The Red Mansions

Chapter 1185 Jia Heng: He has no other extravagant wishes, let Li Xiaowan...

Jinling, Ningguofu
In the backyard, the cold wind is howling outside, but inside the hall is warm and the fragrance is refreshing.

Zhu Jinchai was dressed in bright clothes and sat together talking. Because it was the first day of the New Year, everyone had changed into new coats and skirts. Last night was also lively on New Year's Eve, but because Jia Heng was missing, something was missing after all.

Xiang Yun's red, apple-shaped face showed a look of unhappiness as he said, "Brother Heng finally came back once. He was not here on the eve of the New Year, and he was not at home on the first day of the first lunar month."

Tanchun chuckled and said, "Didn't I follow the princess sister to the eldest princess's house today? I guess I won't be able to come back until the second grade of junior high school."

Sister Feng smiled and said, "Brother Heng ran away in both directions. He will probably be back in the evening."

"It's even more lively here." Bao Qin pursed her pink lips and said softly.

I don’t know if it’s because of what happened to my sister earlier, but Brother Heng is not coming back now.

Not far away, Baochai was wearing a honey-colored coat and skirt, sitting alone, with a look of thought on her plump, fair face.

Zhen Lan said: "Brother Heng said he would be back this afternoon."

Daiyu's smoky eyebrows relaxed, and her bright, starry eyes couldn't help but look at the girl in surprise. Her voice was delicate and soft, and she asked curiously: "How does Sister Lan know?"

Zhen Lan said softly: "Sister Xi'er and I will go back to Zhen's house tomorrow. Brother Heng said he would go to Zhen's house."

Daiyu: "..."

Is this taking the bride Guining to her parents' home?
Baochai couldn't help but turn his eyes to look at the girl, her moist apricot eyes gleaming thoughtfully.

This Miss Zhen San is really unassuming and discreet. Maybe he likes to be like this with few things to do.

Baochai's face was as white as snow and as beautiful as snow. She pursed her pink lips, held the handkerchief in her hand, and was thinking about something in her heart.

It can be said that after the previous incident of asking the palace for a marriage came out, Baochai now only has all kinds of regrets when she thinks about it.

If she could get to know her better, I don't know what he would think of her in the future.

Sister Feng changed the topic, her radiant face was bright and charming, her smile showed her sparkling cherry teeth, and she said: "It's time to go and have a look. I've been talking about going back to my parents' house for the past two days."

It's just that her enemy no longer accompanies her to Wang's house.

While everyone was talking with different thoughts, the nanny outside came over and said: "Girl, the master of the Li family is here to visit."

Li Wan, who was sitting aside and listening to Zhu Jinchai's talk, suddenly showed a look of surprise on his elegant and graceful face.

Father, he is coming.

However, another nanny came over and said, "Master Lin is here too."

Daiyu's pretty face gradually showed a look of joy.

It turned out that when Jia Heng returned to Jinling, Li Shouzhong and Lin Ruhai received news, one about the new policy, and the other about the establishment of offices and offices of the General Department of Customs and Taxation after the new year.

At this moment, Li Shouzhong was talking to Lin Ruhai in the hall. The servant slowly left after offering him tea.

Lin Ruhai looked at the middle-aged official with an elegant face and asked, "Brother Li, how is the implementation of the new policy in Anhui?"

Li Shouzhong mused: "It's not going well. There are still things happening in the local area that are obstructing the New Deal. There are many cases of concealment and cover-up in the land. In Anhui, there are many deficiencies in the verification staff. They are originally from Jiangnan. It has a lot of influence both inside and outside the government. In addition, there are military settlements and other fields that are difficult to clear. There are also many settlements for generals and generals in the Jiangnan and Jiangbei camps."

Anhui's Xun Qi Na Tian is more complicated than Jiangsu's, because in addition to involving the land of the gentry who became officials, there are also other matters such as military soldiers' farming.

Lin Ruhai frowned and said, "Don't you want to clear the land of the military camp?"

Li Shouzhong sighed and said: "The guards of Taiping Prefecture have had some conflicts with the officials. The officials of the prefecture and county have been seriously injured. We, the Civil and Military Department, want to seek justice, but we have been suppressed by the Nanjing Military Department. Recently During the Chinese New Year, it was even delayed.”

Lin Ruhai looked calm and said in a cold voice: "How dare this soldier hurt someone?"

As the New Deal is implemented across the country, it is foreseeable that all kinds of magical things will happen.

"Where is the Taiping Prefecture Guard Commander? Have you ever punished the relevant people?" Lin Ruhai asked again.

He vaguely felt that this matter was unusual, and he was afraid that it was because of Zi Yu.

Li Shouzhong couldn't hide the anger on his face, and said in a deep voice: "Xie Jian, the commander of the Taiping Prefecture Guards, thinks that the capital division has decided to settle the matter and refuses to hand over the injured people. The newly appointed Anhui capital commander Yue Tai also Because of this, I can only ask Ziyu to handle the matter."

It can be said that Anhui has just established a province and the regulations have not yet been sorted out. However, Li Shouzhong has not opened up the situation for the time being, and has not even suppressed Anhui's commander-in-chief.

Lin Ruhai said in a low voice: "We'll see how to deal with it when Ziyu comes over. The matter involves military generals and military camps. As the Minister of Military Aircraft, he is also within his responsibilities."

It can be said that with the implementation of the new policy of clearing Zhang Tianmu, some high-ranking officials from the bureaucratic group have set fire to military villages to test the further movements of the court and Jia Heng.

We can induce and persuade the nobles and relatives in Jiangsu and other places, and we can threaten and coerce the bureaucrats and gentry. So, do we also need to clean up the local military leaders in the military camps?
The local military leaders are not like the gentry and scholars. They can at most scold them in the Jinling Di newspaper or the scholarly public opinion. However, the local military leaders hold the barrel of a gun. If one of them is not good and forces these people to rebel, it will really be shaken. The foundation of the country.

With the implementation of the New Deal across the country, such things will continue to happen one after another.

For example, the northern provinces have more land per capita than the southern provinces, but the land is not as fertile as the south. If the land is collected in proportion, it will definitely increase the burden on farmers.

In addition, the land occupation by military leaders in northern border towns in Shanxi, Hebei and other places is often done in the name of military settlements, which is a very sensitive matter.

Just like after the land finance collapsed, all kinds of magical things happened at the local level. Now that the land is being cleared again, all kinds of chaos can be foreseen.

Li Shouzhong said: "Master Gao said before that the military garrison fields should not be moved first, and the area should be cleaned up by the personnel of the Military Aircraft Department. However, nowadays, there are many frivolous discussions among the officials and gentry in Kedao."

Lin Ruhai thought for a while and said: "It is most likely that Ziyu will handle this matter, and next year we should gather all officials who are willing to implement the new law to implement the new policy in several provinces."

It is foreseeable that the Military Aircraft Department will have to expand its personnel, and the provincial governors will also have to make adjustments to promote officials who are willing to implement the new law.

In fact, the feudal officials from various provinces have already gone to Shenjing to report their duties to the Holy Spirit, and will not return to their provinces one after another until February or March.

The two were talking, and after a while, Li Wan and Daiyu followed Sister Feng to the hall, surrounded by maids and nannies.

"Yu'er." Lin Ruhai called, with kindness in her eyes.

Daiyu's eyes were filled with light, and she called sweetly: "Father."

Compared with the original work at this time, Lin Ruhai has passed away and Daiyu is alone. At this moment, because Lin Ruhai is alive and relied on, Daiyu's eyebrows and stars are much less gloomy.

Compared to the eager meeting between Lin's father and daughter, Li Shouzhong's side was much duller. Li Wan approached and saluted politely. Li Shouzhong nodded and looked at his daughter, who had pearls and green hair and bright clothes. Although he frowned secretly, he also Just think of it as the Chinese New Year and make the atmosphere more festive.

Li Wan, with her elegant appearance, said softly: "Father, tomorrow is the second day of junior high school, and my daughter was saying that she wanted to go home to see her."

Li Shouzhong nodded and asked, "When will you return to Beijing? How is Lan Geer doing in Beijing?"

As a mother, she had been living in the south of the Yangtze River for a long time. Her son was studying hard in the capital, but she ignored him.

Li Wan said: "Brother Lan is currently studying in school, waiting for the county school exam next year."

Li Shouzhong nodded slightly and said, "Don't stay in Jiangnan for too long."

"I'll tell you to go to Beijing with Ziyu next year." Li Wan said softly.

Li Shouzhong nodded.

But I felt something strange in my heart, and I couldn't figure it out if I looked into it carefully.

……

……

On the other side, Jinyang Princess Mansion, the backyard——

The gongs, gongs, and drums sounded in unison, and on the stage, several martial arts students and female actors in costumes twisted their waists, walked back and forth, and sang songs.

Jia Heng and Princess Jinyang were sitting on the corridor on the second floor of the attic, watching the opera below, with a brazier beside them, warming the fire.

Not far away sat Li Chanyue in a green skirt. The girl had peach cheeks and starry eyes, and her face was as white as snow.

The eldest princess of Jinyang handed the play notes in her hand to Jia Heng and said warmly: "Ziyu, please order a play."

Jia Heng smiled and said softly: "Let's use Wu Song to fight the tiger."

Princess Jinyang smiled and said, "This show is more lively."

Then, she handed it to Li Chanyue who was standing aside. The beauty asked in a soft and gentle voice, "Where's Chanyue?"

The smile on Li Chanyue's beautiful face was bright and happy, and she said in a waxy voice: "Mother, I'll order some drunken golden branches."

"Your cousin from Xianning is not here, why order something to make a golden branch?" the eldest princess of Jinyang said angrily, her phoenix eyes were charming, and she said: "It's the New Year, please order something festive." The eldest princess of Jinyang said softly.

Li Chanyue's pink face was flushed, she stuck out her tongue and said, "Then order "White Snake"."

With a smile on her face, the eldest princess of Jinyang took out her brush and drew it, then handed it to Lingxue, picked up the peanuts on the side, peeled them off, and put them in her mouth to eat.As for my precious son, he was worried about getting cold, so he let his grandma hold him in the back room and coax him.

As the eldest princess of Jinyang spoke, she handed a peeled peanut to the young man and chuckled: "Try it."

Jia Heng took the peanut and said warmly: "I can do it myself."

Yuanchun looked at the boy in the python suit from the side. His beautiful eyes were full of water and he had many peanuts. Would she like to eat more later?
The couple listened to opera in the backyard. At noon, they ate together and stayed there until the afternoon.

A female official from outside came to report, and the Ningguo Mansion sent people to report Jia Heng related matters.

It turned out that when Sister Feng saw that Li and Lin were looking for Jia Heng, she first treated them to lunch at Ningguo Mansion, and then sent someone to look for Jia Heng while they were having tea in the afternoon.

Jia Heng met the bright gaze of Princess Jinyang and said, apologetically, "Jinyang, let me go and take a look first."

Even on the first day of the New Year, I can’t stop being fettered and entangled by something.

"Let's go and have a look. Maybe there's something going on. I happen to be a little tired, so I want to talk to Bao'er." Princess Jinyang smiled and said softly.

Jia Heng nodded, looked at Li Chanyue aside, then left the room and said, "I'll go back and take a look first."

With that said, he rode his horse to Ningguo Mansion.

In the Ningguo Mansion, in the flower hall——

Li Shouzhong and Lin Ruhai had just had a luncheon. They drank tea and talked about the court's trends. Now the government and the public are paying attention to the new policies that will be implemented after the beginning of the new year in Chongping.

Li Shouzhong sighed and said with emotion: "After several wars, the national money has been exhausted, and it is time to recuperate."

Lin Ruhai nodded and said: "The purpose of the country's accumulation of wealth is to manage civil affairs internally and prevent foreign invasion. In addition to the tens of thousands of Beijing elites killed in the northwest last year, every tael of national money was spent on the blade. Let's talk about open source cases. There are many items, which are the foundation for a strong national treasury."

Li Shouzhong nodded and praised: "Ziyu organized salt affairs, opened customs, and expanded financial resources for the country. His talents are not limited to leading troops to fight."

Jia Ziyu was different from previous generations of heads of the Rongning and Ning mansions. He was not only good at military affairs, but also quite unique in economic and financial management.

He deserves to be a wind instrument talent.

Lin Ruhai felt the same and said with deep emotion: "Yes, although we are two-ranked Jinshi, when it comes to political and financial management, we are still not as good as one."

If Jia Heng was just a simple martial artist, it would obviously not be a big success and he would not be able to attract people with lofty ideals.

Because it is not a political group.

Li Shouzhong nodded and said, "Yes."

If he had not believed this self-esteemed Jinling official before taking up his post in Anhui, Li Shouzhong knew how courageous and courageous Jia Heng was in salt affairs and river affairs, overcoming obstacles and clearing up the accumulated shortcomings in the salt affairs and river affairs in the past six months. Can do.

At this moment, the grandma outside said happily: "Uncle is back."

At this moment, Jia Heng entered the house, looked at Li Shouzhong and Lin Ruhai who were coming out, cupped his hands and said, "Li Shibo, Uncle Lin."

"Zi Yu." The two of them called the boy in the python suit almost in unison, and then looked at the tall boy with a clear face and complicated eyes.

The young man in front of him had not long returned from the northwest, and was heading non-stop to the Fujian and Guangdong waters to drive out the red barbarians and open up territory for the Han Dynasty.

Jia Heng and Li Lin finished their greetings, sat down and said, "Uncle, why are you not resting at home during the Chinese New Year?"

"Come here to discuss with you. This year's tax account book of the General Administration of Customs and Taxation has come out. The customs clearance amount is as high as 500 million taels. This is due to the impact of the war in the coastal areas of Fujian and Guangdong." Lin Ruhai said softly with a hearty smile on his face.

Jia Heng nodded and said: "Nowadays, maritime trade is booming. If one day, Guan Yin can be worth half of the court's tax revenue, then the people of the world will have a better life."

In the late Qing Dynasty, in the face of the entire Western export trade, the amount of tariffs was probably out of reach, but at six to seven million taels, it could still be achieved with some effort.

Li Shouzhong was also secretly shocked. Although he knew that customs tax revenue could be said to be a source of wealth, such a large number was a more intuitive impact.

Jia Heng said: "Sea trade and other taxes on salt and iron are still relatively small at the moment. The tax on acres will still be the main source of taxation in the future. We can wait until trade flourishes."

After Zhang Juzheng cleared the land with one whip, he found nearly [-] million acres of hidden land, which was almost one-sixth to one-seventh of the red line of cultivated land in later generations.

At that time, during the Wanli period, Zhu Ming had been in power for about 200 years. It can be said that the land annexation had reached the point where it was difficult to return.

However, even if the hidden acres were found, they would probably only be around [-] million acres.

Li Shouzhong heard this and said: "The merchants are cunning and cunning, and people's hearts are in chaos. Only then will there be turmoil in the country."

In fact, this is also a common view among scholars. It severely restricted the prosperity of the commodity economy and caused capitalism to remain in its infancy during the Ming and Qing Dynasties.

Jia Heng said: "It is good to focus on one's roots and work in agriculture, but if everyone in the world wants to study, become an official, and buy land for production, there will be countless lands in the world. The rich will have vast streets, and the poor will have no place to stand. There will be an endless cycle of chaos. As for the cunning merchants, the hearts of the people will be Corruption, the national laws and regulations were designed for this purpose, so why should we be afraid of it? As the saying goes, it is easy to ease the customs and ease the trade, and to facilitate trade and agriculture. Without agriculture, there will be no stability, and without business, there will be no prosperity."

In fact, he has argued before that the fundamental cause of the cycle of chaos lies in human greed and laziness, which manifested itself in the form of land annexation in feudal society, because land is the greatest source of wealth.

But this does not mean that disorder caused by land unrest cannot be avoided.

Li Shouzhong listened to the young man's words with a thoughtful expression on his face. He was silent for a moment and then asked: "Ziyu, have the pirates on the Fujian-Guangdong Sea been completely wiped out?"

Jia Heng said: "The atmosphere of banditry in the coastal areas has been cleared. From now on, there will no longer be any shackles on maritime trade."

Li Shouzhong nodded and said: "Dayuan Island is inhabited by barbarians. It will be difficult to provide security to the people in the future. The imperial court should select capable ministers and officials to serve as governors on the island."

Jia Heng said: "We are still cleaning up the barbarian bandits on the island, and we will wait for the imperial court to try out various new policies, which should start in the spring of this year."

While everyone was talking, Jia Heng also asked Li Shouzhong about his purpose.

After Li Shouzhong finished speaking, he said thoughtfully: "Governor Gao's suggestion about the military settlement should be put aside for now."

Jia Heng pondered and said: "I will report this matter to the capital and personally supervise it. It happens that on the fourth and fifth day of the lunar month, we will discuss with the Jiangnan and Jiangbei camps on coastal defense and city defense security matters in the entire Jiangnan area, as well as inventory of military settlements. As for the Other provinces need to make key breakthroughs and implement policies according to the time and place."

Chen Han followed Zhu Ming's system, and the local guards established military camps and were self-sufficient with grain fields. Now it is time to gradually clean up, not only the local military camps, but also the border villages. These are all bad debts.

He didn't dare to touch it before because he had no prestige. Now he is the number one in the Han military, and he can intervene in some places at the right time.

It can be said that although Chen Han won several victories under the leadership of Jia Heng, they were far from eliminating the long-standing shortcomings. They only slightly reorganized Jingying, Salt Affairs, and River Affairs under the leadership of Jia Heng. , temporarily reshaping the central authority’s prestige.

However, the issue of the combat capabilities of military camps and local health centers has not been sorted out in the first place. Just like before the medical anti-corruption campaign, it has not yet penetrated into other fields.

Li Shouzhong nodded and said: "If Ziyu can eliminate the long-standing abuses of the Ministry of War and local guards that waste military pay, this will be a cost-saving measure in addition to increasing revenue every year."

Lin Ruhai twirled his beard under his chin with his hand and said: "Brother Li is right. This is to increase revenue and reduce expenditure. The country is wasting money and food. I don't know how much money has been used to fatten the generals of the guards in these places. Just like before, the thieves landed in Hangzhou Prefecture. Come here, if the Jiangnan Navy hadn’t arrived in time, it might have resulted in a tragedy that destroyed the city.”

The local health clinics have empty salaries and redundant staff, but they cannot handle the situation when something really happens. These must be dealt with immediately.

Jia Heng pondered for a moment and then said: "Some matters related to Jiangnan are under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of War and must be handed over to the Military Aircraft Department for discussion. Uncle Li also wrote a memorial mentioning the obstacles in the implementation of the New Deal in the military settlements."

Although he is the minister of military aircraft, if he wants to fully intervene in the Ministry of War, which is responsible for civilian officials, he still needs to do some groundwork. At least with his own strength, he cannot declare war on the huge garrison and military system.

Even if he has the power to supervise the New Deal, he cannot act on his own initiative and must report to the Emperor Qin on the recent New Deal matters.

Li Shouzhong said: "Don't worry Ziyu, I will write a memorial when I get back."

Jia Heng said: "As for the relevant officials, we still have to call for training for officials at all levels in prefectures and counties and promote some who are honest and upright. Shibo has the right to recommend officials below the fifth rank."

The governor is an imperial envoy and must have certain personnel powers. This can basically cover the state and county level. This also coincides with the so-called provincial cadres.

For example, the governor of Liangjiang has the power to depose officials of the fourth rank, and the prefect can be replaced at the prefect level. Others, such as the second envoy of the vassal, can be overthrown upon impeachment.

Li Shouzhong nodded and said: "At present, we have found some officials who are serious about their work and working for the New Deal."

Lin Ruhai looked at the young man and thought to himself, Zi Yu has taught him the way to become an official. A provincial official should be decisive in killing and making good use of rewards and punishments.

And the personnel power in his hand is even easier to use than the king's flag. The so-called carrot in one hand and a stick in the other.

Jia Heng looked at Li Shouzhong calmly and said, "After a while, I will personally go to Anqing Mansion and Taiping Mansion to visit some of the military camps."

After all, Li Shouzhong was born in Qingliu. He had been working hard in the Hanlin Academy, the Imperial Academy, and the Imperial Academy. He did lack some skills when facing local princes.

To put it bluntly, even if his political style is soft, his trip to Anhui was also to support Li Shouzhong.

Well, he has no other extravagant demands, just let Li Xiaowan repay him well.

Li Shouzhong nodded, grateful, and solemnly thanked Jia Heng.

Afterwards, Li and Lin talked with Jia Heng for a while, and saw the dusk closing in. In the evening, they also said goodbye and left.

Jia Heng watched several people leave and then returned to the back house.

(End of this chapter)