Prime Minister

Chapter 253, Section 252: [Stop Here]

The office of the Grand Canal Transport Commissioner in Huai'an Prefecture.

"What brings Chief Sang here today? Are you perhaps here to freeload?"

Governor Jiang Jizhou sat in his armchair, smiling as he looked at the leader of the Grand Canal Gang opposite him.

Sang Shichang was over fifty years old. He was not tall but quite strong. His face was angular and sharp, as if it had been carved with a knife and axe. In particular, his eyes, like those of a hawk, revealed a strong sense of shrewdness and sharpness.

"Since you've said that, I'll definitely try to sneak a couple of jugs of good wine with me when I leave."

Sang Shichang smiled calmly. His relationship with Jiang Jizhou was extraordinary. They had cooperated very well for more than ten years. Jiang Jizhou provided him with official protection, while the canal gang under his command played a very important role in Jiang Jizhou's control of the entire canal transport system.

"I knew you wouldn't come here unless you had a reason."

Jiang Jizhou made a pointed remark, then added, "I heard the Grand Canal Gang isn't having an easy time lately?"

Sang Shichang suppressed his smile and sighed, "To be honest, I only learned from the accountant half a month ago that the gang's profits over the past three months have actually decreased by nearly 10% compared to the past."

For the canal gangs, this nearly 10% income was not a small amount. It could be acceptable if it happened by chance, but once it became a regular occurrence, Sang Shichang would definitely have a headache.

Jiang Jizhou did not feign ignorance and pondered for a moment before asking, "Because of the Lianghuai Salt Industry Association?"

"Yes."

Sang Shichang sighed softly and said dejectedly, "Your Excellency, in the past, the large and small salt merchants of Lianghuai, as well as those merchants with considerable strength, needed the help of our Canal Transport Gang in many matters. We helped them and then collected a certain commission, which was originally a mutually beneficial thing. However, since that Xue Tongzhi of Yangzhou set up a Salt Industry Association last year, the salt merchants' attitude towards our Canal Transport Gang members is still polite, but they are no longer as dependent on us as before. The Canal Transport Gang can't force them to make requests."

Jiang Jizhou remained silent upon hearing this.

Although the two were close, it did not mean that Jiang Jizhou would unconditionally support and take care of the canal gang.

After the investigation and handling of the Lianghuai salt case, the emperor transferred some of the supervisory powers of the Lianghuai Salt Transport Office to the Salt Law Commissioner, while retaining Xue Huai as the Salt Administration Supervisory Commissioner, in order to ensure the smooth and successful implementation of the salt administration reform.

If the Lianghuai Salt Transport Office can deliver an excellent performance this year, the Emperor will allow the other ten salt transport offices of the Great Yan to implement this policy.

In this way, the cabinet and the Ministry of Revenue would still control the collection of salt taxes, but the emperor could legitimately exercise the power of supervision, instead of only being able to read the memorials of civil officials and at most rely on the Jing'an Division to find some clues as before.

As the Grand Canal Transport Commissioner, how could Jiang Jizhou not know how much the Emperor valued this matter?

Today, Sang Shichang came to him to complain. Even though their interests aligned, he could not rashly take action against those salt merchants, because behind them stood not only Xue Huai, a rising star in the officialdom, but also the emperor in the capital palace.

Seated inside the hall was a high-ranking official of the third rank, namely Song Yi, the deputy of Jiang Jizhou and the councilor of grain transport.

Seeing Jiang Jizhou fall silent, he took the initiative to speak, saying, "Chief Sang, this Salt Industry Association has only been established for a little over half a year, yet it can already play such an important role?"

"Your Majesty, please forgive me."

Sang Shichang knew that Song Yi was Jiang Jizhou's confidant and was inquiring on Jiang Jizhou's behalf, so he stated as concisely as possible: "After the downfall of Liu Zheng and other powerful families in Yangzhou last year, the Qiao and Shen families became the leaders of the business world. The Shen family goes without saying, and the Qiao family also took whatever they wanted from Xue Tongzhi. Especially when Qiao Wangshan was elected as the first head of the Salt Association, the Qiao family followed Xue Tongzhi's lead without question. Under the organization of these two families, hundreds of salt merchants of all sizes in Lianghuai gathered together. They exchanged goods and helped each other, and in many matters, they no longer needed the Canal Gang to help them."

Seeing the solemn expressions of the two high-ranking officials, Sang Shichang added, "Your Excellency, Lord Song, in the past, salt merchants relied on the Grand Canal Gang to handle things for them wherever they traded. But now they have formed a unified voice and are sending representatives directly to negotiate with local governments and private forces, thus bypassing our Grand Canal Gang. At first, I thought the Salt Industry Association was just an empty shell and didn't pay much attention to it. Now I realize how clever that Magistrate Xue is."

Jiang Jizhou and Song Yi exchanged a glance, gaining a deeper understanding of the troubles caused by the Grand Canal Gang.

In the past, salt merchants operated independently, and the power of a single family was naturally very weak. When they traveled to various places to do business, they needed to maintain relationships with all sorts of people, and this expense was not to be underestimated.

In this environment, they regularly paid a sum of money to the canal gang, who were responsible for protecting their businesses and properties in various places. Over time, this became a very important source of income for the canal gang.

Now, with the establishment of the Salt Industry Association, and with Qiao Wangshan and Shen Bingwen acting as mediators, and Xue Huai providing support, the majority of salt merchants can unite their forces. This means they no longer need to worry too much about threats from external forces and therefore no longer require the protection of the Grand Canal Gang.

While observing Jiang Jizhou's expression, Song Yi carefully said, "Chief Sang, the Grain Transport Commission will always take care of the livelihood of the Grain Transport Brothers, no matter when or where. However... since the Lianghuai Salt Transport Office began to implement reforms last year, related matters have attracted His Majesty's attention. The reason for the establishment of the Salt Industry Association is very legitimate, and their subsequent actions are in accordance with the rules. Even the Grain Transport Commission cannot forcibly interfere."

Jiang Jizhou nodded slightly.

In fact, with the power he held, it wouldn't have been particularly difficult for him to control those salt merchants or even Xue Huai. The problem was that salt administration reform was a major event that the emperor valued, and it would have seemed foolish for him to sabotage it at this time.

Upon seeing this, Sang Shichang knew Jiang Jizhou's attitude and quickly changed the subject, saying, "Lord Song, how dare I presume to discuss the important policies of the court? Today, I have shamelessly come to your door because I actually want to ask you for a favor."

Jiang Jizhou said calmly, "Speak freely." "The salt merchants rely on the Salt Industry Association for mutual protection, which is their own ability. The Canal Gang will certainly not jeopardize the overall situation for such a petty gain. I have already spoken with the gang's manager. If the salt merchants continue to visit, we are still willing to provide assistance. If they stop visiting, the Canal Gang will not do anything petty like deliberately creating trouble for the salt merchants."

Sang Shichang's statement softened Jiang Jizhou's expression considerably.

He paused slightly, then said sincerely, "However, I've heard that the Salt Industry Association plans to form its own fleet and will no longer need the canal boats. It's not that I'm unwilling to part with the meager fees, but that besides official boats, the canal is only served by the canal boats of the canal merchants. Those scattered merchant and passenger boats are insignificant, but the Lianghuai salt merchants are wealthy and powerful. If they really build a large-scale fleet, who will call the shots on the canal in the future?"

The hall was silent.

Jiang Jizhou slowly picked up the teacup, his expression slightly solemn.

The Grand Canal was naturally the most important part in terms of transport capacity. The canal transport authorities controlled a huge fleet of official ships. In addition to transporting grain and supplies to the capital every year, they could also earn a lot of transport fees, which was an income that they absolutely could not give up.

This Xue Huai...

Before Jiang Jizhou could give a reply, a clerk outside suddenly requested an audience.

A moment later, a man in his thirties followed the clerk into the side hall. Upon seeing this man, Sang Shichang frowned and asked, "What are you doing here?"

The visitor was none other than his eldest son, Sang Chengde.

He bowed respectfully to Jiang Jizhou and Song Yi, then looked at his father and said with some difficulty, "Father, news has come from the Yangzhou branch that my third brother is in trouble."

Sang Shichang said in a deep voice, "What trouble has Chengze gotten himself into this time?"

Sang Chengde lowered his head and said, "My third brother injured Qiao Wenxuan, the seventh young master of the Qiao family in Yangzhou, and his entourage in a moment of anger. He has now been imprisoned by the Yangzhou government."

"That unfilial son!"

Sang Shichang was filled with shock and anger. He quickly stood up and said to Jiang Jizhou, "Your Excellency, I have failed to properly educate my son. Please forgive me."

“It’s just a young person’s impulse, it shouldn’t be a big deal, why are you so nervous?”

Jiang Jizhou offered words of comfort, but inwardly he sneered, thinking to himself that this old man had now learned such petty tricks.

However, Jiang Jizhou did not feel any ill will towards Xue Huaisheng. On the contrary, he became wary of him. If Xue Huaisheng really wanted to persuade those salt merchants to form their own shipping fleet, this matter could not be let off lightly.

Just then, Sang Chengde stammered, "Lord Caotai, according to the people from the Yangzhou branch of the Cao Gang, this time it was the eldest son who took my younger brother to Yangzhou, and at that time the officials of the Yangzhou government ignored the eldest son's advice and forcibly took Sang Chengze away from the branch."

The so-called eldest son refers to Chiang Fang-cheng.

Song Yi, who had been sitting on the side watching the show, changed his expression slightly.

Jiang Jizhou remained calm, but his tone turned colder: "What is Jiang Fangzheng doing in Yangzhou? And since he was there, why didn't he stop Sang Chengze from injuring people?"

Sang Shichang dared not speak, and Song Yi quickly advised, "Minister, please calm down. The eldest son has always been low-key and cautious in his actions. There is probably a misunderstanding here."

At the same time, he gave the Sang father and son a wink, and the two bowed and took their leave.

The hall fell silent. Jiang Jizhou frowned and said slowly, "This rebellious son is getting bolder and bolder."

"Minister".

Song Yi pondered for a moment, then earnestly said, “The third son of the Sang family is a reckless and unruly person. This matter is most likely because he heard about the difficulties the Canal Gang has been facing these past few months, so he took it upon himself to cause trouble in Yangzhou. As for the eldest son… I believe he would never act recklessly. It must have been the third son of the Sang family who suddenly took action, and he didn’t have time to stop him. Afterwards, he only thought about calming things down as soon as possible, which is why he didn’t report it to the Ministry. In my opinion, this matter may not be a bad opportunity.”

Jiang Jizhou turned to look at him: "An opportunity?"

"Yes, Your Excellency."

Song Yi calmly said, "Although Sang Shichang's words may be exaggerated, that Xue Tongzhi has indeed overstepped his bounds. In any case, he should not have interfered in the Grand Canal. Now that Sang Chengze has been imprisoned in the government office, why doesn't Minister give Xue Tongzhi a brief reminder? Firstly, to make him do his job properly, and secondly, to do Sang Shichang a favor."

After pondering for a long time, Jiang Jizhou finally nodded and said, "Then you should go to Yangzhou and bring Jiang Fangzheng back after you're done. I want to teach him a lesson."

Song Yi stood up and said, "Your subordinate obeys."

(End of this chapter)