My Sims of the Eastern Jin Dynasty

The atmosphere in the main hall of the Court of Justice in the afternoon was completely different from that in the morning.

Han Yong, Chen Da, Liu Dan, Lu Da, and several other squad leaders who had participated in the Lanling incident were brought into the hall together.

This time, Wang Ya sat in the main seat, while Wang Guobao appeared even more composed than in the morning. He was not in the main seat this time. Xie Xuan arrived last and sat in the same old seat, half-closing his eyes as if he were resting.

Wang Ya spoke after reviewing the case file.

"The news has been sent to General Sun Wuzhong, the vanguard general!"

A moment later, Sun Wuzhong strode into the hall, fully armed, and after bowing to the crowd, stood in a row with Han Yong and the others.

"General Sun, according to our investigation, after Xiao Heng's troops retreated from the east of Liucheng, they withdrew from their original defensive zone without authorization and turned towards Lanling. Is this true? Is this action in accordance with military law?"

Sun Wuzhong remained unfazed.

"Reporting to Wang Tingwei, it is true that we turned towards Lanling. However, I cannot agree with the word 'unauthorized'. The reason for withdrawing from the original site was that the area had been exposed, and we were afraid of a larger-scale retaliation from the enemy. Moreover, the camp was damaged and could no longer be defended. Turning towards Lanling was agreed upon by me and Xiao Ducao before the battle. This was a battlefield response and not an act of defiance."

"Do you have any proof? Besides the two of you, who else knows?"

Wang Guobao interrupted and pressed for answers, which made Wang Ya look at him, but she did not stop him.

Sun Wuzhong glanced at Wang Guobao, then bowed to Wang Ya.

"In the heat of the moment, verbal agreements were made; there were many such impromptu agreements."

Wang Guobao was clearly dissatisfied with the answer, and he sneered.

"If that's the case, did the military chief clerk, who was in charge of all documents and confidential matters, know about this? It is said to be Yin Zhongkan, the former chief clerk of the Northern Army!"

The expressions of Han Yong and the others standing below the hall changed instantly. Chen Da even looked up abruptly, his eyes full of disdain. Even Liu Dan, who had been expressionless, turned around to look. Lu Da shrank back, his eyes even more complicated.

Xie Xuan merely opened his eyes to glance outside the hall, then closed them again to rest.

A moment later, Yin Zhongkan arrived. He was dressed in a magnificent robe and had the aloofness typical of a scholar. Before entering the hall, he glanced at Sun Wuzhong and the others and snorted coldly. This made everyone want to rush up, but Sun Wuzhong stopped them with his hand.

He then bowed to Wang Ya, Wang Guobao, and others, but only gave Xie Xuan a slight bow.

Wang Ya glanced at Wang Guobao, then asked.

"Yin Yuanzi (Yin Zhongkan's courtesy name), during your tenure as the Chief Clerk of the Northern Army, were you aware of any agreement between Xiao Heng's and Sun Wuzhong's forces to turn towards Lanling? Was there any written record of this?"

Yin Zhongkan took a deep breath, his gaze sweeping over the warriors glaring at him below the hall, finally settling on Xie Xuan, who seemed indifferent. He composed himself and said, "Reporting to Chief Justice Wang, I have not seen any such written agreement. Military mobilizations, according to regulations, must be reported to the Chief Clerk, or at least verbally notified. However, I have not received any relevant reports or notifications from Commander Xiao."

A suppressed commotion arose in the hall. Chen Da's fists clenched so tightly they cracked. Even the previously calm Sun Wuzhong wanted to kill Yin Zhongkan with his eyes. He remembered that he had once had a big argument with this man.

Wang Guobao's smile deepened as he looked at Xie Xuan: "Governor Xie, this is what Chief Secretary Yin said!"

Before he could finish speaking, Xie Xuan, who had been keeping his eyes half-closed, suddenly let out a soft "Oh," as if he had just remembered something. He slowly opened his eyes, looked calmly at Yin Zhongkan, and began to speak.

"Yuanzi, you truly knew nothing about this matter."

When he spoke, everyone was stunned. Even Wang Guobao didn't expect Xie Xuan to admit it so directly.

Xie Xuan continued.

"The battle was urgent that day. The vanguard had already engaged Peng Chao's main force. Sun Wuzhong sent a messenger to report that the rear guard had been attacked and might need to relocate, possibly towards Lanling. At that time, I was focused on the battle situation at the front. Upon hearing the report, I assumed that Sun Wuzhong and Xiao Heng were handling the situation carefully, and that Lanling was under our control, so I didn't investigate further. Later, as the battle became deadlocked, I completely forgot to inform the Chief Secretary's Office about this matter. In retrospect, it was my oversight, but you didn't inquire about it either!"

Yin Zhongkan's face flushed red instantly, then turned deathly pale.

Xie Xuan's words put him in a very difficult position. As a military clerk, if the commander-in-chief was too busy with the battle to inform him, couldn't he have taken the initiative to inquire? This was dereliction of duty! More importantly, the nonchalant tone in Xie Xuan's voice, as if such trivial matters were not worth discussing, deeply stung his self-esteem.

Before Yin Zhongkan could defend himself, Xie Xuan changed the subject slightly, but his tone remained calm.

"Yuanzi is a renowned scholar, well-versed in metaphysics and knowledgeable in literature and classics. However, military affairs are ever-changing and cannot be fully observed from the comfort of one's own office. It is common for soldiers to shed blood on the front lines and not be able to put everything into writing when there are opportunities for maneuver. If you had been more considerate of the hardships faced by the soldiers on the front lines and had taken the initiative to inquire about them, perhaps you would not be in this predicament today."

Below the hall, Han Yong, Chen Da, and others unconsciously straightened their chests.

Xie Xuan's words struck a chord with them! These civil officials only knew how to cling to documents and rules, how could they know the hardships they faced, living on the edge of death? The old stories of Yin Zhongkan withholding and delaying the distribution of grain and fodder, and distributing inferior weapons, instantly flooded their minds.

Chen Da couldn't help but mutter under his breath, "Pah! Hypocritical hypocrite! Blood-sucking bastards!"

The sound wasn't loud, but it was exceptionally clear at that moment, and several squad leaders also looked indignant and echoed it in low voices.

Yin Zhongkan's face flushed red and then turned pale, overwhelmed with shame and indignation, his fingers trembling slightly.

He didn't expect Xie Xuan to take the blame so easily, and he didn't expect Xie Xuan to "give him pointers" in public, which aroused the martial artist's hostility.

Seeing this, Wang Guobao knew he couldn't let the topic veer off into investigating Yin Zhongkan's dereliction of duty, so he quickly coughed and interrupted.

"Governor Xie loves his soldiers like his own children and is considerate of their plight. Since the governor is aware of this, then the matter of turning to Lanling can be considered to have its reasons."

He quickly turned the page and moved on to the more crucial issue.

"So, what happened after they arrived in Lanling? Besides resting and reorganizing, what else did Xiao Heng's troops do there? In particular, did they capture any criminals?"

His sharp gaze swept over Han Yong and the others below the hall.

Han Yong's heart tightened. Here it comes, they really are going to ask Deng Jing!

The squad leaders looked at each other, somewhat flustered.

They remembered that someone had been arrested outside Lanling City, but Xiao Heng and Han Yong later strictly forbade anyone to reveal who it was. They only knew that it was a Hu (non-Han) military officer who was being held in solitary confinement and was later released.

Yin Zhongkan finally found a way to retaliate, and he suppressed the humiliation in his heart.

"Wang Tingwei, you are wise! A loyal and upright official has secretly informed me that Xiao Heng's troops in Lanling are not merely resting! They intercepted a special messenger convoy and captured a seriously wounded enemy general! This man is no ordinary person; he is very likely Deng Jing, the son of the pseudo-Qin general Deng Qiang!"

"Deng Qiang's son? Deng Jing?!"

Wang Guobao suddenly stood up.

"Is this true? Where is this person now?!"

Xie Xuan also sat up slightly and looked at Han Yong and the others with a question in his eyes. This matter was not mentioned in Sun Wuzhong's report, and he was unaware of it.

Sun Wuzhong also looked completely innocent, as he knew nothing about the matter.

The hall fell into a deathly silence.

Han Yong's mind raced as he considered a solution.

Seeing that he had stunned everyone, Yin Zhongkan continued to press for answers.

"Such an important criminal should have been immediately escorted to the main camp and reported to the court according to the law! Why did Xiao Heng conceal this and fail to report it? Where did this person go afterward? Was he released on his own? Or perhaps, there was some shady deal involved?!"

The accusation of secretly releasing an enemy general and being suspected of treason is about to be pinned on him, which is a hundred times more serious than acting without authorization!

Chen Da couldn't listen anymore and took a step forward.

"Bullshit!"

He pointed at Yin Zhongkan's nose and started cursing, his face turning red with anger and the veins on his neck bulging.

"What release? What deal? You know nothing! Why didn't you say anything when Murong De wanted you? We, over two thousand men, were exhausted and we captured an official, but that was a hot potato! Kill him? That's Deng Qiang's son! Who is Deng Qiang? One of the most notorious killers in the Qin army! If we killed his son, wouldn't he go crazy and chase after us for revenge?"

Han Yong, who was standing to the side, saw that this guy had let something slip and quickly added to it.

"No one knew he was Deng Jing that day, and even Lord Xiao only guessed. Afterwards, we were chased by a well-equipped cavalry force. Lord Xiao had no choice but to exchange Deng Jing for the safety of his troops. That force seemed to be called something like the Imperial Guards!"

As soon as Han Yong finished speaking, Chen Da realized he had said the wrong thing and wanted to make amends. He was panting heavily, his eyes wide open, and he looked at the officials in the hall, especially Xie Xuan. His voice was filled with grievance and determination.

"That's right! Lord Xiao released Deng Jing so that his brothers who fought alongside him could live! He interrogated Deng Jing, asked him about the enemy forces in Pengcheng, and then released him! The condition was that he be told to get far away and not to reveal our whereabouts! Lord Xiao said, this is called 'driving a tiger to devour a wolf'—no, it's 'choosing the lesser of two evils'! Using an enemy general who can't be captured to save our brothers' lives, isn't that right?!"

His words were blunt and unvarnished, reducing a potential politically motivated release to a purely pragmatic survival choice.

To survive, they had no choice but to let a valuable enemy go. It sounded helpless, even somewhat shameful, but it was precisely this most direct logic of a low-ranking soldier that made Wang Guobao and Wang Ya frown deeply.

The hall was completely silent.

Wang Ya looked at Xie Xuan.

Xie Xuan remained silent for a moment before slowly speaking.

"On the battlefield, situations are ever-changing. Blindly adhering to conventional methods often leads to mutual destruction. Xiao Heng was alone and without support at the time, and his expedient measure, taken with the aim of preserving his remaining troops in mind, was unconventional, but his actions are understandable. As for whether there were other hidden reasons..."

His gaze swept over Yin Zhongkan: "Since Chief Secretary Yin has received a report from a loyal and upright person, do you know where Deng Jing went after his release? Has he colluded with Xiao Heng again? If you have any concrete evidence, please present it."

Yin Zhongkan was speechless; he dared not speak.

Wang Guobao knew that it would be difficult to make any further breakthroughs in the matter of Deng Jing, and he also knew what would happen next, which would be disadvantageous to them.

Han Yong seemed to have noticed something and tried to step forward, but was stopped by Sun Wuzhong.

"Too much talk leads to mistakes!"

Han Yong then calmed down and nodded in response.

Soon, Wang Guobao took the letter out of his sleeve and handed it to Wang Ya.

"This letter was written by Xiao Heng in Tan County and sent to General Sun. Its contents, along with what you have just said, are quite intriguing."

He gestured to Wang Ya.

"read."

After glaring fiercely at Wang Guobao, Wang Ya still obeyed and clearly read aloud the contents of Xiao Heng's letter, including the discovery of Murong De and the Imperial Guard army, the judgment that their intentions were aimed directly at Sikou, and her decision to retreat eastward to Qu County to avoid getting caught in the crossfire.

After the letter was finished, the hall fell silent. The content seemed to perfectly match the predicament described by Han Yong, Chen Da, and others, but the letter explained why they "didn't want to leave"—it was because a large army was following and watching them from outside the city.

After a moment of silence, Wang Guobao slowly spoke.

"The letter is very well written. The enemy situation is dire, and our own situation is perilous, yet you prioritize the overall situation and take the initiative to draw the enemy away. Anyone who reads this will praise your loyalty, courage, and forbearance, right, Commander Xie?"

Xie Xuan remained noncommittal, simply looking at Wang Guobao and waiting for him to continue.

Wang Guobao suddenly raised his voice and pointed at Han Yong and the others.

"Xiao Heng stated in his letter that he could not immediately return south but could retreat eastward. Are you aware of this?"

Han Yong felt a chill run down his spine; he had no answer to this.

Chen Da simply opened his mouth.

"It seems they are not truly unable to return south; they are likely just using Murong De and the Imperial Guards as a pretext to bolster their mercenary power!"

Wang Guobao sneered.

Even Sun Wuzhong felt that Xiao Heng was like this at this moment. He looked at Xie Xuan in the hall and was at a loss for what to do. He remembered that he was also suspended from his post because of this letter.

Han Yong said urgently, knowing that they had to hold out here, or all of them would die. Xiao Heng had not explained this to them at the time.

"There are indeed elite cavalry patrolling outside the city; we even fought against them. Perhaps the Prefect is worried about the people in the city!"

After hearing this, Wang Guobao pressed him further.

"Worried about the people in the city? What about the Xu family? Why not retreat eastward instead of heading south together!"

Before anyone could react, Wang Guobao fixed his gaze on Lu Da in the crowd.

"Lu Ada, you tell me! What is the reason for Xiao Heng's withdrawal of Qu County?"

Lu Da was startled and stammered.

"Yes...yes, there is a salt marsh..."

"More than that, right?"

Wang Guobao interrupted him.

"Lu Ada, you were originally a guard for the Qu County Saltworks, weren't you?"

Lu Da collapsed to the ground, unable to look at Wang Guobao any longer.

Taking advantage of the situation, Wang Guobao got up and went directly into the hall.

"Qi County, connecting Huaibei and Qingxu, is a convenient place to receive refugees, collude with powerful clans, and serve as a temporary refuge for those who wish to observe the situation or retreat to the sea! Xiao Heng abandoned Tan County, which is relatively close to the main force, and insisted on fleeing to Qi County. Is it really to draw away the pursuers, or to find a place where he can develop without control?! This letter of his, on the surface, is a report on military intelligence and a request for instructions, but in reality, it is entirely a pretext and justification for his disobedience, unauthorized actions, and even his plot to seize power! His intentions are despicable!"

This interpretation was exceptionally ruthless. He did not alter the contents of the letter, but instead seized upon subtle discrepancies between the details in the letter and the witness testimonies, as well as logical inconsistencies in the decision to move eastward to Qu County, to launch an extreme and malicious inference, distorting all of Xiao Heng's reasonable explanations into meticulously woven lies and a prelude to his ambitions.

"You're spouting nonsense!" Chen roared angrily.

"If the Prefect wanted to establish a separatist regime, why did he later go to such lengths to attack Huaiyin?"

"Perhaps it's because he discovered that Qu County wasn't an ideal place, or perhaps it's because Governor Xie's army had arrived, forcing him to reaffirm his loyalty!"

Wang Guobao retorted sternly.

"Or perhaps, the achievements of Huaiyin were merely a high-stakes gamble he took to cover up his past transgressions!"

Chen Daru was struck hard and his face turned pale.

The poison lies in the fact that Wang Guobao's words are toxic because his distorted interpretation based on the true content of the letter can actually be made self-consistent within the logic of political framing!

Seeing the chaotic scene, Xie Xuan knew he had to step in. He couldn't let Wang Guobao continue to dominate this kind of psychological manipulation. He ignored Wang Guobao and looked at Wang Ya instead.

"Wang Tingwei!"

"On the battlefield, intelligence is mixed, and judgments can easily be wrong. Xiao Heng is no saint; seeing the Imperial Guards' banners made him wary, and exaggerating the threat to alert the rear was common practice for a general. As for heading east to Qu County and Tan County being difficult to defend, and the southward route being spied on by enemy cavalry, heading east to the sea did offer room for maneuver, and it was a desperate choice in a dire situation. If one were to conclude that he had the ambition to establish a separatist regime based solely on a single letter, wouldn't everyone among the hundreds of thousands of soldiers and countless military reports in Jiangbei be suspicious? This is not a case, but a fabrication."

He also stood up, this time looking directly at Wang Guobao, his tone clearly showing anger.

"Xiao Heng's merits and demerits can be proven by the bloody battle of Huaiyin. Today's interrogation only revealed one side of the story and speculation. If you believe that Xiao Heng has ulterior motives, please provide concrete evidence of his communication with the enemy and his actual acts of harming the court and the Northern Army! Otherwise, relying solely on conjecture and misinterpretation will likely demoralize the soldiers on the front lines, and it is not the way of the court to be fair."

Seeing that the two sides were on the verge of conflict and Xie Xuan was already angry, Wang Ya quickly tried to smooth things over.

"Governor Xie, please calm your anger. The letter has been examined today, and the doubts have been raised. The case of Xiao Heng involves many aspects and cannot be resolved in a short time. The testimonies of all the witnesses and the contents of this letter will be recorded in detail and analyzed comprehensively. Let's leave it at that for today!"

Wang Guobao knew that this was the end of the matter for today. Xie Xuan's tough stance and demanded "evidence" were things he couldn't currently produce that were more devastating. But the letter had already been recorded in the case file, and that was enough.

He gave Xie Xuan a cold glance and cupped his hands in greeting.

"Then we shall do as Commandant Wang says!"

Wang Ya was sweating and about to announce a break when Xie Xuan, who had been as calm as a mountain, suddenly raised his hand slightly.

This subtle movement instantly drew everyone's attention to him.

"Wait!"

Xie Xuan spoke calmly, not even glancing at Wang Guobao's face, which instantly turned wary. Instead, he turned his gaze to Yin Zhongkan, whose face remained a mixture of red and blue.

"Yuanzi".

The way Xie Xuan was addressed still carried the familiarity of the past.

"You accuse Xiao Heng of concealing enemy generals and acting cunningly, and you also say that his letters contain many exaggerations and falsehoods, harboring malicious intentions. As the Chief Secretary of the Northern Army, in charge of military documents and confidential communications, you should have reviewed them. Then, I ask you!"

"While I was at the Sikou camp, I received another secret letter from Xiao Heng, sent from Tan County. This letter was delivered through you; you couldn't possibly be unaware of it, could you?"

Yin Zhongkan suddenly looked up, a hint of panic flashing in his eyes.

That letter! Of course he remembered it! When the county magistrate Xu Lin delivered the secret letter, he was filled with disdain and annoyance. He only glanced at the contents and thought it was just another exaggerated and mysterious statement by a military man. So he filed it away as usual. He had been disliked ever since because of the second letter. Now that Xie Xuan had asked him about it in public, especially in front of Wang Guobao and Wang Ya, a chill suddenly rose from the soles of his feet.

"That...that letter!"

Yin Zhongkan's voice was dry and hoarse.

"It seems that Yuanzi has a bad memory."

Xie Xuan stopped looking at him and turned to Wang Ya, who also looked doubtful, speaking calmly.

"Wang Tingwei, since today's interrogation involved the veracity of Xiao Heng's military intelligence assessment and whether he was exaggerating enemy intelligence or harboring ulterior motives, the contents of the second letter are crucial evidence. Could you request that the Court of Justice retrieve the relevant archives of the Northern Army, and have Xu Lin, the magistrate of Tan County in Donghai, deliver them to Chief Clerk Yin, and then directly to this Governor?"

Wang Ya dared not delay and immediately ordered his subordinates to investigate.

An eerie silence fell over the hall. Wang Guobao frowned, staring intently in the direction his subordinates had left, a sense of foreboding rising in his heart.

Han Yong, Chen Da, and the others looked at each other in bewilderment, as they were also unaware of the existence of this second letter.

Soon, the subordinate official returned hastily with a document bearing the seal of the Northern Army.

Wang Ya took it, quickly glanced at it, her expression gradually turning to surprise, then to a complex sense of realization.

He handed the document to the Court of Justice Supervisor and the Court of Justice Ping beside him for review. After reading it, they all showed similar expressions.

"Read it," Wang Ya said in a deep voice.

The clerk unfolded the document and read it aloud.

"Xiao Heng, the military commander of the Northern Army, bows deeply and respectfully submits this letter to the Commander-in-Chief. My previous letter was hasty and did not fully cover the details. During the interrogation of enemy prisoners in Tan County, I repeatedly questioned them and stumbled upon a clue. According to their vague confessions, the puppet Qin forces in Xiangyang seem to be planning to send reinforcements eastward. The scale is unclear, but it is likely no small matter. They once said, 'When Xiangyang's fresh troops arrive, we will not only reach Sikou, but also march straight to Xuyi, cutting off the throat of Huainan, and the southern people will be terrified!' Although this statement may be a rash boast from defeated soldiers..." However, we must be wary. I have considered this. Peng Chao's troops are bogged down at Pengcheng, making a hasty retreat difficult. If the Qin invaders do indeed send reinforcements eastward, to break this stalemate, we could avoid their strength and attack their weakness, shifting our focus to key points downstream of the Huai River, such as Xuyi. This is not an impossible scenario. I am far behind enemy lines, and my intelligence is severely limited. This is a foolish and presumptuous speculation, causing me great anxiety. I humbly beg the Commander-in-Chief to have a clear understanding of the situation and to make preparations as soon as possible. Although I am trapped in a desperate situation, I will do my utmost to contain the enemy directly in front of me, and will not fail the Commander-in-Chief's kindness in promoting me. Respectfully yours, I bow again.

The belief is gone.

You could hear a pin drop in the hall.

Xie Xuan slowly stepped forward, no longer looking at the ashen-faced Wang Guobao, until he stood before the dumbfounded Yin Zhongkan.

"While the details of your concerns in the letter may not be entirely accurate, your predictions regarding the enemy's reinforcements coming from the east and their ambition to seize control of the lower reaches of the Huai River are spot on. Based on this letter, I adjusted the defenses along the Xuyi line in advance, increased the number of scouts, and reinforced the city's defenses. You are all aware of what happened next."

"Chief Clerk Yin! You are in charge of military dispatches. After reviewing this crucial military intelligence concerning the safety of the battle, have you reported it immediately?"

Yin Zhongkan's face was ashen, his lips trembled, and he couldn't utter a single word.

What could he say? That he looked down on military men at the time and thought Xiao Heng was exaggerating? That he was negligent because of personal grudges?

"You don't."

Xie Xuan answered for him.

"That is why you have not been invited to any more core military meetings. It is not that I do not value our past friendship, but that you are not up to the task of handling important matters."

The four words "unfit for important tasks" were like a resounding slap in the face to Yin Zhongkan, and also to all those who used civil administration to control military affairs and looked down on the soldiers on the front lines.

Xie Xuan ignored him and turned to Wang Ya, bowing respectfully.

"Commander Wang, the interrogation can be considered complete for today. Xiao Heng may have acted arbitrarily, but his loyalty and military strategy are evident in this letter. His soldiers fought valiantly to protect their lord; their words may have been blunt, but their hearts are clear. As for the rest!"

He glanced at Wang Guobao out of the corner of his eye.

"Making baseless accusations and fabricating charges will not only fail to clarify the facts, but will also damage the soldiers' patriotism. We should submit a memorial with appropriate wording for the Court of Justice to consider."

Having said that, Xie Xuan turned around and walked out of the hall.

As he passed by the pale-faced Yin Zhongkan, he slowed his pace slightly and, in a voice only a few nearby could hear, uttered a light but powerful remark that would forever condemn Yin Zhongkan to shame.

"Yuanzi, the warriors you despise, and the opportunists you despise even more, were fighting bloody battles in Huaibei to survive and anticipate the enemy's moves, while you were worrying about supplies and documents, and making friends with famous scholars for intellectual discussions. The reason you can stand here today and criticize them in the name of loyalty and integrity is precisely because they have created this peaceful public hall for you, a place for intellectual debate and confrontation."

As soon as he finished speaking, Xie Xuan stepped over the high threshold and disappeared into the afternoon light and shadow, leaving only a deathly silence in the hall and Yin Zhongkan's barely standing figure.

Wang Ya took a deep breath.

"Today's interrogation is now adjourned! All those involved are to be placed under temporary custody and are not permitted to leave the capital! Court adjourned!"

Wang Guobao stared intently in the direction Xie Xuan had left, then glanced at the dejected Yin Zhongkan, knowing that the situation was hopeless.

Han Yong, Chen Da, and others were led away by the clerk. As they passed Yin Zhongkan, Chen Da spat heavily at his feet, while Han Yong didn't even glance at him. Liu Dan's steps didn't falter at all, as if Yin Zhongkan were merely an insignificant figurehead.