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

Chapter 175: Winning Over, Dividing, and Suppressing!

Emperor Shunzhi's eyes reddened, and overwhelmed with joy, he suddenly couldn't stand up.

Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang, who was standing to the side, also let out a long sigh of relief.

May the Eternal Heaven protect us.

May our ancestors bless us.

"May all the gods and Buddhas protect us, may our Great Qing Dynasty survive its darkest hour, and may our soldiers on the front lines overcome this crisis."

……

At this moment, Jiang Qingyun wished he could draw his sword and chop that old bastard Jirhalang to pieces on the spot.

"Prince Zheng! The Qing Dynasty was almost destroyed in your hands. Don't you feel ashamed?"

"Cut~"

Jirhalang snorted. Defeat is defeat. Since ancient times, the victor is king and the loser is villain. There is nothing to repent for. However, he relied on his noble status and great influence. Even if he lost, at most he would be stripped of his power. Shunzhi could not kill him.

"Prince Zheng, you are the Imperial Uncle. Was your act of forcing the emperor to abdicate today voluntary, or were you instigated by someone?"

Jiang Qingyun's words reminded Shunzhi that he needed to give an explanation to his subjects, even if it was just to maintain a semblance of procedural legitimacy.

Enraged, Emperor Shunzhi descended the imperial steps and roared:
"Your Majesty!"

"Jirhalang, Mandahai, Lekedehun, Luokoduo, Shuose, Yuele, tell me, are you still descendants of the Taizu Emperor? Are you still my subjects?"

Emperor Shunzhi was furious, while Jiang Qingyun remained calm.

He was rapidly calculating how to finish things in a way that would maximize his profits.

Killing the six princes who held the Council of State was impossible, as the banner lords of the early Qing dynasty were deeply entrenched in power. If the six princes were executed now, the Qing dynasty would collapse in the first month of the lunar calendar.

We must wage a reasonable struggle, not an out-of-control one!

This ship cannot sink; I am still on board.

……

The hall was dead silent.

Jiang Qingyun suddenly broke the silence.

"Prince An!"

"Prince Zhuang!"

"I noticed that you two princes seemed hesitant to speak just now. If you know anything about today's events, please feel free to speak up?"

As he spoke, Jiang Qingyun deliberately glanced at Shunzhi.

Emperor Shunzhi understood immediately.

He's just a bit young, a bit impatient, and a bit inexperienced, but deep down he's still very intelligent. We can't let the Council of Princes and Ministers remain a unified entity; we need to win them over, suppress them, and divide them.

He stared at Shusai:

"Brother, do you also oppose me?"

"No, Your Majesty, this servant had no such intention. This servant was coerced."

"I believe you are my fifth brother."

As soon as Shuo Sai softened, Yue Le also softened.

"Your Majesty, this servant has been bewitched."

Emperor Shunzhi smiled.

Then he announced loudly.

"Rokodo, the banner lord of the Bordered Red Banner, has been disrespectful before the Emperor and has been punished by having three Niru (military units) of elite soldiers confiscated and placed under the command of the junior banner lord, Shuose. Rokodo, do you have any objections?"

"This servant confesses his guilt."

Roccodo kowtowed helplessly.

……

"Jirhalang, the banner lord of the Bordered Blue Banner, is old and senile. He has been disrespectful in front of the emperor and has had five Niru (military units) of elite soldiers confiscated and placed under the command of Prince An, Yue Le."

"The slave obeys the order."

Jirhalang glanced calmly at Yue Le.

Shunzhi continued to exert his power.

"Prince Mandahai, the banner chief of the Plain Red Banner, was demoted to a prince for his disrespectful behavior before the emperor, and was relieved of his post in the Ministry of Personnel and had three elite troops of Niru confiscated."

“The Junior Banner Commander of the Plain Red Banner, Prince Shuncheng Lekedehun, has behaved improperly before the Emperor. He has been dismissed from his post in the Ministry of Justice and his three elite troops from the Niru have been confiscated.”

"Issue an imperial decree to convene an emergency court assembly immediately, with all officials of the fourth rank and above, as well as princes and ministers, in the capital to attend."

"According to the order."

After saying this, Shunzhi turned and left. Although he had won, there were still many battles to fight, so he couldn't be happy.

Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang left without saying a word.

……

The Golden Palace is now without an owner.

The ministers' voices instantly became louder, creating a noisy scene, almost like a vegetable market.

Everyone is cursing Nikan.

Two yellow flags insult two red flags.

Two white flags were raised to insult Li Dingguo.

Jiang Qingyun cursed Jirhalang.

At this moment, Jiang Qingyun was completely possessed by the true spirit of a Manchu warrior—rude in speech and behavior, and impulsive in action.

Bah~
He spat a mouthful of phlegm onto Jirhalang's face.

"Fuck you, Prince Zheng, you old bastard! I've never had a grudge against you before, why are you messing with me?" the guard shouted.

"We cannot take action in the Golden Palace."

The next second, Jiang Qingyun kicked out, striking Jirhalang in the knee mid-air.

The guards shouted again:
"You can't move your feet either."

Sony and Ao Bai flanked Jiang Qingyun from the left and right, dragging him back two zhang in one breath, quickly escaping Jirhalang's range of retaliation.

Ao Bai's gums were showing when he laughed.

……

"Vice Censor, His Majesty requests your presence."

A young eunuch awkwardly entered the Golden Palace.

"it is good."

Jiang Qingyun then straightened his clothes and left the Golden Palace with the little eunuch.

acquaintance!

The head eunuch of the eighth rank in the Forbidden City, an outstanding graduate of the orphanage, San Gouzi is seemingly honest but actually treacherous.

By this time, the sun had already set, and the cold wind was biting. Stepping outdoors, my mind instantly cleared.

"Third Eunuch, where is the Emperor?"

"Zhonghe Hall."

After a brief exchange, the two fell silent.

The Third Eunuch couldn't hold back any longer.

"Lord Jiang, this morning, Chief Steward Wu was severely reprimanded by the Emperor for his poor performance."

"Oh? What's the matter?"

"Steward Wu failed to detect the princes' disloyal intentions in advance."

Jiang Qingyun was shocked, but pretended not to understand.

"Third Eunuch, I don't quite understand."

"Lord Jiang, don't you know? Chief Steward Wu is now the Director of the Western Depot of our Great Qing Dynasty."

Does the Western Depot (西厂) exist in the capital?

"Yes, although it's not called that, the things they do in private are pretty much the same." The Third Eunuch said mysteriously, "Lord Jiang, this is an absolute secret of the Forbidden City. I'm only telling you this, so please don't tell anyone else."

Jiang Qingyun suddenly stopped in her tracks.

The Third Eunuch was completely unaware and continued muttering to himself.

"Our Chief Steward Wu is quite something now~"

Suddenly turning around, he looked at Jiang Qingyun, who was lagging behind, with surprise.

"Lord Jiang, let's go!"

Jiang Qingyun remained motionless.

Helpless, the third eunuch quickly turned around.

"Lord Jiang, what's wrong?"

"Third Eunuch, in principle, you shouldn't tell me this top-secret information, and of course, you shouldn't tell anyone else either. Things in the palace are incredibly complex, weighing heavily from the moment they're weighed. You don't understand that, do you?"

Despite the biting wind, beads of sweat were visibly forming on Third Uncle's forehead.

"Lord Jiang, it was this servant's fault for being ignorant, it was this servant's fault..."

"This will never happen again!"

"Yes Yes."

"Don't worry, I'll keep it a secret."

"Yes Yes."

Jiang Qingyun patted the little beggar on the shoulder meaningfully, nodded slightly, and then strode into the Zhonghe Hall.

……

Zhonghe Hall.

Emperor Shunzhi removed his armor and put on a dragon robe.

Empress Xiaozhuang was also there.

"Your subject bows..."

"No need, no need to kneel. Time is of the essence, so I'll get straight to the point."

"Yes."

Jiang Qingyun noticed that the chubby Wu Liangfu was still standing behind Shunzhi, looking like an honest and simple man.

Emperor Shunzhi spoke very quickly.

"My dear minister, is the danger of the mutiny over?"

"The open flame is extinguished, but the embers remain."

"is it serious?"

"A single spark can start a prairie fire."

"How to do?"

"Raise the flag!"

(End of this chapter)