I, Kangxi, am here to overthrow the Qing and restore the Ming!

Late at night.

Inside the South Study, the candlelight flickered.

On the table in front of Hong Xiguan, there were no books of sages and worthies, but a hastily drawn map of the Forbidden City's guards that he had personally made.

Damn, this time-travel thing is more brain-taxing than my graduate school entrance exam in my previous life.

The successive downfalls of these three great figures—Yongli, Zheng Chenggong, and Li Dingguo—signified that the external anti-Qing forces were essentially finished.

Next came the escalation of internal conflicts, which became a special episode for me, the "little emperor," and Ao Bai, the "powerful minister."

To overthrow Ao Bai, relying solely on these young men around him is definitely not enough.

We must... win over the ministers!

Moreover, it must start with the ministers who control the guns!

Hong Xiguan's gaze slowly moved across the defense map, his brows furrowed.

The Qing court's palace guard system was completely different from that of the Ming dynasty, which he was familiar with.

The imperial palace of the Ming Dynasty was guarded by the Embroidered Uniform Guard, while the imperial city was guarded by the Twenty-Six Guards of the Imperial Guard. The Five Armies and the Three Thousand Battalions were responsible for the defense of the entire capital.

The inner court of the Qing Dynasty was managed by the Imperial Guard.

The main gates of the Forbidden City were guarded by the most elite guards of the Eight Banners.

The vanguard battalion was responsible for patrolling and catching spies.

The Imperial Guard was responsible for maintaining order throughout the capital.

The soldiers in these battalions were almost entirely Manchus!

Especially the Imperial Guard, the core of security for the Qing Dynasty's inner court, had selection standards that were abnormally stringent.

These bastards are probably terrified of being killed by the Han Chinese.

Choosing a security guard is more rigorous than choosing a concubine!

Those people in the Imperial Guard are like they're checking your household registration, going back three generations to find out your ancestors!

The first rule is that one's background must be clean! One's ancestors cannot have any "blemishes".

The second condition is that the fathers must have shed blood and rendered meritorious service to the Qing Dynasty! This is definitely a "second-generation military family" club.

Thirdly, I must be skilled in archery and horsemanship, and be able to fight and shoot.

The most ridiculous one is the fourth one: you must be fluent in Manchu!

Isn't this blatantly excluding all the Han people?!

The highest-ranking official in charge of the entire Imperial Guard was called the "Grand Minister of the Imperial Guard".

A first-rank military officer, with a fixed number of six.

It must be held by the top nobles of the Upper Three Banners: Bordered Yellow, Plain Yellow, and Plain White Banners.

Hong Xiguan used a pen to write down the names of these six people one by one.

Ao Bai (of the Bordered Yellow Banner).

Sony (Plain Yellow Flag).

Suksaha (Plain White Banner).

Ebilun (Bordered Yellow Banner).

Good heavens, all four regents are here! This is like a board meeting!

The remaining two are Ao Bai's younger brother, Baha (of the Bordered Yellow Banner).

The other one was Sony's own son, Gabula (of the Plain Yellow Banner).

This isn't a guard post, it's clearly the private bodyguard company of these four major families!

Below the Grand Minister of the Imperial Guard, there are six other Grand Ministers of the First Rank, serving as his deputies.

Four of them were actually held concurrently by Ao Bai and the other two.

These old guys, each with more than a dozen titles, hold all the power tightly!

Looking at the list, Hong Xiguan felt a chill run down his spine.

The entire Imperial Guard was almost completely infiltrated by the four regents, especially Ao Bai!

The Bordered Yellow Banner was Aobai's family banner.

Nearly half of the palace guards were sons of the Bordered Yellow Banner!

The guards patrolling around important places like the Qianqing Palace and the Taihe Hall are all Ao Bai's men!

Including Ao Bai's younger brother Mulima and nephew Sebende, they all served in the palace, forming a huge guard group centered around the "Guarjia clan".

If Hong Xiguan hadn't shamelessly begged Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang to replace all the dozen or so personal guards in the Southern Study, let alone plotting a power grab, Aobai would have known whether Hong Xiguan farted loudly or softly the next morning!

If you want to take over the government and seize power, the prerequisite is to ensure your own safety!

The prerequisite for ensuring safety is to gradually wrest military power from Ao Bai's hands, from the palace and even the entire capital!

Difficult!

Hong Xiguan sighed deeply.

But no matter how difficult it is, we have to do it!

Fortunately, Hong Xiguan had already made some progress.

……

The next day, the court meeting.

Hong Xiguan, as always, sat upright, playing the role of a perfect "mascot".

Eyes focused on the nose, nose focused on the heart, the mind wanders beyond the heavens.

Just as he was about to make peace with Zhou Gong, a fierce argument suddenly broke out between the princes.

Wow? It's so lively today?

Hong Xiguan immediately perked up.

Ao Bai was seen blowing his beard and glaring at a minister, pointing at him and cursing loudly.

"Feiyanggu! You know nothing about military affairs! Back when I was risking my life fighting the Ming army outside the Great Wall, you were probably still hiding somewhere!"

Holy crap! This old man is awesome!

In the entire court, he was the first person I had ever met who dared to talk back to Ao Bai to his face!

Hong Xiguan immediately became interested and his gaze fell on the minister who had been scolded.

He was an elderly man, about fifty years old, with a straight posture and white hair and beard. Although Ao Bai was pointing his finger at him and cursing him, he showed no fear on his face. Instead, he stuck out his neck and argued his case.

"Lord Ao! Though I am not talented, I know the principle that supplies must precede troops! I do not object to your proposal to reinforce Fujian! However, the court suffered a severe drought last year, and the national treasury is empty. Where will you ask the Ministry of Revenue to conjure up these 500,000 taels of silver for military expenses?!"

Hong Xiguan knew this person, Fei Yanggu, a Grand Minister of the Interior, a Manchu of the Plain Yellow Banner, who followed Huang Taiji in his early years and made great contributions in battles.

During the Shunzhi reign, he rose to the rank of Grand Minister of the Interior due to his military achievements, and also controlled a portion of the imperial guards and imperial troops.

Most importantly, this person was upright and had a bad temper. He despised Ao Bai's arrogant and domineering behavior and was unwilling to associate with him.

This was not the first time Fei Yanggu had argued with Ao Bai in court due to their differing political views.

That's interesting! That's so interesting!

It's like someone just delivered a pillow when you're about to fall asleep!

Isn't this exactly the thorn in the side I've been looking for—a thorn in the side of the Ao Bai Group?!

In Hong Xiguan's heart, a burning desire to win this person over instantly ignited!

Of course, he was well aware of this as well.

Fei Yanggu and his ilk are all cunning old foxes who have been navigating the treacherous waters of officialdom for decades.

If I rashly went over there and said, "Old Fei, I've been wanting to get rid of that bastard Ao Bai for a long time, let's join forces and take him down!"

That old man not treating me like a lunatic is already giving me face.

Perhaps, the moment he steps out of my door, he'll run off to Ao Bai and betray me, thus proving his loyalty to Ao Bai.

Therefore, you should never attack directly when dealing with this kind of seasoned veteran.

We must... take a roundabout approach!

Hong Xiguan's gaze shifted slightly, and he already had a brilliant plan in mind.