Chapter 4 The Initial Display of Majesty

  By order, he had been resting at home for over ten days, and Yin Zhen's body had basically recovered. On this day, Yin Xi, Yin Tan, and Yin Xiang came to visit again. When Yin Zhen heard the news, he hurriedly went out to greet them. During this period, he had thought a lot. Although Kangxi hated factionalism the most, it was impossible for him to quit the "Eighth Master Party". Firstly, his own foundation was too shallow at present, and many things would still need their support in the future. Secondly, he couldn't give people the impression that Yin Zhen was a turncoat. The officialdom had its own rules, and the result of being a turncoat was that no one liked him.

  What's more important is Kangxi, Kangxi would absolutely dislike a wavering prince, this is the taboo of ministers, and even more so for kings.

  Once decided to mix in the "Eight Lords Party", Yongzheng planned to show some edge, first occupying the position of Old Two. Once Old Eight Yonggui failed, he would naturally become the leader of the "Eight Lords Party".

  He let the three of them, including Lao Ba, enter the study, and after some small talk, the four of them chatted freely. When they mentioned Shi Lang's second son, Shi Buquan (Shi Shilun), Yin Zhen took the opportunity to bring up Nian Gengyao. Nian Gengyao was a key figure in Yin Zhen's struggle for the throne, and he had always been wavering between the party of Eighth Brother and Fourth Brother Yin Zhen. If they could thoroughly win him over now, it would be a good move.

  "Brother, what's your opinion on Nian Gengyao?"

  "Yan Gongyao?" Yinxiang slightly hesitated and smiled lightly: "This young man is a great anomaly in the Qing dynasty's officialdom. In just four short years, from 1744 to now, he has risen from a seventh-rank Hanlin Academy examiner to a second-rank Minister of Rites and Grand Councilor, with five promotions and ten ranks, enjoying imperial favor beyond imagination. His father, Yan Xiangling, served as Governor of Hubei for twelve years, and their family is wealthy. In short, this man is skilled in rhetoric, proficient in writing, and adept at practical affairs - a rare talent indeed."

  Yuan Zhen asked straightforwardly: "Since Eighth Brother appreciates him so much, why not take him in as a subordinate?"

  He glanced at Yongzheng with great surprise, and Yongji thought for a moment before saying in a tone that brooked no doubt: "It's impossible. Although Nian Gengyao's first wife was the granddaughter of Mingzhu, and his second wife was the second daughter of Su Yan, Duke of Auxiliary State, and you have a close relationship with your eighth brother, ninth brother, and tenth brother, but the banner that the Nian family belongs to was assigned to Fourth Brother in 42 years. Now Nian Gengyao is just Fourth Brother's slave, and Fourth Brother has also taken great care to win them over, taking Nian Gengyao's sister as his secondary consort."

  Dizzy, it turns out to be this way, no wonder Yin Zhenyao would leave a swinging impression on people. Yin Zeng was greatly disappointed, and Yin Zhen's luck was really good, dividing the title of Saru leader and unexpectedly getting a rare talent.

  Yin Chen couldn't help but ask, "Fourteenth brother, you usually don't pay much attention to officials. This year, Nian Gengyao has risen quickly, but now he's just the Minister of Rites and a scholar in the Imperial Academy, although he's of the second rank, it's not an important position. Why do you attach so much importance to him?"

  Yin Zhen secretly smiled bitterly in his heart, unable to tell them that this year Yin Xiang would become the left and right arm of Fourth Brother Yin Zong. After a brief pause, he said: "Yin Xiang is highly favored by Emperor Ama, there are rumors that he will soon be appointed as the Governor of Sichuan, Sichuan, the Heavenly Kingdom, once there is war in the northwest, its position will be extremely prominent, and it's only a matter of time before he rises to prominence."

  The first sentence stunned the three of them for half a day, and after a while, Yi Xun stared at Yi Zhen in a weird way: "Fourteenth brother, what you said is too mysterious."

  Yin Duo asked with an incredulous face: "Old Fourteen, where did you hear the news that Nian Gengyao is going to be appointed as the Governor of Sichuan?"

  Yin Zhen hesitated and did not speak, Yin Qi asked in a low voice: "Fourteenth brother, what you just said about the northwest having war, is this an inference or is there really news?"

  "It's deduced!" Yin Zhen said without hesitation: "The Zunghar tribe is wolf-like in its ambitions, although Galdan is dead, but Ce Wang Alabutan is another untamed wolf. Once he recovers his strength, he will inevitably wreak havoc on the northwest again. Within ten years, there will be a great war in the northwest."

  "Ten years, isn't that thinking too far ahead?" Yun Chen said faintly.

  "It's not far." Yongzhong glared at Yongji and said in a low voice, "A person without long-term worries must have short-term troubles. The emperor is still in his prime, let alone ten years, even fifteen years is not far. If you prepare for everything, you will succeed; if you don't prepare, you will fail. What's more, we...". Yongzhong changed the subject, "Fourteenth brother, do you have accurate news about Nian Gengyao?"

  "Absolutely reliable."

  Out of the palace, Yin Zhen squeezed into the sedan chair of La Ba (Yin Xi), and as soon as he sat down, he said: "Eighth brother, Fourteenth Brother is not simple, these years we really didn't see it, today can be considered a first reveal of his true abilities."

  "It's not just that it's not simple." Yong Yi sighed and said, "The depth of his mind and the distance of his vision, I think, among all the brothers, no one can compare to him."

  "Brother..."

  Yin Zhen waved his hand and said in a low voice, "I really didn't expect that he would set up a mole by the side of the Emperor, and it's true that I haven't seen through him all these years. What's strange is why did he mention Nian Gengyao today? Is it to remind us to guard against the Fourth Prince?"

  "Fourth brother? He's just a dog of Yongzheng, what can he do?" said Yinxiang with no concern at all.

  Yin Yun shook his head disapprovingly and fell into deep thought.

  Yin Yun saw this and laughed: "Ba Ge, what's there to think about? Can the old fourteen even keep up with us in a game of dumb riddles?"

  "That's not it." Yongzhong furrowed his brow and said, "There are some things that even the Fourteenth himself may not have figured out thoroughly, which is exactly what I need to figure out."

  "What's there to think about? The Fourth Master and the Second Master are one entity, so if Yearning Yao is the Fourth Master's subordinate, then he naturally belongs to the Second Master."

  "It won't be that simple." Yinxiang shook his head slowly and said, "Let's take it one step at a time, let's see if this Nian Gengyao can govern Sichuan first?"

  Qianqing Palace's western warm pavilion, Kangxi is reviewing memorials, all around a peaceful atmosphere.

  Suddenly, a low voice came from outside the door, "Is Emperor Ama in a good mood today?

  Kangxi listened carefully and heard that it was the voice of Old Fourteen, who should be asking a small eunuch at the door. He then said to Li Dequan, "Call him in, sneaking around."

  After Etc. asked for peace, Kangxi raised his head, "What's the matter? You have to say it when I'm in a good mood?"

  "Huang Ama Shengming Zhu Zhao, er chen yi dian xiao xin si nan tao sheng jian." Yin Zhen said, and again made a thousand sons.

  Kangxi smiled and said: "No need for formalities, just say what you have to say, don't try to flatter me with clever words."

  Yongzheng smiled and said: "It's like this, I've recently read some miscellaneous books and have some immature ideas, please correct me, Your Majesty."

  Kangxi himself was well-versed in both Chinese and Western studies, widely read, and upon hearing this remark, he immediately became interested and casually asked: "What books have you read?"

  "Back to the emperor, it is Xu Guangqi's 'Nong Zheng Quan Shu', Jia Sixie's 'Qimin Yao Shu', Wang Zhen's 'Nongsang Tong Kao', Wang Xiangjin's 'Qun Fang Pu' and Song Yingxing's 'Tian Gong Kai Wu'."