On a spring morning in the seventh year of Yongzheng, the capital had not yet fully woken up, but the Forbidden City was already busy. The first rays of sunlight in the early morning shined through the window lattice, dappled on the imperial case of Emperor Yongzheng. In the Forbidden City, a discussion about the safety of the Qing Dynasty is going on intensely.
At that time, the Qing Dynasty was facing a serious crisis: the continuous heavy rain in the south caused the serious silting of the Grand Canal, and the blockage of this important waterway running through the north and south directly affected the grain ** of the capital and the economic lifeline of the entire country. Faced with this thorny problem, Emperor Yongzheng was anxious and urgently needed to find a candidate who could solve this problem.
At this critical moment, an old minister, Zhang Tingyu, walked into the imperial study. He was a great minister of the Yongzheng Emperor and was known for his wisdom and loyalty. Zhang Tingyu knows that the choice at this moment is related to the future of the Qing Dynasty, and he must be cautious. He looked around among the many ministers, and then spoke slowly, his voice low but full of determination: "Your Majesty, there is a death row inmate in the prison, who may be able to solve this great trouble. ”
The Glory and Fall of Acton.
During the Yongzheng period, Acton's official career presented a prominent and tortuous process. At first, he was appointed as the priest of the country, a position that was highly regarded among the civil officials of the time. As the priest of the country, Acton was not only responsible for the education of the country, but also represented the high recognition of his literary achievements and moral character by the imperial court. He taught in Guozijian and trained scholars, and his teaching methods and personality charm made many students admire.
However, in the fourth year of Yongzheng, the situation changed abruptly, and Acton was transferred to Guangzhou to serve as the governor of Liangguang and the general of Guangzhou. This change is both a challenge and an opportunity for Acton. As the governor of Liangguang, he wielded extensive administrative and military powers, and the affairs he had to deal with were far more complex than those of the time when the country was in charge of the sacrificial liquor.
Qingzheng in Guangdong.
During his tenure in Guangdong, Acton's upright personality deeply influenced the land. Guangdong, as an important province in the southern part of the Qing Empire, has long had complex politics and corrupt officialdom. In such an environment, the arrival of Acton is undoubtedly a breath of fresh air.
As soon as he took office, he began to carry out drastic reforms. First of all, he carried out a large-scale inventory of Guangdong's **, and he was not afraid of the powerful and unrelenting. In this investigation, he found a lot of corruption and abuse of power for personal gain. Acton was by no means tolerant of this, and he did not hesitate to report to the imperial court, **these**. Although his behavior caused a huge shock in the officialdom, he also won a high reputation among the people.
Acton's actions were swift and effective, and the political climate in Guangdong Province began to change significantly. The ** filthy officials who were originally rampant in the township have been cleared one after another, and the people have felt the long-lost fairness and justice. Under Acton's administration, law and order in Guangdong improved significantly, commerce and trade flourished, and people's lives gradually improved.
However, Acton's sternness and integrity also caused him quite a bit of trouble. In his **list, there are many people with backgrounds and influences**. Although these ** were purged, their relatives and friends still have some influence in the officialdom. They hold a grudge against Acton and secretly form a small group against Acton.
These ** people are plotting revenge behind their backs. They secretly gather information about Acton and look for his weaknesses. They spread criticism of Acton in the restaurant and teahouse in an attempt to ruin his reputation. Some people even began to fabricate rumors to frame Acton*** for colluding with local underworld forces.
But Acton doesn't seem to be aware of this. He still diligently handles government affairs every day, visits the people, and listens to the people's suffering. His meticulous work and sincere concern for the people have made him increasingly popular among the people of Guangdong. Under his rule, Guangdong's economy gradually prospered, and the people's living standards also improved significantly.
However, Acton did not realize that his integrity and incorruptibility were slowly creating numerous enemies for him. These political opponents are gathering in the shadows, ready to deliver a fatal blow to Acton at the right time. And Acton, still unswervingly moving forward on his righteous path, did not know that the crisis was quietly approaching.
False accusations and arrests.
After Acton was transferred from Guangdong to the post of governor of Guangxi, his political opponents did not stop their plots. These ** people who have been ** by him, with a spirit of revenge, secretly assembled, and together weaved a trap against Acton. Their ** people in the capital secretly played to the Yongzheng Emperor, framed Acton for colluding with robbers, and claimed that he had demanded a huge amount of money from the rice boats of Siam during his tenure.
When the news reached the Forbidden City, Emperor Yongzheng's anger was ignited. His voice echoed in the Imperial Study: "Acton, I once trusted you to govern the place, but now I have heard that you have misbehaved, and dare to collude with robbers, and dare to be greedy for ink?" ”
The news was like thunder and caused an uproar in the court. Immediately, Emperor Yongzheng's order was quickly conveyed like a torrent, demanding the immediate arrest of Actun. In Acton, Guangxi, in the face of a sudden arrest warrant, it seems unusually calm. He was tied with his hands tied, and was brought back to Beijing for interrogation by the arrester sent by the capital.
In the midst of an intense investigation, some facts gradually emerged. This was confirmed by the fact that the investigation showed that Acton did not collude with the robbers. However, the facts about the money demanded from the Siam Inter ship are irrefutable. Acton once explained at a court meeting: "Your Majesty, the purpose of asking for the wealth of the rice boat is to stabilize the frontier and prevent robbers from disturbing the people. ”
But Emperor Yongzheng was not shaken by this: "The law is not forgiving, Acton, your behavior has violated the laws of the imperial court and disrupted the peace, how can you use selfishness as an excuse?" ”
Acton's explanations failed to save his fate, and he was sentenced to death by hanging. When the news came out, the capital shook inside and outside for a while. Many people who know the truth are stunned and unjust by this verdict. However, in the political maelstrom of the court, the truth is often obscured by power and intrigue.
From the death penalty to the re-use.
After Acton was sentenced to death by hanging, his political enemies did not give up. Once again, they appealed to the Yongzheng Emperor, this time accusing Acton of shielding corrupt subordinates during his tenure. The Yongzheng Emperor was furious by this news, and he was convinced that the charges reflected Acton's grave crimes, and decided to increase his punishment by sentencing him to behead him to prison for a retrial at a later autumn date to determine his final fate.
At this time, in March of the seventh year of Yongzheng, heavy rains continued in the south, causing the Grand Canal to be seriously silted. This natural disaster brought great difficulties to the transportation of goods from the north and the south, and seriously affected the tax revenue and grain of the imperial court. At this critical juncture, both inside and outside the court are looking for someone who can solve this crisis.
Just when Emperor Yongzheng was anxiously seeking a solution, the old minister Zhang Tingyu came to admonish. He faced the emperor and said in a firm and sincere tone: "Your Majesty, if there is a recommendation from the minister, he may be able to solve this flood." Emperor Yongzheng frowned and asked, "Oh? Who are you recommending? Zhang Tingyu replied: "Your Majesty, it is Actun who is still on death row. ”
Hearing Actun's name, Emperor Yongzheng seemed a little hesitant. He remembered Acton's talents, and he remembered his crimes. The emperor was silent for a moment, and finally asked, "Do you think that a ** can be qualified for such an important task?" Zhang Tingyu replied: "Your Majesty, although Acton is at fault, his talent for controlling the water is unmatched. At this moment, the dredging of the Grand Canal is imminent, and the minister believes that Acton will be able to make meritorious contributions. ”
After much deliberation, Emperor Yongzheng finally ordered Acton to be released and ordered him to be responsible for dredging the Grand Canal.
Acton's exploits and atonement.
As soon as Acton was reactivated, he threw himself into the work of dredging the Grand Canal, which was a crucial moment for him to clear his name and redeem his honor. He knew that this was not only a test of his own ability, but also a manifestation of his loyalty and atonement mentality. Acton did not hesitate to get into action.
First of all, he conducted a detailed survey of the water conditions along the Grand Canal. He personally took a boat down the river to observe the current and get an idea of the extent of siltation in the riverbed. In the course of his expedition, he recorded in detail every important node, especially those areas where the rivers were narrow and prone to silting. Through these field visits, Acton developed a detailed dredging plan. The plan not only includes specific steps for dredging, but also covers river channel renovation and water flow adjustment.
After the plan was formulated, Acton began to supervise the implementation of the project. He visits the site every day to guide the workers in dredging operations. He not only paid attention to the progress of the dredging project, but also personally discussed with the craftsmen how to improve work efficiency and ensure the quality of the project. Under his leadership, the morale of the workers was high, and they worked together day and night in order to complete the task as quickly as possible.
As the project progressed, the condition of the Grand Canal gradually improved. The previously silted river channel was cleared, the riverbed became wider, and the water flowed smoothly. Under Acton's careful management, what was expected to take months was able to make significant progress in just a few weeks.
With the completion of the dredging work of the Grand Canal, the river channel was restored to flow, and the water transportation was carried out normally, bringing sufficient food and materials to the capital and other places. This achievement quickly spread throughout the capital, and people praised Acton for his talent and efforts. Acton's exploit was not only a good story among the people, but also attracted attention in the imperial court.
After Emperor Yongzheng learned of the successful dredging of the Grand Canal, his evaluation of Acton changed significantly. He recognized that Acton's contribution to the country was undeniable, despite its faults. Acton's loyalty and talent, as well as his determination and perseverance in the face of adversity, ultimately moved the Yongzheng Emperor.
As a result, Emperor Yongzheng issued an edict announcing the pardon of Acton's crimes and restoring his official position and reputation. Acton's name was cleared again, and he not only regained his position in the imperial court, but also won widespread respect and affection among the people.
Manuscript of Qing History