Chapter 352 I am loyal to my master

……

At the end of the afternoon, Jia Rong looked outside and saw that the weather seemed bad. He suddenly remembered that he did not bring an umbrella today, so he prepared to go home early.

“Dream Book, sort these out and I’ll look at them tomorrow.”

“it is good.”

Ye Mengshu hurried forward to help Jia Rong tidy up the table.

Jia Rong patted Ye Mengshu on the shoulder and said with a smile, “I’m going to go back first. Don’t forget to lock the door when you leave. If anything is lost, you will be held responsible.”

Night Dream Book: “…”

After returning home, Jia Rong changed his official uniform, drank a sip of tea, and said to Xiangling, who was serving him, “Go and get Xiaoxiao.”

“Oh.”

Xiangling nodded obediently.

Xiao Xiao seemed to have super hearing. Before Xiang Ling turned around, she had already jumped in front of Jia Rong and asked with a smile, “What do you want from me?”

Jia Rong: “You scared me.”

Xiao Xiao: “I didn’t see you jump?”

Jia Rong slapped her in anger and said, “How dare you tease me?”

“Tsk tsk.” Xiao Xiao smiled and rubbed his buttocks: “What do you want from me?”

Jia Rong picked up the brush and wrote a few words, then asked, “Are there any salt and coal dealers from Huaibei and Shanxi in Beijing? Ask a few of them to come see me.”

“Oh, I’ll go down and ask.”

Xiao Xiao turned around and went out, but soon returned, bent over Jia Rong’s desk and said, “There are two teams of merchants selling salt in Datong Prefecture, Shanxi. They just returned to Beijing a few days ago. There are no merchants in Lianghuai in Beijing now.”

Jia Rong put a peeled lychee in his hand into Xiao Xiao’s mouth and said with a smile, “Miss Xiao Xiao, please run another errand and call the Shanxi merchant to ask me something.”

“Also, send a pigeon to Lianghuai to inquire about the flooding of the Huai River and the destruction of fertile farmland.”

“Ai.”

Xiaoxiao ate the lychees and turned around to run errands.

He came back soon after and said with a smile, “I have arranged everything that Master ordered. As it is getting late, the merchants from Shanxi are staying outside the capital and will not be here until tomorrow morning. The pigeon letter will probably have results the day after tomorrow.”

“Thank you for your hard work, Xiaoxiao.”

Jia Rong praised: “These two places have been the focus of attention recently. I need to know the specific changes in the situation every two days. Please assign someone to be responsible for this area.”

“Ok.”

Xiao Xiao nodded, and suddenly asked, “Master, I want to ask you something.”

Jia Rong: “What?”

Xiao Xiao blushed and smiled: “I heard that the master allowed you to marry Miss Lin in advance? Have you set a date?”

Xiangling, who had been reading silently, suddenly opened her eyes wide, put down the book and came over.

Jia Rong raised his hand and poked Xiao Xiao on the forehead, saying, “Girl, you are well-informed.”

“What?” Xiao Xiao stamped her feet and said, “Everyone knows it, and we are the only ones who knew it last!”

Xiangling said, “Yes, I just found out. Qingwen may not know yet.”

Jia Rong smiled slightly.

The master acted quickly enough.

Of course, this may also involve the issue of Ningguo Mansion’s inheritance. After all, the Ningguo Mansion has too few descendants, and it really needs more branches and leaves.

Aunt Lin, you will be fifteen after next year.

Jie Jie…

Xiao Xiao: “…”

“Master, you are smiling a little…”

Jia Rong: “What?”

Xiao Xiao thought for a moment and said seriously, “It’s too frivolous and doesn’t fit your noble status as a young minister.”

“No, I am a dandy prince now.” Jia Rong put his arm around Xiao Xiao’s waist and said with a smile, “Remember to prepare hot water in the evening. You and Xiangling can come and help me bathe together.”

“me……”

Xiangling blushed, lowered her head and hesitated for a while, “I, I’ll go back and clean up first.”

After saying that, she ran away holding the corner of her skirt.

“How annoying!” Xiao Xiao moved and sat on Jia Rong’s lap, saying with a smile, “Master, you have to take care of yourself and don’t do anything reckless. Sister Xiangling will help you bathe by yourself.”

Jia Rong: “What are you going to do?”

Xiao Xiao: “I’m fine, I’m just worried about you… I can do it tomorrow.”

“Okay, you are worried that I can’t cure you, right? I will let you know how powerful I am tonight!” Jia Rong said confidently.

……

The next morning.

Jia Rong got up a little late, at noon.

Xiao Xiao and Xiang Ling had already washed and dressed, and were whispering to each other. When they saw Jia Rong wake up, they hurried forward to help him dress.

“Master, the merchants from Shanxi have arrived and are waiting outside in the yard.”

Jia Rong put on his clothes, looked outside and saw the bright sunshine, and said, “You didn’t call me earlier. Now, let alone asking them about their affairs, it’s too late to go to the Ministry of Revenue. If the emperor knew that I was so lazy the next day, he would probably catch me and scold me.”

Xiangling smiled gently and said, “We saw that Master was sleeping soundly, so we didn’t dare to disturb him.”

Xiao Xiao also laughed and said, “Grandpa, you don’t know. When I go out later, I will go out quietly through the back door.”

“Okay, you two are right.” Jia Rong washed his face casually and wiped it with a handkerchief. “Tell those merchants from Shanxi to go to the study in front and wait. I want to ask them a few questions.”

“it is good.”

Soon, Jia Rong appeared in the front study.

Several dark-skinned merchants hurriedly bowed and said, “Greetings, Your Highness.”

“No need to be polite.”

Jia Rong asked with a smile, “How is business in Shanxi recently?”

An older man stepped forward and said cautiously, “My Lord, it’s a little better than before.”

Jia Rong: “Oh, do you know the reason?”

The old merchant said, “I guess it’s because there’s been too much chaos in Shaanxi recently, and many refugees have fled here, so the salt is selling better than before.”

Jia Rong praised: “Your analysis is quite accurate.”

As expected of a person who has been doing business for many years, he still has good vision.

“I heard that there is a locust plague in Luliang, Datong and Shuofu. Is that true?” Jia Rong asked casually.

The merchants looked at each other, and a middle-aged man stood up and saluted, saying, “I don’t know about other places, but I have been traveling in Datong Prefecture for a few months and did hear about some locust plagues. It shouldn’t be too serious, but that was a month ago, so it’s hard to say now.”

Jia Rong nodded thoughtfully.

“I understand, you go down.”

After asking about the matter, Jia Rong did not delay any longer and got on a carriage to the Ministry of Revenue.

Although he is now in charge of the Ministry of Revenue, he does not have a specific position. If one has to say what his position is, it is – Junior Prime Minister!
“Brother, you are here.”

Ye Mengshu had already tidied Jia Rong’s room neatly, and classified all the things that needed to be dealt with according to their importance, making it clear at a glance.

Even made tea.

“Not bad.” Jia Rong patted Ye Mengshu on the shoulder and said with a smile.

“Hehe.” Ye Mengshu laughed and said, “This is what I should do. If you have anything to do, just tell me to do it. I will do my best.”

“Then I won’t be polite. There is something that you must do.” Ye Mengshu: “…What?”

Jia Rong said sternly, “Go to Datong and check. If the disaster is serious, contact the manager of the local Xue’s Trading Company immediately and transfer enough grain. Make sure the grain price remains stable… One tael of silver for two dan of grain is the bottom line. It cannot be higher than this price.”

Jia Rong didn’t believe in the allocation of funds for disaster relief. He thought that most of the funds had been embezzled at various levels, and less than one tenth of them reached the hands of the common people.

He only needs to ensure that food prices are stable and provide a steady supply of food.

“In addition, if we find any merchants who dare to hoard goods or drive up food prices, no matter what their relationship is, they will be severely punished!”

“Okay, I’ll leave right away.”

Ye Mengshu left without saying a word.

Jia Rong was a little worried, so he smiled and said, “Don’t worry, I’ll write a note and you can go to my house to find Steward Lai and ask him to assign you 20 personal soldiers to escort you all the way and ensure your safety.”

Ye Mengshu didn’t act pretentiously and cupped his hands, “Thank you very much, big brother.”

……

After a day’s work, the Ministry of Revenue spent two hundred thousand taels of silver like water. Just as Jia Rong returned home, an unexpected guest suddenly came to visit.

“I’ve met the eldest son.”

Bai Caier knelt down gently and bowed.

Jia Rong smiled and offered his seat. “Miss Bai, you don’t have to be polite. How did you suddenly have time to come to Kyoto? Could it be that the gold mines on Luzon Island have been mined out so quickly?”

Bai Caier said seriously: “Young Master, you are joking. It will take ten years to mine all the gold. It’s just…”

Jia Rong: “What?”

Bai Caier’s expression gradually became serious, and she said, “I accidentally got reliable information that the leader of the Shanxi branch, Shen Shigong, and several other leaders are planning to rebel against you and occupy the Luzon gold mine alone.”

Jia Rong: “…Where do they get the courage?”

Bai Caier said: “People die for money, let alone such a big gold mine.”

Jia Rong thought for a moment, “Then…what are you going to do?”

“We have dealt with them.” Bai Caier said with a smile: “Those leaders and their cronies have been thrown into the sea to feed the fish. The rest of the subordinates have surrendered to me and the master.”

Jia Rong: “…”

Bai Caier continued, “Master and I have helped the eldest master so much. How is the eldest master going to thank us?”

Jia Rong asked, “So you are here to take credit?”

Bai Caier smiled softly: “Of course, give us more gold.”

“What do you want so much money for? Do you want to rebel?” Jia Rong said.

Bai Caier smiled and said, “Of course… yes!”

“Isn’t the White Lotus Sect a rebellion?”

Seeing Jia Rong’s expression gradually becoming unhappy, Bai Cai’er hurriedly said in a serious tone: “We are willing to follow His Royal Highness Prince Ning and seek power and usurp the throne.”

“We are also willing to donate the money we earn to His Royal Highness Prince Ning, and of course to you, the Crown Prince.”

“If this is accomplished, we in the White Lotus Sect will not want anything else but a small overseas fiefdom.”

“Don’t mention this matter again!” Jia Rong said seriously, “Grandpa and I are loyal and devoted to the country and the people of Daxia!”

Bai Caier immediately understood and changed her words:

“I believe in you, sir!”

“I was wrong before. I misunderstood His Royal Highness Prince Ning. We are willing to follow His Royal Highness Prince Ning and do our part for the country of Daxia. We will do our best and die for it!”

“good.”

Jia Rong then smiled, patted Bai Cai’er’s thin shoulders, and said with a smile: “As long as you are devoted to Daxia, the court will not treat you unfairly. Tell me, where do you want to be granted as a fiefdom?”

Bai Caier said happily: “We want a province south of Luzon…”

Jia Rong: “When the court is stable, I will explain this matter to the master. As long as you make great contributions to the prosperity and stability of the court, I think it will not be difficult.”

“Thank you very much, young master.”

Bai Caier smiled and bowed to Jia Rong.

“Miss Cai’er, you are too polite.” Jia Rong gently supported her and asked with a smile, “How much did you bring this time?”

Bai Caier produced an account book from nowhere, handed it to Jia Rong and said with a smile, “We only kept a little bit of the gold for expenses, and the remaining 50,000 taels are all given to you, young master. In addition, all 50,000 people in our White Lotus Sect have gone to Luzon. By then, gold will be mined continuously, and it will be more than hundreds of thousands of taels a year.”

“If you think it’s too little, I have saved a lot of dowry in the past few years and I will give it to you as well.” Bai Caier said generously.

Jia Rong: “How can I accept this?”

Bai Caier said: “Even if I am doing my best for the country of Daxia.”

“Please accept it, sir.”

“Don’t I deserve it?”

Bai Caier looked up at Jia Rong.

“match!”

Jia Rong was inexplicably moved.

“Every man has a share of responsibility for the fate of his country. Miss Cai’er is admirable. I’ll take the money.”

Bai Caier was happy then and said with a smile: “Since you have accepted it, can I call you Brother Rong?”

Jia Rong: “Of course.”

Bai Caier said happily: “Brother Rong.”

Jia Rong: “Hey.”

Xiao Xiao rolled her eyes at Bai Cai’er: “Little girl, call me sister!”

……

“Do you know about the Ministry of Revenue? After the young cabinet minister arrived, he was very generous. All the ministries received benefits and are now building a lot of projects.”

“Haha, it’s a waste of money and manpower. Even if the Ministry of Revenue has a mountain of gold, it will be squandered by him sooner or later. If something big happens in the court, I want to see how he responds.”

“There is a big thing happening right now.”

“What’s the big deal?”

“The Emperor’s Mausoleum has been renovated, and it cost eight million taels. The Emperor Anping’s Mausoleum has not even started construction yet. It should also start construction, and it will cost at least seven or eight million taels!”

“Okay, let’s go and discuss it with Prime Minister Ye first, and then we’ll discuss it together in the morning court tomorrow.”

Although Jia Jing killed a group of people, demoted a group of people, and replaced a group of people, there were still many forces loyal to the royal family in the court, especially the group led by Ye Xiang.

They have been keeping a low profile recently, trying not to cause trouble, just waiting for Jia Jing to show a flaw so they can pounce on him and take a bite.

Currently, the leaf phase analysis is performed.

The most direct way to bring down Jia Jing is in the northwest. As long as the eldest prince defeats Shi Nai’s army, Jia Jing’s reputation will inevitably plummet. At that time, they will stand up and make a call, and an anti-Jia alliance can be formed.

In the past, a simple act of tripping could determine the outcome of a war.

It’s really not possible now.

The army was composed of Jia Jing’s cronies, who were completely powerless, and the Jia Mansion had an extremely powerful navy to support them.

All they can do now is find various places to spend money, thus emptying the treasury and making it unable to support logistical supplies.

Of course, in addition to this, Prime Minister Ye also thought of another two-pronged approach, which was to secretly provide money to help the eldest prince of Shaanxi recruit troops.

To this end, he even discussed the matter with his trusted subordinates for two days.

A total of two thousand taels of silver were raised!
Ye Xiang was so angry that he almost vomited blood.

These old ministers who had followed him for ten years, each of whom had a family worth at least a million, actually behaved like this in times of crisis.

This also made Ye Xiang feel a little discouraged.

Can I really turn the tide?
……

(End of this chapter)