Pingyang Fu of the Red Chamber

Chapter 901 Su Chong's Reform and Relief
The sun sets over the western mountains,

The night is getting brighter,

The busy capital city gradually lost its prosperity and the noise. The number of people on the streets gradually decreased. Only the hurried footsteps of the workers who had just finished work and were on their way home were seen.

In Prime Minister Li's house, the servants had already started to light the candles in the lanterns, making the courtyard, which was not yet dark, even brighter. In addition, the night watchmen of the house had already eaten in the side courtyard of the master's house, and then groups of three or four began to check whether the gates of the courtyards were closed and whether there were other hidden dangers in the entire house, making this house seem quiet and comfortable.
In the inner hall,

After finishing his meal, Prime Minister Li Chonghou went into the warm room and lay down. Through the screen, he listened to the Kunqu opera sung by the girl from the Mei family outside. He sang with his mouth half asleep, as if he was half asleep.

The eldest son, Li Chaosheng, sat at the desk nearby, carefully checking the secret letters and memorials sent from various places. He read each letter carefully, made a mark on it, and then put it away neatly. He also checked the cabinet affairs for his father and gained some insights.

After a while,
After the song of The Romance of the West Chamber was finished, the sound was left and Li Shoufu seemed to wake up. He opened his eyes and waved his hand. When Mei Shu saw this, she stood up, bowed, and slowly retreated.
After seeing the people leave, Li Shoufu turned around and looked at his son who was still reading the secret letter in the room, and asked:
"I heard that the last poetry gathering at Yanchun Tower was disrupted by Marquis Luo Yun again. He won the whole audience with one poem, 'Water flows through the southern country for three thousand miles, and the air pressures the fourteen states in the south.' Only he has the courage to do this. And the Kunqu opera he named, the sound of mountains and rivers, has also become famous in the capital, and is called the sound of northern mountains and southern waters by students all over the world. Is this true?"

It was strange to say that when Marquis Luo Yun finished his poem, the entire Yanchun Tower fell silent, and even the presidents of several academies kept silent. Finally, Marquis Luo Yun returned to the palace for something, but he stayed behind to sing Kunqu Opera "Luanshanyin" at the poetry meeting, which attracted the attention of students all over the world. In addition to the poems he had written before, he got all the limelight. The woman who sang the song was also bold, and the words she said were really in line with Marquis Luo Yun's character.

In the end, the poetry meeting started off well but ended badly. Students from all over the world were only concerned with discussing Luo Yunhou's poems and the new Kunqu opera tunes. No one paid attention to the students from the academy. The two princesses had to bring forward the election of the oiran.
Thinking of this, I remembered how helpless everyone was at that time.

The eldest son Li Chaosheng smiled and shook his head. Only Marquis Luo Yun dared to make trouble that day.

"Father, I know something about this. After Marquis Luo Yun wrote his poem, no one dared to write poetry anymore. The singer is the daughter of the Taoyuan Troupe owner, Ms. Li. She has a natural good voice, and she figured out the tune herself. Marquis Luo Yun heard about it and recruited her to his mansion as a musician. Luanshanyin is the name given by Marquis Luo Yun, who said he wanted to suppress the Jiangnan Shuimo tune. Once the word spread, everyone in the capital knew about it. Just talking about the tune, I think it's better than the Shuimo tune."

This point is not intentionally exaggerated by him. After hearing this song that day, the whole audience was in an uproar. The people in Jiangnan Academy had extremely ugly faces. Even he himself saw it, and he actually felt a little happy in his heart. It can be seen that the prince of Beijing has resentment towards those people in Jiangnan.

"It's really not just a rumor. The fact that you can even praise it shows that the literary style of Jiangnan has reached a disgusting level. The people taking the exam this time are not just from the north and Jiangnan, but also from the west and the south. We can't let Jiangnan dominate alone. You understand that Luo Yunhou has disturbed the situation several times, and Jian is in the emperor's heart."

Li Shoufu closed his eyes again and muttered to himself. In the warm room, there was only the sound of burning lamp oil.

"Father, what Luo Yunhou can do, others may not dare to do. Those people in Jiangnan have always acted this way. I thought they were just bragging, but I never thought that after more than ten years, it has become a trend and is meant to annoy people. I wonder if the presidents of those academies have any intention of repenting."

The eldest son, Li Chaosheng, understood a lot, but he really couldn't do what Luo Yunhou did. He had seen those mountain chiefs, each of whom thought highly of themselves and had no intention of serving the court. They were truly a group of hypocritical people with a glamorous appearance but a rotten heart.

"Well, it is annoying, but there are some things that they cannot decide. The reason they do this is for the inheritance of the academy. If you have no reputation and no money, how can the academy continue to operate? This is why they stay between the court and the underworld. If they are involved too much, the academy will not be able to operate safely. Luo Yunhou obviously knows this, so he can openly challenge and suppress the Jiangnan literary style. There is nothing else."

As if he had used up all his strength after saying this, he turned over, lay on his side, closed his eyes, and fell asleep.
The eldest son was left thinking about his father's words. If that was the case, why did Marquis Luo Yun still put in the effort to do this? It couldn't be just to disgust them. Thinking of En Ke's incident, maybe it was the attitude of the palace.

While thinking,
The steward in the outer hall carefully knocked on the wooden frame of the screen.
"Master, Master, a secret letter has come from Jiangnan,"

Li Chaosheng in the room was obviously stunned. Who could have sent the secret letter from Jiangnan?
"Bring the letter in. Did the person who delivered the letter just now say anything?"

"My Lord, the messenger said that he first came to Li's house to deliver the letter, and then went to Prince Zhongshun's house. He did not explain the rest."

The steward walked in slowly, tiptoeing carefully, fearing that the slightest noise would disturb the sleeping master. When he reached the desk, he gently placed the letter on the desk. In the light, he could see some wrinkles on the letter. These wrinkles were
It didn't look like it was folded by humans. Li Chaosheng was a little curious, so he picked up the secret letter and examined it carefully. He saw the wrinkles on it, as if it had been wet and dried. Just as he was about to open the envelope, he suddenly asked:

"Is there any news coming from Jiangnan?"

"My Lord, there is no news. The last news was that after Eunuch Yang entered Jiangnan, he took over the Weaving Bureau and arrested Qin, the head of the Weaving Bureau. He will be escorted to Beijing and convicted by the Ministry of Justice soon."

The steward lowered his head and replied in a low voice,

Now, all the managers in the mansion have their own division of labor. He was appreciated by the eldest son and was transferred to the inner hall.

"Weaving Bureau, Director Qin,"

Li Chaosheng frowned and thought for a long time, but still couldn't think of any information about this person. He had no impression that the Jiangnan Manufacturing Bureau had always been a cooperation with the Zhen family. How could it be taken down by Eunuch Yang? But when he remembered that not long ago, Eunuch Yang had filed a request for an official position in the cabinet, he remembered that the name was Shen Wanhe, the richest man in Jiangnan, and the official position was given to him.
Thinking of this, his eyes lit up and he secretly admired that Eunuch Yang was really good at this. With one move, he took over the Jiangnan Weaving Bureau and even the people from the Ministry of Internal Affairs had to retreat.
He quickly opened the letter and read it carefully. After a moment, the young master, who was originally smiling, turned pale. The Jiangnan-Xinbei levee was destroyed, and the flood submerged nine counties in the south and north of the Yangtze River. Who did it?
Seeing the signature, it was the handwriting of the inspector general Jing Cunliang. Could it be him, or Ma Guangcheng and others from the Jinling prefectural government mentioned in the letter, or maybe it was a play directed and performed by Eunuch Yang himself? But once the dam is broken, not to mention converting the fields into mulberry trees, even the tax revenue from the fields and grain this year will be gone. How could the emperor in the palace not pay attention to this matter?
Lord Lu has retreated again and again, I'm afraid he won't retreat this time.
I quickly thought about how to deal with this situation, but after thinking about it for a while, I still didn't know where to start.
"You, quickly go and inform the senior brother. That's all. Tomorrow, go and inform the three senior brothers to come here for the banquet."

"Yes, my lord,"

Although the steward was surprised, he still nodded in agreement. The eldest son was becoming more and more majestic now. After the people left,
Li Chaosheng kept thinking in his mind how to intervene in this matter. The Xinbei Dam is located on the north side of the upper reaches of Jinling City. The flood will inevitably flood the county city. Even if the water level recedes, it will take time. Disaster relief is a top priority. Could it be that they joined forces to convert the fields into mulberry trees? They were too harsh and might cause a big mess.

I still need to suppress my backup plan, and I also need an introduction to go to Jiangnan. Thinking of the censor Cao Guangzheng who was recommended to me by my senior brother, I wonder if he has the courage to go there. I will have to discuss this with my senior brother tomorrow.

Under the firelight, Li Chaosheng's dim face seemed somewhat mysterious.

at the same time,

The house of Lu Wenshan was also brightly lit. Three people were sitting in the study below the hall. The person behind the desk was Lu Wenshan, who was wearing a grey robe and sitting on a chair. He was holding a secret letter and examining it carefully. Sitting below the hall were Lu Wenshan's students, the censors Su Chong and Zeng Zheng.

Both of them were dressed in Confucian robes, with serious expressions, but their eyes were fixed on their mentor behind the desk. It was not until the mentor put down the secret letter in his hand that they dared to ask;
"Master, why did you ask the two of us to come here tonight? Is there something important you want to tell me?"

"Well, there is something going on. It's a big deal. Do you know why I only asked you two to come?"

After seeing the letter from Lord Zhuang, the governor of Jiangnan, Lu Wenshan had already made up his mind. The Xinbei dike was dug up by someone. Who would use such a cruel method? If the news leaked out, it would not be an extermination of the entire clan. Thinking of the chaotic forces in Jiangnan intervening in it, it would be difficult for Zhuang to guard the city. He asked casually, but it puzzled the two people in the hall. Among the censors, Su Chong, Yan Cong, and Zeng Zheng were all disciples of Lord Lu. Why did he call these two to come and leave Yan Cong behind? Obviously, that was not common sense. Could it be that something happened in Senior Brother Yan's family?

"Teacher, Senior Brother Yan was delayed by something at home. Did you ask for leave from the teacher?"

Zeng Zheng was a little suspicious, but he still spoke out. Only Su Chong was hesitant and didn't speak for a long time.
Seeing that the two could not guess, Lu Wenshan shook his head. He was not talented enough. What could he do?
"You two still haven't made any progress."

The two men were greatly surprised, and stood up, bowed, and confessed their sins;
"The student is ashamed, not knowing the teacher's intention,"

"Hmph, don't think about it. It hasn't been long since Yan Cong beat the drum for reporting. He has just taken office as the Minister of Personnel. How can he still act like before? I called you here today to discuss with you two who will go to Jiangnan."

Lu Wenshan put the secret letter on the table and pushed it. The two of them understood and took a few steps forward to pick up the secret letter and read it carefully. These were just about the flood in the south of the Yangtze River. Zeng Zheng was a little confused, but Su Chong saw something strange in it and replied;
"Teacher, Mr. Zhuang's letter mentioned that the Jiangnan dike collapsed, so there must be disaster relief. I feel that it should be for the court's policy to convert farmland into mulberry trees. However, the inside story is unclear and I don't understand it."

Upon hearing this, Lu Wenshan immediately raised his head and stared at Su Chong with a look of scrutiny. He was able to see all this, and he really underestimated them.
"Oh, then tell me, why is it for the sake of the court's policy?"

Su Chong calmed himself down, thought for a moment, and then spoke;
"Master, Jiangnan was originally fine. Everything was decided by the court. Now it's June, and it's late to plant summer grain. So planting mulberry trees is urgent. We encountered obstacles when we tried to change the crops before. Now that the flood is over, we need to provide disaster relief. However, the government also has difficulties in providing disaster relief. I think someone should intervene in this matter."

Su Chong thought of many things. Perhaps, all these things were expected.
suddenly,

Lu Wenshan, who was sitting behind the desk, laughed out loud. Even his senior brother Zeng Zheng, who was standing beside him, looked at him with a complicated expression, not knowing whether what he said was right or wrong.

"Ahahaha, Su Chong, I have always misjudged you. Everything you said makes sense. Let me tell you again, the things in Jiangnan are all man-made, not God's will. Since we can't stop it, let me test you. After the flood in Jiangnan, how did the court provide disaster relief and implement the court's policies?"

These two questions are not just about disaster relief, but also about converting farmland into mulberry trees.

The two were shocked after hearing this. Didn't the teacher always try to stop this? Why did he change his stance? Was there something else going on? Su Chong couldn't guess, and Zeng Zheng had no idea at all. However, Su Chong had thought of many things about Jiangnan. How could he take both into account?
Suddenly, the word "both" was imprinted in his mind, Su Chong's eyes lit up, and he replied firmly;
"Reform and relief will solve the dilemma!"

The long voice rang out in the study, and even Lu Wenshan looked at Su Chong in disbelief. It was his fault that the jade was buried.

He kept repeating, "Reform and relief, the dilemma will be solved!" This is the wonderful point.
"How to explain and change the policy of providing both relief and assistance?"

"Teacher, I think that disaster relief cannot rely solely on the government. Jiangnan is rich and there are too many wealthy families. Now the court's policy is imminent. Why not unite with the wealthy families in Jiangnan, provide money and food, and buy the land from the people at the market price, and then have them cultivate it. All according to the court's policy, turn the land into mulberry trees, and when the money is earned in the future, it will be distributed to the people and the rich at the same time. In this way, both sides will benefit, and the government will get rid of the burden, so the dilemma will be solved naturally."

Su Chong resolved the Jiangnan issue with just a few words, which made Lu Ge Lao's eyes sparkle and he even said a few good words.

"Okay, okay, it's a good plan. Then tell me, if the rich family exchanges grain for land, how can they ensure that the interests of the victims will not be harmed? You know, the land in Jiangnan is all top-quality land."

Lu Wenshan seemed to be praising this strategy, but he also saw the most difficult part of it. If the land was sold at the original price for disaster relief and food shortage, the rich families would naturally not agree. If it was sold at a low price, the tax policy in Jiangnan would collapse in the future, and the land in Jiangnan would all fall into the hands of the gentry. Taxation would be affected, not to mention His Majesty, even the court would not be able to help but take action. At that time, if the chaos was made, Jiangnan would never have peace.

"Teacher, the key is the local government. The so-called dilemma is self-resolved. Naturally, the government will act as a guarantor in the middle. If the balance is right and both sides are satisfied, the matter will be settled."

Su Chong thought about it and realized that the simplest and most difficult part of this matter was that the price of these acres of land must not be sold at a low price. If it was sold at a low price, this plan would be over.

"Well, your reputation is good now. You should write down this matter in detail in the memorial. The situation in Jiangnan will be reported to the capital in three days at most. At that time, your master will definitely ask you to appoint an inspector to go to Jiangnan and work together with Lord Zhuang to investigate the movements of Jing Cunliang and Eunuch Yang. You must be careful."

"Thank you, Master. I know that this is Senior Brother Zeng."

When Su Chong heard that he was going to Jiangnan, his face was full of joy. He had never expected to have such an opportunity. He was grateful for his teacher's kindness, but he was a little hesitant when he thought that among the three of them, only his senior brother was still in the capital. Zeng Zheng was also happy for Su Chong. He was stupid and could not see through the affairs of the officialdom. He could only follow his teacher and serve him. He had been an official in the capital until now, and he was used to it.
"Don't worry about him. Everyone has his own destiny. Zeng Zheng is not good at officialdom. It would be a disaster for him to take up a post. It might be a good thing for him to stay in the six ministries in the capital."

Lu Wenshan shook his head. The older he got, the more he thought about things. He always needed someone to serve him. Zeng Zheng was stupid, but he was filial and loyal. With him, he could save a lot of time in the court.

"Yes, Junior Brother Su, I am in the capital and can serve you. There are fewer intrigues. I couldn't ask for more."

Zeng Zheng reached out and patted Su Chong on the shoulder, signaling him not to worry. He knew his own situation and that staying in the capital might not be a bad thing. Seeing his senior brother so calm, Su Chong no longer had the desire he had just felt. He felt much better, but although he was happy in his heart, he was also a little nervous.
"Teacher, the situation in Jiangnan is very complicated. Submitting a memorial is one thing, and going there is another. How should I deal with going there alone? After all, Lord Jing, Eunuch Yang, and the Jinling prefectural government are all here together."

Su Chong was not stupid. The matter just written in the secret letter involved a large number of people. Those who could make the governor explain in detail could not have any collusion. Therefore, even if he went, he might not be able to change the overall situation.

"You are very thoughtful. Although you proposed this matter, it is they who will carry it out. As long as the cabinet and His Majesty agree to this matter, you will have the right to monitor it. We want to participate, but we also want to get out of it. I feel that if the disaster relief in Jiangnan is not properly arranged, there will be a big mess."

Lu Wenshan couldn't help but worry. If it were normal years, these would be trivial matters. However, the chaos in the south of Beijing had not been resolved. The court was now short of silver and had no chance to store grain and transport it. The longer such a matter was delayed, the faster the situation would change. What if a cult intervened? He thought it was not a good idea and gave instructions.

"Su Chong, the disciples of Marquis Luo Yun and Lord Nan, I have arranged for them to serve in Jiangnan. Although they are county magistrates, they may be helpful. There are four county magistrates in the two places, and many things have to go through them."

"Teacher, I understand that just because the people above me don't care about me doesn't necessarily mean that the people below me don't care about me. The county magistrate is also an official. I heard that these people are all proud. I am optimistic about them."

"Hahahaha. Then go get ready."

(End of this chapter)