The Taiping Heavenly Kingdom was a major peasant uprising and political movement in modern Chinese history, and its leader, Hong Xiuquan, did give special attention to some special people in the later period of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom. During this period, Hong Xiuquan's military, political, and religious leadership gradually weakened, and the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom fell into the predicament of internal and external troubles. In order to maintain power and cope with various challenges, he reused a number of characters within the organization who were considered unusual, including some children and fools.
First of all, Hong Xiuquan gave special reuse to some children. The most notable of these is Hong Tiangui, the "crown prince of the Heavenly King" of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, who is the second son of Hong Xiuquan. Although Hong Tiangui was young, in the later period of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, he was appointed as the "Crown Prince of Heaven" and given certain military and political duties. This arrangement may have been made out of Hong Xiuquan's consideration of family succession and to consolidate his authority.
Secondly, in the later period of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, Hong Xiuquan also reused some people who were considered "fools". Among them, the most famous are the two palace guards of "Shiyu Ah Wu" and "Shi Dakai". Although these two people were intellectually limited, because of their loyalty to the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom and their absolute obedience to Hong Xiuquan, they were given some responsibilities and became Hong Xiuquan's cronies. Their appointment may have been motivated by Hong Xiuquan's trust in loyalty, but also to maintain control of the army and the court.
This practice of reusing children and fools reflects, to a certain extent, the internal and external predicaments of the late Taiping Heavenly Kingdom. Under military pressure, the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom's army gradually weakened, and Hong Xiuquan may have thought that he could maintain control of the army by appointing some special people. Politically, due to internal contradictions and external pressures, Hong Xiuquan's trust in his cronies may become a means for him in the power struggle.
In general, Hong Xiuquan's reuse of children and fools in the later period of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom was a means of power, which not only considered maintaining power, but also reflected the dilemma faced by the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom at that time. The political turmoil of this period culminated in the fall of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, leaving behind a unique and complex chapter in Chinese history.
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