My father is Yongzheng, and I am Qianlong?

Chapter 335 Emperor Qianlong's New Method of Dealing with the Gentry, Prince Yi Exclaims with Great Satisfaction!

Upon hearing this, Ortai began to feel a chill run down his spine.

Only then did he realize just how terrifying the Fourth Master in front of him was!
He clearly acted out of public interest, yet he insisted that he was recommending people to his cronies.

And I cannot deny it myself.

To deny it is to question the wisdom of one's master!
Ortai now fully understands why two generations of emperors favored this fourth prince.

"My master has not wronged me!"

"Thanks to this slap from my master, I finally realized that although I had no intention of recommending my cronies, I had already done so."

“Who doesn’t know that I have a close relationship with Chalang’a? Now that I’m in the military, I should indeed avoid suspicion in the matter of introducing Chalang’a.”

Ortai immediately denied it and changed his story.

There's no way around it; those with higher power can crush you.

Although Ortai was the undisputed ruler in the southwest, once he entered Beijing, he had to become subservient and humble.

This can be considered as Hongli teaching him a lesson.

Seeing that he had given in, Hongli decided not to pursue the matter any further.

After all, Ortai was a meritorious figure in the reform of replacing local chieftains with centrally appointed officials.

There is currently no concrete evidence that he introduced Charanga to a private faction.

However, Hongli did not completely wrong Ortai.

Historically, when Chalanga was serving as the Governor-General of Sichuan and Shaanxi, he relied on the support of Ortai, a Grand Councilor, to falsely accuse Yue Zhongqi of cowardice in battle.

Chalang Aba falsely accused Yue Zhongqi's generals Ji Chengbin and Cao Xiang of causing the defeat, which was actually due to the Manchu general Nara Chalin's lax vigilance and constant drinking and revelry. As a result, Yue Zhongqi was dismissed from his post and imprisoned, while his generals were beheaded.

The root cause here is that Ortai, as an official of the Eight Banners, also ostracized Yue Zhongqi.

Ortai's exclusion of Yue Zhongqi was not only because Yue Zhongqi was not a Manchu, but also because Yue Zhongqi's supporter in the court at that time was Zhang Tingyu.

In the seventh year of the Yongzheng Emperor's reign, the ministers who supported the campaign against the Dzungars, besides the local general Yue Zhongqi, were Zhang Tingyu from the central government.

This is why Zhang Tingyu, who was also a Han Chinese of commoner status, formed a natural alliance with Yue Zhongqi after entering the Grand Council.

This made Ortai, who joined the Grand Council later than Zhang Tingyu, more willing to take advantage of the Manchus' distrust of Yue Zhongqi, exclude Yue Zhongqi, and thus weaken Zhang Tingyu's power.

It can be said that although the primary person responsible for Yue Zhongqi's unjust case was Emperor Yongzheng himself, who wanted to shift the blame for his failed micromanagement, the Grand Councilor Ortai did indeed play a role in pushing things along.

Hongli slapped Ortai to make him behave and not to disregard his feelings as his master in order to exclude dissidents.

"Get up."

At this moment, Hongli said something indifferently.

Ortai then thanked him and got up.

Following the principle of giving a slap followed by a sweet treat, Hongli said, "Although you disregarded the overall situation by recommending your cronies, you are still very capable. You have also made great contributions to the reform of the native chieftain system in the southwest. Letting you enter the Grand Council for training is a decision made by your father after careful consideration, based on my serious suggestion to him. He intends for you to be a role model for the Manchu officials!"

Ortai pursed his lips and bowed his head, saying, "I will never forget your kindness, Master! I dare not disappoint you and will do my best to set a good example for Manchu officials. But I am worried that Yue Zhongqi will not be able to control the Eight Banners generals of the Western Route Army because I am a Manchu official."

“Anything he can’t control, he should kill.”

Hongli replied coldly.

Ortai was slightly taken aback, and a chill ran down his spine once again.

Hongli then got up and walked to the threshold, with his hands behind his golden belt bestowed by the emperor, and said: "Because the Eight Banners officers and generals who should not have been killed, and whom he could not control, have already risen to high positions."

What Hongli meant was that, given the principle that Manchus could be promoted faster, the Manchu officers and generals still working under Yue Zhongqi were either mediocre or lacked seniority.

If the former does not obey orders, they are incompetent and unruly, and keeping them around is of no benefit.

If the latter disobeys orders, they are considered troublemakers who have no respect for their superiors even before achieving merit, and keeping them around would not be conducive to maintaining strict military discipline.

The Eight Banners Group of the Qing Dynasty was originally a military organization.

The fundamental mission of the Eight Banners people was to pay taxes to the Qing Dynasty.

Otherwise, the legal basis for the Eight Banners people's tax exemption, exemption from corvée labor, and even judicial preferential treatment would not exist.

Therefore, Manchus could be tolerated for other offenses, but not for military disciplinary violations!

Not long after Ortai and Fuerdan entered the Grand Council, it was already January of the eighth year of the Yongzheng Emperor's reign.

During this period, it wasn't just Shi Lin and Ortai who questioned Yue Zhongqi; other officials followed suit.

But Hongli ignored them all.

However, because Emperor Yongzheng was bolder in reforming the ritual system to strengthen centralized power, the conservative forces that wanted to stop Yue Zhongqi from leading troops were not only Manchus, but also many Han gentry.

Therefore, on the Lantern Festival in the first month of the eighth year of Yongzheng's reign.

When Yue Zhongqi's five-year-old grandson, Yue Jun, came out to see the lantern festival with several uncles and servants, they were separated by a sudden surge of people.

Then, not long after, Yue Jun was knocked unconscious by the people who had been watching her and carried into a house.

When Yue Jun woke up, he found himself bound, which terrified him. He cried out, "I want to go home! I want to go home!"

Snapped!
A burly man with a whip on his head walked over, slapped Yue Jun, and then pointed at him, threatening, "Don't you dare cry or make a scene, do you hear me? Otherwise, we'll make sure you can't go home!"

Yue Jun's nose immediately started bleeding.

Seeing this, the burly man had no choice but to use his sleeve to wipe the blood from Yue Jun's nose: "So weak, he must be a young master from a wealthy family."

Yue Jun then sneered at the burly man: "Why are you arresting me? Do you want money?"

“We’re not in it for the money. We just do things for people for money. We don’t know why, but it’s probably because your parents offended someone.”

As the burly man spoke, he took off Yue Jun's shoes and socks. Yue Jun was so frightened that he trembled all over, tears streaming down his face.

The burly man had no choice but to grip his foot tightly, press it into the paper smeared with fresh pig's blood, and then imprint it on his clothes, writing the words "General Yue received" on it.

A month later, Yue Zhongqi saw the child's clothes and the bloody footprints and words on them in Koshetu's tent.

Fu Peng, who was also there, witnessed this scene: "What does this mean?"

"They want me to resign, and if I don't resign, they hope I'll die suddenly on the march."

As Yue Zhongqi spoke, he solemnly raised the clothes in his hand and said, "That's why I sent the clothes with my eldest grandson's bloody footprints so that our scouts could find them."

"How could you be so despicable!"

Fu Peng couldn't help but grit his teeth and say something.

One day in February of the eighth year of Yongzheng's reign, Hongli also received a secret report from Fu Peng, saying that Yue Zhongqi's eldest grandson was in the hands of villains and was being used as a bargaining chip to blackmail Yue Zhongqi into not working for the court.

When Hongli learned of this, his face darkened, and he immediately summoned all the Grand Councilors to Yuqing Palace to inform them of the matter.

"Leaving aside the fact that he instigated Yue Zhongqi to rebel and used anonymous whistleblower posts to make things difficult for the Khan, he even went so far as to interfere with important military and national affairs in this way!"

"Tell me, what should the imperial court do?"

Hongli asked about this, and first looked at Marseille, the chief Grand Councilor.

But Marseille looked at Zhang Tingyu.

Zhang Tingyu remained silent.

Instead, it was Fu Erdan who stepped forward first, his voice booming like thunder: "This servant believes that those responsible for this matter should be held accountable, and the first one to be held accountable is the Governor-General of Sichuan and Shaanxi!"

Hongli nodded and glanced at Fuerdan.

He had to admit that Fu'erdan was indeed as described in history: tall and imposing, with a slightly flushed face and a beautiful beard. So, standing in front of him at this moment, he was indeed as majestic as an iron tower and quite heroic.

Undoubtedly, there was a reason why Fu'erdan was appreciated by Emperor Yongzheng in history; at least in terms of appearance, he was a great asset to the Eight Banners nobility.

of course!

Although Fu'erdan was not good at planning and strategy, he was brave enough. Historically, after being ambushed by Ce Ling's treacherous scheme, he did not flee in fear but fought to the death, so he was not severely punished by Yongzheng.

What's remarkable is that Fu Erdan didn't shirk responsibility or shift the blame to Yue Zhongqi, claiming that Yue Zhongqi's Western Route Army didn't come to his aid.

In this respect, he is much better than Manchu ministers like Chalanga.

Now, Fu Erdan was the first to stand up and demand that those responsible be held accountable, and he did not remain silent simply because the current Governor-General of Sichuan and Shaanxi was Chalanga, a nobleman of the Eight Banners.

This made Hongli feel that it was quite good for Fu'erdan to stay in the central government and serve as a representative of the Manchu officials, as it was more meaningful than him leading troops on the front lines.

When Ortai saw that Fu'erdan had spoken first, appearing even more open and selfless than himself, and recalling Hongli's previous reprimands, he stepped forward as well: "This situation certainly needs to be investigated. How could such a thing happen when the Eight Banners were stationed in Chengdu! It is clear that the Governor-General of Sichuan and Shaanxi, Chalang'a, cannot escape the charge of negligence."

Seeing that the two Manchu officials were not shifting the blame to their own bannermen officials, Grand Secretary Jiang Tingxi also said, "This matter cannot be entirely blamed on Cha Lang. Chengdu is a prosperous place, and many people will go out to see the lanterns during the Lantern Festival. However, the people of Shu are known for their fierceness. The current situation is probably mainly due to the fact that some of our Han gentry are unwilling to acknowledge the actions of those who disobey the emperor. After all, they even dare to make things difficult for the emperor and father."

"This is also related to the recent strict pursuit of arrears by the imperial court. The poor who owe taxes have nowhere to go and are forced to become thieves. Naturally, they will be used by gentry who do not want to have any more war in the northwest and harm the interests of the people of the world to do some shameful things."

Zhang Tingyu then brought up other reasons. He was the first Han official to support military preparations, so he was naturally not afraid to say such things and be suspected of speaking on behalf of Han gentry.

Ortai even echoed Zhang Tingyu's sentiments, saying, "This servant believes that what Grand Secretary Zhang said is absolutely right. The reform of the chieftain system in Yunnan and Guizhou is still underway, and Sichuan is its rear area and cannot be disturbed. Therefore, it is best not to investigate the arrears of taxes in Sichuan, nor should it be done by threatening to restrict the imperial examinations."

"In that case, the arrears of taxes in Shu will be waived!"

"The imperial examination system was not restricted by this."

Hongli then joined in the conversation.

then.

Hongli suddenly frowned and said, "But we also need to take some measures against these gentry who are stirring up trouble behind the scenes!"

"It's not enough to just observe and rectify customs on the surface!"

"In my opinion, since we can't restrict the imperial examination system or investigate tax arrears, we should create a red and black book!"

At this point, Hongli called out Fu'erdan's name: "Fu'erdan!"

"The slave is here!"

"You are the Grand Minister of the Imperial Guard, so you shall select seven guards from the second-class guards and have them secretly go to Chengdu, Sichuan. Select those from the Eight Banners stationed there who are familiar with the local customs and accents to go to Chengdu Prefecture and the surrounding prefectures and counties."

Hongli paused here, then said, "Investigate the people's sentiments, mobilize the masses, and conduct a thorough investigation of the local gentry and wealthy households, recording the findings in a book!"

“If these gentry and wealthy households did a good deed, they would draw a red circle in the register; if they did a bad deed, they would draw a black circle in the register.”

"Before the autumn tax collection is completed, a secret report will be submitted to the court. At that time, select a few households with the most black circles to investigate and confiscate their property to make up for the tax arrears and to use the money for military supplies. One-tenth of the proceeds will also be used as a reward for the imperial envoy and as expenses."

"Whoo!"

Hongli then coldly looked at the other Grand Councilors: "The Qing Dynasty has no intention of eliminating the gentry, but it does intend to guide them toward good, and this determination is very strong!"

"This policy will be piloted in Sichuan first. When the pilot will end depends on when local customs change and whether the safety of high-ranking officials' families can be guaranteed again."

After saying this, Hongli also told his thirteenth uncle about his decision when he came to see him: "Thirteenth Uncle, do you think this will be satisfying?"

"Need you even ask? That was really exhilarating!"

The thirteenth son asked a question in return, then touched his knee and laughed:

"In this way, the gentry in Sichuan will all feel insecure and expose each other, while the common people and poor, low-ranking officials will not be affected. After all, even if they have the intention to do evil, the number of evils they do will be limited."

"The imperial court also resolved the problems of insufficient local revenue and increased burden on the people caused by military supplies."

"It's rare that you, Hongli, could come up with such a brilliant and open strategy!"

(End of this chapter)