Prime Minister

Chapter 134, Section 133: [A Game Within a Game]

Shen Garden.

"Father, isn't Brother Xue very powerful?"

Shen Qingluan smiled brightly, her eyes filled with a sense of pride.

Yizhen County is more than 50 miles away from the prefectural city, and there is very frequent travel between the two places. The news that the Hu family in Qingshan Town was thoroughly investigated quickly spread over.

Some busybodies embellished the story, portraying Xue Huai's brief encounter with Chen Lun as a life-or-death struggle, which led to Xue Huai's reputation soaring even higher despite his absence from the prefectural city.

The Shen family has its own well-connected and accurate information channels, so they know that the truth is not as exaggerated as it seems. However, it is also true that Xue Huai withstood the pressure from the Salt Transport Bureau and the Grand Canal Administration, which is why Shen Qingluan asked such a question.

Shen Bingwen nodded and said, "Indeed, very impressive."

Shen Qingluan noticed that his expression was not relaxed, so she suppressed her smile and asked with concern, "Father, is there something wrong with this matter?"

"Nothing."

Shen Bingwen frankly said, "I was just thinking about the news that came out of the Salt Transport Office a couple of days ago."

"Father, are you referring to the Salt Transport Bureau's plan to add new salt deposits?"

Shen Qingluan pondered and said, "I find this matter rather strange. Logically speaking, the number of salt deposits issued in the Lianghuai region has already exceeded eighty, which is enough for the needs of all the salt merchants. Why is there a sudden increase in salt deposits now?"

The salt administration system of the Great Yan Dynasty was not particularly complicated. Taking the Yangzhou Salt Transport Office as an example, they would issue a certain number of salt permit purchase rights, and only salt merchants approved by the Salt Transport Office could purchase these permits. After obtaining a salt permit, a salt merchant would apply to the Salt Transport Office annually to purchase salt permits, and then use these permits to purchase salt at the salt fields.

The price of each salt deposit varies, and the approved salt deposit quota also varies.

For example, the Shen family owned sixteen salt permits, which could be used to obtain a total of more than 60,000 salt permits each year. Each permit could be used to purchase 400 catties of salt.

In short, large salt merchants who owned salt permits were similar to general distributors. Only they were qualified to apply to the Salt Transport Bureau for salt permits, which they could then use themselves or sell to small and medium-sized salt merchants, who were equivalent to secondary distributors.

Currently, within Yangzhou, only eight major salt merchants are qualified to purchase salt deposits. Besides the Shen family and the four prominent Yangzhou families of Liu, Qiao, Zheng, and Wang, there are also the Bai, Ge, and Huang families.

In terms of strength, the Liu, Qiao, and Shen families are undoubtedly in the first tier, followed by the Zheng and Wang families, with the Bai, Ge, and Huang families at the very bottom.

The last time the Salt Transport Bureau issued additional salt permits was four years ago. Normally, unless a large number of new salt fields are added in a short period of time, the Salt Transport Bureau would not issue additional salt permits frequently.

"It's a bit weird indeed."

Shen Bingwen slowly said, "According to the news from Taixing County and Haimen County, there haven't been many new salt fields opened in Lianghuai in recent years, which is not enough to support the Salt Transport Office to open more salt fields. However, judging from the recent rumors among salt merchants, the Salt Transport Office will make a big move this time."

If the Salt Transport Office is not just making things up, this will be a rather severe test for the Shen family.

The privilege of operating a salt deposit is a business that can be passed down through generations of families. Coupled with fierce competition among major salt merchants, salt deposits have always been expensive, with a single deposit costing anywhere from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of taels of silver.

This is just the price on the surface. If a salt merchant wants to successfully bid for a salt deposit, he/she also needs to bribe officials at all levels of the Salt Transport Office, which is another huge expense.

The Shen family is large and powerful. Even though Shen Bingwen has streamlined most of his scattered businesses in recent years, the annual fixed investment is still a terrifying figure.

Originally, the Shen family wouldn't have been constrained by capital, but two things in the past six months have cost them a fortune. First, last year, the Guangtai ship went north to the capital to open a money exchange and a cloth shop, with an astonishing initial investment. Second, Shen Bingwen is currently planning to go overseas and open up maritime trade routes, which is also a money pit.

However, the Shen family could not miss the Salt Transport Bureau's recognition ceremony. Firstly, they needed to maintain their relationship with the Salt Transport Bureau, and secondly, it was related to the future foundation of Guangtai Company. If the Shen family did not participate in this recognition ceremony, those small and medium-sized salt merchants would definitely be lured away by other large salt merchants.

Shen Qingluan said with some guilt, "Father, I shouldn't have been so willful."

"What does this have to do with you? Don't blame yourself."

Shen Bingwen waved his hand and said gently, "The decision for Guangtai to go north was one I agreed to. Now, thanks to Xue's introduction of Princess Yun'an, Guangtai has already gained a foothold in the capital and we will gradually see results. If you weren't so determined, I might not have dared to take this step. As for this home-recognition ceremony, it's most likely a trap set by Liu Fu. Our Shen family just needs to follow the Qiao family. Old Master Qiao has fought with Liu Fu his whole life; he will definitely be able to avoid the traps Liu Fu sets."

Shen Qingluan relaxed a bit. After thinking for a moment, she said, "Father is currently preoccupied with the matter of going to sea. How about I take care of the preliminary arrangements for this home-recognition ceremony?"

Shen Bingwen nodded and said, "Of course."

Shen Qingluan's eyes lit up, and she smiled and said, "Father, I want to go to the salt fields in the north to take a look first. That way, we might be more confident."

Shen Bingwen chuckled and said, "Just to go see the salt fields?"

He remembered that according to Xue Huai's plan, after inspecting Yizhen County, they would go to Xinghua County and Baoying County in the north.

Shen Qingluan blinked, but did not deny it.

"Go ahead, and remember to give my regards to the Xue family's son." Shen Bingwen added, "Take plenty of men with you this time. I'll have Qi San and Yue Ping lead men with you." Shen Qingluan obediently agreed.

……

Yongqingfang, Liu Mansion.

"Why is Xue Tongzhi so murderous? He didn't even give face to the Salt Transport Office and the Grand Canal Administration. The Hu family, which was doing well, was gone just like that."

Zheng Boyan sighed deeply. Although the Zheng family and the Hu family were not closely related, they were still acquaintances who had been doing business with each other for many years. Seeing the Hu family being severely punished by Xue Huai, he couldn't help but feel a sense of shared sorrow.

"Who can blame Lord Xue for having powerful connections? It's easier to get things done when you have someone in the court. If it weren't for the Grand Minister of Works backing him up, how could those people from the Salt Transport Bureau have retreated so easily?"

Bai Xiu, the head of the Bai family sitting opposite, snorted coldly. The fate of the Hu family gave him a strong sense of crisis.

Ge Huaicheng, the head of the Ge family standing nearby, sighed, "After all, Xue Tongzhi is different from Tan Fuzun. Even without Minister Shen's protection, the legacy left by Lord Xue Wensu back then would have been enough to allow him to remain in the officialdom for a long time. Otherwise, given what he did in the capital two years ago, he would have been attacked by the masses long ago. How could he have been allowed to live peacefully until now?"

"Now is not the time to let him get away with this."

Zheng Boyan frowned and said, "Gentlemen, the Hu family's example is right before our eyes. Are we just going to do nothing and watch as Magistrate Xue makes Yangzhou into chaos?"

Compared to previous private discussions, only four people were present today, with Wang Shilin, the head of the Wang family, being the only one missing. Everyone knew why this was. Although Wang Gui was only a member of a collateral branch, he was highly valued by Wang Shilin. Now that Wang Gui was following Xue Huai around all day, the Wang family's position was bound to be questioned.

Therefore, Liu Fu did not invite Wang Shilin today.

Bai Xiu glanced at the silent Liu Fu and said cautiously, "If we had known this would happen, perhaps we would have been better off leaving Xue Tongzhi out in the cold."

"This matter was due to my lack of foresight."

Liu Fu smoothly took over the conversation, saying frankly, "Initially, I just wanted to find something for Xue Huai to do so that he wouldn't interfere with this reunion ceremony, since that's the most important thing for us right now. But I didn't expect this young scholar to be so gifted, handling all sorts of complex administrative tasks with ease, unlike other young officials who struggled to get started after their first assignment. This was indeed a miscalculation on my part, and I ask for your understanding."

"Brother Zicheng, please don't do this."

Zheng Boyan quickly tried to smooth things over, saying, "Since Magistrate Xue has this ability, it doesn't matter whether we lure him into a trap or not, because Prefect Tan's attitude of relinquishing power is very clear. Even if no one causes trouble for Magistrate Xue, he can still directly pick out cases related to our families to deal with. Right now, at least we can confirm one thing: Magistrate Xue's trip to Yangzhou is aimed at us. The Hu family is a living example. Therefore, we can no longer continue to endure."

At this point, a thought suddenly struck him, and he involuntarily looked at Liu Fu.

The fact that the officials under the government office made things difficult for Xue Huai was initiated by the Liu family. Could this be something that Liu Fu did intentionally?
By handing over the evidence to Xue Huai and then using the fate of the Hu family to force all families to unite and abandon any illusions about Xue Huai, everyone will realize that even if they are willing to compromise, Xue Huai will not show any mercy. In this way, they will have no choice but to follow the Liu family closely and fight them to the bitter end.

Based on Zheng Boyan's understanding of Liu Fu, he felt that this was highly likely, but after thinking for a moment, he ultimately decided not to bring it up.

At this moment, Liu Fu gave Zheng Boyan a meaningful look and slowly said, "Brother Yunxiu is right. The Hu family's fate is a warning before our eyes. We cannot sit idly by and wait for our doom."

A single sentence instantly heightened the tension in the dark room.

Liu Fu took in everyone's reactions and said, "Moreover, don't forget that the Hu family has maintained close ties with various families over the years. Although Hu Qing doesn't know our most important secrets, if Xue Huai gets hold of the Hu family's hidden accounts, it will be a huge threat to us. Some things are fine as long as we don't make a fuss, but once we are targeted by people in the court, it will be difficult for us to live peacefully in the future."

Ge Huaicheng tentatively asked, "Brother Zicheng, do you have a solution?"

"Now Xue Huai has offended the local officials and gentry of Yangzhou, as well as the Salt Transport Office and the Grand Canal Administration. If we let him continue to cause trouble, I'm afraid no one will have a good life. I think we should take some measures, at least we can't just sit by and watch him make Yangzhou people panic."

Liu Fu stroked the teacup in front of him and said slowly, "After he finishes inspecting Yizhen County, he will go to Xinghua County in the north, which has never been peaceful."

Zheng Boyan and the other two were stunned upon hearing this.

Bai Xiu said nervously, "Brother Zicheng, if Magistrate Xue were to suffer any mishap in Yangzhou, the imperial court would surely investigate thoroughly, and then we might face a great disaster. Perhaps we should..."

"What are you thinking? Why would I take such a risk? Isn't this putting the lives of my family and relatives at risk?"

Liu Fu frowned, looking slightly helpless, and said, "What I'm talking about is using the local poor people to incite a popular uprising. Given Xue Huai's current situation of incurring public wrath, all it takes is adding fuel to the fire, and the Jiangsu officialdom, from top to bottom, will have a reason to impeach him. At that time, no matter how unwilling he is, he will not be able to continue serving as an official in Yangzhou."

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief. They had genuinely believed that Liu Fu intended to assassinate Xue Huai, a truly alarming claim that had greatly frightened them.

Zheng Boyan nodded and said, "In that case, I am willing to follow your instructions, brother."

Bai and Ge also expressed their opinions one after another.

Liu Fu smiled slightly, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes.

(End of this chapter)