Cross the Sea in the Red Chamber

The fact that Dongping County King and Nan'an County King colluded with Qianxiang Kingdom was a good lesson for those officials and gentlemen in the court, and the assassins sent by Qianxiang Kingdom also taught Prince Situ Sheng a good lesson.

He admitted that after he met Jiang Yuan, a national scholar, gained more power, and controlled tens of thousands of troops, he lost the precarious sense of crisis that he had back then, and lost the vigilance and preparedness he should have. .He thought that he was as stable and unshakable as Mount Tai, but the actual situation was not as stable and peaceful as he imagined.

"The wrath of the emperor, laying down a million corpses, bleeding for thousands of miles", this sentence is certainly not wrong, but don't forget that there is also a saying called, "If a soldier is angry, two corpses, bleeding for five steps, the world is pure! "

Not all courtiers know what it means to know current affairs, and not all courtiers know what it means to be loyal to the emperor and patriotic.Driven by profit and life-saving, these people dare to think and do anything, such as treason, defection to the enemy, and rebellion... Heinous crimes are as common to these people as eating and drinking. Words have long been eaten by them.To relax your vigilance against them is to be irresponsible for your own life.

It stands to reason that the south of Dajing has been plowed several times by the imperial court. First, after the San Francisco Rebellion, the old emperor hacked and killed on the charge of ineffective kingship, and replaced many officers.Later, taking advantage of the opportunity to relegate the family and noble officials, the old emperor and Situ Sheng both took back a lot of power from the south and placed their own people.Recently, the complete collapse of Nan'an and Dongping forces allowed the old emperor to successfully control the military power in the south and eradicate these two forces in the south.

In general, it looks good, but in fact there are still some shortcomings.

Because at the end of the Yan Dynasty, there were constant famines and wars in the north, so the aristocratic families that had been passed down for many years chose to move south to live in the south of the Yangtze River. People from these aristocratic families have lived in the south of the Yangtze River for more than a hundred years.

Moreover, Emperor Gao of the Jing Dynasty hated the coldness in the north when he founded the country. He once set his capital in Jinling. It was not until after the alliance under the city that he chose the capital to move his capital to guard against the northern barbarians.As the capital of the founding of the People's Republic of China, Jinling was renamed Nanjing, or Yingtian Mansion. Therefore, the ancestral houses of noble people who followed Emperor Gao before the founding of the country were mostly located in the south of the Yangtze River. It has been decades since then. .

After the capital was moved to the capital, the imperial court had never had enough control over the south of the Yangtze River. The aristocratic families and nobles who were local snakes had more influence over the land in the south of the Yangtze River than the imperial court in the distant capital.Although the imperial court now has the military power in the south of the Yangtze River, it is far from enough when it comes to controlling the local civil servants.

In the land of the south of the Yangtze River, there are many powerful families, and you can run into nobles and clansmen from aristocratic families just by walking a few steps. To win over the officials who are officials in the south of the Yangtze River, I'm afraid they have more power in their hands than Situ Cheng imagined.

A "official talisman" can tell what Jinling looks like now, but is there only one Jinling city in the south of the Yangtze River?Where else?Is it better than Jinling or more decadent than Jinling?

The land in the south of the Yangtze River is controlled by these powerful families. It is definitely not just the people who are suffering, but even the rule of the country is in danger.

Shi Ding of the Jinling historian may not be an isolated phenomenon, let alone a rare exception. He was able to collaborate with the enemy so easily, and other people can naturally do the same.You don't need to think about it, just think about Situ Sheng for a moment and you will feel terrible.When collaborating with the enemy and betraying the country has become the norm, isn't the country's rule at stake, if it is overthrown, it will be overthrown?

This assassination of the Qianxiang Kingdom explained many problems that were usually hidden. One of them was that the aristocratic family and nobles dared to sell everything in order to protect the power in their hands, including the country they were in, including the imperial court they said they were loyal to!

Although the Qianxiang Country is nothing to worry about, if the honorable family is allowed to continue to control the land in the south of the Yangtze River, who knows if they will find other barbarian countries to collude with each other and betray the country?Even lure wolves into the house and let the barbarians rule the Central Plains?

People say that a scholar rebelled and failed in three years.However, if civil servants want to disrupt a country with their own power, there is really no way. Once they use their power to stir up sorrows and rebellions in the south of the Yangtze River, the Northern Barbarian Kingdom will definitely take advantage of the chaos in the Jing Dynasty. Jing will immediately lose the peace of the past and fall into war.What's more, if the nobles and aristocratic families choose to collude with the northern barbarian country and betray the country for glory in order to maintain their power, then the pressure on the court will be too great, and the country may even be easily overthrown.

Situ Cheng bit his lip, he had never wanted to eradicate the aristocratic family and nobles so much as at this moment!

Every time he felt that he had knocked down the aristocratic family and nobles to the bottom of the valley and crushed them hard, but these people would be born again in the spring breeze, and when one family was cut down, another family would pop up again, pressing the gourd to float up, Presumably, unless these forces are completely eradicated, it is impossible to protect the safety of Dajing.

That's what I said, but the old emperor...

If I had known earlier, I should have let him die in the palace change...

Situ Sheng ground his teeth there, and the "rebellious" thoughts popped up one after another.

After losing his temper for a while, Situ Sheng also calmed down.He is not unreasonable, he is very clear that the reason why Jiang Yuan advocated saving the old emperor was also for his sake.

On the day of the winter solstice palace change, if the plan of the eldest prince Situ Xu and the fifth prince Situ Yi succeeds, they will at most put the old emperor under house arrest and will definitely not kill him, otherwise they will lose their orthodox status and be listed as traitors in the history books The name of a thief.Therefore, even if Jiang Yuan didn't rush to rescue him, the old emperor would never die. It's better to let him save him in exchange for some benefits for Situ Sheng.

As for why the courtiers didn't end the old emperor's life after being overwhelmed by their drugs...

He would never be able to do such a thing as patricide. Even if he did it on the spur of the moment, he and Jiang Yuan were the only two people left in the palace who were not brought down by the smoke. The death of the old emperor... Isn't this self-inflicted?

For the consideration of future generations, the murder of his father and treason must not be held on his head, even this suspicion must not be allowed. He must set an example for the princes and grandchildren of the entire Jing Dynasty, otherwise the Dajing Kingdom will not be successful sooner or later. country, the world is bound to be in chaos...

With the close protection of the old emperor, it is difficult for the family power under King Shun Situ Hui to suffer a devastating blow, and because of the existence of the family power, the old emperor will inevitably help the nobles and prevent them from falling into a desperate situation. A vicious circle has formed.The aristocratic families and nobles who are hostile to each other have become interdependent. After a long time, if the two forces stop fighting and choose to unite secretly, then the old emperor will raise a terrible monster...

Situ Sheng pressed his temples and felt that as long as the old emperor lived for one day, this problem would be unsolvable. As long as he lived, the family and nobles would not fall, he would continue to have headaches, and the country would be under threat.

Situ Sheng thought about it, and decided to Xuan Jiangyuan to enter the palace.This Jiang Qingyuan always has fantastic ideas, and he has a headache alone here, so he might as well ask Jiang Yuan to think about it together, maybe the two of them can come up with some good ideas together.

Jiang Yuan also felt a headache when he heard Situ Sheng's inquiry.After the San Francisco Rebellion, when the old emperor followed Situ Sheng's hand and demoted the powers of noble and noble families, he didn't feel anything. At least they were sent to southern Xinjiang to eat taro. If a few people like Shi Ding appeared in it, colluded with the southern barbarians, and even stirred up conflicts among the local ethnic minorities, the whole southern Xinjiang would be in trouble.

Fortunately, now that Situ Sheng has basically mastered the four departments of officials, households, soldiers, and industry, and the Ministry of Punishment and the Ministry of Rites are also actively moving closer to Situ Sheng. The tyrants in Jiangnan are not so easy to deal with.

The most effective way to deal with these people once and for all is to ransack their homes first, and then choose whether to kill them or exile or distribute them, so as to wipe out all their vital forces.

But now the old emperor has messed up in order to keep the power in his hands, there is no way for them to bypass the old emperor and attack these nobles.The old emperor was indeed lingering on the sick bed there and couldn't recover, but he didn't know whether his desire to survive was too strong or the combination of the supplements he took played a role. He thought he was a smart person, but in fact he did some stupid things, protecting his honor and his family like an old hen protecting its chicks, which made Jiang Yuan's brain ache.

"We can only take one step at a time. If His Highness is not at ease, you might as well send someone to the south to investigate carefully. There are many problems with the aristocratic family and nobles. Maybe you can find some flaws that the old emperor can't protect. At worst, we can think of a delaying strategy to prevent them from causing trouble in the near future." Jiang Yuan thought and thought, but he could only answer like this.

His Royal Highness nodded, and could only do so first, "Qingyuan, then I will trouble you to go there."

Situ Sheng said: "The nobles of the family have colluded with each other for a long time, and people who are not high-ranking officials may not be able to restrain them. Now there is nothing important for you in the Ministry of War, and the Gyeonggi camp is already on the right track. Put aside the business in Beijing and help Gu go to Jiangnan to check it out."

He lowered his voice, "Now the lonely father is working hard to protect these people who have caused disasters to the country and the people. The common methods may not be able to deal with these bastards. Qingyuan, you always have novel ideas. Maybe you can find some way to deal with them, and you can bypass them. Royal father attacked them."

Jiang Yuan did not refute this. The matter in the south of the Yangtze River is related to the foundation of the country. Once an accident occurs, the rule of the world will inevitably be shaken, and it will even destroy the painstaking efforts of the three generations of emperors for decades.

Before the old emperor died, he had to help Situ Sheng keep these honorable families in check, and he couldn't let them go out of their way, let alone a bunch of bastards like them hinder the progress of the Northern Expedition.He said: "Your Highness, if I go south, I can find an excuse. I just declare that I am going to inspect the armies in the southeast. But as the official in charge of the Ministry of War, I will see too many people if I move like this. I will be closely monitored along the way, I am afraid that I can only observe clearly but not secretly, so it will not be effective. So I implore Your Highness to help, and send another person to follow me south, so that I can carry out the unannounced visit and find out the identity of the noble family. trend."

As the Marquis of Guanying, Jiang Yuan, the left servant of the Ministry of War, made it clear that he would control the entire Ministry of War.He himself is Situ Sheng's confidant, cousin and brother-in-law, and has always represented Situ Sheng's will.If he goes south, the noise he will bring will definitely not be small, and he will definitely attract the attention of all forces. He really needs to find another person to assist him in his actions.

"Who does Qingyuan want to accompany you to the south?" Situ Sheng didn't make a rigid appointment. Jiangnan's matter is a big one, and it needs someone who is smart enough to understand Jiang Yuan's meaning and willing to obey his orders to assist him. This person is the candidate. It is best for Jiang Yuan to choose by himself, so that it is smooth enough and can achieve twice the result with half the effort.

Jiang Yuan thought for a while, and said: "The minister should choose Lin Jun. He is from Jiangnan himself, so he must understand the situation in Jiangnan at this time, and his official position is not high, so he is not too eye-catching. It can be inferred that he is going to inspect the Jiangnan salt tax, so it will not attract attention."

Lin Jun has been working in the household department for the past six months, and he still has the official position of a member of the household department, Wailang, saying that it is normal for the household department to send him to the south of the Yangtze River to check the salt tax, and it will not arouse suspicion.What's more, it can be seen from the incident with the Beiman envoy last time that Lin Jun has good skills and delicate thoughts. It is much easier to take him south for investigation than to take others.

Situ Sheng naturally agrees, he still admires Lin Jun quite a lot, he is very pragmatic, and has a method in doing things, training and training can definitely become his right-hand man, and such a person will definitely play a better role when he accompanies Jiang Yuan to the south .

Now that he has decided to go south, he naturally needs to leave as soon as possible.After Jiang Yuan explained the affairs of Hao's family, he took his soldiers and servants on the official boat and swaggered to go south.

His trip to the south will inevitably alarm the nobles and nobles of the family. Instead of sneaking and hiding, it is better to make a big splash and attract everyone's attention to him, so that Lin Jun, who went south before him, can move secretly. .

Unexpectedly, before Jiang Yuan set off, Situ Sheng sent someone to put a big burden on him, which made him almost unable to control the expression on his face.

"Ye'er, why are you here?" Jiang Yuan couldn't help feeling dizzy when he saw Situ Ye who jumped off the pier neatly at the last moment before sailing and rushed to Class A.Hey, His Royal Highness, didn't you ask me to go south to do business?So what happened to Situ Ye in front of him?I have already gone south to investigate, do I still need part-time tutors and nanny?

Jumping on board the moving boat, Situ Ye waved his hand to the guards who had sent him there with satisfaction, and sent them back to work, while he said with a smile: "Father Wang said that what the teacher is going to do this time is very important, if you want me to do it too Go follow and learn how to do errands and do things."

Looking at the baby-sounding little Douding in front of him, Jiang Yuan couldn't help rubbing his temples.Your Royal Highness, do you still know that what I have to do in the south is very important?Now that you know it's important, why don't you just put a small bean over here, saying that learning is bad?Uncle, you are only a teenager when you go on errands by yourself. Situ Ye is only seven years old this year. What can a little Douding who just started elementary school do?Soy sauce?

"... Originally, the father wanted Ye'er to bring his younger brother, but the concubine did not agree..." Situ Ye blinked and said.

Crown Princess, you old man will enjoy immortal blessings forever, live as long as the heavens, and rule the world for generations to come. Please be worshiped by the humble minister...Situ Ye is seven years old after all, and Situ Can is only five years old, okay?What can a little Douding from a kindergarten do for him when he goes to Jiangnan? Can he help him practice how to become the principal of a kindergarten?

Forget it, now it's done, the raw rice has been cooked, it's too late to take Situ Ye back, so he can only take him south anyway.Fortunately, Situ Ye's presence here is not without benefits. If he alone goes south with great fanfare, it may not be enough to deceive everyone, and some people may doubt his motive for going south at this time.

But with the accompanying Situ Ye, it's different.As Situ Sheng's eldest son, Situ Ye's every move is more attractive than Jiang Yuan, Guan Yinghou. As long as he sits on the official ship going south, no one will doubt Jiang Yuan's purpose.Have you ever seen an official who took his young grandson to make an open and unannounced visit?

Situ Ye is old enough to paralyze these arrogant guys, making them think that Jiang Yuan just came to Jiangnan to inspect the situation of the army on a routine basis, and the reason why he went south in person was to take care of this little ancestor who went south with him, well, not at all Do not arouse suspicion.

As for why Situ Ye followed Jiang Yuan to the south, isn't that hard to explain?Jiang Yuan is Situ Ye's first teacher, and he is both civil and military, with outstanding talents. His Royal Highness must have entrusted his eldest son, who is regarded as the heir, to Jiang Yuan, and asked him to take Situ Ye south to exercise and see the scenery of Jiangnan by the way.Doesn't His Royal Highness like to say "Princes and grandchildren can't close their eyes and listen to the things of the people"?That's all on point.

The late autumn breeze on the water completely chilled Jiang Yuan's heart. No matter how well he thought about it, he didn't want to go south with a child.If you want to bring your own son to Jiangnan for a trip, what's the matter with Situ Ye...

Your Royal Highness, in fact, you threw him here because you were afraid that some child would snatch the princess from you.I wish the princess will not let you go to bed for a month...

In the East Palace, Situ Sheng sneezed violently twice, and the servants who served beside him were very flustered, thinking that he had a cold.

"It's all right, you guys go down first." Situ Sheng rubbed the tip of his red nose, waved his hand to send the servants away, and wondered in his heart, is it cold today?It was the tenth sneeze just now.

It is still very comfortable to go down the current in an official boat, the speed is fast and stable, which is much better than the turbulence of a carriage.

When Jiang Yuan went to Jinling Wenju, he walked all the way from the capital to Jiangnan, and a few pairs of shoes on his feet were worn out, let alone sleeping in the open.After going to Jinling to live a difficult life, but being ruined by the Lin family and the Wang family, the rest of the setbacks and sufferings are needless to say.

Now he is also heading south. Wouldn't it be fun for him to travel two or three hundred miles a day leisurely on an official boat, drinking tea and reading books?

When he thought that in order to deceive others, Lin Jun had to rush all the way to the south of the Yangtze River, he felt that his life was better.Sure enough, only contrast can produce beauty.He is gloating here, and Lin Jun has to thank him for giving him the opportunity to show his ambition, and I don't know what Lin Jun will think after knowing Jiang Yuan's evil taste...

What did he think Jiang Yuan didn't want to know at all, he was sitting on the side of the official boat fishing with a fishing rod.He didn't feel annoyed that he didn't catch any after fishing for a long time, anyway, literati fishing is not just fish, it's sentimental!

After traveling for many days, the official ship has already passed Huai'an, and then it will arrive in Yangzhou.

Every time the ship docked along the way, he took Situ Ye off the ship for a walk, to see the customs and customs of various places, and to taste the specialties of various places.Officials did not shy away from visiting him. They met when they were free, and returned when they were busy. They went all the way south in an open and honest manner.

His calm demeanor reassured the officials in Jiangnan, and he just entertained them with delicious food and drinks along the way.Although he was slightly guarded against him, it was not to the point where everything was in danger.It was just right, when the news came, Lin Jun had already arrived in Yangzhou, just looking for an opportunity to meet him there.

After finishing a book, Situ Ye walked out of the cabin and looked into Jiang Yuan's fish basket, but he didn't see a single fish.The little boy pursed his mouth and said, "Teacher, you've been fishing for two hours and haven't caught a single fish yet?"

Jiang Yuan pretended to be deep, and coughed twice, "The teacher didn't put bait on the hook, so no fish took the bait." After fishing for a long time, the fish in this river were too smart to eat the bait on the hook. It's light, but it just doesn't bite the hook.

"How do you fish without bait?" Situ Ye frowned, "It looks like I won't be able to eat the fish caught by the teacher today."

"Haha, Ye'er has never heard of Jiang Taigong's fishing. Will those who wish to take the bait? It is not necessary to put bait in this fishing, and it is not necessary to catch fish. This is the sentiment of literati fishing."

Jiang Yuan just found an excuse and planned to prevaricate Situ Ye, so he couldn't embarrass him in front of the children, but Situ Ye suddenly widened his eyes and shouted, "The hook has moved, and a fish has been hooked! Teacher!" , Hurry up and collect the fishing rod!"

As soon as the words fell, Jiang Yuan felt a strong force coming from the fishing rod. The corner of his mouth twitched, and he complained secretly. When there was bait just now, there was no fish biting the hook. Now that the bait was gone, one was caught instead. This river Is the fish playing with him?

Having said that, the fishing rod still has to be collected.Jiang Yuan didn't know any techniques such as skating fish, so relying on his own strength, he suddenly lifted the fishing rod upwards.

I don't know what kind of bamboo this fishing rod is made of, but it is extremely strong, and it has been bent to the limit, but it still hasn't broken.The silk thread that was not underwater just now was pulled out of the water little by little, and a black shadow was pulled out from the bottom of the water.

Situ Ye looked at the black shadow and opened his mouth wide. What his teacher caught was not a fish, but a person!