Chapter 81

(ps: Brothers, I was too busy yesterday to make up, both chapters were released in the morning, couldn't revise, resulting in over 100 fewer urging updates than before; today I hope brothers will support more.)

Divine Strategy Army

When the eunuch Ju Wenzhen, who held the Divine Strategy Army, united with the old officials in the court and the regional fiefdoms, surrounding Crown Prince Li Chun's 'supervision of the state,' Wang You (Wang Xiu) knew that everything was over.

Crown Prince Li Chun

Regent

Wang You

Wang Xiu

He thought that, through his own scheming, he could let this reform end in a more dignified way, allowing the achievements of the reform to be preserved.

But he forgot that, in the face of absolute violence and naked power, any scheming appears so feeble and impotent.

Dragon Martial Army

Wang Shuwen

Liu Zongyuan

Liu Yuxi

"Outside, the Divine Strategy Army has already sealed off all the ward gates. That old eunuch dog Ju Wenzhen, in the name of 'protection,' has placed Wang Shuwen, Liu Zongyuan, and the others under house arrest at home! These bastards are about to make a move!"

Huangcheng

"The Dragon Martial Army is still in my hands." Wang Ce's tone carried a hint of unwillingness: "As long as big brother, you give the word, I'll immediately lead troops to fight it out with those sons of bitches from the Divine Strategy Army! I just don't believe they'd really dare to rebel!"

Conservative Faction

"Useless, Ce'er." His voice carried a deep fatigue: "This isn't rebellion, it's removing the treacherous ministers. What they have supported is the Crown Prince. He is the legitimate heir apparent. If we move troops, that would be true rebellion."

Imperial Guards

"We can't protect them." Wang You closed his eyes: "From the moment they chose to oppose the eunuchs, their fate was already sealed. All we can do is protect ourselves and protect the Wang Family."

Li Chun

Regent Crown Prince

"What we must do now is protect the Wang Family!" Wang You's tone became unprecedentedly strict.

Wang Ce looked at his older brother's indisputable gaze, and finally, he still wearily lowered his head.

"Yes......"

He knew that what his older brother said was correct.

At this moment, any impulse would only drag the Wang family into an abyss of no return.

Over the next few days, Chang'an City turned into a hell on earth.

The eunuchs and the Conservative Faction began a frenzied retaliation.

Wang Shuwen, Liu Zongyuan, Liu Yuxi... all reformist officials who had participated in the new policies were arrested one by one from their homes and thrown into prison.

What awaited them was harsh interrogation and prepared charges.

Their property would be confiscated; their families would either be exiled or reduced to slaves.

A grand reform ultimately turned into a bloody purge.

Wang You (Wang Xiu) shut himself in his study, ignoring everything outside.

He knew he could do nothing.

The only thing he felt fortunate about was his earlier caution.

From the beginning, he had hidden himself behind the scenes, pushing all the credit onto Wang Shuwen.

In everyone's eyes, Wang You was merely someone Wang Shuwen had brought in, who had not yet contributed much help, a peripheral figure, not a core member of the reform.

Moreover, his younger brother Wang Ce held command of the Imperial Guards; given the situation of having to avoid harming the hostage, those eunuchs, for the time being, did not dare to move against him.

But he also knew this was only temporary; once they had dealt with Wang Shuwen, the next target would be him.

But a few days later, an unexpected person paid him a late-night visit.

It was Crown Prince Li Chun.

No, he should now be called the Regent Crown Prince.

He came to Wang You's residence under the protection of his trusted aides, quietly.

In the study, Li Chun looked at Wang You, his face full of guilt and helplessness.

"Wang Prime Minister, I... have let you down."

Wang You (Wang Xiu) calmly looked at him: "Your Highness, why say this? Victory and defeat have always been the way of things; this matter has nothing to do with Your Highness."

"No, it is related to me." Li Chun gave a bitter smile: "If it weren't for my weakness, those eunuchs led by Ju Wenzhen would not have succeeded to this extent."

"Your Highness, saying these now is too late." Wang You (Wang Xiu) interrupted him: "Your Highness, coming here late at night, you surely did not come just to say these things to me."

Li Chun fell silent for a moment, then nodded.

"Wang Prime Minister, Wang Shuwen and the others do not deserve death; I wish to protect them."

Wang You (Wang Xiu) did not expect that, at this time, Li Chun would still be thinking of saving people.

He looked at this young heir apparent before him, and for the first time, a hint of respect arose in his heart.

Perhaps he could truly become a good emperor.

"Your Highness, what do you intend to do?" Wang You asked.

"I would like to ask the Prime Minister to step forward and mediate." Li Chun looked at him with sincere eyes: "You are highly respected in the court and still have some connections with all factions; if you go to negotiate with Ju Wenzhen and the others, perhaps you could secure a way out for Wang Shuwen and the others."

Wang You (Wang Xiu) fell silent.

Negotiating with a gang of mad dogs who had just succeeded in a coup? That would be no different than seeking the tiger's skin.

But seeing Li Chun's hopeful gaze, he ultimately nodded as well.

"I will do my utmost."

Wang You agreed, not because Wang You thought it could succeed.

It was because this is what Wang You owed Wang Shuwen and the others.

Wang You was willing to voluntarily submit a memorial, requesting retirement, to return home and henceforth not involve himself in state affairs, and also to persuade his younger brother Wang Ce to hand over part of the Military Power, in order to exchange for the lives of Wang Shuwen and the others, only asking that they be demoted and exiled, leaving them a way to live.

Ji Wenzhen and the others, after deliberation, actually agreed.

They also knew that the Wang Family was a tough bone to chew. Wang Ce's Dragon Martial Army was always a threat.

If they could use the lives of those doomed men of Wang Shuwen to secure the complete withdrawal of the Wang brothers, it would be a profitable deal for them.

Thus, a transaction was concluded, and a few days later, the Regent Prince issued an order.

Wang Shuwen, Liu Zongyuan, Liu Yuxi and the other "Eight Simas", on the charge of "forming factions for personal gain, disrupting the court's governance", were all dismissed from office, demoted to remote Prefectures and Counties, never to be reinstated.

Wang You, on the grounds of "old age and frailty, unable to handle state affairs", was granted permission to retire, bestowed a noble title, and honorably returned to his hometown.

Wang Ce also "voluntarily" submitted a memorial, resigning from the position of General of the Dragon Martial Army, retaining only an empty title, and likewise chose to "retire and return home".

A thunderous and fierce Yongzhen Reform, in this almost absurd manner, drew its curtain.

The Wang brothers all lost their positions, but they managed to preserve the family and withdrew unscathed.

Wang You (Wang Xiu) stood on the carriage about to leave Chang'an, turned back to glance at the city he had lived in for decades.

In Wang You's heart, there was no frustration of failure, only a deep sense of helplessness.

In the end, Wang You still could not change history.

He could only watch, eyes wide open, as those idealistic reformers were crushed to pieces by the great wheel of the age.

"Let's go home," Wang You said to the Wang Ce beside him.

After being away from home for decades, the carriage finally began to move slowly, heading toward the Jiangnan direction.