CH 97

The Shangsi festivities were over, but Liang Feng lingered at the Wang Residence for a few days instead of heading home immediately.

Firstly, the outing truly had tired him out, and he needed a few days to recover before he could handle several days of carriage travel. Secondly, he needed a few days to “fish for capable people.” Liang Feng had only recently realized that in this dynasty, chock-full of powerful, monied nobles, science was a plaything, a source of amusement. 

Because of their immoderate way of life, the Wei Jin nobles, in excess of their hedonistic indulgements, had a penchant for novel things. For example, there was Emperor Wu, who loved the company of women, had thousands of beauties in his harem, and would ride around his palace on his goat-pulled carriage to pick his nightly companion. So then, to curry favor with him, someone gifted to him a mechanical goat-carriage that one could both sit and lay on. Vehicles that often appeared in the pages of history – the south-pointing chariot, the distance-measuring drum cart – they existed here and now. Many rich families kept craftsmen, to flaunt their wealth as a pastime.

This practice caused many lowborn scholars to wrack their brains making new curios, in hopes of improving their station in life. Back in the days when Luoyang still flourished, countless lowborn would cluster before nobles’ manors and swarm up to exiting servants to present their latest contraptions. It was a spectacle.

But Jinyang was no comparison for Luoyang, and the times were not peaceful; the crowds outside the nobles’ doors had long since scattered. But those imaginative, unorthodox inventors had not fully disappeared. Liang Feng had ordered Jiang Ni to investigate, to invite any who might be of use to the estate.

Invention was an addiction impossible to cure. It hadn’t taken Jiang Ni much effort to find a few of those lowborn who’d once loitered every day in front of a noble’s house. After examining, one by one, the products of their innovation, he’d chosen two who’d delved into machinery to enter his estate. 

It was perhaps too early for machine tools, but a basic assembly line should be manageable enough. Now, the workshops’ assembly of personnel was complete. They had inventors with brilliant ideas, artisans to implement them, and researchers with data and maths at their disposal.

After finishing these tasks, Liang Feng bade farewell to Wang Wen and left Jinyang.

“Master, why not stay at the Wang Residence for a few more days?” Lüzhu brought her master his medicine and glanced mournfully at his hollowed cheeks. It’d taken so long for him to fill out, but now, after one trip to Jinyang, and he’d gotten thinner again. And since he had to take medicine as they traveled, his appetite was poorer than it normally was.

Liang Feng downed the medicine, Jiang Da’s formula for motion sickness, in one gulp. Even in a horse-drawn carriage, the trip would take several days; it was best to be prepared.

He handed the cup back to Lüzhu, “Rong-er is still waiting at home. It’s best to return sooner.”

Plus, it would soon be Gǔyǔ, the busiest time of the spring planting season. Severe droughts were often followed by a plague of locusts. It was time to start taking precautions for that as well.

Countless tasks were waiting for him once he returned. Liang Feng had closed his eyes, thinking over matters of his estate, when he heard a clear voice outside the carriage, “Is this the carriage of the Marquess of Shenmen? I, Duan Qin of Yangqu, humbly request audience with Marquess Liang!”

Who on earth would request an audience by intercepting someone’s carriage in the middle of the road? Moreover, Liang Feng had memorized at least a couple of genealogies, and had never heard of a Yangqu Duan family. The puzzlement lasted for a moment, before he thought of another possibility. 

“Yiyan, stop the carriage.”

※

Ktf Alf qfgrbc vglnlcu atf mjga uijgfv nlmlberis ja tlw, tlr yief-ugjs fsfr oeii bo xliilcu lcafca. Ktf uejgvr reggbecvfv atf mjggljuf lc obgwjalbc, gfjvs ab afjg tlw ab qlfmfr ja atf rilutafra qgbnbmjalbc. Dea Gejc Hlc’r fzqgfrrlbc gfwjlcfv ecwbnfv, fnfc lc atf ojmf bo atlr afggloslcu rmfcf. Lf kjr ralii rajcvlcu lc ogbca bo atf mjggljuf, tjcvr meqqfv lc rjieaf.

Guards like these proved that the Liang Estate’s militia was well-trained and highly disciplined, vastly different from other nobles’ mean, brutish private thugs. It was looking like he’d made the right choice! 

Duan Qin had studied the classics since youth, a man of wide learning and retentive memory, with a heart to save the world. But he was born to a common family, and of his ancestors, only one had been a grand administrator. He was far beneath the notice of the elite of Jinyang, and had no avenue to officialdom. He had to make a name for himself if he wanted to gain notice.

Or he could imitate the likes of Shan Tao, observe a years-long mourning for his parents in a show of filial piety to be known as a virtuous person. Or he could learn from Tao Liu and his ilk, use the entirety of his family’s fortunes to oblige a superior official and henceforth earn some flimsy recognition. Or better, he could be like Zhang Hua and Zuo Si, study intensively and advance in society on the sublimity of his poetry.

But of these options, Duan Qin chose none; because he knew full well that the court was in utter shambles.

Ji Kang, Pei Wei, the Lu brothers –  born to such preeminent families, yet they had lost their lives in the court; a lowborn would fare no better. Seeking protection from a prince, as other lowborn did, was not his desire either. It was true of every Sima prince that their only concern was war and strife, and that they had not done the slightest good for the people. The moment that power fell into their grasp, they would discard their pretense of respect for wise scholars, becoming grossly dissolute and intolerably irresponsible. 

If one unluckily found himself in the service of an abominable lord, all their best and most laborious endeavors would amount to nothing more than spreading misery to more of the populace. But secluding himself in the mountains and deep forests was most certainly not his ambition either. That left Duan Qin inwardly observing the local powers, hoping that there would appear one who could enable him to apply his faculties to their full extent.

Until he heard of Liang Feng.

When the plague had broken out in Jinyang, the Duan family’s relatives by marriage had been within the city. Upon learning that a bodhisattva had saved the people of the city, Duan Qin knew at once that this was out of the ordinary, and went personally to Jinyang to investigate the medical center and understand the full picture. It wasn’t “Buddha’s blessings” that had stopped the disease, it was the result of the healers’ and monks’ combined efforts. Then, Liang Feng had sold paper for grain so that Huai’en Temple could give alms. These didn’t seem like the doings of a highborn noble.

Though the saying that Buddha had appeared in his dreams had spread throughout the city, what really aroused Duan Qin’s interest were the words he’d said: “can this save lives?” 

To think that a marquess, who didn’t want for food or clothes, who had a fiefdom to live off of, could say such words. Had he said it for fame, or were those words of the heart?

But each action that Liang Feng had taken afterward further demonstrated how singular he was. Printing Buddhist sutras, gifting medical texts; selling books, buying paper; sheltering refugees; and that battle at Gaodu, especially, shocked Duan Qin. A small county had stood against a horde of Xiongnu; that was a feat that even the commandery city of Shangdang had never accomplished!

To whom was this feat owed?

And so, Duan Qin headed south again to Gaodu, to find out what had happened. The sight that greeted him at Gaodu astonished him. In the aftermath of battle, the county seat not only hadn’t deteriorated, but instead it’d thickened the city walls and taken in refugees. Over a hundred mu of barren land just outside the city had been cultivated, and there were water wheels and canals too. They were thriving. 

All these measures which benefited the people, they were the work of Gaodu’s magistrate? Duan Qin didn’t think so. Just the amount of money and grain it’d take to cultivate all that barren land was beyond the means of a county seat. Furthermore, the name that hung by the refugees’ lips was not just the county magistrate’s but the bodhisattva, Liang Feng’s as well.

When he saw the towering gatehouse outside the Liang Estate, and the water wheels in the two nearby villages, Duan Qin began to consider. However, the Duke of Dongying’s order or appointment had worried him. He’d wondered if Liang Zixi would give in to temptation and become an aide in the general staff. One refusal, one visit by imperial physicians, it wasn’t until word of his upstanding character at the Shangsi banquet had spread, that Duan Qin was convinced that Liang Feng had no intention of casting his lot with Sima Teng.

A clear-headed and open-hearted noble like this was just the lord he could give his loyalty to. Even if he hadn’t half an official title, it would only be temporary. Once the opportunity came, he would surely rise upon the wind!

So, Duan Qin hadn’t waited until Liang Feng had returned to his estate before seeking an audience, but had instead intercepted his carriage. This was somewhat impolite, but it was also a chance to express his sincerity and see if he truly did seek worthy people. 

The carriage stopped. The bamboo curtain was lifted lightly by a maidservant. Duan Qin’s spirit was invigorated, he looked up, and saw a lord, pretty as jade, half-leaning on a rest, looking smilingly in his direction.

His beauty far surpassed the rumors! Despite having prepared himself, Duan Qin still startled. Perhaps for ease of travel, he hadn’t worn a crown, but had bound his hair simply with cloth, and his attire, too, was plain and light. Even so, his dignity was not decreased; his gentle and refined air was too likeable.

It took only a moment for Duan Qin to collect himself and say, “Your elegance, Marquess Liang, is transcendent after all.”

Looking at the green-robed man before him, Liang Feng nodded subtly. From his surprised reaction, it was apparent that he’d never seen him before. But he’d quickly controlled himself, and was unmoved by his face. His back was still straight, his eyes were still bright; there was no sign of sycophantic flattery in his manner. 

Smiling slightly, Liang Feng said, “May I ask, Duan-lang, why you’ve stopped my carriage?”

Duan Qin said openly, “I’m willing to walk in Mao Sui’s footsteps.”

So he really was recommending himself! Liang Feng didn’t put on airs of showing reverence to scholars, only asking, “May I ask, Duan-lang, what talent you possess?”

“I am well-read in all the classic poetries and histories.” Duan Qin hadn’t expected him to ask such a straightforward question, but it gave him some measure of confidence. He hadn’t asked his heritage; he valued only aptitude! 

“Oh? Then are you known already for your aptitude, Duan-lang?” Liang Feng continued, upon seeing his self-assurance.

“I am a lowborn from the countryside, I have not yet earned a reputation,” Duan Qin answered honestly, neither haughty nor obsequious.

Liang Feng raised a brow, “Having such knowledge, why do you remain in the countryside?”

“My life is of little worth, but should be entrusted to one who is deserving.” 

What an interesting response. Liang Feng asked, “I have no official post nor realm to call my own. Why do you entrust yourself to me?”

That was the most important question. Duan Qin said without hesitation, “Only because you are willing to save the common people!”

That answer was worth more than a thousand words. Looking at his plain, but resolute face, Liang Feng smiled, “My estate lacks an instructor, might you be willing to condescend?

What? He’d come to pledge his allegiance, yet had been assigned to teach? Duan Qin paused, but swiftly reacted, “May I ask, who I would be teaching?” 

“Some are serfs and soldiers of the estate, currently learning maths, and some are orphans who’ve lost their family,” Liang Feng said impassively.

Teaching these commoners? No, the Liang Estate was cultivating these lowly people, imparting letters and numbers to them! If this strategy were to be realized, then the Liang Estate wouldn’t need to rely on any noble family or scholarly household to obtain loyal, useable people. What if this method was brought to the level of commanderies or provinces? It might even shake the noble clans’ foundations! What daring, what ingenuity!

Being common-born and knowing the struggle of attaining literacy, and remembering how the Liang Estate printed medical texts, Duan Qin was instantly excited. He cupped his hands, “I am willing to try!”

He’d accepted, and hadn’t thought he was being taken lightly, but had realized the significance of basic education. That wisdom and temperament was already rare and valuable. 

Liang Feng nodded pleasantly, “Very well. Yiyan, let him rest on the carriage behind.”

Yiyan glanced at the fellow who’d popped up out of nowhere, and brought him to a vehicle in the rear without dissent. Liang Feng let Lüzhu lower the curtain. He’d accepted him, but he still had to determine just how capable he was. He didn’t much agree with the prevailing view of seeking talent. There were too many false gentlemen and Daoists who could put on a flawless act for the sake of increasing their renown and obtaining an official title. Dialectics, rites, piety, grandiloquent rhetoric… these had never been necessary of a good official.

He only hoped that Duan Qin truly was a useful talent.