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Chapitre 6

Wang Pang shook his head and smiled, saying, "He doesn't need to come forward to promote it; he can just do it himself."

Gu Lingbo glared at him and continued, "The man hurried home and brought back the fans. Lord Su selected twenty white silk fans from among them, and then wrote in running script or painted withered trees and bamboo on the fan surfaces. After finishing, he handed them to the fan maker and said, 'Take these to the yamen gate and sell them for a thousand coins each. Pay back the debt immediately after you get the money.' The fan maker took the fans, kowtowed in gratitude, and was immediately surrounded by passersby as soon as he stepped out of the yamen gate. Everyone scrambled to buy them, and the twenty fans were quickly sold out. The money he earned was just enough to pay off the debt. Lord Su's actions won the hearts of the people, and the people of Hangzhou spread the word, saying that Lord Su's virtue and talent were rare in the world."

Pang Di already held Su Shi in high esteem, and upon hearing Gu's words, he couldn't help but secretly admire him, his goodwill towards her growing even stronger. He said to Wang Pang, "This is the way of being an official."

Wang Pang disagreed, turning to Pang Di and whispering with a smile, "My lady is mistaken; this is merely the way of local officials."

Then he turned to Gu Lingbo and said seriously, "Since you are so fond of Su Zizhan, why don't I ask my father to act as matchmaker and betroth you to him?"

Upon hearing this, Gu Lingbo was not pleased but enraged, and retorted angrily: "Lord Su's affection for his deceased wife Wang Fu and his second wife Wang Runzhi is profound and righteous. How could I, a mere woman, dare to harbor any thoughts of replacing him? Moreover, I am not infatuated with him, but rather captivated by his character, morality, and integrity. He possesses unparalleled talent, cares deeply for the nation and its people, and his virtue benefits all. Although he is not favored by the Emperor, he does not wallow in self-pity, nor does he complain about fate or others in adversity. He remains optimistic, open-minded, and content with his lot." His magnanimity is almost saintly. In contrast, those who gain power today are often scheming and treacherous. Once in power, they become arrogant, only seeking advancement and rank, disregarding the people's grievances, and frequently deceiving their superiors and confusing the emperor. Even more hateful is their inability to tolerate dissent; unable to win over the masses, they ruthlessly eliminate dissidents. Moreover, such people are often heartless; though they have families, they still frequent brothels, their words often frivolous and unseemly. How can they possibly protect their wives and children, govern their families and the country, or understand love and compassion?

Her next few sentences were clearly aimed at Wang Pang. Xiao Yanran and Gu Lingyun were both quite frightened, speechless, unable to utter a single word, let alone try to smooth things over. Wang Pang felt a surge of anger, her brow furrowed, and she was about to retort when Pang Di responded loudly, "Sister, don't generalize. Among those in power you mentioned, there are those who are talented, strategic, worldly-wise, intelligent, bold, outspoken, and courageous in their remonstrances. Their advocacy for reform isn't driven by personal desire; it's their ideal, the most brilliant chapter of their lives. Those opponents are like thorns blocking their path to their ideals. Yes, they took drastic measures, deciding to cut down the thorns instead of gently smoothing them out, but that stemmed from their childlike impatience. Like a child, once they've set their sights on a goal, they forge ahead, even if the path isn't always right, they persevere for the sake of the light. Such a person, so determined to pursue their ideals, will naturally be loved. Besides, you are not him; how can you know he doesn't understand how to protect his family and wife, and is sensible and understanding?"

Gu Lingbo questioned, "Since you know that the path he has chosen may not be the right one, why not offer him guidance instead of letting him continue down the wrong path?"

Pang Di sighed, "Some paths are hard to discern right from wrong until you've walked them to the end. Besides, we love his consistent persistence and the pain he endured, like Kuafu chasing the sun."

Gu Lingbo stopped arguing, stared at Pang Di for a long time, then suddenly walked over, bowed, and said, "I was unaware of Madam's true intentions just now, and I have offended you greatly."

Pang Di knew that she had guessed her identity from her words, so she did not hide it. She helped her up with both hands and said, "I didn't think it through before I spoke, please don't take offense."

The other two women then realized that Pang Di was a woman disguised as a man and was Wang Pang's wife. They looked at each other in disbelief, thinking, "Only Wang Pang could do something so shocking as to take his wife to a brothel."

Wang Pang and Pang Di rode back to the mansion together in a sedan chair. During the journey, Pang Di asked, "You usually react fiercely when arguing with others, unable to tolerate the slightest anger. Why didn't you utter a word when Gu Lingbo said those things to you?"

Wang Pang laughed and replied, "I was going to refute her, but my wife was so quick to defend me. After thinking about it more carefully, I realized that what does a woman know about national affairs and people's livelihood? She's just acting out of love for someone she admires, which is fundamentally different from arguing with court officials. You should know that a woman's true feelings are the most precious thing. No matter how harsh her words are, as long as they are spoken out of love, they can be forgiven." Then, thinking about Gu Lingbo's words and actions, he said to his wife, "Lingbo is a proud, arrogant, and outspoken person, but unfortunately, she doesn't know how to be flexible. Being too straightforward makes her vulnerable. If she had only stayed in Hangzhou her whole life, it would have been fine, but this capital city, which seems to be a prosperous and peaceful place, is full of hidden dangers and harmful arrows. If she continues like this, she will definitely get herself into trouble."

Pang Di remained silent, but thought to himself, "You see others so clearly, but have you ever considered that you yourself are the same way?"

After a moment, Wang Pang suddenly said to Pang Di in a serious tone, "I have something I would like to ask you, madam."

Seeing his serious expression, Pang Di asked in surprise, "What is it?"

May I kiss you?

"Pah!" Pang Di realized that he was just teasing her, and immediately covered her face with her hands and hid to the side.

Wang Pang then burst into laughter, teasing her as he grabbed her, "You were so excited to declare your love for me just now, why are you being so coy now?"

"Oh, no way!"

"Let me tell you if there is..."

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Conquest

Midway through the journey, they suddenly heard a commotion ahead. Citizens were running around in panic, blocking the road and forcing the sedan chair to stop.

The two men lifted the curtain and looked outside, only to see several soldiers patrolling the city binding two burly men and escorting them back to the yamen. The two men, indignant, shouted, "We were just chatting while eating on the street, is that a crime?"

A patrolman shouted, "His Majesty has issued an edict that anyone who criticizes the current government shall be arrested and punished."

One of the bound men, dressed as a villager, roared in fury upon hearing the commotion: "How could I have slandered you? I said the government lent us money, but required us to pledge it as collateral. We had no choice but to ask a wealthy landlord to act as guarantor, with the agreement that if we couldn't repay, we'd be compensated with our land. The loan did help us through the lean season, but it stipulated repayment by the autumn harvest, plus two percent interest. Now my fields are infested with pests, and it's clear this year's harvest will be bad. I'll definitely be unable to repay the loan, and in the end, I'll have no choice but to sell my land to the wealthy landlord. This crop protection law is worse than nothing! Am I wrong?"

Another person chimed in, "You be the judge: I say this system of exempting people from service by paying money is very unfair. Whether you're rich or poor, you have to pay the same amount every year. The wealthy Chen family next door has no problem at all, and they even have to pay for a hundred more people. But how can someone like me, who can barely make ends meet, afford this exemption money in a bad year?"

The onlookers nodded in agreement, seemingly showing their approval. Seeing the situation turning against them, the patrolmen went over and whipped two men each, shouting, "Such criticism of the new laws, and you say it's not slander? Guards, gag them!"

Although the two men could not speak after their mouths were stuffed, they still mumbled incoherently, glaring angrily at the patrolmen and struggling desperately, their faces turning red. The patrolmen took them away, and the road was reopened, allowing the sedan chair bearers to resume carrying the sedan chair.

Pang Di was quite shocked by the two men's appearance and asked Wang Pang, "Has the Emperor issued an edict to censor the new laws?"

Wang Pang nodded calmly and said slowly, "Father has accepted my suggestion and petitioned the Emperor to issue an edict throughout the land to investigate and severely punish those who fail to fulfill their duties in implementing the new laws. He also ordered the establishment of patrols in the capital to arrest and punish those who criticize the current government."

Pang Di said urgently, "Have you forgotten what Gu Lingbo just rebuked you for? 'Unable to tolerate dissenting voices and gain the support of the masses, you resort to ruthless elimination of dissidents.' This suppression of public opinion will only invite criticism from the old party, ultimately backfiring and failing to silence dissent!"

Wang Pang sat lazily, leaning back casually in the sedan chair, and then asked, "Does my lady know the emperor's art of 'conquest and extermination'?"

Pang Di nodded. During the reigns of Yao and Shun, four wicked creatures (Huan Dou, Gong Gong, Tao Wu, and the Taotie tribe) plagued the region, causing great suffering to the people. Huan Dou and Gong Gong formed a gang and ran rampant in the countryside; Tao Wu was vicious; and the Taotie tribe frequently robbed and plundered, stealing the people's food.

Shun made up his mind and used the "punishment" technique to drive out the four evil ones and exile them to remote places.

Wang Pang continued, "Even sage rulers like Yao and Shun only achieved the 'government policies of the former kings' after eliminating the 'Four Evils' through 'punishment and extermination.' Chaotic times require severe punishments. Throughout history, wise and capable rulers and ministers who wished to achieve their ideals of governing a prosperous and powerful nation always began with 'punishment and extermination.' If Duke Xiao of Qin had not accepted Shang Yang's advice and used criminal law to suppress dissent among the princes, how could the reforms have proceeded smoothly, ultimately leading to Qin's dominance over the six states? While Qin Shi Huang's burning of books and burying of scholars alive has been criticized by later generations, it did unify public opinion at the time, facilitating centralized power. Emperor Wu of Han, Liu Che, dismissed all other schools of thought and exclusively promoted Confucianism, employing numerous brutal methods, yet centuries later, does anyone say he was wrong? Compared to that, the laws we promulgate today are much more lenient."

Pang Di shook his head and said, "The teachings of Confucius and Mencius emphasize benevolent governance. Looking at your actions, they are nothing like the style of a Confucian scholar; you seem more influenced by Shang Yang and Han Fei. Suppressing public opinion and acting arbitrarily in this way will likely lead to a surge of opposition like a burst dam, and you and your father-in-law will not be able to escape unscathed."

"Ha! Do you think we're reforming for our own selfish interests, constantly worrying about whether we can escape unscathed?" Wang Pang said with a sigh, "We use laws and punishments to ensure the smooth implementation of new laws that can enrich the country and strengthen its military. Whenever a country transitions between old and new laws, some people will inevitably be unaccustomed to them, or it will affect the interests of a minority, causing their opposition. This is unavoidable. Now, with internal and external troubles, time is of the essence. Without reforming, we cannot eliminate the fundamental flaws of a weak country. Therefore, we must use punishments to quickly quell the opposition."

My lady, do you know how much tribute we have to pay to the Liao and Xia dynasties every year?

The weight of the annual tribute was something Pang Di often heard his father mention at home. Each time Pang Di spoke of it, his father would sigh repeatedly, and Pang Di remembered it clearly: "The annual tribute agreed upon by Emperor Zhenzong and Emperor Shengzong of Liao in the Treaty of Chanyuan was 100,000 taels of silver and 200,000 bolts of silk. During the reign of Emperor Renzong, Emperor Xingzong of Liao, citing the need for land as the cause of war, re-established the treaty, adding 100,000 taels of silver and 100,000 bolts of silk to the annual tribute. After the Western Xia ruler Yuanhao paid tribute, he was bestowed with 255,000 taels of silver, silk, and tea as annual tribute."

Wang Pang said, "This is only the annual expenditure; the losses from the long-term war with Liao and Xia are far more severe. Currently, the army numbers 1.18 million, and military expenses amount to tens of millions annually. However, the soldiers are arrogant and lack any sense of patriotism; their training is lax, making them resemble a rabble; they suffer defeats in major battles and retreat in minor ones. Not only is the recovery of the Yan and Yun prefectures a distant prospect, but the northern and western borders are also being encroached upon by Liao and Xia daily. The court has no choice but to swallow its pride and continue to exchange wealth for peace. Moreover, the palace's spending is excessively extravagant, and the emperor's rewards to princes, nobles, and officials are unrestrained, leading to an ever-increasing deficit. For example, in the first year of the Xining era, the total national revenue was only 115.12 million taels of silver, while expenditures reached 131.86 million taels." The shortage amounted to a staggering 15.72 million taels of silver. How could such a sum be remedied? Only increased taxes could be imposed, causing the people's livelihoods to dwindle daily, leading to unbearable suffering. Furthermore, the national apparatus was enormous, with an overabundance of officials. Forty years ago, there were only 9,700 civil and military officials nationwide; now, the number of officially appointed officials had surged to over 24,000, while the number of vacant positions awaiting assignment reached as high as 100,000. Therefore, to change this predicament, it was necessary to reform the laws and customs. The new laws currently being implemented each had their advantages: the Green Sprouts Act and the Agricultural Irrigation Act provided relief to rural areas; the Equal Taxation Act streamlined public finances; the Exemption from Corvée Labor Act, the Market Regulation Act, and the Equal Transportation Act balanced rural development with public finances; and the Baojia and Baoma systems could strengthen the military. What could be worse than these? What could be unfeasible?

He became more and more excited as he spoke, his cheeks flushed, and a fine layer of sweat appeared on his forehead. Pang Di took a handkerchief and personally wiped his sweat, saying softly, "I'm not saying that reform is impossible. I remember my father once told me a passage by Su Shi: 'The extremes of heat and cold are so great that even glue breaks and gold melts, yet things do not feel harmed, because the change is subtle. The changes in heat and cold are like the passing of the day and the passing of the night, changing repeatedly in the blink of an eye, yet people are unaware of them, because they are extremely subtle and harmonious. If these two extremes were to arrive one after another, people would have long since died.' The difference between the severe cold of winter and the scorching heat of summer is so great, yet the alternation of heat and cold throughout the year passes imperceptibly, and people find it difficult to perceive the changes because the climate changes slowly day by day. The same is true of day and night; the sky gradually changes from dark to light, and then from light to dark, with a smooth transition, giving people time to adapt, so everything feels natural. Now, a sudden reform, affecting a wide range of areas, is like the sudden shift from scorching heat to severe cold; how can people easily accept it? It is better to proceed slowly and gradually to achieve better results."

Wang Pang disagreed, saying, "In my opinion, he is nothing more than a person with weak will and a fickle mind. In the sixth year of the Jiayou reign of Emperor Renzong, he wrote in his Imperial Examination Essay: 'The heavens are strong because of the sun's movement; the sun and moon are bright because of their daily cycles; water is inexhaustible because of its daily flow; human limbs are healthy because of daily movement; and utensils are not rotten because of daily use. The world is a great vessel; if it is left unused for a long time, it will become decadent and degenerate, gradually deteriorating.' How passionate is this 'constant movement' argument! But your argument about 'the extremes of heat and cold' is actually an opposition to 'sudden change,' which is close to the habit of following the old ways and being complacent."

Pang Di argued: "At that time, the old officials of the court were complacent and unwilling to change, so he put forward the theory of 'unceasing action' to 'cleanse and refresh,' breaking with the old and embracing the new, hence his impassioned words. Now, the theory of 'the extremes of heat and cold' shows that he felt that rash changes would cause unnecessary turmoil, so he suggested proceeding slowly, and the pace of reform should conform to the natural order of the universe."

Upon hearing this, Wang Pang couldn't help but laugh, "What is it about Su Shi that makes you women listen to and believe in him as if you were poisoned? Do you know that even the Emperor thinks he's too much of a scholar, with too much empty talk? The fine clothes and hats of the Jin Dynasty are now just ancient mounds; empty talk can also ruin a country!"

Pang Di was about to retort when the sedan chair arrived at the Prime Minister's residence. Wang Pang quickly kissed her cheek and said, "Debating with court officials is always unpleasant, but conversing with you, my lady, is quite interesting. But that's enough for today; I must go in to see my father."

Pang Di reluctantly agreed and followed him into the mansion.