Prime Minister

Chapter 290, Page 289: [No Destruction, No Construction]

Inside the main hall, there was complete silence.

Xue Huai's series of questions were extremely sharp. Although Song Yi and the others were furious, they could not immediately come up with a strong rebuttal. If the problems with the canal transport were not serious, the emperor would not have tolerated a mere merchants' association stirring up trouble. It was precisely because of the chaos along the Grand Canal that he sent Fan Dongyang south as an imperial envoy to take charge of the overall situation.

At that moment, Fan Dongyang gazed at Xue Huai's tall and upright figure with mixed feelings.

Having served in officialdom for over twenty years, he had seen too many talented young people, but very few of them were able to steadily advance step by step in the officialdom, mainly because of their arrogance and unbridled behavior. There were very few juniors like Xue Huai who, despite their extraordinary talent, were able to remain true to themselves.

What impressed Fan Dongyang even more was that Xue Huai knew how to build momentum for himself.

At this point in the salt and grain transport dispute, he had firmly gained the upper hand, and this eloquent speech further solidified his position as invincible.

Fan Dongyang was not the only one who thought so; Huang Chong, sitting next to Xue Huai, was also filled with emotion.

He handed over the power of speech to Xue Huai for two reasons: firstly, because of Princess Yun'an's instructions, and secondly, because of his trust and appreciation for Xue Huai. After all, in the Lianghuai Salt Case last year, this young Yangzhou Assistant Magistrate had already demonstrated a level of skill and cunning far beyond his years.

However, Huang Chong did not expect that Xue Huai would dare to tear to shreds the masks that the officials of the Grand Canal and the leaders of the Grand Canal Gang had tried so hard to cover up in such a setting.

Such courage and boldness are certainly not those of an ordinary person.

Some admired Xue Huai's actions, while others hated him. The Grand Canal Transport Commissioner, who had always remained aloof, finally could no longer tolerate it.

"enough!"

Jiang Jizhou shouted sharply, instantly silencing the commotion in the hall.

He looked coldly at Xue Huai and said in a deep voice, "Xue Jingche, you are eloquent and persuasive, and every word you utter is about the long-standing abuses of the Grand Canal that exploit merchants. You always use the people's livelihood as a weapon to attack the century-old regulations of the Grand Canal Administration! However, the so-called numerous crimes you speak of are nothing but the excuses of cunning merchants who are unwilling to share the burden of the country, unwilling to understand the difficulties of maintaining the Grand Canal and the suffering of thousands of canal workers! As an official of the court, you instead advocate for the salt merchants, incite conflict and endanger the country. Your heart is deserving of punishment!"

Meeting Jiang Jizhou's murderous gaze, Xue Huai stepped forward and said, "Your Excellency, every word I have said is from the bottom of my heart and based on facts. It is by no means an empty slander! Since Your Excellency accuses me of being despicable, then I will dare to use the actual situation of the Yangzhou section of the Grand Canal last year as an example, and ask Your Excellency and all the gentlemen to see for yourselves!"

Fan Dongyang spoke up at the opportune moment, saying, "As the saying goes, reason cannot be clarified without debate. Prefect Xue may speak frankly."

"Thank you, Your Excellency."

Xue Huai, with clear eyes and utterly calm, said, “The Grand Canal Administration is in charge of the lifeline of the Grand Canal. Its powers of inspection, tax collection, water diversion, and docking are all granted by the law. However, outside of the law, the clerks of the Grand Canal Administration and the canal gangs impose numerous extra-legal fees, the amounts of which are several times, even ten times, greater than the regular taxes and fees! Take last year as an example, a medium-sized merchant company paid an average of 13% to 15% of the total value of its cargo to the clerks of the Grand Canal Administration and the canal gangs for its cargo ships passing through locks and various ports along the Grand Canal. For a merchant company with an annual cargo value of 500,000 taels, the amount of money embezzled would be as high as 65,000 to 75,000 taels!”

A suppressed gasp filled the hall.

Qiao Wangshan, Shen Bingwen, and others looked deeply saddened, clearly understanding the situation profoundly.

Fan Dongyang's expression was cold and stern. How many businesses in Lianghuai could the canal administration and the canal gangs extract so much private profit from a medium-sized merchant?

This seems like a problem that is not difficult to calculate.

Jiang Jizhou's face turned ashen. Faced with the irrefutable data presented by Xue Huai, he would appear weak and powerless if he tried to refute it with righteous arguments.

Xue Huai, however, would not give up so easily.

He said in a deep voice, “Your Excellency, do you know the true life of the lower-level clerks in the grain transport office? Take Wei Yun, the clerk of the Yangzhou Supervisory Office of the grain transport office, for example. His annual salary, plus his meager wages and food allowance, totals no more than twenty-five taels. But he has to support a family of five, which requires at least forty taels every year. How can he make up the shortfall? In order to prevent his family from going hungry, he has no choice but to participate in the exploitation and extortion of merchants and people along the river!”

Jiang Jizhou naturally had no idea how much preparation Xue Huai had made to deal with this salt and grain transport dispute, or how much detailed information his trusted subordinates had found.

Xue Huai did not expect the Grand Canal Transport Commissioner to admit his mistake. He turned to Zhao Shengzhong, the deputy leader of the canal gang who had been acting arrogantly, and said coldly, "Deputy Leader Zhao, you keep talking about the livelihood of canal workers. Let me ask you, do you know how much a canal worker can earn each year on the canal?"

Zhao Shengzhong's face flushed red. As the deputy leader of the Grand Canal Gang, he was too busy enjoying himself to have any time to care about the miserable lives of the lower classes.
"I suppose Vice Chief Zhao is unaware of this, so I will tell you."

Xue Huai stood tall and solemnly, his tone extremely heavy: "Take last year as an example, a strong adult canal worker could earn thirty to fifty cash a day, which would amount to at most fifteen taels of silver a year. They had no stable job security, no compensation for injuries or illnesses, and their wages were taken by your canal gang. In reality, they would only receive a maximum of eight taels of silver! Eight taels! That's only enough for one person's food! Their wives, children, and elderly parents could only eat wild vegetables and tree leaves! If they encountered disasters or diseases, the whole family would either have to sell their children or wait to die!"

Zhao Shengzhong's forehead veins bulged, his lips trembled, and cold sweat poured down his face, but he couldn't utter a single word. Xue Huai, however, didn't let him off easily. He took another step forward, pointed at him, and rebuked, "Just a month ago, Deputy Chief Zhao hosted a banquet at the Zuixianlou Restaurant in Huai'an, and a single table cost a hundred taels of silver! Have you ever considered that every penny you squandered was earned through the blood and sweat of those canal workers, their hands bound by ropes, each step leaving a trail of blood?"

Zhao Shengzhong could no longer hold on and stumbled backward, falling to the ground.

The hall was deathly silent; the air was almost still.

Xue Huai took a deep breath, ignoring the mortified Zhao Shengzhong, and looked at Jiang Jizhou, saying, "Your Excellency just questioned me, asking if I knew the hardships of maintaining the Grand Canal and the suffering of the countless canal workers. How could I not know? But does Your Excellency know where the huge fees paid by the merchants of Lianghuai ultimately go? I dare ask Your Excellency, how much of those fees actually reaches the hands of the ordinary people who truly toil and sweat on the Grand Canal!"

Jiang Jizhou's face had turned extremely cold.

He thought that as long as he stood up, he could suppress Xue Huai by using the distinction between superiors and inferiors, but he did not expect that the other party would suddenly change his strategy, stop talking about those lofty principles, and instead use specific and detailed evidence to beat him, the Grand Canal Transport Commissioner, into a state of utter helplessness.

But he cannot admit defeat.

The next moment, Jiang Jizhou suddenly stood up, his tall body swaying slightly from his rage. The hem of his official robe fluttered even without wind, and a chilling killing intent emanated from him. He said in a cold voice, "For ten years, I have been in charge of the Grand Canal, working tirelessly day and night to ensure its smooth operation and the stability of the nation. I have devoted countless efforts to this cause. How dare you, a mere child, make wild guesses and slander me! The data you cite is nothing but a lie fabricated for the private gain of the salt merchants!"

Xue Huai narrowed his eyes slightly. Whether he had fabricated a lie or not, he believed that Fan Dongyang and even the emperor in the capital would make a correct judgment.

Jiang Jizhou turned to Fan Dongyang and said with grief and indignation, "Your Excellency, Xue Huai has used his clever words and flattery to frame his superiors and incite merchants to defy the law. If such a rebellious scoundrel is not severely punished, how can we uphold the integrity of officials? How can we ensure the safety of the Grand Canal? How can we safeguard the nation? I beg Your Excellency to immediately arrest this villain as a warning to others. Otherwise, I will personally submit a memorial impeaching him for the serious crimes of colluding with merchants, plotting rebellion, and undermining the foundation of the nation!"

Song Yi and Wang Guangyong immediately echoed loudly, while Jiang Fangzheng stared at Xue Huai with an extremely sinister look.

Fan Dongyang finally stood up, but he was clearly not ready to make a decision on the matter immediately. Everyone looked at the imperial envoy with solemn expressions.

Just as the atmosphere in the entire hall was about to break down—

"Your Excellency, the young leader of the Grand Canal Gang, Sang Chengze, requests an audience with urgent matters concerning the safety of the Grand Canal transport!"

A loud and urgent announcement suddenly came from outside the hall, breaking the suffocating silence inside.

Sang Shichang's heart tightened, and then he saw Jiang Jizhou turn his head and give him a cold look. At this moment, he felt even more fearful and uneasy.

Fan Dongyang glanced thoughtfully at Xue Huai and said to his subordinate, "Since he's so important, let him in."

Jiang Jizhou's lips moved slightly. He keenly realized that this matter was inappropriate. However, Fan Dongyang had already given his reply, and he could not refuse to give face to this imperial envoy. Moreover, this was the imperial envoy's residence, and it was not up to him, the Grand Canal Transport Commissioner, to make the decision.

A moment later, a travel-worn but resolute figure appeared at the door; it was none other than Sang Chengze, the playboy known to the world as someone who only knew how to enjoy life.

Ignoring his father Sang Shichang's shocked and furious gaze, he strode into the hall, his eyes sweeping over everyone. Then, facing Fan Dongyang, who sat in the center, he knelt down on one knee with a thud, holding up a thick, sealed dossier with both hands, and loudly proclaimed, "This humble subject, Sang Chengze, pays his respects to Your Majesty the Imperial Envoy!"

Fan Dongyang gestured for the clerk to take the file and said in a deep voice, "What do you have to report?"

Sang Chengze took a deep breath and said without hesitation, "Your Excellency, I have discovered that Chen Bao, the law enforcement elder of the Canal Transport Gang, is secretly colluding with the heretical cult and using our canal transport resources to facilitate the rebels. Fearing that I might alert them, I conducted a private investigation and have finally found evidence! In addition, I have also discovered that Dong Dachang, a medicine merchant from Huai'an, is colluding with Chen Bao. These two are audacious and disregard the law. I implore Your Excellency to order a thorough investigation to prevent our Canal Transport Gang's century-old foundation and reputation from being ruined by such scoundrels!"

boom!
Sang Chengze's words were like a thunderclap in the hall!
Sang Shichang cursed his unfilial son countless times in his heart, while Song Yi and the others turned pale.

Jiang Fang was struck dumb. Chen Bao had no connection with the Grand Canal Commissioner's Office on the surface, but Dong Dachang was the son of his wet nurse!
Jiang Jizhou was well aware of this relationship, and he looked at his only son in disbelief.

The powerful Grand Canal Transport Commissioner felt a lump in his throat and his gaze shifted to meet Xue Huai's eyes.

Xue Huai remained calm and composed, with no hint of mockery in his eyes.

But Jiang Jizhou knew in his heart that he had lost completely today.

(End of this chapter)