Qing Yao

Chapter 408 Father Emperor, Your Majesty, Your Majesty, have arrived!

Zhao An always keeps his word. This time, he really won't betray the Academic Commissioner; he genuinely wants to take the old master on a journey of free flight.

Moreover, although he officially paid 200,000 taels, he only needed to pay 100,000 taels in reality.

The debt of 100,000 taels was created out of thin air; the 40,000 taels were "virtual" expenses; and the 60,000 taels were education expenses that should have been borne by the provincial treasury.

It's like using your left hand to do things for your right.

Using financial means to deal with a naive, inexperienced official who has just been transferred from the ivory tower of Beijing to a local post is fine, but it may not be as effective against other seasoned officials who wield real power.

Other methods are also needed.

In the current situation, it's a matter of taking on as many as possible.

With the joint signatures of the provincial education officials, the procedure for requesting temporary donations from the imperial court would become legal.

Once the approval is issued, he can happily sell his official titles and even his official positions after the New Year. Just thinking about the wealth that will come his way next year makes Zhao An even less inclined to go to work, since there are only a dozen days left until the New Year anyway.

The "surrender" of the provincial education commissioner also meant that Zhao An had completely seized control of the military, civil affairs, judiciary, and education in Anhui Province, a power that even the governor-general and governor could not control.

But he did it!
In terms of actual power alone, he is undoubtedly a powerful figure at the Great Perfection of the Golden Core stage, no weaker than Ji Dayandai, the number one Golden Core cultivator in the capital.

Even better than Ji the Big Pipe!

Because Ji Da Yandai (a high-ranking official) can't mobilize troops or manage the judiciary; he can only manage education and supervision.

After the petition requesting a temporary donation was sent to the capital by express messenger, Zhao An stayed in the backyard busy with other things. The young man's physical strength and energy were top-notch. He was either busy studying Wanqing or observing Chunlan, and he didn't feel tired at all.

It's probably a psychological compensation mechanism that arises from not having that kind of life for several months.

These days, there's no such thing as a "ring trap," and Zhao An doesn't care about safety or anything like that. He figures that Wanqing and Chunlan will definitely be pregnant again in a few months.

However, having many children and grandchildren is a good thing, and Zhao An is happy about it.

During this time, accompanied by Lao Song, I took the opportunity to inspect the Anqing Arsenal, which had already been selected. The official explanation for this arsenal, which was actually used to manufacture firearms for the Anhui Green Standard Army, was that it was the Eight Banners Repair Shop.

Construction will officially begin after the New Year. The blueprints were designed by Zhao An and look similar to factories from the 1950s and 60s in my previous life.

There are six large blast furnaces for steelmaking.

In addition to paying Jiangning General Yongqing 10,000 taels of silver, Anhui also had to cover the food, lodging and "travel expenses" of the craftsmen sent by the Eight Banners. Zhao Ankai gave Bashiliu a list of personnel and various materials needed for military equipment. If it could be obtained directly from Manchuria, it would be taken immediately. If it was not available in Manchuria, Bashiliu would be responsible for purchasing it in the Jiangnan market. The purchase expenses would be reimbursed through the provincial treasury under a different name.

Following Zhao An's instructions, Lao Song selected 50 students from the Anhui Political Academy and hired 200 literate students in the name of the provincial governor to work at the arsenal. These people were to learn both technical skills and management, and were essentially the arsenal personnel that Zhao An was reserving for the "Huai Army".

Once these students have completed their studies, Anhui will be able to establish an integrated military industry system encompassing production and sales. Furthermore, by attracting some "experts" and investing heavily, muskets and artillery can be upgraded and replaced.

Anhui has enough resources for Zhao An's Huai Army. Zhao An remembers that in his previous life, there were large coal mines in Huainan, Anhui, and steel mills in Ma'anshan, which is now Taiping Prefecture. As long as the coal and iron resources in these two places are utilized, the Huai Army can become a strong army that is semi-steel-based or quasi-steel-based.

Setting up coal mines and steel mills both required relevant personnel, so these two things, along with the Anqing Arsenal, became the top priorities of the Anhui Provincial Governor's Office in the fifty-seventh year of the Qianlong Emperor's reign.

Zhao An also wanted to introduce private capital to participate in "industrial" development, because coal and steel could be used for civilian purposes.

Promoting honeycomb briquettes can not only generate substantial profits for coal mines to support military production, but also reduce the environmental damage caused by cooking.

Not to mention that there are barren mountains everywhere in Anhui, even the famous Zhongshan Mountain in Jiangning is completely bare at this time, with almost no greenery visible from the city wall.

There are reasons why foreigners perceive China as a gray and gloomy place.

With salt, coal, iron, and industry and commerce developing in tandem, coupled with the financial sector attracting deposits and financing, Anhui's development prospects for next year are not just good, but excellent!

Planning is Zhao An's job.

How to do it specifically is up to the people below.

Zhao An plans to convene a conference of officials at the prefectural level and above in Anqing next year to unify the understanding of Anhui's officialdom, broaden the horizons of Anhui officials, promote the overall development of Anhui, and strive to double Anhui's fiscal revenue next year and double it again the year after.
Do well and you'll get promoted; don't, and you're out!

As long as Zhao An, who holds the power to evaluate officials across the province, is not transferred, Anhui, like a carriage whose course he has already set, can only move forward.

That day, the charcoal brazier in the inner room was warm and cozy. Zhao An, wearing only a white soft satin undergarment, patted the naked Wan Qing with satisfaction after finishing, then turned over to tease his son Zhao Ning, who had been awakened by his parents' fight.

"Good son, I wasn't bullying your mother just now. I was just planning to give you another little brother or sister so you can play with them."

Zhao An kissed his son's cheek, glancing out of the corner of his eye at Wanqing, who was pouring hot water into a basin with her legs crossed. The little girl had gained weight since giving birth, which also made her son's appetite bigger. However, she was exactly the kind of slightly chubby girl-next-door type that Zhao An liked.

"You are a second-rank provincial governor, yet you are always so unprofessional."

Wanqing glared at her husband, then tested the water temperature before squatting down.

The steam made it look like a few drops of oil were floating on the water in the basin, similar to the soup.

"So what if I'm a second-rank provincial governor? Everyone has their moments of being unserious. Maybe Confucius was even more frivolous than your husband."

Zhao An, with a grin, lifted his son high and then gently put him down, occasionally touching the little guy with his face. As a result, Xiao Ning'er, who was amused by his father, suddenly stopped moving, his little face turning slightly red. Before he could react, a warm current sprayed onto his face.

"Hey, you brat, how dare you suddenly attack your dad like that!"

Zhao An was both amused and exasperated. Wanqing, who was squatting on the ground washing herself with hot water, exclaimed "Oh dear!" and quickly put the towel she was wiping on the basin stand. She then came over to take her son away.

"It's alright, it's alright. What's wrong with my son's urine? It's good for you. You can boil eggs with it and it can ward off evil spirits."

Zhao An didn't care about his son at all. As he spoke, he awkwardly tried to undo his son's soaking wet open-crotch pants, teasing him, "Good lad, drawing a map for your dad? Looks like you're going to be a pioneer!"

"Let me do it."

Seeing her husband's clumsy hands, Wanqing casually picked up a towel from the basin stand and started wiping his face. Only after wiping it a couple of times did she realize that the towel was the one she had just used to clean herself.

His face suddenly turned red.

"it's okay no problem."

Zhao An and Wan Qing helped their son take off his wet pants, and Zhao An casually said, "In the spring, I'll have someone hunt some sparrows so that Ning'er and Yiyi can have a taste of meat."

"Opening the meat" is a custom in the Jianghuai region, after which children can eat solid food. The reason for using sparrows to open the meat is because sparrows chirp and can "talk," which is just for good luck.

Seeing her husband still teasing their son, Wanqing laughed and said, "Stop teasing him. Our son just had milk. Be careful he doesn't throw up all over you again."

In fact, Wanqing, who had just become a mother, knew nothing about taking care of children. When she was in Jiangning, her mother, Li, helped take care of her, but now it was mostly the nanny, Zhang Ma, who took care of her.

However, after a few months, I've gained some parenting knowledge, so I'll definitely be more experienced next time.

Once you are alive, the second time you are familiar.

"Oh." Worried that her son might actually spit up milk, Zhao An carefully put him down. Then, she rubbed her chin against her son's soft, tofu-like face, which made Ning'er giggle and wave her little hands to avoid it.

Wanqing's face was full of reproach, but her eyes were full of tenderness. She quickly washed her son and changed him into a dry diaper and pants.

Zhao An watched from the side, occasionally reaching out to pinch his son's small, white legs, which were as delicate as lotus roots. He felt incredibly warm and content at that moment.

After changing her diaper, Ning'er seemed exhausted from all the fuss. She yawned, curled up in her father's arms, sucked her thumb, and started to blink.

"Are you going to sleep?"

Zhao An gently patted his son's back, mimicking Wanqing's usual manner. Though the movement was stiff, it was full of a father's deep love for his children.

After staying for a while, Zhao An went to Chunlan's room.

You have to treat everyone fairly.

When Chunlan arrived, she was sewing shoe soles for Xiaoxiao, who was just over two years old. Xiaoxiao sat obediently in a specially made little tiger stool, watching her mother.

The baby sleeping in the cradle is Zhao An's own daughter, Yi Yi.

"father."

Xiao Xiao can already talk, and when she saw Zhao An coming over, she naturally moved her little tiger stool to ask to be held.

"good!"

Zhao An picked up Xiao Xiao and kissed the little girl's cheek. Although Xiao Xiao was not his biological daughter, he "inherited" the identity of Xiao Xiao's biological father and had a younger sister with Xiao Xiao's mother. Naturally, he would not be a stepfather who would treat his stepdaughter badly.

Give her everything you can, and we'll guarantee that the "Princess's" wedding will be a grand affair.

"Yiyi is asleep."

Chunlan put down the shoe soles she was holding. Actually, she didn't need to do this kind of needlework at all. Would the dignified governor's mansion be short of servants and maids? But Chunlan couldn't stay idle, and she couldn't be in charge like Wanqing, so she could only pass the time with these needlework tasks.

Zhao An felt a little guilty about this, so he asked Wanqing to take Chunlan to the city more often when she had free time, to watch operas and listen to folk songs.

If Zhao An weren't portrayed as an incorruptible official, he would definitely keep a theatrical troupe and a circus at his own residence.

"Ah."

Zhao An nodded and carried Xiao Xiao to her sister's cradle. Seeing that his daughter, who looked like a little pink doll, was sleeping soundly, Zhao An naturally wouldn't wake her up. But just as he was about to turn around, Xiao Xiao started yawing and wanted to see her sister. As a result, Yi Yi in the cradle was woken up and immediately started crying loudly.

Just as Chunlan was about to hug Yiyi, Zhao An handed Xiaoxiao to her and said with a smile, "Let me do it."

He bent down and picked up his adorable baby daughter from the cradle, coaxing her gently.

Yiyi was a little over ten days older than her younger brother Ning'er, and her body was as limp as a boneless cloud. Zhao An held her carefully, afraid of hurting his daughter if he used too much force.

Once in her father's arms, Yiyi opened her little eyes and looked at the somewhat unfamiliar face, sniffing the unfamiliar scent. Her crying paused for a moment, and she stared at Zhao An with her big, bright eyes full of curiosity.

"Yiyi, it's Daddy."

Zhao An gently stroked his daughter's cheek with his finger. "Look what Daddy brought you!"

As he spoke, he magically produced a red-gold bracelet adorned with silver bells from his sleeve pocket and shook it, causing the bells to ring out with a clear, crisp sound.

Attracted by the sound, Yiyi reached out her little hand to grab it. Zhao An took the opportunity to put the bracelet on her wrist. The little bell jingled as Yiyi waved her arm. The little girl probably found it very interesting and burst into laughter through her tears.

"Husband, really! Yiji is still so young, isn't it uncomfortable for him to wear that?"

Chunlan gently reminded her from the side.

"It's okay, I'm watching."

Zhao An held Yiyi and slowly paced around the room, thinking about how he now had a wife and a concubine, a son and a daughter, and had also risen to the rank of a second-grade provincial governor. He couldn't help but feel a great sense of accomplishment.

"How wonderful it would be if my husband could spend every day with us."

Chunlan's voice clearly carried a hint of resentment, which Zhao An understood. It wasn't that Chunlan was jealous of Wanqing, but rather that she was complaining that he was often away on official business and couldn't spend time with them.

This kind of time is what Chunlan and her daughter, and Wanqing and her son, long for.

With no official duties to attend to, no urgent military reports to report, and only his wife and children by his side, what man wouldn't want that?

Unfortunately, Zhao An's ambitions were too great, too great to be fulfilled as Wanqing and Chunlan wished.

Perhaps this is what they mean by "you can't have everything."

With the year-end approaching, Zhao An instructed relevant personnel from the provincial governor's office and the provincial governor's office to prepare for the sealing of the seals. Unlike later generations, even though there were still some days until the New Year, the air in the city was already filled with the gunpowder smell of firecrackers.

Every household has already prepared for the New Year, and in a few days there won't be anything left to buy on the market.

Zhao An took some time to personally write a Spring Festival couplet. He, along with Wanqing and Chunlan, busied themselves with preparations for the New Year. Lanterns were hung up and "Fu" characters were pasted up in the governor's residence. Chickens, ducks, beef, mutton, fish, and meat were all prepared. The atmosphere was joyful and harmonious, and everyone was preparing to welcome the arrival of the fifty-seventh year of Qianlong's reign.

On the 20th day of the twelfth lunar month, Zhao An was holding Xiao Xiao and teaching her to identify the paper-cuts pasted on the window lattice when Old Song, the office director, rushed over from the front office.

Holding a document with a yellow silk cover in his hands, his face was more solemn than ever before.

"grown ups!"

Old Song's voice even trembled slightly, "A 600-li urgent dispatch just sent from the capital, from the imperial court!"

Imperial edicts were confidential documents sent by the emperor through the Grand Council, and became a standard practice after the establishment of the Grand Council in the seventh year of the Yongzheng Emperor's reign.

It is mainly used to transmit government affairs that should not be made public, such as military secrets and official admonitions.

The cover was marked with words such as "sent by the Grand Councilor" and "Imperial Edict," and it was delivered by the Ministry of War's postal stations with encrypted delivery according to the postal service level. Only designated officials could open and read it.

The 600-li urgent dispatch was the highest level of imperial edict, and the cover bore the words "Imperial Edict," indicating that the contents of this imperial edict were extremely important!

No wonder Old Song was so serious.

Zhao An's heart skipped a beat. He handed Xiao Xiao to the nanny next to him, took Ting Ji, carefully unwrapped the sealing wax, and the moment he unfolded it, his pupils involuntarily contracted slightly.

Old Song was startled and exclaimed, "Sir, what happened?"

To everyone's surprise, Zhao An didn't react at all, just staring blankly at the imperial edict in his hand. After a long while, he grinned under Old Song's surprised and suspicious gaze: "It's nothing, Grandfather... no, Father Emperor wants to see me!"

(End of this chapter)