Chapter Twenty: The Talent Problem

  (PS: Two updates today, the second update will be at night,)

  Just like giving alms to a beggar, the next afternoon, Zou Fang indeed sent several household slaves to deliver 200 catties of high-quality wrought iron and 100 catties of raw silk to Tao Ying. At that time, Tao Ying was practicing martial arts on the training ground, and after receiving the news, he didn't even thank him in person, but directly let Zou Fang's household slaves send the wrought iron and raw silk to the woodwork site, and hand them over to Dan Yang soldier Du Bo Yan Long for inspection. The household slaves of Zou Fang dared not disobey, and honestly delivered the military supplies to the gate of the work site.

  A tiny leak can lead to a big loss. Tao Ying didn't want to see the ugly face of the Mu Fu family's slaves, but unexpectedly gave them a great opportunity to spy on the military secrets. When the Mu Fu family slaves arrived at the gate of the Junzi Army's construction site, they clearly saw the Junzi Army's siege weapons being tested behind the fence. Although this vehicle was still in its infancy, it left a deep impression on the Mu Fu family slaves. After returning to the Mu Fu residence, the Mu Fu family slaves secretly reported back to Mu Zong and Mu Fang brothers without mentioning anything.

  Because the basic shape of the carriage is similar to that of a large thunder car, the Mo brothers naturally thought that the carriage on the ground was the prototype of the Thunder Car. Combined with intelligence gathered from other channels, the Mo brothers finally believed that the new weapon secretly built by Junzi Army was indeed the Thunder Car. They sent their confidants to deliver the news and the drawings of the Thunder Car to Liu Bei in Xiaopei, 140 miles away, asking him to decide on the next course of action.

  Three days later, Liu Bei's reply was sent back to the Mi Zhu brothers. In his letter to the Mi Zhu brothers, Liu Bei asked them to stop their further espionage activities against the Junzi Army, so as not to completely infuriate the old and cunning Tao Qian. At the same time, Liu Bei asked the Mi Zhu brothers to help and assist Tao Ying in building the Thunderclap chariot, which would not only appease the increasingly dissatisfied Tao Qian family but also allow Liu Bei to take over the Thunderclap chariot after taking over Xuzhou.

  Although Liu Bei did not believe that Tao Ying could develop a thunder cart capable of attacking the city, he also thought that if Tao Ying could successfully develop the thunder cart, it would be equivalent to helping the Liu army improve its attack power. Therefore, Liu Bei felt that it was necessary for the Mi Zhu brothers to invest a sum of risk capital in Tao Ying's body.

  Liu Bei's words, of course, could not be ignored by his brothers, and after a brief discussion, they felt that their brother had been too harsh on Tao Ying. The Liu brothers quickly made up their minds to take advantage of the opportunity to deliver 200 war horses and also send Tao Ying 300 jin of iron and 200 jin of raw silk, in an attempt to ease the increasingly sharp and obvious conflict with Tao Qian's father and son.

  The staff of the wolf is afraid of both ends, facing the military supplies sent by the Mi brothers again like sending a beggar. In order to delay the time of turning against Liu Bei as much as possible, Tao Ying still accepted the gifts of the Mi brothers with a smile, but he couldn't help hating the Mi brothers more in his heart. The Mi brothers had sent three batches of military supplies to the Junzi Army, which added up to less than one-tenth of what Liu Bei had given.

  Unexpectedly, just as Tao Ying had sent off the Mi brothers, Chen Deng, the largest landowner in Xuzhou, arrived at the Junzi military camp with a surprise gift of 100 war horses, 500 kilograms of high-quality steel, 300 kilograms of high-quality silk and ten three-meter-long logs of high-quality sandalwood.

  "Thank you, Brother Yu Long. I'm truly grateful to Tao Ying." As Chen Gui and Tao Qian were of the same generation, they also addressed Chen Deng as a peer. While sincerely thanking him, Tao Ying asked Chen Deng in puzzlement: "Brother Yu Long, how did you know that I needed these military supplies? I didn't ask for your help, Brother Yu Long."

  "Second Master, that's where you're wrong." Chen Deng didn't answer Tao Ying's question directly, but instead chuckled and said: "Second Master has read extensively and recreated the Thunderbolt Chariot to help the Xuzhou army defeat the enemy, which is a good thing for the country and the people. How can he not speak up when there is a shortage of iron, silk, and sandalwood? Is Chen Deng such a stingy person?"

  "No, no." Tao hastily shook his head and explained: "Your younger brother is not unwilling to open his mouth and beg of you, elder brother Ren. It's just that your younger brother knows that the mainstay of Elder Brother Yu Long's family business is land and estates. This time, with Cao Ze's rebellion, Elder Brother Yu Long's assets have suffered a great loss. Your younger brother really cannot bear to add frost to snow for Elder Brother Yu Long, so he did not ask for help from Elder Brother Yu Long."

  At this point, Tao Ying's heart suddenly skipped a beat, and he hastily stepped forward, grasping Chen Deng's hand and asking in a low voice: "Brother Yu Long, how did you know that I was building the Thunderclap Car? Moreover, Brother Yu Long, how did you know that I needed wrought iron, raw silk, and sandalwood? This is a matter of great importance, I hope Brother Yu Long will not hesitate to enlighten me."

  "Second Master, Chen Deng knows that you handle matters discreetly and do not want outsiders to know too much about your military plans." Chen Deng patted Tao Ying's hand and said in a low, sincere tone: "However, Second Master, the location you've chosen for training is not suitable. The area around Xuzhou City has a large population and limited land, making it difficult for you to keep your military plans from leaking out. For example, I, Chen Deng, didn't intentionally pry into your plans, but I still heard about your secret construction of the Thunderbolt Chariot through other channels."

  "Thank you, Brother Yu Long, for pointing this out. Tao Ying has learned from it." In fact, Tao Ying knew that the camp of Junzi Army was too close to Xuzhou City, making it easy to leak military secrets. However, since Junzi Army was newly established, many things had to be started from scratch. If the camp were too far away from the main base, these tasks would require twice the effort and severely slow down the army's progress. Therefore, Tao Ying also had no choice but to temporarily choose to station in Xuzhou Xiaoxiao Camp.

  Unable to help it, Chen Deng was able to provide such guidance despite his ordinary relationship with Tao Ying, which was already quite meaningful. So apart from repeatedly thanking him, Tao Ying also took the initiative to confess: "Tao Ying dare not deceive Yuan Long brother, in fact, Tao Ying had long had the idea of relocating the camp, but things were not yet ready and could not be done temporarily. When the war horses of the Junzi army arrive, Tao Ying will ask his father for permission to move the troops to Xia Pi and station there. At that time, please also ask Yuan Long brother for help."

  "Gongzi plans to move to Xiaopei?" Chen Deng furrowed his brow, wanting to remind him but fearing that their relationship was too shallow and might lead to unnecessary complications.

  "Is anything wrong?" Tao Ying found that Chen Deng's expression was not good, and he asked in a hurry: "Yuan Long brother, if this plan of my younger brother is not proper, please point it out straightforwardly."

  Chen Deng hesitated for a moment, and then reminded him in a roundabout way: "Young master, this time Cao's banditry has caused chaos in Xuzhou, and all five counties of Xuzhou have been affected by war and fire. Only Xiaopei suffered the least damage. Even Pengcheng, Tangcheng, and Guangling, such important towns in Xuzhou, currently have populations and livelihoods that are far inferior to those of Xiaopei - Young master's army is moving to Xiaopei, but I'm afraid it will be even harder to keep military secrets."

  "What does it mean?" Tao Ying was somewhat confused, but he quickly came to his senses and thought to himself: "Chen Deng is right! The five counties of Xuzhou are all severely damaged, only Xiaopei suffered the least damage. In fact, more than half of the taxes and grain in Xuzhou rely on Xiaopei to provide. Such an economically important town with a large population, before I have any political achievements or military exploits to show for it, how can my stepfather Tao Qian dare to entrust it to me? I'm afraid that if I propose to move to Xiaopei, the first person to object will be my stepfather!"

  Having understood this, Tao Ying couldn't help but feel a deep respect and gratitude for Chen Deng. He then continued to say: "Brother Yu Long's advice is well-taken, I understand now that Xia Pi is not suitable for me - my father may not even be willing to let me station in Xia Pi. I'll take the liberty of asking Brother Yu Long again, in your opinion, where would it be more convenient for me to relocate?"

  "This young man is indeed not simple, although a bit reckless and impulsive, but he can listen to the sound of one word, it's also rare." Chen Deng secretly praised him, hesitated for a moment, and finally decided to do good deeds to the end. Smiling, he said: "Second Master, eighty miles south of Pengcheng, there is a city called Wuyuan County. During Cao Ze's rebellion, the people in the city were afraid of Cao Ze's massacre, and nineteen scattered stars fled to other places. Even after Cao's army retreated, few people returned to their hometowns to farm. Now, there are only over 100 households left in the city, with vast land and sparse population, but the city walls and houses are mostly intact, which is very convenient for storing grain and stationing troops..."

  Chen Deng took the conversation to this point, Tao Ying would not understand if he didn't hear it clearly after so many years of mixing in the system. Overjoyed, Chen quickly thanked Chen Deng repeatedly, and at the same time, Tao Ying couldn't help but probe again: "Brother Yuansong is so talented, yet his official position is below that of Zouzi Zhong, which is really a waste. I'm not talented, but I intend to recommend Brother Yuansong to my father, do you agree?"

  "Gongzi laughed and said, 'Chen Deng's virtue is shallow, he was already terrified when he was appointed as the Colonel of the Agricultural Garrison, how could he dare to aspire for a higher position?' Chen Deng couldn't help but hear the flattering tone in Tao Ying's words, but as the largest landowner and local snakehead of Xuzhou, how could he easily make a bet? So Chen Deng immediately politely declined and asked to leave. Tao Ying didn't try to retain him either, personally escorting Chen Deng out of the Junzi Military Camp gate and bidding farewell with a bow."

  "This guy is actually a top-notch military strategist of the Three Kingdoms era, Chen Gong can't even compare to him. However, he's too conservative, clinging to his small territory in Xuzhou and unwilling to let go, missing countless opportunities to make a big move." Watching Chen Deng's receding back, Tao Ying pondered, "Moreover, this guy likes to curry favor with those in power, whoever has the most influence gets his attention. I'm thinking of recruiting him now, but it might not be easy."

  "Talents, oh talents, why is it so hard to find a few? Chen Deng's refusal made Tao Ying think of another important question. "In the 21st century's transmigration novels, as long as the protagonist has a powerful aura, countless heroes and chivalrous men immediately surrender and pledge allegiance. Why have my recruitment notices been posted for so long, yet not a single decent talent has come to serve me? Is it because my kingly aura is insufficient?"

  When it comes to the important task of recruiting talents in the Three Kingdoms era, second only to building an army, Tao Ying is full of melancholy. Before the formation of the Junzi Army, Tao Ying had already obtained the consent of his father, Tao Qian, and issued a recruitment notice to the five counties of Xuzhou, calling on people with talents to serve under the Tao family. He dreamed that he could be like Cao Cao, who would attract a large number of civil and military officials by posting a recruitment notice. At the same time, Tao Ying also asked Cao Hong to take action, sending his confidants to Langya County to find out about the whereabouts of the young Zhuge Liang, planning to bring this future genius under his wing from a young age and cultivate him to serve as his own henchman when he grew up.

  However, the dream is beautiful, but reality is cruel. Tao Ying's people, who did not understand Zhuge Liang's early life, investigated and found out that Zhuge Xiao had followed his uncle Zhuge Xuan to Yuzhang five years ago when he was only eight years old. Zhuge Xuan was a close friend of Liu Biao, the governor of Jingzhou, and also a favorite minister of Yuan Shu, a three-time prime minister from the Yuan family. Now they have all become the governor of Yuzhang. With Tao Ying's current reputation and status, it is unlikely to pull Zhuge Xiao out of Zhuge Xuan's arms.

  What made Tao Ying even more disappointed was the effect of the recruitment notice. The recruitment notice had been posted for nearly a month, but not only did it fail to attract a single famous or talented person, it didn't even attract anyone who was remotely qualified. Those who came to apply were either worthless or completely unqualified, spouting nonsense about morality and literature, but having no practical solutions for military or civilian affairs. They were so corrupt that their stench could be smelled from three to five miles away. Tao Ying was so fed up with them that he didn't want any of them, instead pushing them all onto his cheap father Tao Qian and bookworm older brother Tao Shang, letting them deal with these rotten Confucians.

  It wasn't until later that Tao Ying realized he couldn't recruit the right talent, not because of himself, but because of his cheap father Tao Qian. Before Tao Ying posted the recruitment notice, Tao Qian had already posted several notices, but unfortunately, his views on using people were problematic. He didn't want anyone without a famous name or from a non-scholar family, and those who couldn't write poetry or songs were even more unwanted. This eliminated countless talented commoners and heroes, and even offended Zhang Zhao, the only politician with full marks in the Three Kingdoms game, driving him away. With this precedent, when Tao Ying posted his recruitment notice again, real talents naturally wouldn't be easily deceived.

  The father's debt, the son repays. Tao Kuiyan's view on selecting talent has thoroughly harmed Tao Ying. As a result, Tao Ying still doesn't have a decent civil official or military general to assist him. On the military side, he only has his mediocre cousin, Tao Ji, to help out - of course, this is also the fault of Luo Guanzhong for not telling Tao Ying in his novel that Tao Ji would become the governor of Jiaozhou in Eastern Wu and subdue the Vietnamese monkeys, making them submit. Therefore, in Tao Ying's impression, his cheap cousin was at most a third-rate general, unable to be entrusted with important tasks. Otherwise, the realist Tao Ying would have treated his cousin better.

  "Everything is difficult at the beginning, let's take it slow." Tao Ying Tian shamelessly comforted himself: "No civil officials? No problem, I am the best civil official; no strategists? No problem, I am the best strategist; no military generals? No problem, I am still the best general! As long as I can get through the beginning, I will have all the civil and military officials, advisors, and strategists I need!"