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

Chapter 172 A vote is held in the Golden Palace: Kill Chiang Kai-shek!
The guards standing watch outside the gate gave a shout.

"The Empress Dowager has arrived!"

Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang, dressed in her finest attire, entered with an air of grandeur.

This 40-year-old woman possessed an even stronger aura than when she was young. Her steps were neither hurried nor slow, exuding the confidence of a politician and the awe-inspiring presence of an empress dowager.

Jiang Qingyun looked up and made eye contact with Xiaozhuang, sending phased array radar waves at her!

As expected, Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang noticed and nodded slightly.

This is an attitude—to set aside past grievances, cooperate for mutual benefit, fight side by side, and defend imperial power.

Jiang Qingyun thought to himself, women of this age are just different; they have a tacit understanding.

……

Shunzhi rose, descended the imperial steps, his armor clattering, and extended his right hand.

"Mother~"

Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang placed her hand on his hand, and together they walked up the imperial steps.

This affected manner is not to say that she is too old to walk, but rather to send a clear signal.

Mother and son are of the same mind!

The Mongols, led by the Khorchin people, stood on the emperor's side!
Jiang Qingyun had no interest in appreciating such low-level tricks. His gaze remained fixed on Mandahai's face, sending dense fire control radar waves at him, and occasionally sweeping the Eight Banners officers standing around him.

suddenly~
The treacherous ministers who wanted to purge the emperor's inner circle have jumped out on their own.

"I, Mandahai, grandson of the founding emperor of the Qing Dynasty and son of Prince Lilie, on behalf of the loyal and brave soldiers of the Bordered Red Banner, Plain Red Banner, and Bordered Blue Banner, request Your Majesty to issue an edict to execute the Ming Dynasty spy Jiang Qingyun!"

"Your Majesty, please execute the traitor Jiang Qingyun."

Before the words were even finished, the Manchu officials from the Bordered Red Banner, Plain Red Banner, and Bordered Blue Banner all knelt down on the ground.

Instantly, the air inside the hall turned so cold it felt like it was about to freeze.

This sentence contains a lot of information.

The presence of the loyal and brave soldiers of the Three Banners is a key piece of information, suggesting that he has already gained the support of the banner lords and princes, using force as a shield.

A Ming Dynasty spy—another crucial piece of information, implying that Jiang Qingyun's crimes are heinous, and the conflict between the two sides is no longer just a court dispute, but an enemy-versus-ally conflict, and he must be killed, killed a thousand times!

The request for the Emperor to issue an order to execute him is also a key piece of information. It's an implication: "Your Majesty, we are still willing to give you face. If you don't accept, and you lose face, the consequences will be unpredictable."
……

Inside the Jinluan Hall.

Shunzhi's voice was as cold as the wind blowing from Changbai Mountain.

"What evidence do you have?"

Mandahai remained calm and composed, confronting the situation head-on.

"Your Majesty, since entering the Central Plains, our Great Qing has enjoyed peace and prosperity. However, since Jiang Qingyun entered the court, the capital has not had a single day of tranquility. Everyone lives in fear, and murders occur frequently, with rivers of blood flowing. Facts have proven that Jiang Qingyun is the highest-ranking spy from the Ming court, infiltrating the central government of our Great Qing. He personally orchestrated a series of chaos in the capital! He betrayed the Prince of Dingnan and the Prince of Zhennan! He is secretly undermining our Great Qing!"

Everyone turned their attention to Jiang Qingyun.

Jiang Qingyun didn't even blink, appearing calm and composed. In reality, he was truly panicked, fearing that under the pressure of a military coup, Shunzhi would become Emperor Jing of Han, and he himself would become Chao Cuo.

We must strike.

Can't wait any longer.

Jiang Qingyun stepped forward, appearing thoughtful:

"Prince Li, have you received any new news from the front lines?"

The temperature inside the hall dropped another ten degrees.

Everyone's hearts were trembling. My god, do you guys really dare to throw out any kind of trashy nonsense? Isn't what you, Little Chiang, are implying that the front lines have suffered a defeat?

Shunzhi's hands began to tremble.

……

Prince Li, Mandahai, sneered.

"Jiang traitor, you are good at talking, you are good at fabricating stories, and you are good at attacking others."

"However, I have no need to argue with you about these unfounded accusations. Today, I am here on behalf of the Council of Ministers to request His Majesty to execute you, this traitor."

Jiang Qingyun did not continue speaking, because he knew that today's predicament was different from the past, and the tricks he used in the past were no longer effective today.

Suddenly, a sound came from outside the hall.

"Your Highnesses, please wait a moment, and allow us to inform them first."

"Get out of the way, you lackeys!" A group of people strode into the Hall of Supreme Harmony. They were Prince Zheng, Jirhalang; Prince Keqin, Luo Keduo; Prince Zhuang, Shuo Sai; and Prince An, Yue Le.

The Omni-King lineup!
One two three four five~
Jiang Qingyun's pupils dilated in shock. Oh no, one person is missing. Prince Lekedehun of Shuncheng.

Lekedehun succeeded Dodo as the General Who Pacifies the South, and fought in Jiangnan and Huguang, achieving great military exploits. He was the most deserving of the title "Grand Marshal" in the Council of Princes and Ministers.

At the same time, he was also a junior banner lord of the Plain Red Banner.

All the princes entered the palace, but he alone remained outside.

This sends a signal: if Shunzhi were to protect him or even detain the princes, the former "General Who Pacifies the South," Lekedehun, might use force to purge the court of corrupt officials.

The threat level is ten times that of the 226 mutiny in Zhenglan Banner.

……

Upon entering the hall, the princes, with arrogant expressions, did not kneel but stood in a row with their heads held high, and said in unison, "We beg Your Majesty to issue an edict to execute the traitor Jiang."

Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang's expression changed, and so did Emperor Shunzhi's.

It was clear to the naked eye that their attitudes had softened.

Standing below the imperial steps, Grand Minister of the Imperial Guard, Ao Bai, was sweating profusely.

The current situation is similar to that when the brothers Dorgon and Hauge fought for the throne, and a large-scale armed infighting within the Eight Banners is imminent.

Just then, Sony suddenly stepped forward.

"May this servant ask you princes, do you intend to turn the capital into a battlefield?"

No one ignored him.

The princes watched coldly, refusing to argue with you; they all had only one goal—to kill Chiang Kai-shek.

Sony continued:
“Your Highnesses, your actions will cause the empire to fall apart, the Zhu Youlang regime to rise from the ashes, and the south to fall entirely. If that happens, you will all be sinners against the Qing Dynasty.”

The kings remained silent.

However, Prince Zheng, Jirhalang, stepped forward.

"This servant is loyal to the Qing Dynasty and to the Emperor."

Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang quickly picked up the conversation.

"You are the Imperial Uncle, and you have made great contributions to the Qing Dynasty. You are the most reasonable person."

Jirhalang nodded arrogantly.

"The Empress Dowager is right. I am old and don't have many years left to live, but our Great Qing Dynasty has a long future ahead of us. Today, in front of everyone, I want to say something from the bottom of my heart!"

"Please speak, Imperial Uncle."

"Our Great Qing Dynasty cannot follow the example of Han Chinese emperors; an emperor's absolute rule is a harbinger of national ruin!!!"

Click~
A thunderclap sounded outside the hall.

Thunder in winter! Rain in winter!
……

Jirhalang's voice was loud and clear:
"Outside the Great Wall, during the Later Jin period, the Great Khan was the supreme ruler of the Eight Banners. Minor matters within the banners were decided by the individual banner leaders. When major matters arose, the banner leaders would gather together to discuss and deliberate, and finally the Great Khan would make the final decision, leading the Eight Banners soldiers to fight to the death. If they lost, they would try again next time; if they won, the benefits would be shared equally."

"It is because of democracy that we have the Qing Dynasty as we know it today."

"Emperor Chongzhen ruled arbitrarily and recklessly, which led to the downfall of the Ming Dynasty. The Great Khan advocated democracy and consulted with the banner lords on everything, which led to the conquest of the Central Plains by the Qing Dynasty. Gentlemen, think about it, isn't that the truth?"

An uproar erupted inside the hall.

Emperor Shunzhi's expression was indescribably complex.

In Jiang Qingyun's mind, dazzling fireworks soared up and then exploded brilliantly.

Grass!
Jirhalang, you are guilty of heinous crimes. Where did you learn this seditious, distorted, and deceptive rhetoric from?

I swear to kill you!
……

Jirhalang surveyed the Hall of Supreme Harmony:
"I have an idea. Today, most of the people in the hall are Manchus. We are all our own people, there are no outsiders. Why don't we restore the ancestral system and let everyone raise their hands to vote?"

"Those who agree to kill Chiang Kai-shek, raise your hands."

After saying that, he was the first to raise his right hand.

……

[Xiaoxiaosheng is getting old and is an office worker who could be laid off at any time. A pitiful writer suffering from physical exhaustion, his inspiration may be as brilliant as fireworks, but his physical strength is as weak as the old dog next door. After persisting for a month, he ran out of drafts and had no choice but to revise two chapters. The story is still very exciting, and I hope my old friends will continue to support him.]

(End of this chapter)