Tao Qian's rise, Cao Cao's powerful process before attacking Xu
Cao Cao set out to conquer Xuzhou, and in the face of the powerful Tao Qian, although he had a prediction, he had doubts, and even arranged the aftermath. However, Tao Qian's strength is not consistent, he has even reached his peak in the past, with a huge territory and a large rich population.
Although it is not as good as it used to be, it is still an opponent to be reckoned with.
Tao Qian, the former leader of the anti-Dong Zhuo alliance, has now pulled up an anti-Li Dao alliance on the map. His allies include: Langya Xiang Yinde, East China Sea Xiang Liu Kui, Pengcheng Xiang Jilian, and Qingzhou Beihai Xiang Kong Rong, Yanzhou Taishan Taishou Yingshao, Yuzhou Pei Xiang Yuan Zhong, and Runan Taishou Xu Xuan.
Together, they elected Zhu Jun as the Taishi, and passed on the county of Zhuzhou, trying to welcome the Son of Heaven. In this anti-Li Dao alliance, Tao Qian served as the assassin of Xuzhou, and cooperated with many celebrities, former assassins, and Taishou.
During his tenure as the Assassin of Xuzhou, Tao Qian mainly controlled the Xiapi Kingdom and Guangling County in the northern part of Xuzhou. However, Tarzan and Beihai were relatively independent in their respective states and were more influenced by him.
Although Runan and Peiguo obeyed Yuan Shu's command, they were also influenced by Tao Qian. Although Zhu Jun did not agree to become the leader of this alliance, Tao Qian under his leadership, the influence of the alliance was retained.
Wang Lang, who was the third-in-command in the state under Tao Qian, and Zhao Yu, who was the third in command, suggested that Tao Qian ask the imperial court for assistance. Tao Qian heeded their advice and sent them to Chang'an to pay tribute to the imperial court controlled by Li Dao.
The imperial court named Zhao Yu as the Taishou of Guangling in Xuzhou, and Wang Lang as the Taishou of Yangzhou Huiji. Tao Qian was thus promoted to Xuzhou Mu, worshiped General Anton, and was named Marquis of Liyang County.
These events show Tao Qian's wisdom and courage, and also illustrate his influence.
With this series of rewards, Tao Qian successfully mastered the military and political power of Xuzhou, which can be described as a glorious township and greatly increased his strength. His hometown of Danyang County in Yangzhou was also able to return to his hometown because of this, and at the same time, it also strengthened his influence in the local area, making it easier to recruit elite Danyang soldiers.
Not only that, but he also appointed Danyang Xiaolao Rong as the next minister, and firmly held the five counties of Xuzhou in his hands. Even Wang Lang, who was far away in Huiji, was also influenced by him as his old official.
He also actively wooed the Xiapi Chen family of Chen Yu, the assassin of Yangzhou, based on the allusion of "asking the princes to be more than the king of Qin", which is the same as Mao Jue's suggestion to Cao Cao's "Fengtianzi to order the princes", which is the actual merger of the princes under the banner of Fengtianzi.
Tao Qian's success not only proved that the powerful courtiers were not only Cao Cao's family, but also that Cao Cao was not the only wise prince, and that the benefits he received far exceeded Cao Cao's.
Tao Qian saw that Yuan Shu was in trouble, so he took advantage of this opportunity to form an alliance with the Chen clan in Xiapi, thus stealing Yuan Shu's Peiguo and appointing Chen Qi as Peixiang. And Chen Qi is the son of Chen Qiu's younger brother, and he has a relationship with Yuan Shu as a descendant of the clan.
Yuan Shu wrote to Chen Jue, hoping that he would be able to submit to him. From these things, it can be seen that Tao Qian is very smart, and he knows how to use the opportunity to achieve his goals.
Tao Qian and Xiapi Chen joined forces to fall into the well against Yuan Shu, and let Chen Yu intercept Yuan Shu in Huainan, attacking back and forth, wanting to put him to death. Chen Yu was originally appointed by Yuan Shu to assassinate Yangzhou, but now he is being used by Tao Qian and Xiapi Chen.
Yuan Shu survived, and later took advantage of Cao Cao's attack on Xuzhou and captured a large territory of Tao Qian, and Tao Qian suffered on his own. Xu Xuan resolutely stood on Tao Qian's side, and successively served as the three counties of Cheng, Runan, and Donghai, and all of them were governed.
Later, he was recruited as a court lieutenant, but was robbed by Yuan Shu.
Xu Xuan was deposed by Yuan Shu during his tenure as the Taishou of Runan, defected to Tao Qian, and took the seal of the Taishou of Runan. After Yuan Shu became emperor in Huainan, Xu Xuan resolutely stood on Tao Qian's side.
At this time, the people of Xuzhou were prosperous, the grain and rice were abundant, and the displaced people were attached one after another. However, Tao Qian went against the grain and appointed Zhao Yu and other loyal and upright people, but he was alienated; At the same time, Cao Hong and other villains were reused.
Tao Qian's criminal and political disharmony caused good people to be harmed, leading to gradual social chaos.
Tao Qian's development was already quite powerful, but he began to deviate from the right path, alienating honest and loyal people like Zhao Yu, and reusing cronies and villains. As a result, the government decree was discordant, and Zhongliang was brutalized, which made Xuzhou gradually unstable.
It was in this chaotic situation that in 193, the Que Xuan Rebellion broke out in the Xiapi Kingdom. Xu Zijiang, a person who is good at understanding human nature, saw that Tao Qian was not really upright in his heart long before he began to deviate, and predicted that he would lose power.
Although Tao Qian was very friendly to Xu Zijiang, Xu Zijiang saw that Tao Qian was not really a good person, so he decided to leave him and take refuge in Guangling. In the end, Xu Zijiang ran to Yangzhou and defected to Liu Xuan.
Xu Zijiang had a unique vision, he foresaw that Tao Qian's reign would not last long, and sure enough, Tao Qian later arrested celebrities living in Xuzhou, and Xu Zijiang's "Yuedan Commentary" was well deserved.
After abandoning Jiujiang and Taishan County, Cao Cao's strength in Huainan gradually increased, and Tao Qian and Xiapi Chen's attempt to stop Yuan Shu in Huainan failed, and Chen Yu, the assassin of Yangzhou, fled back to Xuzhou.
As Cao Cao gained control of Yanzhou, only Taishan County was left uncontrolled by him, and Cao Cao paid tribute to the imperial court, which made his Yanzhou pastor recognized by the imperial court.
Taishan Taishou Ying Shao began to recognize Cao Cao's status as a state minister, and obeyed his orders to escort Cao Song, who was about to go to Yanzhou. Ying Shao's attitude was a betrayal to Tao Qian, so he and Que Xuan joined forces to invade Yanzhou, one of which was to take the Taishan Road and attack Fei County and Hua County in Taishan County.
With his wits and means, Tao Qian rose to become the hegemon in the south of the Yellow River in just one year. However, his ingenuity is not all used in the right way, but rather leads to his misconception.
Although he has strength, he is not properly employed, and he is just a powerful image with a false appearance. In the end, Cao Cao defeated the strong with the weak and easily defeated Tao Qian. Under the attack of Cao Cao and Yuan Shu, Tao Qian's hegemony was as short as fireworks, and soon collapsed, entrusting the remnants of Xuzhou to Liu Bei.