Chapter 38 Chapter 38 I bought two
The steward of Prince Ning's Mansion was a step late. When he arrived at Xinji panting, the people from Prince Li's Mansion had already arrived.
The stewards of Prince Guo's and Prince Yi's mansions were also sitting nearby.
The steward from Prince Li's mansion met the steward from Prince Ning's mansion and greeted them with a smile. "Our master is thinking of Prince Ning and wants to invite him to Zheng's Manor for a drink someday."
The steward of Prince Ning's mansion agreed awkwardly and watched the steward of Prince Li's mansion go forward to look at the car without daring to say anything.
If they were ranked by title, Prince Ning would really have to give way to Prince Li Hongxi.
But everyone knows that Prince Hongxi is special!
Prince Li had no official duties and only came to the city for important ceremonies. He only saw Emperor Qianlong a few times a year.
No one expected that he would join in the fun.
At this time, the royal family, father and son, were standing outside in the crowd watching the excitement. Qianlong's face was frighteningly cold, and Zhengjiazhuang was surprisingly well-informed.
Yonglian was really worried that Jin Ding would sell the two-wheeled cart to Prince Li's Mansion, as Khan Ama would definitely be angry.
But regardless of rank or first come first served, this car should belong to Prince Li's palace.
"Khan Ama, how about we go in?" Yonglian pulled Khan Ama's sleeve and asked with his face raised.
"What are you going to do in there?" Qianlong said, "If I go in, today I won't be selling cars, I'll be giving rewards."
He said, grabbing his two sons by the hand, "Let's go and look somewhere else."
Yonghuang and Yonglian wanted to see what happened next, but they were dragged out of the crowd by Khan Ama.
Yonglian could only comfort himself that he would know sooner or later, so he asked his eldest brother, "Brother said he wants to treat us to donkey rolls. Let's go now."
"Okay, okay, it's just diagonally across the street." Yonghuang also saw that Khan Ama was unhappy, so he quickly cooperated with his brother to divert Khan Ama's attention.
Upon hearing this, Qianlong looked at his eldest son and asked, "You're treating?"
Yonghuang nodded and touched his small purse, "My son brought money."
Qianlong raised his eyebrows, "Yonghuang is so generous."
Yonglian poked his head in, "Can I buy a box to give to Niu Lun... or two boxes, and one for Uncle Six..."
Qianlong snorted, "Where are your Royal Madam and Mother?"
"But this is too much to carry. Do you have enough money, brother?" Yonglian asked Yonghuang.
Yonghuang held his small purse with an embarrassed expression.
Qianlong: “…”
Qianlong's bad mood was instantly cured by these two silly boys. He patted Yonghuang's head and said, "Okay, okay, you don't have to spend any money. You can save your money and buy some small toys you like later."
The father and his two sons chatted and laughed as they lined up at the dim sum shop, followed by several guards not far away.
This was the first time the Emperor had worn the White Dragon Fish costume since he ascended the throne, and everyone was very nervous, fearing something might happen. Fortunately, they were just strolling along Qianmen Street, so it was relatively safe here.
This dim sum shop is doing really good business. There is a long line outside the shop because Xin Ji sells two-wheeled carts diagonally opposite the shop, and many people come to watch the fun and buy some dim sum.
"I didn't catch the fun last time, so I don't know what the two-wheeled vehicle looks like." Someone in front was discussing with his companions.
"It's simple, nothing fancy, just a seat on two wheels. This bike is only suitable for riding in the inner city. I'm afraid it won't work on bumpy dirt roads."
Most of the people who could buy things on Qianmen Street were bannermen. "We don't know when it will be our turn to buy things. I work at the government office and can ride my bike there."
"How dare you ride when you're upwind and you haven't ridden a bike yet?"
"But the boss of our company is already in his sixties or seventies. He probably won't ever ride a two-wheeler in his lifetime."
"Then we'll just have to endure it. Can we still get to the upwind?"
Qianlong, Yonghuang, and Yonglian were listening in the back. After buying some snacks and coming out, Yonglian frowned and said, "We can't go on like this."
Qianlong looked at him and asked, "What's wrong?"
Yonglian said, "A two-wheeled cart cannot be a symbol of rank. Most high-ranking officials in the court are elderly men, so buying a two-wheeled cart would be a waste. For people like Zhang Tingyu and Ortai, asking them to ride a two-wheeled cart would be embarrassing them. However, many young officials below, especially the minor clerks and runners, really need one. But if their superiors don't ride, they don't dare to ride either. So the convenience of a two-wheeled cart is not reflected."
Qianlong thought about it and realized that it was indeed the case.
"When this car is sold and the production volume increases next year, I will issue an edict," Qianlong said.
The father and his two sons continued to stroll slowly. Because there were many people on the street, Qianlong kept holding the hands of his two sons.
A lady passing by saw this and discussed with her daughter-in-law, "Look whose father that is! He is such a good father, he even knows to hold the child."
"Isn't it? It's rare to find such a thoughtful father." Moreover, the father and his two sons were dressed neatly and decently, and their overall demeanor did not seem like that of an ordinary family.
It is even more rare for a man from a noble family to take his children out shopping.
Passing by a shop selling foreign goods, Qianlong took his two sons in to take a look. There were not many people in the shop because the things there were beyond the reach of most people.
When the shop assistant saw that the three people were dressed decently, he came up to greet them with a smile.
Qianlong asked about the prices of Western clocks, and they all started at one hundred taels, and glass paintings of blonde beauties also cost dozens of taels.
There were also several felt paintings hanging on the wall. When Qianlong asked, he found out that each painting cost seventy or eighty taels.
This kind of felt painting is dyed on dolomite, some with kirin, some with peonies. It is obvious that it was sent to China for further processing.
This piece of dolomai was only worth three or five taels of silver in the Qing Dynasty, but with some designs on it, it's worth twenty times as much. Merchants really know how to make money. No wonder they pay so much tax every year.
Seeing that the father and his two sons had asked about all kinds of goods but had no intention of buying anything, the clerk was too lazy to smile and could not help rolling his eyes.
Qianlong: “…”
Qianlong had never suffered such neglect before, so for the sake of face, he had to buy something.
Qianlong happened to see Yonglian looking at a small pocket watch, so he bought it for him.
Yonglian couldn't stop her, and after coming out, he was still angry, "This pocket watch is too expensive, why did Khan Ama insist on buying it?"
There are several similar pocket watches in the palace.
Qianlong: "As long as you like it, I will buy it for you no matter how expensive it is."
Yonglian: “…”
The little kid passing by was so surprised that there is such a good father in the world!
After a round of walking, the guards were carrying a lot of things. Except for two boxes of snacks that Yonghuang and Yonglian wanted to buy, the rest were what Qianlong wanted.
Some did it for face, some because it was their first time seeing it and it was new and interesting, and some wanted to buy it for the empress dowager and the queen.
Yonglian: "..." Later generations said that you were a spendthrift, and that was not unfair to you.
After returning to the palace, the father and his two sons went straight to Shoukang Palace with all kinds of things.
The Queen and Niu Lun happened to be there too, so we divided the snacks among ourselves and then went to look at other gifts.
"This vase looks similar to the one on my antique display shelf. Why would the emperor buy another one?"
Qianlong laughed and said, "It's different. This one doesn't have the official kiln seal on the bottom."
The Queen Mother: “……?”
Qianlong bought this vase simply because the clerk in the store thought he didn't know the value of the vase, and he was so angry that he bought it directly.
The two children, Yonghuang and Yonglian, sat aside and sighed in a condescending manner, deciding that they should take their father Khan out shopping less often in the future.
Yonghuang and Yonglian did not have classes in the afternoon, so they stayed in Shoukang Palace and played with Hongzhou and Niu Lun.
Qianlong still had government affairs to deal with, so he returned to the Yangxin Palace first.
Soon, Jin Ding came to report on the sales of the two-wheeled vehicles.
To Qianlong's surprise, Prince Li and Prince Ning did not buy a two-wheeled vehicle today, but Prince Guo's mansion bought two.
Qianlong was silent for a while, then he couldn't help but smile and said, "The steward of Seventeenth Uncle's family is quite clever."
Jin Ding thought to himself, that’s right. It helped him out. Otherwise, he really didn’t know who to sell the two-wheeled vehicle to.
However, this matter could only be done by Prince Guo's Mansion. He was a generation older than Hongxi and Hongtao, and neither family dared to compete with him. If Han Zuoyi's Mansion's steward said this, both families would definitely not accept it.
"What do the stewards of the remaining two princes' families say?" Qianlong was curious.
"Nothing much was said. The two palace stewards are both respectable people. They just said to come earlier next time." Jin Ding said, "But it seems to me that the stewards of these two families are quite familiar with each other."
Upon hearing this, Qianlong's pupils suddenly shrank. His thirteenth uncle was the man who deposed the crown prince, and Ning Jun Wang Hongtao was his thirteenth uncle's son...
"What is the relationship between the steward of Prince Li's Palace and the steward of Prince Yi's Palace?" Qianlong asked.
Jin Ding thought about it for a moment, but didn't come to a conclusion. He just said, "I didn't see them talking."
Qianlong nodded thoughtfully and sent the golden tripod away.
At this time, Prince Guo Yunli looked at the two two-wheeled carts parked in the yard with mixed feelings.
Not only was he in poor health, but he also had no children, so the two-wheeled cart was just a decoration in their family.
Yunli thought about it and thought, Sixteenth Brother has many children, why not send one to his family?
Before he could send anyone to his sixteenth brother's house, Prince Ning Hongtao came in person and wanted to pay an extra hundred taels to buy one of the cars.
As an elder, Yunli had no nerve to take more money from him, so he said with a smile: "Uncle Seventeen will give you one."
Hong Tao said hurriedly, "That won't do."
"No problem." Yun Li said, "Seventeenth Uncle has been too busy these years and hasn't taken care of you much. In the afterlife, you'll be too embarrassed to see your father."
"Uncle Seventeen, what are you talking about? You and Uncle Sixteen have been very good to us." Hong Tao said.
The uncle and nephew sat in the study drinking tea, and Yunli was concerned about Hongtao's family affairs like an ordinary elder.
Hongtao was a somewhat frivolous child, and it was because of this that the late emperor did not choose him to inherit the title of Prince Yi.
Hongtao's wife was Ortai's niece, and his concubine was Chalang'a's daughter. Both of them came from good family backgrounds.
But for some unknown reason, Hongtao had only one son since he got married, who died at the age of four. There was no news of him for several years after that. Of course, this was also related to his mourning period, but no children were born between the eleventh and thirteenth years of Yongzheng's reign.
Yunli didn't know what he was thinking, so he advised him to take two concubines if he really couldn't, "...don't end up like my Seventeenth Uncle, with no children."
Yunli had two sons, both of whom died young.
Given his current physical condition, I'm afraid he will never have children again in this life.
No one knows who will inherit the title of prince. Can the adopted children from other families be good to the two wives?
Yunli was very worried. He really didn't want Hongtao to be like this in the future.
Hong Tao said, "Thank you, Uncle Seventeen, for your concern. I also want to have more children, but..." He sighed as he spoke. This was really a secret that was hard to express. There was no way to tell it.
Seeing the embarrassment on his face, Yunli guessed what was going on.
"Have you called a doctor?"
Hong Tao said vaguely, "I've consulted doctors several times, and my father knows all about my illness."
Yunli: “…” No wonder Hongtao was not allowed to inherit the title of Prince Yi. It turned out that it was not only because the child had an impetuous temperament, but also because of his physical condition.
"However, my eldest cousin said that he knows a Taoist priest with superb medical skills, but he has been traveling for the past two years. When he comes back, he will ask him to see my nephew." Hongtao's eyes lit up again when he said this.
Yun Li frowned when he heard this, "Cousin, are you talking about Hong Xi?"
Hong Tao nodded. "My eldest cousin is a very nice person. He often invites us to Zhengjiazhuang for drinks. His place is spacious and he has a big stage there. It's really fun."
As Hongtao was speaking, he noticed that his uncle Seventeen's expression was becoming more and more serious, and he hurriedly tried to recall where he had said something wrong.
"...Oh, Uncle Seventeen, don't worry. We only got together after the mourning period for the late emperor was over."
Yun Li came back to his senses and smiled, "I'm not worried about that, but... those Taoist priests' methods are not trustworthy. If they ask you to take elixirs, not only will it not cure your illness, but it will harm you instead."
Several members of the royal family who were close to the late emperor knew how he died.
Hongtao couldn't help but hesitate when he heard this. If he didn't have a child, then he didn't have a child. At worst, he could adopt one from his brother's family. He didn't want to lose his life for this.
The uncle and nephew chatted for a while, and it was almost dark when Hongtao came out of Prince Guo's mansion.
The attendants behind him happily carried the two-wheeled cart. The prince got one for free without spending a single ounce of silver.
"Speaking of which, we should thank Prince Li."
Hong Tao laughed and said, "Yes, I'll go thank my cousin some other day."
Yunli usually felt tired and went to bed early, but today he couldn't sleep.
Seeing her prince tossing and turning like a pancake, Fu Jin asked with concern, "Is your prince feeling unwell?"
Yun Li said, "Nothing." He sighed softly, "Tomorrow the king will go to the palace to see the emperor, so wake me up early."
The late emperor specifically stated in his will that Yunli was in poor health and could handle official business at home.
Yunli did not come to the palace often. When Fu Jin heard him say he wanted to see the emperor, she knew it was something important. Not daring to neglect him, she helped Yunli get up early the next morning. His legs were not very good, so he could only take a sedan chair to the palace.
It is almost late autumn and the wind is very strong in the capital.
Qianlong was discussing important matters with Hongzhou. When he heard that his seventeenth uncle had arrived, he didn't dare to let anyone wait outside.
Hong Zhou also stood up and saluted, "Greetings to Uncle Seventeen."
Qianlong had previously issued an oral order not to allow Yunlu and Yunli to salute him, so Yunli smiled and nodded to the two brothers in the room.
"I heard Uncle Seventeen bought two two-wheeled vehicles yesterday?" Hong Zhou said with a smile, "What a waste."
Qianlong also said: "Yes, it was my fault for neglecting it. I thought you had a foot disease and couldn't use this carriage."
Yun Li said, "It is indeed not needed. I gave one to Hong Tao yesterday. You can keep the remaining one as a keepsake. After all, it was designed by the late emperor."
Upon hearing this, Qianlong and Hongzhou looked at each other.
Hong Zhou laughed and said, "This kid Hong Tao picked up a car for nothing."
Yunli laughed, "Young people like new things." He looked at Qianlong, "I had a chat with Hongtao yesterday. He's very anxious because he doesn't have any children. Your Majesty, do you think there's something you can give him to do so he doesn't have to sit around and think about random things all day?"
Qianlong thought that Uncle Seventeen was asking for a job on Hongtao's behalf, so he asked with a smile, "Uncle Seventeen, what job do you think Hongtao is suitable for?"
"Hongtao is inevitably depressed staying at home all day. If there is an overseas assignment, you can let him go. It doesn't matter if it's a bit hard. He has been idle for these years and it's time for him to gain some experience." Yunli said.
Upon hearing this, Qianlong could not help but frown. He glanced at Hong Zhou and said, "Fifth brother, go pay your respects to the Empress Dowager."
Hong Zhou knew that there were words he couldn't listen to, so he quickly stood up and left.
On the way to Shoukang Palace, Hong Zhou was still thinking about what his royal brother had just complained to him. The man from Zhengjiazhuang was really ignorant and actually thought of himself as a prince.
Now that's good, his brother the emperor has made another note of him and plans to replace the guards for Zhengjiazhuang.
In Shoukang Palace, the Empress Dowager, Concubine Yu and Concubine Qian were teaching Hongzhou to speak Manchu.
When Hong Zhou arrived, he called his chubby sixth brother to his side and talked to him.
The late emperor's concubine Qi passed away this year, and because of her son Hongshi, she could not be posthumously honored.
However, Qianlong and the Empress Dowager still went to visit the patient in person, which was considered as a way of showing their gratitude for having served the late emperor together.
After Concubine Qi passed away, the Queen Mother and Concubine Yu were sad for a long time. Fortunately, little Hongzhou was there to joke and make them happy, and they gradually came out of their grief.
Hong Zhou now likes his younger brother Hong Zhou more and more.
This year, Hongzhou not only memorized the Thousand Character Classic, but also learned a few English sentences from Yonghuang.
Hong Zhou heard him mumbling something and asked with a smile what it meant.
The Queen Mother said, "Little Hongzhou is right. How are you? Thank you, and goodbye."
Hong Zhou laughed out loud, it turned out that even the Empress Dowager knew how to do it.
Hongzhou then told his fifth brother about his own small goal, "I want to learn English and go on a diplomatic mission on behalf of the Qing Dynasty."
"Oh my, that's incredible. Why do we have to go to England?" Hong Zhou asked.
"Because Yonghuang and Yonglian said that the food in England was particularly unpalatable, I want to let them experience the delicious food of the Qing Dynasty."
"for example?"
"For example, shaqi mak. I want to open a shaqi mak factory in England." The word "factory" was also learned by Xiao Hongchu from his nephews.
Hong Zhou: "..." This kid has really unique ambitions.
But it did inspire him. His royal brother wanted to send people to Libya, but was afraid that sending a caravan directly there would arouse the vigilance of foreigners and make them think that they were stealing their business.
But what if we send some people there to do business, such as opening some restaurants or something? This way, there will be a reason for them to stay there for a long time, to gather information and make money.
If you want to open a restaurant, you need ingredients, right? So, wouldn’t it be natural to buy a piece of land to grow the ingredients?
As for who to buy from, that depends on the local situation. In short, this method can reach both foreigners and Levians.
Hong Zhou sat in Shoukang Palace for a while, and when he thought his seventeenth uncle was about to leave, he returned to Yangxin Palace to see Qianlong.
Qianlong: "That's just right. Uncle Seventeen wants me to arrange an overseas assignment for Hongtao, right? Then let him lead the merchant ship to Libya."
"Ah?" Hong Zhou was anxious when he heard this. "How can we let a member of the royal family go to such a dangerous place?"
Royal brother, aren’t you afraid that Uncle Thirteen will appear in your dreams at night?
It was already very good that Emperor Qianlong gave Hong Tao a job together with Hong Xi. "If this job is done well, it will be a great achievement. Besides, the children in Thirteenth Uncle's family can speak some foreign languages, so it's just right for him to go."
"But what if..."
"I will let them bring enough firearms, so don't worry." Qianlong said.
Seeing that his brother had made up his mind, Hong Zhou could only pray silently for Hong Tao.
However, the caravan going to Libya could not leave for a while because the Ministry of War could not provide so many new firearms.
In addition, the court was very poor due to the disaster relief efforts everywhere this year.
Qianlong was waiting for the people sent from Guangdong to produce transparent glass as soon as possible.
It was not until the glass workshop was opened that Yonglian realized that Khan Ama had actually set his sights on making transparent glass.
Well, although he is a useless time traveler and cannot make glass, it is a good thing that he can remind Khan Ama to make money from this.
The transparent glass here has not yet been fired, but the tricycles over there have already started to be sold.
Because the emperor had never ridden a tricycle himself, many officials preferred to buy two-wheeled ones. However, veteran officials like Zhang Tingyu and Ortai really needed a tricycle.
They each bought a tricycle, intending to have someone take them to the palace gate when they went to court. But in the dead of winter, sitting on a tricycle could freeze you to death.
The two old men got off the car halfway and asked their family to go back and change the sedan.
Officials all felt that tricycles were not as comfortable as horse-drawn carriages and sedan chairs, and the sales of tricycles in the capital were not as good as those of two-wheeled vehicles.
But soon people noticed that the horse-drawn carriages that transported leftovers from the palace to the city were replaced by tricycles. The carts that brought food from outside to the palace were also replaced by tricycles.
Tricycles rely solely on human power and cannot pull heavy cargo. Charcoal and other items are still transported by horse-drawn carriages, but for smaller and lighter cargoes, tricycles are faster.
At this time, another problem arises: some tricycles on the road are difficult to move.
So, Yonglian proposed to Khan Ama to open a factory to manufacture tricycles in Jiangnan, as tricycles were more suitable for the cobblestone roads there.
Tricycles are very suitable for transporting things like raw silk and tea, and are indeed suitable for Jiangnan.
He immediately asked officials in Jiangsu to select a site for setting up a factory, and asked Shi Jinsanbao, the Lianghuai Salt Transport Commissioner, to supervise the matter.
Jin Sanbao is Jiapin's father. The emperor handed over two important businesses to her family, and Jiapin was happy and terrified.
After the mourning period for the previous emperor was over, Qianlong began to choose the right concubines, and basically the Imperial Concubine and the Concubine Jia took turns to sleep with him.
The queen finally didn't have to wait for the emperor to come every day. She felt a little disappointed, but also a lot more relieved.
It’s a good time to study the loom.
She recently talked a lot about textile matters with Concubine Mi, Concubine Chun and others. In order to increase cloth production, on the one hand, more women are needed to weave cloth, and on the other hand, the looms need to be improved.
Although they did not come up with a way to improve the loom, the queen learned more about the difficulties faced by female textile workers.
The imperial court often commended chaste and heroic women, but they did not realize that these women also had a very hard time taking care of household affairs and weaving to support their families.
It would be great if the court could give them some rewards.
Unfortunately, the Queen did not dare to mention this matter to Emperor Qianlong. She only told her children, especially Yonglian, who should know about it.
Yonglian sighed in his heart. This matter was more difficult than foreigners going to the West to trade. However, if the looms were improved and the textile industry of the Qing Dynasty developed rapidly, bringing sufficient benefits to the court, the court would naturally pay attention to these women.
Years ago, Yonglian thought of some ways to improve the tricycle, and went to the Imperial Household Department with Yonghuang, where they happened to meet Haiwang.
"Mr. Hai is here. Is there any progress on the loom?" Yonglian asked with a smile. If it wasn't a big deal, Hai Wang wouldn't come here in person.
Hai Wang smiled and said, "Second Prince is very foresighted. I heard from the craftsmen here that cast iron looms are more convenient than wooden looms and can weave faster."
Yonglian tilted his head. He had previously thought that cast iron looms were stronger and more durable than wooden ones. How could this also improve efficiency?
"Come on, let's go and take a look." Yonglian pulled Yonghuang along to watch the fun.
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