Chapter 47 Chapter 47 Early Training
Although the emperor often questioned the eunuchs around Yonglian before, he was mostly concerned about whether Yonglian went to school on time and studied hard, and only asked about his daily life in passing.
Recently, the situation has reversed. The emperor is more concerned about trivial matters such as when Yonglian slept, what he ate, and how much charcoal he used every day, and he asked less about his studies.
Chen Fu and Ma Rui just thought that the Second Prince was studying hard and there was no need for the Emperor to worry about him.
Yonglian also found that Khan Ama had been particularly lenient with him recently. One day, Khan Ama came to the training ground to watch them test firing muskets. He missed the target with several shots in a row, and only one shot was acceptable. His sixteenth uncle next to him couldn't help but sigh, but Khan Ama didn't say anything.
"The current muskets are not accurate enough. The Wubei Academy has come up with several improvement plans, but Uncle Seventeen is not satisfied with any of them. We have to take our time on this matter." Qianlong said with a smile to Yunlu, who looked embarrassed.
Yunlu: "..." You shouldn't dote on your son so much. The second prince missed the target because of the accuracy of the musket. Just now, Erden'e missed the target. Why did you let him practice more?
What made Yunlu even more speechless was that Yonglian was so shameless that he kept nodding beside him.
Yonglian said, "Besides, it's very troublesome to light the matchlock and load the gunpowder with this kind of matchlock gun. Why not use a flintlock gun?"
During the reign of Emperor Kangxi, the imperial court already had revolver-type flintlock rifles. However, because they required winding the revolver to ignite the weapon, their firing speed was slower than that of the matchlock. They were only used a few times during hunting trips within the imperial court and were not widely used.
Yonglian had previously asked Yunlu about the flintlock rifle, but Yunlu had simply said it was impractical. Hearing Yonglian bring it up again in front of the emperor, Yunlu smiled and said, "Since you're so eager to learn how to use the flintlock rifle, ask the military academy to look for a couple of them. They have a sight, so it's really hard to miss."
Qianlong also used a flintlock rifle. "The flintlock rifle is not only not easy to miss, but also safe and not prone to accidental discharge. The only problem is that it is difficult to ignite. It would be great if we could make some improvements in this regard."
"The repeating musket made by Dai Zi during the reign of Emperor Kangxi doesn't seem to require a spring." Yunlu said, "I'll go back to the Wubeiyuan and look for the blueprints. Maybe they're still there."
Several people present had heard of the famous Dai Zi, who created General Weiyuan. Unfortunately, he was later convicted and exiled.
Qianlong asked his sixteenth and seventeenth uncles to do it. "If you can't find the blueprints, let the Imperial Household Department and the Military Academy come up with a solution." He looked at the sky and said, "It's too cold today. Sixteenth uncle, go back and rest early."
Yunlu thought that it was not time to end the get out of class yet, but the emperor asked him to take his leave, so he was happy to have some free time and left first.
Qianlong looked at the four children and said, "Mingrui and Erdeng'e should go back early. Yonghuang and Yonglian should follow me to the Yangxin Palace."
Yonghuang and Yonglian thought they would be tested on their academic performance, but Qianlong just asked them to have a cup of hot milk tea and take a rest, and then asked Yonglian about the Huimin Canteen.
Over the past year, Luang Pu reported to Yonglian every ten days, and Yonglian would check the account books once a month and then hand them over to Yunlu for verification.
Although Qianlong seemed not to care much, he would occasionally summon Longpu to ask questions.
The Huimin Canteen underwent new changes this autumn. It no longer has a fixed stall, but instead distributes the food to two or three tricycles, so that it can be sold from street to street, allowing people who live far away to taste the cooking skills of the imperial chefs.
As a result, business became even better. Because it was so popular, the people in the Imperial Household Department started to think about making their own food and selling it on tricycles.
Because many people like to buy stewed vegetables with rice and steamed buns, the people from the Imperial Household Department made steamed buns and rice and lied that they were from the palace. The price was not cheap, but when they were sold together with the stewed vegetables, many people were still willing to pay for it.
Longpu didn't notice it at first, but someone from the patrolling infantry commander's office saw it and told him, and then he found out.
After Yonglian learned about this, he did not severely punish the people in the Imperial Household Department, but simply asked them to pay a portion of their profits to the Imperial Household Department.
For Yonglian’s decision, Longpu would consult Yunlu again. Yunlu usually did not interfere much, but this time he still found Qianlong.
In Yunlu's view, either allow the servants of the Imperial Household Department to make money from this, or prohibit this thing. How can they share the profits from it? This is not a big business like mink fur and ginseng.
Qianlong was also somewhat dissatisfied with his son's decision. "If I pay you one cent for three steamed buns, I will only earn three or four cents more a day. Wouldn't that make the servants laugh at me? Second Prince is so poor that he wants to earn even three cents."
"This isn't a question of poverty," Yonglian explained slowly, noting Khan Ama's sullen expression. "If they had discussed this with me in advance, I would have been willing to give them a way to make money. They're just selling steamed buns, so I'm not worried about them cheating the people. But they're selling it secretly without their master's consent, which is wrong. This money is their punishment."
When Qianlong heard this, he was stunned. He didn't expect his son to give such a reason.
"But outsiders don't know," Qianlong said. "If the officials knew, they would just say we're dividing even these few melons and dates."
"The money in Huimin Canteen is just a drop in the bucket. Those officials who are out there using the imperial power to make money can easily make thousands or even tens of thousands of taels. It's not just a drop in the bucket." Yonglian said while holding a cup of milk tea. "If they dare to complain, Khan Ama will settle accounts with them."
Qianlong: “…”
At this moment, Qianlong wanted to pull his son into his arms and rub him. He was indeed his son. He looked heartless, but he was actually very smart.
Yonghuang next to him was thinking that his younger brother looked very much like Khan Ama.
"And I told Luang Pu that since they are selling food under the name of Huimin Canteen, if there is any problem with the food, the palace will punish them to prevent them from fooling the people with bad food." Yonglian said.
The steamed buns nowadays are okay, at most they contain wheat bran or something like that. But if the meat fillings for dumplings and wontons made in the future are not clean and there are problems when eating them, it will ruin the reputation of Huimin Canteen.
So Yonglian planned to send someone to the outer city every month to inspect the food safety of the Huimin Canteen. Qianlong said, "Find someone yourself. You can't let Chen Fu and Ma Rui go."
Yonglian thought for a moment and said, "Then I'll ask Mingrui to help."
Qianlong did not comment, but simply said: "Your uncle is busy studying hard. In two years, I plan to let him serve in the imperial court."
Yonglian remembered that in history, Fuheng became a guard in front of the emperor in the fifth year of Emperor Qianlong's reign, so these two years were indeed the last two years of his studies.
There is no need for my uncle to go in person for this kind of thing. The Fucha family can just send a manager to do it.
When it was almost time for Yonglian to learn painting and Yonghuang to learn foreign languages, the two children went to the Shangshufang.
Yonglian was no longer simply learning sketching; the missionaries also taught him some Western art history.
This was what Yonglian requested. Through this content, he could ask some questions about Western history.
When Yonghuang was learning English, he paid more attention to English history and literature. A missionary gave him a copy of Shakespeare's play "Hamlet". With his current level of English, Yonghuang still had difficulty reading it. He only roughly knew that the protagonist of the story was a prince.
Qianlong really wanted to know the content of "Hamlet", but unfortunately his English was even worse, so he had to ask someone from the palace translation department to explain it to him.
After knowing the whole content, Qianlong was very disdainful of English literature. This Hamlet was not very good after all.
He heard that Shakespeare was very famous, so he asked someone to translate "Romeo and Juliet" for him.
After hearing this, Qianlong instructed the eunuchs around Yonghuang to report to him immediately if the missionaries gave the book to the eldest prince.
Reading this kind of story can easily lead to rebellious thoughts. Qianlong did not want his good son to become Romeo.
The next year, Yonghuang was eleven years old, and Qianlong really started to consider his marriage.
Yonghuang's situation is rather special and needs to be considered earlier.
As the eldest prince, his wife's family background cannot be too bad, but it is best if she has no real power, so as not to instigate Yonghuang to seize the throne in the future.
Qianlong even thought about arranging a Mongolian wife for Yonghuang.
This matter had to be discussed with the empress. The empress felt sorry for Yonghuang and thought that marrying a Mongolian wife was unfair to him. It was not that Mongolian wives were bad, but that although the Mongolian wife's family seemed noble, they actually had no say in the court. In addition, Yonghuang's biological mother died early, and the Fucha family was from the Imperial Household Department. If Yonghuang wanted to gain a foothold in the court in the future, he would not even have anyone to help him.
She said there was no rush on the matter and that she would find out more about it.
"Time flies! Yonghuang is almost eleven years old already," Qianlong sighed. "Our Niu Lun will be eight next year. Next year, I plan to have Khorchin select a few young Taijis of the right age to come to the capital and educate them in the palace. From among them, I will choose a suitable son-in-law for Niu Lun."
Qianlong had discussed this matter with the empress two years ago. The Princess of Qing should pacify Meng, which was the princess's responsibility, but he was reluctant to let his daughter suffer, so he simply let Meng come to the capital to serve.
But the Queen had previously thought that she was only arranging a job for the Prince Consort in the capital, so why did she have to bring him to the capital for education so early, and why did she have to bring several children to choose from?
"Will Khorchin agree?" In the queen's impression, Khorchin Mongols still had some status, and those jasaks were more powerful than each other.
Qianlong snorted, "They dare not have any opinions. It is their honor to marry the princess."
Times have changed. Through several generations of intermarriage, the Khorchin and Aisin Gioro families are now very closely tied together. Many Khorchin princes have Aisin Gioro blood in them. How could they have any other thoughts?
Not to mention Khorchin, even Khalkha is very honest now.
"Isn't it too early to consider this matter next year?" The queen hesitated.
"Not too early. Our Niu Lun is well-educated and talented. Could your husband be blind?" Qianlong said, "Bring them to the capital as soon as possible and let them learn poetry and literature. Only then will the young couple have a common language in the future."
Queen: “…”
The queen felt that this was inappropriate, but at the same time she was happy for her daughter.
Seeing that the empress was silent, Qianlong said, "You don't have to worry about this matter. I will choose a husband for Niu Lun and I will definitely choose someone she is satisfied with."
The Queen had no choice but to agree, "Your Majesty, thank you for your trouble."
"Don't worry about Yonglian's wife," Qianlong said, "let me take my time choosing."
Yonglian's wife was the Crown Princess and the future Queen, so of course she had to be carefully selected.
Queen: “…”
The Queen felt a little disappointed that she could not advise on her children's marriages, but when she thought of how much the Emperor cared about Yonghuang and Niu Lun, she comforted herself that the Emperor's choice would definitely be better than her own.
Niu Lun didn't know that Khan Ama was arranging a child son-in-law for her. The little girl studied poetry every day and occasionally played with her sixth uncle and third brother. She lived a carefree life.
The Queen asked Concubine Chun to take her children to Changchun Palace or Shoukang Palace often to sit in a different dining environment.
Concubine Chun didn't understand the reason, but she had to obey the Queen's order. Then she found that little Yongzhang had a better appetite in his new environment and quickly learned to use chopsticks.
In just one winter, the little guy gained a lot of weight. Concubine Chun was very happy and thanked the Empress. The Empress then told her that it was Yonglian's idea.
Concubine Chun was a little surprised, "It's hard for Second Prince, a child, to know so much."
"Actually, the reason is simple. Some children are easily frightened. Changing their room or changing their bed and bedding might help," said the queen.
"I've made a note of this. Last time, Second Prince said not to force Yongzhang to eat. I didn't quite understand at the time, but now that I think about it, since we've been in Shoukang Palace, even though he occasionally gets picky about food, the Empress Dowager doesn't scold him, and Yongzhang is actually willing to eat obediently." Concubine Chun felt a little guilty. Even Second Prince knew this, but she hadn't known it before, causing Yongzhang to become annoyed with eating. "It's all my fault for being ignorant."
"What's the big deal? It's normal for me to be inexperienced as a mother for the first time." The Queen laughed and said, "Let alone you, even I, who have two children, don't have much experience in this area."
Concubine Chun didn't know how to thank the second prince, so she told this matter in front of Emperor Qianlong and praised Yonglian.
Qianlong said, "As a mother, you should have thought of this earlier. And what about the nannies around Yongzhang? What do they do? And why did you make Yonglian worry about this matter? If Yonglian hadn't taken a day off that day and hadn't played with Yongzhang, I'm afraid this problem wouldn't be solved now."
Concubine Chun could only listen to the instructions obediently.
Qianlong picked up Yongzhang and said, "Your second brother was concerned about you the other day. He knew you didn't like eggs, so he ordered the imperial kitchen to make a snack for you."
Yong Zhang wrinkled his nose when he heard the word "egg". "I don't want to eat snacks with eggs!"
"Your second brother said that this kind of snack doesn't have the stinky smell of eggs." Qianlong said, but that was Yonglian's imagination, and he had never eaten it. Even if it really did, Yongzhang would have to eat it honestly. He couldn't let Yonglian's efforts go to waste.
"I think they ordered cake, but it's not ready yet," Qianlong said. His first reaction, upon learning his son was so concerned about Yongzhang's meals, was a touch of dissatisfaction. He thought he should focus on studying. But as a father, he also hoped his children would care for each other and practice friendship.
When Concubine Chun heard that the Second Prince had put so much thought into this, she was even more grateful. The Second Prince must be the Crown Prince. Yong Zhang was so lucky to have such a Crown Prince brother.
Yonglian asked the kitchen to make cakes not just for Yongzhang, after all, he also wanted to eat. Eating shaqi ma and donkey rolls every day was really a bit boring.
He told the imperial kitchen about both methods and asked them to explore them on their own. Within a few days, the imperial kitchen had made both methods.
Steamed cakes are softer, while baked cakes are more fragrant.
When the cake was made, Yonglian was still in the Shangshufang, and the imperial kitchen sent it directly to the Yangxin Palace.
Yunlu and Yunli happened to be there, and were showing Qianlong the newly made flintlock rifles from the Wubeiyuan.
Qianlong got a headache whenever he heard about the contents related to mechanical principles. It was enough for him to know that this version of the flintlock was more convenient than the rotary ignition.
As Yunlu was speaking, he noticed that the emperor's eyes frequently fell on the newly served dim sum, so he smiled and said, "Your Majesty, I have never seen this dim sum before. Can I have a taste?"
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