Chapter 0010: In the time of the philosopher kings, there was a ruler named Wei Zhou

Having received the military order from his father, Shen Zhezi officially became a military supervisor. However, his father is currently not in an official position, so Shen Zhezi's role as a "supervisor" naturally lacks legitimacy. Nevertheless, he commands over two thousand troops, all composed of the Shen family's loyal private soldiers. Shen Chong also appointed a clan member, Shen Mo, as an assistant to be responsible for the specific command of the march.

Magistrate Xu found himself in a predicament, fully aware that this calamity was unavoidable. He could only inwardly curse this heartless scoundrel, who devours people without leaving a bone. Although the distance from Shangyu to Xiling was merely a stone's throw away, they were unwilling to support the righteous army and instead passed this hot potato onto Xiling.

At this moment, Shen Chong was indeed at a loss, and Wang Dao's actions rendered all his previous efforts futile, bringing him back to square one. Due to the lack of cooperation from the prominent families, there were very few capable individuals available for Wang Dun's use, which consequently increased the influence of his trusted aide, Qian Feng, over Wang Dun.

In front of the yamen gate, a group of people hurriedly emerged under the leadership of County Magistrate Xu and Wei Xing. They soon saw a middle-aged man surrounded by more than twenty strong bodyguards, who was likely Yu Fen, accompanied by a slightly frail boy of about seven or eight years old.

The Yu family has many descendants, and he does not know which branch the visitors come from, leaving him feeling anxious. His father-in-law's letter instructed the Wei family to provide support to the righteous army nearby. Today, he came to Xiling on his own initiative, but unexpectedly encountered the legitimate descendants of the Yu family visiting, which made him feel as if he were sitting on pins and needles, unable to sit comfortably. He hurriedly went to welcome the guests together with County Magistrate Xu.

Considering the purpose of this journey, Wei Xing forced a smile, which made him appear even more dignified: "The governor serves the country and shepherds the people, guarding a region; he should encourage himself in anticipation of the day when the clear lotus rises from the water."

Shen Zhezi realized that his father was in a state of confusion when he heard him inquire rather than instruct. He understood that his father might not fully endorse his true intentions. After a moment of contemplation, he offered an excuse: "Currently, the predicament lies in Kuaiji, which cannot provide assistance. If I enter Kuaiji, it will serve two purposes: first, I can act as a hostage to exert my utmost efforts in human affairs. If that still fails, then I will lead the crowd to kill them, thereby dispersing their forces. I am young and inexperienced, and the opponent will certainly not be on guard against me."

The words were rather impolite, and among those present, even the county magistrate Xu Chao's smile became somewhat stiff. He did not dare to offend and quickly had someone open the window. Following this, Xu Chao tapped the table with a ruyi and summoned the dancers and musicians to enter in succession, enjoying the feast and merriment. Noticing that Wei Xing's expression remained rather indifferent, he couldn't help but awkwardly smile and say: "The local customs here are simple and pure, making it difficult to hear the exquisite Wu dialect music and dance. My dear brother, I am afraid I have embarrassed myself."

Magistrate Xu was also unwilling to get involved in such matters. Given his family background, it was indeed difficult for him to endure such turmoil. He instinctively wanted to refuse and pondered, "The West Ridge is narrow and sparsely populated, it may not necessarily be..."

At the moment when the atmosphere was tense, a servant came to report that another distinguished guest had arrived. The name card delivered bore the prominent name "Yu Fan from Yuyao." Compared to Wei Xing, who was an external relative of the Yu family, this individual on the name card was a legitimate descendant of the Yu clan. County Magistrate Xu felt even more compelled to show respect and quickly rose from his seat to prepare for the reception.

I... sigh, that is not what I meant at all...

Under the collapsed nest, how can there be unbroken eggs! Father, there is truly no room for hesitation at this moment. If I can succeed, the family lineage will continue. If I cannot succeed, then it will be a shared punishment for father and son; in any case, death is death, and it matters not where one dies

Wei Xing, who was seated at the main guest table, was initially somewhat displeased. However, upon hearing the name inscribed on the dagger, his expression changed. Although the Wei and Yu families of Kuaiji were once renowned together, times have changed. Now, the Wei family has declined and is dependent on the Yu family.

The attention of the crowd was solely focused on Yu Fen, and just from the manner in which he was surrounded, he had already surpassed Wei Xing, who was accompanied by a bullock cart and two old servants, by an unknown margin.

"If the Ming court says this, could it be that the place you govern is not under the rule of the king? By refusing to accept the righteous army, do you intend to follow the chaos of the Shen family?" Wei Xing's expression darkened, and he became extremely displeased

After pondering for a moment, Shen Chong still felt that this matter was somewhat mysterious. Previously, his wavering attitude was mainly due to his son's performance, which made him see his son in a new light, leading him to believe that there was hope for the future, and thus he had softened his determination to fight to the end. Now, with the situation having reached this point, asking his son to desperately break the deadlock was something Shen Chong could not accept, both emotionally and morally.

I have come here, indeed troubled by mundane matters. The waves of Wu are turbulent, and the Shen family of Wuxing is in rebellion. My father-in-law has already responded to the call of the Imperial Censor Yu Qing to raise an army against the rebels. The main force is about to arrive here, so I kindly request that the governor make preparations early to supply the righteous troops

Moreover, the large army's departure does not spare the locusts crossing the land. For the court, the Yu family raising troops may be seen as a righteous cause, but for the wealthy families in the countryside, it is a disaster. The so-called righteous army is merely a group coming to take advantage of the situation. How can a mere county government afford to support a large army? Ultimately, the burden will fall on these wealthy families.

At the same time, he also deeply resented Yu Tan. Without financial support for the righteous army, one could only wait for the court to allocate funds and conscript resources, which was merely a futile spectacle! This was to force the people of Kuaiji to sacrifice their homes and relieve their difficulties, all to fulfill his own reputation for loyalty and righteousness

Thus, a group of people set out from Wukang, heading south towards Kuaiji. At this time, Shen Chong divided his troops to send Shen Zhezi to Kuaiji, also harboring the thought of preserving his family property by living apart. Therefore, apart from liquid assets, he entrusted all household registration documents, land deeds, and similar records to Shen Zhezi, filling three large boxes in total.

Shen Zhezi's words grew increasingly intense, hoping that his father would make a decision promptly

Upon hearing these words, Shen Zhezi's body trembled instantly. His father intended to sacrifice himself to protect his son, planning to complete the continuation of the family through the tragic means of fratricide. For a moment, he did not know how to respond, but in his heart, a genuine feeling of blood being thicker than water and deep affection for his father truly took root.

This statement compares the people of Xiling County to the silt at the bottom of the river, and it also serves as a rebuttal to Magistrate Xu's lofty self-reference as a "brother of the world." The crowd, feeling either shame or dissatisfaction, became increasingly uncomfortable, prompting someone to rise and leave with a flick of their sleeve.

Wei Xingnian, at the age of thirty, sat behind the desk in a large robe, his face powdered white. Although he was being warmly entertained, his expression remained indifferent, showing no pleasure in being summoned by the county magistrate to share a seat with these local commoners. He twirled the whisk in his hand, pointed towards the side of the hall, and said: "The air is thick with the smell of wine; please open the window to let the fresh breeze into the room"

In the Book of Songs, "Under the rule of Wu, there were wise kings in the world." The father derived the character "Wei" from his own "Zizi" (philosopher son), hoping to maintain the family business and ensure that each generation inherits wisdom, which can be considered a heavy expectation. However, Shen Zizi has another layer of understanding: Qin inherited the legacy of Zhou, and Han succeeded the rule of Qin, a continuous lineage. Thus, the term "Wei Zhou" is indeed appropriate.

Upon hearing these words, Shen Chong clapped his hands and laughed heartily, his eyes becoming moist with tears. He patted Shen Zhezi on the head and said, "My dear child, at the age of eight, you have already shared in your father's worries. Qingque, there is nothing more I can give you, but as we part, I shall bestow upon you a courtesy name: 'Weizhou of the Books.' I hope my son will encourage himself with this."

Upon hearing this, Xu Chao could not help but gasp in shock, not wanting to sit idly at home while disaster struck from the heavens. At this moment, the local gentry still remaining in the hall also changed their expressions one after another

This is the foundation upon which the Shen family stands. Even if Shen Chong is no longer present, Shen Zhezi can fully inherit the family business based on these. In the Eastern Jin Dynasty, where the gentry held power, usurping a family's business was a graver offense than murder. As long as the Shen family of Wuxing remains, no outsider would dare to openly challenge the authority of the gentry and unlawfully seize their property

Xiling is located on the southern bank of the Qiantang River, with a strategically advantageous terrain, known as the gateway to the two Zhejiang provinces. In ancient times, Fan Li of the Yue State built a city here to resist the Wu State. Today, the old city has fallen into disrepair, while the new county seat is situated by the river, commanding a favorable geographical position.

The magistrate of Xiling County, Xu Chao, a native of Kuaiji, was at that moment hosting distinguished guests at the yamen, including Wei Xing and Wei Changyi from the Wei family of Shangyu in this county. The Wei family has long been held in high esteem in Kuaiji, being renowned alongside the He and Yu families. Wei Xing himself is a favored son-in-law of the Yu family, and although he holds no official title, he is a respected figure in the community. Therefore, Xu Chao did not dare to treat him lightly and gathered the heads of the prominent families in the county to accompany him.

Upon hearing Shen Zhezi's request, Shen Chong momentarily failed to respond, merely giving a perfunctory reply. After a moment, he began to reflect on it, looking at Shen Zhezi in surprise: "Qingque, what are your plans?"

Shen Chong remained silent for a long time, then raised his head to look at his son, seeing only a face that, though youthful, was calm. After a long while, he sighed and said: "My family was originally wealthy; had it not been for the risks taken, we would not have come to this. Qingque, I owe you a debt as your father. My son has high aspirations; even in death, I find solace. Very well, you may go to Kuaiji!"

Under the heavy gaze of his father, Shen Zhezi slowly bowed and said solemnly: "The future is not yet lost, father, why speak thus? Please remain seated here while I convey the good news!"

... ...

Upon hearing this, Shen Chong's eyes brightened. He had not originally considered sending troops to Kuaiji, but his ambitions were indeed too great. Any action he took would inevitably affect the overall situation, making it difficult to control. However, if it were Shen Zhezi, the circumstances would indeed be different. Yet, his son was only eight years old; could he truly undertake such a risky endeavor?

Wang Dunjun has always been stationed at Yuhu, and Qian Feng has been doing his utmost to delay and buy him time for arrangements. However, now that Director Wang has falsely reported Wang Dun's death, further delays are no longer possible, and a decision must be made

He is not a straightforward and imposing figure, and his thoughts have never strayed from the realm of treachery and local tyrants. However, his willingness to sacrifice for his family and son is truly heroic.

At this point, Shen Chong paused for a moment before continuing: "However, after you go to Kuaiji, if the matter is successful, it will naturally bring great joy to all. If the Yu family remains obstinate, you must not take risks. Immediately proceed to Shining to meet with your uncle Shen Yi, and raise an army to counterattack Wuxing. Although attacking one's father with one's son may lack filial piety, it fully embodies loyalty and bravery. You may face temporary criticism, but it can preserve the family name. I entrust the family matters to you, and I have no worries."

Xu Chao, aware that these scions of noble families were dismissive of others, worried that this fellow might utter even more offensive remarks, thus directly asked: "Your Excellency, what brings you here?"

If it is said that the Wei family of Shangyu is unwilling to offend due to their noble lineage, then the Shen family of Wuxing is simply too fearful to offend. Residing in the region of the Three Wus, everyone is well aware of each family's standing. The two branches of the Shen family in Wuxing hold significant weight in the community; even if Shen Chong's branch were to fail, the other branches of the Shen family would pursue the matter, and they would be far from capable of resisting such repercussions.