Chapter 9: Surrender for Half the Stakes

At the Hedong Post House outside Anyi City, Shi Shouxin was eating a flatbread in his guest room.

The bread was crisp and soft, and it was unclear how it had been prepared; it was quite possible that yeast had been used for fermentation. Although the bread made by his wife, Li Wan, tasted good, it was made with unleavened dough and lacked the same texture.

Shi Shouxin went to the post house kitchen and found the cook, inquiring about the method of fermentation.

He had expected the man to be tight-lipped and that it would be difficult to pry the secret out of him, but to his surprise, the cook smugly revealed the so-called "secret recipe": one simply mixed sour mash with polished rice to ferment, then dried and ground it into powder to serve as a leavening agent. Adding this when kneading the dough made the bread fluffy.

It was that simple!

When one did not know, it seemed like an insurmountable mystery, but once revealed, it was remarkably easy and convenient.

Fearing that Shi Shouxin might not believe him, the cook took out the leavening agent and some dough to demonstrate on the spot. He mixed the flour with the leavening agent and water, kneaded it, let it sit for a while to rise, and finally placed the fermented dough into the oven to bake.

Before long, he produced the same flatbread that was served in batches to the officials at the post. It was identical to what Shi Shouxin had eaten earlier, with the same consistent flavor and texture.

To thank the cook for his "instruction," Shi Shouxin gave him a generous amount of Wuzhu coins. Perhaps because he had met a kindred spirit, or because he felt profoundly respected, the cook spilled all his secrets, sharing the recipes for several of his specialty dishes as if pouring beans from a bamboo tube.

In all likelihood, a man of his low status was usually barked at by passing officials. Sometimes, if a VIP arrived in the middle of the night, he had to crawl out of bed to cook, yet no official had ever truly respected him. Meeting someone who treated him like a human being was rarer than seeing a giant panda in Hedong.

After this conversation, Shi Shouxin felt well-rewarded. He also gleaned much useful information from the cook, such as which of the great Hedong clans had eyes and ears everywhere, which gave him a clear plan of action.

Back in his room, Shi Shouxin’s heavy mood lightened considerably. He had waited at the post for two or three days, and no news had come from Anyi City. It would be a lie to say he wasn't anxious; he had been away from home for some time, and it would be no exaggeration to say he was eager to return. But there was no choice—this was a game of chess where he could not afford to yield, so he had to wait regardless of his impatience.

"Master, it is said that those great families in Hedong possess tens of thousands of hectares of fertile land, keep over a thousand servants, and have countless tenant farmers. If you go to negotiate with them single-handedly, won't you be bullied?" Xigou asked with concern.

"That is where you are mistaken. I am not alone," Shi Shouxin hummed, offering no further explanation.

Just then, three knocks sounded on the door, followed by the voice of Wang Ju, the son of Wang Jun: "Messenger, the great families of Hedong have sent people to Anyi to discuss important matters. They are waiting at the prefectural office and are ready to start the banquet as soon as you arrive."

They were feeling guilty after all! Hearing this, Shi Shouxin felt a sense of calm.

"I am feeling unwell and cannot attend the drinking. If they wish to pay me a visit, they may come to the post house individually. Of course, guests are guests, so they may come together if they prefer," Shi Shouxin replied in a calm tone—in short, he was immovable.

Since the matter was of great importance, he had to maintain his stance and not give an inch. If he went to the prefectural office for a banquet, it would likely be a trap where he would be forced into a disadvantageous position. Why attend such a banquet?

"This… I fear…" Wang Ju hesitated outside the door. He felt Shi Shouxin was being overconfident, but considering the usual style of the Sima clan, he felt the man might have hidden leverage.

"Just go back and tell the Prefect. Even if the sky were to fall, it wouldn't be your burden to hold it up," Shi Shouxin advised.

Wang Ju had a sudden realization and turned to leave. That was true—why was he worrying? It wasn't as if he would be the first to suffer if things went wrong.

Not long after, a commotion arose outside the post. A large procession arrived, including Wang Jun and other prominent figures of Hedong Commandery. The area was cleared, guests were sent away, and the perimeter was secured. When Shi Shouxin entered the main hall, Wang Jun was already seated with several men in opulent attire, some old, some young. Aside from Wang Jun, the others were representatives of the local Hedong clans, while their servants waited outside.

"Gentlemen, you have likely heard rumors regarding the imperial court's discussions on the campaign to conquer Shu. Those who have not heard, or are pretending not to have heard, should leave now," Shi Shouxin said, glancing around the room. His words were blunt and uncompromising.

However, the representatives of the Hedong families merely exchanged glances and nodded repeatedly. They were not at all offended by Shi Shouxin's harsh tone. Sima Zhao’s campaign against Shu was common knowledge; since a major event was imminent, who would be foolish enough to stand in the way?

"The Messenger speaks the truth. We only wonder what brings you here," asked Pei Li of the Hedong Pei clan. He had not yet entered government service and was responsible for managing family affairs. Since his cousin, Pei Xiu, was a confidant of Sima Zhao, it was clear that not all members of great families served in office; someone had to manage the family estate.

Shi Shouxin took out the "Summary of Debt Acknowledgments" and unfolded it, asking with a hint of confusion, "Which family do you represent?"

"Pei Li of the Pei clan, courtesy name Bozhong," Pei Li said, bowing with a somewhat restrained expression.

"Hmm. When the rebellion first broke out in Huainan, the Pei clan borrowed 50,000 bushels of grain from the Agricultural Lieutenant. I have personally verified the debt note. Can you tell me why the Pei clan needed this grain? 50,000 bushels is no small amount. How many people are in your family that you require so much?" Shi Shouxin looked up at Pei Li.

Pei Li was momentarily struck dumb. He couldn't very well say they were worried the Sima clan wouldn't hold power and thus took advantage of the chaos to pad their own pockets, could he? If the Sima clan had been overthrown, they wouldn't have had to repay the grain.

Seeing Pei Li unable to offer an explanation, Shi Shouxin tapped his head as if suddenly realizing something. "That was some time ago, perhaps you don't remember. The rebellion of Zhuge Dan shouldn't be long ago, right? Tsk, tsk, your family borrowed a full 100,000 bushels then. With so much grain, were you perhaps planning to aid Zhuge Dan in recruiting troops?"

Shi Shouxin smiled as he asked, but the smile looked cold.

Pei Li felt as if he had fallen into an ice cave, because… Shi Shouxin had hit the nail on the head! At that time, because Sima Zhao was locked in a stalemate with Zhuge Dan in Huainan for nearly a year, the great Hedong families had prepared for both outcomes. If the Sima clan were toppled, the Pei clan would need to recruit troops for self-preservation, and they couldn't do that without grain.

"Messenger, there is more to this than meets the eye. The Pei clan borrowed the grain only for disaster relief—truly, only for disaster relief," Pei Li said with a forced laugh, having lost his earlier composure. He tried to argue, but Shi Shouxin raised a hand, signaling him to be silent.

"Let me be clear with you: because of this, the Agricultural Lieutenant of Hedong is prepared to surrender himself to the imperial court! When that happens, if the Great General suspects he was colluding with certain people in treason, it will surely lead to a bloodbath. Since none of you can provide an explanation, I have no choice but to handle this impartially and report the situation to the Great General," Shi Shouxin said, shaking his head with a sigh.

"Messenger, my Wei clan has no such intention. It is all a misunderstanding, a mere misunderstanding! This must not be reported to the Great General," Wei Shi, who had been sitting on pins and needles, hurriedly interjected to smooth things over. Pei Li was a young man and didn't know how to speak, but Wei Shi was middle-aged; surely he understood the game? If they truly wanted to destroy them, they would have sent troops to arrest them and seize their property long ago. Why go through so much trouble?

"I know you have your difficulties. But with the Great General’s campaign against Shu imminent, grain is in short supply. Therefore, the amounts on these debt notes… cannot be ignored. How about this: you repay half this year, and the remainder over the next two years. How does that sound?" Shi Shouxin asked.

The room breathed a collective sigh of relief. The grain borrowed in batches had long since been used for turnover; if they were forced to pay it all at once, it would be their ruin. Half was a generous concession. Besides, the grain was meant to be repaid anyway; they had only been stalling, gambling that Sima Zhao wouldn't dare offend them over such a trifle. If they paid it back now, they would neither gain nor lose.

"The Messenger is right. We shall certainly comply," Wei Shi said.

"However," Shi Shouxin suddenly raised his voice. The room went silent; everyone knew the real "meat" of the matter was coming.

"The Great General still has doubts about the actions of the great Hedong families during the three rebellions in Huainan. He still does not understand why you borrowed that grain. Perhaps each family should write a letter of repentance for me to take back to Luoyang. That would give the Great General an explanation. How about that?"

Writing a letter of repentance was a public confession—that was not something to be done lightly. The room fell into silence, save for Wang Jun, who looked at Shi Shouxin, seemingly understanding his intent.

Shi Shouxin observed their expressions and rejoiced inwardly. The cruelty and breach of faith by the Sima clan over the years had made these families terrified, treating the subject as a taboo. They didn't object to paying back the grain, but the mention of a letter of repentance made them look as if they had been bitten by a poisonous snake.

"This letter of repentance cannot be written. How about this: we will find a way to make up for all the grain borrowed over the years, and then have the Agricultural Lieutenant burn the debt notes, as if nothing ever happened. How does that sound?" Wei Shi asked, showing his hand.

"That might be difficult. That is over a million bushels of grain—not a small amount," Shi Shouxin said, pretending to be troubled.

"It is no trouble, truly no trouble," Wei Shi said, wiping cold sweat from his forehead. Though it pained him, he knew that if the evidence were destroyed, all would be well. Sima Zhao was a petty man, and leaving a paper trail of this affair would always be a hazard.

"Very well. I have an initiative here; please sign your names to it." Shi Shouxin pulled a piece of silk from his sleeve. On it was written: *Hearing that the imperial court is about to launch a campaign, we, the great families of Hedong, wish to contribute. We shall repay the grain borrowed previously in full. If the court has need of us, we shall provide men and wealth accordingly.*

Was this not the same thing? Everyone looked at each other, only Wang Jun remained as steady as an old dog, eyes half-closed in meditation.

"Messenger, is there any difference between this and a letter of repentance?" Pei Li asked suspiciously.

"Of course there is! A letter of repentance is for the Great General, while an initiative is for the Colonel Director of Retainers. How can you confuse the two?" Shi Shouxin laughed. Everyone suddenly understood, and their unspoken anxieties dissipated. In this day and age, having leverage was the only way to feel secure. If they burned the debt notes and destroyed the evidence, what if the Sima clan sought revenge later? They had to keep a backup.

"Gentlemen, let us conclude this matter quickly. Dragging it out will do no good," Wang Jun said in a deep voice. He also wanted this matter settled; otherwise, Sima Zhao would punish him sooner or later.

Everyone had no choice but to sign reluctantly.

Shi Shouxin handed the "Summary of Debt Acknowledgments" to Wang Jun and said, "Prefect, please first transport the grain from the Anyi treasury to fill the deficit, then have each family send their grain to the Anyi treasury. We shall burn this ledger in person. Stabilizing the granaries will ensure the success of the war and prevent further complications. I leave this matter to you, Prefect."

Hearing this, the representatives of the Hedong families sighed inwardly at Shi Shouxin's meticulous planning—he had dragged every great family in Hedong into the mud with this move. The families would return the grain to the commandery treasury, and Wang Jun would then move that grain to the agricultural granaries to cover the shortfall. How the grain in the commandery treasury was managed was then a matter between the Prefect and the local clans. If something went wrong, everyone would suffer!

After the ink dried on the "initiative," Shi Shouxin inspected it several times before tucking it into his sleeve with satisfaction. Once he returned to Luoyang and handed it to Shi Bao, the matter would be resolved. It was secure, and he didn't have to worry about these families seeking revenge later.

"Gentlemen, I shall notify the Agricultural Lieutenant to urge him to burn the debt notes once the grain is received, and then I will return to Luoyang. Although the world is not peaceful, the trade route between Hedong and Luoyang is quite stable. I trust I shall encounter no accidents on the road. But if something unforeseen were to happen, the Great General would assume that I had been silenced for discovering some vital secret. In that case, the Colonel Director of Retainers would likely send a large number of messengers to Hedong to investigate, which would be quite troublesome. If that day ever comes, I bid you all take care—other messengers may not be as easy to talk to as I am."

Shi Shouxin shook his head with a sigh, looking truly regretful. Pei Li and the others turned pale, quickly offering to send men to escort Shi Shouxin back to Luoyang, which he declined. They had no choice but to leave in low spirits and return home to discuss the matter with their families.

After everyone had dispersed, the fifty-year-old Wang Jun stepped forward, looking Shi Shouxin up and down. "The Messenger is young, yet you have quite the hand for diplomacy," Wang Jun nodded, his eyes filled with hidden appreciation. He had served for many years and knew that these great families were the most difficult to deal with. They were not only local tyrants but also had family members serving in the court—they were immune to both soft and hard tactics. Yet, Shi Shouxin had made them willingly cough up the grain they had intended to keep.

"The Prefect is too kind; it is merely my duty," Shi Shouxin said humbly, bowing to Wang Jun. This time, he had also helped Wang Jun defuse a landmine.

"Rest assured, tomorrow I will have the grain transported to the granary of the agricultural station," Wang Jun said solemnly. He hesitated for a moment and then asked, "I have one question: did you never intend to have those families write letters of repentance from the very beginning?"

This was a difficult question to answer. Shi Shouxin laughed heartily, "Prefect, you have stumped me. How could I have so much foresight? It was all just a matter of circumstance." He waved his hand gently, neither confirming nor denying.

Wang Jun also laughed without pressing further. He invited Shi Shouxin to a casual meal at the prefectural office, but Shi Shouxin felt this might lead to further complications and declined on the grounds that his "return to duty was urgent."

By the time he returned to the post house, the sky was completely dark. Seeing Shi Shouxin in such high spirits, Xigou asked, "Master, is it done?"

"It is done. We go home tomorrow! Oh, and I’ll send a letter of recruitment while I’m at it, no big deal." Shi Shouxin was in a great mood. He had finally finished his business and made the great families spit out their grain. As for snitching to Sima Zhao, that was impossible; this was merely a ruthless move of mutual destruction. Like a nuclear weapon, it wasn't meant to be used—keeping it in one's hand in a state of "imminent use" was the optimal solution. If it were actually used, both sides would suffer.

Xigou asked in a low voice, "Master, this matter is of great importance. Did those families not give you any gold or jewelry?"

"They didn't, and even if they had, I couldn't accept it. Taking bribes is selling one's soul to demons; there is no turning back once you do," Shi Shouxin said with profound meaning. Xigou nodded, half-understanding, inexplicably feeling that Shi Shouxin’s words made perfect sense.