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

Fall 1665.

The new cabinet of the United Empire officially convened its first imperial council meeting. Following the caretaker cabinet, it can be called an enterprising cabinet, consisting of 9 cabinet members including the prime minister and 27 acting cabinet members, for a total of 36 people.

The court is filled with upright officials, all things are being revived, and the area is teeming with vitality.

A small door on one side opens~
Ten maids dressed in cheongsams entered the conference hall carrying brass teapots. They were in neat rows, with identical expressions, steps, and movements, and even their height and weight were highly similar.

They all walked to the cabinet members' seats and squatted down in unison.

Making tea~
smile~
Turn around~
go away.

The entire process was seamless, fluid, and elegant, showcasing the empire's vitality.

……

Cabinet member Feng Shuan picked up the teacup in front of him and took a small sip.

Huo~
The tea temperature was just right; a degree higher would have been scalding, and a degree lower would have been freezing.

“Old Zhou, these aren’t maids, they’re clearly a well-trained army.”

"Old Feng, you're absolutely right. Their standards are no less than those of the imperial guards."

"Tell me?"

"She must come from a respectable family, have a decent appearance, an oval face, big eyes, regular features, be between 14 and 18 years old, be unmarried, and have no scars. After passing the selection, she must undergo six months of rigorous training before she can become a maid."

hiss~
Feng Shuan picked up his teacup, took another sip, and exclaimed, "The Grand Secretary is truly a remarkable man!"

Zhou Shao smiled.

Sitting opposite him, Suksaha was leaning to the side, whispering something to "Emperor Emeritus" Jiang Zhongcheng, his expression animated.

Those who followed the Prime Minister from the very beginning have now received the greatest rewards.

The premise is that one must not outwardly comply but inwardly defy.

Otherwise, we'll drink from the golden cup together, but we'll fight without mercy with swords drawn.

As long as we actively support Chief Minister Chiang, the future will be bright.

……

Zhou Shao surveyed the brand-new conference hall and noticed the calligraphy by three sages hanging on the front wall:

Confucius said: "A ruler should treat his ministers with propriety, and a minister should serve his ruler with loyalty."
Mencius said: "The people are the most important, the state is next, and the ruler is the least important."

Jiang Zi – To conquer vast oceans and spread national prestige to all corners of the world.
The three plaques are arranged vertically, with Confucius at the top and Jiang Ziya at the bottom, highlighting the status of the three sages in the history of Confucianism.

It can be said that the political core of the United Empire is hidden in these three plaques.

Rights and responsibilities must be aligned!
Limit the power of the monarch!

Global expansion!

The heavy brass gates slowly opened, and two young guards entered.

"Everyone, please rise and welcome the Grand Secretary."

brush.

The conference room was completely silent.

The 35 people quickly stood up, smiled, and applauded.

Feng Shuan, the most experienced official, raised his palm to eye level and slapped it frantically.

Jiang Qingyun entered with a smile.

"Everyone, please take a seat."

It didn't have much effect.

The crowd continued to applaud enthusiastically, ignoring the Prime Minister's words.

"Please be seated, everyone!"

The volume increased by two degrees.

The applause was rather sparse, and the sound suggested that the downpour had subsided to a moderate rain.

Jiang Qingyun had no choice but to raise both hands simultaneously, then press them down forcefully, and say in a firm and unquestionable tone, "Everyone, please sit!"

The long applause finally came to an end.

Everyone took their seats in unison.

The long conference table resembles an airplane runway and is covered with a layer of red velvet. The table is made of Phoebe zhennan wood, sourced from the Eastern Tombs, which carries a very auspicious meaning.

The Prime Minister sat down at the end of the runway.

Cabinet members sat on both sides of the runway.

Behind the cabinet members was the acting cabinet member, who sat on only one chair.

In this way, every member of the cabinet can correctly recognize their position in the imperial ecosystem, demonstrating a hierarchical order.

……

Jiang Qingyun:
"Ladies and gentlemen, please look at the first document."

Everyone lowered their heads. The agenda for today's meeting was already prepared on the table. The first item was: global civil service examinations and global recruitment of scholars.

There was a slight disturbance at the scene.

Jiang Qingyun cleared his throat.

"Currently, a new situation has arisen in the provincial civil service examinations: there are not enough candidates. Talent is the foundation of the empire, and the civil service examination is its pillar. If we do not have enough successful candidates, how can we select qualified officials?"

Zhou Shao spoke first.

"You mean, people from non-Han ethnic groups can also serve as officials in the imperial court?"

"Yes."

There was an uproar.

Jiang Qingyun took his time, first sipping tea to moisten his throat, then scanning the crowd to observe their reactions.

……

Minister of Personnel Feng Shuan spoke up:

"The Grand Secretary's suggestion is certainly excellent. Emulating the grandeur of the Tang Dynasty, recreating the scene of all nations paying tribute, expanding the empire's influence, and showcasing the Grand Secretary's magnanimity. However, I have a concern: those barbarians don't study the Four Books and Five Classics."

Jiang Qingyun nodded.

"Old Feng's concerns are valid. Here's how I see it: What is the purpose of the examination and selection process? It's to select scholars who are loyal to the empire."

Everyone nodded in agreement; that was indeed the case.

"Therefore, it doesn't matter if foreigners don't read the Four Books and Five Classics. As long as they are loyal, they can learn the Four Books and Five Classics slowly."

"Prime Minister, I have something to say."

“Suksaha, please speak.”

“Those who are not of our kind will surely have different hearts. I am very worried that these barbarians will harbor treacherous intentions after they enter the court and serve as officials, like An Lushan. Grand Secretary, we must be on guard.”

Feng Shuan didn't even lift his eyelids.

He thought to himself, "This Manchu lad is no ordinary man; he speaks very eloquently."

If someone else had said this, the prime minister might not have been pleased.

But coming from Suksaha, a Manchu, the Grand Secretary would certainly be pleased.

……

Sure enough~
Jiang Qingyun was very pleased.

"Suksaha, your concern is good, but completely unnecessary. The global imperial examination is for expanding the empire's influence. To put it simply, it's about exporting our Confucianism and tea-silk porcelain to the world. The former is theoretical, the latter is practical. We must grasp both and make both strong."

Everyone was so shocked they were speechless.

After a while~
Suksaha stood up.

"The Prime Minister has a visionary outlook, and we give him our full support."

"Good~"

Jiang Qingyun stood up and pointed to a huge map on the wall.

"This is a world map."

"The world is vast, and the oceans are boundless. Today, I propose a national policy: the United Empire must assume global responsibility. In other words, from this day forward, the affairs of any kingdom on Earth will be relevant to us. If any event occurs in a kingdom that contradicts Confucianism or Mencius, the Empire will intervene."

There was an uproar.

Zhou Shao blurted out, "Then, we need to build a powerful fleet, right?"

Jiang Qingyun smiled enigmatically.
"To shoulder this responsibility, the Empire will form a joint fleet. However, the combat vehicles of the joint fleet are not necessarily ships; they can also be people. The battlefield of the joint fleet is not necessarily the ocean; it can be any region. The attack mode of the joint fleet is not necessarily ship-mounted guns; it can be any method."

Everyone was thrilled.

Having said that, everyone understood.

What do you mean by recruiting soldiers globally? It's clearly recruiting soldiers globally.

What global imperial examination? It's clearly a joint fleet.

What global responsibility? It's clearly...
"Long live!"

Everyone stood up again and shouted "Long live the Emperor!"

Reverence needs no further explanation.

……

Guangzhou Port.

A prominent notice was hung at the port.

Merchants from various countries were dumbfounded.

"Regardless of your nationality, past status, skin color, or age, as long as you are in good health, swear allegiance to the United Empire, and are willing to receive continuing education in Confucianism, you may participate in the United Empire's imperial examinations!"

"All exam fees are the responsibility of the examinee!"

"We won't be testing on the Four Books and Five Classics!"

"After passing the imperial examinations, you can become an official in the empire!"

"The above commitments are valid for 10 years!"

This proclamation was like a depth charge, its ripples spreading outwards to neighboring countries. It proved that in the 17th century, without modern communication technology, a message of sufficient importance could spread faster than a single-masted sailing ship.

The 17th-century empire was still the center of the world.

Especially for the surrounding small countries, being able to serve as an official in the court was like serving in the Heavenly Court. Even being a lowly celestial soldier before the Jade Emperor was a great honor and a source of pride for one's ancestors.

Subsequent events proved that even the instigator, Jiang Qingyun, underestimated the power of the "exam-based officialdom" system in the 17th century, a time when the distinction between nobles and commoners was clear.

This is not a depth charge.

Instead, it detonated a Tsar Bomba in the ocean.

……

at the same time.

Zheng's army finally captured Fort Zeelandia, suffering more than 2 casualties. These 2 were valuable elite troops. It can be said that, with this, Zheng's army lost more than half of its land combat strength.

Zhou Quanbin died in battle!
Gan Hui died in battle!

Countless officers were killed in action.

The Dutch fleet, which was unwilling to engage in a decisive battle, was also forced into it.

In the waters near Takow Port, the Zheng family fleet, with up to 600 warships of various types, and the Netherlands fleet, with 18 large warships, engaged in an unprecedented naval battle.

The naval battle lasted for two days and was extremely fierce.
finally.

The wolf pack tactic was successful.

Zheng's fleet successfully surrounded and burned 10 Dutch warships using a dense arson ship tactic, achieving a crucial naval victory.

Chihkan City was renamed Chengtian Prefecture.

Coastside.

Zheng Jing led his civil and military officials to pay tribute to the fallen soldiers on site.

At the scene, Zheng Jing wept uncontrollably and announced in public that he would donate all his family property to support the families of the fallen and to provide relief to the wounded soldiers.

After~
He also displayed the imperial edict that conferred upon him the title of Prince of Yanping and designated Dayuan as the hereditary fiefdom of the Prince of Yanping.

The morale of the troops is high.

People's hearts yearn for stability.

Under Feng Xifan's organization, all Zheng's soldiers and civilians embarked on a vigorous land reclamation project.

……

Time flies, and the nascent united empire is no longer nascent, but has entered a period of rapid development similar to the "Emperor Wen of Han".

Popular opinion says that Premier Chiang was a sage ruler sent from heaven who ruled by doing nothing.

That assessment isn't wrong.

Because those cruel and treacherous power struggles mainly occurred in the Heavenly Court and rarely affected the common people.

The imperial army suffered more than half its casualties, local forces were crippled, only the prime minister remained unscathed, and the central government's directly subordinate army gradually grew stronger.

By 1666, no one within the empire dared to directly challenge the Grand Secretary.

With a single word from the Grand Secretary, the Governor was wiped out.

Yuquanshan Imperial Palace.

Every day is filled with singing and dancing, and endless revelry.

The walls are painted with gold, the couches are made of white jade, and the place is adorned with gemstones. Beautiful women stroll among the walls.

Jiang Qingyun rarely went to the capital. He spent most of his time living a carefree life in Yuquan Mountain. Occasionally, he would go to the Baoding Military Academy to distribute swords to the graduates, to the Miyun Orphanage to distribute candy, and to the Baoding New Army to give rewards to the soldiers.

There was nothing else of importance.

Their life was simple and unpretentious.

In the blink of an eye, he has turned 35, an age when an ordinary man is about to be worn out.

But the Grand Secretary is no ordinary man.

Therefore, 35 is just the beginning.

……

There happens to be a natural hot spring in Yuquan Mountain, which was designed and built into a garden by Ferdinand Verbiest based on the surrounding terrain and the aesthetics of Jiangnan gardens.

The environment here is elegant and safe.

In spring, when all the flowers are in full bloom, one can stroll among them and emulate the sages' union in the wild.

When it snows in winter, you can jump into a semi-open outdoor hot tub, as if you were in Hokkaido.

The Grand Secretary often brings his many beauties here to enjoy worldly pleasures. Although the annual expenses are enormous, they are just a drop in the ocean for the vast empire.

If commoners had a choice, they would gladly wish Jiang Qingyun would spend his entire life eating, drinking, and having fun in the palace.

The Grand Secretary, he's nothing but a mouth and a penis. He's been indulging himself, he's been going all out. How many tons of seafood can he eat in his lifetime? How many beauties can he ruin?

Although that's what the common people think.

The Grand Secretary himself got tired of it.

Looking at all those beautiful women, I felt utterly disgusted.

Looking at the table full of delicacies, I tasted nothing at all.

Looking at the golden house and white jade bed, I suddenly missed the camp bed.

Humans just love to act like idiots.

……

1666 spring.

The border area of ​​Jiangsu, Shandong, Henan and Anhui provinces.

A man, a monk, a woman, and an androgynous figure strolled leisurely along the ridge of the field. They were Jiang Qingyun, Tianji, Lüzhu, and the Third Eunuch, who were traveling incognito.

Despite strong opposition from the guards, the Prime Minister insisted on doing so.

In the end, the prime minister won.

In any case, the Grand Secretary rarely left the Yuquanshan Palace and was known as the "Little Wanli Emperor." His disappearance for a month or two went unnoticed by the outside world.

The purpose of traveling incognito was to gain firsthand knowledge of the people's conditions and prevent being deceived by treacherous officials, which could lead to the downfall of the imperial empire.

This is very necessary.

The four-person group was formed to emulate the TV series "Kangxi's Private Visits" and to immerse themselves in the feeling of an encounter.

So~
The guards assigned two plainclothes guards each day to accompany the "master" and his entourage, keeping a distance of no more than half a mile.

A few miles further on, dozens of cavalrymen marched slowly under the guise of patrolling the official road.

that is it.

……

Green Pearl was a maidservant, and she was very dutiful in her duties.

"Sir, are you thirsty?"

"Not thirsty."

Jiang Qingyun stood on the edge of the field, breathing in the air of freedom.

Suddenly, a foul stench wafted over.

Farmyard manure~
Jiang Qingyun walked over with his hands behind his back, paused for a moment, and then asked in the tone of an ordinary person, "Fellow villager, farming?"

The man pushing the wheelbarrow was startled. He quickly dropped the handlebars, bent over, and put on a fawning expression.

"Hello, sir."

As soon as he let go, the car overturned, and the manure flowed into the nearby fields, making the scene even more smelly.

"Hey, how many acres of land do you own?"

90 mu.

"You own quite a lot of land, don't you?"

“I used to be a tenant farmer for Master Wang in the neighborhood. Last year, Master Wang and his whole family were exiled, and his land became my land.”

Have you paid your taxes?

"The payment will be made next month."

The man's eyes flickered.

Jiang Qingyun was immediately displeased, thinking that not paying taxes voluntarily made him a troublemaker.

The man, still bent over, asked, "Sir, are you from the county? I'm going to find the head of the village."

"Ah, no need. I'm just a nobody, passing by."

Despite this, the man pushing the manure cart still dared not slack off; no matter how you looked at him, he had the air of an official.

"You're really not some official from the county?"

"I'm just a passerby."

The man quickly got up and used a wooden spoon to salvage the fertilizer that hadn't yet been absorbed by the soil after the overturned structure, feeling extremely distressed.

"Kang Niang."

"Why are you swearing?"

The third eunuch became anxious.

“Our farmyard manure is so precious, it’s all gone.”

"It's your own fault for crashing, what does it have to do with us?"

"If you don't act like big shots, do you think I'll crash and burn?"

The three eunuchs were dumbfounded.

The monk Tianji chuckled to himself.

Jiang Qingyun's face first turned red and then black. He wanted to lash out, but then thought better of it. As the sage said, ignorance is no excuse; a prime minister shouldn't stoop to the level of a country bumpkin.

"Let's go." (End of Chapter)