Chapter 18: I Smash the Vat

The spring sunshine had hardened into the scorching flame of summer. The modest premises of the Huimin Money Exchange were baked to a crisp, becoming unbearable, so Li Chang'an and his companions were forced to rent a new space. They secured an entire compound three miles outside the East Gate.

He finally fell in love with this kind of expansive manor; even under a sun so intense it made the ants kick their legs in the heat, the structure of such a grand hall could not be warmed to even a fraction of its heat.

Qian Weiming sat below with four peers of similar age, while Li Chang'an held a pointer, explaining the counting methods of the Westerners. On the blackboard were the numbers 1 through 10, marked with corresponding Chinese characters and Suzhou numerals, alongside symbols for addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.

"Whether it is hexadecimal or decimal, we must eventually unify our systems. We must calculate the yield per acre and the per capita consumption in every region to determine the agricultural surplus. Once we have that figure, we can calculate how many farmers are required to support a soldier, a clerk, a minor official, and a high-ranking official—those who produce nothing themselves."

After the lesson ended, the students began their review. Li Chang'an retreated to the side, where his new secretary, Amanti, who was pouting, had already prepared honey lemon tea. She was a financial officer sent by the Seres people to supervise the use of their loans.

"Have you decided? Do you really want to be my student?"

Amanti nodded. Although born into a merchant family, the perspective from which these Song people approached problems had opened her eyes, allowing her to truly grasp the logic of commerce. She had been playing the role of a maid for three days now to lower her status and learn.

"Very well. From now on, you shall be like the others. If you graduate, you can come work as a reporter for the newspaper."

She had heard of newspapers; handwritten citizen broadsheets had circulated in the Roman era, and she had often heard them mentioned in the Middle East.

Now, their operations were integrated—the training school, the money exchange, the labor union, and the new school board were all housed within this single compound. Once finished here, he had to go listen to a development report from the union. He had to step outside to reach another room, and he was grateful for the shade provided by the veranda; otherwise, he would have loathed leaving.

Summoning his courage, he opened the door. Turning the corner, he was surprised to see Sima Kang standing there with an elderly man. The estate's former owners had planted many peonies, herbaceous peonies, and lilacs, which were currently in full bloom. The two men were leaning over to admire the flowers, occasionally fanning themselves.

"Gongxiu, why didn't you call out when you arrived?"

Hearing his name, Sima Kang turned with his companion. "Chang'an, I just arrived. My father happens to be fond of these flowers, so we lingered for a moment. Come, you haven't met yet, have you? I..."

"Ah, I have long admired your great reputation. While we have not met in person, I have felt a kinship with you for a long time. Your junior, Li Chang'an, pays his respects to you, Uncle Sima!"

Sima Guang smiled knowingly. His demeanor shifted from cool to warm, as if he were greeting his own kin, and he stepped forward to take Li Chang'an's hand with enthusiasm. Li Chang'an was glad the man did not address him by his official title; carrying the weight of the Censor-in-Chief's seal was tiresome enough.

"Guangxiao, go over there and tell them to just leave the meeting minutes for me; I won't be attending," he said, ushering the two into the study of the grand house. "It is a coincidence that this place was once a residence of the Duke of Cao. After some initial friction, he insisted I borrow it..."

He walked ahead, while the father and son behind him wore expressions of great complexity. Sima Guang’s monthly salary of two hundred strings of cash, supplemented by his work in editing books, brought him five or six hundred strings a month. Yet, compared to this place, his own residence did not have a single main hall as large as this. It was miserably shabby; a stranger might mistake this place for an imperial summer retreat.

Once seated, Li Chang'an produced the iced honey lemon tea. Sima Kang took a sip, praised the texture of the cold drink, and repeatedly asked for the recipe. He looked around the study again, sighing at the centuries of accumulation possessed by noble families; even a casual piece of furniture might be worth hundreds of strings of cash.

"Gongxiu, is your visit today regarding the Mutual Aid Society?"

Seeing that Sima Kang was speaking evasively, Li Chang'an decided to bring the topic to the surface. He had several more meetings to chair later and didn't want to waste time on pleasantries.

"You two chat, I have a sudden stomach ailment!" Sima Kang offered an awkward smile and actually got up to leave.

Now it was Li Chang'an’s turn to feel uneasy. Facing the head of the empire's internal oversight, he felt a bit guilty.

"I hear that when you provide guidance, you always ask three questions?" Sima Guang wore a warm smile as he sipped his tea, appearing to enjoy it thoroughly.

"Yes, that is the rule."

Sima Guang plucked a slip of paper from his sleeve with two fingers and placed it on the table. "I wish to know the answers to these three questions, and I have a few more to ask. How does your rule apply to me?"

Li Chang'an picked it up and blinked. Were these not the questions he had posed to a certain young nobleman? He remembered refusing him at the time. Mainly, there was no "legendary" quality in guiding such aristocrats, and his own secret tips for wealth could not satisfy the appetites of the powerful. Why would Sima Guang have these questions, and what did he want from him?

"I felt an immediate kinship with Gongxiu, and I have long admired Minister Sima. No matter what questions you have, I shall tell you everything I know without reservation."

"Good!" Sima Guang slammed his fan onto the table. "I can see that you are a man of great talent with a deep understanding of economics. The questions you pose strike at the very heart of the New Policies. My nephew, Wang Jie-fu is currently too impatient, harming the state, and despite repeated advice from Ouyang Yongshu and myself, he will not change. We lack an assistant like you who understands economics."

*So, you try to pit me against your son, and now you want to kick me into the pit?* Li Chang'an thought. His ploy was far too transparent; it was no wonder everyone called him a "straight arrow."

"Minister, my position is humble and my words carry little weight; I am not fit for such a great responsibility. The only one who can truly stop the New Policies is a pillar of the state such as yourself. Of course, I will not stand idly by; I will always be there to sound the drum and provide whatever momentum I can for you, Uncle."

Back and forth they went, but Li Chang'an refused to take the bait.

"And what if the Imperial Court insists that you take office?"

Li Chang'an shook his head. "I will accept as many honorary titles as they wish to bestow, but I will not take any post that requires me to labor. Look at me now—I am about to have students all over the capital, and I have more silver than I know how to spend. Why should I be burdened by an official career?"

Sima Guang’s expression shifted from clear to overcast, his face turning cold. As a Hanlin Academician and Censor-in-Chief, he had visited in person, only to find the man as stubborn as a stone in a latrine. Fiddling with the handle of his fan, he did not look up, but said coldly:

"When dragons and tigers fight, you intend to watch the fire from the other shore. Do you truly think the flames cannot reach you?"

This was a threat. It was unheard of for someone of such high rank to speak so harshly to a member of the younger generation. Li Chang'an, however, seemed unfazed. He remained calm, resting his chin on one hand, looking at the cup in his hand with complete indifference.

"When I was young, my mother told me a story. She said that a group of children were playing in a garden when one accidentally fell into a large water vat used for fire prevention and began to drown. While the others were at a loss, one child picked up a rock, smashed the ceramic vat, and saved his companion. From that, I learned a lesson..."

Sima Guang’s expression grew strange. That was the story his own clan had used to build his reputation for wisdom—it had been over thirty years, why was it still being told?

"The solution to a problem sometimes requires looking beyond the immediate task. Minister, you wish to solve the 'three redundancies' of the Great Song. Have you ever considered what it is that truly caused today’s difficulties?"

The two drank their tea in silence, their eyes fixed on the near distance, lost in thought.

"Running schools, forming societies, issuing loans—I hear you have even gathered the descendants of the Qian family of Wuyue and the Liu family of Minhan. Li Chang'an! What exactly are you trying to do?"

"I am learning from you!"