fake gentry

What's the fastest way to get from Lushan to Jiankang?

The answer is waterway.

You can board a boat in Chaisang and go straight into the Yangtze River, then travel downstream.

Passing through ports along the Yangtze River such as Wuchang and Jiangxia, it arrives at Jingkou, then turns onto a branch of the Jiangnan Canal, enters the Qinhuai River from Pogangdu, and goes upstream along the Qinhuai River, passing Fangshandai and reaching Zhuquehang and Shitoujin Wharf south of Jiankang City.

Waterways are much faster than land routes.

At the beginning of the Eastern Jin Dynasty, the country was short of funds and could only use the old palace of Sun Wu. It was unable to carry out large-scale construction of city walls. The outer city was only enclosed by bamboo fences with more than fifty fence gates.

In reality, Jiankang is surrounded by mountains on three sides and borders the Yangtze River to the west. It can rely on the Yangtze River and the Qinhuai River system, and together with isolated military fortresses such as Stone City, Dongfu City and Yue City, it can form a powerful defense system without the need to build an additional complete outer city wall.

As long as we hold key fortresses along the river such as Stone City, we can rely on natural defenses to block the enemy.

Wang Huzhi's old servant entered Jiankang City in just five days.

Wuyi Lane is located in the south of Jiankang City, on the south bank of the Qinhuai River, adjacent to Zhuque Hang, facing the East City across the river, and close to the palace. It was the residential area of ​​the top aristocratic families in the Eastern Jin Dynasty.

The residence of the Langya Wang family was located on the east side of Wuyi Lane.

Forty years from now, Xie An will enter Wuyi Lane. His residence will be located on the west side of Wuyi Lane. The Xie clan of Chen Commandery will reach the pinnacle of aristocratic families, and the Wang and Xie clans will stand side by side from then on.

"Uncle Laifu?"

The gatekeeper of the Sikong Mansion was taken aback when he saw the old servant.

This is the personal servant of Hu Zhi, how did he end up here?

The gatekeeper is a person who is responsible for guarding the gate and is a fixed position in high-ranking mansions.

"This old servant wishes to see the master. Open the door immediately."

Seeing the old servant looking travel-worn, the gatekeeper initially thought it was too impolite to meet his master like this, but remembering that the other person's status was far higher than his own, he didn't dare to say anything and obediently opened the side door.

In the main hall of the Sikong Mansion, Wang Dao sat upright behind a large black lacquered table, flipping through a scroll of "Zuo Zhuan" in his hand, his expression calm and showing no sign of emotion.

But everyone in the household knew that the head of the family had not been in a good mood for months.

Chu Zhonglang raised an army in Wuchang. Although he failed to capture Jiankang, he occupied Shitou City and forced the emperor to sue for peace by removing his military uniform.

Chu Zhonglangjun was the elder cousin of the family head. Although the family head led the entire clan to kneel before the palace gates at the first opportunity, there was still constant criticism in the court. Many people secretly said that he was in the court but his heart was in Wuchang.

He has been staying at home and refusing visitors for the past few months, and all his children and nephews have also taken leave to stay at home.

Only Hu's son and Biao's son went on a trip before the New Year and have not returned.

The servants in the mansion were all startled to see Wang Huzhi's old servant rushing about, thinking that something had happened to young master Huzhi.

"A letter from Xiuling?"

Wang Dao gently shook his whisk, slowly put down the book, glanced at the old servant kneeling on the ground, and said with slight displeasure, "It seems the young man has forgotten his uncle. Bring it here."

The pretty maid standing nearby immediately stepped forward gracefully and took the letter from the old servant's hand.

Wang Dao picked up Wang Huzhi's letter and examined it for a long time.

He was extremely dissatisfied with his younger cousin, Wang Yi.

In his early years, he regarded Wang Yi as a close relative, and even passed on his treasured copy of Zhong Yao's "Declaration of Loyalty" to Wang Yi. Later, although Wang Yi passed on his calligraphy skills to Wang Xizhi, Wang Yi now followed Wang Dun down a dark path and almost forgot the destruction of the Langya Wang clan.

He actually quite likes Wang Huzhi.

Wang Huzhi was straightforward and unrestrained, loved to joke, was not particular about details, acted casually and naturally, and had the demeanor of a scholar.

But ever since he heard before the new year that his father, Wang Yi, had followed Wang Dun, he seemed to have become a different person, and he hadn't written to him for half a year.

The fact that he suddenly sent his personal servant home today must mean something important.

After dismissing the old servant, Director Wang opened the letter and read it once.

The more I looked at his face, the more something seemed off.

Who is Xie Hong?

He had heard of the Huangshiyan Gathering, which was an event organized by Tu Qin to make his grandson famous.

Wasn't Xie Shang the only exceptionally intelligent member of the Xie clan of Chen Commandery?

Xie Hong actually managed to subdue Zhu Faqian with three questions, and his three answers made Gu Junxiao bow down. He even stumped Zhai Daoyuan.

What are the Four Books and Five Classics?

Director Wang's eyebrows began to twitch incessantly.

"A new interpretation of the Great Learning: Inner Sage and Outer King? This child is extraordinary."

"When things reach an impasse, change is necessary; change leads to progress."

"The Doctrine of the Mean is the essence, and the Great Learning is its application; essence and application are one—wonderful, truly wonderful! There should be some wine here!"

The maids nearby were startled and quickly went out to instruct the servants to prepare fine wine.

The head of the household has not drunk alcohol for two months.

Suddenly, Wang Dao's loud recitation echoed from inside the Sikong Mansion.

"Eight thousand miles of rivers and mountains, countless people adrift, the homeland no longer a home, having a home but no home, I respectfully offer three cups to this man from afar."

"Ten thousand years is too long, seize the day, let me offer you three more cups."

"The roc rises with the wind, soaring ninety thousand miles high—what a magnificent spirit!"

In the east wing of the Sikong Mansion, a tall, slender young nobleman, with black ink smeared at the corners of his mouth, barefoot, wearing trousers, with disheveled hair and a thin silk robe wrapped around his upper body, was practicing calligraphy almost naked.

The characters on the silkworm cocoon paper are powerful and elegant.

Just as he was engrossed in writing, he vaguely heard Wang Dao's voice and immediately called to a maid, asking, "Uncle, why are you so happy?"

The maid immediately replied, "Young Master Xizhi, I heard that Young Master Huzhi sent someone to deliver a message to the master."

The young man's long, slanted eyes were remarkably bright, and when he narrowed them slightly, they appeared even more charming: "Ah Ling sent a letter? I'll go take a look."

With that, he threw down the pen in his hand, ignoring the ink on his lips, and ran out barefoot, his sleeves fluttering, leaving the maid with a blushing back view.

When Wang Xizhi arrived at the front hall, he found that his uncle, Wang Dao, was already quite drunk.

"Uncle, what did A-Ling write in her letter?"

When Wang Dao saw Wang Xizhi, he immediately raised his hand and beckoned him over: "Atu is here? Come quickly, your brother said in his letter that he has made a lifelong friend."

He then handed the letter to Wang Xizhi and picked up the "Xie Family Calculation Rules" and accounting manual to read.

Director Wang was stunned when he first saw the ten thank-you symbols.

Wang Dao was a top-notch politician who single-handedly created a situation where Wang and Ma shared power.

He was not known for his philosophical discussions, and was looked down upon by many famous scholars, but his vision far surpassed that of these so-called famous scholars.

At first glance, he was deeply attracted by Xie's Calculation Rules.

He had never seen such a concise way of notating numbers.

I read it from beginning to end and then went back to read it again.

The more he turned the pages, the slower he became.

He finally stopped after watching it for the fifth time.

"Atu, bring me the counting rods."

Wang Xizhi was secretly drinking wine nearby, looking quite resentful. Wang Huzhi's letter lavishly praised Xie Hong, which greatly displeased him.

For some reason, he had a natural aversion to the name Xie Hong.

Upon hearing his uncle's instructions, he turned and ordered someone to fetch counting rods.

"How many do you get if you multiply two by three by four and seven?"

Although Wang Xizhi was completely bewildered, he still obediently set out at the table. Wang Dao also instructed someone to bring paper and brush, and began to write and draw on a piece of paper.

In a short while, he put down his pen.

Wang Xizhi fiddled with it for a long time before finally arriving at the answer.

"Uncle, it's 1810!"

Wang Dao silently handed the paper he had written to Wang Xizhi; it also contained the number 1081.

Wang Dao turned to the maid and asked, "How long did it take A-Tu?"

The maid replied with a smile, "Young Master Tu has been using it for almost half an hour."

"How long did it take me?"

"I forgot, but it was no more than ten breaths."

Director Wang silently closed his eyes.

He thought of the account books he had handled over the years.

Land tax, household tax, and military pay.

Every single transaction had to be repeatedly verified using counting rods, which consumed a lot of manpower and resources.

Wang Xizhi looked at his uncle with suspicion, and suddenly a feeling of disbelief and unavoidable shock welled up in his heart.

"uncle……!"

Director Wang got up and paced back and forth in the hall a few times before suddenly stopping.

"Someone, prepare the carriage, I am going to the palace."