Qing Yao

Chapter 406 Lord Zhao, the Old Master Invites You

The underfloor heating in the East Warm Pavilion made the room very warm. Since the beginning of winter, the old master's spirit and health had not been very good. The Imperial Hospital had prescribed medicine and instructed that the old master should not be exposed to wind and cold. Therefore, the eunuchs serving him dared not let the old master out easily.

That day, the snow fell so heavily that the old master got into a whim and insisted on going out to enjoy the snow. When he was not allowed to go out, he threw a tantrum like a child. Consort Xun, who was taking care of the old master, had no choice but to help her husband watch outside for a while.

Just a short while later, the old man's snotty nose became much more pronounced the next day, and he coughed every now and then.

Needless to say, he caught a cold.

Fortunately, it wasn't serious, and after taking the medicine for two days, I was fine.

Knowing that his health was not as good as before, the old master stopped going out. Feeling bored by himself, he sent someone to summon Ji Yun and Liu Yong to the palace to play chess with him to relieve his fatigue.

This is Ji Yun playing chess with the old master.

Lord Ji has been in a good mood lately. The revision of the Siku Quanshu, which he presided over, has been completed. As a result, he has been reappointed by the old master as the Minister of Rites, while retaining his original position as Left Censor-in-Chief.

The Ministry of Rites was the head of the Six Ministries, and the Left Censor-in-Chief was the "Chief Censor" who supervised all officials. The combination of these two positions meant that although Lord Ji did not enter the Grand Council to become a Grand Secretary, he was the first among the ministers, second only to the Grand Secretary.

In other words, the first minister of the Qing Dynasty.

Or rather, the number one Golden Elixir Master of the Great Qing Sect!
On the other hand, Liu Yong, who stood to the side with a smile on his face and occasionally "supported" Ji Yun, had a rather indescribable mood. He was five years older than Ji Yun and was only a Han Vice Minister in the Ministry of Personnel. He was not only half a level below Ji Yun, but a whole level below him.

However, Lord Liu's cultivation had actually had its moments of brilliance, or rather, his past achievements.

In the forty-eighth year of the Qianlong Emperor's reign, Lord Liu had already risen to the position of Governor-General of Zhili. He then became an Associate Grand Secretary and successfully entered the Grand Council. Although he ranked last, he was still a level above the ministerial level.

The cultivation level of the early Nascent Soul stage.

Unfortunately, Lord Liu, who thought he could take another step forward, did not expect that his glory days would not continue but instead continued to decline. In the following years, his cultivation level did not increase but regressed. One can imagine the frustration and grievances he felt.

I don't know what the old man was thinking, but he would call Liu Yong over every now and then to scold him, make sarcastic remarks, and give him all sorts of reprimands. This made the 72-year-old Lord Liu feel exhausted and disgraced, as if he had completely lost face for his father, the first vice-minister of the Qing Dynasty.

Outside it was freezing cold, but inside the pavilion it was warm and cozy.

The old man, leaning against the cushion, hesitated to place a white jade chess piece between his fingers, his face covered in age spots.

Ji Yun's chess skills are superb, but he wouldn't dare to be so good as to cause the old master any trouble. So, it's obvious that the old master's thinking is not keeping up due to his advanced age.

Ji Yun not only dared not urge him, but also pretended that his move was extremely brilliant, so as not to embarrass the old man too much.

Liu Yong, meanwhile, was pretending to study the chess game, sometimes frowning, sometimes his eyes lighting up, and sometimes hesitating.

The two gentlemen waited for a long time, only to be greeted by the old master with an impatient look: "Ji Yun, why haven't you made your move yet?"

"."

The old man's question left Ji Yun speechless, so he had no choice but to make another move.

The old man looked on and couldn't help but praise, "That was a good move, but I had already expected you to leave like this."

After saying that, he confidently placed the white jade chess piece in his hand, but his fingers trembled so badly that the piece landed two places off course.

"I am truly getting old."

The old man seemed a bit disheartened and waved his hand, indicating that they should call it a day.

Liu Yong and Ji Yun dared not say anything; one helped to organize the white pieces, while the other picked up the black pieces.

The head eunuch, Li Yu, served his master a bowl of ginseng tea. The old master took it and drank half a bowl, then suddenly looked up at Ji Yun and said, "Do you still remember the celestial sacrifice when I established the crown prince?"

A ritual to astronomy?
Ji Yun and Liu Yong both looked at the old man in confusion, wondering why he brought this up.
"Read it to me again, just the last few lines."

The old man put down the ginseng bowl and leaned back on the cushion.

The atmosphere inside the pavilion instantly became somewhat subtle.

Liu Yong lowered his eyes as if he were in deep meditation, but his heart was in turmoil: the secret establishment of an heir was the foundation of the Qing Dynasty. What was the Emperor's intention in having Ji Yun, the Minister of Rites, read the sacrificial text again?

"The minister obeys the order!"

Ji Yun dared not be negligent. Fortunately, he had a good memory and, after a moment of concentration, he recited softly: "...If the chosen son is virtuous and capable enough to inherit the great cause of the country, then I pray that the gods will bless him with success; if he is not virtuous, I also wish to secretly weaken his power so as not to harm the country in the future, and I can also choose another virtuous one."
"It is not that I do not love my son, but for the sake of the longevity of the nation, I have no choice but to take this expedient measure. I only wish to choose a wise ruler for all the people of the world, so as to continue the foundation laid by our ancestors for countless years."

The pavilion was unusually quiet, with only Ji Yun's voice echoing inside.

However, several unspoken guesses have emerged.

The selection of the crown prince remains an absolute secret of the Qing Dynasty, only revealed when the patriarch performs the abdication procedure.

In just over twenty days, it will be the fifty-seventh year of Qianlong's reign. Three years later, the old master will have been on the throne for sixty years. Today, the old master suddenly brought up this article again. Could it be that the old master is dissatisfied with the heir he chose back then?

After all, the ritual of offering sacrifices to the heavens indicates that the old patriarch could "select another virtuous and capable person" for the Qing Dynasty at any time!
Ji Yun dared not speculate, but felt that the old master's sacrificial text was actually not quite right. If no other virtuous and capable person was chosen and the crown prince was still chosen as the successor, what would the new emperor think when he reread the sacrificial text after ascending the throne?

So it turns out that in the Emperor's heart, he was just a "backup plan"?
If this had been left unmentioned, it would have been fine, but now that the abdication is just three years away, it's being brought up again. Could it be that the emperor really intends to reinstate a crown prince?
Ji Yun and Liu Yong both thought of the rumors that had circulated at the Chengde Mountain Resort this summer, namely that the emperor might follow the example of Zhu Yuanzhang, the founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty, by abandoning his son and establishing his grandson as heir apparent, and appointing his grandson, Prince Mian'en, as the crown prince.

Mian En is exceptionally capable, skilled in martial arts, and of excellent character; he certainly seems to be the perfect candidate for crown prince.

He is also much older than his two uncles who may become the crown prince. If the old master really has this intention, it is actually a good thing for the country and the people. However, for his two uncles and their "followers", it is no less than a disaster.

However, the current situation seems to favor the eleventh prince, Prince Cheng, Yongxing, since the old master has appointed Yongxing as the head of the Manchu military command, a position that can be considered "acting crown prince." Yongxing has not committed any major offenses, and there is no reason for him to be suddenly replaced by his nephew.

Kuang Yongxing had the Heshen and Tongfu brothers standing behind him!
Liu Yong thought it over and over and still felt it was impossible to abandon his son and establish his grandson as heir. Just as he was thinking about this, he heard footsteps outside. He Shen and Fu Chang'an, who were on duty at the Grand Council, were requesting an audience.

Upon hearing that Heshen and Sifu'er had arrived, the old man's face immediately lit up with a smile. After the two arrived, he happily waved his hand, beckoning them to come closer and talk.

"master!"

Heshen stepped forward, holding a memorial aloft, and loudly proclaimed, "This servant Heshen greets Your Majesty and offers his congratulations!"

"What's the joy?"

The old man straightened his back, quite curious.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, Zhao Youlu, the Acting Governor of Anhui, has sent an urgent report from 600 li away: the White Lotus Rebellion has been completely eradicated within Anhui, and its notorious bandit leader Xie Hongyi has committed suicide by self-immolation. The banditry has been thoroughly eliminated!"

As Heshen spoke, he opened Zhao Youlu's report and read it aloud in a tone that would make sure the old master could hear him clearly.

The old man listened attentively and nodded repeatedly.

After closing the memorial, Heshen handed it to the old master and casually said, "Zhao Youlu has been able to perform great merits for the court and for the master, all thanks to the master's discerning eye in selecting him from humble beginnings, which enabled him to serve the country loyally. I believe that Zhao Youlu's complete suppression of the White Lotus bandits in northern Anhui, which brought stability to the region, is truly a blessing for the court and a boon for the people of Anhui!"

"My lord, what Lord He said is absolutely right. This Zhao Youlu is indeed a rare talent. At such a young age, he is both skilled in literature and martial arts, capable of pacifying the people and quelling rebellions. What is even more remarkable is his upright character. He is neither greedy for credit nor shirking responsibility. He reported every single penny of the hundreds of thousands of taels of stolen goods seized from the thieves without taking a single penny."

Whether it was to win over a key figure for the Fu family or to secure the two million taels loan, Fu Chang'an had to do his best to speak well of Zhao An.

Liu Yong and Ji Yun exchanged a glance, their joy and smiles both more genuine than the other's.

There was nothing I could do but laugh.

They were powerless compared to Heshen and Fu Chang'an, and they knew nothing about military affairs. Moreover, Zhao Youlu was not only Heshen's man, but also a favorite of the old master. He had the double-eyed peacock feather that they didn't have, and the yellow riding jacket that they didn't have.

If I remember correctly, the Imperial Sword and Ebilun Knife of the Qing Dynasty are still in this kid's hands!
The sedan chair was carried by many people; as long as the old master was happy, they would accompany him.

The old man had already taken the magnifying glass from Li Yu and was carefully examining the contents of the report. He looked very attentive and appeared much more alert than when he was playing chess earlier.

Finally, the old man's gaze fell on the eight characters "dutifully fulfilling his duties and doing his utmost," and he nodded slightly. Then, as if deep in thought, he said, "Building a stronghold and fighting a tough battle? Hmm, that's good. It sounds a bit clumsy and unsophisticated, but in reality, it's a case of great skill appearing as clumsiness, which is just right for suppressing bandits in the mountains of northern Anhui. I never expected that Zhao Youlu, a mere junior official, would be so well-versed in military strategy and understand the essence of warfare. Such talent is rare."

Upon hearing this, Fu Chang'an couldn't help but boast, "Master, in the past, when we attacked bandits in northern Anhui, we often sought to launch surprise attacks and achieve quick victories. However, the bandits relied on the rugged mountains and had excellent intelligence, which often kept the government troops busy running around. If they were not careful, they would fall into an ambush."

Zhao Youlu's method is the opposite of what was expected!
"Establishing fortified camps" means ceasing the pursuit of bandits and instead choosing strategically important locations to fortify the area, like placing pieces in a game of chess, strategically dividing and sealing off the bandits' areas of activity. Each camp is well-stocked with provisions and weapons, holding its ground and waiting for the enemy, like wedges driven into the mountains to prevent the bandits from moving freely.

No one knows how much Fu Chang'an actually possessed in terms of military leadership skills, but his theoretical insights were truly remarkable.

It should be noted that he had only just learned of the phrase "forming a stronghold and fighting a tough battle" from Zhao An's report, yet he was able to immediately grasp the key to this tactic, which suggests that he has some of the old man's blood in him.

When it comes to military strategy, the old man is quite an expert.

"Lord Fu, what do you mean by fighting a tough battle?"

Liu Yong was genuinely curious, because it was the first time he had ever heard of the need to build fortified camps to fight tough battles. This was quite novel to him, as he was used to reading about the strategists and ingenious schemes in history books.

The old man glanced at Liu Yong, then his gaze shifted to Fu Chang'an with a mixture of affection and approval.

Fu Chang'an hurriedly smiled and said, "Lord Liu, the so-called tough battle is to rely on these 'dull villages' to force the bandits to attack. The bandits are trapped in the blockade and cut off from supplies. They can only sit and wait for death or have no choice but to break into the government army's camp. In this way, the mobile warfare is transformed into the positional offense and defense that the government army is good at."

Our army, rested and waiting for the enemy to tire themselves out, relied on the fortified walls and firearms, engaging in battle with seemingly insignificant force, like throwing stones at eggs. While lacking extraordinary danger, this strategy was remarkably reliable, accumulating small victories into a major triumph, gradually weakening the enemy's strength and morale. Although this tactic was time-consuming, it was solidly built and virtually guaranteed against setbacks, making it the most suitable method for dealing with the enemy.

"Sifu'er has made great progress in the past two years, which is no wonder I have taught you so many times. Indeed, taking shortcuts is often not as good as being honest and simple. The way of war is to be calm and composed, not impetuous. Otherwise, if you are eager to achieve quick success, you will fall into the opponent's trap."

The old man was very impressed with the tactic of "building strongholds and fighting tough battles." This tactic, though seemingly slow and cumbersome, revealed a pragmatic and tenacious spirit, which was in line with his later years' mentality of pursuing stability and averse to risk in governing the country.

"Our master is a master of military strategy. His perfect martial arts will surely be remembered for eternity. Zhao Youlu's military tactics are no problem to deal with the mere White Lotus bandits, but in front of our master, he is simply showing off his skills in front of an expert. He is not worth mentioning at all."

When Heshen was offering timely flattery to the old master, he already had a plan in mind. He immediately said, "Your Majesty, the end of the year is approaching. Although there have been minor snow disasters this year, the good news from Anhui shows that our Great Qing Dynasty is destined for prosperity and its golden age will last forever."
"To be honest, Your Majesty, I'm quite curious about this Zhao Youlu. Perhaps we could send him to the capital to meet Your Majesty, so I can see what my lackey really looks like, lest I be completely confused when he scolds me."

"Heshen, a prime minister's belly can hold a boat, how can you, with your petty and narrow-minded nature, possibly stand?"

The old man's words were ostensibly a joke at the time, but also a subtle warning.

General Kuilun of Fuzhou, who called Zhao Youlu a lackey of Heshen, is still idle in the capital, and the old master seems to have no intention of letting him return to Fuzhou.

There was much discussion about this, and no one knew what the old man was up to.

Heshen was not entirely clear about this, but he did not dare to go against the old master's wishes and cause trouble for Kuilun again. He only instructed Wu Lana, the governor of Fujian and Zhejiang, to secretly collect evidence of Kuilun's crimes so that he could take timely action to deal with him.

"Yes, let Zhao Youlu go to the capital to show his master and servants what he's made of!"

Fu Chang'an must also want to meet his "big client," Yu said with a delighted expression. "Then the master can personally commend him to show the emperor's boundless grace, and let the officials in the capital and the foreign envoys who come to pay homage see that our Great Qing has produced many talented people and that the prosperous age has successors. This will reassure the people and consolidate the foundation of the country."

"Since you all want to see it, then I will take a look too?"

The old master would never go against the wishes of his favorite minister and "beloved son," so he smiled and raised his hand, saying, "The Grand Council should draft an edict to summon Zhao Youlu to the capital for an audience with His Majesty. I also want to see what this bondservant looks like."

(End of this chapter)