Zhou Yi was very compliant, but Zhou Chong was angry. He couldn’t help but complain: “When you were in Luoyang, you were a renowned scholar who could stand equal with Zhao Changyu. Why are you now mixing with the likes of Wang Bin?”
Zhou Yi was indifferent.
Zhou Chong grew even angrier and asked: “Must Wang Ying be saved? Hosting banquets and drinking during his father’s mourning period, even killing officials—this kind of person dares call himself a filial son? Although Liu Kui is a petty man, Wang Ying doesn’t deserve to be saved.”
Only then did Zhou Yi sigh: “Zhongzhi, I’m not saving Wang Ying. I’m saving the Prince, saving us. Don’t you see? Wang Dun, because Maohong has been neglected, is at daggers drawn with the Prince. If he doesn’t come out to preside over the situation, the south will descend into chaos on its own before Zhao Hanzhang even crosses the river.”
Zhou Chong stopped in his tracks, his brows furrowed tightly: “Would Wang Dun actually dare to rebel?”
Zhou Yi replied: “In this age, what is impossible?”
Having experienced so much, Zhou Yi felt that even if heaven and earth merged again into chaos, he would find it possible. Wang Dun raising troops in rebellion was merely that—what was impossible about it?
“Wang Dun is stubborn and brutal. If he’s not appeased and controlled soon, he will definitely rebel,” Zhou Yi said. “And the only person who can control him is Wang Dao.”
He paused before continuing: “If we delay further, his power will grow greater and his dissatisfaction with the Prince will increase. By then, even Wang Dao won’t be able to control him.”
During these months of Wang Dao’s seclusion, Wang Dun had been quite active, winning over many people.
If Wang Dao wanted to resign, those short-sighted people would lose direction, spinning like headless flies. Wang Dun only had to beckon, and they would follow.
How foolish. This world didn’t consist of only the south and southeast regions. In the north, Zhao Hanzhang had more power than anyone and won the people’s hearts. Believe it or not, as soon as the south descended into chaos, she could reap the benefits as a fisherman.
Did Wang Dun really think that after rebelling against the Prince of Langya, he could reign supreme here and divide the river with Zhao Hanzhang?
Don’t forget, Jingzhou was also in Zhao Hanzhang’s hands.
No, wait—the Governor of Jingzhou was Lady Wang Si, also from the Wang clan. If she betrayed Zhao Hanzhang, Jingzhou would belong to Wang Dun…
Zhou Yi’s heart chilled. In that case, it might actually be possible.
Zhou Yi grew somewhat anxious. He didn’t want Wang Dun and Zhao Hanzhang to divide the river between them. The realm should still be unified—otherwise, how much suffering would the common people endure?
Zhou Chong seemed to know what his brother was thinking and couldn’t help asking: “Brother, do you think the Prince of Langya can unify the realm?”
Zhou Yi said: “The Prince of Langya may not be able to, but the Heir Apparent certainly can.”
The Prince of Langya’s heir, Sima Shao, was only one year older than the young Emperor. But he was very intelligent and shrewd, and also benevolent, with far-reaching vision. Though young, Zhou Yi felt he was already superior to his father, the Prince of Langya.
Zhou Chong was a contrarian who especially loved arguing with his brother. Hearing this, he asked: “What about Zhao Hanzhang? Can’t she do it?”
Zhou Chong didn’t necessarily think Zhao Hanzhang could—he just couldn’t help but take the opposite position when he heard his brother favor Sima Shao.
This time Zhou Yi’s silence lasted very long, so long that Zhou Chong almost thought he wouldn’t answer. “That depends on whether Zhao Hanzhang becomes arrogant and changes.”
How many heroes fell short by just this final step, becoming complacent after gaining great power with no one left to restrain them? By then, all their achievements would be undone by their own actions.
That’s why Zhou Yi still felt that someone from outside the ruling clan was too dangerous and needed to change their imperial surname. In contrast, Sima Shao bore the surname Sima—the transition to him would carry much less risk.
Zhou Chong originally didn’t think Zhao Hanzhang could succeed, but seeing his brother so supportive of Sima Shao, his brain began racing. Then he said: “The Heir Apparent is too young. The north is already stable. In as little as two years or as long as five, Zhao Hanzhang will certainly be able to move south.”
The brothers walked shoulder to shoulder on their way home, still wanting to debate further, when they heard urgent cries: “Urgent military report! Urgent military report—”
Zhou Yi and Zhou Chong stepped aside. A mounted rider galloped past them toward the Jiankang palace.
The brothers exchanged glances, both panicking. They turned and headed toward the palace. Could it be that Zhao Hanzhang couldn’t even wait two years and was attacking now?
Zhou Yi thought darkly: In the end, she became arrogant and complacent. The north had just experienced such brutal warfare and locust plagues—had the common people even caught their breath this year?
Zhou Yi could enter the palace, but Zhou Chong had no official position allowing palace entry. Seeing his brother looking at him longingly, Zhou Yi spoke favorably with the palace guards and managed to bring his brother in as well.
The Prince of Langya still quite liked Zhou Yi. Moreover, the military report he had just received had severely shaken him, so he directly allowed the brothers to enter.
Then the Zhou brothers learned the contents of the military report.
Heavens—had Zhao Hanzhang finally lost patience and struck?
But why attack only from Jingzhou? Shouldn’t she attack from the north, west, and east simultaneously?
Zhou Yi narrowed his eyes, instinctively sensing something was wrong. If Zhao Hanzhang intended to use military force against Yangzhou, she wouldn’t attack like this, would she?
Although Wang Xuan had consecutively taken four cities in Wuchang Commandery, only Wang Xuan had sent troops. Though Yuzhou and Xuzhou were separated from them by just a river, there shouldn’t be no movement at all, right?
At the very least, from Jingzhou she could still attack by water route. That was upstream, the gateway to Yangzhou. Sailing downstream to strike at the heart—who could stop such a sudden attack?
Zhou Yi immediately asked the messenger: “On what grounds did Jingzhou attack Yangzhou?”
The military report didn’t specify, but the messenger actually knew. He said: “Jingzhou claimed that Wang’s army seized tax grain.”
The Zhou brothers: …
Zhou Chong asked with wide eyes: “So, did Yangzhou’s army really seize it?”
The messenger nodded very honestly: “They did, but Jingzhou’s reinforcements arrived quickly, so they only managed to take half.”
Zhou Chong: Ugh, he wished they had taken it all.
He turned to look at his brother. Like this, who else would they attack if not you?
Zhou Yi had nothing to say and looked toward the Prince of Langya sitting above.
The Prince of Langya was both grieved and indignant. He had known nothing about this matter! After Wang Han’s failed attempt at sowing discord, the Prince of Langya had been lying low, precisely to avoid Zhao Hanzhang settling accounts with him. He’d have to be mad to provoke her.
Zhou Yi said to the Prince of Langya: “Your Highness, please have Maohong come forward to persuade Wang Dun, then explain clearly to Luoyang. For the lost tax grain, we are willing to compensate at market value,” he paused before continuing, “double.”
The Prince of Langya immediately grew suspicious. Could it be that Wang Dun’s action was meant to force Wang Dao to come out and regain dominance?
So what if it was? Could the Prince of Langya refuse at this moment?
Thinking of Wang Dun’s lack of control, the Prince of Langya’s heart burned with fury. He could only force himself to remain calm and said: “I must trouble Boren to make this trip and entreat Maohong to return to court.”
Zhou Yi sighed. The outcome seemed good, but the rift between the two appeared even greater. Could the Wang clan and the Prince of Langya truly still coexist?
Zhou Yi acknowledged the order, bowed, and withdrew.
Zhou Chong came to his senses and hurriedly followed his brother out of the palace.
When they reached a deserted place, he asked: “Brother, do you think Wang Xuan and his sister can still reconcile with Wang Dun?”
Zhou Yi remained silent.
—