Chapter 134 Lu Kang scolds Wang Lang
After Zhou Xin of Danyang County cooperated and signed the document, the navy led by Huang Gai completely opened up the surface of the Yangtze River.

Since Zu Lang had no navy, he could only sigh at the sight of the river.

Lujiang County, Shu County.

After Wang Lang arrived here, he did not rush to the front line in Chaohu to meet Lujiang County Magistrate Lu Kang, but came to visit Zhou's family.

When Zhou Chong learned about it, he claimed to be ill and did not see Wang Lang.

Zhou Shang went out to greet Zhou Yu and treated him with courtesy.

Wang Lang was very displeased. After a few simple greetings, he hurried to Chaohu to meet Lu Kang.

Looking at Wang Lang's furious back, Zhou Yu asked Zhou Shang, "Why didn't my cousin (Zhou Chong) meet with Governor Wang?"

Zhou Shang replied: "Because Wang Taishou came for personal matters, not official business, your uncle naturally did not see him."

Zhou Yu was puzzled, so Zhou Shang told him about Wang Lang's attempt to seize Yangzhou for Jin Mao.

Zhou Yu was immediately furious and said, "The country is in trouble, but Wang Lang only cares about his personal vengeance and ignores public affairs."

"He is a famous scholar, but he is such a villain!"

Zhou Shang asked curiously, "Governor Jin also has a plan, why do you only mention Wang Lang?"

Zhou Yu explained: "Governor Jin was seeking a name, but he has already taken real action."

"What did Wang Lang pay?"

"He talks a lot about morality, but he doesn't care about the people. He is not worthy of being called a famous scholar. He is really a villain!"

Zhou Shang asked with even greater curiosity: "The Jin governor has great ambitions. Isn't this disloyal and unfilial?"

Zhou Yu said solemnly: "Liu Taichang proposed the governor of the state. The world is about to fall into chaos. How many people are as kind and righteous as Jin Taishou?"

"I think it's much better for Yangzhou to fall into the hands of Governor Jin than to fall into the hands of others!"

"The people will also have a place to settle down."

This time Zhou Shang was truly surprised and said, "Yu'er is really insightful."

"Then should we help Governor Jin?"

"We?" Zhou Yu shook his head. "We can't even protect ourselves, how can we influence the situation?"

Zhou Shang wanted to ask, why didn't he have the ability to influence the current situation? Lu Kang was able to withstand Zu Lang's fierce attack, but it was because of his Zhou family's private soldiers.

"Yu'er, you will be a crowned young lady next year. Have you thought about your future path?"

Thinking of Sun Ce, Zhou Shang couldn't help but laugh and said, "I heard that your childhood friend Sun Ce will serve as Governor Jin next year. Are you going to go too?"

"It's too early." Zhou Yu replied: "I need to learn more."

Looking at the young man walking towards the study, Zhou Shang shook his head. This smart nephew had his own ideas and was not easily influenced by others.

...

Chaohu Lake, Lujiang County.

Lu Kang led 7,000 elite soldiers and repeatedly repelled Zu Lang's attack. This was all thanks to the Zhou family's 3,000+ private soldiers who were proficient in naval warfare, otherwise Lu Kang would have had a hard time defending against an enemy that was ten times his size.

"Where is Governor Jin's vanguard? Why is there no news at all?"

In fact, Lu Kang had sent another letter for help to Jin Mao, but the messenger was killed halfway, so Lu Kang always believed that Jin Mao came to the expedition this time in response to his request for help.

I have been looking forward to Jinmao coming to Lujiang County.

Lu Kang really couldn't hold on any longer. At the beginning, he was able to withstand enemies that were ten times his size not just because he had the advantage of geographical location.

Also, Zu Lang's men were a motley crowd, and they didn't know how to fight a naval battle.

Recently, the situation has changed. The enemy seems to have gradually become familiar with Lu Kang's tactics, and has gradually developed from losing ten battles in ten to winning two or three in ten.

Lu Kang was very worried. If this continued, this group of thieves would become stronger and stronger. By then, even if Jin Mao came, he would be powerless to save the situation.

That day, Lu Kang received a report from his subordinates that Jin Mao had sent someone to come. He was very happy and met Wang Lang in the central military tent.

"Kuaiji County Magistrate Wang Lang meets with Lujiang County Magistrate."

Although Lu Kang was old, he returned the greeting politely.

"Where is Governor Jin?" Lu Kang asked anxiously, "When will he arrive in Lujiang County?"

Wang Lang became increasingly unhappy and began to completely discredit Jinmao Road.

"Grandmaster Lu, aren't you afraid that driving away the wolves will bring in the tigers?"

Lu Kang was stunned and said, "Why do you think like this, Governor Wang? Why don't you go and see that the people are in dire straits now?"

"One day later in expelling the rebels means one more day of disaster!"

"Do you know how many people die every day?"

Wang Lang didn't care about this at all and continued to persuade: "Sacrifice your own family to save the whole family."

"Now that the rebellion has been formed, why bother you to care about the dead people? You should see how the Han Dynasty will be devastated in the future!"

Lu Kang understood that the boastful Wang Lang only cared about his own interests and ignored the people. He talked about benevolence, righteousness and morality, but did not take any action.

But Lu Kang was also well-read, and as a member of the aristocratic family, he wanted to save the last bit of reputation for Wang Lang, and said angrily: "I dare not agree with it!"

Wang Lang was still trying to get it over with: "Lu Taishou, please don't harm the country. Wujun County Magistrate Sheng Xian has been placed under house arrest by Jin Mao. If you don't wake up, you will be the next one."

"A man like Jin Mao appears to be kind and righteous. How can you be deceived by his appearance?"

This time Lu Kang was completely furious. He didn't care about giving Wang Lang face and rebuked him, "Wang Lang! I respect you as a famous scholar in the East China Sea, so I said so much to you!"

"Now it seems that you are just a show-off!" "On the surface? Don't you see that people live and work in peace and contentment under Governor Jin's rule? Don't you see that the people all support him?"

Lu Kang could not stop talking and said, "You know that last year, Yuzhang County suffered a disaster and the people were displaced. My Lujiang County was already struggling to accept only 50,000 disaster victims."

"But do you know how many disaster victims there are in Yuzhang County?"

"million!"

Lu Kang wanted to spit on Wang Lang's face: "What about now?"

"In just one year, millions of refugees in Yuzhang County disappeared without a trace, and all the people in Yuzhang built a shrine for Governor Jin!"

"You actually said that such a person is kind and righteous on the surface?"

Lu Kang stared at Wang Lang and said, "If all those seemingly benevolent people in the world could do half as well as Governor Jin, how could there be any unrest?"

This sentence was almost like scolding Wang Lang by name, but unfortunately Lu Kang could not ignore Wang Lang's title of celebrity and hoped that he would mend his ways.

Wang Lang could hear it clearly. He wiped his spit and bowed with a smile, saying, "Grandmaster Lu is righteous."

"I came to Lujiang County to find you this time because I received a commission from Governor Jin."

"But I don't know what kind of person you are, so I have to test you. Please forgive me."

Lu Kang was immediately overjoyed and asked, "Please tell me quickly, what can Governor Jin do for you?"

Wang Lang was disgusted, but still smiled and said, "Governor Jin wants to be the governor of Yangzhou, but there is no imperial order, so he wants to ask the governors of all the counties in Yangzhou to jointly submit a petition on his behalf."

"This behavior is really embarrassing." Wang Lang pretended to be hurt and said, "I was forced to sign the document before I even took office. What should I do if something goes wrong in the future?"

Lu Kang automatically ignored the thorny nature of Wang Lang's words and said happily, "It's justified! Governor Jin really abides by the law!"

"I thought it was a big deal, but it's just a small matter."

"Wang Taishou will wait a moment. I will write a petition and ask you to take it to Jin Taishou. I hope he can lead his army to quell the rebellion as soon as possible."

Seeing this, Wang Lang felt disappointed but also secretly happy. He had prepared for both situations. If he could convince Lu Kang, that would be the best. If he couldn't, that didn't matter either, because he could still show off his achievements in front of Jin Mao.

Kill two birds with one stone, you can hit the target no matter how you shoot!

"Don't worry, Governor Lu." Wang Lang cleverly pulled out a bamboo scroll from his sleeve, handed it over and said, "I have already drafted the document, you only need to sign and stamp it."

"Very good!" Lu Kang took the document and read every word carefully.

Wang Lang curled his lips, fortunately he did not tamper with the documents, otherwise, his fox tail would be exposed.

While Lu Kang was studying seriously, Wang Lang did not forget to put eye drops in his eyes.

"I heard that the court sent Huang Taishou as governor of Yuzhou. Why doesn't Lu Taishou ask for help from Yuzhou?"

"I've already asked for help." Lu Kang said disdainfully, "I'm a practical man!"

Wang Lang almost choked on his saliva.

Lu Kang continued calmly: "Not only Yuzhou, but also Xuzhou and Jingzhou, I sent letters for help, but all fell on deaf ears."

Lu Kang had already read the document and found no problem. He was about to sign his name on the seal. He said to Wang Lang earnestly, "Grandmaster Wang."

"The world is in chaos right now, with bandits everywhere. The states and counties are busy taking care of themselves, so how can they spare the energy to help others?"

"Don't worry too much and just help Governor Jin to quell the rebellion. I think Governor Jin is broad-minded and won't care about such trivial matters."

How could Lu Kang not see Wang Lang's little thoughts?

"If you want to cause chaos in the entire Yangzhou County, then I, Lu Kang, will be your first opponent!"

This persuasion was threatening and fully revealed Lu Kang's attitude. Wang Lang was embarrassed and did not answer.

"Don't say you didn't predict what you said!"

After saying that, Lu Kang stood up and walked out of the central army tent. The battle situation was urgent, and he could spare so much time to deal with Wang Lang purely for Jin Mao's sake.

Inside the big tent, Wang Lang was humiliated for the second time and his face was very gloomy.

Then, thinking of something happy, Wang Lang said happily: "The plan is done!"

"Since you are all so optimistic about Jin Mao, then I will assist him with peace of mind. I hope he is really as you say."

When setting out, Lu Kang was afraid that Wang Lang would die on the way, so he specially arranged a small team of soldiers to escort him to Shu County.

However, when Wang Lang saw that the Gongcao of Lujiang County was among them, his face became even gloomier.

The post of County Gongcao is usually held by the confidant of the county governor, which means that Lu Kang is worried about Wang Lang and wants to send his confidant to talk to Jin Mao in person.

“Shameless old thief!” Wang Lang cursed in his heart, “The older you get, the more shameless you become. You are a prestigious family in Wu County, but you are such a despicable person!”

Wang Lang believed that Lu Kang would definitely tell Jin Mao everything that happened today, so he sent his confidant to do so.

At that time, his wishful thinking was dashed.

"I have to think of a way to get out of this."

Unfortunately, the whole Yangzhou was at war, and without Jin Mao's help, Wang Lang could not go anywhere.

After thinking about it, it seems that there is no other good solution.

"Humph!" Wang Lang made up his mind: "Then I will use my life to wake up the world."

"What Sheng Xiaozhang said is absolutely right!"

"Jin Mao is a man-eating tiger. If we leave him alone, all the noble families in the world will suffer!"

"For the sake of the people of the world, sacrifice the small self and achieve the big self!"

(End of this chapter)