Preface
Have you ever thought about how a person who is on the verge of desperation can rely on his talents and opportunities to regain his vitality and become a generation of famous ministers? Such a story may make people feel incredible, but in the Yongzheng period of the Qing Dynasty, it really happened.
A death row prisoner named Actun, with his talent and opportunities, eventually became an important courtier of the Yongzheng and Qianlong dynasties, and made outstanding contributions to the stability and development of the Qing Dynasty. This twists and turns of the story not only reflects the turning point of a person's fate, but also reflects the changes in the political pattern of the Qing Dynasty. So, how did this death row prisoner come back from a desperate situation and become a generation of celebrities?
Chapter 1 The crisis-ridden Yongzheng period
In the seventh year of Yongzheng, it was a critical period of internal and external troubles in the Qing Dynasty. The war in the northwest frontier was in full swing, and the Jiangnan region suffered serious floods, and the people's livelihood withered, and everything was in ruins. Faced with many challenges, the Yongzheng Emperor urgently needed to dispatch capable talents to solve the immediate crisis.
However, at this critical moment, Emperor Yongzheng's cronies and younger brother Yinxiang were seriously ill and unable to share the heavy responsibility. Except for Zhang Tingyu and Jiang Tingxi, Yongzheng had few reliable courtiers around him. This undoubtedly brought great pressure to Yongzheng.
At the same time, the problem of flooding in the Jiangnan area is also becoming more and more serious. In many places, rivers have burst their banks, floods have caused displacement, and fields have been left uncultivated. Yongzheng urgently needs to send a capable official to Jiangnan to deal with the floods and stabilize the situation.
However, he looked around and saw that there was no one available. Those officials who were supposed to take on this important task could not be reassured by Emperor Yongzheng because of their lack of ability or because of selfish distractions.
At this critical moment of internal and external troubles, how should Emperor Yongzheng deal with it? Can he find a suitable person to solve the crisis in front of him?
Chapter 2 Zhang Tingyu's bold proposal
Faced with the current predicament, Emperor Yongzheng consulted with Zhang Tingyu to find a solution. Zhang Tingyu is Yongzheng's right-hand man, and he knows Yongzheng's urgent needs.
At this moment, Zhang Tingyu made a bold suggestion: "There is a death row inmate in Dali Temple Prison, named Actun, who was the governor of Liangguang and was very experienced in river management. The emperor could consider releasing him and making him the governor of Jiangnan River, and he would be guilty of meritorious service. "
After listening to this suggestion, Emperor Yongzheng was silent for a moment. He knew Acton's talent and ability, and he knew what he was and what he was now. Acton is a highly controversial figure, his talent and achievements are undeniable, but his character and style are also frowned upon.
However, in the current predicament, Emperor Yongzheng had no better choice. He decided to take Zhang Tingyu's suggestion and release Acton as the governor of the Jiangnan River.
It was undoubtedly a risky decision. After all, Acton is a death row inmate, and there are big questions about his loyalty and reliability. But Emperor Yongzheng believed that only through such an opportunity could Acton be able to prove himself again and relieve the worries of the imperial court.
Chapter 3: Acton's Road to Rebirth
Acton's comeback caused a stir in both the government and the opposition. Many people thought it was a risky decision, but Emperor Yongzheng had high hopes for Acton.
After being released from prison, Acton immediately devoted himself to the management of the floods in the south of the Yangtze River. With his extensive experience and exceptional talent, he quickly developed a practical governance plan. He personally supervised the progress of the project and ensured that every measure was implemented. Under his leadership, the floods in the Jiangnan area have been effectively controlled, and the disaster situation has gradually eased.
Acton's governance achievements were affirmed and appreciated by Emperor Yongzheng. He transferred Acton back to Beijing as a scholar and participated in the core decision-making of the imperial court.
On the occasion of the Qing Dynasty's conquest of Dzungaria, the general Marse named Acton as an assistant in military affairs. At this stage, Acton regained the trust of the Yongzheng Emperor and became an indispensable minister in the imperial court.
Acton's son, Gui, also received special care from Emperor Yongzheng. Ah Gui has been studying in the government school since he was a child and is talented. Because of his father, Emperor Yongzheng specially cultivated him and let him hold important positions. At the age of 20, Ah Gui became a Dali temple and became a rising star in the imperial court. In the Qianlong period, Ah Gui was promoted to the head of the military department, and since then he has opened his brilliant road to prosperity.
Actun and Agui father and son both became famous ministers of the imperial court during the Yongzheng and Qianlong periods. They made outstanding contributions to the stability and development of the Qing Dynasty. Actun earned the trust and respect of the Yongzheng Emperor with his talent and exploits; Ah Gui inherited his father's fine traditions, carried them forward, and became an important pillar of the Qianlong Dynasty.
Chapter 4 Zhang Tingyu's Insight into Talent
Acton's comeback road hasn't been easy. If it weren't for Zhang Tingyu mentioning this death row prisoner to Emperor Yongzheng back then, Acton might not have had the opportunity to prove his worth and talent again.
Zhang Tingyu is a wise politician who knows that in times of crisis, he needs to have the courage to break the mold and discover and reuse those who are marginalized. Although Acton is behind bars, his talents and experience are much needed by Yongzheng. Zhang Tingyu made this bold proposal decisively, paving the way for Acton to regain its usefulness.
It was Zhang Tingyu's insight and talent that enabled Acton to be reborn from a desperate situation and become a generation of famous ministers. The Qianlong Dynasty also benefited from this, because with such outstanding courtiers as Acton and Gui, it was able to achieve unprecedented prosperity during the Qianlong period.
It can be said that Zhang Tingyu's suggestion not only saved Acton's fate, but also added a strong touch to the history of the Qing Dynasty. His farsightedness and innovative spirit are worthy of deep thought and learning from future generations.
Chapter 5: A Turning Point in a Man's Fate
The story of Acton teaches us that a person's destiny can be turned upside down by a single opportunity. From death row inmate to scholar, from marginalization to becoming an important pillar of the imperial court, Acton's life story is undoubtedly full of twists and turns.
It was because of Zhang Tingyu's bold suggestion that Acton was able to regain the opportunity to reuse. Under Yongzheng's trust and reuse, he gave full play to his talents, successfully managed the floods in the south of the Yangtze River, and won the appreciation of the imperial court. Since then, he has regained his position at the center of power and has become an indispensable minister in the Qing Dynasty's political arena.
And Gui's story is equally moving. As the son of Actun, he received special care from Emperor Yongzheng since he was a child. With his talent and hard work, he became a rising star in the imperial court in just a few years, and finally shined in the Qianlong Dynasty and became a generation of famous ministers.
Such a story undoubtedly gives us food for thought. A person's destiny is not static, as long as you seize the opportunity and give full play to your talents, it is possible to be reborn from a desperate situation and achieve a career. As Acton and Gui have shown, even in difficult situations, as long as they have courage and determination, they can rely on their own strength to regain their vitality and become a generation of famous ministers.
epilogue
The story of Acton and Gui is undoubtedly a microcosm of the changing political landscape of the Qing Dynasty. In times of crisis, Emperor Yongzheng was able to break through the norm and discover and reuse those marginalized talents, which was undoubtedly one of his great political wisdoms. And Zhang Tingyu's insight and talent also paved the way for Acton to regain reuse.
This story tells us that a person's destiny is not static, as long as you seize the opportunity and use your talents, it is possible to be reborn from a desperate situation and achieve a career. The story of Acton and Gui is undoubtedly a vivid illustration of this truth.
We should learn from Zhang Tingyu's farsightedness and courage to innovate, and have the courage to discover and reuse those marginalized talents in times of crisis, so as to inject new impetus into the development of the country and the nation. Only in this way can we continue to create new brilliance in the changing historical process.