The Red Mansions

Chapter 326

Chapter 326

Ningguo Mansion

In the hall, noises sounded from time to time, and to some extent, there was even a sense of déjà vu of Rongqing Hall.

Mother Jia and Qin Keqing narrated about the wives of each family, the rules and some precautions when entering the palace, Qin Keqing listened attentively, her peach blossom face was bright and charming.

Jia Heng was talking to Daiyu, Xiangyun and Tanchun at the side.

Tanchun said, "brother, are you going to the yamen today?"

Jia Heng nodded and said: "I want to go to the capital camp to deal with the aftermath, and I also need to go to Jinyi Mansion. The affairs of Wucheng Bingmasi have been handed over to Mr. Fan. If you have to record things and copy newspapers, you can help me read them." look."

Tanchun frowned, and responded with a smile.

Jia Heng looked at Daiyu and asked about her daily diet, Daiyu replied softly, and Zijuan at the side added something.

Jia Heng asked: "Sister, did uncle write a letter these two days?"

Daiyu shook her head, a pair of bright eyes that were as moist as autumn water seemed to be somewhat melancholy.

Jia Heng said softly: "I'll go back to Jinyi Mansion and ask, and then talk to my sister."

Daiyu gave a "hmm" and glanced at the young man, her bright Qiushui eyes shimmering slightly.

In fact, she wanted to ask, since the last time the imperial doctor of the Imperial Hospital went to see her, Brother Heng hadn't been to her for a long time.

Compared with Baoyu's wandering around, Jia Heng was busy with affairs during this time, and he didn't even go to the residence of Princess Jinyang, so he didn't have extra time to visit Daiyu's courtyard to ask for warmth.

Jia Heng sat for a while, looked at Mother Jia and Qin Keqing, and said, "Old lady, sit down first, I'm going to the yamen."

Jia Mu nodded with a smile and said, "Go and do your work."

Suddenly remembered something, called Jia Heng again, and asked, "Uncle Baoyu, have you sent someone over to offer condolences?"

Jia Heng turned to Qin Keqing and said, "Have you sent someone to offer condolences?"

As for Wang Ziteng, it's really hard for him to go in person.

How did you tell the generals of the Beijing camp back then that Wang Ziteng's illegal activities in the army were inspected, and he looked like he was in the same situation as him.

Although it was said that the deceased was the oldest, firstly it was not Wang Ziteng who died, and secondly, he came to worship at the door in person, which was based on the closeness of the relationship.

Of course, if he came to the door in person, in the eyes of all the men and women in the palace, it would seem that he came to show off his might.

Qin Keqing looked at Youshi and said, "Sister-in-law You, has the person you ordered passed?"

Youshi nodded and said, "It's time to leave."

Looking at this scene, Mrs. You smiled more deeply, and thought to herself, although the housewife is in charge of the house, her eldest daughter seems to be in charge of some things in the backyard?

Turning to look at her two biological daughters, she saw Third Sister You staring at herself angrily.

The old lady You felt depressed for a while, and cursed secretly, didn't the old lady have to come to the door to see people's faces in person because of the marriage of these two little hooves?

Jia Mu sighed: "After all, they are relatives. If Brother Heng can go there in person, he should go to express his condolences. We need to prevent others from gossiping."

"What the old lady said is true." Jia Heng nodded and said nothing more. He went back and changed into a military officer's robe embroidered with a python pattern, a black cloak, and a sword of the Son of Heaven. Go to Jinyi Mansion.

Jinyi Mansion

Jia Heng stepped into it, and now he came to this place again with the title of Governor in Jinyi and wielded the Sword of Heaven. As soon as he arrived at the door, he was met with the sound of saluting respectfully.

"I've seen the governor." The captain in Jinyi, who was guarding the door, cupped his hands in salute.

I have already heard the news that Jia Heng was promoted to the post of Jinyi Commander.

Jia Heng didn't care too much, he drove straight in and entered the inner room. A dozen or so households from Jinyi Mansion, led by Jinyi Tongzhi Ji Yingtian, welcomed them to Yimen, and said in unison: "I have seen you, Dudu."

Jia Heng glanced over the thousands of households in brocade clothes, and said: "Everyone, please forgive me, you are also acquaintances."

As he spoke, he waved his hands and went straight to the Secretary's Office.

The officials who were busy going through the bureau got up one after another to salute.

Jia Heng sat down, with a golden knife on his horse, a black cloak propped up on one arm, and a serious face under the black hat with a mountain character, he said: "Everyone, I have been honored by the graciousness of the Holy Lord, and I have been awarded the title of Governor in Brocade Clothes. Come and reorganize The Son of Heaven is close to the army, and secondly, he also helped to rectify the Beijing camp. You should know that the chaos in the Beijing camp caused heavy damage to the Tiqi of Jinyi Mansion, but it safeguarded the peace of the capital, so that millions of people in the capital would not be destroyed by the war. What a great achievement."

When everyone below heard the words, they all held their heads high.

Jia Hengdao: "Properly arrange and provide compensation for the Jinyi Tiqi who died in the king's affairs this time. Ladies and gentlemen, please draw up a list of children. I will report to the Holy One, and I can share with the soldiers and horses of the five cities." The names of the martyred soldiers will be recorded on the monument together.”

The generals of the Liwei Camp rebelled, and the Jinyi Tiqi and the soldiers of the five cities fought with the Beijing camp, causing a lot of damage.

There are thousands of households below, their complexions move slightly.

They also heard the news that the soldiers and horses of the five cities were going to erect a monument for the martyred soldiers.

In fact, such things as tree monuments, even if the gentry in the village build bridges and pave roads, they must remember the monuments and narrate them. This is not against the taboo of the emperor as imagined, but it involves military generals, and it is more pressure from the civil society.

Jia Heng said: "But the reorganization of the Beijing camp can no longer cause such turmoil. You are all pro-military guards, loyal and righteous men, and you must escort the reorganization of the Beijing camp, clear the nightclubs, and be careful to prevent disasters from happening again."

Everyone looked solemn, Qi said yes.

Jia Heng said: "Everyone, now we must strictly control all the generals and schools who have been dismissed in the Beijing camp, and grasp their daily words and deeds. In addition, the camps have been paid for their empty salary. In the past ten years, they have to investigate their whereabouts secretly."

When Wang Ziteng reorganized the army, only a small half of the generals and schools were eliminated. It can be said that there are still many generals and schools that need to be rectified.

Check the vacancies, recover the arrears, these must be done, and the general school must be evaluated.

His strategy will only be more stable and thorough than that of Wang Ziteng, and he will not be soft-hearted and condone traitors just because of the previous incidents.

Ji Yingtian hesitated and said: "Lord Jia, recently many detectives who are skilled in meticulous matters in the guards have been transferred southward, and there may be insufficient manpower."

Jia Heng paused for a moment, knowing that most likely it was Lu and Qiu who transferred Jin Yiwei to the north and south.

Ji Yingtian said: "Lord Lu mobilized a lot of people to go south, and the governor, Qiu Liang, is also sending Jinyi to the north to investigate."

Jia Heng pressed the official seal of the Jinyi Hall in his hand, and said: "Chou Zhenfu envoy will immediately step down as the envoy and go to Beiping on business. It is not appropriate to send more investigations in Beijing, but Lu Tongzhi..."

These people, perhaps seeing that the Jinyi Mansion is easy to use, dig the walls of the Jinyi Mansion from everywhere, such as Lu Jingyao, who was not easy to restrain before, but now he is the governor of Jinyi and wields the Sword of Heaven. If he wants to completely control the Jinyi Mansion, he must be aware of this phenomenon intolerable.

Ji Ying Tiantou took a peek at the young dignitary above him, saw his expression was worried, and took the opportunity to say: "Not long ago, Lu Tongzhi said that he would assist the cabinet and the Ministry of Households to rectify the salt affairs in the southern province, and sent spies to the south. It is said that a lot of people were lost."

Jia Heng frowned, and said in a deep voice, "A lot of people have been lost? What's going on here?"

Ji Yingtian looked solemn, and said: "The letter sent by Feige this morning, the detective Tiqi who went south to the Huaihe River, stayed in an inn in Huai'an County, was murdered by a group of bandits, and killed more than 20 brothers. , Not long ago, the detectives sent to the southern province were also murdered by local bandits."

Because Lu Jingyao sent Jinyi Mansion's detective, Tiqi, to the south to investigate the chain of interests related to the Lianghuai salt transportation, collect criminal evidence, and help rectify the salt affairs, so he didn't make much fanfare, and he didn't even deal with local officials.

Jia Heng paused slightly, and said, "What's going on?"

Ji Yingtian said: "The local government's investigation revealed that the thieves took advantage of the wealth and murdered their lives, but the lower officials thought that they must have gone south to investigate and stationed in the Yangzhou Jinyi Guards, leaking the news, which led to the disaster of killing themselves. Nanzhen Fusi will send people south to investigate the details, but the lower officials think that it may not be easy to investigate this matter."

Now that the world is in turmoil, there are many bandits and robbers, Jinyi Mansion Tiqi is going south, and he dare not say where he has passed, but he will not violate it.

Jia Heng's face was slightly cold, and he said, "It's really too dark to see."

Ji Yingtian pretended to smile bitterly and said: "Master Lu is good at mobilizing people from the Weifu to go south. The lower officials have blocked them before, but he is determined to go his own way. The lower officials and their peers have nothing to do."

Youdao is a person under the eaves and has to bow his head. The Jinyi Mansion is now fully taken over by this Mr. Jia. Now he can only lie dormant quietly, waiting for the opportunity, not to mention other things. If you want to rectify the Beijing camp, you don't necessarily have time to be a director. It is necessary to find someone to act as an agent for Jinyi's affairs. If Lao Lu is kicked out, he will have a chance.

"Where is Lu Jingyao now?" Jia Heng asked.

At this time, a thousand households said: "Lord Lu should still be at the residence at the moment."

Jia Heng said in a deep voice, "Call Lu Jingyao over to ask questions."

The thousand households were startled when they heard the words, clasped their fists in agreement, and hurried away.

Jia Heng looked at the thousands of households in Jinyi Mansion, and said: "Yangzhou Salt Affairs, the imperial court has sent a commissioner to the south to supervise it, but Lu Tongzhi intervened arbitrarily, harassing the enemy, causing the loss of soldiers and generals. I am the governor of Jinyi, so I can't just sit idly by!"

Ji Yingtian cupped his hands and said, "Your Excellency's words are true."

After a while, Lu Jingyao came from the outside, with an indifferent expression, entered the hall, cupped his hands at the young dignitary above him and said, "I have seen Mr. Jia."

Jia Heng said: "Lu Tongzhi, you sent a spy to the southern province without authorization, intervened in the Lianghuai saltworks, and caused the brothers in the mansion to die in the line of duty, is there such a thing?"

Lu Jingyao was stunned for a moment, then frowned and said, "I don't know what Master Jia means by this?"

Ji Yingtian said: "Lao Lu, the team you sent to Yangzhou this morning to pass the letter to Feige has been killed."

Hearing this, Lu Jingyao was shocked. He took a deep breath, pretended to be calm, and said with an expression of righteous indignation: "I, Jin Yi Tiqi, is the emperor's pro-army, and I am on business in various provinces. It is sad, but it is also heroic, and we must seek justice for them!"

Jia Heng frowned and said: "The Lianghuai salt affairs involve a lot of interests and are complicated. Why did Lu Tongzhi act recklessly?"

Lu Jingyao's face changed slightly, and he said clearly: "Master Jia, at that time, the imperial court wanted to reform the salt affairs, and the subordinate officials were the commanders of the Jinyi Mansion, and the Holy Majesty was appointed to act as an agent for the affairs of the Jinyi Mansion. , Ti Qi, there is no violation of the rules, right?"

Jia Heng sneered coldly: "I have never overstepped the rules! It's just that Lu Tongzhi did not accomplish enough, but failed! I am now ordered by the Holy Majesty to supervise the Jinyi Mansion, and I cannot turn a blind eye to this chaos. Lu Tongzhi, I will now order you with the Son of Heaven Sword , don’t do it recklessly again!”

Being reprimanded in front of all the brocade clothes, especially seeing Ji Yingtian's teasing eyes that seemed to be half a smile, Lu Jingyao's face was blue and red, his fists were clenched tightly, and he didn't say a word.

The situation is stronger than the people!

Jia Heng said: "Let's all go down and get busy, and Qu Lang, a thousand households in brocade clothes, will stay behind."

The crowd answered in unison.

Jia Heng and Qu Lang walked to the inner hall, retreated to the left and right, and sat down again.

Jia Heng lifted the teapot, poured a cup of fragrant tea for Qu Lang, lowered his voice, and asked, "Qu Qianhu, do you have any clues about what you explained earlier?"

The matter in question is naturally related to the matter of King Zhongshun, after more than half a month, there should be some clues.

Qu Lang was flattered and took the teacup, and said in a low voice: "My lord, I have found out some things, here are the details, and I will present it to my lord."

While speaking, he took out a few neatly folded papers from the middle of his arms and handed them over.

Jia Heng nodded secretly, took the paper, unfolded it, and read it with downcast eyes, and sneered in his heart as he flipped through it.

Sure enough, a large mouse was thrown into the granary, and it was almost impossible not to steal it.

King Zhongshun lived extravagantly on weekdays. If he relied on the prince's salary alone, it would be impossible to maintain such a huge expenditure. He is in charge of the House of Internal Affairs, so why not fill his pockets with all hands?

And since he was ordered to supervise the repair of the imperial mausoleum, he has embezzled labor funds, shoddy construction and stone materials, and bought and sold by force.

"These are enough to disgrace King Zhongshun, but if you want to overthrow him, you need to find evidence of his conspiracy." Jia Heng thought about it, stacking up the incriminating materials again, thinking that if he waits a little longer, he can find someone else for the incriminating evidence Let it out.

After thinking for a while, he stared at Qu Lang with his bright eyes, and asked, "Continue to be stared at, and another thing, I wonder if I can trust Qu Qianhu?"

Hearing this, Qu Lang's heart was shaken, and he said solemnly: "In the past, Cuihua Mountain shared weal and woe with my lord, and went to the enemy's nest together. I have today's officials, and I have to carry it with my lord. Please give me your orders."

He had already heard the news that Qiu Liang, the governor of Beizhen Fusi, had been seconded to the north, and the post of governor was vacant.

Jia Heng nodded, and said: "This matter involves a member of the official family, but it also involves the safety of the defense lines of Datong, Taiyuan and other military towns. You need to send careful people to investigate this matter."

The matter of Jia Amnesty, or in other words, the merchants leading the way in Jin, need to send people to investigate, and when the time comes, they will be uprooted.

Qu Lang saw that the young dignitary on the opposite side spoke seriously, his heart couldn't help but move.

Jia Heng took down the pen and paper from the desk beside him, brushed and wrote for a while, and handed it to Qu Lang.

Qu Lang took it, his eyes narrowed slightly, seeing the details of the task recorded above, his complexion gradually turned serious.

Jia Heng said: "I'm just suspicious. You can ask someone to investigate secretly. Especially in the Jin and Dai areas, merchants traveled north and south, and those who secretly communicated with the enemy in the north, Jinyi Mansion has the duty of police and spy. They eat the inside and outside, and if they find evidence, they will never tolerate it."

He suspects that Jia She's smuggling into the grassland is not an isolated phenomenon, there should be a huge smuggling chain, such as the merchants in Jindi, who were leading the way in the late Ming Dynasty in the previous life, and in this life, they are flirting with Jiannu.

If he can find evidence of Shanxi merchants betraying the country, he can capture this generation and copy the goods of Shanxi merchants to enrich the treasury. I think the emperor will be happy to see this.

It's just that these merchants don't know which gods are behind them, and there is no solid evidence, so it is not good to act rashly.

Qu Lang said: "My lord, I will arrange someone to do it."

Jia Heng said: "The investigators sent to Yangzhou City have recently sent a summary."

It's better to ask about Daiyu's promise to Daiyu earlier.

Qu Lang said in a loud voice: "The humble official has been paying attention to the newspapers of Yangzhou. There is nothing unusual recently. It's just that Lin Yushi, together with several officials from the Yamen of the prefect of Yangzhou and the transshipment department of the two Huaihe capitals, discussed the disadvantages of salt affairs, and re-determined the salt. Regarding the matter of verification and cancellation, there are quite big differences, and the imperial court's imperial envoy is also on the way."

The so-called disagreement is more of a disagreement between the Transshipment Department of the Huaihe River Capital and the Salt Patrol Office of the Huaihe River and the Huaihe River. The local officials of the prefecture and county will send Wu Bian to inspect the illegal salt. There is no way to talk about the disadvantages.

Jia Heng's eyes drooped slightly, knowing that the two sides are still playing games.

Jia Heng said: "Which party was responsible for poisoning the Linyanyuan last time, have you ever found out?"

Qu Lang shook his head, and said: "This case is complicated and confusing, in such a hurry, it's hard to find the mastermind behind it."

Jia Heng said: "Salt officials, local officials, and salt merchants are all three forces. Now the imperial court has sent imperial envoys to supervise the case. There will be results in the near future. Order our people in the south to protect Lin Yushi."

Even the inspectors who patrol salt and censors can be poisoned and assassinated. If the imperial envoys don't have the courage of all the villains in the area, they will probably either fall into the sand or return home.

Qu Lang nodded and left as ordered.

After Qu Lang left, Jia Heng didn't stay long, left Jinyi Mansion and headed for the Beijing camp.

(End of this chapter)