Liangjiang Governor's Office
The official building of this ministry is majestic and majestic, with several levels in front and back. Under the eaves of the outer corridor, soldiers from Governor Biao's camp stand with swords in hand and fierce faces.
In the backyard, through the lanterns swaying gently under the eaves, we can see that there are three black lacquered paulownia plaques with the words "Mingde Hall" hanging on the lintel of the hall. Under the painting in the nave of the house, there is a dark green incense burner placed on a table three feet high. The tripod is surrounded by a black paperweight, and a number of official documents are piled on a huanghuali wooden desk not far away.
Shen Fang, the governor of Liangjiang, was sitting on the Grand Master's chair under the window. This high-ranking official had a calm demeanor and a thin figure, but under his strong eyebrows like green pine trees, his eyes flickered darkly.
Not far away were Xu Shikui, the chief envoy of Jiangzuo, Bai Sixing, chief secretary of Shen Fang, a staff member of the Governor's Yamen, and Lu Chaoyun, the general judge.
"Sir, Uncle Yongning has come to Jinling." Xu Shikui said thoughtfully: "He took control of Shuiyu in the north of the Yangtze River, and was assassinated by a prince of Donglu. Now the whole Yangzhou is in trouble, and now he has come to Jinling to control Taiwanese adults must be careful."
Previously in Yangzhou, Xu Shikui had seen Jia Heng's methods. He originally thought it was time to say goodbye, but he thought it would be another three or two years before we met again. He didn't want to see Jia Heng not long after he returned to Beijing, so he came directly. "Did he say what he was here for?" Xu Shikui said, "I heard he came to ask for military pay and ordnance. The Jiangbei camp has been decommissioned for a long time. If he wants to reorganize the military equipment, he can't do without these two things." Shen Fang said in a deep voice. He said: "He has just taken over the salt merchant. He is not in Jiangbei to try the case, and he comes to Jiangnan again. It is indeed a bad person. I am afraid he is coming to the Jiangnan camp."
As the governor of Liangjiang, he has eyes and ears all over the country. Jia Heng came to Ma's house the day before yesterday, and the news reached Shen Fang's ears immediately.
Bai Sixing was a scribe in his thirties. He held a folding fan in his hand and said in a low voice: "Dong Weng, Uncle Yongning started his career by organizing armies and mastering military affairs. It is impossible for him to ignore military affairs during this trip." While several people were discussing, a disciple reported outside: "Master, Yangzhou Salt General Merchant Wang Shouqi is outside asking to see the master."
Shen Fang's eyes flashed and he said, "Wang Shouqi is here, I'm going to see him."
Not long after, Wang Shouqi was led into the study room in the back hall under the guidance of a concierge.
"I have met Lord Shen." Wang Shouqi looked at Shen Fang and bowed his hands.
Shen Fang hurriedly stepped forward, stretched out his hands to support him, smiled and said, "Old sir, there is no need to be polite."
The two have been old acquaintances for more than ten years, and even exchange letters on a daily basis.
As Jia Heng had previously expected, the Yangzhou salt merchants were not meat on the chopping block and could be slaughtered at will without knowing the political direction, but you could ask knowledgeable people.
Shen Fang led Wang Shouqi to sit down, greeted his servants to watch tea, and said with a smile: "Master Wang, what kind of wind brought you here?" Wang Shouqi said: "Master Taitai, have you heard about Uncle Yongning's activities in Jiangbei?" "The Tiqi are going around, hunting and capturing the king. Now the people on the ground in Yangzhou are panicked, and the people are worried about peace." These words are said very skillfully. People are panicked, and the people are worried about peace, which implicitly expresses the attitude of Yangzhou merchants. Shen Fang pondered for a moment and said, "I am also paying close attention to this matter. Mr. Wang came from Yangzhou. I heard that he was also a witness to the assassination of King Lu that day?"
Wang Shouqi said: "The assassination was indeed carried out. We were also in shock at the beginning. Later, the captives of Donglu who were captured were also said to be the Jurchen kings.
On this point, there is no dispute.
Shen Fang frowned and said, "This matter is a bit difficult to handle. I have already sent a letter to the Yangzhou side, and the Yangzhou side said that they are still pursuing the case. The results should come after a while.
Donglu, this already involves national security issues. The more the group at the core of power know that they have said the wrong thing and expressed the wrong attitude. Once it reaches the ears of heaven, they will never tolerate it.
Wang Shouqi said: "But the Ma family is now in the hands of the Jinyi Mansion. If they are tortured and falsely accused, Mr. Taiwan, it will make people worried."
"Are there any other companies involved?" Shen Fang pondered for a moment, then stared at Wang Shouqi aggressively and asked.
If everyone is involved, the Yangzhou salt merchant is just a piece of stinking shit, and he has to go around and cut it quickly.
Wang Shouqi said: "I don't know about the other families, but I guarantee that my Wang family is definitely not involved or interested in profit, but they are very few."
The Wang family has grown up in recent years, and they really do not dare to collude with the Donglu. Of course, the clan members are not without jealousy, but they are all stopped by Master Wang.
Shen Fang was silent for a moment and said loudly: "Mr. Wang, Yangzhou Salt Affairs is a major plan of the imperial court, and rectification is an inevitable trend. It's just a matter of who will take the lead.
The salt affairs must be rectified, but who will take the lead in the rectification? He, the Liangjiang Governor's Yamen, can take charge of the matter, but the Holy Emperor is influenced by the female cadre and has no such intention.
Wang Shouqi said: "The old man is not resisting the rectification of salt affairs, but he is following the wishes of Mr. Qi Ge and abandoning the system of exclusive trade to divert the shore. Where should we go from here?"
Shen Fang said: "It is better to delay this matter and wait until the trend of the court changes, and then we can deal with it.
To put it bluntly, it means procrastination, so that the person in charge cannot get it done. If the upper management feels resistance, it will lose its will and die down. Just like Qi Kun was like this before, he dragged it on for a long time without success, until the Central Plains was in chaos, and the world's attention focused on Henan. Then the Huanghuai River flooded, and the Yangzhou salt merchants couldn't force the chaos out, and they dragged on a few more Moonlight scene.
Later, Qi Kun wanted to check the account books of the Salt Transportation Department, and a fire broke out, which made Jia Heng go south.
"Now that Yongningbo is going south, he is reorganizing the camps in the south and north of the Yangtze River. It doesn't seem like he came here to do the salt work, and he doesn't think much of Qi Ge Lao's method of restoring Kai Zhong." Wang Shouqi was silent for a moment and introduced.
When everyone heard this, they all nodded in greeting.
Shen Fang looked at the people around him and asked, "Master Xu, and Master Bai, what do you think?"
Xu Shikui said: "It is true that the imperial court has not replaced the Grand Scholar of Qi. Uncle Yongning seems to be here to organize the military equipment in the south and north of the Yangtze River. The three departments of Beijing Camp, Frontier Army and Southern Army were originally the top priorities of the court. As for the salt affairs, Mr. Qi Ge I don't think much of it. The dispute between Jia and Yang has been going on for a long time. It can be said that everyone in the world knows it, but it doesn't matter.
Shen Fang nodded and looked at Bai Sixing aside.
Bai Sixing's eyes were dark and he said, "Dong Weng, why do students think that Uncle Yong Ning is going south this time to use military force to rectify the salt affairs?"
Shen Fang said, "How do you say that?"
"Students see him as a man with a strong will and cruel methods. From the Henan Rebellion to the Dudu River, he is very resolute and decisive in killing." Bai Sixing said, with a bit of amazement in his eyes, as if he admired Jia Heng's methods very much. .
Lu Chaoyun said with a smile: "Master Bai, Uncle Yongning is not an unwise person. He really wants to ignore it. Besides, in Henan and Henan, he is not an unwise person."
Tao, although he is radical in his actions, he is also lenient.
I feel that Uncle Yong Ning is still here for the military affairs in the south and north of the Yangtze River. Even if he wants to intervene in the salt affairs, he has no excuse and can only become the target of public criticism. "
As he said that, he looked at Shen Fang and said, "What Mr. Taiwan Controller said before is right. Let's wait for changes. The war in Beilu will resume this year. At that time, Uncle Yongning will not be able to stay here for a long time. At that time, the Qi Party will After working for a long time to no avail, he will inevitably return to the capital. At that time, Zitai will be able to take over the power of salt."
Shen Fang looked silent and said softly: "But we have to guard against it.
Bai Sixing answered: "In order to control Taiwan, Uncle Yongning has taken over the military power of the Jiangbei camp, which is a murderous intention. If we don't drive him back to the capital as soon as possible, I'm afraid the consequences will be disastrous."
Shen Fang said: "It's not that easy to drive away. Now that he has just arrived in Jiangbei, he has just defeated an assassination attempt by the King of Lu. We are waiting for him rashly."
"This action will only give him more leverage and make him passive.
As he said that, he glanced at Wang Shouqi, which was also a warning. Wang Shouqi understood clearly. This was saying that some countermeasures should not be overdone.
Seeing this, Bai Sixing sighed softly in his heart. Mr. Taiwan was shocked by the word "Donglu" and was worried about getting involved in a bigger whirlpool.
This concern is also reasonable. Even if he wants to take the power of patrolling salt back to the governor's office of Liangjiang, he cannot be reprimanded by the palace for the Donglu incident. Then he will never have the opportunity to join the cabinet to assist the government.
Wang Shouqi felt awe-inspiring as he listened to the discussion of several people. At this moment, he met Shen Fang's gaze and said quickly: "Master Tai, I'm so old."
"Master Wang, please be patient." Shen Fang's eyes turned gentle, he looked at Wang Shouqi, and said with relief: "His family is not the only one in the imperial court."
Wang Shouqi responded quickly.
Then, Wang Shouqi left the governor's office of Liangjiang while being sent off by his clerks. At some point, raindrops were falling and the sky was dim.
Wang Shouqi glanced back at the Governor's Office of Liangjiang behind him.
, with the lanterns swaying in the wind, the open door seemed like Yama. "Master, where are we going?" The steward who drove the carriage took an umbrella and walked closer to shield Wang Shouqi from the wind.
Wang Shouqi's face became a little gloomy and he said, "Go back to Jingyuan Villa first."
Tomorrow he was going to visit the Zhen family in Jiangnan, but he still felt a little unsettled.
On the other side, after Wang Shouqi sent him out of the Governor's Office of Liangjiang, Shen Fang's face was as gloomy as water. He stood up and looked at the courtyard where the rain had started falling again. He said, "Pan Lu Tong, sent someone to keep an eye on Jia Heng." Look where he has been these past few days." "Yes, sir." Lu Chaoyun stood up from his seat, bowed his hands to Shen Fang, and took the order.
···.·Ningguo Mansion
In the west courtyard, in the wing room, the candles lit on the high table were bright and magnificent. In front of the exquisite gilt and hollowed-out dressing table, sat a beauty in a plain long dress with clouds on her temples.
The woman wore no makeup, her face was beautiful, and her brows exuded an aura unique to an adult woman, just because she was wearing mourning clothes and she was a little more solemn.
Because You and Jia Zhen are still husband and wife, You still need to observe mourning for three years. However, the folk are not that strict, only one year is about the same, and there are even cases of remarriage.
Youshi looked at the soft face in the dressing mirror, gently stroked the non-existent wrinkles on her temples, and sighed.
Not far away, another maid fried beans, took the teacup, passed it over, and said: "Grandma, let's have a cup of tea."
Youshi responded softly, took the tea cup, turned around, put her pink lips on the porcelain cup, and took a sip.
The maid Yindie held up a corner of her skirt, crossed the threshold, and with her two pigtails swaying in the wind, entered the wing and said, "Grandma, the uncle is here."
The profile of the beautiful face on the bronze mirror overflowed with joy, and she asked urgently: "Where is he?"
"Grandma, we've arrived at the front hall." Yindie said happily.
Youshi was about to walk away, then stood up, sighed again, returned to the dressing table and sat down again.
How could she, a widow, go to greet that person? I'm just afraid that it will attract some gossip to him.
Thinking of this, the young woman held the handkerchief on her heart, and suddenly sat down slowly. A hint of loss appeared on her gentle and gentle face.
Just as the original work of "A Dream of Red Mansions" said through the dialogue between Leng Zixing and Jia Yucun, the Ningguo Mansion is to the east of the old house street in Jinling, and the Rongguo Mansion is to the west, occupying the entire street, with dense crowds and continuous houses. Jia Heng, led by the Jia clan members from the Twelve Fangs of Jinling, and accompanied by his retinue of Jinyi personal guards, entered the Ningguo Mansion in a mighty manner.
This mansion is majestic and majestic. It is not under the Ningguo Mansion of Shenjing. Because it is often cleaned by servants, there is no sign of desolation and wormwood inside. This is also a symbol of the main line of the eight houses of Shenjing in the land of Jinling.
Entering the hall, Jia Heng greeted the clan members to sit down and said, "I've been in the capital often, and this is the first time I've come to Jinling.
Jia Zi smiled and said: "Zi Yu, when you come to Jinling, you are home. This is the place where our ancestors established their feet. The clan has prepared a small banquet to welcome Zi Yu.
The Heng brother in front of him, he had inquired before, came out from the common people's clan to kill a general, and later made Yongning Bo, the leader of the Jia clan.
Jia Heng nodded and asked, "Why don't you see Brother Rong?"
Hearing this, Jia Zi was startled and said, "I've sent someone to call him, he'll be here shortly.
Because Jia Zhen was convicted and lost her title, Jia Rong's position among the twelve houses in Jinling was also quite embarrassing. As Jia Heng's official position became larger and larger, Jia Heng was not allowed to live in Ningguo Mansion because he was worried that Jia Heng would not like it. , but chose another house to live in. After all, he was concerned about Jia Jing's face and provided grain fields and shops to support him.
Today, Jia Heng came over. Considering the grudge between Jia Heng and Jia Zhen, they tacitly agreed not to call Jia Rong.
Because her father was still filial, Jia Rong was not allowed to get married. She just secretly accompanied her friends to the Qinhuai River to hang out.
Jia Heng nodded and said softly: "Go and call Brother Rong. I will tell him something later."
Compared to the clan members of the Twelfth House of Jinling, who were not familiar with their temperament, Rong was an acquaintance of his and knew the news among the Jinling clan88
It’s not necessarily true that there are too many.
What Jia Yu and his son did in Huai'an Mansion may not be an isolated case.
Jia Zi hurriedly sent the boy away. At this moment, everyone in the Jia clan was looking at the tall young man, feeling a little sad in their hearts.
At such a young age, he is already a privy minister of the country and a first-class uncle of the Han Dynasty.
Jia Heng and the Jia clan members used their guns to return to the back house to see Daiyu's settlement. They walked through the brightly lit corridor and saw what they had just seen.
When I got to the backyard, I looked up and saw Qingwen and asked, "Is everything packed?"
"It's tidied up. The master's courtyard is on the left, and Miss Lin's courtyard is on the right." Qingwen looked at the young man in the python suit, curled her lips, and said softly.
Along the way, Jia Heng and Dai Yu often got tired of being together, and the idea of loving the house, Wu, and Wan like Qing gradually wavered in Qingwen's heart.
Jia Heng smiled and said, "Well, come and take a bath with me." After a night's rest, he would first visit Zhen's house tomorrow, and then go to the Nanjing War Department to ask for ordnance.
At this moment, the courtyards of Jia Heng and Dai Yu were only separated by a flower wall with green eaves and white walls. In the middle was a moon gate, accessible by a path paved with gravel.
When Jia Heng was taking a bath, Daiyu, accompanied by Zicuckoo, took off her pink clothes. Her jade feet, which were like lotus roots, stepped on the bamboo couch, and the insteps were like bows. She stepped into the tub, rising with the steaming hot air. In the light of the lamp, her shoulders are slim and smooth, her skin is better than snow, and her neck is fair and fair.
On the girl's palm-sized snowy jade cheeks, the bright red charm has not faded. The starry eyes under the misty eyebrows are sometimes happy and sometimes confused, as if the feeling of being eaten by the sheep talisman is still gnawing at the bones and haunting the heart. , it is difficult to control oneself.
Brother Heng...how could he do that? She hadn't even agreed to marry him yet, so he was being so frivolous to her? But at that moment, it seemed as if she couldn't even refuse.
Looking back afterward, I felt shy but also a bit shaken.
Such a person who is usually dignified and solemn is acting like a child, really... he can't help himself?
"Girl, what are you thinking about? Are you so lost in thought?" Zijuan came closer and said softly with a smile on her rosy face.
Daiyu came back to her senses, her cheeks were slightly red, she suppressed the turbulent thoughts in her heart, and whispered: "It's nothing."
"Let me help the girl take a bath." Zijuan said softly, picking up the towel on the side and helping Daiyu scrub her body.
Daiyu didn't pay attention and stretched out her hand to gently wash the lamb. "Girl." Zijuan suddenly spoke, interrupting Daiyu who was having an ups and downs in her mind.
Daiyu was confused. She raised her eyes to look at Zicuckoo who was about to speak but hesitated. She felt something in her heart and asked, "What's wrong?"
Zicuckoo lowered her voice and asked, as if pointing out something: "Girl, didn't he tell you anything?"
"What?" Daiyu's bright eyes were full of doubts, as if she didn't know why, what else could she say?
Zicuckoo frowned and said softly: "The girl is tired of being with the uncle like this. She always has to plan for the future. The uncle has not made any promises to the girl or what will happen in the future?"
First, I went to her to watch the wind on the boat. I couldn't help but take a peek. Her girl and Uncle Heng were both... If this continued, the two of them would become a real couple by accident, and then the girl would no longer have any status. .
Under Daiyu's slender brows, her eyes were as soft as water. She pursed her lips and whispered, "Brother Heng also has his own reasons. I'll find an opportunity to ask in the next two days."
It's not easy for her to ask about the future. It's not too late to talk about it then. Besides, her father is still in Yangzhou, so he won't watch her have no name or status in the future.
Besides, he also said that he would never let her down in this life, so if he lied to her... she would probably not survive.
Thinking of this, Daiyu suddenly felt a pain in her heart. Just thinking about it made her whole body shiver uncomfortably, and the boundless darkness was approaching towards her home.
It's not death, but it's worse than death. The man looks disgusted with himself.
appearance.
Zijuan saw Daiyu who suddenly fell silent and turned pale as paper, and said worriedly: "If the girl is worried, you can make some insinuations. He must give the girl an explanation. It can't be so unclear."
Although Uncle Heng is a man of great affection and trust, he still needs to have the right explanation.
Daiyu also recovered her thoughts at this moment. She looked at Zicuckoo with her glittering starry eyes and whispered: "Sister Zicuckoo, let him think of the way you said. He should have a way..." Yes."
Nothing seemed to faze him.
"But the girl should give him a warning and let him take it into consideration." Zicuckoo said softly, thought for a moment, and said, "Otherwise, I will speak for the girl."
"No." Daiyu said quickly. Immediately, her starry eyes dimmed a bit, and she said faintly, "It's boring to ask and beg like that."
If it comes under force, it will make others uncomfortable, so it is better not to ask.
Moreover, she also wanted to see when he planned to tell her...
Seeing this, Zicuckoo couldn't say much and said warmly: "Then I'll wait for the girl to take a bath.
After Daiyu took a bath, she changed her clothes, sat in the side room, and gently combed her hair with a comb.
The girl wears a white double-breasted jacket with a rouge red bamboo leaf and plum blossom pattern on it, and a white cross-collar midriff and a white long skirt. She has a pretty face. The girl is slim and graceful, neither spreading nor branching, like a hibiscus emerging from the water, washing her hair without being demonic.
"Brother Heng, he hasn't finished his visit yet?" Daiyu's starry eyes called Zicuckoo beside her and said softly.
Zicuckoo said softly: "Girl, uncle will come over soon. It's still early at this time."
The girl really can't live without Uncle Heng in this life, and she will talk about it when she can't see him for a while.
"Go and take a look." Daiyu pursed her pink lips and said softly.
The girl came to the book desk out of boredom, reached out and picked up a volume of Xin Qiji's poems, sat down, opened the poems and began to appreciate them. Suddenly she saw a page, and her cheeks suddenly turned as red as blood and as bright as fire.
Why do I think Qingshan is so charming when I see it, but I don’t expect Qingshan to be so charming when it sees me? How can Brother Heng use it like that?
After all, she is a girl with a shrewd mind. She has already understood the implication, and she feels that a certain way of thinking has been opened and her horizons have been broadened.
