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

Chapter 237 The Fourth Anti-Chiang Alliance: A Turn-Based Game!

The Hall of Central Harmony was completely silent. Emperor Shunzhi stared into Jiang Qingyun's eyes, speechless for a long time. His heart was in turmoil, filled with mixed emotions.

After a while~
"Detain Ning Wan first."

"Whoo."

"Your Majesty, don't believe him! He's the real villain!" Ning Wan shouted unwillingly.

Shunzhi did not turn around, but strode towards the Hall of Supreme Harmony to the south, with Jiang Qingyun following closely behind.

The other eunuchs silently dragged Wu Liangfu's body away.

……

Hall of Supreme Harmony.

A crow took flight with a flapping motion, leaving the eaves where it had been perched.

Inside the hall, a group of heroes surrounded and hunted Jiang Qingyun.

The Council of Princes and Ministers was at full capacity with 27 members. With the addition of Emperor Shunzhi and Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang, there were a total of 29 people attending today, 17 of whom were opposed to Chiang Kai-shek.

This can be considered the fourth anti-Chiang Kai-shek alliance.

With formidable strength and a luxurious lineup.

The first and second anti-Chiang alliances adopted the method of "civil remonstrance," the third alliance combined civil and military means, and the fourth alliance appeared to be civil but was actually military.

Jirhalang: "You traitor Jiang, you sent troops to blockade the capital for half a month, what is that if not rebellion?"

Jiang Qingyun: "Bullshit! If I really rebelled, I could slaughter your palace eight times over in half a month! Would I let you stand here and frame me?"

Shunzhi's heart skipped a beat.

……

Prince Zhuang Shuo Sai said, "Jiang traitor, no matter how eloquent you are, you won't be leaving the Forbidden City today. Since you've walked right into the trap, you won't see the sun tomorrow."

Jiang Qingyun: "When did it become your place, Prince Zhuang, to rule the Forbidden City? Are you preparing to ascend the throne and become emperor?"

Shuo Sai: "You're talking nonsense. The emperor will always be the emperor."

Jiang Qingyun: "Prince Zhuang, you are the Emperor's elder brother, you are not a child. The Empress Dowager wants to rule from behind the curtain, she will not make you Emperor. If I were you, I wouldn't get involved in this mess. Ah, I understand, the Empress Dowager promised you that when the new Emperor ascends the throne, you can be the head of the regents, right?"

Shuo Sai: "You're talking nonsense, you're talking nonsense."

Shunzhi shuddered again.

……

Minister of Works Jiang Hede: "But you have killed tens of thousands of bannermen without authorization. How do you explain that?"

Jiang Qingyun: "The massacre of the Manchu soldiers is a complete rumor. Where are their bodies buried? Go dig them up now and transport them to the Forbidden City."

Jiang Hede: "After the court session ended, I led my troops to dig."

Jiang Qingyun: "Dig, dig all you want. The Infantry Commander's Office is wide open for you to dig. If you can't dig anything out, you're my grandson. Besides, most of the soldiers in the Infantry Commander's Office are Manchu bannermen. Do you think they're all fools? Killing their own people indiscriminately without any reason?"

Jiang Hede was furious, but losing the debate didn't matter; the key was to clear himself of suspicion.

……

Fan Wencheng: "Lord Jiang, there is something I don't understand. There are rumors in the capital that when you were the military governor of Hubei, you forced the Eight Banners officers into battle, resulting in heavy casualties among the officers. Is this true?"

Jiang Qingyun: "That's pure rumor."

Fan Wencheng: "There are some bannermen who were not on the list of dead that you submitted to the Ministry of War at the time, but they did die."

Jiang Qingyun: "Why didn't you bring it up then? Why did you only bring it up a year later?"

Fan Wencheng: "Last year, everyone was afraid to speak out because of your tyranny, and I only just found out myself."

Jiang Qingyun: "Lord Fan, let me ask you, when did you start to think I was a treacherous minister?"

Fan Wencheng: "I only recently discovered your wicked behavior and realized you are a treacherous minister." Old Fan's shrewdness was truly slippery.

Jiang Qingyun gave a wicked smile, which startled Fan Wencheng so much that he trembled slightly. Could it be that the Five Elements Mountain was still unable to suppress this monster?
……

Jirhalang added, "Your Majesty, I have a concubine's nephew named Irgen Gioro Xishun, who serves as a Zuo Ling under the Bordered Yellow Banner. He is also the cousin of the Grand Minister of the Imperial Guard, Soni, and the brother-in-law of the third son of Zhu Guozhi, the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review."

Jirhalang: "Lord Suo, you know Xishun, right?"

Sony: "I know him."

Zirhalang: "You know he's dead, right?"

Sony: "I know, but I don't know the specifics."

Jirhalang: "Lord Zhu, and what about you?"

Zhu Guozhi: "Like Lord Suo, I know this person is dead, but I don't know the specifics."

Jirhalang: "Xishun participated in the Songzi Battle commanded by Jiang Qingyun, and died from his serious injuries. This is his last letter. Please read it, Your Majesty."

A bloodstained suicide note, and a white cloth strip inscribed with the words "I will live seven lives to serve my country."

Jiang Qingyun launched into a tirade of curses.

“Prince Zheng, why are you so fixated on such a trivial matter? What is your purpose? At that time, Li Dingguo defeated three famous princes, and several southwestern provinces fell one after another. The south was on the verge of collapse. It was I, Jiang, who was appointed to a critical mission and defeated Li Dingguo. It was I who stabilized the south.”

"Then tell me, how did Xishun end up being assigned to the Trapped Camp?"

"How would I know? Go ask Ao Bai."

……

Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang remained silent, quietly waiting for her opportunity. She only had one chance to confront the imperial power head-on, and she needed to win the support of the majority of people instead of the imperial power.

The key is to win the support of the ministers of the two Yellow Banners and the guards of the Forbidden City, and persuade these staunch supporters of the imperial power to agree to kill Jiang Qingyun and cut off the wings of the imperial power from the high ground of the interests of the Qing Empire.

Convince people with reason!

The time seems to have come.

"I would like to say a few words."

Before Shunzhi could speak, Jiang Qingyun had already sensed a dangerous signal.

"Wait a minute~ The Empress Dowager is the one who will determine the fate of the dynasty, so she should speak last. Why don't I say a few words first, just to offer my humble opinion?"

"In order to completely clear myself of any suspicion of treason, I hereby voluntarily resign from my position as Commander of the Nine Gates and request that His Majesty assume the post concurrently. Black cannot be white, and white cannot be black; is there anything wrong with me or not? After I step down, the court can send people to investigate."

There was an uproar in the hall.

No one expected Jiang Qingyun to pull this stunt.

"Brothers of the Two Yellow Banners, I can tell you now that there is a group of people in the court plotting to depose the emperor and install a new one. I am merely the most conspicuous obstacle on their path to coerce him. I'm telling you this now, don't be hasty. Within three months, you will see clearly who the real traitor is!"

Jiang Qingyun raised his arm and shouted:
"Unite our will and protect the Emperor."

Before the people inside the hall could react, the hundreds of guards from the Two Yellow Banners gathered outside the hall all shouted in unison.

"Unite our will and protect the Emperor."

……

Shunzhi got up:

"By imperial decree, Jiang Qingyun's arrow wound has relapsed. Considering his hard work, I hereby temporarily relieve him of his post as Commander of the Nine Gates, but retain his post as Left Censor-in-Chief. He is permitted to retire to Miyun, a suburb of the capital. The position of Commander of the Nine Gates is of great importance and cannot be entrusted to others. I will personally take charge."

"My esteemed ministers, does anyone have any objections?"

The crowd said weakly, "Your Majesty is wise."

The current struggle is like a turn-based game!
No matter how many trusted lieutenants they have outside, no matter how much trouble they can cause when they return, they cannot win this round. The fully armed guards outside the palace are not to be trifled with.

(End of this chapter)