Moma Liangshan

Chapter 255 Experiences, New Ideas

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The reason why "Jiaozhou" was able to evolve from a "regional term" into a "group of interests" was entirely due to the appearance of Wang Hao. This was something everyone, from officials and nobles to ordinary peddlers, was well aware of. After more than a year of adaptation and adjustment, the various factions gathered in Jiaozhou were not only able to live in harmony but also to cooperate effectively. However, all of this was predicated on Wang Hao's rule over Jiaozhou. If Wang Hao were to leave one day, Jiaozhou, a hub of talent, would inevitably descend into chaos and infighting. Yang Yong had only been in the Jiaozhou military camp for a little over a year, but his study of Confucianism and Mencius began in childhood. Even Wang Hao himself held Confucian classics in high esteem, though he did not suppress other schools of thought while promoting Confucianism.

Faced with Zhao Tuo's reminder, Yang Yong remained silent for a long time before saying, "The young master's wisdom is unparalleled; how could you or I possibly see through him?" Zhao Tuo shook his head slightly and said, "Neither you nor I, nor the general, can see through the young master. Since we cannot see through him, let us treat him as a sage!" Yang Yong had not expected Zhao Tuo to say such a thing and was momentarily at a loss for words. Zhao Tuo remained calm and quietly observed Yang Yong. After an unknown amount of time, Yang Yong finally said, "I want to know if this is just your opinion, or everyone's opinion?" Zhao Tuo did not hide anything and said, "Most of the veterans in Jiaozhou share the same thought as me. After all, the prosperous era of benevolent rule described by Mencius is merely the current state of Jiaozhou. The soldiers recruited by Liao and Morigen and the others should regard the young master as their master. As for the general, as subordinates, it is not appropriate for you and I to presume to know!"

Yang Yong, watching the grazing horses, suddenly recited: "A five-acre homestead, planted with mulberry trees, will provide enough silk for a fifty-year-old to wear. If chickens, pigs, dogs, and swine are raised at the right time, a seventy-year-old will have enough meat to eat. A hundred acres of land, if not cultivated at the right time, will ensure a family of several mouths will not go hungry. If the education in schools is carefully maintained, and the principles of filial piety and brotherly love are emphasized, the elderly with white hair will not have to carry burdens on the roads. If a seventy-year-old wears silk and eats meat, and the common people are neither hungry nor cold, yet there is no king, such a thing has never happened." Zhao Tuo, upon hearing this, smiled and said, "A year ago, Jiaozhou was the poorest region on the Jiaodong Peninsula and even in the entire Jingdong East Road. Every lean season, bandits roamed the entire area, and even..." They had repeatedly plundered the surrounding wealthy counties. Therefore, when the young master petitioned the emperor to establish Laoshan County, the officials of Mizhou and Laizhou seemed to see a savior and readily ceded large tracts of land. Why? Because everyone wanted to get rid of Jiaozhou, this burden! Yang Yong nodded repeatedly, saying, "The young master's vigorous promotion of industry and commerce has indeed brought vitality to Jiaozhou!" Zhao Tuo looked at Yang Yong meaningfully and said, "The young master once said that scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants are all indispensable, therefore there should be no distinction of rank or superiority. Do you agree with this statement?" Yang Yong hesitated, only saying "I!" Zhao Tuo continued, "Brother Yang, do you own any land?" Yang Yong was quite frank, replying, "Ten mu of paddy fields and twenty mu of dry land." Zhao Tuo nodded, saying, "That's understandable! Our village is surrounded by hills and slopes, with fields the size of rooftops scattered in every nook and cranny, impossible to measure in acres. But the only thing we're certain of is that we've never had enough to eat!" Yang Yong was about to speak when Zhao Tuo interrupted, continuing, "My father is a traveling doctor, earning a little from his house calls, but our neighbors and fellow villagers aren't so lucky! I attended a private school for two years, and from the teacher, I could sense the scholars' disdain for commerce and industry. But my question is, if there's no land to cultivate, if we can't even feed ourselves, are we just supposed to wait to die on those barren lands?"

Yang Yong hadn't expected that Zhao Tuo, who usually killed enemies with ease, would be the son of a physician. He was even more surprised that such a seemingly arrogant man possessed such insightful views. Yang Yong said, "Before your arrival, my family was already wealthy, so I always thought you had only improved the security of Jiaozhou. But after entering the Jiaozhou military camp, I was awestruck by the sight of the expanding army, the training of soldiers, and the sharpening of swords. I even suspected that you would lead Jiaozhou into an abyss of no return!" Although Wang Hao repeatedly emphasized that the flames of the Jin-Liao war would inevitably reach the Song Dynasty, how many truly believed him? Because of this, Wang Hao's true ambitions remained a mystery to everyone, including Lin Chong, Di Chunqiu, Li Yanping, and even Li Shishi, Wang Lun, or Emperor Huizong.

Zhao Tuo suddenly became incredibly resolute, saying, "If you've ever experienced the horrors of widespread starvation, you'll understand that for those who are starving, whoever provides them with food and warmth has the virtue of giving them a second life. To give birth to one person is to be a parent; to give birth to ten thousand is to be a god!" Yang Yong suddenly remembered something and said, "So the rumors circulating in the city that some people built a shrine for the young master seem to have some truth to them!" Zhao Tuo nodded, saying, "Not only in remote villages, but even the City God in the Jiaozhou City God Temple bears a striking resemblance to the young master!" Yang Yong was incredulous, saying, "Weren't the craftsmen who sculpted those statues afraid of blaspheming the gods?" Zhao Tuo countered, "In your opinion, Brother Yang, whose appearance should this divine image be based on?" If it is a god, how can it appear in the mortal world? And even if it does appear, how can mortals recognize it? Yang Yong was speechless for a moment, unsure how to answer. Zhao Tuo continued, "I have a question, and I would appreciate it if Brother Yang could enlighten me!" Seeing Zhao Tuo change the subject, Yang Yong breathed a sigh of relief and replied, "Please speak, Brother Zhao!" Zhao Tuo suddenly said, "From what you just said, Brother Yang, it seems you don't entirely agree with the young master. If that's the case, given your family's circumstances, why bother to become the young master's disciple?" Yang Yong looked somewhat ashamed and said, "Although my family is wealthy, I am unfortunately naturally dull-witted, and I am currently only a commoner scholar."

The "White-Robed Scholar" is not a scholar who wears white robes, but rather a scholar who is not from the world. Wang Hao's father, Wang Lun, was a White-Robed Scholar, and thus earned the title "White-Robed Scholar" among outlaws.

When the topic turned to his official career, Yang Yong's melancholy deepened. After a brief moment of sadness, he continued, "Seeing no hope in the imperial examinations, I had to find another way out. It so happened that you, sir, were governing Jiaozhou and recruiting talented individuals. I submitted my name card and was eventually assigned to the Jiaozhou military camp." Zhao Tuo hadn't expected Yang Yong to be so open about his background. He asked, "And how did you come to Liaodong?" Yang Yong replied, "By drawing lots!" Seeing Zhao Tuo's doubt, he added, "Although my writing isn't very good, my calligraphy is quite skillful, so you, sir, gave me the status of a scholar." Zhao Tuo suddenly understood. In the Jiaozhou army, each squad had at least one scholar, who was often appointed as a temporary squad leader. If he passed the subsequent training assessment, he would be promoted to a permanent squad leader.