Chapter 379: The Heart Is Hard to Know

The next day, at the Yu residence in Jingzhou.

"I don't believe it."

Yu Yi looked at Wang Yang and slowly uttered those three words.

At his side, Yu Yu Qianlou and Tao Rui both grew solemn.

Wang Yang pleaded earnestly:

"You know the Prince's nature, Master— I am not bluffing or threatening. The moment I step out the door, soldiers will storm your mansion. Master, you are a man of noble bearing and deep insight— how could you let fleeting anger bring bloodshed upon your entire household?

The world's currents flow on, unmoved by men. The wise recognize the times; the prudent survive within the tide. The tide has already turned: obey and live, resist and die! As leader of your clan, your family holds pure prestige— to defy the tide now is to risk a hundred generations of noble lineage on a single clash of blades! Is this the act of a wise man?

States rise and fall; lineages endure or perish. Since ancient times, noble houses have prized continuity above all; descendants must know when to yield and when to press forward. To sacrifice a hundred generations' foundation for a single stubborn thought is like burning a fragrant chamber to light one candle, or shattering a priceless jade to strike a stone! I, Wang Yang, find such a choice utterly unworthy of you!"

When Wang Yang finished, Yu Yu Qianlou and Tao Rui turned their gazes back to Yu Yi's face. Since Wang Yang began his persuasion, their eyes had flickered between Wang and Yu. But Yu Yi had looked only at Wang Yang the entire time, his expression calm as a deep pool.

He said nothing, stared at Wang Yang for a moment, then spoke:

"Do you know that the Prince of Badong is a rebel?"

Wang Yang replied solemnly:

"According to the Spring and Autumn Annals, when a minister leaves his state, if he can secure the realm and benefit the nation, he may act on his own authority. The Prince is a mighty dragon entrusted with the frontier—

Adapting to the times, quelling internal unrest and repelling external threats, how can this be called rebellion? 【62】 Even Yu Yi was moved by Wang Yang's aura, standing frozen, almost dazed.

Yu Yu Qianlou thought: The ancients said Confucians use literature to disrupt law— indeed, true. Wang Yang twists black into white and cloaks it in classical learning, cites ancient precedents to harm the present, and fills the air with false words to confuse reality. If Ah Jie were here to witness this, he'd likely collapse inwardly, utterly shattered...

Jingzhou is a land of arms; the Prince of Badong's sudden rise may yet succeed. Even Wang Yang has surrendered— I wonder how Father will choose...

Tao Rui felt conflicted: on one hand, he hoped Wang Yang would succeed, for Yu Yi's surrender would greatly aid their cause. On the other, he resented that he himself had been assigned to persuade Yu Yi, and after days of fruitless effort, Wang Yang arrived and succeeded at once— it made him look incompetent. Yet he knew clearly which was weightier: Wang Yang's success or failure determined the fate of their grand enterprise.

Yu Yi treated them differently: Tao Rui had offered every promised condition, spoken every hard word, yet Yu Yi had always sat like a man watching rain from a railing— unmoved by praise or blame. His face showed no hostility, yet he clearly disdained serious conversation, as if it were not his life hanging in the balance, but Tao Rui's own!

Now that Wang Yang has come, barely finished one cup of tea, and already Yu Yi speaks with such gravity, weighing each word carefully. This is surely tied to "the Prince of Badong returns in triumph, his sword hanging over your gate, no more delay." But it is also because Yu Yi holds Wang Yang in special regard. Rumors say Yu Yi has long esteemed Wang Yang, even instructing his son to treat him as an elder brother— today's meeting confirms it.

Yu Yi closed his eyes, pondered a moment, then opened them, voice laced with faint mockery:

"Young Master Wang, your tongue holds spring thunder, your wit unmatched. Your talent for persuasion rivals Li Shi. Now you come to persuade me— I'm curious: who persuaded you? Does the Prince of Badong have another Li Shi among his ranks besides you?"

Wang Yang paused slightly, then smiled:

"Persuasion does not depend on numbers. Surrender or not, listening or not— it is not won by eloquence, but by the shift of circumstance.

Though the Prince's court teems with brilliant minds, there is no need for many Li Shis.

My allegiance did not come from others' persuasion— it came when the time arrived and my heart awoke.

Today's tide surges with wind and thunder, all mechanisms aligned. The wise adapt to opportunity; the clear-minded move with the times.

Master, though you uphold lofty integrity, your grasp of current circumstance falls far short of mine."

Yu Yu Qianlou, seeing Wang Yang openly mock his father's ignorance of the times, could not help but speak:

"Young Master Wang, now—"

"Zizhen."

"Father."

"Do not interrupt."

"Yes."

After silencing his son, Yu Yi fell silent again, eyelids half-lowered, gaze heavy and dark.

After a while, he looked back at Wang Yang, his face now etched with concern:

"The world is not won by circumstance alone. What if the tide turns midway, the momentum shifts halfway— what then?"

Wang Yang spoke solemnly:

"The world changes often, but a true man's resolve must not drift with the tide.

Zu Ti rose at the crow of the rooster, vowing to cleanse the Central Plains; he struck the oar midstream, his will never turning back. Did he first calculate victory or defeat before acting?

A man's ambition must be iron-hard: seize opportunity when it comes, act when the time is ripe. Once set in motion, he knows only forward— what time is there for second thoughts?

Master, even if you care nothing for your own ambition, you must think of your household's weight. Know this: what is broken cannot be mended; what is dead cannot be revived. If you wait until disaster strikes and your nest is overturned, even pounding your chest and weeping blood will be too late!"

Yu Yu Qianlou felt torn: on one hand, he thought Wang Yang again invoked the household's fate and spoke of "the nest overturned," as if warning his father against rashness— a kind gesture. On the other, he suspected Wang Yang was pressuring them, threatening their lives to force submission. And the fact that Wang Yang cited Zu Ti's example truly left him speechless. Zu Ti, the Governor of Yu, crossed the river north to reclaim territory— but you are seizing the throne in rebellion! How can they be the same? Yet, bound by his father's earlier orders, Yu Yu Qianlou said nothing.

Yu Yi's face grew grim; he remained silent for a long while, then suddenly rose, frowning, pacing back and forth.

Tao Rui kept his eyes fixed on Wang Yang, watching for any glance or subtle gesture that might signal secret collusion with Yu Yi. After all, he carried a secret mission from the Prince of Badong: to observe Wang Yang's entire persuasion process— to determine whether Yu Yi's surrender was genuine or feigned, and whether Wang Yang harbored hidden motives.

If the two found a chance to exclude Tao Rui, conspired secretly, and only then did Yu Yi surrender, the surrender's credibility would plummet— the Prince would suspect Wang Yang had made a private deal with Yu Yi. But if all proceeded normally, and Yu Yi not only surrendered but also helped persuade other clans and contributed private troops, then this would be Wang Yang's "seven-tenths surrender."

Yu Yi took a few steps, his frown gradually easing. He turned back to look at Wang Yang, his eyes filled with unmistakable interest!

After a moment's deliberation, he asked:

"From Jiangling to Jiankang is over three thousand li— distant roads, barriers between garrisons. Do you truly have confidence in victory?"

At this question, Tao Rui instantly perked up— he knew Yu Yi was leaning toward surrender!

Yu Yu Qianlou, seeing his father relent, felt a storm of mixed emotions.

Wang Yang fanned himself and smiled, brimming with confidence:

"I am from the capital region; Jingzhou is the western half of the realm. Xu is the Beifu Army; Yu is the western bulwark! Though the south boasts many garrisons, only Jingzhou can rival Yangzhou in strength.

My Prince's uprising is not mere brute force— it is the result of court consensus, decreed by divine strategy.

The other garrisons are scattered like severed joints, each holding its own fragment, unable to aid one another.

Our army sails downstream, smashing through rivers and lakes, sails swift as thunder!

If they try to form lines along the shore, the banks are too wide to defend; if they attempt to fight upstream, the current defeats them.

The weak garrisons of River River Jiang and Ying cannot stand against us. Seize their vital throat, and their structure collapses of its own weight. Even if they muster a thousand li of troops, what is there to fear?!"

Yu Yu Qianlou and Tao Rui were both stunned!

Yu Yu Qianlou recalled that day's scholarly gathering, when Wang Yang had mapped out the defense of the south— he felt his spirit drained.

Tao Rui felt a deep sense of ease, thinking: So this is how it feels to be on Wang Yang's side...

Even Yu Yi was moved by Wang Yang's aura, standing frozen, almost dazed.

"Master Yu? Master Yu?"

Tao Rui called twice; Yu Yi finally came back to himself:

"Oh, oh, uh... then..."

Yu Yi spoke, but only uttered empty, incoherent syllables— no complete sentence.

Yu Yu Qianlou watched his father's expression and knew he was both stirred and hesitant.

Had his father truly been swayed?

Yu Yu Qianlou had no intention of dying for loyalty. Since the Wei and Jin dynasties, the Cao, Sima, Liu, and Xiao families had risen and fallen in turn— the throne changed hands repeatedly. And this was a royal prince's rebellion, an internal royal feud— Jingzhou's clans had no factional ties; there was no reason to die for a lost cause. He merely wished to avoid taking sides unless necessary, and feared the Prince of Badong's failure might bring ruin upon his clan.

But knowing his father, why did he feel Yu Yi was almost eager? As if he truly believed victory was possible?

"If you truly have confidence, surrender is not impossible—"

Wang Yang and Tao Rui both beamed with joy— then Yu Yi's tone shifted slightly:

"But why must you conscript private troops? That violates taboos— it could cause trouble. Does the Prince lack sufficient military strength...?"

Wang Yang closed his fan and declared proudly:

"Master Yu, as leader of the scholar-gentry, the foremost among the noble families— if you raise your arm and call, who among the clans will not answer?

The Prince's army is already prepared: armor and blades cover the fields, grain and weapons pile like mountains! He conscripts private troops not out of weakness, but to show the great families his sincerity, to build this great cause together!

If the clans do not send troops, how can they prove loyalty? How can they earn merit?

Chariots roll with thunder, banners flutter wide! A thousand chariots thunder, ten thousand oars soar like clouds! When the throne is secured, rewards will be given: sons will wear seals, ancestral bells and tripods line the gates!

Master, you will be enfeoffed as a Duke, your honor and wealth boundless! Look back on today— it will be nothing but a single decision!"

A flicker of emotion passed through Yu Yi's eyes, then vanished. After a long pause, he said:

"The Prince's generous offer has been heard. Please convey to him on my behalf: this matter concerns our household— it cannot be decided lightly. Allow me one more day to consider. By the hour of Xu tonight, I will give my answer."

Wang Yang and Tao Rui exchanged glances— they both knew: though Yu Yi claimed he needed another day, the matter was essentially settled.

The two took leave of Yu Yi. Wang Yang had an appointment with Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Xie Lady Xie Xinghan, so he told Tao Rui to return first and he would go to the Wang Fu later.

Tao Rui, bound by his "secret mission," had intended to report alone. Seeing Wang Yang shatter stone with his tongue and turn the tide of fate, he thought: Wang Yang's wings are now spread— one day he will soar to the heavens. Better to cultivate goodwill than to make an enemy. So he lavished praise, actively sought friendship, and swore solemnly that he would report today's events truthfully to the Prince, never take credit for Wang Yang's work. He even invited Wang Yang to a banquet at Xiangxue Pavilion, insisting he must attend.

Tao Rui's sudden shift was outside Wang Yang's calculations— even contrary to his plans. Wang Yang could have publicly humiliated Tao Rui again, deepening their enmity. But that would be too obvious, and ill-timed. Fortunately, the issue was minor. Wang Yang exchanged a few polite words with Tao Rui, and they parted with outward reconciliation.

Inside the Wang Fu, the Prince of Badong halted and asked:

"Did you hear every word?"

Tao Rui stood outside the hall, bowing his head, eyes straight ahead, and replied:

"I heard every word."

"Not one missed?"

"Not one missed."

"Truly no issue?"

"Truly no issue."

"Good!"

The Prince of Badong's spirits soared; he cried out in delight, his mind at ease, and let himself revel in triumph.

Tao Rui stood frozen, unsure whether to stay or leave...

At the Yu residence, Yu Yu Qianlou sighed:

"Faces are easy to read; hearts are hard to know. To know a face takes a moment; to know a heart takes years. I never thought Wang Yang—"

Yu Yi interjected, his voice deep, clear, and resonant:

"He carries red sincerity within his belly, embraces bold deeds in his breast!

Unshaken in crisis, his will fixed on restoring peace!"

Righteous and bold, his loyalty shines bright!

His talent soars beyond all, his wisdom lifts high!

Since Han and Jin, no such man has ever existed!

Yu Yu Qianlou nodded unconsciously, then suddenly froze:

"Wait—didn't you just say who??????"

———————

Note: In this chapter, Wang Yang and Yu Yi speak with both explicit and implicit meanings, layered simultaneously. Tao Rui and Yu Yu Qianlou heard only the surface explicit meaning. Not grasping the implicit meaning is fine—it will be clarified in the next chapter.

I've been busy these two days; taking a break today. Updates will resume on Sunday.