Emperor of the Red Chamber

Chapter 164: Soldiers go to war, Qingbai sacrifices to his father

The morning of February 18th.

It was another warm spring day with the sun shining brightly, which seemed like a good omen for going to war.

The four thousand soldiers from the Jianrui Battalion and the Dragon Cavalry Battalion marched out of the capital like a river.

Go to the battle, mighty Jianrui Battalion, nimble Dragon Rider Battalion!
A special team also set out with the Second Battalion.

The team consisted of only sixty people, all of whom were imperial physicians, led by a judge of the Imperial Medical Bureau.

They carried large quantities of medical alcohol and other medicines needed on the battlefield.

In recent years, the Imperial Medical Service has been undergoing continuous reforms, one of which is to expand the recruitment of imperial physicians.

At present, the number of imperial physicians in the Imperial Medical Bureau has reached 200, including the director of the hospital, the left court judge, the right court judge, imperial physicians, clerks, medical officers, and doctors.

Among them, the Court Envoy was a fifth-rank official, the Left and Right Court Judges were sixth-rank official, the Imperial Physician was seventh-rank official, and the Clerk was the last official of the ninth rank. Medical assistants and doctors were not included in the rank, but medical assistants could obtain the ninth-rank crown and belt.

Even the physicians and doctors in the Imperial Medical Bureau can be called imperial physicians.

Only when you reach the level of imperial physician can you provide medical treatment to the royal family.

In the past, the total number of imperial physicians in the Great Zhou Dynasty's Imperial Medical Bureau was no more than a hundred, and most of them were just unqualified people. Those with truly skilled medical skills were few and far between.

Today, the total number of imperial physicians has increased to 200, with almost no unqualified ones, and they include many medical masters with superb medical skills.

In order to fight in the Northwest War, Yuan Qingbai sent a total of one hundred imperial doctors.

The one hundred imperial doctors were divided into two teams, Team A with sixty people and Team B with forty people.

The forty imperial doctors of Team B set out for the west as early as last month. These forty imperial doctors were responsible for the medical treatment of the western army led by Ningyuan General Yue Zhong.

Today, the sixty imperial physicians of Team A set out with the Jianrui Battalion and the Dragon Cavalry Battalion, heading west to join the Northern Army led by General Jingbian Wang Ziteng. They are responsible for the medical care of the Northern Army.

Although the Great Zhou has deployed two armies, the Northern Route and the Western Route, in the west, the Northern Army will open up the main battlefield in the war against the Dzungar Khanate, so more doctors and medicines should be invested.

……

……

The Jianrui Battalion, the Dragon Cavalry Battalion, and the Imperial Medical Service Team A were surging on the post road outside the Shenjing City.

Thousands of people gathered on both sides of the post road to watch the fun. Some of them came out of the city, and some lived outside the city.

There were actually several stalls set up on the scene, some selling soup noodles, some selling candied haws, and some selling sesame cakes... The sounds of hawking, one after another, added to the liveliness.

The soldiers and imperial doctors who were going to the expedition were not affected at all, and they all marched on their way with solemn expressions.

As we got further away from Beijing, the number of people on both sides of the post road became less and less.

Suddenly, I saw an old man standing under a lush tree.

He was dressed simply, his hair was gray, his face was wrinkled, his complexion was dark, but he had a strong build and looked like a sturdy old farmer.

But he is not an old farmer.

He is Qi Zizhang!

Qi Zizhang was once a military general who had made considerable military achievements. He was later recalled to the capital by Emperor Jing'an to serve in the capital. Later, he served as the Minister of the Imperial Guard in the Imperial Guard Department.

After Emperor Jing'an abdicated the throne to Emperor Chengtai, Qi Zizhang served as the Minister of the Imperial Guard of the Supreme Guard.

After Emperor Jing'an passed away, the Supreme Guard Office was disbanded and Qi Zizhang was transferred to be the commander of the Guard Camp.

When it comes to titles, Qi Zizhang was already a first-class duke.

Qi Zizhang, who is 62 years old this year, deliberately did not wear official uniform or armor today.

He did not want to influence the soldiers who were going to the expedition. Among the soldiers of the Jianrui Battalion and the Dragon Cavalry Battalion, many generals had been trained by him, and many soldiers had followed him.

Today he just couldn't help but come outside the city to see off the soldiers going to the war and to see his son off.

In the past, when Emperor Chengtai was preparing to launch a major war in the northwest, Qi Zizhang volunteered to fight, but was politely declined.

The reason why Emperor Chengtai declined was that Qi Zizhang was old, and a general with rich experience like him should be made a general if sent to the front line. Emperor Chengtai did not want him to be a general. If he was only a middle-level general, it would be unfair to him, and it would not be convenient for the general at the front to lead him.

After Yuan Qingbai ascended the throne, Qi Zizhang again took the initiative to ask for battle, but was also politely declined for the same reason as Emperor Chengtai.

Qi Zizhang was still unwilling to give in. Knowing that he had no hope of going to the front line to fight, he recommended his son Qi Ping'an to go with him.

Yuan Qingbai agreed and appointed Qi Ping'an as a lieutenant general of the Dragon Cavalry Battalion.

Qi Zizhang originally had three sons. One died of illness, one died in battle, and now Qi Ping'an is the only one left.

At this moment, Qi Zizhang was standing under a big tree beside the post road, with only an old servant beside him. The old servant was called Liang Fengji. Although he was called an old servant, he was also a military officer.

Liang Fengji once followed Qi Zizhang to fight and herd horses, and made military achievements. Because he was loyal to Qi Zizhang, he had been serving Qi Zizhang as a slave. Time passed quickly, and now this servant has grown old with his master.

Although Qi Zizhang had deliberately kept a low profile today, he was still recognized by the marching soldiers.

"Old General!"

"General Qi!"

"Mr. Qi"

"..."

Among the marching troops, there were bursts of voices calling for Qi Zizhang.

Soon, Qi Ping'an, who had learned the news, rode his horse to Qi Zizhang, dismounted and asked respectfully, "Father, why are you here?"

Qi Zizhang smiled amiably and said, "I wanted to come here quietly to see you off, but I didn't expect to be recognized by the soldiers."

Qi Pingan was moved when he heard this, and knelt down and said, "Father, please go back. I have promised you that I will fight bravely and serve my country loyally this time, and I will not let down the grace of the emperor, nor my father's expectations."

Qi Zizhang took a step forward, helped his son up personally, and nodded in response with a friendly expression.

He had said everything he needed to say, and he didn't want to nag about it anymore.

"You go ahead. I will stay in the carriage until the soldiers have passed this section of the journey and then I will return to the city."

After saying this, Qi Zizhan walked towards the carriage.

Qi Pingan watched his old father staggering onto the bus. At this moment, he felt deeply that time was unforgiving and that his father's love was profound. He couldn't help but burst into tears. "When a man goes to war, he should not be sad about separation. He should be a hero and fight against the enemy with his spear!"

"For families like us with military honors, this is even more important."

Qi Zizhang’s words of advice to Qi Ping’an yesterday are still fresh in my mind.

With these words in mind, Qi Pingan rode back on his beloved warhorse, grasped the bayonet flintlock rifle on his back, and returned to the mighty torrent of troops heading out for the expedition...

In the carriage, Qi Zizhan lifted the curtain, stuck his head out of the window, looked at his son again, and couldn't help but sigh.

He repeatedly told his son to fight bravely and serve the country loyally.

However, he had served as a general in the frontier for a long time and knew the cruelty of war. He had lost two sons, one of whom died in battle. He hoped that his only remaining son, Qi Ping'an, would be safe.

He hopes that his son can return safely while serving his country.

……

……

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Qi Zizhang's farewell to his son Qi Ping'an was just one of the many farewells during this expedition.

This time, four thousand soldiers and sixty imperial doctors almost all had their own farewell stories.

Or receiving the admonitions of parents, or bearing the worries of wives, or bearing the expectations of children...

What is certain is that this journey is dangerous and once the warrior leaves, he may never return.

There must be someone who died in the Western War.

Fortunately, the imperial court has already provided preferential treatment to comfort the spirits of the heroes.

……

……

It was the day after the Jianrui Battalion and the Dragon Cavalry Battalion set out on the expedition.

On the morning of February 19, Yuan Qingbai held an enlarged imperial meeting in Yuanzhao Garden.

A pre-determined resolution was announced at the meeting.

Yuan Qingbai strengthened the authority of the Grand Council and expanded its organization on the grounds that it was needed for the Northwest War. The number of Grand Council ministers increased from two to four.

The two new members are Wang Qin and Qi Zizhang.

Qi Zizhang needs no introduction.

Wang Qin was the nephew of Emperor Chengtai's biological mother, Wang, and was highly valued during the Chengtai Dynasty.

When Yuan Qingbai ascended the throne, Wang Qin served as the Minister in Charge of the Imperial Household Department and Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue.

After Yuan Qingbai ascended the throne, Jia Zhu took over as the Minister of the Imperial Household Department, and Wang Qin continued to serve as the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue. At the same time, he was granted the post of Minister of the Imperial Guard.

The senior officials of the Imperial Guard Department, from highest to lowest, are the Grand Secretary of the Imperial Guard, the Grand Secretary, and the Grand Secretary. Among them, the Grand Secretary is a first-rank military officer.

And now, Yuan Qingbai let Wang Qin and Qi Zizhang serve as the ministers of the Grand Council.

Wang Qin has extensive experience and outstanding talents. He is also the nephew of Empress Dowager Wang. He was once loyal to Emperor Chengtai and is now loyal to Yuan Qingbai.

Appointing Wang Qin as the Grand Councilor would help Yuan Qingbai gain control over the Grand Council and further strengthen the imperial power.

It is worth mentioning that Wang Qin has a nephew named Wang Hui.

Wang Huijin is an official in Shandong and has made considerable contributions in suppressing bandits. Yuan Qingbai is planning to use him.

This means that the family of Yuan Qingbai’s grandmother, Wang, not only produced a military minister like Wang Qin, but also had a rapidly rising generation like Wang Hui.

……

……

More than ten days passed, and it was already the third day of March in the first year of Qianlong's reign.

This is an important day.

On the third day of March last year, Emperor Chengtai passed away in Yuanzhao Garden.

Today is naturally the anniversary of Emperor Chengtai’s death.

Because the imperial tomb of Emperor Chengtai is still under construction, Yuan Qingbai does not need to leave the capital to pay homage to the imperial tomb on the anniversary of his death, which saves him trouble. However, he still has to pay homage properly.

On that day, Yuan Qingbai led the princes, ministers, civil and military officials to gather in the Qinhe Palace.

Qinhe Palace was the Prince Yiqin's mansion where Yuan Qingbai lived when he first traveled to this world. It was later converted into a temporary palace by Emperor Chengtai and called Qinhe Palace.

Emperor Chengtai's coffin was placed in the Yongyou Hall of the Qinhe Palace.

In Yuan Qingbai's heart, although Qinhe Palace was the residence of Emperor Chengtai, it was also his residence.

After Yuan Qingbai ascended the throne, he went to the Qinhe Palace many times to pay homage to Emperor Chengtai.

The scale of today's worship is exceptionally grand, comparable to last year's enshrinement of Emperor Chengtai's coffin in the Qinhe Palace.

The Qinhe Palace is now managed by Su Zhidun, who is Yuan Qingbai's uncle and Su Yin's father.

Su Zhidun led Yuan Qingbai and other princes and ministers into the Yongyou Palace.

Yuan Qingbai also led all the princes and ministers to worship the coffin of Emperor Chengtai.

After the ceremony, Yuan Qingbai ordered everyone to leave, and the Yongyou Hall returned to silence.

In silence, Yuan Qingbai stood in front of Emperor Chengtai's coffin, thinking of the past when he discussed the situation in the west with Emperor Jing'an and Emperor Chengtai:

Emperor Chengtai once said: "Father, the Junggars are truly hateful and have evil ambitions. I, your son, really want to destroy the Junggars."

Emperor Jing'an said: "I have thought about this too. If it were easy, I would have done it long ago."

Thinking of this, Yuan Qingbai said softly to the coffin of Emperor Chengtai: "Father, destroying the Dzungar Khanate is the unfinished wish of your grandfather and you. This time, I swear to fulfill this wish for you!"

(End of this chapter)