Red Mansion: I am Jia Lian

Chapter 671 Taking the initiative

As Napoleon embarked on his conquest of Europe, the Zhou Empire in the East launched a new wave of railway construction.

The booming stock exchange brought in a wealth of funds. Railway construction did not lack funds, but rather technical personnel and sufficient steel production.

At the regular imperial meeting on the first day of the twelfth month of the fourth year of the Qianzheng reign, not a single member of the cabinet was absent, including two alternate ministers, Xiong Fang and Wei Rui.

Xiong Fang concurrently served as Minister of Revenue, while Wei Rui concurrently served as Minister of Personnel.

In terms of authority and responsibility, the two alternate ministers are no less powerful than the cabinet ministers other than the prime minister.

This was undoubtedly the result of Li Yuan's deliberate arrangement.

The first topic of the meeting was a joint proposal from gentry in Liangjiang and Liangguang to build a branch railway, which attracted the attention of the local governments and they forwarded the proposal to the cabinet and the emperor.

"Public opinion in both regions is raging, with the main argument being that the railway bureau, as a government agency, is unfairly favoring the north over the south." As he spoke, Lin Ruhai gestured to his secretariat to unfold a silk scroll covered with signatures and fingerprints. These were all from local gentry and influential intellectuals. It was clear that after failing to reach a formal agreement, they had turned to public pressure.

"Recently, there has been widespread discussion in the capital about this matter, with many believing that the imperial court has been too harsh on the southern provinces in terms of railway construction."

Well, when their initial tough stance didn't work, they switched to playing the victim.

In front of Jia Lian was a petition, the contents of which were all old news. It all said that due to inconvenient transportation, goods from different regions could not circulate, the interests of the people were harmed, and merchants were complaining bitterly.

At this level, it wouldn't affect Jia Lian in the slightest. The core issue is still the control over the railway, and the clearly defined responsibilities and rights that must be established before construction begins after gaining control.

The rapid construction of railways in the north was not only due to the difficulty of the engineering projects, but also to the cooperation between the government and local authorities in land acquisition. The vast majority of gentry in the north supported railway construction. While there were some holdouts trying to profit from the land acquisition, they were relatively few. The railway bureau employed special methods to resolve these issues quickly.

Of course, Jia Lian was well aware of these words. He also knew that if railway construction in the south were started now, the situation in Guangdong and Guangxi would definitely be better than in Jiangnan.

The problems in the two rivers region are mainly concentrated in the south. There will definitely be various obstacles due to issues such as land acquisition, building materials, and construction. There are too many powerful local bullies, and they have too many ways to trip us up.

Even the most basic control hasn't been clearly defined, so how can we talk about starting railway construction in the Jiangnan region? As for Guangdong and Guangxi, they could start anytime they wanted. The reason they haven't started is simply to avoid giving others a handle to use against them.

Besides, building railways isn't difficult; the difficulty lies in the locomotives. Some mining areas in southern China are already using rail transport, but they rely on animal power, not locomotives.

The unfolded petition, covered with dense signatures and handprints, had a striking visual impact. Li Yuan could no longer remain seated; he leaned forward slightly, his pupils contracting slightly. He genuinely felt an invisible pressure.

The meeting room fell silent, all eyes focused on Wan Minshu, except for Jia Lian, who remained indifferent, looking around.

"Buqi, do you have anything to say?" Li Qing suddenly called out his name, and Jia Lian looked over with indifferent eyes.

"Railways are a matter of national security strategy. Minister Li, an outsider, should not speak recklessly, lest he embarrass himself." Jia Lian rarely made such a sharp statement in the cabinet; this was the first time.

"You...you've gone too far!" Li Qing was speechless after being rebuked, but he didn't mention anything more shameful like disrespecting his elders. Instead, he avoided the main issue.

Jia Lian subdued his opponent with a single move, drawing everyone's attention. He then slowly stood up, bowed to Li Yuan, and said calmly, "Since both the Grand Secretary and Prime Minister Li are concerned about the Railway Bureau, I, Jia, will say a few words here. The gentry of Jiangnan have long requested to raise funds for the construction of the railway, and have submitted petitions multiple times. Why has the Railway Bureau repeatedly refused? In front of His Majesty, may you all know the answer?"

When it came to professional topics, everyone became cautious, because this could very well be a trap set by Jia Lian. If you jumped in, you were in for a beating.

"The current discussion revolves around the petition from the people of Liangjiang. So, tell me, is it possible to build a railway?" Lin Ruhai, ever the shrewd man, steered the conversation back on track. Without his approval, Li Qing wouldn't dare challenge them. Therefore, he couldn't relinquish control of the discussion, nor could he follow Jia Lian's lead. He couldn't let Jia Lian ask the questions and everyone else answer.

"It seems that you gentlemen cannot answer this. That's alright, I, Jia, will naturally explain it to His Majesty." Jia Lian also did not follow Lin Ruhai's lead and forcibly brought the topic back.

In this level of power struggle and confrontation, the key moment will depend on external forces. Those external forces are naturally the emperor, and Li Yuan naturally wants to know the answer.

"Please explain in detail, Jia Qing," Li Yuan said, just as Jia Lian had predicted.

"Your Majesty, the construction of the railway in Jiangnan is firstly technically extremely difficult, due to its geographical conditions. Jiangnan is crisscrossed by waterways, and the geological conditions mean that bridge construction will face various complex situations. Secondly, there are difficulties with the people. Jiangnan has many gentry and wealthy merchants, and their collective opinion is to raise funds, build, and operate the railway themselves, with the railway bureau only providing technical support. Your Majesty, I would like to ask, where do they get the audacity to make such a presumptuous request? Does the court owe them anything? I truly do not understand, Your Majesty, could you please enlighten me?"

Who's going to talk to you about local public opinion? Isn't that just jumping into a pit? I'll talk to you about interests and the essence of the problem.

Li Yuan instantly understood: this wasn't public opinion at all; it was a tactic of using public opinion to coerce the court. This method is well-documented in historical records. The local gentry of Jiangnan were masters of this. For example, during the Ming Dynasty, Jiangnan gentry frequently invoked public opinion to reduce or even eliminate taxes. Records of mass tax protests in various parts of Jiangnan abound.

The common people, as individuals, are weak and insignificant. But once someone steps forward to organize, the imperial court will face overwhelming public opinion, and even violent resistance.

The rulers of the Zhou Empire, who rose to power through rebellion, understood this principle well.

"Jia Qing, continue!" Li Yuan's expression changed, a hint of anger flashing in his eyes. It was easy to tell who he was targeting. After all, the speaker was Jia Lian, a notorious cruel official in Jiangnan. Everyone present knew how he earned that reputation, and anyone with a little knowledge and a willingness to use their brain understood.

"Railway technology didn't fall from the sky. The research and development department spent a lot of money to solve the problem of locomotive production. Subsequently, during the construction of the railway, they solved the technology of road and bridge construction. It was precisely because they saw the potential of railways that the railway bureau was born. Did all the huge investments in the early stages have anything to do with the gentry of Liangjiang? How did they even dare to ask for this and that? Not to mention, they completed the first long-distance rapid troop mobilization exercise through the Jinpu Railway. The gentry of Jiangnan demanded to operate independently. I, your humble servant, hereby falsely accuse them of having rebellious intentions."

In the end, Jia Lian couldn't help but laugh. It wasn't that he looked down on them; even if they had a hundred times the ambition, they wouldn't have any thoughts of rebellion.

Fang Song, Xiong Fang, and Wei Rui, upon hearing this, all chuckled unkindly. The underlying logic of this baseless accusation lies in whether you have the ability to rebel, not whether you've taken action.

The gentry of Jiangnan had money, grain, and manpower; logically speaking, they really did have the ability to rebel.

However, in reality, they are the least likely group to rebel. Not only are they unlikely to rebel, but they are also the most afraid of rebelling.

So everyone laughed! Not at Jia Lian's words, but at the wishful thinking of the Jiangnan gentry.

They cloak themselves in the guise of public opinion, but their true aim is still self-interest. They appear virtuous on the surface, but their hearts are filled with business acumen.

"Alright, the railway is a matter of national security, and control absolutely cannot fall into the hands of the people. However, public opinion must also be considered; we can't let things get too ugly. Jia Qing, I know you are devoted to the country, but you must be strategic in your actions and not mobilize troops at the drop of a hat. It doesn't look good, and it doesn't sound good." Li Yuan spoke with a slightly mocking smile, naturally not directed at Jia Lian. But to say there was no threat in his words would be to underestimate this emperor. Did he really think the emperor was a benevolent philanthropist?

That day, Li Yuan said, "I can't bear to see the people of Jiangnan suffer, constantly forming cliques and signing petitions of tens of thousands of people. Let's send all these gentry who signed them to the Xinhua colony." It's not impossible for something like this to happen. After all, he's the emperor, and his first consideration is always imperial power. For those acts that repeatedly challenge imperial power, as long as the emperor has the ability, he will certainly suppress them.

Don't you see, when Jia Lian was waging war in Jiangnan, court officials submitted memorials to impeach him one after another, but Li Yuan was implicated in all of them?
The emperor wasn't a fool; he knew that what Jia Lian was doing was beneficial to the court and to imperial power.

The same thing happens now. Once the true nature of railway operating rights is understood, people are no longer so polite in their speech.

Lin Ruhai couldn't help but sigh inwardly; this was truly helpless. He had already done his best, and Lin Ruhai could at least give a satisfactory explanation.

As for Li Yuan's mention of troop mobilization, Lin Ruhai also felt a real threat. After all, there were precedents; when necessary, imperial power could be ruthless and merciless!
"Your Majesty's instructions are well understood. As per Your Majesty's directive, I have decided that from now on, 30% of all railway construction projects in Jiangnan will be sold to the Jiangnan region in exchange for their support. Let me make this clear from the outset: if you take the benefits, you must deliver. If any local forces incite the people to obstruct the construction, don't blame the railway bureau for taking coercive measures."

After Jia Lian finished speaking, he sat down directly. On the surface, it seemed that Jia Lian had given up 30% of the shares, but in reality, this move was extremely ruthless.

Is 30% a lot? It really is. The problem is that Jiangnan has abundant funds; 30% is simply not enough to distribute, and internal strife is inevitable. Furthermore, Jia Lian has gained the moral high ground and is on the moral high ground. If local people really riot and obstruct railway construction, Jia Lian will indeed send troops to suppress them.

Hearing this, Lin Ruhai and Li Qing breathed a sigh of relief. In any case, things hadn't gone to extremes, and they could at least give an explanation to the Jiangnan region.

Let's deal with the future later. If things really get out of hand, that's a problem for the future.

As for whether or not problems will occur during the railway construction process, problems are bound to occur; there's no need to waste energy thinking about it.

However, as a government agency, the railway bureau didn't have much room for reasoning.

To put it bluntly, it's already a rare privilege that the imperial court is willing to reason with the people; we should be grateful. Otherwise, they will definitely teach you what it means for the law to be as firm as a furnace!

Upon hearing this, Li Yuan smiled and said, "What Jia Qing said is excellent. My idea is that this case can serve as a precedent. In the future, when railways are built, wherever they pass through, 30% of the shares should be allocated to take care of the local area."

Upon hearing this, Lin Ruhai immediately stepped forward: "Your Majesty's love for the people is as clear as the sun and moon. We, your subjects, thank Your Majesty on behalf of all the people of the world."

Since Lin Ruhai, as the Grand Secretary, did this, others, no matter how unwilling, had to follow suit and shout "Long live the Emperor!"

This case serves as a precedent and will be considered a definitive precedent in the future.

Jia Lian didn't say it aloud, but he was inwardly very disdainful. Don't be fooled by the enthusiasm for road construction in Jiangnan; what about building a railway in another region? Would the locals be just as enthusiastic?

For example, stocks related to the railway from Xi'an to Lanzhou are generally difficult to sell. Stocks related to the railway from Rehe to Kulun are also difficult to sell. And what about the railway from Lanzhou to Yumenguan that will be built later? Even harder to sell!

The reason is simple: the land is vast and sparsely populated, and such large-scale projects cannot be abandoned. It is difficult to raise funds from the private sector, so what can be done? The imperial court can only provide the funds.

Currently, considering economic factors, railway construction prioritizes densely populated areas. Railway stocks outside the Great Wall sell well because of the region's abundant resources. As for immigration, people from the north also prefer areas outside the Great Wall. Isn't it simply because the land is fertile and rich in resources? The people aren't stupid; the large-scale migration of displaced people from the Shandong coast across the sea was all done through mentorship and guidance.

Within the territory of the Prince of Dongping, there is a clear law: land cultivated by immigrants cannot be bought or sold within fifty years. Why? It's simple: the people need to farm the land and pay taxes. Everyone knows who farms the land and who pays taxes; self-cultivating farmers are the main force. Any illegal land sales, whether overt or covert, will be confiscated by the government upon discovery.

Actually, this law was first introduced in Southeast Asia, and it was Jia Lian who suggested that Li Yuan introduce it.

At this stage, the Zhou Empire is still primarily agricultural, and the greatest need of agriculture is to bind farmers to the land.

In contrast, the requirement of industrialization is to liberate labor from the land.

Jia Lian pursued industrialization on the one hand, and restricted people to the land on the other during the migration process. This seemed contradictory, but it was actually necessary.

The underlying logic is that industry should primarily be state-run. This is because early industry was mainly heavy industry, which needed to be controlled by the government as much as possible.

Most private industries are those related to people's livelihoods, so opening them up to the public is not a big problem.

Another point is that industrialization requires developed transportation, which is currently concentrated in coastal provinces, while inland provinces are still mainly agricultural. What the government needs is immigrants from inland provinces.

(End of this chapter)