Dong Zhao looked at Xin Pi angrily, then at the potter, took a deep breath, and backed away without saying anything.
In the current situation, it is obvious that all the princes feel that it is better to place the emperor in Fan County than in the hands of Cao Cao. At least in this way, the emperor will not become someone's private property, but everyone's property.
shared.
It’s better to be happy alone than to be happy together.
Seeing Dong Zhao retreating in embarrassment, Xin Pi stroked his beard with a proud smile on his face.
Being able to refute Cao Cao's envoy face to face, and also be able to regain the position of general for his lord, such a heavy contribution is just like picking it up for free. For Xinpi now, it feels really good.
But the problem is that there is one person in Xinpi who does not see it thoroughly, and that is the pottery merchant.
No matter how nice his words are, it is absolutely impossible for Tao Shang to let Yuan Shao get the position of general for no reason.
If that were the case, he would not be a potter.
After all, it was Yuan Shao who plotted against him first.
The pottery merchant thought that there was nothing wrong with him taking revenge on Yuan Shao now.
"Everyone!" Tao Shang clapped his hands and said: "This time the emperor appointed Tao to sell his title, but he was actually forced to do so. After all, if your majesty wants to reorganize the court and repair the palace in Fan County, you can do it without money! Is this the so-called world?
The king's land, the shore of the land, is it the king's ministers? As ministers, we should pay tribute to His Majesty and reorganize the court. This is our duty. However, His Majesty's heavenly grace is so great that he cannot bear to take away the ministers' assets for nothing, so he used this method.
It’s really God’s grace to make up for it!”
After saying that, he saw the pottery merchant bowing in the direction of Fan County, where Liu Xie was located.
All the courtiers looked at the potter's hypocritical appearance, and they all gritted their teeth with hatred in their hearts.
If you have an official, hurry up and buy it! What are you doing with all the nonsense?
However, the pottery merchants have set an example and bowed. These envoys really do not respect the rules. If word spreads, it will definitely affect their reputation. It is really not worth the loss.
Everyone helplessly bowed to Fan County along with the pottery merchant and shouted: "Your Majesty's grace is so great!"
The pottery merchant nodded with satisfaction, and suddenly said: "Building the palace and reorganizing the imperial court should have cost hundreds of millions, but His Majesty was sympathetic to the suffering of the world and could not bear to donate too much, so the capital was significantly reduced."
Having said this, the pottery merchant got down on one knee and bowed far away in the direction of Fan County: "Your Majesty's kindness has benefited all the people."
The envoys were furious when they saw this.
But no matter what, the surface work must be done well.
Everyone lifted up the front hem of their robes, knelt down on one knee, and collectively shouted: "Your Majesty's kindness is beneficial to all people!"
The potter was very pleased to see the people in the tent being so respectful to His Majesty.
"You are so loyal to His Majesty. As His Majesty's personal envoy, Tao is very encouraged. How about... we all collectively kowtow to His Majesty?"
"Plop!"
Some of the messengers who had not yet stood up tilted their bodies and almost fell to the ground.
Gongsun Zan's envoy Tian Yu cleared his throat heavily and said to Tao Shang: "I have heard about Prince Taiping's reputation as a gentleman for a long time, and today I saw that he is indeed loyal and unparalleled in the world... But I personally think that we should still buy officials for now... Or
It is important to raise money for His Majesty."
Kong Rong's envoy Fang Xiu also wiped his sweat and said: "Mr. Tian is right to say what he said. Let's get down to business first."
The potter looked back and forth at the crowd, and when he saw that everyone was nodding in agreement, he said: "Forget it, Tao will sell the first position favored by His Majesty today...that is, the general!"
Xinpi's eyes suddenly flashed.
The envoy from Jingzhou, Kuai Yue, was acquainted with the pottery merchant and was an ally. He was the first to ask the pottery merchant, "Mr. Taiping, how much does this general sell for?"
The pottery merchant cleared his throat and said: "When the late emperor was implementing the strategy of selling officials in Xiyuan, he set a government price of 20 million for the price of two thousand shi, and four million for the price of 400 shi. At that time, the late emperor felt that this price was cheap.
, coupled with the current economic downturn, prices are even different from those back then, and the position of this general is a high-ranking official under one person, so..."
Speaking of this, the pottery merchant stretched out four fingers and said loudly: "Your Majesty is sympathetic to Mr. Tao's hard work as a king, and has granted Tao a special favor to purchase the position of general at a price of 40 million. However, Tao does not want to
After thinking about it, I am young and inexperienced, and my qualifications are not high. It is really difficult for me to convince the public as a general... Therefore, when I came here, I advised His Majesty that as long as all the loyal ministers present are willing to give a little more, this general will be the best.
The position will naturally be given to the superior."
Before the pottery merchant could finish his words, Xin Pi shouted loudly and confidently: "Gong Yuan of Jizhou is willing to pay tribute to His Majesty 41 million yuan!"
After saying that, Xinpi was seen looking around at everyone present with a look of pride on his face.
Long before this official sale began, the pottery merchant had privately discussed with Xinpi. When the time came, he would just wait for him to shout out the price of 40 million, and he would immediately shout out the price of 41 million.
The position of general fell to his own Yuan Jizhou.
Moreover, according to the analysis of Xin Pi and Tao Shang, among the princes, Yuan Shao's current strength and reputation are the strongest. With such power, no one dares to compete with Yuan Shao for this general.
Xinpi's idea is very beautiful, but the problem is that it is not interesting.
"My family is in trouble and the general is willing to pay 45 million yuan!"
Upon hearing this cry, Xinpi's happy smile suddenly disappeared, and was replaced by a look of shock.
Turning around, he saw Zhang Yan's envoy Sui Gu, demonstrating to Xin Pi proudly.
Simpi was furious when he saw this.
"What a joke! A mere Black Mountain bandit actually wants to take the position of general?"
Sui Gu is a martial artist, and he is not good at verbal exchanges. But today, for some reason, when faced with Xin Pi's question, he was able to answer the question in a clear and logical manner.
"What's the point? My Zhang Pingnan is an official of the Han Dynasty who was personally ennobled by His Majesty! He has been qualified to recommend filial and honest talents to the court for many years. He is also your Majesty's minister and the pillar of the court. Yuan Shao is qualified to bid for this
General, why am I not qualified to be a general in trouble?"
Xin Pi frowned and turned to look at the potter: "Tao Taiping, why don't you care?"
The potter's face showed a very embarrassed expression.
"This matter, alas, this matter is really difficult to handle. Zhang Pingnan's envoy has entered Fan County to meet with His Majesty. His Majesty summoned him personally. He is also qualified to participate in this offering and buying an official position... If I refute it, I will turn around and provoke him.
It's hard to make Zhang Ping angry, and I can't explain it in front of His Majesty."
Xinpi was stunned when he heard this.
He turned around and glared at Sui Gu, saying: "Zhang Yan has already sent Yuan Jizhou to fight in the ravine! There is no source of funds to raise troops, so where can you get the 40 million yuan to buy an official position?"
Sui Gu raised his little neck: "How can you know Zhang Ping's difficult skills?"
The pottery merchant stood up and tried to persuade him from side to side.
To put it bluntly, this matter was planned by him and Sui Gu in private.
When he returned to Xuzhou that year, the pottery merchant and Sui Gu became friends by accident, and even established a friendship with Bai Rao from Montenegro. This time, Sui Gu came as an envoy, which allowed the pottery merchant to meet his old friend.
The Black Mountain Army was already at war with Yuan Shao, and was beaten like a dog by Yuan Shao. This breath was hard to come out, and everyone in the Black Mountain Army was feeling uncomfortable.
Therefore, anyone in the Black Mountain Army would be willing to do so as long as they could find trouble with Yuan Shao.
After the anger of the two people subsided, Tao Shang whispered to Xin Pi: "It happened suddenly. Who would have thought that such a messenger would actually come out to attack. I have your Majesty's will. If I insist on going to you, I am afraid that the rest of the people will be killed."
The envoys from the princes are not convinced, and if it reaches Yuan Shu's ears later, it will make Duke Yuan even more of a laughing stock."
Xinbi was so anxious that he was sweating.
"What should we do?"
The pottery merchant pondered for a while, then whispered: "It really doesn't work, how about... on behalf of Mr. Yuan, can you increase the price of buying the general?"