Chapter 765: Helping the people

Henan Prefecture, inn.

Tomorrow is August 15th, and Cao Yong is still stranded in Luoyang. I heard that the Minister of Justice has arrived at the Governor's Office and has begun to investigate the chaos in Henan.

Cao Yong finally waited for Kangxi's order and ordered him to hand over the case to the governor's office and return to Beijing.

Jiang Jian finally breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed that the emperor still treated Cao Yong differently and wanted to get him out before the case was decided.

Since the officers and soldiers broke through Shengu Village for half a month, Cao Yong looked very leisurely. He often strolled in the market in the city during the day, otherwise he would go to the restaurant and occasionally go out for a walk.

Cao Song's colleagues saw Cao Yong so comfortable, and they could not help but nag in private. They just said that he was so cruel and dared not to suppress the bandits, and they were not in a position to adjust every day.

Only Jiang Jian followed Cao Yong and knew that what he did was profound.

"Sir, I'm concerned about farmland, but I'm concerned about it?" Jiang Jian asked insolently.

"In the farmland here, the main crops of grain, sorghum, and the rest are wheat, beans and cotton. Huguang has already started to plant double-season rice, which can not only be self-sufficient, but also supply Jiangnan and Jingmin. I heard that the farmland farms have intensive farming and rice yields per mu to five or six stones. In Henan, there are many hills, few fertile fields, and crops are not drought-resistant. In some places, one stone is good. In addition to land rent, it is difficult to fill the remaining grains of tenants. When encountering drought and flood, they have to sell their children and their families will be destroyed," said Cao Yong.

When Jiang Jian heard this, he felt cold sweat blowing on his head.

Although he could not compare to Cao Yong's family, he was also a gentry family and had never suffered from famine. He only thought that Cao Yong was unwilling to come to Henan Prefecture for vain and wanted to make some political achievements for the superior king to see, but he did not expect that he had some insights on farming.

"The war in the northwest is not stopped for a year or two, and this drought and flood cannot be controlled by man. Food is the most important thing for the people. If Henan is stable, the people must fill their stomachs." Cao Yong said.

He can't control the corrupt officials now. In a few years, a "family confiscating emperor" will come to power, and the free people are concerned. Cao Yong just wants to do his best to do something for the people in this poor place.

In addition, it was selfish. The sixteenth prince told him that he had suffered several times, and this was the way to make money.

Where is Henan? It is the hinterland of the Central Plains. Even after a few hundred years, the population is approaching 100 million. Henan is also a famous granary, which can't help but be self-sufficient and can also supply other provinces.

Cao Yong remembered clearly that half of the flour eaten at home was produced in Henan.

In addition to wheat, Henan has two other specialties, namely cotton and tobacco leaves.

Although this corn and potato have been introduced for hundreds of years, it has not been promoted and has only been found in the Zhili area of ​​Jingji. Both of these things are drought-tolerant and can grow on hills.

Cao Yong told Jiang Jian about his intentions. It was to promote new crops such as corn and potatoes in the hilly areas of Henan, promote winter wheat to cover cotton on fertile fields, and plant tobacco on poor fields. In this way, farmers' incomes increased and the place was stable.

Not only Henan, but if this method is suitable, provinces such as Shanxi and Zhili can also appropriately promote agriculture according to the actual situation of each province.

Jiang Jian was extremely shocked when he heard Cao Yong's talk. He really didn't expect that Cao Yong was not just as simple as a new insight, but also had mountains and valleys in his heart.

Therefore, Jiaojiao was still in prison in the name of the Kang family bandits. However, Cao Yong was still soft-hearted and asked someone to say hello, which meant to be safeguarded for her.

"Master, the eldest lady and grandma sent someone to give gifts last month. Although we returned the gifts at that time, it was not easy for these old men and second men to go back to Beijing. Among the things given by the emperor, there were some good materials and a few jewelry that could be taken out. With the inkstone on my side, I would like to honor my elders and sister-in-laws?" Lu Ju said with a smile.

When I sent people from the capital back last month, Cao Xiang had not come back yet, and the gift was rushed, so Lu Ju said so.

Seeing that Lu Ju was thinking so carefully, Cao Xiang took her hand and said, "Thank you for your hard work. I have been worrying about these things all day long. Brother, the second brother has already scolded me well. Those things have been rewarded by the emperor, and you can also make two new sets of clothes. Don't be so simple. If I had known that I would have let you suffer with it, I would not have been so rash that day."

Lu Ju pursed her temples and shook her head and said, "Master, I don't feel miserable. I just feel wronged. If I were in the capital, I wouldn't be so tired that I suffered these injuries."

"Why are you wronged?" Cao Xiang couldn't tell whether he was sad or happy when he heard this, and said, "What's wrong with him? It's just a family protection. Otherwise, how could he become a seventh-rank official under the age of twenty!"

Looking at his thin and dark face and the gloomy look in his eyes, Lu Ju felt ache in her heart, grabbed Cao Xiang's arm, and whispered: "Master, tell me, are you going back to Beijing?"

"Return to Beijing?" Cao Xiang was puzzled when he heard this.

"I have never given up my homework in the past year since I left Beijing, right? Next spring exam, I will go back to Beijing to take the exam." Lu Ju was a little sad and advised: "Being a Jinshi and entering Hanlin is my wish for a young age, right?"

After hearing this, Cao Xiang felt that the boy's wish was so far away.

He smiled bitterly and said, "In order to make this shortage, I spent a lot of money on my second brother and used my eldest brother's favor. Now I have only been in office for a year..."

"Master, think about it carefully. Both the uncle and the second master love you and don't expect you to make much political achievements outside. If I go back to the imperial examination, they will not object." Lu Ju said.

Cao Xiang was silent when he heard this.

If he wants to go to the Shuntian Prefecture provincial examination, it is too haste, so it is too late. However, he is a student of the Imperial College and is qualified to participate in the imperial examination with the juren next spring.

Thinking about his career as an official for more than a year, Cao Xiang felt a little nostalgic about his career in studying and taking the exam...

Beijing, Cao Mansion, Wutong Garden.

Before the Mid-Autumn Festival, Han Jiang came to hold the account. Now the income of Daoxiang Village is quite stable, and the income of ten shops is very rich. Because it was just about to meet the birth date of the young master of the Cao family, Han Jiang also made a special trip to prepare gifts. It is the best four treasures of the study, and it looks very valuable.

"You're so polite. He is a child, and when he is the most naughty, he can't use these good things." Chu Yu put down the gift list and said to Han Jiang with a smile.

"It is said that the second young master is brave and should have some swords and things to match the second young master's mind. However, the little woman is a family of women and is not familiar with those who cannot find good things for a while. It is better to give this to the second young master. Although it is not as good as the one in the noble family, it is somewhat of a good intention." Han Jiang said.

Chu Yu knew that she was a person with great courtesy, so he agreed to this kindness and asked someone to call Han Sheng and thank Han Jiang.

Han Jiang did not dare to accept the full ceremony of Hang Seng, so he stood up to avoid it, and after a while, the guest and the host spoke again.

"Grandma, Tongrentang has applied medicine in winter and spring in recent years, and has a very good reputation. Although Daoxiang Village is not easy to learn to invite fame, there are more shops in the south in recent years. Several of them have already had a certain scale and the prices are still low. This year, it has some impact on Daoxiang Village. Otherwise, with the income from the Dragon Boat Festival and Mid-Autumn Festival, the income should have been greater than that now. By next year, they will gain a foothold and promote it, the transaction of Daoxiang Village will be difficult. How to make the people recognize the Daoxiang Village brand, maybe they should think of some good ways." Han Jiang said.

When Chu Yu heard this, hesitated for a moment and asked, "Does the shopkeeper Han mentioned include Guixiang Village?"

Han Jiang nodded and said, "It seems that grandma has heard the rumors. She didn't think anything yet. She only knew that Jiu Beizi seemed to be interested in the sale of this bun, so she opened a shop in Qianmen. Unexpectedly, in the past few months, several branches opened in Guixiang Village were all near Daoxiang Village. The masters in Daoxiang Village signed a contract of twenty years, and they couldn't poach them. However, I heard that the masters from other shops in Beijing gathered in Guixiang Village, and there were also masters invited from the south. The shops were planned and people were invited to provide information, just like the Daoxiang Village in the past."

Han Jiang was also depressed about this matter.

At first, I thought the Ninth Prince was on a whim. Unexpectedly, in just two or three months, five shops in Guixiang Village had been opened.

Even Chu Yu didn't expect this. After all, the Ninth Prince is her biological uncle. Who doesn't know that Daoxiang Village is Chu Yu's property? This uncle and niece are fighting for business, which is a big drop in the market.

When others talk about it, they can only say that Jiu Beizi is completely tempted by money and doesn’t even have any face.

Chu Yu is not short of money, and the transactions of Daoxiang Village are just icing on the cake. According to her personality, Daoxiang Village is already too famous, and even the heads of the palace are talking about the snacks outside, which is a bit silly.

After the Ninth Prince’s business, although the profits of Daoxiang Village have decreased, it is also a good thing to lose some popularity.

"It is better to be a good deal in the business. If you want to have any movement, I'd better wait until the old man comes back. I heard from our master that he can come to Beijing around the Double Ninth Festival." Chu Yu thought for a while and said, "But when it comes to the medicine in Tongrentang, I remember something. I made a wish in front of the Buddha in my early years. If my eldest princess had recovered from eye disease, I would like to pave the way and build a bridge and accumulate some great merits. But my uncle is in court and acts very well. This is just my sincerity as a mother and does not have the intention to invite fame. If it is convenient for the shopkeeper Han, he would also ask the shopkeeper Han to help me. See if he can act with the reputation of the shop so that he can avoid getting involved in the Cao family and attracting quarrels."

"Grandma, even in the name of a merchant, it would be unreasonable to donate silver directly." Han Jiang thought for a while and said, "Now the court is accepting donations, why don't grandma think about this?"

"This?" Chu Yu said in confusion: "What does the shopkeeper Han mean? Do you still want to donate your fame?"

"Grandma, if you want to spend money, there is nothing more suitable than donating. I heard that the imperial court donated silver to raise funds. If grandma donated fame and fortune, it will not only accumulate good deeds and pass it to the imperial court, but also have a good future for Mr. Cao. This is also to donate fame and fortune for the shopkeepers and purchasing good fortune. They naturally become more devoted to their bosses." Han Jiang said.
Chapter completed!