Red Mansion, Ningfu Scholarly Family

Chapter 185 Jia Rong My father-in-law has been promoted again.

Chapter 185 Jia Rong: My father-in-law has been promoted again.

……

Jia Jing originally planned to take the initiative to find Old Dai to discuss how to use the salt merchant incident to mobilize troops to attack some Dutch company in order to pave the way for his eldest grandson's future.

Unexpectedly, someone gave him a pillow when he was sleepy. Before he even found Lao Dai, Lao Dai found him first.

"Mr. Jia, please save our family."

That night, Dai Quan rushed to Ningguo Mansion to find Jia Jing.

Jia Jing smiled slightly: "What's the matter? Eunuch Dai, please speak slowly and have a cup of tea first."

"Oh, we don't have time for tea right now." Dai Quan held Jia Jing's hand and said anxiously, "It's still about the Dengxian Pavilion. We are still short of two million taels of silver. The emperor ordered me to collect it immediately, otherwise my life will be in danger!"

"Oh."

Jia Jing led Dai Quan to sit on the seat, stroked his beard and said seriously, "Is it really that serious?"

"That's right!" Dai Quan looked around and said cautiously, "The emperor has become more and more obsessed with cultivating immortals recently. He even invited an old Taoist named Bu Lingzi to the palace and meditate and practice with him every day."

Jia Jing nodded calmly: "It's fine to meditate and cultivate, it can also calm your mind and cultivate your character, as long as you don't take the elixir."

Dai Quan said helplessly: "The emperor is already so obsessed with it, isn't it just a matter of time before he eats the elixir? I'm just afraid..."

"Don't worry, the emperor is a lucky man and will be fine." Jia Jing hurriedly comforted Dai Quan.

"I hope so." Dai Quan nodded, and suddenly said, "Let's not talk about this for now. Lord Jia, please think of a way to get more money."

Here comes the topic!

Jia Jing took a sip of tea and smiled: "There is a way."

Dai Quanxi said happily: "Oh? What's the solution? Lord Jia, please tell us quickly."

Jia Jing said: "The whereabouts of those salt merchants have been found."

"Really!" Dai Quan stood up suddenly, rubbing his hands and asking, "Where are those brats?"

That's tens of millions of taels of silver. Once the man is caught, not only will the emperor be very happy, but he can also take the opportunity to make another fortune.

If the retired emperor was really obsessed with making elixirs, it was hard to say how many years he could live. With each successive emperor, there would be a new eunuch. He had to prepare to go home and retire.

Jia Jing said seriously, "It's still with the Westerners. They got wind of the last Taizhou Island encirclement and suppression and fled south again."

Dai Quan: "Luzon?"

As the most powerful eunuch in Daxia, Dai Quan was not only familiar with the two capitals and thirteen provinces of Daxia, but also knew a lot about Southeast Asia.

Jia Jing nodded and said, "It may be further south in Luzon. It is said that a company built by Westerners is rampant in the South China Sea of our Great Xia. They openly take in our criminals and do not take our dynasty seriously at all!"

"How ridiculous!" Dai Quan angrily slammed the table and said, "Why not send troops to wipe them out and enhance the prestige of our Great Xia nation!"

"Eunuch Dai is right." Jia Jing smiled slightly: "Besides, Westerners seem to be rich. Didn't they get some money last time on Taizhou Island..."

"Haha."

Dai Quan immediately understood.

"Who should be sent to wipe out the Westerners?"

Jia Jing thought for a while and said, "Let's choose Lin Ruhai. The emperor intends to continue closing the sea. The Lianghuai navy is not very useful anymore. Let them go out to sea to pursue the imperial criminals. As for the military pay, the Ministry of Revenue should be able to provide one million for the time being, which is enough for the initial period."

Last time we gave the Ministry of Revenue one million, and now it should be taken back. At worst, we can give them another million after we defeat the Westerners.

I think Liu Yan would not disagree.

Dai Quan said solemnly: "This is a mature and prudent move. Let's do this! The elder will go to the cabinet to draft a draft, and our Silijian will approve it immediately. As for the emperor, we will talk to him later."

"it is good!"

As the saying goes, it is easy to get things done by connecting inside and outside, the two of them hit it off and formulated a military plan to go to Southeast Asia to pursue the criminals and enhance the prestige of our Great Xia country.

Dai Quan then said, "After all, it will take time to chase down the criminals and wipe out the Westerners. Now the construction of the Ascension Pavilion is imminent. Is there any way for Lord Jia to borrow some money temporarily? I will make up for it later when the money arrives."

Jia Jing smiled and said, "It's not difficult to borrow money. Winter is coming soon. After last year's honeycomb coal was sold all over the country, there will be greater profits this year. It won't be difficult to take out one million first for emergency."

"This one……"

Dai Quan hesitated to speak.

"how?"

Jia Jing asked doubtfully.

Dai Quan said awkwardly: "I just took out one million silver taels in advance last month, and now I'm afraid..."

Jia Jing was puzzled.

"One million? What did you do with it?"

Dai Quan asked, "Lord Jia also knows about the emperor's decision to re-establish the Imperial Guard, right?"

Jia Jing nodded: "I know a little."

Although there was great resistance to this matter among both civil officials and military generals and nobles, they could not stop it blatantly.

Otherwise, wouldn’t it be a guilty conscience?
Dai Quan continued, "In the past few months, the Jinyiwei has expanded rapidly. There are more than 20,000 people in various parts of the country. Jinyi Yamen have also been established in various places. Many of them were hired with a large sum of money. The cost is really not small, and it is all paid from honeycomb coal."

Jia Jing: “…”

The emperor cannot have money in his hands.

As his position became increasingly stable, Jia Jing's mentality gradually changed. He went from simply trying to please the retired emperor and make money for him to becoming a loyal and good minister.

We must advise the Emperor.

We cannot indulge in extravagance and pleasure.

"Lord Jia, please think about it again. Is there any other way to make money?" Dai Quan asked in a slightly anxious voice.

"Others..."

Jia Jing thought for a moment and said, "Why don't all the officials raise funds?"

Although he has money.

but.

Those were all reserved for contributing to the country and the people, and a portion would be left for the eldest grandson. They could not be taken out for the retired emperor's own selfish purposes.

Dai Quan: “…”

Fundraising?

You must be kidding.

Even if you can really donate thirty or twenty thousand, what can you do?
"Brother Jia, stop making trouble."

"Think of another way."

Jia Jing said helplessly: "Either we should borrow 500,000 yuan from the Ministry of Revenue first, and then tell Liu Yan that we will pay him back 600,000 yuan next year. The other 500,000 yuan can only be paid from the Emperor's treasury."

Although Dai Quan was still not very satisfied, he reluctantly gave an explanation.

"The Ministry of Revenue... I'll have to trouble Lord Jia to tell him that we don't want to deal with that bunch of pedantic people."

He knew that those people called him Old Dog in private.

Jia Jing smiled: "No problem."

……

Household Department.

Shangshu Liu Yan said with a bitter face: "Master, the treasury is really out of money!"

"Don't give me that." Jia Jing waved his hand and smiled, "Don't try to fool me. I know this year's salt tax has come down. This wave of 5 million taels of salt tax will make you rich."

Liu Yan hurriedly shook his head.

"Mr. Jia, be careful with your words."

"Don't even mention the five million taels of salt tax. It hasn't even been deposited into the treasury yet, but several families are already eyeing it."

"Oh? Which ones?" Jia Jing asked.

Liu Yan said: "First of all, the military pay in the Northwest and Mobei has been in arrears for more than three months this year. If we make up for it, it will be two million taels."

"The other two military governors complained to the court, complaining that their military equipment was outdated. Years of war had caused their swords and spears to become weak and their armor to become damaged. They needed to replace a batch of them. The Ministry of War has already started to produce them, and it will cost more than one million taels."

Jia Jing nodded. He knew about this. The border troops could not be short of food and wages. Moreover, when dealing with the Tartars on the grassland, the weapons and armor had to be sturdy. This money could not be saved.

"anything else?"

Liu Yan continued: "The emperor asked for 500,000 taels. This is a fixed rule and there is no need to explain it."

"The Emperor gave a lot more this year than usual, taking 1.5 million taels."

"In addition, Shaanxi and Shanxi provinces are suffering from severe drought, and Henan is suffering from a locust plague. They all need relief. Your Excellency, please calculate how much we will have left."

Hearing this, Jia Jing frowned and said, "Wasn't the money for disasters in the past paid from taxes? Why is it paid from the salt tax this year?"

Liu Yan smiled bitterly and said, "I'm sure you are also aware of the tax situation. It is getting lower every year. In a few years, if there are thousands or tens of thousands more scholars in the country, the tax can be directly reduced by half."

Once one became a scholar, not only could one exempt one's entire family from corvée and taxes, becoming a member of the aristocratic class and enjoying subsidies from the imperial court, one could also take in a large number of slaves who came to one's house with their land and register them under one's name, and also be exempted from a large portion of exorbitant taxes and levies.

This also resulted in taxes being less each year.

Jia She had no way to deal with this. Even if he had a way, he would not dare to do it.

Over the hundred years of the country's reign, taxation from generation to generation has involved a wide range of interests, from court ministers to local landlords, all of whom are vested interests, of course, including him.

Any attempt at reform will be torn to pieces by the general trend!

The warship of Daxia has been around for a hundred years, so it is inevitable that it has leaks everywhere. As a cabinet minister of the current dynasty, he was able to repair it along the way and prevent the warship from sinking, which can be regarded as a great contribution to future generations.

Although Guan Zhong, Shang Yang and others are famous throughout the ages, he knew that his abilities were limited and he could not learn.

Perhaps his grandson could...

"Lord Jia?"

Seeing Jia Jing suddenly fall silent, Liu Yan reminded him carefully.

Jia Jing came back to his senses and sighed, "That's fine. Let's not talk about the salt tax. Let me use the one million taels I gave you last time. I'll give it to you next year after we win the battle."

Liu Yan: “…”

What if I lose?
He didn't dare say that.

Jia Jing: "Also, find a way to squeeze out 500,000 yuan to give to Dai Quan. He will pay him 600,000 yuan next year."

Liu Yan: "This..."

Jia Jing: "Don't bother with this or that. Just remember to ask for the IOU."

After that, he left.

After a while, another clerk came to report: "Prince Beijing is here to visit."

Liu Yan felt a headache.

"Hurry up, just say I'm not here."

As soon as he finished speaking, there was a burst of laughter at the door, and then a handsome young man walked in. He was wearing a royal robe, a jade belt around his waist, jingling rings and bracelets, and a unicorn hairpin in his bun.

"Master Liu, Xiao Wang came at a great time. Are you going out?"

Liu Yan: “…”

"Your humble servant greets His Majesty."

"Alas." Prince Beijing patted Liu Yan's shoulder: "We are a family, so there is no need to be polite."

Liu Yan complained in his heart: Who are you family with!
"I didn't know that the prince came to the Ministry of Revenue..."

"Haha, that's right." Prince Beijing sat on the chair below and said with a smile, "I want to build a mountain villa for summer vacation, but I'm still short of 100,000 taels of silver. You can lend it to me first, and pay me back 110,000 taels next year."

Liu Yan: “…”

"Your Majesty, the Ministry of Revenue is really out of money!"

Prince Beijing: "Really?"

Liu Yan: "Really, I don't have a penny left!"

Prince Beijing said with a straight face, "Don't try to deceive me. When Jia Ge Lao left just now, he was smiling. How could he not have borrowed the money? Do you think I'm easy to bully?"

Liu Yan smiled bitterly.

"Don't dare, don't dare."

"Then sign it quickly. I have brought the IOU." Prince Beijing slammed a piece of paper on the table.

Liu Yan felt a headache.

There is no other reason. Such IOUs can fill up an entire room.

difficult!
The Ministry of Household Affairs is too difficult!
……

Because of Jia Jing and Dai Quan, the relationship between the Cabinet and the Imperial Household Department has become much closer, and many court decrees are no longer delayed for months as before due to mutual shirking of responsibility. Often, the draft submitted by the Cabinet today will be approved by the Imperial Household Department the next morning.

And most of them can succeed.

Faced with the powerful Jia Jing, Prime Minister Ye Xiang chose to avoid the limelight and often took leave to stay at home.

Although Wen Ting had served as the Second Prime Minister for many years, he had great ambitions but little talent, and his prestige was not high. He had been suppressed by Jia Jing to the point of being suffocated and almost like a transparent person.

For a while.

Although Jia Jing was not so powerful as to cover the whole country with one hand, he also had great influence in the court.

This makes some people feel uneasy.

Especially the new emperor in the Hall of Mental Cultivation in Daming Palace. He couldn't imagine who could suppress Jia Jing after his father passed away.

Mastering the balance is the art of kings.

From this we can see that his old father is no longer capable. He is only focused on making elixirs and enjoying himself, and can't even control the court.

"I must start preparing!" the new emperor muttered to himself.

The first thing is to capture the Beijing camp.

With military power, there will be no chaos.

"Someone is coming."

"The slave is here."

"Send someone to the Nine Provinces Commander Wang Ziteng with my oral instructions and tell him... Do you understand?"

"Slave understands!"

"Well, let's go."

……

Within two days, an imperial edict was issued from the court.

Lin Ru was promoted to Governor-General of Lianghuai and Overseas, and Minister of War. He went to Southeast Asia to hunt down wanted criminals of the imperial court, expel Westerners, and enhance the prestige of our Great Xia.

Overseas Governor.

This is a newly created official position under the chairmanship of Jia Jing, who is mainly responsible for dealing with the increasingly arrogant Westerners in the South China Sea and the East China Sea.

No one objected to Lin Ruhai's appointment to this position, and many people even thought it was a demotion.

As we all know, there are barbarians overseas.

Even Yunnan and Qiongzhou are not as good as it.

Overseas Governor, isn't that the end of the world?

Many people therefore thought that the emperor's action was to balance Jia Jing's power and serve as a warning to the extremely powerful Jia Jing!
……

"My father-in-law has been promoted again!"

Looking at the court's report, Jia Rong was extremely happy.

Under his guidance, Jia Jing gradually realized the importance of overseas and was prepared to vigorously develop the navy. Of course, this was mainly driven by profit.

Jia Jing worked hard in the court.

Lin Ruhai worked hard overseas.

With two old men in front of him, clearing the way for him and protecting him from the wind and rain, Jia Rong felt that he could lie down comfortably.

After passing the imperial examination, you can find a leisurely government office and work peacefully in the court.

"Bah, who is your father-in-law?" Lin Daiyu spat and said angrily, "You have no shame!"

"Haha."

Jia Rong picked up a piece of red paper on the table.

"The marriage certificate is proof."

"what!"

Lin Daiyu opened her eyes wide, feeling shy and frightened.

"Where did you come from?"

As he spoke, he stepped forward to grab it.

Jia Rong stepped back and said with a smile, "I found it when I went to Grandpa's place, so I brought it here to have a look."

"Let me see your birth date."

Lin Daiyu was very embarrassed and stepped forward with gritted teeth: "Bring it to me!"