Qing Yao

Chapter 173 The Art of Compromise

"Having an elder in the family is like having a treasure. Grandpa, you are truly Xiao He reincarnated and Zhang Liang reborn!"

Zhao An's evaluation of Lao Ding continued to rise. Lao Ding was right this time; opportunities often come with risks.

To outsiders, the fact that the canal gangs were causing trouble with the canal transport authorities was something they would avoid as long as it didn't infringe on their own interests, so as not to get themselves into trouble.

But for those who want to advance their careers, this is a great opportunity to take their careers to the next level!

If Lao Ding can smooth things over with the canal gangs in every aspect, he will definitely be recognized as a capable official.

With a capable official's evaluation, even if one can't say they'll rise to great heights, a promotion of one or two ranks is almost guaranteed.

This way, you can achieve your goal of getting promoted while saving the money you would have spent on buying an official position. Why not do it?

"You think you're the only smart person in the world? Your grandfather was a genuine top-ranking scholar in the imperial examinations. Hmph, if I hadn't fallen for your tricks, do you think I, a man of such high standing, would be... Never mind that, tell me your thoughts."

Old Ding felt a little proud of his grandson-in-law's admiring look, but then he started to work on his grandson-in-law.

He needed to know the demands and bottom lines of the canal gang's recent disturbance so that he could represent them in negotiations with the canal transport authorities.

Zhao An smiled and said, "That's right, it would be best if Grandpa went to talk to them. You are a local official who speaks up for the people, while the governor-general is a powerful official who has aroused public anger. One is a county magistrate, and the other is a governor-general. People tend to favor the weaker party. In this way, you will have a firm grip on public opinion."

"What public opinion? Where do you get all this nonsense all day long? But you're right about one thing: compared to the governor, I, a mere county magistrate, am as weak as can be. And that's why the dignified governor can't possibly accuse me, a mere county magistrate who speaks out for the people, of rebelling, can he?"

Old Ding straightened his beard and put on a serious expression as if he were about to do something big. “No matter how powerful the Grand Canal Administration is, it still has to give face to me, a mere county magistrate. Otherwise, if this matter blows up, it won’t just be a matter of the Grand Canal Administration bullying the canal workers, but rather that the Grand Canal Administration doesn’t take us local officials seriously at all. It won’t just offend Ganquan County, but all the county magistrates in the area!”

"Makes sense!"

Zhao An's eyes lit up again. If Lao Ding's intervention was ineffective, it meant that the Grand Canal Administration didn't care about the local authorities. This would easily provoke collective disgust and retaliation from local officials against the Grand Canal Administration. Officials in Jiangsu and even along the entire Grand Canal would unconditionally support Lao Ding's "strong-willed order."

The conflict shifted from one between the canal transport gangs and the canal transport commission to one between local officials and the canal transport commission.

The shift in conflict means that the canal gang is temporarily safe.

Otherwise, it would be quite alarming if the canal transport authorities were to accuse the canal gang of rebellion.

But then he thought, "If Grandpa had this idea, why did he ask his grandson to organize people to complain to the governor?"

The implication was that it was pointless; if the governor also had this idea and wanted to show off, then what use would it be for you, the magistrate of Ganquan County?

Old Ding smiled slightly: "If you are not arrogant, no one in the world can compete with you in ability. If you do not boast, no one in the world can compete with you in merit."

"don't know."

Zhao An shook his head frankly, admitting that he was ignorant and incompetent, which was his greatest virtue besides his ability to squander money.

Old Ding explained helplessly, "This saying comes from the Book of Documents, Book of Yu, The Great Plan of Yu. It means that as long as you do not boast about your talents, no one in the world can compete with you; as long as you do not boast about your achievements, no one in the world can compete with you for merits."

"oh,"

Zhao An nodded, looking on with a questioning expression, "But what does this have to do with Grandpa?"

"I don't need to care too much about fame and fortune. Whether I succeed or not, as long as I do my job well, people will eventually know. If it's your credit, you can't escape it; if it's not your credit, you can't steal it." Old Ding's words clearly meant that it was his business how the governor did things, and as the county magistrate, he just needed to do his job well. Could the governor possibly steal the credit from him, a mere county magistrate?

"Why does your grandson think that you, Grandfather, are afraid that you can't beat the Grand Canal Transport Office, so you're trying to get the governor to submit a memorial to the court on your behalf so that you'll dare to confront the Grand Canal Transport Office?"

Zhao An's perspective was rather unconventional, so unconventional that his grandfather, Old Ding, didn't want to talk to him.

This factor exists, but it is not the main factor.

Old Ding's true intention was that as long as the Governor-General got into a war of words with the Grand Canal Transport Commissioner, he, as an indirect subordinate, could then step in and fight against the Grand Canal Transport Office. This would earn him a reputation for being courageous and responsible from the Governor-General, and if something really happened, the Governor-General would be unlikely to leave him unhelpful, since Old Ding was one of his men.

The Governor of Jiangsu and the Grand Canal Transport Commissioner were not the same entity.

Old Ding bought himself insurance to ensure his boss would support him.

The chances of winning this matter are extremely high.

The canal guild protested, Jiangsu local officials opposed it, high-ranking officials in the capital cursed it, and people from all walks of life closely related to the canal transport were also cursing it. Did the canal transport government really dare to defy the world and stick to its guns?
The demands of the canal gang were the same as Zhao An's demands, which were actually not many, just three.

First, release Sun Rui and other gang members who were imprisoned; second, stop extorting 100,000 taels from the grain transport gang; and third, settle the outstanding grain transport fees owed to the grain transport gang.

This fee is approximately seventy to eighty thousand taels, which, when divided among the members, amounts to about two taels each.

Upon hearing this, Old Ding immediately made the decision: "Releasing the people is no problem. I think we can split the 100,000 taels in half, 50,000 taels. As for the outstanding fees, let's not mention them."

"No, absolutely not!"

Zhao An shook his head. According to Lao Ding, only one of the three conditions had been met. His bottom line was that at least two conditions had to be met in order to visit his loyal gang as a victor.

“Zhao An, you are my grandson-in-law. How could I, as your grandfather, possibly betray you? Listen to me, you must back down on this matter. Anyway, Zhang Baofa is dead. As long as you rescue your gang members, it will be a great achievement. Then, which gang member will dare to disobey you? As for how much silver to give to the canal transport department, if you don't tell them, who below will know?”

Old Ding then gave another long lecture, saying that the canal gang was just a tool for Zhao An to use, and there was no need to offend the canal transport authorities to the death for the sake of this tool. Just like Zhang Baofa's previous attitude, it was best to stop while one was ahead.

Zhao An used this incident to solidify his position within the canal transport guild, while Lao Ding used it to earn himself a reputation as a capable official. The canal transport yamen lost face but gained substance.

There's no need to make any party lose face in a situation that pleases all three.

This is typical bureaucratic thinking, a result of considering things from a practical perspective.

Old Ding had no idea how ambitious his grandson-in-law was.

Zhao An insisted that at least two conditions must be met, otherwise the canal gang would go on strike indefinitely.

"Since you insist on meeting these two conditions, I have no choice but to accept it. How about this?"

Old Ding suggested a workaround: treat the second and third conditions as a single condition.

Zhao An didn't quite understand: "What does the county magistrate mean?"

Old Ding revealed a mysterious smile: "What I mean is that the canal transport authorities can settle the freight charges owed to your gang, but you, as the young lord, must also satisfy their appetites. How about that, it's a win-win situation?"

(End of this chapter)