Great Qing Dynasty talker

Chapter 329 Qianlong: The quota in Jiangxi's provincial examination can be increased, but group training must not be allowed
Forbidden City, Hall of Supreme Harmony.

In a majestic and solemn atmosphere, Qianlong wore a dragon robe, walked up to the dragon chair with his head held high, sat upright and looked down at the courtiers below.

He Shen just glanced at him from the corner of his eye.
Then I realized that if the Sacred Heart is happy, there must be something good.

A great victory in the south? Why didn’t the Military Aircraft Department and the Ministry of War not know this in advance?

He was confused,
We can only bite the bullet and go out:

"Your Majesty, the Saxon Mission, the Netherlands Mission, and the Andorra Mission have all arrived in Beijing for a few days. I wonder when the Emperor plans to arrange an interview?"

Qianlong nodded majestically:

"The barbarians overseas all know that our Qing Dynasty is strong and powerful, and they have traveled thousands of miles to pay tribute. It is good to have this filial piety. However, they also need to know the appropriateness. Our heavenly dynasty has strict laws, and one-way trade is an unwavering policy."

"The slave understands."

Qianlong's words told everyone about his attitude towards all barbarian missions.

If you come to pay tribute, our Qing Dynasty will be very happy. Ten times the reward is no problem.

If you want to trade, the Qing Dynasty will be very unhappy!
……

Yu Minzhong came out of the queue and said with a smile:

"I heard that the Saxon merchant wanted to sell his nightcap and knives and forks to the people of the Qing Dynasty."

Qianlong smiled contemptuously:

"Do you know, my ministers, what are these nightcaps and knives and forks?"

The ministers shook their heads quickly and pretended not to know even if they knew.

Qin Si, the eunuch in charge, immediately explained in a frivolous tone:
"A nightcap is a cotton hat that people wear when sleeping. A knife and fork are iron tools for eating. The Yi people don't know how to use chopsticks, so they have to use a knife and a fork to eat."

The Hall of Supreme Harmony burst into laughter.

Full of cheerful laughter, it makes fun of the barbarism and ignorance of the Saxons from all aspects.

Qianlong was in a good mood and suddenly said:
"Yesterday evening, I received a secret message from Wang Danwang, the governor of Zhejiang. A great victory in southern Zhejiang, annihilating the puppet Wu 6th Army, beheading the bandit leader Su Shiqi, and more than 5000 new soldiers!"

The hall fell silent for a moment.

A few seconds later, the mountain shouted long live.

The imperial guards standing guard outside the palace all looked at each other in surprise, asking what was going on inside.

After I get off work later, I can go out for a drink and have some fun.

The latest news in the palace, in addition to bragging to obtain spiritual satisfaction, can also obtain material benefits.

There are many people in the capital who are willing to spend money to get first-hand information. This kind of behavior is not suspected of spying, because the feudal officials and Shanxi merchants will send people to Beijing to make connections and inquire about information.

……

There are no fools in the Hall of Supreme Harmony.

Many people are skeptical about this victory. The reason is very simple. Everyone still knows what kind of thing Wang Danwang is.

But there is no need to question or expose it.

There are also some people who are indifferent to this, have nothing to do with me, and just ignore it.

He Shen hesitated to speak and held back.

The old god Yu Minzhong was there, and he didn't know what he was thinking.

The Minister of War came out:

"I have not received the official military report yet."

Qianlong smiled and said:

"I think the Ministry of War will receive it in the next day or two. Wang Danwang also said in his secret book that his victory had a lot of luck. The 6th Army of Wu Army was newly formed and the battlefield was immature. He strayed into the mountainous area again and entered Even so, the officers and soldiers in southern Zhejiang suffered more than 3000 casualties. One magistrate, two county magistrates, and six officers below the rank of deputy general of the Green Camp were killed. It was tragic."

With that said, Qin Si, the eunuch in charge, took out the secret fold from his sleeve and began to read aloud:

"~Wang Xiaoer, a Yimin of Quzhou, had the imperial court in mind, and pretended to be ingratiated with him, luring the Wu bandits into the valley. I personally fired the cannons, and when the cannons were fired, the boulders rolled down one after another. The Wu bandits suffered heavy casualties. From the fighting at noon to the sunset, the valley was like a In Shura Hell, Fubiao officers and soldiers shouted to kill the thieves and refused to retreat. The 3rd Army Corps of the Wu Army in Yanzhou Prefecture was frightened and retreated hundreds of miles to avoid the enemy. Attached is the list of 143 meritorious soldiers."

……

The Hall of Supreme Harmony was silent.

Even He Shen started to murmur, this old boy couldn't really be a blind cat who met a dead mouse and won.

How dare you ask the imperial court to send an imperial envoy to inspect military merit?

No wonder the emperor is full of confidence and no longer suspicious as in the past.

The master Qianlong was not easy to deceive, and all the officials who deceived him died miserably, such as Zhang Guangsi and Neqin of Jinchuan, and Yang Yingju of Yunnan.

Qianlong's slightly joyful voice sounded again:
"What do you think, dear friends?"

He Shen immediately took over the conversation:

"My slave suggests that at Wang Danwang's request, an imperial envoy be sent to Zhejiang for inspection. If it is true, it should be highly praised."

"Yeah. I think so too. Let the Ministry of War send someone to take a look."

"Your Majesty is wise."

Following this matter, Qianlong naturally asked:
"How is the progress of troop deployment from various places?"

The Minister of War was well prepared and immediately reported fluently:
"The Green Camp of Yunnan and Guangxi has 2 troops and 5000 Tusi Barbarians have arrived in Binzhou, Hunan. The Green Camp of Guizhou has 2 troops and has arrived in Changde Prefecture, Hunan. The Erut Mongolian Horse Troops have 5000 and the Khalkha Mongolian Horse Troops have 3000 and should arrive in half a month. A total of 15000 people from the Eight Banners of Jilin and the Eight Banners of Heilongjiang have arrived in Baoding Prefecture, Zhili."

"In addition, Yangzhou Prefecture has 6 troops gathered in the Jiangbei Camp in Yizheng County, Huai'an Prefecture has 5 Huaixi New Army troops, and Xiaoqi Camp has 5000 Han army cavalry."

……

Qianlong nodded frequently and asked again:
"Where are Sauron's soldiers?"

"Sauron's 2000 soldiers marched together with the Eight Banners stationed outside the pass and arrived at Baoding Prefecture. Leader Sauron requested the court to allocate bows, arrows and armor first, as they can't afford the money to buy them for the time being."

"I am not an unreasonable person, so let's take it on credit first. After the victory, it will be deducted from the military merit reward. The Ministry of War strictly ordered all the ministries not to fight easily after arriving at the predetermined place. They should build deep trenches and strong fortresses. Those who do not have orders to fight will Even if we win, we will be guilty. This time we will use all our troops to sweep down the south of the Yangtze River like the top of Mount Tai."

"The Emperor's Holy Might."

Heshen was also the Minister of the Ministry of Finance, so he had to step aside at this time:

"Your Majesty, please clarify the scope of food and salary support for each army."

As soon as these words came out,
There was a commotion in the Hall of Supreme Harmony, asking for money, this was a big deal.

Qianlong's rhetoric was ambiguous:
"The Ministry of Household Affairs will pay 3%, and the rest will be paid by the provinces, and then let the gentry and merchants actively donate. Part of it can be released for supervising students and candidates. There are many difficulties, and military pay must not be in arrears, otherwise the national law will not allow it."

……

A censor suddenly came out and said something shocking:

"I have the courage to ask the gentry from all over Jiangxi and Fujian to prepare for the formation of regiment training, so that the villagers can defend the country and assist the officers and soldiers in the suppression."

Qianlong gave him a cold look:
"You talk nonsense and are wild and rebellious. The capital city cannot tolerate you. Go to Guizhou and become a county magistrate."

This man's face was earth-colored, and he knelt down to thank him.

He glanced at Yu Minzhong and saw that the back remained motionless. With a silent sigh in his heart, he sadly exited the Hall of Supreme Harmony and the Forbidden City.

This life is already doomed.

The elder Yu Minzhong slowly came out and made a rather unexpected suggestion:

"I would like to ask you to increase the quota for the Jiangxi Provincial Examination."

Everyone's reactions were great, some were surprised, some were admired, some were enlightened, and some were thoughtful. Even Qianlong looked at this old guy with complicated eyes.

……

The imperial court has clear regulations on how many candidates can pass the provincial examination in each province. This quota is called the "rural examination mid-term quota".

Take Jiangxi as an example. The number of candidates in the provincial examination is 94. It is roughly similar to the median amount in Zhejiang and Fujian.

There are more than 69 places in Jiangsu, and more than double the number in Yunnan and Guizhou.

At this time, Jiangxi was indeed a major imperial examination province.

Of course, compared to Shuntian Mansion, he is a younger brother. Shuntianfu is far ahead with 213 candidates in the provincial examination.

The Qing court’s explanation was also very straightforward:
Gai Shuntian, the best place, should be cultivated with excellence!
Translated into human words, if everything in the world is at your feet, deal with it in a special way. Preferential treatment is also reasonable.

But if we look at the proportion of candidates who passed the exam,
The four provinces of Shuntian, Guizhou, Guangxi, and Sichuan were “less than one in a hundred.”

The four provinces of Yunnan, Fujian, Shanxi and Shaanxi are “one among 100”.

In other provinces, it is one hundred and twenty, or even one in one hundred and fifty. …

Qianlong broke the silence:
"If the Jiangxi gentry is really loyal to the court and pays huge sums to suppress thieves, then the amount in the provincial examination can be increased."

The Imperial Academy scholar, Ji Yun, stepped out and asked:
"I would like to ask the emperor to clarify whether the quota for Jiangxi is to be added or allocated?"

This is a very critical question,
Regardless of new additions or allocations, it will become a fixed rule in the future. The new addition is related to the problem that there will be more and more carrots in the future and the holes will not be enough to fill. Transfers are taken from other provinces, so there is no problem of adding more carrots.

The matter is so big that it will still be sensitive even hundreds of years later.

Qianlong waved his hand:
"Since there are many thieves in Jiangnan and they have failed the imperial court, let's give Jiangnan's quota evenly to Jiangxi."

"The Emperor's Holy Might."

Several courtiers from Jiangxi knelt down and kowtowed excitedly.

This is not a false move, it is a move and love from the heart.

mean,

From then on, scholars from this province were more likely to become officials, and more people entered the official career.

In a few decades, Jiangxi will prosper.

……

Yu Minzhong immediately felt the friendly eyes of many colleagues from Jiangxi. They were more like real brothers than real brothers. It seems to be saying that from now on, Lao Yu, you are a spiritual Jiangxi person.

Some people also murmured in their hearts,
Older than a Jiangsu person, what kind of style is this?

In the future, if the imperial court succeeds in suppressing the rebellion, will he be able to return to his hometown? I'm afraid the ancestral graves will be dug up.

If you offend scholars, you will have a promising future.

Even if you die, you will be programmed for hundreds of years. There is endless dirty water being poured out and endless rumors being made up.

but,

Qianlong looked at Yu Minzhong with much gentler eyes.

He suddenly felt that this old guy was handsome and loyal.

Cut off the quota in Jiangnan and make up for the scholars in Jiangxi.

Once this move is made, the gentry in Jiangxi who are still under the rule of the imperial court will definitely explode with amazing strength, donate money, organize civilians, and cooperate with the officers and soldiers.

Because this means that their family can more or less add one or two red tassel hats.

……

All things are inferior, only reading is superior.

Is reading really superior to others? of course not.

It's not "high in reading", but "high in officialdom".

The largest proportion of scholars who can take the path of studying, stand out, and successfully enter officialdom must be the children of officials and gentry families. It is difficult for poor scholars to overtake others in the imperial examination, unless they are truly talented.

You can understand it by referring to Citi’s education system.

Therefore, when the Qing government increased the mid-term quota for rural examinations in Jiangxi, it was to provide exclusive benefits to the gentry.

One of the censors was very impassioned on the spot, saying that the imperial court was so kind to the Gan people, and Jiangxi would definitely become a bridgehead against the Wu bandits.

The sedan chair was carried by everyone.

For a time, the hall was filled with praise and analysis from all walks of life.

finally,
Ji Yun, a bachelor of the Hanlin Academy, concluded that the imperial court was bound to win and the puppet Wu was bound to lose.

After the dynasty dispersed,
For the first time, Qianlong felt that the spring in the capital was so beautiful.

When I was thinking about going to the Old Summer Palace for a tour, a young eunuch staggered over and said with a choked voice:

"The Queen Mother has gone to Hexi~"

……

The imperial court governs the world with filial piety.

The Queen Mother's departure is naturally a national event.

All the white cloth in the capital was sold out, and theater and teahouses were temporarily closed to match the solemn atmosphere.

For half a month,

None of the major government offices in the capital were doing anything serious, they were all immersed in grief.

Of course,
We are all smart people who see things through but don’t tell them. Even his biological son Hongli may not be really sad, let alone the ministers.

The Queen Mother lived to be 86 years old, which is already the longest life among all.

The most strange thing is that as the emperor's mother, her last name is unclear.

There are Qing palace archives recording that she was a Han Chinese with a surname of Qian.

There are also records saying that she was a Manchu with a surname of Niu Hulu.

No matter how stupid the Ministry of Internal Affairs is, they will not mistakenly copy Niu Hulu's pen as Qian's.

Referring to the Qing history archives, the birthplace of Hongli was changed again and again, and even Emperor Daoguang personally ordered that the unified statement is "Gaozong was born in Prince Yong's Mansion".

It is not difficult to deduce a conclusion:
Qianlong's biological mother was probably a lowly Han woman who was taboo among the venerables, so it has been repeatedly obscured in history.

After all, Auntie Baqi is famous for her short life span.

……

After spending nearly a month living as a senior prisoner, Macartney and his entourage finally lost their temper.

He strongly requested to come to Beijing as soon as possible!

Seeing his resolute attitude, the Minister of Lifan Yuan did not dare to wait any longer.

I reported it to Heshen first, and then got Qianlong's permission.

On the eighth day of April in the forty-second year of Qianlong's reign (1777),

在京城骁骑营2000骑兵，护军营500骑兵，虎枪营500步兵、仪仗500人、夫役1000人的护送下，撒克逊使团30人分别乘坐轿子开始了他们奇幻的进京之旅。

Heshen had already made all the arrangements along the way.

Make sure that what he sees is the prosperous period of Qianlong, and he will never be embarrassed.

The three-hundred-mile route from Jinmen Mansion to the capital was planned in advance. The Governor of Zhili took the imperial guards back and forth twice to make sure there was no problem.

Macartney and Staunton were sitting in a large green cloth sedan carried by eight people, which was quite novel.

From time to time he opened the sedan curtain and looked around.

"It must be the powerful cavalry regiment composed of these colorful armored cavalry that defeated the Junggar Khanate. Frank's Yue-Hungarian armored cavalry may be able to defeat them."

"I am full of expectations for the Forbidden City."

Standong was silent and suddenly asked a question:
"Your Excellency, Deputy Ambassador, have you noticed that there are almost no trees along the way?"

……

Macartney was stunned, as if this was what happened, so he frowned and asked:

"This shows what?"

"It shows that this empire lacks enough fossil fuels, so the people have cut down all the trees that can be used as fuel. Judging from the air quality, the people here should rarely use coal."

Calm down Macartney,
Simply fix the sedan curtain to one side and start observing what you see and hear along the way from the perspective of a bystander.

He soon discovered the second problem.

Almost no people were seen along the way. Whether they are passers-by or spectators.

"The people of the Qing Dynasty don't seem to welcome us? If we were in London, there would be many gentlemen watching the grand event along the way. After all, this is the first official official contact between two great empires."

Standong smiled very strangely:

"Your Excellency, Deputy Ambassador, when we take a break later, Hong Renhui and I will switch. I think maybe he is the only one who can answer your questions."

[This book has been ordered for 5000 yuan. It’s not easy to achieve such results with the update speed of a part-time cute new author. Thank you to all the book friends who rewarded and commented, and to the many more book friends who read silently. 】

(End of this chapter)