Cao Huayu is strange, Zhang Bin, who gave Luo Yangxing money two days ago, didn't come in person, and he actually came here in person to buy a carpet today, is this carpet more important than Luo Yangxing?

He asked puzzledly, "Shuangquan, why are you buying carpets?" ”

Zhang Bin said without hesitation: "Give a gift!" ”

Well, it's normal to give gifts, Cao Huayu said generously: "If you give a gift, just take a few of them, what else to buy, do we still need to count the money." ”

Zhang Bin shook his head with a wry smile and said, "Second Brother Cao, I really want thousands of copies, not a few, if there are a few I'll let people pick them up directly." ”

Thousands of pieces, that's more than 100,000 taels of silver, Cao Huayu was dumbfounded and said: "Who are you giving gifts, is it necessary to give such a big hand?" ”

If it is an ordinary person, it is indeed unnecessary, more than 100,000 taels of silver, unless it is a corrupt official or a serious courtier, no one can bear it.

Zhang Bin smiled mysteriously: "Of course it is necessary, the person I want to send is not an ordinary person." ”

Cao Huayu couldn't help but ask, "Who?" ”

Zhang Bin pointed to the palace in the east and said proudly: "His Royal Highness the Prince." ”

His Royal Highness the Prince!

Cao Huayu's eyes were about to pop out, it was a little doll about two years old, why did she want so many carpets?

He really didn't understand it a little, but it was better not to speculate on the royal one, since it was related to the royal family, then don't ask.

You don't have to ask, but if you want so many carpets, you don't have it.

He shook his head helplessly and said: "Shuangquan, I don't have so much, ordinary people can't afford this thing at all, my total number in Beijing and Shandong only has dozens of pieces in stock, even if all the semicolons are recovered, it is only about two hundred." ”

Of course, Zhang Bin knew that Cao Huayu couldn't have so much inventory here, and this kind of infrequently used thing definitely needed to be transferred, so he nodded and said: "Well, then transfer the goods as soon as possible, large, medium and small, the same five hundred sheets, get together in five days, can it work?" ”

Five days!

If someone asks him like this, Cao Huayu is estimated to be able to urinate on someone's face, but Zhang Bin is different, and if he can't do it, he has to do it.

He said solemnly: "This, you must send a clipper to the semicolon in Zhuhai to pick it up, this thing was purchased by Huang Chengda's shopkeeper from the Persian side through the Portuguese, we only distribute, he is wholesale, thousands of pieces of inventory, only he has there." ”

Huang Cheng is his cousin, this is easy to say, Zhang Bin walked directly to the desk, picked up the brush, and asked Cao Huayu for a piece of letter paper, and wrote a short message, which probably means that he is anxious to ask for a batch of Persian carpets, and the payment will be settled at that time, and the writing is very vague, and others can't see anything greasy when they take it, only people in Dongshengtang can understand.

Cao Huayu solemnly put away the text message and said seriously: "I'll send someone to Zhuhai by speedboat later, do you need anything?" ”

Zhang Bin thought for a while and said with a little embarrassment: "Do you have something for a two-year-old child to play with?" ”

There really isn't this, Cao Huayu thought about it, and simply said: "Otherwise, I'll ask someone to help you buy it, rattles, copper whistles, puppets or something, these things that children play with, I don't have them here, there are many on the street." ”

It seems a little inappropriate to give these common things to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, Cao Huayu said that the puppet reminded him of a very interesting thing in the later life, and he asked directly: "Where are there more carpenters in the capital?" ”

Cao Huayu said without thinking: "The area of Shenmuchang Street and Muchanger Lane outside Chongwen Gate is where carpenters gather. ”

Zhang Bin nodded and said: "Well, you wait for someone to say hello to Luo Yangxing, and ask him to find me a relatively old craftsman, preferably specializing in puppets and other gadgets, and I'll go to the Metropolitan Procuratorate." ”

Cao Huayu nodded and said, "Okay, you go and get busy, I'll arrange it for you." ”

The carpet and toys have been arranged, and the matter of the meeting gift seems to be almost over, and it is time to go to Zhang Luo to evaluate the record, but, somehow, Zhang Bin suddenly thought of Queen Zhang's peerless face and reluctant eyes in his mind, and he said in a ghostly manner: "Do you have any good things for women, I want to give the queen some gifts by the way." ”

Cao Huayu didn't hear anything abnormal, it seems a little rude for you to give gifts to the prince, but you don't give things to the queen, he said enthusiastically: "If you want to talk about things for women, I have a lot of them." Rouge gouache is available from a few taels a box to a few hundred taels a box, flower dew perfume from a few taels a bottle to a few hundred taels a bottle, as well as pearl powder, silk satin, etc., depending on how much gift you want to give. ”

Zhang Bin knew about rouge incense powder and silk satin, but he didn't understand the others, he couldn't help but be curious: "What is flower dew perfume, and what is pearl powder used for?" ”

Cao Huayu said in detail: "This flower dew is a hundred flower dew, there are many kinds, all of which are essences refined from various flowers, and perfume is used to sprinkle the flower dew with water after it is sprinkled on the body." As for the pearl powder, it can be taken internally and externally, which has miraculous effects such as prolonging spring, nourishing the skin and moisturizing the skin, clearing the liver and brightening the eyes, etc., the women of these large families understand, and the queen must understand. ”

These are all good things, Zhang Bin said excitedly: "How much is this flower dew and pearl powder worth, how much does it cost a woman to use for a year?" ”

Cao Huayu said like a few treasures: "There are good and bad things about this thing, and everyone uses it differently, like flower dew, if you just sprinkle it with water, you can't use a few dollars a year, if you use it to bathe with water, even if you use the worst one, you will get more than 100 taels of silver a month." Pearl powder is the same, if you mix some honey and drink it every day, it won't cost much silver a year, and if you take it internally and externally, even if you use the worst, it will cost hundreds of taels of silver a month. ”

Zhang Bin said without hesitation: "Use the best, it's enough, how much does it cost in a year?" ”

Cao Huayu estimated: "If you use the best, all kinds of flower dew, it will cost tens of thousands of taels of silver a year, and if the pearl powder tube is enough, it will cost at least 20,000 taels of silver a year." ”

Lying on the grass, Zhang Bin was startled when he heard this, two things alone are 30,000 taels a year, and Chongzhen can't afford it!

However, he raised it.

Sometimes, men don't spend a lot of money for the women they like, it's common to be lavish, and even willing to go bankrupt, this money can only be regarded as lavish for Zhang Bin, for the sake of Pomeranians, what does it matter if he's lavish.

He gritted his teeth and said: "All come to the best, the same two copies, each with two years' amount, rouge gouache and silk satin are the best, each one comes more than 10,000 taels, divided into two parts, I will pick it up early tomorrow morning, and I will dial it for you when I go back." ”

These two things are more than 100,000 taels!

Cao Huayu didn't think it was strange, it was the queen's mother, what happened to more than 100,000 taels.

However, he still reminded: "Shuangquan, you have to pay attention, like flower dew and pearl powder, if you don't say it, people will think that it is an ordinary goods of a few hundred taels, but it is nothing, but rouge gouache and silk satin are easy to see how much they are worth." ”

What he means, you can give gifts, don't give them, let Chongzhen see at a glance that you are corrupt!

When Zhang Bin heard this, he sighed in his heart, he was really dizzy, this can't be guarded against, he hurriedly advised: "In the future, don't sell your Persian carpets here, and also, just a few hundred taels of rouge gouache and silk satin." ”

Cao Huayu nodded, and said solemnly: "Okay, I'll prepare these things for you tomorrow, and you can take all my Persian carpets, anyway, the Beijing branch won't sell this thing in the future." ”

Zhang Bin bowed his hand and said goodbye: "Second Brother Cao, then thank you, please prepare all these today, I will pick them up tomorrow morning, I still have some business, I want to go to the Metropolitan Procuratorate, and I will leave." ”

When Cao Huayu heard this, he hurriedly got up and sent him outside the door.

Zhang Bin went to the Metropolitan Procuratorate for the purpose of evaluating the records, in fact, the evaluation records were not made by himself, but were provided by his boss to the Ministry of Officials, for example, when he was the county commander, he didn't have to worry about the evaluation at all.

Last time, I didn't know what was going on with the Metropolitan Procuratorate, so I didn't even hand over his evaluation records to the ministry.

The Metropolitan Procuratorate is just in the tube alley at the end of West Chang'an Street, but also along the way, the carriage goes west along the West Chang'an Street, passes the Xidan archway, enters the tube alley, less than a mile ahead, the Yamen of the Metropolitan Procuratorate arrives.

Zhang Bin is the first time to come to the yamen of the Metropolitan Procuratorate, after getting off the carriage, he came directly to the gatehouse, and showed the waist card, the old official in the gatehouse was almost stupid by him, such a young and young offspring, it turned out to be the left deputy of the Imperial History of the Metropolitan Procuratorate, and the top few bosses of the Metropolitan Procuratorate!

The Metropolitan Procuratorate can manage the left deputy capital of the imperial history of the left capital is also the left capital of the imperial history of Lord Cao, the old official hurriedly threw everything away, and took him to Cao Yubian's study and walked away.

Cao Yubian is indeed an upright and diligent official, this kind of official is rare in the Chongzhen Dynasty, especially after the remnants of the eunuch party left the old men in Donglin, the truly honest and honest officials in the court can be counted on two hands.

He also has his own insistence, in fact, he also wants to get rid of Wen Tiren's cancer as soon as possible, but Wen Tiren is too treacherous, coaxing the emperor not to say anything, and there are also henchmen all over the court, like Zhang Jie, the right deputy of the Imperial Palace, is Wen Tiren's minions, which he is quite clear.

It is not an easy task to get rid of Wen Tiren, if you don't make up your mind and then act, you are likely to be like the officials who impeached Wen Tiren before, but you will be eliminated by Wen Tiren!

At this moment, he was sitting there sulking with a black face, Min Hongxue and Min Mengde actually committed suicide, who didn't know that these two people were Wen Tiren's right-hand men, and he also wanted to take this opportunity to clean up Wen Tiren, but he didn't expect them to commit suicide like this, what a bastard!

Just as he gritted his teeth and wanted to scold his mother, a voice suddenly came from outside: "My lord, the left deputy is the imperial history Zhang Bin and Lord Zhang asks to see him." ”

Zhang Bin? This is a very good young man, his exploits in Fuguang are enough to make most of the officials in the court embarrassed, it would be good if the officials of the Ming Dynasty were so young and promising.

Cao Yubian was still quite satisfied with this subordinate on duty, and when he heard that Zhang Bin was coming, he hurriedly rubbed his slightly stiff face on the washboard with both hands, and then said loudly: "Please." ”

Zhang Bin spoke softly, walked into the study quickly, came to Cao Yubian and bowed his hand: "Subordinate Zhang Bin, see Master Cao." ”

Cao Yubian nodded, and said kindly: "Master Zhang, you don't have to be so careful, you have a long journey, you should rest more, my old man is here, you don't have to come to visit." ”

Zhang Bin is so embarrassed, Cao Yubian thought he was here to pat himself on the back and pull the relationship, the problem is not, he is not so boring.

He laughed dryly, and then said, "My lord, I don't hide it, the lower officials came here this time to ask for something." ”

Cao Yubian was surprised: "Oh, what's the matter, you say." ”

Zhang Bin hurriedly explained: "That's the case, Min Hongxue, the secretary of the ministry, reported to the emperor, saying that the governor of Fujian had no evaluation record for three years and did not comply with the rules, so he specially recruited the lower officials to come back to make up the evaluation records. ”

When Cao Yubian heard this, he thought about it with surprise on his face, and then said angrily: "These remnants of the eunuch party know all day long that they are fighting for power and profit, and they are shameless!" ”

Zhang Bin was taken aback by Cao Yubian's reaction, he secretly observed, and saw that Cao Yubian didn't mean to target him, so he asked cautiously: "My lord, what's wrong with you?" ”

Cao Yubian shook his head and sighed: "Lord Zhang, you don't know, the evaluation record of your governor is not under the management of the Metropolitan Procuratorate, because at that time, you are the official of the Ministry of War, and you are the main position, and the right envoy of the Metropolitan Procuratorate is only suspended, so the evaluation of your governor's appointment is under the responsibility of the Ministry of War." The two brothers are up and down, maybe, the evaluation has been done for you, they for some ulterior purposes, and ran to the emperor to say that you have no evaluation record, of course, it may not have been done at all, anyway, this is the business of their two brothers, they specifically mentioned this matter to the emperor, there must be a purpose! ”

Zhang Bin was stunned when he heard this, these two guys are completely playing tricks on themselves, and they deserve to be cut by a thousand cuts!

He pretended to be generous and said: "The so-called many injustices will kill themselves, and they have also been punished as they deserve, this matter, the lower officials can treat it as if it never happened, but the emperor insisted that I go to make up the evaluation records, my lord, what do you say?" At this time, they are all locked up in prison, is it still useful to look for them? ”

Cao Yubian shook his head and sighed: "It's useless, I just received the news, they have committed suicide in fear of sin." ”

"Ahh Zhang Bin was taken aback, these two guys actually committed suicide in fear of crime, Wen Tiren must have an internal response in the edict!

It's a pity, I originally thought that they would not be able to withstand the torture to extract confessions and recruit a group of eunuch remnants, but I didn't expect them to die like this.

There is nothing to say about this matter to Cao Yubian, after all, he is not familiar with Cao Yubian, so he can only sigh and say: "It seems that the matter of evaluation records is still troublesome." ”

Unexpectedly, Cao Yubian said in a big way: "Lord Zhang, since your main position is now in the Metropolitan Procuratorate, the Metropolitan Procuratorate can also help you do the evaluation record, whether it is the governor or the governor, you don't have to worry about this, I will let someone help you make up for the evaluation later." ”

It's that simple?

Zhang Bin couldn't help but look at Cao Yubian dumbfounded, and he didn't know what to say.

Cao Yubian shook his head and sighed: "Alas, these are originally very simple things for the yamen of the various ministries, they just deliberately embarrassed you to make it seem to be very troublesome, don't worry, I will do it for you soon." ”

Zhang Bin hurriedly arched his hand and said, "Thank you, sir." ”