The Red Mansions

Chapter 518 Jia Heng: Showing a public heart, not giving and receiving privately!

Rongguo Mansion, Rongqing Hall

Jia Zheng left the court and went to the yamen of the Ministry of Industry. At noon, he went home to eat at the yamen. Just after changing his official robes, he was called by Jia Mu to talk.

At this moment, Mother Jia was sitting on the Luohan bed, surrounded by mandarin ducks, amber, parrots, and jade holding beauty fists, pinching shoulders and beating legs for Mother Jia.

Mother Jia smiled and listened to Aunt Xue's chatter.

Aunt Xue was originally innocent, so she picked up some jokes she heard when she was doing business and told Jia Mu, which made Jia Mu laugh non-stop.

Sister Feng also echoed and joked.

In fact, Jia Mu, who is nearly eighty years old, would not have lived so long if she hadn't had such a good attitude.

On one side, Mrs. Xing, Mrs. Wang, Aunt Xue, Fengwan, Chai Dai, Tanchun, Yingchun, and Xiangyun all sat on the left and right, and Mrs. Xing's niece Xing Xiuyan was also present.

Sister Feng smiled and said, "Old Ancestor, it's getting late, why don't you go to Dongfu?"

Originally, he wanted to go to the Tianxiang Building in Dongfu to listen to the opera, because Qin Keqing invited the opera troupe to celebrate the awarding of the imperial order.

"When Baoyu's old man comes over, I'll ask him something." Jia Mu said with a smile.

Mrs. Wang, who was sitting next to her, also stopped fiddling with the beads, her eyes lowered, and she was thinking.

The master and the uncle Heng from the East Mansion went to the court early in the morning. This time, they should be able to increase their ranks, right?
After a while, Lin Zhixiao went around the screen, entered the hall, and said, "Old lady, the master is here."

As soon as this remark came out, Mother Jia stopped talking and laughing, and looked at Jia Zheng who came from outside, wearing a blue square scarf and a long brocade robe.

Mother Jia's gaze stayed on Jia Zheng's casual clothes, and she asked curiously, "Zheng'er, didn't you go to court? Why aren't you wearing official robes?"

If you don't wear official robes, you will naturally be unable to judge how many ranks you have been promoted.

"Sitting in the office for a while, I just came back and changed my clothes." Jia Zheng replied.

Jia Mu considered her words and asked, "What are you talking about at this court meeting?"

As he said that, he felt that the question was a bit presumptuous, so he changed his concerned tone and asked: "Brother Heng also went early in the morning, so he should be back by now, right?"

"Ziyu was asked by the palace, I'm afraid he will be left for lunch." Jia Zheng's thoughts turned, he vaguely guessed what his mother wanted to ask, and he didn't want to tell the details.

Mother Jia looked eager again, and asked, "Zheng'er, what's going on in court this time?"

As soon as these words came out, everyone in Rongqing Hall looked at Jia Zheng, especially Mrs. Wang's gaze was the most burning.

Jia Zheng looked solemn, and said: "The corruption case of the imperial mausoleum has been discussed by all the ministers. The two original officials of the Ministry of Industry, a staff member of the Tuntian Cleaning Department, and the large and small officials of the Construction Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs have all been dismissed by the sage." Sentenced to capital punishment, according to the law of the country."

The smile on Jia Mu's face froze for a while, and she asked, "How many officials are implicated?"

Capital punishment is death.

Daiyu and Tanchun, who were talking in a low voice, frowned and exchanged glances.

Jia Zheng shook his head and said, "There must be ten or twenty."

Mother Jia was speechless for a while, but suddenly remembered something, and asked, "What did our old relatives, Nan'an and Beijing, say?"

People always like to ask people they know or are familiar with, otherwise, the feelings will be a little unreal.

Jia Zheng frowned, and asked in surprise, "A relative of the Wang family in Nan'an County?"

"It's called Yu, what's the matter with Yu?" Jia Mu couldn't remember the name for a while.

It was Yuanyang who reminded her, saying: "Old lady, it's the one calling Yu Congdian."

If at the beginning, he still wanted to insinuate about his son's career and economy, then now it is more about gossip and curiosity about relatives.

"Yes, it's the one called Yu Congdian. By the way, the one that Princess Beijing came to intercede with is Mr. Zhao Ge." Jia Mu said.

Mrs. Wang looked at Jia Zheng, also curious.

Jia Zhengdao: "Yu Congdian is Wailang, a member of the Tuntian Qingli Department, and this time he is naturally among the officials who have been condemned to death."

"This..." Jia Mu's expression froze for a moment, her heart trembled slightly.

Mrs. Wang's complexion changed suddenly, and her eyes were also shocked.

This is the difference between strangers and acquaintances. Yesterday, I heard Yu Congdian's wife and sister crying, and Nan'an Concubine babbling a lot. It was originally just a stranger's name. The image of "acquaintances".

Hearing that an "acquaintance" was sentenced to death, he was naturally in a strange mood.

Jia Zhengdao: "Between Zhao Dashi was dismissed as a cabinet member and returned to the director of the headquarters, and no longer served as a cabinet scholar."

"Didn't you talk about the transfer of officials from the Ministry of Industry?" Mother Jia didn't really care about these things, or didn't understand what political changes it meant, so she asked directly.

Jia Zheng shook his head and said, "The candidates for the successors of the two ministers need to be recommended by the court. As for the relevant officials of the Ministry of Industry, they should also be determined by the Ministry. This matter cannot be decided by the court today. However, my son Now I can go back to the Ministry of Industry to sit in office."

There is no reason for the early court to decide so many people at once, unless Emperor Chongping has already made up his mind, but that is also the decree, and the official process is to push the court and the Ministry.

Mrs. Wang frowned, and murmured in a low voice: "Ting Tui, Bu Tui? Can't it be like yesterday's awarding the imperial order... to issue an imperial edict?"

Jia Zheng: "..."

Frowning tightly, he said in a cold voice: "How can the imperial court choose and employ people like the grace of a royal order? What do you know, women and men?"

Mrs. Wang's complexion changed, and the hand holding the Buddhist beads turned white from the force.

Jia's mother also had some headaches when she listened to Bu Tui and Ting Tui. After hearing Jia Zheng's reprimand, she said, "Since this is the case, you should discuss it with Brother Heng."

Originally wanted to ask a result, how many grades can my son be promoted?Now that everything is undecided, there is nothing left to ask.

Jia Zheng nodded and stopped talking about the court.

He didn't want to talk about this in the back house, but the old lady asked, so he couldn't answer.

Aunt Xue listened below, pinching her handkerchief, frowning in thought.

What Ting Tui, Bu Tui, she didn't know, she just felt that something good was coming.

Baochai picked up the teacup and took a sip, her face as white and greasy as snow was covered with a layer of thought.

"Okay, let's go to Dongfu as well, and listen to the opera." Mother Jia turned to look at Sister Feng and said with a smile.

Sister Feng smiled brightly on her pretty and charming melon-seeded face, and said: "It's lunch time, Keqing called someone to invite you, old ancestor, let's go over."

Coincidentally, at this moment, a nun entered the hall from the outside and said: "Old lady, Master Heng is here."

Everyone's hearts moved slightly, and they all looked at the nanny.

"Brother Heng, he's not going back to the house at this time, why are you here?" Mother Jia asked with a smile, surprised.

In the past, she was the one who called Brother Heng to come over, but now because of Zheng'er's affairs, she came here frequently to look for him.

"It is said that they are looking for the second master, and now the uncle is waiting in Meng Po Zhai." The nun said in a low voice.

When Jia's mother heard that she was waiting in Mengpozhai, she understood a little bit, looked at Jia Zheng, and said with a smile, "Zheng'er, go quickly."

Jia Zheng responded, got up and left Rongqing Hall to see Jia Heng.

Seeing Jia Zheng leave, Sister Feng smiled and said, "Old Ancestor, let me just talk about it. Brother Heng cares more about the master than anyone else."

"Brother Heng has always been very thoughtful." Mother Jia nodded and said, "Let's leave it alone and go to the East Mansion first. Brother Heng's daughter-in-law is also waiting impatiently."

Mrs. Wang's face moved slightly, and she clutched the Buddhist beads, but she was a little curious about what the master and the master Heng were talking about in Mengpozhai.

Daiyu took Tanchun's hand, and the girl Ningshuang clearly had a string of crystal necklaces on her wrist, which set off her fragrant skin and jade skin, as delicate as catkins.

Seeing this, Xiangyun smiled as brightly as the sunset on Apple's face, and said, "Sister Bao."

Saying that, he also went to hold Baochai's hand.

Baochai withdrew her thoughts, smiled softly, and called out, "Sister Yun."

The little hands of both of them are a little fat. In comparison, Xiangyun is firm and Baochai is soft.

Everyone talked and laughed and went to Ningguo Mansion.

Don't mention Jia Mu and her party, but talk about Meng Po Zhai, a small study room

Jia Heng bowed his head and waited for Jia Zheng while sipping tea. After a while, the servant outside said: "Master Heng, the master is here."

Following the exile of Jia She and his son, the servants in the mansion did not know when they began to call Jia Zheng the master, not the second master.

The Rongguo Mansion without Jia Amnesty seemed to gradually regain its former peace.

While speaking, Jia Zheng stepped into the hall, with a smile on his refined face, he called out, "Zi Yu."

Jia Heng stood up to meet him, and said, "Master Xun, tell me something."

The two sat down again.

Jia Heng said: "My lord, please be safe and don't be impatient. Tonight, I have an appointment with Han Hui, the son of Prime Minister Han. I will mention this matter by the way. There should be news in the next few days."

"Ziyu, you can just handle this matter, I'm not in a hurry." Jia Zheng nodded, and then said with emotion: "Now the Ministry of Officials presides over the Jingcha and the Ministry of Works, and I don't know that the two officials in the Ministry want to What a storm it caused."

Talking to himself, he asked: "Zi Yu, now I see that the Qi people and the Zhejiang people are arguing more and more, I'm afraid the two candidates for the Ministry of Industry will add fuel to the flames."

Jia Heng smiled and said: "So, the Holy Majesty sent Zhao Shangshu back to the Ministry of Industry."

In the future, Jia Zheng will also be a fourth-rank general ginseng (general administration, sensibilities). If he is not at all sensitive to the court situation, accidents will easily happen.

When Jia Zheng heard this, he couldn't help thinking, and after a while, he realized something.

"My lord, in the coming period of time, the party struggle will intensify. When my lord goes to the Department of General Affairs, you will be able to see a lot of memorials of Qi and Zhejiang parties attacking each other. You can also pay attention to it." Jia Heng reminded.

Jia Zheng nodded, as if he understood, and then said: "Mr. Qin works hard in the Ministry of Industry, does Ziyu have any plans?"

Qin Ye is Jia Heng's old father-in-law, and he is a doctor in the official residence. At the time of the personnel reorganization of the Ministry of Industry, he should seek a transfer from the official position.

Jia Heng murmured: "I originally thought that Yuezhang is getting old and should be supported by an official, but Yuezhang's ambition for an official career has not died down, so I can only do my best to plan for him."

"Old Mr. Qin has been in the Ministry of Industry for many years, and he has been in charge of a department's affairs. He has never made any mistakes, so he should move up." Jia Zheng twirled his beard and nodded.

I also have some curiosity in my heart, he was transferred to the post of General Secretary, where should Ziyu's father-in-law go?

He was originally a fifth grade doctor, so he can't be inferior to him, right?

I don't think so, but if he is promoted again to a fifth-rank doctor, he is a bit too old to be a fourth-rank outsider. Can he endure the hardship of being an official in a different place?

At this moment, Jia Zheng didn't expect that Jia Heng was going to push his father-in-law to the position of senior official in the ministry.

Jia Heng pondered and said: "This matter requires a lot of effort."

Jia Zheng's promotion was actually relatively easy. As long as Han Huang, Minister of the Ministry of Officials, said a word, because he presided over the promotion of the Ministry, he could easily transfer relevant officials from the Ministry of Industry to the Department of General Administration and be promoted to the first and second ranks.

The matter of his father-in-law is really difficult.

When a doctor is promoted to be a servant, in addition to his excellent professional ability, he often needs to be transferred to the temple supervisor for a transition. Give the "old scalper" a chance.

Then after taking the position, even if you are a lot of age and have gray hair, there will be very little criticism.

You can follow the normal process. First of all, you need a recommender for the court recommendation.

He is a military officer. Although he is a first-rank military officer, he is divided into civil and military affairs, so he cannot participate in the court recommendation at all, and even if he can be recommended by the court, he cannot recommend his own father-in-law.

Then it can only be recommended by others, either Han Huang or Shi Jie. The former is a cabinet scholar, and his words carry more weight.

This is different from Jia Zheng's promotion to the first rank. Even if he doesn't find Han Huang, in the case of the Ministry of Industry, he can be promoted to the doctor of the first division just by relying on himself alone. A Langzhong or Yuanwailang was also vacated, which can provide a vacancy for the Zhejiang Party Infiltration Work Department.

This is not a debt of favor at all, it's just an exchange of needs.

Third-rank servant, this is different, a dignified third-rank official, this is the right-hand man of a faction boss.

Therefore, if you ask Han Huang to recommend your father-in-law as the Minister of the Ministry of Industry, it is easy to grant the handle to others, not to mention the favor of an adult.

Moreover, after today's court incident, he no longer wants to ask Han Huang to help with this major event.

Of course, there is also a sigh from the emperor just now, "Mr. Yang Ge has worked so hard to manage it." This does not necessarily mean that Yang Guochang cannot be dismissed as Prime Minister, but that he is helpless with the status quo. It is the emperor's heart to control the south from the north and prevent the Zhejiang Party from dominating. The overall situation of the court.

But this kind of blatant words must never be said to the courtiers, and the courtiers need to understand it by themselves.

So, right now, you can't get too involved with Han Huang.

"Then I can only find Shi Jie, Minister of the Ministry of War, and I just need to let the Zhejiang Party not object. Of course, they also need the support of the Minister of Military Affairs. The matter should be because the emperor does not like it, otherwise Zhao Yi would not be left to reorganize the affairs of the Ministry, then... it will be a chance for the snipe and the clam to win."

Jia Heng thought about it and deduced the whole process.

Don't even think about it, once Qin Ye enters the court's promotion list, the emperor will definitely ask him, and then... probably it will be done.

In today's Chen-Han Center, the Zhejiang Party is in charge of personnel, the Qi Party is in charge of finances and taxes, and the Qi Party's heavy taxation often falls on the heads of the Zhejiang people. The Qi Party wants to cover the sky with one hand, but also has to compete with the Zhejiang Party. The conflicting interests of the scholars in the north and the south are fundamental. irreconcilable.

This is all the basis for Emperor Chongping to balance the court.

Jia Zheng saw the boy in the python suit facing him, frowning from time to time, and meditating from time to time, knowing that he was thinking about the turbulent court situation, so he didn't say a word to disturb him.

"Master, let's stop here today." Jia Heng said.

Jia Zheng nodded, and replied, "Ziyu, just go and do your work."

Afterwards, Jia Heng left Meng Po Zhai and returned to Ningguo Mansion, but just sat down in the flower hall, suddenly received a maid saying that old man Qin Ye had come to the mansion.

Jia Heng couldn't help being taken aback, but after thinking about it, he didn't find it strange.

Now that the Ministry of Industry is vacant, it can be said that most of the gods in Kyoto are active and running, such as Taichang Temple, Dali Temple, Guanglu Temple, Guozijian, and even the left and right deputy capital censors. Anyone who wants to move to the Ministry of Industry is looking for connections. Because it is impossible to recommend yourself, then you recommend me, and I recommend you.

Well, as the governor of Jinyi, it seems that he should monitor these serial activities, right?
Turn around and ask Qu Lang, who are the people recommended by the Qi and Zhejiang courts.

When Jia Heng came to the flower hall, not long after Qin Ye took his seat, he was not wearing an official uniform, but was dressed in an official robe. He picked up the teacup, bowed his head to drink the tea, and heard Jia Heng's footsteps.

He raised his head, stood up and called out, "Zi Yu."

"Master Yue Zhang, have you ever had lunch?" Jia Heng asked pleasantly.

Qin Ye smiled and said, "It's already been used."

Jia Heng nodded, knowing that Qin Ye came here for today's court meeting or court push, he didn't go around the corner, and said in a low voice: "Master Yuezhang, first go to the study to talk, I'll let someone inform Keqing, and I'll let you know later." Let’s talk in the backyard again.”

The two said, and entered the study.

Jia Heng looked at his father-in-law, Qin Ye, and said in a low voice, "Lord Yuezhang, I was actually going to look for you, and we will go to see Master Shi later."

The Chu Party occupies the Ministry of War, and has been unable to penetrate the Ministry of Industry, or there is no family member who can get a seat, so Shi Jie, who is a third-rank minister, should help him recommend Qin Ye instead of wasting the number of nominations. Sell ​​him a favor.

Because Shi Jie may not be able to recommend his own family members.

"Master Shi?" Qin Ye said in surprise, he didn't realize it for a while, his face paused, and asked: "But Master Shi, the servant of the Ministry of War?"

"It's the Minister of Military Aircraft, Shi Jie. I'll send someone to deliver the invitation to the mansion first. When he leaves the office, if nothing happens, Mr. Shi should recommend Yuezhang."

Hearing the word Ting Tui, Qin Ye's heart tightened, suppressing the joy in his heart, he asked, "Zi Yu, should I... prepare some presents?"

I haven't done this before, so it's a bit unnatural.

Jia Heng shook his head and said: "No need, to promote talents for the imperial court is out of a public heart, not to give or receive privately!"

Hearing these words, Qin Ye paused, feeling a little weird.

While the two were talking, suddenly Qingwen's charming voice came from outside the study: "My lord, grandma has arrived in the flower hall in the backyard."

It turned out that Qin Keqing, who was listening to an opera with Jiamu in Tianxianglou, heard that her father was coming, so she came to greet her no matter how she could sit still.

Jia Heng looked up at Qin Ye, and said in a gentle voice, "Yue Zhang, let's go to the inner hall of the backyard and talk again."

……

……

Lechang Square, Zhao's House
But he said that Zhao Yi did not go home immediately when he went to court, but first went to the Ministry of Industry and summoned his subordinate officials. The Langzhong of the two divisions, Yuanwailang and other officials, big and small, told them to handle the affairs of the ministry carefully before they got into the sedan chair and turned back to Zhao's house.

The sedan chair landed in front of the gate of Zhao's house, Zhao Yi was full of worries and went towards the courtyard, and when he entered the flower hall of the back house, he sat down with a complicated expression on his face.

"Master, are you back?" Surrounded by mothers and maidservants, Mrs. Wu, who came from the backyard, raised the curtain and entered the hall, and asked anxiously, "What does the Holy Majesty say? Is it dismissal or demoted?"

Zhao Yi put down the teacup, he didn't know whether it was annoyance or regret, and said: "The result of the disposal has come down, dismiss the cabinet members, return to the directors of the headquarters, and rectify the affairs of the department."

Wu was stunned for a moment, and said softly: "Then the master is still in the capital?"

Zhao Yi nodded his head, his face remained solemn.

"Thank God!" Wu's delicate and small face was full of joy, gently stroking the chest under the light yellow dress, and said in a soft and gentle Wu language: "I know it myself, and the master will not because of this matter." As for being dismissed from office, the concubine should tell Concubine Zhen the good news."

Zhao Yi sighed, feeling a little helpless towards his wife who was nearly forty years old with her naive temperament, so he could only say: "Speaking of which, the lord of Ningguo said something fair."

Wu's didn't react for a while, Tan opened his mouth slightly, and said in surprise: "The Lord of Ningguo?"

Immediately, his eyes lit up, and he suddenly said: "Master, you mean that Uncle Heng from the Jia family?"

no?Haven't they already rejected it?
"The Holy Majesty asked him what he meant, and he spoke uprightly, saying that I was not involved in the case." Zhao Yi's complexion was gloomy and his tone was complicated.

I really can't guess what that young Xungui is thinking.

Wu Shi was surprised and said: "This is really a fair word, but that day when I begged him to say a fair word for the master, he was obviously firm in his attitude?"

It is still Yingti's mild Wu accent.

"Although Jia Ziyu is a martial artist, he has a good character. When he resigned from the title, he didn't admire power and fame. It's a pity that he was young and heroic. He became an official early and didn't take the imperial examination." Zhao Yi said with emotion.

Wu said with a smile: "It's really... this person is really... Master, you have to think about thanking him."

It's been a long time, I really can't think of how to describe it, how can this help to speak when they were driven away clearly and righteously?

Zhao Yi waved his hand and said, "I am a civil official, and he is a military officer. It is not good for civil and military officials to communicate without authorization."

"My lord, you're just brainless." Wu Shi gave Zhao Yi a white look, with a hint of blame already in his tone.

Because even though the King of Beijing County and the Wu family were close friends for many generations, Zhao Yi kept a distance from the King of Beijing.

Zhao Yi shook his head and said, "I have to find another opportunity."

Wu said with a smile: "Master, Mrs. Rong Guotai's youngest son is an official in the Ministry of Industry... Oh? It seems that the father-in-law of the Lord of Ningguo is also in the Ministry of Industry. Master can take care of the affairs of the Ministry in the future."

Zhao Yi nodded, twisted his beard under his chin, and commented on the two of them: "Jia Cunzhou has no ability to deal with common affairs. , As for Qin Ye, he has been in the Ministry of Industry for decades, he is older than me, and his talent is fair."

After all, they are two Jinshi, Neo Confucian masters, and cabinet ministers, so their evaluation of Jia and Qin is quite pertinent.

Wu's heart moved slightly, and he came up with an idea: "Master, since he is the father-in-law of the East Mansion, and the master takes care of him, wouldn't this just repay the favor of the Lord of Ning Kingdom?"

"This favor is not so easy to repay...Let me think about it." Zhao Yi frowned and said.

Now the emperor asked him to withdraw from the cabinet and reorganize the affairs of the ministry. He should find some affairs officers as assistants.

Now the Fourth Division of the Ministry of Industry and the Tuntian Qingli Division are all involved in the case, and most of the Yuheng Qingli Division is Pan Lu's two-person party. We should gradually clean up personnel affairs. use.

However, this Qin Ye was not from a Kejia background, so I have to say that I am a little regretful.

But having said that, if he was born in Kejia, he would have been on the rise long ago.

The minister of the Ministry of Industry thought for a moment, thinking that Pan Lu, the two Jinshi scholars on the list, were both corrupt and corrupt, while Qin Ye had been in the Ministry of Industry for many years, clean as water, diligent in his work, and instead became a lowly official.

How unfair!Forget it, Ting Tui recommends this person!
What's more, the Ministry of Industry cannot allow the two parties of Qi and Zhejiang to arbitrarily deploy personnel. Not to mention that he, the Minister of the Ministry of Industry, has since become a clay sculpture and wood sculpture, but it is easy to make mistakes if the Ministry of Industry appoints officials who are not familiar with the affairs of the Ministry of Industry.

Thinking of this, Zhao Yi made a decision and recommended Qin Ye.

Seeing her husband's complexion changing, Mrs. Wu knew she had an idea, and said, "Master, why don't I go to Rongguo Mansion with Concubine Zhen, thank you?"

Zhao Yi shook his head and said: "No need, he has a public heart, otherwise he wouldn't have reprimanded you and Princess Beijing."

He recommended talents for the imperial court, and he also had a public heart, and he did not give or receive them privately, so how could he secretly pass the money?
"This lord of Ning Kingdom is quite strange." Mrs. Wu knew her husband's temperament for a long time, and secretly suppressed the matter, just thinking that she would have to talk to Concubine Zhen later.

(End of this chapter)