Chapter 21

Wang Jin was about to depart as the Annan Strategy Envoy, and the news of his heading to the Southwest spread quickly.

Reactions to this appointment were complex both at court and among the populace.

Some admired his courage. After all, the Southwest is a barbaric land, plagued by war and pestilence; going there is tantamount to a near-certain death.

Others gloated at his misfortune, thinking that a frail scholar like him would either die at the hands of rebels or succumb to the local climate—either way, he wouldn't last long.

But those most worried were the Wang family themselves and the Eastern Palace's Crown Prince, Li Chongjun.

The Wang family's new residence.

Madam Li packed her husband's belongings while continuously wiping away her tears.

"My lord, the Southwest is so far and so dangerous… could you… could you not go?"

Wang Jin (Wang Xiu) gently wiped her tears and softly comforted her: "Madam, this is the Emperor's decree, and it is my chance to secure a future for the Wang family—I must go."

"But…"

"No 'but.'" Wang Jin (Wang Xiu) took her hand, his expression turning grave: "I'll be gone for as little as six months or as long as a year. While I'm away, everything at home is entrusted to you."

He took out a thick stack of blueprints and a pouch of gold from his bosom and placed them in his wife's hands.

"These are the drawings I made for the glazed‑tile kiln and the porcelain kiln, along with some improved firing formulas. I've had friends at the Ministry of Works review them—they all say they're feasible. Take these and find the artisans we hired; have them start construction right away."

"Also, this is the business plan for the shop. Remember, we deal only in high‑end goods, better scarce than excessive. Even if we lose money at first, you must establish the signboard of the Wang Family Trading House!"

"And there's Yishui Manor—spring plowing is imminent; you must go in person to supervise and ensure this year's harvest. The blueprints for the new farming tools I left you should be turned into reality by the manor's blacksmith as soon as possible."

Wang Xiu converted all the agricultural and artisanal knowledge he knew from the modern era into diagrams and texts understandable in this age.

He wanted his wife, during his absence, to complete the Wang family's industrial layout for him!

Madam Li felt the weight of the blueprints and gold in her hands, sensing her husband's unprecedented trust and entrustment; she dried her tears and nodded firmly.

"Husband, rest assured! I… even if I have to stake my life, I will certainly see to the tasks you entrusted to me and get them done perfectly!"

In her eyes, a light called 'growth' flickered.

Wang Xiu knew that from this moment on, this ancestral grandmother would no longer be an ordinary woman who only knew how to tend to her husband and educate her children; she would become the first true 'mistress' of the Wang clan, a thousand-year-old family.

After settling his household affairs, Wang Jin was again summoned and headed for the Eastern Palace.

Li Chongjun had already been waiting inside the hall, and upon seeing Wang Jin, he hurried forward to greet him.

"Master Wang! You really want to go to the southwest? Father Emperor is also too muddle-headed! How could he let you take such a risk? No, I will go see Father Emperor right now and have him rescind this order!"

He was impatient and, saying that, was about to rush out.

"Your Highness, please wait!" Wang Jin hurriedly stepped forward to stop him.

"Your Highness, the Emperor's move is not foolish, but wise." In the eyes of Wang Jin (Wang Xiu) shone the light of wisdom.

Li Chongjun stared, asking: "How so?"

"Your Highness, consider this: I, at the young age of having just taken the cap, already hold a high position and have already invited envy and resentment. If I remain longer in the Capital, staying by your side to offer counsel and strategy, the likes of Wu Sansi will think what? They will only see me as a pawn you have planted in the court, a future powerful minister. Their suppression of you will only grow more frenzied."

"Now, the Emperor has exiled me to the southwest. First, it is to let me put my strategy into practice and establish merit. Second, it is also to let me temporarily avoid the political whirlpools of the Capital, a veiled protection."

"More importantly," Wang Jin (Xiu) lowered his voice, "it is during my absence from the Capital that Your Highness truly has the best opportunity to hide your abilities."

Li Chongjun's breath caught.

He instantly understood Wang Jin's meaning.

With Wang Jin present, he was like having a strategist and a mainstay, inevitably exposing his sharp edges.

But when Wang Jin left, he lost his right-hand aid, becoming isolated and helpless. At that point, if he again showed weakness to the Emperor and played the role of an obedient, incapable crown prince, it would be more genuine and better able to paralyze Empress Wei and Wu Sansi.

"I… I understand." A flicker of struggle passed through Li Chongjun's eyes, but ultimately it turned into resolve.

"Master Wang, rest assured. In your absence, I will certainly follow your instructions, restrain my mind, honor my father the Emperor, and let them all look down on me!"

Wang Jin (Wang Xiu) nodded approvingly.

The young one is teachable.

He then took out a thin booklet from his sleeve and handed it to Li Chongjun.

"Your Highness, this is some homework I have prepared for you. Inside are recorded some of my superficial views on 'The Art of War' and 'Han Feizi', as well as some… balancer techniques. In your leisure, you may peruse it a bit."

This booklet was painstakingly compiled by Wang Xiu, who expended countless efforts and mental energy, combining later generations' theories of statecraft and historical cases, specially written as an introductory text on imperial arts for the crown prince.

This is his most precious gift to the crown prince.

Li Chongjun solemnly received the booklet, as if obtaining a priceless treasure.

"Master Wang, on your journey to the southwest, be careful in all things! I… will wait for your return!"

"I, your servant, will surely not disgrace the mission."

After bidding farewell to the crown prince, Wang Jin returned to the Secretariat and began making final preparations for his journey south.

Although the Emperor granted him the title of 'Pacifying South Strategic Envoy', he did not provide any troops. All he could bring was a small entourage, consisting of a few attendant clerks from the Secretariat and twenty Imperial Guard troops personally bestowed by the Emperor.

These people were his entire base of support for establishing himself in the southwest.

But while Wang Jin was busy preparing his luggage, he failed to notice that in a certain corner of the Secretariat, several pairs of ill-intentioned eyes were secretly observing his every move.

A low-ranking clerk, taking advantage of the lack of attention, secretly copied a document recording Wang Jin's southern route and schedule, and slipped it into his sleeve.

That night, the copied document was sent to the residence of Zhong Chuke.

Zhong Chuke looked at that detailed route map, and a ferocious smile appeared on his face.

"Good, very good."

He said to the black-clad figure before him, clad in nightwear and with a chilling aura: 'You already know the route. Remember, do not act in the environs of the Capital; wait until they Era Name Transition Jingxiang region, where the mountains are high and the forests dense, which is the ideal place to strike.'

"After success, disguise it as the work of mountain bandits. Make things clean."

The black-clad man hoarsely nodded: 'Sir Envoy, rest assured. We, the "Outlaws", never leave a living witness when we act.'

Having said that, his figure vanished into the night, attracting no one's attention.

Zhong Chuke stood by the window, gazing toward the direction of Wang Jin's residence, the smile at the corners of his mouth growing ever colder.

"Wang Jin, Wang Jin, do you think you are going out to achieve fame and accomplishment?"

"No, you're going to your death!"

"The road to Yaozhou is your Yellow Springs Road!"

And Wang Jin (Wang Xiu), who was about to set out on the expedition, still knew nothing about this.