My Sims of the Eastern Jin Dynasty

The name Shangyu (located east of present-day Shaoxing City, Zhejiang Province) was derived from the reign of Emperor Shun.

In the 25th year of King Zheng of Qin (222 BC), Shangyu County was established and belonged to Kuaiji Commandery. In the first year of the Xin Dynasty under Wang Mang (9 AD), Shangyu was abolished and merged into Kuaiji County, which was under the jurisdiction of Kuaiji Commandery. During the Jianwu period of the Eastern Han Dynasty (25-56 AD), Shangyu County was initially restored and belonged to Kuaiji Commandery. In the fourth year of Yongjian (129 AD), the southern part of Shangyu was separated and merged into Shining County, which also belonged to Kuaiji Commandery. This remained unchanged throughout the Three Kingdoms, Jin, and Northern and Southern Dynasties.

The back hall of the Shangyu County Government Office.

Xu Zuozhi's face was ashen. He had just heard the latest news from his colleagues in the county: Xiao Heng, who had stirred up trouble, had been arrested and taken to the Imperial Prison of the Court of Justice, and his fierce soldiers, including Han Yong, had all been taken to Jiankang as hostages.

"Foolish! Ignorant brat!"

Xu Zuozhi slammed his hand on the table, making the teacups clatter. He pointed at his son, Xu Xianzhi, who stood with his hands at his sides in the hall, his fingers trembling with anger.

"I originally thought you were just befriending a slightly daring general from the Northern Army, someone you could follow to try your luck in the East China Sea! Who knew he'd turn out to be such a lawless madman! And look what happened? You're in the Court of Justice! What kind of place is that? How many people ever get out unscathed?!"

Xu Xianzhi's face was tense, and his eyes were full of resentment.

"Lord Xiao defeated ten thousand enemy soldiers with only three thousand exhausted troops in the East Sea, captured the enemy's commander, and relieved the people from their suffering. These are genuine achievements! How could this be considered instigating border conflicts? If someone in the court hadn't framed him, how could things have come to this!"

"Meritorious service?"

"His achievements overshadowed the emperor, and his bravery aroused jealousy! This has always been the case! He's a soldier with no connections, who suddenly achieved extraordinary feats, and his flamboyant and unconventional behavior has made him a thorn in the side of many! Now that the Northern Army is powerful and there are undercurrents in the court, it's only natural to target him! Are you trying to drag the entire Xu family down with you by joining him now? Don't forget those refugees from Qingzhou you brought back, and that mysterious member of the Cui family!"

"Father!"

"Lord Xiao is no ordinary warrior! He is good at recognizing and employing talent, possesses strategic acumen, and what's even more remarkable is..."

Xu Xianzhi was eager to explain himself. A look in his eyes, unlike that of ordinary generals, flashed through his mind and captivated him.

"He's not just a ruthless killer! There might be more to the story of what happened in the East Sea! The fact that Commandant Han and the others were taken away instead of being directly convicted suggests that there's still room for maneuver!"

"A turnaround?"

Xu Zuozhi flicked his sleeve and turned his back.

"The power struggles in the imperial court are far more dangerous than those on the battlefield! How could a mere child like you possibly understand such a small matter? From this day forward, you are not to leave Shangyu even a step! Stay home and study diligently; the Xu family must not be drawn into this vortex of trouble!"

Xu Xianzhi watched his father's resolute back as he walked away, knowing that further argument was pointless. He pursed his lips, remained silent, bowed deeply to his father's retreating figure, then turned and strode away.

Xu Zuozhi turned around and watched him leave, then sighed deeply. He knew his son wouldn't listen to him, and he had to make plans as soon as possible.

He then summoned a family guard, gave him instructions in a low voice, and the guard left.

Xu Xianzhi did not go home, but went straight to a manor outside the city, where some of the Cui family members and Deng Jing, who was recuperating from his injuries, were housed.

When he announced that Xiao Heng had been imprisoned and that Han Yong and others had been taken to Jiankang, the small hall fell into a deathly silence.

"What?!"

Zhou Laosi was the first to stand up abruptly.

"The Court of Justice? What kind of logic is this! The night raid on Huaiyin was a great achievement, yet Governor Xie was able to advance so smoothly in Huainan? Isn't this tantamount to crossing the river and then burning the bridge?!"

He was well aware of the dangers of Huaiyin and knew about the subsequent battles in the Northern Army, including the death of Peng Chao...

Xu Xianzhi's handsome face was full of worry.

"There must be some injustice and framing involved! Now that Commandant Han and the others have been taken to Jiankang for questioning, it means the court has not yet made a final judgment. Perhaps... perhaps there is still a chance to plead our case! I want to go to Jiankang!"

"Young Master Xu, please wait."

Zhou Laosi raised his hand, then paced back and forth for a moment before stopping.

"I understand your eagerness to save people, young master. However, Jiankang is now a den of dragons and tigers. If we rush in without any planning, it will not only be of no use but may also become a burden and even bring disaster to our families."

Xu Xianzhi frowned.

"What makes you say that? The Prefect is in imminent danger; how can we stand by and watch?"

Old Zhou shook his head slightly.

"It's not about sitting idly by, but about planning carefully before acting. Young master, think it over carefully. Your father is the magistrate of Shangyu. If we rush to Jiankang without any regard for the consequences, and things are exposed or someone uses this as a pretext to frame you, your father will likely be implicated in the crime of letting his son collude with a wanted criminal and communicate with enemy generals. At that time, not only will we fail to save Lord Xiao, but we will also drag the entire Xu family into the abyss. To save others, we must first protect ourselves, and at least not become a new weakness."

Xu Xianzhi's face turned pale; he truly hadn't expected this.

Deng Jing, who was standing nearby, also spoke up to offer advice.

"Young master, do not be anxious. What Cui Lang says is absolutely right. We have already achieved great merit by defeating the Xianbei navy and capturing Murong Yan. Now we have also made a contribution to Huaiyin. At least there will be people in the army to protect us. Although we have heard that the Southern Dynasty gentry are good at court infighting, I doubt anyone will really go all out. They just want to share some of the benefits!"

Xu Xianzhi calmed down after hearing this.

Zhou Laosi returned to his seat and continued.

"General's words are timely. Lord Xiao's impeachment this time is nothing more than abuse of power, associating with powerful figures, and unclear military funds. The salt profits of Donghai are a major key issue. You and I are well aware of this. But does the young master know that the salt profits of Huai and Si are deeply entrenched and not limited to Donghai alone, nor is it only Governor Xiao who is manipulating the system? I have been in Qu County for five years, and I know clearly what the Wang family of Taiyuan's ships carry on the Huai River. The salt profits are intricately linked. If they can do it, then what we do, even if it deviates from certain norms, is not necessarily a capital offense. The key lies in how to present our case and how to strike a balance."

Xu Xianzhi understood the implied meaning: "Brother Cui, you mean..."

"I happen to have some records on certain merchant shipping routes, goods, and intermediaries of the Wang family of Taiyuan. They may not be detailed, but they are enough, along with those of my Cui family, to make certain people hesitant to act against me, or to facilitate some exchanges."

The hall fell silent, but Xu Xianzhi knew that this incident meant a fight to the death.

Deng Jing, who was standing to the side, slowly spoke up.

"Cui Lang's considerations are thorough. However, Jing's identity may also be the same. Lu Da and others all know my background. There are no secrets in the army. If the Minister of Justice or Wang Guobao are determined to investigate, it may be difficult to cover it up. At that time, if his identity can be used as evidence, it may clear up some suspicions. At least it can prove that he is not colluding with the enemy, but rather acting out of expediency on the battlefield."

"No!"

Xu Xianzhi immediately objected, his attitude resolute.

"General Deng, the situation is still unclear. It would be too risky for you to show yourself now! This tactic should only be used as a last resort!"

His young face revealed a decisiveness beyond his years.

"This is the strategy that Lord Xiao set out back then, and it is also the bottom line that we must adhere to now."

Looking at the unwavering determination in Xu Xianzhi's eyes, Deng Jing knew that he was not indecisive. He remained silent for a moment, then nodded.

"Understood, I will follow Young Master Xu's arrangements."

Zhou Laosi was slightly surprised by Xu Xianzhi's decision, but then a hint of admiration flashed in his eyes. Although this young man was hot-blooded, he was not impulsive. He could weigh the pros and cons and grasp the key points at crucial moments.

"The most urgent task is to stabilize the situation at home, sort things out, and establish effective communication channels with the health authorities."

He looked at Xu Xianzhi.

"Young master, regarding your father... would you allow me, as a member of the Cui family of Qingzhou, to pay him a visit? There are some matters at stake that I might be able to explain on his behalf. At the very least, we need to let the magistrate know that this matter is not without a way out, and that it is not necessarily going to implicate the Xu family. If we can obtain your father's tacit approval, or even limited assistance, our subsequent actions will be less constrained and more certain."

Xu Xianzhi pondered. He knew that his father was now deeply disgusted by Xiao Heng's matter, but what Zhou Laosi said made sense. If they could not gain his father's understanding or at least a temporary compromise, any action they took might be thwarted by government intervention, and could even implicate the whole family. As the representative of the Cui family, Zhou Laosi had enough status and was more experienced in speaking. Perhaps he could persuade his father.

"good!"

Xu Xian made up his mind.

"Xianzhi will go back to see my father now!"

"That's how it should be."

Zhou Laosi nodded.

......