Grain ships with deep drafts were moored at the ferry. Soldiers from the Xuzhou government office and the Beijing camp were carrying grain to the mule and horse carriages. As the rain gradually stopped in the past few days, the originally turbulent river became calm. Come down.
In the south of Xuzhou city, in a house, there are pavilions and pavilions scattered in the backyard, and high pavilions. The heavy rain in Xuzhou has stopped for two or three days, and has been replaced by continuous rain, as dense as fog. In the courtyard, there are blue walls and black tiles, and beams are flying. The arched building is shrouded in mist and rain, making it shadowy and unclear.
"Auntie, why didn't you tell your husband before we came this time?" Princess Xianning looked at the beauty sitting quietly in front of the window, flipping through the album by candlelight, and said in a clear voice.
The eldest princess of Jinyang did not take her eyes away from the book. There were candlesticks on the bank, emitting light as soft as water, hitting the hibiscus jade face as beautiful as peach and plum, gentle and quiet.
The beauty's long and curved eyelashes cast a shadow on her cheeks. Under her beautiful nose, her two peach-blossom lips spoke softly: "He was in Yingzhou and was in charge of the flood discharge project with the cabinet minister Zhao Da. The day before yesterday, he couldn't get along with each other. I have asked Xiahou to inform him."
She closed the water atlas in her hand with her slender hands, turned her head, and looked out at the hazy mist and rain outside the window with a distant look through the bamboo-wood window set up on her right.
At this moment, there is a four-cornered pavilion in the distance, with its eaves spread out and about to fly, caged under the dark sky, like four winding and undulating blue dragons. He said softly: "These five hundred thousand stones of grain can help Huaiyang, Huaixu and other places." The shortage of food is very difficult."
From late May to late June, the river embankments under the jurisdiction of the Nanhe River Road Yamen were washed away in two places and flooded in one place.
The overflowing water from the Huanghuai River flooded Sizhou and Suining. The most serious situation was in Sizhou. Zhihong County of the prefecture was directly submerged by the flood. As for Suining, because there were official and military guards, the people were evacuated elsewhere with help, but only lost money. some belongings.
The embroidered shoes under Princess Xianning's green skirt moved and stepped on the carpet. Jia Heng was not there. The tall and bright girl was not wearing black silk. She sat down on the pear wood chair beside her. She looked curious on her elegant snow-white face and asked: "How did Auntie know that there would be soaring prices and a shortage of rice and grain in Huai'an Prefecture?"
The eldest princess of Jinyang did not answer, but stretched out a bare hand with ten slender fingers and bright red hair, and patted the other shoulder.
Princess Xianning curled her lips slightly, with a look of helplessness on her ancient and beautiful eyebrows. She walked closer, as if she had changed her posture after patting her buttocks, and gently rubbed the beauty's shoulders with both hands. It was obvious that she was I have been trained for a long time.
Her aunt knew how to bully her.
The eldest princess of Jinyang said softly: "You are young and don't know the virtues of those people in Jinling. When I followed your grandfather on the southern tour, I saw the extravagance of Jiangnan officialdom. In the years since, I have also seen Gradually I came to understand the methods of these people in the Jiangnan officialdom."
Princess Xianning had doubts in her bright eyes and said, "Auntie said that those in the Jiangnan officialdom are hoarding goods? Are they not afraid of the wrath of Father Emperor Long Yan when they are acting so recklessly and disrupting people's livelihood?"
The eldest princess of Jinyang chuckled lightly, and said with a cold tone: "Those people in the Jiangnan officialdom will certainly not go into battle naked. They still regard merchants as a despicable business, but their relatives secretly engage in commodity farming, or
A concubine, a son-in-law, or a brother-in-law, I don’t know what to ask. How can your father accuse them? Besides, they are not just one or two, but a group, occupying grain fields in their hometown."
Princess Xianning frowned slightly, her jade face paused slightly, and she said softly: "This"
The eldest princess of Jinyang said quietly: "I, Taizu of the Chen Han Dynasty, did not listen to their policy of not competing with the people for profit, so I established the Ministry of Internal Affairs to harvest the benefits of the mountains, rivers and swamps! Otherwise, the state treasury is now in straits, and the northern provinces
The people cannot collect taxes, and forcibly raising taxes will lead to civil unrest. What can be done? "
Princess Xianning said softly: "Why don't we just add business taxes and let them pay taxes?"
The eldest princess of Jinyang chuckled and said: "In Xianning, the issue of increasing business tax has been mentioned a lot, and they were the first to object. This matter was mentioned during the Longzhi period, and your grandfather did not succeed.
"
Princess Xianning thought for a while, her clear eyes flickered, and she said in surprise: "Auntie, how do you know this?
Jin
Princess Yang suddenly turned around and looked at the girl with beautiful features and eyes, and said with a half-smile: "Of course your husband taught me on the bed."
Princess Xianning: "???"
Auntie wants to make her angry again! These days, when she has nothing to do, she likes to stab her with her husband.
The eldest princess of Jinyang picked up the tea cup, pressed her plump lips against the porcelain cup, and said softly: "It's not easy to deal with them now. The officialdom tree in Jiangnan has big roots and deep roots, and a single move can affect the whole body. The country is in troubled times, and the two rivers are
There’s no room for chaos.”
The clear eyes of Princess Xianning's beautiful eyebrows were condensed, and she whispered: "Auntie came here this time because she is worried about your husband. He is very upright and would rather break than bend. If he conflicts with these people, he will also suffer."
"Although he has an upright temperament, he may not be able to adapt. I am not too worried about her." Princess Yongmei of Jinyang, with a beautiful smile on her charming jade face, looked at the girl opposite, her phoenix eyes were clear and cold.
The mole of tears lingered on it for a while.
She secretly thought, I heard Chan Yue say that Xianning asked him to give him a few pairs of black stockings. She secretly glanced at the black fishnet stockings that day when they were secretly practicing dancing. Why did she feel that they looked a little immoral?
Princess Xianning said clearly: "Then why did my aunt come here in person?"
"I miss him, don't you?" Princess Jinyang said softly with a smile in her shining eyes.
Princess Xianning: "."
The eldest princess of Jinyang picked up the tea cup, took a sip of tea, and said softly: "He should have come over when he heard the news about Xia Houying. If he hadn't seen that the rain had eased a lot, I wouldn't have come over.
"
When mentioning the floods, Princess Xianning was very worried and said, "It seems that the rain is much lighter. I'm afraid it will rain for a few more days in the south. It's best if nothing happens."
At this moment, laughter like silver bells came from outside, and then Yuan Chun, who was dressed as a female official, opened the bead curtain from the outside, and under her curved eyebrows, a pair of eyes as bright as water looked towards him with a smile.
The beauty said softly: "Your Highness."
As the words fell, Tanchun, Xiangyun, and Li Chanyue also came over one after another, followed by Xi Ren, Shi Shu, Cui Lu and other maids and female officials.
Suddenly, the scent of jingle bells, orchids, roses, or peonies came to my nostrils, filling the room with pink and green flowers, hairpins, skirts and coats, which seemed to brighten the slightly dark room.
Princess Jinyang looked at the plump Yuanchun, smiled softly, and asked, "Are you all here?"
Looking at all the girls, big and small, I don't know why I always feel like I am a mother leading a group of children.
Yuanchun approached Fenglan, with a faint smile on her beautiful face, and said softly: "Your Highness, how long will it take for Brother Heng to fight against the flood?"
"Over there in Huai'an Mansion, it's still raining. According to the flood season in previous years, it may only last four or five days." Princess Jinyang said in an uncertain tone.
In the past few days, I have been reading the water conservancy pictures and texts from the Kaifeng River Yamen, which roughly record the flood season in previous years. However, it is still difficult to say how long it will rain on this day. After all, God has the final say.
Tan Chun said in a charming voice: "Your Highness, I saw in the newspaper that Brother Heng went to Yingzhou to discharge floods a few days ago?"
"You should have come back by now, now in Huai'an Mansion." Princess Xianning said.
Xiangyun pouted Yinglan's lips and said gloomily: "Brother Heng went from Luoyang to Kaifeng Mansion, then to Huai'an Mansion, and then to Yingzhou. Brother Heng has hardly had much rest in the past few months. He has been traveling back and forth.
.”
Yuan Chun rubbed Shi Xiangyun's bangs and chuckled, "Your brother Heng is an important minister in the court. He travels frequently and is diligent in royal affairs."
"How can I love my brother?" Xiangyun said subconsciously, but suddenly realized that this was very inappropriate.
There was a trace of unnaturalness on Yuanchun Fenglan's snowy jade face, and she said softly: "It's nothing, you love your brother and he is still young."
I'm afraid that when he gets older, he won't be able to compare with Hengdi, but Hengdi will take care of him a little bit. He is a brother-in-law after all.
Princess Jinyang stared at Yuan Chun, put down the tea cup in her hand, and asked: "Your jade-bearing
My younger brother, didn’t he take the exam in March?”
Yuanchun whispered: "He has been naughty since childhood, and he didn't go to school this time."
After all, he is his younger brother who he has watched grow up, and talking about it now makes him feel quite sad.
The eldest princess of Jinyang comforted him: "If he likes to read, let him study hard. If he doesn't like to read, there is no need to force him. As long as his nature is not bad and he lives a safe and smooth life, there is nothing wrong with him."
Regarding Yuanchun's call for Baoyu, this beauty had heard some rumors. She was born with a jade in her mouth. She was famous for her miraculous qualities, but she didn't like to read.
Yuanchun pursed her lips and said softly: "Your Highness is right."
A few people were talking, and suddenly a nun came in from outside and reported back: "Your Highness, Uncle Yongning is here."
Everyone was overjoyed, and most of them had happy faces.
Jia Heng had previously personally dealt with Jia You and his son, the twelfth-room Jia family in Jinling, in Huai'an Mansion. Then he came to Xuzhou on a fast horse under the retinue of the Jinyi Mansion Guards.
Under the guidance of the female officer, Jia Heng came to the backyard and entered the flower hall. What he saw was a crowd of orioles and swallows, each with a beautiful smile that made people feel happy.
"Brother Heng" Xiang Yun ran over quickly and rushed into Jia Heng's arms like a butterfly.
Jia Heng could only open his arms, hug Xiang Yun, and joked with a smile: "Sister Yun, you are so old, why are you still like a child?"
Xiangyun has really grown up, and the jade unicorns in his clothes are frightening.
"Sister Yun, no matter how old you are, you don't have to be shy." Tanchun smiled at the side and said jokingly, with complicated thoughts.
She also wanted to throw herself into Brother Heng's arms like Sister Yun did.
"Brother Heng, I miss you. Why did you come back?" Xiangyun raised a round apple-shaped face as red as the clouds, and said in a clear voice with a sweet smile on his charming eyebrows.
Others looked at Xiang Yun and Jia Heng talking with envy.
Jia Heng took Xiang Yun's hand and said with a smile: "I heard you guys are coming, come and take a look."
After saying that, he raised his eyes to look at Yuanchun and said, "How are you doing these days, eldest sister?"
"Brother Heng, everything is fine." Yuanchun's eyes were as clear as water and charming. He looked at the young man whose face was getting more and more straight, and called softly.
Jia Heng nodded, and then looked at Tanchun aside. It was summer, and the girl who was approaching her cardamom years had changed into an indigo, moon and white printed cross-collar long coat, and a white pleated skirt. She looked a little more mature than before.
Mature and quiet.
Well, the little girl's temperament has been diluted a lot.
Could this look be influenced by Xianning?
Jia Heng thought about it, and when he met a pair of bright and radiant eyes, which seemed to contain some incomprehensible meaning, he smiled and called out: "Third sister."
Tanchun called "Brother Heng" coquettishly, her beautiful eyebrows curved and her bright eyes glowing.
On the other side, Li Chanyue looked at the young man. Under his gloomy and beautiful eyebrows, it suddenly seemed like the hazy mist and rain clinging to the courtyard. He squeezed the handkerchief in his hand.
Mr. Xiao Jia didn't pay much attention to her, and her mother even said that she and Mr. Xiao Jia would be together in the future.
Just at this moment, Jia Heng cast his gentle gaze over and nodded to the little princess, who quickly looked away.
Jia Heng met several people and sat down in the house. The female official served him tea. The eldest princess of Jinyang asked: "Zi Yu, how is the situation over there in Huai'an Mansion?"
"The danger has stabilized. Now the price of rice has risen, and the people are suffering a lot. Also, the two places have been severely affected by disasters. You should have seen it in Xuzhou. People in Suining fled to Pizhou and Xuzhou in large numbers. In these floods, several
Thousands of people died unexpectedly, and more than 20,000 people were left homeless." Jia Heng mentioned this matter with a gloomy face and a low tone.
The eldest princess of Jinyang sighed softly and said: "You have tried your best. You were responsible for cleaning up the mess left by Gao Bin when you supervised the river platform. Although there were two executions on the embankment, luckily there were no casualties among the people.
.”
Jia Heng was originally ordered to be in danger and was sent by the imperial court to the river yamen to put out the fire. After all, the river embankment was not built by Jia Heng. The river embankments built by Jia Heng did not result in any executions.
Comparing the two phases
It can be said that the image of a capable minister and capable official is shown to everyone.
In other words, Jia Heng already got a perfect score in this performance, but he was still upset that the steps for answering the last big question could not be simplified.
Jia Heng sighed: "I only lament that the floods are ruthless and the livelihood of the people is very difficult. Speaking of which, this disaster is divided into three parts natural disasters and seven parts man-made disasters."
Princess Xianning's eyes flickered and she said in a clear voice: "Sir, after this flood, the river affairs should be reorganized, right? Sir, do you still want to stay in Nanhe?"
Jia Heng said: "I'll go back to Beijing first this time. I've been away from the capital camp for too long, and I miss my soldiers very much. When I go back, I'll pursue those who deserve meritorious service, rewards and rewards, and those who deserve pension."
In this flood fighting and rescue operation, the Beijing camp showed the attributes of a strong army and enforced orders and prohibitions, while Jia Heng almost shared the joys and sorrows with the soldiers on the river embankment.
Princess Jinyang asked with concern: "Where is the officialdom in Liangjiang?"
As soon as he said this, several other eyes turned to the young man.
Jia Heng said: "It's mainly the dignitaries of Jinling City who are facing a national crisis and still don't understand the general situation. I have already made arrangements."
The eldest princess of Jinyang said: "That's good. This time the food has been shipped to us with 500,000 dan. I think it should be able to last for a while. I hope it stops raining soon."
"Of these 500,000 shi, I will ship 200,000 shi to Huai'an Prefecture to stabilize the price. This amount of grain is considered. The other amount is borrowed from Henan by the Jiangzuo clan." Jia Heng said: "There is not much food left, so we can use it.
Do post-disaster reconstruction.”
Because the two vassal princes owed Henan grain taxes, the grain in Taicang was the grain reserve of the Henan vassal.
But that's not necessarily the case, if it weren't for Jia Heng, the powerful and tough Yongningbo governor of Henan's military and political affairs, he would have been "coordinated" by the central household department for no reason.
However, after all, it is the people's support for the people of the Central Plains. Except for the previous one million stone grains and rice delivered to Shenjing, which can be regarded as compensation for exempting some counties in Henan Province from money and grain over the years, otherwise, a province's millions of stone grains will not be paid to the central government. How much will it cost?
Seems ignorant.
Is it really just an independent regiment that built a cavalry battalion?
Princess Jinyang's eyes flashed and she said: "As long as you have an idea, there is a gold mine in Henan. Now Beijing has been saying that the imperial court and the Ministry of Works should be in charge of the excavation, and that the Ministry of Internal Affairs is in charge.
The gold and silver mines were profitable, and he also said that the Ministry of Internal Affairs was corrupt, and cited the example of King Zhongshun, and also said that I am a woman who is involved in politics?"
Jia Heng narrowed his eyes and said, "Who holds this opinion?" Princess Jinyang said softly: "Forget it. It's not worth mentioning."
I just regretted saying this to him in front of the children. Well, something was wrong?
Jia Heng said: "It doesn't matter, I'll learn how to teach."
With his current status, as long as he denounces the corruption and incompetence of the household department in river engineering, military pay and other matters in his memorial, and yes, there are also the previous incidents of Nanjing officials reselling official grain. Each of these people will be counted.
It's not directed at anyone, it's all rubbish.
If it were him, he could endure his anger for a while, but if these people want to attack the system of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, they are digging up the foundation of the Chen-Han State.
Half of the military pay is coordinated by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs was behind the emergency repair work this time.
Tanchun watched from the side, his bright eyes flashing, and for some reason, he felt something unusual.
Seeing that the atmosphere was a bit serious, Yuan Chun chuckled and said, "Brother Heng, you have been running all the way here, and you must be tired from pommeling and horse work. Why don't you take a shower and change clothes, and let's have dinner together later."
Jia Heng nodded and said in a clear voice: "Yeah, that's fine."
With that said, under the guidance of the female officer, he went to a side room in the courtyard.
Just as he was about to take off his python suit, he suddenly heard a series of light footsteps coming from behind him.
Jia Heng went back to take a look, and saw the eldest princess of Jinyang, dressed in gorgeous palace clothes and with pink hair and pink hair, walking towards her, holding a pile of clothes in her hand, and said with a sweet smile: "Come here to help you bathe."
"Li'er." Jia Heng called softly, and hugged the beauty. He found the two peach blossoms, picked off the branches and smelled the pistils, and was overwhelmed by the longing for these days.
"Ziyu." Princess Jinyang said in a trembling voice, pressing
He grabbed Jia Heng's shoulder and gently pushed Jia Heng away who was eating snow. With a doting look in his beautiful eyes, he said shyly and angrily: "I want to talk to you about business."
Jia Heng's eyes were suppressed and hot, his breath was a little heavy, and he whispered: "I miss you."
The eldest princess of Jinyang listened to the young man's gentle words and love words. Her soft and delicate body suddenly became as soft as water, her eyes were wandering, and she almost whispered: "I miss you too."
Jia Heng chuckled and said, "How about we wash together?"
"I haven't prepared any clothes yet, please tell Lianxue." Princess Jinyang said softly.
The two of them are considered an old couple, so there is nothing shy about bathing together.
Jia Heng waited for Jin Yang to turn around and go away to give instructions to Ling Xue, then took off his clothes, got into the tub and started taking a bath.
"Did you just say Shang Shu?" Princess Jinyang asked softly, reaching for the clothes on her body. Not long after, her glazed jade feet stepped on the bamboo steps, and with the sound of "clatter", her exquisite and graceful body entered the bath.
Bucket, the waxing moon entered the water, and the warm water in the bathtub overflowed the two sea bowls.
Jia Heng immediately hugged the beautiful woman, piled up a snowman, and said in a clear voice: "It can be said that since leaving the capital, I have witnessed the strange current situation, from the corruption of officials in Henan, to corruption, to the corruption in Hetai, and to the people coming from Jinling.
Regardless of the overall interests of the imperial court, they drive up food prices."
If he does not occupy the high ground of public opinion, others will.
"Would you offend too many people by doing this?" The beauty's jade cheeks were slightly red, she snorted with a greasy nose, pursed her pink lips, and said softly.
This man always liked to talk to her conscience.
You can feel the young man's love and even obsession with him, and his heart is filled with sweetness.
To put it bluntly, if Jia Heng really stopped building snowmen, the beauty would be worried about whether she was getting old and losing her beauty. She would be dejected.
Jia Heng said warmly: "If it were someone else, there might be a risk of a group attack. If it were me who went up to the top to expose the long-standing shortcomings and return with a great reputation, it would cause a shock to the central nervous system. I have rectified a lot of chaos, but only
Even if the Liangjiang officialdom cannot go all out, it still needs to knock the mountain to shake the tiger."
He tolerates the complicated officialdom of Liangjiang and does not go on a killing spree, but that does not mean he does nothing. If he keeps silent and avoids the chaos in the officialdom of Liangjiang, this is not called forbearance, it is called weakness!
First, we need to gather public consensus. These people are seriously ill and need serious rectification.
While making them jealous, it also united a group of knowledgeable people from the northern scholars and southern scholars. This was called winning over the centrists.
For example, young people.
There is no class that betrays the class, but there are individuals that betray the class.
There are always some scholars who were born among the gentry in the south and came from small and medium-sized landowners. After material satisfaction, they began to pursue self-realization. These people have different ideas from the old guys. They prefer grand narratives and sympathize with the people at the bottom.
In the history books, such things happened one after another. Prime ministers who came from big landowners shouted to restrict land annexation and restrain the powerful nobles.
Because once an individual with undiminished ideals reaches that position and is expected by everyone, he can really have a lofty sense of historical mission that transcends the limitations of class, because what he pursues is to establish immortal achievements in the vast river of history!
Life only lasts a few decades.
The eldest princess of Jinyang showed a worried look on her face and said softly: "Ziyu, is it too early now?"
According to what Jia Heng and Li Ren revealed, they should do this after Beibianer won a big victory.
Jia Heng said warmly: "You don't use your words, but put people on the grill first. This is not serious yet, it's just lip service. This can also cooperate with the emperor's brother to suppress the southern nobles."
This political tacit understanding was his political consciousness as his status increased. Once the Qi Party became weak, he must use his political role as a noble and a relative to shoulder the heavy responsibility of suppressing the southern gentry and carry up the banner that the Qi Party had carried before.
It's almost impossible to hide someone so big.
"Call my brother again. When Xianning comes back, I might as well change your name to father." The beauty's face became brighter and brighter, and she gave Jia Heng a scolding look. The enchanting look between her eyebrows was almost shocking.
soul.
Jia Heng chuckled and said, "Then what shall I call you in the future?"
After saying that, Fu Er called out in a low voice and gently leaned close to the beauty's delicate body.
The eldest princess of Jinyang's heart skipped a beat. She felt something strange that she couldn't describe. Her jade turned crimson and she said in a disgusting voice, "What are you shouting about? Huh?"
Under the beautiful eyebrows, his eyes were condensed, and he let out a soft hum, and said angrily: "You"
Jia Heng blew hot air into the beauty's ear and whispered: "It misses you, Li'er." Jinyang: "???"
But without thinking, he already knew what Jia Heng meant, and welcomed the lonely boat drifting outside into the warm harbor.
The beauty's face was slightly red, and she held up the edge of the bathtub with both hands. The gold hairpin and beads in the bun were swaying slightly. There was silence in the side room, except for the sound of gurgling water in the bathtub.
The wind and rain clinging to the courtyard outside the window seemed to be getting more intense.