serious man in the red chamber

Chapter 131

On the morning of the 24th day of the twelfth lunar month in the second year of Jianwu, there was heavy snow.

"Cough cough!"

Jia Hu: "What's the matter? Do you want to call Doctor Wang to take a look?"

"Second Master, stretch out your hand."

Hu Po carried a round-neck cotton gown to Jia Hu's back and put it on for him, went around to the front to button him, and said, "It doesn't matter if you catch a little wind. I asked Mrs. Lin to prepare a Tang Pozi, and I put it on." In the carriage, Second Master, don't forget."

Jia Hu smiled, and reached out to touch her forehead again, "It's so cold, you should lie on the bed and sleep again. I guess I won't be back until the afternoon."

Hu Po smiled: "Yes." She walked to the side of the bed and opened the cabinet, took out a jade belt from inside, and fastened it for Jia Hu.

Today is the day of Princess Beijing's funeral. As the head of the Jia family, Jia Hu must go to the funeral in person, and also set up a sacrificial shed by the roadside to set up a road memorial service.

Like Jia's, Beijing Prince's Mansion also has a family temple outside the city. Tonight, the coffin will stay in the family temple for sojourn. Tomorrow, before dawn, Shui Rong will help the coffin to go south, first by land to Tianjin, and then by sea to Jinling.

Yesterday, Shui Rong quietly ordered someone to send Jia Hu some information about Eunuch Zhao, the supervising army, and Jia Hu suddenly realized, no wonder the person in charge of criminal punishment arranged so many people in Wanping.

"clang!"

"clang!"

"."

Suddenly, a bell sounded from the direction of the imperial city, followed by another bell. The bell echoed in the sky over the entire capital.

Jia Hu was startled, how could the Jingyang bell ring?
The Jingyang bell rang, which meant that there was an extremely urgent matter, and all civil and military officials in the capital needed to put down their affairs immediately and rush to the palace.

One, two, and three beeps are good enough to stop when the number is six or nine, and if it is knocked down again, it means a dead person, and if the number is nine or nine, it means that the emperor is dead.

When he came back to his senses, Jia Hu said to Hu Po, "Quickly, change into my court clothes."

Amber had carefully taken out Jia Hu's bullfighting suit from the closet, thought for a while, and said, "It's freezing outside, so just put it on."

"Row."

Jia Hu didn't hesitate. Anyway, no one took off his clothes to see what he was wearing.

"Wear thicker."

Hu Po found another leather cloak, put it on Jia Hu, and put the hat over her head.

Jia Hu: "Go on to sleep." After speaking, he strode out.

The West Corner Gate of Ningguo Mansion opens
Jia Hu rode a horse and ran towards the imperial city against the wind and snow under the guard of more than [-] cavalry.

Imperial City
There was a lot of snow, and there were many people in the square of Fengtian Temple. Officials above the fifth rank of the capital all came, and they lined up densely in the heavy snow, waiting to enter the hall.

With a pair of envious eyes, Jia Hu, who was dressed in a bullfight suit, walked quickly to the main hall.

Rules are for restraining the weak, and senior officials like Jia Hu don't have to follow the rules.

Inside the Fengtian Hall, the cabinet ministers, officials from various ministries, and clan princes were already standing there.

As soon as Jia Hu came in, Liu Fang and Niu Jizong came to meet him.

Jia Hu glanced around calmly, and asked in a low voice, "What happened?"

Liu Fang's expression became serious: "Last night in Wenyuan Pavilion, the old man of Yang Pavilion was on duty at night, so I didn't receive any urgent report."

Niu Jizong's face also became solemn: "There is no urgent delivery from the Ministry of War either."

Jia Hu: "Did something happen in the palace?!"

Niu Jizong nodded.

Jia Hu hesitated for a moment, then asked in a low voice, "Could it be the Dragon Head Palace?"

Liu Fang pondered for a moment, and then said: "There is a saying that I have never told you. The Taishanghuang's body is getting worse day by day, and now he is obsessed with pills. Because of the matter of King Zhongshun, the Taishanghuang became angry."

Jia Hu rolled his eyes: "Your Majesty has the power, so the imperial court's dead game will be revived!"

Liu Fang and Niu Jizong looked at each other and stopped talking.

While speaking, Fengtian Hall was full of officials, and all the ministers gathered to discuss privately, chattering, and the hall suddenly exploded.

Li Shouzhong, the censor of the left deputy capital, stood up, glanced at the officials, and said loudly, "Be quiet!"

The hall quickly fell silent.

At this moment, Dai Quan, the chief eunuch of the Qianqing Palace, walked in holding an imperial decree in both hands, stopped at the steps of His Majesty, turned around, glanced at the officials, and said loudly: "Today's grand court will be dedicated to the Supreme Emperor." will."

There was a slight commotion in the hall immediately.

With a clear and loud sound of the whip, the entire hall fell silent.

Dai Quan cleared his throat, and then said: "The Supreme Emperor has an order, and all the ministers kneel to accept it!"

In unison, all the officials in the hall knelt down.

Dai Quan announced the decree: "Since I came to the throne, I have followed the rules and regulations, and employed people to administer. I can't follow the example of Taizu and Taizong Molie. Daring to neglect the wasteland is only a warning from heaven, and when I heard it, I spit, nourished and tied up my hair, heartbroken, and wished I could replace it with my own body. If there are any deficiencies in political affairs, it is my fault, not the emperor's fault."

Immediately there was commotion in the hall again.

"."

Jia Hu frowned, although he didn't understand much, he still understood the last paragraph, the Supreme Emperor took all the blame for the emperor!

Dai Quan rolled up the imperial decree and declared, "Get up!"

All the officials stood up.

Dai Quan: "There is nothing special today. All the ministers are called here. There is only one thing, that is, all government affairs in the future will still be instructed by the Supreme Emperor."

Jia Hu was startled.

When Liu Fang and Niu Jizong met their eyes, they both showed panic expressions!
The veteran civil servants of the Supreme Emperor immediately became excited, and their proud eyes intertwined with each other.

And those honorable officials were a little uneasy.

Dai Quan coughed lightly, and then raised his voice: "The Supreme Emperor also said that this imperial decree was issued to the governors, governors, and government officials of all provinces. Let them tell everyone, especially the common people, the Supreme Emperor's will. "

As the chief assistant of the cabinet, Song Chengliang took a step forward and responded loudly: "Observe the order!"

Dai Quan: "As the old saying goes, the end of the year is sad. All year round, people are tired of running around, and what the common people wait for is to eat something good and buy new clothes during the New Year. But this year is the saddest. The snowstorm in Gyeonggi, not to mention the freezing to death of livestock. Countless, even the common people have fallen down a lot. There are still six days until the New Year, the Supreme Emperor said that the people outside the city should not be allowed to spend this year in hunger and cold."

Having said that, he turned his gaze to Shi Ding: "The Supreme Emperor has an oral order, Zhong Jing Hou Shi Ding listens to the order."

Shi Ding was startled, then walked out and knelt down.

Dai Quan: "How long will it take to unblock the official channels?"

Shi Ding thought for a while and replied: "If you answer the words of the Supreme Emperor, the people outside the city must not let the people outside the city live this year in hunger and cold."

A trace of displeasure flashed across Dai Quan's eyes, and he continued: "Transfer the infantry battalion and the soldiers and horses to your command, and the relief supplies must be delivered to the affected people within five days. Thank you!"

As soon as this remark came out, everyone was very surprised, Jing Tianhou Qiuliang, the Commander of the Army and Horse Division of the Five Cities, was at a loss, and a trace of panic flashed in Wang Ziteng's eyes, even Shi Ding was stunned and forgot to answer.

Dai Quan reminded gently: "Marquis Zhongjing, please accept the order."

Shi Ding quickly kowtowed: "The minister leads the decree." He got up and retreated.

Dai Quan glanced around and asked, "Is King Yizhong here?"

King Yizhong came out from behind Da Zongzheng and the others, and was about to kneel down immediately.

"Junwang!" Dai Quan hurriedly supported him, "Don't kneel, the Supreme Emperor just asked the old slave to pass a message to the county king. You are talented, and you have to work for the country. I want you to take care of the errands of the Ministry of Punishment. First Find out the rumors outside the palace, and arrest all the rumormongers. I am waiting for your good news, and I hope you will not disappoint me. I have to discuss it with the emperor in advance."

King Yizhong was surprised, and it took him a long time to reply, "Yes."

Dai Quan showed a smile: "That's it for today, please go back, my lords." Then he turned and walked towards the apse.

Dragon Head Palace

bedroom
The smell of medicine filled the room, and on a small charcoal stove, the lid of the medicine jar made a faint knocking sound due to the hot air.

Xia Shouzhong, the chief eunuch of Longshou Palace, stood guard in front of the medicine jar. At this time, he lifted the lid of the medicine jar, wrapped the handle of the medicine jar with a piece of cloth, and slowly poured the hot medicine juice into the bowl.

After the medicine was poured, Xia Shouzhong walked towards the bed with the medicine bowl in his hand.

The emperor with a sallow complexion was lying on the bed, his eyes were closed, and he was in a coma.

Tears flashed in Xia Shouzhong's eyes.

The royal case in the study room of the bedroom is full of stacks of chapters, and Emperor Jianwu is sitting there looking through each book carefully.

Emperor Jianwu's eyes were red and his face was full of tiredness. After reading the last chapter, Emperor Jianwu stood up, walked to the window, took a deep breath, and quietly looked at the falling snowflakes outside the window.

Due to taking an overdose of elixir, the Supreme Emperor fainted. He woke up on the second watch, and then dictated an edict of guilt, and then confessed a few more words, then passed out again, and has not woken up to this day.

Of course, the edict of guilt has been deleted and revised.

The Supreme Emperor explained two things before he fell into a coma: one thing was these chapters, which recorded all the major events in the eighteen provinces of the Great Zhou Dynasty, including what had happened, what was happening, and what might happen.

This allowed Emperor Jianwu to have a deeper understanding of the court situation, and once again understood the methods of the Supreme Emperor. No wonder those noble generals were so afraid of him.

I also understand why the Supreme Emperor wants Dai Quan to tell all the officials at the Great Court Meeting that he will give personal instructions on future government affairs.

But, how long can this be concealed? !

For the first time, Emperor Jianwu sincerely hoped that the Supreme Emperor would wake up sooner, of course, just lying on the bed would be fine.

The second thing surprised Emperor Jianwu. The Supreme Emperor actually planned to cause chaos in Jiangsu. Not only was he already making preparations, but he had also written a careful plan.

Simply sum it up in one sentence: use the hands of the Salt Gang and the White Lotus Sect to destroy the power of the noble military and the Jiangnan gentry in Jiangsu.

After reading the Taishanghuang's plan, Emperor Jianwu broke out in a cold sweat. Most of the Four Kings and Eight Dukes lived in Jinling and other places.

If a family has no members, it is not far from decline.

But the price is not small!

Emperor Jianwu hesitated, and Wang Hetang's promotion of "Tan Ding into Mu" in Jiangsu has achieved results.In the second half of the year, it has been gradually implemented throughout the country. Although the national treasury has not yet been filled, the burden on the poor and small people has been significantly reduced.

If chaos broke out in Jiangsu at this time, provincial officials who were already opposed to the New Deal would suspend the New Deal on the grounds of civil unrest in Jiangsu, making it even more difficult to implement it in the future.

Emperor Jianwu has his own plan, and it is proceeding in an orderly manner. Gyeonggi has already controlled most of the military power, and the central government has also arranged a large number of Enke Jinshi to enter various yamen to practice through the purge of the Pei Party. The most important thing is to master the cabinet's voice.

Next, as long as we proceed step by step, the national treasury will slowly fill up.At that time, if you want money and food, you need food and food, with the cooperation of the frontier army outside, and the Beijing camp and the forbidden army inside, you can easily solve all the problems, including the honorable military that has troubled the emperor for many years.

However, the Taishanghuang's method is better. Not only can the wealth of Jiangsu for nearly a hundred years be confiscated by rebellious hands such as the Salt Gang and the White Lotus Sect, but it can also completely destroy the foundation of the four kings and eight princes in the south. It is difficult to regain vitality, and can only slowly decline.

Soluble!

A cold light flashed in Emperor Jianwu's eyes. Originally, he planned to ask Zhen Fusi to do something halfway, and let Shui Rong go to the sea to feed the fish, but if he chose the Supreme Emperor's plan, he had to let Shui Rong go south.

And Jiangnan Zhen's family!

They are all pawns in the Taishanghuang's plan, and they are also abandoned pieces.

However, how to transfer Jiangnan Daying away from Jiangsu?

And the Yangtze River Navy!

"Your Majesty." Dai Quan's voice came from the outer hall.

Emperor Jianwu came back to his senses: "Come in."

Dai Quan walked in quickly and silently, and Emperor Jianwu asked, "How is it?"

Dai Quan: "Return to Your Majesty, the edict has been issued. The King of Yizhong County has also gone to the Ministry of Punishment to serve as an errand."

Emperor Jianwu was silent for a while: "No one went to the study to look for me?"

Dai Quan deliberately hesitated.

Emperor Jianwu had already seen it, and asked directly, "Is there something wrong?"

"Yes." Dai Quan took out a memorial from his sleeve and handed it over.

Emperor Jianwu looked at the memorial in his hand, and asked again: "Whose memorial?"

Dai Quan lowered his head: "Return to Your Majesty, this chapter of Mei Changwen, Zuoqian Capital Censor of the Metropolitan Procuratorate."

Emperor Jianwu took a deep look at Dai Quan, took the memorial and opened it to read.

After reading the memorabilia, Emperor Jianwu couldn't help laughing, "I just understand today what it means to gather like things and divide people into groups. Waste!" He said, throwing Mei Changwen's memorabilia away.

Dai Quan stood there with his head down. It stands to reason that Mei Changwen's memorial should not be submitted directly to the emperor, but this is his impeachment memorial, and it is Jia Hu who was impeached, so the cabinet can only submit it.

As for the crime, lustful use of power to force the demolition of marriage.

This is really shameless.

Emperor Jianwu pondered for a while, and said, "I propose two decrees: first, to promote Lin Ruhai as the governor of Jiangsu, and leave immediately after seeing the decree. Second, call Wang Hetang to go to Beijing as soon as possible, and take that Jiayu village with him."

Dai Quan was taken aback, and quickly said: "Lin Ruhai's ancestral home is Suzhou. According to the system, officials are not allowed to live in the original place, and the cabinet will not be called!"

Emperor Jianwu looked at him, and then said: "This is the order of the Supreme Emperor."

Dai Quan was startled again, and then replied loudly, "Yes."

Heavy snow is falling down one after another.

Jia Hu and Liu Fang stood outside the You'an Gate, letting the snowflakes fall on their heads and bodies.

Hurry up and hurry up, but still can't catch up with the funeral procession of Beijing Prince's Mansion.

"Can he return to Jinling?" Liu Fang asked suddenly.

Jia Hu was taken aback: "It should be."

"What's supposed to come always comes."

Liu Fang sighed, and then said: "What do you think about the matter in Fengtian Palace?"

Jia Hu's fingers slowly rubbed the rosary beads one by one, and after a while, three words came out of his mouth: "Something is wrong!"

Liu Fang's eyes flashed: "You mean to blame yourself?"

Jia Hu shook his head: "Dragon Head Palace."

"Dragon Head Palace!" Liu Fang raised her head and looked into the distance worriedly.

Jia Hu smiled: "Just wait. It won't be too long."

Liu Fang nodded.

Jia Hu got on his horse and said to Liu Fang: "The most urgent thing is, we have to lie flat. Let's endure it first, I feel that the matter in Lianghuai is not so simple."

Liu Fang: "Yes. From now on, no one of us will offend, just wait. This boy Shui Rong is cruel and merciless, maybe he will cause a lot of trouble." Then, he got on his horse and said to Jia Hu: "In the battle of Yinshan, you The kid hit too hard, temporarily without external threats, some people have other thoughts. People's hearts are unpredictable."

He sighed slightly, and then said: "It's good to make a mess, at least you don't have to tear your face." Flicking his horsewhip, he walked into the city.

Jia Hu put his legs between the horse's belly and followed: "You can't hide. As long as the Longshou Palace is over, let's talk about it."

Liu Fang took a deep look at Jia Hu: "It's cold, let's go back."

Jia Hu nodded: "It's snowing so hard, I won't go out a year ago, and I'll treat you to New Year's wine in the first month." Flicking his horsewhip, he ran towards the inner city.

(End of this chapter)