His friends crowded around him, sighed and said: "Next ti we encounter bandits, if they lack good judgnt and don’t recognize your face, we’ll surely die."
Wang Xuan’s face darkened, and he said, "My father has passed away, I must return to arrange his burial, not to ntion my sisters are still missing. I have to go back to Luoyang."
"And now there’s another reason," he raised the book in his hand and said: "I must seek Zhao Hanzhang, avenge my father, and recover lost lands."
"Whether for public duty or personal reasons, I must return to Luoyang."
His friends saw his resolve and sighed, no longer urging him.
Wang Xuan knew the journey was dangerous, so he did not ask his friends to accompany him. He said, "We are not far from Langya now, you might as well seek refuge with King Langya."
He said, "Central Plains is no longer safe, but there is Qingzhou atop Xuzhou as a barrier, temporarily unimpaired. However, there are also many bandits along the way, be careful."
The remaining three were shocked, "You’re going to Luoyang alone?"
Wang Xuan pointed to the servant lying on the ground beside him and said, "I have a follower, that’s enough."
Enough my foot, they used to have over thirty people including guards and servants, but now only twelve survived, all narrowly escaping death from bandits a few tis.
If they just left like this, who knows when they might silently die at the hands of bandits.
His friends hesitated for a mont, and then soone said, "I’ll accompany you."
Wang Xuan could see he had no reason to go to Luoyang, so he put his hand on his shoulder and laughed loudly, "Forget it, don’t trouble yourself with following . If you do, I’ll have to take care of you."
Wang Xuan patted his shoulder and said, "I’ll go alone, with fast horses, it will be quicker."
Pei Yang hesitantly asked, "Where’d you get a horse?"
The other two also turned their heads to look at Wang Xuan, yes, where’d you get a horse?
Constantly being robbed, encountering bandits, they had just escaped from a bandit nest. Not to ntion a horse, they didn’t even have money for als.
Wang Xuan also froze but beca optimistic, waving his hand, "No problem, I’ll find soone and write an essay."
The three thought of Wang Xuan’s calligraphy and their spirits lifted, becoming optimistic.
Wang Xuan was a leader among his generation, skilled in essays, and even more so in calligraphy. Although his writing wasn’t as good as his father’s, it was close.
As long as he could find the local gentry and write a piece, sign his na, he could get travel funds, maybe even a horse and cart.
So everyone got up, happily calling out: "Let’s go, hurry, don’t delay, it’s hard to find people after dark."
They gathered around Wang Xuan to find a household that seed to live well.
Like Zu Ti and Wang Xuan, many nobles were moved by Zhao Hanzhang’s letter. Her analysis of the state of the world earned much agreent, and her vision for the future stirred many hearts.
Especially the nobles forced to migrate south.
They were those who had migrated south due to turmoil in the past two years, but life in the south was also difficult. Although there was no war here, they were ostracized and looked down upon by local nobles and gentry, suffering both physically and ntally.
If anyone most wanted to recover lost lands and stabilize the Northern Land, it was these nobles.
The older ones had lost their fighting spirit, but many young people harbored ambitions.
Though Great Jin was chaotic at the ti, it hadn’t yet reached decadence ten years later, so many, like Zu Ti and Wang Xuan, wanted to pack up and head north after closing the book.
So decided to join Zhao Hanzhang, others chose to go directly to Yun City to serve the emperor and Gou Xi.
Anyway, no matter who, the two sides would ultimately cooperate to reclaim lost territories.
In a quiet courtyard in the Poyang County of Yangzhou, Wei Jie leaned against the window, reading the booklet repeatedly. Until footsteps sounded outside the room, he slowly closed the booklet, but still held it unwilling to let go.
Seeing his mother co in, he imdiately wanted to rise and salute, but as soon as he moved, Mrs. Wang quickly stepped forward, pressed him and said: "We are mother and son, no need for formalities, sit down and stay still."
She took the goat milk from a maid and placed it on the table in front of him, softly saying: "You ate little in the morning, still should have more to maintain energy."
Wei Jie agreed, placed the booklet on the table, picked up the bowl and gently drank.
Mrs. Wang glanced at the booklet, sighed and asked: "You’ve been reading this booklet for three days, why are you still reading it?"
Wei Jie finished drinking the goat milk, thought for a mont and said, "Mother, I want to return to Luoyang."
Mrs. Wang’s expression didn’t change much, she just asked: "Why?"
He said, "Originally, when I led mother south and separated from my elder brother, it was to seek a chance for the family, he fulfilled his loyalty, I fulfilled filial duty."
"But we are northerners, even if I receive much courtesy in the south, it’s hard for the Wei Family to make a stand here. You’ve seen the circumstances these past two months, the Wei Family wants to buy a piece of land, no matter how high the price, without a local gentry’s consent, no one dares to sell it to us. Even my reputation here is in vain."
Wei Jie pressed his fingers hard on the booklet, the sunlight finally brought so color to his pale fingers. He said: "I’ve heard Zhao Hanzhang has held three exams for recruiting talents. Besides the recruiting exams, at other tis, she never hesitates to give positions to scholars as long as they catch her eye."
"I’ve also heard traveling rchants from Jiangnan say that the business tax in Yu State is extrely low, the lowest among several major states. She even sends Zhao Family Army to clear bandits along official roads to ensure the safety of traveling rchants." Wei Jie said: "If she has such ambitions, her grand wish to regain the lost territories might be achievable."
Mrs. Wang had a bewildered expression and said: "Such great ambition, how many n have failed to achieve it, can she really do it?"
Wei Jie held the booklet tightly, pursed his lips and said: "I believe she can, and I want to try."
Mrs. Wang was montarily silent.
Wei Jie gently said: "Mother, this is for the family’s sake. Initially, my elder brother served loyally by Your Majesty’s side, leading the family south, first for survival, second to find another path. Now it’s just changing the south to Zhao Hanzhang."
He said: "I and my elder brother will be positioned east and west. No matter if Gou Xi seizes power or Zhao Hanzhang advances further, the Wei Family will have a place."
Mrs. Wang saw that he had plotted to this extent for the family, his gaze steadfast, and knew she couldn’t stop him. So she sighed and asked: "Are we all to return? "
"No," Wei Jie said: "Mother and the clan brothers should go to Huiji, I’ll only take one or two clansn back to Luoyang."
Mrs. Wang was startled, "We’re not going together?"
Wei Jie nodded, his eyes sorrowful, grasped her hand and said: "Mother, I fear I can’t fulfill filial duty for now. There are strong enemies in the north. If Zhao Hanzhang and Gou Xi cannot jointly reclaim lost lands, then Central Plains will fall, Yan State, Yu State, and Si Province won’t be spared. Leave the family’s roots temporarily in Jiangnan. If my elder brother and I... then the Wei Family will still have surviving clansn. If my elder brother and I bring good news, then move the clan back."
User Comments
0 comments from readers