Qianlong's Strategy

Author: Zhang Junling
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-06-01
Features: The strategy of an emperor who ushered in a golden age. Among the countless figures in China's two thousand years of feudal history, there are few who stand out as much as this great Qing Dynasty emperor, Qianlong Hongli. At the height of his youth, Qianlong was charming, wise in literature, superlative in martial arts, and resolute in decision-making. However, from the perspective of modern society and using materialist values to illuminate history, it is easy to discover a fundamental fact: in terms of the essence of feudal society, the basic secret of autocratic rule lies in seizing and consolidating power. Therefore, we can say that the strategies of feudal kings are mostly reflected and permeated in political, economic, or military aspects, as well as in matters of dealing with people, military tactics, and governing officials, and so on, though there are differences in quality and excellence. Qianlong's strategies were no exception. The reason we say they were brilliant is that he could think what others thought, do what others did, or do even more, and do what others had not thought of or done. Only when such strategies are deconstructed by a broad readership and consciously criticized and inherited can a clear-headed and rational nation belong to the world and the future, and be advanced and hopeful.