The Red Mansions

Chapter 624 Emperor Chongping: I and Jia Ziyu have long said that after summer, there will be rain a

Chapter 624 Emperor Chongping: I and Jia Ziyu have long said that after summer, a long drought will bring rain...

in flower hall

Xu Kai, a scholar of the Imperial Academy, has been sitting on a nanmu armchair waiting for a while. He is dressed in a five-rank green robe official uniform, with a face like a crown jade, slender eyebrows, and a short beard under his jaw.

Suddenly he heard footsteps coming from the outside, put down the teacup, got up from his seat, and saw a young man in python wearing a jade belt enter the flower hall.

Xu Kai's face was changed, he cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty has seen Uncle Yongning."

Jia Heng nodded and said: "Xu Shi said no courtesy, please sit down quickly."

During the conversation, the two sat down as guests and hosts, and it was not the first time they met, they had met in Beijing before.

Jia Heng looked at Xu Kai, and asked in a gentle voice: "When did Xu Shidao arrive in Luoyang?"

"The next official just arrived yesterday." Xu Kai said.

Jia Heng nodded, and said in a friendly manner: "Mr. Han Ge should have said before that now that Runing and Kaifeng in Henan Province have undergone civil uprisings, there are many shortages of officials in charge of affairs in the two places. Only Xu Shishang, who is a man of the world, comes to Henan. It is the luck of the people of the two prefectures to guard the place."

Han Huang recommended Xu Kailai to take up the post in Henan, and Jia Heng readily agreed at that time, and also intended to return Han Huang's favor in the past for helping Jia Zheng be promoted to the Secretary of General Administration.

Xu Kai lowered his eyes slightly to show his humility and said: "The lower officials came to Henan, only seeking peace and order and sharing the worries of the imperial court. Yongningbo Governor Henan Military Administration, but there is a dispatch, and I hope to assign it."

Even if it is a Qingliu in the Imperial Academy, when it comes to the place, it will have to bear with it for the time being in the face of the big officials in the frontier.

Jia Heng didn't care, and said: "Runing Mansion has experienced civil turmoil, and a thousand things are waiting for prosperity. Xu Shi said that if you know the affairs of Runing Mansion, where should you start?"

The imperial attendant in front of him had a dignified appearance, gentle and elegant, without arrogance, but this person is a good friend of Lu Li, so of course, he should not be preconceived.

Xu Kai was originally a lecturer in the Imperial Academy, and he came out obviously to know about the affairs of the prefecture, otherwise Qingliu would be in an uproar if he sent a magistrate abroad.

Xu Kai looked as usual, thought for a while, and said: "As Yongning Bo Chen He Shishu said, the first thing to govern Henan is to focus on agriculture, and the first to focus on agriculture is water conservancy. The next official is like governing Runing. He will start with farmland and water conservancy. In the past five years, Ru Ning has suffered from drought, and the harvest has failed year after year. When the disaster is severe, there are even cases of crop failure due to drought. However, Runing Prefecture has eight counties and one Sanzhou under its jurisdiction. Water from the ground, irrigate the grain fields, and at the same time, the officials will be judged by the criminal name."

Jia Heng nodded, looked Xu Kai up and down, and said, "Master Xu came prepared."

These are all things he is doing in Henan. Before Xu Kaiming came, he put in a lot of effort.

Of course, it still needs to be observed whether it is talking nonsense when seeing people, or talking nonsense when seeing ghosts.

Xu Kaidao: "I don't dare, I just read some county annals of various prefectures and counties in Henan before I came here. , If the straightness is not in vain, then there will be less complaints.”

In the end, it seems that Jia Heng's political strategy in Henan is quite respected.

"Xu Shi said that since I know about the administration of Henan in Henan, I know that I am in the township pavilions of various provinces and counties, rectifying the administration of officials, investigating unjust prisons, and eradicating evil gentry?" Jia Heng asked calmly, but his eyes fell on the opposite side On the face of youth.

In officialdom, there are mostly civil servants who are dogs to their superiors, wolves to their subordinates, and ghosts to their peers.

Listen to what he says and watch what he does.

Xu Kai pondered for a moment, then said: "According to what I know, Yongning Bo's punishers are mostly bullying men and women, powerful and evil gentry in the fish and meat village."

This is Jia Heng's disguise, using the method of punishment, to arrest people in an upright manner, and did not suppress rebellion in the county and township pavilions.

Jia Heng put down the teacup, his eyes were fixed, noncommittal, but turned to say: "Runing Mansion is a place of grain production except Henan Mansion, the fields are flat and open, but in recent years there have been many bandits and bandits, and the crops have been barren. Qian Yushan, the prefect of Ning, was more greedy for life and fear of death during the civil uprising in Runing, and defected to the enemy. My official has already told the relevant generals of the Henan Capital Division to rebuild the government from Runing Mansion. Officials know the affairs of the government and care for the people's livelihood, so that the old view of Longzhi can be revived, Xu Shi said that if you know the affairs of the Runing government, how many years can you get peace and order?"

Xu Kai knew that he was recognized, looked at the young and overbearing face on the opposite side, and said: "Master Taiwan will give you three years, and Ru Ning will be ruled."

Jia Heng was silent for a moment, and then said: "One term every three years has achieved considerable results, but this year Ru Ning first suffered chaos and then drought, the loss of household registration is serious, and the situation is even more difficult..."

As he spoke, he pondered for a while, and said: "There is still a lack of one in the feudal mansion to participate in politics. Xu Shi said, why not serve in the feudal secretary first? What's more, you have to give full play to your strengths?"

Participating in politics is from a third-rank official, which is one level higher than the magistrate. It stands to reason that if the imperial servant speaks out, most of them can be promoted to participate in politics.

Xu Kai's expression became serious, he cupped his hands and said: "I'm not afraid of hardships, I only wish to know one side, and I wish Yongning Bo will be fulfilled."

The prime minister must start from the state department. After he became a magistrate, he can also understand the local states and counties of the Han Dynasty, and he also has a solid resume for entering the cabinet in the future.

If you are a deputy in the feudal administration, it is really difficult to make actual achievements. Besides, if you are a magistrate, you may not be able to be promoted to the chief minister after you have made achievements.

Jia Heng paused, looked at the earnest Xu Kai, and secretly thought, this is an official with political resources in the court, and the party in charge is not afraid of being welded in place.

Just as he was about to speak, suddenly, his brows frowned, he looked at the suddenly dim light in the room, and raised his eyes to look outside. At some point, the sky seemed to be darker, and he whispered: "Is it going to rain?"

While talking, he got up from his seat and walked to the eaves of the corridor to look at the sky. He saw that the sun was covered by dark clouds. It seemed that there were clusters of dark clouds gathering in the sky, and the wind blew up. The originally hot weather suddenly became much cooler and happier, but The lanterns on the corridor and the branches and leaves of the trees under the courtyard wall also swayed.

It really complied with what he said the day before yesterday, the sky in June can change as soon as it is said.

Xu Kai also got up from his seat, came under the eaves, raised his eyes to look at the sky outside, and said solemnly: "It's the busy season at this time, and the sky seems to want to rain."

Although the harvest in Henan was poor due to the drought, it was not yet the end of the harvest. It was the busy season of farming, and the rain would definitely affect the wheat harvest.

Jia Heng frowned and said, "It's like a shower."

Xu Kai: "???"

Jia Heng said: "This is a thunderstorm, but this is the prelude to the rainstorm after summer."

The embankment of the Kaifeng section of the Yellow River has been repaired and reinforced, but the section of Guide Mansion has not been completely repaired, and it will not be completed until the end of the month. Of course, God will not wait for him to repair the embankment before it rains, and now there are signs of it.

In fact, the rainstorm turned flood plains did not suddenly pour water from the sky, and then the Yellow River roared in an instant, and the flood season came... Well, that is fantasy.

Instead, from the first rain, intermittently, it may be continuous with torrential rain and cloudy rain for a month, especially in the Central Plains and Huainan. Huainan is called the rainy season.

The Dragon Boat Festival on May [-]th, which is the middle of June in the Gregorian calendar, was originally a rainy time.

In the Dream of Red Mansions, Baoyu flirted with Jin Chuan in Mrs. Wang’s room on the Dragon Boat Festival, then ran away, and then saw Lingguan Hua Qiang. Remember heartfelt feet.

Xu Kai frowned, looked at Jia Heng in amazement, and asked, "Uncle Yongning said earlier that the rainstorm would turn into floods, so it should be here?"

Jia Heng looked serious, and said: "I didn't say this, it's just the first game, and there will be a few more games in the future, Xu Shi said, I won't keep you here, and you have to go immediately after the arrangements for the harvesting of summer grain." Guide Mansion inspects the embankment."

Fortunately, the Central Plains has been dry for too long, and many small rivers and lakes have dried up. There is still some time, which should be enough to repair the embankments.

Xu Kai looked solemn, cupped his hands and said: "Then I will take my leave."

As he said that, he left Jia's mansion with a lot of worries.

Jia Heng called Xu Kai and said, "Wait."

Under Xu Kai's surprised gaze, Jia Heng's face was as calm as ever, and he ordered a servant girl: "Come here, bring an umbrella to Xu Shisao, if you go back to the post house, you will get sick if you get wet in the rain. "

The servant girl responded, then trotted all the way, took an umbrella from the wing room, and handed it over.

Xu Kai had complicated thoughts, cupped his hands and said, "Thank you, Uncle Yongning."

After saying that, he took the umbrella and left Jia's mansion along the long corridor.

After Xu Kai left the mansion, he looked back at the sky above the gate tower of Jia's mansion, and saw dark clouds gathering in the sky, and there were arcs of light in the thick clouds, which were clearly the sky before the rainstorm.

Hastily opened the umbrella, and sure enough, Western Sky heard a "click" and a loud "rumble".

The raindrops that were originally gathered in the clouds couldn't hold on no matter how hard they were, and it rained "cracking and falling". After a while, the entire street was shrouded in thick rain and fog.

Xu Kai looked solemn, held up his umbrella, and walked along the street to the post house.

The first rainstorm after the beginning of summer fell unexpectedly on the land of Henan during the 15th Dragon Boat Festival in Chongping.

On Jia Heng's side, she came to the back house along the verandah from the flower hall, just in time to meet Princess Xianning, who was wearing a cyan long dress and a flying fairy bun, with a crystal clear and beautiful appearance.

"Sir, it's raining." Xianning stood under the eaves of the front porch of the moon gate, looking at the rain scene in the courtyard. He raised his eyebrows, turned to look at the young man opposite him with bright eyes, and repeated, "Mr. ,It's raining.

"Yes, it would be better if it was half a month later, so that there would be more time to rush to repair the embankment, and the busy farming season would pass quickly." Jia Heng said with a sigh.

Princess Xianning came so close, her icy-muscled and beautiful face showed concern, she said in a clear voice, "Sir, are you going to Kaifeng Mansion?"

As he spoke, he went to the back house with Jia Heng. At this moment, the sky was rumbling with thunder and lightning. Not long after, it was raining cats and dogs. The heat of the day.

Jia Heng said: "Go to Guide Mansion, Kaifeng Mansion is fine, and we will set off in Henan Mansion to arrange for the harvest of summer grain later. By the way, we have to send letters and news to Shenjing Feige."

Princess Xianning said briskly, "Sir, if it's raining, even pigeons won't be able to fly over."

Jia Heng smiled, and the originally solemn mood eased a bit, and said: "If you don't tell me, I'll forget it, then I will send the memorial in a hurry, beware of summer floods in the north, and rainy season in Huaiyang." .”

Princess Xianning thought for a while, and said softly: "Sir, can those people in the court calm down now?"

These days, she also heard rumors from her fourth uncle and aunt that it was a waste of time and money.

Jia Heng shook his head and said: "The long drought turns into rain. It's normal to rain. I'm afraid that this rain will really cause floods. Once the Yellow River bursts, it will become a country for thousands of miles."

"Sir, should I also go to Guide Mansion with you?" Princess Xianning said suddenly with bright eyes.

The two have already entered the hall in the backyard. At this moment, Princess Jinyang, Princess Qinghe, Yuan Chun, Tan Chun, and Xiang Yun are all waiting in the flower hall.

Princess Jinyang smiled, looked at the two people who came in, and said, "Where are you two going, tell us too?"

Facing concerned gazes, Jia Heng said, "I went to Guide Mansion overnight to inspect the embankment."

Seeing worry on Yuan Chun's plump and beautiful face, he asked, "Brother Heng, is it because of the heavy rain?"

Jia Heng nodded and said: "The rainy season, this year's summer flood, I'm afraid it's coming, the time may be a little rushed, some river embankments have not been completely completed, and need to be repaired, I will go and see for myself to be relieved."

He wasn't too worried about the section of the Yellow River in Henan. More than [-] soldiers and civilians worked together to form the Huaiyang section.

The few people who spoke in one sentence became worried.

Princess Jinyang said softly, "Ziyu, let's eat first."

"Well, let's eat first." Jia Heng sat down and started to eat.

This time it rained from the end of the noon to the beginning of the evening, and then it became lighter, and then the rainstorm gradually stopped, and then the sun appeared on the sky, and it seemed to clear up, but the clouds in the sky were still the same. This is the cloud phenomenon of summer frontal rain.

Jia Heng finished his lunch in the mansion and wrote a memorial to Liu Jixian to send the brocade clothes to Shenjing with an urgent delivery of [-] miles, and then went to the Henan government office to summon the officials of Henan government at [-]:[-].

At this moment, the government offices in Henan Province are crowded with people, and the officials gathered together, discussing a lot.

Xie Xingke, Prime Minister of the Henan Government, said: "It rained for a while and then stopped, what is the situation?"

"I'm afraid I have to ask God about it." Wu Zongyi, the general judge of Henan Province, sighed and continued.

Henan Governor Meng Jinwen frowned and said in a deep voice, "This kind of torrential rain hasn't fallen for two or three years. I'm afraid it's not a good omen."

In the official hall, everyone in the Henan Mansion was talking about it.

The northern provinces of the Han Dynasty have experienced severe droughts for many years, and there are even sunny months in summer. It is true that such a heavy rain has not been seen for two years, even if it is short, but the appearance of the sky change just now has been in the memory of Henan government officials for several years. Never seen.

"Master Taiwan is here." At this moment, the voice of Jinyi Mansion Guard full of enthusiasm came from the back hall, and the originally noisy voices in the official hall stopped.

Then Jia Heng was dressed in python and obeyed the back hall of the government office, entered the official hall, sat behind the case, and looked down at the officials of the Henan government.

"I've seen you before." The officials of the Henan government said in salute.

Jia Heng looked at the officials below and said, "Everyone, please excuse yourself."

"Thank you, sir." Everyone's voices rang out in unison in the official hall, and then they got up one after another.

Jia Heng looked calm, and said: "Everyone just saw it. The first rainstorm after summer came, but it was not a good thing for me in Henan. Now it is the busy time of farming, and the people are rushing to harvest grain. It coincides with the big change in the sky. Officials in the prefecture and county of Henan Province will organize manpower to help the common people rush to harvest summer grain, and this official will also lead his personal guards to Guide Mansion to supervise the repair of the embankment."

Although the dilapidated condition of the Yellow River embankment in Guide Mansion is slightly better, it still needs to be repaired for safety.

The officials of the Henan Province below were startled when they heard the words, and looked at each other in blank dismay.

Yongning Bo is going to Guide Mansion, is there really a fear of heavy rains and floods?

With a worried expression on his face, Meng Jinwen cupped his hands and said, "Master Taiwan, will there be continuous rain this summer like the previous five years?"

Jia Heng said: "No one can say for sure, but it's always good to take precautions."

Then start assigning tasks.

After a while, a clerk entered the official hall and reported: "Master Taitai, Xu Kai, a scholar of the Imperial Academy, handed over the greeting card, saying that he came to see you."

Jia Heng was slightly surprised, and ordered: "Let him wait in the side hall, the official is arranging official duties, and he will go over later."

Then he explained to the officials of the Henan government, and in the name of the governor, sent an order to the Henan government to step up the harvest of summer grain, and then came to the side hall.

"Your official has met Mr. Taizu." Xu Kai clasped his hands.

"Forget it." Jia Heng asked: "Didn't Minister Xu go back to the post house? When will he leave for Runing to take up his post?"

Xu Kai didn't answer, but asked: "Master Zhitai is going to Guide to build the embankment?"

Jia Heng nodded, with a worried expression on his face, he said: "A section of the river embankment in Guide is still under construction, and I still have some concerns. In the past few months, the embankment and the diversion river can be dug well, and I can feel more at ease. .”

Xu Kai pondered for a moment, fixed his eyes on the python-clothed boy on the opposite side, and said: "I am willing to go with Yongning Bo."

Jia Heng frowned and said, "Why?"

Xu Kai explained: "After I learned about the incident in Runing Mansion, I have extensively repaired water conservancy. Now that the embankment of the Yellow River is being built in full swing, I will take a look at the repair of the river first. I have no experience in this matter before I go down."

Jia Heng's face was stunned, and there was a hint of admiration in the depths of his eyes, and he said: "It's okay, the repair of the river involves all aspects, and you need to know it well. Wait a minute, you will go back to settle down at home, and wait a while. The government office is waiting for this official, and I will go to Guide Mansion overnight with this official."

This servant Xu is a down-to-earth Qingliu.

Xu Kai cupped his hands and said: "Then I will leave."

……

……

Shenjing, three days later, Daming Palace, Hanyuan Hall

Emperor Chongping summoned the cabinet ministers, military aircraft department, six ministers, ministers and other ministers to discuss the matter together. At this moment, there are more than ten important court ministers below, and the darkness is overwhelming.

The middle-aged emperor's face was cold and hard, and he didn't see much expression. He held the memorial in his hand, but there was a trace of strangeness in his voice, and said: "The memorial that Uncle Yongning delivered in Henan, have you all seen it? Jia Ziyu and I It has been said for a long time that after summer, long droughts will bring rain, and the cabinet immediately issued an order for the northern provinces to beware of rain and floods and rush to harvest summer grain."

Jia Heng's memorial was directed by the Secretary of General Administration, who proposed that after the beginning of summer in Henan Province, the first heavy rain fell, reminding the court to pay attention to the flood disaster.

But at this moment, what Emperor Chongping said, almost has the sense of sight of "Kobe and I scored 81 points together...".

Yang Guochang's face was ugly, and he said in a cang voice: "My lord, there are no memorials delivered in the northern provinces at the moment. I think it's just raining in Henan. After summer, the sky is changing. Henan does not rain for many years, and rain is also a common occurrence. Now the provinces are speeding up the harvesting of summer grain and drying it quickly, even if there is rain, it will not hinder the collection of summer grain, and I hope the Holy One can rest assured."

The emperor's words to the children are like gods, so what if it rains?

It's just the next rain, and Xiao'er himself mentioned in the memorial, "The so-called thunderstorm rain, the rain is accompanied by thunder, and it comes and goes..."

Of course there is more to come.

Emperor Chongping's eyes flickered, and he asked, "What about the Jianghuai area? Is there a report from the Nanhe River Yamen? The memorial of Du Jitong, the Governor of Water Transport, has the rainy season come in the Jianghuai area this year?"

The Meiyu flood occurred during the Longzhi period, and Emperor Chongping naturally had an impression, but the Yellow River has calmed down a lot due to the severe drought in the north in recent years.

At this time, Han Huang cupped his hands and said: "Reporting to the Holy Majesty, there is no report from the land of Jianghuai, maybe it is still on the way, and I don't know."

After hesitating for a while, he finally added a sentence.

At this time, the sun is still shining brightly in the Jianghuai area, the sky is clear, and there is not a single cloud. It will obviously take some time for the rainy clouds to move to the Jianghuai area.

Emperor Chongping said: "Immediately write to the governor of Nanhe Yamen, Peng Ye, the deputy governor of the left, and Yude, the governor of the right capital, to inspect the embankment for summer floods, and order the governor of Huaiyang and the governor of water transport Du Ji Tong, pay attention to the sky at all times, if there is indeed a rainy season in Huaiyang, report it as soon as six hundred miles away, and there must be no mistake."

"Yes." Han Huang cupped his hands and said yes.

Emperor Chongping said: "According to Uncle Yongning, this may be a torrential rain in summer. The northern provinces must be careful of floods and step up the construction of water conservancy. The land along the Yellow River must not be lost!"

Below Zhao Mo frowned, he was not used to the sentence pattern of Emperor Chongping.

According to Yongning Bo...

Not to mention ten thousand steps back, it was just a rain, why did it come to this?

(End of this chapter)