History is the memory of things that have been said and done. —Carl Baker
To know the history of the Qing Dynasty, we must know Kang Yongqian. If you understand Yongzheng, you will know nian tangyao.
Nian Qianyao, a famous general of the Qing Dynasty, was a native of Huaiyuan, Anhui. Born in 1679, he was only one year younger than the Yongzheng Emperor. Han Chinese, who were born in Han, could eventually become the governor of Sichuan and Shaanxi, the general of Fuyuan, and be crowned a first-class duke of the imperial court, and one person was above ten thousand people, and it can only be said that he paid more than ordinary Manchus.
You may not imagine that this great general who later became famous for his military force was actually a jinshi, and according to the Qing Dynasty system, "jinshi born" was the third in the country, which was a great affirmation of knowledge.
Later generations often compared Nian Tangyao with Longkeduo, and divided it into the range of the four Brothers Yinchen wings, although there is no written evidence, through a variety of indications, this statement is not unreasonable:
In the fifty-seventh year of the Kangxi Dynasty, the fourteenth brother was given the title of Grand General of the Yuan Dynasty and suppressed the western border of the country. Soon, he was also named the "Great General King", and his power was expanded. During the same period, the conquest of concubines within the capital was now white-hot, and although the Eight Brothers Yin Yu was recommended by Ah Ling'a and other courtiers, he was rejected by Xuan Ye. At this time, the only people who have the possibility of inheritance are the four brothers and the fourteen brothers. Then, Yin, who has a heavy army, is absolutely competitive.
In the sixty-first year of Kangxi, the fourteenth brother was recalled to Beijing, and Nian Qianyao took his place, in charge of the Fuyuan General Seal, before that, he had many outstanding performances and was trusted by Kangxi. This has developed towards a favorable form for Yin Chan: because of the presence of General Nian, it is possible to block Yin Chan's opposition and prevent opponents from subverting the regime from the outside.
It is no wonder that after Yongzheng ascended the throne, he favored Nian Qianyao even more, and repeatedly "confessed" to him, to the point of sweet words, such as "You and I are the role models of kings and courtiers in the world, let them envy and covet it!" ”
In addition, General Nian's sister entered the Yin Chan mansion as a teenager as a side Fujin, beautiful and decent, and the husband and wife had a very good relationship, which seemed to be one of the reasons for the harmony between the monarch and the courtier.
However, in the fourth year of Yongzheng, Yin Chan began to dispose of Nian Qianyao with an iron fist, imprisoned for 92 counts, and then gave him suicide, and his son Nian fu was not spared and was killed together.
Many people say that the reason behind this is that "the lord of high merit" and "jealousy of military power" are the inevitable means of strengthening centralized power, but in fact, this is not the case, we can see one or two through Yongzheng's holy will:
In the second year of Yongzheng, the emperor personally wrote Down Zhu Pi: "As a courtier, it is easy to plan and make meritorious contributions, but it is difficult to really do it; it is easy to succeed, it is difficult to keep the merits; it is easy to keep the merits, and it is difficult to start well and end well." ”
Implication: Although you have merit, you should pay attention to your behavior after meritorious service.
Being proud of one's achievements was a fatal mistake made by Nian Qianyao, and every emperor did not accept it, because after this, it was often accompanied by the formation of parties for personal gain.
The emperor was already a naked reminder, but after General Nian received the Holy Will, there was no change, and he still went his own way, and after summarizing, there were the following 2 points:
1. At the beginning of Yongzheng, the situation was unstable, and he had to rely on his uncle Long Keduo internally, and he had to appease Nian Qianyao outside. So that during that time, the Nianlong couple had great power and arrogant attitude. Many rumors have spread that "Yin Chan is just a puppet emperor, and the reason why he punished the Eight Brothers' henchmen was all to follow the advice of Nian Tangyao", which made the emperor bear it?
2. If it is arrogant, it can be ignored, but Nian Qianyao's tentacles are stretched out to the real place. In the development of their own power, the appointment of imperial court officials, recommended by them, was called "annual election", the last time this happened, or Wu Sangui in the early Kangxi Period, he selected the person, was called "Western Election", and later Wu Sangui called the emperor anti-Qing, this is known to everyone.
There is an old proverb that has been repeatedly confirmed by history: cunning rabbit dies, running dog cooks. The world satirizes the scheming and viciousness of politicians, but few people think from the perspective of cunning rabbits and lackeys. Yongzheng did not hate the cunning rabbit, but could not stand the cunning rabbit's pride.
postscript:
1. When it comes to Nian Qianyao, he will definitely think of his sister NianFei, who in film and television works and novels, she is arrogant and fierce to other concubines. But in history, she was cautious, because Concubine Nian knew her brother and her husband.
2. As a figure comparable to Nian Qianyao, Long Keduo's fate is similar: in the fourth year of Yongzheng, the imperial court arrested Long Keduo's family, Niu Lun, on the grounds of "bribery", and after interrogation, Niu Lun exposed many major crimes such as the master's alliance with the party for personal gain, privately granting and receiving. A year later, Roncodo was negotiating with Tsarist Russia on the border, and before it was over, he was suddenly taken back to the capital for seclusion. In the sixth year of Yongzheng, Long keduo died in captivity.
Under the rule of feudal dynasties, those imperial relatives and nobles were the closest to the ultimate power, but they were also the most likely to indulge because of their status. In the past, there was Suo Ertu of the Kangxi Dynasty, whose father was Sony and his niece was an empress, but after he reached middle age, he did not engage in some corruption, party alliances, and concubines, and finally was starved to death; and then there was Longkodo.
This really can't just blame the emperor for being too cruel.