Emperor Qianlong: the beginning of his glory

Chapter 10: Comforting the Veteran Officials, Tasting Tea
This is an extremely important speech, and all the people straightened up and listened quietly.Qianlong smiled and said again, "Emperor Daxing came to the throne and succeeded to the throne. He saw that people's hearts were negligent, and everything was neglected. Thinking that the Sacred Heart lies in strictness, so he followed this line of thinking to pave his official career. He would rather be strict than lenient in everything, and would rather be tight than loose. Jump. The famine that was reclaimed, even the seeds could not be recovered, and the swollen face was beaten to make a fat man. The hungry people in Henan flocked to Li Wei to beg for food, and the auspicious harvest is still being reported here! I am not saying that Tian Wenjing is useless, this person is still good He is an upright official, but he is indeed a cruel official. His tyranny is terrible!" His eyes flickered like sparks, and then went out in an instant.Everyone knows that in the second year of Yongzheng, Qianlong went to Henan for a private visit, and returned to Yongzheng to report to Yongzheng that Tian Wenjing was severely reprimanded by Yongzheng for "harshly inspecting and flattering the emperor".Now 11 years have passed, and the case is about to be overturned.Qianlong was stunned and said again: "Therefore, we must take the mean. If you are lenient, you will be lenient, and if you are lenient, you will be lenient. The current situation is too severe. After cleaning up the deficit, many officials were forced to throw themselves into the river and hang themselves. Just like Jiang Ning weaving the Cao family, following the ancestors from the dragon to enter the customs, and following the holy ancestors to protect and retinue, what kind of credit is that? One copy, copying is inexplicable, and copying is exhausting. I can't figure out what the officials below are doing. You can do it!" Others didn't care about it, but Li Wei tensed up.After the Cao family was searched, he served as the governor of Liangjiang in Nanjing.Zhang Tingyu also shrank in his heart, the inspection order was drafted by him.

"I don't want to hold anyone accountable. Today is the way of leniency and fierceness." Qianlong smiled, "In today's situation, if we want to have a harmonious government and create a prosperous world, we must use leniency to correct violence. This is the same as Ama used to The principle of fierce correction and leniency is the same, it is both hard and soft, combined with yin and yang, and adapting to the time and place. I take the law of the emperor as the law, and the heart of the emperor as the heart. Even if there are villains who make criticisms, I will not hesitate."

After finishing this lengthy discussion on "The Way of Gentleness and Severity", everyone is still contemplating intently.Zhang Tingyu frowned and pondered for a while, then said: "The servant has been working in the study for more than 30 years, and Ding You's two times were all tantrums. As long as he is not sick, he can be regarded as being with the ancestors and emperors day and night. Check your heart at midnight and speak according to your conscience. There is also the idea that the ancestors are wide and the emperor is strict. One courtier is one courtier. I am only a courtier, and I am loyal to my duty. I try to do my best to the master's will, thinking that this is a good prime minister. Today, the emperor's grand remarks, Starting from the way of Confucius, Mencius, benevolence and forgiveness, for example, the political program of the Three Dynasties, although there are only three words 'towards the mean', it is deafening and shocking. The emperor's sages have really reached the pinnacle." After hearing this, everyone hurriedly echoed, However, Hong Xiao had always been on good terms with Ertai, and he also echoed, "What Mr. Heng Chen said is true." But he thought in his heart, this old guy flattered his ass so quietly, he was really good at it.Inside Li Wei's boots are the papers that he participated in the impeachment of Shandong governor Yue Juncao's murder case and shielded his subordinate Liu Kang. Boots, coughing dryly as if nothing happened.

"I said here to relax, but for no reason, I talked about the way of governing the world." Qianlong said, "The cooler the tea, the more fragrant it is. If you don't believe me, try it." , It's really sweet and fragrant.Qianlong got up and said: "Let's have a quick talk between the monarch and his ministers. Now it's the end of the application, and it's time to serve tea to see off the guests."

Zhang Tingyu stood up and walked out with Qianlong, saying as he walked: "I am going to embellish the emperor's will today tonight, and the emperor will have a look at it tomorrow. If there is nothing to do, I will send it to all provinces by court mail, and announce it to the whole world." The most important government affairs at the moment are Miaojiang affairs. The analysis of the emperor's will in the Hall of Mental Cultivation yesterday was very clear. It wasn't that the Miao people had a large number of people and powerful firearms that defeated the official army. I was defeated without going into battle. Therefore, it is very appropriate to lock Zhang Zhao, Ha Yuansheng, Dong Fang and other generals who have misled the country. However, only imperial envoys are sent, and the servants are a little scruples, so they are not in a hurry to process tickets." Qianlong paced and walked, He stopped here and asked, "Withdraw one incompetent imperial envoy and appoint another competent one to go. What are your concerns?" Zhang Tingyu smiled and said, "Zhang Guangsi is a slave who knows very well that he has great ambitions and talents, and has a strong heart. Wan Fu, he has already issued a military order to suppress the Miao rebellion. The master suppressed an imperial envoy, not only could he not let go of the errand, but if there was a mistake, he would push each other. Therefore, I think it is better not to appoint another imperial envoy." Said Then he walked slowly again.

"Okay. That's it." Qianlong said while ordering the guards to prepare their horses, "Since you have to go to work tonight, I might as well give you a little more. Make a list of the officials who were forced to leave their posts because of clearing up the deficit. Screen them one by one. Like Yang Mingshi, who made a deficit to build the Erhai Lake in Yunnan, and was mistakenly imprisoned for three years. There is also Shi Yizhi, who not only needs to be released, but also reused. If you think about who else, they will all be released. However, what I mean by 'leniency' is not lenient and unreasonable, the purpose of the late emperor to clean up the deficiencies and punish the ink officials was not wrong. Losing it in the 'leniency' is not in line with the golden mean." After finishing speaking, he got on his horse, and Hong Xiao still , Fu Heng and others were sent to Donghuamen to enter the palace.Here Li Wei also resigned and did not mention it.

It was getting late at this time, and the sky did not know when it was overcast.Qianlong, who had been exhausted for a day, was still in good spirits. He entered Da Nei and got off Chengyu.He only asked Chengyu to follow, and walked to Yikun Palace to meet the queen.Since Yongzheng's death, he and Empress Fucha lived separately for mourning. They hardly saw each other, and he really missed her.When we passed the Chengqian Palace, it was already dark, and there was a drizzle in the twilight, and the palace people were putting on the palace lanterns.As Qianlong was walking, suddenly the sound of a qin came over with the cool wind, and it seemed that there was a woman singing along with the sound of the qin.He loved listening to the sound of the piano so much that he wandered around and listened quietly before falling down in Xiamen.But seeing Qin Meimei, a young eunuch from the Hall of Mental Cultivation, meandering along Yongxiang, she asked, "What's the matter?"

"Oh, it's Master!" Qin Meimei was taken aback, and hurriedly greeted Qian'er, "Just now, the master called someone to come over to ask if the master is back, and it happened that there was a message from Donghua Gate that the master had already come in. The slave is specially here Looking for the master. The master and the lady said that they are waiting for the Lord Long Live to go with the Queen Mother Lafayette." Qianlong casually agreed that he understood, pointed to the palace gate and asked: "Which concubine lives here?" Qin Meimei replied Said: "It was Jinxia who was waiting in front of the late emperor in the study, and later became the 'permanent'... Master forgot, the year before last—" Qianlong waved his hand to stop him before he finished speaking, and said, "You go Pass the decree, tell Cheng Yu to withdraw, tell Gao Wuyong to go back to the Empress, and ask her to go to the Palace of Compassion and Ning first, and I will go there in a while."

Hearing that it was Jinxia, ​​Qianlong's heart skipped a beat.How could he forget?The winter before last year, Yongzheng fell ill and recuperated in the study. Qianlong personally decocted medicine for Yongzheng outside. He lost his mind to see Jinxia's needlework, and the medicine was about to overflow. A full heart - except for Yongzheng, everyone in the Hall of Mental Cultivation takes it as a joke.Thinking of Jinxia's coquettish look and affectionate look when she looked at her, she couldn't stop wanting to laugh...Qianlong's heart felt hot, he stepped into the building, but stopped: "Ah... Son of Heaven..." His eyes dimmed.Just at this time, the westerly wind sweeping the rain came, and listening to the sound of the zither, Jinxia sang in a low voice:

At first sight and the end of the world, the sorrow of parting and hatred is doubled.I'm afraid that Dongfeng will stop Meng and hide it from him.Invasion Xiao secretly followed Yan home.Recalling the small window screens, the precious mantle is heavy and the jade seal is inclined.The moon is boring and people are sleeping again, and it is colder.The door is covered with red pears and a tree of flowers...

Qianlong couldn't bear it anymore, turned around and walked into the compound quickly.Qianlong followed the sound of the zither into the west side hall, and saw Jinxia sitting in front of the lamp, playing the zither slickly.Her handsome melon-seeded face, her full-bodied upper body swaying slightly with the movement of her slender fingers, makes her ecstatic to see the beauty under the lamp.At this time, Qianlong was burning with desire, so he tiptoed behind her, and suddenly embraced her with both hands, holding her in his arms.

Jinxia was startled, at first she turned her head and looked back, but Qianlong's head was tightly attached to her back, no matter how she turned her neck, she couldn't see her head and face, but she grabbed Qianlong's braid with one hand, she couldn't help being surprised , when he was struggling, he was bound like an iron hoop, and he couldn't get rid of it. He said in a low voice and sternly: "You little guard! Are you going to die? If you don't get out, I will yell out loudly, I can't see if you will be stripped Skin!" Qianlong stretched out one hand to his chest, and the other was about to insert his lower body into the small clothes, and he mumbled: "My dear, you are so cute..." Jinxia was really anxious, and she scratched with her nails with her backhand.When Qianlong flashed, there were bleeding marks on his cheeks, his hands loosened and moved aside, stroked his cheeks and said: "Your hands are so ruthless, you are grabbing me."

"emperor!"

Jin Xia was immediately dumbfounded.Qianlong saw that her face was pale and without a trace of blood, he stepped forward to comfort her with a smile, "It's because I didn't speak, I don't blame you, it scared you—" Just as he was about to move again, he listened to Gao Wuyong outside in the rain. Shouted from a distance: "Isn't that Qin Meimei? Lafayette asked the emperor to go up!" Qin Meimei replied: "The emperor is in this palace, I will go in right away."

"That's it, I'm going." Qianlong was very disappointed, let go of Jinxia, ​​and walked out of the palace door reluctantly, before going out, he turned around and smiled: "It just corresponds to the phrase 'this time I have never really done it'—— - You wait for good faith!" Seeing Gao Wuyong and Qin Meimei looking in, Qianlong was so angry that he waved his palm and slapped each of them, and said, "Why are you crying? Why don't I save my mother? You are a thief. , What a system!"

When Qianlong rushed to the Palace of Compassion in the drizzle, Empress Fucha was kneeling on the edge of the Kang and beating the Empress Dowager's back, chatting casually.Seeing Qianlong coming in, all the maids and servants in the hall knelt down, and the queen also slowly got down from the kang to perform a squatting salute.At this time, it was late autumn and it was raining again. The Compassion Ning Palace even lit a fire for the smoke cage. As soon as Qianlong entered the East Nuan Pavilion, he felt very hot. He hurriedly untied his oil coat to salute his mother, and said with a smile, "How is mother?"

Empress Dowager Niu Hulu said with a chuckle: "The emperor sit down quickly. I am discussing with the empress to fulfill my wish. I am looking for you because of this. I had a dream recently——why, look at your face flushed, I am afraid Did you catch a cold?" "My son is walking, and the room is hot." Qianlong smiled unnaturally, leaned over and said, "I don't know what kind of dream Lafayette had? It must be auspicious. Tell my son I'm happy too." The queen mother sipped tea and said, "I dreamed that I went to the Qingfan Temple with the emperor Daxing, and when I was offering incense, someone beside me said, 'You are a blessed person, even the old ancestor Xiaozhuang, the empress dowager, is not as good as you. Since you have taken refuge in my Buddha, why don’t you give up some good fortune? Look at the gold covering on the Buddha’s body has peeled off.’ For some reason, I replied, ‘Yongzheng Lord is the Bodhi of Buddhism. Why don’t you ask him?’ That man Said, 'If he fails, I want you.' When I looked back, the man had disappeared, and Lord Yongzheng had disappeared!" The queen mother said, wiping her tears and saying: "What's wrong with the old man, he didn't say a word, really heartless!"

"This dream is an auspicious dream," Qianlong said with a quick smile. "The Book of Dream Interpretations says that 'everyone encounters a dream of the Dalang Temple, it is auspicious'. The ancestor of Xiaozhuang lived to 74, and you must live to be a hundred years old! As for the body stickers for Buddha Jin, I will tell them to do it." The queen mother sighed: "I entered the palace on the fifteenth day and followed you Aixinjueluo family for 43 years. I have seen all the great dangers and enjoyed all the wealth and honor. What's not enough? I know you don't believe in Buddhism, so I pray for you more devoutly. Since you are willing to adorn the Buddha with gold, you can even repair the Buddhist temple at the mountain gate. Send the old man Zigong to the Qingfan Temple to see the temple It’s all old. Do we have to wait for the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas to figure it out before we do good?” Qianlong hurriedly said: “It’s not a big deal, mother can just rest assured. After the Qingfan Temple is completed, you go and fulfill your vows. If you don’t see what you want, your son will just do it " Turning around to pick up the tea, the queen exclaimed in surprise: "Your Majesty, what's wrong with your cheek, a bunch of blood spots?" Qianlong hastily concealed: "I went to the garden of Zhang Tingyu's house today, and the vine branch scratched it. , why are you making such a fuss?"

"What's the matter? Let me see." The queen mother moved her body down the kang, put on reading glasses and took a closer look, shook her head and said, "It's definitely not. It looks like someone has been arrested-don't worry, there are also people here." A bloodstain! What happened?" She no longer had a smile on her face, "Is there such a crime in this palace?" Qianlong was so embarrassed and at a loss in front of the empress dowager and empress in full view. , seeing that the further distinction would only make the description more and more ugly, she said eagerly: "It's Jinxia who is rude..." The queen mother was stunned for a moment, and sat back in her original position, her face turned livid, before she said after a while: "So it was her ! It must be because she didn’t get into the concubine’s seat, she pestered the emperor, and the emperor refused to agree, so she was so unrestrained—but what?”

(End of this chapter)