Chapter 360: Gifts
Wang Jianhuo received an invitation sent by Han Chou, the Prefect of Henan. One was a commoner, the other an official – both were among the most prominent figures in Luoyang, yet they rarely interacted. This was the first time Han Chou had formally invited Ugly Wang to a banquet.
In the past, Wang Jianhuo would have refused immediately. As a heroic pugilist, he needed to maintain good relations with the government but couldn’t get too close. Now, however, he was working for the Emperor and couldn’t show a cold face to local high officials.
The banquets at the marquis’s residence were always renowned for their luxury and abundance, typically starting at noon and lasting until the third watch, ensuring everyone enjoyed themselves thoroughly.
The guests included not only local officials but also merchants from all corners of the realm – and in even greater numbers. They couldn’t come empty-handed; all had to present gifts that were displayed on the spot, competing in splendor and novelty, with the Prefect personally judging their quality.
Today’s gift-giving occasion was the full-moon celebration for one of Han Chou’s grandsons, but the real guest of honor was Ugly Wang.
Since taking charge of supervising refugee resettlement, Wang Jianhuo had acted contrary to his usual nature, refusing social invitations from former friends. This had initially made Luoyang’s merchants very nervous, thinking they had encountered an incorruptible official. However, facts proved that Wang Jianhuo was quite adaptable and not rigid about government regulations. As long as merchants were willing to contribute money and effort, he largely turned a blind eye to their secret land acquisitions and slave purchases.
During the Emperor’s siege at Jincheng, Ugly Wang’s status had plummeted. Former friends thought he had become arrogant from success, while officials and merchants believed he had lost his usefulness and no longer took him seriously.
Wang Jianhuo was accustomed to such shifts in human sentiment and simply did his best to resettle as many refugees as possible.
Once the siege of Jincheng showed signs of being lifted, he became Luoyang’s most sought-after person again. At his word, money, grain, carts, and oxen became readily available, and the remaining refugees were quickly sent back to their home regions.