Emperor Yongzheng: Eagle Bow Sirius

Chapter 52
One month after the victory in Xining, Nian Gengyao and Yue Zhongqi's joint memorial arrived again.Nian Gengyao sat in Xining according to the order, and General Fenwei Yue Zhongqi led an army of 5000 westwards to pursue and suppress the remnants of Lobu Zangtenzeng.At this time, Qinghai is in a world of ice and snow, with no food and grass, no tents and no organizational structure. The army of Rob Zang Tenzin has actually become a mob, running around like headless flies, but they can't escape. A well-laid net.Yue Zhongqi's soldiers were recharging their energy in Sichuan. Seeing that Nian Gengyao had won the first prize, everyone held their breath and wanted to compete with Yongzheng. All of the 22 troops were strong and strong men, and the supply of food and grass was sufficient. , It's really a horizontal knife and a horse, running thousands of miles, like entering a land without people.In just [-] days, the "Four Heavenly Kings" of Lobu Zang Tenzin, Chula Kenomqi, Arabutan Ombu, Zangbazamu and Dalamuzuo, were captured alive. My sister was not spared either.On February [-], the second year of Yongzheng, Luobu Zangdanzeng led thirteen women in disguise to break through the encirclement and flee westward to Khalkha Mongolia. A war in western Xinjiang that affected the new Yongzheng Dynasty came to an end.

"I have finally lived up to the spirit of the holy ancestor in heaven!"

After receiving the battle report, Yongzheng immediately summoned Yun, Yunxiang, Zhang Tingyu, Ma Qi and Longkodo in the upper study.While pacing, he sighed, "If the old man is here, I might be so happy!" It was already the third day of March, the Jade Emperor's Christmas day.Yongzheng had just burnt incense in the Qin'an Hall, and he was still dressed in court clothes, Shi Qingjiang silk with a golden dragon coat and a Shi Qingjiang silk lambskin coat.Although his brows were tightly wrinkled, he still couldn't hide a smile on the corner of his mouth.Probably because of excitement, and the room was too hot, he took off the blue felt and satin dais crown, caressed his shaved forehead, paced with a rattling sound, and said slowly: "You have all read the good news, and the proposal Discuss the aftermath of Qinghai, if you have any insights, just say it casually, don't be rigid, let Zhang Hengchen and Mr. Gui Zonger draw up a few!"

"Your Majesty, I can say that I have given a sigh of relief for the holy grandfather." Yun is the chief auxiliary prince, so he naturally had to speak first. It is said that the first emperor also summoned us here. His old man's face was gloomy, and he kept staring west, as if he wanted to see through this palace, this wall, and this cloudy mountain! Even now, when I think about it, I still can't forget it. Get rid of that miserable scene!" Then he wiped away his tears.Yongzheng nodded and sighed, "What the old eighth said is true. Except for Yunxiang and Longkodo, we were all present." Yun nodded while listening intently, and when Yongzheng finished speaking, Fang Xu said: "So I think the first thing , Ask a good student from the Hanlin Academy to write an article to pay homage to the late emperor."

This is the proper meaning in the question, and everyone nodded in agreement.Yun looked up, leaned back and said: "This battle was fought quickly and won neatly. The 20 soldiers under Nian Gengyao really have made great contributions to the country, and they have worked hard enough. The minister thought that he should send a minister of the study room or Prince Baylor, immediately go to work in the army. Propagate the emperor's merits and decrees. What kind of merits should Nian Gengyao deserve? Long live the holy judge!" Yongzheng held his chin, pondered for a long time, and asked Ma Qi: "Among the elders of the Xi Dynasty? You have been in charge of the Ministry of Rites for the longest time, and the eighth younger brother used to manage the Lifan Academy, and we are not very familiar with the regulations. According to your opinion, how should Nian Gengyao reward meritorious deeds?"

"The country rewards achievements with nobles." Ma Qi coughed lightly, "Nian Gengyao's battle seems to be able to compete with Shi Langhai's conquest of the Zheng family. I think he should be promoted to a first-class earl." Long Ke Duo twisted his beard. After pondering, he said: "A nobleman rewards meritorious deeds, and a job assigns one's ability. This is an eternal principle. From the perspective of slaves, Nianmou not only has meritorious service, but in fact he has both military and civil affairs, and he can be regarded as a top-ranking capable person. Speak from your heart , Zhao Shenqiao, we are all old, and Tingyu is too busy with affairs alone, so it is right to transfer Nian Gengyao into the study to serve as a counselor."

He has proposed to withdraw from the study several times, Yongzheng knew his intentions well, and said with a smile: "It's useful to be old, don't just think about your own affairs. Now this year Gengyao is too busy with business affairs, let alone his position About the matter, just now Ma Qi said that the first-class Earl of Jin, imitating Shi Lang's example, I think it is a bit low. It is what Lao Ba said just now, Nian Gengyao avenged the ancestor, vented his anger, and comforted the ancestor's spirit in heaven. From this point of view, it is not too much to give a king with a different surname!"

"The king with a different surname!" Everyone was shocked, and they all looked up at Yongzheng in astonishment.As soon as Ma Qi woke up, he got up immediately, and was about to speak, when Yongzheng waved his hand and said with a smile: "Xiu Shui, sit down, and listen to me—but 'You must not be king unless you are Liu'. Gengyao may not be a good thing. Besides, if this precedent is set, future generations will not be able to handle it. So I thought, give him Jin Duke, first-class Duke—how about it?"

Several princes and ministers looked at each other uneasily. In the previous year when Kangxi was alive, several special generals, famous generals Tu Hai, Zhou Peigong, Zhao Liangdong, Fei Yanggu, Shi Lang, expanded the territory, and their military exploits were greater than Nian Gengyao. The tall ones were only made Marquises.Talking about Nian Gengyao, in fact, he just put down the chaos in Qinghai province, and he wiped out less than one hundred thousand enemies, and he was granted the first-class title by the Jin Dynasty. Everyone thinks it is a bit too much.But since Yongzheng had said nothing, there was no room for change, so he had no choice but to do so.After a long time, Ma Qi coughed dryly and said: "Then what about Yue Zhongqi? I think you can be a second-class gentleman." When he said this, everyone had no choice but to agree.Yongzheng turned to look at Zhang Tingyu, and said, "What does Hengchen mean?"

"I have no objection." Zhang Tingyu adjusted the corner of his robe calmly, and pondered: "I'm thinking about another thing. The labor force needs to use silver. Each person is calculated as 20 taels. The army needs about 500 million taels; the capital Zhili, the family members of soldiers in the army in Shandong, Henan, and Sichuan, each household has five taels, and there are also civilian husbands who transport grain and grass, and the government roads in charge of grain and payment in various places must also be rewarded. It’s not enough without 800 million silver.” At this point, he paused, frowned, and said: “Qinghai province has been corrupted for several years, and after this catastrophe, people’s livelihood will be revived, and officials will be settled. Without 300 million silver, it’s not enough. The spring famine is approaching, the capital is short of 100 million stone grain, and the silver used for disaster relief in northern Jiangsu, Henan, and Gansu, I still can't figure out how much silver I need for a while... With such a large amount, it will cost several silver coins in Beijing, Changping, and Shunyi. The treasury has been vacated, and if there is another place to use the money, this famine will be difficult to fight.”

Yongzheng was very happy, his heart sank when he said it, he took a breath silently, and asked Yunxiang, "How much is the real amount of silver in the household department?" "Thirty-seven million." Yunxiang also raised a smile A dark cloud, with a slightly gloomy smile, "Lao Jun is still enough." Then he remained silent.Yun thought about it, and said with a smile: "Hengchen can really spoil the fun. There is such a big victory ahead, and it is not too much to spend a few dollars. Let's just say it, Nian Gengyao led the army to return triumphantly, pay the bills along the way, and celebrate with the whole country. Bo Hai’s reunion can’t be done without expenses. Xiaojiazi has some celebrations, and they have to spend a few, let alone our Huanghuang Tianchao? In my opinion, it’s not too much to spend 700 million.” He said I want to make the atmosphere hotter, but everyone here is a "personal person". Emperor Kangxi has been in power for 300 years, and he has accumulated 61 million silver. Because of the loan from officials, when he died, the bank treasuries in various places were added together. , the total is only more than 5000 million taels. This year, the deficit was cleared up, and the government and the opposition copied and seized it, forcing many officials to have nowhere to go, and finally restored it to more than 700 million taels. It is really called the meat of these ministers who took out so much at once. pain.Long Kedo felt that he had been silent for too long, so he bowed and said, "Twenty taels for each soldier is too much, I think ten taels is enough." Ma Qi, Yun, and Yunxiang also insisted on their own opinions. There were discussions.

"The servants from the Ministry of Rites will take care of it, and save as much as you can," Ma Qi said.Yun said: "All the princes in Beijing, Baylor and Beizi, can donate some silver." Yun Xiang immediately pushed back, "I originally called for the repayment of the national debt, but everyone has already complained to the sky, and if they ask to donate silver, there will be trouble."

Yongzheng raised his face and thought for a while, then suddenly smiled, and said, "It's such a happy event, I didn't expect to discuss so many difficult problems. Well, there is still some silver deposits in the House of Internal Affairs, and I have set aside 200 million. I would rather choke on it." A little bit, don't make your subordinates feel wronged. 20 taels per soldier seems to be a lot, but it is an 'average'. From generals to thousand generals, ten-man commanders, and corporal leaders, if they are deducted from the soldiers, they will fall at most Five or six taels, do you dare to go any less?"

"Long live is talking about it." Yun smiled. "It is to comfort the families of the sergeants and pay for the fallen soldiers. There is also a way of deducting layers. The minister said 300 million, which is already tight, and then split it into two." Not only is it difficult, but it’s not decent, and the face of the court is important.” Yongzheng thought for a while, and said: “This matter is settled, and we don’t discuss finances today. Tell me, who will go to Xining to work in the army?” Yun saw that everyone said no for a while. No one was selected, so he bowed and said, "According to my subject, I have to go to a prince, regardless of the thirteenth brother or the fourteenth brother, or else I will go? I have never been in military affairs, and I really want to see it." What is the barracks like, what is the battlefield like!"

The blue veins on Yongzheng's cheeks twitched imperceptibly, and he said with a smile: "None of you can go, each of you has his own errands, and you are too busy! Yun Geng couldn't do it, his mother was seriously ill, he yelled and quarreled with me in front of the sick bed, His mother passed away, and he cannot escape the blame! I have already informed Zhang Tingyu of this matter, and ordered to cut off his prince, so I didn’t call him in today’s meeting. When I go to the court later, Lao Ba will go to see him and tell him to put out the fire Sex, go to Zunhua to study and guard the spirit, if you don’t follow the edict, I will imprison him!” A few words were cold and blunt, and Yun blushed immediately, and his lips were trembling. He wanted to say something, and he sighed after a long time: “Mr. ...follow the order."

"As for all the army moving to defend the customs, I don't think it is necessary." Yongzheng said slowly, "Alabutan took in Luobuzang Tenzin, and he was determined to guard against the west. Let me go to the elder brother about the Laojun...well, it is Hong Li, take Tu Lichen and Liu Molin to declare the decree, order Nian Gengyao to lead three thousand soldiers, bring prisoners of war to Beijing in May, and present prisoners at the Meridian Gate. The money in this province is worth a penny To save, don’t save even a penny of the money that should be spent. This matter is in charge of Yunxiang, and Zhang Tingyu is in charge of the government affairs. Old Ba, it is your mission to rectify the flag affairs. I don’t know what you do every day! Look Let us banner people, plant pomegranate trees, raise dogs and have children, receive money and food, go to restaurants, eat tea, play with bird cages, all of them have the ability to hang up, call the real ones to do errands, either muddleheaded or battered. Ze Wushi will be killed. If you don’t care about your career and blindly play with things and lose your ambitions, it’s a matter of great vitality! So you don’t have to worry about other things, manage the banner affairs well, restrain these brothers, and the clan’s children, and you have contributed a lot!”

Yongzheng made a long speech, which suddenly involved military affairs and flag affairs, and everyone was shocked.Wang Jue, who deposed Yun, Yun, and then stripped Yun, simply denounced Yun for not doing enough to "rectify the flag affairs"!Looking at Yun's pale, bloodless face, Zhang Tingyu couldn't help sighing in his heart: "It's the old man's turn!" Yun had already stood up and listened to his lesson respectfully, with hatred, regret, anger, sadness, and bitterness in his heart. Looking at Yongzheng who was pacing around leisurely with square steps, I really wanted to kick him over!But he couldn't, and he didn't dare. He swallowed forcefully, forced a smile and said, "Long live is the lesson. In fact, since the holy grandfather personally conquered Zhungeer three times, the Manchu Bannermen have never seen a real battle. They are no longer as capable as the Han Army Green Camp There is a war. I don’t know how many times I have thought about this matter. I have taught them to study, and I have made arrangements for the errands that can be done. There are not so many shortages, and some things are really difficult. I will not drive them all to the countryside. farming?"

"Why not?" Yongzheng immediately pushed back with a livid face, "Han people can farm, but banner people can't? You reminded me that Huairou, Miyun, Shunyi, Daxing and other places in the capital are wasteland. You are called Zongren According to the plan of the government’s Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Bannermen without errands can open five acres of wasteland each. Isn’t it better than sitting in a teahouse in Beijing to brag? Yes, let’s do it like this!” Probably felt that his tone was too harsh, and Yongzheng let out a sigh of relief. Slowing down his tone, he stepped forward and patted Yun on the shoulder, and sighed: "Don't blame me for losing my temper, I'm just in a hurry! The Eight Banners used to fight across the Central Plains, with one enemy against a hundred. Now it's like this, I'm heartbroken, I don't want to save it A few dollars, the purpose is to prevent our children from being ruined, rotten, and depraved! You have always been expected by everyone, and even others can't do this, I'm looking at you!"

(End of this chapter)