The Han culture is spreading strongly in Southeast Asia

Chapter 165 The Most Schizophrenic Emperor in History

Qianlong can be said to be the one who lived the most twisted life among all the Qing emperors.

This dilemma stems from the contradiction between his background and culture.

How to say it, compared with his grandfather Kangxi and his father Yongzheng, Qianlong's positioning of himself and his preferences were divided, contradictory and vague.

His grandfather Kang Mazi had a very accurate understanding of his own position. This holy leader, praised by the Manchus, knew what he was here for.

He came to lay the foundation for the semi-colonial regime of the Qing Dynasty.

Therefore, during the decades that Kangxi ruled China, the Qing Dynasty, which had a weak foundation, was able to take firm root.

In politics, Kangxi implemented the system of literary inquisition and Manchu officials.

In the military, they did not provide the Green Camp with guns and ammunition, deliberately suppressed them and made them half-crippled, and spread the rumor that the Han people had no martial ethics and were only good at farming.

In terms of culture, the private schools in prefectures, counties and villages were eliminated, resulting in the complete abolition of rural schools that were everywhere in the late Ming Dynasty. It was difficult to find one within dozens of miles.

They also vigorously promoted traditional Chinese characters education to increase the difficulty of literacy and turn all Chinese people into ignorant illiterates to facilitate their rule.

And so on, many of the despicable tricks that are still harmful to later generations were created by Kang Mazi.

But it must be said that from the perspective of the Manchus, this pockmarked man was both vicious and useful, and was definitely the most sinister and immoral emperor in Chinese history.

Qianlong's father, Yongzheng, also had a very clear positioning.

Yongzheng watched helplessly as Kangxi went too far, causing the Manchus and Han people to become alienated. In particular, the common people had begun to resent the Qing rulers, and the regime was in danger of instability.

Yongzheng immediately began to regard himself as the emperor of China. In many places, he deliberately favored Han officials and Han people on the surface. He also created an image of being diligent in government, implemented a lot of policies to benefit the people, and tried hard to win back public support.

It has to be said that Yongzheng was also very successful.

If the Qing Dynasty continued to be as rampant as it was during the Kangxi period, the Manchus and traitors would become alienated, the Eight Banners soldiers would become garbage, and the Green Camp soldiers would be half-crippled, and the country would likely be in big trouble.

Finally, when it came to Yongzheng, he regained his power. This was truly the good fortune of the Qing Dynasty.

However, it should be noted that when Yongzheng claimed to be the Chinese emperor, he did not mean that he wanted to be the emperor of the Han people, but that he pretended to treat the Han people the same as the Manchus, so as to unite the people's hearts.

Of course, Yongzheng eventually went too far and came up with the Dayi Juemi Lu, a debate competition that cut off its own foundation.

Qianlong, who grew up under Yongzheng's strategy, learned a culture and aesthetics that were fundamentally Han civilization-style since childhood.

He read the Han classics, learned Han etiquette, and studied Han history. He and his father didn't even cut their hair in a yin-yang style. They performed Cospree in the palace, pretending to be Han emperors, celebrities, etc.

So this guy Qianlong can be said to be an extremely fanatical lover of Han civilization. According to the standards of later generations, it is absolutely okay to call him a "Jing Han", and it may even be a bit conservative.

But at the same time, Qianlong was a very clear-headed person. He knew what he needed to rely on to secure his position.

So he likes Han culture, but at the same time he tries his best to suppress it.

He knew very well what policies he should implement to ensure the long-term rule of the Manchus over this vast country.

Therefore, when spirit and reality went on two diametrically opposed paths, Qianlong began to become schizophrenic.

On the one hand, this guy was the best emperor to the Manchus in the entire history of the Qing Dynasty, and all the good things went into the Manchus' bowls.

On the other hand, he was particularly fond of Han culture. He wrote biographies of the Southern Ming officials who followed Yongli, added posthumous titles to them, and publicly praised them many times.

Even during the Song-Jin War, he openly sided with the Southern Song Dynasty and praised Yue Fei, the Han hero who had driven his nominal ancestors into exile.

At the same time, he compiled the Biographies of Traitors, labeling Hong Chengchou, Zu Kefa, Shang Kexi, Li Yongfang, Kong Youde and others who helped his ancestor enter the Pass as traitors and criticizing them to pieces.

The more he loves Han culture, the more he wants to suppress it. He is so schizophrenic that his entire image has appeared twisted and distorted throughout history.

So at this moment, looking at Lin Tong's handsome appearance in a Taoist robe and a square scarf on his head, Qianlong actually felt his eyes brighten and was somewhat pleased.

He didn't even ask Lin Tong to kneel three times and kowtow nine times, but just asked him to kowtow briefly, and then asked very gently:
"I heard that when you were in Yangcheng, you once said that your lord was in the south, and you had the moral principles of Boyi and Shuqi, and also had the thoughts of Zhuangzi's Yueyin. Your response was very appropriate.

Could it be that this Hexian land is located in a wild wilderness, but culture and education are very prosperous?

Otherwise, you wouldn’t be able to have such eloquence.”

Qianlong was not at all arrogant, a state he often displayed, but only when he discussed poetry, calligraphy, painting and other arts with his close ministers, and when he discussed mathematics and astronomy with European missionaries.

At this time, although Qianlong's ability could not be considered top-notch, he did have the air of a refined scholar, and was not at all like a cruel emperor and slave owner.

Lin Tong did not answer, because he knew that the first half was addressed to him, and the second half was addressed to the civil officials who were accompanying Qianlong.

Sure enough, after Qianlong finished speaking, people around him, such as Liu Tongxun, Yu Minzhong, Ji Yun and Ji Xiaolan, who had just returned to Beijing after the mourning period and were promoted to the position of Imperial Academy Attendant Academician, all spoke in agreement or flattery.

After these people had coaxed Qianlong into a state of great joy, Lin Tong replied softly, "Reporting to the Emperor, although Hexian is in a wild and desolate place, its people are also Chinese citizens of the Celestial Empire.

When the founder of the port, Jiu Gong, started his own business, he established many schools and built Confucian temples. When he died, he left behind the Eight Scenic Spots of Hexian, which were praised by scholars and literati.

The current ruler, Mo Shilin, also loves literature and often writes poetry with his entourage.

"Is this really true?" Qianlong was greatly surprised. In his mind, those who went to Southeast Asia were all unruly people who had committed crimes in their hometowns. How come the Hexian Ou family knew how to engage in cultural education?

Lin Tong immediately started talking and gave a brief introduction to the scenery and culture of Hexian.

Yu Minzhong couldn't help but laugh after hearing this. "You are exaggerating. I heard that Hexian is just a county with no more than 30,000 to 50,000 people. It was opened as a port for only a hundred years. Yet now it sounds like a thousand-year-old cultural county in the south of the Yangtze River. That's really too much.

Do you know how cultured and elegant the Celestial Empire is? Never ask, 'Which is greater, Yelang or the Han?'" Beside Qianlong, the Sixth Prince Yongrong, who particularly enjoyed composing paintings and calligraphy with him, also said with a smile, "You, envoy, it is not good to boast so much in front of His Majesty and these literary giants. If you can't produce clear evidence, you will be suspected of deceiving the emperor."

What did they think of Lin Tong? He was a strange visitor, a clown who entertained Emperor Qianlong.

Qianlong was also in a good mood. Looking at Lin Tong, it was as if he was looking at a poor child holding a piece of white flour cake that he had finally obtained, and showing off to a real nobleman how good the meal was today.

Especially when he heard "Who is bigger, Yelang or Han?", he laughed so hard that he fell over.

At this time, Lin Tong was not angry because of the ridicule and mockery of the Qing officials. In his mind, the things that Mo Zibu specifically asked Wu Shiying to tell him flashed through his mind. It can be said that he was basically right.

'Is it true that some people are born with knowledge?'

Lin Tong really couldn't understand how the leader, who was thousands of miles away, knew the secrets of the forbidden palace so clearly?
So much so that he could completely grasp Qianlong's mentality.

On this side, Emperor Qianlong and his ministers were still laughing, and even the eunuchs, palace maids and servants joined in the laughter.

In fact, the atmosphere in the palace was not as solemn as in later TV dramas. The emperor was also a human being. He often saw everyone being serious, orderly and rigid, and he would feel depressed and uncomfortable.

When they finished laughing and Qianlong was about to reward Lin Tong and send him away, Lin Tong suddenly knelt on the ground and shouted, "Your Majesty, what I said is true. I have evidence."

Qianlong was in a good mood at the moment, so he took the initiative to ask, "What's the evidence?"

"There's a poem as proof!" Lin Tong replied loudly, "Please stand up and read it, my ministers."

When reciting poetry, one naturally has to stand up to be full of momentum.

"Who did it?" The sixth prince Yongrong asked on behalf of Emperor Qianlong.

Writing poetry, that is my father’s forte! The 24-year-old Yongrong looked proud and arrogant.

Lin Tong stood up at this time and answered proudly: "My master Wu Zibu is a man of both civil and military talents, a man of extraordinary talent. Although he is not yet twenty years old, when it comes to poetry, even the learned scholars of Jiangnan may not be able to surpass him!"

"Well, what a big tone!" Yongrong was aroused by his competitive spirit. "How dare you speak so arrogantly here!"

"This poem was written two years ago. The fifth son offended a treacherous official in Guangnan and could not return home. He could only gaze at his hometown from a ship outside the harbor. Seeing the students being released, he happened to come up with a good line. The whole poem goes like this:

In February, when the grass grows and the warblers fly, the willow trees sway in the wind, and the spring smoke intoxicates the air. Children return home early from school, busy flying kites in the east wind.

Ah!
Yu Minzhong, who was squinting his eyes waiting to see the joke, suddenly widened his pupils.

Liu Tongxun also put down the cake in his hand and stood up straight.

Qianlong also showed an incredible expression. "Leaders, copy it down immediately and present it to me. Jiyun, what do you think of this poem?"

Although Ji Xiaolan was portrayed very well by Zhang Guoli and others in the TV series, and looked like Kou Zhun and Bao Zheng, in fact, he was just a scholar who entertained Emperor Qianlong.

However, Ji Yun's literary skills are unquestionable. He is definitely a leader among the literati in the Qing Dynasty. It's just that he was limited by the dynasty and did not do much.

Hearing Qianlong's name being mentioned, Ji Yun squinted his eyes and savored it carefully, shaking his head and saying, "The first line of this poem states the theme, the second line describes the scenery, and the third and fourth lines make the child's innocence leap off the page.

Although there are no exquisite sentences, it has a different flavor. When I read this poem, I don’t need to imagine much, the spring scenery of Jiangnan comes into my mind.

It may seem ordinary, but it is actually a return to simplicity. I find it hard to believe that this was created by a young man who has not yet reached adulthood. How strange, how wonderful!

"Uncle, what do you think?" Qianlong asked his literary friend Yu Minzhong, who nodded with sympathy.

"Your Majesty, this poem truly reflects what Scholar Ji said, a return to simplicity and nature. I believe it is a rare and excellent poem, even in the heyday of the Tang Dynasty."

Poor Gao Ding, his deeds in history are not clear, and he only relies on this village poem to leave his name to future generations, but it was directly intercepted by me, Mo Dalongtou.

However, it is not Mo Zibu's fault. It was Gao Ding who wrote this poem so well. As a result, this poem is almost the only Qing Dynasty poem that Mo Zibu can remember completely.

Yongrong touched his cheek beside him and saw some hidden embarrassment on his father Qianlong's face.

This father and son have similar temperaments and are the type of people who can only ridicule others but cannot be slapped in the face by others.

Now that I have finished appreciating the poem, I immediately feel uncomfortable.

The Manchu and Han officials around were of course aware of this and soon stopped appreciating it.

The best way now is for them to write one to compete with this poem, so that they can save the situation.

But this is easier said than done! The poem "Village Life" is a masterpiece in Chinese history and is destined to be recorded in history. It is not easy to create.

Shiquan quickly recalled in his mind the tens of thousands of poems he had written, ah, now there were probably only more than ten thousand of them.

Suddenly I realized that compared to this poem, all his other works were basically rubbish, and I felt so sad.

At this moment, Lin Tong remembered Mo Zibu's words.

"At this point, we need to increase our intensity a bit, completely subdue Qianlong and make him covet our treasure. Then we can consider our plan a success."

He summoned his courage and spoke loudly again, "Your Majesty, my lord, the Fifth Young Master, also obtained a quatrain that will be remembered for a thousand years last year, but unfortunately, only two lines remain, and they cannot be passed down. I've heard that the Celestial Empire is home to many learned scholars, and if you can complete the quatrain, I'd be happy to donate these two lines."

Now, without waiting for others to speak, Qianlong was gritting his teeth.

"Okay, read it to me. I want to see what kind of quality it is. You dare to call it a masterpiece of all time with just two lines."

(End of this chapter)