Red Mansion Soldiers

Chapter 76 Disfigured?

evening.

The entire Yushi Yamen was full of traffic, the entire Yangzhou City, and even the big shots in Jinling City rushed over.

Outside the door, the old butler of the Lin family brought Jia Rong and Jia Lian to receive the guests, while Jia Zhu accompanied Jia Hui to receive the close officials and old relatives in the main hall.

As for the two brothers of the historian, they were originally guests and represented the two marquises, so of course they had to be in the main hall.

"Cough cough, my lord, the last time I saw you was...cough cough cough...at the [-]th birthday banquet of old Ningguo...cough cough It's been eight years in a blink of an eye..."

A rich middle-aged man was sitting on the right side, stroking his beard and looking at Jia Hun with a complicated complexion, while standing behind him was a tall and strong young man, who was also a handsome young man.

This is Ziwei Sheren, the royal merchant Xue Qin and Xue Pan's father and son.

A few days ago, when Jia Hun's birthday invitation was delivered to Xue's family in Jinling City, Xue Qin decided to dispatch the whole family and go north to Yangzhou.

The big backer of the Xue family is finally back!
As an imperial merchant, the Xue family naturally has the backing of the palace.But the imperial merchants are not the only ones, they are naturally intriguing, each has its own faction.

For example, the Xue family was born in Jinling, so he is an imperial merchant of the Jinling family.

The Xue family also worked hard when they conquered the world, and it was only after the founding of the country that they defeated countless merchants around Jinling and won the title of imperial merchant.

But it's not that you can sit back and relax after getting the Huangshang brand. Countless businessmen around Jinling are all staring at this brand!

Ever since, the Xue family took refuge with the old relatives, formed an interest group called "Jinling Four", and became the pocketbook of the small group, responsible for the logistics of the small group.

After gaining a real backer, relying on the power of the Jia and Shi families, the Xue family was able to secure their position as the imperial merchant.

Until five or six years ago, the seat of the Xue family was secure.

Then came the coup that changed everyone's fortunes.

The biggest backer, the Jia family, was beaten to death, while the Wang family hadn't improved since the death of Uncle Wang.

That is to say, the historian is still supporting the stalls of the four major families, but the Xue family and the historian have not been married for several generations!
Most importantly, historians have their own close merchant families!
My body also suffered from a serious illness due to a series of blows, and my body is getting worse day by day.

I really don't have so much time to find a new backer!

Originally thought that from now on, the Xue family would also be lonely, but never expected that Jia Hun and Jia Jinyu, the eldest son of the eldest son of the Rongguo Mansion, supported this situation that was about to collapse.

To reunite the Jia family, make friends with the historians, and control the Wang family. Just last year, the Xue family received the qualification of the entire Anxi Protectorate's material comprador in the Jiangnan area from Jia Hun!

How can I repay the grace of regeneration!

Xue Qin decided to tie Jia Hun to him like a dog!

"Haha, Uncle Shi doesn't need to be like this, we are old relatives, we should support each other!"

Jia Hun tapped his palm lightly with the folding fan in his hand, and said with a smile.

"Xue Sheren, don't let down the love of the imperial court and the father-in-law!" The magistrate of Yangzhou also said with a smile.

"That's natural...cough cough...if I, Xue Qin, have a little bit...cough cough cough...a trace of sorry for the royal family and the father-in-law...cough cough...I, Xue Qin, will be hit by thunder!"

Court, what court?Although my Xue family is in the Ministry of Households, what I receive is the imperial food from the internal funds. The glory and wealth are given by the royal family and the Jia family. What does it have to do with the court?
Jia Hun smiled slightly, this Xue Qin is really on the right track!
"Why let down my love, I'm sorry I came! It's all for the court, isn't it?" The scene still needs to be said.

Everyone who was doing it quickly flattered, and Jia Hun kept laughing when he praised him.

"General, the salt merchants have arrived!" Hu Jiu, a personal soldier, came over and whispered in Jia Hun's ear.

"Well, let them in."

Hu Jiu took the order, turned around and left.

The officials under the seat were tactful and silent.

Anyway, everyone knows why the governor stayed in Yangzhou for such a long time and held such a big birthday banquet for himself.Isn't it just to get rid of these salt merchants and support his aunt and uncle?
I am a small local official myself, as long as I entertain the governor well, they can't afford to mess with the rest.

Let's sit on the shore and enjoy the battle between the dragon crossing the river and the local snake!

I hope the salt merchants can last a little longer.

There was a burst of noise outside the door, and then suddenly fell silent.

A group of people wearing gauze gowns, linen jackets, and six-in-one hats walked in.

One hundred years after the founding of Daqi, the clothing and etiquette system formulated by Taizu gradually collapsed. Clothes were no longer distinguished by scholars, farmers, businessmen, but by the amount of money.

In particular, the whole family of merchants wore gold and silver, and red and brocade, which seriously violated the etiquette of clothing.

Of course, so far, no one has dared to wear dragon and phoenix robes.

But customs are customs, and rules are rules. In order to avoid unnecessary troubles, they still dress according to the costumes in the "Hui Dian" promulgated in the early days of the Kingdom.

For example, merchants cannot wear silk and satin.

The rules and unreasonableness are another matter, but these are trivial matters, and the most important thing is not to let the governor find any faults.

Even if they all have fame and fame, merchants are merchants, so it is better to be careful. After all, for the convenience of doing business, their household registrations are all merchants.

It's not that I don't want to be a Confucian household, but only merchants can participate in high-level commercial activities such as maritime trade, and a family can only have a commercial license such as a marine trade brand, and only recognize the actual power holders!

How can the pervasive embroidered clothes fail to find out who is the king and who is the minister?
The person in power is a merchant, and only the whole family can use this brand. Isn't the person in power a merchant?I'm sorry, but this can only be used by people from the lineage of this master who is a merchant.

Although there are various loopholes, Daqi is still using various methods to limit the power of merchants, and is constantly updating.

That is to say, Da Qi had plenty of martial virtues and was able to play. If it was replaced by the Great Liang of the former dynasty, it would have long been abandoned by various people supported by businessmen.

Since he is powerless to resist, then he can only behave like a good citizen.

So today they are all wearing robes made of Robe and middle jackets made of cotton and linen.These are not arbitrary.

Headed by a man wearing a navy blue long gown, he pays homage.

"Students, etc., see the governor! May the governor have today every year, and the present every year!"

This group of salt merchants all have a reputation as a scholar, and a very small number of them even have a reputation as a scholar. Naturally, they can call themselves students.

There is nothing wrong with the birthday greetings of the ordinary people to the superiors.

"Haha, the visitor is a guest, no courtesy!"

Jia Hun still abided by a few rules in public, and did not stretch out his hands to hit people with smiling faces.

"Students, thank you, Commander-in-Chief!"

The salt merchants got up and stood where they were.

"You should be Bai Yan, President Bai, right?" Jia Hun looked at the leader and said.

"The governor loves you, and the student is Bai Yan!" President Bai bowed down with a submissive expression on his face.

Jia Hun looked at them with a smile.

"The price and supply of salt in Daqi are so stable, all of you have contributed a lot!"

"The governor is over-reputed, this is what we should do!" President Bai still replied respectfully, but there was also a hint of pride mixed with expectations.

"Well, over the years, the salt tax collected has been getting lower and lower. I don't know what to say..." Jia Hun still looked at President Bai in front of him with a smile.

The lobby where there were still some conversations was silent for a moment, and everyone present looked at the chief governor in the main seat in surprise.

Getting into trouble so early?Why are you so straightforward?

"This... These years, the rain has been too much, and the salt fields are often washed away. The salt in the entire pond is destroyed all at once. There is no way!"

President Bai didn't expect Jia Hun to ask such a straightforward question, and he lost his sense for a while, and the reason he said was a bit far-fetched.

Jia Hun still looked at him with a smile. The hypocritical smile coupled with the indifferent eyes made Chairman Bai's scalp tingle when he was facing Jia Hun.

"So that's the case, is it actually like this?" Jia Hun laughed more and more happily.

"Yes... yes..." President Bai broke out in a cold sweat.

"Okay, Chairman Bai, since you're not sure, forget it. Your appearance makes me feel like I'm judging you, hahahaha..."

In Chairman Bai's ears, Jia Hun laughed so horribly that it made his scalp tingle.

Jia Hui suddenly stopped laughing, and glanced at President Bai expressionlessly. Using his thumb and forefinger at the same time, he opened the folding fan to cover his face instantly, a folding fan with a bamboo core and black Xuan sprinkled gold.

Before everyone present could react, they quickly closed their fans again, and a hypocritical smile reappeared on Jia Hun's face.

"Everyone, it's getting late, come on, gentlemen, please take your seats..."

Under the half-hearted contempt of Yangzhou officials, the salt merchants followed the young man out of the main hall in desperation, and came to the banquet in the front yard.

. . . . . .

backyard.

Aunt Jia Min is chewing the newest tongue in Yangzhou with the ladies.

The old lady of the Lin family also looked kindly at the wives who were talking, but if you observe carefully, you will find that the old lady is pricking up her ears, listening carefully to the latest information exchange.

"Sister Yu, let me tell you..."

"Is that true? I heard..."

"Tsk tsk tsk, I didn't expect that, I heard that such a serious person on weekdays, how come..."

In the few words of the ladies, countless people were ruined in a short moment...

"Really? My niece and daughter-in-law really asked my eldest nephew to bring her meals in the middle of the night?" Jia Min immediately opened his eyes wide from the drowsiness, and stared at the noble lady who spoke about his niece and daughter-in-law. His eyes were full of curiosity.

The lady pretended to look around to see if anyone was eavesdropping, then she turned her head and continued:

"Yes, yes, I heard from my elder sister who is the daughter-in-law of Lu Shilang's family in the household department, she heard the voice of a man next door talking in the middle of the night, and it came from your niece and daughter-in-law's room. She was so scared that she didn't dare to move, and she came here for several nights in a row!
After getting used to it, I listened boldly for a few nights. It turned out that your niece and daughter-in-law didn't have enough food during the day, so you asked the governor to buy food for her everywhere, and sent it to her in the middle of the night! "

"Hehehe...I didn't expect Miss Wan to be so eccentric, Brother Hun is really, the soul was all taken away by Miss Wan, one dared to ask for it, the other dared to give it away, but this young couple is really loving..."

"Isn't that right? You still have to be the governor. If it's someone else, I'm afraid they will dislike your fiancée's big appetite, right?"

"Hey, as expected of my nephew!"

……

"Ah!" Jia Hun, who had just drank a glass of rice wine, sneezed inexplicably.

"Governor, is it alright?" The accompanying officials looked at Jia Hun worriedly.

"No...nothing! Come, come, keep drinking!"

Jia Hun, who was drinking with others in the front yard, didn't know that he and Li Wan and his wife had become famous among the noble ladies in Daqi in an unexpected way.

(End of this chapter)