My father is Yongzheng, and I am Qianlong?

Chapter 417 Emperor Qianlong's unique way of promoting officials moved the upright officials to tears!
"Imperial decree!"

"When a nation needs talent, it should seek only practical results; when a wise ruler seeks to govern well, he should not be bound by rigid rules."

"Therefore, we request the Emperor's benevolent decree that although Li Fu and Sun Jiagan are rebellious and disrespectful, they are of excellent character and talent, and their loyalty has not been extinguished. Therefore, they are specially appointed as Vice Ministers; Xie Jishi and Lu Shengnan are outspoken and dare to remonstrate, and are also specially appointed as Censors, so that they can give full play to their strengths. You should repent your past mistakes, be determined to serve the country, and work together to govern the country. This is the imperial decree."

Summer days are long, and the indoors feel like a scorching oven, while the outdoors are shaded by lush greenery.
Ji Yun, holding the "Capital News," stood under the shade of a tree, reading aloud a passage from the imperial edict published therein to his father, Ji Rongshu, and Fang Bao, the Vice Minister of Rites.

After he finished reading, he smiled and looked at the two of them.

As a child, Ji Yun grew up in a noble family and was taught to be a virtuous gentleman who could serve the emperor like Yao and Shun. He heard praise for Li Fu and Xie Jishi for their outspokenness and courage, and read articles criticizing current affairs. Naturally, he had great respect for these people.

Therefore, it's understandable that he would be overjoyed to see this imperial edict.

As scholar-officials, Ji Rongshu and Fang Bao beamed with joy after hearing Ji Yun read it aloud.

However, the first thing Hongli issued was an edict to employ Li Fu and others, but he only specified the method of employing them and did not specify what specific tasks they would be assigned to.

He did it on purpose.

This was done in order to better manipulate the bureaucratic class.

Therefore, Ji Rongshu, Fang Bao, and even the young Ji Yun who had not yet entered officialdom were overjoyed to hear this decree, feeling that the atmosphere in the Qing court had finally cleared up and become more vibrant.

Fang Bao then spoke first with a smile, saying, "This is truly wonderful news that scholars should spread the word!"

Ji Rongshu echoed, stroking his beard and laughing, "We should raise a large toast to this! With a wise ruler in power and virtuous ministers restored, the spirit of the world will be greatly uplifted!"

"Ji Yun!"

Fang Bao then mentioned Ji Yun again.

Ji Yun bowed and clasped his hands in greeting, saying, "Please speak, Mr. Wangxi."

"You've truly encountered a golden age! When you enter officialdom, it will be the height of the new emperor's reign, and also the height of the world's prosperity. How could it not be a golden age?"

Fang Bao stood up, patted Ji Yun on the shoulder, and smiled.

Ji Yun smiled at this.

He was no longer confused, but rather filled with anticipation, hoping to grow up quickly and have the opportunity to enter the Golden Palace and behold the Emperor's countenance.

While pleased, Ji Rongshu then stopped smiling and asked Fang Bao, "What duties do you think Lord Li and Lord Sun will be assigned to?"

Fang Bao frowned at this: "It's hard to say. Although the positions of the heads of the Six Ministries in the capital are all filled by one person, if His Majesty really appoints Lord Li and Lord Sun to the positions of the heads of the Six Ministries in the capital, I don't think anyone can stop him."

"However, this will inevitably cause many officials who also aspire to serve in the Six Ministries to have sleepless nights."

Ji Rongshu nodded, then began to predict the turmoil that the imperial edict was about to cause.

Fang Bao pursed his lips and nodded, gently shaking the folding fan in his hand: "This is unavoidable, just like the current situation in the south where the lands of several powerful clans that have been disrupting the government are being divided up, and the lands in the south are about to be surveyed."

"That's right!"

“When the emperor is full of ambition and works hard to govern, he will not only pardon ministers who offend him, but will also do things that harm the powerful and wealthy while benefiting the common people.”

“But precisely because the emperor is willing to pardon his offending ministers, we should naturally trust that the emperor is conducting a land survey and redistribution, rather than competing with the people for profit or causing disturbances and retaliation.”

Ji Rongshu continued.

Fang Bao nodded in agreement with Ji Rongshu’s words and sighed, “Yes, everything has its advantages and disadvantages, its yin and yang. Pardoning and reinstating old officials is gratifying, but new officials will worry about the impact on their careers. Land surveying and redistribution may seem like a forced confiscation of the people’s wealth, but it is indeed beneficial for generations to come. A gentleman should value righteousness over profit and will not be troubled by this.”

After Hongli issued such an edict, some officials in the court, while happy, also became worried, concerned that Li Fu and others might take away the good positions they were about to obtain.

However, these individuals were generally praised by the public, and even the emperor issued an edict appointing them.

Officials with such concerns naturally couldn't say anything openly.

But soon, when the imperial edict was issued, specifying that Li Fu would be sent to Miaotun to cultivate land, Sun Jiagan to manage grain in Hanhai, Xie Jishi to inspect pastures in Yaksa, and Lu Shengnan to investigate the undisclosed area, the officials who had been worried about this were finally overjoyed.

"Your Majesty is wise!" "Li and Sun should be given important positions. It would be of no use to keep such loyal and righteous ministers in the capital as vice ministers or censors. It is more important for them to do something practical for the country and the people."

"His Majesty truly intends to give Li and Sun important positions, which is why he is training them in this way, allowing them to become familiar with border affairs and the people's conditions as vice ministers or censors! We should congratulate Li and Sun!"

"How fortunate is the nation, how fortunate are the people, to have such a wise and capable ruler who knows how to appoint and utilize his ministers, so that the country can prosper and the people can live in peace!"

These officials then began to praise it.

Fang Bao and Ji Rongshu were also very surprised after learning about Hongli's specific arrangements for these people.

Even Ji Yun couldn't help but ask his father, "Why aren't the Li and Sun gentlemen staying in the capital?"

"Perhaps this is where His Majesty's brilliance lies."

Fang Bao suddenly said something.

Ji Rongshu smiled and said, "What Mr. Wangxi said is right. I believe that Mr. Li and Mr. Sun are also willing. In any case, a true gentleman will only feel honored to serve the court and save the common people, and will not care about personal honor or disgrace."

Ji Yun nodded after hearing this: "So, His Majesty truly regards them as gentlemen, which is why he has them do such a difficult and arduous task!"

The two exchanged a smile.

……

"If I don't rely on a true gentleman like you, who else can I rely on?"

"Please dedicate yourself to the country, and I and the people of the world will never forget your future merits!"

"When you achieve your goal, it will be time for you to return to court in glory. Not only will your ancestors, parents, wife and children be proud of you, but I and scholars from home and abroad will also be proud of you!"

When Emperor Qianlong issued this arrangement, he sent an edict to Li Fu and others in the court to encourage them. When he met Sun Jiagan, he also said the same thing to him, and he did so with great emotion.

That's right!

Hongli was willing to promise that they would return to the capital in glory in the future.

However, even if they die in the line of duty, they will return in glory.

As for how these people will return to the capital in glory, that remains to be seen, depending on their specific performance.

Sun Jiagan was bitter inside, but he couldn't say why he was bitter. He could only shed tears in front of Hongli. But even while shedding tears, he had to say against his conscience, "Your Majesty is so apprehensive that I have not received such high regard from you. Only by devoting myself to the cause and not fearing death can I gain even a fraction of Your Majesty's favor!"

"Remember, I don't want you to die, I want you to come back alive!"

Hongli also said something against his will, not saying that he wanted to use Sun Jiagan to death, but instead said something that was easy to remember in the daily records.

At this moment, Liang Shizheng, the official in charge of recording the emperor's daily life, couldn't help but shed tears, and wrote in the record book, "The emperor's words were very solemn."

When Xie Jishi received the news that he had been appointed as the Imperial Inspector in charge of patrolling pastures and was to patrol Yaksa, he did not have to go to the emperor to express his gratitude, so unlike Sun Jiagan, he did not pretend to be moved. Instead, he tearfully said, "I knew it, I knew it, I would not be able to go back, I would not be able to go back, sob sob!"

However, when he saw the imperial edict sent to his court by Hongli, a glimmer of hope was rekindled, and he sighed, "Very well, in order to have a chance to go back, I shall go and take up my post."

"Very well, I'll go and take up my post."

Ningguta.

Upon receiving the imperial edict sent to his court by Emperor Hongli, Li Fu sighed deeply and continued northeastward toward Miaotun.

However, Li Fu sighed deeply and muttered to himself with a sense of disappointment, "I had hoped to return to court as soon as the new emperor ascended the throne, and take advantage of my remaining years to completely reform the oppressive policies of the old dynasty! Now it seems that His Majesty does not want me to go back and completely reform the oppressive policies of the old dynasty."

"It may not be that His Majesty does not want you to return, but rather that the treacherous faction, including Ortai, does not want you to return. Now that you have been reinstated as an official, you might as well submit more secret memorials to His Majesty, let His Majesty know your intentions, and denounce the evils of the old dynasty's oppressive policies. Perhaps then you can return sooner."

Qian Mingshi, who sympathized with Li Fu, comforted him.

Upon hearing this, Li Fu felt as if he were a drowning man who had found a piece of driftwood that could save his life. He immediately cupped his hands in thanks and said, "Thank you for your guidance!"

(End of this chapter)