Chapter 1900: Tangled Threads

Chapter 1881: Intertwined Threads

"Find another way?" Qingyang asked him. "Can't you send a merchant without revealing that General Bai is the buyer?"

"It's not that easy to find a new channel," Baitan said with a wry smile. "Bai Mao Ting oil is an obscure product with a very small yield. Even if we could find someone to procure it from the common folk of Pei Kingdom, it would take at least two months to gather a few hundred jin!"

To exaggerate slightly, the situation on the battlefield changes in an instant. If Chen Chuihua is allowed to roam free for another two months, there's a very high chance that he, who seemed defeated, could make a strong comeback!

Qingyang nodded slowly. "So, you unilaterally released the people from the Qianmen branch of Yangshan Merchant Guild?"

That old hag knew after all!

On the third day after the Qianmen branch was sealed, and before Baitan left for military duties, he had released the detained head of the Qianmen branch from prison.

However, the prison was his, Tianshui City was his, and the army was still his. Yet, the old woman accused him of acting "unilaterally." It was outrageous!

Baitan cleared his throat, still needing to be careful. "You must already know that the head of the Qianmen branch is Prime Minister Li's eldest son."

Qingyang hadn't known initially, but a post-incident investigation revealed it, so she hadn't sent anyone to re-arrest him.

After You Rongzhi and several ministers died, Prime Minister Li became the most prestigious figure in the royal court. He pledged allegiance to Baitan, and many officials across the various regions surrendered upon hearing the news.

On the day of the mutiny, Baitan wielded his butcher's knife, slaughtering indiscriminately. However, by dawn the next day, he had agreed to three articles of governance with the ministers: once the sun rose, the killing would stop, and from then on, all officials would resume their duties.

In a city as large as Tianshui, someone had to manage things, otherwise, everything would fall into chaos.

Months passed, and while Baitan still held ultimate authority in Tianshui City, a delicate internal balance had been re-established. After all, Baitan still faced powerful enemies outside, and he couldn't yet control the entire Yao region completely.

As soon as the Qianmen branch of the Yangshan Merchant Guild was seized, Prime Minister Li went to Baitan to plead, hoping to get his arrested son back.

Baitan listened in silence and could only release the man.

Qingyang asked him, "Why is a branch of the Yangshan Merchant Guild controlled by Prime Minister Li?"

"To ensure the smooth operation of Yangshan Merchant Guild's local business, He Xiao invited influential officials and wealthy elites from Tianshui City to 'buy shares,' as he put it. You also know he was riding high then, and those nobles and officials eagerly rushed to invest, considering it an honor. After our uprising succeeded, these officials were also killed, and their shares were taken over by Prime Minister Li and four or five other officials. After all, Yangshan's business was still very profitable."

These were all historical issues.

"The trouble with the Qianmen branch is just one example," Baitan said, choosing his words carefully. "Other branches of the Yangshan Merchant Guild established in former Yao territories largely followed the same model as the Qianmen branch, with significant local participation and larger profit shares. These past few days—"

He reached up and rubbed his nose and mouth, easing the fatigue on his face. "As soon as the Yangshan branches in various regions were shut down, my doorstep has practically been flattened by the local influential families, who come either to plead or to complain. For instance, the Shanan branch of Yangshan was due to send a shipment of grain to Tianshui City in seven or eight days, but now its branch manager, along with the Shanan County Magistrate's brother-in-law, have both been arrested. The Shanan County Magistrate's brother-in-law was at the branch that day to collect his dividends, and he broke both his legs trying to escape by jumping out a window, after being beaten by your Qing Guards. This..."

The Qing Guards, acting on the Heavenly Palace Protector's orders, apprehended people without regard for the consequences or local sensibilities; they simply cuffed their targets and took them away.

Qingyang listened, remaining silent.

"Among these sealed branches, there were actually very few Yangshan or Shanjin people. Most of those employed were local Yao people. The seized goods were also financed by investments from local influential families."

Since they were called "branches," it was natural that most of the employees would be local.

Baitan's meaning was clear: Qingyang wanted to sanction He Lingchuan and seal the Yangshan branches, but the punishment was effectively falling on the Yao people.

It would have been one thing if it only affected the common Yao people, but the ones hit hardest were the local gentry and nobles.

They not only lost money and goods, but also suffered physical pain and imprisonment!

When Qingyang punished them, they had no choice but to come to Baitan to appeal for justice.

Baitan's face was etched with distress. "I am still fighting a war and need cooperation from local areas in terms of money, provisions, and intelligence. Palace Master, what do you think...?"

From Tianshui City to the local regions, there was a well-established bureaucratic system. As the old saying goes, someone always has to govern the local areas.

If the local areas were thoroughly provoked, they might simply refuse to cooperate, or pretend to comply while secretly defying him. In that case, how could he possibly defeat Chen Chuihua or take control of the entire Yao region?

"The people are Yao, and the money and goods belong to the local gentry?" Qingyang's expression also darkened. "So what exactly is He Xiao's relationship with the Yangshan branches in Yao territory? Don't tell me he only provided a Yangshan signboard!"

"Not just the signboard, but also the channels." Baitan had clarified this matter before coming to Youhu Mountain Villa. "What resources to transport, how they enter and exit Yao territory, how they are allocated, and their origin—these are the matters truly handled by He Xiao's Yangshan Merchant Guild. Local parties only needed to provide funds and personnel to cooperate with the plan, and it would work out."

Qingyang took a deep breath, suppressing her anger. "In other words, He Xiao didn't actually leave any tangible assets in Yao territory?"

These "channels" are intangible and invisible; how can one sanction them?

Yet, one couldn't say they were worthless!

The people, money, and goods all originated from Yao territory. He Xiao's Yangshan Merchant Guild had no real physical presence here. Or rather, the true Yangshan Merchant Guild was hidden behind these influential gentry and officials in Yao territory. If Qingyang wanted to truly strike at it, she would first have to break through this protective shell of integrated officialdom, governance, and capital!

"Give me a list," she said, getting straight to the point and taking a step back. "The people can be released, but make sure they immediately sever all ties with the Yangshan Merchant Guild and have no further contact! The Heavenly Gods have already abandoned He Lingchuan; anyone associated with him or Yangshan will bring disaster upon themselves."

The wrath of the Heavenly Gods was something mortals simply could not bear.

Baitan, however, hesitated, as if wanting to say something but holding back.

Qingyang frowned. "What now?"

"Well..." Baitan cleared his throat. "The Yangshan Merchant Guild's branches still have some use for now, and it might, it might not be good to shut them down immediately."

Qingyang gazed at him, her eyes full of amusement. "Baitan, are even you entangled with Yangshan?"

She knew Baitan was a two-faced individual. He was once one of the Yao King's most trusted officials, from an inherited aristocratic family, outwardly loyal and patriotic, yet at a critical moment, he stabbed the Yao King in the back, and it was a fatal blow!

Qingyang absolutely did not trust such a person.

"No, no, absolutely not!" Baitan quickly waved his hand. "He Xiao's actions are indeed despicable, and I, too, wish to be rid of him as soon as possible. However, the Yangshan branches are still involved in the transportation of military supplies, so it's not ideal to shut them down immediately."

Qingyang glanced sideways. "You dare to entrust your military supplies to Yangshan Merchant Guild's routes?"