Moma Liangshan

Chapter 68 Undercurrents, An Encounter in Qingzhou

While Fang La of Jiangnan decided to secretly send Lü Shinang to assist Wang Hao, the old supervisor of the Beijing Garrison delivered a notice to Liang Zhongshu. Liang Zhongshu asked, "What is this?" The old supervisor replied, "This is a notice posted by Wang Hao in Daming Prefecture, stating that twenty days after the Double Ninth Festival, the shares of the Eight Immortals Wine Shop will be auctioned at Fanlou in Dongjing." Upon hearing of Wang Hao, Liang Zhongshu was enraged and said, "Wang Hao, that little rascal, has repeatedly been my enemy, and now he wants to use the Eight Immortals Wine Shop to plunder the wealth of Daming Prefecture. He's truly despicable!" The old supervisor chimed in, "Everyone in Daming Prefecture follows your lead, Your Excellency. If Wang Hao tries to extend his reach into Daming Prefecture, a single sneeze from Your Excellency will send him utterly defeated." Liang Zhongshu sneered, "Wang Hao is courting death. He robbed the birthday tribute I sent to Mount Tai. If I don't make him repay double, wouldn't that be an insult to the Grand Tutor and the prefecture?" Just then, Lady Cai arrived with a letter. Seeing this, the old supervisor said, "This old servant will take his leave now!" Liang Zhongshu nodded in agreement.

After the old supervisor withdrew, Liang Zhongshu said, "Why has Madam come?" Madam Cai handed the letter to Liang Zhongshu, saying, "This is a letter from my father; please read it carefully, sir!" Hearing that Cai Jing had sent a letter, Liang Zhongshu dared not delay and quickly examined it. After a moment, he said, "Wang Hao auctioned off the shares of the Eight Immortals Winery at Fanlou, and the Emperor was involved! Moreover, the Emperor seems to intend to make Wang Hao his son-in-law!" Madam Cai frowned and said, "Is that the Wang Hao who stole our birthday tribute?" Liang Zhongshu nodded and said, "Exactly! His father instructed us in his letter to be careful and not to offend the Emperor!" Madam Cai was puzzled and asked, "Why would the Emperor be involved in something as trivial as a winery?" Liang Zhongshu said, "Wang Hao was appointed magistrate of Laoshan County, but the Three Departments and Six Ministries did not provide any support. The Eight Immortals Winery is making a fortune every day; the reason Wang Hao is reluctantly auctioning off its shares is..." The purpose was to raise funds for the reconstruction of the Jiaozhou Maritime Trade Office. All affairs in Jiaozhou were to be handled directly by the Emperor, not the Three Offices and Six Ministries. While Taishan could refuse funding due to an empty treasury, he absolutely could not openly harass Jiaozhou. Otherwise, if the Emperor discovered this, it would be considered a crime of deceiving the Emperor! Madam Cai said indignantly, "Is Wang Hao, a mere low-ranking official, so untouchable?" Liang Zhongshu sneered, "Whoever buys the shares in the Eight Immortals Winery becomes Wang Hao's ally. Wang Hao has the Emperor as his backer in Dongjing, so Taishan can't touch him. Daming Prefecture is under our jurisdiction; we have plenty of means to punish these lawbreakers. When Wang Hao sees his allies suffering and is powerless to do anything, where will his credibility and prestige be? Who in the world would dare to cooperate with him?" Madam Cai's face hardened, and she said, "A gentleman's revenge is never too late. With your plan, my father and I can rest easy!"

Half a month after the merchant guild began its establishment, Chen Song took charge of daily operations, Zhang Sangou was responsible for financial supervision, ten personal guards formed the core, and one person was recruited from each of the sixteen nearby fishing villages. The Qilu region is mountainous in the central part, with Mount Tai being the most prominent; the eastern part is hilly, stretching to the coast; the western part is flat, connecting to the Central Plains, a vast fertile plain. Jiaozhou Bay is located in southeastern Qilu, between Mi and Lai prefectures, with undulating terrain and numerous hills, making it difficult to obtain sufficient grain. Qingzhou, bordering Jinan Prefecture and adjacent to the Yellow River, has flat terrain and fertile soil, making it a major production area in the eastern part of Jingdong. Wang Hao personally led the merchant caravan, along with five disciples of the Mohist school, north to Qingzhou. Yang Zhi, along with Di Chunqiu and others, remained in Jiaozhou, recruiting craftsmen and laborers as planned to repair the port, roads, and buildings.

The journey from Jiaozhou Bay to Qingzhou was over 300 li. Wang Hao and his group traveled by mule cart, covering more than 80 li a day, and arrived in Qingzhou City four days later. Qingzhou was located in the heart of the Song Dynasty, with a long history, a prosperous economy, and a dense population. A city wall with a circumference of more than 20 li surrounded it, and a canal was dug outside the wall to divert water as a barrier. Wang Hao crossed the drawbridge and entered the city through the south gate. Once in the city, the group found an inn to stay in, while Chen Song, Zhang Sangou, and others went to buy grain, cloth, and other supplies, while Wang Hao and the five members of the Mo family went to do other things.

Qingzhou was the seat of the Eastern Circuit of Jingdong, and the Pacification Commissioner of the Eastern Circuit concurrently served as the Prefect of Qingzhou. Wang Hao and the five members of the Mo family arrived at the gate of the prefectural government, presented their visiting cards, and paid their respects to Pacification Commissioner Cui Zhigong. The Pacification Commissioner of Qingzhou was a high-ranking official of the third rank. Wang Hao presented the imperial fan bestowed by Emperor Huizong along with his visiting card. The gatekeeper first presented the visiting card and the imperial fan to the clerk, who then presented them to Cui Zhigong. Cui Zhigong was over fifty years old, with graying temples, but he was still vigorous. During his tenure as Prefect of Qingzhou, the people lived in peace and the treasury was full. Behind Cui Zhigong stood a middle-aged man, dressed in a scholar's robe, who was gentle and refined. Cui Zhigong toyed with the imperial fan, the jade ring on his right hand complementing it perfectly. After a moment, he slowly said, "This folding fan has an elegant frame and fine paper. The painting and calligraphy unintentionally reveal an air of imperial authority and transcendence." Suddenly, he turned to the man behind him and asked, "What does Defu think?" Zhao Mingcheng, son of Defu, was the third son of Zhao Tingzhi, the prime minister during the Chongning era of Emperor Huizong of Song. He had been married to Li Qingzhao, the daughter of Li Gefei, an official in the Ministry of Rites, for twenty years. Thirteen years ago, Zhao Tingzhi passed away, and Zhao Mingcheng was framed by Cai Jing and dismissed from his post, living in seclusion in Qingzhou ever since. Zhao Tingzhi had promoted Cui Zhigong when he became prime minister, so after Zhao Mingcheng went into seclusion in Qingzhou, he frequently visited Cui Zhigong. The reasons were twofold: firstly, Cui Zhigong was fond of literature and antiques, and the two shared similar interests; secondly, Cui Zhigong was a high-ranking official and had a good relationship with Zhao Mingcheng's father, making him an important support for Zhao Mingcheng's reinstatement.

Zhao Mingcheng began, “Jiaozhou Bay lies between Mi and Lai prefectures, bordering the Yellow Sea to the south. Although it is under the jurisdiction of Jingdong East Circuit, it is actually directly under the Emperor's control, and no one can interfere. Young Master Wang's visit to Qingzhou to pay his respects to you clearly shows his intention to befriend you. However, the fact that he included the Emperor's fan with his visiting card demonstrates his high status, as if he fears being underestimated.” Cui Zhigong smiled and said, “Wang Hao is young and inevitably impetuous; such actions are understandable. But today, probably no one in the Song Dynasty dares to underestimate him.” Zhao Mingcheng was puzzled and asked, “Please enlighten me, Your Excellency!” Cui Zhigong sighed slightly and said… "Defu," Cui Zhigong said, "you are over forty, yet your understanding of officialdom is far inferior to Wang Hao's." Zhao Mingcheng retorted, "Wang Hao is nothing but an opportunist who has risen to his position only because of the Emperor's favor. What real talent or ability does he possess?" Cui Zhigong sighed and asked, "Tell me, has he done anything immoral or unethical?" Zhao Mingcheng pondered for a long time before replying, "No." Cui Zhigong continued, "Has he acted as an accomplice to evil or aided and abetted tyranny?" Zhao Mingcheng replied, "No." Cui Zhigong then asked, "Has he formed cliques and eliminated dissidents?" Zhao Mingcheng remained silent, only shaking his head. Cui Zhigong spoke earnestly, saying, "Wang Hao grew up in the countryside, without family background or connections, yet he has managed to navigate the tyrannical rule of Cai Jing and Gao Qiu in Dongjing City without ever being at a disadvantage. Such ability is something that both your father and I, Cui Zhigong, must admire. You are about to take up the post of prefect of Laizhou; you should befriend him. Wang Hao is a man with extensive connections and influence; he can be a great help in crucial moments." After speaking, he looked at Zhao Mingcheng and said, "You and the clerk go to the gate to greet him." Zhao Mingcheng, having understood the implications of Cui Zhigong's guidance, said, "Thank you for your advice, sir!" and then went straight to the gate.

Wang Hao waited anxiously outside the door, when someone came through the middle door. A few moments later, two middle-aged men arrived. Zhao Mingcheng spoke first, "Lord Cui is busy with official duties and has been delayed a little, causing you, young master Wang, to wait!" Wang Hao, being easygoing by nature, was greeted with a smile by the newcomers, saying, "I am your subordinate, and it is only natural that I wait." He then took the folding fan returned by Zhao Mingcheng. Walking along the corridor of the Qingzhou government office, Wang Hao said, "Sir, dressed in a scholar's robe, do you also work in the government office?" Zhao Mingcheng replied, "To my shame, I have been dismissed from office for thirteen years, and only recently has the court shown interest in reinstating me!" Wang Hao asked, "May I ask your name, sir?" Zhao Mingcheng said, "Zhao Mingcheng." Wang Hao was taken aback and almost blurted out "husband of Li Qingzhao," but then remembered the strict etiquette of the Song Dynasty, fearing it might offend Zhao Mingcheng's feelings, and changed his words, saying, "I am indeed sir, 'the one who dedicates himself to studying all the ancient texts and rare characters in the world.'" "Dedicated to the study of epigraphy and inscriptions, you can be considered a master of your time?" Zhao Mingcheng was surprised that Wang Hao had heard of his reputation. He was filled with emotion and said, "It's just a self-entertaining activity, nothing to brag about!" Wang Hao said, "Chinese civilization is vast, and the lost knowledge and morality are like mountains and seas. You, sir, have restored the sayings of sages to the light of day, awakening and educating future generations. Such a magnificent act deserves to be remembered in history like Sima Qian!" Zhao Mingcheng was surprised that Wang Hao had such a high opinion of him. He was filled with thoughts and considered him a close friend.

Soon, the two arrived at the main hall. Cui Zhigong rose to greet them, saying first, "Xianmeng, you alone govern Laoshan. What brings you to Qingzhou today?" Wang Hao bowed and said, "Greetings, Pacification Commissioner!" He then replied, "Laoshan's land is barren. I have come to Qingzhou to purchase grain." Cui Zhigong, who was in charge of the Eastern Circuit of Jingdong, naturally knew that Mi and Lai prefectures were not grain-producing areas. He asked, "How many shi of grain does Xianmeng wish to purchase?" Wang Hao pondered for a moment and said, "Three hundred thousand shi." Cui Zhigong said, "There are many kinds of grains. Which kind does Xianmeng want?" Wang Hao said, "Rice and wheat." Cui Zhigong said, "Does Your Excellency wish to replenish the treasury of Laoshan County?" Wang Hao... With a helpless smile, he said, "Autumn is approaching, and while other places are filled with the joy of harvest, Laoshan County is facing the beginning of famine. As the magistrate of Laoshan County, I must take immediate action!" Cui Zhigong said, "Three hundred thousand shi of grain is far too much; no grain merchant in the region can deliver it in the short term. I have a suggestion; I wonder if Young Master Wang would be interested?" Wang Hao smiled knowingly and said, "Would you be willing to allocate a batch of grain from the Qingzhou treasury and sell it to me?" Cui Zhigong was surprised, but quickly understood, thinking to himself, "Wang Hao's purpose in coming to the Qingzhou government office is probably to buy grain from me!" He said, "Great minds think alike!"