My Sims of the Eastern Jin Dynasty

Sikou, the main camp of the Northern Army.

Chief Secretary Yin Zhongkan sat upright behind his desk, his face as solemn as iron.

The letter that Xiao Heng wrote to Sun Wuzhong was currently in his hands.

He did not report directly to Xie Xuan, but instead first ordered someone to summon Sun Wuzhong.

Since the breakout from Liucheng, Sun Wuzhong was injured, so Xie Xuan asked him to meet the officials and civilians of Huaibei at Sikou.

He did not know why Yin Zhongkan had summoned him so urgently, but since the chief clerk had summoned him, he dared not refuse.

"Sun Sima, you've worked hard!"

Yin Zhongkan spoke in a flat tone, revealing no emotion, and pushed the letter on the table over.

"Look at this!"

Sun Wuzhong took it with a puzzled look, glanced at it, and was first surprised, then his face quickly showed an unbelievable joy.

"Xiao Sanlang! He's still alive?! This...this is his letter!"

As I read the contents of the letter, my tense nerves eased slightly when I saw phrases like "defeated three thousand Di-Qin cavalry" and "retreated to Tan County in the East Sea".

However, when he saw the final words "determined to head east to Qu County and defend the city" and "the return date is uncertain," he frowned and looked up at Yin Zhongkan.

"Chief Secretary, this letter..."

Yin Zhongkan interrupted him.

"Without any military orders, you arbitrarily decided to desert, fleeing to the East China Sea, and implying that you will never return to your unit. What do you interpret, Commander Sun?"

Sun Wuzhong was taken aback and immediately defended himself.

"Chief Secretary, you are wise! Didn't Xiao Heng mention in his letter that Murong De's army and the Imperial Guards were approaching, and the situation was critical? His move to Qu County with his rear guard, mostly auxiliary soldiers and laborers, to avoid the enemy was also a temporary expedient..."

"expedient?"

Yin Zhongkan suddenly stood up.

"Who gave him this expedient authority? The original transfer order clearly stated in black and white that he was to supervise the rear camp. Did he even consult the emperor once before taking it upon himself to change course to Lanling? Now he's gone even further, directly demanding to occupy the city and defend it! Does he even have any regard for military law?!"

He walked up to Sun Wuzhong, his aura imposing.

"You just said you retreated to Tan County in Donghai? Let me ask you this: his rear guard was supposed to follow your troops, or be transporting provisions as ordered. Where was he when your troops were trapped in Liucheng? Where was he when you were fighting desperately and urgently needed supplies and reinforcements? Not only did he not come to your aid, but he went to Lanling! Commander Sun, how do you explain this?"

Sun Wuzhong was so enraged by this series of sharp questions that his blood boiled. These words, so piercing to the heart, made his face turn red instantly, and he said in a rough voice.

"Chief Clerk! I made an agreement with Xiao Heng that if the battle goes against us, we can retreat towards Lanling to regroup! Lanling is one of the retreat routes we agreed upon! The battle at Liucheng was fierce, with the Qin army pursuing and intercepting us. It's already a miracle that my troops were able to escape. How can we criticize him for sending a small auxiliary force to break through the encirclement to provide reinforcements? He has already done a great service by preserving the rear camp and repelling the cavalry!"

"Lanling? A way out?"

A glint flashed in Yin Zhongkan's eyes, as if he had finally grasped the most crucial handle. His voice suddenly rose, carrying a condescending rebuke.

"Sun Wuzhong! You are the Military Advisor of the Northern Army, ordered to launch a surprise attack on Liucheng. Afterwards, instead of thinking of joining forces with General He Qian's troops on the main battlefield to fight the enemy together, you made an agreement with a mere Supervisor to retreat to Lanling, far from the main force? This is acting on your own initiative and disregarding the overall situation! Do you still care about General He? Do you still care about Governor Xie's plans?!"

These words completely ignited the anger and grievances that Sun Wuzhong had accumulated over the days of bloody battles.

He took a sudden step forward, his beard and hair standing on end, and roared hoarsely.

"Chief Clerk Yin! You sit high in your tent, do you even know the fate of the soldiers at the front?!"

"East of Liucheng, for miles around, Qin troops are everywhere! My troops fought bloodily for days, and when we broke through, Qin banners were visible to the south and west! Going to General He's place would be like jumping into a fire pit, sending our brothers to their deaths! Lanling was a city we could rely on, and it was the only possible path to survival for our troops at that time! This choice was a judgment I, as a general, made in a desperate situation to earn a way out for my brothers! If this is called acting arbitrarily, I accept it! If this is called disregarding the overall situation, then tell me, Chief Scribe, is sending me with these two thousand remaining soldiers into the mouth of the main Qin army considered acting in the best interests of the situation?!"

The air inside the tent seemed to freeze.

Sun Wuzhong's roar was filled with bloodlust. Yin Zhongkan's face turned ashen, speechless for a moment, choked by Sun Wuzhong's blunt defiance and the bloody reality.

He was used to handling documents and laws, but he could hardly understand the pain of making choices on the brink of life and death.

After a long while, Yin Zhongkan forcibly suppressed his anger. He knew that arguing about the "choice of retreat" would no longer be able to subdue Sun Wuzhong.

He stepped back, sat back down behind his desk, and resumed his cold tone.

"Commander Sun is exhausted from the fierce battle and his words were inappropriate, so we will not pursue the matter for now. However, the matter of Xiao Heng is intolerable under military law. Regardless of the reason, abandoning one's post and occupying a city without returning is a bad habit that must not be allowed to continue! The Northern Army has just been established. If everyone follows this example, how can we form an army? How can we defend against the enemy?"

He stared at Sun Wuzhong.

"Since you have a past relationship with him, you should understand the implications even more. Immediately write a letter in your own name, and in accordance with the strict military law of the Northern Army, ordering him to lead all his troops south to return to the Sikou camp upon receiving the letter, and await the Governor's decision! There must be no further delays or lingering along the way, and he must not engage in any private dealings with local powerful families!"

Sun Wuzhong's chest heaved violently. He knew that Yin Zhongkan was looking for trouble, but he didn't know when Xiao Heng had offended him.

He turned abruptly, his back to Yin Zhongkan, his posture resolute.

"I will not write this letter!"

Yin Zhongkan could hardly believe his ears.

"Sun Wuzhong, how dare you disobey orders?!"

Sun Wuzhong turned around.

"Disobeying orders? Chief Clerk, does General Xie know anything about Murong De's dealings with the Imperial Guards?"

Yin Zhongkan was speechless, but still spoke with conviction.

"Not yet reported!"

"Then it would be best for the Chief Clerk to report this as soon as possible. The Imperial Guards are Fu Jian's personal troops, and Murong De is a famous Xianbei general. The Chief Clerk should take heed!"

After saying this, Sun Wuzhong clasped his hands in a deep fist salute, said no more, and turned to leave in a long stride.

Upon hearing this, Yin Zhongkan realized that the cold legal documents in his hands were somewhat pale and powerless in the face of the reality of the battlefield.

But he absolutely could not back down; discipline is discipline.

"Military discipline is as firm as a mountain and cannot be disrespected. The matter of Xiao Heng will be decided by the Commander-in-Chief and the General Staff. Since you are unwilling to write a letter, so be it."

He sat up straight, regaining his former dignity as a chief secretary, but he kept muttering to himself.

"If this child is not eliminated, he may disrupt the morale of the army; we must be vigilant!"

He got up, straightened his clothes, and hurriedly headed towards Xie Xuan's military tent.

Meanwhile, hundreds of miles away in Pengcheng, the Qin army camp...

As soon as Deng Jinggang returned to camp, he was stopped by a heavily armored personal guard.

"General Deng and General Fu request your presence!"

The guard spoke respectfully; Deng Jing recognized him as the personal bodyguard of General Fu Fang.

With a slight unease, Deng Jing followed the others through the continuous rows of tents to an isolated camp on the central side of the army, which was heavily guarded.

Before even entering the tent, the aroma of wine and meat mingled with a smoky scent that seemed out of place in a military camp.

Lifting the curtain and entering, the scene inside caused Deng Jing to furrow his brow almost imperceptibly.

The candlesticks burned brightly, and Fu Fang sat in the main seat, his robes loose, raising a cup and chatting with a young general dressed in Xianbei attire beside him.

The young man bore a resemblance to Murong De in his features, but his expression was even more arrogant; he was none other than Murong Yan, Murong De's adopted son.

The table was littered with cups and plates, clearly indicating that a feast had been held some time ago.

Unauthorized banquets and drinking are strictly prohibited in the military, especially when a major battle has just ended and the enemy's situation is unclear.

Suppressing his displeasure, Deng Jing stepped forward and clasped his hands in greeting.

"This humble general, Deng Jing, pays his respects to General Fu!"

"Hey, Wendu's back! Come on, take a seat!"

Fu Fang looked up, his face flushed with the effects of alcohol, and greeted her warmly.

"You've had a long and arduous journey. I heard you encountered some trouble? It's alright, it's good to be back! This is Murong Yan, General Murong's beloved son. You young people should get to know him better!"

Murong Yan glanced at Deng Jing sideways, a playful smile on his lips, raised his glass, but did not get up.

Deng Jing stood ramrod straight, his voice steady.

"Thank you for your concern, General. However, my old wound has not yet healed, and the military doctor has advised me to abstain from alcohol. I am afraid I will be unable to accompany you. Please forgive me."

Murong Yan chuckled softly, his voice carrying the distinctive rolled consonants of the Xianbei people, and spoke slowly.

"I've long heard of General Deng's descendant, renowned for his exceptional courage and resolve. Seeing him today, it's certainly true... well, he's so devoted to his duty that he doesn't even dare to touch a drop of wine?"

The atmosphere inside the tent suddenly turned cold. Several of Fu Fang's personal guards lowered their eyes, while the Xianbei guards behind Murong Yan wore mocking expressions.

Deng Jing raised his eyes, his gaze shooting towards Murong Yan like cold lightning.

His father, Deng Qiang, rose from a surrendered general to a fierce warrior capable of defeating ten thousand men through his military achievements. What he hated most was being judged by his birth.

"Young Master Murong."

Deng Jing's voice was not loud, but every word was clear.

"The military camp has its own regulations. My father once said that a general should obey orders and remain vigilant at all times. Although Pengcheng has fallen, the Jin army's strength has not been diminished. Xie Xuan is still watching from Sikou, drinking and singing. I am afraid this is not the time to be vigilant. This humble general's opinion may not be as erudite as Young Master Murong's!"

These words were blunt, and Murong Yan's face immediately darkened, his wine cup slamming heavily in his hand.

"Alright, alright!"

Seeing this, Fu Fang laughed and smoothed things over.

He waved his hand, dismissing the musicians and other guests, leaving only the three of them and a few close confidants in the tent.

"Wen Du is loyal to his duty and is a model in our army. Young Master Murong is also a hero. It was just a joke, so don't take it seriously."

Fu Fang personally took the pot and poured a cup of water for Deng Jing, his tone becoming serious.

"The reason I urgently summoned Wendu is because there is an important military matter that cannot be handled without you."

Deng Jing took the water glass.

"Please enlighten me, General."

Fu Fang got up, walked to the hanging map of Jianghuai, moved his finger along the coastline, and finally pointed to a small county town on the coast of Donghai County, which was Qu County.

"You shall lead your troops to this location immediately, conduct a thorough reconnaissance, secure key routes, and eliminate any remaining Jin army forces that may be hiding here!"

Qu County? Deng Jing's heart skipped a beat. He had just returned from Donghai County, which was not far from here.

He suppressed his turbulent thoughts, his face remaining impassive.

"This subordinate obeys!"

Seeing that Deng Jing didn't ask any further questions, Fu Fang smiled again.

"General Murong will accompany you. He is familiar with the situation along the Qing and Xu coasts and has elite troops under his command. He can lend you a helping hand. If the two of you work together sincerely, you will surely achieve complete success quickly."

Go with Murong Yan? Deng Jing's doubts deepened, but he still accepted the military order.

"This subordinate understands."

Fu Fang returned to the main seat, nodded in satisfaction, and then said calmly.

"The Imperial Guards are the Heavenly King's personal troops, and their presence is conspicuous. This mission requires secrecy and speed. You and General Murong will only take the elite light cavalry that you trust. The number of people does not need to be large, three thousand is enough. To the outside world, we will say that we are patrolling the coast and searching for defeated soldiers. The Imperial Guards will remain at the Pengcheng camp for the time being."

"Not allowed to bring the Imperial Guards?" Deng Jing suddenly looked up at Fu Fang.

The Imperial Guards were his subordinates, but to some extent they were also here to protect the people in front of them.

Murong Yan then walked over and raised his glass to Deng Jing.

"General Deng, please guide me along the way. The coastal area is damp and low-lying, perhaps not as well-regulated as the Pengcheng camp, but I'm sure it will be quite interesting!"

Deng Jing met Fu Fang's seemingly calm gaze, then glanced at the smug Murong Yan.

He knew he had no choice but to accept.

"..."