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

Chapter 147 The Little Grand Secretary Has Possessed Me
"Auspicious omen, an auspicious omen from heaven!"

Yang Guangxian, the Director of the Imperial Observatory, started making a racket as soon as he entered the Meridian Gate, attracting the attention of passing ministers, guards, eunuchs, and palace maids.

This is what they call keeping bad things quiet while spreading good news far and wide.

Qianqing Palace.

Yang Guangxian described it vividly:
"Last night, the Imperial Observatory observed that Venus appeared in the southwest, growing brighter and brighter, overshadowing the other stars in its path. Your Majesty, this is an auspicious sign."

"My dear minister, what is the meaning of this?"

"This is an omen of a great victory for our army, and it also signifies the Emperor's personal rule and the submission of the people to his cause."

"well."

Emperor Shunzhi was overjoyed and beamed with happiness.

What emperor could resist the allure of auspicious omens? Auspicious omens from heaven > a umbrella of ten thousand people > flattery from his subjects.

The significance of the Imperial Observatory is thus evident.

……

Early morning the next day.

The officials showered him with praise, making the Hall of Supreme Harmony appear as if auspicious clouds filled the sky and a gentle spring breeze blew.

Emperor Shunzhi was smug and complacent.

"Prince Zhuang, has the Ministry of War received any news from the front lines?"

Prince Zhuang, Shuo Sai, stepped forward and bowed.

"Your Majesty, we have not yet received any military reports from the front. The Ministry of War has arranged for clerks to be on duty day and night. Any military reports will be sent to the palace immediately without delay."

"Ah."

Emperor Shunzhi suddenly fell silent.

He detected a hint of sarcasm in his half-brother's words.

Shuo Sai meant that the Ministry of War had strict regulations, and the emperor should not ask questions if he did not understand them.

A very small number of people sensed the shift in the emperor's thoughts.

Jiang Qingyun suddenly stepped forward:
"Your Majesty, I request the court to send additional personnel to assist Minister Li Bayan in managing the treasury in quickly inventorying the three treasuries of the Ministry of Revenue and completing the handover."

"Not settled yet?"

"Yes."

"What is Li Bayan good for?"

Li Shuotai quickly stepped forward: "Your Majesty, my younger brother has been ill for a long time and is willing but unable to help."

No one in the hall uttered a sound.

Emperor Shunzhi suddenly realized that Li Bayan was recommended by the Empress Dowager, so he skipped the topic and decided to go to Cining Palace later to ask his mother before making a decision.

But~
He gave Li Shuotai a meaningful look, and Li Shuotai suddenly felt a tightness in his back.

……

Jiang Qingyun continued:
"The summer tax collection is about to begin. As I am also serving as the Minister in charge of the Ministry of Revenue's Administrative Process Reform Team, I believe that theory is empty and must be combined with practical experience. I request that the new tax collection process be piloted in directly governed prefectures and counties."

"I grant your permission. My dear minister, you truly are capable and efficient."

"Your Majesty flatters me. I merely wish to do my best to rebuild a new Ministry of Revenue that is more efficient, less corrupt, and has simpler procedures."

Jiang Qingyun had just stepped down.

Over there, I followed Ning Wan, the Left Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate.

"In the past six months, the Censorate has received many reports from righteous people that the concealment of land and the falsification of reports in Zhili Province are very serious. I feel that I have failed in my duty, and I request that multiple censors be dispatched to inspect Zhili Province to find out what is wrong and make up for the deficiencies."

"It's time to investigate this thoroughly."

Inside the hall~
Many ministers finally sensed the true intentions: the Liao faction was about to kick a dog when it was down.

It is not surprising that the Liaodong faction first eliminated the key figures of the Northern faction in the central government, and then swept away the Northern faction's followers in Zhili.

After the court session, the Ning residence was bustling with activity.

Distinguished guests from all walks of life arrived in an endless stream.

The objective is clear: you Liaoning Party can target the Northern Party, and we will remain neutral, but you have to share some of the spoils with us, don't think about taking it all for yourself.

People who eat alone will be resented for life.

In officialdom, the worst thing is to be targeted by colleagues. When things are going well, it's fine, but once things go wrong, colleagues will gang up on you.

The most prominent example right now is Jiang Qingyun. Everyone is waiting for Jiang Qingyun to come to his doom, even those who have never been messed with by Jiang Qingyun hold this view.

The prevailing attitude in officialdom is moderation and aversion to unconventionality.

However, no one is currently willing to challenge Jiang Qingyun. There are numerous bloody examples to prove this. Monkeys who challenge the Monkey King either die on the spot or become the new Monkey King. Clearly, most people lack the confidence.

This is very important, especially for Jiang Qingyun.

……

More than ten censors from Zhili Circuit quickly left the capital to begin inspecting the local areas.

Zhu Guozhi, the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, remained silent, preparing to take over the reins of supervision at the appropriate time.

The government and the public remained quiet, observing and waiting.

Before leaving Beijing~
Jiang Qingyun once again spent the night in Nanluoguxiang, having a secret rendezvous with Master Liu.

It's been more than half a month since I last saw you~
Liu Zhangtai remained unchanged, except for the black robe he had altered somewhere, which was narrow, tight, and thin, creating a striking contrast with his dignified and serious face.

Anyway, the reins of advanced education have already broken many times in the past 20 years, so it doesn't matter if they break one more time.

Done.

Liu Zhangtai showed neither joy nor sorrow. He picked up a white silk handkerchief, gently wiped his mouth, then wrapped it up and tossed it aside.

"Sir, you've been suffering from severe internal heat lately."

"Sigh! The affairs of the court are complicated, and colleagues are scheming against each other. I want to do something practical for the court and the people, but the pressure is immense, and it's impossible not to get angry."

"Why don't I recite scriptures to calm your mind?"

"Okay, let's have a song to clear heat and reduce internal fire."

"Yes."

They chanted scriptures while striking a wooden fish.

They were reciting the Heart Sutra.

Liu Zhangtai's chanting of scriptures remained as earnest, calm, and elegant as ever, which was truly remarkable.

For a moment, Jiang Qingyun even felt that Liu Zhangtai's emotions had transcended the realm of humanity.

Fortunately, Liu Zhangtai had little martial arts skill and was merely a spy sent by the Thirteen Offices.

The nun—a person who has transcended vulgar tastes.

I am someone who has lost touch with sophisticated tastes.

……

The chanting abruptly stopped.

"do not move!"

"It's none of your business, keep chanting the sutras."

Jiang Qingyun held an inkstone in one hand and a wolf-hair brush in the other. Using his back as paper, he copied the Heart Sutra, a total of 268 characters, which could be easily written on his flat back.

Form is not different from emptiness, emptiness is not different from form. Form is emptiness, emptiness is form.
On this tranquil night, with the fragrance of incense wafting in the air and the soft chanting of Buddhist hymns filling the air, the wolf-hair brush in hand never stops, creating a thoroughly enjoyable piece of calligraphy art.

Unbeknownst to me, my calligraphy had reached a new level.

"Good~"

Jiang Qingyun took a few steps back.

After carefully appreciating it, I burst into laughter.

"Zhangtai, once I have achieved fame and success, I wish to resign from my official post and retire to Xishan Island in Taihu Lake, where we can spend the rest of our lives together. What do you say?"

Is it Suzhou Prefecture?

"Yes, my mother's family."

"Don't you think it's a pity that you've resigned from your official post and gone into seclusion?"

“My original intention was not to pursue an official career, but due to unforeseen circumstances and the Emperor’s boundless grace, even if I wanted to retire, I must first repay the Emperor’s kindness.”

"The master is truly a free and easy gentleman."

"Hmm, I think so too. Stand up and write on the other side."

Jiang Qingyun wrote in front: "Having accomplished the affairs of the emperor and the world, I have won fame both before and after my death."

After thinking about it, I still felt like I hadn't had enough.

He then instructed:
"Lie down."

After lying down, I blindfolded him.
He took up his brush and wrote on the two straight and tall jade pillars: "Two capitals" and "Eighteen provinces".

Instead of writing in regular script, I'll write in cursive script.

After writing~
Jiang Qingyun discarded the wolf-hair brush. At this moment, he was possessed by the spirit of the young Grand Secretary, and the landscape seemed like a painting, yet he handled everything with ease.

(End of this chapter)