Qing Yao

Chapter 223 Unleashing a Powerful Punch

The time from the arrival of the most powerful Chen Gong to his death was so short that the teacups in everyone's hands hadn't even gone cold.

There was no fierce fighting as I had imagined; all I experienced was silent terror.

Even the dignified leader didn't have the chance to ask why I was killed.

The speed of the operation made this impromptu "premeditated murder" extremely effective, and also put invisible pressure on all the members involved.

The pressure didn't come from the next few targets, but from the young lord who was drinking tea and chatting with everyone over there.

Shaojun's demeanor was too nonchalant, as if a few fresh human lives were nothing more than a few live fish sold in the market, to be killed without the slightest hesitation.

This is completely inconsistent with the young lord's age and also incompatible with his official status.

He looks like an overly calm, born killer.

However, such people are born to do great things.

The people in charge present, including Ding Jiu, had thought of many ways to fight the Head Gang, but none of them had ever thought of taking down all the Head Gang leaders at once.

In retrospect, taking them all down at once is the best solution.

The problem is solved once the person dies.

"There are three major tasks for the team next year. The first is to build houses for the brothers. The second is to make use of the two channels the Jiao family used. The third is that I plan to select a few thousand brothers to form a construction company and go to Jiangnan to take on some projects."

The Jiangnan project Zhao An mentioned refers to the construction of the Suzhou New District, which the governor was to start after the New Year. These construction projects would bring profits to the canal merchants and at the same time, transform the canal merchants involved in the construction into a qualified engineering corps that could be deployed to the battlefield for engineering operations at any time.

There were more than 30,000 second and third-class porters directly engaged in the canal transport business, and together with their families, the number reached 100,000, which was about the same as the total population of the Eight Banners garrison in Jiangning.

The Yangzhou branch was actually responsible for transporting rice and grain to Beijing from Yangzhou, Tongzhou, and the neighboring Tianchang area in Anhui. However, the actual need for such a large workforce for transporting grain in these areas was not high. In other words, the grain transport business in the Yangzhou section was saturated, making it impossible for many grain transport workers to work "full attendance". In addition, the exploitation by the grain transport authorities, local officials, and checkpoints along the way resulted in extremely low incomes for the grain transport workers, who earned only a few taels of silver a year, leaving their families living below the extreme poverty line.

In view of this, Zhao An naturally wanted to select some people to change their careers and engage in other work, transforming the second and third detachments, who were only engaged in water transportation, into a group engaged in multiple businesses.

The construction industry is the first choice because it involves physical labor.

"I've already established connections with the governor's office in Jiangnan. As long as you go there, you'll have work to do, and the pay will be quite good. I can't say much else, but I, as the young master, can guarantee that the brothers who go will earn fifty or sixty taels a year. What do you think?"

After speaking, Zhao An put down his teacup and looked at the leaders of the second and third gangs with a smile.

"Can you earn fifty or sixty taels a year?"

The officials present were all stunned by the high salary, which was ten times the annual income of their canal workers.

Jiang Xijian, from the second gang, asked curiously what kind of work Jiang Nan did to earn so much money.

Zhao An told the truth: he was going to build an academy, a new government building, and supporting school district housing and infrastructure for the governor's office.

Building a new district from scratch would take at least two to three years for the construction project alone. In other words, if Zhao An could secure several projects through the governor, Suzhou alone could provide employment for at least tens of thousands of canal workers.

However, he only planned to arrange for 4,000 canal workers to work in Suzhou, because he also had to consider the needs of the local construction industry, and besides, he couldn't possibly empty the Yangzhou branch of the canal gang.

As long as no anti-government flag is raised, the fundamental business of canal transport cannot be interrupted.

"If you have no objections, the second and third gangs will each send two thousand men to Suzhou after the New Year. I will negotiate with the governor's office about food and lodging, so that the brothers won't be left without a place to stay." Zhao An looked around at the officials in charge. "Although my position as the young lord is not high, since the brothers respect me and recognize me as their young lord, I must ensure that the brothers live a good life. Otherwise, I might as well not be the young lord."

The officials were all deeply moved and were about to praise the young lord when someone arrived from outside.

He was a burly, strong man who shouted as soon as he entered the incense hall: "Hey, am I early? Why isn't anyone else here? Where's Boss Chen?"

Before he could finish speaking, he was also grabbed by the throat by a thick arm, his legs were lifted up, and he was dragged behind him like an arrow.

When Ye Zhigui and Xu Lin, the two "executioners," returned to the incense hall, Zhao Anfang curiously turned to Ding Jiu and asked, "Who was that just now?"

Ding Jiu said, "It's Xu Sanhunzi from the Zhi generation, a complete scoundrel."

"Oh."

Zhao An nodded. "Who's next?"

Ding Jiu said the next one should be Boss Wei, who owns several opium dens and brothels and has several hundred men under his command.

"Then let's wait for this Boss Wei."

Zhao An sat down again and put Ding Jiu in charge of the two routes from the Jiao family. He assigned some capable members to escort the goods and quickly get the two routes up and running. After deducting operating costs, some of the profits from the two routes would be kept in the helm as operating funds, and the rest would be used as dividends for all the brothers in the helm.

"We need to make sure all the brothers understand one thing: our Yangzhou branch no longer belongs to any particular uncle or master, but to all the brothers. Every copper coin earned in the branch belongs to the brothers. The leaders can make money, but at the same time, they must ensure that their men are well-fed and well-dressed."

After a string of words to win people over, Boss Wei arrived, dressed like a wealthy old man. As soon as he entered the incense hall, he greeted everyone with a big smile and clasped his hands in greeting. Then, for no apparent reason, he was dragged to the back.

As he passed by Zhao An, Zhao An gave this Boss Wei a sincere smile.

When Wei Laoda was dragged to the backyard by Ye Zhigui and Xu Lin, the corpses on the ground and the pools of blood all around him terrified him. He tried to beg for mercy as soon as he was put down, but he didn't even have a chance to speak before his throat was slit.

One after another, the seven leaders of the gang were killed by their own people. They all died in a daze, with no idea what had happened.

There were nearly thirty corpses piled up in the corner of the backyard wall.

It would be impossible for ordinary people to handle so many corpses, but as a social organization, the Cao Gang had its own personnel specifically responsible for the aftermath.

"Clean it up, load it onto the boat, take it to the Yangtze River, chop it up and feed it to the fish. Keep your hands clean and don't cause any trouble for the helmsman."

After giving instructions to several staff members directly under the incense hall, Ding Jiu returned to the incense hall only to find Shao Jun offering incense to the Third Ancestor.

They were offering incense very devoutly.

After bowing three times, Zhao An placed the incense sticks into the incense burner and led Ye Zhigui, Xu Lin, Sun Rui and others back to the carriage he had come in. When they got off the carriage again, they were already dressed in official robes.

The car was parked outside the Yangzhou Garrison Command Center's office.

Lord Zhao is about to launch a vigorous campaign to improve public security in Yangzhou.

A heavy blow against illegal activities.

(End of this chapter)