"Old Six," Xianfeng took the opportunity while observing the "reaction" of Lan Guiren eating the cake, and started discussing matters of subduing demons and ghosts with Yi Xin, "Lan'er has already eaten the evidence of the descent of demons, it should be real! Has anyone inquired about the human evidence? And does that Tula from the Land of Raja have any methods to defeat Niubang Wang?"
"To report to the emperor," Yi Xin responded, "My slave has already asked the witness Gu'er Jia Yuanbao, and also questioned the brother of Hong Xiuquan, the leader of Yue Fan, as well as Tuobo Lei's lama from Russia. According to that lama's words, Hong Xiuquan, the leader of Yue Fan, worshiped none other than the devil king from the West. That falling Niubang is not our Niubang Wang here either; it is not here but over there in the West where there is no God!"
Xianfeng furrowed his brow and worriedly said, "Actually, there are Western demons!"
"Don't worry, your majesty," Yi Xin quickly comforted, "That Western demon may have high power in the sky, but after landing on Earth, its power is not particularly powerful."
"How do you know that?"
"How can you see that?"
Xianfeng nodded, finally relieved: "This Yuanbao should be rewarded a Bartulu! The front camp school is also small, later give a second-class waiter!"
Yuanbao has really hit the jackpot now!
Although the second-class waiter is only a military officer of the fourth rank, much larger than the gate school, but the second-class waiter is the emperor's close confidant, even as a green-camp Deputy General outside, it's more than enough.
And Yuanbao will also receive a Bartulu!
Yi Xin then turned to Xianfeng and said, "As for that Lama from the Russia, he still knows some ways to subdue demons and ghosts from the Western side."
"Oh? What are the ways? Please tell us."
"The Lama Tu said he can make 'Holy Bombs,' which are specifically used to blast the demons in the West and engage in magical duels!" Yi Xin said. "According to Lama Tu, he has used this Holy Bomb to fight against Turkish demons in the West! I have allocated one thousand taels of silver for him to first forge a batch and see. If it's really effective, I will personally lead the banners' soldiers southward with the Holy Bombs to subdue demons and ghosts!"
What? Are you going south personally?
Xianfeng immediately becomes vigilant!
Yi Xin is the Gongqing Prince, a title bestowed upon him by the late emperor in the secret edict for selecting the successor, and it's as solid as iron! If he is to lead troops southward, he would certainly be given the title of Generalissimo. The banners, green regiments, and militia in Huguang and Liangguang all have to heed his command.
If he were to quell the Taiping Rebellion and the Long Hair Maniacs from Yuefan, returning triumphantly, would the emperor still have a place for him?
You, Old Six, have quite ambitious ambitions!
Although there are doubts in his heart about Yi Xin, Xianfeng's face has a smile of trust. "Very good, very good, Old Six. You indeed are my good brother! However, you are still a direct prince of the Qing dynasty. You cannot easily move your troops. If anything happens, the whole country would be in uproar. Even if there is no problem, if people see you in Beijing and outskirts with your troops, they will panic."
Yi Xin knew very well that his fourth brother, Xianfeng, did not trust him. Therefore, he had already prepared for this situation and quickly followed up with Xianfeng's suggestion: "Your Majesty is right. I did indeed overlook some important details. If Your Majesty allows it, let Sheng Bao lead Yuanbao and Tuo Lama, also bring along a thousand of the Beijing flag troops and a thousand holy bombs, and bring a batch of superior firearms southward to eliminate the fallen Niubang from the West!"
Why can't you go yourself? Why send your protégé instead?
Xianfeng knew exactly what was going on in Xianfeng's heart. However, this time he did not reject it because the close confidants of Gongqing Prince could easily leave the capital, but it would be difficult to return!
Xianfeng smiled and nodded his head and said, "Good! Old Six, since the emperor has entrusted you with the task of subduing demons and ghosts, I am sure that the people you recommend will be trusted."
"Thank you, Your Majesty," Yi Xin quickly bowed his hands, "My slave will definitely urge them to do their best to subdue demons and ghosts for the nation."
"Afterwards, you can discuss with the few people in the military office again and come up with a specific strategy," Xianfeng continued to look outside at the dim sky. "It's getting late, Old Six, you can rest now."
Yi Xin had already left, and Xianfeng watched through the window of the dragon boat as his sturdy good brother strode away, his pace swift and steady. It took a moment for him to turn his head back to look at Lan Guiren, who seemed even more alluring than usual!
It seems that the mooncake is harmless to ordinary people.
Xianfeng smiled and said, "Lan'er, bring the mooncake to the emperor. The emperor is also hungry and wants to taste what it's like to eat the mooncake that falls from the sky!"
"Yes, Your Majesty." Lan Guiren handed over the half-mooncake, wrapped in a small plastic box.
"Hahaha" As the Qianlong Emperor laughed, he took the plastic box handed over by Lady Lan, examined the material of the box carefully, nodded, and said, "Indeed, it's not an ordinary item!"
As he spoke, he picked up the half-mooncake with his fingers, took a bite, and found that it was quite delicious. After eating it, he felt a surge of energy.
"Come on, be careful, I'll go deep, my old brother Zhonghua, let's drink until we're drunk today!"
At this moment, in a small tavern located in a narrow alley outside the Zhengyangmen Gate, Yuanbao was pouring a bowl of wine carefully for a young man of about seventeen or eighteen years old, with fair skin, a round face, and small squinting eyes. He then topped up his own bowl as well.
This "Zhonghua brother" is Yuanbao's distant relative, with the same surname Guaerjia. Zhonghua is his title, and his given name is Ronglu - the favorite of Empress Dowager Xianfeng!
Ronglu previously lived with his father Longshou in Fujian, where his father was a general of the army. He was the son of the General's mansion, living a very comfortable life. After the Taiping Rebellion broke out, his father Longshou and his uncle Chang Rui went to Guangxi together to confront the Taiping troops under Saishang'a, but both were killed in an ambush at Dayong. They died on the same year, same month, and same day.
So, the young Ronglu, who was around sixteen or seventeen years old, had to return to the capital with his father's coffin. He arrived in Beijing just a few days before Yuanbao.
After returning to Beijing, Ronglu not only received the expected bad news that his father and uncle had died in battle, but also learned that Laner, his childhood sweetheart and a prospective bride, had been selected to serve the Xianfeng Emperor.
He's experienced the death of his father and uncle, plus his girlfriend has been chosen to serve the emperor. It's been a series of misfortunes for Ronglu. As a close relative and childhood friend of Ronglu, Yuanbao, of course, needs to offer him some comfort.
However, Yuanbao himself is also "Bao Bao's heart is bitter"!
Because he had just learned from Sheng Bao that his favorite, Telali, had been selected to enter the palace through the Ministry of Interior in February this year and was now a titled Lady Telali. Every time he thought of his favorite Telali sister becoming someone else's concubine, Yuanbao's heart felt like it was full of unspeakable bitterness!
But what can we do? This is the fate of a Manchu!
Yuanbao took a sip of the yellow wine and said, "Zhonghua, this is the fate of our Manchu people! Men go to war to serve their country, shed blood on the battlefield, and women are selected to enter the palace to serve the king. It's truly bitter."
As he spoke, tears came to his eyes and he looked even more distressed than Ronglu.
Although Ronglu and Laner were childhood sweethearts, they were still too young to understand the nuances of romance when they were children.
Yuanbao and Lady Li had been in love for quite a while, enjoying their moments under the flowers and the moon, with deep affection between them.
The two of them had also made a promise, that once she had finished the selection process, Li La would marry Yuanbao.
But she was selected and now she is the Lady Li.
Yuanbao, possibly after drinking too much, expressed his grievances in his words: "Once a person enters the palace, it is as deep as the sea. After this, you will never see Zhonghua again. Tell me, why can't we Manchu men have as many beautiful wives and concubines as the wealthy Han families outside?
The royal family is obviously wealthy across the seas, so why do they have to compete with us for those Manchu maiden daughters in the city of Beijing? They select and select; all the good ones are taken, leaving only the misshapen fruits and bad figs for us. We're so eager to get ahold of them, with no house, no position, and no family background. Even a palace maid who's been released from the palace in her late twenties or early thirties can't catch one!
You tell me, what are the advantages of our Manchu descendants?"
