Moma Liangshan

Chapter 71 Forming Alliances and Building Widespread Relationships

Wang Hao's vision far exceeded Cui Zhigong's expectations. After a moment of silence, Cui Zhigong said, "Young Master, you are insightful; I have nothing to say!" He then drank a cup of wine. Wang Hao looked at Cui Zhigong's countless expressions of dejection and slowly said, "As long as it doesn't violate the laws of nature, everything is negotiable. If the conditions you offer are generous enough, it's not impossible for us to join forces!" Cui Zhigong deeply understood Wang Hao's difficult nature, but also his true intentions. He said, "Cai Jing can control the court, but he can't control the local areas. If the Ministry of Revenue refuses your offer, Qingzhou can make up for it. Do you think this condition is worthwhile?" Wang Hao nodded and said, "If that's true, it is indeed worthwhile, but there is one thing I don't understand. Please enlighten me, sir!" Cui Zhigong asked in return, "What is it?" Wang Hao looked around at everyone and slowly said, "Cai Jing can't control Qingzhou, but he can see Qingzhou. Your open support for me is tantamount to declaring war on Cai Jing." Cui Zhigong smiled coldly and said, "That's true, but the circumstances are quite different." "With you joining forces, young master, Cai Jing's attention will surely be drawn to you. As long as you are safe, I can rest easy." Wang Hao retorted, "You are a high-ranking official of the third rank, while I am merely a minor official of the seventh rank. I am not sure I can attract all of Cai Jing's attention!" Cui Zhigong said with a heavy heart, "I have been fighting Cai Jing openly and covertly for decades, and I have been almost completely defeated. In Cai Jing's eyes, I am not worthy to be his opponent. But you are different, young master. Ever since the Eight Immortals Wine became famous in Dongjing, Cai Jing has regarded you as a formidable enemy. Therefore, with you joining forces, he will not care about me in open or covert attacks!" Wang Hao smiled slightly and said, "I will be responsible for dealing with Feng Gu. How to settle Brother Shao Gong in Jiaozhou will depend on your methods, sir!" Cui Zhigong said, "Excellent!" After speaking, he picked up his cup, stood up, and said, "Let's drink to the young master!" Everyone stood up and drank together.

As the music ended and the party was over, Wang Hao returned home half-drunk. Cui Shaogong watched Wang Hao's departing carriage and asked, "Father, how much of what you said to Wang Hao was true, and how much was false?" Cui Zhigong replied, "He was frank and open, every word piercing to the heart!" Cui Shaogong said, "Father and Prime Minister Zhao were both scholars of the Su School. Wang Hao is just a country bumpkin; is he really worth such courtship?" Cui Zhigong said, "I've said before, Cai Jing is a tiger, Gao Qiu is a wolf, and Wang Hao is a tiger shark in the sea. But have you considered what we are?" Cui Shaogong pondered for a long time and said, "We are oxen, oxen that toil for the Song Dynasty!" Cui Zhigong shook his head and said: "When Prime Minister Zhao was in power, we were indeed oxen toiling for the Song Dynasty. But after his death, the Su family line scattered like monkeys after a tree falls. In Cai Jing's eyes, we are nothing more than monkeys." Zhao Mingcheng said from the side, "Your Excellency governs Qingzhou, and the people are prosperous, and the treasury is full. How can you compare yourself to monkeys?" Cui Zhigong retorted, "In Defu's opinion, what are we more like?" Zhao Mingcheng said, "A clear stream in a turbid world!" Cui Zhigong laughed and said, "Then let Wang Hao, this tiger shark, follow our clear stream straight into Dongjing and purge those treacherous and wicked officials who bring disaster to the country!"

After returning to the inn, Wang Hao repeatedly pondered the agreement he had reached with Cui Zhigong. After a long while, he summoned Di Qinyang and Di Qizhong and recounted the banquet in detail. After listening, Di Qinyang said, "Cai Jing is cunning, and Feng Gu is his protégé. The fact that he was chosen to be sent to Jiaozhou suggests he's not someone to be trifled with; ordinary schemes might not be enough to trap him!" Wang Hao didn't answer directly, but said, "Cui Zhigong is the Pacification Commissioner of Jingdong East Circuit and concurrently the Prefect of Qingzhou. Although Jiaozhou Bay is directly under the Emperor's jurisdiction, it is ultimately located in the heart of Jingdong East Circuit. With Cui Zhigong's strong support, this region of seven prefectures and counties in Jingdong East Circuit is now open to us. In other words, the east, west, and north of Jiaozhou Bay will all be our support; otherwise, relying solely on the southern sea route, it would be difficult for us to make progress in a short time." Di Qinyang agreed, saying, "Since..." However, given the prevailing trend, we must be even more cautious in dealing with Feng Gu. Wang Hao smiled and said, "Students taught by Cai Jing, no matter how cunning their schemes, always have inherent weaknesses. If we exploit these weaknesses, success won't be difficult!" Di Qinyang asked, "What weaknesses?" Wang Hao didn't answer, but looked at Di Qizhong and said, "Brother Qizhong, you are adept at understanding people's hearts. What are your insights?" Di Qizhong was slightly surprised, then said, "Cai Jing is power-hungry and greedy. Feng Gu, as his student, must have been influenced by him. If you, my lord, return the real power of the registrar to Feng Gu, Feng Gu will surely rely on Cai Jing as his backer and abuse his power for personal gain. At that time, we only need to collect evidence and punish him according to the law."

Wang Hao pondered for a long time before slowly saying, “Once power is in hand, orders are issued arbitrarily. Corruption among officials has existed since ancient times, and Jiaozhou must take precautions against future problems. Feng Gu holds the title of Registrar, but if he also gains real financial power, and we feign negligence and fail to supervise him, his desire for corruption will surely fester. Then we will catch him red-handed and send him to the Ministry of Justice!” Di Qizhong thought for a moment, then said, “In this way, we can eliminate Cai Jing’s spies and take the opportunity to increase supervision and warn Jiaozhou officials.” Wang Hao nodded slightly and said, “Brother Qizhong, what you say is exactly what I’ve been thinking! So many relatives and brothers have shared hardships but not the good times. If we neglect supervision and create fertile ground for corruption, causing those brothers who fought alongside us to lose themselves and ultimately have to face imprisonment, wouldn’t that be heartbreaking?”

With the Qingzhou matter settled, Wang Hao and the five members of the Mo family headed directly to Tokyo, while Chen Song and Zhang Sangou led the merchant caravan back to Jiaozhou. When Wang Hao arrived in Tokyo, there were only seven days left until the Fanlou auction. Fanlou was bustling with activity, as wealthy merchants from all over flocked there. Wang Hao sat in a private room on the second floor, enjoying tea with Master Li and Boss Han. Master Li sighed with emotion, saying, "When you first came to Tokyo as a commoner, who could have imagined that a year later, your legend would be the talk of the town?" Wang Hao opened the window, looking at the diverse guests in the hall, and said, "Man proposes, God disposes! I know very well what I can and cannot do, what must be discarded, and what must be defended, which is why I have been able to advance step by step to where I am today." Master Li also rose and went to the window, saying, "I wonder how the construction of Jiaozhou is progressing?" Wang Hao was quite surprised and said, "Master Li is interested in Jiaozhou?" Master Li smiled gently and said, "The Li family's wealth is mainly concentrated in Tokyo, but while Tokyo appears prosperous these years, it is actually rife with undercurrents. Whenever the political situation is turbulent, we wealthy merchants are always caught in the crossfire. I intend to disperse my wealth and open businesses in local prefectures and counties. However, each prefecture and county is like a replica of Tokyo; forcibly entering will always encounter strong resistance from the local powerful families, resulting in more harm than good. Jiaozhou is a public..." "With the son in charge and the land largely undeveloped, the Li family's entry shouldn't encounter too much resistance," Wang Hao said. "If the Li family's businesses can come to Jiaozhou, not only will there be no obstacles, but I will also do my best to facilitate them. After some time, once the port and roads of Jiaozhou are repaired, I will issue an invitation to merchants from all over the country." The wealthy Li was very surprised and said, "Since ancient times, there have only been invitations to recruit talented people, never invitations to attract merchants!" Wang Hao said, "In this era of the imperial examinations, selecting capable people is the responsibility of the Ministry of Personnel, and local officials are also appointed from the Ministry of Personnel. The prosperity of a region depends on scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants—all are indispensable. However, the court has always lacked clear policies for industry and commerce. Without clear policies, handicrafts and commerce are always in a state of fear and chaos, and almost no wealthy merchant fails to seek the protection of high-ranking officials. Money and power colluding can only breed corruption. Therefore, I plan to formulate detailed and fair industrial and commercial laws in Jiaozhou and vigorously promote them to attract merchants from all over the country."

Wang Hao's words had given Li Yuanwai a glimpse of a completely new future. After a long pause, he said, "If you, sir, can truly be a pioneer in providing legal protection for industrialists and businessmen, then when people worship the God of Wealth in the future, besides the 'Martial God of Wealth Guan Gong' and the 'Civil God of Wealth Tao Zhu Gong,' they will surely add you, sir, as the 'Legal God of Wealth'!" Wang Hao smiled casually and said, "Leaving aside matters of gods, I hope you, sir, will give your full support when we implement the investment promotion policy!" Li Yuanwai said, "To be a guest of honor of you at that time would be..." "This is a rare honor for an old man." Wang Hao suddenly asked, "Are you still interested in participating in this auction, sir?" Master Li replied, "I'm still observing and haven't made a decision yet!" Wang Hao asked in confusion, "Why?" Master Li hesitated for a moment, then said, "Besides you, sir, no one understands the profits of Eight Immortals Wine better than me. But in the Song Dynasty, besides profit, there are many other factors that merchants must carefully consider, and this is even more so in the capital city of Dongjing!" Wang Hao said, "It seems that Eight Immortals Wine has brought you not only huge profits but also a lot of trouble!" Master Li said with great melancholy, "Fanlou was built during the Li family's heyday, and it's been over ten years now. Although Fanlou is still the number one restaurant in Dongjing, the Li family is no longer as glorious as it once was. If I told you, sir, that the vaults full of gold and silver have only brought me endless troubles, would you believe me?" Wang Hao nodded, saying, "A common man is innocent, but possessing a treasure is a crime. Great wealth must be protected with commensurate power; otherwise, those who possess wealth are very likely to become victims of conspiracy and greed." Master Li sighed helplessly. He chuckled and said, "Young Master's insight is far beyond that of a young man yet to come of age. Although I am the head of the Li family, matters of the Li family cannot be decided by me alone. Decisions concerning the rise and fall of the family require utmost caution, and I hope Young Master will understand!" Wang Hao's tone was calm as he said, "Business is about mutual consent and fairness. The master's family matters should naturally be resolved internally." After speaking, he looked at Boss Han and said, "Jiaozhou affairs are plentiful, and manpower is stretched thin. The auction matters will have to be handled by Boss Han!"