Red Mansion, Ningfu Scholarly Family

Chapter 348 Jia Rong: After all, it was Grandpa who took the blame

Chapter 348 Jia Rong: After all, it was Grandpa who took the blame

……

“Your Highness, this won’t work!” Mr. Li frowned and looked at Wang Ziteng and said, “Sir Wang, you have always been in charge of the troops. Now that something like this has happened, what do you think?”

Wang Ziteng said with a straight face: “I am only responsible for marching and fighting, and I must be given enough military pay, otherwise I can’t guarantee that things like today’s pay dispute will not happen again!”

“And I suggest stopping the recruitment, otherwise those new soldiers will only increase the consumption of food and grass!”

“No!” The eldest prince said hurriedly, “We must not stop recruiting soldiers. How can we accomplish anything with only 100,000 troops? I think we need at least 500,000!”

Mr. Li agreed, “Your Highness is right. As the saying goes, there is strength in numbers. If Your Highness had 500,000 elite troops at his disposal, Jia Jing would probably be so scared that he would wet his pants and surrender.”

Sounds funny.

But Wang Ziteng couldn’t laugh.

Not to mention 500,000 elite troops, even if it was an elite army of one million or two million, what could they do without pay and without enough food?
Farming?
“Where is the military pay? Where does the military pay come from?” Wang Ziteng asked.

Mr. Li thought for a moment and said solemnly, “Now that we have occupied Xi’an, Pingyang, Yulin and most of Shaanxi, these places should pay us taxes. With taxes, we will have no worries about military pay.”

The eldest prince clapped his hands and laughed, “Sir, you are right. Come, go and collect this year’s taxes!”

“This… It’s early spring now, and the people’s food hasn’t arrived yet. Moreover, the Tartars looted everything here not long ago. How can we collect taxes?” A clerk replied somewhat embarrassedly.

The eldest prince was stunned for a moment, and asked Mr. Li: “Sir, what should we do?”

Mr. Li thought for a while and said, “It’s OK. We can collect half of this year’s taxes first, and then pay the other half after the autumn harvest. I believe the people will understand our difficulties.”

“Wonderful!”

The eldest prince clapped his hands and laughed, “Let’s collect half of the taxes first. The people will be able to afford it, right? You should go and collect the taxes quickly, and make no mistakes!”

“and many more!”

Mr. Li suddenly called out to the clerk.

“My lord, do you have any other instructions?” the clerk asked carefully.

Mr. Li stroked his beard and smiled, “Just say that after Your Highness restores order and rescues the Emperor, you can exempt them from taxes for three years so that they can rest and recuperate!”

The eldest prince clapped his hands and laughed, “Mr. Li is indeed very smart. In this way, those lowly people will not only hand over the food obediently, but also be grateful to me!”

As for when to reduce taxes…

Wait until he becomes emperor and then think about it.

Mr. Li smiled proudly.

“It’s just a trivial skill, not worth mentioning.”

Wang Ziteng felt a headache watching these two guys amusing themselves.

This doesn’t look like a big deal at all!

While everyone was talking, another guard suddenly came running over.

Several people were startled unconsciously.

Is there another mutiny?

“Your Highness, there is someone outside who wants to see you. It is said that he is an old acquaintance of yours.” The personal soldier saluted and said.

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

Just hope it’s not a mutiny!

The eldest prince asked suspiciously, “Old friend? Who?”

Mr. Li thought for a moment and said, “Your Highness, this may be a loyal man who came to seek refuge with you. I think we should meet him.”

The eldest prince nodded.

“Then let’s meet.”

“By the way, is he alone?”

The guard said, “There are two people.”

“Then… please come into the main hall.”

The eldest prince walked outside and sat upright.

Two people came outside together.

Exactly…

“Brother Shui!”

The eldest prince stood up suddenly with a happy look on his face.

Prince Beijing bowed and said, “Your Highness.”

“What’s going on? I heard that you…” The eldest prince took two steps forward, seeming to want to say something but stopped talking.

Prince Beijing shook his head and sighed, “Jia Jing was ambitious and intended to rebel. I risked my life to enter the palace to protect the emperor, but I was outnumbered. Not only did I fail to rescue the emperor, but I was also accused of being a traitor.”

As he spoke, Prince Beijing began to cry.

“It is indeed the case!” The eldest prince slammed the table fiercely and consoled him, “Brother Shui, don’t be afraid. I am here and will never let the traitors succeed!”

“I think so too!” Prince Beijing cried, “I have brought some people here to seek refuge with you, I hope you will take me in!”

The eldest prince was overjoyed.

“I can’t ask for it!”

“This king has the help of his brothers, just like a fish taking to water!”

“Come on, let’s have a big feast. I want to get drunk with Brother Shui!”

……

On the East China Sea, a huge iron ship cut through the waves, followed by hundreds of cargo ships.

All the rice they pulled was Nanyang rice.

A handsome man stood at the bow, with a melancholy look on his face: “What a pity! Without me, the gentle and affectionate Mr. Lian, those coquettish foreign ponies on the island will have such a miserable life in the future!”

“Don’t worry, we still have the brothers Xue Pan and Xue Ke. They will take good care of you.” Jia Rong comforted with a smile.

Jia Lian suddenly felt even more bitter: “Xue Ke is fine, but leaving Xue Shazi there is really a bargain for him. Aren’t you worried that he will cause trouble? Dealing with Westerners is not that easy.”

Jia Rong: “I’m not afraid.”

Jia Lian: “Why?”

Jia Rong smiled and said, “Because he has a son now, even if he doesn’t think about himself, he should think more about his son in the future.”

Of course, the reason why Jia Rong felt at ease leaving Xue Pan there was because Lin Ruhai was there to watch over him. If Xue Pan dared to cause any trouble, he would definitely be in trouble.

“What do you mean, you?”

Jia Lian seemed to have had a sensitive nerve touched and looked at Jia Rong with great displeasure.

Jia Rong hurriedly explained with a smile: “It’s just a superficial meaning, Uncle, don’t think too much, I definitely didn’t laugh at you for not having a son.”

“Ah!” Jia Lian was so angry that he almost had a brain hemorrhage: “I will find ten concubines when I go back, and they will definitely give birth to a son!”

“Then I wish my second uncle a son soon.”

“Don’t worry, it will definitely be earlier than you!”

Jia Lian said this unhappily.

“what are you guys saying?”

Jia Huan suddenly ran out and asked with a smile.

Jia Rong said, “Nothing has been said. Children should not interfere in adult matters. Go back and read your books.”

Jia Huan said helplessly: “I was studying, but my sister said she wanted to see you, so she asked me to come out to look for you.”

“Okay, I see.”

Without further disturbing the melancholy Jia Lian, Jia Rong returned to the attic.

Tanchun and Xiangyun are both here.

“Such a big thing happened in the capital, why didn’t you tell us earlier, Rong brother!” Xiangyun pouted and said very unhappily.

“What’s the big deal?”

Jia Rong pretended to be confused and sat down to drink some tea.

“You’re still trying to hide it from us.”

Tanchun took out a report from the court from behind her and placed it on the table.

“The Emperor is in poor health and has entered the harem to recuperate. The Fourth Prince is the regent, and our Grandfather is assisting in the administration… Don’t you know anything?”

“And more!” Xiangyun stepped forward and said, “Grandpa annihilated 100,000 Tartars in the Yongding River, was named the Prince of Ning, the whole country celebrated, and taxes were reduced. Don’t you really know about such a big thing?”

“Oh……”

Jia Rong took the newspaper and looked at it.

There is a lot of content above, most of which introduces the great achievements of Ning Wang Jia Jing in defeating the Tartars, as well as Ning Wang’s proposal for universal celebration and the great event of reducing three levels of taxes for the people across the country.

The small part at the end is about the two saints in the palace being seriously ill and recuperating in the harem. The Fourth Prince is temporarily governing the country, Prince Ning is assisting in governing the country, and Prime Minister Ye is assisting Prince Ning in governing the country.

wonderful!
It’s really wonderful!

In the face of the great joy of a 30% tax reduction, who cares about the serious illness of the two saints in the palace? Ordinary people are always concerned about survival!
As for the loss from tax reduction and exemption, it was not too big for the court, because land annexation was serious and most of the land was in the hands of gentry and bureaucrats, who originally did not pay taxes.

“Haha, please forgive me, aunts.” “I knew a little about these things in advance, but you girls should just compose poems and do needlework when you have time. Why do you have to get involved in these things?” Jia Rong said casually.

Xiangyun said, “Don’t laugh so hard yet, take a look at this one first.”

Another report was handed to Jia Rong.

Jia Rong took just one look at it and threw it away, because he had already read it several times.

This report was privately printed, and it cursed Jia Jing as a treacherous minister who imprisoned the emperor, held the young emperor hostage, plotted to usurp the throne, and forcibly married a commoner woman. He was guilty of ten unforgivable crimes and a sinner for all eternity…

There is no way around this.

Since you have done it, you don’t have to be afraid of what people say.

Face is important.

“Let them talk.”

“Right and wrong will be judged by the public.”

Jia Jing threw the report aside and sat on the recliner to drink tea peacefully.

Tanchun frowned and said, “Although right and wrong are judged by the public, some things are spread by rumors, and the false things become true as they are spread.”

Xiangyun: “Yes, yes!”

Jia Rong put down the teacup and smiled, “But, have you two ever thought of a possibility…”

“what?”

The two girls opened their eyes wide.

Jia Rong asked, “Is it possible that even 70% of what was said in the newspaper was true?”

Xiangyun: “…”

Tanchun: “…”

“You mean, Grandpa is really preparing to…”

Despite some speculations, the two still couldn’t believe it at this moment.

……

“Are there any kings, princes, generals or ministers who are not of the same race?” Xiangyun grabbed Jia Rong and said excitedly, “Master, you are so powerful. I want to marry you…”

“Pfft, cough!”

Jia Rong almost choked to death.

“You, what did you say?”

“Haha.” Xiangyun laughed and said, “If the master becomes the emperor, you, Rong’er, will be the prince. Brother Rong, I will marry you and be your concubine, right?”

Jia Rong: “Empress Yun?”

Xiangyun: “Hey!”

Tanchun: “…”

“You two… can this be a joke?”

“If anyone hears this, all nine generations of the family will be killed!” Tanchun said anxiously, stamping her feet.

Xiangyun sneered and said, “Don’t you see? The Emperor is seriously ill. How can a little prince fight with our grandfather? Sooner or later he will have to ‘abdicate and let the wise take over.'”

Tanchun frowned: “Then, our master’s reputation will be…”

Xiangyun said disdainfully: “Reputation is shit!”

“Prime Minister Zhuge had a good reputation, but he died young because of his own exhaustion. In my opinion, one should be like Cao Cao and Sima Yi.”

“Since ancient times, victors are kings and losers are bandits. Even if people in later generations mention it, the most they can say is: a hero!”

“Is that right, Brother Rong?”

Xiangyun shook Jia Rong’s arm.

Jia Rong said seriously, “I think so.”

In the end, it was the grandfather who bore all the…blame.

Just as everyone accused Cao Cao of having evil intentions, Cao Pi was less criticized.

For example, some people accused Sima Yi of plotting to usurp the throne, but few people mentioned Sima Yi’s grandson Sima Yan.

By the same token, there will definitely be people who accuse Jia Jing of plotting to usurp the throne, but Jia Jing’s eldest grandson Jia Rong should not be talked about by people in later generations, right?

Tanchun glanced at Xiangyun and said, “I can’t argue with you two! Yun girl, you are shameless! I will tell Lin girl when I get home!”

“Hey, good aunt.” Xiangyun said hurriedly: “I was just joking with Rong’er just now, don’t take it seriously. No one wants a wild girl from the countryside, how can she be worthy of Rong’er’s concubine?”

“Stop pretending to be pitiful here. Just wait for Miss Lin to punish you!” Tanchun stomped her feet and walked out.

Xiangyun said with a bitter face: “Rong’er, what should we do?”

Jia Rong smiled and said, “You said it yourself, so of course you have to figure it out yourself. Why don’t you wait and admit your mistake to your sister Lin when you get back?”

Xiangyun blinked and said shyly, “How about…it’s a done deal?”

Jia Rong was surprised and said, “You know a lot.”

Xiangyun: “I learned all this from books.”

Jia Rong said: “No, this is absolutely not possible, I am innocent!”

Xiangyun said: “I am innocent too.”

Jia Rong said, “Then the question is, since we are innocent, what are you afraid of?”

Xiangyun: “…”

……

Kyoto, Prime Minister Ye’s residence.

“It’s hateful that Jia Jing, that treacherous traitor, actually came up with the idea of ​​reducing taxes to win people’s hearts. How should we deal with it?”

“There’s no need to deal with it. The national treasury is already empty. If they reduce taxes by 30%, it will be a miracle if the country doesn’t collapse. We can just wait and see the joke!”

“Too……”

“Ye Xiang, what do you say?”

Prime Minister Ye frowned and sighed, “A 30% tax reduction for the whole country sounds like a lot, but it’s only 4 to 5 million taels of silver. The court won’t be dragged down by it, especially since the salt water commercial tax has been reformed in the past two years, and honeycomb coal has been popularized throughout the country, with an annual tax increase of more than 10 million taels. The land tax is actually not that important.”

“Jia Jing, I still underestimated him!”

Since ancient times, whoever wins the hearts of the people will win the world. If Jia Jing does this, his reputation among the people will be unparalleled.

One person stood up and whispered, “How about we order our subordinates to secretly tamper with the imperial decree and change it from reduction to increase. Then the people in various places will be angry and resentful, and rise up in rebellion…”

“But the court has already issued a low report.” Someone raised the question.

The man waved his hand and said, “That’s nothing. The common people can’t read. Even if someone knew it, what would it matter? They would just think Jia Jing said one thing and did another, a hypocrite, and that would be even more rebellious against him.”

“It makes sense!”

Everyone nodded after hearing this.

Ye Xiang smiled bitterly and said, “It’s easy for you to say that, but the Jia family has been manipulating salt and grain merchants all over the country in recent years. It can be said that their eyes and ears are everywhere in the court. I’m afraid that if the court decree is tampered with today, Jia Jing will know it tomorrow. How will it end then? With his temper, I’m afraid there will be rivers of blood, including us!”

Everyone was silent now.

Thinking about it…

“I have a plan!”

Everyone’s eyes lit up and they looked at Wei Shengfu, the Right Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate.

“What’s the plan? Tell me quickly!”

Wei Shengfu raised his hand and twirled his beard, smiling, “Do you know the death of the great traitor Dong Zhuo?”

“Honey trap?!”

“Of course!”

“But who is Lu Bu? Jia Jing has no adopted son, he doesn’t even have a son. He only has a precious grandson, and he treasures him very much.” Someone raised the question.

“Yes, the beauty trap will not work at all. Even if Jia Rong falls into the trap, Jia Jing will probably just give his concubine away directly. There will be no way to create discord between them.” Someone else raised the question.

Everyone looked at Wei Shengfu, waiting for the follow-up of his plan.

Wei Shengfu said seriously, “I haven’t thought about it yet. I just brought it up so that we can discuss it together.”

Ye Xiang nodded and said, “The beauty trap is feasible, but the alienation trap is not. Jia Jing and his grandson are very smart, so it is impossible for them to succeed!”

“Prime Minister Ye, how do we use the beauty trap?”

Ye Xiang smiled slightly: “That was an open plot. We gave him a few charming beauties. Considering how lustful that old man is now, with one wife on the left and another on the right, how could he not fall into the trap? He jumped into it even though he knew it was a trap.”

“How long can that old man hold out at his age? By the time everyone has died, wouldn’t the crisis in the Jia family be resolved without bloodshed?”

“Wonderful!”

“This is a great plan!”

“Hurry up and go to Jiangnan to find a few stunning women!”

“…”

(End of this chapter)