Chapter 134 Main Huan Jun, Xie Shao Plot…

Chapter 134: Lord Huan Jun and Xie Shao's Storyline...

Hongzhou was known as Yuzhang Prefecture during the Qin Dynasty.

Situated at the heart of the southern region, Hongzhou served as a key transit hub connecting the Central Plains to Lingnan in the north-south direction and bordering Yangzhou and Jingzhou in the east-west direction. With its vast waterways linking three rivers and five lakes, it was a major crossroads in the south. Additionally, its vast fertile plains earned it the reputation of being the "Breadbasket of the south."

Upon learning of Huan Jun's appointment here, Jiang Congyan sent people right away—not to assist in governance, but to set up a new porcelain kiln. Hongzhou’s later acclaim as the "Porcelain Capital" was no accident, given its ideal natural conditions.

Why waste good connections?

Huan Jun was stunned by her boldness.

Of course, this also worked to his advantage.

At the time, noble families predominantly favored lacquerware, gold, silver, and bronze vessels. Pottery was also used but paled in comparison to the elegance of lacquer and metalware, failing to reflect their status and prestige. That was until snow-white porcelain emerged in Chang'an two or three years prior.

Porcelain demanded far greater craftsmanship than pottery—delicate, flawless, rare, and exorbitantly priced—perfectly aligning with the aristocracy's aesthetic tastes and status-enhancing desires. It instantly sparked a raving craze among scholars of all ranks, inspiring countless poems and odes.

Unfortunately, white porcelain was always in short supply. At its peak, even an ordinary white porcelain plate could fetch a hundred gold pieces, while rarer celadon and polychrome porcelain were worth a fortune. The profits were insane, but rumors of the porcelain merchants' formidable backers—allegedly linked to Liangzhou—kept greedy nobles at bay.

When Huan Jun discovered Jiang Congyan was the one behind the white porcelain business, he wasn’t even surprised. It seemed anything she accomplished was expected; what others couldn’t achieve, she could.

Huan Jun merely grumbled to himself. Upon assuming office in Hongzhou, after settling local affairs, he deliberately allocated land for her kiln. Every bit of red tape was swiftly cleared, and he even personally mediated with local clans to provide labor for transporting clay and firewood—naturally, the porcelain factory paid wages.

Thanks to these efforts, the kiln was established without a hitch.

Initially met with skepticism, the factory became the talk of the town once the first batch of porcelain was fired. The sight of pieces worth hundreds of gold each had the local elite clamoring to purchase them, nearly wearing down the doorstep.

Previously, acquiring porcelain meant exorbitant purchases from Chang'an, with risks of breakage or robbery rendering the investment void. Now, with porcelain available at their doorstep, the savings were immense.

The savvier ones even sought partnerships with the factory’s managers, proposing distribution networks to neighboring regions. Some, emboldened by their local influence, tried to muscle in on shares and profits.

Huan Jun wasn’t about to let that slide. Just one visit to the factory sent a clear message.

As the provincial governor with the backing of the Huan family in Chang'an, none dared act recklessly. Recalling his early support for the factory, many assumed he was its true owner and abandoned their schemes.

While equity stakes were off the table, distribution rights remained lucrative. Huan Jun seized this opportunity to bind several clans to his cause through shared profits.

The porcelain factory took root, Huan Jun gained allies, and local clans reaped financial rewards—a win for all three parties.

No wonder officials and merchants teaming up carried such weight—when they joined forces, the results were formidable.

Now, hearing of Qu Yao’s arrival, Huan Jun didn’t hesitate to have him brought in immediately.

Qu Yao entered the governor’s residence through the back gate, guided by servants through winding corridors and two lacquered doors before finally meeting Huan Jun in a waterside pavilion.

"This humble servant pays respects to my Lord," Qu Yao bowed deeply upon entering the pavilion, his demeanor meek and reverent.

"To think the great merchant Qu Yao himself has come! Please, rise and be seated," Huan Jun said.

Qu Yao’s round features bunched into a smile. "You honor me, my Lord. I am but a lowly peddler running errands."

Huan Jun chuckled knowingly.

After exchanging pleasantries, Huan Jun personally poured him a cup of water.

Qu Yao accepted it respectfully, took a sip, and his eyebrows shot up, his small round eyes widening in astonishment.

"How do you find the water, Merchant Qu?" Huan Jun asked with a smile.

Qu Yao removed the porcelain cup from his lips but kept his fingers tightly wrapped around it. "Exquisitely sweet, with an endless aftertaste."

"With your extensive travels and remarkable insight over the years, Master Qu, even you praise it so highly—this venture indeed holds great promise."

Hearing this, Qu Yao cut to the chase. "I was sent by the lady to seek an audience with you, Lord, precisely to finalize this business. May I ask what your specific plans are and what you require of me?"

"No need to rush. We are still waiting for one more person." Huan Jun took a sip of the sugared water before him, using the motion to conceal the stiffness at the corner of his mouth. *Heh. Asking me? Like I have any say in this.*

Upon hearing of Qu Yao’s arrival, Huan Jun had immediately sent someone to summon the other party, who arrived shortly after.

The man was around forty or fifty, with a short beard and unremarkable features, yet his gait had a military bearing—less like a merchant and more like a soldier.

This was Jiang Congyan’s man, Zheng Lü, who had previously overseen the construction of the porcelain factory.

With everyone assembled, the three of them began formal discussions about sugarcane cultivation and sugar production.

Sugarcane grew best in the warm, water-rich south, particularly Lingnan, where Jiang Congyan’s influence had yet to reach. It was Huan Jun's job to handle the local complexities.

Though Lingnan only nominally fell under Liang State’s rule, its remote location meant imperial authority was tenuous at best. The region was a complex mix of indigenous mountain tribes and powerful clans. The Governor of Jiaozhou, Xiahou Xian, had studied under the same Confucian scholar, Cui Cheng, as Huan Jun, but the age gap between them meant they had rarely interacted, sharing only a barely counted as fellow disciples relationship.

Huan Jun had previously written to Xiahou Xian, who responded warmly, exchanging a few nostalgic words about their shared academic past.

Jiaozhou was no desirable posting—Xiahou Xian himself had been demoted there as governor—and likely sought achievements of his own. Huan Jun doubted convincing him to cooperate would be difficult.

Huan Jun would collaborate with Xiahou Xian to organize local sugarcane farming, Zheng Lü would oversee factory construction and technical expertise, while Qu Yao would leverage his commercial network to distribute the sugar nationwide—forming a full production chain.

Once roles were assigned, Huan Jun turned to Qu Yao. "In recent years, natural disasters have been frequent, uprisings rampant, and refugees turned to banditry, making travel perilous. Has Master Qu noticed this as well?"

Qu Yao sighed mournfully. "You speak truly, Lord. Making five safe trips out of ten is already a blessing."

Huan Jun continued, "At the start of this year, a hundred thousand displaced people in Ezhou rebelled. The court dispatched General Xie Shao to suppress the revolt."

Qu Yao pondered Huan Jun’s words. The specific reference to Xie Shao surely carried significance. After a moment, he seemed to grasp something.

For merchants, the safety of goods was paramount—especially in these chaotic times, where banditry ran rampant. Big merchants typically leaned on the military backing of the aristocratic clans they served, standard operating procedure.

Was Huan Jun suggesting he seek cooperation with Xie Shao?

"I appreciate the pointer, Lord."

——

From Piaoyao Colonel to General Who Pacifies the South in just half a year—Xie Shao’s promotion was all the stars aligning.

Having slain the Xiongnu and brought glory to the court, he enjoyed Emperor of Liang’s favor. On top of that, he'd cut a deal with Huan Jun, and Cui Civil Affairs Minister had given a push—thus sealing the matter.

Putting down revolts was tricky business. Success was expected; failure would make him the next Lu Qu. Yet Xie Shao feared nothing.

He had brought only ten thousand troops from Chang’an, relying on local garrison forces in Ezhou for reinforcements.

Brave enough in combat, his youth left him out of his depth with such complications. Worse, many rebels were not inherently evil—they had risen against Ezhou’s corrupt governor out of desperation. Xie Shao couldn't just write them off as criminals.

He reclaimed Ezhou’s cities from the rebels but held back from slaughtering them. Yet without food, the displaced turned to plundering neighboring areas, forcing Xie Shao to continue suppressing them. Unless he slaughtered them all, the pot would keep boiling over—but that meant nearly a hundred thousand souls.

Then he recalled the princess’s words that night—Zhuge You...

"Hold down the fort and do not engage the enemy without my orders," Xie Shao instructed.

"General, where are you going?" asked Lieutenant Xu Qijin.

Xie Shao cast a cold glance and said, "No need to worry. Just do as I command."

"Yes."

After settling matters in the city, Xie Shao set out with a dozen Imperial Guards.

Ezhou and Wuling Commandery were only a few hundred li apart, a day or two’s ride on fast horses. Upon arrival, Xie Shao quickly learned of Zhuge You's residence.

He lived in seclusion on Mount Luo, yet his reputation was considerable. He had built a study there where students often came to pay respects.

Xie Shao handed over his name card, but the young gatekeeper said the master was not home—he had gone out to visit friends.

Xie Shao asked, "When will the master return?"

The gatekeeper shook his head. "I don’t know. Perhaps today, or perhaps in three to five days."

Three to five days? Xie Shao’s heart sank. Every day wasted meant the refugee crisis worsened.

"Where did the master go?"

Again, the gatekeeper shook his head.

With no clue where he went, tracking him down was impossible. After a moment’s thought, Xie Shao said, "Then I shall wait here until the master returns."

The gatekeeper seemed about to dissuade him, but seeing his resolute expression, merely shook his head and walked away.

Xie Shao’s reasoning was simple: if he missed Zhuge You again, who knew how long the delay might be? Better to wait like a fool hoping for luck.

Fortunately, luck was on his side. As dusk fell and weary birds returned to their nests, a scholar emerged from the distant forest path. He appeared to be around thirty, refined and composed, with eyes sharp as stars—his bearing alone marked him as a man of wisdom.

"Might you be Master Zhuge?" Xie Shao stepped forward.

"No 'master' to a general—just a rustic."

Zhuge You waved dismissively, sidestepping past him to enter the courtyard.

"Master, wait!" Xie Shao was stunned that the man had instantly discerned his identity. Recovering, he hurriedly added, "I’ve come unbidden to seek your aid."

"Oh?" Zhuge You turned back.

...

At last, Xie Shao gained entry and explained his predicament to Zhuge You.

But Zhuge You replied, "The general has sought the wrong man. I wish only to till the land and read in these wilds, with no wish to step into worldly affairs."

Xie Shao pressed further, but Zhuge You remained unmoved.

"It’s late," Zhuge You said. "The general should rest here and depart early tomorrow."

As Zhuge You seemed ready to retire, Xie Shao had no choice but to use his last resort.

"Master, hear me once more."

"You have long held the ambition to set the world right and save its people. Yet at thirty, you remain unappointed, your jade-like talents unseen—who in the realm could recognize them? Now, the hundred thousand suffering souls of Ezhou look to you as fish gasping for water, as orphans longing for parents. With wolves at every turn, will your sword stay idle in its scabbard, or will it sever the necks of beasts?"

"Without land, the people are lost—this is the root of chaos, the root of a nation’s ruin. I come not only to plead for the people of this single province but for all under heaven. Now, with barbarian foes encircling us like tigers eyeing their prey, land reform and securing livelihoods may yet save the Han from collapse."

Having spoken with fiery conviction, Xie Shao stared him down. If he still refused, he was out of options.

Zhuge You slowly lifted his eyelids, studying Xie Shao with a piercing, deadly serious gaze for the first time.

The earlier remark about "cowering in the corner" had not moved him, but what truly caught his attention was the phrase "redistribute land to stabilize people's lives."

"Who taught you to say this? Who's backing you?"

Xie Shao: "Well..."

—

The Xianbei royal court.

The envoy Tuo Baxiao had sent to Rouran returned. After negotiations, Rouran ultimately refused to ally with the Xiongnu and decided to ransom their crown prince with treasures and livestock.

Having the crown prince in Tuo Baxiao's hands was one thing, but more importantly, the Xiongnu's demands were exorbitant—they sought to bleed Rouran dry. If they truly paid such tribute, Rouran's people would not survive the year.

With the Xiongnu and Rouran officially at war, Tuo Baxiao watched with cold detachment. The situation in Xianbei had stabilized for the time being, and Jiang Congyan was fully focused on developing various industries and promoting Chinese script. But just then, news arrived from Chigan Balie.

They had walked right into an ambush set by the Murong Tribe and were now surrounded, requesting the king to send reinforcements.

Chigan Balie was one of Tuo Baxiao's most trusted and formidable generals—too proud to yield. For him to stoop to asking for help meant the situation was dire.

What was initially thought to be a simple matter of subduing the Murong Tribe had now taken an unexpected turn.

Tuo Baxiao immediately began mobilizing troops and did not return until late at night.

Jiang Congyan, still awake, had been waiting for him. "Who will you send?"

Tuo Baxiao hesitated a moment before caressing her cheek. "I will go myself."