My father is Yongzheng, and I am Qianlong?

Chapter 397 Meeting Yue Zhongqi: A New Look for the Qianlong Dynasty!
The Eighth Prince remained silent for a while, gazing at the colorful carved wooden beams above him, his thoughts drifting back to the scene when Hongli met him.

After a while, he looked at everyone with a smile.

"Your Majesty's grace is as radiant as the sun. I, Yunsi, will pray to Buddha day and night for Your Majesty's eternal peace!"

Then, Lao Ba sincerely expressed his deep gratitude.

These words made Yun Tang even more silent.

The others smiled and seemed much more relaxed.

When Hongli heard what the Eighth Prince said, he smiled and clapped his hands in praise:

"very good!"

"I hope that the imperial clan can always be so harmonious and united, so that the people of the world can see the significance of my heart for fostering harmony among relatives."

Hongli's actions indeed showed the world his intention to foster harmony among his relatives.

When the Governor-General of Huguang, Maizhu, learned that Hongli had restored the status of the Eighth Prince and released the Ninth and Fourteenth Princes, he exclaimed with delight to Zhong Bao, the Governor of Hunan, "The kindness of our current ruler is evident to all, and scholars both at home and abroad should certainly praise him!"

"Yes!"

“The new Lord is loving and kind; if he treats his own family this way, he should treat all people in the world in the same way.”

"We should be loyal to such a master and not fail him."

Zhong Bao echoed this sentiment.

Maizhu then agreed, saying, "In that case, we don't need to be so cautious anymore. Based on the actual situation, we should allow the Han people to trade with the Miao people in Huguang. Let the Miao people each set up a Miao chief and have twenty people serve as militia to maintain the order of market trade. We don't need to prohibit the Han and Miao people from interacting just because we are trying to prevent the Miao from coming to each other."

"Give them convenience, show them benevolence, and teach them propriety. This may be more beneficial to stabilizing the Miao region!"

Zhong Bao nodded in agreement: "That's right. Even if there are mistakes, given the benevolence shown by our current master, he won't be too harsh on us."

Emperor Qianlong's series of measures to pardon criminal members of the imperial clan made local governors and viceroys dare to act according to the actual situation in their regions. Unlike during the Yongzheng era, when Yongzheng was strict and harsh, and officials often dared not exercise their discretionary power easily, they would first ask for permission before acting.

Even because Emperor Yongzheng loved micromanagement and kept a close eye on many small matters, governors and viceroys would always ask for instructions first, even on minor issues, and dared not act independently in the slightest.

Now, Emperor Qianlong's pardon of criminal members of the imperial clan, especially the restoration of the Eighth Prince's status, has indeed given them the courage to act boldly based on the actual situation.

When Gao Bin, the Governor-General of the Jiangnan Waterways, met with Yin Jishan, the Governor-General of Liangjiang, to discuss the current plan to recruit laborers to dig new flood discharge channels, he learned that Emperor Hongli had already pardoned members of the imperial clan who had committed crimes. He then remarked:
"Our master is as benevolent as the heavens. To show his friendly and harmonious heart, he even pardoned his eighth uncle. We don't need to report first and then dig the new canal. We should dig first and then report."

"We cannot allow the emperor's new reign year to be marred by floods again due to river blockage. Even if we are impeached for this, I doubt the current emperor would take his anger out on the women in the harem!"

"As it should be."

"If we submit the memorial to the emperor and wait for approval before recruiting laborers, we won't be able to start work until next spring. But next spring, the people will be busy with spring plowing and won't be able to start work at all. If we force work to start, it will only burden the people and lead to impeachment. The emperor won't be able to protect us then."

"On the contrary, now is the right time. The people are in the off-season for farming and are willing to work to earn some money. The canal transport will not be affected. It's just that if the farmland of the people along the way is damaged before the imperial decree is obtained, we will be impeached."

"But given the master's current benevolent and approachable behavior, even if he is impeached, it will only result in dismissal from office."

"Once the funds and grain for digging the canal have been allocated and the markings have been made, I will immediately have the neighboring prefectures and counties recruit laborers!"

After Yin Jishan said this with an expression of agreement, he turned around and glanced at Gao Bin.

Gao Bin nodded.

Emperor Qianlong's pardon of the Eighth Prince and other members of the imperial clan who had committed offenses certainly boosted his reputation and made people more free to act.

But in reality, Hongli's ascension to the throne was already a great event that the people of the world had been looking forward to for a long time.

Because the strictness of the Yongzheng era made both the selfless and the selfish feel that it was so strict that it was almost suffocating.

They all wanted to catch their breath and loosen their restraints.

The balance between tension and relaxation is the way of both civil and military affairs.

Human nature is the same.

If you're too lenient for too long, you'll want to be stricter, feeling it's too lax; if you're too strict for too long, you'll want to be more lenient, feeling it's too suffocating.

For Yue Zhongqi, who had been dismissed from his post and was expected to wait for Hongli to ascend the throne before he could be reinstated, Hongli's ascension to the throne marked the beginning of a new spring for him.

Therefore, when he learned that Yongzheng had abdicated and Hongli had ascended the throne, he, who had been living in seclusion in Chengdu, could no longer contain himself and eagerly awaited the imperial decree to reinstate him.

When Hongli reinstated him and brought him to the capital to serve as a minister, he was overjoyed and "rolled up his books and poems with great delight," knowing that this was an era that would allow his achievements to shine even brighter.

He could tell from the fact that Hongli also transferred him to a civil post with the title of Minister that this new emperor was clear-headed and discerning.

When Yue Zhongqi received the secret edict from Hongli ordering him to also investigate the excessive implementation of land reclamation policies in Henan and Shandong, he was deeply moved, knowing that this was a sign that the new emperor trusted him greatly and truly regarded him as one of his own.

to this end!

Yue Zhongqi did not dare to disappoint Hongli. During the journey, he carefully and secretly investigated the excessive land reclamation practices in Henan and Shandong.

Now, on his way to the capital, Yue Zhongqi learns that Yunti has been released, Yunsi has been reinstated and released along with Yuntang, which makes Yue Zhongqi further realize the maturity of the current emperor.

So when he entered the capital city in simple clothes and traveled light, he was overjoyed, even more so than when he rode into the capital in full armor to present prisoners of war. At the same time, he was also somewhat apprehensive.

Because this was the first time he had met Hongli.

He had only seen Hongli's imperial annotations on documents before, and only knew that Hongli was very insightful in military affairs and had protected his wife's eldest grandson through innovative systems, so that his wife, Yue Zhongqi, owed Hongli a great favor even before Hongli became his master.

So how could he not be apprehensive about a new Lord whom he had already sincerely submitted to, respected, and was grateful to?

The population of the capital has increased dramatically in recent years, and the noise is as loud as boiling water, bubbling from morning until curfew.

"His Majesty has reinstated General Yue, restored the title of Prince Consort of the First Rank, and recently promoted him to Prince of the First Rank."

"The policy of excessive implementation has been stopped."

“The criminal members of the royal family have also been released one after another.”

"Such a wise and virtuous ruler, who is both lenient and measured, will undoubtedly make the new dynasty more prosperous on the basis of the strictness of the old dynasty. It is also the time for us scholars to serve the court."

Like Yue Zhongqi, many other scholars rushed to Beijing at the end of the thirteenth year of the Yongzheng Emperor's reign in order to participate in the provincial and palace examinations the following year.

Because Emperor Qianlong has already issued an edict to hold a special imperial examination next year.

In addition, Hongli released a series of political signals indicating that he would govern with appropriate leniency, but not with excessive leniency, which encouraged more scholars to come to the capital to take the imperial examinations.

At this moment, Cai Xin, a scholar who had just passed the imperial examination, was in a restaurant talking with several newly acquainted literary friends about his views on the current situation.

Another scholar, Hu Zhongzao, nodded in agreement, and after drinking a cup of freshly warmed wine, said, "He is bold and decisive, not only daring to employ people, but also daring to kill! He can be said to have the grand strategy of Emperor Kangxi and the heroic talent of Emperor Yongzheng!"

Zheng Xie, another scholar present, chuckled and said, "In any case, I know that if I really pass the imperial examination in the upcoming Qianlong era, I'll be even more willing to do good deeds for the people!"

Cai Xin nodded in agreement, and then suddenly said, "The former General Yue Zhongqi should have arrived in the capital by now."

……

Has Yue Zhongqi gone to Beijing?

The Hall of Diligent Governance and Kindness to the Worthy.

Hongli had just finished writing a piece of calligraphy, the content of which was "diligence, prudence, loyalty, and wisdom".

He planned to give it to Yue Zhongqi, who was about to go to Beijing.

Now, after he finished writing it, he asked Cao Zhan, who was serving as a secretary in the South Study of the Hall of Diligent Governance and Appreciation of the Worthy, a question.

Although Cao Zhan was a secretary in the Southern Study, accompanying Hongli in literary discussions, he also served as an informant.

This was mainly because Cao Zhan was generous and liked to make friends with people from all walks of life, from the imperial family to the Eight Banners nobles, to civil and military officials, and even prostitutes and actors.

Therefore, Emperor Hongli often consulted Cao Zhan on many matters, rather than the Grand Councilors or the Imperial Stud.

Cao Zhan replied, "Your Majesty, we have arrived in the capital last night and are staying at the Sichuan Guild Hall. We should submit our credentials today."

Hongli didn't say much, but simply picked up the seal and stamped it on the calligraphy.

Just then, Chen Fu walked in: "Your Majesty, Minister Fu has come to report that Yue Zhongqi, a third-class duke under the First Zuo Ling of the Plain White Banner Han Army, has been granted the title of Minister and is hereby presented with a plaque requesting an audience."

"Immediately announce your audience at the East Warm Pavilion of Ruguhan Jinxuan."

As he spoke, Hongli pointed to the calligraphy and instructed Cao Zhan, "Take this with you and come with me to Rugu Hanjin Pavilion."

"Whoo!"

Yue Zhongqi did not expect that as soon as he handed over his nameplate, the new emperor would immediately want to see him.

This made him even more excited, and he felt the winter sun shining on his body even warmer.

And it seemed to him that a path to great achievements, as radiant as the sunlight, was right in front of him!

Yue Zhongqi was first led by a eunuch to Ruguhan Jinxuan.

Upon arriving here, he saw a larger and more detailed map laid out before him.

The map even prominently marks the areas west and south of Tibet, north and west of Junggar, and even south of Taiwan, and even continents spanning the entire ocean.

Moreover, the map also uses various colors to mark the spheres of influence of different countries, and the territories ruled by the same color are spread all over the world!
This made Yue Zhongqi immediately realize just how ambitious the new ruler was!

to this end.

He was shocked, excited, and filled with even greater respect!
He knew that the current ruler undoubtedly possessed the spirit of a young hero.

Snapped!
"The Emperor has arrived!"

As the whip cracked, news arrived that the eunuch had announced Emperor Hongli's arrival.

Yue Zhongqi immediately knelt down, facing the white snow that glistened under the winter sun, and the bright yellow banner that was getting closer and closer.

(End of this chapter)