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

Chapter 265 The Third Eunuch's Idea: Turning the Young Shunzhi into the Young Wanli

"How dare you! You are before the Emperor, why do you not kneel?"

An ignorant and arrogant eunuch actually rushed out and accused Jiang Qingyun.

Four armored soldiers rushed in from outside the hall and began punching and kicking him.

Amidst screams, Jiang Qingyun clasped his hands in a fist salute.

"Your Majesty has shown me great compassion, granting me permission to enter the court without hastening my steps and to wear a sword and shoes in the palace. I am deeply grateful. These eunuchs, however, behave disrespectfully before the Emperor, like mad dogs barking at the sun. I beg Your Majesty to instruct on how they should be dealt with."

Emperor Shunzhi's face turned pale.

"20 strokes of the cane"

Jiang Qingyun nodded: "Kill him with a beating!!"

The old man standing to the side was so frightened that his back was covered in cold sweat. He never expected that such a reckless fool would come up with a job for him. He deserved to die.

……

Shunzhi's voice trembled.

"What is the Grand Secretary's purpose in leading troops into the palace?"

"Your Majesty. Last night, a group of rebels led by Wang Duo, a compiler of the Hanlin Academy, and Choerji, the Duke of Khorchin, listened to the instigation of Empress Dowager Li and launched an armed rebellion. Fortunately, the Infantry Commander's Office was quick-witted and loyal, and suppressed the rebels in just half an hour, killing more than 100 people and capturing more than 200."

"Okay, okay."

Shunzhi agreed reluctantly, his face flushing red and then turning pale.

Jiang Qingyun stood there, like a pillar supporting the empire, exuding a fearsome and oppressive aura.

"Grand Secretary, Empress Dowager Li, she?"

"He is still at large! During interrogation, some rebels confessed that the Emperor also participated in the rebellion. Is this true or false?"

"That's pure rumor! How could I possibly support rebellion? Absolutely not."

"Your Majesty, I humbly request Your Majesty's instructions on how to deal with the treacherous officials who participated in the rebellion."

"Three tribes of Yi!"

"According to the order."

Jiang Qingyun looked righteous, while Shunzhi was timid and hesitant.

"Your Majesty, the Grand Secretary has rendered great service in suppressing the rebellion and deserves a reward."

Empress Hesheli, who had just married into the palace, suddenly emerged from behind the hall. With an elegant demeanor, at first glance, the empress was no different from the women of the gentry families in the Central Plains, and had been thoroughly Sinicized.

"Yes, Your Majesty is right."

Emperor Shunzhi finally realized what was happening.

"I, I bestow upon you 5000 taels of silver from the imperial treasury and one imperial estate."

Jiang Qingyun shook his head.

"What reward does the Grand Secretary desire?"

"Your Majesty, I desire this Emperor's Sword!"

As he spoke, he patted the sword at his waist, which was temporarily bestowed upon him by Emperor Shunzhi during the last suppression of the rebellion in the Forbidden City, and nominally still belonged to the emperor.

The Grand Secretary is truly a courteous subject.

Shunzhi took a deep breath.

"I bestow it upon you."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Before leaving, Jiang Qingyun gave Empress Hesheli a deep look and thought to himself, "Sony's granddaughter does have some guts."

……

"We will stay in kindness."

"Third Eunuch, what is it?"

"My lord, please don't misunderstand. That little eunuch just now..."

Jiang Qingyun stopped him from explaining and waved his hand.

"You don't need to explain. Why don't you tell me about what's been happening in the palace lately?"

"Yes."

After gathering his thoughts, the Third Eunuch began to recount the events, from Emperor Shunzhi's sleepless nights and the Empress's dramatic crying and commotion, to Consort Tong's pregnancy, internal conflicts within the Imperial Guard, and so on.

After listening, Jiang Qingyun gave instructions.

"Go check Kong Sizhen's recent palace entry records and send them to me later."

"Yes."

Seeing the conflicted expression on the Third Eunuch's face, as if he wanted to say something but hesitated.

"But there's no harm in talking."

"I have been reading recently, and when I came across Zhang Juzheng's reforms, I was deeply moved. However, I am not well-educated and fear that I may have misunderstood something. If Your Excellency has the time, could you please enlighten me?"

Why are you reading about Zhang Juzheng's reforms?

"This servant thinks it might be worth learning from."

Jiang Qingyun was stunned for several seconds. Suddenly, a flash of inspiration struck him, and he finally realized, "This kid is really cunning! He actually put himself in Feng Bao's shoes! Am I Zhang Juzheng?"
Who the hell is Empress Dowager Li?

"Third Eunuch, what people seek in this world is nothing more than fame and fortune. What is it that you seek?"

"I am a useless person, and money and women are of no use to me."

"understood."

Jiang Qingyun gave him a meaningful look and then gracefully left.

The next day.

Emperor Shunzhi issued an imperial edict, announcing to the capital that, in recognition of the Grand Secretary's meritorious service in suppressing the rebellion, he was appointed to oversee all affairs, large and small, within and outside the capital. The Grand Secretary's presence was considered as if the Emperor himself were there.

Everyone remained silent, and the flag bearer didn't utter a sound.

Some things, just thinking about them can easily cost you your head.

In short, there is an invisible hand repeatedly manipulating the skies above the capital.

……

South City.

Chiang Kai-shek's residence.

"My lord, I have a favor to ask of you."

"speak!"

"Can you forgive Chorji, the Duke of Khorchin?"

"Who asked you to plead on their behalf?"

"Depose the empress!"

"Where is she now?"

"She has already moved out of the palace and has been staying at the Ministry of Rites' guesthouse for the past few days. She will return to the Horqin Grassland soon."

“Since it is Madam’s request, I will make an exception. However, Choerji and his daughter need to stay in the capital for a period of time. After the situation eases, they may return to the grasslands. Tell them that if they leave the capital without permission, they will bear the consequences.”

"Yes."

After dealing with Jiangnan, Jiang Qingyun plucked the calico cat, which was in its prime, from the tree, picked up a clod of earth, and chased away a strange cat that was squatting on a rooftop in the distance.

I disagree with you!

"Meow~"

“Your status is not what it used to be. You are the Prime Minister’s cat, the most noble cat in the entire empire. In principle, you can choose any concubine you want.”

The calico cat lay down, looking aggrieved.

"But you can't choose a concubine; you can only choose a male favorite."

"Meow."

The calico cat listened intently.

"We still have to listen to the parents' orders and the matchmaker's words. Another day, I'll choose a good breed, a purebred, and noble spouse for you."

"Meow meow."

The calico cat left happily.

Cats have no dreams, so they live a carefree life. People live tiring lives because they want too much.

……

5 days later.

The "Letter Appealing for Self-Governance by the People of Jin" finally reached the capital, causing a stir among the officials who read it!

The cabinet held an emergency meeting.

Prince Yue Le slammed his fist on the table in anger: "Grand Secretary, the people of Shanxi have rebelled!"

Jiang Qingyun nodded, gesturing for him to sit down and talk.

“Prince An, you are right. To be more precise, the eight major imperial merchants and some local officials have joined forces in an attempt to form their own independent entity and refuse to obey the central government.”

Zhou Shao: "Shanxi has set a very bad precedent!"

Jiang Qingyun: "What Lord Zhou said is true. Shanxi has set a very bad precedent for other provinces, with a terrible impact. Once it happens, it will happen again, and once it happens again, it will happen countless times."

Zu Dashou spoke up, which was quite rare for him.

"Prime Minister, quickly send scouts to spy on Niangziguan. Niangziguan is a key pass for the court's military campaign against Jin. If we can hold Niangziguan, our troops can launch an attack at any time."

"I will make arrangements immediately after the meeting."

Jiang Qingyun stood up and looked around at everyone.

"What's coming will come eventually. If it's not Shanxi, it will be Shaanxi or Jiangxi. There will always be someone who starts trouble. If it's not handled properly, within a year or two, more provinces will follow Shanxi's example."

Feng Shuan: "Shall we fight?"

Jiang Qingyun neither confirmed nor denied, but simply smiled.

The group tacitly began discussing other topics, such as fluctuations in grain prices, unpaid taxes in various provinces, the situation at sea in the southeast, and Wu Sangui's cessation of his siege of the Ming army.

The final conclusion was that the Qing Dynasty was sitting on a pile of firewood, just one spark away from being ignited.

(End of this chapter)