Three Kingdoms: Jiangdong is no longer a rat

Chapter 158 Zhou Xin
It was already evening when Yan Yi left the mansion. The sky was dotted with stars, and the night was alluring. If he had some free time, he would have definitely climbed up to admire the scenery, but at this moment, he had no desire to enjoy the view. He boarded the carriage and had the imperial attendant drive to a house not far from the Yan residence.

The person imprisoned in this mansion was Zhou Xin, the former prefect of Danyang.

Because Zhu Zhi was assassinated, Yin Li did not dare to be careless. He sent Zhou Xin, Yu Fan, Shang Sheng, Chen Xian and others to be detained near Yan Mansion, which was the most heavily guarded place in the city. This also made it convenient for Yan Yi to visit them nearby.

Yan Yi's lack of talent under his command, and his desire for more, was well known within the army. The situation within the military was somewhat better, barely holding up thanks to the rise of generals like Xu Sheng. However, the shortage of administrative talent had reached a critical point.

Otherwise, he would not have easily appointed Quan Rou as the Qiantang Order, because he really could not find a second candidate.

Cao Qiu, his earliest follower, was quite adept at government affairs, but not capable of leading a single task. He was barely adequate for the duties of Yuncheng, but he was insufficient for the duties of Qiantang.

In addition, Yan Yi also wanted to use Quan Rou to buy horse bones for a fortune, but only the position of Qiantang Ling could achieve this effect.

In this situation, Zhou Xin became the person he was determined to get.

Yan Yi did not underestimate Zhou Xin because he had defeated him before. Although Zhou Xin's command at that time was conservative, it was not wrong. The main reason for the defeat was the weak combat effectiveness of the troops in Kuaiji and the fact that they were divided and advanced according to the situation.

In other aspects besides combat, he values ​​Zhou Xin even more than Quan Rou.

Zhou Xin, a student of the Grand Tutor Chen Fan, was well-read and knowledgeable. He had served as the prefect of Danyang and was known for his benevolence and love for the people. In terms of both reputation and status, he surpassed Quan Rou.

In addition, recruiting Zhou Xin is a buy-one-get-two-free deal.

Zhou Xin's younger brother, Zhou Ang, had served under Yuan Shao and fought against Sun Jian at Yangcheng. His younger brother, Zhou Yu, had been a general under Cao Cao and had followed him since Cao Cao's initial uprising. Both were now in Kuaiji.

Once Zhou Xin is recruited, there is a high probability that Zhou Ang and Zhou Lu will be recruited at the same time, and the cost-effectiveness can be said to be maximized.

Therefore, Yan Yi attached great importance to recruiting Zhou Xin, and the courtesy he gave to Zhou Xin was far greater than that given to Zhu Zhi.

The mansion where Zhou Xin lived covered a full two mu (approximately 1.5 acres). It was tranquil and elegant, with rockery, flowing water, winding corridors, and a throng of servants. At first glance, one might have mistaken it for the home of a prominent figure in the city, rather than the place where surrendered generals were being held.

Yan Yi straightened his clothes in front of the mansion gate and walked into the front yard. Before he reached the back yard, Zhou Xin had heard the news and came out to greet him.

Zhou Xin, dressed in a dark, straight-hemmed gown, a high hat and wide belt, and silk shoes, exudes a refined demeanor. At first glance, he possesses the air of a scholar. But a closer look reveals a lingering sense of decadence and dejection.

Especially the fatigue and dullness in his eyes were like a pool of stagnant water, without any ripples.

This man, frustrated by repeated setbacks, was devastated. He had thought that by abandoning Danyang, he could buy peace for the people, but his departure only worsened their plight. Wu Jing, like a madman, had turned half of Danyang into a living hell.

Whenever Zhou Xin thought of this, the pain in his heart was like a heart-wrenching tear, and he regretted giving up Danyang.

After arriving in Kuaiji, he had to endure the heartache and try to adapt to the life of living under someone else's roof. The spirit that had once helped Cao Cao conquer Dong Zhuo had long since disappeared.

The defeats at Gulingdu and Shui became the last two straws that broke the camel's back.

At this time, Zhou Xin had not only lost all his fighting spirit, but also had deep doubts about himself and fell into autism.

Yan Yi observed his expression, bowed, and asked, "Duke Zhou, are you comfortable here? Have you been neglectful?" Zhou Xin replied, "A defeated general, a single bed is sufficient. Thank you for your kindness, young lord."

Yan Yi consoled him, saying, "The blame for the defeat lies with Wang Lang for raising an unjust army, not Duke Zhou. Duke Zhou has done his best and has already reported Wang Lang. Don't take the blame on yourself."

Zhou Xin cheered up a little and led Yan Yi to the back hall.

The two of them entered the hall and sat down on the couch. Zhou Xin asked indifferently, "Young Master, you came here so late at night, but have you decided what to do with me?"

Yan Yi smiled slightly, and said in a gentle and humble tone, "I am not here for this matter, but I have a government question that I would like to ask Duke Zhou for advice. I hope Duke Zhou will be willing to give me some advice."

A hint of surprise flashed across Zhou Xin's face.

Yan Yi clapped his hands, and the two guards standing outside the door came in carrying a wooden box, placed the box next to Zhou Xin, and opened the lid.

He pointed to the scrolls of bamboo slips in the box and said to Zhou Xin with a smile, "Mr. Zhou, please take a look."

Zhou Xin nodded, picked up a scroll and flipped through it casually.

He had been in charge of government affairs for a long time and was very familiar with government documents. He quickly finished reading the brief document.

This is a document that records Yuncheng’s government decrees and the results of their implementation.

Zhou Xin put down the bamboo slips thoughtfully, pondered for a moment, and then picked up another one from the box.

This time he read very slowly, almost word by word, his brows sometimes furrowed, sometimes relaxed. By the time he put the book down, a glimmer of light had appeared in his dim eyes.

He couldn't wait to pick up the third volume of Jian Ce.
Seeing him stroking his beard, absorbed in the reading, and occasionally moving his head closer to Jian Ce, Yan Yi instructed the maid beside him, "Move the lamp stand closer."

Zhou Xin ignored the noise around him, completely absorbed in the bamboo slips. For a moment, the room fell silent, with only the subtle rustling of him turning the pages.

Yan Yi was bored, so he asked his personal guards to bring him the official documents and writing materials, and then he took charge of the official business on his own.

A full half hour passed before Zhou Xin reluctantly put down the last scroll, twirling his beard with his hand and closing his eyes, a look of deep thought. The gloom on his face had faded somewhat, replaced by a surge of excitement, as if he had imbibed some miraculous elixir, a long-lost glow emanating from him.

After a long time, Zhou Xin slowly opened his eyes and looked at Yan Yi who was writing furiously. His originally distant gaze had quietly lost some of its coldness.

He asked anxiously, "Excuse me, Young Lord, these government decrees and tax orders came from which great sage?"

Yan Yi glanced at Zhou Xin's impatience and chuckled. Most of these decrees and tax orders were adjustments based on later generations' analysis of the pros and cons of current government, combined with practical considerations. A few were his own experiments, the crystallization of countless people's wisdom. Sure enough, they immediately astounded Zhou Xin.

Under normal circumstances, he would have flatly denied it, but in order to recruit Zhou Xin, he didn't care much and replied shamelessly, "I am the humble one."

Zhou Xin opened his mouth in surprise, with a look of suspicion on his face, as if saying: Are you kidding me?

(End of this chapter)