After getting off the boat and walking onto the pier, Lu Faxuan felt slightly dizzy.

Huai'an's water transport terminal is the busiest place among all water transport terminals. Many merchants gather here, and all kinds of people coming and going fill the terminal. The backlog of water transport for several months has caused many water ships to gather here.

A large amount of grain and cargo were piled on the pier, and merchants and ship owners were waiting for documents from the Grain Office.

Lu Faxuan, who was appointed as the Governor of Water Transport, did not go to the capital, but set off directly from Jinan to Huai'an Fucheng.

Lu Faxuan no longer had much impression of the emperor and the court, although there was still a trace of mystery left in his heart.

Before taking office, Lu Faxuan received a letter from Wu Zongrui. The letter introduced in detail many matters related to water transportation. It also included a lot of information about water transportation from the Intelligence Department. Starting from Jinan Fucheng and switching from land to water, Lu Faxuan was reading these documents.

, are all thinking, because Wu Zongrui made a very clear request, that is, to thoroughly rectify water transportation, abandon many bad habits in water transportation, and standardize water transportation quickly.

The task was very stressful. Along the way, Lu Faxuan was thinking about how to thoroughly rectify the water transportation.

"Mr. Lu, I'm waiting for you in the Liang Hall..."

"It turns out to be Governor Liu, please wait at the pier..."

Without hesitation, Lu Faxuan followed Liu Ning to the Food Hall.

In front of the grain hall, a large number of merchants and ship owners gathered. They were all waiting anxiously. A large amount of grain and goods had to be transported. The delay was too long and they could no longer afford it.

Lu Faxuan followed Liu Ning, bypassed the gate of Zuoliang Hall, and entered through the ear door at the back.

It's very quiet inside the restaurant.

Entering the side room, Lu Faxuan saw Wu Zongrui who was reviewing documents.

"I have seen you sir..."

"Mr. Lu, you have worked hard all the way. I have been helping you with the water transportation for the past few days, and I have been a little exhausted. Fortunately, you came quickly..."

When Lu Faxuan looked up, he found that Wu Zongrui had already walked in front of him.

"Sir, you are joking. If you can't handle many matters related to water transportation, I will not dare to do it..."

Wu Zongrui smiled and waved to Liu Ning behind Lu Faxuan.

"Liu Ning, tell the sergeant waiting outside the wing that no one is allowed to disturb me. Master Lu and I have important matters to discuss."

Liu Ning nodded, turned around and went out, closing the door of the wing.

When he looked at Lu Faxuan again, Wu Zongrui's expression became serious.

"Brother Lu Ting, there are too many shortcomings in water transportation. Logically speaking, as the governor of water transportation, you will need at least several months to familiarize yourself with everything before you can comprehensively rectify the shortcomings in water transportation. But we don't have that much time, so

In more than a month, it will be the autumn harvest season. In the four towns and three states in the north of the Yangtze River, including Shandong and other places, the shortcomings in water transportation must be eliminated. As for the south of the Yangtze River and Jiangsu and Zhejiang, we don’t need to consider it for the time being."

"I have already said in the letter that from the moment you take office as the Governor of Water Transport, from the water transport terminal in Huai'an to the water transport terminal in Dezhou, Shandong, a municipal shipping department will be established, and the municipal shipping department will be controlled by the Water Transport Governor's Office.

, local officials are not allowed to interfere or get involved in any of these matters. The main task of the Municipal Shipping Department is to collect taxes."

"Water transport is a big piece of meat. Soldiers, local governments, and gangs along the way, including gangs at the water transport terminal, all benefit from it. When a water ship transports grain, when it reaches the north, the loss reaches 30% to 40%.

All of these 30% to 40% losses have gone into personal pockets, and now all of this must be completely wiped out."

"It's easy to say that there are no water transport soldiers. There are basically no water transport soldiers in the four towns, three states in Jiangbei, and the water transport terminals in Shandong. All the water transport soldiers are taken over by the Denglai New Army to manage the water transport terminals. The local government can also say that the Jiliao Governor's Office will issue a

The document requires all the governments along the canal not to exploit water ships. As for the gangs along the way and the gangs at the water transport terminal, it is not a big problem and Denglai's new army can completely solve it."

"The trouble is the attitude of the emperor and the court, as well as the water transport terminals in Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Tianjin. They will not obey the orders of the Jiliao Governor's Office and the Water Transport Governor's Office. They will continue their previous practices and still exploit them."

When Wu Zongrui said this, Lu Faxuan nodded and spoke.

"Sir, I think that we will not intervene in the water transport terminals in Zhejiang and Beizhili for the time being. We will take charge of the four towns and three states in Jiangbei and the water transport terminals in Shandong. When the time is right, we will rectify the water transport in these places.

pier..."

Wu Zongrui shook his head.

"No, water transport is a whole. If you think about it, the water transport terminals in the four towns, three states in Jiangbei and Shandong have been completely reorganized. The saved canal grain will be transported to Tianjin, but it is still possible to be exploited by the local government. We

After working hard to rectify water transport, it was the bold water transport soldiers and local officials who finally reaped the benefits."

"There are also areas in Jiangsu and Zhejiang. Before Caoliang departed from this area, it encountered layers of exploitation. What else can we do when we arrive at Huai'an Terminal? Should we continue to collect taxes? Merchants and shipowners who cannot bear this will eventually

The burden is shifted to the common people, which turns our so-called rectification of water transportation into an act of increasing the burden on the common people."

Lu Faxuan was a little stunned and looked at Wu Zongrui before he spoke.

"Sir, I have thought of what you mentioned, but the Governor's Office has no control over the water transport terminals in Jiangsu and Zhejiang, including the water transport terminals in Beizhili. You also know the attitude of the emperor and the court..."

Wu Zongrui narrowed his eyes.

"Brother Lu Ting, we are not without options. As long as we are bold enough, we can completely rectify the water transportation."

Lu Faxuan was stunned for a moment and understood instantly.

"Sir, are you talking about transporting soldiers by water?"

Wu Zongrui smiled and nodded.

"Yes, it's the water transport soldiers. As the governor of water transport and also the commander-in-chief of water transport, you can definitely dispatch the water transport soldiers. We ignore the attitude of the emperor and the court. As long as we come up with a practical plan, we will resolutely implement it."

Lu Faxuan nodded and saluted Wu Zongrui with his fists clasped.

"I understand, I understand. Please give me your advice on what to do."

Wu Zongrui was not polite and looked at Lu Faxuan and spoke.

"According to the rules of water transportation in the past, the grain transported by a water ship was 30% to 40% more than it could carry. These were forcibly collected from the people. All the extra grain collected fell into the hands of the water transport soldiers and local officials.

, in the hands of gangsters and dock gangs, the people are complaining endlessly, but there is nothing they can do."

"Brother Lu Ting, in the name of the Governor of Water Transport and the General Water Transport Soldier, you issued a document to make a large-scale adjustment of the water transport soldiers stationed in various places. All the water transport soldiers stationed in Beizhili and Jiangsu and Zhejiang areas were dispatched to the four towns and three states in Jiangbei and

In Shandong, at the same time, soldiers from the Denglai New Army were dispatched to control the water transport terminals in Jiangsu, Zhejiang and North Zhili."

"As a result, all water transport terminals are firmly controlled by Denglai's new army."

"Qiao Mingjun, as the deputy general of Denglai's new army, also serves as the deputy commander-in-chief of water transportation, assisting you in handling all matters related to water transportation of soldiers."

"Once we achieve this, we will be able to fully control water transportation."

"Of course, to achieve this step, there will definitely be a process. Even if the water transport soldiers completely control the water transport terminal, they cannot completely eliminate the shady activities in water transport. For example, in Jiangsu and Zhejiang areas, when local governments collect grain, they will still exploit it.

People will still make profits from it, which we cannot prevent or interfere with in a short time."

After Wu Zongrui finished speaking, Lu Faxuan immediately clasped his fists and spoke.

"If you can do this, the burden on the people will be greatly reduced, which is already very good."

Wu Zongrui reached out and pressed Lu Faxuan's shoulder.

"Brother Lu Ting, you only have one month. Within one month, you must fully control the water transportation, including the grain transportation departments in various places. You must obey the dispatch of the Water Transportation Governor's Mansion. Any officials in the grain transportation department who do not obey the dispatch will not be punished.

To politely clear them out, Qiao Mingjun can find a way to do this without disturbing the emperor and the court. To put it bluntly, even if the emperor and the court know that we have taken action, there is nothing they can do. We should comprehensively rectify the water transportation, which is what we should do.

"

Lu Faxuan nodded.

"Don't worry, sir. One month is enough. I will start making arrangements today. However, I still have a question. What should I do with the grain and ships that have arrived at the water transport terminal?"

"The new officials don't care about old matters. They don't need to pay attention to these water ships and grain. However, the Water Transport Governor's Mansion must inform them that from now on, the rules of water transport will be completely changed. They must act in accordance with the orders of the Water Transport Governor's Mansion. If anyone dares to violate it,

Severe punishment without mercy..."

...

Qiao Mingjun arrived in Huai'an Fucheng one hour later than Lu Faxuan.

When facing Qiao Mingjun, Wu Zongrui spoke much more directly. Tao told Qiao Mingjun that Luo Dianyong and the 50,000 Denglai New Army soldiers under his command were under his command, and their main task was to fully control the water transport terminal and control the four towns and three towns in Jiangbei.

The state, when necessary, can take action and severely attack those who dare to resist.

The Denglai New Army must become a strong support for the Water Transport Governor's Office and the government offices at all levels in the four towns and three prefectures in Jiangbei.

Qiao Mingjun was very aware of his responsibilities. Before he set off, he had read Wu Zongrui's letter carefully. As for the information about water transportation, he read it even more carefully.

When he came to Huai'an Fucheng, Qiao Mingjun felt something special in his heart. He was once the leader of the Sihai Gang at Huai'an Water Transport Terminal. He was once surrounded and suppressed by Wu Zongrui, the prefect of Huai'an at the time. If he hadn't been destined to die, he would have reported to the King of Hell long ago.
Chapter completed!