Among China's feudal dynasties, the Han, Tang, and Qing dynasties successfully controlled the Western Regions, but the monarchs of these periods—Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty, and Emperor Qianlong—had very different evaluations.
Among them, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty established an unparalleled national majesty, endowed the nation with lasting self-confidence, and his name became an eternal symbol of the nation.
He not only opened up vast territories, but also vigorously improved and developed the imperial system, making unification a relentless pursuit of later emperors.
As a result, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty was hailed as one of the most prominent monarchs of China's feudal dynasties and became a model for later emperors.
With his outstanding domestic and diplomatic talents and achievements in civil and martial arts, Tang Taizong was respected as a model of cultural and martial arts emperors in Chinese history, and was deeply admired by the grassland peoples, and was known as the "Heavenly Khan".
Under his rule, the country prospered, the territory was vast, various ethnic groups coexisted harmoniously and progressed together, and the Chinese civilization reached an unprecedented peak.
It was during this period,"Don people"This new national name was formed, laying the foundation of the modern Chinese nation.
Emperor Qianlong was a great emperor in Chinese history, who successfully recovered the Western Regions in the mid-18th century and made a significant contribution to the expansion and unification of China.
However, compared with the other two great emperors, Emperor Wu of Han and Emperor Taizong of Tang, Emperor Qianlong's historical status is somewhat low.
Under his leadership, the Qing Dynasty successfully repelled the expansion of the Russian Empire and established itself as a supremacist in Central Asia.
This battle not only determined the century-old foundation of the Qing Dynasty, but also fulfilled the millennium dream of China. Emperor Qianlong's decisive decision and heroic battle was an important turning point in the history of Central Asia during this period, and it was also an important milestone in the history of China.
When Zuo Zongtang recovered Xinjiang, he emphasized that protecting Xinjiang could protect Mongolia and then defend Beijing. The geostrategic relationship between the northwest region is close, and the overall situation is intact and cannot be missed.
If Xinjiang is not stable, it will not only pose an irresistible threat to the surrounding border areas, but will even directly affect the Guanshan region in the north.
Imagine if the Russian Empire had eliminated the Dzungar Khanate before us, and the entire Western Regions would have been occupied by it, what would happen to Qinghai-Tibet and Manchu-Mongolia?
It's unimaginable.
Emperor Qianlong regained lost territory in the Western Regions and prevented the expansion of the Russian Empire in Central Asia, and it was not until the 19th century that the Qing Dynasty gradually weakened and its influence in Central Asia waned, and the Russian Empire resumed its conquest of Central Asia.
In the first half of his life, Emperor Qianlong's martial arts were not inferior to Emperor Kangxi, and it can be said that Emperor Qianlong was definitely a talented monarch in the first thirty years. His achievements are enough to offset the mistakes he made in his later years.
In the process of evaluating history, we cannot simply look at historical figures and events with today's eyes and attitudes.
We need to restore history with a specific historical background and limitations, and then re-examine history with a modern perspective and the process of history as a reference.
Every historical figure is complex, especially those famous monarchs and generals. This essay was originally intended to be written as a micro-headline, but later found that it was too long, so it was presented in the form of an article.