The Imperial Age with the Resurgence of Han Style

Chapter 334
August 8, Shengjing (now Kizil City, the capital of the Tuva Republic).

Minister of State Council and Commander-in-Chief of the Zhenglan Banner, Guwalja Maertai, picked up the teacup and took a sip. He glanced at Prince Lian Yinsi (the eighth prince) sitting opposite him and saw that he just closed his eyes slightly and remained silent. So he put the teacup on the table next to him and closed his mouth.

As an outsider, I should not make any comments easily on this family affair of the Aisin-Gioro family.

Yinzhi (the third brother) looked at the princes, beile, and banner commanders who were present and said some polite words to them. They all sat upright in their chairs in awkward silence, and he felt annoyed at first.

"Everyone, it's not a good idea to keep silent. The Khan is seriously ill and could die at any time. If we can't elect a new Khan, won't the Qing Dynasty become a country without a leader?"

The Imperial Guard Minister Chen Yupeng (son of Chen Tingjing) looked up at Yinzhi, then continued to lower his head in silence.

If the Great Khan of the Qing Dynasty had unfortunately passed away, how could we use the term "pass away"?
Our Qing Dynasty has taken the throne!

"Hasn't the Khan already designated Prince Yi Hongfang as the crown prince? When the time comes, we will follow the Khan's will and support Hongfang as the new Khan. In this case, what else do we need to discuss?" said Arjishan (son of Soetu), the minister of state and commander-in-chief of the Manchu Plain Yellow Banner.

"How can we just throw away the rules that our Qing emperors Taizu and Taizong established for the kings, beile and flag owners to discuss politics?" Yinzhi glared at Aljishan. "Otherwise, if we appoint a loser as the Khan, how can we lead our Qing to survive in this chaotic world?"

"Prince Cheng, Prince Yi Hongfang has been the commander-in-chief of the Han army of the Bordered White Banner since three years ago. He has conquered the indigenous people, attacked the Russian strongholds, captured and killed many people. He has made some achievements and is not a useless waste who knows nothing." Aljishan replied indifferently.

"Tsk!" Yinzhi sneered, "Which of the kings, beile, and flag masters sitting here is not a person of great martial arts? If one can be made the Great Khan just by killing many people, then wouldn't the few Baturus in my Great Qing also be qualified to become the Great Khan?"

"Prince Cheng, since the founding emperor of the Qing Dynasty (Shunzhi), the successor to the throne has been designated by the previous emperor. How can it be selected by the kings, beile and banner owners through joint discussion and selection?" Ortai, the minister of state affairs and commander-in-chief of the Bordered Blue Banner, said softly.

"This is a different time!" Yinzhi said, "At that time, the Qing Dynasty was at its peak, with a strong army and powerful horses. Even if Emperor Shizu succeeded to the throne at a young age, it would not prevent the Qing Dynasty from sweeping across the world and establishing its capital in China. After the Qing Dynasty entered the pass, it conquered cities and territories. In less than a few years, it almost occupied all of the Central Plains and created a foundation for eternity. Therefore, after Emperor Shizu passed away, Emperor Minzong (Kangxi's posthumous title) was designated as the successor emperor of the Qing Dynasty. There was nothing wrong with the overall situation of the world. But everyone knows what the situation is now. Khalkha The Mongols are unruly and cowardly, and they dare not unite with the Qing Dynasty. The Dzungars have suffered heavy losses from the pseudo-Qin, but they want to make up for it from the Qing Dynasty and have always maintained a hostile attitude. The Russians in the north are fierce and brutal, and their ethnic culture is very different from ours. They want to make us slaves. Although the Bohai Kingdom is connected with the Qing Dynasty, it uses us as a ravine and fence and makes a lot of use of us. It is really not to be trusted. In such a dangerous situation surrounded by wolves, can you sleep well at night when a twenty-year-old boy leads the Qing Dynasty?"

"Since Prince Yi Hongfang is too young to lead the Qing Dynasty, then who does Prince Cheng think can inherit the throne of the Khan?" asked Fu Liang, the Minister of Guards and Commander-in-Chief of the Manchu Bordered Red Banner.

"The Khan's sons are young and do not have the prestige to lead the Qing Dynasty, so we can choose the oldest one among the adult kings." Prince Chun Yinyou (the seventh) said.

As soon as these words came out, everyone present looked at him.

Yinyou's heart is in favor of Prince Zhuang (the second son Yinreng)!

"Prince Zhuang is the eldest among the Khans, so we will choose him as the successor Khan." Yinyou said directly without caring about the strange looks from everyone, "At this critical moment, let's not talk too much and just make it like this. When Emperor Minzong went north to the south of the desert, he publicly expressed his intention to make Prince Zhuang his successor, but due to the dangerous situation, he never left a will. After we were stranded in Ulianghai, the late emperor made the Khan, who had made many military achievements, the successor in order to ensure the unity of the Qing Dynasty. Now, the Khan is seriously ill and it seems difficult for him to recover, so it would be better to pass the Khanship to Prince Zhuang to comfort the late emperor and the ministers."

"If we have to choose an older person, wouldn't Beile Haikuan be more suitable?... He is ten years older than the Khan!" Ortai shouted.

"What are you yelling about? Haikuan is not the son of Emperor Minzong, so how can he succeed to the throne of the Great Khan?" Yinyou scolded.

"Although Beile Haikuan is not the son of Emperor Minzong, he is also the descendant of Emperor Taizu. How can he not inherit the throne of the Qing Dynasty?" Ortai argued.

"Ahem..." Hai Kuan coughed a few times and waved his hands, saying, "Don't bring up an old man like me during this discussion on selecting a successor! Let's choose a virtuous and capable person from among the descendants of Emperor Minzong to be the Great Khan."

"How can we choose an older person as Khan in such a bad environment in our Great Qing? We should elect a virtuous successor as the Great Khan! Only in this way can we lead our Great Qing to overcome the various crises we are facing."

Upon hearing this, Ortai immediately grasped the key point. Since the Khan's descendants were unable to succeed to the throne, we might as well muddy the waters and choose a "virtuous person" as the successor.

Who is a virtuous person? That’s something we need to discuss carefully!
The entire hall suddenly fell into a fierce quarrel. In addition to some people nominating the second son Yinreng as the heir, the third son Yinzhi and the eighth son Yinsi were also nominated and elected by many beile and banner owners.

The entire political meeting was full of arguments, and no one could gain unanimous approval. Everyone firmly supported their own nominees. However, more than a dozen Han officials and Mongolian governors present chose to remain neutral and did not make a clear statement.

Obviously, they felt that as outsiders, they had no right to participate in the struggle for the throne of the Qing Dynasty. When the successor was established, they would obey and serve, so why would they wade into this muddy water?

"Bang bang bang..."

The council meeting lasted until the evening. The kings, beile and flag owners were about to order their servants to prepare meals when they suddenly heard a burst of gunfire outside. They all looked at each other in surprise.

What happened?
Did the soldier outside accidentally discharge his gun?

Or is someone causing trouble?

Make trouble!

"Aqi Tu, go outside and see what happened?" Yinreng had a bad feeling in his heart.

Could it be that when the Khan learned that they were discussing the issue of the successor while he was still alive, he became angry and sent troops to carry out the massacre, thus paving the way for his son to ascend the throne?

This shouldn't be the case. The leaders of the eight banners of Manchuria and Mongolia are all here, and the palace guards and ministers are also trusted people he secretly bribed. How can the Khan still command the army in Shengjing City?

"Bang bang bang..."

Another burst of gunfire rang out, and the sound was closer, as if it was not far outside the hall.

At this time, all the princes, beile and flag owners present were already a little panicked.

Military chaos! ?
Who initiated it?
"Nian Gengyao!"

A group of fully armed Eight Banners musketeers rushed into the hall and forced everyone into a corner with guns. Then Nian Gengyao, the commander-in-chief of Shengjing Fengrui Camp, walked in and bowed to the kings, beile and banner owners present with a smile.

"Today, I am sorry to all of you. I, under the order of the Khan, have imposed a curfew on the entire city. No one is allowed to go out easily. At this moment, I am sorry to trouble the princes, beiles, and the generals of each flag. Please rest here for a few days, and return home after the Khan lifts the curfew."

"Are you going to detain all of us here, slave?" Yinreng stared at Nian Gengyao and asked coldly.

"I dare not detain you, Your Highness." Nian Gengyao said with a smile, "I just want you to stay here for a few days."

"What if I insist on leaving?" "Your Majesty, please don't embarrass me." Nian Gengyao continued to smile and said, "I know the difference between superiors and subordinates, but my soldiers are a bit muddleheaded. If they hurt Your Majesty, I will never forgive them."

"Dog slave, are you threatening this king?"

"bump!"

Nian Gengyao grabbed a musket from the soldier next to him, fired a shot at the roof, then pointed the muzzle of the gun at Yinreng and looked at him with grim eyes.

Don't force me, I really dare to kill people!
"Nian Gengyao, has the fourth brother returned from Khalkha?" Yinsi suddenly asked loudly.

Nian Gengyao glanced at him without answering, threw the musket in his hand to the soldier, then turned and left.

The next day, the Khan issued an edict, announcing that Prince Yong Yinzhen would be the successor to the Qing Kingdom, in charge of the internal and external affairs of the court. All matters, big and small, of the princes, beile, and the leaders of the eight banners were to be reported to the successor.

Three days later, the Great Khan of the Qing Kingdom, Yinzhi, died in the palace, and his successor, Yinzhen, succeeded him as the Great Khan.

Ten days later, Yinzhen ordered Prince Zhuang Yinreng (the second oldest), Prince Cheng Yinzhi (the third oldest), and Prince Lian Yinsi (the eighth oldest) to commit suicide in their mansions on charges of conspiracy. Prince Chun Yinyou (the seventh oldest) and Prince Heng Yinqi (the fifth oldest) were confined to their mansions to reflect on themselves for slandering the Khan.

Subsequently, six of the Manchu Eight Banners commanders were replaced, four of the Mongolian Eight Banners commanders were replaced, and two of the Han Eight Banners commanders were replaced.

The former Khan's son, Prince Yi Hongfang, was appointed Minister of the Internal Guard and remote commander of the Kobdo Front Wing, accompanying the Khan on military affairs.

Yinzhen announced that the Manchu, Han, and Mongolian ethnic groups in the country were united and not differentiated from each other, and restored the policy of Emperor Shizu that allowed intermarriage among all ethnic groups in order to win over the Han and Mongolian middle and upper classes.

Finally, Yinzhen sent someone to deliver a letter to the Bohai Kingdom, informing them of the change in the ruler of the Qing Kingdom.
-
September 9, Xijing (now Irkutsk, Russia).

King Shude of Bohai took the military report handed over by his attendant, opened the lacquer seal, took out the documents inside, and read them carefully.

"Hmph!" After reading the military report, Shu De snorted coldly and threw it fiercely on the desk. Then he stood up and ordered his servants to find a map of the western region and hang it on a wall of the hall.

"It took more than four months to reach the east bank of the Yenisei River, a distance of less than 200 kilometers. Even a turtle wouldn't be so slow!" Shude pointed at the Yenisei River with his finger, looking very angry. "Now, before we even cross the river to fight the Russians, we've been ambushed by them, and all our military equipment and supplies have been burned! I think his career as a general who conquers the west has come to an end."

When the servants in the palace heard the king mumbling to himself, they wished they could bury their heads and cover their ears.

The General who Conquers the West that Shu De mentioned was actually the third prince, Prince Ping Mut, who had competed with him for the throne three years ago.

The king's words clearly show his dissatisfaction with Muth, and he might want to take the opportunity to settle accounts with him!
That year, under the firm opposition of Northern Ming and Qi, Mut's attempt to seize the throne of Bohai Kingdom by means of a mutiny failed. Shude removed him from his position as the leader of the First Mixed Regiment of the New Army, the most elite force in the country, and then sent him to the western region to preside over the war against the Yenisei Military District of Russia.

Although Muth was appointed General of the Western Expedition and Commander-in-Chief of the Western Corps, the troops under his command were the weak and understaffed Third Mixed Regiment of the New Army, with a strength of only more than 1,200 soldiers, plus more than 200 Khalkha Mongolian cavalry, and more than 400 recruited Buryats, Tatars, Khakass, Yakuts and other local natives, totaling a total of 2,000 troops.

After nearly two years of preparation, Muth led his troops to set out from Xiyingbao (now the city of Kansk on the Kan River in Russia) in mid-May and headed towards the Yenisei River basin.

In fact, after several years of outpost harassment, the Yenisei Military District of Russia could no longer bear the harassment. In order to preserve its strength and avoid heavy losses of personnel and materials, it had already destroyed all outposts and military strongholds east of the Yenisei River and withdrawn them all to the west of the Yenisei River.

In this way, if the Bohai Kingdom launched an attack on Russia, it could go straight to the Yenisei River without worrying about the safety of its rear and flanks.

However, in order to ensure the safety of the rear route and the smooth flow of material supplies, Mute set up and built several military strongholds along the way. Almost every thirty kilometers, he mobilized a large amount of manpower and material resources to build a semi-permanent fortress with a garrison of thirty to fifty troops.

The result was that it took Muth more than four months to walk from Xiyingbao to the Yenisei River, a distance of less than 200 kilometers, without fighting a single battle. Instead, he consumed countless supplies, which made King Shude very angry.

However, when Muth led his troops to the east bank of the Yenisei River and confronted the Russian New Kachinsky Fort (now Krasnoyarsk) on the opposite bank, he suffered an unexpected defeat.

At 9 a.m. on September 2, hundreds of Russian troops sneaked across the Yenisei River at night and launched a sudden night attack when the army was not prepared. Although the Bohai Navy repelled the Russian attack with a hasty counterattack, more than officers and soldiers were killed or wounded, and most of the logistics and supplies were burned by the Russian army, forcing the army to temporarily retreat more than kilometers to wait for material support from the rear.

The efforts were in vain and the soldiers were lost. This gave King Shude a perfect excuse to punish him.

"Your Majesty, the commander-in-chief of the Jingbian Army, Fan Guozhang, requests to see you."

"Call him into the hall." Shu De turned around and walked towards the imperial steps.

"Your Majesty, I, Fan Guozhang, am here to pay my respects to the king." A man with a beard one foot long, a face as red as a date, lips as red as rouge, and somewhat resembling Guan Yu, knelt on the ground and kowtowed to King Shude to greet him.

"Mr. Fan, there is no need to be so polite. Please stand up." Shu De said gently, "I summoned you to see me this time because I have an important task to entrust to you."

"I will never refuse even if death is the cost!" Fan Guozhang bowed and waited for orders.

"The war against the Russians in the west is not going well, so I want you to go there." Shude looked at him and said in a deep voice, "Do you have any idea about this?"

"Your Majesty, I will not fail you." Fan Guozhang took a deep breath and said solemnly: "Although the Russians have the advantage of the natural barrier of the Yenisei River, I am sure that I can cross the river and take all the fertile land along the Yenisei River."

"Oh, you have more confidence than I do? Very good, very good!"

"Your Majesty, I am so confident because a few days ago, I received a piece of great news for our Bohai Kingdom from the Black Guards of Qi State." Fan Guozhang had a hint of joy on his face.

"What good news?"

"The Russians have been involved in major European affairs in the west, and they may not have time to care about the east." Fan Guozhang said with a smile: "According to the intelligence data of the Qi State Black Guard, the Russians are ready to do their utmost to interfere in the succession of the throne of a country called Poland. In this case, the Russian Yenisei Military District may face the dilemma of having no support at all."

"Haha..." Shu De was overjoyed when he heard this, "This is simply God's help for our Bohai Kingdom to take over the Yenisei!"

(End of this chapter)