My father is Yongzheng, and I am Qianlong?

Chapter 302 Yongzheng was moved by Hongli and became ruthless towards his own people!
On this day, Emperor Yongzheng moved to the Yuanmingyuan Garden to escape the summer heat.

Hongli also moved to Langrun Garden.

The two were playing chess when they learned that Yoon Tae-yoo had pleaded for Fu Deok.

“Father, it’s your turn.”

After Su Peisheng reported the matter, Hongli reminded Yongzheng.

Emperor Yongzheng picked up a black chess piece and said with a smile, "Indeed, they are a faction!"

"But if they are a faction, there shouldn't be only two of them."

Hongli replied, and after Yongzheng placed the chess pieces, he also made a move.

After listening, Yongzheng nodded and showed approval to Hongli, then placed the chess piece heavily on the chessboard: "Then let's capture them all in one fell swoop!"

"Issue an imperial edict to the Infantry Commander's Office that since Yin Tai admits that he was trying to spy on the court, the three judicial departments will interrogate the two of them first to find out if they have any other accomplices."

After saying this, Yongzheng issued a new decree.

Before long, Su Peisheng came to report again: "My lord, Prince Yi has arrived."

Upon hearing this, Yongzheng smiled faintly and said, "They've come to plead for Yin Tai."

"To plead for Yin Tai?"

Hongli was somewhat curious.

Yongzheng said, "That's right. Yin Tai was your thirteenth uncle's teacher, so he has to put on a show no matter what."

Hongli nodded after hearing this.

He knew that Yin Tai was a great Confucian scholar in Manchuria, and was over seventy years old. He had a high reputation among the Manchu bannermen, and many of them were his students or students' students.

Strictly punishing Yin Tai would indeed cause a huge uproar within the Eight Banners, and the impact would be far greater than the previous execution of Cai Ting.

"Your subject must also set an example!"

Hongli suddenly spoke.

He had no intention of hiding anything from Yongzheng.

Because he knew that Yongzheng liked to be straightforward.

Therefore, Hongli blurted out his thoughts, saying, "If Father wants to act with firmness, then your sons must be gentle. Only in this way can we truly be doing this for the future of our Great Qing."

Emperor Yongzheng, looking at the chessboard, was not angry; he simply nodded.

"You certainly won't disappoint me!"

But then Hongli said, "But in that case, Father can only deal with them alone! Even Uncle Thirteen and I can only stand on the opposite side of you in the open."

Hongli's words made Yongzheng laugh.

Then, Yongzheng pulled a handkerchief from his horse-hoof sleeve, wiped it on the corner of his eye, and said, "It's enough that you can say these words!"

"But this is exactly what the late emperor intended for me to inherit the throne!"

"He knows I won't be like him!"

A sigh reached Hongli's ears.

However, Emperor Yongzheng could not be like Emperor Kangxi.

Whether it's personality, hobbies, strengths, the performance of offspring, or even physical condition.

Therefore, when Yongzheng said this, he revealed the real reason why Kangxi chose him.

And he also knew what his mission was.

Whether Hongli understood it or not, he would fight a fierce battle with the powerful and bureaucratic officials who wanted to limit the emperor's power, increase the power of the officials, and follow the old ways.

However, Hongli gave him the courage and the confidence to intensify the crackdown.

Whether it was the new theoretical tools provided by Hongli, or the understanding and gratitude given by him as a son of man.

When the thirteenth prince arrived and saw Hongli there, Yongzheng's eyes reddened, and he had to become even more serious: "Fourth brother!"

"Coming!"

"what's up?"

Yongzheng asked.

The thirteenth prince said, "I heard that Hongli is with you, so I came here to find him."

"If there's anything you need, just send someone to summon him. Why come in person?"

"Is he capable of taking on this responsibility?"

Yongzheng asked.

The thirteenth prince laughed and said, "It's different. He's fulfilling his filial duty before the emperor now! How could I disregard his filial piety?"

"You not only want Gu Hongli's filial piety, but also Yin Jishan's filial piety, don't you?"

At this moment, Yongzheng suddenly asked a sarcastic question. The thirteenth prince was not angry, but said, "Nothing can be hidden from your fourth brother. Yin Tai suddenly pleaded for Fu De. If you kill him too, wouldn't that make Yin Jishan even more helpless in the officialdom?"

"That's better!"

Yongzheng replied, "Didn't you come to see Hongli? Then take him with you and leave."

The thirteenth prince didn't say anything more in defense of Yin Tai, but simply looked at the chessboard as if nothing had happened: "Your game isn't over yet, is it?"

"Let's see who comes out on top."

As the thirteenth prince spoke, he walked over to Yongzheng's side and tilted his head to look at him.

"Uncle Thirteen, there's no need to look anymore. Your nephew has already admitted defeat."

Hongli then looked at the thirteenth prince and replied.

Yongzheng pointed at Hongli and said, "He has already admitted defeat!"

……

……

"You're really admitting defeat?"

After leaving the Jiuzhou Qingyan Hall, the thirteenth prince curiously asked Hongli about it from horseback.

He thought that Hongli had also come to speak for Yin Tai, and that admitting defeat meant that the court had already compromised with Yongzheng.

Hongli nodded.

The thirteenth prince didn't say anything more after hearing that.

Since Prince Cheng, Yunzhi, left, the thirteenth prince has been in a much better mood and has even stopped drinking as frequently as before.

At this moment, Hongli told the thirteenth prince about the fact that Fu De and Yin Tai were going to be tried together.

After hearing this, the thirteenth prince asked Hongli, "Do you think the fourth brother will kill these two people?"

"In my humble opinion, it depends on the political climate and public opinion at court."

Hongli replied.

The thirteenth prince suddenly sighed: "I'm afraid the storm will be quite fierce! Fourth brother letting the court and the public see 'Reading the Zizhi Tongjian' is like water being poured into an already hot oil pan."

Emperor Hongli deeply agreed with this.

Instead of destroying "Reading the Zizhi Tongjian," Emperor Yongzheng promoted it so that it could be seen by both the court and the public. This led many Manchu nobles to adopt the same stance as Lu Shengnan, hoping that the emperor would govern by non-interference, promote Confucianism and delegate power. Some were even very dissatisfied with Yongzheng's handling of Lu Shengnan's case.

Yin Tai was one of these people, and one of the more prestigious ones.

at the same time!

Now that Emperor Yongzheng has allowed Hongli to carry out such radical reforms of the Eight Banners schools, he has also given these students of the Eight Banners schools who oppose the reforms a theoretical weapon to criticize the court.

"As Lu Gong said, the more respected a person is and the more powerful they are, the more dangerous their life becomes and the more severe the disasters they will suffer. This is because if one can give birth to people, kill people, reward people, and punish people, then one's will will inevitably become weak, and people will fear one even more. People will be angry with one but dare not vent their anger, and they will want to retaliate but dare not act rashly. Therefore, one's anger will be deep and one's outburst will be vicious."

"Now that Mr. Zideng and Mr. Wanghe are imprisoned and awaiting trial for the crime of forming cliques, it is a sign of the calamities that will befall those in power!"

"If these two gentlemen are to be killed because of this, it will be a disgrace to our nation! Anyone who is loyal to the country should speak up for them and protect the seeds of learning in Manchuria!"

"Lord Lu also said that the most important thing for a ruler and his ministers is to know people well and appoint them to their posts, and not to be too concerned about political achievements."

"Now, it is precisely because the master's authority is growing stronger and he is too concerned with political achievements that villains are gaining power and there is a great chance that they will disrupt the Qing Dynasty!"

"We cannot stand idly by and watch these treacherous officials bring such harm to the country. We should go to the Yuanmingyuan to beg the Emperor for mercy and to directly pardon Mr. Zideng and Mr. Wanghe!"

As a result, many of the Manchu bannermen who followed Yin Tai and Fu De expressed their dissatisfaction with the fact that Emperor Yongzheng had imprisoned Yin Tai and Fu De for a joint trial, using the words of Lu Shengnan in his "Reading the Zizhi Tongjian".

Of course, the deeper reason is that they oppose the current reforms that Emperor Yongzheng is implementing in the Eight Banners official schools, which are being carried out by Hongli.

After all, this reform was too drastic. Not only would it eliminate the unambitious children of the Eight Banners officials and students, but it would also send them to the Northeast to farm.

For many pampered Manchu bannermen, this was practically a death sentence. Only Emperor Yongzheng dared to take such drastic measures to reform the very foundation of the Qing Dynasty.

After all, it takes a lot of courage to cut off the festering sores on your own body.

Therefore, these Manchu people also called on their relatives and friends to go to the Old Summer Palace to plead for Yin Tai and Fu De.

Many of those who called for action were Manchus, and some of them even added fuel to the fire and stirred up trouble.

Just like in history when many Manchus caused a disturbance at Prince Lian's mansion due to the reduction of their official robes, they flocked to the Yuanmingyuan Garden, seemingly wanting to directly interfere with the joint trial process, otherwise Yongzheng would punish the two men.

When Marseille, the Grand Minister of the Imperial Guard and Minister of State Affairs who was on duty at the Yuanmingyuan, saw many Manchus outside the gate of the Yuanmingyuan making a fuss and demanding that Yongzheng show mercy to Yin Tai and Fu De, he was so frightened that he hurriedly ran to inform Yongzheng.

"Master! A large number of Manchu bannermen have come to the garden to plead for mercy. They are numerous and powerful, saying that they beg you to show mercy to Yin Tai and Fu De and release them directly!"

Marseille hurriedly reported to the Emperor Yongzheng upon meeting him.

When Yongzheng found out, he just sneered: "I am not an emperor who ascended the throne at the age of eight. How could I be afraid of them just because they have more people and more power, and thus let them off the hook?"

"Since they are so protective of these two, then let's issue an imperial decree: without a joint trial, have them immediately taken to the Infantry Commander's office for execution on charges of forming a faction to deceive the emperor!"

(End of this chapter)