It was already the fifth month of the first year of Yong'an (304 A.
D.), the fourth month since Luoyang had regained peace.
As soon as Wang Yan returned home from court, he saw Wang Dao, Wang Cheng, and Wang Dun waiting for him.
Without much ado, he nodded in greeting and led them into the secret chamber of his study.
"Hehe, no matter how the wind blows or the rain falls, no matter how things change, in the end, they still have to come to me, haha," Wang Yan said smugly, kneeling behind his desk and swaying his head.
To be fair, Wang Yan, at the age of forty-nine, was one of the top figures in the Jin Dynasty.
In an era where metaphysics was flourishing, gatherings and debates were as common as hairs on an ox.
Whoever made a splash in these events would gradually rise to fame, gaining "fans" who sought his opinions and mentorship.
If one's individual fame wasn't enough, they could always form a group.
The "Five Talents of Jiangdong" was a prime example, and there were even larger groups like the "Twenty-Four Friends of the Golden Valley Garden."
Wang Yan didn't need such tricks.
After the death of the previous top figure, Pei Wei, he became the most prominent.
Sima Ying had recommended him as the Left Deputy of the Department of State Affairs—coincidentally, the same position Pei Wei had held at the end of the Yuan Kang era.
If Sima Yue came to power, he would also need Wang Yan to adorn the court and attract scholars from across the land to serve as officials.
The more scholars who came, the greater Sima Yue's influence and the more stable his power.
It seemed like Wang Yan couldn't lose, no matter what.
Wang Cheng, Wang Dao, and Wang Dun couldn't help but smile, feeling more relaxed seeing their cousin so at ease.
"Maohong," Wang Yan first turned his gaze to Wang Dao, "Is there really no way to handle a small place like Xuzhou?"
Wang Dao looked somewhat ashamed.
"The Grand Commandant has been recently courting Prince Mao of Dongping, so he might not move him from his position. Trying to exert influence in the Grand Commandant's office might not work. Perhaps we should see what happens in Ye."
"You're quite honest," Wang Yan chuckled.
"I dare not let a little pride ruin the family's grand plans," Wang Dao replied.
"Hmm..."
Wang Yan stood up and began pacing slowly.
"The Crown Prince recommended me as the Left Deputy of the Department of State Affairs, hoping I would assist him in court. But he doesn't fully trust me. Securing a crucial place like Xuzhou is difficult. Prince Mao of Dongping has never declared his allegiance, and both Chengdu and Donghai are vying for his support. No one dares to move against him lightly."
When does a fence-sitter have value in a united front? Answer: When the various forces are roughly balanced, and no single party holds an absolute advantage.
In other words, the war from a few months ago wasn't decisive or thorough.
Sima Yue had inherited part of Sima Yi's legacy and had won over several members of Sima Kui's faction, giving him considerable influence.
Chengdu Prince's performance on the battlefield had been lackluster, and his victory was largely due to Sima Yue's betrayal, making it a somewhat lucky win.
This meant he couldn't swallow Luoyang whole and completely eliminate the local forces aligned with Sima Yue.
To break this awkward stalemate, there was only one solution: fight another war, where the winner takes all, and the loser loses everything.
Would the situation move in this direction? It seemed so.
"Brother, do you have a strategy?" Wang Dao asked sincerely.
Wang Yan shook his head.
"Let's wait and see. If Sima Yue and Sima Ying clash, who will Prince Mao side with? If he chooses the wrong side, we might have a chance to remove him during the aftermath."
Wang Dao nodded silently.
Prince Mao was a crafty old fox, never quick to take sides.
He only jumped in when the situation was clear, flattering the winner to keep his position.
If Prince Mao chose correctly again this time, things would become troublesome.
Thinking of this, Wang Dao felt a bit frustrated.
The current timing was too sensitive.
A year ago, Xuzhou wouldn't have been so hard to secure.
But back then, the Wang family didn't have much influence either.
What could they do?
"Actually, I still hope Sima Yue wins," Wang Yan suddenly said, drawing the attention of the three.
"No reason..."
Seeing their intense gazes, Wang Yan laughed, turned around gracefully, and stretched.
"If Sima Yue wins, it'll be easier for him to offer me an official position."
Wang Dao and the others laughed.
The Governor of Xuzhou was once called the Governor of Qing and Xu.
The person stationed in Xiapi would recruit many scholars from Qing and Xu as advisors, so the connection between the two regions was quite strong.
People often mentioned them together as a single geographical unit.
The noble families of both regions frequently intermarried, maintaining good relations.
Therefore, Wang Yan indeed hoped Sima Yue would win, as it would give scholars from Qing and Xu more opportunities.
"Do you think I'm being too arrogant?" Seeing his brothers laughing, Wang Yan joined in, then pointed at Wang Dun.
"Chuzhong, don't worry. I'll get you the position of Governor of Qingzhou sooner or later."
"Then I'll wait for the good news," Wang Dun laughed heartily.
Wang Yan then looked at Wang Cheng, his gaze full of approval.
"Pingzi, I'll arrange for you to take over Jingzhou, but you'll have to wait a bit."
"Alright," Wang Cheng obediently replied.
He had been raised by Wang Yan and his wife, so he was very obedient to his elder brother, even feeling a sense of reverence.
"Liu Hong is old and won't live much longer. After he dies, I'll have you take over as Governor and Inspector of Jingzhou," Wang Yan said.
Liu Hong was the current Governor and Inspector of Jingzhou, aged sixty-nine.
It was said his health wasn't great, and he was nearing the end of his life.
"But what about Tao Kan, Tao Shiheng?" Wang Cheng asked.
Tao Kan had distinguished himself in suppressing the rebel army of Zhang Chang.
Liu Hong greatly admired him and even treated him as a successor.
"Tao Kan?" Wang Yan laughed heartily.
"When Tao Kan was farming at home, his mother had to cut off her hair to sell for wine money to entertain guests. Such groveling, just for the position of a county clerk. How could a low-born like him ever become Governor of Jingzhou?"
Though Tao Kan's family was poor, like Wang Hu, they still had some status: they were of the "cold and plain" class.
His father, Tao Dan, had served as General Yangwu during the Wu Kingdom.
After the fall of Wu, life was generally hard for the people of Wu, but thanks to his father's influence, Tao Kan managed to become a minor official in the county.
His life was modest but certainly better than that of ordinary folk.
Of course, in the eyes of the top aristocratic families like the Wangs of Langya, such a background was nothing.
Wang Yan was in high spirits, and it was only natural for him to privately mock those of humble origins in front of his family.
Hearing his brother's unrestrained laughter, Wang Dao felt a bit uneasy.
His brother seemed to be getting a bit arrogant, much like Sima Ying.
Wang Yan didn't care what his brothers thought.
He was in a great mood, acting as if he could command the world.
"Jingzhou has the natural defenses of the Yangtze and Han Rivers, Qingzhou has the protection of the sea. With you all governing these regions, and me staying in Luoyang, we'll have three strongholds. The royal family is declining, so I'm sending you to Qi and Chu. Externally, you can establish a hegemony; internally, you can support the imperial family. Remember this well."
"Brother, we will remember your teachings," Wang Dun and Wang Cheng said in unison.
Wang Dao felt a bit out of place.
Why only mention Qingzhou and Jingzhou? What about Xuzhou? What about me?
"Maohong, Xuzhou is also crucial, located at the intersection of the Jiang and Huai Rivers," Wang Yan didn't forget Wang Dao, turning to him.
"You must understand my intentions."
Wang Dao felt slightly relieved but couldn't help asking, "Brother, your plans are thorough, but why focus only on the Central Plains? I've heard some people are planning to cross the Yangtze and serve in Wu. Why not consider Yangzhou?"
"Six or seven out of ten of the nation's elites are in the Central Plains," Wang Yan replied.
"Besides, our ancestors' tombs are here. Should we abandon them and flee to Jiangdong?"
Wang Dao was speechless.
His brother's confidence was too strong, and his actions were quite different from those scholars who were fleeing south to escape disaster.
From the arrangement, Qingzhou, Xuzhou, and Jingzhou surrounded Luoyang from three directions, all while staying away from the center of the storm.
"Externally, you can establish a hegemony; internally, you can support the imperial family"—indeed, this was his brother's strategic plan, preparing for both outcomes.
In the end, he still aimed to stabilize the Central Plains.
"Brother, your teachings are wise," Wang Dao said, seeing Wang Yan still looking at him, and reluctantly stood up to bow in apology.
"Enough," Wang Yan waved his hand.
"Xuzhou can advance to take the Central Plains or retreat to protect Jiangdong. Since you have ambitions in Wu, work hard and don't let that Pei kid take it from you."
"I'll secure either the Inspector or Governor position," Wang Dao said.
Wang Yan nodded, then asked, "When does Prince Donghai plan to make his move?"
Wang Dao hesitated.
Wang Yan snorted.
"We're all family here. What can't you say? Pingzi, would you leak this to the Crown Prince?"
"Of course not," Wang Cheng said with a grin.
He was an advisor in the Chengdu Prince's office, here in Luoyang on business, and would return to Ye in a couple of days.
Wang Dao had no choice but to say, "It's about to happen. Wang Hu, the Military Advisor in Qian Xiu's office, has been unhappy. He's been to Ye twice and was mocked both times. He's regretting his choices and plans to return to the Grand Commandant."
Wang Yan shook his head and sighed.
"These military men have no sense of loyalty. It's not surprising."
Wang Dao agreed.
"Support Prince Donghai well. When the opportunity arises, I'll help," Wang Yan said.
"Alright," Wang Dao readily agreed.
(End of Chapter)