The Red Mansions

Chapter 793 Baochai: It's just that this... belongs to someone else after all
Guangdong
After a few days of investigation and selection, the Customs Tax Branch formally set up the Yamenbu Office, selected 5000 people from the Guangdong Navy, and equipped them with law enforcement boats to patrol and police pirates at sea, and at the same time board and inspect ships.

On this day, in front of the Customs Tax Branch Office, there was a sea of ​​people, bustling with people.

Local officials of all sizes in Guangdong, from Zhou Zao, the governor of Guangdong, to Miao Rui, the chief envoy of Guangdong, to Fang Jun, the envoy, and Lu Xian, the procurator, waited respectfully at the gate of the yamen.

In addition, there are four counselors from the feudal department, and several inspectors from the standard department.

It's just that Guangdong Governor Zhou Zao's face was as gloomy as ice, his eyes fell on Liu Xiaoyuan's face, and his heart was cold.

It is ridiculous to think that if you find an important minister in the court as your backer, you can be independent from Guangdong officialdom.

When Uncle Yongning leaves, if there is no cooperation from other yamen, he would like to see how the newly opened yamen works.

Jia Heng was talking to General Wu Tao of the Guangdong Sea at the moment, and said: "General Wu, the Guangdong Navy first needs to renovate the ships. The original paddle boats are no longer suitable for sailing in the open sea. They should all be replaced with sailboats."

He has already confirmed that he will start tomorrow.

Wu Tao said: "Uncle Yongning, don't worry, the Guangdong Navy will refit the ship this time."

Jia Heng said: "When the Jiangnan affairs are over, I will report to the Holy Majesty, come back to Guangdong Hai, and inspect the entire Guangdong Navy. At that time, I hope that General Wu will not let me down, nor the court."

Wu Tao nodded repeatedly.

Jia Heng entered the government office at this moment. It was not only the day when the Customs and Taxation Division officially handled official business, but also the day when the Guangdong maritime trade ships paid the first batch of customs duties. The clerks in the government office came in and out, and began to record and plan battles.

In the Customs and Taxation Department, according to the relevant procedures such as book registration, quotation, and stamping, the entire process is a one-stop service in order to prevent government officials from messing around.

As soon as Jia Heng entered the official hall, Miao Ruipi, the chief envoy of the Guangdong feudal clan, greeted him with a smile, and said, "Uncle Yongning, after the opening of the sea, business is booming."

Jia Heng said: "Master Miao, the merchants and tourists are here, the people live and work in peace and contentment, and everyone has their own time. No matter how you say it, it is the blessing of Guangdong."

Miao Rui smiled, nodded in agreement, but his eyes were somewhat gloomy.

What is the blessing of Guangdong that the balance of the customs tax is not kept in the Guangdong vassal?
Jia Heng didn't care about the thoughts of the chief envoy of Guangdong, but came to Liu Xiaoyuan, who used to participate in politics from the third rank and now has been added the title of Zuoqian capital censor and became a third-rank official, although he was not promoted to governor as he wished rank, but it can be regarded as independent from the Guangdong vassal system.

There is no such thing as being perfect in every aspect in this world.

Liu Xiaoyuan said: "Uncle Yongning, the first tax invoice for the entry of freight ships has been issued."

In the declaration process of the Guangdong Tax Branch, the goods are actively declared, and then tax collectors are sent to checkpoints.

In order to prevent tax collectors from doing things up and down, regular inspections were sent.

Jia Heng nodded, and said: "The customs must be honest in selecting and employing personnel, and must strictly prevent tax officials from colluding with merchants to falsely report the amount, causing the loss of national tax revenue."

As for creating a good business environment and building a new type of relationship between government and business, there is no such thing at this time.

While speaking, suddenly the clerk outside said loudly: "Sir Boogaroo is here."

When everyone in the official hall heard the words, they all looked at him one after another.

In addition, Sir Boogaroo also brought his wife Haili and his youngest daughter Nona to Guangzhou Fucheng.

Bujialu brought a few translators with him, and after congratulating Liu Xiaoyuan, the Chief Secretary of Guangdong Province, he hurried over and said in Chinese, "Uncle Yongning."

Jia Heng also came forward to exchange greetings, and with Hong Yi's arrival, the officials of Guangdong Mansion gradually became noisy.

Until noon, as the sea trade ships paid taxes and collected tax invoices, and handed over the goods tax to the newly established Customs Taxation Division, a group of officials had a banquet in the restaurant and dispersed one after another.

post house
Jia Heng returned to the back hall, washed his face, wiped his face with a towel, looked at Chen Xiao who came in from the outside room, and asked, "Is the outside room ready?"

Chen Xiao said softly: "Xue Yun and his son have prepared the boat loaded with cargo, and some guns and ammunition have also been loaded into the mules and carriages."

Jia Heng nodded, and said: "It's faster to ship by sea, but it's easy to be discovered, so it's not as safe as land."

Chen Xiao understood the implication of Jia Heng's words, and said in a low voice with a dignified look on her jade face: "The news from Shandong has found the traces of the Korean navy on the sea, Duoduo Sure enough, they dispatched the North Korean navy to make a comeback in the south of the Yangtze River."

Jia Heng picked up the teacup, took a sip, but his face was as calm as water, and asked, "Is there any official document from Shandong Admiral Lu Qi?"

This strategy of disrupting the south of the Yangtze River and finding fighters for the north, Jurchen would not give up easily.

Chen Xiao sat down and said in a low voice: "This is the news collected from other channels. The North Korean Navy may have gone south, and there are quite a few people coming this time."

That is the information channel of the White Lotus Sect. Jia Heng was silent for a moment, paused, and said in a low voice: "We have to go back as soon as possible."

The North Korean navy has already converged towards Duoduo. It is conceivable that they will inevitably harass the coast of Jiangsu and Zhejiang. When the pirate forces are integrated, they may invade Jinling again from Jiangkou.

Chen Xiao said softly: "It will take at least half a month from here to Jiangnan Daying, but we can still catch up. Why don't we go back on a fast horse first, in case Jinling changes."

"After the arrival of the North Korean navy, it will take some time for Duduo to integrate, and there is still time." Jia Heng nodded and said, and then asked: "What's the move of the Jurchen in the north?"

Chen Xiao shook his head and said, "It's been a peaceful time in the north."

Jia Heng said: "I'm afraid it's the calm before the storm, let the Jinyi mansion sent to the Jurchen territory investigate the movement of the Jurchen high-level."

He always felt that Jurchen was holding back her big move, and might be waiting for the chaos provoked by Duoduo on the Jiangnan side.

While the two were talking in the study, they suddenly heard Baoqin's voice outside, "Is Big Brother Heng in the room?"

Jia Heng came out of the study room, looked at the girl in a pink dress who looked like a porcelain doll, and asked, "Sister Baoqin, what do you want me to do?"

Xue Baoqin came close, saw Qi Ji in her moist eyes, and said softly: "Brother Heng, Nuona wants to go to Jinling, I want to ask Brother Heng's suggestion, can you take her to Jinling?"

Jia Heng was surprised at first, then smiled and asked, "Isn't she with Sir Boogaroo? How did you meet her? You want to go to Jinling together?"

Just now when Bujialu came over, he saw the little girl, maybe he met Baoqin again at this moment, and they got together.

Xue Baoqin's delicate voice was a bit sweet, and she said softly: "I went to the inn to look for my father, and I met Nona, she said that she wanted to go to Jinling, and Sir Bujialu agreed, saying that he would go to Jinling, the former capital of the Han Dynasty. See you, gain some knowledge, and I am going to tell Brother Heng."

Jia Heng thought for a while and said, "If that's the case, you can take her to Jinling together. Anyway, there are quite a few Portuguese people along the way."

This time, hundreds of Portuguese craftsmen and their family members were taken away from Haojing. After they taught the craftsmen of the military supervisor in the capital, these people would eventually return to Haojing.

Bao Qin said with surprise on her face: "Brother Heng, you agreed?"

"Well, but the guards of the Jinyi Mansion need to protect her, so as not to make any mistakes and affect the friendship between the two countries." Jia Heng nodded and agreed with a smile.

Baoqin said briskly, "Then I'll go back and talk to her."

As the girl said, she turned around and walked away happily like a butterfly.

After Baoqin left, Chen Xiao walked not far away, and said softly: "You brought a lot of Hongyi back this time, I'm afraid there will be criticisms from the court."

Jia Heng returned to the study again, sat down, and pondered: "After the red barbarian cannons and flintlock guns first show their power in the war against the captives, any floating opinions will disappear completely."

Chen Xiao nodded and said, "One more thing. It's almost the first ten days of October, and the sweet potatoes originally planted in Henan should be harvested."

Jia Heng said in a low voice: "Later, send a letter to Feige of the Qianhu Office of Jinyi Mansion in Luoyang and Kaifeng to inquire about the situation."

After such a long time, sweet potatoes have indeed come to the harvest season. If there are sweet potatoes as a food supplement, then the famine problem of Dahan in the past few years will be greatly alleviated. Once the internal worries are gone, the rest will be external troubles.

Thinking like this, Jia Heng turned to look at the tall and bright girl, and said in a low voice: "Xiaoxiao, I will take you somewhere in the afternoon."

Chen Xiaoxiu frowned, her bright eyes flickered, and she asked in surprise, "Where is it?"

"You'll know later." Jia Heng smiled lightly, and said with a trick.

"Mysterious." Chen Xiao said in a low voice, and followed the boy out of the study.

Afterwards, Jia Heng led Chen Xiao to a lake outside the city of Guangdong Mansion, and saw a few Jinyi mansion guards waiting for a long time.

"This..." Chen Xiao's gaze was immediately attracted by the boats in the lake, and he saw a uniquely shaped iron boat floating on the surface of the river on the rippling blue lake.

"This is a tin boat that I had someone make these past few days. It took a lot of work, and I even asked a Portuguese craftsman to help." Jia Heng explained.

At this time, the level of iron smelting technology still has many limitations, and it can only achieve this step.

Seeing that Chen Xiao was still standing there, Jia Heng smiled and said, "The two of us go up, the boat can carry two people."

As he said that, he naturally took Chen Xiao's hand and boarded the iron boat. The iron boat suddenly sank a lot, but in the end it still supported the weight of the two people.

Of course, it was also because neither of them was that heavy.

"This, this is obviously iron... How did it float?" Chen Ling looked at the iron boat under his feet, squatted down and gently stroked the cold iron skin, feeling a little unbelievable for a while.

"Sit down, I'll paddle across to the other side." Jia Heng didn't rush to explain, but picked up the pole and paddled towards the lake, and said with a smile: "Ten years of cultivation can cross the boat, and a hundred years of cultivation can sleep together."

Chen Ling's cheeks were slightly red, she raised her snowy face like ice crystals, and said angrily, "What nonsense are you talking about?"

What is a century-old practice of sleeping together?

It was mid-afternoon, and the golden sunlight in late autumn hit the girl's face softly. A strand of hair hung down on her forehead and fluttered with the wind. Her eyes were shining and clear, and her lips without rouge were moist, and she was still a little shocked.

Jia Heng turned his head to look at the girl, and said softly: "Actually, just think about it for yourself. The wooden boat floats on the sea with a hollow in the middle, and it is used to store weapons and food. Why doesn't it sink into the water? If it is made of iron What? As long as enough water is drained, it can float on the surface."

This kind of iron boat is actually not very practical, and it will be used for... electric fish in rural areas in later generations.

But this kind of concept can inspire the shipbuilding industry in this world, because this is the most basic principle of the [-]-ton giant ship.

Chen Xiao looked at Jia Heng fixedly, and said, "Where did you know that?"

Previously, she thought it was a bit whimsical to use iron to build a ship, but generally speaking, this is indeed the case.

Jia Heng said in a soft voice: "When you are free to read books and think about things, this is actually the way to learn from things."

Complex machinery such as steam engines cannot really be invented, but this kind of thing is like a lever. It is nothing more than changing the perspective of the application scenario, and it is just a change in the concept of existing technology.

Chen Xiao looked at the iron boat under his feet, and said softly: "If you can build the iron boat you mentioned and go to Liaodong, you should be invincible across the ocean."

"There are still a bunch of problems that can't be solved, such as rust. Although it can be painted, it will be rusty after a long time at sea. There is also power, and the sails are not easy to drive, but now you can nail the iron sheet on the side of the ship. To resist the attacks of bows and arrows and guns, I have seen that some warships of the Guangdong Navy have already done this." Jia Heng said softly.

Shipbuilding is not a simple matter, and the key power problem is not easy to solve. Without a steam turbine, is it driven by sails or oars?

Chen Ling nodded, his eyes sparkling, and said: "If the ship that fought against Hongyi earlier had an iron cover, it would not be so easy to sink."

Jia Heng smiled lightly, and said: "Okay, you come here for a while, and I'll show you something good later."

With that said, he handed the penny in his hand to Chen Ling.

Chen Xiao was thinking to herself, when suddenly a bamboo pole was plugged in, and she supported the iron boat and rowed towards the opposite bank, but she couldn't help thinking of a sentence in her heart, she and he might also be on the same boat.

In the evening, Jia Heng asked Jinyi Mansion to load the iron boat that was finally made into the capital, and then returned to the post house with Chen Xiao on horseback.

The two returned to the study, and Chen Ling looked at the boy before he came to the closet, as if he was looking for something.

Well, you won't get her pearl hairpin jewelry, will you?

When Chen Xiao thought about it, a strange flash of light flashed in her eyes under her beautiful eyebrows, and a sense of amusement suddenly appeared in her heart.

She is not the little girl who is being coaxed around by sweet words.

However, while staring, I saw Jia Heng taking a long cylindrical thing from a bookcase.

This is a crystal made by Hongyi discovered some time ago, and it has been polished to look like a telescope.

In fact, there were already reading glasses at this time. For example, Jia's mother had a pair. She didn't usually wear them, but she would pick them up and put them on when needed.

In fact, in the middle and late seventeenth century, telescopes have been invented by Dutch spectacle merchants for decades, but they have not been widely used in the military field, but have been used in astronomical observation and navigation.

"What is this?" Chen Xiao said in surprise, focusing on it.

Jia Heng smiled and said: "Telescope, look outside, don't look at the sun, just look at the scenery of the mountains, hundreds of miles away, it's as clear as your eyes."

With that said, he handed the binoculars in his hand to Chen Xiao.

Chen Xiao said "Yes", took the binoculars, and looked at the mountains and rivers along the direction of the study window, only to see the pavilions and mountains in the distance as if in front of her eyes, and her slender hand holding the binoculars trembled.

"Why so clear?" Chen Xiao put down the binoculars in his hand, and looked at the boy opposite him in surprise.

Jia Heng said softly: "This thing can be called a clairvoyance. If it is used to watch the enemy's situation and observe the enemy's mobilization, it is the best."

Chen Xiao thought for a while, and agreed: "This thing has a lot of effects on military affairs. It can be called a military weapon. If you stand on the top of the city wall on the grassland, you can see the situation of Jurchen's troop deployment."

Why does my cousin have so many wonderful ideas?It's really hard to associate it with the young man who was playing tricks with the two Concubines Zhen back then.

Jia Heng said: "But don't look at the sun with him, even if you look at the sun normally, you will feel glaring, but if you look at the sun with this, you will lose your eyesight."

Chen Ling nodded, and a warm current flowed slowly through her heart. She smiled very lightly at the corner of her mouth, and said, "I'm not a child."

Nagging, told twice.

Jia Heng stared at the girl with a crystal clear and beautiful face, was shaken by a slight smile, and said in a low voice: "Actually, it's no different from a child."

After Chen Xiao went to college in later generations, he was indeed no different from a child in his eyes at the age of freshman and sophomore, and there was an interesting heart hidden on the cold surface.

"You..." Chen Xiao was about to speak, but saw the young man pinch his face again, with embarrassment hidden in his brows, he reached out and knocked Jia Heng's hand away.

It can be regarded as knowing why touching his face is the same as pinching Shui Xin, Princess Beijing's daughter when he was in Jinling, treating him like a child.

Jia Heng looked at Chen Xiao's face, the white greasy melon-seeded face, and the willow leaf eyebrows in the distance like Dai, with bright eyes, and the bridge of the nose was as straight as the old Chen's, and said softly: "Xiaoxiao, during this time, the two sides Running around, weather-beaten, a little clearer."

From the beginning, I had other thoughts, but now I just let nature take its course.

Facing the warm gaze of the young man opposite, Chen Xiao staggered his eyes uncomfortably, and said in a clear voice, "If there's nothing else, I'll go back first, and I'll take your telescope with me too."

Jia Heng nodded and said with a light smile: "This is for you, go back and rest first, we can return tomorrow."

Chen Xiaoyu had a quiet face, pursed her pink lips, and said no more, turned and left with the binoculars in her hand.

Jia Heng also slowly sat down behind the desk, took out a map and began to read, and began to compare the map to check the coastal defense arrangements around the coastal provinces of Jiangsu and Zhejiang.

The arrival of the North Korean navy, although I don't know how many soldiers and horses will be sent this time, but with the pirates colluded by Duoduo, there are about 2 to [-] people?
In contrast, the newly built Jiangnan and Jiangbei camps did not have much advantage.

Chen Xiao returned to his residence, sat on the bed, held a telescope, looked at the scenery outside, and took out a dagger from his boots, with intricate and exquisite patterns on it.

She doesn't like jewelry...probably.

With this thought, the girl's clear and snowy cheeks blushed slightly, she hid the dagger, lay down on the bed, closed her eyes and fell asleep.

……

……

Jinling
It is mid-October, the sky is bright and the air is clear, and the wind is smooth.

Princess Jinyang and Princess Xianning, accompanied by their mothers, maidservants, and female officials, rode in a carriage and headed for the Imperial Palace in Jinling City amidst a guard of honor held by the guards. When I got down, the mansion of "Elder Princess Mansion" was impressively inscribed on the lintel.

This is the property purchased by Princess Jinyang in Yangzhou back then. After a few years, the imperial daughter of the imperial family stepped into this vast garden again.

All the way through the vine-hanging, green and smoky rockery corridor, a group of brightly dressed, youthful and beautiful Yingying Yanyan went to the backyard, leaving behind laughter.

A few unmarried girls hiding in the embroidered boudoir looked curiously at the elegantly laid out and magnificent Princess Mansion.

Baochai raised her moist almond eyes, and looked at the surrounding buildings with bright and clear eyes.

Speaking of this mansion of the eldest princess, she said she had seen it on Xuanwu Street when she was in Jinling. able to set foot here.

It's just that this... belongs to someone else's house after all.

Everyone passed through the moon gate and entered the garden with lakes and mountains, pavilions and pavilions. Yuan Chun turned to look at his cousin, with a smile in her beautiful eyes, and said softly: "Later, I will send my younger sister, third younger sister, and younger sister Yun Go to Ningguo Mansion."

Baochai withdrew her lustrous gaze, looked at Yuanchun, pursed her pink lips, and said in a low voice, "Big sister, this place is quite good, and it's more lively with more people."

Along the way, it can be regarded as following a few noble daughters of the clan, and Baochai's eyes were mostly on Princess Xianning along the way.

Xiang Yun answered with a smile, "Yes, it's quite lively along the way."

As he said that, he looked at Princess Xianning and asked curiously, "Sister Xianning, have you ever been to Jinling?"

"I came here once when I was a child, and I don't remember much about it at that time." Princess Xianning was wearing a green dress, with a slight smile on her snow-like cheeks, and her voice was as clear and melodious as flowing jade.

Yuan Chun looked at Xiang Yun, with a smile on his plump face, and said softly, "Sister Yun, your sister Lin is in Ningguo Mansion, let's go there in the evening."

"Okay, I haven't seen Sister Lin for a long time." Xiang Yun nodded, and suddenly said quietly: "It's a pity that Brother Heng went to Haojing, so I didn't see him this time."

After saying this, the smiles on everyone's faces faded away, and Princess Jinyang also sighed secretly.

Yuan Chun sighed softly, and said in a low voice: "People from Jinyi Mansion, your elder brother Heng has been in Haojing for a month, and he seems to be busy at the moment."

How is that a coincidence?Come over here, Brother Heng, he will go to Haojing.

Tanchun smiled lightly and said: "It was said in the newspaper that there was a battle with the Portuguese in Haojing. Brother Heng asked to open the sea for trade and set up customs. I think it's time to come back there. .”

Baochai smiled lightly, "Third Younger Sister probably said the same thing."

Under Li Chanyue's beautiful eyebrows, she looked at Baochai with bright eyes like flying stars. This sister Bao's skin is really white and greasy. Compared with the queen's aunt, she is plump and pleasant, and she is not as good as that Yang. Like a princess.

Princess Xianning glanced at Baochai, she didn't know if it was her illusion, she always felt that Miss Xue often peeped at her, and there was something indescribable in her eyes.

It's like... It seems that you have been wronged?Anyway, she couldn't tell.

As everyone said, they came to the flower hall to sit down, surrounded by pearls and hairpins, and the whole hall was filled with pearls, hairpins, skirts and jackets, colorful and gorgeous beyond words.

Princess Jinyang just took her seat, reached out to pinch the teacup, and took a sip.

Suddenly, a nanny came from outside and said softly, "Your Highness, Princess Chu and Princess Beijing have sent someone to deliver a message, and they want to come and visit Your Highness."

According to seniority, Princess Chu would follow King Chu and call Jinyang aunt.

The eldest princess of Jinyang frowned, seeing displeasure on her jade face, she said in a warm voice: "Just say that this palace is a little tired, and it's getting late at the moment, let them come over tomorrow."

It's not that this beauty has discovered any clues, but that she is not very interested in the sisters of the Zhen family.

(End of this chapter)