On the fourteenth day of the first month of the 30th year of Daoguang, that is, on February 25, 1850, the Daoguang Emperor came to the last moment of his life. At noon on this day, the Daoguang Emperor died in the Shende Hall of the Yuanmingyuan at the age of 69.
Six hours before his death, Daoguang announced his heir to the throne, and the eunuch was ordered to take out the casket. Facing the courtiers, the Minister in Charge of the Interior opened the box and saw that there were two secret messages inside. The first secret decree: the sixth son of the emperor, YiXuan, was made a prince, and the fourth son of the emperor, Yixuan, was made crown prince.
The second secret decree: The fourth son of the emperor, YiXuan, was established as the crown prince, and the ministers of the king were waiting for the words, and their one heart and one heart praised and assisted, always focusing on the national economy and the people's livelihood, and had no sympathy for anything else.
His other son was also written into the Edict of the Imperial Guard, leaving later historians to rack their brains. The reason why Daoguang did this is largely due to his entanglement in the selection of Li Chu. Looking back at the development of history, we put aside the identities of YiXuan and Yixuan, but from the perspective of personal ability, Yixuan is far better than Yixuan, but why didn't Daoguang choose Yixuan?
Daoguang had 9 sons, and when he was preparing to establish an heir, the eldest son, second son, and third son were long gone; the fifth son was passed on to his brother; the seventh son, Yi Zhen, the eighth son, and the ninth son, Yi Zhen, were still in infancy. Therefore, Daoguang could only choose from the four sons Yixuan and the sixth son Yixuan.
It's also tough to choose between the two. The two are only one year apart in age, yixun is talented and intelligent and has first-class sword skills, which can be described as both literary and martial arts. Why didn't Daoguang stand up? It is said that Daoguang once gave a small test to the two of them, after the following:
In March of the twenty-sixth year of Daoguang, the emperor read the Nanyuan, "All the princes are subordinate, Prince Gong Yixun has the most birds, and Emperor Wenzong has not issued a single arrow." Asked, to the question: "When Fang Chun, birds and beasts breed, can't bear to hurt life to dry heaven and peace." Emperor Xuanzong said, "The words of this true emperor!" 'Li Chu was secretly determined. ”
If the above record is reliable, then Yi Chen was abandoned by Daoguang because he was unloving, and it is obviously unlikely. The author believes that Daoguang's choice of the fourth son, Yixuan, is the result of a kind of compensation for the dead empress. Yi Xi's mother was Empress Xiaoquan, who was favored by Daoguang during her lifetime, but because she offended the empress dowager, her death was unknown.
It should be known that when Empress Xiaoquan died, Yixuan was only 10 years old. As the saying goes, seeing things and thinking of people, and Yi Xuan is still the most beloved queen born, naturally doubly loved. Taking a step back, Yi Xuan's personal ability is slightly inferior to Yi Xuan's, but it is not to the point of great difference. Of course, if Yi Chen really sat on the throne, it is likely that there would be no later "Xin You coup" and "hanging the curtain to listen to the government", but unfortunately history did not have ifs.
Reference: "Late Qing Dynasty Politics"