The head of the Red Mansion

Chapter 256 Silver
In the palace, the Emperor and Empress were also constantly monitoring the situation at the Huitong Hall.

Suppressing Woh is nothing. Although he has obtained the so-called throne, the Bordered White Banner has long been fighting with the Russian Kingdom. The key now is to suppress Suojin and Tiebao.

These two men, in terms of status, power, and the number of people under their command, are far superior to Voch.

"emperor!"

Liu An approached with a smile, "Mr. Liu would like to invite you to the side hall."

These past few days, Mr. Liu has basically been staying at the Imperial Guard's residence, spending his days in the side hall studying various news from the Russian Kingdom, the Jurchens, and the Tatars.

"Have they found another gold hiding place?"

The emperor was very excited. He put down his pen and went straight to the west side hall.

There is a huge map of the entire capital and the seven surrounding counties. Liu Zhi believes that Wohe, Suojin and Tiebao entered the city with only guards not only because they brought a large amount of silver notes, but also because they had multiple spies in the capital or the surrounding area, and these spies hid a large amount of wealth.

He also cited the more than three million taels of silver that Jia Jing had found back then as an example, arguing that the Jurchen royal family had become accustomed to a life of pleasure and had long been decadent.

In the event of war, their first thought would likely be to transfer their wealth in order to ensure a life of luxury for themselves and their descendants.

The best place for a life of luxury is Da Zhao.

Following Jia Jing's example, Mr. Liu investigated the caravans traveling to and from the border. Several guards were under his command. Half an hour ago, the third guard reported that a large amount of valuables had been discovered in a courtyard less than a hundred feet from the Imperial Clan Court.

It was rented from the Imperial Clan Court by a caravan that frequently traveled to and from the area outside the Great Wall.

Haha~
How ridiculous!

Do you think that just because you have a sign from the Imperial Clan Court, no one will dare to investigate?
The emperor did not order any immediate action to alert the enemy.

Of course, Mr. Liu wouldn't let them alert the enemy.

He believed that the Qing imperial family had at least eight hiding places for gold in the capital.

"Congratulations to Your Majesty, Congratulations to Your Majesty!"

When the emperor arrived, An Yi knelt on one knee and congratulated him with a smile, saying, "Following Mr. Liu's instructions, I have found another hidden stash of the Jin people there. Not only is there a large amount of gold and silver, but there are also more than a dozen Jin people."

"Good good!"

The emperor was overjoyed. "Where is this hidden spy located?"

"Xizhimen Carriage and Horse Lane".

Mr. Liu rubbed his temples, surrounded by a pile of various lease agreements he had acquired from Shuntian Prefecture.

"Keep a close eye on it."

Just in time, they were about to fight the Russians.

After a war, recovering lost territories and even relocating people all require a large amount of money.

The emperor was very satisfied. "With this one, that makes two. Next place..."

"I have doubts about the Cheng'en Duke's Mansion."

What?
The emperor's smile vanished instantly.

"Your Majesty, last year, just before the New Year, you bestowed upon the Duke of Cheng'en a small estate on the outskirts of the capital."

Liu Zhi said in a flat voice, “This estate was originally an imperial estate and belonged to the Imperial Household Department. After you bestowed it upon the Duke of Cheng’en’s mansion last year, the Duke of Cheng’en, ​​because it was located in the suburbs of the capital and by the roadside, followed the steward’s advice and converted it into a warehouse, which generates an annual rent of three thousand eight hundred taels.”

This is much more profitable than farming.

“This steward has gradually distinguished himself in the Cheng'en Duke’s mansion since you ascended the throne. Whether it is farmland or shops, the profits have far exceeded those before since he took over. I believe that this person should be investigated in detail.”

"Yes, yes, investigate thoroughly!"

In the past, the emperor was poor, and my father-in-law, the Duke of Cheng'en, only had the title. Although the emperor gave him two small estates when he was granted the title, his status was elevated, and many things had to be improved as well. In addition, with the support of his clansmen, my father-in-law and mother-in-law were pitifully struggling to make ends meet.

Moreover, at the beginning, they even tried to help him gain support and exchanged pleasantries with the king's brothers, but the result was predictable.

In recent years, my father-in-law and mother-in-law have kept their doors closed and courtyards closed, restricting their relatives and rarely allowing them to enter the palace. They would even slip a hundred or two taels of silver into the Empress's hands. The Empress would use that money to painstakingly maintain him, so last year, when things had just started to improve a little, he was rewarded with a small estate.

He was happy to hear that the estate had been converted into a warehouse, and the rent was quite high. He never expected this!
The emperor's back was drenched in cold sweat. "Investigate this matter secretly... Don't tell anyone for now, especially the empress."

If it really is the steward's fault, then it must be because he ascended the throne as emperor, and someone is playing the long game to catch a big fish.

At the same time, inside the hall, Shen Ning watched Suo Jin and Tie Bao retreat step by step, yet still trying to maintain a smile, and she was in a very good mood.

To seek Jia Wen's forgiveness, Woch followed Jia Zhu's advice and asked for forty-nine lashes from her, which he is currently receiving next door.

But did hitting Woch really vent his anger?

Suo Jin and Tie Bao, as elders and older brothers respectively, both had a responsibility to teach, but instead of teaching, they let things go unchecked.

In the past, of course no one dared to say anything, but now, not to mention that Jia Wen is now a princess of Rongguo, just because she is a daughter of the Jia family, the Jia family will seek justice for her.

"...Your Highnesses, there are some things we know, and you both understand perfectly well."

Jia Zhu was refined and courteous, but every time he spoke, Tie Bao felt an urge to draw his sword and kill him. "The only reason my second aunt came to your side was because she was surnamed Jia. My great-grandfather and grandfather were such heroes back then. If they were still alive, would you dare to treat my aunt like this... even the Heavenly King himself couldn't stop them from killing you."

"..."

"..."

Tie Bao was furious and wanted to roar, "Even the heroes die of old age!"

If you're so capable, then do it now!

But these words...

He stole a glance at Shen Ning, but could only hold it in.

"Then let's calculate how much the lives of the two princes are worth?"

"Haha~~"

Suo Jin gave a forced smile, "Have you all forgotten that we are envoys? His Majesty the Emperor of Dazhao just met us today?"

Could the small Jia family possibly handle them?
"As for Princess Rongguo, I admit that her title is inseparable from your Jia family. However, as far as I know, there are two other sisters of the same generation as the princess living in your Rongguo Mansion. May I ask why they have not been granted the title of princess?"

Jia Wen was able to become a princess thanks to their help.

These scoundrels only know how to pat themselves on the back.

"Since the princess has been granted the title, it is of some concern to us. What you all have said is going too far."

"Has it passed?"

Shen Ning smiled. "The prince said you are envoys?"

"..."

Suo Jin ignored her.

They were, of course, envoys; otherwise, they wouldn't have been staying at the meeting hall.

"I can't really refute that, but... there's a difference between envoys. Your Great Qing Dynasty was no longer a country the moment it didn't have an emperor."

In this era, figures who once caused a sensation in later generations all vanished into thin air because of the death of the young emperor.

"Moreover, you are now desperate and that's why you've turned to the Great Zhao for help."

When Shen Ning looked directly into Suo Jin's eyes, the smile on her face did not fade. "But did you really bring the attitude of asking Da Zhao for help?"

"...It was our oversight that we hadn't considered this carefully before."

Suo Jin had no choice but to admit his mistake first, "But we have come with the utmost sincerity. Wohe has been elected as king, and he is now the banner lord of the Bordered White Banner. Last time, Madam Shen said that the daughter of the Jia family could only be the principal wife. Before we came, we had already arranged for Wohe to divorce his wife."

We sincerely seek to marry Princess Rongguo, and I believe the Emperor of Dazhao also desires this. Lady Shen and your esteemed son, why are you rambling on about other things…”

slap~
"Ah~~~~"

A whip cracked next door, followed by Woch's loud screams of agony.

"Who gave you the confidence that the Emperor would be willing to let Princess Rongguo marry Wohe?"

Shen Ning smiled faintly, "Didn't you inquire about the relationship between the Emperor Emeritus and my uncle, the Duke of Rong, before you came? He sent his daughter to marry a border general in order to protect our Great Zhao Kingdom. Now that my uncle is gone, although the Emperor Emeritus is seriously ill, there is still the Emperor. He pities my second sister for suffering so much. What's the problem?"
"But you, sir, what 'King'? These days... you dare call yourselves kings?"

"..."

"..."

All that could be heard at the scene was the heavy breathing of Suo Jin and Tie Bao.

They were so eager to lash out and kill her.

But when his eyes fell on the musket on the small table in front of her, and the three female guards beside her who were clearly skilled in martial arts, he could only suppress them.

"For the sake of my second sister's three children, who also have blood of the Jia family, I'll teach you a lesson today." "...Please instruct me!"

Suo Jin gritted his teeth and bowed to her.

He was curious to hear just how arrogant this woman could be.

"I heard that you allocated funds for sending reinforcements to the capital in court today?"

"Not bad!"

If the military funds are allocated and these people still don't use them, that's going too far.

"From this perspective, you are not entirely senile."

Shen Ning took a sip of tea. "But when will the reinforcements leave, where will they go, and when will they fight... I've heard that you are knowledgeable about military affairs, so you should know that there is a lot of room for maneuver here."

Suo Jin: "..."

Tie Bao: "..."

The two men forgot their anger and stared intently at her.

"Although my Jia family has left the military, I think the generals around us will still give us some face if we say something."

"...Please speak frankly, Madam Shen, what do you desire?"

Suo Jin and Tie Bao exchanged a glance and then bowed together.

"silver!"

silver?

Suo Jin and Tie Bao breathed a sigh of relief, and then glanced at the eunuchs guarding the door.

"Easy to say, easy to say!"

Suo Jin tried his best to smile, "It was indeed Wohe's fault for kidnapping the princess back then. We are willing to compensate the Jia family with one million taels of silver."

Isn't it all about money?
Give!
It all depends on whether you live to see it.

Suo Jin sneered inwardly.

"One million taels?"

Shen Ning smiled and said, "Whom do you think you are? Do you know that last year, the merchants of my Great Zhao offended my family, and the apologies alone amounted to hundreds of thousands of taels of silver? You abducted so many people from the Central Plains back then, a million... What do you take my Jia family for?"

At this point, her face turned cold. "Now, I'm giving you one last chance. If you don't do well... then don't blame us for turning around and leaving. From now on... you know what will happen."

"..."

"..."

Suo Jin and Tie Bao couldn't help but swallow.

This woman is a woman of her word, and she enjoys the favor of both the emperor and the empress...

hiss~
The two looked at each other, exchanging glances.

They gave 3.8 million taels of silver for military expenses, which went to the Jia family...

You bastards, since you want to die, then just die already!

"Three and a half million taels."

Suo Jin really wanted to say three million eight hundred thousand taels, but that would be too obvious.

To prevent any unforeseen circumstances, he quoted 3.5 million taels.

"Cash?"

"Cash!"

Upon hearing about the large sum of silver, Jia She, Jia Zhen, and Jia Zhu exchanged glances but remained silent.

If it were tens of thousands of taels, the eldest sister-in-law (mother, aunt) might have accepted it on behalf of the Jia family.

But needless to say, none of these talks were for their family.

"This is compensation, not a betrothal gift?"

"...It's compensation, not a betrothal gift."

Isn't it all about money?
Give!
If Jia Yan, Jia Yuan, Jia Daihua, and Jia Daishan knew that their descendants were so stupid, they would probably crawl out of their coffins.

ho~
Suo Jin tried his best to hide his malice with a smile.

"I wonder how much the princess's betrothal gifts are?"

Shen Ning asked another question.

Suo Jin and Tie Bao exchanged a quick glance again.

The originally agreed-upon 300,000 taels is definitely not going to happen.

"The more the princess's betrothal gifts, the better."

Suo Jin chuckled, “However, there are regulations for us to marry wives, and each of us pays around 600,000 taels of silver.”

"to make!"

Shen Ning nodded, "Words alone won't do. Since we've come this far, and since everyone is sincere, I believe the money has already arrived in the capital. How about we settle the transaction now?"

how is it?

Then give it to me!

Suo Jin clapped his hands, and soon a guard stepped forward: "Your Highness!"

"Judging by the time, the silver transported here by waterway should have arrived from Tongzhou Wharf by now. Go and meet it."

To prevent the people here from suspecting that they were hiding gold in the capital, they also made many preparations.

"We've arrived. We'll bring it directly here."

"Yes!"

The guards hurriedly went out.

The eunuchs standing at the door as pillars exchanged glances but remained silent.

Before they arrived, the Empress and Eunuch Liu, who represented the Emperor, specifically instructed that even if Madam Shen killed Suo Jin and Tie Bao with a musket, all they had to do was clean up the mess, not to accuse her.

As for silver, it's better to have it in Dazhao than to leave it with the Jurchens.

At that moment, a long procession of silver carriages was heading towards the meeting hall.

"It seems that you two have come with genuine sincerity."

Shen Ning seemed very happy, "However, I heard that you are still two million taels short of military funds? After you give the military funds, will your money still be enough for our family?"

"..."

Suo Jin was furious.

"Many years ago, my husband, Jia Jing, intercepted a sum of silver from your side. May I ask..."

learn from mistakes.

How can this matter be acknowledged again?
Tie Bao quickly replied, "Madam Shen, rest assured, we have come with sincerity and have made full preparations. The first batch of silver is four million taels, and the second batch will arrive at Tongzhou Wharf soon."

"I see!"

Shen Ning smiled, "Zhen'er, go to the Ministry of Revenue and ask the officials there to come and receive the military funds first."

"Yes!"

Jia Zhen hurriedly ran out.

So, not long after, Old Man Chen, who thought he would have to go through countless rounds of persuasion to get the military funds, came over eagerly to collect the money.

However, he was still very envious of the two million taels.

However, now that we've arrived in Dazhao, it must still belong to them.

He didn't believe the Jia family's demand for money, except for some ignorant people.

Who is Madam Shen?
Is he such a short-sighted person?

Moreover, with so much silver, even an ordinary, ignorant woman wouldn't be foolish enough to simply take it home.