Does encountering an acquaintance necessarily make things easier?

Dead wrong!

After listening to Jiang Tao explain from beginning to end the correct procedures for applying for temporary household registration, Mo Zi’s smile had already frozen. Was this how this Official Jiang treated a Bodhisattva? He wanted to kowtow—she’d kindly let it pass.

“Minister Jiang, didn’t you want to thank me? You don’t need to treat me to a meal—just give me the household registration you’re withholding.” He was clearly making trouble over nothing. Why worry about application procedures when the Ministry of Revenue had already issued the registrations?

“That won’t do. Miss Mo Zi solved Jiang’s urgent crisis and saved over ten thousand lives—treating you to a meal is a small matter. However, one thing is one thing. The shipbuilding industry is the lifeblood of the nation. Though civilian shipyards aren’t as strict with personnel as official shipyards, that’s because previously the Ministry of Works restricted you greatly, completely forbidding the construction of official vessels. However, in recent years, official ship production has grown extremely rapidly, so some orders must be distributed to civilian shipyards. Recently, a draft framework for government-civilian cooperation was even drawn up, which will very likely formally allocate fixed ship quotas to you at the beginning of next year, even including warships. Under such circumstances, though Jiang is grateful for Miss’s kindness, I cannot let personal feelings override public duty and cast aside proper procedures and regulations. Border warfare remains uncertain—if people of unknown background are allowed in and endanger Great Zhou’s military strength, I hope Miss Mo Zi will understand.” Jiang Tao spoke with utmost sincerity.

“Government-civilian cooperation?” Mo Zi was stunned. The civilian shipyards that had always picked up scraps were finally ascending to history’s grand stage!

“The number and resources of government-controlled shipyards are limited. Though they concentrate most shipbuilding talent, waste is also enormous. Operating procedures are complicated, with layer upon layer of bureaucracy—ship production speed can’t even match civilian shipyards. Under government strict control, civilian shipbuilding has struggled to develop. Previously, regardless of scale, manpower, or other aspects, they couldn’t compete with government shipyards. But over the past century, after waves of winnowing and refinement, quite a few shipyards now possess the strength to rival government shipyards, such as Risheng in the capital, Panlong in Luo Zhou, and Danhe in Hua Zhou—expanding daily and raising the entire civilian shipbuilding industry. If we continue to suppress and restrict such growing momentum, it will only affect Great Zhou’s national strength. Government-civilian cooperation is already urgently needed—we absolutely cannot blindly limit ourselves with closed eyes.” These words, however, came from Yuan Cheng’s mouth.

Jiang Tao’s large eyes brightened, looking at Yuan Cheng and saying, “So Minister Yuan possesses genuine talent and learning—why bother with underhanded methods like gift-giving and banqueting, making people think your intentions are improper?”

Because this person’s intentions were indeed improper! And so-called genuine talent and learning had absolutely no connection to intentions. Those great tyrants and treacherous ministers were all full of knowledge and real substance—the problem was they didn’t care what others thought, weren’t bound by moral norms, and only pursued what they wanted, whether wealth or power, by any means necessary.

“Can genuine talent and learning obtain the household registration Minister Jiang is withholding?” Yuan Cheng smiled indifferently. “Since it cannot, what use is it? When I discussed national policy with His Majesty, I mentioned government-civilian cooperation for major government industries like shipbuilding and mining. I didn’t expect the Ministry of Works to decide so quickly—has it already entered the drafting stage?”

“So this policy was Minister Yuan’s献策?” Jiang Tao was even more surprised, his attention completely shifting from Mo Zi to Yuan Cheng. “Tao entered the capital to serve with a heart devoted to serving country and people, never expecting corruption and improper conduct to run rampant—quite disheartening. Only His Majesty’s several revolutionary new edicts made my eyes light up, filling my heart with joy, and I resolved to exert all efforts to help promote them and invigorate Great Zhou’s fortunes. I heard His Majesty recently gained a brilliantly talented minister who often discusses heaven and earth with His Majesty, debating national policies—could it be Minister Yuan?”

“I dare not claim such. Yuan holds an idle position, fortunate to receive His Majesty’s favor, often just conversing. Between ruler and minister, if we don’t discuss state affairs, what else would we discuss?” Yuan Cheng was always modest before others. Being modest and modest, he obtained everything.

Of course it looked simple but was complex in practice. Not only hearing in all directions with vision spread all around, requiring excellent memory, but also having an exquisitely perceptive mind. Precisely gauging others’ behavior, words, and psychology, immediately setting corresponding strategies and acting simultaneously, grasping control of the situation before others noticed, then leading them by the nose.

Mo Zi admitted she lacked his abilities, but following his lead, beating the drum and harmonizing—that was her forte.

“Minister Jiang, serving country and people isn’t a straight road—ahead lie mountains and waters, rises and falls. Minister Yuan merely converses casually with His Majesty yet can promote revolutionary policies. Sir, you are upright, handling everything properly, yet seem to hit walls everywhere, bloodying your head, and in the end may accomplish nothing. Mo Zi thinks you must try taking roundabout routes. If your heart is upright, you needn’t fear appearing crooked, as long as you can do real things for the people. Your Excellency’s fixation on superficial formalities while considering yourself upright—in my view, that’s truly laughable. I only know that the workers and craftsmen in my shipyard who earn their living by skill may, because of Your Excellency’s uprightness, have to return to wandering and suffering. Their skills could serve Great Zhou, yet they’ll have to bury them, going to places not requiring household registration to become laborers or farmers, selling themselves to wealthy families as attendants or servants, never again having the chance to pick up shipbuilding tools, or perhaps becoming beggars, dying of illness in some broken temple, becoming lonely ghosts.”

Jiang Tao stood stunned, his mouth working as if chewing on Mo Zi’s words. “Could it be I’m actually doing something bad?”

“Could it be something good?” Mo Zi’s lips twisted sardonically. “Setting aside what you just mentioned—that Great Zhou is precisely in need of ships, requiring government-civilian cooperation to build more vessels, thus needing skilled craftsmen; setting aside that you’re overstepping—the registrations have already been issued, according to procedures and regulations, you only need to verify my household registration, have me and the guarantor sign documents, and issue them. Let’s just talk about law also allowing for compassion. I dare not claim credit or reward for the Luzhen matter, but you should know I’m not an evildoer. I manage Hongyu, honestly conducting business with open doors. The people I employ are judged not only on skill but on character. Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures. Current waters are unsettled—who knows when warfare will erupt? If you’re uneasy, why not personally make a trip to Hongyu, ask questions with your own mouth, look with your own eyes, then make your decision?”

“Minister Jiang should know that if I asked the Minister to intervene, you’d still have to issue these registrations.” Yuan Cheng also beat the drum, perfectly timed. “Yet I’ve made several trips here—does Minister know why?”

With these two people talking at him, how could Jiang Tao mount any defense? However, being someone who nearly placed third in the palace examinations, he shook his large head and asked quite clearly, “Why?”

“Because Minister Jiang is a good official.” Yuan Cheng’s face showed complete calm. “Nowadays, good officials are rare—we should preserve each one we can.”

Hearing this, Mo Zi looked at Yuan Cheng, seeing his eyes clear and bright. Sometimes she couldn’t quite grasp this person’s thoughts. Like now, she didn’t know if he spoke truth or falsehood, praising or mocking.

“If Minister Yuan says this, then you’re not a good official?” After Jiang Tao’s large eyes widened, they looked like two pancakes stuck to a griddle, almost smoking.

“I’m an idle official who doesn’t attend court or manage affairs—whether good or bad, others decide.” Yuan Cheng answered lazily. “Actually, Miss Mo Zi speaks correctly—Minister Jiang is pragmatic, so just make the trip.”

“When Minister Jiang used my official loans idea, he didn’t mind that I was just a maid encountered in a tea pavilion, showing he’s not someone who rigidly follows rules.” Her words grew shorter and shorter.

The more Jiang Tao listened, the more reasonable it sounded. Finally he agreed: “I will go, but if there’s anything improper, even if it offends the Minister, I’ll still withhold these registrations.”

Mo Zi set a date with Jiang Tao. As they were leaving, she remembered to ask, “On Mid-Autumn moon night, did Minister Jiang visit Wangqiu Tower in the capital?” The voice sounded so familiar.

“How did Miss Mo Zi know?” Jiang Tao had indeed been there.

“That day, someone spoke righteously before the Protectorate military commanders, asking them to carefully verify and not frighten the common people—so it was Minister Jiang.” The two voices daring to speak frankly had finally found their owners—one was Yang Ling, the other Jiang Tao.

“Correct, that was me. I didn’t realize Miss was there too.” Jiang Tao smiled. “I spoke impulsively, couldn’t help saying a few words. It seems all the capital officials clash with me—I’m going to offend them all.”

“Another day, we’ll treat Minister Jiang—no, Scholar Jiang—to drinks.” Though somewhat stubbornly foolish, he was someone worth befriending.

Hearing her call him Scholar Jiang, Jiang Tao said, “When friends invite, one should drink heartily until drunk—it’s settled.”

After leaving the Bureau of Works compound with Yuan Cheng and boarding the carriage, Mo Zi asked him, “What if this Official Jiang truly remains stubborn to the end?”

Yuan Cheng answered: “Then strip off his fifth-rank official robes and send him back to be a county magistrate.”

“You can just strip them off like that?” He was still one rank lower than Official Jiang.

“Naturally not me—the Minister. For something he already approved, if his subordinate doesn’t give him face, being sent back as county magistrate would be lucky.” It had nothing to do with him. He would merely go to the Minister of Works and return that personal letter, saying it couldn’t be used, that’s all. “Otherwise, how would you handle this Official Jiang?”

Mo Zi lowered her head and thought for a long while, then said, “Then don’t process temporary registration—you directly ask the Ministry of Revenue Minister to issue formal household registration, not going through Jiang Tao, letting Master Ding and the others collect it from the prefectural office themselves.” At this point, she cried in chagrin, “Should have done this from the start—wouldn’t have encountered that big head, wasting half the day talking. I thought meeting an old acquaintance would make things convenient.”

“Who knew he wouldn’t even give face to a Bodhisattva.” Yuan Cheng didn’t conceal his amusement, his eyes slightly narrowed, sparkling with starlight.

Mo Zi reached up to stroke her forehead. “I don’t even know how he took me for a Bodhisattva, an immortal descended to the mortal realm. Big head, lots of thoughts.”

This made Yuan Cheng think of Jiang Tao’s appearance, and he laughed heartily. “The Emperor didn’t make him third-place scholar because of his looks—I’d say the title belonged to him. Believing you this peony flower, opening granaries to distribute grain and establishing official loans—how could any of that year’s top three compare to his dashing elegance? Do you know? He acted first and reported later—only after handling everything did he directly remonstrate with the Emperor, requesting exile as punishment. When His Majesty’s edict summoning him to the capital arrived in Luzhen, he was being ostracized and coldly treated by colleagues.”

“This person must be quite clever.” Material for third-place scholar wouldn’t be stupid.

“When you invite him to drinks, may I join?” Yuan Cheng looked into Mo Zi’s eyes.

“Naturally.” Mo Zi didn’t hesitate. “Didn’t I just say we’d invite him together?” When dealing with officials, of course you bring an official along.

Yuan Cheng was about to say something when suddenly lively firecracker sounds came from outside, almost lifting the carriage curtains with the noise.