The Red Mansions

Chapter 592 Jia Heng: Well, I made a slip of the tongue earlier
governor's office, backyard

Jia Heng briefly met Shandong Admiral Lu Qi in Qianya, and then ordered Shan Ming, a member of the Guoyong Battalion, to lead a few guerrilla generals to lead troops to Shandong to supervise and suppress the bandits.

Just sat down in the back hall, his face paused, he remembered something, and said to Liu Jixian who was beside him: "Send someone to the Hedao Yamen to carry the blueprint of the Yellow River camp's embankment and the expense account book to the Governor's Yamen, and send people to audit. Investigate Jiang Yuanwu, a political rightist, and investigate related corruption cases.”

When he proposed to dredge the canal, the minister who participated in the division of water conservancy and river channels dared to obstruct him, which was suspicious.

If it is said that all members of the Qi Party "oppose for the sake of opposition", it is not justifiable. They only participate in politics. Even if they want to restrain them, who will give them the courage?

Then there can only be one explanation. The construction of the embankment hides a huge corruption case, and Jiang Yuanwu is also involved in the case.

The collection of corvee and the raising of materials for river repair require the coordination and management of local feudal officials, which creates opportunities for collusion and cooperation.

Liu Jixian clasped his hands and said: "The lowly position makes people watch."

Jia Heng watched Liu Jixian leave, turned and returned to the study, but saw Princess Xianning standing beautifully behind the bead curtain, she was surprised, and asked: "Your Highness, why didn't you go to rest?"

"I don't usually have the habit of taking a nap, and I can't sleep now." Princess Xianning came in through the curtain, looked at Jia Heng with bright eyes, and asked, "Sir, what did Lu Qi say?"

Jia Heng said: "He who understands current affairs is a hero, and I have already agreed."

Princess Xianning nodded, and stopped asking about the matter in detail, and instead asked: "Mr. Just now, do you intend to repair the river?"

While sitting down, Jia Heng picked up the teapot and poured a cup of tea, and said softly: "As usual, we can only check the river embankment. The Central Plains has been peaceful for too long, and gradually forgot the harm of the flood. Today, before the magistrate of Kaifeng prefecture arrives, I will inspect the embankments along the two rivers, conduct on-the-spot investigations, and be vigilant against the summer floods this summer, so as to be prepared.”

He is the governor of the military administration in the Central Plains, so the river affairs may interfere with the civil affairs, so he can't ignore it.

Princess Xianning sat down gracefully, her bright eyes slightly frowned, and she said, "The Yellow River has been troubled for many years. If you want to control the river, you may not be able to do it with only the manpower and material resources of the place."

Since ancient times, it has been very costly to control the river, so people often suffer from river troubles, and even more suffer from river control.

Jia Heng took a sip of tea, looked appreciatively, and said: "What Your Highness said is very true. Therefore, after investigating the situation of the river, if it is really necessary, go to Shusheng, and appoint Lian Zhineng from the central center to manage the river. If there are changes, apart from Kaifeng and Guide, Huaiyang and other places may still suffer from the disaster of the river."

Although he is not an expert in water conservancy and meteorology, thanks to the development of information in his previous life, he speculates that the drought cannot be maintained for a long time. If the summer rainstorm hits and the Yellow River floods, then the Central Plains and Huaiyang will suffer from floods.

"It's a pity that you don't have the skills to separate yourself." Princess Xianning looked at the young man opposite and said again with emotion.

Jia Heng laughed and said: "Your Highness is too famous, there are many talented and outstanding people in the world."

Saying that, without waiting for Princess Xianning to say anything else, she said, "His Royal Highness tidy up, let's go to Xiangguo Temple to pay off incense later."

This is something that Princess Xianning had agreed to before.

Princess Xianning's Yurong paused slightly, pursed her pink lips, and said in a clear voice: "Mr. is busy with official duties, so there is almost no time to warm up the table. Otherwise, we can go another day."

Obviously because of what Jia Heng said earlier, he felt that Jia Heng's business should not be delayed.

Jia Heng smiled and said: "It's okay, I was originally investigating the people's situation in Kaifeng Prefecture, and I have been in the governor's office to appease the bandits for the past few days. In the next few days, His Highness will accompany me to inspect the embankment, and His Highness will work even harder then."

Princess Xianning's Yurong was happy, she breathed a sigh of relief, and said softly: "Since Mr. has a charter, then I will follow Mr.'s."

The two of them were talking, and Jia Heng then ordered Xia Houying and Liu Jixian to prepare chariots and horses, and head towards Daxiangguo Temple under the explicit and covert retinue and protection of a large number of Jinyifu guards.

Daxiangguo Temple is in full bloom. At this moment, Kaifeng City is back in the hands of the imperial court, and the order in the city is gradually restored. The originally closed temple gates are also open to welcome pilgrims. It has not completely recovered the noisy scene of tourists in the past.

Jia Heng and Princess Xianning came to Daxiangguo Temple under the retinue of their personal guards.

The temple building is magnificent and solemn, and the scenery in the temple is beautiful. The bell tower and drum tower stand on the east and west sides.

The abbot, Venerable Master Zhitong, had already heard the news of Jia Heng's arrival, so he ordered the Zhike monk to decline the few pilgrims and lead Jia Heng and Princess Xianning into a meditation room in the back mountain.

The meditation room is furnished in a simple and simple way, with a three-legged and six-eared incense burner inside, and green smoke mixed with sandalwood and ice flakes rises up.

Master Zhitong picked up a purple sand pot and filled a cup of tea for Jia Heng and Princess Xianning.

Jia Heng thanked politely, then fixed a pair of cold eyes, and looked at the smiling monk in cassock opposite him.

This is an old man in his fifties, with a rich face and kind eyes.

"Master Zhitong, the city fell to bandits earlier, and I heard that the mage protected many people? Is there such a thing?" Jia Heng asked.

The monk Zhitong stood up with one hand, and said in a cang voice: "The monks are merciful. The city was in chaos the day before yesterday, and the common people were crying. The poor monk usually relied on the benefactors in the city to offer incense and formed a good relationship. He tried his best to protect the safety of one benefactor."

Jia Heng said: "Master Zhitong is really an eminent monk and a great virtue."

Since he is an eminent monk and a great virtue, he will be "leniently punished" if it involves the Daxiangguo Temple after the investigation of the annexation of the fields and acres.

"The general is absurdly praised." Monk Zhitong was modest, and then complimented Jia Heng and said: "What the poor monk did was to protect a few people, and the general's recovery of Kaifeng's city is to save the people from the fire and water, a matter of immeasurable merit. .”

Jia Heng said: "I am ordered by the emperor to suppress the rebellion, recover the city, and stabilize the people. This is nothing more than my duty."

After thinking about it, he asked, "How many years has Master Zhitong been a monk?"

The monk Zhitong said without hesitation: "The poor monk has practiced precepts since he was six years old, and it has been 43 years since then."

Jia Heng nodded and said, "Master Zhitong knows Kaifeng Fucheng very well."

"I don't dare to say that I know a lot, but I still know a thing or two about some major events in the city." Monk Zhitong couldn't hold back the thoughts of the nobleman opposite, and dealt with it cautiously.

Jia Heng murmured: "The Yellow River is a disaster. When the embankment burst, does the mage have any impression?"

Jin Fu and Chen Huang, the famous river-control officials in the Kangxi Dynasty, listened to those who had something to say and one thing to do.

There was an imperceptible strangeness in Monk Zhitong's eyes, and he asked, "General, do you mean the Yellow River in the north?"

After pondering for a while, he said slowly: "In the third year of Chongping, the embankment of Fengqiu County burst, and the Yellow River flooded the city of Kaifeng, and the city wall was a foot high. The prefectures and counties under the jurisdiction of Kaifeng Prefecture killed and injured more than [-] soldiers and civilians, and more than [-] people were displaced. Changing sons to eat... It has been twelve or three years since now, but there has not been much rain in the past few years, and there has been no news of the embankment breaking. Instead, there have been two plagues of drought and locusts. According to what the poor monk heard, the government sent Hedao Yamen to station in Kaifeng Fucheng, if you want to repair the embankment, you will no longer suffer from the river."

Jia Heng said: "The thieves fell to the city of Kaifeng, and Fei Siming, the former governor of the river, was murdered. Now there are only small officials left in the Hetai yamen."

"Amitabha." Monk Zhitong clasped his palms together and recited the Buddha's mantra, his eyelids drooping, as he recited sutras for salvation.

Jia Heng and Princess Xianning, who was sitting not far away, looked at each other, then turned to Zhitong who had finished reciting the scriptures, and asked: "Master has been in the temple for many years, have you ever heard that there are people in the city who are proficient in water flow? ?”

The Water Supervision Department of the Ministry of Industry of the imperial court has its own water conservancy officials who are responsible for cleaning and repairing the national water conservancy, but they can also listen to the opinions of some strange people from the people.

Monk Zhitong pondered for a while, and said: "The general said so, the poor monk really thinks of someone."

"Oh?" Jia Heng wanted to ask casually, but he didn't think that this monk Zhitong really knew the folks who were proficient in water conservancy projects, but after thinking about it, he didn't think it was strange, after all, he was a local snake in Kaifeng Prefecture for more than 40 years.

Master Zhitong explained: "He has a long history of learning, likes to read water classics and maps, and is good at painting. He often comes to describe Buddha statues, and was once expelled by monks in the temple. He was also hired for the Hedao Yamen, but somehow he left the Hedao Yamen."

Generally, those who can draw river water maps must have painting skills, and their painting skills in other aspects are not too bad.

Jia Heng asked, "I don't know the name of this person, and where does he live now?"

"His name is Guan Shou Fang, and his family lives in Tiesuo Hutong, Madao Street. The general should send someone to ask about it." Master Zhitong said.

Jia Heng wrote down the name and address, nodded and said, "Thank you Master Zhitong."

After finishing speaking, Jia Heng also got up and said: "Master, Zhuo Jing and I are going for a walk, so we don't need to accompany each other."

Monk Zhitong got up quickly and said: "Then the general will do it himself."

Jia Heng nodded, looking at the slim Princess Xianning, his eyes couldn't help being gentle, and said: "Let's go."

Hearing this, Princess Xianning's white and snowy cheeks were slightly rosy, she felt ashamed and happy, and she said "hmm", so why did you call her Zhuo Jing just now?
Jia Heng and Princess Xianning left the meditation room one after the other, turned to look at the girl with a blush on her beautiful jade face, smiled and said, "Go to the Daxiong Palace to pay my respects."

Girls in this age group tend to pay attention to... things that may not be too important, such as status, such as size.

"En." Princess Xianning's face was as icy and muscular as a snow lotus on an iceberg, and her face was dizzy from the snow. The coldness disappeared, but it became a little softer, she pursed her cherry lips, and responded in a low voice.

At this moment, Xia Houying is not far behind her, and it is not easy to ask Jia Heng what the "clumsy thorn" meant just now.

The two walked along the bluestone road shaded by trees, stepped on the mottled light and shadow, walked through the corridor with high beams and columns, and came to the outside of the Daxiong Hall together.

Jia Heng watched Princess Xianning knelt down on the futon, clasped her palms together, prayed without disturbing her, and stood quietly waiting at the gate of the palace.

For him, Daxiangguo Temple is more like a scenic spot for sightseeing, and has no other meaning.

After finishing the incense, Princess Xianning got up and went out of the palace. She looked at the young man with bright eyes and said in a clear voice, "Sir, you have been waiting for a long time."

Jia Heng nodded, smiled and said, "Let's go shopping elsewhere."

Afterwards, they led Princess Xianning to visit several other places in the temple, wandering around, and it was also a rare relaxation for the two of them since they came to the Central Plains to suppress bandits.

It wasn't until evening that Jia Heng helped Princess Xianning, who was still full of emotions, into the carriage. At that time, the western sky of the Central Plains was covered with a glowing sunset at some point. It's dark, the evening is burning, and it's clear for half a moon, and the golden sunset light casts through the bamboo curtains and enters the carriage sparsely. Jia Heng stretches out his hand to hold Xianning in his arms, smelling the fragrance between the hair, and he is very happy for a while, saying : "I came out this time and said that I would accompany His Highness to have fun, but I still couldn't help asking about other things. Don't blame Your Highness."

Princess Xianning leaned her hair-like hair on Jia Heng's shoulder, feeling an unprecedented sense of peace in her heart, and said softly: "Sir, you should be in charge of the military administration of a province, understand the people's sentiments, and worry about government affairs."

Although I chatted with the abbot for a few words before, I also walked around a lot of places with her afterwards.

"Your Highness is really considerate." Jia Heng said, turning his face and stroking Princess Xianning's fragrant shoulders.

And the warm spring breeze in late spring and March carried the fragrance of flowers through the window, lazily falling on the couple.

After a while, the snowy face was as beautiful as the rosy clouds, and Princess Xianning, who was panting softly, was almost limp in Jia Heng's arms, and it took a long time for her to calm down. She stretched out her slender hands to tidy up the messy front, and asked in a low voice: " What the gentleman just said is clumsy..."

Jia Heng's face was in a daze, and he said, "Well, I made a slip of the tongue earlier."

Princess Xianning: "???"

A slip of the tongue?How could it be a slip of the tongue?No, sir is playing tricks on her again, right?

However, after thinking about it carefully, the pair of eyes under Liu Ye's slender eyebrows, shining brightly from beginning to end, flickered, and the brilliance quickly dimmed.

That's right, Mr. already has a family, and she desperately... snatched everything she has done today.

"Zhi'er." Jia Heng felt Princess Xianning's disappointment, took Xian Xiansu's hand, and called softly.

Princess Xianning's delicate body trembled slightly, her eyes narrowed, she didn't seem to think that the young man called her name suddenly, or it was an accident, she fixedly looked at Jia Heng, waiting for his words.

Jia Heng hugged Princess Xianning in his arms, and whispered in the girl's ear: "Our days will be long."

Princess Xianning gave a "hmm" and didn't say much.

……

……

The night was getting dark and the candles were burning brightly. In the study room in the backyard of the governor's office, a tall and tall figure was projected on the window, accompanied by the sound of flipping through the papers.

Jia Heng was flipping through the illustrated annotations of the Yellow River Classics that Liu Jixian brought from the Hedao Yamen in the evening.

The governor of Henan had to mention the Yellow River passing through Kaifeng.

Inherited from the pre-Ming Dynasty, the Great Han Dynasty suffered from the Yellow River at the beginning of the founding of the country. Since the reign of Emperor Taizong of the Chen Han Dynasty, important officials have been selected to control the Yellow River to a certain extent, but with little effect. The river has been controlled several times during the Longzhi period, but the problem remains. Seriously, there are frequent breaches of dikes.

According to the river management experience of later generations, there are roughly two ideas for controlling the Yellow River. The first is to widen the river course and build high embankments, and the other is to draw water to attack sand and build river diversions to relieve the pressure on the river course.

"According to the experience of the river control in the previous Kangxi Dynasty, to control the Yellow River, it is necessary to integrate the river transportation and take care of everything. Only the officials who specialize in the river channel cannot succeed in three to five years. I will not stay here for a long time, and I will not be able to preside over this matter. Jia Heng closed the map of the water area from the Hedao Yamen, staring at the candles on the table in a trance.

Therefore, he is only dredging canals such as the Tongji Canal now, and he can't do much else. Maybe he can inspect the north and south embankments, and then report to the emperor the strategy of dredging the river.

At this moment, Liu Jixian came from the outside, clasped his fists and said: "My lord, the results of the investigation from the Hetai Yamen came out."

Jia Heng asked, "How do you say that?"

Liu Jixian said: "After my subordinates interrogated the clerks and Tong Zhi of the Hedao Yamen, the former governor of the river, Fei Siming, served for six years. There are detailed descriptions of the payment for the river project, please read it, Your Excellency."

With that said, he took out a notebook from the sleeve and handed it to Jia Heng.

Jia Heng took the letter, frowned, and said, "Zhou Dezhen, Sun Long is also involved in the case?"

I don't want these two officials who died for the country to be unclean. In other words, in the officialdom of the big man, there are very few honest officials with a clean sleeve.

Liu Jixian said: "By coordinating with prefectures and counties to apportion corvee and transfer money and food, the feudal officials often colluded with officials of various departments, departments, and floods in river yamen."

Jia Heng said solemnly: "These corrupt officials, before I left Beijing, people in the Qi Party even questioned the unknown whereabouts of the money for repairing the river. I asked you to governor Nanhe. I don't want to be a thief calling for a thief!"

At that time, Gao Bin, the governor of the Nanhe River, went to the court to request the appropriation of the bank to repair the river. He was questioned by Yang Guochang, the chief minister of the cabinet. The Hedao Yamen turned a blind eye?
It should be here.

Jia Heng frowned, put down the paper, and asked Liu Jixian, "I think the dikes on the north and south banks have fallen into disrepair?"

Liu Jixian said: "Your Excellency, I have observed clearly, and I have listened to the local officials in Kaifeng. The levee has been in disrepair for a long time, and few people take care of it. However, the rain has been poor in recent years, and there has been no more breaches of the embankment."

This is the status quo of the entire north of the Han Dynasty in recent years. It has been in a dry weather with little rain and little snow. The rain is not abundant, and the troubles of the Yellow River have subsided a lot.

Jia Heng pondered for a moment, and said: "There was no flood in the past few years, but it is hard to say in the past few years. It is still necessary to prevent floods as soon as possible, not only for the Yellow River, but also for Huainan."

It seems that he wants to write a memorial to the court to make Emperor Chongping pay attention to this matter.

Just when Jia Heng turned around and came to the book case, thinking about how to write the memorial, at this moment, Liu Jixian's voice came, "My lord, Feng Shenshi is here."

Now Feng Lian's post is a counselor under the governor's mansion, and he is in charge of dredging Bian, Caier River, and branch canals.

Jia Heng left the book case and greeted the person who came, without making any detours, and asked with a smile: "Mr. Feng, has the manpower been fully organized?"

Feng Lian laughed and said: "Manpower has been organized. There were more than [-] prisoners and [-] men. If we recruit more men, there will be no shortage of manpower."

This old gentleman had previously served as the chief official of a county, so he naturally had a lot of organizational skills.

Jia Heng nodded and said: "That's good. The Tongji Canal is related to the north-south water transportation. In recent years, it has become increasingly congested, especially the section from the Bianhe River, Caihe River to Huaiyang River. Now the water level is still shallow, just to dredge the Qing Dynasty. Silted."

"Your Excellency's words are true." Feng Lian said softly, glanced at the water channel map on the desk, pondered for a moment, and said: "Master Jia, the Tongji Canal is fine, it was often dredged before, and it will be done soon after ten months The dredging has been completed, but the dikes in Yangwu and Fengqiu counties on the north and south banks of the Yellow River are dilapidated and need to be strengthened and repaired.”

The thieves are used to distribute corvees, so that the people don't have to work.

Jia Heng asked: "Mr. Feng also knows about this?"

"The old man is at home, and a friend in Fengqiu County wrote about this matter. Previously, there was a Hetai yamen in the prefectural city of Kaifeng, which was in charge of this matter. The government has a system, so the old man can't say much." Feng Lian explained.

Jia Heng pondered for a moment, then said: "I will report this matter to the court."

Not only is Shangshu facing the troubles of the Yellow River, but at the same time, it is also necessary to distribute corvees to the river and the vassals, and to impeach them in a disguised form.

(End of this chapter)