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

Chapter 386: An anatomical analysis of the so-called feudal golden age!
That evening, Chief Minister Chiang Kai-shek enthusiastically visited several of his concubines, causing quite a stir on Yuquan Mountain. He was a man with both high and low tastes.

For the next six months, he adopted a policy of non-interference.

From the Six Ministries to the local governments, everyone followed suit. From the officials in charge of the seals to the clerks, they all turned a blind eye and tried their best not to interfere, because if they didn't interfere, nothing would happen.

The Forbidden City was filled with smog and chaos.

Yuquan Mountain is shrouded in smog and miasma.

Surprisingly, the world was at peace.

This isn't an attempt to whitewash the situation; it's the absolute truth.

From Zhili to Yunnan and Guizhou, the common people felt that their lives had suddenly become much better.

……

There's more to this than meets the eye.

First came the brutal war that lasted for ten years during the Ming-Qing transition, followed by Chief Minister Chiang's ruthless purge of officials, resulting in heavy casualties among officials and gentry.

Those who were lucky enough to survive were all cowering and timid, fearing that they would be targeted by the Prime Minister and used as a warning to others.

They're timid and hesitant!

They dared not touch them!

With no one disturbing the people, life flourished, all things revived, and the people lived in peace and contentment.

This perfectly illustrates the saying—the so-called feudal golden age was nothing more than the emperor temporarily suppressing the officials and gentry, giving the common people a chance to breathe.

When officials are in dire straits, the people will be in dire straits as well.

However, this phenomenon often only occurs at the beginning of an empire.

More often than not, it was the emperor who joined forces with officials and gentry to feast, which was truly a tragic world!
If you ask whether there are any drawbacks at present?

Certainly, such as criminal cases, disaster relief, and banditry, all of which are on the rise.

But the people had no complaints!

In their minds, the threat of the Yellow River was less than that of war, the threat of tigers and leopards was less than that of cruel officials, and the threat of bandits was even less than that of yamen runners.

……

Many scholars had reservations, believing that Chief Minister Chiang was indeed a cabinet minister who only cared about enjoying himself and had a narrow vision.

That assessment isn't wrong.

After the Grand Secretary took office, apart from occasionally paying attention to the land distribution situation around Zhili, he never looked at the common people. He kept a close eye on the local governors and viceroys, and demoted whoever made a mistake.

The local governors and viceroys were suffering greatly.

They dared not rebel, they were no match for the enemy in terms of force, political wisdom, and personal prestige.

There was no other way but to endure it.

Kaifeng, Henan.

The Provincial Administration Office.

"The Imperial Inspector has arrived."

Jia Hanfu rushed out of the house like a whirlwind and knelt down with a thud.

"Upon investigation, it was found that Jia Hanfu, the former governor of Henan and now the provincial treasurer of Henan, allowed his wife and relatives to embezzle 5 taels of silver from the government office and engage in usury. This is contrary to the law and the ideas of Confucius and Mencius. He is to be demoted to the prefect of Kaifeng."

"Lord Jia, if you have been wronged, you may appeal within 30 days. The Censorate will certainly uphold justice. If it is still unfair, you may go to the capital to appeal to the Emperor."

"No injustice, no injustice."

The censor swaggered away.

Jia Hanfu got up dejectedly.

That night.

His first wife was indignant and cried out, "My lord, you rose from governor to prefect, and the higher-ups have gone too far!"

Jia Hanfu remained calm and said with a wry smile, "What? You're not convinced?"

"I just don't accept it, why should I?"

"Just because they have knives and guns, even the governor of Shandong next door was demoted to a county magistrate and didn't dare to utter a word."

"Sir, what exactly does that person want?"

How would I know?

"Why isn't anyone in the imperial court standing up to call on everyone to unite and work together to deal with him?"

"Unless Zheng Sen rebels, but how could that be? He's not stupid."

Jia Hanfu let out a long sigh.

Everyone can see clearly that currently, the central government and Fujian maintain a respectful but non-interfering relationship. The Grand Secretary's beloved concubine, Liu Rushi, struggles to navigate between the two men every three months.

Fujian is preparing for war, with its sword pointed at Dayuan Island.

"Fine, let's blow out the light and go to sleep. We'll just take it one day at a time."

……

Besides keeping a close eye on the governors and viceroys, Chief Minister Jiang also kept a close eye on Emperor Shunzhi, insisting that he voluntarily become a monk! Coercion was not an option; it had to be voluntary!

If it's not voluntary, then find a way to make Shunzhi voluntary!
The Grand Secretary, with his rather vulgar tastes, even found a great deal of pleasure in pressuring Emperor Shunzhi.

Hehe ~
Hehehehehe~
"Come here, take this undergarment to the Hall of Mental Cultivation."

"Come on, take this painting to the Hall of Mental Cultivation." "Come on, take Lady Dong'e to the Hall of Mental Cultivation, let Fulin take a look at it, and then bring it back."

Seeing his beloved woman being tortured beyond recognition, Shunzhi was also agitated to the point of foaming at the mouth and suffering unbearable pain, but he still stubbornly held on.

The Hall of Mental Cultivation became the last battleground in the tug-of-war between the Ming and Qing dynasties.

Zhu Youlang knocked on the gate every day.

The methods of warfare gradually escalated.

One night, Zhu Youlang suddenly slipped out of the poorly guarded Yuqing Palace, sneaked into the Yangxin Hall, and set it on fire, almost causing the downfall of the Qing Dynasty.

Fortunately, the guards arrived in time and saved the Qing Dynasty from disaster.

……

The next day, late at night.

Lightning and thunder~
Shunzhi finally launched a preemptive attack. Under the cover of the rainy night, he sneaked into Yuqing Palace and strangled the sleeping Zhu Youlang with a rope.

At that moment, Zhu Youlang, whose throat was being strangled, seemed to see the late Emperor Jiajing.

Fortunately, the guards arrived in time and saved the Ming Dynasty from disaster.

impartial!
In just a few days, both the Ming and Qing dynasties teetered on the brink of collapse.

……

When the battle report reached Yuquan Mountain, Jiang Qingyun couldn't help but personally inspect the Forbidden City.

"what is that?"

"Grand Secretary, that's Yuqing Palace."

"I know, I'm asking, how did Yuqing Palace become such a terrible sight?"

"To avoid being ambushed."

Jiang Qingyun stepped through the shards of porcelain bottles as he entered the gates of Yuqing Palace, marveling at the intensity of the war, which had actually forced a muddle-headed emperor into becoming a survival expert.

"Zhu Youlang, come out! The Grand Secretary has come to see you!"

Zhu Youlang, carrying a wooden stick, peeked around furtively for a few moments before climbing out the window.

Jiang Qingyun asked, puzzled, "Why didn't you use the door?"

Zhu Youlang: "There's a mechanism on the door."

Jiang Qingyun gave a signal, and a guard immediately tried to push the door open with a spear. Sure enough, the moment the door was pushed open, a heavy incense burner crashed to the ground.

Zhu Youlang clapped his hands and laughed: "If those little Tartars launch a night attack on Yuqing Palace, I guarantee their brains will splatter!"

Jiang Qingyun took a deep breath: "I heard you're a Christian?"

"Yes."

"Have you been formally baptized?"

"Yes."

Do you still believe it now?

"I do not know either."

Zhu Youlang was bewildered. His devout Christian empress and princes died one after another in the war, leaving him all alone.

Jiang Qingyun patted him on the shoulder.

"Brother Zhu, take care of yourself. If you're willing to live a normal life, I guarantee you'll live a long and healthy life until you die."

……

The area around the Hall of Mental Cultivation reeks of a foul stench.

Jiang Qingyun didn't even want to step into the hall.

Upon returning to Yuquan Mountain, he immediately summoned Ferdinand Verbiest.

Newton once said: If science can't solve a problem, try theology; some things are hard to say.

After listening, Ferdinand Verbiest pondered for a moment.

"Prime Minister, please allow me to demonstrate the mechanical principles of architecture, which may explain your current confusion."

"can."

The props were simple: a bundle of thin wooden sticks and a bundle of cowhide rope, which together formed a slender building similar to the Canton Tower in Guangzhou.

"Please take a look, Grand Secretary!"

Ferdinand Verbiest first placed a brick on top of the building.

The building remained unmoved.

Very stable!
He kept adding bricks, and when he added five, the frail-looking wooden structure remained standing.

Six pieces!

Seven pieces!

The building still stands quietly on the ground.

Ferdinand Verbiest looked pleased; if it weren't for his mission to spread God's grace to all, he could have become an outstanding architect.

(End of this chapter)