The King of Beijing in the Red Mansion

Tanchun raised her heroic willow eyes and glared at him, her pink face burning hot. Although no one would break in, this was just too much nonsense. She wanted to refuse, but when she saw the expectant eyes of the boy in front of her, her heart softened again.

After a moment's silence, Tanchun nodded slightly, and said nothing.

Shui Rong smiled knowingly when he saw this, and turned his eyes to look at the maid standing beside him, and said, "Shishu, go guard outside and don't let anyone in."

The servant standing by retreated with a red face and went to guard the door for his master.

Tanchun was extremely shy but she didn't say anything. Since her brother-in-law asked her, it was a huge respect and it was hard to refuse.

Her brother-in-law was good in every way except that he seemed a little crazy. Although she was annoyed, she couldn't bear to refuse him.

Just as he was puzzled, Tanchun sat down at the desk. Before he could react, Shui Rong raised his eyes to look at Xiangling who was lowering her head. Jia Huan and Jia Lan had left earlier, but Xiangling, as a maid, stayed to serve, which was her duty.

"Xiangling, come over here and help Third Sister."

Xiangling was stunned when she heard this, and her pretty face flushed like fire. Why did he call her back?

An unknown amount of time had passed before Shui Rong wiped it with a handkerchief, looking at Tanchun, who had buried her delicate head in Xiangling's arms. The usually capable San Ya (third girl) also felt shy in a different way.

Tanchun raised her eyes and looked at the young man. The heroic spirit between her brows faded away. She saw that the young man's eyes were playful and there was more anger in them.

Shui Rong was speechless when he saw this. How could he be blamed for this?

However, Shui Rong would not be stupid enough to speak frankly. He had other important things to do right now and could not offend the girl.

He stretched out his hand to hold the beauty in his arms, looked at Tanchun with a smile, and whispered softly,

Upon hearing this, Tanchun's cheeks turned red again, her eyebrows slightly raised, and she looked straight at the young man without saying a word.

Seeing Tanchun frowning and looking at him coldly, Shui Rong smiled even more, took the beautiful lady's hand, and said softly, "My dear sister, husband and wife should take their own initiative and harmony, so we can't favor one over the other."

When Tanchun heard this, her face turned red, but she also understood the reason behind it. She pursed her lips and lowered her head.

"Oh, brother-in-law..."

Chapter 149 Rectification

The Commander-in-Chief of the Chinese Army.

In the official office, Shui Rong sat on a red lacquered wooden-back chair in the main hall. On the desk were piled up like a small hill, all of which were files on the punishment of people suspected of corruption.

Under him were Right Governor-General Feng Qing, Governor-General's Associate Niu Jizong, Governor-General's Assistant Liu Fang, and Judge Jia Zheng. Their appointment documents had been approved and they were now officials of the Governor-General's Office. They all had rosy faces and looked very proud.

Shui Rong groaned for a moment, then said, "You are all the backbone of the Governor's Office. Right now, the office is short of staff and needs to be filled. Your subordinates with experience and duties should be recommended by each of you and submitted to the Ministry of War for appointment and dismissal."

The rectification of the Central Army Governor's Office has come to an end. Most of the people who did nothing at the beginning have been cleared out, and even some of those who reported and exposed the crimes have been expelled from the Governor's Office.

However, compared to those stubborn people, he did not get convicted and sent to jail, which is considered a good ending.

There are quite a few people involved in this incident. Most of them had their homes confiscated and were sent to prison. I guess more people will be added to the Jiaofangsi.

Right now, there are vacancies in the government offices and appointments are needed. Shui Rong is not a person who seeks power. He has already replaced all the senior executives and let his subordinates make their own adjustments. If he does not delegate power, he will always be the one who suffers and it will also cause unnecessary disunity.

The Governor's Office only has the power to recommend, not the power to appoint or dismiss. However, Emperor Yongkang has already authorized Shui Rong to take full responsibility, so the Ministry of War will not make it difficult.

Several people were slightly delighted when they heard this and agreed with a bow. Although they were all from the same lineage of military honors, they each had their own circle, just like the Four Kings and Eight Dukes, who were of the same blood but also clearly separated.

Feng Qing cupped his hands and replied, "Don't worry, Your Majesty. I will not neglect my duties."

Niu Jizong and others also responded, and generally speaking, their attitude was correct.

Shui Rong nodded slightly, but he didn't agree in his heart. Now he had just been promoted, so he was naturally full of energy. But after a long time, it was still unknown what would happen then.

After a pause, Shui Rong said, "The military pay was embezzled in the Governor's Office, and the pay of each department under it was withheld, which inevitably discouraged the soldiers. Now that the pay has been recovered, I have decided to make up for the withheld pay one by one."

Since the mansions were raided, a lot of money was reaped, some of which was silver paid by the court. So Shui Rong reported to Emperor Yongkang and intercepted the amount of silver embezzled by the Governor's Office in order to pay the salary.

This move was a strategy by Shui Rong, the newly appointed Left Commander-in-Chief of the Central Military Commandery, to appease the military morale.

For the soldiers, what they asked for was not much. It was enough to replenish their salaries and feed the hungry children and disabled elderly people at home.

Don't underestimate this point. If the soldiers in the late Ming Dynasty had sufficient wages and salaries, the Tartars would not have been able to rule the Central Plains.

After that, Shui Rong looked at the people in the hall and said in a deep voice: "Feng Qing, you are the right commander-in-chief, you will be responsible for this matter, and Niu Jizong will assist you."

Feng Qing was a general transferred from the Beijing camp, while Niu Jizong was idle at home, so they could be considered as airborne personnel. The reissue of salary could increase their prestige, which was a hundred benefits with no harm, so the two of them bowed and agreed, feeling quite motivated.

Shui Rong nodded slightly upon seeing this. As the person in charge, he did not need to do everything himself. Many things could be delegated to the people below him. However, reissuing the military pay was related to appeasing the morale of the troops. Shui Rong was not completely confident in these two people and needed to make more arrangements.

Thinking of this, Shui Rong looked at Jia Zheng and said in a deep voice: "The issue of embezzlement of military pay is not only in the Governor's Office, but also in the garrisons in various places. This time, the military pay is reissued, and the Judgment Department has also sent people to investigate the issue of soldiers withholding military pay. If there are people who take the initiative to confess and have a correct attitude, they can be appropriately pardoned, and the silver they embezzled can be confiscated. They can be kept in office for observation to see the effect. If they are stubborn and unyielding, they will be dealt with according to military law once they are found out. The Judgment Department must do its best in this matter."

It is not an easy task to reissue the withheld salaries. If the generals below withhold salaries at every level, an effort to win people's hearts will turn into a bad thing. Therefore, it is necessary to send someone to accompany him to be safe.

The Judgment Office is responsible for sentencing and judging cases, so this is a good candidate. Moreover, Jia Zheng, as the judge, is an upright person and is also Shui Rong's father-in-law. Comparatively speaking, Shui Rong trusts him more.

As the saying goes, "Protecting one's relatives is something that one must protect." Without the ability to know everything, it is indeed difficult for outsiders to be open-minded.

Upon hearing this, Jia Zheng stood up and responded with a proper attitude, doing exactly what a subordinate should do. He did not take advantage of his father-in-law's status to gain any honor, which was very satisfying.

However, Feng Qing and the others had strange looks on their faces and remained silent.

Shui Rong looked at them calmly, and he understood in his heart that although Jia Zheng was a military hero, he did not care about worldly affairs. He just read books, played chess, and chatted with a group of guests every day. He naturally did not understand the connection between them. However, the others were all people who had been in the military camp, and they all had a good sense of military affairs.

Especially Feng Qing, who had served in the Beijing Camp for many years and was well aware of the affairs in the military camp. Not to mention the issue of eating up the vacancies, the military pay was usually deducted at every level, and it was good enough if half of it finally reached the hands of the soldiers.

Shui Rong ordered the Judgment Department to investigate the matter in detail. After rectifying the Governor's Office, they took action against the troops stationed in various places under the Central Army Governor's Office.

Seeing the dull atmosphere, Shui Rong smiled and said, "As the saying goes, one should listen to both sides to gain a clear understanding. If you have any opinions, you can raise them. This king will not blame you."

Several people were stunned when they heard this. For a boss, what his subordinates said were not opinions but suggestions. Now the prince's words were most likely a subtle warning to them.

Especially Feng Qing and Niu Jizong, the Judgment Office was assigned to do the work together with the re-issuance of salary, and the intention was nothing more than to have them provide protection.

Thinking of this, Feng Qing and the others agreed without saying much. After all, the prince did give them a way out, so nothing serious would happen.

Shui Rong didn't say much when he saw this. He was not worried about the reorganization of the garrisons in various prefectures. This man would not jump over the wall unless he was pushed into a desperate situation. Moreover, the garrisons in other places were not like the nobles in the capital who were as numerous as dogs. They were not arrogant, and not everyone was as stubborn as Marquis Haining.

Then, Shui Rong ordered: "Liu Fang, you must also arrange the training of the garrison troops under the Governor's Office. I don't want my soldiers to relax their discipline."

Upon hearing this, Liu Fang bowed and agreed. He was the deputy governor and the second rank official, in charge of military discipline, training and other matters. At the moment, his task was the easiest, so there was nothing unacceptable about it. Perhaps he even felt a little fortunate in his heart.

After giving instructions on all matters one by one, Shui Rong also determined the action guidelines of the Central Military Governor's Office in the near future. The concise summary can be summed up in two words: "rectification".

After discussing for a while, everyone dispersed one by one.

Chapter 150 Yuanchun: Which girl does my husband like?

Prince Beijing's Palace, Yuanchun Courtyard.

Yuanchun sat on a soft couch, flipping through an account book with her slender hands. Her face was radiant and dazzling under her lush and smooth hair, making her look elegant and luxurious.

Perhaps it is because of proper nourishment, there is a hint of charm between the beautiful woman's eyebrows, and her luxurious face is given a touch of gorgeous temperament, and her youthfulness in the prime of her life is mixed with a mature aura.

This may be the difference between a daughter getting married and a daughter waiting to be married.

Tanchun walked in, looked at Yuanchun, and greeted her with a smile: "Big sister, I'm busy."

Yuanchun looked up, smiled, and said, "The people downstairs brought some account books. I'll take inventory."

As she spoke, Yuanchun lowered her head again, picked up the wolf-hair brush in her hand, tapped the inkstone and began to write on the account book, and said softly, "Third sister, why did you come to me instead of watching over the East Courtyard? Is there anything you are unsure about?"

Normally, Tanchun should be busy with the affairs of the East Courtyard at this time, and now she is here, she must have something to do.

Tanchun and Yuanchun were sisters, so there was no need for them to be strangers. So Tanchun nodded and said frankly, "Big sister, the jade stone and amber used to build the bathhouse need to be transported from other places to the capital. This matter still needs your approval."

The bathing pool in the palace could not lose its status, so the selection of materials was very particular. According to the craftsmen's suggestions, jade stone was used for the embankment and amber for the bottle spoon, which were very valuable.

Although Tanchun is in charge of this matter, it involves a large amount of expenses, so it is still necessary to get Yuanchun's approval.

Yuanchun raised her eyes and glanced at Tanchun, smiling, "Third sister, just do whatever you want."

This third sister of hers is a talented person who is decisive, able to speak out and get things done. Yuanchun does not need to worry about anything when handing things over to her. With Tanchun's assistance, it is much easier for her to manage things. The most important thing is that Tanchun is sensible and will not interfere in other people's affairs.

Tanchun nodded and said, "I understand, sister. Big sister, please go ahead and do your work. I will go to the East Courtyard first."

Yuanchun found it funny. She wondered why this girl was so anxious, but she didn't say anything. After all, Tanchun was a very experienced person.

Tanchun left the courtyard and headed towards the east courtyard. After a while, she saw a figure approaching. Her eyes lit up slightly, and she walked closer and said, "Brother-in-law is back."

The person who came was Shui Rong. After he finished his work at the Governor's Office, he stayed in the government office for a while and then went back home.

Shui Rong looked at the pretty girl in front of him and felt much more relaxed. He asked with a smile, "Did Third Sister just come out from Yuanchun's place?"

"Yeah." Tanchun responded lightly, and then told Shui Rongyan about the bathing pool.

Shui Rong didn't care after hearing this. It did cost a little more, but that's how enjoying life is. If you only think about saving, how can you enjoy it?

"Third sister, there's no rush for the bath, don't get too tired."

Tanchun listened to her brother-in-law's caring words, her handsome eyes and eyebrows were filled with joy, she looked at the young man and said softly, "I understand."

Shui Rong looked at the girl's heroic eyebrows, and his heart was moved for some reason. He couldn't help but reach out and stroke them gently. This sparse and elegant temperament with a warm and free-spirited temperament always made it difficult for people to control themselves.

Tanchun raised her bright eyes and looked at the young man. Bad memories came to her mind and she couldn't help but frowned slightly. Could it be that her brother-in-law was thinking about her again?

Seeing this, Shui Rong understood and said gently, "Good sister, you are still angry!"

When Tanchun heard this, a faint blush appeared on her pretty face, and her eyes showed a look of anger. She spat softly, "Brother-in-law also said, you clearly promised me, but..."

As she spoke, Tanchun's voice became lower and lower. She couldn't say the next words.

Shui Rong coughed lightly upon seeing this to cover up his embarrassment. After all, as Tanchun said, he was a little untrustworthy. He was just too excited to care about anything else.

Tanchun saw Shui Rong's strange expression, and her frowning eyebrows calmed down. She didn't blame her brother-in-law, but it was too embarrassing, so she changed the subject and said, "Brother-in-law is going to look for big sister, right?"

Shui Rong nodded slightly. If he didn't look for his wife when he returned home, could he go looking for his stepmother?

Tanchun didn't say anything, she just said softly, "My elder sister is in the room, so my brother-in-law can go. I have to go to the East Courtyard, so I won't accompany my brother-in-law."

Although Tanchun also wanted to accompany her brother-in-law, she had something to do and she also had to make room for her elder sister. She didn't want to be disliked.

Shui Rong nodded and watched Tanchun walk away with her waist twisted. This girl, when she gets prickly, really makes people want to flatten her.

Shaking his head, Shui Rong walked towards Yuanchun's courtyard.

Not long after, Shui Rong walked in from the outside, looked at the beauty sitting on the soft couch, and said softly, "Madam."

When Yuanchun saw Shui Rong, she was delighted. She looked at her husband with her moist eyes and said in a gentle voice with some joy, "The prince is back."

Shui Rong walked in and went straight to the desk. He looked at the account books piled on the desk and said with concern, "I asked you to take care of the affairs of the mansion. You must be exhausted."

As the steward of the palace, he is not only in charge of trivial matters such as food and expenses in the palace, but also of various farms and shops in the capital as well as the farms and shops that are part of Yuanchun's dowry. In a word, there are a lot of things to do!

Hearing this, Yuanchun looked at the young man with her starry eyes as bright as autumn water, and said softly: "It's nothing, I have something to do, so it doesn't seem boring."