The Kangxi Emperor made six southern tours, and Qianlong also went to Jiangnan six times. The evaluation of the two later generations was one positive and one negative, and Kangxi's six trips to Jiangnan were aimed at easing ethnic contradictions and recovering people's hearts. And Qianlong's sixth tour of Jiangnan is purely for the purpose of playing and viewing, luxurious and extravagant, costing a lot of money, and causing public discontent. How much silver did Qianlong's six southern tours consume? Why did he take his mother Niuhulu with him every time?
Why love Gangnam alone
First of all, it is necessary to say what is special about Xiajiangnan, and why Kangxi and Qianlong frequently tour the south. Jiangnan mainly refers to the Yangtze River Delta, with Jiangsu and Zhejiang regions as the core. The economy is developed, the culture is prosperous, the humanities are luxuriant, the mountains and waters are beautiful, and the scenery is like clouds. Nanjing, Suzhou, Hangzhou and Yangzhou are all prosperous metropolises famous throughout the country. Jiangsu and Zhejiang were the most economically and culturally developed places in the Qing Dynasty, and the silver grain tax paid accounted for 30% of the country. And rich in silk, tea, ceramics and many other high-end products, cultural atmosphere is strong. According to historical records, among the more than 60 imperial examinations during Kangxi's reign, 51 were from Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces, accounting for 87% of the total number of champions in the country. Among the officials in the imperial court, Jiangsu and Zhejiang nationality accounted for the majority, and they had great influence and influence.
Six under the south of the river
The fundamental purpose of Qianlong's sixth tour of Jiangnan was to better control the Jiangsu and Zhejiang regions. In 1751, it had been 16 years since the Qianlong Emperor ascended the throne, and many people sang praises of virtue under the rule of the world, and Qianlong was triumphant. So Qianlong issued an edict to inspect Jiangnan, and found four reasons for himself, first, the people of Jiangnan had long been looking forward to the emperor's arrival. Second, the ministers have repeatedly suggested. Third, follow the example of the Kangxi Emperor and observe the people's feelings. Fourth, accompany my mother to browse the scenic spots in Jiangnan to fulfill her filial piety.
As the saying goes: prosper, the people suffer, die, the people suffer. When Qianlong first went to Jiangnan, he prepared for more than a year for the smooth travel before and after the work. Officials across Jiangnan were busy repairing scenic spots and building palaces, but the people were subjected to heavier conscription.
After everything was ready, Qianlong accompanied his mother Niuhulu clan, and together with more than 2,000 empresses, concubines, princes and ministers, and various entourage, they hugged each other and hugged each other, all the way south along the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal. Along the way, officials and people from all over the country welcomed each other, rushing to see the emperor's face, and the crowd was boiling and lively. Qianlong was greatly pleased, and was rewarded with 20,000 taels of silver along the way, and at the same time ordered that Anhui and Zhejiang be exempted from taxes and silver by 300,000 taels each. Jiangsu has written off 2.28 million taels of tax arrears over the years.
The route and content of Qianlong's southern tour followed the Kangxi Emperor, and also sacrificed the tombs of Confucius, Zhu Yuanzhang and Dayu Pavilion. The difference is that the time is relatively long, Qianlong accompanied his mother to visit the West Lake scenic spots in Hangzhou, and the Empress Dowager enjoyed the beautiful scenery, and this southern tour lasted for several months.
In 1757, Qianlong made his second southern tour. The reason for this southern tour is on the order of her mother, which translates to the Empress Dowager who didn't play enough last time, and she missed Jiangnan's infinite goodness. So, Qianlong set off again with a huge team. In Hangzhou, a grand military parade was also held.
In 1762, Qianlong made his third southern tour. This time it was no longer a simple tour, this time Qianlong did something, at that time, when the tide of the Qiantang River was serious, and the Haining area was at risk of being washed away. If the land of Haining is washed away, it will threaten Suzhou and Hangzhou. So Qianlong personally went to Haining to investigate and deploy disaster prevention matters.
In 1765, Qianlong made his fourth southern tour. At this time, his mother Niu Hulu was 73 years old, but she still missed the good of Jiangnan, and traveled Jiangnan again with her. Qianlong first went to Haining to inspect the Qiantang River, and then accompanied his mother to enjoy the beautiful scenery of Hangzhou and tour the gardens of Suzhou. All the way along the Yangtze River, I took a boat and visited the infinite beautiful scenery in the Yangtze River.
In 1780, Qianlong made his fifth southern tour. At this time, the Qianlong Emperor was already 70 years old, and this time his mother did not follow, because the old man had died at this time. When Qianlong reached Zhenjiang, local officials painstakingly set up a large stage on the shore to please the emperor, and hundreds of people performed birthday celebrations to welcome Qianlong. The Qianlong Emperor immediately closed his mouth happily and immediately gave a heavy reward.
In 1784, Qianlong made his sixth southern tour. He was 74 years old at this time. Since the famous places in Jiangnan have already been visited, the places I have visited this time are not as many as before, and the time spent is not as much as before.
The sixth tour of Jiangnan costs a lot of money
Qianlong's favorite thing to do in Jiangnan is to reduce taxes and show the grandeur of the emperor. Qianlong made six southern tours, with a total of more than 10 million taels of silver in tax reductions. Although the reduction benefited the people, it led to a significant reduction in the revenue of the national treasury. Compared with the Kangxi Southern Tour, Qianlong was much more extravagant and wasteful. During the Kangxi Southern Tour, there were only a few hundred entourage, sometimes staying in tents and ordering not to disturb the people. Qianlong's southern patrol, each time there were thousands of entourage, more than 3,000 boatmen were needed, and large-scale welcoming and sending activities were held. In order to repair the road, I don't know how many people's fields, houses and ancestral graves were destroyed. Invest a lot of financial and civil resources in all parts of the CCB Palace. In order to welcome the holy driver, local officials extorted and exploited the people.
Therefore, Kangxi went to Jiangnan six times, and he made quite a political achievement, eased ethnic contradictions, and recovered people's hearts. But Qianlong's sixth tour of Jiangnan caused chickens and dogs to jump, and the people's grievances were boiling. Qianlong's sixth tour of Jiangnan cost huge amounts of money. Some historical sources say that the direct cost of silver is more than 20 million. As for the human and material resources invested by the localities, it is even more difficult to calculate.
summary
Qianlong's southern tour, with huge expenses and large duty-free services, became one of the reasons for the weakening of national strength in the later period of Qianlong. In his later years, Qianlong repented of the mistakes of the southern tour, telling the ministers. In the past 60 years, he has not lost his morality, and he has made six southern tours, laboring the people and losing money, and committing mistakes. But the big mistake has been cast, and it is too late to regret it.