Reborn in the last years of Kangxi

Chapter 305 Calling on the Aspirations of the Golden Gate
In Nanyuan Racecourse, besides elephants, there are also horses and camels.After seeing the mahout's performance on elephants, Cao Yong followed the crowd to see the training of camels and horses.

Some camels pay tribute to Khalkha Mongolia. They come here once a year. Eight white horses and one white camel form the "nine white tribute" to express their submission to the imperial court.

There are also some selected from the Taipusi Racecourse outside the mouth, and most of them are white.

The royal horse area is divided into several sections, which are circled in corresponding boundaries according to the colors of the horses.

However, these horses are only white, red, and yellow, and there are no black and blue horses.According to the tradition of the Manchus, black horses and green horses are considered "fierce" and can only be used for war, not suitable for royal use.

All horses are adult horses, there are no foals and old, weak and sick horses.Cao Yong asked Yi Duli, and Fang knew that the horse farm here was only a place for horse training, and the two wing horse farms under Taipusi were all in Chahar.

The left-wing pasture of Taipu Temple is located in Harani Dunjing, outside Zhangjiakou, with a radius of 160 miles; the right-wing pasture is located in Qiqierhan River, with a radius of 3 miles.Today, there are 32 herds of mules and horses, about [-] horses, and [-] groups of gelding horses, more than [-] horses.

Although there are more than ten elephants and nearly a thousand horses domesticated here, only two elephants and twenty horses were used in the March [-]th Grand Ceremony.On March [-]th, Shengjia will return to the palace from Changchun Garden. The required Luanjia horse is already in Changchun Garden, and there is no need to choose another one.

After these few hours, Cao Yong understood the duties of Taipu Siqing.To put it bluntly, it is the royal "stableherd", who manages the ranch on weekdays, and cooperates with the Luan Yiwei when the emperor travels, and provides corresponding elephants and horses.

Although the smell of the racecourse was bad, Cao Yong's mood improved a lot unconsciously when he saw these snorting and arrogant horses.

Waiting for the chief officer to make the decision here is nothing more than choosing which elephant, which horse and so on.Cao Yong is a layman and he doesn't want to point fingers, so he nodded more and more to the horse elephant selected by his subordinates.

However, Cao Yong thought that there should be no mistakes in the grand ceremony. If any "accidents" such as "shocked phenomena" and "shocked horses" happened, he would have to bear the responsibility.He had some worries in his heart, so he asked Yi Duli in a low voice: "During the grand ceremony, there are many people making noise, if there is a danger of startling the horse, how should we deal with it?"

Yi Duli smiled and said: "My lord, don't worry, these elephant horses are all castrated and have a docile temperament. They are usually trained with golden gongs, so there will be no mistakes."

Cao Yong nodded, seeing that it was getting late, he finished the errand here and returned to the city.

After entering the city, it was already dusk.

After separating from the subordinate officials, Cao Yong and Yi Duli walked side by side.Cao Yong said apologetically: "Lord Yi, I didn't expect the prince to recommend the younger generation. This... I'm really sorry!"

Yi Duli shook his head with a smile, and said: "What is Xiao Cao talking about? I had no hope of this official vacancy, but it was because my family couldn't think about it, so I was looking for ways around. Now I am very lucky, otherwise Ming An's wine bag and rice bag will do it." Calling me my boss is not enough to make people vomit to death.” Speaking of this, he felt a little embarrassed, and said, “Look at me, I am not what I used to be, how can I still be called like that, from now on I should still be called ‘Adult’. "

Cao Yong hurriedly said: "Don't be like this, Mr. Yi is the elder of the kid after all, just call him by name."

Yi Duli waved his hand and said with a smile: "Public is public, private is private. It is right to call you 'adult' in front of people. I will not be polite to you in hindsight. I will call you 'Furuo' in private. If you are with me in private Playing on your lord's score, then I will have to put on the airs of an elder to teach you a lesson!"

After saying this, Yi Duli smiled, and carefully explained some points that the Minister of the Taipusi needs to pay attention to, with a tone of concern and teaching.

Cao Yong knew that he was worried about his own aggressiveness and that others would make trouble secretly, so he was very grateful.

When he reached the frontier of Qianmen, Cao Yong reined in the reins, and said to Yidu: "My lord, I'm the host, and I invite you to drink!"

Yi Duli lowered his head and sniffed his clothes, smiled and said to Cao Yong: "We have been in the horse pen for a long time, and the smell all over our body is really unpleasant. Seeing that you are clean, you can't stand this even if you are appointed. From now on, we will work as clerks in the yamen, and there will be many days of drinking, so this meal will not be missed. Besides, you will be dragged here after you leave the court. If you want to come to Mr. Cao, you will also miss it, so you should go home early."

Cao Yong agreed, and the two left.Yi Duli lives on the other side of Gulou Street and continues to the north; Cao Yong turns left and returns to Cao Mansion.

At the gate of Cao Mansion, Cao Yin's carriage was parked, and Cao Yuan led a servant to help the drunk Cao Yin get out of the carriage.

Seeing Cao Yong, he quickly got off his horse and stepped forward to give him a hand.

Cao Yin half-closed his eyes, saw that it was his son who came back, nodded, closed his eyes, and did not speak.

Cao Yin was quite surprised to hear that he smelled of alcohol, so he asked Cao Yuan beside him in a low voice: "Who are you going to drink with, master? Why are you so drunk?"

Cao Yuan said in a low voice: "I ate with Uncle Li and Grandpa Sun. The two went to Beijing together with Grandpa. Because of the business of Grandpa, they dragged Grandpa to have a drink and celebrate."

While talking, when we reached the second gate, Cao Yin told Cao Yuan to go down, and he helped his father to go in, only to hear Cao Yin murmur: "Yi'er... in your heart... future... have you ever thought about conferring a courtship to pay respects... ..."

When Cao Yong heard this, he was startled slightly, "Seal the pavilion to pay homage to the prime minister", how did his father think of this?
Although the Qing Dynasty was also a feudal centralization system, it was still different from the previous dynasties, that is, it weakened the power of the prime minister and completely ended the history of mutual restriction between the power of the prime minister and the monarchy.The so-called "entitlement to pay homage to ministers" refers to the bachelors who have been promoted to the titles of "Zhonghe Hall, Baohe Hall, Wenhua Hall, Wuying Hall, Wenyuan Pavilion, and Dongge". .

Since the establishment of the cabinet in Shunzhi until now, there have been few times when the University Scholars are full. Sometimes there are two or three people, and sometimes there are four or five people. Among them, there are also four people in the majority.

The name of the academician is to assist the emperor in handling government affairs, but in fact he only plays the role of a counselor, and the emperor has the final say on major and minor matters.To be honest, a bachelor is a position that has the name of a prime minister but does not have the power of a prime minister.

Before arriving at the Orchid Courtyard, Cao Yin said again: "Being a father... I have been busy in this life, and I will depend on you in the future..." The voice was full of endless loneliness.

Cao Yong remembered what his grandmother said when he was a child. His father loved reading poetry and books since he was a child, and he was determined to be a famous minister at a young age.

He entered the palace as a companion at the age of six or seven, and served as a bodyguard in his teens, and then went to the south of the Yangtze River for more than [-] years.Acting as eyes and ears, to win over the gentry in the south of the Yangtze River, what he does is just a "house slave" errand, he spends his whole life devoted to the emperor, and being treated as a courtier by the world, he will feel regretful in his heart!
Cao Yong smiled bitterly, he just wanted to be safe and healthy, he wanted to have certain rights and protect the safety of his family, and he was really not interested in the so-called "Xiangguo".

When Cao Yong helped his father into the house, Mrs. Li was taken aback when she saw that her husband was drunk. After your second uncle passed away, he hasn't had a drink for nearly a year."

Together with his mother, Cao Yong helped Cao Yin onto the edge of the kang, bent down to help him remove his boots, helped him to lie down, and then replied: "My son doesn't know either, I just ran into him at the door."

Mrs. Li asked someone to bring clean water, put on a handkerchief, and wiped her husband's hands and face.After Cao Yin's place was settled properly, she got up and came out, and said to Cao Yong: "The person who came back in the afternoon reported that you were promoted, but the emperor's grace on the Longevity Day is the same for everyone else; or is it just you? "

Seeing his mother's worried expression, Cao Yong persuaded with a smile, "Mother, don't worry. It's not considered a promotion. It's just that an official suffered a stroke and was busy with errands. His son is just a temporary substitute. It is estimated that after the ceremony, he will be promoted." There are proper people to accept it."

Hearing the words, Mrs. Li stroked her chest, breathed a sigh of relief, and said, "That's it, great kindness. I heard from the master earlier that civilian positions are different from military positions, and few people are lucky enough to advance. At Yong'er's age, he was promoted to a second-class guard in the palace. It’s not a big deal, it’s already conspicuous when you go out to be a fourth-rank Taoist platform, so it’s better to be safe.”

Cao Yong listened and said with a smile: "Mother, don't worry about these useless things. Even if the son is really promoted, it is the son's ability, and the mother should be happy."

Mrs. Li looked at her son with a smile, and said: "I know that Yong'er is capable, but we are old people, and we don't ask you to be rich, but you are safe and happy."

Cao Yong nodded and said: "The son knows this, so the mother can rest assured." While speaking, he heard a "grunt" and his stomach rumbled.

Mrs. Li looked out of the window and said slightly annoyed: "What time is it? Yong'er hasn't eaten yet? What if you are hungry? You go back to wash up first, and I will send someone to prepare food for you. I will call someone later Send you to the yard."

Cao Yong got up in the middle of the night, tossed and tossed for most of the day, and was a little tired, so he said goodbye to his mother.

Thinking about Chu Yu's return to the province, Mrs. Li couldn't help asking: "Chu Yu came back in the afternoon, although King Chun's Fujin is fine, but I see that she doesn't look happy when she speaks, Yong'er, don't forget to comfort her. "

"Yes! Mother." Cao Yong agreed, left the house, and went back to Wutongyuan.

Chu Yu got the letter and knew that her husband had come back and was listening to the news in the house.Hearing the sound of footsteps, she opened the curtain and came out to greet her: "Forehead son-in-law!"

Cao Yong entered the room with a smile, and when he got to the west room, he sat down on the chair and didn't want to move any more.

Seeing that he looked tired, Chu Yu was a little worried.Cao Yong waved his hand and said with a smile: "It's okay, but I got up too early, and I went to the north and south of the city for a while, and now I'm a little sleepy."

While talking, Cao Yong felt that something was wrong, raised his arms, smelled the smell on the clothes, immediately wrinkled his nose, and said to Chu Yu: "Hurry up and get someone to prepare hot water, I went to the racecourse, maybe it's too late After working hard for a long time, the whole body is full of this smell."

When Chu Yu heard this, she smiled and said, "Okay, why did the son-in-law go to the racecourse? I heard from my mother that the son-in-law is going to be promoted?" After saying this, she ordered Xiyun to go down to pass the water, and walked behind Cao Yong by herself to help He pinched his shoulders.

Cao Yong raised his arm and grabbed Chu Yu's hand, saying: "Don't pinch it, it's so tiring, I still smell bad, it will stink you too."

Chu Yu gently withdrew her hand, still held it for Cao Yong, and said with a smile: "How can you be so delicate? It's just a shoulder squeeze. Chu Yu still has the strength. The forehead has been busy outside for a day. Chu Yu also wants to serve her son-in-law with all her heart and soul. Otherwise, Chu Yu will really become a useless person who eats and sleeps, sleeps and eats."

Isn't it my luck to have such a wife?Cao Yong leaned back in the chair comfortably, closed his eyes slightly, and enjoyed his wife's sympathy.

"How is Fujin's health? Has it ever improved?" Cao Yong asked casually, "It couldn't be that Hong Shu and Hong Zhuo were mischievous and offended Fujin, right?"

After ignoring Chu Yu's reply for a while, Cao Yong opened his eyes, turned his head, and asked, "Is this what I said?"

Chu Yu didn't want to hide it from him, so she told about Brother Hongshu in a few words.

Cao Yong was dumbfounded when he heard that, Hong Zhuo was only a little older, so he had an extra daughter-in-law?Although I think this arrangement is too child's play, but I am quite relieved to think that Hong Shu can make such an arrangement without sticking to the rules.

Seeing that Cao Yong was silent, Chu Yu thought he blamed Hongshu and Hongzhuo for not being polite, and didn't know how to speak for the two brothers, so Cao Yong asked: "By the way, do you see Hongshu and Hongzhuo?" , are these two brothers okay?"

Chu Yu nodded and said: "I see, the two of them were punished and grounded by Ama." At this point, he blamed himself a little: "The day before yesterday Hong Shu came to look for me, and he only said that he wanted to have a good talk with Hong Zhuo. Think of a way for brothers to reconcile, but I didn't expect the two of them to fight."

Cao Yong laughed and said, "What's the point of fighting? Young man, there are a few who don't fight. Look at Hong Zhuo, but he's convinced?"

Thinking of the bruised noses and swollen faces of her two younger brothers, Chu Yu couldn't laugh or cry, and replied, "Yuan saw that Hong Shu was stable, and Hong Zhuo was growing up, but now I realized that neither of them seemed to have grown up. When I saw me in the afternoon , the two of them were full of pride, and Hong Shu specially asked me to pass it on to my son-in-law."

While talking, Xiyun brought someone to deliver hot water.

After Cao Yong bathed and changed his clothes, Mrs. Li had sent someone to bring dinner.

Because she was worried about the entanglement between her aunt and biological mother, Chu Yu only ate two mouthfuls of rice at night, and now she sat down and ate another half a bowl with her husband.

After dinner, the young couple went to the Lanyuan again.

Cao Yin had already gone to bed because he was drunk; Mrs. Li was teasing her grandson in the east room, and was very happy to see her son and daughter-in-law coming.

Cao Yong and Chu Yu accompanied Li Shi for a few gossips, and then came back to resettle.

Although he was exhausted, it was not yet Xu time (nine o'clock in the evening), Cao Yong couldn't sleep for a while, and the husband and wife lay on the kang and talked.

Thinking of the fight between Hongshu and Hongzhuo, Cao Yong said: "Come tomorrow, let's add a younger brother to Tianyou, or who will Tianyou turn to if he wants to fight?"

When Chu Yu heard this, she smiled and said, "There are Zuo Zhu and Zuo Cheng. I haven't seen each other for more than half a month, and I miss them a little bit."

Cao Yong shook his head and said: "No, if Tianyou hits one, then it's outrageous for the elder brother to bully the younger brother; if Tianyou hits two, don't be beaten by the two brothers again. After much deliberation, wait until you come out If he is filial piety, we should give him a brother as soon as possible." At the end, his hands and feet had already begun to be dishonest.

Chu Yu felt itchy, and couldn't help begging for mercy in a low voice, telling her about the inconvenience.

After listening to Chu Yu's words, Cao Yong secretly sighed, could this be luck?Isn't this forcing yourself to be polite?Obviously he couldn't bear it anymore, his bestiality became violent.

Inside Dongzhimen, Li's house.

Sitting on the kang, Li Ding felt indescribably depressed.At noon today, I had a drink with some relatives and friends. I didn't expect to go away in good spirits and return in disappointment, just because I heard the news that Cao Yong was appointed as the Minister of Taipusi.

Speaking of which, he is three years older than Cao Yong, and he has already obtained the honor of juren.No matter in terms of learning or dealing with people, he thinks he is no worse than Cao Yong.But luck is something that cannot be compared.

It's not that he is narrow-minded and wants to be jealous, it's just that he, who has always been so strong, can't stand Cao Yong's self-righteous face.Thinking of this, he couldn't help but snort coldly.

Seeing his gloomy face, the beautiful maidservant Xiang Tong who was waiting next to him stretched out her snow-white arms and put her arms around Li Ding's neck, giggling and saying, "Why is the second master so upset, but I heard that the master is going there. Feeling sore in my heart? The servants don't believe it anymore, she is so good, it makes the master lose his mind, and the second master misses it so much!"

This Xiangtong was Li Xu's servant girl, sixteen, with double phoenix eyes and fair skin.

She is the son of the Li family, and she was a beauty when she was a teenager.Li Xu saw it by accident, so he asked someone to teach him well.A few years later, she was very outstanding, compared with all the concubines and maidservants in the house.

In the past two years, Li Xu doted on this beautiful maid very much, and this time he went to the north with her by his side.Li Ding also thought about this beauty for a long time, but because his father didn't say anything, he could only watch.

Because of Bai Ruixue's matter, Li Xu was afraid that his son would feel uncomfortable, so he gave Xiangtong to him.

In the past two days, the two of them happened to be like honey.

After hearing Xiang Tong's words, Li Ding smiled and hugged him: "You little hoof, what are you talking about? The same master said, which one is sour?"

Xiang Tong said: "Good lord, it's the slaves who feel sore. In the future, the master will only hurt the slaves..."
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(End of this chapter)