029 Watch Me Unleash My Area-of-Effect in the Hall of Literary Brilliance

After finishing his shift, Kelkun, a Niru Zhangjing of the Plain Blue Banner, returned home to find a crowd gathered at his doorstep, whispering in heated discussion.

Seeing his master, a banner soldier hurried over and performed a respectful bow. "Master, something terrible has happened at your residence. You must go and see for yourself."

Staring at the bodies strewn across the ground, Kelkun felt his blood run cold. He scooped up his son’s corpse and let out a roar like a wounded beast.

The incident fermented rapidly.

News of the calamity at the residence of a banner official spread like wildfire across the entire Plain Blue Banner defensive zone, leaving every household in a state of semi-readiness for war. The banner soldiers even began organizing their own patrols.

This triggered a chain reaction. The Bordered White Banner, situated to the north, sent scouts to inquire about the cause, while the Bordered Blue Banner to the west hastily reported the matter to the imperial court. The City Guard and the Shuntian Prefecture followed suit.

Meanwhile, the mastermind behind these events, Jiang Qingyun, Commander of the Southern City Guard, finally achieved his goal. Carrying physical evidence and testimonies, he entered the Inner City through the Xuanwu Gate and headed straight for the Censorate.

He followed protocol and reported to his superior first.

Left Censor-in-Chief Ning Wanwo was so frightened he nearly dropped dead on the spot. After trembling for a long time, he finally stomped his foot and said, "Come, follow me to the palace."

The guards at the Meridian Gate were rigid. "Grand Secretary Ning, you may enter, but he cannot."

"I personally guarantee his conduct!"

"Apologies, these are extraordinary times. Unless there is an imperial decree, he stays."

Ning Wanwo took a deep breath and instructed Jiang, "Stay here. I will go and request an imperial order." With that, he scurried through the Meridian Gate with the evidence in hand.

Left alone, Jiang Qingyun turned his attention to the guard. "Brother Guard, are you under the Bordered Yellow Banner?"

"Obviously. Look at the color of my armor."

"I am Jiang Qingyun, Commander of the Southern City Guard, same banner."

"Wait, so it’s you! I am Suleda, a third-rank guard before the throne."

"A pleasure to meet you."

"What is happening out there that a Grand Secretary would bring a minor sixth-rank official like you into the palace?"

"Brother Su, I will tell you this secret alone. Kelkun of the Plain Blue Banner intended to rebel, and I have found the proof. Now, only our two Yellow Banners are trustworthy."

Suleda nodded, agreeing with the final sentiment. Otherwise, the two Yellow Banners would not be the ones bearing the entire burden of guarding the palace.

...

"There is an imperial verbal decree: Summon Commander Jiang of the Southern City Guard into the palace," a young eunuch announced.

"The situation is critical, Brother Su. Stay vigilant," Jiang Qingyun said, swaggering into the Forbidden City. The young eunuch bowed, leading the way with quick, mincing steps.

"Take care of yourself, Eunuch," Jiang said, slipping a silver ingot into the man's sleeve. The eunuch looked around nervously; he was clearly inexperienced with bribery and not doing well in the palace.

"Eunuch, where are we going?"

"To the Wenhua Hall."

"For what purpose?"

"Many high officials are already gathered there for state affairs. How would a servant like me dare to ask more?"

They walked in silence. As they neared the Wenhua Hall, Jiang Qingyun asked, "I haven't asked your name."

"Just call me Eunuch San. We have arrived, Commander Jiang."

...

Inside the Wenhua Hall, several high-ranking officials were gathered, their expressions tense and varied. As a minor sixth-rank official, Jiang Qingyun had to kneel before everyone, which was quite awkward.

Fan Wencheng’s face was as dark as water. "Jiang Qingyun, how dare you raid the home of a Manchu Zhangjing without a decree? And you killed people? Are you trying to rebel?"

"Guards! Strip him of his official hat and insignia."

Two guards stepped forward, hands on their hilts.

"Slow down! Grand Secretary Fan, your son, Fan Chengmo, is the Censor of the Southern City and my direct superior. He witnessed the entire process when the assassin confessed to the mastermind and even signed the document. If I am rebelling, is your family my accomplice?"

"Audacious!"

"It is clear that Kelkun, the Plain Blue Banner Zhangjing, secretly ordered the assassin to murder an official. All physical evidence and testimonies are complete. What is your motive, Grand Secretary Fan, for being so eager to take me down?"

Soni waved his hand, and the guards quietly retreated.

Amid the argument, Jiang Qingyun noticed a subtle detail: Fan Wencheng appeared angry but was actually remarkably calm. This proved the man was acting intentionally, purely to distance himself from the situation.

If that was the case, he wouldn't let him succeed. He had to find a way to keep Fan Chengmo pinned in the Southern City, unable to detach himself.

...

Hong Chengchou spoke up: "I will ask, and you will answer."

"Yes."

"Do you have ironclad proof that Kelkun ordered the assassination?"

"I have the signed confession of the assassin, the signed confession of Kelkun’s wife, and a letter from Kelkun regarding his treason."

Beside them, Ning Wanwo suddenly slapped his forehead, looking apologetic. "Oh dear, I haven't had the chance to present them yet. My apologies, my apologies."

Another old fox.

Fan Wencheng examined the testimonies, and upon seeing his own son’s signature, his face darkened further, though he did not fly into a rage.

This confirmed Jiang Qingyun’s assessment: they were making the conflict public to draw a line in the sand, hoping not to be dragged down with him in the future. The phased-array radars of the 21st century were less vigilant than these men.

Hong Chengchou asked, "How can you prove this wasn't a confession extracted through torture? One must remember that with enough pressure, a confession can be whatever one wants it to be."

Jiang Qingyun replied, "I cannot."

The hall fell silent. Many eyes fixed on Jiang Qingyun’s face with complex expressions.

"My lords, you all know this is an extraordinary time. Nothing matters except the stability of the Great Qing. I, Jiang, hold to one principle: it is better to kill the wrong person than to let a guilty one go."

"Besides, the Plain Blue Banner has a history of such conduct; I dare not take any chances."

"If we have truly wronged Kelkun, the court can secretly reward him later to appease him. The Emperor’s favor is like the thunder and the rain—if he is a loyal subject, he will endure the grievance; if he is a traitor, he will reveal himself."

The Wenhua Hall fell into a deathly silence. Jiang Qingyun had taken the moral high ground of the Great Qing, dealing a massive blow to everyone present. They were all stunned, yet helpless.

Hong Chengchou nodded. "Commander Jiang’s words have merit."

The others followed suit. "Indeed, it makes sense."

Left Censor-in-Chief Ning Wanwo thought to himself that if Jiang Qingyun could be utilized, he would certainly be a fierce warrior for the Censorate. It would be a waste not to have such ruthlessness in the Censorate.

...

There were ears behind the walls. Just a wooden partition away, Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang sat quietly, accompanied by a eunuch, listening to everything.

Her assessment of Jiang Qingyun was: bold, ruthless, arrogant, articulate, opportunistic, ambitious, capable, and desperate for advancement.

She and her son needed such a man right now. In the future, to topple Dorgon, liquidate his remnants, and consolidate imperial power, they would need such an assault trooper. As for when he was no longer needed—he could be discarded at any time.

The Great Qing was nothing if not realistic.

...

Jiang Qingyun did not even see the Shunzhi Emperor; he received his decree right there in the Wenhua Hall.

The eunuch read the decree with dramatic cadence:

"By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees:

"Jiang Qingyun, Commander of the Southern City Guard, acted recklessly and with some flaws. However, his eagerness to protect the sovereign is understandable. Effective immediately, he is appointed as an Inspecting Censor of the Censorate, with authority over the five City Guards. Given his youth and short tenure, his rank remains at the sixth grade. He is awarded one yellow riding jacket and 100 taels of silver from the imperial treasury.

"Respect this."