Corrupt official in the Red Chamber

Chapter 387 Imperial Envoy by Order

After being driven away by Jia Rui, Princess Nan'an returned to the Prince of Nan'an County angrily.

Jia Tanchun, who was originally a good person, now has no way to replace his granddaughter and go to the barbarian country in the south.

You must know that Jia Tanchun was the substitute, but she and Jia Mu reached many ulterior conditions before it was completed.

You must know that the Jia family now is completely different from the one in the original Dream of Red Mansions.

Now supported by two people, Dingxi Hou Jia Rui and Hainan Governor Jia Zheng, the status of the entire Jia family has risen sharply, and has even become the head of the four major families again.

If you want a daughter from such a family to go to the south to replace her granddaughter, the price to pay is not low.

It's fine now, she paid the price, but Jia Rui got messed up, and she hasn't reasoned with it yet.

But in the current situation, if Nan'an County Prince is not redeemed, their Nan'an County Prince's Palace will be finished, so in the end they can only pinch their noses and let a concubine get married.

Besides, Jia Rui has been very well prepared during this period, and he will go south just waiting for the emperor's order.

This day is the day of the Three Six-Nine Dynasty.

Civil and military personnel stood on both sides of the Qianqing Gate according to their rank.

Jia Rui still stood at the front of the civil servants as usual, followed by four cabinet ministers.

Not long after waiting, the emperor's luanjia arrived at the main hall of Qianqingmen, then walked up the imperial steps from the side and sat on the throne.

When everyone saw the emperor coming, they quickly knelt down and shouted long live the emperor.

"No need to pay tribute."

As Xia Shouzhong's sharp yet feminine voice sounded, the ministers dared to stand up.

"If you have this early report, you can leave the court without incident."

Ministers, you look at me and I look at you. There is nothing important to report.

The main thing is that all important matters in the court now have to make way for peace with the Nanman Kingdom.

The emperor sat on the throne, looked down, and then said: "Now that we are making peace with the Southern Barbarians, our country cannot take it lightly and lose etiquette. Therefore, we are going to send a highly respected minister as the peace envoy. I wonder which of your beloved ministers is willing to go?"

All the ministers lowered their heads when they heard this, wishing they could bury their heads under their feet.

This is not an easy job. If you make a mistake, you will have to be insulted by the barbarians, and you will not get any benefits or future reputation. It is simply thankless.

The emperor looked at the ministers below and felt very helpless, but someone had to do the work, right?

So the emperor could only say again: "This matter is related to the stability of the imperial court for decades. Dear ministers, you should abandon your personal fame and fortune and contribute to the imperial court. The royal family will certainly not hesitate to reward you."

However, none of the ministers below opened their eyes. Even Li Wanneng, the imperial censor of Zuodu who was the emperor's most trusted confidant, remained silent below.

Just when the emperor wanted to personally name a minister, Jia Rui walked out from the front.

He knelt down on the ground and started to play: "I would like to report to your Majesty that I am a humble minister willing to share your Majesty's worries."

What the emperor saw was that Jia Rui was also somewhat relieved. Although Jia Rui was a treacherous minister who relied on the Supreme Emperor to gain power, the Supreme Emperor still did not misjudge him. At least he was a person who was willing to give up fame and fortune for the court.

"Okay, Jia Aiqing really did not disappoint me."

The emperor nodded with satisfaction, and then a trace of joy flashed in his eyes.

When Jia Rui leaves the capital this time, there will be one less mountain weighing on his head, and he can feel more relaxed.

"Confess Jia Rui as the Imperial Envoy to escort the princess south."

"Your Majesty Jia Rui accepts the order."

Xia Shouzhong, who was standing next to him, soon handed the imperial envoy's seal to Jia Rui's hands.

Jia Rui has been in charge of this imperial seal several times, so he is very familiar with it.

After the dynasty dispersed, Jia Rui was immediately surrounded by a large group of ministers.

These people can be regarded as Jia Rui's followers in the court, and they all follow Jia Rui's lead.

In particular, Shen Wence, the Minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, and Jia Yucun, the Minister of the Ministry of War.

The two of them can be regarded as the core figures in Jia Rui's small group, and they are also Jia Rui's die-hard supporters and confidants.

"Sir, I'm afraid it's not appropriate to leave Beijing at this time, right?" Shen Wence said worriedly.

Because during this period, the emperor returned to take charge of the court. Although he was not as sharp as before, in this spring breeze, his strength began to slowly penetrate into the court.

If there was no Jia Rui in the court at this time, many of the rights of Jia Rui, a small group, would be eroded by the emperor.

Jia Rui touched his chin, smiled slightly, and then said: "Don't care about temporary gains and losses. Today's losses are for tomorrow's gains." The people below did not understand what Jia Rui said, but seeing Jia Rui's confidence, they I feel relieved.

After Jia Rui dismissed everyone, he did not go to the cabinet. Instead, he went to the Dragon Head Palace in a circle holding the seal of the imperial envoy.

After entering the Dragon Head Palace, I saw the Supreme Emperor standing in front of the Dragon Bookcase with a map on it, thinking about something.

Jia Rui sneaked behind the Supreme Emperor as if there was no one around, stretched his neck and looked at the map. It turned out that it was a map of the southern part of the empire, with the Southern Barbarian Kingdom drawn in one corner.

"Jia Rui, do you think we should keep him in this country?"

It turned out that the Emperor had noticed Jia Rui coming in a long time ago, but he was just in no mood to pay attention to him.

Jia Rui scratched his head and then said: "Of course we have to occupy it. After all, it is a country and there are always some useful things, but there are useless things. Those southern barbarians farm for us, and the court also earns a lot of income every year."

The Supreme Emperor rubbed his forehead, sat on the chair tiredly, and then said: "But these Southern Barbarians are unruly, and our court is incapable. We have stationed troops in the Southern Barbarians for a long time. Once our army leaves, it will not return to the original state. Already?"

"Your Majesty, who said that stationing troops in other countries requires money from the court?"

The Supreme Emperor looked up at the evil smile on Jia Rui's face, shook his head gently, and said, "Don't you want to exploit the southern barbarian people? This will ruin the reputation of our country."

"Your Majesty, as long as there are benefits, it doesn't matter whether his reputation is good or not. Besides, even if our reputation is good, it's not worth the benefits of silver and food?"

Then Jia Rui lowered his mouth to the ear of the Supreme Emperor and said softly: "There may not be a natural disaster in our Central Plains one day. If the court does not have food to provide relief to the victims, I am afraid that the dynasty will be shaken again."

The Emperor's eyes flashed for a moment, then he glanced at Jia Rui and nodded gently, "Instead of letting us Central Plains people suffer, it would be better to let these barbarians suffer. Is that what you mean?"

"The Emperor Mingjian."

The Supreme Emperor looked at the entrance of the palace and hesitated for a while. After a long time, he finally made up his mind and said:

"The merits and demerits of thousands of years will be judged by future generations. As long as I do things that are beneficial to my own people, I can't control other countries."

Jia Rui immediately understood that the Emperor had made up his mind.

The Emperor stood up, walked to a golden cabinet next to him, took out a key from his arms, opened the door of the cabinet, took out a golden box from inside, and handed it to Jia Rui.

"This is a gold medal for troop deployment. After you go south, you will dispatch the armies of the seven provinces south of the Yangtze River."

Jia Rui was moved to tears while holding the box, and fell to his knees, sobbing not knowing what to say.

The Supreme Emperor was also a little moved by himself. He stepped forward to help Jia Rui up, then patted his shoulder and said, "If your errand is done well this time, the people of the Central Plains will suffer less, and I will be satisfied." .”

"Your Majesty, I will do my best until I die." When Jia Rui said this, his tone was very firm, which can be said to be very resounding.

The Supreme Emperor was also very happy with Jia Rui's statement, "Just wait and wait. When you come back, I will add one more level to your title."

"I will live up to the emperor's trust."

"However, don't expose this gold medal for the time being. Wait until you get to the south before you act suddenly."

Jia Rui understood that the Emperor was afraid that the gentry in the south would be prepared at this time, so Jia Rui smiled and said: "I just traveled here to enjoy the mountains and rivers. If the officials along the way don't pay tribute to me, let's see how I can spare him." ?”

"Okay, let's do it."

The Emperor was excited when he saw that Jia Rui understood what he meant.

If things are done this time, the court will be stable for at least another two hundred years, and his empire may be able to break the three-hundred-year curse.

After all, it would take several generations of efforts for those aristocratic families in the south to develop. Coupled with the suppression of the imperial court, it would be one or two hundred years before they could threaten the safety of the imperial court again.

And for the sake of future generations, the Supreme Emperor has considered it for so long, which is considered to be the most benevolent and righteous thing.

Jia Rui put the box of gold-medal arrows in his arms, then held the imperial seal and saluted the Supreme Emperor, and then said: "I will leave Beijing tomorrow and cannot come to say goodbye to the Supreme Emperor. Please forgive me."

"Go and take care of yourself. When you come back, I will ask the emperor and ministers to greet you ten miles away from the capital."

"My lord, thank you, Your Majesty, for your kindness."

After Jia Rui finished speaking, he turned and left. When Jia Rui's figure disappeared, the Supreme Emperor rubbed his forehead and said to Zhao Jin who was standing aside: "Password for Song Jian's cavalry to go south to Shandong."

The cavalry controlled by Song Jian has grown from the original 30,000 to the current 60,000. It can be said to be the most powerful mobile force in the empire.

Normally, this cavalry roams around the capital, either in the north or south of the capital, guarding the safety of the capital at any time.

Now the Supreme Emperor has sent this cavalry to Shandong in order to prepare for the possible unrest.

Once Jia Rui was unable to suppress the nobles in Jiangnan and there was unrest in Jiangnan, this cavalry would immediately cross the Yangtze River and help Jia Rui put down the rebellion.

And with the support of this cavalry from the rear, Jia Rui can handle his own affairs with more confidence.

(End of this chapter)