There were two sides to the story. The matter in the north was a foregone conclusion, and the situation in Jiangnan had just begun.
Ever since Sima Yue had let Sima Rui, the King of Langye, guard Jianye, Sima Rui's heart had turned cold. It was not because the women in Jiangnan were not beautiful or hot, but because no one paid attention to him at all among the scholar-bureaucrats. In Jianye, no local scholar-bureaucrats had come to visit him for so long. Perhaps it was because he was not favored by the imperial clan, so his reputation was extremely low. Therefore, no one looked up to him even in Jiangnan. He could only drink every night and ignore government affairs to vent his dissatisfaction.
Wang Dao, the Sima of Andong, was Wang Yan, the trusted aide of Sima Yue. When he came to Jiangnan, Wang Yan had high expectations for him. This was how big families were. They would not put all their eggs in one basket. Therefore, they would serve different dignitaries to spread their branches and flourish. This way, they would not be completely denied because of the fall of a dignitary. Director Wang looked at the depressed Sima Rui and thought of the past.
When he first met Sima Rui, he was only the descendant of Sima Yi's concubine and no one paid attention to him. Due to the fact that most of the famous and powerful Sima clansmen had died in the internal strife during the Rebellion of the Eight Princes, no one had noticed him, a person with a thin bloodline, and he had avoided many fatal disasters. He and Sima Rui had gotten to know each other in the midst of adversity, and he had never left him. Wasn't it a little like Lu Buwei liking Qin Zichu, the father of Qin Shihuang? Now that he had finally obtained Sima Yue's trust and allowed them to cross over to the south, it was time for him to add fuel to the fire.
"If Your Majesty continues to drink and delay the government affairs, the Jiangnan scholar-officials will really not come…" Director Wang said softly.
Sima Rui was a little drunk. He glanced at Director Wang from the corner of his eyes, then picked up the wine cup and drank it in one gulp. He farted loudly and laughed foolishly. He turned his head to Director Wang and said,"Ah Long (Director Wang's nickname, Shigehiro), there's only the two of us now. You know how I am. I'm actually just a f * cking scoundrel. If it weren't for you supporting me all the time, I would be nothing in the eyes of others. Now that we're in Jiangnan, tell me, other than you, who else would think highly of me? I don't want to be like this either, but I feel lonely in my heart. Do you understand? Lonely.”
Teacher Wang was used to Sima Rui's rudeness, and he only showed it in front of him. Teacher Wang enjoyed this unique way of getting along between the monarch and his subjects.
Director Wang picked up the side dish on the table and put it into his mouth to slowly chew and swallow. Then, he took a sip of wine. When the wine surged to his head, he slowly said,"Your Majesty, the clothes you are wearing now are not suitable, and the carriage you are using is also not suitable. You have to prepare well before the third day of the third month of next year. Your Majesty is indeed tired from the journey south, and you have lost a lot of weight.”
Sima Rui liked Director Wang's unhurried and irrelevant personality. It was just to his liking. He smiled and said,"Ah Long, are you trying to get me a new wife? "That's great. I don't know which noble family's young lady you're from. The beauties in Jiangnan are really more beautiful than those in the Central Plains ~" Sima Rui's temper flared up. Although he knew that Director Wang had more to say, they were already used to this kind of joking conversation.
Director Wang also laughed." Didn't Your Majesty just accept a few talented women from Jiangnan? I heard that their waists are very slender. Hehe."
Sima Rui scolded with a smile," Look at you. This king is about to die from worry, yet you still have the mood to tease me. Tell me quickly, what kind of carriage should I use to make new clothes?"？What kind of new trick was this? You're making this king feel so uncomfortable. Good Ah Long, quickly tell me, haha, Ah Long, Ah Long, you have thousands of brilliant ideas. Quickly tell this king, or else I'll give you a few women and let you have fun at night. If Sister-in-law Cao is dissatisfied, let her reason with this king, hahaha!”
Director Wang's expression instantly turned awkward. How could Sima Rui's rogue temper flare up so easily? Only a few people knew about henpecked concubines. Back then, because of Lady Cao's jealousy, he could only secretly keep concubines outside. Later, unfortunately, his lover found out and wanted to find trouble with them. Wang Dao was afraid that his concubines would be humiliated, so he hurriedly ordered the servants to drive the ox cart to send the concubines out to hide. Even so, he was afraid that it would be too slow sitting in the cart, so he personally drove the ox away with the dust-tail handle whisk he held. (Dust is said to be a type of elk with a large body and a long tail. A horsetail whisk made of a white jade handle with a dust tail was an important prop for celebrities to talk about at that time. Legend has it that the dust and the herd of deer walk side by side, shaking their tails left and right, can guide the direction of the herd of deer, there is a general idea of the herd leader.）It was truly a little laughable that such a big shot was so embarrassed by a concubine.
Director Wang didn't keep her in suspense anymore. He just chuckled and said mysteriously,"I've already asked my clan brother, the Qingzhou governor Wang Dun, to hurry up and make all kinds of silk banners and high-grade palanquins. I also need tens of thousands of different kinds of ceremonial robes for my entourage, and I'm already rushing to make them. According to Jiangnan customs, on the third day of the third lunar month every year, regardless of whether it was the dignitaries or the poor, they would go to the water's edge to wash, eliminate disasters and illnesses, and pray for good fortune. This was called the Xiuci. At that time, Your Majesty only needs to listen to my arrangements to recover the Jiangnan celebrities and the hearts of the people.”
Sima Rui was an optimistic person by nature. Since his most trusted Director Wang had said so, he was also used to having Director Wang by his side to give him ideas. Moreover, Director Wang had never lied to him, nor had he disappointed him. Every time he helped him turn misfortune into fortune, he was the person he relied on the most. His heart felt at ease, and his mood also improved. Sima Rui's eyes were filled with deep meaning. If it's really as Ah Long said, I'm willing to rule the world with you!”After saying that, Sima Rui threw the wine cup on the ground and looked at Director Wang with sparkling eyes as he said word by word,"From now on, I will stop drinking and focus on handling Jiangnan's political affairs. Shigehiro will definitely do his best to help me.”
Sima Rui bowed deeply to Director Wang.
Director Wang hurriedly stood up and bowed deeply to Sima Rui.
In Director Wang's heart, he was extremely satisfied with this Sima Rui. He had invested too much effort into this person. His ambitions and aspirations had all fallen on this person. This person had never let him down. He might not have much ability or foresight, but there was one thing. He had the magnanimity of a king who could let Director Wang do anything without hesitation. He really had the taste of Liu Bei from the Three Kingdoms. Moreover, he was someone who could share wealth with them. As a celebrity of a large clan, Director Wang's heart truly belonged to Sima Rui.
3rd of March, Year 308, the Great Sacrifice Festival
The mighty procession slowly approached, with two people in a row. From a distance, the number of people in the procession seemed to stretch for several miles. Sima Rui sat on an exquisite and gorgeous palanquin carried by strong men. His clothes were bright and gorgeous, and all kinds of banners and ceremonial flags were orderly clustered around him. Wang Dao, his brother Wang Dun, and his colleagues rode on horses to follow him. On the surface, they were going to watch the ceremony, but in fact, they were ostentatiously passing through the market, deliberately putting on a show. At that time, there was a sea of people outside Jianye City. During the Wei and Jin Dynasties, Jiangnan was relatively backward. Not to mention the common people, even the scholars had never seen such a battle array. They saw Sima Rui's dragon face and auspicious appearance. He had an imposing appearance and his eyes were bright and piercing. At the same time, he appeared very magnanimous and modest, with the posture of a virtuous king. Beside him, Director Wang and a group of famous people from the north were clustered around. All of them were dressed in fresh clothes and looked proud. The Jiangnan people couldn't help but feel a sense of respect, one after another prostrating by the roadside, including the famous Jiangnan scholars Gu Rong, Ji Zhan, and the others. Under Director Wang's reminder, Sima Rui hurriedly stopped the palanquin and helped them up without any arrogance. Gu Rong and the others were very touched. This high-level patrol had a great effect. The local scholars and people were greatly shocked. Since ancient times, those who created a regime would either raise their swords to establish their might, or use harsh laws to govern, or attack the hearts of the people to gain the hearts and support of the people. It seemed that this was the first time in history that a grand public relations ceremony was used to obtain the support and popularity of the wealthy families and finally establish a regime.
After the perfect appearance of the festival, Director Wang told Sima Rui that Gu Rong and He Xun were the most prestigious people in the area. Therefore, Sima Rui sent Director Wang to visit He Xun and Gu Rong. Both of them accepted the invitation and appointed He Xun as the internal history of the Wu Kingdom. Gu Rong was appointed as the military commander and was appointed as the constant attendant of the scattered cavalry. All military and political matters were discussed with him. He also sent Ji Zhan as the military adviser, Bian Hu as the doctor, Zhou Wei as the Cang Cao, Liu Chao as the Sheren, Zhang Kai (the great-grandson of Zhang Zhao of the Three Kingdoms) and Kong Yan as the army.
Wang Dao not only advised Sima Rui to be humble to make friends with wise people, thrifty to ensure supplies, quiet and inaction to govern government affairs, and appease local and foreign subordinates. In order to further win over the aristocrats in Jiangnan, Wang Dao put down his posture and learned the Wu language."Shi Shuo Xin Yu" recorded that once Wang Dao heard that the famous scholar Liu Wei was visiting. It was the height of summer, Wang Dao deliberately went to his courtyard bare-chested, exaggeratedly snuggling on the stone chessboard with his belly to cool down and relieve the heat, and said to himself,"He Naiyu!" "He Naiqi" was a Wu dialect, meaning "really cool". Director Wang's performance immediately moved Liu He. When Liu Meng returned from his visit, someone immediately asked,""What is Wang Gong like?" "Nothing special," Liu Meng replied."I only heard him speaking Wu language."”
Therefore, from then on, only Sima Rui was known in Jiangnan, but Sima Chi, the emperor of Jin, was not known.
Half a month later, at Langye King's Mansion.
Sima Rui excitedly bared his chest and sang, inviting Director Wang to dance. Director Wang immediately stood up to accompany him. In the entire hall, only the two of them were celebrating in their own way. The current situation in River East was indeed worth celebrating.
After the dance and song ended, Sima Rui panted and smiled at Director Wang."Ah Long, I heard that you suffered a setback at Lu Wan's place. Hahaha!"
Director Wang was also a little dejected. He said perfunctorily,"That Lu Shiyao is so unreasonable. I just want to use political marriage to further my relationship with the Jiangnan aristocrats. He said," A pine and cypress tree can't grow on a small slope. Vanilla and smelly grass can't be put in the same basket. Although I, Lu Wan, am not talented, I can't make an example of incest!”
"Hahaha, the first sentence called you a pine and cypress, and the second one called you a stinky grass. Hahaha, Ah Long, you actually suffered a loss. Interesting!”
"This man is very stubborn. Because he refused my request, he came to apologize to me. He didn't expect that because he ate my homemade cheese, he would go back and tell others that although I'm a southerner, I almost became a ghost in the north! I'm so angry!"
"Hahaha, Lu Shiyao, it seems that the Jiangnan people have a deep-rooted disdain for us northerners.”
" There are two types of prominent families in Jiangnan. One is the cultured gentry, and the other is the martial force. The former is easier to win over, while the latter is difficult to tame. It seems that stabilizing Jiangnan is not something that can be done in a generation…"
" Yes, everything is difficult at the beginning. Let's work together and slowly reconcile the conflicts between the northern and southern aristocrats. Then, we'll wait for the right time to see the situation in the north…"
"This official will definitely do his best and die for the emperor! Until one day, we can lead the army to the north! To achieve His Majesty's imperial ambitions!" Director Wang suddenly knelt on the ground and kowtowed as he shouted,"Emperor, this subject only has the emperor in my heart. May my emperor live forever!!!
Sima Rui's eyes turned deep as he listened to Wang Daoshan call him 'long live' and 'Emperor' repeatedly. Sima Rui was just a distant descendant of Sima Yi's concubine. He was a piece of trash who lived like a dead dog before and after the Rebellion of the Eight Princes. He was actually so close to the sky one day. He slowly raised his hand and did not stop Wang Daoshan from overstepping his boundaries. He felt so comfortable listening to it. He raised his hand higher and higher and pointed at the Heavenly Dao."If the day really comes when you become emperor, the king and Sima will share the world!”
Director Wang became more and more presumptuous when he heard the shouts from the back of the mountain…
The author said," Some of them quoted what the online blog 'Clear Sky After Rain' had said to Director Wang. I would like to thank him here, but I told him that Director Wang and Sima Rui's method of conquering the gentry and the people's hearts was a one-time thing. I don't agree with them. Emperor Guangwu of the Eastern Han Dynasty had also used it when he recovered the imperial capital. At that time, people said that it had been a long time since they had seen such a magnificent army. It felt like Gaozu had returned. See Zi Zhi Tong Jian
(This book's only group ID: 138930598)
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