Liangjiang Governor’s Yamen, study room in the back hall
Shen Fang was wearing an official robe without wearing a veil. He was sitting behind the desk. After listening to the chief registrar Bai Sixing's narration, his old and sunken cheeks slowly drooped. He was silent for a long time and then sighed and said: "The Crown Prince and the Taibao, so many civil servants have worked hard. , who has been diligent in the king's affairs, and has rarely been awarded this official title throughout his life, but it is only given to a small child. How unfair is the sky."
"Dong Weng, be careful what you say." Lu Chaoyun's face changed slightly and he warned.
These are words of resentment, combined with being dismissed and retained, so that people who are interested can hear them, and then make a fuss about it.
Shen Fang whispered: "The sycophantic ministers are in power, but the loyal and upright people are excluded and mistrusted, that's all, that's all, no more."
Bai Sixing persuaded: "Dong Weng, Jiang and Meng from the Ministry of War, as well as officials from the Metropolitan Procuratorate, have repeatedly impeached Uncle Yong Ning in recent days, saying that Uncle Yong Ning has a heavy army and is in danger of endangering the country. Xu is waiting for public opinion. It’s hard to tell if there will be another change if you exert your strength.”
Shen Fang said: "Now the remaining Jurchen forces are still wandering overseas and can raise troops to invade at any time. How could the imperial court transfer Jia Heng's son? Those people still don't understand."
People in the Jiangnan officialdom did not understand that doing this would only strengthen the palace's intention to let Jia Heng's son run wild.
Lu Chaoyun said: "What are Taiwan's next plans?"
Shen Fang pondered and said: "Now that the autumn grain is being collected and grain is being transported from the south to the north, we should first help the court take care of this matter. For the rest, we should watch the fire from the other side and watch the changes. At the moment, every movement is worse than a moment of silence."
He is now dismissed from his post and retained. If he makes any more mistakes or omissions, he will be punished for both crimes and will be dismissed from office.
Bai Sixing nodded and said: "Dong Weng, Wang Shouqi's side in Yangzhou has also gained some insights recently. It is said that the Salt Transportation Department has suffered a deficit of more than 20 million taels since the Chongping period. Yong Ningbo is reporting to the eight major merchants in Yangzhou. To recover the stolen money and make up for the shortfall, it is said that the wealth of the four general merchants in Yangzhou has been sent to the Jinyi Mansion to count."
As a staff member of the Liangjiang Governor's Yamen, he has extensive information channels.
In fact, in the past seven days, in addition to rectifying the military affairs of the Jiangnan camp, Jia Heng also began to inventory and verify the shops and properties of four of the eight major merchants in Yangzhou.
The four general merchants, Ma, Cheng, Huang, and Bao, all had their property confiscated for colluding with the Donglu, and then waited for the palace's decree, or in other words, for the fleet of the Ministry of Internal Affairs from Jinyang to arrive in Yangzhou.
"The four major merchants are known all over the world to be wealthy. How much money does this cost?" Shen Fang asked with some curiosity in his heart.
Bai Sixing explained: "The four families have been rich for decades. If all the belongings in the family are discounted and sold, I can't say how much there is. It should be tens of millions of taels."
Shen Fang frowned and whispered, "So many?"
He had always known that salt merchants were rich, but he never thought that these people were so rich. They were as rich as the entire country!
Bai Sixing said: "Since the Taizu Dynasty, salt profits were used to support the Northern Expedition. The Wang family established the Jiangnan Salt Administration. Later, the Lianghuai Capital Transportation Department was established, and the Salt Administration was restructured into a general merchant. The Wang family has enjoyed the salt benefits for nearly a hundred years. From what the students have seen, the Wang family alone probably only has a wealth of 20 to 30 million taels. As for the other families, although they made frequent salt profits during the Taizong and Longzhi years, they have accumulated considerable wealth over decades."
In the Qing Dynasty in parallel time and space, according to Li Cheng's account in the book "Huaiwan Bei Yao" in the second year of Daoguang: "I heard from my father that the capital of the Huaizhou merchants a few decades ago was in the tens of millions, followed by tens of millions. Millions."
In other words, the eight major merchants in Yangzhou all have a wealth of tens of millions, and it is nothing more than a matter of tens of millions. This is the basic respect for the salt merchant industry.
What Jia Heng had previously demanded from the eight major merchants in Yangzhou was the deficit accounts of the Salt Transportation Department from the first year to the fifteenth year of Chongping, not all the salt merchants' belongings.
And in the past fifteen years, after Liu Shengzao's incomplete confession, the eight major salt merchants had a credit deficit of 20 million taels by using new ones to borrow old ones. That is to say, during the period when Liu Shengzao was serving as the transfer envoy between the Huaihe River and the Huaihe River, the old accounts from the previous Longzhi period were not audited at all. An investigation revealed that during the Longzhi period, when the Han Dynasty was at its peak, the supervision of salt affairs in the Huaihe River was the most relaxed.
In other words, among the eight major salt merchants in Yangzhou, except for the Wang family, a century-old family whose strength is unfathomable, the remaining land, real estate, and shop properties after the confiscation of their houses are all
The amount of wealth is tens of millions.
This is the hard work of three generations (thirty or forty years). You, Kong Yiji, who can't take off his long gown, why should you compare with others?
Therefore, the previous impression did not seem to be too much, it was just a rough statistics from Liu Shengzao's confession.
Although the remaining four salt merchants feel sad about filling the shortfall of 20 million taels, each of them only has to pay four to five million taels, which is almost draining the money from their books, but the overall situation has not reached the point where the sky is falling. Therefore, I am actually secretly glad.
Because Guo Shaonian, the salt transport envoy during the Longzhi period, is still at large, the old accounts of the Longzhi Dynasty's crazy misappropriation of salt assets are now difficult to find.
As for Jia Heng's plan, it was not that he would not investigate. If he found out a sum later, he would demand a sum.
Telecommunications fraud also pays attention to the small ones first and then the big ones, but suddenly you find that you can't withdraw cash, and you are defrauded of tens or even millions in one fell swoop.
In the flower hall in the backyard of the Zhen family, people were also discussing the imperial edict that Jia Heng received today.
As time passed, the entire Jinling officialdom was hotly discussing the matter. As Jia Heng said, it poured cold water on the officials of the Six Ministries of Nanjing who had previously been enthusiastic about impeachment.
Zhen Yingjia was dressed in filial piety, with a solemn look on her face. She was sitting on a chair in the hall, followed by her second brother Zhen Shao and third brother Zhen Xuan.
As for Zhen Zhu, since Mrs. Zhen was buried, Zhen Zhu, who was quite remorseful, locked himself in the house and ignored the outside world.
The three of them looked at each other in confusion after listening to the servant describe the imperial edict that was hotly debated outside.
Zhen Yingjia's slender eyes showed emotion and said: "As expected, those impeachment memorials are just a breeze blowing on my face. This is the prince's eunuch who is less than twenty years old. His future is limitless. No wonder his mother promised him the fourth girl. ..”
As he said this, his heart was a little complicated.
Back then, the Zhen family was not a holy family. No matter how others criticized the Zhen family, they still remained firm and their holy grace never faded.
Even if he was the emperor when he was in his dormitory... Who would have thought that King Yong back then would now be the most powerful person in the world?
Zhen Xuan muttered: "Brother, I think it is better to achieve military merit. If you do meritorious service to the country, the palace's past views on our family will gradually change."
Zhen Shao put down the tea cup and said in a deep voice: "It was a pity for my fourth brother that time. This opportunity only comes once in a lifetime. If I had made great contributions in the battle at Jiangkou, I wouldn't be here today."
If he had led the navy that day, he would not have allowed bandits to wreak havoc in the rivers and seas. It was he who was promoted to an official position today, and the calamity of the Zhen family would slowly be resolved.
Zhen Yingjia twirled his beard with his hand, his eyes showed expectancy, and said: "Now let's see how Qing'er's trip to Ningguo Mansion goes, and whether she can persuade Ziyu to ask my second brother to resurrect his love in the name of urgent military affairs."
Chen Hanzong's classics from the Tang and Song dynasties inherited the old system of the Ming Dynasty. After the death of a close relative, all officials must mourn and report to the court in time. Otherwise, they will conceal the funeral, which is an unfilial and unforgivable crime. Then the official will mourn, but generally speaking , the emperor will return to his favored ministers after observing filial piety for three to five months.
Ordinary officials naturally do not enjoy this treatment. They are often military and political officials and central ministers who have great power and complicated affairs and are difficult to leave. However, for some civil servants, due to the self-discipline and heteronomy of moral and public opinion, they instead neglect their opinions. , unwilling to take revenge.
On the contrary, it was praised by people of the time.
For example, Li Shouzhong originally served as a liberator to the Imperial College in Nanjing, and Ding You spent three years in mourning. After observing his filial piety, he wanted to return to serve as an official. There was no place for him in the Imperial College, so he simply taught the children of the clan at home.
Zhen Xuan was worried and said in an uncertain tone: "Brother, will Jia Ziyu agree? When the old lady was here, she wanted him to take care of her, but he didn't even say anything."
Zhen Yingjia said: "I can only give it a try. I brought Xi'er there this time. If I can fulfill my mother's last wish, it will be a worthwhile trip."
If the Zhen family felt that Mrs. Zhen insisted on sending Zhen Xi to Jia Heng as a concubine, they were a little unhappy in their hearts.
Now that Mrs. Zhen has left, the Zhen family's fear of losing their backbone and their resentment towards Zhen Zhu can no longer be controlled, but they feel that it is not unacceptable.
Zhen Xuan sighed and said, "Whether we can help or not, if Xi'er can pass by, he will always leave a lasting impression on our family."
This is actually the plan of Mrs. Zhen and Zhen Xuan. The bond between big families, in the absence of common business cooperation like in industrial society, is in-laws.
Even in later generations, why not be like this?
Otherwise, where did the four major families of King Jia Shi and Xue come from?
Zhen Shao said in a low voice: "Now that the Jiangnan camp is being reorganized, all five commanders are vacant. With my position, if I can make great achievements, it is possible that I can make further progress in the future."
When Zhen Xuan heard this, his eyes flashed and he said: "What my brother said is true. Jia Ziyu cannot stay in Jiangnan forever. When he returns with great honor, my brother may be able to take over the Jiangnan camp."
At the end of the story, it is inevitable that my heart will rise and fall.
The third master of the Zhen family actually manages the property and business of the Zhen family, and donates all the profits earned every year to Zhen Qing.
Jia Heng actually saw this and declined Zhen Qing's request.
Zhen Yingjia said: "It's too wishful thinking. Even the palace will not let my Zhen family act as the agent of Jiangnan Camp."
Zhen Shao nodded and said with piercing eyes: "What my brother said is true, unless there is a great achievement." For example, he captured the Jurchen Prince, such a great achievement.
.......Ningguo Mansion
Jia Heng sat down, Daiyu, Zhen Qing, Zhen Xue and Yingying Yanyan were all sitting not far away. Zhen Xi, with a palm-sized face flushed, was sitting next to Zhen Xue, peeking at her from time to time. Looking at Jia Heng, he pursed his lips, as if the blushing breath still lingered between his lips and teeth.
After waiting, Jia Heng said: "Sister Lin, I will go to the study to read the official documents first. You and Sister-in-law You will accompany the princess and Xinxin to talk."
Daiyu said softly: "Brother Heng, go and do your work. My sister-in-law and I will be fine here."
Jia Heng nodded, stood up and walked to the study. Not long after he sat down, he saw Chen Xiao entering the study with a stack of dark blue-covered books in his hand.
"This is the account book for the collection of military pay for the Jiangnan camp during these days, as well as the first batch of 2 million taels of silver collected by Wang Shouqi of Yangzhou and the other four families. They have been delivered to the Lin Yushi Office of the Salt Transportation Department. The subsequent silver I'm still trying to think of ways to raise money. If I sell too many houses at once, it's easy not to sell them at a good price. I'd like to ask the Jinyi Mansion for some grace." Chen Xiao said and handed over the two books in his hand.
Jia Heng took the two books, flipped through them briefly, raised his eyes and said, "The silver can be paid back slowly. With two million taels of silver, there is no shortage of military expenses for the entire army."
"In addition, after Liu Jixian sent the chief bookkeeper of the Experience Department to count the assets of salt merchants such as the Ma family and the Cheng family, the preliminary audit estimated that they were roughly 40 to 50 million taels. However, many fields, houses, antiques, calligraphy and paintings cannot be sold for money in a short time. ." Chen Xiao took another book, handed it to Jia Heng, and said in a clear voice.
As with previous house raids, these belongings are only the amount of gold and silver on the books, not that there is so much cash, but a rough estimate of several fields, houses, gold, silver and jewelry.
However, compared to ordinary people who use the market price of garages to estimate properties, the experts at Jinyi Mansion can estimate the property more accurately.
Jia Heng said coldly: "When the Ministry of Internal Affairs comes over, let them slowly sell it off. The four families will get 40 to 50 million taels, which is almost equivalent to the income of the national treasury for two to three years."
Chen Xiao whispered: "This is the savings of several generations of major businessmen."
"They were all ill-gotten gains. They stole the country's money for their own use. Now it's time to use it for the people." Jia Heng said with an indifferent expression.
Chen Xiao took a cup of tea, took a sip, and asked: "When will the salt affairs meeting be held?" Jia Heng said thoughtfully: "I will be at the Ministry of Household Office tomorrow, and everyone will be there, so we can make a plan in advance. "
Today, the reform of salt affairs in Yangzhou has also begun. He actually has two options in mind, one is the monopoly of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and the other is the bank salt law, which is the reform plan of Tao Shu, the governor of Liangjiang during the Daoguang period.
Both have advantages and disadvantages, but they have one thing in common, which is to save costs and increase efficiency, reduce floating expenses, and reduce borer erosion within the system.
Just when Jia Heng was immersed in thinking, he suddenly heard Zhen Qing's voice coming from outside the house.
Even with a bit of coquettishness: "Is Brother Heng in the study?"
Chen Xiao frowned, looked worried, and said quietly: "I really don't have a long memory at all."
Jia Heng looked at the girl with a pure face and sullen eyes. He gently took the girl's delicate hand and said warmly: "Xiaoxiao, after all, she hasn't been here for seven or eight days. You should be a little considerate of her."
He actually didn't care, the main reason was that Zhen Qing was addicted and had needs, and he couldn't ignore her.
Under Chen Xiaoliuye's slender eyebrows, the cold look in his eyes was replaced by a trace of embarrassment, and he said coldly: "Don't take too long."
Every time I fiddle with it, I have to fiddle with it for a long time, which makes people upset. As she spoke, the girl left the study with a clear face.
After a while, as bursts of fragrant wind blew into his nostrils, Jia Heng raised his eyes and saw Zhen Qing in a plain skirt entering the wing. Her charming face had lost some of its charm, and her pure aura was rising. Curious, he asked, "What were you talking about in the room just now?"
"It's nothing." Jia Heng folded the books, looked at Zhen Qing, and asked softly: "Is Sister Xi'er okay?"
Just now, he paid special attention to Zhen Xi, but he saw that the girl was absent-minded and a little shy. It was obvious that his previous actions had made the girl uneasy.
"She's fine. She's talking to sister Xue'er and your cousin." Zhen Qing's beautiful eyes flashed under her slender eyebrows. She came closer, took Jia Heng's hand, and asked with a smile in her beautiful eyes: "Your cousin Do you like you?"
Jia Heng took Zhen Qing's hand and made her sit in his arms, leaning against the beauty's hair, sniffing the fragrance of the hair and asking, "Where did you see this?"
Zhen Qing smiled and said, "When you spoke and when you came back, those eyes were almost fixed on you. The little girl doesn't know how to hide her admiration."
Jia Heng was speechless for a moment. He gently piled a snowman and said softly: "Why don't you? His eyes are like a wolf and a tiger, as if he wants to eat me, and he is not afraid of being seen."
Zhen Qing: "???"
What did this bastard say? Besides, she just likes him, what's wrong?
"She is the daughter of Lin Ruhai, the censor of salt inspection?" Zhen Qing suppressed the shame in her heart, blinked her eyes, and asked instead.
Jia Heng said softly: "She is Uncle Lin's only daughter."
In fact, he didn't want to mention too much about Daiyu to Zhen Qing. He was worried that Zhen Qing would be even more jealous.
A blush gradually appeared on Zhen Qing's beautiful cheeks, and she asked doubtfully: "Then you are still provoking this little girl? Lin Ruhai, the fifth generation prince of the Lin family, was born into a noble family. Can his daughter still be your concubine?"
This is different from her Zhen family. Even if she doesn't want to admit it, her Zhen family is neither a scholarly family nor a princely family.
"I have my own way." Jia Heng whispered, not wanting to continue talking, but moved closer to the beauty's cheek, gently pursed her glossy lips, and after a while, looked at the blushing face that was not covered with makeup. He went up and said in a clear voice: "Qing'er, let's restrain ourselves for a while when we get to Jingli. Fortunately, it was Xi'er who bumped into me today, not someone else."
In fact, he still listened to Chen Xiao's reminder.
Zhen Qing put her arms around Jia Heng's neck, hummed, her beautiful watery eyes looked charming, and asked in a low voice: "Then what should I do if I miss you?"
Jia Heng said: "Bear it." Zhen Qing said: "???"
Jia Heng said: "I don't know why you are so addicted and think about those things all day long."
Zhen Qing spat lightly, her face was as hot as fire, and she said angrily: "It's not you! I wasn't like this before, and it wasn't because of you, a bastard."
She didn't know why. Ever since she met him, she didn't realize it at first, but gradually she realized that he seemed to be poisonous and she wanted to be obsessed with him every day.
Zhen Qing suppressed the strange thoughts in her heart, thought for a while and said, "Now that sister Zhen Xi is in your house, it should be easier for me to find you in the future."
Jia Heng buried his head in the moonlight and said vaguely: "When you get to Beijing, you can't come here every other day, just come once every half month."
"Half a month..." Zhen Qing frowned, her eyes clearly showing dissatisfaction, suddenly
Then he remembered something and asked, "What about sister Xue'er?"
Jia Heng was startled for a moment, but did not answer. At some point, parts of Jinling City that were originally overcast with clouds turned from sunny to light rain.
I'm still a little uncomfortable for a while. Isn't this just trying to cool off? Well, the weather has turned cooler these days. After the autumn rain, the temperature has indeed begun to drop.
Zhen Qing's cheeks were as white as snow and as red as snow, but she sneered and said, "Xinxin is in your house, can she be seen every now and then?"
Jia Heng patted the millstone, held his plump waist, and said warmly: "Xue'er, it's actually hard for her to come here often. When I get to Beijing, I will attract people's attention, so I'd better be careful."
Zhen Qing wanted to say something, but suddenly her beautiful eyebrows frowned, and she let out a snort from her nose. When she looked back, her narrow and clear beautiful eyes were filled with anger, and she bit her lower lip with her teeth, saying: "You... . Now, Xi'er, who looks about 45% like your sister, has followed you, and you are becoming more and more proud. I'm afraid... you won't be able to tell who is who in a trance."
As we get along with each other for a long time, especially when Qingxue stacks up with Arhat, we have come to know some of the man's weird thoughts.
"I told you a long time ago that Xi'er is still young." Jia Heng's heart skipped a beat, and he secretly called "Yao Fei". He looked serious, thought about it, and then asked, "Such a big thing happened here in Jinling." Son, has King Chu sent you a letter from home recently?"
"You bastard, you're carrying him again." When Zhen Qing heard this, her delicate body trembled, and she said angrily, but after a moment, she still replied: "In Beijing...it's not easy for him to come here. I wrote a letter and asked about the situation."
Jia Heng's mind was moved. At this moment, he was also curious about what letters the King of Chu wrote to his princess, and asked: "What did the King of Chu write in the letters home to you? Did he ask about the Zhen family's affairs, or Mention Jiangnan Camp?"
"Do you... still want me to read the letter to you?" Zhen Qingfang said with embarrassment, even though she couldn't guess at first what shameless things this bastard was thinking about, But the subtle changes gradually became clear.
Beads of sweat gradually oozed out on Jia Heng's forehead. The stern gaze under his sword-shaped brows changed sharply, and he said with a strange expression: "I just want to go earlier... to save myself from being bumped into again."
Zhen Qing: "...."
Sure enough! So, calling you Brother Heng like my sister doesn’t satisfy you anymore? Do you want her to read... It's like meeting each other, my beloved concubine has been going south for ten months?
Ah, what is she thinking about? This bastard, she was led into a bad woman by him.
After a while, Zhen Qing frowned and changed the topic, but her greasy voice trembled slightly and asked: "Then... what will I tell my father and second uncle when I go back?"
Jia Heng turned to hug the beauty from the front and said: "Well, let's wait and see if there is any war. Even if the love comes back, your second uncle's small contribution will not change the overall situation, but it is better than nothing."
Hearing this, Zhen Qing hugged Jia Heng's neck tightly with her hands, her heart filled with sweetness, and she said happily: "Zi Yu, I knew you wouldn't be so cruel."
"Are you being cruel if I don't help you?" Jia Heng held the millstone and put it down suddenly.
Zhen Qing quickly hugged Jia Heng's neck and said in a trembling soft voice, "You...you want to die."
Jia Heng calmed down and said, "However, don't have too much hope. No matter how hard your second uncle goes, the most he can do is keep his lineage, and no one else can."
Zhen Qing's delicate body trembled slightly, her jade cheeks and beautiful neck were filled with rose-red halo, her pink lips seemed to be unopened, and she said in a trembling voice: "Yes."
Jia Heng's voice turned a little more urgent, and he frowned and said, "Stop talking, hurry up, don't let anyone bump into you again." Xiaoxiao's warning was still useful.
Zhen Qing's beautiful, moist eyes were tightly closed, her lips pursed, and she allowed Jia Heng to press on and entangle her. ...
...
