Chapter 2: The Concession of Xuzhou

Tao Ying once again saw a tall general with a red face, standing out among the crowd. He had a three-foot-long beard, wore a green robe and green crown, and held a large blue dragon crescent moon iron broadsword. With every move, he exuded an imposing presence—on the green grass, watermelon rind, and the hat of Guan Lao Er at the post office. Who could this be? It hardly needs an introduction.

As legend has it, Liu Bei, clad in armor, indeed possesses an extraordinary appearance. In his thirties, his face resembles a jade crown, his lips appear as if adorned with rouge. Although his earlobes do not extend to the legendary length of reaching his shoulders, they are still notably larger than average. A gentle smile is ever-present at the corners of his mouth, giving him an approachable demeanor, while his dignified appearance and exceptional temperament convey an air of authority that commands respect. One cannot help but feel a sense of admiration for him, as he naturally embodies the qualities of a leader.

"Young nephew Tao Ying, I have met with my uncle." Tao Ying imitated his elder brother's greeting, but was met with Tao Qian's reprimand, "Kneel down. Lord Xuande is a benefactor to the entire populace of Xuzhou, and he is also your benefactor. Show proper respect."

Hahaha ... ... , good, good, thank you, thank you. '' Zhang Fei laughed heartily, `` You must be Young Master Tao, right? I, Old Zhang, will remember you! ''

"Lord Xuande, they are all unworthy sons of an old man." Tao Qian coughed as he introduced his sons: "The eldest is named Shang, courtesy name Mingwen; the second son is named Ying, courtesy name Mingwu. They are both mediocre and incapable individuals, unfit for great responsibilities. I hope Lord Xuande will take good care of them."

What is meant to come will always come. As the banquet was nearing its end, Tao Qian suddenly ordered his servants to bring out his token and seal. He took them in his hands, and upon seeing this action, the attendees exchanged glances, puzzled as to why Tao Qian had suddenly produced the insignia representing the highest authority over the five prefectures of Xuzhou. Only Tao Ying, seated at the end of the table, felt a jolt in his heart, realizing that his adoptive father had finally made up his mind to relinquish his territory.

A large group of people entered the governor's residence, and the servants of the Tao family had already set up the banquet. The Cao soldiers had besieged the city for two months, and relying on the wealth of Xuzhou, although the city had not yet run out of food, it was impossible to serve delicacies from the mountains and seas again. They could only present some pork and lamb dishes as best as they could. The gentle and sincere Tao Qian felt extremely ashamed and repeatedly apologized to Liu Bei. However, Liu Bei clearly did not take these trivial matters to heart, repeatedly showing humility and expressing gratitude for Tao Qian's kindness. He believed that Tao Qian's ability to host such a banquet for him during the enemy's siege was already excessive hospitality. As a mere insignificant person, receiving such favor from Governor Tao of Xuzhou was truly overwhelming.

"General San, today my father is treating you to the most famous fine wine from Xuzhou, known as 'Touping Xiang.'" Tao Ying suddenly spoke, turning to Zhang Fei with a cupped fist and a smile, saying, "It is still the aged old wine that has been stored for many years; General San must drink more of it."

With a white horse and a silver spear, his eyes shine like bright stars, and his appearance is as handsome as a young man of eighteen. There is no need to guess the name of this handsome figure; it can only be Zhao Yun, also known as Zhao Zilong. As a fan of Yun, Tao Ying naturally hopes to win his loyalty. However, it is unfortunate that Zhao Yun is not only still a subordinate of Gongsun Zan but has also deeply entangled himself with Liu Bei. Aware of his own charm, Tao Ying can only abandon this thought.

Liu Bei was fortunate this time. Originally, the main force of Cao's army was stationed directly north of Xuzhou. However, due to the arrival of the two reinforcements led by Kong Rong and Tian Kai, a large camp was established thirty miles north of Xuzhou. Surrounded on all sides, Cao Cao had no choice but to divide his troops for defense, thereby relaxing his vigilance in other directions. Additionally, Liu Bei unexpectedly chose to break through Cao's defensive line and directly reinforce the city of Xuzhou, catching Cao's army completely off guard. Surrounded on all sides, Cao Cao had no choice but to divide his troops for defense, thereby relaxing his vigilance in other directions. Additionally, Liu Bei unexpectedly chose to break through Cao's defensive line and directly reinforce the city of Xuzhou, catching Cao's army completely off guard.

In terms of the military, during the Battle of Sishui, the main force of the Xuzhou army was completely annihilated by Cao's troops, with bodies thrown into the river, causing the waters of Sishui to run dry. The entire Xuzhou was left with fewer than 7,000 soldiers, who were forced to retreat to Pengcheng to survive. Additionally, although there was still a contingent led by Cavalry Commander Zang Ba stationed in Kaiyang to defend the city, Zang Ba's forces had long ceased to heed Tao Qian's commands, operating independently. Tao Qian gritted his teeth in frustration but was powerless against them, let alone hope for their assistance in rescuing Pengcheng or repelling Cao's soldiers.

Indeed, he has come. Tao Ying's heart skipped a beat, knowing what his thrifty father was about to say next. At that moment, a wildly extreme thought suddenly flashed through Tao Ying's mind. Without much hesitation, he stood up from his seat and shouted, "Uncle Liu!"

Really? Zhang Fei did not think much of it, and with a swift motion, he removed the seal from the wine jar. Without pouring it into a cup, he took several large gulps directly from the jar. When he set the jar down again, Zhang Fei's face was already beaming with joy, and he laughed heartily as he said: "Indeed, this is fine wine, a rare good wine! Thank you, Lord Tao!"

"Uncle Liu," Tao Ying called out again, striding over to Tao Qian's side. He knelt before Liu Bei, clasping his fists and bowing deeply, his gaze fervently fixed on Liu Bei. He spoke in a clear voice: "Uncle, the world is in great turmoil, and the court is in disarray. You, as a member of the Han royal family, are in a position to lend your strength to support the state. My father is old and frail, and my younger brothers are weak and incapable, lacking both virtue and talent. I am willing to cede the five commanderies of Xuzhou to you, and I sincerely hope you will not decline!"

Tao Ying smiled faintly, and after cupping his hands in salute, he retreated to his elder brother Tao Shang's side. As he discreetly observed Liu Bei's expression from the corner of his eye, he noticed that Liu Bei indeed displayed a look of surprise, and he cast a glance at his brother Mi Zhu, who also appeared quite astonished, his gaze towards Tao Ying filled with confusion. Witnessing this scene, Tao Ying, who had navigated the complexities of officialdom for several years, immediately understood that Liu Bei must have been aware of the earlier situation regarding him.

"Yes." The potter replied again, about to kneel down.

With a leopard's head and ringed eyes, a swallow's jaw and tiger's whiskers, holding a serpent spear taller than two men, this is undoubtedly Zhang Fei, also known as Zhang Yide. During this occasion when Liu's army entered the city, he consistently led the charge at the forefront of the ranks, personally slaying countless soldiers of Cao's army. After breaking through the resistance of Cao's troops, he naturally received the gratitude and respect of all the military and civilians of Xuzhou upon entering the city

In front of the gathered crowd, Tao Qian held the seal and rose from his seat, marching steadily to Liu Bei. He presented the seal and bowed deeply to Liu Bei, who was taken aback and hurriedly stood to return the gesture, asking in confusion: "Why does Lord Tao perform such a grand ceremony? If you have any instructions, I hope you will enlighten me."

"Gentlemen, there is no need for excessive courtesy." Liu Bei quickly rose to his feet, supporting Tao Shang with his left hand and reaching out to assist Tao Ying with his right. Unexpectedly, Tao Ying did not move at all, leaving Liu Bei's right hand grasping at nothing. A flicker of displeasure flashed in Liu Bei's eyes, but it quickly vanished. However, since Tao Ying was standing very close to Liu Bei, this small gesture did not escape the notice of Tao Ying's bright young eyes.

"Lord Xuande, you flatter me, you flatter me." Tao Qian sighed deeply from the heart, feeling utterly disheartened by his two ineffectual sons.

It is also very likely that precisely because of this, after Liu Bei's reinforcements entered the city, Tao Qian, who witnessed Liu Bei's martial prowess and capabilities, made the decision to cede the position of Governor of Xuzhou to Liu Bei! Although Tao believed this reason to be rather far-fetched

After this calm interlude, the banquet soon officially commenced at Tao Qian's repeated invitation. During the feast, both hosts and guests engaged in lively conversation. Liu Bei's imposing demeanor and open words left a profound impression on everyone present. The brothers Mi Zhu and Mi Fang fervently praised Liu Bei's heroic rescue, which encouraged many fence-sitters to echo their sentiments, completely transforming Liu Bei into the focal point of the banquet and making him appear as the true master of Xuzhou.

When Liu Jun entered the city to garrison, the entire city of Xuzhou was in an uproar. Tao Qian personally led civil and military officials to the city gate to welcome him, showing great respect to Liu Bei. Tao, lacking an official position, was unable to approach Liu Bei to pay his respects and could only squeeze among the crowd, observing this renowned Liu Bei, the Liu Huangshu, alongside the soldiers and citizens of Xuzhou, contemplating whether he was worthy of his allegiance, his thoughts exceedingly complex.

Mr. Tao was being modest; both young gentlemen are exceptionally talented and possess the demeanor of heroes. They will certainly not be mere fish in a pond in the future. Liu Bei's polite words were spoken with utmost sincerity, as if they were indeed a fact

Tao Qian quickly expressed his humility, and Tao Ying then said, "If the three generals enjoy it, my humble family has many more fine wines like this. I will have my father send someone to deliver another ten jars to the three generals shortly."

Indeed, Chen Dao remains as mysterious as in history. Tao Ying searched for a long time among the crowd but found not a trace of him. Perhaps it is because he has not yet joined Liu Bei's ranks, or perhaps it is simply because he is not particularly striking in appearance, which is why Luo Guanzhong did not bother to include him in "Romance of the Three Kingdoms." However, this does not matter much to Tao Ying, as his father will surely invite Liu Bei and his trusted generals to the official residence for a banquet soon, and at that time, Tao Ying will have plenty of opportunities to make their acquaintance.

The call from Tao Ying was like a thunderclap, instantly drawing everyone's attention to him, including Tao Qian, who retracted the words he was about to say and turned his gaze to his second son, his murky old eyes filled with astonishment

Through these past few days of firsthand experience, Tao Ying finally understood why his cheap father, Tao Qian, would cede Xuzhou to Liu Bei. Thanks to his father, Cao Cao, the vengeful Cao army, blinded by hatred, massacred hundreds of thousands of civilians in Xuzhou. The population in the northwestern region was nearly wiped out. Among the five commanderies of Xuzhou, except for Guangling, Langya, Donghai, Xiapi, and Pengcheng all suffered at the hands of the Cao army, resulting in rivers of blood and severely damaging their vitality, thus completely weakening their overall strength.

"Yes." Elder brother Tao Shang respectfully replied, quickly pulling his younger brother Tao Ying forward, bringing them both before Liu Bei. They clasped their fists and bowed deeply, with Tao Shang taking the lead to say, "Nephew Tao Shang pays his respects to Uncle."

With internal troubles and external threats erupting simultaneously, before confirming the arrival of reinforcements from Kong Rong, Tian Kai, and Liu Bei, the helpless Tao Qian was almost prepared to flee back to his hometown in Danyang—had Mi Zhu not brought back the accurate news of the imminent arrival of aid to Xuzhou, Tao Qian would surely have done so.

Liu Bei's humility naturally earned him resounding applause. Day after day, in the city of Xuzhou, the brothers Mi Zhu and Mi Fang, who were known for their kindness and affection towards Liu Xuande, went to great lengths to flatter him, continuously praising the noble character and integrity of Lord Xuande. Tao Qian was also very pleased; he first invited Liu Bei and his companions to take their seats and then engaged in polite conversation with them for quite some time. It was only when Zhang Fei, unable to contain his excitement, picked up the wine jug to pour drinks and was reprimanded by Liu Bei that Tao Qian finally remembered his two sons. He waved to Tao Shang and Tao Ying, commanding, "Mingwen, Mingwu, come over to pay your respects to Uncle Liu."

As expected, after holding a lengthy conversation with Liu Bei, the benevolent father figure Tao Qian indeed proposed to invite Liu Bei to a banquet at the government office. Liu Bei did not decline excessively; first, he inquired whether the troops and civilians in Xuzhou were facing a shortage of supplies. Upon receiving a positive response, he quickly nodded in agreement. Accompanied by a large group of Xuzhou civil and military officials, including the Mi brothers, Mi Zhu and Mi Fang, as well as Chen Gui and his son Chen Deng, he proceeded to Tao Qian's residence for the banquet. Tao Qian, in his capacity as the governor, personally led the way, while the Tao brothers, Tao Shang and Tao Ying, followed at a distance. The city defense was temporarily entrusted to Cao Bao, Cao Hong, and other military generals.

On one side, there were those who came prepared, with renowned generals and fierce warriors paving the way; on the other side, there was a lack of preparation and an unexpected situation. The outcome of this minor battle was naturally predictable. After more than half an hour of fighting, Liu Bei's army successfully broke through the obstruction of Cao Cao's forces and advanced to the foot of Xuzhou City, where they joined forces with the Xuzhou troops that had come out to assist. Cao Cao's general Yu Jin, responsible for the battlefield at the eastern gate of Xuzhou, lost all face; not only did he fail to stop Liu Bei, but he also suffered the loss of over five hundred men at the hands of Liu's army, leaving in disgrace to plead for forgiveness from Cao Cao.

The roof leaks just as the night rain falls, and at this moment, Zuo Rong, a fellow townsman of Tao Qian from Xiangpi, raises an army in rebellion, using the excuse of evading Cao's troops to occupy Guangling. During a banquet, he ambushes and kills the governor of Guangling, Zhao Yu, and unleashes his troops to plunder the entire region of Guangling, leaving it desolate. The five prefectures of Xuzhou, which Tao Qian had painstakingly managed, collapse all at once, turning years of hard work into ruins. The once peaceful land of Xuzhou in this chaotic world instantly transforms into a slaughterhouse.

The foremost principle in the officialdom is to observe words and expressions, and to gauge the intentions of superiors! I know what Tao Qian is thinking, but Liu Bei, I must carefully observe what you are contemplating. Tao's expression was filled with eager anticipation, his gaze fervently fixed on Liu Bei's face, missing not a single hint or clue.

"Ah!" Countless people exclaimed in astonishment, looking at Tao Ying with incredulity. Tao Qian was even more dumbfounded, never having expected that his foolish son could actually see through his intentions and articulate the words he wished to express.