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

Chapter 291 declares Wu Yingxiong's death a suicide!

Half an hour later~
Zhou Cang came to report.

"Reporting to the Grand Secretary, the Wu residence has been cleared. More than 30 people have been killed and more than 40 have been captured. What should be done with Princess Jianning? Please give your instructions, Grand Secretary."

Jiang Qingyun took a deep breath:

"Bring the princess and her maids here."

"Yes."

In no time, the soldiers escorted Princess Jianning and her personal maid to the flower hall.

……

"Husband~"

Looking at Wu Yingxiong curled up like a shrimp, Princess Jianning rushed over and burst into tears.

Jiang Qingyun watched her cry quietly, and only spoke after her crying subsided after a quarter of an hour.

“Princess, I suspect you intended to poison me, but unfortunately you ended up poisoning your husband instead.”

"You traitor Chiang Kai-shek! You'll die a horrible death!"

"Was this your doing?"

"I only regret that Heaven is blind!"

Looking at Princess Jianning's distorted face, Jiang Qingyun was not surprised at all.

The problem he faced was that Wu Yingxiong's death would leave Wu Sangui with no other choice but to rebel.

Originally~
He wanted to negotiate several times, even if it meant giving up a province, to slightly delay Wu Sangui's rebellion and buy himself a year or two!

Zhili was surrounded by enemies on all sides, and it needed to clean up its own territory before it could deal with Wu Sangui with peace of mind.

The deployment was disrupted.

How hateful!
How hateful!
……

Although it is a funeral, it does not necessarily have to be conducted according to funeral procedures.

Jiang Qingyun:
"Announce this to the world!"

“Wu Yingxiong, son of the Prince of Pingxi, lived in the capital for a long time. Seeing the old scenery, he thought of his former master and often felt grateful for the kindness that the Ming Dynasty had shown to the Wu family. He felt that he could not be both loyal to the country and filial to the country. He was dissatisfied with his father’s treacherous behavior and was tormented by his heart. He was depressed and unhappy, so he chose to commit suicide.”

"His wife, Princess Jianning, daughter of Emperor Taizong, was overcome with grief and also did not wish to live on, so she followed her husband in death."

"According to custom, give him a proper burial!"

"As ordered."

The soldiers dragged the incessantly cursing Princess Jianning to the next room, hung her from the roof beam, and fabricated a corpse that looked like she had been buried alive for love.

To go all out, they included a will and other such documents.

The news shocked the capital.

Whether the world believes it or not, Chief Minister Chiang Kai-shek believed it.

Not only did he believe it, he also openly ordered that Wu Yingxiong's body and suicide note be sent to Kunming!

Since the situation is beyond repair, let's make things as disgusting as possible for Wu Sangui. No matter how Wu Sangui explains that his son didn't commit suicide, the world will look at him with suspicion.

……

Zhao Kuangyin was right: How can I allow others to snore beside my bed! Not even a beautiful woman!

South of the city, at the Chiang Kai-shek residence.

A huge battle map was hanging on the wall.

Jiang Qingyun, dressed in a coarse cloth gown and wooden clogs, held a red pencil in his left hand and a blue pencil in his right, deep in thought as he studied the map.

Shanxi is known as a land of mountains and rivers.

The Taihang Mountains, Lüliang Mountains, and Yellow River form a natural barrier, making it particularly suitable for military separatism.

Starting from Shanxi, one could threaten the capital to the east, Shaanxi and Gansu to the west, the Central Plains to the south, and trade with various tribes of the grasslands to the north.

The above perspective is centered on Shanxi.

The following perspective is centered on Zhili (the region south of the Yangtze River).

To the southeast of Zhili lies Shandong, known for its "unfaithful" nature; to the west lies Shanxi, a region known for its "separatist" rule; and to the northeast lies Shengjing, the "hometown of the Manchus."

Enemies on all sides!

Furthermore, there is a risk that the Grand Canal could be cut off!

"Meow~"

Jiang Qingyun was deep in thought when the calico cat lay on the table beside him, rolling around left and right.

Suddenly, thud~
The cat fell off the edge of the table, and although it didn't fall any further, it still whimpered.

Jiang Qingyun bent down, picked it up, and brought it close to the map.

"Sanhua, take Shanxi and let Shanxi pay for it; take Shandong and let Shandong provide the manpower. Left and right protectors, guarding the capital region. What do you think?"

"Meow~"

……

That night.

Jiang Qingyun invited Wu Yong to a small gathering.

After a few rounds of drinks, Jiang Qingyun sighed, "With our eldest brother in charge of the two rivers, it's becoming increasingly difficult for the three of us brothers to get together. Second brother, please come and help me?"

"Row."

“Second brother, practicing medicine can’t save the world. Even the most brilliant prescription can only save a thousand patients at most. Entering officialdom is different. With a stroke of your pen, you can save tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of lives.” “The Grand Secretary is right.”

"Second brother, what official position do you want to be?"

"Military affairs are definitely out of the question, how about civil affairs?"

"Sure. Name your terms."

"No. Whatever task the Grand Secretary assigns me, I will take it."

Wu Yong's reply was very appropriate, and Jiang Qingyun smiled, got up and poured a glass of wine for both of them.

"Second brother, I need to test you first."

"Please, Grand Secretary, set the questions."

"Tell me, what do practicing medicine and governing have in common?"

"The doctors always diagnose the illness first and then prescribe medicine. A good doctor is one who can remedy the situation after it's already happened and prescribe the right medicine. But a renowned doctor treats illness before it occurs, emphasizing prevention and taking precautions."

"Any more?"

"Every medicine has its side effects, so prescribe with caution and use precise dosages."

Jiang Qingyun's eyes lit up, and he secretly praised his second brother, saying that he had a high level of theoretical knowledge.

"Any more?"

"A doctor should have a compassionate heart. While a doctor's excellent medical skills are important, having a heart that cares about the patient is even more important."

"can you do it?"

"can!"

"Second brother, it's not that I don't believe you, but I want to ask you what guarantee you have?"

"What does the Grand Secretary mean?"

"A doctor can prescribe medicine for a few dozen patients at most. A governor can get medicine for millions. Second brother, you're a doctor, you know that giving the wrong medicine can kill people!!"

Wu Yong stood up.

“My Wu family is a renowned family of doctors in the north, and our reputation is more precious than gold. Although the governorship is prestigious, it cannot be passed down through generations. Being a governor is only temporary, but being a famous doctor can last forever. Therefore, I care a lot about my family’s reputation. Politics is unpredictable, and if I want to get out of trouble unscathed, a good reputation is my best weapon.”

Jiang Qingyun stood up excitedly and picked up his wine glass.

"Governor Wu of Shanxi, I salute you!"

"Dry!"

The two drank until they were slightly tipsy. Wu Yong firmly rejected the suggestion that his son should also take up an official post, but agreed to let him succeed as the Imperial Medical Academy Director.

……

Forbidden City.

Jiang Qingyun personally summoned the envoy sent by Abunai, the Khan of the Chahar tribe, who had disappeared from the capital after the Beijing Incident.

The envoy had an arrogant expression.

"By order of the Great Khan, I pay my respects to the Grand Secretary."

"Please rise, Your Excellency. I met Khan Abunai and we hit it off immediately. We share the same aspirations. It is a pity that we have not seen each other for two years. I miss Your Excellency very much."

"The same goes for the Great Khan."

How are the herders in Chahar doing now?

"To the Chief Minister, as the saying goes, even if you have a fortune, it doesn't count if you have livestock. We herders rely on the weather for our livelihood, and we live a very frugal life."

"I see. Guards, bestow upon the esteemed envoy 100 taels of gold."

"Grand Secretary, no, no!"

“I am as close to the Great Khan as brothers. My bestowal upon you is the same as the Great Khan's bestowal upon you. If you refuse, you will be disloyal.”

"Thank you, Chief Minister."

……

Who doesn't love gold? Everyone loves gold.

Having accepted the gold, the envoy's expression became noticeably more submissive, unlike his arrogant demeanor when he first entered the palace.

Jiang Qingyun's attitude was kind and approachable:

"Your Excellency has traveled a long way; was your journey smooth?"

"Returning to the Grand Secretary, the journey was relatively smooth. Although the small roads near Chifeng were difficult to travel, the small group managed."

"What important matter brings you to the capital, Your Excellency?"

"The Great Khan wishes to share the world with you and establish a brotherly alliance. This is his personal letter."

Jiang Qingyun finished reading the letter.

"This is a matter of great importance, please allow me to think about it. It is not easy for you to come to the capital, so please eat and drink well, and all expenses during your stay in the capital will be paid by the imperial court."

"Thank you, Chief Minister."

……

Abu Nai's envoy was surprised to find the capital bustling with activity, with tens of thousands of farmers from Zhili organized to dig ditches, repair roads, and build houses.

He also discovered that the Xishan camp was shrouded in smoke and dust every day, with deafening shouts of battle.

Although he did not understand the "large-scale mobilization mechanism", he instinctively realized that the Grand Secretary's strength should not be underestimated. The Khan's large-scale mobilization of troops and the Grand Secretary's mobilization were essentially the same thing.

(End of this chapter)