My father is Yongzheng, and I am Qianlong?

Chapter 85 The Surprise Yongzheng Gave to Hongli
The thirteenth and sixteenth princes didn't even drink any wine, remaining silent and with their heads down.

Hongli understood that they couldn't be blamed for this.

Unless they were from a later era, it would be difficult for them, as members of the Qing dynasty nobility, to accept or even understand Yongzheng's ideas.

It should be noted that historically, when landlords and officials tried to save the Qing Dynasty, even during the Self-Strengthening Movement, most Manchu nobles, except for a few like Prince Gong, did not support the "Chinese learning as the foundation, Western learning for practical application" reform advocated by the Self-Strengthening Movement.

The fact that they remained silent and did not walk away already indicates that they had some agreement in their hearts, but they may still be subjectively resisting it, or perhaps they are still thinking about whether it is right or wrong.

Hongli, however, felt some pity for Yongzheng.

Because he knew that Yongzheng was destined to be the loneliest person on this path.

In any case, it is too early to talk about a new national consciousness or that all ethnic groups are Chinese people.

In the present day, for a Manchu emperor to truly unify this multi-ethnic empire into one nation is to defy the wishes of the people, defy public opinion, and create unnecessary difficulties for himself.

It's very likely that you'll end up pleasing neither side.

Both Manchu and Han officials and landlords would dislike him.

Moreover, although Yongzheng's domestic affairs were not bad, he had the same problem with the principal in military affairs.

Therefore, the effect he achieved was not as good as that of Emperor Taizong of Tang, who became the Heavenly Khan.

After all, Emperor Taizong of Tang was truly all-powerful.

However, Hongli had to admit that even though Yongzheng was all-powerful, he could not actually achieve his goal of making the Qing Dynasty last forever.

Even if someone in the Qing Dynasty were willing to establish a constitutional monarchy in the future.

History has proven that the Qing Dynasty could not possibly succeed in establishing a constitutional monarchy.

There was no way around it; the landlords and bureaucrats in this land were simply too powerful.

Manchu and Mongol nobles and Han landlords would not easily give up their privileges, truly making everyone equal in the constitutional Qing Dynasty.

However, it would be extremely difficult for an emperor to contend with such a massive power of landlords and bureaucrats by relying solely on his personal abilities.

Moreover, the imperial system itself cannot guarantee that every emperor will be wise enough.

Therefore, with the West already catching up, the rise of a new China cannot be achieved without completely eradicating the landlord class.

This is an objective fact, and it cannot be changed by personal will.

Historically, even the shrewd Empress Dowager Cixi could not avoid all of this.

The imperial system had indeed reached a dead end in this land.

Even though the Qing dynasty tried to correct all the problems that existed in previous dynasties, it could not change the fact that the entire imperial system would be abandoned by the people of this land.

Not to mention the Manchus, even the Han Chinese elites in history had their attempts to restore the imperial system a pipe dream.

What Hongli knew was that it was precisely because the landlords were so powerful that the Qing imperial family did not meet such a tragic end in history.

After all, there were quite a few royalists, including many Han gentry who were willing to serve the Qing Dynasty.

Even the great scholar Wang Guowei was devoted to the Qing Dynasty and was a staunch royalist.

Others invited him to teach at Tsinghua University, but he refused. It was only after Puyi persuaded him that he went to Tsinghua University on the grounds of obeying the emperor's orders.

It is evident that even in the late Qing Dynasty, there were still many people who believed that the emperor's mandate was the way of Heaven.

Therefore, for various reasons, the old and new forces, geographically divided into north and south, will eventually negotiate a peace for the sake of the overall situation.

In that way, the Aisin Gioro family, supported by the old powerful landlords and indifferent to ethnicity, would not have been so undignified, at least they wouldn't have had to hang themselves on Coal Hill like Chongzhen.

But he wouldn't say these things to Yongzheng, and he also supported Yongzheng's efforts.

For him, what the ultimate outcome of Yongzheng's actions was? It didn't matter!

Importantly, Yongzheng did this to ease both ethnic and class tensions, which would make it easier for him to become a more carefree and comfortable emperor in the future.

In short, Yongzheng's contribution may not have changed the fate of the Qing Dynasty itself, but it may have only prolonged its lifespan. However, it was indeed meaningful for Hongli himself and for the future integration of the multi-ethnic unified empire into a new nation.

Therefore, Hongli was willing to see Yongzheng do more of these meaningful things, and in the future, he could use this as a foundation to lay a better foundation for the new multi-ethnic country.

After all, he was from a later era and would unconsciously consider the future of the new China.

……

……

"Fourth Brother, you're right. The atrocities committed by our Great Qing at the beginning of its founding were too heavy!"

“Since it’s just a private conversation between a few brothers and nephews, I, the thirteenth brother, will not cover it up for our ancestors.”

"If my Aisin Gioro family wants to secure its rule, it must perform some great deeds and virtues, preferably things that even Han dynasties have not dared to do." Yinxiang finally spoke, holding a wine cup in one hand and looking at the vermilion palace walls outside the building.

After saying that, Yinxiang took a sip of his drink and looked at Yongzheng: "But I still maintain that in this way, Fourth Brother, you yourself will not have a good reputation."

"I don't care!"

Yongzheng waved his hand and looked at Yinlu.

Yinlu gripped the wine cup with both hands, gritted his teeth, and stood up: "Fourth Brother, there's nothing to say. I will support you no matter what you do. Besides, I am a prince born to a Han woman, and I am willing to support you in doing so."

Yongzheng nodded.

However, Yongzheng did not ask Hongli, who was sitting there, until after Yinxiang and Yinlu were seen off by Hongli. Only then did he stand on the pavilion and ask Hongli, "What do you think?"

“Father, your son supports you.”

"Your subject is waiting for the establishment of your Imperial Household Department's official bank so that your son can obtain loans for his banner commander and develop his banner's property!"

"Furthermore, I request that Father, while you may reform the system, please do not undermine the military prowess of our Great Qing."

Hongli then answered Yongzheng, also hinting that he would also make great contributions in the future, but his contributions would mainly be external.

He believed that after Yongzheng's reforms, as long as the Qing Dynasty still wanted to maintain its fundamental imperial order, there was not much left to change in its internal affairs; any further reforms would truly mean self-revolution.

Yongzheng understood Hongli's meaning, so he smiled and nodded: "Good! Moreover, I promise you now that you can do whatever you want with military preparations and the development of your own banner property!"

"Thank you, Ama!"

Hongli was overjoyed and quickly bowed to express his gratitude.

Yongzheng smiled and said, "Don't thank me yet. There's one more thing for you to do."

"Please give your instructions, Father."

Hongli hurriedly clasped his hands and requested permission.

Yongzheng said, “I have prepared a sum of money for you, which is in a box on the table opposite the throne in the East Warm Pavilion. Take it to the Ministry of Revenue to repay the loan your tenth uncle owes to the national treasury in your own name. Then take the receipt to persuade your tenth uncle to come back.”

"Whoo!"

"Your subject will go immediately!"

Hongli was even happier.

Frankly speaking, no matter how harsh Yongzheng was to others, he was indeed extremely attentive to him, actively providing him with opportunities to help powerful princes and nobles in their time of need.

When many members of the imperial clan were not helping the tenth prince, Hongli personally helped him repay his debts. This would undoubtedly win the tenth prince's favor and also make many members of the imperial clan who sympathized with him feel goodwill towards him.

It was clear that Emperor Yongzheng did not want to compromise with the princes and nobles at this time or try to win their favor, but he was willing to let Hongli go.

Hongli then took a stack of bank drafts to the Ministry of Revenue to repay the loan, and then headed towards Huguo Temple.

On the way to Huguo Temple, Hongli encountered a dispute. A group of burly men were beating up several vendors on the ground, and the vendors' goods were scattered all over the ground.

A eunuch was sitting in the teahouse across the street, smoking a pipe and shouting in a hoarse voice, "Beat him to death! If you don't kill him, he'll keep owing his bills!"

At this moment, Hongli gave Li Yu a wink.

Li Yu spurred his horse forward and cursed, "Are you all blind? Making a scene in front of our Fourth Master!"

"stop!"

The eunuch in the teahouse hurriedly called out and immediately ran down, kneeling before Hongli: "This servant is He Yuzhu, a eunuch under the Ninth Prince. I did not know that the Fourth Prince would be passing by today. I have offended the Fourth Prince by disturbing his sights!"

"Get them out of my way! Don't delay me from getting my business done!"

Hongli gave the order.

He Yuzhu agreed and waved for his men to leave.

The vendors who were beaten, however, escaped with their lives.

Hongli knew that the people under the Ninth Prince were used to acquiring industries and expanding their interests in business. They also adopted many merchants as retainers, so there were many cases where people bullied and monopolized the market by taking advantage of his power.

He was too lazy to take matters into his own hands, because he was the one who knew best that the Ninth Prince was about to be punished by Yongzheng for refusing to concede.

The henchmen under the Ninth Prince will be the first to be dealt with by Yongzheng.

The censors and officials would soon report all the crimes of the Nine Gates members, no matter how minor, to their superiors.

Hongli dismounted his horse and walked towards his tenth brother after arriving at Huguo Temple and bowing respectfully: "Tenth Uncle!"

(End of this chapter)