[Red House] How to escape from a broken ship

Throughout the dynasties and dynasties, until the Great Wu, the emperor who carried out reforms was fine, and the courtiers who carried out reforms basically died.Even a person like Shang Yang who has received great trust and support, destroyed the old aristocrats and became a new nobleman, will still be unable to escape the car crash after the new king succeeds.

Jia Yan, Jia Boheng, has an old man, a wife, and no children. Currently, he has no plans to die for the country.And with the ability of his dear uncle and father-in-law Lin Hai, even if the emperor wanted to reform, even if Lin Hai couldn't dispel the emperor's thoughts, he would decisively dodge such a terrible job.

Lin Shangshu really thought so, he hadn't met his grandchildren yet, and he was not very interested in using his wealth and life to expand the territory for the emperor.However, from being impeached to today, in two days he led the household department to check the salt taxation from the beginning of the previous dynasty to the present, and the situation is not good.

The Great Wu Dynasty has gone through three generations. It seems that after decades of restoration after the wars of the previous dynasty, it is now about to enter a prosperous age.But Lin Hai, with the eyes of an old salt administration, was keenly aware of the hidden worries: the salt tax in the south of the Yangtze River has been declining year by year in recent years.Perhaps this situation did not start in the past few years, but it has become very obvious in the past seven or eight years.

No matter what the salt merchants want to do, or the Donghai Hou Huang's family who has been entrenched in the south of the Yangtze River for many years, it is obviously not good news for the court.The direct reason for the demise of the previous dynasty was that the salt merchants did not want to pay taxes. They would rather spend money to feed the nobles than pay taxes seriously.Merchants just want to live and dream, watching their money roll, and no one restrains them.

If it continues like this, the government and businessmen will collude to bloom a black flower of money in the salt field, and the final result is very clear: the former dynasty is destroyed, the great Wu established the country, and the salt merchants were killed by the first emperor.But after so much blood was shed, the power of money still allowed the salt taxation system left by the previous dynasty to exist. Up to now, it is clear that another group of people with ideas and schemes are eyeing the salt tax.

Only those who have actually worked in the salt administration know how many unspeakable inside stories there are. For example, there are so many wealthy and dignitaries in Beijing, how many did they catch in the salt class?For example, should salt smuggling be investigated to death, or should we turn a blind eye?For example, how to deal with the censors sent to the south of the Yangtze River by the imperial court every year...

Situ Kuo, King of Chu, also entered the palace to meet Emperor Duanping on the second day Jia Yan returned to Beijing. The father and son withdrew everyone and had a secret conversation in the Zichen Hall.

Situ Shao smiled and said, "Fool, if he says that I can't do anything, what will he do? There is no impenetrable wall in the world. Anyone who is an old official understands this truth. In this case, it is better not to mention it. Lin Hai will see you in the south of the Yangtze River." What I have come to is these benevolent and moral Qingliu ministers in Beijing, who will never see the beautiful sons of He Xungui's family. Maybe they also know it, but they are used to it, hehe, or they are gagged by money."

"Father is talking about the censor sent by the imperial court to the south of the Yangtze River?"

Situ Kuo also went out twice to watch the wind, and he also heard a little about the shape of the officials below.But for the emperor, it was not enough for Situ Kuo to hear about it, he needed his son to know more and understand more.The emperor called him here to let him go to the Lin Mansion to pay respects to Lin Shangshu. As for how much he can get out of Lin Hai's mouth, it depends on his ability.

This is a difficult task, but Situ Kuo understands that it is just the emperor's expectations and high hopes for him.The news of King Chu's entry into the palace cannot be concealed from others, but everyone thought that when the emperor wanted King Chu to deal with the courtiers, King Chu actually returned to the palace...I don't know how many people's glasses were broken by this moment.For example, Jia She, the first-class general of Rongguo Mansion.

Before he heard about it, General Jia Enhou sniped the censor of Jia Yucun and began to impeach Lin Hai. He was so angry that he slapped his thigh at home. Why did he leave his daughter's marriage to his sister?In case brother-in-law Lin Hai had something bad or bad, he could have sold it, no, he could have married the daughter of a good family, wouldn't it be smashed at home?

His intestines were full of remorse, and General Jia hated him so much that he would cause trouble if he was not angry.Now everyone in the house is avoiding him. A few days ago, because he fell in love with a fan that someone kept, Jia Lian asked Jia Lian to get it for him no matter what.Jia Lian had a good memory, he told his father straightforwardly and tactfully: No.

Jia She complained that he was incapable of doing things, and Jia Lian said that if people were killed because of a few fans, such a skill would not be honorable.Jia Amnesty became furious and ordered someone to pull Jia Lian down and beat him on the spot.Now Jia Baoyu and Jia Lian have really become brothers and sisters. The old lady sighed again and again when she heard about it, but she knew the virtue of her son, and she didn't even bother to scold her. She just burned an extra stick of incense at night, hoping that the Lin family would be safe and sound. thing.

When Jia Yan and Daiyu came home, Jia Min was taken aback and complained why they came back!The more it is at this time, the more it is time to sit firmly on the Diaoyutai, and everything will be as before.

As a son-in-law, Jia Yan was not easy to talk, so Daiyu stepped forward and took her mother's arm and said with a smile: "Mother, we often go home, isn't this the same as before?" She blinked, and Jia Min couldn't do anything about her.Jia Yan also said, "Mother-in-law, Younian and I are children of our own family. How can we hide on the Zhuangzi and enjoy leisure when something like this happens?"

Parents are like this, even though they reprimanded, they are still happy in their hearts.Jia Min still happily watched the young couple follow her in, let the children sit down, and asked them how they were doing in Zhuangzi.

Jia Yan pretended to be "It's not fun there at all", Jia Min hadn't smiled so happily for a long time, she said: "Just play tricks, if the master is free one day, it would be a good idea to go to the Zhuangzi to cultivate for a while. Pleasure."

"Mother, why is Daddy not feeling well?" Daiyu asked quickly, and Jia Yan also sat up straight with a worried expression on her face.But Jia Min smiled and said, "No, he's fine. I mean, it's okay to be an official butcher. Your father has been busy for a long time, so it's inevitable that he's a little annoying. He wants to take a rest."

Now the father-in-law is also a person who stands on the sidelines, Jia Boheng sighed: "If it is not for the younger generation, if the father-in-law wants to go back to the countryside, he will be able to fulfill his wish." Daiyu glanced at him and understood that Boheng's emotion was not about himself , the three families of Liang, Lin, and Sun are all under Mr. Liang's banner.In fact, seeing that it is inevitable to talk about Liang Hongguang, Mr. Liang Hongguang should know how eminent this emperor teacher was back then, and he said what he said.

Then it should be more clear why the elder is not allowed to be an official within three generations before he dies, it is really to protect his children and grandchildren.The way to get along with the monarch and his ministers needs to take a step back. It is not a good thing for the ministers to be too prominent.He understands, the emperor understands, Lin, the second disciple of Sun and the two brothers of the Liang family all understand.So when Jia Yan, Xu Zhengxing, and the Sun brothers—now mainly Sun Zhao—are still unable to stand up, neither Lin Hai nor Sun Gao can retreat.

Otherwise, the three closely connected families will face the dilemma of having no successors. This kind of consequence is unbearable for the three of them: the Liang family has to be in the grandson's generation to become an official, the Lin family is sparsely populated, and the Sun family has accumulated rich heritage. not enough.

Daiyu and Jia Yan also knew about this issue. No matter what, Lin Hai couldn't think of quitting until the last moment.

The setting sun outside the window filled the yard, people were intertwined, and then heard footsteps, the maid next to Jia Min reported in a low voice: "There is a young man outside who says he is my uncle's best friend and wants to see my uncle."

Jia Yan was very surprised, which of his friends could find this place?Besides, the Liang family brothers, the Sun family brothers, and the concierge of the Lin family knew each other. He asked with a smile, "Did he leave his name?"

"Back to my uncle, that young master calls himself Ji Kuan."

Jia Boheng didn't feel like his butt was on fire, but he was extremely surprised: "He? Why is he here!" Before he could explain, he hurried to the door and welcomed Situ Kuo in.The king of Chu was very low-key today, and even gave up his favorite horseback riding, and chose to drive to the gate of the Lin Mansion.Situ Kuo smiled and said: The Lin Mansion is so strict, if I hadn't mentioned your name, I would have been stopped outside.

"Since Master Qi refuses to say who he is, the concierge must not let him go, haha. But it's really a coincidence that none of my servants are here, otherwise Master Qi would have avoided this trouble .” Jia Yan chatted and laughed with Situ Kuo, and invited him into the mansion.From the first moment he saw him, Jia Boheng knew that the king of Chu must be looking for Lin Hai.

He didn't ask directly, and after bringing him to the main hall to sit down, he said: "Seventh Master, please sit down for a while. According to the usual time, father-in-law and his old man will be home soon." The two have been together for a long time, and there is of course a tacit understanding Yes, Situ Kuo also smiled.After Jia Yan arranged for him, he sent someone to send a letter to the inner courtyard, saying that a friend came to visit his father-in-law, and he would just accompany him in the front hall.

When the news spread to the backyard, Daiyu said to her mother in a low voice, "Look, I really hit the spot." When they got married, Jia Yan gave Daiyu the pair of white jade cups that Situ Kuo had given him back then. And talked about the "encounter at Qiling Temple".Of course Daiyu knew that the so-called Ji Kuan was the Seventh Prince Situ Kuo.

"Then let's pretend we don't know." Jia Min hesitated, "Do you need to send someone to invite your father back?" She is also getting old, and since her daughter got married, she has also started to rely on her daughter.Daiyu disagreed, since she was pretending, she pretended to the end, and simply pretended not to know.In particular, father should not say hello in advance, anyway, he should go home in a while.

Daiyu pulled her mother: "Mother, we just ask people to take care of you. I think our mother and daughter may have to eat alone."

Sure enough, that night, Situ Kuo didn't leave the Lin Mansion until the first quarter of the hour, and Lin Hai and Jia Yan stayed in the study until the first quarter of the Yin hour.After King Chu left, Daiyu comforted her mother to let her go to bed first, and volunteered to arrest Jia Yan and leave the study so that her father could rest.As a result, she was also recruited as a labor force, and helped the two of them sort out a lot of materials in the study, including some secrets that ordinary officials of the fourth and fifth ranks could not know.

Daiyu thought she was knowledgeable, but she was still speechless by the "methods" and "practices" of the court officials. She spent the night in surprise and peace.

The cock crowed three times, and when the sun first rose, the father, daughter, and Weng son-in-law in the study looked at each other with six pairs of dark circles and smiled, and then they were dragged back to the main room for breakfast by Jia Min who was chasing him.While looking at her husband, Jia Min complained that her husband could forget about being tired and bring the children with him.After all, as they get older, the children will also stay up all night, and they must be watched during the day to drink a potion of nourishing qi soup to strengthen the foundation and cultivate the vitality.

Daiyu and Jia Yan pretended to be good children and followed behind their parents. The moment the sun rose completely, Daiyu's eyes fell on the courtyard. The old couple in front had already gone away, and Jia Yan stood beside her. Shouted: "You Nian?"

"Oh." Daiyu said: "I just thought of something. Could it be that the King of Yan or the University of Chu are behind this matter? Dad didn't say anything, but... I always feel a little worried. The salt affairs are already very sensitive. Now, if you add the battle for the reserve position, and the visit of the King of Chu yesterday, even though it was a sunny day, it made me feel like the rain is about to come."

Once some things start, even His Majesty the Emperor, who has supreme power, cannot control the development of the situation.Jia Yan was also worried, but he quietly held Daiyu's hand and led her forward. "Whether it's a thunderbolt or a rainy day, our family is always together. Besides," he comforted Daiyu with a smile, "farmers who farm the fields will encounter natural disasters, and businessmen who do business will also encounter accidents. , as an official, it's not surprising when you encounter anything, it doesn't matter."

From this day onwards, the emperor ordered the King of Chu to enter the Household Department to learn a little about the national economy and the people's livelihood with Shangshu Lin Hai.For some reason, or because he didn't want King Chu to attract too much attention, the emperor sent King Yan to the Ministry of Rites. Not to mention, King Ning, who was only in his early ten years, was ordered by the emperor to leave the palace.A series of actions dazzled everyone. Jia Yan and Shi Guangzhu accompanied Situ Kuo in a daze, dealing with numbers every day.

As for Kang Tingmei's impeachment, the emperor issued an edict saying that Lin Shangshu had told him about the abuses of the salt government. At that time, he thought it was a commonplace talk, but he didn't expect that the salt lesson had been corrupted to this point.This means that the emperor stepped forward to take the responsibility and let Lin Hai Shangshu land safely. Not only did Lin Hai not lose his power, but to some extent he assumed the responsibility of a grand tutor.

Relatives and friends from all sides breathed a sigh of relief, while those who stood on the opposite side secretly hated it.

Dong Chunyu and his disciple Kang Tingmei stood at the gate of the hall, watching Lin Hai and Sun Gao go side by side, and saw the great scholar Chu Jin calling them back, and the three left.Kang Tingmei said worriedly: "Teacher, what does Chu University scholar mean? The disciple found that he has become a little bit..." slack, or not interested in opening eyes for the King of Yan.

After so many years, Dong Chunyu has a little understanding of Chu Jin. He knows that this Shoufu University scholar is not as keen on the so-called "orthodoxy" as he is.He didn't mention Chu Jin, but said to Kang Tingmei: "In any case, it is axiomatic to establish a son and an elder, and no one can deny it. Even if your majesty loves the youngest son, he ordered King Ning to open a mansion and set up an official office earlier; King Yan completely ignored it, and we just stick to our hearts."

Gu Xie, a cabinet bachelor, has never been in contact with Dong Chunyu and others, but today he also came over and said with a smile: "Brother Chunyu, do you know what our chief assistant said to Lin Shangshu and Sun?"

Dong Chunyu didn't know that Gu Xie laughed as if his stomach hurt. After a while, he whispered: "He wants to marry a girl from the Sun family for his third grandson. , and get married."

"This marriage..." Jia Yan thought for a while: "I heard that when Mrs. Chu met with the Sun family's aunt, she also mentioned that their third grandson was about the same age as the Sun's sister, but Ying Xiang and Ying Xiang didn't agree. Mian is not willing."

Daiyu has a different opinion on the fact that Jia Yan is gossiping with his daughter-in-law at home since the fifth grade does not need to go to court.

Daiyu smiled: "You are the king of Chu who joined the army. Brother Ying Xiang used to work with the king of Chu Guanfeng on errands, and Xuan Zhen, the younger brother of the Liang family, was often sent by the emperor to run errands in the palace of the king of Chu. The Sun family, including the father, should lean towards the King of Chu. This is obviously to show their favor through marriage, and it is not too much for their brothers not to want their sister's marriage to be mixed up with this matter. But, in fact, this marriage, I think it is not bad."

Jia Yan said with a smile: "I think it's not bad, but it depends on what Uncle Sun means, and Mr. Sun has been so sick that he can't get up recently. I don't know if Ying Xiang can participate in this year's provincial examination. We'll have to wait another two years..."

Daiyu's face was serious, yes, to be serious, only Liang's son-in-law Xu Zhi and Lin's son-in-law Jia Yan are in court.Although Sun Zhong became an official, as the emperor's grandson-in-law, he has become a military officer.The next person who can be counted on to enter the official career is Sun Zhao. A three-year delay means three years less time to practice.

It also means that for the next three years, only Xu Zhi and Jia Yan will support the court, so this will not work.But Daiyu thought that the marriage between the Chu family and the Sun family was a good thing. The grandson that Chu's scholar brought into the marriage was the second son of the second wife, and he had already made a name for himself, so he could be regarded as a talented young man.No matter what happens in the future, at least at this moment it can be regarded as a powerful support.