Qing Yao

Chapter 220 Cutting the Trouble with a Quick Sword

The matter is not complicated. It's just that the gang leaders who mainly make money from black and gray industries have their eyes on the operating routes that Shao Jun seized for the entire guild, and they also want to start a freight company.

There's no way around it, these two operating routes are just too lucrative; making a million or two hundred thousand taels a year is as easy as playing around.

In particular, the terminal of the Hubei route was Hankou, which was the main wholesale market for salt in Hubei and Hunan provinces. The Qing government stipulated that these two provinces could only purchase Huai salt, and salt from other places was not allowed to be sold locally. Huai salt could be sold to local salt distributors at a price twenty times higher when it was transported to Hankou, so this route was practically a money tree.

If the Grand Canal Gang hadn't been so powerful, threatening the Jiao family with extermination, they would never have given up this cash cow.

Since ancient times, birds have died for food, and people have died for wealth.

Such enormous profits naturally tempted the self-proclaimed powerful leaders of the First Gang.

In reality, the first gang had essentially broken away from the canal gang business. Most of its members were local thugs and ruffians, and their income came from various black and gray industries. They were completely different "classes" from the second and third gangs who were still engaged in the canal boat business, and the gap between the two sides was huge.

The reason why the leaders of the First Gang still act under the banner of the Canal Gang is simply because it's good to be under the big tree. They give the elders some gifts on a regular basis, and the elders entrust the First Gang with many things that the elders are unwilling to do themselves. Both sides get what they want.

In other words, the current gang is evolving into what Zhao An recognizes as the Green Gang, with its various factions like Hengshe, Rongshe, and Renshe.

Because the leader is rich and powerful, he has a lot of say in the helm.

Although Zhang Baofa's death allowed Zhao An, the young master, to "usurp" command of the Yangzhou branch, the events involving the Jiao family and the Grand Canal Administration also helped Zhao An establish himself within the branch and win the hearts of the people.

However, the main source of this people's hearts came from the lower-level canal workers of the second and third gangs. The leaders of the first gang were not "fond" of Zhao An, the young lord. The reasons were twofold: firstly, their business scope had already been separated from the canal transport; secondly, these people were themselves well-connected local big shots and had no need to "submit" to anyone.

Zhang Baofa's relationship with the gang leader before the incident was more like a cooperative one than a master-servant one.

This time, the second and third gangs, under Zhao An's command, fought against the Grand Canal Administration, which also had a significant impact on the various industries operated by the first gang.

During the period when the canal was interrupted, the entertainment industry in Yangzhou City was greatly reduced, and some of the freight businesses controlled by the Toubang were severely damaged. If it weren't for the fact that they were both under the banner of the Canal Gang, and that the Jiao family had given up huge profits, it would be hard to say whether the Toubang would have supported Zhao An's plan to cut off the canal.

Now that the matter with the Grand Canal Administration has been resolved, the leaders of the gangs naturally want to take back the two routes that the Jiao family gave up, saying that they suffered great losses in order to support the interests of the gang, and the gang should give them these two routes as compensation.

The leader was named Chen Gong, who, like Zhang Baofa, belonged to the Lun generation. His businesses mainly consisted of gambling dens and freight transportation. He employed many thugs and was the second most powerful figure in Yangzhou after Blind Wang and Li Erxiucai. He was the undisputed big brother in the underworld.

In terms of both seniority and influence, this Mr. Chen is a strong contender for the position of the new leader of the Yangzhou branch.

"The docks are fighting with the Jiao family, and the First Gang has also transferred a lot of people there. So what Boss Chen and his men mean is that the dock will give the First Gang two routes to operate, and the First Gang will give the dock 100,000 taels of silver every year."

Ding Jiu learned about this yesterday and originally intended to send someone to invite Shaojun over to discuss it, but unexpectedly Shaojun came by himself.

Zhao An did not express his opinion, but instead asked the leaders of the second and third gangs what they thought about the matter.

Jiang Xijian, the leader of the three gangs, spat: "Damn it, the Jiao family's connections were built by the guild, why should their leader take them! 100,000 taels? Do they think their leader doesn't know how much money the Jiao family can make in a year!"

"The first gang used to live a life of luxury, never caring about us, the second and third gangs. If it weren't for the united efforts of us, the second and third gangs, how could the first gang have defeated the Jiao family? They think they can get rid of us with 100,000 taels? They're dreaming!"

Yang Pengju, the leader of the second gang, looked displeased. He had already inquired and found out that, not to mention the route to Hubei, the annual transportation cost to Xuzhou alone was more than 300,000 taels, not to mention that they could smuggle salt over to sell. The first gang only offered 100,000 taels and wanted to take all the profits. They were really taking advantage of the fact that the second and third gangs had no one to rely on.

"What Chen Boss or Li Boss? If you piss me off, I'll take some men and drown him!" Ye Zhigui's face was fierce. Money can corrupt people's hearts. This guy would drown a merchant in the canal for a few dozen taels of silver, let alone a business worth millions of taels.

If the leader dares to take everything for himself, he'll kill you, regardless of your seniority or who you are.

Although Anshun and Sun Rui, as members of the first gang, felt that Boss Chen and his group were acting unfairly, they couldn't say anything.

The fact that the two of them were here already shows their attitude: they hope to maintain harmony and that there is no need for them to fight amongst themselves over money, since they are all brothers in the canal gang.

Zhao An glanced at the silent Xu Lin: "What does Brother Xu think?"

"I?"

Xu Lin was taken aback for a moment, then shook his head and said, "The Jiao family's path was seized by Shaojun and everyone else. Shaojun decides how to arrange it; no one else has the right to do so."

"Yes, we'll listen to Young Master. Whatever Young Master says goes!"

The group of leaders all turned their gazes to Zhao An. After a moment of contemplation, Zhao An asked Ding Jiu if the temple above had decided who would serve as the "head of the Yangzhou branch."

"No news has come in yet."

Ding Jiu believed that according to past rules, either Zhang Baofa's son should "inherit his father's business," or a senior and prestigious leader should be selected from the Yangzhou branch to serve as the uncle.

Generally, it is not common for someone to be "parachuted in." Although the branch temples and monasteries in various places are subordinate to each other, the branch temples are actually independent. Unless there are special circumstances, the elders above will not send someone without a strong foundation to lead the branch temple, because even if they come, they will not be able to win over the people and will not be able to stand firm.

Zhao An nodded and asked, "If I, as the young lord, do not agree to Boss Chen and the others' demands, what will they do?"

"This"

Ding Jiu hesitated.

Xu Lin retorted defiantly, "What? The First Gang dares not acknowledge Young Master? If they don't, the Second and Third Gangs will!"

Yang Pengju, the leader of the second gang, said, "If Young Master is in a difficult position, why don't we go and talk to Boss Chen about this matter? Let's see if his gang is really going to eat people alive without spitting out the bones."

"Yes, let's go talk. We can't put Shaojun in a difficult position! At worst, we'll set up a scene with his gang and see who has more people!"

The group of people in charge started shouting.

Upon seeing this, Anshun frowned, knowing that this matter could easily lead to a bloody conflict within the canal gang.

"If anyone should be talking, it should be me, the young lord, who should be talking."

Zhao An spoke up, instructing Ding Jiu to notify the gang leaders to come to the incense hall to discuss the operation route. After speaking, he looked at Ye Zhigui and Xu Lin, "When the people arrive, you two are responsible for arresting them. Arrest them one by one, and drag them to the back to be executed, no matter who they are."

After saying that, his gaze fell on Anshun and Sun Rui's faces, "No one here is allowed to leave."

(End of this chapter)