My Sims of the Eastern Jin Dynasty

That day, in Qu County.

Xu San, carrying Deng Jing's secret letter and the heavy box of ring-pommel swords, returned to Qu County by fast boat.

Xiao Heng read through Deng Jingxin's detailed account of the transaction, especially the description of the foreign merchant's appearance, demeanor, and speech, as well as the final box of military equipment.

His gaze then fell on the box of ring-pommel swords that had been carried up, and his face showed little surprise.

If they could get their hands on those twenty-odd ballistae, these captured secondhand knives are probably just a test.

"They didn't bring much corn, but they specially brought this batch of old iron. They wanted to see our appetites and courage, and also to find out our background, to see if we were like the bandits before us, willing to eat anything and lacking nothing!"

Xu Xianzhi nodded to the side.

"Your Excellency is wise. These weapons are nothing more than spoils of war, yet they are being sold privately. This has far-reaching implications and unpredictable risks. Commander Deng's cautious approach and prioritizing the grain trade is a prudent move."

Xiao Heng picked up a weapon and waved it around haphazardly a few times before affirming.

"Giving new recruits a knife is less effective than teaching them to hold their bamboo spears firmly and maintain their formation! The informant Chiganhun provided, the contact person at Langya Port, the Han Chinese middleman surnamed Zhou, didn't show up. Instead, a shrewd Hu merchant came. This group has considerable influence and connections!"

Xu Xianzhi also rummaged through the box, as if looking for something.

"Should we send someone to investigate these people?"

Xiao Heng put down his knife and shook his head. He could take his time to explore the other party's background, but the pressure to survive was very real.

It's mid-March...

He walked up to the simple map and his gaze fell on the location of Pengcheng.

The Qin army's reinforcements and supplies in the Pengcheng direction should be almost complete. The situation in Huaibei will soon be clear. Whether Governor Xie Xuan attacks or defends, wins or loses, the situation in the entire Huaibei region and even the East China Sea will be shaken.

Xiao Heng now only wants Xie Xuan to quickly retreat to Guangling and get the timeline he messed up back on track.

He turned around, thought for a moment, and gave the instructions.

"Inform General Deng that we only want to exchange for grain, the more the better!"

"Xianzhi, go and do it immediately."

......

Sikou, the main camp of the Northern Army.

Inside the central command tent, Xie Xuan, dressed in casual clothes, sat quietly in the main seat.

He held a secret letter that had just been delivered from Jiankang by express courier, its sealing wax intact, but he hesitated to open it.

On the table were several other military reports, one from Liu Laozhi in the Xiaxiang direction and the other from Zhuge Kan in the Siwu direction, with similar contents.

Recently, the Qin army's cavalry activities have suddenly increased, and the number of scout engagements has also increased significantly. This is clearly a large-scale cleanup of the battlefield in preparation for subsequent actions.

All of this points to one fact: the Qin reinforcements from Pengcheng were indeed as Xiao Heng, who was far away in the East China Sea, had said.

According to the latest, fully confirmed, sporadic intelligence, the Qin army seems to have detached a considerable force and turned southeast.

This was one of the situations Xie Xuan was most worried about.

After suffering a loss, Peng Chao may not necessarily want to fight a decisive battle with the Northern Army here. If Xuyi is lost, the lower reaches of the Huai River will be wide open, and the Qin army can advance by land and water, directly threatening the supply lines and even the important rear town of Guangling. At that time, Sikou will be in a predicament of being attacked from both sides.

"By avoiding the enemy's strength and attacking their weakness, and by striking where they must defend, Peng Chao is trying to seize the initiative."

Xie Xuan muttered to himself as he gently placed the secret letter from Jiankang on the table.

My gaze returned to the vast area between Pengcheng and Xuyi on the map.

If troops are divided to rescue Xuyi, the Qin army in Pengcheng may take the opportunity to launch an attack; if they are not rescued, Xuyi will be in grave danger.

The slightly nervous face in the tent suddenly flashed through Xie Xuan's mind.

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

At that moment, the sound of orderly footsteps of night patrol soldiers could be heard outside the tent.

Xie Xuan shook his head, reached out and picked up the secret letter from Jiankang, unwrapped the sealing wax, and unfolded the letter.

Uncle Xie An's familiar handwriting came into view.

Dear nephew, I am honored to meet you.

Long have we been separated by distance, and suddenly the summer solstice has arrived. The scenery in Guangling must be more somber than in Jiankang. I recently heard of the victory at Pengcheng, which has brought some peace to the court; this is all thanks to your tireless efforts day and night and the soldiers' valiant efforts. However, the Huai River region is cold and damp, and the army is weary; you must take extra care of your health and avoid illness. I hope everything is well at home; please do not worry about me.

The letter's casual greetings and concern warmed his heart, but Xie Xuan knew that his uncle's visit was not merely a casual conversation.

His gaze quickly swept across the middle section and lingered on the key part.

"I have just heard that Qin reinforcements have arrived in Pengcheng, but the court has already increased troops and built defenses in the Xuyi area. Even if they are eager to advance eastward, it will be difficult to break through them quickly."

Upon seeing this, Xie Xuan raised an eyebrow slightly.

The imperial court has already reinforced Xuyi with troops and built defenses? This news seems to have come faster than he knew from the front lines. Perhaps Jiankang obtained the intelligence directly from other channels, or perhaps his uncle embellished it slightly to reassure him?

Xie Xuan took a deep breath. In any case, at least his uncle's side had realized the risks in the Xuyi direction, and his previous worries had come in handy.

Then, as you read on, you come across those few extremely weighty sentences.

"The priorities here are as follows: Helü is in the capital, and Sun Tzu is leading the campaign. You can make decisions on the spot; there is no need to consult with each of them. A general in the field may disobey the emperor's orders, let alone his uncle. Just consider the three factors of timing, location, and popular support, and carefully examine them."

Xie Xuan's hand holding the letter tightened slightly.

A complex emotion surged within Xie Xuan.

There was the pressure of being entrusted with a heavy responsibility, the comfort of being completely trusted, and the determination to face the turbulent waves alone.

It wasn't easy for my uncle to be in the court, and it must have taken a lot of effort to secure such a large space for him.

After reading the first page, Xie Xuan gently placed it on the table and unfolded the folded second page to read it.

The current situation is like a game of chess; it's not merely a struggle for advantage on the edges and corners. The East China Sea, a corner of the continent, is turbulent and unpredictable. It's not just a contest of warships and arrows, but also a matter of subtle interplay between people and their true intentions. In the past, Duke Xi (Jian) ​​established his power base in Jiangnan, and Duke Huan pacified the southern regions, both employing a balance of leniency and severity to foster harmony and ensure a solid foundation. Now, you have established your own government and are in charge of military affairs, wielding considerable power. Talented individuals within your ranks are vying for advancement—this is a bounty for the nation. However, "the gathering of duckweed in a stream cannot extend beyond the marsh," meaning that when your sons and younger brothers are eager to take on responsibilities, you must ensure they know their limits and understand the proper order of advancement and retreat. The ancients said that those who can see fish in the deep are unlucky; excessive brilliance easily invites criticism. The eyes and ears of Jiangnan are not limited to the enemy.

Salt and iron are the lifeblood of the nation, and also a hub for human interaction. The Xi and Huan families have managed this for years, and their relationship with the king is deeply intertwined, not something built in a day. Our clan once participated in this affair and understands the priorities and order of events. At this time of concerted effort to defend against the invaders, we should prioritize the overall situation and strive for stability within our own borders. When the storms have subsided and the world is at peace, resources will return to their rightful owners, each finding its proper place—a natural order indeed. Your wisdom and decisiveness allow you to perceive these subtle nuances; further explanation is unnecessary.

The displaced people of Huaibei can be both henchmen and a thorn in the side. Su Jun and Zu Yue were not entirely without talent, but their mismanagement and ineffective use of them led to catastrophic consequences. This lesson is still fresh. If they are properly managed and their people returned to farming, or if their elite troops are selected for military service, this could be a strategy for securing the borders. However, quality is more important than quantity. It is crucial to clearly distinguish between loyal and treacherous individuals, strictly discipline their subordinates, and ensure they understand that authority and power originate from the court. The balance in this process must be carefully considered.

The north is cold early; please take good care of yourself. Military and political affairs are demanding; words cannot fully express my feelings.

Shu'an's handwritten letter

Spring of the fourth year of Taiyuan

At the end of the letter were the usual words of care and advice.

Xie Xuan felt a chill run down his spine. His uncle was indeed not completely unaware of the events unfolding in Donghai County.

This was no longer a simple reminder, but a clear indication that he needed to restrain Xiao Heng and not let him act recklessly.

In Huaibei, the two things that should be avoided the most are salt and displaced people.

The dispute over salt profits is currently the focus of the power struggle between the Xi and Wang families, something Xie Xuan is aware of.

But the line in his uncle's letter, "Our clan also participated in this matter in the past," made him fall into a brief period of contemplation. The Xie family was also involved?

He unconsciously looked towards the northeast. His uncle had been in charge of the family for many years, and he had been maneuvering in the court. Some things did not need to be said, nor did they need to be said.

The Xie family's ability to maintain their central position is partly due to the fact that some of their benefits, while perhaps not actively sought, must have been obtained through a web of weighing and tacit approval.

Now, Xiao Heng's actions in the East China Sea may not only affect the interests of the Wang family, but may also inadvertently disrupt a long-standing balance.

The fact that his uncle pointed this out meant that Xiao Heng had touched the most sensitive nerve of the elite families in Jiankang.

But he knew that without Xiao Heng, Donghai County would probably have already fallen into Qin territory, and there would be no salt profits to speak of.

With a deep sigh, Xie Xuan slowly folded the letter again and put it into his pocket.