My father is Yongzheng, and I am Qianlong?

Chapter 154 Prince Jinbao
“I have heard the old saying, ‘When the emperor emerges from the confluence of the three rivers, Jiaxing and Huzhou become the battlefield.’”

"I have appointed you to this post now, and you have also submitted a memorial on the Zhejiang Province. I think if you were to declare yourself emperor, it would be the will of Heaven, and I would be unable to stop it. If you are unwilling to do so, with you in command of my several thousand soldiers, you will certainly not allow anyone at the confluence of the three rivers to declare themselves emperor."

Xi'an.

Nian Gengyao read the imperial edict transferring him to Hangzhou again.

The more he looked at it, the more worried he became, and asked Wang Jingqi, "Tell me, what is His Majesty thinking? Is he really reluctant to be cruel to me and wants to keep me around for future use? Or is he deliberately trying to lull me into a false sense of security and take my life while I'm on my way to Hangzhou?"

"I can't be sure of the exact answer, but I can be sure that the Emperor is on Prince Yi's side."

"In the end, the Emperor still trusts his thirteenth brother more."

"On this point, we should wake up, Mr. Dong!"

After speaking with a furrowed brow, Wang Jingqi looked seriously at Nian Gengyao.

Nian Gengyao nodded and gave a bitter laugh: "I was confused too. I actually thought I could compete with Prince Yi. I thought that His Majesty would really have the idea of ​​enjoying peace and stability after three years of implementing the new policies and the end of the war."

"This is mainly our fault; we didn't realize it in time and remind the Master."

At this point, Wang Jingqi bowed deeply to Nian Gengyao, saying, "Please punish me, Your Excellency!"

"There's no question of punishment. You're just advisors. It was my own choice to be an enemy of Prince Yi and to support Prince Lian in convening another council of princes and ministers to retain the virtuous and dismiss the wicked."

Nian Gengyao waved his hand.

Wang Jingqi then bowed again and said, "Thank you for your forgiveness, sir. In my humble opinion, even if you go to Hangzhou, you can submit a memorial to the Emperor, saying that you have indeed admitted your guilt in the past and ask him to admit his guilt. You also expressed your willingness to hear the imperial decree in Yizheng and not go to Hangzhou for the time being, so that the Emperor can completely dispel his doubts about you."

Nian Gengyao nodded.

Then, Nian Gengyao smiled and said, "It's one thing for the Emperor to pretend to trust me, but why would the Fourth Prince do the same? Does he really want to see me, the Eighth Prince's maternal uncle, alive?"

"The Fourth Prince did this either because the Emperor instructed him, or because he himself had this intention, or both."

"In short, whether it is the Emperor's will or the Fourth Prince's own will, it seems that if the Fourth Prince really becomes the Emperor in the future, he will probably not change the system again, and may even restore many old systems, and repeat the benevolent policies of the late Emperor."

"Because governing a country has always involved a balance of strictness and leniency, and Your Majesty must also be aware that if the emperor of the Qing Dynasty keeps reforming and eliminating abuses, it will not be conducive to the stability of the Qing Dynasty's foundation."

Wang Jingqi replied.

Nian Gengyao nodded again.

Then, Nian Gengyao looked at Wang Jingqi seriously and said, "The reason I don't get close to the Fourth Prince is that I think that if a prince who is intelligent and good at winning people's hearts really becomes the emperor or the chief minister, it will not be a blessing for the officials of the world. It is better to support the Third Prince, who has no foundation or talent but has some benevolence!"

"But who would have thought that His Majesty would do this so suddenly? It seems that my idea won't work out!"

As Nian Gengyao spoke, he sighed, a look of disappointment on his face.

“It’s not just you who thinks this way; many court officials think the same way.”

Wang Jingqi replied, then added, "Now that I think about it, although the Fourth Prince is exceptionally intelligent, if he were truly willing to be a benevolent and conservative ruler, it would be a good thing for the officials and gentry of the world! However, the officials and gentry of the world should not go too far in their actions and conduct in the future."

"Yes, it's not a bad thing. After all, I didn't expect the Fourth Prince to be so magnanimous as to speak up for me, Nian Gengyao."

"On the contrary, Prince Lian dared not speak up for me in order to protect himself."

Nian Gengyao nodded, took a sip of tea, and said, "But the more I regret it, the more I feel ashamed for treating this Fourth Prince so coldly!"

"Don't feel too guilty, Master Dong. Since the Fourth Prince will be a benevolent and prudent ruler in the future, he will certainly not care about these things. Moreover, he will make an exception for you because of the Eighth Prince and the Imperial Concubine."

"If you go to Hangzhou, please speak up for the Fourth Prince in front of the gentry in Jiangnan, and tell them that the Fourth Prince will surely be like the late Emperor in his later years, cultivating virtue and bestowing grace, and spreading benevolent policies. I believe the Fourth Prince will be grateful to you and completely forgive and forget the past grievances."

Wang Jingqi suggested.

Nian Gengyao nodded: "That's how it should be! If it really is the Fourth Prince who succeeds to the throne, I hope I can still live to see that day."

Why do you say that, sir?

"Since His Majesty still favors Prince Yi, then Prince Yi will certainly not let my past actions go unpunished. Perhaps His Majesty will even harbor thoughts of killing me because of this!"

Nian Gengyao was willing to fully believe that Hongli would become a benevolent ruler who would be lenient towards officials and gentry, but he dared not fully believe that Yongzheng had any intention of sparing his life.

Therefore, before leaving Xi'an, Nian Gengyao met with Yue Zhongqi again and said to Yue Zhongqi, "Has the Emperor issued any edict regarding my matter? We have known each other for a long time, so you must tell me the truth."

Yue Zhongqi shook his head: "No."

Nian Gengyao then choked up and shed tears, lamenting, "I cannot protect my life and fortune in the future! My illness was already bad, I sweat every night, my appetite has decreased, and my body is very weak. If I really have to go to prison, I'm afraid I will die in prison."

Yue Zhongqi smiled and comforted him, saying, "His Majesty has shown you the greatest kindness, and instead of punishing you, he has promoted you to general. If you can repent and correct your mistakes from now on, everything will be peaceful, and there will be no more trouble."

Nian Gengyao gave a bitter laugh: "Let's hope so!"

It was the sixteenth day of the fifth month of the third year of the Yongzheng reign.

Nian Gengyao then met with Yue Zhongqi separately and said, "You are now the Governor-General of Sichuan and Shaanxi. Please take care of Fu Bin, a salt merchant from Hedong. I need to have a source of food and clothing when I go to Hangzhou!"

"I cannot agree to that!"

"Firstly, although the Emperor treats you with the utmost kindness and compassion, there are many officials who resent you. If you do not restrain yourself, they may escalate their demands for the Emperor to punish you. Secondly, if this matter comes to light, it will put the Emperor in a difficult position and may even cause him to change his attitude towards you."

"I am doing this all for your sake, please understand!" Yue Zhongqi then refused Nian Gengyao's request.

Nian Gengyao's face turned as black as the bottom of a pot, and his fists clenched so tightly they cracked.

He only now realized that without the support of the imperial power, even Yue Zhongqi, a former general of the Green Standard Army, had begun to disrespect him.

"Then please deliver a painting by Dong Qichang and a piece of top-quality Hetian jade that can be used as a seal for me. Then, send them to the Fourth Prince along with your Bingjing."

Nian Gengyao looked at Yue Zhongqi and made another request.

He had already learned that the current Fourth Prince Hongli was fond of collecting calligraphy and paintings, and he felt that the Fourth Prince Hongli must also like good materials for making seals. So he decided to send out the two important gifts he had received from his subordinates in the Northwest, in order to secure a stable future for himself.

The gifts of ice and charcoal from local officials were accepted by princes and dukes in the capital, and Hongli was no exception.

Yue Zhongqi then nodded.

But then, Yue Zhongqi secretly reported to Yongzheng about his conversation with Nian Gengyao and how Nian Gengyao had instructed officials and gentry in Xi'an to organize the people to hold up umbrellas to persuade him to stay.

Emperor Yongzheng then gave this secret memorial to Hongli in the East Warm Pavilion: "Take a look at this memorial."

Hongli took it, and after reading it, he was furious and said:
“Father, Nian Gengyao truly deserves to die! He completely disregards you, his sovereign and father, and still tries to deceive you, secretly manipulating the salt profits. He even prefers to only now try to curry favor with me rather than admit to you that he has wronged you by treating me coldly behind your back, and even framed Uncle Thirteen!”

Hongli's current attitude toward Nian Gengyao is completely different from the attitude he previously expressed to Yongzheng in front of the Grand Minister of State Affairs and the Recorder of the Emperor's Daily Life, Qian Mingshi.

This is because he is now discussing this matter privately with Yongzheng, and Yongzheng is showing him this secret memorial to clearly see his opinion on Nian Gengyao's way of doing things and his opinion on the supreme authority of the emperor.

After hearing what Hongli said, Yongzheng handed another memorial to Hongli: "This is a memorial submitted by Nian Gengyao himself. Take a look at it again."

"I am a foolish and ignorant servant, easily swayed and complacent, unable to be cautious in my words and deeds, lacking humility, and making many mistakes in my work. I have no way to escape my sins. However, Your Majesty has been kind enough to still appoint me as the General of Hangzhou. How could I dare to cause Your Majesty any trouble? Therefore, I humbly request Your Majesty to dismiss me from office and punish me, so as to appease the people and uphold the law, and allow me to receive Your Majesty's decree in Yizheng."

Hongli silently read the contents of the memorial, then looked at Yongzheng and said, "Your subject did not expect that he was two-faced. In the memorial to Father, he appeared very honest, but in secret he was still rampant and unscrupulous."

Yongzheng nodded: "Do you think we should allow him to receive the imperial decree in Yizheng?"

"It shouldn't be!"

Hongli replied without hesitation.

Then, Yongzheng waved his hand and sat on the bright yellow throne in the center: "Tell me your reasons."

“Father should make him understand that he should do whatever the sovereign father tells him to do, and he cannot have his own ideas. Even if he wants to die, if the sovereign father does not order him to die, he cannot ask for it on his own!”

"Therefore, since he was sent to Hangzhou, he should obediently go to Hangzhou to serve as a general, and should not have any thoughts of reversing the emperor's will or changing the emperor's wishes, but instead submit a memorial to request that he be dismissed from his post and punished."

"As a servant, his greatest duty is to obey! He must understand in his heart that no matter how high his official rank or how noble his royal relative, he is still just a servant!"

Based on the historical treatment of Nian Gengyao by Emperor Yongzheng, Hongli elaborated on his own views.

Emperor Yongzheng stood up and said, “Issue an imperial decree: The Fourth Prince Hongli is filial, intelligent, and of pure heart, which greatly pleases me. He has rendered meritorious service to his parents in the Hall of Mental Cultivation. He is hereby promoted to Prince Bao and granted three imperial estates near Lugou Bridge as estates for the Prince’s residence!”

Hongli was surprised and secretly sighed that Yongzheng was encouraging him to continue down the path of political arrogance.

Yongzheng had already reached the door, but as he turned around, he said to Hongli, "You should accept the gift that Nian Gengyao gave you."

"Whoo!"

Hongli did not refuse.

As he just said, in the Qing Dynasty, one should accept whatever the emperor gives, whether it is kindness or wrath. It is wrong to politely decline or to harbor resentment. Yongzheng was a practitioner of this principle and clearly hoped that imperial power would reach an even higher peak.

Therefore, Hongli only needed to wait for the congratulatory gifts that Nian Gengyao had mentioned to Yue Zhongqi to be delivered to his door.

But why is it a painting again?

Add a piece of Hetian jade.

Does this mean I should actually develop a genuine liking for stamping and appreciating paintings?
Hongli never expected that he would be promoted to Prince of the County three years later.

But being a king meant better etiquette and treatment; the residence bestowed upon him by Emperor Yongzheng could be decorated to a higher standard.

However, this also made the court officials understand even more how high Hongli's status was in Yongzheng's heart.

On this day, the infantry commander Aqitu sent a letter to Hongli requesting an audience.

Hongli, considering that he was someone trusted by Yongzheng and held the important position of Commander of the Infantry, did meet with him.

"This servant pays his respects to the Fourth Master!"

Aqitu sought an audience with Hongli to put his mind at ease, because recently there had been anonymous accusations against the thirteenth prince. If investigated, the person primarily responsible would be him, the commander of the infantry responsible for the security of the capital, also known as the Nine Gates Admiral.

Therefore, considering Hongli's current standing in Yongzheng's heart, Aqitu disregarded his sensitive position as the Commander of the Infantry and went to see Hongli.

After helping Aqitu to his feet, Hongli said, "Aqitu, how could you come to see me?"

Then, Hongli flicked his sleeves and shouted sternly, "You should go directly to the Khan to apologize!"

(End of this chapter)