My father is Yongzheng, and I am Qianlong?

Chapter 259 Stripped of Title! Prince Bao Granted a Python Robe!

Hongli knew that what Yongzheng cared about most was imperial power!

Therefore, in order to prevent Yongzheng from overturning his decision and denying his ability because the Mongol princes advocated compromise and forbearance in the negotiations, he had already prepared evidence of the Mongol princes' disregard for imperial authority and was preparing to steer the matter toward the imperial authority.

Upon hearing this, Yongzheng frowned and looked at Celing: "Is that so?"

Ce Leng was speechless for a moment.

Hongli's sudden mention of this matter caught him completely off guard!
Hongli then looked at Celing with a cold smile: "Uncle, do you really want me to produce concrete evidence?"

“The details of the furs and horses you paid as tribute to the Russian emperor are recorded in the letters between Langk and Laguginsky and the Russian emperor, and the contents of the private contract you made with the Russians are also recorded in the letters between Langk and Laguginsky.”

As soon as Hongli finished speaking, Celing knelt down directly in front of Yongzheng:
"Bogda Khan, you are wise to know that I did all this for the sake of the Qing Dynasty!"

"So, for the sake of the Qing Dynasty, we can secretly make treaties with foreign barbarians behind the back of our Khan, and for the sake of the Qing Dynasty, we can submit to foreign emperors?"

"Uncle, are you even aware of the risks involved?"

At this moment, Hongli asked Celing in a cold voice.

Beads of sweat began to appear on Ce Leng's temples: "I, I really didn't think that much!"

"My only thought is that our Khalkha Mongol tribes should not cause trouble for the court or disrupt its overall situation. Faced with the encroachment of the Russian Kingdom, we should naturally tolerate it as much as possible!"

“Privately agreeing to contracts and paying tribute privately.”

"To put it more seriously, it would be treason and defection to the enemy; to put it less seriously, it would be disregarding the imperial court and expanding one's power without authorization."

"According to the national system, your Mongol princes only have the power to collect tribute and make them perform service, but they do not have the power to directly represent them in negotiating tribute with foreign barbarians."

The thirteenth brother then spoke up, looking at Celing: "Tenth brother-in-law, you still question Hongli's abilities, but you are clearly more muddle-headed than Hongli. How can you make decisions about foreign affairs on your own?"

"My intention in negotiating with the Russian Kingdom was not because I was truly afraid of them, or because I absolutely needed their help to achieve peace. I simply wanted to see if you Mongol princes even had any regard for the imperial court."

"As expected, you didn't have it."

"Perhaps, in your view, from the North Sea to Kulun, all of this is your own territory of the Khalkha Mongols. Therefore, whether or not to give up this land is up to you. You don't need the court to make the decision, and there is no question of whether the court will suffer a loss."

Yongzheng said some arrogant things and also made some sarcastic remarks to Ce Leng.

But generally speaking...

As a result, Yongzheng became increasingly dissatisfied with the performance of these Mongol princes from the northern deserts, such as Tsering, in terms of their centripetal force and loyalty to the central dynasty, and felt that they were too accustomed to their independence!
This is naturally the most intolerable thing for a monarch who pursues centralized power.

In other words, even if land were to be ceded, it would only be possible if Emperor Yongzheng himself was willing to cede it.

Historically, Celing was punished by Emperor Yongzheng for signing a treaty with the Russians without prior notification and for deploying troops and firing cannons ahead of time.

However, Emperor Yongzheng did not severely punish Celeng for this incident in history; he only changed the stripping of his title to a fine.

Because historically, Celeng did this without authorization after being appointed as the chief negotiator by Yongzheng, Yongzheng considered that he himself also bore responsibility and thus reduced Celeng's punishment.

However, before the Khalkha Mongols successfully negotiated with the Russians, there were indeed instances of tribute being paid to both sides and private contact with the Russians to negotiate.

This is related to the fact that the Khalkha Mongols submitted to the Qing Dynasty relatively late and were not yet accustomed to the rules of a centralized dynasty.

They were instinctively accustomed to the rule of nominally respecting the Qing Dynasty as their master, while handling all matters, big and small, themselves.

As a Taiji of the Tushetu Khanate of the Khalkha Mongols and a son-in-law of the Qing Dynasty, Tsering was different from other princes of the Khalkha Mongols. He was more willing to respect the Qing Emperor as his master and was willing to fight for the Qing on the battlefield. However, he was also used to feeling that he could handle matters big and small on his own without having to ask for instructions.

“This servant is guilty. This servant did not think that much. This servant only thought that it was just offering some furs and horses, not many in quantity, and agreeing on some trade rules with the Russians. I would not have suffered much loss.”

Ce Leng kowtowed and replied.

Hongli said calmly, "The border guards and traders did not suffer major losses, but the prestige of the nation and the imperial authority were greatly damaged!"

Upon hearing Hongli's words, Celing couldn't help but turn around and look at him.

Emperor Yongzheng nodded slightly.

"Your Majesty is wise!"

“If the princes of the northern deserts can secretly sign contracts with the Russians or even pay tribute and become vassals, it will only make the Russians think that the northern Mongolians have not truly submitted to our Great Qing, which will make the Russians have even greater expansionist ambitions.”

"The Russian Empire will then think that they can really win over and instigate the Mongols of the Northern Desert to invade the south and destroy our Great Qing!"

"This is also the real reason why your son and your seventeenth uncle decided not to replace Longkodo."

"If the court really replaces Longkodo this time, the Russian Kingdom will only despise our Great Qing even more and make even more outrageous demands." "As the 'Discourse on the Six States' says: 'To appease Qin with land is like carrying firewood to put out a fire.'"

Hongli then elaborated further.

Ce Leng looked surprised.

At this moment, Yongzheng walked to the steps of the palace, stood before Ce Ling, and looked at the stunned Ce Ling: "Are you impressed?"

Celing nodded: "It is this servant who has overlooked the fundamentals and is not as insightful as Fourth Master. It is not that Fourth Master is too young or too naive, nor that Fourth Master is inferior to Prince Xun and Prince Li; in fact, even Prince Li is not as insightful as Fourth Master."

"What does this have to do with Hongxi?"

At this point, Yongzheng asked.

"Because when Prince Li met me at Zhengjiazhuang this time, he, like me, only saw that what the Fourth Prince did would chill the hearts of the Mongolian princes in the northern deserts, but did not see the impact on the prestige of the country and the imperial power."

After Celing said this, Yongzheng asked, "What did you talk about?"

"Besides mentioning that what Fourth Master did would chill the hearts of the Mongolian princes in the northern desert, I also mentioned my affair with the Russian envoy."

Celing replied truthfully.

After hearing this, Yongzheng asked, "What does he think of your private contact with the Russian envoy?"

He said that the Russian Empire has clearly agreed on the border and is very willing to resume trade, and that the peaceful days for our Khalkha Mongols are not far away.

Ce Leng replied.

"Hengchen, draft the imperial edict!"

"Prince Celeng, the Imperial Son-in-Law, has been stripped of his title and imprisoned in the Court of Colonial Affairs to be investigated for his crimes!"

“Prince Li, Hongxi, knowingly failed to report that Celing had been in private contact with the envoys of the Russian Kingdom. This shows his negligence in handling matters. Furthermore, he harbors jealousy towards the fourth prince and disregards the dignity of the nation. He is unworthy of being a nobleman. I hereby issue a decree to severely reprimand him and deduct half a year's salary!”

"Prince Bao, Hongli, has rendered meritorious service in upholding the authority of the court and the principles of the state. He is hereby awarded ten sets of brocade robes!"

Emperor Yongzheng issued an imperial edict, resolving to deal with Celing, and also criticized and punished Hongxi.

"Whoo!"

Zhang Tingyu responded and also glanced at Hongli.

Hongli felt a great weight lifted from his shoulders, secretly marveling that he had finally won this round by taking advantage of Yongzheng's emphasis on central power and Celeng's negligence of the Qing Dynasty's power rules. He managed to prevent Yongzheng from accepting Celeng's proposal, stripping Celeng of his title and imprisoning him, and without negating his own practical ability to handle ministerial affairs.

"Your Highness, do you think we should change the person?"

Yongzheng then inquired about Celing.

Celing bowed his head and said, "There is no need to change. We should prioritize the prestige of the nation and the imperial authority! Unless we replace him with someone even more assertive than Longkodo, it will damage the prestige of the nation and the imperial authority."

Yongzheng then looked at the princes and ministers present and asked, "What are your opinions, princes and ministers?"

"Your Majesty believes that we should follow the original decision of the Court of Colonial Affairs!"

The thirteenth prince then replied.

The sixteenth prince added, "I think so too."

Ma Qi echoed, "This servant second that!"

……

For a time, the councilors all agreed to follow the original proposal of the Court of Colonial Affairs.

Even those who disagree wouldn't dare to oppose it at this time.

Because Hongli linked the Mongol princes' unauthorized contact with Russia and their unauthorized tribute payments to both sides to the prestige of the nation and the imperial power, anyone who suggested replacing the princes at this time would undoubtedly be questioned for their loyalty.

Therefore, the Council of Princes and Ministers ultimately decided to follow the original decision of the Court of Colonial Affairs, and all of them greatly admired Hongli's performance.

Because none of them expected that Hongli would be so knowledgeable about what the Mongolian princes in the northern deserts were doing behind the scenes, and that he would have a clearer judgment on the negotiations. He was clearly serious about managing the affairs of the vassal states and was undoubtedly a qualified and excellent head of the Court of Colonial Affairs!

Meanwhile, the Russian envoy, Langke, soon learned of this matter from the French missionary, Bardomin: "Still not changing the person?"

(End of this chapter)