Tao Qian refused to comment and continued to ask: "How about Cao Cao in Yanzhou?"

"This, not as good as that." Tao Shang's cheeks were red and he replied with great difficulty.

At this time, Tao Shang was already feeling something was wrong, and looked up at his father Tao Qian with a panic expression, feeling surprised.

He couldn't understand why his father asked, "General Li Li is comparable to him." As for Cao Cao in Yanzhou, even his father is not a rival to Cao Cao, and he is not an enemy of Cao Cao? However, he already felt that there was something in his father's words, and this inquiry was definitely not without cause, and there must be a deep meaning in it.

"How about Sun Ce, the descendant of Sun Jian?" Tao Qian asked with a deep expression without giving up.

Tao Shang hesitated and thought, "Sun Ce has great ambitions and is unwilling to be inferior to others. He has repeatedly tried to support his troops and stand up, but has suffered setbacks. Now he has led his people to serve Yuan Shu. He is far more brave than his children. It is unknown how civil and political affairs are. The times are not good, and he still has no place to stand. Therefore, children,,,,,,,"

"You are not as good as him!" Before Tao Shang finished speaking, Tao Qian suddenly interrupted: "Sun Ce has always had great ambitions, so he is naturally not a person who is willing to be inferior to others. Otherwise, his father would have received him from his subordinates long ago, so how could he drive him out of Xuzhou? However, Sun Ce has great martial arts and extraordinary courage. His martial arts are not inferior to his father Sun Jian, and he is even better than him. In a chaotic world, such people with great ambitions but bravery will sooner or later make a name for themselves, just wait for a long time.

With one opportunity, he can sneak out of the abyss and make a big splash. Therefore, it is not for the father to gain the ambition of others to destroy my son's majesty. Compared with Sun Ce, you are far inferior to him. If my son could be seventy percent like Sun Ce, he would have to support my son in taking Xuzhou for his father and start to eliminate people with dissatisfaction in the country early. Unfortunately, my son cannot govern the prefectures and counties in his literature, control his subordinates, and cannot protect the country and the people. He is in charge of the commander to fight against all directions. Alas, what can I do!"

"I know my fault, please calm my anger." Tao Shang's expression changed when he heard the sound, his cheeks were as pale as snow, and his eyes were full of resentment. But he did not confront his father in person, but got up and sat on the edge of the sickbed. He patted Tao Qian's back gently, for fear that he would get angry.

After his father's face was a little slow and his breath was smooth, the Tao Shang whispered: "I don't know what my father meant? The child is stupid, please tell me clearly."

Tao Qian sat up against the bed and looked at Tao Shang sideways. He said softly: "Father knows that you have guessed it, but he is unwilling to accept it. My son is very loyal and filial, honest and sincere, and has a gentlemanly spirit. If he was born in a peaceful and prosperous era, his son inherited his own pride. He may have succeeded as the governor of Xuzhou. Unfortunately, the world is now chaotic, and the strong are respected. My son's civil and military skills are all doctrines of the meanness, and there is no excuse for him. In the chaotic times, those who do not have a strong talent but have a high position will suffer a sudden disaster. Not only will his own life be lost, it will also involve the family's family and the disaster will endanger the disaster."

Speaking of this, Tao Qian gently patted the back of Tao Shang's hand and whispered: "Last year, when Liu Bei led his troops to rescue Xuzhou, his father began to pay attention to this person. Now it has been nearly a year. He is a humble man, but he has always had great ambitions, has a strong mind, and is in good faith in everything. In addition, this man is extremely brave and has two sworn brothers who follow him with all their might. So sooner or later, as the general said in his letter, Liu Bei is kind-hearted and cruel, and now he is respectful to you brothers, which is a request for him to be a father. He needs to support food and cities for his father to live and strengthen his strength. When he is truly full, he may not take your brothers seriously. By then, everything will be up to you.

Now Liu Bei has 20,000 troops in his hands. Guan Yu and Zhang Fei help each other, and his wings are getting better. Once he turns against his opponent, our Xuzhou will be in danger. Therefore, half a year ago, he pretended to give in to Xuzhou to test his heart. At that time, due to his affection, he first arrived in Xuzhou again and had no foundation, so he refused against his will. In the past six months, Liu Bei has been walking around and made friends with the powerful gentry in Xuzhou, especially with the Mi brothers in charge of our military and machinery, money and grain. How can this be hidden from my father's eyes? His big recruitment of troops was also expected by his father. Since he was so determined to covet Xuzhou, he simply helped him, so what's wrong with giving him the position of Xuzhou's governor?"

"No, Father!" Finally, when Tao Qian expressed his feelings, Tao Shang and Tao Ying brothers were shocked and anxiously dissuaded.

But seeing the pottery merchant, anxiously, "Xuzhou is the territory that my father has worked hard for many years, how can he give it to outsiders?"

"Yes!" Tao Ying replied: "For many years, my father has worked hard and worked hard for the six counties of Xuzhou. He is still working hard for the safety of Xuzhou, so he is seriously ill. But now his father wants to hand over the huge Xuzhou to Liu Bei. The child dare not agree with this move and cannot agree no matter what!"

Compared to Tao merchant’s words, Tao Ying seemed particularly excited and indignant.

His father Tao Qian stopped talking about Liu Bei's close relationship with the Mi family. When he mentioned this, Tao Ying was so angry that he was full of anger and resentful.

As far as Tao Ying knows, Mi Zhu, the head of the Mi family, intends to marry his younger sister Mi Huan to Liu Bei as a concubine and form a marriage relationship. For this reason, Mi Zhu privately sponsors Liu Bei's large amount of money and grain to help him recruit soldiers and build military weapons, and expand his strength. The reason why Liu Bei and Mi Huan have not yet got married is because of Tao Qian's affection, fearing that it would be too ostentatious, which would make Tao Qian suspicious and cause trouble.

After learning about this, Tao Ying was so angry that he couldn't eat for several days and was full of righteous indignation. Liu Bei was already in his thirties, twice as big as Mi Huan, and could be Mi Huan's father. Moreover, Mi Huan married Liu Bei as a concubine because Liu Bei had already started a family and married his wife. But even so, Mi Zhu was willing to send his sister to Liu Bei as his concubine, but he was not willing to marry him Tao Ying as his wife. How could Tao Ying bear this anger and not get angry?

It's really too much to deceive others!

At this moment, when Tao Ying heard his father wanting to hand Xuzhou over to Liu Bei, he felt like a bolt from the blue that made him roar in his mind and his soul was absent. Therefore, he vetoed it with a very firm attitude, as if he was incompatible with Liu Bei.

"Ying'er doesn't need to say much. This matter has been decided by the father, so there is no need to discuss it again!" Looking up at the youngest son Tao Ying's resentment, Tao Qian said in a deep voice without any doubt.

Then, his expression was a little slow, and his eyes showed a caring look that only a kind father could have. He whispered: "Ying'er likes the little sister of the Mi family. He has known this for a long time. He mentioned this to Mi Zhu before. Unfortunately, the Mi brothers had too high vision and shirked the blame and politely declined this marriage. Moreover, as far as the father knows, Mi Huan is unruly and willful, although he is quite handsome, he never pretends to you. In this case, why should Ying'er be greedy for her? There are countless beautiful women in the world. Instead of wasting your efforts on such a woman who doesn't like you, it is better to find a gentle and virtuous woman to marry her. Therefore, the past will be given up. Ying'er still needs to calm down in the future to avoid disasters in the future."

After persuading Tao Ying for a while, Tao Qian said to his eldest son Tao Shang: "I have been an official in Xuzhou for many years and have worked hard to benefit the people in the area. Anything that is beneficial to the people of Xuzhou will definitely do without hesitation. Now, only by handing Xuzhou to people with great ambitions like Liu Bei can we protect the lives of the people of Xuzhou and avoid being slaughtered by Cao thieves.

Therefore, for your father, you have no choice but to hand over the huge six counties of Xuzhou to Liu Bei. Only in this way can you protect the people and take care of your father's reputation throughout your life, and leave a great kindness for you brothers. In the future, as long as Xuzhou is not lost, Liu Bei will always remember this kindness and treat you brothers well; otherwise, what kind of face will he have to establish his foothold in Xuzhou?"

"Kid keep your father's instructions in mind!" Seeing that Tao Qian had made up his mind, Tao Shang and Tao Ying brothers were reluctant, but they had no choice but to accept the order respectfully.

"Well, you will definitely be able to see your true intention of being a father in the future. No matter who wants to occupy Xuzhou, you will have to pay the price for it. There has never been a beautiful thing in this world that can be obtained without effort." Tao Qian nodded slightly and whispered meaningfully.

Then he turned his head and ordered Tao Shang, "Then you go and order Mi Zhu to raise 70,000 stones of grain and grass, and 50,000 gold to Sili. This is the last time I, Tao Qian, paid food and money to the court, and fulfilled my loyalty to the emperor, and left a way out for your brothers. Shang'er, this time you personally escort the food and grass, bring 10,000 Danyang soldiers to escort along the way, and send your mother to Chang'an, which is safer than Xuzhou. In the future, once the situation in Xuzhou is worrying, you will go to Xiliang to join the general, not seeking fame and fortune, but seeking peace for your life."

"This,, promise, my son, please obey the order!" Tao Shang agreed respectfully, but he stopped.

Tao Qian waved his hand very tiredly, lay down again under the help of Tao merchants, and whispered weakly: "Don't ask more about this matter. As long as the general knows that he sent you to personally escort the food and pay for his father, everything will be clear. Remember, paying the food and pay to the court this time is an imperial edict, not a gift. Go, Shang'er, go and go back quickly, and be sure to return to Xuzhou within two months."

After saying that, Tao Qian closed his eyes gently and fell asleep. There was still a little melancholy and reluctance hanging on his cheeks, and a trace of unfathomable light of wisdom remained in the wrinkles on his forehead.

Waiting for his father to fall asleep, Tao Shang and Tao Ying brothers stood up gently, covered their father with brocade quilts, and tiptoed out of the inner room.

"We should not violate the order of our father, and we should obey it." When we approached the gate of the mansion, the Tao merchant suddenly turned his head and said to Tao Ying.

"Well, I know what to do, brother, take care of myself." Tao Ying heard the voice's eyes and nodded immediately.

After Tao merchant left, Tao Ying's calm face showed a ferocious look and gritted his teeth and said in a low voice: "Since the bitch Mi Huan would rather be a concubine than marry me, do you really think that Tao Ying is weak and can be bullied? Wait, today Liu Bei snatched my woman away, and you will definitely suffer the consequences in the future!"

———————————————— (To be continued)
Chapter completed!