The Incense Monopoly Order

Chapter 182 The Ant Infestation: Crisis or Opportunity?
All invitations were accepted, and most of the family heads personally received the guests. They did not indicate whether they would come, but a few who were on good terms with the Shang family said they would do their best to help.

When the four returned home and checked, not a single family refused, not even the tea merchants who had previously competed with them. Shang Jinliang was deeply moved, believing that most of the Huizhou merchants were righteous people.

"Master, the Prefect has sent someone to invite you and Third Mistress to the government office." The family was discussing and drafting the articles of association for tomorrow's business alliance when the servant rushed in to report.

At this critical moment, Prefect He had far more things to attend to than they did. He wouldn't send anyone to summon Shang Jinliang unless it was something of utmost importance. The father and daughter exchanged a glance, their faces grave. Without even changing their clothes, they donned raincoats and cloaks and rode off in the rain.

There wasn't a single constable in sight from the main gate to the main hall of the government office. Shang Mingshu knew that everyone who could be sent out to evacuate the people had been sent out, and even the messenger who came to the Shang residence to report the news was a maidservant from Madam He's side.

"Bo Dong, look." With dark circles under his eyes and bloodshot eyes, Prefect He handed Shang Jinliang an official document as soon as he saw him.

These are the government office files from previous years. They record that before the previous prefect left office last year, the river workers reported signs of ant infestation on the Wanjin Embankment outside the prefectural city. Further down, it was found that the imperial funds allocated were embezzled at each level, and the embankment had not been maintained or repaired for many years...

Every word and phrase was chilling.

The planned evacuation routes have already overwhelmed the government, with many people refusing to believe there is a flood. Some have even claimed that the government is deliberately moving them away to seize their land.

Although the situation is chaotic and complicated, Prefect He is still able to deal with it one by one through the night. The biggest hidden danger is the main dike outside the city. This vulnerable dike will turn the entire city into a swamp!
The plan to relocate nearby residents to higher ground in the city must be changed, but the Taoist temples, Buddhist temples, and temporary sheds that will not be affected simply cannot accommodate the residents who need to be relocated!

This matter involves the survival of ordinary people and the entire Huizhou Prefecture. People like Shang Mingshu may perish in this flood. She recalled the dream she had that night...

"My lord, how many days can Zixia Mountain hold out?" Shang Mingshu asked.

"Within three days."

"Right now, we have no choice but to make the flood public and mobilize the entire prefecture!" Shang Mingshu stared at Prefect He. "We must conscript laborers to reinforce the riverbanks and dredge the canals!"

It's difficult. If the flood hasn't come, suspicion will inevitably arise. But without pooling everyone's strength, trying to prevent this disaster in advance is wishful thinking.

“I will issue a proclamation.” Prefect He had clearly already considered a countermeasure: “Laborers are easy to conscript, but money is hard to collect.”

In this special case, Prefect He is willing to conscript laborers. The government will enforce this, and if the flood really comes, the people will only be grateful. As for whether the flood comes or not, that is Prefect He's responsibility to bear the people's grievances. Therefore, the laborers do not need to be paid wages, but they will be provided with rations and allowances for working in the rain to maintain the medicinal herbs...

"Rest assured, Your Excellency, the Shang family will do its utmost to handle the rest." Shang Jinliang understood what Prefect He meant.

These things could only be obtained from them. Previously, Shang Jinliang had only acted out of compassion, but now he was doing everything in his power for himself. The termite infestation on the dike could not be concealed, but Shang Jinliang could not openly reveal that he obtained them from Prefect He. This would undoubtedly tear away a fig leaf from the imperial court, and if word got out, the people of Huizhou Prefecture would be filled with resentment, potentially causing even greater trouble and adding insult to injury for Huizhou Prefecture.

For example, would someone who knows they will be held accountable afterward tamper with the request for help from Huizhou Prefecture?
"A tree cannot live without roots, and a merchant cannot go far without his hometown. Gentlemen, if Shexian County were to perish today, we would all become rootless duckweed. I hope that you will remember our hometown and do your utmost to help us."

The next day, Shang Jinliang told all the merchants who had come that he had accidentally learned that termites had hollowed out the river embankment and that he had reported it to the prefect. However, the prefectural government was busy with urgent evacuation matters, so they had to take matters into their own hands.

Those who had come just to listen were immediately serious upon hearing about the ants rotting the riverbank. The first to speak was Yang Zheng, the person in charge of the Yang family's salt business in Huizhou: "Is it true that the riverbank is infested with ants?"

Shang Jinliang looked at Yang Zheng. The Yang family controlled the salt permits in Jiangnan, a business that was difficult for ordinary people to do. However, the Yang family had used all their strength to support the current highly respected Grand Secretary Yang in the cabinet. No one in Jiangnan dared to be wary of them.

"Brother Yang is sharp-witted and discerning, and Grand Secretary Yang is highly respected. How could I, your humble brother, dare to lie to you about the truth of the matter concerning the river embankment?" Shang Jinliang and Shang Mingshu had already asked someone they trusted and knew to personally inspect the site yesterday.

Yang Zheng was indeed more informed than others. He even knew before Prefect He that the imperial funds for the river embankment repair had been withheld. However, he only knew that the funds had been embezzled and was unaware of the termites. He immediately summoned his servants and whispered instructions to them to verify the matter.

The others were no longer indifferent and waited for Shang Jinliang to act as an intermediary for Prefect He, to set the government's price, and those who were prepared to bargain also fell silent.

This is no longer disaster relief; it's a matter of life and death for ourselves.

Shang Jinliang took in everyone's reactions and suddenly remembered that when he left the government office yesterday, Shang Mingshu looked at the thick, dark clouds and murmured, "Perhaps this is not a danger, but an opportunity."

If the river embankment is secure, these people will not easily agree to contribute manpower and labor. Even if they are constrained by the government's prohibition against hoarding goods, they will ask the government to issue IOUs and make up for the difference at a fair price later.

The situation is urgent, and under duress, Prefect He will surely compromise. But who will pay for this large sum of money? The imperial court cannot allocate so much money. The court has its pride, and while Prefect He has rendered meritorious service in disaster relief, the court will not show any ill will on the surface. In reality, it may very well force Prefect He to resign from Huizhou Prefecture because of this...

"Our homeland is in trouble, and our Shang family is willing to donate 500 shi of grain..." Shang Jinliang took the lead, but no one listened. They all secretly sent people to verify the situation of the river embankment.

Shang Jinliang stopped his impassioned speech and ordered someone to quietly refill his tea. News gradually spread back, and almost everyone confirmed the matter. Yang Zheng's face was the most unpleasant. He hated the previous prefects with a passion, for they dared to conceal such a big matter!
Even if the imperial court withholds funds, Huizhou Prefecture still has them! If he had known about this crisis earlier, he would have taken the lead in raising funds and stabilizing the river embankment long ago, and there wouldn't be today's crisis.

"This matter is urgent, Bodong. Since you have already considered it, you might as well come up with a plan." Yang Zheng was very decisive. The danger was imminent, and there was no need to waste time discussing anything or who should lead the government.

Shang Jinliang greatly admired Yang Zheng. Once Yang Zheng spoke, no one else dared to voice their dissent or disobey him. He handed over the plan that he and Shang Mingshu had worked on overnight to Yang Zheng.

The document meticulously records what supplies are needed, how to cooperate with the government, and what each merchant expects to donate. Yang Zheng then passes it on to the next person.