The bear child of the Red Chamber, Jia Cong

Chapter 554

It is said that Jia Cong told Dai Xian that he wanted to collect fennel to be a royal guard, and blatantly put it beside him.No matter how courageous an official was in ancient times, it was inevitable that he would have a physical fear of such words as Tianjia, Da Nei, and Jinyiwei. Dai Xian had no reason to have a sense of fellowship with Jia Cong of "sharing the spoils together".Jia Cong thought for a moment, then said: "Master Dai also knows that I have something to do with Honggu Ji, and we have been working together for many years."

Dai Xian knew early on that the Taiwan government and the Red Bone were not clear, and he had been an official and businessman for many years. After thinking for a while, he nodded and said: "Mr. It’s a small shop, and it’s not an exaggeration to say that they are the number one merchant in the world. It’s all thanks to Mr. Jia.”

Jia Cong took a sip of tea and said with a smile: "There is a clownfish in the deep sea of ​​the Pacific Ocean, which lives in the sea anemone bushes. It can drive away other fish that feed on sea anemones for the sea anemone, and the sea anemone can also cover the clownfish and stop natural enemies. It's for symbiosis." Nai looked up at Dai Xian, "It's like a symbiotic thing. Officials and businessmen join forces to be invincible in the world. I go around to encourage the princes to fight, and the business of Hongguji grows. The princes get the spoils of the territory. They got the credit, I got the fame and the bonus of Red Bone, and the common people got the opportunity to go overseas to open up wasteland and mines and become rich. This is a multi-win-everyone wins. A three-inch diameter plate, even if it is full A plate of dim sum may not be enough for one person to eat; a plate with a diameter of [-] inches is full of dim sum, which is more than enough for a whole room to eat. Make the plate bigger, so that everyone can share more, so everyone can get what they need. Lord Dai, I know you are ambitious and capable, and what worries you the most is that you want to monopolize the entire Fujian business."

Dai Xian shook his head with a smile: "Mr. Jia underestimated the subordinates. No matter how big the appetites of the subordinates are, they know that the power of the family is limited. Mr. Wang Ziteng is better than many subordinates, and the subordinates only use Mr. Wang as a model."

Jia Cong smiled and clapped his hands: "Uncle Wang is indeed a role model for officials and businessmen. Back then, I never thought that this old man would be so clear-headed, and he could clearly understand what to do and what not to do." But the voice changed, "Lord Dai must also be clear, the early days of Fujian Strength, even if it is not stronger than Guangdong, at least it is stronger than Guangxi. Now?"

Dai Xian immediately said: "It's not as much as Guangdong and Guangxi."

"Master Dai, have you ever thought about where you lost?"

Dai Xian raised the teacup and drank it down in one gulp, sighing: "My lord Wang's strategy in Guangdong and Guangxi is too brilliant."

"Why didn't Fujian learn it?"

Dai Xian smiled wryly: "He is too courageous, our Lord Huang dare not."

Jia Cong smiled and said: "Master Huang Wengang is an old Confucian, and he has many restraints. I see that Mr. Dai is much more enlightened than him."

Dai Xian raised his eyes to look at Jia Cong, thought for a while, and asked: "Mr. Jia, I see that the Taiwan government has never had the idea of ​​annexing other places for many years. It seems unreasonable."

Jia Cong said: "The word 'annexation' obviously refers to the conquest within the territory of our dynasty? That would hurt people."

Dai Xian suddenly realized: "That's right! Mr. Jia has always admired overseas expeditions."

Jia Cong said with emotion: "Taiwan's population is too small, as long as we can be guaranteed that no one can move us. What's the rush for expansion? The world is too big, and with guns, guns, and artillery, it's easy to go anywhere on sea ships. There is no civil war alone. Every citizen of our country is precious."

Dai Xian nodded again and again: "I understand Mr. Jia's meaning."

Jia Cong looked up at the sky, and said: "Back when Lord Dai, Lord Huang, and others were guests at Chengtian Mansion, I told you about the law of social development for a long time, and those books were also available in bookstores in Taiwan Mansion. I know adults Maybe some people would ignore it, but I didn't expect that almost no one listened to it; only Mr. Dai seemed to listen to it a little bit."

Dai Xian was silent.Jia Cong didn't say a word, the two of them remained silent for half a stick of incense, Dai Xian said with a wry smile: "It makes sense. After all, we all came from reading the sages' books when we were young, so it's hard to believe them all."

"It's a habit!" Jia Cong sighed, "I think it makes sense, but I still don't want to try new things." Nai Yan smiled, "So it's better to be a general, and see how refreshing Prince Teng is."

Dai Xian smiled wryly again: "We have also pondered over the strategies Mr. Wang implemented in Guangdong and Guangxi."

Jia Cong raised his eyebrows: "Then?"

"It can be seen that he trusts the books of your Taiwan government." Dai Xian said, "It's just that Fujian is so big that I can't move it alone."

Jia Cong smiled and said: "Master Dai is too modest, there is nothing that the government can't move. The big deal is to make a move on the tax. Look at the tax raised by the prince. Does it look light, but in fact it is too much? He first made matches for him. The tax cuts for soap factories have been reduced to almost nothing, making it impossible for match and soap factories in other countries to continue to operate. These two markets are full of Lingnan products. He also used a large amount of tax money to build roads and schools. A large sum of money was spent, only in exchange for worthless people's hearts. When the roads are repaired, the price of freight will be reduced, which is very conducive to the export of goods to the north. The merchants make more money, and the tax of Wang Ziteng has increased. The school he built Most of them are polytechnic and technical schools. Students graduate to help improve the factory's technology. Manufacturing costs are reduced, merchants earn more, and the prince pays more taxes. Sharpening knives is not the same as chopping woodworkers. Such a virtuous circle in Guangdong and Guangxi, he himself has always been They are all at the helm, earn more than anyone else, and have a better official reputation than anyone else. Wang Ziteng is really a good official."

Dai Xian smiled knowingly, and asked, "Why doesn't Mr. Wang buy a title?"

Jia Cong turned his head slightly: "Does he need a title?" Dai Xian's eyes suddenly widened, Jia Cong drank tea and looked at the sky.

Dai Xian suddenly thought very far away, and his breathing became heavier.After a while, he said in a hoarse voice, "Master Wang, do you think about the future?"

Jia Cong smiled and said: "Master Dai, have you ever thought about what will happen if the world cannot be unified for a hundred years? What will happen if it cannot be unified for 300 years?" Dai Xian was stunned again.Jia Cong shook his head and said, "It's up to him. Why do you think so much about things in a hundred years? Later generations will have their own way. Could it be that they are not as good as us? Even if there is a real dragon emperor born, how can there be one less descendant of Wang Ziteng?" Prince of the county? Even if the land of Guangdong and Guangxi will be lost in the end, if you have money, ships, guns, cannons, private soldiers, and overseas territory, you can always hide if you can’t be provoked, right?”

Dai Xian looked up at him: "Master Wang has overseas territory?"

"Our family also has it." Jia Cong held up the teacup and shook it, "Although it's not big, it's a place anyway."

Dai Xian thought for a while and said, "That's right. How can the Jia family not have overseas territories?"

Jia Cong said: "Taiwan's government is still important after all. It's really good if everyone is happy. If Fujian, Taiwan, and Guangdong and Guangxi can be connected..."

Dai Xian took a deep breath: "It turns out that Mr. Jia came to me to discuss this."

Jia Cong smiled and nodded: "Cheers?" Dai Xian thought for a moment, looked at Jia Cong's round smiling face, no longer hesitated, picked up the teapot and filled a cup for himself.The two touched each other with tea instead of wine, raised their necks and downed it in one gulp, looking at each other and smiling.

In the next few days, Jia Cong and Dai Xian had very close contacts, and they always got together for two or three hours to discuss how to move Prince Teng's policy of Guangdong and Guangxi.When Dai Xian came, Fen Xiang listened to their discussions, and Jia Cong also invited her husband to teach her how to read.Fennel has a good memory and fast recognition of words, and her talents are among the top in the Dajiala government building.

On this day, Red Bone Ji received a letter from the capital, and Wu Xiaoxi translated it himself.All of Liu Xiaoqi's uncles remembered what happened in Jinling 23 years ago.It turned out that when they went to Jinling to destroy Zhen Deren's family that day, 27 people went there, and the superiors told them to wear soft armor and pay attention to hidden weapons.Never thought that Zhen Deren's family had nothing!The whole family is ordinary people with no power to restrain the chickens. A group of masters and masters killed seventy or eighty people inside and outside, including the master and servants. No chickens, dogs, birds or cats were left behind, and there were no hidden weapons. , Baba'er punched nothing.After returning to Beijing and reporting it to the first emperor, the first emperor stood up in astonishment, and a little frightened.After thinking about it for a long time, he murmured: "Where else can I put it?" Then he sent them down.

Jia Cong and Wu Xiaoxi pondered for a long time, Wu Xiaoxi said: "There is something in Zhen Deren's hand, a hidden weapon. The late emperor thought it was in his own hands. Because he was afraid of this thing, he never killed him."

Jia Cong went on to say: "However, that thing is not in Zhen Deren's own home. It is definitely not in Zhen Yingjia's house." After thinking about it, "According to what they said, that thing must be used to guard against thieves. Could it be Zhen Deren? Privately embezzled the mechanism used by the imperial tomb to prevent tomb thieves?"

Wu Xiaoxi said: "Maybe it's a mechanism that hides the secret room of the imperial palace."

"He definitely couldn't make that thing by himself, otherwise he would try to make another set and put it at home. It requires the cooperation of many craftsmen. Zhen Deren is not only responsible for carpentry work, but also responsible for assembly." Jia Cong frowned, "No. If he dared to be so blatant, the army would have surrounded and suppressed his house long ago. Even if many soldiers died in vain, it would be fine. The emperor regards soldiers as pawns."

Wu Xiaoxi couldn't help nodding: "Could it be that the first emperor thought he was still needed? Then why did he let him go back to his hometown?"

"At first, the first emperor didn't know whether he was needed or not, so he kept his life. One day he was sure that he was no longer needed, so he boldly silenced his words. It seems wrong. Didn't the old man say that the first emperor ordered him to make something, and there was no need for it?" Forget it, if you use it, you will be silenced..." Jia Cong couldn't guess what happened back then even though he had the information of later generations, he shook his head and said, "No. The thing he said was not referring to the old camphor wood box, It's something else. The box itself exists to be opened, so there's no need to kill Zhen Deren's mouth. Besides, the box itself doesn't matter, what matters is what's inside."

Wu Xiaoxi said: "That's something else? What is the most important thing in the emperor's house?"

Jia Cong repeated several times in his mouth, "If he doesn't need it, just pay it back; if it is useful one day, those who know it will undoubtedly silence it." He pondered, "It doesn't seem to be a good thing. Did the late emperor use what Zhen Deren made to do something bad?"

Wu Xiaoxi gave him a sideways look: "The emperor is not afraid of people knowing what bad things he does, even the history books are written by them."

"It also makes sense. The emperor's power itself is unlimited." Jia Cong stretched his waist, "I don't want to, go back to Dajiala to discuss with everyone."

Two days later, Jinling's reply also came.Zhen Yingjia is really a good person.In order to make money, regardless of what the person who was looking for him did, he revealed all about Zhen Deren.For the detailed work at Jinling, I'm afraid that Jia Cong and the others are anxiously waiting for the letter. They first wrote the coded letter and put it in the letter pigeon tube for the important one, and sent the detailed letter quickly.

It turned out that Zhen Deren studied under an old carpenter when he was young.The old carpenter saw that he was clever, and passed on all the skills in his belly to him.The late emperor sent people to look for the heirs of the famous craftsmen of the previous dynasty, and they heard that they were in the Jiangnan area, so Zhen Yingjia took care of the matter.After several years of investigation, although there is no evidence, they suspect that most of the people they are looking for are Zhen Deren's teacher.At that time, the old carpenter had been dead for several years.Zhen Yingjia couldn't bear the credit, and didn't want to just push his cousin out, so he played tricks and recommended Zhen Deren to the late emperor, pretending that it was for him to honor his ancestors.Zhen Deren couldn't express his suffering, he only hoped that the first emperor would look down on him.How could the late emperor fail to understand the hidden language in Zhen Yingjia's memorial?An imperial decree came down and transferred Zhen Deren to the capital.

After Zhen Deren entered Beijing, Zhen Yingjia didn't know what he was doing.There is no news about this person at all, and I don't know if he is dead or alive.He naturally didn't dare to ask the first emperor, he just pretended that there was no such clan brother.Until 13 years later, Zhen Deren suddenly returned to his hometown in fine clothes, and even got a petty official to play with.Zhen Yingjia knew that he must have made great contributions, so she became closer to him.Zhen Deren was lukewarm towards him at first, but after a long time, he became friendly.

Then 24 years ago, Zhen Deren suddenly came to see Zhen Yingjia, saying that he was afraid that he would die within a year, and begged Zhen Yingjia to save his blood.Don't ask him to hide a son or grandson, but a daughter or grandson is also fine.Zhen Yingjia herself suspected that this clan brother did something that no one should know.Hearing this and thinking about it, the underground part of the imperial mausoleum is about to be completed, and immediately wondered whether the clan brother would have repaired the mausoleum for the saint in the past few years.There are the most secrets in the emperor's mausoleum, and after the completion of the repair, those who know it will have to silence it.If this is the case, he will definitely die.Thinking of the fact that the brother of this family stabbed himself in front of the emperor, the granddaughter who was left behind will sooner or later be of a different surname, and Zhen Deren had never committed any crime; several thoughts mixed together, and he agreed.

Later, Fennel was sent to Zhen Yingjia's house as a daughter of the Bai family as a slave.Half a year later, Zhen Deren's family was robbed and killed by mountain bandits; Zhen Yingjia knew that it was done by a master in the family, and sighed unceasingly, and secretly performed a few rituals for their family to hide their names.It's just that he secretly hid the fennel, and he was also terrified in his heart.Fortunately, the first emperor didn't know about this at all, and he still favored and trusted him as before.Three years later, fennel showed its sharpness.Zhen Taijun was frightened, and said: "Such a clever child, did Deren tell her something?" Fearing that Anise would cause trouble for her family when she grew up, she hurriedly found an excuse to sell her mother and daughter.

Eight months before the late emperor's death, a eunuch quietly came to Jinling with the Supreme Emperor's secret decree, and asked Zhen Yingjia if he knew about Zhen Deren.How dare Zhen Yingjia say that she hid a granddaughter?Except for the fennel, the rest are all said.After listening in, the eunuch was suspicious, and said: "The miscellaneous family will return to Beijing to play with the saint. Please Mr. Zhen, if you think about it carefully, there may be omissions. The miscellaneous family may not come next year." Nai left with his hands up.Zhen Yingjia was terrified.

The eunuch did not come to Jinling again the following year, nor did he come back later.The Supreme Emperor disappeared when he sent the spirit of the late emperor.After that, no one inquired about Zhen Deren's affairs.