Mr. Jiang's lecture
Shujia couldn't sleep that night. It wasn't because she harbored any ethnic hatred or anything like that; after all, all fifty-six ethnic groups were one family. However, she believed that every Chinese person wouldn't appreciate the territorial cession and indemnity payments that were meant to be a friendly nation, nor would they be thrilled by the idea of keeping their hair. Therefore, she had no fondness for Qing dynasty history at all. She could adapt to this unfortunate Qing dynasty, but the thought of so many lives lost by her own relatives was a source of deep anguish.
She recited a passionate speech -
Nurhaci, a great hero of his time, has passed away. There are many different opinions about this man. Some say he represented advanced and progressive forces, challenged the corrupt Ming Dynasty, and made contributions to the development of history. I am not well-educated and cannot claim to be fully versed in history, but I do understand the basic principles. Looking back on his life, I saw no progress or development, only looting, killing, and destruction. I am not clear about his great historical significance. I only know that wherever his cavalry went, there was no advanced productivity, no national production index, no economic trade, only corpses scattered across the fields, broken houses, farmland turned into wasteland, and civilians turned into slaves.
I don’t know what new hegemony will inevitably replace it. I only know that those who say such things should experience it for themselves under the sabers of the Later Jin army. There is no difference between the innocent souls under the sabers and the proud souls on the saddle. All lives are equal, and no one has the right to deprive them of their rights without reason. [1]
The memory was too vivid. She couldn't be excited about this blood-stained hat, even though her current comfortable life was all due to it... It was too tangled! If she were more artistic, she might have been tangled to death!
However, she wasn't particularly artistic, so she wasn't completely consumed by worry; life had to go on. She couldn't just pick up a knife and chop Master Kang down. Of course, she could shout "Restore the Ming Dynasty!" but then her family would dismiss her as a lunatic. So, she had to stay put and practice diligently. What a loser!
After all her struggles, Shujia finally came to terms with the truth: she was just a common person, afraid of death. She should just live an honest life. She couldn't handle ambition and concern for her country and its people! She was just a commoner, so how could she dream of global domination? She'd better stay in bed. Having defined her own position, the useless little sister felt depressed for a long time—"I've come to this conclusion, what the hell am I even struggling with?"
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With Hua Shan's return, the Shi Mansion, long quiet, became bustling with activity. Previously, when he and Shi Wenbing were away, there were few social events. Shi Wenzhuo would entertain the occasional visitor, with few meals or drinks, and a monthly summary report was sufficient. Now that Hua Shan was back, all sorts of social events had begun. He also had his share of banquets, with all the expenses and chores that came with them. And when those who came with their wives were received by Xiluo Te, they were responsible for their reception.
Xiluo Te's courtyard became bustling with people coming to visit, and the number of maids, relatives, and guests who came to visit was not endless, but it was quite large. Shujia would sometimes be called out to meet guests - most of them were people of lower status than her family, and they would avoid Shujia when they greeted her. For a legitimate daughter like this, even if she was young, it would be better to show some respect - her mother was sitting upstairs. Shujia heard Xiluo Te introduce her, and she knew that most of them were wives of officials from the Plain White Banner, and some of them were from the families of hereditary captains, and some were from the families of officials working in the six ministries. In addition, there were some other people, but she was not allowed to meet them.
Shujia was quite confused. Shi Wenzhuo had already explained that the Plain White Banner, like the Plain Yellow and Bordered Yellow Banners, was one of the three upper banners directly led by the emperor. Without a prince as its leader, they recognized the emperor as their sole master. Mr. Jiang, who had received instructions from his employer to explain the Eight Banners system to the two young ladies, explained that the emperor appointed a general to govern their banner. While general sounds good, in reality, you could be assigned to the Plain White Banner one day and transferred to the Bordered Blue Banner the next. A Mongolian general today could become a Manchu the next. The true backbone of each banner was the assistant commander, as they were typically hereditary leaders, with the father remaining the son, and their position firmly entrenched without question.
The position of Zuoling might not sound high, but he was responsible for everything from checking the population of the bannermen, submitting applications for selection of concubines, handling land, and handling lawsuits, and then reporting to the Dutong. The position of managing male men meant controlling state subsidies for bannermen and quotas for selections, while the position of managing selected concubines was even more significant.
Why would a Zuoling like this come to their house to flatter them? First, their family isn't a Dutong (Shi Wenzhuo didn't say anyone in their family currently holds this position). Second, the capital city lacks other positions except for nobles. Third, their family is also from the Zhengbai Banner, so they should be under the jurisdiction of Zuoling, right? So what else do they have to do? And yet they are so polite.
Shujia asked Mr. Jiang about this during class. Mr. Jiang smiled and said, "Although you are not currently the commander-in-chief of the Plain White Banner of the Han Army, you may not know that you are in charge of five lieutenants. All officials, students, and able-bodied men under these five lieutenants follow your father's lead. Why is the Tonggiya clan, Empress Xiaokang Zhang's mother's family, so respected today? It's not because they produced a saintly empress dowager, but because the Tong family is connected to the same clan, and they have more than ten lieutenants under their command... Well, who knows, there will be more in the future..." he muttered to himself.
The Shi family is so impressive! Shujia had originally thought that the Shi family was a third-class earl. Well, earls are hereditary titles, but in Beijing, where princes and dukes abound, a third-class earl is nothing. Even if Shi Wenbing is the son of a princess, his grandmother is Duoduo's third daughter. This tells you that she has at least two older sisters. Duoduo is the fifteenth of Nurhaci's sons. His brothers each had two or three daughters, enough for a whole row. What about sons? Completely stress-free, not at all noble, really.
But their influence within the banners was more complex. Five Zuoling (colonel commanders)—while the Han Banner's treatment wasn't as good as the Manchu and Mongolian Banners in terms of opportunities for officialdom, it was still much better than that of ordinary Han Chinese. With five Zuoling (colonel commanders), even if the odds were slim, how many officials could they achieve? The Han Banner was still considered Manchu, and Manchus held more than a slight advantage over Han Chinese in terms of status and promotion. The Plain White Banner was also the emperor's personal army.
The palace guards were all selected from the upper three banners. Those from the lower five banners, no matter how talented they were, could never even dream of such a prestigious position unless their ancestors had made significant contributions and the emperor remembered them, deserving of a respectable honor. What did it mean to live in the same residential complex as the emperor? It meant you might bump into him from time to time, becoming familiar with him. Those who were remembered by the emperor were elegantly known as "Jian Zai Di Xin."
It was really shocking. Shujia was no longer calm. The population of the five commanders was in the thousands.
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Besides those who came to visit their superiors, there were also those who came to scout the area and propose marriage. At the beginning of the Three Feudatories War, the Empress died, and later in the war, another one died. Southern China was under the shadow of war, and northern China was busy preparing. The young and strong men of the imperial family and the Eight Banners were all swamped by this matter. Anyone who dared to say, "Emperor, I want to apply for marriage leave" would be met with the reply, "How can I care for my family until Wu Sangui is defeated?" The Emperor could not show any lust at this moment, so the selection of concubines was suspended.
Even if the selection were reopened, many women would be over the age limit. According to regulations, those who were eliminated without passing the selection process were forbidden from marrying off privately. Those who secretly married would be punished with a single word: fine. The Three Feudatories had been fighting for eight years, and the women had been oppressed for eight years—a horrific thing. Isn't it urgent? Now that the Three Feudatories are finally defeated and the mourning period is over, everyone is eager to find sons-in-law to marry their daughters. It's better to strike first, because there are too many leftover women. Many have already made arrangements with the captains to report their age limit as soon as the selection is reopened, and then marry them off after verification. You're talking about dowries? It's been eight years, how could they not be prepared?
Because of the war, there were no desires to marry, and there were many single men. However, the quality of men was always like a pyramid, with the better ones becoming fewer and fewer. It would be better to say hello first. Shi Wenzhuo, the biological son of the Heshuo Efu, although not the princess's son, was born to the second wife. He was also a guard, young, and had a bright future. He also had an older brother who was an earl, and his family background was not bad. Naturally, he was a popular choice for a son-in-law.
Hua Shan knew what was going on, so he sent word to Xiluo Te, telling her to find out which girls were suitable. "Don't look for girls under eighteen. Even within the imperial clan, marriages need to be arranged, and I'm afraid they need an imperial decree. Girls over twenty are too old, and I'm afraid they'll develop strange personalities if raised at home. Find girls around eighteen or nineteen. Come back and tell me."
Most of the people who came to visit were these people. After all, Hua Shan had made mistakes on the front lines, so he wasn't stupid enough to post a notice inviting guests. One shouldn't be too arrogant. People of his level wouldn't come here for no reason.
So, after the first month or so, things at home slowly returned to normal, and everyone was quietly waiting for the emperor to return to Beijing.
I didn’t wait for the emperor’s arrival, but I did wait for the imperial edict.
Xiluo Te had never imagined that she and her husband would meet so soon, and that they would live together in the future. In March of the 21st year, Master Kang, who was enjoying himself in Shengjing, suddenly sent down an imperial decree, appointing her husband as the Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Left Wing of Hangzhou. The Emperor was away from the capital, and even the Crown Prince was taken away. He was excused from the audience and, upon his return, a case was filed with the relevant authorities, allowing Shi Wenbing to take up his post directly.
Once the report was sent out, the Shi family would know. Upon hearing the news, Xiluo began to wonder what her husband would bring. There was no need to hide this; the maids and servants in the main house soon learned about it, and Shujia also learned about it when she returned from class. She was troubled: Was this a good thing or a bad thing? Regardless of whether it was good or bad, if Master Kang wanted you to go, you had to go, but you had to be prepared.
Is a place a hundred kilometers from the emperor better than one a thousand kilometers? The general is a regular officer, while the deputy governor is an adjutant. Which one has more power? It looks like exile, no matter how you look at it! Did Kangxi chat with his ancestors about Hua Shan, get angrier, and then... take revenge?
Thanks to Mr. Jiang, Shujia had more questions to ask. She was older, no longer a baby, so asking about things like official systems wasn't outrageous. Her childish curiosity was a good excuse. The next day, after reviewing the previous day's lessons and covering some new material, Mr. Jiang asked if there were any questions. Shujia took the opportunity to ask questions; after all, she was concerned about her standard father.
Mr. Jiang hesitated for a long time before speaking, trying to keep it simple. "The General is a second-rank officer, and so is the Deputy Governor-General. There's no distinction between the two. The former Deputy Governor-General of Hangzhou made a mistake and was reported. During the suppression of the Three Feudatories, he allowed his troops to abuse the people while fighting in the front lines. Your Majesty transferred your father to Hangzhou as a sign of trust." Besides, the General was under the jurisdiction of the Governor-General, while the Deputy Governor-General stationed in Hangzhou only reported to the Governor-General. When it came to promotions, the General was already the highest rank among his peers; any further promotion required a different approach. However, the Deputy Governor-General had the Governor-General above him, providing a ready-made stepping stone.
Shujia was temporarily relieved. Within two days, Shi Wenbing returned. He first reported to the Ministry, and his luggage was sent home by servants. When the servants returned, they kowtowed to the old man, and were then summoned by Xiluo Te to question him. After learning that Shi Wenbing was fine, they were told to rest.
Xiluo Te and her maids were packing up Shi Wenbing's luggage. She took one look and frowned, saying, "The number of things isn't right. There aren't enough clothes." The maid said, "Let me call the person who went out with the master and ask them again." Xiluo Te was sorting through the clothes when her servant paused and said, "Let's wait until the master comes back and ask."
Shi Wenbing returned soon after, greeting his father and his brothers, then returning to see his wife and children. Shujia saw that he hadn't changed much; though his face showed a hint of weariness, a hint of a smile played at the corners of his mouth. The two sisters had been called back from class, met once, and then sent back to class.
Through the window, he heard Xiluo Te say, "Is there anything you left behind? I think the number is wrong." Shi Wenbing said, "I looked at the needlework. Everything that was not made by you was given away or rewarded. Other household items were also given away. They would be a burden to carry with you." Xiluo Te stopped talking and wiped Shi Wenbing's face and changed his clothes with the maid.
At dinnertime, everyone was gathered, a rare reunion dinner. It hadn't been easy. It took eight years of fighting, and even winning the war of resistance, to finally defeat Wu Sangui. The two pillars of the family had spent eight years in the army, with Hua Shan still fighting on the front lines. It was truly remarkable that they both managed to return home intact.
This meal was eaten at the reunion table. Hua Shan sat at the front, with Shi Wenbing, Kongzuo, Shuxian, and Shujia to his left, and Shi Wenzhuo, Fu Dali, and Qingde to his right. Xiluo stood up to serve the dishes. After two courses of soup, Hua Shan allowed her to sit down. Xiluo sat down at the head of her daughter, head bowed, and ate in silence. They ate without speaking. After the meal, Xiluo and her daughter left.
The men of the Shi family were discussing something. Going to Hangzhou was a good thing, but the only hesitation was whether they should bring their families with them.
Shi Wenzhuo's wedding hadn't taken place yet, and the family didn't have a mistress. This wasn't going to work. Hua Shan thought for a moment, "Your uncle is now the governor of Zhejiang. He's got some official duties and can take care of things. He'll have to attend social events there, and not having a mistress is not going to work." His son was still young, with a bright future ahead of him, and he had to manage it well.
Shi Wenbing was still hesitant. After all, his stepmother had been dead for many years, and the family couldn't do without a proper imperial edict to support the family. Hua Shan waved his hand and said, "Even if the second son wants to marry, he has to wait for the imperial edict to come down. After the palace has screened them, there's no need to rush. Besides, your father is still at home waiting to be punished. He is confined to reflect on his mistakes, so he doesn't need to attend many social events. If something really happens, a few people in charge will be enough."
The matter was settled. At this time, Shujia didn't know that she had been decided to be packed up and taken on the road to see White Snake.
[1] I think the words in Ming Dynasty Events written by Mingyue Lord make a lot of sense.
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