Chapter 12: Drinking Beneath the Moonlight

Due to the Sima family secretly spreading rumors to slander Liang Xiao, the affair between Liang Xiao and Situ Luoyue gradually became known throughout the capital, and public opinion overwhelmingly favored the Situ family.

However, not everyone blindly believed the prevailing narrative.

For instance, the prodigy from Jiangzuo, who, upon hearing about Liang Xiao’s broken engagement, the assault on Situ Yinghao, and the purchase of Pei County’s magistrate position, keenly sensed that something was amiss. Thus, he remained indifferent to the Sima family’s enticements and instead resolved to accompany his friend across the river to the north, seeking a worthy lord elsewhere.

A few days later, Liang Xiao’s caravan arrived at Jiang’an County, known as Zhulu County.

As a crucial hub connecting the south and north, Zhulu County bustled with activity, with merchant caravans arriving and departing in endless streams.

Liang Xiao dismounted and gazed into the distance.

This place was so prosperous it rivaled the capital itself.

Zhuo Zifang remarked, “Judging by the frequent traffic of these caravans, northern trade holds great promise. At least one-third of this commerce likely involves household slaves.”

Liang Xiao silently nodded, both sharing a tacit understanding.

This land had never lacked either the wealthy or the poor.

In today’s Wu Dynasty, with heavy taxes, official corruption, and collusion with merchants, countless commoners found themselves desperate enough to sell themselves into slavery, from which there was little hope of escape.

Under their masters’ management, these household slaves became long-term “hidden households,” unregistered in official records. Their owners paid no taxes for them; merely providing food secured the cheapest labor force.

Some hidden households were displaced by war, having fled their homes to rural wilderness without re-registering with the authorities.

The number of hidden households in the Wu Dynasty was at least a quarter of the registered population, mostly controlled by local aristocratic clans, posing a latent threat to the state.

By his estimation, Pei County alone had a registered population of seventy thousand; including hidden households and unregistered refugees, the total might reach one hundred thousand!

Logically, such a populous region as Xuzhou could have easily transferred its people southward to increase labor, but the capital, being the closest southern area to Pei County, and its ministers feared disruption there, unanimously opposing the idea, so it was abandoned.

Xuzhou’s Pei County held immense potential!

Liang Pin soon came running to report to Liang Xiao.

“Master, we’ve presented the imperial documents, but the dock officials say the river winds are strong today and advise waiting until tomorrow to depart.”

Without hesitation, Liang Xiao led his entourage to a nearby inn to settle in.

In the courtyard, Liang Xiao hung his treasured sword at his waist and carried a gleaming silver spear. He tethered his prized steed, handing it over to the groom for care.

The silver spear, named “Nightshock Spear,” was a gift from his mentor, weighing thirty pounds—no ordinary man could wield it.

The treasured sword was the “Cangsheng Sword,” once wielded by his late father.

The steed, purchased from a horse merchant two years prior and armored with a full set of protective gear impervious to blades and arrows, was named “Honghu.”

It was with this exact equipment that he had once charged alone into the Xiongnu camp, beheaded their left virtuous king, and returned unscathed.

At that time, he carried the spear out of concern for Situ Luoyue.

Now, he bore it for his grand ambitions.

Zhuo Zifang and Ning Yan watched Liang Xiao with rapt attention and high expectations.

He was destined for great achievements. Having once abandoned martial pursuits to fulfill his mother’s wishes for a peaceful literary life, now, enlightened, he was like a mighty dragon returning to the sea—ready to carve out his legacy.

Because the riverboats were halted today, Zhulu County saw even more merchants stranded, heightening the bustle.

Liang Xiao and Zhuo Zifang observed the coming and going caravans from an upstairs room.

Only deep into the night did Zhulu County’s restless prosperity finally quiet down.

In the courtyard, under the moonlight, Liang Xiao and Zhuo Zifang drank together. On the table lay a map of Pei County and two small dishes; candlelight illuminated their serious expressions.

Zhuo Zifang said, “With such frequent trade between these regions, aside from the household slave trade, the majority of commerce involves rice merchants. Yet the autumn harvest just passed, and northern counties should be self-sufficient—but they still lack grain.”

“There’s only one possibility: the influx of people into Xuzhou from central China is at least twice what we expected!” Liang Xiao’s eyes blazed.

Everything about northern Jiangbei involved both tremendous risks and high rewards—for Liang Xiao and for the merchants alike.

“Exactly!” Zhuo Zifang, unusually excited, said, “Xuzhou’s terrain is flat and open, unlike the south, which relies on the Yangtze’s natural defenses. Since ancient times, it has been a contested military stronghold. Banditry is rampant now, and while the southern court wishes only to maintain a small domain, regions like Pei County are a hot potato to others—yet for you, this is an unprecedented opportunity!”

“As you and I suspected, Pei County’s situation is far from simple,” Liang Xiao said with anticipation.

The Wu Dynasty’s purchase of these northern lands was not really about reclaiming the Central Plains; it was merely a show under pressure from public opinion.

Pei County was the birthplace of the Wu Dynasty’s founding emperor. Losing it long-term would be difficult to justify to the people, and the current emperor’s legitimacy would be questioned.

Back when Western Qin faced internal strife and external threats from the Xiongnu and Wu, the Western Qin emperor forbade the slaughter of Pei County after his forces took it, recognizing its special significance.

After the Wu emperor bought Pei County and adjacent lands from Western Qin, he paid a hefty tribute as thanks for the Qin emperor’s benevolence and signed a treaty with him. Western Qin, seeing advantage, promised not to invade Pei County.

Situated in Jiangbei and isolated, Pei County was difficult to support alone, so the court also bought neighboring counties and reorganized them as “Xuzhou.”

Xuzhou was regarded by the capital as the northern frontier, a buffer to guard the imperial city.

Thus, the court only needed to handle the Xiongnu north of Xuzhou. If the Xiongnu attacked Pei County, for the sake of the “Founding Emperor’s Hometown,” the court would not abandon it lightly and would send troops to assist.

Sima Lingyun and the Situ family made their names defending Xuzhou against the Xiongnu.

Even if the court neglected Pei County, the Xiongnu would have to either go through Western Qin or first conquer the northern counties of Xuzhou.

Currently, as magistrate of Pei County, Liang Xiao only needed to guard against increasingly rampant bandits.

As long as he could withstand bandit pressure, Pei County—seemingly the most perilous place—would in fact be the safest in the short term.

In the past decade, eight magistrates had died in office in Pei County, all without exception killed by bandit raids or assassinations by vigilantes.

The magistrate of Pei County was the most dangerous official post in the Wu Dynasty. Since Pei County’s return, no magistrate had survived.

Otherwise, a county with over seventy thousand registered inhabitants would not have a magistrate position worth only two thousand taels of silver, and he would not have obtained military and civil authority over Pei County from Wang Teng by offering only two estates.

Zhuo Zifang looked at Liang Xiao, and the candlelight reflecting in their eyes burned with hope.

“The road ahead will be extraordinarily difficult. Upon taking Pei County, you must govern with an iron fist, seize military control immediately, and defend against bandits as well as Xiongnu and Western Qin soldiers disguised as bandits. Many local aristocrats reside in Pei County; you can use a combination of reward and punishment to win over some factions and suppress others.”

“When the situation stabilizes, if no foreign power invades, Pei County can quell bandits and earn merit, while recruiting some useful outlaws. After establishing your merit, you can offer a handsome bribe to Wang Teng to assist your administration until you are promoted to governor of Xuzhou. Then, the entire region will be under your control, enabling you to form elite forces and await the right opportunity.”

“If the Wu Dynasty falls into chaos, you can lead Xuzhou’s troops to the capital under the pretext of supporting the throne. Regardless of the state’s fate, once Xuzhou is stable, you can advance to reclaim the Central Plains. Raising the banner of ‘Driving out the barbarians,’ you will rally the oppressed northern populace and the righteous men and women of the south alike. With their support, how could the Central Plains not be pacified? How could your great endeavor fail?”

“Exactly my thoughts!” Liang Xiao said with satisfaction, clasping Zhuo Zifang’s hand. “With you by my side, I can bring peace to the realm!”

Zhuo Zifang smiled briefly but then sighed.

“There is one more thing you must remember... Once you have your own troops, you will be the lord of many, including myself. Be sure to maintain the distinction between sovereign and minister; do not let our personal friendship undermine your authority.”