King Xiang of the Red Chamber

Chapter 570 Sister-in-law

"Oh... this is not the place to talk. Let's go inside and sit down and talk slowly!"

Although Zhen Qin was thinking ahead, she was thick-skinned. At this time, she pretended that what just happened had not happened, and took Bao Qin and walked into the house.

To be honest, Bao Qin didn't want to talk to her at all, but she couldn't resist Zhen Qin and forced her to do so, so she could only follow her into the house.

Nuo Min did not go in, but asked the maid to lead the way to her residence, and the same was true for Zhang Xiaoyue.

The arrival of Zhu Jinghong made the Xue family's outer courtyard very lively.

When the welcoming ceremony ended and the officials and gentry retreated, the place returned to its former tranquility.

But with Zhu Jinghong moving in, the Xue family residence is still very different from before. The biggest difference is that there are a large number of guards here.

As for the Xue family, they can only live outside now.

"Brother Xue, I wonder where my girl is now?"

Of course, Xue Qi knew that he was not qualified to laugh at these people, because he was no different from these people, and they all used their daughters as tools.

Hearing that this person was a treasure trove, Zhu Jinghong nodded with satisfaction and asked, "What's your name?"

Continuing to wander around the shipyard, Zhu Jinghong said: "Listening to your answer, you are calm and your mind is sharp... It seems that you have spent a lot of effort on matters in the shipyard!"

Zhu Jinghong then asked: "How many shipyards are there here? How many warships have been built in the past two years?"

Of course there are people in Jinshan Jinyiwei, but it is only a small one-hundred-household residence. Although the hundreds of households are powerful in the local area, they are not qualified to see him unless there is something particularly important.

But... noble people cannot be eaten as food. With the birth of a princess in the Xue family, Xue Qi's status has risen, so these people still have to fawn over him.

After listening to Zhao Chengwu's introduction, Zhu Jinghong had a rough idea, and then he asked about the navy's training situation.

As this person spoke, the craftsmen in the shipyard started to move, holding tools and continuing to build the ship.

"Don't praise me. I'm not as good as you. I don't even have an official title now. If I didn't admire the glory of the princess, I wouldn't even be able to see the face of King Xiang!"

He is a sincere person... Zhu Jinghong thought this way.

"Yes!"

This was his first time entering the shipyard. The various tools and equipment inside were very "original", which satisfied Zhu Jinghong's curiosity.

At this time, people who do not praise themselves openly or secretly, but say frankly and calmly that this is their duty, are extremely rare now and in the future.

Several old men who were close to each other were chatting, while at the other end of the shipyard, Zhu Jinghong was inspecting the shipyard.

Such strength is still pitifully weak compared to those countries in the West.

These people present basically all have the status of Shengyuan or Juren, and they are indeed much nobler than Xue Qi.

But now, these people are still acting in front of him, talking about fear and worry, which seems too hypocritical...

At this time, Zhu Jinghong specifically asked his name, which made the chief officer's heart feel like an ancient well.

"How long does it take to build a ship?" Zhu Jinghong asked casually.

What's more, a highly sophisticated service like the Navy cannot be strong just by building ships. A complete general training model and command system are its core competitiveness.

Of course he knew exactly what these people were thinking.

Just listen to Xue Qi say: "Everyone... people decide what to do and what to do depends on heaven. It's pointless to say this!"

"The shipyard has seven docks. In two years, it built three first-class ships, eleven second-class ships, seven third-class ships...a total of twenty warships!"

"Reporting to Your Highness, Luo Yang, Chief of the Camp and Maintenance Department of the Ministry of Industry!"

Because I didn't know that Zhu Jinghong was coming today, there was no preparation in advance, so the scene was somewhat messy.

The division of A, B and C was also proposed by Zhu Jinghong and has now officially become the standard for battleships.

Just listen to Luo Yang reply: "This is my duty!"

"There is no need to go back to the past. If the children are ignorant and offend the prince...Brother Xue, you should be more tolerant!"

Zhao Chengwu also talked eloquently, but it was up to Zhu Jinghong himself to tell how much was true and how much was false.

"General Zhao, have you taken over all the warships built here?"

While Zhu Jinghong was wandering around the shipyards, a eunuch suddenly came to him to report that a guard wanted to see him.

Zhu Jinghong looked at the director of the Ministry of Industry on the side and said: "I did whatever I had to do, and delayed the shipbuilding... My sin is huge!"

Looking at the old foxes in front of him, Xue Qi smiled.

"All of them have been incorporated into the army... According to the Thirteenth Master's instructions, Class A battleships are equipped with seventy guns, Class B ships are equipped with fifty guns, and Class C ships are equipped with thirty guns!"

"Let him come here!"

Everyone laughed, then changed the topic, and finally talked about "accompanied driving".

"The Liaodong Navy now has three A-class ships, eighteen B-class ships, and twenty-five C-class ships!"

He knew that Zhu Jinghong was fond of beautiful women, so he acquiesced to these people's small actions. After all, it saved him the effort of recruiting beautiful women.

The chief replied: "Your Highness, if there are enough materials, it will take about a year for a first-class ship, eight months for a second-class ship, and six months for a third-class ship!"

The head of the Ministry of Industry was sent to Liaodong to supervise shipbuilding. Normally, this was tantamount to "exile", and he would not be able to return without someone to help him.

"When King Xiang went on tour, why didn't Brother Xue accompany him to serve him?"

With Zhu Jinghong's permission, the person was brought to him a few minutes later, but the person who came was beyond his expectation.

"I have Chen Yuntai from one hundred households in Nancheng's Bei Town Fusi, and I'm going to pay homage to the prince!"

That's right, the Jin Yiwei who came to see him was Chen Yuntai. This man went to North Korea by emperor's order at the beginning of the year and was specifically responsible for investigating the North Korean royal family.

When he was about to leave Beijing, Zhu Jinghong had been waiting for news from Chen Yuntai, hoping that the other party would find out North Korea's disloyal intentions, and then he could take the opportunity to stir up trouble.

Then, he could stay in Liaodong and not have to participate in the battle in Jinling.

Looking at everyone, Zhu Jinghong said slowly: "I have something to ask him, please help yourself!"

Zhao Chengwu and others were tactful and retreated to a distance, leaving only Zhu Jinghong and Chen Yuntai at the scene.

"How did you get to Jinshan?"

If Chen Yuntai's investigation is over and he returns to the capital, he should not take a detour to Jinshan, which means that he came here on purpose.

"I learned that the prince has gone to Liaodong, so I came here to pay my respects!"

It's really that simple. Chen Yuntai deliberately traveled hundreds of miles just to kowtow in front of Zhu Jinghong.

"How's the case going?"

"The investigation has been basically completed, and the case files have been sent to the capital immediately. I am waiting for the Lord's decree before I know how to act!"

Picking up the scrap material on the side and rubbing the texture on it, Zhu Jinghong asked calmly: "After checking for several months, what are the findings?"

"Back to the prince, according to my investigation, the Korean royal family does have different intentions. Not only do they create characters in private, but they also write their own laws and regulations... I even found out that they want to observe the celestial phenomena and compile their own calendar!" Chen Yuntai said a lot of evidence, and these situations have been submitted to the capital.

"What are your thoughts on the situation in the Korean court?"

"Earlier there were still people who opposed it, but his son's methods were tough and he killed more than a dozen officials one after another. Now there are few people talking about it in the court!"

Few people are talking about it, but it doesn't mean that there are no objections, it's just that these voices have been suppressed now.

Since ancient times, there has been no shortage of villains. The prince of Joseon, Li Xuan, killed a group of people and immediately promoted those who were dependent on him, which actually strengthened his own strength.

"But as a prince, he can suppress the court. There is something wrong!" Zhu Jinghong thought to himself.

North Korea did not have the experience of the Ming Dynasty's fall and resurgence. Its scholar-bureaucrats were so powerful that even the King of North Korea might not be able to suppress them. It was indeed abnormal for a prince to be so powerful.

Either this person is really too powerful, or there is external interference... so Zhu Jinghong guessed.

"Who will interfere with North Korea? Who will help them arouse dissent?"

No investigation was needed, only the elimination method was used, and Zhu Jinghong thought of his maritime neighbor Japan.

Could it be that it's really them? Zhu Jinghong murmured in his heart.

Zhu Jinghong couldn't help but ask: "North Korean officials are all sages and ancestors who have read poetry and books. How about Li Xuan's attempt to transform his ancestors into a law and disrupt the order of monarchs and ministers? Do they turn a blind eye?"

Chen Yuntai replied: "Since Li Xuan's serial killings, there have been fewer officials admonishing him in court, but they are still discussing it in private!"

"Perhaps, when Li Xuan actually creates Chinese characters or compiles a calendar, these people will still come out to oppose it!"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Jinghong suddenly asked: "When did you send the report to the capital?"

Chen Yuntai replied: "Three days ago, I traveled 800 miles in a hurry!"

It was expedited for eight hundred miles, and it would take almost ten days to deliver it to the capital, and it would take another ten days to wait for a reply from Beijing, which meant that Zhu Jinghong had to wait at least twenty days.

He came to Liaodong to learn from his experience, and it only lasted twenty days at most, and he couldn't wait for the emperor's reply.

And if he doesn't want to go to Jinling now, he has to find a way to make trouble quickly.

"Come here...bring me pen and ink!" Zhu Jinghong shouted.

He also wanted to write a memorial to the emperor, specifically talking about North Korea, and put forward his own views and practices, trying to get the emperor to agree to his stay.

Therefore, this memorial was written according to its seriousness. What stands out is that the situation is urgent and the sooner it can be resolved, the better.

In order to worry the emperor, he also added some conspiracy theories. Speculations such as foreign interference were stuffed into the memorial.

After writing these, he wrote down his own methods. The first one was to face the problem head-on and call the King of Korea to Liaodong for a chat.

After the memorial was written, Zhu Jinghong personally supervised the sealing, and then ordered the eunuch to hurry up to 800 miles and send it to the capital as quickly as possible.

What he had to do next was to wait for the emperor's father's reply while observing the Liaodong Navy.

If his memorial is not approved, he will still have to go to Jinling honestly and be a pawn for the old man to balance the old man.

Regarding the news about the prince's supervision of the country, Zhu Jinghong knew it a few days ago, so he was very anxious.

People are like this. No matter how good the plan is, how thoroughly the situation is analyzed, when things suddenly change, there will be strong uneasiness.

"Anyway, when you arrive at Jinshan, just follow me and wait for the order. You can tell me about your experiences in North Korea!"

"Yes!"

After learning about North Korea and visiting the Liaodong Navy, Zhu Jinghong's interest was greatly reduced. He was even more looking forward to the emperor's reply.

After wandering around the dock for a while, Zhu Jinghong said he wanted to return to his residence, and everyone went back with him.

After accompanying him all the way to Xue's house, the naval general and the Jinshan magistrate left separately. Only Chen Yuntai followed him into the house.

However, when he reached the gate of the inner house, Chen Yuntai could only stop and proposed that he join the escort team to stand guard for Zhu Jinghong's safety.

Zhu Jinghong refused twice, but seeing the guy's resolute attitude, he didn't go against his will again.

Ever since, Chen Yuntai, a member of the Jinyi Guards family, became an ordinary member of Zhu Jinghong's guard.

"I said Chen Baihu...you are really good at getting things done!"

Looking at Chen Yuntai who came to take an errand with him, Zhang Lin, a member of the Dragon Imperial Guard Hundreds, couldn't help but complain.

He had been shot twice before. After more than a month of training, he has basically returned to normal.

"Zhang Baihu, the prince has the kindness to meet you in his humble position. Now I meet him on patrol. Since I have the strength, how can I not protect him?
Although they are both members of the Hundred Households, the Longjing Guard Hundred Households have a higher rank, so Chen Yuntai calls himself a "humble position".

"Repaying kindness...not bad!" Zhang Lin nodded.

Then he said: "You are a Jinyiwei... We are not from the same group, and I can't send you a mission. You patrol and stand guard day and night. You can watch it yourself!"

The two people were discussing here. Zhu Jinghong had entered the inner courtyard and heard the sound of laughter coming from the side room.

"Who is so bold?" Zhu Jinghong was suspicious.

"Welcome Your Majesty!"

As the eunuchs and maids paid their respects, the laughter in the room suddenly stopped. Apparently they heard the movement outside.

In the side room, Bao Qin and Zhen Qin were chatting happily. From the beginning of their rejection to now, they talked about everything, and it only took an hour.

Zhen Qin was a talker. First she talked about the affairs of the palace, and then she talked about what she had seen on her journey north. She also talked about Zhu Jinghong, the most curious person among the girls, and she firmly captured everyone's hearts.

"The prince should be back, sister... come with me to pay my respects!"

Among the women at the scene, some of them were somewhat fond of Ye Gong. Now that Zhu Jinghong had really arrived, they had a desire to escape.

This was especially true for Bao Qin, who was being pulled by Zhen Qin. At this time, she didn't want to see this prestigious brother-in-law, and she couldn't explain the complicated changes in her mentality.

It's a pity that Zhen Qin didn't have the chance to be chosen by Bao Qin, so he pulled her and walked outside the house. This time Bao Qin still couldn't break free.

Then Zhu Jinghong in the yard saw Zhen Qin coming out of the wing, with a girl behind him, but she lowered her head and couldn't see her face clearly.

"My lord...you are finally back!" Zhen Qin approached directly, put down her treasure qin and rushed forward.

In public, she was able to do such a "violent act", which is indeed a skill that others cannot learn from.

"It sounds like we've been apart for a long time!" Zhu Jinghong said with a smile.

"Not seeing each other for one day is like three autumns!" Zhen Qin replied.

Then she turned back, looked at Bao Qin a few steps away, and said, "Sister Qin... why don't you come over to pay homage to the prince!"

"Sister Qin?" Zhu Jinghong looked confused.

Pointing to Baoqin, Zhen Qin explained: "My lord...she is the princess's cousin Baoqin. She admires your reputation and comes here to see you!"

At this time, Bao Qin slowly raised his head, and his beautiful red face immediately caught Zhu Jinghong's attention.

"Xue Baoqin? My sister-in-law?"

(End of this chapter)