My father is Yongzheng, and I am Qianlong?

Chapter 172 Hongli Takes Action, Yongzheng Feels at Ease

The eighth brother's face was ashen as he asked the sixteenth brother, "Sixteenth brother, are you possessed?"

"I'm not possessed by evil spirits, it's you who are!"

"Unless one intentionally disobeys their sovereign or father, no normal person could come up with such a strategy that would only wrong their sovereign and father!"

The sixteenth brother said sternly.

The eighth prince, breathing rapidly, looked at the other three ministers: "What do you think?"

“It is indeed unreasonable to only cut the Imperial Household Department. Even if the Fourth Prince is willing, we servants cannot bear to see our master suffer such injustice.”

"That's right, the Qing Dynasty has no reason to let the emperor suffer the most injustice."

"Yes, we can't let the Emperor suffer, no matter how hard things are, otherwise we all deserve to die!"

The other three ministers of the Imperial Household Department also offered their opinions, and none of them agreed with the Eighth Prince's reduction strategy.

The eighth brother wasn't angry after hearing this; he only glanced at the sixteenth brother and then said:

"What you said makes sense."

"Therefore, I came up with another strategy, which is to not wrong the Imperial Household Department, and considering that the Imperial Household Department has a large number of officers, I think we should add a total of 95 cavalrymen to the Imperial Household Department, and the reduction should mainly be reduced from the Hun Tuo and Xia Ma Jia, for a total reduction of 396 people."

As the eighth prince spoke, he had his eunuch Yan Jin hand over his new strategy, which was then passed around to the sixteenth prince and the three chief ministers of the Imperial Household Department.

The three Grand Ministers of the Imperial Household Department naturally found it acceptable after reading it.

After all, the increase in the number of undercover agents within the Imperial Household Department actually brought benefits to those who were in charge of the department.

However, they were quite surprised.

At this moment, Lai Bao asked Lao Ba, "Eighth Master, why has this increased?"

“The number of people under the banner of the Upper Three Banners is indeed far greater than during the reign of the late emperor, making their livelihoods even more difficult.”

"Since we want to make His Majesty the Fourth Brother comfortable, we naturally have to increase the number of vacancies for these bondservants and captains. In this way, the bondservants of the Imperial Household Department can serve His Majesty the Fourth Brother with more peace of mind."

The three nodded.

Because the Hun Tuohe, commonly known as half a Zuo Ling, was the lowest-ranking Zuo Ling among the Eight Banners, even lower than the Bao Yi Zuo Ling.

The Eighth Prince's second plan undoubtedly puts the lowest-ranking bannermen (banner leaders) at the greatest risk of reduction and loss, possibly affecting most of the bannermen who actually do the work. Conversely, it increases the benefits for the bannermen of the Imperial Household Department.

The three Grand Secretaries of the Imperial Household Department, who were originally bondservants of the Imperial Household Department, were naturally happy to see this happen.

Logically, the sixteenth prince would be happy to see this happen.

Because, as a prince, it's a good thing that his royal status wasn't reduced.

But the sixteenth prince, who had already listened to Hongli's advice, disagreed and his face became even uglier: "Eighth brother, you really know how to talk a good game!"

Lao Ba's face darkened again.

He didn't understand why the sixteenth prince, Yunlu, was suddenly targeting him like this!

"Sixteenth Brother, are you angry about the layoffs, or are you angry at me personally?"

"If you're angry with me personally, you can wait until we talk about it in private. Why bring this up now with veiled barbs? If you're unhappy about the layoffs, you should say so now."

"I'm not dissatisfied with the layoffs themselves, but with your layoff strategy and your attitude towards them!"

"You were the one who initiated the downsizing, but now you're acting like Fourth Brother is forcing you to do it!"

"First, it only wronged Fourth Brother, making it difficult for him to explain to his own people;"

"Now they're favoring Fourth Brother alone, making him offend the lowest-ranking Manchus. It makes people think that this reduction in the number of Manchu uniforms is just to make things difficult for the lowest-ranking Manchus, while allowing the Emperor to better bestow favors on his own people!"

"Isn't there a fair, just, and convincing way to reduce the number of employees?"

"Or is it that they are unwilling to do so, intentionally making this new policy of reducing the number of vests fail, or that doing so would be worse than not doing it?"

"So, on the contrary, you, Myna, if you're unwilling to cut costs, why not just admit it directly? Why resort to such hypocritical and treacherous acts here!"

After the sixteenth brother said that, the eighth brother's face became even uglier.

Previously, only Emperor Yongzheng had spoken to him in this way, making him feel embarrassed.

Now, the sixteenth son is the same.

This made him very uncomfortable.

"Sixteenth Brother, don't worry. If anything goes wrong with this second strategy when it's submitted, I'll take the blame!"

"As long as the Emperor can be at ease as the fourth brother, we, as his subjects, should shoulder more responsibility."

"Similarly, if this strategy is implemented and someone objects, you can simply say that it was my idea!"

At this moment, Lao Ba suppressed his anger and replied.

The sixteenth prince flicked his sleeves and sneered: "What kind of layoffs are those that only wrong the lowest-ranking Manchus?"

"Eighth Brother, everyone says you are a wise prince, but I think your wisdom is only in front of princes and ministers. In front of the lower-ranking Manchus, you have no wisdom at all, only indifference!"

"The sixteenth brother!"

The eighth brother couldn't take it anymore and lost his composure, letting out a deep shout before standing up and glaring at the sixteenth brother for a while.

But in the end, Lao Ba still held back.

He couldn't beat the sixteenth brother.

The Eighth Prince looked at the other three chief ministers and asked, "What do you think?"

"This servant thinks the second strategy is quite good. Anyway, it was our suggestion, so at worst we'll take some scolding for His Majesty!"

"Yes, we should choose the second strategy. If we can't secure the greatest benefit for His Majesty, we might as well give up our humanity!"

"We can report this to His Majesty first. If His Majesty is willing, we will accept these complaints on his behalf. If His Majesty is not willing, we will discuss it further."

Because the Eighth Prince said they could pass the buck to him, and because they didn't want Yongzheng to think they weren't loyal enough or considerate of the emperor, the three chief ministers all agreed.

Lao Ba nodded in agreement.

Only the sixteenth brother, determined to be the villain and oppose the eighth brother, snorted and said, "I won't sign my name. If you want to express your opinions, you can sign it yourselves!"

After hearing this, the Eighth Prince said, "In that case, the Sixteenth Brother should submit his memorial separately!"

Yongzheng soon received a joint memorial from the Eighth Prince and three chief ministers, and learned the contents of the second set of reduction strategies. Yongzheng was furious after reading it and gave the memorial to Hongli in the East Warm Pavilion: "Take a look at this memorial!"

“Father, this is nonsense! It’s intentionally meant to leave you with an unsightly reputation for wronging the lowest-ranking Manchu people.”

Hongli understood Yongzheng and knew that he genuinely wanted to reform and eliminate abuses, so he answered in the same way.

Yongzheng nodded: "That's right! Your eighth uncle is clearly deliberately making the lower-class Manchus hate me so that he can win their hearts!"

"what!"

"Uncle Sixteen didn't sign his name, Father. Does Uncle Sixteen have a different opinion?"

At this moment, Hongli took the memorial to Yongzheng and pointed to the right side of the first page of the memorial.

Emperor Yongzheng nodded: "This is something that makes me somewhat gratified!"

Then, Yongzheng issued an edict summoning Prince Lian (the eighth prince) and Prince Zhuang (the sixteenth prince) to the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

When the two arrived at the Hall of Mental Cultivation, Yongzheng first asked the sixteenth prince, "Sixteenth brother, why didn't you sign this memorial?"

"Your younger brother does not agree with this proposal, therefore he did not sign his name."

The sixteenth brother replied.

Yongzheng continued in a deep voice, "Why do you disagree?"

"Although this strategy no longer deliberately treats the emperor poorly, it harbors rebellious intentions and is suspected of disrupting the grand plan of reform and eliminating abuses!"

“If I support this proposal, I will be letting down my fourth brother’s hard work and dedication to governing the country, as well as the ancestors of the Qing Dynasty. I cannot be as treacherous as my eighth brother, who is indifferent to the fate of our ancestors and the state.”

That's all!

The sixteenth brother replied firmly.

Upon hearing this, Yongzheng also looked surprised.

Hongli also secretly glanced at the Eighth Prince in the East Warm Pavilion.

At this moment, Lao Ba's face was as black as iron.

At this moment, Yongzheng looked at the Eighth Prince and said, "Eighth Prince, what the Sixteenth Prince said is not wrong. How could you come up with such a strategy?"

“The lowest-ranking Manchus suffer the greatest injustices, yet my Imperial Household Department is not only not reduced but increased. Isn’t this just causing the lowest-ranking Manchus to direct their grievances at me, and even criticize me for reforming the system only to please my own people?”

"As the saying goes, it's not scarcity that's the problem, but inequality. Losing a few hundred vacancies won't kill anyone, but the most taboo thing in reform and eliminating abuses is injustice!"

“Originally, such a new policy that offends people would easily make people suspect that the people in power are taking the opportunity to enrich themselves. But you are blatantly giving preferential treatment to me alone.”

"At first, you requested that only the number of cavalrymen of the Imperial Household Department be reduced, saying that they should be treated the same as other cavalrymen. I felt this was inappropriate because the Imperial Household Department's cavalrymen were already more numerous. Reducing the number of cavalrymen of the Imperial Household Department by a small amount would be more understandable. So I asked you and your sixteenth brother to discuss it again."

"As a result, you added your own objections, going to the other extreme. I really don't know what your intentions are!"

"You are so treacherous and cunning, trying to frame me with your schemes, but I am not so easily deceived. Don't forget, we are all sons of the late emperor, and we have all accomplished things. None of us are any less capable than the other!"

The more Yongzheng spoke, the sterner his tone became.

The eighth prince then denied this, saying, "Your Majesty, I did not mean that. I sincerely want to reduce the number of officials in the court. Your Majesty, you don't need to worry about such a strategy attracting criticism. You can put everything on my shoulders. Besides, it was indeed my idea."

"I, your humble servant, will bear all the consequences!"

"As long as it is for the sake of our ancestors' country and nation, your humble servant is willing to be condemned and cursed by thousands."

Bang!
Yongzheng slammed his fist on the table and looked at the Eighth Prince: "You make it sound nice!"

"Even if I try to shift the blame to you, won't they say I'm incompetent and foolish, and that I'm being manipulated by you?!"

After Yongzheng questioned him like this, the Eighth Prince remained silent.

"answer!"

Emperor Yongzheng responded with a stern rebuke.

The eighth prince replied like a sly mule, "If that's how you think, then there's nothing I can do about it."

Yongzheng's breathing became increasingly rapid.

Then, Yongzheng sneered: "Very well, since you are willing to take the blame, I will grant your wish!"

talking.

Yongzheng picked up the memorial jointly submitted by Prince Lian and the three chief ministers, and wrote his imperial comments in vermilion ink as he said, "I hereby write down that, in accordance with your previous proposals, Prince Lian, only fifty armored soldiers will remain under Hun Tuohe, and each captain in the Imperial Household Department will also be reduced to fifty men. Even the armored soldiers of princes and dukes will be reduced accordingly! Let those who want to take up armored positions go to be tested on riding and archery, and then go to the battlefield!"

After approval.

Yongzheng threw the memorial in front of the Eighth and Sixteenth Princes: "Take it and tell the Ministry of War to carry it out!"

The sixteenth prince looked astonished, then held up the memorial: "Fourth brother, this plan must not be implemented!"

"What are you afraid of? Just say that it was your eighth brother who made this suggestion. Anyway, your eighth brother isn't afraid of taking responsibility!"

Yongzheng smiled coldly.

"Then I request that Prince Lian be executed!"

The sixteenth brother replied.

Emperor Yongzheng waved his hand: "I will not be remembered for killing my brother."

The sixteenth prince then deliberately glared at the eighth prince before requesting permission to leave, and departed with the imperial edict in red ink.

Lao Ba was somewhat dumbfounded.

Hongli couldn't help but chuckle to himself upon seeing his expression.

He knew that the Eighth Prince hadn't expected that Yongzheng would take advantage of his willingness to take responsibility to devise an overly fair yet overly strict reduction strategy.

This reduction strategy is undoubtedly more radical!
Hongli couldn't help but sigh at this. In this way, although the various banners, whether from the Imperial Household Department, the princes of the Lower Three Banners, or Hun Tuohe, could not find fault with Yongzheng's (the court's) reduction strategy, it was indeed fair.

But I'm afraid the reduced-ranking officers and cavalrymen will hate the Eighth Prince and other ministers who directly decided on the reduction strategy.

Because this strategy is too harsh and too radical!
After the Eighth Prince and the Sixteenth Prince left, Hongli noticed that Yongzheng was not so angry. He only said to Hongli, "You saw your Eighth Uncle's attitude, didn't you? He just doesn't want to be of one mind with me."

What else could Hongli say but echo, "Yes, that's why Sixteenth Uncle is also very angry with him."

Yongzheng nodded: "Your sixteenth uncle has made great progress. He is not confused at critical moments and is not led by the nose by your eighth uncle. He even criticizes him on my behalf. I am very pleased. At least it shows that not all princes can be bewitched by your eighth uncle."

(End of this chapter)