The Red Mansions

Chapter 935 Anxious Shanxi Merchants (Ask for a monthly ticket at the end of the month!)

Taiyuan City

After Jia Heng dealt with Wang Chengyin, the chief soldier, and Shang Zhonggang, the deputy chief soldier, he assigned the generals of the Beijing camp to suppress the situation in the city, took over the soldiers in Taiyuan City, and reorganized and trained them.

After all the generals and schools were dismissed, the governor Gu Binghe, the chief envoy Luo Jingwen, and the prefect Jiang Yan of Taiyuan were left alone.

It made the three of them a little nervous, even though they knew that the young Marquis Wu in front of them would not be able to sacrifice the butcher's knife to local officials like them, but because of the brutal atmosphere just now, they still felt a little strange in their hearts.

Jia Heng said: "My lords, the imperial court is stationed in Taiyuan and is going to send troops to Datong. More than 200 soldiers and horses from the Beijing camp are gathered in Taiyuan Mansion. They need to prepare food and grass for at least three months, which is about [-] million shi. The imperial court will transfer from Shenjing, but I still hope It can solve military supplies on the spot, and Shanxi has always been a large grain-producing province, so the government treasury still has enough food and fodder?"

Now that he has seized the military power in Taiyuan Town, the current number of soldiers and horses is about 12. When the follow-up 18 infantry from the Beijing camp arrive, there will be [-] soldiers and horses. quantity.

And after Datong, together with Datong's soldiers and horses, there are more than [-] soldiers and horses, this general who conquers captives is a bit like a general of a country.

Upon hearing this, Gu Binghe looked at Luo Jingwen and Jiang Yan, and said, "Lord Luo and Lord Jiang have been dealing with this matter recently, and Lord Luo introduced the situation to the general."

This is to introduce to the big leader that XX is responsible for this part. This trick can also release him from the role of a subordinate. If he is held accountable, it will be convenient to blame him.

Luo Jingwen showed a look of embarrassment on his face, and said in a deep voice: "General, the officials and the Jiang Zhifu have found a local rice merchant Kang to get promoted, and are willing to raise rice grain for the imperial court, but Lin Butang, who supervises the military grain from the household department, has not yet arrived. I don’t know how the imperial court purchases grain and fodder?”

Jiang Yan added, saying: "Kang's family is a wealthy businessman in Linfen, with a lot of warehouses. If he fully assists the army in raising rice and grain, it will be easy to raise grain and fodder."

Jia Heng pondered and said: "The imperial court dispatched troops, and the Ministry of Household Affairs has allocated several million taels of silver. I am willing to spend money to buy grain, but the price of grain must be purchased at a par price."

Luo Jingwen said: "Buy at a cheap price?"

Jia Heng nodded, and said: "Even if you buy at a low price, because of the huge quantity, those merchants still have room to make a profit, but as far as I know, the merchants in the city heard that the army came here, and most of them took the opportunity to hoard their goods and bid them up. Did the three adults know about food prices and other matters?"

Gu Binghe said: "The price of rice seems to have risen a lot recently. Prefect Jiang, you are the prefect, have you interviewed a few rice shops?"

"Lord Zhong Cheng, this underground official has just found out, but the increase in food prices in the city is mostly caused by food shortages. In the past, the official food was used to stabilize it." Jiang Yan said.

Gu Binghe frowned, and reprimanded: "Let the price of rice soar, and the common people will suffer untold hardships. I demand that all rice merchants not raise prices."

Jiang Yandao: "The next official will deal with this matter when he returns."

Gu Binghe looked at Jia Heng and said, "General, the key to the city is the lack of food. Even if the price of food is stabilized, it is by no means a long-term solution."

Luo Jingwen said: "General, if these Shanxi merchants see no profit, I'm afraid they won't be willing to obey orders."

Jia Heng said in a cold voice: "The procurement of military rations is not only a business for merchants, but also a great cause for the country. How can you allow me to hoard goods and make a lot of money for the country?"

Luo Jingwen's heart trembled when he heard the words, and he looked at Gu Binghe who was aside, and he could see some seriousness in the other's eyes?
If the temper of this young Marquis Wu was followed, would he also sacrifice the butcher's knife to the merchants?

Jia Heng's face was cold, and he said in a deep voice: "Master Luo, you can pass a message to the Kang family. The country's military affairs are related to the country. The court will not let those merchants suffer, but it will not allow illegal profiteers to drive up the price of rice and let them trade. Take care of the overall situation."

Hearing this, Luo Jingwen's face was serious, he cupped his hands and said, "General, the subordinate will definitely bring the words to you."

Jia Heng said: "Master Gu, this Marquis will not stay here for a long time, and he will send troops to Datong, and also need to arrange and raise money for food and pay. If there is no shortage of supplies, this Marquis will ask the Holy Majesty for Gu Daren's help." achievement."

As a governor, he would naturally not be able to kill and intimidate as easily as he did with Wang Chengyin, but in fact this Gu Binghe was still a member of the Qi Party.

Gu Binghe heard the words, his heart moved slightly, and he cupped his hands and said: "Marquis Yongning, don't worry, I will do my best."

The person in front of me is a popular person in front of the emperor. If he can be recommended by him, can he go further?
However, he belongs to the Qi Party, and after Yang Ge left, Qi Ge went dormant.

Following the departure of Gu Binghe and Luo Jingwen, the entire military office fell into silence again.

Holding the embroidered spring knife, Chen Xiao came slowly from the side, her face covered with frost was calm and beautiful, and said softly: "They are now the means to frighten you just now."

Jia Heng said: "Now is the time when I am in full swing, they can only submit."

Now he not only holds a sword in his hand, but also holds a heavy army. It can be said that he can be used for his own use. The emperor clearly tasted the sweetness of Henan's chaos and gave him full autonomy.

"Let's go eat first, I'm a little hungry now." Jia Heng said, and was about to grab the girl's plain hand.

Chen Xiao snorted coldly, but dodged away, her face was as clear as frost, and said in a low voice: "Shuai Ya Jie Tang, don't let the waves go."

Jia Heng: "..."

There is no one at the moment.

After Jia Heng had plastic surgery, he and Chen Xiao returned to the hall of the back house. At this time, dinner was prepared in the kitchen and dishes were placed on the table.

Chen Xiao sat down, with a thoughtful look on his face, and said in a low voice: "If you deal with Wang Chengyin, I'm afraid there will be voices from officials in Beijing who will call Qu and impeach you."

This is an inevitable thing. The emperor said that he should make a decision on the spur of the moment and act first, but there will always be some people who will say strange things.

"In extraordinary times, one should do extraordinary things. No matter whether it is the emperor or the military cabinet ministers in the court, they will only speak praises. Besides, Wang Chengyin is greedy, cunning, and hides the meaning of rebellion. The evidence of the crime is conclusive, and death is more than justified." Jia Heng washed his hands, He took a towel and gently wiped the water stains on his hands, picked up the chopsticks, met those cold eyes with scrutiny, and said: "Well, these are not important. The key point is that I killed generals, not civil servants. Some people call it a minister capable of governing the world."

Dare to kill, be tough, has always been the practice of a courtier with wrists.

If he kills the governor or the chief envoy without authorization, it goes without saying that the proper behavior of Nian Gengyao has already planted the seeds of future disasters.

But to deal with a military leader who is greedy for military pay and self-respecting, if he was a civil servant, he would have been praised by the censor. For example, Li Zan went to Beiping to sit in the town before, and now he is quite prestigious among scholars.

This can be written on the basis of Qing History, "The Duke came to Taiyuan, seized the military power of the king and the merchant, denounced his wrongdoing, and beheaded him for favoritism. Therefore, the frontier army was vigilant and did not dare to slacken the battle."

Chen Xiao stared at the young man with his clear eyes under his willow-leaf eyebrows, and said in a low voice: "If you kill two generals today, Shanxi merchants will be alerted, and Datong will be frightened if they get news."

Jia Heng shook his head and said: "Even if the second general is not beheaded, Shanxi merchants will still be vigilant. Now it's nothing more than being too scared to try the law again. As for Jiang Zining, he is different from Wang Chengyin. The family members are still living in the capital, but if there is a glimmer of life, they will not betray the country and go to Jurchen."

Compared with the Jiang family of Jiang Zining, the grandson of Marquis Pingyuan, he was actually a little worried about Jiang Yu, the commander-in-chief of the Xuanfu. If he really had some connection with the Ming Dynasty in a parallel time and space, he surrendered to the Manchu Qing. There is indeed some problem with his political integrity.

Jia Heng paused, and said: "Okay, let's not talk about this, let's eat first."

As he said that, he picked up a piece of Mushu meat and put it in Chen Xiao's bowl, and said in a gentle voice, "Xiaoxiao, you have worked hard this journey, you should eat more."

Add more protein, don't starve and lose weight in Daxueli.

Chen Xiaoqing's eyes reflected the outline of the boy, and he picked up the chopsticks to eat, and a warm current surged deep in his heart.

After the two finished their meal in silence, Jia Heng put down his chopsticks, rinsed his mouth, poured two cups of tea, sat down behind the desk, picked up the books on the desk, and started to read.

It records the composition of soldiers and horses in Taiyuan Town.

Wang Chengyin has a cavalry army of 7000 people, which can be called an elite. In addition, there are more than [-] infantry in the town army, which were originally divided into five guards.

In fact, many of these are military households. Obviously, some of them are going to be eliminated and then reorganized.

The reason why there are so many soldiers is because Taiyuan is an important town in Guanzhong.

Chen Xiao poured a cup of tea, passed it over, and said, "I'll go and watch Shanxi merchants tomorrow."

Jia Heng nodded and said: "Well, five of the eight Shanxi merchants have temporary residences in Taiyuan Mansion. These people are under surveillance first. Jinyi Mansion is still collecting evidence of their crimes, and the generals are being tortured first. No one helped Shanxi merchants to smuggle armed forces."

Jinyi Mansion doesn't have much evidence of smuggling by Shanxi merchants, and the evidence of smuggling to Jurchen probably depends on Sun Shaozu's collection.

Chen Xiao walked up and asked, "Is your father-in-law Lin coming over soon?"

"I was in Linfen a few days ago, and I should coordinate a batch of grain and grass to Taiyuan Mansion tomorrow." Jia Heng closed the book and said in a low voice.

When Lin Ruhai went to Linfen, it was naturally impossible for him to be alone, with the guards of Jinyi Mansion in plain clothes accompanying him for protection.

Chen Xiaodao: "The Kang family in Linfen should be in the city now, and this family is the richest among the eight families."

"It's not easy to find evidence."

Now it's not like the salt merchants in Yangzhou colluded with Duoduo, who waited for the open fire to directly wipe out, and now they have to fish.

"Captain, the military pay from the interrogation by the Secretary has been delivered." Just as the two of them were talking, the voice from outside came, it was the voice of Li Shu, the hundred household guards in Jinyi.

Jia Heng got up, went out the door, looked at Li Shu, who was a well-dressed household, took the book from him, and started to read it.

In recent years, the Datong side generals have embezzled as much as sixty-seven million taels of Mexican military pay.

Jia Heng asked again: "Have the homes of Wang Chengyin and Shang Zhonggang been copied?"

Li Shudao: "When I returned to the governor, I have already copied and inspected. Now the clerks of the experience department are still counting the property, but a rough estimate should be more than one million."

"Some properties in the city can't be let go. All the land deeds and house deeds are all illegal stolen money, and they should be recovered together." Jia Heng said in a deep voice.

Once the money is copied, the money to buy grain will also be available.

Li Shuying said, and then reported: "Captain, the latest news from the grassland."

As he spoke, a bamboo tube was delivered from the armhole.

Jia Heng stopped reading, and said to Chen Xiao who was at the side: "The Sunite department has been defeated, and Jurchen, Aohan, and Naiman Mongolia are persecuting Keshiketeng."

Chen Xiao said: "The situation is getting more and more urgent."

Jia Heng nodded and said: "Tomorrow you will lead the guards of the Jinyi Mansion to investigate Shanxi merchants, and I will go to Datong after staying here for a day."

Chen Xiao responded.

……

……

On the other side, in the back house of the Governor's Yamen, in the study
With an orange light on, Gu Binghe finished the memorial and handed it to Fang Bangzhe, the aide at the side, who copied and polished it. The light reflected his face, and his mood could not be calm for a long time.

"Master Zhongcheng, this Marquis of Yongning is really decisive." Fang Bangzhe, the staff member of the governor's office, said in a low voice.

Another staff member, Yu Jianchun, said with emotion: "Zhongcheng, this is a popular person in front of the Holy Majesty. I heard that in Henan and Jiangnan, he is known for his ruthless tactics. He murdered people and ransacked his home as soon as he came. It's not easy to match." and."

Gu Binghe twirled his beard with his hands, and said in a low voice: "Don't worry about this, this Marquis of Yongning is not a military general, although he is a cruel official, he is not a person who indiscriminately tortures and kills."

Jia Heng's original "Cijue Biao" won him a lot of reputation among scholars. Although he turned to the road of martial arts, he did not have a reputation for bloodthirsty and cruelty.

"I'm thinking about another thing. Marquis Yongning is punishing the eight major salt merchants in Yangzhou and recovering their goods. Will he attack Shanxi merchants?" Gu Binghe said, looking at the two staff members with a cold look in his eyes. move.

The county magistrate who broke the family, the governor who killed the family, as a provincial official who sealed off the frontier, naturally knew the methods of the people in the officialdom, and the merchants were fat meat waiting to be slaughtered.

Yu Jianchun pondered and said: "Zhongcheng, probably not. When the Marquis of Yongning was in Yangzhou, he also kept four families, and he didn't do that kind of robbery."

"Isn't that why four families were ransacked?" Gu Binghe said in a low voice.

Fang Bangzhe finished polishing, put down his pen and ink, and asked, "What is your lord's plan?"

"What plans do I have? Now, I just wait and see." Gu Binghe picked up the teacup, took a sip, and said, "It's the chief secretary who may not be happy to see this."

Since Mr. Yang Ge returned to Beijing, Mr. Qi Ge was unable to support himself in the capital. He should also make some political achievements to facilitate activities in Beijing. This battle to conquer the North is his opportunity.

As the governor of a province, although he is in charge of civil affairs and food and pay, he actually feels constrained in Shanxi because of veterans like Wang Chengyin who guard one side.

But now that Wang Chengyin was beheaded, Gu Binghe had no sympathy in his heart, and his authority has increased greatly since then.

"Lord Zhongcheng, there is a gap between the Marquis of Yongning and Prime Minister Yang." The staff at the side reminded.

Gu Binghe said calmly: "These are small details, I will finish the errands first, and the court will have an explanation."

If this Marquis of Yongning really avenged his personal revenge in this way, he would not become the prime minister.

……

……

Kang's
As the night fell and the lights came on, above an attic, the lights were as bright as day, and the music of silk and bamboo orchestras was loud.

Kang Yisheng was meeting Kong Wenjun, head of the Confucius family in Taigu, Fan Hongqing, head of the Fan family, Chang Boxing, head of the Chang family in Yuci, and Hou Qinyi of the Hou family of Jiexiu.

Kang Yisheng looked at several people with a smile, and said: "The imperial court's northern expedition army wants to purchase grain as military rations, and it is conservatively calculated at 200 million shi. This business involves not only rice grains, but also medicinal materials and fish meat. As long as these are done, it will be a vested interest." You can win the lottery of the imperial court and earn profit."

Kong Wenjun was in his early thirties, with the elegant demeanor of a scholar on his face, compared with the fat head and big ears of ordinary merchants, with a handsome face and a green beard under his jaw, he said with a smile: "Mr. Kang's family has more than a million rice grains. Shi, one person can eat this amount of rice grains, why do you want me to wait?"

Chang Boxing said in a nonchalant manner: "Brother Kang, since the imperial court has found Brother Kang, Brother Kang will do his best to bear it."

Among the eight families of Shanxi merchants, the Kang family is the richest, and some merchants present were not completely convinced.

Kang Yisheng put down the teacup in his hand, and said: "My Kang family can't afford such a large amount. I see that this war will not end in a short while, and the subsequent purchase of grain and rice by the imperial court will continue in a steady stream."

If his family takes out so much rice grain, it is afraid that it will attract the imperial court's covetousness. If the imperial court has malicious intentions , Emperor Shilin is bound to criticize verbally and pen.

The Marquis of Yongning, who slaughtered many Yangzhou salt merchants in the south, should be more or less afraid.

"I don't know how much rice grain is for a stone?" Fan Hongqing, the Patriarch of the Fan family, asked.

Kang Yisheng said: "The court hasn't made an offer yet, but it won't make me suffer."

In fact, during the use of troops during the Taizong and Longzhi years, it was more reasonable for the court to find merchants to purchase rice grains. Of course, this is also related to the official support behind these merchants.

"Master is not well." At this moment, a servant in charge entered the attic.

At this time, Kang Zexing, Kang Yisheng's son, showed anger on his face, and said, "What's wrong with me, what happened?"

The servant's face was ashen, and he said in a low voice: "Master, the commander-in-chief was beheaded by the new Marquis of Yongning."

As soon as these words came out, the faces of the people in the hall changed slightly, and they were shocked.

Wang Chengyin is the local emperor of Taiyuan Fucheng, even the governor Gu Binghe and the officials of the vassal and standard divisions are afraid of him, but he was beheaded by the new general Zhenglu?

Kang Yisheng said in a deep voice, "What's going on?"

"It is said that they were greedy for the Mexican army's salary and tried to incite the soldiers to mutiny. Now the heads of the deputy chief soldier and the deputy chief soldier are hung on the flagpole in front of the chief soldier's office." The servant said.

All the Shanxi merchants in the hall looked ugly. As a general here, Wang Chengyin had a close friendship with all the merchants.

"This Marquis of Yongning is so ruthless?" Hou Qinyi said quietly.

Fan Hongqing said: "This is to seize Wang Chengyin's military power. Last year, Beijing sent an imperial envoy to rectify the military affairs. Wang Chengyin is perfunctory. This time, he encountered a hard problem."

Everyone looked at Kang Yisheng, and said: "This general who conquers captives is not easy to provoke. This business is not easy to do. It is impossible to raise the price of grain and sell it to the court. The price is too low, and I will still suffer."

Kong Wenjun frowned, and said in a low voice: "Last year, when this Marquis of Yongning went to Jiangnan, he severely dealt with the merchants in Jiangnan, forcing the eight major salt merchants in Yangzhou to recover the owed money, and four of them colluded with the Jurchens, and were killed by the Marquis of Yongning." , all family property will be confiscated.”

Merchants have always been well-informed, and Jia Heng's various deeds in the south of the Yangtze River were naturally spread to Shanxi merchants through some letters.

As soon as Kong Wenjun said this, the faces of all the merchants present were not very good. If you want to do business here, it is impossible to do business with Jurchen through Mongolia.

Fan Hongqing sighed: "Mr. Kang, I'm afraid this business is not easy to do."

"If the imperial court buys grain, how much should I sell it for? If I offend the Marquis of Yongning and find another excuse to destroy my family, how will I deal with it?" Hou Qinyi said in a low voice with a solemn expression.

"You guys are worrying too much. No matter how cruel the Marquis of Yongning is, he will not brazenly plunder us. As long as we do business according to our duty, he can still move us, and the ministers in the court will not I will just sit and watch." Kang Yisheng was also a little frightened at the moment, all the previous thoughts were really inappropriate, and he somewhat underestimated the methods of this Marquis of Yongning.

This imperial court has been cruel to merchants so far, it is really not as good as Jurchen's side, and it is a little more lenient to merchants.

Fan Hongqing cupped his hands and said: "Brother Kang, my Fan family will not participate in this matter, the old man will leave first."

At this moment, Hou Qinyi also cupped his hands and said, "Mr. Kang, our Hou family was not in the grain and rice business, so we will not be involved in this matter."

As he spoke, he also thought about saying goodbye and leaving.

Kong Wenjun called out: "You two, if that Marquis of Yongning forces him to collect food, who of us will be able to run away? The most urgent thing now is to work together to tide over this calamity."

Hou Qinyi and Fan Hongqing glanced at each other, both of them had serious expressions on their faces.

Kang Yisheng sneered, and said: "Since the government purchases grain and we sell it to the court at a fair price, then this Marquis of Yongning will have no reason to get angry, and the rest is to watch the battle. If the battle goes well, then needless to say, if he loses Jurchen, someone will liquidate this Marquis of Yongning at that time."

Since the Marquis of Yongning led his troops to the north to fight the Jurchens, how could the Han army win?Once defeated, the court will be raging at that time, there is no need to wait for them to do something, someone will take care of this young Marquis Wu.

Just as Jia Heng expected, these Shanxi merchants were frightened by Wang Chengyin's fate, and they did not dare to fight Jia Heng over the purchase of grain, and began to lie dormant and wait and see what happened.

Fan Hongqing's complexion remained dignified, and a thick layer of haze was cast over his heart.

If the fate of Yangzhou salt merchants is followed, those merchants who smuggled to Jurchen will end up ruined. His Fan family these years...

No, you need to rush back to Datong and discuss with General Jiang.

The main base of Jiexiu Fan's family is still in Datong, because the main business is smuggling.

(End of this chapter)