Starting from 1618 of the Ming Dynasty

Chapter 45 Pressure from the Government

June 20th, 47th year of Wanli (1598), Jinan Prefecture.

Just as the turmoil in the Zhangqiu mining area subsided, an even greater crisis loomed. This time, it wasn't charlatans who came, but bandits dressed in official robes.

The expansion project of Lu Ji's camp is in full swing. On the 500 mu of wasteland, the wall has been built to a height of 1 zhang, and even two brick and stone watchtowers overlooking the canal have been erected.

However, on that very morning, a group of officials, clearing the way with gongs and drums, surrounded the camp gate.

The leader was not the previous head of the household affairs office, Sun, but an official wearing a scarlet official robe (of the fifth rank or above), a black gauze hat, with a thin face but a sinister look in his eyes.

Zhou Daodeng, Deputy Commissioner of the Shandong Provincial Judicial Commission.

This man was a newly appointed "censor" sent by the imperial court to inspect the defenses of Shandong, wielding great power to investigate corrupt officials and maintain order. Unlike those local officials who only wanted to make money, he wanted "reputation"—of course, a "good reputation" after he had made enough money.

"Stop work! Stop all work!"

Vice Envoy Zhou stood at the camp gate, pointing at the yellow flag that read "Imperial Timber Procurement Office of the Imperial Household Department," and sneered repeatedly, "What audacity! You're wielding your authority like a tiger! You dare to build a fortified village and raise assassins in the heart of the provincial capital! Are you planning a rebellion?!"

This serious accusation caught even Zhao Changying, who was on guard at the gate, off guard.

"My lord, we are imperial merchants from the Imperial Household Department, and this land was approved by Eunuch Wang..." Zhao Changying stepped forward to explain.

"presumptuous!"

Vice Envoy Zhou roared, "I am the Vice Envoy of the Provincial Surveillance Commission, in charge of every blade of grass and every tree in Shandong! Can an eunuch supervise the timber in the palace, or the laws of the Ming Dynasty? The laws of the Ming Dynasty stipulate: Anyone who privately repairs city walls higher than one zhang (approximately 3.3 meters) shall be beheaded! Anyone who privately possesses armor and firearms shall have their entire family executed!"

He waved his hand dismissively: "Men! Tear down this illegal wall! Seize those rioters with muskets! I suspect this place is harboring White Lotus sect members; a thorough investigation is necessary!"

That's a really vicious move.

He avoided the sensitive issue of "imperial timber" and instead focused directly on the two fatal flaws: "public security" and "violation of regulations." At the end of the Wanli reign, peasant uprisings were rampant across the country, and the imperial court was extremely sensitive to local armed forces. Lu Yan's camp was indeed built too much like a fortress, which was a fatal flaw.

Hundreds of fully armed officers and soldiers were about to rush in.

Lu Ji's guards immediately raised their spears and muskets, and the two sides confronted each other at the camp gate, their swords drawn and the air thick with the smell of gunpowder.

"stop!"

Lu Yan strode out of the camp. He was dressed in a scholar's robe today, but his expression was more stern than usual.

He saw through this Deputy Envoy Zhou's background. This wasn't the kind of nobody who could be appeased with a few dozen taels of silver; this was a ravenous wolf of the bureaucracy, intent on devouring Lu Ji whole.

"Student Lu Yan greets Your Excellency, the Censor." Lu Yan bowed respectfully, displaying impeccable manners.

"So you're that Lu Yan?" Deputy Envoy Zhou glanced at him sideways, his eyes filled with greed and disdain. "I heard you have connections everywhere in Jinan Prefecture, even bribing the household registration office? But that won't work here."

Deputy Envoy Zhou pointed to the soldiers behind him: "Today, you either demolish this illegally constructed city wall, hand over all your firearms, and surrender; or I will charge you with 'colluding with the White Lotus and plotting rebellion'! The choice is yours!"

Lu Yan remained calm and showed no sign of panic.

"Sir, may I have a word with you in private?"

"Hmph! Say what you have to say right now! I have nothing to hide from anyone!" Vice Envoy Zhou adopted the demeanor of an upright official.

Lu Yan smiled. He knew these officials all too well. The louder their voice, the higher their demands.

He walked slowly to Vice Envoy Zhou's horse, took out an unsealed account book from his sleeve, and gently handed it over.

"My lord, this is the detailed list of 'cooperation fees' that Lu Ji gave to various government offices in Jinan last month. It seems that the Provincial Surveillance Commission is not included in it. This is my oversight."

Vice Envoy Zhou glanced at the account books and sneered, "Trying to bribe me? You underestimate me..."

Before he could finish speaking, his gaze suddenly froze.

Because beneath that ledger was a piece of paper. The paper had no writing on it, only half a tattered "salt permit".

Those were private salt permits issued by the Lianghuai Salt Transport Office.

Zhou Daodeng's face turned deathly pale instantly. Before being transferred to Shandong, he had served in Lianghuai, where he had been involved in the illegal sale of salt. This business was conducted with utmost secrecy, known only to him and a few trusted confidants. How could it have fallen into the hands of this scholar?

This is a "fragment of intelligence" that Lu Yan pieced together from the antique dealers in Liulichang through big data analysis, using the scrap metal business in the capital.

"grown ups."

Lu Yan's voice was very low, only the two of them could hear, "The walls around Lu's residence are to defend against the White Lotus Sect and protect the Imperial Tree. If they are demolished, the Imperial Tree will be lost, and it will be difficult to explain to Eunuch Wang. If you insist on investigating..."

Lu Yan paused, his gaze piercing Zhou Daodeng's eyes like a knife:

"Then this salt certificate, and the two houses that you purchased by the Lord on the shore of the Slender West Lake in Yangzhou, I'm afraid we should ask the censors of the Censorate to investigate them as well."

This is a blatant threat.

It was the "information asymmetry" that brought about the decisive victory.

Zhou Daodeng stared intently at Lu Yan, the veins on his forehead throbbing. He hadn't expected that this seemingly easy target, a scholar, would actually be holding a deadly poison needle.

After a long while, Zhou Daodeng took a deep breath, and the righteous expression on his face shattered like a mask, replaced by a shrewdness and worldliness typical of officials.

"Ahem... What Scholar Lu mentioned about 'guarding against the White Lotus Sect' is indeed true."

Zhou Daodeng said loudly, turning to look at the soldiers behind him, "Now that demons are rampant, the Imperial Wood is a vital national asset and indeed needs to be strictly guarded against. As for this wall... although it is slightly against regulations, in urgent situations, expediency is necessary. As long as it is done in the name of the court, I am not incapable of making an exception."

He changed the subject, lowering his voice to say to Lu Yan, "Five thousand taels. The foundation for that salt certificate is wiped out."

"Three thousand taels." Lu Yan said expressionlessly. "That's the 'Security Guidance Fee of the Provincial Surveillance Commission,' to be paid from the official account. Also, I need the Provincial Surveillance Commission to give me a 'Permit for Possessing Firearms for Local Militia'."

"You..." Zhou Daodeng gritted his teeth. This kid was too cunning. Not only did he try to bargain, but he also wanted to use him as a pawn.

But since they have leverage over us, we have no choice but to back down.

"Deal!" Zhou Daodeng said viciously. "Deliver the money to my residence tonight. The permit will be sent to you tomorrow."

"Thank you for your understanding, Your Excellency." Lu Yan cupped his hands, a standard business-like fake smile on his face.

Watching Zhou Daodeng lead his soldiers away in a sorry state, Zhao Changying breathed a sigh of relief; his back was soaked with sweat.

"Brother, these officials are more troublesome than bandits. We almost came to blows just now."

"This is the 'compliance cost'."

Lu Yan watched the departing official sedan chair, the coldness in his eyes not fading. "Playing by their rules, we're always on the defensive. Today it's an inspector, tomorrow it might be a governor. This kind of extortion has no end."

"So what do we do? Keep giving them money?"

"No."

Lu Yan turned around and looked at the bastion that was rising from the ground behind him.

"Paying money only buys us time. We're not strong enough right now, so we can only endure it."

"But patience is for accumulating strength."

Lu Yan brushed a speck of dust off his shoulder.

"From today onwards, in addition to the imperial timber business, our intelligence network will be fully expanded. I need to know the background, secrets, hobbies, and even the affairs of every official of the fifth rank or above in Shandong. I need to know even if they have a mistress."

"In this rotten bureaucracy, information is the weapon."

"Also," Lu Yan said, glancing towards the firearms workshop, "have Zhao Tie speed up the production of the 'François cannon.' Next time an official dares to bring soldiers to block the gate, I want him to know that Lu's company's walls are not just covered with fire sticks."

A crisis from the government was temporarily resolved by Lu Yan using dirt on his connections and money. But this made him realize more clearly that in this world, pure commercial power is fragile.

To survive, to avoid being torn apart by these greedy bureaucrats, he had to evolve.

It has evolved into a monster that combines commerce, military, and intelligence.