Chapter 498: Strange Merits Determine Imperial Grace

Da Zhou Imperial Palace, Qianyang Palace.

Recently, due to the wide involvement of the major case of salt and iron smuggling in Datong, the entire Love Shenjing contained a restless and uneasy mood.

The Datong border army commander defected to the enemy, the second-grade border town Regional Commander was convicted and imprisoned, and as many as eight noble families were involved.

It is said that in a few days, dozens of border army generals involved in the crime will be sent to Shenjing for trial one after another.

At the morning court today, several censors from the Censorate submitted memorials, strictly criticizing the noble descendants for having no national law, being arrogant, greedy, and vulgar, smuggling contraband, disturbing the border, and should be severely punished and not tolerated.

There were even nobles such as Shi Guangzhu, the hereditary third-grade Zhenwu General and grandson of the Shanguo Mansion, who impeached Sun Zhanying, Qian Shaoyang, and others for holding high positions and receiving imperial grace repeatedly, but not knowing how to be grateful.

These two colluded with each other, causing disaster to the border city, corrupting people's hearts, and national law could not tolerate it. They should be executed early to calm people's hearts.

They also said that noble descendants guarding the border originally upheld the heart of serving the country, but were bewitched and instigated by Qian Shaoyang and others, committing acts of losing rules, which was heartbreaking. They begged the imperial court to give them education and allow them to redeem their crimes.

Civil and military officials have always been on different paths, and there is a natural gap.

Now that the border army has appeared to have corruption and defection, and many noble descendants are involved, it shows that the military nobles are vulgar and lose their morality, and civil officials naturally want to step on them as usual.

And Shi Guangzhu and others, the grandsons of the Shanguo Mansion, are all noble families. In this major case of salt and iron smuggling in Datong, they all have relatives and descendants involved.

Whether it is for the sake of the same spirit and branches, or to open eyes for the noble group, they naturally want to make some excuses for the noble descendants involved in the case.

Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao received all kinds of memorials and left them without issuing them. Although he was clear about the seemingly righteous and fair but actually selfish hearts of all parties, he was noncommittal.

……

After the morning court, he summoned trusted ministers such as Cabinet Grand Secretary Cai Xiang, Minister of War Gu Yankui, Minister of Rites Guo Youchang, and Marquis Zhongjing Shi Ding to the palace to discuss matters.

After the summoned ministers entered the palace and stood by, Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao said: "The major case of salt and iron smuggling in Datong has been interrogated and completed, and the evidence of the crimes of the relevant people is conclusive. However, this case involves a great deal, causing fluctuations in the court and the public, and is watched by everyone.

Therefore, I summoned you ministers to discuss matters and prepare for a decision."

Grand Secretary Cai Xiang said: "Reporting to Your Majesty, the matter of salt and iron smuggling in Datong involves the Datong border army, and the matter is of great importance.

Datong Regional Commander Qian Shaoyang, as the head official of the military town, holds great power, shields subordinates, smuggles salt and iron, accepts bribes, and does great evil. He should be severely punished to bind the discipline of the country! Sun Zhanying defected to the enemy and betrayed the country, and his death is not a pity. Wait for the national envoy to negotiate with the Northern Barbarians, capture this thief, and clarify the law.

As for the others involved, according to my humble opinion, according to the size of their crimes, they should be dealt with by the three judicial offices according to the law, to manifest the strictness of the law."

Cai Xiang is a leader of civil officials, good at weighing the urgency of political affairs, and deeply understands the changes in the importance of handling matters.

His words have a clear position on the main theme of the matter, and also leave some room for the side issues of the matter.

After all, the officials summoned by Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao to discuss politics in the same hall today, besides him, are also military nobles like Marquis Zhongjing.

Cai Xiang, as a civil official, inevitably has a subconscious desire to suppress military nobles.

But he deeply understands the way of being an official. Since the Emperor summoned civil and military officials to discuss in the same hall, he wanted to seek balance between civil and military ways.

If he completely discussed matters from the standpoint of civil officials, it would be difficult to get everything he wanted, so he proposed the proposition of killing the first evil and dealing with the rest according to the law.

The Nine Borders of Da Zhou, since the defeat of the Mongol Tu Man tribe eight years ago, and Jia Cong's pacification of the Liaodong Jurchens last year, there have been no major wars.

The border army of the Nine Towns has been peaceful for a long time and has shown signs of slackness and arrogance. The shielding and lawlessness of Datong Regional Commander Qian Shaoyang is a clear proof of this state of the border army.

Cai Xiang, as a cabinet minister and civil official, has a long-term vision and is good at power schemes, deeply understanding the means of using civil officials to control military officials.

The military nobles began to be arrogant and raised their heads, disturbing the stability of the border towns. Stripping a second-grade Datong Regional Commander and cleaning up a group of border army generals to suppress and contain the arrogance of the military group achieved the goal.

The so-called others involved, dealt with according to the law, is just a living mouth he left for the military nobles. Those four playboy noble descendants, whether they live or die, cannot change the overall situation.

……

Cai Xiang called Qian Shaoyang the first evil of this case, and it was not a casual statement.

Although Qian Shaoyang did not directly participate in the smuggling of salt and iron, he was the head official of the Datong military town and held great power in his hands.

Although Sun Zhanying was from a Datong noble family, he was only a military commander. If it were not for Qian Shaoyang's shielding and maintenance, he would have no sufficient reliance, so how could he dare to do salt and iron business unscrupulously.

Now that Sun Zhanying has defected to the Northern Barbarians, it is difficult to capture him for a while. Qian Shaoyang, as the Datong Regional Commander involved in the case, is naturally the first evil that cannot be refuted.

The major case of salt and iron smuggling in Datong has already shocked the court and the public, and the officials and the people are watching. The imperial court wants to show justice to the world. Killing the first evil first, and the first evil must be killed, is the most important one.

……

After Cai Xiang's voice fell, Minister of War Gu Yankui said: "Reporting to Your Majesty, this time Datong Commander Sun Zhanying's crimes were exposed, and he immediately went north to defect to Anda Khan of the Tu Man tribe.

This move could not be Sun Zhanying's hasty intention. It must be that he had long colluded with the Mongol Tu Man tribe.

Eight years ago, Pingyuan Hou Liang Chengzong won five battles against the Mongol Tu Man tribe, and the strength of Anda Khan of the Tu Man tribe was greatly damaged, and he went far to the outside of the pass to recuperate.

However, according to the information collected by the scouts of each town, although Anda Khan was damaged in strength and temporarily gave up the plan of going south to graze horses, he did not stop his plot to accumulate strength.

Since the great defeat by Pingyuan Marquis, although he did not lead troops to harass the Nine Borders of Da Zhou again, he never stopped killing and conquering in the grassland outside the pass.

Over the years, he has conquered many tribes scattered in various places of the remnants of the Mongols. Now he controls more than 100,000 households, and the elite who control the strings are known as 200,000.

Compared with the battle with Pingyuan Marquis in those days, his strength is better than the past. With Anda Khan's character and ambition, he will sooner or later be a heart-and-belly trouble for our Da Zhou border.

I received the imperial will and coordinated with Minister Guo of the Ministry of Rites to determine the candidates and prepare for the mission to the remnants of the Mongols and the Tu Man tribe. I had transferred the relevant clan records and materials of Sun Zhanying from the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

The accounts seized from Sun's shop by the Embroidered Uniform Guard show that Sun's travel routes outside the pass over the years and the control areas of the Tu Man tribe have many overlaps.

Sun Zhanying smuggled salt and iron contraband, I am afraid that most of it entered the pockets of Anda Khan of the Tu Man tribe to provide him with supplies and raise his strength.

Sun Zhanying's decisive defection shows that the power of Anda Khan of the Tu Man tribe has not stopped infiltrating the border towns over the years. I am afraid that there are not a few people like Sun Zhanying who have been gathered by him."

……

Gu Yankui's words made Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao feel awe in his heart, and Cai Xiang, Guo Youchang, Shi Ding, and others present all changed their expressions.

They all knew that Gu Yankui was an old minister of the two dynasties, with a rigid and loyal character, and handled matters rigorously and pragmatically. He was never a person who alarmist.

As the Minister of War, he had various channels to contact military hostile information. The Mongol Tu Man tribe was a major hidden danger for Da Zhou in the northern border and had always been the top priority of the Ministry of War.

Gu Yankui was from the border army and was now the Minister of War. His judgment on the movements of the Northern Barbarians had considerable authority.

Just now, his words were meticulous, reasonable, and well-founded. Anyone could hear that they were fair and clear words, and I am afraid they were also the inferences closest to the facts.

Gu Yankui continued: "Anda Khan, the leader of the Tu Man tribe, is a rare generation of heroes among the Mongol tribes. The Mongols say he has the style of his ancestors. This person is resourceful and warlike, and has great ambition.

Eight years ago, he was defeated by Pingyuan Hou Liang Chengzong, which he regarded as a great humiliation. Over the years, he has privately communicated with the border, collected salt and iron supplies, annexed Mongol tribes, accumulated population and troops, and his ambition is not small.

I think Anda Khan's ambition is not dead, and he will definitely make a comeback in the future. He and Da Zhou will eventually have a battle.

In war, the top and bottom have the same desire, and the generals and soldiers use their lives.

The hereditary nobles of the country have fought and served in the army for generations. Even if the world has been peaceful for a long time and the heroic spirit of the noble families has decreased, the connections and appeal of the noble families in the army cannot be ignored.

This major case of salt and iron smuggling in Datong involves many noble families, and many title holders and direct descendants have been convicted, causing the noble families in Shenjing to be panicked.

I agree with Minister Cai's remonstrance that the first evil of the Datong salt and iron case, Qian Shaoyang, must be severely punished, and the others involved should be dealt with according to the law, without too much involvement.

Let the noble families deeply understand the Emperor's style of education and leniency, so that when the country needs to fight in the future, they will still maintain the heroic style of the nobles."

……

Although Gu Yankui's words were subtle, the ministers present were all long-experienced in the officialdom and naturally understood the meaning.

Gu Yankui's attitude toward the disposal of the Datong salt and iron case was almost exactly the same as Cai Xiang's. First of all, they must severely punish the first evil, Qian Shaoyang, to correct the national law and manifest the public view.

For other accomplices involved, deal with them according to the law.

Severe punishment and dealing with them according to the law are two different scales.

Gu Yankui's handling according to the law is more specifically aimed at the four noble descendants who were raising military assets, as well as the three noble families of Xie Jing, Qi Jianhui, and Qiu Liang.

Gu Yankui stated that Anda Khan of the Tu Man tribe was ill-intentioned and would sooner or later have a battle with Da Zhou, and implicitly mentioned that the noble families had a lot of hidden power in the army. It is nothing more than that once Da Zhou and the Tu Man tribe go to war, if they want the soldiers to be dedicated and not have side troubles, the noble families with great influence in the army are a factor that cannot be ignored.

The eight noble families involved in this Datong salt and iron case, except for the Rongguo Mansion which had already withdrawn from the military power, the other seven were still active in the army.

If because of this salt and iron case, the people involved in these seven noble families are severely punished, or even have their titles abolished and their lives taken.

With Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao's consistent attitude of suppressing the old nobles such as the Four Kings and Eight Dukes, it will definitely make the noble group feel guarded against the imperial court.

Even if the military nobles who were not involved this time will also be wary and estranged from the imperial court because of the rabbit dying and the fox grieving.

Once the war comes, the noble families and the imperial court will inevitably be separated, afraid of war and retreating, shaking the morale of the army, thereby shaking the national affairs and causing unpredictable disasters.

In fact, on this point, Cai Xiang and Gu Yankui's remonstrances and concerns are almost exactly the same.

It is just that Cai Xiang is a cabinet minister and civil official, so it is not easy to say the words of leniency to the convicted nobles too explicitly.

……

Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao showed a thoughtful expression after hearing the remonstrances of Cai Xiang and Gu Yankui, but did not express his position immediately, but looked at Marquis Zhongjing Shi Ding, who had not spoken.

As the only military noble present, Shi Ding, because of his position, his perception and opinions on this matter would be more direct and accurate than Cai Xiang and Gu Yankui.

Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao asked: "Marquis Shi, what remonstrance do you have on this matter?"

Shi Ding said solemnly: "I think the words of Minister Cai and Minister Gu are long-term and are all arguments for the country.

For the noble families who were convicted of salt and iron matters this time, the Emperor can think of their ancestors' merits to the country and give them education and leniency.

The death penalty can be avoided, but the living crime is hard to forgive. Their qualifications for inheriting titles can be abolished, their noble titles can be removed, and they can be exiled and never used again. This is the punishment of national law.

This move can preserve the heroic spirit of their families, and make the descendants feel the Emperor's sincerity of cherishing merits and pity. Once the country is in a military crisis, their families will definitely move forward to redeem their previous mistakes and take merits again."

……

After Cai Xiang, Gu Yankui, Shi Ding, and others withdrew from the palace, Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao was still thinking and pondering the remonstrances of several ministers.

The ministers summoned by Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao to discuss matters today can be said to be extremely representative. Cai Xiang represents the tongue of civil officials, Shi Ding stands on the military nobles, and Gu Yankui is in the middle with national and military affairs.

And their opinions finally reached the same goal by different routes. Although according to Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao's heart, he wished he could strip these arrogant and reckless nobles to the end.

But Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao knew deeply that as the Ninth Five-Year Supreme, if he wants to judge the overall situation, he is destined not to be based on personal likes and dislikes, but must be based on weighing the pros and cons.

The remonstrances of Gu Yankui and others just now are the fair arguments for dealing with the Datong salt and iron smuggling case.

Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao thought through this section, and he had a general conclusion in his heart about how to deal with the noble families involved.

At this time, he suddenly thought that the seven noble families involved mentioned by Gu Yankui were all active in the army and had deep connections and power in the army.

This does not include Jia Lian of the Rongguo Mansion. Everyone knows that since Jia Daishan and Jia Daihua passed away, the Jia family had completely withdrawn from the military power.

Although the Rongguo Mansion supported a Wang Ziteng, Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao took advantage of Jia Cong being falsely accused by a fellow scholar and used a little means to cut off the relationship between Wang Ziteng and the Rongguo Mansion.

Now Wang Ziteng's foundation is lost, like duckweed in the water, but he is just a puppet in Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao's hands, and his life or death is decided by the monarch's words.

According to Gu Yankui's concerns, Jia Lian of the Rongguo Mansion can be said not to be in this list.

Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao suddenly thought that more than ten days ago, Jia Cong had submitted a memorial to plead for his brother, and he had not responded because the direction of the Datong salt and iron case had not been decided.

Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao asked Guo Lin: "Since Jia Cong submitted a memorial to plead for grace, has there been any movement in the East and West Mansions of the Jia family?"

Guo Lin said: "Reporting to Your Majesty, everything in the Jia family has been as usual recently, but yesterday Jia Cong went to the firearm workshop in the eastern suburbs of the city.

It is said that the eyes and ears of the workshop reported back that Jia Cong asked about the progress of the breech-loading gun parts casting and discussed with Deputy Supervisor Liu Shizhen for a long time, seemingly making modifications to the breech-loading gun drawings."

Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao's eyes lit up when he heard this. He had appreciated and watched the breech-loading gun drawing Jia Cong drew countless times.

He had summoned Qian Huai, the steward placed in the firearm workshop, to listen to him explain the details of the breech-loading gun in detail. Qian Huai had praised this new type of breech-loading gun.

This made Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao quite look forward to this new type of firearm.

Now that he heard that Jia Cong had made improvements to the breech-loading gun drawings, and he didn't know what shape it was, it aroused Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao's full curiosity.

Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao pulled out Jia Cong's memorial for grace from the pile of memorials on the imperial desk and flipped through it thoughtfully.

He said to Guo Lin: "Pass my order to summon Jia Cong to the palace for an audience."

……

Ningrong Street, Count Mansion.

In the study, Jia Cong carefully polished the memorial he wrote yesterday again.

In this memorial, he described in detail the simplified concept of the breech-loading gun. This kind of boring construction description made him spend a lot of effort to make laymen understand its meaning.

After the memorial was polished, he carefully copied it again, preparing to submit it to the palace tomorrow. With Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao's enthusiasm for new firearms, this memorial would definitely have the expected effect.

At this time, Wu'er's voice came from outside the courtyard: "Why is Sister Ping'er here? Cong Sanye is in the study."

Jia Cong heard Ping'er's beautiful voice: "Second Grandmother received good news, and Master Wang sent a lot of nourishing things and seasonal fresh fruits.

Among them, there is a box of fresh lychees from Lingnan. It is said that they were preserved in ice and came from thousands of miles away. They look rare. Second Grandmother asked me to send some to Cong Sanye to taste."

Wu'er smiled: "Lychees in this season are rare things."

That day in Fengjie's courtyard, Wang Xifeng spoke about Ping'er in front of Grandmother Jia and Lady Wang, so the East Mansion naturally knew about it.

Therefore, the people in Jia Cong's courtyard now see Ping'er, and most of them have the meaning of being their own people, and naturally they are closer in words.

Wang Xifeng may also have intended to do so. Recently, she would find excuses every day.

Either to ask for news about Jia Lian, or to send some novel and useful objects, letting Ping'er come to the East Mansion often, and mixing more familiarity in Jia Cong's courtyard.

Jia Cong knew Wang Xifeng's thoughts clearly, but he didn't take it to heart.

Wang Xifeng had already spoken clearly in the Rongguo Mansion. Ping'er had no other way to go except to enter his room, and he would naturally treat her well.

……

Jia Cong put away the copied memorial and saw Ping'er carrying a basket of bright red lychees into the study.

He smiled: "It's not light to carry this basket of lychees from the West Mansion. It's too tiring for Sister Ping'er. In the future, if there is such a thing, send a message, and let Second Sister order someone to get it."

Ping'er's pretty face flushed slightly, looking unusually pretty and moving, and said: "Second Grandmother doesn't manage things now, she just raises them in the courtyard, and I am much more leisurely than usual.

I am not that delicate. I just walked a few steps with a basket of things. Where is the reason to order others to come."

The two were chatting, when suddenly Juan'er came to report that the palace eunuch had arrived at the mansion to pass a message, and the Emperor's oral order summoned Cong Sanye to enter the palace to see the Emperor.

Jia Cong and Ping'er were both surprised. Jia Cong looked at the memorial on the table and thought that this matter came just in time.

It happened that Hearing Zhi Shao took Zhen Ying Lian and Xing Xiuyan to the Nimou Courtyard outside the city to visit Abbess Xiushan and Miao Yu, Lingguan went to Daiyu's room, and Qingwen didn't know where she went.

Wu'er hurriedly entered the room to help Jia Cong comb his hair and wash his face, and had to look for decent clothes, because Jia Cong was currently mourning and resigned, so he could only wear casual clothes when entering the palace.

It was just that these things in the room were usually done by Wu'er and Qingwen together, and one person was a bit flustered.

Ping'er saw it on the side, her face became more and more pretty and red. Seeing Wu'er rummaging through boxes and cabinets to find clothes, she stepped forward to help Jia Cong untie his hair bun and comb his hair carefully with a comb.

Her hands were very clever. After a while, she helped Jia Cong tie his hair bun again and put on his hairpin and jade crown.

The two were busy around Jia Cong. After finally finishing, Jia Cong smiled at Ping'er: "Sorry to trouble Sister Ping'er today."

Wu'er smiled on the side: "There will be more trouble in the future."

Ping'er was about to speak with a red face, but saw Jia Cong take the written memorial and walked out of the inner courtyard quickly. (End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 499 =====

Ping'er, blushing, was about to speak when she saw Jia Cong take the memorial he had written and stride out of the inner courtyard. (End of chapter)