Moma Liangshan

Chapter 116 A Top Scholar's Talent, a Crown Prince's Position

Wang Hao's wealth shocked everyone present. Even nobles would find it difficult to casually part with thousands of strings of cash. However, in an era where "all other professions are inferior, only studying is noble," immense wealth did not earn the respect of the nobles; instead, it evoked more envy. Wang Hao noticed the strange looks from the crowd, but in the late Northern Song Dynasty, a time of apparent prosperity yet turbulent undercurrents, being adept at navigating social situations was impossible. Although the eldest prince, Zhao Huan, was the crown prince, his mother died early, and coupled with his mediocre talent and virtue, as well as his weak and suspicious nature, he was never favored by Emperor Huizong. The second prince, Zhao Cheng, died young. The third prince, Zhao Kai, born to Consort Wang, was intelligent and quick-witted from a young age, and after adulthood, he excelled in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. In addition, his handsome appearance made him a favorite of Emperor Huizong.

Princess Roufu, lively and energetic, said, "Brother Prince Yun has been obsessed with painting since childhood, and his flower-and-bird paintings are a true inheritance from Father. I heard that you recently painted another 'Ink Lotus,' I wonder what Father thinks of it?" Zhao Kai looked embarrassed and slightly disheartened, saying, "The ink is rough and lacks vividness!" Princess Roufu couldn't help but laugh, saying, "It seems that you still need to work harder, otherwise the title 'Cao Zhi of the Eastern Capital' will be undeserved!" Wang Hao asked in confusion, blurting out, "Cao Zhi of the Eastern Capital?" Princess Roufu quickly explained, "At the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, King Cao Cao of Wei's poem attracted scholars from all over the world to serve him, and King Cao Zhi of Chen's poem made countless masterpieces of the past and present pale in comparison. These two men were father..." "Son." After a brief pause, looking at Wang Hao, he continued, "Father's flower-and-bird paintings are lifelike, perfectly capturing the spirit of nature; Prince Yun's flower-and-bird paintings are exquisite and realistic, like reflections of flowers and birds in water—that's one point. Two years ago, Prince Yun, hiding his identity, participated in the imperial examinations, overcoming numerous obstacles to reach the palace examination. In the palace examination, he stood out from the crowd, surpassing many scholars to win first place. However, Father, mindful of the hardships faced by scholars throughout the land, promoted the second-place candidate, Wang Ang, to the top spot—that's another point. Therefore, Brother Xianmeng, do you think His Highness Prince Yun deserves the title of 'Cao Zhi of the Eastern Capital'?" Wang Hao couldn't help but look at Zhao Kai with newfound respect, and hurriedly replied, "Truly deserving!"

Princess Roufu was still young, but Prince Yun, Zhao Kai, was already married. He said, "These are all empty titles, not worth mentioning. My virtuous brother Xianmeng also has a reputation in Tokyo, does Huanhuan know him?" Princess Roufu immediately became interested and said, "Let me guess!" She looked Wang Hao up and down, and after a moment said, "The Eight Immortals?" Everyone laughed. Princess Roufu continued, "The Taibai of Tokyo?" Zhao Kai said, "My virtuous brother Xianmeng has no poetry and doesn't like drinking, how could he be 'The Taibai of Tokyo'?" Seeing Princess Roufu's eagerness, Wang Hao said, "Please tell me, Your Highness!" Zhao Kai said, "The God of Wealth of Jingdong!" Wang Hao was puzzled at first, then... Zhi Ming realized, "Whether it's Liangshanbo, Penglai, or Jiaozhou, they all belong to the Eastern Circuit of Jingdong. And I've repeatedly given people the impression of spending money like water, so it's not hard to understand why I've earned the nickname 'God of Wealth of Jingdong.'" However, Princess Roufu was not very satisfied and said, "It doesn't sound good at all!" Wang Hao shook his head helplessly and said, "Making a fortune every day is just an appearance; the truth is that everything is in ruins!" Prince Yun, Zhao Kai, understood immediately and said, "Brother Xianmeng is right. Although Jiaozhou can't be called a desolate place, it's still extremely poor!" When Zhao Kai talked about Jiaozhou, Wang Hao secretly observed his expression and found that he didn't show any concern for the country or the people. He couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

The fireworks prepared by Eunuch Chen were finally ready, and everyone gathered under the eaves, waiting for the beautiful display. Wang Hao silently withdrew from the crowded area and went to a secluded corridor, where he sat down alone. Moments later, streaks of fire soared into the sky, flying over walls and treetops, reaching the night sky, and bursting into a burst of brilliant light with a deafening roar, illuminating every dark corner of the palace. At this moment, Wang Hao's feelings were complex. He marveled at the boundless wisdom of the ancients, who could create such a magnificent spectacle from crude gunpowder, yet he also lamented the decline of the Song Dynasty, which had reduced a vital weapon of national defense to mere celebratory entertainment. At some point, Princess Roufu appeared behind Wang Hao and whispered, "Brother, it seems you don't like being with us?" Wang Hao snapped out of his reverie and asked, "How should I address you? Princess Roufu, or Huanhuan?" Princess Roufu looked around and said, "Since it's just the two of us, brother, please call me Huanhuan!" Wang Hao nodded and said, "Did you know that besides making fireworks, gunpowder can also be used to defend our borders?" Princess Roufu nodded and said, "Of course I know. I've heard that the army not only has rockets and fire lances, but also cannons that can make loud noises." Wang Hao was incredulous that a girl who rarely left her home knew so much about gunpowder weapons. He asked, "Have you seen them with your own eyes?"

Princess Roufu said, "Although Tong Guan is a eunuch, my father says he is skilled in military affairs and has won several battles in the Northwest. One year, when he returned to the capital to report on his duties, my father asked him to demonstrate the new firearms to us, and I happened to be there." Wang Hao only knew that the Northern Song Dynasty had specialized firearms workshops, but he had never seen the firearms of the Northern Song Dynasty in person. He asked, "What do you think of the power of gunpowder weapons?" Princess Roufu said, "I think that apart from being easy to operate, they have no other advantages." Wang Hao frowned and asked, "Gunpowder and fire lances may have limited power, but cannons are heavy weapons. How can they be ineffective?" Princess Roufu did not understand why Wang Hao reacted this way and said, "Cannons are very heavy. Although the iron balls they fire are quite heavy,..." Both in terms of range and accuracy, it was clearly inferior to the ballista, and its power was further reduced in rainy weather. Wang Hao thought to himself, "What Tong Guan showed Emperor Huizong was definitely not an old-fashioned cannon; it must have been one of the best firearms of the Northern Song Dynasty. But according to Huanhuan, its range is probably unlikely to exceed five hundred paces. In ancient times, without advanced steelmaking and forging techniques, cannons had to be made as thick as possible in the barrel to ensure rigidity, resulting in enormous weight. While black powder was easy to produce, its power was limited, and the rough barrel made it difficult to create a good airtight seal with the projectile. These technological limitations meant that cannons could only be used within a very limited range."

Seeing Wang Hao lost in thought again, Princess Roufu slowly approached and whispered, "Brother, is something on your mind?" Wang Hao snapped out of his reverie and said, "It's not really on my mind. I originally thought I could improve the cannons and fight for the Emperor on the battlefield, but now it seems I was wrong!" Princess Roufu seemed to understand, but cautiously said, "There's something I think I should tell you, but brother, you must keep it a secret!" Wang Hao smiled slightly and said, "I'm all ears!" Princess Roufu said, "The Empress Dowager supports my brother, Prince Yun, in his plot to seize the throne!" Wang Hao was shocked and unconsciously grasped Princess Roufu's shoulders, saying, "Do you know that this concerns the struggle for the crown prince position? A slight mistake could lead to disaster?" Princess Roufu couldn't hide her urgency. She said, "It's precisely because I fully understand the dangers that I risked telling you, brother, hoping you'll make plans soon!" Wang Hao clearly felt Princess Roufu's concern for him and said, "Trust me, I have a foolproof plan!" Princess Roufu nodded and said, "I understand!" The fireworks began to thin out, and Princess Roufu said, "The fireworks are ending, I have to go!" Wang Hao felt a pang of reluctance to part and said, "If you want anything, tell me, and I'll have someone deliver it to the palace for you." Princess Roufu turned and smiled, saying, "Then brother, write me a letter every month, and I can tell you in the letter!" Wang Hao nodded and said, "It's a deal!"

After the fireworks, everyone dispersed. Wang Hao returned to Fanlou and slept soundly until dawn. The next morning, Li Shishi invited Wang Hao to breakfast. Two small dishes, a basket of steamed buns, and a bowl of rice porridge were all they had. A maidservant served the porridge and placed it before Wang Hao and Li Shishi. Seeing Wang Hao look at the maidservant, hesitant to speak, Li Shishi said, "You may leave." After the maidservant left, Wang Hao whispered, "There's something I'd like to ask you, sister. Is that alright?" Li Shishi casually replied, "Why are you suddenly being so formal, little brother?" Wang Hao took a deep breath and said, "It's not that I'm being formal, it's just that the matter is of great importance, and I have to be careful." Li Shishi shook her head slightly and said, "Speak!" Wang Hao knew Li Shishi hated nagging, so he asked, "Does the Emperor have any intention of deposing the Crown Prince?" Li Shishi looked surprised and said, "Sometimes, sometimes not, it's uncertain!" Wang Hao frowned and remained silent. Li Shishi continued, "It seems you and Princess Roufu are truly in love, she's confided in you about such a sensitive matter!" Wang Hao, distracted, replied, "A new emperor, a new court. Sometimes I really wish I'd never come to the capital!" Li Shishi laughed loudly, saying, "Sometimes I also wish I'd never entered this brothel, or even if I were to fall into prostitution, at least not become a top courtesan. But no one can start over!" Wang Hao didn't know how to answer. Li Shishi continued, "The Emperor isn't a wise and powerful ruler, and I'm not a pure and virtuous woman. As for you, brother, you seem indifferent to fame and fortune, but in reality, you're proud and persistent. Sometimes I even feel that in your eyes, no one can..." "Supreme, including the Emperor and yourself!" Wang Hao blurted out. "People can be rich or poor, but they shouldn't be divided into noble and lowly; wealth can be forsaken, but dignity cannot be trampled upon!" Li Shishi laughed angrily and said, "Only you, my brother, would say such things, besides the monks in the temple. Since you pursue equality for all, what is the trivial struggle for the crown prince position worth?" Wang Hao said, "My ideal has no necessary connection with the struggle for the crown prince position!" Li Shishi retorted, "If your ideal is realized, and everyone in the world is truly equal, then even the emperor will become insignificant, and what weight will the mere position of crown prince carry? Why bother repeatedly with such trivial matters?"