You can't only love the Qing Dynasty when you're eating the fruits of others' labor.

Chapter 10 Loan Payment
A large crowd gathered outside the Meridian Gate.

The executioner loudly announced the crimes of the Imperial Observatory, and the crowd below cheered.

The chief of the prison, Johann Adam Schall von Bell, and the deputy chief, Li Zubai, were sentenced to death by hanging. The two remained relatively calm until the rope was put around their necks.

Johann Adam Schall von Bell looked up at the sky and sighed deeply.
"Sigh~ Studying calendars, busy casting cannons, spreading Christianity, that's how my whole life goes, sigh~"

……

"Serve the farewell wine."

"I come."

Jiang Qingyun took the tray from the executioner and walked step by step toward the gallows.

Before his death, Johann Adam Schall von Bell remained calm.

"Sir, the third brick on the west-facing wall of the church's storeroom inside Xuanwu Gate can be removed. There are a few books hidden in the wall; I'll give them to you. Don't let politics get involved in science. Leave the believers and the church alone, okay?"

Jiang Qingyun remained silent and brought the wine bowl to Li Zubai's lips.

Li Zubai's eyes were bright, as if he had something to say.

Jiang Qingyun was startled, took two steps back, and shouted sternly, "Execute the execution."

The footrests beneath their feet were pulled away, and suddenly the tightening ropes gripped Li Zubai's throat, silencing the words he was about to utter.

He still struggled to mouth the words silently:
"You also have faith."

Jiang Qingyun turned and left without saying a word.

"Continue the execution!"

The remaining 43 officials of the Imperial Observatory were escorted to a high platform by soldiers. Each time the sword fell, the onlookers cheered wildly.

In the distance~
The tall and imposing monk Tianji stood out from the crowd, silently chanting Buddhist mantras and performing a ritual of deliverance from the void.

……

Forty-five severed heads lay scattered outside the Meridian Gate, and blood was everywhere!

This not only dyed Jiang Qingyun's official hat red, but also spread the fame of Jiang, the commander of the Southern City Military Command, throughout the entire city.

The acting commander was merely a minor sixth-rank official.

But now, officials below the fourth rank are quite humble when they meet Chiang.

When officials privately discussed Jiang Qingyun's methods, they all felt a chill run down their spines and a sense of unease.

First, I'll destroy your spirit!
I will then take your life!
The reactions from various parties to this matter have been quite different.

Most of the Manchu nobles were away fighting, and those few who remained in the capital kept silent. This was partly to avoid being drawn into the turmoil, and partly because they couldn't quite understand Jiang Qingyun's intentions.

Grand Secretary Fan Wencheng loathed Jiang Qingyun and avoided him at all costs.

Hong Chengchou, however, was interested in recruiting Jiang Qingyun and took the initiative to send his steward to deliver an invitation to him to come to his residence for a chat in a few days.

……

The Nancheng Military Command became famous in one battle.

The number of staff in the yamen quickly surged to 72, of whom 46 had to pay their own salaries and were commonly known as "temporary workers".

The Qing army committed countless massacres upon entering the pass and amassed enormous wealth, so at this moment, supporting a two-front war did not put much financial pressure on them.

but,

The Qing government had extremely strict control over those who received salaries.

Therefore, Jiang Qingyun came up with a compromise: he recruited all the young men who had grown up in the Bordered Yellow Banner and Plain Yellow Banner of the Han Army.

But the salary and daily expenses had to be raised by ourselves.

……

Outside Zhengyangmen, at Dashilan.

Taiyuan Cao Family Bank Branch.

Jiang Qingyun dismounted and drove straight in, followed closely by three guards with swords.

Upon seeing the arrival of an official, the pawnshop's clerk and manager hurriedly came out from behind the high counter, smiling obsequiously as they approached.

A young guard explained:
"This is Lord Jiang, the commander of the South City Military Command."

"Oh my, it's Lord Jiang! Your presence is an honor to our humble abode. Close the door and put the boards up!"

Take a seat and have some tea~
Jiang Qingyun then slowly revealed his purpose: "I have come here to borrow money."

"Of course, of course. It's such a small matter. Why bother coming all the way here in person, Lord Jiang? Just send a servant to tell him, and I will deliver it to your residence."

"Shopkeeper, the amount I need to borrow is quite large."

Please go ahead.

"3000 taels."

Call ~
The shopkeeper almost burst out laughing, thinking: You seem to have a misunderstanding of the concept of a large amount. You're making such a big deal out of a mere 3000 taels. I almost thought you wanted to borrow money to buy the Qianmen Tower.

Jiang Qingyun added, "But not in my personal name, but in the name of the Military Command."

"Huh?" Manager Cao was dumbfounded.

"Sir, will you be responsible for repaying the money from now on?"

"How can I personally repay the money borrowed by the Military Command? How can such a thing be so absurd? It's ridiculous."

……

Seeing Jiang Qingyun's gloomy face, Manager Cao panicked.

It's true that the Cao family of Shanxi were imperial merchants, but it's best not to offend such unreasonable people. A local official has more power than a distant one; the Dashilan area falls under the jurisdiction of the Southern City Military Command.

"Sir, could you please find a guarantor?"

"Hmph. The character '保' (bǎo) is composed of '人' (rén, person) on the left and '呆' (dāi, stupid) on the right. Where am I supposed to find a stupid person to act as your guarantor?"

Seeing his elder brother's anger, Zhou Cang, the young man standing behind the chair, drew the sword his father had left behind and held it to Chao Feng's neck.

Boys at this age often have mental development that hasn't kept pace with their physical growth. They are impulsive, strong, and fearless; they'll make you bleed immediately if you say so.

Today, half of the staff in the South City Military Command are Qin Wuyang.

"No, no, sir, we can talk this over."

Manager Cao looked worried and distressed.

Ultimately, the South City Military Commandery was used as collateral, and the two parties signed a loan agreement.

The 3000 taels of silver must be delivered to the Military Affairs Office before sunset, with the repayment date agreed to be one year later, and an annual interest rate of 3%.

Before leaving, Jiang Qingyun specifically instructed:
"Manager Cao, you must keep this a secret. There are countless government offices in the capital; what if others find out and follow suit?"

"Yes Yes."

……

Zhengyangmen, commonly known as "Qianmen", "Daqianmen", or "Qianmenlouzi".

It is the only main gate of the capital city, and it is not usually opened; only the side gate is open.

Emperors used this gate to offer sacrifices to Heaven. All nations paid tribute through this gate. Even the emperor's wedding ceremony took place through this gate. It was truly the nation's gate.

The north-south avenue that runs through Zhengyangmen is the central axis of the capital city.

Zhengyangmen, Xuanwumen, and Chongwenmen, these three city gates lined up in a row, actually marked the boundary between the inner and outer city walls (also known as the northern and southern city walls) of the capital.

Heading north, the atmosphere was serious.

Further south, you'll find the culture of everyday life.

Merchants, artisans, laborers, old women, shop assistants, peddlers, and scholars may enter the inner city during the day, but must return to the south city before sunset.

Apart from Manchu bannermen and officials, no one was qualified to spend the night in the inner city.

This led to an abnormal prosperity outside Zhengyangmen.

In a nutshell:
After the Qing army entered the pass, they drove all the original Han people to the South City, leaving behind this slum where Han people were allowed to live and work and serve the Manchu people in the inner city—this is the South City.

……

Today is the first time Jiang Qingyun has inspected his territory in broad daylight.

Along the way, one could see restaurants, teahouses, cloth shops, inns, wharfs, brothels, bathhouses, silk shops, theaters, general stores, gold and silver jewelry shops, mule and horse trading companies, brokerage firms, and antique shops.
There are also countless craft shops.

Shop banners appeared one after another.

The famous Liulichang, Badahutong, Tianqiao, and Dashilan are all located within the southern part of the city.

Do you know how much tax revenue the South City generates annually?

"Sir, civil affairs are not under our jurisdiction. This area in the east belongs to Daxing, and the area in the west belongs to Wanping."

Jiang Qingyun nodded.
He had already made Nancheng his own territory and was thinking about how to squeeze out Daxing and Wanping counties.

After thinking for a moment, he asked:
"Who in the Military Affairs Office is most familiar with the southern part of the city?"

"Satsuji."

"Go back to the yamen and have him come to see me."

……

Afternoon~
Jiang Qingyun, along with the anxious Song Er and the overjoyed Xiao Zhoucang, changed into civilian clothes and once again disappeared into the southern city.

Avoid the main road and go straight into the alley.

What I saw along the way was shocking. It was a chaotic mix of good and bad, with humans and ghosts traveling together.

Sewage flowed freely in the narrow alley, and the stench was overwhelming.

There were dying beggars, men selling children with signs, shifty-eyed thieves, shady businesses controlled by gangs, and all sorts of shady, despicable activities.

This is the real Nancheng!

[To ensure more readers can enjoy the story, the author has decided to postpone the first round of testing for a week, even though the readership data has reached the threshold. This shows the author's sincerity. Please continue reading, everyone! Reading is everything these days, especially Tuesday's readership data, please help!]

(End of this chapter)