The spring breeze warms into Huatang, and an extraordinary encounter during the Kangxi period is quietly staged in Yongzheng Mansion. On this day full of suspense, Emperor Kangxi walked into the carefully arranged garden, and in front of him was a sea of gorgeous flowers, and the air was filled with a faint fragrance of flowers. In the garden of Yongzheng Mansion, all kinds of rare flowers bloom one after another, as if it is the most luxurious gift of nature. However, there is a secret behind this garden rendezvous – it's not just a simple flower-viewing trip, it's a curated display.
The wine glass in Kangxi's hand was unconsciously put down. This is not only because he met an excellent grandson, but also because he saw a certain quality in Qianlong, a hidden quality that could affect the future of the Qing Dynasty. Kangxi's eyes flashed with a complicated light, and he looked at Qianlong, as if he was thinking about something important.
This scene, for Kangxi, is not just a simple family reunion, but an important moment related to the future of the Qing Empire. How will Kangxi's choice affect Yongzheng and Qianlong, and how will it rewrite the history of the Qing Dynasty?
The power struggle of the dynasty: nine sons take the heir.
In Kangxi's later years, the atmosphere in the palace became increasingly tense. This is not only because of Emperor Kangxi's advanced age, but more importantly, his sons, each of whom harbors a desire for the throne. In the court and in the court, they constantly showed their intelligence and ability, trying to win the favor of Emperor Kangxi. It's an environment of calculation and intrigue, where everyone is careful trying to stand out from the fierce competition.
Kangxi is already old, and he is becoming more and more cautious about the choice of heirs. He often carefully observed his sons at court meetings, and their words and deeds, the way they handled government affairs, and even their interpersonal relationships could all become factors for Kangxi to consider.
In this tense environment, Yongzheng, the father of the future Qianlong Emperor, also fought hard in it. He is Kangxi's fourth son and, like his brothers, understands the rules of the power game. Not only did he have to show his political prowess, but he also had to use his resources and influence skillfully. In this struggle, Yongzheng was not the most conspicuous one, and his light was overshadowed by the other brothers.
However, Yongzheng's style of action is not to be underestimated. His code of action is prudence and precision. All his actions are well thought out, and every step is calculated with precision. This style of conduct allowed him to maintain an advantage in the complex battle for the throne. He understands that in this game, only by always being vigilant can mistakes be avoided, and only by taking steps can he move towards victory.
And behind him, his fourth son, Hongli (later Emperor Qianlong), was his most solid support. Hongli has shown extraordinary intelligence and ability since he was a child, he is very smart and talented, and has become Yongzheng's right-hand man. His existence gave Yongzheng more energy to deal with national affairs, and also gave him a more solid backing in the battle for the throne.
Kangxi's stunning: the first meeting.
On a spring day, Yongzheng skillfully arranged a flower-viewing activity and invited the Kangxi Emperor to visit his mansion. The gardens of the mansion are carefully arranged and a variety of rare flowers bloom and exude a burst of fragrance. The design of the garden is ingenious, which not only shows Yongzheng's unique insights into garden art, but also provides Kangxi with a feast of sight and smell.
Kangxi slowly walked into the garden accompanied by his courtiers, his eyes wandering among the flowers, stopping to admire them from time to time. Kangxi, as an emperor who has experienced countless ups and downs, is well-informed, but in the face of such a well-arranged garden, he still can't help but show his appreciation.
Just as Kangxi was immersed in the world of flowers, Yongzheng quietly signaled to the next person, and a young figure immediately appeared in Kangxi's sight. The child was dressed in a gorgeous dress, with a delicate face and a calmness beyond his age in his eyes. He is Yongzheng's fourth son, Hongli, that is, the future Qianlong Emperor.
Kangxi was holding a glass of wine and tasting it quietly, but the appearance of Hongli made him shocked. Generally speaking, Kangxi is accustomed to all kinds of scenes in the power struggle, and he has long been unfazed by the ups and downs in the world.
But when Kangxi saw Qianlong, he couldn't help but put down the wine glass in his hand in surprise. This young child has already shown a dignified appearance. Especially those clear and sharp eyes, Kangxi couldn't help but think of himself when he was young.
Kangxi asked, "Whose child are you?" Qianlong replied: "Back to the emperor's ancestor, the child is the son of the fourth elder brother." Kangxi nodded, and asked again, "What have you studied?" Qianlong replied: "The child has studied classics such as the Analects and Mencius. Kangxi smiled slightly and asked Qianlong a few questions about the Analects and Mencius. Qianlong not only answered fluently and accurately, but also showed a deep understanding of the classics between his words.
A hint of surprise flashed in Kangxi's eyes. Qianlong is young, but he already has such profound knowledge, which is very rare in Kangxi's opinion. In the court, Kangxi often had to face complex political struggles, and he was used to seeing the world of deceit. However, Qianlong's appearance brought him a different feeling - this is a combination of innocence and intelligence, which makes Kangxi feel very gratified.
Kangxi continued to talk with Qianlong, and he asked him about his views on governing the country. Although Qianlong's answer was childish, it was not lacking in depth and original insights. Kangxi praised it even more after hearing this, and he felt that this grandson was not only intellectual, but also mature in thinking and had the potential to govern the country.
Yongzheng's strategy: show Qianlong's talent.
Qianlong's intelligence is not only reflected in his outstanding learning ability, but also in his way of thinking. In his speech and demeanor, there is a maturity and wisdom that does not match his age. Under the careful teaching of Yongzheng, Qianlong had an in-depth understanding of the fields of government affairs, history, and literature, and his own unique opinions.
In order to make Kangxi pay attention to Qianlong's talent, Yongzheng not only subtly mentioned Qianlong's learning achievements in daily court meetings, but also deliberately arranged for Qianlong to show his knowledge in various court activities. In a poetry competition of the imperial court, Qianlong's performance was particularly outstanding. His poems are not only brilliant, but also rich in profound ideological connotations, which made many ** and Kangxi present greatly appreciated.
In addition, Yongzheng also arranged for Qianlong to participate in some more complicated court and political discussions, allowing him to show his views on national affairs in front of Kangxi. Although Qianlong was young, his understanding and analysis of the government and politics often went straight to the core of the problem, which made Kangxi impressed by Qianlong's ability.
During a meeting in the gardens of the imperial palace, Kangxi specially summoned Qianlong. At this meeting, Kangxi personally raised several questions to Qianlong about governing the country. Qianlong's answer is both deep and childlike, and this unique style deeply attracted Kangxi.
As time passed, Qianlong's weight in Kangxi's heart became heavier and heavier. Kangxi began to pay more attention to Qianlong's growth and education, and sometimes even taught Qianlong himself, assigning him homework and study tasks. Qianlong's guidance on Kangxi can be quickly absorbed and applied, and his performance not only satisfies Kangxi, but also makes Kangxi have a good impression of Yongzheng's father image.
Yongzheng sees all these developments. He understood that Qianlong's excellence was not only an achievement as a child, but also an important chess piece in the battle for his succession to the throne. Every performance of Qianlong is silently striving for Kangxi's favor for Yongzheng.
Kangxi's choice: affect the inheritance of the throne.
In his later years, the Kangxi Emperor was faced with the choice of a successor to the throne. This decision is not only about the future of the Qing Empire, but also about the political legacy of Kangxi's life. In the process, Kangxi's sons showed their abilities, and many of them showed extraordinary talents and abilities. However, in this contest over the succession to the throne, Yongzheng's strategy and layout are particularly crucial.
Yongzheng's victory in this struggle did not depend purely on personal charisma or political talent. His success was closely related to the performance of his fourth son, Hongli, the future Qianlong Emperor. Kangxi's appreciation and love for Hongli undoubtedly strengthened his appreciation for Yongzheng. Hongli's extraordinary intelligence and maturity convinced Kangxi that the Yongzheng family had the ability to maintain and develop the Qing Empire.
Kangxi obviously considered many factors when making his decision. He had to evaluate not only the personal qualities and abilities of each possible successor, but also whether their heirs would be able to take on the responsibilities of the future. Hongli's performance undoubtedly played an important role in this assessment. His talent not only added a lot to Yongzheng's battle for the throne, but also provided Kangxi with an optimistic expectation about the future of the Qing Dynasty.
In the process of making the final decision, Kangxi made several private visits to Hongli, including his knowledge, thinking skills, and views on the future throne. Kangxi found that Hongli was not only talented, but also possessed deep insight and mature political concepts. These qualities are essential for an emperor who is about to rule a country.
Yongzheng's prudence and thoughtfulness were also recognized by Kangxi in this process. He is not in a hurry to perform like some other princes, but pays more attention to long-term planning and overall layout. His efforts in nurturing the Hiroshi demonstrated his sense of responsibility as a father and as an heir to the throne.
In addition, Yongzheng's stability and efficiency in handling court affairs also left a deep impression on Kangxi's heart. His performance in the government not only showed his talent, but also reflected his sense of responsibility and national concept.
In the end, when Kangxi announced Yongzheng as the successor to the throne, this decision caused quite a stir in the court. Kangxi's choice is not only a recognition of Yongzheng's personal ability, but also a recognition of the family value and future vision he has shown. Qianlong's presence and his outstanding performance became an important factor that could not be ignored in this decision.
Manuscript of Qing History