My father is Yongzheng, and I am Qianlong?

Chapter 124 Preventing Cliques from Growing Powerful
The next day, Hongli had just finished his Chinese studies course with Zhu Shi in the Maoqin Hall when he received some news.

That is, Li Weijun, the governor of Zhili, who first proposed to implement the new policy of merging the poll tax into the land tax, was impeached by Le Ling, a Manchu official!
The charge against him was corruption.

Le Ling claimed that he bribed Prime Minister Longkodo to obtain the position of governor, and that he was suspected of colluding with Longkodo to sell official positions.

Furthermore, according to the impeachment memorial, the promotion of officials in Zhili was controlled by two people, and this was known as the "Longxuan" (a system of official selection).

Hongli chuckled to himself at this.

He knew that although the impeachment was ostensibly against Li Weijun and Longkodo for corruption and selling official positions, it was actually aimed at the new policy of merging the poll tax into the land tax.

It is possible that Li Weijun and Longkodo do indeed have such a history of misconduct.

However, the fact that the elderly woman impeached Li Weijun at this time is undoubtedly only related to the current new policies.

On the surface, even if some of the Nine Ministers opposed the implementation of the land tax reform, they would not openly oppose it; they would only cater to Emperor Yongzheng.

But secretly, they will definitely try to salvage the situation by attacking Li Weijun personally, in order to prevent the new policy of merging land tax and poll tax from being implemented in Zhili.

Moreover, Emperor Yongzheng, who wanted to reform, was clearly not so easily fooled.

Their idea of ​​perfunctorily passing the reform resolution, passively implementing the new policies, and allowing subordinates to carry them out haphazardly without anticipating potential problems during implementation, thus making it difficult for the new policies to be truly successful, was also exposed by Yongzheng.

Therefore, they can only attack Li Weijun himself.

Shoot the first bird.

Why did Li Weijun propose the trial implementation of "integrating the poll tax into the land tax"?
Hongli was very curious about how Yongzheng would respond.

He also intended to take this opportunity to learn from Emperor Yongzheng how to implement the new policies he wanted to promote.

He knew very well that although the imperial power was great at the moment, it still required a lot of ability for an emperor to accomplish something.

Even with immense imperial power, when it comes to carrying out specific tasks, it still requires the bureaucratic group to execute them.

Moreover, accomplishing something and establishing a reasonable new system is not as simple as just cracking down on corruption, which can be done by simply investigating, killing, and confiscating property.

To accomplish something, sometimes resorting to murder when faced with obstacles can actually backfire and make the reforms counterproductive.

After all, this is the kind of person who creates problems instead of solving them, which is self-deception.

Although Hongli intended for Yongzheng to complete many domestic reforms on his behalf, he did not intend to do nothing domestically in the future; he also planned to implement some new policies appropriately.

He naturally needs to learn as well.

After finishing a morning of Chinese studies classes, Hongli was so hungry that his stomach was practically sticking to his back, so he and Hongzhou hurried back to their respective palaces.

When he returned, he saw that Nara Minxuan, Nian Yirou, and Fucha Yuyan had also finished their classes and returned.

Hongli didn't say much to them, but only told Haitang to quickly instruct the imperial kitchen staff to serve the meal.

After finishing his meal and resting for a while, Hongli went to Nara Minxuan's place to show that he liked her the most.

In any case, Nara Min-hsuan is the Empress's niece.

In addition, Haitang, who was by his side, was also the Empress's person and was always watching whether he was getting close to Nara Minxuan.

Therefore, Hongli needed to focus more of his attention on Nara Minxuan.

There was no way around it; as a prince who would become emperor in the future, he inevitably had to act more like a political creature when it came to making choices about his love life.

Fortunately, Nara Minxuan is very beautiful. Although she is still young and it is unknown what her figure will be like in the future, she is at least as slim as most girls now.

He felt that it wasn't worth it if he got closer to them.

"Cousin, are you going to compose a poem?"

When Hongli arrived at Nara Minxuan's place, he saw her fiddling with the rhyme box she used for composing poems, and took the opportunity to strike up a conversation.

Nara Minxuan bowed and said, "Yes, Fourth Master!"

Hongli nodded, sat down to one side, flipped through the rhyme box, and said with a smile, "Cousin, do you have any poems you've written?"

"Reporting to Fourth Master, not yet."

After Nara Minxuan answered, she didn't say anything more, just stood quietly to the side, not taking the initiative to start a conversation.

Hongli already felt a little awkward, but he had no choice but to continue the conversation for the sake of the Empress: "Cousin, have you settled in well since entering the palace?"

"Your Highness, this servant is used to it."

Nara Minxuan replied with a pursed mouth.

Haitang, who had come with Hongli, was so anxious that her face turned red and white in turns. She frantically gave Nala Minxuan meaningful glances.

But Nara Minxuan only pursed her lips tighter and lowered her head even further, as if there were more interesting things on the ground.

Mingming, the Empress summoned her last night and instructed her to perform well in front of Hongli, but she still didn't dare to take the first step to win Hongli's favor.

Seeing that Nara Minxuan was reserved, Hongli smiled, nodded, and said "That's good" before leaving.

Then, Hongli came to see Nian Yirou.

Now that even Emperor Yongzheng is giving face to the Nian family, he will naturally do the same.

However, Hongli still pretended to be reluctant, not wanting people to think that he really wanted to be with Nian Yirou, this stunning beauty.

When Hongli arrived at Nian Yirou's place, Nian Yirou was stringing pearls one by one in the agate plate and did not even notice his arrival.

Seeing this, Haitang couldn't help but want to speak up and remind him, and looked at Hongli.

Hongli shook his head at Haitang and took the initiative to walk over and ask, "What are you wearing?"

Nian Yirou still did not answer.

"Bracelet."

After a while, Nian Yirou finally replied, and after putting on the wristband, she raised her snow-white arm and asked, "Fourth Master, does it look good?"

"Hey, wasn't that Fourth Master just here?"

Nian Yirou looked up when no one responded, only to find that there was no one around.

Hongli has already arrived at Fucha Yuyan's place.

He could tell that Nian Yirou really had a slow reaction time and seemed rather slow-witted.

"Fourth Master, this is pre-rain bud tea!"

When Hongli arrived at Fucha Yuyan's place, he was finally given a bowl of tea, which was his favorite pre-rain bud tea.

Hongli smiled and hummed in response, took a few sips, and then made an excuse to leave. Although Fucha Yuyan was the most sensible and considerate, knowing not to address him as "cousin" in front of others and having prepared his favorite tea in advance, he didn't want to be too intimate with her, which made the Empress and Consort Nian feel that he currently preferred her.

Because this would cause Fucha Yuyan to lose the opportunity to become a trial marriage princess.

It should be noted that the fact that Hongli's maternal cousin was assigned to him as a future trial marriage princess was already an extra favor granted by Emperor Yongzheng and the Empress out of consideration for Hongli.

After all, Hongli is not yet the emperor, and Consort Xi is only a concubine.

The emperor and empress can bestow favors upon her, but they can also take those favors back.

As Hongli was leaving, he caught a glimpse of Nian Yirou. She had already put on the pearl necklace on her fair wrist, her pointed chin resting on her hand, and she was staring at a painting in front of her without moving.

He couldn't help but want to go again, but then he turned back.

He didn't know if Nian Yirou was deliberately slow to react or just naturally naive, but he felt that he didn't need to be too intimate with her; he could just put on a show for Consort Nian.

After all, Emperor Yongzheng and the Empress did not actually want him to get too close to Nian Yirou.

Thus, after finishing his daily lessons and returning to his own courtyard, Hongli would still interact with the three newly added palace maids as if he were completing political homework, and would show different levels of enthusiasm according to political needs.

Although, he still prefers to be with his cousin, Fucha Yuyan.

Because Fucha Yuyan was just as considerate to him as Haitang, and even more gentle and loving than Haitang, just like how Wang Yuyan treated her cousin Murong Fu at the beginning. Moreover, Fucha Yuyan was also quite beautiful.

As long as Hongli wasn't heartless, he would naturally be more willing to spend time with his true cousin, enjoying the warmth and affection she brought, so that the other two would know to be anxious and change.

But Hongli is not the emperor now, and he cannot act as he pleases to express his true joy, anger, sorrow and happiness.

Therefore, he has to continue performing.

Only when he becomes emperor in the future will he no longer need to consider the feelings of empresses and concubines, and will be able to be more free.

However, Hongli's performance was not in vain.

That day, as he was leaving through the inner right gate to learn riding and archery, he saw Nian Gengyao, who was returning to the capital to pay homage, stride over from a group of ministers, pat his sleeve, and kneel before Hongli, saying, "This servant greets Your Highness, Fourth Prince!"

"General Nian, there's no need for such formalities, please rise."

Hongli replied with a smile.

"Thank you, Fourth Master!"

Then, Nian Gengyao said with a smile, "This servant has heard that my niece Yirou is now serving in front of Fourth Master, and I am truly happy for her. However, Yirou has always been pampered by my parents and is inevitably a bit arrogant. So if she has offended Fourth Master in any way, please forgive her!"

"She is very dutiful and has no arrogant airs whatsoever, so General Nian can rest assured."

Hongli chuckled inwardly. He had to admit that Nian Gengyao was indeed lacking in respect. Although his words were polite and courteous, he clearly knew that Nian Gengyao was not someone to be offended, which was why he directly asked for his forgiveness.

Nian Gengyao then cupped his hands and said, "There is one more thing. This servant dares to trouble Fourth Master. I wonder if Fourth Master would be so kind as to grant this servant this favor."

"Since General Nian has spoken, it must be an important matter. Please speak freely."

Hongli replied with a warm smile.

Nian Gengyao then said, “My good friend Li Yushan has been impeached by treacherous people, who say that he colluded with Longzhongtang. He is truly innocent! I have long heard that Your Highness cherishes the virtuous and is highly trusted by the Emperor, so I dare to ask Your Highness to save my good friend.”

Hongli knew that Li Yushan was Li Weijun, because his courtesy name was Yushan, which is why Nian Gengyao referred to him as Li Weijun.

Although he had no connection with Li Weijun, he also had no connection with Nian Gengyao.

However, since Nian Gengyao was trying to establish a relationship with him by claiming that his niece was already working as a palace maid, Hongli couldn't very well refuse him.

Moreover, Hongli knew that Li Weijun was a reformist, and that Yongzheng would definitely protect him to some extent.

Therefore, Hongli had no choice but to agree, and at that moment he nodded and said, "Okay, I agree!"

"Thank you, Fourth Master!"

"From now on, if there is anything that Fourth Master needs me to do, please just give the order. I will do my best to carry it out, as long as it is within my power."

Nian Gengyao immediately performed a grand salute in response.

Hongli smiled and helped Nian Gengyao up, saying, "General Nian, you're too kind."

"I still have homework to do, so I won't chat any longer."

"This servant respectfully sees off Fourth Master!"

After learning horsemanship and archery, Hongli came to pay his respects to Emperor Yongzheng and told him about this matter.

Upon hearing this, Yongzheng nodded and laughed: "This Nian Gengyao actually came to you to ask for help in order to save Li Weijun."

“What Father said is true. He probably wanted to have another hope. I had no choice but to agree because of the situation in the Northwest.”

Hongli knew that Yongzheng still needed Nian Gengyao, so he answered in this way.

Yongzheng nodded: "You are right to agree to it. It will also make the world think that Li Weijun was protected by Nian Gengyao, not by me. I only let Li Weijun off the hook because of General Nian."

As a result, Li Weijun was not punished, but the elderly woman involved in the case was imprisoned for allegedly making false accusations.

Hongli didn't care about Leling's fate. However, when he was preparing to return to the palace the next day, he encountered Fucha Wengguotu, a bannerman from the Upper Three Banners, who was on business at the Imperial Household Department, on the right side of the Qianqing Gate.

Because Fucha Wengguotu was Fucha Yuyan's father, Hongli politely addressed him as "uncle".

Because his daughter was now serving Hongli, Fucha Wengguotu took the initiative to say to Hongli, "There is something I need to report to Fourth Master."

“A friend of mine works for Prince Hongchang in the Thirteenth Prince’s residence. According to him, the impeachment of Li Weijun was instigated by Prince Hongchang.”

"In addition, Prince Hongchang has been getting very close to Third Master recently, as evidenced by secret letters exchanged between Prince Hongchang, Third Master, and Leling."

"Are Hongchang and Hongshi close?"

Hongli muttered to himself.

He knew that many of the bondservant servants around the princes and nobles were selected by the Imperial Household Department from various bondservant captains. Therefore, it was normal for a bondservant captain like Weng Guotu to know some inside information from some of the princes' servants.

Now, Fucha Wengguotu is clearly giving his mother's clan some face because Hongli gave Fucha Yuyan to his side as a future trial marriage princess, so he is boldly passing on more information to him.

However, Hongli also realized something was amiss because of this news, feeling that the old Eight Party behind Hongshi might be merging with the Hongxi Party behind Hongchang.

Hongli decided that he had to stop this situation from happening as soon as possible. If the old Eighth Prince's faction and some of the old Crown Prince's remnants who still supported Hongxi conspired, it would undoubtedly cause great obstacles to Yongzheng's reforms!

to this end.

Hongli rushed back to the backyard of Yongshou Palace and said to Haitang after seeing her, "Put on the belt that was bestowed upon me by the Emperor. I need to wear this belt to see my thirteenth uncle tonight!"

(End of this chapter)