Forty-eight years of Qianlong

Chapter 788 A sudden turmoil arises in Jiangnan

Although there was nothing insulting in Li Rui's reply, the tone between the lines was cold and tough.The time and place are given directly, and there is no need to wait when the time comes.

Jiaqing could only secretly sulk about this. The most important thing at the moment was to determine the candidate for negotiation.Moreover, this trip was not only for negotiation, but also for him to go to Shengjing to visit the imperial mausoleum.

In fact, he had already thought about the candidate, and the first one on the list was Prince Yi Yongxuan.

To be honest, Yong Xuan's behavior on the day of He Shen's rebellion made many people look at him with admiration.No one expected that this prince, who usually indulged in drinking and sex, and had a surly behavior, would have such courage and skill.It's obvious that what Yong Xuan has done over the years is all pretending to keep a low profile.

Able to kill several eunuchs as the prince and the minister in charge of the bodyguard when people were in panic and confusion, quickly stabilizing the order in the Forbidden City; dared to resolutely force the use of the Military Aircraft Department's seal to mobilize troops for escort without an imperial edict.

Although Yong Xuan was given a confession after the incident and except for entering the palace to cry in front of Qianlong's coffin as required, he stayed behind closed doors at other times, but Jiaqing was still wary of this brother who was 14 years older than him.He once asked himself that if he were present at that time, he might not be as resolute as Yong Xuan.

After Jiaqing's hasty succession to the throne, the brothers had a private conversation.After confirming that Yong Xuan had no ambitions, Jiaqing immediately issued an order to the Jin Dynasty to confer him the title of Prince Heshuoyi, and ordered the prime minister to manage the ministry and eliminate Heshen's party members.

In second place is the 42-year-old Minister of Military Aircraft and Minister of Household Affairs Song Yun. This man was once the minister of affairs in Kulun. He negotiated with Tsarist Russia for many years on the suspension of trade. He did not fall behind and was highly praised by Qianlong.

The third one is Fujun, a bachelor of the cabinet and the left minister of the Ministry of Rites.This person is from Zhenghuang Banner, Mongolia, and is 45 years old.He was a scholar in translation in the 44th year of Qianlong's reign and stayed in the Lifan Academy for several years.

The translator Jinshi in the Qing Dynasty was a special group, originating from the Eight Banners scientific examination in the early Qing Dynasty. It was established in the early years of Yongzheng. Only Manchu and Mongolian scholars from the Eight Banners were allowed to participate. It was also a three-level scientific examination system for children, townships, and general examinations.

Because the Manchus were heavily sinicized and there was a shortage of talents who were proficient in the Manchu language. In addition, the examination content was all in Manchu and Mongolian. As a result, there were very few people who passed the imperial translation examination in each session. Sometimes there were 40 to [-] people, and at least there were only a dozen people. .

Translation scholars are usually reused.Generally, they will be sent to the Lifan Yuan for a few years, and then they will enter the cabinet and become the cabinet secretary or secretary, responsible for transcribing cabinet files in Manchu and Mongolian characters. After that, they will be sent to serve as ministers stationed abroad, garrison generals, or generals. He is a minister, even a bachelor in the cabinet.

The last person is Yubao, the Minister of War.This man is also 42 years old this year, holds the Yellow Banner, and was a Jinshi in the 46th year of Qianlong's reign. He is very knowledgeable in military affairs.

Do you see it?The people Jiaqing was looking for were all young and powerful Manchu and Mongolian ministers, not a single Han Chinese.Now, except for a few people such as Zhu Gui, Dong Gao, Wang Jie, and Liu Yong, he basically no longer trusts other Han ministers.Even if there are Han people among the frontier officials in various places now, they are from the Eight Banners Han Army.

This matter is actually very simple. The Manchus and Qing Dynasties are fleeing to the west. How many Han officials are willing to abandon their families and careers to follow them?Rather than believing in these people, it is better to believe that the old sow can climb the tree.

Just like Ji Xiaolan, the Minister of Rites, although he is seventy years old, he can still eat more than ten kilograms of meat every day, and his physical strength is quite good, but can the Hejian Ji family follow the imperial court and move westward?
Then there is Liu Yong.Although Jiaqing did not doubt Liu Yong's personal loyalty, what about the Liu family in Zhucheng?Not long ago, Shang Yu's backup office received a secret report from Shandong saying that among the first batch of local gentry met by the Northern Navy after taking Qingzhou Prefecture, there were members of the Liu family.

When Qianlong was still alive, he repeatedly mentioned Jiaqing's sincere words. We must not forget that the Eight Banners and Manchuria are the foundation of the country, and beware of the Chinese people's sinister and cunning habits.The Han people can use it, but there must be checks and balances, and they must be promoted at all times.

The Qing court knew very well how absurd and uninhibited Zhao Xin's title of "Pre-Ming Zhao King" was, but this name still had a great influence on the Han people, especially the Jiangnan Shilin people.In the final analysis, it was those people in Wangzhong who constantly advocated and endorsed him and spread rumors everywhere.

Well, when Jiaqing thinks of Wang Zhong, Liu Taigong, Hong Liangji, and Jiang Fan, he becomes extremely angry.By the way, Yuan Mei and Zhao Yi are now added.

In mid-September, Jiangsu Inspector Buyan reported something in Mizheli that aroused Jiaqing's high alert, that is, Yuan Mei and Zhao Yi actually disappeared for a period of time in July and August last year.

Although Yuan Mei later announced that she and Zhao Yi were traveling to Huangshan with their disciples, the strange thing was that both of them arrived at Huangshan but did not go to She County to visit Cao Wenqian who was idle at home.Even though Yuan Mei didn't like Cao Wenqi as a person, Zhao Yi had worked with Cao Wenqi in the Hanlin Academy, so there was no reason for him to go to his property without taking a look.

Furthermore, several of Yuan Mei's disciples have not shown up since then.For example, Sun Yuanxiang, the son of the late Sun Hao, the prefect of Lu'an, and his wife Xi Peilan, who was famous for her poetry and painting.The Buyan faction's men secretly investigated and found that there was no news about Sun Yuanxiang whether in Zhaowen (Changshu) or Jiangning, and he had not returned to his hometown of She County for many years.

Reminiscent of the imperial examination held in Beihai Town in August last year, Jiaqing concluded that Yuan and Zhao most likely went to Beihai Town, and several of their students must have participated in the imperial examination in Beihai Town.

Enraged, Jiaqing first summoned Prince Mian'en, and after some discussion, ordered him to carry the imperial edict and the royal flag to go south in disguise. Then he sent a [-]-mile expedited expedition to Fu Ning, the governor of Liangjiang, and Buyan, the envoy of Jiangsu. Secret edict.His order to Mian En was that as long as Yuan Mei and Zhao Yi colluded with Beihai Town to verify the truth, they would be placed under house arrest and await orders.

In fact, Jiaqing made the decision to put him under house arrest after repeated consideration.

He had long heard that Yuan Mei's Xiaocangshan Suiyuan was full of guests all day long, either scholars or people from the officialdom; and Zhao Yi was a professor at Yangzhou Anding Academy, with colleagues, friends and disciples all over the officialdom.

Locking the two people up and imprisoning them might cause turmoil in the entire Jiangnan Shilin; and once the news reaches Zhao Xin, given his temperament, he will definitely not sit idly by.Back then, the Yangzhou Prefecture arrested Jiao Xun and Zhong Huai, and then someone came to rob the prisoners, causing the Qing court to lose face.

The problem is that it's not okay to let these two people continue to cause trouble.Today, the Qing government has a total of more than 6000 Eight Banners soldiers stationed in Jiangning and Zhenjiang. Taking into account the number of soldiers, family members, and servants, the total number is less than 4.If one day this group of people and the North Navy come to cooperate with each other, these Eight Banners soldiers and their families will be in tragedy. I am afraid that rivers of blood will flow and mountains of corpses will pile up.

The Beihai Navy knew that they would not kill the Eight Banners captive Jiaqing, but he also knew what the Qing army had committed in Jiangnan when they entered the customs.Then there are the Literary Prisons that have been set up over the years, killing many people in Jiangnan Shilin, and destroying countless families, including Zhao Xin's wife.

In fact, the reason why the Qing court still retained tens of thousands of Eight Banners soldiers south of the Yangtze River was to ensure that taxes and rice from the south were continuously transported to the north, so that the court's family wealth would be stronger after fleeing westward.In addition, if the North Navy attacks from the coast, the Eight Banners stationed in various places will immediately board the ships that have been prepared and enter the two lakes and Sichuan to conduct a strategic retreat.

On November 59, the [-]th year of Qianlong's reign, at dusk, in the study room of the Xihua Hall of the Liangjiang Governor's Office.

"Slave Funing (Buyan) respectfully greets you!" "Holy greetings!"

"Long live, long live!"

After three kneels and nine kowtows, the two people in the study stood up and knelt down again to salute and said in unison: "Greetings, Your Majesty!"

"Please get up! This time I am going south on an errand, and it is very important. I have to rely on you two."

The 47-year-old Mian En is tall and has long arms. He wears a brown robe, a Batulu vest, and a pair of deerskin boots. His head is shaved to a smooth finish, and he has three long strands of beard under his chin.

He was ordered to leave Beijing on October 25th and arrived in Jiangning on November 2860th. In addition to personal servants and more than a dozen imperial guards, his entourage also included several veteran investigators transferred from the Ministry of Justice.The group traveled from Huanghuayi to Jiangning by water, a journey of more than 21 miles and taking [-] days.

Yuan Mei has many old stories in Jiangning's official circles and their relationships are complicated.For example, the current governor of Jiangsu, Qi Feng'e, has a very good relationship with him, and even asked his biological son Yuan Chi to recognize him as his adoptive father.

Therefore, in order to deceive others, Mian'en deliberately chose the evening to secretly meet with Funing, the governor of Liangjiang, and Buyan, the inspector-general of Jiangsu, in the name of a visit from an old friend from the capital.

At this time, there was a faint thunder from outside. Mian En sat down steadily, glanced at the three of them, and asked: "Have you done what was mentioned in the edict on the [-]th of last month? Arrange eye spies for surveillance. Find out the whereabouts of those two people last August, as well as the whereabouts of their disciples?"

Buyan sat on the chair and bowed and said: "I personally arranged for the people from the police station to handle the matter of the spy. There are people watching at Xiaocangshan from morning to night. In addition to the servants in Suiyuan, every morning The people who deliver rice, noodles and vegetables to the garden also have spies. The guests who come in and out every day are recorded, and the list can be obtained that night."

Funing, the governor of Liangjiang, said: "This is where the trouble lies. Those two people have too many old friends. If there is any disturbance in the yamen, it will definitely spread to their ears. Previously, my servant sent people to Shexian, Zhaowen and Yangzhou to investigate. He is also from the patrol office. The slaves at Anding Academy deployed people two months ago, and Zhao Yunsong's residence is also being watched. Prince, you can rest assured."

Mian En stood up and rushed to the north, cupped his hands, and said with a solemn face: "Before leaving, the emperor repeatedly warned that if you are not careful in this matter, it will be a huge event. A few scholars are nothing, dealing with them is like squeezing an ant to death, but you Don’t forget who is supporting them!

The king doesn't know anything about tracking and catching thieves, but he has been in charge of military affairs for many years, otherwise the emperor would not have sent me here.The patrols of Youying, Chuanshaying and Wusongying in Langshan Town must not be relaxed. Once a pirate ship is found on the sea, a warning must be issued immediately. Beacon towers must be manned day and night, and the forts in Chongming and Jiangyin must be strengthened. Be careful, there can be no problems with gunpowder and cannons!The hundreds of cannons purchased by the imperial court at a huge expense cannot be used as decorations! "

He took a sip of tea, paused for a moment and then told Funing, the governor of Liangjiang: "You can think of a reason. In the past few days, call Songtai Dao, Tongzhou General Soldier and Susong General Soldier to Jiangning. I want to Deploy it yourself. Damn it, half of Jiangnan has to go through trouble for these two old immortal guys, and we can’t let the North Sea pirates know!"

"Yes."

While talking, the glass in the study room crackled, heavy raindrops fell with the cold wind, and there was a mountain noise outside the flower hall.

"That's it for today. I am temporarily staying at Pilu Temple, which is not far from here. Everyone is here. Send someone to deliver a message to me. If nothing happens, don't come to me."

"Yes."

Early the next morning, after breakfast, Mian En took two guards to Mancheng in the east of the city.

In May of the second year of Shunzhi (1645), Prince Dudo of Yu led his army to capture Nanjing after a bloodbath in Yangzhou, and then designated a large area in the eastern part of the city, including the Imperial City of the Ming Dynasty, as a garrison.After that, the Qing government successively dispatched Eight Banners armored soldiers southward, and the Eight Banners garrison in Jiangning was officially established.

In the sixth year of Shunzhi, the Qing government transformed the Ming Imperial City into Mancheng and built a "city within the city" within the city. It took two years to complete.

In the 16th year of Shunzhi, Zheng Chenggong and Zhang Huangyan attacked Jiangning. Although they ultimately failed, the victory of 200 armored soldiers annihilating 800 Eight Banners armored soldiers frightened the Eight Banners garrison at the time.In order to strengthen Jiangning's garrison strength, in the 17th year of Shunzhi, the Qing government expanded the city of Jiangning to the east and south.

After reconstruction, Jiangning Mancheng became the largest area among all direct provinces. It is slightly rectangular in shape, with a length of 961 feet from north to south, a width of 677 feet from east to west, a circumference of 3412.5 feet, and an area of ​​6.25 square kilometers, which is the size of 14 Tiananmen Squares in later generations. .

The Manchu Qing Dynasty implemented closed management of Mancheng garrison in various places, making it difficult for Han people to enter Mancheng.Ordinary people would be kicked away if they stayed at the city gate, let alone going in for a walk.Mian En and the other two came to the Xihua Gate on the north side of the west wall. When the guard guard saw that the three men were dressed like ordinary Han people, he was about to scold them when the accompanying Ouchi guard showed his waist card. The guard was frightened. He was trembling all over, and immediately gave him a thousand and let him go obediently.

After entering the city, the three people went straight to the general's mansion in the northwest corner. Mian'en's trip was to meet Jiangning General Qinglin.

It's quite interesting to say that in the history of another time and space, General Jiangning in this time period should be Na Qitai.That's right, it was the Ning Guta Commander who first dealt with Zhao Xin.In this time and space, the whereabouts of the man who led the army to garrison the Li Dynasty is unknown after the Northern Navy broke through the Tumen River defense line.

The Qing court thought he had died in battle, and Qianlong even decreed that he should be posthumously named "Hou Zhongmin".However, no one knew that our father had already boarded the last ship of the year to the New World with his wife and children.Zhao Xin's arrangement for him was to form a mounted police force to protect the safety of Lushui Town and the mining area.

What was supposed to come didn't come, so today's General Jiang Ning became Qing Lin.This man is the younger brother of the Minister of Military Aircraft Qinggui. He had been working in the "Shangyu Reserve Office" earlier. Later, he became the official of Tang'a and became the head of the spy.

　I am deeply sorry for the lack of timely updates recently.I will make up for the chapters that are less than [-] words in the future. There is no charge for viewing this part. It can be regarded as a token of appreciation.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)