Du Tao was also dissatisfied with the land Wang Siniang gave, so he led people to the Poyang Lake area to make a living. They felt the land around Poyang Lake was better for farming and wanted to settle there.

Wang Siniang even negotiated with the Poyang Commandery governor on his behalf, giving them a piece of land to settle, but Wang Dun wanted to take control of other commanderies in Yangzhou, so he used the excuse that Du Tao was a rebel to come exterminate him.

The refugee rebellion that had been slowly subsiding flared up again.

Originally, Wang Siniang was only mediating between them. This matter, while related to her, actually didn’t concern her much, because Poyang Commandery was within Yangzhou’s borders and not under Jingzhou’s jurisdiction.

But saying it was unrelated to her—she could still speak somewhat with Du Tao. Influenced by Zhao Hanzhang, she believed that as long as they weren’t foreign enemies, all conflicts could be temporarily set aside.

But now it was different. Wang Siniang directly contacted Du Tao, wanting to cooperate with him. You want to settle the refugees? Fine, let’s cooperate. We’ll take down Poyang Commandery, Yuzhang Commandery, all kinds of commanderies—all of Yangzhou’s territory. I’ll petition with Inspector Zhao to grant you land to settle your people.

Du Tao, who was being pressed hard by Wang Dun, immediately agreed upon hearing this and led his people to formally pledge allegiance to Zhao Hanzhang.

Wang Dao was in Jianye. He first heard Wang Dun had killed Wang Cheng and hadn’t yet recovered from his shock and anger when he immediately heard Wang Yifeng had recruited Du Tao and was going to attack Yangzhou.

Wang Dao couldn’t help stamping his feet in regret. “We shouldn’t have let those two meet. How could Chuzhong be so impulsive? Pingzi, Pingzi…”

Reciting Wang Cheng’s courtesy name, Wang Dao couldn’t help but weep like rain. He was truly heartbroken. Although they disagreed, they were brothers. Why did it come to killing over a small disagreement?

His confidants were also anxious, speculating, “Wang Pingzi was arrogant and sharp-tongued by nature. Perhaps he had a dispute with Chuzhong, and in his anger Chuzhong lost control…”

“Impossible,” Wang Dao said. “Though Chuzhong is somewhat impulsive, he’s not such a reckless person.”

After thinking briefly, he understood, saying tearfully, “I’m afraid it’s still about the north-south dispute. How can one kill relatives over political disagreements? I’m afraid Chuzhong cannot command respect. Yangzhou is in danger, Chuzhong is in danger.”

Indeed, the world did not accept Wang Dun’s excuse for killing Wang Cheng. Even those who had originally supported the Prince of Langye couldn’t help feeling uneasy.

Wang Cheng was a Wang family son and also Wang Dun’s elder cousin. He could kill someone over political disagreement—what about them…

In officialdom, there are always times of differing opinions. Since ancient times, how many have died over political disagreements?

But no matter how fierce the struggle, killing always required an appropriate reason—either corruption or political failure. If there was no error, one would lure the opponent into making an error, then use that as an excuse to kill them.

No one was like Wang Dun, directly killing someone then finding an unconvincing excuse to frame them.

Morality was already very low at this time. Wang Dun’s action lowered the moral baseline even further. From now on, could officials in the same camp attack and kill each other whenever they disagreed politically?

This action was too vile and must be curbed.

Because of Wang Dun’s action, people naturally suspected the Prince of Langye.

Wang Dun killed his elder brother so cruelly—was this at the Prince of Langye’s instigation?

The Prince of Langye, who was secretly happy about Wang Cheng’s death: …

Wang Dao had to come forward, requesting the Prince of Langye recall Wang Dun and severely punish him. “Only this way can we save Chuzhong and appease Zhao Hanzhang and Wang Yifeng’s anger.”

He said, “Although north and south will eventually battle, at this time we cannot turn from covert struggle to open conflict with Zhao Hanzhang. The Crown Prince is with her, and she’s currently resisting the Xiongnu. If we engage in battle, the Alliance Leader’s reputation will be greatly damaged.”

The Prince of Langye could insist on not launching northern expeditions and first unifying internally, but he absolutely could not fight with Zhao Hanzhang while she was resisting the Xiongnu. Otherwise, even if some powerful ministers supported them, the world’s criticism could drown them.

The source of Jin’s troubles since its founding—wasn’t it because the founding was illegitimate?

The Prince of Langye finally grasped the urgency of this matter and couldn’t help pacing anxiously, asking, “But Wang Yifeng is just like Zhao Hanzhang—domineering and with a woman’s fury. How can she listen to reason? What if she insists on attacking Yangzhou? Are we to keep retreating?”

“Women can also understand righteousness deeply,” Wang Dao was slightly displeased but still said gently, “Alliance Leader, please rest. I’ll go talk with Wang Yifeng.”

The Prince of Langye breathed a sigh of relief, smiling. “Maohong is greatly talented and also her uncle. You’ll surely be able to persuade her.”

Wang Dao shook his head. “Though I’m her uncle, I’m also a colleague. When discussing state affairs, personal feelings alone aren’t enough.”

The Prince of Langye paused, then asked, “What does Maohong want to discuss?”

Wang Dao was silent for a moment before saying, “The situation has changed. Our insistence on first securing the interior is now inappropriate. Alliance Leader, why not send troops to help Zhao Hanzhang pacify the north?”

The Prince of Langye’s expression turned cold. After pondering for a moment, he said, “If Zhao Hanzhang pacifies the north, will there still be a place for us in this world?”

Once Zhao Hanzhang secured the north, the first thing she’d probably do was kill him, right?

She held the Crown Prince. Even if he didn’t acknowledge it, most of the world recognized it. Then she wouldn’t even need to find a reason—she could directly use the Emperor’s name to kill him. Could he defeat her?

Based on the current comparison of their forces, even thinking with one’s toes, he couldn’t win.

What he relied on now was precisely that the northern Xiongnu were causing chaos, Zhao Hanzhang was using all her forces to deal with the Xiongnu, and had no time for other concerns.

Wang Dao thought this was an expedient plan. The world’s situation was always changing—who knew what the future would hold?

But right now, the Prince of Langye could not lose popular support.

The Prince of Langye didn’t think so. He felt Wang Dao was transferring danger, shifting Wang Dun’s danger onto him.

He considered carefully. “After all, this matter was Wang Dun’s doing alone. Perhaps Wang Cheng really did collude with Du Tao? Why not send people to investigate? Whether it’s true or not, we’ll know after investigating.”

Wang Dao heard the Prince of Langye’s implication. The faint smile on his face gradually disappeared. He fell silent. After a moment, he didn’t argue much, agreed, then bowed and withdrew.

Returning home, Wang Dao sat on the mat in the open pavilion in a daze.

Cao Shu passed by and saw him, asking, “What troubles you so?”

With his wife, Wang Dao relaxed much more. He sighed sorrowfully, somewhat disheartened. “Pingzi’s concerns weren’t without reason.”

He told his wife about the Prince of Langye wanting to abandon Wang Dun.

The Prince of Langye clearly didn’t want to bear the risk of Wang Dun killing Wang Cheng. He only wanted to limit this matter to a conflict between Wang Dun and Wang Cheng—not a struggle of interests but a private dispute, a murder case.

But if so, not only would Wang Dun’s reputation suffer, Zhao Hanzhang might even prosecute Wang Dun. Then he might not even keep his life.

Now Wang Dao very much suspected—if Zhao Hanzhang demanded the Prince of Langye hand over Wang Dun, would the Prince send Wang Dun’s head to Meng County?

Honestly speaking, Wang Dao chose the Prince of Langye for two reasons. First, for Dajin—he truly felt the Prince of Langye could bring stability to Dajin. Not because the Prince was so talented, but because he was a normal adult with troops and people.

Second, for the Wang clan. Now that the world was in chaos, how many scholar-gentry families had vanished in war? He wanted to preserve his family, to ensure it would never decline.

This required the Prince of Langye to feel gratitude toward him and the Wang clan. He had staked his and his family’s lives on the Prince of Langye, not so the Prince could throw out family members to take the blame when encountering difficulties.