Tangquan, Caojia Zhuangzi, front hall.

Although there were several charcoal basins in the house, He Maocai still felt that cold sweat was oozing from his forehead. He didn't dare to wipe it, so he only stood with his hands bowed.

Cao Yuan stood on the other side, also feeling stiff. It's not that he has ears to report God and is well-informed. But after Cao Hao returned to Zhuangzi, he did not call people directly, but went to the study to find Cao Yin first. This left Hu Cheng rich and ran to his uncle Cao Yuan to intercede.

Although Hu Cheng has not worked as an errand in the capital, he has long heard of Cao Hao's temper. I was unlucky on my side, and I went down to collect rent, and when I met a scoundrel like Guo Sanjia, I staged a farce.

Coming back all the way, Cao Hao didn't look at Hu Cheng. If he was reprimanded for two sentences and hit a few boards, he would still be more down-to-earth. If you don't care about it like this, even if Hu Cheng is stupid, he feels that it is worse.

Cao Yuan heard what Hu Cheng said, but he only felt that his hands and feet were cold, and he didn't dare to have half a chance heart.

This year's Gyeonggi drought has not been good, and although the Cao family is a well field, it has also been affected a lot.

It is still the eldest grandmother Chu Yu's kindness, it is not easy to take care of the tenants, and it is not easy to reduce the rent at will, so the tenants dredged the canals in Zhuangzi everywhere in the Mid-Autumn Festival. On the Cao family's side, it is in the form of silver subsidies or partial rent reductions to subsidize these tenants.

Who would have thought that the favor from above would change at the bottom, and it was his nephew who committed the crime. Cao Yuan regretted it in his heart, he knew that Hu Cheng was such an indisputable thing, how could he dare to let him out on an errand?

Cao Hao sat in his seat, and he really couldn't feel at ease.

Even if you work hard, this place you can't see is still hiding dirt and dirt. The big trees are rotten from the inside, and this sentence really makes sense.

Now think about it, there are hundreds of Zhuangzi in the Cao family, plus the shops, and the people who are on errands in the house. I heard that the subordinates of this palace and that mansion were arrogant, and they all listened to it as a joke, but I didn't expect that my own family would not be spared.

There was silence in the room, Cao Hao didn't speak, and He Maocai and Cao Yuan naturally didn't dare to speak first.

After half an hour, I saw Zhao Tong coming in from outside.

Cao Hao raised his head and said, "How are you asking?" Who recommended it, when did it work, and when did it start collecting rent? ”

Zhao Tong leaned over and replied: "If you go back to Uncle, according to Hu Cheng, he was recommended by the big housekeeper in February last year to go to Zhuangzi on an errand. In September this year, Qin Ming, who was in charge of collecting rent, relieved his errand due to old age and decrepitness. Assigned by Steward He, Hu Cheng took Qin Ming's errand. ”

"A good 'recommendation', a good 'promotion'? The master and I entrust the housework, are the two housekeepers so dedicated? Cao Hao swept towards Cao Yuan and He Mao's fortune and said coldly.

"It's all villains, I didn't expect this evil obstacle to dare to act so recklessly?" When Cao Yuan heard this, he already knelt on the ground and said: "Such a nonsense thing, it is up to the uncle to fight or punish him, I just ask the uncle to calm his anger and not get angry, otherwise the villain will not be able to bear it even if he dies." ”

He Maocai also knelt down, kowtowed, and said, "It's all the fault of the old slave, it's all the fault of the old slave......"

Among the two, Cao Yuan is still younger, in his forties; He Maocai is gray-haired and has passed the age of Jiazi. In normal times, Cao Hao would not sit and accept their salutes, nor would he allow them to kneel and kowtow.

Now, Cao Hao is watching coldly, and has no intention of calling out. He glanced at Cao Yuan and said, "It's good to be virtuous and not avoid relatives, but you also have to be careful, don't make a mess between public and private." The great butler was relied upon by my father and me. Before the chief butler acts, can you think of my father and son? ”

These words were said with a pleasant face, and Cao Yuan's back was chilling when he heard it, and he hurriedly kowtowed: "The little one knows his mistakes, but the villain is confused, and he can't bear the grinding of his relatives, and he favoritism." ”

In front of Cao Yin, Cao Yuan can still hope to talk about some old feelings; In front of Cao Hao, he didn't dare to make any defense.

Everyone in the house said that the young master was kind, but Cao Yuan didn't dare to think so.

Although Cao Hao looks kind, there are many people who have been close to him over the years. Don't talk about others, just talk about Cao Yuan's younger brother and nephew. Cao Fang has been an errand boy by Cao Hao's side for more than ten years, but he is still respectful year after year, and he has never slackened in the slightest; Xiaoman is a close-up guy, and he doesn't dare to be reckless when he speaks and acts.

Cao Hao originally thought that Cao Yuan would defend a few words, after all, as the chief housekeeper of Cao Mansion, he was usually a little embarrassed.

Seeing that he had honestly admitted it, Cao Hao squinted his eyes, feeling that he had underestimated this big housekeeper a little. Although this big butler is a little wooden, he has a vision.

Cao Hao snorted coldly in his heart, not to anger Cao Yuan, but to laugh at his past negligence.

He looked at He Maocai again and said, "Steward He, you are the chief steward of this Changping Zhuangzi." Over the years, I have entrusted all the errands of the outer village, how have I ever been verbose? Now it seems that it was my mistake! ”

"Uncle, old slave...... The old slave ......" He Maocai felt aggrieved, but he was also indefensible. In the final analysis, it was he who cared about Cao Yuan's power and didn't dare to offend, so he would let Hu Cheng act.

Cao Hao thought about it for a while, and said: "Cao Yuan's recommendation is improper, He Maocheng is not thoughtful, and he has been cooking firewood and rice for a year, can you be convinced?" ”

Cao Yuan and He Maocai heard that if they were amnesty, where would they dare to be picky, and they were busy saying "convinced".

Cao Hao picked the corners of his mouth, but did not call up, turned to Zhao Tong, and said, "What is the example of Hu Cheng's rent collection?" How much will the rent be raised? How many places to annihilate? How much is the stolen silver? ”

Cao Yuancai's heart was put down, and he suddenly lifted it again.

He suddenly remembered one thing, this Zhao Tong was not an ordinary long-term follower, he was the most relied on companion by Cao Hao's side.

The elders of the Cao Mansion followed, and those who could follow in and out of the palace forbidden officials were Zhao Tong. Many people said that Zhao Tong would be released to be an official in the future, because he followed Master Jiang to learn the curtain and specialized in criminal names.

is familiar with the criminal name, in addition to being the criminal master, the county master can use it.

Zhao Tong is the son of the Cao family, even if he is released, there is no reason to give others a curtain. If you think it won't take a few years, you can release it to make up for a Qipinzhi County.

Hu Cheng's straw bag, where is Zhao Tong's opponent, I'm afraid he can't hide anything.

Sure enough, I listened to Zhao Tongdao: "Uncle, according to what Hu Cheng said, most of the rents collected are according to the usual practice, there are more than 20 families, or there are many fields, or ...... or if there is a young woman in the house, it is increased by one to two percent. Seven places were forced, five places were annihilated, and two places were not followed. Of the two households that did not obey, one family quit, bought a house and livestock, made up the rent, and moved to another country at the beginning of the month; One is Guo San's family, and Guo San's wife is still hanging from the beam. The amount of silver taels, including the rent and the rent for meals, carriages and horses, totaled more than 137 taels, and the number of chickens, ducks and sheep was unknown. ”

Speaking of this, he took out the account book from his sleeve, put his hands in front of Cao Hao and said, "Uncle, this is the account of stolen silver." It was Hu Cheng who was afraid of being confused with the public account and made a private account. The rice, grain, and money were all kept in the accounts, but the chickens and ducks and other living creatures were not recorded, and he did not know the exact amount. ”

One hundred and thirty-seven taels of silver, this number, ordinary Cao Hao will not put it in his eyes. For he is not short of silver, and the amount of silver is nothing to him.

At the moment, Cao Hao didn't dare to underestimate the more than 100 taels of silver. For tenant households, some people, in addition to rent, the remaining rice and grain are just the stomach of the whole family, how many can save money?

This one hundred and thirty-seven taels of silver, I am afraid that all the blood and sweat of more than a dozen families will be looted up like this.

The key is not money, but the annihilation.

In this world, women's chastity is valued even by poor families. Even if those five families are annihilated, it is not difficult to imagine how much blood and tears are behind this, and what kind of eyes those five humiliated women will receive from their families and neighbors.

If there is no money to buy land, and the troubled and destitute people who have tenant land, in order to avoid trouble, buy houses and livestock, make up for rent, and move, what will they live on in the future?

Do dogs fight people?

How can I be innocent? Pretend to be good, and this bad thing outside still has to fall on your own head.

"Fifty boards, recover the stolen silver, and send it to the official to be brought to justice." Cao Hao threw the account book in his hand on the table and said to Zhao Tongdao.

Not only Cao Yuan and He Maocai, but also Zhao Tong was a little surprised.

Isn't there an old saying, "family ugliness should not be publicized"? The punishment of a Hu Cheng is not tight, this trouble is in the yamen, and the father and son of the Cao family will inevitably fall into the charge of "the emperor is not strict".

"Uncle, don't ......" Cao Yuan raised his head and said with a little eagerness: "If the uncle is annoyed, it's okay if the big board kills that bastard, don't be an official, the reputation of the master and the uncle is important...... The lord and the master are both noble people, and they can't be a slave and tarnish their reputations......"

"This article has a reputation for embellishment, so don't do it. Father and I are still keeping the law. Don't dare to slack off; This errand man can be so arrogant, ignoring the laws and regulations of the country and the family, isn't this betraying the master? If you act like this, you will abandon the kindness and righteousness of your master and servant, and you will be the enemy of the Cao family, and if you don't send it to the yamen, you will pollute the land of the Cao family. Cao Hao looked at Cao Yuan and said slowly.

"Uncle......" Cao Yuan muttered, and when a sentence came to his mouth, he swallowed it alive. He originally wanted to say that he should make a decision after consulting with the master. But it can be regarded as obedient, and it is not spoken.

He is the head of the Cao family, and he can see it most clearly. After Cao Yin and his wife went to Beijing, although Cao Yin was nominally the head of the family, in fact, Cao Yin had long since stopped serving and let his son be in charge.

This kind of self-disgrace is also helpless. Only by acting in this way can we make an example of the chickens and monkeys, so that others will not dare to have other thoughts.

Otherwise, just like the mansions of other powerful people, even if the evil slave has any misdeeds, and the head of the family turns the big thing into a small thing and a small thing for the sake of fame, then there will not be one or two who dare to use the power of the Cao family to violate the law and discipline in the future.

"Hu Cheng is so perverted to the law, Cao Yuan, as a big housekeeper, has to bear the fault of 'negligence' and blame thirty boards. The position of chief manager is said to be temporarily replaced by Cao Fang. He Maocai, as the head of the outer village, did not ask, did not investigate, and did not correct his bad behavior, and had the fault of 'conniving', and also blamed the 30 boards and reformed the money and grain for two years. Cao Hao thought about it for a while and made the following judgment to the two kneeling on the ground.

As he spoke, he dismissed Cao Yuan's chief manager. Cao Yuan's face was a little pale, and he responded respectfully, without calling for heaven and earth.

Zhao Tong was on the side, a little confused.

Uncle is this trying to seize power and use his own people to top the old-fashioned people in Jiangning? If this is the case, Cao Fang should not be used. Although Cao Fang is an old man next to the uncle, Cao Yuan is a brother.

Zhao Tongzheng was stunned, so he listened to Cao Hao's instructions: "Zhao Tong, now I appoint you as the steward of the village." Since the beginning of the Ming Dynasty, he has inspected Zhuangzi everywhere with Cao Yuan to check whether there are any people who have done anything about Hucheng. If found, severe punishment will not be imposed. Pass on my words, and allow the people below to report anonymously, recover the stolen money, and reward the whistleblower. The loss on the tenant's side will be made up separately. ”

When Zhao Tong heard this, his face immediately turned red, his heart was surging inexplicably, and he bowed down to respond.

If it were someone else, maybe they would have to take this as an errand that offended people, and even if they couldn't get away with it, they would have to complain in their hearts. Zhao Tong was not happy, he had studied the criminal name for several years, and he finally had a place to help.

At this moment, Cao Yuan seemed to be a few years older. was dismissed as the manager, which was not only a loss of face for himself, but also for his father. The mistake of partiality is real, and it can't be picked cleanly.

It was when he was desperate that Cao Yuan could hear Cao Hao's words to Zhao Tong, as well as his own affairs. He raised his head and looked at the little master Cao Hao, and his mood was quite complicated.

"Cao Yuan, I hope you can assist Zhao Tong to clean up everywhere, put an end to abuses, and maintain the reputation of the Cao family." Cao Hao nodded at Cao Yuan and said.

Cao Yuanzhen was like a desperate situation, he only felt that his nose was sour, and he kowtowed: "The villain obeys his orders, and he will live up to the uncle's orders......"

* Henan Mansion, Cao House.

Cao Xiang held Lu Ju, sat on the edge of the kang, looked at her already pregnant belly, and said with a little worry: "I'm going to the county again, you are at home, can you?" ”

Lu Ju nodded with a smile and said, "Isn't there Poria and a few grandmothers?" It's a master, I've only been back for two days, and I'm going to have to go out on a business again, so it's really hard. ”

Cao Xiang rubbed his forehead and said, "What's the way, because of the war in the northwest, all provinces have to pay for it." On our side, in addition to raising military rations, we also need to send more money to buy and raise horses. ”

For these things in the yamen, Lu Ju is also ignorant, but he knows that this year's drought has caused a bad harvest for the people nearby. Because of this, the price of grain in the city has also risen, and there are many more displaced people.

"Is there really going to be a war in the Northwest? Master, why don't you intercede with the eldest master and transfer him back to Beijing? If there is a war, it will still be the capital ......" Lu Ju heard the battle, and there was a trace of fear in his heart, and he grabbed Cao Xiang's sleeve and said.

When Cao Xiang heard this, he couldn't help but pat the back of Lu Ju's hand, and said with a smile: "My good grandmother, what are you talking about?" Our Qing Dynasty is not so weak. Even if Jungger is not peaceful, it is just a small number of Mongols, tens of thousands of soldiers and horses in the sky, and they can't even enter the Yumen Pass, our Henan Mansion is too peaceful, don't worry. ”

When Lu Ju heard this, she became more and more confused, and said, "Even if you are such a little person, what is the court waiting for?" I still have to raise food and money in various places, which makes people panic, and how long do you think it will take? ”

"As long as you send troops, you'll be fine. It will not take three or five months to sweep away the rebellion. When the time comes, the yamen side will also be able to raise money. Cao Xiang smiled.

Seeing that her husband was so determined, Lu Ju felt a lot more at ease.

Cao Xiang smiled bitterly in his heart, since the founding of the country, the chaos in the northwest territory has not been suffered twice, and that time it was not three or five years. At that time, it will only be the innocent people below who will suffer.

This "prosperous world, never endowment" has only been carried out for a few years, and it has been in vain. The taxes and servitude borne by the common people are more and more onerous than in the past...... * Xiaotangshan, Cao's Courtyard.

After listening to Cao Hao's advice, Cao Yin was a little surprised. Although he had already prepared in his heart, he knew that his son was really angry and would severely punish the house slaves, but he didn't expect that it would be "handled by officials".

The literati cherish their name, although they have been an official for half their lives, Cao Yin is still a literati in his bones.

He sighed, looked at Cao Hao and said, "There is no other way?" ”

Cao Hao shook his head and replied, "Father, when it comes to bending the law for personal gain, if my father and I bend the law for personal gain, it is not terrible. For my father and I know what we are all about, and what we can bear. The people below bend the law for personal gain, and it is very terrible. They have limited vision, only when my father and I are big trees, dare to do anything wantonly, this is the source of the ruined family! ”

Cao Yin nodded, knowing that his son was right. He is a little ashamed of himself, his son is young and vigorous, and he can still be so open-minded and not greedy for fame; I studied the Buddhist books by myself, thinking that I was born with the heart of being born, and I was still bound in my actions.

"Well, in this way, we can also understand that there is nothing that you and my father and son cannot say to others." Cao Yin nodded and said, "It is fortunate to put an end to future troubles as soon as possible." This year's Gyeonggi drought, the place where the production is reduced is not one or two, the Zhuangzi of the second room, you also explain to Xiao Er. ”

"Yes, father." Cao Hao responded, and the father and son said a few more words and went back to their rooms.

In the east courtyard, above the middle hall, the children are chattering around a few bird cages on the table, explaining to Tianhui.

"The finch is small, about the same size as Tianhui's little fist, Tianhui touches it." Niuniu took Tianhui's little hand and led her to the cage.

A few sparrows were held in the cage, and they were frightened by the small hands of the two and flew around in the cage.

Tianhui sat on the chair and leaned on the table, although she couldn't see the appearance of the birds, but when she heard the sound of the birds flying, she also felt novel.

The place in the bird cage is narrow, and Niuniu didn't have much effort, so she grabbed a sparrow and sent it to Tianhui, saying: "Tianhui catches it, this is the finch, fluffy, hot." ”

Tianhui carefully took the finch and grabbed it with both hands. The sparrow wanted to struggle but couldn't, so he pecked Tianhui, but it didn't hurt at all.

Tianhui only felt crispy and numb, and couldn't help but laugh out loud in the "giggles".

I heard Hengsheng say: "Sister, in addition to the finch, there is also a big bird eagle." Bigger than a finch and as long as a sister's arm. It's just that its surname is Zilie, and it hurts to peck people, and it can't be touched. ”

Tianhui tilted her little head to listen, and nodded in disappointment. She told her brothers for a long time that the big bird eagle was also curious and wanted to touch it.

Seeing this, Tianyou took Tianhui's hand and said, "Sister, don't worry, I heard that this eagle has to be boiled." You have to teach it the rules, and when it knows the rules, it won't peck people. When the time comes, I'll play with my sister again......"

The others also talked nonsense, and the meaning was roughly the same.

When Cao Hao returned to the house, he saw that the children were talking happily, so he went directly into the back room.

When Chu Yu saw her husband come back, she got up and served him to change his clothes. She also heard about what happened in the morning, and said, "Master, it is inconvenient for a girl in Qi Niang to go outside, so I sent two grandmothers over." ”

Cao Hao nodded, remembered something, and said: "By the way, Ming'er wants Zhao Tong to go to various places to inspect the village, and your two villages, check them out......"

"It's all your own property, that's a natural ......" Chu Yu saw her husband depressed and comforted: "Don't worry, don't worry, no matter how strict we look, there are places where we can't see or hear." This time, I paid attention, and I will be careful in the future......"

(To be continued)