Qing Yao

Chapter 436 Has Your Majesty returned to your ancestral home?

Raising the flag is an unparalleled grace!
During the reigns of the Shunzhi, Kangxi, and Yongzheng emperors, raising the banner was the highest honor bestowed upon meritorious officials by the empire.

During the Qianlong reign, the old emperor strictly controlled the promotion of bannermen, resulting in very few people being promoted. Only the families of a few of the old emperor's favorite concubines received this honor, such as the families of Consort Huixian (née Gaojia) and Consort Lingyi (née Weijia), who were both promoted from bondservants to the Manchu Bordered Yellow Banner.

The only official to receive the honor of being promoted to the Manchu Plain Red Banner was Heshen, who originally belonged to the Manchu Plain Red Banner but was exceptionally promoted to the Manchu Plain Yellow Banner by the old master. Apart from him, no other official received the honor of being promoted to the Manchu Plain Yellow Banner in more than fifty years.

In terms of peerage, the highest-ranking non-imperial peerage in the Qing Dynasty was Duke, followed by Marquis and Earl, all of whom enjoyed privileges beyond the official rank. Below Earl were Viscount, Baron, Light Cavalry Captain, Cavalry Captain, Cloud Cavalry Captain, and Grace Cavalry Captain.

Those ranked above Light Cavalry Captain were divided into three grades, totaling twenty-one grades.

Zhao An was granted the title of Third-Class Light Cavalry Captain, ranking eighteenth. In addition to his regular salary, he would receive a hereditary title subsidy of 160 taels per year.

This means that Zhao An himself could receive a title subsidy of 160 taels every year, and his descendants could also receive this guaranteed income until the fall of the Qing Dynasty.

If you convert 160 taels of silver into banknotes, that's at least 80,000 yuan a year.

Without doing anything, I make 80,000 yuan a year. I'm so happy.

Of course, the subsidy of 80,000 yuan is not much compared to the actual expenses, and the ranking of the third-class light cavalry captain is not high. However, this title with an annual subsidy of 80,000 yuan is a high title that countless traitors dream of. You should know that Hong Chengchou, the founding hero who helped the Qing Dynasty conquer China, only received an annual subsidy of 80,000 yuan in his entire military career!

The powerful second emperor, Heshen, also inherited this hereditary title with an annual subsidy of 80,000 yuan in his early years.

From this perspective, Zhao An, who was awarded the title of Third-Class Light Cavalry Captain, had undoubtedly left many of his colleagues far behind. To give an analogy, while 99% of the traitors were still lining up to start the race and compete for rankings, Zhao An had already run ten meters ahead on his own.

How can you catch up to someone ten meters away in an arena?
How to describe the reaction of Heshen and his grandfather's grandson Fengshen Jilun when they heard about this decision? They were not exactly terrified, but they were definitely shocked.

Heshen was taken aback, feeling that the favor bestowed by the old master was truly unbelievable.

Even if Zhao Youlu was Heshen's lackey, he shouldn't have received such a favor.

At most, they can raise a flag; there's no need to bestow a title.

Where is Zhao An now?

Sorry, I've been "detained".

Or rather, they were taken to the "police station" and first thrown into a cage.

The "detention" location was a duty room in the Guangchu Division, less than 500 meters from the duty office of the Minister of the Interior.

Although he was "detained," Zhao An's status as acting governor, a second-rank official, remained unchanged until a formal document was issued from above. At this moment, he was leisurely sitting on the kang (a heated brick bed) sipping a cup of lukewarm tea.

Who would dare to truly treat Zhao An as a criminal?
Anyone who can work in the Imperial Household Department must have sharp eyes and discernment.
Even if Zhao An's actual status was that of a provincial governor, his status as a rising star in the capital was enough to deter even the most blind officials in the Imperial Household Department from acting recklessly.

Zhao An did not object to being placed in solitary confinement. He said that one thing at a time, he was wrong to hit someone, and he was willing to accept the government's handling of the matter.

There is nothing to say about this.

However, there was no fear of impending doom on his face. Instead, there was a detached calmness, as if he was not being "detained" but inspecting the work of the Imperial Household Department.

Just as they were leisurely sipping their tea, a soft "bang" was heard, and the door to the "little dark room" was pushed open, with two people walking in looking anxious.

They were Imperial Guards Qingyao and Alebao.

The two men entered one after the other, both wearing yellow jackets, clearly having rushed over without regard for their current affairs upon hearing the news.

"Lord Zhao, you really have a lot of patience!"

Qingyao was an impatient man. He strode to the kang (a heated brick bed) with a face full of anxiety. "How could you beat up Quande like that? He even bled and lost a tooth! Quande is a military officer, a proper banner officer. Sir, this is a big deal!"

“Lord Zhao, why can’t you control yourself! The people in the Imperial Household Department value rules and regulations the most. Once Quande makes a fuss, how can they let this go easily? Well, sir, why don’t you think of a way quickly? If that doesn’t work, how about we brothers go and talk to Minister He?”

Al-Bao also looked extremely anxious.

It was clear that the two were genuinely worried about Zhao An's safety, and it wasn't just empty talk.

Zhao An put down his teacup, glanced at the two men, smiled, and said frankly, "What can we do now? We've already fought, how can we say we didn't? I, Zhao Youlu, only seek to act with a clear conscience. I will accept whatever punishment the higher-ups give me."

"But what about the Emperor?"

Qingyao looked worried. "What if the emperor is furious? This could lead to charges of insubordination."

Zhao An raised his hand to interrupt Qing Yao before he could finish speaking, and shook his head slightly: "Whether it is thunder or rain, it is all the Emperor's grace. I, Zhao Youlu, am worthy of the honor and can also bear the punishment. Whether it is being dismissed from office or being exiled to the army, I will accept it."

He spoke with such conviction, as if he were a righteous man facing execution, disregarding life and death, and regarding honor and disgrace as nothing.

"."

Qingyao and Alebao were taken aback by Zhao An's frankness, assuming he was just tough and a bachelor. Little did they know that Zhao An's composure stemmed from a deeper understanding of the old master's thoughts and confidence in his own special "Fu Lu Shou" identity.

Of course, it also reflects the immense trust placed in Heshen.

They're all preparing to train a private army in case of unforeseen circumstances. How could the Grand Secretary allow himself to get into trouble?
Fu Chang'an and his four idiots would risk their lives to save him for the annual interest of five million taels of silver, otherwise, the four million taels of principal would be wasted.

Meanwhile, the atmosphere was completely different in another courtyard of the Imperial Household Department.

Fu Chang'an, whom Zhao An considered a fool, also rushed to the Imperial Household Department upon receiving the news. However, instead of visiting Zhao An, who had been "detained," he went straight to the room where Quan De was recuperating.

When I came in, Quan De was lying on the couch, half of his face was swollen and he was applying an ice towel to it. He was also hissing and sucking in cold air.

"Fu Zhongtang!"

Upon seeing Fu Chang'an enter, Quan De was as excited as if he had seen his own parents. He struggled to get up, tears streaming down his face before he could speak. He cried out, "Lord Fu, you must do justice for this servant! That Zhao Youlu is lawless. He dared to openly beat this servant in the Imperial Household Department just because he has the power of Lord Fu. Does he have no respect for the law or for you, Lord Fu?"

As she spoke, pointing to her missing front tooth, she looked as aggrieved as a woman who had suffered a great injustice, "This servant was merely following the rules, and Zhao Youlu treated me so cruelly! How can the Imperial Household Department continue to operate under these circumstances? What about the rules?"

He was so busy complaining that he didn't notice how gloomy Fu Zhongtang's face was.

By the time he noticed Fu Zhongtang's expression was off, it was too late. Fu Zhongtang slowly walked up to him, raised his hand, and slapped him hard across the other, undamaged cheek.

With a "smack," it was even harder than Zhao An's blow.

Caught off guard, Quan De was completely stunned by the slap. He saw stars again, and then a sharp pain and a salty taste filled his mouth. With a "pfft," he spat out another loose front tooth mixed with blood.

Covering his cheek, which was red from the beating, Quan De stared at Fu Chang'an in disbelief, his eyes filled with terror and confusion. "Your Excellency," he exclaimed in horror, "what happened?"

"idiot!"

Fu Chang'an coldly spat out two words through clenched teeth, looking at Quan De as if he were already dead, "Who gave you the audacity to make things difficult for Zhao Youlu! If anything happens to him, you dog slave, a hundred lives wouldn't be enough to compensate me!" "Slave, slave!"

Quan De was completely stunned. He thought he had the Fu family as his backer and was following the rules, but he never expected that Master Fu would come over and knock out his other front tooth without even asking. Judging from his tone, his "friendship" with Zhao Youlu was even deeper than his own. For a moment, he really didn't know what was going on and was so scared that he trembled all over.

"You dog of a servant, never show your face in front of me again!"

After saying that, Fu Chang'an turned and left without even glancing at Quan De, who was so frightened he was almost wetting himself.

No sooner had they left than the men from the Imperial Household Department arrived. A doctor, expressionless, said, “Imperial Edict, Zuo Ling Quan De kneels to receive it!”

"Your humble servant Quande receives the imperial decree!"

Realizing what was happening, Quan De scrambled off the kang (a heated brick bed) and knelt on the ground, a strong sense of foreboding welling up inside him.

Sure enough, the following imperial edict plunged Quan De into an icy abyss.

"Cha Zuo Ling Quan De is of questionable character. He has abused the rules of the inner court to humiliate ministers. His intentions are treacherous. He disregards the law and undermines the foundation of the nation! He is hereby removed from his position as Zuo Ling. Considering the slight merits of his ancestors, he is spared the death penalty and sent to the residences of princes and nobles as a slave. He will never be employed again! This is the imperial decree."

After the emperor's decree was read aloud, the physician waved his hand, and two Goshha stepped forward and, without saying a word, removed Quan De's official hat and stripped him of his official robes. Then they dragged the limp Quan De out of the house.

Throughout the entire ordeal, Quande offered no resistance because he was in despair.

Fu Chang'an, still seething with anger after knocking out another of Quan De's front teeth, watched as the Imperial Household Department men dragged Quan De away from the corridor. He straightened his cuffs and turned to walk toward the secluded duty room where Zhao An was being held.

"Greetings, Your Excellency!"

When the guards outside the duty room saw Fu Chang'an approaching, they quickly knelt down to pay their respects.

Fu Chang'an ignored the group and pushed open the door, where he saw Zhao An talking to Qingyao and Alebao.

Upon seeing that it was Fu Chang'an, Qingyao and Alebao quickly slapped their sleeves and performed a grand salute.

Fu Chang'an had no intention of speaking further with the two guards, nor did he want to know who they were or why they were there. He simply said in a low voice, "Step back."

"Whoo!"

Qingyao and Alebao dared not delay. They bowed and left the room. They exchanged a glance, knowing that staying there would be of no use, so they sighed and returned to Xihua Gate to continue their duties.

Inside the room, Fu Chang'an looked at Zhao An, who stood up and bowed to him, with annoyance: "What can I say to you, kid? Why make such a fuss? Can't people have some peace and quiet during the New Year? If you really had something to say about that dog servant Quan De, you could have just told me. Why did you have to do it yourself? Now look what's happened. Someone has reported it to the Emperor. Let's see how you clean up this mess."

The tone was reproachful, but the expression was one of "warmth" as if an elder were watching children fight.

Zhao An, who had just gotten off the kang (a heated brick bed), said with unease, "It's such a small matter that Your Excellency has come all the way here. I'm sorry to have troubled you."

"Little things?"

Fu Chang'an snorted softly, picked up the teapot on the kang table, and took a sip directly from the spout without using a cup, saying, "If beating your subordinate captain to a pulp in front of everyone is considered a small matter, then there's no big deal in the capital!"

Zhao An didn't reply, but just looked uneasy.

After putting down the teapot, Fu Chang'an changed the subject and smiled, "Alright, put your mind at ease. I'll take responsibility for this."

After saying that, he stared intently at Zhao An and said, "Don't worry, with me here, not only will the people in the Imperial Household Department not be able to touch you, but the imperial court won't be able to either."

These words were spoken with great confidence, and also sent a strong signal to Zhao An—as long as Fu Chang'an was around, no one in the Qing Dynasty could touch him!

Even a fool could tell that they were trying to win him over.

Zhao An quickly expressed his gratitude, and bowed respectfully, saying, "I leave everything to Your Excellency's decision!"

"Don't worry, that fool Quan De has already been demoted by the Emperor to a slave in the mansion of a prince or nobleman. If I'm not mistaken, the Emperor won't blame you."

As soon as Fu Chang'an finished speaking, footsteps came from outside the door, and then the door was pushed open again.

The one who entered was Jin Jian, the Minister of the Imperial Household Department, with a complex and indescribable expression on his face. When he saw that Fu Chang'an was also there, Jin Jian was taken aback, but he did not ask Fu Chang'an why he was there. Instead, he cleared his throat and announced the imperial edict, which deducted half a year's salary from Zhao An as an example to others.

Upon hearing this punishment, Fu Chang'an nodded slightly, guessing that it was probably true.

Even if I don't show myself, Heshen is there.

Just as he was about to smile and have Zhao An get up to pretend to reprimand him, Jin Jian took out a bright yellow silk cloth from his sleeve and said loudly, "Zhao Youlu, receive the imperial decree!"

"This slave accepts the order!"

Zhao An dared not hesitate for a moment.

"By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Zhao Youlu, Acting Governor of Anhui, has diligently served the country and rendered outstanding service, which greatly pleases me. I hereby bestow upon him the special favor of being elevated to the Manchu Bordered Yellow Banner and granted him the hereditary title of Third-Class Light Cavalry Captain as a reward. I hope that you will henceforth uphold your integrity as a subject and live up to my grace. So be it!"

After the decree was read aloud, the small, dark room where the person was "detained" was deathly silent; you could hear a pin drop.

Elevating their status and bestowing titles?!
The Imperial Household Department staff guarding the gate thought they had misheard. How could that be?

They looked at each other, their faces filled with astonishment and confusion. Their eyes met: "Raising the flag? And granting a title? Weren't they supposed to punish them severely? How come they're raising the flag and granting a title instead? Is there no rule? Is there no law?!"

Jin Jian hadn't expected the old master's decision to be like this. To be honest, when she received the notification, she thought she had misheard, but it was indeed the case.

This left the seventy-year-old minister with nothing but a sigh: "His Majesty is truly senile; how can he be considered wise and enlightened when his rewards and punishments are so unfair!"

Instinctively, the cause was attributed to Heshen slandering the old master again.

Otherwise, how could this be the result?

Zhao An was stunned for a moment before Fu Chang'an reminded him to quickly accept the imperial decree, saying, "Your humble servant Zhao Youlu kowtows to thank Your Majesty for your divine grace! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"

His heart was pounding so hard. He was content with being granted the title of Third-Class Light Cavalry Captain, because he knew that this title was just a useless honor, nothing to brag about.

However, there's a lot to learn about raising the flag.

From being a bondservant in the Imperial Household Department to becoming a member of the Bordered Yellow Banner of the Upper Three Banners of Manchuria, Zhao An had completely shed his status as a bondservant and become a true prince!

吆西
Ok?
and many more!

Manchu Bordered Yellow Banner?
Ai?
Was the old man's household registration from the Bordered Yellow Banner?
Father Emperor, are you processing my household registration transfer so that I can be recognized as a member of the imperial family?

(End of this chapter)