Prime Minister

Chapter 171, Section 170: [Another Wave Rises]

Yunsi Street, the main hall of the Salt Bureau.

Xu Guanlan sat upright in the main seat, holding a teacup with a lotus-shaped base and a bamboo hat, his expression slightly gloomy.

He had already received a secret edict from the cabinet, delivered by fast horse at a speed of eight hundred li. The emperor ordered him to complete the recognition ceremony before October and promptly send the silver to the national treasury.

For Xu Guanlan, the adoption ceremony itself was not difficult. Even if the Shen family did not participate or contribute, he was confident that he could collect silver to alleviate the court's urgent needs. The problem was that this matter was related to his struggle with Xue Huai.

If he couldn't get the court to transfer Xue Huai away under the pretext of the "nest-recognition ceremony," Xu Guanlan felt he would never have a peaceful life again.

What troubled him most was that, apart from that secret edict, the Chief Cabinet Secretary had given no other instructions.

This made Xu Guanlan sense a hint of danger, but then he thought, how could the emperor and the officials in the court not know whether the salt administration was clean or not? As long as he could continue to pay the court a large amount of salt tax as in previous years, naturally no one would replace him. The emperor's secret edict was probably because the court was in a very difficult situation.

Xu Guanlan let out a long breath and placed the cup on the table.

Since the home-recognition ceremony can't be delayed any longer, it seems we can't get rid of Xue Huai this time...

He suppressed his agitation and looked at Lou Shizong, who was sitting below him, and asked, "How has Shen Bingwen been these past two days?"

"Return Station".

Lou Shizong respectfully said, "This man goes to sleep at 2:45 PM every night and gets up around 3:45 AM the next day. Except for taking a short walk in the courtyard after each meal, he spends the rest of his time reading. He is very cooperative with my interrogation, but he refuses to admit that the batch of smuggled salt is related to Guangtai Company, insisting that someone framed him."

"He's here at the Salt Bureau to recuperate."

Xu Guanlan snorted coldly. Of course, he had more than just the smuggled salt trick to deal with the Shen family. He had already arranged a lot of clues, just waiting for the right time to release them. However, now the emperor had issued a secret decree requiring him to hold a meeting to identify the family as soon as possible. In order to prevent himself from continuing to be entangled with Xue Huai, Xu Guanlan had no choice but to change his plans.

"Detain Shen Bingwen for a few more days. Once Xue Huai's side stops, say that the investigation has found that the smuggled salt has nothing to do with Guangtai Company, and then release him."

Xu Guanlan's words caused Lou Shizong and Chen Lun's expressions to change slightly. It seemed that the envoy would not dare to disobey the emperor's will after all. In this case, the Liu and Zheng families and other powerful clans would have to pay a heavy price. Otherwise, how could Xue Huai have given up?

Just then, a clerk hurriedly entered the main hall, bowed, and said, "Reporting to Yuntai, the party at Yingyuan has dispersed!"

Xu Guanlan narrowed his eyes slightly and said calmly, "The results are in?"

He was naturally aware of the changes in Yangzhou City today and the responses of Xue and Tan. When he learned that Xue Huai had invited the dozens of salt merchants to Yingyuan and invited the heads of various prominent families in Yangzhou to discuss countermeasures, he made a similar judgment to Liu Fu and others—Xue Huai might not give in, but he certainly wanted to temporarily quell the situation to prevent a real riot from breaking out in the city.

The clerk said with slight nervousness, "Back at the transport station, Liu Xu, Zheng Boyan, Bai Xiu, and others left Yingyuan unharmed, but those dozens of salt merchants have completely sided with Xue Tongzhi!"

"What did you say!"

Chen Lun's expression changed drastically. He knew very well the situation of those dozens of salt merchants. Their ancestral property and lives were all in Xu Guanlan's hands. How could they dare to make such a decision?

The clerk then briefly recounted what had happened inside the Shadow Garden, which made Xu Guanlan and the other two turn ashen-faced.

"The Qiao family...the Shen family...the Zhejiang Chamber of Commerce!"

Xu Guanlan muttered to himself, somewhat losing his composure. He truly hadn't expected that Shen Bingwen, imprisoned in the Salt Transport Office, would be able to enlist the help of a wealthy merchant from the Zhejiang Chamber of Commerce.

Originally, he thought that no one in the entire Jiangsu province could help those dozens of salt merchants. Although the Qiao family had a deep foundation, they could not come up with so much cash in a short period of time. This was the reason why he had to take action against Shen Bingwen.

Who would have thought that the eldest daughter of the Shen family could not only stabilize the morale of the family members, but also had the courage to invite powerful external support.

"Transportation platform".

The clerk said fearfully, "Prefect Xue has already led his men to Yongqing Ward."

Xue Huai was clearly going to settle accounts with the Liu family.

Xu Guanlan forced himself to calm down and asked, "Where is Tan Mingguang?"

The clerk replied, "Prefect Tan returned to the prefectural government office with those dozens of salt merchants. He publicly stated that he wanted those salt merchants to confess the illegal crimes of the five prominent families of Liu, Zheng, Wang, Bai, and Ge. Assistant Prefect Xue, on the other hand, wanted to... to directly arrest the leading figures of each family to prevent them from fleeing in fear of punishment."

Lou Shizong and Chen Lun exchanged a glance, their expressions both extremely grave.

Previously, in order to deal with Xue Huai's investigation, they followed Xu Guanlan's instructions and had Liu Fu and others do their best to clean up the incriminating evidence left over from previous years, and also hid some key figures, so that those families could feel at ease to resist the Yangzhou government.

Now that those dozens of small and medium-sized salt merchants have defected, Xue Huai and Tan Mingguang can obtain evidence of the crimes of powerful families like Liu and Zheng without lifting a finger, which is why they can announce their actions so openly.

This was not only a demonstration against the Salt Transport Bureau, but also a clear warning to Xu Guanlan that the Yangzhou Prefecture would never let Liu Fu and his associates off the hook, and that Xu Guanlan should not get involved if he could remain rational.

Lou Shizong asked worriedly, "Yuntai, what should we do?"

Xu Guanlan's face turned ashen, his right hand unconsciously clenched into a fist, and he said in a cold voice, "We can't let him take over the Liu family like this."

He wasn't particularly concerned about Liu Fu's life or death, but that old man held leverage over the Salt Transport Bureau. If he didn't save the Liu family, Liu Fu would definitely try to drag the Salt Transport Bureau down with him! "Chen Lun."

Xu Guanlan made a quick decision, gritting his teeth and saying, "Gather five hundred salt soldiers and have them accompany me to Yongqing Ward."

Chen Lun said menacingly, "This subordinate obeys!"

Lou Shizong also stood up, his face showing undisguised worry.

Unlike the simple-minded Chen Lun, he always felt that Xue Huai's series of actions seemed to hide a very deep conspiracy, but it was difficult to deduce for the time being, and the Liu family could not really fall.

Xu Guanlan said to him, "You stay here and guard the saltworks."

Lou Shizong cupped his hands and said, "Yes, Yuntai."

The three men stepped out of the main hall, only to find a man in his forties dressed in official robes standing not far away, asking expressionlessly, "May I ask where you are headed, Yuntai?"

This man is Huang Chong, a fourth-rank official in the Lianghuai Salt Transport Office. Although his official rank is above that of Lou Shizong and Chen Lun, who are fifth-rank deputy commissioners, he has become a marginal figure in the Salt Transport Office in the past two years due to Xu Guanlan's exclusion and suppression.

"My affairs are none of Lord Huang's concern."

Xu Guanlan shut him down with a single sentence, not bothering to investigate Huang Chong's sudden appearance. He turned back and gave Lou Shizong a deep look before striding away with Chen Lun.

Yunsi Street is located in the northeast area of ​​Yangzhou City, while Yongqingfang is located in the southeast area, almost crossing half of the city.

When Xu Guanlan and Chen Lun arrived at Jinxiu Street in Yongqingfang with five hundred salt soldiers, the situation was already tense and confrontational.

Xue Huai personally led three shifts of constables from the government office and three hundred archers from the patrol station transferred by Tan Mingguang to surround the Liu family mansion, which covered a large area.

The Liu family did not give up the resistance. As if he had expected it, after Liu Xu hurriedly returned to report the news, he immediately ordered the guards to occupy the high ground of the wall and closed the gate tightly, showing a posture of never surrendering.

On Jinxiu Street, the situation was on the verge of erupting.

Hao Shifang, a clerk in the criminal division of the government office, stood in front of the Liu family's gate and repeatedly repeated Tan Mingguang and Xue Huai's decision in a loud voice, urging the Liu family to lay down their weapons and not resist stubbornly, otherwise it would be a serious crime of treason.

Xue Huai rode a magnificent steed, accompanied by a group of bodyguards led by Jiang Sheng.

When hundreds of salt soldiers appeared and quickly approached, the guards on the walls of the Liu family compound all showed expressions of surprise and delight.

On the other hand, the government officials and archers surrounding the Liu family couldn't help but show solemn expressions after seeing the salt soldiers' formation.

"Xue Tongzhi!"

Chen Lun was filled with anger the moment he saw Xue Huai. Old and new grudges surged into his heart. He shouted angrily, "As the Assistant Magistrate of Yangzhou, you have besieged the Liu family, a prominent local clan, for no reason, and swaggered your troops around. What are you trying to do!"

The salt soldiers behind him drew their weapons in unison, their gleaming blades conveying an overwhelming sense of intimidation.

Xue Huai sat upright on his horse, ignoring Chen Lun's clamor. His gaze passed over Chen Lun and was fixed on Xu Guanlan, who was surrounded by salt soldiers. His voice was steady yet clear, resonating throughout the entire area: "Envoy Xu, you led the salt officials and soldiers here armed, breaking into the restricted area of ​​Yangzhou Prefecture to arrest a wanted criminal. What is your intention? Do you mean that the salt soldiers' knives are even going to interfere in the criminal cases of Yangzhou Prefecture?"

Xu Guanlan rode forward and said in a deep voice, "Prefect Xue, Elder Liu is a respected elder in Yangzhou, highly virtuous and renowned. You have surrounded the Liu residence with troops based solely on the one-sided accounts of some merchants. Isn't this disregard for human life and disrupting the local order? Salt affairs are a matter of national importance and the people's livelihood. As the Salt Commissioner of Lianghuai, I have the right to maintain the stability of the salt administration. The truth of the matter is unclear. How can you presume to use force and escalate the situation?"

"What a venerable and respected figure! What a blatant lack of clarity regarding right and wrong!"

Xue Huai let out a cold, sarcastic laugh, his eyes flashing like lightning. "Has Envoy Xu forgotten? I arrested the Liu brothers, Liu Rang and Liu Mou, half a month ago. Moreover, since I took office in Yangzhou, there have been endless complaints against the Liu family. I have remained inactive, merely gathering evidence! Today, I have come to the Liu family to arrest them on the orders of the Prefect. I have both witnesses and physical evidence, and my actions are perfectly justified!"

Xu Guanlan's face was ashen. He knew he lacked sufficient authority to interfere in the affairs of Yangzhou Prefecture, but he could not allow Xue Huai to break down the Liu family's gates today.

Xue Huai suddenly raised a scroll bearing the official seal of the prefect in his hand and said arrogantly, "This is an arrest warrant personally signed by Prefect Tan of Yangzhou! Arrest Liu Fu, Liu Yi, Liu Xu, and their accomplices to be brought back to the prefectural office for trial! This is the proper exercise of the prefectural government's duties of maintaining order and administering criminal justice. The Salt Transport Office is only responsible for salt tax collection. When did it become your place to overstep your bounds and interfere with the handling of cases by local officials?"

His words were sharp as a knife, each sentence pointing directly to the boundaries of the Salt Transport Office's authority.

Xu Guanlan's face turned ashen, his eyes blazing with fury: "Nonsense! Evidence can be forged, and lawsuits can be coerced! How can we be sure it wasn't you, Xue Jingche, who framed a loyal official for personal revenge? The Salt Transport Office has the right to inspect and investigate salt affairs. The Liu family is a model salt merchant in Lianghuai, and over the years they have paid a huge amount of salt tax to the court, which can be said to be of great merit to the country and the people. I naturally have the right to stop you from ruining the foundation of Yangzhou merchants and damaging the great cause of the court's salt tax!"

Chen Lun roared angrily, "You surnamed Xue! You think you can be so arrogant just because you have some imperial favor! Yangzhou is not your place to call the shots! If you don't move aside, don't blame the salt soldiers for not recognizing your fifth-rank position!"

The atmosphere in the room was as tense as a fully drawn bowstring, and in an instant, a murderous intent filled the air.

The people on the wall of the Liu residence seemed to see a savior, and their momentum increased even more.

Xue Huai showed no fear, instead staring coldly at Chen Lun: "Vice Envoy Chen, what a display of official arrogance! Obstructing the government from arresting people, threatening superiors, and setting up a standoff with troops—do you, Chen Lun, still have any regard for the laws of the court? Your sword may not recognize me, but I'd like to ask it whether it recognizes the laws of the Great Yan? Whether it recognizes the orders of the Yangzhou Prefectural Government? Only today have I realized that your Salt Transport Office can actually be above the court!"

Chen Lun gritted his teeth in hatred, but dared not utter a word.

At this critical moment, a rapid and heavy thud of hooves suddenly came from the end of the street, accompanied by a loud and penetrating shout:
"Governor Chen of Jiangsu has arrived!"

(End of this chapter)