"Brother, you are so awesome! The few words you just said made my father stunned. I saw the look in my father's eyes just now. He was really filled with admiration for you."
After leaving the main hall, Tao Ying changed his confused state and opened his mouth and kept talking.
The pottery merchant looked at his younger brother helplessly, sweating over his innocence.
"Second brother, instead of criticizing you for my brother's sake, I really should put you back into your mother's womb and start over again... 'Adoration'... can this word be used for me and my father?"
Tao Ying's expression was very cute: "What should I say?"
One sentence confused the potter, this... seems a bit hard to describe.
"Worship? Not to the point of...admiration? Nor appropriate...to pay homage to? Is it somewhat reliable...or is it just admiration?"
Tao Ying was listening to the potter's muttering, and suddenly said: "Brother, I heard this phrase for the first time today, what metaphor do you use to describe it?"
"...Similar to the meaning of appreciation..."
"Oh!" Tao Ying nodded, as if he was enlightened: "So...brother, our father is really devoted to you today."
The potter raised his hand to wipe his sweat. He didn't know if Tao Ying would be struck by lightning if he compared his father's feelings for him like this.
"Brother, are you really going to lead the army on behalf of your father to defeat Dong Zhuo?" Tao Ying's expression was still cute.
The pottery merchant sighed, and suddenly realized that no matter how hard he studied, the matter was ultimately unsolvable.
"There is no way... to catch the duck on the shelf, and I don't want to try. This may be the retribution of being too idle... It seems that the person who is too idle is not me... I am the one who takes the blame..."
Tao Ying didn't understand: "Brother, what are you muttering about there?"
Potter: "..."
"Brother, would you like me to go with you?"
The potter shook his head and said with a bitter smile: "I'm afraid not... My father only has two sons. One goes out with the army, and the other has to stay at home. If the one who goes out on the expedition dies, at least he can have one heir.
The family will not face inheritance problems."
After hearing this, Tao Ying's expression almost looked like he was crying: "Brother, no! You won't die!"
The potter turned around, patted Tao Ying's shoulder, and comforted him: "Second brother, don't worry, the eldest brother will definitely not die. If I die, won't all the family property belong to you? The eldest brother will not be so free.
your."
Tao Ying bit his lip, tears welling up in his eyes.
"Brother, you are so kind to me..."
"As long as you know."
…
…
One day later, Tao Qian, the governor of Xuzhou, issued an order to confer Mi Fang, Mi Zhu's younger brother, as the general of Zhonglang. He would serve as the chief general of the expedition, as well as the leading captain, army Sima and other deputies, as well as horse troops, infantry troops, and crossbowmen, totaling 5,000 troops.
He made an alliance with the princes and went west to attack Dong Zhuo. At the same time, he arranged for Cao Bao's younger brother Cao Chu to serve as Cang Cao to assist Mi Zhu in supervising the food and grass matters of the westward expedition.
The position of Zhonglang is a relatively good-sounding official position that Tao Qian can hold after he founded the government. Although the boundaries of power are very blurred, it can be seen that Tao Qian did take the opportunity to support the Mi family this time.
In this way, Mi Zhu's wish to intervene in Xuzhou's military affairs came true, but at the same time, the Cao family also intervened in the money and food matters that the Mi family had been responsible for.
With the advice of the pottery merchant, the Mi family and the Cao family did not even have time to worry about Tao Qian's provocation. Instead, they began to frantically devise countermeasures, and cracks began to slowly form.
As for the pottery merchant, he received an order to be named a military supervisor and an iron military supervisor's token.
At present, all the princes in Guandong have received the letter from Qiao Mao falsely claiming to be the Three Dukes of the capital, and they have already raised troops in various places. As far as we know so far, the governor of Bohai, Yuan Shao, and the governor of Hanoi, Wang Kuang, have stationed troops in Hanoi, and there is Zhang Yang of Shangdang leading the troops.
Three thousand came to join forces; Zhang Miao, Liu Dai, Qiao Mao, Yuan Yi, Bao Xin, Cao Cao and others gathered troops in Suanzao; Yuan Shu and Sun Jian stationed troops in Luyang; Kong Yu stationed troops in Yingchuan.
Tao Qian first wrote a letter, lying to the princes that he was old and sick and was not suitable for expedition, so he could only send his son Tao Shang to join the army for his father to join the alliance. After receiving the replies from the princes, he immediately ordered Tao Shang and Mi Fang to formulate a policy
, discuss the matter of sending troops.
The pottery merchant didn't have much property, and most of his belongings belonged to Tao Qian. Apart from his clothes, he only owned the ten thousand dollars he borrowed from Mi Zhu. After thinking about it, the pottery merchant decided to transfer those belongings to him.
Bring money with you to make a poor family rich. If you really lose on the battlefield and are captured, you might be able to buy back a life with the money.
Taking the packed things and preparing to go out to report to the military camp, the housekeeper Tao Hong and the second brother Tao Ying saw him off. The old man and the young man were crying as if they were in mourning, as if the pottery merchant would never come back after leaving.
Shang feels very aggrieved.
What does it mean to have a bad start? This is it!
After getting on the carriage, the potter saw Tao Qian secretly standing at the door railing with the corner of his eye, silently seeing him off. Although it was just a figure, the potter could see through the reflection on the ground that he was leaning on crutches.
The body looks like a rickety old tree, showing no strength and straightness, as if it has been hollowed out.
"Let's go." The pottery merchant's eyes were a little sore, but he did not stop. He only heard the sound of the horsewhip, and the carriage pulled the pottery merchant slowly toward the outside of the city.
Ten miles west of the city is where five thousand soldiers and horses led by Mi Fang are stationed.
The carriage arrived outside the camp gate, and the pottery merchant showed his military supervision order. The soldiers respectfully led the carriage into the military camp and led the pottery merchant to the commander's tent.
Mi Fang had arranged for troops to be stationed here a few days ago, and now she was specially waiting for the pottery merchant.
"Young Master!" The pottery merchant entered the handsome tent, and saw the fat Mi Fang running up to the pottery merchant, holding her hands in greeting: "Young Master! It's been a long time!"
The pottery merchant was stunned: "Who is your Excellency?"
Mi Fang clicked her tongue and said, "My eldest son, nobles often forget things. General Mi Fang. On that day when the young master went to Mi Mansion to meet my brother, General Mo once led the way for the young master. Has the young master forgotten?"
It would have been better if Mi Fang didn't say anything, but the pottery merchant was very disapproving of what he said.
Who is this kid? Traitor! Traitor! Bastard!...Last time in Mi Mansion, he openly made fun of me!
Historically, this Mi Fang followed Liu Bei for nearly twenty-five years, but in the end he betrayed his master during the battle at Xiangfan, which indirectly led to Guan Yu being killed. He lost his loyalty and trust, so why should he serve the emperor?
My father, Tao Qian, is a son of the Confucian family. He has held several positions and is the leader of a state. He has a good reputation. I, Tao Shang, am also a gentleman... Since I am a gentleman, how can I sacrifice my own status and make a fool of myself with such despicable villains?
"Yes." The pottery merchant responded lukewarmly, which was regarded as a greeting.
"Huh? Huh?" Mi Fang was a little confused. Mr. Tao's attitude towards him seemed a little too cold, which was different from the last time he laughed at his house and the sun was shining brightly.
"My eldest son, have you remembered the wrong person? It's me! Mi Fang! We've met before! You and my eldest brother, the three of us are still together..."
"Yeah." The pottery merchant was still very cold.
Mi Fang couldn't help but be stunned when she saw the eldest young master's serious face... Isn't this boy a bit forgetful? Last time, he just agreed to form an alliance with the Mi family to secure treasures. We haven't seen each other for a few days. Why is there no enthusiasm at all?
No? Is he really stupid or just pretending?
"My eldest son, have you admitted the wrong person? Think about it again, you came to my house some time ago...do you still owe my family money? I don't remember...10,000 yuan." Mi Fang reminded carefully.
"..." The corners of the pottery merchant's mouth began to twitch.
After a while.
"Isn't this brother Mi Fang? I was dazzled just now and couldn't see clearly... I haven't seen you for many days, and my brother seems to have lost weight." Tao Shang held Mi Fang's hand and smiled like a spring breeze.
Mi Fang was a little confused by Tao Shang's rapid change and did not react for a moment: "Yes, really? I have lost some weight, I feel like I have gained a few pounds... The eldest son worked hard and worried about Xuzhou.
I just lost weight. This time when I come to the military camp, I have to make up for myself no matter what."
"Thank you for your concern, brother Mi. By the way, I asked your family for the money they borrowed last time...?"
Mi Fang waved her hand generously: "I make the decision for my brother, no need to pay him back!"
"Brother Mi, you are a true gentleman. It's fate."