Preface
Dolgon, an important political figure in the early Qing Dynasty, seized military and political power and almost effectively became the ruler of the Qing Dynasty. However, despite this, he never attempted to usurp the throne, which aroused suspicion and inquiry.
Why does a person who holds such great power not take advantage of the opportunity to usurp the throne and become emperor? This question may seem simple, but behind it lies a complex mystery of power schemes. This article will delve into the truth about Dolgon's non-usurpation of the throne and present you with a fascinating history of early Qing politics.
1. Young genius
In 1612, Dolgon was born in the city of Hetuala, the left guard of the Later Jin Prefecture. His father was Nurhachi, the founding emperor of the Later Jin Dynasty, and his mother was Abahai. As a prince, Dorgon was endowed with a special status from an early age.
The city where Dolgon was born is located in the hinterland of Liaodong and was one of the important strongholds of the Later Jin. Nurhachi established a solid military foundation here, laying the foundation for later territorial expansion. As Nurhachi's fourteenth son, Dorgon received rigorous military training and political education from an early age.
Nurhachi's co-governance system set the tone for the power structure of the Later Jin. He divided the two yellow flags and sixty oxen he had received into four, keeping one for himself, and dividing the remaining three equally among the three brothers, Dorgon, Azig, and Dord.
This separation of powers and checks and balances made Dorgon and his brothers a key weight in the balance of power. Although Dolgon was just a kid at the time, he had already begun to make his mark on the post-Kim political scene.
In the eleventh year of the Mandate of Heaven, Dorgon was given the title of Baylor, which marked his official entry into the ruling class of the Later Jin. Since then, he has repeatedly made military exploits in the war against the Ming Dynasty, and gradually grew into an important power role in the Later Jin. Dolgon's bravery and warlike feats not only won the admiration of his father Nurhachi, but also laid a solid foundation for his future rise to power.
Second, the smoke of war
Dolgon's performance in the Later Jin War against Ming can be described as outstanding. He is not only brave and good at fighting, but also good at strategizing and strategizing. In the battle of Dalinghe in the fifth year of Tiancong, Dolgon took the lead and reached the city, where he was attacked by artillery fire, but he was still able to take the opportunity to win by surprise and capture Jinzhou.
This courage to dare to fight has won the respect of the Houjin soldiers. In the ninth year of Tiancong, Dolgon led his troops to the Yellow River Hetao, successfully recruited Lin Dan Khan's wife and children, and obtained the jade seal of the Yuan Dynasty.
This major achievement not only enhanced Dorgon's status within the Later Jin, but also laid the foundation for the Later Jin to change the name of the country to the Qing Dynasty. The change of the name of the Later Jin indicates that it has surpassed the Ming Dynasty and become an emerging power in Northeast Asia. In the third year of Chongde, Dolgon was appointed as a general and personally led a large army south to conquer the Ming Dynasty.
In the Battle of Songjin, he commanded well, and finally caused the Ming army to be defeated, and Hong Chengchou and Zu Dashou surrendered one after another. The victory in this battle not only consolidated the dominance of the Later Jin in the Northeast, but also laid the foundation for the later unification of the Central Plains. Dorgon's outstanding performance in this war paved the way for his future rise to power.
3. The struggle for the throne
In the eighth year of Chongde, Huang Taiji died and succeeded to the throne without an heir. A fierce power struggle was set off within Houjin. As the younger brother of Huang Taiji, Dolgon is naturally a popular candidate to succeed to the throne. But at the same time, Huang Taiji's eldest son Haoge, as well as the blue flag lord Zilharang and others, are also expected to ascend to the throne.
Under the stalemate of the kings Belle, Dorgon displayed great political wisdom. He cleverly proposed a plan to be succeeded by the young Fu Lin and assisted by himself. This solution not only resolved internal contradictions, but also laid the foundation for Dorgon's future rise to power.
Since then, Dolgon's power has grown. Not only did he control the military and political power, but even the emperor's letter was moved to his home. In the fifth year of Shunzhi, Dolgon's honor guard and guard were equal to the emperor, and he even unabashedly called himself the "imperial court". This kind of transgression has undoubtedly aggravated the contradictions within the ruling group.
The expansion of Dolgon's power also reflected the complexity of the Manchu and Han contradictions in the early Qing Dynasty. As a Manchu nobleman, he not only had to protect his own interests, but also balance the demands of Han scholars. This delicate balance eventually became Dorgon's Achilles' heel.
Fourth, Dingding Central Plains
In the first year of Shunzhi, Dolgon commanded his troops to the south, and joined forces with Wu Sangui to defeat Li Zicheng's peasant army and capture Beijing. The victory in this battle not only consolidated the Qing Dynasty's dominance in the Central Plains, but also laid the foundation for Dolgon's future power consolidation.
After the capture of Beijing, Dolgon took a series of measures to win the support of the Han gentry. He strictly forbade looting and treated the people as before, and this strategy of "saluting first and then soldiering" won the support of the broad masses of the people. Dorgon knew that in order to rule for a long time, it was not enough to rely on force, but to win the hearts and minds of the people.
Subsequently, Dolgon supervised the southern expedition, successively defeated the remnants of the peasant army and the Southern Ming regime, and finally unified the Central Plains. In the process, he not only sent troops to fight, but also skillfully used the internal contradictions of the Ming Dynasty to tear it apart. This flexible strategic planning once again demonstrated Dorgon's outstanding military talent.
However, in the process of unifying the Central Plains, Dorgon also made some mistakes. He issued a shaving order, which sparked a strong resistance from the Han people. This policy of forced cultural assimilation also exacerbated the contradictions between the Manchus and Hans, and also laid hidden dangers for the future anti-Qing movement.
Fifth, the pinnacle of power
During Dorgon's regency, his power swelled to the point of being almost equal to that of the emperor. He not only presided over the formulation of various systems to maintain the rule of the Qing Dynasty, but also appointed cronyism and deposed officials. The fact that the kings of Baylor even had to stand by in front of their palaces shows the esteem of their status.
By the fifth year of Shunzhi, Dolgon's status had surpassed that of the emperor. The guards of honor, music, and guards he used were equivalent to those of the emperor. In the handling of government affairs, he no longer needs to consult the emperor, but makes his own decisions. This kind of transgression undoubtedly aggravated the contradictions within the ruling group in the early Qing Dynasty.
The expansion of Dolgon's power reflects the complexity of the contradictions between the Manchus and the Han in the early Qing Dynasty. As a Manchu aristocrat, he needed to defend his own interests, but at the same time balance the demands of Han scholars. This delicate balance eventually became Dorgon's Achilles' heel.
The expansion of his power not only caused internal contradictions, but also damaged the prestige of the emperor. Although Emperor Shunzhi acquiesced to Dorgon's actions on the surface, he must have been very uneasy inside. The accumulation of this contradiction eventually led to the downfall of Dolgon.
6. Game of Thrones
In the seventh year of Shunzhi, Dolgon unfortunately fell from his horse and died at the age of 39 while hunting outside the Gubei Pass. This minister, who was once in power and opposition, finally could not escape an unexpected ending.
Emperor Shunzhi's contribution to Dolgon was still highly affirmed. He posthumously honored Dolgon as "the emperor of Maode's cultivation, broad industry, meritorious service, peace and people's government, sincere and righteous respect", and gave him an emperor-like funeral. This is undoubtedly the highest tribute to Dorgon's exploits.
However, Dolgon's political enemies did not stop there. They quickly overturned the case, exposing Dolgon's "great treason" and stripping him of all honor. The two White Flag ministers defected one after another, and the power that Dolgon had cultivated for many years collapsed in an instant. This power game undoubtedly cast a shadow over Dolgon's reputation.
It was not until a hundred years later during the Qianlong period that Emperor Qianlong officially rehabilitated Dolgon, posthumously praised "loyalty", and affirmed his immortal merits. This move undoubtedly justified Dolgon's name and demonstrated his important position in the establishment of the Qing Dynasty.
epilogue
Dolgon's life is a microcosm of a power play. With his extraordinary wisdom and martial bravery, he reached the pinnacle of life step by step, but he also caused internal contradictions due to the expansion of power, and finally suffered slander and blows.
However, as Emperor Qianlong said: "Establishing the foundation of the country and opening the foundation for unification is the most effective." "Dolgon contributed greatly to the establishment of the Qing Dynasty. His legendary life is a vivid portrayal of the turbulent era in the early Qing Dynasty.