[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-restoring-the-mountains-and-rivers":3,"chapter-restoring-the-mountains-and-rivers-restoring-the-mountains-and-rivers-chapter-41":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Restoring the Mountains and Rivers",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2364310,4623,"Chapter 41: Conflict on the Boat","restoring-the-mountains-and-rivers-chapter-41",41,"\u003Cp>\"Grand Secretary Pang, don't be angry yet.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Emperor is determined to reform the salt monopoly; imperial troops have already been dispatched—we can't stop them.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Salt merchants are indeed a troublesome group, but it depends on who you're comparing them to.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Do you think those merchants can stand firm against the imperial army?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Anfu said dismissively.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The official pretext is suppressing rebellion; anyone who stands in the way is a rebel.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Two Huai salt merchants are wealthy and have bribed many local figures, but that doesn't mean all of them will join their rebellion.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Moreover, the salt merchants aren't united—they frequently clash among themselves over personal interests.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If the court acts swiftly enough, arrests the ringleaders at once, the rest will scatter like sand.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Grand Secretary Pang, the salt merchants aren't merely merchants—the real trouble lies in the powerful clans behind them.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You've never lived in the Two Huai region—you don't know how deeply entrenched their influence is.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"One misstep, and chaos will erupt!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pang Hengsheng said solemnly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"These words come purely from public duty, not factional interest—I dare swear by my personal integrity.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Grand Secretary Pang, the issue isn't as serious as you make it out to be.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"There are indeed many powerful figures behind the salt merchants, but that doesn't mean they'll rebel.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How the situation unfolds depends largely on what the Emperor intends to do with the salt monopoly.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Xu GeLao, also of the Pure Stream faction, spoke, the tense atmosphere instantly eased.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Powerful clans are strong, but they also have many concerns.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Salt is an important source of income for them, but certainly not the only one.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Even if some entertain dangerous ideas, their relatives serving in court will strongly oppose them.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"After twenty years of grueling study, they finally passed the imperial exams and entered the court—suddenly switching paths would mean losing too much sunk cost.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Although Great Yu has many problems, the overall state of the realm remains stable.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Even so, the risks of the Two Huai salt monopoly remain substantial.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"For the sake of the empire, the Grand Secretariat must send a high-ranking official to take charge—cannot allow the eunuch faction to run rampant!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fortunately, Pang Hengsheng reacted quickly and shifted blame to the eunuch faction—otherwise, it would have been another political disaster.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since Emperor Tianyuan ascended the throne, he's done many disgraceful things—but all the blame has fallen on the eunuch faction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To date, in the hearts of the people, Emperor Tianyuan remains a good emperor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Two Huai salt monopoly is a special case—ordinary officials can't control it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Grand Secretary Pang, you hail from Nanzhili and know the region best—why not go yourself?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Song Haidong suggested cheerfully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With salt reform imminent, the Eastern Depot, Embroidered Uniform Guard, and imperial troops have already arrived—the civil officials need a figure of weight to take charge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Since ancient times, reforming the salt monopoly has never been without deaths.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A common civil official sent there would easily become a pawn in the struggle between both sides.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The salt merchants are closely tied to the local gentry of Two Huai—and that region happens to be the Pure Stream faction's stronghold; no one would believe there's no connection between them.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Others can't hold their ground—but a senior official of the Pure Stream faction can.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Grand Secretary, please choose someone else!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Two Huai salt monopoly involves too many tangled matters—it requires a vigorous, capable official to handle it. My health can't withstand the strain.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pang Hengsheng instinctively refused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The relationship between Grand Secretary and Deputy Grand Secretary in Great Yu has never been good—he wouldn't dare accept a post recommended by a rival.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's true the southeast is the Pure Stream faction's stronghold, but there are still several venerable 'Pure Stream leaders' there.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Pure Stream faction isn't united—these senior figures pretend to be close friends, but behind the scenes, they're rivals.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"In politics, anything is possible.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If they collude internally and externally and strike hard, he might end up sinking in a ditch.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Since Grand Secretary Pang won't go, then please, Grand Secretary Xu, take this mission!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Song Haidong finished speaking, Xu Wenyue, named, frowned slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Pang Hengsheng finds it difficult—I find it difficult too.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The authority to reform the Two Huai salt monopoly doesn't lie in my hands.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Going there now sounds noble—call it what it really is: cleaning up a mess.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The decay of the salt monopoly is inseparable from official corruption.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"In the Pure Stream stronghold, most officials are Pure Stream members—this crackdown on administrative corruption targets our own people.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The eunuch faction watches from the side—if you don't strike hard, you can't answer to the court.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But if you strike hard, the Pure Stream will accuse you of being heartless.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"He wanted to refuse, but Song Haidong's unyielding gaze made him swallow his words.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The power gap among Grand Secretaries is immense—Song Haidong appears a kind man, but if you mistake him for a soft target, you won't even know how you died.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Anyone who rose from the ranks of officials to become Grand Secretary has a ruthless side.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A Grand Secretary's nominee may be rejected once—but never twice.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The court's power struggles were beyond Li Mu's concern—he was already on the road.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon after boarding the canal boat, the Five City Military Command group encountered trouble.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The landlubbers from the capital, unaccustomed to life aboard, were seasick in twos and threes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The soldiers fared better—they'd endured hardship, adapted quickly, and only a few fell ill.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The pampered scions of noble families fared worse—many vomited and diarrhea, and the military physicians were overwhelmed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They brought this suffering on themselves—they had to endure it with tears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But willpower often yields to reality; by the third day, chaos finally broke out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Stop the boat!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Stop the boat quickly!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Stop the boat—I need to get off!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I'm the nephew of the Duke of Cheng—stop the boat immediately!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I'm the brother of Imperial Consort Rong—you dare not...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Faced with this mob of imperial relatives and noble scions causing trouble, the boatmen had no courage to refuse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, Li Mu cursed inwardly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Being on the same boat with these unruly nobles was the worst misfortune of his eight lifetimes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"By order of the Duke of Wuyang: anyone who stops the boat shall be executed!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"All continue sailing—anyone who disrupts military movement shall be charged as a traitor!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mu immediately intervened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the boat stopped, these unruly nobles would scatter—and who would become the sacrifice?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This military operation was never mentioned to me beforehand—suddenly everyone received word; it's clearly suspicious.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Duke of Wuyang's behavior is also odd—he's attempting to dissuade them, but not earnestly.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Otherwise, he could have reported the matter and had the Emperor order these troublemakers to remain behind.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After reviewing the sequence of events, Li Mu reached a startling conclusion: the higher-ups deliberately lured this group to their deaths.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Once the salt merchants are arrested and imperial troops gather, any sensible person would lie low.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"After all, the imperial troops won't stay permanently in Two Huai—once they leave, they can resume their activities.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The sharp drop in salt tax revenue stems mainly from rampant smuggling.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The official salt merchants are themselves the largest smugglers—hence, salt tax naturally can't be collected.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"For the shadow operators, when the puppets are arrested, they simply install new ones—the profits keep flowing.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Previous salt monopoly reforms failed because they never touched the core.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"These shadow operators all hold prestigious public identities—without concrete evidence, the court can't act against them.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"To lure the snake out of its hole, you need more than clever people—you need fools.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If someone provokes conflict, violence will follow.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If several imperial relatives or nobles die, then the court can move to arrest others—and the scholar-officials will have no grounds to object.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A direct, reckless assault might, if mishandled, become Great Yu's own 'Five Men's Tomb Stele.'\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1320,"2026-06-21T08:09:02.410Z",1,"Qwen3.5 397B","cc363251afb04b80d10f0669c275f8838d714b01c7e0a240ca6ebe31202c03b1","restoring-the-mountains-and-rivers-chapter-42","restoring-the-mountains-and-rivers-chapter-40",391,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Frestoring-the-mountains-and-rivers-cover.jpg"]