Chapter 51 Chapter 51 No Face
Just looking at appearance, one has already been eliminated.
Qianlong summoned the remaining three today because he wanted to test their manners and conversation. Those who don't know etiquette will definitely not pass the test in front of Qianlong.
But these three little boys came from good families, each with a female elder from the Aisin-Gioro clan, so their manners were impeccable. Even if they didn't prioritize these at home, they were undoubtedly trained before going out. Even the way they held their teacups was perfectly formal, and once inside the western warm room, they kept their eyes fixed on the side.
Qianlong was very satisfied and asked them with a smile what they liked to do and what books they liked to read on the grassland.
Qianlong asked in Chinese, so the three people naturally had to answer in Chinese.
All three of them learned Chinese at home. Although they have accents, they have no problem communicating in daily life.
Prince Bingtu's son, Alawangbu, spoke the best Chinese and used elegant words. As rumored, he was well-versed in the Buddhist scriptures.
It's just that this child is a little shy, and his hands were shaking with nervousness when he answered questions.
Qianlong could understand this. Many local officials were reserved when meeting the emperor, let alone a child of ten years old.
The young Beile Dadu of the Tumed tribe was much calmer and more composed. He was particularly familiar with herding and even knew how to train a Gyrfalcon. Confidence gleamed in the boy's eyes as he spoke of this. He was the only one of the three children with a title, the master of the household, and he had seen a lot. He was well aware of the emperor's purpose in summoning him. In answering Qianlong's questions, he seemingly mentioned several instances of intermarriage between the Tumed and the imperial family, and the importance attached to royal daughters in the Tumed tribe.
Qianlong just smiled and nodded. Children who have been the head of a family are different.
In comparison, Balzhuer seemed quite naive, and he even said frankly that the Han Dynasty books were difficult to read, and that the teacher he hired at home taught him in a messy way, leaving him confused. If he could stay in the inner court to study, he would ask his teacher questions carefully.
Qianlong immediately smiled and said, "If you have any questions, I can help you answer one or two."
Balzhuer's eyes lit up with surprise, and he immediately asked a few questions from the Analects of Confucius.
Qianlong explained it to them.
It was rare to see a person as knowledgeable as Bogda Khan on the grassland, and the three children listened attentively.
Qianlong originally planned to let them go after meeting them once, but when he started talking about "The Analects of Confucius", he couldn't help but open up.
He was speaking with great joy when Li Yutong announced from outside, "The Second Prince wants to see you."
As the year was coming to an end, Yunlu had no time to go to the palace to teach Yonglian and others how to use muskets, and the new muskets were still being improved. Qianlong planned to let the children learn the new ones directly when the time came.
In addition, it was snowing outside these days, making it difficult for them to learn riding and archery, so Qianlong gave the children a holiday. After dinner, they could practice calligraphy in the Shangshufang for a while and then they could move freely.
Yonghuang went back to his own courtyard to study, while Yonglian took Yonghuang's cousin to check the account books of Huimin Canteen, and occasionally asked about the progress of Hongxiao, so he was not idle either.
Yonglian came here today to ask Khan Ama to give the newspaper a name.
When he entered the room and saw three little boys dressed in Mongolian clothes, he knew they were candidates for his brother-in-law.
The three of them all looked very decent, but one of them had particularly outstanding features, red lips, white teeth, thick eyebrows and big eyes. She was beautiful yet heroic.
Yonglian guessed that this was Balzhuer. Sure enough, when the three of them greeted him, the little boy introduced himself, "Your servant Sebuteng Balzhuer pays his respects to the Second Prince."
Qianlong said, "You've come at the right time. From now on, they will be studying in the Shangshufang. You should get along with each other like brothers."
Yonglian nodded and said to the three of them, "Don't be restrained in the palace. Let's play together in the future."
Qianlong coughed lightly.
"Of course, we also have to study together and listen to Khan Ama's teachings." Yonglian added hurriedly.
"That's more like it." Qianlong glanced at his son. "It's so cold, why are you out here instead of doing your homework?"
Yonglian sat down next to Qianlong naturally and said with a smile: "My son wants to ask for a name for the newspaper."
As he spoke, he took out a piece of paper with a few names he and Hongxiao had chosen on it.
Qianlong glanced at them and recited them casually, "Wen Bao, Da Qing Wen Bao, Da Qing Zhou Bao, Guo Chao Xin Wen." He looked at the three children sitting below and asked, "Which one do you think is better?"
The three of them didn't even know what a newspaper was, so of course they didn't know how to choose one.
Dadu said, "It's all up to the Emperor."
Qianlong felt that this boy was just trying to fool him, but Alawangbu asked what a newspaper was, then started to show off his knowledge, and finally concluded that "wenbao" was the best.
Balzhuer said, "I think the word 'news' is particularly important. Compared to other books, this newspaper's value lies in the word 'news'. If a missing person notice or a missing item notice is from last year, it is useless. Therefore, the word 'news' must be included in the name."
Yonglian nodded in agreement. Newspapers are time-sensitive. This kid really understood the characteristics of newspapers.
Qianlong did not comment and sent the three people back first. He also said that the streets of the capital would be bustling during the New Year, so he asked their parents to take them around for a walk.
The three of them responded, bowed and left.
Only then did Qianlong ask Yonglian to spread out paper and grind ink, and personally write the four words "Guochao News" with his own hand.
This is the name of the first newspaper in the Qing Dynasty.
Considering the traffic problems of the time, this newspaper is only published three times a month, on the first, eleventh, and twentieth days of the lunar month.
Hongxiao was a book collector and was very familiar with all the bookshops and newspaper offices in the Zhili area, so he quickly made arrangements. The first issue was published in February of the fourth year of the Qianlong reign.
"On the third day of the first lunar month, I will host a banquet for all the kings and ministers in the Palace of Heavenly Purity, and have them write couplets to celebrate the New Year. At that time, I will select a few good ones and publish them in the first issue." Qianlong said.
Yonglian readily agreed. The newspaper was bound to sing praises, but it didn't matter, as there would always be opportunities to smuggle in private opinions in the future.
In addition to the poems that Qianlong had planned for the first issue, Yonglian also planned to publish a small anti-drug cartoon, which he had already drawn.
Qianlong separated a room for Yonglian and others in the book editing office of Wuying Palace, and sent several clerks from the Imperial Household Department to help. Yonghuang's cousin Chang Ming was also arranged by Yonglian to come in.
On the first New Year after the mourning period, Emperor Qianlong arranged various celebrations. In addition to entertaining princes and ministers, he also invited the empress dowager to another banquet at Chonghua Palace, and then the whole family moved to Yuanmingyuan.
Qianlong, who loved the hustle and bustle, had begun looking forward to various activities during the New Year. However, as the year drew to a close, he received a report that an earthquake had occurred in Ningxia.
Natural disasters were accompanied by man-made disasters. After the earthquake, civilians fled in all directions, and many took advantage of the situation to steal and loot, causing widespread chaos. Even the Shaanxi-Gansu Governor-General, Chalang Adu, personally directed disaster relief efforts. Emperor Qianlong dispatched elite Green Camp troops from Guyuan to maintain law and order.
The Grand Councilor Bandi has also been rushing to Ningxia as fast as he can. The New Year is approaching, and if the victims are not comforted well, chaos will easily arise.
After Bandi had left the capital, the Governor of Gansu submitted a memorial, stating that he had learned that the Governor had left and had also hurried to the disaster area.
Qianlong was furious. How did you manage to be a governor? The governor went to provide disaster relief in person, and you are still dreaming?
In his edict, Qianlong criticized the governor of Gansu by name.
Because Gansu started to implement the policy of officials and gentry serving and paying taxes together last year, the gentry had long been dissatisfied, but because Neqin used tough measures, they did not dare to make trouble.
This earthquake gave them an opportunity to gather in front of the government office and cause trouble. It was because the imperial court changed the ancestral laws that such a great natural disaster occurred.
Qianlong's good mood was ruined because of this incident. He even thought about stopping the implementation of the system of officials and gods serving as one and paying taxes, but this was something he had promised in front of Khan Ama's spirit, so he had to carry it out no matter how difficult it was.
On the third day of the Lunar New Year, Emperor Qianlong hosted a banquet in the Palace of Heavenly Purity for more than ninety people, including kings, beile, and the nine ministers of the Grand Secretaries. Qianlong composes the line "Hongjun's spirit turns the years of Ye Shao Nian," and the officials compose poems in response to the line.
The two children, Yonghuang and Yonglian, could not write poems, they were only responsible for watching and praising.
This was the first time for the two brothers to attend such a banquet for foreign officials. Originally, they could have chosen not to attend, but Qianlong now felt that his two sons knew too little about foreign affairs and wanted them to come and see for themselves.
Yonghuang and Yonglian truly witnessed everyone's ability to sing praises, especially Hongxiao, Yunxi and others. The poems they wrote were festive but not flattering, which made Khan Ama smile from ear to ear.
Yonglian planned to ask Uncle Hongxiao for more advice in the future, after all, he would have to write this kind of poetry sooner or later.
Except for a few children with the surname Yong, most of the people present wrote a few lines, except Prince Li Hongxi, who said that he had no talent for poetry and did not write a single word.
Qianlong's face immediately turned grim. What did he mean? Did he come here to spoil the fun?
Qianlong had always disliked Hongxi, and in the past two years he had sent people to monitor him in Zhengjiazhuang. He increasingly felt that Hongxi had ill intentions. In the past, he had tried every means to win over the royal family, but now that his uncles and brothers were all busy with their own things and no one paid attention to him, he became obsessed with fortune-telling and asked people to inquire about the famous fortune-tellers in the capital.
Qianlong thought to himself, what else is there for you to worry about? Are you worried about whether you can keep your title of prince?
Anyway, there are Qianlong's spies in Zhengjiazhuang, so Qianlong is not afraid at all. If he really has any ill intentions, don't blame me for being rude.
But without evidence, Qianlong could not act rashly.
Although Hongxi did not give Qianlong face in such an occasion, Qianlong endured it and said nothing.
After the banquet, Qianlong left first, and then the royal family left in order of seniority.
When they arrived in front of the carriages, Hongxi called Hongsheng, "Let's go to Zhengjiazhuang for a drink?"
Hongsheng waved his hands hurriedly: "I can't drink anymore. I have to go to Tianjin early tomorrow morning. The glasses shop there is about to open. Oh, if you need glasses, I can bring you a few pairs."
"Brother has no shortage of glasses. The Queen gave me a pair of crystal glasses with a rosewood frame. I'm still using them now." Hong Xi said.
The people around him rolled their eyes secretly when they heard this, and started showing off again.
Hongchang had already boarded the carriage, but upon hearing this, he lifted the curtain and said, "The glasses the Queen gave you are rare. You should keep them. I'll send you a pair of glass ones later. They're light and durable."
"Brother, he has crystal glasses, so he doesn't like our glass glasses." Hong Zhou smiled and said, "Let's keep them for ourselves and sell them for money." I won't give them to this annoying guy!
Hongchang and Hongsheng are now following their younger brother Hongzhou. Whether they can make money depends entirely on Hongzhou, so they naturally have to listen to him. Upon hearing this, the two of them smiled and nodded, and ignored Hongxi.
Hongxi got himself into trouble and got into his own carriage.
Hong Zhou was an unknown grandson of the emperor back then. He probably didn't even fit the emperor's title. How could he be so arrogant now?
Now think of the man sitting high on the throne today, looking so smug, thinking how good his poetry is. The royal family and nobles must be laughing at him in their hearts.
I heard his son is planning to start a newspaper to promote his poetry to readers everywhere. It's truly shameful!
Thinking of this, Hongxi curled his lips. Everyone said that the emperor loved the second prince, so what if the second prince messed up the newspaper?
Qianlong didn't have to deal with state affairs these days, so after the banquet he went to Shoukang Palace to talk with the empress dowager. The children in the palace were also there.
Yonglian teased Niu Lun, "Sister, do you know? Some Mongolian children are coming to the Shangshufang."
"I know. I heard from Khan Ama that they will be kept in the palace." Niu Lun said, "The Empress Dowager even made new clothes for them."
Yonglian chuckled, "Do you know why the Khan and the Empress are so kind to them?"
"They are guests."
Yonglian noticed that she was blushing, and guessed that the girl knew what was going on, so he wanted to tease her.
At this moment, Hongzhou came in through the curtains. The adults outside were discussing this matter. "Why did the emperor allow those three Mongolian children to study in the palace? Aren't their parents gone?"
Yonglian smiled evilly, and Yonghuang pulled his sleeve.
Hongzhou was his uncle, so it was not a good idea to discuss Niu Lun's marriage in front of him, so he changed the subject and said, "Let's play a game."
Hong Xi looked at the brothers' little tricks, then put his hands on his hips and said, "No, you are hiding a secret from me!"
Yonglian looked at Yonghuang for help. Just as Yonghuang was about to help his sister out, Niu Lun said, "That's to urge you to study hard. Sixth uncle, you can't bring shame to the royal family!"
Hongzhou: "...Ah? But they are already in their teens. If we have to compare them, they should be compared with Yonghuang and Yonglian." Little Hongzhou sat down on the other side of Yonglian, patted his shoulder, and said in a pretentious tone, "Nephew, do you hear me? We can't bring shame to the royal family."
Yonglian: "Don't call me nephew!"
"Second nephew, second nephew, second nephew..." Hongzhou laughed.
"Sixth uncle, you have learned bad habits!" Yonglian said as he tickled Hongzhou's armpit.
The two of them were making a big noise, and Yonglian's laughter could be heard outside.
Qianlong shook his head helplessly, "Niu Lun has become quiet this year, but Yonglian, that brat, is still acting like a child."
"You were the same when you were little," the Queen Mother said. "You were calm and sensible in front of your Khan, but you acted like a child in front of me."
Qianlong: “…”
In front of the Queen and the Imperial Concubine, the Empress Dowager spoke nonsense again!
"Let's go to Chonghua Palace the day after tomorrow and have Yonghuang and Yonglian come along." The Empress Dowager said, "It will be more lively with these two children around."
Qianlong thought about it and agreed, thinking that it was the New Year and as long as his mother was happy, it would be fine.
Yonghuang and Yonglian had an extra half day off, and they bowed to the Empress Dowager repeatedly.
"Okay, okay, if you keep getting so excited, your Khan Ama will take back your vacation." The Queen Mother said with a smile.
Qianlong: “…”
The next day, the prince's office arranged a courtyard and the three candidates for the title of prince consort officially entered the palace.
The three of them first went to pay their respects to Emperor Qianlong, and then went to Shoukang Palace to see the Empress Dowager. The Empress Dowager liked the three children very much and invited them to have tea, fruits and snacks.
Dadu and Alawangbu were both a bit reserved, but Balzhuer was heartless and spoke to the empress dowager as if he were his own elder. When the empress dowager heard that he could sing a Mongolian toast song, she asked him to perform one.
Balzhuer did not hesitate and immediately began to sing in a loud voice.
The Queen Mother was very happy. In addition to a gift for each of her three children, she also gave Balzhuer a Mongolian knife inlaid with gems.
Seeing this, Dadu and Alawangbu suddenly felt a sense of crisis.
The current emperor is a filial son and listens to the empress dowager the most. If the empress dowager likes Balzhuer, the emperor will definitely have no objection.
They can't be eliminated so early, they have to think of a way.
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