Chapter Ninety-Three: Persuading Uncle Wang

After bathing, Meng Di felt refreshed and clear of mind. Glancing outside, he saw that dusk had already begun to fall. After a little thought, he decided to go and speak with Uncle Wang while the hour was still right. If he could persuade him to stay, that would be best of all; after all, he was Su’er’s family by marriage.

Uncle Wang had not expected Meng Di to come at this time, and hurriedly invited him inside.

“Son-in-law, what brings you here at this hour? Is something the matter?”

Meng Di set the wine and meat he had brought onto the table and said with a smile, “I’ve been rather busy these past few days, so I’ve been a little neglectful. Just now I heard from Su’er that you were thinking of returning to the State of Qi, and I grew worried. After all, Su’er has always regarded you as family.”

Uncle Wang fell silent. He fetched two clay bowls and set them on the table, then opened the seal on the wine and filled them to the brim.

“I appreciate the kindness of both the son-in-law and the young lady,” he said. “Now that I know how my master died, I must do something about it, or I will never feel at peace.”

It was plain that he was still trapped by too many attachments. Meng Di shook his head, raised his bowl in a toast to Uncle Wang, and took a long drink. Then, with a sigh, he said, “Sometimes it is harder to live than to die. I think you must understand your master’s intentions. And now that your master has also fallen at the hands of the Tian clan, let me ask you this: do you want to find one or two members of the Tian clan and kill them to vent your anger, or do you want to turn your blade against the entire clan? If you can think this through and still decide to leave, I will not stop you. I will even help you fulfill your wish.”

Uncle Wang’s fists clenched tightly. After a long silence, he suddenly looked up.

“Right now, I still cannot make sense of it. The Tian clan is a great house in Qi. With my abilities, I cannot shake them at all. But there are some things one must do even knowing they cannot be done.”

Meng Di smiled. He admired the spirit in Uncle Wang. Then he gave his own view.

“The Tian clan may be powerful, but they have brought death upon themselves. Since they moved against my father-in-law, although I will not one day wipe out the whole Tian clan, I will make sure they receive a lesson they will never forget. If you trust me, then stay and help me.”

Hearing this, Uncle Wang was somewhat moved. When he first arrived at Fei Yi, he saw that all the soldiers there were cavalry, and his heart sank halfway, because in these times such a style of warfare simply did not exist, and he could not even comprehend it.

And when Meng Di decided to send troops against the army of Qi, Uncle Wang had even thought him reckless. Yet the final outcome had completely exceeded his expectations, and in Meng Di he had even caught sight of the likeness of his former master, Tian Rangju.

Back when Jin and Yan joined forces to attack Qi, the Qi army suffered a crushing defeat. At that time, Duke Jing of Qi had no one capable of use, and the minister Yan Ying seized the chance to recommend Tian Rangju, which turned Qi’s defeat into victory.

Still, Uncle Wang knew his own limits. He tilted back his head and drank, a bitter smile on his face.

“I am already over a hundred years old, and I am no longer fit for anything. Besides, I once doubted the cavalry under the son-in-law’s command. What could I possibly do by staying? I would only be a useless burden. The son-in-law is merely taking pity on me and saying such things.”

Meng Di shook his head very seriously and spoke with great sincerity.

“In the State of Lu, Uncle Wang, you would have no place to show your strength. But in Gumei, I still have another holding. There, the waterways are dense and intertwined, which makes it ideal for naval warfare. You were able to operate for many years in Langya, so you must be no stranger to fighting on the water.”

This was the conclusion he had reached after careful thought. The struggle between Wu and Yue was already showing its first signs. Wu’s strength was growing ever greater, and Gou Jian was not a man content to remain as he was. What would follow was surely the conflict between Wu and Yue.

At such a time, preparations had to be made in advance. The lands of Wu and Yue were crisscrossed with waterways, and although Gumei City was rather desolate for the moment and lay by the sea, it was not yet a place fit for habitation.

But under Meng Di’s rule, it had gradually begun to flourish. In such circumstances, if war broke out between Wu and Yue, Gumei City would certainly be drawn into the turmoil, so he had to plan ahead.

Although establishing a foothold in the State of Lu was the most important step for now, for one thing it would give him legal standing, and in the future, when he contended for supremacy over the realm, he would meet less resistance. For another, the Central Plains were now the center of learning and culture.

Moreover, the prelude to the Hundred Schools of Thought had only just begun, and a great many talents were gathering in the Central Plains. Meng Di therefore had to secure a place here. But that did not mean abandoning Gumei City.

Uncle Wang had not expected Meng Di to possess yet another territory. He was greatly surprised. After considering it for a while, he nodded.

“If that is so, then it would be best if the people near Langya could go straight to Gumei. In that case, I will return to the State of Qi at once, then take ship directly to Gumei. Besides, there are many shipbuilders in the Wu-Yue region, which would be just right for building large warships.”

It seemed Uncle Wang had already entered the role. Meng Di felt greatly relieved. With a fleet of warships, he could coordinate with the land forces in battle, and also guard against the enemy outflanking them by water.

Before they knew it, the two of them had already drunk more than half a jar of wine. Uncle Wang was slightly drunk by then. He stared at Meng Di for a long time, then suddenly chuckled.

“Son-in-law, it seems you are laying out a very large chessboard. Could it be that in the future you intend to help the State of Lu become hegemon?”

That was a matter for the Spring and Autumn era. By now the world had already entered the Warring States age, and Meng Di naturally would not be content with merely dominating the feudal lords. He laughed heartily and said with fervor, “In our present age, the Son of Heaven is reduced to empty prestige, while real power rests in the hands of the feudal lords. Among the ministers of each state, most are ambitious men. In Jin, Fan Yang abandons good law in pursuit of private gain. In Lu, Yang Hu, as a retainer of the Jisun clan, imprisoned his lord and seized control of the government.”

“The world is already showing signs of great change. The feudal lords are ceaselessly warring with one another, and the rites of Zhou exist now only in name. Rulers with vision are already beginning to consider reform and the strengthening of their states. At such a time, what use is there in seeking mere supremacy over the realm? It is nothing more than flowers in a mirror and the moon reflected in the water.”

“Uncle Wang, rest assured. Though the State of Qi now appears calm on the surface, danger is already quietly gathering beneath. The Tian clan is currying favor with the Gao clan on the outside, but in secret they are building their strength. When the time comes, Qi will certainly fall into internal strife, and that will be our moment for revenge.”

After hearing these words, Uncle Wang was moved to tears. He rose and bowed to the ground.

“My master always yielded for the sake of the greater good, yet in the end he was poisoned to death. Today, after hearing the son-in-law speak, this old servant is willing from now on to serve you, and I will go through fire and water without hesitation.”

Meng Di quickly helped Uncle Wang to his feet, his face bearing a confident smile.