My father is Yongzheng, and I am Qianlong?

Chapter 330 How Strong Was Emperor Qianlong's Military Capability? Emperor Yongzheng Intended to Abdicate Directly! (Two Chapters Combined)

At this moment, Yongzheng tugged at his cloak and looked at Hongli.

Curiosity gleamed in his eyes.

Hongli pursed his lips and flicked his fingers resting on his lap.

then.

Hongli resolutely stepped forward.

This made Yongzheng lean back a little, look at the thirteenth prince, and gesture to Su Peisheng to move the charcoal closer to the thirteenth prince.

It was the twelfth lunar month.

The weather was freezing cold, and the eaves were heavy with snow.

Fortunately, the charcoal fire in the Hall of Mental Cultivation was very strong, making the interior warm and cozy.

Of course, for people who are usually sick, the occasional gust of cold air can be unbearable.

The thirteenth brother kept rubbing his knees.

Old Seventeen coughed and wheezed occasionally.

However, not long after, the thirteenth brother stopped rubbing his knees, but the seventeenth brother's coughing and wheezing still occasionally appeared.

Cough!

After the seventeenth prince had finished coughing and wheezing, Hongli further explained, "But we can't throw the baby out with the bathwater!"

"If the Dzungars were to launch a surprise attack on Khalkha and even threaten the capital, the south might be more likely to descend into chaos."

"So what I mean is, the people's strength should be used when necessary!"

"It's better to be a waste of time than to see the world in complete chaos!"

"As long as things are peaceful outside, there will be no trouble in the south. After all, nothing happened during the Revolt of the Three Feudatories!"

"Moreover, it is currently the off-season for farming, which makes it easier to utilize the people's manpower than to wait until next spring when the Khalkha actually requests reinforcements and prepares for war."

After Hongli said that, Yunli coughed again.

"Seventeenth Brother, why don't you go back and rest for a while?"

At this point, Yongzheng interjected with a question.

The seventeenth prince waved his hand: "It's alright, I'll just have a cup of tea."

Upon hearing this, Yongzheng said, "Then I will give each person a cup of tea."

Hongli also glanced at the seventeenth prince at this moment.

He couldn't help but sigh that the central government during the Yongzheng era was indeed mostly composed of the elderly, weak, sick, and disabled.

It was one thing for Emperor Yongzheng to be in poor health, but his thirteenth son was also in poor health, and the even younger seventeenth son was so in poor health that he had no children.

Among the imperial clan, only the sixteenth prince was strong and vigorous, but he lacked shrewdness and competence.

As for the ministers in charge of state affairs, most of them were veteran officials from the Kangxi era, with only the newly promoted Han official Zhang Tingyu appearing energetic.

This made Hongli wonder inwardly: could such a team handle such a major event as the anti-Japanese war?

"My seventeenth brother is not in good health right now, and my fourth brother also needs to take a rest at the end of the year. Many of the senior ministers among the Nine Ministers are almost unable to hold on due to the recent turmoil in Tibet and the Miao rebellion."

"It is indeed inappropriate to mobilize troops and prepare for war now."

At this point, the thirteenth prince spoke up.

Hongli couldn't help but look up, his face showing surprise.

He didn't expect that the thirteenth prince also held a different opinion from him.

The thirteenth prince was the most trusted prince of Emperor Yongzheng, the chief advisor to the emperor, and was known in later generations as the executive vice emperor.

Therefore, the fact that the thirteenth prince opposed it confirmed to Hongli that Yongzheng would no longer accept his opinions.

"Also, there's something we're all aware of."

"That is, both the Mongols and the people from their hometowns outside the Great Wall harbor deep resentment towards the court, since the court does not allow them to farm, but only allows the Han and Manchu people who go outside the Great Wall to farm."

At this point, the thirteenth prince looked at Yongzheng and said, "So, if we really start preparing for war now, it will only provoke the Dzungars to invade. It is indeed not a foolproof plan."

then.

The thirteenth prince then looked at Hongli: "Unless the Mongol princes take the initiative to request troops, then it will be considered a legitimate reason for war; as it stands now, the Mongol princes will not request troops, because the Dzungars are indeed behaving very respectfully and are willing to establish friendly trade relations with the Mongol princes."

"But I believe that the Mongol princes will surely request troops!"

Hongli then replied directly.

Yongzheng glanced at Hongli and asked, "Can you be as knowledgeable about military affairs as your thirteenth uncle?"

"Don't think that just because you've won over the Mongol princes in the Court of Colonial Affairs, you really understand them better than anyone else!"

Emperor Yongzheng reprimanded Hongli.

Hongli had no choice but to swallow his reason.

He knew that Yongzheng was reminding him to stop talking, lest he have a hard time backing down in the future.

Hongli then cooperated and did not insist any further.

At this moment, Yongzheng looked at the other princes and ministers in charge of state affairs and said, "You should all speak up as well."

"What Fourth Master said is indeed reasonable, but apart from the news that the Dzungars have gained two thousand more large bird guns, and the fact that Yue Zhongqi reported that Galdan Tsering was in contact with Tibetan forces and intended to continue invading Khalkha, there are no other acts of rebellion."

"Therefore, in my humble opinion, the court should not easily believe the words of a Han general. Perhaps Yue Zhongqi is just being grateful to his master and is eager for great achievements."

When Marseille saw that Yongzheng had said so, he naturally couldn't give Hongli face just because Hongli was likely to be the future emperor, so he simply echoed Hongli's opinion.

Although Hongli understood that Marsai's current opposition to him was out of fear of Yongzheng's imperial power, he did not expect that Marsai would find such a reason to unjustly accuse Yue Zhongqi.

Yue Zhongqi was undoubtedly wronged.

But Hongli was clear-headed; he had taken an open-book exam and only then did he realize that the Dzungars were bound to invade the Khalkha.

Yue Zhongqi's abilities weren't just open-book exams; they genuinely possessed exceptional military insight, and he likely inherited Yue Fei's outstanding qualities.

However, Hongli didn't know whether Marseille's words would really affect Yue Zhongqi's standing in Yongzheng's heart.

This time was alright.

But it happened too often.

It's easy for the emperor to believe this as well, especially when the emperor needs to find an excuse for himself.

Longkodo then looked at Hongli with a guilty expression and said, "This servant agrees with what Prince Yi said. The Dzungars are only after money. So as long as they make enough money through trade, they will not cause trouble. In particular, Galdan Tsering is different from his uncle. He is more devoted to Buddhism and has been a monk. He dislikes killing and is quite knowledgeable in Chinese learning and loves benevolence!"

Hongli sneered, thinking to himself, "The more people are like this, the more they admire the Han lands within the pass."

Just look at the history of our own Qing Dynasty and you'll know.

Huang Taiji, who was more proficient in Han studies, was undoubtedly more determined than Nurhaci to seize the interior of China, and therefore spared no expense in treating Han people like Hong Chengchou and Kong Youde with great favor.

of course!

Hongli knew that Longkodo was probably just making up an excuse.

At this moment, the newly appointed Zhang Tingyu spoke up: "I think that Your Majesty's considerations are more comprehensive. Galdan Tsering is a devout Buddhist and Confucian, and he has also taken the initiative to contact the Russian Kingdom. He is undoubtedly an ambitious person and should not be underestimated!"

Hongli glanced at Zhang Tingyu with surprise.

However, Zhang Tingyu's support alone was useless, since most of his supporters shared the same opinion as the thirteenth prince.

Therefore, in the end, Yongzheng decided not to mobilize troops for war for the time being, and also said to Hongli: "In the name of the Ministry of War, send an imperial edict to your uncle, instructing him to gather the warhorses raised by the archers in various places to Keshetu. Although we are not mobilizing troops for war, we must still have the Imperial Censor in charge of patrolling the pastures investigate the number of warhorses."

Hongli's eyes widened.

He didn't expect that Yongzheng would make a final move, sending Koshetu even more warhorses.

Why not let the Imperial Censor and Celing decide how to investigate this matter themselves?
"Father, if Koshetu increases his number of warhorses, won't that make the Dzungars even more eager to attack this place?"

Hongli hurriedly asked.

Yongzheng said, "Do you still think the Dzungars will invade? Your thirteenth uncle has already made it very clear that the Mongol princes know better than we do whether they will invade!"

Hongli could not say anything more.

Alright, Yongzheng is going to be the head of the transportation team.

He couldn't forcefully stop it.

A king's command cannot be disobeyed!
However, the first military task that Hongli was in charge of after taking over as acting Minister of War and Commander-in-Chief of the Eight Banners did not go according to his wishes.

This made Hongli feel somewhat frustrated, and he thought to himself that it would be better to be the emperor, so that he could learn from Kangxi and overcome all opposition.

Therefore, after returning to his residence, Hongli didn't talk much with the concubines in the backyard, but just stared blankly at a map of the northwest.

"Fourth Master, is something bothering you lately?"

Empress Fucha noticed that Hongli's expression was not right, so she found an excuse to come and see him.

Hongli took her hand, smiled slightly, and asked, "I'm planning to send my second brother to the Northwest to make a name for himself. What do you think?"

"I am not in a position to speak on matters of state."

Fucha's primary consort replied.

Hongli said, "It involves my second brother, and it's a family matter."

The primary consort of the Fucha family smiled and said, "If Second Brother can share the burdens of the court for Fourth Prince, it will be an honor for the Fucha family!" Hongli nodded after hearing this.

At this moment, Fucha's primary wife looked at her belly and said, "Fourth Prince, the baby kicked me!"

"is it?"

Hongli came over.

Fucha's primary wife said, "He also said, 'Father has worked hard!'"

"How did you know?"

Hongli asked with a smile.

Consort Fucha smiled and said, "I understand."

"Then tell him that his father is waiting for him to come out and will take him to play!"

After saying this with a smile, Hongli went to the outer study.

Although Hongli did not allow Yongzheng to do things according to his wishes, he still had to do his job well.

Therefore, after arriving at the outer study, Hongli instructed Cao Xueqin to summon Fu Peng and Fucha Fuqing.

"Although the court has decided not to prepare for war now, it does not mean that nothing will be done. I plan to send you with the self-propelled musket battalion to the northwest under the guise of training to strengthen the defense of the most critical positions, so as to prevent the Dzungars from taking advantage of the court's unpreparedness to invade Khalkha and cause the court great losses."

At this point, Hongli asked the two men, "Would you be willing to go to the Northwest?"

"The grandchildren are willing."

"This servant is willing too!"

Bang!
Hongli slammed his hand on the table and stood up: "Good, you truly have the spirit of a hero!"

"So, what do you think is the most crucial point?"

Hongli asked.

Fu Peng and Fucha Fuqing answered almost simultaneously: "It must be the Keshetu Horse Ranch!"

Hongli looked surprised: "You all agree."

“It was Zhang Jingzhao Hui from the camp who reminded us of our return to Tangmafa.”

Fu Peng replied.

Fucha Fuqing added, "That's right. He paid attention to the Dzungars' movements even before we did, and he said that the Dzungars would definitely launch an attack."

Fu Peng nodded in agreement: "This man is very talented; he had the same idea as Fourth Master!"

Hongli nodded, then looked at the two men and said, "Then go back and explain to the soldiers of that battalion, and make preparations in advance. Although I cannot mobilize a large army to the Northwest, now that I have taken charge of the Ministry of War and the Eight Banners, I can still send you there."

"I will have the Imperial Household Department's new imperial merchants prepare the provisions for you."

"Whoo!"

It was indeed easier for Hongli to mobilize small-scale combat troops to the front lines.

After all, he was the Prince Regent in charge of military affairs, and even Emperor Yongzheng couldn't easily refute him, otherwise it would be very detrimental to his work.

Especially since his proposals have not been adopted.

When Hongli submitted his memorial requesting the transfer of the left-wing firearms battalion of the Eight Banners to the northwest for training, Yongzheng did not refuse, but instead approved it with a vermilion annotation.

then.

After Fu Peng and Fucha Fuqing received the imperial edict, Hongli said to them, "After you arrive in the Northwest, head straight for Keshetu and take precautions there, because the court has also ordered your uncle to gather the imperial warhorses raised by the various tribes' archers there."

Upon hearing Hongli's words, both of them couldn't help but change color.

Hongli continued, "So remember, once you get to the Northwest, do not listen to any orders other than mine. Even if it is an urgent imperial edict, delay it first. Even if you are punished, stripped of your rank, or demoted for this, I will find a way to restore you."

"Whoo!"

One of these two men was one of the original shareholders of the Qing Dynasty and his childhood friend, while the other was his brother-in-law, both of whom were part of Hongli's faction appointed by the emperor.

Therefore, even if the two defied the imperial decree, the worst punishment would be no more than stripping them of their titles and demoting them from their official positions.

By saying this, Hongli was also making a promise to them that if they listened to him, even if they suffered a temporary loss, he would restore their honor in the future.

Both of them agreed without hesitation.

Hongli did this to prevent someone from manipulating things again.

The tenth day of the first month of the seventh year of the Yongzheng reign.

Koshetu.

Fu Peng and Fucha Fuqing arrived here with a left-wing firearms battalion of over three thousand men, and strengthened the defenses by setting up numerous barricades and chevaux-de-frise, as well as digging more trenches.

at the same time.

Galdan Tsering, the leader of the Dzungar Khanate, has also arrived here with his troops.

When Galdan Tsering led his troops near this place, he made a point of going to a high place, put his hands on his hips, and looked out at Koshetu.

As he gazed into the distance, he couldn't help but raise his eyebrows and smile smugly.

Because he had learned from the scouts that more warhorses had appeared in Koshetu.

This made Galdan Tsering, who had already planned to plunder warhorses from Koshetu, even happier.

"What right does this Yongzheng Emperor have to call himself the ruler of China? He was actually fooled by a few words of obsequiousness from me and withdrew the entire Northwest army!"

"They even proactively sent more warhorses to Koshetu."

"He is simply the greatest contributor to my Dzungar Khanate!"

Galdan Tsering even put his hands on his hips and started talking to himself, becoming more and more excited as he spoke.

He could almost see Yongzheng's furious expression when he learned that he had lost a large number of warhorses!

Xiao Ce Lingdunduobu chimed in with a cold laugh, "The Qing court only knows how to issue warnings; they actually don't know how to be wary of us."

"Naturally, it's because this Yongzheng Emperor was foolish enough to actually hope that those useless Khalkhas would be alert!"

"In short, we should take this opportunity to acquire those useless Khalkha horses that the Qing court is preparing for Koshetu, and then it won't be too late to seek peace after the Qing court sends troops because of this!"

"At that time, if Yongzheng had agreed, we could have taken the opportunity to accumulate even greater strength, and have been able to penetrate deep into the interior of China, so that the Han people in the south could have followed suit, and then we could have gone into the interior of China and become the ruler of the world!"

Galdan Tsering turned and descended the slope, saying, "Pass down the order: advance towards Koshetu!"

Rumble!
Rumble!
Soon, Galdan Tsering's Dzungar army arrived at Koshetu.

Fu Peng and others also felt the earth trembling, and immediately ordered the infantry and cavalry of the firearms battalion and the attached artillery to enter combat readiness.

However, when the Dzungar cavalry charged forward, they were attacked by the Qing army's self-propelled muskets.

A large number of Dzungar cavalrymen perished as a result.

These Dzungar cavalrymen were unaware that the Qing army used self-propelled muskets, or even that the Qing cavalry also used self-propelled short-handled muskets, so they suffered a great loss.

Upon hearing the news, the Mongol princes and nobles in the vicinity also led their troops to provide support.

Ce Ling was greatly alarmed, knowing that the surprise attack could not succeed, as the Qing army was already on guard and had increased its forces, so he withdrew.

"what should we do?"

Xiao Ce Ling Dun Duo Bu asked Ce Ling about this.

"Damn it, who secretly placed such a powerful firearms battalion here within the Qing court!"

Ce Ling gritted his teeth and said, "We have no choice but to harass those Khalkha herders. We can't have come all this way for nothing; we should at least plunder some tea and salt!"

As a result, these Dzungar cavalrymen changed their targets, causing many Khalkha Mongols to suffer losses and exacerbating the hatred between the two groups.

The Khalkha Mongol princes were thus forced to send fast cavalry to the Qing court to request troops, stating directly that the Dzungars were launching a major invasion.

At the end of February in the seventh year of the Yongzheng Emperor's reign, the emperor learned of this news.

"You and Hongli were both right, the Khalkha really did request reinforcements."

Emperor Yongzheng first summoned the thirteenth prince and urgently handed him the request for troops sent by the Mongol princes.

The thirteenth prince immediately began to read it, and the more he read, the more solemn his expression became.

"Fourth brother!"

"Now it seems that Hongli is not only resolute in his will, but also very astute in military affairs!"

"As you instructed, I did not support him, in order to test whether he could stick to his principles on important military matters. Instead, I advised you to take precautions as necessary, and that if the Dzungars really invaded, you should at least first settle the generals."

"But I didn't expect that Galdan Tsering would personally lead a large army to attack Koshetu. From this, it can be seen that Hongli and Zhang Tingyu were not wrong. This man has big ambitions!"

"At the same time, I must admit that I am ashamed of myself for my wisdom and insight in military affairs as Hongli! According to the report from the Mongol prince, the three thousand firearms infantry and cavalry that suddenly appeared in Koshetu successfully defended Koshetu."

At this point, the thirteenth prince couldn't help but agree again, saying, "What a fine Hongli! He excels in both household administration and military affairs, and already possesses the ability to oversee the country!"

"Your subject congratulates Fourth Brother! Congratulations on having such a promising young talent!"

Upon hearing the thirteenth prince's words, Yongzheng's face lit up with excitement: "It seems that although the late emperor made a mistake in choosing the second brother, he was indeed extremely wise in choosing the grandson!"

"With such a capable son, I would like to abdicate directly and enjoy my remaining years in peace!"

Yongzheng suddenly spoke to the thirteenth prince with great emotion.

(End of this chapter)