Tanhualang

Wei Zheng hasn't heard Shen Jing mention Zhao Heng for a long time.

Since returning to Suzhou from the capital in September [-], news from the capital has been continuously spreading to Suzhou through the discussions of people around.

Even Wei Zheng had heard a lot, not to mention Shen Jing who dealt with county governors, wealthy businessmen and gentry all day long.

But he devoted himself to water control, and never mentioned a word about Zhao Heng.

After careful calculation, there are various kinds of news about Zhao Heng from Beijing, most of them were more before the year, and gradually less after the new year.

The reason is probably because of the farce at the palace banquet that caused a sensation at the end of the year——

On New Year's Eve, the clan and ministers gathered together for a palace banquet.

There was nothing wrong at first, but when the banquet was in full swing, several clan relatives who were instigated by Duke Mingde suddenly jumped out and asked the regent to abdicate and the queen mother to listen to the government behind the curtain.

After half a year of Zhao Heng's regent, his prestige gradually established, so even if there were other clan elders who stood up and refuted the other party.

However, the other party is not a fuel-efficient lamp. At present, the two parties are arguing about who will assist the government.

Under such circumstances, it was supposed to be the elders of the respected clan who spoke out.

But in front of the Prince Regent and the Queen Mother, no one dared to say that at the banquet.So much so that the two sides in the dispute intensified, and finally they even started fighting!

The scene at the banquet was suddenly chaotic.

The little emperor Zhao Ming and Prince De Zhao Juan were only three or five years old, and they were so frightened that they cried.In the end, the Queen Mother really couldn't stand it anymore, she came forward to reprimand and stopped both parties.

The most intriguing thing is that in this scuffle, it is said that from the beginning to the end, the regent Zhao Heng never said a word.

So after the news spread, everyone had doubts, thinking that in this matter, Ming Degong and the Queen Mother had the upper hand.

I heard about these things, it was just a few days before the Chinese New Year, on the third day of the Lunar New Year, Ren Jinsong hosted a banquet at his mansion and invited Shen Jing to the banquet; during the banquet, there were several other governors from the state capital, talking and saying This accident happened.

Shen Jing didn't ask much during the banquet, after the banquet was over, he immediately called Wei Zheng to ask about the situation in Beijing.

Wei Zheng couldn't figure it out after hearing this: "There is such a thing? I haven't received a letter from Beijing in the past few days, and I don't know that there is such a thing."

Shen Jing couldn't help but began to worry again.

Although Shen Jing didn't say anything, Wei Zheng saw it very clearly, so he persuaded him: "You also read the letter I sent from Beijing a few years ago. Since it is said that His Highness is becoming more and more proficient, there must be no difference. In my opinion, this matter will not be over so easily, His Highness must have a plan, so you can rest assured."

Sure enough, as Wei Zheng said, as soon as the fifteenth day of the first lunar month came out, the waves rose again.

On the day just after the new year, the sixteenth day of the first lunar month, the clan members who took the lead in making trouble were taken away by the clan mansion before dawn.

Five days later, the Clan Mansion and Dali Temple completed the trial, and these people were removed from the jade certificate and handed over to the Ministry of Punishment for punishment.

When the news spread, the Empress Dowager couldn't hold back any longer, and took Prince De to question Zhao Heng, saying that he had set up a trick to frame his clan and avenge his personal revenge.

Zhao Heng only said one sentence: "The clear is clear, and the turbid is turbid. If there is anything wrong, ask the Ministry of Criminal Justice to check and see."

The queen mother was still worried, because the Minister of the Ministry of Criminal Affairs was close to Xiang Lai, and after a lot of trouble, she proposed to ask Dali Temple to cooperate with the Ministry of Criminal Justice for the trial.

Zhao Heng agreed again.

The result was unexpected.

Dali Temple had a one-month interrogation with the Ministry of Criminal Justice. Not only were the evidence convincingly confirmed that a group of people were guilty of treason, but more than a dozen courtiers were also implicated.

Things got bigger all of a sudden.

Since Zhao Heng became regent, he has been patient with the troubled clansmen and ministers of Shang Shufu and Ming Degong.

But if you don't make a song, it's a blockbuster.He did not hold back the slightest in his counterattack: After the facts were ascertained and the evidence was solid, at the end of February, more than a dozen people in the court were beheaded for treason, including six clan relatives and nine courtiers.

The situation between North Korea and China, which had been in turmoil for a long time, suddenly stabilized.

Taking advantage of this hard-won stability, Zhao Heng promoted several confidants one after another, replacing the minister who was convicted.

Then at the beginning of March, Zhao Heng took the young emperor Zhao Ming, Prince De Zhao Juan, three uncles and nephews, and ran to Xuanfu and Datong, the two border towns closest to the capital, to reward the army in half a month. There are a large number of generals guarding the border.

More than half a month later, the three uncles and nephews returned to the capital.Next, Beijing and China successively issued decrees, except for Xuanfu Datong, the other generals of the six sides also had their own rewards.

All of a sudden, people in the nine important towns in the north were excited.

It took less than a year for Zhao Heng to finally stabilize the situation inside and outside the court.

This year is also the period of national filial piety.

Wei Zheng didn't continue to speak quietly.He looked out of the window and saw that there was no one coming and going, so he whispered to Shen Jing: "Ming Degong and the Queen Mother are quiet now, and the court is calm inside and outside. Your Majesty and Prince De are both safe and sound. Your Highness's deeds can be regarded as living up to expectations." , worthy of the late emperor's spirit in heaven."

Hearing the words, Shen Jing was silent for a moment, then nodded: "...it must be."

Before Shen Jing hurt her ankle, she greeted her old friend in surprise.

At the end of March, Xi Wei went to Fujian to supervise the army with the eunuch Zheng Man. He passed through Nanjing and stayed for a few days because of Zheng Man's business.Since Xi Wei was fine, he made a detour to Suzhou to visit Shen Jing.

The old man hasn't seen each other for a long time, so it's inevitable to have a drink to reminisce about the past.

When the wine was full, Xi Wei filled the wine glass for Shen Jing, and said with emotion: "This year, you have not been easy."

Shen Jing was also a little drunk, took a sip from the wine glass, and sighed: "Why bother to blame me. Is it easy for Mr. Zhuo to resign from his official position and return to his hometown because of Jiangnan's official business? In September last year, the Tartars invaded the border, and civilian soldiers in Gansu were killed and injured." Countless, is it easy for Master Huang Qixiang to command? The severe drought in Shandong, the poor harvest of grain in the south of the Yangtze River, is it easy for Master Luo Ju of the Ministry of Households? ? And His Royal Highness King Yu, who was ordered in danger, and His Majesty, who is about to come to court when he is less than five years old—not to mention the [-] people who live and eat on the banks of the river day and night in order to build embankments, and are not allowed to reunite with their families even during the New Year."

"..."

Shen Jing filled Xi Wei's wine and filled it up for herself, put down the jug, grumbled bitterly, "Is there an easy person in this world?"

"So, I'm lucky?" Xi Wei laughed, "I've been aggrieved in Jinyiwei for more than half a year, thanks to His Highness, I finally got what I wanted and went to fight in a serious way."

"Is it because Fujian was harassed by Japanese pirates?"

Xi Wei nodded: "Exactly."

"I've also heard about it these days. In the past two years, the coastal defenses in Jiangsu and Zhejiang have been tight, and the Japanese pirates have been repelled several times. They couldn't take advantage of it, so they went south along the coastline and went to Fujian to cause trouble." Shen Jing frowned, "The Japanese pirates can't It's really annoying to cut grass and roots."

Xi Wei put down his chopsticks: "Let me tell you, if you really want to cut the weeds, you have to trouble your Ministry of Industry. You have to build a lot of fortifications, build ships and weapons, and go all the way to Ryukyu, and go straight to the hometown of these Japanese slaves, so that you can get rid of the bottom line."

He sighed, and said again: "It's a pity that you also know it. Now that there are external and internal troubles, and the national power is declining, I really can't afford these things. For a while, I can only treat my head and feet."

The two chatted a few more words about Haiphong, and Xi Wei asked again: "Is your water control project almost finished?"

Shen Jing nodded and said: "The main fortification has basically been completed. Only minor repairs are left."

"That's a good relationship. Wouldn't you be able to return to Beijing soon?"

"I'm afraid it will take some time to return to Beijing." Shen Jing said, "Master Miao wrote a letter a few days ago, saying that he wanted to come here in person to inspect the completion of the fortifications. After he leaves, I have to wait until the rainy season in the south of the Yangtze River is over. When the newly built Wusong River waterway releases the flood smoothly, it will be considered a real success."

Xi Wei raised his glass when he heard the words: "Then I will stay here first, and wish you success in advance!"

Xi Wei was sent to the south, and then Miao Shenjian, Minister of the Ministry of Industry, was welcomed to Jiangnan to inspect the fortifications.Miao Shenjian stayed in Jiangnan for only three or five days, but he was busy for a full month in Shen Jing.

Fortunately, Miao Shenjian came not only to inspect the fortifications, but also brought a sum of 5 to 1 taels of silver, which not only settled the final payment for the construction, but also just made up for the loan that Shen Jing had borrowed from the wealthy businessman Su Wenshui in order to complete the construction in time. [-] taels of silver.

Return the 1 taels of silver, inspect the fortifications again, Shen Jing is fully prepared, and just waits for the coming of the rainy season in the south of the Yangtze River.

If it is as expected, Shen Jing dares to say that the diversion of the Wusong River will ensure that there will be no minor disasters in the south of the Yangtze River within ten years, and no flooding within 50 years.

More than a month later, at the end of April and the beginning of May, news of Xi Wei's victory against the Japanese came from Fujian.

Shen Jing heard the news and couldn't help being happy for Xi Wei.

At the same time, as Qin Tianjian expected, the rainy season was advanced by ten days, and Jiangnan ushered in a long and humid rainy season.

Shen Jing was born and raised here, and has experienced countless rainy seasons in the south of the Yangtze River, but she has never felt so uneasy like this year.

At first, the rain was continuous, and the rain gradually became bullish later.

Shen Jing really couldn't sit still at home, so she wore a bamboo hat and poncho every day, and went to the river bank with Wei Zheng to check the rising trend of the river.

The mighty river, wrapped in silt, rolled forward along the newly dug channel. In the vast rain, the river merged into the vast sea, stirring up waves of white waves, rushing towards the sky.

Standing on the bank of the river, looking at the place where the river comes from, all you can see are green rice seedlings.

These paddy fields used to be floodplains, but now they have been reclaimed to become fertile fields. In three to five years, the banks of the new river will become a granary for abundant harvests every year.

Witnessing this scene, Shen Jing only felt that she had never had such a sense of accomplishment in her life. For a moment, she couldn't tell whether the moisture on her eyes and cheeks was tears or rain.

The two of them stayed by the river until evening, before it was completely dark, they rushed to Suzhou City along the muddy official road.

Unexpectedly, as soon as he approached the city gate, the guards guarding the city shouted: "Lord Shen!"

Then came Xiaomeng, wearing a bamboo hat and coir raincoat, from the city gate, waving at Shen Jing: "Sir!"

As soon as Shen Jing and Wei Zheng stepped into the city gate through the mud, they were dragged into the city by Xiao Meng's sleeves: "Sir, hurry up! There are guests at home!"

While following him, Shen Jing guessed: "The road is slippery in rainy days, please slow down! What are you doing in such a hurry, what kind of distinguished guest is worthy of your kindness—could it be that Master Ren Jinsong is here?"

Xiao Meng let go of his hand, turned around and said in a low voice, "It's much more valuable than Lord Ren."

Shen Jing was taken aback: "More precious than Master Ren? Who is it?"

In the white rain, Xiao Meng uttered a name that Shen Jing could no longer think of: "It's Your Highness... Sir, His Royal Highness King Yu is here."