My father is Yongzheng, and I am Qianlong?

Chapter 384 Qianlong's ruling model: dealing with bureaucrats with the utmost malice!
As he spoke, Yongzheng sat down on the Wu King's bench by the covered walkway and gazed at the lake in a daze.

The green waves on the lake gently rippled, constantly crashing against the embankment, creating white sprays.

Hongli glanced at Yongzheng's white hair, which resembled waves.

He had to admit that Yongzheng was indeed entering his twilight years and his spirit was not as strong as before.

However, Hongli himself was unwilling to give up the policy of replacing native chieftains with appointed officials.

This is not just a matter of saving face for the retired Emperor Yongzheng. More importantly, if the attempt to strengthen control over the southwest fails this time, the difficulty of strengthening control over other places in the future will increase exponentially.

This could lead anyone to conclude that the central dynasty's determination to strengthen its control was not firm enough.

also!

He also did not want to be like Emperor Xuanzong of Ming, who abandoned Jiaozhi because he felt the cost of putting it under actual control was too high, and simply listened to the advice of the bureaucratic group and gave up control of Jiaozhi.

Once this kind of thing starts, it will create a path dependency.

When the cost of governance increases in a particular place, bureaucrats will advise the rulers to follow his example and choose to give up.

In the future, many places outside the Great Wall may have to give up most of their resources due to high actual control costs.

But now, even Emperor Yongzheng, the initiator of the policy of replacing local chieftains with centrally appointed officials, is considering giving up.

This is undoubtedly also the prevailing opinion within the bureaucratic class.

Therefore, it was not an easy task for Hongli to confront the mainstream opinion of the bureaucratic group.

Just look at how officials and scholars throughout history have evaluated Emperor Xuanzong of Ming.

His decision to abandon Jiaozhi (Vietnam) earned him praise from officials and scholars, but his hobby of playing with crickets drew more criticism.

However, Hongli did not directly refute Yongzheng's words.

He didn't intend to criticize Yongzheng for being old-fashioned; he simply nodded.

However, after paying his respects to Emperor Yongzheng, Hongli summoned the Grand Councilors to the Hall of Diligent Governance and Appreciation of the Worthy and Virtuous, and directly stated his attitude.

"Gao Qi, the Minister of War, submitted a memorial requesting the abolition of the Miao people's policy and the restoration of the old system."

"After thinking about it, I realized that this matter involves the reputation of the court, so it is inappropriate."

"More importantly, although the policy of replacing native chieftains with centrally appointed officials is difficult to implement, if it is successfully implemented, it will indeed benefit future generations."

"For the country, this will prevent a future situation like that after the Wanli Emperor of the Ming Dynasty, when the country was waging war in the Northeast, it would also have to wage war in the Southwest, which would greatly damage the country's strength. For the people, it will also be able to further promote the kingly way, and use the strength of the whole country to guide the Han people to cultivate fertile soil so that the Southwest will become rich and prosperous, thus avoiding chaos."

Hongli also explained his reasons.

In front of the Grand Councilors, he naturally had no need to maintain an air of mystery by adopting an ambiguous attitude towards politics and leaving them to guess.

After all, he was there to get things done, not just to play power games.

After saying this, Hongli looked at the Grand Councilors and asked, "What do you think about this?"

The chief Grand Councilor, Yunli, couldn't help but reveal a look of approval in his eyes.

He became increasingly convinced that the new emperor, Hongli, did indeed have his own opinions on everything, and neither completely rejected nor completely followed the policies of the Yongzheng era.

As for Miao affairs, Yunli supports them, but he hopes they won't be too radical.

Therefore, Yunli spoke up at this moment: "In my humble opinion, the Miao matter is not impossible, but the problem lies in the failure to effectively implement the policy of both suppression and appeasement, and in the excessive haste!"

Hongli nodded, also feeling that the Miao affairs were not being handled steadily enough, and said, "I think that one should not have the right to speak without investigation!"

"It would be best to send an imperial envoy to investigate this matter on-site and determine how to implement it prudently. Regardless of whether there were any problems with the policy of replacing native chieftains with imperial officials that Ortai implemented when he was the Governor-General of Yunnan and Guizhou, we cannot draw any conclusions rashly!"

"No investigation, no right to speak?"

Upon hearing Hongli's words, Grand Councilor Ortai immediately raised his eyelids, began to read them aloud, and gradually, his eyes began to moisten.

Regardless of the circumstances, Hongli did not directly dismiss him because the Miao situation was deteriorating. Instead, he made the pragmatic statement that one has no right to speak without investigation. This resonated with Ortai, a pragmatic official.

He was somewhat moved.

Yunlu was slightly surprised, but after Hongli said that, he nodded and said, "I also think it would be good to send an imperial envoy to investigate."

Zhang Tingyu remained calm and composed, and even after Yunlu spoke, he did not rush to express his opinion, but habitually waited for Ortai to speak first.

But Ortai was in a daze at the time. Zhang Tingyu waited for a while, and seeing that he did not speak, he took the initiative to say, "I second that suggestion! But the Miao rebellion is getting worse and worse, so it would be appropriate to send someone prudent and upright."

Emperor Hongli nodded in agreement.

Only then did Ortai come to his senses, and he bowed and said, "Your Majesty is wise. This servant recommends Zhang Guangsi to be transferred to the position of Imperial Commissioner for Miao Affairs. No one is more familiar with Miao affairs than him, because he has long served as a people's official in the southwest, speaks the Miao language, and is familiar with the customs of the Miao people."

Neqin then said, “But please, Your Majesty, be wise. Zhang Guangsi is of questionable character and cunning by nature. If the Miao matter is truly entrusted to him for investigation, he will surely lack his own judgment and will only focus on flattering the central government!”

Neqin's words made Ortai's face turn ashen instantly.

Hongli couldn't help but glance at Neqin.

He could tell that Neqin was implying that Zhang Guangsi had formed a faction with Ortai and that he would only follow Ortai's lead.

But Hongli remembered that, setting aside the fact that Ortai and Zhang Guangsi were indeed suspected of forming a faction, Zhang Guangsi was arguably the official most familiar with Miao affairs in this era.

For this, Zhang Guangsi has left an immortal legacy in history.

However, Hongli had not expected that Neqin would oppose Zhang Guangsi's investigation of Miao affairs.

Hongli then asked Neqin, "Then who do you think is suitable?"

"This humble servant volunteered to investigate the Miao affairs."

At this moment, Neqin knelt down.

This made Hongli think more highly of Neqin.

After all, officials who dare to take responsibility are rare in any era, and Neqin was indeed an official with practical experience in governance.

"Let's discuss this matter later."

Hongli did not make a decision directly, but waved for the Grand Councilors to leave.

But deep down he actually preferred Zhang Guangsi.

no way!
The seedling situation has deteriorated to this point.

He naturally couldn't worry about forming factions; instead, he should first send the most reliable minister to find a solution without abandoning the seedlings.

Although he admired Neqin's courage in volunteering, he dared not risk sending an official unfamiliar with Miao affairs to investigate them.

After all, Hongli never intended to give up on the policy of replacing local chieftains with centrally appointed officials in Miao areas.

Therefore, based on his habit of thinking from later generations—that is, to assume the worst about these high-ranking officials and landlords—Hongli even suspected that Neqin's self-recommendation was essentially a preparation for persuading him to abandon the policy of replacing local chieftains with centrally appointed officials in the future.

Neqin, as a relative of his maternal clan, has now demonstrated a willingness to take on responsibilities.

If it were the young and naive Emperor Qianlong who had just ascended the throne, he would certainly have appreciated this Manchu nobleman who was somewhat related to him.

In this way, Neqin actually went to investigate the Miao affairs and said that the Miao affairs should be abandoned, as they were as worthless as chicken ribs, which naturally made Qianlong more likely to believe him.

In fact, it turned out to be just as Hongli had guessed.

In politics, Neqin was actually more inclined to support officials who had passed the imperial examinations, represented by Zhang Tingyu, a Han dynasty official.

Historically, Neqin voluntarily requested to be ranked after Zhang Tingyu, rather than daring to claim the status of a Manchu nobleman and be ranked ahead of Zhang Tingyu.

After leaving Hongli's place, Neqin took the initiative to go to Zhang Tingyu and started a conversation:

"Lord Zhang, you are the head of all officials. If you are willing to rally everyone to ask the Emperor to issue an edict ordering the Nine Ministers to investigate the Miao Affairs Minister, then perhaps we can really end the abuses of the Miao Affairs as soon as possible. In that case, the treacherous party will have no foothold in the court!"

"His Majesty has already made it clear that the Miao people should not be abandoned, so why should Lord Neizhong say that it is a bad policy?"

Zhang Tingyu, with a cold and impatient expression, reprimanded Neqin with a question.

However, Neqin was not angry with Zhang Tingyu because of this; instead, she looked at Zhang Tingyu with even greater respect and bowed deeply to him.
"I understand!"

"This shows Your Excellency's maturity and composure!"

"I shouldn't really recommend myself. As a Grand Councilor, it's appropriate for me to serve the Emperor with prudent conduct at this time."

After saying that, Neqin left first.

Zhang Tingyu stood there and suddenly breathed a sigh of relief.

(End of this chapter)