Qing Yao

Chapter 159 The Young Master's Trump Card

Zhang Baofa considered Zhao An a cheap apprentice, while Zhao An considered Zhang Baofa a cheap master.

The cheap master actually values ​​his cheap apprentice quite a bit, after all, having a scholar who passed the imperial examination as an apprentice is an immense honor for this old rogue.

It's really impressive to tell people about it.

However, the apprentice felt that this cheap master was not respectable. Not only was he stingy in his work, but he was also obviously selfish and self-serving, much like some of the old men in the Shanghai Green Gang in his previous life who only knew how to take bribes but did not do anything for others. Therefore, he had long ago put this cheap master in the "cold palace" in his mind.

This time, he deliberately put Zhang Baofa in a difficult position.

Using the uncle's name to do their own thing.

This situation put Zhang Baofa in a difficult position. He couldn't stop the canal from being cut off, as that would severely damage his prestige within the gang. Seeing Ding Jiu and others actively supporting Zhao An, the young leader, he had no choice but to accept the fait accompli and pray that the canal transport authorities would feel the pressure and send someone over for "peace talks."

If Sun Rui and his men are released, Zhang Baofa is willing to pay the 60,000 taels that the transport commission had previously demanded.

It's better than spending 100,000 taels, isn't it?

If Zhao An knew what this cheap master was thinking, he would definitely label him a capitulationist.

If you're going to do something, do it thoroughly.

This time, Zhao An wants to go big.

Not only to get Sun Laosi and his gang out, but also to use this "battle" to make a name for himself in the Green Gang, at least in the Yangzhou branch, to form a young and middle-aged force led by him, Zhao Shaojun, so as to control the tens of thousands of gang members of the three gangs in Yangzhou to work for him.

Since the consensus was to cut off the canal and confront the grain transport authorities, there must be a meticulous plan, that is, a unified command center.

The reason why the White Lotus Rebellion failed to win against the Qing army for eight years was because it lacked a unified command center.

This also applies to the various anti-Qing forces of the Southern Ming Dynasty when the Qing army entered the pass.

Therefore, no matter how little Zhao An understands about military affairs, he must adhere to the bottom line of unified command.

This means that there can only be one central command issuing orders for this operation, and orders cannot be issued from two different points.

Under his proposal, each of the branch and the three factions sent people to serve as members of the command center.

The nominal leader of the center was Zhang Baofa, but this uncle was obviously unwilling to act as the leader who directed the gang to fight against the canal transport authorities, and gave the "command" to Ding Jiu under the pretext of being old and lacking energy.

He probably still harbored illusions, thinking that if things really got out of hand and he messed things up, he would still have a chance to defend himself when the canal transport authorities investigated.

The fact that Zhao An wasn't given the position of second-in-command clearly shows that the master harbored resentment towards his apprentice.

Ding Jiu was a "representative" sent down by Shisi Temple. He and Zhang Baofa were both of the Lun generation. However, Ding Jiu's master was the old master of Shisi Temple. Therefore, Ding Jiu's actual position in the Yangzhou branch was similar to that of a military supervisor (headmaster), ensuring that the Yangzhou branch could obey the command of the four major temples and also ensuring that the "tribute" given to the four major temples would not be embezzled by the branch.

It can also be said that Ding Jiu is the financial director of the Yangzhou branch.

In name, Zhao An, the young master, is the number two figure in the Yangzhou branch, but in terms of real power, Ding Jiu should be ranked second.

However, the financial director immediately asked Shaojun to take charge of the overall "work" against the Grand Canal transport authorities.

"I haven't been a member of the gang for long, and my seniority is not as high as Uncle Ding's, so it's better for Uncle Ding to make the arrangements."

Zhao An had to be humble, even though he desperately wanted to give orders. Ding Jiu, on the other hand, insisted that Zhao An take charge, arguing that the idea came from Shao Jun and that the gang members respected Shao Jun.

Zhao An then stopped refusing, displaying a resolute attitude of accepting the mission in a time of crisis.

"Young Master, we must always prepare for the worst, in case the grain transport situation..."

Only Zhao An and Ding Jiu were in the room. Although Ding Jiu supported taking a tough stance against the canal transport authorities, he couldn't help but raise a concern—what if things went wrong?

Or rather, Ding Jiu was asking Zhao An, the young lord, how far he wanted to take the matter and what the corresponding solutions were for each stage.

If the canal transport authorities refuse to back down, are the three gangs of Yangzhou just going to keep blocking the canal?
This is a qualified strategist.

When doing things, you must plan ahead. If you just make a decision on a whim and start doing them, you will easily find many problems as you go along. At that time, you will either have to give up halfway or surrender.

"It can only stop if I say stop, and it cannot stop if I don't say stop."

After stating his position, Zhao An added, "Don't worry, I know what I'm doing. As long as the gang makes a big fuss about this, even the Grand Canal Governor will have to bow down."

"Oh?"

Ding Jiu knew that Zhao Shaojun was an official and a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations) specially granted by the emperor, but this identity could really help the three gangs of Yangzhou fight against the Grand Canal Transport Commissioner, who was a first-rank official.

can!
Because Zhao An had the right to report on others to the old master.

In order to gain the support of Bai Zhishan, who had great influence in the Yangzhou branch, Zhao An revealed his trump card, frankly stating that he had been appointed by the imperial court as an education inspector and had the power to submit memorials directly to the emperor.

"The affairs of the Grand Canal have nothing to do with me, an academic official. So, if I, as an academic official, submit a memorial to the court accusing the Grand Canal Administration of exploiting the canal workers, causing them to resent me and disrupting the canal's traffic, do you think the court will believe the Grand Canal Governor's explanation, or will they believe me, an outsider who has no interest in the Grand Canal?"

Zhao An stood up and gave Ding Jiu an encouraging smile, "Go ahead and do it without worry. Even if the sky falls, I, the young lord, will be there for you."

As a highly educated intellectual, Ding Jiu didn't need to think much to know how authoritative and influential Shao Jun, as a neutral and objective third party, was in guiding and characterizing the event.

As long as the emperor doesn't consider the Yangzhou Green Gang to be rebelling, the pressure on the Grand Canal transport office will be immense.

Upon arriving at the command center located next to the incense hall, Zhao An glanced at the group members and made detailed arrangements without any unnecessary words.

The second gang was responsible for cutting off the section of the Yangtze River flowing into the Grand Canal, while the third gang was responsible for cutting off the section from Yangzhou to Huai'an. The first gang was responsible for creating public opinion, which was to amplify the past bullying and extortion of the canal workers by the canal transport authorities, so that everyone, whether ordinary people or officials, would know that the Grand Canal shutdown was the fault of the canal transport authorities, not the canal gangs.

Each of the three factions has its own responsibilities, and all information regarding their actions must be reported to the incense hall three times a day.

After arranging everything, Zhao An looked around at everyone and asked, "Does anyone have any further questions?"

Xu Lin from the third gang was the first to shout, "No!"

"Well,"

After Zhao An nodded, he took out several silver notes and placed them on the table, saying in a deep voice:
"There are 15,000 taels in total. Each brother who participated in cutting off the canal will take five taels, and the rest will be given to the brothers in the gang who are really struggling financially, at least one tael each. We can't let our brothers' wives and children go hungry because of this canal project."

After saying this, he said sincerely, "It is also a small token of my appreciation for my brothers."

(End of this chapter)