Wei and Jin did not submit to Zhou

Chapter 214 Everyone in the world is here for profit
In Sima Zhao's view, it would be an easy task to get his ministers, or rather his close confidants, to jointly write a memorial "persuading the emperor to abdicate."

However, things are not that simple.

When Wang Hun consulted Pei Xiu about this matter, hoping that Pei Xiu could come up with a "heavenly warning" plan, Pei Xiu refused without even thinking!
According to Wang Hun's plan, he first had Pei Xiu, who was skilled in divination, throw out a warning from Heaven, then let the ministers discuss countermeasures, and finally came to the conclusion that "the emperor has lost his virtue" and jointly submitted a memorial to the throne, demanding that Cao Huan abdicate.

That's it.

However, Pei Xiu disagreed, believing that the ways of Heaven are unpredictable and difficult for mortals to fathom.

If a meteor falls to earth today, say that the emperor is immoral and should abdicate in favor of a more virtuous ruler.

If there's an earthquake tomorrow, should the new emperor also abdicate?

This is something you shouldn't do; it will cause endless trouble in the future.

Wang Hun hadn't expected Pei Xiu to reject him so directly.

Being the first to propose it is not impossible, but what would be the cost?

The price is posthumous reputation, being condemned by historians! It's divine retribution!

Making a proposal without first agreeing on the terms is not a good idea.

Wang Hun had no choice but to leave Pei Xiu's residence in a huff.

After returning home, Wang Hun pondered Pei Xiu's words repeatedly and came to a conclusion: "We need to pay more!"

After his initial defeat, Wang Hun went to Chen Qian, hoping this veteran of three reigns would take the lead in advocating for the new emperor. He didn't bother with any of that "mandate of heaven" nonsense; he simply wanted Chen Qian to say that the emperor was immoral and should abdicate in favor of a more virtuous ruler.

"That's not a good idea."

In the study of the Chen residence, Chen Qian stroked his beard, shook his head and sighed, directly rejecting Wang Hun.

"Minister Chen is a veteran of three reigns, highly respected and virtuous. This task is best left to you!"

Wang Hun pleaded, "Praise Chen Qian."

Although Wang Hun came from a prominent family, he had served primarily in the military since becoming an official, and his decisive style disliked procrastination. This is why Sima Zhao, despite having so many trusted confidants, chose Wang Hun.

Faced with the composed Chen Qian, Wang Hun grew anxious. However, Chen Qian sighed again:
"Mr. Chen is old and no longer cares about power and status. What he worries about is nothing more than his descendants and his posthumous reputation."

When I first entered officialdom as a court official, Emperor Wu (Cao Cao) was still in control of the government. After several dynasties, the emperor is now Cao Huan, and I can say that I am where I am today because I am living off the salary of the Cao family.

The King of Jin wanted to change the dynasty, and I, Chen, was powerless to stop him. But precisely because I have served several dynasties, it would be inappropriate for me to be the first to advocate for it.

Wang Hun understood instantly.

Chen Qian, that old bastard, talks about principles, but all he's really thinking about is business.

How will the world view Lao Deng, a man who has been a subject of Cao Wei since he first became an official, who is the first to stand up and force the emperor to abdicate? How will they view his descendants?
If you're going to play the villain, you have to pay a price to command villains. Sima Zhao didn't give his confidants any specific price, only saying, "You'll all have a bright future after I become emperor."

None of us are new to this world; even the emperor doesn't lack hungry soldiers! Without negotiating the terms, who would be willing to be the first to step forward and do this kind of work that offends people?
"I apologize for disturbing you, Mr. Wang. I'll take my leave now."

Wang Hun understood that he didn't need to look for another one; the real thing was to go back and report the situation to Sima Zhao.

Chen Qian had already told him very tactfully that the Cao Wei imperial family members were his beloved relatives and friends, so he had to pay more!
By the time Wang Hun arrived at the Prince of Jin's residence, it was already late at night. Sima Zhao did not rest; he was still working in his study, deep in thought about how to coordinate the troop rotation between Guanzhong and Longyou and Hanzhong, and how to adjust personnel appointments.

It's a real headache.

It was not difficult to announce a change of dynasty in Luoyang, but it was not easy to get the troops in various places to put down the Cao Wei military flag and replace it with the new Jin military flag.

Ambitious individuals seized the opportunity to "purge the court of corrupt officials," and after raising troops in the border towns, they carved out their own territories—a path to advancement. Guanqiu Jian and Zhuge Dan had already tried this tactic in Huainan.

Therefore, this factor was also a factor in Sima Zhao's plan to have the regional governors and prefects come to Luoyang to participate in the founding ceremony. With all the military and political leaders from various regions gathered in Luoyang, any potential rebellion would be nipped in the bud.

Upon hearing from his servant that Wang Hun was requesting an audience, Sima Zhao felt a chill in his heart.

Getting the court officials to advocate for the emperor to abdicate and yield the throne to a more worthy successor is an extremely difficult matter in the context of dynastic change. The fact that Wang Hun returned to report after only a few days clearly indicates that the matter was stalled and hadn't been resolved.

"Xuan Chong (Wang Hun's courtesy name), how's the matter going?"

After Wang Hun entered the study, Sima Zhao placed the roster on the table and asked him, his face ashen, clearly in a bad mood.

"Your Highness, the court officials have many reservations about this matter, and I believe there is no way to move forward for the time being."

Wang Hun spoke the truth.

Sima Zhao did not get angry, but simply nodded slightly, then sat up straight and asked, "Tell me in detail."

Wang Hun then recounted Pei Xiu and Chen Qian's words almost verbatim, without embellishing them.

"What do you think?"

Sima Zhao looked at Wang Hun and asked, without commenting on the actions of Pei Xiu and Chen Qian.

This question is not easy to answer.

To be honest, Sima Zhao might be unhappy, but giving a perfunctory answer might directly anger the other party, putting him in a dilemma.

Wang Hun pondered for a moment and said, "Whether it's Pei Xiu or Chen Qian, they are both worried about not receiving any rewards afterward. Why don't you, Prince Jin, reward them first, as a way to buy their bones with a thousand pieces of gold? With an example set, there will naturally be no shortage of successors, and I can continue to push this matter forward."

"Take a couple of days off. I'll let you know if I need anything."

Sima Zhao nodded, his expressionless face revealing neither joy nor anger.

But Wang Hun guessed that he was probably unhappy. After Wang Hun left, Sima Zhao looked at the list he had just been holding.

The story of Pei Xiu and Chen Qian is just a glimpse into the bigger picture; in fact, many people share similar thoughts.

Since a change of dynasty is imminent, these people will simply remain inactive if they aren't offered any benefits. However, if there are no tangible advantages after the change of dynasty, it's possible they might cause trouble.

We still need to offer some benefits!
Sima Zhao sighed deeply, feeling a sense of powerlessness as if his whole body was being pulled along.

The fact that the court officials supported Sima Zhao as a powerful minister and supported him as emperor are two completely different things.

In fact, for those powerful and wealthy people, it would be a good thing if there were no emperor in the world, or if there were a powerless puppet emperor like now.

Sima Zhao's rise to power was not inherently advantageous to them unless they could obtain additional benefits.

Because after Sima Zhao became emperor, he would seize more benefits, which could only come from other places, or even be said to be the private domain of these powerful people!
A powerful emperor leads to centralized power, which obviously harms the interests of the powerful and wealthy.

If one had to choose between Sima Zhao and Cao Huan as emperor, all the nobles except for the Sima clan would choose Cao Huan, an emperor with no real power!

Pei Xiu and Chen Qian were both confidants of Sima Zhao, yet they were unwilling to stand up and advocate for the emperor's abdication, which already spoke volumes.

Such is human nature.

After much deliberation, Sima Zhao finally spread out a large sheet of paper on his desk and began writing a letter. He offered to concede some of his profits to persuade Pei Xiu and Chen Qian.

Sima Zhao is currently writing two letters, one for each of these two individuals, explaining the advantages and disadvantages to them and promising specific benefits. It remains to be seen whether Pei Xiu and Chen Qian will take the bait.

The reason for writing a letter instead of meeting in person was to avoid a direct confrontation. Sima Zhao didn't want the negotiations to fall apart!
Even if your letter is rejected, there is still room for maneuver.

Of course, if anyone doesn't give Sima Zhao face now, they can't blame him for not giving him face after he ascends the throne.

Sima Zhao picked up his pen to write a letter. His brush moved like dragons and snakes, and he felt that the words he wrote on the paper were golden, flowing with wealth, and every stroke was priceless.

……

With just over a month left until the autumn harvest, Shi Shouxin was busy making arrangements for Qingzhou, wishing he could be cut in half to do it all.

Early that morning, he summoned all the generals to the government office for a meeting. Making empty promises before starting any work was to be expected.

When people have something to look forward to, they become more proactive in their work; otherwise, they will just dawdle and end up losing as a result.

Inside the study, Shi Shouxin sat in the main seat. He looked around at everyone and said, "Now that I am the Governor of Qingzhou, those of you who should be serving as Prefects should be Prefects, and those of you who should be Commandants should be Commandants. I haven't treated you unfairly, have I? Haven't I fulfilled all the promises I made in Hanzhong?" He smiled, and upon hearing this, all the generals knelt down in unison, clasped their hands in a gesture of loyalty, and said, "Your Excellency is unparalleled in benevolence and righteousness. We all follow your lead. Whoever you command us to attack, we will attack!"

It's not surprising that everyone unanimously expressed their loyalty and support for Shi Shouxin, because in these chaotic times, morality and social order had long since collapsed.

It's not easy to find a leader who keeps their word and delivers on their promises.

After becoming the governor of Qingzhou, Shi Shouxin did not put on airs and showed no respect for local wealthy families, lavishly bestowing official titles upon his trusted subordinates.

Power is only accountable to its source. Shi Shouxin knew that his power came from his own hereditary soldiers, not from the Sima family, so he promptly rewarded them after he gained power.

This is truly a sign of human clarity!
This tactic was very effective; without Shi Shouxin's approval, Sima Zhao couldn't even command one of his soldiers.

"Oh, what a pity."

Shi Shouxin kept shaking his head.

"Is there something troubling you, my lord? Please speak freely. We are all here now, and we will certainly help you with your worries."

Chief Secretary Li Liang bowed and greeted Shi Shouxin. The others followed suit, without giving it any further thought.

“You have all eaten your fill, but the soldiers in the army are still hungry.”

When Shi became the governor, apart from some windfall gains, they didn't receive any real benefits.

I feel uneasy.

Shi Shouxin sighed deeply.

Upon hearing this, Xi Zuo asked with a puzzled look, "We all admire your benevolence, Your Excellency, but since the reward has already been given, is there any need to go to such lengths?"

His words weren't exactly subtle; the hereditary military system was inherently a highly exploitative system, where generals could control the life and death of their soldiers.

Xi Zuo and his group were already satisfied with taking the lion's share and didn't care at all about how their tenants were doing.

Even if Shi Shouxin wanted to reward them, he should have rewarded these generals. What good are the benefits given to the lower-ranking people?
"I want to implement the equal distribution of land so that soldiers and their families can all own land."

If even one person in a family is serving in the military, they can be exempted from rent for 100 acres of land. What do you think?
This is just a rough idea; the details can be discussed later.

Shi Shouxin looked around at everyone and asked.

Upon hearing his explanation, everyone, including Li Liang, looked at each other in disbelief.

The current operating model of the hereditary soldiers is that the soldiers and their families under their command live together, collect the produce they have grown, and decide who gets how much.

Soldiers are civilians, and civilians are soldiers!
As wealth was distributed down the social hierarchy, those at the very bottom, the tenant farmers who had no blood relation to their own clan, naturally fared the worst.

However, Shi Shouxin proposed that families who joined the army could own land and be exempt from rent. This meant that their troops would be subject to a system of more work, more pay; less work, less pay; and no work, no pay.

It's no longer about blood ties or closeness that determine status; it's about who contributes more to the army!
This is both a good thing and a bad thing; the conclusions drawn will be completely different depending on the perspective of different people.

Seeing that no one spoke, Shi Shouxin asked in return, "You may all have any opinions. I just hope that the brothers who follow me will not win battles but not even have enough to eat."

No one answered; everyone present was lost in thought, and no one was willing to take the initiative to uncover this veil of shame.

No one cared where the land came from.

Their knives were incredibly fast, and Shi Shouxin held the official position of governor. If they couldn't get the land, they would just rob it outright. No one in the entire Qingzhou could defeat them!

It's a good thing to distribute land to the soldiers and officers, and it's also a good thing that joining the army can exempt them from rent. These are all good things.

But all of this combined may not be a good thing for these hereditary military commanders and their families!

It's even destroying their very foundation!

If Shi Shouxin's plan is implemented, it means that their subordinates will prioritize Shi Shouxin's orders in the future, and only secondarily consider their own blood ties and kinship.

These hereditary military commanders and their relatives will no longer be able to act arrogantly and plunder the property of their tenants within their territories.

How can this be a good thing?
However, Shi Shouxin's proposals for equal land distribution and rent exemption demonstrate an open and honest attitude, and he does not suppress any opinions. Everyone is welcome to offer suggestions, and he has no reservations about anything.

If you have a point, then make your point. If you can't make a point, then just follow the plan. The more you debate, the clearer the truth will become!
Shi Shouxin's plan can be described as a brilliant scheme within a brilliant scheme!
These hereditary military commanders comprised the majority of the people in this room.

However, if the issue were presented to the entire army, almost everyone would side with Shi Shouxin.

Shi Shijun, on the contrary, became the vast majority!
There is almost no doubt about whether people's hearts are with you or not.

This left Xi Zuo and the others completely at a loss for words, and they didn't even dare to speak. If they refuted it now, it would damage their reputation.

Seeing that no one spoke, Shi Shouxin sighed and said:

"This concerns the well-being of everyone and cannot be decided lightly. I will send someone to make this public and will not keep it hidden."

When you go back, go down and ask your troops, especially the ordinary soldiers, what they are thinking.

Let's discuss this again in three days.

Shi Shouxin waved his hand gently and said.

The generals slowly walked out of the government office study, each with a thoughtful expression on their face.

Only Meng Guan, who had few family retainers and was serving as the deputy governor at the time, remained.

"My lord, I sense that the generals don't seem very happy."

Meng Guan sighed softly.

Shi Shouxin nodded and said, "It's natural to be unhappy. Before, you could be a local tyrant, with people serving you while you lay down. Now you have to work hard to achieve anything, so it's not surprising that you feel uncomfortable."

A cold smile flashed across his face.

This is an open conspiracy!

The current military leaders are both tribal chiefs and court officials. If one of them rises to prominence in the future, he could replace Shi Shouxin himself.

To prevent this from happening, it was imperative for Shi Shouxin to crack down on the land ownership of his troops.

"Your Excellency is benevolent, and the general trend is irreversible. Why not implement this first among my troops? After all, I don't have that many relatives in the army. What do you think, Your Excellency?"

Meng Guan bowed to Shi Shouxin and asked him a question. Shi Shouxin had given him the official position of Biejia, and he knew how to be grateful.

What is a trusted confidant?

A true confidant is someone who steps up to offer support in crucial moments and receives the greatest reward afterward!

"Well, I can rest assured that you will do the work."

Shi Shouxin patted Meng Guan on the shoulder and continued to sigh with emotion:

"A single person cannot stop the tide. If someone in the family is in the army, they can be exempted from a lot of land rent and land tax, and the rest will belong to their family. Who wouldn't love that?"
Even if these hereditary military leaders still try to extort money and bribes in the future, their subordinates will not remain silent once they know that I, the governor, have such policies.

Faced with overwhelming public sentiment, what can one person do?

"Yes, if everyone under you opposes you, what can one person do?"

Meng nodded in agreement, saying he wholeheartedly agreed.

Before heading to Luoyang to receive his reward, Shi Shouxin first introduced a new land policy to stabilize the grassroots level, which can be described as well-thought-out.

Even if he is not in Qingzhou, if his generals want to cause trouble, no one at the lower levels will respond.

(End of this chapter)