Chapter 39: Strike East, Attack West

Yangzhou City, Changchun Garden.

Zhang Fangyong, listening to a little tune while reviewing his ledgers, felt he could still take on eight more concubines.

The profits from the first half of the year increased by another fifty thousand taels; selling salt in Dayu was truly effortless wealth.

Building gardens, hosting banquets, keeping slender horses—there was simply too much to spend, far too much.

“Master, you’ve gone daydreaming!”

The concubine singing beside him pressed close, embracing him, pulling Zhang Fangyong back to reality.

Forget it—no more concubines for now; my health comes first.

I already have over twenty beautiful concubines at home to keep me busy, not to mention all my other lovers; adding another would break me.

Just as he was about to soothe the woman in his arms, a group of unexpected guests burst in, knocking down the guards and sending the maids into shrieks.

“Who are you? Do you even know where you are?”

Zhang Fangyong demanded angrily.

As a renowned salt merchant of Yangzhou, even the Prefect treated him with courtesy, and the local constables and soldiers were under his command.

This was the power of money.

Though he couldn’t directly control authority, that didn’t stop him from enjoying its benefits.

From the Provincial Administration Commissioner and Provincial Governor down to lowly clerks in the yamen, all had taken his money.

Countless candidates he had sponsored had entered officialdom.

He appeared to be merely a salt merchant, but his web of connections had long seeped into the heart of power.

In Yangzhou, few dared to oppose him.

“Of course we know.

We, the Embroidered Uniform Guard, never go to the wrong place when on official business!”

As they spoke, several soldiers rushed forward and pinned Zhang Fangyong to the ground.

“Stop!

I’m friends with Commander Liu of your Southern Town Command Office—you must have made a mistake…”

No matter how Zhang Fangyong pleaded, the soldiers ignored him, binding him with swift efficiency.

In an instant, the entire Changchun Garden was raided, and everyone inside became prisoners.

At nearly the same moment, all prominent salt merchants in Yangzhou were arrested.

The Embroidered Uniform Guard’s massive operation quickly drew the attention of the Prefect’s yamen.

Upon receiving the news, Yangzhou Prefect Hao Xingfeng froze in place.

He had received no word at all about the court targeting salt merchants!

The last time the court cracked down on the Two Huai salt transport system was three years ago.

Back then, under pressure from various factions, they merely dismissed the corrupt Salt Surveillance Commissioner and took no major action.

This time was clearly different—no warning at all, yet the Embroidered Uniform Guard and Eastern Depot had already moved to arrest people.

Logic told him he must act to prevent disaster.

To confront the Eastern Depot and Embroidered Uniform Guard head-on? He was a civil official—he wasn’t that reckless.

Besides, his own clerks and runners would turn to jelly at the sight of the Embroidered Uniform Guard; they had no courage to interfere with their operations.

“Master Zhu, send someone immediately to notify the Salt Administration Office—hopefully it’s not too late!”

Hao Xingfeng said grimly.

Whether the Salt Administration Office could stop the Embroidered Uniform Guard and Eastern Depot, Hao Xingfeng had no confidence.

But he had no choice—after all, he’d taken the salt merchants’ money and couldn’t resist the temptation.

“Master, the fact that both the Embroidered Uniform Guard and Eastern Depot moved together means the court has reached its limit with the Two Huai salt administration.

The Salt Administration Office is likely in danger itself.

At this point, we must consider our escape routes.

The factory and guards caught the salt merchants off guard, but behind the scenes, those merchants have gathered plenty of desperate men.

Now with knives at their throats, these men may resort to desperate acts.

Besides, these salt merchants are merely the frontmen; numerous powerful clans depend on the salt trade for their livelihood.

If the court cuts off their profits, they won’t accept it quietly.

Once chaos erupts, Yangzhou Prefecture will be the first to suffer—we’re in deep trouble!”

Master Zhu’s analysis made Hao Xingfeng feel even more helpless.

In the Dayu Empire, corruption still had room for maneuver.

But if a large-scale rebellion broke out, he, as the people’s parent-official, was finished.

“Go notify them first!

Also send word to the Provincial Administration Commissioner and Provincial Governor—if I’m done for, they won’t escape either.”

…

“Return immediately to the Battalion Command, select some trustworthy men from the Five City Military Command, and prepare to head south!”

Upon returning to the Hou Fu, Li Mu was stunned by his uncle’s words.

The court was investigating military land loss—it should have focused on the northern frontier; why suddenly send troops to Jiangnan?

“Uncle, has something happened in Jiangnan?”

Li Mu asked, puzzled.

Normally, even if Jiangnan had unrest, the court would send an imperial envoy—not the Five City Military Command.

“It’s not Jiangnan that’s changed—it’s the Two Huai salt administration.

The Emperor agreed to drop the pursuit of the noble families' responsibility in the military land loss case, but he needs our support to reform the Two Huai salt system.

The Embroidered Uniform Guard and Eastern Depot have already moved; the Emperor fears unrest and has decided to dispatch troops from the capital to stabilize the situation.

The Five City Military Command has extensive experience in investigations and maintaining local order, so we’ve been included in the deployment.”

Hearing Li Yuan’s explanation, Li Mu instantly understood.

The military land investigation was merely a cover—the true target of Emperor Tianyuan was the Two Huai salt administration.

Using the defeat in Liaodong to drag out the military land case was simply convenient timing.

The noble families, to save themselves, chose a political bargain with the Emperor, and all prior matters were erased.

Let the other guy die, not me.

Even if nobles had business ties with salt merchants, at this sensitive moment, everyone would cut their losses.

Perhaps, behind the scenes, Emperor Tianyuan had even hinted to the noble leaders that after the salt reform, they could join in and claim a share.

After all, in an era where civil officials were valued over military, the noble families only picked up scraps from the salt merchants.

With the combination of the stick and the carrot, the nobles clearly couldn’t resist.

From his uncle’s demeanor, Li Mu could tell he’d been convinced by the Emperor and was ready to plunge into a major campaign.

Even the capital garrison was being sent—this was no longer mere political struggle; they had prepared for armed suppression.

“Uncle, rest assured—I’ll act at once!”

Li Mu immediately pledged.

The Two Huai salt merchants, as the wealthiest group in Dayu, had influence that reached every corner of the region.

To target them, the local government offices were utterly unreliable.

Sending a few civil officials to replace them would be useless.

They might not even make it to the yamen before being sent to meet Yama.

For cleaning up local affairs, the Five City Military Command—with no entanglements in local interests—was clearly the best choice.

Especially when facing powerful local clans, civil officials’ morale would crumble at the mention of a famous family name.

Noble-born officers had no such concerns; even if you named a dozen influential families, they might not know who they were.

Offending people didn’t matter—they were just passing through, not staying long-term in office.

(End of Chapter)