Cao Bao's understanding of the boss Tao Qian is indeed not covered, Tao Qian's assassin mansion did have a big event, so that Tao Ying just returned to his home, and immediately keenly found that the atmosphere in the assassin mansion at this time was extraordinary, especially tense, and then hurriedly entered the lobby, Tao Ying saw at first glance that Liu Bei's special envoy Jian Yong at this stage was in the hall, and there were Cao Hong, Lu Su and Chen Qi father and son standing next to him, but the Mi Zhu and Mi Fang brothers, who were usually Liu Beijun's spokesmen, were not in the hall. It seems that they have deliberately restrained their stance and attitude.

Tao Qian was coughing, the potter was hammering him back, the father and son both had helpless looks on their faces, the potter still had some sad faces, seeing Tao Ying striding in, the potter immediately seemed to see the backbone of the heart, and hurriedly beckoned and said: "Virtuous brother, quick, quick, Xuande Gong sent a messenger to discuss major matters with his father, my father is seriously ill and can't make a decision, and the virtuous brother comes to help my father with a counselor." ”

Tao Ying didn't rush to ask what the big deal was, first saluted his father and brother very politely, and then saluted Jian Yong more politely, Jian Yong returned the salute and said with a smile: "Second son Tao, we met again, when we met for the first time, you were just an ordinary prince of the Assassin's Mansion, and if we meet again this time, you are already famous all over the world." What are the tricks of Childe to become famous, and can you teach you a thing or two? Let me also make a name for myself, and let the world know the name of Jian Xianhe. ”

"Mr. has won the award, I really dare not take it." Tao Ying smiled faintly, didn't answer Jian Yong's gags, but just politely asked: "Mr. is coming from afar, he must have been ordered by General Xuande to teach something important, I don't know what?" ”

"This Tao Gongzi's bearing is more mature and sophisticated than before." Jian Yong secretly praised in his heart, and then said with a smile: "It's not a good thing to disappoint the son here, my lord Xuande sent a detailed report to Yanzhou, Cao Mengde has already stopped fighting with Lu Wenhou, and the five counties of Xuzhou are afraid that there will be a big disaster again." ”

"Cao Ying and Lu Bu have ceased fighting?" Tao Ying couldn't remember this less important history clearly, so he was inevitably a little surprised, but Tao Ying's face was still impassive, and he just asked calmly: "Dare to ask sir, why did Meng Degong cease war with Lu Wenhou and quit the army?" What is the current situation in Yanzhou? ”

"The reason for the truce between Cao Mengde and Lu Wenhou is very simple, just two words - locust plague!" Jian Yong, who was a profligate person, didn't like Tao Ying's speaking style as calm as a thousand years of ice, yawned, and said lazily: "Yanzhou is not in season this year, drought and little rain, just in autumn, there are locusts in Yanzhou, eating all the fields, the eight counties of Yanzhou are almost all grains without harvest, a grain is worth 50,000 yuan, the people are easy to eat, Cao Mengde and Lu Wenhou are out of food and can't go on, Cao Mengde had to return to Juancheng, Lu Wenhou had to return to Shanyang to eat, and they didn't fight for the time being. ”

"If this news is true, Xuzhou will be in danger again." Tao Ying felt a pang in his heart, knowing that whether it was Boss Cao or Boss Lu, as long as he was forced by the food shortage, it would be difficult to guarantee that he would not fight Xuzhou's idea - thanks to the blessing of heaven, Xuzhou's season this year is quite reluctant, and there is a little bit of autumn grain in storage, and these grains are naturally likely to attract Boss Cao and Boss Lu, two hungry jackals.

Seeing that Tao Ying didn't speak, Jian Yong had no choice but to continue: "In view of these circumstances, my lord Xuande Gong concluded that Cao Ying's army is likely to make a comeback, and in order to prevent and protect the people of the five counties of Xuzhou, he sent his subordinates to Xuzhou with a book to meet Tao Fujun, and discuss with the Fujun in person about preparing for war, so as to prevent Cao's army from returning to Xuzhou, and also to prevent Lu Wenhou from taking advantage of the fire to rob." ”

"I'll make excuses, I'm afraid I'm going to rip off again." Tao Ying muttered in his heart, and asked again: "Dare to ask sir, how does Xuande Gong plan to prepare for the war?" ”

Jian Yong smiled and was about to speak, but the pottery merchant who was hammering Tao Qian on his back shouted angrily, "Second brother, Xuande Gong is ready to double the army, and ask his father to provide him with an additional 200,000 military rations and 1,000 war horses!" ”

"What a big appetite!" Rao is deputy director Tao's city government is deep, and he can't help but gasp at this moment, not to mention the thousands of war horses, just the 200,000 Hu military rations, but it is the ration of nearly 10,000 troops for a year, and it also accounts for more than half of all military food stocks in Xuzhou except for Guangling County, and it was given to Liu Bei, what does the Xuzhou army eat? Moreover, Zang Ba's army has just returned to Xuzhou, and the burden of grain and grass on the Xuzhou army is also heavier, so he gave Liu Bei the 200,000 Hu military rations, how long will the remaining military rations be enough to support?

At the same time, a name also suddenly jumped into Tao Ying's mind, "Liu Zhang! Because he didn't satisfy Uncle Liu's bottomless pit appetite, he found an excuse for Uncle Liu Huang to go to war, and the unlucky guy Liu Zhang, who was robbed by Uncle Liu Huang of his territory and beautiful daughter-in-law! ”

"Childe, please don't get me wrong, my lord Xuande Gong is also forced to be helpless." Jian Yong changed a friendly smile and explained: "How powerful Cao Ying's army is, you have seen it with your own eyes, Gongzi, Lu Wenhou is not a figure to be messed with, his fierce generals are like clouds, and the strategist Chen Gongce is as deep as the sea, definitely not a good one, if they enter Xuzhou to grab grain and land, the first to bear the brunt is my lord Xuande Gong, and my lord only has 5,000 soldiers and horses, how can they stop their tens of thousands of tigers and wolves?" So there is no way, for the sake of the five counties of Xuzhou and the people of Xuzhou, my lord Liu Xuande has no choice but to prepare to expand the army and prepare for war, which is also completely for the sake of the five counties of Xuzhou and Taofujun, and I hope that the prince will investigate clearly. ”

Hearing Jian Yong's coercive and seductive words, Tao Ying's honest brother Tao Shang was so aggrieved that he almost cried, Tao Qian coughed endlessly, Cao Hong was full of anger, and Lu Su and Chen Qi's father and son remained silent and waited patiently for Tao Ying's reaction. What made Lu Su and Chen Qi's father and son breathe a sigh of relief and secretly admired that our Deputy Director Tao could still maintain his usual calm surname without showing the slightest anger, but just arched his hand to Jian Yong and said: "Understood, the matter is serious, sir, please go to the pavilion to rest for the time being, stay and discuss with your father, and then give Mr. and Xuande Gong an accurate answer." ”

"Then I'll take my leave first." Jian Yong did not refuse, and said goodbye to Tao Qian, Chen Qi and others one by one, and said with a smile to Tao Ying: "Childe, my lord is also for the sake of Xuzhou, and I also ask my lord to be considerate of my lord's painstaking efforts, don't misunderstand." ”

"Sir, rest assured, Xuande Gong has worked hard to defend Xuzhou against strong enemies, and he will naturally understand." Tao Ying agreed with a smile, and ordered the guards to invite Jian Yong down the lobby and welcome him to the pavilion to entertain him, but in fact, Jian Yong, who had been worried, also quietly breathed a sigh of relief and left honestly.

After Jian Yong left, the lobby of the Assassin's Mansion suddenly fell silent, except for Tao Qian's coughing and panting from time to time, there was no sound, including Tao Ying, all of them frowned and thought nervously, calculating and analyzing Liu Bei's true intentions, and considering countermeasures. At the same time, Cao Bao and Zang Ba, the two most important generals in Xuzhou, also rushed to the Assassin's Mansion when they heard the news, and inquired about the intention of Liu Bei's envoy, and then Chen Deng came forward and whispered to Cao Bao and Zang Ba to introduce Jian Yong's intention and Liu Bei's unreasonable request, and the result was natural, Cao Bao and Zang Ba immediately became popular.

"Blackmail! This is shameless blackmail! As the boss of the Danyang soldiers and a fellow villager of Tao Qian, Cao Bao originally looked at Liu Bei the most, and he was even more angry, and he stomped his feet and roared: "Lord, we can't bear it anymore!" After Liu Bei came to Xuzhou, he had already taken hundreds of thousands of dollars of money and grain from us, and now he opened his mouth to ask for 200,000 pieces of grain and grass and 1,000 war horses. I can't bear it anymore, I fight with Liu Bei and the thief! ”

"Lord, Liu Bei is greedy and greedy, and he has to make inches, it is tolerable, which is unbearable!" Zang Ba also roared angrily: "Please give an order from the main general, the last general is willing to lead 7,000 men and horses from his headquarters to fight Liu Bei and the thieves to the death!" If you don't cut off the head of this thief, you have to drive him out of Xuzhou! ”

"General Xuangao, I'll go with you!" Cao Bao echoed loudly: "Please give an order to the lord and allow me to go to Xiaopei with General Zang, behead Liu Bei and destroy the thief, and come back to dedicate it to the lord!" ”

Tao Qian didn't speak with a bitter face, just kept coughing in pain, and Chen Qi, another old fox next to him, stood up and stopped: "General Cao, General Zang, two generals, please calm your anger, if you can't hold your breath and start a war with Liu Bei, then it is in Liu Bei's arms, not to mention the infamy of revenge on the back of our Xuzhou army, Liu Bei can also occupy the banner of righteousness, take the opportunity to meet with our saber soldiers, and seize Xuzhou by force." ”

"When the swords and soldiers meet, the swords and soldiers meet, are we still afraid that he Liu Bei will destroy the thief?" Zang Ba said arrogantly: "Please rest assured that the lord and the two sons do not need to dispatch General Cao's Danyang soldiers and the second son's gentleman's army, and the Langya army of the last general, it is enough to make Liu Bei can't eat the thief and go around!" ”

"General Zang, what if Liu Bei pulls Cao Ying's army into the battlefield?" Lu Su suddenly came out of the queue and asked Zang Ba in one sentence.

"Pull Cao Ying's army into battle?" Cao Bao was surprised and asked, "How is it possible?" Last time, in order to save Xuzhou, Liu Bei made a move with Cao Ying, killed some Cao Ying's soldiers, and had already formed a grudge with Cao Ying, how could he pull Cao Ying into the battlefield? ”

"How could it be?" Lu Su asked rhetorically, and sneered again: "The last time Liu Bei saved Xuzhou, he took the name of righteousness, this time we will take revenge to fight Liu Bei, Liu Bei is also the righteous name of being forced to fight back, you can go to Shu Cao Ying for help, and Cao Ying is troubled by the food shortage, and he has the name of avenging his father, plus Liu Bei asking for help, how can there be no reason not to send troops south immediately?" ”

"And Lu Bu!"

Deputy Director Tao's subordinates now have no shortage of thinkers who are loyal on the outside and deceitful on the inside, Chen Deng also stood up and said with a sneer: "Lu Wenhou's capricious and forgetful surname has long been famous in the world, not to mention that after our army and Liu Bei went to war, Liu Bei will definitely ask Lu Bu for help, even if Liu Bei does not ask for help, Lu Bu, who is troubled by the food shortage, will never miss this God-given opportunity to take advantage of the fire to rob!" At that time, our army will be three opponents, among which the two armies of Lu Bu and Cao Ying will be far above our army! ”

Cao Bao and Zang Ba stopped talking, after Zang Ba's army returned, although the Xuzhou army had overpowered Liu Beijun in terms of comprehensive strength, but compared with Cao Ying and Lu Bu, it was a cut worse, and it was extremely difficult to deal with one of them.

"Xuande Gong's move, go high." The old fox Chen Qi sighed: "Under the pretext of preventing Cao Ying's comeback, preventing Lu Wenhou from taking advantage of the fire to rob, and asking for food to expand the army is justified, if the lord doesn't give it, he will immediately fall into a moral inferiority, giving Xuande an excuse for open war, and even giving Xuande Gong the opportunity to enter the house and kill people with a knife, forcing the lord to agree." ”

"Otherwise, we'll give it." The pottery merchant's surname is weak, and after listening to the analysis of Chen Qi's father and son and Lu Su, these old foxes, he immediately felt a little weak, and couldn't help but say: "Just take it as a loss of wealth to avoid disasters, we will work hard ourselves, send him the grain, grass and war horses that Xuande Gong wanted, let him expand his armaments, and block Cao Ying and Lu Bu for us." ”

"Never give!" Lu Su, the son of a ruined family, suddenly became stingy this time, and shouted: "Giving such a huge amount of money and food to Liu Bei is tantamount to fighting the fire with a salary, and there will be endless troubles in the future!" ”

"Can't give!" Chen Deng also shook his head and said coldly: "Since Liu Bei entered Xuzhou, he has been indiscriminately showing kindness and winning the hearts of the people, and his intention is to annex the five counties of Xuzhou!" If such a huge amount of money and food is equated with him, it is equivalent to raising a tiger, then not only Liu Bei's troops will be stronger, but our army will also face a food shortage crisis. ”

"It's not okay to give, it's even more impossible not to give, so what should I do?" The potter asked, embarrassed.

Lu Su, Chen Qi, father and son and others stopped talking, and they were all helpless for a while, Tao Qian, who had been coughing and wheezing, suddenly spoke, coughing painfully and sighed: "Luring wolves into the house, raising tigers, regretting not being at the beginning, regretting not being at the beginning." ”

Tao Ying never said a word, at this time, Tao Ying also vaguely understood Liu Bei's thoughts, his Guangling battle results, must have frightened Liu Bei, let Liu Bei understand that Xuzhou is no longer possible to be given to him by Tao Qian for the third time, and the only way to annex Xuzhou is to speak by force, but now his own gentleman's army has achieved initial results, and Zang Ba led the Langya army back to Tao Qian's command, Liu Bei has almost no chance of winning with Xuzhou alone. However, the luck of Uncle Liu Huang, the master of battlefield life-saving, was not covered, and it happened to catch up with Cao Ying and Lu Bu's grain shortage truce, both of them were in urgent need of grain and grass supplies, and they could attack Xuzhou at any time, so Uncle Liu Huang improvised and figured out such a poisonous plan to find an opportunity for him to annex Xuzhou himself.

Then again, although Uncle Liu's mind was guessed by Deputy Director Tao, how to crack Uncle Liu's poisonous trick, Tao Ying couldn't think of a way to deal with it for a while, because Uncle Liu's hand was too poisonous, blocking all Tao Ying's retreats, and no matter what countermeasures Tao Ying took, it would only be beneficial to Uncle Liu Huang and put Tao Ying in a predicament. Don't give it, give Uncle Liu Huang the opportunity to turn his face and lure the wolf into the room! Give, it's a salary to fight fires, and raise tigers! No matter how loyal and honest the good boy Tao Ying is, he really can't think of a good way in a short time.

"Childe, what's your idea?" Chen Deng's question to Tao Ying made everyone's eyes turn to Tao Ying, and also made Tao Ying come back to his senses from his contemplation.

Facing everyone's expectant eyes, Tao Ying smiled slightly, and wanted to tell the truth, saying that he had no countermeasures for the time being, but when the words came to his mouth, Tao Ying's heart suddenly moved again, and on his handsome face, he was also accustomed to showing a gentle smile, and nodded and replied: "In my opinion, it should be given." ”

"Should it be given?" Everyone, including Lu Su, exclaimed, and Cao Bao couldn't help but add, "Childe, you're not joking, are you?" ”

"I'm certainly not kidding." Tao Ying shook his head, and in an instant, he perfected the poison plan he had calculated, turned to Tao Qian, and said loudly: "Father, according to the child's opinion, we should give the 200,000 Hu military rations and 1,000 war horses that Xuande Gong wanted!" More than half a year ago, if it weren't for Xuande Gong waving his army to the south, fighting for help, Xuzhou would have fallen into the hands of Cao Ying, this more than half a year, Xuande Gong blocked Cao Ying Lu Bu for us, won a precious respite time for my Xuzhou to recuperate, and also won a valuable training time for my children, Yu Xuzhou has a great favor to my father and son, and now Xuande Gong is expanding the military war for the peace of the five counties of Xuzhou, for our sake - if we don't give, we can't say anything about it! ”

Tao Qian, Cao Hong, Cao Bao, Zang Ba, Lu Su and Chen Qi father and son all widened their eyes, almost suspecting that Deputy Director Tao had become the nerd he used to be, so he said this pedantic stupid thing, only Tao Ying's stupid brother Tao Shang nodded, feeling that his brother was a little reasonable, so Tao Shang hurriedly asked: "Second brother, although you are reasonable, but you gave 200,000 Hu military rations to Xuande Gong, what should we do with the grain and grass of our Xuzhou army?" In the past six months, in order to support Xuande Gong's team, our grain and grass have been stretched, and it is difficult to hold on until next year's autumn grain, and now more than half of the grain and grass have been given to Xuande Gong, what do our soldiers eat? ”

"Of course, we can't use our military food reserves." Tao Ying shook his head, "These 200,000 grains, we can only find another way to collect them." ”

"Childe, how do we figure it out? The food shortage in the north is so serious, where should we go up and find a way? Cao Bao asked suspiciously.

"If you can't help it, you have to try to find a way." Tao Ying said lightly: "Voluntary fundraising, I am willing to donate all my personal property to buy food to raise." ”

Speaking of this, Tao Ying pointed to the people present and said, "Father, brother, you also have to have some blood, try your best to donate a little; Zijing, you are a well-known loser, it doesn't matter if you lose a little more this time, right? Brother Xuangao, Uncle Cao, General Cao Hong, it's okay for you to donate a year's Lu rice, right? There is also Han Yugong, Brother Yuanlong, among the people present, the two of you have the most land in Xuzhou, and you must donate more, and it shouldn't be difficult to get three thousand grains, right? ”

Except for the stupid big brother Tao Shang and the loser Lu Su, everyone was so angry that Tao Ying couldn't speak, and the loser Lu Su said with a wry smile: "Childe, you let me donate all my property, it's absolutely no problem, but the problem is, these are just a drop in the bucket, far from enough?" ”

"It's not enough." Tao Ying smiled mildly and said: "The people who received the great favor of Xuande Gong are not a few of us, the lack of food and the expenses for buying war horses, let the people of Xuzhou come out, tell the people of Xuzhou about the requirements of Xuande Gong, and call on the people of Xuzhou to donate generously like us and actively raise donations." If it is insufficient, we will distribute these money and grain to the people and forcibly collect it from the people for Xuande Gong! ”

Tao Ying's words did not fall, Tao Qian no longer coughed in pain, Chen Qi's father and son and Lu Su had also suddenly realized, and they hugged their fists to Tao Ying together, and said in unison: "Son, I am ashamed!" ”

"Ying'er!" Tao Qian coughed again, but this time the cough was no longer so painful, pointing at Tao Ying while coughing, he scolded with a smile: "Ying'er, you unscrupulous, when did you become so deceitful?" How could you come up with such a cunning trick up the house? Xuande Gong is going to be killed by you this time! ”

"Father misunderstood." Tao Ying replied with a smile: "The child was also forced to be helpless, for the sake of Xuande Gong's preparation plan, he had to do this." ”

Before the words were finished, Tao Ying couldn't help laughing, Tao Qian coughed and laughed, Chen Qi and Lu Su raised their heads and laughed together, Tao Shang, Cao Hong, Cao Bao and Zang Ba were inexplicable, and couldn't help but ask: "Lord, Han Yu, military advisor, Mr. Yuanlong, what are you laughing at?" Why did Childe go up to the house and draw the ladder? Why did you pit Xuande Gong? ”

"Generals, eldest prince, you still don't understand?" Chen Deng laughed and said: "The second prince is using the way of others to govern his body, doesn't Xuande Gong like to buy people's hearts and show kindness?" The second prince made his unreasonable demands public, and took the lead in donating all his personal property to take advantage of the righteousness of knowing the kindness, and then threatened the people of Xuzhou to distribute this huge amount of money and grain to the people of the five counties of Xuzhou, and forcibly expropriated it from the people. ”

"Got it!" Zang Ba slapped his thigh and laughed: "In this way, the people of Xuzhou will not only see through the true face of Liu Bei's thief, but also want to eat the flesh of this thief and sleep on the skin of this thief!" This thief still dares to fight the idea of Xuzhou, first of all, the people of Xuzhou will not agree! ”

"Wonderful!" Cao Bao finally understood, applauded and smiled: "It should be done like this, not only to make the people of Xuzhou hate Liu Bei to kill the thief, but also not to give this thief an excuse to start a war and lure the wolf into the house, we don't need to use the military food reserves, we don't have to worry about the food shortage!" ”

"I expected that he Liu Bei would not dare to accept this money and grain!" Chen Deng smiled again: "With Liu Bei's hypocritical surname, he angered the people of the five counties of Xuzhou so much, and risked the world's disapproval, even if he borrowed a hundred guts, he didn't dare to do it!" He will only obediently change his words, beg us not to forcibly collect it on his behalf, and take the initiative to ask for a reduction in the amount of money and food. ”

Everyone laughed wildly again, and they all admired Deputy Director Tao's poisonous plan of borrowing flowers to offer Buddha and going up to the house to draw ladders. And Tao Qian's illness seemed to have improved a lot, first waved his hand to make everyone stop laughing, and then instructed Chen Qi and his son: "Han Yugong, Yuanlong, Zhang Bang's call for the people to actively raise donations, the old man will hand it over to you, remember, we must let every military and civilian people in Xuzhou know the cause and effect of the matter, and everyone knows that we are forced to forcibly requisition money and grain for the sake of Xuande Gong!" ”

"Don't worry, my lord, this matter is on us." Chen Qi and his son smiled and saluted together and agreed.

"Han Yugong, Brother Yuanlong." Tao Ying interjected: "Please be sure to explain that we have all donated enthusiastically, and it is best to let the people know the amount of donations." ”

Such a good thing of bribing the hearts of the people and expanding their prestige, Chen Jue's father and son did not understand the reason, so they immediately nodded together and agreed with a smile. Tao Qian pointed to Tao Ying and Lu Su and instructed: "Ying'er, Mr. Zijing, the matter of negotiating with Liu Bei's envoy will be handed over to you." Remember, let's just say that the old man promised to pay the full amount, but the amount is too large and it takes a little time to prepare, and the old man believes that you will be able to persuade the envoy of Xuande Gong to give the old man a little time to prepare. ”

Tao Ying and Lu Su agreed with a smile, and their smiles were very honest. In the end, Tao Qian pointed to Cao Bao and Zang Ba, and said with a smile: "General Cao, General Zang, you also have to be prepared, just in case, as for how to prepare, I believe that you don't need the old man to teach you, right?" ”

"Lord, please rest assured, if Liu Bei Xiao'er dares to jump over the wall in a hurry, he will regret it when he keeps it!" Zang Ba and Cao Bao clasped their fists and roared in unison.

Tao Qian laughed again, all the troubles in his heart were suddenly swept away, and everyone prepared separately at the moment, Chen Qi and his son went to organize civilian officials to prepare the list of postings, and organized the Three Kingdoms and Five Mao to prepare to spread the news; Zang Ba and Cao Bao hurriedly returned to the camp and organized soldiers and horses to reorganize the army to prevent Liu Bei from jumping over the wall and suddenly making a move; Tao Ying and Lu Su, two honest people, rushed to the pavilion together, negotiated with Jian Yong, and told Jian Yong the good news that they had agreed to Liu Bei's request; Tao Qian, who was old and sick, was supported by the pottery merchant and Cao Hong, and returned to the back room to use medicine to recuperate.

The matter is not over, he led Lu Su to the pavilion with a smile, and when he walked halfway, Deputy Director Tao passed by a crude medicine shop on the side of the road, and at first he just passed by, but when he suddenly glanced at the Chinese medicinal materials in the store, Deputy Director Tao suddenly reined in the war horse, and his calm face suddenly showed a nervous look, and blurted out: "Not good!" ”

"Childe, what's wrong?" Lu Su asked in surprise.

"I seem to have missed a calculation." Tao Ying replied nervously.

"Childe missed the calculation?" Lu Su asked again.

"I forgot, if the mastermind behind that incident was Xuan Degong, he would probably make two moves at the same time!" Tao Ying finally figured out the joints, quickly turned the horse's head, and shouted: "Zijing, hurry, let's go back!" ”