My father is Yongzheng, and I am Qianlong?

Chapter 344 Emperor Qianlong's Iron-Fisted Slaughter of Confucian Scholars, Prince Yi Praises His Prestige as Surpassing the Fourteenth Prince!
After Marseille made that remark, he said nothing more.

The other three Grand Councilors also secretly glanced at Hongli.

Hongli stood up, smiled, and looked outside.

Marseille, standing in front of him, immediately lowered his head even further and bowed his body even more deeply.

"Has the Ministry of Justice issued its verdict yet?"

Hongli suddenly asked a question and glanced at him.

"not yet."

"Once the Ministry of Justice delivers its verdict, those who deserve beheading will be taken to the Northwest Army for execution!"

Hongli made the decision directly. He understood that he had to make the decision himself, especially when Marseille was the chief Grand Councilor.

Then, Hongli instructed: "Tell Shi Yunzhuo that you know about his secret report; as for Yue Zhongqi's, I will approve it personally."

Hongli then extended his hand.

Marseille hurriedly presented Yue Zhongqi's memorial, but his lips were tightly pursed.

After Hongli took it, he instructed, "Continue discussing other matters."

"Whoo!"

The Grand Councilors were somewhat taken aback, but they all responded in response.

At this point, Jiang Tingxi stepped forward and reported: "Vice Minister Wang Ji and Peng Weixin have reported that 30% of the arrears in taxes in Jiangnan have not yet been recovered, and they earnestly request the court to exempt them!"

"Then let the Governor-General of Liangjiang, Li Wei, investigate whether the exemption needs to be revoked. If so, then the exemption should be revoked; we cannot force the people of Jiangnan to become displaced just because of the war in the Northwest."

"Whoo!"

"But at the same time!"

Hongli spoke again.

The Grand Councilors continued to hold their breath and concentrate.

"Send Liu Tongxun to Jiangnan to investigate local customs and see if it is necessary to implement the Red and Black Register!"

Hongli suddenly gave the order.

Haha, the wealthy families of Jiangnan still want to owe taxes?
He won't let this go easily.

He sent Liu Tongxun because Liu Tongxun was known for his strictness and discipline, and was famous for his strictness during the Qianlong era!

Even Emperor Qianlong himself both loved and hated him.

Therefore, Hongli directly named Liu Tongxun.

However, Liu Tongxun is not yet well-known, and the gentry of the land are unaware of his style.

In this way, Hongli gave them a pleasant surprise!
Marseille and other Grand Councilors were even more astonished.

Because Fourth Master is using the Red and Black Book to torment people again!

After his shift ended and Hongli left the Grand Council to pay his respects to the thirteenth prince, Marseille couldn't help but sigh, "This is the Fourth Prince; he governs with such ease!"

Seeing this, Fu Erdan chuckled and said, "Since you're only saying this now, Fourth Master might not be able to hear it."

Marseille chuckled and said, "I was just expressing my heartfelt sentiments. I wasn't trying to impress the Fourth Prince. A subject should be sincere!"

"Hengchen, Youjun, you should hurry up and send a message to the wealthy families in Jiangnan."

Marseille then looked at Zhang Tingyu from Tongcheng and Jiang Tingxi from Changshu.

Fu Erdan couldn't help but ask, "Is this appropriate?"

“If it weren’t appropriate, Fourth Master wouldn’t have sent Liu Tongxun to Jiangnan to investigate customs and traditions first. Fourth Master clearly meant this. Unless he explicitly forbids it, then everything else can be done flexibly!”

"Tell the wealthy families in Jiangnan as soon as possible to pay the outstanding taxes. This will not only help your fellow villagers sell their grain ahead of time, but also ensure that the Northwest has enough grain as soon as possible. We can't really wait until winter to transport the grain, because that would be too costly!"

Marseille said this and then turned and left, glancing back at the dumbfounded Fuldan, before letting out a snort.

Zhang Tingyu and Jiang Tingxi quickly cupped their hands in farewell: "Respectfully seeing off the Grand Secretary."

Upon seeing this, Fu Erdan quickly followed suit and bowed. The Ministry of Justice soon delivered its verdict.

Wu Yikang and his uncles, brothers, sons and nephews were all sentenced to immediate execution for colluding with bandits, threatening high-ranking officials, and undermining national policies. His collateral relatives, underage children, and household slaves were all exiled to Ningguta.

Because the Yuan family knew about the matter but failed to report it, the head of the family was exiled to serve in the army.

The Grand Council quickly issued a decree according to Hongli's wishes, ordering Wu Yikang and others who were to be executed to be taken to the front lines of the Northwest Western Route Army for execution.

Hongli quickly approved it.

When Yue Zhongqi, Shi Yunzhuo, and other generals of the Western Route Army received this imperial edict, they were all very surprised.

Knowing the inside story, Yue Zhongqi and Shi Yunzhuo looked somewhat frightened.

Therefore, Yue Zhongqi met with Shi Yunzhuo alone and asked, "What do you think Fourth Master means by this?"

"Fourth Master probably values ​​you, General, more. He fears that you might be saying the opposite of what you mean, pretending to plead for them but actually hoping to see them die. That's why he had these scholars brought here to be tortured."

"You should probably continue to submit memorials to plead for leniency."

Shi Yunzhuo replied.

Yue Zhongqi waved his hand: "I can't be Nian Gengyao!"

"Although Fourth Prince is young, I can sense that he is a man of his own mind and has a firm will, unlike ordinary princes. This initial victory in the Northwest may seem to be due to my and my son-in-law's efforts, but in reality, it is Fourth Prince's achievement!"

“This time, if it weren’t for Fourth Master taking responsibility and making us stay in Kobdo, my husband and I wouldn’t have had the patience to wait for Xiao Celingdundobu to come.”

"Therefore, we martial artists don't need to think too much in front of a prince like this. We just need to do what he tells us to do!"

Yue Zhongqi did not tell Shi Yunzhuo that Hongli's secret memorial to him had told him not to worry about what would happen after his death; he simply replied with these words.

When Shi Yunzhuo saw that Yue Zhongqi rejected his suggestion, the muscles on his face twitched slightly.

Therefore, Yue Zhongqi only instructed Admiral Ji Chengbin: "Order all officers of the Western Route Army above the rank of colonel to come and observe the execution!"

"Whoo!"

After Wu Yikang and others were taken to the Western Route Army camp, Yue Zhongqi and other Western Route Army officers gathered around Wu Yikang.

Wu Yikang himself was even trembling as he looked at these military generals.

He never imagined that he, a scholar who had passed the imperial examination, would one day be beheaded in front of a group of military men.

He closed his eyes and wept, sobbing softly, "Why is it that in the Qing Dynasty, when we are all Han Chinese, a Jinshi (successful candidate in the highest imperial examination) is killed for plotting against a military man! Why does such a barbarian dynasty that does not respect Confucianism exist!"

"cut!"

No matter how heartbroken Wu Yikang was, it was no use. With the executioner's order, he and his uncles and brothers were immediately beheaded.

Although most of the people watching the execution were military officers who had beheaded countless people, this time the heads being severed were for the purpose of protecting their military dignity and the safety of their families, which was a matter of vital interest. Therefore, these military officers felt very different.

Yue Zhongqi himself couldn't help but feel a sense of release and exhilaration at having his grudges avenged. And when he thought that this was achieved after he had already submitted a memorial to the emperor pleading for leniency, he couldn't help but shed tears.

He could sense that the Fourth Prince, whom he had never met before, also valued military officers, which was why he told him not to worry about his posthumous reputation, showing that the prince was truly considerate of him.

"Fourth Master truly understands the plight of his subordinates!"

"If such a prince were to become the ruler of the Qing Dynasty in the future, it would be a blessing for the entire nation!"

Yue Zhongqi resolutely said these words to Ce Ling, expressing his determination.

Celing knew what Yue Zhongqi meant by saying that, so he nodded and said, "That's right, he has both the magnanimity and the responsibility that a ruler should have!"

……

……

"If you do this, many generals in the Northwest will probably truly submit to you."

"First, to reassure the generals and appease those who owed taxes, he implemented the red and black register system. He also dared to take responsibility and ordered the two armies to maintain their composure, allowing the Northwest to achieve its first victory. Now, he is even more decisive than Yue Zhongqi himself in killing those who disrupt the country's policies."

"This is far more meaningful than your fourteenth uncle's imperial decree to offer sacrifices to the fallen soldiers back then. At least whether they are Manchu, Han, or Mongol, they will believe that you can lead them to victory and resolve all the conflicts in the rear!"

After Hongli came to see him and mentioned the handling of the Wu family, the thirteenth prince smiled and spoke to Hongli about it.

(End of this chapter)