My father is Yongzheng, and I am Qianlong?

Chapter 265 Tenfold Slaughter, Ruthless Governance!

Although the Qing Dynasty's policies toward Mongolia led to a continuous decline in the Mongolian population, it did not allow outsiders to kill at will, as this involved national dignity.

The Mongol princes in the Court of Colonial Affairs were all shocked and furious, and they all looked at Hongli.

Although they were dissatisfied with the court's overly forceful approach, which caused them heavy losses, the fact that the Russians had wiped out their population naturally angered them as well. They were also even more curious about how Hongli, who represented the court in charge of vassal administration, would respond.

When Hongli mentioned Celing and actually wanted Celing to repay tenfold, they were undoubtedly very surprised.

They are still unclear whether Celing has captured any Russians, and even less clear whether Celing has any secret cooperation with the Fourth Prince Hongli.

Regardless, Hongli's decisive issuance of such an imperial edict still greatly shocked some Mongol princes.

Because many Mongol princes had long lost their former ferocity, Hongli's tough decision to avenge the Mongol people instilled fear in them. They feared that the Russian Empire would intensify its retaliation, and that they, the Mongol princes of the northern deserts who directly faced the Russian Empire, would suffer the most.

After all, for the Mongol princes, losing some herders, though painful and infuriating, was better than angering the Russians and suffering even greater losses, or even risking their own lives.

"Fourth Master, you can't be so impulsive! This will astonish foreign nations!"

At this point, Balena, the Taiji of Ongniud, began to passionately dissuade Hongli.

Another, Second-Class Taiji Burbala, chimed in, “Yes, Fourth Master, you can’t do that. It will only further enrage the Russians. Our Great Qing governs with propriety and treats distant peoples with kindness. How can we easily offend our friendly nations because of the killing of a few commoners!”

Hongli retorted, "How can the dignity and imperial authority of the nation be so easily damaged?!"

“Those who stray from the righteous path find few supporters, while those who follow the righteous path receive many. Although we common people have been killed, our friendly nations will support us even more because of the Qing Dynasty’s forbearance and benevolence. Please, Your Highness, understand this clearly!”

Some Mongol princes, who also preferred appeasement and a policy of appeasement, continued to argue.

Hongli sneered. He hadn't expected these Mongol princes to use Confucianism to argue with him, and even to use it in such a way.

But Hongli still insisted on his own opinion: "The people are the foundation of the state. If one is not ashamed of the people being killed, and does not fight back or avenge one's own people, then one is depraved and immoral! You must not misinterpret the words of the sage!"

"If Fourth Prince insists on this, we have no choice but to report to His Majesty and impeach Fourth Prince!"

“That’s right. We Mongols worship Buddhism and do not wish to kill. What Fourth Master did is a desecration of us Mongols!”

Some princes who were still unwilling for Hongli to offend the Russians went so far as to make a strong statement to him.

Hongli's face darkened: "You may submit a memorial, but I believe that most Buddhist monks who are willing to uphold the prestige of the nation and the safety of the people understand what it means to uphold good laws. Using ruthless and decisive means to protect the people is also a compassionate act of a Bodhisattva who protects life!"

Hongli had also studied some Buddhist theories, so he naturally knew how to refute these Mongol princes who were unwilling to offend the Rakshasa.

Moreover, Emperor Qianlong explicitly warned: "Anyone who dares to misinterpret the Emperor's will and the Buddha's teachings, and disregard the fate of the nation and its people, is a traitor and should be executed! Do not say you were not warned!"

These Mongol princes turned pale upon hearing this and dared not speak further.

They feared that Hongli would also have them beheaded.

As a result, they immediately wrote a letter to their family members in the northern desert.

Some even found reasons to request permission to return to the northern desert, just wanting to see with their own eyes whether Celing would really carry out such an important order from Hongli.

For Hongli, the Qing Dynasty had risen to power through organized killings, so he naturally had no fear of killings. Moreover, in the early and middle periods, he always emphasized ruthless governance, to the point that even the princes of the imperial family had to be raised as poisonous insects.

It can be said that the Qing Dynasty was an expert in ruthlessness.

Since Emperor Yongzheng had entrusted him with the management of the Court of Colonial Affairs, he naturally would not obstruct his administration of the colonies and thus approved his imperial edict.

Soon after, Langk and Kolychev also learned about the "tenfold revenge".

Both of them were furious about this.

"hateful!"

After saying this through gritted teeth, Kolychev said to Langk, "We must protest to the Qing Dynasty! We demand that they release our prisoners and stop invading our territory!"

Langke nodded and said, "We should protest. We Russians cannot tolerate this kind of threat. We should also tell them not to challenge our bottom line of patience!" Korychev clenched his fists and said, "If it weren't for the unrest in the west, we should really mobilize three million Mongols and two hundred million Han Chinese to wipe out these four million Manchus!"

Because Ragujinsky once reported to the Russian emperor that the Qing Dynasty could actually be destroyed directly, and that the country was only a regime established by four million Manchus suppressing two hundred million Han people, so its ruling foundation was very fragile.

Therefore, as long as Russia uses clever diplomatic means, coupled with certain military assistance, it can destroy the Qing Dynasty within two years. For this reason, it is hoped that the Russian Tsar will grant him greater authority.

Therefore, many hawks in the Russian Empire are even so ambitious that they want to directly exploit the contradictions between the Manchus, Han Chinese, Mongols, and Hui peoples to expand their territory into Han lands.

Kolychev is one such example.

Langke simply smiled. Having met Yongzheng, he did not agree with the idea that the Qing Dynasty could be destroyed in a short time. However, when he met Yongzheng's representative, Longkodo, he still protested to him against the Qing Dynasty's policy of reciprocal retaliation.

Longkodo slammed his fist on the table, angrily denouncing Langke and the other Russians as barbaric and unreasonable.

"We only killed Mongols who invaded our territory, not you Manchus. You shouldn't be reacting so strongly!"

"If you insist on doing this, you shall bear the responsibility for the war! And please do not regret it when the Dzungars, the Buryats, and the Han Chinese from the south overthrow your country in the future!"

Langke then resorted to threats, and after making those threats, he returned to his own base.

Longkodo's heart burned with rage, but he gritted his teeth and endured it.

Then, in December of the fifth year of the Yongzheng Emperor's reign, on the banks of the Boer River...

Before the heavy snow fell, a group of Mongolian princes accompanied Longkodo, Tulichen, and other high-ranking officials of the court out of the tent.

Because they had heard that Celeng would be bringing over five hundred Cossack bandits today, they came out of their tents to greet him.

Meanwhile, on the opposite bank, Langk and Kolychev also came out of their tents after learning that a large number of Qing troops had arrived.

But Korychev remained arrogant, and after leaving the tent, he sneered at Langk, "I don't believe that the Qing Dynasty would dare to retaliate against us!"

"I have already issued a warning, hoping that their emperor will not take such a tough stance in order to become the emperor of all the peoples under heaven, as that would make the Mongol princes very uneasy."

Langke also spoke calmly.

Meanwhile, on the Qing side, high-ranking officials such as Longkodo and the Mongol princes present saw Tsering riding on horseback, leading troops and escorting a large number of Russians.

These Rakshasa people, all wearing shackles and chains, walked slowly in the biting cold wind. Perhaps out of fear, their faces grew increasingly pale.

Longkodo and other high-ranking officials of the court laughed.

The Mongol princes also showed expressions of shock.

Half an hour later, Langk and Kolychev saw many monks coming to the riverbank to chant sutras.

Kolychev laughed: "They really don't dare; they'll only perform rituals for their herdsmen!"

Langke also thought that the Qing Dynasty had only sent monks to perform a ritual for the Mongol people who had been massacred by them.

But then they saw that behind the chanting monks, many Mongols were digging pits and moving carts and kerosene.

Behind these Mongols, a large number of Rakshasa people wearing shackles were brought over and ordered to kneel in front of the pit.

"No!"

Kolychev's expression changed, and he shouted.

Langk immediately turned around and was about to go over: "I have to protest, I have to call in troops to stop them by force!"

But when a large number of Mongol soldiers pushed their cannons forward and lined up their muskets to point at them, Langke was speechless.

(End of this chapter)