Prime Minister

Chapter 283, Section 282: [Righteous and Awe-inspiring]

June 22nd, the 20th year of Taihe.

The almanac says that decaying grass turns into fireflies.

The Imperial Envoy's Residence in the Western City of Yangzhou.

Song Yi, the councilor of the Grand Canal Administration, and Zhao Cong, the prefectural judge of Yangzhou, arrived together, followed by Zhao Shengzhong, the deputy leader of the Grand Canal Gang, and Wang Kui, the leader of the Yangzhou branch.

These four people represent various factions within the Grand Canal system. The Grand Canal Governor Jiang Jizhou and the leader of the Grand Canal Gang, Sang Shichang, did not appear. After all, today was only the first consultation meeting since the salt and canal dispute broke out several months ago, and no one knew what the wind would blow. Jiang and Sang would definitely observe the situation before making a decision.

Although Jiang Fangzheng was Jiang Jizhou's only son, today's consultation was initiated and convened by Fan Dongyang, the Imperial Commissioner and Left Vice Censor-in-Chief, and all the attendees were directly related to the salt and grain transport dispute. Jiang Fangzheng was naturally not qualified to participate, and Song Yi did not dare to force him to join.

On the other side, Xue Huai, the acting prefect of Yangzhou, Huang Chong, the salt transport commissioner of Lianghuai, and Qiao Wangshan, Shen Bingwen, Wang Shilin and Huang Dezhong of the Lianghuai Salt Merchants Association arrived at the imperial envoy's residence almost one after the other.

Inside the main hall, Fan Dongyang stood solemnly. He first read the Emperor's edict to everyone, and then said, "Please be seated, everyone."

The people took their seats in order of rank and status, and a servant came forward to serve them fragrant tea.

Two more scribes then sat down beside him. They were responsible for recording the important conversations of the meeting, which made everyone present very vigilant. After all, the meeting minutes were very likely to appear before the emperor. What should be said and what should not be said was related to their own lives. Even Zhao Shengzhong and Wang Kui were on high alert and dared not be careless in the slightest.

Fan Dongyang sat in the main seat and got straight to the point: "Gentlemen, I have been sent south by imperial decree to mediate the salt and grain transport dispute, and I believe you are already aware of this. Today, I would like to ask everyone to be frank and open with each other and come up with a plan."

The atmosphere in the room was somewhat tense.

Everyone was mentally prepared for today's meeting and had a general understanding of their own and others' positions.

What they cared about most was Fan Dongyang's attitude. As long as they could gain the support of this imperial envoy, they would definitely have a significant advantage in the upcoming negotiations.

"Your Excellency, please allow me to report!"

Wang Kui spoke first, his voice rough and gruff: "It's been a rule on the Grand Canal for centuries that salt boats can't do without the help of the canal gangs. We rough men have asked ourselves how many years we've taken care of these salt merchants, but ever since they created this damn Salt Association, they've cut off 70% of our boat rentals without even a word. How many of our brothers at the docks are desperately waiting for their rice to cook? The Salt Association is trying to cut off our livelihood!"

Wang Shilin stroked his beard and sneered, "What you're saying, Chief Wang, is utterly unreasonable. Last December, when our ship of silk passed through the Qingjiang Lock, your gang demanded 30% of the cost as a service fee. The ship was delayed at the lock for five days, and the silk got damp and moldy. Several thousand taels of capital went down the drain. Is this your gang's way of helping us?"

Knowing that Wang Kui had a volatile temper, Zhao Shengzhong, the deputy leader of the canal gang, interjected at the opportune moment: "If your subordinates occasionally make mistakes, the canal gang has its own rules to deal with them. But you salt merchants formed a society to resist rent, causing many boatmen and laborers along the river to lose their jobs. What you are doing is clearly not giving the canal gang brothers a way to survive."

Sitting below Wang Shilin, Huang Dezhong snorted coldly. Although he had wavered before, after Xue Huai's reprimand, he quickly reaffirmed his stance and stopped wavering. After all, he was one of the top merchants in Lianghuai, benefiting from the salt association everywhere. If he had any second thoughts, Xue Huai would definitely catch him and make an example of him.

Therefore, he looked at Zhao Shengzhong and said in a deep voice, "What a mistake. Deputy Chief Zhao, last year our company transported twelve ships of grain northward. Your company collected the so-called silver for safety, but the ships encountered river bandits when they passed Xuzhou. The escorting soldiers ran faster than rabbits! If it weren't for the timely rescue by the local garrison soldiers, the twelve ships of grain would have been looted by the river bandits. Who should be held accountable for this then?"

Veins bulged on Wang Kui's forehead as he roared, "Why bring up old grievances! It's you salt merchants who have broken the rules now—"

"rule?"

Qiao Wangshan calmly interrupted, speaking steadily yet forcefully: "The Great Yan's 'Regulations on the Grand Canal Transport' clearly state that merchant ships are charged 30% of the weight when passing through locks. May I ask, Captain Wang, nowadays, which merchant ship doesn't pay 12% of the pilotage fee, berthing fee, and tow rope fee collected by the canal guilds? Where did this extra 9% come from? Should I recite for you the old regulations established by the founding emperor?"

Wang Kui was speechless and his face turned red.

Those unaware of the inside story would only think that this leader of the canal gang was a simple-minded and uncouth man with a strong stance.

Xue Huai certainly wouldn't think that way. Sang Chengze had already told him Wang Kui's true stance, and now, watching the other party's almost flawless performance, he couldn't help but find it amusing—in front of Song Yi, Wang Kui would naturally stand firmly on the side of the Grand Canal.

However, neither Wang Kui nor Zhao Shengzhong were eloquent. Seeing that they were being cornered by the salt merchants and unable to speak, Song Yi coughed lightly and reminded them: "Gentlemen, let's stick to the matter at hand and not deviate from the purpose of today's discussion."

Among the high-ranking officials present today, Fan Dongyang is undoubtedly the chief, followed by Huang Chong and Song Yi, both of the third rank. Huang Chong seems to have no intention of speaking from beginning to end, as if he is just going through the motions. Therefore, Song Yi's attitude is very important.

The salt merchants, ultimately not daring to openly oppose this high-ranking official of the Grand Canal, respectfully agreed. Taking advantage of this moment, Zhao Shengzhong steadied himself and slowly said, “Even if the commission is slightly higher, it's because the wages of the canal workers need to be covered. With you salt merchants suddenly severing ties, tens of thousands of brothers in the canal transport guild are left without food or clothing. Last month, canal workers in Huai'an gathered to demand their livelihoods. If this incites a riot…”

"Vice Chief Zhao's words are puzzling."

Qiao Wangshan's expression turned slightly cold as he retorted sarcastically, "Your gang sets up checkpoints everywhere on the canal, increasing merchants' transportation costs by 30% out of thin air. Over the decades, this has added countless profits to the canal gang. Isn't this enough to sustain the livelihoods of the canal workers? Furthermore, those private boats flying the flags of the canal gang come and go on the canal incessantly. Do you really think everyone in the world is blind?"

Zhao Shengzhong's expression changed drastically, and he said in a deep voice, "Please be careful with your words, Chief Qiao! The Canal Gang has always been law-abiding and the claim of private boats is a slander!"

"Vice Chief Zhao."

Shen Bingwen looked up, his tone calm but laced with murderous intent: "On September 18th last year, three of your guild's grain ships sank in the Baoying section of the river. I heard that what floated to the surface during the salvage operation were sappanwood and rhinoceros horn. I really can't understand it. Is it possible for sappanwood and rhinoceros horn to grow in the canal, or is someone deliberately using these expensive items to frame the canal gang?"

The atmosphere in the hall suddenly became heavy.

It was an open secret that cargo ships smuggled goods on the canal.

Smuggling was a way to evade taxes, and it involved a wide variety of goods, such as contraband salt, grain, tea, cloth, and various high-priced goods. This was one of the important sources of income for the Grand Canal Gang.

At this moment, Shen Bingwen revealed this matter in front of the imperial envoy. Although he left some room for maneuver and did not directly accuse the canal gang of smuggling, everyone present could understand the deeper meaning in his words.
A cold sweat broke out on Zhao Shengzhong's back, and he forced himself not to look at the imperial envoy.

Just as he was racking his brains for a way to smooth things over, Song Yi glanced at Zhao Cong, who immediately understood.

The two had previously spoken with Zhao Shengzhong and Wang Kui, and today they would step forward first to refute the salt merchants as much as possible from the root, while at the same time playing the victim and complaining to Fan Dongyang, so that this salt and canal dispute would directly turn in the direction of the canal transport government.

However, the salt merchants, who were usually submissive, suddenly became assertive, and they were all eloquent. Even though Zhao Shengzhong and Wang Kui had seen a lot of the world, they were clearly no match for the salt merchants in this situation.

Song Yi knew that it was because Xue Huai was present that the salt merchants had a backbone and dared to be so tough.

Although Xue Huai, like Huang Chong, did not express any opinion after taking his seat, the fact that he was sitting there today gave the salt merchants the courage to confront the imperial envoy and the grain transport authorities directly.

Song Yi reached out and picked up the teacup, glancing casually at the person opposite him, just as Xue Huai was looking at him.

Their eyes met, and Xue Huai's lips curled into a friendly smile, while Song Yi lowered his eyes expressionlessly.

At this moment, Zhao Cong looked at Qiao Wangshan and the others and said calmly, "What you gentlemen have said is somewhat biased. You all say that the canal gangs are oppressive, but do you remember the edict issued by Emperor Taizu in the eighth year of Jianyuan? All canal boatmen, locksmiths, and canal workers were to be supported by commercial taxes! Over the past hundred years, with the increasing volume of commerce, the slight increase in taxes is actually necessary to protect the canal. How can you take this out of context?"

The members of the Salt Association kept silent. The moment the other party opened his mouth, he brought up the founding emperor. Who would dare to argue with him?
Compared to Zhao Shengzhong and Wang Kui's loud but ineffective accusations, Zhao Cong, a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations), clearly knew better how to exploit the weaknesses of these salt merchants.

He stared coldly at Qiao Wangshan and said with a slightly heavier tone, "Let's talk about your association resisting rent. The Great Yan Code clearly states that merchant associations shall not exceed one hundred members and shall not be involved in litigation or disputes over profits. Now, the Salt Association has included more than one hundred salt merchants from Lianghuai and is openly resisting the inspection of the canal transport. If this is not a violation of the regulations, then what is?"

Qiao Wangshan explained, "Lord Zhao, the Salt Association has already reported to the relevant authorities—"

"Report?"

Zhao Cong interrupted him directly, then said in a deep voice, "The authorities approved the salt merchants' guild, but what are you doing? You're colluding to strike and coerce the canal administration, which is a serious crime of disrupting the canal transport! When Emperor Taizu established the dynasty, he set an ironclad rule: the canal is the lifeline of the nation! Merchants can change their routes, but military supplies cannot be delayed; goods can be transported by land, but relief supplies cannot be delayed! To save a few taels of silver, you've forced the canal boats to sit idle and the canal workers to scatter. If the northern frontier is in crisis and the southern grain supply is blocked, this serious crime of shaking the foundation of the nation will require several heads to atone for."

Upon hearing this, Qiao Wangshan's expression changed, and Wang Shilin and Huang Dezhong beside him felt their hearts pound even faster. Even Shen Bingwen's expression became very solemn.

The hall fell silent. Zhao Cong's words were like the biting north wind of the coldest days of winter, freezing all the scenery in the world.

Sitting in the main seat, Fan Dongyang picked up his teacup, lifted the lid, took a small sip, and then looked thoughtfully at Zhao Cong, who exuded righteousness.

(End of this chapter)