Quick Transmigration: When Can I Just Lay Down and Wait to Die?

Chapter 349 "The Legend of Zhen Huan" - 4th Uncle 9

The firearms battalion is only responsible to the Fourth Master. The people in the battalion are all investigated and screened by the secret guards and have undergone "political training". Their loyalty is beyond doubt.

In dealing with these matters, the Fourth Master did not forget the various policies that benefited the people during the Yongzheng era in official history: abolishing the status of lowly people, merging the poll tax into the land tax, returning the surcharge to the public treasury, and changing the native chieftain system to the central government, etc., all of which he proposed and promoted.

Thanks to the deposed crown princes, the eldest prince and other princes are now all at ease working for the fourth prince. Even though the imprisoned eighth and ninth princes still have ideas, they can no longer cause any trouble.

In the imperial court, the policies implemented by the Fourth Prince began to show results, the lives of the people gradually became more stable, and the national treasury became increasingly full.

At this moment, Fourth Uncle suddenly remembered that there were people in the Qing Dynasty who were smoking opium. Damn it, he had been so busy that he forgot about it. Opium should be called "Longevity Ointment" now, right? Very well, let's get him!

That's one of the good things about being an emperor. If you want something done, you just have to open your mouth. He directly put the twelfth prince, Yuntao, in charge of this matter, and searched for people selling and using "Fushougao" (a type of drug) in the country.

Those who dare to sell harmful substances like "Ointment of Longevity" will be dealt with without any leniency or accommodation once they are caught, whether they are Westerners or citizens of our Great Qing Empire!

They were all interrogated on the spot to find out their crimes and the forces behind them. Once the evidence was conclusive, they were beheaded and their heads displayed to the public, so that they would pay the price for their evil deeds!

As for protests from Westerners? Sorry, the Qing Dynasty is still the "Celestial Empire," so let's see if you dare to protest!

This severe punishment is not only a deterrent to criminals, but also a warning to those who attempt to engage in such heinous acts. The Fourth Master will never allow "Ointment of Longevity" to continue to poison the people of our Great Qing Dynasty!

Because "Fushou Ointment" has a certain analgesic effect, some medical clinics in various places also have some stock. However, Emperor Yinzhen issued an imperial edict to set a quota for medical clinics. Any "Fushou Ointment" exceeding the quota must be handed over and then destroyed in a centralized manner!

As for those who are addicted to "fushougao" (a type of drug), they are living a life of luxury, traveling the country for free in prison vans.

Wherever they went, local officials would park the prison van in the center of a busy market, letting the people see the miserable state of those who had ingested the "gallbladder."

Those people were emaciated, with vacant eyes. When their drug addiction kicked in, they wailed in agony in the prison van, and some even convulsed.

The common people were terrified when they saw this scene. Not to mention that they couldn't afford it, even if they could, they wouldn't risk their lives after seeing what these people looked like.

Yun Tao was extremely meticulous in his work. He also felt that this "longevity drug" was extremely harmful, so he personally led people to inspect the whole country, leaving no corner unchecked.

As time went on, the people of the Qing Dynasty developed a deep-seated fear of "longevity tonics." This measure also brought about a change in the social atmosphere within the Qing Dynasty, leading to healthier people and greater social stability.

Three years later, with the promotion of high-yield grain varieties, the people of the Qing Dynasty no longer had to worry about not having enough to eat, and every household had surplus grain.

In recent years, throughout the entire Qing Dynasty, the dusty, potholed dirt roads of the past have disappeared, replaced by smooth cement roads.

The journey has become much easier for ordinary people, and the transport of goods by merchants' caravans is smoother, leading to more frequent trade between different regions. The once isolated town has been brought new business opportunities and vitality thanks to this cement road, which connects it closely with the outside world.

Over the course of three years, trade cooperation between the Qing Dynasty and Mongolia deepened.

Mongolian beef, mutton, furs and other specialties flowed into the Qing Dynasty in a steady stream, while Qing Dynasty silk, porcelain, tea and glass were also highly sought after by Mongolian nobles and commoners.

The Fourth Uncle also specially set up a large trade market at the border to standardize the transaction process and protect the rights and interests of merchants from both sides.

At the same time, in order to strengthen cultural exchanges, the Qing Dynasty also sent a group of people to Mongolia to teach advanced farming, textile and other technologies. The ultimate goal was to make the Mongols "dismount" (i.e., to outsiders, it was called "we are all friendly neighbors, so we must get rich together!").

Thanks to the joint efforts of both sides, the border area is now peaceful and free from the smoke of war of the past. Of course, the increasing number of cannons deployed along the Qing Dynasty's border also played a role.

The fourteenth prince was summoned back to the capital a few months ago. What he saw and heard on his way back made him doubt himself. He had always been very proud of himself, but if he had been in that position, could he have developed the Qing Dynasty so well?

That's impossible! He didn't "hang"! After returning to Beijing, Fourth Uncle didn't assign him any work, but instead told him to spend more time with his dear mother.

After a few months, the fourteenth brother lost interest in everything else. Seeing that his other brothers were busy with their own affairs while he, the eighth brother, the ninth brother, and the tenth brother were idle, he became anxious.

Who with real talent would be willing to be idle like this every day? Who wouldn't want to leave their mark on history?

He's different from the eighth, ninth, and tenth brothers. He's the fourth brother's biological brother, so lately he's been going to pay his respects to the Empress Dowager whenever he has free time, hoping his mother will give him some encouragement and have his fourth brother arrange some work for him.

It just so happens that the country is now at peace, so the Fourth Uncle set his sights on that small island nation. Although small, this country is rich in resources, and pirates often use it as a base to harass the coastal people.

"My mind is made up. It's time to expand outwards." The Fourth Prince slammed his pen down on the table, his voice deep yet exuding an undeniable authority—well, a bit pretentious.

In the imperial court, he announced his ideas to his ministers. Some supported him, believing it would expand the territory and enhance the nation's prestige; others opposed him, worrying that a long and arduous expedition would deplete the nation's strength.

However, the Fourth Master was determined and appointed the Fourteenth Master as commander. He recruited soldiers along the coast, prepared warships and provisions, and set off on a chosen day.

After receiving his orders, the fourteenth prince trained the navy day and night, familiarizing them with naval warfare tactics. Several months later, the fleet sailed majestically toward the small island nation.

The small island nation was shocked upon hearing of the Qing army's attack. They hastily organized a defense, attempting to put up a stubborn resistance by relying on their familiarity with the terrain and their experience in naval warfare.

The two sides engaged in fierce combat at sea. Qing warships charged into the enemy ranks like tigers, cannons roaring and smoke billowing. The fourteenth prince commanded with composure, and his soldiers fought bravely. After several days of fierce fighting, the Qing army decisively defeated the enemy and successfully occupied the small island nation.

The fourteenth prince remembered the instructions given to him by his fourth uncle when he left Beijing: all the people on the small island nation, men and women, should be separated and either left there or transported back to the Qing Dynasty to perform forced labor.

Especially the hard and tiring work such as mining, road construction, canal digging, dam building, and land reclamation, he assigned them all to do and made them work until they died! He, the Fourth Uncle, wanted to exterminate this race.