My father is Yongzheng, and I am Qianlong?

Chapter 82: The Deficit of the Cao Family in Jiangning Weaving Factory (Fourth Update)

That night, Yongzheng summoned the ninth prince Yinzhen to the Yangxin Palace and had a secret conversation with him until late at night.

After Hongli learned about this from Chen Shishun, he guessed that Yongzheng summoned Laojiu for the sake of maritime trade interests.

At present, after Tsewang Arabtan provoked the provocation, the Qing government has been using large-scale military forces in the northwest for eight years, consuming huge amounts of money and food.

Yongzheng had to make up for the deficit, and now, with Hongli's reminder, he not only had to make up for the deficit, but also ensure the circulation of silver and copper in the market for the benefit of the common people.

However, because Yinzhen was good at diplomacy, well-versed in Western learning, and understood the Western tribes, he represented Kangxi in monopolizing the interests of smuggling maritime trade during the Kangxi period.

The big Han merchants in Guangzhou and other places, as well as the big merchants in important transportation hubs such as Suzhou, Hangzhou, Huaiyang, and Linqing, relied on the ninth prince Yinzhen in the capital.

Therefore, it was inevitable that Yongzheng summoned Yinzhen and asked him to return the profits from maritime trade.

Of course, even if Hongli had not reminded him, Yongzheng would not have allowed the profits from maritime trade to be controlled by Yinzhen.

Yongzheng was not Kangxi, so it was impossible for him to let Yinzhen control such a big piece of the cake.

Lying on the soft couch with his arms behind his head, Hongli was just waiting for Yongzheng to force the ninth prince to spit out Haili, which he controlled, so that he could reap the benefits in the future.

He naturally knew that this was a big cake.

It should be noted that in the late Qing Dynasty, the government had to pay indemnities and borrow money, quell uprisings in various places, maintain the operation of the court, support a large bureaucracy and army, and train new troops. The finances were almost entirely supported by customs revenue.

However, what Hongli was more curious about was how Yongzheng talked with the ninth brother.

But according to his guess, Lao Jiu would not easily give up such a big piece of cake.

You know, among the people, it is common for brothers to fight over family property, resulting in bloodshed and even death.

What's more, Yongzheng and Lao Jiu are fighting for such huge interests?

Moreover, even if Lao Jiu agreed, many bureaucrats and landlords who enjoyed wealth under his protection would not easily let him agree.

Even the eighth brother, who relies entirely on the financial support of the ninth brother to win the hearts of the people, may not be willing.

Hongli talked with Yongzheng and Lao Jiu until late at night, and he could guess that the conversation was not going smoothly.

Therefore, Hongli could be sure that Yongzheng’s mood today was probably not so good.

For this reason, Hongli decided to be careful when he went to pay his respects today and not to confront Yongzheng again.

Coincidentally, when Hongli came to pay his respects to Yongzheng, he happened to meet Hongshi.

The two men exchanged greetings, and while waiting for Yongzheng to summon him, Hongshi took the initiative to ask Hongli, "Fourth brother, do you know that Khan Ama met both Uncle Nine and Uncle Thirteen yesterday?"

Hongli was a little surprised. He only knew that Yongzheng had met the ninth brother, but he didn't expect that Yongzheng would later meet the thirteenth brother.

He couldn't help but guess that the Thirteenth Prince might have met Yongzheng too late, and even Chen Shishun couldn't find out about this through the people under the Yangxin Palace, and Hongshi knew about it, probably through the Ninth Prince.

This undoubtedly shows that Hongshi has been very close to the Eighth and Ninth Brothers recently.

But what Hongli was more curious about was whether Yongzheng had stayed up all night last night?

This is so dedicated!
Hongli was slightly surprised, then shook his head and said, "I don't know."

"I came here this morning as well and heard the guards talking about it privately."

When Hongshi said this, he sighed: "Khan Ama is really diligent in his work!"

Hongli nodded.

Hongshi then asked Hongli, unable to conceal his delight, "I heard that you, fourth brother, were fined half a year's salary for speaking well of your tenth uncle?"

Hongli noticed the slight grin on Hongshi's lips and nodded in a depressed tone, "I also think that Uncle Shi was forced into that situation because he was too eager to repay the deficit. But maybe Khan Ama also has his own considerations, right?"

"You're right, but don't be too upset."

"Khan Ama still loves you. After all, he only fined you half a year's salary. If you need money, just ask Third Brother. Third Brother may not have much, but one or two thousand is still enough for you."

After Hongshi agreed, he held Hongli's shoulders and patted his chest.

"Thank you, Third Brother!"

"But I live in the harem, so I don't have much money to spend, so I don't really need it."

Hongli smiled and nodded.

Hongshi smiled slightly: "That's right!"

Then, Hongshi took the initiative to ask Hongli: "Fourth brother, what do you think Khan Ama summoned Uncle Nine and Uncle Thirteen last night for?"

"I'm not sure about that, but it might be because of Haili." Hongli wanted to test Hongshi's opinion on smuggling and maritime trade, so he deliberately expressed his true thoughts.

Seeing Hongli speak directly, Hongshi raised his eyebrows slightly, as if he was very happy that Hongli spoke so freely, and nodded with a smile: "You should be right, Uncle Jiu has been controlling the world for too long."

"Yes!"

Seeing that Hongshi did not express his true thoughts, Hongli just agreed with one sentence and said nothing more.

After the two were silent for a while, Yongzheng met them.

Hongshi knew that now that the empress had been established, the fact that Hongli was raised by the empress herself would be known to the world, so he needed to seize the opportunity to make Yongzheng value him more. It just so happened that Hongli had been punished, which was his chance to please Yongzheng and make Yongzheng change his opinion of him.

Therefore, after meeting Yongzheng, Hongshi kept observing Yongzheng carefully, looking for opportunities to please Yongzheng.

At this time, Yongzheng was thirsty and was about to reach out for the tea. Hongshi hurriedly squeezed out Hongli, who was standing on his right and closer to Yongzheng's desk, and got the tea first before Su Peisheng.

"Khan Ama, have some tea!"

Hongshi then burst into laughter.

Yongzheng glanced at Hongshi.

Hongli was bumped by Hongshi and almost fell down. At this moment, he couldn't help but look up at Hongshi.

Then, Hongli couldn't help rolling his eyes, thinking that Hongshi was too eager to show off.

I know you are anxious to make Yongzheng change his opinion of you, but could you please not be so hasty?
When Hongshi saw Hongli staggering, he felt even more proud and his mouth widened.

But Yongzheng just said "hmm" lightly and took the tea.

Then Yongzheng drank tea.

Hongli shook his head slightly. He had already realized that Yongzheng was not satisfied with this.

"Father, you are too hardworking. I couldn't sleep well last night."

But Hongshi said something else at this time.

boom!
Suddenly, Yongzheng put the tea heavily on the table and looked at Hongshi solemnly: "Do I need a servant?"

Hongshi was stunned by Yongzheng's question.

"I ask you, am I short of servants?"

"answer me!"

Yongzheng's voice then became even more powerful, as if containing endless anger, so much so that in the last sentence he directly referred to himself as "I" instead of "Zhen".

Hongshi knelt down hurriedly: "Khan Ama is certainly not short of servants!"

"Then why are you so eager to come up and do the work of a slave?"

"What I lack the least is servants!"

"What I lack are brothers and nephews who can share my values!"

Yongzheng yelled hysterically.

Hongli sighed inwardly, thinking that Hongshi's flattery was directed to the wrong person again. Of course, it was also possible that in Yongzheng's heart, he no longer had the qualifications to flatter, rather than being a question of whether his flattery was right or wrong.

However, Hongli was secretly delighted.

The reason was simple. Hongshi's behavior just now was very similar to some people he met in his previous life. At this moment, Hongshi failed to flatter and was scolded instead, which naturally made him feel comfortable.

Of course, Hongli could also hear that Yongzheng was indeed very upset. The sentence "What I lack are brothers and nephews who are of one mind with me" was obviously a double entendre. He blamed Hongshi for not being of one mind with him and that his self-righteous superficial efforts were useless, and he also blamed many of his brothers and nephews for not supporting him in rectifying the government.

"Everyone, get up! Don't rush to do this kind of work for servants. If you want to show filial piety, it's not in this place."

"Hey, thank you, Ama Khan, for your mercy!"

However, after venting his anger, Yongzheng did not continue to dwell on this trivial matter.

Then, Yongzheng said to Hongshi and Hongli, "You came at the right time. There is something about the deficit of the weaving bureau. It has been discovered that the Cao family of Jiangning Weaving Bureau has the largest deficit!"

"I argued with your Thirteenth Uncle all night. He insisted that I, for the sake of the late Emperor, grant the Cao family some grace period to make up for their losses and not punish them. He was even terrified by this, so I had no choice but to comply."

"What do you think? Should we give the Cao family a few years of grace?"

(End of this chapter)