Qing Yao

Chapter 221 I am an official

Zhao An will deal with anyone who causes him trouble.

Actually, giving up the Xuzhou route to the Toubang as compensation or appeasement wouldn't be impossible, but Zhao An knew that the Toubang leaders' appetites wouldn't stop at the Xuzhou route; what they wanted was the more profitable Hubei route.

Zhao An absolutely could not give up this route, because it was not only crucial for the "small loan party" to successfully go public, but also for him to increase the income and welfare of the grassroots canal workers. Only by ensuring that the canal workers had no worries could these poor people be willing to work with him, Shao Jun, to the end.

In addition, this route was also an underground transportation line that Zhao An planned to use to send personnel and supplies to the White Lotus Sect, thereby secretly supporting a force for his own use. Therefore, it was even more impossible for him to hand over this route to the leaders of the First Gang to manage.

One wants it, and the other is determined not to give it; what's the point of talking?

Instead of wasting precious time arguing with those gang leaders and even causing infighting within the Yangzhou branch, it's better to cut the Gordian knot quickly.

By using the second and third gangs who support him to completely eliminate the first gang, he can not only gain absolute control over the Yangzhou branch, but also seize all the black and gray industries under the first gang's name, thus gaining another source of stable funding.

Just do it. No need for premeditation or detailed planning. Just get started.

It was a surprise attack.

Everyone present was either an executor of this operation or an accomplice of Zhao An.

After the matter was over, these people were completely bound to "Young Master" as a group with common interests, and from then on, the Yangzhou branch truly belonged to the Zhao family.

"dare?"

This question was directed at Ye Zhigui and Xu Lin, who were carrying out the murder plan.

"Since Young Master has spoken, I, Ye Zhigui, will accompany him. Anyway, I have several lives on my hands, so I don't care about having another boss!"

The ruthless Ye Zhigui looked at Zhao An differently now; as expected of an official, he was ruthless in his actions.

But this is for the best, so that those bosses won't take the second and third gangs seriously just because they're rich and powerful.

"I've already killed two government soldiers, Young Master, do you think I dare to do this?"

Xu Lin pulled out the dagger from his boot and blew on it. "I'm just afraid that if too many people come, Brother Ye and I won't be able to control them."

"When I send someone to notify them, I will tell them to come to the incense hall at different times."

It was Ding Jiu who spoke, subtly providing a perfect fix to Shao Jun's murder plan.

Zhao An glanced at him and nodded slightly, his silence speaking volumes.

When Zhang Baofa died, he knew that Ding Jiu was a "young and promising" like himself. At present, only the "young and promising" in the canal gang dared to change the status quo, fight for huge benefits for the canal gang and bring great benefits to themselves.

"That's no problem."

Xu Lin tucked the dagger into his belt and said nothing more.

The others looked surprised, especially An Shun, who came from the first gang. He felt that even if those gang leaders were too greedy, their crimes did not warrant death. How could it have escalated to the point of murder?

We are all born of the same root, why are we so eager to harm each other?

Helpless, he forced a smile and advised, "Young Master, our gang strictly forbids fratricide. If the old master finds out about this, he might ask Dragon Head Stick to enforce the gang rules against us." These words stunned Jiang Xijian, Yang Pengju, and the others who were eager to try. It was easy to kill people when the gang leaders were off guard, but how could killing so many people not be known to the higher-ups?

If the old men of the nunnery really bring out the dragon-headed staff, then these people will have no way to survive.

This seems a bit risky.

"Those gang leaders have been involved in trafficking women, selling opium, and running gambling dens, causing countless families to be ruined and people to die. Every single one of these acts violates the cardinal rules of our gang. Young Master is simply carrying out the gang's rules and eliminating these bad apples. What's there to say?"

Ding Jiu, also a member of the "young and promising" faction, once again strongly supported Zhao An, pointing out that the gang leaders were trying to seize the gang's property without permission. This was an act of betraying their master and ancestors and disregarding the lives of their fellow members. According to the rules, the gang should deal with them, otherwise the gang rules would become meaningless.

"Young Master brought those two routes back from the Jiao family not for himself, but for the tens of thousands of brothers in our Yangzhou branch! Every copper coin earned belongs to all the brothers, not just one person!"

Ding Jiu's words instantly resonated with everyone present.

"Yes, it was their leader who disregarded the lives of his fellow disciples, which is why Young Master stood up for us!"

Ye Zhigui glared fiercely at Anshun and Sun Rui, "You two are also from the First Gang, are you trying to tip them off! If you say another word, I'll kill you both first!"

At the same time, Xu Lin silently moved two steps, blocking the door, and placed his right hand on his waist, ready to draw his dagger at any moment.

Seeing this, the others also revealed fierce glints in their eyes.

An Shun was so frightened that his face immediately turned pale. He subconsciously looked at Sun Rui, whose face also looked terrible, probably suffering a lot of inner turmoil.

Zhao An observed their reactions and stepped forward to say to An Shun, "From now on, you, An Shun and Sun Rui, will take over the businesses of those bosses. You will keep 30% of the profits, and the remaining 70% will be handed over to the headquarters, which will then distribute them to the brothers of the second and third gangs."

"what?"

An Shun's heart skipped a beat. Even 20% of the money, let alone 30%, would have made him so rich he could count it until his hands were sore. Seeing Ye Zhigui and Xu Lin staring at him fiercely, he dared not think any further and hurriedly said, "Those bosses deserved their punishment. Your subordinate is willing to obey your orders, young lord!"

Zhao An nodded slightly, then turned his gaze to Sun Rui, who said, "Young Master, these bosses have many men under their command, including some desperados. Knowing that their boss has been killed, I'm afraid these men will cause trouble."

Jiang Xijian, the leader of the three gangs, echoed, "That's right. The first gang has tens of thousands of members. If things really get out of hand, it could be a big problem."

"What are you afraid of?"

Xu Lin snorted, "We'll fight the Jiao family and the government troops the same way we fight their leader!"

Yang Pengju laughed and said, "That's true. Our canal workers can't read and write, but they're all eager to fight."

"That's true, but if we really fight, it will cause too much noise. The government will definitely get involved, and people in the martial arts world will laugh at us for fighting among ourselves."

Ding Jiu did not think internal strife was a good option. The last time the canal gang and the Jiao family fought at the dock, it had already alarmed the government. As a result, he was warned multiple times by the Yangzhou government and the provincial government. Afterwards, at Shaojun's request, he sent five thousand taels to each of the two government offices to explain the situation in order to settle the matter.

If the canal gangs were to fight amongst themselves and cause a death, the authorities would definitely intervene, and who knows how much trouble that would cause.

"Don't worry, the first group won't have a chance to cause trouble."

It was Zhao An who spoke, and he smiled slightly at everyone, "Don't forget, everyone, I, the young lord, am an official."

(End of this chapter)