My father is Yongzheng, and I am Qianlong?

Chapter 30 Lao Ba takes the initiative to show goodwill
That day, after accompanying Kangxi back to Changchun Garden, Hongli continued to Shuntian Prefecture to supervise the distribution of grain.

But before he had arrived in Shuntian Prefecture for long, Sui Hede said that Lao Ba invited him over.

Since Yongzheng had instructed him before, he could go to see the Eighth Prince, as long as he talked about it afterwards.

As Lao Ba was Hongli's uncle, it was naturally difficult for Hongli to make an excuse not to go.

After finishing his work, Hongli went to Lao Ba's place.

"Eighth Master, the old prince's men are too rampant. They are not collecting money according to orders, they are clearly taking the opportunity to make trouble for us! Wuwu!"

"Otherwise, why didn't they forcibly conscript their own people? For example, that Han Chinese, Wang Xian, had a large mansion in the capital, but they didn't take it!"

"Not only did they drive my entire family out to sleep in the open, they also accused me of assaulting officers and soldiers, leading to my dismissal."

It is said that the eighth prince Yinsi has received many accusations from his servants and followers against the city guards and the old prince's party these days.

On this day, not long after Lao Ba sent out an invitation for Hongli to come and see him, Deputy Governor Foqin came to see Lao Ba and started crying to him.

Standing with his head back to the old man, Lao Ba said sullenly, "You still have the nerve to come to me and cry? It's just a little health management fee, and you can't even afford it? You even want to beat people up and directly declare that you are my people, my face, and you don't care at all?"

"Myna is right. Foqin, you are already old, why are you so reckless and ignorant?"

"Hongxi is clearly waiting for you to get impulsive and make some mistakes, but you're proactively giving him the opportunity to impeach you. Why can't you just hold back for Bahia?"

The ninth prince Yinzhen, who was also here, started talking about Foqin.

Foqin didn't argue, but simply bowed his head and said, "Eighth Master and Ninth Master are teaching me that I was reckless and brought shame to them. I was certainly wrong, but their old prince was really too much. They only accept money from those of us who follow the Eighth Master and Ninth Master!"

"You go down first. I just need to know about this matter."

Lao Ba waved his hand and asked Foqin to retreat.

After Foqin left, the ninth brother said to the eighth brother, "It's not surprising that Hongxi would bully our people. But why did Hongli, who was working with him, just sit there and watch this happen? Whose side is he on?"

"He's probably neither."

Lao Ba replied with a smile.

Lao Jiu stroked the hand warmer in his hand and looked at Lao Ba: "I don't understand what you mean, brother Ba."

"If he was the old prince's man, he wouldn't have followed suit."

"He, like my fourth brother, truly cares about the foundation of the Qing Dynasty!"

Lao Ba turned around and sat on the chair.

"It's just that Hongli, at such a young age, already understands such an overt conspiracy. It's really surprising."

then.

Lao Ba said with a smile, then raised his hand and said with a smile: "I like my nephew more and more!"

"What do you mean, myna?"

Lao Jiu asked hurriedly.

The Eighth Elder laughed and said, "No matter who takes the throne in the future, they will always need a few capable young men to rely on. If they are all good-for-nothings, how can the Qing Dynasty be guaranteed to last forever?"

Lao Jiu nodded repeatedly.

"I originally wanted to show off my uncle status and wait for him to come to me for help so that I could win him over. But now it seems that he can get things done without the help of uncles like us!"

"In that case, we uncles have no choice but to put aside our pride and take the initiative."

"So, I posted a message and invited him to come."

Lao Ba said this with a wry smile.

Old Nine also nodded with a wry smile, and sighed, "It's a pity he's still too young, otherwise I, as his uncle, would have stuffed seven or eight women into his room, from Jiangnan, Japan, and the West, to make sure he knows which uncle is closest to him."

"A man of great talent cannot be bought with money or beauty; he must be loved and cared for."

Lao Ba disagreed.

Lao Jiu chuckled: "No matter how talented a person is, he can't escape the temptation of a gentle and wealthy country!"

When Hongli arrived at the Eighth Prince's mansion, he learned that the Eighth Prince had instructed the servants to take him directly to see the Eighth Prince as soon as he arrived.

When Hongli saw the Eighth, the elder, the Eighth, even lowered his rank, walked towards him with a smile, one hand behind his back, the other already extended, clearly trying to stop him from bowing. "Nephew pays his respects to Uncle Eight!"

Before Hongli could even bend down, Lao Ba had already supported him: "Why be so polite!"

At this time, after being stunned for a while, Lao Jiu also came down the stairs with a smile, and after Hongli wanted to salute his uncle, he also supported him.

Then, Lao Ba took Hongli's hand and walked towards the study. As they walked, he asked Hongli with concern: "You must have been working hard these days. You seem to have lost some weight."

Hongli was caught off guard by Lao Ba's sudden warmer gesture.

He originally thought that since he had used Hongxi to cause such trouble to his uncle's men, even if his uncle didn't get furious, he would at least give him a veiled warning after calling him over.

But the more he listened, the more he felt that this eighth uncle really treated him as his own nephew, and was very approachable. He did not have the airs of an uncle or elder, but was only concerned about his well-being. His words and deeds did not have the fatherly tone of trying to teach him how to do things.

For example, Lao Jiu next to me tried to learn, but it seemed that he was not learning naturally.

This made Hongli sigh inwardly. Hongshi and many princes and ministers had always preferred Lao Ba. Perhaps it was indeed related to some attractive qualities of Lao Ba himself.

"Thank you for your concern, Uncle Eighth. I am helping Khan Mafa share his worries and helping the people to survive. This is what I should do, and it is not hard at all."

After Hongli answered with a smile, Lao Ba patted his shoulder and asked him to sit down.

Afterwards, the Eighth Elder sat on the chair next to Hongli and said with a warm smile, "Uncle Eighth knows everything. You and Hongxi did a great job in providing famine relief. You did a much better job than many imperial ministers. Not only were the Han people moved, but many bannermen were also moved. How incredible is that?"

"This is terrible!"

The eighth brother spread his hands excitedly, as if Hongli made him feel a great honor, and looked at the ninth brother and said.

Lao Jiu also agreed with a smile: "Yes, Khan Ama said that our Qing Dynasty can unify the world and make all ethnic groups sincerely regard our Aisin Gioro family as their heaven. It's not easy, Hongli, you have done it!"

"Uncles, please stop praising me so much, or I'll get too proud. During this time, while providing famine relief, I've offended my eighth, ninth, and fourteenth uncles. Please don't hold it against me."

Hongli pretended to be embarrassed, bent down and rubbed his knees, and said with a smile.

Lao Ba waved his hand: "No way!"

"Those servants are ignorant and deserve a lesson. I, your eighth uncle, should be grateful to you! Take that bastard servant Sun Chengding for example. You beat him with a stick for his own good!"

"Outsiders all think that we brothers and nephews are fiercely competitive. In fact, no matter what, we are all family. As long as it is beneficial to the Aisin-Gioro family, Uncle Eight has no reason to be angry, and can only applaud!"

"Hongli!"

At this point, Old Eight looked at Hongli, still smiling broadly, "Uncle Eight also heard that the Ministry of Revenue is short of 30,000 dan of famine relief grain for you?"

"That's what happened."

Hongli nodded.

The Eighth Elder said, "They're also short on rations for your Fourteenth Uncle's war in the northwest. I've already given them a heads-up, and they'll probably have the food replenished within two or three days!"

Hongli sneered in his heart. He knew that the Ministry of Revenue was short of 30,000 dan of grain because of Lao Ba's trick. Now that he suddenly said this, it was considered as admitting defeat and showing goodwill, and no longer making things difficult for him.

For this, Hongli pretended to be surprised and stood up to express his gratitude: "Thank you, Uncle Eight! Now we can save more people."

"Why would a family say this? Besides, we are all working to relieve the emperor's worries and ensure the long-term stability of the Qing Dynasty."

Lao Ba waved his hand.

Old Nine also chimed in, "Eighth Brother is right. Hongli, why should you be so reserved with your uncles? It just so happens that Uncle Nine and I have a new team of cooks who make excellent Huaiyang cuisine. How about having dinner with Uncle Eight and Uncle Nine?"

"Your eighth uncle is right. You've lost weight, so you should let your uncles take you to replenish your body."

The ninth brother patted Hongli's shoulder and imitated the eighth brother, acting very understanding and easy-going, laughing from time to time.

Hongli did not refuse, but just bowed and thanked him.

After having Huaiyang cuisine with the Eighth and Ninth Brothers, Hongli met Yongzheng through Sui Hede and told Yongzheng about his meeting with the Eighth Brother.

"How did your eighth uncle react to what you did recently?"

Yongzheng asked after hearing this.

Hongli answered truthfully: "My eighth uncle seems to admire his son very much!"

(End of this chapter)