Moma Liangshan

Chapter 181 Where there was once the Zheng Guo Canal, now the Yanping Road is being built.

Although the thirty-year-old Li Tong held no official position, he held a high position in the hearts of scholars throughout the land. Li Tong sent a letter to Feng Gu along with an invitation, inviting him to meet at the Shanhai Manor. The Shanhai Manor was another name for the Jiaozhou Guesthouse, built by Wang Hao to accommodate imperial envoys, overseas merchants, and renowned scholars. Facing the sea and built against the mountain, the manor consisted of a main building, two auxiliary buildings, and forty-nine courtyards of varying sizes. However, by the time Li Tong arrived, only the main building, one auxiliary building, and nine courtyards were completed. Li Tong arrived in Jiaozhou escorted by men sent by Zhao Mingcheng. Zhao Mingcheng was the prefect of Laizhou, a higher official than Wang Hao. The officials in charge of receiving Li Tong in Jiaozhou dared not neglect him in the slightest; after reporting to Di Chunqiu, they directly arranged for him to stay at the Shanhai Manor.

Feng Gu was nominally the second-in-command of Jiaozhou, so entering the Shanhai Manor was naturally without any hindrance. Although Li Tong and Feng Gu were classmates, it had been seven or eight years since they parted ways in Luoyang. Meeting an old friend always evoked many emotions. Feng Gu cupped his hands and said, "Brother Yanping, how have you been?" Li Tong, dressed in a scholar's robe, exuded an air of righteousness in every gesture, and said, "Many years have passed, Brother Zhangping, your demeanor remains as impressive as ever!" Feng Gu was suddenly filled with emotion and said, "It has been many years since anyone has addressed me like that!" "Zhangping" was Feng Gu's original courtesy name, given to him by Cheng Yi when he was studying in Luoyang. However, later, when he went to the capital to take the imperial examination, he became a disciple of Cai Jing in order to have a support in his official career.

Cheng Yi died only five years ago, and he was a contemporary of the powerful minister Cai Jing. Cheng Yi was erudite and knowledgeable. In his youth, he served as a minor official in the Secretariat and as a storyteller in the Chongzheng Hall. Later, he resigned and returned to his hometown, where he studied with his elder brother Cheng Hao. They eventually founded the Luoyang School and became famous throughout the world.

Cai Jing was greedy for money and power, and held himself in high esteem, always regarding Confucian scholars like Cheng Hao and Cheng Yi as mere fame-seekers. Perhaps wanting to compete with Cheng Yi, Cai Jing made a high-profile show of Feng Gu's allegiance, deliberately presenting him with the courtesy name "Jianye" in front of numerous guests. Bad news travels fast, and "Cai Jing's gift of the courtesy name" quickly became an indelible stain on Feng Gu's reputation.

Li Tong quickly grasped the meaning behind Feng Gu's words and immediately changed the subject, saying, "I need your help, brother!" Seeing that Li Tong needed his help, Feng Gu instantly snapped out of his reverie and asked, "Is it about the matter mentioned in the letter?" Li Tong nodded and said, "Di Chunqiu is the greatest synthesizer of the Mohist school, and I don't want the world's premier library to become a Mohist stronghold!" Feng Gu was somewhat surprised and asked, "Could it be that Brother Yanping and Di Chunqiu are old acquaintances?" Li Tong replied, "Not only are we old acquaintances, but we've also had deep discussions on the Dao!" Feng Gu remained skeptical, asking, "After the Jiaozhou Library is completed, will it truly attract scholars from all over the land?" Li Tong replied, "I came here even before the library was completed!" Feng Gu frowned and said, "I understand!" Then he continued, "When would you like to pay your respects to the magistrate, Brother Yanping?" Li Tong replied, "The sooner the better!" Feng Gu pondered for a moment and said, "There's no time like the present; let's go pay our respects to the magistrate now!" Li Tong hesitated, saying, "To come uninvited is uncivilized!"

Feng Gu explained, "May I ask, Brother Yanping, who arranged for you to stay at this Mountain and Sea Manor?" Li Tong replied, "It should be Di Chunqiu; I saw his signature on the warrant!" Feng Gu continued, "Brother Yanping, have you considered what would happen if Di Chunqiu guessed the purpose of your visit to Jiaozhou?" Li Tong said, "Although Di Chunqiu was influenced by the Mohist school, he is an upright gentleman and shouldn't be so foolish!" Feng Gu became somewhat anxious and said, "The position of director of the Jiaozhou Library is currently vacant. What if Di Chunqiu makes the first move and recommends his fellow student to the magistrate? What will Brother Yanping do then?" Li Tong finally understood and said, "Everything has its order of arrival. If someone else gets there first, you will indeed be at a disadvantage!" Feng Gu immediately opened the door and said, "Therefore, I would like to ask Brother Yanping to accompany me to visit the magistrate!" Li Tong considered it further and said, "Thank you for your trouble, Brother Zhangping!"

Upon arriving at the county government office, Feng Gu asked the gatekeeper, "Is the magistrate here?" The gatekeeper replied, "Yes!" Feng Gu led Li Tong to Wang Hao's study, knocked gently on the door, and heard a reply, "Come in!" Seeing Feng Gu enter, followed by another person, Wang Hao was somewhat surprised and asked, "And this gentleman is?" Before Feng Gu could answer, Li Tong said, "I am Li Tong from Luoyang, and I have come here because of your reputation!" Wang Hao laughed and said, "I never expected that you, sir, would be the renowned Li Yanping!" Although Li Tong was empty-handed, he was still delighted to hear Wang Hao's praise and said, "Young Master Wang flatters me!" Wang Hao shook his head and said, "Di Chunqiu has already told you all about your deeds..." "I am, so sir, there's no need for you to be so modest!" Then, suddenly remembering that Li Tong had been sent by Zhao Mingcheng, he asked, "Is everything going well for Lord Zhao in Laizhou?" This was originally just a casual polite question from Wang Hao, but to his surprise, Li Tong replied, "Not well!" Wang Hao's eyes widened involuntarily, and he said, "Mr. Yanping, you must be joking!" Li Tong said, "When Brother Mingcheng took office, it was during the lean season, and bandits were rampant in Laizhou. Some counties were even robbed!" Wang Hao said, "With the lean season, the people are starving, and it's inevitable that they will take risks. Lord Zhao, you've just taken office, why don't you open the granaries and distribute grain?"

Li Tong said, “Although there is surplus grain in the official granaries, it is far from enough to relieve the disaster victims. Therefore, I suggest to Brother Mingcheng that we conspire together with Young Master Wang, which may solve the famine in Laizhou and even the entire Jiaodong region!” Wang Hao felt like he had been tricked and said, “This official is of limited talent and learning. I have done my best to govern the hundred-mile stretch of Jiaozhou Bay, and I dare not meddle in the affairs of Laizhou!” Li Tong smiled and said, “Perhaps after hearing my suggestion, Young Master, you will change your mind!” Wang Hao frowned and said, “Please speak, sir!” Li Tong said, “Young Master Wang’s trade with Liao is a well-known fact, but Jiaozhou Bay is adjacent to the Yellow Sea, not the Bohai Sea, and the detour via Dengzhou and Laizhou is inconvenient.” "Young Master Wang knows better than I do. By land, it's only a little over two hundred li from Jiaozhou Bay to the Bohai Sea coast. Hasn't Young Master Wang considered building a wide official road along that route?" Wang Hao suddenly stood up, laughing loudly, and said, "I never expected that Mr. Yanping, not only well-versed in the Four Books and Five Classics, would also possess such strategic vision!" Li Tong, unsure whether Wang Hao was praising or mocking, asked, "Does Young Master Wang agree?" Wang Hao said, "There was the Zheng Guo Canal, now we build the Yanping Road!" Li Tong was somewhat flattered and said, "The Zheng Guo Canal turned eight hundred li of the Qin River Valley into fertile land; I only contributed a small amount, I don't deserve such an honor!" Wang Hao, however, was very firm, saying, "It's alright!"