Episode 1 The Soviet Army marches into southern Xinjiang

On March 18, Zhu Yourong worshiped the Taimiao, and gave a royal banquet in the north, middle and south of the three seas in the evening, and then held a dance party to entertain the ministers and envoys and reporters of various countries.

The next day, on the 19th, the empress set off for Changping in the north to pay tribute to the Mausoleum of the Thirteen Emperors of the Northern Ming Dynasty.

After that, some of the ministers and generals who had important responsibilities in the government went back. And Zhu Yourong took the imperial relatives and stayed in Beijing for half a month. During this period, Zhu Yourong worshiped the Temple of Heaven, the Temple of Earth, and the Sheji Altar, met with the envoys of various countries who were originally stationed in the Northern Qing Dynasty, met with the media at home and abroad, and met with the royal family of the former Northern Qing Dynasty. With the fall of the Qing Dynasty, these Manchu titles of nobility were naturally invalidated. The Ming promised to recognize their vested interests. However, this vested interest mainly refers to property, both movable and immovable.

As for the titles, most of the middle and low-level Eight Banner nobles have since become ordinary citizens and no longer enjoy privileges. And some particularly important nobles, such as Emperor Sungard, more than a dozen iron hat kings, and other princes, county kings, princesses, county lords, Baylor, Beizi, Guogong and a small number of high-ranking nobles, are still demoted to retain titles as appropriate. But you can no longer use the title of the original Manchu Qing, you have to use the title of the Ming Dynasty. That is, what "Baylor", "Beizi", "Gege", "Gulun", "Heshuo", "Doro"...... These names can no longer be used, and they are all replaced with corresponding Chinese names. Moreover, whether they were hereditary or descending, they are all descending now. In this way, this financial burden on the state will be greatly reduced within a few decades.

It took Zhu Yourong a few days to re-canonize them one by one.

The original Jiade Emperor loves Xinjueluo? Yu Chou, now named Yan Guogong, annuity 500,000 Ming Yang.

The following twelve iron hat kings, each named a marquis, with an annuity of 200,000 Ming Yang.

Ordinary princes and county kings are all canonized as earls with an annuity of 100,000 Mingyang.

The princess and the county lord were canonized as the county lord and the county lord respectively, with annuities of 70,000 and 50,000 Mingyang.

Baylor and Beizi were canonized as viscounts and barons respectively, with annuities of 70,000 and 50,000 Mingyang.

The re-canonization of the Eight Banners Imperial Family ends here. As for the following numerous Zhenguo Gong, Auxiliary Guogong, Zhenguo General, Auxiliary General, Fengguo General, Feng'en General, Yundu Lieutenant, and Light Car Commander...... and so on, the identities are ordinary citizens and are no longer canonized.

At the same time, they all have the same citizenship rights as everyone else, and they can move freely and overseas.

It is estimated that the Ming government will spend about 7 million Ming Yang per year for these newly added "annuity aristocrats". Since they are all descending titles, in about twenty years, that is, a generation, the state will reduce this expenditure by nearly half. In another twenty years, only about a million dollars will need to be spent every year. By the 21st century, the state will basically get rid of the pension burden of these former Qing aristocrats.

However, although the Ming government has to pay millions more annuities every year, it has gained a lot from the Qing treasury. The gold, silver, foreign exchange, foreign bonds, etc., stored in the underground vault of the Qing Imperial Bank, were counted and accounted for a total of 29.6 billion Ming Yang, equivalent to twice the Ming Dynasty's fiscal revenue in 1935. The financial pressures brought about by the war have been greatly eased.

……

Of course, if those who have not been awarded the title of the Qing Dynasty dragon Fengsun are unwilling to have only a "citizen" title on their heads, and they have money in their hands, then the Ming royal family also allows them to spend money to buy the title, and the highest can buy an earl. Of course, it is only a noble status, and there is no annuity. The products are divided into three specifications: "hereditary", "descending" and "immortal".

The first is a "freehold title", which can be passed down from generation to generation as long as it is bought. But it is also the most expensive. A hereditary earl costs millions.

The second type belongs to "limited property rights", although each generation has to be downgraded by one level, but if it is an earl, it can also be passed down to three generations. This is much cheaper, and an earl can take it for more than 200,000 yuan.

The third type is a "lifetime property right", which is limited to the purchaser's own use and cannot be passed on to future generations. This one is the cheapest, and one earl is more than a hundred thousand.

This plan was made up by Zheng Gongyin, an old money fan, with his niece. Not only the Manchu royal family could buy it, but also the wealthy people of the people. Selling an official is not the same as selling an official, selling an official is selling the public power of the country, which is extremely harmful. And the title is only a noble title, which does not hold any public power and does not cause any harm to society. Moreover, the large income from the sale can also subsidize the state treasury and make up for the losses caused by the addition of so many new annuity nobles.

Zheng Gongyin estimated that because the Qing Dynasty had just been destroyed, those rich former Qing nobles and bigwigs were still panicked, and they would only try to keep a low profile, and they would not do anything to attract popularity, and no one would spend money to buy any titles in the short term. But after a long time, for example, after a few years, they find that no one has come to trouble them and they feel safe again, their high spirits and vanity will swell again, and they will have a strong desire to regain their social status. At this time, those titles that are waiting to be sold are full of temptation for them.

……

Now it's time to deal with the Manchu harem concubines.

Now the concubines in the harem of the Forbidden City, except for the concubines of the previous dynasty, are mainly from the Jiade and Guangwu dynasties.

The number of concubines in the Qing Palace was originally very small, and Jiade and Guangwu had not been emperors for a long time, and they were not very good, so they were basically still the original Fujin side Fujin, and even the three concubines and six concubines were not satisfied, not to mention the nobles below, promised, and always there. The concubines of the two, except for a queen and an imperial concubine taken away by Guangwu, there are more than thirty in total. plus the old concubines of the previous dynasty, that is, about fifty.

Guardian's concubine is easy to handle, and she still lives with Guardian. Of course, Emperor Jiade is now the Duke of Yan Guo, and his women cannot be called "concubines", so they will all become "Duchess of Guo".

And Guangwu's concubines and those concubines are more difficult to handle. Zhu Yourong is in charge, and each person gives a sum of money to let them live out of the palace. Those who are willing to remarry will remarry, those who are willing to go back to their parents' homes will return to their parents' homes, and those who have children will follow their children......

Zhu Yourong is also worried that these concubines who have no skills and have been married will be in a very sad situation after they go out. She is also a woman herself, and she always feels unbearable when she thinks about it, but she has no choice but to give them as much money as possible.

Who knew that it turned out later that Zhu Yourong's worries were completely superfluous. Their status as "emperor's concubines" has not only not become a burden, but has become a wealth.

Those young concubines were naturally willing to remarry, and they immediately became sought-after goods, and were soon married by wealthy businessmen and wealthy families of the Ming Dynasty. ——Married back is the "concubine of the Northern Qing Emperor", Dora style!

Even those who are older have become the target of major news media, publishing companies, and advertising companies at home and abroad. The last concubines of the most mysterious empire in the East are now suddenly free to enter society, what a curiosity! It's a strange thing! And these concubines are all official concubines, and they have received a good upbringing since childhood. For a time, the outside world was very exciting: they published books, wrote autobiographies, did interviews, endorsed luxury brands, worked as consultants for film companies, and the most unfortunate could be invited by wealthy businessmen to tutor their children...... Not only does the livelihood have no worries, but they also earn a lot of money.

In the years since, books like "The Story I Had to Tell with Emperor Guangwu" have dominated the bestseller lists. Of course, that's an afterthought.

……

On April 5th, Qingming Festival, on this day, Zhu Yourong once again led the emperor's relatives to Changping to worship and sweep the Ming Tombs. Xiang Xiaoqiang also went. On the train back, Zhu Yourong leaned on Xiang Xiaoqiang's side and said sadly:

"That's right...... I'm going back to Nanjing, and you're going to have to stay in Beijing for a while...... We're going to separate again......"

Xiang Xiaoqiang was also very stunned. He said with a sour heart:

"Alas...... On the side of the Military Management Commission, it will take at least a month or two...... It's all in charge of the People's Guard here, and if you hate it, you hate it. I'm the head of the People's Guard, so I can't leave the picker to my deputy and go back to Nanjing to rest by myself, right? What would that person think of me? Alas...... Rong Rong, don't be too sad. I try to go back as soon as possible. ”

Zhu Yourong didn't speak, just nodded quietly and looked at the table. Xiang Xiaoqiang hugged her and stroked her back.

Zhu Yourong gently leaned his head into his arms. Xiang Xiaoqiang hugged her, and he was not in the mood to tease, just kissed her a few times, and looked out the window at the scenery that kept falling.

"Otherwise......" Xiang Xiaoqiang smiled bitterly, "Aren't you going to go to Mount Tai to seal Zen when you go back?" After that, I will go to Qufu to sacrifice Kong. You simply arrange more programs in Shandong, climb Mount Tai, visit Qufu, go to Jinan to see Baotu Spring, and go to Qingdao and Weihai to inspect the new military port...... In short, have a good time and have a good time in the past month or two. When everything is done in Beijing, I will go to Shandong to find you when I go south, and we will go back to Nanjing together. ”

Zhu Yourong's eyes lit up, and then they dimmed again, lowering his head and not speaking, as if he was holding back something.

"What's wrong with my dear?" Xiang Xiaoqiang stroked her hair, lowered his head and smiled, "This is a bad idea?" ”

Zhu Yourong hummed in his arms for a long time, and finally sat up straight, brushed the messy hair on his forehead, and said seriously:

"Stand out, the war is over, and it's time for you to marry Princess Liaoyang. I think it's best to let you get married in Beijing, while I haven't gone back yet. ”

Xiang Xiaoqiang was also surprised, he didn't expect her to suddenly mention this matter. But then again, Zhu Yourong is right, now is indeed the best time to do this marriage. Just after the war, there are so many Eight Banner disciples, former Qing officials, officers and soldiers in the north who need to be appeased, and it is timely to have such a marriage at this time. And now he is still the chief of the Beijing Military Administration, Zhu Yourong has not gone back, Fourteen Gege is also in Beijing, and everyone is in Beijing. The marriage happened to be held in Beijing, which was much more effective than that in Nanjing.

Zhu Yourong saw that he hesitated, so he smiled and said very gently:

"Look at you...... What are you worried about? Sister Liaoyang is so beautiful, you don't want to marry her home one day earlier. ”

Alas, that's right! Xiang Xiaoqiang said to himself, haven't you coveted fourteen grids for a long time? Haven't you been looking forward to this day for a long time? For such a long time, Fourteen Gege was not allowed to touch her by himself, so that he only dared to watch from a distance, and did not dare to play with her. Now it's okay, as long as the marriage is done, Fourteen Gege will be his wife, and he can do whatever he wants......

Thinking of this, he nodded and sighed:

"Alas, too! Yu Gong, now Beijing really needs such a marriage. For the sake of selfishness, we can't put it off any longer. After the marriage with Princess Liaoyang this time, it will be our turn next time. You see, you're 23, and if you drag it out, you will have a lot of dreams at night. If you don't believe it, as soon as my marriage with Princess Liaoyang is over, those ministers will have to think about how to marry you. ”

Zhu Yourong lowered his head and smiled. Both were reminded of the turmoil of the Siamese prince last year.

……

At this time, Wei Zijin knocked on the door outside the carriage.

Zhu Yourong let her in. After Wei Zijin came in, he bent down and handed Zhu Yourong and Xiang Xiaoqiang a document each.

The two of them glanced at each other, and they both opened the documents and looked at each other.

Zhu Yourong's piece is Shen Rongxuan's recital from Nanjing. And Xiang Xiaoqiang's this is a secret telegram from the Beijing Command in Fourteen Gege.

Looking at it, both of them frowned.

Xiang Xiaoqiang raised his head and said:

"Your Majesty, two hours ago the Soviet army marched into southern Xinjiang. Do you ...... that too? ”

Zhu Yourong looked at the recital and nodded intently.

"Soviet troops entered southern Xinjiang from Kazakhstan. Now Kashgar has been occupied. ”

Xiang Xiaoqiang frowned and muttered:

"Supposedly, we have already assigned southern Xinjiang to the Soviet Union, and promised to deliver it after the war...... Now the USSR didn't say hello to us either, so they took it themselves. Are you afraid that we will not pay our debts? ”

Zhu Yourong raised his head and said to Wei Zijin:

"Zijin, tell the train to speed up, and ask your Excellency to return to the headquarters immediately to take care of military affairs."

"Yes."

After Wei Zijin went out, Zhu Yourong showed a gentle smile again, gently leaned on Xiang Xiaoqiang's shoulder, and said:

"Well, it's not that serious...... You can just pay attention to the situation in the northwest when you go back...... There is a cabinet to negotiate with the Soviet Union. Don't worry, hehe...... Your marriage to Sister Liaoyang remains unchanged. ”