Mu Xian said, "Xingluo Granary has been occupied by the rebel army!"
This exclamation came from Shang Ruyi, who was sitting behind Yu Wenye. She was shocked and moved slightly towards the window, looking at Mu Xian and asking, "Xingluo Granary has been occupied?"
Mu Xian replied softly, "Yes, it happened while Your Majesty was besieged in Yanmen County."
"Which rebel army did it?"
"We don’t know yet, but when the messenger from the Ministry of War reported, I seemed to hear them mention the words ’Wanggang’. "
The mere mention of these words was like a sudden clap of thunder, shocking some people’s hearts. Instantly, Shang Ruyi felt a tremendous jolt, and even Yu Wenye’s expression grew increasingly solemn.
Wanggang, actually just a small village near Anyang, was originally called Que Mountain Village. Built on a mountain, it was a natural fortress, easy to defend and hard to attack militarily, but too small to be well-known. However, three years ago, a man named Wang Quyi changed the fate of this place.
Wang Quyi was originally a Law Officer in the East County, a low-ranking position with little power, but he was generous and charitable, making friends with many Green Forest Heroes. Later, he broke the law, lost his official position, and escaped prison to hide in Que Mountain Village. There, he gathered heroes and established a village. In just two years, he managed to turn the area into a military fortress, renaming it to Wanggang Village. His many subordinates were capable and fierce fighters, numbering in tens of thousands, and they became known as the Wanggang Army, a formidable rebel force.
Unexpectedly, they actually went ahead and took Xingluo Granary!
Shang Ruyi was so stunned, she couldn’t speak for a long time, and when she finally did, she murmured, "It’s come true... it actually came true!"
As the voice of Yu Wenye sounded beside her, a warm breath sprayed against her cheek, causing Shang Ruyi to shiver slightly. Turning her head, she realized that in her urgency, she had nearly thrown herself into Yu Wenye’s arms.
Shang Ruyi blushed deeply and quickly pulled away.
Yu Wenye gave her a glance but said nothing and only told Mu Xian outside the window, "Go find out more, see if there’s any other news."
Mu Xian quickly left.
Once he was gone, Yu Wenye drew down the curtain and turned back to the still slightly flushed Shang Ruyi, with a faintly amused look in his eyes. "What strange thing were you about to say?"
Shang Ruyi lightly coughed and then quietly said, "When I was wandering in Yanmen County before, I heard a prophecy sung by the common folk—"
For some reason, when he heard her say "wandering," Yu Wenye’s expression darkened.
He said coldly, "Oh?"
Shang Ruyi, oblivious, recalled the situation and murmured, "Three Generations of Imperial Map, Wanggang seizes the people’s food..."
Before she could finish, Yu Wenye suddenly furrowed his brow, "Stop!"
Shang Ruyi immediately looked at him, "You’ve heard it too?"
Yu Wenye looked at her with a complex expression and said, "Hmm. But it’s just nonsense from the common people, you shouldn’t listen to it, much less remember it."
Shang Ruyi said, "I didn’t think much of it at first, but when I heard that news, I realized that the second line of the song has already come true."
"Wanggang... seizes the people’s food?"
"People’s food, isn’t that grain? The Wanggang Army took Xingluo Granary, seizing the court’s grain, precisely as foretold—Wanggang seizes the people’s food."
Yu Wenye was silent for a long time, then said coldly, "It’s just a coincidence. With so many rebel armies out there occupying various mountains, it’s inevitable that there’s a rebel leader named Wang; his mountain would naturally be called Wanggang Wang Mountain. As for seizing the people’s food... as rebels seeking power, stealing grain and money is a given tactic. This prophecy is merely coincidental, don’t pay it any mind."
Before Shang Ruyi could continue, Yu Wenye interrupted her, "The matter at hand is what’s truly important."
Shang Ruyi said, "You mean, the issue of the Wanggang Army seizing Xingluo Granary?"
Yu Wenye said, "Even though the Wanggang Army has taken Xingluo Granary, this may not be Wang Quyi’s doing."
"Why do you say that?"
"Wang Quyi is someone with short-sighted ambitions, with no foresight or grand objectives, and he’s previously fought against other rebel factions for territory. He and his men have always appeared to be mere bandits."
"But this time, they blatantly occupied Xingluo Granary."
"Remember, Xingluo Granary is the Dynasty’s largest granary. Occupying it means the court will definitely dispatch heavy troops to attack, so their action is essentially opposing the entire Da Ye Dynasty, not to mention the covetous eyes of other rebels. Does Wang Quyi have such audacity?"
At these words, Shang Ruyi’s heart suddenly stirred.
To occupy the nation’s largest granary is to directly challenge the court, suggesting that the Wanggang Village’s goal in seizing Xingluo Granary is not just to plunder the grain but ultimately to formally rebel against the court!
Such a bold move is not something mere bandits would dare to do!
Who then dares to stir such major turmoil?!
Yu Wenye said gravely, "Moreover, Xingluo Granary’s strategic location, with access to both water and land routes, allows for a quick strike at the Eastern Capital or, further upriver, a direct assault on Tongguan, and possibly even capturing the Western Capital."
"Therefore, occupying Xingluo Granary is a strategic move aimed at the entire nation!"
"From whichever angle you see it, this decision is beyond someone as short-sighted as Wang Quyi."
She still remembered that when they were returning to Luoyang from Taiyuan, they encountered a convoy transferring grain from Xingluo Granary along the way. At that time, Yu Wenye said—whoever occupies Xingluo Granary could dominate a region.
Even he acknowledged the strategic role of Xingluo Granary in vying for supremacy over the nation, suggesting that the person behind this must either have heard his insights or shares a similar strategic vision.
Shang Ruyi suddenly gasped.
Yu Wenye lowered his head to look at her, "What is it?"
Shang Ruyi glanced at him, her eyes flickering, and said, "Nothing, nothing."
Yu Wenye frowned, "What did you think of? Speak."
His tone suddenly became stern, as if he had already seen through her hesitation and secrecy, clearly demanding an explanation.
Shang Ruyi felt cold sweat on her palms. After thinking it over, she cautiously lifted the curtain to check their surroundings. Although the unexpected news had caused some chaos outside, the carriage was surrounded by Mu Xian’s men, ensuring no one else was eavesdropping.
Reassured, she lowered the curtain and softly said to Yu Wenye, "I thought of someone."