Chapter 16 What a Loyal Minister and Fine General

Chapter 16: What a Loyal and Capable Vassal!

"Then I shall trouble you, Uncle."

For once, what Wang Xun had just said sounded almost human.

Wang Shen'ai offered a "sincere" thank you, her gaze already fixed back on the Heavenly Screen.

In this brief interlude of the Heavenly Screen, she hadn't had time to consider how to jointly tackle the immediate crisis once Xie Daoyun truly arrived in Jiankang, as Wang Xun had suggested.

In any case, bringing her into her fold couldn't be wrong.

With the Heavenly Screen's appearance, the situation was destined to deviate from its original course. She couldn't rely entirely on her historical knowledge, but had to seize every possible advantage, gathering any talent that might be swayed to her side.

And she had to divert others' attention before the Heavenly Screen pointed fingers at her.

For now, though one goal was achieved, there was still much more for her to focus on.

She believed that her other self had sent people to Qiantang for more than just prematurely provoking Sun Tai into rebellion.

To win popular support and raise an army in the southeast, Sun Tai's half-hearted performance was far from enough.

The untamed Celestial Masters sect was also unusable for the time being!

Sure enough, she soon heard the Heavenly Screen declare that while Sun Tai and his followers established themselves in Kuaiji and Qiantang, preparing to advance to the next location, Jiang Ding had used funds obtained from Zhi Miaoyin, along with her own resources, to purchase a monastery. This was to shelter refugees caught between warring soldiers and bandits.

Imperial troops were busy suppressing rebels, and Sun Tai was preoccupied with his uprising, leaving no one with spare time to intervene. Within half a month, hundreds had gathered, creating a temporary haven against the ravages of war.

Meanwhile, disturbances were also brewing in Jiankang.

【At that time, Sima Daozi had just suffered the loss of his son, and dissuading Wang Gong had already exhausted much of his energy. The sudden news of rebellion in the southeast sent him spiraling into disarray once more.】

【Emperor Yong'an seized this opportune moment to offer him several suggestions.】

"Didn't Sima Daozi want to kill someone earlier? How dare he listen to him now?" a courtier interjected.

Wang Shen'ai inwardly cursed.

These people didn't know that Emperor Yong'an's true identity was the Empress.

After her stunt of dragging the Emperor into a suicidal hanging, Sima Daozi in the Heavenly Screen's narrative naturally dared not make another move, for fear of being caught with a handle. This gave Wang Shen'ai another chance to speak.

But if Yong'an were someone of a different identity, with Sima Daozi holding absolute power and having failed to capture Zhi Miaoyin after dissuading Wang Gong, he should have turned around and slain Yong'an, using "him" as a sacrifice for his son's burial.

Perhaps this was even Sima Yuanxian's dying wish.

Instead...

"Perhaps it's desperation leading to reckless choices. If Sima Daozi truly had the ability to manage the overall situation, he wouldn't have heavily relied on figures like Wang Guobao and Zhao Ya earlier," Wang Shen'ai remarked coolly.

Wang Xun nodded in sudden realization: "That makes sense."

As if echoing Wang Shen'ai's words, the female voice from the Heavenly Screen continued:

【These suggestions were regarded as lifelines by Sima Daozi. He discussed them with his subordinates and adopted the majority.】

The faces of those below the Heavenly Screen twisted strangely for a moment, marveling at Emperor Yong'an's truly remarkable maneuvering skills.

But as they listened further, they had to admit that, if they were in Sima Daozi's position, their performance wouldn't be much better than his.

【For instance, sending a gift to Wang Xun, asking him to act as a persuader, urging Wang Gong to lead his troops south to quell the rebellion, thereby allowing these two factions to deplete each other's forces. Wang Gong, still bound by his reputation as a loyal subject, would certainly not refuse.】

Wang Xun: "..."

【However, to prevent Wang Gong from becoming overly powerful after absorbing the rebel forces, and in turn threatening Jiankang again, two more measures were requested.】

【One was to appoint Yu Kai as the rear guard, responsible for overseeing the rear and promptly reporting any anomalies.】

【Another was to secretly send a letter of recruitment to a general in Wang Gong's army.】

【This general, who had been exceptionally promoted for his opposition to Sima Daozi, was Liu Laozhi, who had not yet defected to Yong'an at that time.】

【Yong'an had learned that while Wang Gong's army appeared formidable, his own command abilities were not particularly strong. On the day his troops besieged the city, one contingent was exceptionally well-disciplined, but it was not seen accompanying him during the withdrawal and expression of gratitude. Even after the withdrawal, Wang Gong arrogantly considered himself Liu Laozhi's patron, believing him to be nothing more than a martial brute who only knew how to march and fight, treating him with great disdain.】

【Such individuals, whose relationship seemed amicable at present, were bound to develop discord in the future, perhaps presenting an opportunity for recruitment.】

【What any general needs is far more than just status; it is also recognition. In this regard, while aristocratic lineage is certainly a ladder to success, their arrogance can at any moment become an axe that severs that very ladder.】

It was hard to say how many generals below the Heavenly Screen took these words to heart, but the one named already showed a hint of bewilderment on his face.

Recognition...

Easy to say, but how many could truly achieve it?

There was one before him now, the Crown Princess who had sent someone to rescue him and entrusted him with important responsibilities. Unfortunately, once the Jin Dynasty fell, the Crown Princess herself would ultimately be unable to protect herself.

He still had to prepare for the worst.

Wait, did the Heavenly Screen say he would have defected to Yong'an?

...

【Emperor Yong'an also suggested one more action.】

【With Wang Gong's troops gone to quell the rebellion, and Sima Daozi dispatching overseers, Jiankang was bound to be more vulnerable than before. Shouldn't another person be stationed to guard against movements from Jingzhou?】

【Between Jiankang and Jingzhou, another person needed to be stationed, someone preferably with sufficient prestige, or rather, legitimate authority, to prevent Jingzhou from having any pretext for action.】

【This candidate was ultimately decided to be Sima Shangzhi, a member of the imperial clan.】

【On the surface, everyone would have to say this was an extremely sound plan. If one didn't know that the previous upheavals in Jiankang were all orchestrated by Yong'an, they might even congratulate Sima Daozi for gaining such a composed and meticulous advisor.】

【But in the southeast, Jiang Ding was still observing the situation on Yong'an's behalf, and Jiankang was not as peaceful as Sima Daozi imagined. Or rather, the situation in Jingzhou was nothing like what Sima Daozi had anticipated.】

Hearing this, Huan Xuan's eyelids twitched, and a premonition of ill omen arose within him.

The next moment, he heard the Heavenly Screen declare:

【Even as Sima Daozi was executing his troop deployment plan, Yong'an drew a knife, cut the Idiot Emperor's hand, and wrote a blood edict calling for help to save the throne. This "Girdle Edict" was then sent to Jingzhou, to be delivered into Huan Xuan's hands.】

【This was a decree that would allow Huan Xuan to legitimately raise an army and directly kill Sima Shangzhi!】

The weight of a Girdle Edict was beyond doubt.

For Huan Xuan, who intended to distinguish himself amidst the chaos, the "righteous cause" for rebellion was especially crucial.

Otherwise, the version of him in the Heavenly Screen would not have issued a denunciatory proclamation after hearing that Sima Daozi had nearly forced the Emperor and Empress to their deaths.

Yet, recalling Emperor Yong'an's myriad schemes, Huan Xuan could not, by any means, regard this blood edict as a generous gift.

He stared fixedly at the Heavenly Screen, intending to see more clearly the person who would kill him in the future.

【...】

【However, here arises another interesting question. The blood is the Emperor's blood; if others don't believe it, Yong'an could even roll up the Idiot Emperor's sleeve to show them the knife wound. The writing, however, is Yong'an's writing. As is well known, the Idiot Emperor could not write such a coherent edict.】

【So—when Huan Xuan enters the capital, whose "rescue" is he truly heeding?】

【The future King of Chu was besieged and killed by Yong'an on charges of rebellion, yet in the eulogy, Yong'an praised him as the undisputed foremost savior of the Emperor, as if there were no contradiction at all.】

*Snap*.

Chief Secretary Bian Fanzhi looked towards Huan Xuan and saw that he had crushed the cup in his hand.

Hot broth splattered from the cracks of the shattered porcelain, mixed with a faint trace of blood, yet Huan Xuan's face showed no sign of pain.

His jaw clenched as he slowly uttered two words: "...King of Chu?"

"You heard correctly," Bian Fanzhi replied.

It was no wonder Huan Xuan was so distraught; the previous statement contained far too much information.

Since the Han Dynasty stipulated that those not of the imperial clan could not be enfeoffed as kings, and the Wei and Jin dynasties followed this rule, why could he be granted the title of King of Chu?

And why did he go from being the King of Chu to being executed on charges of rebellion?

There must have been many intrigues involved, and they were undoubtedly connected to Emperor Yong'an.

He also couldn't understand why, even if only for the sake of decorum or to mock him, Yong'an would claim that he was the foremost savior of the Emperor...

There were far too many questions that he couldn't comprehend from the fragmented glimpses of the Heavenly Screen.

He knew his own temperament. He knew that if one day he could reach the position his father Huan Wen once held, he would never be content with merely the title of King of Chu. Once he was just one step away from the throne, he would not hesitate like his father, who was ultimately outmaneuvered by Xie An.

So, how had he been deceived into this predicament?

Bian Fanzhi reminded him, "None of this has happened yet. Emperor Yong'an likely dares not reveal herself for now, and the court, wary of that person, might not hold you accountable for killing Yin Zhongkan. The situation has already changed drastically; there's no need to dwell on what hasn't occurred."

Huan Xuan did not respond immediately, merely allowing his attendants to come forward and tend to his hand injury.

But even without words, Bian Fanzhi knew full well that Huan Xuan had not fully heeded his advice.

Until the dark cloud overhead was dispelled, he would never rest easy.

And now, as the Heavenly Screen progressed step by step, that cloud grew even heavier.

"Who exactly is Yong'an?"

Huan Xuan squeezed his freshly bandaged fingertips, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes.

He suddenly regretted why he had entered officialdom a few years too late, and why he had hastened to take up his post in Jingzhou under a pretext, leaving him with little knowledge of the talented individuals in Jiankang. He found it difficult to quickly identify someone who matched this style.

Strangely, this person's identity was apparently convincing enough for him to believe, at first, that the blood edict was neither a double-edged sword nor a trap to lure him into a cage.

This was highly unusual.

As for Yong'an—

Killing people yet bestowing high honors upon the deceased, maneuvering among various factions yet emerging unscathed, of noble birth yet holding such a decisive attitude towards aristocratic families, likely a civil official yet possessing a rare empathy for military commanders...

What a contradictory, and mysterious, person!

【This was the second time Yong'an came closest to death, but fortunately, this time the Emperor did not choose the wrong ally.】

【Huan Xuan was different from Wang Gong. He was evaluated by the Emperor as "resolute to the point of cunning." Faced with such a golden opportunity, he only needed half a day of discussion with his advisors to finalize his plan for military action, and he would certainly not be easily deceived into retreating like Wang Gong.】

【He even used that blood edict to forge another imperial decree, swiftly eliminating Yin Zhongkan and Yang Quanqi, who were also in Jingzhou. Then, he quickly rallied Jingzhou's former troops and launched an attack on Sima Shangzhi before the court could detect the change in Jingzhou.】

【As a member of the imperial clan, Sima Shangzhi indeed held sway over the Governor of Jingzhou. However, Huan Xuan cared nothing for the Governor's position; moreover, he held the Emperor's plea for aid, and his plan to advance eastward was not delayed in the slightest.】

【This battle ended with Sima Shangzhi's crushing defeat, as he fled back with his shattered remnants. Of course, what he brought back was not just his own routed soldiers, but also news of Yong'an's deeds.】

【But unfortunately, Prince of Kuaiji Sima Daozi had already missed his best chance to kill Yong'an.】

【While following the other's advice to withdraw troops, he had also allowed the other to secretly gather a personal guard. When the plan was exposed, Yong'an immediately seized the Emperor and retreated to Stone Citadel outside the imperial city.】

【This was a military stronghold built by Wang Dao, a founding minister of the Eastern Jin, to defend against foreign enemies. It had been abandoned for a while, but Yong'an had it repaired in advance under the pretext of guarding against Huan Xuan—and now, it proved its worth.】

【Sima Daozi was blocked by palace guards at the Stone Ford outside Stone Citadel and furiously ordered a siege and assault.】

【The siege lasted sixteen days. Although the city did not run out of water, it ran out of food.】

【No one knows what Emperor Yong'an was thinking at the time, or whether she had considered the consequences of failing to hold out.】

【But fortunately, this high-stakes gamble ultimately paid off for Yong'an.】

【Before Stone Citadel could be breached by Sima Daozi, Huan Xuan's warships had already sailed downriver to Stone Ford, launching an attack on Sima Daozi.】

Above the Heavenly Screen.

The Jingzhou naval forces, with their fluttering banners, launched an attack on the already exhausted imperial troops.

One side was riding the momentum of victory, while the other was a weary force.

Sima Daozi could not explain why he had besieged the Emperor and Empress, but Huan Xuan could produce irrefutable evidence that he had come to rescue them.

Moreover, Sima Daozi had already withdrawn a portion of his elite troops from Jiankang, and another contingent of elite soldiers had been crippled by Huan Xuan in advance.

Those left behind might have been sufficient for defending the city, but this battle, unfortunately, took place outside the city walls, and they were utterly routed.

Wang Shen'ai stood atop Stone Citadel.

Unlike the previous time, when she watched from Jiankang's city walls as Wang Gong's army came and went, this time, she awaited her own salvation.

...

【Sima Shangzhi failed to escape and was captured on the spot.】

【Sima Daozi, given to debauchery, also lacked the ability to escape in the heat of battle. After falling into the water, he was apprehended and brought before Huan Xuan.】

【The triumphant general of the Jingzhou army, utterly unaware that he had become the most crucial chess piece in this game, escorted Sima Daozi before the Emperor. Then, as a loyal and stalwart minister who had rescued the throne, he escorted the Emperor back to Jiankang from Stone Citadel.】

【It was the very next day after this battle ended that Yong'an made a proposal to Huan Xuan.】

【Yong'an said, "General, you are young and capable, but your position is not yet stable. Only through strong measures can you command respect." Since Sima Daozi had already been defeated, this strong measure naturally fell upon Sima Daozi.】

【"Please list ten crimes of the Prince of Kuaiji and have him drawn and quartered, as a warning to all."】

【Huan Xuan carried it out.】

Huan Xuan closed his eyes, clenching his jaw.

Given the preceding words, he no longer needed to doubt the purpose of this action.

The "rescue" was not for Sima Dezong, the foolish Emperor, but for the future Emperor Yong'an.

The dismemberment of Sima Daozi was not to accumulate prestige for himself, but to accumulate achievements for Yong'an.

Yet, at that very moment, he was basking in his triumph, having arrived with the grand ambition of emulating his late father, only to become—

【A loyal subject, an utterly loyal subject!】