Red Mansion Huacai

Chapter 382 Take precautions before it happens

Just as he finished speaking, Xia Jingui's voice came closer, saying, "I knew you were just making random accusations! I just couldn't bear to see the master suffer, so I found some connections to send some food and clothing to the prison, and also asked the jailers to take good care of the master. How come you're saying it's a plot to murder the master? If the master dies, I'll become a widow out of nowhere. What good will that do me?"

Baochan turned her head and retorted, "Bah! Who doesn't know grandma's evil intentions? The shares have been lent out and can't be taken back in a short time. She is thinking that this will definitely make the wife and the master unhappy. If the master returns safely, he may divorce grandma. Rather than this, it is better to strike first. As long as the master dies, no matter how powerful the wife is, she will not be able to ask for the hundreds of thousands of shares!"

"Little hoof, I'll tear your mouth apart!"

Xia Jingui's thoughts were exposed, and she immediately flew into a rage, pulling Baochan's hair and wrestling with her. At first, Baochan only resisted slightly, but Xia Jingui was ruthless and scratched Baochan's face. Baochan was so shocked and angry that she didn't care about the difference between master and servant, and she started to fight without mercy.

The two men were of similar stature. Xia Jingui was a spoiled girl, while Baochan was used to doing chores and had considerable strength. In a flash, Xia Jingui was being ridden by Baochan, who beat her left and right, and her face was covered with a pig's head.

Xia Jingui cried out in pain, "This is terrible! Someone is killing someone!"

Aunt Xue and Baochai both watched coldly, but believed Baochan's words in their hearts. If Xue Pan was not still in prison, he would probably force her to write a divorce letter and abandon her.

Suddenly, a maid came in and said, "Madam, Miss, the Xia family's wife is here!"

Baochai and Aunt Xue looked at each other, and then hurriedly ordered Tongxi, Tonggui, Ying'er and others to separate Baochan and Xia Jingui.

Aunt Xue said, "My son, what should we do now? We can't let our mother-in-law see what's going on."

Baochai hesitated for a moment and said, "Mother, just go and greet her. It only takes a little while for the rest of the girls to persuade their sister-in-law."

Aunt Xue agreed immediately and quickly packed up to go to the front to meet Mrs. Xia. Tongxi and Tonggui helped Xia Jingui up, and Xia Jingui cried, "My mother is here, I don't want to stay in the Xue family anymore!"

Baochai stepped forward, looked at him, and without saying a word, she slapped him in the face.

Snapped--

Xia Jingui was stunned by the beating, and then asked in surprise: "You, you dare to hit me?"

Baochai said, "Now that things have come to this, my brother is in prison and his life or death is uncertain, I am not afraid of making a fool of myself. If my sister-in-law continues to make trouble, I will ask my mother to sue the government to see whether my sister-in-law is sending gifts to my brother or forcing him to die quickly!"

Xia Jingui was speechless. She had her own thoughts, thinking that with Xue Pan's death, the Xue family would also be broken up. She was still in her prime, so why should she live like a widow?
She was also afraid that Xue Pan would implicate the old case and anger the emperor, resulting in her death and confiscation of property. By then, Xia Jingui would be penniless and would not have Qingbai either. How would she live in the future?

Because he was getting more and more depressed the more he thought about it in the morning, he felt that it would be better to let Xue Pan die quickly, so he rushed to find the jailer and bribed him with money to force Xue Pan to death.

But Xia Jingui was just a proud woman, how could she know the ins and outs of the government? The man had promised well at first, but then he went back on his word and swallowed up the money.

Hearing Baochai's threat, which seemed to indicate she was going to make a big fuss, Xia Jingui immediately lost her temper.

Seeing this, Baochai said, "Since my sister-in-law has understood, then go back and clean it up properly, so as not to appear that my family of Xue has neglected my sister-in-law."

After a glance, Tongxi and Tonggui supported Xia Jingui and went forward. After a while, Aunt Xue welcomed Mrs. Xia in. Baochai came forward and said she was annoyed, saying that she had just taken a nap and her hair was messy, so she couldn't go out to greet them.

Mrs. Xia agreed with a smile, but Baochai stole a glance at her and saw that her face was bitter. She wondered in her heart that maybe the Xia family had encountered some difficulties.

Sure enough, after chatting about family matters, before Xia Jingui came in, the Xia family's wife said, "Although I have entrusted Wenlong's matter to many people, the case has not yet been submitted to the Ministry of Justice, and the people I entrusted said they can't intervene. In addition, the Xia family is now in trouble."

Aunt Xue asked, "Has my wife encountered any difficulties?"

"It's hard to explain in a few words..." Mrs. Xia sighed and then began to speak in detail.

However, the Guihua Xia family has always been in charge of purchasing flowers for the imperial palace, and they also have large tracts of osmanthus forests outside the city. That is why the name of the Guihua Xia family came into being in the inner court.

The sweet-scented osmanthus flowers were picked from the sweet-scented osmanthus trees and sent to the palace while they were fresh for the nobles to wear or give as rewards. This was a business with small capital and high profits. However, the inner court was plagued by corruption and the purchase of sweet-scented osmanthus flowers was manipulated. A single sweet-scented osmanthus flower cost only a few cents, but it was sold for three cents of silver in the inner court.

In the past, the inner courts were fooling around with each other, and the sage had no intention of interfering with the inner courts' affairs, as long as the inner courts guaranteed the supply of the imperial city, he would not care about it. But in the past two years, the situation has changed!
Li Weijian was assigned to the Kuaijisi as the assistant minister of the Imperial Household, which was responsible for auditing the accounts of various departments in the Imperial Household. Over the past two years, Li Weijian issued various rules and regulations and set performance targets, especially one that if corrupt money was recovered, the Kuaijisi personnel handling the case would receive 20% of the total amount of embezzled money.

As soon as this measure was announced, the Kuaiji Division was like a chicken with its blood pumped up, and all its colleagues in the inner court became displeased. In March of this year, a deputy director of the Kuaiji Division investigated the palace flower issue.

Four cents of osmanthus flowers cost three cents of silver in the palace, which is a difference of dozens of times! A careful calculation of the accounts shows that since the time of the Supreme Lord, the Osmanthus Xia family has colluded with the purchasers of the inner court to raise the price of osmanthus flowers every three or two years by means of false reporting, concealment, and increased expenses.

To date, it has skyrocketed more than a hundred times.

After careful calculation, it is found that in just ten years, the Guihua Xia family has illegally made no less than 800,000 taels of profit by this method!

800,000, and the case handlers share 20%, which is 160,000. Among them, the Yuanwailang will take the lion's share, so it is possible that he can get 70,000 or 80,000 taels of silver at once, which is still reasonable and legal. Who wouldn't go crazy if this happened? Because the Kuaiji Division is holding on to the Guihua Xia family.

Mrs. Xia's entrustment was not convincing. Not only did the people who gave her money not accept it, but they also used it as evidence. Mrs. Xia felt very aggrieved. She only got a small share, and the big share was taken by the officials in the inner court. Why should she pay 800,000 taels?

But it was difficult to reveal this matter. If it was revealed, the people in the inner court would kill the widowed Xia family alive. In desperation, Mrs. Xia had to seek help from her daughter and son-in-law.

Aunt Xue frowned and asked, "My mother-in-law knows the situation of my family. Not to mention that Pan'er is still unknown whether he is alive or dead, even if he is safe and sound, I am afraid that my family cannot come up with much money."

Mrs. Xia said, "Mother-in-law, can't you even come up with 200,000 yuan? If it really doesn't work, embezzle Jingui's dowry first, and then my family will make up for it later when we recover."

Aunt Xue hesitated and said, "It's not for me to decide on this matter. Since it's the dowry of Brother Pan's daughter-in-law, she should decide on it herself."

As they were talking, Xia Jingui finally came in, called out "Mom" softly, and then stood aside with a wronged look on her face, not saying a word.

Mrs. Xia saw that Xia Jingui's cheeks were swollen and her eyes were red, and she immediately knew that her daughter had been treated harshly. She opened her mouth to say something, but she swallowed the words back because she was under someone's roof.

He spoke to Aunt Xue again before returning to his room with his daughter to discuss the matter.

As soon as she entered the room, Xia Jingui started complaining, saying that Xue Pan was useless and that everyone in the Xue family bullied her. She begged Mrs. Xia to take him back home.

However, Mrs. Xia was in a difficult situation at the moment, so she could only persuade him, "My son, please bear with it. The situation at home is not good now."

Xia Jingui was startled and asked hurriedly, "What's wrong?"

Mrs. Xia then told the situation, and when she heard that her family had to pay off a debt of 800,000 taels, she was so shocked that she was speechless.

Mrs. Xia said, "My son, your mother-in-law didn't say anything just now... I'm afraid your dowry will be used to help mother get through this difficult time."

Xia Jingui thought to herself that she would not be able to leave the Xue family for a while. Even if she did, she would have to get back the hundreds of thousands of silver coins first.

............................................................

Dashun Bank. It was another board meeting. Li Weijian listened to the reports from the directors and the manager, and his brows were furrowed.

This province promotes industry and commerce through banking and finance, and then promotes the Industrial Revolution. However, Li Weijian previously wished that the implementation of the silver standard by Dashun would be beneficial to the circulation of currency. However, after two years of practice, firstly, banks could not collect seigniorage and could only rely on exchange and loan business to maintain their capital; secondly, the paper currency they promoted was almost a failure.

The old manager who was in charge of the bank was dismissed, and the new manager was only in his early thirties. He was a Shanxi merchant and his skills were self-taught.

At this time, the new shopkeeper said, "Dear directors, I think that although the paper money business is now included in the tax system and the court also recognizes that paper money can be used to pay taxes, the common people are more willing to exchange paper money for silver coins as soon as they receive it; and the promotion of silver coins has only resulted in the gentry exchanging the silver winter melons they stored in the past for silver coins, which has directly led to the silver coins circulating in the Dashun market always being maintained at a dangerous number. This is contrary to the original intention of the directors to establish the Dashun Bank."

There was a buzz of voices all around. Li Weijian cleared his throat and asked, "What does Manager Fu think we should do?"

The shopkeeper Fu thought for a moment and said, "My Lord, I have discussed with my superiors and subordinates and have decided to persuade the court to abandon the silver standard and switch to the gold standard."

One of the directors immediately refuted, "Gold and silver are exhausted in Dashun, and silver is used as currency, so there is still a lot of silver left. Gold is not abundant to begin with. If we rashly change to the gold standard, wouldn't it force the gentry to hoard gold? Then what should we do with the silver coins on the market?"

Manager Fu smiled and said, "Director Sun misunderstood. I only said to promote the gold standard, not to abandon silver coins and paper money."

Long-lost memories came to mind. After thinking carefully for a while and listening to what Manager Fu said for a long time, Li Weijian could not help but applaud. No wonder all the Western countries in history have implemented the gold standard. It is true that without practice, there is no right to speak. Their gold standard makes sense.

At the beginning of the Dashun Dynasty, the gold-silver exchange rate was only one to four. By the time of Taishang, it had dropped to one to eight. By this time, it had dropped to one to ten, and sometimes even one to eleven.

Manager Fu's plan was to use the huge amount of money in Dashun Bank to buy up all the gold on the market, thereby pushing up the price of gold. In this way, the silver coins issued by Dashun were linked to the floating price of gold. The common people did not need gold, so they did not feel much, but the gentry who hoarded silver were in trouble.

If the ratio of gold and silver was pushed to the same level of 16 as that of the Western barbarians, it would mean that the wealth of the gentry would be reduced by half.

At this time, how should the gentry deal with it? If they keep the silver, they will lose money. I am afraid that the gentry will choose to sell the silver immediately. The gold on the market has been bought up by Dashun Bank. The gentry who can't find a way to invest can either invest the assets obtained from the sale in new industries or deposit them in the bank for value preservation.

No matter which one the gentry chooses, the banks will be the ones who benefit in the end.

After everyone discussed it, one director said, "It's not appropriate. If we use this method to push up the price of gold, the price of silver will depreciate. I'm afraid that prices will soar. Ordinary people will have trouble making a living and there will be chaos. Then the court will order us to abandon this method."

Without waiting for the shopkeeper to speak, Li Weijian suddenly said, "I think this matter is simple. Since the silver coin has depreciated, we should raise the wages." After a pause, he continued, "To raise the wages, we should start with the inner court. I will report to the prince later and he will definitely approve it. If the inner court raises the wages, there will be many guilds in various places. When they hear the news, they will definitely urge the owners to raise the wages. In this way, the impact on the livelihood of ordinary people can be minimized."

"This..." Doctor Zheng of the Imperial Household said, "My Lord, this method will definitely increase the expenses of the Imperial Household. I'm afraid the Saint will not easily agree to it."

Li Weijian said with a smile: "Doctor Zheng, is he worried about the sage, or is he worried about his colleagues in the inner court?"

The so-called inner court was independent in administration, finance and even justice. It could be considered an internal government. Li Weijian was convinced that if the sage could no longer trust the outer court and replaced it with the inner court, the chaos would calm down in less than a month.

This kind of deformed product that is difficult to get rid of is really inappropriate and it is time to split it up.

However, this matter must be discussed carefully with the teacher, and I think the Prime Minister Chen Hongmou would also be happy to see it happen. Li Weijian's move can be regarded as a move to smash the pot, which is really not authentic, because it is best for Chen Hongmou's new party to take the lead in this matter.

When the meeting ended that day, it was already the end of the Wei hour.

Li Weijian excitedly rushed to his mentor Yan Xiyao's home. When he met Yan Xiyao in his study, Li Weijian briefly told him about what happened today and mentioned the idea of ​​splitting up the inner court. Yan Xiyao immediately frowned and said, "We need to think about this matter in the long run, so let's not talk about it for now."

Li Weijian understood what Ya meant and asked immediately, "Teacher, are you going to take action against Jia Yucun?"

Yan Xiyao nodded and said, "Zhan Chong has already informed Shuntian Prefecture. Wan Weishu is not going to follow Jia Yucun all the way to the end. I think he can protect Xue Pan for the time being."

Li Weijian asked, "Teacher, aren't you afraid that Jia Yucun will take a risk?"

Yan Xiyao said happily, "Isn't that perfect?" He stood up and said, "I have already sent people to the border to look for that person. With this witness, does it matter whether Xue Pan is dead or alive? Besides, your concubine personally experienced what happened that day, so she can also serve as a witness."

Li Weijian thought, Jia Yucun did not keep this a secret, and there were more than just Xue Pan and Menzi who witnessed this incident that day. I am afraid that the teacher has already sent people to Jinling to look for him.

As he was thinking, Yan Xiyao smiled and asked, "Fusheng, what do you think Jia Yucun should do in the future?"

Li Weijian said: "From the perspective of this person's character, I'm afraid he will come to you privately to beg for mercy."

Yan Xiyao laughed heartily, feeling quite high-spirited.

Li Weijian waited for a long while before smiling and saying, "Teacher, this is just an order from above... The sage is afraid that the new party will become too powerful to be eliminated, so he wants to prune the branches."

Li Weijian secretly put on eye drops, but Yan Xiyao did not hear it. He just bowed and said: "The emperor's grace is great, and I should repay it with my body."

Li Weijian sighed in his heart. If he told his teacher that he was going to deal with the saint, he was afraid that his teacher would sell him out as a traitor. Yan Xiyao, a great scholar of practical learning, was so respectful of the imperial power. The road to industrialization was still long and arduous.

It is said that when the emperor was in power, Neo-Confucianism was still in vogue. It was not until the current emperor that practical learning was revived. This practical learning originated from the support of Emperor Taizong Li Guo, but its origin is not limited to Xu Guangqi, but the practical learning school that emerged in the late Ming Dynasty.

After that, Xu Guangqi's practical learning and the practical learning school were mixed together, which became the practical learning school today. But in the final analysis, it is just Confucianism with Western skin, and it still advocates the idea of ​​family rule. The industrial revolution promoted by Li Weijian has already been launched, but at this time, no supporting ideas have been born.

In the past two years, Li Weijian saw that Emperor Zhenghe was quite lazy and indulged in pleasure, so he became more and more vigilant about threats to his imperial power. Li Weijian had no choice but to prepare for the rainy day, for he was afraid that the emperor would simply ban the industrial revolution when he became popular.

If the achievements of the Industrial Revolution were to be preserved, the world would have to be changed. Therefore, Li Weijian compiled a book on practical enlightenment, and although he did not dare to do so openly, he secretly promoted the idea that the country comes before the family, and the world does not belong to one family or one surname.

As for this suicidal act, Li Weijian naturally prepared a scapegoat to guard against a counterattack from the conservatives one day.

Li Weijian echoed this, and then whispered, "Teacher, I think that the inner government is now too big to be eliminated, and corruption is rampant. I'm afraid it has reached a point where it has to be split up."

Yan Xiyao frowned and nodded, "Chen Hongmou also mentioned this matter to the Saint before, but the Saint did not comment. The inner court is in collusion, how easy is it to split it up?"

Li Weijian said, "The inner court is overbearing and embezzles the imperial court's taxes. I estimate that the inner court embezzles at least 20 million in taxes every year, but only pays in a little over 6 million. The difference is 14 million, which is shocking."

Yan Xiyao blinked and said, "Now, what is Fu Sheng up to?"

Li Weijian smiled and said, "Teacher, you know that I am in the inner court. Some of the inner court offices are extremely wealthy, while others are extremely poor and still need subsidies from the inner court. As the saying goes, it is not the lack of wealth that is worrying, but the imbalance of wealth. If we divide the inner court without breaking it up, it will lead to internal fighting among the inner court offices. Wouldn't that just be a good opportunity to absorb the inner court into the outer court?"

Yan Xiyao couldn't help but wonder, "What's the point of resurrecting?"

Li Weijian said with a wry smile: "Teacher, this time I am being impartial and have absolutely no other plans."

Yan Xiyao looked at him for a long while, shook his head and said nothing, obviously not believing him. Li Weijian was secretly calculating that if the inner court was taken over by the outer court, the business of the inner court would be transformed from the private property of the emperor to the public property of the court. If the Zhenghe Emperor wanted to abolish it, he would have to go to the court to argue about it. Then he would have to file a lawsuit.

Whatever the case, this is called prevention.

(End of this chapter)