Xian Sun of the Ning Mansion of the Red Chamber

Chapter 216
"Where is Jia Ying? What is he doing recently? Didn't I order him to defend himself? Why is there no memorial from him?"

In the canopy hall, Jia De was sitting on a soft bed, gently closing a memorial, and casually asked Dai Quan beside him.

"Returning to Your Majesty, Jia Ying is leading soldiers and horses to sweep the streets of the capital these few days. I heard that the young prince Suzhong also took part in the patrol camp. The shop was mobilized by Jia Ying."

"Oh?" Jia De was puzzled: "As far as I know, there are no major affairs in the court recently. What is he doing cleaning the streets? But which palace guard of honor is traveling or has a marriage?"

"Returning to Your Majesty, the new year is approaching, and there are no major events in the mansions. It was Jia Ying who spontaneously organized people to clean the streets. He also said that he wanted to change the appearance of the capital. From now on, it will be customary for Bing Ma Si to clean the streets every ten days."

"What is he doing again? The number of people coming in to impeach him has never decreased. He also said that as an official of the imperial court, doing despicable things is like the majesty of the imperial court. I also think it is reasonable. I want him to clean up the capital. It’s not for him to do coolies for law and order. He’s so big-hearted that he doesn’t even bother to defend himself.”

Dai Quan smiled slightly and said, "I think it's because Jia Ying knew that His Majesty would protect him, but it's not like the monarch and his ministers get along well."

Jia De smiled: "Go, send someone to remind him, I don't want to continue to clean up these messes for him."

"The slave obeys the order."

Dai Quan stepped back.

At this moment, Jia Ying was leading the soldiers and troops from the patrol battalion to the outer city.

"Jia Ying, I really can't figure it out, are you out of your mind? Why is I also a prince, yet he comes to accompany you to sweep the streets? If you tell me, how can I still mess around?" Yang You was covering the scarf at this moment, waving it vigorously. Holding the broom in his hand, he complained.

"I told you before, you don't have to come."

"The soldiers are all on the battlefield, how can the master general hide behind? Hmph."

Jia Ying shoveled the filth from the shovel onto the cart, put the shovel on the ground, put both hands on the handle of the shovel, looked at Yang You and said, "Didn't you say that you would be afraid of getting sick after returning to Beijing? I'll give it to you." Wouldn't it be nice to find something to do?"

"Besides, I'm used to the clean and level streets. I've hated the mud in this capital for a long time. Everywhere I go, there is a smell of manure. How can the capital I worked so hard look like this?"

Yang You asked curiously: "Aren't all the streets in this world the same? Where have you seen one that is cleaner and smoother than the capital city?"

Jia Ying smiled and did not speak.

While talking, he said that Jia Mu sent someone to invite him.

Jia Ying hurried back to Jia's mansion, thinking that something had happened, who would have thought that Jia's mother would ask the first sentence after meeting: "You are an uncle, why did you go to sweep the streets?"

Jia Ying found a place to sit down, and said to the mandarin duck beside him, "Bring me a cup of hot tea, I'm very thirsty."

Tanchun and the others at the side covered their mouths and noses with a handkerchief, frowned and said, "Second brother Ying, what's the strange smell on your body?"

Jia Ying sniffed around: "Is there any?"

For the past two days, he either stayed with the dung, or it was dusty, so naturally he couldn't smell it.

"If you don't believe me, ask Sister Lin."

Daiyu waited for Tanchun to take a look, then turned her head and nodded seriously.

Jia Ying had a feeling of being rejected, and the dung was thrown into the flowers, which is probably what he looks like now.

"It's okay, it's all about fertilizing the flowers at home."

"No wonder I always see how Elder Sister Lin has become more beautiful in the past few days. It turns out that it is due to Second Brother Ying." Tanchun teased.

"Try girl, see if I don't tear your mouth apart." Daiyu refused to let go.

Jia Ying took the tea from Yuanyang, took a sip, looked at Jia's mother and said, "Old lady, just be happy with yourself, and pretend that you didn't hear the gossip outside, and it's just disturbing you." interest."

Mother Jia called him back, presumably because she had heard some gossip, otherwise the old lady usually wouldn't worry about outside affairs.

That's right, an uncle went to dig out the dung, and if he said it, he really lost face.

But Jia Ying didn't bother to care about these, after a while, they would understand.

Clean and decent, never look at appearances.

"Do you think my old lady is meddling?" Mother Jia complained.

"Whatever the old lady said, the empress will return to the province soon. At that time, things must be cleared by soldiers and horses. I just made some preparations in advance to avoid any mistakes. Besides, clean the streets in advance. It will be much more convenient then." Jia Ying replied.

Mother Jia nodded when she heard the words: "It's a good thing, but your status is different after all, so it's fine to order the people below to do it, why bother to play in person. That's all, I can't control the outside affairs, just looking for you Come back and ask."

Madam Wang's expression towards Jia Ying also seemed much closer.

But after a while, the palace sent someone to send a message, urging His Majesty Jia Ying to wait for his self-defense.

Jia Ying didn't procrastinate any longer, but asked the little eunuch to bring back the prepared memorial and some confessions and pass them on to the emperor.

"Second Master, Lord Gong has entered Beijing."

"Oh? Where is he?" Jia Ying asked Xi'er.

After the war with the Xiongnu ended, the imperial court rewarded the Hunan Army Camp based on their achievements. Jia Yingxiang’s military camp’s great victory began in Lan County. Made a good personal relationship.Jia Ying also discovered that although this county magistrate Gong was only from a Juren background, his own talents surpassed most county magistrates from Jinshi backgrounds.

After returning to Beijing, he recommended Gong Shangren to the imperial court.

With Jia Ying's current status, it was very easy to recommend a county magistrate.

Qian Shangshu from the Ministry of Officials has a good relationship with Jia's family, and Feng Hengshi is a great supporter, and Gong Shangren already has a lot of achievements in the first battle in Lan County, and he is considered a crisis opportunity to take in Shui Rong. Jia Ying's recommendation was quickly approved.

Gong Shangren was called to Beijing to report on his work.

It is said that it is a job report, but it is actually just a way of promotion. He is a seventh-rank county magistrate, and he is far from qualified for a job report.

It is difficult to move an official in the capital, although Jia Ying's recommendation, and Shui Rong's good words from the side, are just a stepping stone. If Gong Shangren wants to really stay in the capital, he still needs to enter the palace to face the saint before he can have the final result. conclusion.

However, for a county magistrate to be summoned by the emperor, this in itself already speaks volumes.

"Lord Gong is staying at the station in the south of the city."

Jia Ying called Shang Xi'er to go out and ride a horse.

Chengnan station.

"Master Gong, reunion after a long absence, are you still used to it in Beijing?" Jia Ying looked at Gong Shangren who was still dressed in plain clothes, and asked with cupped fists.

"Master Jia, no, it's time to call you Uncle Jingning, and I would like to thank you and Prince Bei for your recommendation and promotion." After getting along with each other, Gong Shangren and Jia Ying became acquainted. No longer as old-fashioned as before, he made a joke instead.

"You also know that my uncle is just a hypocrite, and you and I don't have to be so polite, just call me Jia Ying." Jia Ying didn't know many foreign officials, except for Liu Yunlong and Zhang Zichen, two southerners. A fellow from Xinjiang, and then this Gong county magistrate.

"Etiquette cannot be broken. There are differences between superiors and superiors. I'd better address you as an adult. Please come in."

Jia Ying was noncommittal, and walked in.

"The post station is simple, please sit down, my lord, I will call the trough to serve tea."

"Don't bother. Since you are in Beijing, I will naturally be the host. I have already reserved a seat in Huibin Building, and we will go there together later."

Gong Shangren was not hypocritical, and sat down immediately.

"When did you enter Beijing?" Jia Ying asked.

"The one who arrived two days ago has already reported to the official department and is waiting for the sage to summon him."

"Two days ago? Why didn't you come to me earlier?"

"I should have paid a visit to the mansion in person, but I have nothing in my pocket, and the family of adults is the family of hairpin tassels for generations. It's not easy for a subordinate official to go there empty-handed. After thinking about it, it is convenient to write a letter." Gong Shangren Rather, he spoke the truth.

Jia Ying didn't think there was anything wrong with it, on the contrary, he admired Gong Shangren's temperament even more.

According to Shui Rong, Gong Shangren even dared to retaliate against his royal officials back then, and his temper was not ordinary.

Jia Ying remembered someone from her previous life, but she didn't know if Gong Shangren's toughness could match that one.

Jia Ying looked at Gong Shangren who was still wearing a patched shirt, and the accommodation provided by the post station was also the most rudimentary one, and asked aloud, "Where is Mrs. Sister-in-law and her family?"

"I didn't come to Beijing with me, but Xiuniang took her children back to accompany my old mother. It's not easy to live in Beijing, so don't let her two mothers suffer with me."

After a few words of gossip, Jia Ying stood up and said, "It's almost time, I will meet you at Huibin Building today, don't you refuse."

Gong Shangren smiled and said: "I have eaten pickled steamed buns for half my life, and I just want to experience the delicacies of mountains and seas in Beijing."

"There are no delicacies from mountains and seas, but enough wine."

"Hahaha, my lord please."

"Please!"

Before leaving the inn, Jia Ying called Xi'er: "Go and say hello to Yicheng, and tell him not to neglect."

Xi'er nodded and left.

In Huibin Tower, Yang You had already changed his clothes and was waiting here. Seeing that Jia Ying had brought someone, he asked curiously, "Who is this?"

"Let me introduce you, this is the current Prince Suzhong, Yang You."

"I mentioned this to you, Gong Shangren, magistrate of Lan County."

Gong Shangren heard the words and hurriedly bowed: "My servant, Gong Shangren, pay my respects to the prince."

Yang You looked at Gong Shangren, couldn't help taking a few extra glances, and nodded slightly as a signal.As a prince, the distance between Gong Shangren and him is too great, a nod is condescending.

Since he met Jia Ying, apart from those scholars in southern Xinjiang, Yang You rarely saw Jia Ying introduce his friends to him.Today, for the sake of a small county magistrate, Jia Ying called herself to accompany him, which is really rare.

It seems that this magistrate of Gong County is very fond of Jia Ying.

And so it is.It is impossible to walk alone on the road of life, but there are not too many friends.

If you can get one or two heart-to-heart talks, you are already very lucky.

Jia Ying liked Gong Shangren's character, so he introduced him to Yang You.He knows a lot of people in the officialdom, but he may not be able to talk to many friends, let alone pave the way for Gong Shangren. distinct.

However, in the journey of official career, one can never go far when one is alone and one is alone. It is not a bad thing to be able to have one or two people who are pleasing to the eye, and support each other with similar temperaments.

At the banquet, apart from paying respectful salutes at the beginning, Gong Shangren also acted very casually. He was completely free from the restraints of the inferiors facing the superiors, but he did not exceed the rules in the slightest.

Gong Shangren is not someone who dares to be ordinary, just like Jia Yucun, but different.

Jia Yucun can be charming, but Gong Shangren is upright.In order to please the Wang family, Jia Yucun can waste his life, but in Gong Shangren's eyes, it seems that there is no difference between the prince and the common people.

Just like back then, he gave millet porridge and wotou to a prince who was always delicacies from mountains and seas. The reason was that the people in the city had the same food from him down.

It is good for people to have pursuits, be it ambition or ambition.If he was only willing to guard a corner, Jia Ying might not have looked up to Gong Shangren.

The same is true for Jia Yucun.

One is only for oneself, and the other has big wishes.Jia Ying was looking forward to what would happen if Gong Shangren and Jia Yucun met.

Speaking of Yucun, he was impeached by the Nanjing Procuratorate a few days ago.

The reason still lies in changing rice to mulberry.

Jia Ying didn't know whether Jia Yucun had met Li Endi.

But Jia Ying knows one thing, that is, with Yucun's character, she will never give up the opportunity to cling to the chief minister of the dynasty through Wang Ziteng. Perhaps, a connection has been established between the two.

Just like that day, he used the Jia family as a springboard to embrace the Wang family's thigh.

Today's Yucun is a firm supporter of changing rice to mulberry.

People were killed in Fujian because of changing rice to mulberry, and Lin Ruhai's letter also mentioned this matter.

Yucun is not bad for Yucun, and human life is just a stepping stone to his career promotion. In one village, more than a dozen families were charged with resisting the government and treason.

Because at this time, Lin Ruhai had a great disagreement with him, and the impeachment by the Nanjing Procuratorate was initiated by Lin Ruhai.

As for the result
Jiade is short of money, the chief assistant is in charge of governance, Fu Donglai only cares about interests, Feng Hengshi is alone, and Jia Yucun is safe and sound.

Fu Donglai's choice was within Jia Ying's expectation.

Unlike his mentor Feng Hengshi, Fu Donglai only has the New Deal in his eyes. Human life may be important to him, but it is definitely not the first.The change of rice to mulberry is recognized by several ministers in the court, and it is a good strategy to solve the emptiness of the state treasury.In order to make the transformation of rice into mulberry go smoothly, Fu Donglai can even indulge Jia Yucun.

As for Feng Hengshi, he is still a smelly and hard stone.The emperor reused him and easily smashed his own foot.

For these, Jia Ying is just a bystander.

It is not his turn, a new junior, to intervene in the major events above the court.

During the dinner, the three talked about it.

After hearing this, Yang You couldn't help but look at Jia Ying and said, "This Jia Yu Village is not your clan's relative, is it? I think his behavior is very similar to yours."

Jia Ying rolled her eyes: "His family's ancestral home is Huzhou, and my family's ancestral home is Jinling. In terms of relatives, we have to go back 500 years."

Gong Shangren was only drinking, but didn't speak.

Jia Ying was a little curious about his opinion, and immediately asked, "How does Lord Gong see this matter?"

Yang You also turned his gaze.

Gong Shangren said indifferently: "Whether it is about Sang Zheng or Jia Yucun, the court has its own law to make a clear judgment, and it only needs to rule according to the law."

At first glance, it sounds a little roundabout, but on second thought, it's still a bit roundabout.

In this world, how can there be so much justice at all, the so-called law is just a fig leaf for the ruler.

However, in this world, there is still a need for fools.

Yang You was not very interested in political affairs, he just listened to them and didn't take them seriously.

Jia Ying also has no interest in the case of the villagers being killed, what he cares about is Yucun and Lin Ruhai.

Lin Ruhai is still alive, and it's hard to say what will happen in the future.As for Jia Yucun, Jia Ying just had a sense of novelty from personal experience.

After the banquet was over, Jia Ying sent someone to send Gong Shangren back to the post house, and didn't interfere any more. Everyone has their own growth experience.

Originally, he wanted to leave some money for him, but after thinking about it, he decided to forget it. Gong Shangren's temperament would not accept it easily.

Since Bing Ma Si issued a new notice, most of the vendors still chose to pay money, but a few were unwilling. For several days in a row, green rascals came to make fun of them.

Bingmasi ignored it, and Jia Ying greeted Wanda and Da counties, but the shopkeeper cried and complained, and finally ran away obediently.

Jia Ying doesn't know how many shops and restaurants there are in the capital with a population of nearly 50 million. Maybe the Ministry of Household Affairs has no statistics, but what Jia Ying knows is that if all these shops have paid money, it will be a very considerable sum. number up.

And, it's not just that.

After handing over the envoy's money to the merchants, Jia Ying set his sights on the homes of the dignitaries.

Of course, Jia Ying would not come directly to ask for it like a stunned young man, but first sent the urban management brigade to clean up the streets in front of these people's houses, and the dirty things that were cleaned out were piled up on the nearby dung piles. The rest. The rest is not related to the urban management brigade.

In this way, a stark contrast is formed. The civilian area is clean and clean, and even the air is much fresher. On the contrary, the areas where high officials and dignitaries live are criticized by people.

It is human nature to love face.

On the same day, someone passed the message to Bing Masi, asking why they didn't clean up the dung pile near their house.

Jia Ying's reply was: "Soldiers who are hungry cannot fight."

Jia Ying and Yang You visited a few houses respectively. Soon after they left, the urban management team came to clean up the dung piles nearby. It's nothing more than giving the two of them a face.

Of course, after going out, it's also good for them to laugh at their opponents severely.

But most of the officials of the Daqian Dynasty were used to free food, and they were not willing to pay for money easily.

But it doesn't matter, Jia Ying still has another move.

There is a special person in the capital who is responsible for collecting night incense, and sells it outside the city to fertilize some Zhuangzi, which is a lot of money.Don't underestimate the manure diggers, those who pour Yexiang in the capital also worship the pier, and there are dozens of manure kings, large and small, in the capital.

Each of these dung kings has tens of thousands of family assets, and they are veritable rich lords.

Jia Ying asked Liao Wenbin and the others to visit these dung kings one by one. After a lot of driving, coercion and temptation, they finally reached an agreement and obediently handed over the envoy money.

So in the next few days, these officials and their families suddenly found that no one came to collect Yexiang.

How unbearable this is.

For a while, everyone hated Jia Ying so much that they gritted their teeth, but they didn't want to impeach Jia Ying for this. The big court is not for discussing shit with them.

Alas, just pay it, there is no shortage of money left and right.

Before nightfall, I sent someone to pay the money, and when I woke up the next morning, the dung pile at the door was gone, and the dung diggers still came to the door as usual, and the day resumed normal operation again.

After Jia Ying arranged the follow-up, he stopped paying attention to this matter. For the past two days, he took people to the mountains outside the city every day, and he didn't know what he was busy with.

The sky was gloomy for ten consecutive days, and the second heavy snow still came, covering the earth with a thick layer of white fleece.

The Bingma Division and the Patrol Battalion moved again, but this time it wasn't just them, there were more than 600 prisoners outside the city, well, in Jia Ying's words, they were reform-through-labour prisoners.

The Bingma Division and the Patrol Battalion worked as supervisors, and the reform-through-labor prisoners began to clear the snow on the streets, and then spread a new layer of soil on the loess roads that had been trampled into mud by people. People suddenly discovered that this winter, the capital city is really not same.

The common people in Beijing are discussing that the Bingma Division and the Patrol Battalion have changed their nature now.

But then they discovered that Bingmasi was still the same Bingmasi, and they still feared them.

"All soldiers and civilians who fight in the market, gamble with sex, rob and rob, and do not care about their lives are allowed to be captured."

"Wherever there are thieves and thieves, I will lead the archers and fire armor men to arrest them."

"Wherever the soldiers and horses belong to, they must be strictly enforced."

This is Jia Ying's new order to the Bingma Division of the Five Cities, because the Bingma Division's prison needs to be constantly replenished with fresh blood to work for the Bingma Division's great cause of urban management.

In the early morning of that day, several carriages drove out of Jia's mansion. Jia Ying rode beside the carriages and headed for Xingqing Street all the way.

On the way, Jia Ying looked at the streets paved with new soil, and it was still inevitable that the snow on both sides would become a little muddy, and he missed the asphalt road in his heart.

Should I get some cement out?
The streets paved with bluestone slabs are also very smooth and easy to repair, but there are so many streets in the capital, except for the vertical and horizontal central axis streets, it is impossible to pave all the streets with bluestone slabs, the manpower and material resources required are too great, and the court is not Free charity.

"Second Master, we're here." Xi'er reminded in front.

Jia Ying said to the carriage: "You stay here and watch, I'll pick Miss Qi out."

Jia Ying walked into the main gate of Yunji and turned to the inner courtyard, Qi Sixian also got the letter early and waited inside.

"Are you ready?"

"En." Qi Sixian nodded.

"Let's go then."

Then the two walked out of the gate of Yunji together.

"Sister Qi, come here." Daiyu and Tanchun poked their heads out from the curtain of the car and greeted Qi Sixian.

Qi Sixian glanced at Jia Ying, the person delivering the letter didn't say that the girls from the mansion would also come, as well as Daiyu.

"Sister Daiyu, Sister Tanchun." Qi Sixian turned his head and walked towards the carriage with a smile on his face.

After getting into the carriage, Qi Sixian realized that Sanchun Baochai was in the carriage. Fortunately, the carriage was spacious enough for six people to sit in it without appearing crowded.

The two carriages at the back were filled with primrose green velvet azalea and several other girls' maids.

Sister Feng was busy with business in the house and couldn't come. Li Wan accompanied Jia Lan, but didn't come to join in the fun. There were only a few girls and maidservants on this trip.

Jia Ying helped Qi Sixian into the carriage, turned around and mounted the horse, and continued to leave the city.

Yang You is impatient, it seems that every time he meets Jia Ying, he finds a place to wait for him early in the morning, and there is also a carriage or two after getting up, it should be Su Youwei and her maid Xiaohong.

"You bastard, the platoon is even bigger than your master." Yang You looked at the three carriages behind Jia Ying, and then at the lonely one behind him. For no reason, Jia Ying was a head shorter.

Jia Ying spread her hands and said, "There are many younger sisters in my house, it's rare to come out here, I just take them on a trip."

"Let's go."

A group of people came out from the west gate of the capital, and the carriage creaked and creaked under the fresh snow and slowly drove towards the west mountain.

Through the car windows along the way, the girls in the car were intoxicated by the winter snow scene.

Occasionally, an old raven on the top of a tree was disturbed by passers-by, fluttering its wings, shaking its fingers, and the crystal clear snow fell down.

I have to say that the natural beauty is really shocking and intoxicating, even Jia Ying enjoys it.

"It's bare and white, what's there to do here." Yang You's voice sounded out of place, which really spoiled the scenery.

Jia Ying has a feeling of carelessness in making friends.

Inside the carriage, the girls were also chattering non-stop.

"Sister Qi, is yours made of sable fur? It's so pretty."

"I just think my sister's silver fox mink is more suitable."

"And mine."

Jia Ying brought back a lot of exquisite furs from Datong. In addition to the few pieces of furs given by Fan Ting and several Shanxi merchants, Jia Ying specially collected some at a high price. No way, there are really more girls in the mansion. , if one treats the other more favorably, it is estimated that his life will be very difficult.

Daiyu and Qi Sixian must be given as presents, and Xichun also needs to prepare one when he leaves the East Mansion with him. Since Xichun is already there, Tanchun and Yingchun naturally cannot be left behind.

Daughters-in-law, You Shi treats him well, so it is natural to bring some gifts.It seems inappropriate for the Rong Mansion to only send Li Wan, not to mention his relationship with Lian Er, Sister Feng would also like to send one.

There is no shortage of these things in spring and green velvet, but they still have to be sent if they are changed.

Everyone has it, and as a nephew and daughter-in-law, Keqing is not easy to be left behind, that's all, it is only a reward from the elders.

Now the girls are chattering non-stop around the fur coats they are wearing, Daiyu is not looking out of the car, is Qi Sixian taking a glance.

Probably because of the winter, Jia Ying felt the chill on the back of her neck and tightened her clothes.

After walking for half a day, the sun was shining, the land was white and golden, and a sudden green appeared on the hillside ahead, and the green pines were still standing firm, resisting the cold wind.

Finding a place with a wide view, Jia Ying asked the carriage to stop.

The accompanying guards of the two prefectures spread out in all directions, wearing armor and bows, to guard against pedestrians and wild animals who strayed into this place.

The girls walked out of the carriage, and Jia Ying introduced Yang You and Su Youwei's master and servant to everyone for the first time.

Although Daiyu and the others do not leave home, they also know that Suzhong Palace has a good relationship with Jia Ying, so they are also very enthusiastic about Su Youwei.

When Yang You saw Qi Sixian again, the atmosphere was a little awkward.

Now one has become a prince, and the other is the new county head, the adopted daughter recognized by the emperor.

Only Jia Ying and Qi Sixian understood that they were cousins, and Yang You was two years older than Qi Sixian, but they didn't think about pointing this out.

The entertainment items of the ancients were much scarcer. Traveling in winter was mostly hunting and archery. However, after being baptized in the battlefield, Jia Ying and Yang You no longer had the youthful temperament of Zhang Gong and Lie Ma.But in a year, both of them have grown a lot.

As for Daiyu, Su Youwei and others, they were more attracted by the novelty of traveling and the snowy scenery in the mountains.

It's not easy for women to go out. If it wasn't for Jia Ying, Daiyu and the others could only continue to be the official ladies raised in the deep boudoir.

Yang You listened to the voices of Yingying and Yanyan coming from his ears. Even with his womanly nature, he felt his head buzzing like mosquitoes flying around his ears. He looked at Jia Ying for a while. His expression showed some sympathy.

"In your family, there are indeed more girls."

Jia Ying said with a vigilant face, "I warn you, don't make random decisions."

Yang You shook his head, they were all young girls who hadn't grown up, they didn't suit his third master's appetite, compared to Qi Sixian and Su Youwei, they seemed much quieter.

Everyone cares about something different, even two people who are like-minded.Yang You couldn't stand the girl's noise, but Jia Ying cherished it when she heard it.

Jia Ying gave Xi'er a wink, Xi'er turned around and ordered the servants to take out the prepared sled, put on the bridle, and a horse-drawn sleigh appeared in front of everyone.

Jia Ying sighed with regret in her heart, it's a pity that there are no huskies or Alaska, otherwise these girls would not be cute.

The girls were also attracted by the sudden appearance of the sleigh.

"Have you ever ridden on a sled?" Jia Ying asked everyone.

Seeing the strange looks in the girls' eyes, Jia Ying knew that she was on the right track.

"Go get some cushions." Jia Ying instructed Xi'er, and then sat down on the front seat, holding the reins tightly with both hands.

After Xi'er finished laying out the bedding, Jia Ying took the girls to make it up, then shook the reins, two warped marks slid on the snow, gradually flakes of snow fell, and the horses pulled the sled through the forest.

The girls behind uttered a few exclamations, followed by hilarity.

Yang You shook his head, got on his horse, and chased after him.

Coming out today is not just for traveling with beauty.

After everyone had had enough fun and the girls were tired, Jia Ying drove the sled back to the camp.

"You guys rest here for a while, the prince and I will leave."

There was a foreigner present, even though Daiyu and the others were curious, they didn't ask any more questions.

Jia Ying turned to Xi'er and Baburi and said, "Stay here and take care of the girls."

"Yes, Second Master."

Before Jia Ying and Yang You left, they brought Qi Sixian with them.

The three of them rode horses and headed towards the depths of the West Mountain.

Although it is a mountain in the suburbs of Beijing, the winter here is not considered desolate, and woodcutters who cut firewood for a living often enter the mountain.

Turning to the official road, you can see a few pedestrians with dark faces on their hands, carrying burdens, or carrying sacks on their shoulders, heading towards the capital against the wind and snow.

These people are all people near the capital who live by digging carbon.

It's like the charcoal seller described by Layman Xiangshan.

On a ridge, the three of Jia Ying stood on horseback.

Jia Ying pointed to the black and white valley ahead, and said to Yang You, "This is it."

Yang You looked at the scene below from a distance, turned to Jia Ying and said, "This is the business you mentioned earlier? However, the use of coal for heating in the capital is not much, except for the occasional use of the royal palace, and even some official residences. It is using charcoal, and the smoke of charcoal is much smaller than that of coal."

"Besides, this thing is so dark that it takes a long time to wash it if it gets a little bit dirty, and ordinary people can't afford it at home."

Compared with firewood, the price of coal is much more expensive, mainly due to the difficulty of mining, and it is all excavated by artificial shovels.

And just as Yang You said, people use less charcoal these days, but some workshops use more.

After all, most people's homes burn kangs, and I have never heard of using coal as fuel for kangs.

"Since I want to do business, I will naturally find a way to solve these problems. Believe me, for a long time in the future, it will be dominated by coal. The population of Dagan is increasing, and they are burning fires and building houses. There are not enough trees to cut down, otherwise the imperial court will not order to restrict the felling of trees near Gyeonggi."

The ancients also had strict regulations on the management of tree felling, especially near Gyeonggi.

Moreover, as a person of two generations, Jia Ying still has a kind of obsession with industry in her heart.

Because of the nautical industry, the Thai and Western people have driven the progress of social technology.

But there is no shortage of land in Dagan, and the sea is not very attractive to Dagan.

But coal is different. Coal is the main raw material of industry. If the coal mining industry can develop, Jia Ying believes that it will also drive social progress.

Just like in the memory of the previous life, a certain country built a railway in order to develop the west. In order to build the railway, a large number of modern machines were born.

Change does not happen overnight, it needs a starting point.

A starting point that can spark profound change.

"I want to buy all the nearby mountains, but I can't do it alone, and I can't trust others. Are you interested?"

Yang You shook his head and said: "It doesn't matter, sir, there is no shortage of silver flowers on the left and right. You need to report how much money you need to invest in the shares later."

Yang You's lack of interest was within Jia Ying's expectation, and what he needed was Yang You's support, so it didn't matter if he was interested or not.

Bringing Qi Sixian here requires Yun Ji to take care of it.

Of course, before that, the household department must be settled first.

Well, maybe the royal family can also be brought in.

(End of this chapter)