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

Chapter 374 Beating the Rakshasa Delegation
The abnormal surge in the number of wounded soldiers was quickly reported to Jiang Qingyun.

His reply:
"Respect individual choices."

"Considering the long-term planning of the Liaodong region, the second batch of wounded soldiers will be collectively resettled in an area centered on Tieling (as far north as possible). They will only be given policy support, and they will have to solve their own problems regarding farmland, cattle, houses, and wives."

The second batch of wounded soldiers mostly self-harmed; these people were just trying to escape the war. Even if resources were invested to help them settle down, these seasoned veterans wouldn't genuinely support them.

They're all old foxes, just fooling each other.

The first batch was different; it was genuine, heartfelt gratitude that brought tears to their eyes.

……

The emperor wasn't in a hurry, but the eunuchs were.

The Imperial Palace of Shengjing.

Military leaders from all provinces gathered.

"Prime Minister, you must not be fooled by these stinking soldiers."

"Prime Minister, they just want to avoid fighting."

"Prime Minister, this precedent must not be set. Otherwise, if this continues, the country will cease to exist."

Looking at the anxious warlords, Jiang Qingyun chuckled inwardly but remained outwardly calm.

"Gentlemen, I have already issued a decree on the resettlement of wounded soldiers, which is known to all officers and soldiers of the three armies. How can I arbitrarily retract it now? Are you asking me to break my promise? Are you asking me to be untrustworthy? Are you asking me to slap myself in the face? Are you asking me to lift a rock only to drop it on my own foot?"

Everyone was speechless, cursing under their breath.

I have once again witnessed the Grand Secretary's methods!
Liu Guoxuan stepped forward angrily: "Prime Minister, I must bring back the 500 sailors in the wounded soldiers' camp, otherwise I will not be able to answer to the Prince of Yanping."

Jiang Qingyun resolutely refused.

"Absolutely not, but this will not be the first time."

"From this day forward, the Shengjing Wounded Soldiers Camp will no longer accept wounded soldiers indiscriminately. You must go back and strictly guard and educate your subordinates. You must not harass or retrieve the wounded soldiers who have already been accepted."

"From this day forward, the Banner Guard will organize military police to investigate all those who violate military discipline inside and outside Shengjing, regardless of their rank. Once discovered, they will not be tolerated."

"Meeting dismissed."

After saying that, Jiang Qingyun turned and left.

The crowd was left looking at each other blankly before leaving one by one, filled with resentment but helpless.

……

The wounded soldiers' camp in Shengjing.

A civil official walked into the courtyard, looked at the "wounded soldiers" lying around, groaning and moaning, and revealed a mocking smile.

"The Prime Minister has ordered that the wounded soldiers' camp be disbanded immediately, and all personnel should go to Tieling on their own, make a living by themselves, and rush to build houses before winter."

"Sir, we are wounded soldiers."

"Your superiors have repeatedly asked the Prime Minister to send you back to serve in the military. If you don't want to leave..."

"Sir, please stop talking! We'll leave immediately! Right now!"

Hula~
The second batch of more than 6000 wounded soldiers recovered instantly, crawling and tumbling along.

They carried weapons, rations, tools, and land deeds, marching rapidly to Tieling, where they began to plunder houses, resources, and everything in sight.

In their looting frenzy, they even used weapons.

Small-scale brawls continue.

Many people have indeed become disabled, and they truly deserve it.

In just half a month~
Jiang Qingyun created something out of nothing, forcibly creating a brand-new semi-military organization—the Liaodong Armed Reclamation Army.

Although the first batch of more than 5000 genuine wounded soldiers lacked offensive capabilities, they were certainly not lacking in defensive and reproductive capabilities.

More importantly, they are loyal to their leader.

They are seeds! They are hope!
More than a decade later, when their descendants grow up, Liaodong will once again become a happy and fertile land for Han people.

……

As heavy snow fell in Liaodong, an uninvited guest arrived in Shengjing.

He was Bashkov, the envoy sent by the Russian Kingdom.

The Imperial Palace of Shengjing.

Jiang Qingyun sat on the dragon throne that Huang Taiji had once sat on, looking down at the arrogant fellow below the steps with extreme displeasure.

"Bashkov, since you are an envoy, why do you not kneel before me?"

“I am the military governor of Heilongjiang appointed by His Majesty the Tsar, and I am here on a mission to the East. I should not kneel.” Jiang Qingyun glanced at Zhou Cang.

Zhou Cang nodded, strode over, and kicked Bashkov hard in the back of the knee.

Enraged, Bashkov staggered to his knees. Just as he was about to get up, two guards pressed his shoulders down, forcing him to complete the kneeling ceremony.

“Your Excellency, you cannot afford the consequences of publicly humiliating the Tsar’s envoy.”

Jiang Qingyun was so angry she laughed.

"What price?"

"land!!"

"Which piece of land has the Tsar taken a fancy to?"

"The entire Heilongjiang River basin and the Jingqili River basin shall belong to the Tsar, or we will wage war!"

Without being ordered, the guards grabbed the arrogant fellow and began punching and kicking him.

"All right!"

Jiang Qingyun stopped the beating.

He slowly walked down the steps, staring at the guy whose face was covered in blood but who was still shouting madly.

"Do you think I have some huge weakness that you have over me? I can't think of any other reason for your arrogance."

"Sir, the Beketov and Panov legions have arrived in Heilongjiang. You will regret this."

Jiang Qingyun was speechless. This guy's so-called two legions should have a total of 800 men, right?

That's terrifying, the enemy force numbers a staggering 800.

Jiang Qingyun could not comprehend the Russians' endless greed and enigmatic arrogance.

Perhaps this is a special kind of self-confidence.
……

Two days later.

When Ningguta General Sharhuda and his son arrived in Shengjing, they were given a grand welcome, with 3000 infantrymen and 5000 cavalrymen lining the streets to greet them!
Sharhuda carefully examined the allied forces' appearance. The troops were composed of Manchus, Mongols, and Han Chinese, and their combat strength should not be underestimated, judging from their equipment and morale.

That night.

A grand banquet at the imperial palace.

Jiang Qingyun raised his glass first:
“Sharhuda, the Qing Dynasty is guilty, the Eight Banners are guilty, but you are meritorious. Because you have no blood on your hands, you have long defended the border and fought against those damned Russians. I toast you and your father!”

"Thank you, Chief Minister."

The Sharhuda father and son were flattered and quickly finished their drinks.

Immediately, Jiang Qingyun asked the question he was most concerned about: "How many men do you have under your command?"

"12000."

"12000 soldiers?"

"No, it's a total of 12000 people, of which 3000 are Ding."

"so little?"

"Yes."

Jiang Qingyun stared at Sharhuda.

"I do not believe!"

"I can swear an oath to my ancestors."

The atmosphere inside the hall instantly turned cold.

……

"You only have this few people in thousands of miles of land?"

"Prime Minister, imagine if I had ten thousand troops under my command, would I stand by and watch a few hundred Russians grow powerful in the Heilongjiang River basin? To be frank, if I had enough troops, I wouldn't be sitting here today."

Sharhuda's expression was one of grief and indignation.

Jiang Qingyun chuckled to himself.

Yes~
That's absolutely true! Fortunately, the Eight Banners weren't very populous! That's what gave him the opportunity to rise to power!
After several rounds of drinking~
Jiang Qingyun:
“I can return all the prisoners of Shengjing to you. You can take them back to Heilongjiang and settle down on the frontier. As a border-guarding tribe of the empire, they will serve the empire for generations and pay taxes annually.”

"Do you want to?"

(End of this chapter)