Emperor Qianlong was emperor for 60 years, and he won in civil and military affairs. He was satisfied and became proud, calling himself "the perfect old man". He likes to listen to compliments more and more, so someone flatters him to gain his favor and gain power.
On one occasion, Emperor Qianlong prepared a patrol and asked his attendants to prepare ceremonial ceremonies. The official couldn't find the yellow cover for the ceremony at the moment. I don't know how to be anxious. Emperor Qianlong was very angry and asked, "Who did this?" Hearing the emperor's reprimand, the officials were tongue-tied. A young captain next to him said calmly, "The person in charge can't shirk his responsibility." Emperor Qianlong turned and saw that the captain was handsome and calm. Emperor Qianlong was so happy that he forgot to ask Huang Gai and asked his name. The squad leader replied that his name was He Shen. Emperor Qianlong also asked his family background, what books he had read, and all of you answered.
Emperor Qianlong appreciated this gentleman very much and immediately announced that he was in charge of etiquette duties, and later appointed him as a bodyguard. Xiao Shenyang is a very clever man. He does everything he wants to do well. Emperor Qianlong loves to listen to good words, and a gentleman is beautiful. After a long time, Emperor Qianlong took He Shen as his cronies, and He Shen was promoted step by step. Within ten years, I was promoted from a bodyguard to a college student. Later, Emperor Qianlong married his daughter and Princess Xiao to this gentleman's son. The gentry emperor clings to his relatives, not to mention how powerful it is. In addition, the emperor Qianlong was old and weak, and the affairs of state naturally fell into the hands of gentlemen.
And the gentry in power, he doesn't mind other important things, just blindly searching for wealth. He not only took bribes, but also publicly blackmailed; It is not only secret corruption, but also open plunder. Tributes given to the emperor by local officials must go through the hands of gentlemen. Gentlemen, on the other hand, choose the most exquisite and rare things for themselves and send the rest to the palace. Fortunately, Emperor Qianlong didn't ask, and others didn't dare to report it, so his greed grew bigger and bigger.
On one occasion, a minister named Sun Shiyi returned to Beijing from the south, preparing to appear before Emperor Qianlong, and happened to meet a gentleman at the palace gate. Gentlemen saw Sun Shiyi holding a box in his hand and asked, "What's that in your hand?" Sun Shiyi said, "Nothing, it's a snuff bottle." The gentlemen stepped forward and rudely raised the box in their hands. When I opened it, I found a big bead engraved on the snuff bottle. Xiao Shenyang held it in his hand, read it again and again, and praised it again and again. He said shyly, "Good baby! Just give it to me, okay? " Sun Shiyi said at once, "Oh,no.. This baby is for the emperor. It was called yesterday. " The gentleman's face fell, and he put the pearl jar into Sun Shiyi's hand. He sneered and said, "I'm just kidding, why do you look so shabby!" "
Sun Shiyi dedicated the pearl pot to Emperor Qianlong. A few days later, he saw the gentleman again. He proudly said, "I got a treasure yesterday, too. Look, can it compare with the one you handed in last time? " Sun Shiyi walked over and saw the pearl pot he had dedicated to Emperor Qianlong. Sun Shiyi mouth freely to cope with a few words, thinking, how can this baby fall into the hands of a gentleman, must be dry dragon emperor to give him. Later, he secretly inquired, only to know that He Shen was bribed by eunuchs to steal from the palace.
Xiao Shenyang used his position and power to try his best to find wealth. Some courtiers and local officials knew his temper and tried their best to find precious jewels to please him. Big officials oppress small officials, and small officials oppress the people layer by layer, so people's lives naturally become more and more sad.
After being emperor for 60 years, Emperor Qianlong succeeded to the throne of the Prince, also known as Emperor Jiaqing. Emperor Jiaqing knew that the gentleman took bribes and perverted the law. After three years, Emperor Qianlong died, and Emperor Jiaqing immediately arrested He Shen and let him commit suicide. And sent officials to inspect the gentlemen's property.
The wealth of the gentry was originally famous, but the result of the property raid still surprised everyone. A long list of property purchases contains countless treasures, silks and satins and exotic antiques. Roughly speaking, it is worth about 820 million silver, which is equivalent to the income of the court for ten years. Later, I heard that a large number of treasures seized were sent to the palace by Emperor Jiaqing. As a result, some people made up two jingles, sarcastically saying, "A gentleman falls and celebrates."