"Bastard, bastard!" After hearing the news, the people in the palace vented all their anger on the pen and ink table. The vase in the palace was smashed to pieces by the inkstone, and the colorful pieces of porcelain scattered on the ground like petals.
Black ink splashes on the gold bricks, just like the tree trunk under the petals. The various brushes scattered around prove that this is an unfinished painting.
"How dare you?" This noble man couldn't figure out why the prescription was fake. "Did the Lai family and the Jia family collude to create ghosts?"
Qiu Jiheng didn't dare to reply, although he had doubts in his heart.
"Lai Shangrong was being pursued so hard that he even begged to go to the Rongguo Mansion. The Rongguo Mansion did not help him, but instead ordered the Lai family to transfer the manor to the Ningguo Mansion's losses. There were no two general managers named Lai in the Jia family's two mansions. Sent to the village, it doesn't look like collusion."
The young man scolded: "The Ningguo Mansion has suffered a huge loss. The recipe is fake, and no one will be able to take over their management in the future. The money earned by the Lai family was originally the money of the Ning Rong Mansion, and the ruined garden was originally owned by Jia Jia. It was repaired with the family's money. The Lai family went to the village, and when the storm subsides one day, the Jia family may recall the Lai family's heroes to the mansion."
This possibility is not impossible. No one can guarantee whether the Jia family is behind the scenes, or if the Lai family is just a tool pushed out by the Jia family.
Qiu Jiheng didn't understand, "What's the reason for the Jia family to do this?"
The old man scolded again: "What reason does this bastard Jia Rong have for doing what he does? The raw materials he robbed have become waste, and the kiln factory that he worked hard to build is of no use. It was a waste of time. Many people were staring at his hands. There is a recipe in it, but now that he is doing this, he has defrauded many people of their money. He is trying to scare people not to take advantage of his recipe."
"What should I do in the future?" Qiu Jiheng asked.
The uncle was immediately asked. So much money was invested and so many raw materials were stolen. Now the prescription is fake, the thing has not been made, but a lot of money has been spent. There is still a lot of sand and gravel accumulated in Lai's house.
The young man was very tired and shook his head helplessly: "Get all the raw materials out as soon as possible. If everyone outside knows that the recipe is fake, we don't know how the various raw materials will fall. This can reduce some losses." It’s also good. Let’s put aside the matter of Ningguo Mansion’s cement objects for now.”
There's nothing I can do if I don't let go.
When such an accident happens, the little uncle can only suffer the loss of being dumb. Even if it is suspected that Jia Rong is planning it, no one has any evidence.
Moreover, the Lai family was punished by the Ningguo Mansion and the Ning Rong Mansion. Didn't this mean that it was revealed to the outside world that the Lai family secretly stole the Ningguo Mansion's prescription and finally caused this trouble.
"What the man named Lai did was not good, but he just stole a fake prescription. But he caused great harm to people!"
The little uncle is not the only one who thinks this way.
Everyone who has been cheated has the same heart. They didn't care if it was Jia Rong's fault or not, it was true that they lost money. These people have no reason and dare not bring trouble to the Jia family, but they can do so when it comes to Lai Shangrong.
Brother Rong smiled and said: "Master Thirteen is relieved. In just a few days, the price of earth and stone has dropped again and again. Now it is even cheaper than before."
There was no happy look on King Zhongshun's face, and he frowned and said: "The price of earth and stone in Shenjing has dropped, which is good news. In this way, Gyeonggi can continue to open up fields vigorously."
Seeing the sad look on King Zhongshun's face, Jia Rong asked in confusion: "In that case, why is the Thirteenth Master shaking his head?"
King Zhongshun said: "Recently, there have been heavy rains in the upper reaches of the Yellow River, and the river water has rolled up silt and blocked the Huaihe River."
Brother Rong understood immediately.
Hundreds of years ago, the Yellow River burst at the old embankment of Yangwu, and floods engulfed Fengqiu County and invaded the Huaihe River channel below Huaiyang all the way south.
From then on, the Yellow River took the Huai River and entered the sea.
If the Yellow River's capture of the Huaihe River brought only water, it wouldn't be a big problem. It is nothing more than changing the course of the Yellow River and changing its location to send the river water into the sea.
But there is not only water in the Yellow River, but also a lot of sediment. This sediment will settle on the river bed of a river with a relatively gentle flow. Over time, the river will gradually rise and form a suspended river above the ground. What's more serious will cause river siltation. When the water in the river is strong, the embankments may burst again, causing disaster on both sides.
The Great Yan Dynasty also attached great importance to water transportation. In order to maintain the smooth flow of the canal waterway, the gates were closed to store water every year before and during the water transportation. At this time, the upstream branches of the Huaihe River were flooded with huge amounts of water and could not be released, making the entire middle reaches of the Huaihe River a flood detention area, which could only be allowed to submerge Fengyang, Sizhou, Yingzhou and other areas to the west of Hongze Lake.
When the Supreme Emperor was in power, he vigorously controlled the Huanghuai flood disaster. The construction of embankments at Hongze Lake resulted in the Yellow River bed becoming increasingly high.
As a result, the water levels of the Yellow River, Huaihe River, and Canal are rising day by day, and the Hongze Lake embankment is being continuously extended, heightened, and reinforced.
In fact, the construction of the Hongze Lake embankment not only greatly increased the flooding in the upper reaches of Hongze Lake, but also hung a sharp sword over the Huai, Hai, Yang and other lands east of the weir that could fall at any time and must fall every year. . There are proverbs: "Destroying a high weir will prevent Huai and Yang from meeting each other" and "Toppling Jiang's dam will flood the world", both of which describe the high danger of the embankment.
Brother Rong asked: "But the Hongze Lake embankment is in danger?"
This is a real big deal. If you open it anywhere, the Huanghuai Flood will cause the death of nearly a million people in the Huaiyang territory.
When such a big event happened suddenly that affected the lives of millions of people in Huaiyang, Brother Rong was very nervous.
The Thirteenth Master nodded and said: "There are no regulations yet in the court, so you can prepare them at home in the past few days. You will have to follow me to Yangzhou in the near future."
Jia Rong was stunned. "Young man is just a young man, so there is no need to go to Yangzhou with the Thirteenth Master."
The Thirteenth Master scolded: "You are a palace guard and you don't follow me around. Do you still want to stay in the capital? Go back to the palace as soon as possible. You don't have to hang around in the Water Conservancy Yingtian Mansion these days, waiting for the royal palace's token."
"well……"
"What are you sighing for? I know that your wife is pregnant. The palace will send an imperial doctor and two old ladies to your house, and they will take care of your pregnant wife."
He even knew that my wife was pregnant, so she even called me to Yangzhou. The embankment may burst there at any time, which is very unsettling. When the rainy season in the north comes in June and July, the water in the rivers will rise, making the Huaiyang land even more dangerous.
I don’t know who came up with the idea to seize the Huai River and enter the sea. Isn’t it good for the Yellow River to flow from the north to the Bohai Sea? Does it have to merge with the Huaihe River?
Brother Rong had no choice but to come out of Prince Zhongshun's mansion, bid farewell to Duan Yu, and returned to the mansion.
I first wrote a letter to Qin Zhong and Jia Yun, saying that we must speed up the construction of the Ping'an Prefecture kiln factory and put the cement firing work on the agenda as soon as possible. In the future, a large amount of cement may be needed in various places, not only to make money, but also to avoid greater disasters.
He called the boy over, but Lai Sheng asked to see him.
"Why does Mr. Lai look like this?"
Lai Sheng knelt in front of Uncle Rong and cried: "Please save the Lai family, my nephew's hands were broken today."
"Huh? Who was beaten?"
Lai Sheng cried: "Shang Rong, his... both hands were broken."
Lai Shangrong had his hands cut off?
"what happened?"
Lai Sheng told what happened. Brother Rong realized this and frowned: "He is looking for death, and no one can save him. Knowing that he has offended a large number of people in Shenjing, he still hides and shrinks, and goes to Nancheng to look for flowers and willows. Why? But?" Reported to the official?"
Lai Sheng said: "The attacker has been arrested. But...those people are just paid to do things, and the life of the Lai family will not be easy in the future."
Who can blame this?
Brother Rong was troubled. It was a good idea that he didn't ask anyone to beat Lai Shangrong. Who wants to care about this matter? He hummed: "You Lai family are really thick-skinned?"
Lai Sheng also bowed his head in embarrassment. Now that Lai Shangrong's incident has spread in both houses, Mr. and Mrs. Lai are no longer qualified to enter the Rongguo Mansion. Although Grandma Lai is still in the Rongguo Mansion, she has lost her former glory. It’s just that the old lady remembered Grandma Lai’s lifelong dedication and gave her some money every month to allow Grandma Lai to fend for herself in the house while spreading a reputation for kindness.
Because it’s useless to seek Xifu.
The only person in the Lai family who can speak in both houses is Lai Sheng, who kneels in front of Jia Rong.
Jia Rong said: "Last time, the old lady took the initiative and gave your Lai family's garden to Ningguo Mansion. Although the government did not ask for it, it still belongs to Ningguo Mansion. Since someone smashed things in Ningguo Mansion, I will have people investigate. Be clear about it. From now on, your nephew will find a small courtyard to live in in the back street of Ningrong. Whether he lives or dies has nothing to do with the Jia family. "
Lai Sheng's face lit up and he said, "Thank you for your kindness, uncle. My old servant will ask him to move to the back street early tomorrow morning."
Brother Rong felt helpless. Did he really think he would be safe if he entered the back streets? Although people from outside don't dare to come to Ningrong's back street to cause trouble, people in the other rooms of Jia's family live in the back streets, and Lai Shangrong's life may not be easier than in Lai's garden.
Lai Sheng added: "My old servant has finished this matter and will leave for Beiliao in three days. In the future, please take care of yourself."
"Okay." Uncle Rong waved his hand, "Bring more people with you when you go. You are going there in my name after all. You can't be bullied by the people of Heishan Village in Beiliao."
Lai Sheng kowtowed again, then went out hunched over in frustration.
Although Ningguo Mansion got another village and everything was converted into silver, even though there were thousands of taels of silver, Jia Rong was not happy at all. They asked people to sell all the valuables inside, and let Mei Maobing and others take care of the garden and fields first.
"Why is the uncle looking so sad?"
Qin Keqing's appearance has not changed much when she is two or three months pregnant, but her figure is slightly plumper than before.
Brother Rong said: "In a few days, I will have to go to Yangzhou with the Thirteenth Master. I'm afraid I won't be able to be in Shenjing for some days."
Qin Keqing smiled slightly, "My uncle is going to Yangzhou to do big things. He is a blessing to Ning Guofu and also to Ke'er."
"I can't let you go. When I think about not seeing you for a few days, I feel empty." Uncle Rong gently held Qin Keqing's body, caressed her belly, and asked, "When will this little guy come out? Can't hear any movement."
Qin Keqing said: "It won't be until the end of the year at the earliest. It's only been three months. How can he make any movement?"
Uncle Rong sighed, "This guy came at the wrong time. He is going to choke me to death."
Grandma Rong blushed with embarrassment, but she couldn't stop the uncle's hands from making trouble in the clothes. With a cry, his body went limp in Uncle Rong's arms. After a while, Qin Keqing pushed the uncle away and snorted: "You are the best at teasing others."
Uncle Rong was happy for a moment and then stopped.
Qin Keqing said: "My uncle is going to Yangzhou in a few days. Naturally, he has to pay a visit to the Lin family. He has to bring some gifts with him."
"I'm going to Yangzhou for business, not to visit relatives. Where can I bring gifts? If Huaiyang is stable, I can have time to go to the Lin family. If it's not finished, we'll follow Master Thirteen wherever he goes. where."
In the past two months, there have been fewer letters from Yangzhou. I wonder if I will meet Jia Lian, the second uncle of Xifu, there.
How should I face him?
How about spending a lot of money to buy Uncle Lian a crown and hat inlaid with jade?
Qin Keqing chuckled and said: "If you go to Yangzhou, you won't go to your relatives' house to chat with them. It won't be justified. In the past, when people from outside came to Beijing, wouldn't they also come to our house to visit?"
That's quite true. Brother Rong nodded and said: "If I have that opportunity, I will never forget it. Looking at you like this, how can your uncle really not understand the slightest etiquette?"
The next day, Jia Rong came out of Ruizhu's room. I went to see my daughter-in-law first, and then invited You Shi'an. After walking around the house for a while, he slipped into the clean room of the ancestral hall.
"Because I will go south to Yangzhou with Prince Zhongshun on business in a few days, the prince has specially let his grandson go back to his hometown to settle down for a few days." Rong Geer said with a playful smile in front of Jia Jing, "How are you doing, Master?"
Jia Jing's eyebrows slightly opened and he hummed.
Brother Rong said again: "These days when my grandson is not in the house, I have to trouble my grandpa to help look after the house."
Jia Jing seemed to have not yet woken up, tapping his head up and down twice without making any sound.
Noon.
"Bless me, Mrs. Bao, and greet me, Aunt Bao." After a free day, Jia Rong came to Lixiangyuan again.
Aunt Xue responded with a smile: "Why didn't you go on duty in the palace today?"
Jia Rong explained: "I will go to Yangzhou with King Zhongshun in a few days. I came here specifically to ask Aunt Bao about the situation in Yangzhou."
Baochai asked doubtfully: "What's going on?"
"I remember that last time the provincial directors of the Xue family sent a lot of letters, one of which was from the Huaiyang area. I thought, since I went to Huaiyang, if I have time, I would just go and have a look at that place. I can build it in Jiangnan Province. A kiln factory can also save the cost of transporting cement from Ping'an Prefecture."
"Is there something different in Southern Province?"
I have to say that Xue Baochai is smarter than Xue Pan. Brother Rong nodded slightly, "We don't know the details yet. Anyway, we have to go to Jiangnan."
Xue Baochai asked Ying'er to take out the letter and find someone from Jiangnan Province. She smiled and said, "I didn't forget to build kilns when I went to Jiangnan Province. Could it be that King Zhongshun wants to build seawalls on the coasts of Yangzhou and Huai'an?"
This girl is not only smarter than Xue Pan, but also more sensitive to things. Unfortunately, she guessed wrong. Yangzhou and Huai'an were not only affected by the waves, but also by the three rivers of the Huanghuai River. Cement has many uses in Huaiyang.
Seeing Brother Rong shaking his head, her face changed and she asked, "Is it possible that there is chaos in the Huanghuai River? We need to ask the provincial supervisors to buy grain quickly."
