NOVPUBChen Xi was startled and silently closed the document. He remembered that in original history, Mount Tai should have been occupied by Cao Cao, and then, because of Cao Cao’s coveting Xuzhou, as well as a series of reasons including the Technique Alliance and the Shao Alliance, Tao Qian fought several battles with him, forming a deadly enmity. There was no possibility for Tao Qian to hand over Xuzhou to Cao Cao.
As for this life, Liu Bei resided in Mount Tai, and Cao Cao and Tao Qian simply didn’t border each other, so those great battles from history couldn’t take place. Tao Qian was basically just filling a role in the Technique Alliance until his health declined.
For the Tao Qian of this life, it didn’t matter to him whether he handed Xuzhou over to Liu Bei or Cao Cao. The elderly and frail man had no grievance with either, and both Cao and Liu had shown their potential.
However, Liu Bei’s previous aggressive assault on Yuan Shu had left Tao Qian with the impression of a pact breaker. Even though Liu Bei had never joined the Technique Alliance, compared with a man of unblemished origin like Cao Cao, it was naturally easier for Tao Qian to favor him.
"So that means, Tao Qian was actually selecting a Provincial Governor to find a backer for his two sons, or in other words, to secure the Tao family’s legacy. Depressing, it’s like we gave Tao Qian too much time to think, allowing him to deeply realize that his two sons were good-for-nothings, utterly incapable of continuing the Tao family’s legacy in this chaotic world."
Chen Xi pinched the bridge of his nose, feeling a headache coming on. The human heart is truly bizarre. If Tao Qian had been in small skirmishes with Cao Cao every three days and major battles every five, he would naturally see Cao Cao as an arch-enemy, and he wouldn’t dream of giving Xuzhou to Cao Cao. But now, the situation was completely different from the historical conflict over Xuzhou!
The only forces Tao Qian truly bordered were Liu Bei and Yuan Shu. Liu Bei certainly wouldn’t covet Tao Qian’s territory, while Yuan Shu was the kind who stuck to his word; Tao Qian was among the earliest to respond to him. In Yuan Shu’s view, that made them brothers, and as the elder, he was expected to watch out for the younger, so he naturally wouldn’t attack either.
This led to a very strange situation. While the Central Plains were in utter chaos, defenseless Xuzhou—a region viewed as a juicy piece of meat by all the Feudal Lords—remained secure and tranquil, an utter anomaly. The anticipated seizure of the title of Emperor by Quexuan never happened. Aside from farming, farming, farming, Tao Qian had plenty of time to ponder life and his sons’ troubles.
After all, farming is a task anyone with a sound mind can undertake. Coupled with the consistent good weather in Xuzhou, once Tao Qian openly supported Emperor Xian, he stubbornly held to the Han tax law of one-thirtieth, and despite exploitation by the Aristocratic Clan, after two or three years, Xuzhou actually had enough surplus grain in every household.
Because there was no war in Xuzhou, and Tao Qian adhered to a laissez-faire policy, his prestige greatly increased over three years. To such an extent that the idea of the local Aristocratic Families usurping Tao Qian was now out of the question. Instead, Tao Qian found the time to contemplate how to suppress the influence of the Local Aristocratic Family in Xuzhou.
"So, you’re saying that this was indeed done by the Xuzhou Cao Family?" Chen Xi asked Jia Xu incredulously.
"Exactly, because Tao Gongzu has freed his hands. He’s been continuously weakening the power of the Aristocratic Families and strengthening the authority of the Provincial Governor. This is also why Tao Gongzu was confident about autonomously choosing a Provincial Governor," Jia Xu said with a wry smile. "Likewise, this is also why Tao Gongzu spat blood after Cao Mengde’s bloody massacre in Xuzhou."
Chen Xi was completely speechless. Anyone in Tao Qian’s place would probably spit blood. He had, after great effort, managed to suppress Xuzhou’s Aristocratic Clans and then picked a Cao Cao, who had a similar style to his own, was sufficiently hard-handed, and quite trustworthy, preparing to give Xuzhou to Cao Cao before his health declined. Yet, what Cao Cao did first was to nullify all his efforts.
"Cao Mengde went too far, not even sending an envoy to question the action." Chen Xi sighed, "Blinded by anger, he slaughtered in Xuzhou but ended up reaping astonishing wealth, and there was no need to pull back. However, it’s a pity, Tao Gongzu’s prestige is ruined. Whether it’s the Aristocratic Families or Cao Cao, they will attribute the direct cause of the massacre to Tao Gongzu. All his prior efforts were in vain."
"Indeed, which is why I am now certain that among Cao Mengde’s slaughterous troops, there were local aristocratic families fanning the flames," Jia Xu said with a look of disgust. Of course, he did have some evidence, or he would not have made such a statement.
"Some aristocratic families are indeed up to no good. Tell me, who has been stirring the pot?" Chen Xi asked, frowning.
"Ze Rong, Quexuan, and the Xuzhou Cao Family might have incited thugs and vagrants," Jia Xu revealed.
"When the time comes, simply annihilate them," Chen Xi’s eyes flashed coldly as he issued the Annihilating Kill Order without hesitation. It was better to be decisive in such times. "By the way, is it still Cao Bao leading the troops?"
"Yes!" Jia Xu nodded in confirmation.
"Clever plot!" Chen Xi sneered, "Kill Cao Jugao to provoke turmoil among Xuzhou Soldiers, then stir the pot during the chaos. It seems Cao Cao would not only not refrain from slaughter, but he would also create an opportunity for it, in order to undermine Tao Gongzu’s prestige. Then, he would personally lead troops to defeat Cao Cao, seizing power and regaining prestige for the aristocracy—what a brilliant plan!"
When Chen Xi spoke, he did not conceal the murderous intent in his eyes. He had already signed the Annihilating Kill Order against such people. Those who regarded the common people as nothing but pigs and dogs would be treated the same, no more to be said.
"Cao Bao miscalculated. Tao Gongzu intends to hand Xuzhou over to Cao Cao, and by sheer luck, because Cao Cao did not send an envoy to question him, he sealed his fate, an inadvertent error, indeed," Jia Xu said with great frustration.
"I have already conducted an investigation regarding Cao Bao. If nothing unexpected happens, Xuzhou is doomed to defeat," Jia Xu then said with a bitter smile, "Though I hate to admit it, Cao Mengde is truly competent at commanding troops, and after looting Xuzhou, he faces no provision issues. There’s a ninety percent chance that Cao Bao will have been defeated by the time our lord arrives."
"Forget about him. The seasoned soldiers of Danyang know how to slip away even if defeated. If we go to aid Cao Bao, given his idiocy, we might accidentally assist Cao Cao instead and disrupt our military formation. If we get involved, if we don’t end up dead, we’ll certainly be crippled," Chen Xi waved his hand indifferently, no longer interested in Cao Bao’s fate, "Order someone to raze the Xuzhou Cao Family in passing."
"Oh, I’ve already sent someone to instigate the thieves and thugs in Xuzhou," Jia Xu nodded and said, "With the way things are in Xuzhou, there’s a ninety percent chance that Tao Gongzu will smoothly hand it over to our lord after we defeat Cao Mengde."
"Hmm, I am aware of that. I’ll leave the rest to you to deal with," Chen Xi sighed, knowing that Jia Xu was much more adept at such schemes.
"Don’t worry, I will give you a satisfactory response when the time comes," Jia Xu said, a mocking smile playing across his face. He did not particularly like aristocratic clans, but with the temperament of Jia Xu, as long as the aristocrats did not cause trouble, he would not deliberately target them. However, with the current situation unfolding, Jia Xu would not hesitate to make an example of a few.
A chilling, sinister smile surfaced on both Jia Xu and Chen Xi’s faces, giving Fa Zheng, who sat nearby, a shiver of discomfort. (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, welcome to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation votes, monthly passes; your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.)
