The Hidden Witness of Chinese History The Legendary Life of Xiao Dezhang

Mondo History Updated on 2024-01-19

In Pu Yi's autobiography "The First Half of My Life", Cixi and the eunuchs around her were mentioned many times, and these eunuchs who ran between the palaces became the shadows of the Qing Dynasty in the twilight. And in addition to the well-known Li Lianying, he also mentioned another big eunuch, that is, Xiao Dezhang. Some people may be very unfamiliar with this name, but Xiao Dezhang's status in Cixi's mind is no less than Li Lianying. He lived in the palace for 22 years and saw the whole process of the fall of the Qing **. Because of his longevity, Xiao Dezhang lived until the founding of New China. He was shaken in the wind and rain for half his life, and after several generations, he became a living fossil that witnessed history.

Xiao Dezhang, formerly known as Zhang Xiangzhai and Yunting, was born in a poor rural family in South Luguantun, Jinghai County, Hebei Province. The father fished for a living, and the mother took care of the children at home, and the family was poor and miserable. When he was 12 years old, a catastrophe struck the land, and drought enveloped the land, making it difficult for the family to make ends meet. It was in this predicament that Xiao Dezhang made up his mind to become a eunuch.

On the second day of the first lunar month, he and his brother went to his aunt's house to pay New Year's greetings. Seeing the luxury car in his aunt's house, Xiaode Zhang felt envious. His cousin's contemptuous words stung his pride and inspired him to embark on a path to change his fate. The unintentional words of his family became the catalyst for his decision, and he decided to become a eunuch, the so-called "imperial cha".

When Xiao Dezhang came to the capital, he did not enter the palace at first, but was sent to the house of a banner man to do odd jobs. Here he meets a demanding master, but with his ingenuity, Xiao Dezhang excels. However, the master sent him to the unpopular Nanfu opera troupe. This accident became a turning point for him, and the Empress Dowager Cixi took a fancy to his talent when watching the play, thinking that he was excellent in singing, so she transferred him to the palace and became a personal eunuch.

Since then, Xiao Dezhang has become Cixi's personal eunuch, and has been valued by Lafayette and has become a powerful eunuch, which shows his wisdom in judging the situation. After the death of the Empress Dowager Cixi and the Guangxu Emperor one after another, he was appreciated by the Empress Dowager Longyu, and coerced the Son of Heaven in the backyard of the former dynasty to order the princes. From a small eunuch to a master of scheming, Xiao Dezhang's ability cannot be ignored.

The most admirable thing is that Xiao Dezhang chose to retreat bravely at the top of the power scheme. After the death of the Empress Dowager Longyu, he sensed the competition between various forces and realized that the Qing ** might be destroyed, so he took the opportunity to leave the palace so as not to be implicated. After leaving the palace, his legendary life continued. Years of errand work in the palace allowed him to accumulate a large amount of gold and silver treasures, which accompanied him on the way to escape.

After settling down in Tianjin, Xiao Dezhang used his wealth to build a building and became a "duke" of Tianjin Wei. These buildings earned him more wealth, making him a tycoon in Tianjin's Wei real estate industry. He completely washed the "eunuch" symbol on his body and emerged in the business world. His political acumen and business wisdom allowed him to accumulate countless fortunes for future generations, and also enabled him to start and finish well. Xiao Dezhang once told future generations that he would no longer have anything to do with politics and should not become an official in the court.

His legendary life came to an end at the age of 81. Looking back, he may have mixed feelings. After leaving the palace, he resolved not to get involved in politics again, a decision that allowed him to skillfully avoid the turmoil. During the period of the Beiyang warlords and the birth of New China in 1949, he was able to avoid disputes at the right time. His political acumen and business acumen have made him stand tall in the business world.

Xiao Dezhang died of illness in 1957, ending his magnificent life. His story is not only the legend of a eunuch, but also the legend of a witness in Chinese history. His life, like a gripping historical masterpiece, makes people can't help but be moved.

The legendary life of Xiao Dezhang, a historical figure, is real and touching. This article profoundly shows his evolution from a poor rural boy to a palace eunuch to a business tycoon, telling a very special but full of wisdom and courage in Chinese history.

The article vividly depicts how Xiao Dezhang, in the face of family poverty and social pressure, was angry and purified out of self-esteem and embarked on the road of eunuchs. This decision not only changed his personal fate, but also made him a witness at the end of the Qing Dynasty, recording the whole process of the fall of the Qing Dynasty. This decision may seem embarrassing, but it also reflects the deep inequality of social hierarchy in the era and the efforts made by people to change their lives.

Duc Chang's wit and talent played an important role in his life. Through his ingenuity, he successfully solved the difficulties encountered while working in the Qijia family, and finally won the favor of the Empress Dowager Cixi. This wit and adaptability transformed him from a neglected eunuch of the Nanfu opera troupe to a personal eunuch beside the Empress Dowager Cixi, laying the foundation for his life.

The description of Xiaode Zhang Shan's beginning and end in the article makes people deeply admire. He was at ease in the power schemes of the palace, but he left decisively in the crisis of the fall of the Qing Dynasty and no longer got involved in politics. This kind of political wisdom allowed him to successfully escape the storm of history and become a business tycoon. His business acumen and keen political acumen enabled him to become a well-respected "courtier" in Tianjinwei and achieve great success in the business world.

The most touching thing is that Xiao Dezhang did not give up the pursuit of family and wealth because of his status as a eunuch. He successfully established himself in the business world, created a lot of wealth, and left a rich legacy for his descendants. This sense of family and country and love of life make him a figure worthy of admiration.

Overall, the story of Xiao Dezhang is a unique and touching legend in Chinese history. He used his ingenuity, wit and courage to carve his own unique stroke on the big stage of history. His life is full of legends, leaving a deep historical imprint, and people are full of respect for that era and this special person.

Disclaimer: The above content information is ** on the Internet, and the author of this article does not intend to target or insinuate any real country, political system, organization, race, or individual. The above content does not mean that the author of this article agrees with the laws, rules, opinions, behaviors in the article and is responsible for the authenticity of the relevant information. The author of this article is not responsible for any issues arising from the above or related issues, and does not assume any direct or indirect legal liability.

If the content of the article involves the content of the work, copyright**, infringement, rumors or other issues, please contact us to delete it. Finally, if you have any different thoughts about this event, please leave a message in the comment area to discuss!

Related Pages