Free Web NovelChapter 1213: Chapter 1195: Persuasion (Part 2)
Jing Wen was Sima Rui’s courtesy name. He and Wang Dao shared a childhood friendship, born in the same year, and at the height of their bond, they had promised to die on the same day when intoxicated with wine. Since their journey south, Wang Dao no longer called him by his courtesy name and always addressed him as the Great King.
But at this moment, Sima Rui was already oblivious to the disrespect, grabbed his hand, and asked, "You want to return to Langya?"
Wang Dao’s tears rolled down, and he sobbed, "I would rather be a stranger to the Great King than become enemies with Jing Wen. Returning home to live in seclusion is the best path."
Historically, if it weren’t for the war-ravaged Northern Land, with no home to return to, Wang Dao wouldn’t have stayed in Jiankang, subject to King Langya’s suspicion and coerced by Wang Dun. Ultimately, the best of friends and confidants became enemies and strangers, with King Langya passing away in despair, and though he helped elevate King Langya’s son, partially fulfilling the envisioned future with King Langya, even at his death, he was not without regret.
Sima Rui was a person of emotion, and seeing Wang Dao cry like that, he couldn’t help but shed tears too. He clutched Wang Dao’s hand tightly and choked out, "Why has it come to this? Why has it come to this?"
The two faced each other in tears for a long time.
Wang Dao wiped his tears and said, "Great King, I dare not hide it from you. Wanting to counter-attack Jiangbei from Jiangnan is no longer possible. It’s better to be proactive, return to Luoyang, and unify the realm."
King Langya looked troubled and asked, "If I don’t attack Jiangbei but rather govern across the river with Zhao Hanzhang, then?"
Wang Dao shook his head, "Zhao Hanzhang will not allow it, she now has a ready excuse. The grain tax case in Jingzhou, though orchestrated by Chuzhong, you can’t question his guilt, and the world will think you commanded him. She can use the name of the court to send troops to Jiangnan."
King Langya gritted his teeth and said, "Then if I acknowledge Luoyang as the main authority, can I independently hold Jiangnan like Cheng Country?"
Wang Dao paused in silence and still shook his head.
King Langya puzzled, "Why not?"
At that time, Jiangnan was not yet the prosperous land of later years; its development lagged far behind the peaceful era of the Central Plains, and the Wu-Yue region was seen as only slightly more civilized than barbarians by the Central Plains people.
At least in King Langya’s heart, the status of Yangzhou was far inferior to Xuzhou, but Xuzhou had already been swept over by Zhao Hanzhang, and his return could claim no more than a piece of Langya County for an estate.
He wished to hold the entire Yangzhou as his estate, and if possible, ultimately view Guangzhou from Yangzhou, realizing the dream of governing across the river.
Wang Dao said, "Before, perhaps such discussions or delays could be made, but now it’s not possible."
King Langya looked puzzled.
Wang Dao then mentioned Yuan Li’s activities in Jiangnan, where he was captured by Wang Dun when his private residence was broken into.
"Zhao Hanzhang is kind but protective, and if she learns of this incident, she won’t let it go easily."
King Langya found himself dumbfounded, stammering, "Chi Long has always been in contact with Jiangbei’s spies?"
Wang Dao did not hide it, nodding, "I wanted to use their power to return home, and they were happy to estrange me from the Great King, causing the Great King to lose my support. So even if I was unwilling to serve Zhao Hanzhang, they were still willing to help me."
King Langya: ...
Wang Dao urged him, "Great King, you must make a decision early. Zhao Hanzhang has a skill that can transmit sound over Qianli. What happened today in Jiankang City, she will know by tomorrow at the latest."
Zhao Hanzhang had always strictly ordered the protection of the radio and its secrets, but given how many knew and used it, it’s impossible to keep all leaks at bay.
Thus, Wang Dao and King Langya, although never having seen the so-called Divine Artifact, knew that they indeed had methods for fast communication.
Occasionally, they would doubt in their hearts whether such a thing truly existed in this world, suspecting Zhao Hanzhang of deliberately creating confusion.
At this moment, King Langya couldn’t help but speculate once more, yet he swiftly pressed down his doubts, pondering seriously, "This matter was Wang Dun’s doing, if I were to hand over Wang Dun..."
Wang Dao: "Can the Great King subdue Chuzhong?"
King Langya was at a loss, hesitated for a moment before saying, "I am willing to take him down together with General Zhao."
Wang Dao: "In doing so, Zhao Family Army will have an excuse to enter Yangzhou. At that time, can you still stop Zhao Family Army? If not, the situation in Jiangnan will change. Since it’s all returning, why not take the initiative and keep your dignity intact?"
Anyway, Jiangnan can’t be preserved.
But this too was a significant defeat.
King Langya’s heart filled with discomfort.
Wang Dao’s earnest persuasion didn’t work, so he stood up to take his leave.
King Langya called to him, "The sky is late, let Mao Hong stay in the palace for now."
Wang Dao looked up at the shining sunlight, his lips trembled, silently bowed, and complied.
Wang Dao was kept in the palace, Wang Yi was still held in prison, and Wang Bin, after sending off Wang Dun’s men, seeing the situation, simply took the willing clansmen and quietly left Jiankang to join Wang Dun.
But the majority of Wang Clan members refused to leave, let alone serve Wang Dun.
Wang Dao’s cousin Wang Sui led over twenty sons and nephews to kneel outside the palace gates, pleading for forgiveness, hoping King Langya would release Wang Dao, and even sought Zhou Yi’s help in pleading.
Zhou Yi did not respond to him, coldly told him to leave, and hurriedly went into the palace, telling King Langya, "Great King, Wang Dao has always been loyal and steadfast, he would definitely not betray, he is not like Wang Dun, who is arrogant and reckless."
King Langya sighed, "I know, I keep him in the palace to tell Zhao Hanzhang that I have no intention of being enemies with Jiangbei. I am wholly unaware of the Yuan Li incident."
Zhou Yi replied, "Then you should not distance yourself from Wang Dao, Yuan Li was in close contact with Wang Dao during his time in Jiankang, Zhao Hanzhang would definitely suspect because of your actions."
King Langya plaintively looked at Zhou Yi, "So, even Bo Ren knows about Yuan Li’s activities in Jiankang City?"
Zhou Yi: "Other than Liu Kui and a few others, who doesn’t know this?"
Upon hearing this, King Langya felt chilled to the bone.
Is this the sign of a gone era?
Before he could hesitantly reach a conclusion, Liu Kun arrived.
Separated by a single river, he should have arrived long ago if it weren’t for the gifts he brought for King Langya.
Imperial Censor Lu and others met Liu Kun earlier than King Langya’s people. Once they met, Imperial Censor Lu immediately said, "General Yuan was captured by Wang Dun. Please urge Governor Liu to retrieve him alive, no matter the means, he must be brought back."
Without some pressure, King Langya couldn’t make up his mind.
As for what would happen to Yuan Li after he was retrieved, Imperial Censor Lu couldn’t worry about it at the moment, but it was indeed a rare opportunity.
Liu Kun was initially surprised, "How could Yuan Li be here?"
Then angrily, "What is Wang Dun doing? Though Yuan Li is an insignificant person, he is still a court official; he acted wantonly once, is he now scheming to harm officials?"
Imperial Censor Lu said, "King Langya is indecisive; please persuade him, Governor Liu, if his forces are insufficient and can’t take Wang Dun, the Great General can assist."
Quickly agree for them to dispatch troops to take down Wang Dun.
Liu Kun didn’t grasp the deeper implications for a moment, thought his proposal was fine, nodded his agreement, and then immediately headed to the palace with Jiankang City’s officials, or rather, to the Prince Mansion to see King Langya.
Arriving at the front gate, he raised his eyes to the sign above and spoke to the officials beside him, "I hear people outside call this a palace, but clearly it’s a misrepresentation. The sign says Prince Mansion, showing the Great King has not forgotten his duties."
The receiving officials could only nod in response, what else could they say?
