Reborn in the last years of Kangxi

Chapter 221 Seven Days

March 23, at noon.

After the spring rain, the vegetation looks greener and greener. If you look to the west, you can see a curved rainbow.In the distance, it seemed that the rumble of thunder could still be heard, but at this moment the overcast clouds over Daxing Town were gradually dissipating, revealing a clear blue sky.

Yue Xiben, a fellow acquaintance of Yitanhai and Jiangxi, couldn't feel clearer. Looking at the heavily guarded Shaoguo Zhuangzi not far away, he couldn't help sweating from his forehead.

However, Wang Quantai, the general manager of Anton Guard, got a little impatient, glanced at Yue Xiben, and said, "Master Yue, it's only half a day before the deadline given by Master Daotai, if the housekeeper of Master doesn't come out again, it's a shame that he will be implicated." sorry!"

It's not that Wang Quantai deliberately neglected him, but that although one of them is the sixth rank and the other is the fifth rank, they are not subordinates.But Wang Quantai's face was sullen, he didn't know whether he was happy or angry, how could he care about Yue Xiben's position?Besides, he was ordered to come here, and he felt somewhat "holding a chicken feather as an arrow".

Yue Xiben complained secretly, other states and counties assisted in guarding the road and running errands, and he might be able to get a promotion with a "outstanding" evaluation, let alone a promotion on his side, whether he could save his life is another matter.

This Shaoguo Zhuangzi does not belong to anyone else, it belongs to Prince Heshuo Jian Yaerjiang's mansion, and Prince Jian's father-in-law Cui Defu is in charge.

Cui Defu was originally Yaerjiang's mother's dowry coat, but because she gave birth to a beautiful daughter, the prince confiscated her house and made her a concubine.He also followed the tide and found a fat job as the steward of Shaoguo in Shandong.

Relying on the power of Prince Jian's residence, Cui Defu has always been used to being domineering, even to Yue Xiben, he just said a few polite words and laughed on his face, let alone facing Yue Xiben's housekeeper up.

How can Cui Defu have a good face? He put his face down and said angrily: "Joke! Who is the master? Yue Xiben stared at him for playing with women? What's the saying 'a good man doesn't suffer from the immediate loss', I don't believe it, who can tell me?" Is it possible to copy the property of our Prince Jane's Mansion?!" At this point, Cui Defu shouted to the sturdy men next to him: "Is it all ready? Don't lose the chain of the master!"

A man in blue felt a little uneasy, hesitated for a moment, and persuaded in a low voice: "Second uncle, there are officers and soldiers outside...! This is making a fuss...ah, isn't it? How about... let's think about it again?"

Cui Defu snorted coldly: "What are you afraid of? Our master is the one being bullied? Even the prince and master are not afraid, let alone a princess!! Besides, there is no room for us to think about it. , How many Shaoguo villages in various places have been sealed? The food has been copied to the county government, there is no food, and the wine is made with shit?!——Zhangjiakou is still rushing to sell!"

Cui Defu should be unlucky, if it were someone else, he might be able to frighten him for a while by holding out the prince's sign.It was Wang Quantai who happened to meet, so he could only admit that he was unlucky.

At this time, Wang Quantai was no longer enthusiastic about the three-year "extraordinary" evaluation, because the owner of the family mentioned in the letter that he was asked to assist Master Daotai in his errands, and he was allowed to resign after the errands were completed. Guangzhou is the steward of the royal family's business.

Wang Quantai had long been envious of the freedom of his cousins ​​in the south, and complained several times, but because he had to take care of his family, he had to stay in the guard.Right now, he almost didn't want to leave, but he received such a letter from the Patriarch.This made him understand that this errand was not as simple as he thought, otherwise the family would not have arranged for him a way out in advance.

Wang Quantai had already made preparations to deal with it. Facing the shouting stewards at the gate of Shaoguo, he ignored them and turned to the three hundred officers and soldiers who followed him: "Brothers, this is the last Shaoguo village in Tancheng County. It has been sealed off. After that, let's forget about the errands and go back to the adults to settle the money, and tonight there will be a tooth festival, and I will treat the brothers to drink!"

Everyone has been busy all the way these few days, and they are exhausted, and their morale is a little low. But now, after hearing this, the army's morale is lifted, and they can't help cheering.

Cui Defu originally thought that he would be able to drive away the crowd just by pushing out a few stewards, carrying out the signboards of the palace to scare them, but who would have thought that the leader of the army on the opposite side would be a stunned young man who is not good at anything!He was so angry that he didn't hold back anymore, he threw off his sleeves and walked to the front in three or two steps, with his chest out and his waist pinched, he shouted: "Look who dares to seal our prince's mansion!!"

Wang Quantai couldn't help being taken aback when he saw Cui Defu, and then he turned around and laughed loudly: "Brothers, look, where do we have an extra master? And he is still a rabbit master, but he is a bit older!"

Everyone burst into laughter upon hearing this.Although Cui Defu was nearly forty years old, he had a fair complexion and a handsome face. Although there were a few beards on his mouth, they were sparse and unrecognizable; his clothes were very elegant, and his behavior was a bit feminine.

After Cui Defu heard this, his face flushed with anger, and he pointed at Wang Quantai speechless.

Since Wang Quantai made up his mind, how could he talk nonsense with him, snorted, waved his arm, and said coldly: "Check! Seal!"

Although Shao Zhuang has gathered two hundred young men, who are the opponents of these soldiers?Cui Defu saw that the officers and soldiers had already rushed into the gate of the villa, he couldn't help being anxious, and hurriedly asked someone to continue to intercept him, then he heard Wang Quantai shouted: "Those who interfere with the mission and attack the officers and soldiers will be killed, punished, and pardoned!"

*
Mengyin County Government Office, lobby.

Looking at the mountain of food piled up in the lobby, Liang Shunzheng didn't feel the slightest joy, but instead shed two drops of old tears.Seeing this, the master next to him was puzzled and asked, "My lord, what is the reason?"

Liang Shunzheng wiped away his tears and said: "My master regrets it, regrets it so much! The harm of burning pot is well known to everyone, and now it is the time of food shortage, and the rise in food prices has forced the people to live in peace! If the master I can have Cao With the courage of your lord, even if you only get rid of the misfortune of the local county, even if the black yarn is lost, it will not be in vain to serve as a parent official for six years!"

The master glanced at him a few times, sighed noncommittally, and said after a while, "I heard that Mr. Cao is a young man who is prominent, but now he has stabbed this big trick, I'm afraid it will hinder his future!"

*
Yizhou, Daotai Yamen, study room.

It was already dusk, and the sky was full of red clouds.The hustle and bustle of the day gradually fell silent, and the city seemed extraordinarily peaceful.Then, in the Daotai Yamen, Cao Yong waited anxiously.

Although Chu Yu sent someone to urge him twice, Cao Yong still didn't have the heart to go back to the inner house for dinner.On Wu Mao's side, a dozen horses were ready to come as ordered; on Wu Sheng's side, the selected young and strong servants were also ready to set off at any time;

Seven days have passed, everything is ready, and now the paperwork is missing.If he can't get it, then he can only choose the next strategy.Thinking of such consequences, he might have to go to Shengjing to accompany Yongqing, he couldn't help but feel absurd.However, there was still no regret at all.

In this world, a man must do something and not do something!

Faintly heard the sound of horseshoes, Cao Yong got up from his seat immediately, walked to the front of the hall, and looked towards the gate.

Following the footsteps of "Deng Deng Deng Deng", the travel-worn Wei Hei walked quickly, and when he saw Cao Yong, a smile appeared on his face.Cao Yong breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Brother Wei!"

Wei Hei tore off the burden behind him, and handed it over with both hands: "My lord, this is the gift of the master! The master said that he is not in good health, so he can't come back with Lao Hei. It will be about two days later!"

Cao Yong nodded, took it and opened it, and there was a wooden box inside.Inside the wooden box were official documents about one foot high and two feet long, stamped with the seal of Shandong Chief Secretary.

There are only two contents in the official document. One is that from March 24th to June 23rd, the rice shops in Yizhou are not allowed to sell at a price that is more than [-]% higher than the price of rice in February. , Immediately sealed up the shops, confiscated all the rice grains and their sales proceeds; second, because the Shaoguo Zhuangzi in Yizhou voluntarily sold the stored rice grains to the local government at a par price, the Shaoguo tax for the next three years was exempted.

The first article is indeed beneficial to the people, and the second article is just a formality.How many of those big-burning Guozhuangzi with powerful backgrounds will pay taxes?Of course, for those who operate honestly and rely on cooking pots for a living, the three-year tax exemption is also to make up for the temporary loss of their livelihood.

Cao Yong asked someone to send the official documents to the study room, and then asked Wei Hei, "Brother Wei, when did you arrive in Jinan? Sir, he is tired, how is he doing now?"

Wei Hei thought for a while, and replied: "It was on the [-]th afternoon! The horses galloped along the road, and they only rested at the post station for two hours a day. Mr. was exhausted, and said that he would never think about riding a horse again. Smiled and said that I want to ask the young master for a comfortable carriage!" At this point, he paused and said: "Young master, don't worry, the master will take a carriage for the return journey, and Lao Hei sees that the master is just tired, just take a rest Yes, with the Zhuang brothers following, it will arrive in three or two days!"

It is nearly [-] miles from Yizhou to Jinan, and it took Cao Yong nearly four days to come back after his last report.Mr. Zhuang, it only took less than three days.

"Brother Wei went to the chief secretary's yamen with Mr. Hou? Did Hou Juguang make things difficult for Mr.?" Cao Yong asked Wei Hei after letting Wei He into the study, and called a servant to bring water.

Wei Hei was also very thirsty, so he directly drank half of the teapot, and then replied: "I went with my husband, but because I was waiting outside, I don't know the details!"

Cao Yong's prerequisite for stabilizing food prices is to obtain the document of the chief secretary, so that he can be famous for his success.Originally, he wanted to go to Jinan in person, but was stopped by Mr. Zhuang. After all, there are many things in Yizhou. If there is a change, Cao Yong still needs to make up his mind.

"Brother Wei started the day before yesterday?" Cao Yong asked.

Wei Hei nodded: "The other afternoon, fortunately, it was in front of the gate of the city, and the chief secretary sent documents. Otherwise, Lao Hei would not be able to come back until tomorrow! The chief secretary is not a happy person. Mr. arrived in Jinan that night. Went to the yamen, and stayed there for two full hours. After returning to the inn, the gentleman waited for a day, but there was no movement from the chief secretary's yamen. Not in Jinan! The gentleman's face was so dark that he returned to the inn and wrote a handwritten letter, and Lao Hei sent it to the chief secretary's yamen. This time it was a coincidence that the adult came to the inn to see the gentleman in person the next afternoon, and the two were in the room After muttering for a while, the lord sent someone to bring the official document shortly after he left, and the gentleman was relieved!"

Although Wei Hei's story seemed calm and unremarkable, Cao Yong couldn't help breaking out in a cold sweat.It appears that the initial setup failed.A statement from the buyer of Shaoguo Zhuangzi, a record of the entry and exit of the official warehouse, a note that the official warehouse sold rice at a fair price to the private sector, a record of the rice price in six counties in the Eastern and Yanzhou prefectures, and a copy of distiller's grains. This is Cao Yongrang. Mr. Zhuang took it to Jinan.

First of all, tell the truth, ask Hou Juguang to agree to the official document, if he insists on refusing, then let him see these things.

Unexpectedly, Hou Juguang turned out to be meat with a hob. It seems that he knew the details of those pot burning Zhuangzi, and he believed that Cao Yong would not dare to expose the matter, so he was so confident.

What Mr. Zhuang wrote to him in the end must be something else. I can't blame Mr. Zhuang for not letting me go to Jinan. It seems that I don't want to tear myself apart with the chief officer.

Right now, it was not the time to feel melancholy, Cao Yong waited for the document room to copy the documents, stamped the seal of Yizhou Shoudao, sent Wu Sheng and others out of the city immediately, and issued the official documents to the government offices of all states and counties overnight.

*
Juzhou, Nancheng, Liushu Alley.

Zhao He was working hard in the yard. He was a carpenter, and the whole family of six depended on his craftsmanship for food. Life was very difficult.His daughter saw that her father was full of men, and brought a bowl of cold water: "Dad, drink some water!"

Zhao He put down the work in his hand, took it and drank it in one gulp, remembering the experience of selling his daughter a few days ago, he felt sore in his heart, and rubbed his daughter's hair vigorously.Nowadays, the price of food keeps rising. If it weren't for the benefactor who met that day and gave some money, the whole family would have to drink the northwest wind.

Just as he was thinking, he heard footsteps at the door, Zhao He looked up, and it turned out to be his neighbor Lao Zhou.Old Zhou was full of joy, and shouted at Zhao He: "Brother Zhao, hurry up, the price of grain has dropped, and everyone is buying grain with their pockets! Just bring the household registration documents, and buy according to the head!"

Zhao He only said that he heard it wrong, and he didn't wake up for a while.

Lao Zhou smiled and said: "I told you to believe it, but I dare not delay, I will go back to your sister-in-law to ask for a bag!"

*
In the city of Yizhou, it was also a bustling scene because of the cheap grain sales.

Cao Yong stood in front of the study, with a hint of excitement in his heart.Stabilizing food prices is just the beginning, next...
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(End of this chapter)