Qianlong had the Three Treasures by his side—He Yan, Liu Yong, and Ji Xiaolan.
The story between He Yan and Ji Xiaolan is already a household name, and today we will nag the story between Liu Yong and Ji Xiaolan. Liu Yong was born in a family of eunuchs, his father was Liu Tongxun, a sage of the Qing Dynasty, who was honest and honest throughout his life.
Under the influence of his father, Liu Yong was also very poor as an official, not corrupt, not bribed, and took a basic salary. When Liu Yong was young and studying, he often bent over, and over time his back was bent, so people gave him a title of "Liu Luo Pot".
The Emperor Did Not Pay Off, Liu Yong's Examination was very smooth, and he soon entered the career path and fought against the evil forces. During Liu Yong's tenure as an official, he was just and honest, dared to speak out, and was deeply trusted by Qianlong.
Liu Yong had his own principles and bottom line, although many people in the imperial court at that time turned to He yan, but Liu Yong did not, he was still clean and self-righteous. However, Liu Yong did not have a hard confrontation with Hezhen, and he also bowed his head when he should bow his head, which was his smooth side.
He Yan was a court minister and the first favorite of Qianlong's side, and Liu Yong knew that he was not an opponent of He Yan, so he saved his strength and waited for the opportunity. If Liu Yong and He Yan are tough, it is not a Liu Yong, and the official positions between the two are very different, and they are not a grade at all.
However, after the fall of He Yan, Jiaqing asked Liu Yong to collect he Yan's charges, and Liu Yong collected twenty of He Yan's charges and threw He Yan into prison. Qianlong was a good emperor who liked face engineering, and when Qianlong celebrated his sixtieth birthday, he held his own birthday with beautiful scenery.
When the emperor's birthday arrived, the minister naturally wanted to express that, especially He yan, this was an opportunity to curry favor with Qianlong, and he would certainly not let it go. He Yan collected 60 large pearls from the world, and used these pearls to form a "Shou" character, which was very luxurious and very foiled with Qianlong.
He Yan has money, pearls can get, although other ministers are not as rich as He Yan, but there is also a lot of money, so what is prepared for Qianlong is generous gifts, rare treasures, antique calligraphy and paintings, catering to Qianlong's taste.
Ninety percent of life's suffering comes from the lack of money, and with money, these troubles are naturally gone.
On Qianlong's birthday, Liu Yong was very upset because he did not have money to buy gifts for Qianlong. His basic salary is enough for him to spend on his own, and if he buys a gift for Qianlong, he will drink the northwest wind this month.
In any case, Qianlong's big birthday, he had to say that this was a matter of etiquette. Usually Liu Yong is always afraid of Qianlong, this time can not be afraid, jokes are also time-sharing.
Liu Yong was thinking, how to give gifts, he still has money to spend? He thought about it all night and finally came up with a solution. On the day of Qianlong's great birthday, the Qunchen entered the birthday ceremony, and when Hezhen presented the large pearl to Qianlong, Liu Yong saw that Qianlong's eyes were glowing, and Qianlong praised Hezhen non-stop, and the Qunchen also praised Hezhen and ruined Hezhenle.
When it came to Liu Yongjin's birthday gift, he came in with a bucket, Qianlong and Qunchen looked confused, what medicine was sold in Liu Yong's gourd? Qianlong asked Liu Yong, "What is in Aiqing's hand?" ”
Liu Yong said, "This is a gift from the courtier to the emperor," and said that Liu Yong opened the barrel.
Inside the bucket was a bucket of ginger, and the ginger piled up like a hill. recognize. Qianlong asked, "What is this?" Liu Yong said: "The emperor has a bucket of Jiang Shan (unifying the Jiangshan Mountains). ”
Qianlong was happy to die after hearing this, and it turned out that Liu Yong still had this hand. The gifts given by the Qunchen were expensive but all vulgar, Liu Yong was cheap but profound, and Qianlong preferred them.
He Yan saw that Liu Yong had snatched away his limelight with a bucket of ginger, and he was very angry in his heart, and he blamed: "Why didn't I think of it?" "It can only be said that He yan does not have Liu Yong's wit.
References: Draft History of the Qing Dynasty, Biography of He yan, Liu Luoguo, prime minister, etc