When Zhang Zhao saw Qiao Jingjing, he made no attempt to hide his helplessness and dislike.
"Today, the Dowager Lady summoned me for a meeting. I'm afraid the women in Lord Wu's quarters might not have heard it properly."
Qiao Jingjing said that she had something important to discuss with Zhang Zhao.
Zhang Zhao snorted.
“You, a woman, want to discuss important matters? First of all, don’t come to me with your farming stuff, I don’t want to hear about it! If you want to talk about those things, go find Zhu Zhi and the others, and let the Prefect of Wu County arrange it for you.”
Zhang Zhao was being unreasonable and argumentative.
Zhu Zhi went to fight the Yue tribes.
It will take at least ten days to two weeks for them to come back.
Qiao Jingjing said it wasn't about farming.
"Does Zhang Zibu remember Xu Gong?"
Zhang Zhao knew about Xu Gong from Qiao Jingjing's mention of him.
He's investigating right now.
When Xu Gong was driven out of Wu Commandery by Zhu Zhi, he immediately went to seek refuge with his friend Yan Baihu. Yan Baihu was later defeated by Sun Ce, who also killed Yan Baihu's younger brother Yan Yu.
Yan Baihu and Xu Gong fled together and hid with Xu Zhao.
Sun Ce did not continue the pursuit at that time because he appreciated Xu Zhao's character.
"Speaking of Xu Gong, we must mention Xu Zhao. The governor of Wu Commandery at that time was Sheng Xian, and Xu Gong worked with Sheng Xian. Xu Gong was an ambitious man."
When Sheng Xian fell ill, Xu Gong, in order to gain absolute control over Wu County, persecuted Sheng Xian on several occasions.
Sheng Xian hid in Xu Zhao's house and escaped the disaster.
Later, Zhu Zhi captured Wu County, and Xu Gong was driven away.
Xu Zhao once fought against Xu Gong to protect his former master, Sheng Xian, demonstrating his loyalty and righteousness. Yan Baihu was also an old friend of Xu Zhao's; Xu Zhao helped his old friend, and in turn, Yan Baihu took in Xu Gong.
Speaking of Xu Gongyan, Baihu, and Xu Zhao.
Zhang Zhao felt somewhat regretful.
"My uncle was a man of great loyalty and affection; he didn't go so far as to kill them all. It's a pity, he raised a tiger that will eventually become his own enemy."
Even after Xu Gong lost power, he did not give up.
Now, seeing that Sun Ce's relationship with Cao Cao is getting closer and closer, Xu Gong is secretly trying to trip him up.
Of course, his purpose was obvious to everyone: he wanted to take the opportunity to reclaim Wu County.
"Xu Gong followed Yan Baihu in hiding, writing to Cao Cao and the Han court many times to express his stance. He said that Bo Fu was the bravest in the world, and if Bo Fu's power was allowed to grow, it would eventually become a great threat to the court and Cao Cao. Xu Gong even proposed to summon Bo Fu to the capital by imperial decree."
Zhang Zhao had recently intercepted these letters and materials from Xu Gong.
Even he himself felt extremely angry after seeing it, let alone how Sun Ce would feel if he saw it.
Zhang Zhao said to Madam Wu:
"If Xu Gong's memorial succeeds, it will give Cao Cao a reason to summon Bo Fu to the capital, and Bo Fu will certainly not obey the summons."
For Bo Fu as a whole, this was tantamount to immediately and openly breaking with the Han Dynasty court.
Within Jiangdong, warlords and generals would rebel against Bofu on imperial orders, plunging the six commanderies of Jiangdong, which had already been unified by Bofu, back into division. Xu Gong could then profit from this.
After listening to Zhang Zhao's analysis, Madam Wu frowned.
Qiao Jingjing's approach was very simple.
"Now that the letter has been intercepted and the evidence is conclusive, and given that Xu Gong is a treacherous and ruthless man whose plot to harm his superiors is despicable, it would be better to kill him."
Qiao Jingjing was about to say something about murder.
For a moment, Zhang Zhao wondered if Qiao Jingjing had lived with Sun Ce for some time and had picked up some of Sun Ce's impetuousness from back then.
Zhang Zhao looked at Qiao Jingjing.
"You've made a special trip here today to listen to my discussion with the Grand Madam, is it just to say this?"
Qiao Jingjing said that this was exactly what she wanted to say.
"Not only should we capture Xu Gong, but we should also capture those around him, Yan Baihu, Xu Zhao, and all those scoundrels. We cannot let them go."
Qiao Jingjing bit Xu Gong to death.
"Investigate! We must investigate! No matter if Xu Gong and Xu Zhao are hiding with Yan Baihu or with some other influential person, under someone else's protection, we cannot let them go! Trust me. Xu Gong is such a cancer; he will always be a scourge to Jiangdong."
Zhang Zhao looked at Qiao Jingjing, this petite young woman.
Then look at Madam Wu.
On the innocent-looking face of the middle-aged man was an expression that seemed to say he had already guessed what was going to happen.
You didn't believe me back then, but look, Da Qiao is interfering in Wu Hou's foreign affairs like this. It's all because your family spoiled her.
"You can continue talking about your silkworm farms, fish and shrimp. As for the matter of offering tribute, I will discuss it with Bo Fu. If Cao Cao also has this idea, then Bo Fu will be in a difficult position."
Speaking of Cao Cao, he had this idea.
What's difficult about it?
Qiao Jingjing has already let go of all inhibitions.
"It's normal for Xu Gong to have such thoughts. In chaotic times, people will stop at nothing to fight for food and territory. Getting rid of him will solve everything."
Even with Cao Cao, peace is only temporary. Cao Cao simply can't afford to entangle himself with us for long right now because he's evenly matched with Yuan Shao, whose military strength surpasses his.
Cao Cao had to resort to another method to control Sun Ce.
For example, by taking advantage of Emperor Xian of Han's authority.
Speaking of Emperor Xian of Han's majesty.
Qiao Jingjing suddenly realized that she shouldn't have stopped Sun Ce back then.
If Cao Cao wanted to use Emperor Xian of Han's name to control Sun Ce, summoning Sun Ce to Emperor Xian's side to keep him under surveillance and restrict him, then Sun Ce would have preemptively welcomed Emperor Xian to Jiangdong. This method was a counterproductive approach.
Sun Ce did nothing wrong.
Qiao Jingjing suddenly realized something and felt quite regretful.
She was ultimately shallow.
If Cao Cao wanted to restrict Sun Ce by using the name of Emperor Xian of Han, Sun Ce also had a way to circumvent it.
All you need to do is continue to present memorials to Emperor Xian of Han to show your loyalty and sincerity, offer gifts to Cao Cao, and submit a memorial stating directly that there are still mountain bandits causing trouble everywhere in Jiangdong.
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