The Three Kingdoms: Rise to Power Starting with Intercepting Liu Bei

After settling the angels in, Qin Xuan and Tao Qian left the post station. As they parted, Tao Qian called out to Qin Xuan.

Looking at the hunched old man with a face full of the marks of time, Qin Xuan was somewhat puzzled, wondering what the other man was up to.

"Yi... Yi Chen, I want to tell you, don't let down the people of Xuzhou. I have no regrets about letting you govern Xuzhou. I know what you have done these days. Maybe you are the most suitable person to take charge of Xuzhou."

"I... I don't have much time left. This might be the last time I speak with you. I hope you can do well and become a hidden dragon! ~~~~cough cough~~~!"

Tao Qian's breathing was somewhat disordered, and his tone was very weak, clearly indicating that he was nearing the end of his life.

After hearing these words, Qin Xuan was filled with mixed emotions. He knew that these were Tao Qian's heartfelt words, and that even though he was almost on his deathbed, he was still thinking about the people of Xuzhou.

"Master Tao, rest assured, I will develop Xuzhou well. You can enjoy your retirement!"

This was Qin Xuan's guarantee to Tao Qian, and from this moment on, Tao Qian was no longer under surveillance.

Tao Qian smiled slightly upon hearing this, patted Qin Xuan on the shoulder, and said with a hint of relief in his voice, "Yichen, I trust you. The future of Xuzhou is in your hands."

After saying this, she was helped by her son to slowly board the carriage at the door and leave the post station.

Looking at this former ruler of Xuzhou, Qin Xuan stood there in a daze, filled with heartfelt respect for this powerful figure.

With the imperial edict issued, Qin Xuan, this suddenly emerging feudal lord, began to come into the sights of various major powers.

People sought to learn about the man who saved Xuzhou from crisis through various channels, wanting to know what abilities Qin Xuan possessed that made Tao Qian recommend him as the general of Xuzhou and give him control of the region.

Suddenly, a large number of undercover agents appeared in Xuzhou, which was under strict control.

Faced with this situation, Qin Xuan was at a loss for what to do.

Arresting them all would be inappropriate, but ignoring it would surely spread the news of Xuzhou's situation to all factions, which was not what Qin Xuan wanted to see.

Therefore, Qin Xuan summoned Liu Bowen to discuss countermeasures.

"Bowen, what should we do with the spies in this city? We can't just arrest them all, can we? What if the truth about Xuzhou gets out and attracts the covetous eyes of those wolves, leading to another major war against Xuzhou? We'll be in a very passive position!"

Qin Xuan's concerns were not unfounded. Xuzhou's strategic location was extremely important, and not only Cao Cao, but also Yuan Shu, Yuan Shao, and others wanted to occupy it.

Now that Qin Xuan, such an unstable factor, has suddenly appeared, how can they let this go?

They will do everything they can to find out the situation in Xuzhou and provide accurate intelligence support for annexing Xuzhou.

After some thought, Liu Bowen cupped his hands and said:

"My lord, I heard that Lord Tao's health is not good, and he seems to be passing away soon, is that true?"

Qin Xuan didn't quite understand Liu Bowen's meaning, but he nodded nonetheless.

Liu Bowen then stroked his long beard and continued, "As the governor of Xuzhou, Tao Gong's departure is a matter of great importance. We should hold a grand funeral for him, invite all the lords to pay their respects, and have the Great Snow Dragon Cavalry escort him on his way. This will be an opportunity to demonstrate the formidable military strength of Xuzhou!"

"As long as those warlords aren't fools, they'll give up their covetousness for Xuzhou!"

"That's right!" Qin Xuan's eyes lit up when he heard this. This was a really good idea. First, it would be a legitimate way to inherit Tao Qian's business. Second, it would be a good opportunity to show off his strength and deter those people from having any designs on Xuzhou.

Cola Novels always has a story waiting for you to open.

"Alright, we'll do it your way. Notify the Great Snow Dragon Riders to conduct drills!"

"promise!"

······················

In the winter of 194 AD, on the eighth day of the eleventh month of the Jiaxu year in the lunar calendar, Tao Qian, the governor of Xuzhou, died suddenly due to overwork. Before his death, he appointed Qin Xuan, the general of Xuzhou, to take charge of all military and political power in Xuzhou.

Because Qin Xuan had prepared for this in advance, he was not flustered at all when Tao Qian passed away. He carried out a grand funeral for Tao Qian in an orderly manner, just as previously agreed.

On the day of Tao Qian's funeral, all the people of Xuzhou wore white headbands, the Xuzhou soldiers guarding the city gates were all dressed in white armor, and the city gate towers were covered with white banners.

Outside the city, in a scenic valley, a solemn atmosphere prevailed. The distant mountains appeared and disappeared in the thin mist, as if they too were mourning the guardian of Xuzhou.

Banners hung low, war drums beat dully, and thousands of soldiers from Xuzhou stood in neat formation, clad in plain armor, holding spears, their eyes filled with sorrow.

Sixteen fully armed Snow Dragon Knights stood motionless, carrying the heavy coffin, awaiting the commencement of the funeral.

Qin Xuan, accompanied by his civil and military officials, followed closely behind in two lines. They were all dressed in plain clothes and had solemn expressions.

"Waaaaahhhhhhh!"

As the deep horn sounds, the funeral officially began.

Qin Xuan, as the highest military and political official in Xuzhou, walked slowly to the wooden platform that had been erected beforehand with a heavy heart. He unfolded the prepared eulogy, took a deep breath, and began his personal performance:

"Today, we gather here to bid farewell to Tao Gong, the guardian of Xuzhou. Throughout his life, Tao Gong was an upright and honest official. During his tenure in Xuzhou, he made outstanding achievements and brought great benefits to the people..."

Qin Xuan's voice was deep and powerful, each word like a heavy hammer striking the hearts of everyone present.

He raised his head slightly, his gaze sweeping over the crowd, and continued, "During Tao Gong's reign, he opened granaries to distribute grain and provide relief to disaster victims, sparing the people of Xuzhou from the suffering of famine; he constructed water conservancy projects and developed agriculture, bringing vitality to this land; he widely recruited talented individuals and treated them with respect, making Xuzhou a paradise on earth..."

As he spoke, Qin Xuan's voice trembled slightly, and tears welled in his eyes, as if he were truly heartbroken by Tao Qian's passing: "Lord Tao, though you have departed, your achievements will live on forever. The people of Xuzhou will forever remember your kindness, and your spirit will forever inspire us..."

Seeing Qin Xuan so emotional, the people present were also affected by the sorrowful atmosphere, and they all lowered their heads and wept bitterly.

After reading the eulogy, the Great Snow Dragon Riders carried the heavy coffin and slowly walked towards the cemetery not far away.

"May Lord Tao rest in peace!" Thousands of soldiers from the Great Wall Legion shouted in a powerful voice, the resounding echoes relentlessly assaulting the eardrums of everyone present.

The representatives from various warlords watched this scene with solemn expressions, sensing a strong sense of unity and high morale.

It's not uncommon for soldiers to carry coffins, but what truly shocked them was the soldiers' mental state.

This is definitely not an ordinary army!

The coffin was slowly lowered into the pre-dug tomb, and the soldiers sprinkled handfuls of yellow earth on it, as if paving the way to heaven for Tao Qian.

After the funeral, everyone slowly left, leaving behind only a silent cemetery.

The afterglow of the setting sun shone on the tombstone, seemingly adding a sense of solemnity and tranquility to Tao Qian's departure.