Chapter 84: Sweet Dew Incident, the Eve of Storm

Becoming a general of the Divine Strategy Army was a huge leap for Wang Zong.

He rose from an inconspicuous mid-level colonel to become a core commander holding heavy troops beside the Emperor.

The Wang family's power, after lying dormant for over twenty years, once again stood at the center of Tang Dynasty's power.

Meanwhile, those domineering eunuchs felt threatened.

Especially the two senior captains of the Divine Strategy Army, Qiu Shi Liang and Yu Hongzhi.

The Divine Strategy Army was their turf, a tool they used to control the emperor and intimidate officials.

Now, the emperor had forcibly inserted a nail into their turf.

They naturally hated it to the point of itching teeth, but for the time being they were helpless.

Because Wang Zong's appointment was the emperor's edict, and behind him stood a huge Wang family.

The Wang family's accumulation over the years in the scholar-official class, plus some residual prestige at court, was not something they could easily move.

Wang Zong (Wang Xiu) was fully aware of his current situation.

He was like walking on a tightrope over a cliff, one side the emperor's trust and expectations, the other the Eunuch Faction's cold, devouring gaze.

He must be careful, again careful.

In the Divine Strategy Army, toward his two direct superiors, Qiu Shi Liang and Yu Hongzhi, he behaved extremely respectfully, always consulting and reporting to them, never acting on his own initiative.

His daily work was to drill the ten thousand Divine Strategy Army under his command.

He used the training method he learned from his father, combined with Wang Xiu's various training techniques observed from later generations, gradually turning his troops into a true elite.

His army had strict discipline, orders were followed, and although they had not yet tested combat strength, they should far surpass other Divine Might Army units.

His ability was seen by all, his low-key and 'sensible' demeanor also temporarily eased the vigilance of Qiu Shi Liang and the others.

They thought that although Wang Zong was capable, he lacked political acumen, merely a young warrior.

As long as we give him enough respect and benefits, we can win him over for our own use.

And Emperor Wenzong was also very pleased with Wang Zong's performance.

He secretly kept in contact with Wang Zong through various channels.

He knew that Wang Zong's low-key demeanor was merely a disguise to protect himself.

This made him feel that Wang Zong was someone he could entrust with important matters.

Time passed, in this calm of undercurrents, a few more years.

The ninth year of Great Harmony, 835 AD.

Emperor Wenzong felt the time had ripened.

He could no longer bear being a puppet manipulated by Qiu Shi Liang and those eunuchs.

He wanted to strike back, to reclaim the emperor's power.

He secretly allied with two senior officials at court: Chancellor Li Xun and Prefect Zheng Zhu.

These two were talented, but more ambitious; they likewise hated eunuch domination and longed to achieve an extraordinary feat.

The three hit it off, secretly plotting a court coup aimed at completely eliminating eunuch power.

And the most crucial link of this coup was military power.

They needed an army absolutely loyal to the emperor that could, at the coup's outbreak, quickly seize control and net all the eunuchs.

And the commander of this army was none other than Wang Zong.

That night, Chancellor Li Xun, in the name of a secret imperial edict, quietly came to Wang Zong's residence.

In the study, Li Xun laid out their plan in full.

"General Wang," Li Xun's eyes flashed with excitement and apprehension, "Your Majesty can bear it no longer! I and Minister Zheng have already contacted all officials loyal to His Majesty. Everything is ready, only lacking the east wind!"

"This east wind is you, General, and your Divine Strategy Army!"

"Our plan is: tomorrow at court, General Han Yue of the Golden Warrior Guard will falsely report that sweet dew has descended on the pomegranate tree in the rear courtyard of his office, an auspicious sign, to lure Qiu Shi Liang and the other eunuchs to come watch."

"Then, our previously hidden ambush troops will rush forth and slaughter them all!"

"And your task, General, is to lead your elite troops to seal the gates of Huangcheng, control the remaining units of the Divine Strategy Army, prevent them from mutinying. Once we succeed, you will be the foremost hero who restores order and rebuilds the Tang Dynasty!"

Li Xun spoke with fervor, spittle flying.

Wang Zong (Wang Xiu) listened silently, but his heart was stirred by towering waves.

Sweet Dew Incident!

He knew that this historically famous coup, which ended in a bloody failure, had finally arrived.

What should he do?

Participate?

This undoubtedly violates the Wang family's ancestral teachings. Moreover, he knows better than anyone how crude and idealistic this coup plan is.

In history, they thought that with a few hundred ambush troops they could, in one fell swoop, annihilate the eunuch faction that had operated for decades and was deeply entrenched within Huangcheng.

This is nothing but daydreaming!

Failure is inevitable.

Once they fail, all participants will have no place to bury their bodies.

Not participate?

His current post was personally granted by the emperor; not participating would be tantamount to betraying the emperor's trust.

After the coup fails, the angry eunuch faction's first target for reckoning will be him, the emperor's planted nail in the Divine Strategy Army.

Whether he participates or not, he is doomed.

This is a dead end.

Wang Xiu's mind was in utter chaos.

He realized that before the rolling torrent of history, his personal power was how insignificant.

He was like a person tied to the railway tracks, only able to watch helplessly as the train named 'Fate' came roaring toward him, yet he could do nothing.

"General Wang? General Wang?"

Li Xun's voice pulled him back from his chaotic thoughts.

Wang Zong (Wang Xiu) lifted his head, looking at Li Xun's face full of expectation, and a hint of resolve flashed in his heart.

A dead end?

No, perhaps there is still a sliver of hope.

He could not change the outcome of the failed coup.

But perhaps he could change the fate of some people after the coup.

For example, the emperor.

For example, himself.

"Prime Minister Li," Wang Zong (Wang Xiu)'s voice turned unusually calm, "This matter is of great importance, no trivial affair. Are there any omissions in the plan?"

Seeing his tone, Li Xun felt delighted and quickly said, "General, rest assured, I and Minister Zheng have repeatedly simulated this many times; it is flawless!"

Flawless?

Wang Xiu (Wang Xiu) sneered inwardly.

With your amateurish troupe, still claim it's flawless?

But his expression remained unchanged: "Good. Then, as your servant, I will naturally lay down my life for Your Majesty!"

He agreed.

But what he agreed to was not to participate in this doomed slaughter.

What he agreed to was to seek a sliver of hope for the emperor and for the Wang family.

"Tomorrow, I will follow the prime minister's deployment, lead the troops to block all key passages," Wang Zong (Wang Xiu) said calmly, "but I have one condition."

"Please speak, General!"

"My troops will only handle the outer blockade and patrol. The ambush inside the Jinwu Guard headquarters will be your responsibility. My men will not set foot inside the Jinwu Guard."

Li Xun paused, thinking the request a bit odd, but then realized that Wang Zong's duty was originally to suppress the outskirts and prevent the ShenCe Army from mutinying, so it made sense.

"Good! It's settled!"

After seeing Li Xun off, Wang Zong (Wang Xiu) immediately summoned his most trusted senior officers.

These were officers he had carefully observed over the years, who shared close ties with his father Wang Ce, handpicked for their absolute reliability.

"Convey my orders," Wang Zong (Wang Xiu) said with a stern, resolute gaze, "tomorrow everyone will prepare meals at the third watch, assemble at the fifth watch, don armor and sharpen weapons, but keep it quiet."

"After tomorrow's morning audience, if you hear any movement from the Jinwu Guard direction, you are not to concern yourselves with the Jinwu Guard or the prime minister. Your task is only one."

He looked at the crowd and said, word by word: "At any cost, charge into the Hall of Supreme Harmony and firmly hold the emperor in our hands! Anyone who dares to block us shall be killed on the spot!"

Several officers hearing this were stunned.

They did not understand what the general intended to do.

But they did not ask.

They only knew to obey orders.

"Yes! General!"

Wang Zong (Wang Xiu) gazed at the dark night sky outside the window and let out a long breath.

Tomorrow will be the day that decides the fate of the Tang Dynasty and also the destiny of his Wang family.

He did not know whether what he was doing was right or wrong.

He only knew that he had to do this.

Because the one he sought to save was not Li Xun, not Zheng Zhu, but the emperor seated on the dragon throne.

Only if the emperor lives does his Wang family have a chance to survive.