Palace Flower as Employment [Red Mansion]

In fact, it is not only the ministers of the previous dynasty who dislike this Wen family, but even the harem.In this regard, the empress dowager reacted the fastest.

The Empress Dowager Ciren is the aunt of the current emperor, and also the nominal adoptive mother of the current emperor—although the emperor was actually raised by the former emperor, this does not hinder the power and influence of the empress dowager in the palace—although the empress dowager It is a recognized fact that Empress is weak and bedridden all year round.

The empress dowager made a statement at the first time, saying that she was getting older and her spirits were getting weaker and weaker. Although there were several old concubines of the emperor to help, these old bones could not manage the harem for the emperor for a lifetime, and said that the emperor had just left. People who are grandsons have to observe filial piety for one year. Although the king's mourning can be replaced by the day and the month, if the harem is widely selected at this time, it will not look good for the emperor's reputation.

Therefore, the empress dowager promoted Pan Zhaoyi, the youngest daughter of Governor Pan Renmei, who had entered the palace before, to be a concubine, Yang Chongrong, the granddaughter of the late Taiwei Yang, to be a concubine, and Li Jieyu, the biological mother of the eldest princess, the emperor's only child, to be a concubine. For Zhaoyuan.

At the same time, the empress dowager handed over the palace affairs to Concubine Pan Defei and Concubine Yang Shu.

It's not that the emperor has no ideas, but the empress dowager's actions can't find fault at all.Didn't the emperor intend to let Wenshi be a noble concubine?The empress dowager did not let anyone occupy the position of noble concubine, not only the noble concubine, but also the two positions of the first four concubines, the Xian concubine and the respected concubine, the last one, are still vacant.As for the nine concubines, both Concubine Pan and Concubine Yang have been promoted, Zhaoyi and Chongrong are both vacant, and now there are only two seats occupied.

Although neither the queen nor the Wen family entered the palace, the smoke in the harem had already risen.

After Princess Ruide knew this, she went to the palace to thank the Queen Mother in person, and also sent generous gifts to Jia's and Qi's families.

Princess Ruide is very clear that although she is a princess and the aunt of the current emperor, she can enjoy the glory and wealth and have such power and dignity in Beijing, but it is because of the prestige of her father, the Supreme Emperor. Now the Supreme Emperor has passed away. The in-law's family is a family with only empty titles left, so they naturally behave with their tails between their legs.So what if the daughter is the queen as soon as she enters the palace?The harem is always a projection of the former dynasty.It doesn't matter if the emperor has a sweetheart, after all, that woman is just the daughter of a sinner. If there are a group of concubines with prominent natal families and powerful fathers and brothers, can this day be lived?

Both Qi Qian and Jia Qi are political advisers, if their two daughters enter the palace, will they be able to fight against these two prime ministers, or will their pampered daughter be able to fight against the joint efforts of other people's daughters?

Not to mention that Wen's transformation from a noble concubine who had just entered the palace to Jieyu was due to someone's help, and Princess Ruide was naturally grateful.

It was not only Princess Ruide who was worried, but also Princess Ruide's daughter, the empress who had not yet entered the palace. She was not an idiot either. She hid and secretly After crying for a while, I asked my brother for help when I turned around, and asked Jia Qi privately for her future path.

Jia Qi thought for a while, and asked the prince to tell the young empress: "...the palace is different from ordinary families. In ordinary families, the position of the first wife is unshakable, but the harem is the reflection of the former dynasty. Therefore, the status of the empress Even if it is as stable as a rock, it will be subject to many constraints. The women in the palace can be happy, and there are only a few in the history books. Therefore, the empress only needs to cherish herself, not forgetting her heart at home, and being virtuous and kind to others."

In fact, the Zongzheng Mansion and the Ministry of Rituals are busy with choosing concubines for the emperor. As for Qi Qian, Jia Qi and other cabinet ministers, how many of them will keep watching the emperor's harem?

For Jia Qi, the emperor's harem is naturally inferior to Western businessmen such as Louis who came from afar.No, Louis and the others finally met Jia Qi after nearly two months of waiting in the capital.

Although the current focus of work has shifted to Japan and the New World, Jia Qi will not relax in Nanyang and Western Europe.

After all, as long as there is a scientific soil, the Western European countries may complete the industrial revolution at any time, while in the East, even if the technology is achieved, even if the steel warships have sailed into the Indian Ocean, as long as the imperial system does not undergo fundamental changes, as long as the country The fear of ghosts and gods has not undergone a qualitative change. As long as the people still maintain that old thinking, then this land may still remain in ignorance, and China may be left behind by the world at any time.

So Jia Qi will not turn a blind eye to these Western European businessmen.

He needs these merchants to bring him enough information.

"I kept you waiting for a long time."

"Oh, honorable lord, I haven't seen you for ten years, you are still the same as before, oh no, you are more attractive and manly than before."

The French are romantic by nature, and Louis wants to ask Jia Qi, so his attitude is naturally more enthusiastic.

Of course, the steel warships cruising in the Indian Ocean and South China Sea are also very important reasons.

Along with Louis, there were also several Western businessmen who met Jia Qi for the first time. When these people saw Jia Qi, their faces were really wonderful.

They thought that Louis had just found someone to fool them.

It's no wonder they're thinking crookedly.As early as 2000 years ago in the East, there was a historical record of Gan Luo Twelve serving as a foreign envoy, but in the West, which king would appoint a child as a minister?Not to mention, compared with Westerners, Easterners look more tender when they are young, especially before the age of 30.And today is a public holiday, Jia Qi did not wear official clothes, but ordinary clothes, even because he just washed his hair, he didn't tie his hair up or wear a square scarf, but directly tied his hair behind his head with a hairpin, plus that Wearing a moon-white robe without decoration, she looks even younger.

Jia Qi was born in a rich and noble town, among the beautiful trees. Lin Daiyu took good care of him. No medicinal diet or health-preserving soup has ever been short. He also insists on exercising every day, which also makes his black hair like clouds, red lips and white teeth, making him look even more angry. Full of blood and full of energy, the whole person gives people a feeling of youth and prosperity.

If it wasn't for his temperament being different from that of fifteen or sixteen year olds, I'm afraid few people would regard him as a crowned adult.

In fact, among the Western businessmen present here, they thought that Louis was deliberately teasing them. Therefore, when Louis faced Jia Qi with the etiquette he used to meet the nobles in Versailles, several people behind him frowned.

Jia Qi, who was sitting on top, saw the tall and straight black-haired young man at a glance.

Jia Qi's ability to judge whether the other party is a young man is due to the experience of his previous life.Westerners are inherently taller than Easterners, and this young man is even taller. Jia Qi estimated that if they stood side by side, the other party would be almost half a head taller than him.

The other party has two mustaches on the top of his lips, and thick beards on the edges of his cheeks. It is more appropriate to call him a beard.This man is obviously a very particular person, because his beard is neatly groomed, which is different from most Westerners in this era. On the contrary, he has the style of the British gentleman that Jia Qi remembered and was advocated by later generations.The reason why British gentlemen are widely recognized by later generations and become a national symbol is entirely because of that Prince Albert, who is the husband of Queen Victoria in another time and space.

Seeing Jia Qi's eyes resting on this person, Louis quickly introduced: "This is Potter, he is German."

Jia Qi said: "Potter? German? His eyes are firm, his expression is calm, and his eyes are rational, which is indeed in line with the characteristics of the German nation. However, the surname of Potter is more like the surname of the British. I have met before. A Mr Potter, he is an Englishman."

Louis was embarrassed.

The German said bluntly: "I am German, but I have lived in England with my wife since I got married."

"Whether it's Britain or Germany, aren't these two countries France's feud? Louis, as a Frenchman, why do you go with the people of the feud?"

Louis smiled bitterly: "My lord, I have no choice. Your country has blocked the entire Nanyang Sea. Now, no matter which country you are from, as long as you are from Europe, you can only take the specified route and the specified port. To conduct trade, you still have to queue up, and those who don’t make it can’t enter Nanyang. My lord, if I don’t know you, I’m afraid it will take three years.”

Jia Qi said: "I remember that after the British attacked Shanghai Prefecture, Westerners were not allowed to dock at any port north of Shanghai Prefecture."

"Yes, yes, we know this, so we disembarked at Huzhou Prefecture and went to Jinling to change to a boat that takes the canal..." As he spoke, Louis said with a trace of uncertainty: "I heard that the canal is not a natural River, is this true?"

"Yes. Canals are artificially excavated rivers. The earliest sections even have a history of nearly 2000 years. About 1000 years ago, a king sorted and dredged them all. Since then, people can use them without Change the ship and go directly from Hangzhou to the capital through the canal. This is needed to strengthen the rule.”

The German Potter couldn't help but said: "Master, Zhiyuan, is what you said true? May I ask how it was built, can you tell me?"

Jia Qi replied: "I don't know about that. I have never worked in the Ministry of Industry. Even if I have read related travel notes, it is hard to say whether it was fabricated by later generations. I only know that the king thousands of years ago was trying to clear up the canal. Millions of civilians were mobilized back and forth. I think that your country may not have such a large population, so it will not be needed."

Potter flushed suddenly.

Although Potter had been standing behind him, Jia Qi couldn't help not paying attention to him.

Not only because this man has black hair, which is rare among this group of Westerners, but also because the other party is a handsome man, a handsome man in the Western classical sense.

Moreover, the more he looked, the more he looked like Prince Albert in another time and space.

Looking again, the five or six businessmen in the back guarded this faintly, and one of them was a young man with red hair, extremely fair complexion, and a few freckles. description of people.

The Celts are the ancestors of the British.

Thinking that in the 21st century, there are still so many Celtics with red hair in England, and looking at their attitude towards Potter, Jia Qi immediately understood.

"Excuse me, who are you?"

Not wanting to talk nonsense, Jia Qi went straight to the point.

Seeing that the situation was not right, those foreign visitors who were merchants but actually guards immediately put their hands on their waists.

Jia Qi said: "This is my home. If you carry your swords, someone will ask you to untie them at the door. This action of yours, it seems that you have guns|guns|guns in your waists? Please understand before you do it. It's Dawei, and I'm Dawei's political adviser. Even if you can kill me, do you think you can escape from this city?"

The red-haired youth said: "Even if I can't kill you, I can still take you as a hostage."

"If you think this way, then you have a wrong idea. First, I will not surrender to you, nor will my family. Second, if you want to use me as a bargaining chip, I am afraid that the soldiers on the city gate Will kill me right away."

"You lied to me!"

"You can ask Louis, what did the king of our country do when foreigners surrounded our capital and captured the royal family members who were stranded in the palace. That is the son of our former emperor."

The red-haired youth immediately turned to Louis.

Louis nodded again and again, and said: "Yes, yes, the honorable Lord Zhiyuan did not lie, I heard that the prince was one of the only two sons of the previous king of Wei, but those Tatars used this prince to threaten Da Wei. During the reign of Wei, the royal family of Great Wei directly announced the news of the death of the prince."

Potter immediately held down the loyal guard, and apologized to Jia Qi: "I'm sorry, he was only worried about my safety. After all, there are really too many royal families and nobles who have been kidnapped and held for ransom."

Jia Qi said: "You Westerners should have done this in the West Indies, East Indies, and the Nanyang islands, right? Don't worry, we don't have this tradition in Great Wei." As he spoke, he looked at the other party sarcastically. With a glance, he said: "If I'm not mistaken, Great Wei will start a war with your European countries. The reason is that the British attacked our Great Wei's Shanghai Prefecture? By the way, I forgot to mention that Shanghai Prefecture is my wife's territory. , she is the princess of our Great Wei. Are you British?"

Potter moved his lips and said, "Yes. My wife is the new Queen of England, and I am Prince Albert, an envoy sent by the British Empire."

"His Royal Highness?"

Prince Albert said: "The British Empire does not have this title."

Jia Qi looked at him and said, "That's right. It seems that Britain very much rejects you as a foreigner, even if you are the queen's husband."

The red-haired youth blurted out: "How do you know?"

"I also know that your queen adores her husband very much, but she refuses to let the prince get in touch with government affairs. In the UK, the prince's influence on the queen is also feared. That's why the prince's mission to Wei was made."

Jia Qi naturally picked up the tea bowl, took a sip of tea, and then saw Prince Albert's entourage looking at him as if they had seen a ghost.

Prince Albert was also very surprised: "How do you know?"

Jia Qi didn't answer him, but said:

"Then you didn't directly submit your credentials to Honglu Temple, but instead paid these businessmen to cover you and come to me?"

"Yes."

Prince Albert suddenly felt that it was not a good idea to hide his identity to find Jia Qi, but Jia Qi had already said so, so he could only admit it.

That's a pretty bad idea indeed.

Jia Qi said: "Prince Albert, I'm sorry, your behavior has caused me a lot of trouble. The government agencies of the Great Wei have a clear division of labor and are integrated with each other. Honglu Temple has always been in charge of diplomacy. Although I am Prime Minister, however, I cannot interfere with the normal work of Honglu Temple without a valid reason. Your Excellency, I am sorry, no matter what your reason is, please follow the procedure and report to Honglu Temple first. , and then submit the credentials. Then there will be special officials to negotiate with you."

"But, isn't it you who decided to go to war with the European countries?"

Prince Albert could hardly believe what he heard.

Jia Qi replied: "I'm sorry, Your Excellency, it was your British ships that first attacked our Wei's Huzhou Prefecture, which not only caused a lot of property losses, but also caused casualties. It was just self-defense. Afterwards, your British East India Company did not give up and gathered a group of desperadoes. As a result, they met the navy who went south to support the capital of Shanghai. As for the war with the European countries, in fact, it was not our Great Wei You took the initiative to go to war, but you British shamelessly pretended to be Dutch, Spanish, Portuguese, and French, and overshadowed the Nanyang Navy of our Great Wei several times, so that our country had to list all Western ships as enemy ranks Among them. After all, when you Western merchants bought our products from Dawei, you were very happy to give money, and what you shipped were spices and high-grade wood that have always been popular in our Dawei market. If you were not forced to rush , Da Wei will not refuse a lot of gold."

For this reason, any official in Wei would not believe it after hearing it.But these Westerners believed it.

There is no way, who makes Westerners worship money.This reason will definitely not fool the officials of Wei, but it is enough to fool these Westerners.

"What about now? What happened to the Great Wei Navy in the Indian Ocean?"

"Ah? What are you talking about?" Jia Qi's expression became more relaxed. "There is a good saying, it is better to resist the enemy at the gate of the country than to resist the enemy thousands of miles away. 200 years ago, the Sanbao eunuch said that wealth comes from In the sea, danger also comes from the sea. Before you British attacked Shanghai, our navy has always adopted a passive defense policy, but you British let us know that passive defense will only make our own The people were harmed, and it was the right choice to take the initiative. Therefore, we opened the archives that had been dusty for more than 200 years, took out the documents of the Sanbao eunuch’s three voyages to the West, and started building ocean-going ships again. I forgot to tell you , 200 years ago, not to mention the South China Sea, even the Indian Ocean now is just my Chinese back garden. By the way, what was the name of the European navigator who first reached the east coast of Africa? The first time he thought When he showed off his boats to the European natives on the east coast of Africa, didn't he feel despised by the local natives?"

Prince Albert and all the Westerners present knew that what Jia Qi said was true.

Because when the first European ship entered the Indian Ocean, the natives along the coast of East Africa pointed to their sloop and told them that they had seen a ship that was many times bigger than them, and looked at it half a world ago. Up a multi-masted schooner the size of a moving mountain.

And those multi-masted sailing ships obviously came from this ancient country.

The red-haired young man said: "It's completely different from what is recorded in the book. Your boat is not that big at all."

Jia Qi said: "In the past, there were many Tongtian trees in this land. This kind of tree is the best material for making the keel of a big ship. The tree is tall enough and the trunk is straight enough. Unfortunately, it is rare to see it now, but it can be found. They are all in the deep mountains and old forests. When we Dawei regained the Northeast, we were shocked to find that the wooden boats could no longer adapt to this era. Therefore, those wooden boats that were just built not long ago ushered in retirement. Now, those wooden boats Ships can only be used as cargo ships and transport ships. Fortunately, these ships are large enough, have a good carrying capacity, and are new enough, and the merchants below are happy to buy them at high prices."

He, Jia Qi, also bought a lot. It was because of the boat that the sugar made in the Nanyang workshop could be transported back to Dawei.

It can be said that almost all of the warships that gave the British fleet a head-on blow are now retired.The reason why these warships can be decommissioned is entirely because of the steamship.

Dawei originally had turtle boats, but the traditional turtle boats required manpower to move, and the speed was very slow.Under Jia Qi's guidance, the Ministry of Industry made a steam engine and installed propellers on the turtle boat, which greatly increased the speed of the turtle boat. Naturally, the combat effectiveness and scope of use of the turtle boat also expanded a lot.

Turtle ships are no longer the main force in the later period of the war, but have become the main force from the beginning, while the treasure ships have become the existence of deterrents and transport ships. Ship killer.

With the further improvement of the steam engine, the fighting methods of the Great Wei Navy began to undergo qualitative changes, and Jia Qi liked this change, but it was not a good sign for Westerners.

Those ships that were sunk one after another, those ships that sank into the sea, are telling every European.

When this ancient eastern empire opened its eyes, how powerful he was.

In the end, Jia Qi said to Prince Albert and his party: "I don't know who suggested this to His Excellency the Prince. However, my suggestion is that His Excellency, please report to Honglu Temple as soon as possible. If you don't Follow the procedure, I'm afraid you will lose a lot."