Chapter 201: Seeking Help (Part 2)
Sima Jun asked, "So, this incident was caused by General Ning's inappropriate behavior back then?"
Liu Ke smiled bitterly: "I tried to persuade General Ning, but unfortunately I failed."
Sima Jun said, "Qu Kang's actions are tantamount to treason. Why haven't we seen the Inspector General write to the court?"
"The prince saw it all." Liu Ke shook his head and sighed, "This humble official is surrounded by people from the Qu family. They even know when I get up and go to bed. If I write a letter, how can I hide it from Qu Kang? How can Qu Kang let this humble official go?"
Sima Jun showed a look of understanding: "The governor is saying that Liang Canjun is from the Qu family?"
"If that weren't the case, why would I bother asking his opinion on everything?" Liu Ke said, "To be honest, Your Highness, it was Qu Kang who came to see you. Wu Fen is indeed resentful of you and has already laid a tight net at the southern foot of Dayu Mountain. He has not just 50,000 troops, but 100,000! Qu Kang has ordered me to persuade you to go suppress the bandits. The generals in Guangzhou will only be there to accompany you. If you fall into the trap, they will withdraw. Your Highness only has 300 men, facing Wu Fen's 100,000. Do you have a chance of winning?"
"In that case," Sima Jun said, "I should thank Governor Liu for his dramatic act. It aroused my suspicion and prevented a real bloody disaster."
"How dare this humble official take credit for this?" Liu Ke said hurriedly. "I have long admired the Crown Prince's wisdom. The world must not lose him. What I have done is not only my duty, but also in accordance with the will of Heaven!"
"But if this happens, the governor will have ruined Qu Kang's plan. After the plan fails, how will the governor explain it to Qu Kang when he returns?"
Liu Ke sighed, "Over the years, I've been accustomed to feigning incompetence in order to protect myself. Just like what happened just now. Even if this fails, Ou Kang will definitely think it's my incompetence. However, I also know that Ou Kang has gradually lost his patience with me. This move is both to save the prince and to ask the prince to save me."
Sima Jun nodded and said, "What do you think I can do to help? Please feel free to tell me."
"I am willing to join forces with the Crown Prince to capture Wu Fen. Once Wu Fen is captured, it will be a natural progression for him to reveal that the Qu family is the mastermind. The court can use this incident as an opportunity to crack down on the major clans. This way, Guangzhou's urgent needs will be resolved. Isn't that a great benefit?"
"But there are only 50,000 troops defending Guangzhou," Sima Jun said. "According to what the governor just said, with millions of refugees migrating south, it's already difficult to meet daily needs. How many of these 50,000 men can the governor spare to help me suppress the bandits?"
"I can only spare 30,000 men at most. Your Highness, please arrange for the remaining troops to arrive for assistance. This matter is of grave importance. If these 100,000 rebels from the Three Immortal Sect are allowed to take root in Lingnan and collude with the powerful families, the consequences will be endless. By then, the entire Lingnan region will be in jeopardy!"
Liu Ke was a little excited, his eyes full of anxiety.
Sun Wei looked at Sima Jun, only to see that he remained calm.
"Do the governor know Wu Fen?" he suddenly asked.
Liu Ke's face was filled with disbelief: "What do you mean, my lord?"
"I've heard that Wu Fen has had dealings with the governor. Is this true?"
Liu Ke looked embarrassed and sighed.
"Wu Fen has a close relationship with Qu Kang, and Qu Kang did recommend him to me. Qu Kang's intention was to allow the Three Immortals Sect's rebels to occupy the official road to Dayuling Mountain to block the imperial court's influence. However, I have repeatedly refused. As an official appointed by the imperial court, how could I, the governor of a state, associate with bandits? What I have said is the truth, please understand, Your Highness!"
Sima Jun did not ask any further questions.
"So that's how it is," he said. "Don't worry, Governor. Now that this matter has been clarified, there will be no further trouble. The matter of mobilizing troops is of great importance. I must write to the Crown Prince to discuss it."
Liu Ke was very anxious: "It will take several months to go to Jiankang and back. I am afraid that before the prince returns, Guangzhou will have changed hands."
"What does the governor mean?"
"Nankang already has the Jiangzhou garrison. Why don't you mobilize them there?"
Sima Jun thought for a moment, then shook his head and said, "Nankang only has 5,000 defenders. How can we solve the governor's urgent problem? Let me think of a solution."
As he was speaking, Yin Wen said from outside, "Prince, a messenger from the Governor's Mansion has arrived. He said there's an emergency at the mansion and wants the Governor to go back and handle it."
Liu Ke quickly stood up and said, "These are Qu Kang's men. I cannot stay any longer. Please mobilize the troops as soon as possible, Your Highness."
Sima Jun asked, "The governor is in such a critical situation. How can we contact him in the future?"
"Please ask the prince to send a letter to the first house west of Tingquan Lane, and I will know the answer."
After Liu Ke finished speaking, he did not stay any longer.
Sima Jun stood in the corridor, watching Liu Ke leave, thoughtful.
Suddenly, he turned to look at Sun Wei: "Can we really dig out the Stone God Lord from Liang Wen's home?"
Sun Wei didn't expect that he was still thinking about this, and couldn't help but smile.
"Can it be done? Won't the prince know in a few days?"
She knew that something could be dug out there.
In a previous life, after Liang Wen became the governor of Guangzhou, a severe summer flood engulfed the entire city. After the water receded, Liang Wen's old house, where a wall had collapsed, was cleared. While digging, he unearthed a stone tablet representing the water god.
He was quite unpopular in his administration at the time, and after this incident, rumors spread throughout Panyu City, saying that the flood was caused by the water spirit buried in Liang Wen's old house. The water spirit wanted to punish Liang Wen, so it caused the flood, and therefore Liang Wen was the culprit.
Later, Liang Wen had no choice but to build a shrine to enshrine the stone deity. The nobles in Jiankang were already fond of stories about gods and ghosts from all over the country, and Sun Wei also listened to them with great interest.
Sima Jun remained silent, but did not pursue the matter further.
"What do you think, Madam? Can you trust Liu Ke's words?" he asked again.
This is what Sun Wei has been thinking about.
Just now, when Sima Jun and Liu Ke were talking, she just sat aside and listened without interrupting. In her opinion, although Liu Ke pretended to be honest, her experience in her previous life was real.
Liu Ke is not an honest person.
"Some of it is believable, but some of it doesn't stand up to scrutiny," Sun Wei said. "For example, he said that Qu Kang was angry at the court because of General Ning's actions, and even sent Zhu A Shen to rob the Crown Prince. Many officials travel between Jiankang and Guangzhou every year, and I've never heard of any robberies. Could it be that he only targeted the Crown Prince? Besides, Qu Kang is not yet a big shot, so what good would such an action do him?"
Sima Jun nodded.
"There's one more thing. I never said the purpose of my trip was Wu Fen, but Liu Ke kept talking about Wu Fen," he said. "When I asked him about it, he denied everything, as if he had been prepared."
Sun Wei said, "There must be some experts in Guangzhou. But we are here, and there is no one we can trust."
"Not really." Sima Jun said.
After saying that, he smiled at Sun Wei, turned around and walked into the hall.
Sun Wei was surprised and followed him in, only to find that two people were already waiting inside. They were Deng Lian and A Ru.
Sun Wei asked in surprise, "You're back?"
But A'ru looked sad and angry. She said, "That shameless Liu Ke is full of nonsense and has wronged my father. I ask the prince and princess to help me make the decision!"
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