Story of Yanxi Palace: Red Seal Spring Star

Li Yu told Concubine Rong everything about the Wanshou Festival night.Concubine Rong felt that since that day, the emperor has been very depressed, so she often went out for a walk with him at night.While walking, the emperor was also very silent.Li Yu then said to Concubine Rong: He and the prince committed a serious crime of beheading, but after all, they are blood brothers, and grew up with the emperor... But the slaves saw that the emperor was still the master of Concubine Gao.Concubine Rong nodded and said: "Although the emperor has thought about it long ago, in fact, if the matter really came to his eyes, he would not bear it.

Li Yu sighed, and said: "The Gao family, the emperor is good enough to them. Don't talk about this little Mr. Gao, just say Mr. Gao Jin, but Mr. Gao Bin's nephew, Jiang Ning weaving, customs, governor, governor, all of them." The important position was returned to the Grand Master of the Wenhua Palace. After the death of Master Gao Bin, he transferred Master Gao Jin to control the river, just to continue to trust and reuse the Gao family.But for such a big case as the salt class, Mr. Xiao Gao must be killed. As long as the emperor thinks of Concubine Gao, won't he feel sad?He is the same mother and brother of Concubine Gao.

Concubine Rong nodded and said: He and Concubine Gao had no mother since they were young, and were abused by their stepmother. The emperor told me.Li Yu sighed: "Who among them can understand the emperor's mood!"The same goes for the fifth master. He is the emperor's brother. It's been so many years, why bother to come.At what age is he still continuing to be ridiculous?He shouldn't have thought about that master!Anyway, that's the Queen of the Palace!Concubine Rong sighed and did not speak.

What happened on the night of Wanshou Festival is not known to the outside world.Yongxuan didn't know either, because Hongzhou and the three of them had not included him in the two-two secret discussion in his mansion. After a few days, the palace found that Nuoha hadn't come back since he went out that night, and another box of guns was missing. After questioning everyone, he thought that he stole the gun and sold it for money, and he didn't dare to come back, so he was removed from the list and sent to arrest him. Naturally, there would be no results.Hong Zhou has been imprisoned, but when he told the outside world that he was recuperating from illness, no one doubted it yet.

Before the Wanshou Festival, the emperor moved back to the Old Summer Palace.On August [-]th, at the shooting range of the Old Summer Palace, the emperor tested the marksmanship of the four elder brothers, the fifth elder brother, the eleventh elder brother, and the twelve elder brothers.As Concubine Rong's adopted son, Fu Kang'an was also tested.Fu Heng was naturally present.The five shot for a while, and it turned out that Yongqi was the first, Fukang'an was the second, and Yongxuan was the third.The emperor praised him, so he only left the fourth elder brother and the fifth elder brother to talk about military affairs, and asked the younger ones to go back.

When talking about military affairs and weapons, we must first talk about the old thirteenth prince Yunxiang.

During the time of the first emperor, Prince Yi Yunxiang was deeply trusted. The Ministry of Internal Affairs under his charge was in charge of all aspects of weapon production. The products were all-encompassing, from nailing to casting cannons.On the first day of the first lunar month in the fifth year of Yongzheng, Yun Xiang ordered to build ten "General Weiyuan" iron cannons, and said: "There is one General Weiyuan cannon in my mansion, I want to come and record the size and method, and make ten as usual. Check the discarded cannon again, is there such a cannon? Funing'an said that there are mother-child cannon carriages, so I asked him how to do it? Is it the same style as the cannon carriage made by the Manufacturing Office? I will make one The cannon mount is the same as the cannon, and I will see it when I come back. Follow this." Then he took the trouble to instruct: "This is very good, so do it the same way. The circle and the poles are thicker than this one, and the flute must be solid. Some." Finally, they had to go to Lugou Bridge to test the guns.

On the 22nd day of the first lunar month of the same year, Xi'an entered the bamboo camp artillery. Yunxiang wrote the same, but it had to be lightened. The doctor Haiwang said: "The skin of this artillery is thin. If it is lighter, I am afraid that it will not be safe. Now I want to make the diameter of the artillery chamber [-] inches. points." Yunxiang accepts the suggestion humbly.On the [-]th day of the first lunar month in the sixth year of Yongzheng, Yunxiang ordered: "I will continue to build one hundred more cannons." Iron cannons need to be equipped with cannon carriages. [-] gun carriages have been built here,...I will build another [-]." Another example is that in the seventh month of the seventh year, Yunxiang made [-] waist knives and rewarded them for the conscripts.

The selection of military officers was originally the most important power of the Ministry of War. However, in fact, during the time of the first emperor, the right to select middle and low-level officials below the third rank was not in the Ministry of War, but in Prince Yi.In order to use troops against Junggar, the first emperor set up a military supply room in the fourth year of Yongzheng, the predecessor of the Military Aircraft Department, and Yunxiang was in charge.Yunxiang ensured the transshipment of military supplies in a timely and effective manner, not only financially well managed, but also well dispatched.Tens of millions of military supplies are all out of the national treasury and have not been apportioned to the people.Yunxiang often used the method of letting Shanxi merchants secretly purchase military supplies, and cooperated tacitly with the late emperor, and never made a mistake, "For several years, there is no such thing as using troops in China."Shanxi Fanjia is one of them, and of course they have other businesses.

Fu Heng is the head of the Imperial Army of the Palace of Preserving Harmony, and he has won the trust of the emperor. The emperor's opinion on the employment of the imperial court is naturally important to the emperor. He had direct contact with the military aircraft Zhang Jing and the officials of the various ministries, and he also directly contacted many local officials and front-line soldiers along the way. Known by Fu Heng, he was recommended and entrusted with reuse, such as Cai Yanlin.Back then in Xiangshan, Lu Yong, the messenger guard he carried along with him, is now the commander-in-chief of Nanchang.

Another important way for Fu Heng to understand officials is to lead them to introduce them.The introduction of officials, as a way to investigate officials, was extremely valued by the emperor, and the number of people who were introduced was large, sometimes reaching more than a hundred people every day.Usually, the person to be introduced often introduces the minister first before meeting the emperor.The distance between the emperor and most foreign officials is very far, and leading officials to introduce is one of Fu Heng's main responsibilities.Fu Heng will pay attention to observe and understand the talents, temperament and knowledge of the people being introduced, and learn more about other officials through them.Because Fu Heng is humble and easy-going, and the person being introduced is less taboo about speaking, Fu Heng can get information that the emperor could not know during the official introduction. The emperor undoubtedly needs this, so Fu Heng is actually under one person and above ten thousand people. Yuan Chunwang was right to monopolize Chao Gang.

Imperial examinations are still the most important way for Han people to advance to the imperial court and participate in national politics, including literary and military examinations.Many people entered the Hanlin Academy through hard study and started their official careers, such as Wu Min, Yu Minzhong, Ji Yun, Zhao Yi and so on.However, many Manchu and Mongolian officials with various privileges, especially the Manchu Eight Banners, have prejudices against the imperial examinations. Fu Heng disagrees with them. Gifts, even small ones, are not accepted. Among the six departments of the Nine Ministers and the local officials, apart from those who want to flatter them, many honest officials want to express their hearts, such as A Gui, Cai Yanlin, and Lu Yong from Jiangxi, etc., can only write a letter. Send it to Duke Zhongyong.

This seems to be caused by Fu Heng's personal character, but it is actually the emperor's strategy.The emperor used this to balance the Manchu and Han, limit the influence of the Manchu and Mongolian princes, nobles and bureaucrats in the government institutions, and did not need to directly come forward to avoid conflicts with the Manchu Eight Banners. Wei Mei's status in the harem also stems from this.The queen mother knew it clearly in her heart, so the queen mother attached great importance to the relationship between Fu Heng and the emperor.

The court's military supplies, firearms manufacturing, and military officer selection are directly in charge of Fu Heng. Fu Heng has been in charge of the Armed Forces Academy and the Firearms Battalion of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Military affairs are strictly controlled. An important consideration for foreign officials to "form cliques".Pu Dawa is Fu Heng's unofficial co-organizer. Shanxi merchants are now in charge of preparing military supplies. Because he has no bureaucratic status and is skilled in martial arts, he can do many things flexibly and conveniently.In addition to the military affairs class, Yong Qi often consulted and discussed with Fu Heng in private. Fu Heng reported to the emperor, and the emperor admired Yong Qi very much.

Today's topic is firearms.The emperor said: "Yongqi, you shot well!"Yongqi said: "It's my son's luck."The emperor was a little unhappy, and said, "What are you talking about?"Yongqi said: "This gun is a flintlock gun, not a blunderbuss. If it was a blunderbuss, I'm afraid that if you face the enemy head-on, even your ministers will miss it."The emperor pondered and said: Yongqi...Yongqi hurriedly responded, and the emperor continued: When the ancestor emperor conquered Galdan, the bird guns equipped by the army made great achievements. Now the bird gun battalion equipped The blunderbuss are better than the firearms of the ancestor emperor.He smiled smugly as he spoke.

Yong Qi said: "However, there is a very obvious gap between the bird guns we made ourselves and the flintlock guns that Britain paid tribute to.Yongxuan was unhappy, and said: "It's a firearm, so what's the difference?"Yongqi said: "The blunderbuss needs to be lit with a match. When it rains, the match will be wet and cannot be lit. When the wind blows, the transmission will be blown away. How can we fight in this way?"Hearing this, Fu Heng smiled.The emperor's expression turned serious, and he said, "Fu Heng, have you even talked to him about this?"Fu Heng nodded, and said: "Brother cares about the military, which is a good thing. The slave is just telling the truth, and I didn't expect that brother can draw inferences from one instance.The Emperor smiled and nodded.

Yongqi said again: "Huang Ama, my minister has the courage to say that our flintlock guns and rifles are all hidden in the royal family, which is really a pity."If the flintlock gun can be widely promoted, it will definitely show its power on the battlefield!The emperor glanced at him and said: "The flintlock guns currently used by the royal family are all paid tribute from the West. If you want to mass-produce them, it is almost impossible."Furthermore, the barrel of the flintlock is too long and the decoration is too gorgeous, is it suitable for use on the battlefield?Yong Qi thought for a while, and said: "It's almost impossible, but not impossible. The decoration is gorgeous, so discard all of it. You can invite Western technicians who know firearms to remodel it."Oh, by the way, Erchen brought a blunderbuss, try it, and you will know the difference.The emperor was very interested and said, "Okay, you can try it for me."

The fifth elder brother asked Zheng Ying to come up with the bird gun.Yongqi went off the field, tied the bullet belt around her waist, picked up the blunderbuss, tied the matchlock, and was about to shoot when Fu Heng suddenly said: "Wait a minute."Yong Qi looked at him in surprise.Fu Hengdao: Fifth elder brother, this gun doesn't seem to be the one you usually use?Yongqi said: Well, that one is broken, I asked Zheng Ying to go to the Armed Forces Academy yesterday to get a new one.Fu Hengdao: Have you tried the new one called slave?Yongqi said: "I just brought it yesterday afternoon, I haven't tried it yet."Fu Heng said: Then you have to try first.Then he called a guard.Yongqi then put down the gun, untied the belt, and sat back on the seat.

The guard was ready, picked up the gun, and pulled the trigger, he fell to the ground with a bang, everyone was shocked, Yong Qi immediately rushed to help him up.The bodyguard's ammunition bag tied around his waist caught fire and his thigh was wounded.After the examination by the imperial physician, he said that he would not be able to perform well for at least two months. Fu Heng hurriedly ordered Doro to give him double salary for two months first, and taught him to rest and recuperate.

After the guards were helped down and bandaged, the emperor was furious and said, "Go check this gun!"Fu Heng hurriedly said: "Yes, the slave complies with the order, and the emperor appeases his anger."Sweat dripped from Yongqi's forehead, and she hurriedly said: "Huang Ama calm down, my son is fine."Yongxuan said: "Huang Ama, there are many accidents with bird guns every year, and it may not be because of people's hands and feet."The emperor stared at him and said: "Your younger brother was almost injured. As an elder brother, you didn't even ask any questions. You didn't have any friendship, and you still said such innocuous words?"Yongxie immediately said: "Huang Ama, you deliberately picked the fault of my ministers."

Yong Qi hurriedly said: "Huang Ama, what the fourth brother said is the truth.The emperor was angry and said nothing, and Yong Qi wanted to say something, but Fu Heng immediately looked at him and shook his head.Seeing that the emperor's face was very ugly, Yongxie stood up, knelt down in front of him, and said: "What do you want to do with your ministers is up to you."The emperor was furious and said: Yongxuan, as my eldest son, is this how you respect me? !

Yongxie shook his head and said: "I just said a word. You said that what I said was not good. I ask you to punish me. Why don't you respect you?"The emperor stood up and paced back and forth, saying: Are you still stubborn? !Yongqi looked very anxious, so she looked at Fu Heng and asked him to persuade him. Fu Heng shook his head and signaled him not to speak.

Yong Xie was very unconvinced, and said: "Huang Ama, the masters all say that Yong Qi is good, and you also like Yong Qi, and all the ministers understand."The emperor was even angrier, snorted, and said, "You mean, I'm biased?"Yongxiu pursed her lips tightly and did not speak.Seeing the two of them like this, Yongqi was anxious, but she was the person involved, so it was difficult to talk, but she saw that Fu Heng was silent and did not look up.

Just as the time was right, the queen hurried in with two eunuchs.Seeing her coming, the emperor sat back in his chair and said, "You came just in time. Take your son back and teach him well."Nala took a look at Yongxuan, and said hurriedly: "Yes, the concubine obeys the order."Then he said to Yongxuan: "Yongxuan, go with Huang Erniang."The more Yongxie thought about it, the more angry she became, she stood up, blushed, and said to the emperor: "Huang Ama, Yongxuan also wants to be Huang Ama's favorite son!"Nala hurriedly said: Shut up, let's go!Said, pulled him up and left.

After the mother and son left, Fu Heng persuaded: "The emperor calm down, as long as the fifth elder brother is fine."The emperor's face softened, he looked at Yong Qi, and said: Next time you bring back any new guns, swords, or weapons, you must try them first. If it wasn't for Fu Heng today, you would be the one who was injured. Thank you Fu Heng!Yong Qi hurriedly stood up, bowed to Fu Heng, and said: Thank you, master!Fu Heng hurriedly stood up and said with a smile: I don't dare to accept elder brother's gift.The emperor smiled and said: It should be.Yongqi, you come back too, I have a few words with Fu Heng.Yong Qi then left and took Zheng Ying away.

The emperor looked at Yongqi's back and walked away. With a wave of his hand, Doro told the guards to go down, and he also stood in the distance.The emperor said: Fu Heng, what do you think?Fu Hengdao: "Your Majesty, first check the original gun of the fifth prince."If it was man-made, it must have started by destroying old guns.The emperor nodded and said, "Do you think it's Yongxuan?"Fu Hengdao: I don't know, and I also think it might be an accident. Bird guns are prone to accidents, and the fourth elder brother is right.The emperor said again: Do you also think I am biased?Fu Heng smiled and said: It is said that the slave and the fifth elder brother form a party, and the slave is in charge of military supplies, so the slave will lose his head?Your Majesty, don't overthink it.

The emperor sighed and said: Yongxuan is narrow-minded, has mediocre qualifications, and is embarrassing for a big job.Fu Heng didn't say a word, but changed his words: Your Majesty, the fifth elder brother is right. The flintlock gun is far more accurate and safer than the blunderbuss, but it cannot be popularized.In the process of using and transporting bird guns, accidents are extremely prone to occur. Just like what the emperor saw today, the sparks blown by the wind will ignite the belt through the matchlock. There are 46 accidents handled this year alone. Most of the soldiers died on the spot, so the slave noticed that Yong Qi was using a new gun, so he paid attention.The emperor said: "It's better for you to be careful. When you say that, I feel even more angry."

Fu Hengdao: "Your Majesty calm down, the matter needs to be investigated before a conclusion can be drawn."But what the fifth elder brother said today, does the emperor think about it?If flintlock guns can be mass-produced, it will be a blessing for soldiers. I think this is what the fifth elder brother wants to say to the emperor today.The emperor nodded and said: You two really have big things in your heart, so I will ask you to take charge of the research on the transformation and production of flintlock guns, and ask Yong Qi to be your deputy.Fu Heng smiled and said: "Yes, the servant obeys the order!"

The author has something to say:

[Fu Heng's recommendation] The novel describes the real situation in history, but except for Agui and Wang Chengpei, the people recommended by Fu Heng are all fabricated. "Fu Heng took advantage of his special status in the court, and in a cautious and tactful way, invited Wang Chengpei, the son of the late Minister of Criminal Affairs Wang Youdun, to receive special favor from Emperor Qianlong, especially praised by the scholar-bureaucrats. All the workers were moved and wept. They all "praise Wen Zhongzhi and sympathize with the children of the deceased", and the officials "all admire his virtue, which lasts for a long time", which has been written in the novel.

In addition, in history, Fu Heng recommended many people. Many famous officials and generals in the Qianlong Dynasty, such as Sun Jiagan, Yue Zhongqi, Lu Zhuo, Agui, Bi Yuan, Sun Shiyi, Altai, etc., all benefited from Fu Heng's recommendation .Sun Jiagan, a well-known direct minister in the Yongzheng period, was able to resume his official career after resigning, and was "strongly recommended" by Fu Heng. Yue Zhongqi was also reinstated in the Qianlong dynasty after being convicted in the Yongzheng dynasty. Great hero of the war.Yunxiang is a true veteran of the military aircraft. As mentioned in the previous narration, he was originally engaged in military supplies and military affairs, which was different from the civil servant Zhang Tingyu.Fu Heng's function to Qianlong actually combined these two people.

[Bird Gun Incident] The novel basically continues the setting of the original play, but the result is different.