"Master, the profits from selling sweaters during the first month of the lunar year were all used for disaster relief. Twenty percent of Yan Yue Pavilion's profits during the first month of the lunar year will be used for the subsequent post-disaster reconstruction. This is the account, please take a look."
Upon hearing this, Youqing looked through the account book and found that the records were very detailed, the prices matched, and the accounts were consistent.
"Good. Oh, and don't forget to find a few careful people to keep an eye on where the silver goes."
The accounts may be in order, but that doesn't mean there are no problems.
She doesn't mind spending money on the common people, but it's disgusting if it's swallowed up by those with malicious intentions.
"Yes, Master, I will take care of it right away."
Just as Chengying left, they heard that Emperor Kangxi had arrived.
This was the first time Emperor Kangxi had come here after the New Year. It wasn't that he didn't want to before, but it started snowing after the New Year, followed by the tense disaster relief work, plus other matters, so Emperor Kangxi didn't have time!
Emperor Kangxi had just arrived at Muqing Garden in the morning and came over without even having a chance to rest.
"If it weren't for your donation to disaster relief, this disaster probably wouldn't have ended so quickly. Thank you."
The national treasury can provide silver, but not supplies. If it were to use silver to buy goods, it would only buy items whose prices have been inflated. This time, the merchants donated supplies, which skipped the government's handling of the money, saving time and indirectly preventing corruption.
"No need to be polite, it's just what I should do."
She felt that this was the most basic thing for a businessman: the foundation of doing business is the people. Only when the people are healthy and prosperous can the business environment develop in a healthy way. Otherwise, if the people are living in misery, who will she sell her products to?
"This year, many rare items were presented as tribute from other places during the New Year. I had some brought over for you, but they haven't been sorted out yet. I'll have them sent over to you later."
Youqing shook her head and refused: "I don't need anything here, you don't need to give me anything."
"I know you don't lack anything. This is a token of my appreciation and a New Year's gift for you. Putting everything else aside, you have helped me a lot over the years, so you must accept this gift."
Kangxi spoke sincerely, and Youqing thought about it for a moment and then nodded.
...
The musketeer corps began to be formed last year, and now a hundred men have been selected. The number is really small, considering that many armies nowadays start with tens of thousands of men.
After rigorous training, coupled with the training program provided by Youqing, good treatment, good food, and a bright future, the hundred men worked very hard. Emperor Kangxi saw them once before the new year, and each of them was ready to serve as a junior general.
The number of trainees is rather small, so Emperor Kangxi plans to continue training them.
While life in Beijing can be considered "peaceful and quiet," life in Mongolia, which is not too far from Beijing, is very difficult.
"Your Majesty, Russia, in collusion with the Dzungar Khanate, intends to attack the capital, but preparations are still underway."
The one speaking was a bodyguard.
Kangxi nodded. He wasn't surprised by this; the Dzungar tribe had never been honest.
"Any movement from the Mongol tribes?"
"There are a few princes who are not very honest, but the princes who came to the capital last time were very honest."
"I understand. Keep an eye on things."
Kangxi estimated that if the Dzungars didn't attack this year, they would definitely attack next year, so he had to be prepared at all times.
Kangxi then summoned Dai Zi. Although the firearms had been improved, they were still not enough. Although the mother-and-child cannons were extremely powerful, they still had some shortcomings and needed to be improved.
Kangxi spent a lot of money to buy some blueprints. After Dai Zi came over, Kangxi handed the blueprints to him and said, "These are the blueprints I just acquired. When do you think you can develop them? I'll be waiting for your good news."
Dai Zi took the blueprint, glanced at it, and then froze, staring at it for a long time before she came to her senses.
"Your Majesty, this blueprint is extremely ingenious. Does this humble subject know who made it? If this person can assist us, we will surely achieve twice the result with half the effort."
"It is inconvenient for the person who made the blueprints to show up. You have said that the blueprints are extremely exquisite. I believe that Minister Dai will not disappoint me."
Dai Zi didn't ask any further questions.
"Your Majesty, I will obey your command and will certainly live up to your expectations."
Dai Zi was escorted back to the firearms camp with the blueprints.
Kangxi then summoned Zou Cunqing, the head of the musket corps.
This Zou Cunqing was originally a secret bodyguard trained by Emperor Kangxi. He had never carried out a mission and did not know much. Emperor Kangxi praised him for his knowledge of military strategy and made him the commander of the musket army.
Although the musket corps was small in number, after undergoing training, it was directly under the command of Emperor Kangxi. Zou Cunqing's rank was indeed quite high, and the position of commander of the musket corps was even created specifically for him.
"This servant greets Your Majesty."
"Get up!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
How's training going lately?
"Your Majesty, as per Your Majesty's requirements, all soldiers have met the requirements and are ready to go to the front lines at any time."
Although the Qing Dynasty is not currently engaged in large-scale warfare, this does not mean that the Qing Dynasty is truly without conflict. Friction still occurs from time to time in the border regions.
In the north, Tsarist Russia was a typical example of stirring up trouble, trying to incite the Mongols to fight against the Qing Dynasty. The Dzungar Khanate colluded with Tsarist Russia in this way. Unfortunately, the Dzungar Khanate was quite capable, and with the support of Tsarist Russia, it actually became a considerable force.
"The musketeers have done a good job. I hereby order you to select another two thousand men to begin training."
Zou Cunqing was somewhat excited upon hearing this. Two thousand men—that was a musketeer army! That was no small number.
"Your servant obeys."
Kangxi then spoke about the upcoming military training.
By the time the new batch of musketeer soldiers were selected, it was already February. On the second day of the second lunar month, the dragon raises its head, and the weather gradually begins to warm up.
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