Towards the end of the year, Jinling entered an atmosphere that was quiet on the surface, but deep in restlessness.
The Beijing officials whose families were in other places began to buy gifts, and when the Chinese New Year was sealed and closed, they wanted to take leave and return to their hometowns.
Because of the inconvenience of the road, Daoyuan officials usually only returned home once every two years in previous years, but even if they went back last year, they plan to return to their hometown this year.
This year, after a great upheaval, the officials who survived the disaster were deeply touched and cherished the existence of family affection, and the filial sons wanted to appear in front of their parents as early as possible, so as not to make the old people worry.
The six ministries are busy with the year-end inventory, summarizing the affairs of the year, although busy, but because the year is approaching, the people in and out are with some peaceful joy, usually not to talk and laugh at this time The faces of the people are also softened.
If it is said that it is busy, it means that the Ministry of Officials and the Ministry of Rites are busier.
After this period of familiarity, the emperor will definitely readjust the officials of the six ministries and nine qing, and the officials of each department and the government are readjusted, and the examination is an extremely important reference, so that even a small official in the ministry is now in the house, and there are constantly all kinds of officials in and out, and there are more gifts and smiles, and the officials of the officials are also more smiling.
The Ministry of Rites is also very busy, at the beginning of the new year, the royal celebration of the New Year, worship the ancestors, clan reunion, has its own set of royal etiquette.
Change the Yuan Yongle, the celebration ceremony is more cumbersome, the vassal kings and feudal officials have successively sent people back to the court to see the driver, some foreign envoys received the Ming court notice that the new emperor ascended the throne, has also sent envoys, the envoys are hurrying to the capital to come, hoping to catch up with the big celebration of the first year of Yongle, the pilgrimage to the Son of Heaven.
Xia Xun is also busy these days, during the day he has to appear on the construction site of Da Bao'en Temple most of the time, there are now sixty or seventy thousand service migrant workers here, in that era, the project of gathering so many migrant workers to participate in is extremely huge, especially at the foot of the Son of Heaven, the emperor is also very concerned about the place where so many people are suddenly concentrated, if someone takes the opportunity to make a mess, or mismanagement to make a fire, Xia Xun this official in charge will have to be imprisoned.
Every day, he had to urge the officials of the Ministry of Industry to settle the money and grain, stop the construction projects one after another, repatriate the service workers and people back to their hometowns for the New Year in batches, and inspect the residential areas of the laborers to ensure the safety of fire, accompanied by the Soldiers and Horses of the Five Cities and Ying Tianfu.
In the evening, he also had to listen to his subordinates who came from Shuangyu Island report to him the various profits obtained by the smuggling network belonging to him in the radial smuggling to Yuben, Korea, and even the whole of Southeast Asia, and check the income and expenditure accounts.
After calculating the income and expenditure and profits, it is necessary to reward the meritorious deeds.
The members of the hidden dragon are also people, even if they usually do ground mice, they have to reunite with their families during the New Year, and the salary should be calculated clearly one by one and sent out in advance.
Xie Yufei helped him in these things before, and Xia Xun almost didn't have to interfere, but thank you is now pregnant, and excessive brain use is not good for pregnant women, so basically this matter can only be done by him alone.
The Flying Dragon Secret Spy is a private soldier subordinate to the emperor, this is a force that does not exist publicly but the emperor is very clear about its existence, this aspect is easy to do, Xia Xun only has to instruct the relevant personnel to calculate the various expenses of the New Year, go to the emperor for approval, and allocate it from the inner library.
Now that I think about it, although the efficiency of Luo Kedi's free-range secret spy is not very high, it does not have these troubles, which makes Xia Xun very envious.
Everyone in the DPRK and China is busy, and so are the people.
Jinling is the Yanjing of the Ming Dynasty, the merchants sit in Jia, there are many travelers from all over the country, and now they are returning to their hometowns one after another, and the waterway and dry roads are all people who are in a hurry to return to their hometowns.
The common people want to celebrate the New Year, and it seems that the Japanese are also going to celebrate the New Year.
The common people wanted to buy New Year's goods for the New Year, and the Japanese New Year was to take advantage of the larger-scale looting.
After the Governor's Office of the Five Armies drew up a plan to exterminate the Japanese Invaders, he had already communicated the general order to the coastal guards in conjunction with the Ministry of War, and the land and water cooperated to carry out the encirclement and suppression, but Xia Xun heard from the people who came from Shuangyu to report the situation, and the results seemed to be not satisfactory.
The sea frontier of the Ming Dynasty is too long, it is like a giant sleeping there, and the gang of Japanese gangs is like a swarm of mosquitoes, which are disturbed everywhere and cannot be prevented at all.
Once the coastal guards have assembled heavy troops, they have no deterrent effect, but they cannot effectively kill the Japanese invaders.
The Japanese did not want to capture military fortresses, but to grab money, food, women, and even children, once the officers and soldiers assembled, they could not defend such a large area of land, often after they heard the alarm and sent troops, the Japanese people had burned and looted and left.
If the garrison is dispersed, with the bravery of the Japanese people, the small Ming army will lose the upper hand in the confrontation.
Guanhaiwei, Taicangwei, and Shuangyuwei, who have sea ships, are even more exhausted, a general who has never touched the sea, and has never even seen a larger lake, let him use his greatest imagination, and he can't think of how difficult it is to find a team of Japanese pirates who don't want to fight you head-on at all in the vast sea, even with the speed of the ship hundreds of years later, the radar scanning range, and the reconnaissance radius of the aircraft, this is almost an impossible task, let alone relying on those wooden sailing ships.
Xia Xun didn't know very carefully, but as far as he heard about the situation, he already felt a headache, but he was helpless about it, and he couldn't even talk about it.
Because of the common people, if they heard that the war was not good, they could pour a few cups of yellow soup and talk about it while they were drinking, but because of his special surname, he couldn't.
In his position, there are too many relationships that need to be maintained in all aspects, up and down, especially to be careful not to interfere in things outside his own domain.
Unless he goes to the Imperial Court as an envoy, he can't ask everything.
Can you imagine that the Minister of Land and Resources went to the Ministry of National Defense and criticized the military bigwigs about a conflict between the two countries that took place on the border?
If you want to be a superman who takes care of everything, you must not even be a scum left in the end, but everything in all aspects, whether it is in Beijing or outside Beijing, including everything that happened in the East China Sea, he is trying his best to pay attention to it, because he is looking for an opportunity to get out of the whirlpool of competition.
As long as he stays in the capital, with the energy he has, he will inevitably become the target of contention between the two sides, and he will not be able to transcend it.
Of course, intervening in it and supporting a certain prince, with his status as a lord, may not be killed, but the risk of losing is far more than what may be gained, so what reason is there to get involved "Heavy ears are hard to live outside", his best choice is to go out.
But to go out, you need an opportunity and a name.
Before that, he could only carefully move between the two princes, neither showing too much enthusiasm, too deep, and trying to get out, but also not allowing them to feel like an "enemy".
These days, Xia Xun has tried his best to carefully maneuver between the two princes, fortunately, there has been no mistake, but the patience of the two princes is gradually wearing out, forcing him to express his stance faster and faster, and Xia Xun is almost unable to parry.
All this has made Xia Xun a little depressed recently, and he really feels a little physically and mentally exhausted.
Xie He Ziqi noticed that her husband had been worried recently, and she was extraordinarily gentle and considerate to him.
Although Ziqi's eyes are hot and thank her for being pregnant, she does not pester her husband all day long, although she is still the female heir of the arrogant and domineering Five Tigers Broken Door Knife, but a few years of married life have made her a young woman who knows cold and hot, gentle and considerate.
Today, Xia Xun had a busy day in Dabao'en Temple, and when he returned to the house, Zuo Dan was already waiting there.
Xia Xun called Zuo Dan to sit down together, ate something briefly, and then came to the study together.
Xia Xun listened carefully while drinking tea, and wrote down the main points on the paper if he was interested.
In the end, Zuo Dan said: "By the way, there is one more thing, the queen has released the wind to recruit county horses for the small county lord of Zhongshan Wangfu." ” "Oh" Xia Xun paused the tip of his pen and made a big black dot on the paper, Huo Di raised his head and asked, "Zhaojun Ma" Zuo Dan said with a smile: "Yes, today is the day when the ladies of the decree enter the palace to ask Niangniang for peace, Niangniang revealed the news, and now the news has spread in Jinling City, and the civil and military ministers who have marriageable men in the family are all in Zhangluo."
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Dingguo Gong and Guogong have always been relatively close, and he thought that the Guogong should also pay attention to this matter, if the county lord marries an official family who is not very compatible with the Guogong, it will have some influence on the Guogong Association. ” "Hmm" Xia Xun lowered his head again and scribbled on the paper, but he didn't know what he was writing at all, hesitated for a moment, and asked, "How much does it cost to climb this family?"
Zuo Dan said: "Yes, this county horse is different from the horse, there are not so many constraints, the county lord's sister is the queen of the dynasty, this family is very hot, even if it is a prince and a family who do not want to marry the princess, they are very keen on this matter."
Some of the eunuchs who heard the news were not qualified to give a message to the queen, and now they are asking for relationships everywhere and want to ask people to make peace. ” "Got it" Xia Xun responded lightly, and his heart was so confused for a while that he didn't even know how Zuo Dan got up to say goodbye.
It wasn't until there was a soft "click" from the door that he calmed down, and when he looked closely, he saw that a piece of paper had been painted black by him, and he could use it to write gold characters.
Xia Xun put down the pen, threw the paper into the paper basket, leaned back on the chair and let out a long breath.
Ming'er's voice and smile kept echoing in his mind, from the little girl who was dressed like a little white rabbit in fluffy clothes, staggering vividly on the snow peak of Yanshan Mountain; Then the cat-like charm tiptoed to his side, with a pair of small hands to pick up his cheeks, and the soft dreamy voice sweetly confided in him "Uncle, I like you so much" The pure cute girl didn't think, the long pain is not as good as the short pain, the purpose was not achieved, how did the heart be empty, there was a feeling of loss.
Xia Xun wandered in the courtyard boredly, and suddenly there was a bleak flute sound in his ears, listening to it for a while, and walking along the flute, the flute was a Qiang flute, and the music was full of an exotic style, with a sense of desolation and sadness.
Xia Xun walked around, only to find that the sound came from the residence of the two Qiuzi girls, their residence was west of Su Ying's courtyard, the most remote corner of the mansion, at night, there were few people, and there were no lights, which seemed more infiltrating.
Xia Xun then remembered that he had taken them back to the house, so he left them here to fend for themselves, and he didn't even bother these days.
He walked to the small courtyard where the two lived, and when he saw a glimmer of light shining through the hall, he walked over.
When they arrived at the door, they happened to hear the flute stop inside, and the two girls answered a few words in a language they did not understand, and after a while of silence, the faint sound of the flute sounded again.
Xia Xun pushed the door, the door creaked, and the two girls inside heard someone, "Ah" exclaimed, one of them turned around, hurriedly tied the veil on his face, and the other lost the flute, the veil was just half covered, and saw Xia Xun come in, surprised and delighted, quickly put down the veil, hurriedly walked to him, knelt down on his knees, and said respectfully: "Master" "Get up."
Xia Xun looked at her, this was the first time he had seen the appearance of this Qiuzi girl, with deep eye sockets, straight nose bridge, fair complexion, and clear facial features, with a unique charm of a young European female surname.
"You are" "I am your slave girl, master" "No, no, no, I mean what's your name" "The slave's name is Celine, master."
"Oh, Cyrin, I don't have so many rules here, I don't need to keep saying master, master, get up and speak."
"Yes, master."
Xia Xun was helpless, and looked at another girl who had just knelt down, her veil had been tied, and when she saw Xia Xun lifting her chin to her, she was busy standing up, and stood with her hands bowed respectfully.
Xia Xun walked past them and sat down on the chair, and the two Qiuzi girls immediately followed, knelt down on the left and right, and gently beat his legs.
They have been cultivated as female slaves since childhood, and these rules of waiting for their masters have become natural, and they are very natural to do, without any sense of pretentiousness.
Xia Xun originally wanted to call them up, but he raised his hand, but he didn't bother to correct it, just looked at them, and said: "At home, what are you still doing with a veil, this big night, if you go to the courtyard for a walk, be careful that the courtyard will treat you as a robber." ” The two girls obviously understood this joke, the two looked at each other, and there was a smile in their eyes, and the girl who was still veiled took off the veil, this girl was even more beautiful, the corners of her mouth were slightly upturned, and she seemed to be born with a sweet smile, and her beautiful appearance looked a little familiar, Xia Xun thought about it, and suddenly remembered the Jessica Alba of the Fantastic Four, which was really very similar.
Xia Xun asked, "What's your name?"
"The slave's name is Jeanne."
"Jeanne, what are you always doing with the veil" Jeanne replied meekly, "Master, a woman is a shy body except for her hands and feet, and only her own parents and her man can see it, and no one else can see it." ” "Oh" Xia Xun rubbed his nose and said embarrassedly: "Then you better cover up." ” Xi Lin said seriously: "Master, we just mistook it for someone else, so we hurriedly tied the veil, everything we have belongs to the master, and in front of the master, there is no need to hide it." ” Xia Xun was a little overwhelmed, and changed the topic: "Did you just play the music of your hometown?"
Jeanne replied: "Yes master, this is the music of our hometown.
We were far away from our hometown, and at night we were cold, lonely, and in a bad mood, so we played the music of our hometown, not expecting to disturb the host. ” "Hometown" Xia Xun came out of his mind for a while, looked at them, and suddenly asked, "If I can send you back, are you willing to go back to your hometown?"
The two girls looked at each other and lowered their heads slightly.
Xia Xun asked, "How?"
Xilin replied softly: "The slave can see that the master's kindness comes from the heart, but although we miss our hometown, it is only because it is where we grew up, we don't want to go back, we don't want to go back. ” Xia Xun frowned and asked, "Why?"
Jeanne said faintly: "Wise master, what do you think if we two girls go back, how will we survive and protect ourselves?"
Xia Xun was silent for a moment, thinking of Ming'er who couldn't take it and couldn't give it up, he couldn't help but sigh deeply, and muttered: "It's not as good as you want, but it's the same as a language person."
The two girls didn't quite understand this verse, but they could see that the owner didn't seem to be happy.
Although they have been spending most of their time in this courtyard these days, they have also learned a little about their master, and know that he is a very powerful noble lord in this great eastern empire.
They are troubled by being far from their homeland, troubled by hunger and indeterminacy, and what are the troubles of a powerful person like their master?
They were very curious, but they didn't ask very obediently, Xia Xun instructed: "That piece just now, play it again, I want to hear it too." ” Jeannabisilin, who looks a lot like Jessica, is more lively and boldly asks, "Does the master like this song?"
Xia Xun sighed: "I'm just not in a good mood" The desolate, homesick Qiang flute is still wafting, Xia Xun has left the Qiuzi girl's residence, strolling towards the back house.
When passing across the pond Hongqiao, Xia Xun leaned on the railing, looked up at the moon, and stood stunned for a long time, perhaps reminiscing about the fragrant kiss of Ming'er.
This situation can be recalled, but it was already clear at the time.
In the back house, a window in the flower hall was hidden, and a ray of light could be seen from a distance through the crack in the window.
Jinling's winter is not too cold, there is a brazier in the house, although it is warm, but the air is not very good, although it is a good animal charcoal, but Xia Xun said to thank you, don't close the doors and windows too strictly, try to penetrate the air, I can't think of thank you to say that he doesn't understand anything, but really remember it in his heart.
Xia Xun looked at it, a smile appeared on the corner of his mouth, and quietly walked over and walked under the window.
There are three people in the room, thank you, Ziqi and Xiao Di.
Thank you is sewing a piece of clothing, it is a hundred clothes for children, thank you who has never touched needlework before, you have done a stitch and a thread very seriously, and the corners of your lips and eyes are satisfied and happy smiles.
Xiao Di was eating, there were several fruit plates in front of him, which were filled with all kinds of dried fruits, Xiao Di was very happy, while eating by himself, while picking up some melon seeds and walnut kernels, peeling the skin, and putting it in front of Xie Xie, thank you to eat a grain of sews.
Ziqi lazily lay on the table, pouting and looking at Xie sewing clothes.
Xie glanced at her and chuckled, "You don't need to be like this, look at your resentful look."
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Hehe, my baby was born, and I have to call you a mother, I don't have to work hard to give birth to myself, I have a child to hold, and you are not happy."
"Really" Ziqi's eyes lit up: "What you said, when the child is born, you have to call me mother, no, no, no, you have to call me mother first."
Well, when he is born, I will teach him to speak, the first mother, it must be mine, hahahaha" Xiao Di wrinkled her nose and said very seriously: "Two ladies, is it so fun to have a child, I heard my mother say, it hurts to have a child, and I don't want to have children when I get married in the future."
Xie glanced at her, sneered and said, "Ghost girl, don't pretend in front of me, who are you going to marry in the future, aren't you the person your young master has set?"
Xiao Di's face turned red, and he said, "Madam, what are you talking about?"
Ziqi suddenly came to his senses, Huo Di sat up and said, "When is it really happening, why don't I know?"
Xiao Di ate and said, "No, Mrs.
Yu is joking." ” Thank you pouted and said: "Hmph, Mrs.
Ben's eyes are like torches, and all the charms and spirits are nothing to hide in front of Mrs.
Ben."
Xiao Di's face was like a big red cloth, and he hurriedly defended, "There really isn't" The three women were laughing in the room, and Xia Xun stood outside the window and couldn't help but laugh softly.
"Rushing is only for hunger, so that you have food and clothing.
Put Aya Luo on her body, and look up and think the house is low. built tall buildings and mansions, but there were few beautiful wives in front of the bed.
The wife and concubine are all married, and they are worried that there is no horse in front of the door to climb to the old position, and every time they think about ascending the throne.
As soon as he said that he sat in the south of the world, he wanted the gods to come to play chess, and if it wasn't for this person's big limit, it would be too low to go up to the ladder."
With this song in his heart, Xia Xun's mood was much happier: "The past is gone, let go of what should be put down."
He adjusted his mood, pushed the door and smiled, "What are you talking about, so happy" To be continued: