RPAGF Chapter 23 Collusion between Officials and Businessmen
Chapter 23 Collusion between Officials and Businessmen
At dusk, the city lights began to twinkle. The most luxurious restaurant in Jinan, "Jufenglou," had its entire floor booked by Lu's Carriage and Horse Company tonight. In the private room "Tingtaoge" on the second floor, not many lights were on; a few ram's horn palace lanterns emitted a soft, ambiguous glow.
The table was laden with delicacies: Yellow River carp, braised sea cucumber with scallions, and even the extremely rare bear paw. In Shandong, where disaster victims were everywhere, this level of extravagance was simply the height of luxury.
But Lu Yan knew that this meal wasn't about food, it was about power.
He sat at the lower end, wearing a brand-new silk robe, and personally poured a cup of thirty-year-old Fenjiu liquor.
The person sitting in the main seat was not Wang Gui, the ninth-rank ambassador, but a middle-aged man dressed in ordinary clothes, with fair skin and three long tufts of beard.
This man was Qian Botong, the "Recruitment Officer" of the Jinan Prefecture Canal Transport Office, a powerful official of the eighth rank.
Despite his low rank, he wielded immense power over the Jinan section of the Grand Canal and was nicknamed "Half-Money Man"—meaning that half of Jinan Prefecture's profits passed through his hands. He was a seasoned veteran of the corrupt officialdom, having spent twenty years in this cesspool of bureaucracy, a ruthless and cunning individual.
"Scholar Lu," Qian Botong picked up his wine cup, but didn't drink. He merely sniffed it, his eyes gleaming as if he were scrutinizing a fat sheep awaiting slaughter. "Your wine is quite good. Rich and potent. But the commotion you've caused at the docks these past few days has been far more intense than this wine."
"They wiped out the Weishui Gang overnight, recruited hundreds of refugees, and even came up with things like 'delivery orders' and 'insured silver'..." Qian Botong put down his wine cup, looking at Lu Yan with a half-smile, his tone suddenly turning cold, "Brother Lu, are you trying to establish a mini-dynasty in Jinan Prefecture?"
This statement is utterly hurtful.
An ordinary merchant would probably be kneeling and begging for mercy by now, or stammering incoherently in his defense. In the Ming Dynasty, the line between "gathering a crowd" and "treason" was always very thin.
But Lu Yan simply poured himself a glass of wine, his expression calm and composed, as if he couldn't understand the other party's threat.
"You flatter me, Lord Qian," Lu Yan said with a smile, his demeanor composed. "I am but a businessman who has read a few books. The Weishui Gang's feud is a matter of江湖恩仇杀 (jianghu enchou, a term referring to the deep-rooted grudges and feuds within the martial arts world). They played with fire and got burned. What does it have to do with me? As for the new rules at the docks... I was just about to report them to you, sir. This is precisely to share your burdens."
He clapped his hands.
Hu Jingshui, who was outside the door, immediately came in carrying a sandalwood box, placed it respectfully on the table, bowed her head, and left, closing the door behind her.
Lu Yan opened the box.
There was no gold or silver jewelry, only a thin account book and a thick stack of banknotes.
"Lord Qian, this is the account book for Lu's Carriage and Horse Trading Company over the past five days." Lu Yan pushed the account book over. "A total of 13,000 shi of goods were transported, with a turnover of 280 taels and a net profit of 160 taels."
Qian Botong glanced casually at the stack of silver notes, then his eyes, which had been slightly narrowed, suddenly widened.
Five days, 160 taels?
That's nearly a thousand taels a month! That's tens of thousands of taels a year!
This is more than his salary plus illicit gains from ten years of experience in the canal transport business! Those poor bastards from the Weishui Gang only give him a hundred taels a month, and he has to beg and plead with them!
"Brother Lu, what do you mean by this?" Qian Botong's breathing became slightly rapid, but he quickly regained his composure, picked up his wine glass again, and pretended to be reserved.
"The student is a rough fellow, he doesn't understand the intricacies of officialdom, he only knows how to do accounting." Lu Yan closed the box, looked directly into Qian Botong's eyes, and said sincerely, "The Weishui Gang's short-sighted approach is too stupid. They only know how to collect protection money, but they've scared away all the merchants, so the river naturally dries up, and the adults' profits naturally decrease."
"Lu's approach is 'fish farming.' Once the roads are open and there's more cargo, the water naturally becomes lively. And when the water is lively, the fish thrive."
Lu Yan held up three fingers, his voice clear and strong:
"Lu Ji is willing to donate 30% of its monthly net profit as 'canal dredging fee' to the Registrar's Office. This money is not only to show respect to the lord, but also to help the lord earn a reputation for 'effective management of waterways and meritorious dredging of canals' in front of the prefect and even the high-ranking officials of the Ministry of Revenue."
Thirty percent! That means at least three hundred taels per month!
Qian Botong's fingers tapped lightly on the table. This number had already broken through his psychological defenses. What excited him even more was the "political achievements" Lu Yan had mentioned.
In today's officialdom, money alone isn't enough; you also need achievements to get promoted. With the Grand Canal currently severely congested, whoever can clear it will be a truly capable minister!
"Brother Lu," Qian Botong addressed him, his tone becoming much warmer, the gloom on his face vanishing, "you're a smart man. I'll drink this wine!"
He downed his drink in one gulp, then changed the subject: "But your business is causing too much trouble. Hundreds of strong men, armed with weapons. Money alone won't silence the gossip. If an imperial censor were to impeach you for 'gathering a crowd to cause trouble,' even I wouldn't be able to protect you."
"Therefore, students still need adults to help them with a small matter."
Lu Yan took out another document that had been prepared in advance from his pocket and presented it with both hands.
"The students want to ask an adult to put up a sign for Lu's Carriage and Horse Shop."
Qian Botong looked closely and saw several large characters written on the document: "[Jinan Prefecture Canal Transport Militia]".
"A local militia?" Qian Botong was taken aback. "You want to organize a local militia?"
"The war in Liaodong is currently critical, and the White Lotus sect is roaming Shandong, causing widespread displacement and deteriorating public order," Lu Yan said eloquently, throwing out his prepared explanation. "The government's military strength is insufficient to maintain local security. Lu's Group is willing to provide funds and personnel to form this militia."
"In peacetime, we are responsible for maintaining order at the docks, dredging waterways, and apprehending bandits; in wartime, we can be dispatched by the government to suppress bandits. In this way, my men are no longer 'vagrant militias,' but 'volunteers' recognized by the government."
Lu Yan leaned forward slightly and lowered his voice: "With more money in your pocket, more peace under your rule, more achievements on your resume, and an obedient army at your command, isn't that killing four birds with one stone?"
Qian Botong stared at Lu Yan for a long time, then suddenly clapped his hands and laughed.
"Excellent! What a brilliant four-in-one strategy! Lu Hanzhang, Lu Hanzhang, it's such a waste of your prime ministerial talent if you don't take the imperial examination!"
Qian Botong was a decisive man. He could tell that this young man was no ordinary person. Rather than suppressing him, it was better to bind him. As long as it brought him profit, who cared whether he was a merchant or a bandit?
"This plaque is approved!" Qian Botong deftly slipped the box of silver notes into his sleeve with fluid movements. "However, the number of people in this militia cannot nominally exceed five hundred. As for weapons... they can only be equipped with swords and spears; they are not allowed to privately possess armor or crossbows. This is the bottom line, and it's also a rule for those above to see."
"I understand," Lu Yan said, bowing slightly. "Thank you for your kindness, sir."
"Furthermore," Qian Botong lowered his voice, his eyes turning sinister, revealing the sensitivity of an old politician, "since we're all family now, I won't hide anything from you. There's been some talk in the capital lately. That eunuch named Wei Zhongxian... his influence is very far-reaching; he even wants to get involved in the canal business. If someone from the palace comes looking for trouble in the future..."
"Rest assured, sir." Lu Yan smiled meaningfully. "Not only are I good at business, but I also know how to 'avoid disaster.' If that day ever comes, Lu's Company will be your firewall. We'll do the dirty work, and you can keep the clean reputation and achievements."
These words struck a chord with Qian Botong.
After several rounds of drinks, the guests and hosts were all very happy.
When Lu Yan walked out of Jufenglou, the night breeze was cool, dispelling the smell of alcohol on him.
Zhao Changying was waiting downstairs with his horse. When he saw Lu Yan come out, he immediately went to greet him.
"Brother, is it done?"
"It's done." Lu Yan exhaled a breath of stale air, his eyes clear, showing no trace of drunkenness. "With 30% of the profits each month, we bought an official position. From today onwards, we are a legal armed force."
"So... are we really going to have to take orders from that guy surnamed Qian from now on?" Zhao Changying asked, somewhat indignant.
"Listen?" Lu Yan mounted his horse, looked at the starry night sky, and sneered, "Changying, remember this. In this world, whoever has the gun and the money is the real boss. That official position is nothing more than a fig leaf we put on this man-eating monster."
"Let's go! Back to camp! Have Zhao Tie bring out those flintlock muskets that haven't seen the light of day yet. Now that we have the title of 'local militia,' it's time for us to practice our real killing skills."
"And that letter from the Imperial Stables..." Lu Yan touched the unopened secret letter on his chest. "The real show has only just begun."
The sound of horses' hooves shattered the tranquility of Jinan in the dead of night.
Under this massive protective umbrella of collusion between officials and businessmen, Lu Yan's ambition began to grow wildly. Meanwhile, in the distance, an even greater crisis—the storm of the White Lotus Rebellion—was quietly brewing.