My father is Yongzheng, and I am Qianlong?

Chapter 371 A suggestion that greatly surprised Emperor Yongzheng: the Crown Prince to rule!
Hongli had not only heard about it, but Celing had already mentioned it to him in a letter.

Moreover, some Mongol princes and nobles in Beijing have already come to him to complain about Hongzhou's domineering and overbearing behavior.

Hongli naturally offered kind words of comfort.

But in his heart, he truly looked down on these Mongol princes more and more.

Even when faced with Hongzhou, these Mongol princes could only cry and make a fuss; they truly had no courage left.

After Hongxi asked this question, Hongli nodded.

Hongxi then whispered to him, "The Southern Battalion of the State Taxation Bureau has been established and trained. In my opinion, it is not appropriate to let the Fifth Prince take charge of the Southern Battalion. I wonder what His Highness the Crown Prince thinks?"

Hongli understood the implication in Hongxi's words, so he didn't answer Hongxi directly. Instead, he smiled and asked Hongxi, "Then who does my cousin think is suitable?"

"Both the Northern and Southern Camps of the National Tax Service are composed of battle-hardened elites. Since the Northern Camp is already under the control of the Fifth Prince, it would be better for the Southern Camp to be controlled by the Crown Prince's own people."

Hongxi looked at Hongli and said with a sincere expression.

Hongli pursed his lips.

"Your subject is willing to take command of the Southern Camp for the Crown Prince!"

Hongxi then suddenly bowed deeply to Hongli.

Hongli stared at him for a long time.

Then, Hongli smiled slightly and casually walked forward: "Cousin, there are some things I need to tell you. There are some things that Hongzhou can do, but you can't!"

Hongli did not give Hongxi a chance to explain and entered the Qinzheng Gate of the Yuanmingyuan Garden first.

Hongxi stood there, watching Hongli's back, and couldn't help but stick out two fists from his sleeve.

After entering the Qin Zheng Gate, Hongli exchanged greetings with the ministers, grand secretaries, and nine ministers who were waiting inside to listen to the government's affairs.

At the same time, Hongli also glanced at Hongxi who had just entered.

He knew that Hongxi also wanted to take the tax soldiers to the south to make money, and at the same time, he could take the opportunity to win over the battle-hardened elites of the State Taxation Bureau.

As someone who knew history, Hongli was naturally wary of Hongxi and was not willing to believe him simply because he pledged his loyalty.

He preferred to believe Hongzhou.

Because Hongzhou was genuinely offending powerful figures, and he had been deliberately trying to make his reputation among them extremely bad.

of course!

Hongli's answer to Hongxi was not wrong. Hongzhou was able to lead troops and do whatever he wanted because he was Yongzheng's son.

After Hongxi entered, he did not speak to Hongli again.

Hongli didn't speak to him first, but instead went to talk to Prince Guo, Yunli: "Seventeenth Uncle, you often cough, which is probably not just due to lung heat, but also related to a congenital deficiency of qi and blood. That's why you've tried many medicines without success. I recently had someone develop a cough pill made with Sichuan fritillary bulb, apricot kernel, and other ingredients. It has the effect of moisturizing the lungs and replenishing qi. It works well for those in the household who have coughs. I'll send some to you tomorrow, Seventeenth Uncle."

Upon hearing this, Yunli smiled and nodded, saying, "That's fine! Thank you for thinking of me, Your Highness."

clap clap!

At that moment, the sound of whips cracked loudly.

Hongli then stopped talking to Yunli and went up to the steps, standing next to the throne.

As the crown prince, he naturally had to stand beside Yongzheng.

Not long after, Yongzheng walked in and took a seat.

Hongli then joined the ministers in paying their respects and wishing the emperor good health.

Although most important government affairs are now handled by the Grand Council, Emperor Yongzheng still convenes important officials for hearings on a regular basis.

However, the latter was mainly a formality, or a discussion of matters not related to military affairs. When Yongzheng held court, Hongli, as the crown prince, also had to attend, to appear as if he were learning about politics, and at the same time, to regularly show his face to the important officials in the court, so as not to arouse suspicion if the crown prince did not appear for a long time.

"Your Majesty, an envoy from the Russian Kingdom has come to inquire whether the Qing Dynasty's sudden dispatch of a large force to patrol the border indicates an intention to break the previously agreed treaty and wage war against that country."

When Emperor Yongzheng began to attend to state affairs, the newly appointed Minister of the Court of Colonial Affairs, Sengge, first reported on a matter concerning foreign countries.

Upon hearing this, Yongzheng laughed and said, "Only three thousand soldiers? Is it really worth the Russian Kingdom being so apprehensive and regarding them as a major force?"

"Our Great Qing has far more than three thousand skilled soldiers. If they truly intended to break the treaty, it would involve far more than three thousand. On the contrary, they have smuggled countless gunpowder, iron, and firearms from our Great Qing, claiming it is to equip the troops stationed in the east. They figured it would be cheaper to buy from our Great Qing than to transport them from their own country, so they ordered them from our Great Qing. But they have ordered so much, far exceeding their own defense needs. What is their true intention?"

"You should also ask the Russian envoy for me! Make him give me an answer as soon as possible: do they have any sincerity in upholding the treaty?"

"Whoo!"

After Yongzheng said this, Sengge responded and then said, "The Prince Consort Celeng impeached Prince He for investigating smuggling without first requesting permission, and for brazenly bombarding the gate of Danjin Dorji's royal tent under the pretext of expediency, resulting in the tragic death of Taiji Sonomchuiji and Prince Danjin Dorji's death from shock!"

"The Imperial Censor Taiyintu also impeached Prince He and the Northern Camp of the State Taxation Bureau for disturbing various Mongol tribes. Many princes, officials and merchants have been arrested, causing panic among the people of the grasslands. Please issue an edict to recall Prince He."

Then, Tang Zhiyu, the Left Censor-in-Chief, also spoke about Hongzhou's tax inspection in the northern desert.

"Prince Doruo, Pensuke, also reported that the tax soldiers were arrogant and tyrannical, and that they had humiliated princes and their servants along the way. Even the archers who were guarding the border for the court were humiliated by them, and countless people had their ears cut off or their hands broken. Some were even killed. He requested that the establishment of the national tax camp be abolished to ensure peace in the northern desert."

Sengge, the Minister of the Court of Colonial Affairs, continued speaking.

As Hongli listened from above, he naturally understood that this was clearly because the first military strengthening of customs duties in the border towns had encountered resistance from many Mongol princes and had indeed aroused dissatisfaction among foreigners. Hongzhou's excessive behavior had naturally exacerbated this dissatisfaction.

After these princes and ministers reported the situation, Yongzheng said, "Hongzhou also gave me a report, but it was different from what you said. He said that many Mongol princes and Han merchants were involved in smuggling, and that they were smuggling large quantities of prohibited items. They even bought armor and firearms from the soldiers during the previous campaign against the Dzungars to sell to foreigners. The soldiers reported that the weapons were lost or disappeared along with the missing soldiers, making it impossible for the court to find out anything."

"In addition, the Mongol princes and Han merchants were mostly uncooperative, especially the Mongol princes and officials from outside the pass who were very powerful, so he had no choice but to act expediently and confiscate their property by force."

At this point, Yongzheng stood up, stepped down from the steps, and walked toward the seventeenth prince, who was coughing slightly: "But I cannot believe one person's opinion. I should send a reliable minister to investigate and, by the way, hold a meeting with the Mongol princes in Rehe to reassure them."

"Seventeenth Brother, who do you think is suitable to send?"

Yunli then asked.

Yunli cupped his hands and said, "Your subject is willing to go!"

"Your Majesty, my seventeenth uncle is unwell. With winter approaching, it may not be wise for him to travel to the harsh northern deserts."

Hongxi then interjected, saying, "Your subject is willing to investigate on behalf of my seventeenth uncle, and also to comfort the Mongol princes!"

After hearing this, Yongzheng did not respond to Hongxi, but turned to look at Hongli, who had followed him down: "Crown Prince, what do you think?"

Hongli understood that Yongzheng's question meant he did not want Hongxi to go, so he immediately bowed and said, "Your subject believes that it is not appropriate to send your cousin. Although your cousin is a prince, he is not senior enough. Many of our Qing dynasty have marriage ties with the Mongol princes, and many of them are relatives or elders. If we really want to investigate, we should send someone with seniority, which will be more convincing to the public."

Hongxi's face darkened at this moment.

Emperor Yongzheng then asked Hongli with a smile, "Then who do you think is suitable?"

"It would be more appropriate for Uncle Twelfth to go."

"Among the Mongol princes and nobles, the most proficient in this teaching among their relatives is undoubtedly the thirteenth uncle."

Whenever Hongli (Emperor Yongzheng) evaluated his uncles, he would always place the thirteenth prince in the most outstanding position, because only in this way could he make Yongzheng more willing to believe him subjectively.

Yongzheng nodded and smiled.

Hongli continued, "Next is my seventeenth uncle, and then my twelfth uncle."

“But Uncle Thirteen and Uncle Seventeen are indeed in poor health and cannot withstand the cold. Only Uncle Twelve has always been healthy and has no important duties. I dare to ask Father to temporarily deprive him of his leisure and allow him to attend the meeting with the Mongol princes.”

"At the same time, as the chief military advisor and the Prince Regent, the Seventeenth Prince is not entirely inactive. He could easily establish a Gelug school in Beijing, recruit Tibetan Living Buddhas to come to Beijing to study Buddhism, and thus bring peace to the Mongol princes!"

Upon hearing this, Yongzheng's eyes lit up.

(End of this chapter)