Moma Liangshan

Chapter 126 Transaction of Financial Power, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Works

Chen Song stood below the hall, while Wang Hao sat in the superior position, laughing angrily. He loudly questioned, "I demand you repeat what you just said!" Chen Song, feeling guilty and helpless, replied, "Tong Guan, Cai Jing, and Gao Qiu have formed an alliance, raising three million strings of cash to produce woolen cloth. Tong Guan has explicitly told my father that he hopes you, sir, can deliver six hundred looms within six months." Wang Hao, still furious, said, "A skilled craftsman needs at least ten days to build one loom. Tell me, how many craftsmen are currently in the Jiaozhou workshop?" Chen Song answered, "More than thirty craftsmen." Wang Hao slammed his hand on the table and stood up, saying, "Within six months, I can produce at most nine hundred looms. Tong Guan has already asked for six hundred. Do you know what this means?" Chen Song replied, "It means that in the short term, the woolen cloth produced by Tong Guan and his group will far exceed that of Jiaozhou." Wang Hao stared at Chen Song and said, "Tell me, who informed Tong Guan of Jiaozhou's secrets?" Chen Song, anger rising, said, "You suspect me, sir?"

Chen Song's rhetorical question brought Wang Hao back to his senses. He said, "I knew it wouldn't be you! Feng Gu is Cai Jing's protégé, and Zhu Heng is Gao Qiu's subordinate. These two will never miss this opportunity to gain merit!" Chen Song was slightly relieved and asked, "How does Young Master plan to deal with this?" Wang Hao shook his head and said, "What would happen if I forcefully refused?" Chen Song smiled bitterly and said, "Unimaginable!" Wang Hao sighed helplessly and said, "Send a visiting card to Cai Jing's residence. I'll invite him to a gathering at Fanlou!" Chen Song then asked, "Should Tong Guan and Gao Qiu be invited as well?" Wang Hao shook his head and said, "In terms of background, official position, and social standing, Cai Jing is superior to Tong Guan. These three cannot cooperate as a united front. If I make concessions, they will definitely be wary of each other. Tong Guan is aggressive, and Gao Qiu is not someone I can rely on. Only Cai Jing might be a viable option!" Seeing that Wang Hao already had a plan, Chen Song said, "I will go and make the arrangements immediately!"

Chen Song was extremely efficient. That evening, Cai Jing attended a banquet at Fanlou. Wang Hao had reserved the largest private room in Fanlou and dismissed all the waiters. Cai Jing looked around and said, "Lord Wang has extended such a warm invitation; may I ask what brings you here?" Wang Hao replied, "Grand Tutor, why do you ask when you already know the answer?" Cai Jing stroked his beard and smiled, saying, "Lord Wang, if you have anyone to blame, it's only yourself for making this exhibition so successful that even we old bones can't help but drool!" Wang Hao waved his hand and said, "Six hundred looms to be delivered within six months—such precise calculations must have come from Grand Tutor Cai, right?" Cai Jing laughed and said, "How do you know?" Wang Hao replied, "Jiaozhou can produce at most nine hundred looms within six months." "If you take all the looms, I will be furious, and it will be bad for everyone! Leave me three hundred looms; that should be enough to meet Jiaozhou's basic production needs. After all, trade with the Liao Kingdom is still in the planning stages, and Jiaozhou doesn't have many sources of wool. Within six months, you will have twice the number of looms and a steady stream of wool from the Northwest, which will surely allow you to firmly suppress Jiaozhou. As for the future, the outcome is already decided. It will not be easy for the latter to surpass the former. Such a meticulous plan—neither Tong Guan nor Gao Qiu has the ability to do it!"

Cai Jing laughed and said, "To serve as a minister alongside Lord Wang is truly a profound experience for this old man!" Wang Hao replied, "Grand Tutor, your skills remain undiminished; I cannot help but admire you!" Seeing the blazing anger in Wang Hao's eyes, Cai Jing felt an unprecedented sense of satisfaction and said, "Lord Wang, the lavish banquet you've prepared is surely not just a matter of inviting this old man for a long time!" Wang Hao said, "I can grant your request, but you must also grant me one condition!" Cai Jing frowned slightly and said, "Lord Wang, please speak!" Wang Hao cut to the chase, saying, "I wish to concurrently hold the position of Director of the Water Conservancy Department of the Ministry of Works!" Cai Jing was surprised, wondering why Wang Hao would make such a request, and said, "The Ministry of Works..." "The position of Director of the Water Conservancy Department is a sixth-rank official. With Lord Wang's current prestige, it's perfectly acceptable for him to hold it concurrently!" Wang Hao's lips curled slightly as he said, "In that case, it's settled!" Cai Jing hesitated for a moment, then said, "The Ministry of Works has always been austere, and Lord Wang's official career has been so successful. Why would you be interested in such a position?" Wang Hao said, "If I said that I only wish to do some practical things for the people of the world in my lifetime, would the Grand Tutor believe me?" Cai Jing said, "Not entirely!" Wang Hao laughed loudly and said, "Whether you believe me or not is irrelevant to the overall situation. Please don't make a mistake, Grand Tutor!" Cai Jing said, "If I, Tong Guan, and Gao Qiu join forces and still can't get a Director of the Ministry of Works, it would be too embarrassing!"

After seeing Cai Jing off, Wang Hao went to Li Shishi's room. Li Shishi asked, "Did Cai Jing agree?" Wang Hao nodded and said, "He agreed!" Li Shishi said, "Brother, you haven't taken the imperial examinations. Although the Emperor bestowed upon you the title of Jinshi, you won't be easily accepted by those scholars who have studied diligently for years. Your choice to take a different path and join the Ministry of Works is a brilliant move!" Wang Hao smiled wryly and said, "Sister, do you think I joined the Ministry of Works because I was worried about being ostracized by the scholars?" Li Shishi said, "Do you have other considerations, brother?" Wang Hao opened the window, looked north, and said, "Disaster is inevitable; the only way to protect ourselves is to strengthen ourselves!" Li Shishi asked, "The Song Dynasty is peaceful and prosperous, with favorable weather and abundant harvests. Although there have been minor disasters, there have been no major calamities. Brother, are you..." "Isn't this just worrying unnecessarily?" Wang Hao said. "I also hope my intuition is wrong!" Li Shishi didn't press further, saying, "If my brother gets the position of Assistant Minister of Works, the people of the lower Yellow River will benefit again!" Wang Hao said, "Why must wealth and power always override human nature?" Li Shishi stood beside him, looking at the birds foraging in the distance, and said, "People die for wealth, birds die for food; they can turn their hands to make clouds, and turn them back to make rain!" Wang Hao said, "Tong Guan, Cai Jing, and Gao Qiu want the wealth in my hands, and I fear their power, so I endure humiliation and yield; and to appease me, they agreed to my request to concurrently serve as Assistant Minister of Water Conservancy; this must be the most realistic portrayal of the corrupt officials of the Song Dynasty, isn't it?"

Li Shishi said, "Without darkness and filth, light and purity would become commonplace, and who would uphold them? The injustices and helplessness in the world are countless; what my brother has experienced and witnessed is but a drop in the ocean!" Wang Hao unconsciously clenched his fists and said, "One day, I will restore brightness to this world, and then the four seas will be at peace, and bandits will disappear. Everyone, regardless of status or wealth, will live with dignity."

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