The Human Emperor (200-400)

C319: New Winds!

When Wang Chong raised the issue of Emperor Wu of Han and the Gongsun Clan, Wang Gen fell into silence. The Gongsun Clan during the Emperor Wu of Han's era and the Meng Clan in Qin Shi Huang's era; these were case studies that all officials had to study from when starting their career in politics.

Wang Chong had already put the matter lightly.

When the Gongsun Clan and Meng Clan were at their peak, their might was something the Wang Clan couldn't hope to compare to. And Gongsun He, Meng Tian, Meng Yi, and the others... Wang Gen might be an important official of the royal court, who had the influence to sway politics, but there was still a huge gap between him and those famous personages of history.

"Chong-er, what are you trying to say?"

After a long silence, Wang Gen finally spoke. His voice was much deeper, and his attitude had become much graver than before. It seemed like Wang Chong's words had forced him to think through many things.

Even though Wang Gen still didn't think that the Sage Emperor would disqualify the First Prince from the throne, his voice was no longer as certain as before.

"The First Prince is the eldest son of the queen, and it has been a custom since ancient times for officials to support the eldest son of the main family. Compared to the other princes, the First Prince is clearly the most qualified to inherit the throne, and he is the most likely one to do so as well. Chong-er, do you intend for our Wang Clan to change our attitude toward the First Prince due to the chance that the successor to the throne might change?" Wang Gen asked gravely.

It wasn't easy for him to utter those words. In the first place, he had called Wang Chong over to persuade him to join the ranks of the First Prince.

"I don't mean for us to sever our relations with the First Prince," Wang Chong replied.

"Does big uncle recall the old incident of Wei Jin Nanyang?"

Weng!

Upon hearing Wang Chong's words, Wang Gen's body jolted, and his body straightened slightly. Wang Chong's words seemed to have moved him.

Of the Wang Clan, Wang Yan and his son pursued the military, whereas Wang Gen walked on the path of an academic. Studying and quoting historical affairs to guide the governance of a nation was the duty of an academic.

Naturally, Wang Gen knew what the old incident of Wei Jin Nanyang referred to, as well as Wang Chong's intentions.

Staring deeply into Wang Chong, Wang Gen asked, "You mean that you wish to emulate the Zhuge Clan of Nanyang..."

"Un!" Wang Chong nodded.

The history of this world was similar to that which Wang Chong knew of, and the matters regarding the Three Kingdoms, Wei, and Jin, were similar as well. However, in this era, those events had yet to be glorified and popularized.

Nevertheless, the matter of the Zhuge Clan splitting into three and pledging allegiance to three different powers, thus allowing their clan to survive in that era of chaos, had occurred too.

That was a strategy that powerful clans utilized to ensure their survival.

"I understand!" Eventually, Wang Gen sighed deeply and said, "But Chong-er, do you truly understand what the doings of the Nanyang Zhuge Clan truly signify?"

"Un." Wag Chong nodded.

"It hasn't reached the point where we have to do anything yet, but I feel that we shouldn't rush into anything just yet. Perhaps our entire Wang Clan might eventually ally with the First Prince, but for the time being, I don't think that we have to choose our sides yet." Those words were spoken slowly and clearly.