Just as Jia Heng led the fleet to the south of the Yangtze River, the news that Gao Zhongping went to Yangzhou late at night to meet Jia Heng gradually spread to the ears of the gentry in the south of the Yangtze River.
In the evening, in the hall of Zijin Mountain, Du's house
Du Wan, the old man of the Du family, put down the paper ball in his hand, looked at his third son Du Cun aside, and said in a clear voice: "Bojun's letter, Gao Zhongping went to Yangzhou overnight to meet the Duke of Wei."
Du Cun said: "Father, once these two people join forces, it will be more difficult to deal with them."
Du Wan nodded and said: "Our family has been in this family for several generations. Yesterday, those people pointed at our family to fight against God's will.
"What does father mean?" Du Cun frowned and asked softly.
Du Wandao: "Observe the reaction of the imperial court earlier. If Shenjing insists on implementing the New Deal, it will not be able to stop the general trend, and it will be used as a raft again."
Du Cun said: "What my father said is true. If the imperial court insists on implementing the New Deal, we cannot go against the general trend. But why did my father agree to those families yesterday?"
Du Wandao: "Some things cannot go against public opinion. Since the Taizong Dynasty, our family has been in the family for decades. In your brothers' generation, there are no children who have become generals or prime ministers, unlike some generals in Jiangnan. "
Du Cun said: "What father said is true."
"But now we still have to look at the direction of the wind. If you are wise, you must push the envelope and take a look at the methods of Duke Wei." Du Wan said in a low voice with a flash of light in his old eyes.
Jinling
It is raining at dusk, the clouds are overcast, and sparse raindrops are falling one after another. After the rain, the willow trees by the ferry are full of green leaves, and the emerald jade is full of smoke.
A two-story ship was sailing on the river. Jia Heng stood on the deck of the flag ship, looking at the Jinling City in the distance. The Chinese flags on the city wall with blue bricks and black tiles were buzzing, which made it look more desolate.
Chen Xiao, who was beside him, held an umbrella and whispered: "We are finally here." Jia Heng whispered: "Yeah, what happened in the Six Dynasties is just a private plan." Chen Xiao glanced at the young man with his clear eyes after hearing this. , I don’t know why, but I always felt that the young man just now seemed to have a kind of sincerity that traveled through time and space.
Jia Heng said in a low voice: "Xiaoxiao, if this new deal can be successful, it can extend the country's rule for another hundred years for the Han Dynasty."
Chen Xiao's eyes flashed, if you can recognize your ancestor and return to your clan, how can it last for a hundred years?
As one ship after another put down cables, a large number of Jinyi guards began to quickly get off the ship and establish control around the ferry.
Officials from the Sixth Ministry of Nanjing and the Metropolitan Procuratorate, as well as the generals from the Jiangnan camp, held umbrellas in the distance and came out of the city to greet them in large numbers.
Because Jia Heng was the imperial envoy who patrolled the sky and was also responsible for supervising the New Deal, even if the Six Ministries of Nanjing and some senior officials had other ideas, they had to go out of the city to welcome him at this moment.
Besides, I also need to meet Jia Heng in person to find out the tone of Duke Wei.
Jia Heng slowly got off the boat and, surrounded by a large number of Jinyi palace guards, quickly walked towards the welcoming crowd.
The civil servant present was headed by Yuan Tu, Minister of Rites of Nanjing, who also had the identity of being the teacher of King Chen Qin of Chu. The military generals were headed by Annan Hou Ye Zhen, as well as military generals from the Jiangnan camp.
The two sides met and greeted each other.
A smile appeared on the heroic face of Annan Marquis Ye Zhen, with eagerness in his eyes. He cupped his hands and said, "Dong Wei, long time no see."
When he left Jiangnan last year, the young man in front of him was only the Duke of Wu. Who would have thought that in just a few months he would become a third-class Duke of the Han Dynasty, and he would be so powerful among the barbarians.
All the worries about the war in northern Xinjiang at the beginning now seem to be unfounded.
Yuan Tu looked at the young man in the python suit with a smile, and said in greeting: "Wei Guogong has been working hard on the saddle and horse all the way."
At this moment, Jia Heng raised his hands and said, "Jia has met Mr. Yuan and all of you."
Even though he is a prince and a new noble, many of them are old ministers of the Longzhi Dynasty. They are old and should be more considerate in their etiquette.
Yuan Tu said loudly: "I am in the south of the Yangtze River. I heard that Duke Wei led the king's army to defeat the barbarians in the northern frontier. I was so happy that it was hard to express."
Shen Fang, who was demoted by the Governor of Liangjiang to the Minister of Household Affairs, frowned slightly and his eyes flashed coldly. He looked at the young man in the python suit and sneered in his heart.
Even if the New Deal can be successful, Duke Wei will still offend the officials and gentry in Jiangnan behind him.
Which of them doesn't have children who buy property and farm in the south of the Yangtze River? Thousands of hectares of fertile land and crisscrossed streets?
At this moment, in addition to Shen Fang, the surrounding officials in Jinling also include Tan Jie, the Minister of the Ministry of Hubu, Dong Chongxue, the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, Wu Hefei and Ying Yuanlu, the ministers of the Ministry of Personnel, Kuang Chun, the censor of Youdu of the Nanjing Metropolitan Procuratorate, Yan Mao, the Minister of the Ministry of Industry, and Yan Mao, the Minister of the Ministry of War. A group of senior officials such as Shangshu Xie Yue all looked at the young man. Some of them were seeing Jia Heng for the first time, while others were seeing him for the first time.
In fact, in addition to the Ministry of Household Affairs and the Ministry of War, which are still in charge of some affairs, most of the officials in the Six Ministries of Nanjing are retired and idle, and many of them are former ministers of the Longzhi Dynasty.
It can be said that this is a very large bureaucratic class, and it is simply impossible for the New Deal to bypass these people.
Once a bloody conflict breaks out in the local area, they will definitely make a big fuss and criticize the New Deal as bad governance.
Now, Jia Heng, who is the emperor's son-in-law, goes directly to put pressure on these people, using coercion and inducement to minimize the damage caused by the implementation of the New Deal.
Because...they are all shameless people!
When it comes to life-and-death battles, the most you can do is complain, argue, and cheat. The cabinet ministers in Shenjing and even the emperor may issue orders to reprimand, affecting the career of your own children.
Are you sure you want to pay extra taxes every year to affect your children's career?
Since we all have weak points, we can't smash bottles and cans. Cut off five cities today and ten cities tomorrow.
Just like a certain group of people who bought unfinished buildings, they can only swallow their anger and cannot even speak out through various channels like ordinary people.
Du Wan, the head of the Du family, did not come, but his son Du You led a few followers among a group of high-ranking gentry, looking at the young man who was talking and laughing happily.
Jia Heng had already finished greeting Yuan Tu and others, and everyone was heading towards Jinling City in a mighty manner. The wind and rain were falling in the sky.
The ships behind them were arranged by carriages and headed for Ningguo Mansion in Jinling City.
In the restaurant--
Nanjing officials gathered around tables and sat down, most of them secretly looking at the young man and observing secretly.
Yuan Tu said: "Last year, the Jurchen captive king stirred up pirates and caused chaos in the south of the Yangtze River. It was thanks to the Duke of Wei that he could turn the tide, otherwise there would have been a catastrophe in Jinling. And the Duke of Wei went to the north to meet the enemy of the Eastern captives. At that time, I went with him. Mr. Yan said that when Duke Wei went there, he would definitely succeed immediately and shock the desert. Sure enough, after Duke Wei went to northern Xinjiang, he won a great victory, captured the chieftain and returned, and presented his victory at the Ancestral Temple. We, the old ministers of Longzhi, "Everyone who heard it would wet their clothes with tears and cried with joy."
Jia Heng said: "Mr. Yuan is overly praised."
At this time, everyone was also complimenting him one after another. Most of them were compliments such as "Young Junyan" and "Guo Qiancheng".
No one here mentioned a word about the New Deal, but more focused on observing the attitude of the young man in the python suit.
Until Dong Chongxue, the Minister of Civil Affairs in Nanjing, said in a low voice: "The four new policies proposed by Duke Wei are so high-level that we, the old officials, have all admired them after hearing about them."
As soon as these words came out, everyone looked at the young man in the python suit, wanting to hear what he would say.
Jia Heng pondered for a moment and said: "One whip, returning fire to the public and other new policies are good governance that understands the suffering of people's livelihood and alleviates disasters. However, such a shocking thing happened in Changzhou, Jiangsu. The Holy Spirit was very angry when he heard about it, and he didn't realize it." Ordinary people, who are deeply favored by the country, use it to criticize the New Deal for their own selfish interests!"
Everyone present felt awe-struck when they heard the young man's harsh words.
In fact, the people present were all high-ranking officials from Nanjing City, and the officials from the Department of Science and Technology were not qualified to come and join in the fun. However, there were also one or two officials who had gone to court to criticize the New Deal, but their faces were a little ugly.
Jia Heng said: "You are all wise men. You should know the benefits of the four new policies to our Han Dynasty. Since they are good laws and good policies, why did such a thing happen in Changzhou Prefecture?"
There was total silence among the officials present.
Jia Heng looked at Yuan Tu who was standing aside and said, "Mr. Yuan is a well-educated man. What do you think of a method of whipping and sharing the land?"
Yuan Tu was stared at by the young man and said: "One whip is a good law sincerely, but it should not be done too hastily, especially when it comes to clearing the land. Local provinces, prefectures and counties have fish scale books, and they should be used as standards." The law can still be tried.”
Jia Heng smiled and said: "The population is reported every five years, and the fish scale register is reported every ten years. Since I came to the throne today, the fish scale register has not been revised for sixteen years, and the population has not been censused for ten years. The strong people in the south of the Yangtze River are Yin. , it is definitely necessary to check it out before we can prepare for future policy implementation.”
At this time, Tan Jie, the Secretary of the Ministry of Household Affairs, said: "What Duke Wei Guo said was true, the land was cleared, but the local officials were eager to make meritorious deeds and resorted to violent methods, which led to this incident. This shows that the New Deal needs to be implemented slowly."
Jia Heng looked at Tan Jie and said: "What is the truth of the case in Changzhou Prefecture? Jinyi Prefecture will send people to investigate and verify it. No matter what, the blood of the magistrate of Wujin County in Changzhou Prefecture cannot be in vain. Our imperial official of the Han Dynasty, two Jinshis, were buried alive." Until death, where do you put the dignity of a great man and all the senior officials in the imperial examination room?"
When you open your mouth, you must be respectful of the country. When you open your mouth, you are righteous. Stand on the moral high ground and wield the moral stick.
Some officials also claimed that it was true and expressed their indignation.
Jia Heng observed the expressions of the officials present and kept some of their expressions in mind for later questioning.
After gathering his thoughts, he said: "Let's not mention the New Deal. Today is a banquet to welcome the wind and wash away the dust. Let's have a drink together. Jinling has outstanding people. You are all famous ministers of the previous dynasty. Jia also has a lot to ask for."
Even though it was the height of summer during a welcoming banquet, the officials in Jiangnan felt a chill to their bones. The Duke of Wei was indeed well prepared.
After the banquet was over and everyone dispersed, the news about Jia Heng's harsh attitude towards the implementation of the New Deal gradually spread to the entire Jiangnan Shilin officialdom through the officials of the Six Ministries in Nanjing.
That is, the new policies such as the one-step whipping method and the sharing of land between farmers and farmers are imperative and cannot be changed.
Jia Heng, accompanied by the guards of Jinyi Mansion, rode back to Ningguo Mansion.
At this moment, the Ningguo Mansion is brightly lit, as bright as day. Various lanterns are hung in the winding corridors in the courtyard, making a mute sound in the summer wind.
Stepping into the backyard, I saw Sister Feng and Ping'er directing the maids to be busy. The young woman Hua Xin was wearing a pomegranate red dress, her green silk hair was tied up in a beautiful bun, her golden hairpin was shining with light and shadow, and her emerald earrings were dripping green on her earlobes. Exquisite and graceful, when walking, the bee-waisted peach dolphin is plump and elegant.
Sister Feng was overjoyed to see the young man in the python suit. With a smile on her gorgeous face, she said, "Brother Heng, are you back?"
Jia Heng nodded slightly and asked, "Did Sister Lin and Sister Xue both have dinner and rest in the courtyard?"
Sister Feng smiled and said: "I have tidied up the courtyard in the backyard and have already settled in. Fortunately, our house has a large yard and many houses, so we can still accommodate it."
As soon as he came back, he asked them about the young girls. He didn't ask her if she had eaten. She has been busy for a long time.
Jia Heng looked at Wen Wen and said, "Thank you for your hard work, Sister-in-law Feng." I'll reward Sister Feng well later.
When Sister Feng heard this, a hint of resentment in her heart dissipated. Under her eyebrows, Danfeng blinked and asked. "Brother Heng is going to meet the officials in Jinling?"
Jia Heng said: "Let's go and have a chat."
Sister Feng looked at the drunken blush on the young man's face, and felt a little pity in her heart. She said in a charming voice: "Brother Heng, please drink less. Drinking is harmful to your health."
Jia Heng said: "I didn't drink a few drinks. It's just that my face looked a little red because of the alcohol."
Sister Feng's flirtatious gaze made her regard him more and more as her own man.
How to put it, although he thinks that his relationship with Sister Feng is still just a bed partner, Sister Feng doesn't seem to think so, or maybe it's because over time, Sister Feng's relationship has become more dependent.
As for love, there should be no such thing. In the past, he was not very interested in Sister Feng.
Sister Feng now picked up a tea cup and poured a cup for Jia Heng. She opened her pink lips slightly and said with a charming smile: "I'm watching over here, brother Heng, don't worry."
Jia Heng took the tea cup and took a sip.
At this moment, Sister Feng looked at the young man with her beautiful eyes full of water. The young man's face had clear lines and sculpted features, and he had a heroic temperament.
From the time when she was in Willow Alley, how could she have imagined that one day, this enemy would bully her so cruelly?
Although it only happened a few times, it seemed like I was happier than I had been in many years.
Sister Feng thought, and secretly spat at herself. A light blush appeared on the cheeks of her gorgeous oval face, and Danfeng saw a bit of shame in her eyes.
Jia Heng put down the tea cup, raised his eyes, and suddenly met those charming and flowing eyes, and his heart skipped a beat.
She secretly thought that Sister Feng was really addicted. The look in her eyes just now made her want to... peel and eat him.
Although Sister Feng had a big addiction and ate frequently, she had a small appetite and soon complained repeatedly. Li Wan was a person who could only come once in a long time, but overeated.
He didn't say anything, just kept silent, but he never let go. It seems like he wants to make up for all the tuition fees he has owed over the years.
At this moment, Li Chanyue, Princess Xianning and Chen Xiao in the backyard seemed to know the news of Jia Heng's return.
Xian Ning came from outside and asked with a smile: "Sir, when are we going there?"
I'm going to see that person later.
Jia Heng calmed down and said warmly: "After I take a shower and change clothes, I will get in the carriage and go there."
On the first day of coming to Jinling, I must go to Jinyang. It has been nearly half a year since I saw my mother-in-law.
As for Mopan and Xueer, they can only wait a little longer for tomorrow, when he goes to see Zhen Qing with the greetings from King Chu.
Jinling, Princess Jinyang’s Mansion
The dark night shrouded the earth, and the sky was covered with dense clouds. The drizzle of rain fell on the leaves of the sycamore tree, making a "pitter patter" sound. The breeze came slowly, and the coolness spread.
A carriage with eight-treasure hairpins, accompanied by the servants of the Jia family and the guards of the Jinyi family, slowly stopped on the bluestone road in front of the eldest princess's house in Jinyang. The light of an orange lantern was reflected on the water.
Jia Heng, Princess Xianning, and Li Chanyue, escorted by Chen Xiao, got off the carriage and came to the gate with red lacquer and copper nails. They reported to the mansion and went straight to the back house.
At this moment, candles were burning brightly in the hall, and the lights were brightly lit.
The eldest princess of Jinyang was dressed in a vermilion dress and was sitting on the Arhat bed. The beauty was as beautiful as a peach, her face was bare with makeup, and beside her were Fu Qiufang and several female officials serving the beauty.
At this time, with the sound of light footsteps, Yuan Chun walked to the hall with joy on his face and said: "Your Highness, Brother Heng and Your Highness Xianning are here and have entered the mansion now."
The eldest princess of Jinyang said "hmm" and stroked her swollen belly. She saw her round and jade face and said with a light smile: "I won't go to greet him."
After a while, several lanterns were seen slowly coming from the verandah. Jia Heng, dressed in a straight green shirt and black boots facing the clouds, stepped across the threshold. Under the light of the lanterns and candles on the verandah, his stern face also showed anticipation. color.
"Brother Heng." Yuan Chun, who was dressed in the attire of a female official, looked at the young man with joy and bright eyes, and called out like a murmur.
After not seeing each other for half a year, and experiencing Jia Heng leading the Northern Expedition, one can imagine how much the beauty misses her.
Jia Heng looked at Yuan Chun and said softly: "Sister."
Yuanchun is more plump than at the beginning of the year, especially her graceful and beautiful appearance, which already has the style of the "virtuous concubine" in the original work.
At this moment, Princess Xianning and Li Chanyue behind Jia Heng also looked at Princess Jinyang who was about to sit up. The little princess walked forward first and called sweetly: "Mother."
"Hey," the eldest princess of Jinyang also looked away from her lover for a moment and looked at Li Chanyue. A smile appeared on her plump and graceful face like a peony flower. She took Li Chanyue's hand and said, "Chanyue , is back too, um, it looks much better."
The beauty looked at Li Chanyue and saw the charming charm on her brows and eyes. She didn't know that the little princess was already a woman.
Princess Xianning walked forward and called her aunt softly. When her gaze under her willow eyebrows passed over the swollen belly, there was a somewhat complicated color in her bright and clear eyes.
Princess Jinyang narrowed her eyes, glanced at Princess Xianning, and said softly: "Xianning, did you get what you wanted this time?"
At this time, Lianxue had already dismissed her grandma and the maid. Even Fu Qiufang glanced at a few people, shook his head secretly, and followed his grandma out of the wing.
Princess Xianning chuckled lightly and said: "Chan Yue is the same, you don't know how much Chan Yue has been clinging to Mr. Chan during this time, occupying Mr. every day, and even not giving me anything."
"Cousin, you...you are talking nonsense, how could I?" Li Chanyue was greatly ashamed after hearing this, and glanced at the eldest princess of Jinyang with her starry eyes.
What did my cousin say?
The eldest princess of Jinyang smiled brightly, took Li Chanyue's hand, and said softly: "Chanyue must have brought my share with her."
Xianning: "
Good guy, she's still a long way from being a good person.
At this time, Jia Heng held Yuan Chun's soft hand, looked into the beautiful and affectionate eyes, and said softly: "Everything is fine at home, the old lady, Mr. Zheng and Baoyu are fine. Sister, don't worry."
Yuan Chun's plump face had a bright smile, and her beautiful eyes sparkled. It was probably Concubine Yuan's smile when she was visiting for a wedding. She said in a warm voice: "Brother Heng, His Highness is waiting for you there."
Hengdi and His Highness reunited after a long absence, and they should have a good talk. As for her...she should wait until night.
Jia Heng turned his gaze to the eldest princess of Jinyang, met her soft and beautiful eyes, and said, "Jinyang."
Suddenly, there was also some missing in my mind. It had been half a year since we said goodbye, and now we see each other again. Jinyang is even more beautiful. It seems that as the body gets heavier, the intellectual and elegant maternal aura between the eyebrows becomes stronger.
The longing in Jinyang's eldest princess's beautiful eyes was like a surging tide, and she called out in a low voice: "Zi Yu."
After saying that, he got up from the Arhat bed.
"Just sit down." Jia Heng came closer, sat on the soft couch, gently pulled the beauty's catkin, and asked: "Are you and the child okay?"
Because I was worried about hurting the baby, I didn't hold him.
A faint smile appeared on the plump face of the eldest princess of Jinyang, and a blush appeared on her rosy face. She lowered her head and caressed her bulging belly. There was a look of happiness between Yongli's eyebrows, and she said: "Everything is fine. , the child keeps kicking me lately."
Jia Heng chuckled and said, "I'll listen to the child."
Princess Xianning looked at the two people who had a warm reunion, her eyes were blank for a moment, she couldn't help but secretly touched her belly, and sighed quietly in her heart.
After so long, there seems to be no movement. Could it be that... there is not enough mahjong playing?
Jia Heng listened to the child and felt the inexplicable feeling of blood connection through his belly. He stood up, looked at the beautiful beauty with beautiful face, and asked: "I will give birth in a few months. What did the doctor say?" ?
The beauty smiled and said: "The doctor said that the pulse is stable and the fetus is fine, so I can think less and worry less."
Jia Heng took the beauty's bare hand. The originally slender bare hand became a little softer. He chuckled and said, "That's good."
The eldest princess of Jinyang's beautiful eyes were filled with mid-autumn waves, and she said softly: "Did you just go to meet those officials of Jinling Mansion?"
It was clearly the beauty who smelled the faint smell of alcohol.
Jia Heng stood a little further away and said, "The purpose of the reception banquet is mainly to find out my story. I didn't say anything else."
The eldest princess of Jinyang frowned and said: "Although these people don't know the general trend, they are powerful in numbers. If they unite, it will be difficult to deal with them. They need to be divided."
Jia Heng said: "Well, I already have some plans in mind."
The eldest princess of Jinyang looked at the young man with her beautiful eyes full of water, and asked softly: "What's going on over there in the northwest?"
According to the results of the victory over the captives, the emperor's brother had just married his daughter and should be able to use her again. I wonder what the mentality of the two of them is now.
The feelings of the parties concerned are more real.
