vrcanaries Chapter 147 Annan: Hehe, we've seized 120 li of land!
Chapter 147 Annan: Hehe, we've seized 120 li of land!
However, Lin Ke was quite puzzled. Emperor Kangxi was knowledgeable about natural sciences and culture, so he naturally did not believe in so-called auspicious omens. He even wrote a comment in imperial ink: "Good weather and a good harvest are the real auspicious omens!"
Emperor Qianlong was not superstitious either, and even wrote: "Buddha is originally without birth, how can he be reincarnated?"
Why is it different when it comes to Emperor Yongzheng?
……
Lin Ke didn't dwell on it for too long. To be honest, many people nowadays choose to burn incense over work and self-improvement! There's nothing wrong with that!
“To give an auspicious example, when Tian Wenjing promoted the idea of officials and gentry working and paying taxes together, he offended the landlords and gentry, and was subsequently impeached by many officials.”
"Logically speaking, Tian Wenjing did violate the law in his personnel appointments, but in the end, when Yongzheng dealt with this matter, he still chose to continue to support Tian Wenjing."
The courtiers: Your Majesty is biased!
"Anyone with eyes can see who is right and who is wrong in this matter, so the fourth brother also suffered a lot of criticism, but the following year, Tian Wenjing produced an auspicious omen."
According to the Imperial Edicts of the Cabinet, rice produced in Henan has fifteen ears of rice growing on one main stem.
"Upon hearing this, Emperor Yongzheng exclaimed, 'Isn't this a sign of a great harvest?' He immediately praised Tian Wenjing, saying, 'It must be that Heaven was moved by Tian Wenjing's diligence that it sent down this auspicious omen. This shows that my decision to support Tian Wenjing was absolutely correct!'"
"Another example is that in September of the sixth year of Yongzheng's reign, the Zeng Jing case broke out, and many rumors spread among the people. However, three months later, the Governor-General of Yunnan and Guizhou, Ortai, together with officials from the entire province of Yunnan, reported auspicious omens."
"It is said that five-colored auspicious clouds appeared in Yunnan, shining brightly and supporting the sun. Isn't this what the 'Xiaojingwei' says about the auspicious clouds appearing when the emperor is filial?"
"Doesn't this just prove that Your Majesty is the most filial person in the world? That's why Heaven sent down this auspicious omen!"
"So, Yongzheng once again gave it a grand promotion."
Emperor Zhao Heng of the Northern Song Dynasty: I've learned something!
Emperor Zhao Kuangyin of the Song Dynasty: ? ? ?
An old fisherman from the Han Dynasty: This auspicious omen feels a bit strange!
A scion of a prominent family in the Song Dynasty: So it was man-made!
A scholar from the Ming Dynasty: Perhaps the true nature of auspicious omens is fraud!?
……
"Based on these two examples, we should also understand that Yongzheng's creation of such auspicious omens may simply be for better governance. The emperor and his ministers may have already coordinated their stories and were just waiting for the performance to begin!"
"In the eighth year of Yongzheng's reign, an earthquake struck Beijing. At the time, such a disaster was seen as being linked to the emperor. Not long after, the thirteenth prince died of illness, and the fourth prince felt that he had not done a good job, which was why he was punished in this way."
"His thirteenth brother also said two months ago that he hoped to give the rest of his life to his fourth brother."
"Yongzheng stubbornly believed that the thirteenth prince had shielded him from disaster, especially since the fourth prince saw a tiger-shaped white cloud in the western sky on the seventh day after Yinxiang's death, and Yinxiang was born in the Year of the Tiger, so he believed that the thirteenth prince's spirit had returned to see him."
"Whether Yongzheng was superstitious or fabricating auspicious omens, perhaps the most important thing for him was not whether he was superstitious or not, but whether he was willing to believe it."
A young man from a prominent family in the Ming Dynasty: These two brothers were good, it's just a pity they both died young!
A spoiled young master from the Song Dynasty: Everyone has someone they miss dearly, even if that person is no longer in this world!
A skilled farmer from the Tang Dynasty: He's not the only one creating auspicious omens! There are plenty of others!
……
"If Yongzheng's superstition and artificial auspicious omens are not too serious problems, then his military and diplomatic affairs are more criticized."
"For example, during the late Ming and early Qing dynasties, when the Qing government was too busy to deal with the situation, Annam seized eighty li of land in Yunnan."
"Immediately afterwards, he seized another opportunity and occupied forty li of land in Yunnan during the Rebellion of the Three Feudatories in the Kangxi era."
"Good heavens, they've caught a sheep being fleeced!? And at the time, the officials in Yunnan kept it a secret for fear of being held accountable."
"This continued until November of the second year of the Yongzheng reign, when it was discovered by Gao Qizhuo, the Governor-General of Yunnan. This man was quite responsible; he went directly to ask King Le Duy To of Annam for it, but the king refused to give it to him."
"Actually, it makes sense when you think about it. He took advantage of the chaos here to seize territory. He could take over 120 li of land without losing many soldiers. Would you be happy to do that?"
Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty: ...
A scion of a prominent family in the Tang Dynasty: ??? If this is concealed the first time, perhaps Annam will continue its invasion...
A Han Dynasty official: ...No matter what, that's still our own territory. How can you just scramble for it like that and not report it?!
A Ming Dynasty soldier: This is the first time I've heard of someone being robbed and then having their business covered up for them! You're quite merciful, aren't you!
……
"When he realized that his demands were not being met, Gao Qizhuo immediately reported to Emperor Yongzheng and requested that troops be sent to reclaim the lost territory. But Emperor Yongzheng did not think so."
“At that time, Nian Gengyao had just pacified Qinghai. If another war broke out, he would probably be severely weakened. On the other hand, Yongzheng’s own reforms had just begun and he had no energy to fight this war. Moreover, the Dzungars were still eyeing him covetously.”
"So from Yongzheng's perspective, this battle was not difficult to fight, but rather impossible to fight."
"But here's the problem: Gao Qizhuo has already clashed with Annam. How should Yongzheng deal with this?"
"What was completely unexpected was that Yongzheng made a decision that went against the wishes of his ancestors. According to the Veritable Records of the Qing Dynasty, the fourth prince issued an edict to appease Annam, saying:
“Annam has been submissive to us since our dynasty, and we should reward him. Besides, these lands were lost as early as the Ming dynasty. We will give Annam the eighty li of land and take back the forty li of land.”
"Even though the fourth prince may have been forced to compromise, given the internal and external troubles facing the Qing Dynasty at the time, why does this statement sound so infuriating?!"
Big Han Liu Zhuzhu: ? ? ? We won't give up an inch of land, let alone eighty miles!
An official from the Han Dynasty said: "There's nothing we can do. We're surrounded by enemies, and there's also Annam. Even if we fight this war, it might make things even worse."
A Ming Dynasty soldier said: "But even so, Annam is clearly a scoundrel. Would he remember the good deeds of Yongzheng?"
A young martial arts student from the Song Dynasty: "They just gave up eighty li away like that? Why do I feel a pang of pain?!"
……
"The fourth prince's decree was indeed criticized by many people, but Li Wei, who was serving as the provincial governor of Yunnan at the time, still wanted to make a last-ditch effort. He submitted a memorial to Emperor Yongzheng, saying: 'These Annamese people remember the beatings but not the food they were given. They have no gratitude whatsoever. No matter how good you are to them, it will be of no use, Your Majesty!'"
Li Wei: This guy can turn on you in a heartbeat!
Yongzheng: Why are you speaking such obvious truths!
Finally, Yongzheng rebuked Li Wei, saying that there was nothing to be done in his memorial and demanded that Yunnan officials carry out his orders.
"However, the fourth brother's efforts were in vain. The King of Annam had long planned to renege on his promise and had no intention of returning the forty miles of land."
"It has to be said that Li Wei was a true prophet! This time, Yongzheng was slapped in the face and immediately issued an edict to reprimand the King of Annam: 'With a stubborn heart and insatiable desires.'"
"Not long after, the King of Annam saw that the troops in Yunnan were still training, as if they were ready to go to war at any time. So the King of Annam really panicked!"
"But then another unexpected thing happened with the fourth prince. Yongzheng made another decision that went against the ancestors' wishes. When Annam wanted to return the forty li, the fourth prince refused. His intention was to treat Annam as a vassal state, but it was still infuriating!"
"Alas, if the fourth prince's brothers had submitted to him and worked for him properly, perhaps the internal and external troubles of the Qing Dynasty could have been alleviated. Putting aside everything else, Kangxi's sons were indeed capable."
Liu Zhuzhu of the Han Dynasty: ? ? ? My ancestors wanted to expand the borders!
First Emperor: I don't understand!? You just say you don't want it anymore?!?
Li Erfeng of the Tang Dynasty: It's clear that the fourth son's military capabilities are not very good!
An official in the Song Dynasty: With the internal situation unstable and the borders threatening, he was indeed in a difficult position! It was all because his father had left him such a mess!
A spoiled young master from the Song Dynasty: Don't ask, the answer is I just didn't have a good father!
Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty: ...