Red House Shoufu

Chapter 342 Benevolent Donation Moves the Capital to Welcome Spring

Lin Shu was both angry and amused by the deadly behavior of the eight Jin merchants. Is it true that the court has nothing to do with them?

For the sake of the overall situation, the emperor may hold back the unhappiness in his heart and let them enjoy themselves for a while, but the Supreme Emperor will never be insulted like this. It is estimated that after the list of donations is sent to the Dragon Head Palace, there will be another bloody storm.

Seeing that Lin Shu's face was a bit ugly, the scribe asked cautiously, "My lord, why don't you ask the villain to ask them to donate 150,000 taels too?"

Lin Shu chuckled, continued to lean on the chair and closed his eyes and said, "What are you asking? The Datong Bank donated a huge amount of money to the country, a total of 5000 taels of silver. Is this official going to force donations? Keep reading!"

The voice of the clerk sounded again in the guard room: "Yupinzhai in Wanping County donated 10,000 taels of silver; Weiji Cloth Bank in Wanping County donated 800 taels of silver..."

The scribe was a little hoarse when he finished reading, so the handy accountant stood up and reported: "My lord, until noon today, I have received a total of 250 taels of silver in donations and 130,000 four thousand shi of grain. , [-] pieces of cloth, various medicinal materials..."

Lin Shu took the booklet from Mr. Accountant's hand and looked at it, thought silently for a while, nodded and ordered: "Make eight copies of the list of donations, and post them at the entrance of the imperial city, the Shuntian government office, the east and west cities, and the east, west, north and south. Four gates. Remember, send it together with the brochure to the Ministry of Households for Mr. Wen to look at, and stamp the seal of the Ministry of Households."

Everyone in the room on duty stood up and bowed down: "Your official (little man) obey!"

The clansmen and nobles in the capital, civil and military officials, and major chambers of commerce donated money, food, and cloth to help the court manage the Yellow River. This is something that the common people are extremely concerned about. The amount of money donated is clearly marked at the back of the list.

The eight imperial lists were posted in different places, and scholars, farmers, businessmen, and businessmen crowded forward curiously, and those who could not read or write surrounded the scholars, listening to them read the words on them.

Lin Feng was drinking with his friends in Fangshi when he suddenly heard the sound of gongs resounding throughout Fangshi. When he ran out, he saw a group of people gathered around the gate of Fangshi.

Some illiterate people were eager to find out the content on the imperial list so that they could go back and gossip first-hand with others. When they saw Lin Feng and others in Confucian uniforms coming, they immediately moved away from the frontmost seats.

"Masters, can you read the contents of the imperial list to the little old man?"

"Yes, yes, we are all peasants who can't read a single word, we can't understand..."

Lin Feng and others readily agreed, and everyone pushed Lin Feng to read: "The list of people with lofty ideals in Chu who donated to the court to control the flood of the Yellow River, His Majesty the Supreme Emperor granted 5 million taels of silver; 100,000 taels of silver from Prince Jing's Mansion; 100,000 taels; 80,000 taels of silver in Lanling Grand Princess Mansion... 500,000 taels of silver in Prince Zhongshun's mansion... 100,000 taels of silver and [-] stones of grain in Xue's family of Imperial Shang Jinling..."

The Supreme Emperor has been in power for more than [-] years, and the common people have lived a stable life for more than [-] years by calming internal and external troubles, persuading farming and mulberry, encouraging business, and rectifying lawlessness.

Even though there were still incidents of unscrupulous dignitaries oppressing the people, and the rebellion of the former prince in the last years of Longsheng, the common people still thought that those things were caused by treacherous and misleading their kings, and their respect for the Supreme Emperor remained undiminished.

Now it is heard that the Supreme Emperor emptied his private treasury and took out 5 million taels of silver to control the flood of the Yellow River, and the voice of long live keeps coming and going.

The silver taels donated by the nobles and relatives that Lin Feng talked about later would have definitely become something that the common people talked about in the past, but in front of the heroic deeds of the Supreme Emperor, it lost its color in an instant like a shining fire against Haoyue's light.

"Huitong Bank 150,000 taels of silver, Ping An Bank 150,000 taels of silver, Datong Bank 5000 taels..."

Ok?
Not to mention the common people, even Lin Feng frowned and stopped after reading this. He thought he had read it wrong, so he read it again carefully.

"My lord, have you mispronounced?"

No one in the capital of the three major banks knew about it. Logically, since Huitong and Pingan donated 150,000 taels of silver, Datong Bank would naturally not be less than 5000.But what Lin Feng just read was indeed [-] taels of silver, which made people a little puzzling.

After repeated confirmation, Lin Feng said solemnly: "It's 5000 taels, that's right, it's also stamped with the big seals of the Ministry of Households and the Ministry of Industry."

"I really didn't expect that the three major banks in the capital would be so stingy!"

"Brother Xian, I don't know, this Datong Bank has always been in and out, and the stone slab in front of the door is broken, and I don't bother to ask someone to change it..."

"A few days ago, Sanye Fan just spent 5000 taels to buy an oiran back home. It is estimated that all his money was spent on women."

"That's true. Fan Sanye has been in the capital for less than three years, and the oiran has bought a lot. As for the flood in the Yellow River, I guess people think it has nothing to do with me. It's the best of humanity to pay 5000 taels..."

"I heard that the Datong Bank secretly released usury money. Mr. Hu from Nancheng was arrested because his wife and daughter didn't pay the loan usury. The father and son were beaten to death."

"Don't talk nonsense, this is a serious crime to steal your home..."

"Hey, everyone Hu has no connections, Datong Bank randomly found a dying person to pay for the crime..."

This is the case in Dongshi, and there are naturally discussions in other places.

When the common people were grateful for the wisdom of the Supreme Emperor, they repeatedly flogged the Datong Bank and the eight Shanxi merchants behind it.In particular, Fan Chengbing, the third son of the Fan family who presided over the Jincheng Chamber of Commerce, directly became the main person who was despised by the common people.

The Supreme Emperor of Longshou Palace naturally knew about this, and angrily summoned Zhang Siwei, who was still in the capital, into the palace, and reprimanded him all over his face.

As the most closely related official of the Shanxi Merchants, Zhang Siwei could only bear the anger of the Supreme Emperor silently, and his contempt and anger towards the Eight Great Families and Fan Chengbing almost reached their peak.

"I'll say it again, if the Datong Bank doesn't pay out 1 million taels of silver, it will just wait for the family to be confiscated and wiped out!"

Zhang Siwei, who was innocent and troubled, left the palace with a dark face, and rushed all the way to the Fan family's mansion in the west of the city. After conveying the emperor's will, he left in a huff.

Back home, Zhang Siwei murmured to himself: "Shuzi can't conspire with him, so he won't deceive me!"

He wrote a letter overnight to send his confidants back to his hometown in Shanxi, and at the same time he was preparing to complete the layout of the capital as soon as possible.If you can't just stay here, you'd better be your chief envoy when you return to your post.

……

On May [-]th, the Ministry of Rites obeyed the order of the Ersheng, and presented plaques of "House of Righteous Merchant" and "House of Benevolence" to merchants and common people who donated silver taels.The Shuntian government office personally sent people to beat gongs and drums to deliver the plaques to each house one by one, and the sound of firecrackers resounded throughout the capital.

Because Huitong Bank and Ping An Bank had no bad records, they were allowed to open branches across the country by the Ministry of Household Affairs. Of course, they had to cooperate with the Ministry of Household Affairs. This was Lin Shu's proposal.

In contrast, the Datong Bank is much worse, not to mention giving the plaque, this society is busy raising money, and it doesn't care about these at all.Moreover, Shuntian Mansion received a report, and the previous big case of beating Hu was revealed again, and Yu Shi had already set his sights on Fan Chengbing, the youngest of the Fan family.

When Shuntian Mansion was preparing to investigate the case, it received an order from Longshou Palace to suppress all cases related to the Datong Bank first, and judge when the palace has an order.

Tang Youyi, Yin of Shuntian Mansion, is also a person with a clear mind. After a little thought, he knew that the Supreme Emperor was very angry at Datong Qianzhuang, and he was ready to vent his anger.

"It seems that after the Datong Bank's money ran out, the sages let the Shuntian Mansion take action. I don't know what will happen to the eight families, but Fan Chengbing can prepare a coffin for himself."

Jia She was so happy to watch the fun, drank some wine, listened to a little song, happily chatted with Jia Jing, Jia Zheng, Jia Lian and Lin Shu about the court affairs.

Tomorrow Yingchun will get married, and Lin Shu will be pulled over by Jia Lian after he is off duty.

However, Jia Zheng disapproved of the Supreme Emperor's actions, he frowned and said, "A gentleman makes money in a proper way..."

"Second Uncle, I don't know how much of the silver in the Datong Bank has been stained with blood. By doing what the saint does, it can be regarded as taking from the people and using it for the people."

Lin Shu said: "The business tax of the country is extremely low. It is common for the Datong bank to go out and return thirteen times. What is even more heinous is the usury. The Huda case is just an extremely common thing among the crimes committed by the Datong bank. I'm afraid that after Shuntian Mansion's investigation, more crimes will be exposed to the world."

Jia Zheng naturally understood that what Lin Shu said was right. The Datong Bank was able to rank among the top three banks in the capital in just three years, and it must have done something illegal behind the scenes.

"It's okay for a saint to do this. My cousin has just been ordered to preside over the great cause of river governance, and Fan Laosan took 5000 taels to disgust people. This is clearly not giving us face. Today's fruit has its own cause the day before, which is He Datong Qianzhuang and Fan Laosan should bear the karma."

Jia Lian poured a glass of wine for each of them: "To Uncle, Father, and Second Uncle, let's not talk about such disturbing things. Tomorrow, when the second sister gets married, let's discuss the process again and see if there is anything wrong. Omissions."

Hearing Jia Lian's proposal, Jia Zheng also thought of the children who had not made a marriage contract, and said happily: "Lian'er is right, the children's marriage is important...Brother, I just wanted to say, isn't the empress still alive?" At home, take advantage of this opportunity, let the third and fourth girls see each other tomorrow..."

……

At the suggestion of Yuan Chun, the Provincial Family Hospital was finally renamed "Yuci Grand View Garden". Daiyu and other sisters have lived in it with Yuan Chun for three days.

After Yuan Chun entered the palace, he had never been so relaxed.For the past three days, I have been enjoying the scenery and painting with my younger sisters every day, reciting poems and writing lyrics.

It's a pity that Yingchun will be married to Wang's family tomorrow in a bridal sedan chair, and the sisters are chatting about their reluctance around Yingchun.

Yuan Chun stuffed a delicate box to Ying Chun, and said: "This is a 10,000 taels silver note, which is considered as the box money that my sister gave you..."

"Big sister, I can't have this..."

Yingchun naturally reasoned that according to Yuanchun's gift, the palace would cost more money, and Yuanchun had already given her a set of precious hairpin jewelry, and she felt that elder sister Yuanchun needed the 10,000 taels of silver more.

Yuan Chun forced the box into Yingchun's arms, and said solemnly: "Listen to me! The Wang family's Shili family, the family wealth naturally does not need our family. In the future, the second brother-in-law will definitely go to Beijing to work, and there will inevitably be money shortages. .Remember, from now on, you have to take charge of the inner house for your second brother-in-law, and you must not let him have worries about the future, and you must not let him be contaminated with corruption because of money..."

Yuan Chun Yinyin taught Yingchun how to deal with official affairs, and even directly stated that as long as Yingchun manages the Wang family business well and Wang Huan is not worried about money shortage, Yingchun will be able to sit firmly in the royal family and control the power of the Wang family.

Of course, Yuan Chun didn't just say these words to Ying Chun, but also taught the remaining sisters.She strictly abides by the ancestral system and never interferes in politics, but she has also heard a lot about the ministers of the former court from the emperor.

"Big sister is right. The wife of Yan Linghui, the former county magistrate of Qiantang County, took other people's property without authorization because of the lack of money in the family. As a result, her husband had to do something against the law of the country and was exiled to Qiongzhou."

Daiyu sighed and said: "Although brother Huan has a noble character, there are times when people have to deal with it. Second sister should accept it. This is the silver box I gave to second sister."

Although Daiyu was not short of silver, she couldn't get past the elder sister Yuanchun, so she took 5000 taels of silver notes and put them on the kang table in front of Yingchun.

"This is the money I've saved over the years, Second Sister, don't think it's too little."

"And my..."

……

Tanchun, Xichun, Xiangyun and Baochai sent their hearts one after another, either silver notes or scattered gold and silver beans, which made Yingchun's eyes sour under the candlelight.

Tears fell down, and Yingchun was so choked up that she couldn't speak.Yuan Chun picked up a handkerchief and wiped her tears, and comforted her softly: "Silly girl, you don't dare to cry, your eyes are swollen from crying, and you won't be able to do makeup tomorrow. You want to be a beautiful bride, so that your second brother-in-law can't move." Just open your eyes..."

"Why are you crying now..."

Wang Xifeng always arrives before anyone arrives, and as soon as the voice finished speaking, Wang Xifeng walked in holding a box.

She saw the silver bills and gold and silver beans on the kang table and smiled heartily, and opened the box in her hand. Inside was a stack of silver bills, large and small, and several gold ingots with dragon and phoenix printed on it. Made things.

"You actually let us take the lead!"

Wang Xifeng put the box on the table and said: "This is what the second master asked me to give you as silver for the box. The 5000 taels silver note, the gold ingot was rewarded by His Majesty in the past few years, and there is no silver to go to my in-law's house when I get married. Body can't do it."

She turned around and pinched the faces of Tanchun and the others and joked: "Your second brother said that when you get married, he will also prepare a box of money for you. The daughter of our Jia family must not be looked down upon."

Just as Wang Xifeng finished speaking, Li Wan's voice came from the door again. She also walked in with a small wooden box in her arms, looked at the box of gold and silver on the kang table, and smiled knowingly with Wang Xifeng.

There may have been disputes when we were together, but the relationship over the years has naturally been very strong.Li Wan put a box of gold, silver and silver bills on the table. Judging from the appearance of the gold and silver ingots, they were all gifts from the elders during the New Year's festival.Small wooden boxes were filled with gold and silver, large and small, and the value was no less than 1000 taels of silver.

The time for talking, laughing, crying and making noise soon came to the branches of the moon, and the family members of the Jia family, including Jia Xing and Jia You, all sent more or less pressed boxes of silver.

After the crowd dispersed, Yingchun knelt in front of the tablet in the inner hall, crying and laughing for a while.She whispered: "Mother, my daughter is getting married, and he treats her very well..."

Jia She, who had just walked to the door outside the house, stopped, listening to the voices inside, wondering if he should interrupt his daughter's confession to her biological mother at this time.

Yingchun's personal maid, Siqi, came over with a basin of warm water. After seeing the elder Jia She at the door, she just wanted to speak but was stopped by Jia She.

Jia She sighed softly, and handed a stack of banknotes to Siqi: "Give these banknotes to the second girl, let her go to bed early, she still has work tomorrow."

Siqi was still in a daze and didn't react, the door creaked open, and Yingchun came out with red eyes: "My daughter is getting married tomorrow, isn't father even willing to say a word of affection?"

(End of this chapter)