Tanhualang

Older gingers are more spicy.When Zhuo Dajiang knew that he was being impeached for the flooding of the Wusong River, he expected that the next step of the flood control project might be blocked; later, after the Ministry of Household Affairs stopped disbursing the bank transfers, Zhuo Dajiang still racked his brains and thought of many ways to raise money even though he was lying on the hospital bed. .

When Shen Jing went to see him, he told Shen Jing of these thoughts one by one, and instructed Shen Jing. After returning to the capital, he can refer to the past examples of water control government and people assisting each other, just in case.

He also arranged for Shen Jing to meet his old friend, Ren Jinsong, the prefect of Suzhou, and ask for help.

Ren Jinsong has worked in the local area for many years, but he has proposed many available methods, one of which is to ask the local gentry to recruit manpower, or to raise money with local wealthy businessmen.

It's just that Ren Jinsong has not been in Suzhou for a long time after all, and he doesn't have much contact with the local gentry and wealthy businessmen, and he is not very familiar with them, so he can only help.

However, Ren Jinsong's point reminded Shen Jing: Ren Jinsong's predecessor, Xue Yin, who served as the magistrate of Suzhou for seven or eight years and now serves as the servant of the Ministry of Punishment, probably has no better acquaintance with wealthy local businessmen in Suzhou than Xue Yin.

When Xue Yin came to Beijing that year, he even came to visit Zhao Heng. Zhao Heng specially hosted a banquet for him at that time, and Shen Jing was also there.If he came to ask for help, Xue Yin would not refuse.

It's just that even though she thought so in her heart, Shen Jing hadn't put it into practice, because after all, the matter of water control must first go through the clear road and get rid of the flooding of the Wusong River before it can continue; secondly, Miao Shenjian's vacillating attitude, It also made Shen Jing a little worried about whether there was room for things.He only hoped that he could persuade Miao Shenjian to deal with the Ministry of Household Affairs and ask for money by virtue of this readily available political achievement.

It's just that he didn't expect that Miao Shenjian would agree to the matter in front of Zhao Heng's face when Luo Ju, Minister of the Ministry of Household Affairs, said so much.

With the 50 taels of silver from the Ministry of Household Affairs and Miao Shenjian's attitude, the matter was finally settled.

Shen Jingxin put it back in her stomach, and then showed the memorial to Miao Shenjian.The memorandum was very brief, and only mentioned borrowing money from local wealthy businessmen, but did not mention how to borrow or who to borrow.

When Miao Shenjian heard that Shen Jing said that Zhuo Dajiang had come up with the idea, he couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed, and forced a smile: "As expected, Minister Zhuo is dedicated to serving the public... At this time, I don't forget to share your worries."

Then he changed the subject and mentioned how to implement it at this time: "This is indeed a good idea. There are many wealthy businessmen in the south of the Yangtze River. As long as you find the right person, it will not be difficult to borrow a few hundred thousand taels of silver for turnover. Let's first Draw up a charter on this matter. Then when you go back to Jiangnan, first make a copy of the roster of all the rich merchants and gentry rich households in Suzhou and other places. Then the local governor will take it with you and visit them one by one."

Shen Jing already had a plan in mind: "My lord, I'm a soft-spoken person, and I'm afraid it won't work if I rely on my own strength at this time."

"Naturally." Miao Shenjian rubbed his chin and mused for a moment, "I do have a few acquaintances in the south of the Yangtze River. I will write a few letters and bring them with you when you go south. It will be easier if someone can connect them."

Shen Jing hurriedly saluted and said, "Then thank you, sir."

Miao Shenjian glanced at Shen Jing, stood up, walked around the table, walked in front of Shen Jing, patted him on the shoulder, and sighed: "Xiao Shen, now you and I are in the same boat."

"grown ups--"

Miao Shenjian waved his hand, thinking about what he said: "You were the one who watched the water control in the south of the Yangtze River before, but now you have to work hard to watch it. I will explain the matter at hand clearly, and I will rush to the south of the Yangtze River before winter. Take a look. As for these two days, you should first draw up a plan to see how to raise money after you go back. Show me the plan first.”

After quietly responding, he exited from Miao Shenjian's room.

After he was on duty that day, didn't he stay in the yamen to light the lamp and boil oil, and then he returned home early, sorted out some things brought back from Jiangnan, then wrote a name card and sent it to Xue Yin's mansion in person.

Xue Yin was not in the mansion, which Shen Jing expected.Coming out of Xue Yin's mansion, he went to visit Xi Wei again.

Xi Wei was at home.

Thanks to the recommendation of Zhao Heng and Cao Feng, Xi Wei now holds a sixth-rank official position in the Zhenfu Department.It's just that he is not very familiar with the affairs of the Zhenfu Department, and he only works on duty on weekdays.When Shen Jing went to visit, he was eating wine alone at home. When he heard Shen Jing's visit, he was overjoyed and went out to welcome Shen Jing into the study: "I just heard that you have returned to Beijing, but you haven't had time to visit. You sent me to your door gone."

"I should have come to see you earlier. These days are too busy." Shen Jing smiled and shook her head, "You must have heard about Jiangnan."

"I heard about it." A servant brought tea, and Xi Wei took it in person, and handed it to Shen Jing, "I know you're upset, but I'm not good at comforting others. I'll treat you to a bar another day."

"You don't have to drink." Shen Jing said with a smile, "I don't have to go to the Three Treasures Hall if I have nothing to do."

After speaking, he explained to Xi Wei one by one the need to raise money for water control in the south of the Yangtze River, and then asked: "You are in Haining, and you must have a lot of friends. If you have a useful relationship, please help me a little bit. These silver dollars are borrowed. If you don’t use it, you will have to pay it back sooner or later.”

When Xi Wei heard this, he immediately nodded happily: "That's easy to say. When I write a few letters, you will take them with you when you go back."

Shen Jing thanked him, and asked again: "I heard that you are now in the Department of Prosecutors, are you doing well?"

After hearing this, Xi Wei immediately shook his head: "To be honest, it didn't go my way. In the past, I fought real battles with Japanese pirates, but now I have to do these things of arresting people... Sigh, I'm really not used to it."

After complaining, he said immediately: "However, His Highness also said, let me try to get a grade there for the time being. If I have a chance in two years, I will go to the north to try."

Shen Jing nodded and said: "It must be appropriate to have His Highness arrange for you."

"Yes." Xi Wei nodded.Speaking of Zhao Heng, it is inevitable to say a few more words, "His Highness's current situation...is not easy."

While talking, holding the teapot to refill the tea for Shen Jing, he couldn't help sighing: "In the past, I only thought that a nobleman like His Highness, who is high above the sky, who wants the wind to get the wind, and the rain to get the rain, must have nothing to worry about." .Now I know that everything is not that simple."

After Shen Jing listened, she lowered her eyes and smiled: "The old saying is true... No matter who you are, you must endure hardships to be the best."

He chatted with Xi Wei for a long time, and it was almost time for the curfew before he left and rushed home under the moonlight.

At the beginning of September, the night sky is clear and clear, with a half moon hanging in the sky.Shen Jing spent a whole day in the yamen during the day, and ran around all night at night, already exhausted, she just wanted to go in, wash up briefly, and then fell asleep to relieve her exhaustion.

Unexpectedly, as soon as the courtyard door was opened, I saw a familiar figure sitting on the porch facing the door, wrapped in a cloak, meditating on the chessboard on the table by a dim light under the eaves.

Shen Jing stood in the door, stunned, in a trance, only thought that he had returned to a year ago.

...Thinking about it, it's only been a year, and the two of them have already separated from each other, and they are strangers.

One of them was sitting under the eaves in front of the porch, the other was standing blankly in front of the courtyard gate, separated by the moonlit courtyard, after a long time, it was Zhao Heng who spoke first: "Where did this go?"

Shen Jing hesitated for a while, but finally did not salute Zhao Heng, and walked along the stone path in the yard to the stone steps in front of the porch: "I went to Master Xue Yin's house and sat at Xi Wei's. "

Zhao Heng turned his head to look at him, then turned his gaze back to the chessboard, and chuckled lightly: "Is Xue Yin here?"

"En." Shen Jing responded, walked along the stone steps to the opposite of Zhao Heng, picked up the teapot, and refilled Zhao Heng's tea, "Your Highness, have you been waiting for a long time?"

"It's okay." Zhao Heng drank half a bowl of tea, then tapped the chess pieces, still looking down at the chessboard on the table, "When you were away for the past six months, I often came to sit. Your yard is quiet and there is no one. Come to disturb, it is very suitable for a person to meditate."

After finishing speaking, she raised her head and smiled at Shen Jing: "It's a thief to enter without warning. But Miao'an is generous, so she shouldn't go to the government to report me, right?"

Shen Jing couldn't help but raise the corners of her lips when she heard the words, and while refilling Zhao Heng's tea, she said with a smile: "Your Highness, the Regent, is the one who dares to sue. I don't know which government dares to arrest and bring him to justice?"

Zhao Heng followed with a smile, and after he finished laughing, he suddenly raised his hand and grabbed Shen Jing's hand that was holding the teapot.

Shen Jing froze.

Zhao Heng took the teapot back to the table, grabbed Shen Jing's wrist with one hand, stroked the palm of his hand with the other, and stretched out his hands one finger at a time.

Although Shen Jing is a man, his hands are rare and beautiful. His palms are slender, his fingers are slender, and his nails are clean and round. Only the tip of his thumb and index finger holding the pen has a little callus.

When the two were together in the past, Zhao Heng would often hold his hand and laugh at his hands for not touching the spring water. At first glance, he looked like a scholar with no strength to restrain his hands.

But now, the fingers of these hands are rough, the palms are full of calluses, and there is an extra scar on the palm of the left hand.

Zhao Heng caressed the scar with his thumb, his eyes were deep, and he couldn't see any joy or anger: "I heard from Wei Zheng that you are on the construction site every day, eating and living with the embankment workers, working and resting together?"

Shen Jing paused, lowered his eyes, pulled his hand out of Zhao Heng's hand, and involuntarily put his back behind his back, and said with a soft smile: "I have never done physical work before. Now that I have done it, I know that working hard is not necessarily a bad thing. Headless during the day Sweating all over without thinking, working your muscles and bones, and sleeping well at night."

"Really." Zhao Heng looked up at him, "Then why didn't you sleep well before?"

"..."

"In the past six months, I haven't had a good night's sleep." Zhao Heng smiled and lowered his eyes.That tired look unexpectedly made Shen Jing inexplicably think of the appearance of the deceased Zhao Du, and couldn't help but be surprised.

Then Zhao Heng said in a low voice again: "...Miao'an, I don't know until now how much effort the emperor put in for this position. It turned out that I always thought that I have been going through the wind and rain all these years, It can be regarded as repaying the emperor's brother. In fact, how can it compare with the grievances that the emperor has suffered in these years?"

Shen Jing looked at Zhao Heng, who was a lot thinner than half a year ago, and felt her heart tighten. She endured and endured, but she couldn't help reaching out and holding Zhao Heng's fingertips. While holding it, she comforted herself from the bottom of her heart— —Because of the national mourning, Zhao Heng's marriage was postponed to a year later, and he still has no wife. His actions should not be regarded as overstepping the rules: "The deceased is gone, Your Highness, don't be too difficult for yourself... No matter how hard you work, you can't do it too hard." Just remember to take care of yourself.”

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