This said, Cao Hao came out of the yamen and went directly to Houhai.

In early summer, the flowers are red and willow green, and the sea is still a little cold. Cao Hao rode on the horse, thinking about the meeting when the sixteenth elder brother left before the third day.

What the hell is going on? See you here?

This outer house by the sea of the Sixteen Agoshcha is rarely used.

One time later, when he arrived at the place where the house was, Cao Hao asked people to come forward and knock on the door.

Two young men in Tsing Yi came up to open the door, looking like ordinary people's subordinates. There was a young one, and he also looked curiously at Cao Hao's supplement.

Turning the shadow wall, I saw a quiet place, with several large fish tanks in the yard and two pomegranate trees planted. On the pomegranate tree, there are already flower bones, and where the sun is shining, there are already red and bright pomegranate flowers.

Under the pomegranate tree, the sixteenth elder brother was lying on a bamboo chair, holding a peony dog in his arms, holding a cigarette in his mouth, very content. In front of it is a small table with a plate of cherries on top.

Cao Hao saw that there was a bamboo chair next to him, and he was not polite, sat down, and said, "Why do you think of cleaning up here?" Look at the solemn things of the sixteenth master, and think that there is something serious, this is to show off the freedom of the sixteenth master? ”

The sixteenth elder brother took a deep puff of cigarette, and slowly spit out a smoke ring, and said, "Fu Ruo, if the master was not born in the palace, how good would it be to be a young master of a landlord's family?" ”

"The young master of the landlord's family?" Cao Hao shook his head and said, "Haven't you heard of the 'Breaking the County Order and Destroying the Mansion Yin'?" If there is less land at home, if there is more land, a sesame petty official can also make your family property scattered. ”

When the sixteenth elder brother heard this, he picked the corners of his mouth, looked at Cao Hao and said, "Then be a corrupt official's gentleman?" ”

Cao Hao leaned on the bamboo chair, remembered the rocking chair of later generations, and said slowly: "To be a corrupt official, you must have the consciousness of being robbed." In officialdom, it's all big fish eating small fish. The official is small, greedy for silver, and there are people above who are worried; If the ruler is big, he is greedy for money, and the above cannot tolerate it. ”

When the sixteenth elder brother heard this, he couldn't help frowning, and said, "This is too much?" ”

Cao Hao glanced at the sixteenth elder brother and said, "What is the sixteenth elder in a hurry?" After surviving the prince and becoming the prince Baylor, won't the sixteenth master be at ease? As long as you don't have to be idle, the master in this sect closes the door and has a small time, which is noble and leisurely enough. ”

The sixteenth elder brother looked at Cao Hao for a long time, and saw that Cao Hao was a little uncomfortable, and then said: "Even if the master has a head, what about Fu Ruo?" What should happen after Fu Ruo? ”

Cao Hao didn't want to think about this question. Life seems to be very short, and more than ten years have passed in a blink of an eye; It seems like a long time, and you need to plan for the distant future.

Could it be that after secretly showing favor to the fourth elder brother, he still wants to cultivate the friendship over there in Hongli and become a veteran of the three dynasties?

Otherwise, live to retire at thirty or forty? Where to hide, where to retreat?

With children and grandchildren, overseas escapism, although it is a way out, but people leave their hometowns. Without power, you can't keep your family safe.

"Sixteenth master, I want to lean my back against the big tree to enjoy the shade. Or, in the future, you will count on the sixteenth master? Cao Hao turned his head and looked at the sixteenth elder brother and replied.

The sixteenth elder brother glared at him and said, "Don't, you don't have the ability to protect you." The master still wants to work hard, eat and drink together, and can't be a big tree. ”

Cao Hao sighed and said, "What did the emperor say?" ”

The sixteenth elder brother nodded and said, "Huang Ama said, let you think of it, and give you money before the end of the year." He also said that you should go to the household department to familiarize you with the household case file, not to let you find a place to retire. ”

When the sixteenth elder brother said "Huang Ama", Cao Hao got up from the chair.

This is Kangxi's dictation, no matter who said it or when, Cao Hao needs to listen "respectfully". This is in line with the rules of this world, even in front of the sixteenth elder brother.

In the current situation of the supremacy of monarchy, this is not allowed to be sloppy. No matter what Cao Hao thinks in his heart, on the surface he still knows the word "loyalty".

Cao Hao sneered in his heart, what is the use of being familiar with the Hubu case? Could it be that he is full of food, and now he mentions "returning fire consumption to the public" and "spreading the land into the acre"?

He was able to find out the treasury income of Kangxi from the thirty-two years to the present.

From the 32nd year of the Kangxi reign to the present 25 years, the number of cultivated land registered by the state has increased by 30%, but the tax is almost the same as in the past. Just because the increase in land was in the name of the bureaucratic landlords, who reduced taxes under various names. This can still be seen on the books, how much arable land is not registered?

Cao Hao believes that as long as all the cultivated land is taxed, the income of the household department can increase by 50 percent, 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 state treasury.

The more we look at the accounts of the household department, the more we can see the drawbacks of the current land endowment 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 locality, but he is already in his twilight years, and he has no energy or heart to pierce the window paper of this "prosperous peace".

"There's no silver in the inner treasury?" Cao Hao asked.

"Tibet Province has let Junggar occupy it, and this time it is not something that tens of thousands of horses can handle." The sixteenth elder brother answered the question.

"Did the emperor exalt me?" Cao Hao stroked his forehead and said: "I really want to become the God of Wealth, and I can really turn stones into gold." ”

The sixteenth elder brother snorted coldly and said, "Who made you love to show off, get an internal affairs government to procure it, and get a Daoxiang Village." This is good, it is linked to economic affairs, thankless, and the errand is done well, but it is just a side-by-side way, so that the old masters of the court are not ashamed; The errand is smashed, can Huang Ama still wait to see you? ”

Cao Hao smiled bitterly, the sixteenth elder brother thought that he had attracted Kangxi's attention because of this, but he didn't know that as early as when the Cao family was still in the internal affairs office, Cao Yin's father sold his son to the emperor.

If I hadn't been threatened by the shadow of "short-lived" back then, wouldn't it be better to slow down the pace of debt repayment?

If the old man could have regarded his son more important than the "loyal monarch" at that time, would it be different.

It's really impossible for anyone to say.

Seeing that he was silent, the sixteenth elder brother regretted it a little. After nearly ten years of friendship, Cao Hao's surname, he still doesn't know, these complaints are just casually said.

He "coughed" twice, diverted the conversation, and said, "Huang Ama made a special trip to ask about the tobacco business on the Ninth Brother's side, and also mentioned the Han Jiang clan. Fu Ruo, don't blame Huang Ama for being in a hurry, there is no silver in the inner 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 and officers and soldiers were complete, the efforts of the past few years would have bulldozed Jungar a long time ago, and would it still be possible to make Jungar make such a fuss? ”

Cao Hao was silent for a long time and asked, "Why did the emperor mention the Han Jiang clan?" How did a businesswoman get into the emperor's dragon eye? ”

The sixteenth elder brother waved his hand and said, "You ask me, who do I ask?" Huang Ama meant to let me come out and use the Han Jiang clan to do business. As for what to do, why don't you get an idea? ”

Cao Hao was angry and funny, and said, "The Han Jiang clan is going back to his hometown." ”

The sixteenth elder brother glanced at him with disdain and said, "If you can go back early, can you still spend all these hours in the capital?" ”

Seeing that Cao Hao was about to say more, the sixteenth elder brother said: "Fu Ruo, the words of Huang Ama are holy decrees, not discussions, you have to remember this." Huang Ama is the most good-looking person, if it weren't for the lack of finances and no one could use it, Huang Ama wouldn't bear to force you. To tell the truth, Huang Ama is not only a gentleman's grace to the Cao family, but also many years of affection, you should know. ”

Cao Hao listened, and said for a while: "Sixteenth master, I know everything." But I also know the weight of my own individuality, and I will do my best, and as for the results, I can't guarantee the results. After all, I'm not really a businessman, everything is just on paper. ”

The atmosphere was a little heavy, and the sixteenth elder brother didn't want to do this, so he stretched out his hand, shook it in front of Cao Hao, and said with a smile: "Fu Ruo, you have to help this time and get a better deal than Daoxiang Village." Huang Ama paid the capital and became a backer, what are you afraid of? I have already agreed with Huang Ama that fifty percent of the profits will go to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and fifty percent will go to my own disposal. Last time, you said that Daoxiang Village gave Han Jiang a forty-percent benefit, but I didn't have the courage. The remaining fifty percent, you and I each have two percent, and Han Jiang's one percent, how about it? ”

Looking at the sixteenth elder brother's shining eyes, Cao Hao couldn't help but laugh and said, "The sixteenth master is short of silver?" ”

The sixteenth elder brother shook his head and said: "Hongpu has entered school, and a few small ones are also fast, and marrying a daughter-in-law is also a matter of a blink of an eye. ”

Cao Hao didn't answer his words, and said: "My two percent is counted, if you really want to set up a big deal, the sixteenth master has to pull two people to be peaceful." ”

The sixteenth elder brother listened, thought for a while, and said, "Is it the ninth brother and Prince Jian?" ”

Cao Hao nodded, most of the business in the capital is in the hands of the Ninth Elder Brother, even with the support behind Kangxi, the rise of the Sixteenth Elder Brother will also attract the jealousy of the Ninth Elder Brother. Even if you respect your fate on the face and don't dare to make trouble, who knows what tricks will come out behind your back.

As for Yarjiang, it is the Zongren Mansion Sect Order, the honorable Iron Hat King. Although Prince Jian had to live under Prince Li when the prince was arranged, the strength of Prince Jane's Mansion was not inferior to Prince Li's Mansion in any way.

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

This also involves the old affairs of the royal family, if it is according to the division of concubines, Prince Lilie Daishan is the concubine of Taizu Yuanfei. Moreover, the Eight Iron Hat Kings, Shuncheng Wangfu and Pingjun Wangfu are all descendants of Prince Lilie.

It can be said that Huang Taiji was able to ascend the throne back then, thanks to Dai Shan's "abdication" assistance.

If Prince Jane comes out, he will be able to block all the restless masters in the clan.

Seeing Cao Hao nodding, the sixteenth elder brother couldn't help frowning, and said, "I can't afford to offend these two people." There is only fifty percent of the profit left, and if they also participate in it, I'm afraid I won't get twenty percent. ”

Han Jiang's business is a money bank.

Cao Hao thought about the usury that was prevalent in the capital, and his heart moved, this was a good opportunity to open a money bank. No matter how many powerful people are behind those money houses in the capital, can they still be strong enough for the sixteenth elder brother, the ninth elder brother, and Prince Jian to join forces?

At present, the money bank is mainly based on exchanging silver taels and lending, not to mention that there is no interest on deposited silver, and it is necessary to bear the custody fee...... * Cao Mansion, partial courtyard.

Baodie stood in the upper room, looking at the white fall in the room, and couldn't tell whether it was sour or relieved. The general's mansion has made people measure the size a few days ago, and tomorrow will be hired, and in another month, the new person will be married.

Green Ju followed behind Baodie, looking at everything in front of him, and his heart was like a pinprick.

The fourth master has a fame, and he is about to marry the noble grandmother of the main house, how will he deal with himself when the time comes? Thinking of this, she couldn't help but panic in her heart.

Bao Die turned around, just saw Lu Ju's dejected appearance, and couldn't help but sigh in her heart. Originally, she didn't like Lu Ju, because she was the girl next to Zhaojia's side, and because she was Mama Zhang's granddaughter.

Bao Die has been swallowing her anger in the Cao family for all these years, and she has been more angry with Mama Zhang than by Zhaojia's, to say that there is no resentment in her heart, it is false.

However, now that Green Ju has given birth to Tianyang, it is really good to treat Cao Xiang, and he also has a rare respect for Baodie, which makes Baodie unconsciously accept this daughter-in-law.

She took Lu Ju's hand and said, "Let's go, let's talk in your house." ”

Green chrysanthemum's house is in the west chamber, a small two-room room, divided into inside and outside the house. Inside are the bedrooms, and the outside is the living area. Half of the kang table, set up the kang table, on both sides of the kang table, are two half-new cushions.

A round table was set up on the floor, and a few stools with yellow pears were placed. On the Baibao grid, there are only a few worthless knick-knacks.

In order to see his grandson before, Baodie has also been to this house a few times. It's not gorgeous, but it's much better than it is now.

It seems that he is afraid that he will not be able to touch the temper of his grandmother, so he is a little more careful. Bao Die's heart is also uneasy, Tianyang is about to be one year old, the most painful, if the mother-in-law does not allow it, will the grandson still suffer from the suffering of her son when he was a child?

Lu Ju invited Bao Die to sit on the kang, poured a bowl of tea himself, and sent it to Bao Die with both hands.

Baodie took it, put it on the kang table, looked at the room furnishings, and said, "Lu Ju, you are the second-room grandmother of the Cao family who is seriously married into the door, and you are different from ordinary concubines." ”

Green Ju sat down, a little unsure of Bao Die's intentions.

"Although you have served by my wife's side in the early years, you are different from me. You have eliminated your slavery, you are a good girl who is innocent, and you are seriously hired into the house. Baodie looked at Lu Ju and said: "This guard woman said, it is my duty to respect the grandmother of the main house; But as a mother, you must also remember to protect your own children, and don't learn from me. ”

"Aunt ......" mentioned her son, Lu Ju couldn't help but bow her head, and her eyes were already red.

Bao Die had already stretched out her hand, gently covered Lu Ju's hand, and said softly, "Don't be afraid. The fourth master is not a fool, and he will never let your mother and son be wronged. ”

Thinking about these worries, Lu Ju couldn't hold back any longer, fell into Baodie's arms, and cried.

Baodie sighed, patted her back, and said softly: "Cry, cry, now I'm crying, but I have to endure it in the future." If you want to open some, you have to live with a smile......"

Outside the window, Cao Xiang's face was dull, his expression was a little gloomy, but he couldn't do anything. If it had been two years ago, he would not have known about the world, and he would still be able to be bold and brave for the sake of Green Chrysanthemum.

Two years later, he knew that in addition to himself, he was also the son of the Cao family. The family sheltered him, and he lived to be eighteen years old, and he should do his best for the family like his brothers, and he should not do anything for himself......

(To be continued)