fake gentry

The palace of the Eastern Jin Dynasty was not far from Wuyi Lane.

Wang Dao's oxcart left Wuyi Lane, crossed Zhuque Bridge, and went straight along the imperial road. In less than a quarter of an hour, he arrived at the palace gate.

The imperial guards recognized Wang Dao and dared not neglect him. They sent someone inside to inform him and asked Wang Dao to wait there.

The term "Imperial Guards" is a later development; during the Jin Dynasty, the Imperial Guards were called the Central Army. They were commanded by a General Leading the Army and a General Protecting the Army, who served as the direct daily managers of the Central Army.

The Imperial Guards under the command of the General of the Army were the core force of the central army, responsible for the daily security of the core area of ​​the palace and the personal guards of the emperor when he went out. They were the imperial guards closest to the emperor's power.

The Yamen Army under the General of the Guards was responsible for protecting the outer city of Jiankang and surrounding key areas, controlling the outer military fortresses such as Stone City and East City, and forming a defensive system that coordinated with the Central Army.

In the past, if Wang Dao wanted to enter the palace, the imperial guards would not only not stop him, but would also have to kneel before him.

When Sima Rui was still the Prince of Langya, he was already a close friend of Wang Dao.

To put it bluntly, they are close friends who have slept together.

During the chaos of the Western Jin Dynasty, it was Wang Dao who strongly persuaded Sima Rui to move south to Jiankang, and helped him contact the gentry in Jiangnan and appease the exiled forces in the north, allowing Sima Rui to gain a foothold in Jiangnan.

Wang Dao was the true founder of the Eastern Jin regime.

When Sima Rui ascended the throne, he actually grabbed Wang Dao's hand and invited him to sit on the imperial bed and receive the homage of all the officials, but Wang Dao refused to comply no matter what.

Then Wang Dao took charge of the government, and Wang Dun controlled the national military.

The result was...buzz!

Wang Dun rebelled.

Wouldn't that put Director Wang in an awkward position?

Before long, a eunuch came running out and bowed to Wang Dao, saying, "Your Majesty invites the Minister of Works."

Wang Dao followed the eunuch through several palace gates to the side hall on the east side of the garden city.

For a long time after Sima Rui moved south, no new royal palace was built. He only made simple repairs to the garden city of Eastern Wu and moved in. It was not until the fifth year of Xianhe of Emperor Cheng (330 AD) that he started to expand the original site of the garden city. After completion, the new palace city was named Jiankang Palace, also known as Taicheng.

Emperor Sima Rui was very thin, with graying temples and an unnaturally pale complexion. He was dressed in casual clothes and sat casually on a low couch covered with brocade cushions. Several memorials were spread out on the table.

"Your Majesty, this humble subject pays his respects."

Sima Rui looked at Director Wang with a somewhat complicated expression and asked, "Why is Ah Long being so distant?"

Wang Dao's nickname was Chi Long. He and Sima Rui were so close that they were practically inseparable. Unless it was court, Sima Rui would not allow him to kneel.

Upon hearing Sima Rui call him by his childhood name, Wang Dao burst into tears: "Our family is unfortunate to have produced such a beast as Ahei, making it difficult for us to meet. Your Majesty, I have auspicious omens to present to you."

Sima Rui immediately got off the couch and sat down next to Director Wang: "What auspicious omen?"

Wang Dao took out the "Xie Family Calculation Rules" and the bookkeeping manual: "Your Majesty, my nephew sent these with a messenger. I have come to present them to Your Majesty for your perusal."

Sima Rui picked up "Xie's Calculation Rules" and started reading. He was just as engrossed as Wang Dao, reading even more slowly than Wang Dao.

After reading it, Sima Rui put down the booklet and picked up the book on accounting techniques to read. His originally pale face gradually turned into an unhealthy blush.

"Truly an auspicious omen."

Sima Rui suddenly seemed to realize something, and the expression on his face slowly turned into mockery and resentment. Director Wang knelt down with his head down.

He knew that this thing would definitely provoke the emperor.

Which emperor didn't want to strive for good governance?

If Wang Dun's rebellion had not occurred, the "Xie Family Calculation Rules" would undoubtedly have been an extremely auspicious omen.

Because this would change the national accounting system that had been in place for thousands of years, the Jin dynasty would surely be greatly improved as a result.

If Sima Rui had lived a few more years, he could have easily succeeded in his northern expedition, leading to peace and prosperity for the country. He would have been a great emperor comparable to Emperor Wen of the Former Han Dynasty.

But now...

Sima Rui was silent for a moment, then slowly said, "Ah Long, is Xie Hong really a sixteen-year-old boy?"

Instead of answering directly, Wang Dao handed the letter that Wang Huzhi had written to him to Sima Rui.

Sima Rui took it and initially glanced at it casually, but he was stunned when he saw the rest.

"Inner sage and outer king: cultivate oneself, regulate one's family, govern the state, and bring peace to the world."

"My homeland is no longer a home, and I have a home but no home."

"Ten thousand years is too long...hehe."

Sima Rui raised his head, his eyes filled with an extremely complex emotion.

"Ah Long, is it really as Wang Hu said? Is this Xie boy perhaps born with innate knowledge?"

Director Wang was actually having some doubts himself.

Putting everything else aside, Xie Hong's creation of the Four Books and Five Classics theory alone was enough to shock all scholars.

Moreover, if this set of calculation rules he presented were truly implemented, land tax calculation, household registration statistics, and even engineering construction, military supply allocation, and all other affairs of the world could be accomplished dozens of times more efficiently.

"In my opinion, regardless of what Xie Hong is like, his mathematical formula can already be called a classic, surpassing even the Nine Chapters on the Mathematical Art. Its greatest value lies in its ease of learning; even ordinary clerks can master it. If it were promoted throughout the country, the collection of taxes and the management of household registration would no longer rely so heavily on local powerful families. Your Majesty, this is a tool that will benefit the country. I believe that Xie Hong should be summoned to court, given an official position, and put in charge of promoting this formula."

Sima Rui remained silent for a moment, then slowly asked, "Will your Ahei allow me to recruit Xie's son?"

Director Wang immediately broke out in a cold sweat.

"Minister of Works, now the Jie and Zhao tribes in the north are eyeing us covetously, and powerful ministers within the court hold sway over their armies. I, the emperor..."

Sima Rui shook his head and didn't say anything more, but instead focused his gaze on the "Xie Family Calculation Rules".

Sima Rui's voice became low and ethereal as he softly said, "I may summon him, but the Xie family's son will certainly not come. By the way, your son Changyu is a lecturer in the Eastern Palace; I may have a look at him."

Wang Dao immediately understood and bowed deeply to Sima Rui, saying, "Your Majesty is wise."

"Play chess with me."

When Wang Dao left Yuancheng, it was already night in Jiankang City, and the lights on the road had long been extinguished. He rode an oxcart back to the Sikong Mansion. Before Wang Dao even got off the cart, he saw a young man standing at the gate in the distance. It was none other than his eldest son, Wang Yue.

Upon seeing his father's oxcart, Wang Yue immediately stepped forward and helped hold the shaft until the cart stopped, then respectfully bowed and said, "Father, you're back."

When Director Wang got out of the car, he took the initiative to help his father take the whisk in his hand.

"Ah Chang, come with your father."

With that, he led Wang Yue straight to the study.

Wang Yue, courtesy name Changyu, was the eldest son of Wang Dao. He was handsome, gentle, and studious, and was the son on whom Wang Dao placed the most hope. He was now a lecturer in the Eastern Palace, teaching the classics to the Crown Prince Sima Shao every day, and was deeply trusted by the Crown Prince.

Unfortunately, Wang Yue died young, around the age of twenty.

"Take a look at this."

Wang Yue took the "Xie's Calculation Rules" with both hands and began to read it, his expression gradually becoming extremely interesting.

Director Wang didn't say anything, but just watched his son's changing expressions.

Wang Yue flipped through the booklet several times, then picked up a pen from the table and casually wrote a multiplication problem on a blank piece of silkworm cocoon paper. He then began to calculate step by step according to the method in "Xie's Calculation Rules".

He quickly calculated the final result, then put down his pen and took out his counting rods to play with them.

After fiddling with it for a while and seeing the exact same result, he looked up at Director Wang, his lips moving for a long time before he finally spoke: "Father, who wrote this 'Xie's Calculation Rules'?"

Wang Dao then handed the letter written by Wang Huzhi to his son.

Sixteen years old? Two years younger than me.

Wang Yue was stunned.

"His Majesty will issue an edict tomorrow, summoning Xie's son to Jiankang. However, it will take at least half a month for the edict to travel from Jiankang to Mount Lu. Tomorrow, take this set of calculations to the Eastern Palace to show the Crown Prince."

Wang Dao paused, looking into Wang Yue's eyes: "The Crown Prince is intelligent and has a deep understanding of mathematics. He will surely treasure this set of mathematical rules. Ah Chang, in the future, the Crown Prince will need someone to manage the affairs of the realm. Do you understand?"

Wang Yue immediately nodded solemnly, and then prepared to put away the "Xie Family Calculation Rules," but was stopped by Wang Dao, who said, "Give it to me first. I want to make several copies tonight and distribute them to the clan."