The Red Mansions

Chapter 736 Chen Xiao: Did you plan to be soft and tough?
The next day, the Yamen of the Ministry of War

Since Chen Han established the capital of Shenjing, the Six Ministries of Nanjing still retain the configuration of personnel and government office.

Because Shaobao and Xie Yue, Minister of the Ministry of War in Nanjing, are old and basically in retirement status, the two ministers in Nanjing usually preside over the daily affairs in the yamen.

Early in the morning, Jiang Sucheng, the left servant of the Ministry of War, and Meng Guangyuan, the right servant of the Ministry of War, came to the official hall to sit in the office and watch things.

In the early morning of summer, the cool wind blows, bringing with it a light rain last night, dissipating the heat and making it cool and pleasant.

Jiang Sucheng was a skinny old man in his early fifties, dressed in a scarlet gown official uniform and a black black gauze cap, sitting behind the desk in the southwest corner of the official hall, picked up the official document handed over, looked slightly surprised, and said: "Jiangbei Daying What do you think of deposing so many generals at once, Lao Meng?"

As the Jiangbei camp is in full swing to investigate the past corruption of generals and schools, and eliminate the remaining poisons of Huang, Yan, Hu, etc., a large number of generals and schools have been dismissed and demoted because of their corruption of military pay and violation of military discipline in the past. After that, they will naturally report the roster to the Ministry of War.

Meng Guangyuan is a fat official in his fifties, with a short beard under his chin. He smiled and said: "He is the minister of military affairs, and he will receive the imperial edict. Even if he transfers the school later, he doesn't need to look at our faces." , just to let you know."

Jiang Sucheng nodded, smiled and said: "I heard that the Jiangnan Camp will weed out the old and the weak recently, and re-simplify the generals. Now, both Jiangnan and Jiangbei are excited and promising, and the weather is renewed. It is really a matter of celebration." .”

This is actually a bit of a joke. The two of them have been in the Nanjing Military Department for a long time, and they know the strength of the soldiers and horses of the Jiangnan and Jiangbei battalions.

It is not that simple to straighten out armaments.

Meng Guangyuan smiled, and said: "Wait for Mr. Shen to come over and make some plans. The generals are all old generals from the Annan War. Without the Marquis of Annan, who would be able to do it?"

Many generals and schools in the Jiangnan camp were veterans who conquered Annan during the Longzhi period. Most of them are in retirement status in Jinling.

But at this moment, scribes from outside the government office came to report, and the governor of Liangjiang, Shen Fang, led a group of retinues to the Ministry of War.

Jiang Sucheng and Meng Guangyuan looked at each other, secretly said something came, got up from their seats, and went out of the hall to meet them.

Not long after, Shen Fang, governor of Liangjiang, surrounded by the chief secretary Bai Sixing, the general judge Lu Chaoyun and other clerks and retinues, entered the official hall of the Ministry of War.

Because the governor of Liangjiang added the title of Yudu Yushi, which belongs to the second-rank official. If he was added the title of Shangshu of the Ministry of War, as Jia Heng, the governor of Henan Province, was given the title of Shangshu of the Ministry of War.

The two servants treated each other with the courtesy of a subordinate official, saying that they were inferior officials, and they would stop after seeing the courtesy.

The two parties sat down, the clerk offered tea, and then retreated slowly.

Jiang Sucheng turned his eyes to look at Shen Fang, and said first: "Master Shen, the ordnance needed for the rectification of the Jiangnan camp has been escorted by Zhang Langzhong, who was assigned to the driver of the car yesterday. As for the military salary, the household department has not reissued money and food, and we still have to wait for it." It will take a while to get ready."

The two Ministers of the Ministry of War are old fritters who have been immersed in officialdom for many years. In addition, Jiang Sucheng and Shen Fang often have contacts with officials in the frontier, and they usually have a good relationship.

Shen Fang put down the teacup, with an old and relaxed expression on his face, and said: "As for the Ministry of Household Affairs, Mr. Pan Ruxi was demoted because of the case of reselling official food, and Mr. Qian Shuwen, the servant, was dismissed and interrogated. Now he is still waiting in the prison of the Ministry of Criminal Justice. The Holy Judgment, the relevant military salary can't be raised for a while."

It was also caused by Jia Heng’s crackdown on hoarding goods in Huai’an Mansion back then. Because of his involvement in the case of his grandson, Pan Ruxi, the Minister of the Household Department, ordered him to go home and conduct self-reflection behind closed doors. All of them were dismissed and questioned.

When it came to the case of reselling official food, Jiang Sucheng's eyes were dim and his expression was a little unnatural.

His younger brother Jiang Tingyu also resold grain to Huai'an Fucheng and Huainan, but because of the bad things of Yongning Bo, he returned at a loss.

"The military pay will be allocated sooner or later, so there is no need to worry about it. The land in the south of the Yangtze River is rich, and when the autumn grain is harvested, it is safe to leave one or two million shi from it and donate it to the military supplies of the Jiangnan camp." Jiang Sucheng Said as if relieved.

"This year's autumn grain, the imperial court urged it to be the same as in previous years, so it's not easy to hold back." Shen Fang frowned and said in a deep voice.

The governor of Liangjiang inquired about civil and military affairs in Liangjiang, and was responsible for the payment of taxes and grains in Jiangnan, Jiangxi and other places. The center has attracted the attention of Emperor Chongping, so it is hoped that it will be possible to join the cabinet.

Jiang Sucheng didn't bother about this matter, just chatting with Shen Bing, while Meng Guangyuan answered the conversation from time to time.

Everyone was talking, and suddenly a clerk from outside came to report again, saying: "My lord, Minister of the Ministry of War, Minister of Military Aircraft, Uncle Yongning is here."

The complexions of the scarlet-robed officials present and the civil servants brought by Shen Fang changed. Jiang Sucheng and Meng Guangyuan confessed their crimes to Shen Fang, then got up from their seats, and walked quickly to the Yimen.

However, from the threshold of the courtyard of the Ministry Hall, there are a large number of guards in brocade clothes and embroidered spring knives in flying fish suits, who are guarding first, and then a young man in python clothes enters the courtyard, with a dignified appearance, looking forward to his majesty.

This kind of ostentation...it's nothing more than going out to the police, right?

The two ministers of the Ministry of War, as well as the chief officers and Ling Shi behind them, mostly had a solemn feeling in their hearts.

Of course, Jia Heng's extravagant travel and security is also justified, because, wasn't he just assassinated by the king in Yangzhou?

Jiang Sucheng took a few steps towards the boy in the python suit, cupped his hands and said, "I have seen Mr. Jia."

Meng Guangyuan also approached, and also bowed his hands to Jia Heng.

This is the etiquette for lower officials to meet their superiors. No matter what you think in your heart, how you make trouble secretly, at least on the surface it will not be picked out by others.

Jia Heng stretched out his hands to help, his face was as calm as water, and his voice was gentle: "The two ministers, please stand up."

During the exchange of greetings, accompanied by two servants, among the guards of the Jinyi Mansion, they stepped into the official hall, and when they saw Shen Bing, who was sitting on the pear wood chair in the official hall, the old god was sitting, and asked with a smile: "Master Shen Are you there?"

Only then did Shen Fang get up, a smile appeared on his majestic and solemn face, and he said, "Uncle Yongning, long time no see."

Jia Heng nodded, sat down, looked at Jiang and Meng, explained the purpose of coming, and said: "Master Jiang, Lord Meng, I came here for military equipment and food. Today, the camp in Jiangbei is newly ordered, and there is a shortage of food and equipment. In terms of the Ministry of War, the Department of Arsenal needs to allocate a batch of ordnance for the needs of the entire army.”

When Jiang Sucheng heard the words, he hesitated for a moment, and said: "This... Mr. Jia doesn't know something. The Armory Department of the Ministry of War has insufficient ordnance reserves. It has been allocated to the Jiangnan Camp before. Now the Armory Department does not have too many armaments allocated. Will Mr. Jia continue?" Wait for some time?"

In fact, it’s really not Jiang Sucheng’s evasion, but the fact that the Jiangnan camp has [-] soldiers and horses, and so many weapons are refitted. The quantity is huge. After the supply is prioritized, the supply of the Jiangbei camp will naturally not be guaranteed. .

Of course, if you really want to solve it, the Nanjing Ministry of War still has a solution.

Jia Heng looked at Shen Fang who was on the side, and said, "Master Shen also came to ask for the allocation of ordnance and armor?"

"In the past, the ordnance and armor were old for several years. There is abundant rain and humid climate in Jiangnan, and many of them are rusty. Now that the Jiangnan camp has been reorganized, it is urgently needed to replenish." Shen Fang did not evade, and looked calmly. Looking at Jia Heng, he explained in a subtle way.

Jia Heng smiled and said: "Jiangbei will be put in order first, and the official documents will also be delivered to the Ministry of War first. Can you distribute them to the Jiangbei camp first? The Jiangbei camp doesn't need much."

Shen Fang also said with a smile: "Master Jia's words, I don't agree with this old man."

Because in terms of rank, Jia Heng is a military honorary of the court, and when it comes to civil positions and titles, Jia Heng is a minister of military affairs, and he is also a minister of the military department of the second rank. Being criticized for self-pity, that's why he calls himself old.

Shen Fang made up his face and said calmly: "The camp in the south of the Yangtze River is related to the safety of the old capital. The ancestral temple and the country must change their armored soldiers as soon as possible. The king of the Donglulu sneaked into Yangzhou earlier, which shows that the forces of the Donglu have hidden in the south of the Yangtze River. To stir up trouble, such as the loss of the old capital of Nanjing, the consequences would be unimaginable! Yongningbo is the minister of military affairs, and he is always planning military and national affairs, so he doesn't know the importance of this matter?"

This was actually the reason why Jia Heng used the excuse to rectify Jiang Fang, but before Jia Heng could say it, Shen Fang took it to stop him.

Jia Heng smiled lightly and said: "I have never said that Jinling is not important, but the Jiangbei camp has soldiers, and the Ministry of War will send out a batch first. When there are police in Jiangnan, Jiangbei will send troops and horses to reinforce it. Hearing about the privy secretaries, he knows that Jiangnan and Jiangbei are one, if Jiangbei does not exist, where is the safety of Jiangnan? Mr. Shen should know this principle.”

He didn't want to argue with Shen Bing about who is important in Jiangnan and Jiangbei, this is just falling into the trap of Shen Bing's words, then everything is important.

After Jia Heng finished speaking, he fixed his eyes on Jiang Sucheng who was not far away, and said softly: "As far as I know, there are 32 ordnance workshops under the Nanjing Ministry of War. If they work at full capacity, they can guarantee the supply of 20 armored soldiers."

Chen Xiao was standing behind Jia Heng at the moment, looking at the scene of fierce battles in the official hall, his gaze first fell on Jiang and Meng, and then on the face of the young man with striking eyebrows and eyes.

The slack atmosphere of the Nanjing government office is exactly the same as it was many years ago, or in other words, the whole territory of the Han Dynasty, the country has been established for a hundred years, and it has been peaceful for a long time. The only difference...is him.

The girl's clear eyes under her heroic brow glanced at the clear and cold young man, but her heart was somewhat complicated.

Because every time a young girl thinks of such a young man with a bright future who can be a holy lord and Mingjun, lingering on beauty, she feels a sense of schizophrenia and heartbreak.

Look, who are they hanging out with? A wife, a princess, or a poisonous woman, no yellow-haired girl with long hair, what else?
How much meat and vegetables are not taboo...

Hmm, seems to be gone?

No, even an ordinary young man, how could he know so many tricks, he is also the seed of an arrogant, extravagant, licentious and unrestrained king.

Should she do something?
Hearing Jia Heng mention the workshops under the Ministry of War, Jiang Sucheng couldn't help but said: "It's been a long time ago... Well, Nanjing has been in peace for a long time, and the soldiers have no fighting spirit. In the ordnance workshop, the craftsmen are scattered. Not too many can be produced now.”

Meng Guangyuan also said: "Jinling is no longer the same as Taizong's old look. Even if we work hard, we can't build many armored soldiers in a month."

At this time, Shen Fang picked up the teacup instead, took a sip, and only cast his old eyes sideways at Jia Heng, with a sneer in his heart.

If you think that the officialdom in Nanjing is a sacred capital, you can do whatever you want, hack with an ax and a knife, then you are very wrong!

The whole Nanjing Six Departments has this kind of undisciplined and profligate atmosphere. If you push too much, directly put down your picks, and dare to show power and tyranny, you will only be strongly resisted by the Jiangnan officialdom, making it difficult for you to move forward.

Jia Heng said in a deep voice: "So, once there is a war and the preparation of armaments is not complete, how can the Nanjing Military Department deal with itself?"

In fact, it was already expected before coming here that it would not be smooth to come to the Ministry of War to ask for ordnance. Not to mention Jiang Sucheng's previous affairs in the Huai'an Mansion, the Ministry of War in Nanjing would probably be delayed.

Meng Guangyuan then said: "Lord Jia, apart from the time when the country was founded, there has been no war in Nanjing for nearly a hundred years. Now that the Jiangnan and Jiangbei battalions are rectifying their military affairs, the Nanjing military department will definitely help. How about this? The Jiangbei battalion will wait another half a month. Xiaguan and Master Jiang will think of a way."

Jia Heng looked at Shen Fang who was drinking tea and watching the joke, his eyes were as sharp as a sword, and asked, "Is that what Master Shen means?"

Shen Fang sighed, and said: "It's hard for a good woman to cook without rice. Uncle Yongning's worry is understandable for me, but now the armaments are not available, and the Ministry of War can't make so many armaments. We can only wait and see."

Jia Heng paused, and said: "Then let's do this first. The Ministry of War needs to deliver the ordnance as soon as possible to prepare for the need for rectification. I will send someone to contact the Ministry of War later."

Originally, he wanted to use Emperor Chongping's order to take over the affairs of the Ministry of War with the Secretary of the Ministry of War, but he decided to wait a little longer, otherwise these birdmen would become vigilant and huddle together, which would be difficult to deal with.

Is it because of the shortage of armaments, or they secretly put the money allocated by the imperial court to the Ministry of War into their own pockets, which is probably another bad debt.

The matter of ordnance can be investigated secretly, but now we should concentrate on dealing with the matter of Jiangnan Salt.

Jia Heng made up his mind here, and he had no intention of staying longer, so he left the official office of the Ministry of War.

As soon as Jia Heng left, Jiang Sucheng and Meng Guangyuan looked at each other, then looked solemnly at Shen Fang, Governor of Liangjiang, and said, "Master Shen, Uncle Yongning..."

Shen Fang said righteously: "Don't worry, the old capital of Jinling is related to the safety of the ancestral temple. The official has delivered the memorial to Shenjing the day before yesterday to rectify the camp in the south of the Yangtze River and redeploy the river defense. This matter is a certainty."

Meng Guangyuan pondered for a moment, then said in a low voice: "I'm afraid that Uncle Yongning will not be reconciled, and think of other ways, such as impeaching the court..."

Jiang Sucheng narrowed his eyes, smiled and said: "Then gather the ordnance first. I remember that there are five thousand Yanling knives in the arsenal? Send them to Jiangbei Camp first, don't let them People found an opportunity to attack."

Meng Guangyuan nodded and said, "That's the only way to go."

It is not good to say in front of Shen Fang that it has been recast not long ago. Although a batch of old knives of more than ten years have not rusted, but according to the system of the Ministry of War, it is time for melting and casting, and they can be recast to the Ministry of Household Claim a withdrawal fee.

However, it was said that Jia Heng left the official office of the Yamen of the Ministry of War and got on his horse. It was only half noon at this moment, and the horse's hooves were stepping on the wide and clean bluestone road in Jinling City.

"Are we still going to the household department?" Chen Xiao pulled the rein in his hand, and asked the young man with a calm face.

Jia Heng nodded and said: "Go and see, what will the people in the household department say."

Seeing that the young man's face was as calm as ever, Chen Ling felt relieved a little, and followed Jia Heng to the household department with a large group of retinues in brocade clothes.

The yamen of the household department is actually only two arrows away from the yamen of the military department. It was almost noon when Jia Heng came outside the government office.

At this moment, Tan Jie, the servant of the Nanjing household department, is in charge of the yamen's office. He is over 40 years old and has a black beard under his chin. , Master, came to Yimen and greeted Jia Heng.

"I have seen Mr. Jia." Tan Jie and a group of household officials behind him bowed their hands to Jia Heng.

Jia Heng stretched out his hands to support him, and said, "Master Tan, please forgive me."

The two greeted each other, entered the official hall, divided the guests and hosts into seats, and the scribes offered tea.

Tan Jie looked at the youngest earl in the history of the Han Dynasty, and he dared not ignore it, and asked, "I don't know what advice Master Jia has come to the yamen of the Ministry of Households?"

Jia Heng said: "Master Tan, the Jiangbei camp is being reorganized, and the food and salaries are lacking. The household department has been in arrears with the Jiangbei soldiers' salaries for half a year. I don't know when they will be repaid?"

As soon as this remark came out, Tan Jie suddenly looked distressed, and said: "Master Jia, the household department is not rich now, and besides, in the past, the payment on time was also in the hands of those generals who were greedy for the ink. Isn't the Jiangbei camp now letting the army who are greedy for the army pay?" It will be pursued, which shows how much our household department pays for the Jiangbei camp every year, and now the household department is indeed in some difficulties, and when the river is flooded in Xiajiang, Elder Zhao Ge and Liangjiang governor's yamen have asked for some payment."

Jia Heng looked indifferent, and said: "Nowadays the new recruits need to be resettled with money, should the Ministry of Households distribute a sum of military salary? After all, this is a system."

But Tan Jie said: "Now the Jiangbei camp is still being reorganized, and the number of vacancies varies. Uncle Yongning, it is not as good as this. After the quota of the Jiangbei camp is established, the subordinate officials and colleagues will raise all the salaries and send them to the Jiangbei camp. how?"

Jia Heng stared at Tan Jie with burning eyes, and said deeply: "At that time, will your household department delay the matter of handing in the autumn grain and transporting grain from the south to the north?"

Armaments can be missing, because he doesn't want to openly tear himself apart with Governor Liangjiang's yamen, but the household department's food and salary must be raised in place.

Otherwise, if it is delayed like this, it will be delayed until the year of the monkey is full. When the follow-up grain tax is paid, the household department will have another excuse.

Seeing the other party's harsh words, Tan Jie's complexion changed slightly, and his heart was shocked.

Jia Heng stared at Tan Jie, and said in a deep voice: "The half-year military salary of [-] soldiers and horses, the Ministry of Households must reissue it within half a month, otherwise, as the minister of military aircraft, I am ordered by the emperor to carry out the emperor's sword to rectify Jiangbei's military affairs. , It is bound to punish you and others for the crime of neglecting the military opportunity! Donate to the envoy as scheduled, and I will also go to the imperial court to ask for credit. Now that there is a vacancy in the Nanjing Household Department Hall, you should encourage each other."

As he spoke, his eyes wandered over a group of Langzhong and Yuanwailang.

Hearing this, Tan Jie's complexion changed, the anger in his heart for forcing the cow's head to drink water gradually dissipated, and his thoughts began to come alive.

Is this spending money to buy officials?
Now, no one in the world knows that Yongningbo's family members are so grand, and they are so red and purple in front of the emperor. Would not it be……

If he still procrastinates with not paying the military salary, he is afraid that under the impeachment of his holy family, even if he will not be dismissed from office, he will be transferred from this kind of good job that is hard to find in the world.

But at this time, it is not easy to change the course in a hurry, and you need to slow down for a while.

The hearts of several other officials were also shocked.

Tan Jie said hesitantly: "Lord Jia, the lower officials and colleagues will think about it."

Jia Heng looked at the officials of the household department, got up and said: "Then think about it quickly, the soldiers' salaries must be paid within five days, that's all."

After saying that, he got up and left, and when Jia Heng left, the household department immediately started talking about it.

Jia Heng left the Yamen of the Household Department, got on the horse, took up the reins, and headed towards Ningguo Mansion.

Chen Xiao looked at the young man who was taking advantage of the opportunity, and asked, "You have planned a long time ago, one soft and one strong?"

He was not strong in the Ministry of War, but he was strong and overwhelming in the Ministry of Households.

Jia Heng looked at Chen Xiao, and said in a low voice: "Get the silver first, the Henan capital still has a lot of other ordnance, the Nanjing military department can't move, but it will be a big move."

On the contrary, it was the household department, in a hurry, if he didn't listen to the greeting, he would move again.

Chen Xiao thought about the pros and cons, and said, "I thought you..."

"Think I will use force to suppress the people in the military department?" Jia Heng's eyes dimmed, and he said, "Now is not the time."

(End of this chapter)