My father is Yongzheng, and I am Qianlong?

Chapter 386: Forcing court officials to be more subservient, establishing the Empress of the Qianlong era!
After Hongli said this, the Qinzheng Gate fell silent.

Zhang Zhao himself was completely stunned.

The ministers who had just stepped forward were also stunned, realizing they had been tricked!
They then realized that the emperor had deliberately asked them how to deal with Ortai.

If they had protected Ortai, Ortai might not have survived.

But they were momentarily blinded by anger, only thinking about killing Ortai.

In contrast, nothing will happen to Ortai.

This made them realize that this young emperor's mastery of power politics had reached a terrifying level.

We've all been played!

Yunli couldn't help but grin slightly, his expression revealing his appreciation for his nephew.

Yunlu stared blankly at Hongli, but there was a hint of unfamiliarity in his eyes.

Zhang Tingyu simply sighed slightly at this.

Neqin then looked at Ortai.

Ortai breathed a sigh of relief and looked at Hongli with a grateful expression once again.

“Your Majesty is wise. I have not formed any faction. They joined me in requesting the execution of Ortai, but it was only because of Ortai’s actions that I incurred the wrath of Heaven and the resentment of the people.”

Zhang Zhao then knelt down and explained in a deep voice.

Hongli glanced at him disdainfully, his voice authoritative without anger: "Ortai is a former minister of the retired emperor. During my time as regent, I also discussed military matters with Ortai. You say he has incurred the wrath of heaven and the resentment of the people? Doesn't that mean the retired emperor was incompetent, and I am even more incompetent?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Zhao's face turned deathly pale.

Then, Zhang Zhao hurriedly kowtowed: "Your Majesty, I had no such intention! Please see the truth, Your Majesty. I may have misunderstood Ortai. I am willing to submit to the law!"

"Just admit that you might neglect your public duties for personal reasons."

Hongli snorted coldly, thinking that Zhang Zhao, as a Han official of the Qing Dynasty, was at least sensible and did not dare to continue to confront him.

At this moment, the imperial guards came up and dragged Zhang Zhao away.

Hongli then looked at the other court officials who had stood up with Zhang Zhao: "You are all like Zhang Zhao, and you requested the execution of Ortai because you have personal grudges against him?"

"Your master is wise!"

"Your Majesty, Holy Might!"

The court officials all agreed in unison.

At this moment, Hongli suddenly asked in a deep voice, "Then why do you say it's not forming a faction?!"

The courtiers' eyes widened in surprise.

They then realized that the new emperor had set a trap for them, waiting for them to fall into it.

But they behaved themselves this time and didn't say a word.

After all, it seems like you can't say anything right in front of this emperor!
numb!

"They all harbored personal grudges against Ortai and wished him dead."

"If I hadn't just ascended the throne, and if I weren't considering that you were all old ministers who had been promoted by the retired emperor, I would have wanted to dismiss you right now!"

Hongli himself spoke sternly with a serious expression.

These court officials now fully understand that the new emperor is determined to label them as part of a faction, ensuring they remain in a state of disloyalty in the new dynasty.

If they do not admit to forming a faction, they will be severely punished by the emperor and will be unable to hold office.

If factionalism is acknowledged, the emperor may actually show leniency and allow them to continue serving as officials.

"Master, please have mercy!"

"Your Majesty, please have mercy!"

So all the court officials obediently knelt down and begged Hongli.

Hongli sat down with satisfaction.

He never intended to reason like Emperor Yongzheng; he only wanted to set traps and label people.

just now……

Since these court officials were somewhat sensible, he feigned humility and said, "Enough! Rise, all of you. I'm giving you a chance to atone for your sins!"

"Thank you for your great kindness, Your Majesty!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your kindness!"

These courtiers were immediately filled with gratitude.

Hongli, with his fists clenched on his thighs, said in a magnanimous manner, "But let me make this clear: anyone who repeatedly commits a crime and jeopardizes the affairs of the court will be punished for all crimes, and I will not care whether he is a veteran minister or not."

"This servant will remember!"

"Your subject will remember!"

Hongli continued, "After the court session, the Grand Council shall immediately draft an edict appointing Zhang Guangsi as Minister of War to pacify the Miao region and investigate Miao affairs! There must be no mistakes!"

"According to the order!"

Yunli and other Grand Councilors immediately stepped forward and agreed.

"In addition, an imperial edict is issued to restore the title of Prince Consort Celing of Heshuo E'e to that of a Prince of the Second Rank, appointing him as the General Who Pacifies the Borders, in charge of all military affairs in the Northwest, to pacify the border towns! The General, a member of the imperial clan, Fu Peng, is transferred back to the capital to serve in the Grand Council."

"Yue Zhongqi is to be raised to the Plain White Banner of the Han Army and immediately go to the capital to be employed with the title of Minister!"

Hongli then conveyed two more imperial edicts.

Celing and Yue Zhongqi were the military ministers he trusted during his regency.

Emperor Yongzheng punished the two men so that he could bestow favors upon them after he ascended the throne.

Now that Hongli has ascended the throne, he will naturally do as instructed, and he intends to have these two people play important roles after his accession.

According to his current plan, Celing will help him stabilize the Northwest and ensure the smooth progress of border trade and taxation while he handles Miao affairs in the Southwest. Meanwhile, Yue Zhongqi will go to the capital to provide assistance, putting him in charge of the Ministry of War, so that the Ministry of War is not in the hands of a group of people who know nothing about military affairs and hinder his military operations.

More importantly, Yue Zhongqi was not only good at fighting, but also at being a good official and adept at understanding the emperor's intentions, so his transition from military to civil service was very suitable for him.

of course!

Hongli was also using this signal to indicate that the Qing Dynasty could still shift from military to civil administration, and to let the officials who valued the imperial examinations know that military merit was still more important than anything else in the Qing Dynasty.

Then, Hongli solemnly instructed: "Draft another decree to reinstate Fu'erdan as Grand Secretary of the Hall of Preserving Harmony and Grand Minister of the Imperial Guard, to return to the Grand Council. Grand Secretary Zhu Shi is to be reinstated to the capital to assist in Grand Council affairs. Li Wei is to be promoted to Minister of Justice!"

"According to the order!"

Hongli then appointed another group of people.

As the new emperor, he naturally had to replace the central government officials with a new batch of people.

This way, it's easier to exercise power.

However, everything proceeded gradually.

We can't just replace Zhang Tingyu and Ortai all at once.

It is worth mentioning that Fu'erdan was reinstated because he had been dismissed by Yongzheng, which was related to his following Hongli's orders.

The court officials naturally understood that Hongli's sudden appointment of many officials with whom he had political interests was to replace some of them in their positions.

But even though they understood, they couldn't openly stop it, and they couldn't even say that the emperor's decree was invalid; the appointment of high-ranking officials only counted after a joint review and recommendation process.

After all, this is the Qing Dynasty, not the Ming Dynasty.

In the Qing Dynasty, court officials were only servants and subjects even worse than servants.

Since you are a servant, you naturally have no right to put on airs in front of your master. If the imperial decree appoints you to an official position, you must accept it with gratitude and cannot arrogantly say that it is an imperial decree that promotes you and therefore you cannot take up the post.

Those who are less than servants naturally have even less right to put on airs.

Because if you are too aloof, the emperor can choose not to use you and instead employ his own servants, who will then exploit and oppress you. As a result, your family will inevitably decline in social class within three generations.

Therefore, in the Qing Dynasty, where the Eight Banners nobles and the imperial aristocracy checked and balanced each other, no one had the right to presume to be superior to the emperor.

Not long after, Hongli announced the end of the court session with a satisfied expression.

He himself had to admit that being the emperor of the Qing Dynasty was indeed very enjoyable.

Especially during the reign of Emperor Yongzheng, he further strengthened central authority by reducing the power of the banners and ordering the Grand Council to replace the cabinet as the central authority.

After the audience with the emperor concluded, Hongli summoned the Grand Councilors to the Hall of Diligent Governance and Respect for the Wise.

Hongli asked Jin Yuchai to bring him a folding fan, then opened it and fanned himself as he walked to the outer room, saying to the kneeling Grand Councilors, "Rise."

All the Grand Councilors stood up.

“Give seats to Uncle Sixteen and Uncle Seventeen.”

Hongli gave an order.

"Whoo!"

"Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty!"

Hongli, meanwhile, sat imposingly in a chair with a new ice-silk cushion, pointing to the information about terraced fields and other materials that had been placed on the imperial desk in the outer room beforehand, and said:

“That was prepared by me for Zhang Guangsi. Your Grand Council sealed it and sent it to him by express mail.”

"Whoo!"

then.

Hongli then instructed: "In addition, your Grand Council shall issue an imperial edict, ordering the Grand Councilor Zhao Hui to go to Yunnan and Guizhou to survey the local area in his capacity as a Vice Minister of the Ministry of War."

"Whoo!"

Emperor Hongli intended to take this opportunity to give some young officials some experience, so he sent Zhaohui to the southwest instead of keeping him in the Grand Council.

At the same time, Hongli also gained an extra pair of eyes in the southwest.

“Brother-in-law, Fu Heng also wants to go and gain some experience.”

Fu Heng, who was learning martial arts and military skills from Zhao Hui, soon learned about this matter. On the day he met Hongli to inspect the palace school, he expressed to Hongli that he also wanted to experience it.

Hongli smiled and said, "Wait until you're a little older. Besides, I'm about to make your sister empress, so it's not appropriate for you to leave the capital at this time."

"Whoo!"

Fu Heng pursed his lips and made a "thousand" gesture.

Because Fuheng volunteered so readily, Hongli summoned Lady Fucha to his bedchamber that very night.

After a series of events, Hongli embraced Fucha and said, "You are becoming more and more gentle and refined."

Lady Fucha blushed and smiled shyly: "His Majesty's summons was sudden, and I was not prepared with a gift."

"You've already prepared a grand gift for me!"

"For example, this time, it was because of Fuheng that I thought of you. Your younger brother wants to go out of the capital to take a look."

"But I told him to wait until you are officially made empress before we discuss it further."

Hongli stroked Fucha's dark hair at her temples with his fingers and said.

The next day.

Hongli then instructed the Grand Councilors: "Draft an edict, I wish to establish the Crown Princess Fucha as Empress, and order the Ministry of Rites to determine the procedures and select the chief and deputy envoys."

"Whoo!"

At this point, Yunli asked Hongli, "Since an empress is to be established, how does Your Majesty plan to decide on the succession?"

Zhang Tingyu followed up, saying, "Your Majesty has a legitimate son. The heir can be chosen openly or secretly."

Hongli thought of the historical case where Yonglian was made crown prince too early.

(End of this chapter)