Kangxi's auspicious uncle
The great sage Mencius said, "When Heaven is about to confer a great responsibility on a man, it is first with some trials, toil his muscles and bones, starve his body, and deprive him of all possessions. It is to stimulate his heart and harden his nature, and increase his ability to do what he could not otherwise have done." This was a required passage to memorize when Shujia was in junior high school. She used to think it made sense, but now she truly feels the taste of fate in it.
This statement was perfectly true for Kangxi. God's grace in allowing him to become emperor and secure the throne was undoubtedly a great favor. However, every step he took to the top was accompanied by agonizing torture from heaven, only to finally see the rainbow. Each time, he would die, dragging a few unfortunate souls with him. When he became emperor, his parents died; when he pacified the Three Feudatories, his wife died; when he conquered Taiwan, his son died; and now, when he fought Galdan, his own uncle died too!
The achievements and the price paid are so unforgettable, it is truly a tragic love story.
It had been some time since Kangxi's return to the capital, and Shujia was conversing in Qingde's inner study. Ever since Kangxi's return, the atmosphere in the capital had been tense; an emperor ill was never a good thing. Fu Dali and Qingde, who had accompanied him on his previous trip, had received a few days' leave after their return, and were resting at home, staying relatively quiet.
Fu Dali still had a wife to look after, while Qingde was relatively free. He was now without a wife, and with the emperor ill and the atmosphere not favorable, he didn't dare wander around, fearing being caught, so he simply stayed home. Shujia was also relatively free. With her brothers back, she no longer had to worry about household chores. She was already familiar with the various schoolwork and rules, but her only regret was her lack of understanding of the outside world. It was a perfect opportunity for the brother and sister to come together.
Shujia would often cook some food in the small kitchen and bring it over to the brother and sister, who would drink tea and eat snacks while chatting. Qingde could see the palace gates and was well-informed, so he would always share the news.
When the two brothers returned from their leave, this custom remained. Qingde said to his aunts in a very brotherly manner, "Thank you all for your help these days. I have been working hard lately. Now that everyone is back, I have some free time. Come over and sit and relax. I haven't seen you for a long time, and I miss you too."
When the aunts saw that it only took a short time for the siblings to bond and would not interfere with their work, they naturally agreed.
Shu Jiafei gave him a sharp look: "Do you miss me or the snacks I made?"
Qingde said seriously, "The lotus leaf soup I made last time was good. That's what we'll have tomorrow."
Everyone in the room burst into laughter.
Today Shujia made some snacks as usual. The maid came to Qingde with the food box in her hand, as if she knew the way.
Qingde's eldest maid, Bishui, answered the call: "The young lady is here? The Second Master was still talking about her when he left home this morning, wondering what delicious food the young lady would cook today."
Shujia smiled and said, "He is still thinking about it. He must show off to Mafa, otherwise Mafa will grind her teeth with me." Bishui smiled and brought tea, "Second Master will be back soon, so please wait a little longer, young lady." At the same time, she arranged hot water, towels and other things in preparation for Qingde to wash his face when he came back.
Qingde returned quickly, but his face wasn't looking good. He greeted her, "Sister's here," and quickly washed his face. After settling down, he didn't pretend to be greedy and snatched up some snacks like he had the other day. Instead, he sat down and drank his tea. Shujia asked curiously, "What's going on?"
Qingde wiped his face and said, "Uncle Tong was killed in action."
Huh? "Which one?"
The two brothers Tong Guogang and Tong Guowei both went to the front line this time. When Kangxi came back, he kept them both.
Qingde let out a long sigh: "The big one."
Shujia thought to herself that Tong Guogang was a friend of her grandfather's, and if he died, she would definitely go to pay her respects, and she would have to pack up the accompanying people and cars. Uncle Kangxi's death would definitely be a big event, and the family would have to carefully handle it.
Well, I guess my sister-in-law is almost ready, but... Shujia hesitated for a moment, not trusting her sister-in-law as much as she did her mother, so she decided to go and take a look. After all, the Tong family was not an ordinary family. Other things were fine, but when it came to funerals, where people were already in a bad mood, there couldn't be any mistakes.
Shujia stood up and said, "Since that's the case, let's get ready."
Qingde waved his hand and said, "Why are you in such a hurry? He died in Ulan Butong and his body hasn't been brought back yet. Even if you come now, they won't be able to set up a place to entertain you."
Shujia said, "It will be too late to prepare after they start the funeral. We also need to prepare the rituals. We still have some stock at home, but we're worried the quality isn't good enough. We need to send someone out right away to buy the best quality. I'm afraid Mafa will have to go herself..."
Qingde said, "You're really thoughtful. You go and discuss this with your sister-in-law. I'll ask my brother to go and see Mafa together to see what Mafa's rules are."
The Shi family began to get busy. Shujia said to Wendu, "This reminds me that since we're at war, there will be many casualties. There may be people who are familiar with our family, so we should prepare more sacrifices." She paused, feeling that what she said was not very nice.
Wen Du said: "Yes, after this battle..." It is still unknown how many people will die.
At the same time, he called the steward to check the inventory in the storeroom and the cash in the accounting office, and prepared several copies of each according to the upper, middle and lower grades.
When news of Tong Guogang's death reached the city, countless wealthy and powerful families in the Banner, like the Shi family, were in a frenzy, busy preparing for the funeral. Some families still had male members on the front lines, so they prepared for the funeral while feeling unlucky and not mentioning it.
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There was chaos in the capital and in the palace - Kangxi's condition worsened.
Kangxi's reluctance had finally been resolved, and he found his sons more appealing. With the emperor ill, the concubines' duties as bedfellows could cease, and the sons' caretaking became a matter of urgency, and this was immediately implemented. The crown prince naturally took the lead. Coincidentally, the eldest son had incurred Kangxi's misfortune on the battlefield, and Yinreng was full of energy, taking care of minor matters for his father in the front court while serving him medicine in the harem. He had even usurped the position of maids and eunuchs in the Qianqing Palace.
Now is the 29th year of Kangxi's reign. Many of Kangxi's sons have not been born yet, and more than half of those who have been born have not grown up yet. Only one, two, three, four, five... can "serve medicine". The ones below are just young children whose ages are counted in the single digits.
Yinreng blew on the bowl of Chinese medicine while whispering, "It's good for my brothers to be filial, but they can't neglect their studies. They should greet each other every day, and after Khan Ama has seen them, let them go back to school. They are still young. Especially the fifth brother. If he has some free time, he should go and comfort the Empress Dowager. She is also worried about Khan Ama."
Kangxi felt guilty yet comforted. He watched Yinreng bring the boiled medicine over. He first tasted it to check its temperature. Then, carefully, he handed it to him, spoonful by spoonful. Anyone who has taken Chinese medicine knows that this spoonful by spoonful is the most agonizing. A bowl of medicine, all in all, is so little. You down it in one gulp, rinse your mouth, and it's over. This "tasting" of the whole bowl bit by bit is like rolling over your tongue with the bitterness of the whole bowl.
Kangxi still took it in stride. After sipping half a bowl of medicine, Kangxi said to Yinreng generously, "Let's do as you say. Pass the order down. The princes, if you have nothing to do, go back to study. Tell them that I will check their homework once I'm well again."
Yinreng pursed his lips and smiled: "Please go slowly." He continued to feed slowly. Kangxi's taste buds seemed to have completely lost their function, and he also swallowed slowly with a smile.
Just like that, after taking the bitter medicine for a few days, Kangxi was able to get up.
Liang Jiugong helped him down. Kangxi stretched, then struggled to stand straight. He took the cane from Wei Zhu and, draped in a single layer of clothing, slowly paced through the Qianqing Palace. The only sounds in the nine-room palace were the scraping of Kangxi's shoes against the tiles and the thumping of his cane.
Liang Jiugong cautiously stepped back half a step, his hands braced for danger, afraid the emperor would stumble and he could catch him. Kangxi wasn't ready to rely on a eunuch to catch him, so he walked for a while, then settled down and asked, "How has everything been going these past few days, both inside and outside the palace?"
Liang Jiugong couldn't fathom his thoughts, so he could only reply vaguely, "The masters of the various palaces are all worried about you, and are praying to the Buddha for blessings. I really don't know what's going on at court, but... seeing as the people around the palace don't seem worried, I guess everything's fine."
Kangxi said, "Forget it, call Yinreng."
Wei Zhu stepped forward, hands lowered, and said, "I will go and fetch the Crown Prince." After a pause, hearing no further instructions, he backed out of the palace gates. Turning around, he was met by Yinreng, who was heading to the Palace of Heavenly Purity. Wei Zhu rushed forward, "Greetings to the Crown Prince. I am here to see you on the orders of His Majesty..."
Yinreng's pace quickened, he remained steady but his brows furrowed slightly, he raised his hand casually: "Forget it." He had just received the news that Tong Guogang was dead.
Yinreng had no particular fondness for the Tong family. Originally, they were his grandmother's family, blood relatives, and close. The problem arose when the relationship became even more complicated. Both of Tong Guogang's nieces became Kangxi's concubines, and one of them even raised the Fourth Prince and even earned the position of first wife before her death.
In fact, in this era, it was normal for a father to have a concubine. Yinreng's biological mother had died. If he had a better relationship with Concubine Tong, with one being without a mother and the other without a son, their relationship would be very harmonious. At least they would not be secret enemies like other concubines with sons, such as Concubine Hui.
Concubine Tong, however, was appointed by Kangxi to raise the others. She was quite favored by Kangxi, and to avoid suspicion, she couldn't have much contact with the crown prince. The relationship became delicate. Even though Yinzhen was still young and not a threat to Yinreng, they were no longer close.
So when the news of Tong Guogang's death came, Yinreng didn't feel grief. Instead, he was racking his brains. Why did he have to die when there were so many people on the front lines? What was the trick? What had happened at the front? Such big news couldn't be concealed; it had to be reported. But... Kangxi still hadn't recovered.
Yinreng calmed himself, straightened his collar, and went to the Palace of Heavenly Purity. Seeing Kangxi standing with a cane, Yinreng felt a little relieved: he looked better and could withstand the blow better.
Yinreng came in and greeted him first. Kangxi leaned on his cane with one hand and reached forward with the other to give him a slight support. "Stand up, please. What is the point of going through all this formality between father and son?"
Yinreng stood up and looked at Kangxi's face. Seeing that he was smiling, he hesitated for a moment. Kangxi was puzzled: "What's wrong? Is there something difficult at court? I'm feeling better now. Tell me and I'll talk it over with you." This was the pattern of father and son getting along.
The rule of embracing grandchildren but not sons was a dead letter to these two fathers and sons. Kangxi had treated his crown prince this way since he was little. If there's anything you don't know, come and tell me, and I'll tell you. If there's anything you want, come and tell me, and I'll get it for you. If there's someone you don't like, come and tell me, and I'll get rid of him!
Yinreng knelt down: "Khan Ama——"
Kangxi's heart trembled: "What's wrong?"
Yinreng whispered, "I've received a report from Prince Yu's army: Tong Guogang... was killed in action."
Kangxi suddenly felt dizzy and his hands were completely drained of strength, his entire body swaying back and forth. Liang Jiugong was startled and rushed forward, "Your Majesty."
When Yinreng heard this, he looked up and quickly stood up to support the other side. Together with Liang Jiugong, he helped Kangxi to the kang in the warm room, saying, "Khan Ama, don't worry."
Yinreng knew that Kangxi had not yet returned to the capital when Tong Guogang died, but he was ill at the time. During the Battle of Ulan Butong, Fuquan, playing it safe, didn't order a large force to pursue, allowing Galdan to escape. This led to Kangxi, who was ill and angry, to reprimand him. Seeing Kangxi's illness and anger, Fuquan didn't dare report the incident to his superiors, fearing it would irritate him. Now, with Kangxi arriving in the capital, and reports from the imperial court indicating his recovery, Fuquan reported Tong Guogang's death as a discovery made during a post-battle headcount. Enclosed in this letter was a note: Tong Guowei, upon hearing his brother's death, had gone mad and threatened to fight his way back, but thankfully returned unharmed.
Yinreng wiped the sweat off his face and winked, "Go and call the imperial physician."
Kangxi grabbed Yinreng's hand and trembled so much that he couldn't speak.
Yin Yewang said, "Uncle, uncle, my mother is gone, seeing my uncle is like seeing my mother." When it came to Kangxi, this statement was an ironclad truth. Yinreng knew how much Kangxi favored the Tong family, and even if he was dissatisfied at this time, it would not spoil Kangxi's mood. Moreover, his and the Tong family had not yet reached an open conflict; they were just not that close.
When the imperial physician arrived, Yinreng said, "Watch carefully." The imperial physician felt his pulse and was extremely puzzled: "I thought he was going to be fine, but why... does it seem like he's being taken over by anger?"
Yinreng glared at her: "Why are you talking so much nonsense? Hurry up and write a prescription!"
Imperial Physician: ...Observe, smell, ask and feel, we only did the last one!
After much fussing, it wasn't until the Empress Dowager sent someone to ask about it that a prescription was finally given. Yinreng picked up the prescription and said, "The cinnabar is too high. Reduce it by two points." Kangxi suddenly said, "Let me see it." Yinreng helped him up and took a look at the prescription. Kangxi closed his eyes and nodded, "Do as the prince says."
The young eunuch ran quickly to boil the medicine.
After Kangxi took the medicine, Yinreng helped him lie down and tucked the corners of the quilt. Just as he was about to leave, Kangxi said, "Go away, I need to think about it carefully. You go and ask the Grand Secretary and the Ministry of Rites to draw up a set of regulations..." This was referring to the issue of Tong Guogang's funeral.
Yinreng responded in a low voice and slowly retreated.
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Meanwhile, the front-line camp was in chaos. The message had been sent, but everyone in the camp was worried.
First, this battle wasn't ideal. In Fuquan's view, their crushing defeat of Galdan was meritorious. "Don't pursue a desperate enemy" is a rule of thumb. Who knows if Galdan's head or an ambush awaits you? This was a prudent approach in the absence of reconnaissance satellites and high-level spies. The result? They were scolded!
Secondly, from the outset, this army had been struggling. It was a hodgepodge of elements, with some friendly, some hostile, a complete mess. The most troublesome was Yinzhi, whose nephew was still at odds with him and was secretly murmuring with Mingzhu. Ever since Kangxi's arrival, Mingzhu and Suo'etu had been reporting to the emperor, and now... they were all fighting each other undercover at Fuquan's place.
In the end, Tong Guogang died, taking the emperor's uncle with him. No matter how meritorious Fuquan was, he still had to think about it.
None of these matters mattered; the most devastating thing was the intertwining of these three strands. Yinzhi held Fuquan responsible for Tong Guogang's death, while Mingzhu blamed Soetu. Yinzhi attributed the failure to completely eliminate Galdan to his uncle's cowardice and, most importantly, his failure to heed his wise counsel.
Fuquan was utterly frustrated, you little bastard! If I wasn't worried about you making a mistake, would I be so cautious? If the whole army was united, even if Fuquan was a coward, influenced by morale, he might have made up his mind to pursue. The problem is, I'm not afraid of wolves, I'm afraid of pigs. With Yinzhi here, Fuquan doesn't dare!
From the very beginning, Yinzhi's actions gave Fuquan the impression that he was here to give orders blindly, to seize power, and to gain merit. Fuquan did not need to prove himself with military merit, but he was also unwilling to be a stepping stone for his foolish nephew.
You can doubt it if you want. Fuquan made up his mind. He had never suffered such an injustice in his life! He moved his troops and returned to the court. I will write a letter to report you!
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