Chapter 350: Discussing Jiangnan

Among the four matters raised by Lin Ruhai, the first and second naturally have nothing much to say, being to recount old ties between relatives and express gratitude.

The third and fourth matters concern court affairs, especially the fourth, which made Jia Jing frown slightly.

Gong Dingzi implemented the New Policies in Jiangnan, collected arrears, and rectified official conduct, using rather harsh methods.

Although these measures benefit the state and the people, each cut strikes at the vital interests of the gentry, powerful clans, and officials.

The great clans whose hidden fields were cleared, the civil and military officials whose arrears were pursued, and the officials who were dismissed, impeached, and suffered losses—all hated him intensely, wishing to be rid of him as soon as possible!

In the two months since Gong Dingzi arrived in Jiangnan, memorials impeaching and attacking him flew into Shenjing like snowflakes every day, but all were withheld by Emperor Jing Sheng.

Later, seeing that impeachment could not topple Gong Dingzi, the Jiangnan officials did not sit and wait for death, but chose to confront him head-on, taking risky measures.

Speaking of which, it's rather laughable; according to recent reports from the Embroidered Uniform Guard,

Gong Dingzi, a senior grand secretary and imperial envoy of the court, actually suffered as many as eleven assassination attempts in Jiangnan within a single month, each different.

Either the boat's hull leaked, or the office where he stayed caught fire, or his food was poisoned……

And the masterminds behind these turns out to be Jiangnan officials, gentry, salt merchants, and even some outlaws.

Were it not for the five hundred Feather Forest Army and dozens of Imperial City Guard soldiers sent by Emperor Jing Sheng as his escort, Gong Dingzi would likely have been left without a corpse.

"The Jiangnan officialdom is thoroughly corrupt, from the provincial governor, provincial treasurer, provincial commissioner down to each prefecture's magistrate and county magistrate, and even the commander."

"Civil and military officials up and down are in collusion, like snakes and rats sharing a den, obstructing the court's New Policies in every way."

"First they used household servants, tenant farmers, even the guard post militia to resist the New Policies' implementation, spreading rumors everywhere."

"Now they dare to plot against the imperial envoy and the Grand Secretary of the Imperial Cabinet time and again, lawless and unrestrained, truly having lost any bottom line or reverence."

"Even the rise of the White Lotus Sect behind them has the shadow of that group of gentry, using local uprisings to oppose the 'court policies,' even borrowing a knife to kill—this is originally not a new trick..."

Combining the Embroidered Uniform Guard's reports and Lin Ruhai's letters, Jia Jing came to a deeper understanding of the grave situation in Jiangnan.

Within it, the entrenched powerful clans and great families have become a major malignant tumor of the Da Han Empire; relying solely on grand secretaries and imperial envoys to rectify them would likely be ineffective!

But this is also good… as the saying goes, no destruction, no construction; I too should make preparations early!

"What did Father and Third Brother say?" Daiyu stared at Jia Jing's changing expression with her dark, bright eyes, asking nervously.

Seeing Jia Jing's somewhat solemn expression, she feared something might have happened on Lin Ruhai's side.

Jia Jing lifted his teacup, took a sip of tea, and said:

"It's mainly some court affairs."

Daiyu's visage froze slightly, the starry eyes beneath her furrowed brows shining brightly, and she softly expressed concern:

"Looking at Third Brother's demeanor, the situation over there in Jiangnan seems not too good?"

She usually reads the court bulletins, knows a bit about Jiangnan affairs, and knows that the court sent an imperial envoy to Jiangnan to implement the New Policies, causing quite a stir.

Jia Jing pondered for a moment, then spoke slowly:

"The current situation is still unclear, but implementing the New Policies and rectifying salt administration are the prevailing trend of the court."

"Even if there are some minor setbacks, success will ultimately be achieved."

As long as Emperor Jing Sheng and he keep their original intentions, settling accounts in Jiangnan is merely a matter of time.

Daiyu pursed her lips, fixed her gaze, and asked:

"Does Third Brother think Father might be in danger?"

Jia Jing said:

"Uncle Lin has been operating in Yangzhou for many years, and I have sent personal guards to protect him; he should be safe!"

"Regardless of how the situation develops, Uncle Lin ought to be transferred back to the capital this year or next; then my younger sister will no longer have to suffer the pain of separation from kin!"

Given Lin Ruhai's years of service managing salt in Yangzhou, once Jiangnan stabilizes he will certainly be reassigned to an official post in the capital.

And once Jiangnan stabilizes, within the next year or two the court's external threats will have been temporarily pacified; it should then focus its efforts on internal concerns, the foremost being to rectify Jiangnan.

Upon hearing this, Daiyu felt faint ripples stir in her heart-lake, her starry eyes flickered, as if with a hint of anticipation, and she softly said:

"Indeed, I haven't seen Father for many years; I don't even know how he is now!"

At her side, Zi Juan softly said:

"Our young lady has been preoccupied these days only with the safety of the Duke of the State, and with thinking about southern affairs."

"She doesn't even know the old master's recent situation, and hasn't gone for years to her ancestral home in Suzhou to pay respects to her mother, failing to fulfill her filial duty as a child!"

Jia Jing glanced at the downcast, frowning, worried Daiyu, thought a moment, and comforted her:

"Perhaps there will be an opportunity this year; if I go south after a while, I can bring my younger sister along for a trip."

Looking at the development of the Jiangnan situation, Jia Jing estimates he will probably have to make the trip himself.

However, the Twelve Battalion Camps in the capital must first be put in order; securing military authority is the urgent priority!

If he really were to go to Jiangnan, it would not be like Gong Dingzi merely implementing the New Policies, but rather leading a great army to break every shackle and obstacle, reshaping Jiangnan's new order.

That would not be rectification, but overthrow and reconstruction!

Daiyu's complexion shifted slightly, her bright eyes fixed on Jia Jing, and she exclaimed in surprise:

"Third Brother, are you going to Jiangnan?"

As a top-ranking martial hero of the Da Han Empire like Jia Jing, if he went to Jiangnan it would necessarily be because a great upheaval had occurred there, and he would lead troops to quell it.

Otherwise, for ordinary matters or court affairs, there would be no need for him to go in person.

Moreover, he had just returned from the northwest a couple of days ago; could he really have to leave the capital again?

Jia Jing said:

"Jiangnan is a vital tax base of our Da Han Empire; whether the New Policies can spread throughout the world hinges on this region, which is also why the court has repeatedly sent governor-generals, senior officials, and imperial envoys to Jiangnan."

"It's just that Jiangnan, because its elite helped the founding emperor raise troops at the dynasty's founding, has too many powerful clans and great families, with local forces deeply entrenched."

"Moreover, there are many generations of aristocratic scholar-official families, and it is the region of utmost cultural flourishing; nowadays it seems that sending only a civil official as imperial envoy would hardly be able to thoroughly solve its problems."

"Although Gong Dingzi holds high rank and employs harsh methods, after repeated rectifications his results have been poor, and he has provoked strong dissatisfaction and covert resistance among the Jiangnan gentry."

"I reckon Jiangnan will soon erupt in turmoil; by then the court will likely have to dispatch a martial officer to lead troops there!"

As things stand now, relying solely on the civil officials' "kind persuasion" to handle affairs in Jiangnan will definitely not work; the current court's Grand Scholars all refuse to listen.

They even dare to secretly plot harm; in such a place where the king's law is hard to enforce, not using a blade will certainly be difficult to change.

Daiyu's eyes held a worried hue as she asked:

"Will Third Brother going to Jiangnan harm his reputation?"

"This is about internal affairs, not external; if we raise arms in Jiangnan, I fear it will invite criticism from all under heaven."