eurekapd Chapter 1087 The Final Step
Chapter 1087 The Final Step
The bamboo house was so quiet that you could hear the crackling of the torches burning.
Objections? Only someone with a screw loose would raise objections when faced with absolute power and the promise of benefits.
Moreover, these three conditions, though described as conditions, are actually beneficial to them as well.
The third path, in particular, subtly points to an alternative arrangement for the fate of their descendants.
A possibility to escape the barbarian status of generations of salt-making and become a member of the Qing people.
Don't be fooled by their habit of calling the people of Sichuan "dogs" and their apparent disdain for the people of Qing.
But the harsher the criticism, the more envious they become.
They wished they were from Shu or Qing, so they could wear official robes and hats, hold the books of sages, and live in places of incense burning.
The old man prostrated himself deeply: "Your Majesty's wisdom and foresight have benefited the mountains and forests. I, an old man, will obey Your Majesty's decree! I have no objection!"
He had just angered Li Che, and now he took the initiative to express his fear of further displeasing Li Che.
Once someone takes the lead, voices of agreement quickly follow.
"I am willing to serve His Majesty the Emperor."
"We have no objection."
"I will obey Your Majesty!"
“Very good.” Li Che stood up and looked down at the chieftains prostrate on the ground. “Since there are no objections, then it shall be settled.”
"Yang Tong".
Yang Tong quickly stepped forward: "Your subject is here!"
"You shall temporarily assume the title of Salt Transport Commissioner of Chengdu and be in charge of all matters concerning the Salt Supervision Office of Southern Sichuan. The specific details shall be discussed with the other officials, and a draft of the regulations shall be prepared within three days and submitted to me for my review."
"Your subject obeys the decree!" Yang Tong's voice was filled with excitement.
"As for you," Li Che said, his gaze falling on the people who had turned back, "go back and appease your people, prepare to welcome the Salt Commissioner's officials, and raise funds for road repairs."
"The new laws and the benefits of increased salt production that I promised will be gradually realized after the Salt Commissioner is established and the first section of the road is surveyed."
"I hope you will all behave yourselves well and not disappoint my expectations."
"We will obey His Majesty's decree!" the chieftains replied in unison.
Li Che said no more and turned to walk out of the bamboo house.
. . . . . .
Stepping out of the bamboo house, the cool mountain breeze dispelled the lingering heat inside.
Yang Tong followed closely behind Li Che, hesitating for a long time before finally speaking in a low voice, "Your Majesty... are you just going to let them go back like this?"
"The Liao people are untrustworthy and fickle. What if they go back and pretend to comply but then go against their word, or even hide deeper in the mountains...? These vast mountains will not be easy to find."
Li Che did not stop walking. Upon hearing this, he simply smiled and said, "Don't worry, I have my own arrangements."
He suddenly turned his head and looked at Yang Tong: "Have you figured out what has happened these past few days?"
Yang Tong was about to answer, but suddenly paused.
His Majesty has put so much effort into this grand strategy; if he were to simply answer "I've learned it," wouldn't he appear to be smarter than the emperor?
If he answers 'I don't understand at all,' he will appear too stupid and incapable of being of any use.
In a flash, he sorted out his thoughts.
He immediately bowed respectfully, his tone perfectly measured, conveying seven parts trepidation and three parts eagerness to learn:
"Your Majesty's strategic planning is superb, but I am too dull to fully comprehend it. I can only vaguely see that Your Majesty's plans are far-reaching, and the intricacies of them are like looking at flowers through a fog."
"I humbly beg Your Majesty not to disdain me, but to allow me to ponder this matter from time to time in the future, so that I may be able to glimpse even a fraction of it."
Li Che seemed noncommittal to his answer, only saying calmly, "No rush, there's still one last step. When they return, you should keep a close eye on things; that's the key."
Yang Tong was taken aback: "Them? They're back?"
He was filled with doubt, but dared not ask any more questions.
Li Che offered no further explanation, only saying "Rest now" before heading straight to his own tent.
For the next two days, the area inside and outside the city of Ciyan was unusually calm.
Li Che seemed to have truly stopped caring about the departed chieftains. He spent his days inspecting the camp and salt fields, occasionally discussing health preservation with Xu Jiezi, and deliberating on Shu affairs with Wei Xiang, Luo Yueniang, and others.
Yang Tong, however, was like a hedgehog with its quills, restless every day, and would send people to investigate the surrounding area from time to time, but found nothing unusual.
Until the afternoon of the third day.
The first to return was the taciturn, burly chieftain of the Langdong tribe.
He stumbled and stumbled to the gate, his clothes torn by thorns, his face filled with panic.
The Qing soldiers guarding the gate recognized him and immediately informed Li Che.
Li Che, however, seemed to have anticipated this, and simply replied with a "I know," before having someone arrange for him to rest and not seeing him.
Immediately afterwards, as if by prior arrangement, the chiefs of several other tribes also arrived in disarray.
Finally, even the most cunning old man from Qing Teng Dong appeared outside the city gate as the sun began to set.
The only one who hasn't appeared yet is Aguli from Black Rock Cave.
These returning leaders were brought before Li Che again, kneeling in the same spot as a few days ago, but each of them looked ashen-faced, as if they had lost their parents.
Yang Tong was ordered to stay by his side and watch this dramatic scene. The vague guess in his mind gradually became clear, which made him break out in a cold sweat.
Li Che sat at the head of the table, slowly took a sip of tea, and then looked up at the people below: "What brings you chieftains back?"
The chieftain of Langdong kowtowed violently, his voice hoarse with grief and indignation: "Your Majesty! I beg Your Majesty to do justice for me!"
“Those ungrateful beasts dared to establish a new chieftain while I was away, seize the salt wells, and drive out and kill my trusted men!”
"We beg Your Majesty to make the decision!" The other chieftains also kowtowed.
The old man from Qing Teng Dong did not cry out, but instead prostrated himself deeply on the ground and said in a hoarse voice, "I am incompetent and my governance is lax, which has led to this disaster."
“The newly appointed headman is a ruthless and ambitious man in our clan. He has colluded with some salt-making leaders who are dissatisfied with the court. They claim that we have already knelt before His Majesty and sold out the salt profits of the Liao people, and are no longer worthy to be headmen.”
He omitted many details in his words, but the core meaning was already very clear.
Their power base was overthrown by internal opposition forces within just a few days of their departure.
Yang Tong listened from the side, feeling a chill run down his spine, yet also a sudden sense of enlightenment.
So that's how it is! His Majesty let them go back, not at all afraid that they would disobey or hide.
His Majesty had already calculated that these chieftains had maintained their rule through self-interest for many years, and were not a monolithic entity.
Their authority was already damaged by their capture and subsequent release by the emperor, making them easy targets for ambitious individuals within the clan to exploit and replace.
The emperor didn't need to lift a finger; a gentle nudge was enough and they would start fighting amongst themselves.
Now, where else can these disgraced chieftains go but to return and beg the emperor?
This was Li Che's final step. After this, all the salt wells and even the Liao people within this hundred-mile radius belonged to the imperial court, and were truly owned by it.
Li Che listened to their pleas without any surprise on his face.
Only after the noise subsided did he put down his teacup and turn his gaze to Yang Tong, who was staring in disbelief: "Yang Tong."
"Your subject... Your subject is here!" Yang Tong responded quickly, startled.
"I'm giving you a task."