Chapter 7 Commanders' Orders Are Hard to Disobey: Chen Junbo's Career - Imposing and Awe-inspiring...

The sound of horses' hooves came from the street outside the gate of the Salt Commissioner Zhang's residence. The gatekeeper's clerk hurriedly led people to greet them. Upon seeing that it was the Chen family's carriage, he immediately bowed and waited respectfully.

With a slight tug on the reins, the horse's hooves slowed to a steady pace and came to a stop. A man quickly stepped forward, took a stool from the coachman, and placed it on the ground. "General Manager Chen has arrived. Everyone inside is waiting for you."

Chen Junbo stepped out of the carriage, glanced at the vases and calligraphy inside, which were being passed from the coachman to the yamen runners, and walked into the mansion without stopping.

The clerk hurried after him and whispered, "General Manager Chen, the governor and magistrates from various places have all come today."

He didn't stop walking, only briefly thanking the clerk.

Seeing this, the clerk added, "Today, the Salt Commissioner (the Salt Commissioner of Lianghuai) has also arrived."

Mr. Yanyuan?

Two years ago, Lin Yihuai took over as the Salt Commissioner of Jiangnan. He was a man of high aspirations and rarely participated in gatherings of salt merchants. The Salt Transport Commissioner had tried to arrange banquets for him on several occasions, but Lin Yihuai never showed up.

Even worse, a merchant once delivered a gift to the door, but after waiting all day, he was unable to get in.

Such behavior, so unyielding, shows that they are determined to oppose the salt merchants.

Over time, the salt merchants almost forgot about this Salt Commissioner and only sought the Salt Transport Commissioner for everything.

He actually came today?

Chen Junbo paused, and the clerk beside him bowed and took the purse from under his sleeve with both hands, then tucked it back into his sleeve and left with a smirk.

After a moment's thought as he watched the man leave, Chen Junbo quickly turned around and walked into the mansion.

Since Lord Salt Commissioner has come in person, let's go and meet this rare guest.

Upon entering the hall, the head merchants and their subordinate transport merchants were all present, and several high-ranking officials were seated below. The three people in the hall were: Lin Yihuai, the Salt Commissioner, who sat at the head of the table, pouring himself a drink; Zhong Zhengyuan, the Governor of Jiangnan, who sat in the center; and Zhang Youdao, the Salt Transport Commissioner, who was chatting warmly with him.

Upon seeing him enter, the salt merchants stood up, and several county magistrates also rose to greet him.

Upon seeing this, Chen Junbo paused, then bowed to the three people in the hall, saying, "Greetings, Your Excellencies." This brought the officials below the hall into the room as well.

Zhang Youdao said, "General Manager Chen has arrived. Please take a seat."

"Is this how President Chen and President Shang always make their grand entrance?" Lin Yihuai asked, drawing out the last syllable.

Chen Junbo looked up and saw that the man's tanned face was wrinkled, but his eyes were bright as he looked at him, with one corner of his mouth upturned and his eyes glancing sideways.

The hall was completely silent.

This Salt Commissioner was the highest-ranking official in the Lianghuai salt industry.

However, the salt officials were replaced every three years, and opposite him was the chief merchant who had controlled the salt industry in Lianghuai since his ancestors.

The four major merchants of Lianghuai were Zhang, Chen, Li, and Liu, ranked according to seniority. But who didn't know that with the marriage between Zhang and Chen, the old patriarch of the Zhang family had long since retired behind the scenes, and his grandson Chen Junbai had taken over the family business. At such a young age, he held two seats, making him the undisputed leading merchant.

If the Li and Liu families were willing to compete with him, others might have a chance to exploit the situation. However, the young masters of these two families and Chen Junbai have been playing together since they were toddlers.

If he didn't possess such strength, how could the Salt Commissioner have been unable to do anything to him for two years after taking office?

Not to mention ordinary people, even government officials always treated Chen Junbai with great courtesy.

May I ask who in this room isn't making money, openly or secretly, by relying on this top merchant? In this day and age, who would turn down money?

The Salt Commissioner's words and actions are tantamount to an open declaration of war.

No one dared to respond.

Others could feign ignorance, but Zhang Youdao was frantic, his eyes darting around. He was the only one present directly under Lin Yihuai, and coincidentally, he was in charge of Chen Junbai's salt affairs. His superior was acting arbitrarily, uttering hurtful words, and he had offended this young master—what was he to do?

He stared intently at Chen Junbo's reaction, his mind racing as he considered how to respond.

Below the hall, Chen Junbo remained composed, a slight smile playing on his lips, and replied slowly, "Your Excellency, I have only recently married, and my wife is unfamiliar with household affairs, which has caused the delay. I humbly beg your forgiveness."

"Oh?!" Lin Yihuai laughed loudly, "Then what is it, General Manager Chen...?" His tiger-like eyes gleamed.

Zhang Youdao quickly came to the rescue: "Orders cannot be disobeyed!"

"Yes, yes, yes, orders are hard to disobey, hahaha." Lin Yihuai laughed again.

Several county magistrates chuckled twice.

Chen Junbo remained expressionless, straightened up, and retreated towards his seat.

Everyone burst into laughter, and the awkwardness from before vanished instantly.

Zhang Youdao cursed inwardly. Fortunately, General Manager Chen was generous. Otherwise, the Salt Bureau's aggressive behavior today would have been self-humiliating. It was just pitiful that he was in a subordinate position and had to live in fear and be caught in a dilemma.

Thinking of this, fearing that Lin Yihuai would confront him again soon, he quickly said, "Now that everyone has arrived, let's discuss the important matters. Chief Merchant Chen, please take a seat. Everyone, please."

Everyone took their seats.

Stepping back to his seat, Zhang Youdao turned to the governor seated in the center and asked, "Lord Zhong, shall we speak on this matter?"

Lord Zhang had fair skin, a square face, a broad forehead, and deep dimples. As he spoke, his eyes curved like crescent moons, and when facing the governor, he exuded a refined and gentle air.

Zhong Zhengyuan waved his round, white hands, his long, thin, black eyebrows dancing on his round, plump face. "Although I am the governor, salt administration is my primary responsibility. Lord Lin is acting on behalf of the emperor to inspect the salt tax. He is naturally the one in charge. How can I overstep my bounds? Everything still depends on Lord Lin's leadership."

Lin Yihuai snorted, sat down with an imposing air, his robes billowing, his posture heroic and imposing. "Zhang Youdao, you speak."

“Yes, sir,” Zhang Youdao replied, thus ending the one-sided formality.

"Gentlemen, Your Majesty's grace is boundless! We have received an urgent message from Your Majesty that next spring, Your Majesty will be making his spring tour of Jiangnan and will pass through Songshan Post Station. The Grand Secretariat hereby instructs the local authorities to prepare the route in advance. This is a great favor from His Majesty, and we hope that you will discuss the arrangements for receiving Your Majesty."

His Majesty's Southern Tour!

Chen Junbo lowered his eyes and glanced at Li Yuhan and Liu Yitong beside him.

Li Yuhan was looking back at him, shaking her head almost imperceptibly.

Liu Yitong's mouth could open wide enough to swallow a whole egg, so it was clear that he hadn't been informed.

That's strange.

In the past, when the government discussed matters with the salt merchants, Zhang Youdao would always send someone to deliver a message to the head merchant first, or at the very least, to inform the Chen family first.

Otherwise, where would the salt administration get the confidence to facilitate the matter? If the head merchant were to publicly turn his back on the deal, even the salt administration would be powerless to stop him.

Elsewhere, officials may have absolute authority, but in Songshan Town, and in matters of salt administration, this is not necessarily the case.

Looking around, Chen Junbo saw Zhang Youdao smiling and nodding, and he understood that Zhang Youdao couldn't communicate with him under his nose today because Lin Yihuai was present.

Alright, in any case, everyone should be in agreement on His Majesty's southern tour.

Thinking of this, Chen Junbo nodded in acknowledgment, and both sides understood each other perfectly.

Zhang Youdao opened the imperial edict, which read: "Imperial Edict: Since the last Eastern Tour, the officials in charge of the street dances and songs were only for viewing during the journey. This was truly too much of a waste, and I do not approve of it... From now on, extravagance and waste are strictly prohibited."

"Absolutely not allowed? What's the point of this southern tour then?" Liu Yitong was never one to hold back his words.

However, his words were not without merit. The salt merchants whispered among themselves, and the county magistrates exchanged glances.

Looking at Chen Junbo, his eyes are fixed on his nose, and his nose seems to be looking at his heart; one cannot know what he is thinking.

Zhang Youdao withdrew his gaze, placed the imperial edict back on the table, and thought to himself, "This Chen Junbai is indeed a product of Old Master Zhang's teachings. Among all the officials and merchants in the room, only he remains so calm. Even Lin Yihuai and Zhong Zhengyuan, seasoned veterans of the political arena, were helpless when faced with the imperial edict."

Slightly suppressing his thoughts, he continued, "Please speak freely, everyone! His Majesty's southern tour and visit to our town are truly a blessing for the people of our town. You are all seasoned elders who have seen much of the world; this is no first time you have handled matters related to receiving the Emperor. Today, please feel free to express your opinions and speak your mind!"

Absolutely right.

Salt merchants had been handling imperial errands for years, and were intimately familiar with the imperial procession and ceremonial regalia. The details of receiving the emperor were intricate, and even the high-ranking officials, though close to the emperor, were probably not as well-versed in these matters as the salt merchants.

Zhang Youdao's gaze swept over Liu Yitong, and he saw Li Yuhan with her head down, neck hunched, eyebrows lowered, eyes lowered, looking shy and hesitant. "President Li, please tell us!"

Li Yuhan suddenly jerked, her neck stiffening as she raised it, her eyes flashing with cold light, and she turned to look at Chen Junbo like a startled rabbit.