With this bite, Liang Huan secured his position as Crown Prince.
War was imminent, and choosing another child from the royal family would have been too time-consuming and complicated, with countless interests involved. There wasn’t enough time for Cui Qi to bear another child. Liang Ye, partly impressed by the little rabbit’s fierceness and partly moved by his calling Wang Dian “uncle,” reluctantly confirmed his position as Crown Prince.
Liang Huan, who had been propelled to his position by a single “uncle,” was still bewildered. During the hasty yet grand ceremony, under Liang Ye’s threats and inducements, he managed to hold back his tears, avoiding embarrassment on his first day as Crown Prince.
The golden dragon on his small robe was ferocious, but not as intimidating as Liang Ye. He secretly touched the dragon’s small horns, standing stiffly beside Liang Ye. Prodded by the Liu Ye Sword behind him, he softly called out “Father Emperor.”
Liang Ye glanced at him without emotion and rewarded him with a piece of candy.
Liang Huan discreetly slipped it into his mouth, recognizing it as the same candy his uncle often left on the table for him. Although he was also afraid of his uncle, he was still the kindest of all the adults he had met; the rest were terrifying.
The reluctantly paired “father and son” were clearly unfamiliar with each other. The little Crown Prince preferred the coiled dragon pillar in the discussion hall over the Emperor, wishing to be eight zhang away from Liang Ye. The ministers below weren’t surprised; they completely understood, as they too would have wanted to climb the pillars if they were next to Liang Ye.
It was just that this little Crown Prince was excessively fair and beautiful, looking more like an adorable little princess. However, no one dared to say this, considering they were already grateful to have a Crown Prince at all, given Liang Ye’s previous actions.
After the ceremony, Liang Ye ascended the platform to address the troops.
The usually brocade-clad Emperor had changed into heavy, solemn black armor, with a broad, weighty sword at his waist. Unlike the previous thin, bloodless soft sword, this sword was not for killing, but for saving the country.
From atop the towering platform, Liang Ye looked down at the vast, endless sea of troops. As he spoke words to inspire and boost morale, hearing the passionate roars in response, he unsheathed his long sword. Pointing it towards Ziyan City in the far north of the capital, his voice, though not loud, clearly reached everyone’s ears.
“Soldiers, follow Zhen to kill the enemy, defend our country, and avenge our grievances!”
“Kill the enemy! Defend our country! Avenge our grievances!”
The thunderous voices echoed across the capital’s sky. Under the long sky, military flags fluttered, and the majestic palace gates opened with a rumble.
The smell of New Year’s firecrackers had not yet dissipated. Red couplets, white banners, and black armor – the army set out.
Liang Ye, mounted on his horse, felt the warm copper coin pressed against his chest. As his horse’s hooves crossed the capital’s city gate, he was hit full in the face by the incoming wind and snow, choking his nose and mouth.
He regretted not seeing Wang Dian’s figure on the city wall, yet was relieved that he was far away beyond thousands of mountains and rivers.
He just wondered if Wang Dian had hung the couplets correctly.
The red paper, slightly wrinkled from the paste, with its poor-quality paper and not-so-beautiful characters, looked out of place in the residence. A corner lifted by the wind from the opening door fell back into place.
Wang Dian took the letter handed to him by Chang Li, opening it as he walked. He quickly scanned it, his expression gradually becoming grave.
In the hall, Xu Xiude, Cui Qi, and others waiting for him looked over. Wang Dian handed out the letter.
The thin sheet of paper was passed among them. Chu Geng, being young, was visibly shocked. Xu Xiude’s fat hand holding the paper trembled slightly. “Wei Wanlin has betrayed us, ten thousand Northern troops in Ziyan City have been slaughtered… How dare Wei Wanlin do this!?”
“Wei Wanlin was greedy by nature,” Cui Qi said calmly.
“No matter how greedy he was, he shouldn’t have betrayed the country! Even I, as greedy as I am—” Xu Xiude’s fleshy face trembled, suddenly stopping mid-sentence. He gave Wang Dian an awkward smile, “Of course, I am the epitome of honesty and integrity. This Wei Wanlin truly deserves death!”
Chu Geng anxiously said, “Ziyan City is directly north of the capital, with rivers connecting in all directions straight to Great Liang. Fortunately, it’s deep winter now, and the northern rivers are frozen. If spring comes and the ice melts, the Loufan people could sail down the river straight to the capital. The Liang country would be in grave danger.”
Wen Yu stood beside them without speaking, only looking at Wang Dian.
In Wang Dian’s impression, Wei Wanlin had always been an open-hearted and loyal figure. After all, during the assassination attempt in Shizai Mountain, the scene of Wei Wanlin being shot with an arrow yet fighting to the death to protect him was still vivid in his mind. The man was honest and simple; otherwise, Liang Ye wouldn’t have entrusted the Northern Army to him.
However, the human heart was the hardest to fathom. Wei Wanlin had suddenly betrayed the country, and ten thousand soldiers had died tragically at the hands of their own commander and the enemy.
This turn of events would add many variables to their previous negotiations with Zhao country.
“His Majesty is personally leading the troops…” Xu Xiude, though slippery and greedy, was after all an old minister who understood the stakes, “There’s no capable general left in the court!”
Among the mess Liang Ye had inherited, there wasn’t a single competent military leader to be found. Jiao Wenbai had to guard the south, his presence deterring Southern Zhao and Eastern Chen. At least Eastern Chen wouldn’t dare to make a move in the southeast of Liang country. Jiao Yan led troops to protect the capital, but it wouldn’t be appropriate to send him north. With father and son positioned in the south and north respectively, even if they had no intentions, Liang Ye would have to consider whether the country might end up changing its surname to Jiao.
Although one should trust those they employ, Wang Dian, putting himself in Liang Ye’s position, found his actions understandable. He even understood that Liang Ye needed this battle to make a name for himself, to intimidate the court and stabilize his position on the throne.
But he was facing the combined forces of Loufan and Eastern Chen, and he had never led troops in battle before. Adding to that his action of establishing a Crown Prince before the expedition, Wang Dian was extremely worried for him.
Liang Ye’s brutal style of action had never changed. If there was profit to be gained, he dared to fight to the death, without any hesitation.
Such resolute and arbitrary behavior was suitable for being an emperor, but as a lover, Wang Dian wanted to punch him.
“Zhongqing, we should return to Liang country as soon as possible now,” Chu Geng said. “When shall we depart?”
“Yes, shouldn’t we leave quickly?” Xu Xiude was also waiting for Wang Dian to make a decision.
Wang Dian squeezed the empty envelope, not responding.
In his plan, he hadn’t intended to return to Liang country within two years. He needed time to do his own things, and he had ways to entangle with Liang Ye for these two years. After all, Liang country was the strongest chain binding Liang Ye.
However, now the situation was critical. Apart from the few words in the letter, Liang Ye had sent no other message, as if he was blatantly asking: Are you coming or not?
It was a rare show of “respect,” and also a naked “stratagem.”
Both publicly and privately, Wang Dian didn’t want to go back. Although he had spoken sincerely to Zhao Qi and had seen the people’s misery with his own eyes, fundamentally, he didn’t have much empathy for this feudal and backward era. He felt sad and moved, but only superficially. Even if he had sworn undying love to Liang Ye—which they hadn’t reached that point yet—he wouldn’t want to give up his own interests for the other.
A merchant with bones inscribed with indifference and selfishness, from beginning to end, looked down upon this world and everyone in it from high above.
Including Liang Ye.
Liang Ye’s personal campaign was fraught with danger, and Northern Liang was also in imminent peril. Wang Dian had already done his utmost by persuading Southern Zhao to send troops to help. He should withdraw in time, place new bets, and then find ways to bring Liang Ye into his fold. Or more wisely, add fuel to the fire of Liang country’s mess, more perfectly separating Liang Ye from his identity as emperor, making him completely his own.
The victor becomes the king, the loser a bandit. Time, place, and people were not on Liang Ye’s side. He should make the decision that maximized his interests.
Wang Dian thought this way, calmly meeting the anxious and eager gazes of Chu Geng and others, subconsciously folding the envelope once.
“Xu Daren, young friend Chu,” Cui Qi glanced at Wang Dian and said, “Wang Daren probably has other important matters to attend to.”
“Oh, yes, yes, look how flustered this official has become,” Xu Xiude said with an awkward smile. “His Majesty values Wang Daren highly, so naturally he has other duties. Since we’ve resolved our joint governance task, why don’t we set off back to the capital first?”
Cui Qi nodded.
Chu Geng, however, knew that Wang Dian had no urgent matters at all and looked at him in great confusion. “Zhongqing?”
Wang Dian tugged at the corner of his mouth and said to Chu Geng, “Yiyuan, I can write you a letter of recommendation. When you reach the capital, take the letter to find Qi Ming and Qi Lehong.”
Chu Geng suddenly stood up. “Wang Zhongqing! The country is in danger now, do you intend to stand aside?”
Wang Dian looked at him indifferently. Before he could speak, Xu Xiude stepped in to smooth things over, grabbing the agitated Chu Geng. “Hey, young friend Chu, you’re too excited. When did Wang Daren say he would stand aside? You may not be clear about this since you weren’t in court before, but His Majesty and Wang Daren have a deep friendship, like brothers. Wang Daren surely has important matters he can’t disclose…”
Chu Geng looked at Wang Dian suspiciously.
It must be said that although people like Xu Xiude were not likable and skilled at muddying the waters, sometimes such smooth and flexible people were exactly what was needed. A potential storm was dispelled in a few words.
When they left, it started raining in Qingcang County, with thunder rumbling and winds gusting.
Before getting into the carriage, Xu Xiude looked at the sky and exclaimed, “Thunder and heavy rain in the first month…”
Wang Dian held an umbrella and watched several carriages and guards slowly leave. The rain pattered on the oiled paper umbrella, and the damp cold penetrated to the bone. His jade-colored brocade robe was splashed with rainwater.
“Young Master, they’ve gone far away. Let’s return to the mansion,” Chang Ying said, holding an umbrella behind him.
Wang Dian didn’t move, still gazing into the gloomy northern sky. As he spoke, a cloud of white mist escaped his lips. He seemed to be asking Chang Ying, yet also talking to himself, “Wen Zong is dead, the emperor is leading troops personally, the crown prince is young, the capital must be in chaos… How dare he?”
Chang Ying, ignorant of political affairs, simply said, “Perhaps Emperor Liang has other plans.”
“His opponent is Yu Polu,” Wang Dian’s voice carried a detached cruelty. “Yu Polu is a military genius. He is not, nor has he read many military books or been on battlefields. Leading a mob of rabble, with the home front in tatters and granaries almost empty, how can he fight?”
Chang Ying really couldn’t respond to this and could only stand in silence.
Wang Dian gripped the wooden handle of the umbrella tightly, gently withdrew his gaze, and turned to climb the steps with his umbrella.
The heavy curtain of rain made his tall figure appear blurred and aloof.
“A doomed situation suits me perfectly.”
What he wanted was Liang Ye, not the emperor, and certainly not Northern Liang.
The vermilion gate closed slowly but firmly in the torrential rain, shutting out the bleak winter downpour.
