Author: Zhao Libo
In the eighth year of Yongzheng's ascension to the throne, the 45-year-old Kangxi thirteenth son Yunxiang died of illness, and Yongzheng was extremely saddened by this, and among the many brothers, the only brother who fully supported him in the early years was the brothers and sisters. After giving him a very high "Xian" (贤) nickname, he was given the title of Taimiao. At the same time, he deliberately changed the "Yun" character of his "YunXiang" back to the word "Yin", making him the only one who could not avoid the emperor's secret. As a result, Kangxi's thirteenth brother Yun xiang became the ninth iron hat prince since the Qing Dynasty entered the customs, and Yongzheng believed that only these could highlight the outstanding status and contributions of the old thirteenth. The greatest credit for this old thirteenth Yunxiang was actually at the beginning of Yongzheng's ascension to the throne, when the political situation was turbulent and Yongzheng was isolated and helpless, and the old thirteenth played a key role in stabilizing the transition of Yongzheng's power.
Yongzheng once summed it up: "At the beginning of the auxiliary government, Akina harbored evil intentions and disturbed the country, and Longkeduo made a great deal of power and power, and Prince Shi Laiyi alone stood independent of it, calming the arrogance of the gangfang, so that the traitorous party did not succeed." This sentence is a complete summary of the fierce struggle between brothers that took place during Yongzheng's ascension to the throne, and this old thirteen-year prince firmly chose to stand on the same front with Yongzheng.
In terms of government affairs, because Prince Yunxiang of Yi was good at internal affairs, for the emptiness of the national treasury caused by the chaos in the financial system during the Kangxi years, the old thirteenth Yunxiang began to rectify after a series of reforms, and gradually changed the financial decline. Yongzheng felt very happy and specially wrote a poem to him to express his high praise: "The manager needs to praise the painting, and the domain consults the water and soil to play the fengyong" is to praise his domestic affairs and financial management is very effective. In addition, Yongzheng gradually increased the scope of other rights granted to him, and also asked him to pass on the will to the local feudal territory vigorously, instead of him to issue the highest will, which shows the degree of trust in his reuse.
Prince Yi film and television image
Yongzheng was particularly concerned about the question of the use of officials, and the question of whether there were any friends was to crack down on anyone who tried to form a new force to threaten him, but for the old thirteen, he hoped that some ministers would take the initiative to move closer to him. In the instructions of the Governor of Hedao, he said: "Knowing that you have no contact with Prince Yi, I now ask you to make your handover with him, because this is the idea of Yuan, do not be afraid, and it is beneficial to Protect Yur and harm him." In order to fully convince the Governor of Hedao that he was not playing a political power test, he summed up his level of trust in Prince Yunxiang of Yi: "The prince is loyal and loyal, and he is the first of the contemporary kings and ministers. ”
In the early days, when Yongzheng was advancing in the New Deal, he was afraid that the process would be slow and urgent to build a super-strong administrative team, especially when implementing such an important policy as "spreading the land into the acres", Yongzheng repeatedly asked officials at all levels to move closer to Prince Yi, and said that he was the prince who really cherished talents, and said to them very intimately: "Many words are inconvenient with me as an emperor, you can first tell the thirteenth master" "Decree", which shows that Yongzheng's trust in this old thirteen can be said to be beyond reproach. Yongzheng was very eager for talents, and specially introduced local officials many times, and in thirteen years, he indirectly met tens of thousands of civil and military officials in various places, and repeatedly evaluated the officials recommended by local ministers, and carefully selected and employed officials. However, for Prince Yi's recommendation, he often trusted him and did not allow examination to use it, saying that Prince Yi would recognize people and "recommend many places for the country." "Some officials are being dealt with by Yongzheng, but as long as they are recommended by Prince Yi, they will inevitably regain trust and use."
In the early years, The seventeenth son of Kangxi, Yunli, was attacked by Yongzheng, believing that he had no position on key issues, and was punished by him to guard the mausoleum. However, Yun Xiang strongly recommended to Yong Zheng: "Yun Li is at the heart of the party, and he is a loyal person who knows the great righteousness." Yongzheng quickly agreed with Yunxiang's suggestion, and turned from handling to using Yunli, and later became one of the few princes in charge of power.
After Li Wei became the governor, Yongzheng once chatted with him and said to Li Wei, The reason why you got my trust was that Prince Yi "strongly sponsored him before his death, saying that he had excellent talent and good character and could be a great responsibility." That's why he was repeatedly promoted to "make him the governor-general" in the Cabinet of Lords.
It was this kind of trust that Yongzheng entrusted the power to him to handle various affairs, and the content of government affairs he presided over became more and more extensive, from internal security to the implementation of foreign affairs, from the official department to the household management, which was handled by this old thirteen. Yongzheng described this period as follows: "In the affairs of the prime minister, Wang Su has been working all night... As for the military affairs, the degree of expenditure, the construction of water conservancy, the supervision of the forbidden army, and the palace of all the palaces, everything is big and small, and the king alone is painted and cooked. When giving the old thirteen affirmations, Yongzheng said: "All of them are exquisite and compromised, in line with the heart." These heartfelt approvals reflect Yongzheng's great recognition of his ability to work.
In essence, while Yun Xiang's ability is outstanding, it is both a strength and a risk, and there is no desire for selfishness is the most satisfying place for Yongzheng. After Yun Xiang was crowned queen, Yongzheng wanted to give it according to the custom of 230,000 taels of his original king, but Yunxiang resolutely resigned and did not have any similar treatment with Yongzheng, and Yongzheng gave him six items according to the custom, Yunxiang resolutely did not accept it, Yongzheng had no choice, and could only choose to equip him with more guards and pro-army. "Cabinet of The Imperial Household"
Yongzheng Dynasty stills
If these superficial work recognition, Yongzheng is more concerned about Yun Xiang who knows how to deal with the relationship between imperial power and subject power. As a witness to the human tragedy caused by the power struggle between brothers, Prince Yi remains modest and pragmatic at all times, and if he acts proudly in front of the emperor or shares the imperial power, he may overturn the car at any time and lose his reputation. Fortunately, Prince Yunxiang of Yi's life experience for so many years has already photographed the railing, and he is cautious and cautious, like walking on thin ice.
Interestingly, the more humble the old thirteenth, the more Yongzheng felt that he should be given a greater reward, and even asked him to choose a crown prince from among his sons, YunXiang refused again, and finally Yongzheng could only increase his salary by 10,000 taels, which was counted as an expression of heart.
Yun Xiang's political wisdom lies in being able to handle the connection between family affection and rights, carefully driving the ten thousand year ship, falling from a high position, and only becoming more and more cautious, and to give full play to his ability, do things silently, and finally give credit to Yongzheng.
In the fourth year of Yongzheng (1726), Yongzheng personally wrote a plaque to Yunxiang on a whim, which read: "Loyalty, sincerity, honesty, diligence, prudence, and honesty" and commented on Yunxiang's loyalty: "Public and selfless, regard state affairs as family affairs, be appropriate everywhere, can work for you, and do not bother with your heart." When discussing the way of the courtiers with the ministers, Yongzheng often took YunXiang as an example, believing that there were many people who were "loyal, diligent, prudent and wise", but only the old thirteen could achieve "sincerity and honesty" and called on everyone to learn from Prince Yi.
Yongzheng inadvertently told the big truth, among the powerful ministers of the past and the present, it is not uncommon for people who have the ability to make major contributions, such as Long Keduo, Nian Qianyao, etc., who helped Yongzheng ascend to the throne, because of the high merits of the lord, they did not know how to converge and eventually their arrogance was liquidated and they were discredited. Prince Yi has always been able to respect the imperial power without selfish desires, which have become Yongzheng's favorite places, and in Yongzheng's eyes, the first thing about this prince is his caution and low-key; there is no trace of power expansion; there is always a way to ensure that he is only a pair of hands for Yongzheng to handle government affairs, but does not involve any real rights.
When Prince Yi died, Yongzheng arranged the highest courtesy and spent a lot of energy arranging and continuing to take care of Yunxiang's family, and encouraged these people to be able to "be grateful for the sincerity of the upward thoughts, which is expected to be established in the future." ”