The ancestral system of the Qing Dynasty, Hanchen could not be an auxiliary government. Among the four major auxiliary politicians now, Sony has good resources, ability and talent, but he is too old; Sukh Saha is quite talented, loyal, and daring to do things, but he is too shallow; Suppilon refuses to come out in all things, is too soft to be rigid, but never to cause trouble; Ao Bai is decisive and decisive, and has both civil and military talents, but it is a pity to lose his impatience. If these four people can assist with one heart and one mind, it will not lose the painstaking arrangement of Shunzhi.

It's a pity that some people are unwilling to fight and dare not fight, but there are also people who are unwilling to be left behind. The rankings of the four major auxiliary governments are different, their temperaments are also different, and their personal relationships are also related and hateful. It also coincided with an eventful autumn, the more Nanming fought, the stronger he became, the three feudatories were not worried, one was already defeated, one was beaten and urgently asked for reinforcements, and the other waited and watched. At a time of financial difficulties, thousands of Manchurian and Mongolian Eight Banners with high hopes suffered another defeat in Jiangnan, which can be said to have made matters worse, and the contradictions were exposed earlier.

Three quarters in the morning. Kangxi sat in the center of the main hall, and Suke Saha, Jieshu, Aobai, Kubilong, and Suoetu entered and knelt down in a row.

The abridgement of the cantata is reported by Suo Etu as usual. Suo Etu read it and told Kangxi about it, which took a full hour.

Kangxi listened while playing with a green jade Ruyi on the case, and glanced curiously from time to time. I saw Sukh Saha lying on the ground silently, and he couldn't stop peeking at Ao Bai with his eyes.

And Ao Bai had already been impatient to hear it, and raised his face to cut off Suo Etu's words: "You just have to read, who told you to speak?" Isn't the emperor as good as you? ”

Suo Etu hurriedly smiled and said: "Back to Zhongtang, this is the original decree of the Empress Dowager. I'm afraid that the emperor won't understand, so I specially asked me to talk about it. ”

Ao Bai didn't wait for him to finish speaking, and then said: "These cantatas, Tingji has already been issued, why bother so much!" ”

"It's okay to tell me, I'm still young. Listen to it and gain insight. Kangxi saw that Suo Etu's face was a little uncomfortable, so he said in a childish voice: "By the way, Suo Etu, your father's illness can be seen to be cured?" ”

Suo Etu hurriedly knelt down and kowtowed and replied: "Thanks to the master Hongfu, it seems that the phlegm and asthma have improved this morning." ”

"Well, go back and greet him for me."

"Thank you, master." Suo Etu kowtowed again.

Ao Bai saw that Kangxi had no words. Then he said: "If the emperor has no holy oracle, let the servants and others retire." With that, he wanted to get up.

"I have something to say!" Kangxi suddenly remembered something and said: "A few days ago, it seemed that there were a lot of people who applied for the exam, but why did there be fewer people who took the exam?" ”

According to the ancestral system, the emperor who was not in charge of government affairs was given carte blanche to the auxiliary ministers, and the daily recitals were actually official articles, just listen to them. Now Kangxi raised this question, which made the following people a little surprised and surprised.

Suppilon was stunned for a moment. Kowtowed and replied: "Your Majesty, the war in Fujian Province has been frustrated, and some Jiangnan people have abandoned the examination at both ends. ”

"Why is that?" Kangxi was so young that he didn't understand it all at once.

Ao Bai finally felt his breath, raised his head and said coldly: "The emperor is still young, and such political affairs should be implemented according to the legacy of the previous emperor and ruled by the ministers!" ”

"Can't I even ask?" Kangxi asked with a wink.

One sentence made several ministers bow their heads and remain silent. Ao Bai thought to himself: "If you don't block back this time, he will ask about everything in the future." What kind of politics is it supplemented? After a long time, he said slowly: "According to the ancestors, the emperor has not yet been in power, so he can't ask." ”

As soon as the words came out, Suppilon and Sukh Saha couldn't help but glance at each other, and their faces turned a little pale.

"Oh. Since it's an ancestral system, then I won't ask. Kangxi didn't care, waved his hand and said, "Kneel down!" ”

Several Gu Ming auxiliary ministers withdrew from the main hall, and Sukh Saha took the lead, but Ji Bilong slowed down. waited until Ao Bai approached, and then he whispered: "Ao Gong, go to the study to transfer an excerpt written by Wu He after returning from the Chengde errand, saying that the Zhongtang circle occupies the land of the Eight Great Imperial Villages. Look—"

The muscles on Ao Bai's face tightened, and he didn't look at Ji Bilong, and pushed back stiffly: "Then please deal with it impartially!" ”

Kubilon hurriedly explained: "Ao Gong, I didn't mean that. I have dealt with the excerpts, and there is no need to be serious with him when such villains make rumors. Sony is old, and I don't think I need to bother him about this anymore. ”

For such a favor, Ao Bai can't help but buy it. He glanced at the serious Kubilong, and said with a slight smile: "Take care of it, curb the public affection, and thank you another day." ”

Suppilon nodded knowingly: "This kind of thing can't be done again. As he spoke, his eyes looked at the back of Sukh Saha in front of him.

Ao Bai glanced at Sukh Saha, sneered and nodded.

Judging from the current relationship between the four auxiliary governments, because Sukh Saha was originally attached to Dolgon, he later rebelled and became a high-ranking official, which is despised. There are many meritorious worships, and there are many people who are afraid of it. Although he has a marriage connection with Sukh Saha, he is in a bad situation, and he tries to make a gap. Sonei, the oldest in qualification, also hated Sukh Saha, and when he saw that Ao Bai was becoming more and more arrogant, he was incompatible with Su Ke Saha, and he was old and sick, so he did not stop Ao Saha. Curb Bilong and Ao Bai form a party under the same banner, and they agree with everything. As a result, in the battle between the four auxiliary ministers, a situation of two yellow flags against one white flag and three to one was clearly formed.

In the final analysis, the poor relationship between the auxiliary government and the government is also a manifestation of the contradictions in the various flags, and it is a long-standing problem.

After Nurhachi's death, the flag system of the Eight Banners underwent a heavy change. Huang Taiji made an important flag change, exchanging the two white flags he led with the two yellow flags belonging to the three Dolgon brothers, and personally received the two yellow flags, thus burying the root of the contradiction between the eight flags. Dolgon regency, strengthened the white flag of the self-general, and became the elite division of the Eight Banners of Manchuria. After Fu Lin punished his crimes, he confiscated the positive white flag, which, together with the two yellow flags, constituted the core of the Eight Banners and the most noble "Shangsan Banner" of the system, and became the pillar of the country's military strength. The "Lower Five Banners" gradually became the feudal fiefdoms of the kings and Baylor, and gradually separated from the country's military and administrative affairs.

The essence of the long-standing struggle between Ao Bai and Sukh Saha is by no means a personal grudge, but the exposure of the long-standing struggle between the Eight Banners of Manchuria under a new form. All kinds of contradictions and conflicts prompted Ao Bai to insist on changing the flag place, so as to suppress Sukh Saha, attack the positive white flag, and elevate the status of the two yellow flags.

In terms of political views, the four major auxiliary governments also have differences. Soni and Sukh Saha believe that the policy of domination should be adjusted under the change of shape. Steady dìng order. These adjustments include: in the economy, the implementation of light taxation, the change of name Tian (i.e., the Ming Dynasty vassal king's Zhuangtian that was given to tenants for cultivation by the Qing court free of charge), and the development of production; In terms of politics, attention should be paid to rectifying the rule of officials, slowing down the steps of attacking the Han landlord class in Jiangnan, and slowing down the process of attacking the Southern Ming forces in order to preserve strength. Such. First consolidate the rule of the Qing Dynasty, and then try to do anything else.

Ao Bai thinks that the proposal of Sony and others is unrealistic, and it is better to say than to sing, but it cannot be implemented at all. What do you get to supply the military salary and maintain the army? Slowing down the attack on the Nanming forces, wouldn't it be too big for them to sit on the throne, and it would be difficult to control each other? Slowing down the crackdown on the Han landlord class in Jiangnan will not leave a bane. By their collusion with the Ming army, when the time comes, it will be better to cooperate with the outside?

The Ming army recovered Guangdong, and defeated the Manchurian and Mongolian Eight Banners in Fujian. The new emperor ascended to the pole, granted amnesty to the world, and opened the department to select scholars, which is a practice handed down from several dynasties. But the news of the Ming army's consecutive victories kept coming. Jiangnan Juzi, who came to take the exam, had a different mind, and was afraid of being stigmatized. Many people gave up the exam, which added to the reason why Ao Bai could not trust the Han people.

Ao Bai returned to the mansion, and as soon as the sedan chair fell, the family stepped forward to report: "Lord Bamburshan is waiting for you in the warm pavilion of the East Flower Hall!" ”

Hmm, Ao Bai didn't say anything in his mouth, and walked towards the East Flower Hall behind him with a flick of his hand. He followed the verandah. Pacing, walking, pondering all the way, turning the family temple, and entering the water pavilion at the back.

Bambur came in when he saw it. Hurriedly got up and saluted, and said, "Say hello to Lord Zhongtang." ”

This Bamburshan is the clan of the Qing Emperor, the son of the Auxiliary State Gong Tabai, in terms of seniority or Kangxi's brother who did not come out of the four suits, because when Tabai died, he was ordered to pass on the post of the Auxiliary State Gong to the second child, but he only named a third-class Fengguo general, and a large family relied on worshipping their ancestors every year to Guanglu Temple to receive the hundreds of taels of silver to live, and their hearts were a little unhappy. Ao saw that he was having a shabby life, and often helped him. Because of this, he is very grateful to Aobai, and he has a lot of ghost eyes, so he has become the brainchild of Aobai, and has always been known as "Little Berwyn".

Ao Bai nodded, sat down on a chair, stroked his forehead and thought for a long time, and said in a deep voice: "The war in the south is not going well, and even the people in the capital are uneasy. Those who abandon the exam, hum, at this time, they want to add blockage to others. ”

"There is still empty talk, light practice, the style of writing is superficial, the quality of the people is declining, there is no ambition to calm the people, and there is no talent for governing the country, and there are many people who want to be famous and seek money. If you abandon the test, you will give up the test, and it is useless to ask for it. Bamble said disdainfully: "When the people are gone, the family lineage, place of origin and other information can be kept, and it is not a matter of raising hands to clean them up." Of course, it's not appropriate now, but Lord Nakado doesn't have to take it to heart. ”

"I'm worried about the big thing behind this!" Ao Bai exhaled a long breath lightly and said: "Although a strict order has been issued to Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Jiangxi provinces, asking them to send troops to Fujian, the troops are not enough. Jiangxi gathered troops in Guangdong and Jiangxi, and Jiangsu and Zhejiang had to guard against various sea ports. If the enemy enters Jiangxi Province, Jiangsu and Zhejiang, the disaster will be even more intense! ”

"Could it be that this time is even stricter than when the sea rebels invaded Jiangnan?" Ban Bushan felt that compared with the situation when Zheng Jun entered the Yangtze River, Zhenjiang was lost, Jiangning (Nanjing) was in danger, and Beijing was earthquaked.

Ao Bai shook his head lightly and said: "Back then, the sea went against the Kou, and although the shape was urgent, it was because it was directly aimed at the important land of Jiangning, and the imperial court was not well prepared. Zheng Cheng can win, but if he loses, he will be out of control. This time, the enemy's army is well prepared by sea and land, steadily advancing, and has already occupied the provinces of Yunnan, Guizhou, and Guangdong, and even if there is a small defeat, it cannot be eliminated in a short time. The three feudatories have lost one of them, Wu Sangui has lost his fighting spirit again, and if the Geng clan loses again, the situation in Jiangnan will collapse. ”

"The Zheng clan is in civil strife, and there is no intention to attack, and the war situation in Fujian Province may be variable." Bamburshan is good at intrigue and trickery, but this military is not his forte, and casual comfort can only be better than nothing.

"The source of wealth in Jiangsu and Zhejiang, the weight of Cao Yun, must be devoted to fighting." Ao Bai picked up the tea bowl and drank a sip of water, and said to himself: "If the Eight Banners of the Forbidden Brigade go south, the capital division will be empty, and although the Eight Banners are brave and good at fighting, the south is not a place to gallop. The enemy army may also hope that the Eight Banners soldiers will move south in order to consume our Qing military strength in the south of the Yangtze River. It's a dilemma! ”

Bamburshan was silent for a moment, raised his eyebrows, and said, "Lord Zhongtang, if the Ming army and the Zheng army have a conflict, the shape may be reversed, and there is great hope for turning defeat into victory." ”

"Oh!" Ao Bai stared at Bamburshan fiercely and asked, "How do you make it conflict?" ”

"Peace talks with Zheng Jun." Bamburshan touched his beard and said while thinking: "The conditions may as well be more lenient, expedient." Zheng Jing can be told that according to the Korean practice, he does not shave his hair, but only calls him a tribute. Or Zhang, Chao, Hui, and Quan can be assigned to Zheng Jing, thinking that Zheng Jun is a place for food. ”

Ao Bai's eyes narrowed, and he said with a smile: "The four prefectures of Zhang, Chao, Hui, and Quan have been occupied by the Ming army, and it is appropriate to give them to the Zheng family." Well, it's possible, but it needs to be carefully discussed. ”

"Hehe, there are still two or three of these plans." Bambul smiled evilly: "You can also send an envoy to meet the pseudo-sect, and then mention the proposal of abandoning the seven provinces of Hunan, Guangdong, Guangxi, Jiangxi, Sichuan, Yunnan, and Guizhou to make peace with them." First, it can divert its attention, second, it can have the effect of arrogating the enemy, and third, it may enable the Ming army to fight with Wu Sangui. ”

When Li Dingguo, the king of the Jin Dynasty, became a famous king and crisscrossed Hunan, the Qing court had the idea of abandoning the seven southwestern provinces for peace, but it was not implemented. Compared with the southwestern provinces, Jiangnan, a land of wealth, is obviously more important. Bamburshan's Jianyì, Ao Bai understood that this was just a trick to gain some buffer preparation time. Of course, if the Ming army really wants to take Guizhou Province and fight against Wu Sangui, it will also be very beneficial to the Qing court.

"What about the third?" Ao Bai became interested and asked with a smile.

"Send a detailed party to spread rumors and bribe Nanming's officials to add fuel to the fire." Bambulshan smiled sinitiously and said: "The puppet emperor Yongli is in Burma, but the puppet clan never mentions the matter of taking over, which can be said to be Sima Zhao's heart, and everyone knows it. Let's add some blockage to him, distract him and divide his army. ”

"The pseudo-clan has unified the powers, and this plan may not have much effect." Ao Bai's tone changed, and he appreciated: "But you can give it a try, your head is worthy of little Berwyn." ”

"Lord Nakado has won the prize." Bambul bowed down to show humility, and said: "The pseudo-sect does have some talents, and because there is no one to compete with them for power, they can only be used as they wish. In the final analysis, he is just a distant side branch, with great power in his hands, and it is inevitable that some people will be dissatisfied. It's a pity that except for the pseudo-king Lu, there is no one to compete with. ”

Ao Bai smiled bitterly, this is really no way, in order to curb the struggle against the Qing Dynasty, the Qing court ignored its promise to "give grace", and beheaded all the vassal kings of the Ming Dynasty to get rid of future troubles. Now, even if you want to create an opponent for Zhu Yongxing, it is impossible.

…………… (To be continued......)