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Text: Yanyan
Edited by Yeon-yeon
Preface
The Rebellion of the Three Feudatories was a major political turmoil in the early Qing Dynasty. When faced with this problem, Emperor Kangxi once said categorically: "If you don't cut the domain, the Qing Dynasty will die." ”
So, if the hereditary succession of the three feudatories had been allowed at that time, how would history have been rewritten? Did the expansion of the power of the vassal kings and the rise of local separatist forces lead to the collapse of the Qing Empire?
Why did Kangxi so resolutely implement the policy of cutting feudal domains, and what kind of difficult choices and power struggles did he go through?
Huang Taiji's trade-off: the birth of King Sanshun
In 1636, under the sky of the Later Jin Dynasty, a major event was brewing to change the pattern of East Asia. Huang Taiji, an ambitious military strategist and statesman, stands at the crossroads of history.
He knew very well that if he wanted to gain a foothold in the Central Plains, it was far from enough for the Manchus to do it alone. How to balance the forces of all parties and how to attract talents has become a problem that he thinks about day and night.
At this critical moment, the surrender of the three Han generals gave Huang Taiji an excellent opportunity. Kong Youde, Geng Zhongming, and Shang Kexi, these three generals who were once powerful in the Ming Dynasty, have now become a trump card in the hands of Huang Taiji.
Huang Taiji's wisdom was revealed at this moment. He did not simply compile these three people into the Eight Banners, but ingeniously named them "Three Shun Kings". This decision seems to be a preferential treatment for the Han people, but it is actually a clever move by Huang Taiji.
On the one hand, the title of "King of Sanshun" made these three Han generals feel respected and reused, which was conducive to stabilizing their minds; On the other hand, this particular title separates them from the Eight Banners system and avoids the impact on the existing power structure.
What's even better is that this seemingly honorable title actually has no substantive power, and is more like an honorary title.
This decision not only demonstrated his superb political wisdom, but also laid the foundation for the rule of the Later Jin, which later became the Qing Dynasty. However, no one thought that this seemingly perfect arrangement would become a major hidden danger in the Qing Dynasty in the future.
Opportunity in troubled times: The rise of the three feudatories
In 1644, the wheels of history overran the last resistance of the Ming Dynasty. The Qing army entered the Central Plains, and a new era began. However, for the nascent Qing Dynasty, the road to unifying the whole country was still long.
In this process, the former "King of Sanshun" and Wu Sangui, who joined later, began to show their value. These four Han generals, with their deep understanding of the military and politics of the Ming Dynasty, as well as their influence among the Han Chinese, became powerful tools for the Qing Dynasty to conquer the south.
They led their army south, attacked cities and plundered land, and made great contributions to the unification of the Qing Dynasty. However, as the war progressed, these "kings", who had only a false name, gradually gained actual power.
Not only did they have their own army, but they also controlled vast territories. In order to stabilize the situation, the Qing Dynasty had to give them more autonomy. In 1649, the Qing Dynasty adjusted the title of King Sanshun.
Kong Youde was named the king of Dingnan, Geng Zhongming was the king of Jingnan, Shang Kexi was the king of Pingnan, and Wu Sangui maintained the title of king of Pingxi. This adjustment seems to be just a change in name, but in fact it is a tacit acquiescence to their real power in the Qing Dynasty.
However, the expansion of power is often accompanied by the growth of ambition. These vassal kings began to act recklessly in their domains, collecting taxes, monopolizing commerce, and even appointing and dismissing officials without permission.
What they have done has gone beyond the boundaries of a courtier, as if they have become a "country within a state". The Qing Dynasty court knew this, but it was jealous.
After all, in the context of the newly unified situation, these vassal kings also played an important role in stabilizing the region. However, the existence of this contradiction also laid the groundwork for future turmoil.
The dilemma of power: the dilemma of the Qing court
Over time, the existence of the three feudatories became more and more a thorny issue for Qing rule. On the one hand, they played an important role in quelling local unrest and resisting foreign invasions. On the other hand, their special status and enormous power were incompatible with the centralized system of the Qing Dynasty.
The Qing court debated this endlessly. Some argue that the status quo should be maintained so as not to cause unrest; There are also those who advocate cutting down the feudal domain immediately to avoid the danger of raising tigers. Either option, however, comes fraught with risks.
Emperor Kangxi, the young and promising ruler, was worried. He was well aware that the existence of the three feudatories not only threatened the imperial power, but also consumed the country's financial resources.
Every year, the military salaries paid to the three feudatories alone amounted to 10 million taels of silver, of which Wu Sangui alone accounted for 5 million taels. This huge expenditure has made the already stretched treasury even worse.
What worries Kangxi even more is that the ambitions of the three feudatories seem to be expanding. They ran rampant in their own territory and even began to interfere in the affairs of the imperial court.
Kangxi understood that if this situation was allowed to develop, the foundation of Qing rule would be seriously shaken. However, how easy is it to cut the feudal domain? The three feudatories had a strong military and deep roots, and if they took action, they were likely to trigger a large-scale rebellion.
Moreover, in the northwest, the Dzungar Khanate is eyeing the tiger, and some Mobei Mongolian tribes are also ready to move. In such a situation of internal and external troubles, it is undoubtedly an extremely risky act to rashly cut the feudal domain.
Kangxi fell into deep thought. He understands that this is a major decision that will affect the fate of the country. Will we continue to tolerate the existence of the three feudatories, or will we take the risk of cutting down the feudal domains? This choice will determine the future direction of the Qing Dynasty.
The Storm is Coming: The Outbreak of the Rebellion of the Three Feudatories
In November 1673, news that shocked the government and the opposition spread throughout the Qing Empire: Wu Sangui, the king of Pingxi, had launched a rebellion in Yunnan. This hero, who once made great contributions to the Qing Dynasty, has now turned back and become the biggest threat to the rule of the Qing Dynasty.
Wu Sangui's rebellion was like a thunderclap, shattering the apparent calm of the Qing Dynasty. Soon, Geng Jingzhong, the king of Jingnan, and Shang Zhixin, the king of Pingnan, also responded one after another, and the rebellion of the three feudatories broke out in an all-round way.
The rebellion was so fierce that it occupied most of the south at one point. The Qing Dynasty government and the opposition fell into a panic, and some people even put forward the idea of retreating outside the Guan. However, the young Kangxi Emperor showed extraordinary courage and determination.
He understood that this was the biggest crisis that the Qing Dynasty had faced since it took over the Central Plains, and it was also a critical moment to test his ability to rule. Kangxi quickly took a series of measures.
On the one hand, he actively dispatched troops and organized military counterattacks; On the other hand, he did not forget to use his diplomatic skills to divide and disintegrate the rebel camp. He skillfully took advantage of the contradictions between Wu Sangui and others and broke them one by one.
The war lasted a full eight years. During this period, Kangxi showed wisdom and perseverance beyond his age. He personally participated in military decision-making and took many adventures to inspect the front line and inspire the morale of the army.
His performance not only won the support of the army, but also impressed the Manchu and Han ministers with regard to the young emperor. In 1681, with the death of Wu Sangui and the surrender of his son Wu Shifan, the rebellion, which had lasted for many years, was finally quelled.
After Kangxi learned of Wu Sangui's death, he said with emotion: "If it is postponed for a few more years, what will happen? This sentence not only expressed his congratulatory victory in the war, but also expressed his deep understanding of the troubles of the three feudatories.
The pacification of the rebellion of the three feudatories marked the final victory of the centralization of power in the Qing Dynasty. However, this turmoil also brought a profound lesson to the Qing Dynasty, and made Kangxi even more determined to strengthen the centralization of power and guard against kings with different surnames.
The Reinvention of the Empire: The Political Wisdom of Kangxi
After the rebellion of the three feudatories was put down, Kangxi did not bask in the joy of victory, but began a series of reform measures aimed at consolidating central power and preventing similar rebellions from happening again.
First of all, Kangxi completely abolished the vassal king system and brought the original vassal king's territory under the direct jurisdiction of the central government. He sent court officials to take over the administration of these places and establish a tighter system of control.
Secondly, Kangxi readjusted the title system. He strictly enforced the rule of demotion to the rank of knight, and even if he was a general who had made great achievements, his descendants could not inherit the same title. This measure effectively prevents excessive concentration and hereditary power.
Kangxi also strengthened supervision and management of local officials. He introduced a system of regular rotation to prevent local officials from forming parties for personal gain by holding office in one place for a long time. At the same time, he also established a stricter evaluation system to ensure that officials were loyal to the central government.
In the military aspect, Kangxi adopted the policy of "not specializing in troops, and not in generals", which effectively prevented the concentration of military power. He also tightened his grip on the frontier areas, sending large numbers of Han Chinese officials and immigrants into these areas to strengthen the central government's control over the frontiers.
The implementation of these measures not only consolidated Kangxi's rule, but also laid the foundation for the later prosperity of the Qing Dynasty. Kangxi's policies demonstrated his political wisdom as a mature ruler, and also left valuable experience in governing the country for future generations.
However, history is complex. Although Kangxi's measures seemed wise at the time, in the long run, excessive centralization also laid the groundwork for the rigidity of the late Qing dynasty.
This proves once again that in the governance of the country, balancing centralization and decentralization is always a topic that needs to be constantly explored.
epilogue
The Rebellion of the Three Feudatories was an important turning point in the history of the Qing Dynasty. It not only tested the young Kangxi's ability to govern the country, but also exposed the deep contradictions in the structure of the early Qing regime.
Through this crisis, the Qing Dynasty completed its transformation from a loose alliance to a centralized empire. However, history is always full of irony. The centralization of power, which had been strengthened in response to the feudatories, eventually became a factor in the decline of the Qing dynasty.
The enlightenment of this history is that in national governance, the balance and balance of power is always a topic that needs to be constantly explored and adjusted.
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