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

Chapter 300 The Fatalism of the Banner Soldiers~
Jiang Qingyun excitedly circled the desk.

"Is everything alright at home?"

"Reporting to the Grand Secretary, everything is fine. It was the Second Madam who sent me here at top speed to report this."

"You've worked hard, this is a reward for you."

"Thank you, Sir Shofu."

"Go down."

The messenger knight left the command tent with a pure gold paperweight shaped like a crouching tiger, beaming with delight. If he weren't the cousin of the second wife's maid, he wouldn't have gotten such a lucrative position.

Bring good news to your benefactor, and you will receive a great reward.

This has been the case since ancient times.

With the Jin army defeated, Shaanxi and Gansu surrendering to the enemy, and his concubine becoming pregnant, Jiang Qingyun was overjoyed.

……

At Fengling Ferry, crowds thronged.

The Shaanxi-Gansu Green Standard Army soldiers, returning laden with their spoils, wore satisfied smiles.

The Shaanxi and Gansu regions were impoverished and unable to provide for their own food and supplies, resulting in chronic shortages for the Green Standard Army. Jiang Qingyun confiscated the wealth of Shanxi merchants and then used their money and provisions to secure the loyalty of the Shaanxi and Gansu troops!
Jiang Mengpei's relationship was a two-way street.

Everything in Shaanxi and Gansu remained the same, and Tongguan was also in the hands of the Shaanxi-Gansu Green Standard Army.

Jiang Qingyun only sent 50 soldiers to Xi'an, demonstrating the utmost magnanimity. The two sides each occupied one side of the Yellow River, and their relationship was extremely harmonious.

As for whether Meng Qiaofang will dismiss excess members of the pro-independence camp, Jiang Qingyun does not intend to inquire.

Anyway, the central government only provides salaries for 3 people!
How should it be allocated?

Lao Meng, it's your decision.

……

The scene of seeing him off.

Meng Qiaofang solemnly cupped her hands in greeting: "Prime Minister, take care."

"Old Meng, you must take good care of yourself. We can't do without you in this important task of serving Shaanxi and Gansu."

"Thank you, Chief Minister."

"Old Meng, if the imperial court were to go to war with Wu Sangui, which southern province would be the most important?"

"Jiangxi!"

"Appreciate further details."

"If Jiangxi were in the hands of the rebels, Wu Sangui and Shang Kexi would be able to form a large and complete territory (Yunnan, Guizhou, Hunan, Jiangxi and Guangdong). On the contrary, the rebels would not dare to launch a northern expedition, because once the main force of the rebels crossed the river, the government troops in Jiangxi could rush into Hunan, cutting them in half, and the north and south would not be able to coordinate. The rebels would be defeated within a few months."

Meng Qiaofang's strategic analysis was insightful and to the point.

"Take care of yourself!"

"Respectfully seeing off the Grand Secretary."

Meng Qiaofang led a large group of officers to kneel on one knee, displaying utmost respect.

……

On the way back.

Snowflakes danced in the air, blanketing the sky and the earth.

The army marched 30 li (approximately 15 kilometers) each day, partly due to the bad weather and partly because there was no need for a rapid march.

Fortunately, they did not carry cannons, otherwise it would have been a disaster for the army.

The road ahead is long~
Feeling bored in the carriage, Jiang Qingyun decided to bring Liu Rushi along on his next inspection to relieve his boredom. Everyone loves a woman who understands their words, and he was no exception.

Taiyuan Prefecture.

The newly appointed governor of Shanxi, Wu Yong, has arrived.

"Prime Minister, the latest military report from Datong Prefecture: a rare white blizzard has swept across the grasslands."

"is it?"

Congratulations, Chief Minister.

Jiang Qingyun smiled.

He knew that once the white blizzard started, the sky and earth would be one color, the snow would be blown by the wind, and people and animals would lose their sense of direction. It was common for small tribes to be swallowed up by the snow.

"have a drink?"

"Okay."

Outside, amidst the wind and snow, two people wrapped in leather jackets sat around a fireplace under the long corridor, enjoying the snowy scenery and reminiscing about the past.

……

The 22nd day of the 12th month of the 11th year of the Shunzhi reign.

Chiang Kai-shek finally returned to the capital, which he had always been loyal to, and was warmly welcomed by the people of the capital.

From outside Yongding Gate to inside the Forbidden City, the snow had been completely cleared.

Salutes, firecrackers, gongs and drums, shouts rose and fell in waves.

The same old rules apply when entering the city.

The procession, led by a black-clad honor guard carrying red flags, moved in perfect unison. The classic red and black color scheme thrilled the onlookers.

Wherever Jiang Qingyun went, everyone, whether officials or commoners, turned away.

Dozens of feet behind him, the flag captain Su Hetai barely restrained the urge to draw his bow and shoot Chiang Kai-shek.

The main problem is that I'm not confident.
He decided to wait for a more perfect opportunity.

Green-haired turtles are like that; they are very patient.

After the grand welcoming ceremony, everyone went home to prepare for the Spring Festival.

……

Braving the raging snow, Lao Qiding Alinbao trudged home, his steps uneven. Knock, knock, knock—he knocked on the door.
His wife opened the door, overjoyed.

"came back?"

"Ah."

Where is our son?

"All dead."

Only then did the old woman notice the two porcelain jars that Alinbao was holding in his arms, and she instantly burst into tears of heartache.

Alin closed the door.

"Don't cry. Go to the Eight Banners Salary Office to collect your reward money later. Your son is dead, but life still goes on."

"Uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu"

The old woman walked away, crying as she picked up her cloth bag.

Half an hour later, she returned carrying half a sack of silver ingots and half a pig.

The two sons each received 70 taels of silver as compensation. The eldest son was rewarded with 80 taels of silver for his bravery in the attempt (which failed). The heads of the father and his two sons were rewarded with 70 taels of silver. During the New Year, they were rewarded with 30 taels of silver and half a pig.

Alinbao felt sad but not angry.

He had four sons, two of whom were assigned to a commando unit and died in battle outside Taiyuan. He also had two younger sons who were seven or eight years old.

That's how it is for bannermen! They eat their fill of crops and shed their blood freely! Even if their two sons die in battle, they can't blame the prime minister; this is the fate of bannermen.

……

The next day, he strolled to a nearby teahouse and listened to a storytelling performance of "Chief Minister Chiang's Visit to the Dragon and Phoenix," and then went to the public bathhouse and spent 5 copper coins to take a hot bath.

Hot water soothes the soul.

Arlinbo curled up in the hot water and heard people talking.

"Brother, how much silver did you take on this western expedition?"

"A little over a hundred taels in odds and ends."

“Isn’t that too little?”

“There’s a lot; the higher-ups didn’t skimp on anything.”

"The Shanxi merchants are incredibly wealthy. If we wipe them out, how much silver will the imperial court seize? Surely you'll get a few hundred taels?"

Alinbao couldn't listen anymore.

"Hey, guys, we flag soldiers should be decent people."

"I couldn't help but stand up and say something fair. The imperial court has taken all the wealth of the Shanxi merchants, so what's wrong with giving us a little more silver?"

"Are you inciting the bannermen to oppose the Grand Secretary?"

"No, I didn't, don't talk nonsense."

A triple denial indicates a guilty conscience.

Alinbao rushed over and started fighting with the man. Afterwards, the two were taken away by the patrolling soldiers who arrived at the scene.

The training department of the Infantry Commander's Office took over the case.

The interrogation revealed that the flag officer who was caught by Alinbao for spreading rumors was actually a sabotage element of the Ninth Banner!

The room next door.

An officer met with Arlinbao.

"Congratulations, you've caught a communist spy."

"Is it the Ninth Banner?"

"Ahem, His Excellency the Grand Secretary has ordered that, in order to avoid causing unnecessary panic, all departments should refrain from mentioning the concept of the Ninth Banner. However, because of your merit in capturing the spies, I can make an exception and tell you that yes, you have captured a member of the Ninth Banner."

"Great."

“Alinbao, we have reviewed your file. You were originally a soldier of the Bordered Red Banner, but you voluntarily defected to the Communists during the Beijing Incident, obtained your current residence, and were promoted to Blue Feather Captain.”

"Yes Yes."

"We also learned that your two sons died in battle in Taiyuan. Alinbao, your loyalty will be rewarded handsomely. Go back now!"

"Thank you, sir."

After bowing deeply, Alinbao left silently.

……

The next day.

Before he was fully awake, his seven-year-old son burst into the house.

"Father, you should go out and take a look."

"what is wrong?"

Ah Linbao threw on his clothes and ran outside, only to be instantly stunned.

The alley was packed with people.

One of the officers shouted:

"The Grand Secretary has decreed that the entire family of Bannerman Alinbao is loyal and worthy of being called a model for the Eight Banners' descendants. He is hereby promoted to the rank of Sixth-Rank Cavalry Captain and awarded the privilege of riding horses through the streets with his father and two sons."

"Please~"

"This...this...this..."

"Please mount your horse!"

Alinbao donned the red flower reserved for the groom, mounted his horse, and began his journey around the capital from his doorstep. Gongs and drums cleared the way, and envious glances were seen everywhere along the way.

Arlinbao had never experienced such a glorious moment in his life, and he was so excited that he couldn't contain himself.

(End of this chapter)