The clouds drifted idly beneath a distant sky, and the river stretched into a hazy vastness.
On a small boat, Wang Yang reclined against the bow, his eyes half closed as he fished and basked in the sun. The morning breeze stirred his white robes, and he felt clear and expansive within, refreshed in body and mind.
His six personal Imperial Guards split into two groups. Three rode with Wang Yang, while the other three occupied a boat close alongside. Several warships patrolled nearby, providing protection.
The night before, Wang Yang had instructed two of the six guards to prepare a boat and find fishing tackle, saying he wanted to go fishing first thing in the morning. Outwardly, the two Imperial Guards had gone to carry out his orders; in truth, they had immediately reported to the Prince of Badong.
At first, the Prince of Badong had not wanted to agree.
But on reflection, would refusing not make it plain that he was holding Wang Yang under house arrest? Would that not drive Kongming still further away from him in heart and allegiance?
Even without six experts watching him at close quarters, Wang Yang was surrounded by the army, with naval forces ahead and behind and infantry camps linked along both banks. Could he sprout wings and fly away?
So the prince had granted permission, and had even specifically instructed Guo Wenyuan to designate a stretch of water that offered both good fishing and "safety."
Naturally, "escort vessels" were indispensable.
When Li Jingxuan heard about it, he actually found time amid his countless duties to inspect both Guo Wenyuan's chosen fishing grounds and Wang Yang's escort vessels. He then persuaded the Prince of Badong to move away two nearby flotillas, ostensibly to avoid disturbing Wang Yang's fishing. In reality, he