Red Mansion: I am Jia Lian

Chapter 44 Entering bragging mode

Jia Lian didn't say anything, but Zhang Ting'en also knew that the matter of clearing the debt could only be suspended.

Emperor Chenghui also knew that the matter of clearing debts must stop. The Supreme Emperor gave very clear instructions, don't mess around!

To sum it up in one sentence, Emperor Chenghui was too anxious! But now, it is not the time to be anxious, the court still prioritizes stability.

That's what happened. Emperor Chenghui found that the empire was moving forward like a snail carrying a heavy shell.

This shell is both protection and burden. Once the burden is too heavy, any change is almost impossible.

Unless Emperor Chenghui could take huge risks and use bloody means to eradicate the old powerful group, it was obviously unrealistic.

The emperor wanted to centralize power, and the most obvious characteristic was financial power. At this stage, the state's fiscal revenue can only barely cover the country's expenses. There are many ways to change, but they will touch the opposition of vested interest groups, and fierce collisions will inevitably occur. Emperor Chenghui is not sure of bearing the consequences of enforcement.

A counter-rebellion in the Western Regions emptied the household department, the internal treasury was also stretched, and the national finances were barely maintained.

Under such a situation, the powerful people were unwilling to pay back the money they owed to the country.

The issue of clearing debts was a policy that Emperor Chenghui insisted on. Now he was facing huge resistance. Emperor Chenghui called the five ministers of the cabinet to the Yangxin Hall to ask for advice: "The national treasury is empty, and the war in the Western Regions may change. My dear friends, can you help me?" Any good ideas?"

The original intention of these words was to hope that everyone would stand up and support his policy of clearing debts. The five cabinet ministers were all left over from the time of the Supreme Emperor. Emperor Chenghui made no move to adjust the cabinet after he came to power. Regarding the awareness of debt, the cabinet ministers had no objection. Seeing the other cabinet ministers bowing their heads and saying nothing, Chief Assistant Fang Baiyi could only say: "Your Majesty, this matter should be decided by His Majesty Qiangang."

Emperor Chenghui laughed, annoyed. These are my ministers!
  "Let's go!" He waved his hand weakly and dismissed a bunch of cabinet ministers.

Chief Assistant Fang Baiyi bowed and saluted: "I'm sorry to leave!"

Jia Lian found that he couldn't stay well at home. One of the two adult men in Rongguo Mansion was a loser, and the other was still a loser. The difference is that Jia Zheng is a pure waste, while Jia She is a waste who likes to seek death.

We can't go on like this. The huge Jia Mansion can no longer accommodate a peaceful desk.

I sat in the study room at home all morning, thinking about how to break the situation. After thinking about it, I could only save Zhang Tingen's thigh. Through him, he can also leave a good impression on the emperor.

As for the ship of the old elite group, Jia Lian definitely cannot stay on.

After lunch, Jia Lian called Xiao An, asked the housekeeper to arrange a small sedan for two, and rushed to Zhang's house.

At first, Jia Lian didn't like riding in a sedan chair. He always felt that it was awkward to be carried. After staying for a long time, I realized that for bearers, this is a job to make a living. No one sits in this sedan, and the bearers are unemployed. How can they live without income? The bottom class of society has no savings. A hard day's work is basically just a day's worth of food and clothing.

When entering from the side door, the old concierge blinked at Jia Lian. Jia Lian, who didn't understand what he meant, found that there were a few new faces in the house. At first glance, he looks like a very vigilant and tough man. Well, is this a distinguished guest at home?
  Following the old concierge to the door of the study, Jia Lian didn't go in, so he shouted: "Oh, my husband, you are not in good health, why do you dare to get up and work? You know, this work can't be finished, your body is... ……capital."

Seeing the two people sitting opposite each other in the study, Jia Lian's speech slowed down and he paused before saying the word "capital".

It was so dangerous that I almost said "revolution".

I have met the middle-aged man sitting across from him once. He must be a very important person. His magnanimity cannot be hidden.

Jia Lian stepped forward to say hello with a smile. Zhang Ting'en accepted with a smile, and the middle-aged man also accepted, and took the initiative: "My surname is Huang, just call me Mr. Huang." Jia Lian turned around in his mind several times, but he didn't realize it. An official with the surname Huang is a bad person.

Well, maybe a fake last name.

"Greetings to Mr. Huang!" Jia Lian quickly bowed and saluted. The middle-aged man with a big horse and a golden sword sat down and received the salute calmly.

Zhang Ting'en said with a smile: "Jia Lian came just in time. We are talking about something. What happened in the Yangxin Hall yesterday. Please listen carefully and tell us your opinion after it is finished."

Jia Lian shook his head repeatedly: "I won't listen! If you insist, I'll leave right away."

Mr. Huang smiled slightly and said: "It's better to listen to it, there's no harm in it."

Jia Lian became more and more certain that this man was a big shot, coming out to show off under a false name. Now that the big shot has spoken, he should do it, so he smiled and said, "Then just listen."

Zhang Ting'en smiled and recounted yesterday's discussion between Emperor Chenghui and a group of cabinet ministers, and finally asked: "Jia Lian, tell me, why don't these cabinet ministers support your majesty in clearing the debt? They are cabinet ministers, and your majesty is the most important. A capable helper. Besides, the people to pay off debts are mainly those who have won military honors in the past, and there are very few civil servants who take the right path of the imperial examination."

"Although I don't know the specific reasons, everything must have a cause and effect. It's all about interests. It depends on whose interests these cabinet ministers have in mind. After all, it is impossible to escape without money." Of course, Jia Lian couldn't just talk nonsense. If you don't understand the origins of these cabinet ministers, how can you say nonsense? I can only say something essential.

"It makes sense. Since the time of the Supreme Emperor, various regions in Liangjiang have successively owed more than 3 million taels of tax. The salt tax in Lianghuai is one million taels less than thirty years ago. Last year's salt tax is still repaid. Confiscated. Lin Ruhai, your uncle, is now the salt censor. Last month he came with a memorial saying that he wanted to rectify the salt industry and asked for a saving of 20,000 taels of salt tax." Zhang Ting'en knew the imperial finances well, and he said it in just a few words. The truth is almost exposed.

If I support His Majesty in clearing the debt, I will offend the old elite group, which includes not only the nobles, but also a group of royal relatives. If the cabinet ministers support the clearing of arrears, the powerful group will jump out and talk about the tax arrears in Liangjiang and the salt tax in Lianghuai. Anyway, they owe money to the country, so they can just put it off. They are not the ones who are anxious anyway.

Mr. Huang (Emperor Chenghui)'s expression became more and more ugly. It was like a parent who saw relatives lining up to move things from the public treasury to his own home. As a parent, he could only watch.

Is the empire short of money? There is really no shortage, but the court is the one who is short of money. The reason for the lack of money is that there are too many Shu rats inside and outside the court.

Apart from minting coins to get some seigniorage, is there no other way? I remember that Lao San said that this guy has other ways. Do you want Lao San to get close to him again and ask for some other tricks? "Jia Enhou gave birth to a good son." Mr. Huang sighed with emotion, but Zhang Ting'en smiled and sprinkled salt on Jia Lian's wounds:

"My students are naturally excellent, but the elder in the family is careless. His face turns red when he sees how anxious he is."

"Sir, don't talk nonsense. I'm not blushing. It's because the floor heating in your room is too hot." Jia Lian refused to admit it. After all, Mr. Huang was present. But depending on the meaning, Zhang Ting'en doesn't mind Mr. Huang knowing his true thoughts.

Emperor Chenghui's face suddenly darkened and he said, "That's right. It's too much for a group of nobles who have been favored for many years to unite to embarrass the Supreme Emperor who is still in his old age."

Jia Lian couldn't help but sneered after hearing this: "The two most difficult things in the world are to borrow money from others, and to take back the money lent by others. Borrow money based on your ability. Why do you need to pay back the money? The court should take back too much money, so why are you focusing on the small amount of money owed by the powerful? "

Mr. Huang's face became more and more gloomy and said: "Why, you don't think you should pay off the debt? Is it reasonable to spend money from the court?"

Seeing how excited he was, Jia Lian became even more certain that this was Emperor Chenghui's trusted minister. Who was it?

Thinking about it, Jia Lian shook his head and said calmly: "No, no, it is necessary to clear the debt, it just depends on the time."

Zhang Tingen looked at it carefully, smiled and said, "You don't say that because your family also owes money, right?"

"What does Rongguo Mansion's money have to do with me? I can't take charge of the family." As he said this, Jia Lian thought to himself. He had to say something nice to make the emperor happy, so he looked in the direction of the imperial city with a solemn look on his face. He clasped his hands and said, "Today, we are initiating the matter of clearing our debts. It seems to be a serious matter, but in fact, we have even put aside our posthumous reputation for the sake of managing the country."

The expression on Mr. Huang's face obviously changed from gloomy to soft, and his tone trembled slightly: "You are so young that you are making irresponsible remarks about Your Majesty. Is it possible that you haven't seen clearly the princes and ministers in the court?"

"Because they could see clearly, the ministers were silent collectively. Taking the salt tax from Huaihe River as an example, why was it less than one million taels? Obviously the population of the imperial court has increased in recent years, and there are more people eating. Why? Are you selling less salt? Nothing but private salt. Every year, you steal a million taels of private salt just from taxes. What is there that one family can do? Top-down, collusion, harming the public and enriching private interests. Public money , and it cannot fall into their own pockets. The courtiers just drag it away in order not to offend anyone. Just now, Mr. Zhang mentioned my cousin. In my opinion, if he is a loyal and talented minister to Your Majesty, I am afraid he will not live long. . How courageous these people are depends on how much money they have."

These words immediately silenced the two of them, especially Emperor Chenghui, who was still thinking, if Lin Ruhai is a loyal minister, will he live long?
  How dare they? Thinking about it more carefully, they really dared.

Thinking in his mind and still wanting to be sure, Emperor Chenghui looked at Jia Lian and asked, "Oh, aren't these people afraid of Wang Fa?"

Hearing this, Jia Lian sneered unrecognizably: "You should also be someone who has read history books. The Emperor Wuzong of the previous Ming Dynasty just fell into the water and caught the cold. How could he not be cured? And..."

"Shut up!" Zhang Ting'en suddenly stopped harshly.

Only then did Jia Lian realize that although this was an opportunity deliberately created by Zhang Ting'en to speak, he could say anything.

Unexpectedly, Mr. Huang waved his hand indifferently: "Brother Zhang, there is no need to make a fuss. Why can't we talk about the things recorded in the history books? Jiajing was almost strangled to death by the palace maid in Xiyuan, and the palace caught fire during the southern tour. One after another, one after another Each piece is worth pondering.”

While speaking, Mr. Huang looked at Jia Lian to encourage him, hoping that he would continue speaking.

"Historical books are all compiled by literati, and some things are secretive. At the end of the dynasty recorded in the history books, there must have been a faint emperor. Even for Zhuge Wuhou, the "Chu Shi Biao" only mentioned that he was close to the villain and the virtuous minister, and did not mention the Eastern Han Dynasty. In the last years, the clans actually controlled the vast majority of local resources. Later, it was better to switch to the gentry, but it was only a little better and could not solve the cycle of chaos. The reason is simply that as vested interests, they are unwilling to Make any changes. No matter who does it in this world, it will not affect the gentry to continue to be human beings."

Before Jia Lian could continue, Zhang Ting'en said, "Jia Lian, if you talk nonsense after you get out of this room, I'll break your legs to prevent you from dying on the streets one day."

Jia Lian couldn't help but smacked his lips after hearing this. He thought about it and stopped talking. However, Mr. Huang didn't look like a good person. He smiled and said, "Don't scare the children. I think what he said is quite good. Jia Lian, keep talking."

After hearing this, Jia Lian looked at Zhang Ting'en and saw that his eyebrows were lowered and he was silent. He suddenly understood and said to Mr. Huang with a smile: "I have said everything that needs to be said, and there is nothing left to say." Mr. Huang glanced calmly. He glanced at Zhang Ting'en and said with a smile, "Then I won't say anything."

"It has been two thousand years since the First Emperor saw what happened in the court. When he didn't understand, he would go back and read the history books, and he would definitely find similar cases. However, historians also divided their records into people. Even Tai Shigong had his own likes and dislikes. It's just that Tai Shigong didn't go too far. Unlike Sima Guang, "Zi Zhi Tong Jian" contains some black material that is not on the table."

Jia Lian will now enter a state of bragging, mainly to change the topic.

Zhang Ting'en asked with a very cooperative smile: "Oh, tell me, why does Tai Shigong have personal likes and dislikes?"

After hearing this, Jia Lian asked: "Sir, do you think Xiang Yu is a hero?"

Zhang Ting'en replied without thinking: "That's natural. I still miss Xiang Yu and refuse to cross Jiangdong."

"A hero who traps and kills soldiers, or a hero who massacres a city? Isn't it because he refuses to cross the Yangtze River because he wants to save face? In order to vent his personal anger, are only some buildings burned? How many books collected by the First Emperor are there. In my opinion See, Xiang Yu is not only not a hero, but also an extremely selfish hypocrite who wants to save face and is a historical sinner. As the strongest overlord in the late Qin Dynasty, the vast majority of people opposed him, which fully shows that Xiang Yu is unpopular. Failure is a It’s inevitable.”

After these words, the two people at the scene fell into silence again. Jia Lian thought quite proudly, thanks to his liking to wander around in the historical knowledge area.

"What do you mean, the historian can't be trusted?" Zhang Ting'en had a stern expression on his face, which was a precursor to starting a rant.

"Of course not. Historians have biased records, and readers must have a correct attitude. It is not advisable to follow what others say, and it is not advisable to speculate without reason. This is probably a manifestation of the golden mean."

After hearing this, Mr. Huang couldn't help but curiously asked: "Are you really Marquis Jia En's biological child?"

on site:……

(End of this chapter)