In 1998, a TV series called "Huan Zhuge Ge" was released and swept through all major TV stations across the country.
With its touching love story, exciting palace struggles, and unrestrained and romantic knight-errant feelings, it became a classic film and television work that was well-known in the streets and alleys at that time.
According to statistics, the first episode of the drama had an average national ratings of 47%, with a peak of 62.8%, making it the highest-rated TV series in history.
The national average ratings of the second episode exceeded 54%, with a maximum of 65.95%. Once again created a ratings record for Chinese TV dramas after data statistics were available.
In addition, this drama also brings many historical figures to everyone. Among them, "Fifth Elder Brother Yongqi" is the most mysterious one.
In the novel and TV series, the "Fifth Brother" finally went to Dali with Xiao Yanzi and his party, and lived there carefree from then on.
In real history, Yongqi died prematurely due to a serious illness at the age of 25.
Because of this, there has always been very little historical information about "Fifth Elder Brother Yongqi", which has also caused many rumors related to it to be spread among the people.
It was not until 1958 that an unexpected discovery allowed people to unveil the true identity of the "Fifth Elder Brother" in history.
In 1958, in order to solve the problem of chronic water shortage in Beijing, preparations were made to build the Miyun Reservoir in the suburbs of Beijing.
In order to ensure the smooth construction of the Miyun Reservoir and to prevent floods, the state relocated 65 villages in the reservoir area in two batches to clear the reservoir.
In less than 9 months, more than 50,000 people were successfully relocated and resettled.
Seeing that everything was ready, the workers present began to work and excavated the place.
However, it didn't take long before everyone discovered that there was something unusual underground.
After careful investigation, it was discovered that this was an underground tomb!
You must know that this is outside Beijing. If a tomb can be buried here, the identity of the owner of the tomb must be extraordinary.
As a result, the on-site staff immediately stopped the excavation work and reported the matter to the relevant departments.
A group of archaeological experts in Beijing received the news and immediately set off to the scene.
After arriving here, it was discovered that the scale of this tomb was extremely high, covering an area of ??more than 10,000 square meters. Its overall size was far beyond that of ordinary scholar-bureaucrats. It was most likely that it belonged to ancient princes and generals. Burial place.
Immediately, everyone began to investigate the tombs here.
After detailed analysis of the overall distribution structure, arrangement habits and architectural techniques of the tomb, experts concluded that this was a royal tomb from the Qing Dynasty.
However, most of the Qing royal family are buried near the Qingdong Tomb in Hebei. Who is the owner of the tomb here?
Archaeological experts first explored the words on the stone tablets hidden in the tomb, and then conducted research based on the unearthed cultural relics. They found that the tomb was built in 1752, a full 206 years after its discovery. for a long time.
In this way, it should have been built during the Qianlong period.
Later, the expert team found the local county magistrate from Miyun County, from which they finally revealed the true identity of the tomb owner.
According to the "Miyun County Chronicle": "Yongqi's tomb has its feet on Lotus Mountain, its head on Fenghuang Mountain, and its back on the rolling mountains such as Weizi Valley, Mazi Valley, and Yaozi Valley, with the Moon River rushing through it. , the entire mausoleum is surrounded by mountains and rivers.
"
The location and environment recorded in it are exactly the same as the tombs here. It can be seen that this is the tomb of Yongqi, Qianlong's "Fifth Elder Brother".
< p> However, at this time, there was a doubt in everyone's mind.According to historical records, Yongqi died in 1766, but this mausoleum was built as early as 1752.
The time between the two does not match up at all
Could it be that Qianlong knew that Yongqi was frail and dying soon when he was 11 years old, so he built this mausoleum for him? < /p>
But how is this possible?
So, archaeological experts continued to dig deeper into the tomb. Experienced experts knew very well that the truth was hidden in the tomb.
According to the records in "Miyun County Chronicles", the tomb was extremely luxurious.
At the beginning of its construction, the entire periphery of the cemetery was planted with evergreens that symbolized longevity. The pines and cypresses are still lush and tall.
The walls of the cemetery are made of red bricks with glazed tiles that are more than ten feet high.
< p> Inside the cemetery, there are white marble stone bridges, stele towers, palace gates, court rooms, and 20 dining halls. The overall look is like a small palace, grand and luxurious.Even an emperor's mausoleum is only half as good as this one. So, how can an ordinary prince enjoy such a luxurious tomb?
Later, experts discovered that this tomb turned out to be nothing. Yong Qi is not the only one buried in the tomb. There are three main coffin chambers in which three adult princes are buried.
This explains why this tomb is located. It could be built as luxuriously as an imperial mausoleum, but why it was built 14 years before Yongqi's death.
The identities of the other two princes were also revealed.
The first person to be buried here was Qianlong’s eldest son, Aixinjueluo Yonghuang.
This prince, who was supposed to be the most popular candidate for the crown prince, died early in 1750. He was only 22 years old. This mausoleum was probably built for him.
The other one was Qianlong's third son, Prince Xun, who died in 1760.
It is precisely because his three beloved sons were buried here that the scale of the mausoleum here can be so grand.
After excavation of the three tombs, everyone found that among these three tombs. Among them, the one who built the most luxuriously and buried the most extravagant cultural relics was not the eldest son Yonghuang, but the fifth elder brother Yongqi.
A large number of blue and white jades were discovered in Yongqi’s tomb, including sapphire conch lotus leaf-shaped flower arrangements, jasper Ganoderma double bottles, sapphire roosters with Ruyi patterns, and blue and white jade with Ruyi cloud patterns. Cover bottles, etc.
The production techniques of these jade articles are very exquisite, and each piece can be regarded as a treasure passed down from generation to generation.
In addition, Yongqi's tomb is also a treasure place for "hiding wind and gathering energy" in terms of Feng Shui.
Compared to this tomb, the tombs of the other two princes pale in comparison.
So, why did Qianlong give the best tomb specifications to his fifth son, and even his eldest son Yonghuang was ranked behind him?
This starts with Yong Qi’s personal life.
On the seventh day of the second lunar month in the sixth year of Qianlong's reign (March 22, 1741), Hai Guiren (namely Concubine Yu) gave birth to the emperor's fifth son, Aixinjueluo Yongqi.
Qianlong was very happy about the arrival of his fifth son.
After all, in the feudal era, for the imperial family, the number of heirs they had directly affected the subsequent inheritance of imperial power. This can be said to be the most important thing in the entire royal family.
In ancient times, the level of medical care was limited, and people’s average life span was only about 40 years old. Most of the reasons were caused by the death of newborns. Therefore, as soon as Yongqi was born, Qianlong sent a large number of imperial doctors to take care of him.
And Yongqi did not disappoint Qianlong's hope. When he was young, he did not show any signs of being frail and sickly, but grew up extremely healthy.
As a teenager, Yongqi began to show extremely bright talents.
Since the Manchus have a custom of learning horseback riding and archery, princes should start practicing horseback riding and archery at a very young age.
Because their height has not yet been fully developed, many children are afraid of riding horses and dare not step on them.
But Yongqi was not afraid of this at all. At a young age, he was very skilled in horseback riding and shooting, and his martial arts skills could even be compared with those of generals who have been fighting outside all year round.
In terms of literature, Yongqi is also very accomplished.
At only eight years old, he mastered Manchu and Chinese proficiently, and later learned Mongolian, and could communicate with people of all ethnic groups in the palace with ease.
In addition, Yongqi is also familiar with the Four Books and Five Classics, and is well versed in astronomy, geography, and calendar calculations.
In particular, he was very proficient in astronomical algorithms. He even used what he had learned and added some unique insights to compile it into an eight-line method hand scroll. The content written was very precise and he was the author of many The famous work "The Leftover Manuscript of Jiaotong" has been passed down to later generations.
Therefore, Yongqi in his youth could be said to be talented in both civil and military skills.
The most important thing is that Yongqi also has the filial piety and bravery that the royal family values ????especially.
In May of the 28th year of Qianlong's reign (1963), Qianlong lived in the Qingyan Hall of Jiuzhou in the Old Summer Palace. Due to an accident, the candle on the table was knocked over, the window was set on fire, and a fire started.
Although Qianlong's younger brother "Prince He" Hong Zhou was nearby at that time, he was afraid of the ferocity of the fire and did not dare to go to the rescue. Instead, he called Yong Qi outside the door.
Seeing his father trapped in the flames, Yong Qi immediately rushed into the raging fire without saying a word and carried Qianlong out so that he could survive.
Afterwards, Qianlong strongly praised Yongqi's filial piety and courage in front of all civil and military officials.
At that time, Qianlong had not yet established a prince, so when talking about the matter afterwards, he said: "I regard the emperor's five sons as more valuable among all the princes... I am quite interested in them, and I made it clear."
Later, Yongqi was named "Prince Rong". This also made him the first among many elder brothers to receive the title of prince.
This also shows how much Qianlong loved this "fifth elder brother".
However, maybe it is because Tian is jealous of Yingcai. Three years after Yongqi rescued him, he died of "epithelial sores" (a disease such as bone tuberculosis).
After Yongqi passed away, Qianlong was extremely sad, so he buried him together with his long-dead eldest son Yonghuang and third son Yongzhang, and set the size of his tomb to the largest to reflect the My own loving heart.
So, if Yongqi had not died so early, would Qianlong eventually pass the throne to him?
Based on Kangxi's experience of "nine sons seizing the throne", his successor Yongzheng invented the "secret reserve system", and Qianlong also continued his father's habit.
Therefore, no one knows whether Yongqi has ever been truly established as the crown prince.
However, from the perspective of historical development and the background of the feudal era, the possibility of Yongqi becoming emperor is actually not high.
First of all, as a candidate for the crown prince, "birth" is particularly important.
Among Qianlong's many sons, the eldest son Yonghuang and the second son Yonglian had the best backgrounds.
Both of them were born to Qianlong's first wife, Empress Xiaoxian Chun, Fucha, and Empress Fucha was also the most beloved of Qianlong's many wives.
However, these two sons died early due to illness, so they had no chance to become princes.
Yongqi’s biological mother was Concubine Yu, the daughter of Yuanwailang Erjitu.
Her father’s family is only a fifth-grade Yuanwailang. Judging from her background, Concubine Yu is not conspicuous among the many concubines.
However, Concubine Yu had a low-key personality, did not fight for anything, and had a quiet personality, which was deeply loved by Qianlong. Therefore, although his background is not excellent, it is still reasonable.
From this point of view, there is nothing uncomfortable about having Yongqi as the crown prince.
The biggest obstacle may be the age limit.
You must know that among all the feudal emperors in ancient times, Qianlong had the longest life span. He has been in office for a full 60 years, and his actual time in power has reached 63 years.
If Yongqi could live until Qianlong abdicated, he would have been over 55 years old.
This man was already old in ancient times, and his competitiveness was naturally inferior to that of his younger brothers who were in their prime.
For example, Emperor Jiaqing, Aixinjueluo Yongyan, who truly succeeded Qianlong, was the fifteenth son of Qianlong and was only 36 years old when he ascended the throne.
Therefore, even if Yong Qi did not die early, it would be difficult for him to fight against Yong Yan.