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

Chapter 217 A Daring Adventure on the Road to the Vice Emperor

The emperor can be addressed as "Long Live the Emperor".

The Vice Emperor could be addressed as "Nine Thousand Years Old".

This line of reasoning seems reasonable.

Throughout history, the competition for the throne of the "Nine Thousand Years Old" has always been extremely fierce, with a plethora of talented individuals emerging, employing a dazzling array of methods that leave people speechless.

Wang Zhen: As long as the emperor trusts me, that's enough.

Yu Chaoen: Eunuch Wang, you are mistaken. Having the emperor's trust alone is not enough. I have also taken control of the Imperial Guards in Chang'an.

Wei Zhongxian: I am the eunuch chief, and in addition, I have also dabbled in the civil service system.

Zhao Gao: I'm not as complicated as you guys. I only have four words to say—calling a deer a horse.

Putting aside morality, logic, and right and wrong, the conversation between these four eunuchs actually contained a simple truth—to become a vice emperor, one needs to achieve three things.

First, they were close advisors to the emperor and enjoyed his utmost trust.

Second, it makes most people afraid to oppose it.

Third, it gains the mindless support of a small group of die-hard confidants.

Some might ask, if one becomes the vice emperor, is the emperor just one step away?

the answer is negative.

The leap from vice-emperor to emperor is enormous; a slight misstep could lead to death and the extermination of one's clan. The reasons for this are too complex to elaborate on here.

……

A soldier in a gray overcoat strode down the stairs, his military boots clattering on the wooden steps.

"The new list is out."

Another officer serving as the duty officer took the list, confirmed the seal and signature, stood with his heels together, gave his companion a salute that was inconsistent with the Qing military system and was common in the Infantry Commander's Office, and then turned and left.

In order to capture more dissidents more effectively and quickly, Jiang Qingyun temporarily modified the procedures. Each time an arrest was made, a member of the Imperial Guard would serve as the duty officer to supervise the arrest by the Left Battalion of the Garrison Command.

In principle, they are not allowed to interfere with officers' commands.

The Left Battalion of the Garrison Command was well-equipped; their warhorses, armor, bows, arrows, swords, and spears were all of the highest quality. They possessed rich battlefield experience and were a qualified field army.

Most of them had fought in the south when Jiang Qingyun served as the General of Dingyuan, and had been promoted and rewarded. There was a foundation of mutual trust between them.

In any arrest operation, the left battalion would first block both ends of the alley, then block the front and back doors of the suspect's house, then forcefully break down the doors, and finally use shields to cover the archers as they entered.

It would be better to capture them alive, but bringing back a corpse would also be acceptable.

The ruthlessness of the elite guards and the efficiency of the field army combined to make the capture operation exceptionally efficient.

……

Zhengbaiqi, Ertiao Hutong.

Qi Dinggui, who had been under correctional supervision at You'anmen Prison for a year, suddenly jumped up from his recliner, his ears perked up and his eyes wide open.

The princess consort Hasiya, who had just brought in a bowl of medicine, complained discontentedly, "What's wrong with you now?"

"They're here again!"

"Who?"

"Those patrol soldiers."

Hasya put down the medicine bowl with delight.

"Honey, are you cured? You're not crazy anymore?"

"Shh, Madam, grab your valuables and prepare to escape, quick!"

"What? Talking nonsense during the New Year? Looks like you're still not well~"

Gui Wu had no time for bickering; he took down his ancestral sword, which was covered in a thick layer of dust, from the wall.

Keng~
The drawn blade showed slight signs of rust.

"Hey, stop fiddling with those iron sheets."

"Shh, don't say anything."

Gui Wu listened intently for a while, then his expression suddenly changed drastically, and his arms began to tremble.

"Let's go, let's go."

"Where are you going? This is my home."

"My lady, I'm faking my madness. I know that the new Commander of the Nine Gates wants to exterminate us Manchus. Even the Emperor has been deceived by him. We must leave now, or it will be too late."

Slap! Hasiya was slapped across the face. She covered her face and watched as her husband darted out of the house like a startled rabbit and lightly leaped onto the roof.

The next moment, thud.

With a loud crash, the two wooden doors of their own courtyard gate collapsed to the ground. Three swallowtail shields advanced like a wall, reaching the middle of the courtyard, where several crossbowmen emerged from behind them.

"Everyone, kneel down immediately and put your hands behind your heads, or you will be killed without mercy."

The arrest operation went very smoothly.

Gui Wu, who was lying on the roof, did not dare to move at all. He watched helplessly as his whole family was led away by a long rope, and his heart sank lower and lower.

……

"Mom, I'm afraid."

"Don't be afraid, we are from the Upper Three Banners."

Although Hasya said that, she was actually very flustered. She was escorted by cavalry on both sides, and the streets were empty like ghost streets. She didn't encounter any familiar faces along the way.

"Sir, what crime have we committed?"

No one answered her. Lian Shun, the middle-aged Manchu cavalryman closest to her, showed a hint of pity in his eyes.

Lian Shun participated in the Battle of Songzi and was promoted one rank for his merits, receiving a reward of 55 taels of silver.

After the establishment of the Infantry Commander's Office, he volunteered to be transferred there and was assigned to the Left Battalion of the Garrison Command.

General Dingyuan was as generous to his subordinates as ever. He even gave them an extra tael on top of the salary stipulated by the court, which was called an internal allowance.

A boss who gets promoted, makes money, and gets a raise is practically perfect.

Lian Shun felt both admiration and dissatisfaction towards Jiang Qingyun. He secretly hoped that Jiang Qingyun could correct his brutal style of readily resorting to violence against the nation.

That would truly be perfect.

The headquarters of the Infantry Commander is just ahead.

The black-clad scouts with their hunting dogs moved about, their eyes cold; the fully armored guards stood silently and menacingly; and there were archers crouching on the rooftops.

……

A terrifying thought suddenly occurred to Hasya: this place is like the King of Hell's palace!

Hesitating for a moment, the soldiers behind him urged him on.

"Go, go quickly."

After entering the government office, we walked along the road.

After many twists and turns, the suspects entered a windowless room, illuminated only by a few oil lamps fixed to the walls.

"Let's go, let's go quickly."

Hasya asked, "Sir, why are we going downhill?"

No one answered.

The downhill path is of limited length, and at the end of the downhill path is the dungeon.

It was eerie and terrifying, yet brightly lit.

A young man in a blue-tasseled hat approached, his eyes sharp as an eagle. He pulled a piece of paper from his coat pocket and began taking attendance.

After the roll call was finished, another person came in.

The two whispered to each other.

"Does it match the list?"

"One is missing."

"Who?"

"Zhengbai Qiqi Dinggui Wu."

"No problem, go ahead and do it."

The two exchanged a polite hand salute.

……

Half an hour later~
The gallows inside the wooden fence were filled with Manchu bannermen whose crimes were undeniable.

The guards loudly proclaimed:

"Guilty, hanged!"

Actually, no one can hear it; it's just a formality.

After reading the report, he didn't even glance at the Manchus still struggling on the gallows. He went straight to the table next to him, where a small hourglass sat, the sand dripping slowly.

Once all the sand had dissipated, he immediately pulled the rope. A short while later, a group of masked men in gray robes came down, skillfully placed the body down, and carried it away.

Everything, for the sake of Emperor Shunzhi!

Jiang Qingyun really did his best.
(End of this chapter)