Liu Kun and Sima Rui had once studied together in Luoyang. He was friends with both Sima Rui and Wang Dao, though compared to them, he got along better and drank more readily with the forthright and unrestrained Wang Dun. In his view, both Sima Rui and Wang Dao were too soft. However, he had always admired Wang Dao’s wisdom.
He didn’t treat Sima Rui as a great king occupying Jiangnan, but still as a distant branch prince of the Jin court.
Liu Kun had this confidence. So upon seeing Sima Rui, he bowed with cupped hands and asked with a smile, “Is the Great King breaking off friendship with Maohong?”
The Prince of Langya quickly asked, “Why does Yueshi say this?”
“As soon as I entered the city, I heard you were forcibly keeping Maohong in the residence, hence my question.”
The Prince of Langya hastily explained, “It’s only that Maohong is unwell, so I’ve kept him in the residence to recuperate. There’s no intention of house arrest.”
“You could have a physician escort Maohong home, and it would be best to have the carriage take a circuitous route through the streets so the common people of Jiankang can see. This would also settle people’s hearts,” Liu Kun said. “If Maohong knows his safety concerns people’s hearts and can stabilize the situation, he would certainly be willing to take this trouble for the Great King.”
The Prince of Langya forced a smile. “How could I let Maohong take such a risk? He should rest quietly now.”
Liu Kun shook his head. “I know your friendship is deep, but you shouldn’t let private feelings override public duty. If this matter leads to greater trouble, it’s not what Maohong would wish. If he bears this blame for nothing, wouldn’t that be worse for his condition?”
The Prince of Langya’s lips pressed tight. He could only turn to order his attendants, “Go invite Administrator Wang. Tell him Administrator Liu has come to visit and requests an audience.”
The adviser acknowledged and left. Just then, Liu Yu entered. Having heard a few words, he hurried in. “Great King, why release Wang Dao?”
He continued, “Wang Dun has ignored your summons and secretly sent people into Jiankang City. Clearly he harbors rebellious intentions. At this time, you should seize the Wang clan to threaten Wang Dun, ordering him to return to the city. If he doesn’t comply, kill the Wang clan to establish your authority. How can you release Wang Dao at such a time?”
After speaking, he glared at Liu Kun, thinking he had beguiled the Prince of Langya. “Wang Dun privately dispatched troops to plunder Jingzhou’s grain tax. Luoyang wants to punish him. Our Great King is wholeheartedly trying to capture this criminal for the court. Why does Your Excellency speak for Wang Dun instead? Is this out of old sentiments? I wonder if this is Your Excellency’s own intention or Zhao the Great General’s instruction?”
Liu Kun wasn’t afraid of him. Instead, he asked, “Wang Dun committed crimes—what does that have to do with Wang Dao? Plundering grain tax is a heinous crime, but it doesn’t warrant implicating the entire clan. As I understand it, Wang Dao has always counseled and prevented Wang Dun from rebelling. Shouldn’t the Great King commend and reassure Wang Dao? Why would you want to kill him instead?”
The Prince of Langya: “…I have no intention of killing him. I’m keeping him in the residence to recuperate.”
Liu Yu was deeply disappointed. The Prince of Langya’s determination to seize power was not firm. They were already at a disadvantage. If he remained irresolute, this battle would be even more unwinnable.
Whether facing Wang Dun or Zhao Hanzhang, the Prince of Langya would lose.
Then what was there to fight for?
They might as well surrender early.
Surrendering to Wang Dun was impossible. Given Wang Dun’s character, he would certainly kill him. He only had one path—Zhao Hanzhang.
As the thought arose, he felt deeply grieved.
Liu Kun paid no mind to the monarch and minister with their conflicting thoughts. He had his own rhythm. “Great King, I’ve come to Jiangnan as an envoy for Great General Zhao. I wish to request that Your Highness and your family enter the capital. First, to have an audience with His Majesty; second, regarding your return to your Langya fief.”
The Prince of Langya hadn’t expected him to be so direct. His expression changed several times before he hastily made excuses to refuse.
Liu Kun sighed and asked, “Does the Great King insist on remaining in Jiangnan because you believe you can occupy it and rule across the river from the court?”
The Prince of Langya said awkwardly, “I have no such intention.”
“That’s for the best. Unifying the realm is the great trend. Since the Han dynasty, the realm has been divided and war-torn. Only after Emperor Shizu unified the realm was there brief stability. I am a descendant of the Great Han, but for the peace of the realm and its people, I’ve never thought to covet this imperial throne. I ask the Great King also to prioritize the common people of the realm.”
Liu Kun was someone who greatly valued face. He was very afraid of people bringing up his status as a Han descendant, fearing the Jin court would think he harbored disloyal intentions.
But that he cared so much about this—wasn’t it also for the greater cause and the stability of the realm?
Otherwise, in this era when anyone could proclaim themselves emperor on a whim, if he wanted to advance further, with his bloodline and prestige, he could certainly rally many to his cause.
But he had never thought to do so, and even actively prevented those around him from thinking this way.
He hoped the Prince of Langya could let go of his obsession and consider more for the common people of the realm, abandoning the idea of dividing the country.
Since Zhou, only the Han dynasty had a unified government lasting more than a hundred years. The Qin dynasty lasted only two brief generations. Wei never achieved complete unification. And Jin—so far only forty-five years.
Liu Kun nominally pledged loyalty to Jin, but he wasn’t a fool. How could he not see that the fate of this realm rested entirely on Zhao Hanzhang’s single thought?
If she wanted to be like Duke Cao, she would support the young emperor and extend Jin’s dynasty.
If she wanted to be like Cao Pi, she would find an opportunity to usurp the throne.
For the people’s sake, Liu Kun actually leaned toward the second option.
Directly changing the regime—everything would be new, and there would be much less conflict. With the first option, Duke Cao had already shown future generations through his own experience that young emperors would eventually grow up. When the time came for them to take personal control of government, the struggle between both sides would certainly be significant. Liu Kun was truly tired of changing emperors every few years.
Moreover, although the Sima family was prolific, most were already dead. If the young emperor died without leaving descendants, there was only one legitimate cousin left to inherit. After him, it would truly fall to the Prince of Langya’s branch.
But he couldn’t say any of this. Who told him to always wear the skin of unwavering loyalty?
It didn’t matter though. He could just substitute Zhao Hanzhang for the young emperor.
Liu Kun lavishly praised the young emperor, telling the Prince of Langya that the emperor was very intelligent—extremely intelligent, exceedingly intelligent. He was currently studying statecraft with several great Confucian scholars and legalist experts at court. Great General Zhao even occasionally sought out recluses from the mountains to teach him.
Besides this, he participated in state affairs daily. Great General Zhao greatly respected him. Whenever there were national matters, she had him sit in, and would even ask his opinion.
Accumulating such experience until he came of age, he would certainly be able to take government power from Zhao Hanzhang and rule personally. So even for Great Jin’s sake, you should return to Luoyang to assist the new emperor, rather than occupying Jiangnan and making things difficult for the new emperor.
The Prince of Langya was completely dazed.
Liu Yu beside him wanted to speak several times but held back. He very much wanted to agree, but thinking of his own situation, he swallowed his words.
The atmosphere became somewhat stagnant. Fortunately, Wang Dao arrived.
Liu Kun turned to assess Wang Dao. Seeing his complexion was still good, he breathed a great sigh of relief and asked, “I heard Maohong has private dealings with Yuan Li. Do you know where he is now?”
Wang Dao glanced at the Prince of Langya before saying, “He was captured by Wang Dun.”
Liu Kun frowned and said to the Prince of Langya, “Great King, that Yuan Li may be a crude general, a petty man, but the Great General relies heavily on him. If she learns Yuan Li was captured by Wang Dun, she won’t let this rest. And you haven’t formally broken with Wang Dun—everything he does, in Luoyang’s eyes, appears to be at your instruction.”
“So please, Prince of Langya, list Wang Dun’s crimes and formally arrest him.”