Free Web NovelChapter 1204: Chapter 1186: Seeking Secrets
Three months ago, when Wang Dao locked himself in his home, he had already made his decision. He had failed, and there was no longer a place for him in Jiangnan.
If he continued, he and King Langya would truly be on opposing sides, which was the last thing he wanted to see. So, he softened his stance and decided to return home with Yuan Li’s help.
Indeed, he didn’t want to go to Luoyang, nor did he want to get involved in the battle between Zhao Hanzhang and King Langya. Deep down, he already knew that Zhao Hanzhang would win in the future, but there could be many people to defeat King Langya, and it couldn’t be him.
It was he who suggested King Langya cross south, and it was he who helped King Langya establish power in Jiangnan. He didn’t want to destroy it with his own hands, so he wanted to return home.
The road ahead was long and the complicated situation in Jiangnan prompted much thought. He had been pondering all this time, and until he found the answers he wanted, he didn’t want to serve in office again.
Yet after just three months, he broke the vow he had set in his heart.
In response, Yuan Li laughed, "Vows are meant to be broken and then re-established with new ones."
Wang Dao didn’t find this joke amusing; it was even somewhat distressing, yet he still gently retorted, "A scholar never jokes about his vows. Naturally, General Yuan would not understand."
Yuan Li, with a hint of a smile, said, "I am a martial man, indeed I don’t understand. But I know that those I brought out, I must bring each one back. If I can’t bring them back alive, even if they are burned to ashes, I have to take them home. The mess one makes, one must clean up themselves. Mr. Wang has the great talent to govern the world, surely you know this?"
Wang Dao felt a sharp pain in his heart at that instant. This was why he had been suffering for these three months, unwilling to see anyone. He planned to leave it all behind; it seemed like he was forced to leave due to failure. But wasn’t he just being timid and cowardly, shifting this mess to King Langya, to Wang Dun, to the many noble families who fled to Jiangnan like him?
Even the local noble families found their lives messed up by them.
Yuan Li noticed his complexion change, his lips turned pale. He felt a moment of regret. If Wang Dao were an enemy, he would certainly add a blow to make sure Wang Dao was in extreme pain, but sadly now they were reluctantly considered allies, and Yuan Li didn’t want to provoke him.
Yuan Li switched the topic and asked, "Mr. Wang, can’t you really recall Wang Dun? I think King Langya doesn’t want a conflict with him, and our lady doesn’t wish to campaign against Jiangnan at this time. It’s just right that the Angel Corps is here, why not call him back, and let the three parties sit down face to face to negotiate and quell the war?"
Wang Dao’s expression slightly eased, he lowered his eyes and said, "I will do my best to urge him."
Yuan Li advised again, "Mr. Wang, you suggested crossing south back then because there were years of war in Jiangbei, and moving south was to preserve the spark of hope. Now that Jiangbei is stable, why not persuade King Langya to return to the court?"
Although Wang Dao’s heart had wavered, he still emphasized, "King Langya has never rebelled, always prioritizing the court."
Yuan Li responded with a slight curve of his lips, "That would be ideal, indeed."
But how the actual situation was, both parties knew well in their hearts.
Although it was the same response as before, Yuan Li still noticed his softened attitude compared to before.
Yuan Li’s mind was filled with tumultuous thoughts. After leaving, he couldn’t suppress his excitement and went back to his private residence, immediately sending a telegram to Zhao Hanzhang to tell her that Wang Dao had wavered, and they could try to persuade him to convince King Langya to return.
King Langya and Wang Dao had some similar traits; for example, they were both gentle and not very bold. Thus, when Wang Dao held power briefly, his idea was to make Jiangnan spin faster and better, according to his own design.
His struggle for power was for the sake of realizing his vision without obstacles, and he never thought of going against King Langya or the Jin Dynasty.
King Langya was the same; although he was forced into a difficult position, he never thought about exterminating the Wang clan as a sacrifice to heaven.
As for Wang Dun, he was bold, with an arrogant nature. Even when the Jiangnan situation had not stabilized, he started to eliminate dissidents, and with power in hand, he immediately wanted to advance further.
His private meeting with Guo Pu was hidden from the world, but not from him.
Yuan Li’s heart stirred. Although he learned about Guo Pu’s divination on King Langya and Wang Dun from the Great General, since it was done, there must be some trace.
Did Wang Dao and King Langya know about Wang Dun’s private meeting with Guo Pu? freēwēbηovel.c૦m
If they didn’t know before, and now they do?
Especially King Langya, he sent Guo Pu north to foresee the fate for the Great General. But Guo Pu escaped and sought refuge with the Great General in Luoyang.
Guo Pu didn’t say if the mandate of heaven was with the Great General, but his actions showed his choice. Isn’t that the mandate of Heaven?
Hahaha, with this, can King Langya still persist?
Yuan Li immediately ordered all his spies to find a way to identify those present during Wang Dun’s meeting with Guo Pu. It didn’t matter if they overheard the conversation; just following the people who were with Wang Dun that day was enough. He could infer the conversation himself, and, as Guo Pu was in Luoyang, who knows better than the parties involved what was said that day?
These matters were for Yuan Li to arrange. He only needed to deliver the results to Zhao Hanzhang.
Upon receiving his telegram, Zhao Hanzhang pondered briefly and ordered Wang Xuan to speed up the attack and instructed Wang Si Niang to send some personnel to manage the captured cities.
This meant holding the cities without continued back-and-forth struggle.
Wang Si Niang received the telegram first, then sent the military orders to Wang Xuan swiftly by horse, and simultaneously began selecting officials to go to Yuzhang. With winter arriving, war would certainly create many refugees, so she straightforwardly announced in schools across the counties of Jingzhou to recruit students to the frontline to placate the refugees.
Additionally, she requested aid from Yu State.
Zhao Ming readily agreed, ordering that students from Yiyang County, Ru Nan Country, and Nanyang Country could go to Jingzhou to help, adhering to the principle of voluntariness, and with the respective county governments dispatching troops to escort and protect them.
Those who went to help in Jingzhou would earn additional credits.
Upon the announcement, it was met with a wide response.
Because every region had radio stations, Wang Si Niang could directly communicate with Zhao Ming, who then issued an announcement and sent it promptly to each county by fast courier.
Wang Xuan received the order and the next day commanded a fierce attack on Wangcai. This time, he even used the stored gunpowder to bombard the city gates.
However, the walls of Wangcai were very sturdy, and even gunpowder could not blow them open, but it still frightened the Yangzhou Army in the city to the point of discarding their weapons.
General Gan Zhuo was also stunned. He grabbed the panicking Wang Yi firmly and said in a deep voice, "Where does the Prefectural Governor intend to go? County Magistrate Zhou has already dispatched reinforcements, we just need to hold on for two days."
Yuzhang’s Prefectural Governor Zhou Fang was now in Nanchang, already mobilizing troops. Gan Zhuo had calculated that the reinforcements would arrive in three days at the latest, typically in two, unless Zhou Fang purposefully delayed.
But based on his knowledge of Zhou Fang, the latter wouldn’t do that.
