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

"Sea pirates? Zheng Jing's gang, I suppose. The Prince of Jingnan is here for money!"

Hong Xiguan knew exactly what was going on.

Giving money directly would put a lot of pressure on the national treasury; if we don't give money, who will take the blame if something really happens in Fujian?

He put down the memorial and looked at the Minister of War.

"Ministry of War, how many warships does the Fujian Navy currently have? What are its manpower and annual operating costs?"

The Minister of War quickly stepped forward and reported a series of numbers.

Hong Xiguan nodded and then looked at the Minister of Revenue.

"Ministry of Revenue, what is the projected revenue for the national treasury this year? What are the various expenditures? How much remains?"

The Minister of Revenue also submitted his account with trepidation.

Hmm, the data matches up, even the richest family doesn't have surplus grain.

Hong Xiguan had already made up his mind, and then said:

"Coastal defense is a matter of paramount importance to the nation and should not be taken lightly. However, the national treasury is also not abundant, so funds should be used wisely. The Ministry of War should consult with the Governor-General of Fujian to draft a new strategy of streamlining the army and administration, and using war to sustain war. Warships can be built, but specific ship design drawings and budgets must be provided. Military expenses can be allocated, but every penny must have a clear destination. What the court wants to see is not a memorial requesting money, but a plan to win battles!"

These words were spoken clearly and logically, thus throwing the question back to the ministers below.

Shifting blame? Anyone can do that! Let your subordinates argue their way up first, and I'll make the final decision. The art of leadership lies in "getting your subordinates moving."

The entire court, looking at the young emperor on the dragon throne who could effortlessly recall and answer all kinds of military and political data, had changed their initial astonishment into deep shock.

This is hardly a twelve-year-old child! He's clearly a seasoned veteran of politics!

Cold sweat had already seeped from Ao Bai's forehead.

The memorials he presented were increasingly difficult, but the young emperor always managed to provide the most prudent and comprehensive solutions in a way that was both effortless and skillful.

After finishing the last memorial, Ao Bai was numb and looked depressed.

Sony seized the opportunity, kneeling down again, tears streaming down his face: "Your Majesty is wise! Such a talented man, if he does not rule personally, it would be a great loss to our Qing Dynasty! This old minister... will die with regrets!"

"We, your humble servants, earnestly request Your Majesty to assume personal rule!"

Sony and all the ministers knelt down in unison.

The tide has turned!

Ao Bai stood there, his figure as upright as ever, but everyone felt that his shadow had shrunk at that moment.

Alright, the show's over. It's time for me, the main character, to take my final bow!

Hong Xiguan stood up from the dragon throne, and an invisible imperial aura instantly enveloped the entire hall.

"All of you, rise."

He spoke slowly, his voice echoing throughout the hall.

"Having received the Mandate of Heaven and ascended the throne, I shall naturally work tirelessly day and night to repay the heavy trust placed in me by my late father and to comfort the hopes of my subjects. As my ministers have repeatedly pleaded with me, and the Empress Dowager has also given me a benevolent command..."

Hong Xiguan took a deep breath, his gaze sweeping over Ao Bai's resentful face, and announced, word by word, "I grant your request! On an auspicious day, I will ascend the throne in the Hall of Supreme Harmony, personally govern the country, and issue an edict to the world!"

……

September of the fourth year of the Kangxi reign, an auspicious day.

The Hall of Supreme Harmony in the Forbidden City.

This is the heart of the entire empire, and the pinnacle of power.

Today, this heart beats exceptionally fast as Emperor Kangxi's ceremony to assume personal rule is held as scheduled.

The golden bell rang out, and the jade chimes resounded.

The somber and solemn music, like an invisible torrent, surged across the Jinshui Bridge, overflowed the Meridian Gate, and shook the entire morning of Beijing.

Grand music resounded from the imperial steps, and hundreds of officials from the Ministry of Rites, dressed in their finest attire, stood solemnly like a forest.

Along the imperial road, red felt carpets stretched out, as red as blood.

Hong Xiguan, dressed in a bright yellow twelve-dragon robe, wearing a court hat inlaid with huge pearls, and black boots with pink soles, walked step by step to the beat of drums up the white marble steps that symbolized supreme power.

The autumn wind howled, stirring the hem of his bright yellow robe, but it couldn't stir his calm, serene face.

At this moment, he was no longer the young man who needed to keep a low profile, but the true ruler of the Qing Empire.

"Is this what it feels like to walk the red carpet?"

Hong Xiguan stared straight ahead, each step he took was extremely steady, exuding a powerful sense of pressure.

Although there were no flashbulbs, the hundreds of thousands of square meters of real-life stage, the thousands of extras, the top-notch costumes and props... compared to this, the Oscars ceremony was simply a makeshift operation.

Hong Xiguan walked up to the high platform, turned around, and slowly sat down on the dragon throne that symbolized the supreme ruler.

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

Below the steps, civil and military officials, princes and nobles knelt down in neat rows, like wheat fields blown down by the wind.

The overwhelming shouts soared into the sky, shaking the glazed tiles of the Hall of Supreme Harmony.

Cao Yin and Li Xu, who were standing guards in the corner of the main hall, were trembling slightly with their hands gripping the hilts of their swords.

Looking at the figure high above on the dragon throne, his eyes burned with an almost fanatical flame.

That's their master!

Li Xu's eyes reddened with excitement, and he screamed inwardly, "It's a sure thing! This is a complete victory! We've done a great service by supporting the new leader; from now on, who in Beijing will dare to look down on us?"

"The Emperor has finally taken personal control of the government!" Cao Yin took a deep breath, suppressing the excitement in his heart, and stood up straight.

At the forefront of the officials, old Sony, with his full head of white hair, knelt on the ground, listening to the shouts of "Long live the Emperor!" His cloudy old eyes shed two lines of clear tears.

He raised his head slightly, looked at the tall and handsome young emperor, and a relieved smile appeared on his lips.

"It's done! My risky move was the right one. The wealth and glory of the Hesheli family have been preserved. Ao Bai, you have ultimately lost to me by half a point!"

Sony's side.

Ao Bai knelt on the ground, but his broad back still resembled an unyielding hill.

He lowered his head, staring at the gold bricks before him, his eyes filled with a terrifyingly sinister glint.

"Rule in his own right? Hmph, a mere child, does he think he's an emperor just because he's put on a dragon robe?"

Ao Bai sneered inwardly, his eyes filled with disdain.

"After years of abusing power, I now control half of the important positions in the court and even the guards of the nine gates of the capital."

"You've only gained a title; if I so desire, this emperor can be reduced to a mere puppet capable only of stamping documents! Let you be smug for a few days now."

Just as everyone was harboring their own secrets, the official proclaiming the imperial edict unfurled the scroll of bright yellow paper and read it aloud:

"By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees..."

After a lengthy and verbose passage, we finally arrive at the core content:

"...I ascended the throne at a young age, and my regents, including Sony, have diligently followed the edicts of my late father, Emperor Shizu Zhang, to assist in governing the country with utmost dedication for seven years. Now, after repeated requests, I have been entrusted by the Empress Dowager to personally manage all affairs of state!"

At this moment, the atmosphere inside the Hall of Supreme Harmony reached its climax.

This is official confirmation, and this is a server-wide announcement!

Hong Xiguan sat high up, looking down at the sea of ​​heads below, feeling an overwhelming sense of satisfaction.

But then, the official announcing the imperial edict abruptly changed his tone:

"...However, considering the immense affairs of state and my need for further practice, I hereby order the four regents to remain on either side of the throne to continue assisting in government affairs and discussing matters of state. So be it!"

Upon hearing this, Ao Bai suddenly raised his head, a look of astonishment flashing in his eyes, which then turned into a smug grin.

"You're smart enough to know you can't function without me!"

At this moment, Hong Xiguan, who was sitting high on the dragon throne, was looking down at Ao Bai.

Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang's decision to allow the regent to continue governing was a temporary compromise with the power of Aobai.

Because everyone knows that Ao Bai will not easily relinquish power, as he represents the interests of the Eight Banners nobility and has many cronies in the court.

.....