My father is Yongzheng, and I am Qianlong?

Chapter 148 Yongzheng's generous support for Hongli!

The hall had fallen silent.

Yongzheng and Yunxiang exchanged a glance.

Then, Yongzheng asked Yunxiang with a surprised smile, "Thirteenth Brother, what do you think?"

The thirteenth prince rested his right elbow on the low table in front of Yongzheng, leaned slightly forward, and smiled as he extended his left hand, pointing at Hongli, saying:

"That's a very insightful observation!"

"Fourth Brother, please forgive my bluntness, but Hongli's talent in governing is such that even when you were his age, you couldn't match him."

The thirteenth prince then leaned back, looked at Yongzheng, and picked up a cup of tea.

Yongzheng was not angry at what the thirteenth prince said; on the contrary, he was very pleased. He looked at Hongli and asked, "Who do you think are friends and who are enemies?"

Hongli thought for a moment and said, "The enemy is still unclear, but the friends are clear."

"Really? Who are your friends?"

Yongzheng continued to ask.

"My friend is Uncle Thirteen!"

Hongli replied.

Yongzheng immediately interrupted: "No need to mention members of the imperial family!"

The thirteenth prince couldn't help but chuckle and took a sip of tea.

When Hongli heard Yongzheng say this, he decided not to keep anything to himself and to name the people he thought highly of, in order to prove that he did not form a clique and at the same time let Yongzheng see his ability to judge people.

"For example, Chardan, Fahai, Nian Xiyao, Ortai, and Li Wei."

"Also, Leshchen and Sun Jiagan can actually be considered friends."

"Furthermore, it seems that my uncle Nara and my uncle Fucha can still be considered friends, because they have not complained to me and my mother about the new policies in private because of their kinship."

The two people that Hongli mentioned were Nara Wuge and Fucha Wengguotu.

"Summon Longkodo!"

Suddenly, Yongzheng spoke to Su Peisheng.

Before long, Longkodo arrived in front of Yongzheng.

Hongli did not know why Yongzheng had suddenly summoned Longkodo.

But the thirteenth prince, who had been working for Yongzheng for a long time, had obviously guessed the general idea, so he looked very relaxed and at ease.

Hongli clearly didn't understand Yongzheng as well as the thirteenth prince.

His understanding of Emperor Yongzheng was based solely on information provided by books.

After Longkodo bowed, Yongzheng rose and helped him up, saying, "Uncle, please rise."

"I now need to make the following arrangements for officials, Uncle, please take note."

At this moment, Yongzheng spoke to Longkodo with his hands behind his back.

Longkodo's eyelids twitched.

He didn't know which official positions Yongzheng wanted to remove, but considering that Nian Gengyao had already interfered with the personnel arrangements in the Ministry of Personnel, it would be even better if the emperor were involved. This way, he could cooperate with the emperor to make Nian Gengyao suffer.

So Longkodo readily cupped his hands and said, "Please give your orders, Your Majesty."

“Chaldan was promoted to Governor-General of Liangjiang, Nian Xiyao was promoted to Governor-General of Fujian and Zhejiang, Fahai was promoted to Governor of Zhejiang, Li Wei was promoted to Governor of Jiangsu, Ortai was promoted to Provincial Treasurer of Jiangsu, Nara Wuge was promoted to Provincial Treasurer of Zhejiang, and Fucha Wengguotu was promoted to Salt Commissioner of Liangzhe.”

"Furthermore, Sun Jiagan was reinstated as the prefect of Hangzhou."

As Yongzheng walked, he gave instructions, and with each name he uttered, Longkodo's lips opened wider and wider.

"The slave obeys the order!"

But Longkodo did not hesitate at all, and immediately knelt down to accept the decree.

Because all he hopes for now is that when Nian Gengyao returns to the capital, Yongzheng will not allow him to take over his power in the Ministry of Personnel.

Therefore, he dared not disobey Yongzheng's wishes in any way, and was even more willing to cooperate with Yongzheng.

Not to mention, if Yongzheng replaced all the important officials in Liangjiang and Fujian and Zhejiang, he would not hesitate to replace all the important local officials in the country, even if it would affect the official positions of his own party members.

After all, for him, nothing is more important than preserving his power in the Ministry of Personnel.

Hongli himself was also half-open in this position.

He truly hadn't expected that after he named a group of officials who could be considered friends, Yongzheng would immediately promote all the people he had recommended to important positions in the south.

It just doesn't have Lechchen.

It's possible that Yongzheng still harbored resentment towards Leshheng, or perhaps it was because Leshheng was, after all, a member of the imperial clan.

However, Hongli had to admit that by choosing to be honest with Yongzheng and by keeping a low profile and not actively recommending others to Yongzheng, Yongzheng would repay him with absolute trust, and a very generous amount of absolute trust at that.

There were already rumors in the court about so-called "Longxuan" and "Annual Selection," and now, it's even more surprising, that "Hongxuan" is about to appear.

However, Yongzheng arranged for all the people he mentioned to be stationed in the southeast, or promoted them in the southeast, probably because he had already noticed that there was a group of gentry in the south who were allied with Nian Gengyao. That's why he promoted all the people he mentioned who could be considered "friends" to that area.

Regardless, the South was prosperous, and the people he recommended were able to be promoted and transferred to important positions there, which still pleased Hongli greatly.

He had a feeling that he had been promoted along with him.

He was quite curious to see if those oblivious officials who fawned over him would regret not trying to curry favor with him.

After all, if they were close to him, they might have become high-ranking officials in the prosperous south much earlier.

"Hongli, what are you daydreaming about?"

Seeing this, Yongzheng asked Hongli a question. Hongli came to his senses and said, "Your Majesty, I was momentarily confused because I couldn't quite understand your meaning. Also, I would like to hear Uncle Longkodo repeat what Your Majesty just said."

Why repeat it again?

Yongzheng asked.

Hongli said earnestly, "It mainly sounds good!"

The thirteenth prince couldn't help but laugh.

Yongzheng couldn't help but smile and waved to Longkodo: "Then Uncle, you repeat it to Hongli."

"Whoo!"

Longkodo simply repeated the story, and from this he deduced that these people must have been related to the Fourth Prince Hongli to have been promoted and given important positions.

Afterwards, Longkodo took his leave and left the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

Hongli and the thirteenth prince also prepared to take their leave.

But Yongzheng stopped Hongli and only told the thirteenth prince to go back first.

Hongli had no choice but to continue standing in front of Yongzheng.

Yongzheng sat back down, picked up a memorial, and said as he read it, "I think you don't need to study in the Maocheng Hall in the mornings anymore. You can come directly to the Yangxin Hall to learn about government affairs and help me handle some memorials. I will also give you some pointers, especially on the memorials of those people who were promoted today. In the future, you should write your replies on slips of paper in black ink first and then let me review them!"

"Of course, depending on the situation, I will also give you some other memorials to try to respond to."

Hongli was even more surprised. He hadn't expected that Yongzheng's sudden promotion of these people had this hidden meaning. It was clearly to let him get familiar with their official styles and make plans for the future.

In other words, Yongzheng allowed him to control these people and manipulate the southeast through memorials and other documents, but only under his supervision.

He thought that Yongzheng only saw the southern aspect of the plan.

However, Hongli restrained his excitement at being able to participate in the highest decision-making and said with his hands clasped, "Your subject is still young and his studies are not yet proficient, I am afraid I am not up to the task!"

"You're already fifteen, are you still young?"

Yongzheng asked.

Hongli couldn't help but look up: "Is your son fifteen yet?"

"We Manchus are considered one year old from birth."

Yongzheng replied.

Hongli nodded: "That's right. In that case, adding the age limit, I am indeed fifteen."

Yongzheng smiled.

Hongli had to admit that it was easy for Yongzheng to find a reason to let him familiarize himself with government affairs in advance.

"In terms of academics, I can also see that your thirteenth uncle was right. You do have a talent for governance. You can always grasp the key points and say things that are enlightening, like someone who has done a somersault!"

"However, while you may have talent, you may not be well-versed in practical politics. As you just said, the first priority in implementing new policies is to understand who are friends and who are enemies, but how to develop friends and deal with enemies still needs to be combined with reality and various methods."

"Therefore, it is meaningless to let Zhu Shi continue to teach you. But he is still your teacher. If you have any questions about Han studies in the future, you can ask him for advice in private. I will issue an edict to set up an outer study for you in Yuqing Palace, where you can meet with him."

Yongzheng continued speaking.

Hongli pursed his lips and cupped his hands: "Your subject obeys the decree! However, this will make Father even more tired, since he will also have to take the time to correct any mistakes I made."

"As long as you study diligently, it will be worth it no matter how tired I am."

Yongzheng didn't want to say that he was happy to instruct his son, so he just replied with that.

Hongli feigned emotion and bowed again, saying, "Yes, sir!"

"Kneel down and pay your respects. You don't need to come so early every day. Come after 9:00 AM to pay your respects, but don't come after 9:45 AM, lest it interfere with my summons of princes and ministers."

"Whoo!"

Hongli was even happier when he heard that he didn't have to come early.

Because it means he can sleep a little longer.

Therefore, when Hongli left the Hall of Mental Cultivation, he couldn't help but smirk.

Of course, Hongli was also pleased that although Nian Gengyao did not choose him, the officials who did choose him all got important positions. Even he himself unexpectedly got the opportunity to learn about politics and draft memorials. It can be said that he not only did not lose out, but also gained because Nian Gengyao did not side with him.

"Cousin, seeing you so happy makes me very happy too."

When Hongli returned, he first saw Fucha Yuyan.

Fucha Yuyan then poured him a cup of tea and said this with a smile.

Hongli took the tea, sipped it, and then said with a smile:
"You should indeed be happy, because soon there will be great news about your uncle."

Upon hearing this, Fucha Yuyan's beautiful eyes lit up, and then she said with a shy smile, "Then it must be my cousin's kindness!"

Hongli did not deny it.

Fucha Yuyan didn't know how to express her gratitude, so she simply squatted down and placed her hands on Hongli's calves: "Cousin, you must have been standing for quite a while in the Hall of Mental Cultivation today. Shall I massage your legs for you?"

Hongli nodded: "Okay!"

Before long, Hongli tilted his head back, squinted his eyes, and smiled, saying, "Comfortable!"

Seeing Hongli's blissful expression, Fucha Yuyan smiled sweetly, as if in her eyes, only Hongli was her whole world.

Now, after returning to the Ministry of Personnel, Longkodo, in accordance with the Emperor's will, requested that the people mentioned by Yongzheng be promoted.

Fucha Wengguotu, who came from a bondservant family, was so moved that he shed tears: "I can actually go to Liangzhe to manage the salt! The Fourth Prince and the Imperial Concubine are truly treating our Gahari Fucha clan with great kindness!"

(End of this chapter)