The True Winner of the Red Chamber

When everyone thought that Kang He was lying in the Zhen Mansion weakly and recovering from his illness, he and Zhen Yingjia disguised themselves and went out quietly.

None of the officials, large and small, in Jinling knew about it.

Since the two had already changed into civilian clothes, they naturally couldn't go to a good place.Even going in and out every day, there is no carriage to sit in, and it is up to the two of them to walk by themselves.

After walking around like this for two days, Kang He felt emotional again.

"I thought Jiangnan was a prosperous place, but I didn't expect there to be so many beggars." Looking at the ragged people on the side of the road, Kang He sighed: "I now understand why the emperor Taizu said that the prince must travel. Why did the imperial grandfather bring Prince Yizhong to Jiangnan every time?" Kang He's voice suddenly became very low, "Only in places like Jiangnan can we see the various aspects of life clearly."

"Why are you feeling emotional all of a sudden?" Zhen Yingjia thought it was funny.

Kang He glanced at him from the side, his eyes were somewhat resentful, but Zhen Yingjia hadn't forgotten what he said about his brother, and recalled the identities they had pretended this time, and said, "Don't look at your brother like that, so you don't have to pretend Not like, let people see the flaws."

There was inevitably a little smile in his voice, Kang He was very satisfied when he heard it, he turned his head straight, looked at the road, and said: "Got it, brother."

The two walked along the path until they arrived at a place where Kang He, the grandson of the emperor, would never go. Amidst the noisy voices, Zhen Yingjia whispered in his ear, "This is the stronghold of the Salt Gang. Everyone in Jiangnan knows about it, but it forms a delicate balance with the government, and no one tears the window paper first."

Kang He nodded, went over to bite his ear in a low voice, and said, "Brother, take me to see Cao Gang again?"

The two went to the pier again.

Just in autumn, the climate in the south of the Yangtze River is still relatively hot and humid, which is different from when Kang and the others came. There are workers wearing sleeveless jackets everywhere on the freight wharf on this side, carrying linen bags on their backs, going to and from the wharf and goods. between bins.

The two of them didn't dare to get too close to each other, they just took a look and left.

When he walked to a place where there were no people, Kang He didn't speak for a long time, and Zhen Yingjia didn't bother him either. After all, if this errand was done well, he could have a big face in front of the emperor.

"I think we can start here." Kang He said suddenly.

Zhen Yingjia was a little confused and went inside, but seeing that she was still outside, she reminded: "Let's talk about it when we go back, so as not to be overheard."

When the two returned to Zhen's study, Kang He pursed his lips tightly, looking very serious, "I want to work on the wharf of the Salt Gang."

Zhen Yingjia was taken aback, and subconsciously stopped, "You're crazy, what if—" He suddenly stopped in the middle of speaking, and he understood what Kang He meant.

This is actually a strategy that kills two birds with one stone.

When it came to serious business, Kang He didn't have any intention of playing around, so he looked at Zhen Yingjia approvingly.

"If I don't do this, how can I make the imperial grandfather value me? The successors of this dynasty pay attention to travel. Although the imperial grandfather never said it clearly, but think about it carefully, most of the travels before the succession have to conceal their identities. This is to understand the people's feelings. The best way. Even if he succeeds in the future, he will be able to know the sufferings of the people and the hearts of the people in the world, so that he will not be deceived by some officials with ulterior motives."

Kang He smiled, "I came to Jiangnan to study earlier, and it was barely enough to travel, but this is far from enough. But if it succeeds this time, in terms of understanding people's hearts, none of my uncles is better than me , No matter how hard they chase after me, they will never be able to catch up with me!"

Zhen Yingjia also had a serious face, he had to admit that what Kang He said made sense.

Kang He said again: "There is one more thing." He paused, "Just now you said that everyone in Jiangnan knows about the Salt Gang, but no officials dare to pierce the window paper, let alone know that they are related to Wang Ziteng colluded. But the purpose of the two of us is to privately salt!"

"If we continue to investigate things like Wang Ziteng's collusion with the Salt Gang, the evidence will not be easy to find. Even if evidence is found in the future, the emperor's grandfather will not make these things public. After all, the impact is too bad, and it is likely to destroy This balance." Kang He smiled, "I also understand that when the water is clear, there will be no fish. If this is the case, it is better to find another crime for them."

"Shipping private salt is a capital crime, but privately imprisoning the emperor's grandson is also a capital crime."

Zhen Yingjia suddenly thought of countless princes and ministers in history who were convicted of exceeding the law and other well-known crimes, and had to admit that this was indeed a good idea, but he still shook his head slowly, "It's too dangerous."

Kang He eagerly took his hand, "How can I let them really imprison me, when we find a place, you bring the soldiers here early, just say come to me, and catch them all!"

Seeing that Zhen Yingjia still disagreed, Kang He said: "Wealth and wealth are in danger, and what I want is the throne!" Kang He held Zhen Yingjia's hand harder and harder, which even made people feel a little painful.

"With my status, my father is an abolished prince, and now I am being brought by the emperor's grandfather. No matter who succeeds in the future, my life will not be easy. Instead of waiting until that day, I bet on the pity of my uncles." It’s better to fight fiercely now, because it’s nothing but death!”

Zhen Yingjia had never heard such blunt and decisive words from Kang He, and she couldn't help being stunned for a moment.

Kang He clasped Zhen Yingjia's hand tightly with both hands, "Now it's only you, only you can help me!"

Kang He's eyes were extremely sincere and eager. Zhen Yingjia thought of the court ministers he had already won over. Although there were not many of them, they all occupied key positions. nodded.

It was originally intended to help him, and it was originally intended to make him enthroned.

Zhen Yingjia's situation was the same as Kang He's. If anyone else came to the throne, his Zhen family would definitely not end well.

Seeing Zhen Yingjia agreeing, Kang He immediately became elated, but Zhen Yingjia became more and more silent.

He thought for a long time before saying, "Even if you want to work at the dock, it can't be now."

Kang He was taken aback, and heard Zhen Yingjia say again: "The weather is hot now, and the workers are all wearing short jackets. You have been spoiled since childhood. Although you have great strength, once you show your skin, you will be seen through immediately." Seeing what Kang He was going to say , Zhen Yingjia said again: "Don't worry, the embankment just broke. At this time, all the strong men were taken to repair the embankment. Naturally, there are few coolies. No matter whether it is the Cao Gang or the Salt Gang, there is a shortage of manpower."

Kang He nodded, and was also happy that Zhen Yingjia could help him analyze the details so quickly, "Then wait a little longer, it will cool down in a couple of days anyway."

"The second is this language. Most of the workers on the dock speak local dialect. Although you have lived in Jinling for a long time, you still can't speak authentically. Instead of doing this, it's better to be dumb. An illiterate dumb!"

Kang He's eyes lit up, and he nodded with a smile, "That's right, only a dumb person can make people feel at ease!"

"It's me in the end," Zhen Yingjia smiled, "I'm still your elder brother, I'll go with you, I can speak the local dialect, I'm a native of Jinling City, and I know something about selling illegal salt, I won't let you pass it on Stuffed stuffing. I'll leave after you cook it in two days, so they can feel more at ease with you."

Kang He thought about it carefully, and said, "We both have to be careful."

The two of them made up their plan, and they didn't dare to delay any longer. They prepared the things they would use. In order to conform to their status as poor people, Zhen Yingjia specially found a dilapidated courtyard with two rooms in a remote place in the city, and moved in with Kang and the two. past.

It rained heavily within two days, and the temperature dropped down. This morning, Zhen Yingjia took Kang and the two of them to the pier, all dressed in clean, but with a lot of pudding, coarse clothes.

The person in charge was the only one who had a chair to sit on. It was obvious at a glance that Zhen Yingjia brought Kang He up to him, pretending to be submissive, and asked in a low voice, "Do you want to recruit someone?"

The steward raised his head and glanced at him, a little impatiently, "Are you okay with your body?" But when he raised his eyes, he saw Kang He behind him again, his eyes lit up, and said, "You are not bad, what's your name?"

Kang He had lived in Jinling for a while, so he could understand half of what he said, but he guessed that there would be no misunderstanding, it's just that he is now a mute and can't speak.

Zhen Yingjia laughed and said, "This is my younger brother, Da Zhuang, who is dumb."

The steward stood up and patted Kang He, "If it's your brother, give him fifty cash a day and take care of lunch. As for you..." The steward looked Zhen Yingjia up and down, and said, "Thirty cash, No, no, twenty Wen."

Co-authoring him can't earn a tael of silver a month.

"Your brother is dumb?" asked the steward again, "Can you hear me?"

Zhen Yingjia followed the strategy discussed by the two of them and said: "I can hear it, it's because I burned my throat when I was a child." After saying "Da Zhuang", Kang He turned to look at him.

The manager didn't ask if they could read or not.After all, even in places like Jiangnan, there are only one out of ten people who can read and write. Besides, how can those who can read and write come back to do such coolies?

The manager took out two sacks from under the small table and said: "Put it on your shoulders, let's do it for a day to see." Then he shouted: "Li Dali! Two newcomers are here, you take them to try! "

After doing this, it was noon, and Li Dali took them to dinner.

Zhen Yingjia and Kang He followed Li Dali, and Zhen Yingjia whispered in his ear: "Go grab two and a half bowls first, and then fill up a whole bowl and eat slowly after eating."

There was a lot of voices around, and the people around couldn't hear what they were saying.

Kang He was taken aback, although he didn't understand what Zhen Yingjia was doing, but he still nodded.

All the work on the pier was physical work. Although there were not many dishes for lunch, it was enough to fill up. The two pretending brothers squatted on the side with a bowl each, waiting for the food to be eaten. Only then did Kang He understand what Zhen Yingjia was for.I couldn't help but feel happy, he really knows everything.

Kang He understood, if the first bowl is full, grab a full one, and there will be nothing left after eating.

After work in the evening, the two of them went back to the small shabby house to rest, while a few managers on the pier were talking about these two people again.

Li Dali, who had been with them for a day, said: "It's an old trick. I know that I can grab half a bowl before I can eat more. It must not be the first time I have come out to work."

A middle-aged man in satin satin satin nodded slowly.

Zhao Zhen Yingjia and the two of them in charge also said, "The key is that he is dumb."

A smile appeared on the middle-aged man's face, "It's really hard to find such people."

Just as they were talking, another small and thin man came in from outside. As soon as he came in, he said, "They live in a dilapidated house in the east of the city. I followed behind to watch them. I greeted my neighbors, and I must have lived there for a long time."

Everyone stopped talking, and they all waited for the middle-aged man. He pondered for a moment and said, "Wait a minute...his brother?"

The manager smiled, "Looking at him like that, I guess he might have been injured in his early years, and he won't be able to work for a long time. He's just a part-time job anyway."