Free Web NovelChapter 1203: Chapter 1185: Muddy Waters
Yuan Li appeared in their backyard at this time. Aside from Liu Kui and Diao Xie, who were clearly loyal to King Langya, he had quietly interacted with various prominent families in Jiankang City.
If the other party expressed interest in betting on Jiangbei, he would immediately reveal his identity.
Then, those visiting Wang Dao from the elite families would often see Yuan Li coming and going from the Wang Family.
Prominent families: How terrifying, the Yangzhou Governor, the second-in-command of Jiangnan, has close ties with the intelligence chief of Jiangbei; does King Langya know? Will Jiangnan really be okay?
The already murky waters became even murkier.
Wang Xuan’s attack was not fierce, having completely occupied Wuchang County and then pretended to be ready to attack Yuzhang.
Wang Yi also retreated to Yuzhang with his old troops, where he seemed to finally connect the governor and conception vessels, not only resisting Wang Xuan’s attack but also recapturing two lost towns in Yuzhang.
Then the uncle and nephew began a tug-of-war; one city belonged to Wang Xuan today, and Wang Yi retook it tomorrow, two days later Wang Xuan took it back... Meanwhile, Wang Dun defended Lujiang, and Wang Si Niang stationed fifty thousand troops at the border, clearly ready to go to extremes if he dared to send troops.
Adding to this, scouts reported that troops were also assembling in Yiyang County near Yu State, and Wang Dun knew that if he dared to send troops to Jingzhou, the troops from Yiyang County would also move south.
The situation seemed dire, but Wang Dun was not very anxious about this battle; he was more concerned about the situation in Jiankang City.
The military commissioner Dai Miao saw this with worry, thought for a long time, and finally let a confidant discreetly leave the camp to send a letter to his brother.
His brother was Dai Yuan, who had been sidelined to Guangzhou.
In the letter he stated: "... The scouts in Luoyang report that next year the Yellow River may breach. To dredge the Yellow River and build embankments, the court not only widely conscripts labor but also mobilizes the Zhao Family Army."
"According to the scouts, twelve thousand Zhao Family troops were deployed, and Shi Le was discontented due to sea salt fields, with many soldiers drawn from Jizhou and Bingzhou, there may be unrest in the north. He suspects Zhao Hanzhang is currently unable to focus on Jiangnan." Dai Miao wrote, "Since Wang Dao claimed illness and stopped appearing, Wang Dun’s relationship with the Great King has deteriorated, this time he sent people to seize Jingzhou’s tax grains to test Zhao Hanzhang, to see if Zhao Hanzhang would send troops for Jingzhou."
"Half a month has passed since the incident, Zhao Hanzhang only stationed fifty thousand troops in Yiyang County, only letting the Wang siblings send troops themselves, Wang Dun has asserted Zhao Hanzhang currently lacks troops, and has no funds to support a large army moving south. Otherwise, with Zhao Hanzhang’s fierce character, the army would have long moved south to seek accountability, so he is more focused on Jiankang rather than Jiangbei." freёwebnovel.com
"He wants to use this matter to force the Great King to step back, even force Wang Dao to step back," Dai Miao paused here before writing, "If the kingdom had only the Great King, given his character, even if unwilling, under pressure he would retreat, but there is a new emperor in Jiangbei, he is the legitimate ruler."
"Brother, I see Wang Dun is uneasy and likely harbors rebellious intent, if he really raises troops successfully, both of us brothers would find it difficult to work under him, the court will definitely not sit idly by, although Jiangbei is currently poor and its military held by civilian matters, Zhao Hanzhang’s ability means he could rally a million soldiers at his call. Wang Dun foolishly thinks he can divide and govern Jiang like now with Zhao Hanzhang, it is like wishing for the moon."
Having written to this point, Dai Miao finally revealed his purpose: "Brother, the unification of the realm is the trend, previously we worried Zhao Hanzhang might deceive the young emperor, she would also be replaced by later ones, Jiangbei might not be peaceful. But looking today, what is unsettled is Jiangnan, since it is so, why not prepare early?"
Dai Miao copied the letter twice, handing them to two confidants to send to Guangzhou by different routes, "If you encounter danger and feel unable to protect the letters, destroy them immediately, they must not fall into others’ hands, our entire family’s lives depend on this."
The confidants acknowledged and quietly left separately.
Wang Dun was closely monitoring Jiankang’s dynamics, and so was the military, making the comings and goings of scouts frequent, although Wang Dun had tried to restrain them, he could not prevent them from contacting family, so the two mixed among them and quietly departed.
At this moment, Zhao Hanzhang’s Imperial Censor team finally crossed the river and arrived at Jiankang City.
The Angel team led by Lu Xing entered the city escorted by the Yangzhou Army, and handed over to Zhou Yi, then blankly left questioning whether they were envoys from two countries or court angels?
Of course, they were court angels. As long as King Langya did not formally proclaim himself emperor and declare independence, he remained a minister of Great Jin, Lu Xing and others were appointed by the court, hence they were angels.
So after discussing with Wang Dao, King Langya met Lu Xing and others in the mansion. At this time, they silently hid the palace where King Langya resided, in front of them only calling it Prince Mansion.
Lu Xing also pretended not to know Jiankang City had tacitly accepted this place as the palace city, treating the mansion as Prince Mansion, and considered King Langya as a Great Jin secondary vassal king. freēwebnovel.com
He came to investigate the case of Yangzhou Army attacking Jingzhou and seizing court tax grains.
He told King Langya: "To seize court tax grains is tantamount to rebellion, I believe the Great King is not such a person, perhaps it is the people under him acting recklessly, hence must clarify the culprits to restore the Great King’s innocence."
He hoped King Langya would recall Wang Dun and related personnel, as they needed to question them face to face.
King Langya: ... If he could recall Wang Dun, the chaos in Jiangnan would have already been settled.
Now don’t mention him, even Wang Dao couldn’t recall Wang Dun.
Wang Dao sent two letters, yet Wang Dun did not return, instead he argued with Wang Dao across the distance.
At this point, both sides knew Wang Dun was out of control, if he were to come back, King Langya would most likely put him to death.
If asked now whom King Langya most wanted to kill, it would certainly be Wang Dun.
King Langya looked at Lu Xing, wanting to send them to Lujiang to find Wang Dun yet afraid they might go.
The thought was to offload the responsibility and let them handle it themselves, the fear was because Wang Dun might kill the Angel team on a whim.
If there was still room to turn around after seizing tax grains, then killing angels would leave no way back. Once Zhao Hanzhang sent troops, she wouldn’t solely target Wang Dun, she would definitely aim at the whole of Jiangnan.
King Langya had a headache, upon weighing options, he followed Liu Kui’s advice, ordered Dai Yuan to bring troops back from Guangzhou to take over guarding Yuzhang from Wang Yi, and removed Wang Yi from the position of Wuchang County Prefectural Governor, demanding him to return to Jiankang for investigation.
When Wang Dun learned of this, he protested to Jiankang, harshly criticizing Liu Kui as treacherous, "Changing generals during battle is a great taboo, Wang Yi may have shortcomings, but should not be switched now, Liu Kui’s actions are dressing Jiangbei for marriage, he likely has connections with Jiangbei."
And he sent a letter to Yuzhang, demanding Wang Yi to hold firm and not yield Yuzhang to Dai Yuan.
The news of Yuan Li being treated as an honored guest by Yang Qing and others led them to think: Chuzhong, oh Chuzhong, you surely didn’t expect even your brothers to have connections with Jiangbei, Liu Kui yet to...
The water had been murky, Yuan Li’s actions and the arrival of the Angel team made it murkier, Wang Dao felt increasingly unable to control the situation and had to consider the suggestion Yuan Li once made.
