What is history: it is the echo of the past to the future, the reflection of the future on the past. - Hugo
Before the Yongzheng Emperor disposed of Nian Qianyao, Nian Qianyao was the governor of Sichuan and Shaanxi, the general of Fuyuan, with heavy troops. More seriously, the entire western region was filled with people he had promoted. So, how did Yongzheng do it, why didn't he cause any turmoil, and easily get Rid of Nian Tangyao?
I think that Yongzheng actually had the idea of cracking down on Nian Qianyao since he first came to power. However, his means were really very clever, and Nian Qianyao eventually went to extinction step by step under Yongzheng's routine.
How did Yongzheng do this?
First, indulge in arrogance.
When Yongzheng first came to power, he had great trust in Nian Tangyao and extremely reused Nian Tangyao, and his trust and reuse of Nian Tangyao was almost unique from ancient times to the present.
He not only promoted Nian Qianyao to the first rank of duke, but also promoted Nian Qianyao's father to the first rank of duke, and also gave a viscount and a baron for Nian Qianyao's sons to inherit. In addition, the rewards for such things as precious treasures, antique calligraphy and paintings, and gold and silver treasures are even more numerous.
In addition to the rewards, Yongzheng also consulted with Nian Qianyao many times on the arrangements of the imperial court personnel. Whenever there is a major personnel decision, the opinions of Nian Qianyao will be listened to. If Nian Qianyao did not agree, Yongzheng would not arrange it.
Yongzheng's approach is actually very unreasonable. Some people say that this is because Yong is a person with a personality, because he is related to Nian Tangyao, so he does this. However, judging from Yongzheng's later practice of rejecting dissidents and attacking political opponents, he was actually not a person who could be related to anyone, but a real cold-blooded emperor.
Since Yong was a cold-blooded emperor, his extreme favor for Nian Qianyao seemed to have a purpose in it. That is to say, through deliberate pampering, let Nian Qianyao be proud.
And Nian Qianyao really couldn't control himself, and finally became proud. Many people saw that he was favored by Yongzheng, so they rushed to seduce him and send him money and bribes. Suddenly, Nian Qianyao received a lot of money, and the people he promoted were all over the government and the public.
Nian Qianyao also became extremely proud, and every time he went to a place, not only the local officials had to kneel down to him, but when he arrived in the capital, even the princes and nobles had to kneel to him. And in the face of these people who bowed down to him, he ignored them.
What was even more excessive was that he even forgot what kind of etiquette he should have in front of Yongzheng as a courtier. Several times, he did not respect etiquette and gave Yongzheng a handle.
From this process, it can be seen that what Yongzheng wants to do gives people the feeling that he deliberately wants to make Nian Qianyao arrogant and conniving, so as to find evidence to arrest him.
Second, fold its might.
When Yongzheng was ready to close his pockets, he also did something extraordinary.
In the past, the appointment of officials in the imperial court and the appointment of officials under the jurisdiction of Nian Qianyao had to seek the opinions of Nian Qianyao. Nian Qianyao wanted to impeach which official, Yongzheng would play it accurately. But now, nian Qianyao wanted to do something, and Yongzheng was like doing it against him. Nian Qianyao said east, Yongzheng must say west.
For example, Nian Qianyao believed that the Governor of Sichuan, Cai Jue, had forced his subordinates to death and arrested him, and the imperial court, after a trial, also found him guilty and sentenced him to a beheading. However, when Yongzheng was looking at this case, he not only did not let the Punishment Department lock up Cai Jun, but also released him, and also trusted him and promoted him to Zuo Du Yushi.
Although it is said that when Nian Qianyao removed Cai Jun, he arranged for his own person to serve as the governor of Sichuan, but Cai Jun's crime was a fact. Since they commit crimes, they should be punished, even if they are not "beheaded", they should also be punished by a smaller level, and there is absolutely no reason to promote them.
Why did Yongzheng do this? There are three purposes: First, deliberately forcing Nian Qianyao to make disgruntled remarks in order to increase the evidence of his rebellion. The second is to add a political enemy to Nian Qianyao in the hope of overthrowing Nian Qianyao. The third is to let the government and the public understand their attitude toward Nian Tangyao.
This last point is very important. This is a signal to the whole world that I Yongzheng has distrusted Nian Tangyao, and you want to impeach him, even if you impeach him. As long as you impeach Nian Qianyao and fight Nian Qianyao, I Yongzheng will not only not blame you, but will also promote your officials, just like I did with Cai Jun.
And Yongzheng's approach really played a very good effect, and the impeachment of Nian Tangyao flew to the imperial court like snowflakes. Yongzheng simply did not need to collect, and the evidence of the execution of Nian Qianyao was enough.
Third, remove its arm.
Some people will say that since Nian Qianyao controlled the entire western region and had soldiers in his hands and respected himself, Yongzheng did this, why didn't he rebel?
In fact, Yongzheng has already occupied an advantage in public opinion through the above practices. Everyone already believes that Nian Qianyao's performance is really an act of rebellion, and there is really no need to follow him. In addition, it was the Taiping Period at that time, and in fact, no one was willing to rebel.
At the same time, Yongzheng also removed Nian Qianyao's left arm and right arm through a series of operations. For example, Hu Qiheng, the governor of Gansu, a close confidant of Nian Qianyao, was dismissed from his post, and another of Nian Qianyao's close associates, The Sichuan Admiral Natai, was transferred back to the capital so that he could not cause chaos, and at the same time, a large group of officials in Sichuan and Shaanxi were also removed.
After doing these things, Yongzheng did not beat Nian Qianyao to death with a stick, but used the method of "boiling frogs in warm water" to remove him from his post as governor and the post of general of Fuyuan. He was transferred to general Hangzhou, and then a comprehensive liquidation was carried out.
In the end, Nian Qianyao was easily removed by Yongzheng step by step, without any chaos.