Prime Minister

Chapter 277, Section 276: [A Newborn Calf]

Huai'an, Yuehe Street, Dongcheng District.

On this street stands a deep and spacious courtyard with seven rooms and seven courtyards, called the Jianghuai Canal Transport Association, which is actually the headquarters of the canal transport gangs as commonly known.

Walking through the black lacquered gate with the huge plaque "Cao Tong Si Hai" hanging above, and passing through the front and middle courtyards of the continuous buildings, you can see several exquisite houses hidden deep in the courtyard. This is the residence of Sang Shichang, the leader of the Cao Gang, and his family.

In a secluded courtyard in the southeast corner, four burly men in tight-fitting clothes stood solemnly like a wall guarding the outside.

Inside the room, Sang Chengze, like a restless trapped beast, kicked the heavy pear wood table leg, making the teacups clatter, but the guards outside did not react.

He has been detained here for more than ten days.

Ever since returning from Yangzhou, before he could even persuade his father using the methods Xue Huai had taught him, he was met with a barrage of angry rebukes from his father: "You unfilial son! What do you know? The Canal Gang's livelihood is provided by the Canal Transport Office! The Governor-General has given the order, and Councilor Song has personally come to our door, demanding our full cooperation in dealing with the Salt Merchants Association. You still want to be Xue Huai's pawn? What kind of bewitching potion has he given you?"

Without allowing Sang Chengze any further explanation, Sang Shichang ordered his men to lock him in the small courtyard, forbidding him from leaving even a step.

Sang Chengze knew his father's temper very well. In his father's eyes, he was still that spendthrift son who loved pleasure. His father must think that he had been fooled by Xue Huai's words and was now indulging in debauchery and daring to interfere in important matters of the gang.

The thought of Xue Huai's trust and expectations made Sang Chengze unable to bear being trapped here. However, the four guards outside were experts trained by his father, and he had no ability to force his way out.

Sang Chengze went to the window and looked at the gray sky cut off by the high wall outside. Just as he was racking his brains about how to escape the cage, a familiar voice suddenly entered his ears: "Move aside."

The guards replied respectfully, "Yes, Madam."

Sang Chengze turned around abruptly, and then saw his birth mother, Liu, the legal wife of Sang Shichang, walk in. The guards naturally dared not stop the gang leader's wife.

"mother!"

Sang Chengze was overjoyed and quickly stepped forward to plead, "Mother, please let me see Father!"

Holding his hand, Liu frowned and said, "Ze'er, how long are you going to keep acting up? What good will it do you to go against your father?"

"Mother, I'm not being silly! Lord Xue released me not to encourage me to oppose Father, but to give our Canal Gang a way out!"

Sang Chengze spoke very quickly, with an unprecedented seriousness: "Mother, please help me, let me see Father just once! I only need one chance to speak! If Father still refuses to agree to my idea, I am willing to stay in Huai'an for three years!"

Looking at his earnest expression and the flames dancing in his eyes, Liu was slightly taken aback. She had never seen this child care about something to such an extent.
She felt both heartache and worry that if she didn't agree, something might happen. So she sighed and nodded, saying, "I understand. You stay put and I'll go talk to your father."

Sang Chengze said with delight, "Thank you, Mother!"

The following day, in the study of the inner residence.

Sang Shichang sat in the armchair with a somber expression, staring at Sang Chengze as he walked in.

He originally didn't want to pay attention to his foolish and unruly youngest son, but Liu had shared joys and sorrows with him for decades, so he still had to give his wife some face.

The atmosphere in the study was quite serious. Sang Chengze came closer, suddenly lifted his robe and knelt down.

This kneeling surprised and moved Sang Shichang and Liu, who was sitting next to him.

"Father."

Sang Chengze's voice was slightly hoarse, yet exceptionally clear. He looked up at Sang Shichang and said, "I know you are angry, but everything I said today is for the sake of the Grand Canal Gang for centuries to come. If there is even a single falsehood, I will accept any punishment according to family law!"

Perhaps because he was different today, Sang Shichang did not reprimand him directly, but said in a deep voice: "Fine, I'll give you this chance today, let's see what kind of reasoning you can come up with!"

Sang Chengze tried to calm himself down, recalling Xue Huai's earnest teachings. He cut to the chase: "Father, do you really think Governor Jiang and Councilor Song consider our shipping guild as one of their own? They're just using us to deal with the salt merchants of Lianghuai. If things go well, the benefits will all go to the shipping guild, and our shipping guild will only solidify its bad reputation among the merchants. If things escalate or even cause a huge uproar, our shipping guild will be the first to be pushed out to take the fall. No matter how you look at it, this is a losing proposition for our shipping guild."

Liu looked slightly surprised. This child was used to being mischievous, but she didn't expect him to actually be able to make some sense.

However, Sang Shichang sneered: "Fool, without the protection of the Grand Canal Administration, would the Grand Canal Gang be so successful today? Do you understand the principle that you can't fight city hall? Governor-General Jiang controls the Grand Canal administration of eight provinces. He certainly won't easily give up the Grand Canal Gang, but if he wanted to crush our Sang family, it would be as easy as turning his hand. So the Sang family has no choice at all. Do you understand?"

Although he didn't think that Sang Chengze would be completely transformed after being imprisoned by Xue Huai for two months, he was still his most beloved youngest son. These words bluntly told Sang Chengze a simple truth—the Cao Gang was not just the Sang family faction. Jiang Jizhou could support other people. In that case, the Cao Gang would still be the Cao Gang, but the Sang family would be kicked out.

Sang Chengze pondered for a moment, then earnestly said, “Father, Governor-General Jiang has calculated this point, which is why he has been so confident in driving our canal gang into battle. However, if you walk by the river long enough, you're bound to get your shoes wet. If this continues, the canal gang's situation will only become more and more difficult. Father, are you willing to let the foundation built by generations become cannon fodder for others to fight for power? Don't you want to find a new way out for the canal gang?”

Upon hearing this, Sang Shichang actually laughed. Liu looked at him with some worry, and was about to speak when Sang Shichang raised his hand to stop her.

Instead of speaking harshly, he looked at Sang Chengze calmly and asked, "Do you think the Grand Canal will lose this time?"

Sang Chengze nodded without hesitation and said, "Yes!"

It was precisely because he firmly believed that Xue Huai would be the victor in the salt and grain transport dispute that he hoped his father could adjust his strategy in time to prevent the grain transport gang from being dragged into that bottomless pit.

"It seems that Xue Tongzhi's methods of bewitching people are indeed extraordinary. No wonder he was able to govern a region at such a young age."

Sang Shichang sighed meaningfully, then looked at Sang Chengze and said, "I don't understand where your confidence in Xue Huai comes from, but you should know one thing: the problems of the Grand Canal Administration are not exactly secrets. The officials in the capital know this very well, and the emperor in the palace knows it even better. Yet no one has ever suggested investigating it. Do you know why? The Grand Canal is related to the stability of the capital and the nine border regions. As long as this situation does not change, Xue Huai and the salt merchants of Lianghuai will never be able to win against the Grand Canal Administration!"

"What if things change?"

Sang Chengze's words were always startling; his mere seven words caused Sang Shichang's expression to change slightly.

He frowned slightly and asked, "What exactly did Xue Huai say to you?"

"Lord Xue did not tell me this explicitly."

Sang Chengze answered honestly, and then explained, "Father, you may not know Lord Xue well. In fact, just by looking at what he has done in the past two years, you can tell that he is not a fanciful person. When he was in the capital, he investigated corruption in the Ministry of Works and cheating in the imperial examinations. His opponents were high-ranking officials such as Grand Secretaries of the Cabinet and Ministers and Vice Ministers. What was the final result? After he came to Yangzhou, he purged the corrupt officials under his command in just one year, and also investigated the Lianghuai Salt Transport Office and a bunch of local powerful families. Isn't that enough to prove his ability?"

Upon hearing this, Sang Shichang fell silent.

Sang Chengze looked up at him and continued, "As for this salt and grain transport dispute, although I don't know what other tricks Lord Xue has up his sleeve, I firmly believe that since he dared to take action against the grain transport office, he must have made full preparations! Father, don't forget that Lord Xue's father is said to be one of the Emperor's most trusted ministers, and his mentor is the renowned Minister of Works. If it's just a matter of background and power, Lord Xue is no weaker than Governor-General Jiang!"

"You seem to have complete faith in him."

Sang Shichang snorted and slowly said, "You unfilial son, you must remember your stance. Even if Xue Huai truly possesses the means to defy fate, how could the Canal Gang possibly fare well under his control? How can you possibly understand that the Canal Gang and the Canal Administration are always on the same side, and our interests are absolutely aligned? Right now, Xue Huai is trying every means to bewitch you, you fool, simply to sow discord between us and the Canal Administration. Once he gains complete power, he will still turn against the Canal Gang!"

“Father, I have considered this issue.”

To Sang Shichang's surprise, Sang Chengze calmly said, "This is the second thing your son wants to tell you. For so many years, the canal gang has been supporting its members by relying on the contributions from merchants along the canal. But sooner or later, this will lead to resistance from those merchants. The severance of ties by the Lianghuai Salt Association is proof of this. If we don't seek change, it will be too late when the canal government loses power."

Sang Shichang shook his head and said, "Easy for you to say."

"At least we can try once, right?"

Sang Chengze said sincerely, "Father, I want to go to Yangzhou not to compete with my elder brother for power, but to find out Lord Xue's plans. Maybe we can find a new way out for our canal gang!"

Looking at Sang Chengze, who seemed like a completely different person, Liu was filled with emotion. She turned to Sang Shichang and said, "Master, it seems that Ze'er has really become sensible. Why not give him a chance?"

Sang Shichang stared intently at Sang Chengze, who bravely met his gaze, and after a long while said, "Get up."

Sang Chengze asked cautiously, "Father, have you agreed?"

"In any case, we must give face to Governor-General Jiang and Councilor Song, and the canal gang must maintain a consistent stance with the canal administration. I have already made this clear to Wang Kui."

Sang Shichang's expression turned solemn, and then he changed the subject, saying, "As for you... since you don't want to stay at home, then go back to the yard and pack your things. Go wherever you want, and don't get in my way."

Sang Chengze's eyes lit up with ecstatic joy, and he immediately kowtowed, saying, "Thank you, Father! Your son will certainly not let you down!"

After saying that, he got up and strode away.

As Liu watched her youngest son's departing figure, she finally breathed a long sigh of relief.

Sang Shichang stood up and walked to the window, standing silently with his hands behind his back. He looked out the window, his gaze fixed on the direction of the Grand Canal Governor's Office, his brows furrowed.

Sang Chengze's words echoed in his heart, causing his emotions to surge and become unsettled.

Is there really a chance that "what if" could happen?

(End of this chapter)