Xia Zuoyi

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Xia Zuoyi Desinia (夏佐伊) 1
Alias(es)	Lord of Desinia; “Little Rose” 37 48
Gender	Male 1
Age	Six at the beginning of the story 1
Affiliation	Desinia Territory; formerly the County of Visas 1 40
Occupation/Role	Ruler of Desinia; infrastructure planner; alchemist; military and administrative reformer 18 40
Status	Alive; leading Desinia’s intervention in Gaina 49
First Appearance	Chapter 1

Background

Xia Zuoyi transmigrated into the body of the six-year-old heir to Visas, a minor villain fated to die regardless of ordinary attempts to avoid the original novel’s plot. Zen System 098 explains that survival requires changing the world’s fate through comprehensive infrastructure construction rather than merely escaping individual dangers. 1

Immediately after inheriting the countship, Xia executes the corrupt Butler Johnson for theft and manipulation. He then investigates Judith Jansen’s wrongful imprisonment, recognizes his literacy and competence, and promotes him from servant to Desinia’s steward. 1

Visas begins as a poor, underdeveloped coastal territory burdened by debt from Xia’s late father’s alchemical pursuits. After assessing its conditions, Xia uses the Omniscient Library to obtain a solar salt-making method, establishes saltworks on the Cogit Sea, and presents the technique to King Duke Patch in exchange for Par Mountain and five chests of gold. 2 3 4

Appearance

Xia initially appears as a small, fair six-year-old with lingering baby fat, soft features, and caramel-colored eyes. His size often requires Judith or other attendants to carry him. 1 2

• Fair skin and soft, fluffy hair that curls slightly at the ends 49
• Caramel-colored eyes 2 49
• Wears the Desinia family’s black-thorned red-rose emblem on formal occasions 33
• Grows taller over time, with much of his baby fat fading by the Gaina campaign 49

Personality

Xia is decisive, observant, and politically calculating beneath an outwardly innocent, childlike manner. He uses that appearance to unsettle adults, secure concessions, and disguise the scale of his ambitions. 3 4

He values competence over birth. His military, guild, and civil-service systems allow commoners, former slaves, artisans, and nobles alike to advance through merit and useful work. 9 12 22 40

His compassion is practical rather than indiscriminate. He provides aid, medicine, housing, and opportunity to vulnerable people, but punishes exploitation, corruption, and attempts to claim privilege without contribution. 13 29 30

Abilities & Skills

Governance and political strategy

Xia consistently turns technical knowledge and political crises into leverage for Desinia.

• Secured Par Mountain by offering the crown sixty percent of salt-sale profits rather than demanding a simple reward. 4
• Used recruitment incentives and tax cuts to draw population away from Komoy Fort and strengthen Visas’s economy and army. 9 13
• Turned Bevis Elliot’s failed assassination plot into legal justification to seize Komoy Fort. 16 17
• Abolished Gadayat’s feudal system in favor of a centralized Desinia Territory governed by appointed mayors and unified military command. 40

Infrastructure and engineering

Xia’s central objective is comprehensive development through modernized production, transport, construction, and public services.

• Developed solar-evaporated refined salt, later sold as Rose Salt, which funded Desinia’s expansion. 3 13
• Planned the reconstruction of Visas and Komoy Fort through the Five-Year Comprehensive Development and Infrastructure Reconstruction Plan. 18
• Directed the exploitation of Par Mountain’s black ore/rock asphalt for roads, waterproofing, and construction research. 18 21
• Introduced durable fired-brick construction, drainage planning, flood control, sanitation regulations, and organized city districts. 32 45 48
• Developed watermarked paper and pursued improved woodblock, copperplate, and movable-type printing. 41 42 46

Alchemy and medicine

Xia studies herbs and alchemical methods through the system’s library while publicly attributing his knowledge to his late father’s research.

• Identifies medicinal plants and experiments with potions and salves. 12
• Uses herbal medicine to treat illnesses and expands access to plant-based treatment for refugees and residents. 24 29
• Tests Adai Ben’s medicinal knowledge, correctly identifies his insomnia potion, and mentors him as an alchemist’s assistant. 31
• Pursues papermaking partly to create affordable packaging for medicinal ointments. 29 31

Military organization

Xia does not rely on noble birth as the basis of military rank.

• Opens recruitment to commoners and slaves, with freedom and promotion available through merit. 9
• Establishes performance-based training, squad assignments, and leadership assessments. 12
• Creates the Black Cavalry under Fernandi and the White Cavalry under Walker, deliberately integrating commoners and former slaves. 18
• Uses coordinated cavalry movements, patrols, checkpoints, and Qing Tuan’s message-carrying ability in campaigns. 44 49

Zen System 098 and the Omniscient Library

Zen System 098 provides Xia with strategic resources but does not directly complete tasks for him.

• The Omniscient Library exchanges territory-based reputation for access to specialized books. 1 2
• 098 provided the exact location of Par Mountain’s natural asphalt mine as Xia’s transmigration benefit. 1
• Xia uses acquired texts on salt production, urban planning, military administration, papermaking, drainage, and other fields to guide Desinia’s reforms. 3 18 29 48
• The system’s plot-deviation value measures the degree to which Xia has altered the predetermined story. 1 39

Plot-deviation record

Plot Deviation	Chapter	Notes
0%	1	Xia learns that executing Butler Johnson has not meaningfully changed his predetermined fate. 1
1%	11	Rose Salt, the Thorn Merchant Association, and Visas’s growing self-sufficiency produce the first increase. 11
2%	18	Xia recognizes that territorial expansion and reconstruction have only slightly changed the larger worldline. 18
3%	29	The value continues to rise as Xia expands into papermaking and broader development. 29
5%	39	The rapid incorporation of lordless Gadayat cities causes a major increase. 39

Equipment & Companions

• Desinia Thorn Rose crest — The hereditary emblem of the Desinia family: a vivid rose above black thorns. It appears on flags, badges, carriages, and formal attire. 2 33
• Pope’s Edict — A badge granted by Segalot that allows Xia to summon clergy and, in certain matters, command cardinals. 48
• Coalball — A black-blue tiger and Snowball’s older brother. He is powerful, affectionate toward Xia, and aggressive toward perceived rivals. 18 44
• Snowball — A white tiger and Coalball’s younger brother. More restrained than Coalball and notably protective of Xia. 18 44
• Qing Tuan Uranus Overlord — A snow-white Gyrfalcon with a trace of divine eagle blood. He imprinted on Xia after hatching and later serves as a battlefield messenger. 44 49
• Egg Yolk — A golden lion gifted by 098, later grown into a formidable Lion King loyal to Xia. 49

Relationships

• Judith Jansen — Steward, caretaker, and Xia’s earliest sworn retainer. Xia clears his false charge, promotes him to steward, and later asks him to remain his butler after the Par Mountain attack. 1 7
• Gibran Kino — Formerly a poor but gifted market mathematician. After rescuing Xia on Par Mountain, Gibran and his younger brother Toby enter Xia’s household; Gibran later assists with finance and administration. 2 7 13
• Fernandi Edward / Ferdinand — Former Gaina knight purchased from Nat Case as a slave. Xia recognizes the justice of his revenge, gives him authority, and entrusts him with the Black Cavalry. 4 7 18
• Walker William — Royal knight commander who chooses permanent loyalty to Xia over both the king and his own family. He commands the White Cavalry and serves as a recruiter, military leader, and adviser. 9 18 33
• Segalot Wozworth Osgood — Pope of the Holy See. He rescues Xia during Bass Riches’s coup, calls him “Little Rose,” grants him exceptional influence over Desinia’s clergy, and gives him the Pope’s Edict. 36 37 47 48
• Marco Case — Marquis and later mayor of Kaies. Marco protects Xia during the Kaies coup and becomes a significant administrative ally. 36 38 40
• Nat Case — Marco’s son and Fernandi’s former owner. After reforming himself, he apologizes to Fernandi, passes Desinia’s official examination, and prepares for a diplomatic career. 40 42 45
• Conrad Brown — An Anas craftsman rescued from discrimination in Niramo. Xia appoints him president of the Thorn Artisans’ Guild and a Senior Engineer. 19 22
• Adai Ben — Herbalist from the former Trak Kingdom. Xia identifies his potential and appoints him as an alchemist’s assistant. 30 31
• Zen System 098 — Xia’s detached but supportive system companion. It provides knowledge access, resource maps, and unusual gifts while leaving Xia responsible for his own progress. 1 14 29

Story Role / Major Arcs

Rebuilding Visas

Xia inherits a failing coastal county, removes its corrupt butler, gains Judith’s loyalty, studies Visas’s poverty firsthand, and establishes solar salt production as his first major economic reform. 1 2 3

Acquiring Par Mountain and confronting Komoy Fort

By presenting the salt-making process to King Duke Patch, Xia gains Par Mountain and the funds to begin development. Attempts on his life expose Bass Riches, Bevis Elliot, and Matthew Luke as political enemies. 4 7 14 16

Conquest of Komoy Fort

After surviving the Par Mountain ambush, Xia uses Bevis’s conspiracy as grounds to intervene in Komoy Fort. Bevis is killed, Matthew is executed by Fernandi, and the king recognizes Xia’s claim to the city. 16 17

Five-Year Development Plan

Xia integrates Visas and Komoy Fort through military reform, black-ore mining, artisan recruitment, urban planning, infrastructure construction, and merit-based institutions. 18 21 22 32

Fall of Gadayat and formation of Desinia Territory

Bass Riches’s coup forces Xia to escape Kaies and seize the kingdom’s leaderless cities. After the usurper’s defeat, Xia abolishes Gadayat’s monarchy and feudal structure, establishing Desinia Territory under centralized rule. 33 36 38 40

Administrative and educational reforms

Xia develops papermaking, printing, legal training, public examinations, mayoral appointments, sanitation rules, schools, nursing homes, and orphanages to build a durable bureaucracy. 41 42 45 46

Gaina intervention

After years of development, Xia enters Gaina amid King Light Green’s war against Bruno Green. He seeks both Bruno’s downfall and a strategic foothold in Gaina, while Fernandi remains determined to personally avenge his sister. 48 49

Notable Quotes

“Why do I have to be king? I can remain a lord and turn all of Gadayat into my territory.” — Xia Zuoyi 38

“I said that if you want to shed your slave status, you must exchange merit for it. No one can be an exception.” — Xia Zuoyi 30

Trivia

• Rose Salt takes its name from the Desinia Thorn Rose crest used as its trademark. 13
• Xia initially uses his late father’s alchemical reputation as a cover for knowledge acquired through the Omniscient Library. 3 31
• He introduced lemonade to Desinia Castle despite Judith’s initial objections. 2
• Segalot’s repeated “Little Rose” nickname makes Xia consider changing the Desinia crest, though Judith refuses. 48