Chapter 34

The time rewound to half a year ago.

After the siege of Duchang was lifted, Guan Yu entered the city and met Kong Rong, then led his troops back to Pingyuan. Kong Rong was most grateful to Taishi Ci and Shi Xun, holding their hands and repeatedly saying, "These are my young friends." He wanted to recruit them to serve in the government, but Taishi Ci, citing the need to care for his elderly mother, declined and soon took his leave.

Shi Xun, of course, understood Taishi Ci's feelings. Despite his rough exterior, Taishi Ci had a deep and discerning mind. He had seen Kong Rong's ugly display of clinging to power during the siege and had no intention of serving under such a superior, who would only bring him trouble.

As for Kong Rong's offer to recruit Shi Xun as a clerk, Shi Xun was somewhat tempted. He didn't plan to rely on Kong Rong for long, but as a renowned scholar, serving under him would certainly add to his prestige. However, a glance at Shi Yi, who shook his head slightly, made him realize he should decline. He excused himself by saying he was too young and wanted to study for a few more years, thus avoiding the offer.

Later, Shi Yi told him, "The governor is well-versed in literature but ignorant of military affairs. In this chaotic era, it will be difficult for him to last. I have received his favor and cannot abandon him—nephew, you don't need to get involved in this mess."

Shi Yi's judgment was correct. The defeat at Juxian and the siege of Duchang, though the Yellow Turbans eventually retreated, had severely damaged Kong Rong's credibility. Both scholars and commoners abandoned their homes and fled south to Langya, fearing the Yellow Turbans might return. Who knew if they would be so lucky next time?

Even the governor's subordinates found excuses to resign and flee. Only a few, like Shi Yi and Wang Xiu, remained out of principle. Even Kong Rong's closest confidant, the postal inspector Wang Xiao, soon quit.

Kong Rong and his entourage escorted the King of Beihai from Duchang back to the capital, Juxian. The city walls were mostly collapsed, and the streets were littered with corpses—a scene of utter devastation. The Yellow Turbans, though weak in combat, were unparalleled in their destructive power. For several days, Shi Xun helped Shi Yi comfort the refugees and repair the city defenses, working tirelessly. A few days later, at Shi Yi's summons, Shi Zhu, who had fled to the county of Zhu in Langya with his family's wealth, returned—though he brought only a few attendants and left his wealth in Zhu.

That night, the Shi family held an emergency meeting of all male members. In addition to Shi Yi, Shi Zhu, Shi Yu, Shi Xun, and Shi Jun, the meeting included Shi Yi's trusted retainer Ren and the family's longtime servant Rong.

At the start of the meeting, Shi Yi bluntly stated that with the unrest in Qingzhou and the recent Yellow Turban rebellion, their family's land had been trampled, their two estates destroyed, and most of their wealth sent to Langya. "Though I am reluctant to leave the governor, I fear your departure to avoid disaster is inevitable."

The plan was to head to Langya. Many scholars and commoners from Qingzhou had already fled there, including the great Confucian scholar Zheng Kangcheng, making it easier to find support among fellow countrymen. Moreover, the Governor of Xu Province, Tao Qian, was very different from the Governor of Qingzhou, Jiao He. Tao Qian was known for his respect for scholars, encouragement of agriculture, and the recruitment and training of a powerful provincial army that had successfully suppressed bandits for years. Perhaps Tao Qian could maintain peace in his region.

But where in Langya should they go? They were unfamiliar with the area, and the Shi family had no property there. Without a place to stay, it would be difficult to settle. Zheng Kangcheng, it was said, lived in a mountain valley, drinking thin porridge and teaching his disciples, but the Shi family, with their extensive wealth, could not live in seclusion like him.

After much discussion, they decided to seek refuge with the Wang family in Linyi. The Wangs were a prominent family in Langya, and their ancestor, Wang Ren, had served as the Governor of Qingzhou during Emperor Huan's reign, forming a close relationship with the Shi family. The current head of the Wang family, Wang Rong, was Wang Ren's youngest son, who lived in seclusion. His nephew, Wang Xiong, was a close friend of Shi Yu—Shi Xun learned that Wang Xiong planned to marry his sister to Shi Yu, and the engagement had already been arranged.

Shi Yi tasked Shi Zhu, Shi Yu, and Shi Xun with protecting the family's wealth and heading to Linyi to seek help from Wang Xiong, hoping he could assist in purchasing estates and land in the surrounding counties to provide a temporary home for the Shi family. As for Shi Jun, due to his father's affection for his youngest son, Shi Yi planned to keep him close. Although the father was in his prime, he still needed his son's care, so the others had no objections to leaving one brother behind. However, they argued for a while about who should stay. Shi Yu was the most suitable, as the other two brothers were unreliable, and Shi Xun was not Shi Yi's biological son. But since Shi Yu had to go to Linyi to contact Wang Xiong, they had to leave the "troublemaker" behind.

Soon, the three Shi brothers tearfully bid farewell to Shi Yi and set off south. Shi Xun, of course, wasn't truly sad; he was just acting, but after spending so much time with Shi Yi, he felt some affection and couldn't help but advise, "If there is another emergency in the state, Uncle, please come south to find us. Even if there is a duty between ruler and minister, it's not necessary to die for Kong Beihai." Shi Yi nodded slightly, "Don't worry, I have my own plans."

Shi Zhu and Shi Yu traveled by carriage, while Shi Xun rode a horse. They hurried south, soon leaving Beihai and entering Langya, arriving at the county of Zhu. Previously, Shi Zhu had left the family's wealth in temporary lodgings near the northern relay station without entering the county town. When they arrived this time, they found the houses empty, and both the wealth and the servants had vanished!

Shi Zhu was so frightened that he almost fell off the carriage. Shi Yu, however, remained calm and said, "These are lifelong family servants; they wouldn't run off with the wealth. Moreover, our elder sister and younger sister are still there. Without our instructions, they wouldn't leave. There must be a reason. We should ask the relay station clerk."

They rushed to the relay station, where a white-haired, deaf, and nearly blind clerk greeted them with a bow. Shi Zhu almost poked the clerk's nose with his finger, demanding, "Do you recognize me? I brought my family here a few days ago and stayed in the house in front. Why are they all gone?!"

The clerk bowed and stepped aside, avoiding Shi Zhu's finger. He squinted and examined Shi Zhu for a long time before smiling slightly, "It's Young Master Ji..."

"My name is Shi, not Ji! I've told you a thousand times!"

"Yes, yes, Young Master Ji, please listen," the clerk said calmly, "After you left, the next day, in the morning... or maybe the afternoon, I'm old and can't remember clearly... it was the ninth or tenth day of the month. In the afternoon, there was some commotion in your house... I'm deaf, so I didn't hear it. It was Li Er, who was helping with the cleaning, who told me... Li Er is actually the third son, not the second, but..."

Shi Zhu's face turned blue with anger. The usually gentle scholar almost snatched the whip from the groom to strike the clerk. Shi Yu quickly held his hand, "Brother, wait." He asked a servant for a few wuzhu coins and slipped them into the clerk's sleeve, smiling, "Old man, don't panic. Take a deep breath, think carefully, and tell us what happened."

The clerk bowed to Shi Yu, "Thank you, young master." He took a deep breath, "The day after you left, there was commotion in your house. I went to check and saw a young master leading your family and servants to the southeast. He gave me a letter to deliver to Young Master Shi."

Shi Zhu asked urgently, "Where is the letter? Bring it out quickly!"

The clerk's eyes were unfocused, and he shook his head, "The letter... I'm old and forgetful. I think I put it in the relay station... in a box or on a desk. Let me go find it..." He hunched over and slowly turned to leave.

Shi Yu quickly gave the clerk more coins. Just as the clerk turned halfway, he suddenly slapped his head, "I remember." He pulled out a bamboo slip from his waist and handed it to Shi Yu, "Here is the letter."

Shi Zhu was so angry that he raised the whip again, but before he could strike, a figure darted forward, pushing the clerk to the ground and shouting, "You lazy clerk, I just went to the restroom, and you try to extort my master!" He knelt and bowed to the Shi brothers, "I've been waiting for you, young masters."

Shi Xun recognized this person; he was one of the family servants who had been sent south with the wealth. Shi Yu didn't even look at the bamboo slip, asking urgently, "What happened? Tell us quickly!"

The servant reported succinctly, "Young Master Shu arrived suddenly and said there was a friend's estate nearby. Everyone moved there—I'll lead you there now."

"Shu Mian?" Shi Zhu was both surprised and delighted, "How did he get here?!"

Shi Kuan, also known as Shu Mian, was Shi Yi's third son, who had been studying abroad. Shi Xun had never met him. According to the gossip, this third son was more intelligent than the eldest, more studious than the fourth, and far superior to Shi Jun. He was deeply loved by Shi Yi, and even Kong Rong had praised him, saying, "This young man will surely become a virtuous official."

The group followed the servant southeast. On the way, Shi Yu asked, "Whose estate are we staying at?"

The servant replied quickly, "It's not a local family. They are from Pei and moved to Xu Province a few years ago—their surname is Cao."

What? Pei, Cao... Shi Xun felt a thunderbolt strike his head. Holy crap, no way!