The Red Mansions

Chapter 510 An Empty Joy?
云园
At noon, Jia Heng and Princess Jinyang put away their fishing rods.

Princess Jinyang caught a total of three grass carp, while Jia Heng caught two carp and a few silver carp, and put them into the bucket on the side.

These fish were originally bought and stocked on a regular basis to keep the water in the pool active and at the same time used by the garden owner for fishing.

"Ziyu, it's a good omen that two carps are coming to the door." Princess Jinyang looked at the bucket and said with a smile: "Wait a minute, let's ask the back chef to cook a whole fish feast."

Jia Heng looked at the three grass carp and said, "It's nothing compared to Your Highness, the harvest is full, the three grass carp."

At this moment, a nun came over and said: "Lord Jia, Governor Qu from outside wants to see the lord and report back on the matter of copying."

Jia Heng nodded and said, "Let him come over."

Not long after, Qu Lang quickly walked into the Xuan room from the pavilion bridge, bowed his hands to Jia Heng and Princess Jinyang, and said: "I have seen my lord, and I have seen Your Highness the Princess."

Jia Heng asked: "How is the situation?"

"My lord, all the silver hidden in the three cellars has been discovered, and it has to be sealed and escorted to the treasury according to the experience of the Experience Department and the accompanying accounting office of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and checks." Qu Lang replied.

Then, he handed over the business letter that had just been checked for money with both hands.

Jia Heng stretched out his hand to take the Zhazi and looked at it with a calm expression. He saw the record on it: "There are five taels of eight thousand gold ingots hidden in the Diecui Pavilion, totaling 4 taels, 33 taels of silver, and 110 taels of east pearls and five oaks..."

Generally, gold, silver and jewelry are not easy to oxidize when buried in the ground, while antique calligraphy and paintings and valuable furniture must also be protected from moisture and insects. Therefore, gold and silver are obviously the best treasures to store.

Continue to look down, only to see that it reads: "There are 13 [-] taels of gold ingots hidden in the secret room under Lingyun Pavilion, totaling [-] taels."

"Qi Fangxuan's lower secret room contains 58 taels of silver..."

Jia Heng read the records on it, his face gradually became dignified, he put the slip on the small table opposite, and said loudly: "Your Highness, the hidden silver amounted to 300 million taels, which should be the most among all the silver hidden by King Zhongshun in Beijing. one place."

As the place of honor and support of King Zhongshun, a large amount of silver was stored in Yunyuan for the convenience of using silver.

Because in this era, although there are silver bills, their usage scenarios are limited, and so many goods can only be stored in gold, silver and jewelry.

In fact, most of the private banks and banks in Shenjing City were established by the Shanxi Chamber of Commerce and Princess Chang and other dignitaries in Beijing.

Thinking of this, Jia Heng had many thoughts.

Maybe there is an opportunity to set up a bank such as the Royal Bank, and then issue gold notes, silver notes, and banknotes based on the gold-silver-copper composite standard.

We can also try to abolish the two and change the yuan, gradually solve the problem of returning fire to the public, reduce layers of exploitation by grain officials, pass fiscal and tax laws, adjust the gap between the rich and the poor in an extremely concealed manner, pluck the most goose feathers, and listen to the least geese.

"However, these are all the duties of the Ministry of Household Affairs. If you want to deal with this matter, you must not be in a hurry. Otherwise, no one will realize the best proposal. Let alone the thankless work, you should make wedding dresses for others." Jia Heng frowned, Cut off this thought for now.

Now that he has not made any special achievements in the military, he does not have the prestige and manpower to carry out the reform of the fiscal and taxation system, let alone intervene in financial power.

Only after making military achievements can we take this opportunity to fight for financial power for the military aircraft department, and then uphold state affairs.

In fact, in a bureaucratic group, the formation of a political force, apart from forming a party for personal gain and conspiracies, is often done by a certain group to do a serious thing, a big thing, and then the members of the group benefit from it in the process of development and growth. , into one.

Otherwise, the group formed by simple lure, win over, and entanglement is often a group of mobs with despicable conduct and a foul atmosphere. Once used, it will also bring disaster to the country and the people. This kind of group is more like a gang.

The same is true of military affairs, and so is politics. The purpose of pure factional personnel struggle is ultimately to do things, and the leaders often gain huge political capital through the great success of a certain cause in the process, and are then regarded by the members of the group as interest advocate.

If he can defeat Donglu, he will definitely be able to establish a noble group with him as the core, but by then, the people on the throne will not be able to help but feel that the imperial power is threatened.

Perhaps through political means, such as suppression, differentiation, compromise, and redemption after the test, until the security barriers for the imperial power are re-established, they will not stop.

This is also the basic quality of a Mingjun.

And it is not the general relationship between monarchs and ministers that can be bridged, because this is the alienation and discipline of power on human nature.

The more powerful the master, the more so, the difference is only in the softness and hardness of the wrist and the level of the level, if there is a monarch and his ministers, and the beginning and the end, it is naturally very precious, but it can be met but not sought.

That is to say, if the emperor doubts his ministers, he must be punished; if his ministers doubt his ruler, he will rebel;

Just like the chain of suspicion in a dark forest, once the ruler and ministers believe, the ending will inevitably end in tragedy.

If you want a good beginning and a good end, of course, there is no way.

The minister, self-defiled and clumsy, was arrested without a fight, begging for mercy.

Jun, courtesy and corporal, eat at the same table, and sleep at the same bed.

But heroes, most of them have strong temperaments and cannot be humiliated, how can they live in depression for a long time?
"It's a bit too far to think about it now. Before Donglu is completely wiped out, I won't face this problem directly." Jia Heng waved away some trivial thoughts that drifted through his mind.

The eldest princess of Jinyang picked up the letter, put it in her hand and read it quietly, and said: "Register all these gold and silver, and send them to the treasury of the Guangchu Division of the Ministry of Internal Affairs."

Jia Heng nodded, looked at Qu Lang who was beside him, and ordered: "Let's do it."

Qu Lang didn't say much, and left.

"What were you thinking just now, your face looked gloomy and uncertain." Princess Jinyang ordered her mother to prepare a fish feast, picked up a cup of tea, and looked at the boy in surprise.

Beauty had just clearly noticed the change in Jia Heng's expression.

"I didn't think about anything." Jia Heng smiled, and casually diverted the matter, saying: "So much money has entered the internal coffers, if it can be used properly, it will be a blessing for the country and the country."

Princess Jinyang nodded her head, and agreed: "This palace will not mess around with this money, and now we need money for everything up and down, and the imperial brother has allocated a lot of money for emergencies. It is emptiness, and this money can be regarded as an urgent need."

Princess Jinyang's subordinates already had a lot of businesses and shops, and they could get a lot of money every month, which was enough to supply her daily needs, so she wouldn't make a lot of money like King Zhongshun.

"It's already noon. After eating the fish feast, I will take a walk in the garden. How about I invite Dudu Jia to Tangyuan again? You can soak in the hot spring there." Princess Jinyang said softly with her beautiful eyes shining.

Jia Heng was about to answer.

Suddenly at this moment, a female official came in from the outside, it was Xishuang, one of the four female officials next to Princess Jinyang, who walked up to Princess Jinyang's ear and whispered something in a low voice.

Princess Jinyang Liu Ye frowned, with an inexplicable expression on her face.

Jia Heng picked up the teacup and took a sip of tea, all kinds of speculations filled his mind.

Facing Jia Heng's curious eyes, the beautiful lady said calmly, "Brother Huang appointed Song Jing, the third younger brother of the emperor's sister-in-law, as the doctor of the Kuaiji Division. In the morning, people handed invitations to the Princess Mansion, saying that they would visit the palace in the afternoon. "

Hearing this, Jia Heng was slightly startled, thought for a while, and said: "Uncle Song Guo, he is going to come to the Ministry of Internal Affairs to serve."

As for Song Jing, he met him once when the King of Wei celebrated his birthday, and gradually had little contact with him.

From this, it can be seen that Emperor Chongping did not intend to entrust all the affairs of the House of Internal Affairs to Jinyang, but left an alternative as a check and balance.

Thinking this way, he stared at Princess Jinyang.

I saw that the beauty's high spirits were somewhat depressed.

This is human nature, and if the emperor suddenly sent a Deputy Envoy of the Beijing Camp Inspection and School Jiedu to take charge of the camp affairs with him, he would be upset.

It's just that the emperor knows that military orders cannot come from multiple schools, otherwise it is easy to delay the military aircraft.

Jia Heng thought about it for a second, but felt that with Princess Jinyang's past temperament, perhaps it might not be because of the separation of power, she was not a person who was greedy for power.

Princess Jinyang picked up the teacup and said softly, "Lianxue, let me see how long the fish feast will be ready."

Then, looking at Yuan Chun who was standing beside him, he smiled and said: "Yuan Chun, you are the elder sister of the Jia Dudu clan, so you can't stand all the time, let's sit down and have a meal together, and taste the fish your clan brother caught."

Yuan Chun hesitated for a while, but saw Jia Heng nodded, and then said: "Thank you, Your Highness."

Princess Jinyang looked at all the nuns and female officials, and ordered: "Lianxue stay and serve, the others go outside and wait."

"Yes, Your Highness." A group of female officials and nuns responded and retreated slowly.

Seeing this, Jia Heng knew that the beauty had something to say to him, his thoughts changed, and he made some guesses, which was just a matter of time.

After all the female officials left the water pavilion, Jia Heng, Jin Yang, Yuan Chun, and Lian Xue were left in the room.

Jia Heng asked, "This is Your Highness?"

A hint of worry appeared in the beautiful eyes of Princess Jinyang, and she said: "Just now, I was thinking that after the matter of plagiarizing Prince Zhongshun's mansion, I will resign from the imperial brother's job in the Ministry of Internal Affairs."

Jia Heng was startled, looked at the beauty opposite, and said in a concentrated voice: "It shouldn't be like this."

Does this offend Empress Song?
Princess Jinyang sighed softly, and said: "Brother Huang's thoughts, I have also guessed a little bit. This is to let me and Song Jing be in charge of the house together, but I don't want to work with others."

Jia Heng pondered for a moment, then persuaded: "It's all about sharing the worries for the Holy One, is your Highness getting a little persistent?"

Yuan Chun was slightly startled when he heard the two talking.

"Leading the Ministry of Internal Affairs is a thankless task. Now that someone is taking over, it's better to just throw it to him. I can relax and worry less." Princess Jinyang said softly.

No matter how rich the house of internal affairs is, as the emperor's own sister, she is not easy to do anything, and she doesn't have much interest.

Jia Heng was silent for a while.

This is Tian's family, if it is him, you can't give up the pick, otherwise it will fall into the eyes of the emperor, which is ignorance.

But Jin Yang doesn't care about this, she can do what she wants, and throw it aside if she doesn't want to, anyway, she doesn't have a son, she just lives with an orphan girl, and she doesn't have any thoughts of begging Emperor Chongping.

It's just that this has a bit of an aunt-in-law's awkward taste?
According to his estimation, it is possible to squeeze Empress Song's younger brother away, otherwise, the House of Internal Affairs will become the private land of King Wei, and the emperor will definitely not want to see this scene. The younger brother made another appointment.

But in the end, didn't Queen Song just rejoice in vain?
Can you look good?
Thinking of the graceful Xuemei with willow brows and star eyes, maybe Jinyang will wear small shoes because of this, but not necessarily.

"Your Highness, it is better not to be impulsive since we are sharing our worries for the country." Jia Heng thought for a while, and finally persuaded: "Besides, the meaning of being angry like this is too obvious."

Although he also wanted the Ministry of Internal Affairs to be the voice of Princess Jinyang, but he also knew that with the heart of the emperor, he seemed to like to engage in these methods of balance and constraints.

It can be seen from the court situation that the three parties of Qi, Chu and Zhejiang stand on each other and are as stable as a rock.

Ordinarily, there is really no more suitable candidate than Jinyang. He has no children, so there is no possibility of making money for his children. He is also a female generation, has no desire for power, and has no possibility of forming a party for personal gain.

The emperor shouldn't be suspicious, what kind of checks and balances should be used, don't be suspicious when using people, and don't be suspicious if you are suspicious.

Princess Jinyang shook her head and said: "I'm not angry, but I don't want to be troubled by the future. Song Jing is the uncle of Prince Wei. If we can't clarify the distance, I'm worried about working with the government. I'm afraid there will be trouble. Small differences."

She didn't want to get involved in such matters of taking the heirloom again. In her capacity, no one stood up, no one relied on, but she could preserve it in a detached manner.

Whoever becomes the emperor, she is the eldest princess.

What should she do if she is worried about offending the emperor's wife and works with her younger brother, and the House of Internal Affairs secretly supports King Wei?
She should turn a blind eye, close one eye, or tell the emperor brother.

It's better not to get involved too much in the first place.

Jia Heng pondered for a moment, and understood what was on Li's mind, nodded, and said, "Your Highness's concerns are not unreasonable."

It's just that Empress Song, who incarnated as Voldemort, must have harbored a grievance in her heart, secretly annoyed at this sister-in-law who is not a fuel-efficient lamp.

Moreover, according to his observation, Jin Yang has not always been very close to Empress Song.

Of course, Jinyang is full of confidence, and he is favored by Empress Dowager Feng behind him, but his relationship with Empress Song is not very good, and I don't know why.

Maybe this is the norm?
In ordinary people's homes, sister-in-law and sister-in-law also have this kind of estrangement.

Jia Heng reminded again: "But the Holy Majesty will probably not agree, I hope His Highness can take charge of state affairs."

There is no power conflict between siblings. If he is Emperor Chongping, if he chooses one of the two, he will most likely choose Jinyang.

Of course, this is also what he would like to see happen.

Jia Heng looked at Yuan Chun who was sitting quietly at the side, and asked, "Eldest sister is serving the empress in the palace, do you think there are other obstacles in this matter?"

Yuan Chun was questioned by Jia Heng, his face froze for a moment, he thought for a while, and said softly: "The Empress has never arranged any errands for her relatives in the past, this seems to be the Holy Majesty's sympathy, if you don't go to the House of Internal Affairs, in fact... ...In the past, I often heard my mother mention that Uncle Song Guo was also ambitious, but he was only a small official before, and now he is transferred to the House of Internal Affairs. All the errands are for the emperor's family, and he doesn't know what he wants. "

Hearing this, Jia Heng frowned, and said, "According to what Big Sister said, maybe it's not that difficult."

Seeing Jia Heng thinking about it, Princess Jinyang said: "There is nothing difficult, I will go see him after lunch."

At this time, Lianxue came in to report that the fish feast was cooked, so she led the mother who was outside to put the fish feast on the table.

After lunch, Jia Heng and Princess Jinyang stayed in the West Garden for a while.

It wasn't until the afternoon that Princess Jinyang boarded the carriage and returned to the Princess' mansion under the escort of Jia Heng.

In the late afternoon, Song Jing arrived as promised.

The younger brother of Empress Song, who is quite tall, has a refined face, and a dignified manner, followed the female officer into the hall, sat down, sipped tea and talked.

He was also a little surprised when he was summoned by the Holy Majesty before, and he was moved to the Kuaiji Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs to work as a doctor.

"Lord Song, Her Royal Highness and Dudu Jia are already waiting in the attic, please come with your servants." Lianxue approached and called.

"Oh, Jia Ziyu is here too?" Song Jing was quite surprised when he heard this.

"This morning, Master Jia escorted Her Highness the Princess to inspect the Xishan Garden of Prince Zhongshun's Mansion, and just came back now." Lianxue explained.

Song Jing nodded, got up and followed Lianxue to the attic, and said with a smile: "I always wanted to visit Jia Ziyu before, but I didn't have any business dealings, so I was a bit abrupt, today is really lucky."

His nephew is now working under Jia Ziyu in Wucheng Bingma Division.

During the conversation, enter the attic.

At this moment, Princess Jinyang has already sat in the main seat and got up, the two have known each other for a long time.

"Your Majesty has seen His Highness Jinyang." Song Jing entered the hall and saluted first.

The relatives of the state are obviously not as expensive as the princess, let alone the eldest princess.

"Brother Song is very polite. Please sit down quickly. Why don't you see Mrs. Sister-in-law and Yan'er? I have seen each other since the Lantern Festival, but I haven't seen each other for a long time." Princess Jinyang said pleasantly.

Song Jing smiled and said: "She and Yan'er went back to her mother's house for a few days ago, and now they just went to the palace to say hello to their mother."

As he said that, he turned to look at the boy in the python suit standing not far away, and said with a smile, "Jia Ziyu is also there. I heard from the female officer just now that Jia Ziyu went to Xishan Bieyuan today."

Jia Heng smiled slightly, and said: "King Zhongshun hid a lot of money corrupted by the Ministry of Internal Affairs in the other garden of Xishan, and it was only found out today. Now Mr. Song is the chief officer of the Kuaiji Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and he just happened to verify the account books."

Song Jing said: "I have not been involved in the matter of the ban, I have rashly intervened, I did not understand it, but it was self-defeating and delayed the business. Yesterday, the Holy Majesty suddenly summoned me and said that the Kuaiji Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs is short of a principal. If you want me to act, I have never done such a thing before, so I am afraid that I will not be able to do it."

Several people were talking politely and began to talk about business.

Princess Jinyang smiled sweetly, and said softly: "Brother Song came here in time, and really relieved my younger sister's urgent need. Now the Ministry of Internal Affairs needs to sort out the personnel and accounts urgently, and Brother Song needs to take care of it."

Song Jing smiled and said: "Your Majesty, the princess, does not give way to women. I came here only to assist the manager, and to do my best. All affairs in the mansion are still dominated by Your Majesty."

As a newcomer, his posture is very low, or in other words, the arrogance of a small official like a Dianke in Honglu Temple has been worn away.

(End of this chapter)