Chapter 138 Pride and Arrogance for Profit
Emperor Kangxi merely gave a preliminary talk to his two most trusted brothers, Prince Yu and Prince Gong, about the plan to launch an expedition against the Dzungars; he did not intend to start a war immediately.
After all, there are many preparations before a war. Whether it is intelligence gathering, declaration of war, mobilization of supplies, or troop deployment, all of these require time and manpower. It is not as simple as just waving your hand and pulling a hundred thousand troops to Outer Mongolia to fight the Dzungars directly.
Leaving behind his two brothers and two adult sons (the Crown Prince was almost sixteen, but had not yet married), Kangxi proposed at a private meeting after the grand banquet that if the Qing Dynasty were to go to war with the Dzungars, one of the armies would be commanded by Prince Yu, with the eldest prince as his deputy.
When the five-person meeting reached this point, the Crown Prince's heart skipped a beat. He had been personally raised by Emperor Kangxi since childhood and had an extremely keen political sense. He knew that this was the most crucial part of the private meeting: his father wanted to use Prince Yu and Prince Gong to completely take back military power and control the Eight Banners!
After Kangxi ascended the throne, the court launched numerous military campaigns. The Han army and navy, which performed exceptionally well and made significant contributions in the wars against the Three Feudatories and the Manchus, were all promoted by Kangxi himself. However, the Manchu cavalry, which constituted the largest force, was commanded by veteran generals.
Many of the generals, led by Prince Yue Le, were veterans from the previous emperor's time, and several, like Yue Le, were founding generals and veterans of three reigns.
These Manchu generals were highly skilled in military campaigns, second to none in ability. However, they were all arrogant and unruly, neither obedient to authority nor respectful of imperial power. They did not show respect to Kangxi, the young emperor who ascended the throne, and were often arrogant and domineering because of their military achievements. Kangxi could not tolerate this.
The year Yin'e was born, Kangxi used a pretext to strip Yue Le of his position as Zongling (a high-ranking official in charge of the imperial clan). On the surface, Yue Le had lost the emperor's favor because of his brother-in-law, Suo'etu. However, after the Rebellion of the Three Feudatories, Kangxi intended to replace the veteran generals of the Eight Banners and take back military power from those arrogant and unruly soldiers.
If the Qing Dynasty were to engage in war with the Dzungars, appointing Prince Yu and Prince Gong to each command a large army would be the first step for Kangxi to reclaim military power.
These two princes hold high ranks and significant positions within the imperial clan. The powerful and influential families within the Eight Banners would not be too opposed to appointing them as commanders of the army, and would likely accept this choice.
Prince Yu, Fuquan, and Prince Gong, Changning, were Emperor Kangxi's brothers. Kangxi had always had a good relationship with them and took great care of them after ascending the throne. Kangxi had shown affection and kindness to Fuquan and Changning, which is why he trusted them and entrusted them with command of the army during the transition of military power.
Yes, the military power of the Eight Banners cavalry was not to be handed over to Fuquan and Changning, but was merely transferred between them.
Kangxi's second step was to reclaim military power over the Eight Banners cavalry from Prince Yu and Prince Gong after the campaign against the Dzungars. He made his eldest son Prince Yu's deputy to check and balance Prince Yu; at this time, his sons were more reliable than his brothers.
Kangxi may have trusted his elder brother Fuquan and his younger brother Changning, but he was also wary of them.
Prince Yu and Prince Gong were both sons of the late emperor and had the right to succeed him upon his death. Even though Kangxi had been on the throne for over twenty years, he remained vigilant. He reprimanded Fuquan and Changning when necessary.
The Crown Prince was an important participant in Kangxi's vision of "holy father and holy son" and was the successor that Kangxi had personally groomed.
With his keen political sense, he almost immediately understood Kangxi's true intention in sending Prince Yu and Prince Gong to lead the troops. He also knew that if this matter were accomplished, it would be extremely beneficial to Kangxi, enhancing the prestige of the imperial family and greatly consolidating imperial power.
However, the Crown Prince's decision to send the First Prince to lead troops to fight against the Dzungars as the deputy of Prince Yu Fuquan was not in the Crown Prince's interest. The Crown Prince could not accept that while the imperial power was being consolidated, the First Prince could take this opportunity to gain prestige in the army and obtain the support of the Eight Banners army.
When his own interests conflicted with those of his father, the Crown Prince, who had been pampered and spoiled by Emperor Kangxi for over a decade, was most concerned with his own interests.
He was spoiled and took it for granted that his father, the emperor, had to consider his interests.
When Kangxi's actions touched his own interests, when Kangxi gave the eldest prince power and status, and gave the eldest prince the opportunity to grow stronger and compete with him, the crown prince felt wronged and could not accept all of this. He grew increasingly disgusted with the eldest prince and could not help but harbor resentment towards Kangxi.
Straightening his back and standing up, Yin'e withdrew his gaze from the Crown Prince and the First Prince.
He lowered his head slightly, took the hand that the Ninth Prince had extended, and together they hid behind their brothers in front, comfortably slacking off, not trying to compete for Kangxi's attention, but simply wanting to be invisible.
Yin'e wasn't the only one in the hall who noticed the subtle tension between the Crown Prince and the First Prince; the palace was never short of astute individuals. Especially given the Crown Prince's special status, he was constantly under scrutiny, and his every move was under the spotlight.
In the past two years, as the eldest prince began to work in the Six Ministries after his marriage, the crown prince and the eldest prince went from vying for Kangxi's favor to fighting for power. The two often clashed, and their relationship became increasingly strained, with their discord almost openly apparent.
Beneath the festive and lively atmosphere of the New Year lies an undercurrent of tension, and many people have noticed the conflict between the Crown Prince and the First Prince.
Few noticed that a rift had quietly appeared in the once close father-son relationship between Kangxi and the Crown Prince. This rift showed no signs of healing; in fact, it seemed to widen as the princes grew up and entered the court.
After Kangxi and the Crown Prince took their seats in the most honored positions, the eldest prince, no matter how much dissatisfaction and resentment he felt, could only stop below the high platform.
But people's joys and sorrows are not shared. The eldest prince was depressed, while the fifth prince couldn't help but feel secretly pleased. Because he could finally take the opportunity to slip away from the Empress Dowager and step down from the high platform.
Before Emperor Kangxi arrived, it was fine for the Empress Dowager to have the Fifth Prince by her side; everyone knew of their close bond. But now that Kangxi has arrived and is seated in the highest seat of honor with the Crown Prince, it's inappropriate for the Fifth Prince to continue standing next to the Empress Dowager—it's too conspicuous.
Princess Chunxi, however, was different. She stood gracefully beside the Empress Dowager, receiving her praise, care, and instructions. Unlike the Fifth Prince, Princess Chunxi not only did not need to avoid suspicion, but the Empress Dowager and Emperor Kangxi even showed her greater attention and affection.
Firstly, Chunxi was a princess, and moreover, Kangxi's adopted daughter. The more public the occasion, the more her status and position needed to be highlighted. Only in this way could Prince Gong feel at ease and the imperial favor be demonstrated.
Secondly, Princess Chunxi was about to get married. According to Manchu custom, a woman's status is high in her natal family after marriage. In addition, Princess Chunxi was marrying a Taiji from the Khorchin Mongols, which naturally raised her status even higher.
The Khorchin tribe was the maternal home of Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang and the Empress Dowager, and was the most prestigious tribe on the grassland. With Princess Chunxi's marriage to Borjigit Bandi imminent, at this time, even if Princess Chunxi had not made a mistake, she could not be punished. The matter had to be covered up, and she could only be praised, not smeared.
Faced with this sudden and overwhelming favor, Princess Chunxi was not at all overwhelmed; she remained completely composed.
This was exactly what the Empress Dowager and Emperor Kangxi wanted. First, Princess Chunxi displayed the demeanor of a princess and did not act petty. Second, it showed Princess Chunxi's closeness to them from the side. Although there was an element of acting, in order to appease the Mongols, this play had to be performed, and it had to be performed realistically and wonderfully.
In fact, the Empress Dowager and Emperor Kangxi's "acting" was beneficial to Princess Chunxi.
Regardless of how these two powerful figures treat Princess Chunxi in private, and regardless of how much of their apparent favor is just for show and how much is genuine affection, at least they have shown that they value her on the surface. Therefore, she has gained something by accepting this favor.
Even if this favor was somewhat insincere, it was better than nothing. In any case, she was not at a loss. Princess Chunxi was very content—being able to live so well in the palace as an adopted daughter and being granted the title of Princess Chunxi of the First Rank was enough to show that Princess Chunxi was very smart and insightful.
After paying their respects to Emperor Kangxi, the people gathered in the main hall took turns wishing the Empress Dowager and Emperor Kangxi a Happy New Year, saying a few auspicious words, and asking for lucky money and rewards.
After this process was completed, Emperor Kangxi began to attend to everyone's needs. He first visited the principal consorts in turn, then checked on the princes' studies, and finally inquired about the princesses' daily lives. He cared for everyone and left no one out.
When Emperor Kangxi adopted a benevolent fatherly demeanor and inquired about the studies of each prince with concern, the Third Prince was given the opportunity to shine. He immediately presented his newly composed and repeatedly revised short poem on the theme of celebrating the New Year.
When Yin'e saw that Kangxi was going to ask each of the princes about their studies, he knew something was wrong.
Noticing the Ninth Prince tighten his grip on his hand, Yin'e turned to look at the Ninth Prince, both seeing the resistance and misery in each other's eyes. At this moment, as fellow sufferers, their tacit understanding reached a new level.
Taking advantage of the moment when the Third Prince was asking Emperor Kangxi to appreciate the short poem and keeping Kangxi's attention firmly in check, Yin'e and the Ninth Prince quietly retreated, crouching low.
After passing Consort Xi, who was seated last, Yin'e and the Ninth Prince held hands and circled around the main hall near the entrance back to the side room. They then slipped into the empty side room together.
Having successfully slipped away, Yin'e and the Ninth Prince both laughed smugly: "Hehe~"
With his free right hand making a "V" sign, Yin E was about to speak when a long, wide shadow suddenly fell behind him.
He turned around and saw the Fifth Prince, who was smiling innocently, scratching his head as he lifted the curtain and entered the side room.
Yin'e: ?
Ninth Prince: ? ? ?
With a blank stare as the Fifth Prince walked in, Yin'e was completely bewildered: Why did Fifth Brother follow me here?
Among the princes, the Fifth Prince was positioned relatively close to the front, right behind the Fourth Prince, with the Seventh Prince and the Eighth Prince between him and the Ninth Prince.
Therefore, Yin'e was completely baffled and did not understand how the Fifth Prince knew that they were moving. Did the Fifth Prince have eyes in the back of his head?
Yin'e's doubts were immediately answered: he glanced around and saw the Seventh Prince following the Fifth Prince in.
Now he understood how the Fifth Prince knew he and the Ninth Prince had sneaked away: the Seventh Prince, who was ranked after the Fifth Prince, had run off with them first.
But following the Fifth Prince was not only the Seventh Prince. Yin'e's smile gradually froze as he watched the Eleventh and Twelfth Princes file in. The previously empty side room was immediately filled with the six princes.
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