WP 的 <步步惊心> (Scarlet Hammer)

[skponggol]

.....

…出师未捷身先死 ，长使英雄泪满襟 ！

[video=youtube;Xqiw2-BAW2c]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xqiw2-BAW2c&feature=related[/video]


Moreover, 皇阿玛 also believed, rightly or wrongly, that 八阿哥 was the mastermind behind 太子爷’s infamous downfall. He suspected that someone from the “ 八爷党 ” (阿灵阿 & 揆叙) , perhaps even without 八阿哥's approval or knowledge, had been quietly leaking 太子爷’s scandalous secrets to the media.

太子爷 had been皇阿玛’s anointed successor for decade, and had been performing satisfactorily and acceptably ever since. Yet, the moment 八阿哥 entered the CEC and began establishing the formidable “ 八爷党 ” to challenge the “ 太子党 ” , 太子爷 began to crumble in a remarkably short time and self-destruct after series of missteps and scandals were exposed one after another.

Thus, 皇阿玛, rightly or wrongly, blamed 八阿哥 for all the recent upheavals within the Party.


“ 只可惜八阿哥野心太大…..”

皇阿玛 always said to himself after 太子爷’s ignominious sacking…..


.....

 

[skponggol]

.....


若曦, as observant and wise as ever,

“ 万岁爷本就忌惮八爷 , 不管怎么收敛 , 在万岁爷眼里都是错 . 他进 , 万岁爷骂他有非分之想 . 他退 , 万岁爷骂他存试探之心 . 除非他能学四爷一样 , 心如止水 , 与各朝臣远离 , 可他多年苦心经营 , 怎么可能放弃呢 ? ”

If, and only if, 八阿哥 had stayed in Beijing to be with his beloved 若曦, and to live happily ever after...
[video=youtube;6WfE2Rxg5JE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WfE2Rxg5JE&feature=fvwrel[/video]


To steer clear of 皇阿玛’s unwanted suspicion, 八阿哥 began to keep a low profile, especially during the critical period when 太子爷 was sacked.

八阿哥’s ever-popular Facebook pages, more so than that of 皇阿玛’s and which had always been brimming with posts, comments, activities and responses, but it became exceptionally quiet during this sensitive period.

八阿哥 also avoided making any public statements on 太子爷 Incident for fear of arousing 皇阿玛’s displeasure. He even deliberately took MC during 皇阿玛’s “罪己诏” press conference so as to turn away from the public’s glaring but unwelcome attention that will surely embarrass and displease 皇阿玛 even more.

Nevertheless, through his surrogates and his influential “八爷党”, 八阿哥 was able to turn the public opinion slowly but surely and inevitably in his favour at the expense of the ex-太子爷’s and, even more so, at the expense 皇阿玛’s, even though he did not openly campaigned for it.

Regardless of 八阿哥’s subdued inconspicuousness, 皇阿玛 continued to doubt him as well as fear him, perhaps even more :

When 八阿哥 spoke up his mind, 皇阿玛 censured him for being ambitious, vain, fame-seeking and not being a team player;

When 八阿哥 chose to keep quiet, 皇阿玛 admonished him for being idle, fence-sitting, by-standing and not being a team player, also.


Moreover, 皇阿玛 suspected that 八阿哥 was working behind the scene to persuade majority of the CEC members to sack 太子爷…..


.....

 

[Ramseth]

知子莫若父。Kangxi knew the 8th Prince idea of how to win power was to have his own powerful faction. The 8th Prince thought it was a good idea but it went diagonally against Kangxi philosophy of power. An emperor must be neutrally supported by all, not a faction, otherwise it'd split the imperial court no matter how powerful that faction was. In recorded history, the 4th Prince had no faction and sided the Emperor and Crown Prince all the way.

The 1st Prince and the 8th Prince (for their own ambition) and the 13th Prince (out of support for the 4th Prince) tried to overthrow the Crown Prince. The 1st Prince and the 13th Prince were arrested and imprisoned. The 8th Prince with some skill and luck escaped punishment but he knew then it was game over for him and turned his support to the 14th Prince. The 4th Prince refused to put in any word of mitigation for the 13th Prince, maintaining his cold nonchalantly neutral and equal to all posture. He had won the heart of Kangxi and the game by then. The challenge put up by the 14th Prince backed by the 8th Prince was moot in vain.

After coronation, the 4th Prince as Emperor Yongzheng, did reward the 13th Prince for his loyalty and sacrifice by releasing him and promoting him to Imperial Prince First Lord of Law. The 8th Prince was already an Imperial Prince under Kangxi reign. Yongzheng, to pacify him, considering him talented and useful too if won over, further promoted him to Imperial Prince First Lord of the Treasury. The silly 14th Prince with his emperor dream stirred up the 8th Prince over kept on making noise and spreading rumours of illegitimate successionb until Yongzheng couldn't stand him, sent him to guard the Kangxi mausoleum for the rest of his life.

The 14th Prince was already District Prince First Lord of the Military under Kangxi. Yongzheng let him keep his District Prince title but the 13th Prince took over First Lord of the Military too. Like Yongzheng kept quiet about the plight of the 13th Prince during Kangxi reign, the 8th Prince kept quiet about the 14th Prince too.

 

[Fook Seng]

Interesting to note that with the disappearance of GMS, punggol has taken over his mantle and Ram has unwittingly been drawn in as his lieutenant. Hahaha.

 

[Ramseth]

Interesting to note that with the disappearance of GMS, punggol has taken over his mantle and Ram has unwittingly been drawn in as his lieutenant. Hahaha.

We're taking different approaches. SKPunggol is paradying what's happening in the TV series to with what's happening in WP now. I'm just commenting on history.

 

[Ramseth]

Many people including Chinese are still bewildered as to how come Manchurian Qing invasion of Ming China was considered civil war, not foreign invasion. And how could a small Manchuria overrun the whole China. Manchuria was established as a defined race and region between Mongolia and Korea only after the Mongolian defeat and retreat out of China. Manchuria seized that opportunity to establish something like an autonomous SAR under the consent and protection of the Ming Dynasty.

The manpower administration in Manchuria was divided into eight flags. All men were soldiers-cum-hunters and all women were assigned civilian duties, mostly homemaking and nursing for men. All men and women were flagged. You may call this NS but it's not really that, for there wasn't such difference as enlist for 2 years or signing on for 5 or 6 years or reservist 13-year cycle. It was lifetime duty. At birth under any flag, you'd be under its command until death.

But of course, with obligation came privilege since it wasn't a slavery system. Every Manchurian had free everything, from housing to food and drink to healthcare, according to rank. The system was changed under Yongzheng. All Manchurians under flags in China had to go into farming or business or go back to hunt for food in Manchuria, so that Han or Manchu or whatever race were all treated the same in China. In a modern analogy, it's like Malaysia abolishing bumiputra policy. That appeased the majority of Han Chinese in the interest of Han-Manchu citizenry equality and unity but pissed off lots of Manchurians.

The big move to overrun Ming Dynasty was sparkled by internal unrest and discontent in China. Big factions of Ming military and nobility defected to support a Manchurian overthrow of the corrupt and decadent Ming. So Manchuria gained another camp of troops, the Han green camp (the Manchurian flags were solid yellow, guilded yellow, solid red, guilded red, solid white, guilded white, solid blue and guilded blue). By politics, administrative and soldiering skills, the Han Chinese were far more superior and experienced than Manchurians who were part-time soldiers and part-time hunters, quite clueless as how to win and keep an empire.

However, they needed the Manchurians to help overthrow Ming that was still very big and had numerous loyalists and supporters. That's why the Qing takeover of Ming could be executed so swiftly and smoothly and many Han nobles and generals remained in their positions, some even promoted.

Ming Dynasty China used Manchuria as a north-eastern guard against Russia. Manchurians were considered half-Chinese anyway. They were descended from a mix of Zhao State (Chinese warring state) and Jin Dynasty (Jurchens, conquerors of the northern half of Song Dynasty). They were effectively bilingual in their Jurchen-Manchurian language and the Han Chinese language. In fact, what we call Han Chinese Mandarin now was standardized by Emperor Kangxi as national language with official dictionary. By the time of Emperor Guangxu and Empress Dowager Cixi, Jurchen-Manchurian had become an extinct tongue.

 

[skponggol]

.....


若曦, as observant and wise as ever, :

“看着这些人，不断为了各自的利益而蝇营狗苟，不禁有些同情处在最高位的万岁爷。所谓高处不胜寒，他不仅要权 利利弊，费尽心机平衡各派势力，同时还要看好自己的龙椅，实属不易。而这些处心积虑想要夺得皇位的人，似乎 根本就没有顾忌到他这个老头子还在位上，还没有死，想到这里，他怎么不心寒？"

[video=youtube;WxBarSY1Bwo]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxBarSY1Bwo[/video]



The timeline leading to the sacking of 太子爷, starting from his Mishandling of the Meeting with the Property Agents :

A few months ago, in an informal meeting with 四阿哥 , 八阿哥, 九阿哥 , 十阿哥 , 十三阿哥 and 十四阿哥, 皇阿玛 decided to test their reactions as well as ascertaining which camp they were belonging to:

“ 今日在党会上 , 你们对礼部的折子 , 有关太子勾结 property agents , 有什么看法呀 ? ”

四阿哥, who was able to read the mind of 皇阿玛 very well, answered wisely :

“ 依儿臣看 , 太子爷平时待底下的人 , 甚为宽厚 , 那不知检点的 property agents, 打着太子旗号 , 狐假虎威的 , 那也是有的 . ”

十阿哥, as blur as ever : “ 一个奴才 , 就算给他天大的胆子 , 若是没有人在他背后撑腰 , 他敢随意地假传太子爷的话 … 四哥 , 这话说得倒也古怪啊 …. 不过 , 四哥和二哥 , 一向关系极好 , 恐怕这事 , 四哥呀…”

八阿哥 later apologized to 四阿哥 as he did not wish to make a powerful enemy unnecessarily : “ 十弟 … 说话不知分寸 , 差点连累了四哥 .”

四阿哥, also did not wish to make an enemy, so openly ... yet, : “ 兄弟之间 , 本来就应该相互照应的 , 更何况那个人是太子呢 ? ”

八阿哥, giving a hidden warning to 四阿哥 : “ 说得是 … 太子有幸 , 有四哥照应..."


Later, at the Party Meeting, 皇阿玛 announced the completion of the investigation report about 太子爷’s “ Mishandling of the Property Agents ” :

“ 朕已查明 , 有关太子勾结 property agents 一事 , 实有奸佞之徒 , 假借太子之名 , 欺上瞒下 , 胡作非为 . 有关人等 , 已由刑部缉拿归案. “

太子爷 : “ 谢皇阿玛明察 , 还儿臣一个清白 .”

皇阿玛 : “ 太子 , 这事虽然跟你 , 没有直接关系 , 但你也责无旁贷 , 没有管好 property agents , 纵容他们 , 亦有不当 , 正所谓知人善用 , 才是治国之道啊 .”

太子爷 : “ 儿臣谨记皇阿玛教诲 , 今后一定多加注意 ... 刚刚皇阿玛说的 , 知人善用这四个字 , 令儿臣顿有所悟 …. 这次敢上疏弹劾儿臣的大臣 , 儿臣认为他们都是勇气可嘉 , 正直不阿 , 不畏强权的忠臣 , 实乃我铁锤国的栋樑 , 理应嘉许 …. 尤其是十弟 .”

十阿哥, a loyal but rash member of the “ 八爷党 ”, shuddered in fear and anxiety as his name was specially mentioned and REMEMBERED by 太子爷.

皇阿玛 : “ 太子有如此的心胸 , 乃大铁锤之幸 , 百姓之福 . 朕准奏 . 上疏大臣各升一级 , 十阿哥加赐 Party T-shirts 千件.”


Later, 太子爷 thanked to 四阿哥 for helping him:

“ 哈,哈,哈…四弟啊 , 你看到皇阿玛刚才有多高兴吗 ? 四弟啊 , 你说皇阿玛不会降罪我 , 我始终都不敢相信哪 , 以为只是四弟安慰我的一句话 . 没想到啊 , 四弟比我还能摸得透皇阿玛的心思."

四阿哥, sucking up to 太子爷 : “ 皇阿玛向来宽厚待人 , 尤其是对太子你的 . 如果皇阿玛不是对你刮目相看 , 是不会让你继承大统的 .”

太子爷 : “ 说得好 … 今个这一仗 , 如果没有四弟做我的军师的话 , 我是完全没有把握反败为胜的 , 还赢得这么漂亮 , 把老八他们几个 , 打得灰头土面的 .”

四阿哥, pretending to be innocent: “ 太子言重了 … 臣弟不过是想为皇阿玛和太子分忧 , 别让小事化大 , 影响了大家的感情 .”

太子爷 : “四弟 , 你是顾念咱们兄弟之情啊 . 但是老八他们几个 , 跟你完全不一样 .”

四阿哥, acting to be a kind guy : “ 臣弟以为 , 这次的事情与八弟无关 , 都是十弟误信谣言的结果 . 太子也清楚 , 十弟本性莽撞 , 凡事不会深思熟虑 .”

太子爷 : “ 四弟啊 , 你有时候做人 , 也未免太菩萨心肠了 ! 防人之心不可无啊 ! 别人把你卖了 , 难道你还要去替卖你的人数钱吗 ? 这件事啊 , 我看没那么简单 ... 我想皇阿玛 , 他一定也是这么想的 .”

四阿哥, still acting blur : “ 太子何出此言呢 ? ”

太子爷 : “Handling of the Property Agents 的事, 跟我牵扯了多少关系 , 你觉得皇阿玛能不知道吗 ? 今天皇阿玛没有降罪于我 , 你觉得是为什么 ?

四阿哥, rolling out his tongue and widening his eyes to act even more blur : “ 为什么呢 ? ”

太子爷 : “ 除了你刚才所说的之外 , 皇阿玛就是要向所有的人提个醒 , 尤其是老八他们几个 , 告诉他们 , 谁才是我们大铁锤未来的主子 !… 其实皇阿玛 , 是想借今天这个机会 , 向大家传递一个明确的事实 : 那就是警告他们 , 最好安分守己点 !… 今天这个仇 , 就算是我不报的话 , 也得给他们点颜色看看 !….. 四弟 , 你有什么好主意吗 ?

四阿哥 immediately hatched a devious plot to help 太子爷 to have his revenge while making use of “ 太子党 ” to weaken the ever-growing “ 八爷党 ” …..



Footnote:

According to Court document of a sworn affidavit filed by a low-income lady cleaner living in 后港, 太子爷 had been advising low-income families to sell their houses (倾家荡产) during his Weekly MPS. Just like those illegal money loan sharks, 太子爷 may also be receiving kickbacks from the rogue property agents. Thus, this may explain why he was so eager to rendezvous with property agents, be their spokesman and fought for their rights against so much criticisms. It had been rumoured that CEA was also investigating the case and may be coming up on new guidelines regulating property agents’ liaison with politicians.

“ I’m very disappointed that 太子爷can no longer recommend his property agent buddies and be represented by his realtor cronies to help me 倾家荡产. That’s why I want to sell my house and SUE !” – declared the poor and desperate cleaner

.....

 

[Ramseth]

During Kangxi reign, the two highest ranking Imperial Princes below the Crown Prince were the 4th and 8th Princes. The 8th Prince party was supported by the 9th, 10th and 14th Princes and ironically the Prime Minister Tongguowei who was maternal uncle of Longkeduo who was Commander-in-Chief of the 9 Gates of the Forbidden City and who turned his support to the 4th Prince because he was maternal uncle of the 4th Prince. The plot thickened.

Longkeduo's high position wasn't given by his Prime Minister uncle or his 4th Prince nephew. It was direct appointment from Kangxi. He had rode and fought side by side shoulder to shoulder with Kangxi in battlefronts. That's why Kangxi trusted him so much. Commander of the 9 Gates was no joking matter.

Kangxi sent Tongguowei back to Manchuria on early retirement for his role in the 8th Prince party plot and promoted Zhang Tingyu to PM, the first Han Chinese PM in the Qing Dynasty. He wisely declared loyalty to Throne and Crown and Crown Prince, as the 4th Prince had also wisely did. The matter of the Crown Prince wasn't for subordinate princes and officials to mess or covet over. Emperor Kangxi was very pleased with him and the 4th Prince.

The 13th Prince, though out of goodwill supporting the 4th Prince, brought up the matter that the Crown Prince was unfit to be the next Emperor, got imprisoned by Kangxi for some ten years. Even more rash than the 9th and 10th Princes on the 8th Prince's side. The 4th Prince and his uncle Commander Longkeduo had won the game then. The Crown Prince and the 8th Prince were done. The only successor to the throne acceptable to Kangxi was the 4th Prince.

The 8th Prince wisely read the game too. Lost is lost. He apologized and resigned his Imperial Prince title as restitution. Though after the 4th Prince coronation as Emperor Yongzheng, he reinstated the 8th Prince as Imperial Prince, handing over the ministry of finance to him, to cushion any accusation of favoritism and cronyism as he also wanted to release the 13th Prince out of imprisonment and promote him to Imperial Prince, handing over ministries of law and defence to him.

 

[skponggol]

.....

十四阿哥, as shrewd and alert as ever :

“ 八哥身负监国之职 , 等同每一步 , 都走在刀锋之上 . 立下功劳 ,固然可以得到皇阿玛的赞赏 ; 一旦出了错 , 太子那班人 , 就会加以打击 ……. ”

[video=youtube;xqo_y44jMI0]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqo_y44jMI0[/video]


Acting upon 四阿哥’s devious plot, 太子爷 suggested to 皇阿玛 to appoint 八阿哥 as 监国 during the upcoming Parliament debate on Ministerial Salary.

As 监国, 八阿哥 will be fully responsible in formulating and leading the Party strategy and position on such critical, important but sensitive topic as Ministerial Salary. He would be representing the Party and 皇阿玛 to face the Other Party during the Parliament debate.


八阿哥, fully understanding the deadly trap set by 太子爷 to destroy him :

“ 太子向皇阿玛提议 , 暂时由我监国 during the Parliament debate on Ministerial Salary .”

十阿哥, as blur as sotong : “ 看来 , 太子开始信任八哥了 !”

九阿哥 : “ 老十 , 你脑子里装的到底是什么呀 ! 你忘了你跟八哥是什么关系了吗 ? 你刚在皇阿玛面前弹劾他 , 难道太子爷还能如此大方不成 ? “

十阿哥 : “ 我 …. 我就不明白这一点 … ”

十四阿哥 : “ 我看这只不过是太子想一箭双雕 , 对付我们的办法 .”

十阿哥 : “ 这又是什么意思啊 ? ”

十四阿哥 : “ 让八哥监国 , 只不过是个花招 ..... 事无大小 , 可八哥总是要请示 , 远在 Bedok Reservoir 的皇阿玛 . 一旦八哥有什么差错 , 定会让太子抓住把柄 , 大做文章 . 那是他故意 , 给八哥这个虚职 . ”

九阿哥 “ 那是他故意 , 给八哥这个虚职 . 目的是 , 不让我们去 Bedok Reservoir 塞外 , 随皇阿玛 chasing and catching mosquitoes , 他们好在皇阿玛面前 , 什么小话都可以传了 . ”

十阿哥 : “ 对呀 , 谎言说了三遍就成真了 . 不让我们伴驾 , 又让我们知道亲疏有别 , 我们也只有看的份儿了 . ”

十四阿哥 : “ 我看 , 这也是太子给我们的暗示 : 我们再不听话 , 他就会处理我们 . ”

八阿哥 : “ 皇阿玛向来最重视的是 , 我们兄弟之间是否和睦 . 太子这不计前嫌之举 , 正合皇阿玛的心意 . ”

十阿哥 : “ 哼 , 他有张良计 , 我们也有过墙梯啊 ! 到时候 Reservoir deep 皇帝远 , Parliament 就是我们的 , 我们想怎么办就怎么办 ! ”

八阿哥 : “ 太子就是想我们这么做 … 这样我们就容易犯错 . ”

十阿哥 : “ 太子这招真是太阴毒了 ! ”

八阿哥 : “ 阴毒的不是太子 …. 而是背后给太子出这主意的人 . ”


八阿哥 sat down and think deeply, carefully for his next move……


.....

 

[skponggol]

.....

“ 小山压大山，
大山全无力。
羞见故乡人，
从此投外国。”

- 太子爷的悲剧.....

The Workers’ Party 太子爷 fought for his political survival as he tried to fend off challenges from his younger 阿哥s….
[video=youtube;9hZ8h4fGi2o]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hZ8h4fGi2o[/video]



While 监国八阿哥 was busy preparing for the upcoming Parliament Debate on Ministerial Salary, 太子爷 craftily persuaded 皇阿玛 to go for a so-called “leisure” tour in Yunnan 塞外, China.

太子爷 tried to bring 皇阿玛 far, far away from the other 阿哥s so that he could spend more quality, intimate, private time and build closer, greater rapport with 皇阿玛 so as to fortify his 后港储君之位.

Yet, after spending so much quality, intimate and private time with 太子爷 , it would be utterly unbelievable and comically laughable that 皇阿玛 would later claim to not know anything about 太子爷.

太子爷 also blocked all access to 皇阿玛 from other阿哥s back in 京师, especially those from “ 八爷党 ” . This was to cut off all aid and support to 监国八阿哥 so that he could not rely and call upon 皇阿玛’s experience and advice for the upcoming Parliament Debate on Ministerial Salary. 太子爷 could also smear 监国八阿哥 while the latter could not come and defend himself.

To achieve his purpose, 太子爷 had also brilliantly arranged both his and 皇阿玛’s constituents, who were also their strongest and most devoted supporters respectively, to travel to Yunnan 塞外 as well, …. without any unwanted outsider interference and disruptions.

Cleverly, 太子爷 arranged his 后港 constituents to constantly surround 皇阿玛 and always sang his praises for his unprecedented, unrivalled, unparalleled achievements in后港. 太子爷 also worked very hard to suck up to 皇阿玛’s trusted Aljunied constituents so that they would also glorify him as often in front of 皇阿玛.


皇阿玛, incredibly impressed, lauded 太子爷 :

“ 东海广且深,
由卑下百川.
五岳虽高大,
不逆垢与尘.
真是虎父无犬子啊 ! 哈 , 哈 , 哈…. "

太子爷 : “ 皇阿玛 , 儿臣痛定思痛 . 在 Handling of the Property Agents 一事上 , 儿臣反复思量 ….. 除了儿臣所做不足之处 , 到底还有什么其他原因 , 导致被别人误会 , 以为儿臣会做出欺君犯上 , 大逆不道之事 . ”

皇阿玛 : “ 那你想出了什么 ? ”

太子爷 : “ 原因可能是 ….. 各个阿哥之间 , 未能沟通互信 , 关系疏离 , 从而导致相互的误解 , 出现此等事情 , 委实可惜呀 . 兄弟之间不和 , 亦非天下父母所乐见 .

所以为了巩固各个阿哥之间的情义 , 儿臣恳请皇阿玛 , 恩准各位阿哥在 Parliament Debate on Ministerial Salary to perform all by themselves and fly solo without 皇阿玛’s reliable coaching and guidance.

Under 八阿哥’s 监国, all the 阿哥s would be forced to work more closely and to trust each other more ever than before. This would enhance our Comradeship and strengthen our Brotherhood bond eternally.

皇阿玛 can also take this opportunity to assess the leadership skill of 八阿哥 and how capable he was working with other 阿哥s. 皇阿玛 can then decide whether to delegate more responsibility to 八阿哥 . ”

皇阿玛 : “ 太子 , 你所言正合朕意 ! 正所谓打虎亲兄弟 , 上阵父子兵 ! …..Then coordinating the Parliament Debate on Ministerial Salary 的事 , 交由太子安排 . 四阿哥全权负责协助 . ”

太子爷 : “ 喳 ! ”



As 太子爷 hijacked 皇阿玛 to Yunnan 塞外 all for himself, meanwhile, he also gave secret instructions to his “ 太子党 ”back in 京师 to sabotage 监国八阿哥 as often as possible, and to cause as much obstructions to the latter’s preparation for the upcoming Parliament Debate on Ministerial Salary …..


....

 

[Ramseth]

Mangaged to catch the last half hour of the last episode last night. It's back to the future. It's just a timewarp nightmare. Everything's back to norma nowl.

 

[skponggol]

.....


A Sad Homecoming : An exasperated, frustrated and broken-down 八阿哥, coming back home and finding everything changed, strange, deranged, and hostile, after spending most of his adult life overseas
[video=youtube;6qIgVrOy9vM]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qIgVrOy9vM[/video]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qIgVrOy9vM

若曦: “ You did everything to make this homecoming happen. You've suffered enough damage! This homecoming is over, 八爷. Do you understand me? This homecoming is over! Look at those MIWs out there! Look at them! If you won't end this now, they will kill you. Is that what you want? It's over, 八爷. It's over! ”

八阿哥 : “ Nothing is over! Nothing! You just don't turn it off! It wasn’t my fault! 皇阿玛 asked me to be 监国, I didn't ask Him ! And I did what I had to do to win the Ministerial Salary Debate! But somebody wouldn't let us win! And I come back to this Party, and I see all those Hammers at the kopitiams, envying me, backstabbing. Calling me auntie-killer and all kinds of vile crap! Who are they to feel jealous? Who are they? Unless they've been me and been there and know what the hell they're yelling about! ”

若曦: “ It was a bad time for everyone, 八爷. It's all in the past now. ”

八阿哥 : “ For you! For me, Hammer life is nothing! In the corporate field, we had a Code of Greed, you make more money, I make even more. Back in Hammer, there's nothing! ”

若曦: “ You're the last of an elite group, don't end it like this. ”

八阿哥 : “ Back in China, I could fly a private jet, I could drive a limousine, I was in charge of billions dollar mega-deals. Back here, I can't even hold a job Meeting People at Sessions ! .. Aaaarrrggghhh !!! … ”


.....


Meanwhile, back in 京师, 监国八阿哥 was Hammered very badly by the insurmountable obstruction, sabotage and opposition from the well-entrenched “ 太子党 ” as he prepared to lead the Party for the upcoming Parliament Debate on Ministerial Salary.

To make things worse, 监国八阿哥 had been so far away for so many years and was not very familiar with the market rate of the local job industry. He was so used to making multi-million bucks annually in his previous job, and thus he might have viewed the current Minister pay as peanuts and far, far below his pay-grade.

He even felt that the Ministers here were unfairly exploited when compared to all the unofficial perks and benefits enjoyed by those less qualified Ministers in the Dragonland, where he was used to station.

监国八阿哥, thinking to himself :

“ Damn, ….. these Ministers had been ridiculously underpaid for so long and had been outrageously driven to slog like slaves ! ”

Throughout his life, 监国八阿哥 had been making his million$$$ in the “evil” capitalist world, swimming happily with corporate sharks and prowling merrily with financial hyenas.

This 贝勒爷 with the Midas Touch had been rubbing shoulders with the obscenely mega-rich towkays who would not bat an eyelid splurging millions on their extravagant lifestyle; he had been pal’ling around with voraciously greedy bankers who were obsessed with seducing good and poor people with debts and then dragged them to bankruptcy; he had also been dining with profit-driven CEOs who were solely motivated to smashing record earnings year after year; he had also been wining with the ruthless corporate vultures who would love to break up companies condemning millions jobless; and he had also been golfing with other ambitious corporate lawyers who simply loved to continue corporate climbing.

Hence, 监国八阿哥 had a complete culture shock when he came to the Hammer. He suffered great difficulty and tremendous hardship trying to reconcile his viewpoints and lifestyle to theirs. They belonged to two totally different worlds.

As the most junior 多罗贝勒 in the CEC, 监国八阿哥 was also unfamiliar and inexperienced with the Party stance on public policy and was not very well-versed in the Party rhetoric.

In fact, the market-oriented, capitalist-trained, right-leaning 贝勒爷 found the left-leaning, socialist-stained, community-oriented manifesto of the Hammer obiang, repulsive and simply crazy. He did not know how to formulate a public policy based on a political philosophy that was so diametrically opposed to his lifestyle and upbringing. This was made even worse when he had to cook up a Party policy that was as very market-related as Ministerial Salary.


监国八阿哥 thought of asking 皇阿玛 for advice …..


.....

 

[skponggol]

.....


- In May 1997, Mahathir appointed Anwar as 监国 when he went off on a VERY, VERY LONG two months' leave.

- In June 1997, appalled by the style of Anwar’s 监国 , UMNO’s 阿哥s began to gang up and started to circulate documents alleging Anwar’s adulterous relationship and gay activities which would ultimately form the blue-print for his later charges.

- On the other hand, the foreign media were overwhelmingly impressed with Anwar’s 监国 and praised him lavishly. Some were even openly calling for Mahathir to abdicate.

- The rest is history…..


中共监国赵羔羊 , 在处理学生运动时 , 遭到党内诸阿哥所阻挠及破坏 , 最后被中共皇阿玛所降罪 …
[video=youtube;Gf2tS4d8pV0]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gf2tS4d8pV0[/video]


As 监国八阿哥 was preparing to lead the Party in the upcoming Parliament Debate on Ministerial Salary, he tried to call 皇阿玛 for his advice. But he could not reach 皇阿玛 as both he and太子爷 had already left 京师 to Yunnan 塞外. His repeated attempts to contact 皇阿玛 was screened and blocked by the Party’s 公公s who had already been bribed and controlled by 太子爷 .

太子爷 had already planned to set up 监国八阿哥 to fail miserably and spectacularly for the Ministerial Salary Debate so that he could blame 监国八阿哥, then 以“反党反革命”的罪名 to wipe out the entire “ 八爷党 ”.

The “ 太子党 ” had been very aware about the incompatibility of 监国八阿哥’s capitalist belief with that of the Party’s socialist root, and had been exploiting and deepening that fundamental difference ever since.

The Party manifesto had been calling for the nationalisation of public transport, more re-distribution of wealth thru greater government intervention as well as more restriction on a free market economy.

On the contrary, 监国八阿哥 (due to his education, upbringing, associations and work experience) had gone against the Party principles. He believed in greater market opening, more creation of wealth by individuals thru lesser government intervention as well as fewer restriction on a free market economy.

This irreconcilable difference first broke into the open over the proposed MUFC Listing which the “ 太子党 ” fully capitalized on to undermine the “ 八爷党 ”.

In fact, the dispute over the proposed MUFC Listing was not merely a personal power struggle between “ 太子党 ” and “ 八爷党 ”, but deeper down, it was the curtain raiser of a mortal combat between the Hardliners and the Reformers (保守派 vs 改革派) to decide the future and the direction of the Party, which climaxed in the acrimonious sacking of 太子爷.


The fierce battle for the heart and soul of the Party had already begun …..


.....

 

[skponggol]

.....


若曦: “ 如果 , 我求你放弃争夺那把龙椅呢 ? 你可否会答应 ? 你答应 , 我们就在一起 ; 你不答应 , 我们就分开 . ”

八阿哥 : “ 若曦 , 为什么 ?

我还很清楚记得你当年说过的话 : 为什么自己的命运 , 要听别人摆布 , 为什么不能自己决定 ? …. 我心里 , 何尝不是这样想 …..

因为我额娘出身低微的‘假国’ , 我小时候在狮城 , 备受冷落 . 这么多年来 , 我步步为营 , 费尽心机 , 无非就是想将自己的命运 , 掌握在自己的手里 . ”


一个大蓝王爷 (The Great Blue Party or simply Tua Lan) 的嗔痴爱怨 ！
曾记得，他眼神温柔；犹未悔，他尽谙离愁。 多少爱，行经他的人生，他只为若曦驻足停留！…..
[video=youtube;zx6CjV9ghD8]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zx6CjV9ghD8&feature=related[/video]


When the angmoh football club MUFC and the MIWs announced their collaboration to sell their shares here, 八阿哥 shocked all Party members when he not only came out to openly support their collusion but also strongly defended them against all criticisms. He had probably done so against Party Rules and without 皇阿玛’s approval and even against 皇阿玛’s wishes. Why did he make such a bold but seemingly reckless move, that would ultimately tear the Party into pieces ?

To understand his motivation for undertaking such a risky step, one must examine 八阿哥’s dramatic background.


八阿哥 was born and raised in the “Republic” of Formosa. That “Republic” had never been officially recognized by the international community as a legitimate country (低微的假国). The Formosans had always been shunned, ostracized and discriminated, being denied any representation and vote in all global organizations.

Since young, 八阿哥 had suffered tremendously, being treated as a pariah by people all over the world.

When 八阿哥 came to the Lion City, he again suffered humiliation, hardship and isolation (备受冷落) as he could not speak English well.

But this only spurred the Formosan 贝勒爷 to 步步为营 , 费尽心机 so as to 将自己的命运 , 掌握在自己的手里 .

Through incredible determination and gifted talents, 八阿哥 succeeded. He not only became the top scholar earning strings of Ivy League qualifications, but also rose to the top of the corporate world in an awe-inspiring short time, smashing records after records as well as engineering series of heart-stopping deals.

However, when 八阿哥 returned home and joined the Hammer, after spending most of his adult life studying and working in the New World and then in the DragonLand, he was back to square zero, …..again : Being shunned, ostracized and discriminated by jealous, ambitious, hostile Party members, other 阿哥s , and even 皇阿玛 himself. Suddenly, he was once more treated as an outcast just as he was treated as such in his younger days.


With a sense of déjà vu, 八阿哥 again had to 步步为营 , 费尽心机 , so as to 将自己的命运 , 掌握在自己的手里 …..


.....

 

[skponggol]

.....


“ As JBJ loved me, I weep for him;
as he was fortunate, I rejoice at it;
as he was valiant, I honour him;
but, as he was ambitious, I slew him. ”

- 皇阿玛’s victory speech to the Party members, after ‘slaying’ JBJ Magnus (The Great).


逼宫、篡党、夺权 !!! ….. 步步惊心 …..
皇阿玛 says he is willing to take the risk as he is not afraid of consequences for calling JBJ Magnus to abdicate earlier.
[video=youtube;z0X73ofs2ew]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0X73ofs2ew&feature=relmfu[/video]


In his renewed struggle to be a Man of his Own Destiny, 八阿哥 realized that he had to quickly build up his power base and establish the “ 八爷党 ” within the Party ASAP, if he were to survive.

However, inside the Party of the Hammer Minus the Sickle, which nevertheless still retained its deep-rooted socialist political agenda that was totally incompatible to his capitalist inclination, 八阿哥 could only find very few like-minded comrades. There was little network and contacts within the Party for him to build upon.

Worse, the political pundits had generally, rightly or wrongly, credited him for the historic Triumph of Aljunied. Yet, despite that feat or because of that tag, he was viewed and treated suspiciously more than ever by other 阿哥s and especially by 皇阿玛, who would guard his hard-won throne warily and ruthlessly.

In spite of, or rather as a result of, his sterling qualifications and breathtaking credentials, the envious 皇阿玛 chose to treat 八阿哥 as a small little tiny insignificant cartoon character in the Party.

Regardless of his renowned accomplishments, 八阿哥 was only promoted as a very junior 贝勒爷 into the CEC. Compared to the other 阿哥s , 八阿哥 was not made a 亲王爷 or even a 郡王爷 . He was just remained, sidelined and condemned as an ordinary CEC member without holding any major or even any minor position in the CEC, unlike other 阿哥s who were painfully and embarassingly much less qualified than him.

The political analysts, bookies and Party members were all taken by surprise as most had expected 八阿哥 , the most prominent and promising of all the 阿哥s , to play a pivotal role in the Party leadership .

八阿哥 was well-known all over the world as a rare, outstanding leader specialized in managing top corporate company, achieving record-breaking results, earning widely-acclaimed accolades again and again as well as extremely masterful in trouble-shooting.

Yet, 皇阿玛 downgraded his star player to be a mere reserve stand-by in the Hammer Team.

“Why is 皇阿玛 so determined in putting the highly talented 八贤王 into cold storage ? Is 八爷 giving as much trouble to 皇阿玛 as Carlos Tevez ? ” as political experts, bookmakers and Party members alike were all scratching their heads and remained deeply baffled.

“Is this what 八愚王 been dreaming for : giving up his multi-million dollar paycheck and an earth-shaking profession that continues to revolutionize the world as well as precious time with his most beloved family so that he could play a Calefare actor in the Wayang Party ? Is this a joke ? ” – sniggered the "太子党".


“Thou Shalt Not Doth Unto 朕 , As 朕 Hath Doth Unto JBJ ”,

皇阿玛 had always remembered his First, and Only, Political Commandment…...


.....

 

[Ramseth]

8th Prince mother was only 嫔妃 rank. 4th Prince and 14th Prince mother was of 贵妃 rank and 2nd Prince mother was 皇后 that's why 2nd Prince was Crown Prince.

 

[Raiders]

8th Prince mother was only 嫔妃 rank. 4th Prince and 14th Prince mother was of 贵妃 rank and 2nd Prince mother was 皇后 that's why 2nd Prince was Crown Prince.

Boss, whats your take on Kangxi's father? Did he really died from illness or did he really go and be a monk like many TV soap operas depict.

 

[Ramseth]

Boss, whats your take on Kangxi's father? Did he really died from illness or did he really go and be a monk like many TV soap operas depict.

Emperor Shunzhi abandoned his throne and became a monk because he couldn't stand Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang. That's why Kangxi had to become emperor at so young. It's not only soap opera, it's well documented history. All Manchurians were devout Buddhists. It's their fluent bilingualism (in Manchurian and Chinese) and common religion and tradition (they traced roots back to Yan-Huang too) that made them acceptably Chinese. That's why when Han Chinese wanted to smear Qing emperor, they concocted stories like Qing emperor ordering the burning down of Shaolin Temple, that's soap opera.

 

[Clone]

Emperor Shunzhi abandoned his throne and became a monk because he couldn't stand Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang. That's why Kangxi had to become emperor at so young. It's not only soap opera, it's well documented history. All Manchurians were devout Buddhists. It's their fluent bilingualism (in Manchurian and Chinese) and common religion and tradition (they traced roots back to Yan-Huang too) that made them acceptably Chinese. That's why when Han Chinese wanted to smear Qing emperor, they concocted stories like Qing emperor ordering the burning down of Shaolin Temple, that's soap opera.

Uncle Ram,

No foreign power in history has ever managed to subjugate the Hans culturally. It's always the other way round.

 

[Ramseth]

No foreign power in history has ever managed to subjugate the Hans culturally. It's always the other way round.

Even in defeat and concession, e.g. v. Mongolia, Japan (loss of Tawian), Britain (loss of HK) and other countries (loss of other territories), the victors must draft their documents in Han Chinese characters. Even Japan must use all Han Chinese characters (instead of their half Kanji half Kana script) on their documents of demand. Otherwise, forget it and let's fight again until die. Nobody has time to learn your language. That's Han Chinese culture.

It's hard for Singaporean Chinese to understand this without visiting PRC or ROC. There, all legal, medical, banking and commercial documents are in Chinese. You don't understand is your problem. The only concession made is at the immigration and customs, where forms are available in English version.