From the Tang and Song dynasties to the Qing Dynasty, the gentleman system changed from a relative dictatorship to an absolute dictatorship. What the Emperor says is an absolute command and cannot be questioned. Therefore, whether a dynasty prospers or not is closely related to the emperor of this dynasty. For example, Qianlong, the most famous emperor of the Qing Dynasty, can be described as an influential development of the Qing Dynasty for a hundred years.
Qianlong was born in the sixth year of the Kangxi Dynasty (711) and was the fourth son of Yongzheng, emperor yongzheng of the Qing Dynasty. Speaking of which, the reason why his father Yongzheng was able to smoothly inherit the throne of Kangxi was also related to Qianlong, and it was precisely because Kangxi liked this little emperor very much that he tried to pass the throne to Kangxi in the hope that the throne would be passed to Qianlong in the future.
Therefore, when Yongzheng succeeded to the throne in 1722, it was almost doomed that the throne would be passed to Qianlong in the future. As a result, after Yongzheng was emperor for 13 years, he naturally passed the throne to Qianlong, and Qianlong did not live up to expectations, and during his reign, he spared the world money and grain five times, and the population exceeded 300 million for the first time in 1790 AD.
I have to say that Qianlong still did a lot of things that benefited the country and the people, and Qianlong often reveled in the feats he had done. However, it was in the peak years of Qianlong that the West was also quietly brewing a great revolution, which was not political, but more far-reaching than the political impact, that is, the first industrial revolution.
In 1733, the mechanic Kay invented the "flying shuttle", which greatly increased the speed of weaving, and the supply of spinning was suddenly in short supply. In 1785, an improved steam engine made of watts was put into use, providing a more convenient power. And quickly popularized, human society has since entered the steam age.
At that time, Britain and its Western powers had developed the commodity economy better and better, and the domestic market was almost saturated. At this time, they set their sights on the East, Where China's land was vast and the economy was developing very well at that time. So Macartney took the initiative to serve as a representative of the delegation visiting China. I went to China to fully open up the trade market.
In 1792, Macartney came to China with a mighty British mission. He wanted to see the Qianlong Emperor, wanted to establish good diplomatic relations with china, and hoped that the Qing government would readjust the ban on overseas trade. Because as early as 1757, Qianlong ordered the promulgation of the policy of closing the country to the outside world.
Before Ma Garni came, he had already made preparations in many aspects, and he brought Qianlong a lot of novelties and some scientific and technological products after the industrial revolution. For example, steam engines, looms, celestial machines, clocks and so on. These things are undoubtedly very representative.
Macartney thought Qianlong would accept it happily. After all, after many inquiries, he learned that the Qing Dynasty at that time did not have these scientific and technological products at all. So he thinks these things can promote the relationship between the two sides. However, Macartney's request that the two sides could do business peacefully was rejected. He also sent a holy letter to the King of England.
"The Heavenly Dynasty has four seas, but it is a great effort to govern and handle government affairs, and it is not valuable, and the king of Er has entered all things this time, and he has made sincere offerings, and he has specially decreed that he should take care of the yamen and store them." This means that Er waited for thousands of miles to come and give gifts, and Shuo was also very touched, and Hedu let the yamen that was in custody bear it.
In the end, these invaluable inventions were indeed put into the dark storeroom, showing the appearance of not needing anything at all. I wonder if the King of England will laugh off his teeth when he sees such a holy decree? Qianlong's move undoubtedly laid the groundwork for the later decline and demise of the Qing Dynasty.