Chapter 284 Jing Tan spent a lot of money to buy Mei Yuanyuan
Just two years ago, the Minister of Household Affairs in the Qing Dynasty was Geng Shengping. At that time, Geng Shengping was still a great scholar. To be an official to his level, being a great scholar and also the Minister of Household Affairs was undoubtedly a very impressive figure in the court.
An important minister.
However, two years later, Geng Shengping is no longer the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, or even a bachelor of the royal palace. He has "begged for a break because of his illness." "Begging for a break because of his illness" is only a superficial reason. The real reason is that God
Emperor Zhi didn't like him and thought he was incompetent.
Two years ago, when Jia Yun was still a first-class imperial guard, she heard Emperor Tianzhi scold Prince Yicheng and Geng Shengping, ministers of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, in anger, because neither of them had a good way to solve Emperor Tianzhi's money shortage problem.
Then Emperor Tianzhi approached Jia Yun, and Jia Yun proposed the great cause of coal mining...
Geng Shengping was Li Danbai's main supporter in the imperial court. Due to Geng Shengping's "begging for divorce" and Lin Ruhai's suicide plea, Li Danbai's two important backers were gone at that time.
After Geng Shengping "begged for relief due to illness", Emperor Tianzhi promoted one of his close associates to become the Minister of the Ministry of Household Affairs. This person's surname was Zhao and his name was Zhao Fu.
This is consistent with the original work. The original work states that after Qin Keqing's death, because Jia Rong only had the status of an Imperial College Supervisor, it would be embarrassing to write on the list of spiritual flags. Jia Zhen went to Dai Quan, the eunuch in charge of the palace, and said
Wanting to give Jia Rongjuan an official position, Dai Quan asked for one thousand two hundred taels of silver, and then asked Lao Zhao, the official of the Hubu Hall, to get a ticket for a fifth-grade forbidden captain, and then give him a license.
As one of the six departments of the imperial court, the Ministry of Household Affairs is a department with great power. It is not only in charge of taxation and finance, but also in charge of fields, household registration, etc. The family members of criminal officials are demoted to slave status, and the Ministry of Household Affairs is generally responsible for sales.
.
Plum blossoms are round and plum blossoms are like this.
However, selling Mei Yuanyuan and Mei Zan is quite special. First, Mei Yuanyuan is Mei Kui’s daughter, Mei Zan is the eldest son of Mei Kui’s brother, and Mei Kui committed a serious crime of rebellion.
, this will inevitably lead to buyers being taboo. Secondly, Mei Yuanyuan is not only the doted daughter of the former Zhenjiang Jiedushi, but also a beauty as beautiful as a fairy. The Ministry of Finance hopes to sell it at a good price.
Because of this, although on September 15th, the day Jia Yun returned to Beijing, Emperor Tianzhi ordered Mei Yuanyuan and Mei Zan to be demoted to slaves and sold, and Jia Yun immediately handed them over to the Ministry of Household Affairs. However, this time
The sale was delayed for half a month and was not carried out until the end of September.
At the end of September, there was a heavy autumn rain in Shenjing City, with layers of autumn rain and layers of coolness, and it looked like winter was about to begin.
At the beginning of the day after the rain, dozens of buyers gathered in a lobby of the Hubu Yamen near Zhengyangmen. Almost all of these buyers had great backgrounds, either from the royal family, from a noble family, or from a wealthy family.
Officials... almost all come here for Mei Yuanyuan.
Because the selling price of Mei Yuanyuan is very high, the starting price is five thousand taels of silver, and it involves serious rebellion cases, only these people come to buy Mei Yuanyuan. Even so, there are almost no members of the royal family today.
Your Majesty, the officials themselves came to the Ministry of Revenue in person, and almost always just sent their subordinates.
But there are exceptions, such as Jing Zhanyao!
The Jing family where Jing Zhanyao belongs is both a noble and powerful family. Jing Zhanyao himself was also a martial artist, and he once served as a second-class bodyguard of the fourth rank. In addition, Zhao Fu, the current secretary of the Ministry of Household Affairs, and the Jing family are family friends, so Jing Zhanyao
Naturally, the Ministry of Finance will not neglect Yao's arrival.
At this moment, Jing Zhanyao walked into the sales hall led by officials from the Ministry of Household Affairs. Zhao Fu, who was sitting in the hall, stood up and greeted him with a smile: "Brother Jing."
"I've met Mr. Zhao." Jing Zhanyao cupped his hands.
At Fu Zhao's invitation, Jing Zhanyao sat next to him. Fu Zhao smiled and said, "Brother Yao, why are you here in person today?"
Jing Zhanyao smiled and said: "I told Mr. Zhao a few days ago that I am very interested in Mei Yuanyuan. In this case, it makes sense for me to come to buy her in person today."
A few days ago, Jing Zhanyao specially invited Zhao Fu to have a meal. At that time, he offered to spend 5,000 taels of silver to buy Mei Yuanyuan privately from the Ministry of Household Affairs, but Zhao Fu declined. The reason was that Mei Yuanyuan was involved in a major rebellion. Zhao Fu did not dare to sell it privately and felt that the five thousand taels of silver were too short.
Five thousand taels of silver was used to buy a slave girl, which was already a very high price.
Li Danbai, the chief salt merchant of Yangzhou, had many beautiful concubines. The highest purchase price was 4,000 taels of silver. Shen Yuanwen, the chief executive of Yangzhou, once spent 6,000 taels of silver to have a beautiful concubine. This price was already ridiculously high. Previously, Jia She fell in love with Second Sister You, but was only willing to spend two thousand taels of silver. In the original novel, Jia She married Yingchun to Sun Shaozu for five thousand taels of silver, and Sun Shaozu felt that he was at a loss...
However, in Zhao Fu's opinion, Mei Yuanyuan is worth more than just five thousand taels of silver.
Fu Zhao smiled faintly: "I told Brother Jing a few days ago that although Mei Yuanyuan was involved in a major rebellion, some noble people did not dare to buy her, and some noble people did not dare to spend too much money to buy her even if they dared to buy her. But after all, this girl was once Mei Kui's doting daughter, and she has the appearance of a fairy. It is estimated that she can be sold for at least seven or eight thousand silver. If Brother Jing wants to buy her, it will cost a lot of money."
Jing Zhanyao smiled and said: "Master Zhao knows me. I have always been greedy for wine and sex. If this plum blossom is really as beautiful as a fairy as Master Zhao said, I will accept it even if it costs ten thousand taels of silver today." .”
Changing the topic, Jing Zhanyao asked with a smile: "It's just that Mr. Zhao has a complicated official work and has a big responsibility. I am surprised that he actually came to this sales place in person today."
Zhao Fu said with a smile: "Firstly, today's sale involves a major rebellion. Even if I am an official in the Household Department, I would not dare to neglect it. Secondly, I also want to see who is so lucky to be able to buy plum blossoms." This girl is Yuanyuan."
Jing Zhanyao nodded, took out a gold watch from his pocket, looked at it, and said with a smile: "Master Zhao, the time has come, is it time to sell it?"
Zhao Fu took Jing Zhanyao's gold watch and looked at it. After confirming that the time had come, he asked his subordinates to escort Mei Yuanyuan and Mei Zan to the lobby.
"What a beautiful beauty. I wonder why my prince specially asked me to buy her."
"She is indeed as beautiful as a fairy!"
"When the fish sinks and the wild goose falls, when the moon closes and the flowers shy, I finally understand these eight words today."
"..."
In order to allow Mei Yuanyuan to be sold at a higher price, today the Ministry of Accounts specially arranged for people to put makeup on Mei Yuanyuan and put her in luxurious clothes, so that Mei Yuanyuan appeared in an enchanting manner, and immediately The buyers in the lobby started talking, and almost all of them were amazed at the beauty. Even Jing Zhanyao, who had seen many beauties in his life, couldn't help but exclaimed in his heart: "Magnificent!"
Fu Zhao looked at Jing Zhanyao and smiled proudly: "How? I didn't trick you, did I?"
Jing Zhanyao responded with a smile: "She is indeed as beautiful as a fairy. No wonder Mr. Zhao was unwilling to sell it to me for five thousand taels of silver before. He said that the five thousand taels of silver were less. To be honest with Mr. Zhao, I secretly complained to you afterwards. I felt
You are greedy, and now it seems that I wrongly blamed you, so I am really sorry."
Zhao Fu smiled and ordered to his subordinates: "Sell it."
"Yes, sir." The subordinate officer responded respectfully, and sales started. The first one to sell was Mei Yuanyuan, with a starting price of five thousand taels of silver.
"Five thousand taels, we bought it from our house."
"We have five thousand one hundred taels from our house."
"I'll give you five thousand three hundred taels."
"..."
Dozens of buyers raised their bids one after another, almost all of them adding up to one hundred taels or two hundred taels. After all, these buyers were almost all subordinates of the nobles, and some were even domestic slaves, not the nobles themselves, so they were inevitably cautious when bidding.
At this time, Jing Zhanyao shouted out a number: "Ten thousand taels!"
Following this shout, the hall suddenly fell silent. The buyers looked at Jing Zhanyao in surprise. Fu Zhao was also surprised and chuckled: "Brother Jing is such a big hand."
Not to mention that most of the current buyers are subordinates of nobles. Even if they are all nobles themselves, it is estimated that few will continue to bid. One is to buy a slave woman at 10,000 taels. This price is already ridiculously high. Secondly,
If such a high price was spent to buy Mei Yuanyuan, who was involved in a major rebellion, it might make Emperor Tianzhi feel dissatisfied, and in serious cases it might even arouse suspicion.
Even so, there was still a buyer who couldn't help but speak. This person was sitting opposite Zhao Fu and Jing Zhanyao. He looked at Jing Zhanyao and said: "Jing Tanhua, I came today on the king's order. Originally, the king only allowed me.
At most it would cost ten thousand taels of silver, but I looked at this girl's pretty appearance and thought that the prince would like her. I wonder if Jing Tanhua would like the prince to take back the price you asked and let me buy it for ten thousand taels of silver.
, If this is the case, not only will the prince know about it, but I will also be grateful."
Jing Zhanyao recognized this person as the chief historian of Prince Zhongshun's palace, and he smiled playfully: "Master, I admire the prince in my heart. If you have any advice from the prince, I will take care of it. It's just a matter of buying slaves today."
, Your Majesty did not give me any instructions, you said that your prince must like this girl, it is just your idea, maybe your prince does not like her, so I hope Mr. Chang Shi will understand her. "
Chang Shi's face suddenly turned gloomy: "In that case, I will ask for ten thousand, five hundred taels, and the extra five hundred taels will be regarded as my contribution to honor the prince."
Jing Zhanyao then said: "Then I will pay eleven thousand taels."
Chang Shi said angrily: "Jing Tanhua, are you deliberately trying to make trouble with our palace?"
Jing Zhanyao smiled faintly: "Master Changshi, you have heard what I just said, so there is no need to gossip."
Chang Shi: "..."
Jing Zhanyao looked at Fu Zhao: "Master Zhao, eleven thousand taels, I bought it."
Zhao Fu didn't know whether to laugh or cry. After hesitating for a moment, he nodded to the official, who immediately announced: "Mei Yuanyuan, the daughter of prison officer Mei Kui, was bought by Tanhua Lang of the Jing family for eleven thousand taels of silver.
"
Chang Shi let out a "hum", stood up, glared at Jing Zhanyao, and walked away.
Fu Zhao smiled at Jing Zhanyao and asked: "Brother Jing, although this plum is as round and beautiful as a fairy, is it worth it for you to offend Prince Zhongshun's Mansion for her?"
"Master Zhao just witnessed it. I didn't mean to provoke it. Even if this matter comes to the emperor, I will not be responsible for it." Jing Zhanyao smiled, and then said: "Eleven thousand taels of silver, I will let the servants give it away.
Come in, I will take this Mei Yuanyuan away directly."
Zhao Fuxiao asked: "There is another Meizan, don't you plan to buy it too?"
Jing Zhanyao said with a smile: "I only love beauty and not masculinity, not to mention that Mei Zan is not handsome at all. Besides, eleven thousand taels of silver has already cost me a lot. This money has been spent."
, I don’t have much money, I can’t afford it.”
Zhao Fu said with a smile: "The price of mezan is not expensive. If you pay a few hundred taels, I will give it to you."
Jing Zhanyao smiled and said: "Even if it only costs a few dozen taels, I can't afford it."
Immediately, Jing Zhanyao left one thousand one hundred taels of gold and took Mei Yuanyuan away.
After Mei Yuanyuan left, Meizan continued to be sold on the spot. What made Zhao Fu dumbfounded was that dozens of buyers came today, but no one was willing to buy Meizan, even though the Ministry of Household Affairs had lowered the price to one hundred taels of silver.
, no one bought it. The reason is obvious. Mei Zan is a brother, involved in a major rebellion, and is the only remaining bloodline of the Mei family. No noble family is willing to spend money on this hot potato.
"It seems that this person has no choice but to be sent to Shanhaiguan."
Zhao Fu sighed in his heart, since he couldn't sell them, he had to distribute them, and the place where the most criminals were distributed was Shanhaiguan, especially the criminals distributed from Shenjing City, not to mention that there had been a war in Shanhaiguan for half a year, and slaves were needed.
when.
In this way, Meizan was sent to Shanhaiguan, just like Jia Jing, Jia Zhen and Jia Rong.
…
…
Half a month ago, Mei Yuanyuan learned that she had been demoted as a slave and sold. At that time, she felt relieved. The two outcomes she was most worried about, one was to be executed, and the other was to be sent to the Jiaofang Division, did not happen.
She knew that this was the result that Jia Yun fought for, but she did not feel grateful to Jia Yun for this. She was still filled with hatred and resentment towards Jia Yun.
Today, when she was escorted to the sales hall of the Household Department to sell, she watched dozens of buyers staring at her and bidding against her as if they were buying something. She felt a deep sense of shame.
, which also made her hate Emperor Tianzhi and Jia Yun even more in her heart. At this time, she really felt as if she had fallen from the clouds into a dirty quagmire.
Fortunately, she was quite satisfied with the result. The man who finally took her away was a middle-aged but very heroic man. Moreover, this man dared to challenge the palace, so he was also a very noble person. Now she only hopes that this man's
Her character should not be too bad, and all she can do is try to flatter her. Now that she has survived, she is not willing to die easily. She not only wants to continue living, she even wants to find opportunities for revenge, although she knows that such opportunities are slim.
very.
A carriage left the Hubu Yamen and entered Nancheng through Zhengyang Gate. Mei Yuanyuan was sitting in the carriage, and the person driving the carriage was Jing Zhanyao himself.
I saw the Jing Tan Hua Jing coach, drinking wine from a wine flask, while personally driving a carriage to bring the beauty he had just bought with a lot of money into the Tanhua Courtyard of Jing's Martial Arts School.
There are many flowers, plants and trees planted in the Flower Garden, and there are various kinds of flowers, but there are no plums. Starting today, there are plums here, but they are not plum blossoms, but round plums.