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

Chapter 250 Emergency Cabinet

The capital city has finally returned to peace.

With the overall situation settled, the rest is simple.

Inside: Clear out the remaining enemy, extinguish the fire, rescue the wounded, and clean up the corpses.

Outside: Close the nine gates, clear away the corpses, arrange patrols, and pacify the city.

Following his campaign to quell the rebellion, Jiang Qingyun's personal prestige reached its peak.

He mobilized a large number of people in the southern part of the city through "civilian patrol teams" and "various industry associations," quickly mobilizing tens of thousands of people to clean the streets and bury the corpses.

You can earn 3 coins for each corpse you process.

For an empire, the ability to mobilize the masses on a large scale is more precious than any gold! But starting from the Song Dynasty, the central government gradually lost this ability.

……

The Beijing Incident had a far-reaching impact.

First, it severely reduced the number of Manchu bannermen.

Second, of the two elite Yellow Banner guards directly under the emperor, only two out of the three remained.

Third, the imperial city was in ruins, and the imperial power was damaged.

Fourth, by shouting "Long live the Emperor!", Shunzhi understood that the power balance between the emperor and his ministers had been reversed, and realized that he could kill the emperor by force.

Fifth, it united some of the Eight Banners and put them to its own use.

Sixth, it completely fragmented the Eight Banners, and the Eight Banners were no longer a unified whole.

No one will support my lofty ambitions; I will tread the path of blood to the mountain peak.

After ten years of being out of power, he was trapped in a well; but one day, he rose to prominence.

Jiang Qingyun felt that the Qing Dynasty was bad, but he never complained. He silently rolled up his sleeves and built the Qing Dynasty with his own hands. Although the process was a bit intense, his starting point was good.

He is a serious person!
……

In short, when night falls.

Jiang Qingyun was nominally the second most powerful person in the Qing Empire, but in reality, he was the most powerful person in the Qing Empire.

Upon returning to the mansion.

The wives, concubines, stewards, nannies, cooks, and maids were already waiting in the courtyard, heads bowed and eyes lowered, not daring to look directly at him. This scene was just like the emperor returning to his harem.

Everything has changed.

"Greetings, Your Excellency the Grand Secretary."

"Get up, and tell the accountant to give everyone a red envelope."

Even within the inner quarters, politics must be considered.

Politics is everywhere, not just confined to the halls of power.

That night, Jiang Qingyun stayed at Jiang Nan's house. Jiang Nan had contributed greatly to the entire incident in the capital. First, he risked his life to enter the palace, and then the Jiang family fought valiantly.

"My husband, you've lost some weight."

"I haven't had a full night's sleep since the twelfth lunar month."

Jiang Qingyun leaned wearily against the edge of the wooden tub, closing his eyes to feel the soothing warmth of the water.

suddenly~
Hurried footsteps echoed in the courtyard as Jiangnan's personal maid gently knocked on the window.

"Young master, madam, there is an urgent report."

Jiangnan opened the window, took the note, and unfolded it, his expression changing slightly.

"The Empress Dowager has run away!"

Jiang Qingyun opened his eyes instantly, hurriedly stepped out of the wooden tub, and immediately wrote a warrant: "Detective Department, secretly search for the Empress Dowager's whereabouts, and do not make a sound."

……

The next morning.

Prince An's Mansion.

The middle door is wide open.

Prince An, Yue Le, bowed deeply and was then helped up by Jiang Qingyun.

"Your Highness, why do you offer such a grand gesture? It's truly unbecoming of me. I left home in a hurry today and haven't had breakfast yet. I was thinking of asking your residence for a bowl of plain porridge, is that alright?"

"welcome."

Jiang Qingyun took Yue Le's hand and they walked into the Prince's Mansion together.

Five hundred guards then entered the palace and took over all areas without explanation, especially the kitchen.

Zhou Cang took a little of each and poured it into a large bowl.

"you eat!"

"Yes Yes."

The cook devoured the entire bowl in a flash. Still not satisfied, Zhou Cang ordered another bowl for himself. It tasted good, and he was still not quite done.

A quarter of an hour passed.

"Take it upstairs."

……

In the hall.

Four armored soldiers stood solemnly in the corner, their hands on the hilts of their swords.

In the middle sat a carved rosewood table, where Prince An, Yue Le, and Jiang Qingyun sat opposite each other, chatting about state affairs.

"This incident in the capital is shocking and has far-reaching consequences. Your Highness, our Great Qing Dynasty is facing the danger of national subjugation."

"The Grand Secretary is right." "Does Your Highness have any thoughts?"

"Don't dare, don't dare."

Jiang Qingyun picked up a hard-boiled egg and gently tapped it on the table. After peeling off the shell, she placed the white and tender egg into a small bowl and poured in vinegar and soy sauce.

"Your Majesty~"

Yue Le quickly stood up and took the heavy food with both hands.

"Your Highness, I have come to invite you to join my household."

"what?"

Yue Le was stunned.

Jiang Qingyun continued peeling the eggs.

"The Beijing Incident has severely damaged the foundation of our Great Qing Dynasty. If we do not reform, the country's demise is imminent. I observe that Your Highness is meticulous in your actions, therefore I would like to invite you to join the cabinet. Are you willing?"

"It is Xiao Wang's honor."

"Then it's settled."

Jiang Qingyun stood up.

"Your Highness, from this day forward, let us join hands and look to the future. No need to see me off, please stay."

Throughout the entire meal, he only ate one boiled egg.

……

Ancestral Mansion.

"I'm sorry, Your Excellency, my master is bedridden, I'm afraid..."

Jiang Qingyun, who was being blocked, turned his head and glanced at Wu Yingxiong.

Zu Dashou was Wu Sangui's maternal uncle and Wu Yingxiong's maternal uncle; they were very close relatives.

Wu Yingxiong quickly stepped forward.

"Old steward, how is my uncle's health? Today is a joyous occasion, I wouldn't betray my own people, don't worry."

After saying that, Wu Yingxiong took two steps back, bent down, and reached out his hand.

"Please, Your Excellency."

Flower Hall.

Supported by two maids, Zu Dashou walked out shakily, and he actually bowed to Wu Yingxiong, saying, "Greetings, Grand Secretary."

Wu Yingxiong was embarrassed.

"Uncle, you've bowed to the wrong person."

"Ah, you're Ying Xiong? Has my nephew arrived?"

"My father is enfeoffed in Yunnan and is busy with military affairs, so he cannot leave."

"what."

Looking at Zu Dashou's dazed expression, Jiang Qingyun was too lazy to play along.

"Ancestor, I have spearheaded the formation of an emergency cabinet and would like you to join it. Someone will come to fetch you at the morning court session the day after tomorrow."

"Wait a minute~ I'm already over 70."

"At 70, it's the perfect age to strive. Ancestor, put aside your mental burdens and join the cabinet."

After that, he walked away.

Wu Yingxiong deliberately lagged behind by a few steps.

"Uncle, the Qing Dynasty has changed."

Zu Dashou's eyes sharpened instantly as he stared at Wu Yingxiong.

Wu Yingxiong took two steps back, lifted the corner of his robe, and kowtowed to the elder.

"Uncle, please take care."

Then, he hurriedly followed Jiang Qingyun.

……

Given the current situation, Jiang Qingyun can decide the cabinet members with a single word; the so-called request for Shunzhi's approval at the morning court is merely a formality.

Chief Minister: Oneself.

Cabinet members: Prince An, Yue Le; Han Banner, Zu Dashou; Plain White Banner, Sukesaha; Minister of Personnel, Feng Shuan; and Vice Minister of Revenue, Zhou Shao.

The cabinet included members of the royal family, Manchu bannermen, Han bannermen, and Han officials, while Mongols were completely excluded.

It's embarrassing to admit, but right now, the Qing Dynasty's structure can't be allowed to collapse.

Not only must it not collapse, but we must also help it be patched up with great effort.

The next evening.

Zhou Shao arrived in a hurry, his expression grave.

"Grand Secretary, the statistics are in. The Ministry of Revenue needs to pay 65681 taels of silver for burying the body."

Jiang Qingyun gasped in shock.
The 65,000 taels of silver corresponded to 230,000 corpses.

It is astonishing that 23 bannermen (regardless of Manchu, Mongol, Han, male, female, young, or old, and also including some bondservants) died in this incident?

"Old Zhou, this is bad, we're in big trouble."

"What does the Grand Secretary mean?"

"The central government is declining while local areas are rising."

(End of this chapter)