Forbidden City, the main hall of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

"The Queen Mother's birthday gift?" Cao Hao glanced at the thick list in his hand, looked at Dong Dianbang, and said, "These are all for the Internal Affairs Office?" ”

On this list, there are dozens of pages of Buddha statues and small jewelry.

Dong Dianbang nodded and said: "This list is drawn up according to the example of previous years, Lord Cao looks at the places where there are any increases and decreases?" ”

Cao Hao didn't have any opinions, handed the list back to Dong Dianbang, and said, "My lord thinks it's appropriate." ”

Dong Dianbang hesitated for a moment and said, "There is a sentence that I don't know whether to say or not?" ”

Seeing him like this, Cao Hao smiled and said, "What do you have, please say it!" ”

"Lord Cao, although there is an input in the inner treasury in the first month, but so far, it has been used up to seven or eighty percent. I'm afraid that it will be supported until next year, and the inner library will be empty. Dong Dianbang said, took out an account book from his sleeve and sent it to Cao Hao.

"Millions of taels, how can it be spent so quickly?" Cao Hao couldn't help but be surprised when he heard this.

"Only the repair of the three palaces of Rehe, Changchun Garden, and Xiyuan took nearly one million taels. On the side of the Tangquan Palace, not only repaired, but also the two palaces that were expected to be built before were only able to start construction this year due to lack of money, which is a big project, and it is also nearly one million taels. The emperor toured the north and rewarded the Mongolian princes and soldiers, which was also nearly a million taels of silver...... "Dong Dianbang said several places where to spend money.

Cao Hao sighed in his heart while looking through the account books.

Kangxi wants to be a "Ming Jun", so the garden and the cultivation palace are not used for the silver of the department, which saves the royal historians from scratching noise. However, where he could spend money, he didn't pull it down.

In addition to repairing the palace and rewarding the line, the cost of Guan Bei's tour in the past few months is also nearly one million taels. This is only the expenses of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, such as the construction of roads from the capital to Rehe, and the cost of tens of thousands of escorts, which must be counted as the expenses of the household department.

"What about the salt tax?" Cao Hao remembered that this was also going to enter the inner warehouse, and asked.

"My lord, the Yansi Yamen is a big deficit. Even if the money is collected, I am afraid that I will have to make up for the deficit of the household department, and there are only a limited number of people who can enter the inner treasury. Dong Dianbang replied.

Cao Hao closed the account book and said, "Master Dong is an old man from the Internal Affairs Office, so where did the expenses of the Internal Affairs Office come from in the past?" This year, there are still millions of taels of input, which are not enough; If it were an ordinary vintage, wouldn't it be even more lacking? ”

"Originally, there were several mines, and gold and silver were put into storage every year. The mines that have been mined in the past two years have almost been dug up, and the money is getting tighter and tighter. Dong Dianbang replied.

Looking at Dong Dianbang's earnest face, Cao Hao immediately became a little vigilant.

He still knows how many pounds and taels he has.

Although he can see that Dong Dianbang is looking forward to his way of being born rich, he is just an ordinary person, and he is not really a good money boy.

Besides, Cao Hao also discovered that the Internal Affairs Office is the yamen that spends money. The silver is little, and the flowers of the household are borrowed; There is a lot of silver, and there are many flowers. For the sake of the so-called royal face, there is no concept of "open source and reduce expenditure" at all.

"When the sixteenth master returns to Beijing, he will make the matter of the lack of silver clear, and then please brainstorm for everyone." Cao Hao put down the account book and said casually.

Dong Dianbang didn't expect Cao Hao to deal with it like this, he was a little stunned, hesitated, and said, "Lord Cao......"

Cao Hao picked up a volume of documents from the case and said lightly: "This official still has official business to deal with, so I won't accompany Master Dong now." ”

When Dong Dianbang heard this, he hurriedly clenched his fists and said, "Since this is the case, Lord Cao will be busy first, and the next official will leave." ”

Because he is the head of the Internal Affairs Office, his grade is lower than Cao Hao, so he still performs the courtesy of his subordinates.

Cao Hao got up and arched his hand: "Since this is the case, the official will not send it, and will talk to Master Dong again." ”

Seeing Dong Dianbang go out, Cao Hao sat down again, and he already had a little remorse in his heart. When Yarjana came to look for him, he shouldn't have been so happy.

Even if he uses the emperor's order to press him, it should be delayed, and it will be more difficult. Otherwise, he would really be regarded as a bodhisattva, thinking that if he worshipped, he would be able to do everything as he pleased.

It's useless to regret it, and it's okay to remember your surname for a long time in the future. Don't be self-righteous as if you are mighty.

"Call Zhao to come with you." Cao Hao looked down at the Chinese book in his hand, saw that it was the case file of the Shen Criminal Division, and ordered Xiao Mandao who was waiting in front of him.

One less time, Zhao Tong came in.

Cao Hao handed over the case file in his hand and said, "Take it and take a look at the non-phosphorus, make a note of the criminal laws and regulations corresponding to each thing, and make a mark if it is appropriate or not." ”

Zhao Tong and Li Wei followed Jiang Jian to learn the curtain. Among them, Zhao Tong is more attentive, especially in terms of criminal names.

Cao Hao's side, happy to be fulfilled, the documents related to the criminal name, will be handed over to Zhao Tong to deal with...... * Cao Hao is not the only one who has remorse, Dong Dianbang also regrets it in his heart.

Because the Dong family and the Cao family have already discussed, it will be too big to wait for Cao Yin to return to Beijing, so Dong Dianbang is a little closer to Cao Hao and a little less respectful.

originally thought that if he could work with Cao Hao to solve the matter of Shaoyin of the Internal Affairs Office, he, the head of the Internal Affairs Office, would be stable, so he couldn't wait to mention this matter.

Thinking of Cao Hao's alienated appearance, Dong Dianbang knew that he was in too much of a hurry, patted his head vigorously, and sighed heavily.

You really shouldn't be self-righteous and say a few more words.

If you start slowly from the sixteenth elder brother, Xu is Cao Hao can still listen to it...... * Cao Mansion, side hall.

Han Jiang's family has been in and out of the Cao family many times, and he has also lived here, so he is familiar with the furnishings in the house. However, sitting here now, remembering the dream a few days ago, she only felt that her face was hot and hot.

She stroked her chest, picked up the teacup, and took two sips in a row to get better.

Xiao Fu stood beside him, with a little concern, and asked, "Did the girl catch a cold last night and blush so much?" ”

Han Jiang shook his head, stabilized his mind, and said, "Don't get in the way, just go back and drink a bowl of ginger soup." ”

As he spoke, he heard footsteps outside the window.

Han Jiang got up, but it was not Chu Yu who came in at the door, but Amethyst.

"The second grandmother of Dongfu has a fetal movement, the second master is not at home, and the eldest grandmother goes over to take care of it. Fang envoys have seen it in the past, and I am afraid that they will not be able to come back for a while. Amethyst said: "If Grandma Han has something important, just wait; If you're not in a hurry, please come back tomorrow. ”

Han Jiang shook his head and said, "It's not a hurry, it's the same with the girl, and the girl tells the eldest grandmother." Nowadays, money is expensive and silver is cheap in Beijing. One tael of silver can only be exchanged for seven hundred and fifty yuan. In the past, the monthly balance was exchanged for silver in the bank, and there was also a loss in it. Over the years, it is also a lot of expenses. ”

Amethyst was in charge of the accounts of the inner courtyard of the Cao Mansion, and she knew the comparison of silver and money, and nodded: "Yes, the silver is getting cheaper and cheaper." I remember that when I first arrived in Beijing a few years ago, one tael of silver could be exchanged for 800 wen, but now it can only be 750 wen. ”

"Not only copper coins are expensive, but also the copper objects in the world in recent years. Turning copper coins into bronze vessels, changing hands is a few percent of the profit. Some people have already found the shop, wanting to be higher than the market exchange rate, and exchange the copper coins in the shop for a long time, 730 wen and one tael of silver. Ten shops, monthly income, only 30% of the money is silver, 70% is copper coins. There is a loss in the exchange of money, so the exchange is higher than the market, inside and out, it is more than half of the profit. Over the course of a year, it's also a lot of money. Han Jiang said.

When Amethyst heard this, she faintly felt that something was wrong, but she couldn't tell where it was for a while.

At this time, I heard someone outside the door: "This is cheap." ”

It's Cao Hao who is back.

Jiang Chen Ximing said that he left Beijing to go to Rehe, and today he invited his relatives and friends in the capital to say goodbye, and Cao Hao also received the post, so he came back to change his clothes in the yamen.

Because he saw Han Jiang's carriage, Cao Hao asked, only to know that Jinghui was going to give birth, and Amethyst was here to entertain.

When I didn't want to pass by, I heard Han Jiang's mention of the exchange of copper coins, which attracted Cao Hao to stop.

Daoxiang Village has a lot of income, and more than half of the profits a year are tens of thousands of taels. However, the imperial court had the "Money Law", and there were restrictions on private minting, circulation, and collection.

Although the bronze ware is very profitable, but the imperial court has a law, the folk bronze ware shall not exceed five catties of weight, even if it is illegal, if it is used to the craftsman, it will be punished. Those who hide too much money will also be punished for violating the law.

"The left and right are not short of those few dollars, so don't make any extraneous branches. Besides, it is not known whether the person who receives the money is forging bronze or forging something else. In addition to civilian goods, copper is also used on weapons. If it is involved, it will lead to some calamity. Cao Hao entered the house and said to Han Jiang.

Han Jiang is not a fool, but he was blinded by interests for a while, and after listening to Cao Hao's words, he also understood the seriousness of it, and nodded: "What Cao Ye said is that the little woman is short-sighted. ”

"If you want to make most of the profits, it's not like there's no other way." Cao Hao said this, pondered for a moment, and said: "In addition to the high money, because of the rising price of food in recent years, meat and vegetables are also expensive. Buy a farm from outside the city, so that people can raise pigs and poultry such as chickens, ducks and geese for use in the shop. In the same way, the suburban wheat fields, orchards, and rice and flour fruits that can be used are also the same examples, and the price of raw materials will fall. ”

Han Jiang's eyes lit up when he heard this, and he nodded again and again.

Cao Hao still had to rush out, so he didn't delay any longer after speaking, and asked Amethyst to accompany the guests and go back to the inner house to change clothes.

On Han Jiang's side, he was very ashamed in his heart.

In the past few years in the capital, although there have been several turmoil, but the business has also been doing well, Han Jiang's heart is not without pride, but he is arrogant, he is not calculating, and he is almost about to get into trouble.

Seeing Han Jiang's expression, Amethyst was afraid that she would feel uncomfortable, so she said with a smile: "According to me, what Grandma Han said is also a good way." Don't say it's Grandma Han, even if I encounter such a thing, I am willing to designate it. It doesn't cost a little bit of money, just half a penny of silver, who doesn't feel impressed? It's just that my uncle's temper is like this when he is young, his surname is cautious, and he doesn't like to get into trouble the most, and Grandma Han is also considerate. ”

"Or I didn't think it through." Han Jiang looked at the sky outside, got up and said, "Today, the little woman will go back first, just what Uncle Cao said, and I also bothered the girl to tell the eldest grandmother." If the eldest grandmother nods, I will send someone to the outskirts of Beijing to plan. ”

Amethyst responded, personally sent Han Jiang out, and saw her get into the carriage before turning around and going home.

Han Jiang sat in the carriage, thinking about Cao Hao's eloquent appearance, and couldn't tell what it was like in his heart. She gently held her forehead and closed her eyes, only to feel tired.

After a quarter of an hour's journey, he heard a commotion outside, and the carriage had stopped.

Han Jiang opened his eyes, and Xiao Fu had already poked his head out to ask.

It turned out that a family at the east end of the street had died, and because there was no son, several nephews came to the door to fight for the family property in the name of running for funerals.

Someone had already reported to the yamen, the servants were detaining people, and the neighbors in front of them were all around to watch the excitement, blocking the road.

When Han Jiang heard this, he thought of himself, and his heart was impetuous, and he asked Xiaofu to tell the coachman to take a detour.

This delay took more than half an hour for Han Jiang to arrive at home.

Before entering the second door, I saw Hui'er poking out her little head and peeking out.

The moment she saw Han Jiang's family, Hui'er had a smile on her face, rushed forward, pulled Han Jiang's clothes, and said with a smile: "My mother is back." ”

"Didn't I tell you not to run, be careful of falling?" Han Jiang said with a straight face, but his voice was much softer.

Hui'er was no longer as timid as when she first came, and whispered back: "Hui'er misses her mother to kiss her......"

When Han Jiangshi heard this, his heart warmed, he took Hui'er's little hand, and said softly: "Let's go in." ”

Hui'er refused to leave, raised her head, and whispered: "Mother, in the future, Hui'er will be like Sister Xiaofu and Sister Xiaoxi, wait for your mother, don't sell Hui'er." In the end, he grinned and began to shed tears.

Han Jiang's hearing was wrong, he squatted down and frowned, "Who told you that I want to sell you?" Where did you hear all this bastard? The latter sentence was said by looking at Xiaoxi behind Hui'er.

Xiaoxi didn't know why, so she hurriedly said, "Girl, no one talks to Miss." The young lady is obediently literate today, and she didn't go out to play, and no one came in to tell her this. ”

Xiaoxi is Han Jiang's personal maid, so she is naturally trustworthy.

Han Jiang turned his head, stretched out his hand to wipe Hui'er's tears, and said, "You are my daughter, what am I selling you for?" Hui'er was obedient and said to her mother, okay, how did you think of this? ”

Hui'er sobbed, and only whispered back after a while: "Aunt doesn't like Hui'er, Hui'er didn't rob her aunt of her mother's ......"

When Han Jiang heard this, he couldn't help laughing, took Hui'er's little hand, and said, "Aunt didn't dislike you, it was your aunt who teased you, and you take it seriously?" The next time I saw my aunt, Hui'er also told her that she didn't like Qigege, who let Qigege rob your aunt with you. ”

Seeing Han Jiang's words like this, Hui'er burst into tears and laughed, hugged Han Jiang's arm, and said, "Hui'er likes Qigege, and she doesn't like Qigege to rob her aunt." As long as the mother is there, Hui'er only needs the mother. ”

Looking at Hui'er's attached expression, thinking of the alienation caused by her not being his own bloodline, Han Jiang was ashamed.

What's wrong with you, why do you think about things that make you ashamed too?

Han Jiang stretched out his hand to hold Hui'er in his arms and murmured, "Mother and mother only need Hui'er ......"

* Shichahai, next to the silver ingot bridge, Huifeng Hall.

This is the best restaurant in the capital, Jiang Chenxi chartered the venue today, and feasted here. Cao Hao went back to change his clothes and came over to the banquet.

There are several officials who have served in Shandong, and they also have some personal relations with Cao Hao. Therefore, Cao Hao was there to greet him.

Six departments and nine qing, almost all of them have arrived.

is not only to give Jiang Chenxi face, but also related to his younger brother.

His younger brother Jiang Tingxi, like his brother, was born as a Jinshi, entered Hanlin in his early years, and is now a bachelor's student, with an unlimited future.

Among the visitors, although Cao Hao's official position is not the highest, he still has the identity of Heshuo. There are not many people who can be higher than him. Therefore, many people came forward to greet them.

Cao Hao got goosebumps when he heard those sycophants, but he still responded with a smile, very humble and polite.

In this way, it is more and more eye-catching.

Cao Hao saw that he had the tendency to dominate the guests, so he hurriedly looked for a reason, avoided the back, followed the verandah, and unknowingly, arrived at the back door.

The back door of Huifeng Hall is facing a bird shop.

Under the eaves, there are several half-human-high bird cages. It was filled with dozens of birds, chirping and chirping.

Cao Hao was a little curious and paced forward. I saw that the birds in it were neither starlings, parrots, nor thrushes, but sparrows.

On the coast of Shichahai, there are many big rice villages, and there are often rich and noble families who hold wedding banquets or birthday banquets. This bird shop came into being, specially sold to customers for release.

The old man who watched the shop saw that some guests had stopped, so he hurriedly stepped forward and said, "This master, buy some finches and release them." Accumulate good virtues, add blessings and longevity. ”

Even sparrows don't want to be in cages, do they?

"How much?" Cao Hao glanced at the palm-sized shop and the weather-covered old man in front of him, and asked.

"Ten wen for one, fifty for one cage, just give four hundred wen." The old man laughed and bowed back.

Under the eaves, there are a total of four iron cages.

Cao Hao took out two pieces of broken silver from his purse, checked them, and sent them to the old man, saying, "I bought them all, is this silver enough?" ”

The old man was already overjoyed, as if he was afraid that Cao Hao would regret it, so he took the silver and said, "Enough, enough, the uncle is really kind." ”

Cao Hao leaned over to open the cage door, watching the birds flying out of the cage, and felt a lot more comfortable.

If you can really accumulate blessings, then you hope that your parents will live a long life and your wife and children will be safe. By the way, there is also the younger sister Jinghui who is about to give birth, and she is also looking forward to the safety of her mother and son.

Seeing that his expression was soft, completely different from the usual, Cao Jia couldn't help but be a little confused, and couldn't help but step forward and said: "Uncle Ruoxi releases, along the sea, there are many bird shops." ”

Cao Jia is Cao Hao's personal guard, and he is not used to being elusive.

Seeing him suddenly appear, Cao Hao was not surprised, and said: "Everything has cause and effect. If I buy all the birds and finches in the shops along the shore today, then the bird catcher will see that the business is easy to do, and tomorrow will have to pay more attention to catching birds, and more birds and birds will be put into the cage. ”

"That being the case, why did the uncle buy these birds and release them?" Cao Jia asked.

"Because when you come to the eye, you can't turn a blind eye." Cao Hao replied casually.

When Cao Jia heard this, he thought about it, Cao Hao had turned around and returned to Huifeng Hall.

Cao Jia didn't follow up immediately, but stealthily entered the alley on the side.

After a while, I saw Cao Yi hurrying over.

Cao Jia lowered his voice and said, "Where did that person go?" ”

"Nine Elder Brothers' Mansion." Cao Yi replied.

When Cao Jia heard this, he couldn't help frowning, and said, "Find two people, stare at that end, and see what else he has to do." ”

Cao Yi bowed and turned to leave. Cao Jia raised his head and looked at the birds on the tree, not knowing what to think...... * Inside Andingmen, Prince Yong's Mansion, study.

The fourth elder brother sat behind the bookcase, and Dai Jin stood in front of the bookcase, and what he said in his mouth was Cao Hao's deeds.

"Do you want to buy birds and release them?" When the fourth elder brother heard this, his originally stiff expression was much soothed, and he said, "Speaking of which, Cao Hao also has a bit of a Buddha fate. ”

Dai Jin continued: "Master, according to Liang Qi, of course, there are a group of people who are staring at Cao Hao, and their tracks are secret, and I don't know what the origin is. ”

When the fourth elder brother heard this, his face sank, and he said, "So what? Discovered? ”

"Don't worry, that kid Liang Qi is the most astute, he found that someone was following, so he deliberately went around the Nine Elder Brothers' Mansion." Dai Jin replied.

The fourth elder brother snorted coldly and said, "Where can I be lucky?" If there are such mediocre talents everywhere in the sticky rod, then what's the use of keeping them? "In the end, there was already a bit of anger.

Dai Jin knew the temper of the fourth elder brother, and he couldn't rub the sand in his eyes, so he bowed down and said, "It's all minions, it's too negligent." This is called Liang Qi collar sixty boards as a severe punishment. ”

The fourth elder brother didn't raise his head, waved his hand, and said, "Go ahead, let others look at it, and remember the surname more......"

* At this time, Brother Jiu was sitting in the living room of the outer house of King Jian's Mansion in Fangjia Hutong, crossing Erlang's legs, looking at the furnishings in the room, not knowing that he had carried the black cauldron.

Hearing the footsteps outside, Brother Jiu looked up at the door.

Seeing that it was Yaerjianga who arrived, he stood up and said with a smile: "Brother Wang, the younger brother came uninvited today and became an uninvited guest, Brother Wang is not strange." ”

Yarjianga was wearing regular clothes, and he was also full of smiles, and said, "That's a polite thing. The house here is simple, Brother Jiu doesn't dislike it, and if he can come to the door, he will already give me face. ”

Brother Jiu pointed to the two antique gall bottles on the case, and said, "Just this pair of bottles, you can exchange a few houses, Brother Wang still said that it is simple?" In addition to the furniture hanging on the wall, even if the house is not golden, it is worth more than gold. It is said that the little sister-in-law here is Brother Wang's top heart, and I thought it was rumored by outsiders. Looking at it now, I really believe it. ”

Yarjianga laughed proudly, sat down with the ninth elder brother, and brought tea.

Brother Jiu is not full, if he is fine, he will not chase after the outer house. Yarjianga's heart was open, and he had already thought of his words.

Sure enough, the ninth elder brother said two polite words, indicating that he still wanted his disciple to be in charge of the errand of the clan mansion.

So far, Brother Jiu didn't know that the Zongren Mansion was exchanged for gold in Guangzhou. I only know that I changed my gold and went south to Guangdong to do other money-making businesses.

Hearing this, Yarjianga frowned, hesitated, and said, "Brother Jiu, you are not an outsider, and I have nothing to hide from you, so I will say it directly." There are already candidates for this errand, and there is no shortage of them. ”

When Brother Jiu heard this, his smile froze, and he looked at Yaerjiang and said, "Brother Wang, who is so attentive and rushing to participate in this matter?" ”

"Thirteen elder brothers." Yarjana replied.

Brother Nine was quite surprised, and said with some doubts: "How can it be the old thirteen?" Isn't he honest in the house, and he's still in a hurry to participate in the outside business? ”

"The thirteenth elder brother is not knighted, and the shops in the house are foreign goods trading, probably because he is afraid that the Internal Affairs Office will go to Guangzhou to steal his business." Yarjana said casually.

said that he also has a nose and eyes, and in his heart, Brother Jiu already believes a little......

(To be continued)