Qing Yao

Chapter 145 Lord Quan, I'm sorry, I've sold you.
We'll weed them out?
Zhao An was somewhat confused by Quan De's request. Wouldn't it be fitting for the old master's birthday celebration this year if the Qing Dynasty produced the first Manchu "Little Triple Crown" in history?

I heard that Lord A was also a staff member of the Imperial Household Department. He came from the same unit as you, Lord Quan. The two of you must have had some dealings before. Even if the relationship wasn't very good, there was no need for him to harm his old colleague's child behind his back.

What do the grudges of adults have to do with children?

Yes, it's related, very related.

Because the whole family felt that he should serve as the Salt Commissioner of Lianghuai for two or three years.

In terms of background, Quan Daren was from the Manchu Bordered Yellow Banner, while Akdang'a was from the Manchu Plain White Banner. Although both were from the Upper Three Banners, the White Banner was definitely lower than the Yellow Banner.

In terms of academic qualifications, Quan Daren was a translator who passed the imperial examination, while Akdang'a entered officialdom as a scribe. The value of a Manchu translator who passed the imperial examination was not as high as that of a Han Chinese who passed the provincial examination, but it was still far superior to a scribe who could be bought with money.

In terms of merit, Akdang'a had been working in the Ministry of Internal Affairs and had no experience in local government before taking up the post of Salt Commissioner. Quan De, on the other hand, had followed the army to fight in Burma and Jinchuan when he was only twenty years old. He was promoted to Zuo Ling, a fourth-rank official, based on his solid military achievements.

How can Akdan'a, who has no military achievements to speak of, compare in this respect?
Salt administration was a well-known lucrative position; even if one did not embezzle during their tenure, they could still earn 300,000 taels of silver annually.

This money came from the corrupt practices of the salt administration, which meant that the imperial court tacitly approved the salt administration's legal annual income of 300,000 taels.

Which salt commissioner is not corrupt and does not accept bribes from salt merchants?
Akdang had been the Salt Commissioner of Lianghuai for four years. The Imperial Household Department called him "Ah the God of Wealth" because "his social obligations under his jurisdiction were no less than five hundred taels of gold, and he had friends all over the world."

What do you mean?
A meal for Master A starts at at least five hundred taels!
Because he's rich, he has a lot of good friends; they're everywhere in the country.

Anyone from the Imperial Household Department, regardless of their status, would receive a red envelope, starting at two hundred taels of silver. This made going on business trips to the Yangzhou Salt Administration Office a highly sought-after job for the lower-level staff of the Imperial Household Department.

Lord A also had a particular fondness for eating shad. Every shad season, the Salt Administration would have five small boats specifically for catching fresh shad. The boats were equipped with stoves, and the fish would be cooked by the chefs as soon as they were brought ashore. The fish would be perfectly cooked by the time the boats reached the shore.

Every year, Master Ah has to spend tens of thousands of taels of silver just on fish.

Lord A was also a huge theater enthusiast. Except for national mourning days, the Salt Administration Office never missed a day of theater performances. He was undoubtedly a major financial backer of the Jianghuai theater scene, supporting countless theater troupes.

In short, apart from the royal family, it seems that no official in the world can match A's spending level, including He Zhongtang, who is known as the "Second Emperor".

Such luxury and such lucrative positions naturally attracted the covetous eyes of many officials.

Quan Daren is one of them.

He and Akdang'a served together in the Imperial Household Department in their early years. In order to advance his career, he volunteered to join the army and almost lost his life in Jinchuan. Although he became a fourth-rank Zuo Ling (military commander) because of his bravery, the difference between him and Akdang'a, who became the Salt Commissioner of Lianghuai by currying favor with the Grand Secretary, was undoubtedly vast.

Unwilling to accept this, one naturally wants to take their place.

Through her personal efforts, she finally gained the favor of the Grand Secretary and was also valued by another Grand Secretary.

This is Fu Chang'an, the Grand Councilor who was awarded the title of Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince by the old master a few days ago for his meritorious service in managing the affairs of the ministry.

To outsiders, Fu Chang'an had been very close to Heshen in recent years, and they could be considered a pair of treacherous accomplices. However, Fu Chang'an was different from other Heshen's cronies who had to rely on Heshen, because he himself was also a representative of a force in the court.

His elder brother, Fukang'an, held military power and commanded a large army, making him the undisputed leader in the Qing military.

It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that Fukang'an was now the military leader of the Qing Dynasty.

As the old patriarch aged, even the astute Heshen was planning for the future. He wanted his younger brother, Helin, to become a general like Fukang'an, wielding military power. This way, the two brothers, one inside and one outside, could ensure their safety. However, Helin had always held a civil service position, making a transition to military service extremely difficult. But if the military leader Fukang'an were willing to help, the combined influence of both families would surely allow them to "transform" Helin into General He.

Knowing Heshen's intentions, Fu Chang'an was willing to help, because he was too closely tied to Heshen; however, he couldn't help for nothing.

Last year, Fu Zhongtang, who was rewarded by the old master with the position of tax collector at Chongwenmen, also set his sights on the lucrative post of salt commissioner of Lianghuai.

However, the current Salt Commissioner, Akdang'a, was recommended by Heshen and has to pay Heshen a tribute of 500,000 taels of silver every year. Without sufficient reason, it would be difficult to get Akdang'a to step down.

Furthermore, Heshen regarded the salt administration as his private property, and it would certainly not work if someone else were put in charge. Therefore, Quan De, who was determined to replace Akdang'a, came into Fu Chang'an's sights.

To put it bluntly, Quan Daren is a typical "two-faced" person, with the surname He on one hand and Fu on the other.

If he were to replace Akdan, Heshen would not object too much.

The news that Akdang'a's son, Guanming, had become the top scholar in both the prefectural and county examinations in Yangzhou had already reached the capital. Fu Zhongtang's intention was not to let Akdang'a steal the limelight again, because his son was about to become the first Manchu to achieve the "Three Excellences" in the Qing Dynasty, and the old master would surely be overjoyed.

If he's happy, how could he possibly change Akdang'a's position as salt commissioner?
Educational matters should naturally be handled by people in the education sector.

So, the whole family handed this matter over to Zhao An.

The education officials in Jiangsu Province treated Committee Member Zhao like a scallion, but in their eyes, he wasn't even worthy of being stuck on a pig's nose.

This scallion owes its current success entirely to He Zhongtang!
How could a young man with no connections possibly understand the intricacies of this situation?

Zhao An was unaware of Master Quan's ulterior motives, but after returning to Yangzhou, he did not immediately go back to the prefectural school, nor did he go to find Lao Ding and Lao Song. Instead, he dressed in plain clothes and hired a carriage to go to the Salt Administration Office.

If he hadn't presented his official letter of appointment, the gatekeeper wouldn't have let him in.

Akdang'a, the salt commissioner of Lianghuai, who was in his office, was puzzled when he heard that the newly appointed Jiangsu Provincial Commissioner for Education had come to visit him, because he had no connection with this Commissioner Zhao.

Although his son, Guanming, took the preliminary examination in Yangzhou, he was merely a figurehead and did not actually study at the county or prefectural schools.

Salt administration and education have absolutely nothing to do with each other, so why did Committee Member Zhao seek him out?
Puzzled, Lord A warmly received Zhao An in the inner hall, beginning with the usual polite greetings: "What wind has blown Commissioner Zhao to my Salt Administration Office? A distinguished guest, a rare one indeed! Someone, serve tea to Lord Zhao."

Zhao An cupped his hands in greeting and got straight to the point: "My lord, there is something I must tell you."

"what's up?"

Seeing Zhao An's solemn expression, Akdangke became even more puzzled.

“There is a man in the capital named Quan De who asked me to win over your son during the imperial examination.”

After saying that, Zhao An stood there and looked at Akdang'a, whose face had changed color.

He disliked this Lord A, but disliked Lord Quan even more.

Because he doesn't like being used as a pawn.

(End of this chapter)