I want to ruin the country

Lin Zexu said,

"Sir Rui, the idea of ​​changing the policy of punishing and preserving the crimes committed by Bannermen did not originate with Sir Su.

Everyone knows that Emperor Yongzheng also noticed these drawbacks back then.

He once took measures to reduce the treatment of bannermen and distributed land to the Eight Banners descendants for cultivation, allowing them to support themselves!

However, the Eighth Prince's party interfered for political gain, and most of the bannermen were already accustomed to extravagance and debauchery, so its implementation was difficult.

However, Emperor Sejong died young, so the project was abandoned halfway and ended up in nothing!

If Emperor Sejong hadn't passed away, I think the preferential treatment for the bannermen would have changed a long time ago!"

Ruijin said,

"Master Lin is right. Since Emperor Sejong couldn't do it, it proves that this thing won't work!

Isn't it inappropriate for Master Su to bring this up again now? "

Su Shundao,

“Otherwise, just because Emperor Sejong couldn’t solve something back then doesn’t mean Your Majesty can’t solve it!

I believe that since Your Majesty ascended the throne, he has boldly carried out reforms, eliminated malpractices, established the rule of law, and put the people first. Now the people are united in their hearts, and initial results have been achieved!

Now the national treasury is full and the army is strong. If there are scoundrels who want to take advantage of the opportunity to cause trouble, we can take this opportunity to eliminate them and prevent future troubles!

Only by reforming the treatment of bannermen and ensuring equality between Manchus and Han people can we achieve long-term stability!

Otherwise, if this continues, the situation will become irreversible and will affect the safety of the court, and the bannermen will die at their own hands sooner or later!

I cannot bear to see our ancestors' foundation destroyed, so I have the courage to speak frankly. I beg Your Majesty to understand!"

Yining nodded. Su Shun was right. Ruijin was not that good. It was still a little timid and fearful.

People who work in the economy have been like this since ancient times. They are afraid that falling leaves will hit their heads!

Yining looked at everyone and said,

“Su Shun has already expressed his thoughts, and everyone is thinking about what to do.

Today everyone can speak freely and say whatever is on your mind. There is no guilt in speaking out!"

Everyone lowered their heads in thought!

There are no less than hundreds of thousands of bannermen in the capital alone. This is related to their vital interests. If they are angered, there is no knowing what the consequences will be. A little carelessness may lead to a catastrophe!

Although the emperor said that the speaker was innocent, if something really happened, someone would definitely be held responsible. If his reputation was ruined by this incident, it would not be worth it.

So, everyone has concerns in their hearts.

The emperor has a clear stance and is decisive in other state affairs, but what is his attitude when it comes to matters involving the Eight Banners?

No one wants to express their attitude before knowing what the emperor thinks!

Yining certainly understood what everyone was thinking, and he was not in a hurry, letting everyone think about it carefully!

After a moment's silence, Lin Zexu spoke. He was the de facto Prime Minister, and when something happened, he had to have a clear attitude.

"Your Majesty, I believe that the preferential treatment for the Bannermen is related to the laws established by our ancestors, and even if we want to change it, it will not be easy to do so overnight.

However, the violation of laws by the Bannermen cannot be ignored.

Just like the case of Hailanjiang, if it is still raised high and dropped lightly as before, it will be inconsistent with the emperor's proposition that everyone is equal before the law.

It will only exacerbate the arrogance of the Bannermen. This old minister believes that this matter must be dealt with strictly according to the law!"

When Yining heard Lin Zexu talk about one thing separately, he thought it was a mature and prudent way to serve the country.

Canceling the welfare benefits of the bannermen would involve too many consequences and might cause radical changes among them.

But killing is against the law, and no one can say anything about it. In the past, it’s not that Bannermen who broke the law were not punished, it’s just that the law was not enforced properly.

If the law is followed in the case of Hailanjiang, and he is beheaded if necessary, just like the Han people, then it would be a big step forward in eliminating the privileges of the bannermen!

Yining nodded, looked at his teacher, and asked,

"Master Du, what do you think?"

With his own apprentice ruling the world, no minister would be more willing to see the world stable than Du Shoutian.

In his mind, anyone or anything that could influence the Emperor must be eradicated, he said.

"Your Majesty, Lord Lin is absolutely right. I feel that even the other treatments of the Bannermen should be adjusted.

Although the scale should not be too large, I, as an old minister, advocate doing as little as possible, so as not to cause major public unrest!

Yining looked at Zaiyuan,

"What do you say?"

Zaiyuan Road,

"Your Majesty, I agree that Hai Lanjiang should be severely punished, and the welfare of the bannermen can also be appropriately reduced!

"The court has been short of money and grain in recent years, and a big reason for this is that the expenses on the bannermen are too high, Lord Rui, is that right?"

Ruijin Road,

"It does account for a large portion, that's it. There are still many people who say they can't make ends meet and want the court to increase their benefits!"

Wen Qing couldn't help it when he heard it.

"These people have nothing better to do than to carry bird cages, eat and drink to excess, and spend their days in teahouses and taverns, talking and joking.

Some fight cocks, dogs, and crickets, go to operas, support actors, visit brothels, and keep male prostitutes. Even if the emperor gave them a mountain of gold, would it be enough for them to spend?

Everyone knows how frugal the emperor lives now.

What about that bastard Hailanjiang? He spends eight out of ten days in the Eight Great Hutongs.

Drinking wine and having tea together costs at least a hundred or eighty taels a day. Lord Zaiyuan knows about this, right?

If it weren't for the imperial court's preferential treatment, where would they get the money?"

It turned out that Wenqing knew that Hailanjiang and Zaiyuan were a family within the fifth degree of mourning, and Hailanjiang called Zaiyuan grandpa.

When Zaiyuan heard that the matter had come to him, he hurriedly said,

"Your Majesty, Hailan Jiang is my grandson. I was busy with official duties and neglected to discipline him. I am guilty!"

Yining asked,

"Grandson, how many years old is your grandson?"

Zaiyuan Road,

"Your Majesty, Hailan Jiang's next generation is five generations removed from my family!"

Yining Road,

"You just said that you would severely punish Hailan Jiang, which shows that you have no intention of favoring him. I will not hold you responsible!

But then again, I didn't kill Boren, Boren died because of me. Did Hailanjiang usually take advantage of your name to bully others? "

Zaiyuan Road,

"This servant doesn't know, but I think there is. Please punish me, Your Majesty!"

Yining Road,

"No need for punishment. From now on, everyone should control their family and friends and not let others take advantage of you!"

"Your servant obeys my command!"

Yining asked,

"Wang Jindou, Zhang Ying, do you usually receive many cases involving Bannermen?"

Wang Jindou said,

"Your Majesty, of course there are many, and even more trivial matters!"

Zhang Yingdao,

"I have quite a few here, but those involving the imperial clan and the Jurchens are beyond my power to handle. I've handed them over to the Imperial Clan Bureau!"

Yining Road,

"Su Shun, you must hand over Hai Lanjiang and the other criminals to the Dali Temple. Wang Jindou, I demand that you handle this case according to Han Chinese standards. Execute those who deserve to be executed, and show no mercy!"

"The minister obeys the order!"

When Su Shun heard the emperor say "Hai Lanjiang and other criminals", he felt that it was not right and said,

"Your Majesty, the criminal is only Hailan Jiang!"

Yining Road,

"why?"