Chapter Five: Liang Garden

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  Since the beginning of winter, the first snow in Kaifeng Prefecture has finally fallen gently, covering the ground with a vast expanse of white, looking beautiful and elegant.

  Zhu Yinglong was hiding in the house, lit a charcoal stove, and discussed future development plans with Sun Chengzong and others.

  Zhu Yinglong, in order to eliminate the distinction of high and low, noble and humble in people's minds, formally moved out the round table conference of later generations. Everyone sat down in a circle, which not only shortened the distance between people but also made everyone feel his importance. This system Zhu Yinglong also wanted to establish, to reform, naturally had to start from within.

  At first, Sun Chengzong and Xu Guangqi strongly disagreed with this approach, believing it went against the teachings of the sages, violated the hierarchy between superior and inferior, and was not in line with etiquette. They strongly opposed Zhu Yinglong's actions, but eventually both sides took a step back. At the roundtable meeting, a main seat was set up, slightly higher than the others, which only Zhu Yinglong could occupy, while everyone else couldn't sit there. Only then did they reluctantly agree to take their seats. Only Zhu Yinglong smiled wryly in his heart, realizing that changing customs and habits wasn't something that could be accomplished overnight, but rather required a gradual process.

  All core personnel are present, this is also Zhu Yinglong's first full internal staff meeting since arriving in Kaifeng, with all responsible persons present.

  Sun Chengzong and Xu Guangqi reported to Zhu Yinglong on the preparatory work of the Military Academy and Yinglong College. Zhu Yinglong was very satisfied with the work of the two sages and praised them highly, then began today's agenda. Zhu Yinglong had carefully prepared for today's meeting and successively proposed a series of ideas including the establishment of Yinglong Business Firm, Yinglong Shipping Company, Yinglong Printing House, Yinglong Ironware Store, Yinglong Glass Workshop and Yinglong Skills Institute, which shocked all the people present. They could not imagine that Zhu Yinglong would have such a grand plan, and this was only part of it, without mentioning agriculture and military affairs yet!

  What was brought up today are all about business, Zhu Yinglong naturally also knows the importance of guns, but what he needs most now is one talent and another is money, without money nothing else can be discussed, so Zhu Yinglong needs money, a large sum of money.

  "Your Majesty, the merchant houses, shipping companies, printing shops and glass workshops are nothing to worry about, but this ironworks is a different matter. Private smelting of steel is a serious crime!" Sun Chengzong expressed his concern first, and Xu Guangqi echoed in agreement.

  Zhu Yinglong knew their concerns, and he was also worried. Steel had been a state-run industry since ancient times, and private steel production was equivalent to treason. He hadn't thought this through, so he nodded and said: "The two elders' concerns are reasonable, let's put the ironwork aside for now and discuss it later."

  "Your Excellency, although our glass workshop has brought us huge profits, you have spent a large sum on settling tenants and building the Shadow Dragon Villa. Although we receive a large amount of silver every month, it is being used up faster than it comes in. There are only over 100,000 taels of silver left in the mansion. If this month's payment from the Antique Shop arrives, there will be at most around 2 million taels of silver. Your Excellency suddenly wants to establish a business firm, shipping company, printing workshop and glass workshop... I'm afraid we won't have enough silver to use!"

  Zhu Yinglong lowered his head and thought for a moment, then asked: "Didn't we have over 15 million taels? How did it decrease to just over 1 million in just a few days?"

  "Your Highness, according to your intention, the land allocated is for the people who have no land or are from poor families to cultivate. In this way, our initial settlement costs, purchasing seeds, farming tools, and their food expenses for the next few months will all be borne by the royal household, which will cost more than 500,000 taels of silver. The production of bricks, cement, and other building materials requires more than 200,000 taels of silver. You have also set a high wage for hiring craftsmen, which is not a small expense. Although these expenses have not been fully incurred yet, you have stipulated that they cannot be diverted. Your Highness allocated 400,000 taels of silver to Sun and Xu for the purpose of recruiting talent, establishing a military academy, and building a book institute. The construction of the Yinglong Villa has stopped externally, but the internal decoration has not stopped at all, and expenses are incurred every day. It cannot be stopped, Your Highness has stipulated that special funds must be used for specific purposes, although there is silver, it cannot be withdrawn." Shen Xi explained.

  It turned out that there was indeed a silver lining, but he had been trapped by his own words. The worried look on his brow unfolded as he said: "So it's like this, the income from Bo Gu Zhai will be sent over very quickly this month. I'm not thinking of setting all of this up at once, this is just my idea, and we'll take it one step at a time. Brother Shen, you don't have to worry too much."

  Shen Xi thought about it and agreed with himself that he had been a bit one-sided in his thinking, these things couldn't be done overnight, so he stopped talking.

  The atmosphere gradually became more intense, and everyone spoke out, pooling their wisdom to quickly pass all of Zhu Yinglong's proposals, revising many inadequate parts. Then, they unanimously passed the leaders of the four shops: Shen Xi, head of the Shadow Dragon Merchant House; Tian Yan, head of the Boat Company; Shi Kefa, head of the Printing Workshop; and Tian Shuying, head of the Glass Workshop. All four were responsible to Princess Zhou Yining, which means that all financial power was now in her hands. This not only reflected Zhu Yinglong's trust in her but also established her authority as the legitimate princess consort. A snake cannot move without a head, and although Zhu Yinglong treated his three daughters equally, he couldn't do without one of them being in charge; otherwise, the household would be unstable.

  After the meeting, Zhu Yinglong was about to ask Zhou Huan and Xiong Cuiqi to discuss the situation of the Shadow Fund. Suddenly, Wang Chengen came with Cui Chengxiu's name card, saying that he was invited to visit Liangyuan Garden in the snow. Zhu Yinglong couldn't guess what Cui Chengxiu meant by inviting him to visit Liangyuan Garden, and thought about declining, but decided to go after all. Cui Chengxiu still didn't dare to do anything to him, as he was a prince after all, and Wei Zhongxian would need a legitimate reason to get rid of him.

  Liáng Yuán, also known as Tù Yuán, was the imperial garden of Liáng Xiào Wáng Liú Wǔ, the youngest son of Emperor Wen of Han. Before the Han Dynasty, this place was already a famous ancient site. As early as the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, Shī Kuàng, a great musician from the State of Jin, had played music here, leaving behind the "Chuī Tái" relic. Liáng Xiào Wáng Liú Wǔ built his garden around the "Chuī Tái", constructing pavilions, towers, and halls. He also built the Yúán Yán Lóng Xià, raised rare birds and beasts, and planted pine, cypress, and bamboo trees. Although today's Liáng Yuán is no longer as it was in its heyday, many ancient relics remain, making it a must-visit destination for scholars and poets visiting Kaifeng. I had heard that Kaifeng has many famous historical sites, but never had the chance to visit them. Today, I am able to tour the famous Liáng Yuán in the snow, thanks to our friend, Cui Chengxiu, the Governor of Henan Province.

  Zhu Yinglong left the house when the heavy snow had stopped for a long time. He didn't bring many people, just Wang Chengen and himself, and a total of three people in a horse-drawn carriage left Kaifeng City.

  Liáng Yuán is located in the southeastern suburbs of Kaifeng, three miles away from the city center, adjacent to the Temple of King Yu. It is one of the "Eight Views of Kaifeng", specifically the "Snowy Liang Garden". The term "snowy" refers to the clearing of snow and fog after a storm, revealing a bright and sunny sky. A poem praises it as:

  Rabbit Garden Snow Clears, New Splendor

  Sweep away all dust from Yunzhou's ten thousand households.

  Jade trees and crystal forests for three hundred miles

  The peony is the queen of spring flowers.

  Ermine cloak gentleman welcomes spring drunk

  Iron horse general out column frequently.

  Xunzi said: "As for being able to compose fu poems,"

  Wang Men bestowed a silver seal on Jian Guan.

  However, the Yellow River often burst its banks, and after several big floods, the halls, corridors, pavilions, and towers, as well as the beautiful mountains and rivers, elegant architecture, and precious flowers and plants all disappeared, leaving behind only desolation and some ancient relics that later generations would lament, such as the Blowing Pavilion. Many famous people in history had visited the old site of Liang Garden, including the great poets of the Tang Dynasty, Li Bai, Du Fu, and Gao Shi, who once climbed the Blowing Pavilion together, becoming a beautiful story in literary history. Cui Xuan invited him to visit Liang Garden, but he wondered what deep meaning lay behind this invitation, believing that Cui would not invite a vassal king like himself to venture out of the city on a snowy day to visit Liang Garden without some other purpose.

  "Henan Governor Cui Chengxiu pays his respects to the Prince!" Cui Chengxiu had been waiting in Liang Garden for a long time, and when he saw Zhu Yinglong's carriage arrive, he hastily led Chen Jiuchou, the Prefect of Kaifeng Prefecture, to go and greet him.

  Zhu Yinglong crawled out of the carriage, saw Cui Chengxiu's face, raised his eyes and took a look around. Everywhere was white and desolate, and he said with an unhappy expression: "Lord Cui, you're not joking, are you? On such a cold day, you actually invited me to this godforsaken place in the suburbs?"

  "I report to Your Highness, this snow scene in the Liang Garden is one of the rare and beautiful sights in the world. If Your Highness finds it not satisfactory after seeing it, I am willing to take the blame." Cui Chengxiu hastily smiled and welcomed him.

  "Oh, I've been busy building a new villa lately and haven't had a chance to explore Kaifeng thoroughly. As the king, I should be familiar with my own hometown, or else it would be too embarrassing if others were to ask me about it. Lord Cui, please lead the way!" Zhu Yinglong said with a smile.

  Cui Chengxiu was shocked in his heart, this didn't sound like something a foolish person would say, it was obviously normal and couldn't be more normal. The factory boss asked him to further investigate whether Xing Wang was really foolish or pretending to be foolish, or if he was sometimes clear-headed and sometimes foolish. However, as soon as Zhu Yinglong arrived in Kaifeng, he became like a son-in-law who had just married into the family, never leaving the house, not even taking a step outside the door. Several visits were made but he wasn't seen, and if Cui Chengxiu didn't figure out whether Xing Wang was truly foolish or pretending to be foolish, he wouldn't be able to complete the task entrusted by Wei Zhongxian, and would probably never return to Beijing again. Just as it happened, Kaifeng had its first big snowfall, giving him an excuse to invite Xing Wang to visit Liang Garden in the snow. With no other plan in mind, he took a try-see attitude, but unexpectedly, Xing Wang really accepted the invitation, and Cui Chengxiu brought Chen Jiuxiao to ride horses and wait ahead.

  "Lord Cui, I heard that this Liang Garden is also called Rabbit Garden. Did it used to raise rabbits?" Zhu Yinglong had already received the news, and Xiong Zhaoyi's undercover agent had taken effect, bribing a clerk in Cui Chengxiu's mansion, who secretly passed on the information about Cui Chengxiu riding out of the city halfway through. Zhu Yinglong almost guessed Cui Chengxiu's thoughts, so he asked this question intentionally.

  Chui Chengxiu was stunned, his eyes wide with surprise. He had not expected the king to ask such a question. He thought himself highly intelligent and knowledgeable, but he was momentarily at a loss for an answer to this seemingly foolish question. The king's intelligence seemed to come and go, and Chui had just experienced a brief scare. He hastily replied, "Your Majesty, this is the imperial garden of Emperor Liu Wu of the Han dynasty, not a place for raising rabbits."

  "Oh, so that's how it is. I've also heard that Liangyuan has an ancient wind platform that's famous far and wide. Where is it now? Take me to see it quickly!" However, Shi Kefa, who was beside Zhu Yinglong, didn't know that the current Liangyuan's wind platform had been renovated into a Yuwang Temple, with a large hall built on top, an eight-foot-tall bronze statue of Yu the Great, and renamed as Yuwang Platform. A temple for three sages was also built, with statues of Li Bai, Du Fu, and Gao Shi, commemorating the grand gathering of the three sages in Daliang. But he just pretended to be sometimes foolish and sometimes normal, trying to make Cui Chengxiu mistakenly think that he was indeed sometimes stupid and sometimes sane.

  "Your Majesty, please take a look, this is the bronze statue of Da Yu." Under Cui Chengxiu's leadership, Zhu Yinglong and others arrived at the Temple of King Yu, standing in front of the bronze statue of Da Yu, then listening to Cui Chengxiu's endless talk about the legend of Da Yu controlling the flood, while Chen Jiucou on the side occasionally inserted a few words, which was also quite vivid.

  Facing Da Yu, who passed by his house three times to control the flood but did not enter, Zhu Yinglong suddenly felt a sense of reverence in his heart. It was this great water control expert who discovered the truth that blocking is not as good as dredging, and became the standard for water control for generations of Chinese people, such a great achievement, how can it not make Zhu Yinglong feel reverent?

  Li Bai, Du Fu, and Gao Shi are also great literary figures worthy of admiration. However, Zhu Yinglong only has admiration for them. Poetry can only soothe the emotions and express feelings, which is merely a cultural heritage, but it doesn't provide much help with what he's doing now. No matter how well poetry is written, it can't become food in a bowl to fill people's stomachs. Therefore, poetry isn't suitable for him now, so he just took a quick glance and left.

  The snow scene in Liangyuan is indeed magnificent. Standing on the ancient blowing platform, the entire Liangyuan is within sight. The secluded paths hidden by flowers and trees have already been merged into the wind and snow. The winter greenery is as high as one's chest, and the tall trees are covered with icicles. Suddenly, a cold gust of wind blows, and Zhu Yinglong feels the atmosphere of Su Dongpo's "Water Tune Song Head" - "Crystal towers and jade palaces, high places can't withstand the cold." Ah, yes, he is indeed in such a high place that can't withstand the cold! This is fate, he has no power to break it, only to change it, conquer it. Zhu Yinglong has a fire burning in his heart, fueling his confidence. Ten years, twenty years, or even fifty years, one hundred years, he will change his own destiny, change the fate of this multi-disaster-stricken Han nation!

  "Your Highness, next month's twenty-fourth is your birthday. The factory master asked me to ask you, how do you plan to celebrate?" Cui Chengxiu asked cautiously.

  "Lord Choi, how did you know about my birthday?" Zhu Yinglong asked with a stir in his heart.

  "This is what the old master of the factory told me." Cui Chengxiu said with a flattering face, Zhu Yinglong knew that this face was not facing himself, but facing Wei Zhongxian in the capital.

  "Director Choi, please go back to the factory lord. I thank him for his concern. As for my birthday, I haven't thought about it yet. Let's talk about it in a few days." Zhu Yinglong himself had even forgotten his own birthday, and when he calculated it, it was indeed a coincidence that his birthday was also on the 24th of December, which could be considered a comfort to him in this strange world.

  The Liang Garden is very large, and after walking around it, Zhu Yinglong occasionally asks some silly questions, which makes Cui Chengxiu laugh and cry at the same time. Many of the questions are ridiculous to the extreme, and there's no way to answer them. From then on, Cui Chengxiu firmly believes that this Prince Xian is sometimes clear-headed and sometimes foolish, a strange illness that is rarely seen in a hundred years. Since Prince Xian is not worth worrying about, he can rest assured and report back to Wei Zhongxian, and his position as the Governor of Henan will soon be removed.