Civil and military officials of the Manchu dynasty, begging me to ascend the throne

Chapter 247 Undercurrent
"Get up."

Queen Mother Cheng said coldly.

Jiang Yi looked around the palace, and then sat down next to Queen Mother Cheng.

"The Queen Mother's palace is a little deserted. I will send you some rare ornaments in a few days."

"No need."

Queen Mother Cheng's words were still cold, so cold that she could drop ice shards.

"My Ai family's palace is just like this. The emperor doesn't need to worry about it."

"However, Ai Jia came today to ask you something else."

Jiang Yi then turned his head and looked at Queen Mother Cheng. He opened his mouth and said, "Is it about uncle?"

Queen Mother Cheng's expression was a little relaxed, and she seemed to be a little surprised.

"Since you know, then..."

Jiang Yi took the words and a bright smile flashed in his eyes.

"Mother, don't worry. My uncle has already received the decree. In a few days, he will bring me a great victory..."

Speaking of this, Jiang Yi couldn't restrain the excitement in his words, and his eyes filled with the joy of a woman.

But Queen Mother Cheng, who was sitting next to him and staring at his face, was not happy, and even a little angry.

Jiang Yi heard that the queen's voice was obviously a little higher.

"You...you forced him to start a war? Do you want your uncle to die?"

"Mother is overly worried..."

The smile on Jiang Yi's face gradually faded, and he felt a little depressed in his heart.

These days, the ministers were quarreling with him, and Fu Sheng didn't agree with his actions. Now even his mother wants to teach him a lesson?
Jiang Yi frowned slightly and opened his mouth to defend: "Did uncle give you a letter?"

He stared at Concubine Cheng, and she nodded after a moment.

Jiang Yi continued: "Queen Mother, you know my uncle's ability well. He is just timid. Now that he has received the decree, he will definitely bring me a great victory."

What Jiang Yi said was very conclusive, as if the victory was right in front of him.

"Can……"

Concubine Cheng couldn't help but open her mouth to argue.

"Mother, there is no such thing as an accident. Uncle, he will win."

This was the only time Jiang Yi turned cold in front of his mother.

Concubine Cheng looked at her son and could not speak for a long time.

Finally, she said in her usual cold voice: "The Ai family is tired, you can go back first."

Jiang Yi didn't feel angry, he just felt that he had fought a winning battle.

He barely suppressed the joy in his heart and the excitement that jumped out of nowhere, and pretended to be cold and said: "My son, I will come see you next time."

……

in a few days

Inside Sogoden Hall
Jiang Yizheng was smiling with Fan Qing, the Minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, talking about the imperial examination after next spring. Now the preparations for the Ministry of Civil Affairs have been completed.

He knew that the officialdom was full of difficulties, with many obstacles from all sides, and many people interfering with the process in order to keep their official positions.

If he hadn't had a down-to-earth and willing minister like Fan Qing, if this job had been given directly to the Ministry of Civil Affairs at that time, I'm afraid there would still be no news about it till now.

Thinking like this, Jiang Yi's affection for Fan Qing rose to another level.

This is simply a good helper for him, comparable to Taizong and Fang Xuanling of the previous dynasty. This is also his capable minister.

"Wenle, if this is accomplished, what reward do you need?"

Jiang Yi suddenly said.

Master Fan Qing, who was talking about business next to me, was startled. He bowed quickly and said with a panic on his face: "I do everything for the country and the people. Why do you need other gifts from your majesty? If your majesty treats me like this, I will do my best. I dare not say thank you in return.”

Check it out.

Jiang Yi's heart felt like it was soaked in honey, full of joy and pride.

No one likes to be praised, even the emperor is no exception.

Even when he was the prince in the past, most of the looks that fell on him were unkind, indifferent, and sarcastic.

At that time, his father was very unhappy with him, and even the ministers in the court were not close to him.When he was a child, Jiang Yi didn't understand why, but when he grew up, he realized that his teachers and guards in the East Palace had all been sent out of the city by his father.

The crown prince's ministers were transferred to other places, which also resulted in Jiang Yi basically having no team of his own after he ascended the throne.

The late emperor treated him like this, let alone others.

Even the queen mother prefers peace and quiet on weekdays.

Fortunately, his sister kissed him even more.

Of his two former companions, Wang Huan only cared about his second sister, and Fu Sheng, with his cold face, Jiang Yi had been looking at for more than ten years.

Now that he suddenly saw such... such a friendly and gentle minister, and even chatting with him, Jiang Yi felt very satisfied.

While Jiang Yi and Fan Qing were chatting, a young eunuch suddenly came to the door.

The little eunuch looked solemn and said that there was an urgent report from the border.

Jiang Yi's originally smiling face immediately became serious, and the raised corners of his mouth gradually straightened.

'Border pass?Could it be that uncle hasn't given up yet? '

No matter what Jiang Yi was thinking in his heart, he still said with dignity on his face, "Pass."

Fan Qing, who was sitting down, quickly asked to leave. Jiang Yi knew that he was a person who knew how to advance and retreat, so he did not keep him without authorization.

When Fan Qing went out, she happened to pass by the guard wearing armor.

Gently catching a glimpse of the messy sweat marks on his body, he pursed his lips and walked out of the hall quickly.

"Join Your Majesty..."

The guard leaned over and saluted.

"Come on, what's the emergency at the border?"

Jiang Yi looked at the guard coldly and asked.Now he has a cold face and sharp eyes, not at all as kind as he was rumored to be.

"A few days ago, the enemy attacked Langhou. Although our army retreated greatly from the enemy, the old general is mature and prudent. I sincerely ask your Majesty to negotiate for peace."

As he spoke, the guard took out a document from his chest and raised it above his head.

Jiang Yi didn't say anything more and waved his hand.

Chong'an immediately took the document brought by the guard with interest, walked up to Jiang Yi in small steps and handed it over with both hands.

Jiang Yi took the document and opened it with the words "Your Majesty personally expresses it"

The words that followed were even more colorful and rigorous, with many complimentary words for Jiang Yi.

But the content made Jiang Yi very unhappy.

"Don't want to fight anymore? Make peace?" Jiang Yi straightened the corners of his mouth, frowned slightly, and a cold light flashed in his eyes.

"Is this how the general guards the border?"

Jiang Yi's voice was extremely cold. Now he had no intention of saving any face for his timid uncle. 'How can a famous general be so timid? '

Jiang Yi felt cold in his heart, and even looked down upon his uncle, whom he had admired since childhood.

'People are really old.If it weren't for the unscrupulous generals in the court, I wouldn't be reluctant to use him. '

Hearing Jiang Yi's rhetorical question, His Highness's guard clenched his fists, his face flushed, and his eyes flashed with anger.

He had traveled several days from the border to Kyoto, so he knew the situation at the border.

It is already remarkable that the old general can resist the enemy under such circumstances.

But His Majesty actually treated him with such contempt!
Since ancient times, the Lord has humiliated his ministers and died. Even His Majesty cannot treat the general so carelessly.

Everyone in the army knows that the old general is His Majesty's uncle.

Jiang Yi didn't pay attention to the expressions of the messenger guards. Now, he didn't bother to look at the expressions of these little people.

"Peace... There is no such word as peace in the imperial court. Military generals are as cowardly as mice than civil servants?"

Jiang Yi laughed, and now he didn't hide his attitude.

Since he can use his will to suppress Cheng Qian once, he can suppress him countless times.

"His Majesty!"

The guard's hands had veins popping out, he held them tightly, and suddenly said loudly.

Regarding his rudeness, Jiang Yi frowned slightly and thought to himself: He is indeed a soldier, without any etiquette, just like a barbarian.

Jiang Yi did not continue to ask him what he wanted to say. He waved his hand and told him to go down to the palace.

……

wolf throat
The wolf's throat, which originally belonged to Qingyi for decades, was now returned to the hands of the Daxia people.

In order to protect this place, Cheng Qian even personally led [-] soldiers to guard the Wolf Throat.

Fortunately, Cheng Qian had already anticipated this and used himself as bait. When the Qingyi people made an attack, he immediately sent strong troops to attack.

This temporarily ensured the security of the border and also dispelled the Qingyi people's conspicuousness.

But Cheng Qian knew that this was not enough.Far from enough.

Judging from the decades of confrontation between Qingyi and Daxia, the number of troops of the Qingyi people is not far from that of Daxia, and each of them is a cavalry capable of conquering and fighting, and they are very brave.

He was able to win this battle because, firstly, he was well prepared, secondly, he was good at defending the city, and thirdly, the soldiers were united as one, and it was rare to work together as one.

He can win this time, but he may not be able to win twice or three times.But now it seems that the strength of the Qingyi people is far more than that.

Cheng Qian already had a vague premonition. His vigilance, which had saved him countless times on the battlefield over the years, told him that the Qingyi people's next counterattack would definitely not be as easy as this one.

He thought for a while and looked at all the options, but for now, it seemed that the only solution was to take strict precautions.

Only by preserving the existing land amidst the enemy's repeated attacks and charges will it be considered a defeat.

The local generals in Chengzhou who have been at war with Qingyi for several years also feel the same way. They feel lucky, but there are endless crises lurking in the darkness, and they don't know when they will reach out.

"We can no longer take the initiative, general." General Mu went to Cheng Qian specifically to express his doubts.

Cheng Qian nodded, but his face was full of helplessness.

He smiled bitterly and said to the gray-haired veteran: "I already have your Majesty's three explicit edicts and eight secret edicts. ... Guard the tower. I just want to defend the city, but I'm afraid your Majesty won't either. Give me this chance."

"Alas" General Mu's wrinkled face showed a sad expression.

"At such a special time, what about the old people in the court? Can't they persuade His Majesty?"

"The old ones have all retired to the mountains and forests. Now...in the court, the group of rising stars are probably looking forward to returning from a great victory so that they can get a piece of the pie."

Cheng Qian looked sarcastic.

Just two days ago, he had received a letter from his sister.

In the letter, Queen Mother Cheng recounted the experience of talking to His Majesty and expressed her powerlessness.

Everything my sister can do has been done.

He couldn't let her separate from his son, Cheng Qian smiled helplessly.

He is now waiting at the border for the last imperial edict.And... I still wish that His Majesty could change his mind and regain his sanity.

It's a pity that the sky always doesn't follow people's wishes.

And a person's ideas, especially the emperor's ideas, are far from easy to change.

A few days later, the new imperial edict hurried to the border.

According to the decree, Cheng Qian was ordered to lead his troops to raid Qingyi, and was ordered to defeat the enemy.

Now it seems even a little childish and absurd.

No matter how unhappy Cheng Qian was, in the end he still knelt down and accepted the order.

When he stood up again, he looked at the surrounding generals with a wry smile and said: "Since His Majesty's decree has been issued, let's move forward with the army and guard the Wolf's Throat for the time being. General Sun, thank you for your hard work and sneak attack on Qingyi's rear according to the original plan. Mu The old general is stationed in Chengzhou City."

Cheng Qian made a simple arrangement with the general, and everyone hurried out of the commander's camp and returned to the camp to get ready.

Dark clouds overwhelm the city

Amidst the sounds of the troops gathering strength, a war was about to break out.

……

Fan Mansion at midnight
The study room was still brightly lit, and Fan Qing, wearing a light green coat, was looking up information and writing down something with a pen.

The door to the study room opened quietly, and a woman wearing bed clothes and a coat walked quietly in with tea.

This is Fan Qing's wife, Mrs. Liu.

"My husband is working hard, so let's have a cup of tea first."

Mrs. Liu put down the tea cup in Fan Qing's hand, walked behind him, and gently rubbed his shoulders.

"Mrs. hard work."

Fan Qing smiled, stopped writing, and drank a cup of tea.

"My husband has been busy all day. Even the imperial examination will only start in the spring next year. Can't you take a rest?"

The charming woman behind him complained and felt distressed, which made Fan Qing very happy.

His eyebrows relaxed slightly, he took the lady's hand and led her aside.

"Thank you for your hard work, ma'am. But I think... I'm afraid... not long after this..."

As she spoke, Fan Qing showed a trace of sadness in her eyes.

He did not hide anything from his wife and told what he saw.

"It's that guard. I always feel that if the border war breaks out again, it might be detrimental to the current situation."

Madam Liu held Fan Qing's hand and asked: "Then why didn't your Majesty tell your Majesty? Chen Qing was worried about the interests. ... Although I don't understand the affairs of the court, I have always heard that Your Majesty is benevolent, so I will not blame him."

But Fan Qing shook her head and said with a wry smile in a low voice: "Your Majesty didn't even listen to his uncle's words. It is said that Prince Fu Sheng also tried to dissuade Your Majesty, but Your Majesty still turned a deaf ear. I am a small official. I have been criticized by Your Majesty. How can your favor and favor arouse His Majesty’s brow at this time?”

"Does Mr. Xia want to be alone? Then the safety of Daxia will eventually endanger us. Is it rare for the Qingyi people to break in?"

In some matters, Mrs. Liu sees things more clearly than Fan Qing.

"Everyone says that you are like Wang Su in the previous dynasty, your Majesty's eagle dog, but I know that my husband, you are someone who has no intention of party struggle and only wants to survive and secure yourself. Now you really want to ignore the political situation for the sake of His Majesty's favor. ?”

(End of this chapter)