fake gentry

The following days.

Xie Hong and Ge Hong's relationship progressed rapidly, to the point that they even slept side by side.

Seeing this, Liu Chong felt inexplicably annoyed and began to doubt Xie Hong's sexual orientation.

Of course, this was just Liu Chong's idea.

In Xie Hong's view, meeting Ge Hong was like stepping into history.

As for Ge Hong, Xie Hong often uttered thought-provoking words, which he found increasingly mysterious the more he thought about them.

But when Chen San saw the same thing, he felt an extra worry.

He was afraid that Xie Hong would let slip his and Liu Chong's true identities.

These past few days, Xie Hong has completely ignored the construction work and has been following Ge Hong around like a shadow. The two of them go on outings, drink tea, play the zither, play chess, and Xie Hong also asks Ge Hong for advice on alchemy.

Chen San was unaware that Xie Hong coveted the superior saltpeter that Ge Hong had brewed.

By noon on the sixth day, Ge Hong finally prepared to take his leave.

He leaned on his bamboo cane, and carried a bundle containing more than ten bars of soap that were cut but not yet usable.

"Fengzhi, the Five Spirit Pills I'm refining have reached a critical stage, and I must return. If you have some free time, you can visit me at my thatched cottage behind the peak."

Ge Hong took out a small coarse cloth bag from his bosom and solemnly placed it in Xie Hong's hands.

"This is a pill that I have refined over many years. It can dispel miasma in the mountains. You might find it useful if you live in the mountains. Just dissolve it in water and take it."

Xie Hong quickly expressed his gratitude: "It is my honor to befriend Mr. Zhichuan. In just a few days, listening to your words is more valuable than reading books for ten years."

A glint of light flashed in Ge Hong's eyes, but he was also a little embarrassed. He stuck his bamboo cane into the ground and bowed solemnly to Xie Hong: "I will wait for you in my thatched hut."

Having said that, he said no more, turned and left, leaning on his bamboo cane.

Xie Hong also bowed respectfully to take his leave, and only stood up after Ge Hong had gone far away.

"My lord, my lord?"

Ah Heng ran over, her face beaming with excitement, and said, "The bath is finished! My lord, come and see!"

Xie Hong walked over with a smile and found that the bathhouse was already taking shape. The outer dressing room was completed. The outside was made of bamboo strips woven into walls and then plastered with yellow mud mixed with straw. The inside was covered with pine planks and there was a row of clothes racks.

In the middle of the bathroom, a large iron cauldron was set up, and next to it, a five-foot-long bath pool was built with bluestone. One end of the pool was connected to a bamboo pipe that could directly pour cold water into it.

As for hot water, you can only carry it in buckets.

The innermost sauna room is entirely covered with bluestone slabs, and the surrounding walls are covered with pine wood latticework. It will be fully completed in a few more days.

Xie Hong looked at it for a long time and felt very satisfied.

Just then, the refugee named Ah Liu suddenly rushed in, panicking: "Young master, young master, it's terrible, the soldiers are here."

Thinking his identity had been exposed, Liu Chong suddenly stood up, grabbed his ring-pommel sword, and rushed out. Xie Hong also realized what was happening and quickly followed.

When they ran out to look, they found that there were indeed people at the intersection. The craftsmen and laborers had stopped, while the refugees were blocking the intersection with wooden pitchforks. The two sides were in a tense standoff.

"Do you lowly commoners want to die? Get out of here now! If you disturb the nobleman's enjoyment, I will tear you to pieces."

The man who shouted was burly, wearing two pieces of armor, front and back, connected at the shoulders by leather straps, somewhat like a modern vest. It was clearly the standard two-piece armor of a captain.

Behind him were more than twenty retainers, each of them robust and armed with swords, bows, and arrows.

Xie Hong was secretly alarmed upon seeing this.

The gentry escorting the group had more than twenty armored soldiers. What was their background?

The Wang Clan of Langya?

Or is it the Sima family?

The leader of the detachment had already drawn his ring-pommel sword, his sharp eyes fixed on the refugees; he was clearly a seasoned guard leader.

Xie Hong quickly called out to Liu Chong, then strode towards the leader and casually cupped his hands in a salute:

"Chenjun Xie Hong is here. May I ask whose gentleman is idly strolling in this wilderness?"

When the leader saw Xie Hong, he was taken aback at first, a look of surprise emerging from his wariness. But he reacted quickly and immediately bowed, saying, "Greetings, sir. There is a young lady in my household here. Please make way."

Xie Hong couldn't help but laugh heartily, raising his chin slightly: "How utterly absurd! Can't you see this is where I built my hut?"

The tribal leader's pupils contracted, and an aged voice came from behind his men:

"Who is the Xie family?"

His voice wasn't loud, but it had a calm weight to it, clearly that of someone accustomed to giving orders.

An elderly man with a white beard and hair, and a gaunt face, wearing a silk turban and a wide robe with black trim, walked over.

The old man's gaze never left Xie Hong after just one glance.

Xie Hong only had one set of clothes to change into. A few days ago, A Ling washed his clothes and put them on today.

The long sleeves of his robe fluttered in the wind, the hem of which draped lightly to his ankles, making him look exceptionally handsome on the young man.

The fabric of the shirt had a warm, off-white hue, unlike anything made in ordinary shops.

Such demeanor among the Xie family members?

Even the gentlemen of Wuyi Lane couldn't compare.

The old man's gaze was fixed on Xie Hong's face, then he walked up laughing, his voice booming beyond what one would expect from a man in his fifties: "Has Wei Shubao been reborn?"

Xie Hong quickly straightened his clothes and bowed respectfully, saying, "The son of the Xie family greets his father-in-law."

The old man walked briskly, taking a few steps to stand in front of Xie Hong. He looked Xie Hong up and down, seemingly becoming more and more satisfied with him.

"The Xie family has such a beautiful man? No one in Wuyi Lane can compare. Who is Xie Kun to you? I am Xi Zhong. I am traveling with my clan to Mount Lu. I did not expect to meet you, young master. Why don't you join me for a stroll?"

Xie Hong's heart trembled violently.

Is the surname Xi?

The Xi family of Gaoping?

No wonder these soldiers look like ruthless killers.

Xi Jian, the patriarch of the Gaoping Xi clan, is now the governor of Yanzhou, commanding tens of thousands of mercenaries.

But what is the current situation in Yanzhou?

At this time, Shi Le of Jie Zhao had already pointed his sword at Yanzhou, and Shi Hu was besieging Taishan County. In three months, Xi Jian would lose Yanzhou.

Because Sun Mo, the governor of Langya, would betray and surrender, Xi Jian had no choice but to move to Hefei and seek refuge with Sima Rui after losing his base.

However, this also gave Xi Jian the opportunity to quell Wang Dun's rebellion, thus making him a pivotal figure in the Eastern Jin court within the next three years.

Even the Wang family of Langya had to curry favor with them before Sikong Wang Dao would have the Wang family's sons cleaned up and lined up for Xi Jian to choose his sons-in-law, thus elevating the Gaoping Xi family to the status of a first-class aristocratic family.

But Xie Hong believes that Xi Jian's greatest achievement was actually something else entirely.

He was the future founder of the Northern Army, who would later become famous throughout the world.

The Beifu Army is hailed as one of the five elite armies in ancient China, having both saved and destroyed the Eastern Jin Dynasty.

Xie Xuan, who fought in the Battle of Fei River, Liu Laozhi, who rebelled three times, and Liu Yu, who established the Liu Song dynasty, all came from the Northern Army.

Suppressing his shock, Xie Hong forced a smile and returned the greeting: "Junior... Xie Hong, Xie Fengzhi, a minor branch of the Xie clan of Chenjun. Youyu Gong is considered my paternal uncle."

A small head suddenly peeked out from behind the troop, with two small buns on its head, looking about eight or nine years old.

The other person stared at Xie Hong with a pair of bright, lively eyes, but when he saw that Xie Hong was also looking at him, he immediately shrank back.

"Sister, that young man is so handsome, just like you."