I want to ruin the country

Yining Road,

"The Holy Ancestor also said that if this matter is not handled properly, it will go from being a minor issue to a serious problem. By then, there may be war and countless lives lost!"

Prince Gong was somewhat disapproving.

"How could such a serious situation happen to a small group of uncivilized people in such a poor and remote mountainous area?"

Yining Road,

"You are wrong. This matter is definitely more serious than you think. It has already endangered the stability of our country. We cannot take it too seriously. I want to hear your opinion!"

Prince Gong thought for a moment, gritted his teeth, and showed a maturity and ruthlessness that was not in line with his age.

"If it's really as serious as His Majesty says, then we must eliminate it. Otherwise, it will be too late to regret if it becomes a serious threat to us!"

Yining was satisfied with his reaction and nodded.

"That's what I was thinking too. It's never too late to mend the fence after the sheep have been lost!"

Prince Gong asked,

"The Emperor has already made arrangements?"

"With some small arrangements, if things go wrong, there will be big moves, so you have to be mentally prepared!"

Prince Gong nodded.

Yining said again,

"As you said, if handled properly, this is just a minor problem. The real danger to our Daqing Nation actually comes from overseas!"

Prince Gong asked in surprise,

"Overseas, is there another country trying to make things difficult for us?"

Yining Road,

"Western countries like Britain, France, Russia, the United States, and Japan are all watching us from all sides, watching us covetously!

Our Great Qing Kingdom's coastal defenses are weak, and we lack ironclad warships to protect our sea borders. If another war breaks out, our gates will be wide open, and we will still be defeated!"

This is a fact, and Prince Gong is well aware of it.

The failure of the First Opium War is an example. Although Prince Gong was still young at the time, his father and teacher mentioned it many times, and they were full of hatred!

Yining Road

"If the foreign powers come from the sea, we won't be able to fight at all. We can only abandon our ancestral tablets and run away. Do you think it's right or wrong?"

"Is it really that serious? They just want to take advantage of us, but can they really seize our kingdom?"

Yining gave him a cold look.

"Sixth brother, if you don't think this way, then foreigners may never be able to do what I say. If you really think this way, then this result is inevitable!"

Prince Gong thought for a moment and said,

"Your Majesty, does it matter what I think?"

Yining sat down, picked up the teacup and took a sip.

"Sixth brother, your opinion may not be important, but what if millions of people think this matter has nothing to do with them?"

Prince Gong was a very smart man, how could he not figure this out? After a moment, he felt a chill down his spine.

"Your Majesty, I would never think so. I just said it casually!"

Yining snorted, "Sixth brother, I'm not exaggerating. It's really the Emperor Shengzu who has instructed us to prepare in advance, otherwise it will be too late to regret!"

Prince Gong also stood up and asked,

"What did the Holy Ancestor say? Can you tell me about it?"

Yining Road,

"The Holy Ancestor said that in five years, Britain, France, Russia, the United States, and Japan will form an alliance to attack Daqing!"

Prince Gong was shocked.

"Ah! Is this true?"

"The Holy Ancestor also said that in a few years the Russians would send troops to occupy our land and kill our people!"

Yining stopped, looked back at him and asked,

"Do you believe what the Holy Ancestor said?"

Prince Gong said hurriedly,

"Of course I believe it. Did the Holy Ancestor tell me how to respond?"

"I told you that we should build a strong army and an ironclad fleet, strengthen our coastal defenses, and keep the enemy out of our country!"

Prince Gong also knew that it would take more than one or two years for the navy to be combat-ready, so he murmured,

"Strengthening coastal defenses is easy, but building a fleet capable of countering the coalition forces in five years is no easy task!"

Yining saw deep worry and helplessness in his eyes. It seemed that this kid was still clear-headed when it came to important matters.

Yining said,

"The Holy Ancestor said that you can understand the seriousness of this matter, and it is indeed true. Although five years is a bit short, there is still time to speed up preparations!"

Prince Gong's face was filled with sorrow.

"Your Majesty, whether it's strengthening the coastal defenses or building an ironclad fleet, it will require a large sum of money. I know our treasury is empty, where can we get the money?"

Yining Road,

"Ten years ago, we paid England 21 million silver dollars in compensation, and we've never recovered from the pain. This is also a major reason for the depletion of the national treasury. We must not let the tragedy of last time happen again!"

Prince Gong was in turmoil. As the saying goes, no egg can remain intact when the nest is overturned. If the Daqing Kingdom was destroyed, he would be destroyed too.

When one prospers, all prosper; when one suffers, all suffer. He still knows what is more important than what is less important!

"Your Majesty, I am willing to stand with you and fight against foreign enemies together. Whatever Your Majesty wants to do, I will not hesitate to do anything!"

"Sit down and talk. Serve tea!"

The two of them sat down, and Prince Gong asked,

"Your Majesty, what shall we do if the treasury is empty?"

Yining Road,

"Now, the army's generals are eating up the vacancies, embezzling military pay and neglecting military affairs. The actual number of personnel is less than 60 to 70 percent of the roster. Did you know?"

Although Prince Gong was aware of these problems, he did not expect them to be so serious.

"Less than six or seven out of ten?"

Yining nodded.

"Not only that, but these soldiers have become vagrants, soldier ruffians, they eat, drink, have fun and smoke opium, where is the fighting spirit left?

Furthermore, foreign soldiers had already entered the era of foreign guns and cannons.

Our soldiers still wield swords, spears, bows and arrows, and the most advanced weapons are some three-barreled guns. They have little lethality at close range, so how can we fight them?"

Prince Gong nodded, what Fourth Brother said was the actual situation.

Yining said again,

"Local officials are even more corrupt, colluding with each other, forming cliques for personal gain, and rampant corruption. Virtually every official is corrupt, and government corruption has reached its highest level since the founding of the People's Republic of China!"

Prince Gong was well aware of the corruption of these officials.

Yining said again,

"Nine out of ten lands on which the people depend for their survival are in the hands of the powerful and evil gentry. Ordinary people have no land to farm, and it is difficult for them to have enough food and clothing year-round.

If the landlords and gentry don’t even pay taxes on the land they own, how can the national treasury not be empty?

The people don’t have enough food to eat and are exploited by landlords and gentry. How can they not be resentful?

If they don't vent their grievances on the imperial court, what else can they do?"

Prince Gong said,

"Your Majesty, these things are so serious that it's hard to reverse them. What can we do?"

Yining sighed helplessly.

"Father has left me a mess!"

Looking at his fourth brother with a gloomy face, Prince Gong was speechless. What his fourth brother said was true. Now it is really difficult!

It seems that not being the emperor might not be a bad thing. He began to sympathize with his brother, the emperor!

"Your Majesty, I understand your situation. If you can use me in any way, I will not refuse!"

Yining smiled.

"Sixth brother, I am satisfied with your words. Brothers fight together, and fathers and sons fight together. This saying has been true since ancient times.

We brothers are united, we can't let the great country left by our ancestors be destroyed in our hands, right?"