HLnovel Chapter 88: Trying to Win Over Zhang Kai to Kill Cao Song? Cao Ang Faints and Collapses!
Chapter 88: Trying to Win Over Zhang Kai to Kill Cao Song? Cao Ang Faints and Collapses!
“What Ah Bao says is very true.”
Tao Qian stroked his gray beard.
Qiao Commandery belongs to Yu Province. If you want to go to Yan Province, you will have to pass through other counties in Yu Province.
Unless, we have to detour through Xuzhou.
Cao Bao's proposal was both a show of force to Cao Cao and an attempt to curry favor with him.
How should this sentence be understood?
Tao Qian and Cao Bao did not intend to kill Cao Song, but rather to allow Cao Song to pass through their territory.
From a moral standpoint, Cao Cao should thank Tao Qian.
After all, Tao Qian had helped him solve the big problem his father was having when he crossed the border.
If Cao Cao were to openly raise an army against Tao Qian, it would be repaying kindness with enmity.
In academic circles, one's reputation is greatly affected.
Of course, all of this is based on the premise that Cao Song does not get into trouble.
If something were to happen to Cao Song, history would repeat itself.
What it was like in history will most likely remain the same.
but.
Tao Qian was confident that he could ensure Cao Song's safety.
Tao Qian patted Cao Bao on the shoulder and said:
"Ah Bao, I entrust this matter to you to send someone to handle. You must find a reliable person."
Cao Bao patted his chest and said:
"My lord, rest assured, you can put your mind at ease when I, A Bao, handle matters!"
Tao Qian nodded.
Although Cao Bao was carefree, he was extremely loyal to him.
Over the years, even if I haven't made any great contributions, I have certainly put in a lot of hard work.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have been promoted to the rank of General of Xuzhou.
After leaving Tao Qian's governor's mansion, Cao Bao immediately sought out Zhang Kai, one of his subordinates.
Zhang Kai was a Yellow Turban leader in the Xuzhou area during the Yellow Turban Rebellion.
But he was different from other Yellow Turban leaders.
His uprising was entirely a rash act on impulse.
Later, when Tao Qian arrived in Xuzhou, Zhang Kaiguang quickly surrendered and was placed under Cao Bao's command.
Over the years, Zhang Kai, skilled at flattery, has always managed to keep Cao Bao happy.
Zhang Kai has now become an indispensable confidant under Cao Bao.
Upon hearing Cao Bao's plan to have him lead men to escort Cao Song across the border, a hint of reluctance flashed across Zhang Kai's eyes, but he still agreed with a smile on his face.
Only after Cao Bao left did Zhang Kai reveal his ferocious expression.
"To escort Cao Song through the border? Hah, what's the point of doing something that brings absolutely no benefit?"
Zhang Kai was reluctant to take on this task for a simple reason: there was no profit to be made.
Why has Zhang Kai served under Cao Bao for so many years?
It's all because Cao Bao arranged for him to be the lucrative position of Commandant of the City Gates!
Xuzhou is a commercially developed city, and anyone passing through it would have to give Zhang Kai some benefits.
Zhang Kai, who is extremely greedy, finds it easy to go from frugality to extravagance, but difficult to go from extravagance to frugality.
They naturally resisted the task of escorting Cao Song across the border.
however.
To Zhang Kai's surprise,
The night before he was to depart, a black-robed scholar approached him.
Zhang Kai's study
The black-robed scholar chuckled and said:
“General Zhang, I am Xu Si. I have come to pay my respects to you on the orders of my lord, Zhang Miao, the Prefect of Chenliu.”
"Zhang Miao?"
"Wasn't he forced to defend the city after being defeated by Cao Cao?"
"Hehe, I am just a city gate captain, I can't help your lord."
Zhang Kai may be greedy for money, but he's not stupid.
If it were the Zhang Miao of the past, he would have had some skill.
And now?
They were almost wiped out by Cao Cao!
What kind of profit could Zhang Miao possibly make?
Xu Si shook his head and said:
"General Zhang is mistaken."
"My lord is indeed facing difficulties, but that doesn't mean he can't offer General Zhang a chance!"
"General Zhang, do you know that Cao Song was once the Grand Commandant?"
“The Cao family, following the normal procedures, cannot produce a Grand Commandant.”
"Unfortunately, the late emperor allowed the buying and selling of official titles, which allowed the Cao family to take advantage of the loophole."
"General Zhang, have you ever thought about why it was Cao Song from the Cao family who took advantage of the loophole, and not someone else?"
"Because that old man Cao Song is really rich!"
Upon hearing Xu Si's words, Zhang Kai's eyes twitched violently.
Although Zhang Kai is not very educated.
But everyone knows that.
A position like Grand Commandant must be incredibly expensive!
The fact that Cao Song was able to buy the position of Grand Commandant proves that the Cao family was very wealthy.
"wrong!"
Zhang Kai suddenly realized what was happening.
Cao Song's purchase of the position of Grand Commandant was many years ago.
Furthermore, Cao Song later gave up almost all of his family fortune to help Cao Cao.
How much profit can Cao Song still make now?
After thinking it through, Zhang Kai glared fiercely at Xu Si.
Xu Si slapped his thigh excitedly and said:
"General Zhang, you're being foolish!"
"If Cao Song is poor, how could the Xiahou family be poor? How could the Ding family be poor?"
"As far as I know, the Xiahou family recently bought a lot of land in Qiao County."
"How could a family like that not be rich?"
"You probably couldn't earn back their assets even if you served as a city gate captain for a hundred years."
"I……"
Zhang Kai fell silent.
The city gate captain earns quite a bit each year.
But no matter how much they earn, it can't compare to the savings and heritage of a large family like the Xiahou or Ding families.
"no!"
Zhang Kai shook his head again.
In the future, his current idea would be to both keep his job under the system and make a fortune overnight!
Xu Si rolled his eyes speechlessly and continued to persuade him:
"General Zhang, my lord has some connections with Governor Yuan Shu."
"If General Zhang can eliminate the Cao, Xiahou, and Ding families, from now on, General Zhang will be a great general under Governor Yuan!"
"After all, General Zhang's elimination of Cao Song and his group was also helping Governor Yuan!"
"How could Governor Yuan not be grateful to General Zhang?"
"In addition, all the money and valuables seized from killing Cao Song and his party belonged to General Zhang himself."
"Is General Zhang still not satisfied?"
Zhang Kai was even more conflicted.
Tao Qian is old and frail, and his sons Tao Shang and Tao Ying are both mediocre men. It's really uncertain who will decide the future of Xuzhou.
In comparison, Yuan Shu was incredibly powerful!
With tens of thousands of armored soldiers, they controlled Yuzhou, Nanyang, and Huainan.
More importantly, Yuan Shu is not yet forty years old and is in his prime.
If Yuan Shu were given another ten years, the entire Central Plains might fall into his hands.
As the saying goes, that vibrant, flourishing scene, where all things compete for life, is like a dream unfolding before your eyes!
Water flows to lower place, man goes to higher position.
By robbing Cao Song and his entourage, one could not only obtain a huge fortune but also become a general under Yuan Shu.
Wealth and wealth are found in danger.
Zhang Kai was clearly tempted!
Xu Si smiled slightly.
If Cao Song were killed by Zhang Kai, Cao Cao would surely launch an attack on Xuzhou in a fit of rage.
At that time, while Cao Cao and Tao Qian were at war, Yuan Shu led his troops to cooperate with Zhang Miao to invade Yanzhou.
I ask you, among the counties of Yanzhou, who can stop the allied forces of Yuan Shu and Zhang Miao?
Zhang Kai didn't sleep all night.
The following morning, Zhang Kai took the initiative to approach Xu Si to discuss the specific plan.
Xu Si took out the brocade pouch that Chen Gong had given him and offered Zhang Kai some advice.
And at the same time.
Dongjun
Cao Ang suddenly felt dizzy, and Su Yu quickly called a doctor to treat him.
……