My father is Yongzheng, and I am Qianlong?

Chapter 216 Hongli's Great Gains!

Hongli lifted the carriage curtain and looked out. He saw Longkodo kneeling outside under a yellow lamp, his body trembling slightly.

He could tell that Longkodo had been kneeling there for a while.

This unwavering determination made him smile slightly, thinking to himself that he had indeed aroused Longkodo's gambling instincts.

Emperor Hongli then ordered Longkodo to wait in the outer study and had a basin of charcoal prepared for him.

He then accompanied Nara Minxuan back to the inner garden.

"Prepare a bowl of hot ginger tea for your great-uncle."

About an incense stick's time later, Hongli came to the outer study and gave an order.

Hongli now calls Longkodo his maternal uncle, which naturally expresses a new attitude.

This was a common occurrence in the Qing Dynasty, a time of monarchical rule and subservient subjects.

As a prince, he could either be polite and address Longkodo as "uncle," or he could treat him directly as a lowly servant.

Whether Hongli addressed Longkodo as his maternal uncle or treated him as a servant, Longkodo had no choice but to accept it.

However, in most cases, when mutual respect was due, Hongli would still respect theirs.

Because if you trample on other people's dignity without principles, you won't get anything done.

Therefore, as long as Longkodo shows sufficient deference, he will not continue to trample on the other party or treat him as a human being.

Longkodo thanked him profusely, secretly pleased, knowing that this meant Hongli was willing to give him a chance.

At this moment, Hongli also stood up, walked to his bookshelf, and began to browse through books: "Do you know why I'm only willing to see you now?"

Longkodo bowed his head and said, "This servant knows that Fourth Master wants to see if this servant still has a sense of obedience, and whether he is still so unruly and doesn't know who he is. The more Fourth Master tortures this servant, the more it shows that he has high hopes for this servant!"

"My great-uncle is indeed an old and knowledgeable man. My little thoughts are really not worth mentioning in front of you."

"But if what you say is true, then I really did treat you that way because I wanted what was best for you!"

"A messenger came from the Rakshasa Kingdom, saying that they still want to continue the Great Qing talks with us and want to settle the border as soon as possible. I guess they have more important goals to achieve in the west, so they don't want the east to remain unstable."

"My father and I both think that you are the most suitable person to take charge of the negotiations in the future, after all, you are the one who knows the most about these foreign countries."

"However, if you don't change your temperament, it may be detrimental to the Qing Dynasty and even to yourself when you go to negotiate in the future."

"Because you should know better than me that this is not as simple as playing games in foreign affairs negotiations. It requires both the skill of being firm and tactful, as well as flexible and adaptable strategies. You need to be firm when you need to be firm and soft when you need to be soft."

"Therefore, both Khan and I hope that you will not become a second Nian Gengyao."

At this point, Hongli took out a book called "Fangyu Shenglue" from the bookshelf. This book was a Ming Dynasty book about the Russian Empire, and it was a book that he had asked someone to find for him before.

Longkodo immediately knelt down, choking back tears, and said, "This servant deserves to die! I should have understood Fourth Master's good intentions long ago, but I only realized it after Fourth Master sent me, Haha Zhuzi. I have truly failed Fourth Master!"

"Get up."

"It's not too late to understand now. You should also know that the renovation of the dilapidated houses of the Eight Banners and the expansion of the capital are not matters that can be handled by just anyone."

"So, it's hard to say whether it will be you, Uncle, who will take charge of this matter."

Hongli then spoke, opening the book at the same time.

Even the most muddle-headed Longkodo knew that since Hongli had sent him this message, it meant that the message came from the emperor's will. As long as he maintained the correct attitude, Yongzheng would give him this opportunity.

However, whether his attitude is correct or not is now up to the Fourth Prince, Hongli.

Thinking of his responsibility to manage these dilapidated Eight Banners houses and expand the capital, Longkodo had already decided to take a gamble. He took out an account book from his sleeve and said:

"This servant understands, but this servant is not here today for the matter of the dilapidated Eight Banners houses and the expansion of the capital. This servant is here to express his feelings to the Fourth Prince!"

"To express your feelings?"

Hongli looked at him with feigned curiosity.

Longkodo bowed his head and replied, "Yes, Fourth Master, this servant has a notebook here, which contains the names of those who have bribed this servant, as well as the details of the bribes this servant has received from them. Each account has this servant's signature and fingerprint."

Speaking of it.

Longkodo gritted his teeth and held the ledger above his head: "When I hand it over to Fourth Master now, it is as if I am handing over my head to Fourth Master. If Fourth Master ever feels that I am not loyal enough, he can take my head and the heads of my family, as well as my wealth, at any time!"

Although Hongli knew that Longkodo was willing to spend money to gain wealth and fame, he was not afraid to do so.

But he didn't expect Longkodo to be so willing to invest so much, handing over his secrets and his cronies.

However, Longkodo has actually taken that gamble.

He needs to explain why he did it.

He may not be able to explain it completely either.

All he knew was that managing the renovation of dilapidated Eight Banner houses and the expansion of the capital was a way to profit from the decades-long stash of income for most of the Banner people and the decades-long blood and sweat of the hardworking Han people, far more lucrative than selling official positions.

Therefore, he could go all in on this.

In short, if you really had to use one word to describe his current mindset, it would be: gambling!

Slap it.

Longkodo staked his entire fortune on this. Then, he waited to see if Hongli, and even the Yongzheng Emperor behind Hongli, would be willing to give him a chance to share this enormous wealth.

Just like his historical counterpart, Emperor Yongzheng.

Historically, he would orally convey the emperor's will before the imperial edict was issued, which frightened the seventeenth prince in charge of the palace to rush home. Only Longkodo did not consider what would happen if the edict was not issued by Emperor Yongzheng.

Perhaps Longkodo's life motto was: fortune favors the bold!
He felt that no one else would dare to go to such lengths as him.

He was even impressed by his own "boldness," as if he were shouting in his heart, "Who else can do this?"

"You really are a gambler!"

Hongli sighed for a moment, then put the book back.

He's not in the mood to read anymore.

The main reason is that Longkodo gave him such a huge surprise!
There is a saying that the selection of officials in the Ministry of Personnel is called "Tong Xuan," which means that when Longkodo was in charge of the Ministry of Personnel, all officials were appointed through Longkodo, which also gave Longkodo the opportunity to form a large group of cronies.

Now that Longkodo has revealed all the details about himself and his cronies to him, it's like handing him a knife to his own throat.

Hongli no longer needs to fear that Longkodo will betray him, and whether or not he wants to deal with Longkodo is entirely up to his mood.

Therefore, Hongli had no reason not to trust Longkodo.

Hongli helped Longkodo up: "Get up first."

"Thank you for your kindness, Fourth Master!"

Then, Hongli took the ledger from Longkodo and began to read it. He saw that it indeed contained details of the bribes received, as well as Longkodo's signature and fingerprint.

"Received 380,000 taels of silver from General Feng'en Antu."

"I received 200,000 taels from Cao Fu, the Imperial Textile Commissioner and Salt Commissioner of Jiangning."

As Hongli flipped through the documents, he silently read aloud the details.

Not long after, he saw information about how the Cao family, the Jiangning Textile Bureau, had also sent silver to Longkodo.

Hongli couldn't help but turn to look at Longkodo and said, "Give my uncle a seat."

"Whoo!"

"Thank you for your kindness, Fourth Master."

Then Hongli asked Longkodo, "When will the Cao family send you the silver?"

"Your Highness, it was sent after the deficit was covered up, starting in the second year of Yongzheng's reign. Ten thousand taels were sent every year, and this year's amount has not yet arrived. The purpose is to hope that I can help them in the capital. This is mainly because I had contact with them when I was working for the former Crown Prince."

Longkodo replied.

Upon hearing this, Hongli couldn't help but gasp, thinking to himself, "The heads of the Cao family are truly getting worse with each generation."

Cao Yin at least tried his best to make up for the deficit, but his nephew Cao Fu, after taking over, did not think about how to reform the management over the past five years to make up for the deficit. Instead, he hoped to escape punishment for not being able to repay the deficit in the future by bribing powerful officials in the court with a lot of money.

This truly shows a complete lack of business acumen; all they think about is taking crooked and unethical paths.

Even though he and his thirteenth uncle pleaded for a five-year grace period for the Cao family, it was all in vain.

Perhaps, the confiscation of the Cao family's property was ultimately unavoidable.

After all, the Cao family members themselves were incompetent, and even if he wanted to save the great writer Cao Xueqin's family from tragedy, he couldn't.

This truly means that only those who are willing to save themselves can be saved by others.

Otherwise, no matter how anxious you are for the other person, it won't make a difference.

In Hongli's view, perhaps only in this way could these bondservants who went out on business be made aware that although bondservants were like family members in this day and age, it did not mean that they could be infinitely indulged by their masters.

Hongli didn't bring up the Cao family again, but simply sat back down and looked at Longkodo:

"Father Khan intends to set up a Housing and Construction Office, directly under the Imperial Household Department, to be responsible for the renovation of dilapidated houses of the Eight Banners and the expansion of the capital city to benefit the Han people. I have tried my best to make this matter managed by you, Uncle."

"but!"

"Let me be frank with you from the start: you need to be careful not to do anything serious that could implicate me. This is a long-term plan that will last for decades, so don't go too far."

Hongli also made a promise to Longkodo.

Longkodo nodded: "This servant understands. Please rest assured, Fourth Master. This servant is entrusting my head to you, but that doesn't mean I don't cherish my own life and property. Naturally, I wouldn't dare to act recklessly!"

"That's good."

Hongli nodded, then added, "When it comes time to negotiate the border with the Rakshasa Kingdom, Uncle will have to put in a lot of effort."

"Please give your instructions, Fourth Master. I will do whatever you say!"

Longkodo stood up and asked for instructions.

Hongli looked at him and said, "I have only one attitude: not an inch of land that belongs to my Great Qing will be given up!"

Then, Hongli smiled and said, "Of course, it would be even better if you could obtain more through various means!"

Longkodo looked up in surprise.

(End of this chapter)