Eunuchs, as close associates of each dynasty and each generation of emperors, can be regarded as half an executive if they are put today. At the end of the Qing Dynasty, when the feudal power was about to enter a downturn, the emperor was manipulated like a decoration, the most obvious example of which was Cixi's rule in power at the imperial court.
Li Lianying, as her confidant, can be described as omnipotent. In the thirty-second year of Guangxu, Li Lianying's mother died of illness, and remembering Li Lianying's contributions to the imperial court in peacetime, with Cixi's permission, she held a funeral for her mother. Do you know how bustling it is?
Li Lianying's funeral mother is pompous
In the thirty-second year of Guangxu, Li Lianying's mother died of illness. In February of the thirty-third year, Li Lianying saw that the mourning period had arrived, and he personally walked back to his hometown by water, and looked through and checked all the matters to be used for the funeral.
In the 35 days before and after, in addition to the spiritual halls and links that are often used in ordinary people's funerals, the most important thing is the pomp and circumstance of eating and drinking. It is said that Li Lianying's entire process of burying her mother can be described by the word luxury. It's just that his mother can't enjoy it anymore.
There were many people who came to mourn Li Lianying's mother, and some of them became petty officials, and on such occasions, when it was inappropriate to talk about business and politics, they came to win over relations. Seeing that the guests were all figures with heads and faces, Li Lianying directly gave them the "thirteen bowls" that the imperial court could enjoy at that time. Staples, cold dishes, appetizers, and colours are all available. In addition, there are chicken, duck and fish meat, which are not usually eaten by ordinary people.
Three banquets in the morning, middle and evening did not fall at one time, and at the highest time, there were more than 200 tables a day, and Li Lianying was too busy to send more people to help. In addition to those who are officials, whether they come to see the liveliness or climb the relationship, they can all be seated.
For 35 days, the villagers can also take the bucket in their own home, which is said to be Li Lianying's filial piety to her mother, while taking care of those who are too old to go out. In this regard, Li Lianyingyun said lightly: "Let me help the four sides."
Ask Lafayette for funeral instructions
Li Lianying's identity is somewhat special, from her own point of view, she is just a eunuch, and how to handle funerals is not tight. But Li Lianying is a filial piety, plus she is a red person around the empress, if this is too simple, outsiders still think that Lafayette can't take out the silver.
Considering these reasons, Li Lianying made a specific report on her mother's funeral and Lafayette, hoping that Cixi would give him some vacation to deal with personal affairs. After Hearing of Li Lianying's filial piety, Lafayette directly rewarded him with 480,000 taels of silver, which was at the disposal of Yuan Shikai, the governor at that time. I have to say that this Lafayette shot is indeed generous.
After Li Lianying took a leave of absence, she and her brother discussed matters related to the funeral. In the end, Li Lianying decided to leave her mother's funeral, conservatively decided to use 500,000 taels of silver, and if the follow-up was not enough, it could continue to increase. In fact, As a eunuch, Li Lianying had never spent so much money in her life, which was also a blessing for Cixi.
After several of Li Lianying's brothers consulted, they made a list of all the things that could be thought of. He gave the list to Li Lianying, who was very satisfied with it.
On the one hand, he really wants to fulfill filial piety, on the other hand, it is also to show his father and fellow countrymen that he is a big red man in front of Lafayette. It is only possible to spend silver, but the imperial court has its own rules in this regard, and his pomp and circumstance are within the scope of the ceremonial system.
How li Lianying's later life was
In the late Qing Dynasty, when the qing dynasty collapsed and Cixi drove the crane to the west, Li Lianying naturally lost the prestige that he used to follow the empress dowager, because he knew that he had lost his patron.
I thought that after Empress Longyu took over the imperial court, Li Lianying would definitely be punished for Cixi, and eventually ended up alone and embarrassed. But in fact, Li Lianying's later life was happier than most people expected.
Although empress dowager Cixi did not have great power when she was there, he also lived in the South Garden in his later years, and he was able to recuperate there and spend a more relaxed time than in the first half of his life.
In 1911, after Li Lianying's death, Empress Longyu specially allocated 1,000 taels of silver to arrange his funeral. And she also sent someone to guard the tomb of this eunuch, which was a rare treatment. It is said that even Yuan Shikai's son also came to mourn, which shows that Li Lianying's later years were indeed beautiful.
For Li Lianying, I don't know what kind of eyes to evaluate. Although it is said that during the years of Cixi's reign, he never interfered in Cixi's administration, But Li Lianying was corrupt and corrupt, colluded with officials to exert pressure on the imperial court, and secretly hid a lot of silver. According to incomplete statistics, Li Lianying's private silver in the imperial palace was three hundred taels.
It can be seen from the ugly face of the princes in the late Qing Dynasty relative to the material that the decline of the Qing Dynasty's power was inevitable. As a eunuch, Li Lianying was always making plans for herself from the moment she stepped into the palace. Knowing that the Qing Dynasty will eventually perish, he has already left a good way for himself to retreat, and Li Lianying, who has been walking on thin ice all his life, is only relaxed in his old age.