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

Chapter 182 Vice Marshal Jiang makes outrageous remarks before the Emperor!
Cining Palace Small Garden.

Emperor Shunzhi dismissed his attendants.

"Minister Jiang, I have summoned you here to ask you something. Kong Youde's dying words said there were spies in the court, and Bolo said the same thing before he died. This is something we must take seriously. So, I would like to hear your opinion?"

"Your Majesty, have you investigated the relevant personnel in the Ministry of War?"

Emperor Shunzhi shook his head.

"Then, does Your Majesty have someone you suspect?"

Shunzhi shook his head again.

After a moment's thought, Jiang Qingyun blurted out, "Your Majesty, at present, the Prince of Pingxi is the most suspicious."

"My dear minister, do you know what you're saying?"

"I know that the Prince of Pingxi commands 80,000 troops of the imperial court. If he were to stomp his foot, several neighboring provinces would be shaken. But he is the most suspicious among them."

"What's the reason?"

"I believe that we must consider the motive behind everything. There is a motive only if there is a benefit. The defeat of the Three Princes of Shun is entirely beneficial to the Prince of Pingxi. Therefore, he has this motive."

Shunzhi's expression suddenly changed, and he clenched his fists.

Motivation~ Motivation~
There is motivation only when there is benefit; there is no motivation when there is no benefit.

Wu Sangui had a motive, while Jiang Qingyun had no motive.

Bolow's inference is biased; Jiang Qingyun is innocent, while Wu Sangui is extremely wicked.

"I intend to appoint Wu Sangui as a hereditary Prince of Yongzhen to appease him first."

"Your Majesty is wise, but I have a suggestion. Perhaps we could first let Wu Yingxiong know that the court is preparing to confer a title upon his father, so that the process of conferring the title can begin. We could send envoys over first, and send the official robes and seals to Sichuan. However, we can delay the official decree of investiture for a while, saying that we will wait for an auspicious day."

"why?"

"Hook him up, manipulate him."

Emperor Shunzhi couldn't help but laugh. After thinking it over carefully, he realized it was indeed feasible.

……

"My dear minister, you will be on your southern expedition tomorrow. Do you have any other requests? Please make them, and I will try my best to fulfill them."

Emperor Shunzhi had assumed that Jiang Qingyun would offer to take care of his family or grant him a promotion.

Unexpectedly~
"Your Majesty, I wish to obtain several blank imperial edicts stamped with the imperial seal. I also wish to receive the Emperor's sword personally bestowed by Your Majesty. Furthermore, I know several patriotic imperial guards who wish to accompany me south."

Shunzhi quickly waved his hand.

"My dear minister, the last one is fine; you can choose any number up to ten. But don't you think the first two are excessive?"

"emperor?"

"If I were to bestow upon you the Emperor's Sword, what would Ao Bai think? Also, what do you intend to do with the blank imperial edict that you want to affix the imperial seal to?"

"As the Commissioner for Pacification and Suppression in the Southwest, I am responsible for leading negotiations with the Ming Dynasty, granting official titles and making promises, demarcating territories, and so on. Without the authority to make decisions on the spot, it would be very difficult for me to do this job. If I were to consult the capital on everything, the round trip would take at least half a month, which would delay the opportunity."

Emperor Shunzhi remained silent.

He was conflicted; he hoped Jiang Qingyun could turn the impossible into reality, yet he also felt that his expectations were simply impossible to fulfill.

"My dear minister, can we obtain what we cannot on the battlefield at the negotiating table?"

"It might be worth a try."

Jiang Qingyun spoke very seriously, his eyes full of sincerity.

Emperor Shunzhi finally softened his heart and sent Ao Bai and Jiang Qingnan south to turn the tide, but only allocated a mere 500 Manchu bannermen to them, which was indeed somewhat unreasonable.

"The Emperor's Sword cannot be bestowed, but an imperial edict can."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

……

When Jiang Qingyun walked on the square again, it was already dark, and light snow was falling.

He caught a glimpse of the Imperial Medical Academy out of the corner of his eye, and a thought struck him.

I fell down~
In an instant, his foot slipped, and he fell flat on his face.

"Vice-Governor, are you alright?"

Second-class bodyguard Suleda slid to his knees and quickly helped him up.

"Be gentle, be gentle, it hurts a lot."

"Quickly, help the master to the Imperial Hospital."

A group of people carried Jiang Qingyun into the Imperial Hospital.

Is the Grand Councilor here?

"what happened?"

Wu Yong came out, his face extremely displeased. He came to work before the end of the workday, wanting to yell at someone.

“The road is slippery and it’s dark. Vice-Commander Jiang has slipped and fallen. Please take a look at him quickly. He can’t be hurt. He’s going to war tomorrow.”

"Oh, let's help them inside first."

The room smelled strongly of herbs.

"Everyone who is not involved, please leave."

"Whoo."

After all the guards had left, Wu Yong changed his previous displeased expression, crossed his arms, and looked at Jiang Qingyun, who was lying on the bed groaning.

"Stop pretending."

Jiang Qingyun immediately stopped groaning and scrambled to her feet.

What trick are you playing?

"Second brother, come closer to my ear."

Jiang Qingyun lowered his voice and spoke rapidly, succinctly explaining their current predicament and a bold idea.

"Second brother, do you have this kind of medicine?"

“Okay. I’ll go home and prepare it tonight, and have someone deliver it to you before we set off tomorrow. Just tell everyone it’s medicine for your sprains and bruises.”

"Thanks."

"Third brother, take care!"

……

Less than 15 minutes~
The chief eunuch, Wu Liangfu, arrived and immediately began shouting as soon as he entered.

"Oh dear, what happened? His Majesty sent me to check on you, Lord Jiang, are you alright?"

"It's nothing, it's nothing, God help me, my bones aren't broken."

"That's fine, that's fine."

After all this trouble~
When Jiang Qingyun left the Forbidden City, the palace gates were locked and it was completely dark. When he got home, he frightened all his wives and concubines, and Green Pearl burst into tears.

Another commotion ensued. The next morning.

He bid farewell to his wives and concubines and officially embarked on his journey to war.

The main gate of the Chiang Kai-shek residence was wide open.

Jiang Qingyun looked pained and, with the help of his guards, managed to mount his horse.

Suddenly, a rider galloped towards them from afar.

"I am from the Imperial Hospital. This is some medicine for sprains and bruises that the head of the hospital prescribed for you. Please use it on your journey."

……

Deshengmen.

The carriages rumbled and the horses neighed.

Whenever the Beijing garrison went on a campaign, they would pass through this gate, taking advantage of its auspicious meaning.

A brand-new Dingyuan General's banner led the way, with Commander-in-Chief Ao Bai looking valiant and imposing, while Deputy Commander Jiang Qingyun looked dejected.

The ranks behind them were rather meager, consisting of over 500 Manchu bannermen and over 100 low-ranking officers from the military command; their military bearing did not appear impressive at all.

At the city gate, the Manchu bannermen who were seeing them off were discussing among themselves.

"Just a few people?"

"Yes, the court has no one to send."

"Then you can send Han and Mongol troops. The court only sends this few people. What kind of system is this?"

"Ugh."

At the very back of the procession was a black coffin pulled by four horses, a symbol of carrying a coffin into battle!
With the wind and snow continuing, the troops could only march slowly.

"Brother Qingyun, are you alright?"

"It's nothing, just a minor strain."

Ao Bai looked at Jiang Qingyun, whose only visible features were his eyes and nostrils, and couldn't help but shake his head.

"Your health isn't good. Back in the day, when I accompanied Emperor Taizong on his expedition, we once traversed three hundred li in Liaodong in two days, fighting five battles. After the battle, I slept for two days and two nights."

……

Tongzhou.

General Jiang Zhongcheng had been waiting there for some time.

"They're here, they're here~"

"Bang the drum."

Upon seeing the banner of the Dingyuan General, Jiang Zhongcheng took three steps forward, as if pushing a mountain of gold and a jade pillar overturned.

"General Jiang Zhongcheng of Tongzhou Town pays his respects to the General."

"Please get up quickly."

"Whoo."

"General Jiang, what about these soldiers behind you?"

"Brothers, pay your respects to the General."

1000 Green Standard Army soldiers knelt down on one knee in unison, their voices loud and clear.

"Indeed, you are a skilled military leader."

Ao Bai laughed heartily and deliberately turned his head to glance at Jiang Qingyun.

.........

When Jiang Zhongcheng saw the black coffin at the very end of the procession, his eyes nearly popped out of their sockets with excitement.

"Damn it! Don't you find this unlucky?"

"Father, don't get agitated. This is called 'carrying a coffin to war.' I bought it for 30 taels of silver."

"Are you sick?"

“Father, in principle, a Green Standard Army general of your rank is not qualified to comment on me, but I will make an exception today, after all, you are my father.”

Frustrated, Jiang Zhongcheng turned and walked away, just as he brushed past Zheng Siwei, the Right Battalion Commander of Tongzhou Garrison.

"This humble general pays his respects to the deputy commander."

"General Zheng."

"The end will be here."

"Have you conveyed my order to reward the soldiers who have distinguished themselves in battle with farmland?"

"Reporting to the young master, the message has already been conveyed to every soldier, and the brothers are very satisfied."

……

The next day.

Jiang Qingyun's sickly appearance vanished, replaced by a lively and energetic demeanor.

"General, speed is of the essence in war. Why don't we advance south at full speed with light equipment?"

"Are you okay?"

"Already healed."

"Your coffin?"

"Give me fifteen minutes, I'll take care of it."

Jiang Qingyun stood at the city gate, watching the pedestrians entering the city. Finally, he encountered the first old man of the day, missing several teeth, with a wrinkled face, wearing straw sandals, and carrying a carrying pole.

"Uncle~"

"master."

The old man's knees buckled and he knelt down.

"Alright, alright, sir, just for kneeling like that, I'll give you a fine coffin. See that black coffin?"

"Saw."

"Take him away! A hundred years from now, you'll be living in the best house in the whole village."

After saying that, Jiang Qingyun turned and left.

The old man touched the coffin, his smile so wide his eyes disappeared, giving thanks for nature's gift.

……

Jiang Qingyun turned his horse around.

The troops were ready, and the banner had been folded and stored away.

From then on, they marched at full speed every day, one man on two horses, covering a hundred miles a day, speeding all the way until they reached Runing Prefecture in Henan Province, when they suddenly received a military report from the front line—Jiujiang had been lost.

(End of this chapter)