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

Chapter 358 Abstract Flag Raising

Shunzhi smiled, as if that was indeed the case, and he sat down casually.

"Speak, I am listening."

"I've heard that His Majesty has been devoted to Buddhist practice these days?"

"Yes."

What are your thoughts?

"Buddhism is profound and mysterious, and can be used to observe people, things, the world, and the universe."

"Your Majesty, why don't you become a monk?"

"what?"

"You should become a monk."

"I am the emperor. You may kill me, but you cannot humiliate me."

Emperor Shunzhi was furious.

Jiang Qingyun waved his hand, dismissing the guards around him who were about to draw their swords.

……

"I have arranged a way out for you—become a monk! After becoming a monk, you will gain true freedom. If you refuse to become a monk, you will be imprisoned until death. Oh, I forgot to tell you, Zhu Youlang has already arrived in Jiangning."

"What on earth do you want to do?"

"A social experiment of unprecedented scale and depth."

"So you're forcing me to become a monk??"

"Yes."

"why?"

"Only by making the emperor become a monk and repent for his sins can we break the myth that has lasted for thousands of years and destroy the thick wall in people's hearts."

Shunzhi stared intently at Jiang Qingyun.

"What if I refuse?"

"Zhu Youlang will not refuse."

Jiang Qingyun's eyes were piercing, making no attempt to conceal the threat.

After a while~
Shunzhi's eyes held a hint of sorrow.

"Give me some time to think about it."

"can."

Jiang Qingyun picked up the teacup, and Shunzhi quickly got up and left.

Watching that desolate and flustered figure, Jiang Qingyun summoned his concubine, Lü Zhu.

"Tomorrow, go to Hangzhou and bring Dong Eshi, the daughter of the Eight Banners Assistant Commander stationed in Hangzhou, to the capital."

"Yes."

Green Pearl was extremely loyal. In her eyes, the Grand Secretary was the young master of the Jiang family, whom she would always protect with her life. Finding beautiful women for the young master was simply her duty.

……

In the restless month of May, the air in Beijing was thick with hormones.

A month has passed.

The whole city is full of pregnant women; nine out of ten are pregnant.

It's understandable that the whole city is full of listless men.

The cost was the complete collapse of the internal order, ethics, and morality of the Eight Banners.

Everyone has noticed a serious problem—whose child is it?

Can't tell.

At first, they were just normal pairs.

Later, in the collective frenzy, they forgot everything, broke through everything, and new widows and married women were allowed to become concubines.

At first, it was just a celebration for a few.

Later, it turned into everyone's madness.

……

At the cabinet meeting.

Jiang Qingyun shouted loudly:
"Expanding the ranks is imperative. While raising troops is a long-term solution, it cannot address the immediate crisis. Therefore, to alleviate the urgent problem, the court must raise the ranks on a large scale."

Everyone was stunned, but dared not speak.

With a single order from Chiang Kai-shek, the flag-raising movement rose from the ground to become a towering structure.

Tongzhou Wharf.

Two civil officials stood imposingly on the high place, while the usually arrogant foreman stood bowing and scraping to the side.

"By order of the Grand Secretary, I have come to expand the banner system. Expanding the banner system, as the name suggests, means incorporating qualified men into the Eight Banners system. From then on, they will receive a guaranteed salary, live in residences in the capital, and fight for the court."

"Registration is now open."

"This is the first test for me: physical fitness screening."

Everyone looked at each other.

"What flag are you expanding?"

"It means you can become a Manchu lord, right?"

"Aren't all Manchus born Manchus?"

Everyone was discussing it, but no one dared to be the first to try it.

……

"Lord Yao, what should we do?"

"Simple, it's up to me."

Yao Qisheng approached the crowd, searching for suitable prey within them.

"what's your name?"

"Little Niu Er".

"Open your mouth."

"Ah."

"Can you carry four big bags?"

"5."

"Try it."

Niu Er easily hoisted the four large bags onto his shoulders.

"Take a few steps." After walking more than ten zhang, Niu Er unloaded the four large bags from his shoulders without panting or blushing.

"Can you fight?"

"Yes~"

"Can you have sex with a woman?"

"can."

"Take off your clothes!"

Yao Qisheng looked Niu Er up and down, and after confirming that he was a healthy man, he patted Niu Er on the shoulder with satisfaction.

"From now on, you are a Manchu."

"what?"

"Don't want to?"

"Yes, yes."

The next second, the queue stretched for three miles.

……

Yao Qisheng and Zhou Peigong stood on a high place, looking at the long queue, speechless.

"Brother Zhou, what are your thoughts?"

"Substituting a plum for a peach, or a cuckoo occupying a magpie's nest."

"Amazing."

"Brother Yao, I have a very strong premonition lately."

"what?"

"That person's true colors are about to be revealed."

"How to say?"

“He carried the banner of the Eight Banners and overthrew the Eight Banners. Next, he will carry the banner of the teachings of the sages and destroy the teachings of the sages.”

Zhou Peigong had a sharp eye and guessed almost exactly what was going on.

Yao Qisheng remained silent.

"Brother Zhou, what should we do?"

"Give them a taste of their own medicine."

"Ok?"

“Find a group of like-minded people, follow his old ways, infiltrate first, then seize power, and finally overthrow him. He holds the knife, so we can’t just stand by and do nothing.”

Yao Qisheng and Zhou Peigong exchanged glances, their unspoken understanding unspoken.

……

The trend of raising the flag is getting stronger and stronger.

Ultimately, 20,000 strong men were selected from various prefectures and counties in Zhili Province. Most of them were bachelors with no family, no education, and no savings.

Xishan Camp.

The army was in perfect formation, with swords and spears drawn.

The Manchu bannermen were ordered to conduct on-site screening of qualified new bannermen, including events such as cross-country obstacle course running, trench jumping, swimming, and simple formation coordination.

8000 people remained.

A Manchu bannerman shouted angrily at the hundred or so men assigned to him:
"From today onwards, you are all under the command of the Bordered Yellow Banner. Follow me into the city in a moment, and I will assign you houses and your pregnant wives."

"Remember, we Manchus are the most courteous. Once you're in the city, quickly get rid of those nasty country habits of yours, otherwise..."

Everyone was startled.

Niu Er asked the person next to him in a low voice.

"What did the commander just say?"

"They said they would divide the houses among us."

"I know, what's the next sentence?"

"It also includes wives who are already pregnant."

"what?"

"The Manchus have strict rules, and even thieves are particular about them."

"Oh, there's such a rule? By the way, bro, what's your name?"

"Liu Lu".

"My name is Niu Er. I used to work as a porter at Tongzhou Wharf."

"My father was a farmer on the imperial estate."

As they were talking, the captain on horseback in front stopped.

"Liu Lu".

"Whoo."

"This house is yours. Your wife is pretty. You're lucky, kid."

"The servant thanks the master."

"Where did you learn this?"

“My father used to work at the Imperial Estate, and I have known the rules of our Manchu people since I was a child.”

Liu Lu spoke very seriously.

The captain was amused.

"Liu Lu, that's not the way it's done these days. You should change your address. It's more appropriate to call me 'this humble servant'."

……

Liu Lu, who was lucky, walked into the courtyard and saw a very beautiful Manchu woman leaning against the door waiting. He thought to himself that this must be his new wife.

"You're here?"

May the Princess Consort be blessed.

"Oh dear, I wouldn't dare! You're too kind, my lord. May you be blessed."

"May I ask what the maiden's surname is?"

"Guarjia".

“Alright, from today onwards, my name will be Guarjia Liu Lu. My wife, please take good care of me.”

Liu Lu spoke with a straight face, while Liu Shu laughed so hard she almost fell over. Well, Liu Lu was definitely more handsome than A Linbao.

(End of this chapter)