Moma Liangshan

Chapter 192 The Rings of History, Unyielding Struggle

The day after Gongsun Sheng returned to Liangshan, Wang Hao summoned Zhu Gui and asked, "How is the arms deal with Fang Tianding progressing?" Zhu Gui was caught off guard by Wang Hao's question and replied, "The money and goods were exchanged without a trace!" Wang Hao nodded and said, "Very good!" Zhu Gui hesitated for a moment, then added, "Fang Tianding seems to have a big appetite; he has repeatedly hoped we could expand the scale of the arms deal!" Wang Hao shook his head and said, "Nothing strange! If I'm not mistaken, a great storm is brewing in Jiangnan!" Zhu Gui was puzzled and repeated, "A great storm?" Wang Hao gestured for Zhu Gui to close the doors and windows tightly, then said, "Have you ever heard of Manichaeism?" Zhu Gui nodded and replied, "I've heard a little about it!" "Wang Hao continued, "Jiangnan is not only a land of fish and rice, but also a major tax-paying region of the Song Dynasty. However, in recent years, due to the Emperor's massive expenditure on rare stones and flowers, countless people in Jiangnan have gone bankrupt. Manichaeism has seized this opportunity to grow stronger, attracting a large number of suffering people. Furthermore, the Manichaean doctrine of 'two sects and three realms' easily incites its followers to rebel against the government in the name of reshaping the world." Zhu Gui was surprised and asked, "Could it be that Fang Tianding's purchase of weapons is not for self-defense, but to incite a rebellion?" Wang Hao made no attempt to hide his opinion, saying, "At first I only suspected it, but now it seems almost certain!" Zhu Gui felt a chill and said, "Should we immediately stop the weapons trade with Fang Tianding?"

Wang Hao shook his head, not answering directly, but said, "The Jin-Liao War has reached its final decisive moment. Once the Jurchens replace the Khitans as the new rulers of the northern grasslands, the Song Dynasty may face national annihilation!" Zhu Gui seemed to realize Wang Hao's consideration, but couldn't understand the connection between the two, and asked, "Could there be some connection between the turmoil in Jiangnan and resisting foreign enemies?" Wang Hao asked again, "If one day hundreds of thousands of iron cavalry from the northern grasslands approach the border city, do you think that Tong Guan, Cai Jing, Gao Qiu, and their ilk can hold the enemy out of the country?" Zhu Gui shook his head repeatedly, saying, "It's very difficult!" Wang Hao smiled helplessly and said, "If we can't hold the enemy out of the country, then the iron cavalry from the northern grasslands will be able to sweep in and trample the Central Plains. When the nest is overturned, no egg remains intact; our lives will be as worthless as grass!" Zhu Gui was still puzzled and said, "I still don't understand!" Wang Hao continued, "I will not entrust my life to unreliable people, so before the Jin-Liao War ends, my official rank must be promoted three levels!"

Zhu Gui suddenly realized and said, "Young Master, do you want to take advantage of the opportunity to quell the rebellion in Jiangnan to make a name for yourself?" Wang Hao suddenly felt a little embarrassed and said with a forced smile, "This is the only way!" At this moment, Zhu Gui felt that the distance between him and Wang Hao was no longer so far away and ethereal, because the young master in the past was too much like a saint without desires, making it impossible for people to see clearly, but now, the young master is a mortal. Zhu Gui was somewhat excited and said, "The highest position should be held by those with both virtue and talent; young master, you are kind-hearted and possess extraordinary talent, so you should naturally be in a high position!" Hearing praise always makes one happy, and Wang Hao asked with a smile, "Is it possible to spare two thousand broadswords from the ironworks?" Zhu Gui confidently replied, "Of course!" Then he asked, "What do you intend to use them for, young master?" Wang Hao said, "To send them to Liangshan; it's a small token of our appreciation!" Zhu Gui and Chao Gai were sworn brothers, and Zhu Gui was naturally delighted that Wang Hao was willing to help so generously. He quickly said, "I will go and arrange it immediately!" After Zhu Gui left, Wang Hao silently thought, "If Chao Gai hadn't been killed by an arrow, would the Liangshan generals have split into two camps? Could I possibly use this force?"

Neither the Fang La Rebellion nor the Liangshan Rebellion caused as much social upheaval as the Jin invasion. Although Wang Hao was a time traveler from the future, there was no room for opportunism in his attempt to change the fate of the Northern Song Dynasty single-handedly. If he couldn't gather sufficient strength before the Jingkang Incident, he too would likely have become a withered blade of grass in the annals of history. Wang Hao always remembered Emperor Huizong's kindness in recognizing his talent, but Huizong was not a wise ruler. Completely complying with his wishes would only result in him suffering humiliation and dying alongside him.

Before meeting Emperor Tianzuo, the sense of crisis wasn't so profound, but after his trip to the capital, Wang Hao finally felt the desolation of the empire's impending doom. It was from that moment that Wang Hao solidified his original ideas and began purposefully promoting the uprisings of Fang La and Liangshan. The pudao, also known as a two-handed dao, was one of the most common weapons among the common people. This weapon was inexpensive to manufacture, easy to learn to make, and durable, and was even outside the control of the imperial court. However, the steel used to forge these weapons was a state monopoly, which fundamentally determined that without official permission, it would be difficult for anyone to manufacture them on a large scale privately. Taking advantage of trade with the Liao Kingdom, Wang Hao obtained the mining rights to the Pingzhou iron mine and the Luanzhou coal mine from Emperor Tianzuo, aiming to break free from the constraints of the imperial "salt and iron monopoly."

When Ruan Xiaoqi visited Liangshan, Du Qian and Song Wan, unaware of the situation, threw a lavish banquet. However, after several rounds of drinks, Ruan Xiaoqi suddenly said, "Brothers, I have a matter I'd like to ask you two for help with!" The two men frowned and exchanged glances. Ruan Xiaoqi knew Du Qian and Song Wan's personalities well; he knew they were mediocre, short-sighted, and even somewhat cowardly. He continued, "The three of us brothers, along with Chao Baozheng and Jia Liang from Dongxi Village, and Liu Tang, the Red-Haired Devil, and Gongsun Sheng, the Cloud-Piercing Dragon from Hebei, robbed Liang Zhongshu's birthday gifts. Now, government troops are approaching with great force, so we want to temporarily seek refuge at Liangshan!" Du Qian and Song Wan gasped. Finally, Song Wan stammered, "Brother Xiaoqi, you also served at Liangshan before; you should know that we two brothers cannot make this decision!"

Even without Wang Hao, Wang Lun would still be that unambitious and intolerant scholar. Yet, even so, Du Qian and Song Wan remained completely submissive. Ruan Xiaoqi sneered, saying, "The young master and the chieftain don't need your concern, brothers. We will naturally give an explanation. However, Liangshan is a long and arduous journey from Jiaozhou, and we may not be able to wait until the news returns!" Despite his temper, Du Qian forced himself to remain calm in the face of Ruan Xiaoqi's aggressive questioning, saying, "We are only ordered to stay and guard Liangshan. If we go too far, it will damage our brotherhood!" Song Wan immediately chimed in, "Now, only the old and weak remain in the stronghold. They can't wield swords or draw bows, and usually only manage the dozen or so wine cellars left by the young master. But everything in the stronghold belongs to the young master and the chieftain. Brother Ruan, if you wish to seek refuge, you are welcome to camp at Jinshitan, but please stop before the gates!" Although Ruan Xiaoqi was indignant, he could only bow and say, "Thank you for your understanding, brothers!"

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