Moma Liangshan

Chapter 65 Construction begins in Jiaozhou, Zhu Fengdong departs.

Three days later, at Xiaofanlou Restaurant in Yuncheng County, Wang Hao hosted a banquet for the county magistrate. This time, the invitation specifically stated that only the magistrate was invited. Although the magistrate was suspicious, he dared not offend Wang Hao, a favorite of Emperor Huizong, and thus obeyed the order, going alone. In a private room on the second floor, the magistrate knocked on the door. Wang Hao responded from inside, "Come in!" The magistrate smiled obsequiously and pushed open the door. Wang Hao sat upright in the main seat, nodded slightly, and said, "Please sit, Your Excellency!" The magistrate was very reserved, cautiously approaching Wang Hao and slowly taking his seat. Just then, a close attendant guarding the door slammed it shut with a loud "bang!" startling the magistrate, causing him to knock over the cups and saucers on the table. The magistrate hurriedly picked up the cups and saucers, completely unaware that half of his sleeve was soaked with wine. Wang Hao spoke up, saying, "Why are you so flustered today, sir? Have you encountered some trouble?" The magistrate, still smiling, replied, "Young master has been staying in Dongjing for a long time, and your righteous spirit is too strong. I, a mediocre official, was momentarily distracted!" Wang Hao laughed loudly and said, "Sir, you are the magistrate of Yuncheng County, and I am the magistrate of Laoshan County. We are both seventh-rank officials, so there is no difference in rank!"

The magistrate of Yuncheng County shook his head slightly and said, "Young master, you are not yet of age. Your position as magistrate of Laoshan County is merely the starting point for your meteoric rise; I am already past forty, and my position as magistrate of Yuncheng County will surely be the end of my official career. The difference in our abilities is immediately apparent!" Wang Hao smiled and said, "Has anyone from Dongjing come to inquire about my family background?" The magistrate was startled and said, "To be honest, young master, Dongjing has issued an order for me to investigate your family background." Wang Hao nodded and said, "Do you know what it is about?" The magistrate shook his head and said, "The people who came are not from the Three Departments and Six Ministries, but from the Imperial Clan Court. The information they inquired about was not confidential, but rather trivial matters." Wang Hao said, "What kind of trivial matters?" The magistrate replied, "What is your character like, and is you married?" "Is he from a good family? How long have he lived in Yuncheng? Who are his parents? What do they do for a living? That's about it!" Wang Hao said calmly. "The Emperor wishes to make me his son-in-law, so he sent people to investigate my family background!" The magistrate suddenly understood, stood up, bowed, and said, "Congratulations, young master! Congratulations!" Wang Hao said, "What's there to be happy about?" The magistrate was surprised and said, "Young master is about to become the Emperor's son-in-law. Isn't that a great joy?" Wang Hao said, "Whether it's a blessing or a curse is still unknown. We can't make a hasty judgment!" The magistrate said, "Young master's talent is evident to all, and the Emperor has always held you in high regard. Making you his son-in-law is perfectly reasonable. How could it possibly bring trouble?"

Wang Hao remained silent, staring at the magistrate. The magistrate chuckled awkwardly and said, "This humble official is foolish. If you, sir, summon me, please give your orders!" He then turned away to avoid Wang Hao's gaze. Wang Hao spoke, saying, "Whether I am safe or unharmed is entirely up to you, sir!" The magistrate was alarmed and rose again, saying, "This humble official is of lowly rank and has only ever dared to look up to you, sir! You are blessed with good fortune, and all misfortunes will turn into blessings!" Wang Hao remained noncommittal and said, "Please sit, sir. I have a matter that requires your leniency!" Wang Hao revealed the purpose of the banquet, and the magistrate, instead of feeling relieved, said, "Please give your orders, sir!" Wang Hao said, "My father settled in Liangshan Marsh and has been diligent and frugal for over ten years, which has led to our current wealth." "However, the bandits from all directions are mostly wicked and have repeatedly harassed our home. My father, mindful of the affairs of the court and your busy schedule, fortified your home to protect yourself, without harboring the slightest resentment. The capital city of Dongjing is vast and its waters cold; many disregard the Emperor's grand plan for their own selfish gain. The Emperor regards Wang Hao as his right-hand man, and Wang Hao regards the Emperor as his sovereign and father. With the Emperor and his minister united, what worries are there about the Liao Kingdom not being subdued, or the Western Xia not being pacified? Yet, these petty people see Wang Hao as a thorn in their side, constantly seeking to eliminate him. May I ask, sir, would you rather befriend Wang Hao or be his enemy?"

The magistrate, taken aback by Wang Hao's aggressive manner, stammered, "I wish to be your neighbor, young master!" Wang Hao laughed, saying, "Your Excellency is indeed shrewd, but I must ask you, are we bad neighbors or friendly neighbors?" Beads of sweat dripped from the magistrate's forehead, but Wang Hao maintained his smile throughout. He then slowly produced a contract and placed it on the table, saying, "This is half a share of the Eight Immortals Winery. If Your Excellency is willing to be friends with Wang Hao, this contract will be the testament to our friendship. If Your Excellency looks down on Wang Hao, Wang Hao will not presume to presume!" The magistrate tremblingly picked up two thin sheets of paper from the table and laid them flat before him. The two sheets were identical, containing only a few words, but in the magistrate's eyes, they were like an ancient history book, impossible to fully comprehend. Wang Hao sat quietly to the side, offering no prompting. The magistrate, after what seemed like an eternity, his sweat and the wine stains on his sleeves having dried, suddenly sighed and said, "Please, young master, lend me your brush and ink!" Wang Hao turned and personally brought a brush dipped in ink and a seal pad, handing them to the magistrate. The magistrate took the brush, signed "Yu Su," and then affixed his seal. With everything completed, he handed one of the contracts to Wang Hao, saying, "In times of chaos, you would surely be a hero, but alas, in this peaceful world, you can only be a prince consort!" Wang Hao pondered for a moment, then said, "In this world, one can live peacefully without power or influence. I would much rather be a wealthy playboy!"

With the events in Yuncheng concluded, Wang Hao and the Mohists officially headed south to Jiaozhou. Wang Hao now possessed over 100,000 strings of cash from selling horses and birthday gifts in Jiangnan, plus 300,000 strings from Li Shishi, totaling 430,000 strings. While 430,000 strings seemed enormous, it was surprisingly meager in the face of the desolate Jiaozhou Bay. Jiaozhou Bay, located on the coast of the Yellow Sea, was divided into three areas by the Dagu River and the Baisha River. The area southeast of the Baisha River was called Qingdao, the area southwest of the Dagu River was called Huangdao, and the area between the Dagu and Baisha Rivers was called Hongdao. If Jiaozhou were considered a separate geographical unit, Qingdao and Huangdao would be the gateways to Jiaozhou Bay, while Hongdao would extend inland, forming its own inner sanctum, encompassing a vast inland lake. The Mohist disciples, along with Wang Hao's guards, totaling over one hundred people, were all stationed on Hongdao in the northern part of Jiaozhou Bay.

On Red Island stands Qingyun Palace, originally built in the early Northern Song Dynasty, a local mountain temple. The temple's construction originated from a local family surnamed Li. Legend has it that over a hundred years ago, a Li couple living on the western slope of the mountain were over forty years old and childless. The wife, yearning for a child, prayed daily at the Guanyin Temple. Guanyin, moved by their sincerity, appeared to her in a dream one day, saying, "A dragon son has descended from heaven, destined to rid the people of evil!" The wife was pregnant for over 360 days, giving birth to a boy with a dark complexion and a dragon-like body. Seeing the child's unusual appearance, the father, believing it to be an omen of misfortune, sent the child away while his wife slept. The wife wept bitterly, but the son returned home three days later to visit his mother. The father was terrified and chased the black dragon away with a sickle. The dragon, attached to its mother, could not bear to harm its father and fled in panic. The father pursued relentlessly and severed its tail. The mother, heartbroken and grief-stricken, died. Many years later, a wicked dragon caused chaos in the north. The black dragon, remembering its mother's teachings, fought it and defeated it! To commemorate the Black Dragon's grace, the locals renovated Qingyun Palace and offered incense there.

Wang Hao and Di Chunqiu, having examined the stone tablets before Qingyun Palace, were deeply moved. Wang Hao remarked, "What a tragic legend!" Di Chunqiu, his face filled with grief and indignation, said, "The common people are ignorant; they cannot even distinguish between good and evil, beauty and ugliness. Those who govern them bear a heavy responsibility!" Wang Hao agreed, saying, "The Black Dragon was banished by his own father simply because of his ugly appearance. However, Li's father's initial intention in banishing his own son was certainly not malicious. Perhaps it was because of his narrow-mindedness and stubbornness, believing that an ugly exterior must be accompanied by an ugly heart, that he did so." Di Chunqiu continued, "..." The common people are humble. In times of peace and prosperity, corrupt officials, gentry, and local bullies exploit them; in times of war and chaos, cruel officials, warlords, thieves, and bandits oppress them. Our ancestor Mozi, born into poverty, achieved great learning and opened a school to teach and enlighten the people, hoping to free millions from their ignorant and miserable existence. Unfortunately, the world is difficult, and people's hearts are treacherous. Rulers, for their own selfish interests, do everything in their power to keep the people ignorant, and all sorts of unscrupulous ideas run rampant. The tragic legend on the stone tablet is but one of millions! —Wang Haochen After a moment's thought, he said, "Currently, funds and provisions are scarce, making it difficult to undertake large-scale reforms. I have already allocated 200,000 strings of cash for the port and shipyards, to be overseen by Di Gongkao and Qin Guanhai. As for teachers, I would like to allocate 50,000 strings of cash to repair a school and enlighten minds." Di Chunqiu was surprised and said, "Preaching, teaching, and resolving doubts are not tasks that can be accomplished in a day. I am very pleased that you intend to benefit the people. However, repairing a school, hiring teachers, and recruiting students involves a wide range of issues and is very expensive. If you do not have the perseverance to do so..." "It's better to set aside our ambition to turn the tide for now and make a decision later!" Wang Hao smiled and said, "Even without teachers, I will still renovate the school. However, this school in Jiaozhou is probably a new concept for both teachers and the powerful figures in Dongjing!" Di Chunqiu understood and said, "It seems your school wasn't specifically renovated for the Mohists?" Wang Hao nodded and said, "The school is renovated for everyone, but the Mohists have a part to play!" Di Chunqiu laughed and said, "I'll take on this task!"

Wang Hao was making great strides in Jiaozhou, preparing to build a new city unlike any other in the Song Dynasty. Meanwhile, in a tavern in the capital, Tokyo, two men sat in a private room, conversing amiably. One man, dressed like a scholar, was Feng Gu, a protégé of the powerful minister Cai Jing and the newly appointed registrar of Laoshan County. The other man, strong and muscular, clearly a former soldier, was Zhu Heng, a henchman of Grand Commandant Gao Qiu and the newly appointed magistrate of Laoshan County. In the private room, Feng Gu said, "We are about to head east to Jiaozhou. I wonder what Magistrate Zhu's plans are?" Zhu Heng grinned slyly and said, "Wang Hao is arrogant and disrespectful, completely disregarding Grand Commandant Gao and Grand Tutor Cai. When I arrive in Jiaozhou, I will firmly grasp military power and ensure Wang Hao cannot command a single soldier!" Feng Gu shook his head and said, "Don't forget, Wang Hao is not only the magistrate of Laoshan County, but also the commander-in-chief of the Palace Guard. This position was appointed by the Emperor himself, and even Grand Commandant Gao cannot revoke it!"