The destiny of all heavens begins in the Red Chamber

The current state of the Great Qian Dynasty does not allow them to act so recklessly, and the civil service group does not yet have an overwhelming advantage over other interest groups!

They could learn from the royal family and guide their families to expand and occupy territories in the outer seas, but they lack the courage and drive to do so; they only want to take over the current city.

Relying on the rules set by the imperial court, they could exploit the people in the localities with impunity, seize their land and even their personal freedom by trickery, and make a fortune without lifting a finger.

There is absolutely no need to risk spending a huge amount of money to occupy those barren lands in the open sea.

Of course, if the royal family and relatives properly develop the overseas territories and the standard of living is not much worse than that of the Great Qian Dynasty, then they would not mind taking over those territories.

As for expecting them to take the initiative to expand, that's simply impossible!

If the goal is to seize territory in the open sea, the advantages of the civil service group are actually much greater than those of the combined forces of the royal family and nobles.

Don't forget the powerful families along the southeast coast; they are the true overlords of the coastal waters of the Great Qian Dynasty!

During the early Ming Dynasty, the pirate king Wang Zhi, whom they cultivated, and the Zheng family in the later period, were both hegemonic maritime forces that dominated the South China Sea.

They had the opportunity to occupy too many islands and territories in the open sea, but they just didn't do it!

Why?

It's not that they've lost their minds, but rather that developing offshore islands requires an enormous amount of resources and effort.

Having grown accustomed to the easy life of landlords and gentry, they had little interest in striving for success overseas.

Especially Wang Zhi, that fellow even went to Japan and established the Song Dynasty.

In the end, they still went to the southeastern coast of the former Ming Dynasty to cause trouble, and were eventually wiped out!

If he had been in Southeast Asia at that time, occupying one or two large islands, he could have truly established his own country.

Unfortunately, he couldn't let go of the allure of the glamorous world before him, and ended up losing everything he had!

There are also the powerful families along the southeast coast, who clearly made a fortune through overseas trade.

But ironically, he has absolutely no ambition.

Very few people are willing to go to the open sea to occupy islands and become local tyrants.

How could the cabinet leaders, who are the heads of the civil service, not be aware of these situations?

Their thinking is similar to that of the heads of powerful families in the southeastern coastal areas; they only want to reap the benefits that come easily.

Don't they even consider the situation of the royal family and the powerful nobles?

If they don't find a way to break through, it won't be long before they become just another ordinary person.

Meanwhile, the best among the civil service officials have joined forces to seize control of the selection power in the imperial examinations!

It can be said that as long as the family members are not truly foolish, it is not a difficult thing for them to enter officialdom through the imperial examination.

They could easily use the rules of the imperial court to help their family and the academy behind them grow stronger.

Everything was fine until the issue of overseas expansion put the civil service group in a rather awkward position.

Currently, there is no force in the court that can rival them, and naturally there are no other forces to act as a comparison point for them. They have to confront the current emperor directly in everything they do.

The current emperor is not someone who can be easily fooled!

Everything we do will be subject to the scrutiny and vigilance of the current emperor!

Just thinking about it makes you realize that the days ahead won't be easy!

How did things get to this point?

This situation has left even the cabinet leaders somewhat bewildered.

Such content is not recorded in previous historical books.

Even though the royal family and nobles had backed down and they had gained control of the court, and had also reaped considerable benefits in private, they were not happy at all.

There's no other reason than that during this period, the number of civil officials who have been removed from their posts by the current government is not just one or two!

It's not just the severe drought in Guanzhong and Northwest China that's being concealed by local officials.

Now, naturally or not, they've set their sights on the south, resulting in quite a few unfortunate officials being caught in the crossfire!

The money and grain of Jiangnan, the silk of Jiangnan, the shipbuilding of Jiangnan, the salt tax of Jiangnan, and so on, are all matters involving significant interests, and are valuable things that cannot be given up in the present day.

Shipbuilding, in particular, is a highly profitable industry—even a fool would know it's rife with exorbitant profits!

In the eyes of the current emperor, the shipbuilding industry is not just about making huge profits; it can even be said to be the most convenient resource for controlling a group of royal family members!

Shipbuilding is the lifeblood of the powerful families along the southeast coast, and they simply cannot give it up!

Chapter 382 Being a Holdout Resident Isn't Easy (Please Subscribe)

Lord She has left!

They left quietly and peacefully!

It didn't hang on a woman's belly, but quietly passed away in its own study while admiring antiques.

The timing was exactly ten days after Jia Cong's wedding!

Soon, the news spread, and both the Ning and Rong mansions were draped in mourning.

When it comes to sadness, almost no one experiences this kind of emotion.

In fact, everyone was already prepared for the possibility of the old master's passing.

There was no other reason. Even though it was such a grand wedding for Jia Cong, the master of the house was only shown up by being helped by others. It was clear that his body could no longer withstand the strain of the wedding.

No one expected that the master's health had deteriorated to such an extent.

Fortunately, both Yingchun's and Jia Cong's weddings had already been held, otherwise they would have had to wait at least three years!

Regardless, the passing of the eldest master was a major event for the Rong Mansion and even the entire Jia family in the capital.

Jia Cong immediately requested a long leave of absence to prepare for three years of mourning!

Jia Lian, who had just returned to his jurisdiction after attending Jia Cong's wedding, also took a three-year leave.

There was no other way; the Great Qian Dynasty ruled the country with filial piety in mind. Unless they were the current emperor's favorite ministers, there was simply no possibility of them being forced to disobey orders!

Jia Huan also requested a year's leave from the Emperor, as it was his duty as a nephew to observe a year of mourning.

Unexpectedly, the Second Master Zheng also requested a month's leave from the court, and he seemed quite sad.

Upon closer examination, it becomes understandable; although he and the master did not get along, they were, after all, brothers.

They even lived in the same mansion for over fifty years. How could they possibly have no feelings for each other at all?

However, as a younger brother, he naturally doesn't need to observe mourning.

The old lady's expression was quite calm, clearly indicating that she had been mentally prepared.

Madam Xing cried quite bitterly, but no one would think she was crying because of the master.

The master's attitude towards her was quite appalling, especially considering they were husband and wife.

Given Madam Xing's personality, she was probably worried about her life after the eldest master passed away!

This is easy to understand once you know about Madam Xing's life in recent years.

Madam Xing lived a very comfortable life on the estate outside the city, enjoying a leisurely and carefree existence.

She was able to manage the household affairs and earn money, and the servants on the estate treated her with great respect. Naturally, she wanted to continue living this way.

All of this is contingent on the fact that the master is still alive!

Fortunately, Jia Lian and Jia Cong stepped in in time and assured her that she would have a peaceful and comfortable old age, which made Madam Xing's appearance less 'prominent'.

In short, the Rong family held a grand funeral.

On the day of the funeral, mourning tents were erected in front of the gates of all the noble families in the capital.

The four kings, eight dukes, twelve marquises, and a number of surviving earl families, as well as many families of Taizong Congxun, all made their representations, making the scene quite grand.

At least, it was even more grand than the funeral procession of Qin Keqing in the original novel of Dream of the Red Chamber.

In fact, everyone knows perfectly well that if it weren't for the fact that members of the royal family couldn't be too blatant in their behavior, then the princes and their families, led by Prince Zhongshun, would probably have shown their true colors.

There's no other reason than that, given the conflict of interests, everyone is willing to give them this kind of face.

When the Rong family repays the favor later, it will be easier to discuss.

Because Lord She's ancestral home was Jinling, the Great Qian Dynasty valued the idea of ​​"returning to one's roots."

Therefore, the master's coffin will be temporarily placed in the Jia family's ancestral temple, the Iron Threshold Temple.

After Jia Lian and Jia Cong finished observing the hundred-day mourning period, they escorted the coffin south for burial.

During this period, all celebratory activities of the Rong Mansion and the Jia family in the capital will be suspended.

Of course, outsiders wouldn't care what happens in private.

However, if any trouble is caused during the mourning period and outsiders find out, the damage to the family's reputation will be quite severe.

In short, the patriarch's funeral was quite grand!

Although the Rong family has not yet recovered to its peak, its influence is by no means weak, and it can even be said to have reached a higher level.

After the funeral of the eldest master, the entire Rong Mansion, or rather the entire Jia family in the capital, seemed to fall into a state of silence, but the reality was far from that.

The main study in the front courtyard of the Rong Mansion, also known as the Mengpo Studio of the Second Master Zheng, was where most of the core members of the Jia family in the capital were located, including Lin Ruhai.