Chapter 3, The Messenger

What are Tao Qian and his son planning to do?

"Has this foolish young man finally come to his senses and become wise?" Mi Zhu also felt that Tao Qian's surprise did not seem feigned, and he sighed, saying: "Regardless of whether this Young Master Tao has truly awakened, his initiative to propose ceding Xuzhou to Lord Xuande has inadvertently added some trouble for Lord Xuande. If the Lord had been the first to suggest ceding Xuzhou to Lord Xuande, then certainly no one in Xuzhou would have dared to oppose it. However, now that this Young Master Tao has taken the lead in proposing to relinquish Xuzhou, some people have found the courage to oppose it."

Liu Bei, maintaining a calm demeanor, turned his horse's head and said: "Lord Mi, could you please make arrangements at the inn? I am going to meet Lord Tao. Young Master Tao has left the city to deliver a message, venturing deep into the dragon's den and the tiger's lair. I need to seek permission from Lord Tao to go into battle and rescue Young Master Tao."

Mi Zhu was taken aback, instinctively pulling on the reins of his horse. After recalling for a moment, he whispered in surprise: "Lord Xuande's words seem off to me as well. Young Master Tao's remarks, while appearing to be flattering and agreeable, are in fact a clever probe, inciting Lord Xuande to repel Cao and simultaneously blocking his immediate takeover of Xuzhou, forcing him to first deal with Cao's troops before discussing matters of the state."

"Lord Tao, are you joking, my lord's son?" Breaking the silence was Liu Bei, who asked Tao Qian with an expression of utter astonishment

"It was not at the behest of Lord Tao," Liu Bei shook his head and said with a smile. "I can see that he took the initiative to propose giving up Xuzhou, and the look of surprise on Lord Tao's face was certainly not feigned. This alone is enough to prove that Lord Tao had not communicated with that second son of his beforehand."

... ...

Indeed. Tao Ying sneered inwardly, "Liu Bei, oh Liu Bei, your acting skills are indeed remarkable, but unfortunately, you are still not quite there! If you truly did not wish to seize Xuzhou, why did you just quietly clench your fist?"

Mi Zhu was also puzzled by this matter. He said with confusion, "According to reason, since the lord invited Lord Xuande to take charge of Xuzhou, he and the eldest son should have firmly opposed it. Why did he express support and even preemptively propose to yield Xuzhou before the lord?"

"No, no," Tao Qian finally came to his senses, quickly shaking his head, and sincerely presented the seal of the office to Liu Bei, saying, "Lord Xuande, although my son is ignorant, what he just said is precisely what I have in mind. The world is in turmoil, and the royal authority is weak. You, Lord Xuande, are a member of the Han royal family and should indeed strive to support the state. I am old and incapable, and I am willing to cede Xuzhou. Please do not decline, and I will personally draft a memorial to submit to the court."

"Uncle," after murmuring this in his heart, Tao Ying quickly clasped his hands and said, "Please do not decline, Uncle. Allow me to speak a word. The traitor Zhang Kai, driven by greed, has brought great calamity to Xuzhou, and Cao the traitor has seized the opportunity to raise troops, resulting in the deaths of millions of Xuzhou soldiers and civilians. The city of Xuzhou is as precarious as a house of cards. It is entirely dependent on you, Uncle, to lead troops to rescue us, to repel Cao's forces, and to save the lives of countless souls in Xuzhou. This is an unparalleled achievement. In terms of both sentiment and reason, my father should yield Xuzhou. I hope, for the sake of the soldiers and civilians of Xuzhou, that you will take over from my father and govern Xuzhou."

This is good. Liu Bei sighed and said slowly, "Fortunately, no one in Cao's camp recognizes the Second Young Master—otherwise, the Second Young Master would surely be unable to escape the poison's grasp. Tao Gong is old and frail; if he were to receive the news of his beloved son's misfortune, I fear..."

Second Young Master ... ... , Second Young Master! '' The hundred men, wiping their sweat, stammered and shouted: `` Second Young Master has left the city! ''

At this time, Tao Qian had already inquired Liu Bei about the strategy for retreating the troops. Liu Bei pondered seriously for a moment and replied solemnly: "There is a saying that one should first show courtesy before resorting to arms. I shall first send a letter to Cao Cao, urging him to seek reconciliation. If he does not comply, I will then lead my troops to engage him in battle."

Upon seeing that Tao Qian agreed with his suggestion, Liu Bei immediately ordered someone to bring ink, brush, and silk, and publicly wrote a letter to Cao Cao, persuading him to cease hostilities and stop the war. After the letter was completed, Tao promptly stepped forward to request permission, respectfully saying to Liu Bei: "Uncle, may I arrange for someone to deliver this letter to Cao Cao?"

Liu Bei, Mi Zhu, Mi Fang, and others were all dumbfounded, while the soldiers and civilians of Xuzhou who were watching were equally astonished. No one had expected that the legendary weak and incompetent Young Master Tao would display such bravery and righteousness, personally going to the Cao camp to deliver a message and seek peace in order to spare the soldiers and civilians of Xuzhou from slaughter by the Cao army

The lord is resting in the residence, please follow me. This matter is of great importance, and Mi Zhu did not dare to be negligent. He quickly led the hundred men from the library to rush to the Tao residence to deliver the message, and the arrangement for Liu Bei to rest at the inn was entrusted by Mi Zhu to his brother Mi Fang

"Lord Tao, you jest," Liu Bei quickly knelt on both knees, clasping his fists with utmost seriousness as he addressed Tao Qian. "Although Liu Bei is a descendant of the Han dynasty, my achievements are meager and my virtue lacking, and I fear I am unworthy of the position of Prefect of Pingyuan. I have come to offer assistance for the greater good; could it be that you harbor doubts about Liu Bei's intentions to annex? If such thoughts arise, may Heaven not grant you favor!"

"You are mistaken in your words, dear brother," Tao retorted loudly. "Xuzhou is the land of the Han dynasty; my father merely served as a governor on behalf of the emperor. How can it be said that this is my inheritance? As the ancient saying goes, 'Heaven's mandate is constant; only the virtuous may occupy it.' Uncle Liu is a descendant of the Han, possessing both high virtue and great reputation, skilled in both literature and martial arts. Moreover, he led troops over a thousand miles to repel the Cao bandits, saving countless lives in Xuzhou from disaster. He is indeed the rightful successor to my father and should govern Xuzhou!"

I hope it is just a coincidence Liu Bei sighed softly and then said with a hint of melancholy In any case, this Young Master Tao Er is not so simple

... ...

Most of the civil and military officials nodded in agreement, and Mi Fang even voiced his support loudly, saying, "What the Second Young Master said is absolutely correct. With Lord Xuande and Generals Guan, Zhang, and Zhao present, even if Cao's troops number in the millions, we can rest easy..." However, before he could finish his sentence, Mi Fang was already met with a fierce glare from his elder brother Mi Zhu, causing him to feel flustered and his voice involuntarily diminished.

Upon reaching a deserted area, Tao Qian suddenly instructed Tao Shang in a low voice: "Send someone to find your second brother, and have him handle the matter and return immediately. I have something to discuss with him, and do not let others be disturbed."

It seems I was overthinking. Watching Mi Zhu hurriedly leave, Liu Bei let out a sigh of relief and smiled inwardly, saying: "Mi Zizhong is right, a fool is indeed a fool. He didn't even notice the sarcasm in my letter to Cao Cao, yet he dared to personally deliver the message to Cao's camp. This Young Master Tao will surely not return after this trip."

Tao Ying has already spoken to this extent, and Liu Bei has no other options. He can only clasp his hands and say to Tao Qian: "Your Excellency Tao, your kindness is beyond my ability to repay, even with my life. However, at present, the troops of Cao have not retreated, and we should first discuss the matter of their withdrawal. Once Liu Bei has driven back Cao's forces and lifted the siege of Xuzhou, then we can discuss further matters."

Liu Bei silently nodded, acknowledging that Mi Zhu and the library's words were not incorrect. Meanwhile, Mi Fang disdainfully remarked, "That incompetent person has such ability? It must be a coincidence, right?"

Did the Second Young Master leave the city? Where did he go? This news shocked Mi Zhu greatly, as he thought to himself that with Cao's troops surrounding the city on all sides, leaving the city would be tantamount to seeking death. What could Tao Ying's young master possibly be doing outside the city?

Cao Bing has not yet retreated! Tao Ji shouted in anger, "Cao the Thief is still surrounding the city from all sides, and may launch an attack at any moment!"

Then I must trouble you, dear nephew. Liu Bei did not think much of it, and after placing the written text into a lacquered box and sealing it, he handed it over to Tao Ying. Tao Ying received it respectfully with both hands, and after obtaining Tao Qian's consent, he quickly went out to arrange for someone to deliver the letter.

"Be quiet, your brother is speaking with Lord Xuande, do not interrupt." Tao Qian scolded angrily

What Lord Xuande said is indeed correct. Mi Zhu also stepped forward and respectfully said to Tao Qian: Although the lord has good intentions, the Cao bandits are now at the gates of the city, and we should discuss strategies to repel the enemy. Once the situation is settled, we can then discuss matters of yielding.

Cousin, have you lost your mind?! The one who exclaimed this was Tao Qian's nephew, Tao Ying's cousin, Tao Ji, who historically served as the governor of Jiaozhou in Eastern Wu. At only seventeen years of age, Tao Ji was not even qualified to join the banquet and drink with the others, yet in his youthful fervor, he still cried out: "Xuzhou is my uncle's foundation; how can it be handed over so easily?!"

"Or perhaps he, like the Lord, has been terrified by the traitor Cao, and thus he and the Lord think alike, planning to hand over the burning coal of Xuzhou to Lord Xuande." Mi Fang interjected, saying: "Or this matter might have originated from the Lord's own suggestion; otherwise, with his limited abilities, he would never be able to articulate so many appropriate and fitting words."

"There shouldn't be anyone who knows him," Mi Fang said casually. "Young Master Tao Er lives a reclusive life, spending his days either practicing martial arts or studying. Even in Xuzhou City, not many people recognize him, and over in the Cao army, there should be no one who knows him."

Tao Ji widened his eyes, realizing for the first time that his second cousin was not only honest but also foolish! The officials from Xuzhou beside him were all dumbfounded, staring at Tao Ying as if they did not recognize him. Tao Qian was even more at a loss, looking at his son in astonishment, unable to utter a single word for a long time.

Ah, how could I have forgotten about the illustrated book?" Mi Fang exclaimed in realization, then leaned closer to Liu Bei and whispered, "Rest assured, Lord Xuande, there will definitely be someone in Cao's camp who recognizes the Second Young Master!

He left the city to deliver a message! He went to Cao's camp to deliver a message! The hundred soldiers shouted hoarsely: "The Second Young Master said that he is the son of the Lord and should contribute to the military and civilian populace of Xuzhou. Therefore, the Second Young Master personally took Lord Xuande's letter of reconciliation to Cao's camp! The Second Young Master also said that if he does not return, he asks us to bow and apologize to the Lord on his behalf, saying that he can no longer fulfill his filial duties under the Lord's knee!"

Not right! At this point, Liu Bei suddenly remembered something and hurriedly turned to Mi Fang beside him, asking: "Zifang, is there anyone in Cao's camp who knows this Young Master Tao?"

In that case, let us wait until Cao's troops have retreated before discussing further. Tao Qian hesitated for a moment, but ultimately withdrew the seal, casting a complex glance at Tao Ying.

Mi Biejia! Mi Biejia!

"Do not rush, take your time to explain, what has happened?" Mi Zhu asked.

At this point, Tao Ying turned to the officials and military officers from Xuzhou present and asked, "Gentlemen, esteemed generals, do you agree or disagree?"

"Retreating from Cao's troops? That's easy to say." Tao Ji scoffed inwardly, thinking that if retreating from Cao's troops were truly that simple, it would have been done long ago. Why would they wait for the two or three thousand soldiers in the hands of Liu, Guan, and Zhang? However, it is fine; as long as you are willing to leave the city and engage in battle with the traitor Cao, regardless of the outcome, my uncle and we can reap the benefits.

Tao Shang was indeed honest. Upon hearing his father's command, he was naturally taken aback. Tao Qian then impatiently urged, "Go arrange it immediately, and remember, do not let anyone else find out." Only then did Tao Shang nod and hurriedly arrange for someone to summon Tao Ying.

Suddenly, tense shouts echoed from ahead on the street. A soldier from Xuzhou, covered in dust and sweat, rushed over, grabbing Mi Zhu's horse reins and exclaimed breathlessly: "Do not drive on, something serious has happened! General Cao Bao commands that I immediately meet with the lord. Where is the lord?"

"Writing a letter to persuade peace?" How could Liu Bei find Tao Qizhi so displeasing that he almost laughed out loud, thinking to himself that if Cao Cao were willing to accept peace, he would have done so long ago at the urging of others, rather than waiting for someone like you, a mere weaver and shoe seller

Tao Qian clearly did not anticipate that Liu Bei would provide such an answer. After a moment, he nodded slightly and, clearing his throat, said: "Very well, very well"

"It doesn't matter; Liu Bei had no intention of annexing Xuzhou. If Young Master Tao enjoys playing little tricks, let him be," Liu Bei replied casually. He then furrowed his brow and murmured, "Speaking of little tricks, Young Master Tao's subsequent words are indeed a ploy. He claims that as long as I am here, there is no need to worry about the retreat of Cao's troops. While this seems like flattery, it is actually a test and a provocation, probing my resolve to retreat from Cao and urging me to engage in battle against him outside the city"

Not only Tao Qian and his son were secretly discussing matters, at the same time, Liu Bei, under the pretext of restraining his soldiers from disturbing the people, temporarily sent away the generals Guan, Zhang, and Zhao San, and went alone with the Mi brothers to stay at the inn. On the way, Liu Bei smiled and asked Mi Zhu, "Zizhong, it seems that Tao Shijun's second son is quite different from what you described, isn't it?"

After Tao Ying left, the banquet quickly came to an end. Tao Qian, being old and frail, could not accompany Liu Bei for long. He then instructed the Mi brothers to arrange an inn for Liu Bei and his four companions, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and Zhao. He also sent Chen Deng and Tao Ji to prepare food and drink to reward Liu Bei's troops, and to arrange a campsite for them. Tao Qian himself, with the support of Tao Shang, returned to the back room to rest

Indeed cunning. Tao felt even colder in his heart, "I was puzzled, how could Liu Bei write to Cao Cao after rescuing Xuzhou? It turns out he wanted to preserve his strength and avoid a hard confrontation with Cao Cao."

"Third brother, you need not worry about this," Tao said sincerely as he turned to Tao Ji. "Have you not heard of the illustrious reputation of General Guan Yu, who famously defeated Hua Xiong while warming his wine? Have you not heard of the unparalleled might of the three generals, Liu, Guan, and Zhang, who together fought against Lü Bu? And what of General Zhao Zilong, who fought against Wen Chou at the River Jie, causing Yuan Shao to lose his armor and flee in disarray? They are all currently in the city of Xuzhou; how can we fear that Cao's troops will not retreat or that the traitor Cao will not be eliminated?"

Our Lord Xuande has been thoroughly confused by the father-son duo of Tao Qian and Tao Ying. When Tao Qian presented the seal representing the identity of the Governor of Xuzhou, Liu Bei was already taken aback. As Tao Qian brought the seal before him again, Liu Bei, who had an inkling of Tao Qian's intentions, felt his heart race and his breath quicken. However, when Tao Ying stepped in to perform this act, Liu Bei was completely at a loss.