Chapter 0005 First Court Session
The so-called Four Great Assistants of Xuzhou are Mi Zhu, Cao Bao, Zhao Yu, and Wang Lang
The location of the court meeting presided over by Peng Chengtian is in the main hall to the southeast of the governor's office. Contrary to Tao Shang's imagination, the court meeting hall is not as resplendent as he had guessed, nor is it adorned with intricately carved beams and painted pillars, exuding a grand atmosphere. On the contrary, the construction of the court meeting hall is relatively simple, featuring old wooden corridors, grayish-blue bricks and tiles, and several rows of worn-out benches. The kneeling platform appears neither thick nor thin, and only a low squat seat is placed at Tao Qian's main position, symbolizing his role as the presiding officer of the meeting. For a person of the rank of a governor, this is rather shabby.
Cao Bao stroked his short beard, pondered for a moment, and said: "My lord, the current situation in the world is chaotic and uncertain, the circumstances are unclear. Various warlords are rising in rebellion, intending to attack Dong Zhuo, yet the outcome remains unknown. Moreover, we have not received a clear edict from the court. Once we become entangled in this matter, the consequences could be dire. In my humble opinion, my lord, it would be best for you to refrain from getting involved in such chaotic affairs."
As a member of the inner circle, I have little qualification to speak in this court discussion. However, I have already communicated with Mi Zhu beforehand. Whether we can change Tao Qian's mind depends on him!
Tao Qian continued to nod: "Good... good."
Mi Zhu furrowed his brow upon hearing this. Currently, the authority over the deployment of troops in Xuzhou lies with Cao Bao. He is indeed difficult to deal with as he uses the excuse of an incident to evade responsibility, and his arguments are quite reasonable. Although Zang Ba is nominally subordinate to Tao Qian, his actions are entirely independent and self-serving. This individual has stationed troops in Kaiyang and has also recruited the bandits of Mount Tai for his own use. His strength is substantial enough to stand against the local troops of Xuzhou. Cao Bao uses this as a reason to keep Tao Qian in Xuzhou, which is indeed a plausible argument.
Tao Qian, upon hearing this, fell silent and merely nodded: "Good, good..."
Your Excellency, the coalition of various lords to campaign against Dong Zhuo is led primarily by Yuan Shao, Yuan Shu, Bao Xin, and Cao Cao! Setting aside Bao Xin and Cao Cao for the moment, the Yuan brothers are of noble lineage, and all the gentry in the realm look up to them! It is heard that Yuan Shu has already allied with Sun Jian, killed the governor of Nanyang, Zhang Zi, and taken control of the region, which has a population registered in the hundreds of thousands! With the reputation of the Yuan family and the population of Nanyang, within two years, Yuan Shu will surely become the overlord of the south! Now that he intends to attack Dong Zhuo, if we do not comply, with such a strong neighbor at our side, how shall we deal with it in the future? If Yuan Shu raises an army to seek retribution, how can Dong Zhuo, far away in the passes, assist us in Xuzhou?
The first to speak was Cao Bao, who is currently in charge of commanding the central army in Pengcheng, holds military power, has a significant voice, and is responsible for the military affairs of Xuzhou
The compassion of parents for their children is truly profound, and Tao Qian's expectations for his two sons are indeed as low as they can possibly be
The pottery merchant is quite skeptical about the historical account of Tao Qian's rapid demise during the three relinquishments of Xuzhou, believing it has little to do with Cao Cao and Liu Bei. It is estimated that his concerns for future generations led to mental and physical exhaustion, resulting in his frail death
Tao Qian fell silent for a moment before slowly saying: "In fact, everything is quite good..."
There is still a way
The crowd turned their faces towards Cao Bao, who stated in a serious tone: "Wang Congshi is responsible for the civil affairs of Xuzhou, and Mi Biejia is in charge of the official grain and taxation. However, the military affairs have always been under my command! Currently, Zang Ba has gathered troops in the Kaiyang area, establishing himself as a warlord. Sun Guan, Wu Dun, Yin Li, and others have all allied with him, and his power is substantial. If he were to launch a western campaign, taking advantage of the situation to disrupt Xuzhou, what would we do? Moreover, the campaign against Dong Zhuo is a significant matter for all the lords. If a conference is to be held, Lord Tao must attend in person. Whether the troops can be mobilized is a separate issue; the threat posed by Zang Ba remains unresolved. If the lord were to leave Xuzhou lightly, and something were to happen, who would mediate?"
The question posed by Tao Qian was also a difficult matter for the four great ministers
The four individuals are all powerful local gentry, among whom Mi Zhu is the wealthiest, Cao Bao is the most skilled in combat, Wang Lang is the most talented, and Zhao Yu is the most cunning.
All present did not dare to speak freely, and were waiting for the four great ministers of Xuzhou to speak first
Fathers and gentlemen, we have been delayed due to some matters and have arrived a bit late. We hope for your understanding.
After surveying the hall for a while, Mi Zhu's gaze fell upon the陶商, and in an instant, his eyes lit up
Gentlemen, Tao Qian spoke first as everyone had gathered: "Several months ago, after Cao Cao's failed assassination attempt on Dong Zhuo in the capital, he fled to Chen Liu, organized five thousand righteous troops, raised a great banner, and called upon the governors of various states and counties to join in the campaign against Dong Zhuo. Last month, Qiao Mao from Dong Jun sent a messenger with a proclamation, stating that it was under the secret orders of the three officials of the capital, urging the local governors to mobilize troops to support the emperor... Meanwhile, Han Fu, the governor of Ji Province, has also allied with Yuan Shao to raise troops in Hebei. The lords of the eastern states have reacted strongly to this matter, and I have repeatedly been invited by various towns, making it difficult for me to decline. Today, I have summoned you all here to discuss this matter; the campaign against Dong Zhuo is of great importance, and I find it truly difficult to make a decision after weighing the options."
Future generations may find the political situation of that time quite clear; even an average middle school student would know that the campaign against Dong Zhuo was indeed an act in accordance with the will of heaven and the people. However, this clarity is ultimately due to the practices of those who came before.
If Minister Dong has a good relationship with the emperor, and local warlords rise up recklessly, wouldn't that be akin to slapping oneself in the face
"General Cao, what words do you have to say?" Tao Qian inquired anxiously
Zhao Yu, adept at navigating the winds, noticed that Mi Zhu and Wang Lang had emerged together from the same retreat, and immediately rose to express his agreement: "I, as a subordinate, second this proposal"
Mi Zhu cleared his throat and said: "In today's time, to attack Dong Zhuo while remaining an onlooker is advantageous; however, responding to the call to send troops is even more beneficial. Firstly, it can elevate the name of Xu Province, attracting talented individuals from all directions. We need not be like Yuan Shao and Cao Cao, who are irreconcilable with Dong Zhuo. As long as we can achieve one or two victories in the campaign against him, or be able to defeat a few of his generals, that would be sufficient. Secondly, once Dong Zhuo recognizes the strength of Xu Province, in order to restrain Yuan Shao and others, he will surely seek to win us over, and perhaps even grant us additional titles. That would be sufficient. Thirdly, we must not offend the neighboring provinces of Xu, ensuring the safety of the people of Xu Province. At that time, we can advance to attack or retreat to defend, with all parties relying on Xu Province for support. Would this not be stronger than merely being an onlooker? In this chaotic era, adhering strictly to the rules will not lead to longevity. I hope the lord will consider this carefully!"
The potter listened below and couldn't help but want to laugh. Tao Qian, this person, indeed has talent, but this stubbornness is truly beyond remedy. He himself cannot openly mock him... After all, mocking one's own father does not sound good when spoken out loud
Having said this, Tao Qian then cast his gaze around, surveying the people present with an inquiring look.
At that time, Dong Zhuo held control over Guanzhong and parts of the northwest region! It is well known that Guanzhong is a fertile land stretching for thousands of miles, rich in resources and strong in population. During the Warring States period, the Qin Dynasty occupied this area and advanced eastward to contend for supremacy over the world, with the six states being no match for it! Later, Emperor Gaozu secretly crossed Chen Cang and launched an attack on Chu from this location, thereby achieving his imperial ambitions and commanding the world!
Wang Lang saw that Mi Zhu's opinions were basically in agreement with his own, and he hurriedly stood up, saying: "Your Excellency, the words of the Deputy are very good"
When Tao Shang and Tao Ying arrived, the officials in Xuzhou who were qualified to attend the court meeting had mostly gathered. Tao Qian, leaning on his cane, quietly watched the two young men enter the hall, a slight smile unconsciously appearing on his face, but it quickly vanished, unnoticed by anyone.
My lord, in my humble opinion, it is not advisable
Two years ago, Tao Qian was able to successfully take control of Xuzhou, and aside from having the imperial court's decree, the most important reason was that upon his arrival in the region, he engaged in a bargaining transaction with the four major powerful figures, exchanging policies for their support, which enabled him to secure his position in Xuzhou
Although the local warlords have expanded their armed forces due to the Yellow Turban Rebellion, they have not yet reached the peak period of warlord fragmentation. Currently, they are still in a developmental stage, and in terms of military strength, they remain under the control of the central authority and cannot recruit excessively. There is no doubt that Dong Zhuo is strong while the local forces are weak.
Tao Qian slowly nodded, not at all annoyed that his two sons arrived late. It was evident that the mere presence of the two children, without any absence from work, had already made the old man quite satisfied. As for clocking in late, it was simply not a concern.
The words of Wang Lang and Cao Bao left Tao Qian feeling hesitant and indecisive. At that moment, seeing Mi Zhu rise, he hurriedly said: "If you have any insights, please feel free to share them!"
Tao Qian turned to Wang Lang and asked, "What insights do you have regarding Jingxing?"
Among the four chief ministers, only Cao Bao's opinions were in agreement. At this moment, he wore a dark expression, glancing back and forth between Mi Zhu and Wang Lang, and said: "Gentlemen, it seems you have forgotten an important matter"
Mi Zhu sat upright and listened attentively to everyone's words. Only after everyone had finished speaking did he slowly rise to his feet, surveying the room. Finally, he clasped his hands together and said: "My lord, I have something to discuss."
Moreover, the rumors that Dong Zhuo deceived the emperor are ultimately hearsay, lacking direct evidence. Who can guarantee that it is not merely the fabrications of Dong Zhuo's political enemies to deal with him?
At this moment, the one speaking is Wang Lang, one of the four great ministers. He was originally a disciple of the Grand Commandant Yang Ci, and his reputation is considered to be renowned throughout the world. Tao Qian has always favored talented individuals, thus he appointed Wang Lang as the official in charge of administrative affairs, overseeing the various documents of Xu Province and responsible for the literary matters of Xu Province
Among the four major ministers, Zhao Yu was the most adept at gauging the situation. Observing that the remarks of Cao Bao and Wang Lang did not receive complete affirmation or rejection from Tao Qian, he refrained from expressing his own opinions and simply inquired: "The governor has been nodding in agreement; I wonder if this is in favor of Dong Zhuo, or if it should be in favor of Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu?"
Moreover, the central army of the Han Dynasty and the main forces of Xiliang were both under the control of Dong Zhuo, and Lü Bu also led the Bingzhou army of Ding Yuan to submit. It can be said that the most powerful armies of the Han Dynasty were essentially in the hands of Dong Zhuo