Qing Yao

Chapter 304 Resignation
Three Grand Councilors accompanied the old master to Chengde: Heshen, Wang Jie, and Songjun.

There were also three Grand Councilors remaining in Beijing: Fu Chang'an, Dong Gao, and A Gui, who, although not working, still held the title of "Prime Minister."

Agui was the most important official of the dynasty, and his portrait was painted four times at the forefront of the Ziguang Pavilion. Whenever the old master left the capital, he would leave Agui behind.

Therefore, to outsiders, A-Gui is now detached from worldly affairs, like a "lucky charm," seemingly having no use in the court. However, in the old master's heart, A-Gui is a pillar of stability, because as long as A-Gui is in the capital, there will be no trouble.

This impression alone surpasses even that of Heshen.

These past few days, A-Gui, who is over seventy years old, has been in poor physical and mental condition. After all, losing a son in old age is inevitably a great sorrow for her. When the old master left the capital, he was also worried about A-Gui and specially sent Prince Yi, Yongxuan, to visit her. In addition to giving A-Gui a poem, he also told A-Gui that she could go to the Yuanmingyuan Garden to relax when she had nothing to do. This was a treatment that even princes had never received.

Agui, mindful of his duty as a subject, naturally did not wander around the emperor's garden, and as in previous years, he did not concern himself with external affairs, but simply stayed at home to recuperate.

That day, the gatekeeper came to report that a guest wanted to pay his respects to the master. The visitor was Hu Gaowang, the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of War.

Hu Gaowang was a second-place scholar in the imperial examinations and had a high level of education. He served as an examiner for the provincial examinations in Shandong and Hubei, and also served as a vice minister in the Ministry of Rites. Last year, he was appointed as the educational commissioner of Jiangsu Province. Later, for unknown reasons, he was transferred back to the capital and given the title of vice minister in the Ministry of War.

The transfer order was personally drafted by the old master, without giving any reason for the transfer. Those who knew the inside story knew that it was Heshen who slandered the old master.

The reason was that Hu Gaowang had taken action against Heshen's people while serving in Jiangsu. In order to protect his cronies, Heshen impeached Hu Gaowang to the old master, which led to Hu Gaowang hastily ending his term as educational commissioner and returning to the capital in disgrace.

The Han Chinese Vice Minister of the Ministry of War had virtually no say in its affairs. At present, the Qing Dynasty only had one major conflict on the plateau, spearheaded by General Fukang'an, with the Ministry of War merely cooperating with him. Both Manchu and Han Chinese Ministers had limited influence on the war effort, let alone a mere Han Chinese Vice Minister.

Some say that the Han Dynasty officials in charge of various ministries were just like the assistant officials in local prefectures and counties, merely supporting officials in the main office. This description is somewhat biased, but it is not unreasonable in terms of their authority.

However, if an official appointed to a local post is given the title of Vice Minister of War, he would start as a governor; if he is given the titles of Minister or Left and Right Censors-in-Chief, he would become a governor-general in charge of a region.

Therefore, there is a saying in official circles: "It's better to be a fake vice minister than a real one."

Hu Gaowang came to visit Agui this time because an imperial edict had arrived from Chengde. The old master wanted to include the nominal governors and military governors who had been living off the land since the reigns of Emperor Shengzu and Emperor Shizong into the system of "cultivating integrity."

What does this mean? It means that the original regulations stipulated that a commander-in-chief could support 90 household guards and a general could support 60 household guards. Regardless of whether the commander-in-chief or the general actually supported that many household guards, the imperial court would pay them the required amount of military support funds.

Now, all these empty titles will be incorporated into the allowances for the governors and generals, and they will no longer be allowed to have private troops.

The idea is good, because doing so can eliminate the practice of paying military officers nominal salaries and prevent them from receiving salaries without working.

The problem is that the old man proposed to fill the vacancies in the Green Standard Army by selecting additional troops, and wanted to expand the army by 60,000!

The Ministry of War was responsible for drafting the specific regulations, and the Ministry also provided plans on how many soldiers to expand to which province.

Hu Gaowang received this task of increasing the troop strength, and he immediately felt that this was inappropriate. Expanding the army was not just about increasing the number of soldiers, but about providing real military pay, equipment, and logistical support. Roughly calculated, if the army were to increase by 60,000, the imperial court would need to pay three million taels of silver annually for military pay.

The current Green Standard Army has more than 630,000 soldiers, and the annual expenditure for these 630,000 soldiers alone is nearly 20 million taels. If an additional 3 million taels is to be added each year, the financial burden will be too great, not to mention the expenditure of the Eight Banners Army, which is even greater than the expenditure of the Green Standard Army.

"Your Excellency, three million taels a year, thirty million taels in ten years, and sixty million taels in twenty years. If we include the salaries of the Manchu and Han soldiers that should be paid, I fear the national budget will not be able to cover the costs in a few years."

Hu Gaowang may not know how to lead troops into battle, but he is good at accounting.

Given the current state of the national treasury, maintaining the existing military expenditures is already a struggle; where would there be room for further increases?

A-Gui said "Oh," and then asked, "What did the Grand Council say?"

The question was asking what the Grand Council should say, but in reality, it was asking for the opinion of the Grand Councilor in charge of the Ministry of War.

The person in charge of the Ministry of War was Fu Chang'an.

The original Minister of War, Qinggui, was transferred to the Northwest to act as Governor-General of Gansu due to the war on the plateau. His successor was Kaninga, the Deputy Commander of the Bordered Red Banner Mongol Army. However, Kaninga served as the acting Minister of War for less than three months before the old emperor issued another edict, appointing Fu Chang'an, who was serving as Minister of Revenue, to concurrently serve as Minister of War.

In other words, the two most lucrative and powerful ministries in the Qing Dynasty are now both headed by the thirty-year-old Fu Chang'an.

This arrangement is related to the fact that Fu Chang'an's elder brother, Fu Kang'an, is leading an army to conquer the plateau.

For a large army to set out on a campaign, the most crucial resources are money, provisions, and manpower.

By entrusting both the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of War to Fu Chang'an, Fu Kang'an could be free from any worries while on campaign.

The old man's arrangement was reasonable.

Fu Chang'an certainly wouldn't disobey the old master's wishes; otherwise, Hu Gaowang wouldn't have come to Agui to "complain."

"The unwarranted increase of 60,000 troops has caused a sudden increase in national expenditures, which will surely be unsustainable in the future. Lord Hu, rest assured, I will write to the Emperor requesting that, except for the border provinces, no additional troops be added to the inland provinces."

Agui was not tall, even shorter than Hu Gaowang, and looked rather frail. However, these words from her mouth made Hu Gaowang feel extremely at ease.

He also held Agui in the highest esteem.

There was no one in the entire Qing Dynasty court who did not respect Agui. Hailancha, the general who accompanied Fukang'an on the expedition to the plateau, was usually arrogant and intelligent. He looked down on everyone, and even treated Fukang'an with only courtesy. He was not very willing to work for him. However, he admired Agui alone. Even if Agui beat or scolded him, he was willing to be at his beck and call.

Logically, since Agui had agreed to submit a memorial requesting the emperor not to expand the army recklessly, Hu Gaowang should have taken his leave after achieving his goal. However, Hu Gaowang did not get up to leave immediately, but instead seemed hesitant to speak.

Noticing this, Agui couldn't help but ask, "Is there anything else, Lord Hu?"

Hu Gaowang hesitated for a moment and said, "Is Your Excellency aware that the White Lotus Rebellion is currently raging in Anhui?"

"White Lotus Sect?"

Agui shook his head. In the past two years, he had been unwilling to associate with Heshen because of his power, and he had no energy to fight against him. So he really did not care about worldly affairs and was unaware of what was happening in Anhui.

Hu Gaowang then recounted the disaster in Anhui and how the White Lotus Sect was taking advantage of the disaster to carry out rampant activities.

"Awesome?"

Agui looked puzzled. What does that mean?
Hu Gaowang hurriedly explained, "Zhongtang, the character 'Niu Ba' combined with the character 'Zhu' is a homophone for 'Zhu'."

Before he could finish speaking, A-Gui sneered, "Another trick of using the Zhu Ming dynasty to revive itself. Since the founding of our Great Qing Dynasty, haven't those Zhu the Third Prince and Zhu the Sixth Prince caused enough trouble? Those traitors just can't stand seeing our Great Qing prosper. Do you think our Great Qing's governance is really inferior to that of the Zhu family? This prosperous era is no less than the Hongwu reign, the Yongle reign, and the Renxuan reign of the Zhu family!" The "traitors" that A-Gui refers to are different from the "traitors" used by Han people. When Manchus use "traitors," they mean petty traitors among Han people, loyal Han people who are dissatisfied with the Manchu Qing, or anti-Qing Han people.

The first person to use the term "traitor" to slander anti-Qing patriots was Tian Wen, the governor of Guizhou during the Kangxi reign. By the Yongzheng reign, all imperial edicts claimed that all anti-Qing activities were "incited by traitors."

The term "traitor" used by Han Chinese refers to shameless individuals who betray their nation and compatriots, acting as accomplices to the Manchu foreign powers.

Such as Hong Chengchou, Sun Zhixie, Shang Kexi, Shi Lang, Zhou Peigong, Yu Chenglong, Liu Yong, etc.

Hu Gaowang understood what Agui meant by "traitor," but that wasn't his main concern. In fact, his visit to Agui wasn't to persuade the emperor not to expand the army, but rather to discuss the matter he was about to address.

"What Your Excellency says is quite true. But how could a common villager have such insight as Your Excellency? Those traitors of the White Lotus Sect took advantage of the disaster to promote the so-called 'Zhu Ming Angelica,' which deceived many ignorant people into joining them. I heard that the White Lotus Sect has become powerful in northern Anhui and other places, and it is difficult for the local authorities to suppress them. There are also rumors that the White Lotus Sect is moving towards the Jianghuai region, seemingly trying to repeat the events of the thirty-eighth year of Qianlong's reign and cut off the Qing Dynasty's grain transport."

The White Lotus Sect's plan to cut off the grain transport was not reported to the imperial court by Anhui Province, but rather it was a "war game" simulation conducted by the Ministry of War based on relevant reports forwarded by the Grand Council.

The officials in charge of the Bureau of Justice speculated that the White Lotus Sect, by leading the disaster victims eastward from Bozhou and Mengcheng, did not intend to gather in Suzhou to start an uprising, but rather to use Suzhou as a base to continue its eastward advance.

Further east is the canal!

In the thirty-eighth year of the Qianlong Emperor's reign, Wang Lun, the leader of the Qingshui Sect, a branch of the White Lotus Sect, led an uprising and immediately captured Linqing, which controlled the Grand Canal, causing the canal transport to be interrupted for several months.

The Grand Canal was the lifeblood of the Qing Dynasty.

The consequences of cutting off the canal transport route would be unimaginable. Not only would it prevent the transport of money and grain from the south to the north, it could also cause instability in the south.

Once the rebellion spreads from one province to two or even more, it will be another "Revolt of the Three Feudatories".

“If Anhui province cannot resolve this, the Ministry of War will transfer troops from surrounding provinces. What is there to fear from the mere White Lotus Sect? We will strictly order the local authorities to block them in Suzhou.”

Having led troops in numerous battles across the north and south for many years, A-Gui did not believe that the White Lotus Sect could amount to anything. He believed that as long as troops were promptly deployed to block the key points of the White Lotus Sect's eastward advance, these heretics would be trapped and die in northern Anhui.

"That's what the Ministry of War also means, that's right, that's right,"

Hu Gaowang mumbled twice, "Your Excellency, someone is spreading rumors that Zhu Gui, the governor of Anhui, is the 'Niu Ba' that the White Lotus Sect wants to install."

"What? Zhu Gui is Niu Ba?"

Agui was stunned for a few breaths, then burst out laughing, "Ridiculous! How could Zhu Gui be Niu Ba? Just because Zhu Gui's surname is Zhu?"

Hu Gaowang also found it absurd, but he had to remind Agui: "Zhongtang, Zhu Mingguilai, should be combined into Zhu Gui."

"Zhu Gui?"

Agui froze again, and gradually the smile faded from his face, replaced by solemnity.

Zhu Gui and Zhu Gui?
Upon seeing this, Hu Gaowang hurriedly said, "Your Excellency, Zhu Gui is definitely not some nobody. This matter is too much of a coincidence. I believe that someone is deliberately framing Zhu Gui."

Agui pondered for a moment: "Who submitted the report about Niu Ba?"

Hu Gaowang said in a deep voice: "Zhao Youlu will temporarily serve as the Provincial Treasurer of Anhui."

Who is Zhao Youlu?

Agui had no idea who Zhao Youlu was. He didn't even know about the disaster in Anhui, let alone an acting governor.

Even when inquiring about matters, someone of this rank wouldn't catch the eye of his chief military officer.

"Your Excellency, you may not know this, but Zhao Youlu is from Yangzhou and rose to prominence through purchasing official positions."

Hu Gaowang quickly explained the man's background, but did not mention that his own transfer from Jiangsu was also due to this man.

Upon hearing that Zhao Youlu had been promoted five ranks in a row by offering bribes, which led to Heshen and others taking a liking to him and persuading the old master to appoint him to a position beyond the usual ranks, not only bringing him into the Imperial Household Department but also bestowing upon him a yellow riding jacket and the same treatment as a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations), and temporarily appointing him as the third-rank Daotai (a high-ranking official) to act as the Anhui Provincial Governor, Agui frowned immediately. He realized that this matter was inseparable from Heshen's faction, and that it was possible that Heshen's faction was using the White Lotus Rebellion to flatter Zhu Gui.

Interpreting Zhu Gui as "Zhu Gui" meaning the return of the Ming Dynasty is probably Zhao Youlu's scheme.

If that's true, then Zhao Youlu does have some ability; he's not entirely a shameless scoundrel.

"Your Excellency, as you know, Zhu Gui is Prince Jia's tutor. If Zhu Gui is framed for colluding with the White Lotus Sect, Prince Jia will likely be implicated as well."

Hu Gaowang's brows were full of worry. He had seen the prince looking worried and unable to eat or sleep when he was at the Prince Jia's residence. He was worried that his master Zhu Gui would be implicated because of "Zhu Gui's" accident, so he asked the prince for advice from A Gui.

At present, only Agui, who has been out of the public eye for many years, can resolve this crisis that is ostensibly aimed at Zhu Gui, but in reality, is directed at Prince Jia.

Because Zhu Gui's "Zhu Gui" plot did not originate from Zhao Youlu, but from the powerful Fu Chang'an!
This person has already sent someone to deliver Zhao Youlu's memorial to Chengde by fast horse overnight.

In Chengde, the Emperor has Heshen by his side.

Agui was well aware of the relationship between Zhu Gui and Prince Jia, and immediately straightened up, staring at Hu Gaowang: "Did the Prince send you?"

Hu Gaowang didn't speak, he just nodded slightly.

Ah Gui's eyes were slightly narrowed, and he looked frail, but his composure in the face of danger and his ability to command with certainty were the epitome of his life's battles.

The same applies to the battlefield and the officialdom.

Hu Gaowang lowered his head instinctively as he looked into a pair of seemingly cloudy eyes that occasionally flashed with shrewdness. He said in a low voice, "Your Highness says that Your Excellency is experienced and wise, has served the country for many years, and has always been meticulous and thorough in his service to the country. He is diligent and hardworking, and his talent and abilities are unparalleled in the court. He can be compared to Yao and Song of the Tang Dynasty and Han and Fan of the Song Dynasty. Therefore, Your Excellency is asked to give Your Highness some guidance. If you can protect Zhu Gui, Your Highness will be eternally grateful to Your Excellency!"

"Your Highness flatters me. A-Gui has only ever been loyal to the king's orders and dared not slacken his duties. He is not worthy of such praise from Your Highness."

Hearing Agui's tone suggest he was unwilling to help Prince Jia, Hu Gaowang felt disappointed. Unexpectedly, Agui changed the subject and said, "Zhu Gui and Zhu Gui, although the connection is far-fetched, if such petty people take advantage of it, it's easy for rumors to spread. His Majesty is also old and may be confused in matters. To prevent this from implicating the Prince, in my opinion, it would be best to let Zhu Gui resign on his own to avoid suspicion."

(End of this chapter)