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

Chapter 268 Honoring the Prime Minister, Initiating the Southern Tour!
The eighth day of the first lunar month, in the evening.

When Zhou Shao visited again, he was led to the inner quarters without needing to be announced.

"Grand Secretary, these are the Ministry of Revenue's account books."

Jiang Qingyun took it and carefully flipped through it.

"So, the current treasury funds of the Ministry of Revenue can only sustain the normal operation of the imperial government until May?"

"Yes!"

"Even if the capital is flooded after I leave."

Zhou Shao smiled.

Jiang Qingyun smiled too.

"Prime Minister, what are the must-do tasks during your southern tour?"

"Yes! First, to deal with the Donglin Party and control the important tax-generating areas of Jiangnan, I want you to be the Governor-General of Liangjiang. Second, I plan to summon Huang Zongxi to assess whether this old scholar is capable. I want to establish my own government and build my own group of scholars."

The two chatted for a while longer before Zhou Shao took his leave.

……

"Young master, it's time for your medicine."

Green Pearl arrived carrying a tray.

Jiang Qingyun drank it down without looking up. The medicine tasted slightly bitter and fishy. After drinking it, he rinsed his mouth with tea.

"Whose turn is it to serve you tonight?"

"Ninth Sister".

"You go and make the arrangements."

"Yes."

Green Pearl left with the empty bowl, destroyed the dregs of the medicine, and then went to the courtyard of the ninth concubine of the Jiang family.

"I hope the Second Madam is well."

"Jiu'er, the young master will be here soon. Serve him well and seize the opportunity."

"Yes."

The ninth concubine was sixteen years old. She was beautiful and healthy, and was considered by the common people to have the appearance of a son. She had only been in the household for half a year, and her ambition was at its peak.

She bathed, dressed, applied makeup in front of the mirror, and changed into beautiful clothes.

Everything was ready, and footsteps could be heard at the door.

"This humble servant greets young master."

"Ah."

After a tedious period of labor, Jiang Qingyun got off the bed, dressed neatly with the help of a maid, and left the room. It was nothing more than a routine task.

Ninth Concubine leaned against the wall with her feet together, silently reliving the scene from just now.

The debate over who gets to have a child has always been like this.

Besides, the dispute is over the eldest son.

Given the current situation in the mansion, whoever gives birth to the eldest son first will be showered with love and affection, and even the maiden's family dog ​​will be assigned to stand guard at Chongwen Gate.

Ninth Concubine's father was just a minor officer in the Zhili Green Standard Army. Thinking of the wonderful scene when she would bring her son home in the future, with her father and brothers being attentive and relatives fawning over her, she forcefully closed the gate.

……

The first morning court session was held in the eleventh year of the Shunzhi reign.

Grand Secretary Jiang Qingyun strode confidently along the roads of the Forbidden City, demonstrating the unwavering confidence that the Qing Dynasty would not perish.

Along the way, the guards bowed their heads, the eunuchs knelt, and the officials bent over.

The Prime Minister has a commanding presence, broad shoulders, and a smile like a father's.

"Please invite the Grand Secretary into the hall."

Jiang Qingyun then stepped over the threshold and sat down in his designated seat.

"I've heard that the Grand Secretary is going on a southern tour?"

"Yes."

"It's too sudden, I'm a little reluctant to let it go."

"Your Majesty, the south of the empire is unstable. I wish to stabilize the south by making a southern tour."

"The Prime Minister is very thoughtful."

Silence fell over the hall.

Tong Guogang stepped forward and said, “Your Majesty, I request that the Grand Secretary be granted the full regalia of an imperial envoy, and be permitted to wear the attire of a prince, to control the affairs of the four southern provinces, and to act as he sees fit.”

Shunzhi shook his head again.

"I am reluctant to see the Grand Secretary leave the capital."

A huge firework exploded in Jiang Qingyun's head. Holy crap! Holy crap! Holy crap! Fulin, you actually copied Goujian!

……

"Your Majesty, I will not feel at ease if I do not go to the South to see for myself."

"No!"

Emperor Shunzhi stood up from the dragon throne.

"I forbid it. If the Grand Secretary leaves the capital, and something happens in the capital, who will protect me?"

The ministers all shook their heads.

No! No way!

"Your Majesty, I will do my best to arrange matters outside the capital to ensure the safety of the capital!" "Grand Secretary, please stop. I can't sleep without you in the capital."

Sony stepped up.

"Your Majesty, let the Grand Secretary go. There are serious vacancies in the capital's various levels of government. Jiangnan has always been a place where talents gather. If the Grand Secretary goes to Jiangnan, he can serve as the chief examiner and select some outstanding scholars from the local area."

Shunzhi shook his head again.

One insisted on making a southern tour, while the other insisted on not allowing it.

The morning court session ended unhappily.

This is a single phrase!
……

2 days later.

Jiang Qingyun submitted another petition, a lengthy 5000-word document.

After reading it, Emperor Shunzhi wrote three words in his reply: "I forbid it!"

Afterwards, he sent guards back to the Jiang residence.

This is two separate statements!

Many people were moved to tears; among them were both intelligent and foolish people, and on the surface, the two types of people appeared no different.

Undercurrents were stirring in the capital as people visited relatives and friends, and held banquets and tea parties.

The informants in teahouses, restaurants, brothels, and private clubs collected a large amount of intelligence and sent it to Jiang Qingyun's desk.

This was another effective screening.

There are countless people who are ideologically opposed to Chiang Kai-shek.

……

Jiang Qingyun, who was preparing to invite Dorgon to the southern tour for the third time, suddenly remembered someone: Dong'e, the daughter of Dorgon.

It has been two years since the last time I forced myself upon him.

"Someone, send a sedan chair to fetch Dong'e to stay at the mansion for a while."

"Yes."

It caused a sensation throughout the city that day.

What signal did Chiang Kai-shek's open visit to Dorgon's daughter send?
"The Regent has been exonerated, and it is estimated that the case will be overturned."

"You know what, you know what, it's really possible."

Dorgon had served as the banner lord of the Bordered White Banner, and all the people of the Bordered White Banner were proud of this. They believed that Chief Minister Chiang Kai-shek was extending goodwill to the Bordered White Banner.

The Plain White Banner did not react as strongly to this matter as the Bordered White Banner.

Two years later~
The terrifying Jiang Qingyun once again took advantage of the weak Dong E, completely disregarding Dong E's weak, helpless, indignant, and stubborn nature.

If you don't want to, what does it have to do with me?
I'm merely using your body to win over the loyalty of the White Banner.

As the Prime Minister, every aspect of my life is politics!
……

3 days later.

Dong E was then able to return to his residence.

The sedan chair was carried by eight men and escorted by 50 cavalrymen. Dong'e, sitting inside the sedan chair, was filled with resentment and suddenly burst into tears.

The cries were heart-wrenching.

The onlookers looked at each other in shock.

"Why is Princess crying?"

"I do not know."

"They were probably crying tears of joy!"

"Ah, yes! Yes!"

Everyone nodded hastily and left satisfied. That's a good explanation; because of the Grand Secretary's favor, Dong'e was overjoyed and wept with happiness!

Throughout the entire process, none of the people of the Bordered White Banner felt humiliated.

Flag bearers worship the strong!
Those with strong troops and powerful horses can be flag leaders; those who can win battles can be flag leaders; and those who can distribute spoils evenly can be flag leaders.

Chiang Kai-shek was a powerful figure who could manipulate events at will, kill without hesitation, control the court, and had a huge military record in Hubei. He was an absolute strongman!
The strong can do whatever they want, and they can do anything without being criticized, even forcibly seizing Dong'e is justifiable.

We bannermen have our own Zhou rituals.

……

At the end of the first lunar month, go to court early.

Jiang Qingyun submitted another memorial.

Only by requesting and declining three times can one conform to the rites of Zhou.

Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Shunzhi's eyes reddened slightly.

"Since the Grand Secretary insists so, I have no choice but to grant his request."

"My late father passed away early, and the Empress Dowager is not here. I am young and ignorant, and the Grand Secretary has been teaching and instructing me diligently. From this day forward, I will honor the Grand Secretary as my father-mind."

"Announcing to the world, the Prime Minister is on a southern tour!"

"The minister obeys the order."

Under the scorching sun~
Jiang Qingyun, who was appointed by imperial decree to inspect the finances, grain, and military affairs of the four provinces of Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui, and Jiangxi, and who was also the Grand Secretary and the Emperor's father, left the Forbidden City and mounted his horse.

He couldn't help but turn back and gaze fondly at the majestic Forbidden City.

The gears of fate began to turn at this moment.

(End of this chapter)