After Transmigration: Building a Kingdom in Turbulent Times-Chapter 827 - 817: Leak of Secrets

Wang Zan jumped off his horse and took a jug of wine from an attendant, heading towards the military camp. On the way, soldiers greeted him, and he nodded in response, proceeding to Gou Xi’s main tent.

He didn’t notice someone staring at him from behind a tent.

Seeing him enter Gou Xi’s tent, the person hesitated, turned to leave, and soon returned with an official document, but instead of approaching, continued to hide behind the tent.

Inside the tent, Wang Zan was speaking secretly with Gou Xi, "Everything is ready, just waiting for your command, General."

Gou Xi whispered, "The day after tomorrow, Shi Le will attack Xiaxi County, with Zhao Ju overseeing the defense in person to boost morale. So, that day is the best time; instruct everyone to be prepared."

Wang Zan nodded in agreement and asked softly, "Where will we head to Yu State?"

Gou Chun, standing aside, pursed his lips with displeasure, "General Wang, our goal is to reclaim Yan State, not to flee."

Wang Zan thought differently, "Second General’s intention is good, but we currently lack sufficient troops and the equipment isn’t up to the mark. We must be fully prepared to fight Shi Le. Seeking refuge in Yu State is the best option. Amidst the chaos, aside from Jiangnan which hasn’t been affected by war, only Yu State can recruit soldiers and revitalize Great Jin."

He looked at Gou Xi, advising softly, "Now, with Your Majesty in distress and the Crown Prince deceased, the future of Great Jin hinges upon discussions between the Great General and Governor Zhao."

The emperor is under Liu Cong’s control; whether to negotiate for his ransom, appoint another emperor, or establish a Crown Prince to govern must be discussed between Gou Xi and Zhao Hanzhang. This is no trivial matter; if they act separately across vast distances without jointly deliberating, how can Jin State have any hope?

Gou Xi naturally understood this, nodded, "We shall enter Yu State from Gusou, while I send someone to contact Zhao Ju for his support."

Wang Zan breathed a sigh of relief and smiled, "Excellent. Then, I will make arrangements immediately. With Shi Le’s departure the day after tomorrow, we will rise at once."

Gou Xi nodded in agreement.

Beside them, Gou Chun seemed anxious, raising his voice uncontrollably, "Big brother, Zhao Hanzhang wishes to consume us, bones and all. When we held the advantage, she wouldn’t yield, and now that we are beset with trouble, how much less likely?"

Gou Xi glared at him, sternly admonishing, "Silence!"

Wang Zan halted, slightly furrowing his brow as he tried to persuade Gou Chun, "Second General, Governor Zhao is kind-hearted and broad-minded; she won’t mind past grievances."

Gou Chun’s face darkened entirely. Did these words imply past grievances were his fault?

Even Gou Xi seemed a bit displeased.

Wang Zan, unaware, continued to persuade, "Besides, who else can we turn to but Zhao Hanzhang now?"

"King Langya!" Gou Chun said, "Big brother, King Langya is a royal kin. In these chaotic times, with the emperor in crisis, isn’t King Langya a more legitimate choice than Zhao Hanzhang?"

"I’ve heard people say the Wang family proposes King Langya as the Great Alliance Leader, uniting regions to defend Great Jin, with widespread support. Why don’t we seek refuge with King Langya?" He lowered his voice, "You, as the Great General of Jin State, should you go to Jianye, King Langya would surely welcome you with open arms."

Gou Xi pondered.

Seeing his prolonged silence, Wang Zan knew he’d been persuaded, stomped in frustration, "Foolish, foolish, Great General, the old saying holds that the dragon’s vein lies within the Central Plains; whoever holds the Central Plains holds the realm. Zhao Hanzhang now dominates the Central Plains; although King Langya is of royal lineage, he’s not directly descended from the first emperor, and the bloodline is distant. How can he command the entire realm?"

"When Zhao Hanzhang finds descendants of the first emperor’s line and establishes a Crown Prince, how would you fare in Jianye?"

Gou Xi furrowed his brow, about to speak, when suddenly he heard a faint sound. His heart skipped a beat as he called, "Who is outside?"

Outside, Gou Xi’s personal guard immediately reported, "To the Left General, no one has approached."

Sitting behind the main tent, the individual cautiously took out a small cat from his sleeve and threw it out. As the cat meowed and footsteps approached, he swiftly turned and left, slipping into the shadow of another tent. After a quick maneuver, he reached the main road and was about to depart when footsteps sounded behind him...

He glanced back slightly, seeing Gou Xi’s guard on patrol. Instantly, he tightened the official document in his hand, turned on his heel, and continued forward.

The trailing guard caught up, frowned upon seeing him, "Shen Jishi, what are you doing here this late?"

Shen Jishi raised the document in his hand, "An urgent document, needing the Left General’s immediate signature, hence I’m here to find him."

He glanced ahead, smiled as he asked, "Is the Left General in the tent now?"

The guard naturally affirmed, so Shen Jishi proceeded with the document to find Gou Xi.

The guard outside the tent had caught the cat. Nonetheless, Gou Xi remained uneasy; after signing the document for Shen Jishi and watching him depart, he immediately summoned patrolling guards, "Where did you encounter Shen Jishi?"

The guard pointed at a distant tent, "Over there."

Though not far from the main tent, the distance was substantial, ensuring he couldn’t hear the conversation from here.

Yet Gou Xi remained anxious, entered the tent, and said to Wang Zan, "You must return quickly and have them prepare; we could leave at any moment."

Wang Zan stubbornly needed clarification, "Has the Great General decided to go to Yu State or Jianye?"

After a moment of silence, Gou Xi said, "To Yu State."

Only then did Wang Zan leave satisfied.

Gou Chun was anxious but was stopped by Gou Xi, able to speak only after Wang Zan had left, "Big brother, with the current relationship with Zhao Hanzhang, going to Yu State is sending ourselves to death?"

Unrestrained, he said, "If only Prince East Sea hadn’t died on the road but was captured by big brother, how would you have handled him?"

He continued, "Today’s situation between big brother and Zhao Hanzhang mirrors that of the past between Prince East Sea and big brother."

"Shut your mouth!" Gou Xi whispered sharply, "Do you know where we are? Speaking so recklessly, this is a confidential matter; if leaked, none shall live."

"I know," he said, "but Wang Zan and the soldiers trust Zhao Hanzhang. To succeed, we must borrow her influence. This time, having defeated Pingyang and with Liu Yuan dead, her power is at its peak. If now we abandon her for King Langya, how many would follow us?"

"This is an unavoidable decision; the urgent task is to escape Shi Le’s Camp," Gou Xi said, "Zhengchang spoke rightly; although Zhao Hanzhang favors superficial gestures, she does have the heart to accept us. For now, we seek her refuge." 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

"But..."

"No buts," Gou Xi said, "With the Crown Prince deceased and the emperor in crisis, the missing princes are highly likely to be in Yu State, or on their way there. Hence, we must head to Yu State, as there’s nowhere else."

Although young, the princes are not foolish; they surely realize only Zhao Hanzhang can safeguard them now. Otherwise, caught by Xiongnu, Shi Le, or King Langya, they face certain death.

Besides the Xiongnu, King Langya most desires the death of the direct royal princes.

If they all die, King Langya, although a distant relative, could assume the throne.

Choosing Zhao Hanzhang means yielding to her, but the power established from her is unquestionably more legitimate than King Langya’s.

Gou Xi resolutely chose legitimacy.