My father is Yongzheng, and I am Qianlong?

Chapter 328 Spreading the word to revive Hanfu, praising Yongzheng as a wise ruler!

"Can a ruler who promulgates such benevolent policies be considered cruel and ruthless?"

Ji Rongshu, a Ministry of Revenue official who was promoted to a Beijing official earlier than historical records suggest, muttered to himself.

When he got home, he picked up his son and said, "Ji Yun, you've met a lucky time!"

Five-year-old Ji Yun did not understand why his father's eyes were filled with tears.

However, Fang Bao, a friend of Ji Rongshu who came to the Ji family, understood the situation.

"You see? The current emperor is no mediocre ruler!"

After meeting Ji Rongshu, Fang Bao stroked his beard and said this with a smile.

Ji Rongshu nodded and said, "Our dynasty has been established for over eighty years. Only a ruler with great vision and ambition could have sustained the nation's destiny!"

When Emperor Yongzheng issued his edict to abolish the shaving of heads and changing of clothes, many scholars who still cherished the Han style were overjoyed and spread the news far and wide.

However, amidst her beaming smile, Ji Rongshu suddenly frowned and gazed at the white clouds and blue sky outside, saying, "I just wonder if it will be changed again."

His concerns are based on reality.

Historically, after the Manchus entered the Central Plains, they temporarily suspended the order to shave heads and change clothes for a time of expediency, but eventually they still strictly enforced it.

Therefore, these scholar-officials who were dissatisfied with the shaving of heads and changing of clothes worried that Yongzheng's actions were only a temporary expedient.

"Let's see what Fourth Master has to say."

"The current emperor will not change his mind; he has always wanted to be the master of China."

Fang Bao replied.

Ji Rongshu looked at Fang Bao: "Looking at Fourth Master?"

Fang Bao nodded.

Then, Fang Bao added, "However, the Fourth Prince, who at such a young age understands the importance of morality, textual research, and literary style, must be a rigorous rather than short-sighted and narrow-minded person."

Ji Rongshu smiled slightly: "You think highly of the current Fourth Prince?"

"Back then, the late emperor once brought Fourth Prince to my humble abode for a private visit."

Fang Bao replied.

Ji Rongshu nodded after hearing this and saw that Ji Yun was squatting on the ground playing with mud and had even made a mud doll.

When the imperial edict to halt the shaving of heads and changing of clothes reached the south, many scholars who cherished Han customs were overjoyed and spread the news.

As a result, many scholars in the south changed their attitudes toward Yongzheng.

Yuan Mei learned of this from his teacher Shi Yuzan and asked, "So, the current emperor is actually a wise ruler?"

"Of course, a wise ruler!"

Shi Yuzan replied with a smile, and then added, "I only hope that future emperors will continue this edict, since a single edict may not be enough to completely reverse the effects of the past eighty years."

Meanwhile, after advising Lu Zhenyang, Hongli asked the officials of the Ministry of War, "What military situation has there been recently?"

"Reporting to Fourth Master, Langke recently sent word that Galdan Tsering has sent envoys to the Russian Kingdom and obtained two thousand large muskets from them."

At this moment, Lu Zhenyang answered, just as Erqi was preparing to send someone to fetch the urgent message for the Ministry.

Hongli frowned slightly after hearing this.

It is said that after Langke returned to Russia, he was criticized by many Russian gentry who said he had betrayed the country and disgraced it. However, he was able to use his money effectively, and the nobles were very tolerant of each other. In addition, he had put a lot of effort into Catherine I, so he was not purged and remained in a high position, able to provide the Qing Dynasty with important information at any time.

of course!

More importantly, the Russian Empire did not want to clash with the Qing Dynasty. With the Qing Dynasty's protection, Langke was not someone the Russian Empire's nobles dared to treat too badly.

After all, the more powerful and influential someone is, the less they care about national honor and disgrace, even though they may verbally express that they care immensely.

Langke was also willing to have another patron state, so he would take the initiative to provide information to the Qing Dynasty, just like many nobles on the Qing side, or even more so.

Because, unlike the nobles of the Qing Dynasty, they did not have to worry about having nowhere better to go than China after selling out the Qing Dynasty.

Therefore, the Qing Dynasty can now obtain more secretive intelligence about the Russian Kingdom at any time.

The reason why Hongli frowned was that this intelligence reminded him of the war between the Dzungar Khanate and the Qing Dynasty after the seventh year of Yongzheng's reign.

To be honest, the war between the Yongzheng Emperor and the Western Zhou Dynasty ended very poorly.

This led to the fact that, after nine years of his reign, the ambitious and reform-minded Yongzheng was far less driven than he had been at the beginning of his reign. Hongli had this urgent message brought to him and took a look.

"The urgent message was sent yesterday, asking our Ministry of War to discuss whether this means that the Dzungars have the intention to invade the Khalkha, and whether the court should prepare troops for war against the Dzungars and prepare to attack them."

Lu Zhenyang said this as Hongli read the urgent message.

Hongli said decisively, "Of course we must prepare for war against the Dzungars! We cannot wait until the Khalkha tribes request troops from the court before we begin preparations, otherwise we will not be able to protect the Khalkha in time."

The Khalkha tribes have now submitted to the Qing Dynasty and serve as a buffer between the Qing capital and the two great kingdoms of Dzungar and Russia.

Therefore, as long as the Dzungar Khanate waged war against the Khalkha, the Qing Dynasty had to come to the aid of the Khalkha in order to ensure the safety of its rear.

All the princes and nobles in the court naturally understood this principle.

Hongli's judgment was based on the fact that the Dzungars did indeed invade the Khalkha in the seventh year of Yongzheng's reign, which led Yongzheng to decide to conquer the Dzungars.

In East Asia today, the number of muskets a country adds is equivalent to the number of missiles a country adds in later generations.

The Qing court naturally had to consider whether it needed to take action.

Lu Zhenyang then said, "Your Highness, please forgive me. In my humble opinion, there is no need to prepare for war just because the Russian Kingdom gave the Dzungars two thousand large muskets! Wouldn't that be too hasty? After all, the Dzungars may simply be strengthening their own defenses."

When it came to specific military and political affairs, Hongli took the initiative to show his willingness to listen to opinions. After listening, he looked at Lu Zhenyang and asked, "Then, according to your opinion, how should we deal with this?"

"It would be best to send someone to investigate first, or to inquire in Khalkha."

"Once the decision is made to mobilize troops for war, a large amount of grain and fodder must be collected and sent to the Northwest, and elite troops from various regions must also be transferred to the Northwest."

"Now, the southwestern region is undergoing the reform of the native chieftain system, which has caused many southern provinces to stir up trouble. Even if the emperor is wise and stops the shaving of heads and changing of clothes in order to appease the south, it is not good to become a frightened bird and actively prepare for war at the slightest disturbance. It is still best to be cautious in the use of manpower."

Lu Zhenyang replied.

After hearing this, Hongli acknowledged that Lu Zhenyang's words were wise and insightful, making it difficult for him to oppose him immediately.

However, based on his understanding of historical development and the current geopolitical situation, he had no choice but to stick to his opinion.

However, Hongli did not speak first to express his own opinion, but looked at Minister Man Erqi: "Erqi, you speak too."

Erqi then said, "This servant agrees with what Lu Zhenyang said."

This greatly surprised Hongli.

He didn't expect that Erqi would agree with Lu Zhenyang, who had just volunteered to execute him.

"Tell me why."

Hongli frowned.

Erqi replied, "This servant is worried that the Dzungars may not really have any intention of waging war. As Lu Zhenyang said, the Dzungars are only increasing the number of large muskets to strengthen their own defenses, fearing that our Celestial Empire will attack them. Our preparations for war may actually provoke the Dzungars."

"So, you two both disagree with my proposal?"

Hongli smiled faintly and asked.

Erqi hurriedly knelt down and said, "Fourth Master, please forgive me. I am deeply grateful to you for your great kindness in promoting me to Minister of War. Naturally, I dare not be loyal and wise enough to do my best. Therefore, even though I am dissatisfied with Lu Zhenyang's suggestion that you request an imperial decree to execute me, I cannot disagree with him or agree with you."

"The Fourth Prince is a universally recognized wise and virtuous prince. If I only blindly agree with him, I'm afraid it will only make him despise me."

After Erqi answered, Lu Zhenyang added, "These are indeed my heartfelt words!"

"The addition of two thousand large muskets to the Junggar Khanate should be a cause for concern, but directly mobilizing troops for war is an overreaction. Governing a large country is like cooking a small fish; caution is advised!"

"After all, mobilizing a large army incurs significant losses just in terms of transporting and storing supplies."

"Currently, the south is undergoing the reform of local chieftains and the Tibetan region is still unstable, and now the Zeng Jing incident has occurred."

"Of course! We must be even more cautious. We should wait until the Khalkha takes the initiative to request troops before we start talking."

"In this way, even if we conscript Mongol soldiers to prepare for war, we can avoid them becoming dissatisfied, complaining that the court is worrying unnecessarily and wasting the people's resources, and regretting even more that they have submitted to the Celestial Dynasty as their master!"

Lu Zhenyang spoke eloquently, and even Erqi couldn't help but nod in approval: "Fourth Master, although Lu Zhenyang is dissatisfied with this servant, he is still very thoughtful in his plans for the country."

Just as Hongli was about to speak again, suddenly, another guard came to deliver an imperial edict, ordering the princes and ministers to gather at the Hall of Mental Cultivation for a meeting.

Because Hongli was allowed to ride a horse in the Forbidden City, he first went to the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

Upon arriving at the Hall of Mental Cultivation, Emperor Yongzheng glanced at him and asked, "You don't look well. What's wrong?"

(End of this chapter)