Mainly because of the crony dispute, Qianlong didn't like Zhang Tingyu in his heart. Secondly, his improper handling of Fang's affairs when he retired angered Emperor Qianlong.
Content introduction:
1. The problem of cronyism
The problem of cronyism is a chronic disease in China’s political history. Its harmfulness can be summed up in a nutshell and cannot be solved. Good will lead to the demise of a dynasty. Therefore, Emperor Qianlong was very wary of the problem of cronyism. At the beginning of his accession to the throne, two big cliques, E and Zhang, were formed in the DPRK, fighting openly and secretly. Although the clique activities during this period were not obvious and very slight compared with previous dynasties, Emperor Qianlong's governing style was to prevent the slightest change and nip problems in the bud. , he vowed to completely eradicate the stubborn political disease of cronyism in his day.
Before Qianlong started taking action, Ertai fell ill and died in the tenth year of Qianlong's reign. Therefore, the focus of Qianlong's attack fell on Zhang Tingyu. Qianlong knew very well that in order to fight against cliques, he must first attack the core figures on this hilltop. Only in this way can the people on this hilltop be leaderless and disperse without attacking. So after Ertai's death, Qianlong had been observing Zhang Tingyu and wanted to grab his pigtails and deal with it.
2. Applying for retirement angered Emperor Qianlong
Fortunately, Zhang Tingyu was very cautious when it came to clique issues, and would never speak for others easily, nor would he easily intervene in various personnel disputes. What is his famous saying? "I have been in the official career for a long time. Every time I see promotions and dismissals, everyone will be surprised and say: There must be a reason for this." Yu smiled and said: "There are many reasons for the world's affairs."? But after Ertai's death, Zhang Tingyu still became better and better. He became more and more frightened, because he knew that the emperor would definitely find trouble with him if he wanted to crack down on his cronies. So Zhang Tingyu felt that it was time for him to retire.
Because although Qianlong didn't like Zhang Tingyu very much, he didn't need him at all. In Qianlong's view, although Zhang Tingyu was old, he was still experienced and could still use his spare energy by staying in the court and serving as his advisor. If there is any emergency that Qianlong has never encountered before, Zhang Tingyu can still give some advice.
So Qianlong replied: "You have received great favors from three dynasties, and you will be worthy of enjoying the Imperial Ancestral Temple in the future due to the emperor's imperial decree. Is there any reason why you should worship Yuan ministers and return to the fields to die in old age?" Zhang Tingyu, who wanted to retreat bravely, immediately He replied that ministers who deserved it did not necessarily have to work until death. For example, Ming Taizu allowed Liu Ji to return to his hometown.
Zhang Tingyu did not expect that as soon as he said these words, Qianlong's expression immediately changed, becoming as cold as ice. It turned out that the allusion of Liu Ji he quoted touched a sensitive nerve of Qianlong. Liu Ji was the founding hero of the early Ming Dynasty, but later, Zhu Yuanzhang crossed the river and demolished the bridge to make him retire, and later secretly sent people to poison him to death. Zhang Tingyu mentioned Liu Ji, which made Qianlong sensitive. Qianlong believed that this was because Zhang Tingyu was not allowed to attend the early court in the past two years. Zhang Tingyu was dissatisfied and used this allusion to mock himself for not being interested in the hero.
As a result, Qianlong was very angry and immediately quoted scriptures and used great principles to suppress others. He said: Those who are ministers to others should be ministers who are consistent in the law. Just like Zhuge Liang, he was loyal throughout his life. This is an example for others and ministers. People and ministers must not have any ambitions. When Zhang Tingyu heard this, he "kowtowed without his crown" and "sobbed uncontrollably". An old man in his seventies with a white beard knelt before the emperor and cried bitterly.
Extended information
1. Introduction to Qianlong:
Qianlong (Emperor qianlong) is the reign name of Emperor Gaozong of the Qing Dynasty, starting and ending in one and sixty years The time is from 1736 to 1795 AD. During this period, the Qing government quelled the Junggar and Xiaohezhuo rebellions, consolidated the development of a multi-ethnic country, and compiled the "Sikuquanshu".
Aixinjueluo Hongli, Emperor Gaozong of the Qing Dynasty, was born on September 25, 1711 and died on February 7, 1799. He was the sixth emperor of the Qing Dynasty and the fourth emperor after entering the customs. The era name "Qianlong" means "prosperity of heaven".
2. Introduction to Zhang Tingyu
Zhang Tingyu (1672-1755), named Hengchen and Yanzhai, was born in Tongcheng, Anhui. An outstanding statesman of the Qing Dynasty, the second son of Zhang Ying, a bachelor.
In the 39th year of Kangxi (1700), he was promoted to Jinshi, changed to a commoner, awarded the title of review, and entered the South Study Room, entering the center of power. In the Kangxi Dynasty, he was promoted to Zuo Shilang of the Ministry of Punishment, where he rectified the administration of officials. After Emperor Yongzheng came to the throne, he successively served as the Minister of Rites, the Minister of Hubu, the Minister of Officials, the Grand Scholar of Baohedian (chief assistant of the cabinet), the Chief Minister of Military Aircraft, etc., and perfected the Military Aircraft Department system.
After Emperor Qianlong came to the throne, the emperor and his ministers gradually became suspicious. His later life was desolate, and he returned home after becoming an official. In the 20th year of Qianlong's reign (1755), he died at home at the age of eighty-four. He was given the posthumous title "Wenhe" and was entitled to the Imperial Ancestral Temple. He was the only Han official in the entire Qing Dynasty to be eligible to enjoy the Imperial Ancestral Temple.
2. Introduction to the late scene:
In the first month of the thirteenth year of Qianlong's reign (1748), Zhang Tingyu and Chen Shu begged for retirement because of old illness. Emperor Qianlong issued a special edict: "You have received great favor from two dynasties, and you will be worthy of enjoying the Imperial Ancestral Temple in the future. Is there any reason to worship Yuan ministers and return to the fields to die in old age?" The edict was issued to comfort Liu.
In the first month of the fourteenth year of Qianlong's reign (1749), he was ordered to follow the old practice of Wen Yanbo in the Song Dynasty, to go to the capital hall to discuss matters on the tenth day, and to enter the inner court on the fourth and fifth day to prepare advisers. In the winter of that year, Zhang Tingyu once again begged to leave his job to recuperate. Emperor Qianlong approved the appointment of the former official as an official, and rewarded him with three chapters of imperial poems.
When Zhang Tingyu thanked Emperor Qianlong, he reported to Emperor Qianlong: "In the past, Emperor Shizongxian gave me extraordinary kindness and ordered me to enjoy the Imperial Ancestral Temple. Last year, when I followed His Majesty to offer sacrifices, there was an edict to persuade me to return to my hometown after my death. I am afraid that I will not be able to survive after my death." There is such a high salary, and there are similar discussions outside." He kowtowed and asked Emperor Qianlong for a certificate.
Emperor Qianlong was very unhappy, but he still drafted an edict stating Emperor Yongzheng's destiny and gave him poems to reassure him. The poem goes: "A word of begging on one's knees makes me feel pity and makes me sad. This is the last emperor's edict. I will leave the country to show my kindness, but I might as well pass it on. For example, in Qingtian Yuanyou Temple, I was filled with sorrow when Zheng Guo competed to destroy the monument." I am not a Yao or a Shun, so I will listen to the comment on the bamboo slips. "The next day, Zhang Ting took away his jade ornaments to express his gratitude, and sent his son Zhang Ruocheng into the palace to express his gratitude to Emperor Qianlong. Emperor Qianlong was quite annoyed because Zhang Tingyu did not express his gratitude in person, so he sent an order to make him understand the response.
At that time, the edicts were written by Fu Heng and Wang Youdun, ministers of military aircraft, but the edicts had not yet been issued. At dawn the next day, Zhang Tingyu came to the inner court to express his gratitude. Emperor Qianlong was even more unhappy, thinking that this was because the Military Aircraft Department had leaked the news. I blame Wang Youdun for leaking the news. So the courtiers held a meeting and discussed depriving Zhang Tingyu of his official titles so that he could enjoy the grace of the Ancestral Temple. So Emperor Qianlong ordered that his count be cut off.
In the fifteenth year of Qianlong (1750), shortly after the death of the emperor's eldest son Yonghuang, Zhang Tingyu once again requested to return to his hometown, which angered Emperor Qianlong, so he ordered the Taimiao Temple to be honored by all ministers, and ordered Zhang Tingyu to self-examine. Should it be shared? Emperor Qianlong used the scholar Jiu Qing to discuss whether he should be allowed to enjoy it without being punished. Then return. Later, because Zhu Quan, the editor of Sichuan's academic affairs, was convicted, Zhang Tingyu was ordered to hand over all the gifts he had received. In the 20th year of Qianlong's reign (1755), Zhang Tingyu died at home at the age of eighty-four. After his death, he was buried in Longmian Mountain. Emperor Qianlong finally obeyed the imperial edict of Emperor Shizong of the Qing Dynasty and ordered him to enjoy the Imperial Ancestral Temple.
Reference materials: Zhang Tingyu - Baidu Encyclopedia Zhang Tingyu's death - Guangming.com ?Qianlong - Baidu Encyclopedia