Qing Yao

Chapter 345 Please call me Principal!
The old man has the air of Song Jiang!

The rain came just in time.

What does it mean to be specially awarded double-eyed peacock feathers?
It doesn't mean that Lord Zhao's pheasant feathers have gone from one to two. Why should an official like him pretend to be a pheasant? Rather, it means that Lord Zhao has gained the high recognition of the court and the emperor!
The Governor-General of Liangjiang didn't have much of a power!

Zhao An was very grateful for this; it truly showed that father and son were of one mind. Otherwise, how would the old man have known that his illegitimate son needed the greatest support from his father's love at this time?

A thousand words are not as good as a single chicken feather.

"Old Chen's worries are also your worries, and they are understandable! However, the imperial edict is here, and the emperor's grace is boundless!"

Zhao An, adorned with chicken feathers, held up the imperial edict high, its bright yellow light illuminating the entire second hall. "The Emperor has bestowed upon me this double-eyed peacock feather not as a personal reward for Zhao Youlu, but as a reward for the work I did in Anhui, for my strategies to encourage commerce and industry and benefit the local area, for my sincerity towards you all, and for my pure and honest heart!"

As he spoke, Zhao An looked around intently, “What I am saying today about promoting industry and commerce is not a spur-of-the-moment decision, nor is it a temporary expedient. Rather, it is the only way to revitalize our province, in accordance with the Emperor’s grace and the people’s wishes!”

Even if the imperial court appoints a governor in the future, I, Zhao Youlu, will guarantee with this superior's head and these two peacock feathers that I will carry out what I said today to the end!

I will report today's events in detail to His Majesty, explaining that this matter concerns the vital interests of Anhui's people and economy. I believe that as long as we achieve tangible results, bringing real benefits to the people of Anhui and filling the imperial treasury, there is absolutely no reason to abandon such a beneficial policy for the country and its people!

"Your words, sir, are powerful and resounding, like the sun breaking through the clouds!"

Old Master Chen's wrinkles unfolded like chrysanthemums, his beard trembled slightly, and he bowed deeply: "This old man was foolish enough to ask such a question before, but now the weight on my heart has been completely lifted. My Chen family cloth shop is willing to follow your lead, sir, to participate in the evaluation for well-known trademarks, to settle in the industrial park, and to devote all our wealth to following you in making this business a success!"

"We are also willing to follow you, sir!"

"I am willing to serve you like a dog or a horse!"

With the highly respected Old Master Chen taking the lead, and with the absolute authority of the imperial edict and the imperial feather, the last trace of doubt among the merchants in the hall completely vanished, and they all stood up to express their opinions, with wave after wave of voices rising higher and higher.

Zhao An was very satisfied with what he saw. Although these people were just wealthy merchants and workshop owners in Anqing, their economic power accounted for half of Anhui.

Because the essence of Anhui lies in southern Anhui, where commerce is valued and agriculture is valued in northern Anhui.

Unable to vigorously develop agriculture, the only option was to vigorously develop commerce, using commerce to drive agriculture and create a cluster effect. This would rapidly improve people's living standards in the short term and build an Anhui commercial group closely surrounding him, Lord Zhao. Combined with the Jiang-Zhe "financial magnates," while it might not be enough to conquer the Forbidden City, establishing a Southeast Mutual Protection Pact would be more than sufficient.

The meal must be eaten one bite at a time, and the road must be walked step by step.

Today, this second hall of the Provincial Administration Commission is the very foundation upon which the provinces will later issue telegrams declaring independence.

"The selection of renowned trademarks and the preparation for the industrial park will commence immediately, overseen by Manager Song of the Provincial Treasury. Each of you may elect a representative to discuss the details! Furthermore..."

Zhao An abruptly changed the subject, his voice rising sharply, "I am well aware of the difficulties that have plagued commerce in the past, which stemmed not only from flawed thinking but also from unfavorable circumstances. Many beneficial policies often stalled at the prefectural and county levels due to the actions of clerks and runners. As the saying goes, it's easier to see the King of Hell than to deal with his underlings. Those who extort, shirk responsibility, and even engage in market manipulation and exploitation of merchants under various pretexts are not isolated cases!"

These parasites are a major enemy of the province's industrial and commercial development, and also a major enemy of this official. Their elimination is essential to appease public anger, to ensure smooth circulation, and to promote industrial and commercial prosperity!

The three "not to be eliminated" resonated with the merchants present, who nodded in agreement. Even wealthy merchants feared the clerks, for these people were more than capable of causing trouble than accomplishing anything.

The fact that the newly appointed provincial governor has such a clear understanding is undoubtedly a blessing for merchants and the people.

Zhao An took in everyone's reactions and then announced decisively: "Therefore, I have decided to establish the Anhui Provincial Commerce Supervision Office under the Provincial Administration Commission. This office is independent of the original six departments and will be directly under my command!"

The moment the words "Commercial Inspectorate" were uttered, everyone in the room was astonished, for this was an institution they had never heard of before.

In Zhao An's view, this organization was actually a group personally led by the governor of a province, not only to seize power, but also to concentrate resources to accomplish major tasks.

Old Song stepped forward at the opportune moment, unfolded a document, and explained in detail: "Gentlemen, the Supervisory Office will temporarily consist of two divisions: the Supervisory Division and the Inspection Division. The Supervisory Division is responsible for coordinating all matters related to industrial and commercial development in the province, explaining new policies, and assisting in resolving common problems encountered by you in your business operations; while the Inspection Division is of paramount importance!"

At this point, Old Song, mimicking Zhao An, emphasized, "The Inspection Office will set up complaint mailboxes in wharves and markets throughout the prefectures and counties, and will send special commissioners to conduct regular inspections and undercover investigations. Merchants and citizens who encounter unwarranted difficulties, delays, extortion, bribery, or illegal charges by local officials and clerks can submit their complaints anonymously or under their real names to the Supervisory Office!"
Zhao An picked up the conversation, saying sternly, "Once verified, no matter who is involved, whether an official or a low-ranking official, they will be severely punished without exception! At best, they will be dismissed from their posts and flogged, and the embezzled funds will be recovered; at worst, they will be exiled and their homes confiscated as a warning to others! Moreover, after verification, the complainant will be rewarded, and the matter will be kept strictly confidential!"

Having said that, he waved his hand and declared, "I guarantee with my life that everything I have said is true!"

Old Song concluded, "In short, the Supervisory Office personally established by Lord Zhao is a sword hanging over the heads of those corrupt officials. It is specifically set up to protect your legitimate business operations and ensure the smooth implementation of government orders. In the future, if you encounter injustice while doing business in Anhui, you will no longer need to suffer in silence; just go to the Supervisory Office."

Zhao An nodded: "If a daughter is bullied by her husband's family after marriage, her maternal family will stand up for her. I am your maternal family. No matter who is bullied, I will stand up for them!"

He paused for a moment, then chuckled softly, “However, if you are in the wrong, please don’t come to me, lest others say that I am a corrupt and muddle-headed official. It’s like a daughter who marries into a family and is not filial to her parents-in-law, bullies her sister-in-law every day and doesn’t let her husband touch her. In that case, her family will be too embarrassed to stand up for her.”

The audience burst into laughter.

Amid the laughter, Zhao An's image continued to rise.

"Justice Zhao, the upright official!"

A tea merchant was so moved that tears streamed down his face. "If this supervisory office had existed twenty years earlier, and if Lord Zhao had been such an upright official, I wouldn't have been so exploited by those tax collectors that I almost lost my family!"

"With this supervisory office and Lord Zhao backing us up, we all feel more confident and dare to invest money in business!"

A young workshop owner excitedly waved his fist, determined to respond to Lord Zhao's call and increase the number of sheets on his looms from fifty to one hundred.

"Sir, you understand the hardships of merchants; we cannot let you down!"

Old Master Chen stroked his beard and sighed deeply, his eyes full of admiration. He then addressed the crowd, saying, "Gentlemen, if we do not do our utmost, how can we live up to Lord Zhao's painstaking efforts?" He naturally received a positive and enthusiastic response from the crowd.

It's no wonder the businessmen reacted so enthusiastically. It wasn't Zhao An's sincerity that moved them, but rather his series of measures that were more appealing than any previous discounts or promises. This was because it directly addressed their deepest pain points and fears—unfair treatment and unpredictable extortion.

And this is what Zhao An summarized in four words: "business environment".

The certainty of the business environment is far more important than temporary tax breaks.

Commercial taxes were never fixed taxes, but rather a "free tax" levied by local officials. Apart from ensuring the Ministry of Revenue received its share, local officials at all levels would collect all sorts of miscellaneous commercial taxes under various pretexts, which caused great suffering for small and medium-sized merchants.

Merchants were required to donate to the imperial court for wars, disaster relief, and even for officials' birthday celebrations.

No official in the Qing Dynasty had ever valued industry and commerce as much as Zhao An, prioritizing their development and even going so far as to use his position as a second-rank official to support and protect merchants.

If this gets back to the capital, those pedantic censors might just submit a memorial impeaching Zhao An.

The Anqing Industrial and Commercial Symposium not only set the tone for Anhui's vigorous development of industry and commerce, but also elevated Zhao An's personal prestige to a new level.

Even that old master who made an excuse to go to Huizhou was far inferior.

Just as Zhao An was vigorously promoting new industrial and commercial policies in Anqing, Yangzhou Prefecture, where he rose to prominence, also provided him with a timely boost.

260 students from Yangzhou, including those from the Yangzhou Prefectural School, were "packaged" and sent to Anqing by Vice Principal Ma, the school's professor. In the letter of recommendation, Vice Principal Ma claimed, "Supporting Lord Zhao is supporting Anhui, and supporting Anhui is supporting the imperial court."

Anhui and Jiangsu are one family!

Looking at the young faces before him, some showing signs of travel fatigue but radiating youthful energy, their eyes filled with curiosity and anticipation, Zhao An was overjoyed: "This is truly a timely help!"

In his delight, he asked Song Jia, the prefect of Anqing, who was accompanying him: "The path of the imperial examination is narrow, and how many can truly leap over the dragon gate? The world is vast, and there are many paths beyond just becoming an official. We need people like these who are learned, reasonable, and literate to fill the grassroots and handle practical matters!"

After saying this, he whispered to Old Song, who also came from the Yangzhou education sector, "These people are our own soldiers!"

What does "soldiers" mean?
Old Song understood that, just like the Jiangdong youths who followed Xiang Yu in his campaigns, they were all his trusted confidants, bound by blood.

The arrival of more than two hundred students from Yangzhou greatly solved Zhao An's manpower shortage problem, so he immediately ordered the cleaning and tidying of a recently cleared official residence on the back street of the provincial governor's office, and hung up a brand-new plaque that read "Anhui Political Training School".

The school has dormitories, dining halls, lecture halls, and activity areas.

All students are provided with accommodation in pairs, with bright and clean rooms and brand-new bedding; the food standard is on par with that of the clerks in the provincial government, ensuring that there is meat and vegetables every day; and a monthly "study allowance" is also given to students to purchase writing materials and pocket money.

Zhao An appointed himself as the chief instructor, and Lao Song and the experienced and skilled senior officials from the provincial governor's office and the six departments of the provincial governor's office served as full-time instructors.

The training content was far from the empty rhetoric of the imperial examinations; instead, it was entirely practical information tailored to the real needs of Anhui. For example, veteran officials from the household registration department would give students lectures on the new laws for collecting taxes and grain, tips for household registration management, and detailed explanations of the newly formulated commercial tax regulations.

The clerk of the criminal affairs office then used case studies to explain to the students the clauses in the "Great Qing Code" related to commerce, contracts, debts, and property rights, as well as the techniques for mediating civil disputes.

The workshop masters taught practical skills such as engineering surveying, material procurement, and quality inspection; the military officers introduced the relay transportation process, the escort of bulk goods, and the security of the workshop warehouses.
To help these students get started as soon as possible, Zhao An personally taught them. However, he did not simply read from the textbook. Instead, he discussed the global situation and opportunities in Anhui Province in the main hall, explaining his concepts of "industrial and commercial prosperity for the province," "practicality first," and "serving the local community." He also provided an in-depth analysis of the details of the various new policies to be implemented, including "well-known trademarks," "industrial and commercial parks," and the importance of the Commerce Supervision Office.

"classmates!"

Zhao An's tone was full of encouragement: "Today's Anhui is undergoing a transformation unseen in a century, and it is precisely in this context that we need you all to use your talents and wisdom to open up new horizons in this practical matter!"

"As long as you all learn your skills well and perform your duties diligently, you will all gain my appreciation and be promoted. Your future may not be inferior to that of the proper path of the imperial examination! I hope you will cherish this opportunity, study diligently, and become the backbone and pillars of Anhui's government as soon as possible, and also my right-hand men!"

Those who could come to Anhui must have had no hope of passing the imperial examinations in Yangzhou and had a bleak future. Who wouldn't be overjoyed to suddenly have this opportunity to become an official?
Seeing how much Zhao An, the current governor of Anhui and former professor in Yangzhou, values ​​the students of his hometown, not only providing them with excellent food and lodging but also personally teaching them with such novel and practical content, everyone was deeply grateful and their enthusiasm for learning soared to unprecedented heights.

Some students even regarded Zhao An as their second parents and mentor in their letters to their relatives, and were filled with gratitude for his recognition and willingness to die for him.

Although the students have not yet joined various levels of government in Anhui, the rudiments of a Yangzhou Party have clearly taken shape.

The party leader was naturally Zhao An, the former professor.

On this day, after Zhao An finished giving a lecture despite his busy schedule, the students spontaneously gathered together and respectfully bowed to him, saying in unison, "Thank you for your teachings, sir!"

"No need for formalities!"

Looking at the young people who were not much older than him, Zhao An was very pleased. He laughed and waved his hand, saying, "From now on, students don't need to be so formal in this school, and don't call me 'sir'."

Everyone was stunned and didn't know why.

Zhao An smiled broadly and said loudly, "Since I am the head instructor of this training school, you are all my students. From now on, you can call me Principal. It sounds more friendly!"

After speaking, he solemnly addressed the students: "Remember, once you enter this door, you are my students, Zhao Youlu. You must study hard and encourage each other!"

"Once you step out of this door, you will be officials, my subordinates, Zhao Youlu's subordinates. You must strictly abide by the rules! I hope that in the future, all the capable officials in Anhui's prefectures and counties will come from this school! And that all officials, high and low, in Anhui will be able to call me Principal!"

(End of this chapter)