Chapter 10: They Submit to Despotism
Cai Jing's interest in Lin Chong was not a coincidence; rather, it could be considered Lin Chong's fortune. Lin Chong himself mentioned that he had a close friend named Lu Qian, who had a good relationship with a steward at Cai Jing's residence and shared a certain bond. Earlier, Lin Chong had saved Lu Qian's life, and Lu Qian had always remembered this, forming a brotherly bond with Lin Chong and constantly thinking of ways to repay him.
Lin Chong possesses genuine skills, yet he is an individual whose talents remain unrecognized. At this moment, is it not the best opportunity to win him over? Once he returns from escorting the Flower Stone Cargo, he can be integrated into the army. By utilizing my own methods alongside his true abilities, I will ensure that Lin Chong becomes a commander of a regional army. At the very least, securing a position as a deputy commander should not be difficult. Once he is trained and promoted, I will have military power at my disposal, alleviating any concerns about Gao Qiu being at odds with me.
It is not us who are wrong, but this world!
"Chong'er, if... if being a teacher means that if you were to escort the flower and stone tribute, it should be possible to ensure that the local populace along the way does not suffer so many harsh treatments, right?" Zhou Tong finally spoke up
Thus, before this batch of flower stones was set to be transported, Cai Jing selected capable individuals in the capital, preparing to dispatch them to Jiangnan to escort the flower stones back. Cai Jing did not trust the personnel from Jiangnan, believing they were colluding to deceive him. Therefore, he could only cultivate a few loyal and capable subordinates to serve him. After much consideration, Cai Jing chose Lin Chong, who was not particularly well-known.
As Zhu Yuanzhang once said to Crown Prince Zhu Biao, how difficult it is to hold a thorny bramble in hand; I will help you remove all the thorns, and then it will be easy for you to hold it
The final decision rests in the hands of Zhou Tong. Zhou Tong is aware of the immense talent of his disciple and understands the frustration he feels from being unappreciated. Naturally, he also realizes that although this opportunity may be morally questionable, it is an extraordinary chance for Lin Chong that is hard to come by. If Lin Chong seizes this opportunity well, he could soar to great heights; as long as he establishes a foothold in the military, what else could possibly matter?
Cai Jing felt quite frustrated. The court prioritized civil over military matters, leading to the current situation. He wanted to select a few outstanding young individuals from the Tokyo Imperial Guard to test their potential. If they proved worthy of cultivation, he would promote them as his own. However, after much selection, all those he knew as "great talents of the nation" turned out to be mere showpieces. They could injure themselves while practicing with spears, nearly severed their own fingers while wielding swords, hit the drum official while shooting arrows in the training ground, and before they could even gallop on horseback, they were already crying while clinging to the horse's head. They were utterly incompetent!
The reason for the matter is as follows: the Flower Stone Project is presided over by the current Chancellor Cai Jing, who intends to please Emperor Huizong, hoping to secure his own power while keeping the emperor content. However, Cai Jing is well aware of the public's deep resentment towards the Flower Stone Project. Emperor Huizong has a fondness for large stones; wherever there are large stones, he orders them to be transported to the capital, Dongjing. In some areas, the cities are small, and the city gates are not tall enough for the large stones to pass through. In such cases, the city walls are dismantled to move the stones, often involving thousands of laborers, which truly burdens the people and wastes resources. The public's hatred for the Flower Stone Project is profound, as the emperor's obsession with large stones leads to the same destructive consequences.
Thus, with such thoughts in mind, Cai Jing extended an olive branch to Lin Chong—Come! Come! Entrust your life and your soul entirely to me! I will make you a high official! A great general! Unleash your talents! All you need to do is to be my dog!
Cai Jing summoned Lin Chong along with the books and personally assessed Lin Chong's martial skills. The five or six bodyguards in the residence were no match for Lin Chong, who easily took them down in just a few moves. His spear danced with such precision that it was impenetrable, and his technique of shooting arrows with both hands was exceptionally refined, far surpassing those so-called "great talents of the nation" who had passed the martial examinations. Cai Jing was overjoyed.
When Lin Chong spoke of this matter, each of the family members had their own thoughts.
For Lin Chong, gaining the recognition of someone as powerful as Cai Jing was a dream come true for many martial artists. In the Song Dynasty, if a martial artist wished to stand out, their options were limited: they could either go to the northwestern frontier to join the Western Army and engage in fierce battles against the Xixia people, or they could seek the patronage of literati superiors. Due to extreme distrust of military generals, many military positions were held by civil officials. The so-called military examinations in the Song Dynasty focused on military strategy and literature rather than martial skills. The underlying intention was likely to weaken the military power of the officials, rendering them less of a threat.
For example, Yue Fan was shocked by the appearance of Lu Qian. Since Lu Qian has appeared, it implies that this world is likely a very special parallel universe. Yue Fan understands the butterfly effect, as his sudden appearance has taken a different path. The emergence of numerous characters from "Water Margin" leaves no room for Yue Fan to ponder further. Moreover, the reason Lu Qian later framed Lin Chong seems to involve deeper issues. At least for now, Lu Qian is still doing his utmost to repay Lin Chong, exerting all his strength. Yue Fan understands the butterfly effect, as the emergence of numerous characters from "Water Margin" leaves no room for him to ponder further. Additionally, the reason Lu Qian later framed Lin Chong seems to involve deeper issues. At least for now, Lu Qian is still doing his utmost to repay Lin Chong, exerting all his strength.
From any perspective, Lin Chong's acceptance of this appointment is the best choice. Although it is difficult to pass such a hurdle both morally and psychologically, Zhou Tong initially retreated from politics because he was not successful. He is old now and indifferent, but Lin Chong is still young, only twenty-five years old, in the prime of his life. He cannot bear to see Lin Chong's talents and youth wasted like this. In this world, if you do not seek to ingratiate yourself or sell your conscience, what other options do you have? He is old now and indifferent, but Lin Chong is still young, only twenty-five years old, in the prime of his life. He cannot bear to see Lin Chong's talents and youth wasted like this. In this world, if you do not seek to ingratiate yourself or sell your conscience, what other options do you have?
Zhou Tong further thought of Lu Junyi and Yue Fei. If Lin Chong seized this opportunity to become a general in the army, then with Lu Junyi's talent and substantial family background, along with Lin Chong's assistance, it would not be difficult to secure an official position for Lu Junyi. Additionally, with the young Yue Fei and Yue Fan, if Lin Chong and Lu Junyi established a firm foothold, the future of Yue Fei and Yue Fan would also be assured
The matter of Huashigang is not trivial and cannot be decided so easily. Cai Jing has also put in some thought; he learned about Lin Chong's true abilities from the mouths of lower-ranking officers and soldiers in the army. There is indeed a sense of unrecognized talent involved. Cai Jing began to contemplate that such unrecognized individuals, especially martial men, if given a little benefit and made to remember your kindness in recognizing their talent, would serve you loyally for a lifetime. Cai Jing himself harbored some thoughts of cultivating trusted confidants within the military, as he was quite uncomfortable with Gao Qiu, who held military power.
Hua Shigang is a special transportation term in Chinese history that refers to the dedicated transport of rare flowers and unique stones to satisfy the emperor's preferences. During the reign of Emperor Huizong, "gang" referred to a transportation team, often consisting of ten ships referred to as one "gang"
Yue Fei was curious about what the Flower and Stone Edict was. Lin Chong hesitated and explained it somewhat. The youthful and passionate Yue Fei became furious, cursing Cai Jing vehemently, shouting and urging Lin Chong not to engage in such actions, as they were utterly immoral.
He knew that Lin Chong was talented yet unappreciated, and he was aware of Lin Chong's abilities. He understood that Lin Chong had always been eager to find a place to showcase his talents. Therefore, when Cai Jing was selecting someone to escort the Flower Stone Gang, Lu Qian caught wind of the news, spent a little money, and established a connection with the supervisor, who then spoke a few good words about Lin Chong in front of Cai Jing
However, without the thorns of the bramble, it may be safe for oneself, but what threat does it pose to external enemies
Cai Jing was well aware of the means employed by the individuals involved, as he had traversed a similar path himself. Consequently, he discreetly inquired about Lin Chong and his connections with the supervisor. He learned that Lin Chong himself was not involved in the matter; rather, it was his friend Lu Qian acting on Lin Chong's behalf, seeking to repay a favor. Cai Jing found himself somewhat admiring Lin Chong and took an interest in his abilities. Ultimately, Lin Chong did not disappoint him; although he was merely a drill instructor in the Imperial Guard, his martial skills were exceptional, far from ordinary.
However, that is all there is to it. The creation of the Huashi Gang was merely to please the emperor, and it was by no means a noble act. He certainly understood the difficulties associated with the Huashi Gang. Not to mention the challenges of transportation itself, there are now many areas along the route where bandits have emerged, making it uncertain whether these individuals might be tempted to hijack the Huashi Gang. Such incidents have occurred in the past, provoking the emperor's great anger, and Cai Jing still feels apprehensive about it.
Many officials were also quite dissatisfied with Cai Jing's actions, so Cai Jing understood that pleasing the emperor was not an easy task. Cai Jing was somewhat capable; not only was he a power-hungry official, but he was also a highly skilled calligrapher. The 'Cai' in 'Su, Huang, Mi, Cai' refers to Cai Xiang, who is Cai Jing's cousin. Influenced by his surroundings, Cai Jing's artistic accomplishments were quite commendable.
However, Cai Jing also understood that it was not their fault; the overall environment was such. Cai Jing was most aware that the only Western soldiers who could still be of use were perhaps a few, but distant water cannot quench immediate thirst. Just as Cai Jing was troubled, the name Lin Chong sparked some ideas in his mind
No one can comprehend the intricacies involved here, which is likely a common ailment of family-run enterprises. They are more wary of their own than of outsiders, guarding against their own more fiercely than against tigers. Thus, the talented scholars and statesmen of those nations continued to vie for power and profit even as the Jurchen forces besieged Kaifeng.
At that time, the command of the Huashi Gang was held by the Hangzhou "Zaozuo Bureau" and the Suzhou "Yingfeng Bureau," among others, who, under the emperor's orders, conducted a plunder of rare cultural relics in the southeastern region. As the Huashi fleet passed through, local residents were required to provide money, grain, and labor. In some areas, bridges were even dismantled and city walls were damaged to allow the fleet to pass, causing immense suffering for the people of Jiangnan. The "Song History" records the Huashi Gang campaign: "The toxic effects on the prefectures and counties lasted for twenty years"
A talent like Lin Chong finds himself unable to rise to prominence. Without the recognition and deliberate promotion from influential figures like Cai Jing and Gao Qiu, Lin Chong understands that he has little to no future ahead of him. What a splendid opportunity this is! How advantageous! If he seizes this chance and aligns himself with Lord Cai Jing, would it not be an extraordinary blessing? He would then have a powerful backing, free from the fear of being bullied. In the past, in the city of Dongjing, if he were bullied by someone whose identity he did not know, Lin Chong would not dare to take action. If he seizes this opportunity and aligns himself with Lord Cai Jing, would it not be an extraordinary blessing? He would then have a powerful backing, free from the fear of being bullied. In the past, in the city of Dongjing, if he were bullied by someone whose identity he did not know, Lin Chong would not dare to take action.
Yue Fan indeed had considerable knowledge about the disturbances caused by the Shengchen Gang and the Huashigan, but he did not anticipate that before he had the chance to travel and experience the sights of Tokyo, or visit some renowned figures, Lin Chong would encounter the matter of escorting the Huashigan.