The Red Mansions

Chapter 838 Emperor Chongping: It was originally his design...

Jiangning County, Jiulong Lake

The vast night covers the entire land like a curtain. Today is undoubtedly a sunny day. A crescent moon hangs in the sky, and a few sparse stars around it cast a faint light. On the lake with lush forests in the southwest, The lights are like fireflies.

A boat with a black awning floated on the surface of the water. With the sound of "crashing" water, the boat slowly moved towards the south bank.

Guo Yizhen abandoned the boat and landed on the shore, jumped up several times, entered the dense forest, and came to a small courtyard with bamboo fences and thatched huts.

In the East Chamber, the candlelight illuminated Chen Yuan's tall and straight figure on the wall. Except for the howling cold wind in the winter night, everything was surprisingly quiet.

"My lord, I'm back." The old man in cotton robe said.

Chen Yuan looked up, and saw a young man wearing a bamboo hat and night clothes, entering the wing, and asked, "How is it?"

Guo Yizhen said: "It was just a little bit. Later, when Uncle Yongning came, his success was on the verge of failure, but the prince of Chu died on the spot."

Chen Yuan frowned when he heard the words, and said, "It's just a child, it doesn't even count as interest, and it will arouse the vigilance of the palace."

Guo Yizhen hesitated for a moment, and said: "My lord, Miss...she is still by Yongningbo's side."

"Don't mention her in front of me." Chen Yuan said in a deep voice, and with a "bang", he slammed his fist hard on the case, venting his anger.

Chen Xiao was so focused on looking for the heir of the deposed prince, that she wasted so much business, and she was by Jia Heng's side, so it was unreasonable that none of the information was sent!
Guo Yizhen reminded: "My lord, the news from Jinling, Yongningbo seems to have found our identity."

The news about Zhao Wang's remnants in Jinling City was aroused, and Guo Yizhen's detectives who stayed in Jinling City naturally found out about it, and immediately informed Guo Yizhen through secret channels.

Chen Yuan frowned, and said in a cold voice: "I'll hide for a while now, it's not appropriate to act with fanfare now."

Now that he misses a hit, it is not appropriate to blindly assassinate him. However, it is almost conceivable that if his grandson dies in the south of the Yangtze River, the man in the palace will definitely go mad with anger.

In Shenjing City, Daming Palace
The morning glow of early winter reflects the eastern sky, and the sunlight falls on the branches of the sycamore trees in the palace garden. Frost dew hangs on the fingers, reflecting the morning light, shining like crystal clear glass.

It's already winter, and the East Nuan Pavilion of Kunning Palace has been lit with earth dragons, the house doesn't look cold, the cold wind blows outside, and Emperor Chongping is having breakfast with Empress Song beside him.

Empress Song handed over red dates and glutinous rice porridge, handed it over, and said softly: "Your Majesty, Ziyu has been away to Jiangnan for so long, shouldn't it be time to come back?"

Emperor Chongping put down his chopsticks and said in a low voice, "After he has copied Zhen's house, he can return to Shenjing."

Empress Song, with some concern on her jade face, said softly, "Your Majesty, what is going on with the Zhen family's affairs? There are rumors going on inside and outside the palace recently?"

Emperor Chongping said in a deep voice: "The Zhen family has been too shameful these years. I don't know how many courtiers impeached the Zhen family. I have tolerated them time and again, but the Zhen family still doesn't know how to restrain themselves. This time, we must severely punish them."

Empress Song said: "Your Majesty, Princess Chu and Princess Beijing..."

Emperor Chongping's face was gloomy, and he said in a low voice: "One yard is worth one yard. It is precisely because the Zhen family thinks they are in power, they are so self-righteous these years."

Empress Song simply said a few words, but did not continue. She was not helping the Zhen family to intercede, but was carefully testing the Son of Heaven's attitude towards the King of Chu.

At this moment, in the Daming Palace where Dai Quan was standing under the pillars, he suddenly saw an inner eunuch looking around at the door, and hurriedly approached him lightly, not long after, he went back and forth, came to Emperor Chongping, and said softly Said: "Your Majesty, the memorial sent by Uncle Yongning from Jiangnan has arrived."

Emperor Chongping heard the words, put down the porridge bowl in his hand, wiped his mouth with a handkerchief, and said, "Bring me the memorial."

Dai Quan greeted the inner eunuch, holding a lacquered wooden secret box, then opened it with a key, and took out the memorial.

Emperor Chongping reached out to take the memorial, and under the watchful eyes of Empress Song, unfolded the memorial and read it, and immediately his face was as calm as a lake.

The main content of the memorandum is Jia Heng's copy inspection of Zhen's family by order not long ago, which can probably confirm the deficit of the three major weaving bureaus of Jinling Tirenyuan.

"Your Majesty, here are two more." Dai Quan picked up the two memorials and handed them over.

Emperor Chongping heard the words, took the memorial from Dai Quan, read it, and the hand of the middle-aged emperor holding the memorial was trembling slightly.

The king of Chu was assassinated, his son died young, and the party of the former king of Zhao was making trouble in the south of the Yangtze River... Jia Heng recorded the details of the incident in detail in the memorial.

These key words are like sharp weapons, viciously poking Chongping's nerves.

"These rebellious officials and thieves!" Emperor Chongping shouted heavily, with anger showing on his face, the evil spirit in his brows and eyes rolled, as if a biting cold wind swept across the entire Kunning Palace.

All the palace servants and inner eunuchs in the palace showed frightened expressions on their faces, and they were too frightened to breathe out.

Empress Song was secretly observing the changes in Emperor Chongping's face, when she heard the fury of thunder, her heart was also startled, and she said softly: "Your Majesty, what's wrong?"

"The King of Chu was assassinated by gangsters at the posthouse in the south of the Yangtze River, and Chen Chun, the son of the King of Chu, died unfortunately." Emperor Chongping said in a deep voice, his face gloomy like water.

Empress Song's heart skipped a beat when she heard the words, she was surprised on her snow-skinned face, and said in a low voice, "Your Majesty, what's going on?"

The king of Chu was assassinated, who could act so boldly, and even the son of the king of Chu died unfortunately?

Emperor Chongping said coldly: "The remnants of Zhao Wang are behind the scenes. Taking advantage of Zhen's family being raided and Chu Wang moving to the post, he took advantage of the situation to assassinate. What are these officials from Jiangnan? , and this Fang Yaochun actually went to Zhen's house to retire on the day the King of Chu was assassinated."

Finally, regarding Fang Yaochun's movements in Nanjing Guozijian's sacrificial wine, it was natural that Jia Heng made a mention, and it was such a sum, which declared Fang Yaochun's fate to a certain extent.

Upon hearing the word Zhao Wang, Empress Song's jade face changed suddenly, her eyes flickered, and she said softly: "Your Majesty, Zhao Wang is not..."

"Although King Zhao is dead, his son, the rest of the party, and some party members who miss King Zhao cooperated internally and externally and sent dead soldiers to assassinate the vassal king. This is aimed at me." , got up, and suppressed a monstrous anger in his heart.

After so many years, people like Prince Abandoned and King Zhao are still plotting against them. The assassination case of Ciyun Temple last time was the work of these people!

There is also the land in the south of the Yangtze River. At that time, many officials wanted to abolish the prince, and some Qingliu censors were sent to Nanjing. After many years, they still did not give up!

Dai Quan handed over the past memorial and said: "Your Majesty, here is another memorial from Yongning Bo."

Emperor Chongping suppressed the murderous desire in his heart, looked at Dai Quan, took the memorial, and read it.

It recorded in detail some details of the assassination of the King of Chu, and finally pleaded guilty, because he was busy in Jiangnan and Jiangbei camps and did not detect the fraud in advance, and he owed the holy grace.

"Your Majesty." Empress Song looked at Emperor Chongping, her beautiful eyes were full of worry.

Every time the abandoned prince and Zhao Wang Yidang appear, His Majesty will be furious, and sometimes she feels scared when she sees them.

"Ziyu asked himself to be guilty, saying that he was busy with the military affairs of the captives and neglected to protect the king of Chu. He also mentioned in the memorandum that the Fuzhou navy and the Hangzhou navy urgently need to be rectified like Jiangnan and Jiangbei camps, and he wants the king of Beijing to go south. Rectify the navy, so he can try his best to solve the case and find out the rebellious party." Emperor Chongping's expression was gloomy, and there was no sign of happiness or anger on his face.

Empress Song said softly: "Your Majesty, Ziyu seemed to be trying his best to deal with the captives a while ago."

Emperor Chongping said coldly: "These rebels must have thought that the big man couldn't deal with Jurchen, so they sneaked into Jinling to make trouble and took advantage of the opportunity to make trouble. Now they are even more frenzied and assassinate the vassal."

I can't help but think of the previous snowflake-like bullets in Jiangnan. Is there any King Zhao who rebelled against the party and wanted to take the opportunity to spoil his big affairs?

Maybe seeing that his country is stable, they don't want to make trouble secretly, so they deliberately sabotage it.

In fact, just as Jia Heng had expected, the emperor fell into a persecution paranoia.

Jiangnan officials still have a small group of anti-party forces like poisonous snakes, waiting for opportunities to make troubles when the big man is weak.

Thinking of this, the emperor's eyes were full of hostility, but he still forcibly suppressed it, and said to Dai Quan: "Send someone to call Shui Rong into the palace, I have something to ask."

Dai Quan's heart shuddered, he respectfully obeyed the order, and then went to the duty room of the military aircraft to look for Shui Rong.

Daming Palace, Inner Study Room

Shui Rong was dressed in a silver-white python dragon suit, with a black gauze official hat on his head, and a piece of green emerald was buckled in the middle of the hat, which was very green. He was in his early twenties, handsome and slender.

"Your Majesty is here."

Shui Rong followed the sound, went up to the middle-aged emperor with a face like Xuanshui, and saluted: "My minister, Shui Rong has met the Holy One, long live the Holy One, long live the Holy One."

"Shuiqing is flat." Emperor Chongping said, and sat down on the chair behind the case in the study, because it was winter, the chair was also covered with a mattress.

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Shui Rong stood up, with a respectful look on his young and handsome face, and said, "I don't know what your Majesty's orders are for summoning my minister."

Emperor Chongping didn't go around around the corner, and said: "This time I summoned Shui Qing, there was an errand sent down. Jia Ziyu went to the evacuation, and mentioned the land in the south of the Yangtze River. The navy is especially important. The camps in the north and south of the Yangtze River have been rectified, and the navy in Guangdong has also been ordered." They can guard Guangdong Bay, but the naval divisions of Hangzhou and Fuzhou have suffered major defeats and urgently need to be rectified. Jia Ziyu strongly recommends Shuiqing to me."

Shui Rong was startled when he heard the words, and said joyfully, "Uncle Yongning recommends a humble minister to the Holy One?"

At this moment, Shui Rong's heart was excited, and there was a kind of excitement and excitement of "Ming Gong actually knows my name".

It's no wonder that Shui Rong is like this, because Jia Heng's current reputation has such meanings.

Emperor Chongping murmured: "Jia Ziyu said that Shuiqing is a loyal and valiant man, and he is worthy of rectifying the leadership of the naval divisions of the two places. Shuiqing also knows that the Jurchen invaded the territory of the Han Dynasty through the sea. For my big man to attack the Jurchen's main direction of use of troops."

In fact, the emperor was a little puzzled deep in his heart.

Judging from the previous results of the Datong and Taiyuan army reorganizations, Shui Rong is too young, not vigorous enough, and his talent is inferior, but Jia Heng praised Shui Rong as a talented man in the memorial, which is worthy of great responsibility.

Shui Rong was very excited when he heard the words of Emperor Chongping, he cupped his hands and said, "My lord, I would like to go to the south of the Yangtze River to rectify the naval forces in Fuzhou and Hangzhou."

A scholar dies for his confidant, and only Yongning Bo knows him above the Han court!
After Shui Rong returned to Beijing from Datong and Taiyuan, he actually heard some gossip, mainly about doubts about his own abilities, and all kinds of gossip were very unpleasant.

Seeing Shui Rong's sincere expression, Emperor Chongping nodded secretly. No matter what, this initiative to do things has its merits.

After pondering for a moment, he said: "In addition, there is another matter. The king of Chu was assassinated in Jinling and his son died young. Jia Ziyu is currently dealing with this matter. You pass an order to Ziyu and ask him to investigate the rebellious party with the guard of Jinyi Mansion, and use the son of heaven to investigate. Jian Su is treacherous and evil, no matter who is involved, if there is any conspiracy, he will be punished severely!"

"My minister complies with the order." Shui Rong accepted the order, but his heart was already full of turmoil.

The abolished prince and Zhao Wang's rebellious party are really lingering ghosts, and every time they appear, there will be a bloodbath.

After the water melted away, Emperor Chongping's face was gloomy, and his heart was boiling with murderous intent.

It's just that after thinking deeply, it is inevitable that there will be some hesitation.

If Jiangnan is implicated again, will it damage the sanctity?Make more people miss... that person?
In fact, among the sons of Emperor Longzhi, the abolished prince is kind. Compared with the current Emperor Chongping, especially the Chongping Emperor after the Shuxing Great Prison, some older officials in the south of the Yangtze River did treat the virtuous and virtuous corporal and treat the abolished prince generously. Have a good impression.

Thinking of the elder brother who treated others generously, Emperor Chongping's eyes were complicated, and the hand holding the vermilion pen was gently exerting force.

That man's affair with Concubine Jing was originally a plan of his...

"Crack..." A sound interrupted the long-term thoughts of the middle-aged emperor, and the crisp sound made Dai Quan, who was not far away, tremble with fright, and quickly lowered his head tightly, feeling awe-inspiring.

Obviously because of too much force, the vermilion pen in his hand broke from the middle, and the tip of the pen with red ink fell on the yellow dragon robe, immediately staining the dragon head pattern.

Under Emperor Chongping's slender brows, he looked out of the window at the palace in winter. In Chang'an in winter, the northwest wind was a bit strong, blowing the glazed tiles and bringing up a cloud of dust.

The middle-aged emperor's complexion was frosty, and his eyes showed firmness.

He did nothing wrong, it was all for the country and society of the great man!

And since he came to the throne, he has worked hard and devoted himself to governing, aiming to rejuvenate the great man, so the Beijing camp quickly quelled the chaos in Henan and achieved great victories in the south of the Yangtze River.

And this is just the beginning. In the future, Liaodong will also be recovered in his hands, and the world will be rebuilt!
Otherwise, with that person's weak temper, how could he manage the crumbling Han family?
At this moment, the emperor with a cold face cut off a strange thought deep in his heart.

And in Shenjing City, following the assassination of King Chu in the south of the Yangtze River, behind it was the remnants of King Zhao who were making trouble. Yang Guochang, Han Huang, Zhao Mo and others in the cabinet also learned the news one after another, and they were all shocked.

Yang Guochang is fine, the Qi Party's base is not in the south of the Yangtze River, and it doesn't matter whether there is a big prison or not, but Han Huang and Zhao Mo are different. After hearing this letter, they came together to see Emperor Chongping.

Han Huang looked at Dai Quan in the opposite Daming Palace, cupped his hands and said: "Eunuch Dai, please report, I will ask the Holy Majesty for something."

"Your Majesty has something to say. If you are here because of the assassination of the King of Chu in the south of the Yangtze River, you don't need to speak any more." Dai Quan's fair face was expressionless, and he said, "Your Majesty said that since Uncle Yongning took over in Jiangnan, with his fair temperament , will be able to live up to expectations, and you don't have to believe it."

As soon as these words came out, Han Huang and Zhao Mo looked at each other, slightly startled.

After thinking about it, it seems to be the truth.

Because since Jia Heng became the governor of Jinyi, in the previous corruption case of the imperial mausoleum, or the corruption case of the Hedao Yamen, he has basically been well-founded, and he has never made accusations and implicated him wantonly, showing a different attitude from cruel officials. An upright image.

In other words, Yongningbo's structure is a minister of military affairs, a minister of the prime minister, not a cruel official who is lucky enough to be superior, the latter is a chamber pot, which will be thrown away when it is used up.

Han Huang's expression paused, and he also thought about the joints, looked at Zhao Mo, and said, "Go back, leave this matter to Yongningbo."

Zhao Mo nodded, and let go of his worries for the time being.

……

……

Jinling, a mansion across the street from the manor where Zhen's family lived, was originally a mansion purchased by Zhen Qing.

It has been four or five days since the assassination of King Chu. After the burial of Chen Chun, the son of King Chu, Zhen Qing left the sad place of the post house and came to the mansion to recuperate and heal her heartache.

As time passed, the entire Jiangnan officials were also concerned about the assassination of the King of Chu, and the rumors about the remnants of the King Zhao being involved were jittery and fearful.

Especially after Fang Yaochun of the Imperial College was invited into the Jinyi Mansion to drink tea and be detained, the panic was undoubtedly magnified to the extreme.

In the past few days, Jia Heng sent Jinyi Mansion Guards to investigate Chen Yuan's whereabouts. On the other hand, he obtained the files of Jiangnan officials from the Ministry of Officials, mainly looking for officials who had overlaps with the abolished prince and King Zhao in their resumes.

The latter frightened all the aged officials in Jiangnan.

When news of Jinyi Mansion's Zhen Fusi came out, Jin Yi Mansion's investigators had already started to look up officials from Shangshuyan, King Zhao and the abolished prince from the archives of memorials.

Jiangnan officials were terrified when they heard this, and kept silent like cicadas.

This is equivalent to investigating historical issues. Who dares to say that the abolished prince and King Zhao were not mentioned in the book. If someone took out a memorandum out of context and extended it to look forward to the abolished prince, it would be a catastrophe.

Chen Xiao said softly: "Do you really want to investigate those party members?"

She actually didn't know how many followers Chen Yuan had in Jiangnan. Chen Yuan used to be on guard against her.

Jia Heng murmured: "It must be checked, Xiaoxiao, do you think Jinling City is much quieter now? You see, the dogs on Zhuque Street dare not bark when they see the guards of Jinyi Mansion."

Chen Xiao: "..."

After thinking about it, he said worriedly: "But if you look for a needle in a haystack like this, you may not be able to find anything. Are you really going to make a big prison?"

Jia Heng stared at the girl and said, "Don't worry, this is not something that will happen for a while, you can investigate it for a year or two, some methods can be used, but they must."

In fact, he didn't want to create a lot of unjust prisons, because not only has a bad reputation, it is easy to be hated, and it is easy to appear unjust prisons, and Miaoyu suffered greatly from unjust prisons.

However, he can use it as a reason to plan to split Jiangnan Province.

Following the example of Kang Mazi, Anhui and Jiangsu were split into two parts. Anhui was governed by northerners, and the monolithic Jiangnan officialdom was divided geographically.

But the problem is, one is who to recommend as the governor, and the other is the game between the emperor's will and the two parties of Qi and Zhejiang.

It would definitely be suitable if it was Lin Ruhai, but Lin Ruhai will return to Beijing to serve as the servant of the household department.

Li Shouzhong?The former Guozijian sacrificed wine, and the virtuous name was passed down in the country. He was the governor of a province with the title of censor, and his qualifications were barely enough.

Of course, it can also be used as a bargaining chip to form an alliance with the Chu Party.

"Here we are." Chen Xiao said softly, looking at the mansion not far away, interrupting Jia Heng's thoughts.

Jia Heng responded, got off his horse, and planned to come over to see the millstone today.

(End of this chapter)