Why did Kangxi's nine sons compete for the throne, isn't it good to be an idle prince who dies well?
Foreword: In ancient Chinese history, the succession to the imperial throne has always been a hot topic. During the Kangxi period of the Qing Dynasty, "Nine Sons Seize the Inheritance" has become one of the most eye-catching chapters. This battle for the throne not only reveals the cruelty of the power struggle, but also reflects the twists and turns of the fate of the princes.
Emperor Kangxi had a total of 35 princes, of which nine adult princes participated in the battle for succession. In this competition, the princes all showed their political skills and strength.
After all, as princes, their identities doomed these people to be unable to make an escape choice. The fate of every prince is also predestined - either to become the supreme ruler or to become an obscure common man.
Due to the uncertainty of the Qing Dynasty's succession rules, the future of these princes was uncertain, which also prompted them to fight for their future.
At the same time, Emperor Kangxi, as a perfectionist father, had high hopes for the princes and was extremely strict with them. It expects each prince to have the same outstanding talents and wisdom as himself. This expectation of their children puts pressure on the princes to prove that they deserve the honor.
In addition, as princes, the lives of these people are very different from ordinary people. They have lived in fine clothes and food since childhood, enjoying supreme glory and status.
However, this kind of life also means that the princes have to take on more responsibilities and pressures, and they cannot have the free and easy life of ordinary people. It is precisely because of the huge gap in status that the princes will devote themselves to the struggle for the throne without hesitation.
When discussing the motives of the prince competing for the throne, I have to mention the story of Emperor Kangxi and anchovy. It is said that the emperor had a soft spot for anchovies, and once sent a special person to transport it to the capital by boat.
This act not only shows the emperor's thirst for delicious food, but also reflects the expansion of power and the infinite appreciation of material things during his reign.
In this special historical period of the Qing Dynasty, the status of the princes was not fixed. Their treatment and education system strictly follow a set of established rules. Compared to other dynasties, the Qing princes lacked the freedom they deserved and could not live as they pleased.
In addition, in the early and middle years of the Qing Dynasty, the transition of power was not very smooth. Kangxi's son Aixin Jueluo Yinren was originally the prince of Neiding.
His wife, Hesheri, had a profound influence on him. However, his road to the crown prince was full of twists and turns, and he even experienced the fate of being deposed twice.
After Yinren was deposed for the second time, Emperor Kangxi did not make it clear that he would have a new heir. This made all the princes see the opportunity to become the crown prince and inherit the throne, thus launching a fierce battle for the "nine sons to seize the heir".
In this battle, each prince did his best to show his wisdom and strategy. They each sought political allies to increase their influence in the court, while also trying to win the trust and favor of the Kangxi Emperor. The attraction of power and the Qing Dynasty's tight control over the princes became the two main driving forces for their struggle for the throne.
However, the nine sons ultimately failed. In this battle, many princes suffered defeats, and some even lost their lives as a result.
For example, the emperor's eldest son, Yinchu, formed the Great Chitose Party, and he was once close to the position of the crown prince by virtue of his identity advantage. Unfortunately, he was in a hurry and proposed that the crown prince be executed when he was deposed, but he was attacked by the three princes and was eventually imprisoned.
The princelings are the legal princes, and the members under his command are such as Suo Etu and others, and the winning rate of the struggle for power is relatively high. However, Emperor Kangxi's longevity caused the crown prince Yinren to be a "puppet" for 38 years and could not really hold the scepter. Yinren anxiously took radical measures and was eventually deposed.
Yinzhi, the third son of the emperor, loves academics and tries to keep himself outside the imperial power, but unfortunately he can't. After withdrawing from the competition, he was imprisoned by Yongzheng until death.
After the fall of the princelings, the Eight Masters ushered in an opportunity. The Eight Sages King formed a powerful camp. In the face of the rise of the Eight Masters Party, the fourth child, who has always been sheltered, stepped forward and joined hands with the old thirteen to compete for the throne.
Lao Ba has a high-profile personality, openly competing for the throne, and waiting for a good opportunity to win people's hearts. On the contrary, the fourth child was low-key and introverted, and secretly recruited two powerful assistants, Nian Qianyao and Long Keduo.
In the end, after Kangxi's death, Long Keduo supported the fourth child and allowed him to successfully ascend to the throne. And the old fourteenth, Kangxi's favorite minister who was far away, missed the opportunity, and since then the Eight Masters Party has lost power.
Therefore, the Qing Dynasty's "Nine Sons Seize the Throne" was not only a power struggle between princes and princes, but also had a profound impact on the Qing Dynasty and later generations.
This incident revealed the corruption of power in feudal society, and the princes did whatever it took in their pursuit of power, leading to moral degradation and human tragedy. At the same time, the seizure of the nine sons had a negative impact on the political and social stability of the Qing Dynasty and became an important factor in the fall of the Qing Dynasty.
