Rongguofu
While Jia Heng, Jia Mu and other female relatives were having a banquet in Huifang Garden, watching fireworks, setting off lanterns, and eating glutinous rice balls, Baoyu courtyard was dimly lit. Baoyu was half lying on the bed, feeling through the open window. Under the cold and bright moonlight, I felt depressed and looked miserable.
Of course, it still pales in comparison to Qingwen, who calls her one night mother in the original work.
Listening to the vague fireworks coming from outside, Baoyu felt depressed and his eyes were dazed.
At this time, She Yue entered the side room and whispered: "Second Master, the glutinous rice balls are cooked. Let's use some first."
While talking, I heard the heavy footsteps outside. It was clear that a young cook led several maids into the Debaoyu wing, paying attention to the person lying on the bed.
Baoyu said to Sheyue: "Sister Sheyue, help me stand under the eaves for a while. I'll watch the fireworks before eating."
She Yue hurriedly said: "Second Master is so seriously injured, how can he act arbitrarily?"
Bao Yuqiang smiled and said: "Sitting all the time without strength, even if you eat, it is harmful to the spleen and stomach."
It has to be said that Baoyu collected miscellaneous knowledge and read medical books frequently. When Dr. Hu prescribed Hulang medicine indiscriminately, he pointed out errors and omissions in the prescription.
After all, She Yue couldn't defeat Baoyu, so she called a few maids and helped Baoyu to the eaves of the corridor.
Baoyu raised his head and looked at the bright moon, as bright as silver. He was silent for a while and asked, "Sister Sheyue, are all the sisters in Dongfu now?"
She Yue sighed softly and said: "Now we are following the old lady and madam to Dongfu."
When Baoyu heard this, he stared blankly at the fireworks in the sky. For some reason, he felt a sadness coming from the bottom of his heart, and tears could not help but flow from his eyes.
His sisters have left him now.
I don't know if it was his misunderstanding, but after the Jin Chuan incident, whether it was Third Sister, Sister Yun, or Sister Lin, they all looked at him with an indifference that was unbearable to him.
Seeing Baoyu crying silently, Sheyue looked anxious and advised: "Second Master, don't be sad. Several girls are coming over to celebrate the Lantern Festival and they will be back soon."
Baoyu whispered: "I won't come back, I won't come back, I still have to go to school..."
As he spoke, he became increasingly sad and burst into tears.
At this time, all the maids were also in a hurry, comforting Baoyu.
The cook glanced at Baoyu and thought, "I heard that this second master Baoyu is blessed with great fortune and was born to hold jade. I don't know what his fame is."
This Saint of the White Lotus Sect, who had slightly changed her appearance and was not wearing pink and white, put down the dishes and chopsticks. While the maids were surrounding Baoyu, she ducked towards the back room and carefully picked up the brocade box placed on the bedside. Watch the jade in your palm with candlelight.
"Don't lose, don't forget, and you will live a long and prosperous life." The woman's clear eyes reflected the inscription on the jade stone, her pupils shrank, her eyes flickered dimly, and she was lost in thought.
At this time, listening to the commotion outside, he hurriedly put down the jade stone, left the wing, and said to himself, "These eight words... must be clues left by an insider. The prince's descendants are indeed related to the Jia family."
For a while, the White Lotus Sect saint did not doubt Baoyu, because her age alone was not enough.
Shenjing City, Hanzhai, in the study
The lights reflected two thin, elegant figures on the bookshelf, and the sound of conversation rang in the room.
Unlike every household in Shenjing City celebrating the Lantern Festival, Han Huang was discussing with Yan Hong about tomorrow's court meeting.
"Brother, there will be a court meeting tomorrow. The Etiquette Department will hand over the bullets to Hu Yi, and our people will follow up later." Yan Hong said in a low voice.
Han Huang put down the teacup, and with a faint flash of cold light in his lacquered eyes, he asked: "Where is the Metropolitan Procuratorate?"
Yan Hong said in a low voice: "Xu Deqing was sharpening his sword and rectifying the imperial court. More than a hundred censors were panicking. Once this incident is revealed, the crowd will definitely respond and think it is a self-protection strategy. Brother, the situation is mine."
If the imperial censor of the Metropolitan Procuratorate impeaches a chief minister, even if he is demoted from the capital in the future, it will be a piece of seniority that can be used when reinstatement.
Han Huang shook his head and said: "Don't be too optimistic. The defeat of Yang did not happen overnight. Yang Ge has been in charge of the Ministry of Household Affairs for many years and has a deep foundation. This time it is just to shake his power and make the Holy Master have the desire to change. The real thing is to take advantage of the previous experience. It's not enough for Yang, he still needs an opportunity."
At the same time, he took the opportunity to increase the number of cabinet ministers in his hands.
After such a turmoil, if there is one or two mistakes, Mr. Yang Ge will pack up and run away.
Yan Hong said: "Isn't the previous impeachment of Jia Ziyu an opportunity?"
Han Huang shook his head and said: "Your Majesty's thoughts are unpredictable and cannot be guessed. Moreover, you can calculate for yourself. How many cabinet ministers have gone to the cabinet in a year or so? Your Majesty has not found anyone who can replace Mr. Yang Ge to help with financial planning. I won’t make any big moves in front of others, and it will take me a year and a half to come and go.”
Yan Hong frowned, accepted this statement, and said in a deep voice: "Tomorrow we will meet with the Military Aircraft Department to set up, what should we do?"
Han Huang glanced at Yan Hong and said resolutely: "The establishment of a military aircraft office is a decision of the Sacred Heart that cannot be changed."
Yan Hong said worriedly: "The military aircraft are standing still. I'm afraid that the Holy Heart will have its own destiny and the Gang will be arbitrary, no matter how hard it is to contain it."
In fact, this was not just Yan Hong's doubts. All the civil servants in Beijing shook their heads for the establishment of the Military Aircraft Department, which was only hindered by the power of Emperor Chongping and the deputy envoy of the Beijing Camp.
Han Huang sighed, looked deeply, and said: "If you are not in your position, you will not seek to govern."
This is true, he is not the chief assistant, and we will not worry about it until he becomes the chief assistant.
Yan Hong was silent for a while and then asked: "Brother, what do you think of Jia Ziyu? This man is lucky enough to be in charge of Jinyi Mansion, Jingying, and the Five Cities Military and Horse Division. His power is very hot, and the situation is difficult to control. The claws and claws of eagles and dogs have appeared."
Han Huang said: "This man is at the right time, and his sharp edge is revealed. Whether he can stand still depends on the war against the captives. In military and national affairs, there is a great fear between victory and defeat."
When the emperor employs people, he always gives you unlimited trust, but if you fail to do what you want several times, the holy family will retreat like the tide. At that time... it will not be as simple as sitting on the bench.
In fact, Emperor Chongping's trust in Jia Heng was similar to that of the king of Zhao who was superstitious about Zhao Kuo and trusted him with more than 400,000 Zhao soldiers.
After the afterglow of the military parade, the civil and military officials of the Manchu Dynasty turned around and thought about it. Just thinking about a young man who was only a young man in charge of a 200,000-strong army in the Beijing camp, they couldn't help but secretly murmur in their hearts.
But at this time, no one could pour cold water on Emperor Chongping.
Yan Hong nodded and said: "What my brother said is true. Now that the Holy One favors and trusts him, we cannot fight. Everything will have to wait until this autumn, when the enemy invades the northern border again. If the Beijing camp does not send troops to help, the government and the public will be noisy. I’m afraid that the Holy Emperor will also be disappointed.”
Han Huang frowned and said: "It also depends on Mr. Li Ge's plan. If Mr. Li Ge is in Peiping and stops the Hulu from going south, he can train for two more years."
"What my brother said is true. Training an army is different from leading an army to go on an expedition." Yan Hong said, remembering something, he smiled softly and said, "Speaking of which, Jia Ziyu is also as cunning as a fox. It will take fifteen years to defeat the prisoners." Years later, he will be able to defeat all the captives, why shouldn’t he enjoy fifteen years of glory and wealth?”
Han Huang's eyes were deep, and his magnetic voice was slightly low, and he said: "The Holy Emperor, the government and the public cannot wait for him to train for fifteen years. Even if it takes fifteen years, they will march to the north to compete with the barbarians." , we need to let the Holy One see some results, otherwise it will be difficult to win people's trust even if his tongue blooms like a lotus flower."
This is human nature. Jia Heng’s fifteen-year pacification plan can be used as a national policy, but it is impossible not to fight a battle in the middle. If you win, everyone will be happy. If you lose, some people will doubt your ability. No matter how brilliant the national policy is, it cannot be trusted. The speed will also be greatly reduced.
It can be said that officials in both the government and the public are looking forward to a war against the captives to test Jia Heng's quality.
Yan Hong said: "I heard from Zi Sheng last time that Jia Ziyu seems to want to take the imperial examination?"
Han Huang picked up the tea cup, took a sip, and said: "It is unlikely. Unless he resigns from the Beijing Camp and the Jinyi Mansion, as he is currently a first-class official and a distinguished nobleman of the country, if he ends up taking the scientific examination, the material debate will boil and the government and the public will be in an uproar. , the Holy One would rather grant him the same background as a Jinshi in the future, rather than allow him to take the imperial examination... Moreover, even if Jia Ziyu passes the examination, outsiders will not guess that there are many shady things. If he fails the examination, he will be ridiculed by the world. This is not what wise people think. Why."
"That's right. He can't let him take advantage of all the good things in the world. He is already a noble man, and it makes no sense to seize the quota of scholars to become officials." Yan Hong's eyes flickered and he whispered.
…
…
Yong'anfang, Yangzhai
Three figures of old, middle-aged and young people stood under the eaves of the corridor, looking at the fireworks in the sky and talking.
It was Yang Guochang, the cabinet scholar, his son Yang Sihong, and Qi Kun, the left minister of the Ministry of Household Affairs.
Yang Sihong whispered: "Father, tomorrow the Zhejiang Party members may use the previous incident to impeach my father, so my father should be prepared in advance."
Qi Kun's expression was a bit solemn, and he said in a low voice: "Mr. Ge, I'm afraid that there will be a group attack at the meeting tomorrow."
On New Year's Eve, Jia Heng impeached Yang Guochang and asked him about five crimes. The three biggest charges were that Yang Guochang failed to detect the chaos in the capital in advance, spent money but failed to plan, obstructed military affairs, and blackmailed officials. .
There are doubts about his ability as a chief assistant, as well as about his ability to serve in the household department.
A cold look appeared on Yang Guochang's old face, and he said: "The Holy One now favors the traitor Jia Heng. For their own selfish interests, the Zhejiang Party took the opportunity to collude with the traitor to build momentum, causing the party struggle to become more intense. But they are just a mob. We only need to hold on until the end of the year." .”
Qi Kun said in surprise: "At the end of the year?"
A cold light flashed in Yang Guochang's eyes, and he whispered: "At that time, in the territory of the Beibei invaders, the military situation was like a fire, and the entire army in the capital camp, which had been completed by force, was bound to go north to help, like Jia Heng or the incompetent commander. After a successful achievement, the army may have been defeated, or suffered a great defeat. The Holy General temporarily extinguished his enthusiasm for martial arts, and the turbulent situation in the court has since calmed down. Yan Xuan, you don't know how powerful Donglu is, he said it with a yellow mouth A boy who doesn’t know how high the sky is and loves to make big words. When the two armies are fighting, it’s not like a single strategy can defeat the enemy.”
Qi Kun's face was solemn, his eyes were deep, and he whispered: "The words of Enxiang are not unreasonable. Now that the situation in the court is in turmoil, it is Jia Ziyu who used the word "pacify the captives" to make the emperor restless. Once the military progress is unfavorable..."
"My son prospered by pacifying the captives, but he should be defeated by pacifying the captives." Yang Guochang said in a clear voice: "But if you lose your troops and generals, it will greatly consume the vitality of the country. Even if you suffer the punishment of death, it will be difficult to atone for your sins!"
When Qi Kun heard this, he was shocked and his expression changed.
In fact, I feel a little uncomfortable in my heart.
The chief minister of a country expects his generals to be defeated and defeated, which is actually contrary to his original intention in life.
Yang Guochang said in a deep voice: "The most urgent task is to reform the salt affairs. Has Liang Zhicheng sent a letter recently?"
Qi Kun said: "The Yangzhou Salt Institute is currently investigating the source of salt. However, there are many obstacles to this matter. The Lianghuai Capital Transfer Department and the salt merchants are obstructing it and secretly obstructing it."
The Qi Party and Jiangnan salt merchants have never dealt with each other, and they have nothing to hide now.
Yang Guochang shook his head and said: "Lin Ruhai has a weak temperament and has been patrolling salt for several years without success. His power is not strong enough to overwhelm those extravagant and lustful salt merchants. If there is still no progress after waiting for a while, I will recommend Yan Xuan to the Holy One." You go south and have full authority to supervise the elimination of abuses in the Salt Law."
In the heart of this prime minister who was born in Lu, he should use ruthless tactics and heavy blows against those southerners who are full of scheming intentions!
"Thank you very much, I believe you will appreciate it." Qi Kun said: "Recently, the Ministry of Household Affairs, the border army has been in a hurry to collect pay. Should I press the button and not pay it, or?"
Yang Guochang said: "Because the Holy Spirit succeeded in eliminating the capital camp, he believed Jia Heng's slander and wanted to spread it to the border army. However, the border army is different from the capital army. The border generals hold heavy troops. If they are not careful, they may even mutiny and surrender to the enemy." Now is the time to test the danger, so let’s dial in half of it first.”
Speaking of which, the Hubu treasury was so rich because Jia Heng's son came to suppress the Sanhe Gang.
Qi Kun thought for a while and said: "The frontier army should go to Bashu to purchase food and rice. It is very expensive every day. I am afraid that the money will not be able to help."
Yang Sihong listened to the conversation between the two and whispered: "Father, if Shanxi merchants resume the Kaizhong method and Jia Yan leads the corn to Jiubian, the dilemma may be solved."
Yang Guochang took a deep look at Yang Sihong and said solemnly: "This is what I wanted to do for my father to correct the shortcomings of the Salt Law."
Yang Sihong hesitated for a moment, and finally said: "Father, the Li family of the Shanxi Chamber of Commerce proposed that if the imperial court is short of food and silver, salt from the four salt fields in Lianghuai, Liangzhe, Changlu, and Hedong can be purchased by the Shanxi Chamber of Commerce. For sales on behalf of the court, if the court urgently needs silver, the eight major Shanxi merchants can also release 3.2 million taels of silver to the court every year to complete the salt class. The Ministry of Revenue will allocate another 2.2 million taels to the Shanxi Merchants Chamber of Commerce to purchase grain. Rice, mules and horses, in this way the court will not spend one tael per meter, but get one million taels for free, and can transport grain to nine sides."
When Yang Guochang heard this, he frowned and was silent for a while.
Seeing that his father was silent, Yang Sihong did not rush him and waited quietly.
Qi Kun on the side, his face darkened and flickered, and his heart was already filled with turmoil.
Is this Shanxi merchant going to be a salt merchant for the Han Dynasty?
What a huge appetite, but Shanxi merchants actually have such huge financial resources?
This also involves an issue that Qi Kun has not thought of for the time being, that is, the millions of taels of silver a year cannot be all silver. They must be transferred with Shanxi merchant banknotes. Once they come and go, they may be able to use salt Using Yin as an anchor point to control the price of salt, not to mention Shanxi merchants who undertook the transportation of border wages also had considerable room for manipulation in purchasing grain and rice.
Yang Guochang's face suddenly turned cold. It was clearly the instinct of an elite bureaucrat and he realized that something was wrong.
"There is no reason for the imperial court to lend money to merchants, let alone offset it with salt interest. This is simply whimsical and ridiculous!" Yang Guochang scolded with a dark face.
Yang Sihong looked calm, lowered his head and said secretly, "It's true that convincing father about this matter won't happen overnight."
This is actually a strategy that Yang Sihong came up with for the Shanxi Chamber of Commerce. He even has some forward thinking, that is, the privatization of the salt industry. Since the Han Dynasty has a rigid bureaucracy, no capital management, and serious corruption and waste, then it should be left to private businessmen. Of course, Yang Sihong It is reasonable to take a share of the pie.
However, this move obviously made Yang Guochang feel extremely disgusted. Bureaucrats hate everything that is out of their control.
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