After the Wanshou Festival, there is a new boom in drilling wells in the capital. Because the Manchurians stook their land when they entered the customs, the land annexation in Gyeonggi was relatively serious, and the land was mostly concentrated in the hands of powerful people. They do not think about the livelihood of the tenants, mainly because they are afraid that the harvest in the village will not be harvested, which will affect the expenses of the year.

The Ministry of Industry and Water Division is also gradually getting busy, due to lack of manpower, from several other departments to transfer the director, Ning Chun is one of them. The water department is in charge of river canals, waterways, roads and bridges, and other affairs, and their main task is to dredge the rivers and do everything possible to do a good job in the irrigation work; Where there are no rivers and waterways, drought-resistant wells are drilled.

Ning Chunjin grew up in fine clothes, although he worked as an errand for half a year, but most of them were on the pen, but this time he was stationed in Baoding Mansion.

This year is the 50th year of Kangxi's level, and other places encounter natural disasters, if there is such a thing at the feet of the Son of Heaven, it will really be a big slap in the face of "Shengshi Mingjun". After all, at this time, people's cognition is limited, and they do not know that the rain and clouds are natural changes, and they cannot be interfered with by external forces.

In people's cognition, since ancient times, it was because the imperial court affairs violated the peace of heaven that they would be punished by God and cause natural disasters. Of course, no one dares to accuse the emperor of being high and high, and the emperor will not pull down his face and think that he has done something wrong. Since the Song Dynasty, whenever there are large-scale natural disasters such as floods and droughts, the prime minister has to become a "scapegoat" and be deposed or demoted to a local government to appease God's anger.

However, in the Qing Dynasty, in order to centralize power, the emperor set up a cabinet and had the name of the prime minister, but he did not have the power of the prime minister. This "scapegoat" was difficult to find, which made the emperor shy away from natural disasters.

It was still sunny and dry, and there were only two rains, but the ground was not wet and stopped, and the water level in the well had dropped a lot. Ren also knew that the capital was afraid of a major drought, but not everyone was like Cao Hao, because the drought thought of the peasants who depended on the land.

For those bureaucrats who are from powerful backgrounds, they have already dug a well in their Zhuangzi, that is, no matter how dry God is, it has nothing to do with them. They are concerned about the impact of the drought on the political situation and on their own future.

It has been 50 years since the emperor ascended the throne, and there are only a handful of dynasties and dynasties who have reigned for 50 years. Although the crown prince has been in office for two years, his cronies have long been cut down, and anyone who is not a fool can know that he is just an ornament. The political situation in the capital became strange unconsciously.

Let's talk about the household department, from the end of March, there was a series of transfers, the waiter Eqi was transferred to the right waiter of the military department, and the waiter Wu Yifei, who had just been in office for a month, was transferred to the right waiter of the ministry. In some people's calculations and anticipation, Kangxi was promoted to two cabinet scholars, Li Zhongji and Ka Mintu, as the head of the household. Most of the people in the household department were shocked, and those who had walked the door and stood in line before were even more dumbfounded.

Although Cao Hao can't figure out what Kangxi's intentions are, just such a transfer method can reduce the number of things to form a party and run a private business. Now these individuals are afraid to wait and see how long their bosses can do before they can stand in line.

On the second day of the first month of April, Kangxi issued an order to all scholars and Jiuqing, it was the beginning of summer, the weather was getting hotter, and the prisoners were easy to be infected and killed, which was very pitiful. This is to be amnesty, although the holy decree does not explicitly say that it is for the drought in the capital, but everyone knows it.

For the rest, it is the turn of these scholars and Jiuqing to have a headache, they want to think of a way to get rid of the "crime" for the emperor, and they have to take the initiative to "confess" the crime, this "scapegoat" must always be someone, since one person is not high, everyone has to go together.

When Tobe Langguan said this, he couldn't help but gloat. Soon everyone's attention shifted, and the holy decree promulgated the new quota for the township examinations in each province, and began to assign the chief and deputy examiners from all over the country. According to the practice of the imperial court, it is not only the people of the Hanlin Academy who are sent to the provinces to preside over the township examination, but the Langzhong, the foreign Lang and even the chief of the various ministries are qualified to be the chief and deputy examiners.

This is a big difference in being an examiner, not only can you go to the local scenery to play in the mountains and rivers, eat and drink, accept filial piety and other benefits, not to mention, but also collect some "protégés", which can be regarded as a part of the interpersonal network in the future, and can even become a help in the officialdom. Therefore, these individuals in the household department are also hollowing out their mental activities and want to find an examiner's errand to do.

The people in the household department begged relatives and friends, and after a lot of competition, in the end, it was Huang Shuwan, an inconspicuous director of the Shaanxi Division, who was accused of being the deputy examiner of the Yunnan Township Examination. Although the people were dissatisfied, they had nothing to say. Although Huang Shuwan is insignificant in the household department, his knowledge is convincing. And his family was once famous in the capital as "five sons Dengke" - Huang Shuwan and his four brothers of the same father were all Jinshi, among which the eldest brother Huang Shulin won Tanhualang in one fell swoop when he was only twenty years old in the thirtieth year of Kangxi, and he was the youngest of the first-class jinshi at that time, and it was rumored to be a good story for a while.

Cao Hao also wanted to be an examiner, if nothing else, to be able to leave the capital occasionally, to breathe, and finally to think of bringing Chu Yu with him. However, just thinking about it, these examiners have always been born as Jinshi, but he, like his younger brother Cao Song, has been a prisoner since childhood, and he is still two levels away from Jinshi, so he has to give up.

Since Ning Chun knew that the people of the Ministry of Industry had left Beijing in a low-key manner, Cao Hao thought about how to do his best. He thought that the department was also in charge of the Zhili Minfu, so he found out the account books and records of nearly 20 years, called the pen post Chade and Shi Dejin as assistants, and spent half a day to count the counties that were attached to the disaster relief over the years. Later, the king of Chun County supervised the rains of the past 20 years from Qintian, distinguished the counties that were affected by drought and floods, and finally counted several counties that were prone to severe drought.

The data of the household department could not be leaked at will, he only made a list of the counties that were counted at the end, wrote a letter, and sent someone to Ningchun, Baoding Prefecture. Even if the officials of the Ministry of Industry have any doubts, as long as they send someone to follow the list and inquire with the locals, they will naturally be able to verify the drought and flood situation over the years.

Cao Hao did this silently, just to have peace of mind, and did not have the heart to seek fame and fortune. King Chunjun looked at this, and became more and more sure of his vision of choosing a son-in-law, and became closer to him.

Maybe this is like a gathering of things, Chunjun Wang encountered an accident as a young man, and he saw the world more thoroughly than others. Cao Hao does not have the frivolity of the brother of the powerful, and he is willing to do things in a down-to-earth manner, and he does not need the heart of his elders to deal with people. Because of his appreciation for this son-in-law, he acquiesced to the closeness of several little brothers to Cao Hao, and did not stop their behavior of going to Cao's house every once in a while.

Recently, there have been no major accounts in the household department, and the dust has settled on various positions, so the group of people in the household department has nothing to make a fuss about. After Cao Hao finished sorting out the form for Ning Chun, he ended up with a clean hand and ears, and returned home early after finishing the things in hand.

Cao Hao saw Cao Song also coming back at the door, which was a little strange, because it was not yet time for him to get out of school.

Cao Song got off the horse, and without waiting for Cao Hao to ask, he wiped his sweat and took the initiative to explain: "Brother, I'm not skipping class, it's that the gentleman in the school is sick and has taken our vacation!" As he spoke, he couldn't help but look up, looked at his head, and complained: "It's only been a few days since the beginning of summer, and it's so hot that people can't live in the summer!" ”

"No matter how hot it is, can it be hotter than the south?" Cao Hao said: "I want to send a letter to my parents to ask about the weather over there, if it is so different from previous years, it is really not good." You can also write a letter to the second uncle and aunt, so that you can bring it with you! ”

Cao Song knew that his brother was not worried about his uncle's body, thought about it, and said: "Brother, don't worry, we are guarding the Qinhuai River in Jiangning, and we will never be as dry and hot as the capital!" ”

Cao Song is now as tall as Cao Hao, with a strong body, and he looks very strong. Cao Hao glanced at him, and unconsciously the tiger-headed child had become an adult.

"There are still a few months to take the township test, have you made up your mind, do you want to take the Wenju exam or the martial arts?" Cao Hao asked.

Cao Song clenched his fists, and his expression was very firm: "Naturally, it is a martial art, even if it can't be as famous in history as the ancestors, it must be like the ancestors and great-ancestors who made contributions on the horse!" ”

The ancestor Cao Song mentioned was Cao Bin, the founding general of the Song Dynasty. The Cao family is actually a descendant of Cao Bin, which Cao Hao only knew when he first worshiped his ancestors.

Cao Hao knew that this younger brother had been a good martial artist since he was a child, and he was happy to see that he was determined, but he couldn't help but say: "You have to think about this, if you really want to be a military attaché, it's okay in the capital or Jiangning, if you go to other places, you have to rely on yourself!" ”

Cao Song nodded: "I'm so old, I shouldn't rely on my family and brother!" Speaking of this, a trace of guilt appeared on his face: "I also know a little bit about the situation at home over the years, I didn't feel anything before, but it is not easy to know my brother when I get to the capital, but I can't help anything as a brother!" ”

Cao Hao was very relieved to see that he was sensible, but he didn't want him to have any burden on it, so he shook his head at the moment: "What are you talking about!" Go back to the yard and change your clothes, I'm sweating so much! ”

Cao Song responded, and Cao Hao returned to Wutong Garden.

Chu Yu was in the hall, sharing loquat with a few maids. Seeing Cao Hao coming back, several maids leaned over to say hello, and then two of them bowed their heads and retreated.

"It's so fresh! The one who just came up from the south was sent from the palace? Cao Hao changed his clothes and asked Chu Yu.

"Hmm!" Chu Yu nodded: "It was sent by Amma, but it was Huang Mafa who named and rewarded us!" I thought that the Pingwang Mansion would naturally have a share, and I would send some to my sister-in-law, and the rest of our house, not to mention the three places of Uncle, Sister Amethyst, and Mr. Zhuang, as well as Steward Wei and the old housekeeper, they would also send some, so that everyone could try it. Look at it, it's still proper! ”

Cao Hao nodded, because he thought of Ning Chun, he came again: "Set aside a copy and ask Amethyst to arrange someone to send some to Ning Chun and their family!" ”

Chu Yu had seen Ning Chun and knew that it was her husband's best friend, so she responded with a smile.

The next time, after Cao Hao went to the household department, Chu Yu discussed with Amethyst who to send to Jueluo's house to send loquats, because there are elders there, and they can't be as casual as Ning Chun's family. Before the two could discuss it, Xiyun called outside and came in and replied that the third aunt and grandmother were back.

Amethyst and Chu Yu both got up and went out to welcome Cao Yi in.

Seeing each other, Chu Yu looked at Cao Yi with a worried look between her eyebrows, and hurriedly asked her: "Is there something urgent for my sister to come over?" ”

Cao Yi nodded: "Our wife is sick, I found two doctors, and I didn't get better after taking a few pairs of medicines." If I want to come and beg my sister-in-law, I will take my brother's worship sticker and ask Mrs. Chen to show our wife. ”

Imperial Physician Chen has had a friendship with the Cao family for several generations, but he has never moved around with the Jueluo family, and Cao Yi is not rash to invite him, so he has to come to his brother for help.

Chu Yu hurriedly instructed Xiyun to go out to find the housekeeper to invite Imperial Doctor Chen with Cao Hao's name post, and asked, "How is the in-law wife sick?" What did the doctors say? ”

Cao Yi frowned and replied: "My wife has always been tough, a few days ago I went out to incense, I was afraid that the wind on the mountain was blowing, and I came back to say that I had a headache, and I leaked twice in the middle of the night, and my body was a little weak." The next time he had a slight fever, he added cough and vomiting, and said that his mouth was bitter. Looking for a doctor to take a look, he only said that it was a cold wind, and he grabbed the medicine and took it, but he didn't see a big deal, only a little more stable, but from time to time he still leaked and vomited. Therefore, I couldn't believe the doctor, so I thought about asking Dr. Chen. ”

Chu Yu said with concern: "The old man can't be tossed like this, there are still some ginseng medicinal materials at home, and if you take some back, you can't eat anything, and you boil ginseng soup on top." If you want anything, you can send it personally, so why bother to come by yourself. I'm not going to keep you when you're busy, but you also pay attention to your body, don't be so tired that you worry about it. ”

Cao Yi had no time to be polite, nodded and thanked him, and followed Amethyst to get a few ginseng sticks.

When the steward who was sent to invite Imperial Physician Chen to come back, Chu Yu sent him to the front hall and asked, "Can you go to Jueluo Mansion with you?" What did the old lady say? ”

The steward replied: "The old lady said that it was also caused by the wind and cold, and she ate some food surnamed Liang." said that the medicine of the previous two doctors was a little stronger, and he prescribed a pair of warm tonic medicines and explained some dietary matters. ”

Chu Yu knew the bottom of his heart, so he told him to go to Jueluo's house every day to inquire, and when he came back to tell him, he sent him away.

When Cao Hao came back in the evening, Chu Yu told him about it. Cao Hao thought that the old man was also fifty or sixty years old, and it was inevitable that he would be infected when the season changed, but this illness would inevitably toss people, not only herself, but also Cao Yi would be busy. Therefore, he asked Chu Yu what Cao Yi was looking at.

Chu Yu said: "Look at her, she is just anxious, a little tired, but she doesn't show the side." I had already told her to pay attention to her body. He also told people to go to Jueluo Mansion every day to inquire, and to reply in time if there was anything. Speaking of this, I thought of loquats: "In the chaos today, I forgot those loquats." Ming'er will prepare some other tonic ingredients, and I will go to visit the patient with Sister Amethyst! ”

Cao Hao nodded, and said to Chu Yu again, although the weather is hot and dry now, don't be greedy for cold food, Chu Yu responded with a smile.

After a few days, Mrs. Jueluo's illness eased and her health gradually improved, and everyone was relieved. Cao Hao and Chu Yu prepared things again and went to visit.

By mid-April, there was still no rain, and there was a drought in the counties.

The atmosphere in the household department became tense again, because the holy decree was clearly issued, and the words were said to be in great drought, or "the political affairs were not properly done", or "the employment of people was not allowed", and the cabinet scholars and Jiuqing were ordered to thoroughly investigate the officials of all sizes to see if there were any "secret party aid" and "cruel people" still in their posts; The Penal Department was urged to inspect the prison to see if there were any innocent people.

The holy decrees all pointed out the direction, and a thorough investigation from top to bottom unfolded vigorously in the six ministries and other yamen. High-grade officials, with their hands stretched out and their forces staggered, can they be easily moved? The key target is that those petty officials of four, five or six grades pull out the radishes with mud and pull out a bunch. Even in the household department, there are also a few Langzhong principals.

After tossing for a few days, the farce came to an end, and the scholars and Jiuqing both prayed for their crimes, blaming the reason for the "slight drought in the sky" on their "lack of service". Naturally, Kangxi is not at all wrong as the emperor, the administration is unlimited, and the employment of people is tight. They also denounced those who formed cliques for personal gain, those who were sinister, greedy and jealous, and prayed for the emperor to punish them severely.

On the Fujian Division's side, because the chief official Cao Hao is a person who doesn't like to be public, he makes friends all around, and along with these principals and pen stickers, he has also shared a lot of peace, but he has just avoided this unwarranted disaster.

Thinking of those officials who were taken off their hats and ruined their futures because of a drought and because of the maintenance of the emperor's dignity, everyone not only had palpitations. What about ten years of hard study, what about the background of Jinshi, if there is no power to rely on, it is just a mustard in the eyes of the powerful.

The attitude of everyone towards Cao Hao was close and respectful, and more and more people began to rejoice that there was such a chief official. As long as they do their part, even if someone wants to beat them, they must take care of the chief official Cao Hao.

Cao Hao is still the same, but he has a deeper understanding of the so-called "politics".

Now that we have come to a conclusion about this drought, the haze caused by the drought seems to have disappeared, and the world is clear again.

(To be continued)