Preface
Is Liu Yong, a famous minister of the Qing Dynasty, worthy of being called a good official? This question has plagued future generations for a long time. Liu Yong and He Shen are two types of typologies that have experienced thrilling ups and downs in their lives, and their stories are full of drama and sighing.
So, does Liu Yong, an official who is portrayed as humorous and funny in the TV series, really deserve the reputation of "good official"? As a representative of "the first greed in the ages", what kind of magnificent legend did He Shen have in his life?
Family history clings to fame and fame
In 1723, Liu Yong was born into a prominent family of eunuchs. His father, Liu Tongxun, was a very prestigious official at that time, and later served as the secretary of the military department, and was the emperor's right-hand man. Growing up in such an environment, Liu Yong studied poetry and books since he was a child, determined to get ahead in the imperial examination and glorify his ancestors.
In 1730, at the age of 7, Liu Yong began to read and write in Fuzhong. His teacher was strict and asked him to memorize ancient texts and explain classics every day. Liu Yong is smart and studious, and he makes rapid progress. He aspires to enter the official career through the imperial examination and realize his dream of officialdom.
In 1740, at the age of 18, Liu Yong was promoted to Tongsheng and worked in important departments of the Qing Dynasty. In the following years, he passed many levels of Jinshi, and gradually rose through the ranks, and with his family background and strength, he should be favored.
At the same time, in 1737, He Shen, who was about the same age as Liu Yong, was also born. He was not from a top powerful family, and his father was an attendant of Emperor Kangxi. He Shen lost his father when he was a young man, his family was in the middle of the road, and he studied hard since he was a child, eager to one day achieve honor in his career. The two have completely different family backgrounds and life trajectories, and it is hard to imagine how their fates will intersect.
Climb step by step, seek glory at the tip of the knife
In 1745, at the age of 22, Liu Yong finally got his wish to be admitted to the Jinshi, and he became a member of the Hanlin Academy, officially entering the threshold of his career. Three years later, he was promoted to the editor of the Hanlin Academy. Because of the care of his father Liu Tongxun, it went smoothly.
In 1753, at the age of 31, Liu Yong continued to rise through the ranks and became the official of the palace examination papers. He began to stand out in the court, showing his talent and insight, and won the emperor's appreciation. Over the years, he has used his father's influence to expand his sphere of influence in the court.
At this time, He Shen is also working hard for his career. In 1755, at the age of 19, he passed all levels of examinations with honors and obtained the qualification of the Hanlin Academy. He Shen is talented and steady, and he is gradually taken seriously. He was later appointed to work in the Ministry of Internal Affairs because of his outstanding talent, and was increasingly appreciated by Emperor Qianlong. Both of them gradually rose to prominence in the court, each gathering their own forces, and they were full of vigilance and vigilance against each other.
In 1759, Liu Yong was promoted to Bachelor of Waiting, and then to Bachelor of Attendant and Zhan Shifu Zhan Shi. With the aura of his family background and his own Kipcha power and eloquence, he rose through the ranks of a rocket in the court.
During this period, Emperor Qianlong once paid a private visit and his whereabouts were uncertain. Liu Yong recognized him at a glance with his extraordinary eyesight and was commended. This made him leave a good impression in the emperor's mind and became a trusted courtier of the emperor.
Dealing with the word prison and eradicating dissidents
In 1761, at the age of 39, Liu Yong encountered the first turning point in his life. In this year, the famous "Literary Prison" case occurred, involving many important officials, and the case caused great anger among the emperor. As the right-hand minister of the DPRK and China, Liu Yong took the initiative to ask Ying to handle the case.
During the discussion with the teacher, Liu realized that this was a great opportunity to showcase his talent and decisiveness. Therefore, he decided to severely punish those involved in the case to show his loyalty and decisiveness.
At the court meeting, Liu Yong made it clear to Emperor Qianlong that the case should be "severely punished." Emperor Qianlong was very much in favor of his approach. This further increased Liu Yong's prestige, which was highly anticipated by the emperor.
In the corner of the court, He Shen, who was already an important official at this time, was also quietly watching, and he was full of vigilance about Liu Yong's actions.
Liu Yong took the opportunity of this case to vigorously eradicate his political opponents, and at the same time established his own decisive and stern image, which made Qianlong trust. But these actions also made him notorious among the literati, and he was regarded as a ruthless and cruel man.
The evening scene is bleak
In 1770, an important event changed the course of Liu Yong's fate. His father, Liu Tongxun, died, and he lost his most powerful backstage backstage. At the same time, he was conspired against slander and was forced to leave the capital to go to other places. This is undoubtedly a bolt from the blue for him, who is eager to rise in the DPRK.
During his tenure as a scholar in Jiangsu, Liu Yong was depressed and complained frequently about his cronies. He is bent on returning to the capital and rising again. In order to win the emperor's trust again, Liu Yong used the means of literary prison to crack down on dissidents and regain the reward of Emperor Qianlong. But it also brought his reputation among the scholars to the bottom.
In 1800, Liu Yong finally returned to the capital at the age of 77, but his power and status were far from what they had been. In the power game of the government and the opposition, he is old and incapacitated. In the end, he died quietly at home at the age of 85, and his political career came to an abrupt end in his later years.
贪婪执政 千古骂名
In contrast, He Shen's life was much more magnificent. In 1763, he assumed the post of Minister of the Interior, officially entering the inner circle of power. For the next 20 years, he almost controlled the power of the court and was called "a country within a country".
With his extraordinary ability and skill, He Shen presided over the revision of the "Siku Quanshu", and also made achievements in culture. But at the same time, he abused his power and amassed wealth on a large scale, and was seen as one of the most corrupt bureaucrats of the Qing Dynasty.
In these years of political career, He Shen and Liu Yong have been wary of each other and do not like each other. In 1785, at a banquet, Liu Yong pretended to flatter He Shen's talents, and the latter only dealt with the past in a vain manner. The hostility of the two could not be hidden.
Both the DPRK and the Central Committee understood that Ho Shen's corrupt practices had become an open secret. This provoked the public outrage of many courtiers, including Liu Yong. However, Heshen was once in full swing and no one could control it.
It wasn't until 1799 that the 56-year-old He Shen suffered the biggest blow in his life - he was suddenly arrested and imprisoned by the Qianlong Emperor, his home was ransacked, and a huge fortune was discovered. This shocking event became one of the major cases in history. In the end, He Shen was sentenced to death on the charge of "the first greed in the ages", and fell into the abyss of no return.
After learning of the fall of his opponent, Liu Yong had mixed feelings in his heart. Although he was not implicated, he also understood that his power was gone. Both men eventually came to a bleak end in the final stages of their political careers.
epilogue
Liu Yong and He Shen respectively represent the two typical examples of Qing Dynasty officialdom: one relies on family power and power, the other relies on natural talent, the other is ruthless and harsh, and the other is greedy and indulgent. They compete with each other, you fight for each other, but the same end is bleak.
The power struggles and calculations of those years were fleeting in the end. And all the glory they have achieved by ruthless and corrupt means has come to naught. This is the tragedy of Liu Yong and He Shen's lives, and it is also the truth of the power game.
Future generations cannot help but ponder deeply: What is a real "good official"? Where will we go if we are numb, indifferent, greedy, and indulgent? These questions are like scars of history, reminding the conscience of the times. This is the warning of Liu Yong and He Shen to future generations, and it is also a helpless portrayal of the historical process.