Moma Liangshan

Chapter 92 Liaodong Han Chinese, the Three Clans Allied Forces

After pondering for a long time, Gongsun Ping said, "One cannot easily entrust one's life and fortune to others; please understand, young master!" Wang Hao nodded and said, "Today I am neither a high-ranking official nor a member of the imperial family, but merely a merchant from afar. Here, there is no extortion or bullying; whatever the price, you can obtain the goods or services, entirely voluntary!" Wang Hao's frankness earned the respect of both men. Gongsun Ping said, "We currently have medicinal herbs and furs, and if you require cattle, sheep, or warhorses, we also have ways to obtain them. But I have one condition, and I hope you will agree to it!" Wang Hao nodded and said, "Please speak!" Gongsun Ping said, "I want to visit the Song Kingdom!" Before Wang Hao could answer, Chen Song, his face filled with anger, said, "Aren't your requests a bit excessive?" Wang Hao still smiled and said, "I can let you travel to Jiaozhou on my warship, and I can also grant you a month's temporary residence in Jiaozhou. However, anything outside Jiaozhou is not under my jurisdiction, and you must not cross the border!" The two were overjoyed. Gongsun Ping said, "You are most virtuous, young master, please accept my bow!" Wang Hao added, "Traveling by boat requires payment, and temporary residence requires a deposit. Everything here is negotiable, but there are no free services!" Gongsun Ping replied, "I dare not trouble you, young master!"

Wang Hao invited the two men to sit down, served them fragrant tea, and asked, "Among the tens of thousands of Han people in Liaodong, who is their leader?" Both remained silent for a long time before Gongsun Ping said, "Liaodong has belonged to the Yan state since the Warring States period. However, at the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, the world was in turmoil, and Goguryeo took advantage of the situation, repeatedly invading Liaodong. Prefect Gongsun Kang rallied the Han people, led troops to fight back, and decisively destroyed their capital, then restored the former prefectures and counties. The Gongsun clan has survived to this day, and although its members are many times greater than at the end of the Han Dynasty, they can only grovel and eke out a living." Wang Hao understood and said, "So you are the head of the Gongsun clan, sir?" Gongsun Ping shook his head and replied, "My father is still alive; how dare I presume to overstep my bounds?" Wang Hao nodded and then looked at Gaochang. Gao Chang hesitated slightly, then said, "Young master, have you heard of 'the Gao clan of the world surpasses those of Bohai'?" Wang Hao frowned slightly and said, "Bohai Commandery, the ancestral home of the Gao clan?" Gao Chang looked ashamed and said, "The Bohai Gao clan originated in the Eastern Han Dynasty, flourished in the Jin Dynasty, and during the Northern and Southern Dynasties, the Bohai Gao clan had become the leader of the aristocratic families east of the Taihang Mountains, successively controlling the courts of the Northern Wei and Eastern Wei, and establishing the Northern Qi. During the Sui and Tang Dynasties, more than 140 members of the Bohai Gao clan held official titles. However, after the establishment of the Khitan state, the Gao clan was strictly guarded against, confined to the court, and rendered insignificant." Wang Hao pondered for a long time and said, "So, the Han people of Liaodong are led by the Gongsun and Gao clans?"

The two exchanged a glance, and Gongsun Ping said, "Although the Gongsun and Gao families have been established in Liaodong for a long time, their influence today is inferior to that of the Xue family!" Wang Hao was puzzled and said, "Forgive my ignorance, please enlighten me!" Gongsun Ping said, "Goguryeo dominated the Donghu for seven hundred years, and from Cao Wei to Sui and Tang, it was constantly at war with the Central Plains dynasties."