Standing at the door of the warehouse, looking at the dazzling array of New Year's gifts sent by the Li family, Cao Hao's face could not see joy or anger.

Speaking of which, in the past few years, the Li family's New Year's gift has been like a year.

It's hard to say anything in front of the Li family, but in front of Cao Yin, Cao Hao has repeatedly talked about the Li family.

The Li family got too close to the Eighth Elder Brother's side, and if nothing else, let's just say that the maids of the Eighth Elder Brother Rehe Zhuangzi and some of the concubines of the Ninth Elder Brother's Mansion were all purchased from Jiangnan through the Li family.

If you don't want people to know, you can't do it unless you do.

Kangxi is not a fool, and other princes and elder brothers can also hear the movement, which is the bane of the Li family.

Cao Yin's side, but there is no way, everything that should be persuaded has been persuaded, everything that should be said has been said, and it depends on Li Xu's side for details.

In addition to the New Year's gift, this time the Li family also introduced a person to come over, who was a businessman from Yangzhou and had some relatives with the Li family.

Cao Hao asked Cao Zhong and knew that Cao Yin was meeting someone in the front hall, so he didn't go over there and went directly to the second door.

Passing by the Orchid Courtyard, Cao Hao went over to say goodbye to his mother.

As soon as I walked to the bottom of the porch, I heard the loud cry of a baby, followed by Zhao Jia's loud voice.

There was a little maid standing under the corridor, and when she saw Cao Hao, she hurriedly leaned over to salute. Cao Hao waved his hand and asked, "The second wife is here?" ”

"Back to the uncle, the second wife just arrived, and the old lady is also there." The maid replied crisply.

Li is calling ** to feed Changsheng in the house, this little guy is only two months old, but he looks strong and has a loud voice. Every one or two hours, I have to feed, and if I can't eat for a while, I have to cry "wow".

Although it is a little troublesome, compared to his brother's illness when he was a child, it is only gratifying.

Li had a smile on his face, and while watching ** hug Changsheng, he listened to Zhaojia's and Gao Taijun talk about family life, and when he heard his son's movements, he couldn't help but raise his voice and said, "Hao'er is back?" ”

Cao Hao heard the sound, his mouth responded, and he took two quick steps and entered the house.

Li Shi had already gotten up, looked at his son distressedly, and said: "This number nine weather, the weather is cold, carefully tired, and carefully cold, you are much better!" As he spoke, he touched the fur on his son's body, nodded and said, "It's not too thin, and the hat and neck should be dense." ”

Cao Hao helped Li's arm, helped her to sit down by the kang, and first showed Gao Taijun and Zhaojia on the side before turning his head and replying to Li's words: "Mother doesn't need to worry, except for a few family elders, everyone else is in a carriage, and they can't be tired." ”

When Li heard this, he nodded and put his mind at ease.

Gao Taijun sat on the edge of the kang, looked at Cao Hao's eyes, and said: "Look at Brother Hao'er, it is getting clearer and less than before, last month Fujin sent a few old ginseng plants, I didn't use it much, I went back and made people boil ginseng soup to make up for you." ”

Cao Hao thanked him for a long time, and his previous disgust has also decreased a lot.

Xu is old man figured it out, Xu is old man pities Chu Yu for Tianhui's sake, and for his granddaughter-in-law, he is much more pleasant than before.

Cao Hao's side, you have always respected me, and I have respected you.

Besides, Gao Taijun's side, mainly for the sake of the Li family, he was also far away and respectful.

The smile on Gao Taijun's face seemed faint, as if he had something on his mind.

Zhao Jia's side had already taken over the conversation, and said, "Brother Hao, your brothers are still young, and some families are taking a gift for the first time this year." If you have leisure, you should take care of them more. ”

"Hmm!" Cao Hao responded, thinking that Cao Song would not rest until two days, and now Cao Xiang took his younger brother out to socialize.

Cao Xiang studied in Guozijian for a year, not only was he much taller, but he also improved his knowledge and was praised by several teachers.

Although he is a concubine, he is smart and studious, so he has to take the road of the imperial examination. Coupled with having a good uncle and cousin, the future is limitless. Therefore, those who knew that he had not been married, several families were worried about promising their daughters to him.

Unfortunately, just after his father's filial piety, he had to serve his brother's filial piety, and the matter could only drag on again.

Cao Xiang knew that his identity was embarrassing, and he had always been silent at home, never standing in front of others. This New Year's gift, it was really Cao Song's absence, Cao Fu was young, so he took his younger brother out.

Zhao Jia's sideburns were missing a piece of hair, because he ate cigarettes in the middle of the night a few days ago, and the sparks splashed on his sideburns and burned.

Now in order to cover up this, Zhao Jia's has brought a wig, looking a little awkward.

Cao Hao went out for a stroll, but he was really a little tired, and after saying a few words to everyone, he got up and said goodbye.

Zhao Jiashi got up and said to Li with a smile: "Sister-in-law, when I came here just now, I heard that there were guests in Brother Hao's daughter-in-law's house, but I want to go over to see how this girl of the Jiang family has three heads and six arms, and can make Daoxiang Village prosperous and prosperous." In my early years in Jiangning, I also saw it, and on the way to Beijing, I also met it, but I was clumsy, and I didn't see that it was a God of Wealth grandmother. This year, this brother and daughter-in-law got a lot of silver, and she received more than her Zhuangzi. ”

In the end, she couldn't help but complain a little: "Don't say anything about the price in this capital, this rent can't go up, and there is no good year." The money in this Zhuangzi is not enough for the New Year's ceremony. If the year is worse, I am afraid that there will be a famine. ”

Cao Hao heard her say this, and remembered that he heard Cao Fang talk about it a few days ago, and the second room Zhuangzi mentioned the land rent again, and couldn't help frowning slightly. It seems that after two days of Cao Song's rest, he wants to talk to Cao Song about it.

After all, it is the Zhuangzi of Gyeonggi, if he wants to collect more money and make a reputation of "being rich and unkind", it will have an impact on the future of Cao Song and his brothers.

Thinking of this, Cao Hao thought of Zhaojia's toss in the past two years, and sighed weakly in his heart.

When Li heard the mention of Han Jiang's family, he smiled and said, "It's a peaceful child, and it comes from someone who knows the roots." Poor insight, at a young age, he has been guarding all these years. ”

Zhao Jiashi pursed his lips, glanced at Cao Hao, and did not speak.

Cao Hao is not weak-hearted, but he can also see that Zhaojia's meaning is meaningful, and he can't help but feel tired.

Zhao Jia's is not an interesting person, greeting Cao Hao, he has already moved.

As soon as I walked to the outhouse, I saw Chu Yu come in with the curtain, saw Zhao Jiashi, and said with a smile: "The second wife is here, just to discuss the list of Chinese New Year's Eve dinner with you." As he spoke, he saw her husband with a smile on her face.

Zhao Jiashi glanced behind Chu Yu, only to see a little maid, with a look of disappointment on her face, and said, "Didn't you say that the shopkeeper of your shop came to report the account?" What about this man, gone? ”

"Well, just left." Chu Yu responded.

"Tut, when you're busy with the New Year's Festival, you can call her again. I also want to set up a shop over there, these four or nine cities, whether it is red and white, or ordinary, there are countless people who buy gluttony. This business can still be made by the family, helping the aunt, and also getting two shops, but I want to be good for your love. Zhao Jiashi didn't hide it, and directly said what he thought in his heart.

Chu Yu is not a stingy person, but he is also afraid of the love and toss of the Zhaojia clan, and hurriedly said: "I can't move before and after the year, the second wife is interested in the shop, and after two days to find someone who understands to talk to the second wife, the most important thing today is the banquet on Chinese New Year's Eve." ”

While speaking, everyone turned around and entered the inner room, Cao Hao did not follow, picked the curtain, and went back to Wutong Garden first.

* Shijuma Street, Pingjun Wangfu, study.

On the desk, there was a map of the northwest that the fourteenth elder brother had borrowed from the military department.

The fourteenth elder brother stood in front of the table, gestured to Heshuo, and said to Nersu: "The soldiers and horses of the imperial court are stationed here, and there are still seven to ten days to travel to Hami. Tselu Alabutan is west of Hami, in the Dzungar area, and it is another ten days in between. In the boundless desert, if there are no horses, the court is beyond the reach of the whip. ”

Nersu's eyes looked directly at the map, and he also felt his blood boiling, and after listening to the words of the fourteenth elder brother, he couldn't help but nod his head yes.

Although there are only 100,000 tribes in the Arabutan tribe and only 10,000 in armor, the court does not dare to underestimate it.

Back then, the old Han King was in the northeast, and the thirteen deputy soldiers started out, and finally went south to the Central Plains and captured the flowers.

Although it can't be said that the current times are troubled, the treasury has no money, and the soldiers of the Eight Banners have long lost their old edge, and there are only those Eight Banners children who carry cages and stand birds and are idle.

In addition, after all, there are Han people in the world, if the frontier is really chaotic, it is good to say that it is short, and when it is long, who can guarantee that the Central Plains will always be stable?

Due to the disadvantage in numbers, even if the Manchurians won the world, they always had apprehensions.

The fourteenth elder brother looked at the map, straightened his waist, and was reluctant to retract his gaze, clenched his fists, and said: "I must lead the troops, no one can rob me, and no one is qualified to rob me!" ”

His words are incomparably firm, confident and proud.

Nersu's heart sank, thinking of the "alum book case" that had been made a few days ago, but he didn't know that it had anything to do with this fourteenth master. He raised his head, looked at the fourteenth elder brother, and asked hesitantly, "Fourteenth uncle, will the emperor really send the prince to lead the troops?" ”

The fourteenth elder brother's hand slid from Hami, and finally pointed to Lhasa, and said, "The reason for this movement is just to test the reaction of the imperial court, and also to show Qinghai Zhutaiji. If there is no accident, he should make this trouble, it should be to enter Tibet. He wanted to follow the example of Lazang Khan, occupied Lhasa, and formally asked the imperial court for the title. Hmph, it's beautiful to think about, these Dzungars all have anti-bones, and they don't have a good thing. If they are not killed, I am afraid that it will be difficult to live in peace. ”

All kinds of rhetoric have been rotten in the Ministry of War, and what the fourteenth elder brother said is just a cliché.

But it was not easy to say, the imperial court gathered 20,000 people in the northwest, but it did not even pursue, so it was allowed to easily withdraw from Hami and leave.

Thinking of this, Nersu also clenched his fists and said: "It's really the humiliation of our Eight Banners boys, and the shame of our warriors who love the Xinjue Luo family, so that that the clown who jumped off the beam was free in the northwest, ignoring the laws of the imperial court." ”

In the final analysis, the court is so passive, it's just that it has no money.

The fourteenth elder brother thought of this, looked at Nersu, and said, "Huang Ama transferred Cao Hao to the Internal Affairs Mansion, which is nothing more than an urgent need for money. No matter how Cao Hao makes trouble, this silver is bound to come out, otherwise it is difficult to solve the grievances of those imperial businessmen who have been stirred up and have no deals, even on the side of Huang Ama, the designation will not spare Cao Hao. ”

"He's young, he's young......" Narsu replied vaguely.

Seeing that Nersu was like this, the fourteenth elder brother restrained the smile on his face and asked: "Narsu, you tell the truth to your master, in the past two years, you are not as close to me as in the early years, which makes people feel alienated, what is the reason?" But because Cao Hao said bad things about the master in front of you? In the end, there was already a bit of gloom on his face.

Nersu only felt that these words were harsh, and he felt a little uncomfortable in his heart, but his face was not obvious, and he smiled, and said, "Look at what Uncle Fourteen said?" The nephew was wronged. Not to mention anything else, whether it is the kings of the clan, or the prince and elder brother, whose friendship with the nephew can be as close as that of the fourteenth uncle. It's just that I've been older for a few years, and it's not like when I was a teenager, I often go into the palace and walk around. ”

The fourteenth elder brother stared at Nersu's face, his hand was already on his shoulder, he glared at him with disgust, and said, "Don't you take words to Meng Ye, is you a fool?" Whether it's because you're too big and can't move around, or if you're afraid that Huang Ama will suspect you of forming a party, you know it yourself. Cao Hao's side, he is your brother-in-law, and he is also the eldest aunt of the Seventh Elder Brother's Mansion, as long as he is honest and on an errand, the master will naturally not pick him. ”

Nersu didn't know how to take these words, and flattered him indiscriminately.

The fourteenth elder brother said it, and he regretted it a little in his heart, did he say too much?

Both of them lost their previous interest, and they were a little unhappy.

The fourteenth elder brother said a few more words, and then returned to the palace with the guards.

Narsu stood at the desk in the study, looking at the map of the northwest in a daze.

"Ten times surround it", there are 10,000 or 20,000 soldiers and horses in Alabutan, and if the imperial court wants to exterminate it, it will have to be several times or even ten times before it can say the word "surround".

Could it be that as everyone in the military department expected, this battle could not be ended in a moment.

On the side of the imperial court, in addition to the current three roads, it seems that there are also soldiers who have been transferred to the northwest one after another.

On the one hand, there was the desire to go to the battlefield, and on the other hand, there was a delicate wife and weak son in the house, and Nersu couldn't help but sigh.

* Xicheng, Caofu, Wutong Garden, upper room.

When Chu Yu came back from the Orchid Courtyard, Cao Hao had already finished dressing and changing, and was sitting on the edge of the bed, coaxing Tianhui to speak.

Tianhui was wearing a pink jacket, sitting in the kang, holding a rag puppet about the same height in her hand, listening to Cao Hao's tinkering, but she refused to speak.

"Good girl, if you want to eat anything delicious, I'll buy it for you. Don't you like to eat hawthorn pot helmet the most, and do you still like to eat that? Although Cao Hao was tired, he didn't feel tired at all when he looked at his daughter.

Tianhui still didn't speak, only rubbed the puppet with her hand, and said for a while: "Little aunt, peach crisp...... Delicious......"

I think this is Niu Niu said, the peach crisp is delicious, let her write it down.

Cao Hao stretched out his hand, touched his daughter's hair, and said, "Well, I know, it's a peach cake, so someone will buy it for you." ”

When Tianhui heard this, a smile had already appeared on her face.

Chu Yu saw her on the sidelines and said to Cao Hao: "You can't give her too many snacks, it's time to have dinner seriously." ”

Tianhui had already hugged the doll in her hand and muttered, "Just eat a piece of ......"

"That's not good to eat, eat carefully and break ......your teeth," Chu Yu said softly to her daughter.

Cao Hao sat on the side, watching them talk closely, and only felt that home was really a good place......

(To be continued)