My Sims of the Eastern Jin Dynasty

The next day, Xiaozhu Island.

The morning light shone through the gaps in the bamboo shed onto Deng Jing's face.

Whether it was the warmth or the light, Deng Jing suddenly opened his eyes.

A sharp pain shot through my shoulder, and my consciousness returned before my vision returned. The salty sea breeze, the rough bamboo mat beneath me, and the simple bandages on my body.

Memories of yesterday flooded back: the boundless sea and the distant fairy mountains (the present-day Huaguo Mountain was still in the sea during the Eastern Jin Dynasty), the guards rowing desperately...

Just then, clear footsteps came from outside the bamboo shed. There was more than one person, and they quickly stopped at the entrance of the shed.

With most of the light blocked, several figures walked in.

Deng Jing squinted, trying to adjust to the somewhat glaring light and also attempting to see who was approaching.

The leader was young, dressed in a slightly worn but neat military uniform, with an inconspicuous dark cloak over it, and stood tall and straight.

His face wasn't particularly handsome, but his features were clear, his eyes were calm, and he was smiling at him.

Deng Jing finally breathed a sigh of relief after recognizing the face.

My memory returned to the outskirts of Tanxian County, to this young man.

"Does General Deng truly believe that the Qin army's might can last forever?"

"You southern invaders are nothing but a wretched creature clinging to life."

"How about I make a bet with the general? A bet on the fate of the Qin Dynasty! I bet that within five years, the Di-Qin state will undergo a major upheaval, and even if it doesn't collapse, it will hardly regain its current prosperity!"

"...Arrogant! What will you do if Qin remains the same five years from now?"

"If I lose, you can take my head, General. If I win, you'll be my bodyguard for life, how about that?"

……

"I heard you're going to be my bodyguard?"

Xiao Heng's words brought Deng Jing back to reality, and he walked to the rough wooden stool in the shed and sat down.

A brief silence fell over the shed. Even Xu Xianzhi, who was standing to the side, turned around and glanced at Han Yong upon hearing this.

Deng Jing closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and when he opened them again, he did not answer Xiao Heng's question about keeping the appointment.

He just stared at Xiao Heng in a hoarse voice and asked in return.

"May I ask, what are your intentions?"

Xiao Heng didn't seem surprised by Deng Jing's avoidance and continued to look at Deng Jing with a smile.

"Let's set aside the matter of the guard for now. You've incurred considerable debts here; pay them off first, then we'll discuss anything else!"

"debt?"

Deng Jing was somewhat puzzled.

"More than a thousand salt farmers have died in the city, and hundreds more new graves have appeared on the mountain!"

After Xiao Heng finished speaking, he turned around and glanced at Han Yong.

After hearing this, Deng Jing pursed his lips and remained silent. He neither denied nor refuted it.

"I'll take this silence as an admission!"

The smile on Xiao Heng's face gradually faded, and he leaned forward slightly.

"Deng Jing is dead at sea from this day forward. Live in anonymity for five years, and perhaps you'll live to see the end. Otherwise, your head might be exchanged for a governorship in Jingzhou!"

Deng Jing tried to get up and argue when he heard this, but he was tied up and couldn't turn over at all.

"Take good care of yourself and let your injury heal properly."

Xiao Heng finally got up, walked to the entrance of the shed, and turned back to leave with his last words.

"Once you're healed, remember to go up the mountain!"

After saying that, he led his men and disappeared into the blinding morning light, leaving Deng Jing alone there, thinking about matters of life and death and the future.

Outside the wooden shed, the sea breeze still carried a salty, fishy smell.

In the distance, dozens of boats of various sizes shuttled back and forth on the beach, transporting teams of salt farmers and salt workers, along with their meager belongings, to the newly liberated town of Qu County.

Xiao Heng stopped and silently watched the relocation scene for a while.

Salt producers are the backbone of the East China Sea, and now they are severely lacking in food supplies, urgently needing this batch of sea salt to exchange for the army's provisions.

"Fu-kun!"

Han Yong, who had already been appointed as a captain, followed beside him, but his eyes kept glancing towards the wooden shed, clearly still thinking about Deng Jing inside.

"Those two guards... were they really just let go like that?"

Xiao Heng withdrew his gaze and looked at Han Yong, his expression calm.

"Someone needs to go back and report!"

Upon hearing this, Han Yong immediately frowned and whispered.

"My lord, is this a wise move? If we let them go back, and the news that Deng Jing is still alive and here leaks out, wouldn't that lead to endless trouble?"

He didn't finish his sentence, but his meaning was clear: he was worried that this would bring unforeseen trouble to Qu County.

Xiao Heng shook his head and then asked in return.

"What would you do if you were in my shoes?"

Han Yong was still puzzled after hearing this.

"Why is Your Excellency so certain?"

Xu Xianzhe, who was standing to the side, explained.

"Because Deng Jing would tell them what they should say and what they shouldn't say."

Han Yong was skeptical, but could only clasp his hands in a fist salute.

"Yes, sir! I'll take care of it right away!"

"Yes, go ahead. The meeting doesn't need to be long, just the time it takes for an incense stick to burn."

Xiao Heng added.

Han Yong accepted the order and left.

Xu Xianzhi then slowly stepped forward.

"My lord, the Commandant's concerns lie in his appearance and actions, while what I envy is worried about... is his reputation."

Xiao Heng turned around and looked at him calmly, signaling him to continue.

Xu Xianzhi carefully considered his words and spoke slowly.

"Deng Jing is no ordinary defeated general. He is the son of Deng Qiang and a general of the Qin Imperial Guard. The life or death of such a person is no small matter. Murong Yan framed him, which is an internal power struggle within Qin. If I kill him, it will be a conflict between the two countries, each serving their own master. But if I spare him..."

He paused, then looked sharply at Xiao Heng.

"Under what pretext did the Prefect detain him? To take him in? To protect him? To appoint him? Whichever it is, what will the story become when it reaches Jiangdong? What is Xiao Heng of the Northern Army's intention in secretly taking in a general from the Di-Qin region?"

Xu Xianzhi's concerns went far beyond Han Yong's fear of the news leaking out; they touched upon his stance and potential political costs.

Xiao Heng listened quietly, the sea breeze ruffling the hair on his forehead, but his expression remained largely unchanged.

But deep down, I felt a sense of helplessness and even wanted to complain.

"Reputation... risks... shaking the foundation... Xu Xianzhi is right. This should be the standard operation of top advisors in this era: prudent, thorough, and avoiding all visible risks."

"But the problem is... this is Deng Jing! Deng Qiang's son! I wanted to recruit him the first time I saw him. Don't be fooled by his lack of historical fame; the Former Qin probably collapsed too quickly to give him a stage to shine. But a son of a general, how bad can his foundation be? Look at the Imperial Guards he leads, look at his tactical response at the Battle of Tanxian... this is a general who can lead independently!"

"Finding Xu Xianzhi was already incredibly lucky, and now a descendant of a famous general like Deng Jing has come knocking on our door. It's clearly on the verge of taking off. Once we get back, we'll get Liu Yu, and then there's Liu Muzhi and Tan Daoji..."

Xiao Heng became more and more excited as he thought about it, and the calm demeanor he usually maintained disappeared.

His unusually excited expression did not escape the notice of Xu Xianzhi, who was standing to the side.

Xu Xianzhi was originally worried and was waiting for the prefect to make a calm decision after weighing the pros and cons. However, he saw that after listening to his analysis, Xiao Heng did not become more serious. Instead, a light that he had never seen before ignited in his eyes.

There was no fear of risk in that radiance, only the joy of discovering a priceless treasure and an unwavering determination to obtain it.

Xu Xianzhi was taken aback and for a moment doubted whether he had been too conservative and misjudged the situation.

Just then, Xiao Heng turned around, his smile brighter than the morning light over the sea. He patted Xu Xianzhi's shoulder hard, his voice filled with barely suppressed admiration.

"Wenyuan, Wenyuan, what you say is absolutely right! Your thoughts are so thorough. With you by my side, constantly reminding me, I feel so at ease!"

This reaction reassured Xu Xianzhi somewhat, but then Xiao Heng naturally wrapped his arm around his shoulder and pulled him closer.

"But Wen Yuan, think about it again. Deng Qiang's son! The descendant of a famous general! Such a person, his insight and ability, are all extraordinary. Now he is fallen from grace, burdened with a blood feud, and his future is bleak... If he could be used by me..."

Xiao Heng didn't finish his sentence, but gave Xu Xianzhi a meaningful look.

That look no longer held just admiration for a general, but also carried a vast ambition that Xu Xianzhi instantly understood.

"As for the opinions in Jiangdong..."

"Wen Yuan, you and I both know that the rumors in Jiankang City have never stopped. The key is not whether there is any incriminating evidence, but what we hold in our hands. If we establish a firm foothold in the East China Sea, we can advance as wings for the Northern Expedition, or retreat to protect the peace of this region... At that time, what can a few rumors do to me? They are nothing but the chirping of insects and the croaking of frogs, only to be laughed at."

He paused, his gaze sharpening as he stared directly at Xu Xianzhi.

"Conversely, if we fail and end up in a sorry state, even without Deng Jing, wouldn't those self-proclaimed intellectuals and officials from the central government find other excuses to attack and trample us on? When a wall falls, everyone pushes it down; this has been true since ancient times. Therefore, in the end, the strong and the weak are clearly distinguished, and victory and defeat are self-evident!"

Seeing the change in Xu Xianzhi's eyes, Xiao Heng knew that Xu Xianzhi's guard had been lowered and he was reassessing his situation.

Just as he was about to add fuel to the fire and throw out that five-year prediction gamble, he suddenly felt a strange, indescribable tremor in his heart.

Almost subconsciously, while Xu Xianzhe was still thinking, his consciousness instantly sank into the depths of his mind.

The silent ancient book appeared without being summoned; its pages turned rustlingly without wind, lingering on a mysterious chapter.

[Deep Simulation Startup]

There were no specific goals or instructions, only a vague feeling and a strong desire to verify the path I wanted to take!

The historical points were decreasing rapidly, but Xiao Heng did not stop them at this moment.

The ancient books shine brightly, and time seems to be shortened in our consciousness, yet also stretched out.

This simulation is no longer limited to a single battle or a single city capture.

Instead, it subtly touches upon the projection of a larger, more ambiguous major event...

The chain reaction of crucial decisions, a glimmer of light struggling against the cracks of history...

In that faint light, there truly were Xu Xianzhi, Deng Jing, and many other blurry figures...

Even at the edge of that flickering light, a more majestic yet more indistinct figure was glimpsed in a fleeting moment.

Xie Xuan?

......

Until the last history point is burned out.

The light faded abruptly, and the loud noise subsided.

The ancient book in my mind seemed to have exhausted all its power, becoming dim and lifeless. The pages closed with a long sigh and returned to silence.

Xiao Heng's consciousness was abruptly jolted back to reality.

The sea breeze remains the same, the noise remains the same, and Xu Xianzhi is still waiting in front of me.

But in Xiao Heng's perception, the world was already different.

The grand simulation that just now, which transcended specific events and pointed directly to destiny, did not provide a clear answer, but it was like tearing open a corner of the future.

As soon as Xu Xianzhi raised his eyes, he noticed that Xiao Heng's aura had suddenly changed!

The look of impending rebellion that had been on the verge of breaking away vanished, replaced by an inexplicable firmness.

Xiao Heng spoke, his tone becoming exceptionally solemn, even carrying an almost equal invitation.

"Wen Yuan, you are aware of the bet I made with Deng Jing. I bet that within five years, the Di-Qin state will face annihilation, and even if it doesn't perish, it will be difficult to regain its current strength."

He took half a step forward, the sea breeze ruffling his robes.

"I now place this bet before you as well. I, Xiao Heng, hereby assert that within five years, great chaos will ensue in the North, and the Hu people's fortunes will decline. This is not only what I must prove to Deng Jing, but also the inevitable trend of the world that I must fight against with all my might!"

"I'm betting these past five years, all my vision, my courage, and my life. On this eve of chaos, I will build a true foundation, a legacy worthy of being recorded in history! Wen Yuan..."

Xiao Heng reached out his hand, this time not to put his arm around her shoulder, but to open his palm.

"This is a high-stakes gamble that concerns the fate of the nation and the future of our generation... Are you willing to join me in this game?"

These words sound like those of a powerful ruler with ambitions to conquer the world.

Xu Xianzhi was utterly shocked; he felt as if the blood in his body was boiling.

This is no longer just about taking in an enemy general!

This is a bet on a global upheaval.

He looked at Xiao Heng's outstretched hand, then at the other's expectant eyes.

He knew that this choice would completely determine the course of his life for the rest of his days.

Time seemed to stand still, and the distant clamor faded into a blurry background noise.

Finally, Xu Xianzhe took a deep breath, inhaling all his hesitation and concerns into his chest, and then slowly exhaled.

He straightened his clothes, took a step back, and solemnly bowed to Xiao Heng.

When he straightened up again, all the worry and hesitation on his face had disappeared.

"I envy my own lack of talent, yet I am deeply trusted and regarded with utmost sincerity by the Prefect. Now that the Prefect has informed me of the state of the world and promised me unparalleled achievements... Such a momentous occasion is a rare opportunity for a man; how can I possibly shrink back?"

He stepped forward, his gaze meeting Xiao Heng's frankly.

"I, Xianzhi, am willing to follow in your footsteps! From this day forward, I will dedicate all my wisdom and strength to this game. Five years of promise, the changes in the North—I am willing to share the risks and the successes and failures with you, my lord!"

"good!"

Xiao Heng laughed loudly, gripped Xu Xianzhi's hand tightly, and his eyes were full of excitement.

"Hearing Wen Yuan's words, I feel at ease!"

......