Moma Liangshan

Chapter 157 Beauty in the Bath, Emperor's Paintbrush

Zhu Gui roughly understood Wang Hao's intention and said, "Because the Liao Kingdom is destined to be defeated, trading weapons and provisions with them will not only avoid creating a threat, but will also weaken the strength of the various tribes on the grasslands to the greatest extent possible. We can then take the opportunity to purchase horses from the grasslands to compensate for the Song Dynasty's cavalry shortage." Wang Hao nodded and said, "When I inspected the loom workshop earlier, I proposed a reform plan for the trading company. Are you aware of it?" Zhu Gui replied, "I've heard a little about it, but I don't know the details!" Wang Hao explained, "Large trading companies with more than a hundred employees will establish an Operations Supervision Committee as the highest authority, with the chairman as the overall head. Below the chairman, there will be directors representing the interests of the owners, and labor representatives representing the interests of the workers. The power of a director depends on the shares they hold, and one labor representative can be elected for every hundred workers." Zhu Gui said, "I will certainly strictly follow your plan, Your Highness!"

Wang Hao continued, "The Management Supervision Committee serves only as the decision-making body for the company and does not interfere in daily operations. In my opinion, after you take over the ironworks, you can set up three main departments: technology, marketing, and finance. In addition, security is of paramount importance." Zhu Gui pondered for a long time before saying, "Is it possible for me to understand it this way: the Management Supervision Committee is equivalent to the Three Departments of the Imperial Court; the Technology, Marketing, and Finance departments are equivalent to the Six Ministries; and the security personnel are equivalent to the military." Wang Hao felt this was quite apt and said, "That's roughly the idea." Zhu Gui thought for a moment and continued, "How many security personnel should we have?" Wang Hao said, "You are the chairman of the ironworks; the number of guards you recruit is up to you based on actual needs." Zhu Gui was very grateful for Wang Hao's trust and replied, "I will certainly do my utmost..." However, Wang Lun interrupted him, saying, "We are all brothers; there's no need to say 'I will die for you'!" He then laughed three times.

In Tokyo, at the Genyue Palace, Emperor Huizong dismissed his attendants and, brush in hand, meticulously sketched a painting. On the silk cloth, the lines were graceful and the colors vibrant. In the bath, a beautiful woman reclined, draped in red gauze. Huizong was completely absorbed in his painting, and the woman lay motionless beside the bath. After two full hours, Huizong suddenly said, "Shishi, you've worked hard!" Li Shishi's snow-white feet brushed against the petals on the water's surface as she said, "Brother, haven't you already painted my bath scene? Why are you repainting it?" But just as Huizong was about to speak, Li Shishi added, "Brother, do you feel that your sister is growing old, and therefore want to preserve this final beauty?" She then feigned a sob. Emperor Huizong hurried down the steps to Li Shishi's side. His fingers traced her cheek, then her lips, and finally down to her chest, saying, "Time may fade your appearance, but it cannot take away your beauty!" Li Shishi rolled over and nestled in Huizong's arms, asking, "Then why did you suddenly feel like painting, brother?" Huizong pointed to a sandalwood tray beside him and said, "Because of the soap Xianmeng sent!" Li Shishi tilted her head slightly and said, "The soap my brother sent is truly magical; after using it, one feels completely transformed!" Huizong nodded and said, "After using it, I also felt as if I had become ten years younger!"

While stroking Emperor Huizong's chest, Li Shishi said, "My brother said in his letter that these soaps are made from sheep's milk, so they're not too extravagant!" Emperor Huizong nodded and said, "Sending Xianmeng to govern Jiaozhou has given him a vast world to explore!" Li Shishi chuckled and said, "Jiaozhou is just a low-ranking county. Brother, your description of 'vast world' is a bit insincere!" After saying that, she pretended to be nervous and buried her head in Emperor Huizong's arms. Emperor Huizong said indulgently, "What you say makes sense. Xianmeng is indeed talented. A mere seventh-rank county magistrate would only make people think I've buried a pillar of the state!" Li Shishi shook her head and said, "Brother, you really have a bad memory. I was originally the Director of the Water Conservancy Department of the Ministry of Works, a sixth-rank official position." Emperor Huizong pondered for a moment and said, "I only gave Xianmeng the position of Director of the Ministry of Works, without assigning him a specific area of ​​responsibility, so it was just a nominal post." Li Shishi pretended to be angry and said, "Brother, you're too stingy!" Emperor Huizong hugged Li Shishi and said, "Back then, Xianmeng acted first and reported later, privately changing the 'Song-Jin Alliance' to 'Song-Liao Trade.' To put it mildly, this is called 'a general in the field may disobey orders,' and to put it more seriously, it's 'the crime of deceiving the emperor.' If I don't punish him, won't the imperial edict be as worthless as a piece of paper?" Li Shishi pretended to suddenly understand and said, "Brother is so thoughtful!"

Emperor Huizong was in high spirits and said, "Wang Hao's administration of Jiaozhou has been remarkably successful, bringing me great prestige. Ask Xianmeng privately which section of the water conservancy he wishes to oversee!" Li Shishi immediately replied, "For a younger brother to become his elder brother's prized talent, I truly don't know what blessings his ancestors accumulated over generations!" Being subtly referred to as a "talent scout" by Li Shishi, Emperor Huizong was delighted and said, "Our meeting in this life is a blessing accumulated over many lifetimes!"

Li Shishi didn't continue the original topic, saying, "Please, brother, bestow these soaps I brought into the palace upon your sisters!" Emperor Huizong said, "Your kindness is enough; I will only take half!" Li Shishi said sincerely, "My brother said he will open a shop in Dongjing (Kaifeng) specializing in soaps and mirrors. It will be very convenient for you to obtain these items since you live outside the palace!" Emperor Huizong suddenly said, "When did things that are readily available in the common people become scarce in the palace?" Li Shishi immediately said, "Brother, why don't you grant me the title of Imperial Merchant? That way, if good things come from Jiaozhou, they can be sent to the palace immediately, instead of having me distribute them!" Emperor Huizong said, "What's wrong with letting you give them to me? I can use this opportunity to ease my longing!" Li Shishi feigned anger and said, "If my sisters knew I was using this opportunity to see my brother, wouldn't they look down on me?" Emperor Huizong immediately said, "Anyone who dares to say anything, I will order that she is forbidden from using the soap and mirror! Without these two things, she'll be heartbroken!" Li Shishi deliberately added fuel to the fire, saying, "Brother should let her use them for a month first, and then order that she never use the soap and mirror again. How can you maximize her regret if you don't let her experience the beauty of these two things first?" Emperor Huizong said, "Sometimes, you really are a little devil!"

The soap that Wang Hao sent to Tokyo was delivered to Emperor Huizong by Li Shishi, while the glass mirrors were given to Empress Zheng by Eunuch Chen. This arrangement was based on Wang Hao's view that soap was needed by both men and women, while mirrors were something women needed much more strongly.