A Dynasty at Its Zenith: Kangxi’s Record Reign
In the spring of 1722, the 69-year-old Emperor Kangxi celebrated an unprecedented milestone: 61 years on the Dragon Throne. To mark this historic reign—the longest in Chinese imperial history—fifteen senior officials collectively aged over 1,000 years petitioned for celebratory ceremonies. The emperor responded by hosting a legendary “Thousand Elders Banquet” in the Forbidden City, inviting 70 officials aged 60-80, along with 660 commoners from nearby regions. The festivities included poetic tributes and paintings commemorating the golden age of the Qing Dynasty.
In an intimate post-banquet gathering, Kangxi reflected on his extraordinary rule with visible emotion: “When I ascended the throne, I never imagined reaching twenty years, let alone sixty.” He credited his longevity to avoiding three classic pitfalls of emperors—dominant ministers, palace women’s interference, and eunuch power—while boasting of his restrained governance: “Unlike decisive rulers who resort to bloodshed, I’ve preserved my ministers’ lives, allowing them to enjoy wealth and honor into old age.”
The Sudden Collapse: Kangxi’s Mysterious Demise
Just months after this triumphant celebration, the aging emperor fell ill during a routine political session at the Changchun Garden retreat. Initial symptoms—fever and night sweats—seemed minor, but on November 14, 1722, Kangxi abruptly died without any princes present. Only Longkodo, commander of the Beijing garrison and brother-in-law to the fourth prince Yinzhen, witnessed the emperor’s final moments.
What followed was a meticulously orchestrated power grab. Longkodo secretly transported Kangxi’s body to the Forbidden City under darkness, locked all palace gates, and summoned Yinzhen while barring other princes. By noon the next day, a disputed edict proclaimed Yinzhen—later Emperor Yongzheng—as successor, bypassing the favored fourteenth prince Yinti.
Consolidating Absolute Power: Yongzheng’s Ruthless Reforms
The new emperor moved swiftly to eliminate threats. He recalled the militarily powerful Yinti from the frontier, replacing him with loyalist Nian Gengyao. Within three years, Yongzheng turned against his own allies—exploiting a trivial writing error to accuse Nian of 92 crimes, resulting in the execution of his male relatives. Longkodo met a similar fate, imprisoned until death on 41 fabricated charges.
Yongzheng dismantled the traditional Manchu power structure by:
– Converting princely estates into state-controlled territories
– Expanding stipends for impoverished Manchu bannermen
– Establishing the Grand Council as his personal shadow cabinet
These reforms transformed the emperor into the undisputed ruler of all Manchus.
The Surveillance State: Spies, Secrets, and Psychological Control
Yongzheng perfected a system of total governance through:
– The “Nourishing Honesty” silver system that both paid officials and monitored corruption
– A vast spy network including disguised agents like the servant assigned to official Wang Shijun
– Psychological warfare, exemplified when he produced a missing playing card to prove his omniscience to official Wang Yunqin
The military-focused Grand Council became the empire’s nerve center, processing urgent memorials around the clock while bypassing traditional bureaucracy.
Silencing Dissent: The Literary Inquisition Begins
Yongzheng confronted anti-Qing sentiment through the infamous Zeng Jing case:
– Radical scholar Lü Liuliang’s posthumous works inspired activist Zeng Jing to recruit general Yue Zhongqi for rebellion
– After Zeng’s arrest, Yongzheng personally debated him, publishing their exchanges in “Great Righteousness Dispelling Confusion”
– While executing Lü’s disciples, the emperor spared Zeng—understanding that ideas, not individuals, were the true threat
This marked the start of systematic literary persecution that would intensify under Qianlong, where poetic metaphors like “sun and moon” (明, implying Ming loyalty) became death sentences.
The Enigmatic End: Yongzheng’s Sudden Departure
After just 13 transformative years, Yongzheng died mysteriously at the Yuanming Garden in 1735. Rumors swirled about assassination by Lü Liuliang’s granddaughter, though official records cite natural causes. His legacy was profound: where Kangxi expanded borders, Yongzheng built institutions that sustained Qing rule for another 150 years.
The swift succession of 25-year-old Qianlong under regents Ortai and Zhang Tingyu ensured the continuation of this perfected autocracy—a system where emperors truly became the state.