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

Chapter 155 The Atmosphere of Kyoto Begins in the Showa Era

"Sink the Ming Dynasty!"

"The final battle!"

"May your military prosper, and may your empire flourish!"

"Under the eight directions and one sky, I will dedicate my life to serving my country!"

"All other professions are inferior; only military merit is noble!"

"The wheat has ripened 3000 times, and this is the first time the Eight Banners have entered the pass!"

"The rise and fall of the empire hinges on this one battle; all bannermen, strive with all your might!"

"The men of the Eight Banners must rise up and eliminate Zhu Youlang and the Great Western Bandits!"

"Long live the wise and mighty Emperor Shunzhi, a figure unparalleled in history!"

"There are no cowards among the Eight Banners! Cowards are not of the Eight Banners!"

……

Overnight~
The patrolling soldiers of the Five Cities Garrison posted the above slogans all over the streets and alleys of the inner city.

The whole city is boiling!

The Manchu people, looking at these inspiring slogans, were filled with excitement and fighting spirit.

Do you know who wrote these slogans?

"Who?"

"Left Vice Censor-in-Chief, Lord Jiang."

hiss~
Everyone felt a pang of unease, their emotions a jumbled mess. On one hand, they loathed this person. On the other hand, they felt a strange sense of admiration.

Some people have summarized:

"If Lord Jiang were a true Manchu, that would be wonderful."

"Yeah yeah."

These men, who were not highly educated, might not be able to explain the reasons clearly. It stemmed from a simple sense of "self-respect." Being disciplined by their own people made them feel resentful.

Being disciplined by the Han Bannermen made me feel quite uncomfortable.

.........

The Eight Banners Official School was an official school established in the first year of the Shunzhi Emperor's reign. It only enrolled children of the Eight Banners and taught the Four Books and Five Classics, horseback riding and archery, as well as Manchu language.

At this moment, all the students from the official school poured out to watch the parade.

At the head of the procession, eight ceremonial cavalrymen borrowed from the Imperial Guard led the way. Their sturdy warhorses, strong knights, and brand-new armor gleamed in the sunlight, making them look like war gods descending to earth.

A gilded mask, revealing only the eyes and nostrils, exuding silence and a chilling aura.

Behind the knight were hundreds of young women from the Eight Great Hutongs, fully made up and dressed in skirts, holding small flags, marching in unison, and chanting the same slogans.

"With the world united as one, I will dedicate my life to serving my country."

"There are no cowards among the Eight Banners!"

The young students, seeing and hearing this, felt nothing but four words: fervor, passion, and excitement!

Why does one's blood boil? Is it the desire to repay the emperor's kindness? Is it the desire to kill enemies and achieve glory? Or is it a longing for that tenderness?

The young Manchu students did not know the answer, nor did they want to know the answer.

This feeling is intoxicating; it makes me feel full of energy and want to charge forward.

……

Following the walking parade was a huge float.

The float was surrounded by colorful ukiyo-e prints depicting battlefields.

The courtesans sitting on the floats rolled up their sleeves, raised their fair and slender arms, and first shouted in a crisp voice, "There are no cowards in the Eight Banners! Cowards are not from the Eight Banners!", then scattered handkerchiefs everywhere.

Dozens of unwashed white silk handkerchiefs fluttered down.

Someone picked up the handkerchief and saw that four characters were tattooed on it: "May your military prowess flourish."

I smelled it again, and it smelled wonderful!
In an instant, the boy's passion coalesced into a surge of heat that rushed straight to the top of his head, making him feel dizzy.

"I'm going to fight!"

The professors at the official schools were getting anxious.

"No, no, what will happen to your studies?"

A boy from the Plain Yellow Banner, who usually disliked reading the most, threw down his books, stood on a high place, and raised his arms to shout.

"Hey classmate, I can't possibly read this lousy book even for a day. Let's march south and kill the enemy! Kill them all!"

One call and a hundred responses.

……

The professors from the official schools were dumbfounded; they tried to stop one student, but couldn't stop another. At the very end of the procession were the city patrol soldiers, who kindly grabbed the professors from the official schools.

"Gentlemen, our students are righteous and dedicated to serving the Empire, which is a good thing. Why are you crying?"

"They're still children."

The officer went up and slapped the old man hard across the face, making him stagger.

"Bullshit! When it comes to the great cause of the empire, there is no distinction between men and women, old and young, front and back, left and right. It all comes down to one word: loyalty. If you old thing continue to disrupt the morale of the army, I think you're some kind of spy sent from somewhere."

The professors were terrified and quickly bowed in apology. Yes, how could they have forgotten that the Five Cities Military Command was under the jurisdiction of the Jiang family? They couldn't afford to offend them!
On that day, the Eight Banners official schools were closed.

Soon, the Jue Luo Academy also closed its doors. These noble Manchu bannermen, even more fervent, swarmed to the Meridian Gate and knelt to petition.

……

"Please, guard, deliver our letter written in blood to His Majesty."

"okay."

The guards were all smiles; they were from the same clan.

Dorgon has been dead for quite some time, and the divide between the two White Banners and the other five banners is gradually dissolving. Except for the Plain Blue Banner, they are all good Eight Banners, and if something really happens, they are still willing to help each other.

Qianqing Palace.

Emperor Shunzhi was taken aback. A blood letter? How did this thing come about?

Not long after~
The councilors and ministers also entered the palace.

"Your Majesty, this is the letter of request for battle from the Bordered Red Banner."

"Your Majesty, this is the Bordered Blue Banner's request for battle."

"Your Majesty~"

Except for Zhenglan Banner, all other banners submitted letters of request to fight.

The instigator, Jiang Qingyun, also rushed into the palace. As soon as he entered the Qianqing Palace, he disregarded etiquette and shouted loudly: "Your Majesty, a million Manchus are voluntarily requesting to fight. The morale of the Manchus is high, and the morale of the army is high!"

The ministers and advisors, pinching their noses, reluctantly stood in the same trench as Jiang Qingyun for the time being.

They all knelt down and shouted:
"Your Majesty, the Manchus request war."

Shunzhi was a little confused; he was truly conflicted.

……

Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang also rushed over. Looking at the stack of letters of request to fight and the blood-written letters from the students of the official school, she instantly understood what was going on.

Stealing credit!

Seize official titles and ranks!
The final battle, the last time to reap great military rewards.

"Your Highnesses, please rise and speak. I am delighted to see our Manchu people so united."

Everyone laughed.

Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang stared at the trailing bloody fingerprints on the back of the blood-written letter.

"Yes, they are all good children, knowing how to serve their country. However, fighting is a matter for adult men, how can we send children to the battlefield?"

Everyone quickly agreed.

"That's what the Queen Mother said."

"Yes, yes. Children around ten years old still need to study and learn to read and write, and master the Four Books and Five Classics so that they can better serve our Great Qing Dynasty in the future."

Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang was very satisfied.

"What the princes say is true. We must study the classics and fight wars. However, the bannermen are the foundation of the state. The war is not over yet, and what if something goes wrong? What do you say, Your Majesty?"

……

Emperor Shunzhi also realized what was happening, and his expression turned serious.

"The Manchu bannermen are the cornerstone of our Great Qing. It has been seven years since we entered the pass. War, smallpox, countless men have shed their blood on the battlefield, and the bannermen have never had a chance to rest and recuperate. I dare not open this door."

Prince Mandahai, the banner lord of the Plain Red Banner:

"His Majesty is considerate of the bannermen, but is it too few to allow only 400 Manchu bannermen from each banner to go south for the expedition?"

Prince Zheng, Jirhalang, the banner lord of the Bordered Blue Banner:
"The Qing Dynasty has been in the Central Plains for seven years, and with peace reigning throughout the land, there will soon be no more wars to fight. Thanks to the Emperor's blessings, many bannermen in the capital are already living a good life. But there are still many idle bannermen who also want to serve the country."

Jirhalang hit the nail on the head.

If Shunzhi had used force to suppress dissent, it would have inevitably led to widespread discontent among the idle Manchu bannermen. Hindering others' progress is a sure way to incur resentment.

"What amount does Prince Zheng think is appropriate?"

Jirhalang: "5000?"

Shunzhi took a deep breath: "800!"

(End of this chapter)