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Chapter 897 Qin Keqing: She can afford ten or eight more

 Beijing Camp, Chinese Army Barracks

Fan Yi cupped her hands towards the young man and said in a low voice: "I have met the Marquis in my humble position."

Jia Heng pointed to the chair beside him and said with a gentle expression, "Fan Canjun is sitting down."

Fan Yi cupped her hands in thanks, sat down, and raised her eyes to look at the boy in the python suit.

Jia Heng said: "Recently there have been heavy snowfalls in Beijing. Are any of the military barracks buildings collapsing under the weight of the snow?"

A few days ago, he inspected the heating supply for the generals and soldiers in the military camp. Once the coal company is established, it will obviously give priority to ensuring the supply to the Beijing camp.

Fan Yi said: "After inspection of all the camps, there are no mistakes."

Jia Heng nodded and said: "As the Chinese New Year approaches, everything in the camp is busy. Fan Shenjun sends more people to keep an eye on military discipline. I will come here often to watch recently."

Fan Yi nodded and raised his hands in response.

Jia Heng gave a few more instructions, and then Fan Yi left the Chinese army barracks.

Chen Xiao said softly: "As a counselor, you have an air of resentment under your eyebrows."

Jia Heng raised his eyes to look at Chen Xiao and said softly: "He has a rough life and a difficult life. Naturally, he will inevitably look at the world with a little anger."

Chen Xiao's eyes flashed, and without saying much, he said, "What are you going to do next, sit in the Chinese army barracks?"

Jia Heng said: "What are you doing here? Of course I'm going to see the camp guards."

Go down to the grassroots level to inspect front-line officers and soldiers, mingle with them, and discover young generals and soldiers. Otherwise, wouldn’t your visit to Beijing Camp be in vain?

Jia Heng then watched the military training and inspected a number of generals.

It was almost noon before he left the capital camp on his fast horse and headed towards a mountain villa restaurant in Shenjing City. This is a place hidden at the foot of the mountain. It is different from the restaurants built on the street and takes into account both privacy and security.

Jia Heng and Chen Xiao came to the private room they had reserved and ordered the chef to prepare the dishes.

Jia Heng sat down, looked out at the street through the window, and asked Chen Xiao, "Has the invitation been sent?"

"Zhao Mansion has received it." Chen Xiao said.

Jia Heng nodded, picked up the tea cup, and took a sip of tea. He looked at the snow-covered streets. There were only a few pedestrians. The eaves of the pavilions and pavilions were covered with thick snow, because of the warm weather.

The sun was shining in the sky, and the snow had begun to melt one after another, and the snowdrops fell on the bluestone road.

This time, he not only discussed the coal matter with Zhao Yi, but also slightly wanted to win over Mr. Zhao Ge. Since the emperor planned to use him to check and balance the Zhejiang Party, he could not do everything by himself, and that would not last long.

You will be slandered and slandered by officials and even southern scholars.

As for the relationship between the father-in-law Qin Ye and his son-in-law, everyone in the court knew it, so it was not easy to come out directly.

Moreover, it is impossible to let the father-in-law charge into the battle, so it is particularly necessary to let Zhao Yi, who is also from Jiangnan, come out to check and balance the Zhejiang Party on some national policies.

In fact, although Zhao Yi is from Jiangnan, he only maintains some relations with the Zhejiang Party and is not strictly a member of the Zhejiang Party.

Of course, despite this, the emperor took the opportunity to invite Zhao Yi out of the cabinet.

"We still need some scientific experts, otherwise we would be too unqualified to do everything by ourselves." Jia Heng thought about it.

At this moment, the captain in Jinyi from outside came into the box, cupped his fists and said, "Master Marquis, Master Zhao and Master Qin are here."

Jia Heng's eyes moved slightly, he stood up and said, "I'll go greet you."

Whether it was his father-in-law or out of respect for the former cabinet minister, he should go and greet him.

At this moment, Qin Ye and Zhao Yi got off the carriage and walked along the corridor shaded by pines and cypresses. They looked at the handsome young man in python suit and said with a smile: "Ziyu."

Since Jia Heng returned to Beijing, prisoners have been presented to the Imperial Ancestral Temple, peace talks have been stopped, and ministers have been promoted one after another. It can be said that the government is dazzled, like a revolving lantern. Now the position of chief minister in the cabinet is vacant, with Li Zan, Qi Kun, Zhao Mo and others under him.

Of the cabinet members, there is actually nothing wrong with adding one more to make up the five.

Jia Heng walked a few steps quickly, cupped his hands and said, "My father-in-law, Mr. Zhao."

Zhao Yi cupped his hands and said, "Jia Hou has been waiting for a long time. Master Qin and I were delayed for some time in the office."

The names of colleagues in the officialdom are very particular. Jia Heng was titled the first-class Marquis of Yongning. After all, Zhao Yi was once a cabinet minister and a minister. It was a bit awkward to call him Lord Marquis, but Marquis of Yongning seemed to be a bit different.

The title Jiahou not only expresses respect, but also means a peer.

Of course, since Jia Heng was granted the title of Prince, there is no doubt that he would be called Prince.

Qin Ye stared at the young man, with a warm smile on his old face, and said, "Did Ziyu just come back from the capital camp?"

"Today I went to the capital camp to inspect some generals." Jia Heng extended his hand to invite the two of them into the reserved box, and seated the guests and hosts respectively.

Jia Heng said: "Mr. Zhao, I think my father-in-law has already discussed the previous proposal with Mr. Zhao. I don't know what he thinks?"

Zhao Yi nodded and said: "Jiahou's proposal is sincere for the benefit of the country and the people. Now many people in Shenjing use charcoal transported from Shanxi and other places for heating and meals. However, compared with Shenjing, which has a large population,

There are still many things that are not as good as before, and many people in northern Shandong and Hebei provinces do not even know what coal is."

Jia Heng said: "There are actually difficulties in this matter. First, coal mining is not easy, but there are many displaced people in various places. Recruiting miners can solve the problem of people being unemployed. Secondly, if the price of coal is too much higher than that of wood, people may still make firewood.

Fuel, of course, coal is mainly sold to wealthy gentry in prefectures, counties and cities, priced according to quality, and sold to ordinary people."

In fact, because miners are more organized and disciplined than farmers, it is easy to cause trouble. According to the five skills of governing the people, it seems that gatherings should not be allowed.

But this was due to lack of food. There were no mines on this land before the late Qing Dynasty, and in the end nothing happened.

What shakes the ruling class is mostly the large number of bankrupt peasants.

Zhao Yi said: "Jia Hou is thoughtful and considerate. The difficulties are probably these. It's just that the Ministry of Internal Affairs now controls the coal business, and the Ministry of Industry cannot make the decision alone."

Jia Heng said: "There is no royal land in the world, and the output of the land naturally belongs to the royal family, but the release of rivers, ponds, mountains and rivers is also the path of sages. Minerals such as gold and silver should be mined and stored by the Ministry of Internal Affairs. There is nothing wrong with minerals such as coal and minerals.

It is jointly developed by the government and the Ministry of Industry.”

Nowadays, it is actually a matter of interests. Mutual supervision will prevent corruption. The servants of the royal family are corrupt, and the corruption of civil servants is especially extreme.

Zhao Yi nodded and said, "What Jia Hou said is true."

Jia Heng and Zhao Yi ate their meals and discussed the details of setting up a coal company or laying out a sales network. Neither of them mentioned the Zhejiang Party, but some things were tacitly understood.

When the Ministry of Industry presided over the construction of the imperial mausoleum, Zhao Yi was involved. For this reason, all cabinet ministers were dismissed. At that time, it was Jia Heng who spoke uprightly. Later, Qin Ye was promoted to Minister of the Ministry of Industry. Zhao Yi, who reciprocated the favor, made many mistakes.

force.

It’s just that the wine has passed three rounds and the food has passed the five flavors.

Everyone was tipsy, and Jia Heng sent Zhao Yi to the carriage without leaving Zhao Yi alone.

Jia Heng watched the carriage leave with a calm expression on his face, while Chen Xiaoxing came closer, looked at the young man, and asked softly: "Where to go next?"

Jia Heng said: "Go home."

It was getting late, so he couldn't go back to Beijing to work at this time. As for any news from Jinyi Mansion, he was always informed of it in a timely manner.

While Jia Heng was hosting a banquet for Zhao Yi, Minister of Industry, on the other side of the Qi County Prince's Palace, Qi County Prince Chen Cheng was also having a banquet for the visiting Yangzhou salt merchant Wang Shouqi.

In Qijun Prince's Mansion, the hall is warm and cozy, smokeless rosin charcoal is burning in the charcoal stove, and the sparks flicker, exuding wisps of fragrance.

Compared with the charcoal with the auspicious gold beast, it has a stronger pyrotechnic smell, and the rosin charcoal is used by the clan kings and dignitaries in the capital.

Chen Cheng, Prince of Qi County, was sitting on a grand master's chair covered with a mink fur mattress. His plump body was huddled on the chair, and he asked Xu Shaozhen who came from outside: "Are Mr. Wang and Mr. Jiang here?"

Xu Shaozhen looked at Prince Qi and said with a smile: "Your Majesty, you are already waiting in the front hall."

Prince Qi smiled and said: "Please come here quickly, no, I will go to greet you personally."

Since the prince was awarded the title of Minister of Cangchang, his mood has become much lighter.

In the front hall, Yangzhou salt merchants Wang Shouqi and Jiang Tong sat down to drink tea across a small table. They looked patient, but when they looked at each other, their hearts were full of anxiety.

As Jia Heng thought, after the Huaihe-Huaihe Revolutionary Reform, life began to be difficult for Yangzhou salt merchants. Although they had a deep foundation and had a first-mover advantage over ordinary merchants who had recently joined the salt industry, they were completely deprived of the salt industry.

Both the wealth and influence of salt merchants with monopoly rights have shrunk sharply.

They urgently needed to find a new way out, and Prince Qi, who they had been in contact with before, naturally came into their sight.

Chen Cheng, the king of Qijun, smiled and said: "Two old gentlemen, it was quite hard for us to ride horses and saddle horses all the way south."

Wang Shouqi said: "My lord, I haven't seen you for a long time."

Jiang Tong also bowed to Prince Qi and said, "The common people have seen the prince."

Last year, the King of Qi was forced to pay stolen silver into internal funds, and the government was short of silver. It was Wang Shouqi and Kang, the eight major salt merchants in Yangzhou, who donated a sum of silver to the King of Qi.

Prince Qijun said: "Little Wang has also heard about Mr. Wang's stay in the south of the Yangtze River. Marquis Yongning is indeed a bit too much. He also confiscated the money from the emperor's southern tour. He really doesn't give people a way to live."

Wang Shouqi sighed and said: "It was all a mess at the beginning, but now that I have returned to the palace, my heart has settled down."

This matter, no matter how resentful I feel, it cannot end up being someone else’s fault with just a few words.

Jiang Tong also said at the side: "Those are the shortfalls recovered by the court, and we have nothing to say."

They are all afraid of being punished. Prince Qi is the emperor of Tianhuang. You can say this, but they can't follow it, otherwise it will become unconvinced.

Chen Cheng said in a low voice: "No matter what, this Yongning Marquis is too ruthless. He persecuted half of the eight salt merchants, and even came up with a new salt method. This is to cut off the roots of Mr. Wang."

ah."

When Wang Shouqi heard this, he just sighed and had no idea what he was thinking.

Chen Cheng saw that the two of them had bitter expressions on their faces, and looked like they dared to be angry but dared not speak. He felt that the heat was about the same, so he winked at Xu Shaozhen.

Xu Shaozhen smiled and said: "Mr. Wang, Mr. Jiang, my prince admires these two old gentlemen very much for their business ability. Please come into the study and have a talk."

Wang Shouqi seemed to have just come back to his senses. He exchanged glances with Jiang Tong beside him, and then followed Qijun Wang Chen Cheng to the study.

Since then, the remaining forces of Yangzhou salt merchants have also officially intervened in the fierce undercurrent of seizing the heir.





Ningguo Mansion

When Jia Heng returned, it was already late afternoon, and the warm winter sunlight shone on people's faces, creating a sense of peace and tranquility around them.

Then in the inner hall of the house, Qin Keqing was dressed in a pale yellow dress, with a tall bun, holding a book and an abacus in her hands, and was counting the account books with Mrs. You and Third Sister You. Not far away, Second Sister You was watching the excitement.

As the Chinese New Year approaches, the affairs in Jia's family gradually increase.

Qin Keqing raised her eyes and looked at Youshi on the side and asked: "The Chinese New Year is almost here. Has the girl from Daguanyuan received her monthly report this month?"

Youshi said: "The Xue family's sister is in charge of this area. It was said by the uncle that the rules in the garden are set by the Xue family's sister. Ning and Rong's two houses don't have to take care of it anymore. It's also a training for their girls."

The ability to manage money.”

There was confusion on Sister You's gorgeous face, her pink lips parted slightly, and she said in surprise: "Sister of the Xue family? Where did she get the money? Is it from the Xue family? But it shouldn't be."

The girl has been favored by Jia Heng again in the past few days, and the charm revealed in the corners of her eyebrows and eyes almost makes Youshi frightened, and her face that adds a bit of beauty and charm is even more beautiful and bright, frequently attracting the peeping glances of Second Sister You

.

There are so many different charms in her every frown and smile, but only Qin Keqing can hold her head above all.

Youshi chuckled and said: "How could this come from the Xue family? It seems that the uncle entrusted the outside shop to the Xue family's sister and three girls. Yesterday, she asked me to tell you about the monthly routine.

"

Hearing this, Qin Keqing's beautiful eyebrows condensed, her charming eyes flashed with a hint of smile, and she said in a clear voice: "This is really well-intentioned."

If this doesn't allow her to issue a monthly report, then who is the head wife?

Third Sister You's eyes flashed, and she glanced at the hibiscus-jade-faced beauty, her bright eyes flashed, and her heart moved slightly.

Qin Keqing smiled sweetly and said: "The garden belongs to the garden. As usual, the Ningguo Mansion allocates a monthly amount to the mistresses of the various courtyards, which is regarded as a supplement to the girls in several houses."

Hearing this, Mrs. You frowned and said, "But, sir, is this a double monthly routine?"

Obviously, he can't understand Qin Keqing's operation. Even though the Jia family has a big business now and has no shortage of money, You used to be thrifty in running the family and was used to budgeting carefully and living within his means. There is nothing wrong with that.

A look of determination appeared on Qin Keqing's soft and beautiful face, and she said softly: "If these girls want to buy some things in the house or reward people, it would be better to have money in their hands."

The monthly routine cannot be omitted, otherwise the maids will not say anything and let Sister Xue do whatever they want. However, these girls live in the Grand View Garden, chatting with their husbands to relieve their boredom... This monthly routine is what it should be.

It was she, the Marquis of Yongning, who came to send the message.

Her annual salary is several thousand taels, and she can earn another ten or eight, huh!

In fact, this is what made Qin Keqing feel strange after Jia Heng gave part of his property to Baochai.

The entire fiscal revenue of Ningguo Mansion, the tenant rent of Guogong Mansion, Zhuangzi, and some original shops are all managed by the accounting office of Ningguo Mansion.

Even Jia Heng’s monthly salary for the first-class Wuhou, Jinyi Commandery, Minister of War, and Guo Yongying Commandery (the Minister of Military Aircraft is sent without salary) are all sent by the Jia Mansion to the Ministry of Household Affairs to claim them, and then deliver them to the Duke of Ningguo Mansion.

middle.

This is also the rule in the Xifu. The imperial edict, official salary, land rent, and house rent all go to the public house, and then the payments are coordinated and disbursed.

Jia Heng's private money all came from the property he took over from the Sanhe Gang, plus profit sharing from the publication of the script. This part was withdrawn independently by him and was not included in the public account. It belonged to his personal treasury.

It is worth mentioning that, except for the dividends from the Hanmozhai storybook, Jia Heng has never withdrawn a single tael of silver from the account of the eldest princess of Jinyang.

But now Jia Heng's behavior of letting Baochai manage the shop is equivalent to handing over his small treasury to the second wife to manage, and the first wife feels guilty in her heart.

You didn't know what he meant, so he advised: "It turns out that two taels is a lot. The girls in the mansion only have two taels of silver a month and twenty-four taels a year. It's not good for them to spend money carelessly in the garden."

January 20 and 20 taels may be too much for an ordinary family to afford, but for the Jia family, which is now rich in wealth, it is just a small amount of money.

This is actually just pocket money, not living expenses. All the food and clothing in the mansion are provided by the public.

As of now, in the courtyard of Ningguo Mansion, the head wife of Qin Keqing is paid twenty taels of silver, and because of You's special status, the former head wife, Mrs. Gaoming, also has a monthly salary of twenty taels, and Third Sister You is the aunt.

Son, according to the rules of the Jia family, it is two liang.

Later, Qin Keqing and Sister Feng discussed adjusting the monthly schedule, and unified the monthly schedule for the young grandmother to twelve taels. In this way, Sister Feng also changed from five taels per month to ten taels.

In addition, the aunt's monthly salary was increased to four taels, and this amount of money was applied for by the wife and the young grandmother from the company in their own names. It was considered a sign of sympathy, and not everyone would give it.

The rules in the Grand View Garden are quite different. After the girl entered the Grand View Garden, the Ning and Rong Prefectures initially issued rules.

For example, Sister Feng comes and goes every month for Yingchun, Xiangyun, Xingxiuyan and their maids.

However, as in the original work, Xing Xiuyan's money was withheld by the Xing family and sent to Xing's father and Xing's mother.

As for Xichun, Miaoyu came from Ningguo Mansion. Well, Miaoyu had an example before, like the girl from Xifu, who was born on the 2nd of the month.

However, after all the gold hairpins moved into the Grand View Garden, Daiyu was a bit special. When he was in the Ningguo Mansion in Jinling, Jia Heng ordered the accountant to pay Daiyu twenty taels of silver per month for the wife of the family. When they arrived in Beijing, Qin Keqing didn't know the details.

But Baochai, who acted as Jia Heng's housekeeper in the Grand View Garden, knew this very well. He was worried that Daiyu would think too much, so he continued to give twenty taels as usual, but a difficult thing arose from this. How much was his monthly quota, twenty taels?

In the end, he didn't move, still two liang, just thinking that he was a young lady who had not left the court. As for Daiyu, who had no mother to rely on, it was a special situation. After all, her father was far away in Jinling, so it was Jia Heng's pity.

Qin Keqing looked at Mrs. You at this moment and said softly: "Sister-in-law You, just follow what I said and you won't be wrong."

Seeing the serious look on the beauty's face, Mrs. You vaguely understood something and said softly: "Then I will tell Sister Xue this way later."

He secretly thought, this is probably a struggle for dominance between Grand View Garden and Ningguo Mansion. Is this specifically "pointing" him? Giving the outside business to the Xue family's sister?

Previously, the core industry was managed by the eldest girl of Xifu. It can also be said that a family member named Jia let Yuanchun take care of the private money, and everyone who owned it was on guard.

But now a batch of property has been allocated to the Xue family girls, which is a bit...

Youshi was thinking wildly and stopped trying to persuade her. She started to write on the book with a brush. She calculated in her mind that there were only a few girls in total, including Chadai, Lanxi, Yunqin, Wenqi and Miaoxiu.

The Ningguo Mansion does not have more than twenty taels of silver a month, or two hundred and forty taels a year.

As for Li Wan, it was obvious that the Rongguo Mansion came to support him, and his wife, Jia Mu, specially allocated ten taels of silver.

No, according to Keqing's wishes, the masters of each house will come as usual, so does Li Wan count as the master of each house?

Sanjie You blinked her eyes as she listened to the words, and felt a strange feeling in her heart.

This double monthly amount is four taels per person. Isn't this the same as her monthly amount?

At this moment, the maid outside said: "Madam, the uncle is back."

Jia Heng separated from Chen Xiao in the front hall and headed towards the backyard hall.


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