The Red Mansions

Chapter 640 Hongze Lake seems to be in danger of breaking its embankment, I'm afraid adults sho

Chapter 640 Hongze Lake seems to be in danger of breaking its embankment, I'm afraid adults should make early preparations...

Yangzhou Prefecture

Just when Jia Heng was discussing with the governor of Liangjiang, the cabinet ministers, and the chief envoy of Jiangzuo about flood relief.

On the bank of Slender West Lake, Qinyuan where the Wang family lives.

There are pavilions, terraces and pavilions, many gardens, and the lights inside are brightly lit, exuding a blurred brilliance in the misty mist and rain.

Colorful octagonal lanterns are hung under the eaves of the corridor, swaying with the cool summer night wind, and the sound of silk and bamboo orchestras, accompanied by Wu Wa Yueyan's crisp and glutinous sound, moves from near to far in the rain and fog. .

In the attic, there are crowds of people, Yangzhou salt merchants gather together, and through the stands covered with curtains, they can enjoy the music and dance being played on the stage opposite the attic, with dancing postures and emerald jewels.

Under the hanging painting in the nave, next to the three-foot blue chilong, Wang Shouqi, the general merchant of Yangzhou salt merchants, sat on a pear flower wood Taishi chair, enjoying singing and dancing. He was nearly fifty years old, with gray hair, a rich face, and Wearing a satin uniform, with a smile on his face at the moment, playing with a pair of walnuts in his hands.

The Wang family in Yangzhou has been a salt merchant since the early years of the Taizong Dynasty. During the Longzhi period, Wang Shouqi was honored with the title of a third-rank feudal official for his donation and donation. Most of the salt merchants below also had official titles for their donation.

After the abolition of Chinese law in the early Ming Dynasty, Taizu Chen Han followed the advice of Fan Zhen, a cabinet scholar at that time and Minister of the Ministry of household affairs, and turned to the law of gang salt.

In the land of Huainan, according to the cross of "Holy Virtue Transcends Eternity, Emperor's Fan Nine Surrounds", the salt received by the merchants is compiled into ten outlines, while in Huaibei, the fourteen characters of "Heavenly Cup Celebrates the Birthday of Qi Nanyue, and the Radiance of Emperor Zao Moves the North Star" are used to compose the ten outlines. The salt received by merchants is compiled into fourteen outlines.

During the Taizong period, the government-supervised merchant sales system was implemented, and then Huizhou merchants gradually rose, living in Yangzhou, and gradually became rich and wealthy on the Qinhuai River in Yangzhou. They all have the effect of collecting and donating. For this reason, several general merchants were rewarded with official titles. Time and circumstances changed, and they gradually became the eight general merchants.

At this moment, on the left and right sides of Wang Shouqi, there are several other major general merchants in Yangzhou, including: Jiang Tong, Huang Rishan, Huang Cheng, Bao Zuhui, Ma Xianjun, Cheng Peili, Xiao Hongsheng and other Yangzhou salt merchants.

At this time, Huang Rishan put down the teacup in his hand. He was nearly forty years old, with short eyebrows and thin eyes, and a beard under his nose and jaw, and said: "Everyone, there is plenty of rain in Huaibei now, and there is a flood coming soon. Some people from Jinling have come to purchase food and lease ships, should we also intervene?"

Jinling Mansion, which used to be the capital city before Taizu, not only has the six ministries of Nanjing, but also many Han Dynasty officials live in honor and support. Families and relatives often operate grain and cloth and other livelihood materials business in Jinling, Jiangzuo, Suzhou and Hangzhou. , to transport Jianghuai.

It can be said that industries related to people's livelihood are in the hands of Jiangnan gentry.

Cheng Peili paused, and said in a deep voice: "The imperial court is fighting and controlling floods in the north of the Yangtze River. For this reason, it sent a cabinet minister and a military plane to the south. When the country is in crisis, it must be strange to hoard goods and drive up food prices. Lei Ting, besides that Uncle Yongning is not easy to get along with, we don't want to get involved in this matter."

Yangzhou salt merchants specialize in salt transportation, and they make a lot of money from this alone, so there is really no need for the court to worry about it at this time.

"Then just prepare some vehicles and boats, and don't get involved in this matter?" Huang Rishan asked.

Yangzhou salt merchants transported salt, and they had many boats, carts and horses for the transfer of grain and fodder, while those big men in Jinling entrusted their family stewards and relatives to come and raise money.

"Old Cheng, you must have been scared out of your wits by Henan." Bao Zuhui smiled and said jokingly.

Wang Shouqi listened quietly to the conversation of several people, thinking in his eyes.

Cheng Peili glanced at Bao Zuhui, frowned and said, "Old Bao, do you know who this Uncle Yongning is?"

As soon as this remark came out, everyone looked at Cheng Peili.

Not all salt merchants in Yangzhou are concerned about the direction of the court, and even if they are concerned, the degree of knowledge is not uniform.

Huang Rishan smiled, and then said: "Who doesn't know this? The Jia family, the Jia family of Ning and Rong, is also a famous family in Jinling. It's just that in the past ten years, some of the younger generations have been neglected, and they have not held high positions. Yes, the reputation of the family has gradually declined, and I don't want to be born in the same generation, and in a blink of an eye there will be such a character."

Xiao Hongsheng is a young man in his early thirties, with a handsome appearance, wearing a splendid and colorful shirt, he does not look like a businessman, but a scholar, and said: "As far as I know, this Yongning Bo is not the heir of the Jia family. It was a partial branch of Shenjing Yifang, and later moved due to meritorious service, until after the chaos was suppressed, it became a hot honor now."

Bao Zuhui said: "He is a martial artist, so he can't control us, right? Salt affairs are not military matters."

A sneer twitched at the corner of Ma Xianjun's mouth, and he said: "The river affairs are not about military affairs, so this one is not the governor of Donghe and Nanhe?"

Cheng Peili shook his head, with a hint of worry floating in the depths of his eyes, and said in a deep voice, "This Uncle Yongning should not be underestimated. In March, there was so much chaos in the Central Plains. The leader of Uncle Yongning wiped it out with one stroke. Heads rolled, Gou Zi went to Kaifeng Mansion to do business, and chatted with some friends. During the military administration of Henan Province, the governor of Yongningbo, he was severely tabooed. He dismissed and impeached many officials. There is news from the Hedao yamen, Huai'an Mansion, that the officials who corrupted the river are almost wiped out, this is a ruthless stubble, who dares to use a knife."

Bao Zuhui frowned, and said, "Governor of Liangjiang, Mr. Shen, just went to Huai'an Mansion. There are so many people in the Jiangnan officialdom. Even if he is a dragon in the river, he is not against the local snake."

"I didn't do much business in the grain and rice business. It's nothing if I don't participate in these things. It's just a petty profit." Ma Xianjun said, suddenly bowed slightly, and said in a low voice: "It's just that this person came to Yangzhou the day before yesterday to do business. I heard that the salt courtyard visited that person."

Cheng Peili said: "Yangzhou Salt Court was originally the son-in-law of the Rongguo Mansion. Uncle Yongning dispatched troops from the Jiangbei camp to assist the Huaiyang flood. He passed by Yangzhou, so he should go see him."

"It's hard to say." Ma Xianjun shook his head with a worried expression on his face, "This man is still in charge of the Jinyi Commander. After the incident last year, there are people from the Jinyi Mansion guarding the Yangzhou Salt Courtyard."

What Ma Xianjun was talking about was the case of Lin Ruhai being secretly poisoned.

"Old Ma, what are you paying attention to those Jinyi mansions?" Jiang Tong smiled lightly, his slightly narrow eyes were a little weird.

Concerned about Yangzhou Salt Institute's defensive strengths and weaknesses, what is this going to do?Could it be that the previous case had something to do with him?

Ma Xianjun frowned, and said: "I also heard Mr. Liu, the envoy of salt transportation, mention it.

Liu Shengzao, the transshipment envoy of both Huaihe Rivers and Huaihe Rivers, was in charge of salt affairs from the third rank in the official residence, but he was subject to the restraint of the imperial court's patrol salt censor.

"I'm afraid that people don't hurt the tiger's will, and the tiger hurts the heart." Huang Cheng said with a dim eyesight.

At this time, Xiao Hongsheng cast his eyes on Wang Shouqi who was smiling and not talking much, and asked, "What do you think of Wang Shibo?"

Ma Xianjun also said hastily: "Master Wang has been to the capital, and he probably knows the details of this Yongning Bo."

Several salt merchants in Yangzhou looked at Wang Shouqi. Wang Shouqi was praised for his wisdom, and he had an unusual friendship with the Tian family because he took over the Emperor Taishang from the Chonghua Palace in his early years.

Wang Shouqi twirled his beard under his chin, and said in a cang voice: "This Yongning Bo is not of Yi Yu's generation. Now he not only controls the Beijing camp, but also manages the Jinyi Mansion. He has great power and is unscrupulous. I heard that this holy family in Beijing is Zhenglong , even the elders of the cabinet must avoid their sharp edge, we are not easy to offend."

"Master Wang, don't forget, this one is related to the one from Yangzhou Salt Institute, who knows if he will help secretly?" Huang Cheng said coldly.

Wang Shouqi smiled and said: "The matter of salt affairs has already been taken care of by the elders of Qige. If we bid for salt again, distribute it in different areas, and give up part of the profits, the imperial court will die. Highly promoted to Beijing."

Since ancient times, merchants have not fought with officials. Just like Shen Wansan in the previous Ming Dynasty, he was as rich as an enemy country, and it was also rare to end well.

"What if they accept it if they don't see a deal? Do you want to check the previous accounts?" Huang Cheng asked with a slightly cold look.

At this moment, the hearts of those present are all trembling, this is a bad debt.

Some old accounts, since the eight general merchants have owed money to Yunsi on credit since Emperor Chongping came to the throne, amounted to tens of millions, which is a huge hole.

In fact, in the six years of Daoguang in the parallel time and space, the Huaiyun Transport Depot found a huge deficit of more than 5000 million taels, most of which were embezzled by salt merchants in the name of donating transportation and repaying benefits.

According to Bao Shichen of the Tongcheng school during the Daoguang period: "Since the reign of Jiaqing, the two items of Binghe have paid back only 400 million yuan. However, in the sixth year of Daoguang's inventory of treasury items, the business owed more than [-] million yuan. It can be seen that those who talk about repayment are all right-handed and left-handed. It is also advisable to ask for an order to transfer the repayment items to the arrears, and to recover the repayment and discuss it for verification."

Translation translation... During the six years from Jiaqing to Daoguang, within 30 years, the salt merchants owed the tax and silver to the Lianghuai warehouse in the name of repayment, so that they could not clear the annual amount and accumulated it year by year, resulting in a huge amount of money. deficit.

Tao Shu, governor of Liangjiang during the Daoguang period, once pointed out that the silver paid by salt merchants came from "positive inventory", and the credit period was as long as 15 to 30 years.

Tao Shu's staff mentioned, "In the ten years of Daoguang's ten years, the Lianghuai treasury has been checked, and the total loss is more than 300 million taels, which is [-] million yuan per year. The state has not collected Lianghuai money for more than [-] years. Isn't it ridiculous to use an excuse to repay the service?"

Wang Shouqi's face suddenly changed, and he felt uncomfortable, and said: "It's all about old sesame seeds and rotten millet. Even if you want to investigate, not to mention that there is no way to investigate, even Liangjiang's officialdom will not agree! The higher-ups will not agree either. !"

Said, raised the sky with his fingers.

The Supreme Emperor made six tours to the south, euphemistically saying that he did not touch the national treasury, because the money was transported from the salt merchants and the three major weaving companies in the south of the Yangtze River.

"I have to guard against it, but I still can't say it with certainty." Huang Cheng's solemn expression remained unchanged, and he reminded: "This Yongning Bo is young, but he doesn't have so many scruples. He has asked people to inquire about some details. At the beginning of his work, he used ruthless means to wipe out the Sanhe gang who made their living by water transportation. Then in Henan, he quelled the rebellion and cleaned up the government. Most recently, he was the governor of Nanhe. ! If it is allowed to intervene in the salt business, the consequences will be disastrous."

Wang Shouqi also had a look of worry in his eyes. He had inquired more news from the capital, but at this time it was not easy to make people panic.

"Now the salt tax dispute is almost over. When the Nanjing Ministry of Household Affairs comes to inquire about it, add a few items of the salt tax, and the court will charge more salt tax every year." Wang Shouqi said.

Cheng Peili nodded, and said: "That's what I mean too. I can't let this guy go south. This guy really wants to get ruthless and take the Beijing and Henan set to Yangzhou. Even if both sides are hurt, he will slander him, but I'm waiting for Yangzhou's century-old foundation to be destroyed."

In other words, try not to let the court use Yongning Bo.

Looking at the crowd who were either fearful or thinking, Bao Zuhui snorted coldly and said, "I don't even know what to be afraid of. He is an honorable man of the imperial court, and he can plunder by force. He can't cover the sky with one hand? Besides, donate and lose money every year." , When did our salt merchants not rush to the front? The imperial court left us, and the people in the south of the Yangtze River would not even want to eat a mouthful of salty food."

Wang Shouqi said: "It's not that I'm afraid, but I'm avoiding the front for the time being. He's gaining momentum now, let's avoid him for a while. This Yongning Bo is a martial artist, and he's going to lead the army to fight after all."

According to his conversation with Qi Xiang's son, this Uncle Yongning will eventually fight against those people outside the pass, and when he loses the battle, his opponent will take care of him.At that time, Yangzhou was still the Yangzhou of their salt merchants.

Huang Cheng shook his head, feeling cold in his heart, afraid of wishful thinking.

Mr. Wang is still thinking about the past of the Supreme Emperor during the Longzhi period, but the Supreme Emperor is still a few years away. I heard that since the earthquake, the body of the dragon has been deteriorating. As for people, if you have money, you still have to keep it, or you have to hold your life in your own hands. most important.

At this time, Ma Xianjun's complexion was also covered with a layer of frost, and his heart was a little bit alert.

……

……

Huai'an Mansion, Hongze Lake Embankment

Time flies, and before you know it, another three days have passed. After Jia Heng met Shen Fang, the governor of Liangjiang, and Zhao Mo, the cabinet scholar, at the Hedao Yamen in Qingjiang Pu, he did not stay in Huai'an Mansion, but went to Hongze The lake sits.

At the same time, Ding Fu under the jurisdiction of Jingying, Jiangbei Daying, and Huai'an Prefecture all supported the embankment and inspected and strengthened the embankment.

At this moment, the rain is pouring down, the sky and the earth are vast, the sky is dark, and the willow trees on the bank of the river are shaking their branches and leaves with the wind.

Surrounded by Liu Jixian and other guards in brocade clothes, Jia Heng stood on the embankment, looking at the rising water level of Hongze Lake, feeling very worried, and asked loudly to the gatekeeper who came from the Hedao Yamen: "Hongze Lake Can the lake dam withstand the rainwater?"

With the gradual rain in the northern provinces, the severity of the flood situation in Henan has also decreased a lot, and the water level of the Yellow River has continued to drop, below the warning value. The gatekeepers and [-] soldiers from the Beijing camp also came to support the Nanhe River, dispatched to various places, and rushed to repair the dikes. .

With the support from the Beijing Camp, the precarious situation in the Nanhe River has gradually calmed down, but the entire Jianghuai area is still torrential rain, and it seems that the clouds have completely moved south.

The gatekeeper withdrew his gaze and said loudly: "My lord, Hongze Lake seems to be in danger of collapsing. I'm afraid my lord should make preparations early."

Jia Heng frowned and said, "Prepare early?"

"My lord, I can't say a few words clearly," said the guard.

Jia Heng nodded, and said loudly, "Go to the grass shed to talk."

As the two talked, they turned and entered the thatched shed built on the embankment, with wooden beams and thatched grass. It is Xingyuan, Jia Heng's governor.

At this time, the gatekeeper walked up to the map of the water flow hanging on the wooden shed, pointed to the terrain on it, and said: "If the rain does not stop, the backflow of Hongze Lake will become more serious. Once the embankment of Hongze Lake cannot bear it Let's stay, if the collapse is coming, Baoying, Gaoyou, Huaiyin and other places are in danger of being annihilated, and my lord needs to take precautions early."

Jia Heng said: "Then evacuate some people first, and then make any calculations."

As he spoke, he ordered the scribes on the side to copy the official documents, and then used the seal to order Liu Jixian: "Let someone quickly write the document to Mr. Zhao Ge, and ask him to evacuate the people of Baoying County first."

After the arrangement was finished, the gatekeeper pondered and said, "My lord, if the rain continues like this, I'm afraid there will still be a breach of the embankment. We need to prepare a place for flood discharge in advance."

Gao Bin left behind a mess. Some dams could not bear too much water at all. As time passed, the risk of failure gradually increased.

Jia Heng pondered for a moment, looked aggressively, and asked: "Flood discharge? Where else can the flood be discharged now?"

To the east of Hongze Lake are prosperous places such as Baoying and Gaoyou, which can be said to be heavily taxed by the imperial court. They are densely populated and difficult to discharge floods, which is called embankment collapse.

Pointing to the map of the waters flowing through, the gatekeeper said solemnly, "Look, my lord, the Huaihe River flows from top to bottom, with both ends upturned and the middle low. Now Hongze Lake is overwhelmed and the flow of water is not smooth. It is better to release the flood in the middle reaches. A hole was opened in the middle of Wangjiaba and other places, and the water was stored in the depression, while the amount of incoming water from the upper reaches decreased, and the pressure on Hongze Lake suddenly eased, and when it lasted until the end of the month, the rainfall gradually decreased, and Huaiyang and other places were safe."

At this moment, the gatekeeper's strategy is the same as that of the previous river channel yamen, which is to discharge the flood in the middle reaches and preserve the downstream.

Jia Heng pondered for a while, and said: "This matter needs to be coordinated with the governor of Liangjiang and Jiang Zuo's chief secretary's yamen, and the people should be evacuated in advance. I will go to Huai'an Mansion right now."

At this time, there was no Anhui, only the chief secretary of Jiangzuo and the governor of Liangjiang were in charge. If there is a flood discharge, it needs to be coordinated in advance.

"My lord, the situation is urgent and needs to be done as soon as possible." The gatekeeper said, cupping his hands.

Jia Heng nodded without saying much, and then ordered Liu Jixian to prepare the horse.

(End of this chapter)