[Red Chamber] Jia Huan's Army

Perhaps because the news was well kept secret, Mo Lian and Jia Huan's journey south was very smooth, just as the good weather at the time of departure predicted.The two rushed to Huai'an first, which is the intersection of the Yellow River and the Huaihe River and the Sanshui River, and it is also the starting point of the canal section of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, where water transport is well developed.It can be said that the Huai'an salt merchants, who are rich in the world, love to settle under the Huai'an River, so if you want to inquire about something, Huai'an is the most suitable place to start.As soon as they entered Huai'an, the two of them stayed in an inn together with two guards, intending to see if they could learn something.Now the two of them are sons of merchants from the capital, and they are trying to find any good business to do here.

They said they were inquiring about things, but in order not to startle the snake, a few people did not actively visit, but instead lingered in various teahouses every day.Generally speaking, places like tea houses are the most well-informed of all kinds of gossip.Now that the country is prosperous and the people are strong, especially in affluent areas like Jiangnan, the folk customs are more open, so there will be many Confucian scholars discussing local policies in restaurants and teahouses.Although it doesn't involve any confidential matters, you can still get some information by listening more and piecing together.

"People are having a hard time these days!" A peddler who was resting by the tea stall was chatting with an old man next to him.

At this time, Mo Lian and Jia Huan were sitting at the roadside tea stand. The two were wearing ordinary clothes. Although their behavior was different from those around them, they were not conspicuous.

"Isn't it?" The old man obviously just finished his physical work, wiped his sweat and said, "This autumn, the food paid is more than last year, and the things are getting more and more expensive. It's approaching the end of the year. I'm afraid I can't afford the New Year's goods at home."

Mo Lian and the two were sitting right behind the old man and the peddler, and they could hear the conversation clearly.Hearing this, Mo Lian secretly frowned.Jia Huan may have no idea about taxes and the like, but Mo Lian knew very well that his father had never issued an order to increase agricultural taxes, and it was probably the local officials who did it privately.

At this time, the conversation continued.

"I see that you are running around all day long. Although you are tired, I am afraid that your life will be better than that of us who rely on the land to eat. Didn't you say that the tax paid by the vendors is very low?"

"No way," the peddler said with a wry smile, "those are reserved for powerful businessmen. If they are lucky, they don't even have to pay taxes. Compared with the taxes paid by hawkers like us It’s just more and less. In this way, it’s not bad to be able to eat and clothe.”

Now even Jia Huan could tell something was wrong. What does it mean to not pay taxes if you are lucky?It would be fine if you were talking about an imperial merchant like the Xue family, but from the peddler's tone, it was obvious that only a powerful merchant would do.This is the case for Huai'an city alone, but what about the entire Jiangnan area?The water is really deep.Jia Huan began to worry about his own life.

The news heard in the past few days plus the news of the two guards sent out to inquire about it is roughly as Mo Lian thought, there is not a single upright official in the entire south of the Yangtze River.If it's just that, it's fine, after all, when the water is clear, there will be no fish, and Mo Lian is not a naive person, but what else did he hear?Collusion between officials and businessmen, taking profits from the people, bending the law for personal gain, the entire officialdom is in a mess, and the foundation of our society is damaged. The sum of all kinds is simply unforgivable.

Mo Lian pondered in the room all night with a sullen face, and decided to leave for Yangzhou the next day.Mo Lian had already figured it out, although there was no way to uproot the cancer in Jiangnan's officialdom, but the main figures must be arrested, so as to deter them and make them calm down.The most urgent task is to contact Lin Ruhai to get the substantive evidence.From the moment the evidence is obtained, I am afraid that we will face various dangers.

A group of people went down the canal and arrived at Yangzhou Prefecture within a few days.When they arrived at Yangzhou Mansion, the few people did not rush to Lin Ruhai's residence, but stayed in the inn for another two days.One is to take a rest and avoid being too eye-catching to be discovered by other people's eyes and ears, and the other is to take a good look at the scene of Yangzhou City just like in Huai'an.

At this time, it was only three days before New Year's Eve.On the twenty-seventh day of the twelfth lunar month, go to the big market.Pedestrians and hawkers on the street were constantly hawking, and people who went to the street to buy new year's goods were packed shoulder to shoulder. Everyone took advantage of the last market before this year to buy everything that was left at home.Even if I don't have much money left, I still want to buy some, and I always need to live a comfortable year.For a while, the laughter of children on the street was accompanied by the sound of bargaining between adults and hawkers, and there was endless hustle and bustle.

The winter in the south of the Yangtze River is sunny and sunny, although it is cold and humid, but being illuminated by the abundant sunshine makes people warm their hearts and give them a feeling of laziness.Jia Huan was leaning against the street window of the restaurant with this feeling, perhaps because the sun was shining so comfortably, at this time he didn't even want to go to the street to join in the fun.This surprised Mo Lian.

"Second Brother," Jia Huan has been calling Mo Lian that way ever since he entered Jiangnan, "When are we going to find Uncle?"

"I have already sent someone to submit the famous post, and we will wait until the application time today."

Jia Huan nodded, now it is only half an hour away from Shenshi, and this restaurant is not far from Lin's residence, so don't worry.

When Mo Lian brought Jia Huan to the Lin Mansion, it happened that Lin Ruhai had just left the office and returned to the mansion.Jia Huan met the rumored uncle Lin Ruhai for the first time.

Lin Ruhai is not confused now, with a medium height, but a thin body and a long beard.It's just that Lin Ruhai, who was nearly ten years younger than the emperor, already had gray temples, obviously these years were not going well.Thinking about it, the death of his beloved wife, the exhaustion in the officialdom, and the absence of his only beloved daughter.Counting the days, Daiyu received the news that Lin Ruhai was critically ill at the beginning of the next spring. Thinking of this, Jia Huan could not help but silently sympathize with this uncle in his heart.

"Chen Lin Ruhai sees Your Highness."

Before Lin Ruhai knelt down, Mo Lian had already helped him up, and said, "Lord Lin, no courtesy. This time, I am here as the Jia family, and Master Lin can treat relatives according to the attitude."

At this time, Jia Huan had the opportunity to come forward to greet Lin Ruhai.

When Lin Ruhai saw this young man in front of him, he was just stunned and realized that it was no wonder that Jia Lian and Jia Huan were written on the name card, but there was a special token attached. It seems that the four princes borrowed Jia Lian's name.

Mo Lian was not a very warm person in the first place, and Lin Ruhai was an important minister of the court, so he needed to avoid suspicion.Therefore, after only a few pleasantries, Mo Lian went straight to the point and said, "Master Lin must have known the purpose of our visit. I don't know what your opinion is?"

When Lin Ruhai heard the word "we", he glanced nonchalantly at Jia Huan who hadn't said a word since the ceremony, and thought that this child might really be in the eyes of the emperor and the fourth prince. Don't shy away from it, I don't know whether it is a disaster or a blessing at a young age. "Your Majesty and Your Highness understand what I mean. Although I am not talented, I still have an account in hand after nearly ten years in Jiangnan. It's just that the various forces in Jiangnan are deeply intertwined, and it may be difficult to obtain evidence that can subvert it."

"Since Mr. Lin is so frank, I have no choice but to speak up." Mo Lian sat on the chair and replied, "It doesn't matter whether the evidence is sufficient to subvert it. What matters is whether you have the will to investigate thoroughly."

When Lin Ruhai heard this, he felt relieved.Although he didn't say it clearly, the fourth prince was clearly telling him that the emperor already had the intention to remove the cancer in Jiangnan, so that he wouldn't be implicated instead by presenting evidence.Although he already had the will to die, he had to make some plans for his own Daiyu. If he died unjustly, he would still have a notorious reputation after death, how he would let Daiyu marry in the future.Now that he was relieved, Lin Ruhai no longer concealed it, and told Mo Lian the situation in Jiangnan in detail.

"The various prefectures in the south of the Yangtze River are not of the same mind, and even different officials in one prefecture often belong to different factions. In summary, there are about three factions: one is officials and businessmen attached to Prime Minister Zhao, the other is attached to Prime Minister He, and the rest Officials with deep roots in Jiangnan but who do not want to participate form their own faction. But this last faction is often the most complicated, but it is also the easiest to win." Lin Ruhai explained these officials and the factions behind them clearly in a few words, as for Prime Minister He It's good for Zhao Xiang, the prince behind them doesn't need him to say it clearly, presumably the emperor and the fourth prince are clear in their hearts.

Today, the Holy Majesty has spent his whole life fighting in the south and north, and has devoted all his attention to political affairs. He really doesn't pay enough attention to the management of the harem, so that the harem is constantly fighting. I can count on one hand.The eldest prince, Mo Qing, is impatient and doesn't like twists and turns, but he is also very ambitious. He has always regarded himself as the eldest son, and he considers himself to be the eldest son with great achievements in military affairs. There is also the support of Zhao Xiangyi's faction in the court.The second prince, Mo Ze, is the only son of the former empress, and the current He Xiang is Mo Ze's uncle. It stands to reason that the son of the son should ascend the throne, but I don't know what the current emperor thinks about it, that is, there is no canonization of the prince, and the second prince does not have any special treatment , like several adult princes, he was canonized as the county king and left the palace to build a mansion.Probably unwilling, Mo Ze did not show any weakness in the fight for the throne.In addition, apart from Mo Lian who showed no thought about the throne, the battle for the throne between the remaining two adult princes can only be regarded as a small fight, and they are not capable of extending their hands so far.

Mo Lian was not at all surprised by Lin Ruhai's description. The battle between Zhao Xiang and He Xiang in the court has not been a day or two.He is more interested in the middle faction that is unwilling to participate in the seizure of the heir. If possible, this is also a breakthrough point.

"New Year's Day will be in a few days, find an opportunity to bring me to meet an official you know well." Mo Lian ordered.

This matter is easy and easy to say, but it is also difficult to say that it is difficult, but how to introduce various officials to the fourth prince without arousing suspicion is something that Lin Ruhai needs to consider.