Chapter 11: The Uncanny Genius of the Southern Riverlands

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Liang Xiao handed him two silver notes worth a hundred taels each, offering reassurance. "It’s no matter. The ancestral home is entrusted to you all, as are these fertile fields to manage for your daily expenses. Any surplus income should be divided among yourselves. If anyone wishes to leave the Liang estate, don’t hold them back—just give them some money to send them on their way."

The steward, heavy-hearted, finally spoke candidly. "Master, Pei County lies on the northern frontier, fraught with danger. If things do not go well for you, come back. At worst, we can leave the capital with you. The Situ and Sima families—too powerful to provoke, but can we not hide from them?"

A warmth stirred in Liang Xiao’s heart, though he gave only a vague assent.

He had no intention of abandoning his old home in the capital; he was merely leaving temporarily.

When he returned, he would surely stir the winds of change in the capital!

The Jiangbei region was rife with war, and the imperial silver notes scarcely circulated beyond Xuzhou. Yet, the local wealthy in Xuzhou still accepted them, as they could be exchanged back in the Jiangnan region.

At present, he held 8,000 taels in silver notes and 1,000 taels in cash.

For an ordinary family, this was a fortune beyond several lifetimes.

But to govern a county of tens of thousands, recruit soldiers and buy horses, nine thousand taels was but a drop in the ocean.

Once in Pei County, he would need to raise more funds.

Liang Pin soon arrived to report to Liang Xiao.

"Master, today when we went to the market, we found that the streets and alleys were filled with talk about you and Situ Luoyue!"

"People say you have long schemed against and oppressed the Situ family, and that in the end it was Sima Lingyun who heroically saved the day and resolved the crisis for the Situ family… Now, even the neighbors are looking at us strangely!"

Zhuo Zifang, standing beside Liang Xiao, frowned deeply and gritted his teeth. "These people are shameless beyond words!"

Even Ning Yan was silently moved to tears by anger.

She had witnessed how well the young master treated the Situ family.

If not for that ungrateful clan sucking the young master dry, he would have at least fifty thousand taels in assets by now!

Liang Xiao comforted them, "The great families control public opinion; this is inevitable. We must leave for Pei County and not waste energy on them. Inform those who remain behind to minimize outings during my absence. In time, I will find a way to seize control of public opinion from the great families."

Zhuo Zifang sighed softly but felt somewhat relieved.

Liang Xiao was now clear-headed and understood the need for patience—and that made him glad.

As for reclaiming public opinion from the great families, he was pessimistic.

These families boasted generations of high officials, disciples, and old retainers spread across the land—admired by the entire scholarly community.

Unless Liang Xiao ruled the world, how could he wrest public opinion from them?

It might be easier to just wipe them all out.

Besides the personnel assigned by the court, Liang Xiao took twenty guards and servants with him, including Liang Pin.

Ning Yan continued to attend closely to Liang Xiao.

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After all arrangements were made, Liang Xiao came to the family ancestral hall to pay respects, kneeling thrice and kowtowing nine times before the tablets of his parents.

"Father, mother, your son has been unfilial!"

His father had often taught him loyalty to the sovereign and devotion to the nation.

His mother's dying wish was that he protect Situ Luoyue.

Alas, he had failed in both.

At dawn that day, Liang Xiao and his party departed from the capital.

Jiang’an was more than two hundred miles away, requiring two or three days of travel before changing boats to cross the river.

Before leaving, Liang Xiao cast one last glance at the capital.

Majestic and magnificent, the city walls were high, the moats deep.

Within the capital, daily there was song and dance, a shining example of peace and prosperity.

Beyond the walls, however, lay starvation and misery.

Now, he was but a county magistrate about to take office in Pei County, needing to advance step by step and grow stronger.

Seeing his solemn expression, Ning Yan gently comforted him, "Young master, you will surely return in glory!"

Liang Xiao looked at Ning Yan, then at the equally resolute Zhuo Zifang, warmth filling his heart as they boarded the carriage.

With you by my side, it is enough!

The wheels rolled and horses neighed as Liang Xiao’s small convoy headed toward Jiang’an.

Inside the carriage, Liang Xiao sat in the center, with Ning Yan and Zhuo Zifang on either side.

"Y-young master, it’s not appropriate for me to ride with you both…" Ning Yan hesitated, conflicted.

As the only female attendant from the Liang household, she could not share a carriage with the male guards, but riding alone would cost the young master extra expense.

Liang Xiao gently squeezed her hand and smiled, "Isn’t this more economical? Besides, lately your looks toward Zhuo Zifang and me have been odd—do you think we have some improper relationship?"

"N-no, not at all…" Ning Yan blushed deeply, trying to deny it but lacking words.

"Otherwise, I would ride with the guards, though then I couldn’t discuss matters with you on the road," Zhuo Zifang said calmly.

"Ning Yan, it’s best you ride with us. That will prove we’re innocent and have no interest in men."

Hearing Liang Xiao’s teasing, Ning Yan obediently nodded but thought to herself: if that were normal, like eating or drinking, it wouldn’t need proving…

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Liang Xiao and Zhuo Zifang studied the map and conversed all the way, entirely unaware of the young lady’s thoughts.

"Liang Xiao has left the capital??"

It was not until the next morning that the Situ family learned the news.

Situ Yinghao laughed heartily, "That Zhuo Zifang comes from a lowly background but is lucky enough to be educated. Yet he doesn’t recruit scholars in the capital, instead dragging along such a useless fellow to Pei County. He’s doomed to fail!"

Situ Luoyue sneered coldly.

"Recruit scholars? Nearly all the capital’s literati have ties to Lingyun; now they all know he oppressed our Situ family. Who would want to risk adventure with him on the northern frontier?"

Sima Lingyun was also quite pleased.

"Sister Luoyue speaks truly. The Sima family has served as ministers for generations, with disciples and old retainers everywhere. They will ensure Liang Xiao has no place in the capital."

"Once we marry, there will be no need to go north. We only need to suppress bandits across Jiangnan to ascend swiftly and leave our names in history!"

Situ Luoyue looked at her beloved, eyes full of affection.

The greatest obstacle had finally left the capital.

Now she felt light and free, only regretting not having met Sima Lingyun sooner.

Wang Teng returned to the mansion and learned of Liang Xiao’s departure, feeling quite satisfied.

"He is decisive—lingering longer in the capital would do more harm than good. Neither the emperor nor our family would protect him."

"But if he succeeds, he would be an excellent candidate to counterbalance the great families."

The bustling capital remained undisturbed by Liang Xiao’s leaving.

Factional strife continued, eunuchs still wielded power.

In a tavern on the street, two young scholars drank and talked in a corner.

"Even the descendant of the loyal Marquis Zhongwu was stripped of his title. With no way to serve the nation, one can only buy a minor post. Soldiers who once pledged loyalty like those of Marquis Zhongwu must now feel disheartened, unwilling to speak of patriotism."

"Heh, I’m surprised Liang Xiao chose Pei County in Jiangbei. If he’d bought a county in Jiangnan, I would have looked down on him. To go to Jiangbei, a contested military zone, and dare to slap the Sima family in the face—it’s either ignorance or boldness."

"Rather than speculate, why don’t we find a time to visit Pei County? The backbone of Jiangnan has broken; perhaps we might find a wise lord in Jiangbei. What say you?"

"Agreed!"

They rose, paid their tab, and left, leaving the other patrons whispering among themselves.

"That white-robed scholar just now is the famed genius from Jiangzuo! I hear the Sima family is eagerly recruiting him."

"And who is that young man in blue who accompanied him? He carries himself with extraordinary grace, no less than that Jiangzuo genius!"