(The heavy rewards and fierce votes of the Great Alliance are really exciting!) Courtesy of Zhao Wuxian 2014, UFGW)

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At the beginning of August, Ma Han and his entourage returned to Xiapi and were welcomed by Chen Deng's people in the city.

Chen Deng only said one sentence when they met: "Ma Jun is really a god!" ”

Ma Han was waiting for humility, and another person exclaimed: "This move alone is worth a hundred thousand granaries, Ma Jun, true faith and righteousness." ”

Ma looked at the person who spoke in surprise, it was actually Mi Fang. It is not surprising that this man's attitude has changed, but strangely, how did he come to Xiapi?

Chen Deng naturally knew what Ma Han thought, and said in a low voice: "The envoy is seriously ill, I'm afraid that time is running out, and my father has been going to Yancheng for many days. And Zi Fang's trip was specially waiting for Ma Jun. ”

Ma Han's gaze swept towards Mi Fang.

Mi Fang's voice was low, and he slowly spit out a sentence: "The envoy invites Ma Jun to go to Yancheng for a while, and there is something important to discuss." ”

Well, it's August, and it's still blazing, but Tao Qian's fire of life will be extinguished. Anyway, as the saying goes, "When a person is about to die, his words are also good", let's take a look at what this male lord who is about to die will say when he is dying.

Ma Han came to the city again, but there was no crazy welcome like last time. It's not that the people of Yancheng are forgetful, and the requirements of the state pastor. At present, Tao Qian is seriously ill and dying, and the people of Xuzhou are panicking, you can welcome the whole city again, not to mention that there is no such atmosphere, and it is also extremely disrespectful to the lord of Xuzhou on the sickbed.

Therefore, Ma Han quietly entered the city at the moment before the city gate was closed in the twilight, and did not alarm the soldiers and civilians of the city, and even the officials of Xuzhou did not know much.

There was no cheering and support, and the horse didn't mind. After all, in fact, he just went to Yanzhou to take a turn. But when he arrived at the State Governor's Mansion, it was Tao Qian's second son Tao Ying who greeted him in the gatehouse, which was a bit of an unexpected courtesy.

In the whole of Xuzhou, there are actually not a few people who can make Tao Ergongzi come out to greet him, but Tao Ying greeted him this time, obviously on behalf of his father, this face is a bit big.

From this seemingly ordinary, in fact, it is by no means a simple move. Ma Han realized that Tao Qian really had something important to discuss with him, or rather, something important to ask for.

Tao Ying, who is the second son of the state pastor, has relatively mediocre qualifications, and his personality is also a bit cowardly. It's just that a person with insight and ability will never be dominated by such a person. Including his gentle, very good old brother.

As soon as Tao Ying saw Ma Han, he shook his head deeply, and he didn't say any words of gratitude, only a rare gift. expressed his admiration for Ma Han's feat, and it was all in his words.

After the two of them thanked and returned the gift, under the guidance of Tao Ying, Ma Han came to the backyard of the state pastor's mansion. In front of a private room filled with patrolling armor and attendants.

Tao Ying came to the entrance and reported to him: "Ah Weng, Ma Jun has been invited." ”

A weak voice came from inside the room: "Please come in." ”

Tao Ying nodded to Ma Han. Under the service of the attendants, the two removed their boots, swept the dust off their bodies (mainly for the horses), and then stepped into the table with their socks on.

The interior furnishings are simple and even monotonous, with only a bed and a desk and a row of scrolls and books in the corner.

Tao Qian on the couch was already supported by his eldest son, the pottery merchant, and slowly sat up, leaning on the cushion. The lord of Xuzhou was already skinny at this time, his eyes were deep-set, his cheeks were sunken, his hair was like snow, and his whole person really looked like he was terminally ill. Only the occasional flash of majesty in his eyes reminded anyone who faced him that this was a prince who controlled millions of people.

Goodbye to the heroic, strong and heroic horseman, Tao Qian's first sentence was: "It's good to be young!" ”

This is the lament of the deceased to the vigorous, and it is also the sentiment of a force that is about to decline, a rising force.

After Tao Qian motioned for Ma Han to sit down, he said to his two sons: "My father has important things to discuss with Ma Jun, you two ...... Ahem...... Stand guard outside the door, and no one is allowed to ...... Cough...... Do not disturb inside. ”

The potter and the potter hurriedly stepped forward and patted their father on the back, looking worried and reluctant for a while.

Tao Qian smiled: "Idiot, just guarding the door...... When something happens, the Father will call you...... Cough...... Go ahead. Oh, no summons, no entry. ”

Ma Han looked at the two brothers and bowed down and said with a smile: "The second son of Tao Gong, filial piety and gentleness, brother and brother are respectful, which is enviable." ”

When Tao Qian heard this compliment, instead of being pleased, he put away his smile, his face was extremely strict, and he stared straight at Ma Han, and his dim eyes lit up all of a sudden.

This old guy is so weird! With the strength of Ma Han's heart, he was also seen as a little hairy, if it weren't for the fact that the person in front of him was an old guy who was dying, Ma Han almost thought that the other party wanted to be unfavorable to him.

Just when Ma Han almost couldn't help but give the other party a ride. Tao Qian finally spoke, his voice was calm and full of energy: "Please be the king today, Qian has something to entrust." ”

Got to the point? Ma Han secretly relaxed his strength and listened quietly, but he didn't ask what was going on.

Tao Qian didn't mind if Ma Han asked, his eyes kept on Ma Han, and he paused word by word: "I want to trust my two sons' lives." ”

So direct, without warning, straight to the point, without the slightest temptation, detour, side knock, twist and turn—it seems that Tao Qian also knows that his time is running out, and he doesn't dare to waste a single bit of time.

Ma Han was silent for a long time before he said, "Why me?" ”

Tao Qian said without hesitation: "First, you are far enough; Second, you are strong enough; Thirdly, and most importantly, you don't take my two mediocre sons seriously. They will never be a threat to you. ”

Tao Qian's words revealed a lot of information. Yes, Liaoxi is indeed far enough, so far that any ill-intentioned black hand can't stretch that long; Ma Han's strength is indeed strong enough to provide a minimum of life support; At the same time, he also seemed to see Ma Han's unwilling ambition. But, most importantly, why would he think his son was in danger? And this danger is so great that you have to go to Haidong to protect Qiangliang? Could it be ......

Ma Han's heart moved, and he met Tao Qian's gaze, and Tao Qian, who had returned to the light, seemed to have a great sense of enlightenment. actually guessed what Ma Han wanted to say, and nodded slowly.

And sure enough, it was! Ma Han thought about it after Liu Bei took Xuzhou in history, and sure enough, there was no news of the two brothers. The two brothers, Tao Shang and Tao Ying, only appeared in the annals in history as the son of Tao Qian, and similarly, after Tao Qian's death, quietly disappeared into history. After that, no matter how chaotic Xuzhou was, no one mentioned the brothers. Thinking about it carefully, in fact, in the later process of Liu Bei, Lu Bu and Cao Cao's struggle for Xuzhou, these brothers still have some use value. Why doesn't anyone take advantage of it? Do you want to use it, but the people are gone......

Ma Han smiled in his heart, in fact, Tao Qian should have a fourth reason, that is, he and Liu Bei did not deal with it. If he is the same as the Mi brothers or the Chen father and son, they are all close to Liu Beitao, and they don't dare to entrust their son to themselves if they kill Tao Qian. However, Tao Qian is also an old fox in a power struggle, and he should know that his suspicion with Liu Bei is actually nothing, once Liu Bei replaces him. He will only have a good relationship with Liu Bei, and will never offend the Xinzhou Pastor for a dead man. So, why did Tao Qian think that he must help with this?

Tao Qian seemed to see what the young cavalry lieutenant in front of him was thinking, and smiled like a fox. Trembling raised his hand and pointed to the small square box with red edges on a black background on the case: "Ma Jun, please open that box." ”

Ma Han glanced at it, it was just a palm-sized box, and it didn't look like it was filled with rare treasures. Not to mention. In terms of collecting treasures, how can he compare to Cao Song, who was once in the high position of the Three Dukes, as a herdsman from a strong background in a place? Ma Han had more than 30 cars of treasures that Cao Song had collected over the years from Zhang Min. Its curiosities are far beyond imagination. How could ordinary possessions impress him?

However, seeing Tao Qian's confident appearance, Ma Han still moved closer to the case, stretched out his right hand (the heart of defense is indispensable), and gently flipped the lid - the decoration in the box is very simple, and the things inside are also very simple, just a bronze fish about three fingers wide and half the size of a palm.

Ma Han looked at it carefully for a long time, and confirmed that this carp or some other fish-shaped artifact was really made of bronze - what tricks did Tao Qian want to play? Solemnly, let me see such a broken copper and iron! Uh, he's not going to tell me what's the key to the treasure trove, right?

Under Tao Qian's signal, Ma Han picked up the bronze fish in confusion. Hey! This bronze fish is actually only half a piece, and the back of the fish is flat, well, to be precise, the back is just a rough plane, with jagged concave and convex undulations, quite like key teeth...... It can't really be a treasure trove key!

Just when Ma Han thought that a huge fortune had fallen from the sky and smashed it on his head, Tao Qian's words made him laugh.

"This is a fish talisman, Ma Jun must know its use, right?" Tao Qian saw the surprise in Ma Han's eyes, thinking that the other party knew the meaning of this thing, and couldn't help but smile proudly, it seems that it is no problem to save the lives of his two sons.

Fish charms? Not the key? Ma Han scolded secretly in his heart, I know a ghost, and I don't speak quickly, which makes Lao Tzu startled. But looking at Tao Qian's appearance, he should know what this thing is for. So Ma Han also smiled slightly, and he also looked like "I really know".

Tao Qian smiled and said word by word: "Any one of my two sons, hold this fish talisman to the Tao's dock wall in Danyang, Yangzhou, and adjust all the soldiers, armor, grain, and more than 30 large and small fighting ships and ships......

Ma Han suddenly realized, it turned out to be a soldier talisman! Damn, why don't you make a tiger shape? So I can still guess somewhat...... This is also the lack of historical knowledge of Ma Han, there are several shapes of the military talisman in history, especially the tiger and the fish, among which the tiger shape is the most known to later generations, but the fish can also be less known for the soldier talisman, and the horse is one of them.

After realizing this, Ma Han was more happy than what treasure he had obtained. In the troubled times, no treasure is as valuable as military rations, Tao Qian really paid for his son! Danyang is Tao Qian's hometown, and it is also the place where he started, in the fundamental place where his connections and power are the strongest, a large number of food hoarding and stationing elite soldiers are just a basic means for the princes to be cunning in the troubled times. It is not surprising that Tao Qian has such a base, on the contrary, it is strange that there is no one.

At this time, Tao Qian added even more: "The total strength of each dock wall is not less than 5,000, and the eight have become Danyang elite soldiers, well-equipped!" ”

Elite soldiers, grain, armor, and warships must be at least one of the two sons of the Tao family to go with a military talisman before they can transfer troops - sure enough, the bait is fragrant, thoughtful, and not leaking, worthy of being an old fox.

Danyang elite soldiers, Xu and Yang are strong, dedicated to Ma Han to buy two lives for his son. So, is it okay to dedicate it to Liu Bei? The potter also asked this, but was reprimanded by his father. Joke, although Tao Qian is old, he is not confused, if it is useless to dedicate a big Xuzhou to Liu Bei, five thousand soldiers want to save their lives?

Ma Han put the fish talisman back in the box, covered it, patted it gently, and bowed slightly to Tao Qian: "Tao Gong can rest assured, the two sons will be safe and secure for the rest of their lives." ”

Tao Qian looked directly into Ma Han's eyes, as if he wanted to see into his heart. After a long time, he nodded lightly, let out a long breath, and seemed to let go of the burden of a thousand catties, and the whole person collapsed at once, and his face turned from yellow to gray.

Ma Han knew that he should go, otherwise if Lao Tao suddenly couldn't hold on, then he really jumped into the Yellow River and couldn't wash it.

When he was about to walk to the entrance, Ma Han suddenly looked back and asked, "How does Tao Gong deal with that Liu Envoy?" ”

Tao Qian said lightly: "The old man will give Xuzhou to him before everyone." ”

Ma Han smiled, did you let Xuzhou go? Life is really like a drama, it all depends on acting skills! (To be continued......)