No quibbles or excuses.
As soon as they met, he was very decisive and took all the responsibility for all the unpleasantness that had happened before on himself, shouldering everything for Mi Fang.
Don't even delve into the cause and effect.
Just admit your mistakes.
In Cao Ang's view, this is a very rational and smart approach.
After all, the so-called debate has a prerequisite, that is, the two parties have similar status, or the outcome can be changed simply by relying on words.
Otherwise, not only will it be useless, but it will even offend the person being argued.
Mi Zhu is behaving like this right now.
This is enough to prove that his level of dealing with people and being sociable is indeed much better than that of his younger brother Mi Fang.
Some thoughts flashed through my mind.
Cao Ang responded quickly.
He pretended to laugh brightly, then invited Mi Zhu to sit down at the table, and at the same time said it in an extremely chic and nonchalant manner.
"Zizhong doesn't need to take this matter to heart anymore. If my brother hadn't agreed to the request of the Li family and others, how could we have met today?"
This is the truth.
If Mi Fang hadn't suddenly jumped out and wanted to have a hand in the private-to-government transition, Cao Ang would have never thought of the Mi family in Donghai.
After all, the Mi family's inherent sphere of influence is in Xuzhou, and Cao Ang's strategic plan will not extend to the Xuzhou area for a while. He will not take action against Tao Qian until the chaos in Guanzhong is resolved.
Therefore, although Mi Fang was not very reliable in her work, she still came in handy.
…………
Soon, after the two sat down.
A few pleasantries were exchanged.
Cao Ang got straight to the point and spoke straightforwardly, explaining his purpose of summoning Mi Zhu in an understatement.
"Since Zizhong came here after receiving your brother's letter, he must also know what kind of message I asked Zifang to convey to you before he left."
"I wonder if you understand the meaning?"
Facing the questions that Cao Ang threw lightly.
Mi Zhu didn't dare to show any signs of neglect.
He nodded very solemnly and said: "I know the general's intention very well. From Donghai County, where the Mi family is located, to Huang County in Donglai County, the journey is a thousand miles. I also lived in the open and wind all the way. After hard work, I came here." Come here."
"If I didn't understand what you meant, General, how could I do this?"
"I just don't know how you, General, plan to give me what the Mi family wants. What can I and the entire family do for you?"
Both sides are smart people.
Naturally, there is no need to be secretive.
Decisively put deals and negotiations on the table.
And after getting Mi Zhu's answer.
Cao Ang immediately found a map from the desk, and then slowly spread it out in front of Mi Zhu.
With his hand, he drew a circle in the void in the northern part of Xuzhou and the eastern part of Qingzhou.
Then the voice sounded quietly.
"I can give the Mi family a chance to join the government from business, and transform this pure business family into a big family integrating government and business from now on!"
The words fell.
Mi Zhu couldn't help but raise her eyebrows.
…………
When it comes to dealing with the Mi family issue.
It is different from the original Zhen family in Zhongshan.
Although the two are both local giants, they are quite different in nature, and their needs for the future are also completely different.
The Zhen family was once a prominent family in the Zhongshan Kingdom, and its ancestors had produced top figures. Relying on these connections, the Zhen family has continued its history for nearly two hundred years.
For the Zhen family.
What they urgently need is to restore the family's glory, that is, to have more money and to expand the family's influence to a larger place.
Therefore, Cao Ang was prescribing the right medicine.
The condition offered was for the Zhen family to become officials and merchants of Yanzhou, Weijun of Jizhou and other places.
But the Mi family is different.
The Mi family itself has money.
As a wealthy man in the world, he has strong influence in places such as Xuzhou and Qingzhou. He is far superior to ordinary aristocratic families and is as wealthy as princes. He can even influence the strategies of local clans, merchants and officials.
If we just talk about wealth and local influence, the Mi family is much stronger than the Zhen family.
But that’s all!
The Mi family has nothing but money, but in a feudal dynasty with officialdom as its strong core, money is sometimes the least valuable thing. There is no reason in this regard.
A pure businessman family, although relying on a large amount of money to develop quite a lot of contacts, so it is deeply entangled in the local area and has cultivated a network of relationships, but its foundation in officialdom and court is still fragile in nature. Just like a piece of paper, it can be broken with a snap of a finger like a castle in the air.
This is undoubtedly a fatal flaw.
When Mi Zhu was still alive, it didn't matter. Hello, me, everyone.
But once Mi Zhu died.
That means that the network of connections that is maintained on him and with him as the core will be completely destroyed in the shortest possible time.
In the past, those who relied on local powers would turn their guns and become the first to plunder the Mi family's wealth.
in other words.
Money alone cannot be passed down to your family!
It's okay to have a small family. The more wealth you accumulate, the tighter the rope around your neck becomes.
Zhongshan Zhen family can rely on the glory of their ancestors to continue for nearly two hundred years. Such a thing is absolutely impossible to happen to the Mi family.
Therefore, Mi Zhu's pain point is continuation.
How to ensure a sense of security passed down from generation to generation!
…………
As Cao Ang threw out the conditions.
Mi Zhu raised her eyebrows.
His face did not immediately show joy, but instead fell into deep contemplation and hesitation.
After a few seconds.
He hesitantly said to Cao Ang just now: "General Cao, please forgive me for speaking frankly. You said that you would transfer from a businessman to an official. You probably also gave me an official position. So what is the difference between this and the situation I am in now?"
"Although I am not talented, I am now an official appointed by Tao Fujun, the governor of Xuzhou. I am also considered a high-ranking official in Xuzhou Prefecture."
"General, is there any difference between what you can give me and this? If there is not much difference, why would I need to change the court?"
Mi Zhu said it very straightforwardly.
But Cao Ang didn't mean to be angry at all.
At the moment, conditions are actually being exchanged. The two sides are pulling each other's back, and it is reasonable to raise questions.
So after Mi Zhu's words fell.
Cao Ang smiled instead.
As his fingers tapped lightly on the table, there were bursts of very regular tapping sounds.
Cao Ang said with a smile at the same time: "Since Zizhong has come all the way here, he should be honest with me and tell the truth openly. Why bother to hide it?"
"Although you have been appointed as Xuzhou's farewell officer, have you ever participated in the affairs of the Xuzhou Prefecture? Are you the first to know about any orders issued by the Prefecture, or are you informed by others?"
"Whenever something happens in Xuzhou, does Tao Gongzu discuss it with his group of aides and cronies, or does he invite you to discuss it together?"
"If you don't have these, then with all due respect, Zizhong is nothing more than a clay puppet!"
…………
As Cao Ang's words deepened.
Mi Zhu's expression became increasingly obscure.
It looked as if Cao Ang's words had hit the mark and touched upon an important place in his heart.
And watched Mi Zhu react like this.
Cao Ang immediately struck while the iron was hot, and after a short pause, he continued to pursue the enemy with all his strength.
"Tao Qian wants the stability of Xuzhou, so he cannot do without the help of the Mi family. He recruits troops and needs you to contribute a lot of money and food, so he can easily promise you a job that you will not be engaged in."
"But this is just a show. No matter how much money you give, you will never be able to enter Tao Qian's core of power and issue orders in Xuzhou. If something happens to the Mi family, Tao Qian will give up on you at any time. of."
"Then how can you pass on your official position to your family?"
Cao Ang said in a few words.
Words have become like sharp swords.
Pointing directly to the key core of the Mi family.
That is virtual!
Mi Zhu, who was stabbed in the wound, quickly regained his composure after his expression changed for a while.
The voice was calm and calm as he narrated: "What the general said is true. Our Mi family is indeed not worth mentioning in Xuzhou official circles. All Mr. Tao wants is money and food. When he encounters his irresistible power, he will indeed not hesitate." Give up our family without hesitation."
"This is true, but if our Mi family switches our arms to your general, how will what we get be different from what we get under Mr. Tao's command?"
"General, are you willing to accept us and let our Mi family become part of the core of your power?"
Cao Ang slowly shook his head.
…………
"I am willing to accept everyone, but whether I can step into the core of power and become a figure in power depends on the efforts of the individual or family, not my preferences. Do you understand?"
"If you want to ask what is the difference between me and Tao Qian, then I can only tell you one thing, that is, I am much stronger than Tao Qian!"
"The soldiers and horses under my command, the civil servants and generals under my command, as well as the territory and population, these are far beyond what Xuzhou can compare with."
Speaking of which.
Cao Ang slowly stood up.
Then he pointed at himself, waved his robe sleeves, his tone was full of impassioned words, and he spoke loudly and boldly.
"Tao Qian can give you an official position in Xuzhou, but the reason why I tell you that there is no future is that the Xuzhou he occupies will be given up sooner or later. At the moment, he is just living there temporarily."
"After I defeat the Dong thieves and welcome back the Emperor, the next step is to sweep Xuzhou, Jizhou and other places for the imperial court, and bring all these places that have been separated from the imperial court back under the Han Dynasty."
"So being an official under me is completely different from being an official under Tao Qian. The Xuzhou Biejia appointed by Tao Qian will be thrown away at any time, but those appointed by me in the future will never be taken back unless I personally take them back. I can touch you!"
"Do you know?!!"
The words fell.
Mi Zhu's eyes suddenly widened.
His whole body was like a spring, and he jumped up from his seat with a "soaring" sound.
He stared at Cao Ang steadily, his breathing became a little faster, his face was full of shock, and his mind was full of thoughts and chaos.
It turned out that I had been talking for a long time.
The front is not the point at all.
The point is this sentence.
"Sooner or later I have to deal with Tao Qian. If you follow him, no matter how good you are, it will be vain. No matter how high the house is, it will be knocked down with one kick. Only if you follow me, then it is real."
This is Cao Ang's subtext.
Mi Zhu didn't understand it until now.
…………
After suddenly waking up.
A long silence followed.
Mi Zhu began to think about where to go.
First of all, he traveled all the way here because he definitely wanted to reach an agreement with Cao Ang. He came with a cooperative attitude and ideas.
All the previous excuses and excuses.
It's all one of the negotiation skills.
However, after Cao Ang put his attitude in front of him, Mi Zhu found that he had nothing to talk about.
If the Cao family really wants to take action against Tao Qian, then it will be based on the huge disparity in military strength between the two sides, plus the huge difference in the strength of the generals who lead the troops.
This battle is simply unwinnable.
Cao Ang dealt with Tao Qian like a piece of cake. As long as Yanzhou wanted to fight, Xuzhou would be helpless and would be bulldozed in a very short time.
Therefore, if you were an official, it would be better to serve as a valet under Tao Qian than to serve as a county magistrate under Cao Ang. Mi Zhu quickly figured out these issues.
He thinks clearly.
He immediately bowed to Cao Ang and spoke.
"General Zhu understands your intention. I am willing to serve you on behalf of the entire Mi family in the East China Sea. I am willing to fight for you in all directions and pacify the world, and I will do my best to help you!"
…………
The next hour.
Cao Ang and Mi Zhu discuss responsibilities and obligations.
A rigorous discussion was held.
At present, in the general direction, there is naturally no need for the Mi family to make any contribution.
After all, Cao Ang's primary target is Dong Zhuo, who is located in Chang'an. As for Tao Qian, who is entrenched in Xuzhou, he has to be ranked lower in priority. Currently, Cao Ang does not have much free time to deal with Tao Qian.
Therefore, the Mi family can be regarded as a dormant hidden child. There is no need for him to donate a large amount of wealth immediately, and he can just continue to develop step by step.
But that doesn’t mean you won’t do anything.
First of all, the Mi family needs to use their influence to ensure the smooth operation of the government-run salt industry in Qingzhou's coastal zone, including mining and sales.
On the premise that the Cao family's force and power are the backing, and then the influence of the local big families is exerted, it is a two-pronged approach, which is foolproof.
At the same time, Mi Zhu also needs to do his best to help the shadow guard reach into the boundaries of Xuzhou and drive nails here in the shortest possible time.
Finally, it is an agreement between the two parties.
In the future, after Cao Ang takes over the entire territory of Xuzhou, he will need to give Mi Zhu a corresponding official position, not to mention comparable to the current Xuzhou Biejia, but at least it cannot be a false position to fool people.
And accordingly.
The Mi family of Donghai will need to do their best when Cao Ang conquers Xuzhou in the future.
Including but not limited to being a mole and the like.
As for the huge wealth of the Mi family, in the future, when Cao Ang will bring Xuzhou under his rule, the Mi family will completely become a part of the Cao family.
Just think about it again.
…………
After these agreements.
Cao Ang was about to get up and see him off.
However, he didn't wait for him to make any move.
Mi Zhu suddenly said, "General Cao, I have an unkind request. I wonder if you can agree to it."
Cao Ang raised his eyebrows in surprise.
But he still raised his hand to signal Mi Zhu to continue.
Mi Zhu immediately handed over to Cao Ang and said, "I have a sister who has been spoiled at home since she was a child, but she has also developed an arrogant temper."
"Because I have heard a lot about your reputation in the past, General, I admire you very much. Now that I know that I am coming to pay you a visit, General, I insist on coming with you. As an elder brother, I really can't refuse her request."
"So my sister-in-law is already in the city now. I wonder if she is lucky enough to see you, General?"
Follow Mi Zhu's eloquent talk.
The surprised expression on Cao Ang's face became more intense.
If he guessed correctly.
The sister Mi Zhu mentioned should be the Mrs. Mi recorded in history.
Tsk!
Cao Ang said he was very interested.
Think of this.
He immediately patted Mi Zhu on the shoulder, then smiled kindly and in a gentle voice.
"What luck or bad luck? Since she is your sister, how can I not see it?"
"Can I trouble you, Zhong Zhong, to introduce me to you?"
(End of chapter)
