Chapter 199 Lobbyists
As soon as Sun Wei sat down behind the screen, Sima Jun took Liu Ke into the hall.
A strange voice said, "Your Highness, you have come all this way, why didn't you inform me in advance? If I had known about this, I would have led the troops to meet you personally. Why would I have allowed those insect-like bandits to cause trouble right before your Highness? If the Shixing County Magistrate hadn't reported the attack on your Highness to Panyu, I would have known nothing about it! I've come here to apologize to your Highness!"
Sun Wei thought, this must be Liu Ke.
Sima Jun said, "The governor has done nothing wrong. It's been a full year since the late king passed away, and I simply decided on a whim to come and pay my respects. I wanted to travel light and avoid publicity, so I didn't tell the governor."
"I was terrified, and the prince was frightened. Ultimately, it was my fault. Now that the prince is safe and sound, I am relieved."
The two exchanged greetings and sat down in the hall.
Liu Ke said, "I heard that the princess is also traveling with us this time. I wonder if she is doing well?"
"The princess was not injured, but the journey was difficult and she became ill due to fatigue. She is still recuperating."
Liu Ke hurriedly said, "What's going on? This place is not like Panyu, so it's inevitable that the servants won't serve you well enough. I've already prepared accommodations for you in the other mansion. Please, Prince and Princess, please follow me to Panyu."
There were footsteps outside; Sima Jun's attendants were serving tea.
Sima Jun said, "The princess has just recovered. Going to Panyu will inevitably be another tiring journey. It is best for her to stay here and recuperate. In a few days, she will be able to leave."
Liu Ke reluctantly agreed and asked, "I wonder if there are any arrangements in Cangwu?"
"My homage to the late king was highly valued by the Queen Mother, who dispatched the Imperial Household Department to oversee the ceremony. They had already departed, but were caught off guard by the recent heavy rains in Jiangzhou, which caused the river to swell and block the waterway. A few days ago, I received a letter saying they must wait for the river to recede and the weather to clear before continuing their journey. So, I plan to stay here for a while, awaiting their arrival, and then we can go to Cangwu together. Whether we have to wait ten days, half a month, or even a month or two, all depends on Heaven's will."
Sun Wei was listening from behind and couldn't help but smile.
Sima Jun knew Liu Ke was anxious to get rid of him, yet he still said he would stay for a month or two. It was unknown whether Liu Ke was cursing him in his heart at that moment.
Liu Ke only heard a fake sigh: "This is indeed very troublesome, Your Highness. However, since we have to wait for such a long time, I think we should go to Panyu after the princess is well. The governor's residence is more comfortable, and with my wife and daughter to accompany her, the princess will not be bored. Please reconsider."
Sima Jun smiled and said, "You may not know, Governor. The princess is a descendant of the Yin-Yang family and needs to practice meditation every day. Traveling and sightseeing are of no benefit to her, and she has no interest in them. This small town is quite peaceful, and the princess is very satisfied. We will not go to Panyu. I appreciate the governor's kindness."
Liu Ke laughed dryly: "Your Highness is right."
The two chatted for a while, reminiscing about Liu Ke's trip to Jiangzhou. Then, Liu Ke said, "There's something I'd like to ask the Crown Prince."
"Please speak, Governor."
"I've had the prefect investigate. The bandits who attacked the Crown Prince a while ago have been committing crimes in Dayu Mountain for years. They've caused such trouble today, and I won't let them off lightly. However, even though I'm the governor, the troops I have are few and far between. The bandits are powerful and difficult to crush. The Crown Prince is renowned for his military prowess. Could you offer any advice on how to suppress these bandits?"
"Are they powerful?" Sima Jun asked. "Although I was attacked last time, I was able to repel them. I thought they were just ordinary bandits."
"As far as I know, those who harassed the Crown Prince were only a small part of this group of people."
"oh?"
"I thought the Crown Prince knew the reason, but it turns out he didn't know?"
"I wonder what the governor is talking about?"
"A while ago, the imperial court was engaged in a battle against the Three Immortals Sect in the Three Wus. They were defeated, and they managed to sneak along the coastal route to Guangzhou. I've heard that their leader is a resourceful and cunning Left Protector named Wu Fen. This bandit is originally from Guangzhou, and is related to Zhu A Shen, the bandit leader entrenched in Dayu Mountain. Now, Wu Fen and his Three Immortals followers have defected to Zhu A Shen, setting up camp at the southern foot of Dayu Mountain. They are numerous and powerful, numbering 50,000 men. I only have 50,000 troops at my disposal. Your Highness, I understand that if I want to defeat Zhu A Shen, I will inevitably have to engage in a major battle with Wu Fen's forces, which is a very difficult situation."
When Sun Wei heard Liu Ke mention Wu Fen's name, she thought, he's finally here.
However, Liu Ke's words actually suggested that he wanted Sima Jun to give him some advice on how to attack Wu Fen, which was unexpected.
Sima Jun was silent for a moment, then spoke calmly, "So, when these 50,000 men arrived in Guangzhou, the governor actually gave them the opportunity to set up camp?"
"This is truly my fault," Liu Ke sighed deeply. "Ever since the court launched the war in the Three Wus, countless refugees have fled south with their families. Even though Guangzhou is in Lingnan, the number of people it has taken in is in the millions. To accommodate these refugees, I must persuade various regions to make room. Furthermore, I must dispatch troops to ensure the stability of Panyu and the surrounding cities, resolve disputes, and apprehend criminals. Dealing with these matters alone is already a struggle for me, so how can I take care of the bandits in the mountains? Furthermore, when they arrived in Guangzhou, they were dressed like ordinary refugees. Who could have known they were actually members of the Three Immortals Sect?"
Sima Jun said calmly, "So, it's the imperial court that has implicated the governor?"
"I dare not!" Liu Ke said hurriedly, "I know that the Crown Prince is the most tolerant and kind-hearted, so I dare only to vent my grievances in front of him. In addition, I would like to ask the Crown Prince for some guidance on how to get out of this predicament."
Sima Jun took a sip of tea and said, "The governor is saying that Wu Fen is now at the southern foot of Dayu Mountain?"
"Exactly."
"How does the governor know this so accurately?"
"This was obtained by my spies," Liu Ke said. "The details are in this letter. Please review it, Your Highness."
Sun Wei looked out from the gap in the screen and saw Liu Ke presenting a letter to Sima Jun.
She was just worrying about not seeing the letter when she heard Sima Jun slowly say, "From this letter, it seems that what the governor just said is indeed the truth. I do have some ideas about suppressing the bandits. However, I also have a question that I would like to ask the governor."
Liu Ke quickly said, "Excuse me, my lord."
"Although I haven't revealed my identity on my way to Guangzhou, I've been traveling under the guise of government officials. Ordinary bandits wouldn't provoke government officials. Since Zhu Ah Shen dared to act, there must be someone behind the scenes instructing him. In your opinion, who is this person?"
Liu Ke was stunned.
Sun Wei thought that he would say that the person who ordered this must be Wu Fen.
Unexpectedly, Liu Ke laughed dryly again and said, "This... please forgive me for my incompetence, Your Highness. I don't know either."
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