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

Chapter 110 Making Every Effort to Win Over Tongzhou Town

That night~
The best restaurant in Tongzhou.

Taking advantage of his father's absence, Jiang Qingyun seized the opportunity to win over his father's subordinates, booking out both the upstairs and downstairs rooms and inviting all officers above the rank of garrison commander in Tongzhou Town, whose garrison was within 30 li of his home.

My father's corner is my own corner; it's a family matter, so it's not considered undermining him.

When Jiang Qingyun walked in with a smile, dressed in civilian clothes, the officers of the three Green Standard Army tables all stood up and bowed.

"This humble general pays his respects to Young Master Jiang."

"Uncles and brothers, we are all one family, no need for formalities. To the Qing Dynasty, to the Emperor, cheers!"

The first round of wine is always the right one.

……

The second round of wine was more accurate.

Jiang Qingyun filled his wine bowl to the brim and picked it up.

"My father's brothers are my brothers. Gentlemen, we must always remember to unite. Only when Tongzhou Town is of one mind can we have a bright future. Cheers!"

"Dry!"

A group of officers picked up large bowls and gulped them down.

The third round of wine was barely correct.

"Tongzhou is not far from the capital, and I'm sure you all know a little about my deeds. I, Jiang, have never been stingy with official titles. Anyone can wear the imperial title. As long as they are my brothers, they can all wear it. Tell me, will you wear it or not?"

"Wear!"

"Speak louder, I can't hear you."

"Wear!"

The decibel level was so high that dust fell from the roof.

Jiang Qingyun then raised his wine bowl with satisfaction.

“If you have any idle sons or nephews in your family, send them to the South City Military Command. I will make arrangements for them. They will be put to work when the opportunity arises and fill any vacancies.”

"Come on, do it!"

"Dry!"

The atmosphere at the banquet reached its peak from the very beginning.

Jiang Qingyun's words were simple, blunt, and direct, but they suited the soldier's taste perfectly. In just three rounds of drinks, he had completely won over his father's heart.

People kept coming over with bowls of wine, introducing themselves first, and then offering a toast.

Jiang Qingyun was extremely generous, accepting all who came, one bowl after another, like an eagle soaring in the sky and a fish swimming in the shallows.

Newton once said:

In London, a person's character is reflected in their drinking habits.

A brother who can drink eight ounces and then a pound—I trust him.

A brother who can drink a pound but can drink eight ounces is someone we should cultivate.

A guy who can drink both Fenjiu and Huangjiu should be transferred.

A brother who can drink rice wine and soft drinks is not someone you should have.

Leibniz lied about being allergic to alcohol and never drank a drop; he was a complete hypocrite.

Therefore, Leibniz and his research results.

No! Yes!
……

This drinking session ignited the morale of the soldiers in Tongzhou Town.

That night, Jiang Qingyun vomited three times, vomiting so violently that he was dizzy and disoriented, and even shouted loudly at the maid.

"Fenjiu is good, you have to drink Fenjiu."

"Drink! We have to drink!"

The maids stared at the dissolute Jiang Qingyun, their hearts pounding, hoping that their young master would lose his temper after drinking and do something to them.

Who wouldn't envy Green Pearl?

Going from a maid to a concubine is no less arduous than being promoted directly from a recent graduate to a deputy section chief. Although it's painful, it only lasts a short while, and you'll get through it.

Unfortunately, Fenjiu is very strong.

The young master vomited until he was completely weak, and missed the opportunity to scramble for a rooster.

……

Three poles in the sun.

Jiang Zhongcheng is back.

"Yun'er, get up and tell me, what did you do at my camp last night?"

"Dad, I've had too much to drink."

"The town's commandery has one deputy general, two brigadier generals, and three guerrilla commanders, all of them are drunkards. The soldiers say you got them drunk!"

"Nonsense, they clearly drank too much."

Jiang Qingyun staggered to his feet.

"Father, I'm sorry, I'm here to pay my respects."

As he spoke, he made a gesture of bowing.

Jiang Zhongcheng was speechless with anger, so he simply bowed in return.

"No, I'm your grandson, you're my grandpa."

The father and son were kneeling and bowing to each other face to face when they entered the room. Wen Shi saw this and angrily turned around and left.

...After another half hour, Jiang Qingyun, who had drunk five cups of green tea, became slightly more sober.

"Father, I treated everyone to dinner last night. There was no particular purpose; I just wanted to help you win over the morale of the troops in Tongzhou Town."

"Are you the commander-in-chief and am I the commander-in-chief?"

"almost."

"You really want to treat me like royalty?"

"Father, Tongzhou Town is very important. In case of any changes in the capital, Tongzhou Town must provide timely assistance."

Jiang Zhongcheng calmed down instantly.

"Tell me, what's happening in the capital this time?"

"Things are alright for now, but there are undercurrents. The February 226 Incident was a very bad start, and there's a good chance that others will follow suit."

"Two white flags?"

"It's hard to say. Anyway, Dad, you need to train the Tongzhou Town tourism team into an absolutely obedient army as soon as possible. In case of any changes in the capital, my son and I can work together from the inside and outside so that our family can rise to prominence."

Jiang Zhongcheng was somewhat indignant:
"The Qing Dynasty has only been established for a few years, how could it have fallen into such a state?"

"There's no way around it. They swallowed up the former Ming dynasty's territory, and they also swallowed up its bad habits. Internal strife, infighting, and factional struggles are all unavoidable."

"Hey~"

Jiang Zhongcheng let out a long sigh.

……

"Father, I've brought someone back." Jiang Qingyun suddenly raised his voice, "Uncle Zheng, come in."

"This humble general greets Your Excellency, Commander-in-Chief."

Without waiting for his father to speak, Jiang Qingyun issued orders.

"Zheng Siwei".

"The end will be here."

"Starting today, you will serve as the Assistant Commander of the Right Battalion of Tongzhou Garrison. Strengthen training, reduce the number of veteran soldiers and the old and weak, and ensure that the Right Battalion has a full complement of soldiers. If there is even one vacancy, I will hold you accountable."

"Whoo."

Jiang Zhongcheng opened his mouth wide again.

What should be done with the former Right Battalion Commander?

"Come with me to the capital, and we'll go to the Ministry of War to ask for a deputy general position."

"What if the Ministry of War doesn't agree?"

"Then let's go through the Ministry of Personnel, change from a military officer to a civil official, and become a county magistrate in the suburbs of the capital."

……

Jiang Zhongcheng got up and left without saying a word.

After a while, he came carrying a wooden box.

"This is?"

"I'm giving you the seal of the General of Tongzhou Garrison."

"The imperial court has regulations that official titles and ranks cannot be bestowed or accepted privately."

The father and son were clearly at odds.

Zheng Siwei stood silently to the side. His son was a registrar in Daxing County, and his nephew was a clerk in Shuntian Prefecture. In short, he was one of Xiao Jiang's confidants.

This return also comes with a mission.

Jiang Qingyun's original words were:
By imperial decree, the Right Battalion of the Garrison must be at full strength and have obedience ingrained in their very bones. They must be ready to be summoned at any time and in any place, and be able to fight upon arrival.

Top secret, and must not be disclosed to anyone.

……

Lunch was a dull affair.

"Father, Mother, here are 2000 taels of silver notes. The New Year is coming soon, you can keep them to reward people."

"Yun'er, where did you get so much money?"

"A gift from a friend."

Jiang Zhongcheng was furious again.

“This is not how an official should act; you are now on your way to death.”

"Father, don't worry, I'll kill those people first. If you want to rise to the top, you need to be bold, have a noble destiny, and be ruthless."

“You’re full of courage, you’re like Zhao Zilong, but I’m getting old and I just want a peaceful life. I’m telling you right now, in less than two years, I’ll be stripped of my generalship and reduced to a common soldier.”

Wen remained silent.

She couldn't say anything. But her eyes were full of worry as she looked at Jiang Qingyun.

……

The following day, Jiang Qingyun left Tongzhou.

Before his departure, he summoned a group of low-ranking officers from Tongzhou Town to the General's Mansion and distributed silver to them. Each captain received 10 taels and each lieutenant captain received 20 taels, which he placed in the palm of his hand.

And he didn't forget to give a word of advice.

"Don't give them out indiscriminately; take them home to supplement your household income."

"If you encounter any difficulties, go to Lieutenant General Zheng."

(End of this chapter)