fake gentry

The next day, Wang Yue left the mansion and traveled by carriage to the East Palace.

The Eastern Palace is located on the east side of the garden city, not far from the Ministry of Personnel.

Crown Prince Sima Shao is twenty-three years old this year. He looks handsome and refined, treats people kindly, and never puts on airs.

Historical records describe him as filial, fraternal, and possessing both literary and military talents, as well as intelligence and decisiveness.

At the beginning of the year, when Wang Dun rebelled, the six armies of Jiankang were defeated. Sima Shao actually wanted to personally lead the army to fight the rebels. Wen Qiao, the Crown Prince's junior official, advised against it but did not listen. He had no choice but to draw his sword and cut the horse's reins, and only then did Sima Shao give up.

Wang Dun also believed that Sima Shao was a brilliant strategist and was afraid of being punished later. He was also worried that he couldn't handle the situation, so he planned to depose him. It was Wen Qiao who stood up and satirized Wang Dun in front of all the officials, thus saving Wang Dun's position as crown prince.

Sima Rui was going to die in five months. After Sima Shao ascended the throne, he was able to successfully quell Wang Dun's rebellion despite being weak, which shows his skill.

Moreover, he only punished the ringleaders and did not pursue Wang Dun's cronies. He also made full use of Wang Dao, appointing him as prime minister. On the one hand, he maintained harmonious relations with the Jiangdong gentry, and on the other hand, he checked the power of the ministers and aristocratic families, and vigorously promoted the stability and development of society in the south.

The fact that the Eastern Jin Dynasty was able to maintain its relative prosperity despite being confined to a corner of the country can be attributed entirely to the foundation laid by him.

Unfortunately, he was also a short-lived emperor, reigning for only three years.

Upon seeing Sima Shao, Wang Yue bowed and said, "Greetings, Your Highness the Crown Prince."

Sima Shao smiled and pointed to his side: "Why did Changyu enter the palace so early?"

Wang Yue rose and sat down beside the desk, took out the "Xie Family Calculation Rules" and placed it in front of Sima Shao with both hands: "Your Highness, I have something to present to you."

Sima Shao thought it was some rare ancient book, so he picked it up casually and prepared to flip through it.

But a moment later, his expression froze, and he became completely absorbed by the few thin sheets of paper in his hand.

As expected of the Crown Prince, his vision differed from that of Wang Yue and Wang Dao, and even surpassed that of Sima Rui. In addition, he was proficient in mathematics, and after only one reading, he immediately understood the terrifying changes that the entire mathematical system behind Xie's Calculation Rules could bring.

"Bring me counting rods!"

The attendant immediately brought over abacuses, and Sima Shao began to work intently on them until the afternoon. The attendant tried several times to remind him that it was time to eat, but seeing his solemn expression, he dared not disturb him.

A slender and beautiful woman appeared silently behind the curtain and glanced out.

She wore a plain white silk robe, with only a simple silver hairpin in her hair. She was exceptionally beautiful and had a graceful demeanor.

"This servant greets the Crown Princess."

The beautiful woman gently waved her hand, signaling the eunuch to remain silent.

Yu Wenjun was born into the Yu clan of Yingchuan. At the age of twenty-five, she was kind and gentle, and beautiful. Several years ago, she was betrothed as the principal wife of Sima Shao, and had already given birth to two sons and one daughter for him.

At present, the only clan that can be considered as a top-tier clan alongside the Langya Wang clan is the Yingchuan Yu clan. In fact, in a few years, with Yu Liang coming to power, the Yingchuan Yu clan will surpass the Langya Wang clan.

However, the result was the Su Jun Zu Yue Rebellion, which almost led to the destruction of the Eastern Jin Dynasty.

Sima Shao finally dropped his abacus and looked at Wang Yue with an unprecedented solemnity: "Changyu, is Xie's son not human?"

Wang Yue smiled wryly and took out the letter Wang Huzhi had written to Wang Dao: "Your Highness will understand once you read it."

Sima Shao quickly took it and began to read it eagerly.

"Dong Zhongshu?"

"Sang Hongyang?"

Sima Shao suddenly felt that none of the officials and clerks around him in the Eastern Palace were appealing anymore.

All the other things about Xie's sons were fine, but it was Xie's Calculation Rules that truly moved Sima Shao.

In Sima Shao's view, this was hardly mathematics at all.

This is clearly an incomparably brilliant art of governing a country.

What is taxation? It is the most crucial element in maintaining an empire, far surpassing anything else.

That is the foundation of rule.

However, tax collection has always been a major problem in every dynasty. Even during prosperous times like the reigns of Emperors Wen and Jing, the calculation of taxes in various counties and prefectures remained a significant issue.

Sima Shao was a man of great ambition and ambition, so naturally his biggest concern was taxation.

Let alone a prefecture or county, even the number of people in a single county often takes ten days or half a month to calculate. But if this calculation method is used, the same calculation can be completed in just half a day.

This applies to everything from taxes and household registration to statistics on corvée labor and the allocation of military supplies.

He suddenly remembered the current land tax of the imperial court, which was a complete mess. It was impossible to even understand it, let alone calculate it clearly.

With this set of calculation rules, he would at least be able to understand the accounts.

Sima Shao slowly put down the letter and looked up at Wang Yue: "Changyu, your father entered the palace yesterday, was it for this 'Xie Family Calculation Rules'?"

Wang Yue nodded in agreement.

Sima Shao, not understanding the crux of the matter, lowered his voice, saying, "This boy can subdue Zhu Faqian, make Gu Junxiao kneel on the spot, and even Zhai Daoyuan cannot yield. He can even make ice in the summer, and his hand soap is a marvel. Your Majesty and the Minister of Works have put me in a difficult position."

Wang Yue slowly said, "Your Highness may appoint him as the Crown Prince's tutor."

The Crown Prince's tutor was one of the most important officials in the Eastern Palace. He was in charge of books and documents and could even participate in confidential matters. He was paid a salary of 600 shi (a unit of grain), and only scholars from high-ranking families with both talent and prestige could be appointed to this position.

Xie Hong's current status is barely enough.

After all, he was Xie Kun's nephew. Although he was not famous at all, it was only a matter of time before he became well-known in Jiangzuo.

However, appointing him as the tutor of the crown prince was an absolute exception.

Just as Sima Shao was about to speak, a gentle female voice suddenly came from behind the curtain: "Your Highness, I believe that the Crown Prince's tutor is not as good as the Crown Prince's attendant."

Sima Shao and Wang Yue turned their heads at the same time, and Yu Wenjun walked out slowly.

Wang Yue immediately bowed, and Sima Shao also smiled and said, "Wenjun, why have you come out?"

Yu Wenjun had been watching from behind the curtain for a long time. She solemnly sat down next to Sima Shao and said softly, "I was also curious about what kind of extraordinary talent could move Changyu and Your Highness so much, so I couldn't help but come out to see."

She paused briefly: "Your Highness, since His Majesty knows of this Young Master Xie, he will surely summon him. If Your Highness were to summon him as well, it would be inappropriate."

Yu Wenjun spoke in a gentle and moderate tone, giving people a sense of tranquility.

"Although the position of Crown Prince's tutor is prestigious, he is still a subordinate official. Why does Your Highness need to recruit him with an ordinary official position? It would be better to appoint him as the Crown Prince's tutor."

Sima Shao happily took Yu Wenjun's hand and asked Wang Yue with a smile, "What does Changyu think?"

Wang Yue bowed and said, "I am no match for the Crown Princess."

During the Eastern Jin Dynasty, "Crown Prince's Guest" was not an official position. It was not until the Tang Dynasty that it became a formal high-ranking official position, known as "Crown Prince's Guest," and it was a third-rank official.

The title "Crown Prince's Guest" originated from Emperor Hui of Jin, who issued an edict ordering the sons of important officials to visit the Eastern Palace and accompany the Crown Prince. It was used as a general term for the Crown Prince's guests and friends.

The title of "Crown Prince's Tutor" originated from the "Prefectural Horse" of the Qin Dynasty. It was a civil official in the Eastern Palace and was finalized in the Tang Dynasty. Its rank was lower fifth grade and it was held by Hanlin officials.

To put it bluntly, the Crown Prince's guest was a figurehead, treated with the utmost courtesy, and was considered an honored guest of the Eastern Palace.

The Crown Prince's tutor is practical and must work a proper job.

Yu Wenjun's suggestion was absolutely the best solution.

This wouldn't prevent others from recruiting Xie Hong; even if the emperor summoned him, Xie Hong could still serve as the Crown Prince's attendant.

Even if Wang Dun wanted to forcibly conscript Xie Hong, he couldn't find fault with Sima Shao.

This was even a clever move. In Wang Dun's view, it subtly showed weakness, implying that even the Crown Prince dared not compete with him for the man, and that Xie Hong was given an honorary title in order to save face.

Sima Shao pondered for a moment, then said directly, "Then it will be the Crown Prince's guest." He looked at Wang Yue: "Changyu, I still need to entrust this matter to you. After I have drafted the invitation, please go to Jiangzhou, Changyu."

Wang Yue stepped down from his seat and bowed, saying, "Your subject obeys."

He also wanted to see Xie Hong in person.