As the elder of the three dynasties, Zhang Tingyu's status is very high. He was a scholar during the Kangxi Dynasty, and later entered the Hanlin Academy to focus on training and promotion. Zhang Tingyu was born in Tongcheng, Anhui. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, many famous scholars emerged in Tongcheng, who were extremely influential in the political arena.
After Kangxi's death, Zhang Tingyu was rehired by Yongzheng and promoted to state councilor and secretary of the military department. Before Yongzheng's death, Zhang Tingyu was listed as an attendant and was allowed to enjoy the ancestral hall after his death. This is a very high treatment.
After Qianlong succeeded to the throne, he treated Zhang Tingyu very well. When Qianlong went on patrol, Zhang Tingyu was responsible for managing the affairs of the capital. Zhang Tingyu also changed the style of doing things little in the early Yongzheng period. To the Qianlong Emperor, he often pointed out the emperor's mistakes directly.
In the third year of Qianlong, the emperor planned to restore the title of "three old and five new" and give preferential treatment to high-ranking officials. After Qianlong came to the throne, he wanted to correct Yongzheng's fierce and stern atmosphere and treat Yongzheng with leniency and gentleness. Zhang Tingyu expressed his dissatisfaction to Qianlong. After that, Zhang Tingyu repeatedly opposed Qianlong's opinions, even during discussions at the imperial court.
At the same time, since Ortai's death, Zhang Tinghe's power in court has grown rapidly. Dominate. The Tongcheng Zhang clan had nineteen officials in the imperial court, and Zhang Tingyu's in-law Yao also had more than ten officials. He also served in the Central Committee for a long time, presided over the imperial examination many times, and had many disciples and former officials.
In the sixth year of Qianlong, Liu Tongxun even wrote to Qianlong, suggesting that this force be suppressed a little. Soon after, Qianlong asked the Ministry of Human Resources to be more cautious in arranging hiring and firing. However, Qianlong still treated Zhang Tingyu very well and made him a count. Officials were awarded the title of count, a rarity in the Qing dynasty.
However, things began to change in the fourteenth year of Qianlong. In November of that year, Qianlong spoke to Zhang Tingyu to inquire about his health. At this time, Zhang Tingyu's health was very poor. Without help, it was difficult for him to walk normally.
Zhang Tingyu took the opportunity to tell Qianlong about his illness and hoped to have the opportunity to retire. When Qianlong heard Zhang Tingyu's application, he did not immediately agree. Instead, after much deliberation, he gave Zhang Tingyu a holy decree to choose whether to resign.
After receiving the holy decree, Zhang Tingyu quickly responded, expressing his willingness to return to his hometown next spring. Qianlong rewarded him with a large amount of land and allowed him to retire from his current official position and enjoy the corresponding benefits. If only the story ended here.
But I don't know why, Zhang Tingyu actually went to Qianlong to confirm whether he was worthy of the ancestral hall after his death. Qianlong had no choice but to issue a new divine decree, openly stating that Zhang Tingyu had the right to enjoy the temple after his death.
However, the edict was accompanied by a poem by Qianlong: "Kneel and ask for a word, but move mercy." The emperor's edict is only to admire this, leave more kindness, or transcend this place. For example, Qingtian Yuanyou Temple, I am worried that Zheng Guo will compete to destroy the monument, I am not Yao Shun, who is Gao Qi? Listen to the comments on Khan's notes. This poem laid the groundwork for Zhang Tingyu's later ending. Qianlong thought that Zhang Tingyu should personally come to thank him for his generosity.
Unexpectedly, Zhang Tingyu only sent his own son. Qianlong was furious and issued an edict to Zhang Tingyu to express his distrust. Before the edict arrived, Zhang Tingyu came to apologize.
Qianlong naturally thought that this must have been leaked by someone from the Military Aircraft Department. If Qianlong was only dissatisfied with Zhang Tingyu before, now it really touched the sensitive nerves of the emperor. The forces surrounding Zhang Tingyu had threatened the emperor's power.
In Qianlong's view, this is a party for personal gain and cannot be tolerated. Qianlong was furious, summoned Zhang Tingyu to rebuke, and stripped Zhang Tingyu of his earldom. However, Qianlong also said that he only wanted to oppose the trend of party building, not Zhang Tingyu personally.
If only the story ended here. The following year, Qianlong's eldest son Yong Juan died, and Qianlong's mentality was seriously unbalanced. Unexpectedly, Zhang Tingyu wrote a letter at this time, hoping to leave his old age and return home. This made Qianlong completely angry. This time, Qianlong no longer cared about Zhang Tingyu's identity as the elder of the three dynasties, and publicly stated that Zhang Tingyu was only a secretary in the Yongzheng Dynasty and had no political achievements.
Qianlong summoned the courtiers and deprived Zhang Tingyu of his treatment of the Taimiao, making him withdraw and return to his hometown in an extremely embarrassing way. With Zhang Tingyu's former status, after he retired, no one greeted him. Local officials ignored him, and only his family took him home.
If only the story ended here. After Zhang Tingyu returned to his hometown, he was inexplicably involved in a new case. His in-law, Zhu Quan, was charged by the imperial history. Zhu Quan was promoted by Zhang Tingyu.
Therefore, under the pretext of confiscating the financial report issued to Zhang Tingyu that year, Qianlong searched the house and carefully examined Zhang Tingyu's epistles and works to see if there was any content that slandered the imperial court, and was displeased.
Although Zhang Tingyu was scheming in his later years, he was cautious in his words and deeds throughout his life. But this raid is still a complete insult to Zhang Tingyu. After that, he stayed at home all day, rarely spoke to others, and waited alone for death.