The Kingdom That Never Sleeps CH 165 Seize The Advantage And Press The Attack
Tang Shen came in aggressively, with the air of someone "demanding justice."
Wang Zhen smiled leisurely and said, "Little Junior Brother, we are in Qinzheng Hall now. Speaking so loudly—aren't you afraid others will hear?"
Tang Shen replied, "Apart from your office as the Left Senior Grand Secretary, there are only two Vice Ministers from the Ministry of Revenue in this courtyard. Aren’t they both your people?"
Wang Zhen said, "The Right Vice Minister is not."
Tang Shen responded, "Then the Left Vice Minister, Xu Linghou, must be."
Wang Zhen only smiled without answering.
Tang Shen was merely speaking rhetorically. After shutting all the doors and windows, he turned back to find Wang Zhen already sitting on the Luohan couch, calmly brewing tea. With a wave of his sleeve, Wang Zhen pushed a cup toward Tang Shen, then elegantly took a sip himself. Casually, he asked, "Wang Xiao and Mei Shengze, did they tell them everything?"
Tang Shen took the tea and didn't hide anything. If Wang Zhen wanted to know, he would find out sooner or later. "Yes. The brutal torture in the Ministry of Justice’s prison—even military officers couldn't endure it, let alone two civil officials."
Wang Zhen said, "Doesn't little Junior Brother want to know why Yu Chaosheng suddenly released them?"
Tang Shen looked up. "En?"
A serene smile appeared on Wang Zhen’s refined face, as gentle as a breeze brushing over water. His voice was unhurried, "Precisely because Wang and Mei said what needed to be said, and Yu Chaosheng understood what needed to be understood."
Tang Shen was momentarily stunned, beginning to grasp some implications.
Wang Zhen continued, "Two years ago, His Majesty assigned you and Su Wenyun to Youzhou, giving you different tasks to conceal the truth and manipulate the situation. Now, with the Song-Liao war and internal turmoil within Liao, while it may be difficult for our Great Song to conquer Liao entirely, reclaiming the Three Prefectures is already a certainty. This moment is the perfect opportunity to strike a heavy blow against the Liao army. If Yu Chaosheng were to accuse me before His Majesty, he would have to clarify exactly how I, Wang Zifeng, supposedly monopolized power with just four officials from the Silver Pull Division."
Pausing, Wang Zhen sighed. "He truly is a good man."
Tang Shen had already vaguely understood Wang Zhen's intention. Hearing this, he fully comprehended it and couldn't help but remark, "Before I came here, I encountered Yu Chaosheng. He spoke to me about fate and then went to see the Left Prime Minister. I think if it were Prime Minister Xu, the outcome would be vastly different."
"Vastly different? Of course! Prime Minister Xu is inherently reserved, like a thick fog, difficult to grasp. He is cautious, rarely errs, and considers three steps ahead for every step he takes—always on guard. But even so, faced with this choice, he would certainly submit a memorial against me. If I, Wang Zifeng, do not fall, then he would be next."
Tang Shen said, "But Yu Chaosheng is different. Accusing you would mean exposing His Majesty's deployments in the Northwest. Even if he were vague, someone might catch on and uncover the truth. As long as there’s even a sliver of risk, it’s unacceptable. Not to mention, right now, we are in the midst of a war. Even in the future, after Great Song secures victory, I suspect Yu Chaosheng still wouldn’t accuse you. Because if the spies planted in Liao were exposed, we would lose an extremely valuable advantage."
Wang Zhen furrowed his brows. "Jing Ze."
It was rare for Wang Zhen to directly call Tang Shen by his courtesy name. Since they were fellow disciples, Wang Zhen liked that bond and usually called him "little Junior Brother." He only used "Jing Ze" in special circumstances. But at this moment, Tang Shen didn't think much of it and instinctively responded, "En?"
Wang Zhen said lightly, "Since when did you start developing feelings for Yu Chaosheng?"
"…Huh?" Tang Shen looked at him, baffled.
Feelings?
What nonsense was this?
Wang Zhen gazed at him, his expression wounded. "Yu Chaosheng indeed released those four men and dropped the case, conceding defeat. But how do you know that if this weren’t a time of military confrontation, he wouldn’t pursue it? In your heart, does he truly possess such noble character that you trust him so easily?"
Tang Shen: "…"
Wang Zhen continued, "Compared to him, what about me?"
Tang Shen: "…"
Wang Zhen held his teacup in his right hand, lifting his elegant eyes to scrutinize Tang Shen closely. If it were anyone else saying such things with that expression, they would seem genuinely angered. But this was Wang Zifeng.
Tang Shen first considered whether this counted as breaking their agreement—whether he should preemptively kiss Wang Zhen to avoid violating their deal. After a moment of contemplation, he concluded that his words weren't exactly lies.
After some thought, Tang Shen said, "Let me tell you a story, Senior Brother."
Wang Zhen quietly watched him. "Go on."
Tang Shen thought a bit, cleared his throat, and said, "A butcher returned home late at night. His basket was empty, save for some bones. Along the way, two wolves followed him closely. The butcher grew wary and threw them the bones…"
He had long forgotten the original text of The Wolves, but as a scholar who had passed the imperial examinations, improvising a story was easy for him.
"…How cunning can mere beasts be? This is only laughable," Tang Shen concluded, clapping his hands. "Alright, that’s the story."
Wang Zhen propped his chin on one hand, listening quietly without speaking.
After a moment, Tang Shen couldn’t help but ask, "Senior Brother, what are you looking at?"
Wang Zhen lifted his eyes. "Senior Brother?"
Tang Shen: "…En?"
Wang Zhen’s expression changed. He rose gracefully and said coolly, "There is no ‘Senior Brother’ in this room, only the Left Senior Grand Secretary."
"Huh?"
Wang Zhen’s gaze was sharp as a blade, piercing straight into Tang Shen’s eyes. His voice was icy. "Right Vice Minister of Works, you should be attending to your duties in your own office. What are you doing in my office? Shutting the doors and windows in broad daylight—are you attempting to bribe me in private?"
Tang Shen immediately stood up. "Wait, Senior Brother, what’s wrong with you now—"
"Didn't you say it yourself? ‘How cunning can mere beasts be? This is only laughable.’"
Tang Shen finally realized what had happened and grew anxious. "That’s not what I meant." He suddenly understood the vast cultural gap between them—he had meant to tease Wang Zifeng for his ruthless tactics, whereas Yu Chaosheng had let things go for the sake of the war. The story also carried another meaning. Tang Shen explained, "Look, in the story, there were two wolves. The butcher won. But now, we have won. Wasn’t that meant to praise you for outmaneuvering everyone? Besides, even if you were a wolf, I’d be the other one. We’d be—partners in crime…"
His voice trailed off as he saw the laughter that could no longer be concealed in Wang Zhen’s eyes.
Tang Shen’s mouth twitched.
Storming out wasn’t his style, nor could he bring himself to scold Wang Zhen. In the end, he could only say, "You broke our agreement again!"
Wang Zhen admitted remorsefully, "Yes, I broke the rules again. Let me make up for it now."
With that, he pulled Tang Shen into his arms and kissed him.
After a lingering moment, they parted. Tang Shen, breath unsteady, murmured, "Beast in gentleman's clothes!"
Wang Zhen looked intrigued. "A beast in gentleman's clothes? That’s quite accurate—far more precise than your long-winded story."
Tang Shen almost blurted, "I have never seen anyone so shameless!"—but he feared Wang Zhen would once again take it as a compliment, so he wisely kept his mouth shut.
After leaving court, Tang Shen was still sulking. Only when the cooks at the Minister Residence prepared a lavish feast did his mood begin to improve.
Pointing at the table full of exquisite dishes, Tang Shen said, “If I ever find myself unable to leave you one day, it will surely be because of your cook’s incredible skills.”
Wang Zhen was about to respond quite seriously.
But before he could, Tang Shen, still wary, quickly interjected, “Don’t you dare say that I like this cook more than I like you, and then act all heartbroken over it!”
Wang Zhen was momentarily stunned, staring at Tang Shen in surprise. After a long pause, he sighed softly, “How could I say such a thing? You misunderstand me, little Junior Brother.”
Having been tricked too many times by Wang Zifeng in the past, Tang Shen was always on guard. Every time he was deceived, he would end up flustered, blurting out confessions and sweet words he wouldn’t normally say. By now, he was well-versed in Wang Zifeng’s tactics.
So, he struck first, saying, “And don’t even think about saying that my misunderstanding has hurt your feelings!”
Wang Zhen was left speechless, smiling wryly to himself—this was truly a case of too far is as bad as not enough. It seemed that from now on, he would never again hear those rare moments of affectionate words!
As September arrived, the war in the Northwest saw frequent victories.
Emperor Zhao Fu was overjoyed, and naturally, the officials’ lives became much easier.
The construction of the cage boxes continued steadily, and everything seemed to be going smoothly. However, some officials began to notice a rift between Minister of Justice Yu Chaosheng and his mentor, Xu Bi. When the two met in Qinzheng Hall, they exchanged only formal greetings and no longer spoke in private.
Beneath the triumphant surface of the capital, political undercurrents surged.
September 2, 36th Year of Kaiping, about 10 miles outside Datong Prefecture.
Dark clouds hung low, the air thick and stifling.
The earth trembled with the sounds of battle cries and galloping horses. The clash of blades and spears rang out in piercing echoes. Blood spurted through the air, splattering the dark soil, merging with the ground in an instant. The air was thick with the stench of blood, sweat, and the pungent odor of war horses, creating a suffocating mix that felt like a massive hammer crushing down on the battlefield, making one’s stomach churn.
The vast mountains loomed in the distance, and compared to them, the tens of thousands of soldiers locked in brutal combat seemed both insignificant and horrifying.
This battle was fought with such ferocity that the sky seemed to darken, the rivers ran red with blood.
The Black Wolf Army was forced into retreat, and the Song forces seized the momentum to launch a relentless pursuit.
In the command tent, Grand Preceptor Zhou strategized with precision. When the scouts brought news from the front lines, his hands trembled, and he abruptly stood up. The aging general donned his armor, drew the black-and-gold halberd standing in the tent, and roared, “Follow me to battle!”
Inside the tent, the veteran generals, eyes brimming with tears, responded in unison, “We are honored to follow the Grand Marshal!”
The battle report from the northwest reached Shengjing on September 4.
After reading it, the Emperor exclaimed "Excellent!" three times in succession.
On September 2, Grand Marshal Li Jingde led the Flying Dragon Army in a decisive victory, annihilating twenty thousand enemy troops. Seizing the momentum, they launched a counteroffensive and stormed the city gates.
For the first time in 104 years, Datong Prefecture once again belonged to the Song Dynasty.