Red Mansions Dressed Into the Forest

The Northwest War broke out suddenly, which was obviously unexpected by the Holy Majesty.

For several days, Lin Hai followed a group of important ministers to the Holy Majesty's study for a "small meeting" after the court was over.

The situation of the household department is here: how much money is in the account, and how much money can actually be used, Lin Hai will not hide it for anyone this time. Explained one by one.

No matter what era, the household department must have a deficit. The difference is that the wise monarch has less deficit, and the unscrupulous gentleman... basically has no money.

At this time, Beidi's elite cavalry had already blocked the first pass in the northwest, and one of them escaped from the pass with his own soldiers to join the enemy... The morale is really not good, no matter how food and grass are not in place, this battle is really difficult to fight.

Lin Hai doesn't know how to fight, but he understands: before the army moves, food and grass go first.The result of the discussion between the Holy Majesty and the cabinet is that some of them should be allocated on the spot for emergency, and the bulk of the food and grass will naturally have to be transported slowly from Huguang, Jiangsu and Zhejiang.The grain reserves in Beijing, Zhili, and even Shandong cannot be moved—just in case.

Fortunately, last year was a rare good year, and there were no natural disasters or * in the main grain-producing areas, so there was no need to stick to it just because there was no grain.

It is said that Lin Hai's time as the servant of the household department is still short, but he has not had any troubles in supervising the salt department for many years in the south. He must be qualified for the position of "big steward". The key is that Lin Hai is not greedy.

After Mrs. Chen, Lin Hai’s seat teacher, took office, Mr. Qi, who was successively added to the cabinet, looked at Lin Hai and squinted his eyes: Now I have to suffer for a while... If you do a good job, you can find someone to pick peaches. If it is not good, it is logical to vacate this important seat.

He turned his head slightly, and winked at the stern-faced King Zhongshun opposite him.

King Zhongshun understood and nodded slightly.

Since Lin Hai came to Beijing, he hadn't given these two old princes and their descendants any face: after entering the household department, he set the first fire of the three fires of the new official's appointment on King Suduan's subordinates.

Last winter and month, after the two chief supervisors of the fifth and sixth grades were transferred out of the household department, Lin Hai, who "toasted and didn't eat", was naturally remembered by King Suduan.

King Suduan and King Zhongshun have very limited manpower in the south of the Yangtze River. Even so, they tried their best to mobilize manpower and material resources. After more than half a year of investigation, they couldn't find Lin Hai who could give him a handle.

However, King Suduan's lineage was full of malice towards him, but Lin Hai turned a blind eye at this time: After all, the big thing is the most important thing, and fortunately, both sides have such a tacit understanding.

Inside Anxi Pass is a flat plain, thousands of miles of fertile fields, if Beidi people are allowed to break through the pass, then the next place where heavy troops can be deployed is already within the defense range of the camp in the suburbs of Beijing.

Unlike Lin Hai, a scholar-bureaucrat who can continue to serve as an official even if he surrenders, Beidi people will definitely happily...slaughter King Suduan and King Zhongshun.

With the enemy at hand, King Suduan's family will naturally not act rashly, but after the war is settled... Lin Hai thought for a while, then the "back road" should show his power.

My lord, it's up to you.

Obviously, the recovering King Yizhong is more reliable than the Holy One: a former prince raised as an heir since childhood is more responsible and protective than the emperor's younger brother.

It's not that the Holy One is unfeeling and ungrateful, but that as a prince when he was young, he always had the experience of seeking perfection and seeking advantages and avoiding disadvantages.These experiences have directly affected his character, and the way of employing people is naturally included.

But he said that during the whole first month, King Yizhong spent almost every night, but he still didn't hear any good news.

King Yizhong was a little disappointed, but it didn't affect the business at all - I heard that he was getting better, and his old friends and subordinates "couldn't hold it back" secretly showed their goodwill many times.

There is no shortage of well-informed people in Beijing. When King Yizhong was insane, there were still diehard loyalists who would never leave him. Heart to Yi Zhong Wang.

Anyone with a discerning eye can feel that King Yizhong and his brother Shengshang get along well with each other, and they are tacitly joining forces to deal with King Suduan's family.

In addition, although King Yizhong has no children, the Holy One intends to adopt a prince, and King Yizhong always treats the fourth prince differently... Although the fourth prince's body is unreliable, the fourth prince's concubine is already pregnant. Yizhong Wangfu is not afraid of having no successors.

Therefore, many people feel that now is a good time to place bets: besides, King Yizhong's clear character of grievances and grievances can really make bettors feel more at ease.

During the night, the prince dragged him around, and during the day, he had to help the prince deal with the piles of invitations and letters that filled the entire book case. Princess Yizhong was also in pain and happiness.

In addition, since the cousin rebelled, the side concubine of King Yizhong simply fell ill... At this moment, the imperial physician had just checked the pulse, and said back and forth: The heart disease will not be cured, and the medicine will ignore it.

This side concubine is a well-behaved person, no matter whether she is in the East Palace or in the palace, she does not fight for attention, and lives her little life in her own small courtyard with peace of mind.

For such "sisters", Princess Yizhong can't feel any disgust.Secretly lamenting the suffering of this side concubine, Princess Yizhong ordered the girl and woman serving at the side concubine to do her best to take care of her.

While the concubine was handling common affairs in the inner study, King Yizhong met with "old friends" in the outer study.At this time, most of the people who can come to the door are the clan. In terms of seniority, they are all cousins ​​of King Yizhong, and they all keep their word, not the kind of brothers who guard their ancestral business and dawdle.

The Tai ~ Ancestor ~ Lord was born on horseback, and among his descendants there are also warriors. This group of people wanted to make more military exploits by virtue of the Northwest War... So these cousins ​​gathered in front of King Yizhong, Nine out of ten people wanted to go to war, and the remaining one was not skilled and had never led a soldier, so he volunteered and applied to go to the Northwest to allocate food and grass.

Those who are close to Zhu are red, and those who are close to ink are black. The brothers who are willing to be close to him are so motivated, and King Yizhong can't help feeling proud.However, there are many volunteers, so he has to choose a little bit.

The historian is his from the beginning to the end, Baoling Hou Shi Nai has already made up his mind to go to the southwest to take up a post, leaving Baoling Hou Shi Ding... King Yizhong is ready to give him a heavy responsibility.

Speaking of Shi Nai and Shi Ding brothers, Shi Ding is more prominent in military affairs-this is obvious.

Shi Nai is a Xijue, so it would be great if he didn't downgrade to Xijue.

As the third son of the Marquis Mansion, Shi Ding stepped onto the battlefield several times, and under the premise that he was not the confidant of the Holy One, he was able to be named a Marquis with his military merits, which showed his ability.

The point is that these brothers are very low-key, not greedy for money, not causing trouble, not partying. Ever since the father of the two brothers stood on King Yizhong's side, regardless of King Yizhong's ups and downs, he has never moved his "back seat" ".

It is a model of loyal minister and good general.

King Yizhong was thinking about finding an opportunity to meet Shi Nai in private, and he had something to say: whether it is the father or the emperor's younger brother, he must select some clans to send to the northwest, and he will recommend them from among the few brothers present. One or two, and Shi Ding, who is good at fighting and stable, is transferred... It's the best of both worlds.

Now that the plan has been made, King Yizhong said to his cousins: "Your Majesty does not want to count on King Suduan and King Zhongshun any more." He thought for a while and said solemnly, "Over the years, King Yi'an has become more and more disliked. These two... if you can go to the northwest, you must not lose face to our brothers!"

King Yi'an was the former Zong Ling, Wang Chan and her grandfather.

The brothers were shocked when they heard the words, and they all said, "Don't worry, my lord."

In fact, ever since the Supreme Emperor ascended the throne in order to secure the throne and made the capital a bloodbath, forcing the general to rebel, there have been people who have quietly left the border to join the Beidi people over the years.

It just so happens that the current Beidi Khan is a rare enlightened master, who knows how to recruit talents in an eclectic manner, and even knows how to place spies in the caravans, and after entering the customs, he will do things to win over and instigate rebellion. Some young generals of the sixth and seventh ranks.

However, this time, a fourth-rank general got away all of a sudden. Thinking about this person who has served in the Northwest military for many years, if everything he knows is revealed, at least the Northwest Camp will have to re-arrange the defense line, as well as those supply centers outside the pass. Almost all of them are ruined.

Therefore, King Yizhong was not as optimistic as he seemed.After sending off these stubborn brothers, King Yizhong turned and went back to the inner house.He had just stepped into the main door when he bumped into the princess... As soon as he was about to speak, the princess grabbed his wrist.

"My lord is coming with me. Sister Li said it's impossible. She has something to tell us." The side concubine whose cousin turned her back was surnamed Li.

King Yizhong didn't say anything else, "Let's go!"

Concubine Li's courtyard is not far from the main courtyard. The moment Yizhong Wang and his wife entered the door, they felt the heat rushing towards their faces. The strong smell of medicine in the room, coupled with Concubine Li's sallow face and thin body, made people feel bad.

Seeing that all the princes and concubines had arrived, side concubine Li struggled to get up and salute, but was firmly held down by the prince and concubine tacitly.

King Yizhong is not good at persuading people, so the concubine naturally wants to "rush to the front", "My sister is recovering from illness, and your cousin is your cousin, so it won't hinder you, let alone our palace."

The concubine's cousin rebelled and escaped, which had a slight impact on the reputation of Yizhong Prince's Mansion - the prince's opponent would definitely read the joke and whisper behind his back, but the princess's "no hindrance" was the truth.

Guessing that she had the will to die and was not afraid of anything, Concubine Li spoke more bluntly than before, "Now that something like this has happened, I don't want to live anymore." He said, "My good cousin asked my mother to deliver a letter to me, and he is going to poison the prince."

Ever since Concubine Li opened her mouth, that big girl knew something was wrong, she was already sweating profusely, her legs went limp and she knelt down on the ground, unable to utter a single word.

Concubine Li didn't even look at it, and sneered, "Since you don't treat me as a daughter, why should I still care about my mother's family. Two-faced and three-faced... and don't look to see if I have this ability?"

She said these words in a hurry, and she gasped before the words fell.

The princess hurriedly asked someone to invite the doctor, but she couldn't hide the surprise on her face.

On the contrary, King Yizhong had a clear face, "Is it the same as the medicine I took before?"

Concubine Li pinched the veil and covered her mouth for a while, unable to speak, but nodded emphatically.

King Yizhong patted Concubine Li on the back and said, "Uncle Suduan always loves me so much."

Seeing this, Princess Yizhong didn't pay attention to the girl in the corner who had already fainted from fright, and whispered to her confidant next to her, "Take her and interrogate her carefully."

The women stepped forward, each with one arm, and dragged them out the door.

After about a cup of tea, the doctor came, and Concubine Li had recovered a lot at this time. The doctor took the pulse and prescribe a prescription, and slipped away as quickly as if he was smearing oil on his feet-not only the concubine's pulse was not right, but everyone Anyone with eyes can tell that the atmosphere in this room is even worse!

Concubine Li looked at the doctor who was almost fleeing, and said softly, "My lord, the Qin family in Ningfu was probably created by my cousin... Anyway, my natal family can't get away with it."

This time King Yizhong was also shocked. He opened his mouth slightly, then pursed his lips and said, "This is really the first time I've heard of it."

"My cousin, his mother, is either the clan of the former dynasty or the wife of the last emperor of the former dynasty. When I was young, I saw my aunt holding a green phoenix hairpin with a gold thread. I didn't know the seal on the hairpin until I entered the Eastern Palace. It is unique to the former dynasty's manufacturing office. The prince and princess think about the grade of my natal family, is it normal to hold something from the previous court?" Concubine Li smiled half-smile, "I thought, if it wasn't for my aunt's great efforts How could I be lucky enough to step into the East Palace? At that time, my natal family should have sent money to King Suduan—as long as King Suduan received the money, he would be sure to do things..."

She didn't know when she died, so she thought about telling the whole story, regardless of the tolerance of the prince and princess, "As for why I know that my natal family sent someone to silence the Qin family...it's because my mother put people directly in my place. Let people hide from the limelight. After all, it is not easy to raise a few dead men in the family. It happens that I am not in good health, so it is only natural for my family to send someone to take care of me." She paused, coughed a few times, her eyes sparkled, "I think It's better to push along with the current, now that the person is in my hands, it is also very cheap to report to the prince."

Yizhong Wang and his wife seemed to be meeting this concubine who had been living in the mansion for the first time. They looked at her together, but looked at each other in blank dismay, not knowing how to persuade her.

Concubine Li has undoubtedly made a contribution!

However, Concubine Li did not take credit for it, "When I was young, I let my sister push me into the river. It was already late autumn; I was in love with my cousin, but let my parents beat mandarin ducks... Now I can even give me medicine, and I don't know how to do it." Thinking of me protecting them?"

And this thing!

King Yizhong didn't know whether to laugh or cry, "You really don't want to live anymore?" Why are you so outspoken?

A woman with no family, no love, no career, and no children feels ashamed... It seems not difficult to understand.

"They're sorry for me, and I'm sorry for them too." Concubine Li smiled, "Anyway, in my whole life...in the end, I'll be sorry for myself!"

The old concubines in the palace can seek explanations from the Supreme Emperor and the Holy Majesty for their natal family; the side concubine Li can also completely wipe out her natal family's ambitions for her own sake-although there has been a ~rebellious~running cousin since her family, her natal family Within three generations, they are doomed to never stand up again.

In other words, King Yizhong added an "unexpected joy" here. Lin Hai came out of the Yamen under the afterglow of the setting sun today, and it was no surprise that people were blocked again.

The fourth prince, who couldn't hide his joy, blocked the invitation and said, "Is Mr. Lin free? I'll be the host today."