The Red Mansions

Chapter 711 Minister Qi Kun, please follow the holy order!

Yanyuan Yamen
Jia Heng and Daiyu sat down, and Daiyu sat next to Lin Ruhai, sometimes picking up dishes and putting them in a bowl for her father, obviously in a good mood, but she didn't peek at Jia Heng very much.

Obviously he took Jia Heng's previous advice to heart.

The three of them finished their meals and drank tea to talk.

Lin Ruhai raised his eyes to look at the young man opposite, and laughed loudly: "Zi Yu, I have sent someone to invite Elder Qi Ge earlier, and Elder Qi Ge has already agreed to meet. I will meet you later."

Qi Kun is currently living in the post house, because Jia Heng wants to avoid the eyes and ears of the salt merchants, so it is not easy to visit him.

Jia Heng nodded and said: "Then I'll wait for him in the Xuan room later."

Coincidentally, at this moment, an old servant from outside came to report, and Qi Kun, a cabinet scholar, came.

Daiyu closed her clear eyes, stood up gracefully, her heart was still immersed in the joy and sweetness just now, she said softly: "Father, I'm going back to my room first when you are meeting with Brother Heng."

Lin Ruhai nodded. Although she didn't know where the joy in her daughter's eyebrows came from, she still smiled kindly and said, "Yu'er, let's go."

Jia Heng nodded to Daiyu, and gave the girl a wink...I'll look for you later.

Daiyu understood Jia Heng's meaning, but felt ashamed in her heart, her father was still watching... she didn't dare to stay any longer, and went back to the wing accompanied by Zijuan and Xiren.

Jia Heng looked at Daiyu's leaving back, picked up the tea cup, took a sip, and hid his eyes, staring at the ripples on the tea cup, he couldn't help thinking.

It is conceivable that Daiyu will be a little more troublesome than the previous one. Before the kiss, he could still hang around hot and cold. After the kiss, he and Daiyu gradually entered the period of passionate love, and they were bound to accept the baptism of Lin Dangdang.

As for Daiyu's character, he felt that it would not change, and if it changed, she would not be Daiyu anymore, but there was still a change after getting used to it.

But different from Baochai, Daiyu is a bit in love, and she uses her affection too deeply.

Just as he was thinking about it, the servant outside reported that Qi Kun, a scholar of the cabinet, had already arrived at the door with his followers, and Lin Ruhai hurried to greet him.

As for Jia Heng, he went to the Xuan room first and waited while sipping fragrant tea.

After a while, Qi Kun and Lin Ruhai entered the hall after exchanging greetings, and looked at the young man sitting on the chair with a face as calm as an abyss, drinking tea quietly.

Jia Heng put down the teacup, looked at Qi Kun, bowed his hands and said, "Old Qi Ge, after a farewell between Beijing and China, his demeanor is even better than before."

Qi Kun looked at the young man opposite, and returned a salute, saying, "Uncle Yongning is also becoming more and more heroic."

Lin Ruhai smiled and said: "Ziyu has only been in Yangzhou for a few days, and he was thinking about the military plan and privy before, so he was in the Jiangbei camp to organize the army."

Several people greeted each other, sat down, and began to talk.

Jia Heng pondered for a moment, and instead of making a preliminary test like facing Shui Yu, he said directly: "Old Qi Ge, there is an edict."

Saying that, he took out a playbook from the armhole.

When Qi Kun heard the words, his heart was shocked, he quickly got up from his seat, and said politely: "Mr. Qi Kun respectfully invites Shengan."

Because it was a secret decree and it was for him, Lin Ruhai was stunned for a moment, instead of kneeling down to pay respects, he bowed his hands in the direction of Shenjing, and then watched Jia Heng and Qi Kun's plan, slightly surprised.

Isn't it good to discuss?Why did you ask for the oracle?
"Sheng Gong'an." Jia Heng said loudly, reciting the words on it, and said: "Yangzhou's salt affairs have been delayed for a long time, and they are harmful to state affairs. Today, Minister of Military Aircraft, Yongning Bo Jia Heng went south to Yangzhou to supervise the investigation. Regarding the salt abuse case and innovation and creation, we can only hope that Qi Qing will negotiate with Yongning Boduo, prepare for the trial implementation of the reform of salt law, and Yin Feng's treasury, I respect this."

When Qi Kun heard this, his complexion changed, and he cupped his hands and said, "My minister Qi Kun, I would like to obey the holy edict."

Jia Heng said: "Lord Qi, this is a secret edict. On the surface, Lord Qi is still responsible for the reform of the salt law. Jia is mainly responsible for cleaning up the evils."

He didn't want to test at all, and he just took the lead, and he had a plan that needed Qi Kun's help.

Qi Kun took the memorial at this time, read the text on it, and asked in a cheerful tone, "Your Majesty is determined to abolish the law of gang salt."

He had intended this for a long time, and those salt merchants and relatives embezzled salt profits and had to do nothing.

Jia Hengdao: "The profit of the salt tax has fallen into the hands of profiteers and slippery officials. Previously, the old Qi Ge sent people to check the balance of taxes and silver of the Lianghuai Transport Division over the years, but the Salt Transport Division was caught in a fire, and the account books and documents were turned into ashes. The Holy One, Longyan, was furious, thinking that there must be fraud, and at the same time, he hated their bad deeds."

Qi Kun paused for a moment, looked at the young man with a solemn expression on the opposite side, and asked, "I don't know what Yongningbo's opinion is?"

He was incapable of doing things, and was replaced by the emperor in Beijing.

"This matter cannot be separated from Mr. Qi's preparations. No matter what method is used to make it popular in the world, the system of exclusive business introduction is on the verge of dying, and it has come to the day it will be abolished." Much milder attitude.

Originally, he wanted Qi Kun to attract the attention of the salt merchants in front, but because of the compromise of the salt merchants, some changes occurred.

Qi Kun said: "It is difficult to continue the system of exclusive business introduction to the shore, so it is not as good as the previous method of Ming Kaizhong, which integrates border affairs and salt affairs, two-pronged approach, and government affairs complement each other."

Seeing this scene, Lin Ruhai remained silent.

"The Chinese law has been implemented until recently. If people are not recruited to carry out commercial settlements in the frontier, merchants will gather to respond when they see that there is no profit. Besides, the northern border has been suffering from severe drought in recent years, and refugees are everywhere. How can they settle the land?" Jia Heng asked. road.

Qi Kun said: "But there are always ways to think about it, and it is really imminent now."

Jia Heng smiled and said: "Mr. Qi Ge, don't worry about these, no matter what method is used, those moths that suck the marrow and suck the bones of the country will be wiped out."

The state-run salt industry has a point that has been criticized by scholars today. The state monopolizes it and competes with the people for profit. Since it must have differences with Qi Kun, it will not be brought up for the time being, and it will be accepted slowly.

When Qi Kun heard this, he didn't ask further, but pondered for a moment, and then asked another question: "Bo Yongning also wants to check the deficit of the transportation department?"

However, Jia Heng looked at Qi Kun calmly, and asked, "Isn't that how old Qi Ge was before?"

Qi Kun looked serious, and said: "The company has been in deficit for many years, and the number is huge, but these salt merchants are involved in many provinces, prefectures, prefectures and counties, and they have accumulated a lot. Now they are obstructing the reform of the salt law."

Shenjing sent Bo Yongning here to investigate and rectify the fraud, presumably in response to the fire in the Yanyun Department's archives. He really couldn't investigate this case, and the imperial court Jinyi had to intervene.

It just so happens that the weather is changing, and the old is saying goodbye to the new, and the new law on salt administration can only be implemented after the clean-up of the old Yangzhou salt merchants.

In fact, if Jia Heng came here at the beginning of the year, Qi Kun would even feel disgusted, but after a battle of wits and courage with a group of salt merchants, he has changed his mind. The salt law was reformed and returned to Shenjing.

Jia Heng said: "The Holy Majesty knew that this matter was difficult, so he sent me to supervise this matter."

These things still have to be told to Qi Kun, only in this way can he cooperate and take action.

Hearing this, Qi Kun frowned, and asked, "What is Uncle Yongning's plan?"

The young man in front of him has always been known for his resourcefulness, and he has investigated many difficult cases in the capital.

Jia Heng said in a deep voice: "Master Qi, go ahead and argue with those salt merchants first. After staying for a while, when Jinyi has made progress, Lord Qi can threaten the salt merchants in the case of the fire in Yunsi, ask Jinyi for help, and test their strengths." trend."

Regarding the possible collusion between the salt merchants and the Jurchens, there is no specific evidence for these. When there is actual evidence, then it will be another level of problem, but these cannot be disclosed to Qi Kun.

Qi Kun thought for a while, nodded, and said, "That's fine."

Jia Heng turned to ask: "How far has Mr. Qi Ge's interrogation progressed in the previous case of reselling official grain by the Ministry of Household Affairs?"

Qi Kun's face became gloomy, and he said: "Pan Ruxi didn't know about this case after interrogation. His grandson Pan Xiangdong, together with Qian Shuwen, the servant of the household department, Kuang Shisheng, the servant of the storehouse, and a group of household officials conspired. For detailed preparation, it is about to be sent to Shenjing."

"The Holy Majesty clearly stated that this case should be thoroughly investigated to the end, and it will not be in vain or indulgence." Jia Heng nodded and said, "Nowadays, the salt affairs are getting rid of the old and ushering in the new. Most of the court's eyes are on Yangzhou. In addition, Lord Qi has to cooperate with you. I sing a double reed."

"Oh?" Qi Kun asked in surprise.

Jia Heng spoke slowly, and Qi Kun, who was listening, sometimes frowned and sometimes stretched his eyebrows, and said: "In this way, they will argue endlessly with us, or they will sit on the mountain and watch the tigers fight."

Qi Dang and Jia Heng are at odds, which is well known throughout the world.

"That's exactly what it means." Jia Heng said.

The two discussed the details, and then Qi Kun said goodbye. Jia Heng watched Lin Ruhai send Qi Kun out of the salt courtyard, put down the teacup, and looked at the rain and fog outside in a trance.

"My lord." Accompanied by a calm voice, Liu Jixian, the governor of Jinyi Mansion's North Town, strode into the hall from the outside, and clasped his fists at the tall young man standing with his arms behind his back.

Jia Heng turned around, looked at Liu Jixian, and asked, "What's the progress?"

When he learned from Chen Xiao that the Jurchen had sneaked into Yangzhou, he asked Liu Jixian to send someone to investigate the news about the Jurchen enemies and the Jinsha Gang.

Liu Jixian said in a low voice: "The Jurchens hide without a shadow, and the humble job adheres to the strategy of not being suspicious, so they can only inquire secretly. So far, they have not found a place to stay, but the news of the Jinsha Gang has been clarified."

Jia Heng looked at Liu Jixian, waiting for his words.

"The Jinsha gang, which is smuggled by the Chongming Sha gang, has a large number of people, about three to four thousand people. They have many boatmen and sailors, and they are wandering on the sea. Keep one eye, close one eye, the situation is much stronger now." Liu Jixian said.

Smuggling along the coast is rampant. These pirates with their ships adrift think that with strong economic strength, they can support thugs and boatmen, and the number of three to four thousand people can even do a lot of great things.

In fact, this is also the reason why Duoduo wants to make the Jinsha gang more powerful in Huaiyang and other places. It messed up Chen Han from the south, and the chaos in the southeast made the tax source of the Han court unstable, which made the situation worse.

Jia Heng frowned, his eyes turned cold, and said: "So many people? What have the coastal navy, guards, and inspections been doing all these years? How can you allow them to gather robbers like they are today?"

Liu Jixian said: "Commander, the coastal defense has been dismantled for a long time, not in a day or two, and many warships of the officers and soldiers are not even as fast as those of smugglers. Limited, there are warships in the Jiangning Mansion, and there are still [-] sailors stationed in the Jiangnan Camp."

"Since that's the case, I'm going to Jinling." Jia Heng said in a deep voice.

"Where's the weapon of artillery? Is there any news?" Jia Heng asked.

Liu Jixian said: "According to Hao Jing, those red-haired ghosts were unwilling to provide artillery barrel technology at first, but after learning that the Lord is in charge, they also said that they can bring in craftsmen to help my big man build guns, but they need to discuss with the Lord. interview."

Jia Heng’s order to Zhao Yi and Xu Tingye of the Armament Supervisor was to purchase artillery and learn technology, and it is best to introduce a production line. Fortunately, the former is not a big problem to purchase a small amount of artillery, but the latter is actually very difficult and needs to be recruited. Craftsman.

And all this attracted the attention of a noble official from Portugal from Haojing, who is also the local governor. Later, he heard that it was the great man Yongningbo, a nobleman in charge of military aircraft, and wanted to talk to Jia Heng.

The purpose is nothing more than maritime trade and the establishment of Portugal's leasehold status in Haojing.

During the Jiajing period of the former Ming Dynasty, Portuguese personnel bribed local officials in Guangdong. After Chen Han established the country, he was busy with the South and North Wars and fighting against the remnants of the Ming forces.

After that, Portugal defeated the Netherlands in a naval battle, and the problem has become increasingly complicated until now.

Jia Heng frowned, feeling a lot involved in it for a moment, paused, and said in a low voice: "After the business here is over, I will go there in person."

It's really a lot of things, because of the Yangzhou salt affairs, but there are still a lot of things to deal with. In comparison, it is much easier to straighten out the salt affairs.

The two were talking, Lin Ruhai also came from the outside, entered the hall, saw the two who were talking, and asked: "Zi Yu, are you talking?"

Jia Heng smiled and asked, "The conversation is over, uncle, are you sending me away?"

Lin Ruhai nodded, sat down, and said, "I'm seeing you off, Mr. Qi Ge plans to go to the saltworks tomorrow, and I'll go with him too."

Jia Heng thought for a while, and said: "Then uncle, bring more guards, and I will allocate one hundred Jinyi tiqi to uncle to protect uncle secretly."

Lin Ruhai smiled, and said softly: "That's not necessary, Yanyuan is also escorted by Yan Ding, and there is no danger on the way."

Jia Heng said softly: "Uncle, don't refuse, you have to guard against those people."

Seeing this, Lin Ruhai couldn't refuse, so he could only silently accept the kindness.

After that, Jia Heng talked to Lin Ruhai a few more words, and then left the Xuan room without saying much, and came to Daiyu's room.

At this moment, the sky is not yet late at night, and it is still Xu time. The rainy night is misty, and the lanterns under the eaves are swaying with the summer wind, fainting circles of glowing lights.

Daiyu is sitting in the inner room, playing Go with the mandarin ducks.

At the moment, the girl is wearing a water-blue satin robe with a round collar embroidered with bamboo leaves and plum blossoms and a white embroidered horse-face skirt. The two sit opposite each other across a chessboard, holding black in one hand and white in the other, and the lights are shining brightly.

The mandarin duck is wearing a water-colored long dress, with braids on her hair, and a chess piece in her hands. She has a white and snowy duck-egg face, not to mention a few freckles that are unabated and beautiful, but also a bit playful.

"Master is here?" Zijuan hurriedly called out with a smile on his face.

The two people who were playing chess put down their chess pieces, and looked up at the young man in green shirt and straight suit. In Daiyu's starry eyes, there was a hint of shame and resentment.

At this moment, the group of hairpins looked around, and Jia Heng did not look at each other. Instead, his eyes fell on the Go board and asked, "Where are you two playing Go?"

Yuanyang looked at the young man with a smile on her face, and asked, "Miss Lin just finished eating and played two games of chess. Uncle came to tell Miss Lin a story?"

Jia Heng would come back these few days to read the script to Daiyu, and the maids of Yuanyang would sometimes listen in and listen to the young man's lingering stories.

"No, just come and have a look." Jia Heng nodded, sat down, and took the teacup from Zijuan.

Under Dai Yu's smoldering eyebrows, her starry eyes were shining, she fixedly looked at the young man, her heart was a little shy for a moment, and she asked softly, "Brother Heng, have you finished your visit?"

"Well, I've seen it, I've finalized some things, and nothing else." Jia Heng stared at the girl with delicate eyebrows and picturesque eyes, and said softly: "Tomorrow, I will go to Jiangbei Camp to dispose of some hands and tails." Some, we will go to Jinling the day after tomorrow.”

Yangzhou is also very close to Jinling, and we can reach it in a short time.

Originally, he wanted to get bored with Daiyu for a while, but he didn't realize it just now, but after thinking about it afterwards... he really couldn't stop.

But the mandarin duck is there, no matter how big his face is, it's not good for him to be intimate with Daiyu in front of the mandarin duck.

Under Dai Yu's smoldering eyebrows, her starry eyes shone brightly, as if reflecting a human figure, she covered her mouth and smiled lightly, "Okay, Jinling is also the ancestral house."

Jia Heng nodded, and said: "Don't worry, sister, I have already arranged it first, and I will release the news in advance."

This matter will be mentioned when we go to Jiangbei Daying tomorrow, and those who want to come to the secret will also take action.

At this moment, Yuanyang stood up, looked at the young man with a smile, and said softly, "Master, talk to Miss Lin, I'll go prepare hot water for Miss Lin."

Jia Heng nodded, looked at the smiling mandarin duck, met that soft and loving gaze, and said softly: "Go."

Since I came to Yangzhou, I haven't been tired of being with mandarin ducks for some time.

After the mandarin ducks left, Zijuan also exchanged winks with Xueyan, and for a while Xiren also left the room, but it was actually Zijuan who let the wind out.

For a while, only Jia Heng and Dai Yu were left in the wing room.

Jia Heng sat down, beside Daiyu, took Daiyu's plain hand, and whispered in the girl's ear: "Sister, do you miss me?"

In fact, it is quite inconvenient to be in the Yamen of Yanyuan in Yangzhou. Although Lin Ruhai would not go into his daughter's boudoir if he had nothing to do, if he really saw it, he would probably be beaten out of the Yamen of Yanyuan with a stick.

I treat you as a relative and friend, how can you do it? !
Her slender hand fell into the young man's palm, Daiyu's tender body trembled slightly, she quickly lowered her head, her flawless white cheeks were dyed crimson, gorgeous and bright, flushed like a cloud, she pursed her shiny pink lips, it was completely unreasonable .

Jia Heng stared at the jade earrings on the girl's petite and exquisite earlobe, and asked without words: "Sister, these earrings are very beautiful, where did you buy them?"

Under Daiyu's crescent eyebrows, her starry eyes were bright and charming, her jade face blushed like a glow, she took a peek at the young man, clutched a handkerchief in one hand, and said in a low voice, "Zicuckoo bought it."

Why are you asking her these questions?
But in the bottom of my heart, I have a somewhat different experience from the previous contact, and I can't say anything. Thinking of the young man who talked and kept talking about the world in the past, he suddenly asked what jewelry you were wearing, and felt absurd in my heart. Unspeakable sweetness and joy.

In fact, this is called contrast...

It's not just men who like contrast, women do too.

Jia Heng held Daiyu's plain hand, slender and soft, smooth and delicate, and asked softly: "When my sister was at home, did you choose all the jewelry you wear?"

"Well, it's not all. When I was in the mansion, I mostly wore whatever I bought. I don't usually pick out jewelry." Daiyu seemed to be used to this state, and her voice gradually calmed down, but her heart was still a little shy. .

Jia Heng took it out of his arms and gently unfolded the red cloth.

"This?" Daiyu looked at the boy in surprise and picked up a hairpin, not knowing why.

Jia Heng looked at that beautiful and picturesque face, and said softly: "I want to give something to my sister, but I don't know what to give my sister. Let's just do this. My sister can see it every morning when she puts her makeup on."

Originally, I wanted to give the ring as a gift, but I remembered that it was given to Baochai. Baochai usually wears it, and the bracelet is not good. I gave it to Yuanyang.

Daiyu was surprised: "Hey, sister Yuanyang's bracelet is so beautiful, it seems to be the same style as mine?"

So, these are potential minefields.

Bracelets, rings, hairpins, earrings, sachets, and what else, these are the few things that can be given as gifts.

Daiyu looked at the hairpin, her eyes were full of water, her heart was filled with sweetness, she said in a low voice, "Brother Heng gave me something before, why did you give me something again?"

"Last time it was a birth ceremony, this time it's different." Jia Heng said in a low voice, and suddenly whispered into Daiyu's ear, "It's a token of love."

When Daiyu heard this, her delicate body trembled slightly, her eyes moved slightly, and she only thought of four words in her heart, the thing of love?

"Let me put it on for my sister." Jia Heng said softly, picking up the hairpin.

"En." Daiyu said softly, lowering her head slightly, her eyes couldn't help but follow, and she saw the white collar of the round-necked brocade robe complementing the neck, and the bright and clean chin was soft orange under the light.

Jia Heng picked up the hairpin, pinned it into Daiyu's bun, and immediately looked at the girl with airy bangs under Mingjie's forehead. Under the smoky eyebrows curled like willows, her star pupils were shining brightly. Such as the distant galaxy.

The skin is better than snow, there is almost no trace of blemishes, the pink lips are moist and radiant, the only possible problem is that the lines are a little clear, maybe not plump enough, this may be shy, and she turned her face slightly.

Jia Heng said: "I'll show my sister a mirror."

Daiyu responded with a "hmm", looked at the boy with eyes full of water, took a mirror from the dressing table, and handed it over.

Daiyu lowered her eyes and saw the thin-winged butterflies with hairpins hanging down gently rippling between the girl's bun in the mirror, as if every time it stirred up the heart lake that had already been turbulent.

"Brother Heng, eh~" Dai Yuyu's face was mixed with anger and joy, she raised her clear eyes that were full of water, and wanted to say something, but she saw the shadow approaching her, and her lips were closed again.

Daiyu closed her star eyes slightly, and the mirror in her hand was carefully taken by the young man so that it would not fall to the ground.

After coming over for a while, Daiyu breathed lightly, her jade face flushed red, she was unable to lean on the young man's shoulder, and said in a trembling voice: "Brother Heng, why..."

Just a word of disagreement... I feel completely overwhelmed, but she doesn't know why, she obviously feels that it's inappropriate to be so intimate all the time, and she can't resist every time.

Jia Heng looked warmly at Daiyu who was dodging her starry eyes, and said in a low voice: "I can't help it, my sister will forgive me, right?"

How should I put it, Daiyu's jerky and coy mood during the skin-to-skin date is a bit special, a special kind that he has never felt before, and it is difficult to describe it in words.

Daiyu: "..."

Angrily glanced at the young man, lowered his head, and pursed his shiny cherry lips. After a while, he calmed down and started talking casually, "Brother Heng, what about the salt affairs?" of?"

Jia Heng said softly: "I have some plans, and I have discussed it with that elder Qi Ge. I think there will be a result soon."

In the past few days, he traveled between the yamen of Yangzhou Salt Court and Jiangbei Daying, and he didn't go anywhere else, so he could calm the hearts of Yangzhou salt merchants.

Daiyu said "hmm", thought for a while, and asked in a low voice: "Just now I asked about Sister Yuanyang, and she said that all her family members are looking at the house in Jinling?"

Along the way, she also saw some things in her eyes and had some guesses in her heart.

(End of this chapter)