Reborn in the last years of Kangxi

Chapter 1389 Changes
In a blink of an eye, we arrived at Laba.

The weather is getting colder and colder, and the errands in the government office are getting busier.

Cao Yong arrives home from the government office every day, at two o'clock and one line, he is very busy, and he can return home almost every day at dusk.

However, at the end of the year, various contacts and entertainments also increased, and there were several greeting cards received every day.

Some are not friendly, some are too lazy to deal with it, Cao Yong mostly resigned, and rarely arranges to entertain guests at night.

Then, on this day, before going out, he asked his wife in advance to arrange a table for dinner to keep guests.

Here Chu Yu is also full of joy.

There is no other reason, the one who came tonight was none other than Zhao Tong who had been released for many years.

After Zhao Tong was released, he served as county magistrate for three consecutive terms. Because of his achievements in arresting criminal names, he was favored by several officials of the Criminal Department and promoted to the head of the Criminal Department. He originally returned to Beijing at the end of last year.

I don't want to, catch up with Ertai's "reform the soil and return to the stream" in the southwest, vacating many positions of exile officials, and submit to the imperial court for dignitaries.

Because Yunnan and Guizhou are located in a remote area, where the seedlings live together, and it is not easy to become an official, it has always been regarded as a shortage.

The Ministry of Officials was planning to select officials from among the alternate officials, but the emperor personally intervened in the matter and decreed that a group of officials who were "excellent" in the "big plan" and "Jingcha" last year were transferred to the southwest.

As soon as the news came out, everyone who had connections with Beijing and China started to exploit.

Cao Yong didn't think that the Southwest was in short supply. Even if Zhao Tong had made achievements in the criminal name, but if he really wanted to return to Beijing, he would just annihilate everyone, and he might as well find another way.

Because Zhao Tong was a donated official, it was not easy to be promoted. In order to make him better in his political performance, Cao Yong helped him choose difficult places when he sent officials in his early years.

Even so, it took three terms to be promoted.

In the absence of Zhao Tong, Cao Yong did not speak.Of course, he still met with Zhao Tong and raised his views on the opportunities in Southwest China.

As a result, Zhao Tong's head of the criminal department was released to the southwest within a few days after he took office, and became a six-rank general judge of the same level.

How many officials who failed in the "Jingcha" and "big plans" gloated.

Even Chuyu complained about Xicai's hard work.

Obviously, Cao Yong's views are correct, and the Southwest has indeed unlimited opportunities.In just half a year, Zhao Tong went from being a sixth-rank general judge to a fifth-rank magistrate, and back to being a palm seal officer again.

Now, Zhao Tong and several other officials from Yunnan and Guizhou returned to Beijing to see His Majesty, and it was inevitable to come to Cao's house to pay his respects.

Zhao Tong was the son of Cao's family, and Cao Yong handled the "account opening" for him before he obtained his household registration and was able to fill an official position.

However, according to the situation of the world, Zhao Tong and his descendants have to treat the Cao family as master and slave.

Therefore, the moment he saw Cao Yong, Zhao Tong kowtowed and made a big salute.

In the early years, Zhao Tong was arranged to be a replacement official. On the one hand, he intended to fulfill his ambition, and on the other hand, he thought that the long family would be weak and he would have more power in the officialdom.

When the second-court cousins ​​became official one after another, Cao Yong's thoughts faded away.

However, Cao Yong is still not stingy because of Zhao Tong's friendship with him for several years and the care he can give.

It is in this way that Zhao Tong can gain a firm foothold in difficult places and make political achievements.

Zhao Tong was really grateful, but Cao Yong didn't accept his gift. He sideways avoided him, gave him a little help, and told him to get up, saying: "It's just a little effort on my side. In the final analysis, it's up to you..."

From the time when Cao Yong entered Beijing to the time when Zhao Tong was released as an official, Zhao Tong stayed by Cao Yong's side for nearly ten years, and the master and servant got along very well.

Although they were far away in the early years, Zhao Tong sent people to Beijing to give gifts every year, and letters of greetings often arrived, so the two did not feel unfamiliar.

Cao Yong asked Zhao Tong to sit down, and after a few words of homely talk, he asked about local affairs in the southwest: "I heard that Edutai used Western firearms when it quelled the Miao chaos in the southwest?"

Zhao Tongdao: "That's right. I asked for the order to transport them directly from Guangzhou Customs. Most of them are fire systems. There are small cannons, and there are fewer cannons."

Cao Yong thought for a while and said: "In addition to the Zhuangzi of the Ministry of Internal Affairs in Yunnan and Guizhou, Edutai also asked people to plant smoke and soil?"

This is what he is most concerned about. In the early years, he thought of "returning his own body with his own way", and urged the Ministry of Internal Affairs to plant opium in Yunnan and Guizhou. Get a lot of money.

In addition, there are all kinds of finished pills sold in Mongolia, and opium is also used in them.

Zhao Tong hesitated for a moment, and said: "Not only did you plant it... Mr. E also brought the cultivation of tobacco soil under the direct jurisdiction of the Governor's Mansion in the name of tribute..."

"A tribute? Gongyu pharmacy?" Cao Yong listened, guessing Ertai's intentions, and his expression became dignified: "Could it be that Ertai is still selling tobacco in Yunnan and Guizhou?"

As early as the Ministry of Internal Affairs decided to plant opium in Yunnan and Guizhou, Cao Yong wrote a book about "no smoking".

Opium is harmful and should only be sold outside, not domestically.

Zhao Tong nodded and said: "The Governor's Mansion specially arranges human trafficking. The quantity is limited. In Yunnan and Guizhou, the supply is already in short supply. It has been sold for a tael of tobacco and a tael of gold... Driven by profit, there are people who privately grow tobacco. The Governor's Mansion Bian used thunderous methods to suppress it, but in the past six months, more than a dozen people have been imprisoned and hanged..."

Ertai acted in this way, but it was similar to the behavior of sixteen elder brothers "poisonous" Mongolia. Cao Yong felt heavy in his heart when he heard it.

The southwest is in chaos, which is also different from Mongolia.

Mongolia and the Central Plains are separated by checkpoints, and traffic information is not as convenient as it is in later generations; all ethnic groups in the southwest live mixed with Han people, which is the inner territory of the Qing Dynasty.

Although opium can abolish a large number of native officials and lords, but if you are not careful, it will affect the local area.

Thinking of this, Cao Yong asked: "Since the native officials eat opium in fashion, what about the low-ranking officials?"

One tael of gold and one tael of opium, the price is really not low, it is a legend for the common people, but it is not unaffordable for the officials.

Zhao Tong thought for a while and said: "I heard that some people started to learn to eat tobacco and soil. Later, word came out from the Governor's Mansion that Master E said that honest officials could not afford to eat tobacco and soil... Afterwards, the official who ate tobacco and soil He was dismissed from his post because of his greed for ink, so the dust has more or less become a taboo in Yunnan-Guizhou official circles..."

Cao Yong was very disappointed after hearing this.

The smoking ban is too weak, even if the governor Ertai reveals his likes and dislikes, it is difficult to guarantee that someone will deceive him.

Look, it's time to remind Brother Sixteen that it's time to pay attention to Yunnan Guizhou's tobacco...

Cao Yong stayed with Zhao Tong for dinner, and invited Jiang Jian to accompany him.

In addition to congratulating Zhao Tong on his appointment as Zhengyin official, Jiang Jian was concerned about criminal affairs in Yunnan and Guizhou.

Due to the large number of local officials in Yunnan and Guizhou, in addition to implementing the laws of the Qing Dynasty, there are also some local punitive regulations, which are very different from the etiquette and laws of the Han family. Jiang Jian listened with great interest.

Seeing this, Cao Yong couldn't help sighing.

Although Jiang Jian has highs and lows in his heart, what he likes and is best at is the matter of criminal names. It is really overkill to stay with Cao Yong as a clerical staff.

After the meal, Zhao Tong bid farewell and left, Cao Yong left Jiang Jian behind, and once again mentioned the matter of recommending him to be an official: "Fei Lin, Ertai has made great strides in Yunnan and Guizhou. In recent years, Yungui has great opportunities... Feilin has both finesse and a criminal name, so it’s not easy to waste all his strengths. According to my opinion, he can exploit the shortcomings of Yunnan and Guizhou..."

Jiang Jian was taken aback when he heard the words, then he waved his hand and said, "Your Excellency misunderstood, the students inquired about the matter of criminal names in Yunnan and Guizhou did not have the intention of being an official... With the care of the adults, after a few years, the students are very contented. Come up with a thought..."

It turned out that Jiang Jian paid attention to the criminal names of Yunnan and Guizhou not because he had an official career, but because he had the idea of ​​compiling a book and was accumulating materials.

"Editing the book, on the criminal name?" Cao Yong was a little surprised: "Why did Fei Lin think of compiling the book?"

Everything is inferior, only reading is high.

Compilation of books is definitely an elegant thing among scholars, and it is a real gain of fame and fortune.

However, the premise is that it is a book of sages and sages, a book of respecting etiquette and Confucianism.

The books on the criminal name cannot be regarded as the right path, but can only be classified as miscellaneous books.

As an aide, Jiang Jian has been in Cao's family for many years. He said that he did not give full play to his proficiency in criminal names, but he did his best and was relied on by Cao Yong.

Cao Yong treats people with generosity.

It was the same with Mr. Zhuang in the early years, and it is the same with Jiang Jian now.

In addition to buying land and property for Jiang Jian, he was not stingy about gold and silver.

In addition, Cao Yong is in a high position, and Jiang Jian, as his confidant and staff, is often respected by outsiders.

After a few years, it is also a lot of money, enough for him to spend the rest of his life at ease.

Since last year, Cao Yong suffered from two serious illnesses, and after the illness, he often showed the intention of retiring. Jiang Jian thought he was confused for a while after the illness.

A few days ago, he got a letter from Cao Yong.

Cao Yong has no intention of joining the cabinet, and in a few years he will be "retired from illness".

When Jiang Jian heard this, he couldn't help being touched.

He is ten years older than Cao Yong, and in the eyes of the world, he has gradually entered old age from middle age.

Even if Cao Yong retired, he did not intend to change the proprietor.

Listening to Cao Yong's question, Jiang Jian said with a smile: "The left and right students are not short of money. In addition to teaching children, they also want to find something to do, so they think of compiling books...not for fame and fortune, but for themselves. Walk around the world..."

When Cao Yong heard this, he was very envious. He originally wanted to say that he was also joining in the fun, but Jiang Jian's eyes were shining brightly, so he swallowed his words again.

After all, he was in a high position, so many people watched his every move.

Even if he really intended to "assist" Jiang Jian in compiling the book, it would be seen by the world as his dominance, and he would be suspected of taking the lead...

*
The next day, I was catching up with the household department's shift.

Cao Yong got up early as usual, left the city by car from Xizhimen, and headed for Yuanmingyuan.

The things played by the Ministry of Households are still some matters of relief in the south of the Yangtze River; the Ministry of War is still about various military situations in the Northwest, and there is nothing new.

It's the end of the year, and nothing new is a good thing.

Yongzheng seemed to have come out of the pain of bereavement, his complexion was rosy, and he looked good.

Not only does he look good, he also seems to be in a good mood.

After listening to the courtier's report, he also gave a few words of praise for the errands of the household department and the military department.

After arriving in the capital, who is not a human sperm, everyone can't help muttering in their hearts, what good thing happened to the emperor?
Could it be that the concubine in the harem is pregnant?Or is there good news from the Northwest?

Even Cao Yong was puzzled.

Because Yongzheng was a supercilious person with sticky sticks, Cao Yong was careful, and most of the news he got was outside the palace, and he seldom inquired about the news in front of the emperor.

After the court was over, everyone withdrew from the Palace of Qinzheng.

Yi Duli's face drooped, and his anxiety was not concealed between his brows and eyes, which attracted everyone's attention.

Cao Yong was going to look for Elder Sixteen, but when he saw Yi Duli's appearance, he was worried, so he had to approach him, and said in a low voice, "There are many people with mixed eyes, and the face of seven emotions is easy to attract people's tongue, sir, you should restrain yourself." good……"

Yi Duli thanked Cao Yong softly for his kindness, and forced a smile, but it was too stiff, it was uglier than crying.

"What happened to make your lord so miserable?" Cao Yong said in surprise.

Yi Duli whispered: "Fu Ruo, from today onwards, I have become an enemy of the clan. It is better for Fu Ruo to stay away from me in the future, so as not to be implicated by me..."

This sentence without beginning and end...

Cao Yong's heart moved: "But the Shengjing Eight Banners incident has a follow-up..."

Yi Duli stretched out his hands, stretched his palms, squeezed his thumb and little finger, and said: "I got the news earlier that the emperor has taken away the jobs of three princes at once... and the Dutong of the two princes have also been dismissed." ... Except for the errands in the clan mansion, the errands under the names of these five masters have all stopped, and the decree will be made clear today..."

Cao Yong heard the words, took a deep breath.

He is not worried about his in-laws. After all, Prince Ping and Prince Jian are currently idle, and Prince Yu is young and inexperienced, so he doesn't have any serious errands.

What he was worried about was Idori.

If Yongzheng used Shengjing's military affairs as an excuse to attack the clan, no one in the clan would dare to resent the emperor, and they would have to blame Yiduli.

"Which princes are they?" Cao Yong asked.

Yi Duli replied: "Prince Kang, King Shuncheng and King Xin..."

Cao Yong is really speechless this time, Prince Kang is the descendant of Prince Li Lie, he was named "Kang", and is the head of the prince class; since Prince Ping was promoted to Prince, he followed the lineup of Prince Xin and Prince Xin, and he started from the county. The first and third place in the Wang class were promoted to the first and second place.

These three princes are all hereditary iron hats, which have been passed down for several generations and have many branches.

No wonder Yi Duli was afraid, even though the emperor doesn't want to see these princes now, who knows when they will stand up.Since they regard Yiduli as an enemy, it is no wonder that Yiduli has good fruits.

Cao Yong also had no choice but to suggest: "Your Excellency, you don't have to suffer yourself, you might as well go to Prince Yi's mansion twice more, and have an idea with the Thirteenth Lord..."

Yi Duli sighed and said: "This time I really want to put my face down and hug Thirteenth Master's thigh..."

When Cao Yong found Elder Sixteen, he heard Elder Sixteen mention again about the matter of the clan princes managing the flag affairs before mentioning the southwestern opium.

The sixteenth elder brother manages the flag affairs, this Cao Yong is not unexpected.After all, there are not many brothers that Yongzheng trusts. The thirteenth elder brother is busy with government affairs and cannot get away;

Fupeng took over the flag affairs, which started a few years ago, but before it was only the red flag, and now it is in charge of the red flag.

Why is the remaining one Yarjan A?

Everyone knows that the emperor doesn't want to see Yaerjiang, and Prince Jane's son has been suppressed and not canonized.So far, there is no Gejue, but it is because Yarjan'a has been pretending that his grandson is not showing his face in the past few years.

"Is this what the emperor wants?" Cao Yong was really worried. After all, it was his own relatives.

Brother Sixteen gave him a sideways glance, and said: "Where did you think... The emperor has already ordered Yaerjiang to ask for the seal of the son..."

*
It's hot and uncomfortable.I don't know if it's because Xiao Jiu's weight has reached the highest value in history, but he feels that his palms and feet are constantly sweating, and he is so uncomfortable that he is rolling around. . . .

(End of this chapter)