Chapter 25: Is This Not the Will of Heaven?

"Wen Chang, how is it? If I ask Shi Gong to send you seven or eight foreign slave girls, would you like them? Do you want them?" Zhao Shaojie lay on a soft couch, observing the pretty maids preparing his meal, and teased Wei Yan, who was nearby.

Wei Yan’s expression darkened. "How much longer are we to stay here? Our Lord is in Jingzhou, General Mi is in Guangxin, both are busy running about, yet we live here in luxury. How can we justify the trust our Lord has placed in us?"

Ever since that conversation with Shi Xie, the latter had stopped discussing specific official matters with Zhao Shaojie, turning instead to academic inquiries. Zhao Shaojie did not hold back and posed a math problem suitable for a sixth-grade elementary student, which immediately captivated Shi Xie and the others.

Through these brief interactions, Zhao Shaojie discovered that there were quite a few talented individuals around Shi Xie. Besides the previously introduced classicist Liu Xi and the armchair philosopher Xu Jing, there were Liu Xi's disciples—Xue Zong, Cheng Bing, Xu Ci, and others—as well as Yuan Hui, Huan Shao, and even the monks Kang Senghui and Mou Rong. If he could recruit all of them, while they might not offer much military utility, they would certainly make excellent teachers.

Glancing at the indignant Wei Yan, he chuckled, "Wen Chang, keep your cool. We are serving our Lord here as well, and if we complete our mission, it will surely be a great contribution!"

Wei Yan asked urgently, "What mission? Why am I not aware of it?"

"I have privately asked Shi Gong to cede Nanhai Commandery to us, and he is still considering it," Zhao Shaojie said with a smile.

Wei Yan was stunned, his pupils dilating in disbelief. "Nanhai is a major commandery of Jiaozhou. How could the Shi family possibly agree? You are simply daydreaming!"

"If we really want Nanhai, we will have to fight for it!"

"You might as well raise an army for Jiaozhi and force Shi Xie to hand over Nanhai!"

Zhao Shaojie was not truly confident in his heart, but people are often prone to wishful thinking. He prepared to wait about a week; if Shi Xie remained indecisive, he would let it go. After all, he had exhausted all his persuasive words on Shi Xie. Once Liu Bei occupied Jingzhou and gained the strength to interfere in Jiaozhou, whatever fate befell Shi Xie would be his own doing.

Historically, after Shi Xie died, his sons, fueled by excessive ambition and believing the Shi family held absolute control over Jiaozhou, rebelled against Sun Quan and were subsequently exterminated. It could only be said that they chose their own path.

"Enough, enough, let us wait a little longer!" Zhao Shaojie began to eat and gestured for Wei Yan to join him. Wei Yan looked at Zhao Shaojie, and although he was displeased, he was merely a colonel and could only obey.

...

At the same time, Shi Xie was also dining.

"Father, why have you been so restless these past few days? Is there something on your mind?" Shi Xin noticed that his father was heavy-hearted, his brow clouded with worry.

Shi Xie instinctively looked at his sons. Shi Xin was fine, gentle and sensible. But Shi Hui was different; he already viewed the entirety of Jiaozhou as the Shi family’s personal property. Furthermore, his brothers Shi Zhi, Shi Gan, and Shi Song were quite submissive to Shi Hui.

After a moment's thought, Shi Xie looked at them and asked, "If one day the imperial court were to appoint someone else as the Administrator of Jiaozhi, what would you think?"

Upon hearing this, Shi Hui was immediately enraged. With a fierce expression, he declared, "If the court were to issue such a chaotic order, we certainly could not sit by and wait for death. We would surely have to raise an army to resist. Without a battle, the court will never know the power of the Shi family in Jiaozhou!"

"Indeed!"

"Exactly!"

"No one shall take Jiaozhi from the hands of the Shi family, and not just Jiaozhi—the same goes for Rinan, Jiuzhen, and the other commanderies!"

Shi Zhi, Shi Hui, Shi Gan, and Shi Song all chimed in in agreement. Even the mild-mannered Shi Xin displayed a look of indignation.

Shi Xie’s heart sank. It was exactly as Zhao Shaojie had suspected: if the Shi family lost the governorship of Jiaozhi, his sons would refuse to accept it and would rebel. However, Jiaozhi was remote and its military force was weak; whoever took control of Jiaozhou in the future would easily be able to crush them.

"Alas..." Shi Xie sighed deeply.

Shi Xin asked again, "Father, what is truly the matter?"

Just as he spoke, a servant rushed in, crying, "My Lord, something terrible has happened!"

Shi Xie, who placed great importance on etiquette, turned ash-pale at the sight of the servant bursting in. He stood up, about to reprimand him, when he realized the man was not his own servant, but one from his younger brother’s household. A wave of panic washed over him, and he furrowed his brow, shouting, "What has happened?"

"Master, Master Wu has passed away..." the servant sobbed.

Shi Xie swayed and slumped back into his seat. Had it not been for Shi Xin and the others holding him up, he would have fallen to the floor.

"Brother Wu, you were the youngest; how could you leave your elder brothers behind!" Shi Xie wailed in grief, tears streaming down his face like rain. Shi Wu was the youngest of the brothers and the one most doted upon by his elders.

"Father, please restrain your grief..." Shi Xin and the others urged him.

Shi Hui, however, had a glint in his eye and shouted, "Uncle Wu is gone, so what is the situation in Nanhai now?"

The servant quickly replied, "The commandery has met and requested that Er Xiaode take the position of Administrator." He then looked at Shi Xie, adding, "Representatives from the commandery have already arrived, hoping for your approval, Master!"

Shi Xie, still immersed in the sorrow of his brother’s premature death, suddenly changed his expression and cried out, "Is this not the will of Heaven?"

"Who is this Er Xiaode? Does he have the right to hold the position of Administrator?" Shi Hui was furious, shouting, "Father, you must not let the Nanhai Commandery act recklessly. Er Xiaode is not qualified to be an Administrator!"

"With Liu Bei watching like a tiger, Er Xiaode may not be able to hold them off!"

"Father, I beg you to petition for me to be the Administrator of Nanhai. I will guarantee that Nanhai remains in the hands of our Shi family!"

Once these words were spoken, his brothers—Shi Zhi, Shi Hui, Shi Gan, and Shi Song—all echoed his sentiment.

"Yes, Father, at a time like this, you must not hand the position of Nanhai Administrator to an outsider!"

Shi Xin also said solemnly, "If Liu Bei’s subordinates hear of this, they will surely find an opportunity to stir up trouble. Please make your decision quickly, Father!"

Shi Xie looked at his sons, who displayed such cold indifference toward the passing of their own uncle, and felt even more wretched. He suddenly shoved Shi Xin aside and scolded them loudly, "Do you have even a shred of family affection in your hearts? Your Uncle Wu was my own brother, born of the same mother, and like a father to you all! At a time like this, instead of mourning your uncle, you are bickering over the position of an Administrator. How heartless!"

Shi Xin and the others realized their mistake and hung their heads in shame. Only Shi Hui remained defiant, showing no trace of guilt.

Shi Xie took a deep breath and closed his eyes. He now knew that his sons were indeed unruly and heartless. He knew that Jiaozhou had no capital to contend with the North. And he knew that the people of Nanhai were already full of resentment toward the Shi family; otherwise, they would not have nominated Er Xiaode without his consent.

"Someone, invite Colonel Zhao to the side hall for a discussion!" Shi Xie opened his eyes and commanded.

Shi Xin and the others immediately tried to stop him.

"Father, you must not!"

"Withdraw! Go and keep vigil for your uncle!" Shi Xie roared in fury.