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

Chapter 111 Infernal Affairs!
The Shuntian Prefecture government office is located on Gulou East Street.

Prefectural Assistant Tong Guogang spent a longer time squatting alone in the outhouse because of a stomachache.

But unexpectedly, I overheard a conversation.

"Lord Fang, I am honored to meet you."

"Wow, not bad. So, what's up?"

"When you led the team to the South City that day, were there any casualties among the Prince of Pingxi's heir and the Five Cities Military Command?"

"Why are you asking about this?"

"Entrusted by others, loyal to others."

"I really didn't know that. We were all standing on the outside. It was like gods fighting. We mortals didn't dare to get close and didn't want to get close."

"Yes Yes."

"However, I do know something else."

"what's up?"

“A few days ago, the Tianyou Army of the Prince of Dingnan and the Wucheng Military Command confronted each other in the street and almost got into a fight. It was only after Imperial Censor Jiang arrived in person that the matter was quelled.”

"There's actually such a thing??"

"Hehe, this news is worth the gold ingot you deserve, isn't it?"

"Please do not mention this to outsiders, Lord Fang."

"Don't worry, I've been eating government food for twenty years and haven't lost a single tooth. I know better than you what's important."

……

Tong Guogang can identify people by their voices.

The voice of the person inquiring about the news sounded unfamiliar, suggesting they didn't have much contact. The voice of the person answering was very familiar; it was the magistrate of Shuntian Prefecture.

Tong Guogang, after all, came from an official family and had a basic sensitivity to the power struggles in officialdom. It was clear that someone was secretly gathering evidence to target Jiang Qingyun.

He decided to do someone a favor.

Archives.

"Oh my, Second Master, what brings you here in person?"

"Find out the information on everyone of the seventh rank and above; I need to see it."

"Whoo."

Before long, the table was piled high with files.

"Ahem, go eat."

"Whoo."

The clerk in the archives was a seasoned veteran; he would take a full hour to finish a meal, making sure he didn't pry into his superior's secrets.

……

Actually~
Tong Guogang only stayed in the archives for fifteen minutes. He first looked through the resume of the magistrate Fang Chongshan, and then, to conceal his true purpose, deliberately looked through three or five other files before leaving.

He then excused himself by saying he was feeling unwell and left the government office.

Once the carriage left Shuntian Prefecture and was certain that no one was following, Tong Guogang suddenly lifted the curtain.

"You hurry back home, I have something to do and will be back later."

"Yes."

Tong Guogang temporarily hired a two-seater sedan chair, and after arriving in the southern part of the city, he spent some money to have his visiting card delivered to the Jiang residence, where they arranged to meet in a secluded place.

……

Jiang Qingyun was slightly surprised, then smiled.

"Tong Guogang, you have done very well. I will remember your kindness."

"Thank you, sir."

"You can go back now. If you can find the person who bribed the judge with gold before this time tomorrow, tell me. If you can't find him, tell me as well."

"Whoo."

"Wait a minute."

Tong Guogang had just stepped one foot out the door when he turned back.

"I remember you have younger siblings? How old are they?"

"My younger brother, Tong Guowei, is 11 years old, and my younger sister is 13 years old."

"Very well. I have some knowledge of physiognomy. After observing you just now, I am certain that your Tong family will have a bright future and achieve great success."

"Thank you, sir."

Tong Guogang took it as a hint and didn't think much of it.

In short, as long as I get this favor, that's enough.

After he went outside, Zhou Cang followed with two guards.

"Lord Tong, we will be waiting for your news at the hotel on Gulou East Street."

……

The next day.

West City, Fan Residence.

"you are?"

“Wei Xiangshu, a junior compiler at the Hongwen Academy, requests an audience with the Grand Secretary.”

"Please wait."

After a while, the doorman returned.

"I'm sorry, Master Wei, our master is not feeling well today and is unable to receive guests." "Please take a look at this for the Grand Secretary. If he is not interested, I will leave immediately."

"Alright, you said this is the last time."

After a while, the doorman returned.

"Master Wei, please come with me."

……

study.

Wei Xiangshu sat at the lower end, leisurely sipping his tea.

After reading the "charges against Chiang Kai-shek" in turn, Fan Wencheng and his son Fan Chengmo fell silent, exchanging glances to each other.

Fan Chengmo spoke first:

"Brother Wei, where did this come from?"

"Jiang Qingyun is arrogant and domineering, treating the laws of the court as a joke and officials and soldiers as slaves. When the Prince of Pingxi and the Prince of Dingnan returned to the capital from the front lines, they were harassed by such a cruel official. If the court does not turn a blind eye, it will chill the hearts of the meritorious soldiers. There are many righteous people in the capital who oppose Jiang. They all share the same goal and have collected and compiled this book."

"It's appalling, it's appalling!"

"And what's even more horrifying is that Jiang Qingyun actually dared to impose torture on his own. Of the more than 500 bannermen who came out of You'anmen Prison, half of them developed various symptoms from his torture."

Fan Wencheng was startled and pressed for an answer:
"What do you mean?"

"Some were unable to perform sexual acts, some had nightmares every night, some were incoherent, some were constantly grieving and wailing, and two others hanged themselves to death because they could not bear the humiliation."

"However, the Emperor and his ministers confirmed that Jiang Qingyun did not torture those bannermen."

"Grand Secretary, torture doesn't necessarily have to involve bloodshed."

"Then what do you mean?"

"We request that the Grand Secretary join the anti-Chiang alliance, and we will agree on a date to impeach the traitor Chiang together in the imperial court."

"But this person is currently enjoying great favor from the emperor."

"That is precisely why we must expose this person's true colors to the Emperor. The Holy Emperor is only temporarily deceived."

……

Fan Wencheng's expression was indifferent.

How many of you are there?

"Please forgive us, Grand Secretary, we cannot speak of this now, but we have the support of all the Councilors and Ministers behind us."

In a flash, Fan Wencheng sensed a natural weakness in the second anti-Chiang alliance: civil officials colluding with the Prince and Ministers of State.

There is an inherent contradiction between the imperial power and the Council of Princes and Ministers.

No emperor would want such a powerful and restrictive institution to exist in the court.

However, the princes and ministers who held state power all wielded military authority and also served as ministers in various ministries. It was as if a group of people were snoring and rolling around beside Shunzhi's bed.

Cancellation is the goal; the game is the process.

Wei Xiangshu asked tentatively:
"Does the Grand Secretary have any concerns?"

"I'd like to know, what does the person involved have to say?"

"Is the Grand Scholar asking about the Prince of Pingxi and the Prince of Dingnan?"

"Correct."

Wei Xiangshu told a lie.

"I have already paid my respects to the two princes. They hate Jiang Qingyun to the core and have promised to stand up and testify when the time comes."

"Let me think about it again."

"Grand Scholar?"

Fan Wencheng picked up the teacup but did not drink the tea.

Wei Xiangshu knew this was an order to leave, so he reluctantly got up, clasped his hands in farewell, and left.

……

After seeing off the uninvited guest, Fan Chengmo returned to his study.

"Father, do you think they can win?"

"The chances of this group winning are not very high."

"Then what do we do?"

"The tortoise principle of being a person means knowing when to shrink back and not getting involved or helping. However, if Jiang Qingyun is impeached and becomes shaky, we will rush up and give him a good kick."

"it is good."

……

at the same time.

Ministry of Rites Inn.

Liu Zhengzong, the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, met Wu Sangui, who had just finished practicing swordsmanship.

"This humble official pays his respects to the Prince of Pingxi."

"No need for formalities, no need for such formalities. What brings you here today, Your Excellency? I should be the one to pay you a visit."

"Your Highness is too kind. You are a prince, it would be absurd for you to visit a lowly official like me."

"No!" Wu Sangui immediately raised his right hand. "The Ministry of Personnel is more prestigious than even princes and nobles. I have eight brothers under my command who have rendered meritorious service and are injured, and they want to apply for positions as magistrates or prefects in Hunan and Guangxi. The report was submitted half a year ago, but the Ministry of Personnel's Selection Department has studied it for half a year and still hasn't come up with anything."

Liu Zhengzong was very embarrassed.

He then tentatively asked, "So, what does Your Highness mean?"

(End of this chapter)