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

Chapter 136 The Banner Lords and Princes Have Made Their Move
Sure enough~
Shunzhi's voice was cold and resolute:
"Issue the imperial decree, ordering Jiang Qingyun to investigate the Ministry of Revenue's embezzled accounts and restore the Ministry to normal operation as soon as possible. Identify all officials in the Ministry of Revenue, execute those who should be executed, arrest those who should be arrested, and allow those who are truly loyal to remain in their posts."

"The minister obeys the order."

"Bolo, your oversight of the Ministry of Revenue has been inadequate. You are hereby confined to your residence and are not permitted to leave without imperial decree. Your punishment will be determined after the matter concerning the Ministry of Revenue is investigated. Dismissed!"

"The slave obeys the order."

……

As the two stepped out of the Qianqing Palace.

Behind him, the still-satisfied Shunzhi roared angrily, "My money!"

The dialogue was so shocking, so avant-garde, so familiar—perhaps every emperor thought the same thing—that Jiang Qingyun stumbled.

The Third Eunuch, who was standing outside the hall, stepped in just in time to support Jiang Qingyun and help him regain his balance.

"Please be careful."

"Thank you, father-in-law."

Jiang Qingyun glanced at Bolo.

Bolo left without a word, strode away. He had lost, utterly defeated, his spirit broken. From behind, he looked like a dog.

Meridian Gate.

The guards suddenly stopped Jiang Qingyun.

"Vice-Commander Jiang, look behind you?"

A eunuch came running at top speed across the square.

"Is this for you?"

"I don't know either."

The guard chuckled, "He looks like Chief Steward Wu. There aren't many people who can be of use to him. Since you have nothing else to do, why don't you wait a moment? He might be looking for you."

……

"Vice-Governor Jiang, please wait. The Emperor has summoned you to fish in the Imperial Garden."

"Thank you, Steward Xie."

So, amidst the envious glances of the crowd, Jiang Qingyun turned back.

Familiar place, familiar pond, familiar fishing rod, familiar feints~
swoosh~
The empty hook is cast far away. Jiang Qingyun fishes, but always with an empty hook.

Shunzhi seemed to have regained his composure and said coldly, "My dear minister, this is a one-time exception."

"Your Majesty was wrong. I will remember this."

"How do you plan to fill the vacancy in the Ministry of Revenue?"

"Your Majesty, select a group of children from the two Yellow Banners from the official schools to be stationed in the Ministry of Revenue, and also transfer a group of laymen from outside to be stationed in the Ministry of Revenue."

Emperor Shunzhi could hardly believe his ears.

"layman?"

"Yes."

"Did I hear that right?"

"Your Majesty, this is my thought: using laymen to supervise professionals might have a remarkable effect. If everyone is a professional, they are skilled in their work, but they are also very adept at deceiving the court. They are an unbreakable alliance, difficult to intervene in. Laymen are different; they are natural enemies with professionals, looking down on each other and restraining each other. In this way, the court can better manage the Ministry of Revenue."

……

Shunzhi suddenly realized that what sounded absurd at first glance, but upon closer examination, made perfect sense.

"My dear minister, how did you come up with this idea?"

"This is the culmination of the efforts of Zhou Shao, a close friend of mine and the current head of the archives department of the Ministry of Revenue. He said that this is what it means for an outsider to lead an expert."

"What is this person's background?"

“He is from Shaoxing, and started out as a clerk in the Ministry of Personnel’s Selection Department. He is older than me and is very steady in his work.”

"I remember now, you recommended this person last time."

"Not only do I admire him, but Minister Feng of the Ministry of Personnel has also praised him many times."

"Feng Shuan is a dedicated worker, but his character is rather poor."

"I think I've heard Prince Li say this a few times while waiting outside the Meridian Gate for court."

Shunzhi was taken aback; he had heard it from Prince Li, Mandahai. Hearing it again, his feelings instantly changed.

“Zhou Shao, a sixth-rank official, will be promoted depending on his performance.”

"Your Majesty, he was promoted to Acting Sixth-Rank Principal after I took up my post in the Ministry of Revenue. Before that, he was a Seventh-Rank official."

Emperor Shunzhi remained outwardly calm, but inwardly he was furious.

He had written a note to Bolo requesting that Zhou Shao be promoted, but Bolo dared to ignore it, which was extremely arrogant.

……

"Your Majesty, the fish is served."

Shunzhi pulled sharply, only to find nothing, feeling slightly embarrassed.

Suddenly, the little eunuch ran over.

"Your Majesty, Yang Guangxian, Director of the Imperial Observatory, requests an audience." "What is it?"

"They say there are unusual celestial phenomena."

A short while later, Yang Guang arrived first, his face serious.

"Your Majesty, the Imperial Observatory observed a rainbow piercing the sun last night. The specific details of the celestial phenomenon, including the exact time of its occurrence, are all here."

The ancients believed that a white rainbow, like a knife, symbolized the sun and the emperor.

A rainbow piercing the sun is an omen that foreshadows a potential threat to the monarch.

The most famous example is found in the "Records of the Grand Historian: Biographies of Lu Zhonglian and Zou Yang": "In the past, Jing Ke admired the righteousness of Yan Dan. A white rainbow pierced the sun, and the prince was afraid of him."

Emperor Shunzhi did not look well.

You still have to believe in celestial phenomena. Heaven is warning you that there are treacherous and wicked people in the court, and you need to be wary of them.

Where is the threat?

Emperor Shunzhi began to review recent events in the court, examining each person one by one, with the most suspicious being the Princes and Ministers of State.

……

Prince Li's Mansion.

Inside the secret room.

Prince Li Mandahai, Prince Shuncheng Lekedehun, Prince Keqin Luokeduo, Prince Jingjin Nikan, and Prince Zhuang Shuo Sai sat in a circle.

All five men had solemn expressions, the candlelight flickered in the room, and the atmosphere was oppressive.

Mandahai was the banner lord of the Plain Red Banner, and Lekedehun was the minor banner lord.

Rokodo was the banner lord of the Bordered Red Banner, while Nikan and Shuo Sai were minor banner lords.

Both red flags are here.

What was Shunzhi's purpose?

"First seize the Ministry of Revenue, then seize the Ministry of War, and finally undermine the Council of Princes and Ministers."

"Dare he?"

“He really dares! The young emperor is ruthless, and with Jiang Qingyun, that vicious dog, charging into battle, he’s sitting in the Qianqing Palace, enjoying the sight.”

……

A year ago, Prince Rocco Dorgon of Keqin contracted smallpox but miraculously survived. He has been recuperating in the suburbs and still looks quite weak.

“I haven’t been in the capital much for over a year, so I don’t know much about the situation. But no one can take the two red flags away from us. We are not slaves of the Qing Dynasty; we are shareholders of the Qing Dynasty.”

"You're right."

“Although Prince Zheng is a loyal subject of Emperor Shunzhi, he is also the banner lord of the Bordered Blue Banner. I think he will definitely support us on this issue.”

"Tomorrow I will send someone to Prince Zheng's residence to forge a defensive alliance."

Nikan sneered:

"If you ask me, we should just kill this vicious dog."

"He's a high-ranking official now, can't he just be executed like that?"

“Select a few loyal followers from the banners, negotiate the terms, and afterwards make them take the blame for the case, insisting it's a personal grudge. Kill them or torture them as you please. Once Jiang Qingyun is killed, no one else in the world will do so many dirty things for Shunzhi. We're too passive right now. Why should we fight him according to his rules?”

……

Everyone was silent.

Prince Mandahai looked at Nikan with surprise. For the first time, he realized that this guy wasn't so stupid after all; he was shrewd despite his rough exterior.

"What do you think?"

The group shook their heads; they still felt the assassination plan was too reckless.

Nikan gave a cold laugh and said nothing more.

He suddenly felt a little contempt for this relative who prided himself on his political wisdom.

Back then, our ancestors conquered the country by using swift swords and ruthless men, with immense strength and flying bricks, sweeping all before them. Now that they've entered the Forbidden City, they're all hesitant and timid, pretending to be refined gentlemen.

Wisdom that can't solve problems is worthless command.

Mandahai: "Bolo has been confined to his quarters, and the Ministry of Revenue will have nothing to do with him from now on."

Lekdehun: "We shouldn't have given in during the council of ministers that day."

Mandahai shook his head:
“If we veto it, the news will spread throughout the city the next day. The bannermen will all think that we are obstructing the distribution of their money, and our prestige as banner leaders will be greatly diminished. If this happens three or five times, we will no longer be banner leaders. Shunzhi’s move is ruthless. We can only sacrifice pawns to save the king and protect the banner affairs.”

Prince Shuncheng, Lekedehun, said: "The Yongli Emperor in the southwest is already a skeleton in a tomb. We should strive to command troops on the front lines and use military merit to protect ourselves. Otherwise, if we keep fighting like this, we will be too passive."

Nikan: "I second that."

Let us swear an oath!

Five hands placed together.

The five people whispered together: "Two red flags, advancing and retreating together."

(End of this chapter)