The Red Mansions

Chapter 983 Jia Heng: ...can't be totally cronyistic

Ningguo Mansion, in the study
Jia Heng flipped through the booklet in his hand, looked up at Chen Xiao, and said, "In the past few days, the case of Shanxi merchants has been interrogated almost, right?"

Previously, when he was inspecting border affairs on the Nine Borders, the Jinyi Mansion had already begun to investigate the Shanxi merchants, but such a major case involved obviously cannot be interrogated overnight. During this period of time, the Jinyi Mansion sent several more people Go to Taiyuan.

Chen Xiaodao: "Jinyi Mansion has started to interrogate the relevant merchants, but recently there have been many objections from the court, you should notice that they are suppressed for this great victory."

Jia Heng was silent for a moment, and then said: "The case of the Qiao family and the Kang family colluding with the captives is all based on solid evidence, and the king of Qi who complained about it has also quieted down, and other noises are nothing to worry about."

Chen Xiaodao: "You should get married to Xianning and Chanyue first. In ten days or so, the wedding will be held, and everyone in Beijing should pay attention to it."

Jia Heng nodded, and said: "I will become a foreign relative in the future, and it won't take long before someone will spread the word and force me to resign from the post of Deputy Envoy of the Beijing Camp."

There are definitely civil servants who are worried that their relatives will be in charge of the army, and Tai Ah will take the opportunity to force him to resign as the deputy envoy of the Beijing Camp. Some forces may also extend their hands to the Beijing Camp to install cronies.

When Chen Xiao heard the words, she subconsciously panicked, and said, "Then how should I deal with it?"

"The Son of Heaven's thoughts may be that there is nothing wrong with it, maybe he also intends to let me rest for a while, after all, I just got married to Xianning and Chanyue." Jia Heng said.

The great victory in Ping'an Prefecture, the bombing of the slave chieftains, and the defeat of the Jurchen two banners may give the emperor and courtiers an illusion that the Han army has fully recovered, so the importance of his command may be weaker.

If he were the Son of Heaven, he would probably agree to go along with the flow. This is the consideration of the emperor who is in his position and seeks his own government.

Yang Jian, Zhao Kuangyin and the like, how could the Chen Han royal family be unprepared?
And this in itself is also a kind of observation, to observe his political conduct and integrity, whether he is really willing to hand over the dispatch of the Jingying Jiedushi.

If you don't go to Lianzhan, it just means that you have an unruly intention.

In fact, in the history, politicians like Sima Yi also experienced ups and downs.

After all, he is now in control of the Beijing Camp and the Jinyi Mansion. Through the wars in the south of the Yangtze River and the war in northern Xinjiang, he can be said to have led a lot in arranging personnel and frontier soldiers.

In other words, since the Great War, although he has been granted the title of third-class duke due to the gift of marriage, his power has expanded rapidly, because many generals have been placed in the capital camp.

Civil officials' criticisms cannot be said to be without fault.

"Then how do you plan to deal with it?" Chen Xiaoxiu frowned, her clear eyes flickered, and said in a low voice.

She is actually not very good at this kind of intrigue.

"I plan to resign from the palace as the Deputy Envoy of the Jingying Jiedu to the palace in order to concentrate on suppressing the captives when preparing for marriage. This position is a bit dazzling now." Jia Heng said in a deep tone.

This is to advance by retreating, and when he is invited out of the mountain next time, his control over the Beijing camp is bound to be greatly improved.

"Now the civil servants in Beijing have something to say. As a foreign relative, you are in charge of the capital and the governor of Jinyi, but you are still so young. If you don't suppress it, it will be a disaster rather than a blessing for the community." Chen Xiaoqing said softly, her eyes flickering. .

This did not mention the arrangement and infiltration in the Jiangnan camp.

Jia Heng said: "So we need to restrain our edge, keep a low profile, the honor and favor of the holy family have always been prosperous and then decline, so we should be willing to give it up for the time being."

It can be said that after the great victory in Ping'an Province, Emperor Chongping's trust in him has reached a critical point. In one or two years, under the premise that there is not much war in the north, how to maintain this tacit understanding of trust between the monarch and his ministers or between Weng and his son-in-law?
This is a question worth thinking about.

The current him, after defeating Jurchen, has gained prestige, and indeed has some capital to threaten the imperial power.

As for the deputy envoy of the Jingying Jiedu, this kind of assignment is more like a false title, that is, this position is not enough for him to be in command of the [-]th Regiment Battalion.

The Honorary Commander of the Twelfth Regiment Battalion is a veteran martial artist like Marquis Runan.

Originally, what he really controlled was the Guoyong Camp, now under the command of Zhongqin Bo Xie Zaiyi, and now there is Cai Quan's Fenwu Camp, but the latter's control is also far inferior to the former.

The key is that the Son of Heaven is at its peak in the Spring and Autumn Period, and before the oil is exhausted, it is necessary to further improve the degree of favorability, and only at critical moments will he take care of his life.

Otherwise, at the time of the transfer of power, his resignation from the Beijing Camp Jiedushi would be equivalent to killing him at the neck.

Chen Xiaodao: "According to his mean temperament, suspicion is inevitable after a long time, so you might as well resign first."

Jia Heng said: "With the imperial censor's impeachment, the king of Nan'an County took the opportunity to exert his strength. If I resign at that time, it will appear embarrassing, and it will easily cause a rift between the monarch and his ministers."

"Then will the post of deputy envoy of the Beijing Camp fall into the hands of others?" Chen Xiao asked worriedly.

One's own man cannot occupy this position, nor can it fall into the hands of others.

Jia Heng shook his head and said: "Based on the temperament of the emperor, it is probably not set up, perhaps the military power will be centralized in the Military Plane Department and the Ministry of War."

After he resigns from this position, who is qualified to take over?Moreover, he retreated bravely and took the initiative to give up this step, which would also make the emperor feel guilty in his heart, and it was impossible to find someone else to take over.

It is equivalent to thinking of going before the emperor one step earlier, which shows a loyal political character. After taking over as the Jingying Jiedushi again, his control over the Beijing camp will also become stronger.

In fact, since the Song and Ming Dynasties, there have been almost no rebellions by son-in-law. If he wanted to rebel, he would not have much appeal because he lacked morality.

Chen Han treated him favorably and tried to usurp the throne, and the voices of local princes and kings arose everywhere.

The fear is that the son-in-law will take power and disrupt the country, such as supporting a little emperor, marrying his daughter to the little emperor, and becoming addicted to the emperor when he is 50 or [-] years old.

"Will the King of Nan'an plan to take the post of Jieshuai?" Chen Xiao thought for a while, then asked worriedly.

Jia Heng's eyes flashed coldly, and he said, "Then he is truly hopelessly stupid."

The King of Nan'an has coveted the military power of the Beijing Camp for a long time, but since he has resigned from the post of Marshal of the Jingying to avoid suspicion because of his status as a son-in-law, then the King of Nan'an, as the father-in-law of the King of Wei, also seems to want to intervene in the Beijing Camp The motives are impure.

Chen Xiao said: "That's good."

Now is indeed not a good time to start an uprising. After the Northern War, it is only fledgling, so we still have to wait.

Jia Heng said: "Okay, Xiaoxiao, let's not talk about this."

As he spoke, he took the girl's plain hand, brought it into his arms, and sat in his arms, a distinctive scent of vanilla lingered under his nostrils, making Jia Heng's eyes and ears clear.

Hmm, the taste of a chivalrous woman...

If Xiaoxiao is getting older, she does have a bit of Ning Zhongze's sense of déjà vu.

Chen Xiaoyu couldn't help blushing slowly on her cheeks, but the clear eyes under her curved eyebrows flashed a touch of embarrassment, she fixed her eyes, and said angrily: "Don't mess around."

Although the two of them had already pleased each other, when Chen Xiaoping got along in private, he was cold and shy.

Jia Heng leaned close to the fragrant and jade-skinned face, sniffed the unique aroma of orchid grass, and said in a low voice: "I miss you, can't I be intimate with my daughter-in-law?"

Chen Xiao leaned her head aside, parted her pink lips slightly, and said in a cold voice, "Are you tired these two days?"

Lingering in the gentle country, fighting so hard in the north, she just opened and closed her eyes.

Jia Heng poked into the lapel of his clothes, picked up a big snow pear, and asked, "Xiaoxiao, where did that Li Yanqing escape to?"

Chen Xiao shook Jia Heng's hand and said, "I'm not sure, I should still be in Shandong. I haven't contacted Master and the others for a long time."

Jia Heng leaned forward and whispered, "Where is your master now?"

Chen Ling glared at the young man, knocked off Jia Heng's hand, and said in embarrassment, "Trick me again."

Jia Heng didn't say much anymore, he ate the Sydney pears, which were soft and delicious.

Chen Xiaoxiu raised her long neck like a swan, her delicate body under the blue dress trembled slightly, her cherry teeth bit her lower lip tightly, her slender and clear eyes were misty, her mind was hazy, like a feather Dancing with the wind without knowing where to go.

Just when the two were getting tired of it, a maid outside the verandah said, "Master, Mr. Baolinghou Shijia is here, and the old lady has sent someone to invite you over."

After Jia Heng's class teacher returned to Beijing and was conferred the title of third-class Duke of the State of Wei, Bowling Marquis Shi Nai finally couldn't sit still, so he went to the mansion to ask Jia Heng to see him on the pretext of paying his respects to Jia's mother.

In fact, in the past few days, the generals and schools of the Beijing camp, as well as old relatives and friends from the past, will also visit Jia Heng one after another to congratulate Jia Heng on being made a prince and being married to a princess.

No matter how much Jia Heng wanted to be low-key, he wouldn't allow it, but the scene of the school was full of people would undoubtedly look very eye-catching. After being provoked by others, many times, the introduction of suspicion between the monarch and his ministers was planted like this.

Jia Heng looked at Chen Xiao who kept humming softly, and said, "Xiaoxiao, you wait here, I'll go and have a look."

"You go." Chen Ling nodded, watched Jia Heng leave, straightened the slightly messy skirt, felt the saliva on the Sydney, her face was filled with shame and anger, but her heart was full of sweetness.

……

……

Jia Heng came out of the study, looked up and saw a slender girl with a duck face standing on the porch.

Seeing surprise on Jia Heng's face, he asked, "Mandarin duck."

"Master." Yuanyang looked at the young man, raised her lips under the bridge of her nose, and smiled softly.

Jia Heng smiled and said, "I haven't seen you for a while, how are you doing?"

When he first went to the south of the Yangtze River, he often got bored with the mandarin ducks, but since the beginning of the year, he led the army to go out, and the contact was cut off for a while.

As he spoke, he approached and pulled Yuanyang's plain hand very naturally.

Yuanyang blushed and said: "I am serving the old lady in the mansion, everything is fine."

Immediately, with lowered brows and eyes, she shyly said: "Master, the old lady is waiting in Rongqing hall."

After not seeing him for such a long time, her heart is full of miss.

Jia Heng laughed and joked, "Why, Aunt Jin, are you embarrassed?"

"Master." Yuanyang said shyly, her duck-ball face with a few small freckles, her fair complexion was completely blushing, so she had to be dragged by Jia Heng to the corner.

"Long time no see, miss me?" Jia Heng looked at the tall and slender girl with shy eyes, gently hugged her slender waist, and climbed up and down.

Yuanyang was actually the first maid he had a physical relationship with. In this regard, Qingwen was still a step behind. Back then, she and Ningguo Mansion were almost like husband and wife on the boat going to Jiangnan.

The mandarin duck's delicate body was slightly hot, and her eyes were as bright as water. Feeling the burning gaze, she said, "Master, the old lady is still waiting... um~"

Before he finished speaking, he felt the shadow approaching, bursts of soft and warm breath approaching his cheeks, making Yuanyang's heart tremble, he closed his eyes, and put his hands on the boy's shoulders.

After a long time, Jia Heng looked at the girl with rosy cheeks and said, "Okay, it's not too late for us to go to Rongqing Hall, and I'll have a good talk with you when I get back."

It's really been a long time since I talked with Yuanyang.

Yuanyang let out a "hmm", took the handkerchief, and said, "Master, wipe off the rouge on your mouth too, so that no one will see it."

As she spoke, she helped Jia Heng wipe the rouge from the corners of her mouth and cheeks with a handkerchief, feeling a sense of warmth in her heart.

The uncle has not forgotten her.

……

……

Rongguo Mansion, Rongqing Hall

Jia's mother was sitting on the Luohan bed, and on the embroidered pier at the bottom sat the second wife of Xing Wang, Aunt Xue and others, and there was a woman in gorgeous clothes with a smile on her face.

It was Shi Nai's wife Liang Shi.

Baoling Hou Shi Nai is nearly fifty years old, his temples are already a little frosty white, but his spirit is hale and hearty, and his eyes are sharp under his thin eyebrows. He is sitting at the bottom of the chair, talking with Jia Mu.

Shi Nai smiled and said, "Auntie, Ziyu's victory in the battle in the north was hearty and hearty, which greatly boosted the morale of our Han army."

Jiamu smiled profusely on her wrinkled face, and said, "Brother Heng is fighting for his strength. Speaking of which, he led the army to the north this time, but he made us worry at home a lot. Fortunately, he won this battle."

In fact, I vaguely guessed the purpose of this nephew's visit from the bottom of my heart, but I don't usually see him, now I know that burning incense is to find the real Buddha?

In the past when Jia Heng hadn't gained momentum, the relationship between Bowling Hou Shi Nai and Nan'an County King was closer, because they were both decades old friends.

Later, Jia Heng suddenly emerged, Shi Nai was getting old, and he maintained his status as an elder, so he didn't change his mentality for a while.

Zhong Jing Hou Shi Ding adjusted his mentality in time after Jia Heng put down the chaos in the Central Plains, and then went to Henan to serve as the governor.

After such a long time, especially after Jia Heng was made the Duke of Wei, Shi Nai finally couldn't sit still.

Shi Nai's wife, Mrs. Liang, smiled and said, "Auntie, there has been a lot of discussion in the capital these days, and everyone says that Brother Heng is the number one hero since the founding of the country. He has made great achievements and made him a duke at a young age, and will destroy the Eastern Prisoners in the future. It is possible to seal the county king."

Aunt Xue was listening to Mrs. Liang's words, hearing this, she saw a gleam of joy on her fair face.

Now the whole capital knows that brother Heng is such a young Duke, thanks to the Xue family who took the first step.

Listening to Shi Nai and his wife's compliments, Jia's mother seemed to be grinning from ear to ear, and said, "It all depends on the court and the court's kindness. We shouldn't make random guesses."

Shi Nai put down the teacup in his hand and said with a smile: "The third brother told me in Henan that he had been in Henan for more than a year. With Yu's recommendation, the third younger brother will be able to make great achievements and benefit one side."

"Brother Heng is also recommending talents for the country. He has a public heart. Since Ding'er can make a difference, it is not in vain for him to recommend." Jia Mu smiled and said modestly for Jia Heng.

Just when Shi Nai was about to say a few more compliments, a mother's voice suddenly came from outside.

"Old lady, the uncle is here."

When Jia's mother heard this, a smile appeared on her face, and she said with a smile: "Brother Heng is here, you guys have a good talk later, you are all ministers in the same palace, and you are also relatives, so you can't live together."

Shi Nai got up, raised his eyes to look at the young man in green shirt who came from outside, went forward to meet him, and called, "Zi Yu."

Jia Heng nodded, took a look at Shi Nai, and asked pleasantly, "How is Shi Bo?"

Shi Nai smiled, and introduced himself: "The five-army governor's mansion in Beijing is busy, and everything is fine."

The two exchanged pleasantries like this.

Looking at the two who were talking and laughing at Yanyan, Mother Jia was very satisfied, and said with a smile: "Brother Heng, you two find a place to have a good chat."

Now the four families of King Xue of Jia Shi are united again. I heard that Baoyu's uncle was recommended by Brother Heng to be the general soldier of Xuanfu, and now the four families are surrounded by Jia's family again.

Jia Heng nodded, without saying much, he and Shi Nai exchanged a room in the courtyard to talk, waited for the servant girl to serve the fragrant tea, and then retreated slowly.

Jia Heng looked at Shi Nai calmly, and asked, "What's the matter with Shi Bo?"

Shi Nai looked a little unnatural, and said: "The day before yesterday, Shandong Admiral Lu Qi was transferred to the Fifth Army Commander's Mansion, and there is a shortage of good generals in Shandong, can Ziyu be chosen?"

Jia Heng's heart moved slightly, guessing Shi Nai's intention, said: "I discussed this matter with Mr. Li Ge. Shandong will be a key area for military defense in the future. It is necessary to find a seasoned and prudent general to guard it. Candidates fill in."

Lu Qi was previously transferred to the capital's five-army governor's mansion, and has already been left behind. Whether it is Denglai, Shandong, or the navy, it will become a forward base for counterattacking Jiannu in the future, and it needs capable ministers and generals to guard it.

"What does Ziyu think of me?" Shi Nai suddenly asked, his old eyes filled with anticipation.

Jia Heng took a look at Shi Nai, and asked: "Shibo is a first-class Marquis, and it is appropriate to leave the town of Shandong. It is only a military affairs in one area, and the tasks are heavy. Is it a bit inferior?"

The candidate for Shandong admiral, in fact, he has considered transferring Xie Zaiyi to the past, but this move will reduce his control over the Beijing camp.

Shi Nai recommends himself, whether he is willing to accept his assignment after taking up the post of admiral.

Shi Nai said: "Ziyu, I'm idle in the capital governor's office of the five armies in Beijing. Now that the imperial court is employing people, I want to do my best for the imperial court. In other words, I can't wait for the honor of the state and the grace of the state. Always enjoy wealth and honor in Shenjing instead of serving the country."

In the original work of the Red Chamber, Shi Nai did release the officials of the frontier.

Jia Heng picked up the teacup, took a sip lightly, and said noncommittally, "Did Shi Bo ever discuss this matter with the Prince of Nan'an?"

Compared with his relationship, Shi Nai was closer to Nan'an County King before.

Mentioning Nan'an County King, Shi Nai's face was stunned, obviously a little embarrassed, he was silent for a moment, thought for a while, and said frankly: "The meaning of Nan'an Prince is that he wants Shi Guangzhu, a former military officer, to be the Admiral of Shandong."

As time passed, Yan Ye, the king of Nan'an County, learned from the painful experience, and could no longer allow Jia Heng to use the war against the captives to plant all his cronies among the generals of the Han army.

Therefore, upon hearing that the admiral of Shandong was vacant, Shi Guangzhu, who was then a military aircraft driver and former military governor, was going to be transferred to Shandong as the admiral's chief military officer.

Jia Heng pondered: "Eastern captives will not dare to invade the border in one or two years after the war in northern Xinjiang, but they will never give up invading our Han land. I guess most of them will use naval forces to harass our coast, and at the same time go to Nanyang to find Hongyi firearms, Shandong is especially in the sea area where it is heavily defended."

Shi Nai nodded, and listened to the young man's introduction of military affairs.

Jia Heng said: "After I get married, I will go to Tianjin Wei to rectify the naval forces in Tianjin, Shandong and other places, and block the Jurchens going south to the sea. If the uncle wants to go to Shandong to supervise military affairs, can he be ready and brave to do things? Without avoiding grievances, rectify the local soldiers of Shandong Fuwei?"

I discussed with Li Zan before that the provincial army in Shandong and Hebei will be rectified next, which is undoubtedly an offending task.

Shi Nai was overjoyed when he heard the words, but there was still the reservedness of an elder on his face, he made up his face, and said in a cang voice, "Don't worry, Zi Yu, he will serve the country, how can he avoid resentment and slander and hold back?"

No one in Shenjing now knows that the young man in front of him is a celebrity in front of the emperor. If he makes contributions, he may be able to join the military aircraft and become the minister of military aircraft.

Jia Heng pondered for a moment, then said: "However, the admiral of Shandong is going to preside over the naval battle against captives. Has Shi Bo ever fought a water battle before?"

Today, he is competing with Nan'an County King and others for the right to speak in military affairs, and in political affairs, he is facing the restrictions and suppression of the Zhejiang Party Civilian Group.

Shi Nai said with emotion: "Don't worry, Ziyu, although these are not my specialties, it's not a problem to choose Ren Yong as a naval officer."

Jia Heng looked at Shi Nai who was holding the guaranteed ticket, and said, "Don't worry about this matter, uncle, let me think about it."

Shi Nai was getting old after all, and after all, he lacked a bit of vigor.

Military and national affairs cannot be completely nepotism.

When Shi Nai heard the words, although he was disappointed in his heart, he didn't show the slightest bit on his face, and said: "Then Ziyu should think about it carefully."

　Thanks to the leader of the book friend "I've become a millionaire" for the reward.

Envious of Brother Fu who won the grand prize in scratch games.

　
(End of this chapter)