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

Chapter 354 Chiang Kai-shek Returns to the Capital, Mobilizing 500,000 People to Clear Snow

Afterwards~
Zhou Shao personally wrote the article.

He commented as follows:
The Jiangning peace talks were successful, efficient, groundbreaking, historically significant, and unforgettable. These talks will determine the political landscape for the next thousand years.

The meeting minutes were signed on-site by representatives of all parties.

Afterwards, Feng Xifan quickly returned to Kinmen, and Ma Jixiang quickly returned to Kunming.

November 11th.

The Jiangning peace talks have finally completed all procedures, and the original minutes of the meeting have been collected with the signatures of Zheng Sen, Zhu Youlang, Li Dingguo, Mu Tianbo, Zhang Huangyan, and others.

Finally, Jiang Qingyun signed his name.

It is worth emphasizing that the Jiangning Conference clearly stipulated that the United Empire would simultaneously possess a monarch, a leader, and a national advisor.

The monarch is currently undecided.

The leader is Jiang Qingyun.

The position of the Imperial Advisor is currently undecided.

Everyone either eagerly awaited, watched coldly, or speculated in private when the young and vigorous Sima Qingyun would take action to usurp the throne.

……

On-site~
Governors and viceroys of various provinces, representatives of gentry, meritorious officials of the Green Standard Army, captains of the Eight Banners, virtuous and honest people from the common people, and even Ferdinand Verbiest of the Jesuits were all present.

As the saying goes, officials and civilians are present together, East and West are united, and Manchus and Hans are indistinguishable, all witnessing the event together.

"Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"

Jiang Qingyun, with a kind and benevolent expression, waved his hand repeatedly: "Everyone, get up. We are now a united empire, and we don't need this kind of thing."

The crowd persisted in kneeling and worshiping.

As soon as Chief Minister Chiang helped one person up, another knelt down. He kept helping them up, doing a lot of useless work.

Even Ferdinand Verbiest insisted on kneeling in worship.

“Father Nan, you are not a worldly person, so there is no need for you to kneel down.”

"Prime Minister, no. As the saying goes, when in Rome, do as the Romans do. Now that I'm in the East, I must abide by Eastern etiquette. If I must kneel, I must kneel."

After a day~
Xiao Jiang had back pain, but was in high spirits.

He was 23 that year.

……

This year was the twelfth year of the Shunzhi Emperor's reign, the ninth year of the Yongli Emperor's reign, 1655 AD, and also the first year of the United Empire.

The notices announcing another change of dynasty were posted in front of various prefectures, counties, and passes, frightening the local people who were passing by, who all moved their families into the mountains.

But they found that nothing had changed around them; the county magistrate was still the county magistrate, and the scholar was still the scholar.

Braids have become useless~
I want to get it cut, but I don't dare to.

Gradually, the people who had run into the mountains returned home one after another.

In the 17th century, when roads, transportation, technology, and education were all lagging behind, even if Chiang Kai-shek had all sorts of abilities, he could only accomplish a few things and deal with a few people in a year.

Perhaps it is true that our journey is to the stars and the sea, but our ship has not yet set sail.

The biggest changes are at the top!
A complete upheaval.

Emperor Shunzhi was reduced to a roadside in Beijing, Emperor Yongli to a roadside in Kunming, the number of Manchu bannermen was reduced to one-eighth of what it was when they entered the pass, the number of Han bannermen was reduced to 50%, and 90% of the nobles and officials in the capital had their household registrations revoked.

Huang Zongxi, this gaunt old man, unleashed an astonishing bloodlust. During the southern expedition, he and his disciples frantically purged traitors in Zhili.

They acted first and informed no one afterward; there was no communication whatsoever!
In this regard.

Jiang Qingyun remained silent throughout, feeling that Huang Zongxi had to bear some of the blame himself.

……

From the Qing Empire to the United Empire, the Eight Banners group's reaction was the most complex, encompassing emotions such as betrayal, humiliation, numbness, and indifference.

After defeating Wu Sangui, the number of Bannermen armed forces was reduced to 7000! During their period of being ordered to disperse and stationed in various places, there were occasional rebellions, but not many.

More than 500 bannermen rebelled due to discontent. Half of them were quickly suppressed by force, while the other half fled to Kunming.

Jiang Qingyun believed that if the sky wanted to rain, it would rain; if a mother wanted to remarry, she couldn't stop it. So he decided to take this opportunity to let the dissatisfied people in the Eight Banners leave on their own.

This is the end.

He accomplished his greatest goal after crossing over to the Qing Dynasty—weakening the Eight Banners and reducing their military strength to a level that could not affect the overall situation but could still influence local areas.

Changing the flag symbolizes that one has nominally unified the country and achieved nominal unification of government orders.

From then on, war became secondary, and politics took center stage.

Aristotle once said, "I like mathematicians to compete with artists, and I like artists to compete with me in mathematics." This statement contains a profound truth: one should always try to choose to compete with opponents in one's own area of ​​expertise, using one's strengths to attack the opponent's weaknesses, in order to win decisively.

Xiao Jiang is completely overwhelmed with winnings.

Chiang Kai-shek was overjoyed.

……

The tenth day of the twelfth lunar month.

Beijing.

Jiang Zhongcheng convened a meeting of all civil and military officials.

"With the land unified and the world at peace, how great and glorious is the Grand Secretary's achievement! In just two days, the wise and mighty Grand Secretary will be returning to the capital! As everyone knows, the Grand Secretary is my son, but he is first and foremost your leader, and of course, my leader as well."

The crowd shouted "Long live the Emperor!"

Jiang Zhongcheng was so immersed in joy that he couldn't pull himself out of it, and he stood up excitedly.

"To express the highest respect for the Grand Secretary, when he returned to the capital, the road from Yongding Gate to the Forbidden City had to be covered with a red carpet, firecrackers had to be set off, and not a single speck of ice or snow could be seen on the way."

Everyone looked out the window.

The snowflakes fell heavily, like goose feathers.

How can we do this?

Jiang Zhongcheng waved his hand.

"Colleagues, this is not a weather issue, but a very serious political issue."

"I order that, starting tomorrow, everyone in the capital, regardless of rank, age, or whether they are Manchu or Han, must be mobilized to clear the snow! Five hundred thousand people, even if they have to lick the roads clean, must do it."

Everyone stood up in unison.

"As ordered!"

……

The next day.

A citywide mobilization has been launched.

Everyone silently left their homes, starting by shoveling snow in front of their houses, then the main street, and finally the central axis.

Zhengyangmen is located on the central axis.

On the city wall.

Looking down at the officials, soldiers, and civilians diligently sweeping snow like ants, Jiang Zhongcheng felt a surge of pride, as if he were an emperor emeritus.

When the emperor is angry, blood can flow like a river.

The emperor was angry and laid down millions of corpses.

He couldn't help but sigh inwardly, "Only today do I realize the majesty of imperial power. The so-called Son of Heaven, once he utters a word, can move mountains and fill seas, reverse the flow of rivers, and turn the sun and moon upside down."

And all of this is because of having a good son.

Jiang Zhongcheng suddenly felt that as a father, there were some things he couldn't do himself, but he needed to do for his son, such as clearing obstacles to his ascension to the throne.

He asked in a low voice:
Is Emperor Shunzhi still alive?

This question startled everyone around, but fortunately, they were all intelligent people who had heard of Chengji's story, so they didn't immediately go and kill Shunzhi.

……

The next afternoon.

Return to the capital!

Jiang Qingyun was stunned by the scene before him. Snow was falling heavily and without stopping, but the official road was completely free of ice and snow, and crowds of people who had come to welcome him were standing on both sides of the snow.

One hundred thousand?

Two hundred thousand?
It could be as low as 500,000!
Zhou Cang asked in a low voice through the curtain.

"Chief assistant?"

"Have a stand-in."

"Yes."

The convoy continued on its way and entered Yongding Gate.

"Long live!
"Long live!"

On both sides of the road, the loud and unified voices of the crowds soared into the sky, causing the snowflakes to linger and not touch the ground for a long time.

(End of this chapter)