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

Chapter 152 Wu Sangui's Ancestral Craft
South City.

Outside Xuanwu Gate, No. 13 Private Kitchen.

In the quiet and elegant second-floor private room, Jiang Qingyun met Wu Yingxiong again.

"Brother Jiang, it's been a long time."

"Your Highness, how have you been lately?"

"We are sworn brothers, why be so formal? Come, sit down, let's drink and chat."

……

"I heard that the Empress Dowager summons you to the palace on the first and fifteenth of each month for banquets and casual conversations. Such favor is truly enviable."

"What do you envy about me? I'm just a hostage."

"Judging from your words, you're holding a grudge?"

"The Emperor bestowed upon me 30 servants, but it turns out that at least three spies were planted among them. My every move is known throughout the palace."

"So what did you do?"

"I sold off all the servants in the manor."

The two looked at each other and burst into laughter.

"Prince Pingxi Hu occupies the southwest and commands tens of thousands of elite troops, so the court naturally has to be wary. By the way, what brings you here today?"

"Yes." Wu Yingxiong poured wine while asking in a low voice, "Brother, is the imperial court really going to send Manchu bannermen south this time?"

“Each banner shall send 400 Manchu soldiers, the rest shall be Han and Mongol troops.”

"Extinction of the Ming Dynasty?"

"To be precise, it was to eliminate the Great Western Army and eliminate Sun, Li, Liu, and Bai."

……

"Here is a handwritten letter from your father to you, and five boxes of jewels are stored here. The address is here. Have someone pick them up tomorrow evening."

"I am ashamed of the Prince of Pingxi's great favor."

Jiang Qingyun said he felt ashamed, but his expression was very calm.

Read and then burn~
Without leaving a trace.

"I suggest that the Prince of Pingxi mobilize all his elite troops for a deep penetration maneuver."

"What's big?"

"Deep penetration is a tactic I created myself recently while reading military books. It requires elite cavalry with firm conviction to launch long-distance raids, infiltrate through gaps in the enemy's lines, strike straight at the heart of the enemy, and strike deep inside them. It is particularly effective against enemies with weak will."

Where to hit?

"Attack Kunming."

Wu Yingxiong was slightly surprised.

"Brother, you know my father's intentions, don't you?"

"I know, it's about granting fiefdoms and becoming local emperors, occupying one or two provinces."

"Then you return it?"

"Yingxiong, listen carefully. After the Prince of Pingxi launched a surprise attack on Kunming with his elite troops, he immediately retreated in large strides, not occupying any territory. This may have the following effects: First, it will demonstrate his value and make him famous in the Qing court, making it easier to negotiate in the future. Second, it will promote unity within the Ming court and break the teeth of the Manchu bannermen who are marching south."

Jiang Qingyun took three grapes from the plate and placed them on the table.

"Ying Xiong, come and see."

"Guiyang, Sun Kewang. Nanning, Li Dingguo. Anlong Prefecture, Zhu Youlang."

"Nominally, it is a unified Ming court, but the three families are constantly at odds and fighting each other. Sun Kewang is good at both military and political affairs, but he is mediocre in both. Li Dingguo is outstanding only in military affairs. The difference in strength between the two is not particularly large at present, so it is difficult to determine who is superior."

“The Prince of Pingxi needs a tenacious Ming court to fight this war for a long time, ideally for 50 or 100 years, on and off.”

"Correct!"

……

Jiang Qingyun's voice sounded like a siren.

"We must get the enemy to unite. Let Sun Kewang assist and provide supplies, and let Li Dingguo lead the attack and command at the front. In this way, the Sun-Li combination will have a high probability of dealing a heavy blow to the Manchu bannermen who are coming south in the autumn."

"What if the Ming Dynasty collapsed directly because of the fall of Kunming?"

"That is the will of Heaven. With this military achievement, the Prince of Pingxi will also be granted land and a title in the future."

"What makes you so certain that Sun and Li could defeat the Manchu army?"

"A desperate army is bound to win, there is the home advantage, and Li Dingguo is not to be underestimated."

Wu Yingxiong's eyes flickered.

"Your plan is crazy, but I'm somewhat tempted."

"Your Highness, trust me. My interests are aligned with yours. We are all Han subjects. The Manchus are too powerful. It would be better for both of us to weaken them. The Qing Dynasty is different from the Yuan Dynasty. The Qing Dynasty wants too much and manages too much. The Manchu conscripts number only a little over 100,000. If half of them are eliminated, the situation will be very different." Wu Yingxiong trembled slightly with excitement.

Jiang Qingyun continued to incite:
"I am secretly stirring up public opinion to urge the court to announce to the world that it refuses the surrender of Ming officials, so that the Ming army knows that surrender means death, and not surrendering may offer a glimmer of hope. To be on the safe side, Prince Pingxi can reveal the military deployment on the eastern front to Li Dingguo, who will surely seize the opportunity. With such a Sun-Li combination, even if they cannot defeat the Manchu bannermen, as long as they kill or wound 20,000 or 30,000 bannermen on the battlefield, the entire empire's landscape will change."

"Cheers to our common goal."

"Damn it!"

The two raised their glasses together and poured the scarlet liquid into their mouths.

……

As soon as I returned to the manor, I saw Jiangnan, Lüzhu, and Wanchun standing in the courtyard.

Jiangnan hurriedly came forward:
"Husband, you are finally back."

"What happened?"

"She gave birth."

Jiang Qingyun suddenly tensed up and blurted out, "What did they give birth to?"

"daughter."

Jiang Qingyun breathed a sigh of relief; thankfully, Hong Tao had given birth to a daughter.

"They will be allowed to rest for one month, after which they will be moved out together."

"Where will they be placed?"

"South City, a place where out of sight, out of mind."

The women remained silent and went about their own business.

……

Censorate.

Censor Fan Chengmo looked on nervously as Jiang Qingyun suddenly pushed open the door and entered.

"I was unaware of the Vice Commissioner's arrival; I have failed to greet you properly."

"Go, close the door."

"Hey."

Now, the two are definitely in a superior-subordinate relationship.

"Recently, there has been much discussion among the Manchu people: In the past, accepting surrendered officials was to win the hearts of the people and seize power. Now that the country is settled, is there still a need to continue accepting surrendered officials? What do you say?"

"I still need to consider this carefully."

"It's alright, take your time to think it over. Go, make me a bowl of tea."

Time passes minute by minute.

Jiang Qingyun drank half a bowl of food, while Fan Chengmo was still deep in thought.

"Imperial Censor Fan, speak."

"This matter is of great importance, and I, a mere censor, dare not speak lightly."

……

"Imperial Censor Fan, do you agree or disagree?"

"I will obey your orders."

Wow~
Jiang Qingyun raised his hand and splashed the remaining half cup of tea onto Fan Chengmo's face.

"Nonsense~ What does this have to do with me? The public discussion represents public opinion, right? This matter has been your responsibility as censors from beginning to end. Whether or not to submit a memorial to the court is also your business."

Fan Chengmo had tea stalks stuck to his face and couldn't speak for a long time.

He recalled the terrifying moment when the intruder broke in that day, and tentatively asked:
"Censors are allowed to report matters based on hearsay; I intend to submit a memorial suggesting that the court cease accepting officials who have surrendered from the Ming dynasty."

Jiang Qingyun got up and left without saying a word.

The purpose was achieved.

……

The three inner courts and the offices of the various banner commanders successively received petitions.

The people who submitted the petition came from all walks of life.

But the main idea is the same.

Times have changed. The Ming court in the southwest is now nothing but bones in a tomb; killing them all would be pointless. The court should no longer accept any surrendered officials from the Ming; official titles and ranks should be reserved for our own people.

This is what is meant by "keeping the good stuff within the family."

(End of this chapter)