Qing Yao

Chapter 204 Debt Collection and Counter-Collection
Moral support from many, scant support.

In just over ten days, it will be the fifty-sixth year of the Qianlong Emperor's reign. There are still four years until the old emperor abdicates and passes away, and eight years until he passes away.

Eight years may seem long, but it is actually very short.

If Zhao An cannot clear out all of the old man's assets within these eight years, he will face endless debt collection.

There are essentially two ways to deal with debt collection: one is to form an anti-collection team; the other is to prevent the creditor from sending out a collection team.

Therefore, Zhao An had to establish an anti-debt collection team based on the Green Gang on the one hand, and on the other hand, he had to infiltrate the debt collection team of the old master's family.

On the surface, the plan was to pull Wu Wenyun, the councilor of the grain transport commissioner, into the group that embezzled small loans and increase everyone's credit card spending limits. In reality, the plan was to drag Wen Qing, the deputy commander of the grain transport commissioner, who was in cahoots with him, into the mess.

Deputy General Wen commanded the Green Standard Army's elite troops directly under the Grand Canal Transport Commissioner, and was also the nominal supreme commander of the transport army.

He has the qualifications of a second-rank deputy general and will have the opportunity to be promoted to a second-rank general at any time. The next step would be to become a first-rank admiral.

In other words, Vice General Wen, a senior colonel and division commander, could be promoted to major general and then lieutenant general and corps commander at any time.

This capital was enough for Zhao An to win him over, even though Deputy General Wen was actually just a good-for-nothing.

But Zhao An didn't need a capable general; he wanted this kind of useless general.

If they are truly capable of fighting, it will be troublesome to ask them to retire in the future.

If Vice General Wen could also participate in small loan sharking, not only would the Green Camp forces under his command not become the old man's debt collection team, but they would also not actually harass Zhao An every day. Furthermore, the anti-debt collection team that Zhao An formed could also grow and expand under Vice General Wen's "protection".

Back when Li Wei was reforming the Green Gang, he placed the trained members in various places in Jiangsu and Zhejiang under the guise of patrol inspectors. Zhao An, on the other hand, was able to use Deputy General Wen to place his Green Gang armed forces, which were directly under his command, on both sides of the Grand Canal under the guise of "official troops".

They were even placed in Tongzhou, right under the old man's nose.

Otherwise, he would have no legitimate reason to train his followers, unless the White Lotus Rebellion broke out a few years later and Emperor Jiaqing allowed Han Chinese officials to organize local militias.

But by then it will be too late.

In short, we must be at the forefront in everything. We must arrest civil officials, military officials, bondservants, and even more so, the Eight Banners officials. We must arrest everyone and work together to take advantage of the old man's small loans.

To embark on a new path of rebellion, one that has never been taken before, one that is characterized by high-quality development, sustainability, and relatively low destructiveness.

If victory doesn't belong to this team, then what kind of team does it belong to?

Zhao An was not joking about this idea.

If others can cross a river by feeling for stones, why can't he just build a bridge?

Regardless of whether this path is feasible or not, it's always good to give it a try.

It's not too late to overturn the table if things really don't work out.

Full of confidence, Zhao An met Lao Ding at the Ganquan County government office. Lao Ding was even more excited than his grandson-in-law, because he had just been received by the prefect and learned that he had successfully coordinated with the canal transport department. The prefect praised him highly and revealed that the governor valued him greatly and that he was expected to advance further next year.

The canal guild has already reached an agreement. The money will be sent tomorrow, and the guild will immediately restore the canal to help merchants stranded at both ends navigate.

"I know this is all thanks to you. Lord Song told me everything." Old Ding looked at his grandson-in-law with even more joy and affection than his daughter-in-law, Li Shi, looked at her son-in-law.

"As long as Grandpa can get promoted, I'll do anything for him."

Zhao An analyzed that next year, the governor would most likely recommend Lao Ding for promotion to prefect, and to a prefect in Jiangsu Province. This is because although the governor is acting as the governor-general of Liangjiang, his actual personnel power is limited to Jiangsu, and he has no jurisdiction over Anhui and Jiangxi.

Unless he goes to replace Cheng Zheng.

The Jiangsu Provincial Administration Commission had only three directly governed prefectures: Haizhou (Lianyungang), Tongzhou (Nantong), and Taicang Prefecture in Jiangnan.

Gaoyou and Taizhou were independent prefectures, one grade lower than directly governed prefectures; one was a fifth-rank official and the other a fifth-rank official.

Old Ding is currently the magistrate of Ganquan, a superior county. If he were transferred to the position of prefect of a minor prefecture, although his rank would be higher, his power and the benefits would not be as great as those of the magistrate of Ganquan. Moreover, it is impossible to be directly promoted from magistrate to prefect, because the power to appoint officials of the fourth rank is unified under the Ministry of Personnel.

Local governors and viceroys could only recommend officials of the fourth rank or below.

Therefore, Lao Ding analyzed that he would most likely be promoted to the position of prefect of Haizhou or Tongzhou.

The reason for excluding Taicang Prefecture is that he had always served as an official in Jiangbei and would not rashly transfer to Jiangnan. In addition, Taicang is a very wealthy place, and many people are eyeing it. Even if the governor recommended him, he probably wouldn't get a chance.

Whether it's Haizhou or Tongzhou, it's all the same to Zhao An. He can use Lao Ding's position as prefect to openly sell salt there, and at the same time, he can also engage in maritime smuggling.

However, Haizhou is better than Tongzhou because it allows direct smuggling to Japan.

In his previous life, he had heard that Japan had a very high copper production and was very cheap. Therefore, the Ming and Qing dynasties often used silver to buy copper from Japan. So if Lao Ding took office in Haizhou, he could smuggle large quantities of copper from Japan through Haizhou to make a profit from the price difference.

We don't need to tell Lao Ding about this plan for now, since it's still unknown what official position Lao Ding will be promoted to.

Even though the governor-general and governor recommended officials, the money that still had to be paid to the Ministry of Personnel was still required. However, it was much more favorable than directly buying an official position, and there was no need to wait in line.

Otherwise, if Lao Ding were to buy it himself, even if he were serving as a county magistrate, he would have to wait in line like a probationary official, and at most he wouldn't need to draw lots.

For a fifth-rank official, the Ministry of Personnel clearly states that the price is less than 10,000 taels of silver. The fees for the staff handling the matter are roughly the same. Adding other expenses, Lao Ding estimates that 20,000 taels should be enough, or even less, since he was recommended by the Governor.

Old Ding has the money himself; he doesn't need his grandson-in-law's help.

While they were talking, Zhao An asked whether Wu Canzheng's loan had been processed. Zhao An replied that it had been processed, but not in the name of the Grand Canal Administration, but in Wu Canzheng's personal name.

He frankly admitted that he planned to ruin this Wu Canzheng by using all sorts of predatory lending and naked loan schemes on him, letting Wu Canzheng experience the wisdom of future high-interest loan practitioners, and then dragging him down with him when he was on the verge of collapse.

Of course, the relevant tactics were explained in a way that Lao Ding could understand.

"Once a person is overwhelmed by debt, they'll cling to even a straw we throw at them as if it were their savior, and then they'll be at our mercy. This method of luring people into a trap is called a 'pig butchering scam.'"

Zhao An naturally told Lao Ding the truth.

After hearing his grandson-in-law's scheme against Councilor Wu, Old Ding fell silent. After a long while, he coughed lightly and asked, "Tell me the truth, kid. Haven't I been treated like a pig by you from beginning to end?"

(End of this chapter)