Chapter 59 Northwest War
Qin Xiao's words were straightforward.
Qiu Heng's heart sank, and he hurriedly knelt down and said, "Your Excellency, Your Majesty! Most of the bandits on the canal are people who have nowhere else to go. They are all people of Da Ning, and I dare not wipe them all out in one fell swoop."
This means that the Qiu family is not incompetent, but rather they feel sorry for these poor people.
Then he added, "However, in order to protect the interests of the merchant ships, the Qiu family has also established a guard team to protect these merchant ships. They have certainly not been idle!"
Qin Xiao chuckled lightly: "Whether it's for the benefit of the merchant ships or for the benefit of your Qiu family, you know better than anyone else."
"Your subject would never dare!" Qiu Heng lowered his head, his brows furrowed.
Qin Xiao, this reckless fellow, used to the intricate and convoluted ways of the imperial court, would often utter a few blunt words that left people speechless.
The Qiu family has amassed a huge fortune through the canal transport business over the years. Qin Xiao doesn't even need to investigate thoroughly to find many clues. If the other party were to directly present that evidence, the Qiu family might have to sacrifice the pawn to save the king, and who knows how many officials and wealth they would lose.
However, the fact that the other party has not released any evidence directly proves that they do not want to completely break ties with the Qiu family, and they have given them some room to struggle.
Qiu Heng quickly analyzed the pros and cons in his mind, and then made the most reasonable decision that maximized his benefits.
Qin Xiao's plan to disrupt the grain transport system is a done deal, and the Qiu family can no longer act unilaterally as before.
However, he also had to secure some benefits for the Qiu family in the new policies. The grain transport business was extremely profitable, and the Qiu family could only concede profits to the court; they could never completely relinquish control!
It's just unknown what new policies Qin Xiao intends to promulgate.
The people in the court were all shrewd. From Qin Xiao's seemingly straightforward but ultimately ambiguous words, they had all discerned some clues and were waiting with bated breath for Qin Xiao's next words.
Qin Xiao glanced at everyone before speaking slowly, "The canal is extensive, so it's understandable that the Qiu family can't attend to every aspect. Minister Qiu, please rise."
"Yes." Qiu Heng stood up again.
The others were not surprised by Qin Xiao's words, thinking that he was indeed going to let the Qiu family off the hook for what they had done before.
Just like the previous corruption and chaos in the court, Qin Xiao did not pursue the matter before Baili Hong took office, but now that Baili Hong is in power, everyone has to be on their guard.
"The canal is too long and the affairs are too complicated. Why not manage it in sections?" Qin Xiao said, looking at everyone. "What do you all think?"
Everyone immediately started thinking about it.
Previously, the canal transport was managed by the Qiu family, but many of the officials who actually carried out the work were protégés and former subordinates of other powerful forces, and they knew how much profit could be made from the canal transport.
It's just that no one else has ever had the chance to get involved.
Now that Qin Xiao is managing the canal in sections, the Qiu family is no longer in a position to dictate the entire canal. At most, they can only be responsible for one section, leaving other forces with the opportunity to intervene in the remaining sections.
Thinking of this, Wang Pengyi, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, immediately stepped forward, bowed, and said, "I think this method is excellent."
Then, almost every faction had someone in agreement.
Under such circumstances, Qiu Heng could no longer act independently.
This division of the canal transport was intended to distribute the Qiu family's previous profits to others. With everyone in the court eyeing this covetously, they would naturally unite against the Qiu family at this moment.
Two fists can't beat four hands.
Since that's the case, Qiu Heng decided not to make a futile struggle. He might as well show his "loyalty" and gain a good reputation.
Furthermore, Qin Xiao would not completely take away the management rights of the canal transport; he would definitely give the Qiu family a section of the river to appease them. Therefore, he must strive for the section of the river that would bring him the greatest benefit and minimize his losses.
Qiu Heng then bowed and said, "Your subject also thinks this method is feasible. I just don't know if Your Highness Prince Ning intends to divide the canal transport into several sections?"
Qin Xiao and Chu Jiubian had already discussed that dividing the project into four parts was the safest approach and would maximize their benefits.
"Minister Qiu should know more about the Grand Canal than any of us here," Qin Xiao said. "If you were to divide it, how would you do it appropriately?"
Qiu Heng understood that Qin Xiao must have a plan in mind, and was just trying to test which section of the river he wanted more.
So he stopped pretending and said frankly, "This humble official dares not speak presumptuously. However, the affairs of the waterway from Yangzhou to Suzhou and Hangzhou are complicated, and the transport categories of merchant ships and official ships are also detailed and numerous. It would take a year and a half to become familiar with these matters and take complete control of them. I am afraid that this would delay important matters of the court."
Yangzhou and Suzhou and Hangzhou are both the most prosperous places in the Jiangnan region, and also the places with the most ships and goods coming and going.
In other words, this part is also where the most profits can be made.
Qiu Heng was completely blunt, directly asking for a place where he could earn more money.
Chu Jiubian lowered his eyes, his expression unchanged, but inwardly he couldn't help but scoff.
Just as expected.
However, they had originally planned to hand over this section of the canal transport to the Qiu family.
However, this was not to appease the Qiu family, but because the Min-Zhe region was the fiefdom of Baili Yan, the King of Zui Liang.
Previously, Baili Yan had not interfered too much in the canal transport, but once the Qiu family obtained this section of the canal, the situation in the other sections also stabilized. Chu Jiubian and Qin Xiao could then use the name of the imperial court to grant Baili Yan a concession and allow him to also supervise a portion of the canal transport.
With such enormous profits at stake, even the wealthy King of Liang from Fujian and Zhejiang would be tempted.
At that time, the Qiu family and Baili Yan will become enemies. In order to share the profits, they will definitely check and balance each other, and the Qiu family will have even less control over the river.
As for whether Baili Yan would use this opportunity to make money and expand his power, Chu Jiubian and Qin Xiao were not too worried.
For no other reason than that Baili Yan, who controls both Fujian and Zhejiang, is not short of money. If he wants to expand his power, it doesn't matter whether there is a canal or not.
On the contrary, because of the canal transport issue, he might clash with the Qiu family, causing trouble for himself.
But as the saying goes, no one will complain about making more money, so no matter how rich Baili Yan becomes, he will definitely set his sights on the canal transport business. At that time, Chu Jiubian and Qin Xiao will only need to sit on the sidelines and watch the tigers fight.
The others were unaware of their calculations, but they knew that the section of the river Qiu Heng mentioned must be the most profitable.
Since the Qiu family is willing to hand over the remaining river channels, Qin Xiao will certainly give them face and leave the most profitable part to them.
Sure enough, after Qiu Heng finished speaking, Qin Xiao said, "Minister Qiu is absolutely right."
"I intend to divide the Grand Canal into four sections. The capital region section, starting from Tongzhou in Beizhili in the north and ending in Qingzhou in the south; the Jianghuai section, starting from Qingzhou in the north and ending in Yangzhou in Nanzhili in the south; the southeast section—"
Qin Xiao looked at Qiu Heng and said, "The southeast section runs from Yangzhou to Minzhou. Things are complicated here. Since the Qiu family is familiar with all the affairs, then the Qiu family will continue to manage this section of the canal from now on."
Qiu Heng felt relieved and immediately said, "This humble official will definitely instruct the clansmen to do their duty and guard the river section well, so that there will be no more bandits running rampant!"
Qin Xiao responded and continued, "The last section is the southwest section, from Yangzhou to the southern border."
In other words, the canal in Yangzhou is divided into two parts, one going southeast and the other southwest.
With this division, not only Qiu Heng, who was extremely knowledgeable about the Grand Canal, but also other ministers, all sensed the subtle implications.
The southwestern section of the canal flows through Hubei and Hunan provinces, reaching Sichuan and southern Xinjiang, ensuring the flow of goods between remote areas and the Central Plains.
This section is probably the most "leisurely" and least profitable of the four river sections.
The southeastern section encompasses Fujian and Zhejiang, making it a vital waterway that covers the entire Jiangnan region's wealth. Goods such as rice and silk could flow smoothly through this area, making it the most prosperous region.
However, it has already been decided to go to the Qiu family, and other forces have no chance to get involved.
The Jianghuai section can be described as a transit hub between the north and south, and it is the main channel of the entire Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal.
This section of the river also has the most complex geographical location.
The Hexi Prefecture, which is prone to flooding, is located on this route. The water level in this section of the river has a large drop, and because it is a transit hub, there are also a lot of official and merchant ships, so stricter management is required.
Everyone felt that at least for this part, Qin Xiao and Chu Jiubian should firmly hold onto their own hands.
In addition, there is only one last section left, which is the Beijing-Hebei section.
This section of the canal runs through the entire canal and connects to the important capital city, so it must be managed by the imperial court itself for peace of mind.
So after much deliberation, everyone realized that only the southwestern section of the river offered them a chance to compete.
Even a mosquito's leg is meat, and the southwestern section also includes the relatively wealthy Hubei and Hunan provinces, so there must be something to profit from.
Therefore, even in this one place, everyone wants to compete for it.
However, Chu Jiubian did not give them a chance to speak, and stepped forward first, saying: "Your Majesty, Your Excellency. Although the canal transport is managed in sections, I am afraid that each section is acting independently, which is not conducive to the overall canal transport process. I believe that a Canal Transport Governor should be established to supervise the work of each section of the canal, so as to prevent anyone from abusing their power and harming the interests of the court and the people."
Instantly, dozens of gazes fell on Chu Jiubian, and then turned to Qin Xiao.
The position of Grand Canal Transport Commissioner was a supervisory and management role, similar to the previous Directorate of Ceremonial.
However, the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs is now not only supervising the salt transport, but also interfering in the work of other departments and offices in the court under the guise of supervision.
And those eunuchs were indeed not ordinary people, just as Chu Jiubian had said; on the contrary, many of them were exceptionally talented.
Moreover, because they were eunuchs, they were more tactful than ordinary officials. They didn't care if they were made difficult by officials from various departments, as long as they could achieve the results they wanted in the end.
Therefore, no one could do anything about them, so they could only be more cautious when doing things, for fear of being caught with some fatal weakness.
Chu Jiubian is now bringing up the Grand Canal Transport Commissioner; could it be that he intends to hand over this power to the Directorate of Ceremonial?
Can the Directorate of Ceremonial really extend its reach that far?
Some people wondered if the position of Grand Canal Transport Commissioner was intended for one of Qin Xiao's military officers.
The border is currently not peaceful, and military generals should also have some status in the court. However, because Grand Commandant Qin retired from the court after falling seriously ill, and because the four great families control the court, the court presents a situation of "strong civil officials and weak military officials".
It's not impossible that Qin Xiao might use this opportunity to offer more positions to military officers.
Everyone had different opinions.
The Imperial Censor Qi Zhili stood in the ranks, indifferent to matters that did not concern him.
He was quite in favor of the idea of dividing the grain transport into sections, as the court could use this to replenish the national treasury, which was much better than the Qiu family constantly profiting from it.
Whether others thought of it or not, Qi Zhili believed that Qin Xiao and Chu Jiubian, possessing the powerful card of "imperial mandate," would definitely not profit from the canal transport by accepting bribes from merchant ships like the Qiu family, and that some new policy was about to be announced.
I just don't know what it will be.
As I pondered, my thoughts drifted a little further away.
Suddenly, his colleague nudged his arm, and then he heard Qin Xiao ask again, "Is Vice Minister Qi here?"
Qi Zhili: "?"
He stepped out of the queue, completely bewildered, and said, "Your humble servant is here."
Qin Xiao then said, "The Censorate has the responsibility of supervision. Now that the Grand Tutor has recommended you to be the Grand Canal Transport Commissioner, are you capable of taking on the role?"
Qi Zhili suddenly looked up, momentarily stunned.
We want him to be the Grand Canal Transport Commissioner?
A governor-general must be at least a second-rank official, right?
He's just a lowly fourth-rank official right now, how did he get promoted so many ranks so quickly?
Moreover, he wasn't one of Qin Xiao's men. Although he served the court well, he didn't think he had any connection with Qin Xiao or Chu Jiubian. How could those two trust him and entrust him with such an important position?
He found it unbelievable; in fact, no one else expected that Chu Jiubian would propose Qi Zhili as the governor.
But upon further reflection, they all understood.
Qi Zhongcheng did not belong to any particular school or faction, and it would not be an exaggeration to call him a loyal minister. Moreover, he was exceptionally talented and, as an imperial censor, seemed to be very suitable for this position.
Of course, the most important factor was Jiang Shuoye, the commander of the Northern Desert Army behind him. With such a powerful backer, he didn't need to give face to anyone, and he didn't need to consider the interests of others when supervising the canal transport.
Thinking about it this way, this person is truly a brilliant choice, even better than Qin Xiao sending his own generals!
Knowing how to use people effectively, Qin Xiao and Chu Jiubian are truly difficult to deal with.
The high-ranking officials at the front naturally had these thoughts in mind, but the officials of the fifth rank and above in the Censorate had their own plans.
If Qi Zhili becomes the Grand Canal Transport Commissioner, will he have to give up his position as Vice Censor-in-Chief?
This would give them, as lower-ranking officials, the opportunity to rise in rank.
The court was quiet.
Chu Jiubian turned his head to look at Qi Zhili standing to his side and coughed lightly.
Qi Zhili snapped out of his daze, quickly composed himself, and bowed deeply, saying, "Your subject will certainly not fail Your Majesty's expectations."
The words were addressed to Baili Hong, so Qin Xiao did not respond.
The little boy had been the mascot for a long time today, and seeing that his uncle wasn't saying anything, he knew it was his turn.
So he pretended to be mature and said in a loud voice, "Good, I knew I hadn't misjudged you."
Chu Jiubian had jokingly said this to a child before, but he never expected the other party to put it into practice.
Chu Jiubian subconsciously exchanged a glance with Qin Xiao, then quickly looked away, not daring to meet his gaze again, for fear of bursting into laughter.
Qin Xiao kept looking at him, and didn't hold back his smile.
After Qi Zhili expressed his gratitude, Qin Xiao suppressed his smile and said, "In that case, please come with me to the Hall of Mental Cultivation after court to draft a plan for the canal transport."
Everyone felt that once the specific regulations were released, Qin Xiao would definitely bring this matter up in court, so no one was in a hurry to seize the river section at this time.
They also need to go back and discuss it, and select a few suitable candidates so that if they do get a job on a certain section of the river, they can send someone directly there.
However, they never expected that Qin Xiao and Chu Jiubian had no intention of involving other forces in the canal transport.
In the council hall of the Hall of Mental Cultivation after the court session, three tables were placed at the lower end. The young emperor was obediently writing large characters at the main seat, taking the time to glance at the unimportant memorials and draw a circle on them.
This process also helps you understand which memorials don't need to be read in detail, and you can also identify where the officials who wrote them came from, what their official positions were, and which faction they belonged to.
At this time, Eunuch Hong was mostly at the Directorate of Ceremonial, so Baili Hong was now being served by another junior eunuch named Hong Yu.
This Xiaoyuzi is a year younger than Xiaoxiangzi, but he is intelligent and quick-witted, and can read people's expressions. Moreover, he has a simple background and has received favors from Qin Feng and Eunuch Hong. He is Eunuch Hong's second disciple, whom he is cultivating to succeed the young emperor.
While Baili Hong was learning to read memorials, Xiaoyuzi would also pay attention to the positions and regions of the officials and the power behind them.
When Qin Xiao and Chu Jiubian were explaining something to Baili Hong, he would listen attentively and try to remember it all, so that he could remind His Majesty in time if he forgot anything in the future.
Chu Jiubian quite liked him; he was a down-to-earth and clever boy.
Of course, the reason he could trust this little eunuch so much was not only because Qin Xiao and Hong Fu had verified him many times, but also because he had seen the other party's information when he was drawing the [Wisdom Card] believer.
Those selected by the system must have excellent character and family background.
This was Qi Zhili's first time working in the council hall. He was a little uncomfortable at first, but once he got into his work, he quickly forgot about his surroundings and gradually drafted a rough plan for the canal transport.
Once His Majesty grants his request, he will be able to take back the official residence for further details.
After he had finished drafting, he put down his brush and looked up at his superior.
Seeing that the three-year-old child had not cried or made a fuss and was studying diligently, and that he could already understand the memorials at such a young age, Qi Zhili's eyes unconsciously lit up.
He had been in the court since the reign of Emperor Yingzong, so he naturally knew that the other party was not a wise ruler, or even intelligent.
He only managed to secure his throne with the support of the Qin and Xiao families.
But later, the other party turned its attention to the Qin family, who had been loyal and virtuous for generations. They were truly ungrateful, incompetent, and lacked both talent and virtue.
Even after a new dynasty was established, Qi Zhili remained constantly on edge.
There was a constant fear that Qin Xiao would become obsessed with power and, once he became arrogant, turn into the biggest scourge in the court.
But seeing the young emperor's appearance now, Qi Zhili finally felt relieved.
At such a young age, he can sit still so calmly, dare to speak in court, and has a photographic memory. Coupled with his gentle yet sharp personality, he is the epitome of a wise ruler!
With the ability to support such an emperor, Qi Zhili felt that his vision of a prosperous era would one day come true.
People will no longer have to worry about food and clothing.
Noticing someone staring at him, Baili Hong looked up and saw a pair of big, round eyes shining brightly.
Seeing that it was Qi Zhili looking at him, Baili Hong's eyes crinkled into a smile, revealing a set of small white teeth.
Qi Zhili was taken aback, then felt a softening in his heart, and a smile appeared on his usually calm face.
Chu Jiubian had already seen his reaction clearly out of the corner of his eye, and a smile appeared in his eyes upon seeing it.
No one can resist a well-behaved, sensible, and intelligent child.
Qi Zhili rose from his seat and walked to the front of the main seat. He bowed to Baili Hong and said, "Your Majesty, I have drafted the plan. Please review it."
As he spoke, he paid special attention to Qin Xiao and Chu Jiubian, who were sitting opposite each other on the left and right sides of the aisle.
After entering the Hall of Mental Cultivation, the two men remained seated in their respective positions reviewing memorials, never exchanging a word. They only looked up and patiently answered questions when the young emperor had any.
Qi Zhili deliberately skipped over the two of them and handed the document to Baili Hong, hoping to find out how the two would react.
To his surprise, Qin Xiao and Chu Jiubian didn't react at all, and didn't even look up.
Xiao Yuzi, who had been waiting by Baili Hong's side, came over, took the document from his hand, and then handed it to Baili Hong.
Baili Hong then carefully read what he had written.
The charter is written in a concise and clear manner, covering everything from the establishment of the governing bodies and staffing for the segmented jurisdiction to the division of responsibilities, management, and supervision.
After reading it once, Baili Hong nodded and praised him frankly, "Your writing is very good."
Qi Zhili felt relieved, but he also had some doubts about whether the young emperor had truly understood it.
However, the next moment, he heard Baili Hong say, "But why didn't you add any tax items, my dear minister?"
"What?" Qi Zhili was taken aback.
Baili Hong was also taken aback for a moment before saying, "The canal is divided into sections. If merchant ships want to cross two sections, they should pay some taxes. Otherwise, what's the point of dividing it into sections?"
His teacher and uncle had explained it to him before. His teacher even drew the course of the canal on the ground with him and told him where to divide it into sections and why.
The canal was originally built to facilitate cargo transport by official ships. Now that these merchant ships enjoy the convenience of the canal, they should give back to the imperial court in some way.
The imperial court was short of money, but these merchant ships were not, so they needed to pay certain taxes.
It's like someone else dug a well, and you've been drawing water from it. Now that the family who dug the well is broke, you should repay their kindness and help them out.
Baili Hong thought that Qi Zhili, like himself before, did not understand this principle, so he specially explained the metaphor of "borrowing water from a well".
After finishing speaking, he blinked his big eyes and asked, "Did you understand, my dear minister?"
Qi Zhili hurriedly replied, "Your subject understands."
He had guessed that Qin Xiao and Chu Jiubian would have other new policies, but he never expected that they would be collecting taxes!
But when he heard the word "taxes," he felt a chill run down his spine.
Yes, the imperial court has the right to collect taxes, and as Your Majesty said, merchant ships enjoy the privileges and treatment that only official ships have. They should not only take but also give something back.
He couldn't help but glance at Qin Xiao and Chu Jiubian on either side, his feelings a mix of emotions.
These two people seemed to treat Baili Hong not as a child at all, but as a true emperor.
He not only taught him to read memorials and recognize officials, but also taught him to see through the political situation and explained the meaning behind every political matter in the simplest terms.
No wonder, no wonder Baili Hong's growth rate is so amazing, it's because he has such two "good teachers"!
Yes, and there's also that incredibly talented eunuch Hong Fu, who must have passed on all his skills to Baili Hong.
Growing up in such an environment, it would be strange if Baili Hong didn't become a wise ruler.
Qi Zhili was filled with turbulent emotions, but he suppressed them forcefully.
He stepped forward, retrieved the charter document, and said, "Your Majesty, I have revised it."
"Okay, don't rush, take your time." Baili Hong coaxed Qi Zhili in the same way Chu Jiubian usually did when he coaxed him.
Qi Zhili was deeply moved and full of energy.
Even when it was lunchtime, he only managed to eat a few bites before getting back to work.
It wasn't until after four o'clock in the afternoon that he finally drafted the new regulations, added tax categories, and handed them over to Baili Hong.
Baili Hong hadn't learned how to read taxes yet, so he only glanced at it briefly before saying, "Let's show it to the two gentlemen."
Qi Zhili now only has respect for Qin Xiao and Chu Jiubian, and has lost his previous worries and fears, so he naturally agreed readily.
Qin Xiao then got up and sat down next to Chu Jiubian, and read it with him.
While this version of the regulations is not perfect, it includes tax classifications, minimum tax thresholds, information on tax collection by different river management offices, and procedures for submitting taxes to the imperial court. It has everything you need.
“That’s right,” Chu Jiu argued.
Qi Zhili's expression relaxed slightly, and he said, "The Qiu family is in charge of the canal transport in the southeast section, but I really don't know who to ask to take on the responsibility of managing the other three sections."
Chu Jiubian looked up at him and said, "Next, we will have to trouble Lord Qi to go to the local areas to supervise the establishment of the branch offices."
He then took out a list he had prepared beforehand and handed it to him, saying, "The people on this list are students we think are quite good. They are all ordinary students. You can decide how to appoint them."
Qi Zhili is a capable man. Although the job of Grand Canal Transport Commissioner is not easy, he will definitely do it well.
Let him make the appointment himself?
Qi Zhili was so surprised that he almost lost his composure.
The highest-ranking official in this branch office should be a second-rank official or lower. How can such a high-ranking regional official be allowed to make decisions?
Moreover, all the people on this list are commoners. Isn't it too risky to directly appoint them to official positions ranging from the fifth rank to the second rank?
He had doubts in his heart, but when he looked up and met Chu Jiubian's calm eyes, he was speechless.
He didn't think he was smarter than the two people in front of him, so he assumed that whatever he could think of, they must have thought of as well.
But if they still do it, there must be other reasons.
Since that's the case, he no longer needs to hesitate and can simply accept the order and carry it out.
So he bowed and said, "Your humble servant obeys."
Then, he bowed to Baili Hong and said, "Your Majesty, I thank you for your trust."
Baili Hong said, "My dear minister, there's no need for that. You've had a long day. Go home and rest."
The child's sweet, childlike voice warmed Qi Zhili's heart, and he said gently, "Your Majesty, I thank you for your concern."
Qi Zhili was exceptionally meticulous and efficient in his work. By the evening of the following day, he had already submitted the detailed regulations again.
This time, the other party even wrote down exactly how many laborers and guards each branch should have.
With such a comprehensive plan, he can work more easily when he goes to local areas.
Now that the regulations had been set, Qi Zhili planned to set off for the local area the next day, traveling south along the Grand Canal from Beizhili, where he could establish branch offices along the way.
When he returns, he can re-inspect the route and make up for any omissions in time.
Baili Hong bestowed an official title and seal upon Qi Zhili, and also gave him three thousand taels of silver and six hundred elite soldiers as guards, escorted by a general named Wan Lin under the command of the Qin family army.
Qin Xiao also secretly gave Wan Lin a military token, which allowed him to mobilize the city's defense forces anywhere.
Chu Jiubian used the extra [Wealth Card] he had drawn from the system's inventory to summon Qi Zhili, but he did not call Qi into the Divine Realm.
Whether or not to call him that later is another matter; for now, he just wants to provide the other party with more security.
If a believer is in danger, the system will notify Chu Jiubian, who can then save his life as needed.
This wasn't because he and Qin Xiao were making a fuss, but because what Qi Zhili was about to do was indeed dangerous. Other families might not dare to openly target him, but that didn't mean they wouldn't dare to sabotage him in secret. Better safe than sorry.
Moreover, the Qi family was wealthy, and Qi Zhili knew that the national treasury was empty. Before leaving, he secretly told Qin Xiao and Chu Jiubian that he could withdraw silver from the Qi family's business at any time, so they didn't need to worry too much.
Since they've been so sincere, they should naturally reciprocate.
It is no exaggeration to say that Qi Zhili's departure was grand and imposing, and all parties finally realized that Qin Xiao and Chu Jiubian had never intended to share the profits from the canal transport!
This realization made not only the families who didn't get a share of the profits resentful, but even the Qiu family who did benefit felt aggrieved.
If they had known this was the plan, the Qiu family wouldn't have had to worry about being targeted by other families, and they could have even competed with the imperial court for more benefits.
But it's too late to say anything now.
Moreover, through this incident, everyone also discovered that Qin Xiao and Chu Jiubian's methods were becoming increasingly forceful. Initially, whenever there was trouble in the court, the two of them would try to appease and appease the various parties and share the benefits.
But now, they have shown their true colors.
Under such circumstances, it seemed that only by eliminating them could the continued expansion of imperial power be stopped.
However, this is easier said than done.
Let's not even talk about Chu Jiubian; this deity is not someone that mortals like them can deal with.
Even Qin Xiao, they couldn't figure out how to get rid of him.
They never expected that this opportunity would come so quickly.
On the Double Ninth Festival, September 9th, news suddenly and without warning came from the Northwest that the Western Regions' border kingdom had invaded and occupied Gansu!
Furthermore, with the capture of the Prince of Dingbei, the people of Gansu are suffering greatly, and the Western Regions border kingdoms are demanding that Qin Xiao personally go to Gansu for peace talks, otherwise they will begin massacring the city!
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