Smallpox Knocked Down the Plain Blue Banner

Ever since the inoculation with the cowpox vaccine that day, Prince Xin Doni, Lord of the Plain Blue Banner, had been suffering from a low-grade fever and physical weakness for two consecutive days. However, this was a Deliberative Council of Princes and Ministers—an immense honor—and attendance was mandatory.

At this moment, he managed to muster a sliver of spirit and replied, "Reporting to the Empress Dowager, this humble servant does not understand celestial phenomena; I only know to obey the arrangements of the Imperial Court."

Emperor Shunzhi spoke up abruptly, "I am deeply gratified that the Prince Xin took the lead in getting inoculated. How are the results?"

"The results are excellent. This humble servant estimates that in another three to five days, I will be through the worst of it. Thanks to His Majesty's blessing, I shall never contract smallpox again in this lifetime." Doni paused in thought, then added, "All seven thousand men, women, and children of the Plain Blue Banner in the capital unconditionally support the Imperial Court."

"Good!"

Shunzhi was extremely satisfied with his answer.

Unexpectedly, however, Nikan interjected:

"Your Majesty, there are rumors circulating in the markets that the Imperial Court intends to settle scores with the Prince Regent and Imperial Father. I wonder if this is true or false?"

In an instant, the atmosphere within the hall turned glacial.

Shunzhi's expression became exceedingly ugly.

Fortunately, Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang smoothly took over the conversation: "Nikan, since you yourself say these are mere market rumors, why bother paying them any mind? It is a completely groundless fabrication."

"Thank you, Empress Dowager."

...

Xiaozhuang glanced around at those present and said leisurely, "Mars entering the constellation of Taiwei is an ominous sign. Yet it is of no consequence; soldiers will be met with shields, and water with earth. Yesterday, I summoned all the Mongol princes and nobles currently in the capital and hosted them to an imperial banquet. They stated that the Mongols will forever be loyal to the Great Qing."

"The Empress Dowager is wise and brilliant."

Everyone chorused their flattery in unison.

"Director Yang."

"This subject is here." Yang Guangxian, the Director of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau who had been granted the exceptional privilege of attending as an observer, hurriedly stood up.

"You observed abnormal celestial phenomena—very well. Be rewarded with ten taels of silver from the inner treasury, and you may drop your acting title. Manage the Astronomical Bureau well from now on."

"Thank you, Empress Dowager; thank you, Your Majesty. This subject guarantees that the Astronomical Bureau will remain forever loyal."

"You may withdraw."

"Yes."

Once Yang Guangxian's figure vanished outside the hall, Xiaozhuang finally spoke: "There is no need to fear abnormal celestial phenomena, but we cannot afford to lower our guards either. The defense of the Four-Nine City must be strengthened, and patrols across all banner camps must be stepped up. Fulin, what do your thoughts say?"

"Mother's words are entirely correct."

Shunzhi rose to his feet.

"Starting from today, the Vanguard Division and the Bodyguard Division shall muster and verify troop numbers daily. No one is permitted to leave the camps at will, and armor and weapons must never leave their sides."

"Unless given a military order, the various units of the Cavalry Division are strictly forbidden from unauthorized mobilization, or else it shall be deemed treason."

"The Firearms Division shall be redeployed to the Southern City to guard against unruly mobs."

"The Tiger Spear Division and the Wrestling Division shall garrison the imperial palace without a moment of laxity."

"The Three Inner Academies, the Censorate, and the Ministry of Rites shall organize personnel to conduct routine patrols of the city, and report any anomalies in a timely manner."

"Abide by the decree!"

...

The Deliberative Council of Princes and Ministers came to an end, and the atmosphere in the capital grew abruptly tense.

Before the first lunar month had even ended, tens of thousands of Eight Banners households in the capital were forced to prematurely curtail their leisurely routines and confine themselves to their respective camps.

As a Censor of the Supervisory Service who concurrently commanded the Five Cities Gendarmerie, Jiang Qingyun naturally could not afford any leisure.

At his insistence, four brand-new brick-and-stone watchtowers rose from the ground, overlooking the Southern City.

He also seized control of the church left behind by Adam Schall inside the Xuanwu Gate, stationing four soldiers there as an additional lookout post.

In the event of an emergency, the five watchtowers would use flag semaphore to communicate by day and lantern signals by night, guiding the ground troops to promptly arrive and handle fires or bandit disturbances.

Jiang Qingyun privately referred to them as the "Five Eyes."

The Five Eyes watching over the capital.

Over time, the interior of the Gendarmerie grew accustomed to this designation as well.

...

The Prince Xin Residence.

"This is disastrous, something terrible has happened! That son-of-a-bitch Hong Chengchou poisoned all of us the other day!"

"What?"

Doni, who had just recovered from his fever, jerked upright in a single motion.

"Smallpox! Half of the people have contracted smallpox! Their families are surrounding the Banner Commander's Yamun demanding an explanation."

Doni didn't even have time to put on his boots; he darted out of the house in a flash, leaped onto his warhorse, and whipped it fiercely.

His guards closely pursued him from behind.

"Make way, make way!"

In front of the Plain Blue Banner Commander's Yamun, a sea of people stretched endlessly.

Looking at the crowd infected with smallpox before him, Doni felt a chill run down his spine. These were all high-ranking officers of the Plain Blue Banner!

"Lord Banner Master, we were perfectly fine, but after the inoculation, we contracted smallpox. Is this curing illnesses or committing murder?"

Doni could no longer care about his fear; he checked each of these individuals, inspecting their bright red, ulcerated pustules. The patients with mild cases could still curse feebly, while those with severe cases had fallen directly unconscious.

Sweat poured in large beads from his forehead. He began to experience auditory and visual hallucinations, suddenly suffered violent spasms, and pitched forward headfirst.

The order at the scene descended into even greater chaos.

...

The bannermen of the Seventh Year of Shunzhi still retained the majority of their ferocity.

Someone raised their arms and shouted:

"Brothers of the Plain Blue Banner, let's go to the Ministry of War, grab that bastard Hong Chengchou, and demand face-to-face what on earth is going on!"

"Well said."

"Let's go."

Before long, seven or eight hundred men had gathered, surging massively toward the west.

The defensive sector of the Plain Blue Banner was in the southeast corner of the Inner City, while that of the Bordered Blue Banner was in the southwest corner. Sandwiched between them were the Yamuns of the Six Ministries and various subordinate offices.

After marching for a while, someone suddenly realized that their current behavior had crossed the line.

A company captain climbed up onto a rooftop and shouted at the top of his lungs:

"Brothers, listen to my words. Let's leave our weapons behind—do not carry any weapons whatsoever, or else the nature of this matter will change!"

"We are not rebelling; we are going to reason things out."

The crowd successively cast away their sabers and swords, marching westward empty-handed. Their menacing momentum as they advanced caused shops to shut their doors and pedestrians to scatter for cover along the route.

...

Near Shichahai.

Following Shunzhi's decree, various officials were conducting routine street patrols—ostensibly on patrol, but in reality keeping the military camps under surveillance.

Jiang Qingyun and Oboi rode side by side.

Oboi was currently a Grand Chamberlain and Commander of the Imperial Guard. Together with Soni, who commanded the Firearms Division, they were trusted by Shunzhi and collectively known as the "Twin Stars of the Two Yellow Banners Manchuria."

"Brother Jiang, once our shift ends, I'll treat you to drinks and women."

"I am unworthy of Lord Oboi's high regard; this humble official wouldn't dare."

Oboi spoke in his characteristic deep, rumbling voice:

"Brother Jiang, the year Emperor Taizong passed away, I led a group of men to oppose Dorgon's ascension as emperor. We even drew our swords back then, forging a deep grudge."

"In the fifth year of Shunzhi, I followed Prince Su's army on the expedition against Zhang Xianzhong, serving as vanguard in every battle and severing countless heads. Upon returning to the capital, not only did I receive no merit, but Dorgon threw me into death row. Later, after everyone came to intercede, it was settled with a fine. A few months later, Dorgon framed me for treason again, dragging me into death row to be tortured day and night. It was only when His Majesty interceded that I was finally released."

At this point, Oboi—built as burly and rugged as a bear—had crystal-clear tears rolling in the corners of his eyes.

He wiped away his tears and continued, "Last year, that same Dorgon fabricated another charge to throw me into prison for day-to-day torture, ordering the jailers to subject me to every conceivable humiliation."

...

Jiang Qingyun nodded to express his sympathy.

To be able to torture a supreme powerhouse like Oboi to the point of grief and tears, the jailers must have put some genuine thought into it; those recollections were truly too harrowing to look back upon.

Oboi's face flushed red as he wiped away his remaining tears.

"Brother, just for the courage you had to suggest to His Majesty that we open Dorgon's coffin and desecrate his corpse, you are a true brother of mine, Oboi."

"Lord Oboi, endure for the time being. I reckon you will soon have the opportunity to exact your vengeance."

Just as they were speaking—

A horseman galloped rapidly from ahead and leapt down from his saddle.

"Report! A mob of over a thousand men from the Plain Blue Banner has gathered and headed to the Ministry of War to protest against Hong Chengchou!"

Oboi was stunned: "Why?"

The horseman replied: "They claim Hong Chengchou poisoned them."

Jiang Qingyun abruptly unsheathed his saber with a sharp *clang*.

"Brother Oboi, let's suppress them by force!"