The Red Mansions

Chapter 1659: Assisting the State, the Way of the Emperor

Chapter 1659: Assisting the State, the Way of the Emperor

Godly City, Ningguo Mansion

At this moment, inside the room, the scent of sandalwood mixed with a charming and decadent aroma filled the room, bringing a warm feeling in the early winter.

On her side, Zhen Yinglian propped up a soft, white arm and opened her beautiful eyes with soft and sparkling water.

The brocade quilt embroidered with large hibiscus flowers slowly fell from her shoulders, revealing her delicate jade-like collarbone, dazzlingly white.

That jade-like face was as bright and beautiful as a lotus, white with a hint of red, and bright as a rosy cloud.

A strand of lush green hair hung down from the girl's temple, and it was visibly sweaty, with a rosy glow on the white skin.

But at this moment, there was some shyness and confusion on her face, as if she was a new wife.

Third Sister You turned her beautiful head and looked at Zhen Yinglian with interest, saying with a smile, "Okay, don't be shy now, we should get up."

As he spoke, he patted You Erjie's round and plump breasts and said, "I don't know if my second sister and I can get pregnant this time."

You Erjie glared at You Sanjie with a reproachful look, and her cheeks suddenly turned red.

Qin Keqing smiled and said, "Of course there will be. I think the prince is in good health these days."

Thinking of last night's fruitful return, Qin Keqing's eyes became dazed for a moment and she sighed softly from the bottom of her heart.

I hope she will have a child this time.

Third Sister You laughed at herself and said, "It's been several years since we got married. If the seven grounds for divorce are followed, I'm afraid my second sister and I will both be kicked out."

Qin Keqing heard this and said with a smile: "Who can kick you out? All right, get up."

Everyone got up from bed while talking.

Third Sister You stood up first, took a pair of large scissors from the side, walked closer, and gently cut a corner of the quilt. The red plum blossoms that were just blooming were blooming beautifully.

Third Sister You smiled and said, "I'll keep it for you."

Zhen Yinglian let out an "ah" and lowered her eyes shyly, with a silent charm flowing from the corners of her eyebrows and eyes. At this moment, the girl's immaturity and childishness had undoubtedly faded away.

You Erjie stood up and helped Qin Keqing change into a loose scarlet dress.

Jia Heng sat down on a pearwood chair with a backrest, holding a blue and white porcelain teacup in his hand, and was thinking about the national policy after becoming the regent.

This was a thrilling leap from a subject to a monarch.

It meant that he no longer had to make decisions around the emperor in order to fight for power, and could now fully realize his political ambitions.

Now the entire Han Dynasty has just pacified Liaodong and is experiencing a series of political turmoil. It is better to be calm than to act.

The war in the northwestern border and Tibet had just been put out. Galdan of the Dzungar tribe in the old Western Regions was licking his wounds and enduring hardships. The Khoshut Mongols in Tibet were also waiting for an opportunity to make a move.

As for internal troubles, after several years of war between Chen and Han, the central government devoted more energy and focus to border affairs. Although Xu Lu was in power and imposed high pressure on the administration of officials, corruption was still a chronic disease that was difficult to eradicate under the feudal dynasty system.

In addition, although the land annexation of gentry in the south of the Yangtze River was curbed under the new policy of "equalizing the land tax", the opposition from local gentry and governors-general and bureaucrats was still quite strong.

In particular, these waves of turmoil in the central government not only allowed Jia Heng to seize the highest power, but also caused the bureaucrats and gentry all over the world to have doubts about Jia Heng.

Everyone was looking forward to Jia Heng making a mistake.

Jia Heng's face was silent and dazed, and he couldn't help but think of the wise rulers in history.

History books often say that during his reign, he worked hard to govern the country, reduced taxes and levies, relaxed criminal laws, encouraged agriculture and sericulture, and made use of talented people...

"If you want to become a wise ruler, you must first start as a regent (reserve emperor). As the saying goes, governing a large country is like cooking a small fish. This is different from the pattern of previous ministers. This is the way of the emperor." Jia Heng stared blankly and kept thinking.

If he wanted to usurp the throne, it would not be possible just by taking control of the central government. Without a certain level of prestige, or if he only had power but no virtue, it would still not be feasible.

Whenever there was rebellion in any area of ​​the local prefectures and counties, the governors and governors-general who were loyal to Chen Han and the ambitious people who wanted to fish in troubled waters would all rise up in response, making him extremely anxious.

Therefore, if he wanted to usurp the throne of Chen Han, he had to govern the country. In the process, he had to gather a group of like-minded people and closely unite around him, thus laying the foundation for a great cause that would last for all ages.

If you want to govern a huge country well, you have to start from money, food, transportation, criminal law... and other aspects.

The prerequisite for everything is to get the right people, manage the officials, and distinguish between loyalty and treachery. Otherwise, the world will be in chaos.

He couldn't serve as regent for long.

While Jia Heng was lost in thought, he heard the sound of jingling rings coming from behind the pearl curtain.

Immediately, he looked in the direction of the sound and saw Qin Keqing walking quickly. The beautiful lady was wearing a scarlet dress, and her snow-white, flawless face looked bright and beautiful after the rain.

You Erjie and You Sanjie were walking beside them, like two beautiful peonies, and they said, "Your Majesty."

Jia Heng put down the blue and white porcelain teacup in his hand, looked at You Erjie and You Sanjie, and said, "Get up, let's have breakfast together. I just said I was very hungry."

"Where is Yinglian?" Jia Heng asked curiously.

You Erjie and You Sanjie placed the plump and crispy dumplings on the chairs. You Sanjie smiled and said, "Yinglian is still a little shy at the moment, come over later."

Jia Heng looked unimpressed and said, "Keqing, send someone to deliver Yinglian's name to the Ministry of Rites and ask for her to be conferred the title of Madam of Imperial Concubine."

After all, he is a prince, so an ordinary concubine can ask for an imperial decree. Of course, now that he is assisting in the government, all this is just a matter of a word for him.

This is unrestrained power, and there is no need to discuss with Li Zan and others as before.

In a sense, the current cabinet is more like a rubber stamp for him.

Qin Keqing responded with a "hmm".

In this way, Jia Heng enjoyed his meal accompanied by his wives and concubines.

Qin Keqing suddenly put down her chopsticks, looked at Jia Heng intently, and said, "My husband, the other day I advised my father to retire and enjoy his old age. He said the other day that the Ministry of Works had a lot of affairs to deal with and wanted to work in the Ministry for a few more years. What do you think?"

Jia Heng put down the teacup in his hand, with a thoughtful look on his face, and said, "Since my father-in-law is still strong and healthy, he should stay in the Ministry of Works for a few more years. The Ministry of Works is now repairing official roads in prefectures and counties across the country. Soon, it will send craftsmen to mine coal and gold. It needs capable officials to handle this matter. There is no one more suitable than my father-in-law."

Qin Keqing said softly, "My husband, I am worried that my father is getting old and has been busy with papers, which has damaged his health."

Jia Heng thought for a moment and said, "What Keqing said is not right. My father-in-law has been in the Ministry of Works for many years. Once he retires, he will suddenly relax and his health will be affected."

When Qin Keqing heard this, she thought it made sense. She replied softly, "Yes," and said nothing more.

You Erjie supported her chin with one hand and watched the couple talk quietly. There was a thoughtful look in her gentle and beautiful eyes.

……

……

After Jia Heng finished his meal, he took a bath, changed his clothes, put on a dragon robe, left Ningguo Mansion, and went to the Wuying Hall of the Military Affairs Office accompanied by a large number of Jinyifu cavalry and captains.

Since Jia Heng became the regent, theoretically it meant that he had the power of a "quasi-emperor" over the Han Dynasty. Compared with the previously strong Zhen Qing, he also tried to check and balance Jia Heng through the cabinet and the Zhen family's relatives.

Queen Song and Chen Luo, only Jia Heng can rely on.

The cabinet is a tool for Jia Heng to exercise imperial power.

At this moment, he is the "quasi-emperor" and the "hidden emperor".

Jia Heng rode on his horse and entered the palace through Anshun Gate, when suddenly an idea came to his mind.

At this moment, the cool breeze from late autumn to early winter, with a hint of chill, blows on your face, making your heart tremble.

Palace Garden, Wuying Hall

The palace with carved beams and painted rafters is solemn and majestic. Under the beams and pillars, many soldiers holding spears and knives can be seen standing.

The new Han cabinet chief minister Qi Kun, the second minister Lin Ruhai, and cabinet ministers Zhao Yi and Liu Zheng have already taken their seats behind the table, holding sheep-hair brushes and reviewing memorials.

Since November of the first year of Jianxing in the Han Dynasty, the government affairs have become increasingly complicated. First of all, there is the disaster relief in Taiyuan and other places, and the construction of houses is also in full swing.

Prince Beijing also returned from his inspection and made adjustments to the troop reduction and economic system in the nine borders. He sat on a chair with a backrest next to a small table and drank a teacup. The aroma of tea wafted into the air.

This young prince had a fair complexion, a graceful bearing, and a feminine beauty in his brows. At this moment, he was talking to the Grand Councilor Shi Jie who was standing beside him.

Since Li Zan was imprisoned, Shi Jie, who was also a member of the Chu Party, except for acting as an agent for military affairs in the Grand Council, usually lived in seclusion and refused visitors.

Because of Shi Jie's past relationship with Jia Heng, and the fact that he did not play a big role in the rebellion in which Li Zan and Xu Lu plotted to establish the eighth prince Chen Ze, he did not attract Jia Heng's attention.

At this moment, a middle-aged official with an elegant face suddenly entered the hall, bowed to Qi Kun, and said, "Sir, the King of Wei is here."

As they were talking, Jia Heng, dressed in a black and red satin python robe embroidered with a phoenix, and as tall as a pine tree, came walking quickly from outside.

Qi Kun quickly stood up from behind a lacquered wooden table, raised his eyes to look at the young man in the python robe, and said with a bow, "This subordinate greets the regent king."

Jia Heng stretched out his hands to support Qi Kun's arm, his face full of kindness, and said with a smile: "Prime Minister, there is no need to be polite."

At this moment, Lin Ruhai, Zhao Yi and Liu Zheng also came over to pay their respects, and for a moment, the atmosphere was quite harmonious.

While Jia Heng was talking, he sat down, took the teacup handed to him by the cabinet clerk, took a sip, looked up at Qi Kun, and said, "Prime Minister, it's almost the New Year, and the autumn grain taxes in all provinces have been collected."

Qi Kun said: "Except for Sichuan and Shanxi, the autumn grain tax has been collected, and it has increased by 20% compared with last year."

Jia Heng nodded and said approvingly, "That's good. This year the court deployed troops in Bashu and provided relief to the victims of the earthquake in Shanxi. Two million shi of grain and fodder were allocated, which wasted a lot of money from the national treasury. Now the taxes from various provinces are added to the national treasury, which is just what we need to solve our urgent problem."

Qi Kun said: "Prince Wei, the national treasury has had a lot of surplus in the past two years, so there are not too many problems."

Jia Heng said, "After the New Year, the reign title will be changed and the court will implement new policies. Many places will need money and grain."

Because Zhen Qing's son did not survive the first year of Jianxing, he could not even be considered emperor in the strict sense, and the reign title for the next year was still Qiande.

"New policy?" Qi Kun frowned and asked, "Hasn't the new policy been implemented throughout the country in recent years?"

Jia Heng said: "The Chongping New Deal has been very effective, but it is only the beginning of a prosperous country and a strong people. If we want to achieve a prosperous Qiande era with brilliant civil and military achievements, we still need to hold imperial examinations to recruit talents, select virtuous people and appoint capable people, rectify the administration of officials, and enforce strict discipline. After the new emperor ascends the throne next year, we should hold special examinations."

Qi Kun was surprised when he heard this and asked, "Are you going to hold the special examination next year? Didn't we just hold it this year?"

Jia Heng explained: "Next year, the new emperor will take the throne and grant amnesty to the whole country, so he will hold the imperial examinations again to recruit scholars."

When Qi Kun heard this, his eyes became deep and his face looked thoughtful.

Prince Wei wanted to use this opportunity to win over his cronies and recruit his followers. The previous chief examiner was Lin Ruhai. It can be said that all 300 Jinshi candidates were Lin Ruhai's disciples, and indirectly Prince Wei's disciples.

Now, all power in the capital is in the hands of Prince Wei, what can they do?

Fortunately, Prince Wei has no intention of usurping the throne.

However, once he accumulates enough power, he will definitely seek to usurp the throne.

Now he can only endure the humiliation and look for opportunities in the future.

Compared with Li Zan, who was known for his uprightness and unwillingness to compromise, Qi Kun was undoubtedly more aware of the current situation.

Jia Heng then said, "Liaodong has just been pacified. Since the implementation of the new policy of equalizing the land tax, the population in Shandong, Henan and other places has skyrocketed, and a large number of people need to migrate to the outside of the Great Wall."

Qi Kun nodded and asked, "What does King Wei mean?"

Jia Heng said: "We will encourage the people in Shandong and other places to open up wasteland in Liaodong by distributing oxen, farm tools, and grain seeds. We will exempt all taxes for the first five years."

If they want to completely digest the land of Liaodong, they must continuously dilute the density of the Jurchens in Liaodong.

Qi Kun was surprised and doubtful when he heard this, and asked, "Will immigrants outside the customs be exempted from taxes for five years?"

Jia Heng said: "It is bitterly cold outside the Great Wall. If we do not increase measures to benefit the people, I am afraid that the people inside the Great Wall will not go north. Otherwise, there are as many as one million Jurchens in Liaodong. It will be very difficult to get them to return."

Qi Kun looked thoughtful and said, "Your Majesty, what you said is quite reasonable."

Jia Heng was silent for a moment, then asked, "Prince Beijing, how do you feel about your visit to the north to inspect the nine frontiers?"

Shui Rong looked at the young man in the python costume with a smile and said, "Zi Yu, although the border towns of the Nine Borders are not threatened by the Northern Barbarians, they cannot be completely withdrawn. It is reasonable to retain some troops to monitor the enemy situation of the various Hu people in the northern grasslands."

I haven't seen Zi Yu for a while. Now he is assisting in the government.

Jia Heng said, "What Prince Beijing said is correct. The court originally had no intention of completely disbanding the nine frontier armies. Now that more than half of the troops have been disbanded, it is in line with the principle of streamlining the military and government."

Shui Rong said: "Although the grassland barbarians are temporarily quiet now, the grassland overlords have always rotated like a revolving lantern. There is no guarantee that after our Han Dynasty indulges in the grassland, new grassland tribes will rise up to cause trouble."

"Prince Beijing is right," Jia Heng said, "Therefore, our great Han Dynasty will march to the outer borders, bring the grassland herdsmen and the various tribes under its rule, and prevent them from becoming a threat to future generations. The people in the inland areas will be relocated to the outer borders."

Shui Rong said, "Zi Yu, you said you wanted to bring North Korea under your rule. Now that North Korea has been pacified for several years, when do you plan to bring North Korea under your rule?"

Jia Heng said, "Now that the internal troubles have been resolved, it is not appropriate to start a war again. It will not be too late to wait for three to five years."

If North Korea is forced to "change its flag", there is no guarantee that there will not be people with lofty ideals in North Korea to "save the nation from extinction", and the current Han Dynasty needs five years to recuperate.

In the future he will bring Korea and Japan under his rule, and then recover the Western Regions and Tibet. With the achievement of expanding territory, coupled with the prosperity of domestic culture and governance, the people will live and work in peace and contentment.

At that time, he could inherit the throne of Chen and Han through the ceremony of abdication, which was legitimate and in line with the eight words "following the will of heaven and gaining the throne in a just manner".

Shui Rong nodded and said, "Zi Yu is right."

Jia Heng discussed with the ministers in Wuying Hall for a while, and then went to Kunning Palace.

At this moment, Queen Song was sitting in the warm room of the palace, teaching Chen Luo.

Chen Luo was now sitting behind a lacquered wooden desk, holding a thin book in his hands and practicing calligraphy on rice paper.

At this moment, a slim and beautiful female official walked into the hall quickly, looked at Queen Song who was sitting on the couch, and said softly, "Your Majesty, Prince Wei is here."

Upon hearing this, Queen Song put down her needlework, raised her eyes, looked at the young man in the python robe, and said, "Luo'er, your father...brother-in-law is here."

Chen Luo put down the brush in his hand, his eyes like black grapes were crystal clear, and he said: "Brother-in-law is here."

Chen Luo was still very grateful to Jia Heng for supporting him to ascend the throne.

Queen Song's eyebrows were curved like a crescent moon, and she asked, "Zi Yu, you are here."

Jia Heng looked at Queen Song and asked with a smile, "My Queen, what are you doing with Luo'er?"

Queen Song couldn't help but smile softly and said, "Am I not urging him to practice calligraphy?"

Jia Heng walked closer and looked at Chen Luo, who was sitting behind the lacquered wooden table, and met a pair of bright and sparkling eyes.

"In the future, when reviewing memorials, they should be copied to the Ministry of Public Administration, so the calligraphy level cannot be too bad." Jia Heng chuckled and said.

Queen Song smiled and said, "That's what I meant as well."

As she spoke, she looked at Jia Heng in surprise and asked, "Why do you have so much free time to come and see me today?"

Jia Heng said: "I just discussed the court situation with several ministers in the cabinet."

When Queen Song heard this, the smile on her fair and sparkling face faded a little, and she asked, "What are you talking about?"

Jia Heng said: "It's mainly about the Liaodong immigrants and the autumn grain storage."

Then he told Queen Song everything that had happened.

Empress Song listened to Jia Heng's talk patiently, then looked at him intently and said, "The newly conquered land in Liaodong should be settled by immigrants to deal with the dangers on the border."

Jia Heng finished recounting what he had discussed with Qi Kun earlier.

Queen Song nodded, a thoughtful look on her face.

Jia Heng said: "Uncle Song should have already arrived in Beijing. He will be appointed as the prefect of Jingzhao Prefecture."

Relying solely on his own strength, his foundation is still shallow, and he must unite the Song family's in-laws who have no foundation at all.

Queen Song asked happily, "Really?"

Jia Heng sat down, stretched out his hand, embraced the plump body of Queen Song, sniffed the rich fragrance of her hair, and said, "Since the Li and Xu factions were wiped out, there are many vacancies in the government offices. Now the court is also in need of people. Fourth uncle Song has been training in the local area for many years. After coming to Beijing, he will serve as the prefect of Jingzhao Prefecture, which will help him better practice his ability in affairs."

The previous Jingzhao prefect was a classmate of Xu Lu, and had been implicated in the rebellion of Li and Xu the day before.

Empress Song couldn't hide her smile and said, "Fourth brother is a legitimate scholar and has presided over local government affairs. He is qualified to be the prefect of Jingzhao Prefecture."

Jia Heng turned the beauty's shoulder and looked at her slightly pink lips. While speaking, he moved closer and kissed those lips that were as soft as water.

Queen Song hummed, her gentle and lovely eyebrows drooped slightly, and a light blush appeared on both sides of her white and jade-like face.

Suddenly, their lips parted, and a silk thread could be seen faintly, shining brightly under the sunlight.

Jia Heng gently put his arm around Queen Song's shoulders and enjoyed a moment of tenderness.

Queen Song's charming eyes were as soft as water. She asked, "Where is Yan'er's father? After all, he is your father-in-law. You can't keep him under house arrest forever."

Jia Heng took hold of the beautiful lady's voluptuous waist and said, "Wait for a while before reappointing her, to prevent rumors in the capital."

Well, there is no need to worry about Song Jing causing trouble after he comes out.

Firstly, King Chen Ran of Wei had died and King Chen Wei of Liang had been deposed; secondly, Song Jing was the uncle of his son Chen Luo.