Chapter 50: The Abacus of Small Liang Wang's Wish

  Zong Ze, in order to show his sincerity, ordered the attendants to set up an incense table. He first worshiped heaven and earth, then knelt before the incense table and made a solemn oath to the gods: "I, Zong Ze, from Yiwu County, Jinhua Prefecture, Zhejiang Province, have been favored by the imperial examination as a martial arts graduate. I should exhaust all my strength, be impartial and selfless, select talents for the country, and make contributions to the court. If I harbor selfish desires, deceive the emperor, and go against the law, I will surely die under the sword on that day."

  Zong Ze finished his oath and stood up, looking at Zhang Bangchang, asking him to take an oath.

  Zhang Bangchang thought to himself: "This Zong Ze is really an old scoundrel, I just said a couple of words to him and he actually took it seriously, even setting up an incense table and making a solemn oath. What's the big deal about oaths? When the time comes, I'll make some empty promises, who can do anything to me?" Zhang Bangchang thought this way and knelt down, saying to the gods: "Zhang Bangchang, a official from Huguang Huangzhou, thanks to the emperor's grace for being allowed to take the military exam, I dare not betray the emperor's kindness, be greedy and deceitful, bend the law for personal gain. If I go against this, in this life I will become a pig in a foreign land, and die under the knife." Such an oath was unheard of, it was something Zhang Bangchang had made up on the spot. Zhang Bangchang thought to himself: "How could someone like me, such a high-ranking official, end up in a foreign land? Even if I did go, how could I possibly turn into a pig? Zong Ze, no matter how many tricks you have up your sleeve, in front of me, you're still just an apprentice." Zhang Bangchang was self-satisfied.

  Wang Zong saw Zhang Bangchang make such an oath, and thought to himself: "Zhang Bangchang this old fox can make such a strange vow, why don't I follow his example and make a similar vow? Ha ha - you can be sly, I can too, can't I learn from you?" Wang Zong thought it was very ridiculous and absurd. He came to the altar with a pious expression, knelt down and said: "Official Wang Zong, being a fellow townsman of Zhang Bangchang, if I have any deceitful heart, may he turn into a pig, and I will turn into a sheep, and die under the knife together."

  It was Zhang Jun's turn to make a poisonous oath. He had clearly heard the oaths of Zhang Bangchang and Wang Duo, which were all curses with clenched teeth, only Zong Ze being serious. Zhang Jun thought to himself: "You two are afraid to make a poisonous oath because you received gifts from the young Emperor of Liang, but since you've come up with this trick, I'll think of an even more clever oath." Thinking of this, he also came to the incense table and knelt down, saying: "Zhang Jun, official of the Ministry of War, native of Shunzhou, South Zhili. If I have a deceitful heart towards my lord, may I die at the mouths of ten thousand people." After speaking, he secretly rejoiced in his heart.

  Zong Ze heard their oath and knew the little tricks in their hearts, but he couldn't say anything, so he had to give up.

  "They three are in cahoots, this champion seems to be none other than the young Liang king. I won't let them manipulate me like this, I want to test him myself and see how his writing skills are?" Zong Ze thought of this and said to Zhang Bangchang: "Zhang sir, I heard that the young Liang king is a hero of the world, don't know if it's true or false? Why not summon him up here and test him in person."

  Zhang Bangchang listened and said without hesitation: "What's difficult about this? Please ask him to come up and sit down, Master Zong wants to ask whatever he wants."

  Zong Ze was delighted when he heard this.

  "Qí pái guān, chuán Nánníng zhōu jǔ zǐ xiǎo Liáng wáng chái guì shàng lái." Zōng zé shuō dào.

  Translation: "The banner officer, it is said that the young scholar from Nanning Prefecture, Little King Liang, has arrived with his cassia and osmanthus."

  The officer in charge nodded and hastily left.

  Before long, the flag officer led a man into the martial arts hall.

  He came up and bowed to the four examiners, then stood aside.

  "Are you Chai Gui?" Zong Ze asked, looking at the rich young master standing in front of him.

  "Yes! What instructions does the master have?" Cha Gui asked in response.

  "You are a martial artist who has come to take the exam, why didn't you kneel when you saw the chief examiner?" asked Zong Ze.

  "I am a dignified vassal king, I only kneel to the Emperor and the Empress Dowager, and show respect to officials of higher rank by three degrees, how can I condescend to show respect?" Little Liang Wang said with arrogance.

  "Since you are a prince, why do you still want to compete for the title of Wu Zhuangyuan? Is being Wu Zhuangyuan more honorable than being a prince?" asked Zong Ze.

  "Taking the Wuju as my top wish. If I pass the Wuju, I can hang up my armor and lead troops to fight, and I can make more contributions to the court, isn't that okay?" Little Liang Wang asked back.

  "Now that you're just a martial arts student taking the exam, not a prince, why are you so arrogant? Since ancient times, it's been said: 'Whatever office one holds, whatever courtesy one shows.' If you weren't taking the exam, as a feudal lord, you'd be here to observe, and naturally, I'd invite you to take the seat of honor. But now that you're participating in the exam, your status is reduced to that of a candidate. Is there any candidate under heaven who doesn't pay homage by kneeling when meeting the chief examiner?" said Zong Ze.

  Xiao Liang Wang remained silent for a moment before kneeling down again to pay his respects.

  "Chai Gui, you want to contend for the title of Wu Zhuangyuan, what skills do you have? At present, all heroes in the world are gathered together, and they all want to contend for the title of Wu Zhuangyuan. To take the title depends on real talent and actual learning, I don't know if you have the ability to seize the title. If you can defeat the strongest opponent, then the title is yours; if not, it's better to go back early, lest you lose face." Zong Ze said with a hint of sarcasm.

  "Zong Jun, how can you speak to Little Liang Wang like that? It seems the chief examiner has no such precedent." Zhang Bangchang said.

  "Yes, although Xiao Liang Wang is participating in the exam as a Wu Sheng, he is still a prince after all, and should speak more politely." Wang Duo echoed in agreement.

  "What's wrong? I'm just asking about basic common sense, stating facts. Is it also wrong to be curious? I was just wondering why the king would give up his rightful place as a high-ranking official to compete for the title of Zhuangyuan (a prestigious academic honor). Isn't this abandoning the greater for the lesser, and seeking the distant while neglecting what's near at hand? Perhaps Little King Liang has been misled by slanderous words. I'm just reminding him, that's all. What are you getting so worked up about?" Zong Ze was reasonable but wouldn't let others off easily.

  Zhang Bangchang and Wang Duo's faces turned red with embarrassment upon hearing this.

  Xiao Liang Wang originally had no intention of competing for the top spot, but because he was on his way to Beijing to pay respects to the emperor, he passed through Taihang Mountain and encountered a group of bandits. The leader of the mountain was named Wang Shan, who was skilled with a golden-backed large chopping knife and was known as the Golden-Backed King, with the bravery of a million men. Under Wang Shan's command were brave generals Ma Bao, He Liu, and He Ren, as well as left and right military strategists Deng Wu and Tian Qi, who were wise and resourceful. They gathered over 50,000 people, occupying Taihang Mountain and surrounding areas, plundering homes and robbing people, with the government troops unable to do anything about it.

  Wang Shan had long had the ambition to seize the Jiangshan of the Song Dynasty, but he was short of an internal response. On that day, he inquired about Xiao Liang Wang's entry into the court and made a plan with his military strategist to capture Xiao Liang Wang and take him up the mountain.

  Wang Shan and others treated the young King Liang with increasing courtesy. After the tea ceremony, General Tian Qi said: "King Liang is a descendant of the imperial family. Although the Southern Tang Dynasty declined in the past, the world was also at peace. Zhao Kuangyin set up a plot, falsely claiming that there was a military uprising at Chen Bridge, and seized the throne. He has been plotting to take over the world until now. Your Majesty is the orthodox imperial bloodline, but you only have an empty title as a vassal king, with no real power, subject to their control. We are citizens of the Southern Tang Dynasty, and we cannot bear to surrender in our hearts. Now that our army is strong and well-supplied, we are waiting for Your Majesty to give the order. This year, the court is holding an examination to select talented scholars. Why not go to the capital to get acquainted with those treacherous officials, offer them many gifts, and plot to obtain a Wuju champion? When the time comes, Your Majesty will lead the army, hold power in your hands, and get acquainted with some heroes and talents, making them your trusted followers. When you are ready to take action, inform us, and we will respond from afar, attacking from both inside and outside. Then, Your Majesty can rightfully reclaim the old mountains and rivers, wouldn't that be wonderful?"

  Tian Qi's words made Xiao Liang Wang's heart bloom with joy.

  "It's rare to see all of you so loyal. After I enter the capital, I will immediately take care of this matter. If it succeeds, all of you will be the founding elders, and I am willing to share wealth and honor with you, and advance or retreat together." Little Liang Wang said.

  Wang Shan and Tian Qi were overjoyed when they heard the news, and immediately set up a banquet to entertain Xiao Liang Wang. After drinking enough wine and eating their fill, Xiao Liang Wang descended the mountain, with Wang Shan and others seeing him off all the way to the foot of the mountain.