noffsinger 67. Integration
67. Integration
Inside the council chamber of the Golden Scale ship, the tiger-skin chair that once belonged to Shen Jiao had been removed and replaced with a simple rosewood chair. Lin Xuan sat upright in it, his fingers lightly tapping the smooth armrest, his gaze calmly sweeping over the two groups of people standing below.
On the left were several former leaders and remaining minor members of the Golden Dragon Gang, about seven or eight people, all wounded, listless, and with shifty eyes, carrying the fear of surviving a calamity and uncertainty about the future. On the right were the remnants of the Raging Waves Gang, slightly more than ten people, also in a sorry state. Leading them was a burly man with a missing left arm, who was gritting his teeth and enduring the pain, his face deathly pale.
On both sides of the hall stood Lin Xuan's men, dressed in dark blue uniforms with cold expressions. They stood upright like javelins, silently exuding a sense of oppression, making the gang members in the middle, who were shouting and fighting just yesterday, not dare to breathe.
"From this day forward," Lin Xuan said, his voice not loud, but clear enough to reach everyone's ears, carrying an unquestionable authority, "there will be no more Golden Dragon Gang or Raging Wave Gang at Jiangzhou Wharf."
One sentence struck everyone's hearts like a heavy hammer. Although they had expected it, hearing the verdict in person still made the remnants of both gangs turn pale, and many of them trembled slightly.
"Your past grievances end here," Lin Xuan continued calmly. "If anyone dares to provoke us again, they will be killed without mercy."
The chilling words "No mercy" caused the temperature in the room to plummet. Everyone felt the undisguised killing intent and lowered their heads, unable to meet its gaze.
"However," Lin Xuan changed the subject, "I am not a bloodthirsty person, and I will give you a way out. Those who wish to stay can be incorporated into the new canal transport guard team, under my command, and act according to the new regulations, receiving a monthly salary. Past crimes can be forgiven at my discretion. Those who do not wish to stay may leave now, and I will not stop them, but they must swear an oath never to set foot on the Jiangzhou docks again and never to be my enemy."
Staying means submitting to this mysterious and powerful young man, losing your original status and freedom, but at least you can save your life, and perhaps have a way to survive. Leaving seems like freedom, but you're penniless, seriously injured, leaving the dock you depend on for survival, and your future is even more bleak, plus you have to make that kind of vow.
Without almost any hesitation, the surviving leaders of the two gangs exchanged glances. Finally, the one-armed leader of the Raging Waves Gang knelt down on one knee and hissed, "Your subordinate, Zhao Mang, is willing to lead the remaining brothers of the Raging Waves Gang to submit to our master and serve him at his beck and call!"
With one person taking the lead, the others followed suit without hesitation and knelt down on the ground.
"Your subordinate is willing to surrender!"
"I am willing to follow the Lord!"
The voices, though uneven, conveyed the same message: Those who understand the times are wise; faced with overwhelming power and a dire reality, they had no other choice.
Lin Xuan nodded slightly, his face showing no joy, as if it were all perfectly natural. "Very good. Since you've chosen to stay, you must abide by my rules." He turned his gaze to a trusted aide beside him, "Chen Mo, read the 'New Regulations for the Grand Canal' to them."
"Yes, my lord." Chen Mo's confidant stepped forward, unfurled a scroll of silk that had been prepared beforehand, and began to read it aloud in a loud voice.
The new regulations are clear, well-organized, and cover all aspects of port management:
I. The Grand Canal Transport Office was established to oversee all canal transport affairs in Jiangzhou. It was divided into four departments: Guard, Dispatch, Inspection, and Accounting, each with its own responsibilities.
Second, the original members of the two gangs, after screening and assessment, will be selected and assigned to the Guard Division to be responsible for dock security, cargo escort, and river patrol. Salaries will be paid according to rank and position, with rewards for merit and punishments for demerits.
3. All merchant ships, regardless of size, that dock at the pier shall pay berth fees and management fees based on the value of their cargo and the tonnage of their vessels. The fee standards shall be public and transparent, and no additional fees may be charged without authorization.
IV. Any form of extortion, forced buying and selling, or market manipulation is strictly prohibited. A complaint office will be established so that business travelers can file a complaint at any time if they encounter unfair treatment; verified cases will be dealt with severely.
5. Unify the allocation of dock laborers, pay them according to their work, and prohibit gang exploitation. Establish a dock contribution system, where laborers and guards who perform exceptionally well can receive additional rewards and even promotion opportunities.
VI. Establish public storage areas, provide paid storage services, and ensure the safety of goods.
seven,……
As the new rules were read out one by one, the former gang leaders kneeling below initially seemed indifferent, but the more they listened, the more alarmed they became. These rules were not only detailed, but also completely broke away from their previous model of monopolizing power through violence and exploiting others at every level, shifting towards a more official and relatively fair and orderly operating method. While this certainly limited their previous privileges and illicit income, it also clearly defined their responsibilities and treatment, and more importantly, provided a relatively stable and predictable environment.
These rules are undoubtedly a boon, especially for the lower-class gang members and laborers.
After reading it aloud, Chen Mo closed the silk scroll and took a step back.
Lin Xuan looked at the crowd below with their complex expressions and said calmly, "The rules have been established. Do you all understand? If you have any objections, you may raise them now."
Silence fell over the crowd. Dissent? Under absolute control, what right or courage did they have to raise objections? Besides, while these rules were harsh, they weren't entirely unreasonable; at least they provided them with a clear path to survival.
"Since there are no objections, then proceed accordingly." Lin Xuan stood up. "Chen Mo, you will temporarily assume the position of Grand Canal Transport Supervisor, responsible for personnel screening, organization, and initial reorganization. Zhao Mang," he looked at the one-armed leader, "you are familiar with dock affairs, so you will temporarily assume the position of Deputy Commander of the Guard Division, assisting Chen Mo and redeeming yourself through meritorious service."
Upon hearing this, Zhao Mang abruptly raised his head, a flicker of disbelief flashing in his single eye before turning to excitement. He kowtowed heavily, saying, "Your subordinate... Your subordinate obeys! I will certainly not fail Your Majesty's trust!"
Lin Xuan's move served two purposes: first, to use those familiar with the situation to quickly stabilize the situation; and second, to appease and divide the enemy. Giving Zhao Mang a position was tantamount to setting an example for the surrendered soldiers.
He then selected a seemingly composed former leader of the Golden Dragon Gang and appointed him as the deputy head of the Dispatch Department. With these arrangements made, the basic framework was established.
"I'm giving you three days," Lin Xuan gave his final order. "Clean up the docks, restore order, reassure the merchants, and post the new regulations publicly. I want to see the docks operating normally in three days."
"Yes, sir!" Chen Mo, Zhao Mang, and the others responded in unison.
Lin Xuan said no more and turned to leave the council hall. The specific details would naturally be handled by his subordinates. All he needed was a stable, efficient transport hub that could provide him with financial and intelligence support; as for the management details, he only needed to grasp the overall direction.
He walked to the deck of the ship and gazed into the distance. On the dock, the lingering stench of blood was gradually dissipating thanks to the sea breeze and the efforts of the cleanup crew, replaced by a scene of bustling reconstruction. The surrendered gang members, under the supervision of the men in blue robes, began moving corpses, cleaning the ground, and repairing damaged facilities. Some bolder merchant ships, after confirming it was safe, also began tentatively and slowly approaching the shore.
Chaos is being replaced by order.
A river breeze ruffled his hair, bringing a damp mist. Controlling the docks was only the first step; next lay the potential backlash from the four great families, and deeper mysteries concerning the seal of his past life's lover and the truth of the world. This integration of the canal transport was merely a pawn in his grand scheme.
He squinted slightly, his gaze fixed on the distant horizon where the water met the sky, where an even greater storm seemed to be brewing.