Chapter 636: The setting sun shines alone in the forbidden cold
The next morning, a six-hundred-mile expedited memorial was sent from Jinan, and by noon the next day, it was delivered to the desk of Qianqing Palace.
After the eighty-two-year-old Qianlong read Liu Yong's memorial, he picked up a secret report just sent from Jinan in the morning and read it carefully. He read it back and forth twice with a frown before asking the eunuch to give Liu Yong's report. He handed it to Prince Jia Yongyan who was standing in front of the imperial case, and said in a deep voice: "You all should take a look. Liu Yong's opinion is that the Beihai pirates will probably not leave after entering Koudong Province this time!"
Liu Yong's guess was correct, Qianlong did have spies around him, and not only in Jinan, but also in Chahe Villa in Zhucheng. The "Shangyu Standby Office" had its own special communication channel and did not go through the imperial court.
Regardless of Qianlong's apparent favor to Han officials, in fact since Wang Zhong and eight others surrendered to Beihai Town, he has closely monitored the Han ministers and local governors in the court; and since Zhao Xin's prison robbery three years ago, , this kind of precaution and vigilance is even worse.
Although since Kangxi, the Manchu emperors have occupied the position of "unity of governance" and controlled the political and even cultural discourse, the Manchus have also accepted the integration of Confucian culture, and the lower-class Manchus have become increasingly sinicized, but the upper-class nobles have always been "Melt but not melt".
From the beginning to the end, the emperors of the Qing Dynasty repeatedly warned the bannermen that "the Mandarin language, riding and shooting, is the foundation of Manchuria", and usually severely reprimanded the royal children for reciting poems and writing poems. They were afraid that they would be assimilated by the Han people like the Khitans and Jurchens, and eventually disappear. But in the world.
We must know that in a country like China where hundreds of millions of Han people make up the majority, if a minority with a population of only 500,000 wants to maintain a highly centralized imperial system, it must rely on a powerful power expression system, which emphasizes the nobleness of Manchu descent. and unique characteristics, so as to stabilize the ruling order.
The problem is that now Beihai Town has even given up the home of the Manchus. The Manchus, including Lao Manchu and Yiche Manchu, have now become members of various ethnic groups under the rule of Beihai Town; after the battles of Ninggu Pagoda and Hunchun, Most of the Eight Banners prisoners were sent to Kuye Island to dig coal and open up wasteland.
Talking about blood lineage at this time is nothing more than covering one's ears and stealing the bell, and the scholar class is like a mirror.
Although the three dynasties of Kangxi, Yongzong and Qianlong were very gentle, respected Zhu Chongru, and tried every means to win over the southern scholars, on the other hand, they also adhered to the ancestral system and suppressed the scholarly style through literary inquisition. In this kind of "hardness and softness", it is extremely Under the spiritual castration of political means, it seems that the cultural rift between the rulers and the ruled has been cemented on the surface, and the contradictions between the two sides have tended to ease. However, as long as the regime is in crisis and the rule is revealed to be corrupt, the contradictions between the two sides will be revealed.
Even die-hard Han officials like Liu Yong began to think about finding a way out for their own family, let alone others.
As the Northern Navy sent troops to occupy Jiaodong and the news of the surrender of the "Eight Eccentrics of New Yangzhou" came out, the scholar class in the south began to make moves again under the high-pressure rule of culture. The most obvious example is that in the tenth month of the lunar calendar last year, the so-called Yuan Mei and Zhao Yi, who were among the "Three Families on Jiangyou", each sent a reply to Wang Zhong through his disciples, in order to clarify Zhao Xin's attitude towards scholars.
However, Qianlong and the local officials didn't know about these things because the people involved were all smart people and were extremely careful in doing things. Otherwise, they would have been furious.
At this moment, he stood up and walked to the window, looking out through the window in trance. The atmosphere in the room suddenly became tense. Wang Jie also finished reading, and Yongyan and others remained silent, looking at Qianlong. I didn't know the silence.
After a while, He Shen said: "I think that if it is really like what Liu Yong said, do you want Fu Kang'an to come back?"
Yongyan said: "No, Gorkha is located in a remote area, and Fu Yaolin comes and goes every once in a while, at least for more than half a year. The note that arrived at the end of the twelfth lunar month said that he was negotiating with the British and it was not appropriate to return to Beijing at this time."
Ever since Agui led his army back to Huihua City, he fell ill when he returned to the capital and couldn't even get out of bed. Qianlong also asked Yongyan to visit him twice. Among the military ministers currently in Beijing, one is good at military planning.
None. Although Wang Jie and Fu Chang'an were in charge of the Ministry of War, they were only capable of coordinating support and assistance, and He Shen was an idiot in the military.
After Fukkangan occupied Yangbu, Gorkha was almost subjugated. As Prince Bahadur fled to West Bengal for help, the British East India Company finally understood the seriousness of the situation.
The British East India Company, which failed to mediate in another time and space, finally caught up this time. Major William Kirkpatrick, who was appointed as the plenipotentiary envoy by Cornwallis, led a team to Yangbu and met Fuyuan University.
General Fukang'an. Only then did Fukang'an finally understand that the so-called "Red-haired Country" was actually the British who sold his warships.
What shocked and puzzled the British was that when they visited Fukang'an, they found that the muskets and cannons used by the Qing guards were actually more advanced than their own weapons, and they felt uneasy.
The British East India Company seeks hegemony over the entire South Asian continent, and naturally does not want anyone to cross the line. Beihai Town's interference in local governance and the Kingdom of Mysore have alarmed them. Now there is another Gorkha controlled by the Manchus in the north.
, if the two sides launch a north-south pincer attack one day, it will be impossible to survive this day.
The two sides have talked twice so far. Although Fukang'an was very polite, he ignored the British request. He used Junggar as an example to express his attitude, that is, Gorkha was a vassal that led the Qing Dynasty. Since he dared to rob many times,
If you hide in the rear and act recklessly, you will never be forgiven. The military power of a great country cannot be offended, and it must be wiped out and merged into the territory of the Qing Dynasty.
In the Xinuan Pavilion, He Shen thought for a while and mumbled: "I think Liu Yong's words are a bit exaggerated. After all... After all, the weapons and gunpowder cannons used to defeat Gurkhas were given by the pirates from the North Sea. They always
You can't just negotiate a ceasefire with the imperial court and start a war on the back, right?"
"It seems that we can only train in the Daxing Township Yongtuan in the five northern provinces!" Qianlong, who had been silent for a long time, finally spoke, his tone was slow and heavy, so cold that it made people feel cold.
Wang Jie, the bachelor of Dongge University and the crown prince's chief protector, said in a deep voice: "I have something to say."
"speak."
"The key to eradicating Ji Chi is the population. If the North Sea pirates continue like this, the officials of coastal states and counties will not be able to work hard to organize the bandits, thus threatening the Japanese people, and the imperial army will become thinner and the bandits will become more and more fierce. I think that this
At that time, the good people should be calmed down to relieve their desire to follow thieves, and the officers and soldiers should be appeased to encourage their morale. If there are those who do not follow the thieves, they should not be punished. The local government can also reward them. Such thieves may be isolated. As for the use of troops, I feel that
It's not that the soldiers were spared their lives, but that the general had some scruples because of the sharp weapons of the North Sea pirates. I ask the emperor to issue an edict to show mercy to those who were killed and injured in the previous battles. If there are those who are discouraged and slack, they will be withdrawn or replaced nearby.
Declaring discipline and encouraging the army, the soldiers will be happy to hold the banner, and the people will have the ambition to build a city."
"Yes." Qianlong nodded slowly and said to everyone: "Did you hear that? This is what Lao Cheng said to seek the country. Wang Jie, go back and write these words down and hand them over."
"I obey the decree."
"This is the ninth year that the Zhao thieves have been wreaking havoc outside the customs!" Qianlong sighed, with a lot of resentment and loss in his tone, as well as helplessness and frustration. "I just can't understand how he is causing chaos in Yangzhou and Guangzhou, and how to control everything.
Can't you stop him? Twenty or thirty people can rush into Guangzhou City and capture more than a dozen court officials! Two people can break the Yangzhou government office, lead hundreds of people to speak out, and leave the Yangtze River in a grand manner
At the mouth, the forts and naval forces from all over the country can't stop it?"
Qianlong's tone gradually became more and more angry, making everyone present feel a wave of sadness in their hearts. Yongyan took the lead and knelt down, and the others followed suit. Qianlong sounded like he was praying or telling.
"Taizu Zhaoji was created by the Holy Ancestor, and Shizong struggled to maintain it. I also believed in working hard to seek treatment, and worked tirelessly for more than fifty years. In the past, I once dreamed of being a perfect man, and let future generations follow my example... Ancestor
The land has been lost, Mobei has been lost...and now Shandong is going to be lost...Is it a waste of time to live a life in a hurry, it seems that it is just a vain wish?"
Everyone lowered their heads and could not see Qianlong's face, which must have been extremely sad and angry.
Suddenly, Qianlong changed the topic and said to Yongyan: "I have proposed that Chang Lin, the governor of Jiangsu, did not think about coastal defense affairs when he was in office. He neglected to play with the enemy and was arrogant. As a result, the Dengzhou Navy's front camp and various forts were lost. Gu En
Dereliction of duty, the situation is extremely hateful, I put on my leather cap and wore a flower feather, and went to Fukang'an army to perform meritorious service and atone for my sins! Denglai Qing soldiers prepared for Cao Zhitian. They were overwhelmed by the enemy and mishandled the situation. They were demoted to three levels and Dai Zui stayed in office. He Shen blessed Chang'an.
Those who failed to assist the administration were fined half a year's salary as punishment.
Heshen lowered his head and said nothing. He and Changlin had never dealt with each other, and now the other party was unlucky, which was just what he wanted. Yongyan was about to raise his head to speak, but Qianlong still didn't finish, and continued: "Send a decree to Fukangan, call him
He told the British that the Gorkha prince must be handed over! The small country of Gorkha dares to negotiate terms with the Celestial Empire!"
Qianlong said, turned around, and went to Dongnuan Pavilion alone, leaving all the ministers and princes in Xinuan Pavilion.
Everyone was a little confused and at a loss. They stared at each other for a while. Fu Changan glanced at He Shen, then at Yong Yan, raised his arms and said: "Fifteenth Master, He Zhongtang, you
Look at this..."
He Shen moved his arms and was about to stand up when Wang Jie said before him: "The Fifteenth Master should first persuade the emperor to calm down. The current state affairs are very complicated. Taking care of the dragon's body is the most important thing."
Yong Yan's face was also extremely pale at this moment. Every word that Qianlong just sighed deeply penetrated into his heart. He nodded and said: "Everyone, please be patient. I'll go over and take a look."
When he walked into the Dongnuan Pavilion, he found that Qianlong's face was no longer as ugly as in the West Hall. Several eunuchs tiptoed tremblingly and waited carefully. They wiped their faces with hot towels and brought hot tea to nourish their hearts.
Wang Jinbao, the eunuch in charge of the palace, was kneeling behind the chair and gently beating him.
Yongyan saw that his eyes were closed and did not dare to be alarmed. He only made a gesture to ask Wang Jinbao to retreat. He came over and rubbed his back in person, and gently massaged his head and shoulders with his hands. After about half a meal, Qianlong grew up.
He breathed a long sigh of relief, waved his hand to signal him to stop, and said with a sigh: "Well, I thought about it, in the past nine years since Zhao Xin appeared, I haven't had a few days of peace of mind throughout the year... I'm tired.
I feel so tired from the bottom of my heart that I really want to put down everything in front of me, personally lead the troops out of the border, and fight to the death with the Zhao thief..."
"Father..." When Yong Yan heard what he said, he felt even more sad and desolate. He felt sour in his heart, tears almost flowed out, and he choked: "Don't think like that... It makes your son sad...
When you were practicing swordsmanship, your complexion and body were as good as those of a forty-year-old man. My son and Heshen were discussing privately. My son said that you could live to be a hundred years old, and Heshen said that it would be more than that, at least one hundred and twenty years old...
...We have you in the Qing Dynasty, and you are the backer of our sons. The North Sea pirates are just arrogant for a while, and God will definitely send down thunder to deal with Zhao Xin's son. With you, no matter how difficult the problem is, it can always be resolved...
"
Qianlong let him rub it carefully and took another long breath. He reached out and patted Yongyan's hand, then lowered it and sighed: "You are also an emperor who has read history books and has lived past the age of seventy."
There are only three since Zulong. You say one hundred years old is filial piety, he said one hundred and two years old is flattery..."
Yongyan said: "I'm not trying to please you, but my son listens to me sincerely."
"Whether it's flattery or desire, sincerity means loyalty and filial piety." Qianlong paused and said softly: "It's time to get started on that matter."
Yongyan stopped his hand for a moment and said in surprise: "Is it too early?"
"It's getting late. The Eastern Province is only more than 900 miles away from the capital. If the Beihai pirates invade Dagukou again, they really won't leave. Fukang'an needs manpower. After all, they just destroyed a country.
People's hearts are unstable, and now we must send some people over. Changlin encountered Zhao Xin twice who caused chaos during his tenure, which was really bad luck. When he was the governor of Jiangsu, he arrested and punished rapes, banned extravagance and customs, and was quick to do his job.
, letting him go to Gorkha can help Fukang and appease the place. Besides, he is still a member of the clan... I will not be able to go to the snow-covered plateau, and you will only have to suffer by then!"
This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading! Yongyan suddenly realized that there was such a method behind Qianlong's attack. In addition, Changlin and Heshen had heard a little bit about not dealing with him. From this point of view, Qianlong
It was paving the way for himself in the future. Thinking of this, his heart suddenly became hot.
This scene that happened in the Qianqing Palace reached the ears of Li Qiucheng, the deputy chief eunuch of the Jingshi Room, in the evening. On the evening of the next day, a cook who was on duty out of the palace walked into the "Donghong Restaurant" on Qianmen Street.
"Thai" teahouse.
Don't be fooled by movies and TV shows. The cooks in the imperial kitchen of the Qing Palace are not eunuchs. Like all the ministers who work in the palace, they go to their respective homes after get off work and do not live in the palace. They are required to wear fire seal waistbands when entering and leaving the palace. .According to later Qing palace archives, taking the thirty-eighth year of Qianlong as an example, the Seventh Division and Three Courtyards under the Ministry of Internal Affairs issued a total of 7,468 badges to various scribes, handymen, and craftsmen.
The cook found a remote place to sit down, drank half a pot of tea and listened to a play before leaving. He stood up and left his seat, and before the waiter could clear the table, a middle-aged man sat down behind him. Then
The middle-aged man ordered a pot of melon slices and two plates of dried fruits. After the waiter cleared the table and turned around to leave, the middle-aged man quietly groped under the chair for a while, and soon found a small paper roll. It took more than half an hour.
Afterwards, he also got up and left, returning to the shop of "Huang Shengtai" diagonally across the door.
At night, the cool white moonlight quietly illuminates the huge city of Beijing. A bamboo pole nearly three meters long with a rhombus antenna hanging on the top was erected in a small courtyard in Caochang Santiao Hutong, accompanied by people in the wing room.
With the sound of beeping, the Northern Naval Intelligence Bureau, thousands of miles away, learned of what was going on in the Qing Palace.
On the twenty-first day of the first lunar month in the fifty-eighth year of Qianlong's reign, it was the day when all the ministries and offices in the capital opened their printing offices. At the same time, a piece of news that made countless bannermen in Beijing restless began to spread in the city.
Before the end of February, the Ministry of Internal Affairs will select 1,500 households from various banners in the capital. The whole family will leave the capital for Xining, and then enter Tibet from Xining and go to Gorkha. The departure time is set for the end of April.
.
The bannermen in Beijing are not stupid, they know that this is the imperial court arranging their escape. However, most families have lived in Beijing for more than a hundred years, and they know that they will never come back if they leave this time, so they are all in trouble in their hometown.
Li. But what can we do? The damned pirates from the North Sea have arrived in Shandong now, and it will be a matter of time before they break into Beijing!
Overpass, a breakfast stall in the market. A blue cloth apron surrounds a long table of more than ten feet. There are several benches in front of it. There is a large bowl on the table. Under the snow-white gauze cover, it is piled up like a hill.
Shredded mustard pimples, mixed with chilli noodles soaked in water, and sprinkled with sesame oil. Next to the long table is a large copper pot, which has been stewed to a moderate consistency, and the aroma...(⊙
o⊙)...stinky bean juice.
There is no way to verify when the soybean juice first existed, but it entered the imperial dining room of the Qing Palace in the 18th year of Qianlong's reign. To put it bluntly, this thing is the leftovers for making vermicelli, because it is a big bowl, and pickles are free, so
It is very popular with the people at the bottom. Although there is no distinction between high and low, it is pure nonsense to say that all Beijingers like to drink it.
"Go to Xining? I won't go!... Where can a place be as good as Beijing? Let's not say that Shunzhi entered the country and ascended the throne in Beijing, nor the Forbidden City and the Old Summer Palace. Let's just talk about the bean juice we are drinking now.
Son, are there any other places? What’s the point of living in a place without Douzhier?”
Two fairly well-dressed banner men each held a bowl of bean juice, sipping on it and chatting. From time to time they would pick up a few salty shredded pickles from the plate and take a bite of sesame seed cake.
So good that he came running over as soon as the city gate opened early in the morning.
"Boss, fry three more burnt rings."
"Okay~~"
The sharp-mouthed banner man from before was getting excited and continued: "My master said that going to Xining was a bad idea of those uneasy and well-meaning Han officials. When our banner men leave, this capital will become theirs again.
The world is over!"
"Well said, well said!" The bannerman opposite him nodded repeatedly, took the fried rings, broke them into several pieces, and stuffed them into the sesame cakes.
"My master said that there are not many good people among the Han civil servants. The current situation in the court is caused by them."
"Isn't old Liu Tongxun very good in the first few years? When he died, the emperor even went to his house to express his condolences."
"What year is that in the almanac?"
"Hey, I heard from Zha Liu, who came back from Jilin, that those who fell into the enemy's hands were all given to some Bitter Water Island by the Northern Pirates, and spent their days either clearing land or cutting down trees and mining coal."
"Isn't it embarrassing? That's called Kuye Island. My master said that it's so cold there that your nose and ears will freeze off if you go out in winter." The sharp-mouthed monkey drank half a bowl of bean juice, exhaled with satisfaction, and said:
"My master also said that it is not a good thing that Liu Qianzi is training in a troupe in Daxing, Shandong."
"I don't understand this. What's wrong with forming a regiment to practice local bravery and driving the Northern pirates out of Shandong?" The bannerman on the opposite side was puzzled.
The sharp-mouthed and monkey-cheeked bannerman became even more proud and said: "You don't understand this, my master said..."
The two heads poked together.
At this time, a vendor selling kidney bean cakes came over pushing a wheelbarrow. The kidney bean cakes in the oval wooden box were covered with a thick cotton quilt, and wisps of hot air came out from the gaps.
The kidney bean vendor covered one ear and shouted crisply: "It's hot, it's hot~~~Kidney bean cake~~~ it's so mushy!"