serious man in the red chamber

16 Chapter 2
The hooves of the horses sounded urgently, one by one horses galloped through the city of Yangzhou, and the passers-by on the street ran to both sides in fright.

With a sound of "pa", Jia Hu whipped the horse's buttocks, and the horse screamed in pain and rushed forward like crazy.

All the soldiers waved their whips together.

The horse team ran even faster.

Yangzhou has been a prosperous place of smoke and willows since ancient times, a land of prosperity and gentleness. In the Little Qinhuai River, there are painted boats next to each other. Brothels, restaurants and inns are densely scattered on both sides of the river. A restaurant stands diagonally opposite the stone bridge. People come in and out, and there is a constant flow of traffic.

There are already dozens of people sitting scattered in the hall, three to five, some meeting friends, some chatting, chatting and laughing constantly while pushing cups and changing cups.

At this time, the window of a box facing the street on the second floor was opened, and an old man stood with his hands behind his back, standing by the window and watching the horse team go away. Mr. Jiang bowed his body slightly, and stood cautiously beside him.

"Is he Jia Hu?"

"Well, it's him."

"It's a bit of a wunderkind."

The corners of Mr. Jiang's mouth showed a trace of laughter. This is not a good word. How do you say that sentence, "If a young man succeeds, there must be more seedlings."

The old man's name is Yang Kaiwu, and he is the deputy leader of the Cao Gang.

The Cao Gang came because of the water transportation, and has been in an embarrassing position of semi-grey.Later, he helped Emperor Honghua Wu Shifan transport military supplies and food in the Northern Expedition to gain legal status. Afterwards, he quickly developed and expanded, and there were many gang members who joined the gang. Relying on their loyalty, they gathered gangs of all sizes along the canal and became a gang that no one dared to provoke. The overlord of the waterway has also become a thorn in the court's side.

However, the imperial court relied on the canal to divert grain from the south to the north to supply the capital and border defenses. During the reign of the Supreme Emperor, the imperial court was helpless.Especially in recent years, the war in the north has continued, and the imperial court has been wary of rats, let alone dare to do anything about water transportation.

In some sections of the Grand Canal, due to complex terrain or silt deposits, or when sailing against the current, tank boats must be pulled by trackers to move forward.In particular, the canal from Huai'an to Xuzhou needs to go upstream along the way. Often, [-] or [-] trackers can pull a tank boat. The canal of more than [-] miles needs these trackers to pull for more than two months.

These trackers also belong to the Cao Gang, and the food and clothing of millions of water workers are not just talking, it is true!

He also has another identity, that is, the former leader of the Salt Gang, who has been a "salt and iron official camp" since ancient times. The existence of the Salt Gang has seriously affected the operation and interests of the imperial court, so it has become the most important target of the government. At the beginning, the armed forces of the Salt Gang were wiped out from north to south by means of thunder. Since then, the strength of the Salt Gang has been severely damaged. The armed forces of the Salt Gang joined the Cao Gang and became the deputy head of the Cao Gang.

There has always been a gossip that the other deputy leader of the Cao Gang is the former leader of the White Lotus Sect. He also joined the Cao Gang under the suppression of the court, but the court has no evidence.

At this moment, the housekeeper's voice came from outside the door: "Master, there is an urgent message from the house."

General Manager Jiang was startled, and quickly glanced at Yang Kaiwu, before saying, "Come in."

The door of the box opened, and the butler hurried in, and whispered beside Mr. Jiang: "Master, a team of military envoys came from the mansion, and asked our family to send the donated money to the camp before Youshi, or else"

General Manager Jiang was surprised: "Just what?"

The steward's voice weakened: "Just kill the whole Jiang family."

Mr. Jiang slapped the table angrily: "You bastard!"

Yang Kaiwu's long eyebrows twitched slightly, "This man is interesting."

"How to do?"

"It's just a little silver, send it to him."

General Manager Jiang was still furious: "The yellow-haired kid bullies people too much!"

Yang Kaiwu looked at him: "Huang Maoer? If you really want to fight, you are really no match for him."

Mr. Jiang was anxious: "I can't just watch him sharpen the knife, come and cut our necks!"

Yang Kaiwu: "He has no chance."

Mr. Jiang's eyes lit up: "You always have arrangements?"

Yang Kaiwu smiled: "The envoys of the Qing Dynasty have entered Beijing."

In the afternoon, Jia Min suddenly fell into a coma, and his condition took a turn for the worse.

Physician Wang sat silently on the stool beside the bed, resting three fingers on Jia Min's wrist.

At this time, Lin Daiyu didn't care to avoid suspicion, she stood aside and kept crying, while Lin Ruhai sat by the bed, her eyes were slightly red.

At this time, the door curtain was lifted, and Daiyu turned to look at Jia Hu. After a burst of grievances, "Second Brother" burst into tears.

Looking at Daiyu's eyes as if seeing her relatives, Jia Hu walked over silently, wiped her tears, and advised: "Don't cry, my aunt will be unhappy when she wakes up, she doesn't like to watch You look tearful."

"Yeah..." Daiyu hastily covered the crying that came to her lips, and turned her back.

Lin Ruhai sighed: "Here you are."

Jia Hu nodded to him, and stared at Imperial Physician Wang as he checked Jia Min's pulse.

Doctor Wang let go of his hand: "Fire." As he spoke, he took out a small cloth bag containing silver needles from his medical bag.

Nanny Wang turned around and brought a candlestick from the low table under the window. An old nanny blew on the torch, lit the candles on the candlestick, and handed it to Doctor Wang.

Doctor Wang took out a silver needle and burned it on the candle, then took out a cotton ball dipped in white medicine from the medical bag, wiped the silver needle, and stabbed it at Jia Min's person.

Then, he took out a roll of moxibustion from the medical bag, lit it on the candle, blew out the open flame, and moxibusted it on the Tianling point, and then retracted the moxibustion.

Jia Hu opened his eyes wide.

All eyes were on Jia Min.

Jia Min slowly opened his eyes, "Mother!" Lin Daiyu jumped up and held Jia Min's hand.

Physician Wang slowly pulled out the silver needle, and at the same time said: "If you have anything to say, hurry up." Holding the medical bag, he bowed his head and backed out.

Several old mothers hurried out after them.

Jia Min held Daiyu's hand: "You have been weak and sick since you were young, and you didn't have any sisters or brothers to support you. Now my mother is leaving you. I really worry about you." Then she turned her eyes to Jia Hu.

Jia Hu hurried over.

Jia Min held Jia Hu in one hand and Dai Yu in the other, and said thoughtfully: "I grew up in the Jia family in its heyday. Fortunately, I have a well-behaved and filial daughter."

Speaking of this, I glanced at Lin Ruhai, and then said: "I discussed with the master and wrote a letter to the old lady in Duzhong. Sending Yu'er to her to raise her will also be a reliance in the future."

Daiyu wept as she listened: "Mother, my daughter is not going anywhere, but stays here with you."

But Jia Min smiled: "Silly boy, when you grow up and have your own life, you will leave your mother one day!" Looking at Jia Hu, "I know the daughter I gave birth to myself, this girl is smart, Clever and clever, but also naive and straightforward, the servants of the Rongguo Mansion"

Jia Hu understood right away and didn't respond.

Jia Min: "I remember that time I told you that my relationship with the second wife was average. If my sister-in-law was still there, I wouldn't be in such a difficult situation. After all, the old lady is old and her energy is limited. It is impossible to focus on it all the time. On Yuer. People say that people often hurt people invisible. I am really worried for Yuer. I have to send her to Beijing because of Yuer's future. So... Aunt hopes that you can take care of your sister and don't let her get hurt" said At this point, she looked at Jia Hu expectantly.

Jia Hu's eyes were red, and he nodded.

Jia Min turned his head slowly and looked at Lin Ruhai fixedly, his eyes were full of sadness.

Lin Ruhai didn't make a sound, his eyes were full of sadness, and he fixedly looked at Jia Min.

Jia Min coughed twice, and then forced a wry smile: "Master, I'm sorry, I'm going." Tilting her head, she slowly let go of Jia Hu and Daiyu's hands, and slowly slid down .
Daiyu: "Mother! Mother!"

Jia Hu was also shocked, "Aunt!"

Jia Min didn't answer, let alone open his eyes.

Lin Ruhai trembled all over, and shouted loudly: "Prince Wang! Physician Wang!"

There was a sound of hurried running outside the house.

Lin Ruhai's hand trembled, and he slowly stretched it over to Jia Min's nose, two lines of hot tears came out of his eyes
With a sound of wow, Lin Daiyu threw herself on Jia Min.

Outside Daying in Yangzhou, carriages and mule carts filled with large boxes lined up on the official road.

A well-known coachman has already lined up beside the cart and waited for orders.

Mr. Jiang and the butler sat on the horse, looking at the military camp not far away without saying a word.

At this time, there was a rush of horseshoes, and everyone paid attention.

Mr. Wang whipped his horse wildly and galloped towards this side. He ran to Mr. Jiang and reined in the reins, and said loudly, "Why are you stuck here?"

General Manager Jiang: "I just want to disgust them."

"You are taking the lives of the entire Jiang family to fight against him."

General Manager Wang paused: "The Yanzheng Yamen is in mourning!"

Hearing this, Mr. Jiang's eyes widened and he was stunned.

Mr. Wang stared straight into his eyes, motionless.

"You, what are you looking at me for?" Boss Jiang looked uncomfortable at him, and his eyes averted.

Mr. Wang ignored him and turned to the butler: "Let's go!"

Butler: "Master?"

Mr. Jiang didn't answer, but just waved his hand.

The butler waved his hand and shouted, "Get lucky!"

The whips were waved, and the carts drove towards the barracks.

(End of this chapter)