My Sims of the Eastern Jin Dynasty

By the evening of the third day.

Murong Yan stood atop the now quiet city wall of Qu County, his face ashen as he gazed at the last rays of the setting sun where the sea met the sky.

Transporting water every day consumes a lot of manpower and energy, and people cannot sleep soundly at night. During the day, they also have to be wary of arrows that may appear from the sea or mountains at any time.

The army of over ten thousand men lost all its fighting spirit due to this relentless harassment.

The ones who were truly worn down were the seven thousand able-bodied men and miscellaneous barbarians who had been forcibly conscripted.

They were not soldiers, their discipline was lax, they endured the poor quality of drinking water and the unknown fear of the sea, coupled with several sleepless nights, their morale was extremely low.

Escapes began to occur sporadically, and although those caught were severely punished, a sense of unease spread throughout the auxiliary troops camp.

Even some Xianbei tribes were frustrated by lack of rest and the frustrating situation of being passively attacked.

More importantly, Murong Yan realized that he had fallen into a trap carefully set for him by Xiao Heng.

Xiao Heng didn't confront him directly; he simply wore down his time and patience little by little.

"This can't go on any longer."

Murong Yan spoke in a deep voice to his trusted general, who was also his cousin, Murong Xu.

"Splitting the troops?"

Murong Xu said something in confusion.

"You will lead three thousand men to stay and guard this city. Try to dig new wells and clear the old ones. Do not launch any attacks without authorization. I want to see whether Xiao Heng will continue to be a coward when he sees that I have divided my forces, or dare to show any weakness!"

Murong Xu clasped his hands in acceptance of the order.

That night, the Qin army camp set off, and Murong Yan led the main force and his precious cavalry to withdraw from Qu County.

The message was quickly relayed back to Xiaozhu Island by the spies lurking on the shore.

When Xiao Heng heard the news that Murong Yan had divided his troops and retreated, he was playing chess with Xu Xianzhi.

He picked up a black piece and gently placed it on the chessboard, a genuine smile finally appearing on his lips.

"Look, he's getting anxious!"

A sea breeze swept through the hall, and on the chessboard, the balance of power between black and white had quietly shifted.

Xiao Heng looked at Xu Xianzhi, who had just returned from Yuzhou Island, and thought that he must have gone to find Deng Jing. He was no longer as quiet as he had been a few days ago.

"Are you sure you want to go in person?"

After placing his piece, Xiao Heng asked a question.

Xu Xianzhi did not answer, but picked up a white piece and looked up at Xiao Heng.

"My lord, you've lost!"

After saying that, the white piece was placed, forming a perfect five-piece set.

Xiao Heng looked down at the chessboard. The five white pieces formed a diagonal line, clean and neat, just like Xu Xianzhi's sharpness at this moment.

"I was careless; I lost!"

Xiao Heng was somewhat annoyed. He couldn't beat Go, and he always lost at Gomoku. He let out a soft sigh and threw the remaining black stones back into the Go box.

"Is the inside man reliable?"

"When interests intersect, each party gets what they need."

Xu Xianzhi spoke frankly.

"The Hu merchant has confessed that he did indeed receive benefits from the Xianbei people, but he did not specify who they were!"

Xiao Heng nodded. He had underestimated Murong Yan this time, who had actually resorted to a pincer attack by land and sea.

"That's enough. Surprise attacks are inherently risky, so there's no need to insist on going in person!"

Seeing that Xiao Heng still hadn't agreed, Xu Xianzhi added.

"Rest assured, Your Excellency, I am not acting rashly out of mere bravado. I will remain hidden, never placing myself in danger. Moreover, my presence here would serve as a show of force and sincerity, thus enhancing their effectiveness!"

Xiao Heng remained silent for a moment, looking into Xu Xianzhi's determined eyes.

Instead of shrinking back after experiencing the salt merchant turmoil, he quickly shed his last trace of scholarly idealism and became more decisive and pragmatic, even daring to venture into dangerous places.

This is a dangerous growth, but also an essential transformation for survival in chaotic times.

"it is good."

Xiao Heng finally nodded.

"Regardless of success or failure, personal safety is paramount. If the situation turns unfavorable, evacuate immediately!"

"I will remember this!"

Xu Xianzhi respectfully cupped his hands in greeting.

"In that case, make your preparations. Tonight, we will set off in a sentry boat, taking a long detour, avoiding waterways, and traveling quietly."

Xiao Heng stood up and walked to the nautical chart hanging on the wall.

"I will have Lu Da organize the fleet, and we will set sail the day after tomorrow, stealthily traveling along the outer sea. We expect to reach the pre-arranged ambush area outside Guichou Bay before dawn the day after tomorrow. You must deliver the final intelligence and action plan to Lu Da by fast ship before 1-3 AM the day after tomorrow!"

He pointed to the winding coastline on the nautical chart, a place known as Ghost Sorrow Bay.

"This place is full of reefs and the waterways are narrow, making it difficult for large ships to enter. However, it is a secluded gathering and dispersal place for small ships. If the Hu merchant fleet wants to transfer goods here, it will have to divide its forces. We will launch a sudden attack when they are most relaxed and their formation is most scattered. Lu Da will lead the main force to attack their escort warships and large cargo ships, while the fast ships will flank and seize the ship's side to grab supplies."

Xu Xianzhi carefully noted it down and then asked a question.

"What if Hu's merchant fleet arrives earlier or later?"

"Lu Ming will continue to monitor you. Since you are on the front lines, you need to be even more adaptable."

Xiao Heng looked at him.

"Wen Yuan, if we win this battle, it will relieve our food shortage and greatly boost morale. If we lose..."

"If we are defeated, then Xianzhi will surely die before the Prefect!"

Xu Xianzhi calmly replied, then smiled slightly.

"However, I admire Lord Xian's strategy. He anticipated the enemy's moves, utilized the terrain's advantages, rallied the morale of his troops, and received unexpected assistance from Deng Jing. He has a 70% chance of winning this battle."

Xiao Heng gave him a deep look, and finally patted him on the shoulder.

"Be careful, you must come back alive no matter what. I'm waiting to play another game with you and win it back."

Xu Xianzhi bowed deeply and said, "I will certainly not fail the trust placed in me by the Prefect."

That night, an inconspicuous scouting boat quietly sailed away from Xiaozhu Island and disappeared into the darkness of the northern sea.

The scholar in the blue robe standing at the bow of the ship had his clothes fluttering in the sea breeze, but his gaze was more determined than ever before.

The island's military preparations were accelerating silently.

Xiao Heng sat alone at his desk, gazing into his mind as he watched the flickering candlelight.

[Deep Simulation Startup]

[Core condition set: How to ensure Xu Xianzhi's safety]

[Historical points invested in this simulation: 189]

[Simulation begins...]

【...】

[Warning: Due to deep involvement and alteration of key historical figures, the certainty of this historical period has been greatly reduced, and an irreversible trend may emerge in the future.]

Xiao Heng looked at the result without any expression on his face.

The game has been over, but the real battle is about to unfold amidst turbulent waves.

In Jiankang at this time, night had fallen. Only two plain silk lanterns hung in front of the Xie Mansion in Wuyi Lane, swaying quietly in the evening breeze.

Xie Xuan, dressed in casual clothes, quickly ascended the steps.

He had just disembarked from the fast boat in Guangling when the butler, who was already waiting at the door, rushed to greet him and whispered.

"Third Master, Ah Lang is still sitting alone in the Bamboo Garden Pavilion, not yet at rest... He has been sitting alone for nearly two hours."

Xie Xuan's throat moved slightly, his voice filled with self-reproach.

"knew!"

He waved for his entourage to remain in the front yard and walked alone through the familiar gates and courtyards.

The further you go, the fewer lights there are, with only swaying bamboo shadows and a lone lamp in a distant pavilion illuminating a figure sitting quietly like a rock.

His steps unconsciously became lighter, but his heart grew heavier and heavier.

The current crisis in the Jiangbei war has certainly become an excuse for the corrupt officials in the court, and the military commander in Jiangbei will find it difficult to escape impeachment.

However, no messengers came when he returned to Guangling, and Xie Xuan understood that this was due to his uncle's mediation in the court.