My father is Yongzheng, and I am Qianlong?

Chapter 334 Wielding Immense Imperial Power: A First Experience of the Qianlong Style!
After Hongli announced that he would assume the regency, the Grand Councilors all bowed deeply and said, "We respectfully obey Your Majesty's decree and await Your Majesty's instructions!"

"Uncle Thirteen, please rise!"

Upon seeing this, Hongli immediately placed the imperial seal and the golden token on the nanmu wood table, and personally helped the thirteenth prince to his feet.

Then, Hongli looked at the other Grand Councilors: "Everyone, please rise."

"Thank you, Fourth Master!"

Then, all the Grand Councilors stood up.

At this moment, Hongli said, "I will go to Yuqing Palace first. If Uncle Thirteen and the other gentlemen have any memorials to submit, please send them over as soon as possible."

"Whoo!"

So Hongli left the Grand Council and went to Yuqing Palace first.

Yuqing Palace was originally the Crown Prince's bedroom during the Kangxi era.

Yongzheng's decision to have Hongli meet with court officials and oversee state affairs at Yuqing Palace is a clear indication that he intends to groom him as the crown prince.

Previously, Hongli had also received Emperor Yongzheng's favor and studied in the study outside Yuqing Palace, where he met with officials.

This time, in addition to reading books and meeting with foreign officials, he also had to oversee the country and manage state affairs.

Undoubtedly, their power has increased significantly.

You could say he's now the executive vice emperor.

However, the Grand Councilors, including Yunxiang, were not surprised that Yongzheng had appointed Hongli as regent, nor did they question Hongli's abilities.

Because, recently, Hongli has indeed demonstrated excellent performance in both domestic affairs and military matters.

However, what Yunxiang and other Grand Councilors did not expect was that Yongzheng would fall seriously ill from anger because of the anonymous accusations in many places.

The fact that Emperor Yongzheng was seriously ill and had appointed Hongli as regent was soon known to the court and the public through an imperial edict issued by the Grand Council.

This greatly pleased the officials and gentry who opposed the "respect for the emperor" policy.

"It seems that the gentry's method of posting anonymous notices is very effective!"

"Give the order that any more anonymous whistleblower posts like this be presented to the court immediately, and I will also report this to the imperial court."

Shi Lin then spoke to Zhang Tinggui about this.

"Whoo!"

Zhang Tinggui smiled and responded.

Shi Lin picked up his tea and said with a relaxed expression, "This is more or less a reflection of public opinion. His Majesty is a wise ruler and naturally knows that the will of the people cannot be defied."

"The Grand Secretary is right!"

"But if we're talking about the real reason why the Emperor dared to obey the Emperor's orders this time, it's probably because of Yue Zhongqi!"

Zhang Tinggui replied with a smile.

Upon hearing this, Shi Lin's expression turned serious.

then.

Shi Lin placed the teacup on the table and replied, "You're right. Yue Zhongqi, this skilled Han general, is indeed commendably loyal, but he is also quite sycophantic and cunning, only knowing how to flatter the emperor!"

"Yue Zhongqi shouldn't have become the Grand General. With him in charge, the Eight Banners are even less important in the Emperor's eyes!"

Shi Lin was furious about this.

Zhang Tinggui chimed in, “You’re right! If Yue Zhongqi really makes another great contribution and wins a great victory in the campaign against the Dzungars with Ce Ling, then the Emperor will indeed have more confidence to wantonly break the ancestral rules and manipulate the Manchus, just as he manipulates the Han gentry, killing them at will and confiscating their property at will.”

Shi Lin trembled slightly, his face paling slightly, and he nodded solemnly, then looked at Zhang Tinggui with a very serious expression: "Are you Han gentry willing to see this situation occur, willing to see the emperor obey the rules?"

“Your Excellency is wise. There are naturally many Han gentry who value ancestral laws and rules above all else, because this is a matter of whether clan precepts and family precepts can be changed.”

“Since shaving the head and changing clothes is an ancestral rule, then among us Han gentry, those who regard the ancestral rule as proper etiquette naturally support not restoring any Han clothing.”

"Even if the Emperor wants to restore Han Chinese clothing and customs, it's not allowed!"

Zhang Tinggui told him frankly.

Shi Lin nodded: "We must make Yue Zhongqi back down!"

……

……

"Fourth Master, the Governor of Shanxi, Shi Lin, submitted a memorial opposing Yue Zhongqi's appointment as Grand General, impeaching him for concealing Nian Gengyao's ill-gotten gains and covering up Nian Gengyao's crimes. He is not a true loyal minister."

Yuqing Palace.

Shortly after Emperor Qianlong assumed the regency, he received a memorial from Grand Councilor Zhang Tingyu, in which Shi Lin impeached and accused Yue Zhongqi.

"This matter is in response to Yue Zhongqi's appointment as the commander-in-chief of the Western Route Army."

"It's a disgrace that Shi Lin, who comes from the Jue Luo clan, has learned such despicable behavior. To accuse Yue Zhongqi at this time is simply malicious!"

"I warned him not to mention Yue Zhongqi's affairs again. What Yue Zhongqi has done, I know; what he doesn't know, I still know! So, there's no need for him to say anything more!"

Emperor Hongli then issued orders regarding this matter.

Zhang Tingyu immediately responded, "Yes, sir!"

So Zhang Tingyu drafted such a document and sent it to Hongli, who then approved it with red ink.

As soon as Hongli made a mark with his vermilion brush, he instantly felt his bones lighten. He hadn't expected to experience so quickly the thrill of having ministers receive imperial edicts before him, a feeling that came with the establishment of the Grand Council!
When he saw Zhang Tingyu bring over another memorial, Hongli straightened his back even more.

The Grand Councilors stood close to the Emperor, drafting edicts and petitions based on his orders, ensuring that the bureaucracy acted entirely according to the Emperor's will.

This is the experience of immense imperial power that came with the establishment of the Grand Council in the Qing Dynasty.

From then on, the emperor could truly make decisions with a single word.

"Prince Yi's leg ailment has suddenly worsened, so he has requested permission to suspend his duties to recuperate."

Zhang Tingyu took out Prince Yi's memorial.

Hongli knew that his thirteenth uncle did not want him to feel constrained by his powerful position in the Grand Council during his regency, so he took the opportunity to request permission to withdraw from the Grand Council as well.

Of course, Uncle Thirteen's leg ailment was indeed serious, and since he was now able to stand on his own, he was naturally happy to take on less of the burden.

Thinking of how the early death of his thirteenth uncle in the eighth year of Yongzheng's reign had greatly affected Yongzheng's mind and may have even led to various mistakes in the war against the Qing Dynasty after that year, Hongli said, "Listen, don't approve it yet. Go tell the thirteenth uncle that this matter can only be approved after I ask Father."

"Whoo!"

When Hongli paid his respects to Yongzheng, he mentioned this matter, saying, "Your subject wants to agree to the request of the Thirteenth Uncle. Firstly, the Thirteenth Uncle does need to recuperate, and secondly, we should try to bring more capable and energetic ministers into the Grand Council to serve as pillars for the future."

After hearing this, Yongzheng began to think about it seriously.

“Your subject will also pay his respects to the Thirteenth Uncle every day, inquiring about his health and national policies.”

Hongli replied again.

Upon hearing this, Yongzheng's eyes lit up, and he nodded: "It's rare that you respect your thirteenth uncle. Go see your thirteenth uncle first, and then come to see me. Tell me about your thirteenth uncle's situation."

"Whoo!"

After Hongli agreed, he asked Yongzheng, "Then Father, who should be sent to the Grand Council?"

“Apart from your thirteenth uncle, members of the imperial clan should no longer remain in the Grand Council. Marsai will be promoted to Grand Secretary of the Hall of Preserving Harmony.”

"Furthermore, Ortai was appointed as a Grand Councilor to study military affairs and was appointed as a Grand Secretary of the Wuying Hall."

"Fu Erdan was also appointed as a Grand Councilor and then a Grand Secretary of the Wenyuan Pavilion."

Hongli nodded.

At the same time, he couldn't help but click his tongue in amazement, thinking to himself, "It must be because of Ortai's merit in the reform of replacing native chieftains with imperial officials that he has gained the favor of Emperor Yongzheng and has become a Grand Secretary and entered the Grand Council so quickly."

Although Fu Erdan, the commander of the Northern Route Army in the war against the Dzungars, did not become a general, he was instead admitted to the Grand Council.

On the contrary, Longkodo and Sun Zhu, two veteran ministers of the Eight Banners, have retreated to the second line of power.

However, Marseille's promotion to Grand Secretary of the Hall of Preserving Harmony, coupled with the title of First-Class Duke, meant that Marseille became the Chief Grand Councilor.

Because the selection of the chief Grand Councilor is based on seniority.

Once a member of the imperial family enters the Grand Council, he will automatically become the leading Grand Councilor.

This is why Emperor Yongzheng said that, apart from his thirteenth uncle, no other member of the imperial clan should be included in the Grand Council.

Otherwise, it would be difficult for a minister to become the chief Grand Councilor, and the emperor would not be able to criticize him too harshly because the chief Grand Councilor was a member of the imperial family.

Furthermore, since members of the imperial clan were in the Grand Council, it was difficult to punish them if they committed a crime.

Unless, of course, some members of the imperial family were particularly trusted by the emperor, such as the thirteenth prince.

That's why Emperor Yongzheng said that members of the imperial family should no longer be allowed to enter the Grand Council.

Historically, after the thirteenth prince, very few members of the imperial clan entered the Grand Council, but it wasn't that none did.

Afterwards, Hongli met with Zhang Tingyu, Marsai, and Jiang Tingxi at Yuqing Palace and instructed them: "As requested by the Thirteenth Uncle, Marsai is promoted to Grand Secretary of the Hall of Preserving Harmony, and Ortai and Fuerdan are appointed as Grand Councilors for Military Affairs. Ortai is appointed as Grand Secretary of the Hall of Military Prowess, and Fuerdan is appointed as Grand Secretary of the Hall of Literary Profundity!"

"Whoo!"

"This humble servant thanks Your Majesty, the Regent, for your kindness!"

Although Marseille knew this was Yongzheng's intention, he still pretended not to understand and thanked Hongli.

Hongli smiled slightly and gestured for him to stand up.

According to the rules of the Grand Council established by Zhang Tingyu, members of the imperial clan who entered the Grand Council were referred to as "Grand Councilors" in imperial edicts; senior ministers who entered the Grand Council were referred to as "Grand Council Ministers"; and ministers who had just entered the Grand Council and had little experience were referred to as "Grand Council Ministers Learning to Act".

Therefore, the newly appointed Grand Councilors Ortai and Fuerdan are now learning and practicing as Grand Councilors.

Fu Erdan is currently the Minister of Personnel, so he doesn't need to be able to enter the Grand Council on the same day.

However, Ortai needed to leave his post as Governor-General of Yunnan and Guizhou to go to Beijing, so he didn't arrive in Beijing until the twelfth month of the seventh year of the Yongzheng Emperor's reign.

After arriving in Beijing, Ortai first paid his respects to Hongli and said to him, "Your Majesty, I have been fortunate enough to enter the Grand Council. I am bound to be loyal to you. Therefore, I would like to offer my sincere advice and ask Your Majesty to dismiss Yue Zhongqi from his post as General. If a Han Chinese is the commander-in-chief, the commander-in-chief will not be able to command the troops and will cause delays in military affairs!"

Hongli knew that Ortai, like Shilin, was a Manchu and did not want Han officials to have too much power. Therefore, he did not hesitate to deny his master's previous proposal on the appointment of the commander-in-chief.

But Ortai spoke with such righteous indignation that he couldn't afford to lash out, and simply asked, "Who do you think is suitable?"

"This servant believes that Chalanga is more suitable."

Snapped!
Hongli raised his hand and slapped Ortai hard across the face: "You worthless servant, you've only just entered the Grand Council and you're already trying to introduce your cronies, what are you trying to do?!"

Ortai's eyes widened, and he immediately knelt down: "Your Majesty, please forgive me. This servant has no private faction. In this servant's heart, there has always been only Your Majesty and the Great Qing Empire!"

"You mean I wronged you?"

Hongli turned to look at him and asked with a cold smile.

(End of this chapter)