007—Wang Jinglue (1)

Xuan Cheng didn’t want to meet his eyes. He quickly avoided Fu Jian’s arms, pacing restlessly inside the tent for a few times before saying, “Why don’t we take a walk.”

Afterwards, he stepped outside of the tent, ignoring the person behind him.

The sunlight outside was perfect. As soon as the bright lights scattered over his body, Xuan Cheng felt as if the oppressive feeling in his heart had lightened a little bit.

Even if he had ended up here, it was still China after all. No matter how strange it seemed, it wasn’t as if he had gone to a completely unrecognizable place. At the very least, the Sixteen Kingdoms of the Five Barbarians was still something that he was familiar with. Since he had ended up in Former Qin, a place he had previously admired, then this could be considered to be the will of the heavens. Therefore, was this an assignment given to him from the heavens? It was possible that one day his proposal to Liang Ren could really prove to be tenable. As long as he could go over the hurdles that came to him one by one, then it was very possible that he could change the course of the war. Therefore it could be said that he grasped the fate of an entire dynasty within his fingers. He could henceforth prove that it was not a kingdom’s productivity that was the key factor in a war, but rather the choices of an individual.

“I won’t let you die, Fu Rong,” he pledged to himself in his heart. “Former Qin, I will let you become the true Qin Dynasty.”

“Younger brother.” At the moment, a voice came from behind him.

Xuan Cheng turned his bed, looking back as Fu Jian walked up to him.

This scene was somehow nostalgic, as if Xuan Cheng had seen it before, although nothing came up to his mind when he tried to remember from where. Fu Jian’s expression, his beauty, his black robe, and his black hair, which floated around his head, were all reminiscent of something.

How familiar.

Fu Jian walked to his side, and gently patted his shoulder. “Why don’t we go visit Jinglue and see how things are there, then.”

Xuan Cheng nodded his head. “Okay.”

This was Xuan Cheng’s first time meeting Wang Meng. Perhaps this body had met him before, but now those memories were effectively erased. As a result, he could only walk, half in a daze, to Wang Meng’s residence.

The books said that Wang Meng had come from the Jin Dynasty to Former Qin, and was a scholar of the Confucian studies. Because he had been rebuffed by Huan Wen, he had instead instead gone West to Former Qin, assisting Fu Jian with his reorganization of the imperial court, purging out corrupt officials, and defeating the Guanzhong tyrants, all of which shocked the remaining military and court officials into deference. Soon, the nation became an area of stability and law. Wang Meng had then sent a petition urging Fu Jian to send envoys to patrol the country and weaponize their Di tribe, encourage mulberry farming within the people, and establish social customs within the entire kingdom. Within the country there were many elderly widows and orphans that were unable to make a livelihood, as well as those who had suffered unfairly under the law. He despised those who were pursued the road of evil and hate, instead promoting the ideals of filial piety, benevolence, nationalism and self-improvement. He reminded Fu Jian of the similar actions partaken by Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty in establishing a school of the Confucian thought, and admonished Fu Jian for being too self-righteous in his way of thought. Afterwards, he created numerous schools of Confucian teachings, spreading the  classic scriptures of Confucianism, and enlightened the common people. If Former Qin really wished to travel the road of a great empire, then they would need to defeat their enemies on the Southern side of the river, the Jin Dynasty.

“Yangping Duke.” Before Xuan Cheng could even open his mouth to speak, the man in front of him welcomed him, mildly asking, “I heard that the previous day the Yangping Duke fainted en route to a siege. Is there something more important than your health?”

Fu Jian laughed as he walked over. “Jinglue, you can relax. My imperial brother will not pose a problem.”

“That’s good, that’s good.” Wang Meng released a long breath. He made a welcoming gesture. Xuan Cheng stared at him, unsure of what to do, before he walked forwards, gingerly seating himself on the floor.

From outside, someone brought in the tea. Fu Jian raised a teacup, downing it in one gulp, then placed it aside. “Jinglue, We will be returning to Chang’an tomorrow. This situation will be given to you to handle.”

“You want to return to Chang’an?” Xuan Cheng startled. “How come you haven’t told this to me yet?”

Wang Meng interjected, “Your Highness can relax. I will handle the matter of the Luoyang campaign in a way that will definitely meet your expectations.”

Fu Jian told Xuan Cheng, “It was the Empress Dowager who sent a decree, saying that she wanted to see you.”

“I don’t want to return,” Xuan Cheng said.

Fu Jian replied, “This can’t do. She misses you greatly. Why don’t you just return to see her? The expedition against Yan is not something that can be accomplished in just one or two months. The Yan Kingdom is tyrannical and brutal, a regime that is destined by the heavens to end in destruction. Since We am merely following the will of the heavens, with Jinglue’s assistance, We believe that not long after, they will be unfurling the flags and banners of our Great Qin kingdom. Afterwards, we will return to Chang’an, and stay there for half a month.”

“Half a month?” Xuan Cheng demanded. “Half of month is nothing. I was planning on ignoring her for eternity.”