Reborn in the last years of Kangxi

Chapter 215
Yizhou, Daotai Yamen, study room.

I really don’t know if I don’t check it. I was shocked when I checked it. Last year’s private surplus grain was collected by the Shandong warehouse.Not only in the Yizhou area, but also in several surrounding states, there is not much private food, and it is also the income of Shandong warehouses.The Buzheng Yamen didn't pay much money for the purchase, which meant paying the food in advance.

"How could this be?" When Cao Yong got the news, he couldn't figure it out: "Although I don't know the detailed number, the approximate amount of grain in Yizhou alone is already quite large! Since these new grains have entered the warehouse, the Shandong warehouse over the years Where is Chen Liang?"

Mr. Zhuang frowned slightly, and couldn't figure out the reason for a moment. He originally thought that it would be better if it wasn't the private grain storage, but there are obviously other tricks here, which everyone can't figure out.

Cao Yong and Mr. Zhuang are still thinking about the whereabouts of the "old grain" in the official warehouse. The truth of it can be guessed more or less.Due to the severe drought in the north last year, they were afraid that the imperial court would use the grain in the official warehouse, so they temporarily collected it from everywhere.What makes people uncertain is that since the grain was collected and closed last year, does the Du family's drama have nothing to do with them?

At this time, Cao Fang asked to see him outside.He is Xiaoman's father, and now he is the housekeeper here, and he rarely comes to the front office on weekdays.

Cao Yong raised his voice and said, "Come in!"

Cao Fang first greeted Cao Yong and Mr. Zhuang, and then said: "Master, Rizhao Wang Lusheng sent someone to deliver the letter, and he went directly to find the younger one, saying that he wanted to show his face to Mr. Zhuang!"

"Rizhao Wang Lusheng!" Cao Yong remembered this man, the head of the largest pearl farming family in the north, the middle-aged man who was dragged down by the Pearl Society and almost died in Yangzhou

Mr. Zhuang didn't know what happened back then. Seeing that Cao Yong wanted to respond casually, he hurriedly persuaded him: "If Fu is at ease, don't get bored. It's better to ask someone to interrogate him carefully, and then we can talk about it!"

Cao Yong pondered for a while, and asked Cao Fangdao: "Who is the person who came to deliver the letter? Do you have any proof of identity?" In order to appease Mr. Zhuang.

Since Wang Lusheng was able to become the head of the family, he would naturally not be a fool. Even if he couldn't think of those people involved in these formations in Yangzhou, he could think of something later.In order to save his life, he should not wantonly publicize this matter.

Cao Fangdao: "Returning to my uncle, it is the loyal servant next to Wang Lusheng, who has now become the adopted son of the Wang family!"

Cao Yong nodded, feeling a little more fond of Wang Lusheng, a man from Shandong.Knowing how to repay his kindness, he did not kill the young man to silence him for the so-called "avoiding future troubles". He is a responsible man.

Cao Yong waved his hand and said: "Since you want to present him in person, bring him to see me!" When he said this, he paused: "Since he didn't ask for an interview directly from the front office, he must have some concerns, then you take him from the front office. Come over inside!"

Cao Fang responded, and Cao Yong briefly told Mr. Zhuang about Wang Lusheng.Among them, only the matter of Pearl Fangzi and the kidnapping and helping hand was mentioned, and the Li family's participation and the confrontation with Wangfengzhuang were hidden.

It's not intentional to help the Li family, but Cao Yong thinks that what he is doing now has nothing private, even if Mr. Zhuang reported to Mr. Kangxi, he is frank and frank.What happened in Yangzhou back then was not always the case. Although the Li family was shameless and scheming first, he still had to worry about the Li family. Even if he was too lazy to protect the Li family, he was unwilling to make trouble at this time.

In less than two years, the young man with a hairy head became a strong young man, taller than Cao Yong. When he entered the door and saw Cao Yong, he immediately knelt down with gratitude on his face. There were others, and said: "The villain Guo Quan has seen the adults!" Then, he took out a letter from his bosom, and offered it with both hands: "This is the order of the righteous father to present to the adults in the face of the villain!"

Cao Yong shouted and signaled Cao Fang to accept the letter.

After opening the letter, Cao Yong briefly read it, and then said to Guo Quanyou who was standing by: "Your boss...does your adoptive father have anything else to say?"

Guo Quanyou replied: "Since the foster father heard that the lord is coming to manage Yizhou, he has been looking forward to it sooner or later. He originally wanted to come here to pay his respects to the lord, but because of his relatives and clansmen, he didn't want to come here rashly. Adding to the trouble. The adoptive father said that whenever the adults need to use him, as long as you give him a letter, he will do his best!"

Cao Yong nodded and sent Cao Fang to take him down to resettle.

The first half of Wang Lusheng's letter seemed to be just gossip, one sentence here and one sentence there, the handwriting was crooked, and there was no clue.The last sentence is "Lu has good wine, you should drink it with Engong", the next sentence is "Shandong pot roast, not inferior to Shanxi, I must have drunk it in Zhili", and the next sentence is "I don't know how much Engong can drink. How is it compared with Mongolian men?" This was repeated over and over again, and it was all about these banquets and drinking.

On the second page, there are only two sentences: "Engong, the old seven is nagging, I just want to remind Engong to be vigilant, you can't touch this Shandong cooking pot, and the food is also, Engong must pay attention to it, don't be implicated in it! Remember! Remember!"

Burning pot, wine making workshop.After reading the second page and then looking back at the front, Cao Yong knew why Wang Lusheng warned himself not to touch the Shandong cooking pot.

Due to the loss of grain due to wine making, there has been a ban since the Qing Dynasty entered the customs.In the Kangxi Dynasty, alcohol was banned in Zhili, Shanhaiguan, and Shengjing.Zhili is the capital of the capital and the place where troops are stationed, so food reserves are very important.Except for Zhuangzi, who has the permission of the government, other people who cook pots privately will be severely punished once they are discovered.

Since there is a wine order in Zhili, it makes sense to come to Shandong to make wine. As for selling Mongolia, besides the imperial merchants, how can there be such a large demand for private smuggling?
The answer that I couldn't think of before came out.

*
In the capital city, inside Chongwen Gate, the House of the Thirteenth Prince.

The thirteenth elder brother sat on the wooden platform under the porch, staring at the peonies in the garden in a daze.Familiar footsteps came from beside him, even if he didn't have to turn his head, he knew it was Fujin Zhaojia.

The thirteenth elder brother didn't look back, and asked lazily: "Have you prepared all the congratulatory gifts for the fourth brother?"

While replying, Mrs. Zhao Jia sat sideways beside Thirteenth Elder Brother: "Well, I specially went to our treasury to choose some exquisite jewelry and some bright red and multicolored rich Changchun satin materials. This is within two days of the wedding. There's still half a year left, and we'll have time to prepare for the wedding ceremony later!" Speaking of this, he couldn't help complaining a little: "It's only Ergege who conferred a county monarch, although it was from the side Fujin, but it's better than the others. If you want to compare with Ge Ge in the palace, the title is a bit lower!"

Yesterday, Kangxi decreed that Ergege, the fourth son of the emperor and Shuoyong Prince Yinzhen, who came out of the Jin Li family, was the county monarch, referring to marriage to Nala Xingde.Brother Thirteen and Mrs. Zhao Jia are preparing a congratulatory gift for Er GeGe.

Although Er Gege is the second daughter, but because Prince Yong's eldest daughter died early, she is considered the actual eldest daughter and is older than her younger brothers. This marriage is the first wedding event in Prince Yong's residence.

The thirteenth elder brother heard Zhao Jia's complaint, smiled and said: "They are all the same imperial granddaughter, Huang Ama knows it well. Isn't it half a year before the divorce period? His old man may be waiting for the fourth brother's reaction , Let’s see if the fourth brother who has always been indisputable will ask for a Jin title for his beloved daughter. If the fourth brother goes, the county lord will become the princess; if the fourth brother does not go, the county lord will also become the princess.”

Zhao Jia seemed to be in a better mood when he saw him, although he vaguely understood the reason, but in order to deliberately induce him to talk more, he still acted puzzled: "Then it doesn't matter whether the fourth brother is going or not, Er Gege, the princess's seal, is still running away." Can’t you? If that’s the case, why is Huang Ama bothering so much? Although the princess is only one level behind the princess, the backup of the dowry is different, it’s a bit inconvenient!”

Brother Thirteen didn't answer Zhao Jia's words, but just sighed, shook his head, and said, "Huang Ama is getting old!"

Seeing him like this, Zhao Jia didn't know how to answer the words to make him feel at ease, so he just sat silently.

Elder Brother Thirteen turned to Zhao Jia and said, "Yesterday, I heard Hongchang's mother complain that the new clothes for next season will not change except for a few minor ones, and that even the number of people brought by the master has been reduced by more than half. Is there not enough li silver?"

Because the thirteenth elder brother usually doesn't like to ask these trivial matters, and he doesn't know much about the accounts.

Zhao Jiashi didn't expect him to ask this question, his face was a little stiff, he lowered his head, wrapped his fingers around the veil and was speechless.

Elder Brother Thirteen recalled the money he gave Cao Yong last year, and thought Zhao Jia’s money was tighter because of this, and said with a smile: “If it’s not enough, can I call the Ministry of Internal Affairs? Even if the money is not enough in the account, I will get some rice grains according to the population. Materials and other things..." At this point, he slowly stopped laughing, and asked seriously: "The Ministry of Internal Affairs has stopped the supply of our mansion?"

Although there is no explicit regulation, according to the past rules, three years after the prince's division of the government, the Ministry of Internal Affairs can still receive money and food according to the population level, which can be regarded as an additional subsidy.

Seeing Zhao Jia's nod, Elder Thirteen's expression was dull, and after a while, Fang asked, "When did it stop?"

Mrs. Zhao Jia replied in a low voice: "October last year! You don't have to be upset. The household department has been short of money these past few years. If you want to come to the internal treasury, there is also a shortage. Our family has a small population!"

Elder Brother Thirteen shook his head mockingly: "Insufficient treasury? In recent years, the money rewarded to brothers for repairing gardens is still small, but if it comes to me, the money is not enough?"

Looking at him like this, Zhao Jia felt very sad, but still forced a smile on his face, and comforted him: "The old man Huang Ama is so busy, how could he notice these trivial things, it's just the snobbery of those slaves, who came up with private ideas That's all! Why do we bother to argue with those villains? Even if there is a quarrel, it seems that our eyesight is shallow, and we still have to take advantage of Huang Ama after the division of the mansion, which is a joke! Didn't Cao Yong mention it before he left Beijing? The pearl business in the south is doing well, so we can send some money to Beijing this year. Besides, when autumn comes, Zhuangzi will still have income!"

Mrs. Zhao Jia was wearing a sapphire blue flag dress that was [-]% new. Brother Thirteen took a closer look and remembered that it was made last spring.I didn't notice it at first, but now that I think about it, Zhao Jia hasn't had any new clothes since last fall.

Elder Brother Thirteen felt very guilty, he had always ignored the housework and relied on Zhao Jia's help.He took Zhao Jia's hand, but he didn't speak for a long time.He is a man, but he doesn't even care about a woman of his own size, and instead wants her weak woman to stir up the family's affairs.

Thinking of something, Zhao Jia said with a smile: "Look, I'm not confused, but I forgot a big deal. Didn't I send people to Shandong to cook pots last year? It's been nearly half a year. Tomorrow I'll send someone to remind me." .Several palaces are more or less doing business there. Although they are secretive, they all know that it is the most profitable. Although our mansion is late, if it is not guaranteed, it will be profitable right now!"

Brother Thirteen saw Siu Ka's eyes sparkle when he mentioned money, although he felt sad, he still couldn't help laughing.

Zhao Jia was a little embarrassed by the laughter, and blushed, "Why are you laughing?"

Brother Thirteen said: "Laughing at my own size, I am really blessed to have married a good Fujin who is both virtuous and capable!"

Because Mrs. Zhao Jia mentioned that he wanted to send people to Shandong, Elder Brother Thirteen thought of Cao Yong, and couldn't help cursing a few words: "This brat, I guess he forgot about me! People are going to Shandong to give gifts, and that brat is going to be a father! Look, look, isn’t it possible that other than Prince Chun’s Palace and Prince Ping’s Palace, we can’t enjoy his joy?”

Mrs. Zhao Jia thought that Cao Yong had always been safe, and the reason for this might be that he knew that the mansion here was not rich in money, so he was a little moved, but it was not easy to say these words in front of Brother Thirteen, so he laughed: " Lord, this reasoning is a bit crooked. Whose family reported the congratulations everywhere before the child was born? It was the first time that Da Gege had a baby, and Cao Yong was the only one in the house of Cao’s parents. Wouldn’t it be a joke if you join in at this time? Ye just need to back up the gift generously. When the child lands, no matter whether it’s from the mother or the father, the lord and I, as elders, might have to make a double copy. Woolen cloth!"

Elder Brother Thirteen thought for a while, and said: "It's better to prepare something. It's not a big deal to send someone to Shandong, and it's not a big deal to go to Yizhou. Pick some things that are not available in other places, such as medicinal materials, food, etc., which is more or less meaningful. !"

(End of this chapter)