Looking north towards the rivers and mountains

Chapter 345 Each Displays Their Unique Abilities

March 28th, Hangzhou, a light drizzle.

The chief administrator of the prefecture, Jiao Ding, hurriedly entered the provincial hall. After being guided by a minor official, he arrived at the office of the Grand Councilor, Dashi Tiemuer.

Dashitemür has been here for less than four months and has kept a low profile overall. He only had the old furniture in his room replaced and rearranged according to his preferences, and had no other requests.

Of course, he also replaced the clerks that his predecessor had been using and re-selected a group of them. This one measure alone made people happy and sad. With the change of "boss", some "secretaries" fell into obscurity, while others were given a new lease on life.

Therefore, when Jiao Ding entered, he was taken aback to see that the clerks copying documents were all unfamiliar faces. However, he quickly recovered and bowed to Dashi Temur, who was sitting high above, saying, "Jiao Ding greets the Chancellor."

"Sit down," Dashi Temur pointed and said, "Dorzhigong has gone to Qingyuan and won't be back for a few more days. The Spring Festival travel rush involves a huge number of ships; it can't all travel in one day."

After saying that, as if remembering something, he asked, "How come I heard that there are more than four hundred fewer grain transport boats in Wenzhou this year?"

"Actually, we lost three hundred ships last year." Jiao Ding sat down carefully and said with a wry smile, "Pingzhang Mingjian, Wenzhou has been plagued by many troubles, and the people have been displaced, especially the ship owners, who are really struggling to survive. The ship owners of Wenzhou's thousand-household garrison have long been gone. Since the late Qing Dynasty, more than half of the grain transport ships have been hired from civilians or assigned to merchants and wealthy households to find ships to transport grain. The grain transport office doesn't care, as long as there are ships, it doesn't matter where they come from."

Dashitemür said "Oh," and asked, "Then why is there less this year than last year?"

"Indeed, some people have been transporting grain year after year without thinking of repaying the court. They have actually been misled by Cai Luantou and have gone out to sea to plunder," Jiao Ding said. "Therefore, the government troops have been dispatched several times, but the bandits have been repeatedly suppressed without success."

Dashitemür understood a little.

Having served as an official in Dadu, I have witnessed countless instances of "buying" and "hiring" among the common people. As for the prices of buying and hiring, those who know, know—it's certainly better than robbery.

It's not entirely incomprehensible that Wen's fishermen, seafarers, and boat owners were unwilling to be hired by the government to transport grain.

"Surely Cai Luantou will eventually come ashore, right? Dashteemuer can survive ten days or half a month adrift at sea, but it's been over a year. How can he possibly endure this?" He continued, "You've all been too complacent. Can't you even find his hiding place?"

Jiao Ding was speechless.

"Did someone tip you off?" Dashitemur asked again.

Jiao Ding hesitated, as if he wanted to say something but then stopped.

Dashitemur's eyes narrowed, and he said, "Speak plainly, why are you beating around the bush?"

Jiao Ding took a deep breath and said, "Li Daweng from Huangyan in the prefecture has come forward to report that Fang Guozhen from this route is secretly colluding with Cai Luantou, supplying him with grain and weapons, providing him with information, and even selling his stolen goods."

"Who is Fang Guozhen?" Dashitemür asked.

"Guozhen's grandfather used to smuggle salt, but later he quit and started a business selling land and houses. By his father's generation, the family had fallen on hard times..." Jiao Ding gave a brief introduction and then said, "Guozhen was quite prestigious among salt merchants, fish merchants, seafarers, and local residents. He had more than a thousand followers and even composed nursery rhymes to bewitch people."

"What nursery rhyme?" Dashitemur asked, his head throbbing at the mention of it.

"There's a folk song in the prefecture that goes, 'When Yangyu turns green, a hero will emerge from the sea.' It refers to the fact that in the sixth year of the Yuan You era (1319), vegetation suddenly grew on Yangyu Mountain in Huangyan overnight. The people were afraid, saying that a hero would emerge from the sea, so the song was passed down as a prophecy. In recent years, it has mostly been attributed to Fang Guozhen, because he was born after the vegetation turned green in the sixth year of the Yuan You era. He also has a dark complexion, is tall and strong, and is capable of chasing a galloping horse," Jiao Ding said.

Upon hearing this, Dashitemur became even more confused.

Why do I keep hearing these prophecies lately? First, there was the rumor that Shao Shuyi of Jiangyin was a dragon lurking in the wilderness, possessing the aura of an emperor, and would overthrow the Yuan Dynasty and restore the old Song Dynasty. Then there was Zhou Fang Guozhen, who, although just a "sea spirit," posed a particularly great threat to the Yuan Dynasty, which relied on sea transport for grain.

The unhealthy trends and evil practices in Zhejiang and Jiangsu are really too great!

Dashi Temur's expression gradually turned ugly. One was a land distribution center that threatened the grain transport, and the other was a maritime transport route. Neither of them were good people.

If these two people aren't dealt with, the canal transport will never have a moment's peace.

"What are your thoughts on Fang Guozhen?" Dashi Temur asked, looking over at him.

Jiao Ding replied, "Guozhen is arrogant and doesn't take the government seriously."

There's another thing to say: he doesn't even give gifts often. Not only are the frequency low, but the quantity is also pitifully small, which makes people quite dissatisfied. However, this can't be said openly.

"Anything else?" Dashitemur asked.

It's possible that these outlaws have a high opinion of themselves. In their eyes, they may fear the entire government, but they may not be afraid of any particular individual within the government.

"Guozhen engaged in bullying and monopolistic practices, controlling the salt and grain trade, and also interfered in foreign trade, reaping substantial profits, yet he did not pay commercial taxes."

"Go on."

"Tens of thousands of government troops gathered in Wenzhou. The people and officials of both routes were happy to donate money and grain to serve the court. However, Guozhen was richer than the country, but he only donated a thousand ingots of paper money and a thousand shi of grain. The maritime merchants and wealthy people who depended on him also contributed very little money."

"That's all?"

"Guozhen also recruited outlaws and built ships; many pirates were associated with him."

"You mean, Fang Guozhen secretly trained a naval force?" Dashi Temur asked.

"Exactly."

Dashi Temur snorted coldly and said, "Since Guozhen has this power, why doesn't he go out to sea and cause trouble?"

"I did send word that you have a grudge against the Cai family, and that this troublemaker is causing havoc in the village. This is a matter of national and personal hatred. Why not send troops to punish him? Once you are victorious, you will surely be rewarded with a title and a position for your children, and you can also avenge your brother's death," Jiao Ding said. "However, Guo Zhen turned a deaf ear and continued to sell smuggled salt." After listening, Da Shi Te Mu Er was silent for a moment and then asked, "With three Wanhu (military commanderies) gathered in Wen, and two routes with more than ten thousand archers and able-bodied men from the patrol offices, is it possible to launch a swift and decisive attack and capture Fang Guo Zhen?"

Jiao Ding's heart skipped a beat, and he immediately said, "If the news doesn't leak out, perhaps it's possible."

Why?

"Pingzhang, please see this clearly," Jiao Ding said. "Fang Guozhen's salt fields are spread across Wenzhou and Liangzhou, and the salt producers are scattered over hundreds of miles. How can they be mobilized in a hurry? The same applies to fish farmers, maritime merchants, and pirates. There are more than ten large and small wharves in Wenzhou, and they are not all gathered in one place. Guozhen only has his clan and neighbors by his side, and perhaps some sailors and soldiers. But Guozhen lives on the shore, while they are by the sea. As long as we cut off their contact, we can launch a sudden attack, capture and kill Guozhen. What can they do? A pardon can be issued to appease them."

For a fleeting moment, Dashitemur was somewhat moved.

Anyone with eyes to see knows that Fang Guozhen is a major destabilizing factor in the area, and he might rebel any day now. If we can eliminate him, then no one else in Wen County will be able to rebel in the short term. Even if someone does, they won't have the power of Fang Guozhen; they'll be like a minor ailment. Moreover, the opportunity is truly excellent now.

As Jiao Ding said, with the three land-based ten-thousand-household offices plus the archers and able-bodied men from Wenzhou and other places, even with vacancies, there were still nearly 20,000 people. Some of the naval vessels from the coastal ten-thousand-household offices could also assist, which would bring the total to more than 2,000 people.

In a surprise attack, it is possible to capture and kill Fang Guozhen before he can react, just like the death of Zhu Dingbo before.

Hmm? Dashitemür came to his senses and sighed softly.

The newly arrived Left Chancellor, a barbarian, kept nagging him every few days, saying there were suspicious points surrounding Zhu Dingbo's death. The officials of Jiqing Road claimed that internal strife led to the killing of many officials, which was utterly ridiculous.

The censor Ye Erjini had a man from Jiangyin named Wang Er, who lived in Matuosha. He said he vaguely remembered someone mentioning that Zhu Dingbo was killed by Shao Shuyi, and that the officials were implicated and died unjustly.

He has even sent people to Nanjing to investigate the families and servants of the officials who died that day, determined to thoroughly investigate the case.

Dashi Temur knew why the barbarians were so enthusiastic; it was because some of their officials were the Empress's people. Of course, the entire Jiqing Road was the Empress's fiefdom, so it was normal for these officials to have connections with the Empress.

Dashi Temur was skeptical. If it were true, Shao Shuyi would surely be killed; no one dared to protect him because he had offended the Empress. Empress Qi's power was widely known. In the entire Jiangnan officialdom, no one would dare to oppose the Empress in such a matter—perhaps except for the Grand Canal Commissioner, Maishuding, because he was a member of Empress Hongjila's faction.

This is outrageous!

Dashi Temur hesitated for a moment, but when he noticed Jiao Dingzheng staring at him expectantly, he sneered inwardly. This fellow usually dared not offend Fang Guozhen, but now that the royal army was gathering, he had the guts to try and get a share of the Fang family's wealth.

They are so greedy!

Dashi Temur suddenly felt a sense of disgust, but having served as an official for many years, he was quite shrewd and showed no sign of dissatisfaction. He simply said, "I am also undecided about this matter and need to discuss it further with Lord Dorji and the Left and Right Chancellors."

Jiao Ding understood and said, "This humble official understands."

"You may leave now," said Dashitemur, waving his hand.

The cauldron remained unmoved.

"Is there anything else?" Dashitemur asked, frowning.

"I came to Hangzhou to request money and provisions," Jiao Ding said with a wry smile. "The army has been stationed here for a long time, and despite the best efforts of the Wen and Erlu armies, supplies are still insufficient. I beg the province to allocate some money and provisions so that Wen Shimin can catch his breath."

"Wait a bit," Dashitemur said impatiently. "We're spending money everywhere right now, and the deficit is huge. Figure out a way to make it through until August or September, and then I'll give you some more money."

Jiao Ding glanced at it secretly and realized that Dashi Tiemuer was serious, so he could only reply with a "yes".

There was no other way but to go back and apportion the burden to the wealthy and powerful.