Chapter 373

Eighth month, early morning, Yang Zhou Guazhou Port.

There are many summer rains in the two Huai regions, and the sky clears at dawn. A rain last night washed this thousand-year-old ancient city as if it were new.

The streets and alleys are quiet, the buildings are elegant, the willow branches are in clear waves, and the flow of people is like weaving. Although Yang Zhou is located north of the river, it has the warm and elegant style of Jiang Nan water.

A carriage drove out of the ferry, and the blue printed curtain was lifted, revealing a pretty and exquisite face, looking at the moist and transparent streets and alleys, looking around with curiosity.

Jia Cong led the clerks from the Firearms Office and fifteen firearms soldiers from the Five Armies Camp to take an official ship south.

In summer, the water volume is abundant and the current is rapid. In a few days, the official ship arrived at Yang Zhou Guazhou Port.

That year, after picking up Zhi Shao from Gu Su back to the Love Shenjing, although they were together every day, the two of them had never been like this, traveling thousands of miles together, facing each other alone, naturally having a kind of romantic warmth.

During the time on the ship, Jia Cong did not waste it. Besides thinking about and deducing the affairs of Jin Ling, he spent all his time on his studies.

He would spend two hours every day pondering and studying the two books edited by Liu Jingan. Even if he had extraordinary talent, the way of the imperial examination is like a thousand people walking alone, and what he competes for is the effort of dripping water piercing stone.

Early this morning, the ship arrived at the pier, and Jia Cong arranged for the accompanying clerks to go straight down to Jin Ling first to connect with the Ministry of Works stationed in Jin Ling and handle the miscellaneous affairs of the Jin Ling Firearms Office branch.

In the study in the back courtyard, there was a faint smell of medicine, and there were several piles of documents classified and placed on the desk. Lin Ruhai was reading the documents at the desk.

"Our eldest daughter has really grown up. She didn't care about these trivial things before, but now she says it so meticulously in the letter."

Office of the Two Huai Salt Inspection Commissioner.

Lady Chen smiled: "I have arranged the female relatives' residence in the back courtyard according to what the eldest daughter said, and the room for that Earl of Lord Weiyuan has also been prepared. I went to see it myself, and everything is proper."

But her daily life, food, and drink were all handled by Lady Chen herself, which was very different from others.

A woman in her thirties entered the study door, with a clear appearance and dignified behavior. She is Lin Ruhai's concubine, Lady Chen.

At that time, her master was the Grand Master of the Lantai Temple. Later, the new Emperor ascended the throne and suddenly moved the master to Yang Zhou to manage the salt administration, otherwise, their family might still be in the Love Shenjing now.

Perhaps out of concern for his late wife, and also because Lady Chen was naturally gentle and considerate, he raised the status of his former maid to that of a concubine.

Jia Cong said modestly: "Uncle, you flatter me. As a junior, if I have any minor achievements, it is mostly inseparable from the word 'luck.' It is Uncle's talent as a top scholar and ability to govern the world that is truly admirable."

Back then, when Jia Cong was on official business in Jin Ling, he once entered the Salt Administration Office late at night to borrow eight hundred salt soldiers to enter Jin Ling, and in one fell swoop captured the main culprits of the Water Surveillance Office major case, Zou Huaiyi and others. A young hero is nothing more than this.

Lin Ruhai said: "Three days ago, I received a letter from Yu'er, saying that Brother Cong would set out in the eighth month. Calculating the time, he should be able to arrive in these few days."

Lin Ruhai heard this, his face showing joy, and he asked Lady Chen to arrange for the servants in the mansion to go outside the second gate to arrange for the female relatives and luggage, and also asked the little servant to invite Jia Cong to the study to meet.

At this time, a little servant outside the second gate reported that there was a guest visiting in the front hall, asking to see the master, saying it was Jia Cong from the Jia family of the Love Shenjing.

Lin Ruhai smiled: "Yu'er grew up with him in the Jia mansion, and their brother-sister relationship is very deep. She has always admired Brother Cong's ability and character, and it is natural for her to care about his affairs."

Regardless of the four clerks from the Firearms Office or the fifteen firearms soldiers, it is just the appearance and equipment of him, this Grade 5 Firearms Office Supervisor, Earl of Lord Weiyuan, going down to Jin Ling.

It is just a cover for others to see. The power he needs to rely on in Jin Ling City naturally cannot depend on these alone.

And he has to go to the Yang Zhou Salt Administration Office to visit his uncle Lin Ruhai on behalf of Daiyu, and send Zhi Shao to Gu Su the next day.

Every evening, he would review the salt administration documents again, and would not rest until the Hai hour. He has been working hard and worrying for ten years.

Ever since Jia Cong was conferred a title for his merits, his name has spread throughout the world, and the old stories about him in the Jia mansion have naturally spread among the people.

Every hour, Lady Chen would enter the study once, open and close the windows to ventilate, and add soup and tea. Although she is a concubine, she still does the careful miscellaneous work she did when she was a maid.

The front hall is where the Salt Inspection Commissioner handles official business, and the back courtyard is the home of successive Salt Inspection Commissioners.

She also grew up in the Jia mansion. Before Lady Jia Min got married, she still remembered that Du, who was pregnant, was raised into the mansion by the eldest master, causing a huge uproar in the family.

Now, less than two years later, he has made the merit of pacifying the Jurchens in Liaodong and was conferred the title of Earl of Lord Weiyuan at a young age. With such heroic talent, I am afraid that no second person can be found in the world.

Every Chen hour, he gets up to handle salt administration documents, and at the Si hour, he receives subordinate officials of the office to handle daily salt administration, or visits government-run salt fields in the city to understand the market of official salt, receives salt merchants, and approves salt permits.

Lady Chen smiled: "The eldest daughter has been taught by the master and mistress since she was a child, and she is a talented woman full of learning. To be able to enter her eyes, this Earl of Lord Weiyuan must be extremely outstanding."

Lin Ruhai smiled: "Brother Cong, long time no see. You are really young and successful, and the younger generation is to be feared."

The Lin family is a family of hereditary nobles for five generations in Gu Su, and it has been passed down to Lin Ruhai as the only descendant of the main line. Although they are not as wealthy as the four major families of Jin Ling, their family background is also very rich. He has more than one concubine around him.

Lady Chen also had the feelings of a young girl, so she naturally understood what it meant for Daiyu to be so delicate and considerate to someone. It's just that she has always been dutiful and knows priorities and how to advance or retreat, but she didn't say much else.

I'm afraid that the eldest daughter's feelings will have many twists and turns in the future.

After a while, Lin Ruhai heard footsteps outside the study, and a tall and handsome young man walked in.

He has grown much taller than two years ago, handsome as jade, and his bearing is extraordinary, even better than before.

And the eldest daughter is the granddaughter whom the Dowager dotes on the most, and there is also a young master in the Jia family who was born with jade in his mouth, who is said to be the Dowager's favorite, and there were marriage discussions when he was young.

In the eyes of outsiders, his entry into Jin Ling to preside over the opening of the Firearms Office branch is an idle position that is not urgent, so he should always have the leisurely appearance of handling an idle position.

It's no wonder that his daughter, who has high standards, has admired her cousin since she was a child. This child can be considered to have vision.

Lady Chen was a person in the Jia mansion back then and experienced the old events of that year, so she didn't feel surprised at all that Grandmother Jia had always disliked Jia Cong.

After her young lady got married, not long after, that Du gave birth to a child, and the Jia mansion also heard that many things happened, and even the Duke died of anger and illness.

Her young lady's wedding date was within those few months, so Lady Chen had a deep impression of this matter, and naturally knew that Grandmother Jia was very disgusted with the biological mother of this Earl of Lord Weiyuan.

Lady Chen changed hot tea for Lin Ruhai and asked: "Master, a few days ago you said that the eldest daughter's cousin would come to Yang Zhou. Calculating the days, he should be arriving soon."

Lady Chen was originally the personal maid of Lin Ruhai's wife, Lady Jia Min, and followed Lady Jia Min to the Lin family as a dowry maid since she was a child. Later, she became Lin Ruhai's bed-chamber maid. After Lady Jia Min passed away, Lin Ruhai never remarried.

The two chatted for a few more words, and Jia Cong took out Daiyu's letter and the gifts for his father.

He also asked: "I heard from Lin Meimei that Uncle has been in poor health this year, and Lin Meimei is very worried. Before I came, she asked me to send her regards. I don't know if Uncle has invited a famous doctor to diagnose, and is your health better?"

Lin Ruhai smiled bitterly: "I have already invited famous doctors to see me, and the medicinal soup has never been broken, but it is sometimes good and sometimes bad. It is just a symptom of deficiency, and medicine cannot have an immediate effect."

Jia Cong said: "I do know a famous doctor with strange medical skills. I originally wanted to invite him to go south with me to diagnose Uncle, but he went out to visit friends recently and hasn't returned.

If Uncle can invite a local famous doctor to record a detailed medical case, although that famous doctor cannot diagnose in person, he can also infer the lesion according to the medical case. Having one more famous doctor to diagnose is always good."

Lin Ruhai sighed: "When I was young, the family's hereditary title was cut off, and the family was about to decline. I was determined to take the imperial examination and studied hard. Although I finally achieved something, I consumed more than ordinary people, and I was already left with deficiencies.

I usually pay attention to maintenance and consultation. Here are a few medical cases written by famous doctors in Yang Zhou. Although they cannot be cured, the medical cases are very detailed. Brother Cong can take them and let that famous doctor diagnose."

He also smiled at Jia Cong: "It's hard for Brother Cong to be so concerned about this matter. It's no wonder that Yu'er always speaks well of you in her letters."

Jia Cong smiled: "Lin Meimei lost her mother when she was young, and the person she cares about most in her heart is Uncle. Over the years in the Jia family, although she has been doted on by the Dowager and accompanied by her sisters, she misses Uncle the most in her heart.

For Lin Meimei's sake, Uncle should also take good care of his health. I'm just helping to find some ways to diagnose, which is nothing."

Lin Ruhai felt moved when he heard Jia Cong talk about Daiyu. He naturally knew his daughter's personality very well. Even if the Jia family is rich and the Dowager dotes on her, she probably still misses home every day.

He said: "When I was an official in the Lantai Temple, it was fine. After I arrived in Yang Zhou to manage the salt administration, it was the time when the new Emperor ascended the throne and was diligent in government affairs, and the world had already shown signs of great governance.

Therefore, in the past few years, the salt administration in the two Huai regions, although there were storms, there were no major events.

But in the past two years, the smuggling of salt in the two Huai regions has been rampant, and compared with previous years, it has become much more severe. It is a thousand threads and a hundred knots, which is really worrying...."

Salt administration in the two Huai regions has always been complex. Since I took office, I have been busy with everything. Yu'er's mother passed away, and I had no choice but to send her to her maternal grandmother's home.

Being raised by a maternal grandmother with a title is always good for a daughter's future marriage. Staying in a place of right and wrong like Yang Zhou is not as comfortable and safe as going to the Love Shenjing...."

Jia Cong vaguely understood this time why Lin Ruhai was willing to send his only beloved daughter to the Jia mansion to be raised.

After her biological mother passed away, according to the customs of aristocratic families, being raised by a maternal grandmother with a noble status is a decent endorsement for a daughter's future marriage, not to mention a family like the Rongguo Jia family.

And the salt administration in Yang Zhou is stable and safe, but once private salt disturbs the government, Yang Zhou becomes a dangerous place. I guess this is another reason why Lin Ruhai sent Daiyu to the Jia family.

Jia Cong asked again: "Uncle, last time I went to Jin Ling for official business, the salt administration in the two Huai regions was stable and calm under Uncle's governance.

The two Huai salt soldiers responsible for suppressing private salt, Uncle borrowed eight hundred at one time, and the remaining soldiers could handle daily salt administration. Now, less than two years later, how could it become so eroded?"

Lin Ruhai sighed: "In the past seven or eight years, the climate of the Great Zhou has become increasingly harsh. Winters are bitterly cold, summers are melting gold, and natural disasters occur from time to time in various places.

And in the past two years, the climate in the two Huai regions has become increasingly abnormal. Spring floods and summer droughts have been continuous, fields have had poor harvests, farmers have fled, and all industries have not flourished. Compared with previous years, the people's livelihood is not as good as before.

And the imperial court has not lowered the salt tax in the two Huai regions. The price of official salt is the same as two years ago, not lowered by a single cent.

The common people are forced by their livelihood, in order to save silver, they try every means to buy private salt that is cheap and of good quality, and the government cannot stop it repeatedly.

If someone buys, someone will sell. Moreover, private salt is the first of all huge profits in the world. In the past two years, the sale of private salt in the two Huai regions has gradually become a trend of fire. If this continues, disaster will surely arise...."

Jia Cong usually didn't pay much attention to salt administration, so he wasn't so sensitive to these things for a while.

But seeing Lin Ruhai's face full of worry, thinking that he is the Salt Inspection Commissioner of the two Huai regions, managing the salt administration of the two Huai regions, he would have such pain in his heart for the rampant private salt.

Once cheap and high-quality private salt is sold in large quantities, who will buy expensive official salt? The imperial court's salt tax will lose its source of extraction.

The salt tax of the two Huai regions has always been an important part of the Great Zhou's national revenue. Once a large amount of salt tax gap appears, it is a matter that pierces the sky. Lin Ruhai, as the chief official of the two Huai salt administration, will definitely be hard to blame.

Under such anxiety and heavy pressure, it's no wonder that his health has had problems in the past year.

He must be working hard and worrying day and night, trying to reverse the decline, but there is no turning point. Excessive fatigue and anxiety, coupled with the fact that he was not internally strong, naturally led to illness.

Jia Cong recalled what he had heard about salt administration in his later life, but he was just hearing about this matter, and after all, he was a bit unfamiliar with it, and he couldn't figure it out for a while.

Lin Ruhai saw Jia Cong's brows slightly furrowed, as if he was lost in thought, and suddenly felt that it was inappropriate to talk about this topic with a half-grown boy, so he changed the subject.

He said: "Brother Cong, don't blame me. I was also too worried. It's not easy for you to come here, but I talked to you about these disappointing things. I heard from Yu'er's letter that you are going to take the spring examination next year?"

In Lin Ruhai's view, the young man in front of him is a rare genius, proficient in books, classics, imperial examinations, poetry, calligraphy, martial arts, military affairs, firearms, and Western studies, truly stunning.

But no matter how extraordinary human power is, after all, it is a mortal body, and there is always a time when talent and strength are insufficient.

Jia Cong's excellence in literature may be due to his extraordinary talent and the guidance of a world-class teacher like Liu Jingan since he was a child.

His excellence in military affairs may be because he was born in a family of military nobles and was influenced by his family since he was a child, coupled with his own talent, that he had such outstanding achievements later.

But I have never heard that he has been exposed to salt administration and other practical government affairs. This absolutely cannot be achieved by talent alone, and he cannot know it by birth. It is of no use for me to talk to him about these things.

It's just that when it comes to the imperial examination, it is Lin Ruhai's specialty.

Back then, when Jia Cong first entered the imperial examination, Daiyu copied Lin Ruhai's notes on the classics and gave them to him, which helped Jia Cong greatly in becoming the top scholar in the Yongzhou examination.

Jia Cong also wanted to ask this senior in the imperial examination for advice, and the two chatted for two full hours, very harmoniously and congenially. Lady Chen went in to change tea several times.

That night, Jia Cong and Zhi Shao stayed in the back courtyard of the Salt Administration Office.

Jia Cong entered the room prepared for him. Everything was arranged very properly, and even the purple mist tea he often drank at home and the green soul incense he often lit were prepared in this room.

Even when he and Lin Ruhai had dinner together just now, several dishes on the table were what he liked to eat daily.

This doesn't look like what the Lin family prepared in a hurry when he arrived this morning, and the Lin family couldn't know his preferences.

Only the sisters he lived with daily at home would know these daily preferences of his so clearly.

Jia Cong smiled on his face. He naturally knew what was going on.

It must be that Daiyu knew he was going south and would pass through Yang Zhou to visit her father, so she wrote home early to arrange his preferences properly in the mansion, so that he could live better.

Even if she couldn't come back herself, she still had to be a good host. I think she must really want to come back.

Although she sometimes plays with her temper and says strange things, she is truly attentive to him. Even the luggage for his trip was packed by her and Yingchun, and everything was kept in mind.

Although Daiyu spent a lot of thought in the mansion, Jia Cong did not dare to delay too long because he had to handle affairs in Jin Ling.

After staying in the Lin family for one night, he set out for Gu Su and made an appointment with Lin Ruhai to visit him again on his way back. (End of chapter)