Emperor Qianlong: the beginning of his glory

Chapter 46
The Qianqing Palace is the largest court palace in the Forbidden City except the Hall of Supreme Harmony.Qianlong changed seats with 36 people carrying bright yellow sedan chairs and walked in through the main gate of Qianqing Gate, and did not come down with Gao Wuyong's shoulders until he was in the empty field in front of Danchi.Outside the palace is headed by Prince Zhuang Yunlu, and there are dozens of princes and clans, but civil and military officials are headed by Zhang Tingyu, and there are more than 100 officials from Neqin, Ertai, Liubu Jiuqing, Hanlin from the Imperial Academy, and other provinces who came to Beijing. Name, originally standing.Or fellow countrymen meet, or reunite after a long absence, or close friends, or colleagues and subordinates gather together, some greet each other, some whisper, some wink and tell jokes, and some are serious and straight-eyed.Just waiting impatiently, I saw Qianlong get off the sedan chair in court clothes. With a "huh" the black crows knelt down.

Qianlong walked up the steps with brisk steps.Seeing Yun Ye kneeling behind Yun Lu in a blink of an eye, he smiled and said to Yun Lu: "The emperors are old people, so there is no need to kneel—Uncle Ten, you are weak, you said that you don't need to be formal! "

"That... that's the emperor's favor." Yun didn't expect Qianlong to single out himself for words, and stammered, "I... I'm a useless person with more crimes, and I'm idle at home. I don’t go out every day, but I also miss the emperor and the emperor’s kindness. Come in... Come in and ask for peace... It’s still right.” He used to be the most arrogant and daring one among the Yongzheng brothers, but now he is ten After years of imprisonment, he became trembling and cautious.Qianlong once saw him talking wildly in front of Kangxi, and he was not convinced even after being whipped, but now he looked like a different person, he couldn't help sighing in his heart, and comforted him: "Uncle Ten, don't think about it, take good care of yourself What do you tell the Ministry of Internal Affairs?" After speaking, he stepped into the main hall, sat on the Xumi seat in the middle, and ordered: "Call in."

As a result, the joy of Dan Bi was great, and everyone entered in a solemn file according to rank, princes and relatives in the east, and civil and military bureaucrats in the west.Zhang Tingyu and Yunlu were the first to shake their horseshoe sleeves, and everyone followed the class to salute, shouting in unison: "Long live!" Qianlong saw the eunuchs carrying generous tables outside and rushing back and forth under the east corridor, and then remembered that there was a gift in the note For Yan, I am glad that I have not lost my manners. Wouldn't it be a big disappointment to leave this group of people here to "kowtow to the throne and go home"?Thinking about it, Qianlong smiled and said: "On New Year's Day, I met with all the ministers in the Hall of Supreme Harmony, but the ostentation was too big, and there were too many people, so it was difficult to talk about my heart. The monarchs and ministers simply have fun. From the first day to the fifteenth day of the lunar new year, everyone is busy again. I have been doing business for a year, and today I am called in to give a feast. I think it is not customary." He looked around with a smile. Everyone glanced at him, and all the courtiers bowed to thank him.

"Just now, when I sacrificed to Tangzi, I went to burn incense in the portraits of my ancestors, and I thought a lot about it." Qianlong sat on the throne and said solemnly.In the silence, his voice was unhurried, calm and sonorous, "It is the sixth generation to fight Taizu. Taizu and Taizong Hongwu Molie were born and died to create the foundation of the Qing Dynasty. Ancestor Chengzhao Pixu, sage, god, and martial arts ruled the world. The first emperor reigned for 13 years, revived the decadence of hundreds of years, rectified the government, and reformed the government. I was young, and I have never seen the emperor lead the three armies and go deep into the desert and sea to conquer the evil. But the two generations of father and grandfather worked hard at night, worked hard, and worked tirelessly. These things are all vivid in my memory." Qianlong's eyes were full of light, and he glanced at the officials, "'The predecessors planted trees and the descendants enjoy the shade', this sentence I have thought about it carefully, Yu’s family is the word of a prodigal family, and Yu’s country is the voice of a subjugated country. If the descendants take advantage of the shade without planting trees, the descendants of the descendants will have no shade to take advantage of. It’s not planting trees from generation to generation. Once the old trees are cut down, the hozens who are enjoying the shade will naturally disperse!

"I will not be an emperor who only enjoys the shade and does not plant trees." Qianlong gritted his fine white teeth and said with a smile, "Although my ancestors and fathers built a large forest, lush and green, I only regard it as the strength of my ancestors. Monument, I also want to build a forest for my descendants. Therefore, since I ascended the throne, I have not been greedy for the music of bells and drums. Those who have food, those who are widowed, widowed, lonely, disabled, and sick all have something to support, and the old man Huangtong can share a peaceful and prosperous world, which is my wish!" He moved his body slightly, and smiled, "I'm governing with leniency is the test of the emperor. The will has changed with the times, and it is not lenient and unreasonable to follow the way of the mean and achieve the rule of peace, prosperity and integrity. Looking at the situation for more than a year, it is true that the treasury has lost 2000 million taels of silver. , but the people are rich, the country is solid and the country is peaceful, and the people are satisfied, who is the king or not? Last year, hundreds of states and counties in seven provinces were flooded. Although there were cults bewitching them, no one made trouble. Why? Because they Not hungry! Some people say that exempting money and food has no effect, but in fact this is the effect! I have seen with my own eyes that every year the national tax is collected, and there are tens of thousands of poor and small landowners in every province. They are tortured and extorted by cruel officials. Faliangshan’s starved and frozen ditches often lead to great changes, and then raise troops to counteract the rebellion. Instead of spending money on slaughtering bandits, how can we be kind to the government so that they will not rebel in the first place?"

Qianlong's face turned ashen when he said this: "Perhaps I implemented this kind of good government and pinched some dirty officials' money. Naturally, if the money is not paid, the harsh faction will have no way to send it-so such a Good politics, but there are always annoying words. Some people say that I am trying to gain fame, some say that I have violated the teachings of King Sejong's father, and some have strange thoughts, saying that I am "a full man does not know how hungry a hungry man is." I thought that my benevolent government was a cowardly and deceitful lord. Let me tell you now, I intend to create a world of great prosperity in the Qing Dynasty, and follow the example of the ancestors as the lord of a generation. , Criticizing the Dragon Scale is also from Deer, if you go against my ambition, the three-foot ice will be set up for you!"

In previous years, Yongzheng gave a feast on the Lantern Festival. When the officials went to the Qianqing Palace, they just recited "Ode to Longevity and Boundless" as usual. This is the first time for you to have a big banquet for your ministers, and Qianlong advocated "government with leniency". Since he came to the throne, he has always met with ministers and workers, big and small. Turning his face is not only majestic and terrifying, but also his diction is sharp and vicious, like a knife like a sword, not inferior to the cold and mean Yongzheng.This long speech was spoken so forcefully that more than [-] people in the Qianqing palace trembled and turned pale when they heard it, they knelt straight and did not hear a single phlegm.

"Today's festival is a happy day. Originally, I wanted to wait a few days before saying these things." Qianlong slowed down and smiled with satisfaction. It seems that there is no need for a court meeting. So just talk about it-give a feast!"

After a while, the clocks and Lu chimes sounded together, and all the officials kowtowed their heads to thank them and stood up. The deacon and eunuch of the imperial dining room commanded the servants. , Qianlong took Zhang Tingyu with one arm and Ertai with the other and entered the table with a smile. Prince Zhuang Yunlu, Prince Yi Hongxiao and Minister of Military Aircraft Neqin accompanied them and sat at the head table together. Qianlong only nodded, and Hongxiao hurriedly stood up. Lai said loudly: "Stop music—a poem between monarch and minister!"

The mid-year festival is full of spring spirit,
Qianlong had a pleasant smile, raised his glass, sipped, chanted, turned his face and smiled and said to Zhang Tingyu and Ertai: "You are the elders of the three dynasties, and you are familiar with Bailiang style poems. I will reward you with a glass of life-extending wine, so that young people don't like poems." ?" The two old ministers hurriedly smiled and got up and said, "I obey the order." Qianlong looked at Neqin.Neqin hurriedly said: "I'm not good at this, I just barely respond to the imperial edict." Yin said:
The spring breeze of Taihe is really mighty!
"Forget it, give me wine!" Qianlong said with a smile.Gao Wuyong hurried over to pour wine.Qianlong searched with his eyes, and seeing Sun Jiagan sitting on the sixth table, he called his name and said, "Jiagan, I thought you might not be strong enough to support yourself, but you still came. How are you looking! Come and answer!"

Sun Jiagan didn't prevent Qianlong from calling his own name, stood up in a panic and said, "I'm really mediocre in poetry and poetry. But I have received the grace of the country and dare not disobey the order." Then he also chanted:
Holy Grace is rain and dew,
His change of rhyme in this way is not in line with the usual practice of Bailiang style in previous years. The courtiers who have always followed the rhyme were stunned, and no one came out to match the sentence.

"You don't know this man." Qianlong pointed at Sun Jiagan with a smile and said, "This man was 19 years old to avenge his father, and he walked three hundred miles at night to kill his enemies. Wei Zheng in front of the late emperor's throne is my good minister. He said that the holy grace and rain are the portrayal of his life, and I respect him as an old minister! Jiagan can't drink because of illness, Gao Wuyong—" He pointed at the royal case and laughed: "Reward him with the treasured jade wishful!"

There was a murmur of envy in the hall.But the poem is still no one out right.Suddenly, an official of the sixth rank in the Hanlin, who was black, tall and very burly, raised his square face, raised his wine glass and said:

Sprinkle all over the world!
Qianlong looked at him, but he didn't recognize him. When he saw Yunlu, Yunlu shook his head slightly. Zhang Tingyu approached him and said softly, "It's Enke's new Jinshi last year, called Ji Yun."

"Well, Ji Yun." When Qianlong stared at Ji Yunyi, he saw Ji Yun's burly body, radiant spirit, calm and graceful attitude in front of everyone's eyes, and he felt good in his heart. You get along well, I think you have a good talent, like a warrior, can you eat meat?"

"The soul of a courtier and the heart of a gentleman, he likes to eat meat the most." Ji Yun paused and said, "Being an official in the capital, he is self-absorbed from hardships. One meat in ten days is often less of a problem. Now, thanks to the grace of the Holy Spirit, I wish to eat as much as I want!"

Seeing that he was neither humble nor overbearing, Qianlong couldn't help being overjoyed, he waved and said with a smile, "Come here, come here!"Qianlong pointed to a big cloisonné plate with pearls in the middle of the dining table, and asked, "Can I finish it?" When Ji Yun looked at it, it was a goat's milk red braised elbow, which had not been touched because of its fatness, and weighed about three catties. Left and right, smiled and said: "Yes. And it is a gift from the emperor, and the minister will die without hesitation, let alone eat meat?" Qianlong stood up happily, and he brought it over himself and smiled: "In that case, I will reward you!" At this time, the hall was full Civil and military have already stopped cutting chopsticks, and they are all dumbfounded.

"Thank you." Ji Yun didn't catch it right away. He knelt down on the ground first and held it up with both hands. He grabbed the elbow meat without raising his head, tearing and biting, the big piece of elbow was eaten in an instant.Ji Yun drank the remaining mutton milk soup in one gulp, and said: "Sacred grace means that there is a lot of rain and dew today, and you will be given meat for writing poems-this meal can fill you up for three days!" Qianlong couldn't help laughing, and ordered The servant gave Ji Yun water to clean his hands, looked at Ji Yun appreciatively, and said: "It seems that he has no intentions, he has a big heart, good!" Ji Yun interjected: "People should not be scheming in the five relationships. Great generosity also brings great blessings. Opportunities are deep and disasters are deep!"

Qianlong became more and more happy. He didn't expect to find a witty, quick-witted, sophisticated young Hanlin at such a banquet, so he thought about it, ordered everyone to eat as usual, and said to Ji Yun with a smile: "Do you have words?"

"Long live back," Ji Yun hurriedly said, "The minister's word is Xiaolan, the 'Xiao' of the dawn wind blowing the sun, and the 'Lan' of the cloudy atmosphere."

Qianlong raised his face and thought for a while, then said: "You are very agile, I want to try your poetic talent - the style just now is too awkward, you can't write any good poems, you can be more casual."

"Yes, please give me a question."

"Last night, the Ministry of Internal Affairs came over and Concubine Mi gave birth to a child for me. You can try to compose a song based on this..."

"The king got the golden dragon last night!"

"Well - I didn't finish, it's a girl."

"Turn into a fairy and go down to Jiuzhong."

"It's a pity that I didn't keep it."

"It is expected that the world will not be able to stay."

"I ordered people to throw them into the Jinshui River."

"Turn over and jump into the Crystal Palace!"

At this time, although the people in the palace obeyed the order to eat, but Ji Yun's quick wit was so eye-catching, everyone listened with pricked ears, and couldn't help being envious and jealous but also unable to disapprove of his talent.Naqin originally suspected that Ji Yun pretended to invite Chong Xingjin, so far he couldn't help laughing in relief.Qianlong's heart moved, and he wanted to call him to the upper study room immediately, but he held back, he just laughed and said, "What a scholar! You can do it for yourself. I will use you. Go back. I will order someone to give you some more. The beef is for you." After Ji Yun retreated, Qianlong turned to Yunlu and said, "You accompany these people on my behalf. Some old ministers should not force themselves to drink." After finishing speaking, he got up and walked out of the hall slowly, and turned to ask Gao Wuyong: " Didn’t you ask Liu Tongxun to hand over the sign yesterday? Didn’t someone come, or was he blocked outside? The servants are getting more and more careless in their work.”

"Return to the master," Gao Wuyong said with a smile, "Liu Tongxun has been here for a while. On the road, he met someone who blocked the sedan chair and complained. He went to visit Master Li Wei Li again, but it was late. When he came in, he asked the slave, Your Majesty. Happy or not. The slave took him to wait in the room next to the transcript, and was about to ask the master for an order." Qianlong laughed and said, "Oh, please see me and ask if I am happy! What did you say? Gao Wuyong hurriedly said: "The slave said that the master is very happy. Since the slave has followed the master, I have never seen such a happy person."

Qianlong didn't speak anymore, and was led by Gao Wuyong to the next door to the transcription office, and without notice, he stepped in, saw Liu Tongxun writing at his desk and said with a smile: "I see you, Liu Tongxun, can play tricks if you don't come out, what's the matter?" Do you want to take advantage of your master's pleasure?"

"Your Majesty!" Liu Tongxun looked up and saw that it was Qianlong. He didn't seem surprised. He threw a pen and got up and said, "I do have a secret performance. But I don't want to play it when the master is happy. This is a disappointment. The master is so easy to be idle. It's not good to play when you're happy." Qianlong's face darkened, he was moved.He didn't say anything, just sat opposite Liu Tongxun, with no expression on his face, and said calmly: "What's the matter? Let's play." Liu Tongxun bowed slightly, and said: "It's the case of the suicide of He Luying, the former Taoist priest of Dezhou Prefecture. Now He Luying's wife, He Lishi, is suing, saying that her husband did not commit suicide, but was assassinated by Liu Kang, the former prefect of Dezhou."

Qianlong's eyes jumped suddenly, and he stared at Liu Tongxun without saying a word.

"Just now, I drove the sedan chair to go to court, and Mrs. He Li stopped the sedan chair at the fourth archway to cry for grievances." The muscles on Liu Tongxun's black and red face twitched, "I immediately stopped the sedan chair as usual. The two children have not eaten for a few days. The minister told the court order officer, and thought it was a sly woman who was so poor that she wanted to accuse the official, so she warned him immediately. You are married for thousands of miles. Listen to my advice, take your children back and raise them up, and life will be easier." At that time, Mrs. He Li yelled at the ministers, "officials and officials protect each other", and said that she is not a citizen, but a fourth-rank imperial order.

"The minister was taken aback, and then he looked at the pleading paper carefully. It turned out that the person who wrote the pleading did not understand the rules. He said at the beginning that 'the woman He Li is suing Liu Kang, the former governor of Dezhou, for fearing the law and killing her'." Not only Liu Kang is involved in the investigation, but also the former governor of Shandong Province Yue Jun, the chief envoy Shan Da, the former governor of Liangjiang and Li Wei who was in charge of the arrest of Shandong, and Qian Du are also involved in the case!"

When Liu Tongxun said this, he let out a breath as if he wanted to exhaust the chill in his heart.Qianlong couldn't help being shocked when he heard the case was so serious.In fact, he knows more about the relationship between silk and vines than Liu Tongxun. Yue Jun was the former Prince Yi Yunxiang's favorite general. The coat-coated servant also has an unusual relationship with Prince Li Hongxi.Qianlong wondered why Li Wei was also involved in the case and said: "If you say this, this case has really affected the court! You are the one to take it."

"Not only does it affect the court, but it also affects the political situation." Liu Tongxun seemed to have another way of thinking, frowned and bowed his head and said, "Assuming that Mrs. He Li's report is true, the reason for Liu Kang's murder is because He Luying pursued Dezhou's deficit. Liu Kang had no choice but to take the risk. This Liu Kang committed ten heinous crimes, and the law does not tolerate leniency, so he must be killed. But it is slightly inconsistent with the emperor's "government with leniency". Why do you keep silent when you are in the emperor's palace? In addition to insufficient evidence, you are also worried about disturbing the overall situation of the emperor. Now that the sufferer has come out, it is unreasonable to cover it up. How to deal with it, the minister just went to see Li Wei, Li Wei said that we can only ask the emperor's Sacred Heart to make a silent decision."

Qianlong didn't speak for a while, stood up and walked slowly in the small small room.Liu Tongxun stared at Qianlong intently.He met Kangxi when he was working as a secretary in Changchun Garden, and he often wandered and thought about things when meeting ministers.Yongzheng was impatient by nature, often paced and thought quickly, then stopped suddenly, and decisively issued a ruling.This Qianlong was different. Whenever he saw him, he always had an air of grace and generosity. He sat upright and listened to the discussions of his courtiers. Sometimes he did not move for an hour or two.Today, he wandered around the room uncharacteristically, which shows that his heart is extremely restless.Liu Tongxun was thinking about it. Qianlong had already stood at the door, looking at the layers of frozen clouds in the east half of the sky, and asked dryly: "You met Li Wei? That's not all he has to say. What is his own constitution?"

"Li Wei said that regardless of Liu Kang's guilt or innocence, he is already guilty. He needs to be punished with a decree." Liu Tongxun said slowly, "This case has been accepted but not handled. He believes that he has selfish intentions and wants to wait to see the new king. The situation after the administration is pending. In any case, a secret letter should be given to the master."

"Well."

"I asked Li Wei, what's your opinion now? Li Wei said, I still want to ask for an order. If the emperor asks him, he has only one word - do it!"

A gloomy smile flashed across Qianlong's face: "It seems that my moral strength is not enough! Tian Wenjing didn't talk about the three models in the hands of the late emperor; Ertai was not a pure minister; Li Wei had been with me since childhood. Good job. I think he must have nothing to deceive me, and he has so much heart!" After finishing speaking, he glanced at Liu Tongxun and said coldly, "Man is the spirit of all things, just like Qian Du refused to accept Liu Kang's gift. I think it's selfless, but how do you know it's not killing two birds with one stone, reserving space for yourself in the future? Is it the same with you, Liu Tongxun?"

"I don't dare." Liu Tongxun didn't expect Qianlong to infer other things from one instance, and he would blame himself. Suddenly, a fine sweat broke out, and he knelt down and said: "I know that I am neither a sage nor a virtuous person. I have no faults. Pure minister."

"Of course this case must be dealt with, and there must be no ambiguity at all." Qianlong said coldly, "Liu Kang's murder has been proven to be true after a strict trial. Since he is so cruel and beyond normal, I can't deal with him in the usual way! Some people are not talking about my business." Is it against the late emperor’s government? I’ll refute him right now! Isn’t someone secretly still dreaming about something? I can also slaughter a chicken for these monkeys to see!” He giggled, “I’ll leave this case to you , It’s up to you to do what you want, you don’t need to come here to ask for an order, and while secretly sending people to pursue witnesses and physical evidence, first arrest Liu Kang before talking about it! Do you hear me?”

"tie!"

(End of this chapter)