Jingzhou has jurisdiction over 22 counties and 169 counties, with nearly 400,000 households (1). It has a vast territory, abundant products, crisscrossing rivers and fertile land, second only to Yangzhou.
Yidu County in Jingzhou is located to the west of Jiangling and governs four counties: Yidao, Weishan, Yiling and Yichang. Yiling faces Yichang across the river, and is only a hundred miles away from Jiangling. It only takes an hour to go down the river, which is very convenient. .z.br>
Yiling is a small county, with only more than 3,000 households in the city. There is a house in the west of the city. It has stone walls and wooden doors, a small courtyard, mottled pillars, and weeds on the eaves. The house is quite old.
There are many people living in the third courtyard. Clothes of various sizes are hung on the bamboo poles in the courtyard like flying flags. Children are playing and women are scolding. The house looks crowded and messy.
The owner of the house, whose surname is Wang, moved here from the north ten years ago. The third room in the east chamber is the study room of Wang Yao, the owner of the house. The four walls of the house are filled with bamboo slips, silk books and paper books. Since books were introduced in Xinye, bamboo slips and silk books were gradually replaced.
Sunlight shines in from the propped-up window, falling on the desk under the window and on the blue robe next to the desk. Although the green shirts are old, the two people wearing the old robes look calm and behave elegantly.
The elder is the owner of the house, Wang Yao, the son of Wang Meng, the former Qin Prime Minister. Wang Yao is over forty years old, his hair and beard are neatly combed, his face is fair, and crow's feet are visible when he squints his eyes.
"Zhen evil, your third brother Wang Xian wrote a letter asking us to go to Wei Qingzhou. What do you think about it?" Wang Yao looked at his nephew opposite.
Wang Zhen said evilly: "Fourth uncle, although the third brother has the trust of the Wei Emperor and can be awarded the title of Zhongzheng of Qingzhou and the selection of Cao Shangshu, the Wei Emperor mostly treats the third brother favorably because of his grandfather's reputation. The third brother has a weak foundation and cannot take risks. Then go and rely on it.”
Wang Yao immediately said: "You are smarter than my uncle. Since you said you can't go, let's drop the matter. I will write a reply to him in the evening."
Wang Zhen'e was born on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, which was an unlucky day according to custom, so his brother Wang never wanted to give him to a distant clan to raise him.
When his father Wang Meng saw the newborn, he was very surprised and said: "This son is extraordinary. Lord Mengchang was also born on this day and later became the prime minister of Qi. This son will definitely be the lintel of my family in the future."
Wang Meng named him Zhene, and asked his father, Wang Xiu, to have a good life and educate him. In his free time, he often played with Wang Zhene and taught him how to read.
Three years later, Wang Meng died. A few years later, Wang Zhen'e's father, Wang Xiu, died while serving as the governor of Hedong. The Wang Zhen'e brothers were raised by their uncles Wang Yong, Wang Pi, Wang Yao and others.
The former Qin Dynasty collapsed after its defeat at Feishui. Wang Yong died in Xiangling. Wang Xian, who followed him, fled to Qinghe. Wang Zhene and others followed their uncle Wang Yao to the south of the Jin Dynasty and lived in Yiling County, Jingzhou.
Three years ago, Wang Xian defected to Wei Emperor Tuoba Gui. Tuoba Gui learned that he was Wang Meng's grandson and treated him generously. Wang Xian, who appointed Cao Shangshu in the Wei Dynasty, thought of his uncles and brothers and wrote a letter asking them to go to Pingcheng to gather together.
Wang Zhen'e loved to read military books, was good at strategy, and decisive in dealing with affairs. He liked to discuss military affairs with Wang Yao. Wang Yao was convinced by his father. It seemed that the hope of revitalizing the Wang family did lie in this nephew.
"A few days ago, Huanxuan asked the government to put up notices calling for talents. Are you interested?" Wang Yao said: "Huanxuan sits on the three prefectures of Jiang, Jing, and Yong. I think he has Huanwen's aspirations."
Wang Zhen smiled evilly and said: "Huan Xuan is a hero. However, this man is far less ambitious and talented than his father. If you depend on him, you may gain glory for a while, but you will be burdened by him in the end."
Wang Yao liked to talk to Wang Zhene about people in the world. He stroked his beard and said, "If you don't take Huan Xuan seriously, who else in the world can you like?"
Wang Zhene said enthusiastically: "There are several countries in the world, including Wei, Qin, Yan and other countries in the north. The leader of Wei, Tuoba Gui, was a heroic leader. He defeated the Yan State in more than ten years, made Pingcheng the capital and proclaimed himself the emperor. His talents and strategies are no less than those of the king of heaven. .”
Wang Yao heard that his nephew praised Tuoba Gui and said, "In that case, why don't you want to go to Wei?"
Wang Zhen said evilly: "I foolishly believe that the leader of Wei acted with force and decisiveness, but he was inevitably headstrong and jealous of his ministers. He was at odds with his brothers and feared that the disaster would come from Xiao Qiang. What's more, the world is still in dispute. Learn from the Zhuge family during the Three Kingdoms. I won’t let the family be lost.”
Wang Yao nodded and said, "You are right. It is enough for the Wang family to have Wang Xian in the Wei State. Others can go elsewhere."
Wang Zhene's eyes narrowed and he shouted harshly
Said: "Except the Puppet Qin."
Fu Qin was destroyed by Yao Qin. The Wang family was ruined because of Yao Qin. Wang Zhenyi and others had no good impression of Yao Qin.
Wang Yao sighed and said: "The vast sea and mulberry fields, the country is prospering and the country is destroyed, why do you have to be persistent? Speaking of the pseudo-Qin Lord Yao, he can be regarded as a wise Lord."
Wang Zhene obviously didn't want to talk more, and said: "The State of Yan has been defeated by the State of Wei many times. Now it is in decline, and it is just hanging on. The Murong brothers have not forgotten to fight for power and profit. Murong De built the capital on the slippery slope, which accelerated the consumption of the vitality of the State of Yan."
Wang Yao was not on good terms with Murong Chui at that time and rejoiced in his misfortune: "If Murong Chui, an old thief, knew that after his death, the Yan Kingdom he established would fall apart in an instant, he would be so angry that he would crawl out of his grave and curse him for being unfilial. Descendants."
"The remaining kings of Liang are separatist in the corners, and they can't be grand." Wang Zhen'e flicked his sleeves, and the sunlight swayed with them.
Wang Yao smiled and said: "The northern countries are fighting endlessly, and it is difficult to look south for a while. How about suppressing the evil, how about the Jin Dynasty? The Jin Dynasty has a vast territory and many talents. It is possible to regain the lost territory and reorganize the rivers and mountains."
Wang Zhen'e sneered and said: "The Jin Kingdom has been in decay for a long time, and there is no sign of ZTE. The emperor Sima Dezong does not distinguish between hot and cold, and the government is controlled by Sima Yuanxian. Sima Yuanxian is arrogant and extravagant. The ministers all care about their own enjoyment. Dreams are born. It’s just drunkenness.”
"How about Sima Dewen, King of Langya? There are still many talents in the Sima clan, such as Sima Shangzhi, King Qiao, and Sima Zun, King Wuling. With them, they can protect the royal family and perhaps continue the destiny of the country."
Wang Zhen laughed evilly and said, "The building is about to collapse. How can we support it with a few bamboo poles?"
"Are the sons of the Wang and Xie tribes talented?"
Wang Zhen said evilly: "Since the death of Xie An and Xie Xuan, the Xie family has been dominated by Xie Yan. The younger generation has Xie Hun and others, but they are just middlemen. If the king of heaven goes south at this time, the Jin Dynasty will be caught off guard. .”
"As for the Langya Wang family, they only know how to write and recite scriptures. Wang Ningzhi, who is guarding Kuaiji, actually said that he would send Yin soldiers to guard them. It's really laughable." Wang Zhene said sarcastically.
Wang Yao sighed and said, "In those days when Wang Dao stabilized the world, he was so wise, but his descendants are unworthy."
"As for the Taiyuan Wang family, the Yingchuan Yu family, the Longkang Huan family, the Gaoping Xi family, and the Yangzha Xu family, the world has been at peace for a long time. The descendants of these aristocratic families are all useless. They only know how to drink and talk about mysteries. If they are put on the battlefield, they will probably be the same. That's Wang Ning's virtue."
Wang Yao asked: "How about Sun En? There are many followers of Tianshi Dao, can he succeed?"
"Sun En is only a first-rate warrior, and can only cause temporary disaster." Wang Zhen said evilly: "Although it is a skin disease, the Jin country is seriously ill, and he may die from it."
Wang Yao took a breath and said, "That's not the case. The Beifu Army is still here and should be able to cope with the situation."
Wang Zhen'e smiled slightly and said: "Wang Gong rebelled twice, Huan Xuan separated Jiang and Jing, and the court no longer trusted the feudal town with heavy troops. This time Sun En was in trouble, so the court couldn't wait to send the Beifu army to Divided into two, in a few years, the Beifu Army will probably be wiped out by the court itself."
"In this case, Huan Xuan will have the opportunity to control the court just like his father." Wang Yao pondered: "Then why don't you take a fancy to him?"
Wang Zhen'e said calmly: "Huan Xuan is intelligent, but his scope is narrow. He has little wisdom but no great virtue. Just like Dong Zhuo, who took advantage of the chaos to rise up, but was eventually destroyed by his talents."
Wang Yao asked with great interest: "I wonder how many talents can be seen in suppressing evil?"
Wang Zhene stretched out his hand and touched the short beard on his chin, and pondered for a moment: "The world is in chaos, time is still short, and the big waves have not washed away the wild sand, and even a fool can't tell the difference."
"Oh," Wang Yao saw Wang Zhene's expression and said with a smile, "So you already have someone you care about, so you might as well tell me and let my uncle listen."
"Liu Laozhi's son Liu Jingxuan is a loyal and courageous man. If he can inherit the Beifu Army, he may become famous in time."
Wang Yao shook his head and said: "Since the imperial court is very afraid of his father Liu Laozhi, how can he let him successfully take charge of the Beifu Army."
Wang Zhene did not argue and continued: "Yang Anxuan, the governor of Runan, rescued Luoyang twice and defeated the Qin army with a small number and a large number. This son is not a creature of the pool. It is a pity that his father Yang Quanqi died, and Yang Anxuan delayed Ding You for three days to resign. Years. Three years later, the situation will change, and I’m afraid the opportunity will be missed.”
Wang Yao said disapprovingly: "
Three years have passed by in a blink of an eye. If Yang Anxuan is a talented person, it will be no problem. "
Wang Zhene said: "The situation will change dramatically in the next few years. If he cannot seize the opportunity, he may not have a chance."
"The Hong family and the Yang family were the top family a hundred years ago. It's hard to revive now." Wang Yao thought of his own family and sighed sadly: "It's not easy for the Wang family to revive. Suppress evil and encourage them. Of."
Wang Zhene stood up, his blue robe shaking in the sunlight, and bowed his hands to his uncle and said in salute: "My nephew will remember my uncle's teachings, and I will restore the lintel of the Wang family."
Wang Yao waved his hand and said, "It's just a chat between uncle and nephew. Why be so polite? Sit down and tell me who else is in your eyes."
Wang Zhene sat down again and said, "There is another person who is the counselor of the Beifu Army. His surname is Liu Mingyu."
Wang Yao smiled and said: "You are telling me that there were rumors earlier that this man fought with Sun En's men, and one man chased more than a thousand people. Would you believe such a joke?"
Wang Zhen'e whispered: "It's not without reason. I heard that Liu Yu was named General Guangwu after the war. In troubled times, brave generals may be able to do something."
Wang Yao laughed loudly and said: "There are so many heroes in the world. To suppress evil, you have been familiar with military books since you were a child and are proficient in strategies. Do you want to strive for supremacy in the world?"
A glimmer of light flashed in Wang Zhen'e's eyes, then dimmed, and he said in a deep voice: "It is important for people to have self-awareness. It is the fool's strength to make plans, but it is the fool's shortcoming to compete with others on the battlefield. The fool only wants to meet the master of enlightenment and help him." To stabilize the world, it will be enough to be able to reward thousands of princes for their merits and to bring glory to the ancestors."
Wang Yao stood up and came to Wang Zhene's side. He put his hand on his shoulder and said, "To suppress evil, encourage him."
Note (1): This is recorded in the "Book of Jin". In fact, some counties were actually assigned to Yongzhou, such as Xinye, Xiangyang, Nanyang and other counties. There is no verification.
