008 Politics Is Nothing But Personnel
Southern City Constabulary Office.
The young eunuch sent to deliver the imperial decree was fair-skinned and handsome, his recitation rhythmic and clear. The crowd listened with great delight, especially those who had placed their bets on Jiang Qingyun early on. Since ancient times, when a man attained power, his entire entourage rose with him. Their good days had finally arrived!
The former commander, Wuer-te, was immediately taken away by two Blue Feather guards to serve on the front lines in the southwest. As for the rest of the Constabulary, Jiang Qingyun was granted full discretion to handle them. He did not hold back:
"Wuer-te’s cronies are to be imprisoned and interrogated, and their families are to be stripped of their salaries from the past three years."
"Those who remained neutral are to receive twenty strokes of the cane and be expelled from the Constabulary."
"Vacancies must be filled as soon as possible. 'Appoint the capable without bias toward kin'—do any of you have recommendations?"
Zhao Zesheng recommended two men, and the other confidants each put forward one. Jiang Qingyun accepted them all without question, planning to fill the remaining slots with neighbors, childhood friends, and people from Green Pearl’s hometown in Dingxing County, Baoding Prefecture.
***
"My lord, what are your orders?" Zhao Zesheng hurried over.
"In a few days, you will accompany me to Xiao-huang Village in Dingxing County, Baoding Prefecture."
"Ah?"
"What is it?"
"My own hometown is right next to Xiao-huang Village, just across the river."
Jiang Qingyun could not help but laugh. The world truly was full of such coincidences. Still, it was a good thing.
"My lord, I took the liberty of redeeming that opera performer from the Yuchun Troupe. She has been settled nearby. What do you think—?"
Jiang Qingyun’s expression was complex as he felt the struggle between the advanced education he had once received and the weaknesses of human nature. Finally, he said with great solemnity:
"Let this be the only time!"
***
The promotion was public, but the decree to investigate the Imperial Board of Astronomy had been delivered privately. Jiang Qingyun clutched the secret edict written on bright yellow silk, his heart racing. He realized this might be the perfect opportunity to use the blood of the Board of Astronomy to peel back the first layer of his grand design.
The greatest weakness of the Qing court was its lack of self-confidence. Therefore, they were terrified of any celestial anomalies. Without even investigating, Jiang Qingyun could conclude that the entire Board of Astronomy consisted of rebels, and its director, Johann Adam Schall von Bell, was the greatest rebel of them all.
***
Before he had crossed over to this world, a predecessor had once said: "Before expecting to meet a benefactor, one must be prepared to abandon the freedom to develop on one's own path. Once you meet that benefactor, you must follow the path they set. You cannot have both a benefactor and freedom."
Jiang Qingyun’s motives were not pure; he was merely using imperial power for the time being to achieve his own ideals. But now, his original plans had indeed been disrupted. Before investigating the Board of Astronomy, he decided to return home first to see his parents.
***
In Needlework Alley, under the great locust tree.
The Jiang family was filled with joy, setting off many firecrackers and hiring drummers. They were only a red carpet short of a full celebration.
"Father, is such grandeur necessary?"
"Yes, it is very necessary."
Jiang Zhongcheng beamed, tugging at his new official robes.
"Fifth rank?"
"Yes, thanks to you, I’ve been promoted two levels. My colleagues' noses are crooked with envy."
Wait, where was Mother?
***
"That old wretch of a father of yours has barely been promoted for a few days before he’s taken a fancy to a vixen—a loose, singing opera performer at that," Lady Wen grumbled.
Jiang Qingyun felt inexplicably guilty. He glanced at his personal maid, Green Pearl, standing nearby. *Ah, it has been a long time.* Green Pearl also looked at her young master, her eyes brimming with emotion. *Ah, how I have missed him.*
Jiang Qingyun did not adhere to the concept of master and servant, but he could sense that Green Pearl’s feelings for him were complicated—part motherly, part sisterly—and her daily care for him was meticulous. Lady Wen, seeing her son’s gaze, did not get angry; instead, she decided to resolve the matter openly.
"Green Pearl, come here."
"Yes, Madam."
"Pack your things; you will go with the young master tomorrow and see to his daily needs. Yun'er, once you take a formal wife, you shall give Green Pearl the status of a concubine."
"Thank you, Madam. Thank you, young master."
Green Pearl’s eyes turned red with joy, a truly pitiful and endearing sight.
***
Father and son promoted together—it was a cause for great celebration. Wine was poured, operas were sung, and guests arrived and departed until the evening.
The father’s new young concubine stood with lowered eyes, dressed in brand-new clothes. Her figure was lithe and graceful, and her makeup was exquisite. Upon meeting, she bowed and curtsied.
"This concubine, Wanqiu, pays her respects to the young master."
Jiang Qingyun raised his hand in the air, and even from a distance of ten feet, Wanqiu stood up. It was like magic.
Wanqiu and Wanchun—together, they made quite the drama, like the *Spring and Autumn Annals*. This little episode, however, reminded him that fashion reform was also a lever to dismantle the Qing Empire. Why were female opera performers so attractive? It was because they never wore Qing-style clothing. A man might lie with his whole body, but his "little brother" was the only thing that was truly honest.
That night, Jiang Zhongcheng came over, looking hesitant.
"What is it, Father?"
"Do you have any silver on hand? Spare me a little to spend."
Jiang Qingyun suddenly understood.
"Father, don't worry. I will have someone send some to the house in a few days."
"Good, good."
***
Politics is personnel. To put it in plain language: place your own people in every position to execute your philosophy. If you win, it’s called "a court full of virtuous men." If you lose, it’s called "forming cliques for private gain." If you neither win nor lose, it’s called "favoring one's own and attacking others."
Right now, Jiang Qingyun urgently needed his own base. With only the five or six men from the Constabulary, leaving aside the quality of the personnel, the quantity was insufficient, especially since two were still bedridden.
The next day, he went knocking on doors. At the very end of Needlework Alley, a dilapidated door creaked open.
"Brother Qingyun, why are you here?"
"Little Cang, the Southern City Constabulary has vacancies. Are you willing to serve?"
"Would they even want me?"
"They will. I am in charge of the Constabulary now."
"Brother Qingyun, that’s wonderful! I’ll work for you."
Zhou Cang was only thirteen, the sole pillar of his family. His parents had given birth to three daughters in a row and, desperate for a son, had eventually adopted a boy from outside the city, claiming he was their own. If a family had no sons, they could not inherit their stipends. Adopting a son to preserve the family line was common in the capital. If one were to use genetic sequencing, they would find that many of the Bannermen in the capital were actually Han Chinese.
Jiang Qingyun managed to recruit over twenty youths in one go, and his father, Jiang Zhongcheng, hearing this, also assigned him one of his most trusted personal soldiers. In short, they cobbled together a team.
***
"If the sovereign is not secretive, he loses his ministers; if the minister is not secretive, he loses his life; if secret affairs are not kept secret, they lead to disaster." Jiang Qingyun kept his lips sealed until he appeared at the gates of the Board of Astronomy with the entire force of the Southern City Constabulary.
The startled gatekeeper tried to block them, only to be kicked to the ground. Behind him, Zhou Cang turned his scabbard and began to beat the fallen gatekeeper, his blood boiling with excitement. His mother had told him to work hard.
Jiang Qingyun shouted sternly:
"By imperial decree, we are investigating conspirators hidden within the Board of Astronomy attempting to subvert the court! From this moment on, no one is to move, and no documents are to be burned."
"Men, seal the gates!"
"You two, please serve as witnesses today."
"Rest assured, Master Jiang." The two clerks from the Shuntian Prefecture and the Censorate were very polite, following closely behind Jiang Qingyun.
The area around the Board of Astronomy was surrounded by government offices. Such a commotion could not be hidden from others. Many officials from the Six Ministries peered out from their doorways, whispering among themselves.
***
From breaking into the Board of Astronomy to stepping into the room of the director, Johann Adam Schall von Bell, more than a quarter of an hour had passed. It seemed a bit slow—but that was exactly the effect Jiang Qingyun wanted. At this moment, Schall’s room was filled with curling smoke.
"Who are you?"
Jiang Qingyun could not be bothered to respond to the man; he used his scabbard to stir the glowing embers in the furnace. He said loudly:
"Johann Adam Schall von Bell has burned some documents in advance. The content and quantity are unknown. I have reason to suspect that this person has burned secrets that cannot be revealed."
"Record this in the file!"
***
"No! My loyalty to the Great Qing is as clear as the sun and moon. I have dedicated my entire life to the Qing; the *Shixian Calendar* was compiled by my own hand. I am absolutely innocent!"
Watching the agitated Schall, Jiang Qingyun couldn't help but laugh.
"I find it necessary to remind you: you arrived twenty-nine years ago."
"You cast cannons for the Chongzhen Emperor; you mined ores for the Great Ming. You are like a greedy European woman who first married the Great Ming, and after her husband died, married the Great Qing. Can you really claim to be innocent?"