When the household department bought rice from Zhili, Cao Hao thought it would drag on for some time.

After all, it is related to a large amount of money, and the follow-up affairs are also complicated, but I didn't expect that a few days after the Mid-Autumn Festival, the thirteenth elder brother went to the household department and discussed the matter with several officials.

Referring to the price of rice in Jiangnan in the last three years, the purchase price of rice in Zhili was finally set at six coins of silver per stone.

About sixty and a half percent of the rice produced per stone of rice is calculated in this way, which is equivalent to more than nine coins of silver per stone of rice in the imperial court.

The price of rice in the capital is about one or two yuan, so it seems that the purchase price of rice in Zhili is not high, but if you count the various losses in the process of circulation, the income price of six yuan of silver per stone of rice is already very affordable for the people. If it is purchased by private grain merchants, it will definitely be lower than this price.

There are more than 6,000 hectares of paddy fields in Zhili, and the paddy fields are regarded as fine work in farming, and the yield of medium paddy fields can reach two stones per mu. In this way, the court will have to prepare 720,000 taels of silver.

This number is calculated, up to the thirteenth elder brother, down to the two Shangshu and the four waiters, everyone is relatively calm.

Because, there is silver in the treasury of the household, even if 720,000 taels are allocated, it is nothing.

Seeing everyone's reaction, Cao Hao remembered the household department when he was a household servant in the last years of Kangxi. At that time, the silver on the books of the household treasury was only two or three million taels, and most of it was "borrowed" by officials.

Wherever the silver was needed, the officials of the household department had to worry for a few days.

Now it's a different story.

Cao Hao was only transferred back to the household department from Zhili in September last year, and he didn't make much effort to say it.

He looked at another scholar, Zhang Tingyu, in addition to Zhang Tingyu, in addition to the household book, he also served as the head of the Hanlin Academy, and the Yongzheng three-year commission of the university scholar, this spring also went to the commission of the hat, officially entered the cabinet.

The reason why Cao Hao is in the household department and only does what he should do and doesn't worry too much is because Zhang Tingyu is by his side.

Cao Hao, as the capital hall, in addition to the big court, six shifts once a small court; In addition to the household shifts, Zhang Tingyu also has shifts in the Hanlin Academy and a university scholar class, and he has to meet in front of the emperor almost every day.

What errands does the household department have, what arrangements does the emperor have for the household department, and the monarch and the minister are compatible.

In addition, there are Prime Minister Ma Qi and Prime Minister Wang's Thirteenth Elder Brother above the household department, there are too many people in this area, and Cao Hao is not happy to enjoy leisure.

Zhang Tingyu's expression, although he looked calm and calm, frowned slightly and couldn't stretch out.

Seeing this, Cao Hao was stunned and couldn't help but look at the thirteenth elder brother.

The thirteenth elder brother's lips were tightly closed, Wang Wei said, looked at Cao Hao and said: "The matter of Zhili Rice, it is so decided, and Cao Shangshu will supervise this matter." ”

"Wechen obeys the king's will." Cao Hao got up and said.

The thirteenth elder brother nodded and said, "In this way, we will disperse first." ”

Everyone got up to send them off, the thirteenth elder brother looked at Zhang Tingyu, and the two of them walked out of the middle hall of the household department together.

Cao Hao returned to his public house, and his heart sank slightly.

Zhang Tingyu is now in charge of both the household department and the affairs of the Hanlin Academy, the Hanlin Academy is the most noble, and the Shu Jishi exam has also been held, what can he worry about?

What can make Zhang Tingyu difficult to hide his worries is only the affairs of the household department, or the affairs related to the household department.

Jiang Jianzheng packed up a pile of paperwork and sent it to Cao Hao.

Seeing that Cao Hao seemed to be thoughtful, Jiang Jian asked, "What's so difficult about my lord?" ”

Cao Hao talked about the situation of the ministerial meeting in the morning, and said that Zhang Tingyu seemed to be worried, and the thirteenth elder brother was also more solemn than usual.

However, if it was really the matter of the household department that worried Zhang Tingyu, it would be impossible for Cao Hao not to hear about it.

Jiang Jian twisted his beard, pondered for a moment, and said in a low voice: "It has something to do with the household department, and the adults are not well-informed, only the military affairs." ”

Cao Hao listened to it and felt so.

Yongzheng year is indeed uneven in the northwest, in addition to the chaos in the early years of Yongzheng, there should be Yue Zhongqi's expedition to Zhungeer.

The Military Aircraft Department, which lasted until the end of the Qing Dynasty, should have been established on time, and there has been no movement at all.

Although there were occasional frictions in the northwest in the past two years, it was generally peaceful, because the imperial court negotiated peace with Zhunger Khan in the third year of Yongzheng.

This Yue Zhongqi went from the governor of Sichuan, the governor of Gansu, and the governor of Sichuan and Shaanxi, and succeeded Nian Qianyao as the feudal official of the military and political affairs of the three provinces.

In addition to real power, Yue Zhongqi also has military merits, because of the second year of Yongzheng to quell the Qinghai rebellion, he was awarded the title of third-class duke, becoming the first foreign official.

"Eighty percent is like this, otherwise the matter of collecting grain from Zhili would not have been decided so quickly." Cao Hao said.

Jiang Jian's face was a little excited: "It would be nice if the second master had the opportunity to go to the northwest." ”

Cao Hao was stunned, he didn't expect this.

Seeing that Cao Hao was stunned, Jiang Jian said: "The second master is an old man from the West Expedition, even if he is not in Beijing now, as long as the adults operate carefully, it is not difficult to transfer back to the capital." ”

Although from the standpoint of the family, since Cao Song has become a military attaché, it is the right way to go to the northwest to make contributions. In addition to the title, he can also lay a foundation in the army and prepare an extra path for the children of the Cao family.

But now is the era of cold weapons, and Cao Haoshi doesn't want Cao Song to use his surname to earn meritorious service.

Seeing Cao Hao's hesitation, Jiang Jian said: "It would be a pity if the second master gave up this opportunity." The second master is in the officialdom, and he is not the surname of the drill camp, and he can have it today, mostly relying on adults to take care of him. But there is a difference between civil and military, and at this level, it is not easy for adults to take care of it again. If the second master does not transfer to a civilian position, he can only return to Beijing at the same level, or be promoted to a higher level and serve abroad for the rest of his life. It's really a clerical job, and it's not the second master's director, so it's difficult to make achievements. ”

It is not easy for Cao Song to be promoted, but his current position is too high, in his early thirties, he is the chief soldier of the second grade.

There is a shortage of martial arts positions higher than this level, and only the commander of the five battalions and the minister of the interior of the Nine Gate Infantry Army, who is from the first rank, and the minister of the internal guard and the minister of honor of the first rank.

With Cao Song's qualifications and the identity of the Cao family's cloth and banner, among these four types of martial arts, only the Minister of the Interior has some hope.

may hold the position of the Minister of the Interior, either the emperor's absolutely trusted henchman, or the prince who supports the elderly on this errand.

Cao Song is not considered both, and it is not easy for this minister to get through.

Thinking of this, Cao Hao's mood also became depressed.

In the final analysis, it is because of the shallow foundation of the Cao family, it has been less than 20 years since the flag was raised, and there is only one leader under his name, or it is a miscellaneous spell out of other leaders, and there are few talents.

In this way, Cao Song has no foundation in the army, and is not qualified to compete for the Beijing Banner Metropolitan Unification, and wants to be promoted to another level in the second grade, in addition to transferring to a civilian position, that is, to be promoted to the local Eight Banners Metropolitan Unification.

In that case, Cao Song wants to return to Beijing, but he really has to wait until retirement age.

At this time, I heard Jiang Jian continue: "If the second master can't make achievements in military exploits, it may not be obvious in the past few years, and after ten or twenty years, the masters of Dongfu will be weak and strong." ”

Hearing the word "嫡庶", Cao Hao couldn't help frowning.

Cao Fu came out of the Hanlin Academy for Cao Xiang's future, Cao Xiang worked in the Hanlin Academy as a Tanhua and a Tanhua, plus his surname is outside the circle and inside, there is no shortage of perseverance and ability, and the career is waiting, and it is possible to be a cabinet minister.

Cao Song's side, in addition to being like a fish in water in the army, is really not as good as Cao Xiang in terms of career achievements.

But as an elder brother, if he is compared to his younger brother, the relief will be mixed with sadness. Not to mention, in this world, the status of the family is closely related to the power of the official career.

Cao Hao is just an ordinary person, and among several cousins, he loves Cao Song the most in his heart, so he naturally hopes that he will go well.

A few brothers in this generation are okay, with him watching, he will not allow his younger brother to be disrespectful to his brother when he has a high official position, but what about the younger generation?

Cao Hao thought of Wang Lusheng, so he was very sensitive to the meaning of "the strength and weakness of the concubine", and did not want to have something similar to the civil strife of the Wang family.

Jiang Jian gave all the advice he should have admonished, so he stopped being verbose, picked up a few folds of official documents, and told Cao Hao about several important things.

Seeing this, Cao Hao put aside his personal affairs in advance and finished the errand.

After falling into the office, Jiang Jian did not go back with Cao Hao, but went to the military department to find a few familiar scribes to eat and drink.

The war is about to start, not only is he not worried about the national economy and people's livelihood, but do he still want to work for the benefit of his family?

Cao Hao sat on his horse and shook his head.

Even if he is like him, he doesn't seem to take fame in his eyes, but when he gets the opportunity, he still can't be a gentleman...... The next day, Cao Hao got a letter from Jiang Jian early in the morning that there was indeed movement in the northwest.

Dzungar Khan is dead, and Arabutan, who has been making trouble in the northwest for more than 20 years, is dead.

It stands to reason that the death of this restless Dzungar Khan should be a blessing for the imperial court.

But compared with the old lion who is old, the new lion king who is in his prime is more worrying.

The new Dzungar Khan is the eldest son of Tseran Tser, the eldest son of Arabutan.

I don't know if it's because father and son are natural enemies, but Galdan Tsezero has always acted at odds with Arabutan.

When Alabutan colluded with Tsarist Russia to fight against the Qing court, Galdan Tseling united his cousin to fight with the invading officers and soldiers of Tsarist Russia, opposing intimacy with Tsarist Russia; When Alabutan negotiated peace with the Qing court, Galdan Tseling and Tsarist Russia became unclear again.

Acting like this, how can you not give the court a headache?

This war, don't have to wait long.

Even if the imperial court was willing to continue peaceful coexistence with the Dzungar Mongols, the new Khan would make trouble in order to establish his absolute position among the tribes.

did not directly declare war on the Qing court, and most of it was because "the outside must be at ease".

When the new Khan King has almost wiped out his people, he should tear his face with the Qing court.

Some words can't be put on paper, Cao Hao privately instructed Zhang Yi to send Zhang Yi out of Beijing to Jiangning ......* Gyeongbokgung Palace, study.

Fu Peng's eyes were full of light, he couldn't sit still, stood up, looked at Hongli and said, "Fourth uncle, is the imperial court going to prepare troops in the northwest?" ”

The Northwest Army was not disbanded, and even if the imperial court was prepared, it was the elite soldiers of the Beijing Eight Banners and the generals of the Eight Banners who were ready to go out.

Hongyang was beside him, and couldn't help laughing: "Look at your burning appearance, are you still worried about whether you can go on the expedition?" ”

Fu Peng nodded without hesitation and said, "Fifth uncle, my nephew has already reached the crown and is on an errand and is on an errand." ”

Although Hongtian was also itching in his heart, he also knew that his father did not want to see the clan, and he would not give the clan a chance to establish meritorious deeds and increase his power.

He didn't speak, Hongli said with a smile: "What's the hurry, your errand, Huang Ama has already been decided, and the red flag is all ......."

(To be continued)