Moma Liangshan

Chapter 123, Four Arithmetic Operations, Jinshi Graduate

Just as the three wives of Tong Guan, Cai Jing, and Gao Qiu were plotting, a palace maid carrying a wooden tray containing writing brush, ink, paper, and inkstone slowly approached and said, "Ladies, if you have any fabrics or clothes you fancy, please tell me, and Young Master Wang will send them to your residence in three days!" Tong Guan, recognizing the speaker as a palace maid, asked, "Who are you, and which lady do you serve?" The maid did not answer directly, but replied, "Her Majesty the Empress has specially arranged for twenty palace maids to record your choices of clothes and fabrics, and I am one of them." Lady Tong, being a palace woman herself, was quite familiar with Empress Zheng's style and thought to herself, "Empress Zheng seems to be naturally tranquil and untouched by worldly affairs..." "In fact, she is meticulous and thorough in every detail; otherwise, why would none of the many concubines in the palace dare to covet the Empress's position?" After a moment of contemplation, she said, "There are hundreds of pieces of clothing and fabric here, and many items are indistinguishable from one another. How could you possibly record them all accurately?" The maid smiled slightly and said, "Madam, please look. Each item has a red cloth strip at the bottom corner, on which three numbers are clearly written. These three numbers are the name of the corresponding item, and there are absolutely no duplicate names!" Madam Tong lowered her head, picked up a red cloth strip, and indeed saw markings resembling vertical lines, hooks, and circles. She said, "These simple symbols are the numbers you mentioned?" The maid nodded and said, "Exactly!"

Madam Tong pointed to the numbers in her hand and said, "Miss, could you tell me what these three numbers mean?" The maid, seeing "076," casually replied, "Zero Seven Six." She then added, "It means 'Seventy-Six'." Madam Tong picked up a strip of cloth opposite her and asked, "What does this mean?" The maid glanced at it and saw "281," saying, "Two Hundred and Eighty-One, meaning 'Two Hundred and Eighty-One'." Madam Tong clearly appreciated the convenience of these simple numbers, but due to her limited knowledge, she couldn't immediately explain it. She could only change the subject back to the cloth, saying, "Miss, could you leave us pen and ink? We will write down the items we want on paper." The maid said, "Her Majesty the Empress has arranged a maid in each of the four directions—east, west, south, and north—to collect the written papers." Madam Tong said, "We will carefully record the items we choose and hand them in on time!" The maid said, "In that case, this servant will take her leave!" The three of them said simultaneously, "Take care, Miss!"

The use of Arabic numerals to encode every item at the scene was Wang Hao's deliberate act. Besides the wives of Tong Guan, Cai Jing, and Gao Qiu, others were also curious about these numbers. These simple symbols were secretly recorded by someone with ulterior motives, smuggled out of the palace, and handed to their husband.

However, Empress Zheng and the others, who had not yet appeared, sat in a side hall not far from the main hall, each engrossed in reading a thin book. Emperor Huizong, having just finished court, sat in his palanquin, also holding an identical book and repeatedly flipping through it. Eunuch Chen trotted along beside the palanquin. Although the book was thin, Huizong read it very carefully. After finishing the last page, he closed his eyes and pondered for a moment, then asked, "Have you read this book?" Eunuch Chen replied, "This servant has read it, but I haven't fully understood it!" A kind smile appeared on Huizong's face as he said, "Wang Hao calls this book 'Four Arithmetic Operations,' taking the meaning of 'addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.' These algorithms were already recorded in the 'Nine Chapters on the Mathematical Art,' and there's nothing particularly remarkable about them. But Wang Hao has taken a different approach, replacing the complex and abstract calculation processes of the Nine Chapters with very concise symbols, and further adding..." A set of multiplication tables, 'nine times nine equals eighty-one.' This means that calculations originally only mastered by experts can now be performed by even a young child. "This servant will immediately send this 'Four Arithmetic Operations' book to the Imperial Observatory and various workshops." Emperor Huizong shook his head, saying, "There's no need!" Confused, Eunuch Chen asked, "Such a remarkable book, wouldn't it be a pity if it couldn't be used by the country?" Emperor Huizong smiled helplessly, saying, "Judging by Wang Hao's style, this book is probably already being sold in the marketplace. If the workshops want it, let them buy it themselves!"

Eunuch Chen had initially doubted what Emperor Huizong said, but upon arriving at Genyue and seeing Empress Zheng and the others, each holding a copy of "Four Arithmetic Operations," he was completely convinced. Empress Zheng and the others, upon seeing Emperor Huizong arrive, hurriedly bowed and greeted him. Emperor Huizong ordered everyone to sit down, then said, "Did you all receive this extraordinary book, Minister Wang?" Empress Zheng replied, "The books we have were given to us by Huanhuan!" Huizong then asked, "Is Huanhuan here?" Princess Roufu replied, "Yes, I am!" Seeing Princess Roufu emerge from the crowd, Huizong asked, "When Wang Hao gave you this book, did he leave any instructions?" Princess Roufu said, "Brother Xianmeng conveyed that the first book should be presented to Father, and the others will be distributed by Mother." Huizong glanced at the scroll in his hand and said, "Although this book is not a masterpiece, it is still beneficial to the country and its people. Minister Wang is devoted to the nation and deserves a reward!" Princess Roufu asked, "How does Father intend to reward him?" Huizong smiled helplessly and said, "This book, once circulated, will become a celebrated story. I will grant Wang Hao the title of Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examination)!" He then looked at Empress Zheng and asked, "What does Your Majesty think?"

Empress Zheng replied, "Those who can write books are one in ten thousand in this world. Although this book focuses on miscellaneous studies, it is indeed of great benefit to the country. Therefore, I believe that Your Majesty's arrangement is extremely appropriate!" Emperor Huizong looked at Eunuch Chen and said, "Then draft the decree!" Eunuch Chen replied, "This servant will do it immediately!"

In the Fanlou restaurant, Li Shishi held an identical scroll and said, "How did you come to know such novel symbols, little brother?" Wang Hao replied, "These ten numbers come from India, which is even farther than Southeast Asia, specifically the Tianzhu (Heavenly India) visited by the Tripitaka Master during the reign of Emperor Taizong of Tang. As for these symbols representing addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division, they come from the depths of my soul." Li Shishi covered her face and laughed, saying, "Your soul holds so many mysteries, little brother! I truly wish I could explore it!" Wang Hao said, "If you truly possess such abilities, little brother wouldn't mind opening his heart!" Li Shishi laughed loudly and said, "Little brother, aren't you afraid that I'll steal your soul?" Wang Hao said, "Sister, aren't you afraid that even if I don't steal your soul, you won't be able to get it back?" Li Shishi blushed and said, "You're getting bolder and bolder. You even dare to flirt with your sister?" Wang Hao shook his head and said, "Sister, have you thought about your future?" Li Shishi stopped smiling and said, "A woman in the world of courtesans, if she floats in the air, then she still has the chance to become colorful clouds and sunsets; if one day she falls to the ground, then she can only become dust and soil."

Wang Hao said, "But sister can't stay in Fanlou forever, and Fanlou might not stand for decades!" Li Shishi said, "To choose a city to grow old in, to meet someone to grow old with, to hold onto a dream, and to promise a lifetime of beauty. Do you think I will have all that, brother?" Wang Hao said, "A happy life, sweet love, beautiful dreams, and timeless beauty. Even if I can't have all of these in the end, I should still strive for them my whole life!" Li Shishi was silent for a long time before saying, "Brother, you are the least like a 'powerful minister'!" Wang Hao was puzzled and said, "I never thought of becoming a person who wields immense power!" Li Shishi said, "Perhaps you have other ambitions, but the publication of 'Four Arithmetic Operations'..." "You'll be one step closer to becoming a powerful minister!" Wang Hao said. "The Four Arithmetic Operations book is just a pure arithmetic manual, meant only for the benefit of the country and its people, not for seeking fame and fortune!" Li Shishi said, "Precisely because of this, from today onwards, your name, Wang Hao, will surely spread throughout the streets and alleys, renowned far and wide. Coupled with your current ambitions, many insightful people are destined to flock to Jiaozhou to join your ranks. At that time, you will only be the most sought-after person." Wang Hao said, "This road won't be smooth. Sometimes I really doubt whether I've chosen the wrong direction!" Li Shishi said, "Reflection is a good habit, but too much of a good thing is bad. Don't regret it, because regret is of no benefit!"

Emperor Huizong's decree of commendation arrived quickly, and Eunuch Chen read it aloud on the spot: "Wang Hao, the magistrate of Laoshan County, is hereby granted the title of Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examination) for his meritorious writing of a book. This is the imperial decree!" Wang Hao exclaimed, "Thank you for your great favor, Your Majesty!" After receiving the decree, Wang Hao said, "I wonder why Your Majesty has granted me the title of Jinshi?" Eunuch Chen replied, "Lord Wang, do not underestimate this title of Jinshi. Without this book, 'Four Arithmetic Operations,' even Your Majesty could not issue this decree so arbitrarily!" Wang Hao whispered, "It's just a title, and it doesn't involve any real power. Why are there so many rules?" Eunuch Chen said, "Emperor Taizu donned the yellow robe and, to prevent military chaos, he used the 'banquet to release military power'; Emperor Taizong, upon ascending the throne, established a policy of governing the country together with scholar-officials to maintain public order; therefore, in the more than one hundred years since the founding of the Song Dynasty, not a single minister has been executed, and the most severe punishment has only been exile." "Lingnan. What is a scholar-official? Has Lord Wang ever considered this?" Seeing Wang Hao shake his head, Eunuch Chen continued, "Can a student who has passed the county-level imperial examination, a scholar who has passed the county-level examination, or a provincial-level examination become a scholar-official? No! Only those who pass the palace examination can!" Wang Hao repeated, "Pass the palace examination?" Eunuch Chen continued to explain, "Those who pass the palace examination are granted a degree, divided into three ranks: the first rank of three people is granted the title of Jinshi (进士); the second rank of six people is granted the title of Jinshi Chushen (进士出身); and the third rank of nine people is granted the title of Tong Jinshi Chushen (同进士出身). Does Lord Wang understand?" Wang Hao said, "Since that's the case, I haven't participated in the palace examination, how can I be granted the title of Jinshi Chushen?" Eunuch Chen said, "The granting of a degree must be bestowed by the emperor. But the ultimate purpose of this system is to select talent more fairly. Young Master Wang has proven his ability to the world with his book 'Four Arithmetic Operations,' so with the emperor's approval, he can be granted the title of Jinshi Chushen!"