"Speaking of which, Yangzhou's Salt Patrol Censor is still your in-law, right?"
Li Zan put down the tea cup in his hand and asked.
Jia Heng nodded and said, "He is the son-in-law of the old lady of Xifu."
When Li Zan heard this, his expression was silent. After a while, he slowly said: "The salt affairs affect the whole body, and it is not easy to do it arbitrarily. It is necessary to send high officials from the imperial court to sit in Huaiyang to make progress in the reform."
Jia Heng said: "What Mr. Ge said is absolutely true. Those salt merchants, salt field officials, and even local state and county officials who have had their money bags robbed will not sit still and wait for death."
He has nothing to say. It is impossible to say that there are local generals and armed smugglers.
Li Zan was already used to Jia Heng's sharp and direct approach. After hearing this, he nodded and said: "In the cabinet, it is mainly Mr. Yang Ge and Mr. Han who are promoting this matter. The two cabinet ministers are They are all experienced and resourceful people who want to plan the country. If they are perfectly matched, they should be able to succeed in one fell swoop."
Yang Guochang was in charge of the household department, and the salt tax was naturally led by him. Han Huang was in charge of the official department. When he heard about the rectification of salt affairs, he readily agreed and made suggestions.
Li Zan, Minister of War, had to face the border affairs in the north. After some open and covert fighting, Emperor Chongping decided that Li Zan should take the lead in border defense. Northern border affairs also required the cooperation of the whole party, and Li Zan, who was ranked lower in the cabinet, could not take advantage of it. Overspill.
In fact, if this cabinet minister was not dispatched from the central government to sit outside, otherwise, according to the political tacit understanding that whoever handles border affairs is equal to who takes over the position of "chief assistant", I am afraid that a new round of party disputes will occur.
Jia Heng listened to Li Zan's words and heard the implication that he was "unable to help".
My heart became more solemn.
Based on his current impression of the Ministry of Household Affairs, Yang Guochang who does not stick to the pot, Qi Kun who is busy doing things, and Liang Yuan who is full of fat... do you expect these people to succeed in rectifying the salt affairs?
If Han Huang and others from the Zhejiang Party are added to the mix, whether they want to pick peaches or make trouble, and rectify the salt affairs of the Huaihe River and Huaihe River, it is almost impossible to accomplish this.
"Regardless of success or not, these salt merchants will never let Daiyu's father go." Jia Heng's eyes were deep and his mind was spinning.
He may have known why Lin Ruhai passed away in his prime. He wanted to benefit from the salt industry. No one could do this without the courage to kill everyone from top to bottom!
“When we are faced with financial difficulties, we can only increase revenue and reduce expenditure. However, confiscation of homes can only relieve temporary difficulties, but salt tax is a long-term solution for the steady flow of water. No, this is not a small flow of water, but a waterfall... Otherwise, we will blindly impose heavy taxes on the people. There are civil unrest in various provinces, and everyone is exhausted. Using local officials to govern the corrupt local states and counties is like putting out firewood. If this continues, the Chen and Han Dynasties will surely perish." Jia Heng sighed in his heart and thought: "So, we can't just sit back and watch things fail. At least we have to make arrangements secretly, try our best to save Daiyu’s father’s life, and pave the way for intervening in the reform of the salt tax in the future. However, I will see Daiyu when I go back and get in touch with her father first.”
After that, the two sat and chatted for a while. At dusk, Jia Heng also said goodbye with a solemn mood, planning to go back to his hometown to find Daiyu and ask about the situation in Yangzhou.
Rongguofu
The night fell, the lights in Rongqing Hall were bright, and there was endless laughter and laughter.
Mrs. Wang, Li Wan, and Sister Feng were sitting there, chatting with Jia Mu to relieve her boredom. Daiyu and Tanchun were holding a copybook of Ouyang Xun, observing and discussing, Xiangyun and a maid were playing with the nine-link ring, and the girl was a fan. The pudgy apple round face is full of seriousness.
In the spring, they played Go with the eldest maid Siqi, while the little girl Xiuju beside her held up her fragrant cheeks with one hand and served tea.
Baoyu sat sideways on the embroidered pier beside Daiyu, talking quietly to Daiyu.
Daiyu stabbed Baoyu with acid words from time to time, but Baoyu never tired of it and talked with a smiling face.
Because there had been a quarrel a month ago, Daiyu was worried that something would happen again, but she treated Baoyu as usual.
Sister Feng said with a smile: "Ancestor, our family will send people to Suzhou tomorrow and buy a theater troupe. It will be cheaper to listen to the theater at ordinary times."
Jia Mu smiled and said: "A theater troupe can't be purchased for thirty to fifty thousand taels. Even if you just made a profit, you can't spend too much money."
Everyone laughed when they heard this.
This refers to the hundreds of thousands of silver coins recovered from Lai Da, Shan Daliang, Wu Xindeng and other evil servants under the guidance of Jia Heng the day before yesterday. They are now under the control of Sister Feng.
These families were eventually sent to the village to farm. Because they knew a lot about Jia's family, it was impossible to let them escape.
Sister Feng said with a smile: "Old ancestor, some leakage from your fingers is enough for us, so where can I go?"
Jia Mu smiled and said, "It won't do if you just worry about my modesty. In the future, it will be used for Baoyu's marriage and for a few girls in the house to come out of the palace."
Everyone laughed when they heard this, and all their eyes looked at Baoyu, Daiyu, and Tanchun.
A somewhat honest smile appeared on Baoyu's round face, while Daiyu and Tanchun, who were looking at the copybooks, looked at each other, each a little shy.
Jia Mu looked at Mrs. Wang aside and said, "Is Baoyu's uncle coming back soon?"
Mrs. Wang was holding a tea cup. When she heard this, she put it on the small table aside and said with a smile: "The first one, Baoyu's cousin sent someone to say that a letter came from the north and that Uncle Baoyu is in the northwest. I’ve checked three places and I think I’ll give it back by the end of this month. My sister-in-law also said that she won’t miss the opportunity to prepare for Baoyu’s uncle’s birth in early November.”
The person Mrs. Wang calls her sister-in-law is naturally Prince Tengzhi's first wife, Mrs. Zhao, who is also Gaoming's wife.
When everyone heard this, their faces varied from happy to surprised.
In the years since Wang Ziteng's reign, his official position has become more and more prominent, and he has even been appointed as the Jiedu Envoy of the Beijing Camp, which was an official position held by Daihua of Ning Mansion in the past.
Hearing this, Mother Jia's smile faltered, but she felt a little uncomfortable. She chuckled and said, "Girl Feng, I have to prepare a good birth gift for Aunt Baoyu."
Sister Feng looked happy, but was unaware of Jia Mu's "subtle" thoughts. She smiled and said: "Don't worry, old lady, I have already prepared everything. I heard from cousin Wang Yi this time that when my uncle comes back this time, It seems that he will be put to great use, and he may not even be admitted to the cabinet next year."
To join the cabinet is to be a cabinet bachelor. This is what Wang Yi, the eldest son of Wang Ziteng, is imagining. Because He Juncheng, the minister of the Ministry of Rites, has already submitted an official memorial, and is still in the stage of three applications and three resignations, the cabinet must be filled with a replacement. This is true in Beijing and the Sanhe Gang. How many of his belongings are the same is now the focus of heated discussion in Shenjing.
Wang Yi and several young masters from Beijing were chatting nonsense at the wine table, and I don't know who mentioned it to Wang Yi. His uncle may not have a chance.
The speaker is unintentional, but the listener is interested. Wang Yi has taken to his heart since then. The news in Beijing is mixed, so Wang Yi is always able to find some scattered recognition. When he visited Xifu last time, he used it to show off to Sister Feng. .
As soon as Sister Feng said this, everyone was attracted by the word "enter the pavilion".
Mrs. Wang was surprised and said: "It's amazing. If you join the cabinet, you will be a bachelor."
Because in the past few months, someone in Dongfu has become more and more powerful, and Mrs. Wang also has a lot of knowledge about "evil" officialdom.
Li Wan smiled and said: "I remember that there were five great scholars in that dynasty. It has been many years. This seems to be another addition?"
Because Li Wan's father, Li Shouzhong, once offered wine to the Prince of Jinling, Li Wan had some understanding of the affairs of the court.
Sister Feng smiled and said: "We, the back house, can't talk about the matters in the court. However, I am thinking about my uncle. He was originally a first-class military attache, and he is almost there now."
Joy couldn't help but surge in her heart. If her uncle Wang Ziteng could really be of great use, she could also take advantage of his power. Otherwise, no matter how powerful the man in Dongfu was, she wouldn't be able to take advantage of it. How could she have any relatives behind her to support her? Be braver.
Baoyu was talking to Daiyu at the side. Hearing this, he also smiled and raised his face that looked like the moonlight in the Mid-Autumn Festival, and asked: "Ancestor, uncle is coming back?"
Jia Mu smiled and said, "Yes, it should be the end of this month. When your uncle comes, you can go and walk around and meet your cousins."
Even if it is Wang Ziteng who is the enemy, he actually borrowed his own power to lead the army in the capital camp, and now he is rising step by step, but it is difficult to reveal it.
Baoyu responded with a chuckle.
Although I don't like socializing, I can take the opportunity not to go to that school.
Sister Feng smiled and asked, "How have you been in school these two days?"
Baoyu was thinking about the school. When he heard the inquiry, he looked dejected and said, "Those masters are full of talk, just like the old monk chanting sutras. They are so confused that they don't know what the meaning is."
Jia Mu, Mrs. Wang, Sister Feng: "..."
Xiangyun put down the nine-ring ring in his hand and said with a smile: "Brother Ai (II), why don't you just wait for Brother Heng to come over?"
Perhaps in recent months, Jia Heng has not gone to Xifu. Baoyu's scar has healed and he has forgotten the pain. He has returned to his happy-go-lucky state and said with a smile: "Sister Yun, don't do to others what you don't want others to do to you. Uncle Heng has always spoken. Shut up, the words of the sage, I think you can change the situation and compare your heart with your heart."
Daiyu's starry eyes flashed under her smoky eyebrows. She covered her mouth with a handkerchief and said softly: "Brother Bao has become more and more mature recently. He has quoted the words of this saint. I can't even look at this school." Go for nothing."
The implication is that Baoyu actually knew how to use the saint's words to silence people.
Tanchun glanced at Daiyu, and a flicker of suspicion flashed in her heart. Although she was still stabbing her second brother as usual, why did she feel that something was wrong?
You seem to be speaking for Brother Heng?
When Baoyu saw Daiyu talking to him, he became even more delighted and said with a smile: "Sister Lin, you don't know, the school..."
At this moment, the woman outside Rongqing Hall said, "Old lady, Uncle Heng is here."
Baoyu: "..."
As if being strangled by the neck, Baoyu blocked the second half of the words in his mouth, his lips moving.
Even after the scar is healed and the pain is forgotten, I only dare to say a few words behind my back. Who dares to say it to my face?
When everyone heard this, their expressions turned strange. They wanted to laugh but it wasn't funny.
"Love (two) brother..."
Xiangyun burst out laughing, laughing so hard that everyone was infected by it and started laughing together.
Daiyu was also holding a pink handkerchief, covering her mouth with a sweet smile, and just looking out of the screen with a pair of bright starry eyes.
Brother Heng, she hasn't seen him for a while.
Mrs. Wang's face looks ugly. What a state her Baoyu is now in after being bullied by that uncle Heng!
And this Xiangyun, why hasn’t anyone from the Shi family come to pick him up?
Thinking of this, he felt aggrieved, chuckled, and said with a sarcastic tone: "Baoyu is more afraid of Brother Heng now than he is of meeting the master."
The tone of his words was wrong, and no one answered him for a while.
It was Sister Feng who noticed that the atmosphere was turning awkward, so she chuckled and said, "Old lady, Brother Heng hasn't been here for a while."
Jia Mu looked puzzled for a moment and said softly: "Maybe there is something wrong."
Because Jia Heng had recently been reading Donglu's information in the study at home and had not been to the government for more than half a month. It was not that Jia's mother had not invited him, but Jia Heng declined them all because he was busy with official duties.
While speaking, Jia Heng had already entered the Rongqing Hall from outside the screen. Jia Mu, who rushed up to the front, bowed her hands in greeting, met the eyes of a pair of eyes, and sat down on a chair nearby. At this time, Yuanyang came over and brought a cup. Jia Heng reached out to take the teacup and said thank you.
Jia Mu smiled and said, "Brother Heng, why are you so free today?"
Everyone looked at him after hearing this, and Tanchun also hesitated to speak.
Jia Heng took a sip, nodded to Jia Mu, then cast a pair of soft eyes on Daiyu, and said in a clear voice: "I'm here to see Sister Lin."
Jia Mu, Sister Feng, Li Wan, Baoyu: "..."
Daiyu, Tanchun, Xiangyun: "???"
Daiyu looked at Jia Heng with her starry eyes, blinked, smoothed the ripples in her heart, and said softly: "Brother Heng, is something wrong?"
Jia Heng nodded and said warmly: "Has my sister been writing letters to Uncle Lin recently?"
Daiyu nodded, her autumn water rippling, and she said softly: "I sent three letters, and one at the beginning of the month. My father replied one in the middle, so that everyone at home is well and that I don't have to worry about you."
As she said that, Daiyu's eyes became a little red.
When Baoyu heard this, he looked confused and thought to himself, what kind of letter?
He said softly: "When did Sister Lin write her letter to her family? How come I... don't know."
Sister Feng smiled and said: "Sister Lin was thinking about her family, so she wrote home and sent a scarf that she knitted for Aunt Lin's father."
When everyone heard this, they all cast their eyes with either pity or surprise.
Because Daiyu did this without making any announcement, when Sister Feng was exposed, everyone looked at Daiyu differently.
Father and daughter have been separated for several years, and they stopped talking when they were children. They could be said to be ignorant, but now they are old enough and they don't even write a letter from home that they have met each other, so it can't be justified.
Jia Mu sighed and said, "Yu'er is a filial person. It's a pity that our father and daughter are so far apart and haven't seen each other for several years."
Xiangyun said enviously: "The war has been going on for three months. Letters from home are worth ten thousand gold. Even though Yangzhou is thousands of miles away, I don't know how happy Uncle Lin will be when he sees the letters."
Daiyu was listening to everyone's conversation at this moment, raised her foggy eyes, and looked at the young man opposite. When she met a pair of gentle eyes, she quickly lowered her eyelashes, and her heart skipped a beat.
Jia Heng said: "Sister Lin, please write another letter later. I also have a letter to deliver with you."
When Daiyu suddenly heard this, her delicate body trembled slightly. She didn't know what she thought of, and her pink cheeks felt a little hot. She raised her eyebrows and looked at Jia Heng quietly.
Tanchun also raised his clear eyes and looked at the young man opposite him without moving.
Jia Heng said: "There is another hidden story in this. I will tell my sister in detail later."
Daiyu nodded and said "hmm".
Mother Jia frowned, smiled and said, "You two, what's the point of selling this? Brother Heng, we can't talk about it now, I'm worried when I see you."
Sister Feng also smiled and said: "If it's not a secret, just tell it to the ancestors, so as not to make people nervous."
Facing a pair of eyes that were either curious or solemn.
Jia Heng was silent for a moment, pondered for a moment, and said: "This matter will be reported to the residence tomorrow by the General Affairs Department. Uncle Lin went to the capital to rectify the salt affairs. The cabinet is planning this matter."
"Salt affairs?" Everyone in Rongqing Hall looked at each other in confusion.
