The Xianfeng Emperor, Ai Xin Jueluo Yixuan, was evaluated by Yan Chongnian, an expert in Qing history, as "fearless, far-sighted, talentless, and inactive", and was the closest to the Emperor of the Qing Dynasty. In fact, the Xianfeng Emperor in the early days of his reign, young and vigorous, was definitely an emperor with a rigorous style and diligent in government affairs, and Yu Dahua, an expert in Qing history, believed that Xianfeng was a fierce role in rectifying the administration of officials, and the level and intensity of handling officials was even more powerful than That of Yongzheng. More importantly, the Xianxianfeng Emperor employed people, "only the wise are still, regardless of the Manchu Han", which almost fundamentally changed the National Policy of "Re-Manchu and Suppression of Han" that the Qing Dynasty had implemented for more than two hundred years.
However, after the Xianfeng Emperor, who was diligent in government affairs and carried out reforms, saw that his actions could not change the status quo of the late Qing regime's "political corruption, the national treasury was empty, the people's livelihood was withered, and the soldiers were decaying", he gave up, and learned from the practice of The Xinling Emperor Wei Wujie, trying to kill himself by indulging in wine.
Regarding the indulgence of the Xianfeng Emperor in the middle and late period of his reign, there are clear records in many historical documents, such as "When Yi Xuan Yuyu was in the middle and tail, he was worried about the sound and color, his body was sick, his face was always yellow, and he ordered him to take deer blood to advance"; such as "Hong, Yang's momentum is blazing, the military revolution is all over the world, the Qing soldiers have repeatedly fought in the north, the alarm is heard every day, Yi Xuan ignores it, and Fang sends his erotic voice to entertain himself"; such as "Emperor Wenzong was worried about the southeast Taiping Army, the center was anxious, quite sympathetic to the spirit of the Lingjun alcohol woman, often living in the garden, and the palace supervisor went out to find han women to fill Chen", It can directly explain the xianfeng emperor's strange practice of "indulging in sound and color to kill himself".
Even when the Anglo-French coalition forces approached Beijing, the Xianfeng Emperor fled to the Chengde Summer Resort in the name of "Mulan Qiu fox", and he still did not forget to carry his harem concubines and deer herds that he had long been inseparable from.
However, this dim-witted emperor who was not able to govern the country and was addicted to wine all day was a supreme master in managing the concubines of the harem.
Qing Dynasty empress dowager image
We list 3 facts to specify:
<h3 class = "pgc-h-arrow-right" >1, never affect the absolute status of the empress by grace to concubines</h3>
The Xianfeng Emperor had three empresses, except for the Sakda clan who died in Daoguang in the 29th year of Daoguang and was posthumously awarded the title of Empress Xiaode by the Xianfeng Emperor, and the Empress Dowager Yehenara, who was honored as empress by the Tongzhi Emperor, and only one of the Xianfeng Emperors was officially established and firmly enthroned for 10 years, that is, the later Empress Dowager Ci'an.
In the second year of Xianfeng, the Niu Hulu clan, who entered the palace through the draft, completed the promotion process from concubine to empress in only 6 months. More importantly, the empress, who had never had children in her life, was able to hold the throne for 10 years by relying on the trust and favor of the Xianfeng Emperor. Moreover, Empress Xiaozhen's posthumous power has never been challenged or threatened in 10 years.
According to relevant historical data, the reason why Empress Xiaozhen's posthumous position was stable was inseparable from her many advantages of "Gongwenhan, Xian Lifa, and Rong seguan harem", and it was directly related to her daring to "speak politely and advise, not to obey" when the Xianfeng Emperor abandoned the government. However, Empress Xiaozhen was facing the Xianfeng Emperor after all, a dimwitted monarch who could indulge in sound and color without regard for the safety of the country and the imperial court. That is to say, if it were not for the Xianfeng Emperor maintaining the authority and position of Empress Xiaozhen at all times and everywhere, her posthumous power would not be so stable.
In the "Qing Barnyard Banknotes and Palaces", there are relevant records that the Xianfeng Emperor paid tribute to Empress Xiaozhen and even had some jealousy:
Bing Chenchun, Emperor Wenzong's filial piety, did not look at the dynasty for several days. Filial piety, the ancestors of the emperor went to the palace, knelt down, and ordered the emperor to rise up and listen to the instructions. Emperor Wenzong urgently stopped, saying, "Listen to the dynasty and do not recite the teachings." "Arrest the dynasty, retreat when you are young, and ask where you are after." Or to the Royal Kunning Palace, the Kunning Palace, the queen also performs great rewards and punishments. When Emperor Wenzong arrived, Filial Piety sat in the middle, Filial Piety knelt down, and Filial Piety counted its excesses and insulted him with a staff. Emperor Wenzong shouted, "Please spare the empress, the canal has already been ruined." ”
For the empresses of the Qing Dynasty, with the clear support and maintenance of the emperor, it is the true sense of the harem lord, in order to effectively restrain the harem concubines and efficiently handle the harem affairs. In this respect, the Xianfeng Emperor's approach was far superior to that of other Emperors of the Qing Dynasty.
< h3 class= "pgc-h-arrow-right" >2, indulge in harem sounds, but also to complete the task of imperial heir reproduction</h3>
The best proof of the Xianfeng Emperor's indulgence in sound and color is the "four spring favorites" that were widely circulated by the people of the time and even in later generations. In the "Qing Barnyard Banknotes", although there is a saying that "Emperor Wenzong has the favor of five springs", in addition to the "Heaven and Earth Family Spring" represented by Empress Dowager Cixi, it is also clear that the Xianfeng Emperor has a special favor for the four concubines of "Apricot Blossom Spring, Wuling Spring, Begonia Spring, and Peony Spring".
In many folk history records, the "Four Spring Niangniang" favored by the Xianfeng Emperor were all "Han women separated", but in fact, the "Four Spring Niangniang" were the four nobles who were enfeoffed during the reign of the Xianfeng Emperor, namely the Noble Nala Clan, the Xi NobleMan Chahara Clan, the Ji Gui Ren Wang Clan and the Qing Gui Ren Zhang Clan, not all Han women.
In March of the sixth year of Xianfeng, the eldest son of the Xianfeng Emperor, Ai Xinjueluo Zaichun, was born; and the first of the "Four Spring Niangniang", the Huan Guiren, was promoted in June of the sixth year of Xianfeng; it was not until the ninth year of Xianfeng that the configuration of the "Four Springs" was completed. That is to say, after completing the key task of the breeding of the imperial heir, the Xianfeng Emperor began to indulge himself and began to indulge in the "suicide" life of the harem. Although this does not explain the wisdom of the Xianfeng Emperor, it can at least prove that the Xianfeng Emperor has a good idea in his mind in the midst of his voice and can recognize that he is the monarch of the Great Qing Dynasty and must have a great responsibility for the inheritance of the imperial heir.
<h3 class = "pgc-h-arrow-right" >3, severe punishment of inferior concubines, knocking on the harem</h3>
In addition to maintaining the status of the empress and recognizing his own responsibilities while indulging in the harem, the Xianfeng Emperor was also a master of the strategy of "killing chickens and making monkeys". The noble concubine Xu Jiashi, who gave birth to the emperor's second son, The Prince of Mercy County, frequently rose and fell in the harem position, which was the tool used by the Xianfeng Emperor to beat the harem concubines.
In November of the third year of Xianfeng, Xu Jiashi, who was born as a palace maid, had the honor of becoming an integral part of the "suicide" process of the Xianfeng Emperor, and was fortunate to be given the title of Mei Changzai. A year later, Xu Jiashi, who had a very good appearance, was promoted again and became a noble person. However, just when Xu Jiashi was about to become the head of the first palace and become a high concubine, the Xianfeng Emperor seized an opportunity to punish him fiercely.
Mei Guifei Xu Jiashi
The Qing Shilu Wenzong Shilu records the Xianfeng Emperor's edict to Xu Jia's demotion:
Yesterday, because Mei often abused her handmaidens, and Yi and the eunuch Sun Laifu talked and laughed arbitrarily, Yi's position was dismissed, and now he is severely punished and demoted to an official woman.
However, in this edict, the Xianfeng Emperor also took the opportunity to put forward specific requirements for harem concubines, eunuchs, and so on: The rules of the six palaces should be serious, and if there are any more willful abuse of handmaidens, and those who are humorous with the great overseers, they will be handled accordingly; if there are eunuchs who seem to have no rules, how can they still be so light, and the eunuchs will be brought to justice! This was the real reason why the Xianfeng Emperor severely punished Xu Jia.
In May of the sixth year of Xianfeng, after the harem state reached the desired effect of the Xianfeng Emperor, the Xianfeng Emperor slowly restored Xu Jia's harem position, and the grace remained the same. After this disaster, not only did Xu Jiashi become careful and obedient, but the rest of the harem concubines also all recognized the situation and corrected their attitudes, and there was no violation of palace rules.
< h3 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" > postscript</h3>
As the historian Mao Haijian put it, "The Xianfeng Emperor knew that he was not extremely intelligent, but he would never admit that he was not qualified to be emperor." In the management affairs of the harem, the Xianfeng Emperor showed the cunning and strategy of a monarch, and it was really incomprehensible that he could manage the harem in an orderly, dignified and orderly manner at the moment of the imminent demise of the country.
References: "Qing History Manuscripts, Later Concubines", "Qing Shilu Wenzong Shilu", "Qing Barnyard Banknotes"