Red Mansion: Bastards rule the roost

Chapter 355 Face-to-face instruction

Time flies like water, and the boat sails like a shuttle. On June 26, we arrived in Yangzhou.

Jia Cong and his entourage of seven boats docked at the dock. A large open space had been cleared at the dock. Lin Ruhai and everyone from the local Jinyiwei Qianhu Office had already received the news and were waiting here.

These days, Jia Cong is greedy for novelty and goes to Wang Xifeng's house to steal food from time to time, which is quite happy.

There were several times when he was almost defeated by Bao and Dai. It was all thanks to Qingwen's witty cover, Sister Feng's sophistication and calmness, and his own agility that he was almost fooled. This made him frightened and excited at the same time. It is worse than a concubine, and a concubine is worse than a thief.

"Sister-in-law Feng, Sister Bao and Qi'er have packed up. Do you want to go down and take a look?" Jia Cong came to call Sister Feng.

Sister Feng rolled her eyes at him and said, "Now that we've arrived in Yangzhou, why don't we pay homage to Uncle Lin? I'd be surprised if the old lady doesn't scold me to death when we get back. Feng'er, don't forget the gifts that the old lady and the gentlemen brought to Uncle Lin."

"Yes."

"You bastard, please behave yourself when you get off the boat. Don't let others see your flaws." Sister Feng said in a low voice.

Jia Cong sneered and said: "Sister-in-law Feng, you have spring in the corners of your eyes and dew on your cheeks. Even a fool can see that you are full of youth and say that I am showing off."

Sister Feng spat and hurriedly looked in the mirror. She saw the person in the mirror was radiant, her eyes were rippling, and her spring color was sultry. She was immediately ashamed and panicked, and hurriedly pushed Jia Cong out.

"Damn it, it's all you, telling me how to meet people. Get out quickly, I'll put on my makeup."

Jia Cong laughed softly and said: "What are you afraid of? There is no one you can meet."

"You also said that there were not two on the boat." Sister Feng said angrily, slamming the door.

Jia Cong's heart thumped and he took a breath. Oh no, Sister Feng has been acting like this for a day or two. With Baochai and Daiyu's cleverness, there is no reason why they can't see the changes in Sister Feng...

After all the traps and dangers, Jia Cong was busy comforting himself.

"Cong'er, what are you thinking about? You feel sad."

Jia Cong looked around hurriedly and saw Baochai and Daiyu walking in all directions. He smiled quickly and said, "I think this imperial mission has a heavy responsibility and I feel that I am powerless." After being infected by two fat men, he also said with a smile: The journey is a training exercise. Now I can tell lies when I open my mouth.

Baochai pursed his lips and smiled and said: "Don't you always say that when soldiers come, they will be blocked, and when water comes, the earth will cover you? You will also be walking on thin ice, as if you are facing an abyss?"

Daiyu sneered and said, "The fault in my vision may not necessarily lie with the emperor."

Jia Cong glared at her and said, "Zi'er is making wild guesses again. I'll get off the boat first. Uncle Lin is waiting. You urge Sister-in-law Feng to hurry up." After saying that, he ran away as if running away.

"When I got off the boat, I wet my shoes carefully." Daiyu laughed from behind.

Jia Cong stumbled and almost rolled down the ship's ladder. He held his neck and turned around and said, "It's ridiculous. With my brother's skill, he can take the head of an enemy general out of a million soldiers. It's like picking something out of a bag and getting your shoes wet."

Pills, pills, Jia Cong felt a chill in his heart. This was an obvious hint from Qi'er. Could it be that he discovered something? Or are you deceiving me? This damn girl, are you going to play mind-attack tactics on me? Is he such an easy person to deceive?

Jia Cong got off the boat uneasily and jumped off the gangplank. When he saw Lin Ruhai coming out of the sedan to greet him, he quickly put on a harmless smile and said: "Uncle, just send two servants to lead the way. How dare I trouble you?" Isn’t this the Zhe Sha Cong?”

Lin Ruhai smiled and said: "Today is different from the past. Now you are a dignified first-class gangster, admiral of the Imperial Guard, and an imperial envoy. It would be unseemly if I didn't come to greet you."

Jia Cong saw Lin Ruhai's face glowing red and full of energy, and asked, "How is your uncle?"

"Okay, come on, let me introduce you to an adult. This is Mr. Gu, the Governor of Liangjiang. I heard that you were coming and came all the way from Jinling to see you." Lin Ruhai introduced him with his hand.

A scribe in his fifties next to him raised his hand and said with a smile: "It's even more famous when we meet. Dang Koubo is indeed a talented man. He is a dragon among men. Brother Ruhai is so lucky."

When Jia Cong saw this man with phoenix eyes and slender eyebrows and three long beards, he was elegant and dignified, graceful in demeanor, and quite calm and dignified, he hurriedly cupped his hands and said, "Master Tai Tai is so complimentary. Master Lao greeted me in person. Wan Sheng is flattered." "

The governor was also called Zitai, and was often given the title of Shangshu or Youdu Yushi. He was a senior official of the first rank and could join the cabinet at any time.

Jia Cong also knew that Gu Tao was Jian's Qiancheng in the emperor's heart. At this time, he was just practicing in a local place. He would return to Beijing sooner or later to take charge of the center, so he did not dare to be disrespectful.

Gu Tao twisted his beard and said with a smile: "Zilong is a handsome young man, rare in our country. I still owed you a favor back then. What's the value of welcoming you? If I can get Zilong's help this time, let me go to Shenjing to welcome you." , I am also willing to do so."

Jia Cong knew that he was talking about Yan Yinwoben's incident last time, so he smiled and said, "It's just a trivial matter, it's not worth mentioning."

Gu Tao laughed and said: "What a spirit! Brother Ruhai, what we consider to be a big deal is like a piece of grass in the eyes of my nephew. It really is true that the waves behind you in the Yangtze River push the waves ahead, so good."

Lin Ruhai smiled and said: "It's not surprising that young people are a little angry. You will understand after suffering two losses. Governor Xian must not overdo his praise."

Jia Cong smiled in surprise and saw several sedans coming down from behind, and said: "Uncle, Mr. Taiwan, the weather is hot, let's go back and talk about it."

"That's fine." Lin Ruhai nodded, and sat back in the sedan with Gu Tao, surrounded by the accompanying saltmen and officials, and headed back home.

Jia Cong waved his hand for the sedan to follow, but he lagged behind because he had just seen a few people in Feiyu uniforms in the corner. He did not dare to come near because Gu Tao and others were there.

"I have a humble position as Yangzhou Qianhu Pan Sang (Suzhou Qianhu Ye Qing), please see the Admiral." Two middle-aged men knelt on the side of the road, followed by several more school lieutenants.

Jia Cong sat high on his horse, reined in his horse slightly, and said, "It's just you two. Where are the people from Jinling?"

Pan Sang said: "The two humble people learned that the Lord has arrived, so they came here to greet the Lord. Sha Zhen comforted them or waited for the Lord in Jinling."

Jia Cong chuckled: "Sha Zhenfu has other plans, that's fine. You two understand, just go down and I will come back to see you later."

"Yes." The two of them hurriedly stepped back and watched Jia Cong and his entourage leave.

"Old Pan, the Admiral said that Sha Zhenfu had 'other plans' and that the two of us 'understood', which is quite profound. It seems that you made the right bet." Ye Qing whispered.

Pan Sang said with a smile: "Sha Zhenfu doesn't have other plans. Although the admiral is young, he is very decisive. Two cases have stirred up the situation in Shenjing. If we brothers don't embrace this thigh, how can we sit down?" Lao Sha’s broken boat?”

"That makes sense." The two looked at each other and smiled.

Jia Cong and his entourage entered the Yanyuan Yamen and were seen by everyone. Daiyu, Sister Feng and others went to the back house to rest.

Lin Ruhai led Gu Tao and Jia Cong to the inner study to talk. After taking a sip of tea, Gu Tao smiled and said, "Zilong, you don't know, but your uncle will be promoted back to Beijing soon."

Jia Cong was surprised and happy, and said: "Seriously?"

"That's still false. The decree has been issued. After Brother Ruhai has arranged the salt affairs, he will return to the capital to take up a post. Naturally, he will be promoted. Let alone be promoted to ten levels in a row. It is not impossible to reach the sky in one step." Gu Tao smiled.

Jia Cong said happily: "Congratulations, uncle."

Lin Ruhai is now a seventh-level salt inspector. If he is promoted to ten levels in a row, he will at least be a sixth-level minister.

Lin Ruhai waved his hand and said with a smile: "Brother Jian'an, please don't exaggerate and make people laugh. Ruhai has never been interested in fame and fortune. You know that, he only does errands for the imperial court. Isn't it the same as being an official?"

Gu Tao's pseudonym is Jian'an. The two have been friends for many years and belong to the same camp. They call each other casually in private.

"Having said that, the old party is now so powerful that it cannot change its past. It is vital to the great cause of the new law to occupy a good position like the sea." Gu Tao said.

"You should do your best." Lin Ruhai nodded.

"When it comes to the new law, does Zilong have any ideas? You implemented the new law in Liaodong and achieved outstanding results. I am happy to see you, but I feel sorry for you." Gu Tao said.

"I don't dare to praise you as an old man. Cong only knows a little about the new law. The feelings of Liaodong and the feelings of Jiangnan are not the same. I don't dare to speak nonsense." Jia Cong said.

"But it doesn't matter." Gu Tao waved his hand and said, "We are all members of our own family, so there is no need to hide it. Moreover, the letters from the two Prime Ministers Huo and Dong also praised you a lot, so there is no need to be too modest."

Lin Ruhai smiled and said, "Brother Cong, if you have any ideas, just say so."

Jia Cong thought for a while and said: "This time the emperor ordered me to go south to help Taiwan implement the new law, and Cong should do his best.

It's just that Cong has been in Shenjing for a long time, doesn't know much about Jiangnan affairs, and has little experience in politics. In a word, he only wants to control Taiwan and horses. "

Lin Ruhai nodded slightly. These words seemed to be courteous, but in fact they contained a hidden secret. The subtext was, I will obey your orders. Anyway, it is not my responsibility to cause trouble.

Gu Tao laughed. He had been in high officialdom for more than thirty years and could not understand what he said: "It is not a matter of luck that Zilong has reached this point at such a young age.

You can rest assured that I have issued a military order in front of the emperor. If the new law cannot be widely implemented in Jiangnan, I am willing to die to apologize.

If Jiangnan fails, I will be responsible for it. How about you return to the capital and be your uncle or admiral? "

Jia Cong's face turned red, and he cupped his hands and said, "Master Tai Tai is so dignified and upright, and has the world in mind, Cong admires him greatly."

I admire him, I admire him, he can't suffer for others, and his own future is more important.

Gu Tao smiled and said, "Without any further ado, I came all the way from Jinling because the matter of the new law has been delayed for ten years. There is no time to delay, so I will meet with you as soon as possible to tell you the inside story."

"Please tell me, sir." Jia Cong said hurriedly.

"If you want to say what the new law is, you probably also know that it is basically to get some money from the hands of the wealthy gentry and distribute it to the poor people in the world.

As for the strategy of returning the envious to the public, raising a high salary to support the honest, and reforming the land and returning to the countryside, that is a matter for the future. The most urgent task is to divide the people into acres and abolish the privileges of the gentry. "

"Yes, Cong knows about this."

"As for the prosperous land south of the Yangtze River, the annual tax revenue is about 20 million, accounting for more than 60% of the country. If the new law is introduced, this amount will at least be doubled.

But the difficulty is that if force is used, there will be chaos in the place. If a big change occurs, the world will be shaken, the court will be uneasy, and it will lead to catastrophe. Without force, it is really difficult to shake down the local powerful. "Gu Tao sighed.

Jia Cong nodded and said: "As expected, does your Excellency have any clever ideas?"

Gu Tao stared at Jia Cong with burning eyes and said: "I have been in charge of Liangjiang for several years and have not accomplished anything. It was all thanks to my last plan and a huge amount of money that I was able to use as a fig leaf.

Over the years, I have tried every possible means, but I have never been able to figure it out, just because there are five major dangers that are blocking it! "Said, stretched out a hand.

"Appreciate further details."

“First, the wealthy families colluded with each other and formed a party to incite the tenants to resist the new law.

Secondly, scholars were used and bribed to gather and make noise to oppose the new law.

Third, officials at all levels in the yamen accept bribes, and they themselves are rich members of the old party and are unwilling to implement the new law.

Fourth, once the new law takes hold, there will be people who will lead bandits, water bandits, and pirates to cause trouble and hinder the implementation of the new law.

Fifth, Zhen Jiayin was the leader of the old Jiangnan Party, and he obstructed it in every possible way, both covertly and overtly. "Gu Tao said in a deep voice.

Jia Cong said: "Since you have this view, how can you treat it?"

Gu Tao said: "I have thought about it over and over again, and if I want to break the situation, I have to do it with my brother.

My younger brother was born in the Jinling family, and was a family friend of the Zhen family. He was also in charge of the Jinyi Guards. He was familiar with military matters, decisive in killing, brave and invincible, and he was a pillar of the imperial court given by God. "

Jia Cong smiled and said: "Sir, please don't put your hat on me. Cong doesn't like to use your brain. It doesn't matter if you just say it."

Gu Tao smiled and said: "I have thought of three ways, please give me your advice..."

After listening to it, Jia Cong pondered for a moment and said, "This method is very good. Just act according to the plan."

Gu Tao stood up and said with a smile: "Brother, please speak quickly! In this case, I will wait for you in Jinling. I will stay like the sea." After speaking, he turned and left.

(End of this chapter)