My Sims of the Eastern Jin Dynasty

In the following days, Xiao Heng stayed at home and did not rush to return to his hometown of Nanlanling.

He first organized the techniques for observing celestial phenomena and climate that he had promised Sima Tian, ​​adding fragmented geographical knowledge that was ahead of its time. He carefully compiled these into a book using language and symbols that were understandable to people of this era, explaining how ocean currents carry warm and cold air, how changes in air pressure indicate sunshine or rain, and what kind of weather cloud formations correspond to.

It abandoned all mystical theories about the interaction between heaven and man, and only emphasized the observation and subtle observation of phenomena by ordinary people.

He also combined the three fish-raising methods he had discovered in the Court of Justice's courtyard, along with a manual recording the folk handicrafts of the Jianghuai region, and two volumes of popular recipes from Jiankang and Wu, into one box.

Late at night, an unmarked blue-covered car stopped at the side gate of the Prince's Mansion.

Xiao Heng handed over the visiting card and the heavy wooden box.

A moment later, the side door quietly opened, and the old servant led him inside.

Sima Tian waited for him in the study, dressed in his robe, with a smile on his face.

"You little rascal, you're quite patient, only now remembering me."

"I dare not disturb Your Highness's peace and quiet. These are just my humble thoughts, which I fear may not be of much interest to you. Consider them my way of thanking Your Highness for the guidance you gave me in prison that day."

Xiao Heng said respectfully.

Sima Tian opened the wooden box, first flipping through the books of folk crafts and recipes, and chuckled.

"It does have a certain wild charm."

When he picked up the book of astronomical and geographical phenomena, he initially read it casually, but gradually became more and more focused. In particular, when he saw the illustrations and texts that used "the thickness and weight of air" to describe air pressure, "the undercurrents of the sea" to explain how ocean currents affect the wind and rain along the coast, and cloud formations to predict the weather, his brows furrowed.

Such a statement is unprecedented.

He looked up, his eyes full of anticipation.

"You say the rain isn't the weeping of the heavens, nor the wrath of the gods, but rather the condensation of rising heat as it cools, causing the air to become saturated with water vapor? This water vapor is invisible to the naked eye, so how can you believe it?"

Xiao Heng was prepared and pointed to a simple drawing of boiling water in the book.

"Please consider this, Your Highness: When water boils in a cauldron, steam rises and condenses into water droplets when it encounters the coldness of the lid. Similarly, in the vast cauldron of heaven and earth, the sun shines on rivers, lakes, and seas, and water turns into vapor, rising to form clouds. When it encounters the cold of the high heavens or other cold air, it condenses into rain and falls. The principle is the same, only the scale is vastly different."

Sima Tian stared at the simple drawing of boiling water for a long time, then suddenly slapped his thigh.

"Brilliant! Simplifying the complex, getting straight to the point! When I was a military commander in the past, I saw the mist rising over the rivers and seas and thought it was nothing out of the ordinary; I never thought of it this way!"

He looked through the cloud maps and their correspondence with the weather again and found them to be more and more logical. Although he could not verify everything, they were in fact in line with his vague experience of decades of military observation, and even more so.

"Excellent! What a skillful observation of subtle phenomena, allowing one to deduce general principles!"

Sima Tian's face flushed red, whether from the glow of the charcoal fire or from his excitement, it was hard to tell.

"Though this is not a military treatise, it surpasses any military treatise! In naval or land battles, knowing the weather forecast half a day in advance could save countless lives!"

He carefully put the booklet back, and the way he looked at Xiao Heng was completely different now.

"Young man, this reward is too much. I owe you a favor."

These words pleased Xiao Heng greatly, as they were much better than what he had heard from Xie An, and he quickly responded.

"Your Highness is too kind. This technique may not be entirely accurate and requires years of calibration. Furthermore, its applicability varies by region. It is intended only for Your Highness's leisure time or for reference when hunting or fishing on the estate. Please do not divulge it to others, lest you become a laughingstock."

Sima Tian nodded, he naturally understood. He immediately ordered his men to bring a number of practical rewards, including a fine sable fur coat, a finely forged long sword, some gold and silver, and ten bolts of Shu brocade.

Xiao Heng declined briefly, but then readily accepted the gift.

It was already late at night when we left the Prince Qiao's residence.

Xiao Heng did not return to his residence. Instead, he took a detour to the vicinity of Wuyi Lane and sent two more carefully copied scrolls to the Xie family's gatehouse by an absolutely reliable old servant.

One is a detailed nautical chart of the area around Qu County in the East China Sea, extending all the way to Yuzhou Island, with waterways, reefs, and anchorages clearly marked. The other is a hydrological sketch of the Huai River and Si River basins left by Zu Chang, with notes on key crossings, the speed of the current, and seasonal water level changes. The nautical chart is related to the defense and trade of the southeast coast, while the Huai and Si River hydrological data points directly to the future Northern Expedition.

After completing both tasks, Xiao Heng left Jiankang that very night.

The next morning, when the ship docked at Jingkou Wharf, Xiao Yuanzhi looked at the distant streets and alleys and said to Xiao Heng.

"Since we're already here, let's go visit my eldest sister. She's married here, and we haven't seen each other for many years. Last time I came to Beijing, it was just a brief visit, and we didn't get to meet."

As Xiao Heng gazed at the refugees and soldiers at the dock, the slight hesitation in his heart was somewhat shaky, blown by the river breeze.

Seeing Xiao Wenshou would most likely lead to meeting the young Liu Yu, who was still struggling.

But he hadn't yet decided how to approach this future founding emperor. Should he show him mercy as an uncle? Or should he invest in him in advance as a prophet? He had simulated it several times before, but none of them were perfect.

Finally, he nodded, took some portable gold and silver from the gifts bestowed upon him by the Prince of Qiao, wrapped it in cloth, and carried the long sword with him.

Let's go!

The two men entered the city on foot without any servants.

Jingkou was far rougher than Jiankang, and its streets and alleys were filled with migrants speaking with northern accents.

Relying on his vague memories from many years ago, Xiao Yuanzhi searched for a long time in the crisscrossing alleys of the western part of the city before finally stopping in front of a mottled wooden door.

"Are you sure this is it?"

Xiao Heng was somewhat puzzled. The alley was extremely narrow, and many of the dilapidated courtyards were deserted.

Xiao Yuanzhi did not answer; he was also unsure.

Two teenagers emerged from the alley; the older one was about ten years old, and the younger one looked about seven or eight.

Upon seeing someone arrive, Xiao Yuanzhi hurriedly stepped forward and tentatively inquired.

"May I ask, young man, is this the residence of Liu Gongcao?"

The older boy's eyes darted around as he looked Xiao Heng and his companion up and down, especially noticing the long sword at Xiao Heng's waist, a gift from the Prince of Qiao. The scabbard was dark and heavy, clearly no ordinary object.

He immediately stepped forward, extending his filthy hand, and said matter-of-factly:

"Three coins! Pay me and I'll tell you."

The smaller one remained silent, his dark eyes fixed on the knife at Xiao Heng's waist, his lips pursed.

Xiao Heng understood immediately and raised his hand to stop Xiao Yuanzhi from speaking. In the simulation just now, the two children were Liu Yu's two younger brothers.

But before he could ask a question, the wooden door creaked open.

A woman in simple clothes and a haggard face leaned out. Her gaze first fell on Xiao Yuanzhi's face, she paused for a moment, and then an unbelievable joy welled up inside her:

"Jiro?!"

She immediately saw Xiao Heng beside her, and her eyes instantly reddened.

"Sanlang! It really is you guys!"

"My elder sister!"

Xiao Yuanzhi hurriedly stepped forward.

Xiao Heng also shouted.

"Sister."

Xiao Wenshou wiped his hands with his apron, feeling both happy and somewhat at a loss. He quickly said to the two stunned boys next to him.

"Quick, call them uncles! These are your second and third uncles!"

The older boy, Liu Daolian, still had his hand frozen in mid-air. His greedy expression was instantly replaced by embarrassment. He stammered as he lowered his hand and mumbled something:

"Second Uncle, Third Uncle."

The younger Liu Daogui also called out softly, but his gaze couldn't help but drift towards Xiao Heng's knife.

Xiao Heng agreed and handed the cloth bag in his hand to Xiao Wenshou.

"Sister, this is just a small token of my appreciation to help with household expenses."

The cloth bag was heavy; Xiao Wenshou knew it was quite heavy as soon as he took it, and his eyes welled up with tears.

"How can we do that? Quick, come inside and talk, it's cold outside."

Xiao Wenshou led the two into the small but well-organized main room and hurriedly went to pour water and light the brazier on the ground.

The room was simply furnished. Xiao Yuanzhi placed the dried meat, cakes and other items he had brought on the only chipped table, and Liu Daolian's eyes immediately fell on it.

Xiao Heng sat down, his gaze habitually sweeping across the room. He turned to Xiao Wenshou, who was walking over carrying a rough pottery bowl, and asked casually.

"Sister, where is Ji Nu?"

Xiao Wenshou was clearly stunned for a moment, and even Liu Daolian, who was secretly reaching out to touch the cakes, stopped and looked up at this unfamiliar third uncle with curiosity.

Xiao Wenshou placed the bowl in front of Xiao Heng, a hint of surprise flashing across his face.

"How does Sanlang know Yu'er's nickname? When you came to our house as a child, Ji Nu wasn't even here yet!"

Xiao Heng was startled, and immediately showed a perfectly timed look of realization.

"When I was in the Northern Prefecture, I seemed to have heard my comrades from Jingkou mention that there was a young man in the Liu Gongcao family whose nickname was Jinu, and he was quite diligent. I didn't see the older young man when I entered the house, so I casually asked about him."

His words were half true and half false. There were many soldiers from Jingkou in the Northern Army, and it was common for them to mention their fellow townsmen. This was a way of smoothing things over.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Wenshou sighed, a look of loving concern and heartache on his face.

"Ji Nu went up the mountain to gather firewood early this morning. With the New Year approaching, he needs to stock up on firewood so he can earn some extra money to supplement his income."

She looked out the window at the gray sky.

"This child is always restless; it's time for him to go home."

Xiao Heng nodded and didn't press further. In the simulation, he hadn't directly encountered Liu Yu; he was probably in the mountains right now. The time wasn't right, and forcing it wouldn't be good.

He temporarily suppressed his hidden expectations and calculations, but his gaze involuntarily fell on the small figure who had been unusually quiet since entering the room—Liu Daogui's face.

This child was completely different from Liu Daolian's carefree nature. After exchanging greetings, he moved a small wooden stool and sat in a corner a little away from the brazier. He didn't look at the cakes or the dried meat; his bright black eyes were almost obsessively focused on the long knife at Xiao Heng's waist.

Xiao Heng vaguely remembered that Liu Yu's two half-brothers had both joined the army. One of them was quite brave and skilled in battle. Looking at Liu Daogui's calm eyes, which were beyond his years, and the undisguised desire and exploration for weapons in his gaze, Xiao Heng felt a slight stirring in his heart.

"you!"

Xiao Heng suddenly spoke, his voice not loud, but it drew the attention of Xiao Yuanzhi and Xiao Wenshou, who were chatting idly inside. He was addressing Liu Daogui.

"What's your name? How old are you?"

Liu Daogui seemed to be startled awake. He looked away from the knife and met Xiao Heng's gaze. Without fear, he stood up and answered politely.

"Replying to Third Uncle, my name is Liu San, and I am eight years old."

The voice was very clear, and the person was very polite, with a steady posture.

"Liu San," Xiao Heng read aloud, then asked, "Does he like knives?"

Liu Daogui's eyes visibly brightened, and he nodded vigorously:

"like!"

He paused, then added.

"My brother once found a broken knife, polished it, and I handled it too; it was very heavy!"

He was talking about Liu Yu; the child's eyes lit up when he mentioned his elder brother.

Xiao Wenshou hurriedly spoke from the side.

"What nonsense are you spouting about knives and guns, you little brat?"

Her tone was not harsh, but rather the dismissive attitude of an ordinary woman towards children's toys.

Xiao Heng smiled and suddenly took off the horizontal sword from his waist.

This action made Xiao Yuanzhi glance at him sideways.

Xiao Heng placed the sheathed sword flat on the table and beckoned to Liu Daogui.

"Come here, take a look."

Liu Daogui paused for a moment, then looked at his mother. Xiao Wenshou also seemed somewhat at a loss.

"Sanlang, this!"

"It's alright, the child is just curious."

Xiao Heng replied gently with a smile.

After receiving a tacit approval from his mother, Liu Daogui cautiously approached. He first looked at Xiao Heng, then stretched out his hands and somewhat laboriously picked up the long sword.

The knife was indeed heavy, and it was a little difficult for the eight-year-old to hold it. But he gritted his teeth, held it firmly, looked down and carefully examined the texture of the scabbard. Then he gently touched the texture with his hand, his eyes full of surprise.

Xiao Heng looked at his focused expression and said slowly.

"A knife is a sharp weapon; it can protect you, kill enemies, or cause trouble. Your uncle will give it to you when you grow up!"

Liu Daogui raised his head, his eyes clear and earnest.

"real!"

Their childish words, though simple and innocent, possess a natural charm.

These words caused Xiao Wenshou, who was standing to the side, to look at Xiao Yuanzhi with a complicated expression.

Xiao Yuanzhi explained with a smile.

"Sanlang is now a general in the Northern Army and has just returned victorious from a battle. Doesn't Sister know that?"

How could Xiao Wenshou not know? Liu Yu had asked her several times already, and she had always given him a perfunctory answer.

"I know, how could I not know? There were people releasing lanterns along the riverbank back then, but..."

Xiao Heng was curious, but instead of asking Xiao Wenshou, he gave Liu Daogui a deep look. At this moment, Liu Daogui had already turned his attention to his own face. Xiao Heng didn't say anything more, but simply gestured for him to put the knife back.

Although Liu Daogui was reluctant, he obediently placed the knife back on the table and returned to its original position, but his gaze lingered on it.

Xiao Heng sheathed his sword again, a plan forming in his mind. Liu Yu probably already knew about him; he was still a young dragon, and one couldn't rush things. But this Liu Daogui, though young, already showed remarkable composure and a natural affinity for martial arts. Perhaps he was a rough gem worth keeping an eye on. There was still a chance in the future, and he might even become an asset—at least, it wouldn't be a bad thing.

The two had lunch at Xiao Wenshou's house, told his elder sister to take care of herself, promised to visit again after the New Year, and then took their leave.

Xiao Wenshou, along with his two sons, saw them off at the alley entrance, reluctant to part.

Leaving that shabby alley and walking once again on the bustling streets of Jingkou, the river wind was still biting.

Xiao Heng glanced back at the alleyway, which was hidden among the many low houses, and memorized it.

Liu Yu was slightly disappointed that he did not get to see him, but it was not a complete loss.

The future is long. He touched the hilt of the sword at his waist. Whether it is a future emperor or a future general, if he wants them to be willing, he himself must first become a mountain high enough and an abyss wide enough.

Of course, Jingkou is not only home to Liu Yu, but also to Liu Muzhi, Tan Daoji, and many others who need to be explored.

Instead of rushing back to the dock, the two followed the address left by Zhang Xuanzhi and found the Xu family's residence in Jingkou, Donghai.

Xiao Heng did not go to see Xu Xianzhi, but left a letter and departed.