Early winter. A winter rain fell on Jinling City, rustling. It is like fine powder, floating in the woods and the city.

Jinling Chengzhong District, Runde Fang. Two miles away from Rongguo Mansion, adjacent to Suzaku Street, there is a mansion covering an area of 100 acres. Magnificent and quiet. This is the residence of Jia Huan, his wife, concubine, and children in Jinling: Zhaowen Garden.

A eunuch, accompanied by several Jinyi guards and Yuan Mei, the prefect of Jinling, arrived in Jiafu in the rain. Subsequently, it was learned that Jia Huan was not in the house. The messengers waited in Jiafu.

In a tiled house near Jiaomen in the southeast of Jiafu, Hu Xiaosi, the third housekeeper of Zhaowenyuan, was playing mahjong with three stewards. There were a few other servants waiting. There was a loud noise. He was almost forty years old.

Several people were chatting about the results of the football team in Jiafu: the football team of Xinfeng Bank and a team from Zhenjiang. This is not because of how high the collective honor of the servants of Zhaowenyuan is, but because Jinling Football Lottery is prevalent.

Polo was prevalent in Beijing, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs cooperated with Jin merchants to sell polo lottery tickets. The lack of horses in the south of the Yangtze River and the vertical and horizontal waterways, under the initiative of Jia Huan, developed a model of the former dynasty Keju: similar to English football. Then it became popular in Jiangnan. Jia Huan took advantage of the situation to form a football league and unite the Hui businessmen in Jiangnan. Issuance of football lotteries.

At this time, a small servant came panting from outside and said, "Steward Hu, the Qincha from Jingzhong is here." Steward Hua sent someone to find the third master and came back. ”

"Bump! 80,000" Hu Xiaosi played a card in a good time, and said with a smile: "Boy, the new guy, right?" Fuss! Didn't the palace send Qin that year? A few years ago, I fought Goryeo and Dongying, and there were three times when I came to Qincha three times a day. ”

Several of the stewards who were playing cards laughed. Don't say what the status of your third master in the world and Jingshi is, just in this Jinling City, who doesn't respect it?

…

…

Capital. The weather on winter nights is bitterly cold. When he was in Yongfang, in the main room of Qi Mansion, Qi Chi was resting in bed Zeng Jin, a bachelor he had promoted, and Xiao Pi had just come to visit him. The face looked pale. After nearly ten years in power, heavy government affairs have ravaged his body.

Qi Chi, a sixty-three-year-old scholar of the Middle Pole Temple, is going through the difficulties of his life! The doctor advised him to recuperate so that he could survive the future. If we continue to deal with government affairs, I am afraid that the day will not be over.

Qi Chi's eldest son walked in lightly and called in a low voice: "Father..., Hu Yuan is here." ”

Qi Chi opened his eyes, recuperated his spirits, and said weakly: "Please let him in." ”

A moment later, Hu Chi, the king of southwest money, came in from outside, dressed in a black shirt, with a thin, short figure. Seeing Qi Chi lying on the bed like this, tears almost fell, and said, "Dashuai..."

Since the fourteenth year of Yongzhi, he has followed Qi Chi, all the way to the southwest to expand thousands of miles, pacify the Western Regions and Mobei, and govern for another nine years. Affectionate and deep.

Qi Chi smiled with difficulty and said, "Xingzhai, I have always been strict, and I think that in the future, all the officials in the world can breathe a sigh of relief." Ha ha. Ha ha. He took a few breaths before he finished speaking.

Hu Chi, who was nearly seventy years old, couldn't help crying at this time. looked at the prime minister who had been in the court for nearly ten years. Once upon a time, the name of Qi Xiang made all the officials in the world cheer up!

This is God, let a strong political figure come to an end!

Qi Chi comforted: "Don't worry, I won't be Zhang Taiyue." At the age of fifty-eight, he died of exhaustion in office. I went back to Sichuan to recuperate. There will be a time when you and I will see each other again. It's just that before I left, I couldn't feel at ease with the new deal. You go to Jinling on my behalf and talk to Ziyu. ”

Hu Chi nodded tearfully, "Hmm." "No nonsense. He knew that the spirit of the handsome man was limited.

Qi Chi gasped, with a look of memory on his face, and said: "Nine years in power, I am worthy of my heart and history!" Although, in the past nine years, I have eliminated some of Ziyu's influence. But, this is inevitable.

Ziyu's set of concepts, I won't ask for them all. He may not be able to see all of my things. You take my handwritten letter to Jinling and ask him to let my new policy continue for a few more years. Zeng Dashen (Zeng Jin) will do it for me. ”

In the past nine years, he has abolished the maladministration of the previous dynasty. Changing the transportation to sea transportation, the grain from Annan and Jiangnan was transported to Tianjin by sea to ensure grain supply and stabilize grain prices. Reform the salt law. Implementation of paper money. With cement roads, rebuild the world's official roads. Sent a large army to conquer Goryeo, Dongying, and occupy Khorasan.

Such an achievement, the history of self-comment.

Hu Chi bowed and saluted, and admitted: "Yes, handsome." ”

…

…

Yongxing 8th year, mid-October. The cold wind was so cold that it stabbed the pedestrians on the street and shrunk their necks.

In the private room on the second floor of the Jixian Building in the Jinchuan Gate, Jia Huan and Mr. Longjiang, the secretary of Nanjing, drank relatively well.

Jixian Lou is a well-known restaurant in Jinling, and the flavor of Jinling cuisine is excellent. The "cloud" word room is decorated with classical and gorgeous, and the wine and delicacies on the table of the eight immortals in the middle are displayed, and a pot of warm Shaoxing rice wine is warm.

Nine years ago, Mr. Long Jiang attended the inauguration ceremony of Wendao Academy, and after returning to Jiangnan, he was prosperous in official fortune. He successively served as the political envoy of Lingnan Zuobu, the governor of Su Song, the secretary of the household department of Nanjing, and the secretary of the Ministry of Nanjing officials.

Mr. Long Jiang sighed slightly and said, "Ziyu, some time ago, the Son of Heaven sent Qin. It's a pity for Qi Zhongtang. ”

During the reign of Qi scholars, the government was harmonious and the country's national strength was restored. It can be called a generation of famous faces. Sixty-three years old is a golden age for a Zaisuke. Now Scholar Qi is seriously ill, which is a pity!

Of course, judging from the Zaizhi of the Ming Dynasty, there are many Zaifu who are in their sixties or die of illness. For example, Li Xian was fifty-nine years old when he died, and Peng Shi died of illness at the age of sixty. Li Dongyang was 65 years old when he was born, and Zhang Juzheng died at the age of 58.

It's one thing to feel a pity, to feel emotional. In addition, Qi University is a scholar, but I am afraid that there will be another turmoil in the court.

Jia Huan raised his glass, drank a drink with Mr. Longjiang, did not hide it, and said: "Hu Xingzhai also arrived in Jinling yesterday. Qi Zhongtang recommended: Zeng Dashen is the ruling minister. Yin Peng, the secretary of the Ministry of Officials, was promoted to a scholar of Dongge University. ”

It's not just the decree of Ziwen. Qi Dashuai's private message was also brought by Hu Chi. A few days earlier, Xiao'er's letter was also delivered by the post. The letters, stamped with the seal of the eldest princess, followed the official document system, and were delivered quickly. She worries about political changes.

Mr. Long Jiang was slightly surprised, groaned for a while, and said, "Qi Zhongtang wants Xiao Gui Cao to follow?" ”

"Hmm." Jia Huan nodded. He did not approve of this arrangement before Governor Qi's speech. Zeng Jin's character is not strong enough, and he is slightly insufficient as a ruling minister. asked: "The scenery of the northern country is infinitely good, what does Mr. Longjiang mean?" ”

Mr. Longjiang raised his head and smiled, and said, "Ziyu's imperial poem in Beijing that day has been widely circulated!" There are so many delicate rivers and mountains, leading countless heroes to bend their waists. Recently, there has been another accident in the textile factory, and Ziyu should pay attention to one or two. ”

In the past two years in the south of the Yangtze River, with the Ministry of Industry, Shaofu, and private textile technicians jointly developed a five-year-long loom to promote, the textile industry has grown day by day. In recent years, not only has the price of rice stabilized, but the price of salt has plummeted, and the price of cloth has also fallen.

The rise of textile factories has left a large number of workers unemployed. If it weren't for the imperial court's immigration policy to the Western Regions, Liaodong, and Annam, I was afraid that civil unrest would break out suddenly. In addition, the accident at the end of the factory in three days was often reported by the newspapers.

Jia Huan smiled and nodded. He knew these things in his heart. This is the inevitable throes of the transition from handicrafts to industrialization. In the United Kingdom, there was also a "sheep eat man" enclosure movement.

Jia Huan and Mr. Longjiang drank wine, looked at the pocket watch, and at about one o'clock in the afternoon, pushed him to play mahjong, got up to say goodbye, and said with a smile: "I made an appointment to listen to the play." ”

"Is it the Peach Blossom Fan or the Legend of the White Snake?" Mr. Long Jiang teased. These are two of the most popular love songs today. Say goodbye to Jia Huan at the door of Jixian Building.

…

…

The most well-known theater in Jinling, Jinsheng Garden, is located in the north of Confucius Temple, that is, the former Ming Dynasty Zhongshan Palace. Jia Huan's carriage came slowly from the Jixian Building at Jinchuan Gate.

In these years, with the reign of Qi scholars, the national strength of the Zhou Dynasty began to recover. The price of rice in Beijing is stable at 10 yuan per stone. Against the backdrop of moderate inflation, this is a very low price.

The abundant food supply and the breeding of the population have given rise to a large number of various leisure and entertainment activities: Kunqu opera, polo, football, theaters, mahjong, cross talk, storytelling, drums, etc. Among them, opera is in full bloom.

Jinsheng Garden is Jia Huan's industry, not far from Jia Huan's Zhaowen Garden. Shishi, Weiwei, and Yuhua occasionally take the stage to sing songs.

The Golden Sound Garden is divided into two areas. Jia Huan's carriage will stop in the garden behind Jiafu and follow the stairs to the quiet "ground" box on the second floor.

The antique atmosphere of the booth arrangement. It is furnished with soft couches, tables and chairs. Warm as spring.

At this moment, on the soft couch in the middle, there is a beautiful woman wearing a light white robe, who looks to be in her early thirties, slender and graceful. The temperament is gentle and charming. It has a beautiful woman's style that is soaked through.

It was Qin Keqing who followed Jia Huan to live in Jinling.

There was a knock on the box door, the maid opened the door, Qin Keqing hurriedly got up, and when she saw that it was Jia Huan coming in, the pretty goose egg showed a heartfelt smile on her face, took two steps forward, greeted him, and said gently: "Uncle Huan!" ”

Jia Huan smiled and held her in his arms, caressing her affectionately, "Keqing, wait a while, right?" ”

"Hmm. I'm waiting for Uncle Huan. Qin Keqing nodded gently, with infinite tiredness. was about to snuggle in Jia Huan's arms, and saw that Jia Huan was still followed by mandarin ducks and attackers. "Ahh At this moment, the charm flowed out, which can be called a stunner!

She's such a character. The character is weak, and the heart must be strong. But in life, people are actually quite interesting.

The two of them smiled and greeted, "Sister Qin." "The past has become a cloud of smoke. She did not live in Zhaowen Garden, but in the courtyard next door behind Zhaowen Garden. and Jia Huan have a son and a daughter.

Qin Keqing returned the salute.

A few people casually greeted each other. Baozhu took the little maids out of the box and brought them to the door.

Qin Keqing bent over, poured tea and water, gentle and meticulous. Beautiful eyes swept over Jia Huan's face, and he smiled softly, with the softness of spring water.

Jia Huan admired her beautiful style, and sat down with mandarin ducks and raiders. A thirty-eight-year-old beauty, with a face and figure, is still like a beautiful woman in her early thirties at this time, gentle and intoxicating.

The attacker has a gentle and obedient temperament, with a smile on the corner of his mouth, and eats tea with his head down.

The mandarin duck was a coquettish glance at Jia Huan. When the third master became ridiculous, it was indeed very absurd.

After a while, the White Snake opened.

"Bai Suzhen at the foot of Qingcheng Mountain, cultivating this body in the cave for thousands of years..."