After the wedding, Zang Ba was temporarily recuperating in Pengcheng, while Guan Hai was sent to Yuzhou by Tao Shang to persuade the Yellow Turban tribes in Runan to increase his own strength. However, whether this can happen, Tao Shang still has some doubts.
Not allowed.
The weather gradually turned to the end of the year, but the pottery merchants did not shy away from the season, but decided to wake up and go south to conquer Yuzhang County and Kuaiji County, holding the entire southeast in their hands.
In terms of Xuzhou, Cao Bao and other old Xuzhou generals are just allowed to guard it. Tao Shang is not very relieved. Loyalty and disloyalty are only one aspect. The ability lies there. The older generation of people under Tao Qian's command should be screened.
For a moment.
After thinking about it, he finally decided to keep Tai Shici and Guo Jia. With them in Pengcheng, at least he would feel more at ease when he went south to pacify the rear.
Moreover, by letting these two people assist Cao Bao in guarding, on the one hand, they can effectively resist the sneak attacks of Cao Cao and Yuan Shao, and on the other hand, the pottery merchants do not want Tai Shi Ci to return to Jinling City in a short time.
Although they are already sworn brothers, he doesn't want Taishi Ci to see Liu Yao yet.
In case Liu Yao exposes him, although Tao Shang is confident in convincing Taishi Ci, he will somewhat lose face in front of his sworn brothers, and it will also embarrass Taishi Ci.
As soon as the wedding period was over, Tao Shang and Diao Chan decided to pack up and go south, first returning to Jinling City to settle down, and then heading to Yuzhang County.
Before leaving, Mi Zhen specially came to visit Diao Chan. Tao Shang, as the head of the family, also received her with Diao Chan.
Although Mi Zhen said blessings to the two of them, for some reason, Tao Shang always felt that there was some resentment in the big-breasted girl's eyes when she looked at him, and he didn't know if it was his own illusion.
Ignore it for now, and quickly finish taking care of the affairs in the southeast.
After the affairs in Pengcheng were arranged, the main troops of Jinling City returned to Danyang County with the pottery merchants.
The development of Jinling City is still continuing. It has not been back for a long time. The prosperous Jinling City is still absorbing people who have fled from other states. The population of Danyang County is growing rapidly, from 600,000 registered households three years ago.
It became 1.1 million.
Most of the migrant population includes Jiujiang County, Runan County, Shanyang County and other places.
In this case, Chen Qun, who was in charge of the governance of Jinling City, negotiated with Zhang Hong, who was developing in Hangzhou, the capital of Wujun, and transferred some of the foreign population to the jurisdiction of Wujun. One was to provide labor for the development of Hangzhou, and the other was to
Appropriately reduce the pressure on Danyang County's rapidly growing population.
After returning to Jinling City, the pottery merchant first settled Diao Chan, and then asked Han Hao to learn about the recent political affairs in the county. After knowing that everything was going well, he began to prepare grain and grass in Jinling City, pack up weapons, and prepare to send troops to Henan.
Zhangjun fights for supremacy.
Regarding the recapture of Kuaiji County and Yuzhang County this time, the pottery merchant did not have any excessive worries. With the combat power of the Jinling Army and his own reputation, it should not be difficult to win over these two counties.
But the main problem is that the vast area southeast of Kuaiji County and the land bordering Lingnan just south of Yuzhang County are a gathering place for Baiyue people. The population in this place is dense to a certain extent, but many people are not
It is registered, but mixed with tribal rituals. It can be said that it has been a place of rebellion for a long time.
And although they are only two counties, the actual area of these two places is huge, almost as big as two Xuzhous. Of course, most of the coastal areas are dense forest wastelands that have not yet been reclaimed.
And after occupying these two counties, it means that from today on, the pottery merchants will always face the problem of the integration of Shanyue and Baiyue and Fujian, which requires great efforts to rectify.
If the reorganization goes smoothly, this is our own rear area, a safe place thousands of miles deep.
If the rectification is not done well, troops will be sent from time to time to suppress the rebellion, and the situation will be devastated.
New news also came from the school affairs office, that is, Yuan Shu had surrendered to Lu Bu and had transferred his own troops from Yuzhou to Huainan.
As soon as Yuan Shu stuck his butt out, the potter knew what he was going to do.
It seems that Yuan Laoer has not given up on Jinling City... this bastard.
When he goes south to Yangzhou this time, Yuan Shu will most likely take the opportunity to march into Yangzhou and capture Jinling City.
But the pottery merchant has already thought of a countermeasure.
If Yuan Shu really intends to plot against himself, then he might as well take this opportunity to set a trap for Yuan Shu... to ambush him! Let's do it once and for all, and strive to completely eradicate this potential cancer that always poses a threat to Jinling City.
…
Jinling City, Liu Yao's Mansion.
Tao Shang and Liu Yao were sitting on the sofa in the living room, facing each other. Their expressions were of great reference and contrast.
The potter was laughing, and Liu Yao was crying.
The potter smiled and saw that Liu Yao was almost done crying, and then he stretched out his hand in front of him and asked:
"Mr. Zhengli, look at you, you have been crying for almost half an hour. If you have any huge grievance, you should be crying, right? Just give me the seal and ribbon of the Yangzhou Governor... Actually, I also
Very busy."
"No!"
Like a child being robbed of candy by his elder brother, Liu Yao hid the seal and ribbon of the Yangzhou governor in his arms, looking very helpless.
The potter looked at him with disdain.
How can a person who is almost forty years old act as willful as a three-year-old child? This is too lacking in mind and responsibility.
Tao Shang comforted him and slowly said: "Mr. Zhengli, it's not that Tao came here to steal food from you! It's just that the emperor has issued an imperial edict to make me the Grand Tutor of the current dynasty and lead the shepherd of Yangzhou! The so-called food king
Lu, if you don’t give me the seal and ribbon as a matter of loyalty to the emperor, it’s not the same thing for me, the Yangzhou Mu, to sit in the position. We are all loyal to the imperial court, so who is the Yangzhou Mu to be different? You have to look at this matter.
ah."
Liu Yao couldn't help but said, "I won't give it to you!"
The potter was a little impatient.
"Hurry up! I have a lot of things at hand, and I don't have time to chat with you all the time...If you don't give it to me, I will beat you up." The pottery merchant threatened and threatened him.
Liu Yao's dead pig is not afraid of boiling water.
He stretched his face towards Tao Shang: "Fight, you fight! Tao, you are too bully! Liu was appointed as the governor of Yangzhou for more than two years, but he has been hiding in this small dark room.
The only thing I can do every day is to use this seal ribbon to stamp the official seal on the broken documents you sent me! I haven't even issued an order of my own, and I have to hand over it?...Which state is as lively as me?
It’s so frustrating! Tell me about it!”
Seeing Liu Yao's tearful look, Tao Shang also felt a trace of unbearability in his heart.
Looking back on that time, I actually did something very unethical.
He was a good governor of Yangzhou and a high official in Xinjiang. On the first day he took office, he sent Tao Ying and Guo Jia to take care of him. He was directly captured in Jinling City and was led like a dog every day. He could not do anything every day.
Just like a community office clerk who specializes in stamping... If it were anyone else, no one would feel too comfortable.
After all, this man is also a fellow villager of Taishi Ci, and he has a good relationship with him. Now Taishi Ci has become his sworn elder brother. As the saying goes, don’t look at the monk’s face and look at the Buddha’s face. I have to explain to Taishi Ci at least, right?
Should I be nicer to him?
The potter sighed, picked up the water vessel in front of him, put it to his mouth and was about to drink some, but he frowned, turned around and threw the glass to the ground.
Liu Yao was so frightened by the potter's actions that he shivered all over, and his arms holding Da Yin tightened.
"You, what do you want to do? Do you really dare to beat me?"
The potter clasped his hands together, bowed to Liu Yao, and said: "It turns out that Tao did something too much, but for the sake of the world, sometimes he has to do extraordinary things. Today, the matter can be said to have been settled. Originally
Let him wipe out all the grudges. Shang apologizes to Mr. Liu here and will definitely treat him kindly in the future."
Liu Yao was stunned when he heard this.
He picked his ears hard, looked at the pottery merchant in surprise, and said in disbelief: "You, what did you say? Say it again!"
"Tao apologized to Mr. Liu."
"I didn't hear clearly..."
"I apologize to you."
"Are you serious?"
The pottery merchant raised his head, looked sideways at Liu Yao, shook his fist and said, "That's almost it! Are you taking advantage of me?"
Liu Yao wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes and sighed: "Actually, there are some things that I can't ignore. This is the way it is in a world of great strife. Who is right and who is wrong? Compared with other things
Princes, you are indeed very kind...Liu has lived in Jinling City for the past two years. Watching the changes in Jinling City day after day, he understands your painstaking efforts in his heart. If it were me, I would definitely not be able to do it.
You have managed this place so prosperously...but your methods towards me are really harsh."
The pottery merchant laughed when he heard this.
In any case, Liu Yao still has some foresight and some merits.
At least he is much better than those gentry princes who have high aspirations and pretentiousness, and can clearly understand his position.
Moreover, during the history of Liu Yao's tenure, he was indeed extremely clean and famous, and his reputation in the local area was much stronger than that of Sun Ce. The reason why he did not compete with Sun Ce was that his military strength was too weak.
When it comes to governing the place and treating the people well, Liu Yao is better than Sun Ce.
"Mr. Zhengli, Tao has decided that after the Yangzhou counties are pacified, you will be appointed as the political chief of the two counties in Biannan. At that time, you will represent me to guide the political development of Jinling City.
Going deep into the south and promoting it in the southeastern coastal areas, allowing you to show off your talents is also a way of expressing Tao's guilt towards you."
Liu Yao frowned and asked doubtfully: "Why do you feel like you've been assigned?"
The potter's face darkened: "If you don't want to, then I'll leave you here to stamp the official seal."
Liu Yao waved his hands hurriedly and said: "No, no! Yes, it's actually a good thing. Mr. Liu is very grateful to you."
Although I don't know whether the "guilt" that Tao Shang mentioned just now is true or false, Liu Yao still found it useful in his ears.
According to the normal methods of princes, after his puppet is no longer useful, he will probably be disposed of.
But the pottery merchant's behavior gave Liu Yao hope.
At least, he had some intentions and didn't take his own life.
This boy truly lives up to his reputation as a gentleman.
But the place he asked himself to go to was indeed a bit noisy.
Liu Yao felt a little headache when he thought of the descendants of the Baiyue and Min people in southern Yangzhou.
He touched his beard and thought carefully for a long time, and then said to Tao Shang: "If you really want Liu to help you, then you might as well send someone to be my assistant. In this way Liu
Only when we implement policies in the south to appease Baiyue can we be practical and bold."
Tao Shang raised his eyebrows: "The deputy you want is Tai Shici, right? I'm sorry, but this person is not good. He is my sworn brother, and he has heavy responsibilities at the moment. I can't leave him in the south."
Liu Yao glared: "Taishi Ziyi actually became your brother? When did you two become sworn brothers? This is really a strange thing in the world! ... But the person Liu wants is not him."
The pottery merchant breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Then who do you want?"
Liu Yao finally showed a rare smile: "When Liu was living in Huaipu, he knew that there was a person in Hailing County who came from an official family. His surname was Lu Mingdai. He was a county official and later fled to the south to escape the chaos. This person was extremely
If you can help me with your talents, Liu will agree to help you in promoting political power in Yuzhang County and Kuaiji County."
Tao Shang looked at Liu Yao quietly and suddenly became happy.
Liu Yao is quite narcissistic. If Tao can get Lu Dai, I don't think I have any need for you.
"Since Lord Zhengli admires Lu Dai so much, he must be familiar with him, right?"
Liu Yao nodded solemnly and said: "This is natural. Mr. Liu should know him, otherwise why would he recommend him casually?"
"Then where is this person now?"
Liu Yao laughed and said: "This person is in Tutang, not far from here."
…
Following Liu Yao's instructions, Tao Shang sent personnel from the school affairs office to find Lu Dai and solemnly invited him to Jinling City.
Lu Dai is over thirty years old and has a thin appearance. At first glance, he seems to be a self-disciplined and strong-willed person who is relatively strict in doing things.
Lu Dai was very surprised by the potter's summons.
Although he was born into a family of officials, his family was not a very big one among the gentry groups in the southeast, and he himself was originally just a minor official. In terms of identity and status, he was far from being a pottery merchant.
To the point where I can personally send people to find him.
But that’s what the potters did.
Hearing that the pottery merchant wanted to conquer Yuzhang County and Kuaiji County southward, and that he planned to help him pacify the Baiyue tribe in Lingnan after the war, Lu Dai thought for a long time, and then said to the pottery merchant:
"I am honored to be recommended by Mr. Liu. I am very honored to have you. The Baiyue tribe in the southeast is densely populated. Most of them are not listed in the local household registrations. Many of them have tax deficiencies. This is actually a major shortcoming of our government. If we can truly make it
The Baiyue tribes have been arranged and organized, and they have been officially registered under the king's authority. This will be a huge supplement to future tax revenue and the increase of troops. However, Baiyue has repeatedly rebelled, and it will not be possible to completely win over the Baiyue tribes.
I'm afraid that the next person's strength is not in danger, but I would like to recommend a few people to help the Taifu complete this grand event. I wonder if the Taifu is willing to accept it?"