Emperor of the Red Chamber

Chapter 90 Qingbai appointed as minister of political affairs

Emperor Chengtai was very angry at Yuan Qingzhe that day.

However, he was still busy with state affairs until the evening, and his efficiency was much lower than usual.

It started to rain in the evening.

Emperor Chengtai suddenly received military information from the west, saying that the army of the Junggar Khanate had attacked the camp of Zhou Dynasty and robbed a granary.

Emperor Chengtai was furious and wanted to mobilize his army to attack the Junggar Khanate.

However, the military power in the west was still in the hands of Emperor Jing'an, and the war in the west had to be negotiated with Emperor Jing'an.

Emperor Chengtai came to Qianqing Palace.

Yuan Qingbai was greeting Emperor Jing'an in Qianqing Palace, and his grandfather and grandson were staying in the Nuan Pavilion.

In front of Yuan Qingbai, Emperor Chengtai told Emperor Jing'an about the military situation in the west.

After Emperor Jing'an heard this, he asked Yuan Qingbai to spread out a map and read the map carefully based on the military information.

Emperor Chengtai couldn't help but said: "Father, Junggar is really hateful. His ambitions are arrogant, and his ministers really want to destroy Junggar."

Emperor Jing'an breathed a sigh of relief: "Why don't I think about it? If this was easy, I would have done it long ago."

After saying that, Emperor Jing'an looked at Yuan Qingbai: "Qingbai, what are your thoughts on Junggar?"

Emperor Chengtai also looked at Yuan Qingbai.

Although Emperor An and Emperor Chengtai had discussed the war in the west in front of Yuan Qingbai, this was the first time Emperor Jing'an asked Yuan Qingbai about his views on the war in the west, and it was in front of Emperor Chengtai.

Yuan Qingbai has conducted in-depth research on Junggar.

The Junggar Khanate was a monarchy established by Galdan in the west and was a powerful opponent of the Great Zhou Dynasty.

Emperor Jing'an personally conquered Galdan three times. During the third personal expedition, Galdan was defeated.

After Galdan's death, his nephew Cewan sent an envoy to the Great Zhou Dynasty to offer Galdan's body and surrender to the Great Zhou Dynasty. Cewan became the new Khan of Junggar.

However, Cewang was also restless and very capable. He made Junggar stronger again, wanted to be independent, and even wanted to capture the entire Zhou Dynasty.

Under the leadership of Cewang, the Junggars attempted to capture Tibet. Emperor Jing'an launched the "Driving out Zhunzang" war. Prince Wang Twelve, the former general, led the Zhou army to drive out the Junggar forces from Tibet.

Since then, Junggar has been in confrontation with Da Zhou.

There are three main reasons why Junggar is so difficult to deal with.

First, the total population of Junggar is less than one million, and its military strength is only tens of thousands. However, the cavalry is powerful and the firearms are powerful. The proportion of firearms in the army is much higher than that of the Zhou army. There are even a large number of light artillery that can be used on the backs of camels.

Secondly, Junggar's firearms were not produced by themselves, but almost all were imported from Tsarist Russia. Tsarist Russia strongly supported Junggar's confrontation with the Zhou Dynasty and profited from it.

Thirdly, during the Jing'an dynasty, the national power of the Great Zhou Dynasty was limited and the situation was unstable. However, Junggar was located in the west of the Great Zhou Dynasty and covered a large area. The armies of the Great Zhou Dynasty would not be accustomed to the climate when fighting in the northwest.

At this time, Yuan Qingbo thought for a moment and then solemnly told Emperor Jing'an and Emperor Chengtai his views on Junggar:
"Returning to the words of the emperor's grandfather, Sun Chen believes that Junggar is a serious concern of our Great Zhou Dynasty. We must destroy it and incorporate the northwest territory into our Great Zhou Dynasty territory in order to maintain peace forever."

"However, although Junggar has less than a million people and only tens of thousands of troops, it is located in the west and covers a very large area. We, the Great Zhou Dynasty, raised troops to attack. The battle line is long, and the soldiers are not accustomed to the soil and water."

"There is also the Rakshasa Kingdom at work, colluding with the Junggars, allowing the Junggars to master a large number of firearms, and their cavalry is brave."

"If I, the Great Zhou Dynasty, devote all the power of the whole country and spend a huge amount of money and food, we should be able to destroy Junggar. However, I, the Great Zhou Dynasty, may fall into civil strife and lose more than the gain."

"I don't think this is a good opportunity to destroy Junggar."

"My grandfather and father are both wise, and they will surely make our country strong and prosperous, and we will have plenty of money and food."

"The population and economy of Junggar are far inferior to those of our great Zhou Dynasty. The longer our great Zhou Dynasty confronts it, the more disadvantageous it will be." "I also think that there may be trouble within Junggar."

"When our Great Zhou Dynasty becomes strong enough, we can take advantage of the civil strife in Junggar and destroy it in one fell swoop."

"These are my brief thoughts on Junggar. I hope that my grandfather and father will give me correct advice."

There is another thing that Yuan Qingbai did not say, that is, vigorously develop firearms. Once the firearms of the Zhou Dynasty are developed, it will not be too difficult to destroy Junggar.

It is not convenient for him to mention this matter. He will do so when he becomes emperor.

When Emperor Jing'an heard this, he looked pleased. He asked Yuan Qingbai for the first time what he thought of the war in the west. Yuan Qingbai actually had such knowledge.

Even Emperor Chengtai felt that what Yuan Qingbai said made sense.

Yuan Qingbai hasn't finished speaking yet.

I saw that he suddenly pointed at Qinghai on the map and said solemnly: "In addition, I think that Qinghai vassal king Zangdanjin may have rebellious intentions, and perhaps Junggar's plan will support Zangdanjin to cause chaos in Qinghai and plot against Qinghai. "

Emperor Jing'an frowned: "Oh? How can you make such a conjecture?"

Yuan Qingbai said: "Sun Tzu only made this inference based on his limited understanding of countermeasures and Zangdanjin."

In fact, he made this speculation mainly based on the situation in his previous life.

Emperor Chengtai said: "What you said before is reasonable, but the vassal king Zangdanjin does not dare to cause chaos. If he causes chaos, he will destroy himself. How can he be so confused?"

Emperor Jing'an paused and said, "Although Qing Bai only speculates this way, this possibility is still possible."

Emperor Jing'an said to Emperor Chengtai: "Now is indeed not a good time to overthrow Junggar. The confrontation in the west continues. If we plan to cause chaos, we will attack with a large army. The focus now is to make our country strong and have abundant food and money. This is what you are good at.”

Emperor Chengtai nodded. Although he was unwilling to do so, he also knew that this was the right countermeasure.

Emperor Jing'an glanced at Yuan Qingbai: "Qingbai, please step aside."

Yuan Qingbai immediately resigned.

Emperor Jing'an said to Emperor Chengtai: "Qingbai is eighteen years old. I have tested his political affairs many times and have confirmed that he is quite capable in political affairs. You have also witnessed it. I intend to make him the minister of political affairs. Get acquainted with political affairs and expand your knowledge, what do you think?"

Emperor Chengtai paused and said: "My son also thinks that Qing Bai can be appointed as the minister of political affairs."

He meant what he said.

Although he felt that it was too early for Yuan Qingbai to become the minister of political affairs at the age of eighteen, he also did not want his prince to be the minister of political affairs.

But since he came to the throne, Emperor Jing'an has repeatedly tested Yuan Qingbai on military and political matters in front of him. Yuan Qingbai has good ideas, which sometimes surprises him.

And he felt that as Yuan Qingbai became the minister of political affairs, he would be a help to his father.

As the name suggests, the Minister of Political Affairs can negotiate major military and political matters, which is equivalent to the Minister of the South Study Room.

The difference is that the minister of Nanshufang is generally served by civil servants, "who are selected to be talented and talented poets."

The former Ninth Prince is now Prince Zhongzhi, the Minister of Political Affairs.

Clan princes like Prince Zhongzhi and Yuan Qingbai had to negotiate major military and political matters, and they usually served as ministers of political affairs.

Concubine Du was ambitious and wanted her biological son Yuan Qingsong to replace Yuan Qingbai.

But she didn't know...

In the evening of this day, while Yuan Qingsong was writing poems in the Fifth Qianxi Palace, two of which were about palace ladies sending messages to the moon, Yuan Qingbai was discussing the war in the west in front of Emperors Jing'an and Chengtai in Nuange, Qianqing Palace. He was also appointed as the Minister of Political Affairs!

(End of this chapter)