Moma Liangshan

Chapter 57: Sailing Out to Sea and Climbing Yandang Mountain

As Di Gongkao and Qin Guanhai departed after the meeting, Di Gongkao said, "Second Brother would like to invite you, Young Master, to visit Yandang Mountain in three days. Does Young Master have the time?" Wang Hao, having completed most of his business in Mingzhou, replied, "Since the Prefect has invited me, I will certainly go. When and where shall we meet?" Di Gongkao said, "Morning, at Mingzhou Port, is that alright?" Wang Hao answered, "See you then." Di Gongkao said, "See you in three days. We must take our leave now." Wang Hao saw them to the door. Two days later, Yang Zhi said, "We haven't verified the true abilities of these two men yet. Is it inappropriate to recruit them hastily?" Wang Hao, walking back into the house, said, "These two were personally recommended by the Prefect, and Eunuch Qian was also present. The Prefect and Eunuch Qian are the two highest-ranking officials in Mingzhou. Since they recommended them simultaneously, I must be firm and not hesitate in the slightest. Otherwise, if we anger these two, we'll have to return empty-handed." Yang Zhi was slightly unconvinced and said, "In my opinion, Di Gongkao and Qin Guanhai don't seem to be all talk and no action, but they're probably not exactly law-abiding citizens either." Wang Hao smiled slightly and said, "I already knew about their unconventional and daring nature before recruiting them. Di Gongkao is the Prefect's fifth brother. The Prefect didn't force him at all; I took the initiative to request a meeting. Qin Guanhai is Di Gongkao's father-in-law, also introduced by Di Gongkao, and has come to pay his respects today." Yang Zhi was puzzled and asked... "Since the initiative to recruit people is in your hands, why not be more cautious and conduct thorough investigations before making a decision?" said Wang Hao. He shook his head and said, "Investigating first and then recruiting seems reasonable, but it's actually inappropriate. If others strongly recommend us, but we pick and choose, it will make them resentful. Don't forget, I am just a seventh-rank county magistrate, with nothing but the emperor's decree. When recruiting, I'm not afraid of mediocre people mixed in. As long as capable people join the alliance, it's a victory." Yang Zhi was still puzzled and asked, "If mediocre people are used to fill positions, it will inevitably lead to a mixed bag. What use are they if they only receive money and provisions but cannot serve the country or share your burdens?" Wang Hao shook his head and said, "It's not as you think! First, whether someone is talented or mediocre cannot be generalized; it's equally important for those in power to know how to use people effectively. Second, if mediocre people are recruited, they must have connections. Their relationships with those behind them are also important." Yang Zhi understood and said, "Your Excellency is wise!"

Three days later, as the sun rose, Wang Hao and Yang Zhi arrived at Mingzhou Port to await the arrival of the prefect and his entourage. About fifteen minutes later, the prefect, Di Gongkao, Qin Guanhai, and two constables arrived together. Wang Hao hurriedly went to greet them, and the prefect said, "I've kept you waiting, Young Master Wang!" Wang Hao replied, "I arrived just moments before you arrived, sir." The prefect smiled casually and asked, "Have you ever traveled by sea, young master?" Wang Hao looked at the rippling blue sea and said, "No." The prefect said, "Young master, if you wish to rebuild the Jiaozhou Maritime Trade Office, you must be familiar with maritime affairs. How about we take the sea route to Yandang Mountain?" Wang Hao thought the prefect's words made sense and said, "I'll leave it to you, Prefect!" The prefect didn't delay and said, "Please board the ship, young master!" Wang Hao lagged half a step behind the prefect, and together they walked towards the dock. Once on the deck, Wang Hao and Yang Zhi were clearly not as composed as the prefect and his entourage. The two moved to the mast, relying on the strength of their arms to steady themselves. Seeing this, the prefect chuckled and asked, "Is the young master adapting well?" Wang Hao smiled awkwardly and replied, "Having been in the north for so long, I never expected the deck to be so swaying!" The prefect then said, "Once we set sail, the swaying will only intensify. If you find it difficult to adapt, we can switch to land travel!" Wang Hao didn't hesitate at all and said, "It's my duty; there's no room for shirking or retreating. Prefect, please don't worry. Let's raise the sails and set sail!" A hint of appreciation flashed in the prefect's eyes as he called to the boatmen, "Set sail!" The sailors raised the sails, lowered the anchor, took the helm, and kept watch. After a short while, the ship departed the harbor. The scenery at sea was breathtaking, and the prefect and his entourage stood on the ship's railing, gazing into the distance. Wang Hao staggered to the side of the ship and asked, "Aren't the people of Mingzhou afraid of sailing at sea?" The prefect replied, "Except for those pampered gentlemen and nobles, everyone else should be completely unafraid!" Wang Hao stood for a while, then asked, "How much can our ship carry?" Di Gongkao replied, "1,500 shi (a unit of dry measure)." Wang Hao slowly sat down, leaning against the ship's side, and said, "Is this what you call a near-shore vessel?" Di Gongkao answered, "Exactly." Wang Hao said, "I've heard that the cabins are filled with heavy items like wine and porcelain to lower the ship's center of gravity. Our ship is rocking so badly, is it because it's under-loaded?" Di Gongkao said, "What you're describing is a deep-sea vessel, not a near-shore vessel." "It's unnecessary to go to such lengths." Wang Hao suspected the prefect was deliberately testing him and asked, "What's the reason?" Di Gongkao replied, "Ocean-going ships spend ten days, half a month, or even longer adrift at sea. If they encounter storms, they are inevitably in danger of capsizing. Therefore, they have to carry heavy loads to lower their center of gravity and withstand the waves. Coastal ships are different; they can anchor at any time when storms are approaching. Therefore, coastal ships don't carry heavy loads simply to lower their center of gravity." Wang Hao added, "Lowering the ship's center of gravity ultimately helps with stable navigation, so why not?" Di Gongkao said, "Increased loads inevitably reduce speed!" Wang Hao finally understood the reason and said, "I see!"

After a day and night at sea, they finally arrived in Wenzhou. Mingzhou and Wenzhou were not under the jurisdiction of each other, and Wang Hao and his companions' trip was entirely a private affair, unrelated to the prefectural government. Upon disembarking, Wang Hao's body still swayed uncontrollably. Seeing this, the prefect smiled slightly and said, "How about we rest at the inn for a day, and then climb Yandang Mountain tomorrow?" Wang Hao was naturally delighted and said, "That would be perfect! To be honest, if I continue to push myself, I'm afraid I'll die young!" The prefect laughed heartily and said, "Young master, you are the Emperor's appointed magistrate of Laoshan County, and also bear the important responsibility of restoring the Jiaozhou Maritime Trade Office. If I fail to take good care of you and you fall ill, I will be unable to explain to the court!" Wang Hao said, "I am not a caged bird or a flower confined to a room; I can withstand this kind of turbulence." Amidst laughter and conversation, the group entered Wenzhou city. After a day's rest, the fatigue and discomfort from the sea had vanished. The next day, the officials hired two oxcarts, and the group traveled to the foot of Yandang Mountain.

Yandang Mountain stands by the sea, renowned as "a famous mountain by the sea, a marvel of the world." At midday, the group reached the foot of the mountain. Wang Hao looked up and saw lush greenery dotting the strange peaks and rocks, with waterfalls and streams weaving through the blue sky and white clouds. He remarked, "Yandang Mountain is unparalleled in its beauty, yet it's not particularly high. Why are there clouds below its summit?" The prefect, observing closely, explained, "Yandang Mountain is adjacent to the sea, with abundant moisture. Combined with its dense vegetation and winding terrain, the moisture in the mountain easily gathers but doesn't dissipate easily, hence the thick mountain mist, resembling clouds." Climbing the mountain path, streams murmured beneath the grass on either side. Occasionally, a strange rock would suddenly appear, the soil eroded by the current forming small puddles, where small fish occasionally darted. Reaching the halfway point, the roar of rushing waterfalls grew louder. After another thousand steps, a viewing platform was built against the mountainside. Wang Hao arrived at the platform and gazed into the distance, seeing countless waterfalls and springs. The prefect began, “Yandang Mountain has a gentle terrain and abundant rainfall, yet it is divided by valleys and ravines, with strange peaks and rocks scattered everywhere, resulting in numerous waterfalls and springs. Among these waterfalls, some are high, some are low, some are wide, some are thin, some are tight like a young girl's dark hair and beautiful eyes, while others are scattered like fireworks bursting in all directions.” Wang Hao nodded in agreement, saying, “The beauty of the mountains and rivers is so exquisite that even the most talented and eloquent writer could hardly capture even a tenth or a sliver of its charm!” The prefect nodded in agreement, saying, “The Tang Dynasty painter-monk Guanxiu visited and said, ‘Walking through Yandang, the clouds are hazy; sitting in meditation at Longqiu, the rain is misty.’ While this line is beautiful, it only shows the misty beauty of Yandang Mountain, not the beauty of bright sunshine, birdsong, and fragrant flowers. Our dynasty’s Shen Kuo visited and derived the theory of water erosion of rocks. Besides these two, countless literati, poets, monks, and Taoist practitioners have also visited.”

The group continued their journey and finally reached the summit of the main peak. Wang Hao, looking down from his vantage point, saw a lake covered in reeds atop the hill. The mountain breeze rippled the water, causing waves to ripple through the thick mountain mist. He asked, "Does this lake have a name?" The prefect replied, "This lake is where the spiritual energy of Yandang Mountain gathers, hence the name Yandang Mountain!" Wang Hao said, "I would like to hear more!" The prefect continued, "The lake on the hill is covered in reeds. Every autumn, wild geese migrate south and roost here, hence the name Yanhugang (Goose Lake Hill). Yanhugang is the main peak, and Yandang Mountain is also located here." After admiring the scenery, Wang Hao asked, "Prefect, you have invited me to travel hundreds of miles; surely it's not just to see this earthly paradise?" The prefect nodded and said, "You are wise, young master. Within these vast mountains lies the headquarters of my Mohist school!" Wang Hao's expression turned solemn as he asked, "The Mohist knights?" The prefect deeply appreciated... Surprisingly, the prefect said, "I didn't expect you to know of the existence of the Mohist Knights?" Wang Hao replied, "I'd only heard of them; I never imagined they truly existed!" The prefect said, "Confucianism cultivates the self, Taoism nourishes the spirit, and the Mohists train the body. Yandang Mountain is blessed with natural beauty and is the perfect place for young people to build their foundation and train their bodies." Wang Hao asked, "I've heard that the Mohist training is extremely arduous; is that true?" The prefect nodded and said, "They train in the coldest days of winter and the hottest days of summer, rising with the rooster's crow and resting at sunset!" Wang Hao was deeply impressed and asked, "What do the Mohist disciples train for, enduring such hardship?" The prefect replied, "A thousand years ago, it was for the benefit of the world; now, it's only for the continuation of the school." Wang Hao frowned and asked, "A thousand years of perseverance, just for the sake of inheritance—isn't the price too high?" The prefect said, "The Mohist doctrine has withstood the test of a thousand years; it is truth! Why complain when we uphold truth?"