Moma Liangshan

Chapter 146 Imperial Guards and Chamberlains

Wang Hao didn't answer immediately, but stared at the Shu princess for a long time before saying, "Emperor Tianzuo is your father; you should know him better than I do!" The Shu princess understood the meaning behind Wang Hao's words and said, "If you had lived in Shangjing, you would understand that even your father has his helplessness!" Wang Hao didn't continue arguing and said, "I can help you fight against the Jurchens, but you must grant me the right to trade freely within Liao territory." The Shu princess didn't fully understand Wang Hao's meaning and asked, "What is the right to trade freely?" Wang Hao said, "My caravan can freely travel to any city in Liao, and to any grassland, to trade!" The Shu princess frowned and said, "A Song caravan freely entering and leaving any place in Liao—my father will think you are taking advantage of their misfortune!" Wang Hao pondered for a moment and said, "We can compromise. You and I can jointly establish a trading company, but in this company, you will only have supervisory power, not executive power!" As long as it wasn't a purely Song trading company, there would be room for maneuver when reporting to Emperor Tianzuo. The princess of Shu asked, "What is the right of supervision?" Wang Hao pondered for a moment and replied, "As long as our trading company does not harm the interests of Liao, you shall not interfere in any affairs of any trading company!" The princess of Shu's worries were greatly relieved, and she said, "When doing business in Liao, it is best to recruit Liao people, otherwise you will only face difficulties!" Wang Hao smiled and said, "Not me, but us!" Wang Hao's very natural tone sounded somewhat ambiguous to the princess of Shu, but since she needed Wang Hao's help, she dared not be angry. Fortunately, Wang Hao did not do anything excessive, so she did not think too much about it. After considering for a moment, she said, "The situation in Liao is different from that in Song. The term 'trading company' will make the tribes on the grasslands see us as fat sheep to be slaughtered!"

Wang Hao had never truly encountered Khitan culture, only knowing that the Liao Dynasty implemented a dual administrative system of Southern and Northern Courts. The Southern Court managed the predominantly Han Chinese agricultural population, while the Northern Court managed the predominantly Khitan nomadic population. He asked, "If not 'commercial firm,' what should we call it?" The Shu princess seemed prepared, replying, "The Imperial Guard!" Wang Hao, somewhat confused, asked, "If my deduction is correct, the Imperial Guard should be responsible for guarding the Liao imperial palace, right?" The Shu princess explained, "The Imperial Guard, also known as the 'Leather Chamber Army' among the Khitans, meaning 'Vajra,' is the most elite army of the Liao Dynasty, and the last line of defense for every Liao emperor!" Wang Hao was even more confused, saying, "I have no interest in helping you..." "My father guards the palace, but what I want is the right to free trade with Liao!" the Shu princess said. "With the title of 'Imperial Guard,' is there anywhere in Liao that you can't go?" Wang Hao finally understood: "If the merchants from Jiaozhou have the title of 'Imperial Guard,' then in Liao they are equivalent to official merchants, or more precisely, 'royal merchants,' surpassing even the central enterprises of later generations; as for why the Shu princess is willing to give me such a title, that's no longer important." Returning the favor, he said directly: "You give me the title of 'Imperial Guard,' and I will give you 100,000 shi of grain." The Shu princess was somewhat shocked by Wang Hao's generosity and said: "Is this true?" Wang Hao said: "A gentleman's word is as good as his bond!"

The roads in Jiaozhou were flat and wide. Half an hour later, Wang Hao and his group arrived at a manor. The manor wasn't very large, designed in the shape of a "目" (eye) courtyard, also known as a "three-section" courtyard. This courtyard was Wang Hao's private residence and Wang Lun's first property in Jiaozhou. However, after becoming the dean of Jiaozhou Academy, Wang Lun moved to the academy and no longer lived here. In the three-section courtyard, the first section was the gatehouse, the second the main hall, and the third the private quarters. Wang Hao and the princess of Shu alighted from the carriage. Wang Hao said, "Princess, since you are visiting Jiaozhou incognito, it would be best to have an identity to answer questions from outsiders!" The princess of Shu pondered for a moment and asked, "Does Young Master Wang have any female relatives in his household?" Wang Hao replied, "No, for the time being." For some reason, the princess of Shu suddenly breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Women of Song can only remain in their chambers before marriage, and after marriage, they must be devoted to their husbands and raise their children. It is indeed quite inconvenient for a princess of Liao to visit Jiaozhou like me!" Wang Hao smiled and said, "It's not so much inconvenient as it is, but Your Highness's status is special. If I were to..." "Treating him with the utmost courtesy might arouse suspicion from those with ulterior motives, but treating him with ordinary courtesy would be offensive. Therefore, I am in a dilemma!" said the princess of Shu. "It is said that in wealthy families, the elders prepare a personal maid for the young master. Since I have come to Jiaozhou today, how about I serve as Young Master Wang's personal maid?" Wang Hao suddenly felt he was being teased, or more accurately, taken advantage of. He abruptly turned around, facing the princess of Shu, and said, "Do you know that a personal maid, also called a 'chamber maid,' not only serves her master's food, clothing, and lodging, but is also responsible for ensuring her master understands human affairs?"

The princess of Shu retorted, "Young Master Wang, are you a young hero? Do you really need me to teach you about human affairs?" Wang Hao, momentarily at a loss for words, said, "Since you requested to dress as a maid, your guards will have to stay in the gatehouse with my soldiers." The princess replied, "As you command, young master!" She then bowed slightly. Wang Hao couldn't help but chuckle, saying, "The princess gets into character very quickly!" Yang Zhi, Li Cangbai, and the others, watching Wang Hao and the princess's every move from a distance, were utterly bewildered. Suddenly, the princess approached and instructed, "We will only stay in Jiaozhou for five days. During these five days, you are free to move about as you please, but remember not to cause trouble, or you will be subject to military law." She then took out a silver ingot and rewarded Li Cangbai, saying, "This is twenty taels of silver for your expenses in Jiaozhou these few days!" Li Cangbai and the others quickly thanked her, their eyes gleaming with undisguised excitement. In Jinzhou today, most things are allocated by the government with quotas, so twenty taels of silver, let alone twenty taels of gold, are practically useless; but Jiaozhou is different. Here, commerce is booming and prices are stable, so twenty taels of silver is undoubtedly a considerable fortune.

Wang Hao looked at Yang Zhi and said, "Go to the accounting office and collect fifty taels of silver. Treat General Li and the others well!" Since Wang Hao had spoken personally, Yang Zhi could only reply, "Don't worry, young master!" Yang Zhi was a descendant of loyal officials and had an innate wariness of the Liao Kingdom. Although Li Cangbai was a Han Chinese from Liaodong, Yang Zhi subconsciously felt that caution was necessary. However, since Wang Hao had spoken first, Yang Zhi couldn't directly refuse. The Shu princess had shown Li Cangbai great favor, and as her personal guard, Li Cangbai dared not truly relax his guard. However, since the Shu princess had explicitly ordered him to obey Yang Zhi's arrangements, he had no choice but to comply.