Chapter 23: Mo Dun as the Catalyst

“Marvelous, truly ingenious!” The Grand Minister of Agriculture, with his discerning eye, immediately recognized the perfect harmony between the method of artificial fish farming and the secret technique for keeping fish alive—truly a match made in heaven, a union of twin swords.

“With such a fine method, henceforth the Empire’s fisheries will surely double in yield, the price of fish will drop by half, and countless subjects of the Empire will benefit.”

Su Lingnong, the Grand Minister of Agriculture, was so delighted he could scarcely contain himself. This was the most triumphant day since he had assumed his post. He had thought resolving the carp infestation was enough to leave him content, but today he was met with threefold surprises.

If he could oversee the wide implementation of artificial fish farming, and later combine it with the Mohist secret technique for keeping fish alive, surely his name would be immortalized in the annals of history. The Mohist Village was truly his lucky star! Joy shone from his face, his smile broad and unrestrained.

“To care for the world without thought of reward—such citizens are truly a blessing bestowed upon His Majesty!” Changsun Wuji offered his congratulations. Ever the sly old fox, he had kept silent during prior debates, but now that everyone was celebrating, he hurried to claim a share of the triumph.

“Ah, but there is a request!” Pang De, glancing ahead, wiped a bead of cold sweat from his brow.

“Eh?” Changsun Wuji was taken aback.

Li Shimin was taken aback.

The whole court was taken aback.

“It’s mere childish nonsense—pay it no mind!” Qin Qiong laughed awkwardly, trying to smooth things over.

“Let’s hear it, then. I’m curious—what does the Mohist Village wish for?” Li Shimin asked with interest.

Pang De continued to read: “Yet what of the Mohist Village in the years to come? Upon careful inspection, I find the root of its troubles lies not only in barren land and disasters of drought or flood, but also in the fact that most villagers are Mohist disciples, unskilled in farming. The secret technique for keeping fish alive has shown me a way forward for the village. I beg Your Majesty to allow the Mohist Village to establish workshops, to labor and trade, without being relegated to the base class. I pledge to diligently pursue further innovations akin to the secret for keeping fish alive, and to contribute them to Great Tang. The entire Mohist Village offers its heartfelt blessings: Long live the Emperor, ten thousand years!”

Having finished, Pang De closed the memorial and placed it on the dragon throne before Li Shimin.

The entire court fell silent. At length, Li Shimin broke the silence: “What does everyone think of this memorial?”

“Except for the phrase ‘adversity breeds change’ and the concluding line, the rest is a muddled mix of vernacular and classical, utterly devoid of literary grace!” Wei Zheng scoffed. Though he seemed to belittle the Mohist Village, he had pointed out the most crucial idea: adversity breeds change.

“I am in favor!” The Grand Minister of Agriculture voiced his support first. The Mohist Village had already delivered such pleasant surprises—he even harbored a private hope that, should the village develop further techniques akin to the fish-keeping secret, he would not want to miss out.

“I object! The Empire’s policy is to value agriculture and suppress commerce. The Mohist Village are farmers—how can they turn to trade? Would that not contradict our national policy?” Censor Du retorted.

“I am in favor!” To everyone’s surprise, Censor Wang sided with the Mohist Village, drawing a glare from Censor Du, who had just aided him—only for Wang to switch sides in an instant.

Wang could only shrug helplessly; he did not wish to support the Mohist Village either, but if they were not allowed to pursue other trades, their survival crisis would never be resolved, and the fish-keeping secret might never be made public.

“I object!”

“I am in favor!”

Thus the court split into two camps. Unexpectedly, most officials from the south supported it, while those from the north opposed it—clearly, the fish-keeping secret and artificial fish farming would benefit the southern regions far more.

“I approve! The Mohist Village is permitted to establish workshops, to labor and trade, without being relegated to the base class!” Li Shimin brought the matter to a close with a decisive word.

Had Modun been present, he would have leapt for joy. In the Tang dynasty, merchants were classed as base-born, forbidden from sitting the imperial exams, wearing fine silks, or even defending themselves against oppression. That was why, despite countless ways to enrich the Mohist Village, Modun had chosen the laborious trade of selling live fish, as it was akin to agriculture. Now, with Li Shimin’s approval, an entirely new world had opened for the Mohist Village.

“Your Majesty is wise!” the courtiers chorused in response.

“However, Modun, Baron of Kaiguo, is young and unlearned. He is hereby ordered to enroll in the Imperial Academy after the New Year. He must study for no less than three years and may not withdraw before then.” Li Shimin issued an unexpected decree.

“Ah!” The courtiers were astonished.

“Your Majesty, this must not be!” An elderly man with graying hair rushed forward—it was Kong Yingda, Rector of the Imperial Academy.

“And why not?” Li Shimin asked.

“The Imperial Academy is a sacred ground for Confucian learning. Modun is a disciple of Mohism—how can he be admitted?” Kong Yingda objected.

“Ah, so Rector Kong shows his sectarian bias! In years past, Confucius himself sought wisdom from the sage Laozi, and that became a celebrated tale. Now that a Mohist seeks to study at a Confucian institution, why should it be forbidden?” Li Chunfeng, the Imperial Astronomer, smiled as he delivered his riposte.

Though Confucianism and Daoism had coexisted peacefully for many years, there was no shortage of rivalry between them. Confucianism had long dominated, but since the Li family’s ascension and their veneration of Laozi as ancestor, life had grown far easier for Daoists, who now sought to challenge the Confucians in turn.

“You—!” Kong Yingda was incensed.

“Indeed! Rector Kong, the Imperial Academy cultivates talent for the Empire. All the sons of noble houses attend its classes. Modun is only fifteen, and as Baron of Kaiguo, he meets the requirements perfectly,” Changsun Wuji said with a genial smile.

“This—” Kong Yingda suddenly realized he stood alone.

Qin Qiong, meanwhile, was inwardly anxious. For Modun to enter the Confucian stronghold alone—who knew what trials awaited him? He was about to step forward to implore the emperor to reconsider, but was stopped by Cheng Yaojin.

“Hm?” Qin Qiong looked at Cheng Yaojin in confusion, unsure why his old friend had restrained him.

“Relax—this little catfish, Modun, is a clever one, you know? He might not come off the worse for entering the Imperial Academy. It might even turn out to be quite a spectacle,” Cheng Yaojin said with a grin. From Modun’s rescue of Fish Two to the debates at court, he had seen clearly that this youth was no easy mark.

“Little catfish!” Qin Qiong was startled, suddenly drawing a sharp breath as he looked in astonishment at Li Shimin at the head of the court. He had not expected the emperor to use Modun as an experiment for the catfish effect.

The assembled officials, too, were struck by realization. Yes, a Mohist disciple entering the Confucian stronghold was just like a catfish entering a tank of sardines—how similar it was to the famed catfish effect.

Modun, creator of the catfish effect, was now being used as a catfish by Li Shimin—what a turn of fate!

Kong Yingda also drew a sharp breath. The more he understood Li Shimin’s intentions, the more awe he felt. Yet a trace of defiance rose within him—why should a mere Mohist youth be hailed as a fierce catfish, while their three thousand Confucian disciples were relegated to timid sardines? Perhaps the outcome would be quite the reverse.