Cursed Mountains and Seas

Chapter 112 Enemies Meet on a Narrow Road, A Tiger Wants to Attack

"Yes, my lord!"

After the great battle, a large number of reinforcements from the Mountain and Sea Society arrived at Yuegang, including three of them who were of the middle third rank.

The imperial court knew it was incapable of taking advantage of the chaos to reclaim Yuegang, this treasure trove, and the "Minzhou Rebellion Case" and the "Gentlemen's Collusion with Japanese Pirates Case" revealed just how low the bottom line of the gentry really was.

Moreover, the Dragon's Blood truly exists, and the ability to absorb dragon energy and defy fate truly exists.

After a thorough investigation, Bai Linwei found no direct evidence to prove which member of the Han family clan was behind it all.

This person was hiding much deeper than they imagined.

They could only follow the clues and arrest a number of lower- and middle-ranking officials who had close ties with Pu Shouying.

The ruler of the state would never lower his guard, nor would he allow the power of the collusion between the imperial family, local officials, and gentry to continue to expand.

Therefore, it was decided to seek help from the Shanhai Association, which had a large number of water officers, to let them manage a portion of the water officers and undertake some of the coastal defense duties.

As long as they are here, they can greatly alleviate the pressure on coastal defense and curb the uncontrolled power of the gentry, so as to prevent them from continuing to collude with Japanese pirates.

From the perspective of the ruler, this was a way of maintaining balance and there was absolutely no problem with it, but it aroused serious dissatisfaction among the gentry and the former garrison officers.

This middle-aged man was none other than Xing Baichuan, the hereditary commander of Zhenhai Guard!

He is also the boss of Wang Cheng's current boss.

His trusted subordinate watched Wang Cheng's departing figure, a fierce glint flashing across his face. After agreeing to take action, he hesitated.

"Commander, Wang Bengu, the Imperial Censor, was the direct instigator who framed Governor Hu and Prince Jinghai for colluding, causing the former to protect himself while the latter was killed innocently."

On that day, you accepted his invitation and personally went out to sea to lure the bandit leader, Prince Jinghai, into the ambush. In the eyes of those with ulterior motives, you were already part of his faction.

"We've just evaded the White Scale Guard's patrols, and now we're continuing our clandestine collusion, resisting military reforms, and slapping the face of the Emperor's close advisors like the Lu family? Won't that displease His Majesty?"

Commander Xing Baichuan, however, didn't seem to care. He finished his drink and ate a bite of pickled vegetables and tofu.

"What's there to be afraid of? The dynasty and the gentry will govern the country together!"
Power is something you won't get unless you actively fight for it. As long as we don't go too far, even the most powerful ruler has to swallow his pride and bear with it.

Now Wang Fugui is a traitor, and Lu Yunchen doesn't know how to appreciate his kindness.

This commander personally came to Moon Harbor to win over that Ghost God Jealousy, but he didn't give me any face at all. If I don't teach him a lesson, won't he take advantage of me?
I might as well let him take my command position.

An emperor is just one person. Even if he has a lot of officials, generals, and soldiers, it won't be enough. He has to cooperate with a ruling class to share the benefits in order to govern the country smoothly.

However, it is obvious that in a centralized country, the interests of the emperor at the core of power and the ruling class that serves him are often not aligned.

Especially as centralization of power deepened, the country gradually became the private property of the emperor, and the shares of other ruling classes were gradually stripped away.

Previously, the emperor sat while they sat; now the emperor sits while they kneel—this is clear evidence of this change.

The ruling class and their families naturally abandoned their responsibility and commitment to the survival of the nation, only wanting to benefit from the ruling system and enrich themselves at the expense of the public.

Originally, the ruling class was merely a tool for the emperor's rule, but gradually became the greatest enemy of imperial power.

Throughout China's 5000-year history of continuous struggle, the sovereign has remained unchanged like the sun in the sky, but the ruling class has changed many times.

During the Zhou Dynasty, the emperor once ruled the world together with the feudal lords of the same surname, and jointly controlled the world, establishing seventy-one states, of which fifty-three were ruled by the Ji surname alone.

During the Qin Dynasty, the emperor and military nobles who rose to power through the system of granting titles based on military merit jointly ruled the country; during the Han Dynasty, the emperor and powerful families who monopolized learning resources jointly ruled the country.

The Jin Dynasty implemented the Nine-Rank System and the rule of the country by powerful clans. This system continued until the great Tang Dynasty. If Huang Chao had not trampled the bones of nobles on the streets, it is hard to say whether it would have evolved into an extremely rigid caste system.

Until the Song Dynasty, the emperor and the scholar-officials who were selected through the imperial examinations jointly governed the country; in the present-day Zhao Dynasty, the dynasty and the gentry jointly govern the country.
Some say that the Chinese dynasties have gone through three hundred years without any progress, but at least power has always been opening up to the lower classes, making it possible for someone to rise from a peasant in the morning to a high-ranking official in the evening.

Of course, the later ruling class was not necessarily more noble than the former; in fact, the literati and officials had already established a logical consistency in their treasonous behavior by the late Song Dynasty and the Yunmeng period.

"When barbarians enter China, we become Chinese; when Chinese enter barbarians, we become barbarians."

From then on, scholars believed that even if the dynasty fell, they would simply be replaced by a new ruler who would continue to tyrannize the land.

You talk about loyalty? I just find it laughable!
You say the Tartars don't treat scholars well? Try it! What harm would it do to try?

After these hereditary garrison officers seized military farms and became part of the local gentry, they colluded with local nobles, powerful families, and influential clans, engaging in land annexation, resisting the central government, and colluding with Japanese pirates.

Now that all of Moon Harbor's interests have been cleared out, how could these people not turn against them?
They naturally harbored strong hostility towards the officials who represented the emperor and came down from the central government.

This was especially true for traitors like "Wang Fugui," who came from a military household but joined the Shanhaihui and the central government. They settled both old and new scores together!

"Even that Governor-General Hu was humiliated by our joint efforts. If it weren't for the support of the Grand Secretary, he would have slunk back long ago, or even been imprisoned."

What's the big deal about punishing a mere centurion?
Now that Wang Fugui has joined my Zhenhai Guard, I'll have plenty of opportunities to deal with him.

Xing Baichuan persuaded his confidant, who thought to himself that he, a hereditary commander of a thousand households and a sixth-rank official, had gained nothing in this military reform.

If we don't seize this opportunity, we'll truly be no different from ordinary people. He gritted his teeth and vowed:

"Your subordinate will certainly not disappoint the commander!"

When Wang Cheng returned to Fenglinzhai, he found that Lu Yunchen, who was staying there, had delegated his duties to his trusted servants and was diligently studying. Since he needed to learn both French and nautical knowledge, he simply used several nautical books as language textbooks.

"Brother Fugui, you're back? You've worked hard, you've worked hard."

Come and have a cup of tea and relax. This is Da Hong Pao tea, bestowed by the emperor from the mother tree; it's refreshing, invigorating, and essential for learning.

After personally pouring Wang Cheng a cup of tea, he then presented Wang Cheng with unfamiliar words, characters, and nautical knowledge that he couldn't understand, asking him for help. His attitude towards learning deserves full marks.

"Look, this book says that when the sea is rough, the gun ports should be closed, and you should never try to gain the upper hand. Why is that?"

"This passage seems to be from religious scriptures. Do all the countries in the Western world really only worship one god?"

I don't recognize this word.

Wang Cheng answered them one by one, having already learned from the eldest son of the Lu family during their conversation.

In fact, as Western colonists arrived in the Spice Islands and the East China Sea, many Western missionaries also entered the capital city of Yujing, attempting to persuade the upper echelons of the Dazhao Kingdom and spread their doctrines.

However, they failed to consider the practicalities and ended up suffering heavy losses.

After all, whether a powerful nobleman of the Great Zhao believed in the Three Officials or in the imported "gods" was a matter of great importance concerning the very foundation of the Taoist tradition, and even the survival of the officials of the divine way!

The Lord of the State is also the master of a unified country and the supreme defender of the Chinese tradition.

Any priest who dares to openly preach and mislead the ministers will be executed immediately!

Some Western objects, such as telescopes, matchlock guns, pocket watches, and medicines, may be popular, but spreading faith is absolutely forbidden.

The top leadership had only one unwavering stance: "Exterminate them all!"

Just as Lu Yi said, this wasn't the first time that ghosts and gods from other lands had descended, but they almost never returned.

To avoid getting into trouble, nobles and officials even considered learning the language of those red-haired missionaries a shameful thing.

The scholar-officials who held the power of discourse disregarded it even more.

But as expected of someone so jealous, in just over half a month, he had already mastered several thousand commonly used words and had begun learning more professional nautical terminology.

After quickly finishing guiding today's homework, Wang Cheng suggested:

"Brother Lu, let's get ready to board the ship. We'll learn and practice at the same time."

Lu Yunchen suddenly became interested.

"Onboard training? Is this the naval reserve officer system you mentioned in Western countries?"

Wang Cheng nodded:

"We are an agrarian civilization. If we want to conquer the ocean, it all comes down to one word: practice! Practice like crazy!"
Sailors and naval officers from Western countries all have to go through this step. Knowledge gained from books is ultimately superficial; true understanding comes from practice.

Nobles are required to board ships as cadets at the age of 12; you're already too late to board now.

"It's settled then. You'll be starting your shipboard internship the day after tomorrow, beginning as a reserve cadet."

Wang Cheng was about to take a shower and change his clothes when Lu Yunchen grabbed him and asked urgently:

"What about tomorrow? I'm already way behind everyone else, why waste another day?"

There was no point in hiding anything about tomorrow's plans, so Wang Cheng simply told him:

"I have a scientific ceremony tomorrow, so I won't have time to accompany you on the ship."

Upon hearing this, Lu Yunchen's eyes lit up, and he looked him up and down for a moment:
"I see that your foundation at the seventh rank is extremely solid. You should be able to advance to the sixth rank this time, right?"

Wang Cheng shook his head:

"No, this is not a promotion, but a concurrent appointment to a second official position."

Upon hearing this, Lu Yunchen was overjoyed and addressed him even more affectionately:
"Old Wang! So you're a genius just like me!"

"Will I be serving as both a Heavenly Official and an Earthly Official this time?"

As he spoke, he took out a black door panel from a Qiankun bag and presented it to Wang Cheng like a treasure.

"Door panel?"

The latter was taken aback.

Lu Yunchen, however, corrected him mysteriously:

"Living in seclusion, I have few neighbors; a grassy path leads into a desolate garden. Birds roost in the trees by the pond; a monk knocks on the moonlit gate."
This door panel is the legendary treasure for seeking the Dao – meticulous consideration!
My two rituals, the Heavenly Class [Shenxiao Taoist] and the Earthly Class [Swordsman], are both for 'punishing evil and promoting good'.

When they finished their part-time job, it was with the help of this treasure that they both broke through to the sixth rank.

I think you can do it too!

(End of this chapter)