Chapter 110

"Since the angelic adult has said so..." Wang Po (Wang Xiu) hesitated for a long time, then reluctantly nodded.

Since the angelic adult has said so...

Let's translate each.

Wang Po (Wang Xiu)

Then I'll give the angelic adult, I'll give Your Majesty, some face.

"However," he shifted his tone, "Yang Xingmi is fickle. Although I won't send troops for now, we must not let our guard down."

I have decided, effective immediately, to station half of the Wang family's forces—about thirty thousand troops—in Xuanzhou, deploying them on the north bank of the Long River to guard against Yang Xingmi's desperate last stand.

"This... this..." Zhao Yan, upon hearing, felt his head swell at the thought of deploying another thirty thousand troops. But after a moment's reflection, deploying troops is better than outright fighting.

"Good, good, good," he said, "the Wang family head's foresight is admirable; it's only right." He could only echo in agreement.

Then please trouble the angelic adult to make a trip to Jinling. Wang Po (Wang Xiu) helped him up, his face returning to its calm expression.

No, no, it's our duty to relieve the Wang family head's worries and the Court's worries. Zhao Yan wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and hurriedly said.

The next day, Zhao Yan, dejected, led his men away from the Wang family stronghold as if fleeing, heading toward Jinling.

When he arrived, he was full of vigor, thinking of making a big profit.

When he left, however, he came away empty-handed, and even stirred up trouble.

He even forgot to read the imperial edict praising him.

And on the very day he left.

The Wang family's thirty-thousand-strong army, under Wang Po's personal command, set out for Xuanzhou.

Under the banner of "guarding against Yang Xingmi," they rightly turned Xuanzhou into a massive military base.

Countless provisions and armaments flowed continuously from Yangzhou to Xuanzhou.

On the Long River, the Wang family's newly built naval fleet also began day-and-night patrols.

The focus of the South of the River had, unnoticed, shifted from Yangzhou to Xuanzhou.

Wang Po (Wang Xiu) stood on the high watchtower of Xuanzhou, gazing across the Long River at the land belonging to Yang Xingmi, his eyes shining with determination to seize it.

He knew that Yang Xingmi and Xu Wen were surely in Jinling at that moment, mocking him for "making a show of strength" and "being played like a fool by a eunuch."

They would never imagine that the true purpose of his performance was not to intimidate them.

But to silently press the sharpest dagger against their throats.

Now, the blade is in place.

All that remains to wait for is the optimal moment to seal their throats with a single stroke.

And that moment will come soon.

Because the so-called "filial son and virtuous grandson" Zhu Youzhen in the north, his good days are also coming to an end.

Zhao Yan returned to Bianliang from the South of the River, grimy and dust-covered.

Upon seeing Zhu Youzhen, he immediately dropped to his knees, sniveling and tearful, exaggerating his ordeal in the South of the River.

"Your Majesty! You don't know! That Wang family... that Wang Po is simply contemptuous of the Court, arrogant and overbearing to the extreme!"

"I, your servant, obeyed your edict to go and proclaim it to him. He actually, actually ate first and then received the edict! This is utterly unprecedented disgrace!"

Moreover, I, your servant, wanted to ask you for some military funds on your behalf. He actually cried poverty to me! Claiming he had emptied his coffers to feed the refugees! You say, isn't that lying with eyes wide open? His banquet is more luxurious than the imperial palace!

What's most infuriating is that he, right in front of me, actually wants to send troops to attack Yang Xingmi in Huainan, claiming it's a personal grudge and that the Court must not interfere! Does he still have you, this emperor, in his eyes? Does he still have the laws of our Great Liang?

Zhao Yan spoke while secretly observing Zhu Youzhen's facial expression.

He knew Zhu Youzhen was most concerned with saving face and also very suspicious.

By saying that, he was sure to plant a thorn in Zhu Youzhen's heart.

As expected, after hearing his lament, Zhu Youzhen's face turned the color of pig liver from anger.

How outrageous! How outrageous! He slammed the dragon throne and rose, shouting, "A mere local tycoon from the South of the River dares to be so arrogant!"

I granted him office and rewarded him with money, yet he actually considers himself a person of importance?

And Yang Xingmi too! He's no good either! I'm not even dead yet, and they want to slaughter each other in the South of the River?

Zhu Youzhen paced back and forth before the dragon throne, the anger in his chest burning ever brighter.

He had thought the Wang family was a sensible "money bag" that he could manipulate at will.

But it turned out to be an ungrateful white-eyed wolf!

He had thought that after his ascension, the world would rally to him and all seas would submit.

But he never expected that even these two local emperors of the South of the River would dare not to put him in their sight!

This leaves the face of this "Lord of Restoration" nowhere to put.

No! I cannot swallow this breath! Zhu Youzhen stopped, a flash of ruthlessness in his eyes, "I will send troops! I will immediately send troops to trample Yangzhou! Let that ignorant Wang Po know who is the master of this world!"

Your Majesty! Please calm down! Please calm down! Jing Xiang beside him, frightened, hastily knelt.

Your Majesty, it is absolutely unwise to act rashly! Now, our court and the Jin Prince Li Cunxu are locked in a decisive battle along the banks of the Yellow River! Our million-strong army is almost entirely concentrated on the northern front! The treasury is empty, forces are stretched thin! There is simply no spare capacity to open another front in the south.

Jing Xiang earnestly pleaded.

He knew that at this juncture, going to war with the Wang family would be tantamount to seeking death.

What of it? Zhu Youzhen, still fuming, wouldn't listen.

Li Cunxu is a grave threat—could the Wang family not be the same? They dare to be so arrogant now; if they truly annex the entire South of the River, what then?

I intend to strike while they are still unfledged, to nip this menace in the bud!

Your Majesty! Jing Xiang, sweating profusely with worry, "The Wang family... the Wang family is tough to beat! Their weapons are too strange! Even Huang Chao's great army suffered a major defeat at their hands! If we rashly attack, once we get stuck in a tough fight, Li Cunxu will exploit the opening—the consequences would be unimaginable!"

Enough! Zhu Youzhen roared, kicking Jing Xiang to the ground.

Again with that talk! Again Huang Chao! What is Huang Chao? Just a bunch of rebels! Can they compare to my heavenly dynasty's army?

I don't believe the Wang family's walls are made of iron, nor their soldiers cast of copper!

I want to see for myself just how formidable their so-called 'new weapons' really are!

Zhu Youzhen had already been blinded by anger.

He felt that everyone was looking down on him.

Now we need to output each line with 【N】 prefix and translation on same line.

The Wrath of the Mediocre Lord

Then

Then I'll give the Angel and Your Majesty a little face.

However, he turned his tone, "the man Yang Xingmi is fickle. Though I am not deploying troops for now, I cannot lack a defensive mindset."

I have decided, effective immediately, to station half of the Wang Family's forces—about thirty thousand troops—in Xuan Prefecture, deploying them on the north bank of the Yangtze to guard against Yang Xingmi's desperate moves.

"This… this…" Zhao Yan thought, hearing that another thirty thousand troops must be stationed; his head spun. Yet on second thought, stationing troops is better than outright fighting.

"Alright, alright, the Head of Family is far‑sighted; it should be so, it should be so." He could only echo repeatedly.

"Then I'll trouble the Angel to make a trip to Jinling." Wang Po (Wang Xiu) helped him to his feet, his face regaining that calm expression.

"I dare not, I dare not. Alleviating the Head of Family's worries, and the Court's worries, is our family's duty." Zhao Yan wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and hurriedly said.

The next day, Zhao Yan left in a dejected manner, leading his men as if fleeing, departing the Wang Family's stronghold toward Jinling.

When he arrived, he was full of vigor, dreaming of making a big haul.

When he left, however, he was empty‑handed and covered in trouble.

He even forgot to recite the Imperial Edict of commendation.

And on the very day he left.

The Wang Family's thirty thousand troops, personally led by Wang Po, set out for Xuan Prefecture.

Under the banner "Defend against Yang Xingmi", they legitimately turned Xuan Prefecture into a massive military base.

Countless supplies and armaments flowed continuously from Yangzhou to Xuan Prefecture.

On the Yangtze, the Wang Family's newly built navy fleet began round‑the‑clock patrols.

Unnoticed, the entire Jiangnan's focus shifted from Yangzhou to Xuan Prefecture.

Wang Po (Wang Xiu) stood atop the high city wall of Xuan Prefecture, gazing across the Yangtze at the land belonging to Yang Xingmi; in his eyes shone a determined gleam.

He knew that Yang Xingmi and Xu Wen were now in Jinling, ridiculing him as "making empty threats" and "being toyed with by a eunuch."

They would not think that his true purpose in staging this drama was not to frighten them.

But to silently press the sharpest dagger against their throats.

Now the knife is already in place.

What remains is waiting for the perfect moment to deliver a throat‑cutting blow.

And that moment will arrive soon.

Because the northern "filial son and grandson" Zhu Youzhen's good days are also nearing their end.

Zhao Yan, dirty‑faced and dusty, returned from Jiangnan to Bianliang.

Upon seeing Zhu Youzhen, he immediately knelt, snot and tears streaming, embellishing his "misfortunes" in Jiangnan and sobbing them out.

"Your Majesty! You don't know! That Wang Family… that Wang Po is utterly contemptuous of the Court, arrogantly overbearing to the extreme!"

"Your humble servant carried out Your Imperial Edict to deliver a proclamation to him. He actually, actually ate first and received the edict later! This is an unprecedented disgrace!"

"Also, I wish to ask him for some military funds on Your Majesty's behalf. He pretended to be impoverished, saying he had emptied his household to feed the refugees! You see, isn't that blatant lying? His banquet was more lavish than the palace's!"

"The most infuriating part is that he, in front of me, threatened to dispatch troops against Yang Xingmi of Huainan! He even claimed it was a private feud, refusing Court interference! Does he still have eyes for you, the Emperor? Does he still respect the laws of our Great Liang?"

Zhao Yan spoke while covertly watching Zhu Youzhen's expression.

He knew that Zhu Youzhen prized his face the most and was the most suspicious.

His words would surely plant a thorn in Zhu Youzhen's heart.

Sure enough, after hearing his lament, Zhu Youzhen's face turned a pig‑liver color with anger.

"How can this be! How can this be!" he slammed the dragon throne, stood up, "A local Jiangnan landowner dares such arrogance!"

"I appointed him an office and granted him money, and he actually thinks of himself as a person of significance?"

"And that Yang Xingmi! He's no good either! I'm not dead yet, and they already want to slaughter each other in Jiangnan?"

Zhu Youzhen paced back and forth before the dragon throne, the fire in his chest burning ever hotter.

He had thought the Wang Family was a timely "money bag" he could manipulate.

But unexpectedly, they turned out to be an untamable white‑eyed wolf!

He had believed that after his ascension, the world would rally to him and all seas would submit.

He did not expect that even these two local Jiangnan "emperors" would dare not take him seriously!

This left the "Revival Lord" wondering where to place his face.

"Impossible! I cannot swallow this grievance!" Zhu Youzhen halted, a fierce glint in his eyes, "I will dispatch troops! I will dispatch them at once, flatten Yangzhou! Let that ignorant Wang Po know who truly rules this world!"

"Your Majesty! Calm down! Calm down!" Jing Xiang, terrified, hurriedly knelt beside him.

"Your Majesty, do not act rashly! At present, our Court and Prince of Jin Li Cunxu are engaged in a decisive battle along both banks of the Yellow River! Our Court's million‑strong army is almost entirely gathered on the northern front! The treasury is empty, forces are strained! We truly have no capacity to open a southern front!"

Jing Xiang pleaded earnestly.

He knew that at this moment, warring with the Wang Family was tantamount to courting death.

"So what?" Zhu Youzhen, still fuming, could not hear a word.

"Li Cunxu is a serious internal threat; does that mean the Wang Family is not? They now dare such arrogance; if they truly annex all of Jiangnan, what then?"

"I will strike while their wings are still weak, act first! Eradicate this disaster in the cradle!"

"Your Majesty!" Jing Xiang, sweating profusely, "The Wang Family… the Wang Family is hard to fight! Their weapons are too bizarre! Even Huang Chao's army suffered heavy losses at their hands! If we attack rashly and become bogged down, Li Cunxu will exploit the weakness, and the consequences are unimaginable!"

"Enough!" Zhu Youzhen roared, kicking Jing Xiang to the ground.

"Again that line! Again Huang Chao! What is Huang Chao but a band of marauders! Can they compare with my Celestial Empire's great army?"

"I doubt the Wang Family's walls are Iron Control‑forged? Their soldiers are copper‑cast?"

"I will see with my own eyes how formidable that so‑called 'new‑style weapon' really is!"

Zhu Youzhen's anger had already clouded his mind.

He felt that everyone was looking down on him.

Jing Xiang underestimates him, the Wang Family underestimates him, even that damned Li Cunxu also underestimates him!

He will fight!

He wants to use a thrilling, exhilarating victory to prove himself! To make everyone shut up!

He wants the world to know that he, Zhu Youzhen, is neither that debauched father nor that incompetent elder brother!

He is the true ruler of the world!

"Come forth!" Zhu Youzhen shouted toward the hall's exterior, issuing a loud command.

"Transmit my edict!"

"Appoint the great general Wang Yanzhang as commander of the southern campaign! Kang Yanxiao as deputy commander!"

"Mobilize from both Dongjing and Luoyang, all troops that can be mustered, totaling 150,000! Claimed as 300,000!"

"Within three days, the troops will set out from Yangzhou!"

"I… will personally lead the imperial carriage on the campaign!"

"What?!"

The moment those words were spoken, the entire court was shocked!

Even Zhao Yan, who had just been stoking the flames, was terrified into a stupor.

He only wanted to file a complaint, to make the emperor give the Wang Family a taste of something, and to vent his own bitterness.

He never imagined he would make the emperor personally lead the campaign!

If they win, that's fine; if they lose… then Zhao Yan would become a timeless sinner!

"Your Majesty! Think it over! A personal imperial expedition is absolutely forbidden!" Jing Xiang scrambled up from the ground, clutching Zhu Youzhen's leg, old tears streaming.

"Get out!" Zhu Youzhen kicked him away again, his eyes filled with madness.

"My mind is made up! Whoever dares to persuade me again will be beheaded without mercy!"

…

Later Liang Emperor Zhu Youzhen, disregarding all ministers' opposition, persisted stubbornly and decided to personally lead the campaign to subjugate the Wang Family.

The news spread across the realm like a creature with wings, swiftly reaching everywhere.

Everyone thought that Zhu Youzhen had gone mad.

The northern strong enemy hadn't been dealt with, yet he turned his head to attack the even more unmanageable tough opponent in the south.

What else could this be if not madness?

Prince Li Cunxu of Jin, upon learning the news, rolled on the spot laughing inside his tent.

"Hahaha! Zhu Youzhen, that fool! Truly heaven aids me!"

He immediately ordered the whole army to launch an attack, taking advantage of the rear emptiness of Later Liang, and made a massive offensive.

Meanwhile, Yang Xingmi of Huainan, upon receiving the news, was both shocked and delighted.

What shocked him was that Zhu Youzhen actually dared to attack the Wang Family.

What delighted him was that these two tigers fighting would guarantee a wound on one side. He could sit back and reap the fisherman's profit.

He immediately ordered the westward army to accelerate, to capture Jingxiang. At the same time, on the north bank of the Yangtze River, he gathered heavy troops under the name "Defensive Liang Army", which was actually a watchful force, ready at any moment to stab the Wang Family in the back.

In an instant, the whole realm's winds and clouds shifted.

Everyone's gaze focused on Jiangnan, on Yangzhou.

They all wanted to see, in this clash sparked by a mediocre lord's anger, which of the two emerging powers would ultimately claim victory.

And the Wang Family Fort, upon receiving intelligence of the Liang army's massive advance, not only remained unflustered, but instead the whole place was unusually calm.

Even there was a hint… of excitement.

Wang Po (Wang Xiu) stood before the massive sand table, watching the black pieces representing the Liang army that had already crossed the Huai River, pressing toward Yangzhou.

A cold smile appeared on his face, like a hunter seeing prey finally step into a trap.

"Transmit my orders."

"All corps, follow the original plan and move into the designated combat positions."