Chapter 0008: There are no good people in Hongtong County

However, if the three Wu regions can support each other, after the turmoil, the court will inevitably worry about further disturbances and will not dare to pursue the old man's crimes from the chaos. Instead, they will have to show great favor and appeasement. As long as they can get through the imminent reckoning, the maneuvering space for the Shen family will be much larger, allowing for both advancement and retreat.

Upon learning that his own clan had become the banner bearers of the gentry in Kuaiji Commandery to suppress Shen Chong, Yu Fen's expression became exceedingly complex, filled with fear, guilt, and indignation. He was not only worried that Shen Chong would hold him accountable, but also felt sorrow and anger that his family had made this decision without informing him in advance, leaving him completely unprepared and unsure of how to respond

This illustrates the advantages of families with substantial wealth and numerous offspring, allowing them to invest in various ventures and hedge against risks, a phenomenon where if one side is not bright, the other side shines. Such societal norms have become entrenched and are difficult to eradicate. Individuals like Lü Bu, who come from humble backgrounds and lack many relatives, do not possess such advantages, and in chaotic times, survival necessitates flexibility, leading to their derogatory label as the servants of three surnames. However, when it comes to integrity, those prominent families that produce many distinguished individuals are not necessarily any more virtuous; in fact, they may be even more sordid.

Old man Shen Chong borrowed a knife to kill someone, and now he has been ambushed by others, which can be said to be a fitting retribution

"Gu Sima is calm and unhurried, while Yu Canmou lacks the means to protect himself. Qiu and Lü are unable to realize their ambitions, and they will likely feel quite frustrated." Shen Zhezi pondered for a moment and made this assessment of several of his father's strategists

However, Shen Zhezi, being his son, at this moment could not harbor any thoughts of gloating. In a situation where the nest is overturned, there are no unbroken eggs. If Kuaiji cannot provide support for his father, then after his father seeks self-preservation, once Wang Dun's army is defeated, the court will have even fewer concerns and will certainly not allow anyone in the heartland of the Three Wus to hold troops and assert their power. Soon, the great army will arrive

Shen Chong looked at Yu Fen, noticing the cold sweat streaming down his face and his trembling demeanor, and suddenly broke into a bright smile: "Teng Zhi is worried that I lack composure and cannot accommodate you, is that right"

During the transition from the Wei to the Jin dynasty, it was not unusual for the scions of prominent families to serve in various regions. A well-known example is the Zhuge family during the Three Kingdoms period, where members served in different states and achieved notable accomplishments. The most remarkable case is the Wang family of Langya; at the end of the Western Jin dynasty, Wang Yan was engaged with Sima Yue, the King of Donghai, while his sons and nephews were dispersed in various locations. The saying "a cunning rabbit has three burrows" holds true, as Wang Yan's being buried alive in the north did not hinder the family's prospects. Wang Dun and Wang Dao rose to prominence in Jiangdong. As for the present, with Wang Dun causing turmoil externally and Wang Dao residing at the center, the other brothers each hold positions in various garrisons, and the loss of any one of them would not be a fatal blow to the family.

Shen Chong nodded: "Gu Yang comes from a prestigious family, and I can still command him while I am in power; once my influence wanes, he will surely abandon me. Gu Lu, a son of wealth, is merely an ornament, difficult to conspire with. Qiu Shan and Lu Zheng are probably considering which side to sell me to. Yu Fen's discarded son is now in a situation intertwined with mine, and thus can be trusted a bit more.

However, it is unfortunate that this blustering plan of the old man encountered a formidable obstacle in Yu Tan. This individual, Yu Tan, has repeatedly commanded armies with few defeats, not because of exceptional bravery in battle, but rather because he is a professional cheerleader and a verbal warrior. From the Wang Dun Rebellion to the subsequent Su Jun Rebellion, he has managed to remain on the periphery of the main battlefield due to geographical advantages. Although he has not achieved great merits, he has also not committed significant errors, and his commendable attitude has led to repeated promotions

Listening to my father elaborate further, Shen Zhezi and I couldn't help but click our tongues in disbelief. Indeed, there are no good people in Hongtong County; is it not better to be pure and simple? However, through my father's assessment, Shen Zhezi has gained a deeper understanding of the situation in the Three Wus. My father intends to connect with the gentry of the Three Wus for self-preservation, with Kuaiji being the key. As long as we can unite with the Kuaiji faction, the families of Gu and Lu in Wu County will naturally shift their stance.

Others in the camp were still unaware that the old man had changed his mind, believing that although Yu Tan had a good reputation, he was not as capable as his name suggested and posed no real threat. They thought that as long as they accelerated their advance towards Jian Kang, the situation in the northwest would resolve itself after the outcome of the battles, and the danger from Kuaiji would dissipate. Historically, this was indeed the case; after Yu Tan raised his troops, he stationed them in Shangyu without taking any action, which did not pose any substantial obstacle to the old man's plans to send troops to Jian Kang. Unfortunately, the old man and his forces were still defeated by the migrating rebel army from the south. Meanwhile, Yu Tan enjoyed a leisurely outing, happily receiving promotions and honors before retreating.

As for the advisor Yu Fen, his demeanor was somewhat peculiar; this individual hails from the Yu clan of Kuaiji and, in terms of seniority, is the nephew of Yu Tan, who raised an army to quell the rebellion in Kuaiji.

Shen Zhezi sat in the corner, observing that his father was silent and not speaking. He thought to himself that his father was probably feeling very distressed at the moment

Shen Chong instructed everyone with a few more words before allowing them to return to their respective duties. Once everyone had left, he beckoned Shen Zhezi to come before him and asked, "Has the Azure Sparrow gained anything?"

The scholars of Wu each reside in their own villages, and there are inherent conflicts of interest among them, not to mention the longstanding feuds that can even be traced back to the old grievances sown during the rivalry between the two palaces when Sun Quan, the Emperor of Wu, held sway over Jiangdong with his hundred thousand troops. Once they gain power, their thoughts and intentions are solely focused on utterly defeating the other side, making it exceedingly difficult to maintain a semblance of harmony

It was only when the old man revealed that he had changed his mind that the expressions of his advisors suddenly shifted, and their reactions were quite intriguing. The clan members and soldiers under his command were surprised at first, but quickly regained their composure. They had always followed the old man's lead, and any decision he made was to be obeyed without question

Shen Chong said with a smile, then glanced around the hall and addressed everyone: "Ladies and gentlemen, please take your seats and attend to your duties. Since I have made this decision, I am confident in my ability to respond to the current situation"

Upon hearing this news, Shen Chong's expression grew increasingly grave, and he fell into deep contemplation without speaking. After abandoning his plan to raise troops in response to Wang Dun, his greatest assurance, aside from the power already possessed by the Shen family, was to connect with the prominent families of the Three Wus for mutual support, thereby compelling the court to refrain from rash actions. Originally, in his plans, with the formidable military strength of the Shen family as the leader among the Three Wus, he aimed to support the Gu and Lu families in entering the central authority to stand against the Wang and Yu families, while also maintaining control over key strategic locations. Furthermore, he sought to protect Kuaiji, the core area of the Three Wus, from being infiltrated and undermined by the Northern barbarians. Consistently, he intended to transform the gentry of the Three Wus into a cohesive interest group to counterbalance the southern migration of the Qiao clan.

However, the reactions of the several aristocratic youths who were dependent on their father varied. Sima Guyang, after a moment of astonishment, seemed to subtly breathe a sigh of relief, indicating that he too did not support his father's decision to raise troops again. In contrast, the strategist Qiu Shan and Lu Zheng reacted quite strongly, exclaiming, "How can one hesitate at both the beginning and the end when undertaking significant matters?" It was only after noticing their father's expression turn unfriendly that they hurriedly fell silent and offered their apologies.

Shen Zhezi could perceive the hidden worries beneath his father's calm exterior. At the beginning of the Eastern Jin Dynasty, the situation was paradoxical; achievements were often dependent on individuals, yet individuals could also be the cause of failure. The influence of powerful families was deeply intertwined, and the accomplishments that could be achieved through personal effort were exceedingly rare. Just by observing the performance of the few individuals under his father's command, one could sense the impact of family background on a person's conduct in this era.

Indeed, the environmental discourse of later generations tends to be biased when evaluating the merits and demerits of ancient people. In the context of the current environment, the reason why the southern migrants can maintain a harmonious and dignified existence is primarily due to two factors: first, most of them originated from the advisors recruited during the reign of Emperor Jin Yuan, known as the "Bai Liu Yuan"; second, with their hometowns having fallen, living in a foreign land fosters a sense of shared suffering and emotional identification, while there is also a mutual expectation of support and assistance in terms of interests, thus creating a foundation for cooperation

"The only one who can disregard his own interests and conspire with me is probably Qian Feng Qian Shiyi; he is the only true friend I can entrust my life to." After expressing his sentiments, Shen Chong looked at Shen Zhezi and slowly said, "General Wang is gravely ill, and I have long known that he is unlikely to achieve great things. Therefore, our original plan with Qian Shiyi was to force the court to relocate to Kuaiji, as this would create the most advantageous situation for the Wu people."

Yu Fen, whose courtesy name is Tengzhi, upon hearing these words, turned over and bowed down, lamenting: "Your Excellency possesses a humility as vast as the valley and an extraordinary demeanor. You should know that Fen has long resided in this place and has little interaction with the locals. I am merely ashamed that I could not foresee the situation in advance, resulting in my inability to respond when the matter arose, and I have no strategy to present to Your Excellency"

Many military intelligence reports are not all good news

Do not doubt yourself, Tengzhi. I have worked with you for many years, and we can be considered confidants. Yu Si'ao cannot tolerate me; seizing the opportunity to rise, what does that have to do with you

The situation in Kuaiji is even more dire, as the Kuaiji aristocracy, led by the Yu clan of Kuaiji, has almost formed a united front, clearly standing on the side of the court. They have not only sealed several estates owned by the Shen family in Kuaiji but have also confiscated thousands of measures of grain that were already en route. This is all due to the fact that there are officials from the Shen family in Kuaiji, and various efforts to provide protection have temporarily prevented any casualties. However, the manpower and material resources from the Kuaiji side cannot be utilized. Furthermore, Yu Tan of the Yu clan in Kuaiji has raised the banner of loyalty to the throne, reaching out to prominent families and recruiting local militia to launch a campaign against the treasonous Shen family.

Upon hearing his father's profound words, Shen Zhezi felt a sudden shock in his heart, and it was at this moment that he began to discern a logical thread in all of his father's actions

At the transition between the Two Jin Dynasties, if the southern migration of the gentry is likened to a group of incompetent allies, then the performance of the scholars from Wu is indeed even worse than that of these incompetent allies. Otherwise, they would not have been so thoroughly suppressed by the gentry during the century of the Eastern Jin. In simple terms, it was a cycle of mutual slaughter and continuous struggle, severely depleting their vitality. For instance, the elder Shen Chong, leveraging the power of Wang Dun, extinguished the Zhou clan of Yixing. This seemingly strengthened his own authority and influence, but in reality, it weakened the overall power of the Wu scholars. The strength of the Wu scholars was consumed in these repeated internal conflicts, leaving them unable to contend with the gentry.

On the desk of Shen Zhezi's case were several files detailing the family backgrounds of his aides. A brief glance inevitably brought a knowing smile. Although Qiu Shan and Lü Zheng both hailed from noble families, their lineages had long since declined, rendering them no more commendable than those from humble origins. As the saying goes, the proletariat has nothing to lose but their chains. Thus, such individuals are particularly eager to engage in extraordinary actions and achieve remarkable accomplishments, hoping to revive their families through their fathers' capital

However, Yu Tan's actions have plunged him into great danger and passivity, much like when he relied on Wang Dun's power to eliminate the Zhou family of Yixing. Now, Yu Tan is using the righteous cause of defending the throne to cut off his escape route, and if he responds improperly, he may follow in the footsteps of the Zhou family. Having lost the support of Kuaiji as a retreat, the Shen family has become a trapped beast; even if they can hold onto Wuxing, their situation is unlikely to last long.

During the process of recruiting soldiers by the Shen family, the entire Sanwu region has already begun to experience undercurrents. As the stronghold of the Shen family, Wuxing has few families capable of rivaling them, thus it remains relatively calm. However, further afield in Wujun and Kuaiji, the power of the Shen family has faced varying degrees of setbacks. In Wujun, a villa belonging to the Shen family was attacked and plundered by members of the Zhang family, who have long harbored deep-seated hatred towards the Shen family due to the deaths of several prominent officials from their clan, either directly or indirectly at the hands of Shen Chong. Were it not for their fear of the Shen family's formidable power, they would likely have already advanced to the shores of Taihu.

Since you have made a decision, we are willing to follow your lead. If there are any assignments, I, Yang, will also do my utmost. Sima Gu Yang was the first to express his stance, and the others also voiced their support, united in overcoming the difficulties together