Thank you to Nora7 for the ko-fi~ ♡⸜(˶˃ ᵕ ˂˶)⸝♡
In just one month, Wang Dun’s mighty army breached the Shuo City. This place was a crucial fortress on the western outskirts of Jianye, merely a stone’s throw away from the royal capital. Urgently, Emperor Sima Rui summoned Liu Kun, Dai Yuan, Diao Xie, and others to lead the forces against the invaders, but one by one, they were defeated by Wang Dun. Witnessing the defeat of the six armies, the emperor found himself helpless, and Wang Dun, rather than immediately advancing to occupy Jianye, opted to hold firm in Shuo City, unleashing his forces to pillage in all directions. The imperial court officials were shocked, and in panic, they scattered in all directions.
Seeing no other option, Sima Rui had to humble himself and seek peace with a lowered stature, dispatching Wang Dao to persuade.
The two brothers met again, but it was no longer as it used to be.
“Has Sima’s boy already set his heart on removing my Wang Clan from power? Maohong, are you still going to protect this man?” Wang Dun, upon seeing Wang Dao, was filled with anger.
Previously, he had defended Wang Dao in a memorial, but Sima Rui showed no intention of listening, instead appointing his own trusted aides like Yu Liang. It was precisely because of this that Wang Dun had made up his mind to attack Jianye. Now, with Sima Rui unable to resist, his own cousin dared to speak up. Did he value the Sima family more than his own?
Looking at his infuriated cousin, Wang Dao sighed softly, “At this moment, conquering Jianye and seizing the throne is on your mind. But have you considered if, in the future, someone would treat my Wang Clan in the same way?”
These words left Wang Dun somewhat speechless. Yes, they, as brothers, were the contributors to the establishment of Sima Rui, but now, within a few years, the desire for usurpation arose. Once he ascended the throne, how many would harbor ambitions, eyeing rebellion?
Seeing that Wang Dun seemed to be pondering his words, Wang Dao continued, “You always think that the position of the Nine-Five is incomparably noble, but do you know what year it is now? Perhaps in the future, when the Northern Army marches south, the first one to lose his life would be the one seated on the throne. Moreover, the conflicts between the North and South bring trouble, the people suffer, rebellions are frequent, and the state treasury is already depleted. Taking this throne, can it truly bring prosperity to the Wang Clan? Most likely, in the end, not even a complete corpse would be left.”
Although these words made sense, Wang Dun angrily retorted, “If we retreat now, will that Sima boy spare us? When you are expelled from the center, and I am deprived of military power, won’t my Wang Clan still be at the mercy of others? Sima Rui must not be allowed to stay! Changing emperors would be better than today!”
Wang Dao remained expressionless and suddenly asked, “How does our situation compare to Emperor Xuan?”
It was neither a denial nor an affirmation but the mention of a person – Jin Xuan Di, Sima Yi.
Even if Sima Yi was exceptionally talented and ambitious, he had never made a move during his lifetime. It was precisely this restraint that allowed the Sima family to replace the Cao family in ruling. Now, the Wang Clan could already “share the world” with the Sima family, so why expose themselves to a disadvantageous position?
Wang Dao was an outstanding and eloquent scholar. In just a few words, Wang Dun hesitated, pondering for a long time before saying, “Today is not comparable to the previous dynasty. The Central Plains are lost, the capital has moved south, and those willing to align with the Sima family are far fewer than those who supported the Cao family in the past. The Liang rebels even dared to establish their own state in the northern lands, causing countless unrest. How can I dare to underestimate the situation?”
This statement is not entirely wrong. Nowadays, the southern regions are a mix of various forces, and it’s unclear how many harbor ulterior motives. Just a single Zhao state threatens the Sima family’s rule. At this moment, if a true retreat is chosen, can the position of the Wang Clan be preserved?
However, Wang Dao stood firm, “Hasty actions will ultimately lead to disaster.”
After staring at his cousin for a while, Wang Dun finally relented, “Fine. I can temporarily step back, but the position of Prime Minister must be in my hands.”
As long as Wang Dun was willing to take this step back, things could be negotiated. Wang Dao breathed a sigh of relief, “I will return to the court and report to His Majesty.”
Will Sima Rui agree? This question was not within the considerations of the two brothers. The Wang Clan would not easily relinquish power, and as for the method of usurpation, that had to be carefully discussed.
A few days later, an imperial edict arrived. Sima Rui appointed Wang Dun as the Prime Minister, the Governor of Jiang County, and granted him the title of Duke of Wuchang. Seeing the emperor concede, Wang Dun confidently led his troops into the capital. Subsequently, he ordered the execution of Dai Yuan, Zhou Yi, and Diao Xie, and drove Liu Kun to Jiuzhen. For a moment, the court of Jin was in turmoil. Faced with such a stubborn powerful figure, many began to contemplate their future.
※
“Another city has surrendered.” Opening the memorial and reading this news, Liang Feng smiled faintly.
Wang Dun’s rebellion had indeed shaken the state of Jin. Several cities along the Huai River, no longer able to bear the pressure, chose to surrender to the Great Zhao.
There was really no other way. The emergence of Wang Dun, a powerful minister, made the prominent families see the current situation clearly. The prestige of the Wang Clan had surpassed that of the Sima family. If Wang Dun truly ascended the throne, those who had once aligned themselves with the Sima family would undoubtedly face purges. Those who had migrated to the northern lands or were rooted in the Jiangdong region might be spared, but those on both sides of the Huai River had to make decisions quickly.
On one side was expanding territories and reclaiming lost lands; on the other, internal turmoil and the dominance of powerful ministers. How to choose? There was no need for further discussion. Therefore, surrendering cities and joining the mainstream became the trend in recent days, and with it, the number of people crossing the river also increased by thirty percent.
As for Wang Dun’s rebellion, historically it might not have happened. But in this alternate timeline, it’s hard to say. After all, with him setting an example, the original dissent might indeed grow stronger, turning Jiangdong into a different scenario.
This is the result Liang Feng most hopes for. The Southern Expedition is inevitable, but the later, the better. Not only does the North need to be pacified, but enough strength must also be accumulated to march south. He wants a war of annihilation, not another Red Cliffs.
Therefore, compared to Jiangnan, the Shu region is much more important for the current strategy. However, Yi County, where Shu is located, is currently occupied by the Di people led by Li Te, making it not an easy target. It’s better to first pacify the surrounding areas before slowly considering it.
Contemplating the established strategy, Liang Feng was flipping through memorials. When he saw a name, he suddenly stopped. Huan Yi? He wasn’t familiar with this name, but among the Huan clan in Eastern Jin, there weren’t many with the surname “Huan.”
“Have someone check where this Huan Yi comes from? Does he have any offspring?” Liang Feng ordered.
Soon, someone reported back. Huan Yi is from Longkang in Qiao State, the ninth-generation grandson of the renowned Confucian scholar Huan Rong from the Han era. He is exceptionally talented in academics, skilled in profound discussions, and is known as one of the “Eight Masters of Jiang County.” Due to Wang Dun’s rebellion, he and his family have defected to the Great Zhao. Currently, he only has one young son named Huan Wen.
“Huan Wen…” Liang Feng smiled. This was indeed a well-known figure.
It seems that Huan Yi can also be highly valued. The son reflects the father. Just like Xie Kun and Xie Pou, both of them excel in learning and knowledge. No wonder the Xie family in Chen County could rise unexpectedly, being on par with the Wang Clan and giving birth to charismatic figures like Xie An. However, in comparison, Liang Feng prefers Huan Wen a bit more. After all, during the Eastern Jin era, generals daring to lead a northern expedition were not so common.
As for ambitions, even if they can’t be contained by Eastern Jin, they might still be useful. Perhaps this child could be a talented assistant to Rong’er.
Apart from this child, there’s Xie Shang from the Xie family, the unborn Xie An, and Wang Meng, whose fate may depend on the fluttering wings of a butterfly. Heroes from all over the world end up in my grasp, but that’s about it. As long as these people grow up successfully, Rong’er, and even Yu’er, won’t lack outstanding ministers and generals.
However, these individuals are still young. There is also one more person to be left for Rong’er…
※
In the night-shrouded Shiqian Hall, it was even colder and more desolate than during the day. Leaning on the imperial couch, Liang Feng suddenly spoke, “To stabilize the world, it may take another ten years. I wonder if I can live to see that time…”
“My lord is in the prime of his life. Why speak such words?” Yiyan turned sharply, grabbing Liang Feng’s hand tightly.
Liang Feng flicked his fingertips, holding the other’s palm, “Just a sudden thought. I am six years older than you, after all, and I might depart this world a step ahead.”
He was now nearing his forties, even if well maintained, fine lines appeared at the corners of his eyes, and his physical and mental energy declined each year. On the other hand, the person in front of him had a clean jawline, a firm posture, and showed no signs of aging except for a dignified aura, still full of youth. This difference might grow with each passing day. Even if he were to die a natural death, he might not live longer than the person in front of him.
“If my lord were to pass away, I would bury myself with you!” Yiyan held Liang Feng’s hand tightly, speaking with determination.
“Nonsense!” Liang Feng sat up and put on a stern face, “Life is precious; how can one discard it for others? Even if I become an incompetent ruler, it’s impossible to let my loyal general die with me!”
“Without my lord, how can I live alone?” Yiyan’s breathing became heavy. Over the years, with the lord busy with state affairs, his health had deteriorated. Seeing him become thin and exhausted, Yiyan couldn’t help but feel anxious. This thought had circulated in his mind countless times. Even when the imperial tomb began construction two years ago, he dared not look at it too much.
Watching the man’s persistent expression, Liang Feng sighed softly, “This realm is the anchor of my entire life. If I were to depart first, I want you to guard it for me, help Rong’er firmly establish himself on the throne.”
The succession of the throne is crucial for a dynasty. Therefore, the choice of loyal ministers is a matter of great importance. He needed someone to help Liang Rong control the military, consolidate power, and win the hearts of the people. This person could only be Yiyan. It must be Yiyan.
“My lord will surely live to a ripe old age, why think about these things now?” Yiyan’s voice choked in his throat, “Isn’t it still another ten years before everything is settled? My lord can establish some gardens, build a palace, deal with fewer memorials every day, engage in hunting and boating, listen to music, and enjoy dances. There are courtiers in the court and generals on the front lines; they can share your worries.”
Liang Feng couldn’t help but smile wryly, “You’re suggesting idleness. This is not the action of a loyal minister.”
“Then I won’t be a loyal minister! As long as my lord is in good health…” Yiyan wanted to say more, but Liang Feng had already opened his arms, embracing him, “Don’t panic. I’m still fine. But if that day comes, I want to wait for you in the grave. Wait for you to tell me that the country is stable and a prosperous era is beginning. This is something we both worked for, and it should be guarded by both of us…”
The body in his arms, as in the past, was soft yet resilient, like pine and bamboo, seemingly unbreakable. Yiyan didn’t want to promise, didn’t want to agree, didn’t want to let him go. But if that day truly comes, he won’t disappoint his lord.
Feeling a faint pain in his chest, Yiyan closed his eyes, leaning against the other’s shoulder. The two of them, like birds, nestled together, necks intertwined.
