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

Chapter 48 Malice
Martial law was declared in the capital, and the nine gates were closed.

The imperial guards, carrying buckets of water, splashed water and washed away the bloodstains on the street, their faces beaming with joy.

Ministers knelt before the Meridian Gate.

Jiang Qingyun was naturally among them.

Although I really didn't want to kneel, I hadn't yet been granted the titles of "King of Wei" or "Regent King," so I naturally had no right to fantasize about any famous scenes like walking in the palace with a sword and shoes, paying homage without naming names, or inspecting the harem.

The road is long and difficult.

To summarize today's process of leading the suppression of the Zhenglan Banner, it can be summed up in four words: thoroughly enjoyable.

Ao Bai, kneeling to the side, had a look of satisfaction in his eyes.

Awesome, today was so awesome.

The resentment that had been suppressed by Dorgon for seven years was finally released, with a small portion of it released today.

"Brother Ao, stop laughing."

"Brother Jiang, don't worry, I'll take full responsibility. We're both from the Bordered Yellow Banner; the Emperor will surely distinguish between those close to him and those outside. Hahahaha~"

The guards standing on both sides pretended to be blind. They shared the same thought as Ao Bai, and finally got their revenge.

……

Shunzhi saw the bloodstains on the street and the damaged two vermilion-lacquered doors with copper nails of the Ministry of War.

"Minister Fan, bring all those involved in the case here. I want to question them one by one."

"According to the order."

First, there were people from the Ministry of War.

"Your Majesty, it was the Plain Blue Banner people who first stormed the Ministry of War and smashed the gates. The Five Cities Garrison arrived later."

How long should the interval be?

"About half an incense stick's time."

Then came the yamen runners from Shuntian Prefecture.

"Your Majesty, the Plain Blue Banner people insisted on storming the Ministry of War, and we were unable to stop them."

"understood."

Finally, there's Ao Bai.

"Your Majesty, the Plain Blue Banner has become too arrogant, attacking the Six Ministries and disturbing the Imperial Ancestral Temple. Your servant and Imperial Censor Jiang were so indignant that we took action to suppress them."

How to suppress them?

"The soldiers did not use swords or other sharp weapons, but only clubs to disperse them."

"At least you two have some brains."

……

Inside Cining Palace.

Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang and Emperor Shunzhi, mother and son, had the most serious dispute in history.

"Fulin, this matter has had a very bad impact. You must severely punish Ao Bai and Jiang Qingyun. Even if you don't kill them, you should exile them."

“Your Majesty, I personally command the two Yellow Banners, and these two men are my loyal subjects! If I severely punish them, wouldn’t that discourage the soldiers of the two Yellow Banners?”

"The Eight Banners system was the foundation of the Qing Dynasty. Do you understand which is more important?"

"Does Mother mean that I should swallow my anger and seek unity?"

"The disturbance in Zhenglan Banner was not without reason!"

"Regardless of the reason, what kind of act is it to storm the Six Ministries? It's treason!"

Looking at the furious Shunzhi Emperor, Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang took a deep breath.

He gently persuaded her:
"Fulin, an emperor must be able to endure what ordinary people cannot. If the Eight Banners start attacking and hating each other, our Great Qing Dynasty is finished! Do you understand?"

"Your Majesty, since Liaodong, how many examples have there been of our Eight Banners killing each other? Has the Qing Dynasty perished? Not only has it not perished, it's thriving. I really want to remind you, Your Majesty, that Dorgon is dead, he's already dead!"

"You~"

Empress Xiaozhuang sensed the deep malice from her son, and her eyes reddened slightly.

Shunzhi sneered and turned away.

……

The following day, the morning court session was held in the Hall of Supreme Harmony.

Shunzhi's angry voice echoed throughout the hall.

"The Plain Blue Banner has stormed the Six Ministries, displaying extreme arrogance and must be severely punished. The Three Judicial Offices are hereby ordered to take over the investigation and arrest the mastermind behind this instigation. Banner Chief Doni has disregarded the Emperor's grace and committed treason; he is hereby stripped of his Prince title and demoted to Cavalry Captain."

"Grand Minister of the Imperial Guard, Ao Bai, acted impulsively and was fined 100 taels of silver and demoted to the first rank, but he will still serve in the Emperor's presence. Censor Jiang Qingyun was disloyal and audacious and reckless and was fined 200 taels of silver and temporarily relieved of his command of the Five Cities Garrison, but he will retain his position as Censor."

Hong Chengchou, looking utterly dejected, stepped forward and knelt down with a thud.

"I am guilty."

Shunzhi's gaze was cold.

"You are indeed guilty. Otherwise, how could you have caused such a huge uproar? My dear ministers, how should Hong Chengchou be dealt with? Please give your opinions."

Unexpected.

Everyone pleaded for Old Hong's life, including princes, dukes, ministers, and vice ministers.
Even the most senior Prince Zheng, Jirhalang, stepped forward and said, "Lord Hong has made great contributions. If he makes a mistake, he can be punished slightly."

Seeing the crowd's fervent enthusiasm and the unity of the Manchus and Han Chinese, Shunzhi couldn't help but hesitate.

"Then he will be demoted to Vice Minister of War, fined 1000 taels of silver, and allowed to remain in his post."

Hong Chengchou closed his eyes in anguish, wishing he could be dismissed from his post and reduced to commoner status by the court.

These colleagues are truly despicable; they're all afraid of taking on a hot potato, so they don't want to fall.

……

After the court session ended~
The ministers went back to their offices in twos and threes, or went to Dashilan for leisure.

From the Meridian Gate to the Zhengyang Gate, carriages passed by one after another. Every now and then, someone would lift the curtain to observe the road and glimpse faint traces of blood. They would secretly exclaim that Imperial Censor Jiang was truly the most ruthless man in Beijing.

In broad daylight, they suppressed the nation in the heart of the empire.

Tsk tsk~
The Han officials were collectively envious, while some Manchu officials felt admiration for him, while others hated him to the core.

……

Qianqing Palace.

"Summon Wu Yong, the Imperial Physician, to the palace."

Wu Yong was still dressed as an injured person, walking weakly and limping.

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

"No need for formalities, please take a seat. I have heard that you vaccinated a total of 612 people in the palace. Two had severe cases, three had mild cases, and the rest were fine. Your contribution is great."

"Your Majesty flatters me. It's not entirely due to my medical skills."

"Ok?"

“Since I accepted this task, I have been under great pressure, fearing that I might fail His Majesty’s trust. Imperial Censor Jiang and I had a few dealings over seedlings in Nancheng. He introduced me to a wandering monk who was staying at Chongfu Temple in Nancheng to pray for the country. This master was concerned about the country and its people. He did not close his eyes for three days and three nights for the religious ceremony, and afterwards he donated all the reward money to the Nancheng Orphanage.”

"He seems to be a highly accomplished monk! If I have the opportunity, I will meet him."

Just as Wu Yong had predicted, Emperor Shunzhi was very fond of this story.

……

"I have another matter to report."

"speak."

"According to the medical staff of the Imperial Hospital, a total of 330 people from Zhenglan Banner who caused trouble yesterday suffered minor injuries and 95 people suffered serious injuries. Fortunately, no one died."

"The Five Cities Garrison Command acted with considerable restraint." Shunzhi waved his hand to dismiss those around him, then asked in a low voice, "Minister Wu, there is something I don't quite understand. Why did half of the officers and soldiers of the first batch of Plain Blue Banners become infected during the mass smallpox vaccination?"

"This is precisely what I cannot understand. The same prescription worked for the people of the southern city, and the palace servants were all fine, so why did the people of the Plain Blue Banner suffer?"

"Could it be that Hong Chengchou didn't grasp the essence of it?"

“Absolutely impossible. My prescription is simple, clear, and easy to understand. Your Majesty may not know, but even a group of quack doctors selling miracle cures could understand my prescription.”

"You mean, someone's up to something?"

"I have not investigated and dare not speak recklessly. However, I think there is something strange about it."

"I understand. You may leave."

"Yes."

Wu Yong limped away from Qianqing Palace. Judging from his back, the imperial physician seemed rather unreliable.

(End of this chapter)