My Sims of the Eastern Jin Dynasty

The following day, the Court of Justice prison after the trial was a completely different world for Xiao Heng.

Xiao Heng was not released, but the cell he was in had already been changed.

Now it is a secluded room in a courtyard. Although still within the prison walls, it is clean and bright, with a couch and a small table, and all the necessary writing implements. Fresh fruits are even brought in, and the meals are still plentiful. The guards are polite and silent, their presence more of a service than a surveillance.

They wouldn't let us step out the door even a fraction of a step.

That night, the courtyard welcomed its first visitor, Xi Hui, a Gentleman Attendant of the Imperial Household Department from the Xi clan of Gaoping.

He was also very unassuming, dressed in a dark-colored casual outfit that allowed him to move around easily. He had no airs of superiority, kept a very humble posture, and even brought a jar of fine wine.

Xiao Heng had also heard of this person. Last time, he was the only one who escaped unscathed from the Three A's. Although the Xi family did not hold a high position in the court, they controlled the canal transport in Huaibei and Jingkou, as well as some military power left by Xi Jian. They were a family that no one dared to underestimate in the court.

When Xie Xuan formed the Northern Army, he also benefited from the help of the Xi family. Moreover, Xi Hui married Xie Yi's third daughter, Xie Daocan, which added another layer of significance to the marriage alliance with the Xie family of Chen Commandery.

Xiao Heng didn't quite understand why this person would come to see him at this critical juncture, but he still greeted him cautiously.

After exchanging greetings, the two sat down on the stone platform in the courtyard.

"That day in the hall, I watched the Superintendent Cao respond with eloquence and eloquence! His debate on supernatural phenomena was incisive and insightful, and his gamble on celestial phenomena was audacious and astonishing. I was filled with admiration!"

"General Xi, you flatter me. It was just a fluke."

Xi Hui waved his hand.

"No need for formalities. Regardless of what happens in the court, your reputation precedes you in the army, especially among the displaced people; they remember your kindness!"

Xiao Heng broke out in a cold sweat, but he understood what Xi Hui meant. It was alright for the army, but for the refugees, it was better to leave them alone. Such a high reputation was not a good thing.

Immediately afterwards, Xi Hui changed the subject slightly, his tone becoming earnest and earnest.

"However, Jiankang is not Huaiyin. Here, the battlefield is in the imperial court, in words, and in the hearts and minds of the people. Some things that are decisive on the battlefield may be considered presumptuous here. Some words that boost morale on the battlefield may be seen as having ulterior motives here. Be careful with your words and actions, and think things through carefully!"

These words were very earnest, clearly intended to guide him on the path ahead.

Xiao Heng sensed that Xi Hui intended to befriend him, and a look of gratitude appeared on his face. He immediately thanked him solemnly.

Afterwards, Xi Hui did not speak much about court affairs, but only analyzed the current military situation point by point. Xiao Heng could see that, like Deng Jing, he was pure of heart, and his thoughts and plans were all about offense and defense on the battlefield.

Xiao Heng also shared his insights without reservation, pointing out the many shortcomings of the Jin army at present, including the increasingly apparent problems of the Beifu Army.

Xi Hui found the conversation very insightful, and the two talked by candlelight until late into the night.

Only after Xiao Heng yawned repeatedly did Xi Hui, though still reluctant to leave, bid farewell with a smile...

The next morning, Xiao Heng was still asleep when he was awakened by a clerk, whose visitor was his cousin, Xiao Yuanzhi.

The Xiao clan of Lanling has many branches, and Xiao Heng's branch has long since fallen into decline and its members are few and far between.

Since he transmigrated to this place, he has not had much contact with his relatives. He only met his eldest sister, Xiao Wenshou, once. He is only relatively close to his cousins, Xiao Yuanzhi and Xiao Mozhi.

After his parents passed away, his family was embroiled in a dispute with the main branch over land ownership. He faced life-or-death situations several times, but fortunately, his uncle Xiao Zhuo's family never abandoned him.

Xiao Yuanzhi did not linger. After exchanging a few simple pleasantries, he left behind a heavy food box and hurriedly departed.

My cousin had just left when Zhang Xuanzhi arrived.

Having brought many books, Xiao Heng knew he would be staying there for some time.

Zhang Xuanzhi subtly signaled to Xie An, but he didn't discuss the case or the political situation; he just chatted idly.

They might discuss with Xiao Heng the character and integrity of people of the present and the past, perhaps talking about the latest poems circulating along the Qinhuai River, or the surprising remarks made by a member of a certain family at a gathering, or even the old stories of intermarriage between the Langya Wang clan and the Chenjun Xie clan, or the subtle differences between the various branches of the Taiyuan Wang clan.

There was no main text, just gossip and rumors.

Xiao Heng didn't understand at first, but gradually he realized that this was no casual conversation.

This is giving him a high-density crash course in the top-level political ecology of health.

Behind those romantic tales and anecdotes lies a complex network of kinship, a long history of family feuds, and a living map of the various forces at court.

At the same time, Xiao Heng soon discovered that Zhang Xuanzhi was also carefully probing his temperament, preferences, and comprehension through these seemingly casual conversations, as if judging to what extent he could understand and adapt to this complex game rules.

Xiao Heng did not slack off. In order to obtain more resources, he had to listen attentively and ask questions from time to time to show that he was humbly seeking advice.

As he left, Zhang Xuanzhi took out several sheets of paper, each containing the birth dates and times of unmarried women from four prominent families in Wu County.

......

The following day, more than ten letters were delivered to the prison.

Some were unsigned and passed through unknown hands, smuggled in by the carelessness of the guards; others were delivered under the guise of food, with a jailer whispering a greeting from a distinguished person.

Xiao Heng was largely unfamiliar with the people mentioned in the letter, and the content left him speechless.

Some fervently praised their sons' archery skills, hoping to recruit them into his ranks. Others subtly hinted at offering him women from their tribes as concubines. Still others earnestly inquired about his art of summoning wind and rain...

The only difference was that one of them contained a letter from Wang Gong. The letter didn't say much, only reminding him to be wary of Sima Daozi's faction.

Xiao Heng did not underestimate these people who could deliver messages. The next day, when Zhang Xuanzhi came to give his lecture as usual, he laid out all the letters one by one and told him the truth.

After receiving Zhang Xuanzhi's subtle hints, Xiao Heng always adopted the attitude of "received, but not responding for the time being," neither explicitly refusing nor readily accepting.

After several days, those probing letters indeed gradually became scarce.

One night, Xiao Heng was somewhat surprised by the visitor. The visitor was one of Wang Guobao's trusted advisors, whose polite manner made it difficult for Xiao Heng to refuse.

The visitor immediately expressed his gratitude, probably because he had handled the salt profit matter with discretion in the Court of Justice and had not interfered with the Wang family of Taiyuan, which pleased him greatly.

But when Xiao Heng responded, "It's my duty, and as for the case, I should only be concerned with the case itself," he replied...

The aide nodded, then changed the subject, his tone becoming somewhat provocative and probing.

"The Governor is a reasonable man. Nowadays, some people in the court rely on their family background to seize power, block the path of the virtuous, and often use the name of the national interest to act arbitrarily. Although the Northern Army is strong, it is not immune to their obstruction. Isn't the Governor's current predicament clear proof?"

Xiao Heng wanted to get rid of him, but his face showed a mixture of confusion and straightforwardness.

"As for matters of state, I, Heng, am but a military man with limited knowledge and dare not speak rashly. In the past, I heard that General Zu Ti struck the oar midstream, determined to launch a northern expedition, and I have always longed for it. My only wish in this life is to gallop across the battlefield and recover lost territories. As for the court, it is not my forte, and I do not wish to get involved."

These past few days, listening to Zhang Xuanzhi's ramblings, he brought up Zu Ti, putting on the airs of a military general who only knew how to be loyal to the country but was ignorant of party and government affairs.

The aide scrutinized him closely, seemingly trying to find any trace of pretense on his face, but could only manage an awkward smile in the end.

"The governor's ambitions are lofty and admirable. He is a pillar of the nation, and we should visit him more often when we have free time. It's always good to have more friends in Jiankang."

Xiao Heng understood that this was just a tentative contact, and seeing that the gift the other party brought was nice, he was in no hurry to refuse.

......

At the end of the month, a very important person arrived at Xiao Heng's place.

After repeated announcements from the clerks, Sima Tian arrived alone, without any attendants, like an old neighbor strolling by.

He didn't beat around the bush; he sat down and stared at Xiao Heng.

"How accurate are you at predicting the weather by observing the sky? Tell the truth, and don't give me those polite platitudes from old salt merchants or Taoist temples."

Xiao Heng had a good impression of this frank member of the imperial family, hesitated for a moment, and then smiled wryly.

"I dare not lie to Your Highness, but if this technique is accurate seven or eight times out of ten, that's already considered lucky. Moreover, it's mostly limited to short-term, localized phenomena. If it's for large-scale weather events over long distances, or for precise time and hour predictions, it's beyond my capabilities. Sometimes the signs are vague, and misjudgments are also common."

Upon hearing this, Sima Tian was not disappointed at all; on the contrary, his eyes lit up.

"Seventy or eighty percent? That's enough! On the battlefield, a fifty percent chance is enough to risk your life, but a seventy or eighty percent chance guarantees victory! Good, good!"

He stroked his beard and sighed.

"I will soon submit a memorial to retire and go to Kuaiji to find a scenic spot to fish and grow vegetables. I'm too lazy to wade into the muddy waters of Jiankang. Before I leave, I'm curious about this."

Xiao Heng said, "If Your Highness is interested, I will compile the observation methods and cases I know into a book when I have time in the future, and send someone to deliver it to Your Highness for your leisure time to read."

"Okay! It's a deal!"

Sima Tian was very pleased. Then, his expression became slightly more serious as he looked at Xiao Heng and whispered.

"You may feel resentful about Xie Anshi's way of concluding the case that day, or that he didn't do his best to protect you. But in my opinion, this is the best course of action for you right now. Being too sharp is easy to break, while being too lenient will not silence public opinion and will only make the Prince of Langya more resentful. Letting you stay here for a few days to avoid the storm may seem like a grievance, but it is actually a buffer. Xie Anshi, sitting in the central government and maintaining order both inside and outside the government, also has his difficulties. Many times, it's not that he doesn't want to, but that he can't. The fact that you can leave here safely and still have a position in the future is the result of what he fought for you. You should carefully consider the implications of this."

These words were like a morning bell and a evening drum.

Xiao Heng had indeed had some doubts, feeling that Xie An's attitude was too detached and that he was overdoing it.

Hearing this from a high-ranking member of the imperial family, the feeling was somehow different.

"Thank you for your guidance, Your Highness!"

Xiao Heng stood up and bowed solemnly.

Sima Tian accepted it calmly and waved his hand.

"Alright, you'd better watch yourself. Perhaps one day we'll really be able to fight side by side in the Northern Expedition."

Having said that, he swayed and walked away.

Xiao Heng stood there, watching the old prince's figure disappear outside the door, and remained motionless for a long time.

"There's still one clear-headed person in the Sima family! It seems it's not that they don't want to, but that they can't!"

With Xie Gong in charge of the central government, he maintained the balance of the entire Jin dynasty.

So, what if there were a force that didn't have to bear this balance?

An extremely bold, even somewhat arrogant, thought flashed through his mind, making him feel a chill, yet also accompanied by an uncontrollable throbbing.

He slowly sat back down on the stone bench. Perhaps he had been thinking in the wrong direction all along.

In Jiankang, one doesn't necessarily have to climb to the highest branch to survive, and besides, Xie An doesn't have much time left.

Xie Xuan, never mind...