Dynasties of ChinaQing dynastyQing dynasty lineage
Yongzheng · Reign 1722—1735
In the thirteenth year of his reign, the Military Aircraft Department was set up, and he implemented the policies of allocating people to acres, returning fire to the public, and reforming the land to the locals, and used harsh means to rectify the administration of officials.
Yinzhen is the fourth son of Emperor Kangxi and his biological mother is De Fei Wu Ya. In his early years, he accompanied his father on tours and handled errands. In 1709, he was awarded the title of Prince Yong. He had already been given a garden to the north of Changchun Garden, which later became the Old Summer Palace. While the princes were vying for the throne, he was indifferent on the surface and lived by paying homage to Buddha and studying. He called himself "Pochen Lay Scholar" and secretly recruited Long Keduo, the commander of the infantry, Nian Gengyao, the governor of Sichuan and Shaanxi, and others. Emperor Kangxi died of illness in 1722, and Long Keduo announced his will to be succeeded by Yinzhen. Due to the hasty succession process, there has long been a rumor among the people that he tampered with the imperial edict, but there is a lack of reliable evidence.
After taking the throne, he successively imprisoned and attacked political opponents such as Yin Si and Yinzhen, and punished Nian Gengyao and Long Keduo who were proud of their merits. He established a secret reserve system, established a military aircraft office, expanded the scope of secret memorials, and concentrated imperial power unprecedentedly. In terms of finance, we promoted the diversion of land into acres, the return of fire consumption to the public, and the raising of honest silver, and investigated the money and food deficits in various places; in the southwest, we promoted the return of land to locals, deployed troops in Qinghai and Junggar in the northwest, and signed the Kyaktu Treaty with Russia to delineate the middle section of the border between China and Russia.
Yinzhen was diligent in government affairs, often reviewing memorials until late at night, and left a large number of inscriptions. He personally tried Zeng Jing's case, promulgated the "Dayi Jue Mi Lu", and also established a literary inquisition. After more than ten years of rectification, the national silver inventory increased from about 8 million taels in the late Kangxi years to a peak of more than 60 million taels. In August 1735, he died suddenly in the Old Summer Palace, which was said to be related to taking elixirs. He was succeeded by the fourth son of the emperor, Hongli, and was buried in Tailing.
Yinzhen was one of the most diligent and controversial emperors in the Qing Dynasty. He used vigorous and resolute means to check the deficit, rectify the administration of officials, and implement reforms such as apportionment of land into acres, return of fire consumption to the public, and return of land to rivers, etc., which enriched the treasury, strengthened the central government's governance of the southwest, built on the past and forged ahead, and laid the foundation for the prosperity of the Qianlong Dynasty. However, he was harsh and ungrateful to his political opponents and heroes. The military and secret system brought the monarchy to its peak, and the literary prison became more severe. The doubtful case of his succession also made him suffer a long-term infamy after his death.
PoliticsConferred Prince Yong
In about 1707, he was given a garden to the north of Changchun Garden and named it "Old Summer Palace" by Emperor Kangxi. In 1709, he was granted the title of Prince Yong. While the princes were vying for the crown prince, he appeared not to be contentious. He treated himself by paying homage to Buddha and studying, and secretly made friends with his followers.
Lasting legacyThis gift garden was the starting point of the Old Summer Palace. It was continuously expanded during the Yongzheng and Qianlong dynasties. Its ruins are now the Beijing Old Summer Palace Heritage Park.
PoliticsSuccession mystery
In November, Emperor Kangxi died of illness in Changchun Garden. Long Keduo, the commander of the infantry, announced that he would be succeeded by the fourth son of the emperor. There is a folk saying that "the fourteenth son passed down the throne" was changed to "the fourth son passed down the throne", but there is no reliable evidence.
PoliticsCreate a secret reserve
In view of the lessons learned by the princes fighting for the throne in the later years of Kangxi, Yinzhen sealed the secret edict with the name of the heir in a box and hid it behind the "Upright and Bright" plaque in the Palace of Qianqing. He also carried another copy with him and compared the two before announcing it after the emperor's death.
Lasting legacyThe "Upright and Bright" plaque in the Palace of Qianqing still hangs in its original place and is one of the most famous plaques in the Forbidden City.
PoliticsPromote secret discount system
During the Kangxi period, only a few close associates could report affairs in secret, but Yinzhen extended this power to governors, admirals and even some Taoist officials. Memorials were opened and approved by the emperor himself, and officials supervised each other, allowing the emperor to directly control the situation in various places.
Lasting legacyA large number of memorials written by Zhu during the Yongzheng Dynasty have been preserved to this day and have been compiled and published by the First Historical Archives of China. They are first-hand materials for studying the politics of the Qing Dynasty.
PoliticsAdd Changhua County
In view of the increasing development in central and northern Taiwan, Changhua County and Tamsui County were added to the north of Zhuluo County to strengthen the jurisdiction over central and northern Taiwan. Since then, more and more immigrants from mainland China have come to Taiwan to colonize.
Lasting legacyThe name "Changhua" is still used today and is now Changhua County, Taiwan.
EconomyDivide into acres
It was first tried out in Zhili, where the dingyin was evenly distributed into the land tax and levied together. In the following years, it was extended to most provinces. Landless peasants no longer have to bear the head tax, household registration controls have been relaxed, and population statistics have become closer to reality.
MilitaryPingding Luobu Zangdanjin
The leader of the Heshuote tribe in Qinghai, Luo Bu Zangdanjin, rebelled against the Qing Dynasty. Yinzhen appointed Nian Gengyao as General Fuyuan and Yue Zhongqi as General Fenwei to suppress the Qing Dynasty. In August 1724, Zhongqi led an elite army to attack and quickly put down the rebellion. The Qing government then organized flags and officials in Qinghai and sent ministers to Xining to administer it.
SocietyEliminate humble status
He successively ordered the abolition of the lowly status inherited from generation to generation such as Lehu in Shanxi and Shaanxi, lazy people in Zhejiang, Bandang in Huizhou, Shibu in Ningguo and Danhu in Guangdong, and allowed them to change their careers to be good and rank with the civilians who had registered households.
EconomyThe fire consumption returns to the public
The "fire consumption" added to local taxes was originally used by officials for private use and was a hotbed of corruption. Yinzhen adopted the suggestions of Nuo Min, the governor of Shanxi, and others, and returned Huohuo to the provincial treasury, from which he issued integrity-supporting silver to officials and made up for the deficit, thus standardizing local finances.
Diplomacyban catholicism
Because some missionaries were involved in the struggle for the crown prince and the dispute over etiquette was unresolved, Yinzhen ordered a ban on Catholicism. Except for those serving in the Qintian Prison and other places, missionaries from all provinces were sent to Macau, and many churches in various places were repurposed for other purposes.
PeopleNian Gengyao convicted
After pacifying Qinghai, Nian Gengyao was arrogant and arrogant, and was good at using power and power. In 1725, Yinzhen transferred him out of Sichuan and Shaanxi, demoted his official position, and then listed 92 major crimes and ordered him to commit suicide. After that, Long Keduo was also imprisoned and died in confinement in 1728.
CulturePrinted into "Collection of Ancient and Modern Books"
During the Kangxi period, Chen Menglei presided over the compilation of a large-scale book. After Yinzhen came to the throne, he ordered Jiang Tingxi to edit it and type it with copper movable type. The whole book has 10,000 volumes, divided into six compilations and thirty-two classics, and is a collection of classic materials from past dynasties.
Lasting legacyIt is the largest and most complete extant type book in China, and it is still an important reference book for searching ancient documents today.
PoliticsReturn to homeland
Adopting the suggestions of E Ertai, the governor of Yunnan and Guizhou, hereditary chieftains were abolished on a large scale in Yunnan, Guizhou, Guangxi, Hunan, Hubei, Sichuan and other places, and governments, departments, prefectures, and counties were reestablished, and floating officials were dispatched to govern, conduct censuses, and measure land. This was also accompanied by military conquests.
Lasting legacyThis laid the foundation for the establishment of many prefectures and counties in the southwest; the old Sicheng of Yongshun in Hunan and the Tusi City of Tangya in Hubei were subsequently abandoned and were listed as World Cultural Heritage Sites in 2015 as "Tusi Sites".
DiplomacySigning of the Treaty of Kyaktu
The Treaty of Brensky and the Treaty of Kyakhta were signed with Russia successively, delimiting the middle boundary between China and Russia, stipulating that Kyakhta should be the location for mutual trade between the two countries, and allowing Russia to send missionaries and students to Beijing to study.
Lasting legacyKyakhta and the trading city opposite have become the hub of the Sino-Russian tea trade. The "Wanli Tea Road" operated by Shanxi merchants has prospered since then, and the remains along the route are jointly applying for a world heritage.
PoliticsMinister stationed in Tibet
Senge and Mara were appointed as ministers in Tibet, stationed in Lhasa to supervise local affairs in Tibet. The following year, internal strife broke out among the Galon in Tibet, and the Qing government sent troops to quell it. After that, troops were stationed in Lhasa, and the system of ministers stationed in Tibet continued until the end of the Qing Dynasty.
CultureZeng Jing case
Hunan scholar Zeng Jing was influenced by Lu Liuliang's works and sent his disciples to write to Yue Zhongqi, the governor of Sichuan and Shaanxi, urging him to rebel against the Qing Dynasty. Yinzhen personally tried the case and released Zeng Jing leniently. However, he cut open the coffin of the late Lu Liuliang and killed his body. He also compiled the interrogation records and edicts into "Dayi Juemi Lu" and published it to the world.
PoliticsEstablish military aircraft office
Due to the use of troops against Junggar in the northwest, a military machine room was set up inside Longzong Gate, which was later renamed the Military Machinery Department. The military ministers were selected by the emperor from among his trusted ministers. They knelt down to receive transcripts and acted according to orders. They were not allowed to make arbitrary decisions. The imperial power was thus highly concentrated.
Lasting legacyA row of simple wooden houses in the Longzong Gate of the Forbidden City were the duty rooms of the Military Aircraft Department at that time, and they are still preserved today.
SocietyPromulgate a smoking ban
In view of the growing trend of opium smoking in Fujian, Guangdong and other places, the first anti-smoking order in Chinese history was issued, strictly prohibiting the sale of opium cigarettes and privately opening opium dens, and violators were severely punished. But medicinal opium can still be imported, and the ban has had limited effect.
PeoplePrince Yi Yin Xiang passed away
Yin Xiang is Yinzhen's most trusted brother. He is the Prime Minister of the Ministry of Household Affairs and supervises the management of the Zhili Water Conservancy Camp. After his death, Yinzhen was extremely sad and ordered his name to use the pre-taboo word "Yin" again, and made his title hereditary.
MilitaryHetongbo and Guangxian Temple
The Qing army attacked Junggar. In 1731, General Fu Erdan of Jingbian was defeated in an ambush at Hetongbo, with more than 10,000 troops lost. In the following year, Prince Celing of Khalkha defeated the Junggar army at Guangxian Temple, and the situation in the northwest became stable.
PoliticsSudden passing of Yuanmingyuan
In August, he suddenly fell seriously ill in the Old Summer Palace and died the next day at the age of fifty-eight. One theory is that it was related to long-term use of elixirs. According to the imperial edict, the fourth son of the emperor Hongli succeeded to the throne, and Zhuang's relatives Wang Yunlu, Guo's relatives Wang Yunli, Ertai, and Zhang Tingyu assisted in the administration.
Lasting legacyYinzhen set up another mausoleum site in Yi County, Hebei Province, and buried the Tailing Mausoleum. The Western Qing Mausoleum was thus formed and was listed as a World Cultural Heritage Site in 2000 as the "Ming & Qing Royal Mausoleum".
The thirteenth son of Emperor Kangxi, he fell out of favor in his later years. After Yongzheng ascended the throne, he was granted the title of Prince Yi, Prime Minister of the Ministry of Household Affairs. He presided over the investigation of money and food shortages, contributed the most to the New Deal, and was entitled to enjoy the Imperial Ancestral Temple after his death.
The eighth son of Emperor Kangxi, he was highly regarded by people in the court and was Yinzhen's main opponent in the battle for the throne in the last years of Kangxi. In the early years of Yongzheng's reign, he was granted the title of Prince Lian. He was soon stripped of his rank and imprisoned, and his name was changed to "Aqina". He died in the imprisonment in 1726.
A bannerman of the Han army, a former member of Yinzhen's vassal mansion, and his younger sister is Yinzhen's noble concubine. He served as governor of Sichuan and Shaanxi. In the early years of Yongzheng's reign, he put down the rebellion of Luobuzangdanjin in Qinghai, and his power was overwhelming for a while. Later, he was convicted of arrogance and domineering and was ordered to commit suicide.
Tong Jia is the younger brother of Emperor Kangxi and Empress Xiao Yiren. When Emperor Kangxi died of illness, he took charge of the capital garrison as an infantry commander and announced Yinzhen's succession. In the early years of Yongzheng's reign, he was extremely favored and was called "uncle". Later, he was convicted of forming a gang and imprisoned, and died in the prison.
A native of Tongcheng, Anhui, he is the son of Zhang Ying, a bachelor. During the Yongzheng period, he participated in the formulation of the regulations of the Military Aircraft Department and was deeply trusted. According to the imperial edict, he was entitled to enjoy the Ancestral Temple after his death. He was the only Han minister in the Qing Dynasty to receive this honor.
A native of Manchuria's Xianglan Banner, he was promoted from the Chief Envoy of Jiangsu to the Governor of Yunnan and Guizhou in the early years of Yongzheng. He presided over the reform of the southwest and returned to the country.
A bannerman of the Han army, he was born as a supervisor. He promoted the practice of dividing people into acres, checking deficits, and strictly enforcing the law in Henan. He was regarded as a model governor by Yinzhenshu, and he was appointed as the special governor of Hedong.
A native of Chengdu, Sichuan, it is said that he is a descendant of Yue Fei. When Qinghai was pacified, he led an elite army to attack and succeeded in the first battle. He succeeded him as governor of Sichuan and Shaanxi. Zeng Jing wrote to him to persuade him to rebel against the Qing Dynasty, and he reported it immediately. Later, he was imprisoned for failing to use troops against Junggar, and was released in the early years of Qianlong.