Chapter 0005: The Inheritance of Family Learning
His body is indeed weak, completely unlike those robust children of later generations. The slightest change in temperature can lead to typhoid or a cold. Perhaps there has always been some deficiency, but the Shen family is a wealthy and powerful clan, with a diet that is refined and nutritionally sufficient, so it should be possible to carefully nurture and improve his condition. Why then does he still appear to be on the verge of an early demise? At first, Shen Zhezi could not understand this, but after being forcefully fed two large bowls of talisman water yesterday morning, he began to grasp where the problem lies.
When your grandfather was alive, he once taught me that this is not a world of inaction, and how could one solely revere Laozi and Zhuangzi? Therefore, what was imparted to me was also the "Gongyang Spring and Autumn Annals." The Spring and Autumn Annals contain profound meanings and great significance. What I have observed is merely a deviation from the true path, straying from the right course, and failing to live up to the expectations of our ancestors
During the Wei and Jin dynasties, the social customs were open-minded, and there were no shortage of remarkable individuals. Although Shen Chong was quite surprised by his son's precocity, he did not consider it to be an extraordinary matter. Xiang Tuo became a master of sages at the age of seven, Gan Luo was appointed as a high minister at the age of twelve, and Wei Cao Chong displayed intelligence surpassing that of adults at the age of six. Why couldn't the Shen family produce an eight-year-old prodigy?
Disregarding the matter, Shen Chong wanted to learn more about his son, so he casually asked, "What are you studying now, Que'er?"
In the current world, the Way of the Celestial Master is flourishing in Jiangnan, and the Shen family has been a loyal follower of the Way of the Celestial Master for generations, thus placing great trust in those Taoist priests. Shen Zhezi does not deny that Taoism has its own methods for health preservation, such as the renowned Ge Hong, also known as Ge Tian Shi, who lived to an old age. However, in this era of rampant growth of religious practices during the Eastern Jin dynasty, many of those so-called Taoist priests are merely charlatans, with few possessing genuine skills and knowledge. Shen Zhezi reflects that the reason he is able to inhabit this body is likely because the previous owner was killed by the talisman water bought with heavy gold.
Shen Zhezi roughly understood what his father was saying; it should refer to the so-called family traditions of the gentry. Family education and family values are the foundation of establishing a clan, enduring through generations, and thus achieving prominence in the region. This is most evident among the high families in the northern regions, where families like the Cui and Lu have their own inherited scholarly traditions, which are fundamental to managing a household and pursuing a career. The so-called moral inheritance lasts for more than ten generations, while the inheritance of wealth and nobility lasts for no more than three generations. A thousand-year-old family relies fundamentally on scholarly traditions.
After all, in the eyes of contemporaries, the old man had become a staunch supporter of Wang Dun. Having mingled together for many years, how could he simply withdraw? Those who conspired against the regime naturally had to be dealt with severely. It is easy to imagine that even if the old man no longer participated in the final battle between Wang Dun's army and the court, the situation he faced would still be extremely perilous, and he might not be able to escape the subsequent reckoning
Shen Zhezi had little knowledge of traditional Chinese studies, and although he could hear his father's words clearly, he truly did not understand their meaning, merely nodding in agreement
Upon hearing this, Shen Zhezi couldn't help but hold his father in even higher regard
At this point, Shen Chong sighed and said, "Those who come from the south, such as the Wang family of Langya, abandon Confucianism for Daoism; this is an act of flattery towards the world, a pretense of nobility, which ultimately leads to a lower status. They may be momentarily prominent, but they are like floating duckweed, lacking roots"
Regarding the actions of his father in colluding with Tao Kan, Shen Zhezi felt quite uneasy. In his mind, Tao Kan, who rose to a high position from a humble background, was a paragon of virtue and ability, as flawless and pure as white jade. How could he possibly be in cahoots with the powerful and lawless clansmen who disregarded the court and ignored propriety! A sense of disillusionment with his idol permeated his heart.
In the annals of later history, within the decaying aristocratic governance of the Eastern Jin court, the renowned general Tao Kan, hailing from a humble background and having fought in numerous battles, stands out as a singular figure. Unfortunately, he is currently envied by the Wang brothers and has been exiled to the remote region of Jiaozhou, which is why Shen Zhezi did not consider him in his previous analysis. However, when his father contemplated the aftermath, he did not overlook this formidable individual, indicating that his meticulousness of thought is far beyond what Shen Zhezi can compare to
However, amidst Shen Chong's joy, there was also a sense of worry. Throughout history, those who were precocious did not necessarily attain longevity. Although his son was intelligent, he had always been frail, and recently his health had deteriorated significantly. Thinking of the child prodigies of ancient times who had died young, Shen Chong felt even more melancholic. Once he had finished handling his affairs, he called Shen Zhezi to his side and gently asked, "Qingque, how has your health been lately"
The son's display of intelligence made Shen Chong unable to regard him as a mere child, thus he subconsciously held higher expectations for his academic pursuits. After pondering for a moment, he picked up a book nearby and said with a smile to Shen Zhezi: "People often say that the Shen family is wealthy, but without a family education, I am too lazy to argue with them. In fact, our Shen family has been studying the 'Gongyang Spring and Autumn' since your great-grandfather's time, although we have not produced any great scholars, we have maintained our family legacy."
While Shen Chong was making arrangements, he was also observing his son Shen Zhezi. Seeing his son in a contemplative state, it was evident that he had gleaned some insights from his father's arrangements. Shen Chong felt a sense of satisfaction in his heart, yet he did not explain the deeper meaning of his actions to Shen Zhezi in detail. The so-called teaching by example relied entirely on self-discovery; the nuances that could be articulated through words had already fallen short.
Witnessing his father's series of remedial measures, Shen Zhezi not only opened his eyes but also increasingly felt his own inadequacies. The so-called prophet of history actually has little advantage in such specific real-life situations; he could only ascertain that his father could never conspire with Wang Dun, yet he was utterly perplexed about how to handle the aftermath.
The national style is innocent and lively, and the noble and the impoverished each have their own songs; songs express emotions, arise from feelings, and convey sincerity, which is perfectly suited to your age. The elegant and lofty verses can be learned after the age of ten.
Upon hearing his father ask this, Shen Zhezi felt a surge of fear and anxiety.
This is good
However, in such a dangerous situation, Shen Chong remained calm and composed, strategically arranging his plans. He resigned from his official position to retreat while advancing, sought alliances to consolidate his own strength for safety, and simultaneously extended goodwill to all military forces that the court could mobilize
"I am studying the 'Shijing: Zhao Nan,'" Shen Zhezi replied, which indeed reflects the truth of his inheritance of his predecessor's memories
Shen Zhezi did not want to be an unprecedented early-death time traveler, fearing that his father might once again have the urge to force-feed him talisman water. He hurriedly expressed, "I am much better now. Although I am still a bit weak, with proper diet and careful nurturing, I will regain my strength. Father, please do not worry."
The Shen family of Wuxing is not a soft persimmon, and those generals in command are not fools. Since they can gain wealth and benefits without cost, there is no need to suffer losses in troops and offend the powerful families of Jiangdong to the point of no return. The loss of strength is their own, and even if they receive titles and rewards from the court afterward, it would still be a losing proposition. This is the reality; the court's weakness is an undeniable fact, and even if it is regrettable, it must be faced.
Shen Chong smiled as he patted Shen Zhezi on the back, unaware of what his son was truly thinking. However, a thought arose in his mind: he had heard earlier about the saying that monks have children, which could provide protection and peace. He decided to take some time later to understand this matter in detail and choose a Buddha or Bodhisattva to venerate.
Historically, after experiencing a period of neglect, Tao Kan was reassigned to the important stronghold of Jingzhou following the death of Wang Dun, as the court had few available generals. This move was intended to weaken the local power of the Wang family of Langya. During this period, Tao Kan's power reached its zenith, especially after the rebellion of Su Jun, when he even contemplated deposing Wang Dao, the central authority in governance, highlighting the extent of his influence
The gift that Shen Chong presented to Tao Kan was not wealth, but rather hundreds of acres of land along with nearly a hundred servants and singing girls, which was quite different from others like Liu Xia and Su Jun, who also held military power. After contemplating this difference, Shen Zhezi increasingly felt that his father was truly remarkable, possessing keen insights into both the situation and personnel matters. No matter how much floating wealth one has, it cannot compare to the foundation of a family and business, which is land and population. This indicates that in his father's eyes, Tao Kan's importance far surpassed that of the former.
However, upon further reflection, one wonders why those idle aristocrats, who merely occupy positions without merit, are able to attain high office and enjoy wealth, while truly capable individuals like Tao Kan must resign themselves to poverty. With this thought, one feels a sense of relief, and then considers that perhaps many years later, Tao Kan's descendant, Tao Yuanming, might be picking chrysanthemums in the southern mountains on the land bestowed by his father, leading Shen Zhezi to feel a subtle sense of accomplishment in witnessing the changes of history.