Chapter 5, the predator of carp wields a staff of sixty
This matter has become quite awkward. The Wang family's young lady has had the matchmaker come to propose several times, but to no avail. As a result, rumors have spread, and the reputation of the young lady has been tarnished. In a fit of anger, she attempted to hang herself, but her family managed to save her in time. A few days later, she tried to drown herself in a well. This happened five times, and it took an immense amount of persuasion to finally dissuade her. However, now that the young lady is already eighteen, there is not a single family within several dozen miles that has come to propose to the Wang family.
The official in the green robe paused and turned to glance at Li Jing. After a moment of contemplation, he said: "I will give you the money, and you shall accept it. I will take all the fish; there is no need for further discussion"
"My lord, this is truly a bit too much to ask." Li Jing was still trying to discern.
However, this fish was originally a gift from Xiao Shitou to Li Jing, and it was not entirely meant for him; another portion was intended to be taken back to Xiao Shitou's home. Furthermore, the person in front of him has a very deep connection with Li Jing's family, to the extent that as soon as Li Jing saw that the person wanting to buy the fish was him, he immediately rejected the offer.
The person buying fish is dressed in a complete set of white clothing and boots, yet he is not a member of the officialdom, but rather a person from the Chishan military garrison.
At the beginning of this year, Wang Liang's family invited a matchmaker to propose a marriage for Li Jing's fourth sister, Wan Jing, to Wang Liang. Wan Jing did not outright refuse; she simply made a request, stating that she did not want any betrothal gifts from the Wang family, but would only agree to the marriage if they provided two stones of millet. Han, originally reluctant to accept this condition, found Wan Jing insisting repeatedly, stating that she would not agree otherwise. Two stones of millet amount to merely two hundred and forty jin, which is equivalent to about four guan of copper coins or five bolts of silk. Han, originally reluctant to accept this condition, found Wan Jing insisting repeatedly, stating that she would not agree otherwise. Two stones of millet amount to merely two hundred and forty jin, which is equivalent to about four guan of copper coins or five bolts of silk.
Han has consistently urged the Li family to tolerate Wang Liang's actions, yet deep down, Li Jing truly harbors no favorable feelings towards Wang Liang
With such a meager offering, the Wang family truly could not produce anything substantial. As a result, Wang Liang concluded that the Li family lacked sincerity, leading to a complete breakdown in relations between the two families. Wang Liang's mother, filled with resentment, even went to the Li family's doorstep to scold them several times, and Wang Liang destroyed two plots of vegetable land belonging to the Li family
The two strings of fish weigh nearly 20 pounds and could be sold for about 200 coins at market price. However, Chishan Town is located by the sea, and fish are not a rare commodity here. Moreover, the items in the hands of the common people are usually sold at low prices. The person buying the fish is clearly not an ordinary citizen; he offered one string of coins, which amounts to 100 wen, and this is not considered an unreasonable purchase.
In the early years, Wang Liang's marriage proposal was unsuccessful, and later he entrusted someone to help him secure a job in the town. It was not a particularly respectable position; he became an assistant to the warehouse manager in Chishan Town, essentially a personal servant, running errands, delivering messages, and buying groceries in the market.
While two people were conversing, a portly man in a green round-collared official robe shouted from a distance at Wang Liang: "You country bumpkin, why are you rambling on for so long about buying a fish?"
The person who wanted to buy fish was also a young man, about the same age as Li Jing, around twenty. However, he was dressed in black clothing. In the Tang Dynasty, both black and dark colors were considered black, but black had a hint of red, while dark was simply ordinary black. However, these two colors of clothing were prohibited for ordinary commoners to wear. Black, like red and yellow, was the color of imperial garments. Dark, on the other hand, was designated as the color for minor officials and clerks, which is why there were dark uniforms, dark boots, and dark hats in the government offices. However, these two colors of clothing were prohibited for ordinary commoners to wear. Black, like red and yellow, was the color of imperial garments. Dark, on the other hand, was designated as the color for minor officials and clerks, which is why there were dark uniforms, dark boots, and dark hats in the government offices.
Li Jing was naturally aware that what the fat man said was not false, but knowing that this decree had long become a mere formality, the prohibition against eating carp had never truly been enforced among the people. However, at this moment, it was impossible to use this as a point of contention to negate his "guilt"
Isn't this Li Xiucai? Why is it that today you are not at home reading the classics, but have come to the town instead? Why didn't you come to find your brother to chat?
"My lord, what are you trying to do?" Li Jing was taken aback; he did not expect that this fat man would turn against him more swiftly than turning a page in a book.
Xiu Cai Lang, today our family’s official is hosting a banquet at home to invite Liu Town General's close aide, Zhao Ya Ya. Zhao Ya Ya does not like seafood but prefers the fish from the river. These few fish you have are very fresh, and Zhao Ya Ya will surely like them. How about this, since we are from the same village, I won’t take advantage of you. Sell me these two strings of fish, and I will have someone bring you a dou of sorghum shortly. Does that sound good?
Wang Liang has a younger sister who is two years younger than Li Jing. A few years ago, while foraging for wild vegetables, she encountered a wolf and nearly fell victim to it. Fortunately, Li Jing happened to pass by and rescued her from the wolf's jaws. As a result, Wang Liang's sister declared to her family that she would marry no one but Li Jing in this lifetime. Initially, this seemed to be a good thing. Wang Liang's sister is also quite attractive and has good character. Li Jing's mother was also in favor of the match; however, this matter faced Li Jing's firm opposition. In any case, Li Jing did not know the reason, but he was unwilling to marry Wang Liang's sister. Perhaps at that time, he still had plans to participate in the imperial examination and to serve in office to bring honor to his family.
The man approached with a few strides, wearing an arrogant expression, not even glancing at Li Jing, and tossed a handful of money in front of him, saying: "That fellow, this is your fish money." With that, he turned to leave.
What am I supposed to do? The stout man chuckled coldly a couple of times and addressed the onlookers, saying: "In the third year of the Kaiyuan era of the Great Tang, and again in the nineteenth year, the court issued two prohibitions against the capture of carp throughout the realm; it was stipulated that 'anyone who catches carp should release it and must not eat it.' Those who sell carp would be punished with sixty strokes. This is the law, and you, a mere commoner, dare to disregard the national law, openly capturing and consuming carp, and you are still unaware of your crime? Come, take him away and administer sixty strokes." This is the law, and you, a mere commoner, dare to disregard the national law, openly capturing and consuming carp, and you are still unaware of your crime? Come, take him away and administer sixty strokes.
Li Jing fell silent for a moment; what Wang Liang said was indeed a fact. The Li family and the Wang family had been on good terms for several generations and were neighbors back in Qingzhou. Wang Liang's grandfather and Li Jing's grandfather were both from the Pinglu Military Academy, and later both died in battle during the court's attack on the Li family, which had taken control of Ziqing. They also relocated together to Wangli Village. Li Jing's father later became an official and served as a county clerk in Tancheng, and invited Wang's father to be an attendant, but eventually both died in the chaos caused by Qiu Fu's soldiers. Furthermore, Wang Liang's elder brother went to Xuzhou to deliver grain with Li Jing's elder brother that year, and neither returned. The two families have indeed experienced the same tragic events.
Li Jing immediately recognized that the string of coins on the ground was worth less than one hundred wen. Such a string of coins typically consists of seventy pieces and is referred to by the common people as "yi mo." A "yi mo" is worth less than one hundred and is often used by wealthy families and officials when purchasing from ordinary citizens.
Emperor Xuanzong of Tang indeed issued an edict prohibiting the consumption of carp, but the reason was not merely to avoid the taboo associated with the national surname. "The Dao does not consume carp" was originally a regulation of Daoism. Daoists believe that carp can transform into dragons, possessing 36 scales, each with a black dot, and regard carp as sun-worshippers, hence the term "Red Carp Lord." Consuming carp would incur divine retribution. The Li Tang dynasty claimed to be descendants of Laozi, Li Er, who is revered as the founder of Daoism. Therefore, the Li Tang dynasty not only prohibited the common people from cooking carp, but it is said that anyone who caught and sold carp would also be subjected to sixty strikes with a rod.
It is said that the county magistrate can ruin a family, and the minister can annihilate a clan. At present, a mere official in charge of the armory in a small town can render Li Jing utterly powerless. Faced with this sudden calamity, he cannot help but feel regret; had he known it would come to this, he would have simply sold those two strings of fish.
Li Jing saw Wang Liang step back, but he was also unwilling to insist too much. He then said: "I will give you this string of fish, and you don't need to pay anything for it. It's a gift. However, the other string I promised to send to Xiao Shitou's family, so I cannot give it to you. This string of fish weighs nearly 10 jin, which should be enough for you. What do you think?"
Unexpectedly, the official in the green robe immediately turned hostile and shouted angrily: "You refuse the toast and instead choose the penalty drink, you rascal. Come here, bind him and take him back to me."
As the rotund official in the green robe let out a cold chuckle, those present observed closely and indeed discovered that among the two strings of fish in Li Jing's hand, there was a copper carp with dragon whiskers and red scales
This official, I have heard that there is a banquet at your residence today, and I would like to present a string of fish to you. The other string is entrusted to me by someone, so I hope you will understand that I cannot sell it to you
His words were quite reasonable, and in Li Jing's view, after giving that person a string of fish, he should not have made things difficult for himself. However, he clearly underestimated the intricacies of the officialdom and human relationships in the late Tang dynasty
Why are you in such a hurry? Let's talk some more. I'm not like my sister, who would cry and shout that she won't marry anyone but you, or threaten to hang herself or jump into a well if you don't agree.
Li Jing saw this person and realized that today he would have to delay some time. He then walked to the city wall, set down his burden, and said with a cold smile: "The fish were brought back to the village by a small stone. If you have no other business, I will be leaving now"
Although there was an edict prohibiting the capture of carp throughout the realm, it could not truly be enforced among the common people. Especially during the late Tang period, this decree had essentially become a mere formality, and the populace continued to catch carp as usual. However, when the officials sought to arrest Li Jing under the pretext of this decree, everyone suddenly realized that they could not even present a valid reason for opposition.