Qing Yao

Chapter 174 Sending a Message to the Grand Secretary
Old Ding concluded that the Grand Canal Administration would not be able to meet the three conditions proposed by Zhao An.

Because the canal transport was handled by officials, while the canal guilds were run by the people.

No matter how great the pressure, the canal transport authorities would not surrender unconditionally.

"Today your Yangzhou branch went on strike, and the Grand Canal Administration agreed to your conditions. So next time there are troubles in Huai'an, Jining, and Hangzhou, will the Grand Canal Administration agree to their conditions as well? If they agree to all of them, how will the Grand Canal Administration manage you bunch of troublemakers in the future?"

What Lao Ding said was highly likely to happen. As long as the Yangzhou branch wins an overwhelming victory in this struggle, the other branches of the Canal Gang will definitely think that I can do it too.

If things go wrong, a "domino effect" could occur, with various levels of the canal transport organizations scattered along the thousands of miles of the canal imitating the Yangzhou branch by staging strikes and making various demands on the canal transport authorities.

That would be a serious matter, practically no different from rebellion.

Because the Qing Dynasty's vital water transport system was truly paralyzed.

"You keep stopping work and boats and blocking the canal, are you saying that the canal will be under your control from now on? Let me tell you, even if the canal transport authorities agree, the imperial court will not! No matter how many people you have, you are just a bunch of rabble. Can you defeat the Green Standard Army or the Eight Banners? You don't even use your brains when you do things!"

For his own sake and for his granddaughter's, Old Ding had to point out the consequences of not compromising.

Because this is no longer about the face of the Grand Canal Administration, but about the face of the Qing Dynasty.

Therefore, before the imperial court officially intervenes, that is, before the impact becomes too great, we must quickly compromise to obtain substantial concessions from the Grand Canal Administration, so that everyone can save face.

Of course, he was the one who represented the canal gang in the negotiations in Huai'an, and the outcome of the negotiations was handled behind closed doors.

Only irrelevant information is released to the public, while the main information remains confidential.

However, we can't talk about it now. We need to put pressure on the canal transport authorities first, otherwise his trip will be pointless.

The pressure naturally depends on whether the canal gangs can withstand the "counterattack" from the canal transport authorities, allowing the Yangzhou section of the canal to remain paralyzed, thus attracting attention from all sides.

Zhao An fell silent; he knew that what Lao Ding said was true.

Neither the imperial court nor the Grand Canal Administration had any sense of shame; how could they possibly sign a surrender agreement unconditionally?

Those officials would never kneel down to the poor unless a knife was held to their throats; at most, they'd give them some handouts.

Facts aside, I'm still furious and unwilling to give up halfway through the struggle. What difference would that make me from Zhang Baofa?

He muttered to himself, "According to you, what's the difference between me giving them silver and them giving me silver in return?"

If we compromise according to your suggestion, Lao Ding, then we've only satisfied the first of the three conditions.

How is he supposed to explain this to the gang?

This time, it was the young master who got everyone fired up; the gang was working with such fervor that he couldn't possibly stop.

There's no way to back down.

"How could there be no difference?"

Old Ding gave him a look that said, "You still don't understand." He continued, "The silver you take out goes into the pockets of officials in the Grand Canal transport office, but the silver they give you is money from the imperial court. Don't you think there's a difference?"

Well?
That's a different story, and a significant one at that.

Although it appears that neither side contributed money, in reality, it was the Grand Canal Administration that fulfilled two of Zhao An's conditions, not just his one.

"We rescued the person, and we've already paid the shipping fee owed to your gang. What more do you want?"

Old Ding said that as for how much to bribe the canal transport authorities, he could negotiate and fight for it; it was impossible for him to actually give 100,000.

Otherwise, what's the point of having him? The outcome of the negotiations will definitely be kept secret from the outside world. Even the canal guild doesn't know how much money the canal transport authorities are asking them for. They only know that under Shaojun's leadership, the canal transport authorities were forced to settle the freight charges owed to them.

In this way, in the eyes of the lower-level members of the Canal Gang, you, Zhao Shaojun, are already a great hero.

What else do you want?

“Your canal gang makes a living from canal transport. If you really make a blood feud with the canal transport authorities, they will be watching you every day. Can you go on strike and stop sailing every day? Listen to your grandfather, you can’t go wrong. Would I harm you?”

Old Ding did a very good job of persuading them. He also pointed out that Zhao An had just helped the canal gang seize two operating routes from the Jiao family. With these two operating routes, not only would the canal gang have an additional source of income, but Zhao An would also be able to expand his salt trading business. There was no need to get angry with the canal transport authorities over a little money.

You, Zhao An, are an official after all, and you'll still have to navigate the officialdom in the future. You can't really stoop to associating with those corrupt officials like the Canal Gang.

Right now, no one cares about your low rank or your association with the canal gang. But if you become a higher-ranking official and still have entanglements with the canal gang, it's hard to guarantee that no one will use this to their advantage to get back at you.

Do you think you're Li Wei?

"If you really can't figure it out, just tell the gang that the canal transport office agrees to all three conditions, and I'll try to get some land deeds and borrow tens of thousands of taels from Hengli to help you pay the money. That way, both sides can be satisfied."

Old Ding genuinely wanted to resolve the huge trouble caused by his grandson-in-law; otherwise, he wouldn't have offered to take advantage of the old man.

"."

Zhao An was finally moved by his wife's grandfather's good intentions: "That's right, it's the old man's money anyway, what's there to be upset about?"

Without further hesitation, he followed Old Ding's instructions and returned to Xiangtang to arrange for Ding Jiu to transfer people to do things, ensuring the stability of Yangzhou, ensuring that all the major government departments knew about the suffering of the canal gangs, and ensuring that the canal dredging could not be completed.

At the same time, they organized women and children to prepare to block the governor's sedan chair, determined to make the governor accept the petition from the grain transport gang.

The most important thing is to let everyone know that the Canal Gang has not rebelled.

The Jiao family's affair greatly increased Zhao An's authority in the branch, and Ding Jiu carried out his instructions without any compromise. This "white paper fan" didn't even ask Shao Jun how to deal with the canal transport office's accusation that they were rebelling.

Because, judging from Shaojun's appearance, he seemed confident and prepared.

If even officials like Shaojun aren't afraid, what does Ding Jiu have to be afraid of?

After giving a few more instructions, Zhao An returned to the prefectural school to prepare for the provincial examination and to receive the governor. He had just sat down and hadn't even had time to make himself a bowl of tea when Manager Shi from Hengli Money Shop arrived.

Upon meeting, Manager Shi complained that Professor Shi was a very important person and very busy; he had come to the academy three times but still hadn't been able to find him.

Zhao An vaguely brushed it off by saying he was going to "inspect" the counties below, and asked Manager Shi what he wanted to see him about.

They thought it was news from Manager Shi's brother-in-law, who was a captain of the Eight Banners stationed in Jiangning, but it turned out to be news from the capital.

"The matter that Lord Zhao asked me to do has been completed. He Zhongtang specifically sent someone to deliver the message, and that's why I've come here specifically to pass on the message to you."

Although Zhao Anren was not in the principal's office, the stove in the office burned continuously, which must have been specifically instructed by Vice Principal Ma.

The temperature difference between inside and outside made Shopkeeper Shi naturally take off his leather hat.

"What did you say to the Grand Secretary? Shopkeeper, speak quickly!"

Zhao An had already stood up, leaning forward and backward, his ears perked up, looking very nervous.

"Sir, there's no need to worry, it's just a nice thing to say."

Shopkeeper Shi smiled broadly. "The Grand Secretary's exact words were that Zhao Youlu is quite good, knows the rules, and is capable. Tell the subordinates to take care of him."

(End of this chapter)