My father is Yongzheng, and I am Qianlong?

Chapter 108 Questioning the Eighth Prince
What Hongli meant was that since they couldn't touch the Eighth Prince now, they couldn't punish the Third Prince either.

However, Hongli then added, "But we can first trim its wings, just like putting a frog in a pot and slowly adding fire to cook it. By the time it feels the heat, it will be too late to regret it."

He meant that Orondai and his ilk could be eliminated first.

"I wonder if Father thinks what I said is correct?"

Emperor Yongzheng, who was full of admiration, simply smiled and said, "You'll see what your father does."

Then, Yongzheng came to the Southern Study and instructed, "Hengchen, draft an imperial edict..."

Zhang Tingyu immediately sat up straight.

The imperial edicts that Emperor Yongzheng asked Zhang Tingyu to draft were all about promotions and titles.

Before punishing one group of people, he would first show favor to another.

"Prince Xun was granted double the salary of a prince and was granted the privilege of riding a horse at the Qianqing Gate."

"Prince Yinxi was promoted to Beile."

"Zhang Tingyu, Minister of Revenue, was promoted to Grand Secretary of the Wenyuan Pavilion and Minister of Personnel."

"Zhu Shi, the Left Censor-in-Chief, was promoted to Minister of Rites."

Fang Bao, a reader in the Wuying Hall, was promoted to Grand Secretary of the Inner Cabinet.

……

After reading the contents of these edicts in the Imperial Gazette, Emperor Qianlong couldn't help but smile.

Although he himself was not the one who was promoted in these edicts, those who were promoted were all those who supported him and accepted his arrangements. In the matter of establishing an heir, some princes and ministers suggested the secret establishment of an heir at his request.

These princes and ministers can be considered to be Hongli's own cronies.

His men were promoted and given higher ranks.

This shows that his party has won a complete victory in the matter of choosing an heir!

More importantly, this would make his faction understand that as long as they obeyed his orders, they would only be promoted and given higher ranks.

This will undoubtedly enhance his credibility within his own party.

in contrast.

Hongshi's faction suffered a complete defeat in this matter of choosing an heir!

Among his faction, Wang Yan, who was the first to stir up trouble, was sentenced to death and his family property was confiscated. Only his family members were lucky enough not to be arrested or exiled, and were able to live in the homes of relatives and friends.

After being beaten by the 21st Prince, Orondai dared not utter a word and admitted that he had caused trouble at Yucheng Garden. He could only make an excuse that he had fallen off his horse and asked for leave.

This made Hongshi somewhat discouraged.

In particular, after Yongzheng asked him if he had been close to the Eighth Prince, Hongshi still had a bad feeling. After seeing the Eighth Prince, he said to him, "Eighth Uncle, do you think Father Khan suspects me of being with you?"

"Don't panic. He may have suspicions, but he can't do anything to you. All you need to do is wait and see."

Lao Ba comforted Hong Shi.

Hongshi still said with some lack of confidence: "Wang Yan was given death, and Orondai was beaten by his twenty-first uncle but dared not utter a sound. Those who support Hongli are either promoted or ennobled. It is obvious who Father Khan favors."

The Eighth Prince smiled, got up and walked over to Hongshi, patting him on the shoulder: "Hongshi, didn't you see? This is just a matter of Hongli's side winning in the matter of choosing an heir. And it's only about choosing an heir. It has nothing to do with you, Hongshi, and it hasn't hurt the forces that support you."

“You must pull yourself together. Remember, you are not just backed by one or two princes and ministers, but by all the banner lords of the Eight Banners and all the officials. They do not want an overly powerful and tyrannical emperor in this world.”

"So you don't need to care too much. Even if you lose, it will only be the high-ranking officials who want to live a peaceful life who lose, and it will have nothing to do with you, Hongshi."

"Even if your Eighth Uncle himself fails in the future, it will have nothing to do with you, Hongshi!"

After Lao Ba finished speaking, Hong Shi looked at Lao Ba with some emotion and said, "Uncle Ba."

"Of course, your Eighth Uncle doesn't really think he will lose. Your Eighth Uncle, like your Khan, has been an imperial prince for decades and has been fighting for it for decades. How can he just admit defeat like that?"

At this point, Lao Ba put his hands behind his back, craned his neck, and sighed, "Over the past few decades, I have learned a lot of lessons, many of which are negative. These lessons should serve as a shortcut for you, Hongshi, to reach that position."

"Uncle Ba, do you think Father Khan will send me to Jingling to offer sacrifices in the winter month?"

Hongshi suddenly asked Lao Ba a question.

Lao Ba pointed at Hong Shi: "You've grasped this key point, very good!"

"You've improved, that's what you should be concerned about!"

Lao Ba smiled and affirmed Qi Hongshi.

Hongshi smiled happily.

Few people praised him, especially among the elders. The fact that Lao Ba affirmed him made Hong Shi both happy and touched, and he deeply believed that Lao Ba was the one who truly understood and cared for him.

"How many people die or get injured is none of your business. You have to harden your heart, because as long as you advocate sharing the world with the Eight Banners leaders, you will never lack people willing to risk their lives for you."

Meanwhile, Lao Ba continued to offer Hongshi advice.

Hongshi nodded very seriously. When Yongzheng first ascended the throne, he regretted getting too close to the Eighth Prince back then.

But now, he doesn't regret it as much. He feels that his eighth uncle really cared about him, otherwise he wouldn't have said something that went against the reputation of the Eighth Prince.

"If you want to have the opportunity to go to Jingling to offer sacrifices on behalf of others this winter, the only thing you can do now is to calm down and wait patiently. Remember not to do anything that will displease your father."

At this moment, Lao Ba turned to look at Hong Shi and solemnly gave him some instructions.

Hongshi silently thought to himself, "I must not upset Father Khan."

……

……

“We cannot focus solely on Khan Amma himself; we should also focus more on the new policies he has spearheaded.”

“Now that Nian Gengyao has taken over as the General of Pacification, Nuomin has been relieved of his post as Governor of Shanxi, and Tian Wenjing has been relieved of his post as Governor of Henan, we cannot hinder them from working for the Khan, nor can we allow any of them to be eager for quick success or even harbor malicious intentions, and thus deliberately implement the new policies in a disorderly manner.”

In short, focus on the big picture and let go of the small details.

Yinxi's new residence.

Hongli spoke to the princes and ministers, including Prince Xun and the Fourteenth Prince, who had come to congratulate Yinxi on his move to his new residence, about their views on how to establish themselves in the court.

The reason why Hongli suddenly said these words was that those who came to Yinxi's new residence to celebrate with Yinxi were all people who had always been close to Hongli and clearly stood on his side.

These people then asked Hongli about it, and Hongli began to explain.

Hongli, under the guise of seeking advice, inquired about his elders, including the Fourteenth Uncle: "Fourteenth Uncle, Sixteenth Uncle, Twenty-first Uncle, what do you think of what your nephew said?"

The fourteenth brother smiled and looked at the sixteenth brother: "Sixteenth brother, you speak."

The sixteenth brother then spoke up, saying, "I think that's well said."

“I also think it’s well said. Others may not know, but I am able to become a prince now, which is actually thanks to Hongli.”

The twenty-first prince, Yinxi, smiled and said to Hongli, "I have already told my men that from now on, when you come, they don't need to announce your arrival. You can come directly."

"Thank you for your kindness, Uncle Twenty-One."

"The same goes for my Prince Zhuang's Mansion."

The sixteenth brother then chimed in with a comment.

Everyone burst into laughter, even the fourteenth brother couldn't help but chuckle and took a few big gulps of wine.

It is clear that the princes and ministers who are on Hongli's side are in a very good mood lately.

"Prince Lian and Prince Dun have arrived!"

But then, the voices of the eighth and tenth brothers came from outside.

Hongli was quite surprised. He didn't expect that the Eighth Prince and the Tenth Prince would come to congratulate Yinxi. But after thinking about it carefully, he didn't find it strange. This was something the Eighth Prince would do, and he would never lack any manners on the surface.

No matter what, Yinxi was still the younger brother of the eighth prince.

Yinxi hurriedly went out to greet them.

"Greetings to the myna and tenth brothers."

"Twenty-first brother, is this your first time living outside the palace? Are you getting used to it?"

The Eighth Prince smiled and helped Yinxi up.

Yinxi replied, "It's a habit, but I didn't expect my eighth and tenth brothers to come too. I'm very happy."

"It's such an important event for my younger brother to leave the palace and establish his own residence, I have to come no matter how busy I am!"

Lao Ba replied with a smile.

The tenth brother chimed in, "My aunt is right!"

The eighth brother also introduced the congratulatory gifts he and the tenth brother brought, as well as the gifts they presented to Consort Qian.

Yinxi chuckled, thanked them, and invited the two inside.

After the Eighth and Tenth Princes arrived, Hongli and the others naturally paid their respects.

However, the fourteenth brother suddenly came up to the eighth brother and said, slightly drunk, "Eighth brother, is there any point in you being so hypocritical?"

Lao Ba's smile faltered for a moment.

Seeing this, the tenth prince quickly looked at the fourteenth prince and sternly questioned, "Fourteenth prince, what are you saying?!"

"Did I say something wrong?"

"If we're really talking about brotherhood, when you, the tenth brother, sold your family property, he brought out the ninth brother and rallied everyone to help you pay off the debt, instead of letting Hongli, a member of the next generation, pay it off!"

(End of this chapter)