The Qing Dynasty is about to end

Chapter 145 Your Majesty, You Have to Pay! (Seeking Monthly Tickets)

"It's a mess."

A pile of inkstones, brush washers, tea bowls and other odds and ends were thrown to the ground by the suddenly angry Emperor Xianfeng with one sleeve. They broke into pieces. Still not satisfied, he roared twice: "This is deceiving the emperor, deceiving the emperor! Shengbao deserves to die! Fucheng deserves to die! Luo Bingzhang deserves to die! Luo Raodian deserves to die too!"

Xianfeng's sudden anger frightened An Dehai and several other eunuchs and palace maids who were serving him. They all knelt down, and perhaps because they were too scared, they were shaking like sieves.

"An Dehai!" After smashing things and venting his anger, Xianfeng realized that he couldn't just let it go like this, and he had to investigate strictly. "Quickly go and call Qi Junzao, Peng Yunzhang, Mu Yin, and Gong Laoliu to the garden!"

"twitter!"

An Dehai had no idea what Emperor Xianfeng was doing and didn't dare to say anything. He could only respond and get up from the ground, hunched over and backed out. When he was halfway back, Emperor Xianfeng yelled again, "Wait!"

"Yes." An Dehai responded hastily, stopped retreating, stood there with his body bent, waiting for Emperor Xianfeng's instructions.

Xianfeng frowned and said, "Summon Duanhua, Zaiyuan, Senggelinqin, Qishan, Sushun, Weng Xincun and others to the garden. I will summon them to the Qinzheng Qinxian Hall. Quickly!"

This time, Xianfeng planned to find more people to discuss how to deal with the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, which was gaining more territory and more soldiers as it lost more battles, and was getting closer to Beijing. This couldn't go on any longer. If they continued to fight like this, these rebellious Guangdong bandits would be forced to approach Beijing amidst failures along the way!

"twitter!"

An Dehai responded and retreated quickly.

Xianfeng limped to a window inlaid with transparent glass, and looked at the Western-style courtyard outside through the Western transparent glass donated by the Thirteen Hongs. Under the dazzling morning sunlight, the twelve zodiac springs of the Great Waterworks (fountain) were taking turns spewing out clear water. When the morning light shone on them, a seven-color rainbow actually floated out of thin air.

Looking at the pleasant scenery, Emperor Xianfeng's mood finally calmed down. Suddenly, a feeling of sleepiness welled up from the bottom of his heart. It was really harmful to the body to get angry so early in the morning!

He yawned and called out, "Little treasure, bring me the longevity cream!"

There’s no other way, I have to take a few breaths to calm down!

A soft, high-pitched voice came from outside: "Zha."

Yuanmingyuan, the Hall of Diligent Government and Virtuous People.

Because there were many people to be found this time, among whom the Minister of Revenue Weng Xincun and Qishan, who held the title of Dutong, both lived in Beijing. So it was not until the afternoon of that day that this group of terrified princes and ministers kowtowed to the furious Emperor Xianfeng in the Qinzheng Qinxian Hall of the Old Summer Palace.

"Snapped"

Xianfeng saw that the princes and ministers below had all finished prostrating themselves like praying bugs, but he did not allow them to stand up, nor did he grant a seat to Qi Junzao and Zhou Tianjue, two old ministers in their seventies. Instead, he threw several memorials heavily to the ground with a stern face.

Then came the gloomy and hoarse voice of Emperor Xianfeng: "Look! Look at this memorial submitted to me by Shengbao, Fucheng, Luo Bingzhang, and Luo Raodian. Tell me, are they deceiving the emperor? Do they deserve to die?"

Prince Gong Yixin already knew why Emperor Xianfeng was so furious - Shengbao, Yuanbao and Wenxiang were all his accomplices, they could deceive the emperor but they could not deceive him, their master.

Otherwise, who will cover up their shame in front of His Majesty?
Although he knew what was going on, Prince Gong acted as if he knew nothing. He picked up a memorial written by Shengbao and read it word by word. Then his face changed drastically and he said in panic, "This, this Bull Demon King is too fierce, isn't he? He caused so many casualties among my loyal and brave soldiers, and he even showed his Dharma image and swallowed Yin Lipei in one gulp! Fortunately, Bai Siwen and Yuanbao were brave, and they killed the demon with a few holy bombs."

After hearing what the Sixth Prince said, Xianfeng was furious!

The Battle of Changsha was such a disastrous defeat, and you, Old Six, are still making excuses for them!
Eight of the nine old gates of Changsha City were lost, and all government offices and military camps in the city were lost. Only Tianxin Pavilion and Yingchun Gate were still in the hands of the government troops. Changsha is the capital of a province!
As for the matter of injuring Bull Demon King, it was all empty talk, maybe a false report!

Thinking of this, Xianfeng gritted his teeth and said, "This bunch of useless people, they have lost the county, the state, the prefecture, and now the provincial capital! Lao Liu, tell me, are they going to lose the capital next?"

"Your Majesty, please calm down," Prince Gong Yixin kowtowed and replied respectfully, "Although the battle in Changsha was a bit tragic, the demon's Dharma image was broken after all. The demon was probably seriously injured and should not be as powerful as before.

Moreover, we have also found a way to exorcise the demons. In the future, we can cast more holy bombs and eventually eliminate the demons. Once the demons are eliminated, there is no need to worry about the Guangdong bandits rebelling.

If Your Majesty is still worried, I am willing to lead the army southwards and will not return north until the Taiping Rebellion is wiped out!"

"You" When Xianfeng heard Yi Xin mention the words of going south to command the army again, he was so angry that he couldn't speak, and didn't know what to say?

It is absolutely impossible to let Yi Xin go south to command the army. He is Gong Laoliu, a dignified prince, the beloved son of the late emperor, and the heir to the throne of the Qing Dynasty!
Xianfeng still has no son. If he passes away, Yi Xin will succeed his elder brother and he won't have to be the emperor's uncle or regent. It will be much easier than Dorgon.

If he is allowed to go south to command the army, wouldn't he be the Great General? If he loses, the Qing Dynasty will be gone, and if he wins, maybe even Emperor Xianfeng will be gone! In short, no matter whether he wins or loses, Emperor Xianfeng will be gone!

"Your Majesty! I have something to say." Prince Zheng Duanhua spoke up to smooth things over.

Xianfeng looked at this 40-something, plump, white-haired, mustache-wearing Manchu nobleman, who looked a bit smart and capable, and said gently, "Duanhua, if you have something to say, just say it."

The aunt of Niuhulu, who was just made empress in June, was Duanhua's legitimate wife, which means Duanhua was the empress's uncle. Xianfeng loved Duanhua and his brother Sushun as his own. In history, Duanhua and Sushun were both among the eight ministers of state!
Duanhua said: "Your Majesty, I think the most urgent task is not to investigate the crimes of Shengbao, Fucheng, Luo Bingzhang, Luo Raodian and others, but to plan the battle of Changsha and redeem the Eight Banners children who fell into the hands of the bandits."

"Redeem?" Xianfeng gritted his teeth and said, "Three hundred thousand taels! Duanhua, you want me to pay three hundred thousand taels to redeem those, those."

"Your Majesty!" Prince Gong Yixin spoke again, "Those Eight Bannermen fought against the demons for our Qing Dynasty. Although they were unfortunately captured, they did injure and even killed the demons! Your Majesty can't just ignore them!"

"Your Majesty cannot ignore them."

Once Prince Gong took the lead, a group of ministers under him all urged Emperor Xianfeng to spend money to redeem the person.

That’s more than 400 members of the Beijing Banner!

It would have been fine if he had been beaten to death, but now he has been captured and the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom is willing to take money and release him!

Who among the powerful officials in the court dares to ask for the death of the Eight Banners descendants?
This is so offensive!

Having said that, next time I get into trouble, no one will come forward to rescue me.

"But, but three hundred thousand taels is too much!" Xianfeng's numb face was full of pain.

Less than five hundred Eight Banners descendants cost three hundred thousand taels, which means an average of more than six hundred taels per person!

This is too expensive!
How could those Eight Banners descendants who could only eat but not fight be worth so much?

"Your Majesty, your servant Sushun has something to say."

The one who spoke this time was Duanhua's brother, a man in his thirties with thick eyebrows, big eyes and a square face. He was considered a rare spirited uncle among the Manchus today, and was quite trusted by Emperor Xianfeng. He was now appointed as a Cabinet Scholar, Deputy Governor of the Bordered Blue Banner, Commander of the Guards, and Envoy of the Imperial Ceremony.

"Sushun, go ahead." Xianfeng's pockmarked face softened immediately, with a hint of anticipation in his eyes.

"Your Majesty, I just read Luo Raodian's memorial," Su Shun said, "and it says that he, Shengbao, Fucheng, Luo Bingzhang, Yuanbao, Bai Siwen, and some other people who lost their troops and territory are willing to pay 100,000 taels of silver to atone their sins. This way, there are only 200,000 taels left."

"Two hundred thousand is not a small amount." Xianfeng's pockmarked face showed a painful expression again.

"Your Majesty," Prince Gong reminded, "there is still Hong Daquan who can be used to pay 30,000 taels. In addition, the court can also ask those officials in Hunan who lost their troops and land to pay more silver for redemption. I can also donate 20,000 or 30,000 taels."

You, Old Six, are really good at winning people's hearts!
Xianfeng looked at his good brother with a gloomy face and said nothing, thinking to himself: "You can buy people's hearts, so I am the bad guy? All the Eight Banners brothers hate me, it seems that those good-for-nothings should be redeemed!
At least you have to do the work of saving face!

"Your Majesty," Prince Zheng Duanhua bowed at this time, "Prince Zheng's Mansion can also donate 30,000 taels!"

Xianfeng changed his previous attitude, nodded, and praised: "Duanhua, you are indeed a good prince of my Qing Dynasty!"

As soon as he praised Duanhua, the ministers kneeling below, both Manchu and Han, immediately began to pledge donations.

"Your Majesty, I am willing to donate 10,000 taels!"

"Your Majesty, I will donate five thousand taels!"

"Your Majesty, I will also donate 5,000 taels."

"Your Majesty, I pledge three thousand taels!"

(End of this chapter)