While Jia Heng, Jia Mu and other female relatives were having a banquet in Huifang Garden, watching fireworks, setting off lanterns, and eating glutinous rice balls, Baoyu courtyard was dimly lit, and Baoyu was half lying on the bed, feeling through the open window.
Under the cold and bright moonlight, the mood is depressed and the face is sad.
Of course, it still pales in comparison to Qingwen, who called her one night mother in the original work.
Listening to the vague fireworks coming from outside, Baoyu felt depressed and his eyes were in a daze.
At this time, She Yue entered the side room and whispered: "Second Master, the glutinous rice balls are cooked. Let's use some first."
While he was talking, he heard the heavy footsteps outside. It was clear that a young cook led several maids into the Debaoyu wing, paying attention to the person lying on the bed.
Baoyu said to Sheyue: "Sister Sheyue, help me stand under the eaves for a while. I'll watch the fireworks before eating."
She Yue hurriedly said: "Second Master is so seriously injured, how can he act arbitrarily?"
Bao Yu forced a smile and said: "Sitting all the time without any strength, even if you eat, it will be harmful to the spleen and stomach."
It has to be said that Baoyu collected miscellaneous knowledge and read medical books frequently. When Dr. Hu prescribed Hulang medicine randomly, he pointed out errors and omissions in the prescription.
After all, She Yue couldn't defeat Baoyu, so she called a few maids and helped Baoyu to the eaves of the corridor.
Baoyu raised his head and looked at the bright moon, as bright as silver. He was silent for a while and asked: "Sister Sheyue, are all the sisters in Dongfu now?"
She Yue sighed softly and said: "At this moment, I followed the old lady, madam, to Dongfu."
When Baoyu heard this, he stared blankly at the fireworks in the sky. For some reason, he felt a sense of sadness coming from the bottom of his heart, and tears could not help but flow from his eyes.
His sisters have all left him now.
I don't know if it was his misunderstanding, but after the Jin Chuan incident, whether it was Third Sister, Sister Yun, or Sister Lin, they all looked at him with an indifference that was unbearable to him.
Seeing Baoyu crying silently, Sheyue looked anxious and advised: "Second Master, don't be sad. Several girls are coming over to celebrate the Lantern Festival and they will be back soon."
Baoyu whispered: "I won't come back, I won't even come back, I still have to go to school..."
As he spoke, he became increasingly sad and burst into tears.
At this time, all the maids were also busy trying to comfort Baoyu.
The cook glanced at Baoyu and thought, "I heard that Mr. Bao is blessed with great fortune and was born to hold jade. I don't know what his fame is."
This Saint of the White Lotus Sect, who had slightly changed her appearance and was not wearing any makeup, put down her bowls and chopsticks. While the maids were surrounding Baoyu, she ducked towards the back room and carefully picked up the brocade box placed on the bedside.
Look at the jade in your palm by candlelight.
"Don't lose, don't forget, and you will live a long and prosperous life." The woman's clear eyes reflected the inscription on the jade stone, her pupils shrank, her eyes flickered dimly, and she was lost in thought.
At this time, listening to the commotion outside, he hurriedly put down the jade stone, left the wing, and said secretly, "These eight words... must be clues left by an insider. The descendants of the prince are indeed related to the Jia family."
For a moment, the White Lotus Sect saint did not doubt Baoyu, because her age alone was not the right one.
Shenjing City, Korean House, in the Study Room
The lights reflected two thin, elegant figures on the bookshelf, and the sound of conversation rang in the room.
Unlike every household in Shenjing City celebrating the Lantern Festival, Han Huang and Yan Hong were discussing tomorrow's court meeting.
"Brother, there will be a court meeting tomorrow. The Etiquette Department will hand over the ammunition to Hu Yi, and our people will follow up later." Yan Hong said in a low voice.
Han Huang put down the tea cup, a cold light flashed through his eyes like paint, and asked: "Where is the Metropolitan Procuratorate?"
Yan Hong whispered: "Xu Deqing was sharpening his sword and rectifying the imperial court. More than a hundred censors were panicking. Once this incident is revealed, the crowd will definitely respond and think it is a self-protection strategy. Brother, the situation is mine."
If the imperial censor of the Metropolitan Procuratorate impeaches a chief minister, even if he is demoted from the capital in the future, it will be a piece of seniority that can be used when reinstatement.
Han Huang shook his head and said: "Don't be too optimistic. The defeat of Yang did not happen overnight. Yang Ge has been in charge of the household department for many years and has a deep foundation. This time it is just to shake his power and make the emperor have the desire to change. The real thing is to take advantage of the previous experience.
It's not enough for Yang to be defeated, he still needs an opportunity."
At the same time, he took the opportunity to increase the number of cabinet ministers in his hands.
After such a turmoil, if there is one or two mistakes, Mr. Yang Ge will pack up and run away.
Yan Hong said: "Isn't the previous impeachment of Jia Ziyu an opportunity?"
Han Huang shook his head and said: "Your Majesty's thoughts are unpredictable and cannot be guessed. Moreover, you can calculate for yourself. How many cabinet ministers have gone to the cabinet in a year or so? Your Majesty has not found anyone who can replace Mr. Yang Ge to help with financial planning.
I won’t make any big moves in front of others, and it will take me a year and a half to come and go.”
Yan Hong frowned, accepted this statement, and said in a deep voice: "Tomorrow we will meet with the Military Aircraft Department to set up a meeting. What should we do?"
Han Huang glanced at Yan Hong and said resolutely: "The establishment of a military aircraft office is a decision of the Sacred Heart that cannot be changed."
Yan Hong said worriedly: "The military aircraft are standing still, I am afraid that the Holy Heart will have its own destiny and the Gang will be arbitrary, no matter how hard it is to contain it."
In fact, this was not just Yan Hong's doubts. All the civil servants in Beijing were shaking their heads in setting up the military aircraft department. This was just because of the power of Emperor Chongping and the deputy envoy of the Jingying Jiedushi.
Han Huang sighed, looked deeply, and said: "If you are not in your position, you will not seek to govern."
This is true, he is not the chief assistant, and we will make further calculations after he becomes the chief assistant.
Yan Hong was silent for a while and then asked: "Brother, what do you think of Jia Ziyu? This man is lucky enough to be in charge of Jinyi Mansion, Jingying, and the Five Cities Military and Horse Department. His power is very hot, and the situation is extremely difficult to control. The claws and claws of eagles and dogs have appeared."
Han Huang said: "This man is at the right time to show off his talents. Whether he can stand still depends on the war against the captives. In military and national affairs, there is a great fear between victory and defeat."
When the emperor employs people, he always gives you unlimited trust, but if you fail to get what you want several times, the holy family will retreat like the tide. At that time... it will not be as simple as sitting on the bench.
In fact, Emperor Chongping's trust in Jia Heng was similar to that of the Zhao State monarch who had superstition on Zhao Kuo and trusted him with more than 400,000 Zhao State troops.
After the afterglow of the military parade passed, the civil and military officials of the Manchu Dynasty returned to their thoughts. Whenever they thought about a young man who was still young and in charge of a 200,000-strong army in Beijing, they couldn't help but secretly murmur in their hearts.
But at this time, no one could pour cold water on Emperor Chongping.
Yan Hong nodded and said: "What my brother said is true. Now that the Holy One favors and trusts him, we cannot fight. Everything will have to wait until this autumn, when the enemy invades the northern border again. If the Beijing camp does not send troops to help, the government and the countryside will be noisy.
I'm afraid that the Holy Emperor will also be disappointed."
Han Huang frowned and said: "It also depends on Mr. Li Ge's plan. If Mr. Li Ge is in Peiping and stops the Hu barbarians from going south, he can train for two more years."
"What my brother said is true. Training an army is different from leading an army to go on an expedition." Yan Hong said, remembering something, he smiled softly and said, "Speaking of which, Jia Ziyu is also as cunning as a fox. It will take fifteen minutes to defeat the captives."
Years later, he can take full advantage of the victory over the captives. Wouldn't he enjoy fifteen years of glory and wealth?"
Han Huang's eyes were deep, and his magnetic voice was slightly low, and he said: "Your Majesty, the government and the public cannot wait for him to train for fifteen years. Even if it takes fifteen years, they will march to the north to compete with the barbarians.
, we need to let the Holy One see some results, otherwise it will be difficult to win people's trust even if his tongue blooms like a lotus flower."
This is human nature. Jia Heng’s fifteen-year pacification plan can be used as a national policy, but it cannot be without fighting. If you win, everyone will be happy. If you lose, some people will doubt your ability. No matter how brilliant the national policy is, it cannot be trusted.
The speed will also be greatly reduced.
It can be said that officials in both the government and the public are looking forward to a war against the captives to test Jia Heng's quality.
Yan Hong said: "I heard from Zi Sheng last time that Jia Ziyu seems to want to take the imperial examination?"
Han Huang picked up the tea cup, took a sip, and said: "It is unlikely. Unless he resigns from the Beijing Camp and the Jinyi Mansion, as he is currently a first-class official and a distinguished noble of the country, if he ends up in the scientific examination, the material debate will inevitably boil and the government and the public will be in an uproar.
, the Holy One would rather grant him the same background as a Jinshi in the future, rather than allow him to take the imperial examination... Moreover, even if Jia Ziyu passes the imperial examination, outsiders will not guess that there are many shady things. If he fails the examination, he will be ridiculed by the world. This is not what wise people think.
Why."
"That's right, we can't let him take advantage of all the good things in the world. He is already a noble man, and it makes no sense to seize the quota of scholars to become officials." Yan Hong's eyes flickered and he said in a low voice.
…
…
Yong'anfang, Yangzhai
Three figures of old, middle-aged and young people stood under the eaves of the corridor, looking at the fireworks in the sky and talking.
It was Yang Guochang, the cabinet scholar, his son Yang Sihong, and Qi Kun, the left minister of the Ministry of Household Affairs.
Yang Sihong whispered: "Father, tomorrow the Zhejiang Party members may use the previous incident to impeach my father, so my father should take precautions in advance."
Qi Kun's face was a bit solemn, and he said in a low voice: "Mr. Ge, I'm afraid that there will be a group attack at the meeting tomorrow."
On New Year's Eve, Jia Heng impeached Yang Guochang and asked him about five crimes. Among them, the three biggest charges were that Yang Guochang failed to detect the chaos in the capital in advance, spent money but failed to plan, obstructed military affairs, and blackmailed all officials.
.
There are both doubts about his ability as a chief assistant, and also about his ability to serve in the household department.
A cold look appeared on Yang Guochang's old face, and he said: "The Holy One now favors the traitor Jia Heng. For their own selfish interests, the Zhejiang Party took the opportunity to collude with the traitor to build momentum, causing the party struggle to become more intense. But they are just a mob. We only need to hold on until the end of the year."
.”
Qi Kun said in surprise: "At the end of the year?"
A cold light flashed in Yang Guochang's eyes, and he whispered: "At that time, the military situation in the Beilu bandit territory was like a fire. The entire army had completed its military operations in the capital camp, and they were bound to go north to help, like Jia Heng or who could not command the army.
After a successful achievement, or the army was defeated, or suffered a huge defeat, the holy general temporarily extinguished his enthusiasm for martial arts, and the turmoil in the court has since calmed down. Yan Xuan, you don't know how powerful the Donglu is, he said it with a yellow mouth
A boy who doesn’t know how high the sky is and loves to make big words. When the two armies are fighting, it is not possible to defeat the enemy with just one strategy."
Qi Kun's face was solemn, his eyes were deep, and he whispered: "What the Prime Minister said is not unreasonable. Now that the situation in the court is in turmoil, it is Jia Ziyu who used the word "Ping Lu" to make the emperor restless. Once the military progress is unfavorable..."
"You will prosper by pacifying the captives, but you will lose by pacifying the captives." Yang Guochang said in a clear voice, "But if you lose your troops and lose your generals, it will greatly consume the vitality of the country. Even if you suffer the punishment of death, it will be difficult to atone for your sin!"
When Qi Kun heard this, he was shocked and his expression changed.
In fact, I feel a little uncomfortable in my heart.
The chief minister of a country expects his generals to be defeated and defeated, which is actually contrary to his original intention in life.
Yang Guochang said in a deep voice: "The most urgent task is to correct the shortcomings of the salt affairs. Has Liang Zhicheng sent a letter recently?"
Qi Kun said: "The Yangzhou Salt Institute is currently investigating the source of salt. However, there are many obstacles to this matter. The Lianghuai Capital Transfer Department and salt merchants are obstructing it and secretly obstructing it."
The Qi Party and Jiangnan salt merchants have never dealt with each other, and now they have nothing to hide.
Yang Guochang shook his head and said: "Lin Ruhai has a weak temperament and has been patrolling salt for several years without success. His power is not strong enough to overwhelm those extravagant and lustful salt merchants. If there is still no progress after waiting for a while, I will recommend Yan Xuan to the Holy One."
You are going south, with full authority to supervise the elimination of abuses in the Salt Law."
In the heart of this prime minister who was born in Lu, he should be cruel and heavy-handed against those southerners who are full of scheming intentions!
"Thank you very much, I believe you will appreciate it." Qi Kun said: "Recently, the Ministry of Household Affairs, the border army has been in a hurry to collect pay. Should I press the button but not pay it, or?"
Yang Guochang said: "Because the Holy Spirit succeeded in eliminating the capital camp, he believed Jia Heng's slander and wanted to spread it to the border army. However, the border army is different from the capital. The border generals hold heavy troops. If they are not careful, they may even mutiny and surrender to the enemy."
Now is the time to test the danger, so let’s allocate half of it first.”
It is said that the Hubu treasury was so rich because Jia Heng's son came to suppress the Sanhe Gang.
Qi Kun thought for a while and said: "To purchase grain and rice for the border army, we should go to Bashu to purchase it. It is very expensive every day. I am afraid that the money will not be able to help."
Yang Sihong listened to the conversation between the two and whispered: "Father, if Shanxi merchants resume the Kaizhong method and Jia Yan leads the corn to Jiubian, the dilemma may be solved."
Yang Guochang took a deep look at Yang Sihong and said solemnly: "This is what I wanted to do for my father to correct the shortcomings of the Salt Law."
Yang Sihong hesitated for a moment, and finally said: "Father, the Li family of the Shanxi Chamber of Commerce proposed that if the imperial court is short of food and silver, the Shanxi Chamber of Commerce can purchase the salt from the four salt fields in Lianghuai, Liangzhe, Changlu, and Hedong.
Sales agency, if the court urgently needs silver, the eight major Shanxi merchants can also release 3.2 million taels of silver to the court every year to complete the salt lesson, and the Ministry of Household Affairs will allocate another 2.2 million taels to the Shanxi Merchants Chamber of Commerce to purchase grain.
Rice, mules and horses, in this way the court will not spend one tael of rice, but get one million taels for free, and can transport grain to nine sides."
When Yang Guochang heard this, he frowned and was silent for a while.
Seeing that his father was silent, Yang Sihong did not rush him and waited quietly.
On the side, Qi Kun's face was dark and flickering, and his heart was already filled with turmoil.
Is this Shanxi merchant going to be a salt merchant for the Han Dynasty?
What a huge appetite, but Shanxi merchants actually have such huge financial resources?
This also involves an issue that Qi Kun has not thought of for the time being. That is, the millions of taels of silver a year cannot be all silver. They must be transferred with Shanxi merchant banknotes. Once they come and go, they may be able to use salt
Using Yin as an anchor point to control the price of salt, not to mention Shanxi merchants who undertook the transportation of border taxes also had considerable room for manipulation in purchasing grain and rice.
Yang Guochang's face suddenly turned cold. It was clearly the instinct of an elite bureaucrat and he realized that something was wrong.
"There is no reason for the imperial court to lend money to merchants, let alone use salt to offset it. This is simply whimsical and ridiculous!" Yang Guochang scolded with a dark face.
Yang Sihong's face was calm, he lowered his head and said secretly: "It's true that if you want to convince your father about this matter, it won't be done overnight."
This is actually the strategy that Yang Sihong came up with for the Shanxi Chamber of Commerce. He even has some forward thinking, that is, the privatization of the salt industry. Since the Han Dynasty has a rigid bureaucracy, does not know how to operate capital, and has serious corruption and waste, then it should be left to private businessmen. Of course, Yang Sihong
It is reasonable to take a share of the pie.
However, this move obviously made Yang Guochang feel extremely disgusted. Bureaucrats hate anything that is out of their control.