Chapter 0006: Slanderous murder is worse than weapons

Shen Zhezi traveled with the team, sitting on the ox cart. Although the sun was blazing, the cart was quite cool. This was because the ox cart had side walls, and not long after setting off, a maid would come in to place ice cubes stored in a sealed box inside. In this era, there was naturally no ice-making technology, and one can imagine the immense manpower and resources required to collect and store winter ice for use in midsummer.

Shen Chong stayed at the manor for another two days before setting off for Longxi. Shen Zhezi wished to follow his father to gain a better understanding of the world and learn the art of strategy, wanting to accompany him. Shen Chong was concerned about his health and hesitated for a while, but ultimately decided to take Shen Zhezi along. Experiencing more events would allow him to grow faster

Shen Zhezi's thoughts are not merely a display of arrogance. The term "local tyrant" was first recorded in the "Book of the Southern Dynasties: Song" where Emperor Ming of the Liu Song dynasty reprimanded Shen Bo for "boasting of being a local tyrant of Wuxing." Shen Bo is a descendant of Shen Chong, which makes him a great-grandson of Shen Zhezi. Even the emperor referred to him as a local tyrant, indicating that the Shen family of Wuxing truly embodies the essence of a local tyrant

Shen Zhezi was indeed feeling a bit mentally exhausted, his mind heavy and drowsy. His body was rather weak. After taking his leave from his father, he returned to his room, contemplating how to improve his physical condition. Having finally persuaded his father to cease his disturbances, he certainly did not want to succumb to a mere cold, as that would be a great absurdity.

Do you know, my child, why your father declined the position of Minister of Works offered by the court?

During the Wei and Jin dynasties, scholars valued idle talk and lacked practical achievements, allowing for a carefree and willful demeanor to be regarded as a mark of a distinguished gentleman. Consequently, many families of lower status deliberately turned to metaphysics in an attempt to elevate their reputation and social standing. This behavior was bluntly criticized by the elder as a form of sycophantic scholarship that blindly pursued trends, labeling its practitioners as pretenders to fame. This critique was quite astute, as it fundamentally deviated from the essence of the family heritage.

The process of teaching by example is a gradual and subtle one. Shen Chong does not expect to impart all his experiences and wisdom in dealing with the world to his son in a short period of time. Noticing that Shen Zhe's face shows signs of fatigue, he does not insist and allows him to go down and rest

In the present world, it is truly remarkable that Elder Shen Chong can possess such insights

However, this is merely a specific phenomenon of a particular period. After the Eastern Jin Dynasty, the families of Wang and Xie had significantly declined, clinging to their lineage for self-respect, much like the Ningguo and Rongguo houses in "Dream of the Red Chamber," which found beauty in the bones of the dead, unable to achieve anything further. After the Sui and Tang Dynasties, the prominent families of Wang and Xie completely vanished, while the prestigious families of Shandong, who adhered to classical teachings, rose one after another, with a legacy that lasted longer. This aptly reflects Shen Chong's observation of the fleeting glory of rootless floating weeds.

"That talisman water is saying that one must not drink it anymore; even if one is not sick, one will end up getting sick!"

However, this did not serve as a warning for future generations, and the trend of refined discussions in the Eastern Jin continued to grow. Among the four prominent families that migrated south, the Huan family of Qiao State and the Xie family of Chen Liu were originally of secondary status, with little renown in the world. Huan Yi of the Huan family and Xie Kun of the Xie family were both distinguished figures in metaphysics, which allowed their families to accumulate sufficient prestige, thus laying the groundwork for their subsequent rise.

"The position of the Three Dukes is the highest among ministers, and the court uses this to tempt me, which can be described as a malicious intent. If I succumb to this temptation, I would be betraying my benefactor for the sake of fame and position, and the Wang family of Langya would certainly no longer tolerate me. Even if I were to hold that position, I would only be inviting fierce enemies, and this is just one aspect of it"

Although you possess extraordinary talent, you must understand a fundamental principle: in this world, one can indulge in their ambitions when they are successful, but only by knowing how to remain humble can one establish a lasting presence. The brave are destroyed by their weapons, the wise by their strategies; whatever one relies on can harm others as well as oneself. The virtuous reflect upon themselves and make sacrifices, diminishing one strength to compensate for the shortcomings of the group; this is what is meant by self-cultivation

Reflecting on history, when the old man faced such temptations from the court, he likely discerned the hidden intent to eliminate him and resolutely refused. He then decided to pursue a single path to the end, boldly raising an army to march westward to Jiankang, filled with a sense of indignation and sorrow

Shen Zhezi felt a secret joy in his heart. Born into such a wealthy family and being the legitimate eldest son, he at least did not have to worry about food and clothing, and he had the capital to support whatever he wanted to do. He had once read Xie Lingyun's "Ode to the Mountain Dwelling," which detailed the grand estate of Shining Mountain Manor, managed by the Xie family for several generations. At that time, he thought it might be somewhat exaggerated. Now it seems that while the Xie family is indeed wealthy, in terms of industrial and financial strength, they are still slightly inferior to the Shen family, who have long resided in Wuxing.

Truly wealthy to the point of having no friends

Even without his father's solemn admonitions, Shen Zhezi had no interest in the trend of metaphysics; it was beautiful in its own right, yet of no benefit to the world. He had no interest whatsoever in seeking fame or enhancing the family's status. However, his father's disdainful remarks about the southern gentry, referring to them as "Northern Rascals," truly left him both amused and exasperated.

This phenomenon is most prominent among the expatriate surnames during the Eastern Jin's southward migration. The Wang family of Langya was not originally of high status; it remained a family that transmitted Confucian classics until the time of Wang Xiang, who famously sought carp by lying on ice. However, by the time of Wang Yan, the influence of Daoism had surged, and his fame had greatly increased. Wang Yan was pushed against a wall and buried alive by Shi Le of Later Zhao, and before his death, he lamented the detrimental effects of empty talk on the nation.

"Que'er, you are intelligent and already possess a certain perspective. Therefore, remember that our Shen family does not take pride in deceitful practices to enter the realm of the profound. When you are a few years older, I will invite esteemed teachers for you to study the 'Gongyang Spring and Autumn' in the same manner, without imitating the reckless behavior of the Northern vagabonds."

Shen Zhezi understood that his father was testing him. Although he had some thoughts of his own, after witnessing his father's political acumen, he did not dare to claim that he could fully grasp the deeper meanings. After a moment of contemplation, he said, "I humbly request your guidance, Father"

Seeing his son's sincere attitude, Shen Chong was quite satisfied and put away the scroll. He merely offered a word of caution in advance, not intending to impart knowledge at that moment. The profound principles of the Spring and Autumn Annals are difficult to grasp; if one attempts to learn them without a solid foundation, it would lead to great misunderstandings, proving to be harmful rather than beneficial

Although the Xie family of Chenjun was a top aristocratic clan during the Southern Dynasties, it was still several decades away from truly rising to prominence and was not considered influential at the moment. Xie Kun of the Xie family was still in the stage of building his reputation and gaining recognition. Even after his death, he was hastily buried in a mass grave outside the city of Jiankang, which indicates that during the early Eastern Jin period, the Chenjun Xie family, residing in the south of the Yangtze River, endured a long period of hardship.

Shen Chong solemnly stated: "Of course, the Wang family was the first to cause chaos, and in the future, they will certainly spend a period of time in silence and retreat, not daring to confront me immediately. However, if I occupy the position of the Three Dukes through a loss of virtue, I would be cutting myself off from the people, becoming an object of scorn, and receiving no support. Even though I may hold a high position, it would be difficult to endure the coldness of isolation, and with the fierce enemies from the Wang clan, it is certain that soon they will rise up in attack, leaving no chance for survival. This is a form of slander that could kill me, far worse than weapons!"

Upon hearing his father's detailed explanation, Shen Zhezi felt a chill in his heart, gaining a completely new understanding of the ancient people's cunning and deep calculations. What appeared to be a simple empty title actually concealed such malicious intent. It seems that with his limited intelligence, it would be quite insufficient for him to navigate through the Eastern Jin era safely. However, fortunately, his father no longer engaged in risky ventures, and with the support of this great tree, he still had ample time to learn and grow, preventing him from being oblivious to the impending danger.

However, regarding the heartfelt concerns of his father, Shen Zhezi also felt quite emotional. In such a world, one or two generations may still maintain their composure, advancing in status through achievements and governance, but it becomes increasingly difficult to sustain this over the long term. Historically, after several generations of the Shen family in Wuxing, the situation described by Shen Chong as "the evils of the world" did occur, where they transitioned from local gentry to prominent scholarly families by integrating Confucianism with metaphysics. However, in this lifetime, having come here, such a situation will certainly not happen again. Historically, after several generations of the Shen family in Wuxing, the situation described by Shen Chong as "the evils of the world" did occur, where they transitioned from local gentry to prominent scholarly families by integrating Confucianism with metaphysics. However, in this lifetime, having come here, such a situation will certainly not happen again

Shen Zhezi yawned while lying in bed, contemplating: "If I truly want to maintain my health and fitness, I could visit that Master Ge Xianshi of the Baopuzi. He is the only reliable person in this era, but I wonder where Ge Hong is now..."

Having dissuaded his father and averted the imminent threat to his life, Shen Zhezi felt a sense of relief and found himself with more time to contemplate what he could accomplish in this era. He no longer dared to underestimate the world due to his identity as a time traveler. It is important to note that even his father, a ruthless and formidable figure, was brought down during the tumultuous early years of the Eastern Jin dynasty. If he continued to act carelessly, he too might not survive for long.

With such teachings and examples, it is difficult for him to have a favorable impression of the Qiao clan. No wonder the historical grievances between the North and South have persisted and intensified over time. Even during the Liu Song period of the Southern Dynasties, there were scholars from the Wu region who expressed a desire to dig up the ancestral grave of Gu Rong. Gu Rong was a significant contributor to the migration of officials and scholars to the South, yet as a leader of the Wu scholars, he attracted Northerners to the South. In the eyes of many Wu scholars, Gu Rong was seen as a traitor to the land.

Shen Zhezi's thoughts wandered as he contemplated whether to take advantage of the Xie family's misfortune to offer some assistance, thereby establishing a good relationship, or perhaps to leave a lasting childhood shadow on the four-year-old Xie An. With these thoughts in mind, he felt quite cheerful, filled with a strong sense of wicked amusement

After walking for almost an hour, the group finally exited the boundaries of the Shen family estate. From this, Shen Zhezi gained a more concrete understanding of his family's financial resources. This vast estate was merely a secondary property; according to the servants, there were many such holdings, each ranging from several hundred to over a thousand acres. Moreover, these were not even the most prosperous main businesses of the Shen family. The coin minting workshop located in Longxi and the estate in Xiaxi that nurtures talented singers and performers are both well-documented pillar industries in history

The predecessor traveler Wang Mang was thoroughly defeated by the Son of the Dimension Liu Xiu, and Shen Zhezi does not wish to repeat that fate. After much consideration, he ultimately decides to remain more cautious for the time being, observing more and acting less.

At this point in the conversation, Shen Chong's expression had become quite serious, as he was admonishing his son, fearing that he might be deceived by worldly affairs and stray onto a path of wrongdoing

Shen Zhezi sat in the car, his mind recalling how to make ice using traditional methods. Making ice, brewing wine, and melting glass are preparations that every aspiring time traveler in later generations should undertake, and Shen Zhezi had also dabbled in these areas. Although he did not need to rely on these methods for a living, if he could truly master them, it would save many wealthy families of the time from the waste of human and material resources in their pursuit of enjoyment

Shen Zhezi listened attentively to his father's earnest teachings, which could be described as the essence of moderation. His father was advising him not to become arrogant due to his precociousness, and to understand the importance of tempering his brilliance at the appropriate times. He increasingly felt fortunate and thoroughly enjoyed his father's guidance, feeling as if he had a significant upgrade, which was far more comfortable than navigating on his own.