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

Chapter 299 Shaving Hair and Changing Flags~
Jiang Qingyun wiped her mouth with a reserved air, then put down her chopsticks, stood up, and slowly walked towards Meng Qiaofang.

At this moment, we're heading in both directions.
Meng Qiaofang raised his right hand, and the generals behind him immediately stopped. He continued forward for another five zhang, then pushed the mountain of gold and overturned the jade pillar.

"Governor-General of Shaanxi and Gansu, Meng Qiaofang, pays his respects to the Grand Secretary."

"Please get up quickly!"

He was only halfway down when Jiang Qingyun helped him up.

"I have long admired Governor Meng as a pillar of strength in the Northwest, and meeting him today, I can see his reputation is well-deserved. Please—"

"Please, Grand Secretary!"

After exchanging pleasantries, the two sat down on either side of the large table.

……

"Governor Meng, please feel free to choose whatever you prefer?"

"Yes."

Meng Qiaofang skillfully poured in two plates of mutton. The charcoal-fired copper hot pot was steaming, and the mutton was cooked through in no time.

Sharing a pot of food, the two chatted as they ate, their intimacy resembling that of old friends reunited, creating a very harmonious atmosphere.

In Hong Kong movies, the reason why gangsters often have hot pot dinners is because it's the cheapest way to film them.

At this time and place, Jiang and Meng ate hot pot because they shared the same pot and didn't worry about being poisoned.

The food was still slightly warm when Jiang Qingyun took off his hat, revealing his bald head.

Meng Qiaofang was slightly taken aback.
"Has the Grand Secretary shaved his head?"

"Yes, the 'money-tail' hairstyle is not in line with Chinese culture. Shaving the head is more in line with the new lifestyle movement advocated by the Prime Minister."

As he spoke, Jiang Qingyun waved his hand.

Zhou Cang, who was about 2 zhang away, quickly approached and knelt on one knee.

"The entire army removes its helmets."

"As ordered."

The messenger galloped away on his horse.

"By order of the Grand Secretary, all personnel shall remove their helmets!"

Without the slightest hesitation, the Eight Banner soldiers collectively removed their lightning rod helmets, revealing their shiny bald heads.

Meng Qiaofang was utterly astonished. When she looked at Jiang Qingyun again, her eyes held four parts admiration, three parts shock, and three parts fear.

"The Grand Secretary is truly an iron-fisted prime minister."

Jiang Qingyun burst into laughter.

“Now that I sit in this position, the Prince of Pingxi will be the first to object.”

"Is the Prince of Pingxi plotting a rebellion?"

"What do you think?"

"That is indeed possible! Among all the governors and viceroys in the country, he has the largest military force and the capability to do so."

……

Jiang Qingyun stared at the thin Meng Qiaofang through the rising steam.

"Governor Meng has personally experienced dozens of battles, large and small, and can be considered a veteran of the battlefield. I would like to hear your thoughts on what strategy you would employ if the Prince of Pingxi were to rebel?"

Meng Qiaofang put down her chopsticks.

"Your Excellency, if I were him, I would certainly take Hunan first, and then attack Jiangxi to the east. After taking Jiangxi, we can then unite with Shang Kexi in Guangdong."

"and then?"

"By capturing Jiujiang and attacking the fertile lands south of the Yangtze River, we can ensure that the army's supplies will be plentiful."

"What happens next?"

"Cough cough cough~ There are roughly two routes: either take Sichuan, capture Hanzhong, and enter Shaanxi and Gansu; or take Hubei, capture Xiangyang, and enter Henan."

Jiang Qingyun stared at Meng Qiaofang, whose face was flushed from coughing violently, and suddenly realized that the old man's health was worrying.

"Don't rush, have a cup of hot tea."

"Thank you, Chief Minister."

Meng Qiaofang took it and used the tea to suppress the sudden urge to cough.

……

"I'm sorry to have made you look foolish, Grand Secretary."

"Governor Meng, you should take good care of yourself. The people of Shaanxi and Gansu are known for their fierce and unruly nature. With a high-ranking official like you in charge, the court can feel at ease."

"Thank you for your concern, Chief Minister."

By this point in the conversation, the two had basically figured out each other's intentions.

Meng Qiaofang bluntly stated that in high-end social settings, sincerity is the key to success.

"Prime Minister, Shaanxi and Gansu have a large number of soldiers but little pay, poor land and a large population, and still need strong support from the central government."

How many soldiers does the Shaanxi-Gansu Green Standard Army currently have?

"The number of soldiers is 65,000, of which 10,000 are cavalry."

"There are too many troops; we must reduce them."

"How much?"

“Leave 30,000 elite troops behind. Their food, pay, pensions, rewards, and military equipment will all be provided by the central government. No local Shaanxi or Gansu region will have to bear a single penny of the costs. They will be distributed according to the standards of the tenth year of the Shunzhi reign.”

"Thank you, Chief Minister!"

"But there is one condition: all civil and military officials in Shaanxi and Gansu, from you down, must shave their heads!"

"As ordered."

……

"Grand Secretary, the Prefect of Xi'an has passed away several months ago. Is there a suitable candidate in the central government?" Jiang Qingyun waved his hand.

"As the Governor-General of Shaanxi and Gansu, you can make your own decisions regarding civil and military officials below the fourth rank without reporting to the central government. For officials above the fourth rank, you will make recommendations, which will then be approved by the central government. The necessary procedures still need to be followed."

"Thank you, Chief Minister."

Meng Qiaofang felt reassured and stood up to wave.

More than thirty accompanying military officers simultaneously removed their swords and knelt on one knee.

"These are all officers of my Shaanxi-Gansu Green Standard Army, the lowest rank being guerrilla commander. Come, pay your respects to the Grand Secretary."

The military officers spoke loudly.

"Greetings, Your Excellency the Grand Secretary."

"Good~"

A thought suddenly struck Jiang Qingyun.

"Bring me wine, I'll have a bowl with you generals."

……

Not a moment.

The guards came over carrying four wine jars and a stack of rough porcelain bowls.

With a warm smile, Jiang Qingyun walked up to the military officer standing at the head of the line, holding a wine bowl.

This man was tall and imposing, exuding the air of a military general. Upon seeing the Grand Secretary approach, he quickly bowed and clasped his hands, saying, "Zhao Liangdong, Deputy Commander of the Imperial Guard, greets Your Excellency the Grand Secretary."

"Damn it!"

The two clinked bowls together and then drank the rest in one gulp.

Jiang Qingyun took the bowl filled by the guard and walked to the second military officer.

"Sun Sike, the garrison commander of Tongguan, pays his respects to the Grand Secretary."

"Damn it!"

To everyone's surprise, Jiang Qingyun toasted everyone in turn and drank from each one without missing a single one!

"Today was wonderful, truly wonderful."

A drunken Jiang Qingyun staggered back to camp with the help of his guards, leaving everyone looking at each other in bewilderment.

Zhao Liangdong exclaimed, "The Grand Secretary is truly magnanimous!"

"Yes, he can drink thirty bowls of Fenjiu without getting drunk. That's amazing."

After a while.

Zhou Cang walked out of the command tent, holding a piece of paper in his hand.

"Your Excellency the Governor~"

Meng Qiaofang took the paper, unfolded it, and was immediately overjoyed. There were four large characters in cursive script on the paper: "Jiang and Meng are matched, the world is at peace!"

"The Grand Secretary has excellent calligraphy. When I get back, I will frame this piece and hang it in the Governor-General's hall."

……

evening.

Jiang Qingyun was sitting inside the tent reading a book when the tent door was suddenly flung open.

"Second Brother is here? I have to thank you for what happened today. How could you even think of adding wine to the water?"

"This was just a spur-of-the-moment decision; the Prime Minister's health is of utmost importance."

"Come on, let me take your pulse."

"Yes."

Jiang Qingyun extended his left hand, and Wu Yong took his pulse, his eyes slightly closed.

After a while, he opened his eyes.

"The chief minister has been fighting for months, and is exhausted from the long journey. He is under stress and his blood circulation is poor, but he can recover in ten days with just a little rest."

"Second brother, how is Meng Qiaofang's health?"

"Not good. He has a chronic illness, is old, and eats a coarse diet. I'm afraid he won't live much longer."

"how long?"

"It's hard to say, one year? Three years? Either is possible."

Could you explain it more clearly?

"Meng Qiaofang is like a rusty knife with many holes in it. She might break one day."

"I understand."

"Prime Minister, you must take care of your health. Long-distance campaigns and being on the battlefield take a heavy toll on your health. Prime Minister, Dorgon's example serves as a warning; you—"

Wu Yong's true feelings were revealed.

Jiang Qingyun was also moved and held his hand tightly.

"Second brother, don't worry, I~"

Before the words were even finished...
It was noisy outside.

"I've come from the capital; I need to see the Grand Secretary!"

……

A weary knight slid to his knees as soon as he entered the command tent.

"Reporting to the Grand Secretary, my concubine Huang Xiu is pregnant."

"Okay!"

Wu Yong was the first to shout out excitedly.

(End of this chapter)