After the emperor was captured, the world seemed like a pot of boiling water, steaming and roiling. All the demons and monsters that had once lain quietly at the bottom of the pot surfaced with the churning water.
The people of this world—the vast majority of commoners were like duckweed in the water, passively drifting with the waves, rootless and helpless, with no choice.
A small portion of people could choose their allegiance, either pledging loyalty to the Xiongnu, going to Jiangdong to serve the newly emerged Prince of Langya, or going to Yuzhou to join Zhao Hanzhang.
Even fewer people chose to create their own camps, making themselves the ones to be chosen.
Sima Rui was a distant member of the imperial clan, not of Emperor Wu’s bloodline. Apart from Wang Dao and Wang Dun, not many people supported or recognized him.
The whereabouts of the Prince of Yuzhang, the Prince of Qin, and the Prince of Xindu were still unknown. Although they were young, they were Emperor Wu’s own grandsons with closer bloodlines. When the time came, selecting the most intelligent one to support would suffice.
Most importantly, Zhao Hanzhang hadn’t spoken yet.
So although Sima Rui’s proclamation had been issued, few people answered the call.
Wang Dun then led a large army, departing from Jianye to campaign upstream against rebels and refugee armies, establishing prestige for Sima Rui.
Yuzhou paid them no attention. While Zhao Ming sent people to search for surviving members of the imperial clan, he also continuously provided Zhao Hanzhang with officials capable of both governing territories and fighting in battles.
Zhao Hanzhang advanced triumphantly all the way, fighting directly to the outskirts of Pingyang City.
Shangdang Jun, Pingyang Jun, and even most of Guangping Jun had been taken by her. She now had no time to deal with the changes in Jiangdong.
The power there was beyond their reach anyway, so although Zhao Ming was displeased with Sima Rui’s emergence, he wouldn’t waste manpower and resources on him.
However, Wang Dun and Wang Dao wanting Jingzhou to submit to Sima Rui was going too far.
After brief consideration, he issued a proclamation in Zhao Hanzhang’s name, calling on righteous warriors throughout the world to aid the Jin court and rescue the emperor.
The proclamation reached Jingzhou, and under Wang Siniang’s orchestration, the people were filled with righteous indignation, rolling up their sleeves to enlist and march north to fight the Xiongnu and rescue the emperor.
The emperor’s and Zhao Hanzhang’s prestige in Jingzhou grew even greater. The scattered rebel groups, hearing that the Zhao family army didn’t withhold provisions, immediately ceased their rebellion. They transformed on the spot from rebels to righteous militia, running to the local county offices to find the magistrates, saying they had come to join the northward campaign against the rebels.
They hoped they could bear the Zhao surname.
The county magistrates weren’t fools. They naturally knew these people’s origins, but… between rebelling in Jingzhou and going north to fight the Xiongnu, they naturally chose the latter. So they turned a blind eye, pretending not to know. They accepted these people, then sent them to Jiangling’s Inspector’s Office, where provisions were distributed and generals assigned to lead them north.
This move directly blocked Wang Dun’s retreat. He had wanted to use suppressing rebel armies as an excuse to enter Jingzhou. Now that wasn’t possible. He could only send letters notifying Wang Siniang and Wang Meizi that the Great Alliance Leader summoned them to jointly discuss resistance against the rebels.
Of course, Wang Dun was still in Lujiang at this time, far from Jingzhou, so the letter arrived first.
Wang Meizi frowned as he finished reading the letter and asked Wang Siniang, “Should we go?”
Right in front of him, Wang Siniang tore the letter to pieces, her expression blank. “No!”
She was Zhao Hanzhang’s person, only taking orders from Yuzhou. Sima Rui proclaimed himself Great Alliance Leader—did that mean he could order her about? They were both inspectors. As Inspector of Xuzhou, what right did he have to interfere with her, the Inspector of Jingzhou?
Wang Meizi looked at the letter she had torn up, speechless for a long moment. “Even if you’re not going, you didn’t need to tear it up. I still need to reference it to reply to Uncle.”
Wang Yifeng said coldly, “Why bother replying? Just have his messenger go back and tell him that greedy, glory-seeking people aren’t qualified to speak with me.”
Wang Meizi: …
Wang Yifeng said indignantly, “Although I didn’t personally go to Yuncheng, I know he promised to send troops to help His Majesty.”
“He can hold his position as Inspector of Guangzhou—first, because Hanzhang mediated; second, because His Majesty was magnanimous. Even Gou Xi stepped back. By any measure, he should have shown some gratitude in return, shouldn’t he?” Wang Yifeng continued, “Yet when he returned to Guangzhou, he actually took people and resources and fled. He’s even promoting some prince as Great Alliance Leader.”
“He doesn’t even look at himself. With Hanzhang around, what is Sima Rui worth?” Wang Yifeng said, “In Yuncheng those few days, he didn’t even have the qualification to pay respects to Hanzhang.”
Wang Meizi: “… Not exactly. He didn’t go to avoid suspicion. Which member of the imperial clan would dare to pay respects to Zhao Hanzhang in front of the emperor and Gou Xi?”
Wouldn’t they fear the emperor and Gou Xi suspecting collusion between him and Zhao Hanzhang to change the heavens and earth?
Wang Yifeng didn’t care. She had always disliked Wang Dun anyway.
She used to only dislike Wang Cheng, but now it seemed Wang Dun was just as detestable. “Father’s judgment has been consistently poor. Both people he chose are no good.”
Wang Meizi had a headache and changed the subject. “Who do you want to lead the army north?”
Wang Yifeng said, “I want you to go, Brother.”
Wang Meizi was startled. “Me?”
Wang Yifeng nodded. “The northern territories are in chaos. I’m somewhat worried about Luoyang and concerned for Second Sister. You can lead the army directly to Luoyang for support and also look after Second Sister.”
Wang Meizi thought about it and found he wanted to go too. If he could join forces with Zhao Hanzhang to recover the lost territories and completely stabilize the north, that would be even better.
So he nodded. “Can you manage here alone?”
Wang Yifeng said, “How would I be alone? There are so many people in the office.”
She paused, then added, “Besides, there’s still Second Uncle.”
Wang Cheng was their actual uncle, different from their clan uncle Wang Dun. Although the uncle and niece didn’t see eye to eye, they still had some familial feeling.
Especially since Wang Cheng shared the same views as Wang Yifeng on certain matters.
For example, they both supported answering the summons to march north against the Xiongnu and rescue the emperor.
Even Jingzhou, controlled by the Wang clan’s younger generation, didn’t respond to the Prince of Langya’s summons. Others paid even less attention.
Wang Dao had no choice but to personally persuade Wang Yifeng.
Wang Yifeng wasn’t afraid of this uncle. She immediately engaged in a written debate with him, arguing that given the Prince of Langya’s prestige, he wasn’t qualified to assume the position of Great Alliance Leader. Right now, only Zhao Hanzhang in the entire world had that qualification.
With the emperor captured, the urgent priority was to find other members of the imperial clan. Zhao Hanzhang should take the lead in selecting a Crown Prince, then focus on rescuing the emperor.
Whether considering Yuzhou’s geographical position or Zhao Hanzhang’s power and prestige, she was the most suitable person to be Great Alliance Leader. The Prince of Langya’s reputation was insufficient to command the world.
If you don’t believe it, just look—who’s willing to heed his summons now?
Wang Dao fell silent and stopped debating with her. Instead, he began contacting the local aristocratic families of Jiangdong, first persuading them, then borrowing their influence to build momentum for the Prince of Langya.
On the other hand, he had Wang Dun continue campaigning against rebels and refugee armies to ensure the safety of the upstream territories from Jianye.
While they were breaking their heads trying to secure the position of Great Alliance Leader, Zhao Hanzhang had already joined forces with Fu Tinghan and written letters to Liu Kun, Wang Jun, and others, asking them to march together against the Xiongnu.
Although she didn’t have the title of Great Alliance Leader, she was acting with its authority.