The Red Mansions

Chapter 775 Empress Song: My concubine congratulates His Majesty!

Shenjing, palace garden, imperial garden

Emperor Chongping spoke with a little emotion, and Empress Song and Concubine Duanrong showed joy on their jade faces.

Like the empress of Song Dynasty, her star eyes are as gentle as water, but they have been bent into crescent moons. If she is not in charge of the family, she does not know how expensive the firewood and rice are. As the lord of the six palaces, she knows that the expenses in the palace are huge. As for the outer court, look at the temples of the emperor How many of my gray hairs are because of worrying about money?

Emperor Chongping naturally saw the joy in the eyes of Empress Song and Concubine Duanrong, and his heart became more and more happy.

Although the officials in the Hanyuan Palace were happy, they were old foxes fighting in the officialdom after all, so it was impossible to show this kind of joy. Well, after all, they stole the wealth of merchants and had a bad reputation.

However, since Uncle Yongning did it in the name of the Governor of Jinyi, if there is any infamy in the future, it will not fall on them!

Empress Song opened her mouth slightly, and she could vaguely see the white and neat cherry teeth, which seemed to be shining with extravagant light, and the beauty's eyebrows and eyes overflowed with joy and gentle charm, and said: "My concubine congratulates your majesty!"

Concubine Duanrong nodded her head and said softly: "Your Majesty no longer has to worry about the deficit of the national treasury."

Liang Wang's face was ugly, and his heart was inexplicably shocked.

5000 million taels?Is this much more money than the Sanhe Gang's property that was confiscated in Beijing last time?
Emperor Chongping's emotional turmoil at this time gradually calmed down, and he said in a deep voice: "Speaking of which, most of the wealth accumulated by these salt merchants came from stealing state funds. It's all the tax of the country, and the blood and sweat of the ordinary people!"

While speaking, Emperor Chongping's eyes fell into memories, and he said in a deep voice: "During the Longzhi period, I and Zhou Wangdi went south to Yangzhou for business in a low-key manner. At that time, the Oiran Competition was held on the Slender West Lake. The richest salt merchants in Yangzhou spent money like dirt. At that time, I Brother Zhou was still very surprised, how they were so extravagant, and later met Guo Shaonian, the then salt transport envoy, and gradually realized the disadvantages of salt merchants' tax payment, flattering the superiors and tyrannying the inferiors, so they accumulated such illegal things Wealth in the tens of millions."

In a century-old state, the salt merchants have at least 50 years of family wealth savings. A century-old salt merchant family like the Wang family has even more wealth, but if there is no reason, the imperial court will not rashly plunder private wealth.

Empress Song asked with concern: "Your Majesty, if this salt merchant copies it, will there be any hindrance to Lianghuai Salt Affairs?"

Emperor Chongping said: "Ziyu's memorabilia has some words to clarify the accumulated disadvantages, get rid of serious illnesses, and replace the system of merchants with the ticket salt law. At that time, everyone was a salt merchant, and it would not affect the people's consumption of salt."

Empress Song smiled and said: "Your Majesty said these things, and my concubines don't understand, but if you want to come to Ziyu to say that this method is feasible, then you have to give it a try."

Speaking of this, this beauty seemed to recall the conversation she had just had with her son, her phoenix eyes glanced at Liang Wang Chen Wei with a smile, as if asking, what else can I say now?

Chen Wei's eyes were gloomy, and he didn't know what he was thinking.

Emperor Chongping said: "Ziyu is in the south, whether it is military affairs or salt affairs, he has his own rules and regulations, and he handles them in an orderly manner."

Thinking of this, Emperor Chongping suddenly remembered something, and pondered: "Dai Quan."

"The servant is here." Dai Quan responded quickly.

Emperor Chongping said: "Let the Military Aircraft Department draw up an order. Jiang Sucheng and Meng Guangyuan, the servants of the Ministry of War in Nanjing, are involved in the case of false acquisition of military equipment in the Qingli Department of the Arsenal. , In addition, based on the density of military affairs, an excerpt of the ordnance and soldiers of the Jiangnan camp was published in the residence newspaper."

In fact, Jia Heng’s memorial to impeach the two ministers of the Ministry of War and Nanjing’s impeachment memorial arrived in Shenjing first, but Jia Heng’s memorial was delivered to the Military Aircraft Department three days ago, while Nanjing’s impeachment memorial was delivered by the Secretary of General Administration. Spread throughout Shenjing.

At that time, the entire Shenjing was discussing that Jia Heng commanded the Jiangnan and Jiangbei camps, and the support was too heavy.

Emperor Chongping did not decree the two Ministers of the Ministry of War, because it is easy to prove his words by dealing with the two ministers of the Ministry of War at once.

A leading general impeached two military ministries, and as a result, they collapsed as soon as they were impeached, which undoubtedly added to the momentum of public opinion in Nanjing.

Therefore, Emperor Chongping stayed in China as much as possible, and let public opinion in Beijing and China be aired first by cold treatment.

Now, just in time for the opportunity, Jia Heng has made progress in the salt business.

In other words, Jia Heng's memorial to the military affairs of the Jiangnan camp was written into the heart of the emperor.

Empress Song and Concubine Duanrong looked at the middle-aged emperor who was dealing with government affairs again, and watched quietly without interjecting.

Emperor Chongping said: "Jinyang and Xianning went south this time, just to help with the salt affairs."

Empress Song smiled and said: "Jin Yang said that when we arrived in Yangzhou, things were almost peaceful there. Judging by the posture, it's really so."

Secretly thought, Jinyang knew her son-in-law well, and when they arrived in Yangzhou, many things should have been taken care of.

When Empress Song was speaking, she turned to ask: "Your Majesty, Wei'er is not too young now, is this concubine thinking about marrying him?"

Prince Chen Han is eighteen years old. In fact, he has to go out to observe politics, but in fact, this age is the latest, and it can be earlier. According to [-]% of men, he will be able to open the government and leave the government. He is always in the palace. It's not very convenient, even Chen Wei is now sent by Emperor Chongping to the Imperial College to study with a group of honored children, and he will come back during the usual holidays.

"Zitong, what's your claim?" Emperor Chongping glanced at Chen Wei and asked.

Empress Song said: "The concubine is also a little undecided, but Yan'er is suitable, but she is still a little younger. If it is next year, it will be fine, it is better to make a decision first."

Originally, she wanted to let Chanyue get married and get closer, but now it's natural not to mention it.

Song Jing's daughter, Song Xuan, was twelve years old last year and will be thirteen this year.

Emperor Chongping pondered for a moment, then said: "That girl Song Yan seems to be a little younger, and her relationship is also a little closer, what did Song Jing say?"

I can understand the queen's desire to marry the Song family to the king of Liang, but it's not necessarily a good thing to get closer.

Empress Song smiled and said: "The concubine's younger brother has no idea, after all, Yan'er knows everything, she has been smart since she was a child."

Speaking of which, Yan'er resembles her appearance and character when she was young, but her temperament is still a little weak, but she has a somewhat tough temperament.

Emperor Chongping said: "That girl Song Yan is a bit young, if she wants to marry the King of Liang, she can wash away his temperament from the daughter of a civil servant."

If there is no accident, it is likely that the King of Wei will be in the East Palace in the future. Song Jing often goes in and out of the Palace of King Wei recently, and it will not be a good thing for the Song family to let his daughter marry the King of Liang.

"The daughter of a civil servant?" Empress Song said softly, remembering this matter, and immediately looked at Chen Wei, smiled, and said, "Where is Wei'er? If you are interested in which family, you can tell the queen mother. "

At this time, Liang Wang Chen Wei quickly said: "The queen mother, the sons and daughters are all determined by the father and mother, but the sons think that they can choose slowly, and there is no need to rush."

He spent a few days strolling around with the people of the same age in the Imperial College, and felt that there are so many beauties in the world, and he got married early, so why should he be restrained by that?

"You are not too young. If you get married, you can stop playing and be more mature and stable." Empress Song reprimanded with her eyebrows upside down.

Emperor Chongping looked at Chen Wei, and said in a deep voice: "Read the book first, then talk about self-cultivation, self-restraint and rituals, making friends with foxes and dogs all day long, flying eagles and lackeys, how can you look like a nobleman?"

When Liang Wang Chen Wei heard the words, the smile on his face disappeared, and he quickly lowered his head.

Empress Song said: "Your Majesty, the concubine and sister have helped Wei'er pick and choose these two days?"

In fact, it is better to choose a discipline of martial arts. Now the world uses martial arts more, and it can help Ran'er in the future, but His Majesty's intention is to let Wei'er match the daughter of civil servants.

First, let's see if there are any girls of the right age at home for the bachelors in the Hanlin Academy.

Emperor Chongping nodded, and said: "You and Concubine Rong will take care of it first, decide on the candidate, and then show it to me."

Compared with Wei Wang Chen Ran's marriage, Emperor Chongping would pay special attention to it, but for Liang Wang Chen Wei, the emperor obviously didn't care much about it.

Emperor Chongping sat in the imperial garden for a while, but did not stay longer, and walked quickly towards the study in the Daming Palace.

At this moment, Wei Wangfu
In the afternoon, the warm eyes of late autumn shone in the tea room. Wei Wang Chen Ran and Song Jing sat down around a chair, discussing the news brought by the courtiers from the court meeting in the palace, and remained silent for a long time.

"Four to fifty million taels..." Chen Ran frowned slightly, his heart was shocked beyond words, and he said in a low voice.

Seeing surprise in Song Jing's eyes, he said: "Yangzhou Salt Industry can be described as a wealthy place in the world. The wealth they have accumulated for decades is in the tens of millions. This time, the property of the four major salt merchants was confiscated. When you have silver, you can have a lot more money."

"Then Aunt Jinyang went to Yangzhou with Xianning earlier to take over the property?" A light flashed in Chen Ran's heart, his eyes were dark, and he said in a low voice.

Song Jing sighed: "Obviously, going south to Yangzhou is not only to take over the goods, but also transfer the Lianghuai Salt Transportation Department to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Ministry of Household Affairs."

"In the past, the mines were under the administration of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, but now it is the interests of salt." Chen Ran said softly, and said with emotion: "It would have been nice if uncle had gone to the Ministry of Internal Affairs."

Song Jing was silent for a while upon hearing this.

Why isn't he thinking about this?The Ministry of Internal Affairs was only one step away at the beginning, but was obstructed by the eldest princess.

At this time, Deng Wei who was on the side suddenly said: "Your Highness, if you want to intervene in the House of Internal Affairs again, is there no other way?"

As soon as this remark came out, Wei Wang Chen Ran stared at Deng Wei with flickering eyes, and asked, "What does Mr. Deng mean by this?"

Deng Wei pondered for a moment, and said: "As long as Princess Jinyang leaves from the House of Internal Affairs, and then the empresses in the palace will work harder, there may not be a turning point for this matter."

Chen Ran frowned, and said: "Mr. Deng doesn't know something. Aunt Jinyang has helped my father with a lot of errands since she took over the House of Internal Affairs. Besides, Aunt Jinyang is not like Zhongshun Wangfu. In the eyes of the emperor, he became more and more trustworthy."

"Hence, Your Highness needs to keep an eye on the Eldest Princess' mansion, looking for the eldest princess' mistakes." Deng Wei said in a low voice, and said softly: "Actually, the little princess, if he can marry His Royal Highness Liang Wang, that's fine. His Highness is also a great help, such as the story of the former Han Princess and Gillian."

Chen Ran looked silent, shook his head, and said: "It's impossible now, the queen mother also wanted to match Chanyue and the sixth younger brother, but Aunt Jinyang refused, and she chose Jia Ziyu. Although I don't know how to solve this matter now Naturally, I can’t mention it.”

If he had married Chanyue instead of Yan's daughter... But at that time, he didn't know that his aunt would be in charge of the Ministry of Internal Affairs today.

It was the first time Deng Wei heard that Princess Qinghe was also related to Jia Heng, and he couldn't help being surprised.

A Xianning princess rumored in Beijing is enough to make people think that the emperor favors Yongning Bo more than ordinary people, and now there is another princess?
This Yongning Bo is really blessed.

Deng Wei pondered for a moment, then said, "Your Highness, what did His Highness Xianning say?"

Chen Ran thought for a while and said: "The fifth younger sister has been close to Gu since childhood. Compared with the two kings of Wei and Qi, the fifth younger sister still tends to be lonely in her heart, and Chanyue also grew up with Gu. When Jia Ziyu marries Xianning , Li is also an orphaned brother-in-law."

This is also his greatest confidence. With Jia Ziyu's temperament and talent, which of the two kings of Qi and Chu can tolerate him?
That is, he is enough to control Jia Ziyu.

As Jia Heng left the capital for a long time, the vassal king presided over the military affairs of the five cities for a long time, and gradually regained some of his kingly demeanor.

Just like licking a dog is not in front of the goddess, after some psychological construction, I regained some confidence.

King Wei pondered for a moment, and said, "I need to look at this matter alone."

Song Jing nodded, and said: "Nowadays, Uncle Yongning is more and more relied on by the palace for his management of salt affairs, especially the masters of Jiangnan, Jiangbei, and Jingying. In the future, the position of the East Palace, no matter what, he cannot be bypassed."

Although Hao Jiru's memorabilia of Jinling was a bit alarmist, Jia Heng's power in military matters did attract the attention of those who cared.

King Wei's eyes flashed hotly, and he said: "Prince Taibao, father's addition of officials is like Sinan's guidance. Compared with the other two feudal clans, Gu is already one step ahead."

As he said that, King Wei looked at Song Jing and asked, "Uncle, how is the construction of Gongling Mausoleum going?"

Song Jing said: "In order to speed up the progress, the Ministry of Finance allocated a large amount of money earlier, and it should be repaired before the end of this year."

King Wei's eyes flickered, and he said, "Once it's repaired, Brother Chu and King Qi will return to court."

Song Jing nodded and said: "No matter what, the two feudal clans will be rewarded by the majesty after they build the Lingling Mausoleum, and King Qi is more likely to restore the dignity of the prince. Now the Ministry of Households and the Ministry of War are short of people to act on behalf of the Ministry. Maybe in the Second Household Soldiers Department to assist in the affairs of the Ministry."

According to the system of the princes of the Chen and Han vassals to watch the government, the two kings are generally allowed to act as part of the ministry's affairs, or to be assigned to tolerance, otherwise the ability will not be able to be trained, but after all, after the painful lessons of the Longzhi Dynasty, Emperor Chongping has planned to do some new things change.

"Uncle, where's Gu?" Wei Wang frowned and said softly.

"Your Highness will not be out of the palace for a short time, so you can take over the Wucheng Bingmasi first, and then plan to go to the Ministry of Rites to observe politics in the spring of next year." Song Jing said.

The King of Wei sighed, and said, "Let's not talk about the Ministry of Rites, the Five Cities Army and Horse Division is not justified."

Although he had in fact acted as an agent for the Ministry of Military Affairs of the Five Cities, he always felt that there was Jia Ziyu on his head, and he felt a little uncomfortable.

……

……

Just when the officials in Shenjing were discussing the New Salt Law that Jia Heng tried in Jiangnan Province——

In the evening, in the picturesque Suzhou city, under the small bridge with gurgling water, several awning boats shuttled in the small river in Gusu city.

The setting sun shines on the river, the breeze comes slowly, and the waves are shimmering, reflecting the green eaves and white walls on both sides of the bank, and willows on the embankment. Glowing sunset.

In the cabin, the steam from the purple sand pot of the unstrained spirits furnace is gurgling, and the fragrance is radiating.

Jia Heng hugged Shui Xin, was peeling an orange in his hand, picked up the orange petal, handed it to Shui Xin's lips, and fed it to little Luoli.

Yuanyang smiled lightly and said, "Master, if you eat too many oranges, you will get angry, so you can't eat too much."

Jia Heng nodded, lightly scratched the bridge of Shui Xin's nose, looked at the pink and jade-carved girl, and said with a light smile, "Did you hear what Aunt Yuanyang said?"

Shui Xin put her head in Jia Heng's arms and said in a waxy voice, "Then godfather will eat too."

Jia Heng took the orange and put it in his mouth, chewing it lightly, the sweet and sour juice overflowed from his mouth, and said with a smile, "What wish did Xinxin just make in the Panxiang Temple in the Xuan Tomb?"

Earlier, I took Daiyu and Zhenxi to Miaoyu's sojourn, and being in it, I felt a little bit of Miaoyu's state of mind.

When he was ready to go back, he wrote a letter home to Miaoyu.

Hearing this, Shui Xin frowned and said, "Godfather, don't ask, it won't work if you say it."

She just made a wish that her godfather, mother and her family of three would be together forever, and that her godfather would take her to many interesting places.

Jia Heng pinched little Lolita's pink face lightly, smiled and said: "Then godfather won't ask, Xinxin is a big girl now, she has her own concerns."

Looking at the cute and clever little girl, his eyes were also absent for a moment.

Maybe it's time to give Jinyang and Keqing a child.

However, he can't say when the abnormality on his body will recover, but he feels that his current strength seems to be gradually stabilizing.

Don't let Mopan and Xue'er get pregnant first...

In fact, I am really worried. He is hiding now, and he also has this intention. Before he thinks about the way to deal with the aftermath, he still needs to pay attention not to kill people.

Daiyu and Zhenxi were sitting opposite each other across a chessboard. The two young, petite girls, one in a bamboo blue dress and the other in a plain white skirt, were playing chess attentively.

The two were originally of the same age, Zhen Xi's temperament was weak and quiet, but she was quite close to Dai Yu, and they became friends after a while.

After the game was over, Daiyu's eyes were full of tiredness, and she said softly: "Sister Xi'er, come here first, I'm a little tired."

Zhen Xi said softly: "Well, playing Go is too exhausting, I think it's not as fun as Big Brother Heng's chess."

As he said, he took a sneak peek at the boy who was hugging Xinxin from the corner of his eye.

Daiyu smiled lightly, and said: "Chess should be played quickly, and go for a long time, after all, chess is an art that cultivates the body and mind. If you are too persistent, you will lose the fun."

"Sister Lin's words are reasonable." Zhen Xi raised her bright eyes with aura like streams, and smiled slightly.

At this time, Zijuan and Xiren handed Daiyu and Zhenxi tea.

Daiyu turned to Jia Heng with her starry cheeks, and asked curiously: "Brother Heng, are you going to be busy with business tomorrow?"

In the past two days, Jia Heng not only accompanied Daiyu to worship Jia Min, but also accompanied Daiyu to several places of interest in Suzhou, such as the Hanshan Temple just now.

Jia Heng nodded and said: "Sister and Sister Xi'er went to many places in the past two days, and it happened to be a day off. I plan to go to Kuaiji Prince Consort's Mansion tomorrow. After we finish our business, we will spend a few days in Suzhou. , and return to Jinling."

Tomorrow, I will go to the place where Miaoyu's parents are, and help to worship. Later, Miaoyu will go south to see if it is possible to move the tomb of her parents to the ancestral land of the Chang family.

Zhen Xi put down the chess pieces at this moment, stared at the young man, and pursed her pink lips. Brother Heng has been with Sister Lin for the past few days, and to her...

It seemed that what happened in Ningguo Mansion in Jinling that day was nothing more than a dream. In the past few days, it made her have a bunch of messy dreams.

Thinking of this, Zhen Xi's white and greasy cheeks became slightly hot, and the bright eyes under her beautiful eyebrows quickly turned away a bunch of panicked eyes, not daring to think about it anymore.

Daiyu stared at the young man across from her with starry eyes, and said softly, "Brother Heng, it's been cold these few days, put on more clothes."

Jia Heng nodded, turned his warm eyes to Daiyu and Zhenxi, and said softly: "Sister and sister Xi'er too."

"Outside, Jiangnan Governor Zhang Yongchuan is waiting at the ferry." At this moment, Chen Xiao entered the cabin, looked at Jia Heng, and said in a low voice.

Zhang Yongchuan, the governor of Jiangnan, went to the governor's office of Liangjiang in Nanjing earlier to discuss the autumn grain in the Jiangnan area. He just came back today. Hearing that Jia Heng's writing was about discussing the water defense in the Jiangnan area, he waited at the mansion first. A minister of military aircraft, respected by super-class martial arts.

Jia Heng said in a clear voice, "I'll go see you when the boat docks."

(End of this chapter)