Chen Deng said eagerly: "Runde Gong, Tao Envoy Jun is seriously ill, I am afraid that it will not be long before the personnel, so I will come to summon Runde Gong Jin to see and discuss the great plan of Xuzhou, please Runde Gong go to Tancheng as soon as possible, and there will be changes later!" ”

"Tao Gong is seriously ill?" Liu Ze said in his heart, presumably Tao Qian's limit has come, and it seems that he must go to Xuzhou immediately. "Since Yuanlong is a messenger, why did he make it look like this?"

Chen Deng sighed and said: "When I arrived in Lanling, I met a group of masked robbers on the road, fortunately the steward Chen Fu fought desperately, and a certain person got away with it, but it is a pity that Chen Fu and more than ten followers died at the hands of the robbers. ”

Although Fang Jin's world is not very peaceful, and it is not uncommon to encounter a robber or something on the road, but this matter is too strange, Chen Deng and his party ride lightly, and there are no other cars and horses, how can they attract robbers and robbers? Moreover, Chen Deng took Tao Qian's order to go out of the city, if he really bumped into the robbers as soon as he left the city, it would be too coincidental.

Liu Ze's instinct was that this gang of robbers must be unusual. "Mr. Yuanlong, where are these robbers coming from? Why is it so ruthless? ”

Chen Deng took a breath and said: "These robbers do not want to make money but take the life of a certain person, they are definitely not bandits and robbers, and they have no enemies on weekdays, the only possibility is that someone does not want Runde Gong to go to Xuzhou, so they sent assassins to intercept and kill them halfway." Runde Gong is in danger when he goes to Tancheng, and he needs to be careful to take precautions. ”

"Who does Mr. Yuanlong think these assassins were sent?"

Chen Deng shook his head and said: "These assassins are all dressed in black, with black scarves and masks, they are really unrecognizable, and the assassins must not dare to reveal their identities lightly." There were many people in Xuzhou City who did not want Runde Gong to take over the state pastor, and it was impossible to judge who sent these assassins. ”

Liu Ze knows this, since someone sent a masked assassin to commit the murder, he will never show his hiding appearance, but since he dares to be so ruthless to Chen Deng, this person's status in Xuzhou is definitely not low, and he is ruthless, in order to prevent himself from succeeding as the state pastor, it can be said that he is scheming.

Liu Ze instructed Pan Feng to mobilize a hundred Jinying guards to accompany him, Zhao Long took five hundred archers to prepare for the escort to leave immediately, and the entourage only brought Jia Xu alone. At the same time, he ordered Guan Yu and Zhang Fei to order Xiaopei's army. The whole army has entered a state of first-class combat readiness. And assembled in the border area of Xuzhou, waiting for the order to send troops, and at the same time Liu Ze also ordered, without his order. Xiao Pei's army is not allowed to mobilize a single soldier into Xuzhou.

"Is Mr. Yuanlong in good health? Why don't you take a night's rest in Xiaopei? Tomorrow, he will send someone to escort Mr. back to Xuzhou. Liu Ze looked at Chen Deng's physical condition. I wonder if he can still withstand a long march.

Chen Deng struggled to get up, and even said that he was out of the way, and he was going to return to Xuzhou with Liu Ze no matter what. However, he saw that Liu Ze was only going to bring a few hundred people into Xuzhou, and he couldn't help but say worriedly: "Runde Gong, the situation in Xuzhou has gradually become clearer, Tao Zhijun's time is running out, and Xuzhou's change of ownership is a foregone conclusion. But Runde only brought a few hundred guards over, if someone was unfavorable to Runde Gong, wouldn't it be bad? Please also ask Runde Gong to bring more people in case of accidents. ”

If there was no assassin intercepting and killing halfway, Liu Ze only brought a few hundred guards to Xuzhou without any problem, but now that there is an assassin incident, it proves that there are indeed people who covet the position of Xuzhou Mu, and Chen Deng is very worried about Liu Ze's safety in Xuzhou.

Liu Ze shook his head and said: "This trip is just to visit Tao Envoy, if I bring a large army into Xuzhou, I am afraid that I will be accused of forcing the palace by people with ulterior motives, so I must not bring more soldiers." But Yuanlong, please rest assured, these guards I brought are all experienced in a hundred battles, and there is no problem with one block and ten, not to mention that I have ordered the army to gather outside the border of Xuzhou, once something really happens in Xuzhou, the army will be there in a hurry. Even if Tao Zhijun really dies of illness, I believe that it is impossible for all my colleagues in Xuzhou to openly violate Tao Gong's last wishes and use swords and soldiers when Tao Gong's bones are not cold. ”

As for the shape of Xuzhou, Liu Ze and his staff members still carefully analyzed and agreed that there were almost no forces in Xuzhou who agreed to Liu Ze taking over Xuzhou, but these forces did not form a joint force, and most of them were still holding a wait-and-see attitude, and Liu Ze could take over the power of Xuzhou smoothly.

Although there was an assassin attack today, Liu Ze believed that it was just a few people who couldn't hold it back and were ready to move, not only with his own power, but also did not dare to openly defy the world's condemnation. At this time, if you bring a large army into Xuzhou, you will definitely be convinced, if there are other people with malicious intentions to secretly instigate, the consequences will be completely different, so Liu Ze made the decision to only bring hundreds of guards into Xuzhou.

After Liu Ze's order was issued, Zhao Yun and Pan Feng immediately prepared to set off, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei and other generals also acted according to the order, Liu Ze didn't care to greet the two ladies in the mansion, and ordered the team to start immediately.

A group of hundreds of people are all light horses, Xiaopei is only two or three hundred miles away from Tancheng, and if you rush forward on light horses, you can arrive in a few hours.

When he arrived at Lanling County, Chen Deng pointed out to Liu Ze the location of the Assassin ambush. Half a day ago, there was a fierce fight here, more than a dozen of Chen Deng's entourage and a number of assassins died here, but when I looked at it at this time, not to mention a corpse on the ground, not even a trace of blood had been found, and it was obvious that the person who attacked him was not prepared to leave any clues and traces for Liu Ze at all.

Chen Deng said angrily: "This thief is so cunning, there is no trace left, it seems that it is difficult to find out who did it with some clues!" ”

Jia Xu smiled slightly: "This person is extremely thoughtful and thoughtful, and he is not an easy character to deal with." However, judging from his cover up of these traces, this person is also extremely timid and cautious, not to be foolish, not sure of victory, and will definitely not take it lightly. ”

Liu Ze nodded and said: "What Wen He said is extremely true, the more he wants to cover up the truth, the more it proves his weakness, proves that he does not have the courage to confront us head-on, at best, he can only put a cold arrow behind his back, although this kind of opponent is difficult, it is not terrible." Let's go, Xuzhou is in front of you, and what should come is always coming! ”

After Liu Ze's cavalry arrived in Xuzhou, they traveled unhindered and arrived at the state pastor's mansion.

The eldest prince potter had been waiting at the door for a long time, and when he saw Liu Ze coming, he hurriedly greeted him, and said eagerly: "Runde Gong, you are here, my father has been waiting for a long time." ”

Liu Ze jumped off the horse and asked, "How is Ling Zun's condition?" ”

The potter's face turned pale, and he said gloomily: "My father may not be able to survive this hurdle, Runde Gong, please talk inside." ”

Liu Ze nodded and followed the pottery merchant into the mansion, Chen Deng and Jia Xu also followed, and Zhao Yun and Pan Feng waited outside the mansion.

As soon as he entered the house, Liu Ze smelled the strong smell of medicine, and at the same time saw Tao Qian on the sickbed, his face was as white as paper, and he described it as withered, and the lamp had run out. Mrs. Gan sat on the edge of the couch and wept secretly. The second son, Tao Ying, knelt under the bed.

Liu Ze hurriedly walked to the couch and cried: "Tao Gong is infected with scabies, and Ze has not had time to serve, and he is begging for forgiveness." ”

Tao Qian originally closed his eyes slightly, but when he heard Liu Ze's arrival, his spirit was shocked, and his dead eyes glowed with a strange brilliance, and with the support of Mrs. Gan, he half sat up and said in a loud voice: "It's good that Runde Gong is here!" It's good to be here! ”

Liu Ze hurriedly said: "Tao Gong must not get up, rest assured to recuperate." ”

Tao Qian shook his head lightly and said, "The old man knows that the destiny of heaven has returned, how can man save it." Shang'er, quickly pass the princes in. ”

Mi Zhu, Cao Bao, Cao Hong, Mi Fang, Xiao Jian, Zhen Rong and others were already waiting in the mansion, and when they heard the summons, they came in together and kowtowed to say goodbye.

Tao Qian ordered Mrs. to take his seal ribbon and said to Liu Ze: "The limit has come, the old man knows that he will die soon, today I specially invite Runde Gong to come, not for anything else, no one can act in the eight counties of Xuzhou's five counties, Wanwang Runde Gong is heavy in Xuzhou's millions of lives, and by this seal, Qian will die under the nine springs, and you can also look at it!" ”

Although Tao Qian's decision did not surprise most people, but the people who heard the news were still shocked, the first two times Tao Qian gave way to Xuzhou, Tao Qian's body was still in good health at that time, and now when he is critically ill, whether Liu Ze accepts it or not, Xuzhou Prefecture has changed hands, which is already a sure thing. Judging from Tao Qian's resolute attitude, Liu Ze is undoubtedly his best and final candidate, unlike the previous two times Liu Ze was only a guest general, Tao Liu at this time was already a brother-in-law, and with the in-law relationship between Tao and Liu, it seems that there is no other candidate to compete with him.

As for Tao Qian's two sons, they were directly ignored.

Almost all the heavyweight officials in Xuzhou were present, this time it was different from the past, Tao Qian was dying, and gave up the position of state pastor to Liu Ze, he must have made up his mind, his heart is like a rock, and then to persuade at this time is not only useless, but also after Tao Qian's death, Liu Ze is very likely to take power, and the end of the bird at this time must be tragic. These officials are all old fritters who have been mixed in the officialdom for many years, and they obviously know very well that since the overall situation has been decided, why bother to be boring, so although there are many people in the house, no one speaks.

The scene was silent, even a needle falling on the ground could be heard clearly, and everyone's eyes were focused on Liu Ze's body, all secretly speculating about Liu Ze's next decision, whether to accept or reject?

Liu Ze looked at Tao Qian's eyes with tears in his eyes, his eyes were full of compassion, and his hands were trembling uncontrollably, as if the small silver seal had a thousand weights, with a trace of reluctance, with ardent expectations, waiting for his reply. Liu Ze's heart was also strangely heavy, and he sighed secretly, and was about to speak.

"I'm against it!" A shrill voice rang out in the room in a very discordant voice. (To be continued......)