fake gentry

Panyu City, Guangzhou.

Panyu is nestled between mountains and the sea. In June, the humid sea breeze, carrying a salty and fishy smell, wafted into the General's Mansion, making even the guard dogs reluctant to move.

Currently, the imperial court nominally controls ten prefectures: Yangzhou, Jiangzhou, Xiangzhou, Guangzhou, Jiaozhou, Yuzhou, Xuzhou, Yanzhou, Qingzhou, and Bingzhou.

The most prosperous city was naturally Yangzhou, which was the base of the imperial court.

Because Wang Dun was wary of Tao Kan, he ostensibly promoted him but in reality demoted him by exiling him to Guangzhou as governor, but he forgot one thing.

Panyu, as the capital of Guangzhou, is a core port in Lingnan.

Unlike later periods, Sun Quan vigorously developed maritime trade during the Three Kingdoms period, which led to the great prosperity of maritime trade during the Jin Dynasty. Panyu was the core hub of the Maritime Silk Road.

Spices, jewels, glass, ivory, rhinoceros horns, and other exotic treasures imported from overseas were luxury items sought after by the aristocratic class. Meanwhile, silk, porcelain, and tea exported from Panyu were sold as far as East Asia, South Asia, and even the Middle East.

These trade activities made Panyu the most prosperous commercial port in the Jin Dynasty.

What is the current scale of trade in Panyu?

Tao Kan could collect up to 20 million coins in taxes every year, which became his core source of revenue, far exceeding his income when he was sent to Jingzhou.

With just the trade revenue from Panyu, he was able to easily support the food and supplies expenses of tens of thousands of troops, achieving complete self-sufficiency.

Tao Kan sometimes wanted to write a letter to thank Wang Dun.

When he was in Jingzhou, he was struggling to make ends meet in order to maintain the Jingzhou army. He had to stretch every penny he had to.

In the sweltering heat of Panyu, 63-year-old Tao Kan was shirtless, carrying bricks.

That's right, it's bricklaying.

Every morning he would move one hundred bricks from his study to the outside of the mansion, and then move them all back into his study in the afternoon.

He spent his whole life wanting to recover the lost territories of the Central Plains, fearing that if he became too leisurely, he would be unable to shoulder great responsibilities in the future.

Tao Kan's temples were already gray, his face was deeply lined, and his hands, which had been holding knives for many years, were bulging with veins and his knuckles were as thick as bamboo joints. Yet, these hands lifted heavy blue bricks with ease.

He was extremely poor in his early years. When he was young, he worked as a fish weir official in the county government, counting fish and keeping accounts by the river every day. This is the origin of his name, "Stream Dog".

"My Lord."

An old servant approached, carrying a letter: "Prefect Xie of Yuzhang has sent an urgent letter."

Tao Kan was taken aback, put down the blue bricks, and took the letter presented by the old servant.

Did Xie Youyu write a letter to himself?

Tao Kan and Xie Kun had no connection; they only met a few times when they were in Wuchang.

Moreover, Xie Kun was a renowned scholar from Jiangzuo and looked down on people from humble backgrounds like him.

Why did Xie Youyu write to him?

Tao Kan couldn't help but recall the letter his tenth son, Tao Mao, had sent a few days earlier.

He opened the letter; the handwriting on the silk was thin and delicate, and it was Xie Kun's handwriting.

You Yu bows deeply to Your Excellency, General Who Conquers the South:

Jiangzuo is far away, and I have not received your letter for a long time. I often recall the elegant gatherings in the palace of the King of Wu, where you spoke freely about the world, and your generous spirit is still vivid in my mind. Now that there is an emergency, I have no choice but to take the liberty of disturbing you.

Kun has a cousin named Xie Hong, who is sixteen years old. This boy is exceptionally gifted and exceptionally intelligent. He has a divine talent for mathematics, and his newly created "Xie's Mathematical Rules" will surely shake up the Jiangnan region in the future. I have already respectfully presented it to you.

He is well-versed in Confucianism and Taoism, able to discuss the Five Classics and debate Laozi and Zhuangzi. Your Excellency is already aware of his theories on inner sagehood and outer kingship. The Gu family, including the Emperor, listened to his words and wished to befriend him as a teacher and friend. Even Master Zhu Faqian praised his talent as a gift from heaven. I believe Your Excellency is already aware of this.

He was handsome and refined, with an elegant and refined demeanor. It is no exaggeration to say that in all the years I have observed the talented young men of Jiangzuo, I have never seen anyone like him. This is the unicorn of the Xie family of Chenjun.

However, Heaven is jealous of talent. This boy publicly discussed the Prime Minister, and Dun was jealous of his talent. Now he is trapped in Wuchang. Kun is extremely anxious and cannot sleep at night.

Your reputation is widespread, and even though Dun is arrogant, he still fears you to some extent. If you could send a messenger to Wuchang to recruit this son under your command under the pretext of seeking his services, Dun would certainly not dare to object.

Kun knew that these words were abrupt, but since you are a hero of our time and admire your loyalty and righteousness, if this young man could be freed from his cage, he would like to serve in Guangzhou and become your subordinate.

Throughout his life, you have served the country with military merits, yet the gates of the aristocratic class have remained closed to you. If you can save this son from danger, the entire Xie family of Chenjun will be grateful for your kindness. From this day forward, whenever anyone speaks ill of the Tao family's social standing, the Xie family will speak up for you.

Although the Xie family is not a king, it is as prosperous as the Yu family, but it still has a place in Jiangzuo. I am willing to use this place to pave the way for you.

Tears streamed down my face as I wrote this, and I was at a loss for words.

Kun bowed his head repeatedly.

Tao Kan stared at the silk letter in his hand for a long time without saying a word.

Was Xie's son arrested by Wang Dun?

How did he offend Wang Dun? Xie Youyu did not explain in his letter.

Xie Kun was a highly renowned scholar who looked down on people from humble backgrounds, yet this letter was almost humble. It seems that this Xie son truly has some talent.

Just then, another servant stepped forward and whispered a few words in the old servant's ear.

The old servant was taken aback, then immediately said, "Enter the mansion at once."

He then turned to Tao Kan and said, "My lord, the Tenth Prince has also sent a letter."

After reading Tao Mao's letter, Tao Kan burst into laughter: "How dare the Xie family son be so audacious? Hahaha, Dun is not a prime minister, but a rebel! Hahaha, well said!!"

He had absolutely no liking for the so-called aristocratic geniuses.

On the one hand, it was naturally due to the difference in social status, and on the other hand, it was also related to his own experiences.

Despite his current high position and power, even the emperor has to curry favor with him.

But he actually spent his entire life being looked down upon by others.

When he was young, he worked as a fish weir clerk in the county government, and his colleagues laughed at him for his poor handwriting.

When he was a young county official, the prefect laughed at him for being poor yet still wanting to be recommended for the civil service.

In his middle age, he quelled the rebellions of Zhang Chang and Du Tao, achieving great military exploits, yet he was ridiculed by powerful aristocratic families as a "river dog."

A poor family is a poor family, no matter how great their achievements are.

He is sixty-three years old this year. He is the governor of Guangzhou, the general who conquers the south, and the Marquis of Chaisang. Even the third-class gentry look down on him.

He has only ever done one thing in his life.

That proves that people from humble backgrounds are no less capable than those from aristocratic families.

And he did it in his lifetime.

But as Xie Kun said in his letter, if the Tao family did not join the ranks of the gentry, all their efforts would ultimately be in vain.

This was also his top priority, something he had been planning for a long time.

Now that the Xie family of Chenjun has agreed to speak up for him, this promise is of great importance.

Is Xie hesitating because he's going all out?

Tao Kan naturally had no doubt that Xie Kun would deceive him.

The aristocratic families are still trustworthy in terms of keeping their promises; of course, that's the only good thing they have left.

Xie Kun was a renowned scholar in Jiangzuo and the head of the Xie clan. His words carried great weight among the Jiangzuo gentry.

Tao Kan handed both letters to the old servant beside him.

The old servant took it with both hands, looked it over from beginning to end, then raised his head, a hint of excitement flashing in his eyes: "Young master, if this boy were to join your ranks, it would be a great achievement. Even if it were not for any other reason, if it could help the Xie family assist the Tao family in rising to the ranks of the gentry, it would be worth it for you to agree to Lord Xie's request."

Tao Kan slowly shook his head: "Wang Ahei is deeply afraid of me, so he cannot agree."

Tao Kan enjoyed great prestige in Jingzhou. Qian Feng, jealous of Tao Kan's achievements, repeatedly slandered him in front of Wang Dun, which successfully aroused Wang Dun's suspicion.

Then Tao Kan went to visit Wang Dun, intending to explain, but Wang Dun detained him instead.

Then he seized Tao Kan's position as governor of Jingzhou, appointed his cousin Wang Yi to succeed him, and changed Tao Kan's title to governor of Guangzhou, general who conquers the south, and general with the same rank as the three ministers.

In fact, Tao Kan didn't need the latter two empty titles at all.

During this period, Wang Dun wanted to kill Tao Kan several times, but ultimately gave up because he was afraid of a mutiny in the Jingzhou army.

After leaving Wuchang, Tao Kan set off for Guangzhou overnight.

Should Xie's son be saved or not?

How can we save them?