Chapter 24 3. Prince Gong Yishi

The descendants of Emperor Daoguang had a profound influence on the history of the late Qing Dynasty.The fourth son, Yiju, inherited the throne as Emperor Xianfeng, his son was Emperor Tongzhi, and his concubines were Empress Dowager Ci'an and Empress Dowager Cixi; the sixth son, Yixin, was named Prince by Emperor Daoguang, and successively pre-governed Xianfeng, Tongzhi and Guangxu three emperors; The emperor's seventh son, Yixuan, was named Prince Chun during Cixi's time, his son was Emperor Guangxu, and his grandson was Emperor Xuantong.Pu Jun, the adoptive son of the emperor's eighth son, Yiyu, was chosen by Cixi as the elder brother to replace Emperor Guangxu, but was deposed later.

Prince Gong Yixin (1832-1898) (Yixin was born on November 21, the twelfth year of Daoguang, which was 1832, but November 21 of this year was January 1833 On the 11th, so he died at the age of 67.) He and Huang's fourth brother Yiju are half-brothers.Yiju was raised by Yixin's mother since childhood.After Yi's mother died, she was completely raised by Yixin's mother.Yiju and Yixin have lived together for seventeen years.At the same time, they also have a competitive relationship.They are only one year apart, and both were once candidates for the throne of Emperor Daoguang.While Yiju fell from a horse once and was lame, Yisu was physically strong, skilled in martial arts, smart and wise. The aforementioned story of Baihong Dao is an example.In the battle for the reserve position, Yisu was defeated.Here's a story.

Du Shoutian was born in Binzhou, Shandong.In the third year of Daoguang's reign, he was a Jinshi, selected a good scholar, and awarded editing.Go straight to the study and teach Yi to read.Later, he moved to the cabinet as a bachelor and ordered to concentrate on teaching.Later, he was promoted to the censor of Zuodu and minister of the Ministry of Industry, and became the chief master of the study.Xianfeng started school at the age of 6, and Du Shoutian took his advice day and night, and he must follow the right way for more than ten years.In Daoguang's later years, Yi Yi stood tall and virtuous, and he was hesitant to commit himself to a great cause.While hunting in Nanyuan, all the princes followed, Yi complained that he had caught the most poultry, but Yi didn't shoot a single arrow. He asked him and replied: "It's spring when birds and beasts are breeding, and I can't bear to hurt life to make peace with the world." The storage is then sealed.Historical commentary said that this is the strength of Du Shoutian's guidance.

After Emperor Xianfeng ascended the throne, he returned Prince Qing's mansion to the emperor's sixth younger brother, Yisu.In April of the second year of Xianfeng (1852), it was divided into a mansion. From then on, it became Prince Gong's mansion until the death of Yisu in the 24th year of Guangxu (1898).Prince Gong's Mansion witnessed Yisu's ups and downs during the Xianfeng, Tongzhi, and Guangxu dynasties.His life from a wise young man with both civil and military skills to a calm and dignified diplomat to a submissive patient is a portrayal of the history of the late Qing Dynasty.Yi Su's life has gone through six ups and downs:

Together and one fall.In September of the third year of Xianfeng (1853), Hong Xiuquan forced Jinan to walk on the Minister of Military Aircraft with Yisu.For four years, he was awarded Dutong, Youzongzheng and Zongling.In April of the fifth year, Jifu was cleared up and Yu Youxu.In July, Empress Xiaojing passed away. Emperor Xianfeng dismissed the Minister of Military Aircraft, Zongling, and Dutong based on Prince Gong's lack of etiquette. He was still walking in the inner court and studying in the upper study. Two ups and two downs.In August of the tenth year of Xianfeng (1860), the British and French allied forces approached the capital, Emperor Xianfeng fled to Rehe, and the British and French allied forces burned and plundered the Old Summer Palace.Emperor Xianfeng appointed Prince Gong as an imperial envoy to act cheaply and act as a full-fledged minister to supervise the peace bureau.The peace agreement is completed, and Prince Gong Yi told him to go and live in Jikau.Emperor Xianfeng's edict replied: "Don't go through the book for half a year. I want to shake hands and talk. But recently, I have been coughing more than once and sometimes have red phlegm. I still need to take pictures quietly. It is not advisable to talk too much. Let's talk face to face in autumn." ( "Drafts of Qing History Wenzong Benji" Volume 20) to reject it.Emperor Xianfeng could go to the theater, but not his brothers!The overall situation of the peace negotiation was completed, and Yi Su was not rewarded, and "three rules" were also made: first, to discuss, second, not to meet, and third, to be excluded from Minister Gu Ming.

Three ups and three downs.In July of the eleventh year of Xianfeng (1861), Emperor Xianfeng died, and Yisu went to the Summer Resort, where the two empress dowagers summoned him.After the Xinyou coup, he was the king of politics and the minister of the military aircraft department.In the third year of Tongzhi (1864), Jiangning was restored, and the overall situation improved and was punished.In March of the fourth year (1865), the two empress dowagers ordered Prince Gong to trust his relatives.Wang Jin thanked him and wept bitterly to take the blame.On the fifth day of March in the fourth year of Tongzhi (1865), Empress Dowager Cixi wrote Zhu's edict to dismiss Yifu in handwriting.The full text is as follows: The imperial edict is read equally by the court king and ministers, and I submit the decree of the empress dowagers of the two palaces: On the fifth day of this month, according to Cai Shouqi's report, Prince Gong acted in favor of favoritism, greedy ink, arrogance, seizing power, attracting more discussions, and other disadvantages.How can you be able to do business with such a bad situation?Although there is no real evidence for the investigation, there is a reason for (the incident), which is ambiguous and difficult to suspend.Prince Gong has been arrogant and arrogant since he discussed politics. (to) Divorce, don't ask carefully.Called every day, arrogant, many (many) tricks, full of nonsense.Heir (like) this situation, how can we handle state affairs in the future?If it is not announced (as soon as possible), how can I use people to carry out (government) when I return to power?I (like) all these important situations, so I don't need to go into the details, so that I can know my magnanimity.Prince Gong said that there is no need to discuss politics at the military plane, and all errands are removed, and no interference in official affairs is allowed. This is my best intention for preservation.Special order.

Ups and downs.In February of the seventh year of Tongzhi (1868), the Xinien Army approached Gyeonggi, and ordered Yi to sue the ministers of the military command of the various roads, and granted You Zongzheng to be used again.In September of the eleventh year, Emperor Tongzhi got married, and he was reinstated as a hereditary prince.In the first month of the twelfth year (1873), Emperor Tongzhi was in charge.In July of the following year, Yi was ordered to accuse Zhao of his disrespect, and was demoted to the county king. Ups and downs.After Emperor Guangxu ascended the throne, he was ordered not to be summoned to kowtow, to play the title of the book, and to sign the imperial order.In the tenth year of Guangxu (1884), the French army invaded Vietnam.On March 13th of this year, Yi Fu and other military ministers were suddenly dismissed together.Ling Yi sued to stop the double salary and recuperate at home.Because it happened in the year of Jiashen, it was called "Jiashen Yishu" in history.Cixi deposed Prince Gong Yisu from all official positions, and replaced the Military Aircraft Department headed by Yisu. Cixi became the supreme empress with absolute authority without any constraints.

Ups and downs.In the 20th year of Guangxu (1894), Japan invaded Korea, and sued Yi to manage the Prime Minister's yamen of various countries, and the Prime Minister's Navy, together with the military affairs, and the inner court.Xun also ordered the king to supervise the military affairs and control the ministers in charge of the army from all walks of life.In November, he was awarded the Minister of Military Aircraft.But at this time, Yisu was already 62 years old, suffering from illnesses and losing all vigor.Yifu, who had experienced Cixi's despotic means before, now blindly obeys Cixi's orders and advocates seeking peace.Twenty-four years (1898), Prince Gong fell ill, and Emperor Guangxu visited him three times under the order of Empress Dowager Cixi. He passed away in April, at the age of sixty-seven.Empress Dowager Cixi came to Prince Gong's Mansion to offer her condolences.The death of Yi Fu deprived Cixi and Emperor Guangxu of an important mediator.This intensified the contradiction between Cixi and Guangxu, which eventually led to the Reform Movement of 1898.

Prince Gong Yisu lived in Prince Gong's mansion for 48 years, and experienced ups and downs. He pre-governed the three emperors Xianfeng, Tongzhi, and Guangxu: whenever the country was overcast, he was appointed and trusted;Ups and downs, life ups and downs.The fate of such a prince is embarrassing and thought-provoking.His younger brother, Prince Chun, Yixuan accepted Nai's lesson, and did not assist the government at all.Reminiscent of Dorgon, the regent of the early Qing Dynasty, who fought bloody battles on the battlefield and spent his entire life as a soldier.In the imperial era, the imperial power was supreme, no town masters were allowed, no threats were allowed.This is the fundamental reason why many princes were either unable to display their talents, or were tortured and humiliated.