While everyone was having a feast, Huan Chong's steward came to report:
"Someone calls himself Wu Xing Shen Jin and wants to see the young master."
Huan Xi muttered:
"But Shen Chong's son?"
"Exactly."
Huan Xi then looked at Deng Xia:
"Can you recognize this person from far away?"
Deng Xia shook his head and said:
"Although my father once worked with Shen Chong, Deng had no contact with Shen Jin. I just heard that he had a reputation for integrity, but it was a pity that he was not recognized for his talent."
Huan Xi nodded slightly. In fact, he understood Shen Jin better than everyone present.
This man is commendable for his loyalty and bravery. In the original time and space, Shen Jin was ordered to guard Luoyang with 500 people.
In February, Murong Ke and Murong Chui of the former Yan Dynasty besieged Luoyang. In March, the city was defeated and it lasted for nearly a month.
After being captured, Shen Jin would rather die than surrender and was eventually killed.
As the enemy general, Murong Ke actually felt ashamed for killing a righteous man like Shen Jin.
Of course, Huan Xi valued Shen Jin's talents more than his integrity.
Even though Luoyang was finally lost, Shen Jin faced Murong Ke and Murong Chui, two of the most outstanding generals of the Sixteen Kingdoms of the Eastern Jin Dynasty, with 500 men. Although he was defeated, it was an honor.
No wonder Shen Jin was admired by Murong Ke and tried to recruit him.
Now, with such a person that Murong Ke wanted to seek refuge with, how could Huan Xi turn Shen Jin away?
"Fifth uncle, this person must be here to ask for help. My nephew wants to invite him to the house to meet him. I hope my uncle will agree."
After all, this is Huan Chong's residence, not the residence of the eldest princess of Nankang. Huan Xi specifically asked Huan Chong first.
Huan Chong smiled and said:
"Xi'er's reputation is growing day by day, and now there are people who come here because of her fame. It's not too late for me to be happy for you."
With that said, Huan Chong ordered his servants:
"Come, please add a seat to the banquet for the guests."
The servant responded and brought a long table. Huan Xi also ordered the steward to welcome Shen Jin.
It wasn't that Huan Xi valued his status and didn't want to go out to greet him, but that he wanted to take into account the feelings of Deng Xia and Zhu Xu.
Shen Jin is indeed a rare talent, but it is not enough to make Huan Xi have a new person and forget the old one.
Moreover, Deng and Zhu were not ordinary people.
Shen Jin followed the steward through the corridor and headed to the main hall. He took a deep breath. It must be said that this man in his late thirties was somewhat nervous.
In ancient times, no one could be called an old man until he was over thirty years old.
Huan Wen is only thirty-seven years old now, but if he makes Sima Xingnan unhappy, he will be denounced as an old slave if he opens his mouth.
Shen Jin is now in his thirties and has accomplished nothing so far, let alone clearing away the shame of his clan. He regards paying homage to Huan Xi as his last chance.
The Huan family and his son conquered the six western states, and their power was even greater than that of Wang Dun.
Especially Huan Wen, after experiencing the incident of forcing the court to expel Sima Xun, his disobedience was well known to everyone, but the court could not do anything about him.
Shen Jin thought that Huan Xi would not mind his family background. After all, Huan Wen's ancestors were also classified as criminals by the Sima family because of their loyalty to Cao Wei.
He desperately wanted to make great achievements and free his clan from the Xing family.
As soon as Shen Jin entered the lobby, he immediately attracted everyone's attention, but his eyes were always on the handsome young man who was the first guest, that person was Huan Xi.
Huan Xi greeted with a smile:
"Mr. Shen has come at the right time. Today, my uncle will take care of me. He also invites Mr. Shen to take a seat and wait for a while to get drunk with me."
Shen Jin bowed gratefully to Huan Xi and expressed his gratitude to the host of the banquet, Huan Chong. He was led by his servants and sat down in an empty seat.
After three rounds of wine, the guests and hosts were enjoying themselves. Huan Xi asked his uncle for a private room to rest in. Not long after, Shen Jin was also brought in by Deng Xia and Zhu Xu.
The two of them were worried that Shen Jin was an assassin, so they stayed close to each other and stood behind them to protect Huan Xi.
Huan Xi invited Shen Jin to sit across from him and asked, knowingly:
"Mr. Shen came to visit today. I don't know why?"
Shen Jin didn't play catchy words and expressed his intention directly:
"The young master is famous and well known to the world. Shen came here because of his fame and just wants to have a place."
Huan Xi did not agree directly, but asked the question that Shen Jin was most worried about:
"I have my heart set on the Jin Dynasty, but my father is at odds with the imperial court. If one day there is a conflict between the Huan family and the imperial court, how will Mr. Shen deal with himself?"
After hearing this, Shen Jin was silent for a long time and did not answer immediately.
Huan Xi did not rush him, but patiently sipped his tea and waited for Shen Jin's answer.
Shen Jin's inner world is at war with nature. This is a problem he has been avoiding since he decided to come to Huan Xi.
If he is a minister of the Huan family and the Huan family and his son usurp the country in the future, will he follow his father's example of following Wang Dun, or will he choose to be loyal to the court?
After a long time, Shen Jin suddenly stood up. Just when Deng Xia and Zhu Xu were on alert, Shen Jin bowed solemnly:
"A loyal minister has nothing to do with the two masters. Since Shen has defected to the young master today, he must do his best to assist the young master and do the work of the dog and horse."
Shen Jin wanted to serve the country, but his talent was not recognized. As the son of Shen Chong, his identity and background left him no choice.
Huan Xi was overjoyed. He stepped forward to help Shen Jin up and said with a smile:
"My father advised me not to join the court, but I insisted on coming here on the grounds of recruiting talents.
"I never thought that when I first arrived, I would find a hero."
Then he introduced Zhu Xu and Deng Xia to Shen Jin.
Zhu Xu's father, Zhu Tao, was not involved in Wang Dun's rebellion. He was Yu Yi's Sima and an old member of the Yu family.
Deng Xia was quite friendly towards Shen Jin, which was related to the fact that his father Deng Yue had worked with Shen Chong.
After getting to know each other, Shen Jin asked to recruit his own troops and followed Huan Xi to Liangzhou.
He went to Huan Xi not for the salary, but because he wanted to build a career.
Huan Xi agreed to Shen Jin's request. Although he did not agree with the private military system, he was temporarily unable to change this status quo.
Perhaps the military system can be reformed only when the world is truly secure.
Shen Jin got Huan Xi's permission and immediately left, preparing to return to his hometown to recruit warriors.
Although he has never been an official, the Wuxing Shen family is a local wealthy family with a large family and a large business. It is not difficult for Shen Jin to support more than a thousand people.
After seeing Shen Jin off, Huan Xi washed away the smell of alcohol on his body, changed into a brand new official uniform, and took a carriage to Taicheng.
Taicheng, also known as Jiankang Palace, was the palace city of the Eastern Jin Dynasty, and even the subsequent Song, Qi, Liang, and Chen dynasties. It was also called Taicheng because central institutions such as Shangshutai and Zhongshu Sheng worked here.
In the previous Su Jun Rebellion, Taicheng was destroyed by war. The current palace was rebuilt in the sixth year of Xianhe, that is, 331 AD.
When Huan Xi entered Taicheng, all the princes looked forward to it.
Not only the common people in Shengdou, but also the ministers in the court were all curious about this young phoenix who had flown from the west.
However, Huan Xi did not go to Tai Province to pay homage to the King of Kuaiji and the princes. Instead, he went directly to see the orphan and widowed couple after being informed by others.
Chu Suanzi took the six-year-old little emperor Sima Dan to meet Huan Xi in the main hall.
According to the kinship relationship, Queen Mother Chu is Huan Xi’s aunt, and the young emperor is his cousin.
When Huan Xi entered the palace, he always lowered his head and was restrained by etiquette. He never looked at the mother and son on the throne.
"I, Governor Shi Huanxi, pay homage to Your Majesty and the Queen Mother."
I only heard a pleasant voice laughing:
"They are all members of our own family, Huan Qing does not need to be polite."
