From the perspective of studying historical truth, there is a big difference between the descriptions of the three historical figures in the TV series, Zhou Peigong, Yao Qisheng, and Li Guangdi, and the official historical records.
The life experiences and final endings of Zhou Peigong, Yao Qisheng, and Li Guangdi recorded in the official history are actually more colorful and yearning.
Zhou Peigong
Shandong Denglai Road Zhou Peigong
1. The hardships of the early years: the road to orphans
Zhou Peigong was born in the sixth year of Later Jin Tiancong (1632), a native of Jingmen, Hubei. He lost his father and mother at an early age, and his life was difficult. Although facing the identity of an orphan, Zhou Peigong was not discouraged, but showed perseverance. As an adult, he joined the state government and experienced the hardships of a precarious life. However, this experience forged his character and laid a solid foundation for his future career.
2. From the staff to the generals who persuaded them to surrender
Zhou Peigong entered the palace of the princes and nobles as a staff member and began to enter the official career. However, he was not a prominent person in the court, but silently served others in front of Emperor Kangxi. In the fifteenth year of Kangxi (1676), Zhou Peigong's wisdom and courage were fully displayed, and he took the initiative to persuade Wang Fuchen to surrender, which solved a major problem for Kangxi.
However, unlike in film and television works, Zhou Peigong is not the main general, and his position is under the sea of pictures. Tuhai was named "General Fuyuan" and assumed the main responsibility for quelling the rebellion. This difference in the distribution of roles highlights the creative processing of historical events in film and television works. Although Zhou Peigong was not the main general, his persuasion became a key step for Kangxi to regain the lost territory.
3. Successful persuasion: Wang Fuchen surrendered
With Kangxi's approval, Zhou Peigong went to Pingliang City to persuade Wang Fuchen to surrender. This historical event became the highlight moment of Zhou Peigong's life. Wang Fuchen eventually surrendered to the Qing Dynasty and changed the situation of the rebellion. In Kangxi's view, this successful persuasion not only stabilized his position in the imperial court, but also made Kangxi feel Zhou Peigong's loyalty and resourcefulness.
Fourth, success and fame are not in harmony with the court
Zhou Peigong's persuasion became an opportunity to quell the "Rebellion of the Three Feudatories", and also made him gain a certain prestige in the court. However, he did not survive his duties at Topleido. Instead, he chose to resign and go into hiding. This decision was not due to the suspicion of the Kangxi Emperor and the exclusion of Manchurian officials in the court, but to discord with his colleagues. During this period of resignation and retreat, Zhou Peigong lived a quiet life, away from the court's deceit.
It was not until the twenty-ninth year of Kangxi (1690) that Zhou Peigong re-entered the office. He returned not in pursuit of power, but out of a sense of responsibility to the country. In this year, Kangxi faced the "Battle of Ulan Butong" with the Mongolian leader of the Dzungar tribe, Galdan, and Zhou Peigong presented Kangxi with a message to pacify the Dzungaria.
5. Brilliant Achievements: The key force in the battle of Ulan Butong
The "Battle of Ulan Butong" was an important military conflict in Chinese history and a great test during the Kangxi period. Kangxi was very emotional and appointed Zhou Peigong as the governor of Shengjing, assisted in handling the affairs of the Shengjing Jingjin army, and was responsible for the flank defense. Zhou Peigong worked hard and made immortal contributions to the final victory of the "Battle of Ulan Butong".
Sixth, a good death: loyal ministers live up to the emperor's grace
In the fortieth year of Kangxi (1701), under the post of governor of Shengjing, Zhou Peigong died at the age of sixty-nine. His death became a tragic milestone in the history of the Qing Dynasty. In the course of his life, Zhou Peigong demonstrated his loyalty to the country, served the country and the emperor, and chose to resign and retire after becoming famous, showing a deep personal cultivation.
Emperor Kangxi deeply regretted the death of Zhou Peigong, and he posthumously named Zhou Peigong's mother Sun as a martyr and a respectful person, gave him the title of wife, and gave him a yellow coat.
Yao Qisheng
Governor of Fujian, Yao Qisheng
1. Violated the imperial decree and was deposed
Unlike Yao Qisheng depicted in "Kangxi Dynasty" all the way from local governor to governor, in real history, Yao Qisheng's career was not smooth sailing. In the post of magistrate of Xiangshan, Guangdong, he was deposed for violating the imperial court's "encirclement and sea ban order". This experience, which is consistent with the official history, shows that Yao Qisheng's career development is not smooth sailing, but has suffered many twists and turns in the political turmoil.
2. Quelling the "San Francisco Rebellion": Self-help Success
In "Kangxi Dynasty", Yao Qisheng's promotion seems to be more of a promotion by the Kangxi Emperor, in fact, his promotion is more based on his heroic performance in quelling the "Rebellion of the Three Feudatories". In the thirteenth year of Kangxi (1674), there was a rebellion in Fujian, and Yao Qisheng relied on his fighting spirit to recruit villagers to fight against the rebels, and finally made great achievements for Kangxi to recover the lost land. His efforts led to his promotion by Emperor Kangxi to become the governor of Fujian.
3. Complex relationship with Shi Lang
In history, the relationship between Yao Qisheng and Shi Lang is more complicated. In the twenty-second year of Kangxi (1683), Kangxi decided to recover Taiwan, and the issue of Shi Lang becoming the commander became the focus of controversy. Yao Qisheng actively recommended Shi Lang, but was opposed by the ministers of the DPRK and China. However, Shi Lang did not reciprocate Yao Qisheng's enthusiasm, but excluded Yao Qisheng at the decision-making level, making him lose his voice in military operations. For the sake of the overall situation, Yao Qisheng did not bother with Shi Lang, and continued to provide support to the army and assist in the battle.
Shi Lang
Fourth, Shi Lang's betrayal: repay virtue with resentment
However, after Shi Lang successfully recovered Taiwan, he turned his back on Yao Qisheng. Shi Lang and the important ministers of the court jointly impeached Yao Qisheng, so that although he had made meritorious contributions, he only received a meager reward. Shi Lang was named Marquis of Jinghai because of this, and he was rewarded richly. When Yao Qisheng died, his family was poor and even needed to sell land in exchange for funeral expenses, which made people feel deeply regretful.
In the twenty-second year of Kangxi (1683), Yao Qisheng died at the age of sixty. Although he made great achievements in his life, he was eventually betrayed by the characters he promoted, which led to a bleak end to his life and became a forgotten loyal minister in history.
Lee Kwang-di
Scholar of Wenyuankaku University, Lee Kwang-di
First, the starting point of the career: the bumpy road of the talented man
In the ninth year of Kangxi, Li Guangdi was admitted to the Jinshi and officially entered the official career. However, it wasn't all smooth sailing for him. After his first career, he served diligently in Beijing, but by chance, he was involved in the rebellion of Geng Jingzhong in Fujian.
Geng Jingzhong's rebellion broke out, and Li Guangdi was captured, and the situation was critical. Therefore, he pretended to be obedient to Geng Jingzhong, but in fact he did everything possible to pass on the information to Emperor Kangxi. This behavior made Kangxi deeply feel the heart of his loyal ministers, and Prince Kang Jieshu led his troops into Fujian after learning the information, and Li Guangdi also resolutely chose to take refuge in Prince Kang to quell the rebellion together.
2. Power and promotion: Li Guangdi's road to the sea
After the "Rebellion of the Three Feudatories" was put down, Li Guangdi was transferred to Beijing to take up his post. Under the trust of the Kangxi Emperor, his position continued to rise, and finally in the 44th year of the Kangxi reign (1705), he became a scholar of Wenyuange University and a scholar of the Ministry of Officials. Throughout the history of the Qing Dynasty, among the non-banner Han officials, Li Guangdi had a high status and prominent power.
3. Honors and honors: Emperor Kangxi's respect for Li Guangdi
In the fifty-fifth year of Kangxi (1717), Li Guangdi died, and Emperor Kangxi deeply regretted it and personally arranged for the fifth elder brother Yinqi to go to mourn. In addition, he was also given a thousand taels of gold, and was nicknamed "Wenzhen". In the early years of Yongzheng, he was given the crown prince and the prince, enshrined in the virtuous and virtuous ancestral hall, and enjoyed a very high honor after his death.
4. Historical Truth and Plot Fiction: "Zhang Guan Li Dai" in the TV series
However, despite the glorious life of Lee Kuang-di in history, there are some exaggerations and fictions in the portrayal of him in "The Kangxi Dynasty". For example, the plot of his first appearance leading an orphan to stop a sedan chair is actually related to another official, Yu Jackie Chan, and the plot about his dissatisfaction with the appointment of officials and his attack on Suo Etu, Mingzhu and others adds color to the story, but it also makes the TV series deviate from the historical truth to a certain extent.
5. Black History and True Love: The Pain of Human Nature in Li Guangdi
However, Lee Kwang-di also has a "black history" in his life that is difficult to erase. During Geng Jingzhong's rebellion, he and his fellow countryman Chen Menglei jointly wrote a secret letter for Emperor Kangxi, but Li Guangdi did not add Chen Menglei's name to it, causing Chen Menglei to almost die. This incident made Li Guangdi bear the infamy of being a "traitor", and his relationship with Chen Menglei changed from a close friend to a passerby, and finally wrote a "letter of renunciation".