My father is Yongzheng, and I am Qianlong?

Chapter 35: Seal the Mountain Beizi and become the Small Flag Master

The next day.

After Hongli followed Kangxi back to the Forbidden City, Kangxi suddenly issued an edict to remove him and Hongxi from their posts, and left the famine relief work to Shuntian Prefecture alone.

Then, when Hongxi and Hongli both handed him a sign requesting an audience to hand over their duties, Kangxi asked Liang Jiugong to read out a new edict.

"Imperial decree!"

Hongxi and Hongli knelt down hurriedly.

"I originally did not wish to confer the title of Imperial Grandson, fearing that he would suddenly attain great prominence at a young age and become arrogant and self-indulgent."

"However, the Imperial grandsons Hongxi and Hongli have provided famine relief, saving tens of thousands of lives and bringing peace to the capital. Their contributions are truly invaluable! Furthermore, since I have been on the throne for sixty years, I should extend my benevolent grace to my children and grandchildren."

"Therefore, Hongxi and Hongli are enfeoffed as Gushan Beizi, and the Imperial Grandson Hongxi is admitted to the Bordered Red Banner, and the Imperial Grandson Hongli is admitted to the Bordered Blue Banner. Each is granted one Manchu Zuoling, one Mongolian Zuoling, and one Han Zuoling. This is decreed!"

After Liang Jiugong finished reading the decree, Hongli could hardly believe what he heard.

Because Kangxi's decree was beyond his expectations.

After all, just last night, Kangxi was still suspicious that he was too close to the old prince's party. As a result, today, Kangxi suddenly conferred the title of Beizi on both him and Hongxi.

Although, there were some emperor's grandsons who enjoyed the treatment of Beizi, such as Yinlu's son.

But he still never thought that he would become a Beizi because of this famine relief.

However, Hongli soon figured out the reason.

In his opinion, it was probably his performance last night that satisfied Kangxi and made Kangxi know that he and the four houses behind him were not on the side of the prince, so he continued to muddy the waters.

Hongli saw that Hongxi's lips were half open with joy.

He himself was equally delighted.

But for Hongli, the most gratifying thing was not becoming a Beizi.

Because he knew that his destination would not be just a Beizi.

What made him most happy was that he would have his own assistant commander.

This means that he will also become a small flag owner of the Bordered Blue Banner.

Kangxi took advantage of the opportunity that he and Hongxi performed outstandingly in the famine relief process and once again divided the power of the leaders of the five banners.

It seemed that Kangxi had not had enough of this method.

But no one dared to object.

Because of their famine relief work, Hongli and Hongxi not only gained fame among the Han people, but also gained popularity among many bannermen.

Therefore, if Kangxi wanted to give them the title of Zuoling, the ordinary bannermen under him would only be happy to do so. After all, it is better to follow a capable and promising master than a master who only knows how to seek pleasure.

"Khanmafa, my grandson is still young. This time, I was able to provide famine relief and achieve merit thanks to my elder brother's support. I do not have much talent. I really don't dare to accept this prestigious title, and I am afraid that it will be difficult to convince the people. Therefore, I really don't dare to accept this title with my elder brother. Please ask Khanmafa to revoke the order."

But Hongli still humbly declined and did not intend to show his ambition for power too obviously.

Sometimes, you have to pretend.

After hearing what Hongli said, Hongxi looked at Hongli with satisfaction, and then he suppressed his inner joy: "Khanmafa, my grandson has only made this small contribution. Many of my uncles have not yet received titles. It is really unjustifiable for me to receive such a prestigious title now. I also ask Khanmafa to rescind the order."

"There is no reason to withdraw the decree."

"Besides, the princes, beile, beizi, and some of your uncles only know how to indulge in feasting and pleasure, not study literature, are not good at riding and shooting, and even when they do things, they are rash and perfunctory, not as good as you. But because I don't like to punish and intimidate, I don't investigate them. This is already a blessing for them. How can they not accept my ennobling of their meritorious descendants?"

"I confer titles upon you today precisely to encourage you. As long as you work hard for the country and achieve meritorious service, I will honor you regardless of age! Therefore, do not refuse!"

Kangxi calmed down and spoke. "Yes! Grandson, thank you and accept my order!"

Hongli and Hongxi both accepted the imperial edict and expressed their gratitude.

Then, Hongli and Hongxi each received their own imperial edicts and smiled at each other.

There was joy on both of their brows.

This means that from now on, Hongli became a man of nobility and actually had his own assistant commander.

And since Hongli had his own assistant, it naturally meant that he had his own legal party and became a small shareholder of the Qing Dynasty.

From then on, all the bannermen under his command, even if they became officials, no matter what position they held in the court, were his slaves and had to obey his orders.

He remembered that Nian Gengyao became Yongzheng's slave because when Yongzheng was conferred the title of Beile, he joined the Bordered White Banner and became the lord of the Bordered White Banner. The zuoling where Nian was located also happened to be under the name of Yongzheng, so Nian Gengyao naturally became Yongzheng's slave.

During the reign of Emperor Daoguang, there was a chief military minister who was unable to come to the court to handle military affairs because he had to serve his banner master due to his own banner master's affairs, forcing Emperor Daoguang to promote him to the upper three banners.

However, Hongli didn't know whether the three lieutenants assigned to him in the future would contain talents worth discovering.

Besides, these days, he took the opportunity of famine relief to buy some orphans, intending to train them and see if they could become talents that could help him in the future.

Now that Hongli had his own captain, he felt even more that buying these orphans was the right decision. In the future, as long as these orphans performed well, he could bring them under his captain and make them new bannermen. Then he wouldn't have to worry about them working wholeheartedly for him.

"I have conferred upon you the title of Beizi and given you banners, hoping that you can try to manage banner affairs, first learn to manage two or three lieutenants, and understand the current situation of my Eight Banners."

"The Eight Banners are the foundation of our Qing Dynasty. We cannot succeed without learning how to manage banner affairs."

After Hongli and Hongxi received the imperial edict and expressed their gratitude, Kangxi said a few more words.

The two nodded.

Kangxi then waved his hand and asked them to kneel down and go back to see their parents first.

Hongli and Hongxi left the Qianqing Palace.

When Hongxi left the Qianqing Palace, his face was still full of excitement, and he patted Hongli's shoulder heavily as he was escorting him out of the palace: "Hongli, you and I brothers must continue to stick together. Only in this way can we continue to please Khan Mafa and continue to advance in the realm of nobility!"

Hongli smiled and nodded, then said goodbye to Hongxi.

After returning to Prince Yong's Mansion, Hongli first went to see Yongzheng:

"Khan Mafa has made his son a Beizi and has also allowed him to join the Bordered Blue Banner and be assigned three Zuoling positions."

After Hongli said this, Yongzheng raised his head in surprise.

Afterwards, the excitement on Yongzheng's face was even stronger than Hongli's own, and the corners of his mouth were so curved that he couldn't suppress it.

"Hongli, what you did is very meaningful!"

Although Hongli knew the answer, he did not choose to be Yang Xiu. Instead, he pretended to be ignorant and asked, "What is the deep meaning?"

But Yongzheng did not answer, just patted Hongli on the shoulder.

Then, Yongzheng paced around the room with a serious expression:
"I don't know which lieutenants the Imperial Academy will assign to you. If the lieutenants you get don't have enough people and land, and are filled with useless servants, they'll be a burden!"

"But if so, there are many talented people among the captains you are assigned to, and they will be of great help to you in the future!"

"Father must personally oversee this matter, so that you can have a few useful servants in the future!"

Yongzheng then ordered, "Su Peisheng, send a letter to the three generals, Ablan, Luo Deerjin, and Tangse, and tell them that I want to host a banquet for them."

(End of this chapter)