Xian Sun of the Ning Mansion of the Red Chamber

Chapter 285 Someone is a thief
Shanhaiguan.

"Second Master, why are we in the pass? Let the young ones choose. The area outside the pass is sparsely populated. It is near the Shanhaiguan Pass. All the troops are gathered in the pass. The outside of the pass is the best place to start."

Close to Shanhaiguan, in a sparsely populated village, Jia Ying and his party who turned into merchants rested here. Xi'er said to Jia Ying while packing the bags.

The third child on the side also came over and interjected: "Second master, this subordinate also thinks that what Xi'er said is reasonable, there are many barbarians outside the pass, so it's just right for you to pretend to be a barbarian and pour dirty water over there. Found the trace."

Jia Ying didn't speak, but looked into the distance and waited for something.

Lin Ruhai's trip to Beijing this time is bound to be uneventful. The letter he sent to him last time did not have such meaning. Although he said in the letter that arrangements had been made, Jia Ying was not at ease. Let Lin Ruhai get out of this matter.

"Let's just wait here, find a few families, and free up a few houses."

Jia Ying gave instructions to Xi'er and the others.

It is important to meet Lin Ruhai, but if you want to go to Liaodong, you must pass through the Shanhaiguan Pass. There are so many people, it is inevitable that their whereabouts will not be exposed.

Furthermore, if someone really wanted Lin Ruhai to be unable to return to Beijing, and would not do anything in Liaodong, wouldn't that tell the court clearly that there was a problem in Liaodong, and I would even dare to assassinate the imperial envoy.

The result of killing civil officials without authorization is that the imperial court will continue to send more civil officials there until the generals are killed.

On the contrary, it is in Shanhaiguan, which is not within the scope of Liaodong, and there are also Hu people, so this is the best place to ambush.

Of course, Jia Ying admitted that there was an element of gambling here, and that Lin Ruhai's arrangement would allow her to enter the customs smoothly.

And while Jia Ying was no longer in the capital, the trial of Zhou Mo's case finally came to a conclusion.

Yang Bi submitted the results of the trial, as well as the confessions of Zhou Mo and related people, in detail. Just as Jia Ying said, what is most important to him now is the Sacred Heart, not for a city. The gains and losses of a place are compared with Yang Yi's pennies.

Knowing the news that Yang Bi entered the palace with the confession, Yang Yi couldn't sit still anymore, so she found an excuse at random and hurriedly followed in.

In the Huagai Hall, Jiade sits on the imperial couch, and on the two sides below are Yang Bi, Guo Si, Minister of the Ministry of Punishment, He Bida, Zuoqian Du Yushi of the Inspectorate, Qin Zhou, Youqing of Dali Temple, and Yang Yi and Fu Donglai on the right .

Jiade looked at the dossier that Yang Bi and the third division had tried, with no expression of joy or anger on his face, and then handed the dossier to Fu Donglai, ordering Dai Quan.

"How do you think Fu Qing should deal with these people?"

"Returning to Your Majesty, the water transportation involves the national capital, so it should be dealt with according to the law and will not be tolerated." Fu Donglai's wrists have always been straight and fast, which is why Jiade ordered him to come.

"In this case, let's do it according to Fu Qing's wishes." From the beginning to the end, Jiade never asked Yang Yi's opinion, which made Yang Yi's complexion darker.

"Yang Bi and Yang Yi stay, everyone else can go."

In an instant, only father and son were left in the hall.

Jiade glanced at the two sons, and picked up a file from the table in front of him.

What Yang Bi submitted were two files, but just now, Jiade only showed Fu Donglai one of them, but this one was kept.

Jia De looked at Yang Bi and asked, "Why are the dossiers of the Water Transport Yamen displayed separately?"

"Returning to my father, my ministers often heard from the ministers in the court that water transport involves the country's foundation. Whether it is the court's finances, tax banks, household granaries, or tribute from various places, it is inseparable from water transport. When my son went south , Father Huang also taught his sons and ministers that after the customs are connected to the water transport, I will be able to improve my country's strength. But Zhou Mo's case, no matter what, I can't escape the water transport yamen."

"I secretly think that it is important to find out the truth and rectify the officialdom, but it is related to the national destiny, and we must ignore the overall situation. Everything can be prioritized. Right now, the canal is about to open. If you take the initiative to rectify the canal transportation, it will definitely make people lose their lives." The entire north-south traffic is interrupted, even if a minister is temporarily appointed, it will not take a short time to get familiar with the water transport decree, so that within the next year, the imperial court will lose the money and food supply of the entire south of the Yangtze River, and the loss outweighs the gain.”

After hearing this, Jiade neither affirmed nor denied, but asked indifferently: "Then how do you think this matter should be handled?"

Now that he had opened his mouth, Yang Bi simply put aside his inner concerns about gain and loss, and replied seriously: "Father is studying education, and my son dare not hide it. My son thinks that the corruption of water transportation is not caused by one official and one person. He wants to clean up the river. Strong medicine is needed, and there should be a strong man who has the perseverance to cut off the wrist and scrape the bone to cure the poison, but it should not be too hasty."

Jiade nodded slightly: "What specific strategy?"

Yang Bi replied: "First, appoint ministers to check the accounts of water transportation, and at the same time find a new candidate for the governor of water transportation. Second, my ministers think that the responsibility for water transportation can be divided by sea, so that they dare not take the lead, but have a heart of confidence. , two horses racing, is the long-term way.”

Jia Ying mentioned the suggestion of using sea transportation in the Shangshu, where he asked to play the opening of the sea, and the court had also discussed this matter.It's just that there were no conditions at the beginning, and the time was not ripe, so it was suppressed and not mentioned.

"Who should be sent to go?" Jiade asked again.

"My son doesn't know, so I ask my father to make a decision."

Jia De still looked calm, but nodded without showing any signs, but Yang Yi at the side saw it clearly. Today, Yang Bi showed all the limelight, which made him feel frustrated.

Only Jia De continued to say: "You did a good job on this errand, and you are getting older, and you no longer need the protection of my wings. It's time to work for me, to work hard, and to share the worries of the court."

"It's up to you to investigate the affairs of the water transport. I trust my son. As for the new candidate for the governor of the water transport, let's look for it first, don't worry."

Yang Bi suppressed the joy in his heart and said, "I obey the order."

"As for the matter of shipping, you first draw up a draft with the ministers of the cabinet, and it will be discussed by the court at a later date."

Seeing that the goal was achieved, Yang Bi was waiting to thank you, but Yang Yi suddenly stepped forward and said: "Father, my son has objections."

"Say." It was just a faint word, showing his dissatisfaction with Yang Yi.

"In ancient and modern tribute and grain taxes, water transportation is the basis. The reason behind this is that water transportation is more secure and safe, and the water in the canal is slow, so that water boats can flow unimpeded and are not easy to overturn. Strictly prevent Xiaoxiao, so that Yousi dare not dance up and down.

Although my son has never been out at sea, he also knows that the sea is rough and the waves are rough, and without reference, he will lose his way at every turn. The cost is so heavy and the profit is thin, and there are frequent bandits.Furthermore, water transport supports the people in the three provinces along the Dagan Canal, with a population of no less than one million. Once we switch to sea transport, these people's livelihoods will be cut off, and there will be troubles in their lives. Please think twice. "

Yang Yi was not reconciled to being only a foil this time, and he couldn't watch Yang Bi dig up the foundation of the Water Transport Yamen in one fell swoop.

Jia De looked at Yang Bi and asked, "What do you think?"

Of course, Yang Bi didn't want to see Yang Yi ruin his proposal, and immediately retorted: "I don't agree with the emperor's words. First, the safety and supervision of the offshore ships will not be affected. Second, sea transportation between the north and the south only takes half the time of water transportation, and can also save most of the cost of repairing waterways.
Thirdly, I just proposed that the responsibility of sea transportation be divided into water transportation, and it is not a complete replacement. The choice of water transportation or sea transportation depends on the situation, and it will not cause the people on both sides of the river to lose their livelihood.Furthermore, the opening of sea transportation can also prosper the coastal areas. If the people have their livelihoods, they will naturally not go to the sea to be pirates. If we stay here, it will be abandoned for a long time. If there are bandits, it will just test the strength of our Dagan navy. "

"Forgive me for not agreeing with the words of the emperor's brother"

Seeing the two sons arguing, Jiade felt quite irritable, but he still listened quietly for a while, and then said: "That's it, according to what was just decided, Yang Bi, you first draw up a draft, and then discuss it at the court meeting." .”

"Go back."

Outside the canopy hall.

The two brothers came out side by side, Yang Yi looked at Yang Bi, and said with a smirk: "Congratulations, Brother Huang, you have found a good servant."

Yang Bi smiled and said: "The emperor's words are wrong. Whether you or I or someone else, they are all courtiers of the father, and they are only dedicated to state affairs. Please don't mind the matter of Zhou Mo."

"How could it be?" Yang Yi had a resentful look on her face.

"Going out of the palace together?" Yang Bi made a gesture and asked.

"No, I haven't seen my mother for a long time, brother Huang, take your leave."

After all, he wanted to go to the harem. As a prince and the queen's son, he still had great convenience in the palace.But Yang Bi couldn't do it. If he wanted to see his mother and concubine, he had to wait until the day he entered the province. Thinking about it this way, Yang Yi felt better.

On the day the two entered the palace, outside the palace, the Procuratorate officially opened a trial for the case of the stone nerd, and ordered the defendants Jia Yucun and Jia She to be summoned to the court. The officer, the servant of the Inspectorate, did not dare to break into the Ministry of War to propose someone, but just sent a letter of invitation, and after being rejected, he left in embarrassment.

On Jia Amnesty's side, he didn't dare to close the door to the Procuratorate, but he didn't go there himself.

In a quiet and spacious hall, all the doors and windows were closed, the bed curtains in the hall swayed slightly, making rhythmic creaking sounds, Yinuo's whispering groans, and beast-like roars.

The gauze curtain was lifted by the breeze, and two figures could be faintly seen entangled.

a long time.

The woman's legs stretched straight.

After a while, I heard the rustling sound of kimono in the tent, followed by the lazy voice of a woman.

"You haven't come to see me for a few days. You finally came today, but you didn't even say a word of thoughtful words. You just tormented me like this. You scratched my arm like crazy."

The man laughed and said, "I miss you."

"Hey, try to coax me, someone must have made you unhappy again, and that's why he came to look for me."

The man didn't deny it, and said in his mouth: "Who else can it be, don't mention this, I should go."

At this time, the man had already put on his clothes and was about to walk under the bed. The woman grabbed his arm and said with a bitter voice, "It's hard to come here last time. You only stay for a while. When will you stop following me?" Like a thief."

The man who was wearing the boots suddenly paused, turned to look at the woman on the couch and said, "Believe me, there will be a day when you will only belong to me."

A team of dozens of people was rushing towards the pass in the face of the wind and snow. It was already February weather, and the outside of the pass was still full of silver clothes. The group looked tired, and half of them were injured.

Lin Ruhai was sitting in the carriage, frowning tightly, as if there was a knot that couldn't be resolved. Although he was close to Shanhaiguan, he didn't feel relaxed at all, and his worry was a little bit thicker.

Along the way, they received constant attacks. No, they were not so much attacks as harassment. The opponents had no intention of confronting them head-on. Take the lives of a few guards, until the Shanhai Pass, the number of guards accompanying them is less than half of the original number.

"My lord, we are about to pass the Shanhaiguan Pass. We will be safe after passing the pass. The old eighth brought back the news that the second master came to pick us up in person."

After Ma Tulu inspected the team, he drove to Lin Ruhai's carriage and said through the curtain.

"Don't stay, pass the customs as soon as possible." Lin Ruhai's voice came from inside the carriage.

A group of people rested in Shanhaiguan for a day. They did not dare to stay for a while, and did not allow soldiers from Guanzhong to escort them. They set off again and headed southwest.

In a village only 30 miles away from Shanhaiguan, Jia Ying and his party have been waiting here for two days.

"Second Master, Mr. Lin has already left Shanhaiguan, and he will be here in half a day."

When Jia Ying heard this, she said, "Let the caravan go, and tell the brothers to get ready."

"Yes."

The caravan that stayed here for two days left and left a lot of goods for the people in the village as a thank you, but there was no figure of Jia Yingxi'er in the caravan.

"My lord, there is a village in front of us. It is already noon now. You might as well take a break and start walking. Brothers are injured, so you can't go too fast." Ma Tulu remonstrated.

Lin Ruhai thought for a moment, nodded and said, "Okay, then go to the village ahead to rest."

Five or six miles away from the team, there is another group of people walking along the route that Lin Ruhai and others walked, taking it easy.

"Boss, the other party has stopped. It looks like they are going to rest in Shimenzhai."

"Shimenzhai? How many families are there?"

"Less than a hundred households."

"That's it. If the notice goes on, we will do it in Shimenzhai. There will be no living things in the village."

"Boss, the people there."

"Idiot, we are robbers now, we are robbing the common people, let's do it."

A group of people rode their horses to kill Shimenzhai, at the same time a loud arrow flew up, and a large number of people and horses rushed out from the dense forest on both sides of the official road, and followed them.

(End of this chapter)