Chapter 202: The Sovereign's Heart and Killing Intent

Han Wei traveled day and night, going through three fast horses, and finally on the fifth night he rushed back to Kaifeng.

He did not go home, but directly entered the palace to request an audience.

In the imperial study, candles burned brightly.

Zhao Kuangyin was discussing with his chief strategist Zhao Pu, in front of a huge map, the plan to attack Southern Han.

Seeing Han Wei's face full of shock and fatigue, Zhao Kuangyin waved for the attendants to retreat and asked in a low voice: "What matter is so alarming?"

Han Wei knelt down with a "plop", his voice, due to excitement and haste, still carried a tremor.

"Your Majesty... I, in Yangzhou, saw... saw divine power!"

He described in detail the operation of the Wang family's "Water-Fire Great Power Machine": from its iron body like a giant beast, to the deafening roar; from the white steam it inhaled and exhaled, to the terrifying water dragon that shot straight up, reaching a height of ten zhang on the tower.

He described it with extreme precision, even mentioning the tremor felt in the ground each time the piston struck.

In the imperial study, a deathly silence fell.

Zhao Kuangyin's expression shifted from initial doubt, to solemnity in the middle, and finally to... utter blankness.

He said nothing.

He simply rose slowly, walked to the huge map, and fixed his gaze like a hawk on the two characters "Yangzhou".

As if he wanted to see two holes through those two characters.

Zhao Pu beside him, originally half-closed his eyes as if dozing, now also slowly opened them, a terrifying gleam flashing in his eyes.

After a long while, Zhao Kuangyin finally spoke, his words squeezed out one by one from deep in his throat.

"Han Wei, are you certain... that water dragon is as thick as a water bucket?"

"Your Majesty, absolutely certain! I saw it with my own eyes, not a word false!"

"Are you certain the tower is ten zhang high?"

"Your Majesty, it is no lower than that!"

"Good... good a 'Water-Fire Great Power Machine'..." Zhao Kuangyin repeated softly, his finger heavily drawing a circle on Yangzhou's location on the map.

"Good a project to harness waterworks, blessing myriad people..."

He suddenly turned, fixing Han Wei with a stare: "Besides pumping water, what else can this thing do?"

Han Wei was startled by the emperor's gaze, which held a complex mix of near-greed and fear, his heart jolted; he lowered his head, daring not to meet his eyes.

"Your Majesty... I, I do not know. But... but in conversation, the head of the Wang family, Wang Che, seemed... this is merely the most rudimentary use of this device."

Zhao Kuangyin did not ask further.

He began to pace back and forth in the imperial study.

He had spent half his life in military campaigns; his mind always thought of war!

It could send a thousand jin of water instantly up a ten-zhang tower...

Could it not hurl a thousand-jin boulder instantly a distance of several hundred bu?

One machine could replace the labor of myriad people...

Could it not drive a ship of ten thousand shi on the Yangtze, sailing upstream, covering a thousand li a day?

It could drive a water pump; could it not drive a forge hammer, crafting weapons and armor ten or a hundred times finer than now?

One thought after another, like madly spreading vines, instantly entwined his heart, making him almost unable to breathe.

He felt fear, this fear a hundred times stronger than when he faced tens of thousands of Khitan cavalry at Gaoping!

Because the Khitan cavalry, he could see them, touch them, he knew how to defeat them.

But the Wang family's thing, he could not understand!

He only knew, once the Wang family fully mastered this "divine power" and used it militarily...

... then his Great Song's realm, his Zhao family's empire, before the enemy, would be as fragile as paper, unable to withstand a single blow!

How can one allow others to snore beside the bed!

He originally thought the Wang family was merely a tiger sleeping beside him; he only needed to pull out its claws and teeth, put it in chains, and he could rest easy.

But now he realized, that was not a tiger at all.

It was an ancient beast that could at any moment swallow him, bed and all!

"No..." he stopped pacing, his eyes shooting out a terrifying killing intent: "This thing must absolutely not remain in the Wang family's hands!"

He slammed the table: "Issue my decree, order..."

"Your Majesty, no."

An old voice interrupted him.

It was Zhao Pu.

Zhao Pu slowly rose, walked to Zhao Kuangyin's side, and said softly: "Your Majesty, to use thunderous means now is already a poor strategy."

"Why?" Zhao Kuangyin's chest heaved violently, killing intent boiling.

"Have you considered why the Wang family dared to show this to Minister Han?"

Zhao Kuangyin was taken aback.

"They are telling us." Zhao Pu's voice, icy and clear: "They act without fear. They are not afraid we know; indeed they want us to know."

"This shows that what they hold may be far more than just one 'Water-Fire Great Power Machine'. It also shows they have sufficient strength to withstand Your Majesty's wrath."

"Even if we could take Yangzhou by force, it would be a pyrrhic victory. By then, Jiangnan would be in turmoil, national strength greatly weakened, only giving Northern Han and the Khitan an opening. Moreover... we might not even win."

Zhao Kuangyin's forehead beaded with cold sweat.

He calmed down.

Zhao Pu was right. The Wang family is not Later Shu, not Southern Tang; it is a colossus that has operated for hundreds of years.

"Then according to your view, what should we do?"

Zhao Pu stroked his white beard, a flash of venom in his eyes.

Since it's a yang plot, we'll counter with a yang plot.

Your Majesty can issue a second edict. Say that we have heard the Wang Family has developed the Water-Fire Great Power Machine, beneficial to the state and the people, and I am greatly pleased. To reward this achievement, we specially grant the Head of Family Wang Che a marriage alliance with a lady of the imperial clan, and confer upon him the title Marquis of Investigating Things.

A marriage alliance? Zhao Kuangyin furrowed his brows.

Yes." Zhao Pu nodded, "The marriage alliance is a pretense; sending a hostage is the real intent. We will marry off a princess or a commandery princess to them. In name it's favor, in reality it's surveillance. Should Wang Che show any abnormality, this woman will be a sword hanging over his head.

Furthermore, Your Majesty can seek talent. Say that such divine objects must not be hoarded by a single family. Ask the Wang Family to present their Study of Investigating Things and dispatch master artisans to enter the Capital to serve the Court. In the Capital, establish the Institute of Investigating Things, to be personally overseen by Your Majesty.

Since the Wang Family has displayed these things, it shows they already had such anticipation. If the Wang Family is willing, then this Study of Investigating Things will continuously serve our Great Song. We can use their technology to build our own great power machine!

Zhao Kuangyin's eyes lit up instantly.

On the surface, they use marriage alliances and ennoblement to win over and numb.

In secret, it is outright extortion and infiltration.

Good! Just follow your plan!" Zhao Kuangyin's eyes intertwined with killing intent and greed, "I not only want their Study of Investigating Things, I also want their people!

Issue the decree, enfeoff Wang Hao as Yangzhou Prefect, to assist in Yangzhou military affairs. Tell him, I trust him. Let him assist Wang Che well.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Pu revealed a hint of approving smile.

Divide and win over, plant spies.

Imperial tactics, Your Majesty has already reached perfection.