Moma Liangshan

Chapter 75 Emperor Huizong Discusses Wang Hao, Auction Opens

Upon hearing Emperor Huizong's words, Li Shishi asked, "How can foot binding make women more interesting?" Emperor Huizong seemed to recall the court of the past, saying, "The King of Wu favored swordsmen, causing many people to suffer wounds; the King of Chu favored slender waists, leading to many starving deaths in the palace. As an emperor, I need loyal and capable ministers, not sycophantic and incompetent officials." Li Shishi remained silent, listening attentively. Emperor Huizong continued, “I am not a heartless person, so I absolutely do not want my ministers to be heartless. A person who is heartless and unrighteous will never ‘eat the emperor's food and serve the emperor.’ A person who is compassionate and righteous will make the right choice even when faced with the dilemma of not being able to have both family and country.” Li Shishi pondered for a long time and said, “No one is perfect! A person who is too perfect is often pretending.” Emperor Huizong smiled helplessly and said, “Born into an imperial family, the first thing I was taught from childhood was to conceal my true thoughts. After ascending the throne, facing this court of officials, I must repeatedly consider every word I hear.” "Carefully consider it. Because those well-read ministers are all seasoned masters of language, and a slight misstep can lead to a fall into their trap. Do you know what I like most about Wang Hao?" Li Shishi shook her head and said, "Sister doesn't know!" Emperor Huizong replied, "His straightforward words! Nowadays, far too many ministers, whether discussing politics in court or submitting memorials, use words as delicate as a young girl's first love." Emperor Huizong could not hide his indignation, turned to look at Li Shishi, and said through gritted teeth, "What difference is there between such behavior and deceiving the emperor?" Li Shishi comforted him, "Brother, please be more understanding. Behind every minister is a large family; who doesn't have some selfish motives?"

Emperor Huizong said, "Since the reigns of Emperor Taizu and Emperor Taizong, our dynasty has always upheld the principle that high-ranking officials are exempt from punishment. However, everything must have a bottom line. If the Song Dynasty is emptied out, I will absolutely not allow it!" Li Shishi asked, "Brother, have you encountered any troubles?" Huizong said, "Some time ago, I transported a piece of precious stones from the shores of Taihu Lake. This piece of precious stones is less than 70% the size of the one Wang Hao transported. Do you know how much money the Palace Guards demanded from the Ministry of Revenue? A full 100,000 strings of cash!" Li Shishi casually said, "I know about your expenses that time, brother. It was about 70,000 strings of cash, including the cost of dredging from the Yellow River." Huizong was still furious and said, "The Ministry of Revenue and the Palace Guards jointly submitted a memorial, asking me to uphold justice. And those censors and officials, all speaking in the tone of sages, are telling me to reduce expenditures. The common people still eat meat and drink wine; do you expect me to eat chaff and wild vegetables?" Li Shishi was also indignant and said... “Thousands of eyes are fixed on you, brother, but your eyes cannot hold back those millions.” Emperor Huizong suddenly said, “Do you know what I like most about Wang Hao?” Li Shishi replied, “Please enlighten me, brother!” Emperor Huizong said, “Wang Hao understands perfectly well what he should handle himself and what I should handle.” Seeing Li Shishi’s puzzled expression, Emperor Huizong continued, “I am the emperor, I can give him decrees; but I am not a god of wealth, I cannot conjure money.” Li Shishi smiled slightly and said, “It seems that my brother has never asked me for money.” Emperor Huizong looked out the window at the bustling crowd below and said, “Wang Hao is indeed courageous, daring to let me bid for him and then pay me afterwards!” Li Shishi smiled and said, “This is indeed unprecedented in history, brother, why did you agree?” Emperor Huizong replied, “Even the emperor is short of money, and I very much wish for more of Wang Hao’s request!”

Li Shishi approached Emperor Huizong and together they looked down at the crowd below. She said, "Since my brother came to Dongjing, the appearance of Fanlou seems to have been slowly changing. It's no longer the simple place of romance and pleasure it once was." Emperor Huizong nodded and asked, "Do you like its changes, or do you dislike them?" Li Shishi pondered for a moment and said, "The changed Fanlou is no longer so delicate and fragile; it's as if it has transformed from a box of rouge into a piece of unpolished jade." Emperor Huizong pondered for a long time and said, "During the Han Dynasty, Emperor Gaozu Liu Bang suffered the 'Seven Days at Baideng,' Empress Lü was humiliated by the letter from Modu Chanyu, and in the fourteenth year of Emperor Wen's reign, the Xiongnu army of 140,000 entered the pass, with their vanguard approaching Chang'an. However, after Emperors Wen and Jing, the Han Dynasty's national strength recovered..." During the reign of Emperor Wu, Wei Qing achieved seven victories in seven battles, and Huo Qubing sealed the wolf's lair, leading to the decline of the once invincible Xiongnu. The Song Dynasty, now 160 years old with a population of 120 million and an army of 1.3 million, still cannot cross the Youyun Mountains to the north, the Longshan Mountains to the west, and is confined to the south by the Dali Kingdom, only able to retain the Shu region, whose western border is further harassed by the Tubo. If the Song Dynasty cannot be a tiger, it should at least be an ox; but now it has become a fat sheep, a sheep brimming with fat. Surrounded by tigers, leopards, and wolves, how can a fat sheep not know its own limitations and meet a bad end? Li Shishi, not expecting Emperor Huizong to have such insights, asked, "Brother, now that you are the magistrate of Laoshan County, do you have any special arrangements?"

Emperor Huizong said, “The Imperial Guards and the Garrison Army were established after Emperor Taizu’s ‘releasing military power over a cup of wine,’ and I can only maintain the status quo; I cannot reform them. Tong Guan suggested that we form an alliance with the Jurchens by sea to attack the Liao Kingdom from both sides and then recover the Youyun region. At that time, I was thinking that the Denglai Naval Camp was established to defend against Liao Kingdom’s sea attack. Now that Liao Kingdom is weak, why can’t I follow Emperor Taizong of Tang’s example in pacifying the Bohai Kingdom and launch a northern expedition by sea? At that time, the troops in the Youyun region will be transferred to the north and Liaodong, and I can then order the Imperial Guards to go north. Why should I worry about not being able to take it all in one fell swoop?” Li Shishi said, “If the Imperial Guards and the Garrison Army remain as they are, then where will the troops entering Liaodong by sea come from?” Emperor Huizong said, “Do you know why I gave Wang Hao, the commander-in-chief, a quota of five hundred soldiers?” Li Shishi frowned, puzzled. Emperor Huizong explained, “According to our dynasty’s military system, a company is generally fifty men, two companies form a battalion, five battalions form a company, five companies form an army, and ten armies form a garrison. Although Wang Hao is a commander-in-chief, I have promised him five hundred soldiers.” Li Shishi said, “So, my brother is actually a battalion commander?” Emperor Huizong nodded and said, “A battalion commander can nominate a commander-in-chief to the Ministry of War, a power I cannot grant arbitrarily. But the commander-in-chief is the lowest-ranking official military officer in the Ministry of War, so no one will complain if I promise him more soldiers. We must take things one step at a time, and do things one by one. As for whether Wang Hao is a sparrow or an eagle, that depends on his own fate!”

According to the rules pre-established by Wang Hao, the order in which merchants from various regions would participate in the auction needed to be determined before the auction officially began. However, Wang Hao had not specified a method for determining the auction order. After careful consideration, Master Li decided to decide the order through a banquet. This suggestion was also approved by Wang Hao after being informed. Although Baxian Wine had been on the market for over a year, due to the vast territory of the Song Dynasty and the limited production of Baxian Wine, not many people truly understood it. Master Li himself was the monopolist of Baxian Wine in Dongjing City, and Fanlou had already suspended business for several days. In addition to the wine he had deliberately accumulated in the past, this time, hundreds of jars of Baxian Wine were moved out of the wine cellar and stacked in the hall of Fanlou. In order to let people understand the clarity of Baxian Wine, Master Li specially replaced all the containers with glass.

Lu Shinang had pre-booked a private room on the second floor. Fang Tianding looked at the arena circled in the lobby and said, "Tell our people that they can only lose, not win. They must take all three last spots." Lu Shinang replied, "Young Master, rest assured, I have already made all the arrangements!" Fang Jie said from the side, "We've been in Tokyo for several days, and Wang Hao has yet to show his face. It's all this old man Li's doing." Fang Tianding said, "The Li family is a wealthy family in Tokyo. If Wang Hao can get the Li family to work for him, then our two million guan shouldn't be wasted." Fang Jie was still worried and said, "The sea alliance with the Jurchens to attack the Liao Kingdom is fraught with unpredictable dangers. Even if Wang Hao is a hero of our time, he won't be completely confident." Fang Tianding was very calm and said, "The grand plan we're pursuing is ten times more difficult than this, but our thousands of core members have never wavered in the slightest." Fang Jie said, "Brother, you are absolutely right!"

In another elegant room on the second floor, Lu Junyi and Yan Qing stood by the window. Lu Junyi asked, "Did you win the drinking contest within Daming Prefecture?" Yan Qing replied, "I won by sheer luck!" Lu Junyi picked up a wine cup beside him and handed it to Yan Qing, saying, "Such fine wine should be sipped slowly. It's a shame Wang Hao wasted it by having you two compete in drinking. A little wine is pleasant, but excessive drinking is harmful. One cup of Eight Immortals Wine is equivalent to ten cups of ordinary wine. Don't ruin your health for a moment of bravado!" Yan Qing said, "Don't worry, Master, I know my limits!" Just then, drums and gongs thundered downstairs. Yan Qing said, "It's time for me to go down!" Lu Junyi nodded and said, "Remember to know when to stop!"

Tokyo, the capital of the Song Dynasty, had already announced that merchants from Tokyo would participate in the first auction, so only seven contestants would participate in the drinking contest. Once all seven were in place, the drumming stopped abruptly, and a huge red silk banner fluttered across the stage, revealing Wang Hao and Li Shishi. Wang Hao looked at Master Li, who understood and ordered fourteen maids to approach the seven contestants in pairs. One maid placed a tray containing thirty wine cups on the table, while the other filled all the cups with Eight Immortals Wine. Wang Hao loudly proclaimed, "I am Wang Hao, owner of the Eight Immortals Wine Shop. It is a great pleasure to gather with you all today. Let me first offer you all a toast." Wang Hao's straightforwardness won the people's favor, and everyone drank together. Wang Hao continued, "If the Eight Immortals Wine is a divine elixir, then Miss Shishi's music is ethereal and enchanting. Zhou Bangyan's 'Ruilong Yin' has thirty rising keys, and each contestant has thirty cups of fine wine in front of them. Every time Miss Shishi sings a rising key, everyone must drink a cup of wine. Otherwise, they are eliminated! Whoever stands on the stage the longest will be the final winner!"