Jinting Han people

Chapter 66: Shi Chong's Far-sightedness (4k)

On this day, Shi Chong stood on the roof of Chongqi Tower in Jingu Garden, gazing at the lake scenery of Jingu Garden, with a myriad of thoughts in his mind.

As the richest man in the Western Jin Dynasty and the head of the Bohai Shi family, Shi Chong seemed to behave in an absurd and dissolute manner, but in fact, he was able to reach his current position by relying on his own wisdom and insight into the essence of the world.

When he was born, he was only the sixth son of Shi Bao, the Duke of Leling. He was not born of a legitimate family and was not valued by his family. Although he was smart and versed in both civil and military skills when he was young, and gradually gained a reputation for being a virtuous person, when Shi Bao distributed his family property on his deathbed, Shi Chong still received nothing.

Although Shi Bao said that he believed Shi Chong could make a name for himself, what child wouldn't want to be favored by his father?

Therefore, Shi Chong worked even harder and wanted to prove himself among his brothers: he became a county magistrate of the sixth rank at the age of 20, and then became a Palace Attendant and the Prefect of Chengyang. He was always the best in the annual assessments. Finally, at the age of 30, he participated in the campaign to destroy Wu and was awarded the title of Marquis of Anyang for his merits.

As an unappreciated illegitimate son of a noble family, this experience was impeccable.

In contrast, Shi Chong's elder brother, Shi Tong, who inherited the title of Duke of Leling, had a less-than-satisfactory career. Not only did he achieve nothing, but he also offended Sima Jun, the Prince of Fufeng, who was stationed in Guanzhong. When news of this reached Luoyang, Sima Yan intended to punish Shi Tong severely. It was only after Shi Chong submitted a petition to persuade him and confessed his guilt that Shi Tong escaped punishment.

After this incident, the brothers became more and more independent, with Shi Tong retiring from the spotlight while Shi Chong became the head of the Bohai Shi clan. This is why the next generation of Shi clan members, such as Shi Chao, stayed around Shi Chong every day but never mentioned their biological father.

For a time, Shi Chong enjoyed immense fame, and Sima Yan held him in high esteem, first promoting him to the positions of Imperial Attendant and Minister of the Interior, and then sending him to Jingzhou as Governor and then General of the Southern Army. Seizing upon the emperor's desire to weaken the Jiangnan gentry, Shi Chong engaged in heavy levies and robberies in Jingzhou, amassing himself to become the richest man in the land within a few years. Yet, despite these actions, he was not only not impeached, but was even promoted by the emperor to the position of Minister of Agriculture, a testament to his shrewdness.

Shi Chong also knew the principle of keeping a low profile. Now that he had become extremely wealthy, if he continued to be successful in officialdom, he would inevitably arouse jealousy. So he refused the appointment as Minister of Agriculture and instead stayed idle in Luoyang to build up his reputation.

His competition of wealth with Wang Kai might seem absurd, but it actually had far-reaching implications: first, to elevate his own reputation to a whole new level, and second, to build his own network of connections. Within a few short years, although Shi Chong never again held a high position, every powerful and influential person in Luoyang was on good terms with him. Even Wang Kai, the very person competing in wealth, secretly maintained a good relationship with Shi Chong.

Of course, the price of Shi Chong's extensive social circle was the piles of corpses in the Jingu Garden.

He was too clever, too understanding the nature of officialdom. He also understood too well that, in today's world, the connections of the gentry meant everything, while the lives of the common people at the bottom of society were less important than those of cattle and horses. While commoners and gentry might appear to be human, in terms of power, after the abolition of the twenty ranks of military nobility of the Han Dynasty, the two had become indistinguishable, effectively two separate species.

If the gentry were the pillars of the Western Jin Dynasty's court, then the common people were nothing but annoying insignificant details, and Shi Chong never took them seriously.

The only thing on his mind right now is how to go further politically.

It's said that learning is like sailing against the current; if you don't advance, you'll retreat. Politics is even more true. Wielding power is like steering a ship in raging waters; even with unwavering focus, you can still be overturned by the waves. He may appear to be unrestrained, but in reality, he must remain vigilant.

In his opinion, now is indeed a time to be vigilant.

The palace guards told him that the emperor's health had been declining since the beginning of the year. Last year, he could still enjoy himself in the harem for days, but now he was increasingly unwilling to move, increasingly lethargic, and in a state of declining energy. He ate only two taels of rice per meal, and even though he hadn't had much contact with women, he would still start panting and sweating when he walked.

Although the imperial physician prescribed tonics for him every day and said that there was nothing serious wrong with him, anyone with experience in caring for the elderly would understand that the emperor's symptoms were already very dangerous.

In two years, or at most three, the emperor will be unable to hold on. Many people can judge this. And the wise will learn to plan ahead and make preparations to stabilize their position before the transfer of power.

At this moment, Shi Chong sat quietly under the railing, lying on his bed, his eyes half-closed, a bird circling in the distance. He looked completely free from thoughts. Nineteen years in the government had left him with a calm mind, and he was lost in thought.

Several servants came to the door and saw Shi Chong in meditation, and immediately left quietly.

The sound of the shrike constantly breaks the tranquility of the courtyard in midsummer.

It was his eldest son, Shi Shao, who returned to Chongqi Tower. Seeing his father lost in thought, Shi Shao was about to leave, but he finally sat down. He wanted to wait until Shi Chong woke up. But after a long wait, Shi Chong remained motionless. Shi Shao sat quietly, also gazing out of the tower.

After a while, Lu Zhu, who was sitting with him, moved. She stood up and handed Shi Shao a bowl of tea. Her graceful demeanor and beautiful face made Shi Shao dare not look at her directly. He quickly bowed his head and thanked her. At this time, Shi Chong also spoke:

"Is that Saburo? What's going on?"

After Lu Zhu stepped aside, Shi Shao replied, "Sir, it's my second brother who has brought people here again."

"What happened to Xi Nu?"

"He also brought a few new friends from the Imperial College to visit the mansion."

"Oh? Who are they?"

"There's Minister Guo's nephew, the brothers Liu Kun and Liu Yu, Du Yu, the grandson of Pingyang Marquis Du Xi, and Zu Ti from Fanyang. None of them are considered high-ranking families." At this point, Shi Shao couldn't help but complain, "Sir, my second brother said he's bringing more people here tomorrow. They'll include Jiang Tong from Chenliu, Tao Kan from Jiangdong, and seven or eight more people in total. Isn't this too much?"

Shi Chong opened his eyes and sighed, "Sanlang, you still don't have the comprehension. What's so wrong with that?"

"Sir, so many people come to our house to eat and drink for free, and the monthly expenses are hundreds of gold. Although our family is rich, we can't be so extravagant, right?"

"Sanlang, money is meant to be squandered. Let alone Xi Nu using it to make friends with talented people, even if he's just enjoying himself, there's nothing wrong with that. If you lose money, you can always earn it again. And how much time do we have to enjoy ourselves in this lifetime?"

Shi Shao didn't quite understand, but he still insisted, "But my family is so wealthy, I'm afraid we're close to being royal. Aren't you afraid of being suspected by others?"

Shi Chong smiled slightly, as if he didn't care, but he was also comforted by his son's concern: "Sanlang has grown up and knows how to care about the family business."

"So what on earth do you think, my Lord?"

"Your thinking is not unreasonable, but it's still too shallow."

"Too shallow?" Shi Shao was a little unhappy.

"I've amassed such a fortune in Jiangnan, and everyone in the world is jealous of me. According to your thinking, you probably hope that I will hide my wealth and be frugal, not revealing it to others."

Shi Shao nodded and said, "Yes."

Shi Chong stood up slightly, and Lu Zhu immediately brought him a cup of tea for him to drink, and then said: "But this kind of thing cannot be concealed. I have become extremely rich, and it has long been an open secret in the eyes of Your Majesty and the princes. What will they think if I hide this money and don't use it? Will they think I am a miser, or will they think I will use it for other purposes?" "This..."

"Of course I'll suspect I have ulterior motives."

Shi Chong leaned back, looking at the ceiling, and said, "I'm spending lavishly, firstly for enjoyment, and secondly to reassure them. Don't really think I've won the competition of wealth. Even if I'm the richest man in the Jin Dynasty, the richest man in the Jin Dynasty is only the emperor! The whole of China belongs to him, who can compete with him? If he wants to reorganize the court and improve the administration, he may not be able to do it, but if he wants to compete with one person, no one can win."

"So that's how it is..." Shi Shao finally understood his father's painstaking efforts. It turned out that his father was squandering money because he wanted to imitate Wang Jian and defile himself.

"But I have a third layer of meaning. I wonder if you can see it?"

Shi Shao was already convinced, and lowered his head and asked, "Please give me some advice, sir."

Shi Chong laughed and said, "If I had simply squandered my money, I would have lost my popularity and become isolated. But the reason I built this Golden Valley Garden and encouraged the Xi Nu and other scholars to enjoy it is to show them that my wealth is not my own, but shared with all the famous scholars in the world."

"There's no other Jingu Garden in the world. Where else can they live such a life of luxury? Then, not only will they not envy our family's wealth, but they will even be grateful to us: we, the Shi family, may bear the infamy, but haven't they also lived the most luxurious lives? That's why, even over the years, when I was robbing merchants in Luoyang, everyone turned a blind eye and even assisted me!"

"Don't be disgusted by the fact that some of the people here are from humble backgrounds. So what? I've even personally met the Prince of Anle! As long as they can enter the government, they'll be useful sooner or later. Just remember, there's no treasure in our house that can't be given away! The more people we entertain, the more wealth we'll naturally have!"

After Shi Chong finished speaking, Shi Shao was enlightened. He had never thought that there was such a way to play with people's hearts. His father had figured out the meaning of spending money! For a moment, he didn't even know how to flatter.

Shi Chong closed his eyes again at this time, he was still thinking about the previous question:

How should he prepare for the future when the Emperor is already aging? Logically, if he wants to maintain his position, he must at least curry favor with the next supreme ruler. However, the Crown Prince is too pure to participate in government affairs and must rely on others to assist him in governing.

Should he lean towards the Three Yangs, the relatives of the emperor who were already in power? It always felt too late, and besides, Yang Jun, the leader of the Three Yangs, was a mediocre person. Could he hold on to his position as regent in the future? Shi Chong had deep doubts about this.

But if he can't hold on to his position, who will challenge his position in the future?

Shi Chong first thought of Sima Liang, the King of Runan. Now the King of Runan held the positions of Shizhong, General of the Fujun Army, and General of the Rear Army, commanding the Champion, Infantry, Archery, and Changshui Cavalry, as well as most of the imperial guards. He was the balance of power among the Three Yangs chosen by the emperor, and would certainly be a future minister.

But could he really check and balance the Three Yangs? Looking at Sima Liang's past deeds, he was not a man of iron and blood, but rather too weak in character.

Shi Chong was somewhat unsure about the outcome of the political struggle between the two sides.

In this foggy situation with no optimal choice, a wise politician should make a cautious choice: aligning with a political force that is certain to be co-opted but unlikely to be liquidated. The payoff may not be high, but at least it's a sure bet.

It's time to make friends with the other princes.

Shi Chong rubbed his brows and thought helplessly.

As of now, although the emperor intends to let the Three Yangs assist in the administration, in order to avoid the story of Sima usurping the Wei Dynasty, he will inevitably let the princes participate in political affairs, just as he made decisions with King Sima You of Qi.

Thinking of this, Shi Chong finally opened his eyes again and said to his son, "Sanlang, what do you think of the princes today?"

Shi Shao asked cautiously, "Which ones are you referring to, sir?"

"Not counting those princes who are only seven or eight years old, and not even mentioning the crown prince, let's just talk about the five princes above the age of fifteen. What are their personalities and talents like?"

According to Shi Chong, the ages from oldest to youngest were the third prince Sima Jian, the fifth prince Sima Wei, the ninth prince Sima Yun, the thirteenth prince Sima Xia, and the fifteenth prince Sima Yi.

Shi Shao was a little timid and said, "My son has not had much contact with the prince. He has only heard some rumors..."

Shi Chong replied, "I'm asking about rumors." For an ambitious person, their true image isn't important; the political image they project is the key to further advancement. Shi Chong wanted to determine who had greater political ambition based on mere rumors.

Shi Shao then said hesitantly, "Based solely on rumors, the most outstanding princes should be the Fifth Prince and the Ninth Prince. It's hard to tell who's better."

"Why do you think so? The Third Prince and the Crown Prince are both legitimate children, favored by the Emperor, and have been in charge of the Imperial Guards for many years. Doesn't that mean he has a bad image?"

"It's good, the Third Prince is kind and wins over people, and is deeply loved by his subordinates. But it is said that... he has a dull personality and is not good at speaking, so sometimes he can't win the support of others."

A politician can be silent, but he must be good at speaking. From this point of view, the Prince of Nanyang is doomed to fail. Shi Chong nodded and asked, "Then why do you think the Fifth and Ninth Princes are so promising?"

Shi Shao said, "I've heard that the Fifth Prince is generous and charitable, winning the hearts of the people. He also cares for his family and loves his brothers. Some time ago, on Princess Yingchuan's birthday, he personally went hunting in the mountains and gave the princess a fox cub as a gift, earning him praise from the Emperor and his ministers."

"Where is the Ninth Prince?"

"The Ninth Prince is usually quiet, but he has a strong character and sticks to his words. He is quite famous among the Imperial Guards and is said to be highly respected by the officers and soldiers."

Shi Chong touched his chin and thought: Judging from these two, Sima Wei's image is undoubtedly better than Sima Yun's, but he can create such a beautiful political image. There must be a master in the mansion. Will he accept his kindness?
Sima Yun’s image is too dangerous. He has a high reputation in the army. If a coup breaks out in the future, will he be the initiator?

Shi Chong thought for a while and found it difficult to make a decision, but after a moment, he smiled again: The emperor is not dead yet, there is no need to rush. It is better to observe the princes for a while from now on, and then make a decision.

So he instructed: "Pick some gifts from the house and send them to the various princes' palaces to see their reactions."

After Shi Shao had walked away with his back turned, Shi Chong finally stood up and stopped by the railing again. He looked at Shi Chao, Zu Ti and the others who were having fun below. Suddenly, something occurred to him. He turned to Lu Zhu and smiled, saying, "Lu Zhu, I just told San Lang that there was no treasure in our family that I couldn't give away. Actually, that was a lie."

Lu Zhu was no longer surprised by this. She tilted her head slightly, and her fair skin reminded people of the snow on the Tianshan Mountains.

He gently pinched Luzhu's soft earlobe, blew softly, then clapped his hands and said with a smile: "You are the only precious treasure that I cannot give up!"

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(End of this chapter)