serious man in the red chamber

Chapter 271
It is a good day for the geese to come, and it is a rare good day when the dragon opens his eyes on the first day of February.

On a good day, the official road leading to Caishikou Execution Ground was full of condemned prisoners in red clothes with signs.

The people watching the execution surrounded the entire execution ground.

On the execution platform, more than a dozen death row prisoners were bound and kneeling.

Standing behind them was an executioner carrying a ghost knife.

Li Jin, Shangshu of the Ministry of Punishment, who was sitting in the prison shed, stood up. He stretched out his hand to the command arrow, grabbed a command arrow and slowly pulled it out, shouting: "Execution!" Throw it on the execution platform.

The doctor of the Ministry of punishment shouted: "Fire the cannon!"

At noon, the sun is shining!
The square of Fengtian Temple was densely packed with officials participating in the Great Court Assembly. All of them opened their eyes wide and looked at the Fengtian Temple ahead, at Emperor Jianwu who was holding the Jinxian Crown in his hand, and at the man kneeling on the stone steps of the palace gate. Yan Shenggong.

"Licheng-"

As Emperor Jianwu personally put the Jinxian Crown on the head of Yan Shenggong who was less than six years old, the farce provoked by the Supreme Emperor ended with the emperor's victory.

Suddenly there was a deafening gunfire from the direction of Caishikou, and all the civil servants trembled.

Yan Shenggong sat down on the ground and burst into tears.

All were silent.

Emperor Jianwu helped Yan Shenggong up, took out the bright yellow handkerchief from his sleeve, and wiped away his tears lovingly: "Be hungry. I'm hungry too. Let's go, let's eat." After finishing speaking, he led him Go to Qianqing Palace.

Dai Quan yelled in a high-pitched voice: "Back the court!" As he said, he hurried to catch up.

Looking at the back of the emperor leading Yan Shenggong towards Qianqing Palace, all the officials showed different expressions in their eyes.

Among the crowd, Jia Hu glanced at Song Chengliang, the chief assistant standing in the front row, and Song Chengliang frowned.

Wang Hetang and other cabinet ministers and the officials of the Sixth Ministry also frowned, their faces not very good-looking.

Jia Hu secretly smiled, the emperor is really stingy, bullying a child.

Yan Shenggong's lineage is completely over, leaving only a baby who is less than six years old and will be kept in a deep palace.

With the banner of Yan Shenggong, the emperor will no longer indulge those civil servants in the future. If he dares to talk back, the emperor will raise his hand.
At this time, Niu Jizong came over and said in a low voice: "This morning, the Yangtze River Navy sent an urgent military report. After more than a month of searching, the navy warship finally found two merchant ships belonging to King Yizhong and sank one of them." One, one captured." He said, took out the military newspaper in the sleeve of his robe and handed it over.

Jia Hu took Zhan Kan, then nodded, and the general closed the newspaper and handed it back to Niu Jizong, saying: "The three shipyards in Jinling, Zhejiang and Fujian will be built at the same time, and the thirty warships will be ready to go to sea before the end of the year. 300 million taels , Your Majesty has also made a big determination."

Niu Jizong nodded.

Jia Hu went on to say: "Anything is foregone, and if not forewarned, it will be abandoned. Now that the decision is made, the corresponding artillery should also be built. In my opinion, let's cast it at the Jinling Manufacturing Bureau."

Niu Jizong sighed lightly: "Counting other things, this item of expenditure alone will increase by more than 200 million taels compared to last year. It is estimated that some members of the cabinet are going to make trouble again."

"Don't worry. They won't object."

Glancing at Song Chengliang and others walking towards Wenyuan Pavilion, Jia Hu smiled at Niu Jizong: "Due to the war in the Central Plains, last year's tax payment was only 360 taels, while last year's expenditure was as high as 8000 taels." Ten thousand taels. However, excluding the 7801 million taels of treasury silver, the treasury still has nearly ten million taels of treasury silver.

why?Isn't it because the military won big victories on the north and south fronts and seized countless property.People are greedy, and having tasted the sweetness, several members of the cabinet hope that the military will win and win big battles more than we do. "

Niu Jizong smiled when he heard this, and then asked: "I heard from Lord Chan that the Yongwei Battalion will conduct siege training?"

Jia Hu nodded.

Niu Jizong became interested: "Please invite me to take a look sometime."

Jia Hu: "Okay. When it looks good after practice, I invite everyone to go and have a look, and please give me some pointers."

Niu Jizong smiled and nodded, suddenly remembered something, looked left and right, and then lowered his voice: "You know, I still have a lot of eyeliners at the Great Wall pass. I only heard about it yesterday. Datong, Xuanfu The front line is now to let out and not to let in."

Jia Hu was startled: "Oh? What's going on?"

Niu Jizong: "It is said that he has received an order from the emperor. Tell me, is the emperor cleaning up outside the pass?"

After pondering for a moment, Jia Hu nodded: "Maybe."

Niu Jizong still wanted to speak, but Jia Hu said, "The outside of the pass has been handed over to the imperial court, so let's stop worrying about it."

Niu Jizong frowned, then nodded: "By the way, you can go to the Qianqing Palace with me." He said, shaking the military newspaper in his hand.

Jia Hu blinked: "I won't go. There are people coming to Beijing from the south today, and I have something to do." After finishing speaking, he went straight out.

Niu Jizong was stunned again, and after regaining his senses, he had to walk to Qianqing Palace alone.

Since the opening of the Qijiu River, the pier has returned to its former prosperity, and the river is also very congested.

But half an hour ago, a group of servants with sticks and long whips drove away all the people on the pier. At this time, all the merchants were crowded on the shores on both sides of the pier, and the entire pier was vacated.

The berth of the wharf dock is leaning against a large ship, and a large flag is hung on the bow and mast of the big ship, with the three characters "Wu Qingbo" embroidered on it.

On the pier, there were a lot of servants holding sticks and long whips standing down from the stone steps. People on the passenger boats waiting to dock in the river were all looking at this side.

After a long time, three sedan chairs and two carriages slowly approached the pier from a distance.

The sedan chair stopped at the pier, and so did the carriage.

The three sedan chairs opened almost simultaneously.

The one who stepped out of the first sedan chair was Wu Qingbo himself, the one who stepped out of the second sedan chair was the steward of Prince Zhongshun's mansion, and the person who stepped out of the third sedan chair was King Zhongshun's confidant, the former commander of the infantry and the deputy commander of the yamen .

At this time, he has long lost the majesty and majesty of the past. He is dressed in a coarse cotton robe and long gown, with a haggard face and stubby beard and hair. He does not look like a general.

Ever since Feng Tang was ordered to reorganize the infantry office, he has been a backup in the Ministry of War. King Zhongshun was rejected by the emperor, and he was also implicated. After King Zhongshun was banned from the clan mansion, his situation became even more difficult. He couldn't stay in the capital any longer, so he decided to return to his hometown in Jiangxi.

Looking up at the majestic city wall of Beijing, he let out a long breath, and then walked towards Uncle Wu Qing and the housekeeper of Prince Zhongshun.

The housekeeper of Zhongshun Prince's Mansion greeted him with a smile, "General Yang, take care all the way!" Then he took out a bank note from his pocket and said, "This is the prince's wish, take it back to subsidize the family. The prince said that he originally wanted to come and deliver it in person." You, it's a pity that you didn't get permission from the palace."

"Yang Lin, this is my heart." Wu Qingbo walked over and handed over a bank note.

Yang Lin didn't refuse either, and took the two bank notes with a smile. He glanced at them and was shocked. The bank note from Uncle Wu Qing was 1 taels, and the one given by King Zhongshun was 10 taels.

The housekeeper of Zhongshun's palace: "The prince said, you deserve it."

Yang Lin thought for a while, then stuffed the silver ticket into his bosom, "Thank you, Lord, for your reward!" Then he turned to Uncle Wu Qing: "Thank you, Uncle Wuqing!"

Wu Qingbo said with a smile: "That's all. You'd better go on your way."

Looking at the merchants crowded on both sides, Yang Lin sighed: "You shouldn't do this. Give someone a handle."

Wu Qingbo snorted coldly: "You are too timid. Besides, I just want to make things bigger and let everyone see how he treats those who have helped him!"

Yang Lin was silent.

Wu Qingbo went on to say: "If Prince Zhongshun and you hadn't led the army to defeat the prince's central army and forced the prince to commit suicide, where would it be his turn to sit on the throne? But now! Prince Zhongshun was imprisoned in the clan mansion, You are also forced to return to your hometown.

Heh. Just wait, sooner or later he will clean us up one by one! "

Yang Lin raised his head slowly, and said after a long time: "He is the ruler now, and we are ministers, whether to kill or shut down is all he says."

Immediately, Wu Qingbo's face was a little uneasy: "It's not his turn to cover the sky with one hand in the Great Zhou Dynasty! Besides, it's not certain who will kill who!"

Yang Lin stared at him blankly.

The housekeeper of Zhongshun Wangfu said at the opportunity: "My lord asked me to tell you that he will write you a letter when he comes out of the clan's mansion."

Before the words fell, the servant's voice came from a distance: "Hey!"

Yang Lin turned his head to look, and the housekeeper of Zhongshun Wangfu also followed his reputation, both of them were startled.

Xue Pan, who was wearing a brocade robe and gown, was blocked by the servants of Wuqing Bo's mansion on the shore of the pier. Behind him was Xue Baoqin's older brother Xue Biao.

Uncle Wu Qing also saw it, and shouted: "Come here, beat this stubborn fat man to death."

A few slaves who were like wolves and tigers roared, and they were ready to rush up.

The housekeeper of Prince Zhongshun shouted: "Slow down!" Then he said to Uncle Wu Qing: "This fat man is called Xue Pan, he is the head of the sixth-rank household department recommended by Wang Hetang, he has an official position, and he is also a relative of Rongguo Mansion."

Those servants Ding Haonu were startled, they all looked at Wu Qingbo.

With a "hum", Wu Qingbo turned his head to the other side.

Yang Lin: "It's getting late, I'm leaving." As he spoke, he embraced the two of them and saluted them, then waved his hands at the drivers of the two carriages.

The curtains of the two carriages were lifted, and Yang Lin's family members got out of the carriages and walked over.

Wu Qingbo and the housekeeper of Zhongshun Palace accompanied Yang Lin and his family to the passenger ship under the pier.

More than half an hour later, this section of the Tonghui River was full of boats, and the officials at the wharf were also anxious, but they dared not come over.

In the river not far from the pier, a large passenger boat was moored, in which were Ma Yong and several young men.

The few people sitting in the cabin were relatively speechless, and they all looked at Wu Qingbo and his party who walked down the pier.

After a while of silence, Ma Yong said: "This is the rich and powerful! Do you think you can buy anything with money?"

No one answered.

Ma Yong went on to say: "This opportunity is rare, you must seize it. Although the Duke did not say how to arrange it after being admitted to the Jinshi, it is definitely better than going to Anhui as a county magistrate. Don't mention the grace of the Duke, you At the very least, you must be worthy of the 5 taels of money for a private school teacher."

Several people answered in unison: "Yes."

At this time, Yang Lin's large passenger ship pulled up its sails, and then the oar was shaken, and the passenger ship slowly left the pier.

Wu Qingbo and the housekeeper of Prince Zhongshun also walked back to the shore.

Ma Yong stepped out of the cabin and shouted: "Hurry up and dock."

With a shake of the hull, the boat started.

Without the command of the officials of the river course yamen, everyone wanted to grab the best spot to dock and rushed forward, so there were shouts and curses everywhere, telling each other to avoid, and some even picked up the boat poles and beat each other. stand up.

The scene on the river made Wu Qingbo excited, and he said to the housekeeper of Zhongshun Palace: "A group of unruly people." After saying that, he burst out laughing.

The steward of Prince Zhongshun smiled lightly: "Let's go."

Wu Qingbo nodded, and waved his hands at the guards blocking the way.

At this time, the large passenger ship that Ma Yong was on successfully landed, and the group quickly boarded the pier.

Looking at Ma Yong and others in brocade robes, Wu Qingbo's eyes lit up and he stopped.

The housekeeper of Zhongshun Palace understood, smiled wryly, and cast a sympathetic look at Ma Yong and others.

Ma Yong came up with a few young men and his servants. When he saw Ding Haonu, who was blocking the official road, he was startled for a moment, then smiled and said, "Please make way, gentlemen. It's important." Then he took out a bank note from his pocket, "Take this bank note to the brothers for tea."

The leader Hao Nu took the bank note with one hand, and sneered at the same time: "100 taels, do you think our brothers are beggars?"

Hearing this, Ma Yong gritted his teeth: "The villain lives in Dongcheng, please give me a few hands!" He said, and took out another bank note from his pocket.

The Haonu took it and looked at it, 500 taels, then smiled: "Please." He gave up his hand.

"Thank you! Thank you!"

Ma Yong hurriedly led the crowd to the east gate.

Just two steps away, Ma Yong stopped, looking at Wu Qingbo and others blocking the front, his heart skipped a beat, knowing that they were being targeted by the dignitaries in front of them.

The noble slave walked to Ma Yong's side and said in a low voice: "The imperial court has a decree that merchants will fight against officials for thirty battles. You should think about it yourself."

Ma Yong didn't answer, those young people were dumbfounded, it turns out that extortion can be so aboveboard.

Na Haonu: "You paid 600 taels for drinking tea, why do you feel sorry for this little money?" After speaking, he stretched out a finger and shook it.

Ma Yong was slightly taken aback.

That Hao Nu went on to say: "You can bear it, but these young people may not be sure. If you can't get out of bed for a month or two, it will not delay the business. Don't you think so?"

Ma Yong woke up from his contemplation, walked up to Uncle Wu Qing, saluted, smiled apologetically, and said: "The grass-roots accidentally offended the nobleman, please forgive me!" Then he took out a bank note from his sleeve and handed it past.

Only then did Wu Qingbo show a smile: "Hey, those who do not forgive their crimes are all from the capital, so feel free to come to the west city if you have anything to do in the future." Before he finished speaking, his face sank, and he took the bank note in his hand. Then, he slapped Ma Yong on the face and shouted: "1000 taels? You treat me like a beggar!"

Ma Yong fell to the ground, covered his face and said to Wu Qingbo, "He told me 1000 taels." He pointed at the slave.

The boss of Hao Nu opened his eyes and looked at Ma Yong, which meant: 1000 taels, you must be out of your mind! !

"Uncle Wu Qing, don't bully people too much!"

Xue Pan, who sent Xue Biao onto the boat and came back, recognized Ma Yong who was still sitting on the ground covering his face, and walked over with the servant to speak.

The housekeeper of the Zhongshun Palace spoke: "Uncle Xue, you should be very clear about the punishment for a businessman who collides with an official. Wu Qingbo is kind and agrees that he will use money to cover his crimes. But he humiliated Wu Qingbo with 1000 taels."

Xue Pan was silent. In "Law of the Great Zhou", the social status of merchants is very low. In the eyes of the court, merchants are like fat sheep, fat sheep that can be slaughtered wantonly.

Of course, backgrounds don't count.

After a moment of silence, Xue Pan said to the housekeeper of Prince Zhongshun, "This horse steward is the steward of Jia's chamber of commerce."

As soon as the steward of Prince Zhongshun opened his mouth, Xue Pan took over his army, and was momentarily stunned.

Wu Qingbo's face was distorted with anger, and he said loudly: "The state owns the state law, and the family has family rules. This lawsuit can be brought to the study room of Qianqing Palace, and I can win it!"

Xue Pan was also angry, and taunted: "1000 taels is enough for the Duke to hit you twice!"

Uncle Wu Qing's brain thumped, blood rushed to his face immediately, he suddenly burst out laughing, the smile was so ferocious, and then his eyes showed a fierce look: "Hit me, kill this Jia's dog!"

"Yes!" With a roar, those servants rushed forward brandishing sticks and long whips.

Poor Xue Pan was knocked to the ground with a stick before he could react, and blood flowed from his head and face immediately.

The servants of the Xue family rushed up quickly, but it was a pity that two fists were no match for four hands, not to mention that the opponent was still holding sticks and long whips, many of them were knocked down in a short while.

The housekeeper of Zhongshun Palace woke up with a start, and quickly shouted: "Stop! Stop!"

The port officials hurried over, their faces turned pale when they saw this: "Uncle Wu Qing! Uncle Wu Qing! You can't do this! Tell them to stop!"

Ma Yong also got up: "Something happened, something happened."

(End of this chapter)