Autumn Sound in Ziyuan (Volume 6) / Qianlong Emperor (Paperback)

Author: Eryuehe
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2000-10-01
Features: A Fall of Leaves in the Purple Garden is the concluding work of the series of novels The Emperor Qianlong. In the late years of Qianlong's reign, the prosperity of the dynasty was difficult to sustain. With Heshen as a representative, corrupt officials were devouring the state treasury, poisoning capable officials, and the corruption was rampant throughout the court and the country. Secret societies seized the opportunity to incite the people, leading to widespread resentment and uprisings. Qianlong had to repeatedly resort to military campaigns, sending renowned generals such as Fukang'an to suppress disturbances: annihilating the rebellion in Pingyi, Shandong, suppressing the large and small Jinchi conflicts, and leading troops to Taiwan to painstakingly quell the chaos of Lin Shuangwen. He also dispatched Zhao Hui and Hailancha to exert all efforts to pacify the western frontier. Meanwhile, at the age of over sixty, Qianlong devoted himself to selecting his successor, ensuring a smooth transfer of power, sending the fifteenth prince Xiang Yan to gain experience in Shandong and assist in military affairs. At the same time, his ambition remained undiminished, punishing corruption and promoting integrity, striving to set an example for future generations in governance. However, due to his advanced age and loss of hearing, he was misled by flatterers and sycophants, leading to the dismissal of capable officials such as Agui, Ji Yun, and Li Shiyao, and the state's decline became even more pronounced. The establishment of the Jiaqing era marked the final chorus of the decline of Qianlong's feudal golden age. The novel excels in psychological portrayal, particularly in depicting the insatiable greed, fear, and cruelty of corrupt officials with vivid detail. The descriptions of the battles are even more tragic and magnificent, full of twists and turns, and grand in scale. The work is vast and unrestrained, with a tightly structured plot and a series of suspenseful moments, making it an exceptional historical novel.