I. Why did Kangxi finally choose Yongzheng?
It is known that the Qing Dynasty was founded by the Jurchens (Manchus), and naturally there is a set of operating rules that are different from the Han, Tang, Ming and other dynasties. And the most obvious of these is the inheritance system , which is called the primogeniture system.
Because as early as the Nurhaci period, the Jurchens were a kind of tribal alliance group system. In the Period of Emperor Taiji, although he became the emperor's eldest brother, whether it was formal or private occasions, Huang Taiji still had to sit on an equal footing with the three brothers, and there was no special imperial authority.
For this reason, Emperor Taiji is also very helpless - Wang Clan Relatives, Eight Banners Guiguan, etc. have long been accustomed to "king treatment", are you Emperor Taiji the emperor? I'm sorry, but we only recognize you as the leader of the tribe, so why don't you say anything? So in the end, Emperor Taiji, took a compromise route, still recognized the ancestral system, but learned from the Han regime, and placed the six ministries above the eight banners, which was considered to strengthen the imperial power.
As for the Shunzhi Emperor, he was more playful than the Emperor Taiji, and that was why he overthrew Dolgun! Because Dorgon's power was too great, seriously threatening his position, Shunzhi directly held the Shangsan Banner controlled by Dorgon in his hands, and used a large number of Han courtiers such as Hong Chengyu.
In this way, after the efforts of Emperor Taiji and Shunzhi, in the Kangxi period, how to continue to strengthen the imperial power and get rid of the constraints of the Eight Banners and Nobles became a major problem that he had to solve. The most crucial of these is that the emperor must be able to independently complete the designation of heirs. Don't be as controlled by others as when Shunzhi and Kangxi succeeded to the throne!
Therefore, after Kangxi sat firmly on the throne, he chose the "primogeniture inheritance system" and made the second brother Yinrong, born of the empress, the crown prince. This event was of great significance to the Qing Dynasty, marking the first time that the imperial power suppressed the will of the Eight Banners. But unfortunately, the second brother was really out of tune, which led to the failure of Kangxi's "primogeniture inheritance system".
This is actually the reason why the nine sons took the wife, it will be so tragic. It is interspersed with the "Eight Flags nobles" who want to drive backwards and return to the idea of "collective deliberation".
At the same time, this is also the fundamental reason why The Eighth Master Yin yu, in the case of such a high prestige, has failed so thoroughly. He was completely on the opposite side of Kangxi, how could he have good fruit to eat? Although Kangxi did not dare to turn his face with the Eight Flags nobles, but getting rid of his son Yin Yu would be equivalent to cutting off the idea of the Eight Flags Nobles, which was much simpler!
With the failure of the Eighth Master, Yongzheng actually became a new candidate for Kangxi. Yongzheng has always been fighting as a lone minister, almost offending anyone who can be offended, and his popularity is very smelly, and he is known as the Prince of the Iron Mask, but he is the candidate that Kangxi needs most.
So Yongzheng came to power, there were not so many conspiracies and tricks. Xiang Dali said that Yongzheng is a figure needed for the development of the times, and the so-called heroes of the times are created! In a small way, it was the choice that Kangxi had to strengthen his imperial power.
Second, why did Yongzheng have to kill Nian Tangyao?
In "Yongzheng Dynasty", Nian Qianyao seems to have been treated as a domestic slave by Yongzheng. And the reason why his sister was able to become Yongzheng's concubine was also because Nian Qianyao had a future appearance. But in fact, they are all fictionalized by TV series.
In 1709, when Yongzheng was still a prince, Nian Qianyao had already become Yongzheng's sidekick. But his relationship with Yongzheng was not intimate. One is that yongzheng at that time was too low in prestige, and the other is that Nian Tangyao can be described as a teenager.
When Nian Qianyao was 21 years old, he entered the Hanlin Temple. At the age of 30, he became an inspector. Less than 40 years later, Nian Qianyao ushered in the most important turning point in his life, was promoted to the governor of Sichuan, and officially stepped into the ranks of feudal officials.
In the "Yongzheng Dynasty", it is said that this important promotion is because Yongzheng played a means, and it was by Yongzheng's strategy that Nian Qianyao got this heavy responsibility. But this is not the case.
First, nian Qianyao applied to Kangxi. That is to say, it was Kangxi who appreciated him. Second, Nian Qianyao's knotted wife is the daughter of Naran Sex! And Naran's father is the pearl of Naran who has been in power for a while. With this relationship, who dares to say that Nian Qianyao is just Yongzheng's domestic slave and dependent on Yongzheng?
Obviously, Nian Tangyao was proud of the spring breeze at that time, and the future was bright. Therefore, those princes all competed to win over Nian Tangyao. And Nian Qianyao was also aware of his role, and he was close to the Three Brothers, the Eighth Master, the Ninth Master, and the Fourteenth Master, especially with the Fourteenth Brother, who was the closest.
It is precisely for this reason that after Yongzheng ascended the throne, he wrote a letter directly to Nian Qianyao, angrily accusing him of "disregarding the righteousness of the monarch". For example, Qianyao "never calls himself a slave." And when Yongzheng's mother celebrates her birthday, she doesn't send birthday gifts!
In fact, from Yongzheng's letter angrily denouncing Nian Qianyao, it can be seen that Yongzheng is rejected even if he becomes emperor. The reason is simple.
From the beginning of the conversation, the emperor took back the imperial power and got rid of the eight banners and nobles, which has always been a big problem that several emperors in the early Qing Dynasty had to solve. Kangxi's ninth son's conquest of the concubine was, to some extent, the outbreak of this contradiction. Fortunately, Kangxi resisted and chose Yongzheng.
Since he became a prince, Yongzheng has been a lonely courtier. Therefore, after becoming emperor, he will only have more difficulties than his father Kangxi. And Nian Qianyao's betrayal is naturally unforgivable by Yongzheng. After all, Nian Tangyao came from his Yongwang Mansion, which was tantamount to an anti-water act. Therefore, Yongzheng must take a stand, otherwise how can he continue to go? What is the point of reading the recital every day?
3. Yongzheng's personal seal
In fact, since the beginning of Yongzheng's ascension to the throne, he has realized his situation. It was the first month of 1723 AD, and soon after he ascended the throne, the Yongzheng Emperor wrote a plaque with the words "For the King's Difficulty"! Subsequently, he ordered his subordinates to engrave a private seal, the Shoushan Furong Stone, the Dragon as a button, and Zhu Wen's Double Dragon Holding Character "For Junnan".
That is to say, Yongzheng has made up his mind since he ascended the throne and become a real "lonely man". To this end, Yongzheng has set a harsh life schedule for himself, such as "not traveling, not following the rules, not hunting, and only resting for two days of New Year's Day and birthday throughout the year."
Therefore, the close relationship between Nian Qianyao and several elder brothers shows that he has actually been on the "opposite side of the imperial power" for a long time, how can Yongzheng spare him?
But no matter what, it was Yongzheng who played with his life for 13 years and used an almost masochistic way to completely suppress the "Eight Flags and Nobles". And invented the "secret reserve" system, ensuring the independence of the imperial succession! Therefore, when Qianlong ascended the throne, after Yongzheng desperately suppressed them, the Eight Banners nobles were no longer a threat to the imperial power.
Why is Qianlong so arrogant? In addition to his own strong ability, his father Yongzheng has cleaned the "room" for him, creating a comfortable environment for him.
For the king! From this private chapter of Yongzheng, we can smooth out the context of clear historical development. So-called: Reading history can be wise. A cultural relic carries a piece of history, and even allows us to grasp the most fundamental things through the heavy fog of history...