Before mentioning the eunuchs, a special group of people in the ancient Chinese dynasty, we have to mention that in the popular TV series "Great Qin Fu" that is currently being broadcast, Yan Yi, because she was deeply favored by Empress Dowager Zhao Ji, has since stepped forward to the top of her life, and has since become a pampered person, seizing power and greed, causing chaos, and even coveting the royal power foundation of Great Qin for a hundred years, but she was helpless to finally be punished by the First Emperor Ying Zheng outside the East Gate and exterminated his three clans. After seeing the ending of Yan Yi, it also made many netizens addicted.
Based on such a lesson from the pre-Qin Dynasty, after that, all men who entered the palace to serve their masters would strictly implement the punishment of castration, and clearly stipulated that eunuchs were not allowed to interfere in politics.
Yi Yi
However, due to the characteristics of the eunuch's position, he also had to become the closest person to the masters, after all, he waited day and night, inseparable. In order to win the favor of their masters, the eunuchs also learned a survival skill that they had to have, that is, the ability to sneak around and clap horses and observe the color, so the eunuchs' political affairs were still forbidden in successive dynasties and dynasties. When it comes to several eunuchs who are more famous in China's history, many people may think of Zhao Gao of the Qin Dynasty, Wei Zhongxian of the Ming Dynasty, and An Dehai and Li Lianying, the big red people around The Late Qing Cixi.
Cixi travels
The former "Red Man" - Anderhay
On February 12, 1912 (that is, the first year of the Republic of China), the Qing Emperor Ai Xin jueluo Puyi officially issued an edict announcing his abdication, and the Qing Dynasty, which had ruled China for 268 years, came to an end. For the last dynasty of China's feudal society, there are many controversies among later generations, of which the most talked about is the most famous woman in the late Qing Dynasty, Empress Dowager Cixi, who also had a more detailed description of Empress Dowager Cixi in my previous articles.
Foreign reporters filmed Cixi's funeral and lamented: If the Qing Dynasty does not die, where is the heavenly reason?
Many people believe that the old empress dowager Cixi coveted pleasure, was extravagant and lascivious, and over-favored the eunuchs around her, which eventually led to her single-handedly burying the entire Qing Dynasty. As the actual ruler of the late Qing Dynasty, during the period when she took over the power of the Qing government, the eunuchs around her were also like her right and left arms, always accompanying her, so it has to be said that the collapse of the Qing Dynasty was inextricably linked to the eunuchs An Dehai and Li Lianying around her.
Cixi took a picture with foreigners
An Dehai entered the palace earlier than Li Lianying, and became a eunuch at the age of 10, who was intelligent and clever, and worked diligently, so he was deeply appreciated and valued by Cixi. It was also because of his later merits as a secret liaison between Cixi and Prince Gong Yishi during the Coup d'état of Xin You, which further deepened Cixi's trust in him, and thus became the chief eunuch of The Great Eunuch.
However, his ambitions also grew, and he began to become less peaceful, always thinking of running around outside the palace to collect money, during which he offended many people, and was eventually captured by Ding Baozhen, the governor of Shandong, and executed for the crime of "leaving the Beijing Division without permission".
Anderhay was captured
And An Dehai's dismounting also allowed Li Lianying to finally have a day to emerge. In the real historical old photos, it is not difficult for us to see that Li Lianying actually has an ugly appearance, and even has a face of age spots and pustules, why can he still be deeply favored by Cixi after An Dehai?
The real Li Lianying
Once Li Jinxi
Li Lianying's original name was Li Jinxi, Xianfeng entered the palace in the sixth year (1856), when Li Jinxi was only 8 years old, in 1864 he had the opportunity to serve next to Cixi, who was still empress at the time, but in 1867, Li Jinxi had been quickly promoted from a small eunuch to the second eunuch, what was Li Jinxi's ability?
Before Li Jinxi entered the palace, his parents were all shavers, so he grew up accustomed to his parents combing the hair of others, and Li Jinxi, who shaved his head, also inherited his own shaving skills and combed his head well.
When he observed that Cixi had the habit of combing his hair frequently, Li Jinxi's head turned, thinking that he might be able to please his master, so he began to carefully study various combing techniques, and Li Jinxi's hair combing skills did not disappoint, and soon he was paid attention to and valued by Cixi, and became the exclusive combing eunuch beside Cixi. To this end, Cixi also specially gave Li Jinxi a new name, which is what we later callEd Li Lianying.
Cixi enjoys the snow
Grand Manager Li Lianying
After An Dehai was beheaded, although Li Lianying, as the second general manager, sat in the position of the eunuch grand manager of An Dehai, Li Lianying was only 21 years old this year. However, the high position also means that he should be more careful in his future handling, and Andehai's death has made him deeply aware that the master will always be the master, the slave will always be the slave, low-key work, and must not forget the book because of a momentary favor.
So after that, Li Lianying became more cautious, trembling, like walking on thin ice, and tried to do everything possible in small things and big things. Even if you go out of the palace to do things, you put the master in the front, and then you do things as a slave.
The eunuch on the right is Li Lianying
In addition, he is also very good at observing the color of words, doing what he likes, knowing how to carefully ponder the master's ideas and take care of the master's emotions. Not only for Empress Dowager Cixi, but even in the face of some small eunuchs and little palace women, Li Lianying was relatively friendly, and there was no eunuch grand master's shelf at all, let alone bullying people.
In the "Memoirs of the Palace Women" written by the palace maid Rong'er at the end of the Qing Dynasty, Li Lianying was also described as:
"The more the empress dowager appreciates her father-in-law, the more humble and respectful she becomes."
He was also well aware of the discord between Guangxu and Cixi, so he acted smoothly between the two of them and flattered both sides. Even after Guangxu was placed under house arrest by Cixi, Li Lianying secretly took care of the Guangxu Emperor, making Guangxu feel some gratitude to Li Lianying.
Later, when the Guangxu Emperor recalled his arduous journey when he fled west, he also said bluntly:
"Without Anda Lee, I probably wouldn't be alive today."
Therefore, the biggest difference between An Dehai and Li Lianying is still that An Dehai is high-profile and publicity, but Li Lianying is cautious and low-key. If Li Lianying has any shortcomings, it is that she is greedy for money, but at least she knows how to grasp the measure. Cixi only turned a blind eye to his greed for money, and the rest did not have any handles to fall into the hands of others.
"Buddha sees joy" Li Lianying
As for Li Lianying, in fact, he also has a nickname, called "Buddha Sees Joy". Because there is a kind of pear also called "Buddha sees joy", it is reported that the skin of this pear is black, some ugly, the first sight is not very acceptable, but as long as you taste it, you can find that its taste is sweet and refreshing, and the taste is crisp and tender. After Cixi had tasted this pear, she unconsciously showed a smiling face and appreciated this pear.
So invisibly, in fact, this pear is very similar to Li Lianying. Although Li Lianying's appearance is also somewhat ugly, she is humble and thoughtful and meticulous, so she is always gracious. After all, Li Lianying, who has entered the palace since she was a child, has long been accustomed to the deceit of this red-walled deep palace, and has tasted the warmth and coldness of human feelings in this world.
Therefore, why did the eunuchs around Cixi change stubble after stubble, but only Li Lianying was able to accompany Cixi for 53 years, perhaps "respecting things, being lenient in things, if there is a year, not slackening off" is his success law, so he can always stand in an invincible position.
Li Lianying