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

Chapter 230 Xiao Jiang in a Dilemma
Shunzhi tried his best to suppress his smile and explained:

“Jiang Qingyun is indeed a bit too rough in his methods at times, but he is only handling official business for the court, so I can’t be too harsh on him.”

"Your Majesty, his soldiers broke into the Prince's residence and killed six servants."

“Your servants from the Prince Li’s mansion dared to assassinate the Emperor’s General Dingyuan in the outskirts of the capital. No punishment is too much. If it weren’t for my Empress Dowager’s intercession and the untimely death of Mandahai, I was originally prepared to strip him of his princely title.”

The atmosphere instantly turned extremely cold.

When the emperor is enraged, blood can flow like a river; this is no joke.

Mandahai's widow gave in.

"Your Majesty, I will definitely give the servants in the manor a good scolding when I get back. Chang Adai is loyal to Your Majesty."

"is it?"

“Your Majesty, Chang Adai’s loyalty is higher than the mountains and deeper than the sea.”

“A few days ago, Jiang Qingyun told me that the banner chief Mandahai and the junior banner chief Lekedehun of the Plain Red Banner had unfortunately passed away one after another, and the successor prince was still young, leaving the banner affairs of the Plain Red Banner unattended. He suggested that I appoint some capable commanders and deputy commanders to temporarily manage the affairs of the Plain Red Banner. This is a matter of great importance, and I haven’t had time to discuss it yet. So, let’s hear your thoughts today?”

There was silence in the hall.

"Your Majesty, Chang Adai is already 12 years old. He studies every day, and he will soon be able to..."

Shunzhi let out a cold laugh and turned away.

I was just testing you. If you won't even grant me this small request, the Prince Li's mansion is truly utterly heartless.

Jiang Qingyun killed too few!

……

Having witnessed the entire process of Shunzhi's entry into the palace and his departure, Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang was even more confused. She was still unsure whether Jiang Qingyun's large-scale killing of the bannermen was at Shunzhi's behest.
If it was Shunzhi's instruction, Jiang Qingyun was merely carrying it out.

Besides the banner lords and princes, the Empress Dowager herself was also lying on the chopping block of imperial power.

She had wanted to call out to Shunzhi and ask him about it, but she was worried that the relationship between mother and son would deteriorate further. A deteriorating relationship wasn't the real issue; the problem was that she lacked the means to retaliate.

Mature politicians know that when the decisive battle takes place atop the Forbidden City, kinship, love, and friendship all have no weight.

Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang watched Shunzhi's figure disappear outside the palace.

The chief eunuch, Wu Liangfu, walked in.

"By imperial decree, it is getting late. All of you nobles are requested to return to your residences. In the future, unless there is a reason, please do not enter the palace to disturb the Empress Dowager's peaceful life."

"The minister and concubine follow the order."

Everyone rose to leave the hall. What does this signify? It signifies that the conflict between mother and son has become public.

……

Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang stood up decisively.

"Wait! I have a few more words to say."

"Whoo."

Wu Liangfu dared not confront him directly and retreated to the outside of the hall.

Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang gave a wink to the concubine of Prince Zheng, Jirhalang, the daughter of Bagtaiji of the Jarud tribe, and a member of the Borjigit clan.

The two walked to a corner.

"Tell me, what did the Nine Gates Admiral do?"

“Starting from the 20th of the twelfth lunar month, he sent troops to block the main streets of the capital, patrolling and arresting people every day, but recently it has stopped.”

"How is Prince Zheng?"

"He said he was ready to die in battle at any time."

"Has the army attacked the Prince's residence?"

"No."

"When you get back, tell Prince Zheng to take good care of himself, and under no circumstances should he commit suicide or get into conflict with the soldiers outside. I just found out that the emperor is young and has done some things too far. As his mother, I don't approve of it, but there's nothing I can do."

"Queen Mother?"

"Not a single word is wrong. Go back and tell Prince Zheng."

"Take care, sister."

The two people, who were the same age, said goodbye.

The Cining Palace fell silent. Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang stood alone under the eaves, unwilling to move for a long time, like a statue waiting for her husband.

At this moment, she desperately hoped for a mighty man to descend from the heavens—Huang Taiji, Dorgon, Hong Chengchou—any one of them could be resurrected to suppress the deranged Shunzhi Emperor and Jiang Qingyun. Thus...
Another classic misconception has been added: Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang believed that Emperor Shunzhi was the mastermind behind the campaign to eliminate the Manchu banners.

……

Xianglan Banner, near Wanggongchang Gunpowder Factory.

"I haven't seen any Imperial Guards lately."

"Yes, thanks to Jiang the doorman."

"What?"

"Doesn't this door god look like the Nine Gates Admiral? With Jiang the Door God up, the imperial guards can't break down the door."

"Oh my, you are this."

Jiang Menshen's words became a sensation in the capital overnight. In reality, the Infantry Commander's Office couldn't spare any extra troops at the moment.

The 5th Battalion of the Garrison Command dispatches one battalion for armed patrols every day to maintain a military presence, while the other four battalions rest and recuperate in the barracks. They attend classes in the morning, train in the afternoon, and eat and drink their fill and sleep soundly in the evening.

The entire investigation department was mobilized to carry out "outer perimeter defense" around the central government offices and the imperial city.

The Urban Construction Department deployed nine signal cannons at White Pagoda Hill in Beihai. If all nine signal cannons fired simultaneously, all civil and military officials, infantry, and patrolmen would have to drop everything and assemble immediately to prepare for suppressing the rebellion.

……

Jiang Qingyun was like a frightened crocodile lurking in the murky waters of the capital, warily sensing the slightest movement around him.

His current situation is very dangerous.

They could neither advance nor retreat.

If you enter, you must sit on the dragon throne.

The soldiers of the Infantry Commander's Office are willing to follow him to suppress the Ninth Banner and the Banner Lord Prince, but will they support him to sit on the dragon throne?

Obviously impossible.

He couldn't possibly seize the throne if the Manchu bannermen in the capital weren't all killed off. If they were, there would be no military deterrence, the provinces of the empire wouldn't support him, and warlord conflicts would begin, with Wu Sangui likely to be the ultimate winner.

Retreat, and you'll die even faster.

Countless enemies would rush in from all directions to kill him; Shunzhi couldn't stop them, nor did he need to.

As a junior politician at the deputy section chief level, Jiang Qingyun pondered the matter and realized that maintaining the existing order was in his best interest.

The capital must not be thrown into chaos.

The Eight Banners descendants were not allowed to rebel without authorization.

Do not advance, nor retreat; advance and retreat alternately, constantly depleting the existing resources of the flag.

……

Waiting is the most agonizing thing.

As the intelligence gathered from all sides was compiled, Jiang Qingyun deduced that Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang had become aware of what he was doing, but she remained silent.

Why didn't she warn Shunzhi? Why didn't she react?
Be puzzled.

That night, he had a nightmare.

The morning court session is held in the Hall of Supreme Harmony in the Forbidden City.

Everyone glared at him angrily, but Shunzhi, high above, roared: "Take him down!"

The axe-wielder instantly teleported to his side.

Emperor Shunzhi loudly proclaimed: "I have been kept in the dark all along, but fortunately, the dark clouds cannot block out the sun, and the truth will eventually come to light. Quickly, kill this cruel official."

Click~
My head just popped off.

The courtiers cheered.

Jiang Qingyun woke up from a nightmare and sat up. Jiang Nan quickly ordered the maid to light candles.

"Husband, what's wrong with you?"

"Ah, it's nothing, I just had a nightmare."

Jiangnan lit a few more candles.

"My husband, I've long sensed that you're under too much pressure. The night is long, why don't we open the window and talk?"

(End of this chapter)