In the twenty-sixth year of Hongwu in the Ming Dynasty, the "Blue Jade Case" broke out, and Zhu Yuanzhang counted the crimes of The Duke of Liangguo blue jade, beheaded him, and peeled the grass. Because of the Blue Jade case, 15,000 people died under Zhu Yuanzhang's butcher's knife, including Feng Sheng, Fu Youde, Wang Bi and other founding heroes. If it is said that Lan Yu's death was because he was "indeed guilty", the deaths of Fu Youde, Wang Bi and others were enough to prove that Zhu Yuanzhang was deliberately killing the heroes. Compared with Zhu Yuanzhang, another famous emperor in ancient China did not kill the ring, and this person was Kangxi.
In the thirty-eighth year of the Kangxi Dynasty, Kangxi made his third southern tour, went to nanjing to pay homage to Zhu Yuanzhang, and used the four characters of "Zhilong Tang song" to evaluate Zhu Yuanzhang. Indeed, although the Ming Dynasty was replaced by the Qing Dynasty, Kangxi had great admiration for Zhu Yuanzhang. Kangxi and Zhu Yuanzhang, both of whom were heroes and great masters, both made great historical contributions and created their own prosperous worlds. But the biggest difference between the two is that Kangxi was always reluctant to kill one more person, especially not to kill the hero.
For example, Li Shanchang and Hu Weiyong, the two prime ministers of Zhu Yuanzhang's time, eventually died under Zhu Yuanzhang's butcher's knife. During the Kangxi period, the most powerful "prime ministers" were Suo Ertu and Mingzhu, who not only made great contributions to Kangxi, but also were relatives of the emperor, although both were eventually convicted, but Kangxi only imprisoned them, not killed them. Not only in dealing with civilian officials, but also with military generals, Kangxi was also the same.
Twenty-three years after Kangxi, the Zheng clan of Taiwan finally submitted to the Qing Dynasty, and Kangxi regained Taiwan and the whole country celebrated. In the process of reunifying Taiwan, the greatest contributor was Shi Lang. Shi Lang, originally a former general of the Ming Dynasty, betrayed the old lord three times and was eventually used by Kangxi. Shi Lang led an army to attack Taiwan and forced Taiwan's Zheng Ketuan (Zheng Chenggong's grandson) to surrender, making great contributions to national reunification, and was awarded the title of Marquis of Jinghai by Kangxi for his outstanding military merits.
In his later years, Shi Lang was very arrogant and had a "blue jade" style. Some ministers reported that during shi lang's administration of Taiwan, he robbed the people's land, embezzled and accepted bribes, and so on, and Kangxi did not question Shi Lang, but said to the Manchu minister:
Since ancient times, it has been the inevitable nature of pride.
Kangxi then criticized Shi Lang, telling him to "be cautious in his words and deeds, and avoid giving people a handle." In November of the 25th year of the Kangxi Dynasty, Kangxi learned that Shi Lang wanted to make the "Imperial Book" that Kangxi had rewarded him into a royal monument, and also to build a "Royal Monument Pavilion" in front of his home. Kangxi immediately sent someone to inform Shi Lang (note, not to give orders, but to send people to inform, it is unofficial, in order to save Shi Lang's face), and asked Shi Lang not to "erect a monument in the public office and use the end to show off". Shi Lang immediately removed the stone stele, but regretted it.
Two years later, when Shi Lang returned to Beijing, the imperial historians wrote the recital of the impeachment of Shi Lang and prepared to hand it over to Kangxi. Kangxi said to the ministers, "After Shi Lang comes to the capital, you are not allowed to impeach!" Kangxi arranged for the ministers to greet Shi Lang outside the palace gate, and then arranged for the guards to help Shi Lang kneel and worship himself, which was a great courtesy. On the way, Shi Lang had already heard the wind and was worried that Kangxi would not trust him. Kangxi comforted Shi Lang and said:
"In the midst of the chaos, do not doubt the use of Er; if the world is at peace, do not send away evil spirits if you are suspicious?"
What Kangxi meant was: When you were first sent to attack Taiwan, many people opposed it, but I did not doubt you; now that the world has decided, I still doubt what you are doing? After hearing this, Shi Lang was very touched, admitting that he had indeed committed many illegal acts, and believing that he was old, he asked to return to his hometown and return his military power, so that Kangxi could rest assured. Kangxi refused, and Kangxi said, "The general uses his brain, but not his strength, and although you are old, you still trust you!" Shi Lang eventually died of illness in office and was able to die well.
In feudal society, after the meritorious people made great contributions, it was inevitable that they would be arrogant and extravagant, and even know the law and break the law, and finally countless people were killed. The examples of Kangxi and Shi Lang are enough to prove that Kangxi did not want to kill the heroes. Some scholars say that Kangxi does not kill heroes, which is the biggest difference between Kangxi and Zhu Yuanzhang. Although Kangxi was not a Han Chinese, he was well versed in the way of Confucius and Mencius and used the word "ren" to the extreme. Kangxi was not like his grandson Qianlong, who was full of the word "ren", but his heart was very harsh. Kangxi's courtesy name was "Emperor Ren", and Kangxi's actions were worthy of this title.