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

Chapter 213 Establishing a Government and Commandery, Forming a Unique System

The square in front of the Hall of Supreme Harmony in the Forbidden City.

The civil and military officials who had just finished court gathered in twos and threes to discuss the matter. Some looked worried, some were indifferent, and some remained silent.

Jiang Qingyun proposed in court that, in order to adapt to the new situation, the Five City Military Commands should be abolished and a new Infantry Commander's Office should be established on its basis, and a tutelage should be initiated. The Censorate, the Court of Judicial Review, the Ministry of Personnel, and the Ministry of Rites all seconded the proposal.

The two yellow flags need no further explanation.

Prince Yue Le and Prince Shuo Sai, who had "personally visited Jiang Qingyun with gifts," also stood up to second the motion, and the other councilors could only reluctantly agree.

This led to a collective resolution.

From this day forward, the Qing Empire officially enters the period of tutelage! Tutelage is in accordance with the law and is a collective decision made by the court, which is very important!

……

Feng shui is important, but the feng shui of government offices is even more important.

After multiple surveys by feng shui masters, the Infantry Commander's Office was officially established in the former Zhenglan Banner defense area, east of the Central Government Office and south of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices.

Jiang Qingyun was appointed as the Commander of the Nine Gates, a rank of second grade.

It has five departments: the Garrison Department, the Training Department, the Investigation Department, the Criminal Investigation Department, and the Urban Construction Department, each headed by a fourth-rank official.

He personally took command of the garrison command, which included 2000 infantrymen from nine gates, 2500 patrolmen from five battalions, and 4000 Green Standard Army soldiers from the capital, totaling 8500 soldiers.

If you include all the civil officials and servants in the other four locations, the Infantry Commander's Office is a proper office for ten thousand people.

In the early Qing Dynasty, its scale was absolutely rare.

The extent of the emperor's favor is evident.

Some busybodies have compiled a list, and it appears that Xiao Jiang currently holds the following official positions:

Left Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, Commander of the Nine Gates, Minister in Charge of the Ministry of Revenue's Process Reform Group, Head of the Working Group for Investigating and Educating All Civil and Military Officials in the Capital and All Personnel of the Manchu, Mongol, and Han Eight Banners, and Director of the Ceremonial Affairs Bureau of the Thirteen Offices.

……

The tenth day of the tenth lunar month is an auspicious day according to the Imperial Astronomical Observatory.

Yang Guangxian, the Director of the Imperial Observatory, personally watched the hourglass, waiting for the auspicious time to arrive.

If Western clocks were used for timekeeping, the accuracy would be improved, but it would not be suitable for the system of government offices in our Great Qing Dynasty. Therefore, the classical method of combining sundials and hourglasses is adopted.

Establishing a government office is a major event that cannot be taken lightly.

Yang Guangxian suddenly jumped up and shouted at the top of his lungs:

"The auspicious time has come."

Instantly, firecrackers went off, gongs and drums sounded, and suonas blared.

Before the groundbreaking ceremony, all the local deities had to pay their respects, and even the lowest-ranking local earth god could not be ignored by the mere government office.

The famous Feng Shui master Yuan Tiangang of the Tang Dynasty once said: "No matter how large a government office is, it cannot be larger than the sky, nor can it suppress the earth." Feng Shui must be believed.

……

Two white marble lions stand quietly on either side of the main gate, and their size is the largest among all the gate lions at the entrance of government offices in the capital.

The meaning is profound.
Today, all the knives and guns held by the soldiers on guard duty are wrapped with red cloth strips.

The event was attended by many experts.
A row of chubby monks stood, a row of skinny Taoist priests stood, and a row of strangely shaped folk people with supernatural abilities stood, displaying their magical powers to pray for the new government office.

A peach wood sword, a Sanqing bell, an elm wood fish, a dog blood hammer, and many other magical artifacts make their appearance at the same time.

The main focus is on a comprehensive approach to information dissemination.
Jiang Qingyun, the commander of the Nine Gates, stood at the very front, followed by his subordinates who stood according to their rank. From an aerial view, it was a complete organizational chart.

Everyone must abstain from sex, eat vegetables, drink alcohol, and kill animals for seven days in advance.

Although no one was assigned to supervise, it is unlikely that anyone would deliberately break the rules.

The Qing Dynasty officialdom firmly believed:

You can deceive people, but never deceive Heaven.

I would rather trust it to have it than to trust it to have nothing.

Things you can understand, you can easily fool; things you can't understand, you treat with utmost sincerity.

The scene was filled with the chanting of Buddhist scriptures, solemn Taoist rituals, and wisps of incense smoke.

"Kneel down~"

Jiang Qingyun took the lead in kneeling, clasped his hands together, and silently recited: "The path to officialdom is fraught with peril, and the political arena is treacherous. All gods and Buddhas, please bless me so that my wishes may come true, so that I may realize my ambitions, and so that I may reach the highest position."

After he finished praying, he kowtowed deeply and devoutly.

"Please, Your Excellency, raise the plaque." He stood up, walked to the bottom of the gate, grabbed the rope and pulled gently, and the red silk covering the plaque of "Commander of the Nine Gates Infantry and Five Battalions of the Imperial Guard" slowly fell down.

Everyone shouted in unison, "You've been promoted!"

Jiang Qingyun turned around, smiled and nodded, and led the applause.

The officials joined in with enthusiastic applause, which lasted for a long time. They shared the glory and the loss.

……

suddenly~
Someone exclaimed, "The Imperial Advisor has arrived!"

At the end of the alley, Tianji strode in, wearing a brocade robe with four-clawed golden dragons and golden threads. He held a staff, his appearance was solemn and dignified. He smiled and nodded to everyone, his demeanor truly extraordinary.

The crowd quickly made way for them.

"Amitabha Buddha, this humble monk presents you with a handwritten copy of the Diamond Sutra."

"Thank you, Master."

Jiang Qingyun reached out his hands to accept it and whispered.

"Monk, please stay for a vegetarian meal."

"Alright, this humble monk happens to be a little hungry."

Walking through the main gate, you'll find a screen wall, and behind the screen wall, in the courtyard, is an open-air banquet.

There were no delicacies or lavish dishes; each table had only two dishes: one of green vegetables and the other of tofu, symbolizing purity and innocence.

Everyone ate with beaming smiles.

"It smells so good!"

"It is no less than the Peach Banquet."

"Vegetables and tofu bring peace and safety."

"To be an official, one should be like this piece of tofu."

……

Jiang Qingyun silently picked up a piece of tofu and put it into Tianji's copper bowl.

"Monk, are you getting used to life in the palace?"

Tianji buried himself in his food.

“You are outside, and I am inside. Through our persistent efforts, the Emperor has now developed an interest in Buddhism and has conceived the idea of ​​using Buddhism to clean up official corruption.”

"Perfect timing. I've been looking to eliminate some of the most vicious flag guards lately. Monk, would you be willing to lend me a hand?"

"This humble monk has no problem here."

"You don't mind killing?"

“We are killing demons, not living beings.”

A smile reveals the secrets of fate; life and death are unpredictable.

Jiang Qingyun smiled helplessly and then put another piece of tofu on his plate.

……

After seeing the monk Tianji off, Jiang Qingyun began fundraising:
"Gentlemen, please hear me out. Today is the day the new government office breaks ground, a joyous occasion. With the guidance of the Imperial Advisor, we pray for the new office and for everyone's well-being. Therefore, I have decided to donate 500 taels of silver."

"I have 400 taels."

"I have 200 taels."

People actively pledged donations according to their social standing.

In just a quarter of an hour, they had collected more than 4000 taels of silver.

Jiang Qingyun instructed:
"All the donated silver was exchanged for old rice, which was packed into bags of 10 catties each and transported to major roads in the outskirts of Beijing for those in need to take as they wish, but each person was only allowed to take one bag."

"I hereby warn you, do not reach out, or else..."

Everyone expressed their opinions:
"Don't worry, sir, no one dares to take a share of this money."

"Anyone who takes this kind of money is doomed."

"Sir, you can rest assured. Heaven is watching what people do."

Looking at the impassioned crowd, Jiang Qingyun did not doubt their sincerity, because people in officialdom all understand this kind of thing.

The so-called:
Sexual intercourse is no big deal!
No religious ceremony is insignificant!
(End of this chapter)