Chapter 109: The Play Must Be Performed in Full

Zhao Yan was completely dazed by this sudden change before his eyes.

With a crisp "clang", the wine cup in his hand slipped, fell onto the mirror-smooth floor, and shattered into several pieces.

The cold wine splashed onto his brand-new official boots, but he didn't notice, merely staring blankly at the furiously angry Wang Po on the main seat.

What's going on?

What on earth is going on?

His head buzzed, as if he'd been hit squarely in the face with a blunt stick.

We came to South of the River to "comfort" the Wang Family at Your Majesty's behest, and, uh, to raise some funds for the Court.

How did the script suddenly change halfway through?

How did this perfectly ordinary fundraising rally turn into a full-scale wartime mobilization in the blink of an eye?

Is the Wang Family going to war with Yang Xingmi of South of the Huai River?

Zhao Yan's eyelid twitched, and his heart skipped a beat.

This is a huge deal!

Yang Xingmi of South of the Huai River—what kind of person is he? He's a contemporary warlord who could wrist-wrestle Zhu Wen! The Wang Family holds South of the River Eastern Circuit; though strong, compared to Yang Xingmi they're still a bit lacking.

If these two families really go to war, the whole South of the River will be thrown into chaos!

By then, let alone grain supplies, it's questionable whether the Court can even stabilize the southern situation!

Zhao Yan broke out in a cold sweat.

He looked at Wang Po's face, flushed with anger, glanced at the untouched delicacies on the table, and an utterly absurd idea uncontrollably rose from his heart.

Just moments ago he was crying poverty, saying there wasn't a drop left.

Then, because of a hundred students, he wants to personally lead the army to level Gold Hill?

This war……doesn't cost money?

Mobilizing troops, provisions first, equipment wear and tear, consolation for soldiers—none of that is small change? Isn't your Wang Family even tightening its belt? What would you fight with?

Could it be……

Zhao Yan's pupils contracted sharply.

He stared fixedly at Wang Po, watching his chest heave with violent rage, seeing the terrifying killing intent in his eyes.

A shiver, and Zhao Yan instantly regained half his clarity.

This isn't anger—it's clearly… sheer delight!

This old fox has been acting from start to finish!

From crying poverty, to actively demanding an inspection of the treasury, to now this violent rage declaring war!

This is a linked scheme!

He never intended to give the Court money; he even… he even just wants to find an excuse to go to war with Yang Xingmi!

And I, this so-called "angel", from the moment I stepped into this fortress, have become the most important spectator in his theater!

This is a huge deal!

Who is Yang Xingmi? He's a warlord of the same stature as Zhu Wen and Li Ke Yong! Holding South of the Huai River and Jing and Xiang with over ten provinces, tens of thousands of troops, strong horses and sturdy soldiers.

Although the Wang Family dominates South of the River alone, going head-to-head with an opponent like Yang Xingmi is undoubtedly a bloody battle that hurts muscles and bones.

"Wang… Wang Family Head…" Zhao Yan stammered, wanting to say a couple of words, "You… you better not act rashly. Is… is there some misunderstanding here?"

"Misunderstanding?" Wang Po (Wang Xiu) turned his head, his eyes blood-red as he looked at him; the killing intent in his gaze made Zhao Yan feel like he was being stared down by a ferocious tiger, his hairs standing on end.

"Yang Xingmi killed a hundred unarmed students of my Wang Family! What misunderstanding could there be!"

"My Wang Family has never suffered such utter humiliation since establishing itself in South of the River!"

"If this grudge is not avowed, I, Wang Po, swear not to be human!"

Wang Po (Wang Xiu) performed with genuine feeling, beating his chest and stamping his feet, as if he had truly suffered a great injustice.

Behind him, those Wang Family descendants, each filled with righteous indignation, drew their waist swords and roared in unison:

"Level Gold Hill! Blood for blood!"

"Level Gold Hill! Blood for blood!"

The earth-shaking roar echoed in the banquet hall, startling Zhao Yan so much he slipped off his seat.

He finally understood why the Wang Family was "out of money".

They're planning to spend everything they have to go to war with Yang Xingmi!

Now, forget about extortion—just not getting dragged into this war is already burning high incense.

"Wang Family Head! Wang Family Head! Don't do this! Absolutely not!" Zhao Yan scrambled over and clung to Wang Po's thigh.

"You really need to think twice!" Zhao Yan's voice changed tone, choked with sobs, clinging desperately to Wang Po's thigh, tears and snot streaming—there was no trace of the angelic envoy's dignity left.

He lifted his head, looking at Wang Po's angry face, his heart about to jump out of his throat.

"Yang Xingmi is powerful and hard to deal with! If you start this war, the entire South of the River will suffer!"

He shouted about protecting the people, but inside he was raving madly.

Fear!

He is truly afraid now!

What he fears isn't the Wang Family spending everything and losing; then he could just pat his butt and return to the Capital, at most gaining a reputation for ineffectiveness.

What he fears is, what if the Wang Family actually wins?!

Yang Xingmi is strong, but the Wang Family isn't to be trifled with! These South of the River local tyrants, entrenched for a century, deep-rooted—who knows how much wealth they've hidden? If they go all-out, they could very well slay that tiger Yang Xingmi!

By then, the entire South of the River, from Money Pond to Jing and Xiang, this fertile land would utterly become his Wang Family's domain!

What could the Court possibly use to counterbalance them?

Use their heads to counterbalance?!

He came to Jiangnan this time under imperial orders, to warn these disobedient local tycoons, and incidentally line his own pockets. Put bluntly, he came to shear wool.

But what's going on now?

Not a single wool strand was sheared; instead, he has to watch this sheep swallow the neighboring tiger and evolve into a vicious dragon that could soar through clouds at any moment.

If Your Majesty finds out, Zhao Yan's head will likely hit the ground before the copper coins in the Wang family treasury!

"Head of the Wang Family! Hear me out!" Zhao Yan, sweating profusely, the fat on his face trembling, "Yang Xingmi murdered scholars—this is a heinous crime! But, but this matter is suspicious; perhaps villains are stirring discord, aiming to let you and Yang Xingmi lose both sides, so he can reap the benefits as the fisherman!"

Thinking on his feet, he began to ramble, trying to give Wang Po a way out.

"Exactly! That must be it!" Zhao Yan seemed to grasp a lifeline, his voice rising an octave, "You know, who doesn't know that your Wang family and Yang Xingmi have always kept to themselves? Why would he kill your people for no reason? This defies common sense! There must be a tremendous conspiracy behind this!"

Wang Po (Wang Xiu) lowered his head, gave him a cold glance, that look as if seeing an idiot.

"Conspiracy?" Wang Po (Wang Xiu) shoved Zhao Yan off his leg with such force that Zhao Yan rolled twice on the ground, his official cap askew.

"The blood of my Wang family kin is still hot! You come to me talking conspiracy?"

He pointed outside, voice like a great bell: "I don't care what conspiracy he has! Kill for murder, blood for blood! This is the simplest principle under heaven!"

"Come!"

"Present!" The Wang family youths responded in unison, drawing swords and blades, cold light flashing.

"Pass my order: blockade all ports and key routes! Not a fly may leave Qiantang!" Wang Po (Wang Xiu) strode with hands behind his back, killing intent rising, "I want to see who's pulling strings behind the scenes! Once I level Jinling and root out Yang Xingmi, everything will become clear."

"Boom!"

Zhao Yan's mind completely blew up.

Blockade the ports and key routes?

This... this damn it, they're going to trap him here to death!

He looked at the surrounding Wang family youths, eyes blood-red, killing intent exposed; a chill shot from his soles to the crown of his head.

He had no doubt that, at Wang Po's command, these people would without hesitation chop this "Angel Sir" into mincemeat on the spot, then frame Yang Xingmi's assassins.

"No! Absolutely not!"

"Must stop him!"

Zhao Yan scrambled over again, this time daring not to clutch his thigh, but with a "plop" he threw himself to the ground, kowtowing loudly to Wang Po.

"Lord Wang, quell your anger! Lord Wang, quell your anger!"

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

He kowtowed so hard his forehead instantly turned red.

"This matter, this matter the Court will certainly not ignore! I… I will immediately memorialize Your Majesty, asking Your Majesty to uphold justice for you! Surely Yang Xingmi will give you an answer!"

Zhao Yan finally revealed his last trump card, trying to suppress Wang Po's "anger" in the name of the Court.

He came to Jiangnan this time to profit, not to be the Wang family's gunman, helping them clear obstacles to unifying Jiangnan.

"Angel Sir, release me!" Wang Po (Wang Xiu) struggled angrily, "This is a private grudge between my Wang family and Yang Xingmi, unrelated to the Court! My mind is made up; you need not urge further!"

"Related! How could it be unrelated!" Zhao Yan clung desperately to his leg, near tears.

"Head of the Wang Family, you are a minister of my Great Liang! Yang Xingmi is also the Huainan Military Commissioner of my Great Liang! You are both pillars of the Court; how can you slaughter each other?"

"If you really fight, once Your Majesty knows, he will fly into a rage!"

He even brought out the Emperor.

"Then, Angel Sir, what do you think should be done?" Wang Po (Wang Xiu) finally grew somewhat "calm," lowering his gaze to him.

Seeing an opening, Zhao Yan hurriedly said: "In our view, this matter still needs careful deliberation. Rather, let us step forward, on behalf of Head Wang, to make a trip to Jinling and ask Yang Xingmi what exactly is going on."

"If he is in the wrong, we will surely make him give Head Wang a satisfactory explanation!"

"If he dares to refuse us, to slight the Court, then when you, Head Wang, later launch troops, it will be justified! When we return, we will surely speak well of you before Your Majesty!"

Zhao Yan now only wants to suppress this matter quickly.

Wang Po (Wang Xiu) looked at his flustered appearance and smirked coldly inside.

"The act, played to this point, is about done."

"What he wanted was exactly this effect."

"He never thought he would go to war with Yang Xingmi right now."

"His performance just now was deliberately put on for Zhao Yan to see."

"His purpose has three points."

"First, to make him completely abandon the idea of extortion. Look, I'm so poor I'd have to resort to banditry—where would I get money to give you?"

"Second, using his mouth to tell Zhu Youzhen that my Wang family will attack Yang Xingmi, and the Court had best stay out of it. This amounts to giving myself a preemptive 'vaccination' and filing a report for my future genuine action."

"Third, and most importantly, he wants to use this 'pretext' to legitimately advance the Wang family's military forces westward, deploying them to the Xuanzhou frontier bordering Yang Xingmi."