However, before Nian Gengyao was executed, Yong Zhengdi hesitated for a long time, always hesitating to pay attention. Finally, after being affirmed by Cabinet Minister Zhang, Nian Gengyao was ordered to be executed.
Then the problem comes, Zhang has always been cautious, and Yongzheng and Nian Gengyao have a good relationship. Why did he suggest the execution of Nian Gengyao? In this article, we will simply analyze it!
Yong Zhengdi
Zhang's suggestion in the play once asked Zhang, "Chen Heng, does Nian Gengyao really deserve to die?"
Zhang didn't know how to answer, and hesitated for a long time, because Zhang knew that Nian Gengyao and Yongzheng had a good relationship. If he gives the final answer at this time, he may be suspected by Yong Zhengdi that he is up to no good. Of course, Yong Zhengdi also knew his consideration, so he went on to say, "Say what you think!"
Although Yongzheng had clearly told Zhang that no matter what he said, he would not be blamed, but Zhang knew that the emperor could not be trusted, so he had better be cautious. So he said:
"Provincial governors talked about passbook, it should be over. The emperor is now cleaning up the bureaucracy, and the corruption in Nian Gengyao alone amounts to 4.62 million. What's more, there are nine crimes of disrespect and ten crimes of arrogance, up to 92. Although the court has made achievements, he still deserves to die. "
I have to say, Zhang is really smart. The answer he gave came not from himself, but from provincial governors, but in fact this is what he wanted to say. Only in this way can we show our attitude towards Nian Gengyao and avoid the blame of Yongzheng in the future to a great extent.
Zhang stills
In order to further determine the charges of Nian Gengyao and let Yongzheng make a decision in time, Zhang quoted the words in the passbook:
"Nian Gengyao now wearing a yellow jacket, paraded under the gate, paraded in downtown, what's the motivation? It is nothing more than showing off his achievements in pacifying the northwest and showing the world that all birds are hidden. If this person doesn't go for a day, the emperor will not be dirty for a day. "
Similarly, Zhang's quotation is nothing more than showing his attitude. Scholars have always been like this, what's more, Zhang is also a cabinet minister and a senior official in the records. Naturally, he can't express his attitude directly, but can only quote other people's words to express his thoughts.
So on the whole, Zhang advocated getting rid of Nian Gengyao, and borrowed other people's words to imply that it must be solved in time, otherwise it would fail to live up to the expectations of people all over the world. So soon after this happened, Li Jue received Yongzheng's passbook and asked him to give Nian Gengyao a dead gift.
Nian Gengyao-stills
In fact, on the whole, Zhang suggested that Nian Gengyao be executed, not out of selfishness. On the contrary, he had no enmity with Nian Gengyao, let alone political enemies, so he didn't need to kill Nian Gengyao. In fact, this can also be seen from his answer to Yongzheng. Although his attitude is clear, it is to execute Nian Gengyao, but these words are not what he said, but borrowed from others, so it shows that he did not want to execute Nian Gengyao for personal reasons.
On the contrary, Zhang considered the influence of this matter on the inside and outside of the court, that is, out of public interests, not selfishness. Nian Gengyao incident can be said to be the biggest comprehensive case since Yongzheng ascended the throne. Nian Gengyao has committed as many as 92 crimes, which shows that he really deserves it. Of course, from the official point of view, Nian Gengyao's 92 major crimes are not true, and many of them are unwarranted charges. But Yongzheng was ready at this time, just waiting for Zhang to give him the next "command"!
Then the question is coming. From an official point of view, why did Yong Zhengdi execute Nian Gengyao?
Li Wei-stills
Why did Yongzheng execute Nian Gengyao in the official history? Officially, Nian Gengyao's death was actually planned by Yong Zhengdi. Nian Gengyao was in a high position, impeached, attacked and finally executed. In fact, the whole process was planned by Yong Zhengdi. When Yongzheng needed Nian Gengyao to pacify the northwest for him, he began to show the world the so-called "way of monarch and minister". To outsiders, Yongzheng and Nian Gengyao are a pair of real eternal monarch and minister, and they have a very good relationship. What's more, this is the integration of two different nationalities, which has to be envied.
But in Yongzheng's mind, it was just a way for him to win over Nian Gengyao and some Han ministers. What's more, Yongzheng at this time has already decided to completely eliminate this domineering general. After Yongzheng suggested to Nian Gengyao not to be too ostentatious, he basically became a member of the "bad Nian Gengyao". After all these preparations were completed, they began to criticize Nian Gengyao openly. Ironically, ministers who already knew the emperor's intentions also wrote to cooperate and impeach Nian Gengyao's crimes.
Nian Gengyao was suddenly "attacked" by Yong Zhengdi. He was at a loss and didn't know how to defend himself. He had to keep confessing to Yong Zhengdi and asking for forgiveness. Yongzheng, of course, the in the mind is also very clear, oneself also have to forgive him, because at this time of the northwest is still under the control of Nian Gengyao, his generals also listen to him, if rushed to execute him, is bound to lead to unrest in the northwest.
Nian Gengyao-stills
In order to solve this thorny problem, Yongzheng sent people out to collect evidence of Nian Gengyao on the one hand; On the other hand, they began to attack Nian Gengyao's subordinates, and Yue Zhongqi was the first one to win. Because Yue Zhongqi was hand-picked by Nian Gengyao, and she followed Nian Gengyao all the year round. Most importantly, Yue Zhongqi is politically sensitive, because he is a descendant of Yue Fei, a famous anti-gold star in the Southern Song Dynasty, so he is worried that Yongzheng will doubt his loyalty. And this can be used by Yong Zhengdi.
Finally, under the operation of Yong Zhengdi, Yue Zhongqi decided to leave Nian Gengyao and return to the embrace of the imperial court. Finally, under the planning of Yong Zhengdi and his ministers, the Ministry of Punishment drew up 92 major crimes of Nian Gengyao, and finally put him to death. But as we said above, many of these 92 counts are actually based on catching shadows, which is purely groundless, but if you want to add crimes, why not stop here!
As for why Yongzheng brought so many charges against Nian Gengyao, he actually wanted to tell the world that it was not that his eternal words didn't count, nor that he failed Nian Gengyao, but that Nian Gengyao deserved it and Nian Gengyao failed himself. 1726 65438+ 10 13, Nian Gengyao committed suicide in prison, and a generation of famous soldiers finished their lives at the age of 47.
Yongzheng-stills
Based on the analysis of Nian Gengyao's death in The Death of Nian Gengyao and Yong Zhengdi by Japanese sinologist Dr. Miyazaki Hayao, we can easily see that Nian Gengyao's death was not because he wanted to rebel, nor because he knew what was in it, but because he had become the biggest uncontrollable factor in Yong Zhengdi's eyes. This includes his initial attitude towards Yongzheng, including his actions in the northwest and Beijing, which made Yong Zhengdi feel unable to control Nian Gengyao.
So, even if Yongzheng knew that Nian Gengyao didn't rebel now, it doesn't mean that there won't be any in the future. So since we can't control it, we can only get rid of it. But at this time, Nian Gengyao had a prominent position, and Yongzheng had declared himself and his eternal way to outsiders, so it was doomed that Nian Gengyao's execution was not a simple matter. If you want to justify it, you have to do everything you can to make him invincible.
But then again, Nian Gengyao's death is actually related to his lack of clear understanding of what kind of monarch Yong Zhengdi is. Nian Gengyao was used to the lenient politics of the Kangxi Dynasty. Even if he was found guilty, he relied on his outstanding military achievements. In addition, his sister was Yongzheng's favorite concubine, so these punishments would go away, so he never took them seriously. And this is the important reason for his ultimate tragedy!