Dao Yun Suddenly Arrives, Xie Xuan Ceases His Warfare

The Langya Wang clan was a long-established powerful family during the Eastern Jin Dynasty.

As early as the beginning of the Eastern Jin Dynasty, there was a saying that "Wang and Ma share the world".

After Emperor Yuan of Jin, Sima Rui, moved south to Jiankang, he established his regime with the help of the brothers Wang Dao and Wang Dun. When Sima Rui ascended the throne, he invited Wang Dao to sit on the imperial bed with him, which is the origin of the phrase "sharing the world."

Wang Dao was in charge of the government and united the northern and southern gentry to consolidate his rule. He was honored by Sima Rui as "Uncle". Wang Dun controlled the military and was stationed in Jingzhou to form a deterrent. Most of the officials in the court were related to the Wang family.

Compared to the Wang clan of Langya, the Xie clan of Chenjun was a relatively new and top-tier aristocratic family.

Therefore, the Xie Family Manor in Shining County could not compare to the Wang Family Manor in Shanyin County in terms of scale. Even so, it still occupied a very large area and was a fortified settlement, which could be used for both peaceful living and business, and for self-defense in times of turmoil.

Among prominent aristocratic families like the Xie clan of Chen Commandery, righteous followers and retainers were both private armed forces and dependent populations, but their natures differed.

"Yi Fu," also known as "Yi Tu," refers to former officials, disciples, or wandering knights who voluntarily pledge allegiance to the government based on personal trust and loyalty. They are often "violent and valiant warriors," holding relatively high status and receiving generous treatment. They frequently serve as trusted confidants or participate in confidential schemes, and their loyalty is more voluntary.

The retainers mostly came from bankrupt farmers and were passed down through generations. They were strictly dependent on their masters, farming in peacetime and going to war in wartime. They were the core private army that were both farmers and soldiers and were hereditary.

The winter sun was warm that afternoon.

Sunlight shone on the drill ground of the Xie family manor.

The training ground was extremely spacious, large enough to accommodate two or three thousand people practicing martial arts at the same time. A row of archery targets stood at the edge of the field, and in the distance were several rows of weapon racks, on which were placed long spears, short halberds and ring-pommel swords.

More than a thousand of Xie's loyal followers and retainers were practicing martial arts on the training ground, some drawing bows and shooting arrows, some thrusting spears, and some advancing in formation. Footsteps, shouts of battle, and the clashing of weapons filled the air, creating a cacophony of noise and energy.

There were also a number of warhorses, their hooves pounding the rammed earth with a heavy thud. The riders were all elites from Xie's private army, some wielding long spears, others controlling bows and arrows, galloping across the field.

Xie Xuan, riding a black warhorse, was directing operations from the center.

He was dressed in a dark military uniform, with a leather belt around his waist and a sword hanging from it. His face was angular and his eyes were piercing. The black horse beneath him had a neatly trimmed mane, its head held high, and its four hooves pounded incessantly in place, kicking up clouds of dust.

He held the reins with one hand and the sword at his waist with the other. His gaze swept across the training ground, and he would occasionally raise his voice to say, "Bind the left flank," or "Make the right flank more dense with arrows." His voice was not loud, and the messengers would respond immediately.

At that moment, he was watching a group of soldiers practicing shield formation ahead when He Meng suddenly stepped forward and said, "My lord, my elder sister has entered the manor."

He Meng, courtesy name Liezhong, was Xie Xuan's trusted confidant. He was a tall and strong man with broad shoulders and thick arms. He carried a broad-bladed sword at his waist that was several inches longer than an ordinary ring-pommel sword.

He Meng knew that Xie Xuan disliked Wang Ningzhi, so in front of Xie Xuan, he always addressed Xie Daoyun as "my elder sister" instead of "Madam Wang".

Xie Xuan's expression brightened with joy. He dismounted, tossed the reins to his personal guard, and strode out of the training ground.

……

……

Xie Daoyun and Xie Xuan were siblings born to the same parents.

Their father is Xie Yi, and their mother is Ruan Rong.

Ruan Rong came from a prestigious family; he was a relative of Ruan Ji and Ruan Xian, two of the "Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove".

Xie Daoyun was less than three years older than Xie Xuan, yet she often taught and supervised him. Xie Xuan had a deep and heartfelt respect for this older sister.

At that moment, Xie Daoyun had just gotten off the oxcart. Instead of rushing into the house, she stood beside the cart, gazing at the drill ground. Hearing the shouts of battle and the sound of horses' hooves, the corners of her mouth curved slightly.

A moment later, Xie Xuan strode over from the training ground, raised his hand from a distance, and called out with a smile, "Sister!"

Xie Xuan was clearly younger than his sister Xie Daoyun, but he looked like he was thirty years old, appearing older than Xie Daoyun. This was because Xie Xuan had been practicing martial arts and training for many years, exposed to the elements; while Xie Daoyun took good care of herself and looked younger than her actual age.

As Xie Xuan approached, Xie Daoyun instinctively reached out to pat his head, but remembering the servants standing around her, she withdrew her hand, simply gazing at him and smiling as she called out, "Jie."

"Jie" was Xie Xuan's nickname.

Xie Xuan's forehead was still damp with sweat from the martial arts demonstration, and his breathing was slightly rapid. He looked at Xie Daoyun and asked with delight, "Why did you suddenly come, elder sister?"

Xie Daoyun's expression changed slightly, but only for a moment, before she smiled again: "I've just come back for a short stay."

Xie Xuan noticed the change in that instant, and a thought crossed his mind. He guessed that his elder sister had probably had another argument with Wang Ningzhi. He didn't say anything, but just smiled.

Xie Daoyun asked with a smile, "Were you practicing martial arts just now?"

Xie Xuan nodded: "He was leading the righteous followers and retainers of the manor in their daily martial arts practice when He Meng suddenly reported that his elder sister had entered the manor."

Xie Daoyun's gaze was intense: "Sister, it's been a long time since you've practiced archery or used a knife, so you seem rather rusty. Would you be willing to accompany me?"

Xie Xuan smiled and said, "If my elder sister is so willing, how could I dare not accompany her? But elder sister has come from a long journey, aren't you tired?"

Xie Daoyun shook her head: "Not tired. I've been sitting in the oxcart for most of the day, and my body is a little stiff. I'm just about to stretch my muscles."

Xie Xuan said, "In that case, please wait a moment, elder sister. I will now have Yifu and his troops disperse."

Those who are loyal followers and retainers should not be allowed to meet Xie Daoyun.

Xie Daoyun hurriedly said, "How can you disperse the crowd for my sake alone? I'm not in a hurry; it's not too late to wait until you've finished your performance."

Xie Xuan smiled and said, "Today's drills are now complete."

Xie Daoyun nodded.

Xie Xuan turned and strode back to the training ground. He waved his hand and gave the order, and the more than a thousand vassals and retainers immediately stopped, put their weapons away, and retreated in formation to the outer edge of the training ground. The galloping warhorses were also brought under control by their riders and slowly rode out of the training ground towards the stables.

Footsteps were hurried, and the sound of horses' hooves gradually faded into the distance, disappearing into the winter afternoon.

The vast training ground was emptied in an instant, leaving only footprints on the rammed earth and arrow marks of varying depths on the targets.

Xie Xuanfu personally welcomed Xie Daoyun to the drill ground.

The field was completely empty.

Xie Xuan took a bow from He Meng and a quiver containing twelve arrows. He slung the quiver over his waist and retreated to a position thirty paces from the target.

"Sister, take a look." He smiled at Xie Daoyun, then nocked an arrow, drew the bow, aimed, and released the arrow.

After shooting ten arrows, eight hit the target, with four of them hitting the bullseye, which shows he was a master.

Xie Daoyun nodded, stepped forward, and gently patted his head, her eyes filled with a smile: "Jie, your archery skills have improved again, even more so than I saw before."

Xie Xuan felt a little embarrassed after she patted his head. He reached out and touched the spot where she had patted him, but he was secretly pleased.

Although he is now awe-inspiring and commands one or two thousand loyal followers and retainers of the Xie family manor, in front of Xie Daoyun, he still seems to be the younger brother who was often taught and disciplined by his elder sister.