The head of the Red Mansion

Chapter 289 Madman
Let's fight together?

A smile flashed in the Empress's eyes, but she still had to ask the questions that needed to be asked: "On the surface, it is possible. We have revolving muskets, but the best iron and copper materials for making revolving muskets are in short supply."

This is the real reason why the emperor felt guilty.

The iron and copper materials currently used to manufacture the revolver cannon can be said to be the accumulated wealth of the retired emperor over half his life.

Now, if the couple wants to save money again... who knows when that will be.

"Urgent?"

Shen Ning frowned. "Doesn't Japan have a lot of copper and iron?"

"But... they've already limited the quantity available for sale to Da Zhao."

"Does Your Majesty still remember the strategy for defeating the Japanese pirates?"

A flash of murderous intent appeared in Shen Ning's eyes. "Take advantage of this moment and put pressure on Japan. Either they open up the supply, or... we'll attack them and take it ourselves."

Queen: "..."

emperor:"……"

The emperor inside the room was filled with regret. Why had he hidden there?
He should go out and try to bump into someone!
He actually intended to put pressure on Japan, but there was still considerable resistance from the court.

Many ministers believe that the current Wokou (Japanese) disturbances are mainly caused by certain large merchants and common people along the coast. Although some Japanese are involved, the main problem lies with their own families.

"Wanting to fight Japan... especially now, is really not that easy."

The Empress sighed, "Don't even mention that we are at war in both the north and south. Just consider that we are separated from Japan by mountains and sea, and they pose no threat to us. If this were brought up in the court, the ministers would not agree."

If not handled carefully, the emperor might be labeled a warmongering tyrant.

"Japan has a large amount of copper, iron and silver."

Shen Ning said, “I didn’t say we had to fight Japan. We can use both kindness and force, and advance from both sides, to force them to open up their supplies to us. As for how to implement it, isn’t that something that the officials in the court should be thinking about?”

The things that Da Zhao desperately needed, Japan possessed, but they were unwilling to give them. What does this show? It shows that they couldn't stand to see us doing well.

Those ministers, instead of devising a solution, make all sorts of excuses. What kind of people are they? What face do they have to stand in the court?

They all just want to be complacent officials. Things are peaceful now, but what about later?

"...The Emperor often complains to me about it too."

A smile flashed in the Empress's eyes. "I will certainly pass on my sister's words."

Pass it on?

Shen Ning paused slightly and smiled, "The Emperor is in charge of making decisions in the court. Today... it was actually me who overstepped my bounds."

"Haha, what's wrong with us sisters talking?"

The Empress smiled and said, "Sister, you can speak freely with me."

“Then I…” Shen Ning blinked, “will I just be a wild and unruly person this once?”

"when!"

The Empress wanted her to be a wild scholar.

"Your Majesty, during the reign of Emperor Chengzu of Ming, all nations came to pay tribute. Tell me, how vast was this world?"

Queen: "..."

emperor:"……"

Both of them were stumped by the question.

As emperor and empress, didn't they want the Great Zhao Dynasty to dominate the world?

I want it so badly, I dream about it all the time.

However, Emperor Taizu died too early, and the retired emperor was in poor health from a young age, so he had to make do with handling state affairs, which led to his elder brother, the crown prince, starting to participate in politics when he was just over ten years old.

Being able to participate in politics and being in power are completely different things.

With so many princes, the fathers and sons became suspicious of each other, and the Great Zhao Dynasty was constantly embroiled in internal strife.

The emperor himself has been on the throne for several years, but last year he was overwhelmed with problems and suffered from all sides.

This year……

"Why are the Russians so undeterred by the bitter cold, relentlessly attacking us from the north? And what about the English and Portuguese ships that have come by several times? Were their ships powerful? Were their cannons powerful? Were their muskets powerful? Were they this powerful from the beginning?"

Shen Ning said, "They are conquering the world, conquering the world by crossing mountains and seas. What are we doing?"

Queen: "..."

She was stunned.

"What would have happened if we had been even slightly weaker? Would we have ended up like the Qing Dynasty, or like the Tartars clinging to life?"

Shen Ning said, "The world is already changing. If it were us, crossing mountains and seas to fight others, could we achieve the same results as the Russians? And what about the English and the Portuguese? Do we know how many countries they have fought all the way from the sea?"

Why would Russia, England, or the Portuguese do something that doesn't bring them any benefit?

What good can come of someone who just focuses on their own little plot of land and is complacent all day long?

"Your Majesty, if we fall behind, we will be attacked."

Shen Ning sighed, "I remember reading in a book that Bi Maokang, a weapons expert in the late Ming Dynasty, created a self-fired flintlock musket. It was a percussion flintlock musket that used the friction of flint to generate fire and fire the musket."

The reason it wasn't promoted back then was because Bi Maokang experienced many ups and downs in his official career, coupled with various malpractices at the end of the Ming Dynasty, which buried his talent.

His flintlock musket masters might know something about it; if it could be improved upon and applied to today's revolver muskets… Your Majesty, what do you think it would be like?”

Queen: "..."

Her heart started racing.

The emperor in the story couldn't wait to access all of Bi Maokang's records.

“In the late Ming Dynasty, the people were living in misery, but the main reason why the Qing Dynasty stole the country was, in my opinion, that when Kong Youde surrendered, he took away the arsenal that Xu Guangqi had set up in Dengzhouwei. At that time, his Hongyi cannons alone had a range of up to 4,000 paces.”

Its arsenal had more than 1,300 artisans.

That's why when he surrendered, Huang Taiji personally led a group of princes to meet him ten miles outside the city.

They greeted them with the most solemn embrace.

They massacred Han Chinese, but often turned a blind eye to artisans with various skills.

Your Majesty, they all know that craftsmen cannot be killed, but what about us? How much have we valued them?

Even today, we still talk about scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants, but frankly, this still reflects an excessive veneration of scholars.

"Wait~"

The Empress gestured for her to stop, "Sister, you are also a scholar, how can you behave like this..."

"Your Majesty, I am a scholar, but throughout history, are scholars who are exempt from military service and taxes really so good?"

"..."

The queen was silent.

Land annexation has always been a major headache for dynasties throughout history.

During the Ming Dynasty, a scholar who passed the imperial examinations could be exempted from taxes on eighty mu of land.

If they didn't own that much land, they would put their own land under the names of their relatives and friends to evade taxes.

There are more as you go up.

A successful candidate in the provincial examination (举人) would have 400 mu of land, a candidate in the imperial examination (进士) would have 2,000 mu, and so on until the late Ming Dynasty…

The Empress sighed. "Does my sister think scholars should also pay taxes?"

At the founding of the People's Republic of China, Chairman Mao had already halved the preferential treatment given to scholars, and then reduced it again...

"Not only that!" Shen Ning said, "I want to say that officials and gentry should pay taxes together!"

Boom~
The emperor in the room suddenly stood up.

"...Does Sister think that the Ningguo Prefecture should also pay taxes like ordinary people?"

The Empress couldn't help but grip the armrest tightly.

"Shouldn't it be?"

Shen Ning countered, "Compared to ordinary people, the more powerful aristocratic families become, the more land they own. When all the taxes of a country are borne by ordinary people, that's when officials force the people to rebel."

Queen: "..."

"Your Majesty, would you like to hear what happens next?"

"miss you!"

The Empress nodded vigorously.

"The poll tax was merged into the land tax, and the fire loss tax was returned to the public."

Shen Ning smiled at her, "Increase the national treasury revenue, value innovative craftsmen, relocate Han people to the Northeast, provide subsidies and land."

"Wait, wait, sister, let me have someone write it down."

Fearing that she and the Emperor might have forgotten, the Empress quickly gave the head palace maid a wink.

Soon, the writing brush, ink, paper, and inkstone were all prepared.

The head palace maid is here; of course, someone who can serve the Empress must be excellent in every way.

Shen Ning wrote down almost every word she said.

The Empress was relieved after confirming there were no problems. "Sister has many ideas, but to implement them..."

"Your Majesty, as long as the North and South win a few more battles, everything else... will fall into place naturally."

Whether dealing with external threats or internal ones, force is the most important thing.

The emperor understood her unfinished words. Conquering Annam would mean at least two rice harvests a year, which would solve most of the army's food needs.

Take over the North again...

The emperor was filled with fervor.

He was given an enormous pie in the sky.

Although he can only look at it and not touch it for now, as long as he does it, one day he will be able to touch it.

The Emperor really wanted to make an exception and allow Lady Shen to attend court as well!
pity……

Seeing that it was getting dark, he knew that the Empress was about to send someone away.

Hey~
We can't have a long, heart-to-heart talk!
He listened to the sounds outside and heard the Empress personally seeing people off from Kunning Palace before coming out of the inner room with the paper written down by the head palace maid.

"What happened today must not be told to anyone!"

Although the people accompanying him today were all the Empress's confidants, the Emperor still gave her a word of advice: "Empress, I'll take this. I have other matters to attend to today, so I'll come back tomorrow."

He was so excited.

Since I can't have a long talk with Mrs. Shen, I can only turn to Mr. Liu.

"...Please take your time."

The Empress knew from his appearance that he was going to harass Mr. Liu.

Never mind, he's agitated right now, she won't argue with him.

As the emperor strode away, the empress turned and ordered the head palace maid, "I just remembered, bring another serving."

She can talk to the child about it later.

When Shen Ning returned to Ningguo Mansion, she was followed by three carriages carrying nearly a hundred jars of various imperial wines.

If her hand injury hadn't been still not fully healed, she would have loved to open a jar right away.

Finally, without taking any risks, I said everything that needed to be said.

From now on, you can enjoy a wonderful life.

When she got home, she went to see her daughter immediately, but to her surprise, the little one was still with Mr. Zhan at Ningcui Pavilion.

"Qingzhu, bring two jars of wine and come with me to Ningcui Pavilion."

"Yes!"

Qingzhu smiled and had several old women carry two jars of wine along with them.

Zhan Xue still adored her young disciple who had been by her side for a long time. When Shen Ning arrived, she was drawing a little girl riding on the back of a chubby dog, looking adorable.

Of course, Jia Yue, who was being held by the maid, was also looking at herself and Fatty in the painting with amazement.

She spoke in a babyish, childlike voice, mostly to her dog and little to her husband.

Fatty was very accommodating, barking at her every now and then.

Its little tail swished wildly.

"Great painting, I'll take it."

Shen Ning fell in love with him at first sight.

"That won't do, these are for my students."

"Ahh~~"

Jia Yue happily reached out to her mother for a hug.

The little guy wants to see his mother at night.

Although they could usually spend time with their older brother, nephew, or Qin Keqing, these past few days, as the younger generation, they still had to accompany Jia Zheng and Wang Shi in their mourning.

"Your student? Is it her?"

"nature!"

Zhan Xue wrote the inscription and pressed her own seal on it. "As long as Yue'er doesn't ask you for it, I have no objection."

"Yue'er, did you hear that?" Shen Ning smiled as she took the little girl in her arms and demonstrated to her daughter, "Mommy needs you to nod. Look, it's like this."

"Ahhh~~"

The little girl waved her hand and nodded happily at her.

"That's right, just like that, you're such a good baby."

Shen Ning kissed him.

The little guy immediately burst into laughter.

Zhan Xue simply couldn't bear to look.

"Sir, I acquired several jars of fine imperial wine today."

The wine has already been brought in.

"Here are two jars for you. We'll have a chance to drink and chat sometime in the future."

Ok?
Zhan Xue blinked. "Okay."

The passing of the second master and second mistress of the West Mansion was actually a happy event for the East Mansion and even the entire Jia family.

However, no one wanted to show their joy openly.

But Mrs. Shen seemed genuinely happy today.

Zhan Xue felt that she must have encountered a happy event in the palace. "Although we can't drink and chat together today, I can drink first to show the lady."

"Hahaha~"

Shen Ning laughed, "That's fine too."

She's always been the one getting free meals, but today she got one herself, which is quite ironic.

They were happily eating there, unaware that Jia Zhu, sensing something amiss, had been waiting in Grandmother Jia's courtyard for most of the day at the Rongguo Mansion.

After my grandfather passed away, my grandmother rarely went out.

He was much better yesterday and came to pay his respects, but he didn't see his grandmother. He's like this again today.

And Baoyu, it's so late, and he still hasn't come back.

His head maid, Xiren, was also not at home.

This is wrong, this is so wrong.

Jia Zhu felt a little flustered.

"Does the old man want to go back to Pear Fragrance Courtyard?"

Amber saw him get up and hurriedly asked what was wrong.

"No, go to Rongxi Hall."

Jia Zhu glanced at her, then turned and left.

But it was clear that neither the eldest uncle nor the aunt were present at Rongxi Hall.

The maids and servants, just like those in the grandmother's courtyard, all treated him with utmost care.

What could have caused them to act this way?

"Sir, your wife isn't feeling well and wants you to go home."

When Su Yun arrived, she was panting heavily.

"What's wrong? Did you call the imperial physician?"

"I've already summoned the imperial physician; you should go back now!"

"...Let's go!"

Jia Zhu paused for a moment, but still concerned, "Suyun, please invite Fourth Aunt as well. With elders around, we'll feel more at ease."

"Yes!"

Without hesitation, Su Yun went to Jia Min's place again.

Jia Zhu glanced at her departing figure, knowing that what was happening in the mansion was probably being kept secret from Pear Fragrance Courtyard.

At least Su Yun knew nothing about it.

Jia Zhu slowly walked back, accompanying the family physician to write a prescription for his wife to stabilize her pregnancy. After all the medicine was prepared, sure enough, only Su Yun returned.

"Isn't Fourth Aunt home?"

"Yes!"

Su Yun was also quite puzzled. "She said she went to accompany Third Aunt to look at houses, and she might be back very late."

"Uncle~"

Unlike Su Yun, who was still a bit silly.

Li Wan had already noticed something was wrong. "My stomach is upset. Quickly brew me the medicine."

"……it is good!"

Jia Zhu walked out, saying, "Just lie there, I'll have someone bring the medicine over in a bit."

He instructed the old woman to brew the medicine, but then he went to the East Mansion himself.

I recommend my friend Miss Apple's new book, "Superpower Awakening Goes Wild, Everyone Enters the Shura Field". It's about how relatives who eat my food, live in my house, and spend my money still want to be the master of my house and bully me.

If you like it, add it to your bookshelf first!