Chapter 38 Second, the minister Zhao Chang

Zhao Chang (1657-1731), roughly the same time as Emperor Kangxi.Zhao Chang, who supervised the construction of the palace manufacturing office, has three identities: Kangxi Emperor's junior minister, close minister, and capable minister. One is the minister.Zhao Chang was born in Baoyi, Ministry of Internal Affairs. "Baoyi" is a transliteration of Manchu, meaning "domestic servant" in Chinese, with a humble background and low status.Many well-known coaters of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (such as Cao Yin, etc.) at the same time have served as Zuo Ling (Niu Luzhangjing) or coater under the banner of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. "Baoyi" has been explained, "Da" is also a Manchu transliteration, and the Chinese translation is "head, leader".Zhao Chang had never held any positions such as Zuo Ling or Bao Yi Da.In the mid-Kangxi period, Zhao Chang was promoted to the director of the Hall of Mental Cultivation. Naturally, he could not be regarded as a dignitary, but just a small minister next to the emperor.

The second is close ministers.Zhao Chang is three years younger than Emperor Kangxi, and has been with Emperor Kangxi since he was a child. He is Emperor Kangxi's haha ​​bead. "Haha Zhuzi" is a transliteration of Manchu, and its Chinese meaning is "elder brother's attendant boy", that is, servant boy, attendant boy.Xu Risheng, a Jesuit, said in a letter: "Zhao (Chang) was the earliest servant boy of the emperor." Feng Bingzheng (French), a Jesuit, said in his report on Zhao Chang's baptism: "When he was very When he was young, he was one of the best performers in the palace - he became one of the companions of the young emperor who were first selected by the people." Zhao Chang became the emperor because he was too close to Emperor Kangxi and often delivered imperial edicts near minister.A special task of Zhao Chang was to communicate and spread information between Emperor Kangxi and the Jesuits.

first example.The Jesuits explained Western scientific knowledge in the court, engaged in craft manufacturing, compiled Western books, and participated in art creation. They were near the Hall of Martial Arts and the Hall of Mental Cultivation. Therefore, Zhao Chang, as the supervisor of the Palace Office, was the emperor of Kangxi and Jesus. The sending of messages by members is the work of liaison.As Emperor Kangxi said in his edict: "The Hall of Mental Cultivation, the Hall of Wuying, etc., are in charge of manufacturing, bringing in Western personnel, and passing on decrees." One of the important figures here is Zhao Chang. ("Relationship Documents with Roman Envoys") In the 23rd year of Kangxi (1684) and 28th year (1689), Emperor Kangxi made two southern tours. Zhao Changdu accompanied him and was responsible for contacting missionaries.According to the report of Su Lin, a Jesuit: "When the emperor traveled south...every time he passed by a place where our missionaries were, he would send two special envoys to invite them to visit the emperor and treated them with kindness. Dare to do evil again." One of the special envoys was Zhao Chang.One of the purposes of Emperor Kangxi in doing so was to learn about missionaries and local officials.

Second example.When Emperor Kangxi went south again, the relationship between Zhao Chang and the missionaries became more harmonious.In the Catholic Church in Jinan, he "talked and waited for tea" with the missionary Curose; when in Nanjing, two missionaries, Bi Jia and Hong Ruohan, stayed with Zhao Chang and others in the church for tea and chat, and did not go until after dinner.Before Emperor Kangxi left Nanjing, Zhao Chang told Bi and Hong that the time and route of Yuzhou's departure enabled them to "wait at Wantou, Yangzhou" to see him off.When Emperor Kangxi returned to Jinan, the missionary Li Anning (Spanish) brought four kinds of relics to see Emperor Kangxi.Emperor Kangxi refused to accept his gift at first, but it was also because of Zhao Chang's persuasion that Emperor Kangxi changed his mind and accepted it.The whole story of this incident was that Emperor Kangxi couldn't bear to accept the gift presented by Li Anning, but he expressed his deep gratitude to him for his kindness.Seeing this, the guard who had a good impression of Catholicism said, "Your Majesty, the subjects of Jinan Mansion are very sad that they failed to catch up with His Majesty's dragon boat. If Your Majesty refuses their gift, I'm afraid they will be displeased." The guard's words moved After seeing Emperor Kangxi, he picked up two crystal vials and took them, and said to Li Anning: "I would like to accept this as a memorial." This guard is also Zhao Chang.

The third is capable ministers.In the building office of the Hall of Mental Cultivation, Zhao Chang was not only responsible for contacting the Jesuits, but also responsible for managing firearms and other affairs, which showed that he was trusted, diligent and capable.Give three examples. The first thing.In the twenty-first year of Kangxi (1682), the Jesuit Liles (Italian) was seriously ill in Dongtang. Zhao Chang reported to Emperor Kangxi: "Lilesi is old and sick, and is very critical."77 After the age-old Li Leisi died of illness, Emperor Kangxi gave two hundred taels of silver and ten bolts of satin, and sent guards to escort the coffin to the cemetery.

the second one.When Zhang Cheng, the "King Mathematician" of the French mission, and other five people arrived in Ningbo in July of the twenty-sixth year of Kangxi (1687), Jin Hong, the governor of Zhejiang, refused to let them enter.They notified Nan Huairen.Nan Huairen "wrote a letter to Zhao Chang in Rehe on September 15", "letting the emperor know that these people were his fellow Jesuits and brought precious scientific instruments and books".These "King Mathematicians" were able to enter Beijing, and on February 21, the twenty-seventh year of Kangxi (1688), they kowtowed to Emperor Kangxi in Qianqing Palace. "Xu Risheng all acted on behalf of them, and the sky was joyful. He gave tea and preferential treatment, each gave fifty taels of money, and sent the guard Zhao (Chang) back to the apartment of the Catholic Church."

third piece.It is worth noting that Zhao Chang's efforts to promote the implementation of the "Rong Jiaoling" in the 31st year of Kangxi (1692), for which he was also praised by Su Lin as "a veteran of the Chinese Church".This year, local officials in Lanxi, Zhejiang banned Catholicism, and then extended it to the whole of Zhejiang.The Ministry of Rites supported the governor of Zhejiang's approach.During this negotiation, the thoughts and emotions of the missionaries were smoothly conveyed to Emperor Kangxi through Zhao Chang.In this incident, Zhao Chang, as the coat around Emperor Kangxi, relied on his understanding of Emperor Kangxi—Emperor Kangxi’s sympathy and understanding for the missionaries—to influence him, and finally prompted the court to make a decision about the Jesuits. Scholars inclusive decision.Zhao Chang also manages firearms.According to historical records: "For example, those who fired cannons and shotguns and carried antlers belonged to the Eight Banners Han Army. In the past, Naertai and Zhao Chang, who were led by the former Neifu Zuo, were good at shooting cannons and shotguns. Huang Kao (referring to Kangxi) handed over to Naertai, Zhao Chang governs." ("Shangyu Cabinet" Volume 20)

Zhao Chang was a small minister, close minister and capable minister around Emperor Kangxi. He served Emperor Kangxi all his life.Relying on the emperor's rewards and gifts from Westerners, Zhao Chang accumulated a lot of family property.Emperor Kangxi stated in a Manchu Zhuan: "Zhao Chang, Wang Daohua and others are all famous and rich, and everyone knows it." Zhao Chang was convicted, and Emperor Yongzheng confiscated Zhao Chang's family property. Including coating) a total of 219 households, a total of 505 and a half houses, 56 hectares of 76 mu of land, about 189 men in Zhuangtian, a total of 153 horses, mules, camels, and cattle, 3,190 taels of silver, 4,919 taels of silver loaned, leather clothing There are 269 pieces of hats, 205 pieces of glassware, 174 pieces of Western objects, and various armors, helmets, waist knives, guns, shotguns, clocks, glassware, Western medicine, oriental beads, bracelets, silverware, beads, gemstones, yuan Fox fur, mink fur, ginseng, calligraphy and painting, etc. ("Records of the Internal Affairs Office's Investigation of Zhao Chang's Family Property") What was the political reason for Zhao Chang's conviction and imprisonment?

On the sixth day of the first lunar month in the first year of Yongzheng (1723), Zhao Chang was convicted and imprisoned with no family property.The charges are: First, borrowing five thousand taels of silver from the internal treasury.With Zhao Chang's family wealth, it is not difficult to pay back the debt.Second, use their positions to place relatives.Third, privately made fire sickles for Hongxi, the son of the deposed prince Yunfeng.In November of the fifty-fifth year of Kangxi (1716), at the request of Hongxi, Zhao Chang and other directors of the Hall of Mental Cultivation asked Huase, a craftsman of the Hall of Mental Cultivation, to make an overmade enamel fire sickle (lighter) for him.When the incident happened, the craftsman Huase was exiled, and Zhao Chang was also punished together with Wang Daohua, another supervisor of the Hall of Mental Cultivation.The above three trivial matters are purely making a fuss out of a molehill.Emperor Yongzheng cleaned up Zhao Chang as soon as he came to power, mainly for political reasons-knowing that Emperor Kangxi was too private and too close to the abolished prince Yunfeng, which aroused the suspicion of Emperor Yongzheng who was too suspicious.Zhao Chang was in prison in the ninth year of Yongzheng (1731). He was baptized by a prison military officer who was taught, and he became a Catholic with the Christian name "Joseph". He was 75 years old that year.Soon, Zhao Chang died in prison.Zhao Chang started with Emperor Kangxi and died with Emperor Kangxi.Still in response to the sentence in "Zuo Zhuan": "You start with this, and you must end with this."