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

Chapter 173 Major Good News: Our Army Suffers a Crushing Defeat!
At the critical moment.

Jiang Qingyun rushed to the foot of the imperial steps and shouted, "Those who agree to elect me as the banner lord of the Bordered Blue Banner, raise your hands!"

"You dog of a servant."

"Arrogant and audacious."

"kill him!"

"Yeah, beat this kid to a pulp."

The Manchu officials of the Bordered Blue Banner were furious and rolled up their sleeves, ready to beat Jiang Qingyun.

"Let me see who dares?"

Sony jumped out, rolled up his sleeves, and stared wide-eyed, his sickly appearance completely gone. Behind him were the Manchu officers of the Two Yellow Banners, united in their hatred of the enemy.

Tensions were high on both sides.

Grand Minister of the Imperial Guard, Ao Bai, gripped the hilt of his sword, remaining motionless, like a Siberian tiger poised to pounce.

……

Empress Xiaozhuang's back was covered in cold sweat at this moment.

Of course she knew that Jiang Qingyun's words, which seemed like sophistry, were actually a brilliant parry that deflected a fatal blow.

if!

If everyone in the hall had actually raised their hands to vote, it would have caused uncontrollable consequences.

Raising your hand means clearly taking sides.

From then on, those who raised their hands could no longer be controlled by the imperial power; they could only go down the path of upholding the "Council of Deliberative Princes and Ministers."

The emperor will once again become the supreme ruler.

The Qing Dynasty will return to tribal democracy.

Jiang Qingyun was tortured to death.

……

"Report~"

A guard suddenly ran into the Hall of Supreme Harmony, knelt down with a thud, and held the frontline military report above his head.

"Urgent report."

Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Jirhalang took it, opened it, and was shocked.

"Bolo is dead?"

An uproar erupted inside the hall.

Even Emperor Shunzhi muttered to himself, "Bolo was only 39. He was still so young. How could he have died so suddenly?"

Jiang Qingyun and Mandahai stared at each other again, their eyes almost sparking with anger.

"You jinx, surnamed Jiang, ever since you entered the court, one after another of our great Qing dynasty's important officials have died, and one coup after another has occurred."

“Prince Li, please be careful with your words. If I really had such abilities, I wouldn’t be standing here letting you slander me out of thin air.”

"What? You want to curse me to death?"

"I am a loyal subject of the Qing Dynasty, so naturally I would not curse. If I were truly a jinx, then it's hard to say."

Mandahai was enraged and charged forward, unleashing a powerful punch.

Jiang Qingyun was prepared; he blocked the attack and then launched a flying kick.

The two of them were fighting, and the two sides were fighting.

……

Shunzhi suddenly stood up.

"stop!"

"When I ascended the throne, the situation was just as tense as it is today, and the Hall of Supreme Harmony was almost stained with blood. Must it happen again? Is the empire that our ancestors built up going to be destroyed in our hands?"

Prince Zhuang, Shuo Sai, stepped forward:
"I am the son of Emperor Taizong and the Emperor's own brother. Let me speak the truth. Since we are both doing this for the sake of the Qing Dynasty, why don't we each take a step back? Jiang Qingyun will be exiled to Shengjing and never be employed again. Let's just let this matter rest."

Prince Roccodo of Keqin:
"His Majesty wishes to announce this to the world in the form of an imperial edict, and it shall be carried out today."

At this point, all the kings took sides.

Only Prince Yue Le remained silent, standing there with an ambiguous attitude, neither friend nor foe, as if today's events had nothing to do with him.

……

Jiang Qingyun was cold and hard, like a precise scalpel. Facing the messy blood vessels, he would seize the opportunity to make a cut, severing one vessel at a time.

"May I ask you princes, why are you so determined to kill me? Is it because I am a spy for the Ming court? Or is it a fabricated charge?"

Prince Li, Mandahai, blurted it out.

"Of course it's because you're a spy!"

“But I have never been south of the Yangtze River in my life. I only moved to the capital with my father in the second year of the Shunzhi reign. I have never had any dealings with the Ming court, nor have I ever received a single tael of silver from them. On the contrary, the Qing Dynasty has given me many favors. I don’t understand, what do I gain from becoming a spy?”

Mandahai was stunned, then immediately annoyed. He shouldn't have answered; answering would have been just being persistent. Jirhalang:

"You Han people have a saying called 'sacrificing one's life for righteousness,' which means that a person can give up their life for the greater good without seeking money or personal gain."

Jiang Qingyun was speechless. This old man had repelled his offensive wave with a single move.

Older gingers are more spicy.

next moment.

Zirgalang raised his right hand:

"Quiet, quiet."

"The Qing Dynasty belongs to the Manchus; it's none of the business of outsiders to interfere. Now, everyone in the Hall of Supreme Harmony who agrees to exile Jiang Qingyun's entire family and never employ them again, vote..."

Sitting and waiting for death was out of the question. Jiang Qingyun slowly retreated, approaching one of the imperial guards, preparing to seize the knife.

exile?

If the whole family couldn't leave the territory of Shuntian Prefecture, they would be killed.

If there's no way to avoid it, then just kill them one by one.

……

"Report! Urgent military dispatch from Hengzhou, Hunan. It's extremely urgent!"

Two imperial guards helped the almost exhausted Duke Du Nuwen into the Hall of Supreme Harmony.

"Report! General Nikan of Dingyuan has been killed in battle. The army has suffered heavy casualties, and part of the army is trapped in Hengzhou. The number of casualties is currently unknown. This is extremely urgent! We request the court to send reinforcements immediately."

Moment~
Shunzhi suddenly felt dizzy, his ears rang, his vision blurred, and cold sweat poured down his face like a waterfall. He completely lost control of his body.

A huge blow can cause a mental breakdown, and only a very few people can remain unshaken even when Mount Tai collapses before them.

"Fu Lin! Fu Lin? Fu Lin?"

Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang called out three times, but there was no response, so she turned her head away.

"Wu Liangfu, keep an eye on the Emperor."

"Whoo."

Chief eunuch Wu Liangfu held Shunzhi's hand tightly, tears streaming down his face.

If we were to say who in the Forbidden City most hoped that Emperor Shunzhi would live to be a hundred years old, it would be him, since eunuchs were 100% dependent on imperial power.

Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang took a deep breath and stood up.

"What's the panic? Dunuvin, explain carefully."

Dunuwen was the grandson of Nurhaci's eldest son, Chuying. Due to his ancestor's influence, he only received a minor title of Assistant Duke, belonging to the relatively unpopular group among the imperial clan.

I was completely exhausted after running back to Beijing from Hunan.

"Your Majesty, Li Dingguo has laid an ambush south of Hengzhou City. General Dingyuan was killed on the spot, and the Eight Banners' elite troops suffered heavy casualties. Many brothers are still trapped in Hengzhou. Quickly, send troops to rescue them."

"Who is now in command of the army?"

“Beile Tunqi”.

"Did he send you back to Beijing to seek help?"

"Yes."

……

Jiang Qingyun pushed through the crowd, took two steps forward, and grabbed Du Nuwen.

"Duke Fuguo, did you shout like this all the way from the city gate to the palace?"

"Yes~"

"Which city gate did you enter through?"

Xizhimen.

"After entering Xizhimen, did you keep shouting about General Dingyuan's death and the great defeat at Hengzhou?"

"Yes, yes."

Jiang Qingyun breathed a sigh of relief; Heaven had not forsaken him.

He turned around, staring intently at Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang and the stunned Emperor Shunzhi beside her. He took three steps forward, his voice booming, overpowering all the noise.

"Your Majesty, I request to lead reinforcements south to rescue Hengzhou, repel the Ming army, and clear my name of any suspicion of treason."

An indignant deputy commander of the Bordered Blue Banner stepped forward, pointed his finger at Jiang Qingyun, and cursed, "Jiang Qingyun, you are a lowly Han soldier, a cruel official who rose through the ranks of the people, what qualifications do you have to lead an army?"

"Yes, what are you, a civil servant, pretending to be all high and mighty for?"

“We Manchus are not all dead yet, and it’s not your place to act like a big shot.”

"kill him."

"Your Majesty, kill this traitor and then send reinforcements south."

(End of this chapter)