After Transmigration: Building a Kingdom in Turbulent Times-Chapter 858 - 844: Struggle for Interests

The King of Qin still doesn’t know anything, and he has been appointed as the Crown Prince.

When Fu Tinghan finished his material work and came out, the county government was bustling with activity.

He looked at the people coming and going, holding various fabrics and gold and silverware, curious and bewildered. He saw Zhao Hanzhang burying her head in writing, so he went up and asked, "Are you preparing for some celebration?"

Zhao Hanzhang casually replied, "I have appointed a new Crown Prince. Uncle Ming said it’s a joyful event and requires some ceremony, so I had people find some things from the spoils to set up."

Thus, in the midst of a half-burnt county government building, the King of Qin was appointed Crown Prince, sitting bewildered in the main hall of the county government, receiving the kneeling bows from Zhao Hanzhang and Zhao Family officials.

From setup to crowning the Crown Prince, it took just a day.

After a night had passed, the next day Zhao Hanzhang instructed that the hanging silks be put away—they were still usable and mustn’t be wasted.

The gold and silverware displayed were also put away. The King of Qin still lived in the same room; apart from having the title of Crown Prince, it seemed no different from before.

A "knock knock" sound brought the Crown Prince back to reality, and he saw Xun Fan looking at him displeased, saying: "Your Highness, you were distracted."

Oh, there is a difference—he now has a teacher, commonly known as the Crown Prince’s Tutor.

Zhao Hanzhang appointed Xun Fan as the Crown Prince’s Tutor to teach him lessons—no, to teach him and Prince Yuzhang lessons, as Prince Yuzhang had now become the companion studying with the Crown Prince.

The Crown Prince sat upright, but his face bore a look of resignation.

He truly didn’t want to be Crown Prince, he really didn’t.

Besides taking the title of Crown Prince, bearing a risk, what benefit is there in being the Crown Prince?

Zhao Hanzhang didn’t consult his wishes; she didn’t even really discuss with him, directly issuing government orders in his name.

The soldiers out fighting, including Zeng Yue, Mi Ce, Xie Shi, all uplifted in spirit upon hearing the news of the Crown Prince’s establishment, and drove the Shi Army more fiercely and reclaimed lost territory.

In various counties across the realm, upon receiving the edict, they all responded to the call.

Even in Yangzhou and Xuzhou, County Magistrates or local gentry rallied forces into Yan State.

King Langya’s faction was hard hit.

Meanwhile, in Poyang County, there were refugees violating the law. Wang Dun believed some were using aid to the court as an excuse to hire soldiers and create chaos, thus he moved troops to Poyang.

Wang Dun wiped out Poyang County with a tough stance, coercing Poyang County officials to respect King Langya. Zhao Hanzhang’s representative in the south, Wang Si Niang, was very dissatisfied and began recruiting troops to support Zhao Hanzhang.

She also went to ask Wang Cheng to persuade the officials of various counties in Yangzhou and Xuzhou to send troops in support. She told Wang Cheng: "Uncle, let alone King Langya being a distant branch of the royal family, even if he’s to be crowned Crown Prince, he’s now shrinking in Jiangdong, clearly abandoning the Central Plains and Northern Land."

She said: "If the Central Plains are lost, the country will be no country; does Great Jin still exist? Such a thing would be a stain for eternity—even if you are no longer a Jin Minister, as a respected scholar, wouldn’t you also be discussed as a coward?"

Although Wang Cheng was unrestrained in self-indulgence and not a good official, he always maintained that the Central Plains could not be abandoned.

Thus, he didn’t hesitate much to agree with his niece.

Only Zhao Hanzhang can keep Central Plains and Northern Land now.

Furthermore, the King of Qin is far more legitimate than King Langya; he is the direct grandson of the Ancestor, whereas King Langya is just a nephew of the Ancestor and a son of a cousin, with an extra generational gap.

Regardless of whether considering lineage or the bigger picture, Wang Cheng supported Zhao Hanzhang.

Hence, he personally visited a few friends and wrote letters in their names to the officials of Yangzhou and Xuzhou, persuading them to take the Crown Prince as their leader, heed Yu State’s commands, and unify the realm.

Even the usually good-tempered Wang Dao couldn’t help but get angry, personally writing a letter to Wang Cheng, arguing that he was undermining the root of the Jin Dynasty.

Is Zhao Hanzhang a good person?

Her ambition is greater than Gou Xi, without a doubt.

Even if she can defeat Shi Le and the Xiongnu Khanate, when she is in a position of overwhelming power, no one will be able to restrain her.

She has achieved her current status despite being a woman, let alone when that time comes?

That will be the actual moment of national decline.

Better to gather forces from the South while she is occupied and support King Langya; when the war is resolved, King Langya can check her, force her to establish the Crown Prince as the emperor, maintaining the Jin Dynasty’s dignity.

Wang Dao told him, "Do you think you are helping Your Majesty unify the realm? No, you are digging the nation’s foundation and harming our family base."

"From Zhao Hanzhang’s actions over the past four years, it’s evident she will not accommodate clans other than the Zhao Family. Once she’s in power, Mrs. Wang will perish along with the Jin."

Wang Cheng sneered after reading, immediately threw the letter away, claiming such nobility—how many clans were completely wiped out under the Xiongnu and Jiehu’s iron hooves; the Wang Family scattered, even his own brother perished under Shi Le, still counting on Zhao Hanzhang to harm them?

She’s afraid she wouldn’t need to cause harm, as Shi Le might cut them all down first.

Thinking of Shi Le, Wang Cheng seethed with anger, unable to accept that his exceptionally talented and famed brother Wang Yan died at Shi Le’s hands. 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

The Northern Expedition, it must commence!

Wang Cheng disregarded everything, jumping around everywhere to help Wang Si Niang enlist troops, not to mention, his scholar identity was indeed effective.

Among the Wang Family, except for Wang Yan, his fame was the greatest, surpassing Wang Dun and Wang Dao. Hence, under his call, many from the Wang Family left Wang Dao and Wang Dun, agreeing with Wang Cheng’s views, planning to enlist troops to support Zhao Hanzhang.

As for Wang Dao’s worry, the Wang Family members thought he was overly concerned. Zhao Hanzhang disagreed with Wang Yan politically, but she employs Wang Xuan and Wang Si Niang siblings.

Look at Wang Si Niang, she’s now the Jingzhou Governor; given time, she might reach her father’s height.

King Langya was deeply impacted, considered briefly, then wrote a letter to Wang Cheng, inviting him to Jianye for a discussion, to argue court’s situation further.

Wang Cheng considered briefly and agreed, immediately heading for Jianye with his men.

Wang Cheng left promptly, so when Wang Si Niang heard the news and pursued him, he had already gone far.

Wang Si Niang gritted her teeth and decided to chase him; in half a day, she finally caught up with him, and she asked Wang Cheng to return with her, "Our political views differ, and while not yet openly breaking apart, our interests are at odds. Going to Jianye now is falling into a trap."

Wang Cheng, confident, replied, "You worry too much; he wouldn’t dare kill me."

"What won’t the Sima family dare to do?" Wang Si Niang resented her uncle’s arrogance and replied, "For power, even fathers and sons, brothers can turn against each other, let alone them?"

"Uncle, hurry back with me."

Wang Cheng listened, displeased, and said harshly, "Do I need you to teach me how to do things? I said no return and no return."

Having said that, he instructed his followers to hurry up, or they’d miss reaching the post station before dark; he didn’t want to sleep outdoors.

Wang Si Niang rode forward, grabbed the bridle of the horse, and refused to let him go.

Wang Cheng saw this and got angry, directly snatched the driver’s whip, pointed it at her, and said, "Move aside, Wang Yifeng, don’t think that just because you’re my niece, I won’t dare hit you. I’m not your brother, always yielding to you."

"You little girl, do you really think you became Governor through real skill? If you weren’t childhood friends with Zhao Hanzhang, nor my niece, do you think the position of Jingzhou Governor would have gone to you..."

Wang Si Niang’s face changed colors under his scolding; her second uncle was insufferably irritating as usual, that mouth should truly be sewn shut.