At a pre-imperial meeting during the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty, the atmosphere suddenly became tense and full of suspense. Emperor Qianlong, known for his erudition and wit, often asked unpredictable questions to test his ministers. In the solemn Forbidden City, every question of the emperor can become the starting point of a political storm. On that day, the emperor asked a seemingly simple but profound question: "How many people were born and how many died in a year in the Qing Dynasty?" The ministers exchanged apprehensive glances, a question that few could answer, given the large and complex demographics involved and the potential for sensitive political issues.
Against this backdrop, Qianlong's gaze turned to Liu Yong, a bachelor known for his wisdom and wit. Liu Yong, a figure of great prestige in the imperial court, often satisfied the emperor with his answers, and in some cases, his words were able to influence the emperor's decision-making. All eyes were on Liu, and everyone was wondering how the brilliant minister would deal with this thorny issue.
1. Liu Yong, the prefect of Jiangning: A Qing Jieren who is deeply loved by the people.
During his tenure as the prefect of Jiangning, Liu Yong was deeply rooted in the hearts of the people with his incorruptible and capable image, and his political achievements and conduct won high praise among the people. In that era, it was not easy for a place to be so widely recognized, especially in the Qing Dynasty, where officialdom was turbulent, Liu Yong's image was particularly conspicuous.
Liu Yong's incorruptibility is not only reflected in his indifference to property, but also in his self-discipline in power. During Jiang Ning's tenure, the cases he handled, no matter how big or small, were handled impartially and without being disturbed by personal feelings. At that time, such justice was rare. According to folk rumors, Liu Yong is often meticulous and meticulous in handling cases, and even disputes between ordinary people can be fairly adjudicated by him.
The people in Jiangning have a very high opinion of Liu Yong. They believe that Liu Yong is not only a clean official, but also a virtuous official among the people. Under Liu Yong's jurisdiction, law and order in the Jiangning region has improved significantly, and the lives of the people have become more stable. His political achievements are not limited to the strict implementation of the law, but also include concern for people's livelihood issues. Thanks to Liu's efforts, Jiangning's public facilities have been improved and civil disputes have been effectively mediated.
Liu Yong's conduct is even more popular among the people. Not only adults admired him, but even women and children heard of his virtues. They often get together to discuss how Liu Yong handles cases fairly, how he doesn't **bribe**, and how he cares about the well-being of ordinary people. In that era, ** was usually regarded as a high and distant existence from the people, but Liu Yong broke this stereotype and became close to the people in the hearts of the people.
2. Leaders of the DPRK and China: Liu Yong's political wisdom and personality charm.
Yuan Mei, as a civil servant who was an official in the same dynasty as Liu Yong, greatly appreciated Liu Yong's ability and character. Once, at a court meeting, Yuan Mei said to his colleagues: "Lord Liu is not only intelligent, but also fair, and he is really a model for the DPRK and China." These words caused a small wave in the DPRK, because it was not easy to get such praise from Yuan Mei.
The most notable aspect of Liu Yong's political career is that he also held the positions of secretary of the Ministry of Industry, the Ministry of Officials, and the Ministry of War. This situation is extremely rare in the history of the Qing Dynasty, which is enough to prove the trust and dependence of Emperor Qianlong on him. Once, at a court meeting, Emperor Qianlong personally said to Liu Yong: "Lord Liu, I have entrusted you with such a heavy responsibility because I believe in your talent and loyalty. Liu Yong replied: "The minister will do his best to live up to His Majesty's high expectations." ”
Liu Yong's ability to handle state affairs is admirable. He is rigorous and meticulous in every government affairs, whether it is the infrastructure project of the Ministry of Industry, the personnel arrangement of the Ministry of Officials, or the deployment of military affairs of the Ministry of War, he can handle it in an orderly and efficient manner. His efficiency and effectiveness have become a model for the DPRK, and many ** have taken him as an example.
Within the imperial court, Liu Yong's voice grew stronger. His opinions are often valued by other **, and even on some major state affairs, Emperor Qianlong will also ask for his opinions. In a discussion on frontier defense, Liu Yong put forward his own opinion: "Your Majesty, border affairs should not only be strictly guarded militarily, but also strengthen friendly exchanges with border peoples. These words made Emperor Qianlong's eyes light up, and he immediately ordered to act according to Liu Yong's advice.
Liu Yong's political wisdom is not only reflected in his handling of affairs, but also in his ability to interact with people. He is good at expressing his opinions in words, but he also knows how to listen to others. He often has in-depth discussions with other leaders, which can not only put forward valuable suggestions, but also promote unity and harmony between the DPRK and China.
3. The veteran of the two dynasties: Liu Yong's evergreen tree in **.
After the death of Emperor Qianlong, the atmosphere of the entire court suddenly changed. Many ** often faced the instability of their positions during this period of power change, but Liu Yong successfully avoided the fate of "one son of heaven and one courtier", which was not easy in the political environment at that time. In stark contrast to the fate of the powerful minister He Shen at that time, Liu Yong was not only not ostracized, but continued to be reused under the rule of the new emperor Jiaqing.
After Emperor Jiaqing ascended the throne, he faced the complex government affairs and the complex situation inside and outside the court, and he needed some experienced and capable ministers to stabilize the government. Against this backdrop, Liu Yong, who was nearly eighty years old, was appointed by the Jiaqing Emperor to govern Beijing because of his extraordinary political wisdom and rich administrative experience, and was responsible for assisting in handling important national affairs. This appointment is not only a recognition of Liu Yong's past political achievements, but also a great trust in his personal ability.
During his tenure as governor of Beijing, Liu Yong displayed astonishing political acumen and ability to handle affairs despite his advanced age. Whether it was dealing with disputes within the imperial court or planning for the country's economic development, Liu Yong was able to propose precise and effective strategies to help the Jiaqing Emperor stabilize the political situation and promote the country's prosperity and development.
During the Jiaqing period, the imperial court faced many challenges, including internal corruption and external border stability. In the face of these challenges, Liu not only provided practical solutions, but also personally oversaw the implementation to ensure that the policies were effectively implemented. These measures of his have been highly praised by Emperor Jiaqing and other ** in the court.
Liu Yong's influence in the court was not limited to policy advice, and he was also a promoter of harmony in the court. Despite his high position, Liu Yong always maintained humility and moderation, and he often communicated with other **, listened to their opinions and suggestions, and promoted harmony within the imperial court. This harmonious atmosphere played an important role in maintaining the stability of the imperial court.
4. Wisdom and wit: Liu Yong's ingenious interaction with the emperor.
Compared with the more honest Jiaqing, the Qianlong Emperor was known for his wisdom and erudition. He often asks all sorts of peculiar questions and ideas that often confuse and challenge the ministers of the DPRK and China. But for the erudite Liu, these questions have instead become a stage to show his wisdom.
One day, when Emperor Qianlong was walking in the imperial garden, he suddenly wanted to test Liu Yong's wisdom on a whim. He asked Liu Yong: "How many people come out and how many people enter every day?" "It's a seemingly simple question, but it's actually extremely complex. The ** in Beijing City is like a tide every day, constantly entering and exiting, and even the guards guarding the gate cannot accurately count.
Liu Yong was dealing with some government affairs documents at the time, and after hearing the emperor's question, he put down the pen in his hand and pondered for a moment. He is well aware that this question is not to seek an exact number, but to test his ability to cope. So, he replied, "Your Majesty, two." This answer surprised everyone present for a while, and even Emperor Qianlong felt that Liu Yong was talking nonsense.
Emperor Qianlong originally thought that this question would embarrass Liu Yong, but he didn't expect Liu Yong to give such an answer. He looked at Liu Yong curiously, wanting to know the meaning behind this. Liu Yong saw the emperor's doubts, so he explained slowly: "Long live, when I say two, I don't mean two specific people, but two kinds of people—men and women. No matter how the ** in the capital changes, it is always these two kinds of people who come in and out. These words made Emperor Qianlong suddenly realize, and he couldn't help but smile slightly, and appreciated Liu Yong's wit and wisdom even more.
5. Wisdom Between Life and Death: Liu Yong's Art of Answers.
Emperor Qianlong was unwilling to let Liu Yong escape like this, and he asked a seemingly simple but extremely challenging question: "Then how many people are born and how many people die in a year in my Great Qing Kingdom?" This question is almost impossible for anyone to answer exactly, especially when there were no detailed statistics at the time.
Liu Yong did not show any panic or distress in the face of such a problem. He calmly replied, "One was born, and 12 died." This answer surprised everyone present for a while. Emperor Qianlong's brows furrowed slightly, obviously puzzled by this answer.
Liu Yong saw the emperor's doubts, so he quickly explained: "Your Majesty, the minister's answer is based on the physiognomy. For example, if this year is the Year of the Tiger, then all those born are tigers. As for the death of the twelve, it is because there are twelve zodiac signs such as the child rat, the ugly ox, the yin tiger, and the rabbit, and someone will die in each zodiac sign every year. This ingenious answer does not give a specific and potentially misunderstood figure, but also makes clever use of the concept of physiognomy in traditional Chinese culture, showing Liu Yong's wisdom and wit.
Liu's approach to answering not only avoids the misunderstandings that may arise from a direct answer, but also cleverly avoids possible political sensitivities. If he gave a specific figure, even if it was true, the emperor might think it was a false report, or think that Liu Yong was doing something unscrupulous. And if the death toll is excessive, the emperor may think that he is alluding to his own immorality. Therefore, Liu Yong's answer is both smart and cautious.
It is true that ministers who have been by the emperor's side for a long time have more opportunities to show their talents and wisdom than ordinary people, but this also means more dangers. In the imperial family, the emperor's moodiness can make the difference between life and death in a person's words. Therefore, answering every question of the emperor requires extreme caution.
As an experienced minister, Liu Yong knows the art of surviving in the imperial family. He was always able to uphold his principles without offending the emperor, which was the key to his long-term foothold in the imperial court. Liu's wisdom and resourcefulness not only helped him stay stable in the midst of political turmoil, but also earned him the respect of the emperor and other ministers in the court.