed stated in it that loyal ministers and lofty ideals must be held in high positions, so that they could be willingly used by the Heavenly Family.
In addition, Jia Xu indirectly pointed out Liu Xie, telling him that Tao Shang himself was the son-in-law of the Wang family in Taiyuan and a disciple of Huangfu Song, and his younger brother Tao Ying was also an honorary disciple of Wang Yun.
The loyalty of Wang Yun and Huangfu Song left an impression on Liu Xie.
Coupled with Jia Xu's pretense of mystery, the child was convinced of the potter's personality.
With this deep belief, Liu Xie followed the path designed by Jia Xu and prepared to confer the rank of general on the pottery merchant.
However, the old fox finally made some omissions.
His advice was to allow Liu Xie to confer the title of general on the pottery merchant when the princes arrived at Fan County, so that there would be no room for maneuver in this matter.
The problem is that Liu Xie is only thirteen years old after all. Compared with Jia Xu, who is nearly fifty, what a thirteen-year-old boy lacks most is composure.
To put it simply, a dog cannot hold two ounces of sesame oil in its belly.
Liu Xie couldn't hold it in any longer and revealed the matter in advance.
Facing the pottery merchant's inquiry, Liu Xie blushed and lowered his head without saying a word.
But the potter didn't need him to answer. He could probably guess what was going on just by looking at his expression.
Prince Taiping showed a helpless expression and said: "Your Majesty, I don't know if this is your Majesty's idea, but your Majesty has decreed that I should be made a general. I am lucky in this matter, but the one who will suffer in the future will be your Majesty."
Yourself."
Liu Xie was stunned when he heard this.
I have conferred upon myself a great general, how can I still suffer? Isn’t this a happy event?
"I don't quite understand what Aiqing means by this."
The pottery merchant patiently explained to Liu Xie: "Your Majesty, if you want to establish independent governance in Fan County, do you know what you need most right now?"
Liu Xie frowned when he heard this and said, "A soldier?"
The potter shook his head vigorously and said: "No! Your Majesty does not need to go into battle to kill the enemy, so why do you need soldiers! Your Majesty, what you need most now is money!"
Liu Xie was stunned again when he heard this.
Am I short of money? Why don’t I think so?
Tao Shang counted with his fingers and said to Liu Xie: "I will calculate the accounts for your Majesty for one year. If your Majesty wants to be independent in Fan County, you will have to form a new dynasty in the future. Who will pay for the salary and food of these ministers?"
?Who pays for your Majesty’s daily food and clothing? Your Majesty does not have a palace to live in now. If you want to repair a palace for living and conducting business, who will pay for this huge project for human use?”
Liu Xie was stunned when he heard this.
A thirteen-year-old child has no idea about money, especially since he has never been in charge before.
Without the support of people like Dong Zhuo, Li Jue, and Cao Cao, he seemed to be as poor as the pottery merchant said, with nothing.
"But... I am making you a general, Aiqing. What does this have to do with money?"
Tao Shang sighed and said: "Your Majesty has conferred the greatest official position to me, so how can the princes willingly take money for your Majesty to establish a new court and repair a new palace? I can tell you how loyal I am to you, but your Majesty just won't do it."
If you grant me an official title, I am willing to share your Majesty's worries, but for other princes, this is not necessarily the case!"
When Liu Xie heard this, he suddenly realized.
The potter continued sadly: "Your Majesty, after so many years, haven't you understood these princes? In their eyes, title and interests are more important than anything else! Some of them are willing to act like ministers.
, are you willing to take money to do things for your majesty? But after all, my Jinling City is just a small county. Your majesty has so many important things to do, and my little tribute is really a drop in the bucket! Although my surname is Tao,
But I can’t afford so much money.”
Liu Xie sniffed, his tone somewhat touched.
"My dear, you are really... a rare gentleman! You have considered me so thoughtfully, and I feel lucky to have such a loyal minister like you!"
Chief Tao Shang bowed and said: "Your Majesty, I cannot sit in this position of general! Your Majesty should take back your order and sell the position of general to Yuan Shao. The surname of Yuan is from the family background of the fourth generation and the third Duke.
Occupying the capital of Jizhou, which is known as the granary of the world, the old man named Yuan is rich, so it is the best idea to let him spend money to buy this general and build a palace for His Majesty."
When Liu Xie heard this, his eyes suddenly straightened.
"Selling... selling an official position?"
The pottery merchant nodded heavily and said: "That's right! In extraordinary times, extraordinary things need to be done! In order to enrich the inner government, Emperor Xiaoling wisely and decisively promulgated the policy of selling officials in Xiyuan and lifted the temporary ban.
Urgent, the means are extremely clever. Now that your majesty wants to do something big, why not imitate the method of selling officials by the late emperor. This will not only make the princes willing to pay for it, but also enrich your majesty's treasury. How can your majesty be happy with the clever trick left by the late emperor?
Why not?"
Liu Xie thought carefully for a while, and finally nodded slowly: "What Aiqing said makes sense, but it's just that...it's not convenient for me to go out and do it. After all, I'm selling my official position to the princes, and I can't bear to do it."
…”
The pottery merchant hurriedly said: "Of course, Your Majesty cannot do such public business matters in person... You must send someone who is honest and trustworthy, loyal to Your Majesty, familiar with the princes, and will not make false accounts to deceive Your Majesty.
Only then can it be feasible to have a loyal minister...The question is, who should this person choose?"
Having said this, the potter touched his chin and began to think hard.
After Liu Xie listened, he nodded suddenly and thought carefully for a while.
When he was young, he saw Liu Xie's eyes falling on the pottery merchant.
"Your Majesty, what do you want me to do?"
Chief Liu sighed and said: "My dear, after thinking about what you just said, I think only you, the most virtuous minister of the Han Dynasty, can act on my behalf and leave it to others. I am not at ease.
.”
When the pottery merchant heard this, his face suddenly turned pale.
"Your Majesty, it's not possible. I am a minister of a foreign vassal. If I do this, won't others criticize me? Besides, the money your Majesty sells his officials is used to build a new dynasty. Let outsiders act on your behalf. If someone happens to
If you line your own pockets, wouldn’t you be defrauding the world? Absolutely not!”
After hearing what the potter said, Liu Xie was extremely moved.
"My dear, just because you speak to me so sincerely, I believe that you will never be a person who will ignore your conscience or squander my money! This important matter must be done by you, and I don't want it, my dear.
I declined!"
"Your Majesty, this matter is a heavy responsibility, and I really cannot accept it..."
"My dear, if you are not willing to share my worries, who should I go to? Do you still plan to make me beg you?"
Looking at Liu Xie's sincere face, the pottery merchant finally sighed helplessly.
"I am willing to serve Your Majesty as hard as a dog or horse! I will do my best and die! I guarantee that I will earn every penny from selling my official position!"
"Ai Qing is truly my most virtuous minister, I can trust you!"