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

Chapter 277 Ghost Festival + Blood Moon + Heavenly Dog Eats the Moon + Nine Purple Fire + Red Horse and Red Sheep
Liu Shu's face turned deathly pale, her limbs went weak, and her umbrella fell to the ground.

"What did you say?"

“He just told me personally that 92 members of the Donglin Party will be publicly executed soon, including your father. He was afraid I wouldn’t understand, so he specifically explained the charges against him.”

……

"Liu Rushi, have you no shame? How old are you? You still want to marry into a higher social class? What has my father ever done to wrong you?"

"Liu Rushi, is there any woman in the world more shameless than you?"

"The chivalrous He Dongjun? Bah! You'll be a prostitute your whole life."

Liu Shu completely lost control, and after cursing, she ran into the rain.

Liu Rushi had only taken a few steps when she suddenly felt dizzy and slipped, falling into the pond in front of Canglang Pavilion. The icy lake water filled her lungs, choking her and making her both painful and lucid.

Before long, the servants of Canglang Pavilion rowed a small boat and pulled her ashore.

……

Jiang Qingyun was unaware of all of this.

As the Prime Minister of the Empire, his heart is filled with the vast land of China, the lives of countless people, and the grand plan for the future. For him, women are merely a diversion during his busy official duties.

News from the capital kept reaching the headquarters.

Emperor Shunzhi frequently summoned officials of the Eight Banners.

"The salaries of officials in Beijing have been suspended, and the pay for Manchu bannermen has also been suspended."

"In June, 11 riots occurred in the inner city, resulting in over 100 casualties and the burning of 12 houses. Nine robberies occurred in the southern city, and wealthy households began to evacuate from the southern city."

"At Tongzhou Wharf, all merchant ships are collectively retreating south."

Emperor Shunzhi urged all provinces to pay their taxes and grain tribute.

"Except for rice, prices in Beijing have soared across the board."

"~Unexplained illnesses are frequently occurring in the inner city, with patients experiencing excessive sweating and diarrhea. Coupled with a shortage of medicinal materials, the death toll has exceeded 500."

Jiang Qingyun flipped through the pages one by one. It could be said that, up to this point, everything was as expected, except for the last one.

"Old Zhou, what's causing these frequent episodes of illness?"

"I don't understand medical principles, I'll go find Wu Guo."

"Row."

A short while later, Wu came over and read the news report about the unknown illness in the inner city three times.

"The prime minister is like someone who has eaten unclean food or drunk contaminated water."

"Are you sure?"

"It's basically certain."

After Wu Guo left, Zhou Shao whispered a reminder: "Prime Minister, do you remember receiving similar intelligence before, that unidentified people were throwing rotting cat and dog carcasses into wells?"

"of course I remember."

"Prime Minister, it seems there really is a mysterious sabotage organization lurking in the capital."

"The Ninth Banner??"

Jiang Qingyun stared in shock. No, it really exists?

……

The Ghost Festival, also known as the Hungry Ghost Festival, falls on the 15th day of the seventh lunar month.

Forbidden City.

Emperor Shunzhi looked exhausted, and his thinness was worrying.

Sony hurriedly entered the Qianqing Palace.

"Your Majesty, the Shandong Provincial Governor's Office has submitted a report."

"Quickly, give it to me."

Shunzhi hurriedly unfolded the document, his face gradually darkening, his anger becoming increasingly difficult to contain.

"The Shandong governor's office says they are actively raising funds, and the shipment is expected to begin in half a month and arrive in the capital in a month, but I cannot wait any longer. Is there any news from Shanxi?"

"I sent three envoys to Jin, but they disappeared without a trace, like a clay ox sinking into the sea."

"Do Shanxi merchants dare to disobey my decree?"

Looking at the suffering Shunzhi, Sony had nothing to say. Complaining about the past was pointless now; the key was to solve the problem.

"Sony, how is the formation of the royalist army going?" "Morale is low, and they may not be able to fight."

"why?"

"Your Majesty, the banner soldiers' pay has not been paid, and they are complaining bitterly."

"They can't only love the Qing Dynasty when they're eating the fruits of their labor! They should hate Chiang Kai-shek, the traitor who emptied the national treasury, and all of this is his doing!!"

Looking at the furious Shunzhi, Sony wanted to say something, but he held back.

……

According to normal thinking.

Once a powerful minister leaves the capital, the emperor will quickly win over his ministers to form an army loyal to him, and then use force to control the central government, completely overhaul the civil service system, and take control of the capital.

Afterwards, he called for the emperor's support while simultaneously sending troops to suppress the rebels.

Once the royalist army fires the first shot, more royalists will spring up from the ground.

The emperor naturally has an advantage!

The problem is that Jiang Qingyun has been officially away from Beijing for four months, while Shunzhi is still mired in the quagmire.

His performance was so poor that the surrounding provinces, who were initially hesitant, lost faith in the young emperor. Saving the emperor was a great achievement, and helping him was an easy one; everyone was aiming for victory!
That night.

Forbidden City.

A young eunuch on watch noticed the ground was red, so he looked up and was shocked to find a blood moon hanging high in the night sky. The scene was terrifying.

"Blood moon! Blood moon!"

The eunuchs and palace maids all rushed out.

Half an hour later, the moon began to be swallowed up by the celestial dog, growing smaller and smaller.

Outside Qianqing Palace.

Emperor Shunzhi looked up at the sky, his heart filled with rage, and after swaying a few times, he collapsed.

The emperor fainted, the Forbidden City descended into chaos, and the capital city followed suit.

I swear to God, the unusual celestial phenomena that occurred during the Ghost Festival were absolutely not arranged by Jiang Qingyun. No matter how powerful Jiang is, he cannot interfere with the Heavenly Court.

It was purely by chance!

……

The people of the capital were filled with panic, as if the end of the world was imminent. In fact, the so-called unusual celestial phenomena were just the last straw that broke the camel's back.

Since Chief Minister Chiang left Beijing, the capital has been filled with bad news.

Everyone in the capital was on edge, except for a small group who were ecstatic. That's right, they were the Ninth Banner!

The Ninth Banner held a secret meeting in a bathhouse.

The leader, Suhetai, clenched his fist.

"I have good news to share with everyone. The Yongli Emperor of the Ming Dynasty has officially conferred upon our Ninth Banner the title of Jinyiwei, a hereditary and permanent position. The day the royal army succeeds in its northern expedition will be the day we see the light of day again."

The people soaking in the pool cheered and jumped for joy, including many Manchu women!

The Ninth Banner, an organization that had long been lurking in the shadows, was dedicated to winning over the enemies of the enemies. Some of the banner women who were dissatisfied with the Qing government were recruited as members of the Ninth Banner.

Among them was Guarjia Liushu, whose feet were forcibly bound.

As a Manchu woman who had been suppressed by her father and brothers for a long time and lacked family warmth, she quickly integrated into the Ninth Banner organization after joining it.

Suhetai gestured for silence.

"The blood moon is both a warning from heaven and an excellent opportunity for our development."

"Let's use the same story: Ghost Festival + Blood Moon + Heavenly Dog Eating the Moon + Nine Purple Fire + Red Horse and Red Sheep. Let's spread rumors and try to hasten the demise of the Qing Dynasty."

'When will this day end? We will both perish!'

Water splashed everywhere, people embraced enthusiastically, and their faces were filled with madness. Everyone here wanted the Qing Dynasty to perish, even if it meant their own demise!
……

One hour later~
Suhotai: "I hereby declare the attack to begin!"

The group split into several small teams and disappeared into the night.

When Chief Minister Chiang Kai-shek left Beijing, Emperor Shunzhi took over the organization of the curfew patrols, and the Ninth Banner found no opportunity to disrupt them. However, with the failure of the main crop, the curfew system became a mere formality.

No money? What's the point of patrolling?
Under the cover of night~
The Ninth Banner's assault squad specializes in targeting wells.

One person kept watch at a distance, two people worked together to move the manhole cover, and a third person unzipped his pants, aimed at the well, and pulled it down!
(End of this chapter)