The Second Master of the Red Chamber

"Oh, since Erlang knows the influence of these salt merchants? Why don't you tell me about it?"

Jia Lian sat at the head and smiled casually at Liu Xianglian.

Liu Xianglian accepted the order with her fists clasped, "If you say that these seven salt merchants are well-known in the entire Jiangnan, it is speculated that each of them has at least one million or even millions of taels of family assets. It is no exaggeration to describe it as a country that is as rich as an enemy.

Moreover, this is only the wealth they have accumulated themselves. In fact, most of the powerful salt merchants in Yangzhou are just puppets of those aristocratic families and dignitaries in the court, and they are even directly the families of those wealthy families. slave.

Take the most famous of them, the Bai family.The Bai family, one of the seven great salt merchants, may not be the largest salt merchant in the south of the Yangtze River, but it must be the most famous.

Because, it is rumored that Bai Yi, the master of the Bai family, is the next-door brother of Yang Wuhou Bai Qi!As for Yangwu Hou Bai Qi, the Lord Hou must also know that he is the nephew of the empress dowager, and now he is the official governor of Anxi, and he is the real frontier official of the country.

Think about it, Lord Hou, with such a background, who would dare not give the Bai family some face in the entire Jiangnan Salt Administration?
Except for the Bai family, the other six families also have their own backgrounds, and each of them should not be underestimated, otherwise, it would be impossible to get a share of the salt business. "

"Then the Bai family is actually related to the empress dowager?"

Jia Lian looked slightly surprised, and glanced at Lin Youquan beside him.

Lin Youquan hurriedly pleaded guilty and said: "Master Hou, forgive me, because the master has explained before that about the real background of those salt merchants, I want the slaves to explain clearly to Lord Hou one by one after they arrive in Yangzhou, so..."

Jia Lian glanced at him, feeling a little speechless.

Of course he could understand what Lin Youquan meant. Probably Lin Ruhai was afraid that letting him know the background of all the salt merchants in advance would frighten him and make him retreat.Therefore, even though Lin Youquan and others had told him many things about the salt merchants in Yangzhou before, and even mentioned the background of most of the salt merchants to him, including what Zaifu Shangshu and the prince's clan had mentioned. , except that the Bai family was not mentioned much.

Speaking of it, he and the Bai family are predestined.

Not to mention that he rescued the beautiful Empress Dowager Bai in the prince's other courtyard, but he also dealt with Yang Wuhou Bai Qi when he was in Anxi Mansion.Although he had never met, he had someone break his cheap brother-in-law's legs.

Later, Bai Qi wrote a special letter to him, expressing his apology.Although Jia Lian knew that he was probably being polite to him for the sake of Princess Zhaoyang, otherwise, even if his brother-in-law was beaten, he might not take the initiative to make friends with him.

Unexpectedly, this Bai Qi not only has such a big influence in Anxi Mansion, but also extends his tentacles to the Central Plains, and is also among the richest salt administrations.

He has territory, military power, and so much money?He really didn't worry about the emperor's suspicion of him?
Or, relying on the power of the Queen Mother, are you a little careless?
It seems that when you deal with this Bai Qi in the future, you have to be more careful, so as not to be tricked by him anytime.

I also understand Lin Ruhai's worry. No matter how powerful the other salt merchants are, no matter how complicated their background is, they are nothing more than tools for the dignitaries in Beijing to make money.But this Bai Yi was Bai Qi's cousin, and he could be regarded as the queen mother's natal nephew. Lin Ruhai was worried that he would cause trouble, so it was normal for him not to tell him in advance.

So he glared at Lin Youquan and said, "Since my uncle made an explanation, that's all. But now that I've already arrived in the south of the Yangtze River, if you have anything to say, you should say it all, right?"

"Yes Yes Yes……"

Lin Youquan also felt a little guilty, and after repeatedly cupping his hands, he said, "In addition to the Bai family mentioned by Mr. Liu, the Hou Ye should pay more attention to the Wang family of the seven major salt merchants. The Wang family, before our master took office, Among the salt merchants, they didn't show off their mountains and dew their waters, but then suddenly their power increased. According to our master's understanding and speculation, I'm afraid that the Wang family is connected with the prince of Beijing..."

It turned out to be the prince!
Jia Lian was a little surprised, but also a little stunned.

No wonder, those high-ranking ministers in the DPRK decided to insist on the matter of An Siyuan this time, and they must let Emperor Ningkang send people to the south of the Yangtze River to investigate the case.No wonder, the crown prince is quite concerned about this matter, and even negotiated with him personally...

Sure enough, there is no simple one that can get a share of the salt administration.

If it were another civil servant who came here, how could he not be afraid to face such a huge network of relationships?Even if you are not afraid, how dare you start and where do you start?
No wonder Emperor Ningkang chose himself to handle this matter after so many choices.

Thinking about it this way, I can't help but feel that Emperor Ningkang used it as a knife.But having said that, isn't it a testament to his ability to be able to make a blade for the emperor?

Besides, the easier Emperor Ningkang uses him, the more power he will be given. Isn't this what he has been longing for all along.

Anyway, he doesn't work as a civil servant, and he doesn't hang out in court, so he doesn't have to worry too much about those people's retaliation against him.

Therefore, there was no fear in his heart, but he asked Lin Youquan to complete the information about the other families that he had not disclosed before.

……

From Yangzhou to Suzhou is just a one-day flight.

After abandoning the boat and landing on the shore, near the city gate, the prefect of Suzhou and other major officials of the entire Suzhou government came to meet and pay homage, which aroused great momentum.

However, it was not the officials of the Suzhou government who were able to see and hear, but Jia Lian had someone inform him of the itinerary in advance.

As for why this is so, it's not that he made publicity on purpose, it involves a very important rule of an era.

For any large city, the dead are strictly forbidden to enter the city, because that means that it will bring ominous to the city.

Therefore, even if you are a person in the city, as long as you die outside, even if it is on the outskirts of the city, you will never allow the corpse or coffin to enter the city.This is a custom that has been passed down for thousands of years, regardless of officials and gentry.

Of course, the officials here refer to low-rank officials.As for those who have reached the rank of Lin Ruhai, they naturally have privileges.

Otherwise, wouldn't it be desolate if those officials who were officials in the court and wanted to go back to their hometowns for burial after dying of old age in the capital would not even be able to enter the city of their hometown?
Therefore, there are laws in the Great Wei Dynasty, and only officials of the second rank and above can enter the capital for funerals.Only those who are above the third grade can enter the local prefecture to attend funerals.

Those below the third rank are not allowed to enter the city unless they ask the emperor for a favor.

That is to say, in the original book of the Red Chamber, Jia Jing died in Xuanzhen Temple outside the city. After the emperor knew the news, he would deliberately post Jia Jing as a fifth-rank official, and authorized Jia Zhen and his son to carry his father's coffin to Beijing for the funeral. Thank you for the zero reason.

After all, if the emperor did not grant grace, the former head of the dignified Ningguo Mansion would have to attend the funeral outside the city.

As for Lin Ruhai's second-rank official residence, he is fully qualified to return to his old residence in Suzhou City to attend funerals.So when he learned that he was going to return to his hometown for burial, the Ministry of Rites had already informed the Suzhou government to welcome Lin Ruhai's coffin into the city according to the etiquette system for second-rank officials.

In fact, there is no need for orders from the Ministry of Rites. As a native of Suzhou, Lin Ruhai, who is an official to the center, can be said to be the pride of Suzhou people.

Now that Master Lin's soul is returning to his hometown, that is a major event for the entire city of Suzhou.

The prefect of Suzhou had already informed the people below that road sacrifices were set up along the street from the city gate to Lin's mansion, and people publicized anecdotes about Lin Ruhai's life.

If it wasn't for the short notice from Jia Lian, the Suzhou government didn't have time to make more preparations, maybe there will be more disturbances.

Even so, it took half a day to enter the old house of the Lin family from Suzhou City.

Daiyu has been sitting in the sedan chair, watching the entire city of Suzhou shaken by her father's return, her mood is inexplicably complicated.

Perhaps, this is the reputation that my father has been pursuing all his life, and now he is seeking benevolence and gaining benevolence.

Occasionally, through the curtain of the car, I secretly observed Jia Lian who was riding on a horse to help deal with those officials. Seeing those officials in front of Jia Lian, obedient, obedient, and obedient, I felt a little secretly happy. .

Without Lian's second brother, she wouldn't be able to deal with these ordinary people.

The members of the Lin family also learned of Lin Ruhai's death, and came to the ancestral house early to wait for the funeral.

Although it had been expected that as Lin Ruhai, returning to his hometown for a funeral would be a bit dignified, he saw that the main officials in Suzhou, such as the prefect of Suzhou, Suzhou Defense, Tongzhi, Suzhou Weaving, etc., all personally escorted Lin Ruhai to the ancestral house, and even set up the mourning hall. , they did not leave after the memorial ceremony, which still shocked and pleasantly surprised the Lin family members.

Didn't it say that death is like a lamp going out, and the tea is cold when people go away?

Why are these officials and gentlemen in Suzhou still so hospitable and polite to their Lin family?

It was only later that I found out that it was the famous young Marquis from the Rongguo Mansion in Beijing who personally escorted their patriarch back. This time, he came to the south of the Yangtze River as an imperial envoy.

The officials in Suzhou may not be the Lin family, but the upstart of the country, the dignified Marquis of Zhenyuan, who are fawning on them.

Although knowing the truth is a bit of a gap, fortunately, many of them know Jia Lian.After all, when the clan mother Jia Min passed away, the Marquis of Zhenyuan came to pay his respects in person, and some members of the Lin family even had dealings with Jia Lian.

It's just that at that time Jia Lian was just a young man from the Rongguo Mansion in Beijing, and he didn't have such a big name now.

Now with the death of the patriarch, the Lin family's decline is irreversible.But if he can cling to the relatives of the Rongguo Mansion, he will have a backer in the future...

This is the idea of ​​some Lin family members after briefly figuring out some realities.

However, there are also some people who have the opposite worry.

As Jia Lian, why would he condescend to escort the patriarch back to his hometown in person?Could it be that you are thinking about my Lin family's property, and want to take this opportunity to invade it?

This kind of powerful relatives occupying family property is a common occurrence in this era.

Therefore, it is no wonder that the Lin family guessed like this.After all, there are not many left in the Lin family, and everyone knows the basics.

Once Lin Ruhai died, how to elect the clan leader and how to distribute the clan's property, they had their own calculations and their own strengths.

But if they faced Jia Lian, an in-law who was so powerful and boundless, they would not be able to resist.At that time, even if the family property is taken away, I am afraid that there will be no place to sue for grievances.

Not to mention anything else, just looking at those officers and soldiers who "guarded" the main roads of the Lin family as soon as they arrived at the Lin family, wearing golden armor and equipped with golden knives, they only had awe, and did not dare to give birth to any resistance .

After all, even if they don't know each other, they have heard from others that those are the legendary imperial guards.Except for the emperor, only the imperial envoys who go out to Beijing on official missions are qualified to temporarily summon the legendary imperial guards!
Jia Lian didn't know the plans of the Lin family, and even if he knew, he wouldn't care. After he finally sent away the officials of the Suzhou government and people from all walks of life who came to worship, it was almost dark.

I went to see Daiyu, but found that Daiyu was not in a good mood.

"Why, dare someone rob your house again?"

When Daiyu heard Jia Lian teasing her again, she shook her head in embarrassment.

Jia Lian then looked at Zijuan, who smiled and said, "Second Master, don't worry, no one bullied the girl. It's just that before, the aunts and uncles in the girl's family showed affection to the girl one by one, giving them toys and giving them toys. It's sending clothes, and even wanting to adopt our girl as a daughter, the girl is a bit tiresome."

Zijuan is worthy of being a model of empathy, and it is easy to see through the reason for Daiyu's displeasure. When she told Jia Lian in person, Daiyu couldn't help being even more embarrassed, and gave Zijuan a blank look.

Jia Lian understood.

What kind of courteousness, trying to accept Daiyu as a daughter, but it is all because of wanting to take the lead.

That's right, the Lin family didn't know about Lin Ruhai's arrangements before he died. They all thought that after Lin Ruhai died, he would leave behind a huge family business, which must be inherited by someone.At this time, whoever wins Daiyu's favor first will naturally take the lead.

Already thinking about it, Jia Lian just smiled at Daiyu and said, "Aren't you happy that the elders take the initiative to cherish you?"

Daiyu couldn't help curling her lips and frowning.

If those elders really loved her, she would certainly not be unhappy.But Daiyu could see the real reason for those people to do so, because some people's performance was too exaggerated, and it was obvious that they were not what they were.

Daiyu had a keen mind, so she couldn't see through their plans.

She was even a little sad in her heart. She felt that these relatives of hers were more than a little less respectable and level than those relatives she saw in Rongguo Mansion.

Compared with Aunt Xue, Aunt Wang and other relatives of the Rongguo Mansion, these relatives of her Lin family are really not much different from some rural women.

How could this make Daiyu happy?

Seeing that Daiyu was silent, Jia Lian couldn't help but took one of her little hands, and comforted her with a smile: "Sister Lin doesn't have to treat them with harsh requirements. In life, everyone has their own fate, so there will be Different insights.

With different knowledge, it is inevitable that there will be high and low points.

If Sister Lin likes them, she can get close to them. If she doesn't like them, she doesn't need to care about them, let alone offend them, she just needs to stay away from them.

Later, I will ask the steward to call your Lin family members together and announce Uncle's will to them. I believe that after they know Uncle's arrangement, they will not let anyone disturb my sister again. "

Daiyu heard that Jia Lian was going to announce Lin Ruhai's will to the Lin family, which naturally included the announcement of her engagement, which made Daiyu shy and shy, and wanted to withdraw her little hand.

He also thought that Jia Lian was still the same as before, as long as he saw any difficulty in her, he would find a way to help her solve it as quickly as possible, and he was very moved and grateful in his heart, and he couldn't help opening his slightly teary eyes again, Look at Jia Lian.

"Look, it's alright, why are you crying again?" Facing Daiyu's gaze, Jia Lian felt extremely satisfied in his heart.

He couldn't help raising a hand, as if to wipe Daiyu's tears.

"Who is crying..."

Daiyu didn't want to admit it, so she avoided Jia Lian's hand and sat aside, blushing.

After a while, Daiyu asked: "Have you taken care of everything outside?"

"Well, it's almost there. Next, my sister only needs to go to uncle's coffin every day according to the time of day to worship and watch. When the day comes, I will send my uncle's coffin to the ancestral grave outside the city to be buried with your mother."

Daiyu nodded silently. Jia Lian had already told her about these things, and she had no objections.

"Then, are you going back to Yangzhou..."

"Um……"

Seeing Jia Lian nodding, Daiyu's face involuntarily collapsed, and she sat silently, not knowing what to say.

Although Jia Lian was delighted with Daiyu's reaction, he didn't want Daiyu to fall into such negative emotions for a long time, so he deliberately asked with a smile, "Sister Lin, is she reluctant to let me go?"

"Who doesn't want you to go away..."

Just as Daiyu felt the embarrassment of being seen through, she caught a glimpse of Jia Lian's smile and immediately realized that Jia Lian did it on purpose.

Therefore, he frowned, and immediately replied: "I wish you would leave sooner! It's best to leave tonight, lest you stay here and bully people all the time."

Daiyu didn't think she was stupid. Among the sisters in Rongguo Mansion, no one said anything about her.

But in front of Jia Lian, she was always at a disadvantage, so she repeatedly said that Jia Lian bullied her.Of course, there may also be the reason why Jia Lian often holds her little hand to take advantage of her.

Seeing Daiyu's reaction like a cat whose tail was trampled on, Jia Lian was very relieved.

Just when Zijuan and others saw him coaxing Daiyu, they all exited the door tactfully. Jia Lian raised her big hand, hugged Daiyu gently into her arms, and said comfortingly, "Sister Lin, don't worry, I understand. My son will leave in the afternoon. Before leaving, I will make all the arrangements here.

In addition, after I arrive in Yangzhou, I will get things done there as soon as possible.Even if I don't finish it, I will come back before my uncle's burial date.

Anyway, the distance between the two sides is very close. If the horse speeds up the boat, it only takes half a day to get there. "

When Daiyu was embraced by Jia Lian, she also hurriedly took a look into the room, and felt relieved when she realized that there was no one else, she gently snuggled into Jia Lian's chest.

She listened quietly to Jia Lian's words, and after a while she said: "You told me not to worry, but in fact, you have been worrying about me all the time. Actually, second brother, you don't have to work so hard.

You have already done so many things for me, and I can do the rest by myself.Even if I can't do well, it is enough for the housekeeper and Mama Wang to help me.

So, if you are busy with things over there, don't rush back.

The two said that it is not far away, and that it is not close. The second brother is still busy with your business. "

Daiyu knew that Jia Lian went to Jiangnan to investigate a case, and it was a major case.Even from the drama, one knows that whenever a major case is involved, there must be some interest relationship.

She also didn't want Jia Lian to be distracted by her and her father's affairs when he was doing big things.

Just as Jia Lian was worried about her, she was also very worried about Jia Lian, afraid of any accidents happening to Jia Lian.

Hearing Daiyu's words, Jia Lian felt infinitely satisfied, and couldn't help hugging Daiyu tighter.

At this time, he didn't have much thought at all, to feel the softness and beauty of Daiyu's tender body, all he cared about was the love for this person in his arms.

This girl, as expected, has also learned to grow up, and will care about others, so she deserves to be loved a lot.