Rehe Palace, Xiyu, Songhe Qingyue.

Cao Hao, Yi Duli and others stood in front of a ruin, their faces heavy.

Songhe Qingyue is the summer retreat of the Queen Mother every year. Although the collapse this time is only the side hall at the back, but from this and the other, who can guarantee that the repair project of the palace in front is okay.

Even Cao Hao was shocked into a cold sweat.

If it is not the side hall that collapses, but the main hall, then the officials above and below the project will not be able to escape the crime, and the dismissal and exile will be considered light. If it's more serious, it's not an accident now, and an accident will happen when the queen mother moves in, then let's not talk about wearing a black yarn, whether you can keep your head or not.

What's the matter?

Emperor Kangxi prides himself on "benevolence and filial piety" to govern the country, but the officials below have collapsed the Empress Dowager's Palace, and it is strange that he can spare these people.

There were a lot of broken pine trees in the rubble at the scene, and there was a strange smell in the air.

Cao Hao took a few steps forward, crouched down, and pulled a piece of wood from the rubble. It is half a foot in diameter, and it looks like it is made of purlin.

It's obviously pine, but it's fluttering in your hand, and there are cracks and knots on it. Even if Cao Hao is not a carpenter, he can see that this is a bad piece of wood.

Cao Hao took the wood in his hand, looked back at Dong Changhai, the construction secretary who followed him, and said, "Lord Dong, is this wood used like this?" ”

Dong Changhai blushed and replied: "Go back to my lord, put rafters on the shelves and cover them with tiles before painting." ”

Cao Hao heard him say this, but he was more and more happy.

Fortunately, there is still a month before the holy drive to Rehe, at least there is a remedy.

In addition to rebuilding this area, several other places that are still under construction should also be stopped.

Putting down his hand to break the wood, Cao Hao picked up another tile and looked at it. Finally, he couldn't see anything on this face, he was a layman in the end, and he couldn't make up his mind, so he held up the tile in front of Dong Changhai and asked, "Master Dong, is there anything wrong with this tile?" ”

Dong Changhai took the tile, looked it up and down, and said: "If you go back to your lordship, it is a tile burned in the official kiln, and it looks good." ”

At this time, the buildings were all brick and wood buildings, and the side hall of this renovation was said to be repaired, which was actually equivalent to a roof flipped.

Even if the tile is flawed, it just doesn't look right from the outside; The wood used to make the support was not good, so it could not be supported, and it collapsed when the bricklayer covered the roof with tiles.

Do you want to be the chief commander of the project again?

Cao Hao glanced at everyone and said to Yi Duli: "Pass the order, all projects will be stopped......" Speaking of this, he pondered for a moment and said: "Call the officials in charge of various departments to divide the current engineering personnel into two shifts and stand by." ”

The entourage of officials was originally anxious, especially Yiduli. In addition to his own lack of involvement, he is also worried about Cao Hao's side.

The collapse of this palace has always been the most royal taboo.

If the officials below put the cause of the accident on Cao Hao, saying that it was because the Internal Affairs Office saved money to get here, then Cao Hao would not be able to eat and walk away.

However, seeing that Cao Hao was not flustered, and his speech and actions were very organized, Yi Duli's original anxious mood gradually calmed down.

He answered, and took a few officials to give the order.

Cao Hao looked at Dong Changhai and said, "How many years has Master Dong been in the construction department?" ”

Dong Changhai looked down at the wood in the rubble, not knowing what he was thinking. After listening to Cao Hao's words, although he didn't understand what he meant, he still replied in a regular manner: "If you go back to your lordship, you have been in the construction department for 13 years after 42 years of humble service. ”

Cao Hao nodded, pointed to the main hall next to the guide, and asked, "How many places have been repaired over there?" If you also use wood like this, Lord Dong, what do you think will happen over there? ”

Dong Changhai followed Cao Hao's gaze, his face was already pale, he hesitated for a moment, and said, "My lord, only the outer eaves of the main hall have been replaced with new wood...... But it is a side hall, like this one, with a clamshell roof......"

Cao Hao listened and continued to ask: "How many projects are there to change the roof in this way, and how many projects are there that do not change the wood for the roof?" ”

Dong Changhai thought for a while and replied: "In addition to changing the roof, there are three places of 'pear blossom with the moon, wind spring listening, and Qingfeng Luyu', and there are two places that do not change the roof and change the pontoon bridge, and there are two places of Qushui lotus fragrance and the sound of springs near and far, in addition to repairing the Yunfan Moon Boat, which is also made of bulk wood." ”

Cao Hao listened, calculating the place in his heart, there are already seven places in total, how much wood does this need? The construction period is less than a month, and it seems to be a bit chaotic.

"Where's the lumber storehouse?" Cao Hao asked, "If Lord Dong knows, please take the official over to take a look." ”

Before Dong Changhai could answer, he heard hurried footsteps, and it was Qi Min, the head of the palace who had just received the news, who was walking quickly in his usual clothes. He was followed by Qu Feng, a member of the Fengchen Academy who came to Rehe with Cao Hao, and several low-level palace officials.

Seeing the scene in front of him, Qi Min was also stunned.

It took him a while before he came to his senses, pointed to the collapsed roof in front of him, and said, "Lord Cao, this is ...... This is...... How so? How can this be born? ”

Although he had a panic on his face, when he said this, there was a strange look in his eyes.

Cao Hao has also been out of office for seven or eight years, and he still can't hear his off-string sounds.

This repair of the palace is an errand of the Internal Affairs Office, and Qi Min, the head of the palace, is just "cooperating". The nominal head is still Cao Hao, the head of the Internal Affairs Office.

Qi Min said this sentence first, he didn't know, and then he said that he had no idea. Three down five divided by two, push Tai Chi to Cao Hao.

Cao Hao sighed in his heart, he hung on the errand of the head of the Internal Affairs Office, no matter how much he defended, he couldn't get rid of the relationship. However, don't let Qi Min be too arrogant.

In this world, there is no shortage of people who "have to make inches".

He didn't reply to Qi Min's question, but said, "My lord, let's go to the timber warehouse first and then make a conclusion." ”

Qi Min heard the mention of "wood", his expression was a little unnatural, Cao Hao only did not see it, and said to Dong Changhai: "Please also ask Lord Dong to lead the way." ”

The lumber warehouse is not far from here, and it will take a quarter of an hour to arrive.

The keeper here is a warden, in his forties, and he looks very rich. With a big belly and a smile, he doesn't look like a small official, but like a rich man in the countryside.

Seeing a few adults coming, the warden hurriedly bowed. It is said to be a timber warehouse, but it is better to say that it is a timber yard, and many timbers are piled up into a mountain of wood and placed in the open air.

Only some of the precious wood is stored in the storeroom.

The timber on the site is more than a foot thick columns, and there are a lot of purlins. From the color, it is obvious which ones are new wood and which ones are old wood.

There is also some wood with remnants of reddish-green lacquer. There were several piles, Cao Hao picked them up and looked at them, I don't know if they were good or not, but the wood was much denser than the one he had seen on the other side of the ruins before.

Cao Hao asked someone to ask the warden, and it was true that these timbers were removed from several palaces that had been repaired.

Cao Hao looked at it, and then at the pile of Chen pine wood in the primary color.

Although pine is the main wood used to build houses, pine is also extremely susceptible to insects. Underneath the piles of old wood were fine white sawdust like powder.

Tearing down the good, still sturdy wood and using these insects-eaten Chen "new wood" to flip the cover, it is really a poor toss.

Different from the Tangquan Palace of the same practitioners, there are still many side halls that have not been built; On the side of the Rehe Palace, it was repaired in the repaired garden.

The excerpt that proposed to repair the garden was only available after he issued the bidding, and Cao Hao clearly remembered this.

When he was using the money, Cao Hao, the head of the Internal Affairs Office, Zhang Luo's bidding, failed, which only made him more and more incompetent.

This cultivation palace is just an excuse, it's just that someone is jealous of the silver in the account of the Internal Affairs Office, and can't help but stretch out his hand.

It wasn't until this moment, seeing the side hall that had just collapsed, and comparing the wood in front of him, that Cao Hao understood. I just don't know, what role does Qi Min play in this?

With just one of the clan generals who went out, he shouldn't have that much appetite.

"Lord Qi, how much money did you spend on this project timber bidding?" Cao Hao frowned and asked, "If the official remembers correctly, among the 800,000 taels of silver, the wood cost a lot." ”

Qi Min looked at the wood in front of him, and secretly complained in his heart, knowing that it was broken on the wood.

If it weren't for the previous "bounty" and the sixteenth elder brother's intimacy, Qi Min would not have taken Cao Hao too seriously. With his previous understanding, he also knew that the Cao family was in the midst of the Holy Grace.

He laughed twice and said: "These words, this official is ordered by the sixteenth master, and he is busy at night to clean up law and order, and he doesn't know the details of the project here. Speaking of this, he asked Qu Feng, "Which merchant supplied the wood this time?" It's really a businessman, it's so hateful. ”

Qu Feng was stunned for a moment when he heard this, then he understood, bowed down and replied: "It's an old merchant historian of the Internal Affairs Office." ”

Qi Min was furious when he heard this, his eyes widened, he looked at Qu Feng, and said, "You...... You...... You're right, that guy is really a deceitful villain, and he actually used such bad wood to fool the errand of the Internal Affairs Office, which is really hateful. ”

Qu Feng's face turned red, and he silently stepped aside and kept silent.

The atmosphere was a little weird, Cao Hao looked at the two people in front of him, and always felt as if something was wrong.

Regarding the so-called timber supply, Cao Hao knew that it was talking nonsense with his eyes open, timber was no better than others, and ordinary businessmen could intervene by virtue of their connections and financial resources.

Timber like pine comes mostly from the Northeast. After the Northeast entered the customs of the Manchu Qing Dynasty, it became a self-reserved land, a place to retreat from the Eight Banners. The mountains, forests and swamps are mostly in the hands of the imperial court, how can businessmen interfere?

Even if there were timber merchants supplying the Ministry of Internal Affairs, it was the southern side that produced some precious wood. Sometimes, there is no wood at all, so I just go through the empty account and use the wood from the Ministry of Internal Affairs to top the work.

This is boring, Cao Hao has listened to Yi Duli several times.

Although these "dragons crossing the river" are difficult to suppress the "head snakes" and cannot meddle in the repair project, they are all crystal hearts and livers, and their eyes and ears are not decorations.

Thirteen lives, and this historian who was thrown out of the top cylinder by Qi Min.

Cao Hao clenched his fists, and he was really panicked in his heart. It's just that he is not a fool, and now he can't even pick it clean, let alone rush to hold others accountable.

The matter of wood, Cao Hao came to an abrupt end.

The tongue can kill, and this truth is the same throughout the ages. If he said a few more words and scared Qi Min, the unlucky historian was afraid that he would not be able to escape the questioning of the family.

Now, Cao Hao can only use the sentence "A gentleman takes revenge, ten years is not too late" to comfort himself. If the construction period cannot be completed in late April, Kangxi will be punished, and his own side will take the lion's lead.

Time is pressing, so we can only work on the project first, and then talk about it later.

"Several palaces should be repaired, and if the wood is moth-eaten, it will be reworked." Cao Hao turned around and instructed Dong Changhai and Qu Feng: "Master Dong, Master Qu, you have to work hard for the two adults." Lord Dong went from east to west, and Lord Qu went from west to east, each taking someone to inspect it. ”

Speaking of this, he took out his pocket watch, looked at the hour, and said, "It's not the second quarter of the year (half past two in the afternoon), and in an hour, the two adults will meet the official here." ”

Dong Changhai and Qu Feng responded, and each brought a few officials down.

Qi Min hesitated for a moment and asked, "My lord...... If you rework, there is less than a month left, how can you finish? Fortunately, Songhe Qingyue is the queen mother's dormitory, and it has a lot to do with it......"

Cao Hao looked at Qi Min and said, "Then the chief manager, what do you mean?" ”

Qi Min swallowed and foamed, in the end, he was afraid of being responsible, so he didn't agree, and said: "The duty of this official is to take care of the trivial affairs of the palace on behalf of the emperor, and this repair is an errand of the Internal Affairs Office, so it is natural to be an adult." ”

So far, Cao Hao has a lot of things to worry about, and he doesn't bother to talk nonsense with him, so he said: "Now, there is still one thing that needs to be sorted out by adults in order to be more thoughtful." ”

When Qi Min heard this, the corners of his mouth moved, and he squeezed out a little smile, and said: "My lord is really joking, this official is just a false name, and he is an idle errand, and he really has no ability." On the side of adults, there are many talents. ”

Cao Hao's face was a little solemn, and he said: "Lord Steward, it is the Queen Mother who has an accident today." The Queen Mother has always ignored foreign affairs, is the most benevolent, and is very devout to the Buddha. If she knew that such an accident had happened in the apse of her bedroom, and more than a dozen people had died, I was afraid that my heart would not be comfortable. When the time comes, the adults will be together, and they will not be able to get rid of it. ”

When Qi Min thought of this, he was also in trouble, thought for a while, and said in a low voice: "My lord, how can this be good?" Otherwise, the idea is hidden? ”

"When will the paper be able to contain the fire? The bit is high and the wind is strong. There is a bandit 'bounty' on the lower side, and the position of the adult's head will not be hot in the eyes of the villain? Cao Hao asked casually.

Qi Min immediately stopped, with an unpredictable expression on his face, and looked at Cao Hao and said, "Whatever your lord says, if it is within the ability of this official, you should accept it." ”

Cao Hao nodded and said, "I asked Lord Dong just now, and the casualty pension like this is four to twelve taels of silver. Four taels of minor injuries, eight taels of serious injuries, and twelve taels of death. This time, the side hall on that side collapsed, killing thirteen people and wounding twenty-two. For the piece of silver, please also ask the adults to come forward. Since it is something that happened here in the Queen Mother's Palace, her old man has always been merciful, so she will follow the double. It can also allow the remaining craftsmen to work with peace of mind, saving confusion and delaying the construction period later. ”

Qi Min saw that Cao Hao was serious, what else should he do, and he was still on guard, for fear of suffering a loss. Seeing that it was a piece of relief, he breathed a sigh of relief in his heart, and said with a smile: "It's still Lord Cao who thinks about it thoroughly, so let's do it." Although it costs a few more silver, it can also make the common people feel the compassion of the Queen Mother's old man, which should be the case. ”

After saying this, he was afraid that Cao Hao would pull him to be the side again, so he happily took someone to "busy".

As he walked, he was still settling accounts in his heart, and the thirteen people who died, each twenty-four taels, was more than three hundred taels. The twenty-two people who were injured were all counted as seriously injured, and they were only more than three hundred taels.

Inside and outside, the matter of six hundred taels of silver, he, the chief manager, has become an errand runner.

However, he thought about it, he ran errands, and he wanted to stretch the words and stretch them, and go to two or three houses every time. In this way, the matter of the palace cannot be pushed on him, and it also saves the delay of the project.

Thinking like this, Qi Min was much more relaxed. Even the thought of wanting to rub oil before was extinguished, but he represented the court and the compassion of the queen mother.

In the future, even if the matter is revealed, he will be regarded as a crime...... However, on the Shi family's side, you also have to think of ideas, and you have to block their mouths.

* Cao Hao's side has asked the treasurer to take the account books of the timber warehouse and inquire about the remaining new timber; Immediately, he instructed Jiang Jian to go back to the main hall of the Internal Affairs Office to get the budget for this project.

He remembered clearly that the budget for the project had recorded the geometry of the timber needed somewhere.

Ituri has returned, and all seven repairs have been stopped. Dong Changhai and Qu Feng have already taken someone to inspect them, and Yi Duli has seen them with them.

"My lord, what should I do next?" Yi Du immediately saw that Cao Hao was confident, and asked, "If there is any adult command, my old Yi is standing on the side of the adult." ”

Cao Hao nodded and said, "Just wait for the adults to come back, and I can't believe others." The project that Mr. Dong and Mr. Qu have inspected, and Mr. Lao has inspected it again, and the key is wood. If it doesn't look right, like this, with insect eyes, fluttering, it won't work; At the very least, it must be like the original wood, and it will not be safe to look strong. ”

When Iduli heard this, his eyes lit up, and he said, "Don't worry, my lord, I will keep my eyes open and check carefully." Speaking of this, after a little hesitation, he glanced at Zhao Tong, who was standing behind Cao Hao, and said to Cao Hao: "I'm afraid that there is a little shortage of manpower, so it's okay for the adults to borrow Zhao's steward for official use?" ”

Cao Hao waved his hand in embarrassment and said, "There is really something else to send him over, otherwise the adult will be busy first, and he will have time to find the adult in a while." ”

Today, it is said that the only people who followed Cao Hao into the yamen on an errand were Jiang Jian, Zhao Tong, Li Wei, and Xiaoman. Jiang Jian is Cao Hao's master, and there is a lack of scribes; Zhao Tong is Cao Hao's confidant; Li Wei is studying the curtain and has no weight; Xiao is full of personal servants, don't count.

Yi Duli listened, smiled and said, "Since Steward Zhao has other errands, then forget it." I'll go and see it first, if there's something going on here, I'll just ask someone to tell the lower officials. ”

When Cao Hao heard this, he thanked him.

The hour was not early, and Iduli did not delay, but went with the people at a hurry.

Cao Hao turned around and instructed Zhao Tongdao: "Take my warrant and go to a few utility warehouses to check, mainly to see oil lamps and other lighting things, as well as fire extinguishing things." ”

Zhao Tong responded, and went back to the main hall of the Internal Affairs Office to get Cao Hao's warrant.

Cao Hao saw Xiao Man, remembered that he was going to feast Su Hebaru and his wife in the garden today, and hurriedly sent him back to report the news.

This will work, and the timber warehouse warden has already checked the amount of new timber stored here. Jiang Jian also arrived, holding the budget sheet made by the palace yamen and the construction department before.

Comparing the two, Cao Hao put down a big stone in his heart.

Fortunately, the total amount of new timber remaining was not much different from the amount required in the budget list. In this way, it depends on whether it can be completed by the end of April.

It has been made possible to divide the work of each place into two groups, and if the two groups take turns without stopping, the speed of the work can be accelerated. The original planned construction period was two months, but now it is compressed into one month, in addition to grouping, I am afraid that some more people will have to be called up to be enough.

However, with his identity, it should not be difficult to use people.

The warden saw Cao Hao's smile, and also understood that the chief steward had asked him to count the total, his face had changed, and he said tremblingly: "Your Excellency...... My lord...... The accounts are these, but they can be ...... Can...... There's no ......."

Cao Hao stopped laughing, looked at the warden, and his face was already sinking like water: "Say!" ”

The warden was on his knees, and was already on his knees, his teeth chattering, and he could not speak.

Cao Hao took the account in his hand, looked at the big characters on it, and couldn't tell what it felt in his heart.

Wood is the foundation of this project, if there is no wood, then wouldn't everyone have to stare dryly?

"How much worse?" Cao Hao restrained his anger and asked, "Thirty percent, fifty percent, or how much?" ”

"Master Mingjian, don't do the villain's business, the villain is just a small official who doesn't enter the stream, just like the watchdog, he really doesn't do the villain's business." The warden kowtowed and began to weep.

If he looks like a hard-working public, Cao Hao can still be considerate and considerate when he says these words. But his fat-headed and big-eared appearance, coupled with his nonsense and hard work, made Cao Hao upset, looked at the warden, and slapped the table vigorously.

The warden was so frightened that he raised his head, looked at Cao Hao timidly with a pair of small eyes, and then said tremblingly: "Bad...... Difference...... Eighty and a half ......"

When Cao Hao heard this, his eyes turned black.

This requires several repairs, and the wood required is not as simple as ten or hundred.

He held the bookcase, stared at the warden, and said, "Where are all the wood?" ”

The warden was afraid that he wanted to die, so he held himself on the ground and refused to make a sound.

Li Wei was beside him, and when he saw Cao Hao like this, he was also anxious, and stepped forward and kicked the warden, and said, "Your Excellency asks, do you dare not reply?" Do you die? ”

The warden was kicked out, fell on his buttocks, wrinkled his face and let out an "oops", was glared at by Li Wei, closed his mouth again, and sobbed.

Cao Hao's mind remembered the timber merchant historian of the Internal Affairs Office that Qu Feng had just mentioned, and asked the warden: "Does it have anything to do with the historian?" ”

The warden's lips moved, but he didn't squeak, but slowly lowered his head.

Only then did Cao Hao understand why Qu Feng and Qi Min were so awkward when they mentioned the "historian" just now. Thinking that Qu Feng said the wrong object of the top cylinder, Qi Min was in a hurry, so he almost showed his feet......

(To be continued)