Qing Yao

Chapter 127 Don't Let the Godfather Down

Many things cannot be thought about too deeply, otherwise history will change.

Li Wei, a famous virtuous minister during the Yongzheng reign, was actually the biggest gangster in the Qing Dynasty!

The Green Gang, after being transformed by them, was not only a quasi-military organization active throughout the north and south of China, but also had the function of espionage.

Before he bought his official position, Li Wei was a wealthy hoodlum from Feng County, Xuzhou.

If a scoundrel is favored by a benefactor and suddenly rises to prominence, his behavior and even his personality will not change because of his improved status.

The proverb "It is easier to change mountains and rivers than to change one's nature" applies here.

Just like Zhao An, even if he becomes a seventh-rank professor at the prefectural school, he can't really be like the "old master" and start cultivating so-called literary skills. His speech and behavior are more in line with his nature.

Therefore, Ding Jiu's claim that Li Wei used the Green Gang to eliminate political enemies is highly credible, and it was precisely because of his control over the Green Gang, such a large organization, that the officials were wary of Li Wei.

Because Li Wei, with his background as a gangster, was destined to do things by any means necessary.

He can disregard officialdom rules and have someone kill you or your family members. No matter how high your official rank is, there's no reason for you to guard against thieves every day. There will always be a day when you become lax and negligent.

It is estimated that Emperor Yongzheng transferred Li Wei from Jiangnan to Zhili before his death, perhaps also to suppress Li Wei and prevent him from using the Green Gang to gain power in Jiangnan.

Given that all the officials feared Li Wei, how could the newly enthroned Emperor Qianlong not be afraid?
After Li Wei's death, Emperor Qianlong made several trips to the south of the Yangtze River, most likely with the aim of eliminating Li Wei's remaining influence; otherwise, he wouldn't have inexplicably removed Li Wei's statue in West Lake.

The reason given was that Li Wei was not a loyal subject.

If an emperor considers a subject to be impure, that subject is likely either plotting a rebellion or causing the emperor sleepless nights with worry.

The death of Li Wei, the "father of the Green Gang," caused the Green Gang to completely lose its "dominance." After being hit by several sets of combined blows from Emperor Qianlong, it became the weak and listless entity it is today.

It's similar to the Military Intelligence Bureau losing Director Dai.

It's impossible to restore the Green Gang to its former glory right now; Zhao An simply wants to restore some of its gangster essence.

Forget about rules!

As long as things don't escalate to the point where the Qing court has to send troops to suppress you, you can do whatever you want.

The rules are set by the officials. If you insist on following their rules, won't you just suffer in the end?

Only by breaking the rules can you open the door to a new world that Emperor Qianlong closed for you.

If this door were to be reopened, Li Wei, the godfather underground, would be extremely gratified.

There must be someone to carry on the cause.

Everything is difficult at the beginning, but once you get started and taste the benefits, it can continue to develop. With Teacher Zhao's positive guidance, it is not impossible to make the Green Gang a force that officials and even the emperor would fear again, or even become the second Ming Cult.

Wu, the councilor of the Grand Canal Transport Office, was the best test.

The official rank isn't high, only fifth grade; it's perfect for practicing.

If you're a high-ranking official of the first or second rank, you can't even practice.

Whether you dare to do it or not depends on your "uncle" Zhang Baofa.

Ding Jiu, the "White Paper Fan" of the branch, meant that it was better to do it than not to do it, since it wasn't like he was really going to kill Wu, the councilor.

If scaring it works, wouldn't that save us a lot of money?

Zhang Baofa was still somewhat hesitant. Looking at the disciple of the scholar he had just picked up, he said without much confidence, "If I really scare Lord Wu, then this matter can be discussed?"

Zhao An nodded and said, "I think we can give it a try. If that Lord Wu takes the initiative to send someone to find us, Master can talk to him. It's not that we won't give it, but we'll ask Lord Wu to ask for less, so that both sides can save face."

As for how much to pay, that was Zhang Baofa's business; Zhao An wouldn't make that decision, lest his cheap master think that his young apprentice was trying to coerce the emperor. Unexpectedly, Zhang Baofa worriedly asked, "What if Lord Wu doesn't come looking for us?"

Looking at Zhang Baofa's frighteningly pale face, Zhao An said helplessly, "Then Master, try to raise these 60,000 taels."

"Okay, let's try it!"

Deciding to try his luck, Zhang Baofa pointed at Sun Rui and said, "Fourth Brother, you handle this. Find a few shrewd and capable people. Remember, just scare them. Don't lay a hand on them. If they cause any trouble, you, Fourth Brother, will have to take the blame!"

Sun Rui nodded hurriedly and said, "Uncle, don't worry, I know what I'm doing, nothing will go wrong."

Seeing this, Zhao An felt a bit contempt for Zhang Baofa, his cheap master. As the instigator, he was unwilling to take responsibility for the consequences. This "uncle" act was likely to make his subordinates very resentful.

There was neither the possibility nor the need to bring down Zhang Baofa at the moment, so he excused himself, saying he had other matters to attend to at the prefectural school.

Zhang Baofa hurriedly said, "Ding Jiu, please see the young master off for me."

"it is good!"

Ding Jiu quickly got up to see Zhao An off.

Instead of going out through the front hall, he went through the back door. When he reached the door, Zhao An stopped and asked Ding Jiu, who was in his thirties, where he had worked in the gang before.

Ding Jiu hurriedly replied, "I'm just letting you know, young master. I used to work at Shisi Temple."

Shisi Temple was responsible for teaching the gang's rules and instructing new members on loyalty and etiquette. It was essentially a pre-employment training base, and the Ministry of Rites, one of the six ministries, was directly under its jurisdiction.

In terms of the imperial court's institutions, the old master of Shisi'an should have been a Grand Secretary who entered the cabinet with the title of Minister of Rites.

Don't be fooled by the fact that Shisi Temple may seem powerless; it actually wields considerable influence because all official members of the Green Gang must receive formal training there.

In Zhao An's previous life, there was a certain top academy, which was no worse than the Imperial Academy or the Hanlin Academy.

The fact that a gang organization is structured like a government is entirely due to Li Wei's ignorance and incompetence.

Of course, it could also be due to the need for formalization.

Zhao An had never known the location of the Four Temples and Six Departments of the Green Gang, so when he met the people from the Stone Temple Temple, he naturally wanted to inquire about it.

"Previously, the location of the Four Hermitages and Six Departments could not be disclosed to Young Master, but now Young Master can know,"

Ding Jiu stated directly that Zhu Temple and Liu Temple were in Zhejiang, Huang Temple and Shi Temple were in Anhui, and the Six Ministries were also located in their respective temples.

His previous post was at Shisi'an, which was located in Anqing, the capital of Anhui Province.

It's not a nunnery, but a temple.

They used temples as a cover for their gang activities.

"If you have the opportunity to take up a post in another place in the future, you can visit the old masters of the various temples. You should know that you are a rare scholar who has passed the imperial examination in our gang. The old masters of the various temples are very happy to have you."

"If I have the chance, I will definitely pay my respects to the old gentlemen!"

After exchanging a few polite words with Ding Jiu, Zhao An left. Since it was still early, he didn't hire a carriage but walked around like an ordinary person. Halfway there, he saw some yamen runners blocking pedestrians from passing.

Then I heard a woman crying ahead, and she looked like she was wearing mourning clothes.

Out of curiosity, he asked the onlookers what had happened ahead.

"You know the Qian family, right? The eldest son of the Qian family brought a knife into the prefectural school to assassinate our old master, but he was killed on the spot by the people from the prefectural school. The people in the yamen said that the second and third sons of the Qian family were also accomplices, so they put them all in jail. Who would have thought that the second son of the Qian family would die suddenly in jail?"
The officials ordered the Qian family to come to the jail to claim the body, but the Qian family refused. Now they've gathered a group of relatives to cause trouble at the yamen.

The onlookers pointed at the Qian family members who were coming this way, saying, "That's the eldest son's wife over there. That woman is very fierce. If any of the neighbors offend her, she can curse them for half a day at their doorstep."

(End of this chapter)