Jia Yujing of Red Mansion

Chapter 142 The Sacred Heart is Changeable
Jia Qiong had too many things to do these days. When he returned home and saw the yard decorated with lights and colorful lights everywhere, he remembered that he was supposed to marry Qin Keqing in three days.

When Wang Yuyan saw him coming back, she quickly ordered her servants to serve food.

While helping Jia Qiong change her clothes, she asked, "Why are you back so late today?"

Jia Qiong replied: "Don't mention it. I just went to the pro-army governor's house and got a bad taste. Have you tried it?"

"No, let's eat together when you come back."

Wang Yuyan said softly, which was completely different from her usual tone, which made Jia Qiong shudder.

"Yuyan, are you okay? Why does your voice sound so strange?"

Wang Yuyan rolled her eyes at him and said, "What's wrong? Wouldn't it be better for me to be gentler to you?"

Jia Qiong quickly said: "Okay, why is it bad? It's just that I'm not used to it for a while."

Wang Yuyan asked again in a gentle tone: "Then do you think I am as good to you as I am now, or am I as good to you as before?"

"It's all good, it's all good. Yuyan, you are so kind to me. I'm hungry. Let's start dinner quickly..."

Jia Qiong sat down at the dining table and looked at the dishes on the table, almost bursting into laughter.

Ox tail, mutton, soft-shelled turtle, eel, pork kidney, leek, yam, wolfberry, polygonatum.

He thought to himself, silly wife, your inability to conceive has nothing to do with my kidneys. You have no idea what I am capable of. We can't seek medical treatment in a hurry.

And you are in the safe period now, so it will be useless no matter how much kidney-tonifying food you give me.

However, looking at Wang Yuyan's pretty red face, he still resisted the urge to make fun of her, pretended not to know, and had a delicious meal.

"This Huangjing, Wolfberry and Oxtail Soup tastes really good. Yuyan, you should drink more. Also, the eel is cooked at just the right temperature. You can try it."

Seeing that Jia Qiong was acting as usual, Wang Yuyan's expression gradually returned to normal.

While eating, she discussed with Jia Qiong: "You can take a few days off.

Tomorrow the Qin family will send a dowry, the day after tomorrow the Ministry of Rites will send someone to decorate the new house, and the day after tomorrow it will be time to welcome the bride. "

"I have to sit in court tomorrow and have to go there for another day. It's not a big deal for the Qin family to send a dowry. You can take care of it yourself."

"Well, I haven't experienced this either. I'll ask my aunt to help me tomorrow."

Jia Qiong pondered for a moment and said, "Just ask the servants to invite you. Don't go out these days."

Wang Yuyan asked strangely: "What's wrong? Why don't you let me go out?"

Jia Qiong said: "It's no big deal. I plan to wipe out a gang. I'm afraid those people will jump over the wall in a hurry. They will be fine after I finish them."

"Is it dangerous?"

"Don't worry, a small gang cannot make big waves."

After eating, the two took a walk for a while and then went to bed early. The effect of the Shiquan supplement meal was still very obvious.

Wang Yuyan surrendered after two or three rounds and could hardly get out of bed the next day.

Today is another notice day. Jia Qiong came to the county government office early in the morning to accept cases. Just like last time, all she received were small and unscrupulous cases.

Jia Qiong's interrogation was not interesting. He had been thinking about the Golden Tiger Gang.

Yesterday he went to Ji Hongzhang to borrow troops. Maybe Ji Hongzhang was annoyed by him the previous two times and kicked him out before he could explain clearly what happened to the Golden Tiger Gang.

Jia Qiong also thought about going directly to Wei Wentong to borrow troops, but this was too risky and would easily lead people to suspect that the two had a personal relationship, so he went to Ji Hongzhang instead.

He did not have the right to ask for an audience with the emperor. If he gave up the truth, it would be easy to leak the secrets if there was too much noise. Who knows who the Golden Tiger Gang is connected with in the court.

In the afternoon, Jia Qiong asked the newly promoted Prime Minister Liu County to sit in court for him, and he went to Jingzhao Mansion to find Han Dong.

Han Dong is the governor of Jingzhao and is in charge of public security in the capital. In fact, he has the greatest responsibility for the Jinhu Gang.

Jia Qiong came to him for help, which can be regarded as giving him a hand. Otherwise, if this matter came out, his sin would not be small.

This direct minister was still highly regarded by Emperor Longqing, so there was no harm in making friends with him.

In the back hall of Jingzhao Mansion, Han Dong looked solemn after listening to Jia Qiong's report. The Golden Tiger Gang had been entrenched under his rule for so many years, and he could not absolve himself of the blame.

"Master Han, the Golden Tiger Gang has a large number of people, a lot of force, and maybe some hidden strength.

The official felt that it would be difficult to win with our government officials alone, so it would be safer to ask Jin Yiwei to take action.

However, the official approached the disciplinary commander, but he did not agree. "

Han Dong nodded and said: "Magistrate Jia is very concerned. I will immediately go to the palace to meet the emperor and ask Beizhen Fusi to help eradicate the Golden Tiger Gang."

Daming Palace, South Study Room.

Emperor Longqing was reviewing the memorial, when suddenly a young eunuch came in to report.

"Your Majesty, please see me outside the Han Dong Hall."

"Why is he here at this time? Tell him to come in."

After Han Dong entered the palace to salute, he reported: "Your Majesty, Jia Qiong, the magistrate of Chang'an County, discovered a human trafficking organization.

This organization has a large number of people and is powerful. I came here to ask the emperor to ask Beizhen Fusi to help eliminate it. "

Emperor Longqing was stunned when he heard this and asked: "What kind of organization is it? Jingzhao Mansion and Chang'an County can't take it down, so they still need to dispatch the Jinyi Guards?"

“Back to the Emperor, it’s a gang called the Golden Tiger Gang.

According to the investigation by Magistrate Jia, this gang has been entrenched in Da'anfang in the capital for seven or eight years. Every year, a large number of women are sold to brothels in Beijing, causing great harm.

There are at least two to three hundred gang members among them. They usually wield swords and guns. They are all brave and ruthless people.

If the prefectural and county government officials were to rely solely on the suppression, the casualties would probably be huge.

Moreover, the Golden Tiger Gang keeps so many thugs, probably not just for human trafficking.

The details of the Golden Tiger Gang still need to be investigated, so I would like to ask Jin Yiwei for help. Emperor Longqing frowned and said, "The Golden Tiger Gang has been in the capital for seven or eight years?"Didn't Jingzhao Mansion notice? "

Han Dong knelt down and said, "I have neglected my duty. Please punish me."

Emperor Longqing frowned and said, "We can wait until the Golden Tiger Gang is eradicated to deal with the punishment.

You go back and tell Jia Qiong that I will leave this matter to him. Beizhen Fusi will assist him and it must be done well. "

"Yes, I retire."

After Han Dong left, Emperor Longqing sent Xuan Ji Hongzhang over and asked Beizhen Fusi to assist Jia Qiongqing in suppressing the Golden Tiger Gang.

Ji Hongzhang said carefully: "Your Majesty, I think it's better to let me do this.

It seems inappropriate to ask Beizhen Fusi to cooperate with Chang'an County's actions. "

Emperor Longqing pondered for a moment and said: "Let Beizhen Fusi assist Jia Qiong in handling this matter. I have other things for you to do."

Emperor Longqing waved his hand and asked all the eunuchs serving in the palace to go down.

When Ji Hongzhang saw that he had something important to give, he quickly took a few steps forward and walked to Emperor Longqing.

Emperor Longqing lowered his voice and said: "Lin Ruhai just handed over a secret document, and the sudden drop in salt tax in Lianghuai may be related to the Zhen family.

However, Jiangnan's officialdom was corrupt, and Lin Qing was unable to do anything on his own, making it difficult for him to investigate further.

I recently plan to send you to inspect the Southern Province in the name of rectifying the Jiangnan Jinyi Guards. You go and help Lin Ruhai conduct a thorough investigation.

In the early years of Hongwu, the Lianghuai salt tax collected more than 700 million taels per year. Twenty years ago, there were still 20 million taels. How much is left now.

The country's population has more than doubled in the past few decades, and salt prices have been rising.

How come the salt tax is only less than half? It’s ridiculous.

The imperial court is now stretched thin, and those moths in the south of the Yangtze River are still living and drinking all day long!
I want to see who actually got the money. "

Ji Hongzhang was shocked when he heard this. As the leader of the Jin Yiwei, how could he not know that the salt administration was corrupt?

But the water inside was so deep that even he didn't dare to touch it easily.

And in recent years, the salt merchants in Yangzhou have also paid him a lot of tribute.

He thought for a while and frowned and said: "Your Majesty, I am the commander of the Jinyi Guards. If there is too much movement in the capital, countless pairs of eyes will be watching my every move.

I'm afraid I won't be able to find anything if I go to investigate.

Moreover, over the years, fellow commander Liu Yusheng has been trying to divide the power of Jin Yiwei.

Over the years, I have been trying my best to suppress him, so that he could not succeed.

If the minister leaves the capital, Liu Yusheng will have no one to control him, and he may take the opportunity to make a big move. "

Emperor Longqing was silent after hearing this. What Ji Hongzhang said seemed reasonable, but he actually went against his own wishes.

After a while, Emperor Longqing sighed and said, "What you said makes sense. The country's finances are now in dire straits, and I have been a little anxious recently.

It seems that things in Jiangnan need to be investigated slowly. Let Lin Ruhai investigate slowly first.

Anyway, I have been waiting for so many years, not less than this year and a half. "

Ji Hongzhang breathed a sigh of relief and said quickly: "Your Majesty, your Majesty.

I will instruct the Jinyi Guards in Jiangnan to do their best to assist Mr. Lin in the investigation. "

Emperor Longqing nodded and smiled: "Yun Rui, you have been this third-grade commander for 15 years, right?"

I have been afraid that Chonghua Palace would interfere with the Jinyi Guards' affairs over the years, so I have not given you a promotion. I really feel wronged to you.

Now that the government is becoming more and more stable, it's time to mention your official position. "

Ji Hongzhang hurriedly knelt down and said: "The emperor has really embarrassed his subordinates.

I don't care whether my official position is high or low, as long as I can relieve the emperor's worries, I will do whatever I want to do. "

Emperor Longqing smiled and said: "Get up, there are no outsiders here, why should we, the monarch and his ministers, be like this?

If I remember correctly, the kid from Donglai is almost seventeen, right? "

Ji Hongzhang stood up and said, "Yes, I will be seventeen in June."

"Are you engaged?"

"Back to the emperor, Quanzi is naughty and unstable. We haven't said goodbye yet."

Emperor Longqing smiled and said, "We haven't seen each other for five or six years. Tomorrow, let your wife bring Donglai into the palace so that the queen can see each other.

It's time for Mingyue to find her son-in-law. If the two children have the same temperament, how about I marry you? "

Ji Hongzhang was overjoyed when he heard this and knelt down on the ground again: "I thank you, Lord, for your kindness. Long live my emperor!"

Emperor Longqing chatted with Ji Hongzhang for a while and stayed with him for dinner before letting him go back.

Before leaving, Ji Hongzhang asked for instructions: "Your Majesty, what do you think about the Golden Tiger Gang?"

Emperor Longqing said: "Let Jia Qiong be responsible.

If I want to make great use of him in the future, I need to give him more experience. "

"Yes, I understand, I will leave."

Emperor Longqing watched Ji Hongzhang walk out of the palace door, the smile on his face slowly faded, and his eyes became cold.

He murmured: "15 years is indeed a bit too long."

(End of this chapter)