Chapter 829 - 59: Water Can Carry a Boat, but Can Also Overturn It

The world today is not the same as during the times of the Great Tang.

After centuries of development, the maritime transport system has gradually matured. While not everyone can travel far, near-shore trade is within reach for everyone.

If maritime transport were completely opened, given the current speed of information management,

it would only lead to one result.

That is the excessive accumulation of wealth among the common people, leading to the rapid rise of local powerful forces, bringing Kyushu back on its old path.

This is by no means a good thing for a feudal dynasty.

The reason these people want Gu Lin to lift the restrictions is also quite simple.

They merely want to eliminate some of the costs associated with canal transport.

Besides that, they seek large-scale expansion.

It’s worth mentioning that—

due to the presence of the Imperial Censorate and the Ryukyu Navy, the Gu Clan’s regulation of maritime transport is very strict today.

If it weren’t for this, these people wouldn’t have to keep seeking Gu Lin’s approval.

In other words,

from their perspective, Gu Lin is effectively cutting off all their sources of wealth.

Looking at the people in front of him, Gu Lin’s expression remained very calm.

He knew that these individuals were merely representatives.

The interests within maritime transport today are so vast that they can allure anyone; these people are just representatives.

But no matter who stands behind them, Gu Lin could never agree to this matter.

He didn’t even say another word.

He simply waved his hand.

Immediately, someone rushed in and gestured to the group of officials: "Gentlemen, please return home."

Upon witnessing this, the officials’ expressions immediately turned sour.

But looking at Gu Lin, who had already picked up the memorials again, they hesitated for a moment and eventually dared not utter any more meaningless words and left one by one, huffing their sleeves as they went.

And that very night, in an inconspicuous residence in Yingtian Prefecture, the officials who were rebuffed at the Champion Marquis Mansion gathered again.

"Lord Gu’s actions have truly cut off the financial paths of the world!" Chen Mingyuan, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue from Jiangnan, was the first to break the silence, his tone full of indignation, "The Southeast Sea Merchants, Jinguan from Shu, and even leather goods from the north and porcelain kilns from Jiangxi—who wouldn’t want to send their goods directly overseas to avoid the layers of consumption by canal transport and the stringent reviews of the Maritime Trade Office?"

"The profit margin within, how can it be anything but huge!"

"How much profit have those commoners taken from us?"

Upon hearing this, Wang Pu, Vice Commissioner of Transport, was evidently a little agitated, heavily setting down his teacup, his voice low: "He is the mountain that stands in our way!"

"Unmovable, unsurpassable!"

No sooner had the words left his mouth than Li Shouren, an aging young officer from a Huainan aristocratic family, turned pale with fright, hurriedly interjecting, "Speak with caution! Speak with caution!"

"Brother Wang, how could you say such recklessness!"

"The Gu Clan has governed for five generations, aiding the Great Song for over a century. Its legacy and foundation have already deeply penetrated Kyushu, worshiped by the common people as divine; how can we possibly shake it?"

"Even the thought should not exist!"

"Be wary of those hawks and hounds of the Imperial Censorate!!!"

These words brought immediate silence to the room.

Everyone’s faces displayed impotence and dejection.

These words were indeed true.

Faced with the roots of the Gu Clan, they simply don’t know how to shake it.

Wang Pu also realized he had misspoken and slumped back into his seat.

The entire room remained silent for a long time, but amidst this silence, Zhao Wenyuan, a Langzhong from the Ministry of Personnel, suddenly lowered his voice and said, "Lord Gu... is, after all, advanced in age."

At these words, the atmosphere among those present changed instantly.

Everyone understood the implication behind his words.

They might not be able to move the mountain that is the Gu Clan, but they can wait!

Wait for time to naturally take away this towering mountain!

"But as long as he remains in power, he blocks our path every day!" Zhou Shi’an, the court judge from Jinguan in Shu, couldn’t help but complain, "Silk from Jiangsu and Zhejiang, tea from Min Province, porcelain from Jingdezhen, and even brocade from my Shu—if they could go directly overseas, how could the profits not multiply?"

"Currently, we can only pick up scraps left over from this maritime trade."

"If this continues, how can our families be sustained? How can our descendants be ambitious?"

Another period of silence followed among the crowd.

Interests are such that, despite the still relatively good state of the Great Song court, it’s impossible for everyone to be tied to the same battleship.

From the moment external enemies fall, internal conflicts will be infinitely magnified.

Whether for profit or power,

they are always unavoidable.

"Gentlemen," Chen Mingyuan looked around, lowering his voice even more, laced with a hint of probing, "Do you think... after Lord Gu’s passing, will the Gu Clan... emulate the old practices of their ancestors and return power to the Emperor?"

"After all, the intention of the Grand Ancestor Emperor, when entrusting the affairs of state to the Gu Clan, was also merely hoping that the Gu Clan could assist the Great Song in unifying the world."

"Now that the world is settled..."

"In both emotional and rational terms, shouldn’t the Gu Clan no longer continue holding onto power!"

These words immediately brought a faint light to the eyes of those present.

The tradition of the Gu Clan returning power is indeed present!

Moreover, Chen Mingyuan’s words made sense. Now that the world is unified, both publicly and privately, the Gu Clan should not persist in holding power.

Otherwise, whose world is this truly— the Zhao family’s or the Gu family’s?

And that’s not even all.

Almost in an instant, everyone naturally thought of a person.

——The Emperor!

In fact, aside from Zhao Kuangyin, the emperors of the Great Song are definitely among the least notable in the history of emperors.

Yet, as the saying goes,

human nature is inherently changeable.

Having external strong enemies is one matter; without external enemies is another.

Could it be that the emperors of the Zhao family are truly content to always live in the shadow of the Gu Clan?

No one actively raised the question.

Not out of fear, but simply because it wasn’t necessary.

They didn’t need to speak the words; they already knew the answer.

Furthermore, the answer held little importance to them.

Even if the Emperor currently didn’t entertain the notion, they could craft issues!

Their methods, while not particularly advanced, were extremely effective.

The Gu Clan’s age-old prestige is indeed unshakeable!

Yet, in many instances, such prestige can be a burden of its own!

"Water can carry a boat, but it can also capsizes it."

Zhao Wenyuan of the Ministry of Personnel pondered with a glint in his eye while stroking his beard, "Lord Gu’s firm grip on power, and his restriction of maritime trade, indeed have reasoning."

"However, the world’s noise is all for profit."

"Those from the east, west, south, and north craving the benefits of maritime trade are countless!"

"Why don’t we... let these countless voices unite into a wave?"

——In one simple sentence, without directly saying anything, he pointed out a crucial aspect, and those present immediately understood his thought process.

After a brief silence, Chen Mingyuan spoke again, his tone still carrying a shred of hesitation: "If detected by the hawks and hounds of the Imperial Censorate, we may well..."

Before he could finish, Zhou Shi’an interrupted coldly, "What? Is Vice Minister Chen still hesitating at this time?"

He snorted coldly, his gaze sharp as a knife, "Is Lord Gu blocking only our financial path?"

"After this matter, with Lord Gu’s disposition, does Vice Minister Chen believe we will have another opportunity in this lifetime to pursue our goals in the court?"

"Hmph!"

"And what can the Gu Clan do?"

"Aren’t we, people from all corners of the land, of extraordinary status? If united, why can’t we move mountains?"

These words were like the final heavy blow, completely shattering the residual hesitation in the hearts of those present.

Indeed, there was really nothing much for them to hesitate about.

It’s not just because they’re reluctant to part with the overwhelming benefits.

For people like them who have reached such heights in their careers, who hasn’t dreamed of traversing the political arena at will?

This matter, originally, left no room for choice!

Just brief silence.

In the next moment—

Voices of agreement echoed in response.

"Good!"

"Since this is the case, then let us gamble, even unto death!!!".....

......

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