You can't only love the Qing Dynasty when you're eating the fruits of others' labor.

Chapter 96 Tell me, what kind of leader are you under Yongli?
The seventh year of the Shunzhi reign, the eighth day of the eleventh lunar month.

A major event is about to take place in the capital: Prince Dingnan Kong Youde, Prince Pingnan Shang Kexi, Prince Jingnan Geng Jimao, and Prince Pingxi Wu Sangui are about to arrive in the capital.

The area inside and outside Deshengmen was spotless.

There's a teahouse nearby with a great view, and the second floor has private seating.

Wu Jinyan, the magistrate of Daxing County, stood at the window, craning his neck to look out.

"My lord, they are coming."

Jiang Qingyun then got up and walked slowly to the window.

The smoke from the firecrackers on the street had not yet dissipated when San Shun Wang's cavalry entered.

……

The three kings, Kong Youde, Shang Kexi, and Geng Jimao, advanced side by side, their expressions arrogant, with a large retinue of attendants behind them and banners fluttering in the wind.

"Old Wu, which one is Geng Jimao?"

"The youngest one is Geng Jimao. The darkest and strongest one is Kong Youde. The one in the middle is Shang Kexi."

Jiang Qingyun roughly estimated the number of guards to be around five or six hundred cavalry, meaning that each prince brought 200 guards back to the capital.

When will the Prince of Pingxi return?

"They should have arrived today."

"Where do these four princes live?"

"The Ministry of Rites has already arranged a residence for me."

Where do their guards live?

"This humble official does not know."

As they were talking, the procession had already passed by. At the end of the procession were a dozen or so carriages. The curtain of one of the carriages was lifted from the inside, revealing a pretty face.

Jiang Qingyun wanted to take a closer look to see whose woman it was, but the curtain was suddenly drawn again, so he had to give up.
The streets fell silent again, and everyone dispersed like birds and beasts.

……

While drinking tea, Jiang Qingyun asked Wu Jinyan a question.

"You've had dealings with San Shun Wang?"

"Your Excellency, before I took the imperial examination, I served as a staff member under Sun Yuanhua, the governor of Dengzhou and Laizhou. I had the opportunity to meet Kong Youde, Geng Zhongming, and Shang Kexi several times on official business."

"Sit down and tell me slowly."

"Thank you, sir."

Wu Jinyan carefully sat down and took a sip of tea.

"I dare to say something I shouldn't. These three princes were all miners, strong and brave in battle. Later they surrendered to our Great Qing, and Emperor Taizong valued them highly, personally going out 30 li outside the city to welcome them and bestowing upon them the title of prince. Their original titles were Prince Gongshun, Prince Zhishun, and Prince Huaishun. Although they were later changed to Prince Sannan, everyone still habitually calls them Prince Sanshun."

Jiang Qingyun nodded.

Huang Taiji was no ordinary man; his magnanimity, skill, and strategic vision were all top-notch, making him arguably the first among all Qing emperors.

……

"Last year, Geng Zhongming committed suicide because he broke the law and was filled with anxiety, fearing that the court would investigate him. The emperor was benevolent and allowed his son Geng Jimao to inherit the title of prince."

At this point, Wu Jinyan glanced at Jiang Qingyun.

"Old Wu, don't be shy. Sip your tea and tell me slowly. We have plenty of time today, so let's chat casually. Everything you say will be heard by me, and no one else will hear it."

"Yes."

Wu Jinyan relaxed slightly.

"When I first arrived under the command of Sun Yuanhua, the governor of Dengzhou and Laizhou, these three princes were still fighting under Mao Wenlong. Later, Yuan Chonghuan killed Mao Wenlong, and the three felt disheartened, so they went to surrender to Governor Sun."

"Then the Dengzhou Incident happened, and the Prince of Dingnan and the Prince of Jingnan surrendered to our Great Qing. Later, the Prince of Pingnan also surrendered."

Wu Jinyan still feels lingering fear when she recalls that day of blood and fire.

"Old Wu, you've survived a great calamity, you're sure to have good fortune in the future."

"Thank you, sir."

Do you have any adult nephews or nieces who are idle and don't do proper work?

Yes, yes.

"Leave it to me, and I will find a way to help them."

"Thank you, my benefactor."

Wu Jinyan immediately knelt down.

Jiang Qingyun saw this but had no intention of helping them up.

……

We also had lunch at the teahouse. A restaurant next door delivered a mutton hot pot. Eating mutton in winter is wonderful.

The sun sets early.

When even sitting by the stove felt chilly, the sound of suona horns, firecrackers, and gongs and drums finally rang out outside Desheng Gate. "My lord, the Prince of Pingxi has arrived."

"Open the window!"

Wu Jinyan pushed open a row of windows facing the street, and cool air rushed in instantly.

Jiang Qingyun felt refreshed after being hit by the cold air.

A cavalry unit bearing the banner of the Prince of Pingxi passed by on the street beneath my feet. Their formation was tight and they remained silent, giving the impression of being well-trained.

Jiang Qingyun suddenly realized that the Prince of Pingxi and the Prince of Sanshun were not on the same side.

……

In the procession, a young man dressed as a scholar suddenly looked up, his gaze meeting Jiang Qingyun's. He was slightly surprised, and then the procession continued forward.

Do you know this person?

"I don't recognize him. Judging from his attire, he's probably an advisor to the Prince of Pingxi."

Jiang Qingyun didn't expect Wu Jinyan to know any military households in Liaodong; he was just asking casually.

……

In the team.

"Xuan Chu, what are you looking at?"

"Your Highness, this is my first time in the capital. Everything is new and exciting. It truly is the most prosperous place in the world."

"Tomorrow I'll give you a holiday and an additional 50 taels of silver so you can explore the capital. However, you might not be used to the food here; it's quite different from Sichuan cuisine."

"Thank you, Your Highness. I simply enjoy novelty."

Liu Xuanchu was the chief strategist under the Prince of Pingxi, an outstanding military advisor.

"Father, what about me?"

"You will follow me into the palace to pay your respects to the Emperor and the Empress Dowager."

"Yes."

……

The capital city was bustling with activity that day.

The Ministry of War dispersed the four kings' guards to two military camps in the southern and outer cities.

The Ministry of Rites arranged for the four princes and their confidants to stay at the inner city post station, and also had to prepare for the ceremony of their audience with the emperor the next day.

The Five Cities Military Command increased its manpower and intensified patrols.

Sure enough, something bad happened that very night.

"Sir, you haven't paid yet."

"Damn!" The leading centurion slapped the silk shop assistant who had tried to stop him, "I'm fighting for the country, and you want money after taking a few bolts of silk from me?"

"Sir, no, these are the most expensive Jiangnan silks."

The silk shop owner had a bad feeling when the group of soldiers entered.

The guest troops are even more formidable than bandits!
He dashed out the back door and ran all the way to report to the authorities.

There happened to be a patrol team belonging to the Five Cities Garrison nearby.

"Help! Someone's robbing the shop!"

"Lead the way."

The patrol team didn't think much of it and instinctively went to enforce the law.

……

They saw that officials were coming.

Enraged, the captain under Kong Youde's command, who had been fine until now, quickly drew his sword and held it to his subordinate's neck.

"Tell me, what kind of leader were you under Yongli?"

"Sir, you can't slander someone's innocence out of thin air."

"Stop pretending. You're just a low-ranking officer in the Embroidered Uniform Guard under Emperor Yongli. This shop is the Embroidered Uniform Guard's hideout. Brothers, arrest him."

"Whoo."

Strike first to gain the upper hand.

When the patrol arrived, Kong Youde's group of guards had already successfully "solved" a major case involving the public.

The patrol team was dumbfounded.

The character for "official" has two mouths, so it can be argued that way.

But both sides are officials, so who is telling the truth?
Unsure how to handle the unexpected situation, the captain took two steps back and blew the whistle, the piercing sound echoing in all directions.

(End of this chapter)