Red Mansion: I am Jia Lian

Chapter 361 It’s too miserable to have no TT!
Emperor Chenghui felt that Jia Lian's life was indeed not easy, because his personal preferences were too special. Who would plunge into such a place after passing the imperial examination?

Being an official and a master, working during the day, drinking and having fun at night, and relying on beautiful women, isn’t that satisfying?

It's not right to say that Jia Lian has no hobbies. Didn't he play two roles in Kunqu Opera? They were twins, so this hobby is quite common. Two identical faces, wow!
Feeling that it was not good to criticize his subjects in private, Emperor Chenghui quietly left without disturbing Jia Lian and others. He chose to wait outside and asked the eunuch to call Jia Lian out.

Last time, Jia Lian's evaluation of Li Lao Er was very objective, and Emperor Chenghui was very satisfied. The ministers also impeached Li Yuan a lot, and none of them said good things. Even if they wanted to say good things, they would choose to protect themselves in the face of so many people's saliva. Jia Lian is the type of person who says "what does it have to do with me", and he can tell the "truth" when asked in person, which is good, because he knows whose job he is serving.

The situation of two sons competing for the throne has basically taken shape. Judging from the momentum, the second son has a big advantage. In comparison, the third son is more used to focusing on work.

Despite this, some young people in the Ministry of Clan Affairs took the initiative to move closer to Li Heng, and some officials in the Ministry of Public Administration and the Ministry of War also began to lean towards him.

As for Zhao Kuangyin wearing the yellow robe, it is nonsense to say that he didn't want to. Many times when the interests of a group of people are concentrated on one person, you'd better go with the flow, otherwise you will be the first to be drowned.

As for whether one can control this power and use it for one's own benefit in the future, that is another question.

"Your Majesty, I am guilty of being late!" Jia Lian left the craftsmen behind and hurried over. Emperor Chenghui waved his hand indifferently: "I was in a spur of the moment, what crime have you committed?"

As he spoke, Emperor Chenghui walked out, and Jia Lian hurriedly followed him. The group entered a restaurant. Qiu Shian arrived first and led the way.

Emperor Chenghui wanted to sit in front of the window, but Qiu Shian dissuaded him in the name of safety and went to the pre-arranged box.

The emperor took his seat first, Jia Lian sat opposite him, Qiu Shian served on the side, and no one else was qualified to come in.

"This tea is good. It's the best tea in the palace." Emperor Chenghui put down the teacup and said this to Qiu Shian, who was sweating all over.

Jia Lian calmly took over the conversation and eased Qiu Shian's voice: "County officials naturally want to offer the best tea as tribute, but local tea merchants will definitely not agree. The best tea is sold for money and given the reputation of tribute tea, while the inferior tea is offered as tribute. It has always been like this. Even if county officials are determined to keep an eye on it, the people below them have plenty of ways to manipulate it."

Emperor Chenghui was silent for a while, then he exhaled and said, "The hypocrite is a traitor to the country!"

Jia Lian smiled and said, "You don't have to be angry. Take Mandarin as an example. The former Ming Taizu required officials to learn Mandarin, but what was the result? Nothing came of it. People are still proud of their hometown dialect. It seems that this is called not forgetting their roots. In fact, it is still a matter of faction. Haven't they escaped the shackles of the Six Dynasties? This is the nature of people!"

Mandarin can be understood as Putonghua. People cannot speak the same language as each other and can only communicate with pen and paper, which is very inefficient. That is why Putonghua should be promoted.

(PS: I have been in Wenzhou for a few years. Young people under 40 are fine, but many older people can't speak Mandarin, and some can't even read.)
Speaking of Mandarin, Emperor Chenghui also had something to say: "Our great ancestor also stressed the promotion of Mandarin. Every year, the Ministry of Personnel conducts Mandarin language assessments for new officials, but now it has become a formality."

"Once there is profit to be made in something, there will always be a day when it becomes a formality for the sake of profit." Jia Lian knew about this matter. It was just that the Ministry of Personnel organized the examination, and if he paid a little more miscellaneous fees, he could arrange for someone to take the exam for him.

Jia Lian even opened a legal education class and charged money for it!
"Yes, it is profitable. What is Jia Qing's purpose in developing the new musket?" Emperor Chenghui's question came suddenly. Fortunately, Jia Lian had no bad intentions and responded naturally.

"This is related to the combat effectiveness of the army, so I dare not neglect it. Secondly, I like it. If I do it well, I will feel a sense of accomplishment. This is a little selfish of mine."

I personally like this for a very strong reason, and there is really nothing wrong with Emperor Chenghui. In the history books, there are emperors who like folk performers and bring them back to the palace to be empresses; there are also emperors who like good-looking men and women, and have many handsome men around them and many beauties in the harem; there are also emperors who like to be carpenters, and so on.

It is normal for people to have some hobbies. Why would an emperor care about the personal hobbies of his subjects? As long as they don't like the position of the emperor, it's fine.

"Let's talk about improving combat effectiveness!" Emperor Chenghui could still hear the key points. From the battle reports in western Sichuan, the muzzle-loading rifled muskets played a huge role in the battle. The main reason was that the terrain was very suitable. They hid and waited for the enemy to appear. The success rate of knocking them down with one shot every 100 steps was extremely high. There were cases where the government army had 200 musketeers repelling thousands of rebels. Especially when they were defending a stronghold, the words "Under the muskets, countless corpses were abandoned" often appeared in the battle reports, referring to the new muskets.

The widely equipped matchlock gun is not unusable. The comparative effect is also mentioned in the battle report. The efficiency of killing the enemy is much lower.

The firearms of the Great Zhou army were not counted as artillery, and many armies had more than half of their personnel equipped with them. Firearms were so useful in dealing with local rebels, so how could the government army not use them?

(PS: The Battle of Baliqiao in Li Hanxiang's "The Burning of the Old Summer Palace" looks quite tragic. In fact, it is a way of expression, far from the real battlefield. Senggelinqin's cavalry was actually killed and wounded in large numbers by the British and French artillery and Congreve rockets, and the Qing army did not charge so mindlessly in battle.)
Jia Lian knew that what Emperor Chenghui was most concerned about at the moment was the rebellion in western Sichuan. The Central Plains dynasty implemented control over some marginal areas, which was seen as a favor by the court. After all, what good things could your broken place have that were worth thinking about? As long as you submit to the emperor and are given a chance to trade, the chieftains are often the main beneficiaries. Changing the chieftains to the officialdom gave you a chance to escape from your barbarian status.

The cause of the Jinchuan Incident was the reform of the chieftain system. Even if the officials below did not implement it well, the chieftains should use their power to report to the emperor and complain instead of rebelling. There is nothing worth remembering about the Jinchuan Incident, but the geographical location is very important. It is an important transportation hub connecting the southwest to the plateau.

To know how important the plateau is to every dynasty, the ancients can read the new and old versions of "Book of Tang" to know. Modern people's understanding of the importance of the plateau is simpler, just ask Brother San.

This is still at the level of national security strategy. As far as the local economy is concerned, it is a trade route, and the Tusi rebellion cuts off the trade route. If you can't defeat them, forget it. For example, the Ottoman Empire was defeated by Europeans for hundreds of years, so they had to find another way through the great voyages of navigation. Now, if both ends of the trade route don't agree, they will kill you.

Jia Lian pulled out a rough sketch from his sleeve, spread it out and said, "Your Majesty, please take a look. This is my humble opinion."

Emperor Chenghui had led troops and fought in wars before, so he naturally understood the huge advantages of the breech-loading rifle at a glance.

"Well, if it can be done, the firing rate can be greatly increased, and the safety of the soldiers will also be greatly improved."

"Your Majesty is wise and insightful!" Jia Lian flattered him sincerely. Other emperors didn't know that the emperor in front of him was really good. No wonder those insects in the Jia family couldn't defeat him.

"Qing Jia has passed, it's obvious at a glance!" Emperor Chenghui shook his head a little embarrassedly.

"Your Majesty has experience in military service, so you can see it at a glance." Jia Lian said something that seemed to mean nothing, as if he made it clear, but also as if he didn't.

Emperor Chenghui pondered for a moment, and seeing that Qiu Shian was waiting for the food to be served, he gestured for him to eat first and then talk after that.

The dishes on this table were all prepared and served under the watchful eyes of the eunuchs, and even the raw materials were bought in advance by Qiu Shian. This was the maximum security Qiu Shian could provide.

I don't know if anyone dared to assassinate the emperor, but the emperor certainly didn't want to take risks, and he must avoid them if he could. Being shot by a gunman within 200 meters is a particularly absurd thing in any country. It's a problem that can be solved by just piling up people, but similar cases keep appearing in the world hegemony. It's really a magical place.

Emperor Chenghui was in a good mood as he could eat the hot dishes fresh from the pot. He asked Jia Lian to eat quickly and did not mention drinking.

After a quick decision, after removing the dishes and serving the tea cups, Emperor Chenghui spoke: "It is not easy for Jia Qing to feed nearly 10,000 people. Can he still hold on?"

Jia Lian chuckled, "Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. Including the family, it is only a little over 8,000, not over 10,000. Besides, I am not a person who does not get up early without profit, so I will not do a business that loses money. I dare to say that the craftsmen in the Ministry of Works are supported by the court's money, and most of them do private work for others. In my hands, the individuals can make money, the craftsmen can live a better life, the court can collect taxes, and if there is any surplus, I can make some contribution to the treasury."

Emperor Chenghui, who knew the inside story, smiled and nodded at Jia Lian: "The craftsmen are not only better off under Jia Qing's leadership, but much better off. Some of them have even become officials."

Jia Lian smiled and didn't respond. Emperor Chenghui said frankly: "The palace has a warm kang to grow vegetables, and we need to clear a few acres of land by the end of the year. You can do the rest, and I will support you."

Jia Lian quickly expressed his opinion: "Your Majesty, rest assured, as long as it is not too excessive, I am willing to share the profits."

Emperor Chenghui smiled and said nothing. When huge interests are involved, it is better to just listen to insincere words. If Jia Lian has no selfish motives, how can the emperor be at ease?
At this moment, Qiu Shian suddenly opened the door and came in, hurriedly stepped forward and whispered: "There is urgent news from Xishan, Saint, please return to the palace as soon as possible."

Emperor Chenghui stood up suddenly, nodded to Jia Lian, and strode out, looking really anxious.

What happened in Xishan? It could only be something about the retired emperor. Jia Lian judged that this was the case.

In the afternoon, Jia Lian returned to the R&D Department to continue the meeting. The craftsmen said that they had various difficulties, but they would try their best.

Jia Lian did not force it. After all, the level of technology at that time was there. Anyone who was not a fool would know that ironmaking and steelmaking were not the same thing, otherwise there would be no steel mill.

Jia Lian, who had not seen the steelmaking level in person, did not hold much hope. He could only provide financial assistance, and it was too difficult for other liberal arts monks.

Well, believe in the wisdom of the people!
The meeting had just ended and the craftsmen had dispersed for a while when a newsboy came in hurriedly and reported a phenomenon that he had discovered: the emperor had left Xizhimen with a group of people.

Well, Jia Lian quickly went to look for relevant information and read the relevant regulations on national mourning, so as to avoid being caught with any small flaws in his life.

Before leaving get off work in the evening, Jia Lian finished reading the information he found and felt a lot more relaxed.

The Great Zhou Taizu was still very merciful. He was not too harsh on funerals. Instead, he had clear instructions. If you don't take good care of your parents when they are alive, then who would you want to show to the living by making things too much difficult for them after they die?

The Great Zhou’s regulations on state mourning were simple: people were not allowed to get married or celebrate birthdays within three months, but everything else remained the same. The court officials added some regulations based on this.

Within three months, no banquets were allowed, no concubines were allowed, no sexual intercourse was allowed at home, and a piece of black cloth had to be embroidered on clothes, hats and shoes to show mourning, etc.

The specific implementation depends on the emperor at that time.

Before returning home, Jia Lian received the latest news that the emperor had fallen into a coma and was in a dying state, and would probably die in the next few days.

Jia Lian thought of the thought that flashed through his mind during the spring outing and felt that it should not have much to do with him.

There are many complicated things to pay attention to during the national mourning, but it is limited to one month by the policy of the emperor.

According to the system established by the retired emperor, funerals focus on burying the dead as quickly as possible so as not to delay the lives of the living.

Jia Lian had seen some similar cases during the reign of Emperor Taizu. The previous dynasty's three-year mourning rule was reduced to three months by the Emperor Taishang. Even if it was their personal wish, officials were forced to stay in mourning for a maximum of one year. If they exceeded this period, they would never be employed. According to the Emperor Taishang, parents would not want their sons' future to be affected by mourning. Loyalty and filial piety cannot be achieved at the same time, and glorifying the ancestors is the greatest filial piety.

Among these rules, there is one that prohibits sexual intercourse for three months, which Jia Lian thinks is quite inhumane. It may be that Taizu has a bad taste and just wants to torment his ministers.

Being an official is different from being an ordinary citizen. Many colleagues are keeping an eye on you. You are not allowed to have sex for three months. The birth rate of officials' children next year will definitely be affected.

If the timing is not right, colleagues will definitely find fault with you, not to mention going out to have sex with prostitutes. If you are caught, you will be punished to death.

In the era before TT, it was so miserable for officials to be in a national mourning period!
Jia Lian closed the book and sighed!

Of course, it is not ruled out that some middle-aged officials are secretly rejoicing. With the national mourning regulations backing them up, the tigress can only endure it for the time being.

Three days later, the court officially announced the death of the emperor, who passed away at the imperial villa in Xishan.

Emperor Chenghui, who had been prepared in advance, began to handle the funeral in an orderly manner while also not delaying the handling of state affairs.

Jia Lian lamented, but he could only abide by the rules and attend a series of funeral activities. It was impossible not to delay official business, but he could only go out early and come back late every day and hold on. During the national mourning period, the rest days were also cancelled. It is unknown what Emperor Chenghui was thinking, but it is only known that the court was particularly strict during this national mourning. Emperor Chenghui repeatedly ordered that all the regulations of Taizu on national mourning must be strictly followed.

However, the tree wanted to be still but the wind did not stop. On the first day of April, an express horse rushed to the capital with urgent news that beacon fires were coming from the east.

(End of this chapter)