The so-called Luo Jiao was the predecessor of the Shanghai Youth Gang in later generations. To be precise, it evolved from the Luo Jiao branch in Hangzhou.
The so-called "first twenty-four generations" in later generations of the Qing Gang were originally the twenty-four generations of Luo Jiao, which are "pure morals, written Buddha's teachings, capable of benevolence and wisdom, originally born from nature, established rituals in the Yuan and Ming Dynasties, and enlightened the world."
However, although the Luo Jiao and the Qinggang have a inheritance relationship, the early Luo Jiao was only a loose religious organization. After Luo Jiao was severely suppressed by the Qing government in the 33rd year of Qianlong's reign, a secret society-like gang system began to form internally.
Laoguan (also known as Laoguan) is the person recognized as the oldest, most senior, and most authoritative person in the gang. The old official became the symbol of gang power, and the gang's big boss group organized by the old official became the power organization within the gang - Xiangtang.
Xiangtang formulated the gang rules, the ritual of joining the gang, and established communication signals within the gang. In case of trouble, he would use the numbers "Red Chopstick" and "Liu Zi" to quickly summon the team. If any sailor causes trouble for no reason, he will be sent to the senior officer for punishment. The punishment ranged from punishment to punishment, but the punishment ranged from immediate sinking into the river, which is the so-called "pig cage dipping".
Why did Wang Changsheng want to get involved with Luo Jiao? He made it very clear in his previous report to Zhao Xin and Lu Shoushan. Those were the so-called members of the Luo Jiao Cao Gang, which was actually the largest private salt dealer group in the Qing Dynasty.
It is said that Caoding's work is extremely arduous and dangerous. Each water transport lasts for more than half a year, but the remuneration is extremely low; their income can only support their own lives. In order to make up for the lack of salary, the slaves took advantage of their jobs and engaged in some activities of trafficking in private goods. They took advantage of the exemption from inspection of the ships, either to carry their own goods in the ships or to transport goods for merchants.
The Manchu Qing Dynasty followed the Ming system and adopted a tacit attitude towards Caoding's smuggling activities; however, they also imposed certain restrictions on the amount of smuggled goods. This not only encouraged Caoding to work hard, but also promoted the low-wage system for a long time and reduced the court's expenditure. As a result, smuggling activities in Caoding intensified.
The private goods sold by canal transportation are generally the types of goods specified by the government, and they are mostly daily necessities and local specialties from various places along the canal. But Caoding also carried some contraband, such as salt, in order to make huge profits. Shipping and selling salt is highly profitable, and profits can be made several times or even dozens of times. Therefore, even if Cao Ding risked beheading, they still had to carry private salt in the Cao boats. During the Qing Dynasty, it was very common for Caoding to engage in illegal salt trafficking, and even had close contacts with salt lord groups from various places, forming a huge illegal salt trafficking network on the Grand Canal.
Wang Changsheng twisted three sticks of incense and respectfully worshiped the statue of Luo Ancestor. Then he followed Mr. Liu to the upper cabin and took a seat. The two chatted for a while, and Old Guan Liu also asked Wang Changsheng about running a boat at sea.
While the two were talking, they heard someone outside the cabin say: "Brother Wei is back."
I heard another man say: "Is Master here?" This man's voice was hoarse, as if he had a cold.
Liu Laoguan said: "Is it Wei San?"
As soon as he finished speaking, the cabin door was pushed open, and a lean man wearing short clothes walked in. Wang Changsheng raised his eyes and saw that this man was about forty years old, wearing a black cotton short robe, leggings, and a pair of low-waisted cloth boots.
As soon as the man entered the room, he saw Wang Changsheng. He quickly bowed his hands to Old Officer Liu and said, "Master has a guest."
Liu Laoguan smiled and pointed at Wang Changsheng and said to the man: "This is not an outsider. His name is Wang Changsheng, and he is the apprentice of your late Master Zhu." After speaking, he said to Wang Changsheng: "This is my eldest apprentice Wei San."
Wang Changsheng quickly stood up to greet Wei San and called "senior brother".
Wei San smiled and said: "This is a family. Changsheng, you can just call me third brother. I always hear my master mention my uncle on weekdays, but unfortunately I never have the chance to meet him. Now that I can see my uncle's descendant, we two brothers must have a good time." Let’s talk.”
Wang Changsheng said: "This is the first time for me to pay my respects to Master Liu. Now that Master is no longer here, my uncle is like my master, and my third brother is like my elder brother. I am hosting today to express my feelings towards the younger generation."
Liu Laoguan said: "I am getting old, not to mention that I have been a vegetarian and chanted Buddha's name for many years. You brothers, please go."
Wang Changsheng was about to persuade him again, but he noticed that Wei San seemed to have something to say to Old Officer Liu, so he agreed, saying that he would wait on the shore first. After almost a meal, Wei San came out of the cabin. Wang Changsheng saw that his face was a little ugly, so he didn't feel comfortable asking him for a while.
Wang Changsheng originally wanted to invite Wei San to the city for dinner, but Wei San said he could just find a restaurant nearby. So the two of them found a restaurant near Lujiabang Bridge. Wang Changsheng asked for a private room, and ordered some delicacies from land, water, and rivers with the waiter, and ordered two bottles of fine rice wine. Because Wei San was his senior brother, he took the position of chief.
After some reward and persuasion, we drank three times. Wei San put down his wine glass and sighed softly.
When Wang Changsheng saw it, he quickly asked: "Third brother, what's bothering you? Why don't you tell me, maybe I can help?"
Wei Sandao: "Everything is fine, everything is fine."
Wang Changsheng said again: "Third brother, since you and I are a family, there is nothing to talk about. If you have any difficulties, why not tell the truth and discuss them together. Your difficulties are my difficulties. If you are not a good person, you only care about yourself and do not care about others." brother."
"Chang Sheng, if you say this, if I don't tell the truth, I will no longer be one of our own." Wei San pondered for a while and whispered, "Master does not agree with this matter, and I don't know how to explain it to the brothers below. Chang Sheng, you have been doing nothing for these years. Running a boat overseas, do you know the difference between Xin'an and Lao'an in my teaching?"
Wang Changsheng said: "When Master was still alive, I heard some words from him."
It is said that the original three sects of Luo Jiao, Weng, Qian, and Pan, were suppressed by the imperial court in the 33rd year of Qianlong's reign. Their respective forces have formed three major gangs, and each faction recruits its own disciples. As the saying goes, "Anyone who joins a sailor must worship one person as his teacher, rank him in seniority, take care of each other, and divide his followers into groups to strengthen himself."
Under the three sects, they were divided into many smaller sects. These small sects rejected each other and competed for jobs, forming a confrontation throughout the canal system. For example, people from the Weng and Qian families had a harmonious relationship when they were preaching, and were later collectively called Lao'an; people from the Pan family were called Xin'an. Lao An and Xin An have always had major conflicts. They often exclude each other and even regard each other as professional competitors. Wang Changsheng's master and uncle Liu Zhao belong to the Lao An faction of the Songjiang Gang.
Wei San nodded and said: "I came back to see the master today. It happened that Xin'an from the Suzhou Gang had a dispute with our Songjiang Lao'an. I wanted to ask the master to send a 'Liu Zi' to summon the gang members and argue with the Suzhou Gang. But the master did not I don’t approve of this.”
"Oh? What was the reason for the dispute?" Wang Changsheng helped Wei San pour the wine and asked in a low voice.
"It's not worth mentioning. It was originally a big deal, but in the end it ended up costing lives!" Wei San picked up the wine glass, touched it with Wang Changsheng and drank it down in one gulp, and then told the whole story.
It turns out that in the forty-eighth year of Qianlong's reign, the Suzhou Gang was unable to pass through the Hengji Lock in Suqian because the bow was too heavy. The flag men on the canal moved the peanuts, jujubes and other goods privately collected by the sailors to the Songjiang Gang's ship. After passing the lock, the Suzhou Gang's sailors went to the Songjiang Gang's ship to ask for the goods. Unexpectedly, during the process of asking for money, the two sides got into a verbal conflict for some reason, and then got into a melee with knives. Both sides suffered casualties. Fortunately, only one person from the Songjiang Gang died, and he died on the fourth day after the incident, so it did not attract the attention of the government.
This year, Susong Liangdao has allocated eight new grain transport ships. Originally, the boat was supposed to be managed by the Songjiang Gang sailors, but the Suzhou Gang sent people to seize four of them by force. Su Songliangdao only sent a clerk to persuade the peace, but no effective adjustment was made. Now all the old and new hatreds came together. So both sides gathered their troops and prepared to fight each other.
After the power system of the various gangs in Luo Jiao was formed, the exclusivity between the factions became very strong. However, the administrative corruption of the Qing government could not maintain social order and ensure social justice. Instead, it became an important reason for the prevalence of social disorder, judicial injustice, and violence. The so-called "all murder cases include posting anonymously, gathering people to fight with weapons, beating police officers and resisting arrest, and offering bribes in exchange for money."
After Wei San told what happened, Wang Chang slapped the table angrily: "This Suzhou gang has gone too far!"
"Who says it's not?" Wei San sighed. "The brothers in the gang couldn't bear to swallow this, so they asked me to come back and ask the master to send me a messenger. But the old man said that Lao An and Xin'an are a family, so why bother to fight and kill to attract the attention of the government."
Wang Changsheng's original purpose of inviting Wei San to dinner was just to get on the other side's line and open up the door to the lock guards from Shandong to Jiangsu in the name of developing private salt trade.
Now that he saw Wei San was in trouble, he thought that this might be an opportunity. So he stopped mentioning the secret affair and said directly to Wei San: "Third brother, regarding the Suzhou Gang, how many people do you still lack?"
"What?" Wei San asked hesitantly.
"Although I have been sailing abroad for many years, I still know a few good people in Chongming. If Third Brother needs me, I will go back to Chongming to recruit people."
"Changsheng, how can you be so embarrassed?" Wei San said with some emotion. "That's fine if it's Brother Lao An. You haven't participated in the gang's affairs in these years, so why bother wading into this muddy water."
"Third brother, what you said is obvious. Uncle Liu and my master are brothers who exchanged posts. Third brother is my senior brother. How can I not be considered a native of Lao An? What's more, the skills of my brothers in Chongming are like this." Wang Changsheng He gestured with his thumbs and continued: "We will run away after the fight. We will go on a sea ship for at least half a year. Even if the government wants to find him, hey, let him find it slowly."
After Wei San heard this, he thought for a long time before saying: "Changsheng, third brother, let me tell you the truth, if this kind of thing doesn't happen well, someone will die."
Historically, in the fifth year of Yongzheng's reign, it was precisely because of the large-scale bloody armed fights between sailors from Jiangsu and Zhejiang that Luo Jiao emerged from among the people and began to attract the attention of the government.
Wang Changsheng smiled and said to Wei San: "Third brother, you underestimate me too much. To be honest, my brothers in Chongming also fought for their lives at sea."
Wei San was stunned. He had also heard that ships that sailed overseas often became pirates as soon as they reached the open sea. Thinking of this, he asked in a low voice: "Chang Sheng, tell me, how many people are there in your place?"
Wang Changsheng had already calculated in his heart that the people on Lu Shoushan's side could not move. There were eight people on his side and Xu Dayong's side together. So he said: "There are always seven or eight people."
Wei San made some calculations and found that there were about fifty people in the Suzhou Gang, and he had more than thirty brothers. Counting Wang Changsheng's, if he summoned a dozen more people, he would be evenly matched (they could bully others). ) immediately slapped his thigh and said: "Fuck!"
Wang Changsheng and Wei San made an appointment to go back to find helpers. After setting a date to meet, they had a hasty meal and went back to their respective homes. He did not go directly to Xingrenli to find Xu Dayong, but planned to talk about Wei San when they met in the evening.
As for Xu Dayong, he took two of his men to the Nanhuiguan Hengjie area in the morning and rented a warehouse, preparing to transfer the private salt stored in Huang Shengtai's warehouse to the warehouse at night as planned. After finishing these tasks, he found a tea shop on Xiaodongmen Street. While drinking tea, he listened to the chatter of the customers around him, trying to get some information from the conversation in the market.
In the evening, Xu Dayong went to a restaurant on Xinmatou Street alone. This was the meeting place he and Wang Changsheng had arranged in advance. As soon as he entered the door, he found Wang Changsheng already sitting at a table in the corner.
Xu Dayong pretended to be surprised, walked to Wang Changsheng's desk, cupped his hands and said, "Hey, aren't these brothers Changsheng? Why are you here?"
"Brother Xu, long time no see. What a coincidence."
The two of them were like old friends who met by chance. They chatted with each other for a few words and then sat down together. After others stopped paying attention to themselves, the two began to drink and talk in low voices.
After almost half an hour, Xu Dayong stood up and left. After that, he calmly went to Dadongmen Street, pretended to wander around a few shops, and then headed towards the Xingrenli Inn.
After he saw Lu Shoushan and reported the situation at Wang Changsheng's side, Lu Shoushan thought for a while and said: "You will check out with your people in two days and go to Nanchang Street to find an inn to stay. If you really follow the instructions As Wang Changsheng said, if we help Wei San fight this time, the situation for the Songjiang Gang might open up."
Xu Dayong said: "Brother Lu, what are your arrangements here?"
Lu Shoushan said: "You finish the shipment at night, and don't worry about anything else. Just keep in touch with Wang Changsheng. I had already gone to the book office introduced by Boss Huang during the day, and he promised to help with the registration. I will wait until the matter is settled. After that, I will leave for the north. As for the eight of you, after the Songjiang Gang is done, we can temporarily avoid the limelight and get all the household registration documents done. "
Xu Dayong said: "Household registration is easy. I know a policeman in Chongming County. I can help him with ten taels of silver."
The county secretary's office that Lao Huang introduced to Lu Shoushan relied on the Zhu family's connections with the Shachuan Gang. Now the Zhu family is also a big customer of cigarettes. They have approved cigarettes from Lao Huang and sold them to northern Jiangsu, Shandong and Jinzhou.
Lu Shoushan said: "Songjiang Gang's line is very important. Whether the victims can go to sea depends on you."
Xu Dayong hesitated for a moment and asked hesitantly: "Brother Lu, my boss said there will be a nationwide drought next year. I think it's too weird, right?"
Lu Shoushan glared and reprimanded: "You can question my boss's words?! How long have you been following me! If you dare to say this to your subordinates, be careful with your head!"
Xu Dayong was startled and said quickly: "Never again, never again."
In fact, Lu Shoushan himself doubted Zhao Xin's judgment. How could there be a disaster if things were going well? However, his knowledge and experience over the past year told him that his master was definitely not a mortal; so Lu Shoushan could only keep his doubts in his heart.
Three days later, Wei San met Xu Dayong and others at the inn on Nanchang Street. At first sight, it turned out that as Wang Changsheng said, they were all strong and strong, not comparable to ordinary water transport sailors. Especially Xu Dayong, because this guy has been training in the military camp longer than Wang Changsheng and the others, his behavior already has some of the toughness of a soldier, which surprised Wei San secretly.
Because he was the helper Wang Changsheng had hired, Wei San made an agreement with Xu Dayong that each person would pay half of the two taels of silver in this battle and the other half after the fight. If there are casualties, another two taels will be given as pension.
Xu Dayong didn't bargain with him, he just said it didn't matter whether it was money or not. Wang Changsheng and he had a life-long friendship. Since he has found me, my brothers and I will definitely help him. If anything happens, we will have to settle for our fate.
Wei San was also very happy to see that he was a happy man. So he told Wang Changsheng that everyone would set off from Xiaodongmen Pier as soon as Xu pm arrived tonight, take a boat to Suzhou, and then leave after the fight. As for weapons such as knives and sticks, they will be distributed to everyone when they arrive in Suzhou.
That night, Wang Changsheng, Xu Dayong and a group of eight people boarded a large boat and headed north.
(End of chapter)
