Reborn in the last years of Kangxi

Chapter 787

On this day, Cao Yong came out from the Yamen and went directly to Houhai.

In early summer, the flowers are red and the willows are green, and there is still a bit of coldness by the seaside.Cao Yong was riding on the horse, thinking about the appointment when Brother Sixteen left three days ago.

What's the matter?Make a special trip to meet here?

This outhouse by the seaside of Sixteen Ages is rarely used.

After a while, when we arrived at the place where the house was, Cao Yong asked someone to knock on the door.

Two young men in green clothes came up to open the door, looking like servants of ordinary people.There was a young man who looked curiously at the make-up clothes on Cao Yong.

Turning around the screen wall, one can see a quiet place. There are several large fish tanks and two pomegranate trees in the yard.On the pomegranate tree, flower buds have already been opened, and bright red pomegranate flowers are already blooming in sunny places.

Under the pomegranate tree, Elder Sixteen was lying on a bamboo chair, holding a peony dog ​​in his arms, with a cigarette dangling from his mouth, very contented.There is a small table in front with a plate of cherries on it.

Seeing that there was a bamboo chair next to him, Cao Yong was not polite. He sat down and said, "Why did you think of tidying up this side? Seeing that the sixteenth master is serious, he thought it was something serious. Is this showing off Master Sixteen's freedom?"

Elder Sixteen took a deep puff of the cigarette, and slowly exhaled a smoke ring, saying: "Fu Ruo, if you were not born in the palace, how good would it be if you were a young master of a landlord's family?"

"The young master of the landlord's family?" Cao Yong shook his head and said, "Haven't you heard of 'Pojia County Magistrate, Miemenfu Yin'? If there is less land in the family, it is fine, but if there is more land, a small sesame official can make you The family property is gone."

Elder Sixteen heard this, raised the corners of his mouth, looked at Cao Yong and said, "Then be a dandy of a corrupt official's family?"

Cao Yong leaned on the bamboo chair, remembering the rocking chairs of later generations, and said slowly: "To be a corrupt official, you must have the consciousness of being ransacked. In officialdom, big fish eat small fish. When officials are small, they are greedy for money. Some people at the top are also worried about it; if the official is big and greedy for money, the top will not tolerate it."

Brother Sixteen couldn't help frowning when he heard this, and said, "Is this life going to be hard?"

Cao Yong glanced at Elder Sixteen, and said: "What's the hurry of Lord Sixteen? After getting through the prince and becoming the prince Baylor, the Sixteenth Lord will be at ease? As long as you don't worry about it, the master in this clan has closed the door. Small days are noble enough and leisurely enough."

The sixteenth elder brother looked at Cao Yong for a long time, and felt that Cao Yong was a little uncomfortable, and then said: "Even if the master has a rush, what about Fu Ruo? What will happen to Fu Ruo in the future?"

Cao Yong didn't want to think about this problem.Life seems to be very short, and more than ten years go by in a blink of an eye; it seems to be very long, and it is necessary to plan for the distant future.

Could it be that after he secretly showed his favor to the fourth elder brother, he still wanted to cultivate Hongli's friendship and become a veteran of the three dynasties?
Otherwise, when you live to be thirty or forty, you will retire?Where to hide, where to retreat?

Although it is a way out to take children and grandchildren overseas to escape from the world, people are far from home and humble.Without power, there is no way to keep your family safe.

"Master Sixteen, I want to lean against the big tree to enjoy the shade. Or, in the future, I will count on Master Sixteen?" Cao Yong turned his head and looked at Elder Sixteen and replied.

Brother Sixteen glared at him, and said, "Don't do it, I don't have the ability to protect you. I still want to enjoy leisure and work, and eat and drink, so I can't be a big tree."

Cao Yong let out a long breath and said, "What did the emperor say?"

Elder Sixteen nodded and said: "Huang Ama said, I want you to find a way to raise money before the end of the year. I also said that I want you to go to the Ministry of Accounts to familiarize you with the case records of the Ministry of Accounts, not to ask you to find a way. local retirement."

When Elder Sixteen said "Huang Ama", Cao Yong got up from the chair.

This is the oral order of Kangxi passed down. No matter who or when it is said, Cao Yong needs to "respectfully" listen to it.This is in line with the rules of this world, even in front of Brother Sixteen.

In the current era where the monarchy is supreme, this can't be sloppy at all.No matter what Cao Yong thinks in his heart, on the surface he still knows the word "loyalty to the emperor".

Cao Yong sneered in his heart, what's the use of being familiar with the case of the Ministry of household affairs?Could it be that he is full and full, and now he mentions "return the fire consumption to the public" and "sell the food to the mu"?
He can find out the treasury income of Kangxi from 32 years to the present.

From the 32nd year of Kangxi to the 25th year, the number of cultivated land registered by the state has increased by [-]%, but the taxation is almost the same as in the past.Just because the increased land is in the name of bureaucratic landlords, they use various titles to reduce or exempt taxes.This can still be seen on the books. How much arable land is not registered?

Cao Yong believes that as long as all the farmland is taxed, the income of the household department can be increased by [-]%, if not doubled.

The rest is to "return the fire consumption to the public", which can reduce the exploitation of the people by the officials below and increase the revenue of the treasury.

The more you look at the accounts of the Ministry of Households, the more you can see the disadvantages of the current land tax system and the "fire consumption" system.

Kangxi is the ruler of this country, so he is naturally familiar with the shortcomings of the court and the local government, but he is already in his twilight years, and he has no energy or thought to pierce the window paper of this "prosperity and peace".

"Is there no silver in the inner treasury?" Cao Yong asked.

"Tibet has been occupied by Zhungeer. This time, tens of thousands of people can't cope with it." Elder Sixteen answered irrelevantly.

"Did the emperor lift me up?" Cao Yong stroked his forehead and said, "I really want to turn into the God of Wealth, if I can turn stone into gold."

Elder Sixteen snorted coldly, and said: "Who told you to show off, you bought it from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and built a Daoxiang Village. That's good, it's linked to economic affairs, it's thankless, and the errands are done well, but Heresy, let the old masters in the court feel ashamed; if the errand is messed up, Huang Ama can still see you?"

Cao Yong smiled wryly. Elder Sixteen thought he had attracted Kangxi's attention for this reason, but he didn't know that Cao Yin, his own father, sold his son to the emperor when Cao's family was still in a deficit in the House of Internal Affairs.

Would it be better if I was not threatened by the shadow of "short life" back then and slowed down the pace of debt repayment?

If the old man could have valued his son more than "loyalty to the emperor", would it be different?

No one really can tell.

Brother Sixteen felt a little regretful when he saw that he didn't say a word.We have known each other for nearly ten years, and he still doesn't know Cao Yong's temperament. These complaints are just spoken casually.

He "coughed" twice, then changed the subject, and said, "Huang Ama made a special trip to ask Brother Nine about the tobacco business there, and also mentioned the Han Jiang family. Furuo, don't blame Huang Ama for being so tight. There is no money in the internal treasury and the national treasury, otherwise the war in the northwest would not have dragged on for several years. If the money was sufficient and the horses, officers and soldiers were ready, in the past few years, Zhungeer would have been wiped out, and Zhungeer would have been raging Like this?"

Cao Yong was silent for a while, and asked: "Why did the emperor mention Han Jiang's family? How can a merchant woman get into the emperor's dragon eye?"

Brother Sixteen waved his hand and said, "You ask me, who do I ask? Huang Ama means to let me stand out and use Han Jiang's family to do business. As for what to do, it's up to you to make up your mind?"

Cao Yong was very angry and funny, and said: "Han Jiang is going back to his hometown."

Elder Sixteen looked at him contemptuously, and said, "If you can go back early, can you still spend these days in the capital?"

Seeing that Cao Yong wanted to say more, the sixteenth elder brother said seriously: "Furuo, Huang Ama's words are imperial edicts, not discussions, you have to remember this. Huang Ama is the most face-saving person, if it is not for the lack of finances , and no one can use it, Huang Ama will not have the heart to force you. To be honest, Huang Ama has not only given Cao's family grace, but also years of affection, you should know."

Cao Yong listened, and said for a long time: "Master Sixteen, I know everything. But I also know my size, and I will try my best. As for the effect, I can't guarantee it. After all, I am not a real merchant. It’s just talk on paper.”

The atmosphere was a bit heavy, Brother Sixteen didn't want to do this, he stretched out his hand, shook it in front of Cao Yong, and said with a smile: "Fu Ruo, you have to help this time, get a better deal than Daoxiang Village. Capital, as a backer, what are you afraid of? I have already agreed with Huang Ama that [-]% of the profits will go to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and [-]% will be controlled by myself. Last time you said that Daoxiang Village gave [-]% of the profits to the Han Jiang family. Not that courageous. The remaining [-]%, you and I each have [-]%, and Han Jiang’s [-]%, how about it?"

Seeing Elder Sixteen's bright eyes, Cao Yong couldn't help being amused, and said: "Master Sixteen is short of money?"

Elder Sixteen shook his head and said, "Hongpu has entered school, and the younger ones will be soon. Getting a wife is just a matter of time. As an ama, I always want to save some money for my sons."

Cao Yong refused to answer his words, and said: "Forget about my [-]%, if you really want to set up a big business, Master Sixteen will have to recruit two people to make peace."

Elder Sixteen heard this, thought for a while, and said, "Is it Brother Nine and Prince Jian?"

Cao Yong nodded, most of the business in the capital is in the hands of Brother Jiu, even with the support behind Kangxi, the rise of Brother Sixteen will also attract Brother Jiu's fear.Even if he respects his superiors on the surface and does not dare to make trouble, who knows what tricks will come out behind the scenes.

As for Yaerjiang, it is the order of the clan's mansion, the noble lady.Although Prince Jian had to be under Prince Li when the prince was on shift, the strength of Prince Jian's mansion was no less than that of Prince Li's mansion.

The two generations of emperors who entered the customs in the Qing Dynasty relied far more on Prince Jian's Mansion than Prince Li's Mansion.

This also involves the old affairs of the royal family. If it is based on the division of concubine and concubines, Prince Li Lie and Dai Shan are the sons of Taizu Yuanfei.Moreover, the Eight Great Princes, Shuncheng Palace and Pingjun Palace are all descendants of Prince Lilie.

It can be said that Huang Taiji was able to ascend the throne back then, thanks to Daishan's "giving way" for his assistance.

With Prince Jane in the lead, he will be able to block all the restless masters in the clan.

Brother Sixteen saw Cao Yong nodding his head, he couldn't help frowning, and said: "I can't afford to offend these two people. Only [-]% of the profit is left. If they also join in, I'm afraid I won't get [-]% of it."

Han Jiang's line of business is a bank.

Cao Yong thought about the prevailing usury in the capital, and his heart moved. This is a good opportunity to start a bank.Regardless of how many dignitaries are behind those banks in the capital, how can they force Sixteenth Brother, Ninth Brother, and Prince Jane to join forces?

Most of the current money houses are mainly based on exchanging silver and lending money. Not to mention that there is no interest on depositing silver, they also have to bear custody fees...

*
Cao Mansion, side courtyard.

Baodie stood in the upper room, looking at the room covered in white, and couldn't tell whether it was sorrow or relief.A few days ago, the general's mansion had people measure the size, and the appointment will be made tomorrow, and a newcomer will be married here in a month or so.

Lu Ju followed behind Baodie, looking at everything in front of her, feeling as if she was being pricked by a needle.

The fourth master has achieved fame and will soon marry his noble grandmother, how will he deal with Tianyang at that time?Thinking of this, she couldn't help but panic.

Baodie turned around, just in time to see Luju's distraught appearance, and couldn't help sighing in her heart.Originally, she didn't like Lu Ju, because she was Zhao Jia's girl, and also because she was Zhang Nanny's granddaughter.

During these years of swallowing her anger in Cao's house, Baodie has been more angry with Madam Zhang than Zhaojia's. It would be a lie to say that she has no resentment in her heart.

But now that Luju has given birth to Tianyang, she treats Cao Xiang very kindly, and shows rare respect to Baodie, which makes Baodie accept this daughter-in-law unknowingly.

She took Luju's hand and said, "Come on, let's talk in your room."

Green Chrysanthemum's house is in the west wing, two small rooms divided into inner and outer rooms.The inside is the bedroom, and the outside is the living room for guests.On the half surface of the kang, there is a kang table, and on both sides of the kang table are two half-new and not old cushions.

A round table was placed on the ground, with a few stools made of huanghuali.On the Babaoge, there were only a few worthless trinkets here and there.

Baodie had come to this house several times before to see her grandson.It's not fancy, but it's much better than it is now.

It seems that I was a little more careful because I was afraid that I might not be able to understand grandma's temper.Baodie is also uneasy, Tianyang is about to turn one year old, the most lovable thing, if the aunt doesn't allow it, will the grandson still suffer from the pain of the son when he was a child?
Luju asked Baodie to sit on the kang, poured a bowl of tea herself, and brought it to Baodie with both hands.

Baodie took it, put it on the kang table, looked at the decoration of the room, and said: "Luju, you are the second wife of the Cao family who married into the door seriously, and you are different from ordinary concubines."

Luju sat down first, a little confused about Baodie's intentions.

"Although you used to serve your wife in the early years, you are different from me. You are a clean and good girl who has been exiled from slavery, and was hired into the mansion properly." Baodie looked at Luju and said: " It is the duty to respect the housewife's wife; but as a mother, you must also remember to protect your own children, don't learn from me."

"Auntie..." Mentioning her son, Luju couldn't help lowering her head, her eyes were already red.

Baodie has already stretched out her hand, gently put it on Luju's hand, and said softly: "Don't be afraid. Fourth master is not a fool, and will never let your mother and son be wronged."

Thinking about the uneasiness these days, Luju couldn't bear it any longer, and fell into Baodie's arms, crying.

Baodie sighed, patted her on the back, and said softly: "Cry, cry, I'm crying now, but I have to bear it in the future. No matter how you live, you have to live. If you want to be open, you have to laugh." Live your life..."

Outside the window, Cao Xiang's face was pale, with a sad expression, but he was helpless.If it was two years ago, he didn't know the world affairs, but he could still be confident, patting his chest and desperate for Luju.

Two years later, he knew that apart from being his own size, he was still the son of the Cao family.The family protected him, and he lived to the point that he should do his best for the family just like his elder brothers, and he should not be self-sufficient in everything...

*
PS: The peony dog ​​is Jingba, which was called peony dog ​​in Ming and Qing Dynasties. It is native to China and has been specially bred by the royal family in all dynasties.

(End of this chapter)