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

Chapter 204 Resignation and Return to the Capital, the Immortal of Settling Accounts

At the entrance of the imperial envoy's residence.

Officials about to take up their posts lined up in long queues according to their rank.

In officialdom, it's a common practice: whoever promotes you, you become their person.

"Meet the General."

A group of people clapped their horseshoe-shaped sleeves, knelt down, kowtowed, and then left.

The next group of people came over, and the process continued.

Although the moral values ​​of the victors had deteriorated to an appalling degree in the bizarre and extraordinary stage of the late Ming and early Qing dynasties, they still managed to maintain a last veil of pretense.

Jiang Qingyun's idea was simple: rather than letting others promote a group of insects, he would rather preemptively plant a group of insects himself.

Even if they are insects, they are still our own insects.

Even if they are weeds, they are still our own.

For a long time to come, his business focus will be on Zhili (present-day Hebei Province). The southern provinces are too far away for him to reach, so he will mainly rely on remote control.

In Hubei, Jiangxi, and Hunan provinces, Jiang Qingyun appointed over 400 people to substantive positions ranging from prefect to instructor. Among them, more than 90 were wounded and disabled brothers from Tongzhou Town and the Military Command.

……

Mid-August.

The main gate of the headquarters was opened wide, a red carpet was laid out, and an incense table was placed in the center to welcome the angels.

The old acquaintance, the Third Eunuch, came to deliver the imperial edict:

"By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Jiang Qingyun, the Acting General Who Pacifies the Distant Lands, has rendered meritorious service in quelling the rebellion and enhancing the prestige of our nation. He shall be richly rewarded. He shall be promoted to the second rank, granted the hereditary title of Third-Class Light Cavalry Captain, and be granted 3000 mu of land, 50 fine horses, 5000 taels of silver, and 10 women."

"I thank you Lord for your kindness."

"Please keep this safe."

The three eunuchs handed the first imperial edict to Jiang Qingyun and then unfolded the second imperial edict.

"This official has been ill for a long time and has requested to return to the capital. I shall grant his request. On the day the decree arrives, he may return to the capital without accompanying the army."

"Zhuobutai, a loyal and patriotic official of the Bordered Yellow Banner, was reassigned as the Governor of Hunan Province, and was in charge of the Green Standard Army in Hunan, Hubei and Jiangxi provinces."

"This servant thanks Your Majesty for your great kindness."

The third eunuch quickly bowed to the two men as a gesture of return.

Jiang Qingyun spoke first: "You've traveled thousands of miles, Father-in-law, please come inside and have some food and drink."

"This servant thanks the General."

……

That night.

Sulda quietly came to the door and delivered a delicate little wooden box.

"What are you doing?"

"This is just a small token of my appreciation."

"I recommend you because I value talent, not for such trivial matters."

“I understand perfectly well that while there are many talented horses, discerning judges of horses are rare. If the General does not accept me, I will remain kneeling here forever.”

As he spoke, Suleda made a gesture as if to kneel down.

Jiang Qingyun quickly helped him up.

"Oh dear, why are you doing this? Fine, fine, I'll accept it."

"Thank you, General."

"Minister Su, let me correct you, I am no longer a Grand General."

"But in my heart you will always be General Dingyuan."

Jiang Qingyun smiled.

"Sit down, let me tell you a few things from my heart."

"Your humble servant is all ears."

"You are about to take up your post as the Provincial Governor of Jiangxi. Jiangxi is a good place, rich in resources and people. However, Prince Pingnan is stationed in Guangdong. The two provinces are connected and there is frequent trade between the people. Do you know the implications of this situation?"

"Please enlighten me, Your Excellency."

"Jiangxi has an abundance of rice but a shortage of salt, while Guangdong has an abundance of salt but a shortage of rice. Therefore, Jiangxi rice goes south and Guangdong salt goes north, complementing and benefiting each other. You need to find out about and secretly monitor the transactions between the two provinces as soon as possible."

Suleda's expression began to waver. "Does the Prime Minister mean... the Prince of Pingnan, he..."

"No. I didn't say anything today. Everything is subject to the imperial decree. I'm just reminding you to be prepared! In case that day comes, you won't be caught off guard or even be seen as a traitor by the imperial court."

"Thank you for your guidance."

Jiang Qingyun picked up the teacup and saw the guest off.

There's a folk dance show featuring the Xiangxi style tonight, how can I let official business interfere with such a beautiful time, especially since I've already stepped down as the General of Dingyuan?

Living a life of debauchery and decadence~
A night of revelry~
……

The next day.

Officials gathered outside the city gates of Changsha.

"Respectfully seeing off the General back to the capital."

"Fellow colleagues, let's go back now. We'll meet again someday."

Jiang Qingyun, yawning and sporting dark circles under his eyes, left the romantic city of Changsha. Accompanying him were his own guards, the Tongzhou Green Standard Army cavalry, and the guards led by Yabulan.

Traveling 50 li a day, at a leisurely pace.

The lavish hospitality from government offices along the way goes without saying.

Shrimp cakes, Wuchang fish, braised carp with noodles, roast chicken—after sampling various local specialties along the way, everyone knew they were close to home when they saw donkey meat sandwiches.

"Report, urgent message from the Ministry of War."

Jiang Qingyun unfolded the document and saw that the so-called urgent message was simply a notification to him. By imperial decree, Prince Zhuang, Shuo Sai, would lead dozens of civil and military officials to welcome him back to the capital in triumph outside Yongding Gate.

A list of officials was also attached.

Jiang Qingyun glanced at the list quickly, then suddenly stopped on one of the names.

"A monk??"

He never imagined that before he could even become the "Imperial Tutor," Tianji was already the "National Preceptor," clad in a four-clawed golden dragon robe made of golden silk brocade.

……

As they continued forward, the size of the group shrank again. Jiang Zhongcheng led the Tongzhou Town cavalry back to the military camp, leaving only 200 riders with him.

Bringing troops back to Beijing is a very sensitive topic.

No matter how high-ranking an official is, having 200 guards is now the limit that the court can tolerate.

An official from the Ministry of War joined the group, serving as both guide and supervisor. This person even secretly counted the number of accompanying cavalry.

Chiang Kai-shek was arrogant, but he was never confused on crucial issues.

Of the 200 cavalrymen accompanying him, more than 70 were guards from the Forbidden City. Strictly speaking, these people could not be considered his own bodyguards; they were just traveling together by chance.

Yablan also put away his beloved bow and arrows. Along the way, he had shot and killed two tigers, four leopards, seven wolves, and countless rabbits and pheasants.

Jiang Qingyun was not idle either; he practiced archery during the day and at night.

He finally understood why his father said that shooting at stationary targets wouldn't train excellent cavalrymen. When a person in motion shoots at moving prey, they can't aim properly; they rely entirely on feel.

……

On the last night before heading to Beijing, we camped in Wangzhuang, a village on the outskirts of the city.

This estate belonged to Prince Lekedehun of Shuncheng. Now that the prince is dead, the young prince who inherited the title is a toddler who can't even walk yet.

The ruler is young and his ministers are suspicious.

The steward of Wangzhuang was busy running around, fawning and flattering, wishing he could send Jiang Qingyun's wife and daughter to the kang (heated brick bed) to please him.

Logically speaking, no one should dare to covet the prince's property.

But Jiang Qingyun was no ordinary man; he took a liking to the estate, which covered more than a thousand acres, and decided to take it for himself.

"what's your name?"

"Diao San'er".

“This estate is indeed nice, but under the emperor’s nose, everything must be done according to the law. The land deed is crucial! Crucial! If you say this estate belongs to me, then you need to produce a land deed with my name on it to prove it.”

"The villain understands."

Diao San'er was overjoyed. He understood his new master's meaning, which was to suggest that he could transfer the land deed to his name through a series of simple operations.

After changing allegiances, all the mess he had accumulated over the years was also cleared up.

Win-win!

(End of this chapter)