A gruesome event occurred within a wine shop in Henei.
The envoy from Yanzhou, dispatched to Chang'an, had been ambushed.
Ordinarily, such incidents were common in the chaotic Sili region.
However, this time, the envoy under Cao Cao's command had only one casualty, the renowned scholar Bian Rang!
The remaining envoys were unharmed, as if the assassins' sole target was "Bian Rang."
The incident "coincidentally" occurred when merchants from Xuzhou were passing by… who witnessed it firsthand, and even overheard… the assassins' accents were from Yanzhou and Qingzhou!
Heh… who didn't know?
Yanzhou was now in Cao Cao's hands, and the hundred thousand Yellow Turbans of Qingzhou had surrendered to Cao Cao… such a series of coincidences inevitably led to suspicion.
Perhaps the assassination of the scholar Bian Rang was a covert plan by Cao Cao!
Concurrently, the merchants from Xuzhou immediately dispatched a messenger, covering seven hundred li at breakneck speed, back to Xuzhou to report. The reason was clear… the scholar Bian Rang was a close friend of the Governor of Xuzhou, Tao Qian!
"Dada dada…" the sound of hooves echoed as the swift horse from Xuzhou vanished like a whirlwind at the end of the official road.
At the same time, Cao Cao's envoys also sent someone to rush the matter to Yanzhou.
"De de de," the horse let out a whinny, but… before it could even gallop out of the city, it was intercepted by Bingzhou soldiers ambushing on both sides!
Simultaneously, two figures slowly emerged from the Bingzhou soldiers.
On the left was Marquis Wen, Lu Bu, and on the right was his strategist, Chen Gong.
"Brother Gongtai, why did you specifically let the messenger from Xuzhou go but kill the messenger from Yanzhou?" Lu Bu asked curiously.
"Haha…" Chen Gong stroked his beard. "Fengxian, our objective is to sow discord between the Governor of Xuzhou, Tao Qian, and Cao Cao. As long as the messenger from Xuzhou escapes, this objective is achieved."
"As for Cao Cao of Yanzhou, the later he learns of this matter, the better. We shall blockade the news, and when the time is ripe, we will release it. That will be enough to cause a complete rift between the clans of Yanzhou and Cao Cao, and then, it will be your time, Fengxian, to rule Yanzhou!"
Hiss…
Lu Bu's eyes narrowed slightly. Although he didn't fully understand, under Chen Gong's scheme, the matter of ruling Yanzhou seemed all but certain!
Finally, he wouldn't have to be a stray dog, constantly on the run and homeless.
…
Ten days later, in Xiapi City, Xuzhou.
"Langya Commandery? Cao Song?"
While Tao Qian was washing his face, his son Tao Shang was reporting to him on some important news happening within Xuzhou.
Among them, Tao Qian paid particular attention to the matter of Cao Song of Langya Commandery planning to move his entire family to Yanzhou.
"Indeed…" Tao Qian wiped his face. "With the soldiers and provisions in Yanzhou being abundant now, it is understandable that Cao Cao wishes to bring his father over there… however, Old Master Cao's family is large and prosperous. Transporting all their gold and jewels might not be easy!"
Tao Qian had served in the imperial court in his earlier years, having followed Huangfu Song and Zhang Wen. At that time, Cao Song had even served as one of the Three Excellencies, the Grand Commandant.
Although the two did not have personal ties, they had served in the same court, and certain courtesies unique to scholars still needed to be observed.
As the saying goes, "When a guest departs, one must report back: 'The guest will not return.'" Confucius said that when seeing a guest off, one must stand there and watch until the guest disappears from sight before leaving.
Tao Qian was a courteous person and paid great attention to this.
"Shang'er, to ensure everything goes smoothly, immediately order General Cao Bao to lead three hundred cavalry to escort Cao Song to the border of Yanzhou…"
"Make sure to instruct him to escort him only to the border of Yanzhou, not to cross the boundary by a single step!"
Tao Qian was a meticulous person, who greatly valued rules and etiquette.
"Your son will attend to it immediately…" Tao Shang agreed.
Speaking of which, Cao Bao was a confidant of the Tao family, leading the Danyang troops. He was known for his integrity and incorruptibility, not accepting bribes. Entrusting him with the escort of Old Master Cao would surely be foolproof.
Just then.
"Report… report…" a guard hurried in. He dared not delay and immediately reported, "My Lord Governor, this is terrible… your close friend Bian Rang has… has perished in Henei!"
What…
As soon as these words were spoken, there was a "pat" sound, and the teacup in Tao Qian's hand instantly shattered.
My virtuous brother Bian Rang… perished? This…
Tao Qian still couldn't believe his ears, "You… say that again."
The guard presented the flying pigeon message he had just received to Tao Qian.
As the Governor of Xuzhou, he had informants in many prefectures and commanderies in the Central Plains. Even from the furthest places, news could be delivered within ten days.
And now, before his eyes… the message detailed the tragic death of his virtuous brother Bian Rang, vivid and clear.
This… isn't this obviously Cao Cao's scheme?
Months ago, he had heard that Bian Rang had rebuked Cao Cao for obstructing his acceptance of the Yellow Turban surrender, his words sharp and incisive… Months later, he died tragically in a foreign land, his remains nowhere to be found. Doesn't this clearly indicate that Cao Cao, after sending him out of Yanzhou, killed him without anyone knowing?
The letter mentioned that the merchants from Xuzhou saw it by chance.
If he hadn't recorded Cao Cao's conspiracy… then… wouldn't good brother Bian Rang have died in vain, and the murderer Cao Cao would still be at large?
"Bang…"
Rarely, Tao Qian clenched his fist and slammed it onto the desk.
"Cao Aman!"
With a loud roar, it was uncommon for the usually refined Tao Qian to be so enraged.
"Father… Father, please calm down, you mustn't… mustn't hurt yourself!"
Puff… puff… he was still panting heavily. At this moment, Tao Qian was already furious beyond restraint…
"We can't… we can't let this go, we can't let this go…"
Tao Qian bit his lip, his mind racing, thinking of ways to… to seek justice for his good brother Bian Rang?
"Father, your son has a plan, I wonder if it is feasible?" Tao Shang advised.
"Speak if you have something to say!"
"Cao Cao's father, Cao Song, is still in Xuzhou!" Tao Shang reminded him.
"Hmph…" Tao Qian's fist slammed onto the desk again, splashing water from the teacup. "I even sent my trusted general Cao Bao to escort him along the way, and I… I…"
Hearing his father about to get angry again, Tao Shang quickly advised, "Why doesn't Father replace General Cao Bao and dispatch Zhang Kai to escort Old Master Cao's convoy?"
Zhang Kai?
Tao Qian's brow furrowed slightly. Zhang Kai had been a bandit in his earlier years and had also been part of the Yellow Turban Army. His business was always plunder and pillage. Moreover, this person was extremely greedy for money and profit. If he were sent to escort Cao Song… then…
Thinking of this, Tao Qian's eyes brightened, and he immediately understood his son's intention.
"Good, let Zhang Kai lead his troops to escort Cao Song!"
Tao Qian had figured it out. Cao Song… the great magnate of Langya Commandery. If his entire family moved to Yanzhou, the accompanying property might amount to as many as a hundred carts. Zhang Kai, originating from the Yellow Turbans and being greedy for money and profit, how could he not be tempted by wealth?
He would surely rob Cao Song and then flee.
In this way, Tao Qian would have taken some revenge for the death of his good brother Bian Rang.
And Cao Cao's vengeance would naturally be directed towards the fleeing Zhang Kai.
Tao Qian was already hatching a plan… this matter would be handled this way!
"Guards, summon General Zhang Kai immediately!"
Upon saying this, a sharp glint, like an awl piercing a bag, flickered in Tao Qian's eyes.
…
…