Evening bell and morning drum -- Young Kangxi: Young Kangxi

Author: Ling Li
Publisher:
Publication Date: 1997-08-01
Features: Kangxi ascended to the throne at the age of seven, and the Four Grand Ministers held sway over the court. They justified their actions by restoring to the old ways of the ancestors, nearly overturning all of the reforms implemented by the Shunzhi Emperor, especially as the Grand Protector Minister, Aobo, formed cliques and indulged in power, ruling tyrannically, executing his opponents, and coveting the throne, which led to political chaos and widespread public discontent. Kangxi studied history diligently, worked tirelessly to govern well, and gradually grew discontented with the actions of the Grand Ministers and his puppet-like position. Under the guidance and assistance of his grandmother, the Grand Empress Dowager, Kangxi adopted various methods to engage in a complex and sharp struggle with Aobo. In his third year of personal rule, at the age of merely sixteen or seventeen, Aobo's plot to murder the emperor was exposed, and Kangxi captured him in one swift move, completely regaining imperial power. The novel is grand in scale, with a plot full of twists and turns, vividly and realistically portraying the court life and social customs of the early years of Kangxi's reign.