Chapter 226: The King Will Chat

Da Wang brought the Marquis of the East Capital and officials of the previous dynasty to sit in the South Hua Gate Main Tower. He, the Marquis of the East Capital, Ge Zhong, the Chancellor, and the Grand Tutor took the central seats, with others arranged on either side according to rank.

First were the attendants of the Secluded King's Mansion, then the grassroots officials of county towns within Secluded Prefecture, and further out there were civilian representatives; Da Wang's variety was enough to shock the Great Jin.

In all the literary and poetic gatherings of River South, there was only one topic: cursing the You King. Da Wang was boosting public affection in Secluded Prefecture with a bang-bang.

He not only invited county magistrates and other grassroots officials, but also allocated a quota to each village, even asking the venerable clan elders of the villages to come; anyway, there was plenty of space on his city wall.

Publicity needs to reach the folk; seeing is believing.

The already slimmed-down Da Wang, acting like a little adult, exchanged pleasantries with the Marquis of the East Capital, while Ge Zhong kept glancing at Da Wang, "Are you thin from being too scheming?!"

From their seats on the gate tower they could see everything below; outside the river encircling the prince's mansion was a wide square, now a large empty space kept at the front, a half-meter-high ice-cast wall and iron-armored soldiers separated the densely packed common folk behind.

Ge Zhong suspected that the few people he had seen inside the city earlier were just those left on guard duty; everyone else from Secluded Prefecture must be here, right!

You Wang this kid still has quite a pulling power!

That's right, after two years of cultivation, the people of Secluded Prefecture have come to a general understanding: whenever Da Wang issues a notice, it means a major announcement is coming!

Each time an official courier knocked the gong and posted a notice, every household had to send a reliable person to listen and see what was up. This time an early notice announced that Da Wang would hold a New Year celebration; at that time Da Wang would speak and let everyone take a look at Secluded Prefecture's garrison.

Troops—this isn't unfamiliar in the border prefecture; there are troops on the city walls now, so what's there to see? But since Da Wang summoned them, of course they had to show up; last year's New Year Da Wang also came out to speak, and it was lively. However, last year was New Year's Eve, this year it's just a different time.

So, in this winter when nothing could be done, aside from leaving someone at home to guard, anyone who could still move set out for the prince's mansion, and even distant prefectures and counties set off a day or two early.

Da Wang and the Marquis of the East Capital chatted affectionately, each calling the other 'Liang Shu'; he first brought up the trip to Long Peace, saying that this time he had gone to Long Peace and met Liang Bi.

"Liang Er Ge and the Prince of Guangling get along well; I was seized by the Tranquil Peace Office, but it was my second brother who brought Liang Er Ge with silver to ransom me~"

Marquis of the East Capital: ……

Chancellor Xue beside Da Wang was hearing this for the first time; he… was at a loss for words.

How come you're speaking in such a cheerful tone on this occasion? Is it even glorious?

Da Wang lowered his voice: "I heard rumors that if you enter the Tranquil Peace Office without a large sum of silver for ransom, it becomes troublesome, so I immediately sent someone to summon the Prince of Guangling; I heard the silver was provided by Liang Er Ge. This Liang Er Ge is quite loyal, and I like him. I also invited him to come play in Secluded Prefecture, but it seems Liang Er Ge prefers Long Peace."

"That unfilial son was spoiled by his grandmother and can't endure any hardship of the border prefecture..." Speaking of this, thinking about You Wang's life, does this even count as a border prefecture? Living like You Wang, what kind of hardship is that?

The shock of just seeing the Secluded King's Mansion left the Marquis of the East Capital unable to describe his feelings.

You Wang received him in the Bright Light Hall; upon entering, he stood on the steps of the Bright Light Hall and could gaze far onto the Secluded King's Main Hall, his heart pounding hard for a while.

Long Peace's Establishing Chapter Palace… nothing more than that.

That's still a conservative view, after all he was far away at the time.

From then on, looking at this kid again, he was no longer on the same level as that hunting expedition.

And Da Wang, he felt that discussing Liang Bi had already brought them closer; then he openly complained about the unrest along the way, forcing himself to pour out his heart. The Xianbei that the Marquis of the East Capital personally drove away have also been in the north for many years, surely he has more experience than him.

"Liang Shu, with this heavy snowfall, I don't know how many cattle and sheep will freeze to death in the north; I've heard the snow on the grasslands is no smaller than ours here. Do you think they can make it through this time?" Da Wang went straight for the jugular.

After saying that, he fixed a trusting gaze on the Marquis of the East Capital, looking like a kid who doesn't understand the borders and believes whatever you say.

But the Marquis of the East Capital didn't think he was a kid; no kid could have tossed Secluded Prefecture into this state.

"The losses will certainly not be small; the worst fear is that the east and west factions unite in heart. It's been several years since such a heavy snow, we really need to guard against it."

Da Wang sighed like a little adult: "I'm really scared; I just wanted to recruit a batch to train first, in case they come and we grab them, will they be able to fight? But it's hard to recruit, Liang Shu! Da Wang conscripted ten thousand, but after many days only fewer than two thousand showed up; the people aren't enthusiastic at all! What's the use of Da Wang being anxious? They don't know how many refugees are displaced in the south! So I wanted to take this New Year opportunity to gather everyone and explain clearly; Da Wang is truly worried!"

The Marquis of the East Capital didn't know what expression to put on.

You're a feudal lord; your noble rank limits you to three thousand personal troops! Raising private soldiers is a capital crime! You just openly said that to me?

Da Wang, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, directly complained to the Marquis of the East Capital about his conscription plan, still staring with big eyes waiting for him to come up with a plan.

The Marquis of the East Capital wanted to say, "Sorry, I also lack experience, after all I never privately expanded the army."

The Chancellor beside them couldn't stand it any longer; he interjected two sentences for Da Wang: "What a chaotic world, what, Secluded Prefecture and East Xianbei have a grudge? Da Wang is preparing to form a Flying Eagle Guard to defend Secluded Prefecture, not counting as his personal guard."

The Marquis of the East Capital went along with the flow: "Of course, of course, this world really isn't peaceful; Secluded Prefecture having this intention makes this marquis happy as well. Shanggu Pass is not close to Secluded Prefecture; Your Highness being able to organize people for self-defense is the most appropriate."

Da Wang raised his chin at the Chancellor: "See, I said Liang Shu would understand me; only we border prefecture folk can save ourselves. Liang Shu, after my trip to Long Peace I learned my father emperor is really poor! If one day the various Xianbei tribes march south to besiege the city, expecting him to send troops to support me is out of the question! After attending court for a few days I was practically dead-hearted; they argue every day about money—today about water control, tomorrow about military provisions. As for this Secluded Prefecture, there's not much profit either; waiting for them to reach a conclusion, the grass on my grave will have grown long."

Zhao Bao behind Da Wang coughed desperately; "Da Wang, if you're going to play the misery card, just play it—why also bring a curse on yourself!"

Marquis of the Eastern Capital: "……is extreme." He seemed not too suited to speak about this question, fortunately, the time finally arrived, successfully rescuing him.