serious man in the red chamber

Chapter 209

The streets of Ning Rong were still dark and crowded with onlookers, making a lot of noise.

In the distance, a group of guards with swords came rushing from the east, guarding a large sedan chair carrying eight carriages.

The sedan chair stopped at the entrance of the big archway, and when the pole of the sedan chair tilted, Hou Shi Nai of Bowling came out, walked to the side of the crowd with his hands behind his back, looked at the gate of Ningguo Mansion, thought for a while, then turned and walked back to the sedan chair.

Just at this moment, a group of men dressed as servants rushed over surrounded by two small black sedan chairs. From a distance, they saw eight large sedan chairs parked at the entrance of the big archway and the team of guards carrying knives. The group stopped at the corner of the street. down.

The sedan chair leaned forward, and Cheng Shiyao in a brocade robe emerged from the first curtain of the sedan chair.

A much fatter Ma Yong emerged from the second car curtain.

As long as there is no fame and fame, even the wealthy party can only ride in this kind of two-person sedan chair with flat heads, flat roof, and black paint, and the curtains of the sedan chair can only be made of soap-colored coarse cloth.

Otherwise, if someone reports it, they will be punished at least, and at worst, they will be imprisoned.

Looking at the lively Ningrong Street not far away, Cheng Shiyao and Ma Yong looked at each other excitedly, and then walked quickly to Ningrong Street.

The officials of the Jinling Mansion were in a state of anxiety, circling outside the gate like ants on a hot pot, stretching their necks to look at the open side door.

Some officials were even more frightened at this time, sweating coldly.

Finally, the sound of footsteps came from inside, and the eyes of all the officials were wide open. Wang Hetang came out from the door, stood still at the bottom of the steps, and shouted: "Come on!"

With a roar, Jia Hu's [-] soldiers came trotting out from the side door in two rows holding knives.

There was a moment of silence, and there was a commotion all around.

Wang Hetang glanced slowly over the faces of the officials, then took out a list from his sleeve, and said loudly: "Whoever reads the name, stand up. Jinling Fucheng, Zhizhong, and Tongju Treasurer."

All the officials whose names were read seemed to have been electrocuted, and they were all blindfolded.

Wang Hetang pointed at Fucheng, then at Zhizhong, and then pointed out all the officials whose names were read, and shouted: "Catch!"

All the soldiers shouted: "Yes." Then they ran separately.

All the officials were all pale.

At this time, the Jinling Mansion Prime Minister said to Wang Hetang angrily: "Wang, Mr. Wang Ge, I am a third-rank official of the imperial court. Without imperial edicts and official documents from the cabinet, you have no right to arrest me!"

Wang Hetang waved his hand disdainfully: "Speak at Caishikou Execution Ground!"

The face of Jinling Mansion Cheng turned pale.

All the people in front of the mansion were dumbfounded, staring at Wang Hetang standing there.

The guards have already held up the official who read his name.

The Prime Minister of Jinling Mansion seemed to have returned to his soul at this moment, and looked at Wang Hetang with hatred, without saying a word.

Glancing at the resentful Jinling Mansion Prime Minister, Wang Hetang sneered, "Your Majesty's order: All officials involved in the case shall be executed on the spot! The whole family will be executed! All clan members will be dispatched outside the customs!"

This time, the Jinling Mansion Cheng's face was ashen, his lips were trembling, but he couldn't utter a word.

Wang Hetang: "Pull it down!"

All the soldiers mentioned Jinling Mansion Cheng and others and dragged them out.

The people who watched the excitement became agitated again.

At this moment, Jia Yun rushed out with a group of soldiers, stopped beside Wang Hetang, and said, "The commander asked me to obey the elder Ge's orders."

Wang Hetang nodded, and said to the rest of the officials: "You cooperate with them to ransack the house of the criminal involved in the case."

Everyone changed their faces, and then nodded mechanically.

Wang Hetang took out his pocket watch from his pocket: "There is still an hour and a half before noon, and this pavilion is waiting for you to watch the execution at Caishikou." After speaking, he got into the sedan chair.

The imperial guards guarded Wang Hetang's sedan chair and walked towards Caishikou.

Jia Yun smiled: "Let's work hard, one person is responsible for the family."

Everyone looked at each other, gathered together to discuss for a while, then got into their respective sedan chairs, and walked towards the street with their respective guards.

Jia Yun waved her hand: "Follow me."

Seeing the officers and soldiers going away, the people onlookers were all excited.

The sedan chair curtain was lifted, and Shi Nai got out of the big sedan chair. He glanced at Cheng Shiyao and Ma Yong who were standing opposite him, and then said to his soldiers: "Scatter the crowd!"

All the soldiers: "Yes!" They replied and rushed forward to drive away the crowd of onlookers.

The onlookers dispersed in all directions.

After touching the letter in his arms, Shi Nai walked towards the gate.

Watching Shi Nai walk into the gate of Ningguo Mansion, Cheng Shiyao was silent for a while, then looked at Ma Yong: "Go and get all the account books, I'll wait here."

Ma Yong: "Yes."

In the study, Jia Hu was sitting in front of the desk, writing something with a pen.

Shi Nai was sitting on a chair against the wall, looking at Jia Hu who was scribbling, with excitement in his eyes.

After finishing writing, Jia Hu took the big seal and stamped it on the memorial. While blowing on the ink, he shouted: "Lin San."

Lin San responded and walked in.

Jia Hu handed over the memorial: "It's sealed and sent to Beijing immediately."

Lin San took the memorial: "Yes." He answered and walked out quickly.

Shi Nai stood up, "Thank you, Lord Guo, for sponsoring me to be the deputy commander of Jiangnan Daying." He bowed deeply as he spoke.

Jia Hu hurriedly got up, and said with a smile, "You are an elder! Besides, I am promoting talents for the country. In addition, the Jiangnan camp is the key to the stability of the entire southeast, so it is necessary to prepare and train new troops as soon as possible, and complete them in the shortest possible time. military."

He paused at this point, "The old lady still thinks about her cousin all the time. You have made great achievements, and the old lady has a bright face. Because of the matter of the infantry office, the old lady is somewhat unhappy."

Hearing this, Shi Nai was moved in his heart, and said loudly: "I'll go back to present the memorial now. As soon as the imperial court's appointment document arrives, I will immediately recruit young and strong men to train a new army, and give the old lady a sigh of relief."

Jia Hu: "Cousin isn't planning to go back to Beijing?"

Shi Nai nodded, "I'm going to prepare some things these few days, and I'll bring them to Beijing when you come back from Suzhou."

Jia Hu: "OK."

At this moment, Lin San hurried in: "Second Master, Cheng Shiyao and Ma Yong are here."

Shi Nai clasped his hands together and said, "I'll go back first." After speaking, he turned and walked out.

Looking at Shi Nai's disappearing back, Jia Hu sat down, picked up the letter on the desk, and read it carefully. After reading it, he drew a picture on the key point with his nails.

This is a handwritten letter written by Shui Rong to Shi Nai, and the two parties verbally reached an agreement not to attack each other.

Jia Hu smiled, no wonder Xuzhou City had not been attacked by the rebels from the Water Soluble Department before, put the letter in the box, and said to Lin San, "Let them in."

Lin San: "Yes."

After pondering for a moment, he took a piece of blank letterhead, picked up a pen and started writing.

Lin San led Cheng Shiyao and Ma Yong in.

Cheng Shiyao and Ma Yong greeted Jia Hu and said, "See Duke Ning."

Jia Hu: "There's no need to be too polite. Wait until I finish writing these words."

Lin San backed out.

Cheng Shiyao and Ma Yong stood with their hands down in order.

Jia Hu put down the pen, picked up the ink pad, blew on it, and put it in the box: "Sit down and talk."

Cheng Shiyao and Ma Yong: "Yes." They saluted again and sat down on the guest chair beside them.

Lin San brought tea to Cheng Shiyao and Ma Yong.

"Thank you General Lin."

Cheng Shiyao and Ma Yong hurriedly stood up and took the tea bowl with both hands.

Jia Hu waved his hand: "Sit down, sit down. If you have anything to say, talk slowly, and stay for dinner later." He then said to Lin San, "Let the housekeeper tell the kitchen to prepare the food and drinks."

Lin San: "Yes!" Answered, and walked out.

Cheng Shiyao and Ma Yong bowed and replied, "Thank you, Duke."

Jia Hu: "Sit down and talk."

Cheng Shiyao and Ma Yong looked at each other, and replied: "We have brought all the account books, and I would like to ask the Duke to have a look."

Jia Hu smiled: "You know, I don't care about the family."

Cheng Shiyao: "All the account books have been sent to Beijing, and what we brought are copies."

Ma Yong continued: "We mainly want to introduce the current situation of the chamber of commerce to the Duke. In addition, there is another matter that the Duke should decide."

Jia Hu: "Tell me."

Cheng Shiyao: "Now the chamber of commerce has two fleets, and its business is spread all over Southeast Asia. The two major weaving bureaus in Jiangning and Suzhou, as well as the tea department, various yamen in Fujian, and the general Wu's family in Guangdong and Hai have business contacts with us."

Ma Yong: "The ship stopped at the end of October this year. In the past eight months, it has earned a total of 370 million taels of silver. In addition, there is still 8000 taels of cash in the Wu family."

Jia Hu frowned: "There are so many left?"

Cheng Shiyao: "Last year, there were few fleets that went to sea, so they earned a lot. I saved 87 in Wu's house."

Jia Hu nodded, then asked, "What about other places?"

Cheng Shiyao replied: "860 seven prefectures and counties have our business, more than 5 associates, deducting costs and expenses, and earned a total of 160 million silver in the past ten months. The main reason is that the business in Yunnan, Guizhou and other places has been increasing. Losing money."

Jia Hu's eyes lit up, he didn't care how much money he made, as long as the seven states and counties of 860 operate slowly, the intelligence network can cover the entire Dazhou.

Thinking of this, Jia Hu nodded with a satisfied smile: "Very good. Thank you for your hard work. There are rules in the court, and businessmen are not allowed to donate officials. In this way, you choose two children from the clan, and I will find an tribute for them first." I will take part in Chunwei with the two sons next year. If they fail the exam, arrange for them to make up for the county magistrate of Anhui Province. If they pass the exam, I will make other arrangements."

After hearing this, Cheng Shiyao and Ma Yong's eyes widened, and then they knelt down: "The villain kowtows to the Duke of Heaven!" As they said, they kowtowed repeatedly.

Jia Hu: "Get up, get up and talk."

Cheng Shiyao and Ma Yong kowtowed again before standing up.

Jia Hu looked at Ma Yong and asked, "You just said there is one more thing."

Ma Yong quickly replied: "Nowadays, the business of the chamber of commerce is getting bigger and bigger. We lack capable manpower and our ability is limited. Therefore, we would like to ask the Duke of the State to find some people to help us in the chamber of commerce."

A hint of relief appeared on Jia Hu's face.

At this time, Lin San walked in: "Second Master, the banquet is ready."

Jia Hu stood up: "Let's go, what's the matter, let's talk slowly while eating."

(End of this chapter)