At this moment, not only the Governor-General's Office of Liangjiang, but also the Jiangnan officials and gentry who originally lived in Jinling also received news of Duke Wei going south.
In the residential alley not far from Xuanwu Street, there is a huge mansion. From the outside, the building is majestic and majestic, with a solemn atmosphere.
This is the residence of Yuan Tu, the Minister of Rites in Nanjing.
The hall in the backyard was brightly lit and crowded.
Yuan Tu, the Minister of Rites of Nanjing, Dong Chongxue, the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, Kuang Chun, the imperial censor of the right capital, and Bao Shiqin, the former governor of Jiangnan, sat on the left and right.
All Jiangnan officials were worried and sighed.
Dong Chong, the Minister of Civil Affairs, stroked his beard under his chin with his hands and said worriedly: "Dong Wei has gone south. I'm afraid Suzhou Prefecture won't be able to withstand it."
"In the last case in Changzhou Prefecture, Taifu Hao and Brother Yan were involved. Yan Shangshu was dismissed from office and imprisoned. Taifu Hao is now staying behind closed doors. The attitude of the court has been very clear. The four new policies must be implemented." Kuang Chun frowned. , said in a deep voice.
Yuan Tu said: "Suzhou Prefecture is different from Jiangning. No matter how good the Duke of Wei is at fighting, can he still use his martial arts methods? Will he shout and kill us?"
At this time, Bao Shiqin, the former governor of the south of the Yangtze River, who was at the head of the table, said worriedly: "Mr. Yuan, Duke Wei's methods are fierce and should not be underestimated. Even if he does not use force, there is no guarantee that he will not be imprisoned unjustly. The case in Changzhou Prefecture, such as It’s not the Northwest Military Affairs, it’s almost.”
Kuang Chun said: "The Duke of Wei is marching south with a great victory this time, and his momentum is undoubtedly more sharp. Mr. Yuan, we have to be careful."
Yuan Tu said coldly: "I purchased the land and houses legally back then. I didn't say that they would not be allowed to clear the land. But back then, the emperor promised that the land under our officials' names would be tax-free. Now they have measured the land, cleared the land, and collected heavy taxes." , why go back on your word?"
Kuang Chun said: "Mr. Yuan, the imperial court's treasury is now empty, and the new policies are strictly implemented. The situation is like this, and we can do nothing."
Yuan Tu looked at the middle-aged man with a fair face and deep eyes not far away, and asked, "Master Du, what do you think Mr. Du said?"
The middle-aged member was Du Cun, the third son of Du Wan. He gently stroked the jade ring on his hand and said, "Mr. Yuan, my father said that Princess Xianning and His Highness the King of Chu will be here during this period. I visited my father one after another and persuaded my father to take the overall situation into consideration, but he could not refuse politely. The Jiangning Mansion has cooperated with the government to clear the land, and Mr. Yuan also knows about this. As for the Suzhou Mansion’s involvement in the ancestral land, Gao Zhongping and others will not act rashly."
Yuan Tu frowned and said: "A few days ago, His Royal Highness the King of Chu also visited me. He mentioned the fields in Jiangning Mansion, and I was very cooperative. However, the land in Suzhou Mansion was given by the emperor for his merits. He As the saying goes, no more taxes will be collected."
Du Cun shook his head and said: "Mr. Yuan, the New Deal will clear away the accumulated abuses and make way for the New Deal. Yan Shangshu has learned from the past and must not be careless."
Yuan Tu frowned, looked at Du Cun, and said, "Mr. Du means that he will no longer participate in this matter."
Du Cundao said: "The Duke of Wei personally went south to supervise the New Deal. With his strong temperament and the convenience of being well-dressed, in order to implement the New Deal, how can we not be afraid of being slandered and imprisoned unjustly?"
When Yuan Tu heard this, his expression changed.
Jia Heng successively defeated Heshuote and Junggar in the northwest, and once again shocked the Jiangnan gentry who were ready to make a move.
Du Cun advised: "Nowadays, sea trade is booming and people from all over the Yangtze River go to sea to make a living. Mr. Yuan, why don't you let the children of the clan abandon farming and engage in business in order to make a living for the clan."
Bao Shiqin shook his head and said: "It's not easy to do maritime trade nowadays. Bandits are rampant on the sea. Not only do we have to pay a customs duty, we also have to be exploited by pirates and red-haired ghosts. It's not easy."
As a former high-ranking official, in addition to entertaining the grandchildren of his family, he also guided his children in the business of farming to support the family.
Yuan Tu said: "Are we going to abandon the foundation that the children of our clan rely on just because Duke Wei went south?"
Kuang Chun pondered for a moment, and then advised: "The situation is stronger than the person, Mr. Yuan, it is better to avoid the edge for now."
With Jia Heng's great victory in the northwest and the implementation of the four new policies of Henan, the old bureaucratic forces in Jiangnan also began to fear Jia Heng.
It was impossible not to be fearless. Jia Heng was like cutting leeks. He first eliminated the Yangzhou salt merchants and then benched the former governor of Liangjiang, Shen Fang. In addition, the Ministry of War was replaced because of resisting the pirates, and the grain depot was resold. Pan Ruxi who cleared the household department.
It can be said that today's six departments in Nanjing have been more or less swept away by Jia Heng.
For example, the post where King Chu was staying also received news that Jia Heng and his entourage had arrived in Jinling.
Second floor, study room
The King of Chu sat on the chair beside the desk, his handsome and fair face showed excitement, and said: "The Duke of Wei is finally here."
The King of Chu did not live with Zhen Qing, who was in confinement, but had been living in the post house. In the past two months, he frequently helped Gao Zhongping with ideological work related to Jiangnan officials, mainly because Gao Zhongping acted in bad faith. , the king of Chu pretended to be red-faced.
With the help of Jia Heng's victory in the northwest, the implementation of the New Deal in Jiangning, Changzhou, Zhenjiang and other prefectures was quite smooth.
The King of Chu also gradually gained the favor of Gao Zhongping and his son Gao Bo.
Prince Palace Chief Shi Liao Xian muttered: "Your Majesty, if the Yuan family is obstructing the New Deal, Duke Wei will definitely take action."
Yuan Tu, the Minister of Rites in Nanjing, was the teacher of the King of Chu. He had helped the King of Chu become famous among the scholars in the past. Naturally, the King of Chu could not bear to watch Yuan Tu face off against the rising Jia Heng.
King Chu nodded and said worriedly: "I have persuaded the teacher several times before. There are not many acres in Jiangning Mansion. With the cooperation of the Du family and other families, Jiangning, Zhenjiang, Changzhou and several other scattered states are still okay." Sure enough, when we arrived in Suzhou, the teacher’s tribe bought too many acres of land in Suzhou.”
Suzhou and Songfu can be said to be the most prosperous places in Jiangsu Province. Not only are they developed in commerce and trade, but also because of their fertile land and humid climate. They have been a land of plenty since ancient times.
Feng Ci, the chief clerk, said: "Your Majesty, would you like to visit Duke Wei tomorrow to mention this matter?"
King Chu nodded and said in a low voice: "Tomorrow, hand in the greeting card and go visit Jia Ziyu so that I can tell him about this matter."
At this moment, Zhen's house, five miles away from the post house where King Chu is located——
In the wing room, the decoration is simple, and a fragrant aroma fills the air. Two beauties in one red dress and one blue dress are sitting on the bed and talking.
Zhen Qing's beautiful face was filled with joy, and she said softly: "Sister, my daughter-in-law said today that he seems to have gone south."
Zhen Xue chuckled lightly and said, "Sister, even if he comes, he will go to the eldest princess's mansion and Ningguo's mansion first. I don't know how long it will be before he comes here."
The smile on Zhen Qing's face froze a little, and she said, "I know it's not convenient even if you come here, but you have to take a look at the child."
She gave birth to a boy and a girl to that bastard, and her sister also gave birth to a big fat boy. Instead, Mrs. Qin heard what Sister Lan said and gave birth to a daughter.
She is the eldest son, so God has blessed her.
The more Zhen Qing thought about it, the happier her heart became.
Why is it so satisfying? So Qin just gave birth to a daughter?
Zhen Xue nodded, and suddenly said softly: "The concubine has been guarding the child these days, but I don't know what to do."
Zhen Qing sneered and said: "She has been jealous for several years. As soon as she heard that you had given birth to a son, she ran over without any trouble. She is still so troublesome even though she is quite old."
Zhen Xue sighed softly and said, "The prince will be back in a few days."
Zhen Qing thought for a while and said: "Sister, I think he is probably suspicious when he comes back this time. After all, he should have seen the imperial doctor. If you then say that the imperial doctor is a quack, it is completely untrustworthy."
Under Zhen Xue's beautiful eyebrows, the worry in her beautiful eyes has not faded, and she whispered: "As of now, it can only be like this. I hope the prince can believe it."
The original method was too hasty. The prince may not doubt it, but after having a child, he will probably doubt it. Fortunately, the prince seemed to have an excuse at the beginning...
The two sisters talked.
Zhen Qing suddenly sighed with emotion and said in a complicated tone: "That bastard came back from the northwest this time. Unexpectedly, he not only made him a first-class Duke, but also gave him a marriage to the daughter of the Mongol Prince Chahar."
With the help of the Chahar Mongolian cavalry, there will be no need to be constrained by the Beijing camp generals. This is a good move.
Zhen Qing sighed with emotion: "I didn't expect that the palace would actually agree."
Zhen Xue said absently: "Yes, it seems that the palace's trust in him cannot be increased."
Then, he looked at the moonlight outside the window with his soft, watery eyes, but his mind was filled with endless longing.
When can Ziyu see the two of them?
…
…
The next day, Jinling Ningguo Mansion, the courtyard where Miaoyu lived——
Jia Heng looked at Miao Yu, who was sleeping soundly beside her. The young literary girl was like a docile and well-behaved kitten. The cold and frosty color on her face was gone, and her eyebrows were even a little soft, which made people fall in love with her more and more.
At this moment, his eyelashes suddenly fluttered, and a pair of bright eyes opened. First he was confused, and then he was happy, and he said, "Look what I do?"
Jia Heng gently pinched the ice-skinned and jade-skinned cheeks and said with a smile, "You really look like a sleeping beauty."
Miaoyu was so happy that she snorted softly, then stood up and asked, "What time is it?"
Jia Heng smiled and said, "Caichen, let me help you up and let's eat together."
Miaoyu was in the first three months of her pregnancy, and he had no other thoughts, so he just had a full night's sleep last night.
Of course, this has nothing to do with the previous struggles with Xianning and Chanyue.
Miaoyu said "hmm", and waves of sweet warmth surged through her heart. When she stood up, her beautiful green silk hair fell down to her waist. When she stood up, her shoulders were as fragrant as snow, white and shiny.
Jia Heng took the clothes and said warmly: "Don't catch a cold."
Any pregnant woman wants to be treated properly and thoughtfully from the bottom of her heart.
Miao Yufang was also a little happy and inexplicably happy. She said "Hmm" lightly and said, "Get up. I can do it myself."
Jia Heng did not insist. He took the python suit from the side and put it on. He said: "After dinner, I will ask the doctor to come over to diagnose and treat you and check the condition of the fetus. I have nothing to do at home now. It may be..." I'm a guest and will come find you."
"Okay." Miaoyu felt warm in her heart after listening to the young man's arrangement.
Jia Heng took the washbasin from Su Su, washed his face, and then looked at Miao Yu who was getting dressed in front of the dressing table.
After a while, the two gathered around a table to eat. Considering Miaoyu's taste, it was relatively light but had red dates and glutinous rice porridge to replenish energy and blood.
Jia Heng took the porridge bowl, blew the hot air gently, and said, "Eat this bowl of porridge."
Miaoyu's face was as cold as frost, but there was a trace of shyness and anger as she said, "Don't treat me like a child."
Jia Heng said: "But you are pregnant with a child now. Eat more and don't starve the child."
Miaoyu lowered her head, feeling the young man's meticulous pampering, and responded softly.
After Jia Heng and Miaoyu finished eating, they got up and left the wing, followed the Chaoshou Veranda out into the courtyard, and happened to meet Xing Xiuyan coming from the other side of the Chaoshou Veranda.
Xing Xiuyan changed into a blue and white dress today, her green silk hair was tied into a bun, and her fair face showed a hint of panic.
"Uncle Heng." Xing Xiuyan said softly with traces of shame in his eyebrows.
Jia Heng looked at the girl who had a forest-like aura between her eyebrows and asked curiously: "Xiuyan, where are you going?"
Xing Xiuyan's voice became more fluent as she said, "Go to Sister Yingchun's place. She made an appointment with me to play chess yesterday."
Jia Heng nodded and said, "Miaoyu is alone in the house. Please stay with her more."
"I was originally accompanying you, but when I saw the uncle coming, I was thinking..." Xing Xiuyan said softly, hesitating for a moment, and licked her pink lips to moisten her lips.
Jia Heng smiled and thought to himself, what a considerate young girl, and said warmly: "I have to go to meet a visitor now. Come over at noon and stay with her. You two can also play chess and talk together."
Miaoyu's temperament is still too withdrawn. He is worried that Miaoyu will suffer from "Yuyu" disease again when she is pregnant. He has no graduate student to protect him.
Xing Xiuyan nodded and said softly: "Call the second sister and the fourth sister later, eh."
Just as he was about to speak, he saw that the young man had come closer and took his hand. Xing Xiuyan said softly "Hey" and immediately stopped speaking.
Jia Heng said: "Xiuyan, you have worked hard to take care of Miaoyu during this period."
Xing Xiuyan's beautiful cheeks were red with embarrassment. She didn't break free for a moment, or even if she didn't break free. She said in a trembling voice: "Brother Heng, this is what I should do."
It was so early in the morning, someone might come over at some time, and I saw it.
Jia Heng said: "It's okay, let's go to the pavilion over there to talk."
Before Xing Xiuyan finished speaking, the young man took her hand and led her to a spacious pavilion. She found a bench and sat down. Her heart was pounding and she was extremely nervous.
Jia Heng was amused. He turned to look at the shy Xing Xiuyan. He looked at the girl with burning eyes and asked, "Xiuyan, I have always wanted to ask you, when are you coming?"
At the beginning, Mrs. Xing promised Xiuyan to him, but she never had time to cultivate feelings.
"Brother Heng, I...I'm not in a hurry." Xing Xiuyan was startled when he heard this and said quickly.
Jia Heng said softly: "Then we are not in a hurry. You are also getting along with a few sisters in the house, and we will wait for a year or two."
He felt that it was not too late to develop a relationship with Xiuyan, and he felt that Xiuyan was also somewhat resistant to him.
Xing Xiuyan nodded, raised his eyes, and asked: "Brother Heng, Master Miaoyu, what are you going to do?"
Jia Heng looked stunned for a moment, sighed, and said: "She has a knot in her heart. She can only wait until after giving birth to a child to untie her knot and get married."
Xing Xiuyan looked thoughtful and said: "Master Miaoyu is not suitable to return to secular life now, so it's better to stay this way."
Jia Heng smiled, let go of the girl's slender arms, and said, "It's getting late, I'll go back first."
He has always been patient.
"Uncle Heng, go and do your work." Xing Xiuyan's bright eyes were full of soft waves, watching the young man go away. For some reason, she felt the residual warmth between her palms, and suddenly felt a sense of sadness in her heart.
…
…
Jia Heng had just arrived at the hall of the back house when he saw Qingwen coming quickly. The girl's voice was charming and she said, "Sir, the King of Chu has handed over the invitation and wants to see the young master."
Jia Heng said: "I'll go over and take a look."
He originally thought that Gao Zhongping would come to see him first, but he did not expect that it would be the King of Chu.
In the front hall of Ningguo Mansion, King Chu was dressed in a fish-belly white python robe, tied with a rhinoceros horn jade belt around his waist. He was sitting on a nanmu chair, holding a tea cup in his hand, drinking tea and waiting.
Sitting at the bottom were Shi Liao Xian, the palace chief, and Feng Ci, the chief clerk.
Although King Chu's face was calm, his eyes were filled with unwillingness.
We'll see Zi Yu later. If he hadn't gone south, then it wouldn't have been King Wei but him who walked into the military base and heard from the Privy Council.
Back then, we were originally following Zi Yu to suppress bandits at sea. Who would have thought that something like that would happen in the northwest?
"Your Highness has arrived. I apologize for not being able to welcome you from afar." Jia Heng came in from outside and said with a bow.
As the emperor enters the rhythm of examining the character of all the princes, except for the King of Qi, no one can offend the Chu and Wei vassals at will.
The King of Chu got up and looked at the young man, sizing up the majestic young man. For some reason, he felt close to him and said happily: "Zi Yu, I haven't seen you for a while. First I want to congratulate Zi Yu." Yu achieved a great victory in the northwest, regained Hami and the Guanxi guards for the country, and severely attacked Junggar."
Seeing the boy in python suit again, King Chu's heart was also agitated.
Jia Heng said: "Your Majesty is overly praised."
The two of them finished their greetings and took their seats.
When Jia Heng inquired about the purpose of his visit, the King of Chu said: "Zi Yu, in fact, the little king is here to invite me. The princess has given birth. She is celebrating recently and wants to invite the family to get together."
When Jia Heng heard this, he was surprised and said: "Has the child ever been one month old?"
He remembered that the child was probably not over a month old.
"It's not about the full moon wine, it's just meeting the third and fourth sisters at Zhen's house, and having dinner with Ziyu, so the whole family gets together like this." King Chu said with a smile.
Jia Heng said thoughtfully: "In the past few days, I may have to meet with officials from Liangjiang. Your Majesty, I will pick a suitable day and I will take Sister Lan and the others there."
"I know that Ziyu is busy with the New Deal." King Chu smiled and said, "Xiao Wang happens to have something to do with the New Deal, and he wants to discuss it with Ziyu."
Jia Heng looked surprised for a moment, as if he had some doubts.
The King of Chu sighed and said: "My mentor is now the Minister of Rites in Nanjing. Not long ago, the high office ordered the implementation of the New Deal in Suzhou Mansion and the clearing of land. My mentor has some doubts about this."
Jia Heng frowned and said in a deep voice: "Mr. Yuan, don't you know that the four new policies of the imperial court are national policies, related to the future of our Han Dynasty, and have been very successful in Henan. He is so interested in one person's interests, regardless of the imperial government, Do you know that you have failed the emperor?"
On his way south, in order to prevent some people from paying attention, he actually did not linger in Henan, but went straight to Jiangnan all the way.
The King of Chu said: "Teacher is also unable to help himself. His family is big and his business is huge. There are not many scholars in the clan. To support the scholars, a lot of grain fields are needed. So he took care of himself under the name of the teacher, and so it is today."
Jia Heng said: "In the next two days, the prince will be the middle man. I will discuss with Yuan Shangshu. Now the new policy is related to our great cause of Zhongxing. The prince also knows the interests. No one can obstruct it. Otherwise, under the grand trend, everything will be ruined." All turned into powder."
The King of Chu said: "Ziyu, don't worry, there are advantages and disadvantages in being isolated."
Jia Heng turned to say: "His Royal Highness the King of Chu has recently assisted Governor Gao in implementing the new policy. His Majesty has also mentioned this matter quite a lot."
When the King of Chu heard this, he was very happy, but his face showed reserve, and he said: "This is my own responsibility, I dare not take credit."
Jia Heng said: "With the two wars this year, the imperial treasury suffered a serious deficit. Although it was subsidized by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the palace lived frugally, this was not a long-term solution. The country should still increase revenue and reduce expenditure. Now the New Deal has been successfully implemented in Henan, and the banknotes are increasing year by year. Hundreds of thousands of taels of money, if distributed throughout the country, can increase the country's revenue for who knows how long, and now the Holy Spirit is worried about this matter."
King Chu nodded and said: "My father is working hard for the country of the Han Dynasty. We ministers must take the overall situation into consideration."
Jia Heng said: "Then when I meet Yuan Shangshu, I will know his great righteousness again."
While the two were talking, the boy from outside came in and said, "Master, Master Lin is here."
Seeing this, King Chu smiled and said, "Master Lin is here, Ziyu, I will go with you to greet him."
Jia Heng nodded and stood up to greet him.
If there are missing sentences or typos, you can comment and correct them, and they will be corrected later.
