Those like what Hu Yong said are the real victims, and they are the majority.
Jia Cong said: "These real disaster victims can be given work-for-relief services, dredged canals, or reclaimed wasteland. We only need to take care of their food and drink. Isn't this all free labor?
The remaining old, weak, women and children can be asked to help cook, and they can also take care of their food and drink, so that those unscrupulous businessmen will have no chance to take advantage of the loopholes.
In order to calm down the disaster as soon as possible, in addition to the national grain transportation team, businessmen and large households in the mainland can also be mobilized to participate. With more people and strength, a steady stream of grain will be transported there, and grain prices will soon be suppressed.
If you have the ability, you can also buy some food and sell it. Not only will you relieve the disaster, but also make money. You can also recruit some maids, concubines, servants, and servants to relieve the pressure on the country. Wouldn't it kill two birds with one stone? It's considered serving the country. "
After listening to Jia Cong's words, many ministers were ready to take action.
After all, transporting grain to disaster-stricken areas and selling it can earn several times the profit, so it would be a lie to say that you are not tempted.
Rather than letting others reap the benefits, Jia Cong's method is better, and he can earn some money and spend it openly.
Many people still agree with Jia Cong's method.
However, those who helped in the disaster relief were not too happy.
If they really do this, they will have nothing to gain.
Emperor Longqing thought for a while and was a little undecided.
Although it sounds like that, it is not that simple to actually do it.
He looked at Hu Yong and said, "Hu Aiqing, what do you think of Ning Guogong's idea? Is it feasible?"
Hu Yong said: "Your Majesty, Ning Guogong's method sounds good, but it is not easy to do it. Only after trying it can you know. Anyway, the disaster area is short of food. It is indeed a good thing to transport a large amount of food. If there is no shortage, the price will come down.”
Emperor Longqing said: "Your cabinet and Song Aiqing need to discuss it carefully and work out a practical method and implement it as soon as possible. The victims over there can't wait."
"I obey the order."
······
As soon as Jia Cong arrived at the palace gate, he was stopped by a young eunuch.
The young eunuch whispered: "Mr. Ning Guo, Eunuch Dai is looking for you. Please come with me."
Jia Cong nodded and followed him to a side hall.
After a while, Dai Quan rushed over.
"Mr. Ning Guo, Xia Shouzhong is gone. However, Concubine Zhou mentioned this matter in front of His Majesty again. She is obviously complaining to you. You should be more careful in the future and don't be too reckless.
Although His Majesty did not blame you, this kind of thing will leave a bad impression in Your Majesty's mind. I hope Your Majesty can forget Xia Shouzhong and this matter will be over. I am afraid that someone will mention it again. "
This Concubine Zhou actually refused to stop, which was a bit too much.
Do you really think that I am a vegetarian? It's really a penalty for not eating the toast.
Her little actions would at most affect Emperor Long Qing's view of her and cause trouble for herself, but she really couldn't help herself.
Although he wouldn't be able to deal with the mother and son, he still had no problem causing some trouble for her family.
It seems that I need to find an opportunity to give the mother and son a little surprise.
Thinking of this, Jia Cong said: "Thank you, Manager Dai, for reminding me. I will be careful in the future. If there is anything about me in the palace again, please ask Manager Dai to remind me in time. Don't worry, as long as I am here, Your Majesty, a hundred years from now, I can protect you better than I can."
When Dai Quan heard this, he laughed and said: "Ning Guo Gong, our family must remember your words. Our family will rely on Ning Guo Gong to protect us in our old age."
Jia Cong smiled and said: "Manager Dai, we have known each other for many years. You should also know what I am like. I am definitely very generous to my own people, so you can relax."
Dai Quan nodded, feeling very relieved about Jia Cong.
Not only was he loyal to His Majesty, but he was also surprisingly good to his family. Even His Majesty praised him as a loyal and filial person.
Dai Quan said: "Ning Guo Gong is still on duty. We can't leave for too long, so we are going back first. I won't send you off this time. You are more familiar with the palace. You can leave the palace by yourself."
Jia Cong said: "Mr. Dai, you go and do your work. I can leave by myself."
Dai Quan nodded and left in a hurry.
He did not go out with Jia Cong, and no one should know about the two meeting alone.
It is a serious crime for a palace eunuch to secretly make friends with foreign ministers. Once someone discovers it, it will be over. Your Majesty will not allow this to happen.
It will be difficult to survive at that time, so you have to be careful.
Fortunately, Jia Cong was often summoned by Emperor Longqing and entered and exited the palace more frequently. When others saw him, they would generally think that it was his Majesty who summoned him, and few people would think much about it.
Dai Quan returned to the outside of the royal study and exchanged a few words with the young eunuch there. He felt relieved knowing that His Majesty was not looking for him.
As His Majesty's chief steward, he is in charge of every aspect of the palace and has great power.
Even some concubines who want to see His Majesty have to go through themselves first. No matter where they go, others will give them some face.
Although Jia Cong has some abilities and is a good person, he has not yet reached the point where he takes the initiative to form an alliance with him.
The reason why we have come to this point.
First, because the second prince had murderous intentions towards him, and he was the one who had the best chance of ascending to the throne. Once the second prince was allowed to take the throne, he would definitely not end well.
Not only can’t he keep the wealth he has accumulated over the years, but he may not even be able to keep his life.
There is another most important reason, that is, His Majesty's body has collapsed and he may not be able to support it for much longer.
Once His Majesty dies, he will have no backing and his fate will be hard to predict.
This is also the main reason why he is eager to form an alliance with Jia Cong.
Jia Cong didn't know about this, and only a few people knew about it. Even Long Qing himself didn't know much about it.
The imperial doctor did not dare to tell the truth to His Majesty for fear of being beheaded in anger.
However, they did not dare to hide Dai Quan, lest they be beaten down and become the scapegoat for others to get angry.
Dai Quan did not enter the imperial study to disturb Emperor Longqing.
Instead, he sat down outside and considered his own options.
There is no doubt that Jia Cong is trustworthy, and the relationship between the two has always been good.
However, in order to be safer, it is still necessary to deepen the connection between the two.
Thinking of this, Dai Quan couldn't help but secretly make a decision.
······
After Dai Quan left for a while, Jia Cong looked to see if there was no one around, then left the side hall and walked outside the palace.
But when he walked not far away, he met a young eunuch who stopped him again.
"Young man, I have met Mr. Ning Guo."
Jia Cong stopped and looked at the little eunuch in front of him with a puzzled expression.
Although he often comes to the palace, he does not know this little eunuch, and he should not be someone close to His Majesty.
In this palace, the total number of maids and eunuchs must be at least several thousand. It is normal for him not to realize it. However, this suddenly stopped him. He didn't know what was going on. Don't even know who it is.
Jia Cong said doubtfully: "My father-in-law, please forgive me for my blindness. I wonder which nobleman my father-in-law is working as an errand for?"
The young eunuch said: "Mr. Ning Guo, it's normal that you don't know me. I've been working as an errand beside the Queen. The Queen summoned Mr. Ning Guo and asked Mr. Ning to come with me."
Summoned by the Queen? There should be no intersection between him and the Queen.
The queen summoned one of her foreign ministers. What did she want? Aren't you afraid that His Majesty will become suspicious if he finds out?
Besides, I only met the Queen once, when I attacked Xia Shouzhong last time, I met the Queen once, or twice.
The two have no friendship, so they shouldn't have any intersection. Could it be that Concubine Zhou wants to plot against her again?
In this palace, a foreign minister like myself cannot just wander in.
Otherwise, if you go to places you shouldn't go and see things you shouldn't see, it won't be clear.
What if Concubine Zhou was plotting against her and leading her to a place she shouldn't go, that would be troublesome.
Seeing that Jia Cong did not follow, the little eunuch turned around and said, "Ning Guogong, the Queen is still waiting for you. Let's go quickly."
Jia Cong said: "The Queen is really looking for me, you didn't lie to me, did you?"
The young eunuch said: "Mr. Ning Guo, I don't dare to lie to you. It's really the Queen who has summoned me."
Jia Cong thought for a while and realized that it was unlikely that he would lie to him, so he raised his legs and followed.
After a while, the two arrived at Cining Palace, and Jia Cong breathed a sigh of relief.
The last time I met the queen was at Cining Palace. This was indeed the queen's palace.
The young eunuch said: "Mr. Ning Guo, the Queen is waiting for you inside. You can go in by yourself."
Jia Cong nodded and walked directly into Cining Palace.
It was different from the last time he came here. Last time Emperor Longqing was here, the room was full of maids and eunuchs serving him. Today, the hall was quiet and there was no one around.
Jia Cong was a little confused, why was it so deserted here at noon?
Turning around a screen, the scent of roses rushed towards him. Jia Cong couldn't help but take a deep breath. This woman's palace was just different.
】
Turning around the screen again, Jia Cong was stunned by the scene in front of him.
I saw a beautiful woman taking a bath.
This woman was in her twenties, with a beautiful appearance, her upper body was exposed, and Jia Cong took a look at her naked body.
This woman is not the queen, she is much younger than the queen. Who is she? Why are you here?
Jia Cong had a bad feeling in his heart. Maybe someone had really plotted against him. This woman was probably His Majesty's concubine. He had better retreat quickly before she saw him.
This place is already a place of right and wrong, and it is really not suitable to stay for a long time.
Just as Jia Cong was about to leave quietly, the woman heard footsteps and looked up.
Seeing Jia Cong, his eyes widened in surprise and he opened his mouth to scream.
If you shout this out and attract people, it will really be over. You can't explain this thing clearly at all, and no one will probably listen to your explanation.
Jia Cong didn't want to die, so he couldn't let her cry out.
Jia Cong quickly rushed forward and covered her mouth with his hand.
"Woo, woo..."
Fortunately, Jia Cong was fast enough and covered her mouth in time to prevent her from shouting.
But now, Jia Cong didn't know how to deal with this situation.
Ordinarily, one should leave quickly and leave this place of wrong and wrong.
But if he just left and the woman shouted again, she wouldn't be able to escape at all.
Who is this woman? Looking at the woman in front of him, he couldn't help but look at her carefully.
The woman's mouth was covered by Jia Cong and she looked at him in horror.
I overturned the five-flavor bottle in my heart, why did he come here? I just happened to see myself taking a shower.
I was scared just now. Fortunately, he covered his mouth and didn't shout out. Otherwise, if someone found out, he would be doomed.
Thinking of how naked he looked now, this man was still looking at him, his face suddenly turned red, and he wanted to find a crack in the ground to get in.
But with the man covering her mouth and holding her head, she couldn't shrink into the bucket and could only let others admire her.
Seeing the woman's appearance, Jia Cong also felt something was wrong.
He whispered in her ear: "Don't call me, just let go of your hand. I don't know who you are. Once you call out and someone finds out, I will be unlucky, and you won't be much better. You If you agree, just nod and I will let you go."
The woman hesitated for a moment and felt that Jia Cong's words made sense. This was already the case and there was no other way.
We can't just stay in a stalemate like this, or someone will find out sooner or later.
Thinking of this, the woman nodded.
Seeing that she agreed, Jia Cong slowly let go of his hand.
However, her hand didn't move too far away to prevent her from saying nothing, so she could cover it again.
The woman seemed to understand what Jia Cong meant, and said softly: "Don't worry, I won't shout, and I don't want others to see that you are with me. You are Ning Guogong, why are you here."
This woman spoke softly and very pleasantly. I didn't expect that she even recognized me.
Jia Cong said: "Do you know me? Who are you?"
The woman nodded and said, "Well, you often come to the palace. I have seen you a few times from a distance. I heard the maids around me talking about you and I found out that you are Ning Guogong and I am His Majesty's concubine, Concubine Chen."
Jia Cong said: "I was lured here by a young eunuch. He said that the Queen Empress summoned me, so I came here. Isn't this where the Queen Empress lives? Why are you bathing here?"
Concubine Chen blinked and was about to speak when she heard footsteps coming from outside.
Jia Cong's expression changed and he felt bad, now he was caught.
I looked around and saw that there was no hiding place at all. What should I do?
Looking at Concubine Chen, she asked: "Is there a place for me to hide? If I'm discovered, we will all be finished. I guess this may be a trap, specially targeted at me. If you encounter it, you will be unlucky."
Concubine Chen was also a little anxious. She looked around and said, "No one can be hidden here. Even if we try to hide, we will be discovered. What should we do? You will be killed now."
Hearing the footsteps getting closer and closer, even Jia Cong became a little anxious.
A dangerous light could not help but shine in his eyes. In the worst case, the fish would die and the net would be wiped out, and the murder would be silenced.
Concubine Chen lowered her head and looked at the rose petals floating on the bathtub. She had an idea and said, "Come into the bathtub quickly. The petals are blocking it so no one else can see it. Don't come out until I call you."
