Moma Liangshan

Chapter 115 Prince Zhao Kai of Yun, in his official robes

Emperor Huizong was known for his amorous nature and numerous children. Twenty-six princes and seventeen princesses attended the banquet, along with countless other members of the imperial family and relatives. The Northern Song Dynasty was economically prosperous, and the upper class lived a refined and delicate lifestyle, elegant and tender; the common people lived a rugged and bold lifestyle, straightforward and righteous. Commoners' clothing was primarily made of cotton and linen, in either natural colors or gray and black; noble clothing was mainly made of silk, with fur and fine feathers added in late autumn and winter, in bright and light colors such as scarlet, purple, blue, green, orange, yellow, and white. After Emperor Shenzong, the national treasury was full, the people were prosperous, and the government promoted clothing reform. The Northern Song Dynasty, from top to bottom, broke through the limitations of Han and Tang dynasty clothing styles, innovating extensively. People at the time were not only enthusiastic about luxury and refinement but also pursued novelty and uniqueness. In the capital, the wealthy wore gold, silver, and jewels, while the poor still wore carved wooden hairpins.

Amidst the joyous revelry and celebrations, Wang Hao strolled slowly through the corridors. Watching the children weaving through the crowd, he couldn't help but smile, thinking, "Huanhuan is naturally active; she's probably among these children too!" He shook his head helplessly and looked down. Just as Wang Hao was engrossed in his search, two young girls suddenly appeared, exclaiming, "Brother Xianmeng is here!" Wang Hao jumped, turning around abruptly, scrutinizing them from head to toe. After a long pause, he finally came to his senses and hurriedly said, "Wang Hao greets Princess Chengde and Princess Roufu!" Wang Hao's words instantly attracted the attention of many in the hall. Facing countless nobles, Wang Hao felt an inexplicable pressure. Princess Roufu, unlike her usual willful and capricious self, was now poised and elegant in every gesture, saying, "Brother Xianmeng's clothes are truly exquisite. They are neither silk, nor cotton, nor linen, yet they are delicate and smooth, exuding elegance!" Wang Hao replied, "This is woolen cloth, woven from cashmere wool, several times warmer than silk, cotton yarn, or linen."

For nobles and royalty, falconry, horsemanship, dog-walking, and cockfighting were commonplace, and they were always eager to acquire anything new and rare. In a short while, a dozen or so princes and nobles had gathered around Wang Hao, with Princess Chengde (Zhao Hu'er) and Princess Roufu (Zhao Duofu) also surrounded by princesses and noblewomen. Princess Roufu's eyes darted around as she said, "Since this woolen fabric is so wonderful, could you give me and Sister Hu'er each a bolt?" Princess Chengde tugged at Princess Roufu's sleeve, saying, "Brother Xianmeng wore this woolen coat as his official attire to the banquet; it must be a rare and precious item. Huanhuan, you're asking for two bolts of woolen fabric right off the bat—that's outrageous!" Princess Roufu shook her head slightly, saying, "Woolen fabric is novel, but cashmere isn't scarce. Brother Xianmeng must have a workshop that specializes in producing this kind of woolen fabric." Princess Chengde, being a year older and already betrothed, didn't want to have too much involvement with Wang Hao, saying, "I don't want the woolen fabric!" She then took a small step back. Seeing Princess Roufu and Princess Chengde arguing back and forth, Wang Hao remained silent, unable to speak. After a moment, Princess Roufu suddenly looked at Wang Hao and asked, "Brother Xianmeng, was what I said earlier correct? Do you really have a workshop that produces woolen cloth?" This was the opportunity Wang Hao had been waiting for. He deliberately raised his voice and said, "We currently have over thirty looms and one dyeing workshop, producing fifty bolts of woolen cloth per day!"

Wang Hao's deliberate boasting was aimed at opening up the market for woolen cloth among the nobility of Tokyo, and woolen cloth was just one type of woolen product. Wang Hao had once pondered: "The prosperity of Jiangnan is not only due to its abundant fish and rice, but also closely related to its highly developed mulberry and hemp textile industry. Although the northern grasslands lack mulberry and hemp, they have countless warhorses and cattle. While warhorses are a powerful weapon for the country, they are not essential for the national economy and people's livelihood; the nomadic peoples will not allow warhorses to flow into the Central Plains without restraint, and an excess of warhorses would also be a burden for the Central Plains dynasties; after all, what the people yearn for is a peaceful and prosperous life, not endless war. The Liao Kingdom's treasury will eventually run dry, but there are millions of cattle and sheep on the vast grasslands. The long distances and harsh weather make it difficult to trade meat products on a large scale, but wool has few restrictions." Wang Hao believed that as long as he planned properly, Jiaozhou could become the woolen textile capital within a few years.

Princess Roufu was very intelligent and said, "The workshop is also equipped with a dyeing workshop, doesn't that mean that the cloth is available in colors other than the black that Brother Xianmeng is wearing?" Wang Hao nodded and said, "The cloth has all the colors that silk has." Princess Roufu couldn't help but show her longing. At this moment, a young man beside Wang Hao spoke up, saying, "I am Prince Zhao Kai of Yun, greetings to Brother Xianmeng!" Wang Hao, unaware of his presence, replied, "Wang Hao greets Your Highness Prince Yun!" Then, Princess Roufu, standing nearby, said, "Could it be that Brother Prince Yun is also interested in this cloth?" Prince Yun smiled casually and said, "Brother Xianmeng is renowned throughout the capital, yet I have never had the chance to meet you, hence my disturbance to you today, little sister!" Hearing Prince Zhao Kai address Princess Roufu as "little sister," Wang Hao suddenly remembered, "Consort Wang has four sons and one daughter: Prince Zhao Ji of Jing, Prince Zhao Kai of Yun, Prince Zhao Shu of Su, Prince Zhao Di of Xu, and Princess Roufu, Zhao Duofu. Prince Zhao Ji of Jing died young." Princess Roufu blushed slightly and said, "With so many people present, why did you have to bother me?"

Zhao Kai laughed loudly and said, "If my little sister says no, then no!" Wang Hao said, "In a few months, Jiaozhou will be able to obtain a steady stream of wool from the northern grasslands. Would Your Highness Prince Yun be interested in co-operating with me in a workshop?" Prince Yun took a slight step back, thinking to himself, "My father has no clear stance on either the Song-Jin alliance or the Song-Liao cooperation. A wool workshop might be highly profitable, but the political risks are extremely high, and it would also be detrimental to my reputation!" He said, "I appreciate Xianmeng's good intentions, but I hope Xianmeng understands my difficulties!" Wang Hao instantly understood Zhao Kai's concerns and did not press the matter, saying, "There's plenty of time!" Everyone present was a prince or nobleman, a member of a powerful family. Having witnessed intrigue and the pursuit of profit and avoidance of harm since childhood, the distance between them and Wang Hao instantly widened slightly.

Seeing the situation clearly, Wang Hao didn't press the matter further and said, "Five days from now, I plan to hold a fashion show of woolen fabrics at Fanlou. I hope all the noble sons and noble ladies will grace us with their presence!" Zhao Kai looked puzzled and asked, "What is a fashion show? How can woolen fabric be used for walking?" Wang Hao replied, "Beautiful women, both inside and out, walking on the stage—that's what I call a 'fashion show'!" Zhao Kai laughed and said, "Xianmeng's words are insightful; you're truly a genius!" Princess Roufu pondered for a long time and said, "Brother Xianmeng, do you mean you want those beauties to wear clothes made of woolen fabric for the fashion show?" Wang Hao nodded and replied, "Exactly!" Princess Roufu was first excited, then disappointed, and said, "Such a wonderful event, yet we can't participate. What a pity!" Then, her eyes sparkled as she looked at Wang Hao. Wang Hao looked slightly helpless, then a thought flashed through his mind. He realized that there were dozens of noble ladies in this side hall alone, and tentatively said, "Would it be feasible if a certain empress presided over a special event for nobles in the palace?" Princess Roufu immediately perked up and looked at Princess Chengde, pleading, "Every day is so boring, how about you and I go together to ask Her Majesty the Empress?" Princess Chengde looked at him with both concern and said, "It would be best if we informed the Empress Dowager later!"

However, at this moment, Prince Zhao Kai of Yun said directly, "How can Mother Empress object to such a joyous feast?" Princess Roufu said incredulously, "Brother Prince of Yun is so confident, but Mother Empress doesn't like to make a fuss." Zhao Kai was full of confidence and said, "This is just a game, not a grand ceremony or sacrifice, so Mother Empress doesn't need to handle it personally. As long as we don't go too far, Mother Empress and all the ladies can attend on the day of the event!" Seeing that everyone was silent, Prince Zhao Kai of Yun continued, "As long as Xianmeng provides the manpower and money, I'll take care of everything else!" Wang Hao didn't know why Zhao Kai was so enthusiastic about this matter, but he could foresee the advertising effect of the royal family and said, "If this succeeds, I will give His Highness Prince Zhao Kai a thousand..." "Two taels of silver as payment!" Princess Roufu suddenly spoke up, saying, "There's no need to trouble Prince Yun, my sister Hu'er and I can handle this!" Then, staring at Wang Hao, she slowly said, "How about giving my sister Hu'er and me a thousand taels of silver after it's done?" Wang Hao hadn't expected his young fiancée to be so greedy, and said, "A royal princess, would she be short of money?" Princess Roufu looked at Wang Hao in surprise and said, "Short of money? Of course I'm short of money! Do you know how much a princess with a title receives a month?" Wang Hao shook his head and said, "I don't know!" Princess Roufu replied, "Sixty strings of cash!" Then she continued, "If it's a princess without a title, then only forty strings of cash!"

Wang Hao looked at Zhao Kai with considerable embarrassment and said, "I entrust this matter to His Highness Prince Yun!" Zhao Kai was slightly surprised and said, "Xianmeng trusts me so much?" Wang Hao smiled slightly and said, "His Highness Prince Yun has already established his own residence, so it's more convenient to come and go from the Prince Yun's residence!" Wang Hao's answer surprised Zhao Kai, who said, "We'll all be family in the future, so it's naturally convenient!" Princess Roufu blushed slightly but still said, "Brother Prince Yun has already established his own residence, and his salary and land holdings are very generous. He doesn't lack a thousand strings of cash!" A thousand strings of cash wasn't a huge sum, but it was certainly not a small amount. Although Zhao Kai had established his own residence and had his own salary and land holdings, his family was large and his expenses were quite heavy. He was unwilling to give up the almost free thousand strings of cash. Wang Hao looked helplessly at Princess Roufu and said, "It's unseemly to give money away without reason; how about I give you a hundred bolts of woolen cloth instead?" Princess Roufu was very close to Wang Hao and wasn't too shy, asking, "How much is a bolt of woolen cloth?" Wang Hao couldn't help but smile and said, "The price of woolen cloth varies between four and eight bolts depending on its thickness, color, and weaving technique!" Princess Roufu still felt she had been cheated and said, "You should also give Hu'er a hundred bolts of woolen cloth!" Upon hearing this, Princess Chengde quickly said, "Absolutely not!" Wang Hao glanced at Princess Chengde, thinking that she was already engaged and might be worried about accepting his gift causing gossip, and said to Princess Roufu, "How about I give you two hundred bolts of woolen cloth, which you can use as you see fit?" Princess Roufu thought for a moment and happily said, "That's fine too!"