How can one word describe chaos?
As a nation with an almost obsessive love for land, Russia has been expanding since its founding. As its territory grew, so too did its appetite, stretching its arms and legs in an effort to control all directions, including Central Asia. Unfortunately, they encountered the Dzungar tribe, which not only occupied Xinjiang but also controlled much of Central Asia. Any Russian invasion to the south would inevitably involve entering the Dzungar sphere of influence.
Is the Dzungar so easy to mess with? Of course not! They themselves are expansionist and warmongering, their innermost being always targeting Genghis Khan. Why would he want to rob him? The more terrible thing is that the Dzungars' fighting power is also quite similar to Genghis Khan's, having defeated Russia before.
Russia is also a nation of perseverance and resilience, fighting despite repeated defeats with the unyielding spirit of imperialism. Having suffered heavy losses by resisting head-on, Russia has changed its approach this time, choosing instead to seize an opportunity, taking advantage of the situation, to "strike at the enemy's heels."
Coincidentally, the Dzungars were attacking Hami internally and harassing Tibet externally, leaving Western forces vulnerable. Russia saw this as a golden opportunity and naturally dispatched troops to Dabusun Nur. Since the two nations had already signed a treaty after the previous battle, temporarily maintaining peace, the Russians graciously dispatched envoys to the Qing court to inform them: "We're fighting, and you must join us."
For the Qing court, the Russian military intervention presented a golden opportunity. Not only had the Zunghars entered Tibet, they had also attacked Hami. Hami, now home to another Mongol taiji, was threatened and, naturally, requested central government assistance. The Qing court dispatched Manchu troops from Xi'an, along with the governor of Gansu and the taiji of Qinghai, to the rescue.
Tsewang Arabtan's original plan was to seize all of Xinjiang, then swallow Tibet and advance eastward with military might. However, after weighing the situation, he decisively abandoned the military campaign in Hami, sending Junior Tseling Dundup to Tibet to replace Senior Tseling Dundup, who was then ordered to lead the army and civilians to Dabusun Nur to resist the enemy.
The siege of Hami was lifted, and the troops from Xi'an, Gansu and other places returned to their bases. Halfway through their journey, they received orders to send part of their troops to Qinghai to join the main army and attack Tibet together.
These were all matters of national and military importance, not only were the harem ignorant of them, but even the ministers in the court were often unaware of the details. However, Yinreng breathed a sigh of relief, as this was a very convenient route for the Junggar to invade from the east.
This was also Tsewang Arabtan's true intention. Controlling Tibet didn't mean advancing eastward from Tibet; the route eastward from Tibet was inconvenient. Controlling Tibet depended primarily on the influence of the Living Buddhas. In fact, eastward from eastern Xinjiang, Mongolian tribes lay in the distance, with grasslands as the only viable area for advancing.
Tsewang Arabtan was furious. Fighting on two fronts was a major disadvantage; he had to deal with the Russians first. As for Tibet, with Little Tselingdun Dob defending it, it shouldn't be lost so quickly. As long as Big Tselingdun Dob could quickly eliminate the enemy in the west, he didn't even bother sending Big Tselingdun Dob back for a report. Instead, he sent a transfer order and had him transferred to the front lines.
Start fighting.
Shortly after Daze Lingdun Dob assumed command of the western front, Yarjiang'a also received instructions from Beijing. An imperial edict from Yinreng addressed Yarjiang'a's concerns, but also increased his responsibilities. During the reign of Emperor Kangxi, he enjoyed playing the role of Zhuge Liang before a campaign, outlining how to attack here and how to attack there. Miraculously, his instructions were always spot-on. Generals' impromptu decisions weren't about addressing strategic issues; if strategic errors arose, it was the emperor's responsibility. Everyone understood this and didn't need to take excessive risks.
Yinreng was quite self-aware of his own military capabilities. After several discussions, he realized that he was still a little short of his potential. He trusted Prince Jian more and simply delegated power. What he didn't know was that Prince Jian was also taking charge of a task for the first time and was also full of concerns.
Upon receiving the imperial edict, Yarjiang'a was initially delighted: "If I had any merit, it would all be mine, and the reward would be substantial." But his happiness soon gave way to worry: "Was my military prowess sufficient?" He rolled his eyes and thought, "So what if all the planning wasn't my own? I'm still the commander-in-chief!"
Yunxiang from the royal family, Fu Erfan and Fu Ning'an from the ministers are all capable people. If you listen to their advice, you can win the battle and gain a reputation for knowing people and appointing them to the right positions. Why not do it?
Thinking of this, he called everyone to a meeting to inform them of the imperial edict.
Hearing that Beijing would not interfere with their actions, the generals were very excited. Now they could fight with all their might! Their speeches were also particularly enthusiastic.
The first person to speak was Yunzhen: "Since it is difficult to take care of the Junggar tribe from both ends and we cannot send reinforcements to Tibet, we have enough troops now. They have few soldiers and we have many, so we should enter Tibet in different routes." This is also the conventional fighting method of large troops. As long as you have enough people, you can divide your troops and make the other side run around in a hurry.
Nersu, who had been silent the whole time, spoke up. "We must divide our forces. There are too many of them, and if they're all crammed together, it's hard to deploy them. Splitting them up gives everyone more freedom. However, we need to be careful about how many routes we divide them into, how many people are in each route, and who will lead them. If we have too few troops and we rush in recklessly, we'll regret it too late if we end up in a dangerous situation."
Yaerjiang'a politely asked Fuerdan, "What does Lord Xinyong think?"
Fu Erdan pondered, "As Prince Ping said, we must divide our forces, but not too many." He lowered his head and thought for a moment. "The Junggar have 6,000 soldiers, not counting casualties, and they won't be increasing at the moment. We have 30,000 soldiers, so why not divide them into five groups?"
Yaerjiang Adao: "Six thousand per army? Can we defeat them?"
The commander's words, which destroyed his own ambition and enhanced the prestige of others, were not refuted. Those who originally hoped to split into more routes so that they could be independent began to think: Should we change the division into three routes, which would be safer?
Fu Erdan was also unsure. He had originally thought that the 6,000 Quasi-Military troops would need to be divided to guard the more important passes. The largest group would not exceed 6,000, and 4,000 would be good. Now, seeing that everyone was a little skeptical, he said cautiously, "If Xiao Ce Ling doesn't guard the pass, we will split into five groups. If any of them collide, it will be a fierce battle. So, we should split into three groups."
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
At this point, Yarjiang'a divided his forces. The central army, of course, was led by himself, along with Hongxi and some of the royal family's sons; the eastern army was led by Fuerdan and Yunxiang, along with Hongsheng and others; and the western army was led by Fu Ning'an, Nersu, and Yunzhen. The eastern and western armies, each with 9,000 men, set out first, with the central army providing support.
The distribution is completed and we are ready to move in.
——————————————————————————————————————————
"Very good, very good. Fu Erdan and Old Thirteen fought the enemy and won a great victory, beheading fifty-three people."
It's not that Yinreng was petty, calling the killing of fifty-three men a great victory. Warfare these days is strange. Whether it's a battle between two armies or a campaign against bandits, a double-digit beheading or capture figure is considered impressive. Triple-digit figures, even for pirates, are worthy of praise. Not only does this not compare to the carnage rampant at the beginning of the dynasty, but even Kangxi's personal campaign against Galdan produced a more respectable casualty rate.
While military and national affairs could not be discussed, Yinreng was not afraid to bring up such matters as showing off his victory and boosting his own confidence. Civil and military achievements were both goals pursued by those who aspired to be great and virtuous rulers. Yinreng himself had a good education, and his domestic economic reforms, at least in the salt administration, had made significant progress. Everything else was planned, so he needed a military victory to embellish his reputation.
Shujia was embarrassed to hear this. Killing fifty-three people was considered a great victory? She thought so in her heart, but she wanted to say, "After all, it was a good start."
Yinreng said happily, "That's right. This is just the beginning. The next step is to drive the Dzungar tribe out of Tibet."
Shujia finally became a little familiar with the current situation in Tibet. She felt something in her heart, but after thinking about it, she swallowed it and just said congratulations.
After Hongdan came to pay his respects, he asked, "Your father told me today that there's good news from the west, is that right?"
Hongdan smiled and said, "Has mother heard about it too? Uncle's firearms battalion is following the central army and will head straight for Lhasa. Although they haven't achieved much yet, they will definitely gain a lot in the future."
"He and Hongxi are both being watched by King Jian. King Jian's meaning is crystal clear: they must not be put in danger. As long as they are safe, whether they achieve success or not is secondary. I don't care about that. What I care about is—"
"What? Why does my mother need me? Why should I be polite to me?" Hongdan joked.
"I do need you!" Shujia cursed softly and said tentatively, "They say that those who don't think about the future will have immediate worries. Have you ever thought about -"
"What?"
"After driving out the Dzungar tribe, what will happen to Tibet?"
Hongdan blinked: "Why? Did Ama say anything?"
He also considered the post-war situation: who would receive what merits, how they would be settled, and how he would respond when his Khan-Ama asked about it. But he hadn't considered Tibet. It had always been a vassal state. It was considered national territory, and it was. Yet, there were no permanent officials. After defeating the Zunghars, the troops would naturally be withdrawn, just like when they fought Galdan. Even after Kangxi defeated Galdan, wouldn't the Mongolian grasslands still belong to the Taijis?
Shujia said, "Your father didn't say anything. I just remember your father saying that the two living Buddhas in Tibet are the most important."
Hong Dan's face turned serious and he sat up straighter. "What does mother mean?"
Shujia said, "The state doesn't expect this area to pay any taxes." Seeing Hongdan nod, Shujia continued, "But living Buddhas are very important, and they have many followers. Back then, Galdan gained the support of many people with the approval of a lama. Galdan and the Diba knew their evil deeds and that they were relying on the lama's power, so they had no choice but to punish them severely."
Hong Dan had already understood what was going on: "We can't ignore this place."
"As for the Lama, he's like a sword. In the hands of others, it would be no different from holding a sword upside down for the court." He paused, arranging his words, "He's like Emperor Xian of Han."
Hongdan suddenly realized, then frowned again: "Mother is right. The Tibetan area's actions depend on the two Living Buddhas, but it is not so easy for Living Buddhas to enter the capital."
Shujia nearly slipped off her chair. Living Buddhas coming to Beijing? You'd think you'd think that! Once they arrive, their influence will be dwindling. There will be a gap in the Mongolian and Tibetan faith community, ripe for exploitation. You won't even have time to cry.
"You won't turn the Living Buddha's land into our own. Otherwise, if a Diba appears today, you'll worry about him turning against you, and tomorrow you'll worry about Tsewang Arabtan appearing and taking control of the Living Buddha to attack you."
Hongdan's eyes lit up. This was a golden opportunity. Lazang Khan had been killed, and one of his two sons was the son-in-law of a member of the Dzungar tribe, so he was of course no longer useful. As for the other, Tibet was conquered by the imperial court, so it didn't matter whether he was given it or not. At worst, he could be given a pasture elsewhere, or even brought to Beijing. This vast area of Tibet would then belong to us.
As a crown prince, Hongdan's thoughts were exactly the same as his father's: the world will belong to him in the future, and of course the bigger the territory, the better, the more firmly the rule, and the richer the country, the better.
Needless to say, Hongdan was able to listen to some of his mother's words, and this suggestion was quite feasible. The two Living Buddhas were indeed powerful weapons. The court sent troops, on the one hand, to prevent the Zunghars from becoming too powerful, and on the other hand, to prevent the two Living Buddhas from falling into their hands.
He had already made up his mind, and with a smile on his face, he said, "Go back and think about it, son."
Shujia glared, but could only let her son go back. Imperial harem interference in government affairs, at least in this dynasty, was a taboo. She hadn't said these words to Yinreng today, so she could only speak to her son. It wasn't that what she said today was wrong, but she wouldn't tell her son anything she wasn't sure of, lest he bring bad luck. She was certain that the selection of the reincarnation of the Living Buddha had become a custom during the Qing Dynasty. She knew this because, when she was a child, the selection of the 11th Panchen Lama was covered on TV news for a long time as a major event, accompanied by a series of popular science programs.
Yinreng himself had spoken of the importance of living Buddhas. The defeat of the Dzungar would create a vacuum of secular power in Tibet. Even if no officials were sent to manage the region, a stationing of imperial troops was not out of the question. After years of confusion, Shujia finally learned the plot in advance. While she couldn't share it with the emperor, she could share it with the crown prince. This was the benefit of having a son.
She had never expected her son to resort to such tricks! He was actually trying to use his officialdom tricks in front of her. Shujia was both angry and amused. She had no idea what her son was up to, so she could only wait and see.
——————————————————————————————————————————
Hongdan wasn't exactly his typical mother; his mother's words were indeed insightful. Over the past thirty years, the Dzungars had twice, with considerable fanfare, made grand gestures toward the east. The first time, the Dalai Lama's shadow was clearly visible. Now, if Tsewang Arabtan's plot succeeds, the Dalai Lama will formally oppose the imperial court. Who knows if there will be another such incident? Tibet must be returned to the central government, and at the very least, the Living Buddhas should maintain a particularly firm relationship with it.
However, national affairs are not something a woman can resolve simply by thinking about, or simply by saying something after having already learned the cheat code. If Tibet is to be brought under central control, it will be impossible without a representative. So, what is the rank of this person? How many people are needed to ensure comprehensive management? How will the relationship between this person and the two Living Buddhas be defined?
The selection of the two living Buddhas must be known to the central government. How should this be done?
Furthermore, a garrison seems necessary. So... where should the troops be sent? How many should be sent? Where will the food and wages be allocated? What level of military rank will this be? Will there be the authority to make arbitrary decisions on the spot?
There are many issues to consider.
The idea is good, but implementation is difficult. If Hongdan wanted to present this idea to Yinreng, he had to flesh it out beforehand. Otherwise, if he only had an idea and then got stuck when asked about the next step, it would seem like an accidental discovery rather than a sign of his own high level of skill.
This is also where Shujia's self-awareness lies. She only talks about the sidelines and rarely speaks directly about how the government should be handled. Firstly, the harem should not interfere in government affairs, and secondly, she is aware of her own shortcomings.
After returning to the branch, Hongdan stayed up most of the night thinking about this problem. However, such a big problem was not something he could figure out overnight. The next day, he went to the court with red eyes and was discovered by his father.
Seeing his son looking like he had just recovered from a serious illness, Yinreng was also shocked: "What's wrong with you? If you're not feeling well, just send someone to ask for leave and rest in the Eastern Palace. Why are you trying so hard to hold on like this?"
Hongdan was shocked: "Ah? Ah! To answer Khan Ama, my son is not sick, he just didn't sleep well last night."
"Well, let's take a break later."
“Yeah.”
The next question was about the progress of the war. They had just moved in, so how could there be any military reports? It was just the usual consumption of food and wages. It was fine when the army was stationary, but once it started moving, the men and horses were still the same, and the consumption increased. Yinreng's brow furrowed.
Hongdan said, "For now, it's still manageable. We collected a lot in salt taxes last year, and this year's momentum isn't bad either. We estimate we'll collect over a million more than before the salt law reform. Next year will only be even better, more than enough to cover the military expenses. The court won't be in any more trouble than during the reign of Emperor Kangxi."
Yinreng waved his hand: "Let's not talk about this. I just hope this battle can be fought happily." Don't make it like the three personal expeditions during the reign of Emperor Kangxi, which were endless.
Hongdan followed suit and flattered him: "Khan Ama is wise and his soldiers are fighting bravely. The rebellion will be quelled soon. Khan Ama, don't worry."
Yinreng snorted coldly, "You think the war is too simple," and muttered to himself, "This battle is not easy to fight. We must not hurt the two Living Buddhas. We also cannot let them be taken away."
Hongdan's ears twitched, and he saw his Khan-Ama reaching out to take a copy of the memorial and read it. Hongdan recognized it as a secret memorial, smaller than the ordinary memorials. He saw Yinreng muttering as he read it, "Living Buddha..."
Hongdan spoke first: "Khan Ama, this Living Buddha——"
"how?"
Although he hadn't thought about it too closely, Hongdan couldn't help but guess, based on Yinreng's behavior while reading the secret memorial and muttering about the Living Buddha, that someone had already mentioned the final issue regarding Tibet. Without worrying about the details, he said, "We should protect the Living Buddha."
"oh?"
"The Dzungar are untrustworthy, rebelling again and again after being pacified. First there was Galdan, then Tsewang Arabtan. They fought each other to the point of bloodshed, but no matter who won in the end, they all became our enemies. They are too close to Tibet, and the Living Buddhas of Tibet are too important! Every time they take action, it is always implicated in Tibet, and we are constantly worried. It is really annoying..."
Then he rationalized what his mother said.
Yinreng was very happy: "You have really grown up! That's right, when governing a country, one must always look further ahead. If one does not think about the future, he will inevitably have immediate worries. It would be better to broaden your horizons."
Yinreng smiled and said, "There is someone who thinks the same as you."
"Huh?" Although he had guessed that someone had thought of it, Hongdan still acted surprised.
The Queen thought the same thing as Yunxiang, that the Thirteenth Prince was indeed a talent, and he had written this in his memorial. Since everyone thought the same thing, Yinreng held out the secret memorial, but Hongdan still didn't dare to take it. Yinreng laughed and scolded, "Why are you being so cautious? Just read it when I tell you to."
Hongdan took a look and saw it was indeed his thirteenth uncle's meticulously written small regular script. It stated that he had accompanied the army into Tibet and witnessed firsthand the immense influence of the two Living Buddhas on the local people, suggesting that the court should pay attention to them. He also stated that Tibet bordered Qinghai, and if they occupied Tibet, gained the title of Living Buddha, and pointed their military force at it, the Qinghai taiji would likely obey, posing a significant threat to the court.
However, Tibet had long resisted the imperial rule, and a sudden, full imperial takeover would likely spark a backlash. Yunxiang therefore suggested a phased approach. First, establish contact with the Living Buddha, then station ministers and a small number of troops, and then increase the number of troops. He also suggested strengthening cultural ties, among other things. This approach proved much more detailed.
Hong Dan felt a little ashamed: "Uncle Thirteen is more thoughtful than his son."
"How old are you? It's great that you thought of it!"
Hongdan's face was a little red. The idea was his mother's, and he just thought it made sense. Invisibly, he learned another lesson: next time he encountered such a problem, he should think more carefully and think more broadly.
Yinreng didn't know that it was his wife who was behind this, so he asked his son to stay for dinner and discuss the issue.
For example, the fourteen banners of the Marat tribe in Mongolia were suffering from a snowstorm and were on the verge of collapse, requiring central government aid. Mongolia had always been important, and now it was even more so. The Minister of Justice, Mu Helun, was ordered to transport rice to provide relief and teach them how to fish for food.
————————————————————————————————————————
Yinreng and Hongdan dined in the Qianqing Palace, and Shujia summoned her children to join them. Shujia believed that it was common sense for the entire family to eat together, and she had tried to do so during her time in the Eastern Palace. However, this rule was becoming increasingly difficult to enforce.
First, Hongxi, Hongdan, and Hongtong all married, and with their own families, they naturally went to eat with their wives. Then, as Yinreng's affairs grew increasingly preoccupied and the country became turbulent, he often lived and ate in the Palace of Heavenly Purity. Then, his two adopted daughters married, and the younger children all moved to Zhaoxiang Residence. While this was fine in the summer, in the winter, braving the cold wind to eat in Kunning Palace was child abuse.
The one eating in Kunning Palace right now is Shujia alone. Yinreng will also go there when he is not busy. Others will have to wait for an opportunity.
It's already the end of March and it's not cold, so it's a good time for them to come over and walk around.
The three unmarried sons and daughters formed the Chinese character "好" (good), which made people happy just by looking at it. Shujia smiled and said, "It's been a while since we've been together, mother and daughter. I have a delicious soup here today, so please serve it."
Looking at her children, Shujia temporarily put aside the Tibetan issue and the two Living Buddhas. She didn't eat much, just smiled and watched the children. The princes and princesses ate in silence. These children were either biological or adopted, and they were not half-siblings. Their relationship was easygoing and close, and they didn't feel too uncomfortable during the meal. The atmosphere in Kunning Palace was quite warm.
Suddenly, Shujia's eyes froze, and she wiped her mouth. "Sixth Brother, what happened to your hand?" Sixth Brother was Hongchen, the poor kid who had been a background character for a long time. His hand was bandaged, and his movements were a little labored, with a slight sweat on his forehead. Seeing his mother ask him, he put down his chopsticks, put his hand behind his back, and said, "I accidentally strained it while practicing archery today."
"Why are you so careless?!"
Hongchen, na na.
Wu Yunzhu was the youngest daughter, usually doted on by her parents and siblings. She put down her chopsticks, wiped her mouth, and said, "Mother, Sixth Brother's hand was bandaged yesterday. He injured it through hard training, not accidentally!"
When there are too many children, parents have limited energy and may not be able to care for them all, or their care may be unevenly distributed. In a family, the eldest and youngest children receive the most attention, just like in a class, the middle children are always forgotten.
As a son, Hongchen naturally received less attention and was more eager to capture everyone's attention. One way to do this was to improve his academic performance. With the court's recent focus on border affairs, he naturally worked very hard on his martial arts training.
Hongchen's hands were cracked from practicing so much.
Shujia was heartbroken and blamed herself: "I didn't even notice yesterday. What a dereliction of duty!" She also regretted not caring enough about her child. What had she been busy with all day?! She didn't even know her son was hurt!
"Zhao Guoshi, go and serve the Sixth Prince at mealtime. Sixth Prince, why didn't you tell him you were injured? Don't use chopsticks, use a spoon first." Shujia was filled with regret. She kept an eye on her children throughout the meal, fearing that any of them might be feeling unwell and refuse to tell him.
After a silent meal, Shujia asked Hongchen to stay and asked him about his recent life and studies. "It's mother's fault for neglecting it. Tell the master tomorrow to wait until your hand is healed before going."
"Mother, I can handle this."
As parents, we naturally hope that our children will study hard, and Yinreng and Shujia are both encouraging. But if they study too hard to the point of self-abuse, that's not good.
"Nonsense, this is not a battle between two armies. You should rest when you need to. The way of civil and martial arts is to alternate between relaxation and tension. Don't worry, you won't be idle tomorrow. Come to your mother, okay?" As she said this, she touched her son's head and looked closely at his eyebrows and eyes. He looked a little older than she remembered.
"Did the imperial physician see it? Uh, why didn't anyone tell me?"
Hongchen heard this and stammered, "It's just a minor injury. The imperial physician has already examined it." A cut on the hand was indeed not a big deal.
Shujia watched closely as the imperial physician was called over and watched as the bandage was removed. The cut wasn't big, but it was in the wrong place, so the thumb couldn't move. The powder had stopped the bleeding, but when Hongchen moved his chopsticks during dinner, the wound opened again and became a mess with the powder, looking quite shocking. Shujia rushed over and asked, "How did you get hurt like this?"
Hongchen was held in his mother's arms, feeling a little embarrassed and a little happy. He moved a little and heard his mother's concerned voice asking from above his head: "Does it hurt? Does it hurt?" Then she said to the imperial physician, "Be gentle!"
From then on, Shujia's focus shifted back to her children. She checked their homework, cared about their daily needs, and not only listened to reports from the eunuchs and palace maids, but also frequently visited them at Zhaoxiang's residence. While her son's teacher could no longer be summoned, her daughters' teacher, Wu Yunzhu of the Hesheli clan, saw the empress more frequently.
The old lady had white hair and a face full of wrinkles, but she looked clean and tidy. Hearing that the empress had summoned her, she straightened her clothes, got into a sedan chair, and went to Kunning Palace.
This time, Shujia wasn't asking about their academic knowledge, but rather their overall qualities. "You've been teaching them for quite some time now, and you've actually spent more time with them than I have. Are you just concerned about whether they can live well after they get married?"
Hesheli paused for a moment and said, "The princesses are all sensible and worthy, and they are of noble descent. There is absolutely no reason for them to suffer misfortune."
"Where is the third princess from earlier?"
Hesheli was silent for a moment: "What does the master mean?"
"I'd like to teach them a little about human nature. I'm afraid others might explain it in a crude and unrefined way, and they won't understand. So I'll have to ask you to do it."
Hesheli was also a mother, so she immediately understood: "I will obey your orders."
——————————————————————————————————————————
The emperor and his wife were indeed in tune with each other. Shujia told Hesheli about the bridal tutorial for their daughters during the day, and Yinreng told her in the evening that he wanted to promote the third princess.
Shujia was surprised and asked, "Are you going to arrange a marriage for her? So soon?"
"It's getting late," Yinreng said, having already taken off his hat. He rubbed his shaved head with his hand. "If we don't make a decision now, it will be too late."
The Third Princess was the eldest daughter of the Emperor Yunqi, adopted from the palace. Born in the 37th year of the Kangxi Emperor's reign, she would have been eighteen (in nominal terms) years old this September. The imperial family's custom since the Kangxi Emperor's reign had been to marry daughters later in life. They arranged marriages, then prepared for the wedding and built a princess's mansion. By the time they officially married, they were already quite old.
Shujia asked casually: "Who do you want to point it to?"
"Of course it's Mongolia." Yinreng smiled sinisterly.
His army was locked in a stalemate with the young Tsering Dundup in Tibet. Due to the long distance, sending troops there would require them to adapt to the environment and their combat effectiveness would be limited. It would be better to incite the Mongol tribes to serve him. A princess would be a good bait.
With the war still undecided, Yinreng was reluctant to travel, so the imperial tour to the outer frontier was temporarily shelved. In April, the royal family moved to Changchun Garden. Meanwhile, Yinreng ordered preparations for the enthronement of the three princesses and ordered several officials in Beijing to select sites for the construction of princess mansions.
One stone can cause a thousand ripples. Now that the Mongolian tribes have contributed, the government orders have indeed been much smoother.
Meanwhile, the war in Tibet was making good progress, and the climate in Tibet gradually became more suitable for outsiders to enter. Furthermore, although Little Tsering Dunduobu was brave, he had fewer soldiers and was not as cunning as Big Tsering. Although he killed and wounded many Qing soldiers, he was gradually suppressed by the Qing army.
The Qing army's greatest advantage over the Dzungars was their superior logistical support. Yinreng had prepared years in advance, and with the nation's strength intact, he was determined to bring equipment, even at the expense of resources. As the two armies faced off, the Qing artillery fire was ferocious. As the saying goes, even the most skilled warriors are vulnerable to kitchen knives. The Dzungars were skilled, while the Qing had kitchen knives. Given this situation, Tibet would be in the Qing's pocket within six months.
By June, the Qing army had reached the outskirts of Lhasa. At this point, caution was required. They must not fire their artillery recklessly. Although their range was limited, accidentally injuring a local figure could be a problem later. The troops stopped at Yarjiang Ale, and the three armies met to discuss the next steps.
Yinreng was also in Danningju, gesturing back and forth at the names of the Mongolian tribes: Who should I give my daughter to?
It was during this time that Sun Zhenghao, the Minister of War, arrived at Danningju. Sun Zhenghao came from a prominent background; his father, Sun Kewang, held the title of prince. A Han Chinese, Sun Kewang later joined the Plain White Banner of the Han army and was granted the title of Prince Yi. During the reign of Emperor Kangxi, the Three Feudatories Rebellion broke out, and the deceased Sun Kewang was posthumously surrendered and granted the title of Duke Muyi. Sun Zhenghao then became a Duke. In the 20th year of Emperor Kangxi's reign, the title was revoked, but this didn't stop him from rising through the ranks, eventually becoming Commander-in-Chief and then Minister of War.
Yinreng was quite kind to him, even though the old man was now trembling with trembling. After Sun Zhenghao finished his kowtow, Yinreng said kindly, "Bring a chair for Minister Sun, and some tea made with well water, without ice."
Sun Zhenghao brought some very bad news: the Russians had been defeated by Daze Lingdun Duobu in just a few moves, and now Daze Lingdun Duobu was "bringing his spoils and his soldiers, driving his carriage." He was heading for Tibet again!
Before their defeat, the Russians sent a letter to the Qing court, urging them to intensify their offensive on the eastern front in an attempt to relieve pressure on themselves. After their defeat, this document only arrived at Danningju today. Meanwhile, Daze Lingdun Dob has likely finished his rest and begun his journey back into Tibet.
What a surprising turn of events!
Yinreng couldn't help but curse: "I knew these old Russians were useless! They are useless! Weren't they able to hold on in Yaxica? Why can't they hold on now?" Fortunately, he had a good memory and listed all the bad deeds of the Russians until he cursed until his mouth was dry.
Victory was in sight, but then Cheng Yaojin showed up unexpectedly. It would have been strange if he wasn't furious.
Sun Zhenghao first said, "Your Majesty, calm down." He then suggested, "This matter must be sent over a distance of 800 miles. The army must be informed immediately. We cannot allow Da Ce Ling Dun Duo Bu to cut off our retreat and intercept our food supplies."
Yinreng suddenly realized: "That's exactly how it should be!"
————————————————————————————————————————
What's this and what's not! By the time the military report from the capital reached the front, chaos had already broken out outside Lhasa.
What the world lacks the most are people who change their minds according to the situation. The people in Lhasa didn't know that Da Ce Lingdun Duobu had come straight over. Seeing that the Qing army was coming in full force, Xiao Ce Lingdun Duobu was about to collapse. In addition, Lazang Khan was killed by the Junggar tribe, so he decided to abandon the dark and join the light.
The city's nobles, a mix of Mongolians and Tibetans, were all fierce, horse-riding peoples. They were only temporarily subdued by the even more ferocious Dzungar. Now that the Dzungar were weakened, they naturally resisted without hesitation. The Qing troops were still outside, debating how to write a letter to the Dalai Lama inside the city, when a letter suddenly shot out from inside.
Yaerjiang'a was still skeptical when the second letter arrived, saying: We will start inside first, you come in, and the time of the attack is at night.
Yarjiang'a immediately called a meeting. After a long debate, everyone agreed that Little Celing wasn't as cunning as Big Celing and that it was unlikely he'd set a trap. They immediately agreed.
Fearing that the use of firearms would cause chaos in Lhasa, or that the city might be burned down by accident, and even more worried that the agreement was a fraud, Yarjiang'a did not dispatch the entire army. Instead, he took Hongxi with him as a signpost, while Qingde remained outside the city with the firearms battalion and 10,000 Qing troops.
We have nearly 20,000 troops on our side, and the enemy has less than 6,000. Even if there is an ambush, we can deal with it. What's more, we have a backup plan outside, so there should be no problem.
Little Tsering Dundup was a man of action. He dispatched troops to prevent the Qing troops from attacking during the chaos while simultaneously dispatching troops to capture the traitor. The "traitor," on his part, took advantage of darkness to dispatch troops to meet the Qing troops while fleeing to the Potala Palace, surrounded by guards. With the Living Buddha present, Little Tsering Dundup would not have dared resort to violence.
When the fight was in progress, several fast horses quietly arrived, took a look and hurried away - these were Da Ce Ling's advance scouts.
So the "traitors" were inside, Little Celing was in the middle, the Qing army was outside, and even outside was Big Celing, with Yaerjianga sitting in the middle and Qingde leading the firearms battalion. The dumplings were wrapped in several layers, and it became a mess.
Yarjiang'a waited for news from inside the city, but the scouts suddenly realized something was amiss. Upon closer inspection, they discovered another group of soldiers had arrived. It was dark, and this group had no torches, so they didn't know how many people there were. When they found their way back to the Qing army, they used the torches they had lit to make out the intruders' attire.
Yarjiang'a's palms were sweating. He ordered the camp to be defended to the death. He couldn't lose the emperor's son. He only ordered the firearms battalion to quietly set up the cannons and bombard Da Celing's troops.
Outside, a chaotic battle unfolded overnight. Luckily, Da Ce Ling had brought only a few men, only two thousand this time. Their retreat wasn't brutal enough, and the firearms battalion killed hundreds of their men. However, that was the extent of the firearms battalion's success. Da Ce Ling turned around, and while the firearms battalion was reloading its artillery, he ignored the city and turned to attack the firearms battalion.
Da Ce Ling was no stranger to firearms, and he knew the drawbacks of artillery: its limited range and the long intervals between shots. His men were cavalry, and with a single charge they could reach the artillery, cut down the artillerymen, and seize the cannons, effectively turning the Qing army into his transport commander.
It was Fuerdan who led the Qing troops into the city. He was no fool. Upon hearing the cannon fire, he abandoned Lhasa and retreated. He then attacked Da Celing, who was firing his cannon. Feeling helpless, he had to flee. In the city, Xiao Celing saw the "traitors" fleeing into the Potala Palace and was about to demand space when he was hit with a black brick from behind. He then sent troops to guard the exit of the Potala Palace.
While engaged in a fierce battle with the Qing army, he noticed they were retreating in a disorganized manner. Cannons blazed outside, and Xiao Celing instinctively moved his troops to strike the Qing soldiers in the back. He continued to strike while running. He feared the Qing army would destroy him along with the invading troops, disregarding their own lives. He decided to seize the opportunity and lead his troops out of the city.
It was as if someone had shouted, "Turn around and march in step."
How can one describe the chaos?
Fortunately, Fuerdan came out quickly. After dozens of people in the firearms battalion were killed, Da Ce Ling was afraid of being surrounded by the Qing army, so he ran away in a blink of an eye, and the artillery was not taken away by him.
By daybreak, both sides were in chaos. They each restrained their men and horses, and chatted for a long time before they finally figured out the situation.
Lhasa was now safe. Both sides had left the city and were facing each other. If one side moved, the other would have to hold back. The Dalai Lama, in the Potala Palace, directly praised the Buddha's blessing.
The situation seemed to have returned to the starting point, and the two sides started a tug-of-war again. At this time, the messenger from the capital also arrived.
Yaerjiang'a wanted to vomit blood: If this letter had arrived a day earlier, it wouldn't have turned out like this! Now it's great, I have to rearrange it.
The author has something to say: It’s been a long time since I last updated a ten thousand-word article.
What are bad words?! ! ! !
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
