Red Mansion: Bastards rule the roost

Jia Cong took a look and saw that the people on the list, No. 17 or 18, did not have high official positions, because all the important officials of the old party had been wiped out in one sweep. Today's golden words say that the least serious ones will be dismissed from their posts, and the most serious ones will have their homes and families confiscated.

However, if these dozen fourth- and fifth-grade officials in important positions are allowed to return to the embrace of the new party, the situation in the court may be difficult to control.

With a look of embarrassment on his face, he said: "Father-in-law, this is too much. If we let it all go, it will probably arouse people's criticism, which will not be good."

Lin Ruhai also understood this. It was just asking for a high price. According to the New Party's estimation, it would be good to get half of the people out.

Yin said: "You think about it at your own discretion. It's good to be able to deal with 60 to 70%."

Jia Cong sighed and shook his head.

"Where's fifty percent?" Lin Ruhai said with hope.

Jia Cong smiled bitterly and shook his head.

"Thirty percent?" Lin Ruhai said, slightly disappointed.

Jia Cong said: "There are at most three people. For the sake of my father-in-law's golden face, I ask my father-in-law to submit it to the prime ministers for their decision."

Lin Ruhai said: "Everything depends on human effort, why not? Nothing is difficult in this world, only those who are willing can do it."

Let’s not talk about what will happen in the future. The matter of clearing the shortfall this time has not passed yet. The Yushi Yanguan is a big debtor, so am I still afraid of them? "

"If there is an accident, please ask my father-in-law to say a word to the prime ministers for me. They are all old acquaintances, and I don't want to turn against them and deny them." Jia Cong said.

Jia Cong's heart moved. Is this testing his political stance?
After pondering for a moment, he decided to take a defensive position and said with cupped hands: "I dare not deceive my father-in-law. Now that Cong Nian has not even reached the weak crown, he has already achieved success and fame. He has a beautiful wife and concubines, and is rich and powerful. Even if his ancestors are resurrected, they may not be able to match it.

Lin Ruhai laughed and said, "You are honest and don't know how to be humble."

Lin Ruhai smiled and said: "Rogue."

After this feast, Cong was already full and not very interested in what dish would be served next. "

If the censor is allowed to tell the officials that you are dissolute, shameless, stealing money from your wife, and insulting the princess, you will be rewarded. "

Lin Ruhai glared at him angrily and said, "I'm asking you this? I mean you should also consider your own reputation, don't go too far, and don't forget that you are still the prince-in-law.

Jia Cong looked like a dead pig who was not afraid of boiling water, and said with a smile: "It's not like I haven't been impeached before, let them go, anyway, the prime ministers of the Military Aircraft Department will not ignore death.

Lin Ruhai smiled and said: "You can climb along the pole. Your Majesty is wise, wise, generous and benevolent. How can you be stingy with rewards for meritorious ministers?
However, if you want people to sit at home and receive grace from heaven, that is absolutely impossible. "

Lin Ruhai twirled his beard and smiled, saying: "Even so, young people should not lose their enterprising spirit. They should know that one is born in sorrow and dies in happiness."

Now that he is the Duke of the country, if he goes further, he can only be granted the title of King with a different surname. The promotion from the Duke's Mansion to the Prince's Mansion is definitely a qualitative change.

"Is this what you prime ministers mean?" Jia Cong asked tentatively.

Lin Ruhai smiled bitterly, and the person in front of him was no longer the ignorant child, because he said: "If I can get three people out of the imperial prison, I can be considered as capable. Brother Cong, this time my father-in-law takes over Your love."

Lin Ruhai heard this and whispered: "I heard that Feng Yatou is still living in your house, but is it still peaceful?"

Jia Cong said hurriedly: "Now that the rebellion has been settled and the world is at peace, is there any major event in the court related to Cong?"

Jia Cong said with a smile: "Don't you know, father-in-law, that our old Jia family has always been rich and honorable, with only a few planners?"

The two were chatting and laughing happily, but when Daiyu sent someone to invite them to dinner, they stopped talking.

Jia Cong's eyes flashed and he said: "Master Qiang wins over his ancestors... Could it be that my father-in-law means that the hat on Cong's head can be changed again? This has never occurred to me and I dare not think about it."

"Well, even if the Military Aircraft Department says this, it won't count. Could it be that His Majesty also has this intention?"

Jia Cong smiled. Unexpectedly, Lin Ruhai, a humble gentleman, was also interested in gossip, and said: "Thank you, father-in-law, for your concern. Everything in the backyard is fine now."

Jia Cong smiled and said: "My father-in-law's teachings are certainly reasonable, but Cong is still young. Let's rest for a few years and enjoy the blessings.

Jia Cong was stunned and said: "They are too lenient in their control. They also take care of my housework? Is there anything to do after I'm full?"

Jia Cong waved his hand and said, "My father-in-law is married. What difference does it make between you and me? At most, the New Party owes me something. How can it be recorded in my father-in-law's name?"

Lin Ruhai burst into laughter: "Several prime ministers speak highly of you, saying that you are extremely talented and not inferior to our ancestors. If you make more progress, it is not impossible for you to become stronger than your ancestors."

After dinner, Jia Cong and Daiyu accompanied Lin Ruhai to visit Jia's mother. After seeing him off, they returned to Dongfu through the garden to chat and eat.

His father-in-law also heard what kind of life Cong had been living since he was a child. Now he has finally risked his life to gain a fortune. If he doesn't enjoy it alive, how can he be worthy of the hardships he has endured all these years?

As for making progress, Cong had no ambition to govern the country and bring peace to the world, leaving it all to his father-in-law and other prime ministers to worry about. "

"I learned it from Sister Feng yesterday." Jia Cong responded casually.

Lin Ruhai nodded with a smile.

Lin Ruhai smiled and said: "It makes sense. That day you and I were discussing the matter of attending a feast together in Yangzhou Salt Garden. Now the feast has started and you have eaten a lot first. Do you have any ideas on what to eat next?"

What's more, they impeached me and I want to impeach them. I don't believe that all of them are clean.

Jia Cong smiled and said, "Why should I say those polite words in front of my father-in-law?"

Jia Cong smiled and said: "That's natural. From now on, Cong just needs to be more diligent. With my father-in-law here, the prime ministers can't do anything wrong to me."

Lin Ruhai said slowly: "Be prepared for danger when you are in times of peace. If you think about it, you will be prepared. If you are prepared, there will be no danger."

"It is the duty of an official to speak in the Department of Science and Technology. All officials who are corrupt, corrupt, and violate official discipline will be impeached. Can't you control them?"

Cong didn't want to rebel. He thought he could still wear this hat for several more decades, so there was no need to rush. "

"You, you just don't let go of the eagle when you see the rabbit, how can you learn to be such a philistine." Lin Ruhai scolded with a smile.

Lin Ruhai said: "I'm afraid the tree wants to be quiet but the wind won't stop."

Lin Ruhai shook his head and said with a smile: "You, when you are a young man, you only want to be useful, but you want me to work hard as an old man. How can it be reasonable?"

As soon as he walked to the three small flower halls to the south of the garden gate, he heard crying sounds coming from inside. Jia Cong listened carefully and found that it was Aunt Zhao's voice.

Daiyu said: "Aunt Zhao must be having trouble with Tan Yatou again."

"How do you know?" Jia Cong asked curiously.

Daiyu smiled and said: "You noble lady is busy with things, how could you know that this place is now the meeting hall of Sisters-in-law Zhu, Sister-in-law Zhen, and Tan Yatou. Besides the third sister, who else can Aunt Zhao make trouble with?" "

Jia Cong nodded and said, "Brother Huan is not here, so we happened to meet him. Let's go in and have a look."

The two of them walked into the "Fu Ren Yu De" hall where all the deacons and eunuchs were supposed to sit when they were preparing for the wedding ceremony of the Yuan Concubine.

Seeing Li Wan and Tanchun standing above, with several girls waiting around, and several steward wives standing underground, Aunt Zhao was anxious and annoyed, clasping her hands on her hips and crying, not knowing what she was talking about.

"Greetings to the Duke." Seeing Jia Cong come in, all the servants knelt on the ground.

"Why are third brothers (third brothers) here?" Li Wan and Tan Chun hurriedly stood up to greet them, and then said hello to Daiyu.

Jia Cong smiled and said: "My father-in-law came over just now to see the old lady. He went home on the way and heard the noise and came in to take a look. What happened?" He said and looked at Aunt Zhao.

Aunt Zhao knew that Jia Cong treated Jia Huan differently. She quickly wiped her tears and said miserably: "Brother Cong, Brother Huan's uncle Qian'er died in the rebellion. I wanted to use some money to give him a good life." Afterwards, who would have expected that now I am even worse than a girl...

Tan Yatou is also here to step on my head, but you have to make the decision for me. "After saying that, I couldn't help but feel aggrieved. I covered my face and burst into tears.

Jia Cong looked confused when he heard this and looked at Daiyu.

Daiyu whispered: "It's Zhao Guoji, Aunt Zhao's younger brother. Unfortunately, Qian'er died during the rebellion."

"Then what's the deal with 'not even as good as a girl'?" Jia Cong asked curiously.

Daiyu also shook her head in confusion and looked at Li Wan. Jia Cong sat down with Daiyu and said with a smile: "Auntie, please tell me slowly. I will tell you right and wrong."

"Yes, yes," Aunt Zhao glared at Tanchun demonstratively.

"Brother Cong, this is how it is. When Xiren's mother died, the officials rewarded her with forty taels. Now that my brother is dead, they only give her twenty taels. Isn't this bullying? Are there any laws of heaven and kings? "

Jia Cong nodded and said, "That makes sense. What do you think is going on?"

Seeing Jia Cong looking over, Tan Chun hurriedly explained: "Third brother Rong Zhen, I don't dare to break the law. In fact, it is clearly stated in the account. In those years, there were several old aunts and grandmothers in the old lady's house, and some at home." , there are also outsiders, there is a difference.”

"What's the difference?" Jia Cong said lightly.

"If you die at home, you will be rewarded with twenty taels, and if you die outside, you will be rewarded with forty taels." Tan Chun said.

"There are also two people from outside, one has rewarded one hundred taels, and the other has rewarded sixty taels.

There are reasons for all of them: one is moving his parents' coffin from another province, and the reward is sixty taels; the other is buying a burial place, and the reward is twenty taels.

This is the old rule in the hands of the ancestors. Everyone follows it, and Tanchun does not dare to change it. "

When Jia Cong heard this, he sneered: "That's it?"

Seeing his hesitant expression, Li Wan and Tan Chun didn't dare to say anything more, so they just nodded and said, "Yes."

Jia Cong frowned, waved his hand to repel the servant, and said with a sneer: "Third sister, I thought you were well-informed, sensible, strong-tempered, and unyielding, but now it seems you are too confused."

Upon hearing this, Daiyu hurriedly tugged on Jia Cong's sleeves, signaling him to save some dignity for Tanchun.

Tanchun has always been very strong and refused to admit defeat easily. He said loudly with tears in his eyes: "What's wrong with me, silly girl? Please teach me a lesson from my third brother."

"I'm going to teach you a lesson."

Jia Cong looked at Li Wan and said, "Sister-in-law, it's okay for Tan Yatou to be ignorant. Are you ignorant too?"

Li Wan was inexplicably stunned, and suddenly blushed and felt embarrassed. She didn't know how to explain it. She wanted to give forty taels, but Tanchun insisted on the old method of her ancestors, so she couldn't say much.

"Sister-in-law, this matter has nothing to do with me. It's all out of my mind. Please give Third Brother a lesson." Tanchun said.

"I see, I made the mistake of blaming my sister-in-law. Please forgive me," Jia Cong said.

Li Wan hurriedly waved his hand and said, "It doesn't matter."

Seeing that Jia Cong was a little angry, she didn't dare to get into trouble with him again and went to intercede with Tanchun, so she quickly stepped aside and stood with her hands solemnly.

"Tan girl, you insist on the ancestral law, just to tell everyone above and below you that you three girls act in a lawful and measured manner, are selfless, and are strong without desire, right or wrong?" Jia Cong said.

"What Third Brother said is absolutely true." Tan Chun said stubbornly: "The so-called publicity begets enlightenment, and honesty begets prestige."

"You are such a fair and honest person, do you think that if you don't recognize your relatives and step on Aunt Zhao's head with the old ancestral method, the servants will praise you? Childish!" Jia Cong scolded.

"Third brother's words are serious. Yumei just decided impartially and had no selfish intentions. I wonder where the mistake was?" Tan Chun choked.

"What's wrong is that you don't understand people's hearts and still want to manage them. Isn't it just trying to take advantage of the situation? Since ancient times, Chinese people have been helping their relatives but not taking care of them. Don't you know that?"

Jia Cong sneered: "Aunt Zhao is your biological mother, and Zhao Guoji has the same bloodline as you. This is an irrefutable fact.

Of course you can be selfless and merciless, but will the wife in charge below praise you, Miss Three, for your "strict enforcement of the law"? Do you know what they will say about you behind your back? "

Tan Chun said in a trembling voice: "Please give me some advice, Third Brother."

"They won't praise you for adhering to the ancestral law. They will only say that you trampled Aunt Zhao to the point where she was worse than an attacker. Just to please my wife, you stayed in Aunt Zhao's belly for ten months in vain."

Jia Cong sneered and said: "In terms of status, Aunt Zhao is the concubine of the old lady who has been given justice to the master; in terms of merit, she gave birth to you and Brother Huan; in terms of qualifications, she has served in the mansion for more than twenty years.

What is an attacker? Why would a nameless girl get forty taels when her mother died, and only twenty taels when Zhao Guoji died? Tan girl, what's the point? "

Tanchun was robbed of her beauty by him. She felt as if she had been struck by lightning. Her face turned pale and she was about to collapse. Li Wan saw this and rushed over to help her.

"What Third Brother taught me is just the old way of our ancestors..." Tan Chun reluctantly defended.

"The old law is dead, but people are alive. If the old law is wrong, it must be changed! And it must be changed! Even the ancestral constitution of the imperial court can be changed. How can the ancestral law of a mere family count?"

Jia Cong reprimanded mercilessly, "There are always a bunch of fools who think that clinging to the ancestral rules means being filial to the ancestors and filial sons and grandsons. This is nonsense!
If our ancestors had spirits, what would they most want to see? Tan girl, you say. "

Tan Chun bit his lip and whispered: "I think what our ancestors most want to see is for the family to prosper, for talents to emerge in large numbers, and for wealth to continue."

"That's it. As long as we can achieve the goal of a prosperous family, a large number of talented people, and everlasting wealth, and our ancestors are full and full, no matter what new or old methods you use?
On the contrary, even if you are meticulous and follow the old ways, ruining the family business and dispersing people's hearts, wouldn't your ancestors be happy? "

Tanchun was silent for a moment and said: "The third brother's lesson is certainly reasonable, how can foolish sister He De dare to change the ancestor's law without authorization? Isn't this something that is difficult for others to do?"

Jia Cong said: "I heard that the third sister has ambitions to reach the clouds and wishes she could be a man. You have such a stubborn mind and don't know how to adapt, so you become a man. You are nothing more than an old party member. I just happened to meet the third brother and I will catch you all in one go." .

You said that a daughter has nothing to do when she is born, so Wu Zetian is not a daughter? People can be emperors. Hua Mulan is not a girl? When people lead troops to fight, they are invincible. Shangguan Wan'er is not a girl? He is a powerful official of his generation. How do you say this? "

Tanchun's face turned red and he was speechless.

Daiyu glared at Jia Cong and signaled that enough was enough.

Jia Cong nodded slightly and said: "Originally, the third sister's literary talents are exquisite, refreshing and generous. I have always praised her and placed high hopes on her.

What happened today made me very disappointed, not just a few dozen taels of silver, but here, my brain! " He said and pointed to his temple.

"The law of the country is majestic, and there is also a saying of mercy outside the law. A ruthless person who doesn't even care about his biological mother, who will respect you? Who will subjugate you? Who dares to follow you? After you leave the cabinet, will you run the family like this?
What's more, there is Brother Huan's dignity in it. How do you get along as a brother and sister? Could it be that for your so-called old rules, you can give up your biological mother and brothers?
I'm not just threatening, I'm afraid there will be times in the future when you rely on Brother Huan. "Jia Cong sighed.

Tan Chun felt as if he was enlightened. He was full of regrets and ashamed. He hurriedly bowed down and said, "Foolish sister is beyond stupid. Thank you third brother for your teaching."

Jia Cong said: "Get up and tell me what the original meaning of the ancestor's method is?"

Tanchun thought for a while and said, "The deceased in the family will be rewarded twenty taels. I think it is because he has already received the monthly salary on weekdays and the family has to take care of the funeral, so the reward is less.

Instead, the outsiders rewarded them with forty taels, presumably to show that the master's family was merciful to the servants and to encourage them to serve with all their heart. "

Jia Cong said: "Well, you are right. It shows that you know it in your heart, but you have forgotten that our ancestors are not gods and may not be perfect. For example, our ancestors did not consider the situation like Zhao Guoji.

He is the biological brother of his aunt, so he is considered an outsider, but since he is an errand in the house, he can be considered a member of the house, so what will happen to his funeral? "

Tanchun hesitated and said, "Forty taels?"

Jia Cong said: "Silly girl, if you do two jobs for me, I will only pay you one salary. Are you willing?"

"Only a fool would agree, but Brother Cong is wise." Aunt Zhao was overjoyed and said hurriedly.

Tanchun said: "Third brother means to give double portion, sixty taels?"

"Exactly, isn't it unreasonable?"

Li Wan smiled and said: "This does not violate the old rules of our ancestors, and it is also reasonable. Brother Cong understands what is going on. I am confused."

Tanchun thought for a while and nodded in agreement.

Jia Cong said: "In addition, I will give you two hundred taels of silver to burn and bury."

Aunt Zhao was eager to say something, but she was too busy to do anything.

Jia Cong smiled and said: "Auntie, you're too polite, you... Hey, no, where's your order? Why are you still an aunt?" After saying that, his expression turned cold and he looked at Li Wan.

Aunt Zhao was confused, what was the order? (End of chapter)