"Oh, since Erlang knows the power of these salt merchants, why not tell them."
Jia Lian sat at the top and smiled casually at Liu Xianglian.
Liu Xianglian clasped her fists and accepted the order, "To say that these seven salt merchants are famous throughout Jiangnan. It is speculated that each of them has at least one million or even millions of taels of wealth. The seven salt merchants combined, It is not an exaggeration to describe a country as rich as a country.
Moreover, this is only the wealth they have accumulated. In fact, most of the powerful salt merchants in Yangzhou are just puppets of the powerful families and the powerful in the court, and they are even directly the families of those wealthy families. slave.
Take the most famous of them, the Bai family. The Bai family, one of the seven major salt merchants, may not be the largest salt merchant in Jiangnan, but it is certainly the most famous.
Because, it is rumored that Bai Yi, the master of the Bai family, is the next-door brother of Bai Qi, Marquis of Yangwu! As for Bai Qi, Marquis of Yangwu, I believe the Marquis also knew that he was the nephew of the Empress Dowager. He was now serving as the governor of Anxi and was the real frontier official of the dynasty.
Think about it, Mr. Hou, with such a background, who in the entire Jiangnan salt administration would dare not give some face to the Bai family?
In addition to the Bai family, the other six families also have their own backgrounds, and none of them should be underestimated. Otherwise, it would be impossible to get a share of the salt industry. "
"Then the Bai family is actually related to the current Queen Mother?"
Jia Lian looked slightly surprised and glanced at Lin Youquan next to him.
Lin Youquan hurriedly apologized and said: "Forgive me, Lord Marquis, because I have told you before that I have to explain the true background of those salt merchants to the Lord after I arrive in Yangzhou, so..."
Jia Lian glanced at him and felt speechless.
Of course he could understand what Lin Youquan meant. Perhaps Lin Ruhai was afraid that letting him know the background of all the salt merchants in advance would scare him into retreating. Therefore, although Lin Youquan and others had told him many things about the Yangzhou salt merchants before, they even mentioned to him the backgrounds of most of the salt merchants, including the prime ministers, ministers, princes and clans. , except that the Bai family was not mentioned much.
Speaking of which, he and the Bai family are destined to be together.
Not to mention that he saved the stunningly beautiful Empress Dowager Bai in the Prince's Courtyard, but he also dealt with Bai Qi, the Marquis of Yangwu, when he was in Anxi Mansion. Although they had never met him, he had his cheap brother-in-law's legs broken.
Later, Bai Qi even wrote a special letter to him to express his apology. Although Jia Lian knew that he was probably polite to him for the sake of Princess Zhaoyang, otherwise, even if it was easier for his brother-in-law to be beaten, he would not take the initiative to make friends with him.
Unexpectedly, this Bai Qi not only had such great power in Anxi Mansion, but also extended his tentacles to the Central Plains, and was also the richest salt government.
He has territory and military power, but he still needs so much money? Is he really not worried that the emperor will have any suspicions about him?
Or, relying on the power of Queen Mother Bai, she has nothing to worry about?
It seems that when dealing with this Bai Qi in the future, you have to be careful not to be tricked by him.
I understand Lin Ruhai's worries. No matter how powerful the other salt merchants are and how complicated their backgrounds are, in the final analysis they are just tools for the powerful people in Beijing to make money. But this Bai Yi was Bai Qi's cousin, and he could also be regarded as the Queen Mother's maternal nephew. Lin Ruhai was worried that he would get into trouble, so it was unusual for him not to tell him in advance.
Then he glared at Lin Youquan and said, "Since it was my uncle who told me, that's all. But now that I have arrived in Jiangnan, it's time for you to tell me everything you haven't said, right?"
"Yes Yes Yes……"
Lin Youquan also felt a little apologetic, and after repeatedly handing over his hands, he said: "Aside from the Bai family that Young Master Liu mentioned, what the Marquis should pay most attention to is the Wang family of the seven major salt merchants. The Wang family, before our master took office, Among the salt merchants, they were still relatively unknown, but later their power suddenly increased. According to our master’s understanding and speculation, I’m afraid that the Wang family has a relationship with the crown prince in Beijing..."
He is really the prince!
Jia Lian felt a little surprised and a little surprised.
No wonder, the famous officials in the court were determined to get involved in An Siyuan's case, and they must ask Emperor Ningkang to send people to Jiangnan to investigate the case. No wonder the prince paid close attention to this matter and even went so far as to negotiate with him personally...
Sure enough, no one can get a share of the salt policy.
If it were any other civil servant who came here, how could he not be afraid when faced with such a huge network of relationships? Even if you are not afraid, how can you dare to take action and where to start?
No wonder Emperor Ning Kang had so many choices to choose from, but he still chose himself to handle this matter.
Thinking about it this way, I can't help but feel that I was used as a knife by Emperor Ning Kang. But having said that, doesn't being able to make blades for the emperor show his ability?
Moreover, the more smoothly Emperor Ning Kang uses him, the more power he will have. Isn't this what he has always wanted?
Anyway, he doesn't work as a civil servant or hang out in court, so he doesn't have to worry too much about those people retaliating against him.
Therefore, he didn't have any fear in his heart. He just asked Lin Youquan to complete the information about other companies that he had not revealed before.
…
From Yangzhou to Suzhou, it is only a one-day flight.
After abandoning the boat and landing, approaching the city gate, the Suzhou prefect and other major officials from the entire Suzhou government came to greet him and pay homage, which aroused great momentum.
But it was not the officials of Suzhou Prefecture who had good ears and eyes, but Jia Lian had someone inform them of the itinerary in advance.
As for why this is the case, it is not that he deliberately made it public. It involves a very important rule of the era.
In any large city, dead people are strictly prohibited from entering the city, because it means that it will bring unforeseen circumstances to the city.
Therefore, even if you are a person in the city, as long as you die outside, even if it is on the outskirts of the city, your body or coffin will not be allowed to enter the city. This is a custom that has been passed down for thousands of years, regardless of officials or gentry, it is no exception.
Of course, the official here refers to a low-ranking official. As for those who reach Lin Ruhai's level, they naturally have privileges.
Otherwise, wouldn't it be desolate if those officials who served as officials in the court and died of old age in the capital and wanted to return to their hometowns for burial could not even enter the city of their hometowns?
Therefore, there is a law in the Wei Dynasty that only officials of second rank and above can enter the capital to attend funerals. Only those with a third rank or above can enter the local capital city to attend funerals.
Those below the third rank are not allowed to enter the city unless they seek favor from the emperor.
That is to say, in the original work of Red Mansions, Jia Jing died in Xuanzhen Temple outside the city. After the emperor knew the news, he would specially grant Jia Jing a fifth-rank official position, and authorize Jia Zhen and his son to carry their father's coffin to the capital for funeral. Reasons to shed tears of gratitude.
After all, if the emperor did not grant his favor, the former head of the Ningguo Mansion would have no choice but to mourn outside the city.
As for Lin Ruhai, a second-rank official, she was fully qualified to return to her old residence in Suzhou City to attend funerals. Therefore, knowing that he was returning to his hometown for burial, the Ministry of Rites had already notified the Suzhou government, asking the local officials to welcome Lin Ruhai's coffin into the city in accordance with the etiquette of a second-rank official.
In fact, there is no need for orders from the Ministry of Rites. Lin Ruhai, who is originally from Suzhou but has an official position in the central government, can be said to be the pride of Suzhou people.
Now that Mr. Lin's soul has returned to his hometown, it is a major event for the entire Suzhou city.
The prefect of Suzhou had already informed the people below that road festivals were set up along the street from the city gate to Lin's mansion, and people were asked to publicize anecdotes about Lin Ruhai's life.
If Jia Lian's notice was not given too soon and the Suzhou government had no time to make more preparations, it is not certain that there would be bigger news.
Even so, it took half a day to enter the Lin family's old residence from Suzhou City.
Daiyu had been sitting in the sedan chair, watching the whole city of Suzhou shake by her father's return. Her mood was inexplicably complicated.
Perhaps, this is the reputation that my father has been pursuing all his life, and now he can be regarded as benevolent.
Occasionally, through the curtains of the car, I secretly observed Jia Lian, who was riding on a horse to help deal with the officials. Seeing how the officials were well-behaved, obedient, and obedient in front of Jia Lian, I felt a little happy. .
Without her second brother Lian, she wouldn't be able to deal with these common people.
The Lin family members also learned of Lin Ruhai's death and came to the ancestral home early to wait for the funeral.
Although I had expected that Lin Ruhai would be somewhat dignified when he returned to his hometown for funerals, he saw that the Suzhou magistrate, Suzhou garrison, tongzhi, Suzhou weaving and other major officials in Suzhou all personally escorted Lin Ruhai to his ancestral home and even arranged the mourning hall. Even after the memorial ceremony, the Lin family members were still shocked and surprised.
Isn’t it said that when a person dies, his lamp goes out, and when he leaves, the tea cools down?
Why are these officials in Suzhou so attentive and polite to the Lin family?
Later, I found out that the person who personally escorted their clan leader back was the famous young marquis of Rongguo Mansion in the middle of the capital, and this time he came down to the south of the Yangtze River as an imperial envoy.
Those officials in Suzhou may not be fawning over the Lin family, but the new noble man of the country, the dignified Marquis Zhenyuan.
Although there is a bit of a gap in knowing the truth, fortunately many of them know Jia Lian. After all, when the clan mother Jia Min passed away, the Marquis of Zhenyuan came to pay homage in person. Some members of the Lin family even had dealings with Jia Lian.
It's just that at that time, Jia Lian was just a young man from the Rongguo Mansion in the middle of the capital, and he didn't have such a famous name as he does now.
Now that the Lin family has died, its decline is irreversible. But if we can win over the relatives in Rongguofu, we will have a backer in the future...
This is the idea that some Lin family members came up with after briefly figuring out some realities.
However, some people have the opposite concerns.
As Jia Lian, why would he condescend to the throne and personally escort the clan leader back to his hometown? Could it be that he is thinking about my Lin family's property and wants to take this opportunity to expropriate it?
This kind of powerful relatives occupying family property is a common occurrence in this era.
Therefore, it is not surprising that these Lin family members are so speculative. After all, there are not many Lin family members left, and everyone knows everything.
After Lin Ruhai's death, they each had their own plans and reasons for electing the clan leader and distributing the clan's property.
But if they faced Jia Lian, an extremely powerful in-law, they had no ability to resist. At that time, even if the family property is taken away, I am afraid that there will be grievances and no recourse.
Not to mention anything else, just looking at the officers and soldiers wearing golden armor and equipped with golden swords who "guarded" all the important roads of the Lin family as soon as they arrived at the Lin family, they could only be in awe and did not dare to have any resistance. .
After all, even if you don't know them, you have heard about them from others. Those are the legendary Imperial Guards. Apart from the emperor, only the imperial envoys who are out of Beijing on missions are qualified to call upon the legendary imperial guards temporarily!
Jia Lian didn't know the plans of the Lin family, and even if he knew, he wouldn't care. After he finally sent away the officials of Suzhou Prefecture and people from all walks of life who came to worship, it was almost dark.
I went to see Daiyu, but found that Daiyu was not in a good mood.
"What, you dare someone to rob your house again?"
When Daiyu heard Jia Lian teasing her again, she shook her head in embarrassment.
Jia Lian then looked at Zicuckoo, who smiled and said, "Don't worry, Second Master, no one bullies the girl. But before, the aunts and uncles in the girl's tribe showed their kindness to the girl one by one, and gave them toys and other things. They are sending clothes, and they even want to take our girl as a daughter, and the girl is not tired of it."
Zicuckoo is indeed a model of understanding. She can easily see through the reason for Daiyu's unhappiness. When she told Jia Lian face to face, Daiyu couldn't help but feel even more embarrassed and rolled her eyes at Zicuckoo.
Jia Lian understood.
She is so attentive and wants to accept Daiyu as her daughter, but she just wants to take advantage of her.
That's right, the Lin family didn't know Lin Ruhai's arrangements before his death. They all saw that Lin Ruhai had died and left a huge family fortune, and someone would definitely need to inherit it. At this time, whoever wins Daiyu's favor first will naturally have the upper hand.
Although he was already calculating in his heart, Jia Lian just smiled at Daiyu and said, "Aren't you happy that the elders take the initiative to cherish you?"
Daiyu couldn't help curling her lips and frowning.
If those elders really loved her, she would certainly not be unhappy. But Daiyu could see the real reason why those people did this, because some people's behavior was too exaggerated and obviously inconsistent.
Daiyu had a keen mind, so she couldn't see through their plans.
She even felt a little sad in her heart. She felt that the dignity and class of her relatives were far inferior to those she saw in Rongguo Mansion.
Compared with Aunt Xue, Aunt Wang and other relatives in the Rongguo Mansion, these relatives in her Lin family are really no different from some country women.
How could this make Daiyu happy?
Seeing that Daiyu didn't speak, Jia Lian couldn't help but pick up one of her little hands and comforted her with a smile: "Sister Lin, you don't have to treat them with harsh requirements. In life, everyone has his or her own fate, so that's it." Different insights.
Different knowledge will inevitably lead to distinctions between high and low.
If you like Sister Lin, get close to her. If you don't like her, don't worry about it, let alone offend them. Just stay away from them.
I will ask the housekeeper to call you Lin family members together later and announce my uncle's will to them. I believe that after they know about my uncle's arrangements, they will not let anyone disturb my sister again. "
When Daiyu heard that Jia Lian was going to announce Lin Ruhai's will to the Lin family, including the announcement of her engagement, Daiyu felt a little shy and wanted to withdraw her little hand.
Then I thought that Jia Lian was still the same as before. Whenever he saw any difficulty in her, he would find a way to help her solve it as quickly as possible. I felt very touched and grateful, and couldn't help but open my eyes with slightly tearful eyes. Look at Jia Lian.
"Look, it's fine, why are you crying?" Jia Lian felt extremely satisfied when facing Daiyu's gaze.
He couldn't help but raise a hand to wipe Daiyu's tears.
"Who is crying..."
Daiyu didn't want to admit it, so she avoided Jia Lian's hand and sat aside, her face red.
After a while, Daiyu asked: "Have you taken care of everything outside?"
"Well, that's almost it. Next, my sister only needs to go to her uncle's tomb to pay homage and keep vigil according to the time every day. When the time comes, she will take her uncle's coffin to the ancestral grave outside the city and bury it with your mother."
Daiyu nodded silently after hearing this. These were all things Jia Lian had told her a long time ago, and she had no objections.
"Then, are you going back to Yangzhou..."
"Um……"
Seeing Jia Lian nodding, Daiyu's little face couldn't help but slump a little, and she sat silently, not knowing what to say.
Although Jia Lian was pleased with Daiyu's reaction, he did not want Daiyu to fall into such negative emotions for a long time, so he deliberately smiled and asked: "Sister Lin, are you reluctant to let me go?"
"Who can't bear to see you go..."
Daiyu just felt embarrassed about having her thoughts read. When she caught a glimpse of Jia Lian's smile, she immediately realized that Jia Lian did it on purpose.
So he frowned and immediately replied: "I wish you could leave early! It's best to leave tonight, so as not to keep you here bullying others."
Daiyu considers herself not to be a stupid person. Among the sisters in Rongguo Mansion, no one usually talks about her.
But she always suffered in front of Jia Lian, so she repeatedly said that Jia Lian bullied her. Of course, maybe there is also the reason why Jia Lian often holds her little hand and takes advantage of her.
Seeing Daiyu's reaction like a cat whose tail has been stepped on, Jia Lian was greatly relieved.
Just when Zijuan and the others saw him coaxing Daiyu, they all left the room in good faith. Jia Lian raised his big hand, gently hugged Daiyu into his arms, and said comfortingly: "Sister Lin, don't worry, I understand." I won't leave until the afternoon. Before I leave, I will arrange all the things here.
In addition, after I arrive in Yangzhou, I will get things done there as soon as possible. Even if it's not finished, I will come back before my uncle's burial date.
Anyway, the two sides are very close. If we speed up the boat quickly, we can get there in only half a day. "
When Daiyu was taken into Jia Lian's arms, she quickly glanced at the room. She felt relieved when she realized that there was no one else around, and gently snuggled into Jia Lian's chest.
She listened quietly to Jia Lian's words, and after a while she said: "You told me not to worry, but in fact you have always been worried about me. In fact, second brother, you don't have to work so hard.
You have already done so many things for me, and I can do the rest myself. Even if I can't do it well, I still have the housekeeper and Mother Wang to help me, and that's enough.
So, if you are busy over there, don’t rush back.
The two are far from each other, and they are not close from each other. Second brother is still busy with your business. "
Daiyu knew that Jia Lian came to Jiangnan to investigate a case, and it was a major case. Even from the drama, we know that whenever a major case is involved, there must be some interests connected.
She also didn't want Jia Lian to be distracted by her and her father's affairs when he was doing big things.
Just as Jia Lian was worried about her, she was also worried about Jia Lian, fearing that anything unexpected would happen to Jia Lian.
When Jia Lian heard Daiyu's words, he felt infinitely satisfied and couldn't help but hug Daiyu tighter.
At this time, he didn't have much thought at all to feel the softness and beauty of Daiyu's delicate body. He was filled with love for the person in his arms.
As expected, this girl has learned to grow up and care about others. It is not in vain to hurt her.
