Chapter 161 Jiao Xia

After the Wanshou Festival, there was a new boom in the capital. Because people were rushing to grab land when they entered the pass, the land annexation of the capital was relatively serious, and the land was concentrated in the hands of the powerful. They would not consider the livelihood of the tenants, mainly because they were afraid that there would be no harvest in the farm and affect the annual expenses.

The Ministry of Works Dushui Department has gradually become busy. Because of insufficient staff, Ning Chun is one of the leaders of several other departments. The Dushui Department is responsible for rivers, canals, roads, bridges and other affairs. Their main task is to clear rivers and do everything possible to do a good job in irrigation; dig drought-resistant wells in places without rivers and waterways.

Ning Chun grew up with rich clothes and food. Although he had been working as an errand for half a year, he was mostly a pen. This time he was stationed in Baoding Prefecture.

This year is the fifty year of the Kangxi level, and it would be fine if other places encounter natural disasters. If the emperor makes these happen at the feet, it would have really slapped the "Ming of Prosperous Times". After all, people have limited awareness at this time and do not know that the rain, water, wind and clouds are all natural changes and cannot be intervened by external forces.

In people's perception, since ancient times, the court's political affairs were contrary to nature, which led to natural disasters. Of course, no one dared to accuse the emperor of high spirits, and the emperor would not let down his face and think that he had done something wrong. Since the Song Dynasty, whenever there are large-scale floods, droughts and other natural disasters, the prime minister would become a "scapegoat" and be dismissed or demoted to the local area to calm God's anger.

However, in the Qing Dynasty, in order to centralize power, the emperor set up a cabinet scholar and was named a prime minister, but he had no power as a prime minister. This "scapegoat" was difficult to find, which made the emperor avoid natural disasters.

It was about to start summer, but it was still clear and dry. There were only two rains sporadically, but the ground stopped before wet, and the water level in the well had dropped a lot. No one knew that the capital was afraid of a severe drought, but not everyone was like Cao Yong. Because of the drought, they thought of farmers who depended on the land.

For those bureaucrats from powerful families, they have already dug wells in their own farms, that is, no matter how drought is, it has nothing to do with them. What they are concerned about is the impact of this drought on the changes in the political situation and on their own future.

The emperor has been ascending the throne for fifty years, and there have been only a handful of people in dynasties and 50 years in power. Does the severe drought in the capital indicate that the "sky" is about to change? Although the crown prince has been restored for two years, his confidants have been almost cut off. As long as he is not a fool, he can know that he is just a decoration. The political situation in the capital has become strange without realizing it.

As for the Ministry of Revenue, there have been a series of transfers since late March. The Minister of Internal Affairs E Qi was transferred to the Right Minister of the Ministry of War, while the Minister of Internal Affairs Wu Yifei, who had just been in office for one month, was transferred to the Right Minister of the Ministry of Personnel. In the midst of some people's plan and waiting for it, Kangxi was promoted to two cabinet scholars Li Zhongji, and Gamintu was appointed as the Minister of Revenue. Many of the people in the Ministry of Revenue were shocked and suspicious. Those who had walked the way before were even more stunned.

Although Cao Yong could not figure out what Kangxi's intention was, just using this transfer method could make him less about forming cliques and making personal gains. Now these individuals are afraid that they have to wait and see how long their boss can be to take the lead.

On the second day of the April 2nd, Kangxi issued an order to all the Grand Secretary and the Nine Ministers. It was the beginning of summer and the weather was getting hotter. The imprisoned criminals were prone to illness and death. It was very pity. Except for the fact that the crime was actually committed, the other departments of the Ministry of Justice were forgiven. This was a general amnesty. Although the imperial edict did not explicitly state that it was for a severe drought in the capital, everyone knew it well.

The rest is the turn of these great ministers. Jiuqing has a headache. If he wants to find a way to get rid of the emperor's "crime", he has to use words to take the initiative to "please guilt". This "scapegoat" must be someone. Since one person is not worth a lot of weight, everyone has to go together.

When the Ministry of Revenue spoke of this, he couldn't help but feel gloating. Soon everyone's eyes changed. The imperial edict issued new places for the provincial provincial examinations, and began to assign chief and deputy examiners from all regions. According to the court's practice, not only the Hanlin Academy people were sent to various provinces to preside over the provincial examinations. The doctors of each department, the official and even the chief officials were qualified to be the chief and deputy examiners.

As an examiner, it is a big beauty. Not only can you travel to the place to enjoy the mountains and rivers, eat and drink, and receive filial piety and silver, but you can also gather some "disciples". In the future, they will be considered a link in the interpersonal network and even become a helper in the officialdom. Therefore, the Ministry of Revenue and other individuals have also dug up their minds and wanted to do the exam.

People from the Ministry of Revenue asked for relatives and friends, but after a fight, Huang Shuwan, a not-so-conspicuous chief of the Shaanxi Department, was accused of being the deputy examiner of the Yunnan provincial examination. Although everyone was dissatisfied, they had nothing to say. Although Huang Shuwan was insignificant in the Ministry of Revenue, his knowledge was convinced. Moreover, his family was famous in the capital for "five sons to pass the imperial examination" - Huang Shuwan and the four brothers of the same father were all Jinshi. Among them, the eldest brother Huang Shulin took the Tanhualang in one fell swoop at the age of 20 in the 30th year of Kangxi. He was the youngest among the Jinshi at that time, and was once a legend.

Cao Yong wanted to be an examiner, for nothing else, he could leave the capital occasionally and get some breath, and finally he thought about how to take Chu Yu with him. However, he just thought about it. These examiners have always been from Jinshi, but like his younger brother Cao Song, they were all prison students who were taken since childhood, and they were still two levels away from Jinshi, so they had to give up.

Since Ning Chun learned that the Ministry of Works left the capital in a low-key manner, Cao Yong had thought about how to do his best. When he thought that the department was in charge of the Zhili people's taxes, he found all the records of the books and records for nearly twenty years. He called out the letter to Chade and Shi Dejin as his assistant. It took half a day to count all the counties accompanying disaster relief and exemption from disasters over the years. Then he asked the Prince of Chun to inspect the rains of the imperial guards for the past twenty years, distinguishing the drought and flooding counties, and finally counting several counties that were prone to severe drought.

The data from the Ministry of Revenue cannot be leaked at will. He only listed the counties that were counted in the last counties, wrote a letter, and sent someone to Ningchun, Baoding Prefecture. Even if the officials of the Ministry of Works have some doubts, as long as they send someone to inquire with the order and ask the locals, they will naturally be able to verify the drought and flood situations over the years.

Cao Yong did these things silently, just to be at peace, and did not seek fame and fortune. Prince Chun looked at this and became more and more sure of his vision of choosing a son-in-law, and became closer to him.

Perhaps this is the fact that birds of a feather flocked to each other. When Prince Chun encountered a change, he saw the worldly situation more thoroughly than others. Cao Yong did not have the frivolity of a powerful brother, and was willing to do things down-to-earth, and did not need to worry about his elders when dealing with people. Because of his appreciation of this son-in-law, he acquiesced to the closeness of several young princes to Cao Yong, and did not stop their behavior of being at the Cao family for the first half of the day.

Recently, the Ministry of Revenue has not had any major accounts, and all positions have been settled, so the people of the Ministry of Revenue have nothing to make a fuss. After Cao Yong sorted out the form he gave to Ning Chun, he was so quiet that he finished his hands and returned home early every day.

Cao Yong saw Cao Song coming back at the door, and was a little strange because it was not yet time for him to finish school.

Cao Song got off the horse, and before Cao Yong could ask, he wiped his sweat and took the initiative to explain: "Brother, I'm not skipping classes, but the teacher in the school is sick and has taken our vacation!" As he said that, he couldn't help but look up, look at the sun, and complained: "It's only been a few days since the beginning of summer, and it's so hot. It's still a matter of summer but still people can't survive!"

"Can it be hotter than the south?" Cao Yong said: "I want to write to my parents and ask about the weather there. If it is so different from previous years, that's really not good. You can also write a letter to your second uncle and second aunt, so that you can take it with you together!"

Cao Song knew that his brother was worried about his uncle's body. He thought for a while and said, "Brother, don't worry, our Jiangning guards the Qinhuai River. It's not as dry and hot as the capital city!"

Cao Song is now tall and strong, and looks very strong. Cao Yong glanced at him, and before he knew it, the treacherous child had become an adult.

"There will be a provincial examination in a few months. Have you made up your mind to take the imperial examination or the military examination?" Cao Yong asked.

Cao Song clenched his fists, with a firm expression: "Of course, it is a martial arts practice. Even if you can't leave your name in history like your ancestors, you must make achievements immediately like your ancestors and great-grandfathers!"

The ancestor Cao Song mentioned was Cao Bin, the founding general of the Song Dynasty. The Cao family was actually a descendant of Cao Bin, which Cao Yong only knew when he first worshipped his ancestors.

Cao Yong knew that this younger brother was a martial artist since childhood, and he was happy for him when he saw that he was determined, but he couldn't help but say, "You have to think about this. If you really want to be a military officer, it would be fine in Beijing or Jiangning. If you put it outside other places, you have to rely on yourself!"

Cao Song nodded: "I am so old, I shouldn't rely on my family and brother!" At this point, a trace of guilt appeared on my face: "I also know the situation at home over the years. I didn't think anything at first. When I arrived in the capital, I knew that it was very difficult for my brother, but I, a brother, could not help anything!"

Cao Yong was very pleased to see that he was sensible, but he didn't expect that he would have any burden. He shook his head: "What are you doing when you say this! Go back to the yard to change your clothes, you've sweated so much!"

Cao Song went away with a reply, and Cao Yong returned to Wutong Garden.

Chu Yu was in the hall and was sharing loquats with several maids. Seeing Cao Yong come back, several maids leaned over to say hello, and then two eyes lowered their heads and retreated.

"So fresh! I just came from the tribute in the south. Is it sent it from the royal palace?" Cao Yong changed his clothes and asked Chu Yu.

"Yeah!" Chu Yu nodded: "It was sent by Ama, but it was given to us by Huangmafa! I thought that there was a share in the Pingwang Mansion, so I had to give some to my sister-in-law. Needless to say, the rest of our mansion, uncle, sister Amethyst, and Mr. Zhuang, there are also manager Wei, and the old housekeeper and others also gave some, so that everyone can taste the fresh ones. The prince, it's still appropriate!"

Cao Yong nodded, thinking of Ning Chun, and then said, "Save one aside and ask Amethyst to arrange someone to give some to Ning Chun and his family!"

Chu Yu had met Ning Chun and knew that he was her husband's best friend, so he responded with a smile.

The next day, after Cao Yong went to the Ministry of Revenue, Chu Yu discussed with Amethyst to send someone to Jueluo's house to send loquats. Because there were elders there, they should not be as casual as Ning Chun's house. They were not good enough to send them only, and they would add some seasonal and East-West. Before the two had agreed, Xiyun came in outside and said that the third aunt was back.

Zi Jing and Chu Yu both got up and went out to welcome Cao Yi in.

When he was greeted by two sides, Chu Yu looked at Cao Yi's face with a worried look and asked her: "Is there something urgent to do with my sister coming?"

Cao Yi nodded: "Our wife is sick. She has found two doctors and has not improved after taking a few doses of medicine. She wants to beg her sister-in-law and take a post from her brother to invite Dr. Chen to show our wife."

The relationship between the Emperor Chen and the Cao family for several generations, but he had never been with the Jueluo family, so Cao Yi couldn't help but invite him rashly, so he had to come to his brother for help.

Chu Yu hurriedly ordered Xiyun to go out to find the butler to invite Dr. Chen with Cao Yong's famous post, and asked again: "Why are the in-laws sick? What did those doctors say?"

Cao Yi frowned and replied, "My wife has always been strong. She went out to burn incense a few days ago. I was afraid that the wind on the mountain was blowing. She came back and said she had a headache. After ejaculation twice in the middle of the night, her body became a little weak. The next day, she felt a little fever and coughed and vomited again. She said she was bitter. She came to see the doctor and said that it was wind and cold. After taking the medicine, she didn't get any good. She was just a little more stable, but she still ejaculated and vomited from time to time. Therefore, I couldn't believe in the doctor who started the kid, so I thought about asking Dr. Chen."

Chu Yu said with concern: "The old man is so busy that he can't do anything. He can't eat anything at home. He also cooks ginseng soup and puts it on. If he wants anything, he will send me some, so why bother to come by yourself. I will not keep you, but you are also careful and don't be tired and ask me to worry about it."

Cao Yi had no time to be polite, nodded and thanked him, followed Amethyst to get a few ginseng back.

When the manager sent to invite Dr. Chen to come back, Chu Yu told him to the front hall and asked, "But I went to Jueluo Mansion with me? What did the old doctor say?"

The manager replied: "The old doctor said it was also caused by the cold and he took some cold food. He said that the medicines from the two doctors in the previous period were a little more intense. He prescribed a pair of warm-tonifying medicines and explained some dietary matters."

Chu Yu felt confident, so he told him to go to Jueluo's house to ask questions every day, and when he came back to report, he sent him.

When Cao Yong came back in the evening, Chu Yu told him about this. Cao Yong thought that the old man was in his fifties and sixties, and he was inevitably infected when the seasons changed. However, this disease was a problem. Not only did she feel uncomfortable, but she was afraid that Cao Yi would be too busy. Therefore, she asked Chu Yu what Cao Yi was looking at.

Chu Yu said, "Look, she was just anxious, and she was a little tired, but she didn't show any other people. She had already told her to pay attention to her body. She also told her to go to Jueluo Mansion every day to ask questions and report back in time if there is anything." Speaking of this, she thought of loquats: "I am busy today, I forgot those loquats. I will prepare some other tonic ingredients tomorrow, and I will go to visit my sister Amethyst to visit me!"

Cao Yong nodded and told Chu Yu again that although the weather is dry and hot, don’t be greedy for cold food. Chu Yu responded with a smile.

After a few days, Mrs. Jueluo's illness was relieved and her health gradually improved. Everyone felt relieved. Cao Yong and Chu Yu prepared something to visit.

By mid-April, there was still no rain and drought information began to come up in counties.

The atmosphere in the Ministry of Revenue became tense again. Because the imperial edict was issued, the words were severely drought, or "political affairs were not in place" or "people were not allowed to be employed", the Grand Secretary of the Cabinet was ordered to work with the Nine Ministers to thoroughly investigate officials of all sizes and big and small to see if there were any "secret formation of gangs and aids" and that the "cruel people" were still in their positions; urging the Ministry of Justice to investigate the prison to see if there were innocent people.

The imperial edict pointed out the direction, and a top-down thorough investigation was carried out vigorously in the six ministries and other yamen. How could high-level officials easily move with their hands and forces? The key target was that those small officials of the fourth, fifth and sixth ranks pulled out radishes and brought out a string of mud. Even in the Ministry of Revenue, there were several doctors in charge.

After a few days of trouble, the farce ended. The Grand Secretary and the Nine Ministers submitted a memorial to pray for guilt, and blamed the reason for the "slight drought" of their "unsuperbable duties". Naturally, Kangxi was not at all wrong as the emperor, and had no shortcomings in administration and was very careful in employing people. They also denounced those who formed cliques and had sinister intentions, greedy for jealousy, and prayed for the emperor to punish them severely.

In the Fujian Department, because the chief official Cao Yong is a man, he doesn't like to be arrogant and makes friends everywhere. By the way, he has been much more at peace these days, but he has just avoided this unpredictable disaster.

Thinking of the men of various departments who were removed from their heads and ruined their future due to a drought and to maintain the emperor's dignity, everyone was not only worried. So what if they studied hard for ten years, but what if they were from a Jinshi, if they had no power to rely on them, they would be nothing more than a mustard in the eyes of the powerful.

Everyone treated Cao Yong with respect and was close and respectful. More and more people began to be glad that there was such a chief official. As long as they were doing their jobs, even if someone wanted to make their own ideas, they would have to worry about the chief official Cao Yong.

Cao Yong still looked like the past, but he had a deeper understanding of the so-called "politics".
Chapter completed!