There are wars everywhere

There are wars everywhere

"Son pays respects to mother!"

"You still remember to come back!"

As they asked and answered questions, the mother and son seemed to have returned to a few years ago.

Hongtong had returned from the Forbidden City. Ever since he was assigned the task of arranging the return of the imperial bannermen from the capital, he had rarely been able to stay in the capital for the past few years. It wasn't until this year, when things were almost back on track, that he could finally be considered to have returned. In this dynasty, it was not customary for vassal kings to remain outside the capital for long periods of time. Hongtong had gone out under the guise of an official mission, and now it was time for him to return to his proper place.

After returning, it was natural to visit my parents, brothers, relatives and friends, and also to get reacquainted with life in the capital. After being away from the border for so long, it was a little hard to adapt when I first came back.

Hongtong looked up at his mother. Though his hair had turned white, he seemed in good spirits, chatting and laughing with her even more cheerfully. Shujia, looking at her son, was filled with emotion. Hongtong had completely become a grown-up.

"I just met His Majesty. Father asked me to come and pay my respects to Mother. Seeing that Father and Mother are in good spirits, I am relieved. I also brought some old ginseng with me, just the right gift for you two."

"I won't ask where this ginseng comes from," Shujia scolded with a smile. Private ginseng digging is forbidden outside the Great Wall. Of course, given the market demand, it's bound to continue despite repeated prohibitions. With the return of the Beijing Bannermen, there are many people and many hands, so it's natural that some will engage in illegal activities. Compared to other behaviors, private ginseng digging is relatively less outrageous.

Hongtong is the prince in charge. If he doesn't have such high-quality local specialties as a tribute, Shujia would worry that her son would have a hard time and not even have anyone to please him.

Hongtong explained with a smile: "Father said the same thing. My son's ginseng came from a legitimate source. There are many people outside the Great Wall, and there are many such things. If someone goes into the mountains, do you know if he is picking mushrooms or ginseng? I will set up checkpoints to stop them, dig out the ginseng, but we can't digest it outside the Great Wall, so we have to bring it back! If we find it, we will confiscate it." Of course, there are also penalties such as fines and detention, and finally a new stable point has been found.

After many twists and turns, they finally got back to the main business.

"Just be aware of it yourself and don't overdo anything." Shujia said meaningfully and then asked about the situation outside the Great Wall.

Hong Tong was quite familiar with this aspect and gave a general introduction very readily - the saying that the harem is not allowed to interfere in politics is not applicable to Kunning Palace.

The returning bannermen of Beijing brought with them many non-banner laborers, but national policy remained in place to relax restrictions on movement beyond the Great Wall. Many Han Chinese went as hired servants, providing a vast supply of cheap labor. Specialized intermediary organizations even emerged.

For Chinese people, the term "yahang" (meaning "a yahang") is a familiar business, and "yapo" (meaning "a yapo") holds a special place among the gossipmongers. They act as intermediaries between buyers and sellers, often finding jobs. The yahang (meaning "a yahang") that emerged outside the Great Wall differed from those inland, primarily introducing people to farming rather than serving as servants.

The policy of restricting entry into areas outside the Great Wall was abolished, and it can be said that the mixed residence of Manchus and Han people was initially achieved.

Shujia didn't comment casually, and inquired about the others' situations. Qingde had finally secured a position as a military governor outside the Great Wall, but he couldn't return yet. The princes' heirs and eldest sons had already finished their gilding and returned to the capital to rest, and now it was their brothers' turn to reap the benefits.

When performance is key, it's easy to tell who's capable and willing to work, and who's slacking off while others are trying to get them to do the work. Yinreng selected many capable people and transferred them to positions within the Great Wall. Hongtong complained, "Just when I was starting to find someone I was already using, Khan Ama transferred them away, and now they're sending in a newbie," he whispered. "My uncle also said Khan Ama is really good at cheating people."

He came a little close, and Shujia frowned: "What's that strange smell?" It was very familiar and a little disgusting.

Hongtong smiled flatteringly: "My son is coming to see mother, so he must have taken a bath and changed his clothes. Mother, you must be disgusted with me." He began to cry fake tears.

Shujia slapped him in the face and said, "Stop being a jerk. Let me think about it."

Shit! I remember! It was the smell of cigarettes! "How did you get this kind of problem?"

Smoking was prohibited in the Qing Palace due to the presence of Emperor Kangxi. It's said that the old man suffered greatly from it. When Kangxi was young, he was raised by a poorly educated nanny who had a bad habit—smoking. Kangxi picked it up, and as he grew older, he realized the habit was bad, going from one extreme to another.

"So that's what it is," Hong Tong stepped back, "My son is just adapting to the local customs. Oh, don't be angry! There's a reason for this. There are more snakes in the deep mountains and old forests outside the Great Wall. If you encounter one, just knock out a little bit of oil from your pipe and the snakes will retreat. It's life-saving. Oh, it's true, many young ladies smoke too."

Shujia was skeptical, she had never known about this custom. She also said: "Even if the custom is true, is it necessary for you to go into the mountains and forests?" She slapped him hard.

Hong Tong laughed: "If you don't like it, son will just quit. We'll all be in Beijing from now on, so we won't need this anymore. Hehe."

At the moment, the British were not trafficking in opium and there was no need to destroy tobacco. Her son had become addicted to smoking, and although this was not the same kind of tobacco, it was enough to make Shujia stare.

Hongtong said, "Speaking of cigarettes," and looked at his mother's expression, "I heard that the cigarettes in Luzon are better?"

After building relationships, it was time to gather some intelligence. He was in Shengjing, and while he wasn't ignorant of the capital's news, it was still quite far away, so he naturally wanted to inquire about it upon his return. His mother, being in the political center, was no stranger to political affairs, so it was normal for him to ask about it casually.

Speaking of Luzon, Shujia's expression became very strange. The situation in Southeast Asia was really shocking.

The court officials had only recently come to understand that, although both Luzon and Java were in Southeast Asia, they were distinct. It was the Spanish, not the Dutch, who occupied Luzon, while Java was Dutch territory. Shujia carefully examined the globe and discovered a significant fact: Luzon was what would later become the Philippines, and Java was what would later become Indonesia.

Luzon is closer to China, while Java is a little further away.

Nian Gengyao, how come you...while attacking Java, you also bullied Luzon?

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The fleet needed supplies. In the days of underdeveloped navigation, a direct route to Indonesia was difficult, and a place to rest and recuperate was necessary. This place was Luzon. Luzon was rich in resources, and the Spanish were much more docile at the time. Even Nian Gengyao couldn't easily move into Luzon, a place he hadn't provoked. He simply chose a port there to resupply.

The Spanish have a complex relationship with both China and the Netherlands. While they may be fellow countrymen, the Dutch are not as close as they seem, yet the scale of Dutch trade with China makes them somewhat uncomfortable. Furthermore, the Dutch's larger territory creates a complex relationship for the Spanish. This is compounded by subtle religious differences between the two nations.

The Spaniards had no idea what China was like, how big the country was, or what else was worth noting besides silk and porcelain. They had no idea at all.

After much thought, I decided to remain neutral.

Seeing the two sides at war, he was happy to play the good guy and, by the way, get to know China. At that time, the Netherlands was a major power in Europe, and a powerful country. A country that could compete with the Netherlands was indeed worth engaging with. When he heard that the British were also going to get involved, the Spanish really got angry.

During the First World War in Europe, you launched a despicable sneak attack and then snatched colonies from us. Now you want to get involved in Asia? At this time, European countries relied heavily on colonies for survival. The amount of territory they controlled was related to the abundance of their food, so they had to pay close attention to it.

At this time, various European powers were entangled in Southeast Asia. They were unfamiliar with China, and their impression was limited to this Far Eastern country's luxury goods such as tea, silk, and porcelain. However, they were very familiar with the Netherlands, and they generally wanted to understand China because of the Netherlands.

Some countries, such as France, had inherent advantages, having sent numerous missionaries to China. While some understanding of China was tinged with bias, it was nonetheless a much deeper understanding. France and Britain were historical rivals, a relationship that only began to thaw after World War I. Both countries maintained trading outposts in India, and if one moved, the other would quickly learn of the situation.

In a sense, the capital became lively because of them.

The first stop for foreigners entering China was Guangzhou, where Nian Gengyao was a difficult person to deal with. Initially, Nian Gengyao imprisoned many foreigners, fearing they might be spies. He eventually learned that these foreigners weren't all "envoys," but also merchants. As a scholar influenced by the idea of ​​a "Celestial Empire," Nian Gengyao's favorable impression of these barbarians quickly declined.

The war with the Netherlands had reached a stalemate, and thanks to his position as the top official in Guangdong and Guangxi, he was able to hold on despite the tight situation. He was also very resilient, determined to hold on even at the cost of his life – if he really couldn't hold on now, he would be doomed!

He had hoped to take this opportunity to test the Dutch's strength, but he didn't expect these people to bring such a wide variety of information, all sorts of news, it was hard to tell whether it was true or false. They were simply there to "stir up trouble," and Nian Gengyao's anger was rising. Some of these envoys were semi-official, such as some missionaries. Nian Gengyao sent them to the capital after a short period of etiquette training, and the rest were all expelled.

Regardless, the exchanges between the East and the West increased, which also posed a great challenge to the court officials.

The arrival of so-called "envoys" from several countries at once is a matter of honor, and we must welcome them. In the past, they were mostly missionaries, but now they are "envoys" from other countries, and we must demonstrate the demeanor of a great power.

To many court officials, Europeans were either red-haired or yellow-haired. Unlike us, they had many nations, presumably small, like the Thirty-Six Kingdoms of the Western Regions during the Han Dynasty (a not-so-outrageous guess). The only difference between these peoples was their titles, and court officials didn't have much concrete understanding of them.

At first, it was just a few missionaries, and even though they were treated with respect, the impact wasn't that big, after all, their numbers weren't that large. Now people from so many countries have come, and it's impossible not to pay some attention to them.

Then, things got really serious: What the hell are these barbarians speaking?! I couldn't understand them! Of course, there were some who could speak Chinese, but their accents were bizarre and completely incomprehensible! Fortunately, there were missionaries, who spoke several languages, who finally came to the rescue. For a time, the missionaries became famous.

Thanks to his basic foreign language skills, Yunlu finally landed a respectable position. He straightened his back and sagged his belly—well, his belly wasn't sagged at all—but he looked quite energetic. Someone in the court also petitioned, "With our growing international influence, shouldn't we recruit some talented people who speak Western languages? If we can't find any, we can train them!" In the past, when we had limited contact, it was fine to use missionaries, but now relying solely on them is a bit unreasonable.

The same old tune is being repeated here. Those who want to impeach Nian Gengyao believe that his reckless actions have caused bad international impact. Look, these foreigners have sent people to watch the fun and protest.

Anyway, the capital is in chaos.

What comforted Shujia most about these Western envoys' arrival in Beijing was the word "colony" they heard in a distorted translation. Since Dutch envoys also arrived, and the local custom of not killing invaders during a war, they were allowed to speak for themselves. The Nanyang issue inevitably involved a debate over the ownership of the Southeast Asian nations. China, of course, claimed they were vassal states, while the other side would claim they were their territory.

Other countries also got involved, making it a real popular science event on world geography and the latest global situation.

This was a shocking blow to the mind. The Celestial Empire disdained those who, upon becoming powerful, would resort to arbitrary violence. Although it had done so before, it was often done for the sake of prestige and to gain submission. As long as you persuaded them and offered them a few horses as tribute each year, they would be satisfied. Taxes and labor service imposed on ethnic minorities had always been less than those imposed on registered citizens.

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Hongtong was surprised to hear about the mess and asked, "How could it be so chaotic?"

"That's right. It's not easy to sort it out." Shujia agreed. In order to sort out the logic here, she made some noises, and Yinreng agreed to select a few scribes to learn foreign languages.

Hongtong was shocked. "Thank goodness Khan Ama didn't ask me these questions, otherwise I would have made a fool of myself. When I go see my third brother, I must ask him for advice." He had already made up his mind. From his mother's tone, it seemed that she was optimistic about the situation in Nanyang.

In fact, the matter had become so serious that if Nian Gengyao had not had support from above, he would not have been able to persist and would have been impeached long ago. If Nian had been less fortunate, he might have been sent back to the village. Hongtong might have met the governor in his own residence in Shengjing.

Hongtong knew the country was short of money, and he also knew that Nian Gengyao had sent several ships of copper back to the country. He wouldn't let go of the copper just for the profit. He probably wouldn't let go of the copper, either.

Hongtong was certain the war would continue, but...it would likely be limited to Guangdong and Guangxi vying for control of Southeast Asia. Nian Gengyao could only sustain the war by fighting to support the war. He would turn over part of the loot to the central government in exchange for support, and use the rest to arm his army, so he could continue looting! He certainly did this, as the central government didn't allocate much money, so he simply acted according to his own convenience.

Hongtong touched his chin, and he already knew what to say when he met Hongdan later.

In his eyes, Nian Gengyao's behavior was understandable. Everyone was almost driven to death by money! As long as he had a little more money, he would think: the Dzungar Khanate is still there, and there might be another war at any time. His joy turned into melancholy.

Upon meeting Hongdan, he was first comforted for his hard work, and then the brothers discussed government affairs and exchanged opinions. Hongdan very frankly put the population problem on the table and shared it with his brother. Hongtong's eyes widened: "Why not deal with Nian Gengyao? Is there such a reason?"

"I've heard of colonies," Hong Dan said thoughtfully. "That's a good idea," he added, adding, "It's essentially about reclaiming wasteland. If you turn unowned wasteland into cultivated fields, the government will exempt you from taxes for five years. But this time the wasteland is a little far away..."

His third brother is also very good at deceiving people, Hongtong thought.

Think of it as finding a place to store excess population. Even if it's not yours and you don't get any profit from it, just because it alleviates the local population pressure and helps prevent the collapse of local rule is worth it. Besides, you haven't lost money yet, and there's still money to be made! This is Hongdan's thinking.

The two brothers who were discussing the issue did not know that their father did not despise Nanyang, but his focus was still on the northwest - Junggar. For Yinreng, Nanyang was a minor problem, while Junggar was a major threat to his brothers.

For this reason, his beloved daughter, Wu Yunzhu, had no choice but to marry a Mongolian man, the son of his sister, the Sixth Princess. Yinreng had already decided to arrange grassland pastures for the Sixth Prince Consort, giving him territory on the grasslands to govern the area. Of course, this pasture would eventually belong to his daughter and son-in-law.

At the same time, there were differences within the Dzungar Khanate regarding the Qing policies. Daze Lingdun Duobu, who had fought against the Qing army for many years and had caused them a lot of trouble, believed that they should live in harmony with the Qing court and tried hard to persuade the Dzungar nobles to accept his ideas.

This was his defining characteristic: a knack for strategy and a keen eye for the situation. After Tsewang Arabtan's death, Galdan Tseren succeeded him and again invaded the border twice. Da Ce Ling was ordered to lead the expedition, but he failed to win twice. Including the battles against Galdan and Tsewang Arabtan, that's seven battles without gaining a single advantage. Why would he continue? Da Ce Ling didn't want to be either Zhuge Liang or Jiang Wei. Six expeditions to Qishan and nine campaigns into the Central Plains, all without success, wasn't his style.

If you can't conquer the country, then make peace. At least, the imperial court is tolerant of the Mongols who are willing to cooperate.

This is really a "good news" that makes people laugh and cry.

Non-mainstream Qing wear forced to prepare for war

"Master, there's a letter from Beijing." A neatly dressed middle-aged man walked over.

Nian Gengyao sat still, saying calmly, "Leave it there."

The middle-aged man with the beard of a bad lawyer carefully held the letter in his hand and gently placed it on Nian Gengyao's desk. Then he lowered his hand and backed out of the study.

Seeing that his trusted butler had left, Nian Gengyao, who had been suppressing himself, hurriedly reached out to take the letter. Without bothering to use a paper cutter to open the envelope, he directly tore open the seal.

On the surface, Nian Gengyao seemed to be enjoying a period of high spirits, having escaped punishment for having brought up such a serious matter. Furthermore, his father and brother were high-ranking officials, and his family was connected to Prince Jian's palace, giving him connections both inside and outside the palace. He had also done a good job in implementing the New Deal, and as long as he could resolve this matter, he would have nothing to worry about.

Only Nian Gengyao himself knew that all this was based on the emperor's favor. The emperor would not "favor" you for no reason. There was a reason for protecting you. Of course, Nian Gengyao felt that he was worthy of the emperor's "favor", but he was not satisfied with this. His desire for victory was even deeper.

He knew the emperor needed money, and he needed him, too. He also felt that the ministers were nothing to fear. However, his pride wouldn't let him hesitate; he had to prove his worth.

Reason told him that as long as he won this battle, he would be able to shut everyone up. If he had an unexpected gain, his future would be bright.

However, after a period of stalemate with the Dutch, he was defeated! This made him anxious. No matter how proud he was of his talent, he couldn't ignore the reality of failure. If he dared to lose again, he would have no future.

He had previously complained that the emperor was far away, preventing him from quickly and fully demonstrating his achievements in the south to the emperor. Now, he should be thankful that, with the emperor's distance, this defeat could be easily concealed. Governor Nian was now considered one of the most knowledgeable people in the country about foreign countries. At least he knew that these "barbarians" were not easy to deal with. Relying solely on the strength of two provinces, not particularly developed ones at that, would present a considerable challenge.

These foreign navies are truly skilled, having always made their living at sea. Meanwhile, the Celestial Empire, a land of great importance, hadn't lifted its maritime restrictions for a long time? While it wasn't a complete ban on trade at the moment, it wasn't strongly supported either. Failure to encourage overseas trade meant fewer Chinese sailors, fewer skilled seafarers, and a shrinking navy. A surprise attack might have been a win, but once they realized what was happening, Nian Gengyao would be in for a tough time.

If he is to be in charge of the overall planning, it would be best if the whole country would pay attention to the matter he cares about.

Is it possible?

Of course not. The country's current focus is still on the northwest, or the sometimes good and sometimes bad Junggar. Even if Nian Gengyao wanted to devote the entire country to solving the problem of Southeast Asia and demonstrate his own ability, he would have to admit that the northwest is important, even more important than Southeast Asia.

Fighting a war is more about logistics, Nian Gengyao thought bitterly.

The Imperial Navy was far behind in terms of naval warfare methods and specific techniques employed. You could improve your soldiers' physical fitness through drills, prevent seasickness through exercise, and even select generals with a knack for military strategy, but you couldn't teach them actual combat experience; that could only be acquired through battle after battle.

Many of these Westerners were armed merchants, many of them pirates! Accustomed to the seas, they were no strangers to pure naval warfare. What they lacked most was experience. It was said that the people there had been swarming like madmen, rushing to the sea like moths to a flame for decades, even centuries! Countless generations of experience!

Nian Gengyao was deeply depressed, and had to be. Even more worrying was the uncertainty of his term, the uncertainty of how many more years he could remain as Governor-General of Guangdong and Guangxi. Warfare at sea was more affected by climate, geography, and the marine environment. Fleet movement was more cumbersome than ground forces, and combat cycles were longer. If he were suddenly transferred before a major victory, the situation in Guangdong and Guangxi would be exposed. His successor would certainly not want to take the blame for him and would report it to higher authorities, which would be disastrous.

Even more frightening is that Western envoys have already arrived in Beijing! We don't know if they have any connections with Southeast Asia. Although we're keeping a close eye on them, we can't rule out the possibility that they might have some means of learning about the situation in Southeast Asia. If the envoys in Beijing learn of this, they might reveal it during an audience with the emperor or leak it to the Lifanyuan or other authorities...

Nian Gengyao couldn't help but shudder. That was bad!

The news from the capital was particularly important. Nian Gengyao's hands trembled slightly as he opened the letter and took a deep breath. The letter was from Yarjiang'a, and it brought him good news—the Western envoys had still not been able to see the emperor due to protocol issues. Different countries have different customs, let alone two countries half a world apart with completely different cultures and cultures.

In the Celestial Empire, three kneelings and nine kowtows are standard etiquette for meeting a foreigner. This tradition is completely absent in Europe, where people kneel before the cross. Furthermore, according to our dynasty, all foreigners are considered "vassal states" who must pay tribute. However, Europeans view this differently, treating them as equals in negotiations and treaties. Perhaps, in their eyes, you are the uncivilized barbarians.

The two sides argued enthusiastically over the issue of etiquette. Not only the Dutch, but also envoys from Britain and other countries were stranded in the capital. Some people in the capital had already suggested that these strange-looking guys had stayed in the capital for too long and were detrimental to morals. Should they be asked to go home?

Seeing this, Nian Gengyao finally smiled. Going back was good, very good. Up until this point, he'd been angry and nervous, but he'd never regretted it. If he could go back in time, even knowing the current difficult situation, he'd still take this path. Making him swallow his anger was more painful than killing him!

Continuing on, Yarjiang'a recounted the Westerners' demands in an indescribable tone. It was said that the British were demanding trade and establishing a trading post, stating that it didn't matter if China didn't trade with the Dutch. They came, of course, to request certain tariff concessions and a designated area in China for their settlement, and if possible, to establish an embassy. The Spanish also seized the opportunity to get involved. The French, not to be outdone, also expressed a friendly attitude.

The Celestial Empire is rich in resources, so who cares about you? This is the view of many people. Nian Gengyao's ideas are not so conservative. He thinks that there are things worth learning from Westerners. This is also thanks to his defeat by the Dutch. Otherwise, Governor-General Nian would not have looked at these guys in the eye.

Nian Gengyao frowned again. Something was amiss! These guys' demands were so excessive, they were taking themselves too seriously, yet the court hadn't driven them away yet!

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The Western envoys were allowed to stay in the capital, thanks to the Empress and the Crown Prince. Shujia wanted the court to have more contact with European countries, broaden their horizons, and understand the world, so as not to become increasingly isolated. Hongdan, on the other hand, wanted to learn more about colonial operations through the Western envoys' conversations. He also had a grand plan in mind.

European nations, so far from the South Seas, were able to "colonize" them, even, it was said, reaching another continent. Hong Danba, wielding his newly acquired globe (given by missionaries, after hearing about the Crown Prince's interest in geography), gestured at the distance. Far, far away, yet the South Seas seemed so close.

The royal family at that time was still very knowledgeable. Hongdan felt that with the country's navigation level, it was impossible to reach such a distant place, but Nanyang... Nanyang... could still accommodate many people. The further south you go, the richer the products will be. Lingnan already has three-season rice, what about Nanyang?

This deal is quite good.

As for commercial dealings with European nations, Hongdan, while disdainful, also took them seriously. At least he knew the profits were lucrative, and his country was short on cash. But there was no need to carve out territory for the Europeans. Once you're here, you'll be my vassal states, free to go wherever you want. Why carve out territory?!

Hongdan would never let go of Nanyang. Coincidentally, the situation in the northwest was improving. Ever since the imperial court appointed Yue Zhongqi, the situation in the northwest had been getting better day by day. The Junggar invaded repeatedly. The first time, Fu Erdan was sent to cooperate with Yue Zhongqi to repel the enemy, but later, Yue Zhongqi was used alone. It must be admitted that fighting a war also depends on talent. Yue Zhongqi seemed born to fight, and to win.

It seemed the northwest would become increasingly peaceful. Hongdan gazed into the distance, pointing to a place south of Qiongzhou on the globe, lost in thought: Should I make another suggestion to Khan Ama? Give Nian Gengyao some support, or let him control the navies of Fujian and Guangdong?

His Khan's father's eyes remained on the northwest. After another invasion was repelled, Galdan Tseren finally sued for peace, requesting permission to enter Tibet to make tea. Yinreng readily agreed. However, both sides knew that the war would continue unless one side was annihilated.

Yue Zhongqi was enough to handle the current situation, but if another war was to happen, more preparations were needed. Yinreng was like a squirrel preparing for winter, desperately trying to drag pine cones into its tree hole. Squirrels actually stockpile a lot of winter food every year, so much so that after spring arrives, they often forget they've even stored some. Yinreng was in the state of a winter squirrel, compulsively saving money, afraid of running out of money.

He knew about Western affairs. Since he was the Crown Prince, a large portion of the East Palace's living expenses came from Westerners. He was no stranger to these economic theories. In fact, any qualified emperor would be familiar with the idea of ​​making money. He thought to himself, these guys are really obsessed with money, and then he sneered, "Am I not the same?"

After making fun of himself, he put the matter aside. Yinreng did not ignore these Westerners, but he did not pay enough attention to them either. He regarded them more as businessmen. For a country to send people to discuss business matters seemed petty no matter how you looked at it.

This idea was ridiculed by his wife. Shujia was rarely involved in state affairs, and those few times she was in charge of government almost all involved domestic affairs. Therefore, she was less influenced by the dynasty's foreign policy, and her impression of the behavior patterns between countries was formed before she traveled through time.

She told Yinreng with great contempt, "You are bumpy:" "This is a big deal. A penny can make a hero fall, and this is true for people and for the country. Aren't we worried about money right now? Isn't the purpose of a country to ensure that the people live a good life and the country is stable? From this point of view, there is nothing wrong with what they did. In my opinion, letting everyone live a good life is more noble than talking about profit all day long."

The Empress, with only a superficial understanding of political economy, lectured the Emperor, her speech haltingly, but she clearly explained the concepts of surplus and deficit to Yinreng in very simple terms. Well, she didn't really understand the more complex descriptions. "Anyway, their silver is flowing into our country, so we shouldn't refuse it."

"Besides, Confucius also said that a gentleman loves money but obtains it in a proper way. It shows that a gentleman is not against profit. As long as it is obtained in a proper way, why not? In the past, we were afraid that farmers would abandon farming to engage in business, but now, more and more people are doing this."

Yinreng was torn into two by his wife's nagging. In the traditional education he received, of course, etiquette and integrity were important, but after decades of handling state affairs, he was very familiar with the mundane affairs. He had talked about taxes and fees for decades, and he was not the kind of person who would cover his ears when he heard about this.

Under the clash of the two ideas, Yinreng was entangled: "It is difficult to have both in this world!"

"Then let's do both at once." Shujia wasn't at all embarrassed by this. Haven't you seen how many heads of state, during meetings, talk about the everlasting friendship between their countries, only to turn around and start a war? I say, you're a politician after all, aren't you? You're playing the innocent game again!

By the way, when it comes to handling international relations, many Chinese people often play the game of innocence. They're clearly political veterans, capable of destroying an entire family in domestic politics and willing to resort to any despicable means, but when it comes to so-called "international friends," they're more innocent than Sha Gen!

After much hesitation, Yinreng still couldn't let go of his pride and said that if the European envoys didn't follow the etiquette of the Celestial Empire, he would not receive them. At the same time, he said: "Tell them to talk to Ma Qi and others."

Ultimately, for a cash-strapped emperor, it was the profits that moved him. Shujia was speechless. With Ma Qi's status, Europeans would probably mistake him for prime minister. Yinreng had already put this aside. In his view, Westerners were nothing to be feared. He had some understanding of Western countries, mostly through missionaries. Missionaries were not your subjects. They had their own countries, so how could they tell you everything?

When Gengyao's memorial arrived at the desk, Yinreng was already thinking about other things: the return of the Beijing bannermen to the settlement was already the third batch, and the grain reserves outside the Great Wall were gradually increasing. He no longer had to worry about the lives of the returning bannermen, so the money and grain issued to them could continue to be discounted by 30%.

What came was a secret memorial. Yinreng thought to himself: Nian Gengyao is really cautious. It must be about Java again. Is such a thing worth using a secret memorial?

When he opened it, his expression twisted!

Nian Gengyao pondered over it, feeling something was amiss. Though conceited, he was no fool; he knew that anything out of the ordinary was a demon. The Westerners were causing such a commotion in Beijing, yet they hadn't been driven away. Fearing a conspiracy, he gritted his teeth and decided to confess—I'd lost, I apologized, and I asked for help.

There were also different ways to write a memorial of apology. In it, Nian Gengyao wept bitterly, saying he had failed the emperor and the people, betraying the emperor's grace and causing the people to suffer. He then said that the Westerners were not so easy to defeat. Their previous victories were due to catching them off guard, but now they were fully prepared, making it difficult for us to deal with them. They were experienced, while our navy had neglected its preparations since taking Taiwan. Furthermore, the fleet they sent was massive, while we had only a few. They had strong ships and powerful guns, with dozens of cannons mounted on each side. They were incredibly formidable, while our equipment was inferior.

He wept bitterly again, saying that he accepted all the punishments, but the emperor had to "save the people from their plight." There were tens of thousands of Chinese in Java, most of whom were innocent citizens from the mainland, illegally brought there to work as laborers. He persisted, refusing to retreat despite his defeat, because he didn't want to abandon these people.

Finally, he said that he would not give up. As long as the court gave him some support, he would make Nanyang as safe as an iron barrel.

Yinreng wanted to curse! This time, war was inevitable! He had just thought that the northwest would be pacified and the country's military expenditure could be reduced!

The arrival of Western envoys in Beijing had little impact on the court's decision-making. At this time, those who still considered themselves the Celestial Empire paid little attention to these smaller nations. Yinreng continued to pursue his plans. Nian Gengyao controlled the situation in Southeast Asia, and he had already swallowed up Java and would not give it up. It was even unclear whether it was Yinreng's intention or Nian Gengyao's own decision, but Java was already "reformed into a state of Han Chinese" on the grounds that the original indigenous king had died out. Yinreng could be considered a monarch who had "made great contributions to the expansion of territory" and even offered sacrifices to the Taimiao. The arrival of Western envoys did not change his schedule at all.

The sacrifices were made to the Taimiao, and there was not much opposition in the court. Wasn't that place a vassal state of the Celestial Empire in history?

Now they've been defeated again, humiliated. For the sake of face, they have to show some respect. But Nian Gengyao's memorial also mentioned that civilians were being taken away (a common practice among weak states, such as the Song Dynasty), and that, according to reports, during the late Ming Dynasty, the navy dispatched a massive fleet to suppress the Nanyang situation, ultimately winning the battle and demonstrating national prestige.

Yinreng cursed inwardly, mentally cursing Nian Gengyao's eighteen generations of ancestors, then angrily summoned all the kings and ministers to discuss the matter: "Nian Gengyao did the right thing. The country will not abandon a single citizen in exile."

The princes and ministers, observing Yinreng's sullen expression, tactfully continued his words. Having been deeply assimilated into the Han culture, they were more receptive to the idea of ​​defending the territory and ensuring the safety of the people. If you say you're expanding territory for military gain, opposition will rise. If you say it's to maintain national dignity or to rescue the kidnapped people, then even if you're not happy about it, you'll have to express your approval.

No one said anything. Didn't I say before that Nian Gengyao would get into trouble if he did this? Meanwhile, another voice rang out: "Are Westerners really that powerful? Even though the navy is poorly trained, they shouldn't be defeated, right?"

They really are that powerful! Yinreng threw down the memorial: "Look for yourselves, I once sent people to investigate," rubbing his brow, "I only know that the land is rich in resources, and at that time it was said that the military strength there was not strong. Nian Gengyao reported that the Dutch had increased their troops, and that Java's troops were indeed small before, so they had such a victory."

The kings and ministers did not dare to express their opinions rashly. It seemed that the emperor intended to fight a war, but no one was familiar with naval warfare. "Everything was reported by Nian Gengyao. He claimed victory and defeat, and he claimed the enemy was weak and the enemy was strong. I think we should send someone to investigate thoroughly. Raising an army is no small matter and the cost is enormous. We should not act rashly."

Hongdan clenched his fists in his sleeves, his palms damp. He was torn between a desire to conquer Southeast Asia—ideally, even Luzon, a historical vassal state—and a fear of war. For the Chinese, naval warfare was unfamiliar, while land warfare was more familiar and instilled with confidence.

Suddenly, Yinreng asked, "What does the Crown Prince think?"

Hong Dan clenched his fists and made up his mind, "We must fight," he paused, "but even if we fight again, we cannot lose."

The next step was set: first, gather intelligence, then build warships and mobilize naval forces from all regions for battle preparations. Meanwhile, "treat the Western envoys well. Keep them from wandering around, prevent them from gathering any information, and prevent them from connecting with others..."

Yinreng finally sighed: "It's a pity that Dai Zi is dead!" Naval battles require long-range attack weapons more than land battles, but Dai Zi, the country's top firearms expert, is dead.

The author has something to say: My feet were blistered, and I only had a hamburger for dinner. I didn’t get back to the dormitory until half past ten.

TT, group activities are too painful!

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Non-mainstream Qing dynasty wear some happy some sad

From Yinreng on down, everyone in the central government was in a state of panic. The northwest had finally calmed down a bit, and before they could even enjoy the peaceful, united, harmonious atmosphere, the southeast erupted again. And it was a slap in the face from Westerners, who they had always taken lightly. It was strange that they could feel better!

At this time, China was not as isolated as later generations, and its understanding of foreign countries was relatively simple. Moreover, China was willing to learn a little about Western civilization. From weapons to clocks to mathematics to geography, at least the current imperial court had a relatively open attitude towards Western civilization.

They were willing to accept missionaries, learn some new geographical knowledge, and even accept some missionaries to serve the court. Yinreng and others thought they were being tolerant enough. After all, it was the Vatican that was provoking them. Even after the Vatican made rude demands, the Qing court still allowed those missionaries who were willing to seek common ground while reserving differences and not to interfere in China's affairs to stay in China. Isn't that quite open-minded?

Now, this openness has been replaced by anger!

The problem lay with the European envoys. They arrived in Beijing, but due to unresolved protocol issues, they were unable to see the emperor. Their letters of credence received no response, and while the Lifanyuan officials accompanied them all day, they were not allowed to wander around.

Bored to death, they had no choice but to communicate more with the missionaries who acted as translators. They also had their own translators, although their Chinese was not very good, but if there was an excuse to communicate more with missionaries who understood Chinese affairs, they would never waste such a good opportunity.

The more they communicated, the more they learned. The Qing court was not very wary of missionaries. Many missionaries also served in the inner and outer courts and knew more. The Qing court also used missionaries to help with map surveying and negotiations with Russia. (During the negotiations, the missionaries were not solely for the Qing court and had many secret contacts with the Russians, but the Qing court was unaware of it.)

Through these missionaries, the envoys learned that the Qing court's official name for them was extremely insulting: "barbarians." Damn! We're already giving you Tatars a face by not calling them barbarians, and yet you still look down on us!

You see, when people look down on each other, conflicts arise.

However, this is a massive market, with a population larger than the entirety of Europe combined. Thinking of the potential business opportunities within this population makes me drool even in my dreams. The thought, "If only everyone bought a nightcap, then..." doesn't exist in anyone's head.

However, since they were official envoys between states, they had to be careful with some of the arguments. For example, they were told not to use insulting terms. To the European envoys, their demands were entirely legitimate. They also knew that this regime had a history of bluffing and showing off, and preferential treatment for envoys was a habit. Furthermore, for various reasons, the current government was even more thorough.

So these people formally submitted a letter of protest.

Yinreng, who had placed the protest letter on his desk, looked extremely unhappy. A man who cared about his reputation certainly couldn't stand being slapped in the face. It was impossible for him to admit that others were his equals!

Most importantly, how did these foreigners come up with this? For years, even Mongolia was a "vassal state," and the Lifanyuan was there for fun. Why did this cause trouble when it came to Westerners? Weren't they discussing etiquette for the reception? Why did they bring up the question of address?

The missionaries were the translators, so they naturally wouldn't claim to have leaked the information. Yinreng investigated, but when he couldn't find a solution, he became suspicious. Fortunately, some of the Southeast Asian Chinese merchants sent by Nian Gengyao knew some foreign languages, and Yinreng put them to good use.

The Chinese people were hardworking, brave, kind, and intelligent. Faced with the choice between following the imperial court and following the barbarians, they resolutely chose to follow the imperial court. Whether from a reputational or a profitable perspective, the imperial court was a powerful backer, wasn't it? Greater China's inherent sense of superiority hadn't yet been eroded much, and the outcome was self-evident.

Suddenly, merchants were given official status and sent to the Lifanyuan to assist. This sudden honor made the Nanyang merchants even more proud, believing that working with the imperial court offered a promising future. With their participation, foreign affairs were significantly altered.

For example, they discovered that missionaries were leaking intelligence to Western envoys. They were also more familiar with foreign countries than the imperial court, and understood their operating mechanisms better. Previously, they had harbored some rebellious tendencies, but now that they were officially civil servants, they naturally had to strive to improve themselves and serve the country.

In Chinese culture, being an official is the most prestigious achievement, no matter what. Chinese businessmen, influenced by this mindset, naturally strive for the opportunity now presented to them. With a family background, engaging in business is considered less respectable, and one can rely on relatives or servants to act as agents. The higher and more prestigious one's official position, the easier it is to conduct business, and the more money one can earn.

They knew very well how much profit there was in foreign trade. If the imperial court got tired of Westerners and they made some meritorious contributions, they might be able to take over this business. How much profit would that be?

They worked hard, often claiming to have "heard" news. Much of this information was already known in Southeast Asia, but they were unwilling to report it all to the court at once. In the past, they had only reported on some of the Southeast Asian products, but now they were really getting serious about it.

As this report was placed on the desk, Yinreng's temper became worse and worse.

He picked up a document that was obviously written by a ghostwriter. It said that it was actually a group of merchants who declared war on the court. The Dutch government authorized the merchants to do this and that.

He then picked up another memorial, also written by a consultant, which said that many missionaries were not good people and had betrayed the court's trust. Otherwise, how would Western envoys know how to address them in Beijing without being able to communicate in the same language? Oh, yes, I heard that missionaries also interfered in the negotiations with the Russians. Because the Chinese people didn't understand foreign languages, they favored the Russians. Otherwise, we wouldn't have to give up so much land. This memorial was more professional. To be honest, when dealing with Westerners, don't mention gentlemanly manners. If you are, you will suffer losses. They will think you are easy to bully. (The implication is that bargaining is the most practical way. Of course, we are businessmen and are very good at it. The emperor can leave it to us - this is a letter from a businessman who wanted to pursue a career in government.)

Should one trust his own people or foreigners? This choice was not difficult, but the nature of the Manchu regime made Yinreng reserved about the so-called common people. On the contrary, he had more contact with missionaries, who, at least on the surface, gave people a very friendly feeling.

I rubbed my chin. The second memorial made such a logical sense: few Chinese people knew foreign languages, so how could anyone communicate freely with Western envoys? The answer was obvious.

A feeling of betrayal welled up in his heart! That little bit of territory, well, to be honest, he didn't particularly care about it; he could also make some concessions on the small profits from trade with Westerners. But the nature of the matter was really too bad!

Yinreng sullenly ordered, "All missionaries are forbidden to move about without permission." He wondered, how many state secrets did these yellow-haired men know? The thought brought a cold sweat to his face. At least, when it came to foreign affairs, dealing with Western affairs, they were almost entirely entrusted with their responsibility! And so far, it seemed the missionaries had no desire to be civilized, treating them like courtiers.

The last sentence is fatal!

They can no longer be used, but it is not easy to fill this gap.

To this end, Yinreng convened a special meeting, which was worth remembering because it was the first time that the country placed Western affairs at a relatively high position and took them seriously.

The kings and ministers circulated the memorial, each filled with righteous indignation. The emperor could hear him lashing out in anger, "Since Emperor Taizu, the court has shown great trust in missionaries. Yet they have done such an ungrateful thing! They are not of our race, so their hearts must be different!"

Although the Qing court was extremely averse to terms like "barbarian" and "barbarian barbarians," and felt somewhat embarrassed by being called such names, they were absolutely unequivocal in using these terms to insult even more barbaric Westerners and Easterners. They felt quite comfortable cursing them, and suddenly, they too felt very Chinese. But such opportunities were so rare! Now that they caught one, they cursed them to the point of spitting out their mouths, yet they still couldn't get enough.

It was so difficult. This was the feeling the Qing court needed most, but unfortunately, it could never find it. The underlying reason for forcing people to change their attire, such as shaving their heads or changing their clothes, was not pride but inferiority. They longed for this kind of civilization and for recognition.

It's just that the pie that fell from the sky was too big to handle properly at the beginning, and it was too difficult to get off the tiger, so they had to continue. If they were really so proud, why would they imitate the occupied people in every way? The Bannermen now also take pride in reading, love to sing and dance, and read the books of sages.

A group of "aliens" were cursing "barbarians" in the Forbidden City. This scene was so hilarious!

——————————————————————————————————————————

"Is that so?" Shujia looked at Yinreng in surprise, unable to believe her ears.

She once again witnessed the less conservative side of the dynasty's early foreign relations. The country has surprisingly become increasingly closed-minded in its foreign relations. This isn't because later generations have become more open-minded than their predecessors. Rather, it's a matter of national strength. The stronger and more confident a country becomes, the more open it becomes. This has been true throughout history, both in China and abroad.

Now, Yinreng actually proposed to set up a special department under the Lifanyuan to deal with Western countries - to use local people as translators, to be in charge of all affairs, and to train foreign language talents?

You might as well set up a Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

it's out of the question!

The Celestial Empire has never regarded Western countries as equal opponents. Now that it can give them a position in the Lifanyuan to deal with you, it at least looks at you in the right light, right?

This is good, at least it's the beginning of direct contact.

Seeing the surprised expression, Yinreng himself was also uneasy. This was the first time for him to look at a country in this light. He was lucky and had never encountered any hostile "countries". At most, there was Russia, but it was beaten into submission. The Junggar were not regarded as a formal country, but were incorporated into Mongolia.

Now a large number of "countries" have suddenly emerged, and each of them is acting as an equal. He can't even grasp their edge. One of them, the Netherlands, has even defeated his navy, leaving his people feeling helpless.

The impact is huge!

At the same time, Yinreng also vaguely felt that he seemed to have found a way, a way to true unity of Manchus and Han people, or to become the true common ruler of the world and make everyone truly love him.

If he told Shujia this idea, Shujia would definitely react: the law of contradiction.

According to the theory of a bearded old man, contradictions are divided into major contradictions and minor contradictions. If a new and more serious contradiction emerges, it can suppress the old contradiction.

But Yinreng hadn't yet sorted out his thoughts, so he didn't say anything. Instead, he talked about another matter that made his wife stamp her feet: "It's time to finalize Wu Yunzhu's marriage."

Shujia was indeed more concerned about her own children: "What do you mean? You... still want her to marry far away?" An anxious look appeared on her face.

Yinreng had clearly been thinking about this for a long time, and now he spoke in a coherent manner: "What is near, and what is far? Chenggunzabu is a good child. Parents should consider their children's long-term future. If we want our daughter to live a good life, her husband must be a promising man, and his family must have rules. Few of these children can compare to Chenggunzabu. You know the character of the Sixth Prince Consort. There won't be any messes in their family."

Shujia's face didn't look very good. If the shadow of inbreeding had been dispelled by a few incidents, then sending her daughter, whom she had pampered for more than ten or twenty years, to a place with completely different living habits became a source of worry for her.

Yinreng had already put forward his second reason: "I know you can't bear to part with her, and I can't bear to part with her either. Her sisters can marry out of state, so can she."

Shujia opened her mouth and finally said, "I just can't bear it. We have such a daughter, and she has to marry far away. It's okay that we don't see her a few times a year. No daughter would go back to her parents' home often. But... she is so far away. If something really happens to her, we can't even reach her. How can you bear it?" It's obvious that I am biased!

Yinreng had no choice but to use his trump card: "We only have this one daughter. You know her, don't I know her too? Judging from her temper, she has a high mind. Even in the capital, even if she is a Princess Gulun, no one dares to offend her. I'm afraid she won't be happy."

This startled Shujia, who suddenly realized that she hadn't limited her daughter's upbringing to "younger daughters." Who would want her to be short-sighted if it meant she could be better educated? Her daughter was born to roam in this world of power; she couldn't do without some political savvy. With this in mind, she wasn't limiting her daughter to needlework and palace intrigue. Furthermore, Shujia herself had participated in some government affairs in recent years, and Wu Yunzhu, as the one with the most contact with her mother of all the children, had been somewhat influenced by her.

It is false to say that she has a noble character, but it is true that she has a big heart and a broad vision. That is a habit that will come out from time to time. Trapped in a deep courtyard, a farming-oriented traverser with no ambition will feel depressed once or twice occasionally, let alone a Princess Gulun?

"Don't you know about princesses who married into foreign vassal states?" Yinreng spoke more and more smoothly. "Except for those like Duanjing (Kangxi's third princess), who wouldn't be full of energy? They can manage the affairs of the banners and relax wherever they want. Isn't that better than staying in the capital? My own daughter knows herself. She can fly. I'll give her a chance to fly. Isn't that good?"

This is a father's true words. Although his wife raises the children well, it also makes him worried - she teaches too well, and he always feels that he cannot bury her.

The following is an analysis of the interests involved. Princesses from foreign vassal states held considerable power, and the central government's desire to control them was at play. If the princess were merely a woman confined to a secluded household, then this would be a purely "peaceful marriage," essentially an idiotic move. However, if the princess could exercise some degree of control over the banner lands, then she would be closely aligned with the central government, and that was the original intention behind her marriage. For the central government, a peaceful marriage wasn't simply about playing the emotional card.

"His father, Tsereng, is a loyal man. Chenggun Zhabu himself is also quite good. There's no need to worry about him being as incompetent as Garzang. Did I choose a bad son-in-law?"

Shujia was stunned. She had never thought about her daughter's living space or "political ambitions".

If she were in Beijing, she'd have to abide by even more strict rules and regulations, and the Beijing environment would probably wear her down into an ordinary woman. Thinking of her daughter constantly preoccupied with family matters, how the gift she gave to this family wasn't enough, so she'd add a jeweled bonsai; how about preparing appropriate gifts for the old lady's birthday in that family... Oh, how about taking care of the maids at her mother-in-law's house, how about keeping an eye on her husband so he doesn't take a concubine, how about giving her an answer to her sister-in-law's requests... She'd be as busy as a headless fly every day, with such a limited vision, like a frog in a well.

No, I can’t accept it!

Her daughter could learn to deal with these things, but if she allowed them to dominate her life, Shujia felt she wasn't a qualified mother. At least, she knew she hadn't been willing to get bogged down in these trivialities. To this day, her greatest wish was to no longer have to deal with this mess.

The atmosphere in the Outer Tribes was relatively open. Furthermore, the status of a Gulun Princess was extremely valuable there, and Qing princesses had a tradition of engaging in politics there. This meant Wu Yunzhu could explore a wider world. At the same time, this world wasn't too vast for her to handle. Furthermore, her political authority often helped stabilize the family—her husband would genuinely value her opinions, rather than being constrained by her status.

After understanding this, Shujia's expression brightened considerably: "I still can't bear to let you go! When will you issue the decree?"

It's done! Yinreng felt relieved. Shujia was right. The more responsibilities a woman shouldered, the more important her opinion became. For Yinreng, Shujia handled almost all of his household chores and even assisted him with government affairs when necessary. His wife's opinion was something he couldn't ignore. If Shujia insisted on objecting, Yinreng would have to negotiate further.

"My daughter's ceremonial parade and court attire must all be newly made. Once these are completed, we will first confer the title upon her, and then arrange her marriage. After the marriage, we will supervise the construction of the princess's residence—she will come to the capital to live every year—and then arrange the engagement and marriage. I will ask the Imperial Astronomical Observatory to select an auspicious date tomorrow."

"A ceremonial procession? How long will it take to prepare? Her dowry..." Shujia had no choice but to accept this option, and she began to care about her daughter's welfare.

"Would I treat my daughter badly? Well, you should explain things to her clearly. Don't think that marrying her far away means she'll be eaten."

Like all unmarried women, Wu Yunzhu felt a flicker of shyness upon hearing the news of her lifelong event. She didn't care about the title, but she was still a Gulun Princess, so the arranged marriage was something worth paying attention to. Marrying into a foreign vassal state might sound like a shock at first, but it wasn't unacceptable; it was the fate of most Qing Dynasty princesses.

Shujia saw her expression and thought to herself, "It seems she hasn't been too badly hit." She slowly put Yinreng's intentions into another set of words: "I don't want you to marry far away, but I also want you to live a good life. Your father chose Chenggun Zhabu not because of distance, but because he wanted you to live a good life. If there is someone better than him in the capital, I can compete for him. But you won't find anyone like him anymore." There are almost no unmarried men of marriageable age among the children of aristocratic families who are suitable for marrying a princess. If they are not from aristocratic families, they are not qualified to marry a princess.

Wu Yunzhu said, "Marriage is decided by parents. How could my father and mother not do what's best for me? My sisters are marrying far away, so why can't I be the only one who can't?"

Since they had been ordered to carry out their orders, paid the price, and had no chance of redemption, why not do it in a more respectable way? Furthermore, this option wasn't a bad one. The princesses also had their own little gossip, such as the fact that their Sixth Uncle was deeply in love with their Sixth Aunt.

The more sensible the child is, the more distressed the adults become. At this time, marrying a daughter outside the palace was also a matter of respect, even to the point of "spending all the money in the house to send her off." Shujia had nothing else but a lot of things in the storehouse. Wu Yunzhu got married late, so she had plenty of time to prepare, and she almost gave away all her family's wealth.

Unlike ordinary mothers-in-law, Shujia didn't have to worry about her children and grandchildren having no food to eat, and when distributing her private money, she didn't need to consider leaving a little extra for her sons to survive. As long as she did it in a way that looked good and didn't cause any emotional imbalance between her children, it was fine.

Wu Yunzhu's dowry became unprecedentedly rich.

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Shujia, tears in her eyes, said her daughter was sensible. Without hesitation, she agreed, and Yinreng was deeply moved. Then, he breathed a sigh of relief. He was really afraid his daughter would quarrel with him. He had always doted on his beloved little girl, and he didn't want her to do anything she didn't like. Besides, things like this naturally had to be agreed to right away. Opposition would only make a good thing go bad.

Even at this moment, he still wore an awkward smile as he met his daughter and asked Wu Yunzhu in a gentle voice, "What do you think?"

"Father asked me this, and even asked Mother to be his intercessor. It's obvious he cares about me. Were you also this careful when arranging marriages for your sisters?"

His daughter readily agreed to the marriage, and Yinreng was deeply impressed by her understanding. He didn't consider it an obligation at all (if Wu Yunzhu had made a fuss, he probably would have felt that). He even felt a strange sense of guilt. Wu Yunzhu was right. He wasn't so cautious about the marriages of his adopted daughters, but he couldn't bear to let his biological daughter go.

Wu Yunzhu had profited greatly by making the emperor feel guilty and want to make amends. From the moment the title was agreed upon, Yinreng maintained a high profile. The Ministry of Rites proposed many auspicious names, but none of them suited his taste. He reluctantly chose "filial piety," feeling that his daughter was truly a sensible and good child. He disdained all the remaining words.

"This was also written by a 'well-educated scholar'? Where is the 'well-educated'? There is not a single word left to use!" He complained loudly and scolded the Ministry of Rites so much that they could not even raise their heads.

Hongdan stepped in to smooth things over: "These are just alternatives. If Khan Ama doesn't care, why not choose an auspicious name? It will also make it more solemn."

This was a good idea, and Yinreng really began to think about it seriously: "My beloved daughter, born to Empress Yuan, is unprecedented in previous generations, so of course I can't take it lightly."

What he said was very correct but could not be investigated in depth. Those who heard him pretended not to hear it. Anyway, the prince had already passed the matter to the emperor, so everyone should just go about doing other things.

It's important to note that, with the exception of Yinreng's mother, none of the empresses currently enshrined in the Imperial Ancestral Temple were considered "Empress Yuan." Nurhaci's first wife, Tong Jia, was called Consort Yuan, but she wasn't honored as Empress. The posthumously honored Empress Xiaocigao, Nara, was Huang Taiji's biological mother, but she wasn't Consort Yuan. Similarly, Empress Xiaoduanwen, Zhezhe, although posthumously honored as Empress, wasn't Consort Yuan. Huang Taiji's first wife was someone else—Consort Yuan, Nianhulu, daughter of Hongyi Gong Eyidu. The situations for the other empresses were similar: some were Empresses, but not First Wife, some were First Wife, but not Empress, and some were posthumously honored as Empresses—none of them were "Yuan."

Without Empress Xiaocigao, there would be no Huang Taiji lineage, and Empress Xiaoduanwen was the aunt of Empress Xiaozhuang, so this matter cannot be delved into too deeply. Just like when the emperor ascends the throne, he must enthronize his biological mother as the empress dowager, there is a deeper meaning behind this.

Yinreng chose again and again, and finally used the simplest word "Yuan".

Princess Gulun Yuanxiao, that’s it.

This was not controversial, and everyone accepted it calmly. The emperor loved his daughter, the empress loved her daughter, it was normal, normal.

Then, the emperor began to act rashly. During the Kangxi era, there was a rule that princesses were to be guarded by a long-serving official, treated like a beile. Princess Balin Shuhui's treatment was no better, and Yinreng, feeling his daughter was being shortchanged, decreed that not only were her honors equal to those of a prince, but all other benefits were to be accorded to her. He seemed poised to exile anyone who objected to his treatment to the Mongolian embassy.

None of the ministers wanted to object.

The emperor and his men could have offered some persuasive advice and earned a good reputation, but this princess has a ruthless mother, a menopausal woman who's holding a grudge against her. You'll suffer for it—that woman is very cruel. The empress can't be offended, nor can the Outer Mongols. Chenggunjab is the princess's son, his father a descendant of Genghis Khan, and he's recently received banner territory. He shouldn't be treated lightly. The princess is about to marry, and since she's about to do so, there's no need to make things difficult for her.

Go up, there is still important work to do!

The so-called serious business of the ministers was to learn from the strengths of Western warships.

They had originally wanted to discuss how to deal with Nian Gengyao, with some suggesting replacing him and sending a capable official to control the situation. Nian Gengyao's status as a bannerman and a Jinshi scholar proved valuable at this critical moment. Meanwhile, the court was divided over the issue of who to send. Unable to find a single person who satisfied everyone, the court had long refrained from naval warfare, leaving them vulnerable to defeat even a few hundred pirates. At least, Nian Gengyao was familiar with the situation.

Nian Gengyao narrowly escaped the disaster and was "demoted three levels but retained in the company, allowing him to make meritorious contributions while serving his sentence."

Now that the personnel problem has been solved, the next step is armament.

Chinese people are actually quite pragmatic, believing only in facts. That is, only when they've been hurt will they acknowledge the other party's strength, look them in the eye, and finally put aside their pride to learn a thing or two. This is also human nature. If you're not as good as me, why should I learn from you? I only learn from you if you're better than me. Similarly, if you're incompetent, why would I bother with you? Well, maybe you're needed as extras in a political show, but otherwise, just stay where you want to be.

Learning is essential, and even if there are objections from corrupt scholars, they will be ignored by the central government. Such objections do not need to be discussed at all, and can simply be kept in the central government without being released.

At the same time, Yinreng himself did not show up, but asked Ma Qi and others to contact Britain and other countries, requesting that they send personnel to "investigate" and learn advanced technology. Of course, the first thing to do was to pass the language test, and it was also appropriate to select more bannermen to study.

Western European countries were positive about cultural exports, and Britain, France, and other countries all expressed that they welcomed this attitude, but they needed to contact China before responding. The Qing court agreed.

Without telegraphs, telephones, or any of the advanced communication methods of later generations, the Suez Canal was impossible to navigate by ship alone, and it would take time. Preliminary estimates suggest it would take at least a year or two to get back.

Merchants are always quick-witted. A Nanyang merchant came up with the idea: make better use of the mission's resources. Keeping them around wasted time, so why not hire the mission's translators as teachers? They employed the unofficial method of hiring private tutors, a feat that could be accomplished for a small sum of money. Sure enough, they were praised.

However, the good things ended there, and what was left to the court was anger.

————————————————————————————————————————

Yinreng never knew that the southeast was actually more difficult to deal with than the northwest.

After a period of rest and recuperation, the Zunghars became restless again. Despite his reluctance, the Great Tsering Dundub followed Galdan Tsering's instructions and once again engaged in a border conflict with the Little Tsering. Yue Zhongqi had other matters to attend to, and in order to achieve a quick victory, and presumably to save military expenses, Yinreng also dispatched various Mongol tribes to join the battle.

Fortunately, his brother-in-law and future relative Celeng played a good role and cooperated with Yue Zhongqi's actions. It took three months to win the war. This also made Celeng determined to seek peace and he would never allow Galdan Celeng to cause trouble again.

Yinreng took advantage of the situation and promoted his in-laws to princes, adding a touch of glamour to his daughter's wedding. Seeing his wife increasingly relaxed, Yinreng felt he had done a good deed. He had met Chenggunzabu before; he was a spirited young man, experienced in his work, and quite like his father.

As soon as Celeng returned from the front and received a promotion, the Imperial Household Department reported that the Princess's Mansion was complete. Looking at the calendar, it was ready.

Since ancient times, there have been various methods for evaluating new sons-in-law, with different questions and scoring criteria depending on the status of the examiner. Shujia's main concern was whether this boy was someone her daughter could handle. She had a deep understanding of this. Sometimes, it's not so much the husband's personality that matters, but whether he can influence her. Well, her family's case is a living example.

Yinreng prioritized his nephew's abilities and character. Even though his daughter was a princess, it still depended on her husband's academic integrity. Chenggunzabu's mother, for example, had been dead for years, but because Tsereng, despite his excellent character and abilities, still remembered his wife's kindness and even made great contributions to the country, she was posthumously granted the title of Princess Gulun. Women, after all, rely on men.

The ideas of Hongdan and other brothers were much simpler: 1. Be good to their sister (this seems to be a must); 2. Be loyal to the country.

That's it.

Chenggunzabu escaped danger.

Happy events bring joy, and the couple's life after marriage was relatively good. When the princess married, she had to stay in the capital for a while before returning to her banner land. Those two months in the capital were a difficult time for the emperor and empress. They summoned the couple to the palace more frequently, fearing they would miss out on their relationship. They were worried if they didn't send someone in to check on them. They sent a messenger, but they were afraid the son-in-law would misunderstand them. They still felt uneasy if they didn't send someone.

During the first month after their daughter's marriage, a constant topic of conversation between the emperor and the empress was: I wonder how their daughter is doing.

They had experience marrying daughters-in-law and were not worried about their sons. Although marrying off a daughter was not their first time, marrying off their own daughter was their only time. Not to mention Shujia, even Yinreng, who always believed that the emperor was the leader of his subjects and that ministers should serve diligently, was somewhat uneasy.

This was a novel experience, not only for the Emperor and Empress, but also for Chenggunzabu. His father-in-law (he hadn't seen his mother-in-law many times) seemed to treat him strangely. Fortunately, Chenggunzabu was sensible, got along well with Wuyunzhu, and possessed a "loyal heart" to the country, so he accepted whatever Yinreng offered.

With a wife who is neither spoiled nor vulgar, Cheng Gunzabu feels that having a weird father-in-law is acceptable.

Seeing that his daughter and son-in-law were getting along well, Yinreng felt relieved.

This is how things are in the world. When one thing goes well, there is always something unpleasant waiting for it ahead.

My daughters are married, and news has finally arrived from a distant nation on the other side of the world. They're happy to spread scientific and cultural knowledge. It doesn't matter if we can't reach an agreement on etiquette. We can talk to the Prime Minister instead of the Emperor. As long as we can resolve the issues of mutual concern, it's fine. But... you have to change the way we address each other! And what about our trade?

Yinreng, on his part, had only been building a few serviceable ships for over a year, and was eager to learn from advanced experience, yet he didn't want to lose his momentum. He was caught between a rock and a hard place. He couldn't let go of the situation in Southeast Asia. After all, the kidnapping of his own people was well known, and the Dutch refused to return this cheap and useful labor force. The two countries each controlled half of the Indonesian archipelago, tossing back and forth. Nian Gengyao was awaiting military supplies from the central government.

Nian Gengyao needed war, and he had to fight it, so he naturally tried every possible way to drag more people into the war. He would rather take less money himself than let the people in Beijing taste the sweetness and know the benefits of this war. He told the emperor with facts that by conquering Nanyang, he would be a pioneering king and would also enrich the national treasury. He told the ministers that Nanyang was very profitable!

During the stalemate, he still tried every possible way to transport valuable goods to the capital. Many of the kings and ministers were moved by the benefits. Regardless of their views on Nian Gengyao, they had only one idea regarding Nanyang: they must take it. At the same time, they had an even more daring suggestion: settle in the border areas with immigrants.

Well, let’s not talk about whether Java is considered the “border” of the Celestial Empire. Even if we want to immigrate there, we have to settle down there!

The proponents of the proposal had a different view: "If we move there, our population will increase, and the area will naturally become more stable. They can farm there, and even have logistical supplies. As for what kind of people to move there, we can formulate preferential policies."

For example, "Anyone who was on the lowly register and cultivated the land in the past will not only own the reclaimed wasteland, but will also be able to remove his lowly register and become a good citizen."

Another example is "One man out of every twenty shall be selected to take his family south and be exempted from taxes. His relatives in China shall also be exempted from one hectare of land tax. Officials shall be chosen from among the people who have moved south."

They are all tempting with benefits.

These two provisions were made with the utmost care for public opinion, yet, as is customary, they were made without any public consultation. The state doesn't need to provide excessive explanations to the people; that's simply the reality of our time.

This is a form of intimidation, because whether you go or not is not up to you, but up to the country.

The first was that they were all lowly, with few to speak up for them, so they just went. The second was more powerful; he exploited the power of the clan. In this era, a person's life, old age, illness, and death were all closely tied to the clan. If someone wanted to sell their land, the clan had preferential purchasing rights, and even if the family property was raided, it wouldn't be confiscated. If one out of twenty people offered their services, the remaining nineteen would be the beneficiaries. Would the clan leader do it? Would the clan members support it?

Shiploads of people were brought to Southeast Asia and gradually settled there. Everything was ready, except for the arrival of Western technology.

The bad thing is this east wind.

The imperial court was forced to accept the "advice" of friendly European neighbors, prohibiting the use of the term "barbarian" in official documents. The court also permitted the British to trade in Guangzhou, Ningbo, and Xiamen, and agreed to a tariff rate. However, because Yinreng was unhappy, the court was also unhappy. When agreeing on the tariff rate, they instructed merchants to negotiate, resulting in a bloody bargaining match.

Finally, everything was settled quickly, and both parties thought they got what they wanted.

“The drawings they gave us were not the best.”

The imperial court still had some experts. They couldn't build, but they knew how to look at things. At least, the ships that engaged the imperial court didn't look like this. They looked larger than this size, and their firepower was much more powerful.

These foreigners are unreliable! The group of people who deliberately maintained a polite demeanor were slapped in the face and became much more pragmatic from then on.

In comparison, the people of our country appear much more lovable. Many things are changing slowly and unconsciously.

These were matters of the past; the most pressing task was to build advanced ships and artillery. Yinreng had to invest heavily in research and development; the southeastern coast was no longer dispensable. In his interactions with Western powers, he clearly felt the pressure. A globe was placed in the eastern warm room of the Qianqing Palace, and he would examine it whenever he had the chance. The world was so vast, and we were not the center.

At this time, the gap between China and the world's advanced scientific and technological levels is not that large. It can even be said that we are not completely backward. It is very timely for us to wake up and open our eyes to the world.

————————————I am the dividing line table five years later————————————

The Netherlands was under tremendous pressure from Britain in Europe, and because its supply lines were too long, it finally collapsed in the South China Sea, and the stock of the Dutch East India Company plummeted.

Nian Gengyao could finally breathe a sigh of relief. He was the culprit who initiated this incident, but because there was no one to replace him at the time, he stayed to see the final outcome. Since the war was won, he got neither promotion nor demotion, but was simply transferred to a new position.

Guangdong, Guangxi, and Southeast Asia, a land that was expected to be lucrative, said goodbye to him from then on. He was transferred to the outskirts of the Great Wall and was honored as a general in Shengjing.

Nanyang is a vast and fertile land, but after five years of development, a big problem emerged: lack of people.

The natives had a hard time under Nian Gengyao, who slaughtered and hacked away at anyone he disliked, leaving few alive. The Dutch had long supply lines and were short on manpower, so they naturally had to recruit the natives. Nian Gengyao, driven by his own impatience, naturally did whatever was necessary to expedite the destruction of the enemy's vital forces, showing no mercy to the "barbarians."

The shortage of labor forced the court officials to face the contradiction between development needs and development progress. Hongdan saw the surplus labor force in Nanyang and launched a large-scale immigration plan: allowing voluntary immigration.

For a small fee, families could relocate to Southeast Asia. The population moving south was required to maintain a roughly 1:1 ratio of male to female to ensure sustainable development. A certain percentage of government officials were assigned to serve in Southeast Asia, with those with Southeast Asian experience receiving preferential promotions. Furthermore, a certain percentage of bannermen were assigned to Southeast Asia, and were allowed to bring their family members with them to reclaim wasteland.

If this plan had been proposed five years ago, it certainly wouldn't have been so successful. Now, with the success of the previous group and five years of war, the entire nation is aware of the importance of Southeast Asia. For the Bannermen, the adventurous and expansionist spirit of their ancestors seems to have revived. Many are eager to make a move, even considering extending their influence over Luzon.

They weren't interested in the rice, but the mines! They weren't just valuable; they were money in themselves!

Furthermore, East-West transit trade must pass through there, which presents endless business opportunities! Anyone who doesn't join in is a fool!

Shujia's perception of the country's politicians was still wrong. Their purity was different from what she considered pure. Politicians' purity was based on strength. When the powerful grew in power, they also took the initiative to provoke. However, many fools followed the politicians' lead, claiming they were a nation of gentlemen, and when the entire nation adopted this view, things got messed up.

This court seemed to have returned to the early days of the founding of the country, finding pleasure in war and the true meaning of war.

Yinreng was delighted. He had finally resolved the crisis in Southeast Asia, opening up new horizons for the nation. Furthermore, during this war and migration, the Manchus and the common people came into contact with each other as never before. The Manchus were not adept at naval warfare and had a small population, but wherever the nation expanded, a Manchu presence was essential; otherwise, the imperial family would not be able to gain approval.

Under these circumstances, the idea of ​​expanding the Eight Banners is not so difficult to understand. The Eight Banners already had the Han Army Banner, and Yinreng suddenly remembered the clever use of this Han Banner when it was first established. While expanding the Eight Banners, it must not be excessive.

He only used one trick, which was a reserve force organization, exempting them from taxes and labor service but not providing them with food and wages.

If this continues to expand, will the boundaries between the Bannermen and the Han become increasingly blurred? When the entire nation joins the Banner, will he truly be the common ruler of the entire world?

Yinreng's heart was beating violently.

Shujia was delighted. Her desire for the country's prosperity was perhaps stronger than anyone else's here—she alone understood the meaning of a century of humiliation. Furthermore, Yinreng's policies gave her hope, the hope of "peaceful evolution." Reform wasn't an idyll or a moonlight song, but it didn't necessarily entail a million corpses and a stream of blood.

Hongdan was also very happy. By taking over Southeast Asia, he had initially solved the problem of overpopulation. Through planned immigration, he also earned enough political capital.

The nobles were very happy because they had another place to make a fortune.

The common people were not very happy; few who had left their homes were happy. But at least they had something to eat. It was said that some of their relatives were doing well in Southeast Asia, each acquiring several hectares of land, and even returning in style to pay respects to their ancestors—needless to say, the Queen had come up with this idea.

Not everyone cares whether they are happy or not. As long as their dissatisfaction is kept within a certain limit, the court will still do what it should do.

There were also people who were unhappy. Nian Gengyao thought to himself, I used to live a life of luxury and honor, but now I was sent to this icy and snowy place to work!

The Russians were also unhappy. General Nian was now a true general, and he carried a secret order from the emperor: "Aren't you a troublemaker? Find a way to redefine the borders of the Northeast. You'd better act at your own convenience. The Russians are really too close to my ancestral graves. I feel it's unsafe. Please ask them to move further away."

Compared to the Dutch population in Java, the Russians had even fewer people in the Far East! This time, no missionaries were needed for the negotiations; these Tatars seemed to understand negotiation and refused to budge. Negotiations proved fruitless, and fighting was a distant prospect—they were outnumbered. The Russians were furious.

The British were also unhappy. They missed out on the huge market! They probably didn't understand what a "self-sufficient feudal natural economy" meant. Even if this self-sufficient feudal natural economy was disintegrating, it wasn't because of their impact—China's handicraft industry was still not backward, and transforming it into a primitive industry wouldn't be particularly difficult.

It all started in Southeast Asia. Immigrants needed ships, and settling there required seeds, agricultural tools, and construction equipment. This greatly boosted the development of inland handicrafts, leading to the emergence of a large number of contractors. Southeast Asia possessed abundant resources, and mining required manpower, meaning these people's primary occupation was mining, and their livelihoods depended on the exchange of goods. Developing new territories was a long, ongoing process, and contractors continued to grow, with workshops and handicrafts constantly consolidating and absorbing each other.

What frustrated the British most was that they probably underestimated the capabilities of these "pigtailed" individuals. The Qing government sent merchants to negotiate, a gesture of dissatisfaction, contempt, and indifference toward these foreigners. However, this had an unexpected effect. These Nanyang merchants, adhering to the principle of not being at a disadvantage, secured reciprocal terms: permission for Chinese to sell goods in Britain.

This wouldn't be a big deal, as few Chinese would be willing to travel so far from home to do business. However, merchants are shrewd and hired European agents to sell their products.

China's silk and porcelain had a huge market, which greatly stimulated their own production, making it even more difficult to enter the market! The British could only make up for it through their colonies, and you can imagine how depressed they were.

Even more detrimental, the Tatar government seemed to have suddenly become shrewd. The Qing court, profiting from tariffs, suddenly began to prioritize commerce, realizing that taxes on domestic and foreign trade now exceeded agricultural taxes. This gave them ample funds to expand their military, explore opportunities, and prepare for another major move. With commercial taxes as a bulwark, they could easily consolidate their rule and rally the people through measures like reducing agricultural taxes, thus thwarting the British plan to cultivate political proxies.

It’s true, some are happy while others are sad!

The author has something to say: Wow, it’s really not easy to get to this point!

I don’t want to write about the death of the second emperor at all. What should I do?

-------------------------------------------------------

Non-mainstream Qing Dynasty text, everyone read it and have something to say

Shujia has never felt this country so vibrant as she does now. This unwavering vitality has always been a hallmark of the Chinese nation, and while this continuity has its ups and downs, it is undoubtedly developing in a positive direction.

Shujia had been struck countless times by the creativity of her contemporaries. Geniuses' creativity was in the very bones of the people who lived on this land, and given the right opportunity, it would burst forth and thrive. They didn't need mentors, just a less demanding environment, and inventions that challenged their imaginations would naturally emerge. The breadth and depth of their self-liberating ideas would put even time travelers to shame.

For all this to happen, all that is needed is an environment that is not so restrictive.

Since her involvement in government affairs, Shujia has become increasingly cautious, knowing that decisions cannot be made lightly. Even when it came to the issue of widespread elementary education, she took only a small, cautious step, and only limited it to boys in the banners. If she wanted to universalize compulsory education, she would also have to take into account the actual national conditions.

Yinreng had no such concerns. With a single stroke of his hand, he established schools alongside the "enrollment expansion" of the Eight Banners. He even went so far as to establish a specialized language school in the capital, which also taught foreign relations. On his desk was an even more ambitious plan to promote compulsory elementary education abroad.

The country was now rich, very rich, and the constant influx of silver and copper into the country had irritated the people. The call for external expansion was growing louder and louder, and many people began to miss Nian Gengyao. If only he were still in office in Guangdong and Guangxi, they could have continued to push forward!

The ongoing foreign wars and constant contact with "foreign friends" brought the concept of "nation" closer to later definitions and further clarified the concept of nationality. As Shujia imagined, ethnic tensions were mitigated by the tensions between competing nations. Otherwise, Yinreng wouldn't have been so eager to "enlighten" the people—facing those who only sought to rebel against him, it would have been too late to implement a policy of obscurantism.

Shujia never imagined that the strides forward could be so great. It's not just government policies that are driving progress, but also changes in society as a whole that are truly driving social progress.

In Shujia's fantasy, development required markets, labor, and capital. Her country had no shortage of the latter two, but it lacked markets. Although she had direct trade with European countries, the European market wasn't very large, and the population wasn't large. Europeans were also struggling to expand their own markets, and Africa wasn't very developed either.

She had forgotten that the land beneath her feet was the world's most coveted market! The influx of money stimulated both consumption and production. It must be admitted that the quality of China's various products was currently among the best in the world.

Moreover, Chinese people are extremely capable of imitation and innovation, and are good at "borrowing" (ahem, copying)... For a country that can produce the world's most sophisticated machinery, it is not difficult to popularize and promote popular things in an assembly line manner.

High-quality goods at low prices greatly expanded the domestic market. People began to buy better-quality goods produced by others, rather than making everything themselves. Making some more delicate items themselves was time-consuming and labor-intensive, so if they had the leisure time, it would be more cost-effective to make something they were good at.

When people are no longer satisfied with self-sufficiency, the era of commercialization gradually permeates people's lives.

This world always seems to stimulate the nerves of travelers, not only in good ways, but also in bad ways.

For example, mergers, large-scale planting of cash crops while abandoning the planting of food crops, and the luxurious lifestyle of some people.

Yinreng was in a state of great distress! True to his usual ways, he issued a direct order, mandating that all landowners must ensure that 60% of their land was used for growing crops. However, his extravagant lifestyle was something he could not stop despite repeated orders.

The primitive accumulation of capital was a bloody affair, manifesting itself in the form of forced immigration in Southeast Asia and annexation and destruction in mainland China. However, it did benefit the development of European trade, stimulating the growth of the domestic textile industry. Chinese silk became an extremely popular commodity. The only commodity comparable to silk was porcelain.

As we all know, firing porcelain is quite environmentally destructive, especially when productivity is low, technology is underdeveloped, and mass production is required. Trees are cut down, soil is mined, and thick smoke obscures the sun...

The censor's report caused an uproar in the court.

China has a glorious tradition of not hunting by burning forests or fishing by draining lakes. This was very morally sound, and thus triggered another major debate in the court.

There was also something that was considered immoral by respectable people: women began to appear in public. The Imperial Censor wrote: "Please prohibit such immoral behavior. Hiring a large number of female workers is likely to lead to rape."

At the same time, a petition was placed before the imperial desk, requesting a ban on foot binding. Starting with the idea that "one's body and hair are inherited from one's parents," it argued that foot binding was "a lingering custom from the downfall of Emperor Li Houzhu," and then cites various strange omens recorded in the "Five Elements Records" of historical texts. Even wearing strange, unusual clothing was considered a bad omen, labeled a "clothing demon," a form of demonic spirit. How much more so was the practice of mutilating human limbs? The writing was eloquent and pointed, citing classics.

Others demanded that the court strictly enforce the marriage system and that it be reiterated among the bannermen: the rule prohibiting men under the age of forty from taking concubines must be strictly enforced, and those who took servants or maids as concubines without permission would be punished. The status of children born to concubines must be further lowered, and children born to maids or illegitimate wives would not receive the same share of the family property as legitimate children when the family was divided.

There was a lot of noise going up, and it was a bit too noisy.

The new rich who profited from the development of Southeast Asia and industry and commerce were mainly supporters of the latter two issues. They believed that women should be allowed to "return to their natural state" and that concubinage must be restricted.

This is all about getting women into the labor force. Textile workers—textiles are always associated with women workers. If you've broken women's legs, chained them at home, and treated them like concubines, where are we going to find people to work?

Those who cling to tradition support the first two proposals, believing that the upstarts are too eager for quick success and instant benefits, eating up the food of their ancestors and depriving their descendants of food, which is not a long-term development strategy. Men and women are different, and there are laws of yin and yang. How can we let women run away?

The two factions argued furiously, the old masters railing against the upstarts: "You're violating moral standards! Your son isn't even forty yet, and he's already got three concubines, and all you can do is criticize others!"

The newly rich also hated the old masters: "You are poor, but you insist on blocking other people's wealth."

The debate between the two sides even reached the official newspaper, and the war of words was very lively.

Shujia's daily pleasure was to watch the excitement while holding a stack of official newspapers. One day the conservatives would criticize the nouveau riche for being obsessed with money, and the next day the newcomers would criticize the conservatives for being short-sighted.

Until one day, she heard Yinreng say: "We barbarians know that our bodies and hair are given by our parents, but these sour scholars only care about shaving off the hair that will grow back, but don't care about the limbs that are damaged and cannot be restored."

Is he calling himself a "barbarian"?

Shujia felt like crying. Coming from Yinreng's mouth, this word represented confidence, right?

Yinreng's original words were slightly polished and became an imperial edict, ordering the kings, ministers, officials inside and outside the court, and students to discuss it.

Shujia knew that Yinreng already supported a certain degree of women's liberation. No matter how much the court argued, Shujia didn't need to care. The outcome would inevitably develop in a direction she would like to see.

The economy determines politics, and the economy requires women as a labor force, so politics must respond accordingly. When Yinreng needed to eliminate ethnic divisions across the country, he had no choice but to develop and expand outward, creating a common competitor to provide sufficient common interests for all parties in domestic conflict to resolve their disputes.

Everything went so smoothly and was so beautiful beyond imagination that it made people panic, fearing that all this was just a dream.

———————————————————————————————————————

Shujia didn't know if she was dreaming. The nation was thriving, but her own life was withering. The person she had spent the most time with in this world was gone, taking with him most of her life's memories. He was gone without a single warning, leaving behind no words.

He just didn't get up on time in the morning anymore.

She should have discovered earlier that Yinreng had been sleeping less and less recently, and he didn't look listless at all. He was actually overdrawing his life.

Lying quietly in bed, she heard Hongdan ask Wu Yunzhu, "Has mother gone to bed yet?"

Wu Yunzhu whispered, "I just had half a bowl of rice porridge and went to bed."

"Huh—that's good, let's talk about it outside."

The voices of the children could be heard clearly, word by word, yet they seemed far away.

Initially, she didn't think her husband was any good, didn't want to marry him at all, and even harbored a subtle sense of superiority. Those who knew the outcome subconsciously held a certain contempt for this man destined to be deposed. If you were being fucked by Yinreng, perhaps you could possess him and give him a slap. But what if the one being fucked was the fourth brother—? Well…

Right?

This is probably how people treat losers.

So she always felt that she was another teacher on Yinreng's life path, and it was she who corrected his direction. Every time Yinreng "progressed", she was amazed from time to time, but after being amazed, she was still worried, fearing that he would do something wrong again.

It was not until this man was gone that she realized that all along, she was not the only one helping him, but he had also become the pillar of her life.

Unable to sleep well or eat well, she felt like a wandering soul all day long. Shujia finally understood what it meant to be a "widow."

Ever since Kangxi arranged her marriage, she had been wondering when she could become the Empress Dowager, only then would she be considered safe. Now she knew that the Empress Dowager was not a guarantee of safety, but the end. No matter how noble a widow was, she was still just a widow. She began to miss him again.

————————————————————————————————————————

The court, however, did not cease its activity because of the new empress dowager's grief. Even though she was in mourning, the upstarts and conservatives continued to wrestle with each other. With the new emperor, they began a new round of trials.

Hongdan's counterattack began with honoring his parents and selecting a reign title. Overturning the Ministry of Rites' recommendations, he forcefully designated his father's temple name "Xingzu," his mother's "Rui Ci Empress Dowager," and the reign title "Chengde." At the same time, he deposed several prominent figures of the nouveau riche.

He seemed to be giving both factions a good slap on the wrist, but he had already established his basic national policy: Conservatism is unacceptable, but even if I want to be pioneering and enterprising, I don't necessarily have to use certain people! Just because your opinion agrees with mine doesn't mean I have to use you as a person.

Hearing what Zhao Guoshi came to learn, Shujia said to Xiluo Te who came tremblingly to comfort her: "Mother, I'm fine." This son has finally matured!

That means, I have nothing to do with it.

From now on, even if I don't care about worldly affairs and just enjoy playing with my grandchildren, nothing will matter.

-End of article-

(I can explain the ending here, and I will leave you with something to say later...)

The author has something to say:

This article has been written here, and it’s time to end it.

First, I want to thank everyone who has stuck with me and followed me all this way. You've all worked so hard. This is quite long for a Jinjiang article, both in terms of the number of words and the length of time it took to write. Thank you all for your hard work. Especially after the second emperor ascended the throne, the rather dull political content really doesn't fit the Jinjiang style. Thank you to everyone who stayed up late, silently waiting for updates, thank you to those who left comments and liked it, thank you to those who worked so hard to write long reviews, and thank you to everyone who kept discussing and inspiring me. I won't mention them all here.

Then, about the following plan. Writing such a long article is a test for me, not only mentally but also physically. It is a bit too much for me, so I decided to take a break for a while and start a new project around the summer vacation. I will definitely not write such a long project next time TT

When we dig the next pit, if we are destined to meet, we will meet again.

Finally, let me talk about this article. When I first started thinking about it, I thought, "Why would I write about her if I can't change the trajectory of her fate?" "She wouldn't be complete if she didn't become the Empress Dowager!" At that time, I thought that being an Empress Dowager who was no longer under threat would be extremely comfortable. Unexpectedly, as I was writing today, I suddenly felt sad.

Writing the second girl as a widow made her too upset, and I couldn't write that she was very happy after her husband died TT

I guess no Chinese person would like a century of humiliation and would welcome the end of the Qing Dynasty. I am the same. My original intention was to deduce what would happen if a butterfly flapped its wings, not too big, but just once at a certain point.

History is a long process, and reforms don't happen overnight. Even the second girl's butterfly wings didn't take effect on her husband that quickly, so for a country, the impact would be even slower.

In my scenario, once the first step is taken, the subsequent steps may be crooked and stumbling, but progress can be made. For example, external expansion will lead to insufficient labor demand, while foreign trade and contact will naturally challenge the old concept of the Celestial Empire and lead to the formation of national boundaries. Foreign wars will naturally dilute domestic conflicts.

Once the demand for labor reaches a certain level, women will need to leave the home. Economic independence will inevitably lead to changes in social status, affecting marriage, family, and ultimately politics. This will inevitably lead to demands for monogamy and even true compulsory education—integrating women into the education system.

In dealing with the relationship between the Bannermen and the Han people, I think that instead of abolishing the Bannermen's privileges and causing dissatisfaction (which was unimaginable for the Qing court), it would be better to gradually give the Han people the same preferential treatment. When everyone is the same, it will be much easier to eliminate differences.

Finally, regarding the practice of shaving the head and changing clothing, economic development and open-mindedness inevitably led to greater freedom in clothing—perhaps even a restoration of Han Chinese clothing. I have no prejudice against the clothing and attire of any ethnic group, but when forced to change hair and clothing through bloody and horrific means, that is unacceptable. Perhaps this is the deepest source of disgust for those who dislike pigtails.

These changes must have taken years, even decades, to complete, and they have only just begun to happen. Second Girl probably won't see them in her lifetime. If I continue writing... this article will truly stray from the topic.

Okay, that’s all.

If we are destined to meet again, we will see each other again~

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