Emperor Qianlong's decision to pass the throne to Jiaqing was quite unexpected at the time, especially since Jiaqing was not skilled in mounted archery. So, why was Jiaqing still chosen as the successor in the end? The answer is quite simple: Emperor Qianlong lived far beyond ordinary people.
The princes of the Qing Dynasty were physically weak, in large part because they were born to close relatives. In the history of the Qing Dynasty, the reigns of the two emperors, Qianlong and Jiaqing, were criticized, and it was under their rule that the Qing dynasty began to decline.
So, why did Qianlong choose the physically weak Jiaqing as his successor? This is indeed a matter of widespread concern. We know that the average life expectancy of the ancients was not very long, especially the emperors, the average life expectancy was only about 40 years old. However, Emperor Qianlong lived to be 88 years old, which can be called a star of longevity. For ordinary people, longevity is naturally a good thing, but being an emperor is a different matter. Aging emperors tend to become confused, which can mean disaster for the country.
In fact, the decline of the Qing Dynasty began in the later years of Qianlong, who implemented a policy of closing the country to the outside world. This policy led to a reduction in Qing exchanges with other countries, which in turn set the stage for the fall of the Qing dynasty. In addition, in order to leave a great reputation, Qianlong excessively squandered the treasury, which made the treasury empty when Jiaqing ascended the throne. Therefore, in the absence of other options, Jiaqing had to seize He Shen's family property.
Qianlong's longevity also made it difficult to choose the right heir. Only four of his 17 sons were left alive, and his eldest son was 53 years old, an age that was clearly no longer suitable for the position of emperor. The remaining three sons are Yongxuan 47 years old, Yongyan 39 years old (i.e., Emperor Jiaqing), and Yongxuan 33 years old.
Although Qianlong did not particularly value them, his favorite was the fifth elder brother Yongqi, a talented prince who was both civil and military, but died shortly after being made a prince at the age of 24. While there were other princes who were also excellent, they were all dead by the time they were likely to become heirs.
In the end, choosing Jiaqing was also a helpless move. Although Jiaqing was diligent and kind-hearted, he was too hesitant in his decision-making and not proficient in mounted archery, so he was unable to solve the problems left behind by his father in his later years. Since he could not convince people completely, the reason for choosing Jiaqing was simply because Qianlong lived too long, resulting in no other suitable candidates.