Cao Xueqin confiscated the family's property, Yongzheng shook his head and sighed, and the historical and literary giants came to an end
Cao Xueqin, the author of "Dream of Red Mansions", described the rise and fall of a family with the eyes of those who witnessed it, and achieved a swan song for the ages. However, his own family background has also experienced the same twists and turns, from prosperity to decline, just like the Dream of Red Mansions described in his book.
1. Cao Xi and his wife are deeply affectionate and sibling.
The ancestor of the Cao family was originally a clothed servant, and later served in Dolgon's family. After Dolgon's death, his subordinates were absorbed by Shunzhi, the ancestor of the Cao family, and Cao Xi, the ancestor of the Cao family, entered the Shunzhi court at the age of twenty and six.
Cao Xi was born with a crane hair and a childish face, and he was deeply favored by Emperor Shunzhi and became his bodyguard and confidant. Cao Xi has a modest and polite temperament, and he is respectful and cautious in every gesture, which makes Shunzhi very happy. One day, Shunzhi summoned Cao Xi to discuss major matters, and asked if there was a suitable candidate to serve as the nanny of the prince Xuanye. Cao Xi pondered for a moment, and took the liberty of recommending his wife Sun to enter the palace, Shunzhi was overjoyed after hearing it, and after thinking twice, he handled it according to his suggestion.
Since then, Sun has become Xuanye's nurse, accompanying her day and night, taking care of her. Xuan Ye is also extremely attached to this nurse, and even needs Sun's service in daily life, and the two are like mother and son. Cao Xi and his wife served in the palace, and paid homage to the emperor day and night, and won the emperor's favor. Cao Xi was the object of frequent play and chess after Shunzhi retired from the dynasty, and Shunzhi treated him like an old friend.
Cao Xi was also increasingly valued in the Shunzhi Dynasty, and soon gave birth to his son Cao Yin. Cao Yin is smart and studious, and has shown extraordinary talents since he was a child. He and Xuan Ye are of the same age, and their temperament is also very compatible, and the two hit it off at first sight. Cao Yin often sneaked into the palace and played and read with Xuan Ye, like a pair of siblings.
After Kangxi ascended the throne, Cao Yin inherited his father's business and became the new guard. He was diligent and intelligent, deeply loved by Kangxi, and even became a confidant. In the DPRK for decades, Cao Yin assisted Kangxi and made outstanding achievements. He is well-versed in the past and the present, strategic, wise and brave, and is Kangxi's right-hand man. The two not only have a harmonious relationship between the monarch and the minister, but also are close friends.
Kangxi once talked to Cao Yin about the happy time of hunting together in the summer resort during the summer vacation, saying that it was one of the days he missed the most. Cao Yin also repeatedly expressed his loyalty to Kangxi, vowing to assist him in creating the heyday of the Qing Dynasty. The two talked happily and were like brothers.
Second, take over the hometown industry Jiangning weaving is prosperous.
In the winter of the twenty-ninth year of Kangxi, the emperor toured Jiangning in the south, and allowed Cao Yin to return to his hometown to visit relatives. Jiangning's fathers and villagers came to visit one after another, praising the glory of the Cao family. Cao Yin also won the opportunity, and Kangxi asked to serve in his hometown. He said that he is a native of Jiangnan, has a thorough understanding of the local situation, and is willing to return to his homeland for the benefit of his hometown.
Kangxi pondered for a long time after hearing this, he didn't want the minister to leave him, but he also understood Cao Yin's intentions, and finally approved his request. The following year, Kangxi really ordered Cao Yin to be in charge of Jiangning weaving affairs. Jiangning weaving is the most important silk production area in the country, and the importance of the position is self-evident.
Cao Yin was grateful and vowed to live up to his mission. In order to familiarize himself with the weaving situation as soon as possible, he inspected in detail the specific operation of each weaving workshop in Jiangning City. He found that many workshops had outdated equipment, improper operation and chaotic management, which seriously restricted output and quality. Therefore, he recruited talents, improved equipment, and improved the operation process, which soon made Jiangning weaving look new, and the output and quality were greatly improved.
Under Cao Yin's governance, Jiangning Weaving gradually developed into the largest silk production center in the country. Silk is of high quality and low price, and is sold at home and abroad, and the Jiangnan fathers are full of praise for Cao's talent. During this period, the Cao family also entered its heyday, and the opportunity came to an unprecedented peak.
However, in addition to the joy, there is also a hidden crisis - the south of the Yangtze River is rich, but it is often difficult to transport it to the distant capital, and the Cao family is inevitably a little stretched to maintain the huge expenses of operating in other places. The emperor's mighty southern tour made the Cao family unable to make ends meet.
Third, the expenditure on receiving Jun'en's southern tour far exceeded the income.
In order to gather people's hearts for a long time, Kangxi came to Jiangnan several times, and stayed in the weaving mansion in person, and the reception work was cumbersome and complicated. Cao Yin didn't dare to slack off in the slightest, and did his best to handle everything to ensure that Kangxi and his party were comfortable and comfortable.
Whenever the emperor arrived, Cao Yin would personally greet him, and when the carriage that the emperor rode to the gate of the weaving mansion, there were fireworks on both sides, the music was fluttering, and the warm welcome was overflowing. Kangxi was overjoyed in his heart, and greeted Cao Yin with a smile. Cao Yin also responded with a smile, sometimes complimenting Kangxi, which made Kangxi feel relaxed.
During his stay, Cao Yin did not dare to slack off day and night, and met all the requirements of the emperor and his attendants one by one. In order to please the emperor's taste, the kitchen replaced more than a dozen chefs, and dozens of delicacies were presented every day. The sound of singing from the palace also drifted into the emperor's ears through the window, helping him to sleep.
However, the cost of these receptions was unusually high, and the Cao family was unable to make ends meet, and they were increasingly stretched. Kangxi didn't know about this, and Cao Yin never mentioned it to him. In order to provide the best quality reception, Cao Yin had to run around with his family and even pawn the family property. In the end, the deficit was as high as 100,000 taels, and if they didn't want to make up for it, the Cao family might not be able to escape the fate of bankruptcy.
Fourth, the diligent government to make up for the deficit and the sudden death of the workload.
The number of deficiencies became more and more serious, and finally provoked the ** of the governor of Liangjiang. The superintendent played Kangxi, accused Cao Yin of embezzling **, and asked for severe punishment. However, Kangxi did not blame the Cao family, but only urged him to fill the deficit as soon as possible. Cao Yin was grateful and vowed to repay the emperor's kindness.
In the years that followed, he worked hard to run the family business, and finally made up more than 90% of the shortfall. He worked diligently, toiled day after day, and his body gradually became tired. However, thinking that he did not fulfill his duties satisfactorily after all, Cao Yin did not dare to slack off in the slightest.
In the winter of that year when he was about to fill all the shortfalls and end a matter of concern, Cao Yin suddenly had unbearable abdominal pain and an ugly face while dealing with official business. The family was busy with the doctor and diagnosed it as overwork and had to recuperate. Cao Yin did not listen to the advice and still struggled to deal with official affairs. In the end, that night, he fell asleep in the study, and the next day he slept forever, and the deficit of 300,000 taels became his unfulfilled wish.
Kangxi heard the news and sighed for a long time. He knew that this deficit was caused by his frequent southern tours, and he couldn't bear to blame the Cao family. So he ordered Cao Yin's eldest son Cao Hao to succeed him, and at the same time urged his brother-in-law to make up for the remaining shortfall. However, a few years later, Cao Hao also died, and there was no successor to Cao. In the end, Kangxi had to hand over the weaving to Cao Zhuo to take care of.
Fifth, it is difficult for Cao Yin to follow Cao Yin's performance, Yongzheng severely punishes corruption and perverts the law.
Cao is cautious by nature, but he has no talent for running a family business. The deficit that was about to be filled increased in his hands, and the amount was as high as more than 100,000. Kangxi couldn't bear to add to the crime, so he could only turn a blind eye.
After Yongzheng succeeded to the throne, in order to manage the country's finances, he strictly ordered those who were in arrears to repay within a time limit. Cao Qian had nothing to do about it, he had no business skills, and he was afraid of the power of the imperial court, so he was even more at a loss.
The tax officials came many times to urge the arrears, and Cao Qian could only use various excuses to prevaricate. Gradually, the taxes became more and more onerous, and the Cao family could no longer afford to repay the penny. He has a weak personality, and in the face of the urging of the tax officials, he can only transfer property and bribe *** in an attempt to hide from the world.
Soon these behaviors were denounced by the local fathers and elders in the province, Yongzheng was furious, and immediately ordered Cao Qian to be thrown into prison, and at the same time sent people to confiscate the Cao family's property. After the inventory, the Cao family did not have any gold, silver and jewelry except for the house and land. Only then did Yongzheng realize that the rotten Cao family in his eyes was actually already poor.
Thinking of Cao Yin's past kindness, Yongzheng couldn't bear to add to the crime, so he had to announce that he would not ask about the case. The Cao family then returned to their former residence in Beijing and spent the rest of their lives in poverty.
The rise and fall of the Cao family, as described in the book - prosperity must decline, the sun and the moon are reincarnated, and honor and disgrace can be exchanged. A generation of Tianjiao finally could not escape the fate of decline. In the midst of suffering, Cao Xueqin used her family history as a blueprint to create the eternal swan song "Dream of Red Mansions", with a sad ending and life like a dream.
However, it is precisely in this up-and-down fate that Cao's cultivation of brilliant literary brilliance, even if the family is no longer in the family, the charm of "Dream of Red Mansions" will always remain in the world. Rise and fall are bound to decline, life may have ups and downs, but excellent literary works can be passed down through the ages. Therefore, although people have joys and sorrows, their reputation and spirit remain in the world for a long time, just like the charm of the Dream of Red Mansions through the ages.