Free Web NovelChapter 1207: Chapter 1189: Decisive Victory
Since Gan Zhuo has already surrendered, naturally he should be put to use. Wang Xuan reports this to the Inspector Mansion while sending two of his men, disguised in Yangzhou Army attire, to seek reinforcements from Jianchang, saying, "Make sure to lure people out from Jianchang City."
Then Gan Zhuo will lead his troops to occupy the empty Jianchang City, while Wang Xuan orders an ambush on the reinforcements from Jianchang halfway.
Wang Xuan seems to trust Gan Zhuo, allowing him to lead mostly Yangzhou Army soldiers, but they both understand this is a test—a chance for Gan Zhuo to show loyalty to Luoyang.
If he can take Jianchang and defect, it would mean a complete break with Jiangnan.
Should he seize the opportunity to return to Jiangnan with his soldiers under the pretense of a feigned surrender, Wang Xuan will only lose a bunch of prisoners consuming food and an undecided Jianchang City.
For Wang Xuan, this is a win-win deal.
Gan Zhuo naturally knows this is his chance to leave. His Assistant General also fears he might change his mind to maintain a good reputation, hinting, "General, even if we return safely with the troops, and Wang Yi takes the blame for losing Wangcai, your enmity with Wang Yi is set, and Wang Dun, being narrow-minded and vengeful, will make it hard for us to live under him."
Gan Zhuo glanced at him and said, "Rest assured, once I’ve chosen Luoyang, I will change my mind wholeheartedly and won’t waver."
He continued, "Don’t forget, I am a Wu person."
Though Gan Zhuo’s ancestry is in Ba Shu, he was born and raised in the Wu Kingdom, with ancestors who also served there.
The Wu Kingdom was destroyed just over thirty years ago, and he isn’t very loyal to the Jin, let alone to King Langya.
After witnessing the people’s approval of the Zhao Family Army, passion ignited in Gan Zhuo’s heart. He felt his chance to accomplish great deeds and realize his ambitions had come.
Perhaps in his lifetime, the world could truly be unified, and the country could be peaceful and prosperous.
Now, Gan Zhuo has begun to pray to the heavens for Zhao Hanzhang to live a long life, to never forget her original aspirations, and to remain as she is.
The letter reached Wang Si Niang, who immediately sent a telegram to Zhao Hanzhang, expressing her readiness to move from Jiangxia County to Lujiang anytime.
Zhao Hanzhang replied, "Deploy your forces forty miles from the border; avoid conflict if possible unless Wang Dun makes a move, then counterattack, but do not escalate the conflict."
"Order Wang Xuan to cease hostilities, and maintain a deceptive posture at Wangcai."
Upon receiving the order, Wang Si Niang: ...
Chief Historian Zhou, too, was dumbstruck, asking, "Why does the Great General hesitate in battle? Is it true, as rumors say, that repairing the Yellow River has stalled the Zhao Family Army?"
"That’s impossible," Wang Si Niang replied, "Though many who repair the Yellow River are engineer troops and miscellaneous soldiers, she has so many elite troops who do nothing but train. How could she not deploy soldiers?"
"Is it for Youzhou?" Chief Historian Zhou whispered, "Could it be that Shi Le truly has rebellious intentions?"
Wang Si Niang’s heart skipped a beat, though her face did not reveal it, comforting him instead, "Perhaps the Great General has other plans. We should just follow orders."
In terms of warfare, ten Wang Si Niangs couldn’t match one Zhao Hanzhang, and despite Zhao Hanzhang being far in Luoyang, with telegraph communications, she is well-informed about the situation here. Wang Si Niang decided to trust and obey her.
Immediately, Wang Si Niang relayed the ceasefire order to Wang Xuan.
In the time it took for back-and-forth communication, Wang Xuan had already tricked a portion of Jianchang’s garrison into leaving. Gan Zhuo successfully captured Jianchang, and Wang Xuan intercepted the reinforcements from Jianchang en route.
With just this battle, he occupied a third of Yuzhang County’s territory and secured Wangcai City, a strategic location, making it difficult for Yangzhou to use Yuzhang as a route to attack Jingzhou.
Wang Xuan completely took over Jianchang City before Wang Yi managed to flee back to Jiankang City. Wang Yi abandoned the city and fled, but news of Gan Zhuo’s surrender reached Jiankang City before he did, so as soon as he entered the city, he was arrested.
Liu Kui detained him at the Ministry of Justice, filing a petition suggesting severe punishment.
Wang Dao remained silent, but Wang Bin and other Wang family clansmen had already contacted several aristocratic families to petition for clemency on behalf of Wang Yi.
Even Zhou Yi spoke to King Langya, "Wang Yi inherently lacks a military general’s talent. This isn’t his fault but rather Wang Dun’s and the Great King’s mistake."
If not for your reliance on him as Wuchang County’s Prefectural Governor, he wouldn’t have made such an error, so Wang Yi is at fault, but your faults are even greater.
He thus believes Wang Yi’s crime does not warrant death; otherwise, if he must die, how should you and Wang Dun deal with yourselves?
What King Langya truly wants is the positions held by Wang family members, not necessarily their deaths. Besides, he rather likes Wang Yi.
So King Langya merely instructed Liu Kui to incarcerate him for a period, to release him once tempers have cooled somewhat.
However, while he may be released, holding office again is impossible. He might seize the situation to remove several people closely associated with Wang Yi.
Just as Wang Yi was arrested, the military report of Jianchang City’s fall arrived.
Even mild-mannered King Langya was instantly filled with murderous intent, "How could it happen so quickly?"
Then everyone realized Gan Zhuo had exploited a time difference. Before Jianchang City knew of Wangcai’s surrender, he pretended to be Wang Yi to dispatch reinforcements from Jianchang. When Jianchang was empty, he feigned escape from Wangcai, missing the reinforcements, and tricked the city gates open...
King Langya fumed, cursing Gan Zhuo as a villain, while condemning Wang Yi’s stupidity, "He actually bypassed Nanchang to escape back, causing delayed information in surrounding towns and leaving them completely unprepared."
Now King Langya would not let Wang Yi off easily.
The conflict must cease deteriorating; if Wang Xuan truly captures all of Yuzhang, he could circumvent Yangzhou to reach Guangzhou, subsequently advancing to seize Poyang County, Linhai County, and Huiji County, cutting off communication between Yangzhou and Guangzhou, and surrounding Yangzhou from the north, west, and south, leaving only the sea to the east, effectively trapping Yangzhou.
King Langya’s heart burned with anxiety, and he immediately sought an audience with Lu Xing and others.
Upon learning of this, Wang Dao sighed and had to remind King Langya, "Great King, this is a war between Jingzhou and Yangzhou. If you question Imperial Censor Lu, won’t you position yourself against the court?"
King Langya snapped back to reality. Whether he wished to admit it or not, he was still a subject of Great Jin. Though he could assert authority in Jiangnan as his own domain, publicly he couldn’t make such declarations.
Moreover, he was currently in a weaker position, unable to confront Jiangbei in battle.
King Langya: "Investigate, find out who plundered Jingzhou’s tax grains! I want to see the embassy."
Who doesn’t know the mastermind behind the plundering of Jingzhou’s tax grains is Wang Dun?
But right now, he isn’t insisting Wang Dun bear this responsibility. As long as Wang Dun finds scapegoats, he’s willing to use them to placate Luoyang’s wrath. This war must cease to continue.
Between Wang Dun and Zhao Hanzhang, he prefers Wang Dun as an opponent, rather than facing Zhao Hanzhang immediately.
They should resolve their internal matters internally. King Langya abandoned using Zhao Hanzhang’s power to suppress Wang Dun.
Even if Wang Dao wished to persuade King Langya to submit to Luoyang, he would never want him to surrender in disgrace; he desired a dignified submission.
King Langya consecutively dispatched three groups of emissaries to Lujiang, pressing Wang Dun to hand over the culprits and make a decision; he also sent two groups to Guangzhou, urging Dai Yuan to quickly bring troops back.
