When Wang Yan received the news, he was taking his afternoon nap.
Hearing the urgent report, he quickly got up and called for Wang Dun, the Grand Herald who was also staying in the capital.
Together, they hurriedly made their way to the imperial palace.
The guards who were supposed to protect the palace had already fled.
Inside and outside the palace walls, soldiers from the Luoyang Central Army under Shangguan Si's command were everywhere.
After identifying themselves, Wang Yan and Wang Dun were allowed to enter, but their attendants were disarmed and left outside the palace gates.
As they walked in, a junior officer accompanied by dozens of armored soldiers escorted them.
The Wang brothers quietly observed their surroundings.
Everywhere they looked, soldiers were carrying large and small bundles, some even pushing carts filled with loot.
They were laughing and chatting merrily, clearly delighted with their spoils.
It seemed that looting the palace was far more rewarding than fighting the enemy troops from Ye.
In the distance, smoke was rising, likely from the direction of the Zhaoyang Hall.
"Minister Wang, please rest assured. The Empress and the imperial concubines have been placed under special guard. The general has given strict orders that anyone who dares to disturb them will be executed without mercy," the junior officer explained in a low voice, noticing the shocked expressions on the Wang brothers' faces.
"General Shangguan is truly a loyal subject," Wang Yan said with a hint of sarcasm.
"His loyalty and bravery are indeed admirable," Wang Dun added with a smile.
Their words, combined with the sight of smoke rising from the palace, were both ironic and absurd.
They were masters of subtle mockery, but they dared not openly criticize.
In the face of life and death, the Wang family had no spirit of self-sacrifice.
Under the threat of Shi Le's blade, so-called famous scholars quickly revealed their true colors, bending their knees with ease.
Shi Le's blade was deadly, and so was Shangguan Si's.
The only difference was that the latter was more familiar, allowing some room for negotiation.
They soon arrived at the Taiji Hall.
Here, there were even more soldiers, but they appeared more disciplined, with sentries posted and weapons at the ready.
Wang Yan took a moment to calm himself.
Though shameless, he was an old fox, skilled at controlling his emotions in front of others.
Over the past two years, the situation in Luoyang had become drastically different from the outer provinces.
The city was filled with rough soldiers who indulged in plunder, rape, and arson, almost as if they were in charge.
If there was any city that least resembled the Great Jin, it was the capital, Luoyang.
In the outer provinces, noble youths could wander the mountains and rivers, compose poetry, and enjoy the beauty of nature.
When tired, they could lie in bamboo groves, listening to the soothing sound of the wind through the leaves.
When annoyed, they could roam the streets without a care for appearances, finding joy in the simple pleasures of life.
When angry, they could vent their frustrations freely, letting their emotions flow.
But none of this was possible in Luoyang.
Zhang Fang wouldn't waste words with you, and his soldiers were even more uncouth.
If you tried to display the refined demeanor of a scholar from the Wei and Jin dynasties, he wouldn't understand.
He only cared about the taste on his tongue.
Shangguan Si might be slightly better, but how much better remained to be seen.
If necessary, they would have to flatter him.
"Minister Wang has arrived," Shangguan Si announced with a loud laugh as he hurried out of the Taiji Hall upon hearing the report.
Soon, as if noticing Wang Dun for the first time, he nodded slightly and said, "Ah, Chuzhong is here too."
What a petty man!
Wang Dun's expression changed briefly, showing a flicker of anger, but he quickly composed himself and returned the greeting.
Shangguan Si exchanged greetings with both Wang brothers.
"General Shangguan, you have brought the Crown Prince back, a great achievement indeed. But what are your plans now?" Wang Yan asked.
Shangguan Si was momentarily stunned.
Truth be told, he hadn't thought it through.
He had simply acted on impulse.
Previously, he had mocked the forces of Mi Huang, Man Fen, and Miao Yuan for not attempting to control the palace.
Now, faced with Wang Yan's question, he realized it might not hold much significance, especially since the Emperor was still alive.
"Luoyang cannot be without a ruler for even a day," Shangguan Si finally blurted out after a long pause.
Wang Yan now had a clearer picture.
From their initial meeting to this conversation, he had gauged Shangguan Si's limits and boundaries.
"What does General Shangguan intend to do?" Wang Yan inquired.
"With the Emperor away, it is only natural to have the Crown Prince act as regent," Shangguan Si replied.
Wang Dun inwardly scoffed.
This was a dangerous move for the Crown Prince.
If the Emperor had issued an edict appointing the Crown Prince as regent, that would be one thing.
But being installed as regent by a group of military men was entirely different.
Unless the Crown Prince was a fool, he would never agree.
Shangguan Si was acting recklessly, driven by greed, perhaps trying to emulate the infamous Dong Zhuo from the late Han dynasty.
"General Shangguan's loyalty is commendable, but others may not see it that way," Wang Yan sighed.
"That's where I need your help, Minister Wang," Shangguan Si said, fixing his gaze on Wang Yan.
Wang Yan neither agreed nor disagreed, simply stating, "General, your bravery and concern for the nation are evident, but without a significant achievement, it may be hard to gain widespread support."
Shangguan Si fell silent.
He had joined forces with Miao Yuan, giving them a numerical advantage, but within the city, there were still the troops of Mi Huang, Man Fen, and Chen Zhen.
Chen Zhen only had about a thousand men, hardly a threat.
Man Fen originally had three thousand soldiers, but now likely had around five thousand.
As for Mi Huang, it was said he had taken in some scattered troops, possibly numbering six thousand.
Combined, these forces were not insignificant, almost matching his own.
If it came to a fight, he could win, but it would be a costly endeavor.
"How can I achieve such a feat?" Shangguan Si asked.
"General, are you aware that Zhang Fang is leading his troops south?" Wang Yan countered.
"I've heard, but I don't know his current location."
"He's not far from Luoyang. At most three days, possibly two, he will be at the city gates."
"So soon? How do you know this, Minister?"
Wang Yan smiled modestly.
"My family has its ways of gathering information."
Shangguan Si's expression tightened, suspecting that Wang Yan might be deceiving him.
In these chaotic times, gathering intelligence was no easy task.
But such claims were hard to verify, making it difficult to call his bluff.
For a moment, Shangguan Si was filled with doubt, and Wang Yan's image in his mind became even more enigmatic.
Wang Yan, on the other hand, felt a sense of relief.
At least this man wasn't like Zhang Fang, who would have simply drawn his sword and attacked without a word.
As long as there was room for dialogue, Wang Yan could find a way.
The worst scenario was dealing with someone who acted without hesitation.
"Please, Minister, enlighten me," Shangguan Si said with a bow, his tone sincere.
"If General can defeat Zhang Fang, who would dare oppose you upon your return?" Wang Yan said.
"In the past, during the Battle of Julu, Xiang Yu defeated the Qin army and summoned the feudal lords. When they entered his camp, they all crawled on their knees, not daring to look up. From then on, Xiang Yu became the supreme commander of the feudal lords, and they all submitted to him. Such grandeur, wouldn't General Shangguan aspire to that?"
Shangguan Si was intrigued.
He had three thousand seasoned soldiers from the Central Army, and along the way, he had gathered another two thousand scattered troops, all now reorganized.
This was his greatest strength, the reason he dared to act so boldly in the city.
Miao Yuan had five thousand soldiers, but compared to his five thousand seasoned troops, they were insignificant.
The Donghai Kingdom's army had a brave general, Shao Xun, but their soldiers were not up to par, so they were not a major concern.
Chen Zhen's forces were too few, having lost most of his men at Dangyin.
A thousand soldiers couldn't achieve much.
If he could defeat Zhang Fang and absorb his surrendered troops, his influence would grow even stronger, and no one in Luoyang would dare oppose him.
Crawling on their knees, not daring to look up—what a grand vision!
"With General Shangguan, Luoyang is as stable as Mount Tai," Wang Yan said with a flattering smile.
Shangguan Si was even more pleased.
Wang Yifu was the most renowned scholar in the land.
In peaceful times, his home would be bustling with visitors.
Someone like Shangguan Si wouldn't even have the chance to meet him.
Yet now, Wang Yan was flattering him.
How wonderful!
Thinking of this, he called over a trusted officer and ordered, "Take five hundred men and patrol the city. Keep the soldiers in check. They can seek wealth, but they must not disturb the women or kill indiscriminately."
"Yes, sir," the officer replied and left.
"General, your righteousness is truly admirable," Wang Yan said with a serious expression, stepping back and bowing deeply.
Shangguan Si quickly helped Wang Yan up.
"Minister, there's no need for such formalities."
"It is only proper," Wang Yan said solemnly.
"General, your loyalty to the nation is evident. You are about to face a formidable enemy and save Luoyang from peril. A mere bow is nothing in comparison."
"Only General can defeat Zhang Fang and protect Luoyang," Wang Dun added, fanning the flames.
Shangguan Si's smile widened.
After years of effort, had he finally reached this point? Even the prestigious Wang family of Langya was bowing to him.
He could never have dreamed of this before.
The western rebels were not formidable fighters.
When the Prince of Changsha was around, he had crushed them.
Now, with over five thousand elite soldiers, he could use them as a foundation, rallying Chen Zhen, Man Fen, Miao Yuan, and Mi Huang to join him.
With a great victory, he would seize power.
"I heard that Minister Wang has a daughter named Huifeng, who has been widowed for many years," Shangguan Si said, emboldened by his success.
"My son is seventeen, a perfect match for your daughter. What do you think?"
Shangguan Si's son was seventeen, while Wang Huifeng was twenty-five.
A perfect match indeed.
As the saying goes, a wife three years older brings gold; a wife eight years older brings unimaginable wealth.
Wang Dun's expression changed slightly upon hearing this.
But Wang Yan showed no concern.
Instead, he laughed and said, "General, when you return victorious after defeating the enemy, you will have rendered a great service to the nation. My daughter has always admired heroes. Marrying into your family would be a dream come true for her."
Shangguan Si, hearing what seemed like Wang Yan's agreement, was thrilled.
This was a daughter of the Wang family, even if she was a widow.
How could someone of his status ever hope to marry into such a prestigious family?
And yet, it seemed possible?
"If Zhang Fang dares to come, Minister, you can watch from the city walls as I crush him," Shangguan Si said, thumping his chest confidently.
(End of Chapter)