fake gentry

Zhou Guang and Tao Mao stayed until Shenshi (3-5 PM).

If we don't leave soon, it'll be time for dinner.

Xie Hong thanked the two for their generous gifts and asked Li to take out a few bars of soap to give to the two of them.

"Duke Zhou, Duke Tao, this thing is called soap. It can be used to wash hands, face, and body. Rub it to produce lather and then rinse with clean water. It is better than soapberry, but it needs to be used after ten days."

The two quickly took the items, turned around and handed them to the servants to put away. Zhou Guang then cupped his hands to Xie Hong and said, "Young Master Xie, please allow me a moment to talk."

The two walked to the side, and Zhou Guang's smile faded slightly. He said in a low voice, "Besides visiting you, I have something else to discuss with you today."

Xie Hong glanced at Zhou Guang; he didn't actually have a good impression of Zhou Guang.

His father, Zhou Fang, was at odds with Wang Dun his whole life, and Zhou Guang joined Wang Dun's side as soon as he died.

But in this era, there is no right or wrong, only winning or losing.

"Please speak, my lord."

Zhou Guang lowered his voice and said, "Young master, you were famous throughout Jiangzhou yesterday, but you still need to be careful. The four families of Yuzhang are deeply entrenched, and the Luo family probably won't let this go easily. He was able to scheme against Xie Youyu, so he probably has connections with the Prime Minister..."

Xie Hong was startled and horrified.

Historically, Xie Kun was to die in office in Yuzhang next year, a year earlier than Wang Dun. Could there be some conspiracy involved?

Only Xie Kun dared to stop Wang Dun's rebellion. Xie Kun was subsequently demoted, but he was not allowed to take up his post. After Wang Dun's rebellion succeeded and he became prime minister, he retreated to Wuchang before finally letting Xie Kun leave. This suggests that Xie Kun must have possessed Wang Dun's secrets. Therefore, was letting Xie Kun go actually Wang Dun's intention to silence him?

Could Roche have played a crucial role in this?

Wang Dun dared to kill Dai Yuan and Zhou Yi because their social standing was inferior to that of the Xie family of Chen Commandery.

However, Wang Dun was a fierce, stubborn, cold-blooded, and ruthless man.

There is a story in "A New Account of Tales of the World" about the killing of three beauties. It is said that Shi Chong held a banquet and had beauties urge guests to drink. If a guest did not finish drinking, he would kill the beauty who urged him to drink. Wang Dao and Wang Dun attended the banquet. Wang Dao was not good at drinking, but he forced himself to drink until he was drunk in order to save someone. Wang Dun deliberately refused to drink and watched coldly as Shi Chong killed three beauties who urged him to drink, without changing his expression.

When Director Wang criticized him, he made the callous remark that it was none of his business to commit suicide.

Wang Dun not only killed Dai Yuan and Zhou Yi, but also ruthlessly murdered his own clansmen Wang Cheng and Wang Leng.

This guy often identifies himself with Cao Cao.

Seeing that Xie Hong remained silent, Zhou Guang lowered his voice and asked, "What about your son with Dai Yuan, young master?"

Xie Hong's gaze swept across Zhou Guang's face, and he said calmly, "As close as brothers."

Zhou Guang seemed to be weighing something, and finally said with a wry smile, "At yesterday's gathering, Dai Zhuozhi, in order to protect the young master, publicly revealed his identity. If the Prime Minister finds out..."

Xie Hong looked at Zhou Guang without saying anything.

Zhou Guang actually felt a sense of pressure from Xie Hong's eyes. He couldn't help but take a deep breath and sigh, "The Zhou family is of humble origin. For the sake of our family's status, we have no choice but to serve the General. If the Prime Minister gives the order, I will have no choice but to obey. But if I don't know where the Dai family's son is, then the Prime Minister has nothing to say."

Xie Hong was taken aback.

He thought the other party was going to persuade him to hand over Liu Chong.

"Thank you, Your Excellency." Xie Hong bowed respectfully to Zhou Guang. "I have never been one to owe favors. I am skilled in physiognomy, and I foresee that Your Excellency will be granted a title within three years."

Zhou Guang froze, staring intently at Xie Hong as if he had seen a ghost.

His father made outstanding contributions to the Sima clan's southward expansion. He was enfeoffed as the Marquis of Xunyang County during his lifetime and posthumously awarded the title of General Who Conquers the West and the posthumous name Zhuang.

Zhou Fang's title was inherited by his eldest son, Zhou Fu, who is now the Prime Minister's aide, General Yingyang, and Prefect of Wuchang.

That's right, both of Zhou Fang's sons followed Wang Dun.

Xie Hong decided to play the charlatan to the end: "In a few days, I will ask Magistrate Tao to send a brocade pouch to you, my lord. If Prime Minister Wang summons you within two years, you may open it and see what it contains. If not, you may destroy it."

Zhou Guang was about to speak when Xie Hong waved his hand, saying, "Your Excellency, please do not speak further. Mr. Zhichuan is also impressed by my physiognomy. The Prime Minister is stubborn and will surely suffer calamity. The truth will come to pass."

All Xie Hong had to do was write down what Zhou Guang would do in the future.

But once this seed is planted, it will inevitably take root and sprout in Zhou Guang's heart, and Zhou Guang will only regard Xie Hong as a god-like figure.

"Then thank you very much, sir." Zhou Guang bowed to Xie Hong and said, "Magistrate Tao's elder brother, Marquis Tao Daozhen, is my brother-in-law. If you need anything, please feel free to send him."

Xie Hong never expected that the Zhou family and the Tao family were actually in-laws.

"In that case, I shall take my leave of the magistrate."

Xie Hong bowed deeply to Zhou Guang, and then bowed to Tao Mao to say goodbye.

Dong Xuan naturally wanted to go down the mountain with them. There were still hundreds of officials and soldiers from the county and prefecture in Dong's fortified village, and he wouldn't feel at ease if he didn't go back.

Besides, he also wanted to get closer to the prefect and magistrate on his way back, to deepen their relationship, since his position as county magistrate hadn't been officially confirmed yet.

After seeing Zhou Guang and Tao Mao off, dusk began to fall.

After dinner, Xie Hong instructed Li to brew a pot of fresh tea and invited Xi Zhong and Ge Hong to sit opposite each other. Then, he solemnly bowed to Xi Zhong and said, "Master Xi, I have a request to make."

Xi Zhong had already guessed what Zhou Guang had said to Xie Hong that afternoon. He was silent for a moment before asking, "Fengzhi, is it that Wang Chuzhong wants to investigate the Dai family's son?"

"That is indeed the matter." Xie Hong stood up and said, "Brother Liu's real name is Dai Jing. He is the only son of General Dai Ruosi, who was killed. He and an old servant ended up in Jiangzhou, where we became sworn brothers."

Xi Zhong certainly knew who Dai Yuan was.

The political landscape in the early Eastern Jin Dynasty was extremely chaotic. Emperor Sima Rui cannot be said to be incompetent, but he frequently made questionable decisions.

Zu Ti was determined to launch a northern expedition, but Sima Rui only provided him with provisions for a thousand men and three thousand bolts of cloth, without providing a single soldier, leaving Zu Ti to recruit his own troops.

He was only interested in consolidating his regime in the south, and worried that Zu Ti's power would grow too strong after he recovered the Central Plains, and that the military power he held would directly threaten his imperial authority.

After Zu Ti recovered Henan and his prestige soared, Sima Rui's suspicions exploded. He directly sent his confidant Dai Yuan to sideline Zu Ti, ultimately causing Zu Ti to die of grief and indignation, thus ending the Northern Expedition.

Wang Dun was originally wary of Zu Ti and Zhou Fang, but with their deaths, he was completely free to act.

Xi Jian was far away in Yanzhou, while Tao Kan was stationed in Guangzhou, posing no immediate threat to Wang Dun. This was the fundamental reason why Wang Dun launched his rebellion.

Is Dai Yuan capable?

It is necessary.

Even when he was a thief in his youth, Lu Ji, a leading figure among the Jiangnan gentry, regarded him as a talent for saving the world and personally wrote a letter recommending him for an official position.

However, Zu Ti believed that he was talented but lacked foresight, which was the reason why Zu Ti died of anger.

They finally achieved some success in the Northern Expedition, only to have it taken away by Dai Yuan, a royalist. No wonder they were furious.

It is important to know that the position of General Who Conquers the West is usually held by the emperor's trusted ministers. They are often granted the authority to oversee the military affairs of several provinces, control all the troops on the western front of the Eastern Jin Dynasty, and can directly influence the direction of the court.

Moreover, he was granted the authority to act on behalf of the emperor.

The famous general Zhou Fang was posthumously awarded the title of General Who Conquers the West.

Xie Hong believed that Dai Yuan was not without foresight, but that his stance differed from Zu Ti's.

When Wang Dun killed him, he remained calm and composed. Historical records say that he did not change his expression, which shows that he was definitely a remarkable person.

"What does Fengzhi want me to do?"

Xi Zhong did not refuse and readily agreed.

Xie Hong took out the letter he had written to Xi Jian and solemnly presented it with both hands, saying, "I wish to send him to Yanzhou to seek refuge with Lord Daohui. Lord Xi is Lord Daohui's cousin, and Yanzhou is Lord Daohui's territory. Wang Dun's influence cannot reach there. Once you arrive in Yanzhou, even if you start as a squad leader, I believe you will surely become Lord Daohui's right-hand man."

Xi Zhong took the letter and looked at Xie Hong: "Why isn't Feng Zhi coming along?"

Xie Hong was taken aback.

Xi Zhong leaned forward slightly, his tone earnest: "If you are willing to go to Yanzhou, the clan chief will surely treat you like a son or nephew. With your help, the Dai family will be much better off than if the clan chief had taken care of them."

Xie Hong remained silent for a moment before speaking, "I will not go to Yanzhou."

Xi Zhong was greatly disappointed: "Why?"

Xie Hong certainly couldn't say that Yanzhou was too damn dangerous, or that he was afraid he might accidentally die if he went there.

For the next hundred years or so, that will be the front line of a protracted war.

It's more stable to stay in Guangzhou with Tao Kan.

So he decided to go all in.

"Lord Xi, I am in love with Zifang, but I am troubled by my family's social status. If I go to Yanzhou, I will be ridiculed. Therefore, I will not go. Please grant me three years. Within three years, I will surely be worthy of Lady Xi."

Xi Zhong was stunned by Xie Hong's directness.

So, you're planning something like this, buddy?

"Fengzhi, this matter is beyond my control; it must be decided by the clan leader."

Xie Hong laughed and said, "It's alright, I can wait."

Xi Zhong glared at him: "Of course you can wait, but my young lady can't."

Ge Hong laughed loudly, "Lord Xi, with Feng Zhi's talent, why would it take three years?"