In the Qianqing Palace, the East Warm Pavilion.

Cao Hao was ordered to see the driver, and he had been kneeling for a quarter of an hour, and he had not heard Kangxi shout. He lowered his head, his heart was full of doubts, and his mind had gone through all the words and deeds he had been talking about.

It wasn't until he repeatedly confirmed that there were no pigtails to catch that Cao Hao felt more down-to-earth. In his heart, he remembered a sentence: "Ten thousand words are better than one silence".

Zhang Tingyu, a famous minister in the Kangqian period, has not yet emerged, and he is not confused when he is over the years, and he has been in the office for more than ten years, but he is a bachelor from the Hanlin Academy of the fourth grade.

Although his grade is not high, he can often accompany him in the south study. Those who can stay in the Hanlin Academy are all talented people from professional classes, and there is no need to talk about learning.

Compared with others, Zhang Tingyu was born in a prime minister's mansion and behaved respectfully, which was favored by Kangxi.

When Cao Hao was a guard a few years ago, he paid special attention to this name. However, because of Zhang Tingyu's worries back then, Cao Hao did not see him.

By the time he recovered, Cao Hao had already gone to the household department on an errand.

In the past two years, Cao Hao has met Zhang Tingyu a few times, although he is a little elegant, he does not look different from ordinary people.

Although Zhang Tingyu's treatment of Cao Hao is not warm, it is not cold. When encountering occasionally, you can also say two sentences, but the words are inseparable from the word "tea". He has a good taste, that is, he loves tea like life.

The so-called Hanlin is just a secretary by the emperor's side, or drafting documents, or lecturing and reading scriptures and history.

After being by the emperor's side for a long time, it is easy to get the emperor's weight, so it is easier for Hanlin to be promoted than outside. However, due to the limitation of his status, the emperor was always wary of the Han people. It's not easy to get out of it.

Thinking of Zhang Tingyu, Cao Hao couldn't help but be a little envious.

Do paperwork for half a lifetime and bury yourself in the first case, and you can get out of the cabinet and worship the prime minister. I've been tossing around in Beijing for several years, and although I haven't achieved anything, I can be regarded as doing my best.

conscientious, hard-working, and dealing with all parties. If you catch up with the emperor to have a convulsion, you will be inexplicably summoned to kneel for a quarter of an hour.

"Accompanying the king is like accompanying the tiger", it is not false at all.

Cao Hao smiled bitterly in his heart, this is someone who gave himself eye medicine in front of Kangxi, but the imperial history was impeached?

Before, he had already heard that there was a royal history to impeach, accused of "being lazy and mediocre, and betraying the grace of God", and he was talking about the death of the horses in the Taifu Temple Ranch.

It's just a request for fame, and someone behind him wants to try whether the demoted Cao Hao has lost his sacred heart.

Cao Hao thought he was worthy and didn't take it to heart.

Although he has encountered some twists and turns over the years, because Kangxi treats him differently, he can be regarded as a smooth career in his career.

Unconsciously, Cao Hao's fear of Kangxi has decreased a lot, and he feels that he will protect himself.

Thinking of this, Cao Hao couldn't help but wake up, and a cold sweat broke out on his back.

After two years, Taiping said, and he became arrogant in his heart, and he really shouldn't have been. In the end, he has been an emperor for most of his life, and he is too good at winning people's hearts.

Even Cao Hao, a person who has lived for two lifetimes, lost his vigilance like a frog boiled in warm water in Kangxi's warm concern again and again.

"Do you know you're wrong?" Kangxi's deep and majestic voice broke the silence in the room.

Although Kangxi's tone didn't sound good, Cao Hao breathed a sigh of relief.

"Wrong" is not "sin", and "wrong" is nothing but reprimand; If you sins, you must be held accountable.

However, Cao Hao is also clueless, and he doesn't know what Kangxi is talking about.

Isn't it the ranch that Goshi impeached? The conscience of heaven and earth, that is a natural disaster, how can it be controlled by oneself?

Cao Hao shouted "wronged" in his heart, but he could only be respectful on his face and weigh his rhetoric.

There is no way, since the "golden mouth" on the kang said that he was "wrong", then he can only accept it.

After thinking about it for a while, Cao Hao said: "If you go back to the words of the Long Live Lord, the minister knows that he is wrong. If you think about the rain and snow in advance, so that the pasture side can prepare early, you can also reduce the freezing of some livestock. ”

Cao Hao was thinking about whether to add two sentences of punishment, but when he thought of the reward and punishment system on the ranch, he closed his mouth again. Those over there will be whipping.

There are tens of thousands of livestock in the two wings of this Taifu Temple, and 30% of them were lost from last winter to this spring. Even if it means something, it will cost dozens of whips.

He has no tendency to be masochistic, so he stopped when he said this, and he planned to listen to Kangxi's meaning first.

Kangxi didn't speak immediately, but got up from the kang, wandered on the ground for a while, and finally stood still in front of Cao Hao, and said: "The speech is clear, the speech is quite neat, it seems that the wine has woken up." Get up, I have something to ask you. ”

Cao Yan just drank and looked more drunk. Knowing that Kangxi summoned him, his drunkenness had disappeared.

He scolded in his heart, and in response, he looked sneered, and secretly glanced at Kangxi.

Kangxi's expression was tired like never before, his brows were furrowed tightly, and he didn't smile at all.

When Cao Yan saw it, he felt in his heart, what bad news is this?

This eclipse of the moon and the destruction of the dam by flash floods have all been rushed to a pile, which has attracted gossip; If we add something else, I don't know how people's hearts will fluctuate.

"I heard that there are a lot of people who go to Outer Mongolia to collect felt and sheepskins, you should know the reason, right?" Kangxi asked in a deep voice.

actually asked about this, Cao Yan leaned over and replied: "If you go back to the Long Live Lord, this minister knows a thing or two." ”

"Know a thing or two? Wasn't that your idea? Kangxi walked to the side of the kang and sat down, frowned and said, "I have already asked Yaerjiang, although you have not participated in this, you can't get rid of it." Okay, don't bow your head and pestle, tell me about the situation in Mongolia, there are really three feet of snow? Move him a seat. ”

The latter sentence is to order Wei Zhu'er to stand at the door.

"Huh!" Wei Zhu'er bowed in response, moved a round stool, and placed it two steps behind Cao Yan.

Among them, there is a heart for the preservation of Cao Xuan, although Cao Xuan is sober, but he still has the smell of wine. If the distance is close, it will be a great disrespect to Kangxi.

Whether it is the eunuchs, palace maids, or guards who are on errands in front of the emperor, there are taboos in food and drink, so that there is no peculiar smell on the body.

Cao Yan looked back and saw it, knowing Wei Zhu'er's kindness, and secretly grateful in his heart.

Kangxi felt that it was a little far away, and ordered: "Move to the front!" As he spoke, he gestured two steps to his left hand side.

According to the rules, Cao Yan thanked for the grace again, and then turned sideways and did a half-pull buttocks.

Since Kangxi wanted to ask, Cao Yan told what he had seen and heard in Mongolia two months ago from beginning to end.

The merchants who were blocked in Zhangjiakou, the snow on the horse's legs, the lost in the snow, the Mongolian herdsmen who lost their livelihoods, and the livestock that froze and starved to death in the pastures...... At the end, Cao Yan's mood couldn't help but become heavy.

Talking to Cui Fei about the lucrative purchase of felt and sheepskins, and spreading the news to the ears of the powerful people in the capital through him was the only way Cao Fei could think of to help those herdsmen.

Now, although it can be regarded as achieving the goal, there are many merchants in the capital who collect leather goods and felts from the mouth, but they are there to make money, and those simple herdsmen are their opponents.

After this sale, even if those herders can survive this year, it will not be easy.

When survival is at stake, nothing else can be taken care of for the time being. What can be done is to pray that the snow will be lighter this winter to allow the herders to breathe a sigh of relief.

Kangxi's expression became deeper and deeper, and he couldn't detect his joy and anger, and after a long time, Fang opened his mouth and asked: "You have never had much to do, but this time you have bothered in front of Yaerjiang's minions, but you don't worry about your benefactor's family?" ”

The imperial court received excerpts from the Mongol princes and only sent them grain, but for the herdsmen, they were asked to "give them fishing".

On the surface, it is all the grace of the imperial court, but in fact, it is just a nice word.

In addition to the settlement of the magnates and slaves, the Mongols are mostly nomadic and scattered in the steppe, how to "teach"?

Cao Yan is not a fool, and he will not be reckless enough to let himself be charged with anything for his "unkindness".

When mentioning it to Cui Fei, Cao Yan had already thought of a shield: "If you go back to Long Live Lord, the minister is selfish, and he doesn't dare to forget his public because of his selfishness." To drive them to benefit and protect the Mongolian people is for the stability of the northern Xinjiang of the Qing Dynasty. In peacetime, the Mongols were able to thwart the ambitions of the Oros; If there are people who are not subordinates who are good at raising the smoke of gunpowder, the Mongols can also strengthen the prestige of our Qing army. ”

This is not Cao Yan's black heart and his conscience suggesting that the Mongols be cannon fodder, but it is just a practical elaboration. Because as early as more than 20 years ago, when Galdan rebelled, Kangxi did this.

Driving the Mongols as pawns was also one of the forms of the imperial court's implementation of the policy of "reducing Ding".

"The snow is heavy, there is no food, and Mongolia is afraid that it will be chaotic." Kangxi said slowly: "The Mongols are the most greedy and used to plundering. The other tribes are okay, but the Eruts are the most capricious and remote, and there are Oros people behind them, and they don't know what kind of trouble they will make. Some time ago, the excerpt from the Khalkha side mentioned that the Eruts were restless again last winter. ”

This is only the fifty-fourth year of Kangxi, and there should be a few years before the fourteenth elder brother's expedition to the west in history, will the war be advanced?

According to later generations, both the Manchus and the Mongols are part of the Chinese nation.

The Manchurian Eight Banners sent troops to quell the Mongol rebellion in Huijiang, which was considered a civil war, and Cao Yan, as a Han Chinese, should have been neutral.

At this moment, knowing that there were Russians involved, he changed his mind. Whether it is Xinjiang Province or Tibetan Province that Alabutan is peeking on, they are all indispensable territories of China.

If the province is lost, the Russians can directly kill the Shaanxi and Gansu generation and force them into the capital; If Tibet Province is unstable, it will be next to the British colonies.

Collecting felt and sheepskins from Mongolia to supply the Eight Banners was a lucrative business for the capital's magnates. In fact, Cao Yan came up with this method, thinking of killing two birds with one stone. It was both to help the Mongols and to strengthen their armaments.

What if we went to war now?

Not to mention anything else, even the horses on the side of the Eight Banners Ranch may not be able to be used for the expedition. There is also a problem with logistical supplies, there is no silver in the treasury.

In the past few years, although the treasury silver was recovered, although it was collected, the first two years were the 50th year of Kangxi's accession to the throne, and then it was Jiazi Wanshou, who gave grace and reduced the taxes of many provinces.

This is less in money, but less in expenditure, and the treasury is naturally empty again.

When the Galdan rebelled that year, most of the logistics supplies were supplied by Khalkha Mongolia, such as horses, sheep, felt, sheepskins and other things, except for the grain that was sent from Guanli.

In addition, the Mongols were the pawns of the imperial army, and the so-called "counterinsurgency" was actually the cannibalism of the Mongols.

Now, you can't count on the Khalkha side.

In this snow disaster last winter and this spring, the imperial court suffered a lot of losses, not to mention Khalkha Mongolia. The geographical location over there is further north, and the snow is heavier, and the damage will only get worse.

Not to mention supplying the imperial army, even they themselves have to count on the court's mercy. If you want to relax, you have to take three or five years.

It's a real problem, there's going to be a war, but there's no money. Cao Yan couldn't help frowning and thinking hard, but he couldn't think of a way to crack it.

"It's difficult for a good woman to cook without rice", this march and war, the logistics supply can't be guaranteed, so what's the?

Something was wrong, and Cao Yan noticed something strange.

This military matter should be the emperor's heart, even if Kangxi wants to find someone to discuss, he should also find the kings Baylor, Manchu and Han scholars, and Liubu Jiuqing, how can he find him, a five-grade Langzhong?

Saying this, just to confirm the snow situation outside the plug? With doubts, Cao Yan couldn't help but raise his head, just in front of Kangxi.

"Do you know why I told you to kneel?" Kangxi snorted coldly and asked.

Cao Yan really couldn't think of it, the ignorance on his face was not fake, and he replied in a low voice: "Xiao Chen is blunt!" ”

Seeing him like this, Kangxi couldn't help frowning, and said, "You are not a fool, but you are unwilling to use your brain." A manly man, who doesn't want to get ahead and make contributions, but you are afraid of being at the top of your rope and refuse to take more than half a step. Is it worthy of me to be so lazy? In the end, he was already a little angry, and his gaze at Cao Yan was also cold.

Cao Yan only felt that his scalp was numb, and he immediately got up from the stool and knelt down.

The wrath of the Son of Heaven ambushed millions of corpses and shed thousands of miles of blood.

At this moment, although Kangxi will not "bleed thousands of miles", it is not unusual for him to cook Cao Yan in anger.

The moody one is the emperor. The one who is easy to get angry is also the emperor. Kangxi was worried about the situation in Moxi Mongolia, and was anxious because the treasury had no silver, and under his anger, Cao Yan was immortal and had to fade his skin.

Although he was also afraid, Cao Yan felt humiliated because he was so greedy for life and afraid of death, and for a while, he was speechless.

"In the past, I didn't blame you when you were young. Now that this 'filial piety' is there, you should also think about being loyal to the court. Last year, the state treasury levied more than 29,893,000 taels of silver, and the inner treasury levied more than 3,741,000 taels of silver. With your own strength, even if you exhaust your brains, it is impossible to accumulate the wealth of the country. It's not difficult for me to work hard for you, three years of hard work, the capital is out, and you earn me 10 million taels of silver, this is my will for you! Kangxi looked at Cao Yan and said solemnly.

10 million in three years, more than 3.33 million per year, and the emperor is still behind him, which should not be considered difficult.

Cao Yan hesitated for a moment, and whispered: "Long live Lord, the minister is in the military department, this ......"

Kangxi waved his hand and said, "What's wrong with the Ministry of War, are you still delaying your idea?" Your share of the pasture is very good, and I have a dozen copies copied and sent to all places. They look like good proposals, but they don't know how effective they are. It's up to you to keep an eye on it, so that Eight Flags Ranch can recover sooner. At the end of the day, the expression was finally soothed.

This is one person and two errands, but Cao Yan is faintly excited. Xu is because he has no goal recently, and he feels that he can't find the general direction.

Although he had already made up his mind to try his best to prevent the invasion of opium into China, Cao Yan was a little unable to do so at the moment.

At present, the East India Company did not dump opium on a large scale, and the amount of opium imported from the Guangdong customs every year was not large, and most of it was used for medicinal purposes, and very little went to the people.

There are also opium poppy cultivation and opium refining in China. Although the imperial court did not explicitly prohibit it, the planting area was limited, the output was not large-scale, and most of them flowed into the pharmacy at a low price, and the influence was not great at present.

After thinking about it for a while, Cao Yan said: "Since it is a holy decree, the minister is the one who receives the order and does his best. It's just that it involves silver, if the minister comes forward, he is young and weak, and he can't keep it to cause the greed of others. Even if it is a long live Lord Kuanren, if you don't care about it, it's not good to give birth to right and wrong. Ask for the compassion of the Lord of Long Live, and entrust another stable person to the front of the stage, or let the ministers live behind the scenes! ”

In addition to being afraid of becoming a target and unwilling to come forward, Cao Yan also did not want to directly get involved with the royal accounts. It's better to keep some distance, which can be regarded as avoiding suspicion.

Otherwise, if he made a cow and a horse for Kangxi for a few years, and then was dealt with by the fourth elder brother, wouldn't it be very wronged.

When Kangxi heard this, he couldn't help but smile on his face, and said: "It's a good thing to know that you are afraid, it's better than not knowing that the sky is high and the earth is thick." I know that you don't like to show off, so I will follow your ......."

When Cao Yan came out of the Qianqing Palace, it was already full of stars.

The palace gate has fallen, because there are Qianqing palace guards around him with the holy decree Kangxi handwritten edict sent out, Cao Yan came out of the palace.

Not far away, those who were waiting in front of people with lanterns were waiting with them, in addition to Zheng Hu and the Ren brothers who came with Cao Yan, there was also Wei Hei.

Seeing Cao Yan come out, Wei Hei handed the lantern in his hand to others and ordered them to lead the horses.

"Why bother you to wait, how late is this?" Cao Yan said, glancing at the long-term guards behind him, the number of them was more than double that before entering the palace: "Brother Wei, are you worried about me?" What's more, it's an inner city after all. ”

Wei Hei shook his head and said, "You can't have the heart to harm people, and you can't have the heart to defend people." It's always appropriate to be thorough. The identity of the son is precious, so don't be careless. ”

"Yes, uncle, it's easy to dodge with an open gun, but it's hard to defend against a hidden arrow. The confused accounts haven't been cleaned up before, and the uncle can't act like he's nothing. Zheng Hu followed.

Although there are no sensational words, it is difficult to hide the concern in them. Cao Yan smiled at the two of them, nodded in response, and his heart was very warm.

While speaking, the horses had already been brought over, and everyone turned over to the horses and hugged Cao Yan back to Cao's mansion.

It was already a child, but the light in the study was still on.

When Cao Yan saw it, he didn't go directly to the second door, but to the study.

When I walked into the porch, I heard a voice from inside: "You're back?" ”

The voice was very soft, but Cao Yin could also hear that it was Cao Yin. It's just that this movement is too small, but what's uncomfortable? He couldn't help but feel a little anxious, and walked a few steps quickly with a "hmm" and entered the study.

Cao Yin happened to come head-on, and the father and son almost collided.

As soon as Cao Yin wanted to speak, he saw Cao Yin make a silent movement, and then he reached out and pointed to the north kang.

The one who is leaning over the kang and making a low snoring sound is not Mr. Zhuang, which one is it?

Because of the opportunities in his early years, he forgot about drinking. Although there has been some moderation over the years, it is also three meals of wine, and one meal is inseparable.

How many times did Cao Yan persuade him, and Mr. Zhuang also took the precept twice, but he couldn't help it. At his age, Cao Yan couldn't force him, so he had to drink the wine that hurt his body.

Although he complained twice that there was no smell of alcohol, he also knew that it was for his own good, and gradually replaced soju.

Although he knows how to maintain it, after all, he is old, and Mr. Zhuang's body bones have not been as good as before in the past two years.

The father and son walked outside, and Cao Yin said: "I don't worry about you, I persuaded you several times, but I refused to go back." Why did Lord Long Live summon you into the palace, could it be that the imperial history has added other crimes to it in addition to the pasture? ”

Cao Yan only felt that the circles under his eyes were astringent, and said: "The son is already older, but he is still tired of his father and Zhuang Sheng's heart, they are all sons." As he spoke, he told the details of what he had just seen Kangxi.

Cao Yin stared, and when he heard the will of ten million taels for three years, he couldn't help but feel a little worried, and said, "Yan'er, do you have the bottom in your heart?" How did you reply to Banzai? Carefully take the blame. ”

"'Do your best', my son didn't dare to say too much, so he answered." Cao Yan replied.

Cao Yin nodded and said, "Well, leave a little leeway, and you can relax yourself." Long live the Lord has long had the intention of transferring you to the household department, so it is better to hide behind the scenes, and save the swagger. ”

It was late at night, and Cao Yin's face was dull.

After saying these words, he said to Cao Yan: "There is no bedding here, I am tired from sleeping, you call Mr. to get up, ask him to go back and rest, I will go back to the house first!" ”

Cao Yin responded, sent Cao Yin out of the house, and watched his back go far away before turning back into the house.

There was a bangzi sound in the distance, and the sound of "dangdang" sounded, and it was already four watches.

Mr. Zhuang Xu felt panicked, frowned, and moved.

"Sir, go back and rest!" Cao Yan leaned down and called softly.

"Hmm!" Mr. Zhuang slept in a daze, and when he heard the movement, he didn't open his eyes, and his mouth was vague, but he muttered and something else.

Cao Yan listened carefully, and only then did he get a rough idea, and he couldn't help but wonder.

"The emperor is the emperor, don't forget this, be cautious ......"

In the next sentence, Cao Yan couldn't laugh, so he heard Mr. Zhuang whisper: "Niuniu, don't be naughty in the future, my father is gone, listen to your brother's words......"

In the twilight of his life, he was reluctant to give up.

Looking at Mr. Zhuang like this, thinking of his father's back when he left, Cao Yan's heart was ashamed. His "peace of mind" was obtained by relying on the "hard work" of the two old men, but he accepted it with peace of mind, how selfish...... Feeling that he was still young, Cao Yan endured and endured, and planned to survive this year of winning the heir. But he never thought that the two relatives he had always relied on were already in their twilight years.

They worked hard to protect him; He should also give back and do his filial piety.

Cao Yan squatted down, carried Mr. Zhuang on his shoulder, and sent him back to the Rong Courtyard.

Mr. Zhuang noticed it, opened his eyes, and didn't react, and said with a smile: "I didn't expect that the taste of being carried by someone is not bad, Fu Ruo, I will pull you when I go back to the incense burner peak!" ”

"If the gentleman wants to go, I'll follow." Listening to the smile in his words, Cao Yan was also much happier: "While it's lukewarm now, it's time to go out for a walk, even if it's good to go and see the little monk." ”

Zhiran's lawsuit has been concluded, and the celebrities who "manslaughtered" earlier have also gone, and it has become "blackmail and self-death" over there.

Although he didn't have to bear the guilt, Zhiran still felt a little difficult to let go, so he went to Xishan to find a temple and recited the "Mantra of Death" for hundreds of days to the old woman who died in vain......*

(To be continued)