Wei and Jin did not submit to Zhou

Chapter 82 Certificate of Surrender

How did the army improve its food during the Wei and Jin Dynasties?
This problem is simple in a way; skilled chefs are everywhere. The delicacies enjoyed by wealthy and powerful families are all prepared by their chefs. If the lords of the wealthy families are satisfied with their food, then the common soldiers will naturally be satisfied as well.

However, this problem is troublesome because both buying ingredients and cooking require money, or something similar to money, such as silk.

Even a hero can be brought down by a penny; without money, nothing can be accomplished!

But where can we get the money?

Ma Long understood Shi Shouxin's unspoken meaning. The army was a place of ruthlessness; they knew nothing of farming or weaving, their only skill was killing.

So what are some ways for soldiers who specialize in killing to make money?

Shi Shouxin's words, though seemingly roundabout, boiled down to nothing more than the word "plunder."

Having served in the military for a long time, Malone naturally understood this matter.

"General Shi, I understand your meaning. But Baishui Pass is only so big, and it has been a garrisoned place since ancient times. Most of the local people are military families, so we can't squeeze much out of them."

Even if we plunder this place, how much food and fodder could we possibly obtain?

Malone asked cautiously.

Shi Shouxin tapped the stone table with his right index finger, his face serious as if he were thinking about something.

Seeing that Shi Shouxin remained silent, Ma Long asked again, "General Shi, there's no profit to be made at Baishui Pass, but there is in Hanzhong. However, that area is not under our jurisdiction, and rash action might be..."

"Yeah, how come I didn't think of that?"

Shi Shouxin suddenly realized, then looked at Ma Long with a smile.

"General Shi, this, this... it is acceptable, but it is indeed not very dignified."

Malone realized he had been tricked and chuckled awkwardly, trying to explain himself, fearing that Shi Shouxin had swindled him.

“The wealthy families in Hanzhong support the Shu army against us. These people are quite rich and are like fat sheep.”

Cut some flesh from their bodies and let your soldiers have a good meal; I think that would be enough.

This is not disturbing the peace; this is the way of Heaven to supplement what is lacking and reduce what is excessive. We are acting on behalf of Heaven!
By the way, which of the wealthy families in Hanzhong is the richest?

Shi Shouxin asked in a low voice, as he was completely clueless about this area.

"It's hard to say, but Zhang Lu once surrendered in Hanzhong, so the Zhang family must be very wealthy."

Malone said thoughtfully.

Shi Shouxin shook his head and said, "Zhang Lu's descendants are no longer in Hanzhong."

He remembered that Zhang Lu's descendants had gone to Jiangxi to lecture and founded the "Celestial Masters Way," and that those in Hanzhong probably... had no family fortune. Going there would be a wasted trip.

But there will definitely be prominent families in Hanzhong, and their manors. The old will leave, and the new will rise!
There is no vacuum of power; once lost, it will immediately be replaced by something else!
What do you think about this?

Shi Shouxin looked at Ma Long and asked.

This matter isn't a huge deal, but it's definitely not insignificant either; if investigated, it could cost you your head! Malone felt a little panicked.

"General Shi, the General's intention is still to prioritize stability."

Malone offered a very subtle hint.

"That is indeed what the General meant, but when we carry out our duties, we are not the official army of Wei, but a righteous army that does not wear military uniforms. A righteous army that acts on behalf of Heaven."

Shi Shouxin chuckled.

Even robbers wear stockings over their faces when they go to commit robbery! Don't they know how to change their clothes when they go to Hanzhong to "do business"?

That would mean the work is done too sloppily!

"General Shi, it's not that the matter can't be done, but I feel it would be detrimental to your reputation. There are no secrets that stay hidden forever."

Malone pleaded earnestly.

"General Ma, let me ask you, why do your soldiers support you? And why did they join the army?"
Do they really think they can become a general based on military achievements?

Shi Shouxin calmly retorted, tearing away the last veil of pretense without any politeness!
These days, while the channels for upward mobility are not completely closed, mid- to high-level positions are generally held by scions of wealthy and powerful families.

Malone didn't answer this question; many things are better left unsaid, given the harsh reality.

A thousand miles to serve as an official, all for food and clothing; a thousand miles to join the army, all for provisions and pay.

Everything else is superficial. It's fine to say nice things when things are going well, but when it comes to getting things done, you have to put in real money.

An officer who can lead his soldiers to achieve good results will be supported by them; it's that simple.

What kind of people are those who talk big but don't deliver? Their graves are overgrown with weeds by now.

Of course, there are many kinds of so-called "benefits," some visible and some invisible.

Whether one eats well, whether one is treated like a beast of burden by their superiors, one's social status, and one's sense of honor can all be categorized as benefits. It's not just about whether one receives rations on time.

"After entering Shu, Zhong Hui will rebel! There will definitely be a bloodbath! Your more than a thousand Imperial Guards are risking their lives to fight alongside us!"

If you don't give them enough benefits, who will risk their lives for you!
If Zhong Hui gave them orders to take our heads, do you think they would listen to Zhong Hui or to you?

If we don't treat them well normally, they'll only listen to orders from above!

Or they can just stand by and do nothing, going through the motions without putting in any effort!

Shi Shouxin said solemnly.

"This humble general...has learned a great deal."

After a long silence, Ma Long bowed and paid his respects to Shi Shouxin with heartfelt admiration.

Seeing that Malone had been persuaded, Shi Shouxin remarked with emotion:
"Reputation is certainly important, but you must first be alive to enjoy it."

What's the point of empty fame if you're going to lose your life?

"General Shi, since we are going to do this, we must first explain the reasons to officers at all levels in the army."

With everyone working together as one, we will surely succeed.

Ma Long echoed, "It seems he has no psychological qualms about plundering the local powerful families of Hanzhong. His only fear is disobeying military orders."

The local powerful families in Hanzhong were not Ma Long's benefactors.

Shi Shouxin suddenly recalled that in his previous life, when Shi Chong was the governor of Jingzhou, he led his troops to rob passing merchants and made a fortune. Not only was he not punished afterward, but he was also promoted for it.

This is truly an era with extremely low moral standards, so low that they are unfathomable! "Here's what we'll do: officers and soldiers, you'll talk to them one by one. Make a note of those who are hesitant or directly opposed. After you've finished this matter, give me the list, and I'll handle it."

Shi Shouxin nodded and said.

"Yes, sir. I will carry it out immediately."

Malone accepted the order and left.

After he left, Shi Shouxin took out a piece of paper from his sleeve and wrote the words "Ma Long" on it.

……

A day later, just as night fell, Ma Long secretly found Shi Shouxin, and the two went to a secluded and deserted spot by the city wall for a private talk.

Malone handed a piece of paper to Shi Shouxin and said in a deep voice, "These people seem unwilling to participate in this operation and are making all sorts of excuses. I have marked those who have clearly refused and those who have given vague answers."

"That might be difficult to handle, wouldn't it?"

Shi Shouxin smiled and took the paper, tucking it into his sleeve without even looking at it.

"Indeed, if we were to hold a banquet like the Feast at Hongmen and invite those people to the event, it would likely be exposed beforehand due to leaks, leading to a backlash."

If infighting breaks out within the army, Zhong Hui will definitely notice, and the situation will become difficult to manage.

Malone nodded and said.

How could a military commander not have confidants? With a casual arrangement by Shi Shouxin, the news would quickly reach the aggrieved party.

If we're going to take action, we can't use the people in the current army; we have to bring in external forces.

Ma Long, who had worked at the grassroots level, was well aware of this and couldn't help but offer some advice to Shi Shouxin.

"No problem, Liu Qin's troops will arrive at Baishui Pass soon. Their men will be able to act without anyone noticing!"

Shi Shouxin had already devised a plan to deal with the situation.

Unlike the imperial guards, the soldiers of Weixing County under Liu Qin were a bunch of miserable wretches. They couldn't even get special military rations and ate wheat porridge all day long. That stuff was hard on the throat, and anyone who ate it knew how tough it was. They ate it without making a sound.

Ma Long hesitated, seemingly thinking that Shi Shouxin was being a bit conservative and that they should act quickly to avoid any unforeseen complications.

"If we act now, you just asked those people, and they must have their own ideas and precautions. How do we make a move?"
"I have my own plans after Liu Qin arrives. These people, seeing that we haven't taken anything substantial, are no longer taking us seriously."

Shi Shouxin waved his hand gently, voicing Ma Long's concerns. After all, this army belonged to Sima Zhao, so he wouldn't hesitate to kill troublemakers.

"General Shi is indeed very thoughtful."

Malone chuckled awkwardly.

Shi Shouxin nodded slightly without speaking. He thought Ma Long was an honest man who might be good at carrying out orders, but his mind was still too simple.

To do something like this, you need to be bold and meticulous. Everyone knows the basic tricks, but success or failure lies in the details.

Just as Shi Shouxin said, a day later, Liu Qin arrived at Baishui Pass with more than two thousand soldiers from Weixing County.

Compared to the Luoyang Imperial Guard under Du Yu's command, Liu Qin's army was much more wretched, with old and tattered uniforms and a lack of horses.

However, their spirit and morale far surpassed those of the Imperial Guards, and their marching formations were orderly and appeared extremely imposing.

Originally, Baishui Pass was spacious enough that over a thousand soldiers could all stay in civilian houses. However, after Liu Qin's men arrived, Baishui Pass already had over three thousand soldiers, making it somewhat crowded. The barracks were no longer sufficient, and many soldiers had to live in tents.

Shi Shouxin was very fair. He gave each of the soldiers guarding Baishui Pass a small wooden plaque, with one half of the plaque saying "odd" and the other half saying "even".

Starting from the date the wooden signs are issued, the first day is for odd-numbered people staying in the barracks, and the second day is for even-numbered people staying in the barracks. No one is at a disadvantage.

Both Ma Long and Liu Qin were very satisfied with this method.

The following evening, Shi Shouxin arrived at Liu Qin's military tent, carrying a pot of wine.

After the two sat down, Liu Qin hurriedly and politely poured wine for the other party, his attitude was very humble and without any airs.

The meaning of Shi Shouxin's "false insignia" is self-evident.

"I've come today to discuss something with you."

Shi Shouxin raised his wine glass, toasted Liu Qin, and said slowly.

"Supervisor Shi, you're too kind. You've helped me a lot in Huangjinwei before. Just let me know if you need anything."

Liu Qin quickly clinked glasses with him, looking flattered and surprised. Back in Huangjinwei, Shi Shouxin had already proven his abilities to Liu Qin.

This is the second time the two sides have cooperated.

In this chaotic world, it's not that there are no good things to be had, but rather that there are no good people. Only by working with people you know well can things be done well. Liu Qin was quite satisfied with Shi Shouxin, his temporary superior.

"The army is short of food and pay, and the soldiers are suffering terribly. I am also very worried about this."

What do you think is a possible solution to this problem?

Shi Shouxin asked with a smile.

"Well... you already know, don't you? If I had a way, we wouldn't have been eating coarse food back in Huangjinwei."

Liu Qin smiled wryly.

When he arrived at Baishui Pass, he found that the food for his troops there was slightly better than what they had received at Huangjinwei. To be precise, his army was the worst-treated among all the Wei troops in this campaign against Shu, without exception.

"Wouldn't you like to let your soldiers eat well and take some money home?"

Shi Shouxin continued to press for answers.

Liu Qin was startled. He wasn't stupid. Although he was the governor of Weixing, he was a true military general who had long been in confrontation with the Shu Han generals in Hanzhong!

Judging from Shi Shouxin's words, it seems that... he is going to plunder the area?
"It's not impossible, but... it requires the entire army to be of one mind."

Liu Qin nodded, saying that he clearly didn't have the same "moral burden" as Ma Long. The saying "hunger and cold breed thievery" is absolutely true.

"If you think about it this way, things will be much easier."

Shi Shouxin nodded, having already made up his mind. He walked over, leaned close to Liu Qin's ear, and whispered a few words, which sent a chill down the latter's spine.

Liu Qin never expected things to turn out like this!
But now that things have come to this point, can we really not do it? Although there was no such thing as a "pledge of allegiance" in the Wei and Jin dynasties, the same logic is not hard to understand.

At that moment, Liu Qin understood.

Indeed, if you want to "make progress," you can't be afraid of getting your hands dirty!

(End of this chapter)