Chapter 0004: The north wind raises dust, a great sorrow of the times
He spread the paper roll on the table, waiting for the servant to grind the ink. Shen Chong placed his palm lightly on the paper surface and suddenly sighed: "The foil paper still exists, yet Zhang Weikang has become a mere skeleton. I do not wish to harm him, but the circumstances compel me. The north wind raises dust, ruining the elegance of Wu, a great sorrow of the times"
Shen Chong's statement means that the court misunderstands me, and I feel very wronged. Ultimately, whether I choose to be a Confucius who merely complains and continues to serve as a minister, or a Zhong You who is brave and defiant against the court's orders, will depend on how the court decides to deal with me
The Yixing Zhou clan established three strongholds in Jiangnan, among which a considerable portion of their opponents consisted of such armed forces. In seeking to gain merit and advance their status, they were instead outmaneuvered by the more ruthless elder, Shen Chong, who caught them off guard. The mutual killings among these gentry and local tyrants are largely driven by disputes over interests, with no distinction between justice and evil.
The five brothers are thoughtful
The recipient of Shen Chong's final letter was none other than Tao Kan, the General of Pacifying the South and the then Governor of Jiaozhou, which greatly opened Shen Zhezi's eyes
However, the next few contacts left Shen Zhezi feeling quite alarmed, among which were two prominent figures in history who were relied upon by the court to suppress rebellions: Liu Xia, the Inspector of Yanzhou, and Su Jun, the Prefect of Linhuai. However, when Shen Chong sent messages to such individuals, in addition to the letters, he also instructed others to carry a large amount of wealth, including millions in cash and thousands of bolts of silk
In this calculation, it is evident that a considerable number of the Wu aristocracy perished at the hands of the elder Shen Chong. Unlike those boastful scholars and officials, he is a truly ruthless and decisive man.
Shen Chong wrote a letter to be delivered by the student guarding the door outside
Shen Zhezi listened intently to what his father had to say, pondering for a long time, and could not help but be enlightened by the shamelessness of the ancients. In simpler terms, what his father meant was that although he had joined Wang Dun in rebellion, he remained loyal to the court in his heart, upright and honorable. However, the court attempted to tempt him with high positions, which showed their suspicion and disdain towards him, lacking the dignity and impartiality expected of a ruler. Since the court did not trust him, he was unwilling to play their game any longer, wishing to follow Confucius and Zi Lu, floating on a raft upon the sea, no longer serving as a minister of the court.
When Shen Zhezi saw his father, he sometimes wrote swiftly and at other times furrowed his brow in contemplation, continuously composing several letters. He speculated that it was likely to address the aftermath of the previous treasonous act. However, he could not quite understand what was being written or to whom it was addressed. This was partly due to his unfamiliarity with the reading habits and partly because the script of the Wei and Jin dynasties differed greatly from that of later generations. Given Shen Zhezi's level of expertise in this area, being able to vaguely discern that his father's handwriting seemed to be a form of clerical script was already quite remarkable.
Shen Zhen, however, appeared somewhat slow-witted, gazing at the official seal placed on the desk with a somewhat dazed expression, hesitantly saying: "Sir, how could it come to this? Do you not want to reconsider? The central authority is also quite chaotic at the moment, and the situation is not yet critical..."
"Fifth brother has some concerns in his heart, and even though the dance and music are beautiful, it is difficult to fully appreciate their essence. I will send those eight ladies to your residence, so that when you have some leisure time, you can indulge in the exquisite beauty of our Wu music," Shen Chong explained with a smile.
Although it is still unclear how the current prices are, Shen Zhezi felt a surge of shock upon hearing such a staggering figure. It seems that although his father's family business is substantial, spending money is also ruthless. To spend several million without batting an eye, while he, a loser who has crossed over from a later life, feels a deep sense of pain and shame. He secretly resolves that he must adapt to this extravagant lifestyle of the wealthy in the future and not let his confidence wane.
Fifth Brother, there is no need for further discussion. You should truthfully convey my words to the court. You have the imperial decree in your hands, and I also cannot stay for long
Confucius said, the principles I uphold cannot be spread throughout the world; it would be meaningless to retain them. It is better to drift on the sea. Among my disciples, perhaps only Zhong You is willing to follow me. Upon hearing this, Zhong You was very pleased, thinking that the Master truly intended to wander around with him. Seeing this, Confucius added, Zhong You's courage far surpasses mine, but where shall we find the materials to build a boat?
The initial few letters were all addressed to local families in the Sanwu region, suggesting that my father intended to reach out to allies for mutual support in order to counter the subsequent attacks from the court. Among these were prominent families from Wuzhong, such as the Gu and He clans. It seems that the gentry in the Wu region also have their own small circles of interests, rather than being a disorganized mass.
Listening to my father speak so confidently and even with indignation, if one were unaware of his thoughts and actions, Shen Zhezi might truly believe that my father is some kind of loyal minister, akin to Bi Gan or Qu Yuan. It is not unusual to commit wrongdoings; what is rare is to carry them out with such a sense of entitlement and confidence. Indeed, it is not the rogue that is frightening, but rather the rogue who possesses culture.
This, how can I possibly accept ... ...
Of course, all the preceding trivialities can be omitted; the most important part of this statement is still the reference to the anecdote mentioned at the end
Shen Zhezi was slightly taken aback, and after pondering for a moment, he finally understood what his father was saying. The people of Jin have this flaw; they do not express themselves clearly and always prefer to be cryptic. The so-called foil paper refers to the paper in front of Shen Chong, which is a type of tender bamboo paper, invented and produced by Zhang Mao and Zhang Weikang, as mentioned by his father. Zhang Mao is a member of the Zhang family among the Gu, Lu, Zhu, and Zhang clans. The year before last, when Wang Dun first rebelled, Zhang Mao was serving as the Prefect of Wuxing. He was killed by Shen Chong for obstructing his father's recruitment of local militia.
Upon hearing this, Shen Zhen could not contain his joy. He naturally knew that the Qianxi courtesans nurtured by Shen Chong were renowned throughout the Three Wus. It was a matter of pride for any gentleman to have a Qianxi dancer in his household, and some families even closed their doors and refrained from socializing due to the absence of Qianxi entertainers to host guests. He did not expect such an unexpected gain from this trip, and Shen Zhen was overjoyed, subsequently casting aside his worries. He expressed his gratitude to Shen Chong, saying, "I must not be ungracious. Upon my return to Jiankang, I will certainly do my utmost to mediate for the scholars and to *plan* and *write*!"
Shen Chong dipped his brush in ink and began to write, not shying away from mentioning Shen Zhezi. Shen Zhezi's performance today greatly surprised Shen Chong, who no longer regarded him as an immature child, but rather intended to keep him close for the purpose of teaching by example.
For instance, when Old Man Shen Chong responded to Wang Dun's uprising, he rallied over ten thousand people with a single call. This was certainly not solely due to Old Man Shen's outstanding virtue influencing the locals; a significant portion of this crowd consisted of private armed forces directly or indirectly controlled by the Shen family. It is precisely because of possessing such a powerful private militia, which could serve as soldiers in times of war and as civilians in times of peace, that the Shen family of Wuxing was able to become the foremost gentry in Jiangnan, and instigating rebellion was merely a matter of thought.
After much contemplation, Shen Zhezi was even more in awe of his father's audacity. Even though he had already given up on plotting rebellion, he still held back and exerted pressure on the court. No wonder, despite having amassed a fortune of tens of thousands and possessing countless fertile lands and beautiful women, he still dared to follow Wang Dun in rebellion, repeatedly changing his stance; he truly was a figure of great ambition. In comparison, Shen Zhezi realized that apart from his prophetic insight into the course of history, his judgment regarding the current situation was actually inferior to that of his father.
Shen Chong stood at the entrance with a smile, watching Shen Zhen leave. Shen Zhezi stood behind his father with his hands down, feeling quite uncomfortable with the bad habit of treating people as gifts for social engagements. He secretly resolved that even if he could not influence society to eradicate this practice, he would never partake in such behavior himself
However, soon, Shen Chong took out a roll of paper, dispelling Shen Zhezi's sudden intention to activate a cheat and climb the technology tree. The paper roll in his father's hand was pure white and smooth, with delicate textures. Although it was different from the Xuan paper known to Shen Zhezi in later years, its quality was not much inferior.
Shen Zhezi believed that his understanding of the current complex and confusing situation was not as profound as his father's, so he sat aside and carefully observed how his father intended to handle the aftermath
The so-called disciples are not of the same kind as those under Boss Du of Shanghai. At the turn of the Two Jin Dynasties, the power of the gentry was formidable, not only due to their political superiority and substantial wealth but also because each possessed a considerable private armed force. The disciples, loyal retainers, private soldiers, tenants under their protection, and servants, when combined, formed a vast scale.
Upon returning home, Shen Chong changed out of his military uniform and invited Shen Zhezi to enter the study. The study was spacious, filled with scrolls and bamboo slips, with a considerable number of bamboo slips among them. This surprised Shen Zhezi; logically, since Cai Lun's reform of papermaking had already occurred during the Eastern Han period, how could bamboo slips still be in use today? Could it be that papermaking techniques are only prevalent in the north and have yet to spread in the south?
Confucius occasionally expressed grievances due to the ineffectiveness of his political decrees, which Zhong You mistakenly took as genuine. In reality, Confucius did not harbor any thoughts of retreating from the world; even in difficult times, he remained committed to his ideals. On the other hand, Zhong You was fearless and courageous, and Shen Chong, by comparing himself to him, implied a sense of defiance against the imperial edicts.
Shen Chong was unwilling to discuss further and stood up to see off his guests. Shen Zhen intended to persuade him again, but there was no suitable opportunity, and he was escorted all the way to the entrance. Just as he was about to get into the carriage, he noticed several ox carts nearby and curiously asked, "What does this mean?"