Prime Minister

Chapter 284, Section 283: The First Strike

Faced with Zhao Cong's relentless attacks, Qiao Wangshan frowned and said, "What you say, sir, is something I cannot bear, much less accept the blame for harming the country!"

Zhao Cong snorted coldly and said in a chilling voice, "Then I would like to ask you, why is the Salt Association acting in this way? Is it because the Grand Canal Administration is depriving you of a bite to eat, or is it because the Grand Canal Gang is cutting off your livelihood? Today you salt merchants of Lianghuai are resisting the Grand Canal, tomorrow the silk merchants of Suzhou and Hangzhou will be able to go on strike. If this continues, will our Great Yan Dynasty still have the Grand Canal?!"

The last sentence was like a thunderclap.

Qiao Wangshan clenched his hands, but had no words to say.

Zhao Cong's approach differed from the two members of the Grand Canal Gang. He didn't discuss those details at all, focusing on matters of national importance. This left Qiao Wangshan and the others completely unable to cope. Although they had Xue Huai's support, they were still naturally at a disadvantage when facing the Grand Canal Governor's Office represented by Zhao Cong.

Secondly, Zhao Cong immediately established the old system of Emperor Taizu to gain the upper hand, and he would often escalate the salt and grain transport dispute to a higher level. In particular, there were clerks recording everything at the same time. At this time, if the salt merchants said the wrong word, they would be in big trouble. Therefore, they could not keep up with Zhao Cong's pace at all.

Just then, Fan Dongyang put down his teacup, turned his gaze to the four salt merchant representatives, and slowly said, "What Magistrate Zhao has said concerns the lifeblood of the nation and its laws. Do the gentlemen of the Salt Association have anything to say?"

Qiao Wangshan forced himself to sit up straight and said respectfully, "Your Excellency, the Salt Commissioner's report is in order, and what we did was truly for self-preservation. The canal transport authorities are harsh and cruel, often seizing boats and confiscating goods, which has caused merchants and people to suffer for a long time. If the canal transport laws were fair and just, why would we need to go to such lengths and increase our costs?"

Fan Dongyang shifted his gaze to Zhao Cong.

"Chief Qiao is mistaken!"

Zhao Cong understood the meaning behind Fan Dongyang's look and solemnly said, "Inspection is the duty of the Grand Canal Administration. Even if there are errors, they should be appealed through the proper channels. How can you form a society to strike? You have arbitrarily changed centuries-old regulations, causing the Grand Canal to be desolate and the canal workers to be displaced. Do you know that if the Grand Canal is blocked for even a day, the price of grain in the north will rise by three percent? You have put the foundation of the nation in danger for your own selfish interests. Your hearts are despicable!"

Shen Bingwen retorted, "Lord Zhao, please don't exaggerate. The Salt Association has never obstructed the transport of grain to the north. What we are fighting for is fair treatment of merchants. The grain transport gangs have been too oppressive, and the grain transport authorities have been too harsh in their searches. We could not bear the harassment and sought other routes. What is wrong with that?"

"Find his way?"

Zhao Cong sneered, rose, and bowed to Fan Dongyang, saying, "Your Excellency, the 'Regulations for the Grand Canal Transport' clearly state that all merchant ships on officially designated canal routes must be diverted by the Grand Canal Administration. This is the method to maintain order and ensure smooth flow. The Salt Association has arbitrarily abandoned the official canal ships, resulting in more than half of the canals on the Huaiyang section being idle, with boatmen and laborers starving for food and dock officials destitute. Such actions, ostensibly for self-preservation, are in fact the beginning of the corruption of the system! If other merchant guilds follow suit, the thousand-mile Grand Canal will be severed!"

Huang Dezhong said urgently, "Lord Zhao! The reason why the canal boats are empty is because the canal gangs are making insatiable demands. If the system of taking 30% of the cargo is still in place, why should we abandon the waterways and seek suffering on land? It is clear that the canal gangs broke the rules first, forcing merchants to have nowhere to go. The canal administration not only does not restrain the canal gangs, but also makes all kinds of demands on us merchants. What kind of logic is this?"

Wang Kui couldn't help but interject, "Master Huang, the slight increase in the share is actually to supplement public funds. Tens of thousands of brothers in the Canal Gang also need to support their families!"

Huang Dezhong said without hesitation, "Is that interest used to subsidize public funds or to enrich private individuals? Does Chief Wang dare to swear to heaven that every penny of your gang's commission is used for canal affairs?"

Wang Kui retorted angrily, "Master Huang, don't try to change the subject. What we're talking about now is the Salt Association openly resisting the inspection of the Grand Canal and violating the laws of our ancestors!"

Seeing this, Qiao Wangshan said with a hint of grief and indignation, "The laws of our ancestors were meant to ensure the survival of merchants, not their deaths! Lord Zhao is well-versed in the laws and regulations. May I ask which article of the Great Yan Law permits these layers of escalating water diversion fees, mooring fees, and tow rope fees? According to the law, such exorbitant taxes are all illegal!"

Zhao Cong remained unfazed and declared loudly, “Chief Qiao only knows one side of the story. The Great Yan Code states: ‘Regarding all matters concerning the Grand Canal, adjustments should be made according to the times, and the Grand Canal Commissioner’s Office should submit a memorial to the throne to implement them based on local conditions. The Grand Canal Commissioner’s Office should formulate detailed rules for tax collection based on the actual situation of the Grand Canal, and submit them to the Ministry for approval. This is the law! You merchants only know how to haggle over every penny. How can you know how much national funds and manpower are wasted to maintain the smooth flow of the Grand Canal? You regard a reasonable increase in fees as exploitation, and your protests and strikes shake the foundation of the nation. This is forgetting the greater good for petty gains!”

Song Yi was very satisfied with Zhao Cong's performance.

He had received a secret letter from Jiang Jizhou beforehand, which gave clear instructions on the details of the negotiations between the salt and grain transport authorities. The instructions were that they must not give an inch today. Only by completely suppressing the arrogance of the Lianghuai Salt Association could the grain transport authorities take the initiative in the subsequent negotiations.

Song Yi's status was different. If he personally got into a fight with the salt merchants, it would likely leave a bad impression on Fan Dongyang. So he had Zhao Shengzhong and Wang Kui test the salt merchants' bottom line first, and then he let Zhao Cong step forward. The latter's answer was perfect, and the salt merchants never found a flaw in him.

Zhao Cong characterized the salt merchants' protests as disrupting the stability of the canal transport. Although Qiao Wangshan and others would certainly not admit it, the various actions taken by the Lianghuai salt merchants in the past few months have indeed resulted in empty canal boats in the Huaiyang section of the canal.

The canal workers and boatmen couldn't just sit around and live off their savings; over time, they would inevitably have to find other ways to make a living, which would naturally lead to a decrease in transport capacity.

The hall was completely silent.

Pressing his advantage, Zhao Cong turned to Fan Dongyang, bowed deeply, and said solemnly, "Your Excellency, I am not advocating for the canal gangs, but I am deeply worried about the lifeline of the Grand Canal. The Lianghuai Salt Association first resisted rent, disregarding the livelihoods of countless people who depend on the canal; then they colluded to strike, undermining the court's discipline and laws. Their actions are no longer ordinary disputes among merchants; they truly threaten to shake the very foundation of the canal transport system. At this critical moment, only by reaffirming the ancestral system, strictly ordering the dissolution of the Salt Association, restoring the old rules of canal transport, and severely punishing those who initiated the rent resistance can we deter others and set an example for all. Otherwise, the lifeline of canal transport upon which our Great Yan Dynasty depends will surely be destroyed! I hope Your Excellency will investigate this matter thoroughly!"

“What Judge Zhao said is indeed thought-provoking.”

Fan Dongyang gave a light but not heavy compliment, and then said to Xue Huai on the right, "The Lianghuai Salt Association was established under the promotion of Xue Tongzhi. Now the accusations made by the Canal Administration are not baseless slander. I wonder what Xue Tongzhi thinks?"

Zhao Cong looked at Xue Huai with a hint of satisfaction.

Back in Qingshan Town, Yizhen County, he ran into a tough opponent with Xue Huai because of the case involving the Hu family father and son. If he hadn't changed course in time when he saw the situation was not good, he would most likely have become a stepping stone for Xue Huai's career, just like Chen Lun, the deputy salt transport commissioner who also suffered a setback that day.

For Zhao Cong, that incident wasn't enough to make him hate Xue Huai to the core. Such conflicts are inevitable in officialdom. If one were to nitpick over every little thing, he would make countless enemies.

but……

Zhao Cong was still somewhat jealous of Xue Huai. This was a feeling he kept deep in his heart and could not tell outsiders. After all, when the two first met, they were both fifth-rank officials. Who would have thought that in less than a year, Xue Huai would be promoted to a fourth-rank official and be given a bullfighting robe.

The two were already quite far apart in age, and Zhao Cong felt an indescribable bitterness when he thought about Xue Huai returning to the central government and holding a high position while he himself would have to endure hardship on the Grand Canal.

Therefore, when Jiang Fangzheng mentioned it, Zhao Cong immediately agreed. Moreover, he didn't feel he needed to fear Xue Huai. After all, he wasn't as greedy as Xu Guanlan, and the benefits he had received from the grain transport over the years weren't excessive, enough to withstand the scrutiny of the Censorate. Xue Huai calmly said, "Your Excellency, although I feel that Magistrate Zhao's approach of blaming the salt merchants is not entirely appropriate, Magistrate Zhao is upright and selfless, and indeed worthy of my emulation."

Upon hearing this, Song Yi frowned slightly, while Zhao Cong's heart skipped a beat.

They had assumed Xue Huai would speak up for the salt merchants and were prepared to confront this rising star in officialdom, but to their surprise, he was so humble.

Xue Huai looked up at Zhao Cong and said meaningfully, "In my opinion, there is no right or wrong in this dispute over salt and grain transport. Now that Magistrate Zhao has demonstrated the integrity and character of his colleagues in the grain transport office, perhaps the Lianghuai Salt Association should make some concessions so as not to disappoint Magistrate Zhao's heartfelt and generous words."

A sense of foreboding suddenly welled up in Song Yi's heart.

Just then, an attendant of the imperial envoy cautiously entered and reported, "Your Excellency, Lord Ye, the Commander of the Jing'an Division, has important matters to discuss with you."

Fan Dongyang narrowed his eyes slightly and said, "Please let him in."

A moment later, Ye Qing, the Jiangsu commander of the Jing'an Division, walked into the main hall with steady steps.

He first bowed to Fan Dongyang, then said expressionlessly, "Your Excellency, I have taken the liberty of requesting an audience. I am here on behalf of Zhao Cong, the Vice Prefect of the Yangzhou Office of the Grand Canal Transport Commissioner."

"Oh?"

Fan Dongyang asked calmly, "Commander Ye, what important matter do you have with Magistrate Zhao?"

Ye Qing turned to look at the slightly flustered Zhao Cong and said coldly, "Prefect Zhao, are you going to confess?"

Zhao Cong swallowed hard, his previous imposing manner vanishing without a trace. He asked in a trembling voice, "What do you mean by that, Commander Ye?"

Ye Qing stopped beating around the bush and said directly, "Several months ago, the Jing'an Division uncovered a group of cult rebels who were causing trouble under the guise of the Jimintang charitable organization. After months of interrogation and investigation, I have confirmed that you, as an official of the imperial court, have secretly colluded with members of the cult, accepted large bribes, and used your power to create various conveniences for the rebels on the Grand Canal. The evidence is irrefutable, and you cannot deny it!"

These words struck the hall like a thunderclap.

Fan Dongyang's sharp gaze pierced Zhao Cong like a knife, while Song Yi looked on in disbelief. Even Zhao Shengzhong and Wang Kui from the canal gang stared at Zhao Cong in disbelief.

"No... not..."

Zhao Cong's face turned deathly pale instantly, and his body trembled uncontrollably.

Ye Qinghan said in a cold voice, "Whether it is or not, you know in your heart. In addition, I have already sent people to the exchange bureau and several banks in the city to find hundreds of thousands of taels of ill-gotten gains under your name."

"thump!"

Zhao Cong's legs buckled and he knelt on the ground. Song Yi roared angrily, "Zhao Cong! How dare you!"

He was not only angry, but also felt a chill run down his spine.

Ye Qing's arrival was too opportune. If he had arrived just half a day earlier, Zhao Cong would not have appeared at this meeting, nor would he have silenced the Salt Association members, forcing even Xue Huai to temporarily back down.

Now, Ye Qing publicly exposed Zhao Cong's crimes in front of Fan Dongyang, which was a resounding slap in the face to the Grand Canal Administration—the seemingly righteous Grand Canal officials were actually hypocritical and utterly depraved!

In this situation, how can the Grand Canal Administration still have the face to keep talking about the fate of the country in this negotiation?

At this thought, Song Yi's eyes blazed with fury, wishing he could tear Zhao Cong apart on the spot.

"This humble official did not collude... did not..."

Zhao Cong was in tears, utterly disheveled.

He looked ahead in near collapse, and suddenly met Xue Huai's eyes.

His gaze remained calm, with only a hint of coldness, as if silently telling him that this was his predetermined fate.

Zhao Cong's vision went black, and he fell backward, face up.

……

……

(Three updates the day before yesterday, three updates today, and I've already made up for the leave I took on the 31st~)

(End of this chapter)