In the face of Chen Deng's questioning, Fan Ah looked left and right, and saw that there was no one around, so he whispered to Chen Deng: "Lord Chen, I can't hide it, Tao Yuanjun is already terminally ill, I only used medicine to temporarily suppress his condition, but it can't cure it, even if my master comes, I can only barely maintain his life for a few more months......

Chen Deng frowned and asked, "How much time does the Tao Envoy have left?" ”

"In less than three months, Tao Envoy Jun will definitely die!" Fan A is categorical.

Chen Deng said: "This matter is very important, except for me, if anyone asks you about Tao Yuanjun's condition, you have to say it as you answered before, understand?" ”

"Adults can rest assured, small ones will be tight-lipped."

After Chen Deng and Fan A separated, they returned to their rooms and were anxiously waiting for Zhang Yan's return.

As early as Kaiyang City, Chen Deng heard that Tao Qian was going to give up the position of state pastor to Liu Bei, so he wrote a letter and sent it to Zhang Yan quickly. According to the time, Zhang Yan should have received it at this time, and maybe, Zhang Yan is on his way back.

I don't know how much time passed, Chen Deng fell asleep in a daze, and not long after he closed his eyes, he was immediately awakened by a rapid knock on the door.

"Captain Chen, Tao Envoy Jun invited Lord Chen to the hall, saying that there is something important to discuss."

When Chen Deng heard the news, he vaguely felt that something was wrong, and immediately jumped out of bed, opened the door and walked straight to the hall.

The reception hall of the State Pastoral Mansion was empty, and as soon as Chen Deng arrived, Mi Zhu, Zang Ba, Sun Gan and others arrived one after another, all with nervous expressions.

When everyone got together, they all looked at each other, because everyone had a trace of tiredness on their faces, and almost all of them received Tao Qian's invitation at the same time, saying that they had important matters to discuss in the hall.

The four of them took their seats in the hall one after another, and not long after, Tian Kai, Kong Rong, Liu Bei, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Zhao Yun, Tai Shici and others also arrived.

A group of people were invited to come, and after a few words of greeting each other, they took their seats.

But everyone was confused for a while, and they didn't know why Tao Qian called them all here.

Just when everyone was speculating, Tao Qian walked out of the back hall with the support of his son Tao Shang and Tao Ying.

When everyone saw Tao Qian come out, they all stood up and bowed in unison: "See Tao Envoy!" ”

After Tao Qian sat down, he retired from the pottery merchant and Tao Ying, and then said loudly: "You don't have to be polite, please sit down!" ”

Everyone sat down one after another, only to hear Tao Qian say: "It's really helpless to gather everyone here tonight, it disturbs everyone's dreams, please forgive me." ”

Kong Rong arched his hand and said: "Tao makes Jun speak seriously, so that Jun is sick, he should rest more." ”

Tao Qian said: "Hehe, Kong Beihai's concern for the old man has understood. The old man also wanted to hoddest to rest, but there was something that had been hidden in the old man's heart for a long time, and if he didn't solve this matter, the old man would be restless. Therefore, the old man called everyone here overnight, first, to ask you to be a witness, and second, to explain the specific matters. ”

Kong Rong said again: "Then I don't know what Tao Yuanjun is worried about?" ”

Tao Qian sighed and said, "The old man is old and seriously ill, so I am afraid that he will die soon. But the old man is most relieved that Xuzhou is the most relieved. But the old man's two sons are both idle people, if Xuzhou is handed over to them, Xuzhou will sooner or later fall into the hands of others. Fortunately, the sky has eyes, and when the old man was dying, the old man got to know Xuande. Xuande is a relative of the Han family, powerful and gracious, brave and righteous, magnanimous and strategic, majestic and outstanding, and a hero's weapon. Moreover, Xuande has Guan Yu and Zhang Fei under the account, these two people are invincible, if Xuande can take charge of Xuzhou, he will definitely be able to become a hegemon, and the old man has a heart. The old man is willing to give up the position of Xuzhou pastor to Xuande, please be a witness! ”

As soon as these words came out, Chen Deng, Mi Zhu, and Zang Ba all looked at each other, they were all former ministers of Xuzhou, Tao Qian did not discuss with them, so he gave Xuzhou Mu to an outsider, and several people's faces showed a trace of displeasure.

Tian Kai, Kong Rong and others were all happy, and they were all happy for Liu Bei.

Liu Bei's eyes flickered, and in the shortest time, he glanced at the expressions on the faces of everyone in the hall, and he noticed that Chen Deng, Mi Zhu, and Zang Ba all had a faint trace of displeasure on their faces.

He immediately hugged his fists and said: "Tao Envoy Jun, how can Liu Bei be able to occupy such a high position?" also hoped that Tao would take back his life, but Liu Bei never dared to accept it. ”

Zhang Fei saw that Liu Bei refused to accept the position of Xuzhou Mu, and immediately shouted: "Big brother, Tao Yuanjun is also a good intention, he took the initiative to give up the position of Xuzhou Mu to the eldest brother, and you will take it, big brother." ”

"The third brother is talking nonsense!" Liu Bei reprimanded.

Guan Yu didn't understand what he meant, and hurriedly said: "Big brother, what the third brother said is not wrong, Tao Yuanjun is such a big brother, and he gave way to the eldest brother, why is the eldest brother unwilling to accept it?" ”

Tian Kai also hurriedly persuaded: "Yes, Xuande, Tao Yuanjun has a good heart, you can accept it!" ”

Liu Bei said: "The position of Xuzhou Mu needs a person of high morality to live in it, Liu Bei is shallow in virtue, I am afraid that he will not be able to take charge of Xuzhou, and please ask Tao Zhijun to find someone else!" ”

Tao Qian said: "Xuande, are you really unwilling to accept the position of Xuzhou pastor?" ”

Without waiting for Liu Bei to answer, Zang Ba couldn't bear it, stood up directly, and shouted at Tao Qian: "Tao Envoy Jun! ”

Tao Qian turned his head to look at Zang Ba, but when he saw the anger on Zang Ba's face, he asked, "Is there something wrong?" ”

Zang Ba hugged his fists and said: "If Tao Yuanjun doesn't want to be the state pastor anymore, even if he leaves office, we will recommend a respected person to take charge of Xuzhou." Although Tao Zhijun is the pastor of Xuzhou, but Xuzhou is not your alone, Tao Zhijun will give up the position of the state pastor, have you ever considered our feelings? Since Tao Envoy Jun wants to give way, why don't you give way to the famous cavalry general, but give it to an unknown person, how can you let us soldiers be convinced? ”

As soon as these words came out, Tao Qian immediately became speechless, he really didn't think about it so much, he just wanted to find a successor for himself as soon as possible, Liu Bei's generosity and kindness, as well as the courage of Guan Yu and Zhang Fei under the account, were all favored by him, and as far as he knew, Liu Bei and Gongsun Zhan were classmates and friends, plus Liu Bei's status as a clan relative of the Han family, it was enough for him to serve as the pastor of Xuzhou.

However, he never considered the thoughts of these subordinate officials under his account.

"Cao Cao attacked Xuzhou twice, both because of the cavalry general Zhang Yan and forced to retreat, General Zhang twice saved Xuzhou in danger, saved thousands of Xuzhou people, admired by all the people, the soldiers are even more respectful to General Zhang, do not let such a person with great military achievements to be Xuzhou pastor, but Xuzhou was handed over to an outsider, I Zang Ba the first one did not agree!" Zang Ba was angry and immediately stated his position.

Chen Deng hurriedly said: "Tao Envoy Jun, the position of Xuzhou pastor, the matter is very important, and you must not play with it." Yuanlong also asked Tao Yuanjun to think carefully, don't be impulsive, so as not to commit confusion! ”

"Yes, Tao Envoy-kun. Now that the cavalry general Zhang Yan is on the way back with his army, I believe that it will not take long to arrive in Tancheng, so it is better to wait for General Zhang to come, and then we will discuss this matter not too late. Mi Zhu echoed.

The reason why Liu Bei did not dare to take over the position of Xuzhou Mu was that he was worried about Zhang Yan, the general of Xiaocai.

Although he has not seen Zhang Yan, but Zhang Yan's deeds are like thunder, last year Cao Cao attacked Xuzhou, it was because Zhang Yan burned the grain and grass of the Cao army, which was forced to retreat. This time, Zhang Yan led the army to invade the hinterland of Yanzhou, came to encircle Wei to rescue Zhao, and once again forced Cao Cao to retreat, which can be described as a great achievement.

And as far as Liu Bei knows, Mi Zhu, the richest man in Xuzhou, is Zhang Yan's brother-in-law, Chen Deng and Zang Ba are Zhang Yan's friends and brothers, and Zhang Yan is also the Taishou of Pengcheng and Xiapi counties, holding heavy troops, and has become the first general in Xuzhou.

If he agreed to Tao Qian to be the pastor of Xuzhou, with a number one person like Zhang Yan, I believe that his position as the state pastor would not be stable. If that is the case, then why should he ask for his own suffering?

The atmosphere in the hall was extremely tense, Sun Qian hurriedly stood up, and persuaded him with kind words, which made Tao Qian stop letting Xuzhou Mu give Liu Bei.

zuihou, everyone broke up unhappily.

Tao Qian returned to the room in a huff, Sun Qian followed closely behind, and the two entered the room one after the other.

As soon as he entered the room, Tao Qian said angrily: "Zang Ba, Chen Deng, Mi Zhu and others are really too much, they actually embarrassed the old man so much in front of so many people?" ”

Sun Qian hurriedly persuaded: "Let the king calm his anger." Today's events are actually resentful of you. ”

"Blame me? Why do you blame me again? ”

Sun Qian explained: "When the envoy was in Kaiyang City, he had to give way to Liu Bei once, and at that time I could see that Zang Ba, Chen Deng, Mi Zhu and others had a trace of displeasure on their faces. Don't forget, they are all people who have a good relationship with Zhang Yan, how could they be willing to let the envoy give up the position of Xuzhou Mu to Liu Bei? ”

"You go on."

"The reason why Xuzhou was able to save the day twice is because of Zhang Yan's contributions. The envoy did not give up the position of state pastor to Zhang Yan, but gave it to an outsider, what do you teach the subordinate officials of Xuzhou to think? This time, if the envoy had consulted with me beforehand, I would have stopped the envoy, and this would not have happened. ”

Tao Qian sighed heavily and said, "Zhang Yan's credit is so great, how can the old man not know?" It's just that Zhang Yan's murderous heart is too heavy, and I'm worried that Xuzhou will be destroyed in his hands. On the contrary, Liu Bei is kind-hearted and very suitable for governing Xuzhou......"

Sun Qian retorted: "Tao Envoy Jun's words are wrong. If it is a prosperous era now and the world is peaceful, it is very suitable for Liu Bei to be the pastor of Xuzhou. But now the world is in turmoil, the heroes are rising, and there are more people around Xuzhou, and at this time, people like Zhang Yan are very much needed to take charge of Xuzhou. With Zhang Yan's eloquence, he can not only keep Xuzhou, but also expand outward, and judging from the situation of his governance of Xiapi and Pengcheng for half a year, it seems that he is not just as simple as fighting and killing. Even if Liu Bei agreed to Tao Yuanjun and became the pastor of Xuzhou, but Zhang Yan was under Liu Bei, and the soldiers and civilians of Xuzhou were biased towards Zhang Yan, how long could Liu Bei be the state pastor? ”

After Tao Qian heard this, he frowned and asked, "Gongyou, what do you say you should do?" ”

"Conform to the will of the people and give up the position of Xuzhou pastor to Zhang Yan. Perhaps, Zhang Yan can take Xuzhou as the foundation and achieve a king's business! ”

After Tao Qian heard this, he withdrew Sun Qian, frowned, and fell into deep contemplation......