Chapter Eighty-Five: An Old Fisherwoman Longs to Ascend Mount Song, Part One

For years, the routine had been the same: Empress Wu read the memorials aloud, Emperor Gaozong gave his instructions after hearing them, and she set them down in writing. When headaches clouded his mind, she even corrected his mistakes for him, pointing out every error one by one. Thus the years drifted by.

Whether she was right or wrong, she had been of immense help to Gaozong at the start. The vast empire continued to expand and move forward. Even through these years of repeated disasters, the realm remained fairly stable, and her contribution was beyond measure.

Then she came upon a peculiar memorial, submitted by Master Xuanzang. The Great Kindness and Grace Temple in the Western Capital had held a highly successful charity rite. It had begun as a ceremony funded by wealthy patrons, but after efforts from many sides, it had finally risen to a state-sponsored scale.

The fundraising had brought in a total of more than one hundred and ninety-six thousand strings of cash. Master Xuanzang now requested that the court assist in converting the donations into grain and distributing it to the disaster-stricken people.

The sum was enormous for a single ceremony, yet for a nation it still could not alter much. Even if converted into grain at current prices in the Guanzhong region, it would amount to only a little over three hundred thousand shi. But the number of people in Guanzhong affected by drought was at least several million; one grain apiece would not even reach them.

Still, this money came from the common people, and that gave it profound meaning. At the very least, its symbolic value could not be ignored. Or, to put it plainly, however hard-pressed the people were, their hearts still inclined toward the court.

After hearing it, Gaozong said, “Summon Yuwen Tong and Hao Chujun to discuss this.”

Wu Zetian waved her hand, and the eunuch withdrew.

Shortly afterward, the two men entered, while Wu Zetian stayed hidden behind the curtain. Gaozong handed them the memorial.

Yuwen Tong said, “This is a virtuous deed.”

“Yes, a virtuous deed. But the great master wants grain...”

At the word grain, both men frowned.

Hao Chujun said, “Even without this donation, the court would still send grain into Guanzhong. But it is already early summer, and rainfall along the Wei River is still insufficient. The river is shallow, and transport is inconvenient...”

In truth, the court had already done all it could, mobilizing grain from everywhere and sending it toward Guanzhong. But under present conditions, it had to rely on waterways. Overland transport was out of the question: not only was the journey enormous, but even from Luoyang to Chang’an it was eight hundred li, and a cart could carry only so much. Once the costs of escorting laborers and the fodder for animals were included, and with the drought leaving grasses in poor growth, land transport would mean that by the time the grain arrived, it might all have been consumed in transit, and the people carrying it might not even return.

“This matter has some connection with the Crown Prince. Go and call him here. These past few days, his conduct has been a disgrace,” Gaozong said to the eunuch at his side.

Yuwen Tong and Hao Chujun both lowered their heads, barely suppressing laughter.

First the Crown Prince had extorted a sum from Xu Yanbo, then he had led a band of guards about Luoyang with nothing better to do. Whenever he saw injustice, he would intervene with righteous fury. Once, when an official abused his authority to fabricate charges and seize a respectable woman, the Crown Prince heard of it, rushed over with his guards, beat the man until his face was black and blue, and then sent him to the authorities.

After several days of this, Luoyang was as quiet as a monastery, even more peaceful than in prosperous years.

It was not that this was bad. But he was the Crown Prince, after all; why concern himself with such petty scoundrels? A tiger snatching chickens might still be explained, but a tiger catching snails was simply baffling.

Still, both men knew the Crown Prince was acting this way out of helplessness. What else could he do? His father was wary of him, and he could hardly imitate Prince Li Chengqian by stealing other people’s oxen. He could only use these harmless trifles to blot out the increasingly dark stain on his reputation.

Li Wei was brought in. After the formalities, Gaozong asked, “Have you had your fill of amusement these days?”

“Your son only went out to see the suffering of the people. Nothing else.”

“See their suffering? By turning Luoyang upside down?”

“Father, your son has done no such thing. In fact, I have done a few charitable deeds these past days.”

Gaozong gave a muffled snort. With Yuwen Tong and Hao Chujun present, he did not reprimand him, but instead threw the memorial in front of Li Wei. “Read it.”

Li Wei opened it and skimmed through. So, not bad at all. They had actually raised so much money. When he finished, he set it down and asked, “What would Your Majesty have your son do with this memorial?”

“Do you have a way to transport more grain into Guanzhong?”

Li Wei froze. In his heart he thought: What could I possibly do? Besides, even with so many ministers unable to come up with anything, why ask me? After some thought, he said, “In former times, the wooden ox and flowing horse devised by Lord Zhuge were one solution. I wonder why your son has not seen them used?”

“What sort of nonsense is that!” Gaozong said darkly.

Hao Chujun explained in a low voice, “Your Highness, Lord Zhuge’s designs were never preserved. Even if they had been, they would likely have many inconveniences. In his lifetime he went on campaign many times, but used the wooden ox and flowing horse only three times, and that in mountainous terrain. If they could truly replace ordinary carts and horses, they would have done so long ago.”

“In that case, Father, could we not requisition more ships...”

“If you keep this illness, you’ll truly lose your wits. You have learned nothing good, and now you sound like a wandering knight-errant.”

That was hardly praise.

Hao Chujun added quietly, “Your Highness, if we are to use ships, there are two ways. First, the court could build them itself, but the treasury is strained and lacks the means to produce such a large number. Besides, even if they were built, the drought might ease at any moment, and the ships would be wasted. The state cannot afford such extravagance. Second, we could hire private vessels. But those ships have owners. They have already paid their taxes, service obligations, and corvee dues on time; the court can hardly force them into service. Otherwise it would be no different from Emperor Yang of Sui. The more urgently we call for them, the higher the freight they demand. That would only make matters worse.”

So there was such a complication after all.

Was there truly no way? Li Wei refused to believe it. As a man who had crossed into this world, was he only good for remembering a few poems and crushing people with prestige? Was that all?

Staring at the memorial, he suddenly had an idea. “Actually, your son does have one method, though it may cause some criticism.”

“Human lives are at stake; criticism comes second. Say it,” Wu Zetian said from behind the curtain.

That was one thing about his mother: she knew how to adapt. Li Wei said, “The late Taizong once said that the people can carry a boat, and they can also overturn it. The more people there are, the greater the power.”

If the power of the masses had to be interpreted this way, there was no helping it. He went on, “Take this charity rite for example. A small local ceremony has gathered nearly two hundred thousand strings of cash in donations. If Father is willing to part with three or four viscountcies and issue an edict ordering merchants throughout the land to transport grain into Guanzhong, awarding a viscountcy to those who deliver the most, then the wealthiest traders will be moved to action. Besides, I am not asking them to donate grain, only to sell it. But with more grain entering the market, the price will naturally fall...”

“You unfilial wretch! You are not content with learning the ways of a profligate; now you want to exalt commerce too!” Gaozong interrupted before he could finish, clutching his chest. He was angry to the point of pain.

“Father, was Sang Hongyang of the Western Han not a worthy minister? Ministers can be good or bad, and merchants likewise can be good or bad. One cannot judge them all alike.”

“You still dare defend them! No wonder you bowed and showed deference to a merchant at the banquet of labor. I ask you, why are grain prices in the Western Capital so high?”

“Yes...” If I say nothing, so be it. If the price is that high, and I were in their place, I would set it high too, though perhaps I would go a little less extreme than others. Landowners are no saints either; this time, weren’t there plenty of landowners hoarding grain for profit? Reasoning this out was impossible. In this age, attitudes toward merchants and craftsmen were absurd beyond belief: not only could they not hold office, they were not even eligible for study and examination.

Wu Zetian spoke from behind the curtain. “Your Majesty, Hong’er only means well for the state. Please do not be angry. Minister Yan, Minister Hao, you may withdraw. This matter can be considered at length.”

“Very well.”

The two men withdrew, though they exchanged a glance. In truth, Li Wei’s proposal had stirred them somewhat. Though controversial, if it were really put into practice, one could imagine merchants rushing about like madmen, and the Guanzhong crisis might be solved at once. But the reputation of merchants was so tainted that neither of them could even speak in support.

After the ministers departed, Wu Zetian emerged from behind the curtain and once again soothed Gaozong. “Your Majesty, Hong’er is still young. Even the whole court could not think of a solution; how could he be expected to come up with something better? Besides, there is merit in his idea. And did my own father not come from a merchant background before abandoning trade for office? I have never heard the late High Ancestor or the late Taizong despise my father, nor have I seen Your Majesty despise me.”

“Empress, I am not angry because of the idea he proposed. I am angry that such an idea should not have come from the Crown Prince’s mouth.”

“That is true enough,” Wu Zetian said, turning to Li Wei. “Hong’er, why do you not come over and admit your fault to your father? And these past few days, if you are bored cooped up in the Eastern Palace, you may go enjoy the boats on the Luo River or view the forests on Mang Mountain. Why must you keep haunting the markets and streets?”

Why I haunt them, you two elders know very well, but Li Wei could only steel himself and say, “Father, your son was wrong.”

“Good. To know one’s error and correct it—that is well enough. Since you are here, I shall have the little princess summoned, and our family will hold a small banquet in the palace. Your Majesty, what do you say?”

“Do as you like,” Gaozong said.

Someone was sent to fetch Li Lingyue. Wu Zetian then said, “Hong’er, and these next few days do not go running about everywhere. The Great Praying for Rain Ceremony in the Eastern Capital will soon begin, and you will attend it with me and His Majesty.”

“Mother, your son happens to have something to request.”

“What is it?”

“I will not be able to attend the ceremony. I intend to go to Mount Song to burn incense.”

“To Mount Song?”

“Yes. Your son was frightened on Zhongnan Mountain, and every night I was plagued by nightmares. Only because Master Xuanzang performed rites for me have I been able to sleep. Therefore, I made a solemn vow at White Horse Temple, and in a few days I will personally go to Shaolin Temple on Mount Song to offer incense and pray for Father’s health.”

He had indeed visited White Horse Temple, but the vow was a fabrication, a way to evade the Great Praying for Rain Ceremony. Such rites were a waste of resources, yet in these times they were taken very seriously, even treated as matters of dynastic destiny. Rather than continue to carouse in Luoyang’s streets, he had to escape this ceremony. If he meant to flee, he needed to flee far enough, and the journey to Mount Song had already been discussed with Wei Yuanzhong, which was why he brought it up now.

In truth, this also had something to do with Wu Zetian. In the beginning, the Tang court favored Daoism over Buddhism, so when Xuanzang returned, Taizong merely granted him an audience. But Wu Zetian favored Buddhism and slighted Daoism, and Gaozong was influenced by her; thus when Xuanzang died, the court suspended business for three days. Such vastly different treatment.

As for Shaolin Temple itself, when Li Shimin had fought against Wang Shichong, the warrior monks of the temple had once given assistance, and Taizong had rewarded it generously. Under Gaozong and Wu Zetian, they often visited the temple in person, and the gifts bestowed there were even greater. That was why Wei Yuanzhong had chosen it as the main target for Li Wei’s next stop.

But Gaozong was already enraged. After this illness, he had made Chang’an a place of smoke and chaos; then he came to Luoyang and continued his mischief. Having not done enough damage to the two capitals, he even wanted to run off to Mount Song and stir up trouble there too!

He pointed at Li Wei and said, “You, you!”

A recommendation for a friend’s novel: All-Round Grandmaster, Book Number 2071892.