Moma Liangshan

Chapter 20: Lin Chong is exiled to Cangzhou, Wang Hao returns to Liangshan.

Wang Hao asked, "His Majesty appointed me concurrently as Commander-in-Chief. Is this registered with the Palace Guard?" The clerk replied, "Indeed." Wang Hao thought of Gao Qiu and said, "Grand Commandant Gao is the head of the military officers. What is his subordinate relationship with the Commanders of the Three Military Commands?" The clerk replied, "Grand Commandant is a second-rank official. The Commanders of the Palace Guard, the Cavalry, and the Infantry are all fifth-rank officials. Although Grand Commandant is six ranks higher, he has no direct subordinate relationship with the Commanders of the Three Military Commands. The Commanders of the Three Military Commands only answer to His Majesty." Wang Hao nodded and then asked, "Grand Tutor Cai is the head of the civil officials. What rank is he?" The clerk glanced at Wang Hao unconsciously and said, "Grand Tutor Cai..." "Grand Tutor, Grand Preceptor, Grand Protector, Left and Right Chancellors, Junior Tutor, Junior Preceptor, and Junior Protector are all of the first rank, with the Grand Tutor being the most prestigious." Wang Hao finally understood the Song Dynasty's emphasis on civil officials over military ones. Gao Qiu, the head of the military, was actually two ranks lower than Cai Jing, the head of the civil officials. He asked, "What rank am I, the Imperial Diarist and Commander-in-Chief, combined?" The clerk was somewhat speechless and replied, "The Imperial Diarist is a sixth-rank official, and the Commander-in-Chief is equivalent to a county magistrate, a ninth-rank official. Ranks cannot be stacked, so you, Lord Wang, are still a sixth-rank official." Wang Hao suddenly asked again, "Sir, what rank are you?" The clerk replied, "I am a ninth-rank official."

Wang Hao thought to himself, "I was ordered to salvage the Huashi Gang (a type of tribute convoy), but Cai Jing and Gao Qiu refused to allocate any funds, provisions, or manpower. However, Emperor Huizong's orders must be obeyed. The only way forward is to return to Liangshan Marsh and mobilize the troops in the stronghold. Yang Zhi is the only witness to the Huashi Gang falling into the water. Only by finding Yang Zhi can we determine the location of the Huashi Gang." He then took out ten taels of silver and stuffed them into the clerk's hand, saying, "I entrust this task of posting notices to find Yang Zhi to you, sir." The clerk, remembering his superior's hint to keep everyone away from Wang Hao, looked troubled and said, "My official rank is lowly; I'm afraid I cannot handle this task." Wang Hao smiled coldly and said, "The Emperor himself has personally agreed to assign Yang Zhi to my service." After saying this, he unfolded the folding fan bestowed by Emperor Huizong. The clerk saw Emperor Huizong's golden seal and was terrified. Wang Hao continued, "This matter is not something I'm discussing with you; I'm entrusting you with it. Anyone who dares to obstruct it is deceiving the emperor. Sir, you wouldn't want to become the first person to do so, would you?" The clerk had no choice but to reply, "I will certainly not fail in my mission." Wang Hao smiled with satisfaction and left the Palace Guard.

Two days later, Lin Chong was put in shackles and exiled to Cangzhou. Outside the city gate, Wang Hao, Instructor Zhang, and Zhang's wife saw Lin Chong off. Wang Hao, being an outsider, stood ten paces away. Lin Chong looked at Zhang Shi, then at Instructor Zhang, and said, "Lin Chong has suffered misfortune and hardship, and has been unjustly accused. Now I am going to Cangzhou, my life is in danger, and I fear it will ruin your youth. In prison, I have already written a letter of divorce. If Lin Chong does not return in three years, I beg you, my wife, not to wait for me, but to find a respectable family and remarry." Upon hearing this, Zhang Shi burst into tears, saying, "Husband! I have not committed any wrongdoing, how can you divorce me?" Lin Chong said, "Wife, I mean well. I am afraid that things will go wrong for both of us and delay your marriage." Seeing this, Instructor Zhang said, "Lin Chong, what are you saying! You are unlucky and have suffered this misfortune, it is not your fault. Today you are going to Cangzhou to avoid disaster, sooner or later Heaven will take pity on you and let you return, and then we can be husband and wife again." He then looked at Wang Hao not far away and said, "Young Master Wang, I have a request!" Wang Hao quickly stepped forward and said, "Instructor Lin and I hit it off immediately. Please don't be so formal, sir. Just tell me what you need!" Instructor Zhang said, "Tomorrow, I would like to move with my daughter and Jin'er to your Erlibao, young master. I hope you will grant my request. I have been an instructor for decades, and I believe I can be of some use to you." Wang Hao looked at Lin Chong, then at Instructor Zhang and Zhang Shi, and said, "Three days ago, I ordered my servants to prepare a separate courtyard in the fort, just waiting for Madam to move in." Lin Chong immediately knelt on one knee and said, "Young master, your kindness is immense. I, Lin Chong, can never repay you, even if I were to serve you like a slave!" Wang Hao quickly helped Lin Chong up and said, "We hit it off immediately. Although we are not related by blood, we are closer than brothers. Asking Madam to go there for refuge is nothing more than a small favor for me. Instructor Lin, please don't worry about it!" The constable, seeing that he had been delayed for so long, was about to urge them on. Unexpectedly, Wang Hao suddenly opened his folding fan, revealing Emperor Huizong's seal. He then took out two pieces of silver and handed them to the two men, saying, "You two just wait aside. Even if your fathers or Grand Commandant Gao were here, they would certainly give me face." Everyone in the Dongjing (Kaifeng) officialdom knew that Wang Hao had connections everywhere, and now he was holding the Emperor's fan. Seeing this, the two men quickly stepped aside. Lin Chong bowed to his father-in-law, bid farewell to his wife, thanked Wang Hao, shouldered his bundle, and left with the constables.

After settling Instructor Zhang and his wife in Erlibao, Wang Hao asked Instructor Zhang to train the ten recruited martial arts instructors. He then returned to Liangshan with Zhu Gui. Wang Hao had been away from home for several months, and Wang Lun missed him dearly. Upon landing at Jinshatan, the guards were astonished to see Wang Hao and immediately bowed. Wang Hao said, "Quickly inform the chieftain that I've returned." The guards obeyed and ran towards the stronghold. Wang Hao unloaded the gifts, ordered his attendants to carry them, and they went up the mountain together. Halfway up, they saw Wang Lun, Du Qian, Song Wan, and others coming down the mountain. Wang Hao ran forward and said, "Greetings, Father!" Wang Lun looked Wang Hao up and down and said, "You've lost weight, grown taller, and look more energetic!" Wang Hao smiled awkwardly and said, "Father, you still look as dashing as ever!" Wang Lun patted Wang Hao on the shoulder and said, "You must be tired from your journey. I had someone boil water and slaughter chickens and sheep on your way down the mountain. Take a bath and change your clothes first, and then we, father and son, can drink and chat." The group returned to the mountain stronghold in high spirits.

Upon arriving at the mountain stronghold, Wang Hao found bathwater already prepared in his room. After bathing, he took out his personal belongings and headed to the main hall. Inside, the henchmen were busy preparing for the evening's banquet. Wang Hao stopped one of them and asked, "Has anything changed in the stronghold since I left?" The henchman put down his work and replied, "Since the chief learned that you had made a name for yourself in Tokyo, he established a rule that everyone receives a monthly allowance of one string of cash. Your tavern has also been expanded repeatedly. The chief has selected the most skilled brothers to work there, while most others work in the tavern." Wang Hao asked, "Are the brothers in the stronghold willing?" The henchman replied, "Of course they are! The skilled ones eat and drink well every day and only need to train. Those with average skills are mostly from poor families and don't like fighting. Working in the tavern is something they've always longed for." Wang Hao didn't ask any further questions and went straight to Wang Lun's courtyard.

When Wang Hao arrived, he saw Wang Lun playing with the tea and wine utensils he had brought from Tokyo. He asked, "Father, are you satisfied?" Wang Lun looked at his son in his fine clothes and said, "The capital is truly extraordinary. You've only been away from home for a few months, yet you've transformed from a wild boy into a refined gentleman." Wang Hao replied, "I've also brought some silk for you, Father. I'll find a tailor to make you a few new outfits." Wang Lun smiled kindly and said, "Keep them for now. Liangshan is not like Tokyo; plain clothes are more suitable. I'm content with your thoughtfulness!" The kettle outside was boiling. Wang Lun picked up the tea set and tea leaves he had brought from Tokyo, while Wang Hao brought the kettle. The father and son brewed tea and sat facing each other. Wang Hao said, "Green tea, especially on fine porcelain, is best." Wang Lun replied, "Without you, I would be using coarse pottery and drinking coarse tea. How could I enjoy such a refined life?" Wang Hao continued, "Our family's wine has been named 'Eight Immortals' by the Emperor, its fame spreading far and wide. The imperial family uses crystal cups, officials use white jade cups, and wealthy merchants use celadon cups. Crystal cups are scarce, and I can't obtain any for now, so I've brought you a set of white jade cups." Wang Lun said, "Father, you are not one to indulge in extravagance. A peaceful life is about living within your means. Don't let empty fame bring you trouble." Wang Hao nodded and said, "Your son will be wise." After some thought, he added, "Our distillery needs to be expanded again, to the point where it can produce a thousand jars of wine per month." Wang Lun explained, "The distillery has been operating for six months, and each cellar can currently produce about ten jars per month. According to Master Xu, this is already the limit for each cellar. To produce a thousand jars per month, we need at least one hundred cellars, and each cellar requires about five workers. The stronghold originally had over five hundred and seventy people. About thirty went to Tokyo with you, one hundred and ten were selected as guards, and the remaining four hundred or so include over forty women and children. Therefore, if we want to expand to one hundred cellars, the stronghold's current manpower is far from sufficient."

Wang Hao pondered for a moment and said, "I want to move the distillery to Yuncheng County. Liangshan Marsh will only serve as our family's secret base." Wang Lun said with slight worry, "What if others steal our brewing techniques?" Wang Hao said, "Eight Immortals Wine is a name bestowed by the Emperor himself. Only our distilled spirit is truly Eight Immortals Wine. Even if others learn our techniques, they wouldn't dare use the name 'Eight Immortals Wine.' Eight Immortals Wine is highly profitable, and our partners are all wealthy and powerful families from various regions. Brewing wine is for making money. If those who steal our techniques sell wine in the marketplace, it will inevitably harm the interests of those wealthy and powerful families. Cutting off someone's livelihood is like killing their parents. In that case, the first to strike will definitely be..." "Those powerful and influential families." Wang Lun nodded and said, "You've thought things through thoroughly, but there's one thing you must remember. Only the strength of our Wang family is fundamental; relying too much on others will ultimately harbor hidden dangers." Wang Hao said, "I understand. The Emperor has bestowed upon me the position of Commander-in-Chief, allowing me to lead a hundred soldiers. This is to send me to the Yellow River to retrieve the lost 'Flower Stone Tribute.' I've established a security escort agency in Tokyo, and currently recruited ten martial arts masters. I will gradually expand it in the future. The agency has two purposes: first, to monopolize the transportation of Eight Immortals Wine; second, to deter those with ill intentions." Wang Lun was very satisfied and said, "Excellent. The security escort agency operates in the open, the mountain stronghold in the shadows; the two sides, the legitimate and the illegitimate, complement each other."