Everyone knows that Emperor Qianlong is the son of Yongzheng, but they don't know that there was a big case that shocked the government and the opposition during his reign. That year, a rebellion broke out in the Jinchuan area of Sichuan, and Qianlong sent important ministers to quell the rebellion. Who knew that this rebellion actually involved a long-hidden secret, including a beautiful Princess Tusi. After a turmoil, two important ministers of the court were executed by Qianlong one after another, and the government and the opposition were shocked. What's going on? Why is there such a harsh punishment? What role did the princess play in it? What was the truth back then?
1. The Jinchuan Rebellion broke out, and the imperial court was shaken
In the thirteenth year of Yongzheng (1735), Emperor Yongzheng died, and his son Hongli succeeded to the throne as Emperor Qianlong. At the beginning of Qianlong's ascension to the throne, he was faced with a thorny problem - the policy of reforming the land and returning the land to the river that began to be implemented during the Yongzheng period met with strong resistance in the southwest of Sichuan.
The policy originated in the Ming Dynasty with the aim of abolishing the Tusi system in ethnic minority areas and allowing officials to be directly dispatched by the imperial court to administer it. This policy was vigorously pursued during the Yongzheng period, but encountered unprecedented resistance in the Jinchuan region of southwest Sichuan. Located on the eastern edge of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, the Jinchuan area is a place inhabited by ethnic minorities since ancient times. The local Tusi have been passed down from generation to generation and have great autonomy, and have always been resistant to the control of the imperial court.
In the fourth year of Qianlong (1739), a large-scale rebellion broke out in the Jinchuan area. The cause was the intensification of the conflict between the big Kanegawa toast Saroben and the small Kanegawa toast Zewang. It is rumored that Salopun has a female named Ah Kou, who is extremely beautiful and is known as "Jade Guanyin" by the locals. Ah Kou originally promised to marry Zewang, but he was unwilling to marry because he disliked Zewang's ugly appearance. When Saloben learned about it, he was furious and not only arrested Zewang, but also took away his toast seal.
The incident set off a chain reaction. Zewang's younger brother claims that Ah Kou has fallen in love with him, and the other two Toasts also covet Ah Kou. In order to compete for beauty, several toasts united to attack Salopun. However, Saroben was powerful and won successive battles, not only repelling the coalition forces, but also spreading the war to the Dujiangyan area.
When the governor of Sichuan heard the news, he led his army to meet the battle, but unexpectedly fell into the ambush of Sha Luoben, and the army was defeated. When the news reached the capital, the government and the opposition were shaken. Emperor Qianlong realized the seriousness of the situation and immediately convened a court meeting to discuss countermeasures. After intense discussions, Qianlong decided to appoint Zhang Guangsi, then the governor of Yunnan and Guizhou, and ordered him to go to Sichuan to quell the rebellion.
Although Zhang Guangsi is over the age of six, he has made great achievements in border governance. After he arrived in Jinchuan, after a detailed investigation, he believed that the root cause of the rebellion was the conflict between several Tusi caused by Akou. Zhang Guangsi proposed a seemingly simple but wise plan: to quell the rebellion by mediating the contradictions of several Tusi, which could not only avoid large-scale military conflicts, but also save the imperial court money and food.
However, things did not develop according to Zhang's vision. Dissatisfied with the mediation plan, Salopun's nephew Langka led his men to occupy an important place that was easy to defend and difficult to attack, and swore to resist the imperial army to the death. Faced with this sudden situation, Zhang Guangsi decided to take advantage of the internal contradictions of the Tusi and let the other Tusi send troops to destroy Langka, while the imperial court was secretly manipulating.
Zhang Guangsi's decision aroused Qianlong's dissatisfaction. Qianlong saw this as an excellent opportunity to completely reform the land and return it to the river, and Zhang Guangsi's approach was tantamount to maintaining the status quo and wasting a great opportunity. For this reason, Qianlong secretly appointed his close confidant Neqin as the chief strategist and went to Sichuan to take over the command of Zhang Guangsi. At the same time, Qianlong also reactivated Yue Zhongqi, who had made meritorious contributions in the Jinchuan area.
At this point, the situation in the battle of Jinchuan became more complicated. The three important ministers of the imperial court, Zhang Guangsi, Neqin, and Yue Zhongqi, each had their own thoughts and restrained each other. And the beautiful toast princess Ah Kou has become an important chess piece in this power game. The road to pacification of the Jinchuan rebellion was destined to be full of ups and downs and twists and turns.
Second, beauties cause disputes, and thirds will fight
As Zhang Guangsi, Ne Qin, and Yue Zhongqi, three important ministers of the imperial court, gathered in Jinchuan, the situation became more and more complicated. What was originally a simple counterinsurgency operation turned into a confusing power struggle due to the appearance of a beautiful Tusi princess, Ah Kou.
As the daughter of Dajinchuan Tusi Salopun, Ah Kou has been famous in the Jinchuan area for her beauty since she was a child. Locals call her "Jade Guanyin", not only because of her beauty, but also because she is intelligent, fluent in Chinese and local dialects, and often acts as a mediator between toasts. However, it was such a beauty who became the fuse that caused disputes.
When Zhang Guangsi first arrived in Jinchuan, he heard the legend of Ah Kou. As an experienced veteran, he knows that in this situation, controlling Ah Kou is equivalent to controlling the initiative of the situation. So, in the name of protection, he placed Ah Ku in his military tent. This move is ostensibly to protect Ah Kou's safety, but in fact, he wants to use Ah Kou's influence to mediate the contradictions between all parties.
However, Zhang Guangsi's decision caused dissatisfaction among his relatives. As Qianlong's confidant, he believed that he was the actual commander of the counterinsurgency operation. He repeatedly pressured Zhang Guangsi to hand over Ah Kou to his care. However, Zhang Guangsi insisted on keeping Ah Kou by his side on the grounds that Ah Kou was familiar with the local situation and could assist in mediation.
Just when the two were arguing over this, Yue Zhongqi also joined the wrestling. Yue Zhongqi had made meritorious achievements in the Jinchuan area and was quite familiar with the local situation. On the grounds of discipline in the army, he reported to his relatives that the presence of Ah Kou had affected the morale of the army, and suggested that Ah Kou be transferred to his own battalion.
Three important officials of the court fought openly and secretly for a Tusi princess, and this absurd situation soon affected the discipline of the army. The soldiers were full of discussions, some supporting Zhang Guangsi's mediation strategy, some agreeing with the hard-line attitude of the relatives, and others believing that Yue Zhongqi's advice should be followed. For a while, the morale of the people in the army fluctuated, and the progress of the war was slow.
At the same time, Ah Kou's situation has become more and more delicate. Although she was placed in Zhang Guangsi's military tent, she actually became a fragrant bait coveted by the three forces. Zhang Guangsi tries to use her influence to mediate the conflict between the toasts, and the relatives want to assert their authority by controlling her, while Yue Zhongqi intends to use her to fight his opponents.
Although Ah Kou is in the game, he is not just a pawn at the mercy of others. With her wisdom and charm, she maneuvered between the three important ministers. She sometimes expressed support for Zhang Guangsi and praised his mediation strategy; From time to time, he revealed some secrets of toast to his relatives to show cooperation; Sometimes he would give Yue Zhongqi some military advice to show his worth.
This delicate balance was quickly broken. One day, when Zhang Guangsi was discussing with Ah Ku how to persuade Sha Luo Ben to surrender, his relatives suddenly broke into the military tent and demanded that Ah Kou be handed over to him immediately. Zhang Guangsi refused the request of his relatives, and the two argued on the spot. At this moment, Yue Zhongqi also rushed to the scene, and the situation was tense for a while.
The dispute between the three important officials of the court soon spread throughout the military camp. The soldiers were talking, with some fearing that this infighting would affect the fight against the Jinchuan rebels, while others speculated whether it would cause Qianlong's wrath. And Ah Kou took advantage of the chaos to escape from the barracks and disappeared.
This sudden incident completely disrupted the original counterinsurgency plan. Zhang Guangsi, Ne Qin and Yue Zhongqi had to put aside their dispute for the time being and concentrate on finding Ah Kou's whereabouts. However, they ignore the fact that a larger crisis is looming.
Just when the three important ministers were fighting for a Tusi princess, the Jinchuan rebels were secretly accumulating strength. Taking advantage of the chaos within the Qing army, Salopen and Langka launched a large-scale counterattack with other Tusi. The Qing army was caught off guard, suffered heavy losses, and fell into passivity for a while.
This dispute caused by the beauty not only disrupted the imperial court's counterinsurgency plan, but also made the situation in the Battle of Jinchuan take a turn for the worse. The battle between the three important ministers of the court is no longer just a personal grudge, but a matter of success or failure of the entire war. And all this will eventually lead to Qianlong's thunderous anger.
3. Zhang Guangsi was beheaded, and the government and the opposition were shocked
The situation in the Battle of Jinchuan took a turn for the worse, and the Qing army was defeated one after another. The news soon reached Beijing, causing the wrath of Emperor Qianlong. Qianlong immediately convened an emergency court meeting to discuss countermeasures. At the meeting, some ministers suggested that more troops should be mobilized immediately to support the Jinchuan battlefield, while others suggested that troops should be temporarily withdrawn and the strategy should be reformulated. However, Qianlong had other plans.
Qianlong believed that the defeat in the Battle of Jinchuan was not only a military problem, but also a serious political problem. The three important ministers of the court were jealous of a Tusi princess, resulting in the discouragement of the army, which was absolutely intolerable. Qianlong decided to send his confidant Fu Heng to Jinchuan to deal with the matter with full authority.
After Fu Heng arrived in Jinchuan, he immediately launched a close investigation. He questioned Zhang Guangsi, Neqin, and Yue Zhongqi in detail, and extensively collected the testimonies of the top and bottom of the army. After some in-depth investigation, Fu Heng found that things were far more complicated than he imagined.
It turned out that Zhang Guangsi not only wanted to use Ah Kou to mediate the conflict between the toasts, but he also secretly reached a secret agreement with Ah Kou. Zhang Guangsi promised that if Ah Kou could convince Sha Luo Ben to surrender, he would recommend Ah Kou to the imperial court as the new Tusi. If this plan succeeds, it will not only quell the rebellion, but also keep Zhang Guangsi's official position.
However, the relatives discovered the secret. As Qianlong's cronies, he was well aware of Qianlong's determination to carry out land reform and return to the river. He believed that Zhang Guangsi's actions were secretly undermining the emperor's policies. As a result, the relatives began to secretly collect evidence of Zhang Guangsi's crimes, intending to take this opportunity to defeat him in one fell swoop.
Yue Zhongqi was in an awkward position. Although he was skeptical of Zhang Guangsi's approach, he was unwilling to completely side with his relatives. Yue Zhongqi tried to use his influence in Jinchuan to maneuver between the two in order to get the most out of this power struggle.
Just when the three of them were fighting openly and secretly, Ah Kou took the opportunity to escape from the barracks. She not only took away some important documents given to her by Zhang Guangsi, but also revealed the contradictions between the three important ministers to Saroben. Upon learning of the discord within the Qing army, Salopen immediately launched a large-scale counterattack, which led to the retreat of the Qing army.
Fu Heng reported the results of the investigation to Qianlong. Qianlong was furious, believing that this was a serious military dereliction of duty and a political mistake. He immediately ordered Zhang Guangsi to be escorted back to Beijing and handed over to the Criminal Department for strict interrogation.
The news of Zhang Guangsi's escort back to Beijing was like a bombshell, causing a huge shock in the government and the opposition. Many ministers pleaded for Zhang Guangsi, believing that although he was at fault, his merits outweighed his faults and he should not be severely punished. However, Qianlong was resolute.
Qianlong publicly read out Zhang Guangsi's charges at the court meeting: 1. Secretly colluding with the rebel leaders without authorization, against the will of the imperial court; 2. Conniving at the promiscuous tendencies in the army, leading to the discouragement of the army; 3. Dereliction of duty, resulting in the defeat of the war and harming the interests of the state.
Zhang Guangsi knelt on top of the Golden Temple, trying to defend himself. He said that everything he did was to put down the rebellion as soon as possible and reduce the bloodshed and sacrifices. However, Qianlong was unmoved. In Qianlong's view, Zhang Guangsi's approach not only violated the national policy of changing the land and returning it to the stream, but also a serious challenge to the imperial power.
In the end, Qianlong made a decision that shocked the government and the opposition: Zhang Guangsi was beheaded to set an example. This decision was not only a personal punishment for Zhang Guangsi, but also a clear signal that Qianlong conveyed to the whole court: any act against the emperor's will, no matter who it was, would be severely punished.
On the day Zhang Guangsi was escorted to the execution ground, there was a crowd of people inside and outside the capital. Many people couldn't believe that this former important minister of the imperial court, the governor of Yungui, had ended up like this. The moment the executioner's knife fell, the entire execution ground fell silent.
4. Jinchuan Pacing, Doji Appointment
Zhang Guangsi's execution caused a huge shock in the government and the opposition, but for the battlefield far away in Jinchuan, it was only the beginning. Emperor Qianlong knew that more efforts and determination were needed to completely quell the Jinchuan Rebellion.
Immediately after Zhang Guangsi's execution, Qianlong appointed Fu Lehun as the governor of Sichuan and the governor of Sichuan-Shaanxi, with full responsibility for the Battle of Jinchuan. Fullerhun, a native of the Yellow Banner of Manchuria, served as the governor of Shaanxi Province and had considerable experience in the affairs of the southwestern frontier. Qianlong had high hopes for him, hoping that he would turn the tide of the war.
After arriving in Jinchuan, Fullerhun first set about rectifying military discipline. He severely punished a group of officers who took advantage of the chaos to enrich their own pockets and readjusted the deployment of the army. At the same time, he did not ignore the impact of the political struggle. Fu Lehun skillfully balanced the contradictions between Ne Qin and Yue Zhongqi, allowing the two to perform their respective duties and work together to quell the rebellion.
Militarily, Fullerhun adopted a steady and steady strategy. He first consolidated the areas already occupied, and then gradually advanced into the hinterland of Jinchuan. In order to cut off the supply lines of the rebels, Fulehun ordered the implementation of a "clearing" policy in the area around Jinchuan, and confiscated all food and supplies that could be used by the rebels. Although this strategy caused some confusion to the local population in the short term, in the long run, it greatly weakened the rebels.
At the same time, Fullahun did not neglect diplomacy. He sent people to secretly contact some of the wavering toasts, promising that as long as they abandoned the darkness and turned to the light, they could retain a certain amount of power. This strategy had a remarkable effect, and many Tusi began to break away from Saroben and turn to support the Qing army.
Under the dual effect of military pressure and political division, Sarobun's situation is becoming more and more difficult. His ally Langka also began to waver, considering whether to surrender or not. At this moment, an unexpected news came: Ah Kou, who had been missing for a long time, suddenly appeared and asked to see Fullerhun.
Fullerhun carefully arranged the meeting. During the meeting, Akou revealed an important piece of information: Sharophan was planning to flee to Tibet to seek asylum with the Dalai Lama. If Saroben succeeds in escaping, it will not only delay the Jinchuan rebellion for a long time, but may also trigger an even greater political crisis.
After receiving this information, Fullerhun immediately made a decision. On the one hand, he strengthened the siege of Jinchuan and cut off the possible escape route of Sarobun; On the other hand, he sent elite troops to attack the base camp of Saroben directly.
This final showdown was extremely fierce. Knowing that there was no way back, Saroben was determined to make a last stand. The Qing army suffered considerable losses during the attack, but eventually broke through the rebel defenses. When the tide turned, Salopun's men surrendered one after another, and Salophan himself was captured alive.
With the arrest of Salopun, the Jinchuan Rebellion was finally put down. Fullerhun immediately sent someone to transmit the good news back to Beijing. After Qianlong learned the news, Long Yan was overjoyed and immediately ordered a celebration banquet to be held in the capital.
However, there were still different opinions within the imperial court about the future arrangements for the Jinchuan area. Some people advocate the complete abolition of the Tusi system and the direct transformation of the land; It was also suggested that some of the toasts should be retained in order to better manage the area. In the end, Qianlong adopted a compromise plan: abolish the Tusi of Dajinchuan and Xiaojinchuan, and directly manage them by officials sent by the imperial court; But reserve some other smaller toasts as a transition.
At this point, the Jinchuan Rebellion, which lasted for three years, finally came to an end. This war not only consolidated the Qing Dynasty's rule in the southwestern frontier, but also accelerated the process of land reform and reversion. For those involved, however, the repercussions of the war are far from over.
Although Neqin and Yue Zhongqi contributed to the suppression of the rebellion in the final stages, their role in the early struggles was not forgotten by Qianlong. Qianlong's treatment of them will be a thorny problem that the imperial court will need to face next.
Fifth, the aftermath is still unsettled, and the future is difficult
Although the Jinchuan Rebellion has been put down, its effects are far from dissipating. Emperor Qianlong knew that in order to completely solve the Jinchuan problem, it was necessary to properly handle a series of follow-up affairs. Among them, the most tricky thing is the disposal of Nie Qin, Yue Zhongqi and Ah Kou.
As Qianlong's confidant, he performed well in the Battle of Jinchuan, but his contradictions with Zhang Guangsi were also one of the important reasons for discord in the army. When Qianlong summoned his relatives, he both rewarded and reprimanded him. In the end, Qianlong decided to transfer his relatives out of Sichuan and reappointed as governor of Jiangsu. This arrangement is not only an affirmation of his family's merits, but also a punishment for his mistakes.
Yue Zhongqi's handling is more complicated. As a veteran, Yue Zhongqi had mixed achievements in the Battle of Jinchuan. Qianlong thought twice and finally decided to give Yue Zhongqi a generous retirement treatment, but no longer let him hold important positions. This decision not only took care of Yue Zhongqi's face, but also avoided the destabilizing factors that might be brought about by his continued participation in the government politics.
However, what has attracted the most attention from the government and the opposition is the disposal of Ah Kou. As one of the core figures in this turmoil, Ah Kou's fate affects the hearts of many people. Some people advocate severe punishment of Ah Ku, believing that she is the culprit who caused Zhang Guangsi's failure; Others interceded with her, arguing that the information she eventually provided played a key role in quelling the rebellion.
After careful consideration, Qianlong made an unexpected decision: to send Ah Kou to Beijing and place him in the palace. Behind this decision was Qianlong's foresight. On the one hand, putting Ah Kou under her nose can prevent her from having another incident; On the other hand, Ah Ku's knowledge of the Jinchuan region may be helpful for the imperial court to govern this area in the future.
After Ah Kou entered the palace, Qianlong summoned her many times to inquire about the customs and rules of Jinchuan. Ah Kou's intelligence and insight left a deep impression on Qianlong. Gradually, Ah Kou became one of the important channels for Qianlong to understand the affairs of the southwest frontier.
However, the presence of Ah Kou has also triggered some subtle changes in the palace. Some of the concubines had a lot of criticism about this beauty from the frontier, believing that she might influence the emperor's decision-making. In order to appease these grievances, Qianlong had to deliberately reduce his contact with Ah Kou and made it clear that he would not give her any official status.
At the same time, the aftermath work in the Jinchuan area is also in full swing. In accordance with Qianlong's instructions, Fullerhun began to implement the policy of changing the land and returning it to the river. The Great and Small Golden Rivers were divided into several prefectures and counties, which were directly administered by officials appointed by the imperial court. In order to appease the local people, the imperial court also ordered some tax reductions and construction of some water conservancy projects to improve the living conditions of the local people.
However, the process of reclaiming the land has not been easy. Some of the remaining small toasts were dissatisfied with the new policy and secretly incited the people to resist it. Fullahun had to send troops several times to suppress small-scale riots. In order to solve this problem once and for all, Fullerhun suggested that the "real border immigration" policy should be implemented in the Jinchuan area, and the Han people from the interior should be encouraged to move to Jinchuan in order to change the local demographic structure.
Qianlong approved this suggestion and personally drafted the "Edict on Immigration". The edict stipulated that all Han Chinese who voluntarily moved to Jinchuan could receive a certain amount of land and agricultural tools, and were exempt from paying taxes for a certain period of time. This policy attracted many poor peasants from the interior to Jinchuan, gradually changing the local demographic composition and social structure.
However, the "real border immigration" policy has also brought some new problems. The influx of Han Chinese sparked tensions with the local indigenous population, especially over the distribution of land. Fullerhun had to personally mediate the dispute many times in order to maintain local social stability.
As time passed, the effects of the Jinchuan Rebellion faded. However, the problems exposed by this turmoil, especially those related to border governance and ethnic relations, remained challenges that the Qing rulers had to face. During his subsequent reign, Qianlong repeatedly reviewed the lessons of the Jinchuan Rebellion and used them as an important reference for formulating frontier policies.
Although the Jinchuan Rebellion was pacified, the aftermath continued. This turmoil in the southwestern border not only changed the fate of many people, but also profoundly affected the ruling strategy of the Qing Dynasty. The series of problems it caused will continue to affect the political situation and frontier governance of the Qing Dynasty for a long time.