The Red Mansions

Chapter 777 Chen Xiao: People always change...

in flower hall
The two sat down separately as guest and host, and sipped fragrant tea.

Jia Heng raised his eyes to look at Kuaiji consort, Princess Kuaiji actually died of illness two years ago, and this Kuaiji consort was an authentic Kejia and a champion, but because of this, he was Emperor Longzhi It is important to marry Princess Kuaiji, the daughter of a noble concubine, to Guo Shaonian, which to some extent cut off Guo Shaonian's ambition to be a king.

At this moment, one of the two had warm eyes and a warm smile, and the other had a clear and honest look, looking at each other silently.

After a while, Jia Heng took the initiative to break the silence and asked, "Old Mr. Guo, I already know what I want to do when I think about it."

Kuaiji's son-in-law nodded, and said loudly: "This old man has been in charge of the transshipment department of the Huaihe River Capital for more than ten years. What does Uncle Yongning want to ask? This old man knows everything and can say everything."

Through the correspondence between old people in Beijing, he has learned that the person in front of him is valued by King Yong, and he intends to betroth Princess Xianning to him as the son-in-law of the emperor.

But what's interesting is that this young honorable man had been married long ago, and he was also named a first-rank wife. King Yong was still the same as before, using any means to achieve his goal.

Jia Heng pondered for a moment, and said: "The deficit of the Salt Transport Division has been recorded in the account books from the first year of Chongping to the 15th year of Chongping. Mr. Guo should know very well."

To put it bluntly, the case of the Lianghuai Salt Transportation Department in the Great Han Dynasty was somewhat similar to the Lianghuai Salt Transport Department in the parallel time and space.

In the Lianghuai Salt Citation Case during the Qianlong period, Gao Heng, the Lianghuai salt administrator who was executed at that time, was the younger brother of Emperor Huixian, and his predecessor, Jiqing, was the cousin of Emperor Lingyi.

But now one is the son-in-law of Emperor Longzhi, and the other is the brother-in-law of Emperor Longzhi.

"Uncle Yongning is the governor of Jinyi, the reason why the company has been in short supply for many years. Could it be that he really doesn't know?" Guo Shaonian stared at Jia Heng, and laughed at himself, "Why ask why you know what you know?"

Jia Heng frowned, and said in a deep voice: "The palace is the palace. The Lianghuai Salt General Merchant is the Lianghuai Salt General Merchant. They should not be confused. The emperor lives in Chonghua, and he is raised by the world. How can salt merchants be able to arbitrarily climb up?" False?"

Hearing this, Guo Shaonian stared at the young man across from him with scorching eyes. After a moment of silence, he looked at the servants around him. The servants bowed and retreated one after another.

Guo Shaonian said in a deep voice: "Actually, there is no difference. When the emperor made his southern tour, the salt merchant and the Zhen family picked him up six times. Each time, he was accompanied by his concubines. The dragon boat went south, traveling in the mountains and rivers, and the national money was as high as 800 yuan. Wan, the emperor said that he would not take a tael of silver from the state treasury, but in fact it was donated by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Lianghuai salt merchants. The treasury borrows credit, and the silver tax of the Ministry of Households decreases year by year, and our salt administration can only operate in a bleak manner."

Jia Heng narrowed his eyes, and said coldly: "I'm afraid there are Yanzheng involved in this, enriching his own pockets, why is Mr. Guo hiding?"

Emperor Longzhi happened to be the king of three generations, just when the country was rich and the people were strong, and the country was booming. Emperor Longzhi went south to enjoy himself, which exhausted the internal funds and the surplus silver of the Salt Transport Department.

Even the major defeat in the Battle of Liaodong, if you look into the reasons in detail, is that Longzhi has been in power for a long time, and the prevailing trend of acting up and down has spread and eroded throughout the Han court's military and political system.

Guo Shaonian shook his head and said: "At that time, everyone was worried about the Southern Tour. Even if the Yan officials were corrupt, how much could they have? It was only a drop in the bucket, and the money I got in this life was only tens of thousands of taels. Otherwise, with the salary of Princess Kuaiji, Why do old people worry about food and clothing?"

Jia Heng's face was indifferent, noncommittal, because most people avoid the seriousness of their mistakes.

"The current Holy Majesty is not ignorant of this matter. In the third year of Chongping, the case of Prince Li occurred in Fujian. Chang Jin, a weaving bureau in Suzhou, was arrested on the charge of Zhongshun Wang Luozhi. After checking the account books, he had already seen the imperial envoy's benevolence. The huge deficit of the three major weaving bureaus under the jurisdiction of the academy is just not reported today." Guo Shaonian narrated an old story.

Jia Heng's face was calm, but his heart moved slightly.

Suzhou weaving often advances?This is Miaoyu's father, who was also an important minister of the Ministry of Internal Affairs in Suzhou.

And Miaoyu's words against Baoyu in the original book of the Red Chamber also testify to Chang Jin's beauty: "It's not that I'm talking crazy, I'm afraid you may not be able to find such a vulgar artifact in your family?"

Thinking of this, Jia Heng couldn't help thinking of that arrogant and innocent face, and wondered what kind of mood Miaoyu would feel when he received the letter he sent over.
After being absent-minded for a moment, he withdrew his mind again and looked aggressively at Guo Shaonian.

Guo Shaonian smiled and said: "Uncle Yongning said so, the old man has nothing to say, but most of the salt officials at that time have retired, and some salt officials are even dead. Is Uncle Yongning going to investigate these old cases?"

In criminal cases, there is also the issue of the time limit for prosecution. For some minor crimes, a thorough investigation will shake the already stable social order and make everyone feel at risk.

Jia Heng's eyes dimmed, and he asked, "Mr. Guo, do you have any relevant account books?"

This is a smart man, at least he has self-knowledge compared to Liu Shengzao.

However, after analyzing it, it is not surprising that the son-in-law of Kuaiji was born in Kejia. It should be because of his character and talent that he was appreciated by Emperor Longzhi, so he was able to match the emperor's daughter. Then this "phoenix man" and "son-in-law gang" must have With extraordinary qualities.

And Liu Shengzao is an uneducated upstart, relying on Concubine Liu's sister to become a relative of the emperor, so it is not surprising that the "contractor's brother-in-law" acts arrogantly.

Guo Shaonian said: "There are a lot of account books, Bo Yongning can take them home and read them slowly."

While speaking, accompanied by the sound of heavy footsteps coming from under the eaves of the corridor, the housekeeper of the Guo Mansion, who had just gone to the study to collect the books, commanded several young and strong servants to come over with six large wooden boxes, and put them together in the spacious hall. The words are lined up.

Jia Heng looked over and asked, "Is this the account book for 20 years?"

"Although it's not as detailed as withdrawals and balances, it's still detailed and complete. If Uncle Yongning doesn't believe it, he can check the details with the account books of Chonghua Palace's southern tour," Guo Shao said young.

Jia Heng pretended not to hear this sinister suggestion, and asked: "Are there any details of the money owed or misappropriated by the salt merchant?"

Guo Shaonian smiled and said: "Every item is very detailed, some have been returned, some have not been returned, they need to operate the salt industry, and pay a fixed amount of tax every year, it is not good to force people to death, isn't it? .”

Jia Heng was silent for a moment, speechless for a while.

It has to be said that what the Kuaiji son-in-law said was reasonable. Under the general environment of the salt merchants' tax package system, the imperial court originally allowed the Yangzhou Salt General Merchant to borrow taels of silver from the Salt Transport Department for operation.

Moreover, because of Emperor Longzhi's southern tour, the salt merchants were short of cash for doing business after a large amount of donations and repayments, so it was logical to withdraw from the Salt Transport Department.

Even, it may be that the salt transportation department lent part of the money to the salt merchants, and used it for Emperor Longzhi's expenses in the name of donations and repayment.

The problem is that Yangzhou salt merchants were awarded the official title of Emperor Longzhi again.

It's a bad account!
We can only select some amounts that have not been used for the emperor's southern tour and carry out an inventory, so that the remaining four major general merchants can return them.

This thought inevitably came to Jia Heng's mind. He looked at the six boxes and waved his hands. Li Shu, who was standing behind him with a knife in his hand, and a group of guards in the Jinyi Mansion who were waiting outside lifted the boxes and went to the outside.

Guo Shaonian said: "There is actually another account here, but it is just the old man's summary. This is when the old man is idle at home and has nothing to do. It contains the amount of money that Yangzhou salt merchants actually owed to the Lianghuai Duyun Division. , Yongning Bo can refer to it."

Hearing this, Jia Heng's eyes were a little darker, he looked at Guo Shaonian fixedly, and asked: "Mr. Guo, where is the account book now?"

This Guo Shaonian seemed to have predicted that this scene would happen as early as more than ten years ago, and made preparations in advance.

For some reason, a scene from the previous life suddenly appeared in my mind.

Hou Feihou, Wang Feiwang, traveled to Beimang with thousands of horses, the cunning rabbit died, and the good bow was hidden. After me, the king will return to the throne, and play a song of Guangling San, and then wait for Yunniang?

Well, Shen Yishi had finished acting as the biggest coercion in the first half of the play.

However, it was precisely because of Emperor Longzhi's six southern tours, laboring the people and wasting money, advocating luxury, that the Lianghuai salt tax cannot make ends meet today, and the day and night are poor.

As for Jinyang and him reorganizing the salt affairs, he can be regarded as a son-in-law...

Well, thinking like this is a bit unlucky, the two are completely incomparable, Emperor Longzhi is for personal enjoyment, and Emperor Chongping is for the great Han community, how can they be compared?

Guo Shaonian raised his eyes to look at the butler, and ordered: "Go to Yixinju, get the account book from the hidden compartment from the bed next to the wall."

"Yes, master." Hearing the words, the butler also showed some surprise in his eyes. He obviously didn't know when Guo Shaonian wrote down this account book, but he didn't say anything else, and left as ordered.

Jia Heng's face was as calm as a deep, and he didn't say a word, but in such a silent atmosphere, Guo Shaonian who was opposite suddenly asked: "The last time Uncle Yongning went to Henan to quell the chaos, I heard that Xianning also went to Henan with him?"

In terms of seniority, Princess Xianning should call Guo Shaonian uncle.

Jia Heng paused, looked up at Guo Shaonian, and said, "At that time, Uncle Song Siguo was in Kaifeng, Henan, and Her Highness the Princess accompanied him."

"Uncle Yongning is a man of the age, he has already become a military privy at a young age, and his future is limitless." Guo Shaonian was silent for a moment, and suddenly said something without beginning or end.

Jia Heng paused, but he understood the meaning almost immediately.

This is a kind of envy, unwillingness, envy of his fortune, unwillingness to own fate.

Back then, Guo Shaonian thought that he could become a prime minister, but if he became a princess, he would never think about it in this life.

Combined with being the prime minister in the same year and later, I must be unwilling in my heart.

Jia Heng's eyes were as calm as a deep, and he said slowly: "It's just the situation."

The choice of history, this sentence is on the lips, but it is not said, and it is overstepped.

After a while, the steward of Guo's mansion delivered the account books, Guo Shaonian gave him a wink, and the steward of Guo's mansion came up to Jia Heng and said, "Uncle Yongning."

Jia Heng nodded, took a brocade box, and said: "Old Mr. Guo, if nothing else, I will take my leave."

With that said, Guo Shaonian sent him out of the Guo mansion, looked at the account book full of charges, and looked at the brocade box in his hand.

Chen Xiao approached and asked, "Have you got it?"

The girl was dressed in a silver-white flying fish suit with thousands of households, and an embroidered spring knife was pressed on her waist. Although she didn't have the visual sense of a plum blossom inner guard collar, she still had a bit of a swallow-like heroic posture, sassy and capable.

Jia Heng nodded, looked at the eaves of the pavilion not far away, his eyes were on the winding and undulating ridge of the roof, and said: "It's not easy to ask the palace, and the one in my hand is already the limit."

Knowing the amount of tax owed by the Yangzhou salt merchants, you can ask for it from Wang, Jiang, Xiao, and Huang, and it is not appropriate to investigate further cases.

For the sake of the venerable, counting from Jinyang, the Supreme Emperor is also his father-in-law.

On the other side, in the Guo Mansion, Guo Shaonian sat for a while, put down his teacup, and paused.

"Master." The butler asked with a worried expression.

"Prepare pen and ink." Guo Shaonian sighed with a gloomy expression, and said in a low voice, he wanted to write a letter of apology and submit it to the current Holy Majesty.

At this moment, the little boy entered the living room and called out, "Grandfather, you still go fishing."

Guo Shaonian smiled and said, "I'll go fishing after Grandpa finishes his work. I'll catch you a big carp, such a long fish, and make a whole fish soup, okay?"

As he spoke, he made a long gesture with kind eyes.

The little boy curled his lips, with childish thoughts in his dark eyes, and said, "Didn't Grandpa usually say that carp has dragon blood on it, so you can't catch it?"

Guo Shaonian picked up the little boy and said with a smile: "Yes, go to the study with grandpa first, let's go fishing for dragons first."

"It's fishing." The little boy corrected with a smile. It was the age of changing teeth, and the baby's voice was a bit leaky.

Just as the grandfather and grandson were going to the study, Jia Heng also followed Chen Xiao on a horse and returned to Lin's house in Suzhou Mansion.

Lin House
Jia Heng asked the clerks of Jinyi Mansion's Accounting Department to seal up the account books, while he came to the study with the brocade box, ready to take out the books and look through them.

Open the blue cover and read it with lowered eyes.

It contains a number of numbers, listed according to the year, and the amount of silver withdrawn from the treasury of the Salt Transport Department by each name.

Jia Heng's brows gradually frowned, Wang's family, Huang's family, Bao's family...the familiar names were clearly visible in the book.

Of course, the Bao family, the Cheng family, and the Ma family have already entered the government with their wealth, so it is meaningless to talk about these things.

At this moment, footsteps as light as feathers came from far to near, and Chen Xiao entered the study with a plate of freshly rinsed pears in his hand, placed it next to Jia Heng's desk, and asked: "What is recorded on it?" Is it detailed?"

Jia Heng nodded and said: "It's detailed, and every stroke is not just nonsense, and even if it is about Chonghua Palace, there is no taboo."

Chen Xiao picked up the dagger and peeled the pear skin, and asked: "Guo Shaonian is the son-in-law, only he dares to keep this account book like this, what are you going to do?"

"Once you get the ledger, you should ask for it. It's only natural to pay back the money you owe. You can't lose one tael if you owe the court." Jia Heng put down the ledger, took the pear from the girl's hand, put it in his mouth and took a bite.

This sum of money is not a small amount, and each salt merchant still has five or six million taels that have not been repaid, even though the money must be returned.

Chen Xiaowan's bright eyes flickered under the willow eyebrows cut like a knife, and he asked, "What about Guo Shaonian?"

Jia Heng was eating a big duck pear, wiped his mouth with a handkerchief, and said: "I'll just write down the secrets and present them truthfully, and see how the palace handles them. This kind of thing is both a state matter and a family matter, but I think Now, the emperor sees that he has confiscated so much silver, so he won't pursue it any more."

Before, he really didn't expect it, he thought Guo Shaonian would be as stubborn as Liu Shengzao, but now it seems that those who have read the book are different, and they left themselves a way out early.

Chen Xiao nodded, and looked at the "cheerful" boy who was eating, the clear eyes under the willow eyebrows moved slightly, and a smile appeared on the corner of his mouth, and said in a low voice: "That's good, it's really not appropriate to continue the investigation."

Jia Heng said: "Actually, the emperor has received a lot of murderous intentions in recent years."

I don't know if it's because of the age of forty and growing children. Although the suspicion in Emperor Chongping's heart has not diminished in the past few years, he rarely punished him indiscriminately due to anger, or in other words, people will always mature.

In a way, it was a good time for him to catch up.

Thinking of this, Jia Heng stared at Chen Xiao with frosty face, got up, picked up a pear, took the dagger, lightly peeled the remaining peel, took the girl's hand, and said: "Huh?" It will always change, eat this pear."

Chen Xiaoqing's eyes flickered, and she repeated Jia Heng's words: "People will always change."

That's because no one poses a threat to him, and when there is a threat, you will know it.

Jia Heng paused, looked at the girl who was holding a pear and took a bite, and said softly: "Let's do this first, I will go to inspect Jiangfang tomorrow and the next two days, if you have any news from Duduo, you can Speak to me."

After saying that, she stood up and said softly, "I'll go see Sister Lin, and we'll have lunch together later."

These few days I visited Gusu, because Zhenxi was talking beside Daiyu, and because Daiyu had just worshiped her mother, he didn't shepherd the sheep at all, but just played chess and talked with her.

In this hometown, what Daiyu wants should be spiritual resonance and emotional massage, if she is not worried about Daiyu's wild thoughts, worrying about gains and losses, and torturing herself.

Nor would he... After all, sheep are too small to shepherd.

Because he wasn't sure if he would get used to Daiyu's petty sex in the game of guessing and guessing before being intimate and shepherding the sheep, which would lead to some misunderstandings that were more gentle.

The dagger in Chen Xiao's hand paused, watching the young man leave, the pear he was holding seemed not so sweet.

Girls may also need emotional massage at this time.

In the courtyard where Daiyu lived, it was almost noon, and the afternoon sun passed through the window, reflecting two petite and exquisite figures on the screen on the side of the cabinet.

Daiyu picked up a black chess piece and placed it on the chessboard, and Zhenxi, who was facing her, made a quick move without thinking.

The two are about the same age, and both have a somewhat weak temperament. In comparison, Daiyu is not timid in front of acquaintances.

In the past few days, Daiyu and Zhenxi went to visit places of interest in Suzhou City during the day, and slept in the same room talking at night, and their friendship gradually deepened.

"This backgammon is much simpler than Go, and you don't have to worry about playing it." Zhen Xi said softly, with a voice like a yellow warbler coming out of the valley.

Daiyu smiled, looked at Zhenxi who had a delicate and beautiful face, and said, "Brother Heng also said that at the beginning."

Zhen Xi said: "Sister Lin said last night that Brother Heng entered Ningguo Mansion, what happened next?"

In the past few days, when the two were talking on the bed at night, Zhenxi asked Daiyu about Jia Heng's past deeds, and Daiyu did not hide anything, and told Zhenxi what she knew.

"Later the palace bestowed the title of Ningguo Mansion, Brother Heng refused to accept it, and even wrote a resignation form." Daiyu said softly, under the smoldering eyebrows, her starry eyes were bright and shining, as if there were broken diamonds shining.

Along with talking about Jia Heng's past with Zhen Xi, it seems that he also "reviewed" his original experience and mood.

At that time, she hadn't settled down with him for the rest of her life, and that young man who was standing with a sword in Rongqing hall, would rather bend than bend.

There are also the soft words and soft words in the ear during the ceremony at Qingxu Guan, and the caring, um, at that time, Brother Heng... seems to have fallen in love with her.

Thinking of this, Daiyu pursed her pink lips, her starry eyes shimmered with the color of memories.

On the opposite side, the young girl with airy bangs and slender teeth, her aura-like eyes, was slightly absent-minded, and said softly: "Brother Heng was in the wicker alley back then, it's really not easy to get to where he is today."

"Speaking of it, there are many, many things that happened in the middle. If you talk about it, it is as long as a book." Daiyu said softly.

The girl at this moment seems to regard Jia Heng as her husband.

Zhen Xi smiled and said, "Sister Lin still talked to me at night."

Daiyu nodded, looked at the girl opposite, and sighed softly.

(End of this chapter)