Zhao Shi didn’t linger in battle. After scattering this military force, he immediately turned and headed in another direction.
At this time, Wang Dun, stationed in Hefei, had just met with the spies and received intelligence from Jiankang.
Wang Dun let out an enraged roar, furiously smashing everything in the room in his rage, “Sima Rui, shameless incompetent wretch!”
Why, why would he rather give Jiangnan to Zhao Hanzhang than take one step back toward him and kill that troublemaker Liu Wei to quell his fury?
Wang Dun felt the Prince of Langya was utterly foolish, and couldn’t help resenting Wang Dao. He clearly had the ability to help him in Jiankang, to advance the entire Wang clan further, yet his temperament was like a sheep’s—he’d rather help the suspicious Prince of Langya than help him.
After venting his rage, Wang Dun quickly calmed down and asked the spy, “How many Zhao family troops crossed the river?”
“When this subordinate departed, nearly one hundred thousand had already landed, but about half remained on the opposite shore. Therefore we estimate around two hundred thousand.”
As for the exact number above or below, they didn’t know.
Wang Dun had someone bring the map. Standing before it, his mind automatically replaced the Prince of Langya’s territories on the map with Zhao Hanzhang’s markers, calculating—if he continued with his original plan to attack, what were his chances of taking Jiankang and capturing Yangzhou?
He thought and thought, overturning one battle plan after another. Wang Dun couldn’t help slamming his fist on the table in frustration, “Zu Di, Zu Di—he blocks my recovery of Yangzhou.”
If it were someone else leading the troops, he might still have a chance to contend with Zhao Hanzhang. But Zu Di—his chances of victory were greatly reduced.
Whether in the original course of history or now, he was very wary of Zu Di. Historically, he only dared raise troops in rebellion after Zu Di’s death, because he knew that after Zu Di died, no one in all of Great Jin could match him militarily.
But now Zu Di was alive and well, while his own power was relatively much weaker. This uprising was completely being forced into it, with no choice.
Though Wang Dun’s innards burned with rage, he was still decisive, “Conscript troops, gather provisions. We’re heading south to Guangzhou!”
The advisors were alarmed and hurriedly said, “But Yuzhang Jun is currently controlled by Wang Xuan and Dai Yuan. We likely can’t pass through.”
“Then fight through,” Wang Dun said, “Zu Di’s immediate priority is taking over the Jiankang area and absorbing the Prince of Langya’s forces. He won’t move that quickly. We have at least ten days to relocate.”
He continued, “Take Yuzhang within ten days and occupy Guangzhou to resist the north across the region.”
Guangzhou—barbarian lands. Though lacking the natural barrier of the Yangtze like Jiangnan, the geographical and cultural environment was even more complex. Surviving there wouldn’t be easy, governing even harder.
The advisors could already imagine the challenges Wang Dun would face after reaching Guangzhou, and the confrontations and attacks from multiple forces.
Seeing their faces full of trepidation, Wang Dun knew they were resistant, so he softened his tone to reassure them, “Though Guangzhou is remote, it’s not without merit. There are towering mountains and steep ridges capable of blocking the Zhao family army’s attacks.”
“We need only hold out for three months. Zhao Hanzhang’s national strength is severely depleted, and she’s currently repairing the Yellow River. We originally calculated she wouldn’t dare expend civilian labor to deploy troops at this time, but she has deployed—then it certainly won’t last long, or provisions won’t suffice,” Wang Dun said, “So we only need to endure three months. With spring plowing imminent, she’ll have to withdraw. When that time comes, we only need to subjugate Guangzhou’s barbarian tribes.”
The Guangzhou region at this time was very extensive, including southern Hunan, eastern Guizhou, and the Guangdong-Guangxi areas. There were many ethnic minorities, mostly self-governing by tribe. Among them, the two most populous minorities in Guangdong-Guangxi were called Li people and Lao people by the court, collectively known as Li-Lao.
The Lao people were ancestors of later Zhuang and Dong ethnic groups among others, sharing the same language family. They were quite fierce, currently mostly self-governing. Forget Wang Dun—even Dai Yuan, despite having the Prince of Langya’s appointment, had to use conciliatory strategies in Guangzhou, or the Li-Lao wouldn’t submit to his rule.
The advisors compared Wang Dun’s personality as exposed these past two years and all felt he probably couldn’t subjugate the Li-Lao. Those Li-Lao were fierce in character—yielding when faced with weakness, strengthening when faced with strength. Wanting Wang Dun to play the subordinate first…
If he could play subordinate, would he have escalated matters with the Prince of Langya to this point?
But having boarded the pirate ship, it was hard to disembark. They could only take one step at a time. They immediately became active, first conscripting able-bodied men for military service, then dispatching people to collect provisions.
The common people of the Hefei area immediately suffered terribly. Having their grain forcibly requisitioned, they could still go out to wander and beg—as long as they retained their land, after enduring half a year there would be a new harvest. They could always find ways to survive. But having people conscripted meant losing everything.
So the common people of the Hefei area wailed to the heavens. Some fled into the mountains to avoid conscription, while others simply broke their own legs, hoping to escape military service.
Just as more and more people were choosing self-mutilation to avoid conscription, Wang Dun’s long-sealed information finally spread among the populace: “The Zhao family army has come, the Zhao family army has reached Hefei—”
Wang Dun had actually learned the day he received the Jiankang spies’ intelligence that the army he’d sent to attack Zhongli County had been picked off by the Zhao family army.
Afterward he lost track of the Zhao family army, only receiving word again when they ambushed his grain collection and conscription teams in Dangtu County.
The provisions were seized, the newly conscripted soldiers released, the veteran soldiers beaten and let go, and the leaders executed. After news spread, Huainan Jun under Wang Dun’s occupation trembled in fear.
When military units went out again to collect grain and conscript soldiers, they became much gentler, not daring to be too aggressive.
Thus, before the main Zhao family army even arrived, just Zhao Shi’s surprise cavalry unit of two thousand had won Zhao Hanzhang the hearts of Huainan Jun’s people.
The commoners didn’t dare make noise outside but secretly erected Zhao Hanzhang’s memorial tablets in their homes, praying for the Zhao family army to quickly recover Huainan Jun and drive Wang Dun away.
Having just placed incense, outside came the sounds of chickens squawking and dogs barking. Before they could reach the door to investigate, the wooden door was kicked open with one foot. Three to five soldiers wielding large sabers entered, loudly shouting, “By order, collecting grain provisions. Your household has six people—you must submit one shi and two dou of grain. There’s also a seventeen-year-old youth who must enlist.”
Because it was winter with nothing to do in the fields, the family of six was staying home for the winter when they were suddenly shocked. After recovering, they quickly explained, “The day before yesterday we already paid military tax once and paid money to offset conscription…”
“Last time was last time, this time is this time. This is the second grain tax collection. Hurry and hand it over—don’t make us search ourselves!”
The old man nearly collapsed in tears, “There’s no more grain. What little remains is for winter use, barely enough to survive. If you take it, you’re killing us.”
The old man stepped forward, extending both hands toward them, “Otherwise take me instead—consider it offsetting some grain tax.”
“Bah! Half a foot already in the coffin—take you to war or to die?” The soldiers felt they’d been gentle enough—if it were before, they wouldn’t waste so many words. They’d just rob upon entering. But they still didn’t appreciate it, so they’d have to resort to force.
His gaze swept the room, and one soldier quickly grabbed a youth, “He’ll do for conscription. Now go fetch the grain.”