Chapter 185: Concrete Plan

"Public Transport… Boat?"

Du Gou and Ma Zhou pondered the term carefully, and could roughly grasp some of its meaning.

The so‑called Public Transport Boat should refer to a boat for public use, meaning anyone can board.

Du Gou, puzzled, said: "Then what's the difference from the Official Ferry?"

"The Official Ferry is also available for all commoners to ride; as for the flaws you mentioned, can't we just fix them?"

"Why must we cancel the Official Ferry and establish the so‑called Public Transport Boat?"

Ma Zhou sat quietly without speaking, and gave a barely perceptible nod.

He didn't dare to raise doubts as directly as Du Gou, but his thoughts were the same as Du Gou's.

If the goal is merely to improve the Official Ferry's system to make it more reasonable and beneficial to the people, there's no need to cancel it at all.

The Official Ferry has been operating for so many years; ordering its outright cancellation and replacement with a so‑called Public Transport Boat still carries too great a risk.

"You still haven't noticed the Official Ferry's real drawbacks, nor fully grasped my meaning," Chen Yan said calmly:

"Before addressing Brother Du's question, I'll ask you a few questions."

"First, why do so many commoners, despite facing exploitation akin to bandit robbery and risking breaking the law, still choose to operate Private Boats?"

"That's simple," Du Gou replied immediately: "For commoners to endure such great risk and exploitation yet still run Private Boats, it can only mean that operating Private Boats is indeed profitable."

"Although most of the earnings are taken away, a small portion is certainly left."

"The people's lives are hard; even that small portion is enough to make them willingly bear the exploitation and risk brought by Private Boats."

"Well said." Chen Yan gave an approving glance, then spoke again: "So what does this prove?"

"This…" Du Gou lowered his head, lost in thought.

The people willingly risk for money; what does that prove?

Does it prove the people are foolish? Or that their courage is commendable, or that life is so hard they are forced?

Chen Yan's hint was too scant; he couldn't reach a good conclusion at once.

On the contrary, Ma Zhou, after brief contemplation, suddenly said: "I understand."

Du Gou, astonished, said: "Lord Ma, what have you understood?"

Ma Zhou's eyes were complex as he said: "Magistrate should not be talking about the people; the focus remains on the Official Ferry."

"Chief Clerk Du just said that operating Private Boats is profitable."

"Why, even though there is an Official Ferry, are Private Boats still profitable for the court?"

"The only explanation is that the Official Ferry cannot meet the people's needs, so Private Ferries are profitable."

"And this should be what Magistrate referred to as the Official Ferry's biggest drawback."

"Lord Ma is indeed clever," Chen Yan said without sparing his praise, "That's exactly what I meant."

"Indeed, His Majesty's insight is truly sharp; with Lord Ma here, I'm confident we can turn Weinan County into the most prosperous county town."

As leaders, the big picture must be drawn, and sometimes emotional value must be offered as well.

Especially someone like Ma Zhou, a laborer destined to be a mule driver, deserves praise when due.

As expected, Ma Zhou's eyebrows lifted and he smiled, his mouth corners rising then lowering, and shared a brief moment of humility with Chen Yan.

Beside them, Du Gou, after carefully reflecting on the earlier dialogue, also understood.

"So, Lord Chen, you mean that by canceling the Official Ferry, establishing the Public Transport Boat, and expanding the fleet, we can fully monopolize navigation on the Wei He?"

"That's roughly it," Chen Yan reminded, "Don't forget what we're here to do."

"To get Weinan County's economy flowing quickly, a huge amount of capital must be invested upfront, but I think, with a parasite like Wang Shikuan, Xianlya probably can't muster much money."

"Therefore, the money needed for this part must be earned on our own first."

"And the Official Ferry is a very good opportunity."

In this era, establishing a Public Transport Carriage in a county town is difficult, because a carriage is too small to seat many people.

Even a handcart is the same.

But Weinan County's boats are different.

On the Wei He each day, the number of commoners needing boats and the cargo being transported are countless; with the Official Ferry as a basic foundation, a slight adjustment and a complete procedural system would instantly generate a steady flow of revenue.

This is also the advantage afforded by Weinan County's natural geography.

"Isn't that still the Official Ferry?" Ma Zhou asked, puzzled, "It sounds like just renaming the Official Ferry to Public Transport Boat."

"The only difference is that the Public Transport Boat may have a more complete and reasonable system."

"Different." Chen Yan denied, "The old Official Ferry was operated by Xianlya personnel, fully under Xianlya's control, hence it was called the Official Ferry."

"But the Public Transport Boat is different; I don't intend to have Xianlya personnel operate it. I plan to let those who run Private Ferries take command, and pay them a fixed wage."

"Strictly speaking, the Public Transport Boat is more like a business."

"I see," Du Gou finally fully understood Chen Yan's plan.

He had some knowledge of this operation; it resembled what Chen Yan did at a tavern in Chang'an.

In short, it's a total abandonment of the previous system, expanding the fleet while squeezing private boats' survival space, yet providing that segment of private boat operators with stable and reliable income.

Thus, that group of commoners, first, receive Xianlya's protection; second, do not violate the law; third, have stable income, and are absolutely pleased with this.

As for Xianlya, it can monopolize navigation on the Wei He, prevent private boats from appearing, and greatly increase revenue.

Overall, this is a system beneficial to both Xianlya and the commoners—a win‑win for both sides.

Yet Ma Zhou, after hearing this, seemed hesitant to speak; Chen Yan, seeing this, said: "Lord Ma, feel free to speak openly; I'm not a stingy person."

【7】 "As long as you truly wish what's best for Weinan County, go ahead and speak your mind."

"As long as you truly wish what's best for Weinan County, then feel free to speak your mind."

"Exactly," Du Gou laughed, "If Lord Ma has something to say, that's fine; from now on we're all colleagues, any opinions can be raised, and Lord Chen's capacity is not small; he could hold a boat inside."

Ma Zhou, hearing this, was stunned for a moment, then no longer hesitated, saying: "Magistrate, after all we are the government; logically we shouldn't compete with the people for profit."

"Changing the original Official Ferry into a Public Transport Boat that resembles a business—is that… not quite appropriate?"

Du Gou finally understood what Ma Zhou was worried about.

But he just smiled and said nothing.

If Chen Yan were an ordinary County Magistrate, such a method might indeed be inappropriate, and in serious cases could even invite accountability.

Because turning the Official Ferry into a business indeed sounds of poor reputation.

However, this is Weinan County.

Even before coming here, Weinan County had already been turned into Chen Yan's One-Word Hall.

"......"