A few years ago, the tomb robbery novel represented by "Notes on Tomb Robbery" and "Ghost Blowing Lights" was particularly popular, and various TV series and movies were also remade, and people who know them will know that the protagonists in them are not completely for the sake of gold and silver treasures to rob the tomb, but in any case, the behavior of "tomb robbery" is not good, according to the words of the ancients, it is called "damage to yin morality".
In 1928, a man named Sun Dianying set his sights on the tombs of the Qianlong Emperor and Empress Dowager Cixi, for him, the Imperial Tombs of the Qing Dynasty were simply a piece of "big fat meat", especially the tombs of Qianlong and Cixi, which were absolutely rare treasures everywhere, what "Night Pearl", "Emerald Watermelon", "Linglong Pagoda", all kinds of valuable.
Of course, even though the Qing Dynasty had given way, the tomb guards were still there, working together with the Flag Soldiers, the Green Battalion Soldiers, the Zongren Mansion, the Ministry of Ceremonies and Other Institutions, but the Qing Imperial Family did not expect that these guardians who used to guard the tombs of their ancestors had now become thieves who colluded with others and sold their property.
Sun Dianying was very patient, he led his vast contingent to garrison Mashenqiao, Jixian County, and then posted notices everywhere, telling everyone that "we are conducting military exercises here." In fact, he was planning a tomb robbery operation in Guangming Zhengda, and his men and horses found out that the Tanglin area was no longer guarded, so he came to Malanyu for "military drills," first crushing the horse bandits who were also trying to steal tombs, and then martial law within 30 miles of Tanglin and preparing for action.
In July 1928, Sun Dianying said that they were going to try mines during "military exercises," drove away all the tomb guards, completely blocked the mausoleum, and brazenly blew up the tombs of Qianlong and Cixi, because the two of them had too many funerary goods, Sun Dianying and his subordinates actually carried them for 7 days and 7 nights, and said that they wanted to "transport military food" and hired more than 30 horse-drawn carriages.
On August 4, 1928, the detective team of the Qingdao Police Department arrested Zhang Qihou, a deserter from Sun Dianying's department, and 3 other people at the Dagang Wharf, and this kind of "little minions" alone had 36 jewels on their bodies, and had sold 10 before, so it was really hard to imagine how many other high-ranking officials had earned.
Knowing that Sun Dianying had stolen the tomb of his ancestor, Puyi, who had abdicated, was so angry that he stood up and protested with the people of the Aixin Jueluo family, but Sun Dianying said: "The Manchu Qing killed three generations of my ancestors and had to avenge the revolution. No matter what others say about robbing tombs or not stealing tombs, I am worthy of my ancestors and worthy of my compatriots! Why did he say that?
Let's take a brief look at the origin of Sun Dianying, Sun Dianying was born in 1889, a native of Yongcheng, Guide Province (present-day Dingxinzhuang, Mamu Town, Yongcheng, Henan), perhaps inheriting his father's personality, when his father argued with the other party in order to help the townspeople, he was killed in the Qing Dynasty prison on the same day, Sun Dianying was also a person with a bold personality, a heroic and righteous person, often for others.
So who was his ancestor? For whom is Sun Dianying "angry"? His ancestor was named Sun Chengzong, who was a military scientist and educator at the end of the Ming Dynasty, once a teacher of Zhu You's school of Emperor Mingxi, and had served as a soldier of Bingbu Shangshu and Dongge University, and his status was very high.
At that time, he led his troops to confront Nurhaci, and even forced Nurhaci to retreat more than 700 miles, making great achievements, but foreign enemies were easy to resist internal troubles and difficulties, and the eunuch Wei Zhongxian, who was jealous of his talents, repeatedly gave him a stumbling block, and Sun Chengzong was forced to resign and return to his hometown.
Not long after, Emperor Taiji seized the opportunity to attack the Beijing Division in one fell swoop, and the Emperor remembered Sun Chengzong and asked him to save his life, sun Chengzong immediately discussed defending the Beijing Division, leaving the town of Tongzhou, dispatching reinforcements, and trying to turn the tide, only to be framed by the powerful ministers and return to his hometown. Later, the Qing army came again, and Sun Chengzong returned to the capital with his whole family to make a final resistance, and after the city was destroyed, Sun Chengzong hanged himself.
Of course, the Qing army knew this famous Sun Chengzong and was ready to cut him down, fortunately, a subordinate escaped with a baby boy, the baby boy was Sun Dianying's ancestor, the Sun family was able to continue the incense, plus Sun Dianying's father died at the hands of the Qing people, saying that Sun Dianying hated the Qing Dynasty, it is not too much.
But "revenge" can never be the only reason for his tomb robbery, what do you think?
References: "Some Hidden Feelings of Sun Dianying's Tomb of the Great Qing Dynasty", "Sun Dianying's Tomb robbery"