Emperor Yongzheng

Chapter 56: The new king releases his old minister’s old enemy’s prank in Tianlao

On the 27th, the national mourning finally passed quietly amidst sorrow, uneasiness and tension. On the tenth day of the twelfth lunar month, under the leadership of Yongzheng, the princes and grandchildren performed a knock-on ceremony in front of Emperor Kangxi’s Zi Palace. Yongzheng led the spirit and moved the coffin to the birthday. The imperial palace is dedicated to the coffin.Because it is not yet one month, the hairpin tassels on the hats of the kings, dukes, Baylor, Beizi, and civil and military officials cannot be worn yet, but the coffin shed in front of the Qianqing Palace has been removed, and the white gauze lanterns hanging in front of thousands of households in the palace have also been removed. Li Dequan, the eunuch of Liugongdu, together with officials from the Ritual and Funeral Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, took off the lanterns and replaced them with yellow gauze palace lanterns.The palace was re-arranged, and the original atmosphere of desolation, chilling, and mourning suddenly disappeared by more than half.Since Kangxi became seriously ill in mid-October, 22 princes of the emperor couldn't take off their clothes and served them day and night. First they went to the Changchun Garden and then to the Forbidden City. They are strong and strong, but they are all unkempt, their faces are blue, and they can't lift their spirits like frost-beaten grass.Everyone was preoccupied with their own concerns, and followed Yongzheng Luanyu's footsteps chaotically. They all heaved a sigh of relief when they watched Yongzheng Yu drive into the Rijing Gate. It's good to have a good sleep, but the emperor has no will, so he has to wait.The ten elder brother Yun was restless for a moment, rubbing his hands and stamping his feet to keep warm, looking up at the sky with his nose, chatting up with this elder brother for a while, and then ran to the group of eunuchs and asked: "Is there a hand stove?" Turning to Yun again, he asked with a half-smile: "Hey, I said the Great General, is it cold in this place, or is it cold in Xidatong?"

"It's cold." Looking at the palace gate, Yun said wistfully, "The military tents in my camp are made of double-layer cowhide blankets, and there are fire dragons strung on the ground, so it's very warm. When it comes to the outside, it's far from here. One bite The saliva freezes before it hits the ground, and it falls to pieces—like my brother, wearing a lynx monkey fur robe and running around in the cold, don’t go west for the rest of your life.”

"They're all cold - not bad!" Yun said with a smile, "But there is a difference. For example, the Emperor, Lao Shisan, Long Keduo, and Zhang Tingyu are all warmly enjoying tea and ginseng soup in the study. . As for us, we have to drink the northwest wind obediently in this ice and snow. Born to the same father, life is different!" Yunpin chewed on the meaning of his words, smiled calmly and said: "The separation between monarch and minister is just around the corner, and the place is far away. Of course." Yun snorted and said, "Of course, of course! In the past, Sun Hao surrendered to the Jin Emperor. Sun Hao was the emperor of Wu during the Three Kingdoms. He was tyrannical and cruel, and he revenged old grudges. He almost killed all the ministers and clans, and the country was in chaos. In 280, Emperor Wu of the Jin Dynasty, Sima Yan, sent troops to attack Wu. The Wu army collapsed. Jin general Wang Jun went straight to Jianye. Sun Hao surrendered and became a minister. He was granted the title of Marquis of Ming. During the banquet, he sang: "I used to be your neighbor, and now I am your minister." I'd like to offer you a glass of wine and wish you eternal spring!" Clear your throat. In 20 days, it will be the first day of the Lunar New Year. The emperor will definitely receive a congratulatory banquet in the Hall of Supreme Harmony. If you speak up, you will be granted the title of prince! "After that, without waiting for a reply, he shrank his head and stamped his feet and jumped to another place.

Everyone was gathering to talk or discuss in private. Just when they were tired of waiting, Yun clapped her hands and said, "Ya Jing! Enzhi has come! Let us go back home immediately, have our heads shaved, wash our feet, and sleep with Mei Mei'er in her arms." Wake up!" Yun, who was standing silently on the palace wall, looked up and saw that Xing Nian, the eunuch of Yangxin Palace, came with a group of Sula eunuchs and stood in charge of the Rijing Gate.

"My lords," Xing Nian saw that everyone was about to kneel reluctantly, and hurriedly said, "Long live lord ordered to be excused. The master knows that you are tired, but you still have some important matters, and you want to have a heart-to-heart talk with you. Please come here The Hall of Mental Cultivation is waiting for you. The master is meeting someone, and he will be down in an hour, please be patient for a while, the master and the men will come in together for lunch." After a few words, everyone was discouraged, so they had to drag their feet like lead. , meandering out of Yongxiang, crossing Tianjie, and then passing through Yuehuamen from Xiyongxiang to the Hall of Mental Cultivation and waiting.

Xing Nian passed the decree and came back. From Yuehua Gate, he watched his elder brothers enter the Chuihua Gate of Yangxin Palace listlessly. Then he went to hand in the decree. I saw Long Kedo, Zhang Tingyu, Ma Qi, Wang and a dozen other officials. All cranes stand in front of the eaves.Xing Nian sighed in his heart: "It's true that the emperor and the courtiers. When the late emperor was here, he would never let these courtiers stand outside to suffer from the cold..." Thinking, he walked up to Ma Qi and the king, and gave a slap Qian'er said: "Greetings to the two lords! The two old lords have been imprisoned in the Prison Temple for a year, and they look good! This time, the new master will obey the emperor's last order and release everyone The adults come out. The nobles are tortured, and there will be endless blessings, and the young ones are also happy for the adults!" Looking at the next dozen or so people, although they are not familiar with each other, they know that they were all imprisoned by Kangxi, and Yongzheng was just pardoned. Xing Nian Ye all bowed together to salute, and said with a smile: "Adults are blessed!"

"Is that Xing Nian outside?" Yongzheng's voice came from the upper study, "Come in." Xing Nian hurriedly agreed, and lifted the thick cotton curtain to come in, and a warm current rushed towards his face immediately.When he looked closely, Yongzheng was sitting according to the case, wearing a crimson red silk face-dyed fox gown, a mink yellow face jacket, and a yellow crepe girdle around his waist, sipping tea and meditating.There were two people kneeling down on their heads, but they both recognized them as Qian Yundou and Cai Huaixi from the Ministry of Internal Affairs. They were sent to pick up Yun that day, and it was his own decree.Because he didn't know what Yongzheng called them to say, Xing Nian didn't dare to say a word, poured a cup of hot milk for Yongzheng, bowed and stepped aside.But I heard Cai Huaixi say: "The Fourteenth Master has been very peaceful all the way. The servants never expected that the Fourteenth Master would suddenly change his sex after entering Beijing and cause such a big trouble. These are all the slaves. If you don’t do your job well, please ask the Lord Long Live to punish you!”

Yongzheng stood up, took a few steps, took a sip of the milk, and said with a smile: "I just asked in vain, and there is no other meaning. If he is willing to obey the order and come to Beijing safely, your errands will be considered good." Your fourteenth master is already high-tempered, but when you meet the emperor Amaron as a guest, you feel anxious, and your words and actions will inevitably go too far. I summoned you to tell you that whatever the fourteenth master said on the road, no matter whether it is good or bad, Don’t pass it on to the outside world.” He quickly withdrew his smile, with a faint light in his eyes, gritted his fine white teeth and said, “Speaking out is to instigate discord between my family and my family. Has anyone asked you about these things after Beijing?" Cai Huaixi hurriedly kowtowed and said: "The slave came back and was ordered by the constitution to go to the Ministry of Rites to help with this year's Enke. He was so busy that no one came to inquire about gossip. The slave is a person who knows the rules, and he doesn’t dare to talk nonsense.” Qian Yundou also said: “The slave doesn’t dare to talk nonsense.” Yongzheng smiled and said, “That’s good. Xing Nian told the Ministry of Internal Affairs that the two will be rewarded by one level each. One year's money and food." When Qian and Cai withdrew, Yong Zhengfang asked Xing Nian, "Have they all passed?"

"Yes!" Xing Nian hurriedly apologized and said with a smile: "The servant watched the men enter the Hall of Mental Cultivation with his own eyes, so he came to answer the master." Yongzheng nodded and said: "I can't keep them waiting, you just follow me!" Xing Nian hurriedly said: "The servant just came in, and there are many officials standing under the corridor! Master, don't see me before we go?"

"Oh!" Yongzheng seemed a little surprised, stood up and looked out through the glass, and said to Xing Nian, "You ask Long Kedo to come in!"

Long Kedo came in. He was a strong man in his 50s. He wore a gown with nine pythons and five claws. He had a dark red face under the coral roof. His five short figures seemed to contain endless energy. He took off his horseshoe sleeves, knelt down and kowtowed: "Slave Long Kedo kowtows to Lord Long Live!"

"Uncle, don't be like this, get up, and I will avoid the word 'slave' when I see you later."

"I dare not!"

"Why don't you dare?" Yongzheng said with a smile, "Since I call you that, you deserve it." Seeing Long Ke standing up, Yongzheng said again: "I have to say a few words about uncle. Tingyu is a Hanchen, be careful in everything, it’s okay. You are now the head minister of the study room, and the admiral of the Nine Gates, my dear relatives and trustworthy ministers, you should think more about everything for me, and bear more."

Long Keduo glanced at Yongzheng with piercing eyes, then hurriedly lowered his head and said, "Please expressly, the emperor, that I will obey the order!" Yongzheng pointed out the window and said, "Ma Qi is an old minister of the former emperor. It's just Ying Jing'er. The king is a famous loyal minister and a master who taught me to read. Some of these dozen people were imprisoned unjustly, and some were just punished for mistakes in official business. I rule the world with benevolence and filial piety, of course I must be gracious and pardoned They come out. How can you treat them as ordinary criminals? On the one side of the study room, I occupy the room to talk and meet people, and the other side approves the book room. There is plenty of room in the copy room, so I can't make room for them to go in and rest In such a cold day, standing in the windy place under the eaves!" Long Kedo apologized and said with a smile: "Your Majesty, they just came out of prison and reported to the leader in the upper study. The servant and Ting Yu advised them to live in Yujia. Note that the file room is waiting temporarily, they heard that the emperor is here, no one is going to keep warm, they are all waiting outside, wanting to see you..." Xing Nian finally understood that Yongzheng didn't know that there were so many people waiting outside in the cold, He hurried over to put on a cloak for Yongzheng, and together with Longkodo, followed Yongzheng out of the upper study room. When a dozen or so ministers standing in a row in the corridor saw Yongzheng coming out, they knelt down together, kowtowed and shouted:

"Long live!"

Yongzheng seemed very moved, his pale face was flushed, he only nodded slightly to Zhang Tingyu who was kneeling in front of him, walked a few steps, supported Ma Qi with one hand, and Wang with the other, and ordered everyone to get up without courtesy, and said: "Wang Master, why do you do this? Even if the Son of Heaven pays homage to his teacher, I should kneel twice and kowtow six times to you! You are all people who the late emperor relied heavily on. The six departments are not in Jiuqing, but in Dali Temple and the Ministry of Punishment. I didn't understand at the time, but after thinking about it later, I was referring to you. I obeyed the last emperor's last order and pardoned you. I want to refresh politics, clarify the administration of officials, and rely on you more Old man—in this way, you first talk to Uncle Longkodo and Tingyu, take a month off to take care of your private affairs, and there will be an order for you.”

Among the people present, Ma Qi was Kangxi's minister of the upper study and the minister of the guards. He was deposed because he had protected the eighth elder brother Yun as the prince of the East Palace, and Wang was the fourth elder brother Yongzheng. .The rest, such as Zhang Tinglu, Xu Yuanmeng, Wang Hongxu, Ertai, etc., were either ministers of the Ministry, or ministers of the hall, and they were all capable officials of the Xi Dynasty. Everyone felt a grievance in their hearts and wanted to see the new emperor to complain v.Hearing that the first emperor had such a will, everyone was so moved that they burst into tears and fell to the ground to meet each other loudly.Wang Tou couldn't bear it anymore, so he wailed loudly!
"My lords," Ting Yu, a very scheming person, knew that Yongzheng still had important matters, and hurriedly said: "The emperor still has to go to the Hall of Mental Cultivation to read the booklets and discuss matters. First, please enter the upper study room and let us chat, and then please order, I How about taking all of you to the Shouhuang Hall to meet the Holy Ancestor Zigong in front of the late emperor's spirit?"

"There is no need to ask for more orders," Yongzheng nodded and sighed, "Just do as Tingyu said. Long Keduo sent the newly minted Yongzheng coins to the Yangxin Hall, and there was also a note from the Ministry of Rites to invite Enke. And hand it over to me for inspection." After saying that, he took De Lengtai, Zhang Wuge and other guards out of the Yuehua Gate. They saw the [-]th elder brother Yunxiang waiting in front of the Chuihua Gate. Yongzheng smiled and said, "Brothers are waiting in a hurry. Is that all?" Yunxiang frowned and was in a daze with a preoccupied look on his face. When he heard Yongzheng's question and looked up, he was already in front of him. He knelt down in panic and said: "Your Majesty's thousands of letters, day and night. I'm so busy, why wait a while for my ministers, why is there any reason to rush? My brother is waiting for the emperor here because Sun Jiagan, the head of the household department, and Ge Dahun, the minister, had a big quarrel over the matter of coining money. The two ministers ignored their dignity and We knelt until we reached the Long Zongmen, and dozens or hundreds of officials gathered around to watch the fun. The matter is not big, and it is too unseemly, so I am waiting here, and I have to report this matter to the Emperor."

"Where is the person?" Yongzheng asked with an imperceptible twitch of his cheek muscles.Yun Xiang swallowed a mouthful of saliva, and said: "Chen, stop them. Ask Ge Dahun to write the papers and hand them over to the study room to join the surname Sun, and ask Sun Jiagan to be temporarily detained in the guard's room, waiting to be dealt with by the upper study room." Yongzheng smiled coldly, Lifting his feet, he entered the Hanging Flower Gate, and said, "It's ridiculous! A sixth-rank manager dares to make a fuss in the palace—take off his official uniform first, and listen to the investigation!"

"Zha!" Yun Xiang hurriedly agreed to get up, told the guards in front of the door to deliver the decree, followed Yongzheng a few steps into the main hall of the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

Because of the glare of the snow outside the courtyard, Yongzheng entered the hall only to feel the darkness, and it took him a while to see clearly. The third elder brother Yunzhi was headed, and Yunqi, Yunzuo, Yun, Yun, Yun, Yun, Yun, Yun, Yun were kneeling in the front row. Yun, Yunlu, Yunli, and ten younger brothers knelt in the back row, all west of Xumizuo, kowtowed their heads together, and shouted unevenly: "Long live..."

"Get up, get up." Yongzheng took a breath in his heart, his tone became unusually kind, and he raised his hands with a smile on his face, "Third brother and younger brothers are exhausted these days. Tired to death. There is no outsider here today. We brothers talked heart-to-heart, and we held back all the words in our hearts when we were given the gift of the monarch and his ministers——Li Dequan, put wooden sticks for everyone to sit on, and put some on the tea table Dessert, bring the palace eunuchs to serve in the East Side Hall!"

The eunuchs panicked for a while, set up the tea table, served tea and food, and quietly retreated out.The main hall of the huge Hall of Mental Cultivation fell silent, 21 elder brothers sat upright, staring at this former cold-faced king, today's Ninth Five-Year Lord, I don't know what he has to say, the past kindness and resentment, along with the hall. The monotonous and boring "click" sound of the golden chiming clock at the corner seems to be gathering or scattering.

"I have been the emperor for a month." Yongzheng looked at the cloudy and sunny sky outside, the snow that was more than a foot thick on the roof and the sparrows foraging in the courtyard, in a daze, as if he was confiding, but also like himself. Talking to himself, he breathed a deep sigh of relief, "In 20 days, the yuan will be changed to 'Yongzheng'. Enke is already in preparation, and the edict of the amnesty document has also been drafted. The new money will be presented today. It will be circulated in the world next year..."

The "heart-to-heart talk" actually started here, and the brothers couldn't help but stare.Yun couldn't help turning his head to look at Yun, and then turned his face away.Yun is the leader of Yongzheng's political opponents, and his knowledge is naturally higher than that of everyone. Although his face is calm, his heart sinks. Yongzheng's casual words are actually declaring that the political situation has stabilized, and he will fight for the throne again. Not only is it rebellious, but it is also futile!

"I have already seen the pain of being an emperor." Yongzheng said without looking at the crowd, "I have been in the mansion for 45 years, and I have witnessed the difficulties of the emperor Daxing to create a great cause. At that time, I even wrote a song in private. Poetry—um..." While recalling, with a wry smile, he recited:

Lazy to ask about the ups and downs, while entertaining the flowers and willows.

Wu'er plays the phoenix song, and the Yue girl plays the Luanxiao.

Daoxu Shanseng visited and recruited the wild old man.

The lacquer garden is not what one admires, and one's ambition is at ease.After a short pause, I sighed: "So my ambition has never been about the throne. I never thought that the Emperor's Examination would entrust me with this thousand miles of land! I have been in the mansion for decades, thanks to the blessing of the late emperor, Wealth and glory are not diminished today, but the comfort and comfort are thousands of times less than then. Every time I think about this for a month, I can’t help crying! In this life, I will never think about being happy and happy again!" Said, I don’t know what to say Touching his heart, Yongzheng actually shed tears.

All the people present, except Yun, witnessed the shocking scene on the day Kangxi passed away.One month ago today, the admiral of the Nine Gates, Longkodo, announced in public an edict ordering the fourth son of the last emperor, Yin, to succeed the Datong. Army Green Camp and Ruijian Camp must not act rashly, the thirteenth brother Yunxiang and the seventeenth brother went to Fengtai Camp in person with gold medals and arrows, and brazenly killed the eighth brother's cronies, led the admiral Cheng Wenyun, and raised troops to go straight Changchun Garden protects Yongzheng's ascension to the throne... These scenes are still vivid in my mind, but Yongzheng actually said eloquently, "If you want to be happy, don't be an emperor"!Listening to these hypocritical words, Yun felt more tired than eating flies. Yun, who glanced at him, also had fire in his eyes, but at this time under the low eaves, he had no choice but to endure the unknown anger in his belly.

"Some people don't believe my heartfelt words, even if they are evil. But God knows my heart!" Yongzheng frowned, and said slowly: "Brothers have been together for decades, what don't you know? I am far inferior to my ancestors in terms of morality, talent and knowledge. I can only be confident if I work seriously and live up to my heart. Since I am entrusted with a great task by God, I have to risk my life to do it. As the emperor, I am not as good as the previous generation. For example, after Yu and Tang came Jie and Zhou, and the future generations of the world should not cover up the merits of Yu and Tang because of the unkindness of their descendants-I am the ancestor, right and wrong, and they are actually one. If things are done well, then the entrustment of Huang Kao is right, and if I don’t do well, then Huang Kao is entrusted wrongly—a great man like Shengzu through the ages, entrusting his career to me, how dare I slack off, Are you willing to give up on yourself, so that the future generations will discuss the mistakes entrusted by the ancestor? Brothers... We are all the blood of the emperor. You have to look up to the heart of the old man. The people have no dual principles, and they are loyal and responsible, and I praise you!"

With a pale face and agitated emotions, he glanced at the brothers one by one with expectant eyes and a little blankly.These elder brothers are all experienced in the sea, how can they be moved by these few words?Only the young princes Yunxiang, Yunli and Yun stared at Yongzheng, as if they were moved.Yun Zhi and Yun looked at each other, and after a while they felt that it was inappropriate to sit and listen to the training, so they left the table one after another. The fifth elder brother Yun Qi was the most honest and simple, and knelt down first, kowtowed and said: "The emperor Buda Sincerely, I will be honest with you, I am so grateful! The emperor has an order, and I will not hesitate to do so!"

"Very good, brothers are of the same heart, and their benefits can cut through gold!" Yongzheng looked disappointedly at Yun, who said nothing, and said, "Fifth brother, I dare not take what I said. I didn't give orders to instruct the brothers to be 'dead-hearted'." '. I just thought, I can't compare to the old man Huang Kao, and I have to rely on the help of my brothers. If I can't, you can help me; if I make mistakes, you can remonstrate them; if I have mistakes, you can forgive me Yes. Together, let me say "yes", so that I can become a generation of lords, and fulfill the heart of the holy ancestor. You are both loyal ministers and filial sons, and of course you are my good brothers!" Yongzheng said, seeing Yun kneeling on the ground shaking his head and raising his eyebrows, kneeling with his legs crossed and twisting his body, he was restless, so he asked: "Yun, what's wrong with you?" With a mournful face, he said: "Long Live Lord is so earnest. If you don't listen to your heart, is he still a person? My younger brother is really forced to come up, and I feel uncomfortable when twisting the rope. I ask the emperor for permission, and I want to show my respect!" As he said, he unexpectedly Let out a bunch of farts.Yun couldn't help but burst out laughing "puchi", and coughed a few times to cover it up.Yongzheng talked non-stop for a long time, saying that even a stone man should be tempted, but it turned out to be such a result, and his hands and feet were suddenly cold with anger.He pondered for a long time with a livid face, and was about to explode. He gave the restless iron-headed hozen a blow, and suddenly looked up to see the banner given to him by Emperor Kangxi. There were four characters written in regular script:
Refraining from haste and using patience "Yongzheng Dynasty Daily Life Notes" on April 47th, the second year, Kangxi said in [-] years that Yongzheng was "uncertain in mood and anger" and asked him to "refrain from haste and use patience"; recorded.It was Yongzheng himself who hung up the writing "Beware of Haste and Use Forbearance" as a warning to himself.Yongzheng smiled tolerantly, and said softly: "The serious talk is over. Brothers kneel down—give a feast!"

(End of this chapter)