Early in the morning, busy with constant hustle and bustle, engaged in various rituals like the Nuo ceremony and Buddhist gatherings, drinking with fellow officials until nightfall, Liang Feng was already exhausted, his entire body aching. However, once seated in his study, after a simple wipe of his face with a warm towel, he turned to Zhang Bin and asked, “Has Wang Jun really started a war with the Tuoba tribe?”
“Indeed!” Zhang Bin took a seat across from Liang Feng, his expression somewhat stern. “The Duan clan’s Xianbei forces have dispatched twenty thousand soldiers to attack the Tuoba tribe. It seems they aim to reclaim Dai City.”
This is surprisingly fast. Seeking permission from the court to bestow Dai City upon the Tuoba tribe was originally meant to sow discord between the two. However, who could have expected that Wang Jun would be so uncompromising in his stance, not even waiting for spring and raising an army in the dead of winter? The Xianbei people are nomads, and waging war in winter incurs significant losses. However, with Wang Jun as the father-in-law backing the Duan clan, the Tuoba tribe might not fare as well. If things go awry and they withdraw from Dai City defeated, the situation could turn dire.
“Can Tuoba Yilu withstand this?” Liang Feng inquired.
“Since they dare to enter Dai City, they probably have some confidence. Tuoba’s prime minister, Wei Cao, is not a simple figure. Perhaps this move also has a probing intent. Regardless of the outcome, it seems there will be some military actions in You and Bing County next year.”
This is the most significant hidden danger brought about by Wang Jun’s hasty mobilization. If Wang Jun wins, he will surely bring a substantial force to discipline the unruly governor of Bing County. If he loses, Liang Feng will be viewed as a thorn in his side, and the conflict won’t end until one of them perishes. You and Bing County have completely severed ties this time, inevitably leading to several battles.
Liang Feng spoke with a deep voice, “Even without the Tuoba tribe, You County is a persistent problem. Let the war come; as long as we can drag it out until the spring of next year, I fear no one.”
He had already fallen out with Wang Jun, and that inexplicable Cold Food Powder incident had left a lingering resentment. Even if Wang Jun didn’t act now, sooner or later, Liang Feng knew he would. The only question was the timing. Despite gaining relative stability through numerous battles in Bing County this year, the losses were substantial. The provisions from Luoyang were a drop in the bucket, relying on both cultivation and accommodating refugees. Only after next year’s summer harvest, securing food production and manpower resources, would they be qualified to discuss war.
Zhang Bin nodded, “Bing County is easy to defend and hard to attack, providing some room for maneuver. However, Lord, you should pay attention to Minister Wen.”
Minister Wen referred to Wen Qiao. Currently stationed in Yue County, he was also a trusted subordinate handling Liang Feng’s affairs. Yet, Zhang Bin’s mention of Wen Qiao at this moment seemed to imply a broader significance beyond just Yueping. It was a reference to the influential Wen clan in Bing County.
“Hasn’t the Wen clan already left Bing County?” Liang Feng furrowed his brows. Qixian County, where the Wen clan’s estate was located, had been mostly deserted when Sima Teng fled, with only a few remaining. Wen Qiao was among the exceptions who chose to stay.
“That’s precisely why Minister Wen should be promoted! Wen Tai’s exceptional talent and outstanding governance skills, coupled with his aspirations for the nation, make him an ideal choice. If Lord shows goodwill towards the Wens, the influential families in Bing County would likely welcome this development.”
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This involves the politics of the prominent families. Guo Tong belongs to the Guo clan, while Wen Qiao is from the Wen clan’s main line. Even if the Wen clan’s social standing is not as high as the Guo clan’s, Wen Qiao surpasses Guo Tong by several degrees. Additionally, with the intermarriage ties between the two families, having Wen Qiao as a cover makes it difficult for Guo Tong to act excessively. The major influential families in Bing County are all employed by the governor’s office, and in the eyes of others, this exerts a certain level of restraint on the middle and lower-ranking clans.
This is a typical balancing issue that can save Liang Feng a lot of trouble.
“As for Guo Tong…” Zhang Bin smiled faintly, “Lord handled it excellently before. This man is too ambitious and shouldn’t be trusted. It’s fortunate that he misjudged the situation and rashly chose the position of Zhongzheng official. Just dealing with Prince Donghai alone requires being cautious of him. However, the Guo clan is influential, and Lord will still need to find some useful individuals among the other distant clans.”
Zhang Bin hit the nail on the head. When Liang Feng agreed to Guo Tong’s request, he had such considerations. How could he possibly trust the candidate for Zhongzheng official recommended by someone he knew had grievances against him? Moreover, Guo Tong had already agreed with him not to interfere with the arrangements of outsiders in Bing County. In the eyes of others, this was clear evidence that the Guo clan had sided with the governor of Bing County. In the end, not only Guo Tong but probably even the Guo clan’s distant clans would be resented by Sima Yue.
However, the last sentence made Liang Feng hesitate a bit, “The distant clans are, after all, part of the prominent families. If we constantly yield to them, it may affect the overall situation in Bing County…”
Just hearing this sentence, Zhang Bin guessed what Liang Feng was thinking and immediately said, “Lord must not be hasty! In the past, Wei Wu killed many clans, yet they still didn’t obey. On the contrary, he faced several rebellions, and even the Yan County camp was temporarily lost. It wasn’t until the time of Wei Wen that, following Chen Changwen’s advice, the Nine-rank Official system was established, finally winning the hearts of scholars across the land. Lord wants to use commoners, but it cannot be rushed, especially not on the surface. If the prominent families sense any hint of caution, once outside Bing County, it will be difficult to move forward!”
The situation in Bing County is different; the prominent families have mostly fled, and now government orders can flow smoothly. But in other provinces, the world still belongs to the clans. They control vast amounts of land and population, with numerous fortresses and castles, and complex networks of kinship. It’s like a hornet’s nest; one poke and it explodes. And now, there are countless contenders for hegemony, not much different from the Three Kingdoms era. Once the support of local clans is lost, seizing power becomes as difficult as reaching the sky!
Liang Feng understands this logic well. However, looking at the prominent families he sees, each one repels him. If he cannot take power locally, how is it different from the previous Wei-Jin era?
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“If we promote academies and establish a system for selecting officials, what about that?” Liang Feng lowered his voice, expressing his thoughts.
“After establishing control over the realm, then we can make plans!” Zhang Bin replied decisively. What attracted him to join and contribute was precisely the outstanding idea of “establishing a system for selecting officials.” Such breadth of vision was beyond comparison to the Sima clan. However, for certain matters, attempting to expedite may hinder success.
Seeing that Liang Feng seemed to want to say more, Zhang Bin sighed lightly, “Lord wants to use capable individuals, but capable individuals may not be without personal motives. Even if you let go of these influential families, won’t the commoners rise to power? Won’t military commanders in the army amass strength on their own? The key to checks and balances lies not in strength but in control.”
Zhang Bin’s words left no room for rebuttal. However problematic Liang Feng’s history might be, he understood the troubles caused by the fiefdoms during the Tang Dynasty and the dominance of civil officials in the Song and Ming dynasties. What difference would it make without influential families? Feudal rule, in essence, is the struggle between imperial authority and ministerial power. Not to mention ancient times, even in the modern era, are there no such factions in military and political circles?
Coming from a prominent family with a revolutionary background, he was all too familiar with the intricate web of connections within. Yet, in the past, he couldn’t tolerate these intricacies, relinquishing all favorable conditions to become a criminal investigator. And now, he found himself being pushed into a position even more formidable than before.
Alone.
The weariness of the day seemed to press down on his shoulders at this moment. Liang Feng nodded slowly, “I will carefully consider what Captain Zhang has said.”
Glancing at the expression of the person sitting across, Zhang Bin knew that his words had been acknowledged. Being open to advice is a necessary trait of a wise ruler. However, his lord was still not ruthless enough. But there was no hurry; when the time came, the right choices would become apparent.
With a salute, Zhang Bin excused himself. Watching the figure disappear beyond the door, Liang Feng moved his lips but didn’t speak. Who could he confide in about these matters?
“Prepare some hot water; I want to bathe.”
At least the warm water on this winter night could help momentarily forget some of the worries.
※
“My lord, Wuzhu has mobilized their forces and will soon clash with the Tuoba rebels. However, there’s news from Sima Teng’s side; the Jisang tribe is taking advantage of the situation to attack Ye City…” Wang Bin stood in the study, looking somewhat uneasy. The news he brought was far from pleasant.
The imperial decree awarding Dai City to the Tuoba tribe had greatly infuriated his father. The vast army that had stayed near the border of Ji County to assist Sima Teng had been withdrawn. Now, the military strength was concentrated on the front line of Dai City, intending to take advantage of the harsh winter to crush the Tuoba tribe, which had dared to encroach on the territory of You County.
However, in doing so, the hard-won territory gained earlier would have to be handed over. Sima Teng’s repeated urgencies also added to the anxiety. Wang Bin didn’t know what to do and could only report the situation truthfully.
Wang Jun angrily exclaimed, “Attacking Ye City? Well done! It’s time to show the court what it looks like without the forces of You County! Since Liang Zixi lifted the siege of Luoyang, have I been wasting my efforts over the past year? And have you ever thought about whether the fool Prince Dongyin can hold onto Ye City without the forces of You County? Without the forces of You County, if the Xiongnu had taken over Si County long ago, could they still defend Luoyang?!”
How could he not be angry? After fighting in Ji County for nearly a year, the rewards were meager, and now he had to cede his own territory to the Xianbei people! All of this was Liang Zixi’s scheming! Taking advantage of Sima Yue’s absence, he played some tricks. He shouldn’t have recruited this ambitious fellow in the first place. It had turned into a major headache now!
“This winter, we must resolve the Tuoba tribe and reclaim Dai City! As for Bing County, we can’t just let it go so easily!” Wang Jun declared resentfully.
Hearing this, Wang Bin hesitated, “But Dai City is ultimately a reward from the court…”
“The court? What can the words of that yellow-mouthed kid count for?” Wang Jun coldly said, “Not to mention the thoughts of the Grand Tutor, just the urgent situation in Ji County is enough to make the rats in the Luoyang palace tremble!”
Wang Jun wasn’t really afraid of this. He had many soldiers under his command and could control the Duan clan’s Xianbei forces. Not to mention the court, even Sima Yue had to show him some respect. His consistent assistance to the court in maintaining Ji County was also motivated by his own interests. If You County wanted to plot against Luoyang, it had to pass through Ji County to penetrate deeper into Si County. Every time he used his forces, it was to capture cities and expand territory for himself. Now, with Sima Yue still worrying about the situation in Jing County, he had no time to be concerned about other matters. Once he completely occupied Ji County, the court would naturally let him take charge of Ji County.
Unexpectedly, Liang Zixi suddenly intervened and granted land to the Tuoba clan. This move seemed to harbor ill intentions, so Wang Jun wasted no time and immediately launched an attack on the Tuoba tribe.
Stifled by his father’s words, Wang Bin hastily said, “What Lord said is indeed true. I will promptly send a letter to Prince Dongyin, making him aware of the court’s misguided actions…”
Wang Jun waved his hand, “There’s no need for that. Prince Dongyin is not one to tolerate others; why give him an excuse? Just tell him that the forces of You County are in danger, and he should petition the court himself.”
This was also a means of forcing the court to admit its mistakes. Sima Teng, being Sima Yue’s younger brother, could the court dare to ignore him? Maybe with a bit of intimidation, the young emperor himself would get scared, finding ways to retract the order. Wanting to reward the Tuoba tribe, shouldn’t they use the territory of Bing County for that? This trick was too crude!
However, this whole spectacle made people aware of Liang Zixi’s scheming. This guy truly harbored resentment for the events of the past… Thinking of this, Wang Jun couldn’t help but point at his son standing in front of him, “It’s all because you chose that Captain! It’s made things so messy!”
Wang Bin couldn’t help but feel embarrassed, “It’s the child’s fault for misjudging people. If we encounter Liang Zixi again, the child will never be so careless!”
The events of that day made Wang Bin feel a sense of shame, nearly causing his father’s aversion. However, that guy surnamed Zhang escaped too quickly for him to act. This incident intensified Wang Bin’s hatred and determination against Liang Zixi.
And wasn’t this also Wang Jun’s intention? With a cold laugh, he said, “Let them make a fuss for now. When the world falls into chaos, we’ll see who emerges victorious!”
The longer Sima Yue’s army stayed on the campaign, the more advantageous it was for him. When the court depleted its remaining resources, changing rulers wouldn’t be impossible.
Ji County was just a springboard for heading south, and this native land of Bing County was something he was determined to obtain!
Author’s Note:
When people discuss the issue of powerful families, I really can’t figure it out. The chaos of the Three Kingdoms, Wei, Jin, Southern, and Northern Dynasties for three hundred years was mostly caused by powerful families. Even in the Tang Dynasty, with the addition of Huang Chao and the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, they finally managed to deal with the powerful families. Then came the era of the literati group’s dominance…
Without technological development to a certain level, separatism cannot be eliminated. However, when it develops to the corresponding level, there are still more covert political struggles. Power, a good thing like that, is enough to drive countless people crazy.
Early in the morning, busy with constant hustle and bustle, engaged in various rituals like the Nuo ceremony and Buddhist gatherings, drinking with fellow officials until nightfall, Liang Feng was already exhausted, his entire body aching. However, once seated in his study, after a simple wipe of his face with a warm towel, he turned to Zhang Bin and asked, “Has Wang Jun really started a war with the Tuoba tribe?”
“Indeed!” Zhang Bin took a seat across from Liang Feng, his expression somewhat stern. “The Duan clan’s Xianbei forces have dispatched twenty thousand soldiers to attack the Tuoba tribe. It seems they aim to reclaim Dai City.”
This is surprisingly fast. Seeking permission from the court to bestow Dai City upon the Tuoba tribe was originally meant to sow discord between the two. However, who could have expected that Wang Jun would be so uncompromising in his stance, not even waiting for spring and raising an army in the dead of winter? The Xianbei people are nomads, and waging war in winter incurs significant losses. However, with Wang Jun as the father-in-law backing the Duan clan, the Tuoba tribe might not fare as well. If things go awry and they withdraw from Dai City defeated, the situation could turn dire.
“Can Tuoba Yilu withstand this?” Liang Feng inquired.
“Since they dare to enter Dai City, they probably have some confidence. Tuoba’s prime minister, Wei Cao, is not a simple figure. Perhaps this move also has a probing intent. Regardless of the outcome, it seems there will be some military actions in You and Bing County next year.”
This is the most significant hidden danger brought about by Wang Jun’s hasty mobilization. If Wang Jun wins, he will surely bring a substantial force to discipline the unruly governor of Bing County. If he loses, Liang Feng will be viewed as a thorn in his side, and the conflict won’t end until one of them perishes. You and Bing County have completely severed ties this time, inevitably leading to several battles.
Liang Feng spoke with a deep voice, “Even without the Tuoba tribe, You County is a persistent problem. Let the war come; as long as we can drag it out until the spring of next year, I fear no one.”
He had already fallen out with Wang Jun, and that inexplicable Cold Food Powder incident had left a lingering resentment. Even if Wang Jun didn’t act now, sooner or later, Liang Feng knew he would. The only question was the timing. Despite gaining relative stability through numerous battles in Bing County this year, the losses were substantial. The provisions from Luoyang were a drop in the bucket, relying on both cultivation and accommodating refugees. Only after next year’s summer harvest, securing food production and manpower resources, would they be qualified to discuss war.
Zhang Bin nodded, “Bing County is easy to defend and hard to attack, providing some room for maneuver. However, Lord, you should pay attention to Minister Wen.”
Minister Wen referred to Wen Qiao. Currently stationed in Yue County, he was also a trusted subordinate handling Liang Feng’s affairs. Yet, Zhang Bin’s mention of Wen Qiao at this moment seemed to imply a broader significance beyond just Yueping. It was a reference to the influential Wen clan in Bing County.
“Hasn’t the Wen clan already left Bing County?” Liang Feng furrowed his brows. Qixian County, where the Wen clan’s estate was located, had been mostly deserted when Sima Teng fled, with only a few remaining. Wen Qiao was among the exceptions who chose to stay.
“That’s precisely why Minister Wen should be promoted! Wen Tai’s exceptional talent and outstanding governance skills, coupled with his aspirations for the nation, make him an ideal choice. If Lord shows goodwill towards the Wens, the influential families in Bing County would likely welcome this development.”
Advertisement
This involves the politics of the prominent families. Guo Tong belongs to the Guo clan, while Wen Qiao is from the Wen clan’s main line. Even if the Wen clan’s social standing is not as high as the Guo clan’s, Wen Qiao surpasses Guo Tong by several degrees. Additionally, with the intermarriage ties between the two families, having Wen Qiao as a cover makes it difficult for Guo Tong to act excessively. The major influential families in Bing County are all employed by the governor’s office, and in the eyes of others, this exerts a certain level of restraint on the middle and lower-ranking clans.
This is a typical balancing issue that can save Liang Feng a lot of trouble.
“As for Guo Tong…” Zhang Bin smiled faintly, “Lord handled it excellently before. This man is too ambitious and shouldn’t be trusted. It’s fortunate that he misjudged the situation and rashly chose the position of Zhongzheng official. Just dealing with Prince Donghai alone requires being cautious of him. However, the Guo clan is influential, and Lord will still need to find some useful individuals among the other distant clans.”
Zhang Bin hit the nail on the head. When Liang Feng agreed to Guo Tong’s request, he had such considerations. How could he possibly trust the candidate for Zhongzheng official recommended by someone he knew had grievances against him? Moreover, Guo Tong had already agreed with him not to interfere with the arrangements of outsiders in Bing County. In the eyes of others, this was clear evidence that the Guo clan had sided with the governor of Bing County. In the end, not only Guo Tong but probably even the Guo clan’s distant clans would be resented by Sima Yue.
However, the last sentence made Liang Feng hesitate a bit, “The distant clans are, after all, part of the prominent families. If we constantly yield to them, it may affect the overall situation in Bing County…”
Just hearing this sentence, Zhang Bin guessed what Liang Feng was thinking and immediately said, “Lord must not be hasty! In the past, Wei Wu killed many clans, yet they still didn’t obey. On the contrary, he faced several rebellions, and even the Yan County camp was temporarily lost. It wasn’t until the time of Wei Wen that, following Chen Changwen’s advice, the Nine-rank Official system was established, finally winning the hearts of scholars across the land. Lord wants to use commoners, but it cannot be rushed, especially not on the surface. If the prominent families sense any hint of caution, once outside Bing County, it will be difficult to move forward!”
The situation in Bing County is different; the prominent families have mostly fled, and now government orders can flow smoothly. But in other provinces, the world still belongs to the clans. They control vast amounts of land and population, with numerous fortresses and castles, and complex networks of kinship. It’s like a hornet’s nest; one poke and it explodes. And now, there are countless contenders for hegemony, not much different from the Three Kingdoms era. Once the support of local clans is lost, seizing power becomes as difficult as reaching the sky!
Liang Feng understands this logic well. However, looking at the prominent families he sees, each one repels him. If he cannot take power locally, how is it different from the previous Wei-Jin era?
Advertisement
“If we promote academies and establish a system for selecting officials, what about that?” Liang Feng lowered his voice, expressing his thoughts.
“After establishing control over the realm, then we can make plans!” Zhang Bin replied decisively. What attracted him to join and contribute was precisely the outstanding idea of “establishing a system for selecting officials.” Such breadth of vision was beyond comparison to the Sima clan. However, for certain matters, attempting to expedite may hinder success.
Seeing that Liang Feng seemed to want to say more, Zhang Bin sighed lightly, “Lord wants to use capable individuals, but capable individuals may not be without personal motives. Even if you let go of these influential families, won’t the commoners rise to power? Won’t military commanders in the army amass strength on their own? The key to checks and balances lies not in strength but in control.”
Zhang Bin’s words left no room for rebuttal. However problematic Liang Feng’s history might be, he understood the troubles caused by the fiefdoms during the Tang Dynasty and the dominance of civil officials in the Song and Ming dynasties. What difference would it make without influential families? Feudal rule, in essence, is the struggle between imperial authority and ministerial power. Not to mention ancient times, even in the modern era, are there no such factions in military and political circles?
Coming from a prominent family with a revolutionary background, he was all too familiar with the intricate web of connections within. Yet, in the past, he couldn’t tolerate these intricacies, relinquishing all favorable conditions to become a criminal investigator. And now, he found himself being pushed into a position even more formidable than before.
Alone.
The weariness of the day seemed to press down on his shoulders at this moment. Liang Feng nodded slowly, “I will carefully consider what Captain Zhang has said.”
Glancing at the expression of the person sitting across, Zhang Bin knew that his words had been acknowledged. Being open to advice is a necessary trait of a wise ruler. However, his lord was still not ruthless enough. But there was no hurry; when the time came, the right choices would become apparent.
With a salute, Zhang Bin excused himself. Watching the figure disappear beyond the door, Liang Feng moved his lips but didn’t speak. Who could he confide in about these matters?
“Prepare some hot water; I want to bathe.”
At least the warm water on this winter night could help momentarily forget some of the worries.
※
“My lord, Wuzhu has mobilized their forces and will soon clash with the Tuoba rebels. However, there’s news from Sima Teng’s side; the Jisang tribe is taking advantage of the situation to attack Ye City…” Wang Bin stood in the study, looking somewhat uneasy. The news he brought was far from pleasant.
The imperial decree awarding Dai City to the Tuoba tribe had greatly infuriated his father. The vast army that had stayed near the border of Ji County to assist Sima Teng had been withdrawn. Now, the military strength was concentrated on the front line of Dai City, intending to take advantage of the harsh winter to crush the Tuoba tribe, which had dared to encroach on the territory of You County.
However, in doing so, the hard-won territory gained earlier would have to be handed over. Sima Teng’s repeated urgencies also added to the anxiety. Wang Bin didn’t know what to do and could only report the situation truthfully.
Wang Jun angrily exclaimed, “Attacking Ye City? Well done! It’s time to show the court what it looks like without the forces of You County! Since Liang Zixi lifted the siege of Luoyang, have I been wasting my efforts over the past year? And have you ever thought about whether the fool Prince Dongyin can hold onto Ye City without the forces of You County? Without the forces of You County, if the Xiongnu had taken over Si County long ago, could they still defend Luoyang?!”
How could he not be angry? After fighting in Ji County for nearly a year, the rewards were meager, and now he had to cede his own territory to the Xianbei people! All of this was Liang Zixi’s scheming! Taking advantage of Sima Yue’s absence, he played some tricks. He shouldn’t have recruited this ambitious fellow in the first place. It had turned into a major headache now!
“This winter, we must resolve the Tuoba tribe and reclaim Dai City! As for Bing County, we can’t just let it go so easily!” Wang Jun declared resentfully.
Hearing this, Wang Bin hesitated, “But Dai City is ultimately a reward from the court…”
“The court? What can the words of that yellow-mouthed kid count for?” Wang Jun coldly said, “Not to mention the thoughts of the Grand Tutor, just the urgent situation in Ji County is enough to make the rats in the Luoyang palace tremble!”
Wang Jun wasn’t really afraid of this. He had many soldiers under his command and could control the Duan clan’s Xianbei forces. Not to mention the court, even Sima Yue had to show him some respect. His consistent assistance to the court in maintaining Ji County was also motivated by his own interests. If You County wanted to plot against Luoyang, it had to pass through Ji County to penetrate deeper into Si County. Every time he used his forces, it was to capture cities and expand territory for himself. Now, with Sima Yue still worrying about the situation in Jing County, he had no time to be concerned about other matters. Once he completely occupied Ji County, the court would naturally let him take charge of Ji County.
Unexpectedly, Liang Zixi suddenly intervened and granted land to the Tuoba clan. This move seemed to harbor ill intentions, so Wang Jun wasted no time and immediately launched an attack on the Tuoba tribe.
Stifled by his father’s words, Wang Bin hastily said, “What Lord said is indeed true. I will promptly send a letter to Prince Dongyin, making him aware of the court’s misguided actions…”
Wang Jun waved his hand, “There’s no need for that. Prince Dongyin is not one to tolerate others; why give him an excuse? Just tell him that the forces of You County are in danger, and he should petition the court himself.”
This was also a means of forcing the court to admit its mistakes. Sima Teng, being Sima Yue’s younger brother, could the court dare to ignore him? Maybe with a bit of intimidation, the young emperor himself would get scared, finding ways to retract the order. Wanting to reward the Tuoba tribe, shouldn’t they use the territory of Bing County for that? This trick was too crude!
However, this whole spectacle made people aware of Liang Zixi’s scheming. This guy truly harbored resentment for the events of the past… Thinking of this, Wang Jun couldn’t help but point at his son standing in front of him, “It’s all because you chose that Captain! It’s made things so messy!”
Wang Bin couldn’t help but feel embarrassed, “It’s the child’s fault for misjudging people. If we encounter Liang Zixi again, the child will never be so careless!”
The events of that day made Wang Bin feel a sense of shame, nearly causing his father’s aversion. However, that guy surnamed Zhang escaped too quickly for him to act. This incident intensified Wang Bin’s hatred and determination against Liang Zixi.
And wasn’t this also Wang Jun’s intention? With a cold laugh, he said, “Let them make a fuss for now. When the world falls into chaos, we’ll see who emerges victorious!”
The longer Sima Yue’s army stayed on the campaign, the more advantageous it was for him. When the court depleted its remaining resources, changing rulers wouldn’t be impossible.
Ji County was just a springboard for heading south, and this native land of Bing County was something he was determined to obtain!
Author’s Note:
When people discuss the issue of powerful families, I really can’t figure it out. The chaos of the Three Kingdoms, Wei, Jin, Southern, and Northern Dynasties for three hundred years was mostly caused by powerful families. Even in the Tang Dynasty, with the addition of Huang Chao and the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, they finally managed to deal with the powerful families. Then came the era of the literati group’s dominance…
Without technological development to a certain level, separatism cannot be eliminated. However, when it develops to the corresponding level, there are still more covert political struggles. Power, a good thing like that, is enough to drive countless people crazy.
