My Sims of the Eastern Jin Dynasty

The back hall of the Shangyu County Government Office.

As soon as Xu Xianzhi stepped into the back hall, before he could even catch his breath, he was met with the cold and resolute gaze of his father, Xu Zuozhi.

"Father, that person..."

"No need to say anything more! You went to meet that person outside the city again!"

Xu Zuozhi interrupted him sharply, turned around with his back to him, and spoke sternly.

"The Xu family will absolutely not get involved in this matter in the slightest!"

He turned around abruptly.

"Someone come here!"

Two Xu family guards who had been standing watch under the eaves entered in response.

"Take the young master back to his room and keep him under strict guard. Without my order, he is not to step out of the room, not even once! Furthermore, no one is allowed to visit him!"

Then he added more.

"Furthermore, gather your men immediately. This Shangyu territory will not tolerate such troublemakers hiding!"

Xu Xianzhi was struck dumb, his face turning deathly pale. He never expected his father to be so resolute.

In the past few months in the East China Sea, he has seen things that cannot be found in books: the cries of refugees, the arrogance of the barbarian cavalry, and the soldiers' fighting spirit as they struggle to survive in desperate situations. He felt that he should belong there, not on a path where everything was arranged by his family.

Thinking back to when he had just returned from the East Sea and learned that his son had also contributed to the capture of Murong Yan, his father's attitude was not like this. And now, so little time has passed.

"Father!"

Xu Xianzhe suddenly took a step forward, his clear eyes filled with confusion.

"What exactly are you afraid of?! Are you afraid of losing this small county magistrate's post, or are you afraid that my Xu family will be dragged into this storm, damaging your most valued reputation and stability?!"

Xu Zuozhi turned around abruptly, looking incredulously at his usually gentle and polite son who had lost his temper and talked back so rudely, his beard trembling with anger.

"You unfilial son! You...you know what you're saying?!"

"I know! I know it more than ever!"

Xu Xianzhi did not back down and shook his head.

"Back in our ancestral home, Lord Xiao once asked me if the Great Jin Dynasty would perish. I couldn't answer then, but now I know. The Great Jin Dynasty is worse off than it is now. Look at Jiangbei! The barbarian cavalry roam freely, the people are displaced, what is the court doing? What are the powerful families doing? How many are living in ignominy, how many are scheming for personal gain! Someone like Lord Xiao, fighting bloody battles on the front lines to protect the people, what did he do wrong? Just because he doesn't have a distinguished background, because his actions don't conform to certain people's rules, because he touched upon certain people's interests, should he be framed, imprisoned, and have his fate unknown?!"

His eyes were red, but his voice grew louder and more impassioned.

"Father, you are well-versed in history. Do you really want to see someone like Lord Xiao end up like Zu Shizhi (Zu Ti) back then, with his ambitions unfulfilled, instead suffering suspicion and dying in sorrow and indignation?! Is there really no place in this world, in this court, for someone who genuinely wants to resist the enemy and can get things done?!"

Xu Zuozhi swayed, his face turning from pale to white, and he pointed at Xu Xianzhi, his finger trembling.

"You...you dare...you dare to make such a comparison! You are my son, Xu Zuozhi's son, the hope of the Xu family! Your future should be one of nobility and prominence, bringing glory to our family! What kind of bewitching potion did those soldiers on the battlefield, those rootless drifters, and Xiao Heng give you?! Are they worth you risking...risking the safety of the entire Xu family to protect?!"

"A thug? A vagrant?"

Xu Xianzhi smiled; he finally understood. His smile was filled with sorrow and mockery.

"These soldiers and refugees you speak of are the very ones who, in Huaibei, used their flesh and blood to hold back the southward advance of the barbarians! It is because of their desperate struggle at the front that you, and countless other prominent officials and dignitaries in Jiankang, can peacefully enjoy the peace we enjoy before us! Without them, where in Shangyu, in Jiangdong, would you find your elegant abode where you savor tea and discuss art?!"

"Shut up! You traitor!!!"

Xu Zuozhi finally exploded. The pent-up anger, fear, pride hurt by his son's words, and a guilt he dared not think about all mixed together into a furious roar. He grabbed a teacup from the table next to him and smashed it to the ground with all his might!

*Smack!*

A crisp, piercing cracking sound rang out in the silent night sky. Porcelain shards scattered everywhere, and warm tea was spilled all over the ground, wetting the hem of Xu Zuozhi's robe and the surface of Xu Xianzhi's shoes.

Xu Zuozhi's chest heaved violently, his face flushed, and his eyes bloodshot. He no longer looked at Xu Xianzhi, but instead roared at the two burly servants who were stunned by the fierce conflict between father and son: "What are you all standing there for?! Seize this rebellious son! Lock him up!"

The servant came to his senses and hurriedly stepped forward, grabbing Xu Xianzhi's arms on both sides. Xu Xianzhi did not struggle, but stared at his father with disappointed and resolute eyes until he was dragged out of the back hall.

Xu Zuozhi stood there, listening to the sound of his son's footsteps being taken away, looking at the mess of tea stains and fragments on the ground. Suddenly, he felt a violent dizziness and weakness. He staggered a step, grabbed the edge of the cold table, and gasped for breath.

The look in his son's eyes at the end terrified him.

Especially that line, "The Great Jin Dynasty would be better off dead," made him feel like the sky was falling for the Xu family...

"Send word to Team Leader Zhang!"

A moment later, an armored officer stepped forward and clasped his hands in greeting: "Your Excellency!"

"Gather your two squads of city guards and also transfer thirty strong servants from this county. They shall immediately follow me out of the city."

Xu Zuozhi spoke very quickly.

"That abandoned manor by the river. We've received a tip that unidentified northern refugees are gathering there, and there's a risk of spies infiltrating and causing trouble. Investigate tonight. If the situation is true, immediately suppress and disperse them. Bring the ringleaders back to the county office for further questioning!"

"Yes, sir!"

Without asking any further questions, Zhang, the team leader, realized that the magistrate's personal leadership of the team late at night indicated that the situation was clearly unusual. He turned and strode away.

In less than a quarter of an hour, the team of nearly a hundred people had been assembled. Xu Zuozhi took a deep breath and mounted his horse.

"Set off!"

Xu Zuozhi pondered in his heart that if the Cui family member was sensible and cooperated, he could simply disperse them, temporarily keep the Cui family under guard, and then find an opportunity to send them out of the country. This would be a way of giving an explanation to all parties. However, if the other party resisted or tried to conceal the truth, then he would not be so lenient as to use strong measures. The safety of the entire Xu family was at stake, and there was no room for mercy.

The group quickly arrived outside the manor. To Xu Zuozhi's surprise, the manor gate was wide open, and the lights inside were brighter than usual, as if waiting for something.

Captain Zhang signaled his troops to disperse and maintain order, while he himself led a few personal guards to escort Xu Zuozhi to the gate.

Inside the corridor, a man in a dark robe stood tall and straight, his hands behind his back, calmly watching them. In the firelight, he appeared to be about thirty years old, with fair skin and steady eyes. His demeanor was unlike that of an ordinary refugee; rather, he possessed the composure of a nobleman.

"Is the visitor Magistrate Xu of Shangyu?"

The man cupped his hands in greeting, his voice clear and resonant, carrying a northern accent, yet not difficult to understand.

Xu Zuozhi nodded slightly from his horse, displaying his official demeanor.

"It is indeed Xu Zuozhi, the magistrate of Shangyu. Who are you all? What brings you here so late at night?"

"My name is Cui Lin, from Qingzhou."

Zhou Laosi answered neither humbly nor arrogantly.

"I am Cui Lin from Qinghe. I led some of my clan members south from Qingzhou to seek refuge with the emperor and submit to the court. Although it was unexpected to meet Your Excellency tonight, it is still my good fortune. I can now report this to the magistrate."

"To surrender to the emperor's rule? To submit to the imperial court?"

Xu Zuozhi frowned.

"You think you can just brush this off with a simple 'I've surrendered to the Wang family'? Who guided you? Do you have any official documents to prove it?"

Zhou Laosi raised his head, a helpless expression on his face.

"Your Excellency is wise. We, Cui and others, did not come from nowhere. We were invited and received by Prefect Xiao Heng of Donghai, who is under the command of the Northern Army, and thus we have come here to stay temporarily while awaiting the court's formal arrangements."

"Xiao Heng?"

Xu Zuozhi was startled; it was indeed this person.

"Is there any proof? Even if there was an agreement, why didn't you report it to the local government first, instead of concealing your whereabouts?"

"Your Excellency is welcome to report."

"Lord Xiao is busy with military affairs, and even more so with royal duties after the Battle of Huaiyin, so he must not have had time to attend to everything. However, the fact that the people of the North have migrated south and pledged their allegiance to the court is a precedent that has existed since the Yongjia era. In order to settle us, the court has specially established prefectures and counties for refugees, exempting us from taxes and corvée labor to attract us. This is a national policy that demonstrates the virtue of the Holy Dynasty and unites the hearts of the people. I, Cui, am not talented, but I also know this principle. Therefore, although we are temporarily residing here, what we think about is only to be bathed in the king's grace as soon as possible. How dare we have the slightest thought of committing any crimes? Although Your Excellency's visit tonight is a misunderstanding, it is also a good opportunity for nearly a hundred of us to bear witness that we are all good people who admire the Jiangnan gentry and voluntarily migrated south, and are by no means bandits or outlaws of unknown origin."

His words caused Xu Zuozhi's expression to change slightly; he realized he was in a passive position. The other party had brought up Xiao Heng and even invoked the banner of the imperial court's "settlement of exiled residents." If he were to forcefully pursue the matter further under the pretext of "investigating spies," he would not only fail to find conclusive evidence but also easily give others grounds for criticism.

He stared at Zhou Laosi's calm face, trying to find a flaw, but the other man's frank gaze annoyed him.

After a long silence, Xu Zuozhi finally managed to squeeze out a sentence through gritted teeth, his tone still stern.

"Even if what you say is true, as the local magistrate, I also have the responsibility to check the population within my jurisdiction and prevent problems before they arise! Captain Zhang!"

"exist!"

"Take your men in and inspect them carefully! Pay close attention to the number of people, their origins, and what they are carrying, especially whether they possess any prohibited weapons! As for you all!"

He turned his gaze back to Zhou Laosi.

"Without a clear order of placement from the prefecture or the imperial court, you are not allowed to leave this place without authorization, nor are you allowed to associate with any unauthorized persons! Any disobedience will be severely punished by this official!"

Zhou Laosi understood, bowed again, and even his tone carried a hint of gratitude.

"Your Excellency's handling of matters is fair and just, which I admire. We will certainly abide by the rules and await the court's arrangements."

He stepped aside to make way, silently watching the soldiers rush into the manor.

The search revealed nothing unusual; aside from simple daily necessities and essential self-defense items, there were only books and clothing that represented their aristocratic status.

Seeing that the search yielded no results, Xu Zuozhi spoke again.

"You claim to have been received by the Prefect of Donghai and to have submitted to the imperial court in the south, and your intentions may be commendable. However, every country has its laws and every state has its regulations. All people from the north who come here, regardless of who introduces them, must have an inspection document and a settlement order issued by the prefecture or above before they can officially reside in the territory. You have been staying in my Shangyu territory for more than a day, but you have no official credentials whatsoever. This is a fact."

He observed Cui Lie's reaction and continued:

"Lord Xiao may be preoccupied with military affairs and unable to handle this matter. This is not your fault, but it is not a long-term solution either, as it is more likely to breed misunderstandings and disrupt the local area. For the sake of stability, and so that you may receive a clear order from the court for your resettlement as soon as possible, you should come with me back to the county office and explain in detail the reasons for your arrival in the south and the list of your clansmen, so that I can submit a report to the prefectural government!"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Laosi showed no surprise or anger, and nodded in agreement.

"Your Excellency has considered the matter carefully and handled it in accordance with the law. As a guest here, I should naturally follow the arrangements of the local official. However, the villagers are new to the area and are quite anxious. I urge Your Excellency to allow them to stay here and not cause them any further disturbance."

"That's natural."

Xu Zuozhi immediately agreed and gave the order.

"Captain Zhang, take your men and remain to guard the perimeter of the manor. Without my order, no one inside the manor may enter or leave at will, and no unauthorized personnel are allowed to approach. Everything will be decided after I report to the prefectural government!"

"Yes, sir!"

Seeing this, Zhou Laosi said nothing more, but calmly turned around and nodded slightly to the worried-looking clansmen inside the door, signaling them to rest assured. Then, he straightened his robes and walked calmly to Xu Zuozhi's horse.

"Your Excellency, please."

Seeing his completely in control demeanor, Xu Zuozhi felt the thorn in his heart pierce even deeper, yet he was helpless.

He turned his horse around, waved his hand, and two county soldiers stepped forward to accompany Cui Lie, following the cavalry towards Shangyu City.

Meanwhile, on a distant mountain path, Deng Jing leaned against a tree trunk, looked back with a heavy heart, then resolutely turned and disappeared into the night sky heading towards Jingkou.

......