Chapter 267: Unpredictable Risks

Jia Qiang was not one of those distant relatives of the Ningguo lineage; he was a direct descendant of the Ningguo line and was deeply favored by Jia Zhen, with a relationship that was far from ordinary.

As for Jia Zhen and Jia Rong, they had been designed out of existence by him because they had plotted to seize Xiuniang's incense shop and had coveted and threatened Qin Keqing.

Based on this connection alone, he would never involve himself with Jia Qiang, and besides, this man was no good sort either...

"Second Brother, you may not know this, but His Majesty is extremely concerned about the firearms workshop. As it involves vital military and state affairs, everyone entering the workshop must be reported to the palace for the Emperor's personal review."

"Furthermore, those entering the workshop must be familiar with the art of firearms. I wonder how much Brother Qiang knows about firearms, and does he have any special expertise in them?"

As soon as Jia Cong said this, Jia Lian and Jia Qiang were both dumbfounded.

Everyone entering the workshop had to be reported to the palace for the Emperor's review. In Jia Lian's view, Jia Qiang was even less capable than himself—a man who couldn't handle anything. If the Emperor were to review him, wouldn't that just invite trouble?

It would be a disaster if he didn't get the position and instead stirred up trouble, landing himself in a crime.

Someone like Jia Qiang could only get by with ordinary loafing; he was hardly the type to handle grand scenes.

Whether for personal use or for sale, it was no small sum, and this was also the clan's way of extending prosperity to fellow clansmen.

"If Brother Qiang is not proficient in firearms, then I am afraid I cannot help. If he is looking for a livelihood, the firearms workshop is not a good place to go."

But at present, the Jurchens in Liaodong were provoking war, and the musket formations were showing their prowess on the battlefield. The firearms workshop was mass-producing weapons, and he himself, as the Superintendent of the Firearms Division, was about to follow the Regional Commander to patrol the borders.

At first glance, it seemed like a coincidence, but upon closer thought, it seemed too coincidental.

Seeing that there was no hope, Jia Qiang had no choice but to take his leave with a dejected expression.

As for expertise in firearms, that was even more laughable; his expertise lay in watching plays and drinking at brothels...

Jia Lian said nonchalantly: "What is so strange about this? When the Ningguo Prefecture was still around, these clansmen would receive clan gifts every year during the two sacrifices and the year-end."

Jia Cong could not help but feel suspicious...

But now that the Ningguo title had been stripped and the property confiscated, these people had lost a large portion of their annual income, and naturally, their days were tight.

Jia Cong also said that those entering the workshop must be familiar with the art of firearms; Jia Qiang had likely never even touched a musket.

At this juncture, a seemingly dissolute and lazy clansman was trying to secure a position in the firearms workshop.

But now that the Ningguo Prefecture had been stripped of its title and raided, having lost their backing, who would still give face to the Ningguo lineage? They were avoiding them as much as possible.

The Ning and Rong Jia families had already fallen halfway; even he, the legitimate eldest son of the Rongguo main branch, felt his stature diminished whenever he went out now.

Jia Lian was indiscriminate when it came to women, but he was not a man who liked to be overbearing. Although his request had been rejected by Jia Cong, he heard Jia Cong's reasons and didn't take it to heart.

"I was helping Brother Qiang secure a position just now, so I didn't have the heart to tell Third Brother."

Jia Lian gave a bitter smile; if it were in the past, Jia Qiang finding a livelihood would naturally not have been a difficult matter.

"With the Jia family's connections in the Love Shenjing, finding a simple place shouldn't be difficult, right?"

"Second Brother, why did Brother Qiang suddenly think of seeking a position in the firearms workshop? I find it a bit strange."

Seeing that after he said this, Jia Lian and Jia Qiang were staring at each other, unable to say a word, Jia Cong felt even more suspicious.

Not to mention Brother Qiang; everyone in the capital knew that he and Elder Brother Zhen had always been close...

When Brother Qiang first moved out of the mansion, Elder Brother Zhen had divided a house and two storefronts for him, which was enough for him to live on.

But this kid had no ambition; some time ago, he was instigated by others to gamble and lost both storefronts. Life became difficult, so he went to the Grand Old Master to find a way.

"He wanted to seek a position in the firearms workshop, and it was the Grand Old Master who gave him the hint..."

Hearing that this matter actually involved Jia She, Jia Cong's heart skipped a beat.

Ever since the year Jia She forced Zhi Shao to jump into the river, the father and son had completely fallen out, and he had moved to the West Mansion to live.

Except for the necessary annual visits, the father and son had almost no interaction; they couldn't even be called "respectful as ice," but rather "looking at each other with mutual disgust."

That Jia Qiang was seeking a position in the firearms workshop on Jia She's suggestion gave Jia Cong a bad feeling.

Jia Lian added: "Originally, Brother Qiang wanted the Grand Old Master to speak, but Third Brother, you and the Grand Old Master... hehe, I had no choice but to step forward."

Jia Cong sneered in his heart, but said aloud: "Second Brother, you may not know this, but it is a good thing for Brother Qiang not to enter the firearms workshop."

"The firearms workshop is responsible for manufacturing firearms, which concerns vital military and state equipment. His Majesty attaches great importance to it. The craftsmen in the workshop are transferred from all over, and even their families must move to the Love Shenjing."

Jia Lian asked curiously: "Why must their families move to the Love Shenjing?"

Jia Cong sneered: "As it involves military and state affairs, moving their families is for the sake of restraint. Once a craftsman leaks the secrets of firearms manufacturing, the whole family will be..."

Jia Cong didn't finish his sentence, merely making a chopping motion with his right hand.

Jia Lian understood immediately and turned pale with fright. He really hadn't expected the firearms workshop to be so terrifying.

He hurriedly said: "If I had known this, how could I have helped him speak?"

"Someone of Brother Qiang's caliber—how much weight does he have? If he really entered such a place, there's no telling what trouble he might stir up, and in the end, it would implicate Third Brother."

"The Grand Old Master too, why would he give him such a rotten idea..."

"Third Brother, it is this older brother who didn't know the bottom line and brought this trouble upon us for no reason. Please don't take offense."

Jia Cong watched Jia Lian's expression quietly and saw no possibility of pretense, feeling a slight sense of relief in his heart.

He had no fondness for Jia Lian, but no malice either. Although this second brother of his was lecherous and liked to flirt with women, at least he wouldn't use his power to force them.

He could be considered a dissolute clansman with basically normal values.

He opposed Wang Xifeng's usury and also opposed the private concealment of assets transferred during the raid on the Shi family, which showed that this man at least had some sense of right and wrong and basic clarity.

When Jia She ordered him to seize the antique fan from Shi Daizi, he only went to the door to ask the other party to sell it; when the other party refused, he gave up.

It was Jia Yucun who used the excuse of Shi Daizi owing government silver to beat the man half to death, seize his fan, and present it to Jia She.

Jia Lian even said: "To ruin someone's family over such a small matter, that's hardly an achievement."

Compared to the likes of Jia She, he had a bottom line as a person and even a bit of a sense of justice.

Therefore, Jia Cong did not hope that Jia Lian had any sinister calculations in this matter, but that he had only come to plead with him because of Jia She's request.

And looking at Jia Lian's expression and verbal reaction just now, things should be just like that.

It was just that Jia She knew full well that he and his son were at odds, yet he came up with the idea of letting Jia Qiang work under him.

Even if it were out of concern for Jia Qiang as a younger generation, such an approach was not reasonable.

Moreover, things in a great mansion could not be hidden. Jia Cong had heard that in the past two years, Jia She had sent Jia Lian to Ping'an Prefecture several times. As for what they were doing, only the father and son knew.

Furthermore, Jia She had not been short of silver in the past two years and had taken in several concubines.

Jia Cong hadn't known where Ping'an Prefecture was before, but after asking, he learned that it was a border prefecture and the location of the Datong Garrison, which was one of the Nine Garrisons.

The Duke of Rongguo had once served as a border commander of the Nine Garrisons and still had many old subordinates and connections in the Nine Garrisons.

Therefore, the Jia family had a foundation and connections in Ping'an Prefecture.

Now that Jia She had Jia Lian travel back and forth to Ping'an Prefecture multiple times, and it seemed there were quite some gains.

If it were just doing some ordinary business, that would be one thing.

To dispel the royal family's suspicion, the Ning and Rong Jia families had completely detached themselves from military power since the 'Wen' generation, holding only idle titles and official positions.

But in the Capital Garrison and border towns, they still had significant old connections. These could not be helped and could only be worn away slowly by time.

But what if Jia She sent Jia Lian to Ping'an Prefecture frequently, and it wasn't for ordinary business?

That would mean the Jia family nobles were colluding with border generals and reviving old forces, which was no different from seeking their own death!

This was a crime even more serious than Jia Zhen's extortion of commoners.

And Jia She's collusion with Ping'an Prefecture and Jia She's instigation of Jia Qiang to seek a position in the firearms workshop seemed to have no connection on the surface.

But as for the inner roots, how could outsiders be sure?

In terms of the ability to cause disaster, Jia She was definitely the number one person in the Ning and Rong Jia families.

To be on the safe side, Jia Cong decided to prepare relevant countermeasures before going to the Nine Garrisons, at least to clear his own involvement in front of the Emperor.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 268 =====