Qianlong went down to Jiangnan

Since the Ming and Qing dynasties, Jiangnan has been the richest place in China. It was also the main source of government taxes in the Qing Dynasty. Therefore, successive emperors have made the rule of Jiangnan a top priority. One year, a local official in Jiangnan asked Qianlong to inspect Zhejiang. This request was exactly in Qianlong's mind. So he announced that he would make a southern tour two years later.

Thus Qianlong began, the first southern tour. He departed from Beijing and arrived in Suzhou. From Wujiang to Jiaxing. Since then, the Qianlong Emperor has visited Jiangnan 5 times. Every time he made a southern tour, he had to go to Jiangning (Nanjing), Suzhou, Hangzhou, and Yangzhou to inspect, and the last 4 times he had to go to Haining, Zhejiang. The Qianlong Emperor descended the Jiangnan for the sixth time. Where you go and what you do, though not the same. But in general, it includes the following aspects. That is, to reduce the reward of grace, to patrol the river workers, to watch the people and check the officials. Garn Gentry, military parades, sightseeing spots, etc.

The Qianlong Emperor also often brought with him some ethnic minority leaders and important figures during his southern tour. Or meet the pilgrims on the way. This is the same as the Qianlong Emperor's use of the summer resort, Mulan Qiu you, on the one hand, in order to attract various ethnic minorities. Especially the feelings of the Mongols. It shows that there is no distinction between nationalities within the united family. Inside and outside, without discrimination. On the other hand, it is also necessary to "see through the tour of the rich land of Gangnam." Let these leaders see that China's land is vast and rich, and its national strength is strong, so that they will be in awe and dare not have the heart to resist."

The Qianlong Emperor toured the south. Clearly understand the official customs and people's feelings in Jiangnan. There are big river workers, stabilizing Jiangsu and Zhejiang, developing production, enriching culture, and creating and continuing the "great Qing Dynasty." "It has played a positive role in promoting.

However, his six trips to Jiangnan were very large. From Beijing to Hangzhou. He built 30 palaces along the way. Qianlong's well-behaved royal boat was called An Fu Jia. Xiangfeng boats, a total of five. The craftsmanship is exquisite. The entire Southern Patrol team has a total of about 1,000 boats. Eat along the way. Use, even drink water. All are prepared in advance by various places along the way. Each southern tour lasted four or five months. There are generally more than 3,000 officers and men who are on duty. About 6,000 horses are needed. Four or five hundred ships. And a few thousand servants. Not only did it use up millions of silver taels, but it also brought great harassment to the people.

It is said that the Pingshan Hall in Yangzhou originally did not have plum blossoms. In order to welcome the Qianlong Emperor's first southern tour, local salt merchants donated funds to plant 20,000 plum plants. The Great Red Garden originally had no tower, and once when the Qianlong Emperor was playing, he inadvertently said a word. "Here is quite similar to the spring shade of Qiongdao Island in Beijing's Beihai, but there is no tower." Therefore, the great salt merchant Jiangzhong bribed the Qianlong Emperor's close treatment with ten thousand gold, obtained a pattern of the Beihai White Pagoda, and asked the craftsmen to imitate it with heavy gold. Overnight.

The Qianlong Emperor's 6 southern tours. The pomp and circumstance are getting bigger and bigger every time. It takes more time than ever. It even caused the depletion of the national treasury. It brought deep disasters to the people. Although there is no shortage of brainy officials in the DPRK. He repeatedly persuaded Qianlong to stop his southern tour. But they were often severely reprimanded. Therefore, none of the ministers dared to speak again, and could only watch as the treasury dried up and the country went into decline.