The festivities came to an end by the afternoon.
Everyone returned to their homes, still buzzing with excitement.
Unexpectedly, Lady Pei ordered Shao Xun to wait for her in the main hall.
Without hesitation, he quickly made his way there, only to find someone already seated inside.
It was Pei Dun, who had just returned from the military camp.
Lost in thought, he immediately stood up and greeted Shao Xun upon seeing him.
Shao Xun returned the gesture, feeling somewhat flustered.
A member of the Pei family, bowing to a mere military officer like him? It seemed almost unbelievable.
He remained standing, waiting to see how things would unfold.
Lady Pei arrived in the main hall, surrounded by her entourage.
She glanced at her brother before turning her gaze to Shao Xun.
This military man had been patrolling near the festivities earlier in the day, and she had noticed him several times.
Overall, he seemed diligent and capable.
That was enough.
In times like these, she needed people who were both skilled and hardworking.
"Little sister..."
Pei Dun stood up, about to speak, but Lady Pei stopped him with a look.
"Commander Shao, you seemed to have a pleasant conversation with Lady Yu Wenjun and Lady Liang Lanbi earlier. What did you talk about?" Lady Pei asked as she took her seat.
Pei Dun was taken aback and couldn't help but glance at Shao Xun, his lips twitching as if he wanted to laugh but didn't know why.
"We discussed the overall situation," Shao Xun replied.
So, those two ladies were named Yu Wenjun and Liang Lanbi.
He had only known their surnames before, but now he had their full names, thanks to Lady Pei.
"What about the overall situation?" Lady Pei pressed.
"I've heard that Jiangxia, Yangzhou, Shu, and Long are all embroiled in endless wars. Counties and prefectures are fortifying themselves, governors are attacking each other, and military commanders are growing ambitious. Is this true?" Shao Xun looked up at Lady Pei as he spoke.
Lady Pei, recalling the scene she had witnessed earlier in the day, felt a slight displeasure.
This man, who had sworn to "serve her unto death," was now considering switching sides to the Liang or Yu families? Her delicate brows furrowed as she replied, "And what if it is?"
Shao Xun lowered his gaze and said gravely, "If that's the case, then Luoyang is in trouble."
Lady Pei gestured for him to continue.
"If Bingzhou is in chaos, Jizhou is in chaos, and everywhere else is in chaos, who will transport supplies and funds to the capital?" Shao Xun asked.
"Relying solely on the areas around Luoyang won't be enough to support so many soldiers and civilians."
He didn't say it out loud, but he knew that the areas around Luoyang weren't safe either.
In fact, they might be even more dangerous than other regions.
Even though Luoyang had stockpiles of money, grain, and military supplies, how long could they last if they just sat there and consumed them?
Luoyang was undoubtedly a pit of fire.
But within that pit, there were still valuable treasures, and many people were willing to risk their lives to snatch them.
"What do you think we should do?" Lady Pei asked, her attention now fully focused on the current situation.
Shao Xun felt a stir in his heart.
He was finally getting closer to the inner circle of Sima Yue's political group.
If he had been an outsider before, he could now be considered a "big brother" of sorts—though not yet part of the core group, he was at least being allowed to participate in important discussions, all thanks to Lady Pei's favor.
"We need a backup plan," Shao Xun said succinctly.
Pei Dun's eyes lit up with interest.
"A backup plan..."
Lady Pei's hands unconsciously twisted together.
In truth, the best backup plan was the Kingdom of Donghai.
Not every place could serve as a backup.
Each prefecture and commandery had its own local powers and established hierarchies.
An outsider parachuting in wouldn't be able to quickly establish control or stabilize the situation, let alone mobilize resources for major undertakings.
The Kingdom of Donghai, which had been managed for many years, was undoubtedly the most stable rear base for Sima Yue's group.
However, Donghai only consisted of seven counties, which was too small to support a major power.
The most pressing task now was to expand and strengthen this backup plan.
They needed to find a way to bring the surrounding commanderies, and even the entire Xuzhou military region, under their control.
Then, using Donghai as a foundation, they could invest time and effort to consolidate their power and build a stable base.
Most of the mid- to low-level advisors in the Minister of Works' office came from Qingzhou and Xuzhou, and they had a strong desire to return to their hometowns.
Given the current situation, the Xuzhou military region, led by Sima Mao, was the most suitable option—unless the situation drastically changed and the entire north became untenable, in which case they would have to reconsider.
"Little sister, Xuzhou..."
Pei Dun started to speak but was cut off by a glare from Lady Pei.
Lady Pei stood up and began pacing slowly around the hall.
The main hall was simply furnished, with only a few paintings and pieces of furniture, devoid of any extravagant decorations.
Everything was neatly arranged and spotless, reflecting the hostess's unique preferences and habits.
"Where do you think would be the best place for a backup plan?" she asked as she stopped in front of Shao Xun.
A faint fragrance wafted into his nose.
Her dark hair framed a face with eyes that flickered with complex emotions, a high nose bridge, and delicate lips.
Her chest was full, and her slender waist was captivating.
The hem of her skirt swayed slightly as she moved, exuding an alluring charm.
"Allow me to speak, and Your Ladyship can decide if it's worth considering," Shao Xun said, averting his gaze.
Lady Pei nodded.
"Although Luoyang is fraught with danger, it remains the only place to seize opportunities," Shao Xun said.
As he had mentioned, everyone knew Luoyang was dangerous, but few had left.
Most people were still gathered here, and some were even rushing to Luoyang in search of opportunities.
The reason was simple: the imperial court's official appointments were still valid.
If you wanted to become a governor, inspector, or military commander, you had to seek opportunities in Luoyang.
"The Minister of Works' top priority should be to seek additional fiefs," Shao Xun continued.
"If we can incorporate Lanling, Xiapi, and Pengcheng into the fiefdom, connecting them with Donghai, we would have a strong foundation."
"If that's not possible, then the next best option would be to secure the position of Xuzhou Inspector."
Lanling had originally been part of Donghai, but over a decade ago, five counties were separated to form Lanling Commandery.
Xiapi and Pengcheng were located south of Donghai, and all three commanderies were part of Xuzhou.
If these three commanderies could be incorporated into the fiefdom, it would provide a significant amount of territory and resources.
Once properly managed, it could serve as a solid foundation.
Securing the position of Xuzhou Inspector would be more complicated, as it was a temporary appointment.
In theory, you would be managing the region on behalf of the imperial court, which was entirely different from a fiefdom.
However, given the current situation, the distinction between temporary officials and feudal lords was gradually blurring, making this a viable alternative.
"Little sister..."
Pei Dun looked excited.
"Be quiet!" Lady Pei snapped without turning around.
She looked at Shao Xun and asked, "How can we secure additional fiefs?"
"That would require some achievements," Shao Xun replied.
Lady Pei remained silent.
She understood what Shao Xun meant.
In her husband's current state, doing nothing and simply siding with whoever was winning might keep him safe, but it wouldn't bring him any significant benefits.
Commander Shao had been quite subtle in his suggestion.
They needed "achievements"; otherwise, no matter who was in power, why would they grant additional fiefs?
But this idea conflicted with her long-held beliefs.
She truly felt that the current situation was too dangerous, and her husband didn't have much capital to work with.
Getting involved in Luoyang's precarious situation was far too risky.
But she didn't have any better ideas.
Her husband was determined to wade through the mire of Luoyang, and if he failed, she wouldn't be able to escape either.
All she could do now was silently support him.
Lashing out in frustration would only make things worse, squandering what little opportunity they had and dragging herself down with it.
She understood this well.
"Commander Shao makes a good point," Pei Dun praised.
Afraid of being interrupted by his sister, he quickly added, "After considering all options, Xuzhou is the only viable choice. The people are already there, and it would be easy to manage. When the time comes, my brother-in-law can govern in Luoyang, my sister can oversee the fiefdom in Xiapi, and I can assist in Pengcheng. Our backup plan would be rock-solid."
He then nodded to Shao Xun in acknowledgment.
This military man, though not particularly refined or elegant in the eyes of scholars, had proposed practical and feasible suggestions.
At this point, there was no better place to go.
Bingzhou? Aside from the refugee crisis caused by the drought, the constant southward encroachment of Xiongnu and other tribes was a major issue.
Moreover, the current Inspector of Bingzhou was Sima Teng, who wasn't someone they could easily replace.
Yuzhou? It was already occupied, and it would be difficult to take over, as it was a military region with Sima Xiao as both the military commander and inspector.
Jizhou? Bingzhou refugees had already flooded in, causing chaos.
Besides, it was Sima Ying's territory, and he wouldn't just hand it over.
What about Guanzhong? That was the territory of the Prince of Hejian, who wouldn't give it up either.
Jingzhou had just been ravaged by rebels and was still in the midst of fierce battles.
As for Jiangnan, its population and potential were limited, so it wasn't a viable option for now.
Youzhou was too far away and lacked any foundation.
After considering all the options, only Yanzhou, Qingzhou, and Xuzhou were suitable, and given their existing foundation, Xuzhou was the best choice.
The only challenge now was how to make this plan a reality, which was no easy task.
Lady Pei didn't offer any further opinions and returned to her seat.
She thought about the noblewomen she had met earlier that day.
From what she had heard, the situation was truly alarming.
The world was changing, and the good old days were slipping away.
The traditional values of the great families were being challenged repeatedly, and the already troubled hearts of the nobility were being further scarred.
She felt a sense of disappointment.
Was it too much to ask for a place where she could live in peace?
She didn't have any excessive demands or grand ambitions.
All she wanted was to live a quiet life, maintaining the lifestyle she had always known, and see out her days in peace.
Perhaps it was selfish, considering how much worse the common people had it, but people were different, weren't they?
"Commander Shao, you—have done well. You may return now. Focus on leading your troops," Lady Pei said, quickly regaining her composure and offering a gentle smile.
"Yes, Your Ladyship," Shao Xun replied with a bow before retreating.
Lady Pei lowered her head, her smile fading.
She felt that she had changed.
In the past, she would never have paid any attention to a low-ranking officer like Shao Xun, but now she found herself overly concerned with him.
She couldn't quite understand her own emotions.
It seemed that the chaotic times had thrown her into disarray, and her pride, calmness, and self-discipline were slipping away, making her feel unlike herself.
A faint sigh echoed through the hall.
(End of Chapter)