After Tao Qian was conferred the title of Xuzhou Shepherd by the emperor in Fan County, he felt very proud and contented, as if he had reached the pinnacle of his life.
But this feeling of peak was temporary for him. The old man who returned to Pengcheng felt uncomfortable for some reason.
At first, Tao Qian did not take this matter seriously, but as time went by, his physical condition became weaker and weaker.
The pottery merchant is sixty-two years old this year. In the late Eastern Han Dynasty when the average life expectancy was not very high, he had basically reached the rare age of ancient times.
In this era, some sixty-year-old men even have great-grandchildren.
However, Tao Qian, who was born in the military, has always been very confident about his physical condition. According to Uncle Tao's self-examination, it should not be difficult to live another fifty or seventy years with his current physical condition.
After all, Tao Qian hasn't even had a minor illness in all these years.
It is good for people to have self-confidence, but it is a pity that they should not compete with their lives.
After returning to Pengcheng for a while, Tao Qian felt that his physical condition was getting worse and worse, and it was developing in a very bad direction. No matter how many doctors he called, they could not solve the problem.
In the year when Liu Xiedu was enfeoffing officials in Fan County, the emperor changed the reign name from Chuping to Xingping. In August of the first year of Xingping, Tao Qian suddenly fainted without warning in his mansion.
On the ground.
People in Xuzhou Governor's Office were frightened and quickly called for the best medical officer in Pengcheng to do their best to treat him. It took several days and nights before Tao Qian was revived.
But Tao Qian was in a very bad state after he woke up. He began to become a little confused, had a high fever, and was bedridden. He always talked nonsense while sleeping, and sometimes he kept calling Tao Shang and Tao Ying.
Come back soon.
Under such severe circumstances, Mi Zhu, who was the leader of civil servants, did not dare to neglect. While he strictly blocked the news to prevent Tao Qian's serious illness from causing panic among the nobles in Pengcheng, he also sent his own brother Mi Fang to
He personally took the message and rushed to the Eastern Front to inform the pottery merchants of the bad news.
During the Battle of Jiuli Mountain, Cao Cao, Yuan Shao, and Tao Shang officially broke up. From that moment on, their alliance was declared completely bankrupt.
However, because of the delicate situation in the north, the three princes did not continue to attack each other. Instead, they each gathered their soldiers and generals, evacuated towards their respective territories, and made strategic plans for the future in their hearts.
Sooner or later, the three families will experience a fierce battle for hegemony!
But all three of them knew in their hearts that this was not the best time to start a full-scale war with the other two parties.
Yuan Shao now needs to unify Hebei and completely secure the throne of the most powerful princes.
Cao Cao needed to follow Jia Xu's advice and shift his military and political center to Yuzhou to start a new chapter in his life.
And the pottery merchant has already made up his mind that after returning to Xuzhou this time, he must conquer the entire southeast.
As soon as the soldiers and horses of Jinling City entered Xuzhou, Mi Fang came to see the pottery merchant with the news that Tao Qian was seriously ill and asked him to return to Pengcheng to see his father as soon as possible.
Tao Shang panicked when he heard that Tao Qian was seriously ill. After four years of relationship, Tao Qian was his only elder in the world.
And perhaps this old man is the only person who is willing to dig deep into his heart and be kind to the pottery merchant without any desire or selflessness.
Although he knew that people could not disobey the laws of nature, the potter really did not want to lose his father.
He did not dare to delay any longer, and immediately arranged for Xu Chu and Xu Rong to command Jinling's troops to evacuate to Pengcheng on his behalf. Then he called Tao Ying, and the two brothers and Mi Fang flew straight to Pengcheng and hurried away.
On the way back to Pengcheng, the two brothers hardly took any rest except eating and sleeping. They just drove their horses desperately and galloped towards Pengcheng.
After entering the city, the two of them went straight to Tao Qian's mansion.
…
Tao Qian was lying on the bed with a high fever, half asleep and half awake all the time.
But whether it was due to the underlying perseverance in his body, because he missed his son so much, or for some other reason, Tao Qian miraculously came to his senses after knowing that his two sons were back.
Tao Ying's eyes were filled with tears. He stepped forward and held Tao Qian's withered old hand, his voice choked with sobs, and he seemed not to know what to say for a moment.
"Father, you, you scare me to death!"
Tao Qian showed a kind smile, stretched out his hand and tapped Tao Ying's forehead, and hissed: "Silly boy, your father's fate is very hard, you still can't die."
Tao Ying raised his hand to wipe the tears on his cheeks and said weakly: "These days, the child and the eldest brother are galloping day and night, not even daring to delay for a moment, for fear of something happening to their father..."
Tao Qian chuckled and said, "Idiot, you will also be in a high position in the future. Why are you still so restless when doing things? If you spread the word, wouldn't you make others laugh?"
Tao Shang, who had been silent but was just as anxious as Tao Ying, said: "Father, it is natural for my second brother and me to panic. Besides, I am a big man who rules the world with filial piety. My father is ill. If we two brothers don't hurry up,
Yes, that’s what makes others laugh.”
Tao Qian turned to look at him and smiled happily. His wrinkled face covered with age spots was full of kindness and gentleness.
"Speaking of filial piety, boy, I do have one thing that I need you to fulfill your filial piety now... Shang'er, you have assumed the high position of Grand Tutor. Xuzhou is temporarily peaceful. I have discussed it with the princes when I returned to Pengcheng, and we will do it next month.
Choose an auspicious time and hold a wedding for you."
The pottery merchant was stunned when he heard this. He was getting married next month, which seemed to be only a few days away. It would only be five, seven or eight days after all.
Then, the potter suddenly understood something, and he felt sad in his heart.
Tao Qian is so anxious to hold a wedding for himself... Could it be that he already feels that his time is running out?
Seeing this waning old man lying on the bed, the potter's heart ached very much.
Even now, my father is still thinking about his life-long events.
He wanted to see himself getting married and starting a family while he was still alive.
"My father thinks so much about his children, how can they not obey?"
Tao Qian nodded with satisfaction, then turned to Tao Ying and said, "Your brother's marriage this time can be regarded as setting an example for you. You should learn from your brother and don't fall behind."
Tao Ying sobbed and nodded vigorously.
Upon hearing this, the pottery merchant raised his hand to wipe away his sweat.
My father cared about me, but his mind was still a little unclear.
Why is this old man so smooth-talking? How can Tao Ying learn the Dharma about getting married?
When entering the bridal chamber at night, should he be asked to lean against the wall and study?
Tao Qian squinted at his two beloved children for a long time, then suddenly sighed and said weakly: "Children, I'm afraid my days are numbered..."
Tao Ying was shocked when he heard this and shouted: "Father!"
Tao Qian slowly raised his hand, interrupted Tao Ying's words, and said: "People are destined to be destined after their fifties. I am over sixty, and my life is long enough. But before I die, there are some things that I need to follow."
You two have made it clear."
Speaking of this, Tao Qian looked at Tao Ying, and his face became serious: "Ying'er, after much thought, this inheritance in Xuzhou must be passed on to your elder brother. One reason is that he is
My dear son, there are constant disputes in the world, and there are wolves in power. Your nature is pure and your willfulness is not lost. I am afraid that you will not be able to fight against those tigers and wolves. If your father passes you the Xuzhou inheritance, I am afraid that you will not even be able to save your life...
I am doing this for you as a father and for the sake of our Tao family. Can you understand the painstaking efforts of being a father?"
Tao Ying shed two lines of tears and nodded vigorously: "My child understands everything my father said! Even if my father wants to give me the foundation of Xuzhou, I can't keep it..."
Tao Qian sighed with emotion, turned to look at Tao Shang, and said: "Shang'er, I know that you two brothers have a deep relationship. When you become the lord of Xuzhou in the future, remember to treat your brother well, and also
Be kind to our Tao family members, and don’t rely on your position as the head of the family, ignore family ties, and rashly attack your relatives! Do you understand what I’m saying?"
After hearing this, the potter's eyes became a little moist.
This old man has such good intentions at this moment.
He nodded vigorously: "Father, don't worry, my son will be kind to his brothers, protect the Tao family, and protect Xuzhou's foundation."
"Okay, very good... By the way, there is one more thing." Tao Qian coughed lightly and continued: "I deeply regret that I have not been able to hold a grandson in my life... Shang'er, after you get married, you need to
Do you understand that if we spread more branches and leaves to pass on to future generations and prevent our Tao family from having no heirs, this is the greatest filial piety in the world?"
The pottery merchant was stunned when he heard this.
After a while, he nodded helplessly.
This father of mine... Well, what should I say to him? But this is indeed an important matter of this era. The poor old man has lived to be sixty-two years old and has not had a grandson yet. This matter, I and Tao
There is no doubt that Ying has a heavy responsibility.
Tao Ying wiped his tears and choked up: "Father, for the prosperity of Tao's descendants, I am willing to do my little bit."
Hearing this, Tao Qian patted Tao Ying's forehead happily and said with emotion: "Good boy, learn from your elder brother... In the future, you will be required to help your elder brother share more of this matter."
The sweat on the potter's head suddenly started to flow.
Tao Qian was indeed a little confused because of illness.
What should I say to the old and the young?
This scene looks quite touching, but why is this nagging talk so unpleasant?
Tao Qian turned to look at Tao Shang again and said: "I don't have long to live. You married the daughter of the Wang family in Taiyuan. I have seen that girl before. She is indeed a good woman. But your brother's marriage, I don't know.
I'm afraid I won't be able to survive it...Oh, I can't worry about it anymore. As the elder brother is like a father, I will have to ask you to help me find and check Ying'er's marriage in the future, do you understand?"
The potter bowed deeply to Tao Qian and said sternly: "Father, don't worry, my son will definitely find someone with both virtue and skill for his second brother."
Tao Qian nodded with satisfaction and said to Tao Shang and Tao Ying: "I am not in good health. Although Mi Zhu has blocked the news at the moment, I am afraid this matter will not be kept secret for long. Now I need to remind you.
There are a few things that you two should remember carefully."