Since Gan Zhuo had already surrendered, he would naturally be put to use. Wang Xuan reported this matter to the provincial governor’s office while having Gan Zhuo send out two men. They would change into Yangzhou army uniforms together with Wang Xuan’s men and go to Jianchang to request aid. “You must lure out the people from Jianchang city.”
Then Gan Zhuo would lead troops to occupy the empty Jianchang city, while Wang Xuan would have other men ambush the reinforcements from Jianchang along the way.
Wang Xuan seemed to trust Gan Zhuo greatly, as the men he sent with him were basically all from the Yangzhou army. But both parties knew this was a test and an opportunity for Gan Zhuo to demonstrate loyalty to Luoyang.
If he could capture Jianchang and submit, he would be completely severed from Jiangnan.
If he took this opportunity to lead these soldiers back to Jiangnan, claiming he had feigned surrender and then escaped, Wang Xuan would merely lose a group of prisoners consuming rations and a Jianchang city he hadn’t yet captured.
For Wang Xuan, this was a deal where he couldn’t lose.
Gan Zhuo naturally knew this was his chance to leave. His deputy general also feared he might reconsider to preserve his good reputation, so he hinted repeatedly, “General, even if we safely lead the soldiers back, the blame for losing Wangcai will be borne by Wang Yi. But you’ve already made an enemy by trying to kill Wang Yi. Wang Dun is narrow-minded and bears grudges—it will be very difficult to live under him.”
Gan Zhuo glanced at him and said, “Rest assured. Since I’ve already decided to choose Luoyang, I will wholeheartedly change my allegiance and won’t waver.”
He added, “Don’t forget—I’m a Wu person.”
Though Gan Zhuo’s ancestral home was in Ba-Shu, he was born and raised in the state of Wu, and his ancestors had also served as officials in Wu.
Wu had only been destroyed some thirty years ago. He wasn’t that loyal to Jin, and if he felt this way toward Jin, how much less toward the Prince of Langya?
After witnessing the common people’s acceptance of the Zhao family army, a fire had kindled in Gan Zhuo’s heart. He felt his opportunity to establish achievements and realize his aspirations had come.
Perhaps in his lifetime he could truly see the realm unified, the nation peaceful and prosperous.
Now Gan Zhuo was already praying in his heart for heaven to let Zhao Hanzhang live long and not forget her original intentions, remaining always as she was.
When the letter reached Wang Siniang’s hands, she immediately sent a telegram to Zhao Hanzhang, indicating that she was prepared here and could attack from Jiangxia Commandery to Lujiang at any time.
Zhao Hanzhang replied, “Only deploy troops forty li from the border. Don’t engage unless absolutely necessary. If Wang Dun strikes first, then counterattack, but do not expand the warfare.”
“Order Wang Xuan to cease warfare and hold Wangcai, only making feints of attack.”
Wang Siniang who received the order: …
Chief Zhou was also completely bewildered, asking, “Why does the Grand General shrink from battle? Could it really be as the rumors say—that repairing the Yellow River has held up the Zhao family army?”
“Impossible,” Wang Siniang said. “Those repairing the Yellow River are mostly engineer troops and auxiliary soldiers. She has so many elite troops in her hands who don’t even farm normally, only train—how could she not deploy military forces?”
“Then is it because of Youzhou?” Chief Zhou said in a low voice, “Could it be that Shi Lei truly has rebellious intentions?”
Wang Siniang’s heart skipped a beat, but her face showed nothing. She reassured him instead, “Perhaps the Grand General has other plans. We should simply obey.”
In terms of warfare, ten Wang Siniangs weren’t a match for one Zhao Hanzhang. Though Zhao Hanzhang was far away in Luoyang, with the telegraph she understood the situation here very well. Wang Siniang decided to trust and obey her.
Wang Siniang immediately transmitted the order to cease warfare to Wang Xuan.
In just this back-and-forth time, Wang Xuan had already sent men to trick out part of Jianchang’s garrison. Gan Zhuo successfully captured Jianchang, while Wang Xuan ambushed the reinforcements from Jianchang on the road.
With just this one battle, he occupied one-third of Yuzhang Commandery’s territory and held the strategic location of Wangcai city. It would now be difficult for Yangzhou to attack Jingzhou through Yuzhang again.
Only after Wang Xuan had completely occupied Jianchang city did Wang Yi flee back to Jiankang city. The news of Wang Yi abandoning the city and Gan Zhuo’s surrender reached Jiankang one step ahead of him, so as soon as he entered the city, he was arrested.
Liu Kui detained him in the Court of Judicial Review and submitted a memorial requesting severe punishment.
Wang Dao said nothing, but Wang Bin and other Wang clan members had already contacted several aristocratic families to submit memorials pleading for Wang Yi.
Even Zhou Yi said to the Prince of Langya, “Wang Yi originally had no talent as a military commander. This is not his fault, but rather the fault of Wang Dun and Your Highness.”
If you hadn’t promoted him to be Wuchang Commandery Governor despite his lack of ability, he wouldn’t have made such an error. So Wang Yi did wrong, but your error is even greater.
Therefore, he believed Wang Yi’s crime didn’t warrant death—otherwise if he had to die, how should you and Wang Dun deal with yourselves?
What the Prince of Langya wanted were the positions occupied by Wang clan members, not necessarily their deaths to settle accounts. Moreover, he actually quite liked Wang Yi.
So the Prince of Langya only had Liu Kui imprison him, letting him sit in jail for a while until everyone’s anger dissipated somewhat before releasing him.
However, while release was possible, holding office again was impossible. He could even use this matter to replace several people close to Wang Yi.
As it turned out, Wang Yi was arrested on the front foot, and news of Jianchang city’s fall arrived on the back foot.
Even someone as gentle as the Prince of Langya felt murderous intent surge in an instant. “How could it be so fast?”
Then everyone learned that Gan Zhuo had exploited a time gap. When Jianchang didn’t yet know of Wangcai’s surrender, he falsely used Wang Yi’s name to have Jianchang send reinforcements. While Jianchang was empty, he pretended to be fleeing from Wangcai and, missing the reinforcements, deceived his way through the city gate…
The Prince of Langya was furious, cursing Gan Zhuo as a base villain on one hand while resenting Wang Yi’s stupidity on the other. “He actually avoided Nanchang to flee back here, causing the surrounding cities to have delayed information with no defense whatsoever.”
Now the Prince of Langya was unwilling to easily forgive Wang Yi.
The warfare couldn’t deteriorate further. If Wang Xuan truly occupied all of Yuzhang, he could bypass Yangzhou to reach Guangzhou, and could also encircle and occupy Poyang Commandery, Linhai Commandery, and Kuaiji Commandery. By then, cutting off communications between Yangzhou and Guangzhou and other areas, with north, west, and south all surrounded and the east facing the sea, Yangzhou would be completely wrapped up like a dumpling.
The Prince of Langya’s heart burned as if on fire. He immediately wanted to meet with Lu Xing and the others.
When Wang Dao learned of this, he sighed and had to remind the Prince of Langya, “Your Highness, this is warfare between Jingzhou and Yangzhou. If you question Censor Lu, aren’t you placing yourself in opposition to the court?”
The Prince of Langya suddenly came to his senses. Whether he was willing to acknowledge it or not, he was still currently a subject of Great Jin. He could occupy Jiangnan as his own power base, but he couldn’t say so openly.
Moreover, he was currently weak and couldn’t defeat the north.
The Prince of Langya said, “Investigate! Find those who plundered Jingzhou’s tax grain! I want to meet the delegation.”
Who didn’t know the mastermind behind plundering Jingzhou’s tax grain was Wang Dun?
But he didn’t necessarily need Wang Dun to bear this responsibility now. As long as Wang Dun found a few people to take the blame, he was willing to use them to pacify Luoyang’s anger. This battle couldn’t continue.
Between Wang Dun and Zhao Hanzhang, he was willing to choose Wang Dun as his opponent rather than face Zhao Hanzhang right now.
They would resolve their internal matters internally. The Prince of Langya gave up on using Zhao Hanzhang’s power to suppress Wang Dun.
Though Wang Dao wanted to persuade the Prince of Langya to submit to Luoyang, he wouldn’t have him surrender in disgrace. He wanted everyone to submit with dignity.
The Prince of Langya sent out three groups of messengers to Lujiang, forcing 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.
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