Great Reformer Yongzheng: Record of Opposing Interest Groups

Author: Mei Chaorong / Country: Mainland China
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2006-08-01
Features: Twice deposed. After the Kangxi Emperor deposed his heir apparent, Yin Ren, a chaotic struggle for succession among the princes erupted. If a new heir were not quickly appointed, the conflict would escalate further, and such turmoil would contradict the established custom of having a designated heir. This necessitated the Kangxi Emperor's reappointment of an heir. As for the candidate, the Kangxi Emperor was dissatisfied with all options. Although Yin Xi had talent and was of appropriate age and status, the Emperor could not tolerate the scheming of others like Yin Xun and Yin Xi, fearing the rise of another "Heir Faction." Appointing someone other than Yin Xi would have disappointed the court and likely led to resentment among the princes. After much deliberation, the Kangxi Emperor concluded that the only viable solution was to restore Yin Ren. In the 48th year of the Kangxi era (1709), six months after his second deposition, the Kangxi Emperor reinstated Yin Ren. However, after his reinstatement, Yin Ren did not reform but instead quickly gathered allies, expanded his influence, and soon amassed a circle of close ministers around him. He continued his extravagant and debauched lifestyle, often sending his servants to extort tribute and beautiful women from wealthy regions across the provinces. Regarding Yin Ren's unlawful behavior, the Kangxi Emperor, from the perspective of maintaining social stability, repeatedly compromised, but Yin Ren remained unrepentant. In October of the 50th year of the Kangxi era (1711), the Emperor, unable to endure any longer, ordered the interrogation of the members of the "Heir Faction." A year later, he issued an edict condemning Yin Ren's crimes and deposed him again.
After Yin Ren's second deposition, the struggle for succession reached a fever pitch. As soon as the Kangxi Emperor made the decision to depose the heir apparent, the eldest prince, Yin Dui, eagerly stepped forward, vying to take his place. Yin Dui was already 36 years old, but since he was not the son of the Empress Consort, he could not become the heir apparent. In the early years of the Kangxi era, he also had a powerful backing—Prime Minister Mingzhu. Mingzhu, Yin Dui's maternal uncle, had long been resentful of Yin Ren's appointment as heir and allied himself with Grand Secretary Yu Guozhu and several ministers in the court to oppose the "Heir Faction." The Kangxi Emperor quickly discovered his actions and, in the 27th year of the Kangxi era (1688), dismissed Mingzhu and his associates on charges of factionalism. As a result, Yin Dui lost his major patron and the Kangxi Emperor's favor and trust.
However, Yin Ren did not let the matter rest. On the surface, he complied with his father's orders, but inwardly, he harbored great ambitions for the position of heir apparent and secretly opposed Yin Ren, sowing discord between the Emperor and the heir. After Yin Dui's second deposition, the Kangxi Emperor appointed Yin Ren to protect the imperial family; after imprisoning Yin Ren, he also tasked him with overseeing Yin Dui's actions. This arrangement made Yin Ren mistakenly believe that his fortunes had turned, and he once secretly suggested to the Kangxi Emperor that if his father wanted Yin Dui dead but feared public opinion, he could take matters into his own hands, thus shielding the Emperor from any blame. A brother so eager to kill his own brother! The Kangxi Emperor was shocked upon hearing this. This bloodthirsty plan deeply wounded the Emperor's already frayed nerves. The Emperor immediately saw through his scheme and recognized his cruelty, publicly condemning him as "impetuous, foolish, and utterly unsuitable to be the heir apparent."
Seeing that the succession was no longer within his reach, Yin Ren sought advice from Taoist priests, attempting to use sorcery to regain his position. When his plot was exposed, the Kangxi Emperor imprisoned him in the high walls. P9-10