My father is Yongzheng, and I am Qianlong?

Chapter 293 Stripped of his imperial lineage, stripped of his yellow sash, and imprisoned in Changchun Garden!

After receiving this instruction from Yongzheng, Hongli couldn't help but shake his head inwardly.

He had to admit that what Yongzheng did was really a bit of a trap.

But now, when it is difficult for the emperor to distinguish loyalty from treachery based on kinship or clan affiliation, one cannot control the court officials without being cunning.

Hongli could only say that he had learned his lesson and decided that he would also trick his ministers in the same way when he became emperor.

Undoubtedly, this time, Tangbo Manduhu has truly disappointed Yongzheng.

After all, this Manduhu always seems to fall into a trap.

He remembered that in history, Manduhu also met a tragic end because he disappointed Yongzheng time and time again.

However, from Manduhu's perspective, he would also feel increasingly disappointed in Yongzheng, feeling that Yongzheng was too harsh and ruthless.

After all, he was Emperor Kangxi's eldest nephew.

The eighth, ninth, and third brothers all grew up with him since childhood.

Even though he had a conflict with the third brother before and was tricked by him once.

But he still didn't want to see his third son die of fright after the raid.

Moreover, it is worth mentioning that Beile Yanxin, who succeeded the fourteenth prince as Grand General, was also imprisoned by the Yongzheng Emperor in the fifth year of his reign for concealing some of the fourteenth prince's complaints during his return trip from the Northwest to Beijing. He is currently being investigated for his crimes.

Therefore, Manduhu, as a member of the imperial clan, felt very insecure, which in turn led to fear and anger, and resentment towards Yongzheng's ruthlessness towards his brothers and nephews.

As for Cha Bina, Hongli glanced at him at this moment and saw that his lips were half open and his eyes were blank. He was obviously shocked by Yongzheng's words and did not expect that the fire in the Ministry of Rites could be found to be arson.

Before long, Songzhu, the Daoist nun Wang, and the fifty-seventh Qianzong were all escorted to the Qianqing Gate.

"Fifty-seven, tell me, did you start this fire?"

Yongzheng first asked about the age of fifty-seven.

Fifty-seven, who had ended up in such a predicament simply because of his greed and lust, did not have such strong political principles. In order to protect his family's future and privileges, he simply replied truthfully, "It was done by a servant."

"Why are you doing this?"

Yongzheng continued to ask.

Fifty-seven said, "This servant likes Wang Daogu and has accepted her money, so I listen to her."

Yongzheng looked at Wang Daogu: "Is what he said true?"

Wang Daogu sneered, "Yes!"

Yongzheng did not ask any further questions, but only looked at the princes and ministers in the Council of State:

"These are the arsonists that Hongli captured last night with his guards from the Prince's Palace and the guards from the Infantry Commander's Office. You heard them too; they confessed to arson. This shows that the fire was not a warning from heaven, but a man-made disaster!"

Manduhu shut his mouth.

Chabina then knelt down: "This servant has presumptuously interpreted the will of Heaven! He deserves to die!"

Yunxiang then stepped forward: "Fourth Brother, what does this have to do with Grand Secretary Songzhu?"

"Songzhu, why don't you answer Prince Yi's question yourself?"

Yongzheng sneered and looked at Songzhu.

Songzhu raised his head, which was covered in white frost, and gave a haggard, bitter smile, saying, "This servant instructed the nun Wang to carry out this matter, because this servant wanted people to think that this was a warning from heaven."

After Songzhu answered in this way, Yunxiang shook his head, pointed at Songzhu, and said quite agitatedly, "How could you be so foolish? Not only are you deceiving the emperor, but you're also deceiving Heaven!"

The thirteenth son then began to cough and wheeze.

Emperor Yongzheng couldn't help but show a look of panic.

Seeing this, Hongli came over and helped the thirteenth prince.

Emperor Yongzheng cast a satisfied glance at Hongli for this.

The thirteenth prince waved his hand, not letting Hongli continue to help him: "It's alright! I just don't understand, I don't understand how we Manchus have become like this."

"There's nothing incomprehensible about that."

"Things are developing, and although the circumstances are different at different times, the main contradictions they exhibit are also different."

"However, the fundamental contradiction between the efforts of wise rulers and good ministers to curb corruption and strengthen supervision and rectification for the sake of long-term national stability and security, and the demands of powerful officials and local tyrants who seek comfort and more wealth from the people and do not want to be excessively restrained by the imperial constitution and national laws, will not be different because my Great Qing Dynasty originated outside the Great Wall. It will only become more and more obvious after a long period of peace."

At this moment, Yongzheng calmly answered the thirteenth prince's question, displaying an air of complete confidence. The thirteenth prince seemed to understand for a moment, but was also somewhat surprised, as he hadn't expected his fourth brother to have such a clear understanding of the political situation.

But the thirteenth prince quickly remembered what Yongzheng had told him the night before, and thus understood something, and glanced at Hongli.

Hongli couldn't help but chuckle to himself, thinking that Yongzheng must have been enlightened by his words, which he had quoted from a great man.

However, this is not surprising. Some truths will naturally be understood once they are heard by the intelligent people of this era.

This is similar to how a mathematical genius, who is already gifted, suddenly understands a lot after seeing a formula he has never seen before.

"Therefore, people like Manduhu, Songzhu, Chabina, as well as Cai Ting, who was beheaded by me, Yin Tai, who was dismissed from his post by me, and Yan Xin, who was imprisoned by me."

"Although they are Manchus, and some are even members of the imperial clan, their hearts are no longer with the late Emperor or with me."

"They would rather the Qing Dynasty had perished like the Ming Dynasty!"

At this point, Yongzheng suddenly slammed his hand on the imperial desk and became solemn: "They also want to live a life where they can shamelessly plunder the people's wealth! Therefore, they form cliques, protect each other, and also learn from Han gentry to talk about the friendship between students and old friends."

"Now that I've figured it out, I'm not so angry anymore, because this is something that cannot be eliminated."

At this point, Yongzheng looked at Manduhu, Songzhu, and others.

Manduhu, Songzhu, and the others remained silent, all showing expressions of extreme shock.

Because, after listening to Yongzheng's words, they never expected that Yongzheng had seen through them so thoroughly.

"Songzhu, Wang Daogu, and Wushiqi have all been beheaded and their heads displayed to the public!"

“As a member of the imperial clan, Manduhu formed a faction to deceive the emperor, and even defended the old faction of Yinzhi, and scolded the emperor and his father. He is hereby stripped of his title and removed from the imperial clan, his yellow sash is removed, and he is confined to Changchun Garden.”

"The same applies to Beile Yanxin."

At this point, Yongzheng looked at Manduhu and said, "You are so protective of Yanxin that you are willing to abandon the emperor. Go and keep him company."

Manduhu gritted his teeth but did not argue; his eyes only reddened slightly.

"As for Chabina, as a minister of the Council of Princes, he harbors treacherous schemes and is disloyal and dishonest. He is hereby dismissed from his post and sent to the front lines to serve in the army!"

At this point, Yongzheng announced the decision to deal with the matter.

Song Zhu collapsed to the ground in shock.

Fifty-seven people gaped in astonishment.

Wang Daogu continued to sneer, saying, "Yongzheng, you can kill me, even dismember me, but you cannot eliminate us, and you will never again have the reputation of a wise ruler, never!"

Upon hearing this, Yongzheng blushed.

"It's hard to tell!"

But then Hongli spoke up.

Emperor Yongzheng and the ministers present all looked at Hongli.

Hongli then looked at Wang Daogu: "Although I don't know why you hate my Great Qing Emperor so much, you and your master do not represent the people of the world, nor are you qualified to represent the people of the world."

Wang Daogu was slightly taken aback: "You must be the legendary Fourth Prince?"

Hongli nodded.

"Fourth Prince, you have quite the sharp tongue!"

At this point, Wang Daogu suddenly bowed to Emperor Yongzheng and pleaded, "Your Majesty, please have mercy on my benefactor, Songzhu! Spare him from the death penalty!"

"No!"

After Yongzheng answered, he then ordered, "Bring Lu Shengnan here. Today, when I hold court, the most important thing for me is to let this arrogant brat know how foolish and wicked he is in front of you princes and ministers!"

Hongli took a deep breath.

Not long after, Lu Shengnan was brought in.

Yongzheng then asked Lu Shengnan, "Why did you write 'Reading the Zizhi Tongjian'?"

"Naturally, we should emulate the sage Sima Guang to rectify the way of the ruler!"

Lu Shengnan replied.

Upon hearing this, Hongli slightly raised his eyes and looked at Lu Shengnan, thinking to himself, "He really is a die-hard fan of Sima Guang."

(End of this chapter)