Guangdong, Panyu
Listening to Jia Heng's question, the chubby face of Guangdong General Wu Tao's expression kept changing, and he looked at the scribe aside with an unkind look.
At this time, Xue Baoqin's face as white as snow showed excitement, his bright eyes flashed, and he agreed: "This gentleman is right, they are just taking the opportunity to extort money."
What this person said is so right, people like the Guangdong Navy Navy did this intentionally.
Jia Heng looked at Xue Baoqin with gentle eyes, nodded, and asked, "Are you from the Xue family in Jinling?"
The Xue Baoqin in front of her does not have the facial features of a Western beauty, but her facial features are vaguely similar to Baochai's. She is wearing a bright red dress, of medium height, with delicate and picturesque eyebrows, especially her cheeks are almost pink.
Hearing the words "Jinling Xue Family", Xue Baoqin's heart was shocked. He stared at it with surprise in his moist apricot eyes and asked, "How does this lord know?"
At this moment, Wu Tao also understood. The Xue family where the girl in front of him seemed to be an in-law of the Jia family?
Damn it, the Wu family also has an old relationship with the Jia family. Isn’t this the same family? If we had known it was the Xue family's ship, why would we have it impounded?
A smile appeared on Wu Tao's chubby face and he said: "Uncle Yong Ning, look at it, this is really a flood that has washed away the Dragon King Temple, and the whole family no longer knows each other."
As he said that, he looked at the scribe on the side, his face turned gloomy, and said: "Why don't you return Miss Xue's ship and goods as soon as possible and apologize to her?"
The clerk responded repeatedly as if he had been granted amnesty, and then apologized to Xue Baoqin.
Wu Tao put a smile on his face, looked at Xue Baoqin, and said, "This is Uncle Yongning, the patriarch of the Jia family. I wonder which house of the Xue family in Jinling you belong to?"
At this time, Xue Baoqin also understood what several people were saying, and was surprised. He turned to look at Jia Heng and asked, "Are you Uncle Yong Ning?"
Along the way, she heard her father mention many times that the Jia clan had recently produced an extraordinary brother. He was awarded the title of earl due to his military achievements and was also the Minister of Military and Aircraft of the current dynasty. She originally thought that she would not see him until she arrived in Shenjing, but she didn't want to see him now. We arrived in Guangdong and just met.
Xue Baoqin couldn't help but look at the young man opposite him. He saw that he was tall and tall, with a handsome face. He was dressed in a vermilion python suit and wore a mountain-shaped wingless crown. His eyes were like a hidden divine light, and he was holding a hand on his waist. A sword.
Jia Heng's expression became gentler, and he smiled and asked, "Sister Xue family, where is your father now?"
Xue Baoqin's father's name was Xue Jun. Because the Xue family was an imperial merchant, Xue Jun traveled to various countries in Southeast Asia to collect rare treasures so that he could pass through the Ministry of Internal Affairs. As a merchant, he traveled all over the country to do business.
According to the original records, Xue Baoqin followed Xue's father to many countries and gained more knowledge. Xue Xiaomei wrote ten poems about nostalgia for the past.
Jia Heng looked at the girl whose facial features resembled Baochai's, with green feathers and thin eyebrows, moist apricot eyes, and pink cheeks.
I secretly said that there was indeed a problem with the casting of the 1987 version of Dream of Red Mansions in the previous life, or there was a deviation in the understanding of Bao Qin, the original character.
Even considering Baochai's face, Mingyue shouldn't have been given that kind of Western makeup. Unless Xue's father married a Western woman, what happened to Xue Biao?
"Father, he is staying at the inn in the county town. Because the boat was impounded by these officials, the housekeeper and I came over to take a look." Xue Baoqin's eyes showed joy and he said softly: "Are you Brother Heng? Father has often mentioned Brother Heng recently."
Jia Heng smiled slightly and said, "Sister Xue, I'll go visit Uncle Xue later."
At this moment, seeing Jia Heng talking to the little girl of the Xue family, Wu Tao took over the conversation and said: "The second master of the Xue family is also in Panyu City. My niece wrote a letter like this before, or sent someone to my house to say, I'm done. This kind of thing will never happen again. The flood really washed away the Dragon King Temple, and the whole family no longer recognized each other as one family."
At this time, the clerk ran over panting and said: "Sir, the ships and cargo have been spared."
Wu Tao ignored the scribe, but looked at Xue Baoqin and said with a smile: "If there is any damage or loss, just tell me and let them double the compensation."
Jia Heng looked at Wu Tao and thought to himself, this Wu Tao really knows how to get things done, or in other words, in the original work, the Wu family pleases the Jia family in this way.
Jia Heng suppressed his thoughts, looked at Xue Baoqin, and said, "Sister Xue, I have something to do here, so I can't accompany you to pick up the boat. If you have any questions, send someone to find me."
Xue Baoqin saw a smile on his face and said hurriedly: "Brother Heng, you go and get busy first. I will come to see Brother Heng after I collect the ship and cargo."
Jia Heng turned to look at Chen Xiao, who was aside, and said, "Xiao Qianhu, accompany her to collect the ship and cargo. Go to the posthouse to rest first."
Chen Xiao nodded, cupped his hands, said nothing else, and then went to look for Xue Baoqin. Jia Heng's face was silent and speechless for a moment.
Wu Tao accompanied him with a smile and said, "Uncle Yong Ning, this is really a misunderstanding, but it's a coincidence that we met the old Xue family."
Jia Heng pondered for a moment and said: "Whether it is a misunderstanding or a coincidence, General Wu, the Guangdong Navy should not extort merchants like this. If it falls in the eyes of Nanyang foreign countries, it will also damage the national character of our great Han Dynasty and the saintliness of the emperor. This will not happen again." "
When Wu Tao heard this, he breathed a sigh of relief and said quickly: "Yes, yes, I will keep this in mind."
Jia Heng glanced at the sky and said, "Let's go have lunch together. It's getting dark by now."
He didn't pursue him too hard. After having lunch with Wu Tao, Jia Heng led his retinue to the post house, preparing to inspect the Guangdong Navy in the afternoon.
And in the post house--
Xue Baoqin and his brother Xue Biao were talking after lunch.
It turned out that Xue Biao, who was going to the drug store to grab medicine, heard the servant mention that his sister Bao Qin and the steward Ning Bo were going to the anti-smuggling officer's office of the Guangdong Navy. Worried about something happening, he quickly led people to look for Bao Qin. He didn't want to meet Jin Yi on the way. My sister who was escorted by the palace guards.
The brother and sister met, briefly recounted what happened, and then followed Chen Xiao to the post house.
Xue Biao was a gentle and elegant young man, fourteen years old, with a handsome face and a simple blue shirt. He was still talking about his sister in a low voice, and said in a low voice: "Why is my sister so arrogant and arguing with those officials? She was framed by the gangsters. It will be even more troublesome if he is imprisoned for the crime."
Xue Baoqin didn't care on his face, and said softly: "Brother, the sky is clear and the sun is bright. They don't dare to mess around. Besides, if I don't go, I won't meet Brother Heng in the Guangdong Sea."
Xue Biao sighed softly and said: "I can't help you. In short, you can't be so reckless next time."
My sister has always had her own opinions. Sometimes her father would even ask her for her opinion, but he couldn't persuade her.
Chen Xiao was sitting aside, sipping tea, flipping through a book of information in his hands, and listening to the conversation between the Xue brothers and sisters.
This pair of Xue brothers and sisters are much smarter than the pair in Beijing. Xue Biao said: "When you saw Brother Heng, what did Brother Heng say?"
Baoqin put down the tea cup and said softly: "Brother Heng had a few words with the Guangdong general. He also said that the imperial court had always said that passenger ships would be banned and the goods would be seized. It didn't take long for the ships to be released."
"This is Brother Heng. I don't think he can talk to him so well." Xue Biao whispered. Bao Qin nodded, and couldn't help but think of the young man in python suit just now. Brother Heng didn't seem much older than her, right?
At this moment, the uniformed servant under the eaves of the corridor said loudly: "The governor is here."
The two brothers and sisters who were waiting anxiously in the house were perked up after hearing this, and they quickly stood up and headed out of the courtyard to greet him.
In the courtyard, a young man in python clothing, accompanied by a group of royal guards, walked down the steps of the second door and followed the path paved with green bricks to the courtyard.
Xue Biao immediately walked a few steps quickly, bowed his hands towards Jia Heng, and said with a respectful expression, "Xue Biao has met my brother."
"Brother, you're back." Xue Baoqin also came forward to salute, but compared to Xue Biao, this girl with fair complexion and moist apricot eyes spoke in a more friendly and natural tone, curiously looking at the python suit opposite her. juvenile.
Jia Heng first cast his eyes on Xue Biao, and in Baoyu's words, "He looks like sister Bao's biological brother.
At first glance, he is indeed elegant and has pretty features.
He was wearing a slightly thin blue shirt, and his hair was fixed with a wooden hairpin. He had a handsome appearance and a temperament as gentle as jade.
Jia Heng quickly reached out to support him and said with a smile: "No need to be too polite. When I was in Beijing, my aunt often mentioned that there is a nephew in the family who likes to read and is polite to others. I can see it today."
Counting from Baochai's side, Xue Biao can also be regarded as his brother-in-law. If he can be trained, he may be taken as his own.
As he ascended to a high position, the problems of his shallow foundation and few manpower were also exposed, and the young children of the Xue family could be cultivated as long as they were useful.
Under Xue Baoqin's curved eyebrows, her watery starry eyes looked at the boy in the python suit with sparkling eyes.
Seeing that the high-ranking "cousin" opposite had an enthusiastic attitude and no airs of profanity, Xue Biao's nervousness was relieved a lot, and he said humbly: "I don't dare to praise my brother. I don't know, my aunt is in Beijing with her brother and sister." How are you?"
The Xue family of three arrived in Beijing in their middle years, and the letter had been circulated to Xue Yun of Southern Province even earlier. Jia Heng smiled and said, "Everything is fine."
It's hard to say that Xue Pan is already in prison, but it's actually okay to be in prison now.
Jia Heng said: "Okay, let's go into the room and tell me. Sister Baoqin told me what happened just now." After that, he and his brother and sister sat down in the flower hall.
Under Xue Baoqin's slender eyebrows, her apricot eyes blinked, and a suspicion surged in her heart.
no? It seems that she didn't tell Brother Heng her maiden name just now? Could it be that the aunt in Jingli told Brother Heng?
The two parties were seated separately.
Xue Biao sighed and said: "I have walked this route in the past, but I didn't expect to encounter something like this. My father even fell ill because of it."
Hearing this, Jia Heng put down the tea cup and asked with concern: "Have you ever invited a doctor? Is it urgent or not?"
Xue Biao said: "Brother, thank you for your trouble. I have asked the doctor to take a look. He said that it was a sudden attack of anger and there is nothing serious about it. I just took a few medicines."
"That's good." Jia Heng said softly and asked, "What's going on?"
"The ship was detained by the officers and soldiers, and all the cargo on the ship was confiscated. Many passengers traveling with me have been talking about this in the past few days. My father rented a ship from a local friend. He originally came to redeem the ship with some money, but he didn't want me to While she was on her way to get medicine from Zhaofang, she went straight to the Guangdong Navy Marine Corps' official office at the port." Xue Biao explained.
Jia Heng glanced at the girl with fair complexion and radiant spirit, and secretly said "Hu Niu", pondered for a moment, and said with relief: "The Guangdong Navy just said that the ships and cargo will be released, and nothing will happen."
Xue Biaomu said with gratitude: "Thanks to my brother. If my sister had not met my brother, I really don't know how much effort it would have taken."
"General Wu Tao of the Guangdong Sea was once a general in the Rongguo Mansion and had a close relationship with our family. My uncle wrote a letter like this before, or visited him with a famous assassination. I thought he would not be disrespectful." Jia Heng chuckled. After pausing, he looked at Baoqin and said, "My sister is so brave. She led her family to ask for the boat."
Of course, this kind of relationship between people and people has some twists and turns, and the brother and sister may not be able to think of it in their eagerness.
After Jia Heng said this, a faint blush appeared on Xue Baoqin's white cheeks. He was obviously a little embarrassed and said: "Father, he suddenly fell ill, and we were so angry that we didn't think so much."
Jia Heng nodded and said with a smile: "Forget it this time. Sister Baoqin should not be so reckless next time. People in the government are used to being arrogant and sometimes difficult to deal with."
The first impression this Baoqin gave him was that of a tiger. Maybe it was because he followed Xue's father to travel all over the country and interacted with many people, and gradually developed a cheerful and fearless temperament.
Hearing this, Xue Baoqin became even more shy, lowered his head, and whispered: "Brother Heng, my brother was still talking about me just now. It's all thanks to Brother Heng this time."
Jia Heng's eyes were warm, he changed the topic and asked: "You brothers and sisters, take me over to see my uncle."
Xue's father fell ill here. As the head of the Jia family of his in-laws, he had to ignore it and went to visit him no matter what, in order to comply with the etiquette between relatives.
"Brother, come with me." Xue Biao said softly with gratitude in his eyes.
While talking, Jia Heng, accompanied by Xue Biao and Xue Baoqin, led the Jinyi Palace Guards to an inn called "Tianya" in Panyu County.
Not long after the trip, a large group of people came to the inn. The innkeeper was fiddling with his abacus behind the counter. I heard that the waiter was in a panic and said that the official in uniform was coming.
The shopkeeper looked at the group of handsome and angry guards who came in. His face turned pale with fright, and he thought he had committed something. He said in a trembling voice: "Several adults, they are responsible for running a small shop, and they have never been a daughter-in-law." It's a crime, I don't know..."
Jia Heng's voice was gentle and he said comfortingly: "There is no need to panic, shopkeeper. I am just here to find a friend and have no official duties."
With that said, he waved his hand and asked Li Shu of Jinyi Hundred Households to lead a dozen or so Jinyi guards to guard the outside. At this time, Xue Biao quickly stepped forward to explain the situation to the shopkeeper, and the shopkeeper nodded doubtfully.
On the second floor of the inn, in the wing room, there is a bed with a mosquito net hanging by the window.
Father Xue is lying on the bed with pillows and quilts. This middle-aged man, who is over forty years old, has a fair complexion and elegant demeanor. However, he has a sick look on his face and frowns at the moment. He is worried about going to Panyu Weigang. My own daughter.
Suddenly, he heard the commotion below and was about to order his servants to check the situation. The servant had entered the wing and said, "Master, there are many guards in royal robes outside."
Xue's father's expression suddenly changed, and he said in shock: "How come Jin Yi Tiqi is still involved in this?"
He was just carrying some goods with him, so how could it be worthwhile for the Jinyi Mansion guards to come and arrest them? After calming down, the Xue family is an imperial merchant. As long as they go to Southeast Asia to purchase rare treasures for the palace, it shouldn't be a big problem.
No one expected that they would meet relatives of the Jia family in Guangdong, thousands of miles away. The servant said: "Sir, that Jinyi Tiqi seems to be a friend of the young master and the young lady."
When Father Xue heard this, his face was stunned for a moment, and then a bright light flashed through his heart.
Not long after, he saw an upright and calm-looking young man in a python suit entering the wing. Father Xue quickly raised his body with one hand, got off the bed, looked at the young man in a python suit opposite, and tentatively called: "Uncle Yongning. ?”
Jia Heng hurriedly stepped forward to help him and said with a smile: "Uncle, my family doesn't need to be so polite. If you don't want to abandon me, just call me Ziyu."
Xue's father secretly thought that indeed, he couldn't help but look at the young man opposite, and his eyes fell on the faces of Xue Biao and Bao Qin beside him.
Xue Baoqin looked at his father with a worried expression and explained: "Dad, Uncle Ning and I went to Wei Harbor to ask for a ship. We happened to meet Brother Heng. The ship and the goods were already coming back."
Father Xue's face paused slightly, and he couldn't help but smile bitterly in his heart. He said reproachfully: "You, you are not afraid of encountering any danger. Fortunately, I met your brother Heng, so nothing happened."
Xue Baoqin's cheeks turned red with embarrassment, she stuck out her tongue and said softly, "Brother Cai said the same thing just now."
Jia Heng listened quietly to the conversation between father and daughter and asked with concern: "Uncle, where are you coming from? Are you going back to the ancestral home in Jinling?"
"Coming from Zhenzhen Kingdom, I plan to go to Jinling first and then to Shenjing. I want to bring some Western things to send to the old lady in Beijing and Ziyu's house." Father Xue invited Jia Heng sat down and whispered softly, finally sighing and saying: "I don't want to encounter such a thing."
As he spoke, he sighed.
Jia Heng comforted him and said, "Uncle, the ships and goods have been retrieved. There was no order to be followed to seize the goods on the other side of the Guangdong Sea."
Father Xue nodded, thanked Jia Heng again, and then asked curiously: "Why did Ziyu come to Guangdong if he is not in Beijing?"
Jia Heng was the Yong Ning Bo and the leading military minister. Rumors had already reached Jinling, and Xue's father also heard Jia Heng's name mentioned in letters from the Xue family and friends in Beijing.
Jia Heng said warmly: "I came over to the Guangdong Sea on business and went to Panyu to inspect the ships. I didn't want to run into Sister Baoqin all of a sudden."
Father Xue smiled and said with emotion: "That's really a coincidence."
I secretly sighed at my daughter's good luck. If she hadn't met this important court official from my in-laws' family in Beijing, I'm afraid the ship would have been impounded, which wouldn't have been easy to solve.
Jia Heng looked at Father Xue, who looked a little weak, and asked with concern: "Uncle, what did the doctor say just now?"
Xue's father said, "The doctor said that he was overworked and had a burning heart attack. He just took a couple of medicines to nurse him back to health. I have been traveling all year round, and headaches and brain fever are common. These are not big things."
Jia Heng nodded and said, "If anything happens to my uncle, you can send brother Xue Biao to tell me that there should be no outsiders among relatives."
Father Xue nodded heavily, with gratitude in his eyes, and said, "Then there's Lao Ziyu."
In the past letters, whenever the uncle Yongning was mentioned, he was said to be one of the best young men of the Jia clan in recent years. He was very similar to Ning and Rong. When he saw him today, he was indeed as magnanimous as he was.
Jia Heng sat and talked and said with a smile: "It's getting late, uncle, take good care of yourself. I have official duties to deal with later. I've left a few guards in royal robes here. If anything happens, uncle, I can Speak to them."
"Ziyu is going to be busy with official duties." Father Xue said quickly after hearing this.
Jia Heng nodded, then stood up and headed outside. When he left the inn, it was already afternoon.
At this moment, a horseman came from the end of the street. A captain in brocade clothes got off the saddle and said with cupped hands: "Captain, Haojing's Bugalu sent an envoy to ask to see the governor."
Carlos, the Bugal Road envoy, originally planned to go to Guangzhou to visit Jia Heng, but after arriving in Panyu, he was overjoyed when he heard that Jia Heng was inspecting officers and soldiers in the Guangdong Navy, so he diverted to Panyu.
Jia Heng looked silent and said in a deep voice: "Let him go to the post house. I will meet him there." Upon hearing this, the captain in Jinyi bowed his hands.
At this time, Bao Qin who came to see him asked, "Brother Heng, why did the governor of Haojing Fo Langji come to see Brother Heng?"
The girl had obviously heard the name of Governor Haojing Bujialu, and even knew Governor Haojing's family members before. She was surprised when she heard Jin Yi's report.
Xue Biao frowned and said, "Sister."
As he said that, he looked at Jia Heng apologetically and said, "Brother, my sister is reckless and rude, please forgive me."
Jia Heng smiled and said: "Sister Baoqin is innocent and outspoken. It doesn't matter. Besides, they are all relatives."
Baoqin also looked apologetic and explained: "Brother Heng, I have met the governor's wife and young daughter Nona. I just heard the name, and I was so emotional for the moment. I hope Brother Heng can forgive me."
Jia Heng's eyes were fixed, but his heart moved slightly, and he smiled and said, "How does my sister know Bugalu's wife and daughter?"
Xue Baoqin said softly: "In the past, when my father was doing business in Haojing, I met Mrs. Hailey and Nona by chance. I even went to their home as a guest."
Xue Biao was a little surprised when he heard what his sister was saying, and asked: "Sister, when did this happen?"
Why didn't he know?
Xue Baoqin said with a smile on his face: "It was the summer before last. My brother went to help his father transport goods. In Uncle An's shop, he met Ao Du's wife and daughter. They went shopping and the guards called out. Later, I chatted with Nona for a few words, and then met a few more times and became good friends. Later, I went to her house twice."
The Uncle An whom Xue Baoqin refers to is also a Portuguese, called Andrew. He once formed a friendship with Xue's father when they were doing business in Siam. Some of the goods carried by the Xue family into Haojing for sale were all handed over to Andrew. Sold to the Portuguese.
Jia Heng stared at Xue Baoqin and said with a smile: "I don't want my sister to recognize Bugalu's wife and daughter."
"Brother Heng, why don't you take me to have a look?" Under Xue Baoqin's curved eyebrows, her moist apricot eyes blinked. Because she was worried that Jia Heng would not agree, she quickly explained: "Brother Heng , I know some of their languages and can translate for Brother Heng."
Jia Heng looked at the girl with fair complexion and plump face, and joked: "Sister, I have to translate it later. If the translation is wrong, it may cause diplomatic disputes."
The Portuguese do not speak English, but speak Portuguese. Of course, the Portuguese nobles and officials must be proficient in English, but when signing leases and memorandums, most of them are in two languages, Chinese and Portuguese.
As for Xue Baoqin, he has a really down-to-earth and generous temperament and is not timid. But if he is really familiar with the family members of Aodubugalu, maybe it can also play a role in easing the tension?
Seeing that Jia Heng's face was silent and his eyes were thoughtful, Xue Biao said: "Brother Heng, my sister is young and doesn't know what's important. She doesn't know much Yi language."
What we are talking about these days is all the country’s diplomatic affairs. How can my sister get involved? Xue Baoqin said charmingly: "Brother, don't underestimate people, I can speak several barbarian dialects?"
Jia Heng smiled at Xue Biao and said warmly: "Sister Baoqin can indeed help me a little. Let me talk to your father when I get back."
Chen Xiao glanced at Xue Baoqin and then at the boy in the python suit, thinking non-stop in his mind. Jia Heng said this, and returned to the second floor of the inn with Xue Biao and Bao Qin, planning to talk to Xue's father.
At this time, Xue's father had just drank the boiled herbal medicine and was leaning on the pillow. He was obviously much more energetic, mainly because he had asked for all the cargo, and his heart felt heavy.
He was holding a copy of the travel notes of his predecessors in his hand and looking at it. Suddenly he saw Jia Heng and his two children who had left and returned. He looked surprised and said, "Zi Yu didn't go to deal with official business, why?"
Jia Heng simply explained the reason and said: "My uncle will be raised here for a while. Why not let brothers Xue Biao and Bao Qin stay by my side to help me with some business matters. If my uncle is not in a hurry, When the matter here is over, we can return to Jinling together."
He probably won't be able to stay here for long, and Xue's father may be able to help him with the purchase of firearms.
Xue's father was so surprised that he turned to his daughter and asked doubtfully: "Ziyu is busy with official duties, can the two of them still help you?"
Jia Heng smiled and explained: "I have to deal with the Hongyi people in Haojing during this period. I heard that sister Baoqin speaks some Hongyi language, and it seems that my uncle also knows a lot about the Hongyi people in Haojing?"
When Xue's father heard this, he suddenly felt enlightened and smiled and said: "I did some business there in the past few years and I know a lot about it. Ziyu also knows that the Guangdong government sometimes sends officers and soldiers to restrict sea restrictions, but Tao'er and Baoqin can help Ziyu." Yu, you might as well follow Zi Yu first."
Jia Heng nodded, turned to look at Xue Baoqin, smiled and said: "Then there will be sister Lao Baoqin later."
Xue Baoqin's voice was delicate and charming, and she was filled with joy. She chuckled and said, "Brother Heng, don't worry."
After the matter was settled, Jia Heng left the Tianya Inn without spending much time, and went to the posthouse with Xue Baoqin under the retinue of Jinyi Mansion Guards.
