by Poon, Alice;
Palace etiquette would ordinarily require that the Emperor move into the Palace of Heavenly Purity after his Imperial wedding, with his Empress installed in the Palace of Earthly Tranquility. Since the Imperial Residence was undergoing major refurbishing, an alternative was necessary and the Imperial Household Department arranged for Kangxi to live temporarily in Wuying Hall in the Outer Court.
Bumbutai was sad to see her grandson move out of Cining Palace, but accepted the fact that her Xuanye was now a grown lad. Besides, she and Xuanye had an important plan up their sleeves. Wuying Hall was ideal as a training ground for young buku (wrestling) guards, as it was located in a quiet and unfrequented corner of the Outer Court. Songgoto, a virtuoso in buku and now the Emperor’s uncle-in-law, was appointed as the chief coach.
After being spurned by the Grand Empress Dowager, and knowing that he could not stop the betrothal, Oboi diverted his attention to more material issues. He issued edicts in his capacity as Regent to squeeze tax revenue from Han peasants and landowners alike and to impose harsh punishments for tax delinquents. This was done in parallel with the enforcement of the involuntary land exchange, which was used as a cover to seize more land from the Hans.
Oboi had always loathed Chinese values and culture and he desired a return of all the special privileges for the Manchu Bannermen that Shunzhi had done away with. His egregious example instigated rampant corruption within the Manchu aristocracy, while at the same time exacerbating the Hans’ resentment toward the rulers.
In one extreme case, one of Oboi’s cronies who, being frustrated with a Han landowner’s inability to pay his tax arrears, abducted his young daughter and forced her to be his concubine. When he tried to violate her, she grabbed a pair of scissors and stabbed herself to death. The news enraged her mother who forced her way into the Manchu aristocrat’s residence, swinging a kitchen cleaver at him and badly wounding him. She was killed by the aristocrat’s guards. Later, the husband reported the case to the local magistrate, who happened to be another in Oboi’s network. He was thrown into jail and subsequently committed suicide.
In eighteen cases, tax delinquents were arrested and beheaded after long trials. In numerous other cases, the offenders were thrown into jail without proper trial. The luckier ones were those who had relatives willing to pay up on their behalf and they were released. Those who lacked any means were left to rot to death in prison. Complaints were useless because many of the senior district official and magistrate posts were occupied by Oboi’s people. Apart from the Yangzhou and Jiangnan tragedies, these were the darkest times for the Hans since the Manchu invasion of China twenty-one years before.
Following his move into Wuying Hall, Kangxi made a habit of going over to Cining Palace every morning to make obeisance to his Nana. On his Nana’s birthday, he rose earlier than usual and took a scroll of his recent calligraphy with him. He made a detour to the Imperial Garden to pick a bunch of lavender lilies, which he placed in a dainty porcelain vase. With bounding steps, he entered the garden of Nana’s Palace and found her seated on a stone bench reading. As he approached her, he hid the scroll and vase of flowers behind his back.
When Bumbutai saw him, she was all smiles as usual. Noticing he was hiding something, she said teasingly:
“Have you got dirty finger nails, Xuanye?”
“Nana, I wish you a happy life like the East Ocean, and longevity like the South Mountain!” he said cheerfully, and knelt on the ground and presented the scroll and lilies to her.
Enraptured and flustered like a young girl, she gazed with misty eyes on him. The sight of the lilies and of her grandson, who bore a strong likeness to Dorgon, transported her back to that magical night under a spangled Mongolian sky. For a flitting moment, she was again that vivacious girl of eleven on horseback. That was forty-two years ago. It took a while for her to collect herself. When she settled down, she unfurled the scroll.
“Xuanye!” she exclaimed in amazement. “Your calligraphy is beautiful. You must have put in a lot of effort. Nana is so proud of you. And you’re such a thoughtful child. I am so very happy. Come and sit close to me.”
“Nana, I remember you told me that Granduncle Dorgon had once given you a drawing of mountain lilies. You still like lilies, don’t you?”
“Yes, yes, I still love them, and I still have that drawing. They have a special meaning for me. Thank you so much for the flowers, Xuanye. So, tell me, how are your buku lessons going?”
“Oh, I love them! I love wrestling with the young guards. I’m smaller than they are, but I often win more points in matches with them.”
“Don’t forget that the guards are being trained for a purpose.”
“No, I won’t forget. They have a special duty to protect you, the Venerable Empress Dowager, my Empress and myself. When the time comes, Uncle Songgoto will assign them a secret mission.….” he glanced around to make sure no one was within earshot. Then he whispered something into her ear.
“I’m so glad you have a good grasp of our plans,” she said.
“I know that Regent Oboi is not a good person and that he is doing harm to our Empire. Sometimes I feel frustrated that he is able to do so many wrong things, levying high taxes on the Hans and seizing their lands. I wish I could stop him. It’s not right to make them suffer. They will only hate us.”
“Where did you hear all this from, Xuanye?” She was surprised that he seemed to be abreast of what was happening.
“Oh, I have my eyes and ears,” he said with a smug look on his face. Bumbutai could guess where he got his information from. The Imperial Household Department was right next to Wuying Hall, and according to Sumalagu’s report, Kangxi liked to spend time around there and chat with Ah Tak and other maids and bondservants with whom he was friendly.
“I must say I am very pleased to see that you have compassion and a keen sense of justice. You must have learned your Analects well,” she said.
“Nana, I have just been reading a book called Extended Meaning of The Great Learning, which is an excellent practical guide for good governance. I need to study the book well.”
“That is excellent, Xuanye. The book was written in the Southern Song Dynasty by Scholar Chen Te-hsiu to expound on The Great Learning. It is a useful guide for emperors. I am so glad you’re studying it.”
“The essence of the book is that in order for an emperor to be fit to rule, he must first cultivate his own person with sincerity, restrain his self-indulgent desires and expose himself to knowledge. It is very inspiring.”
“Those indeed are the golden rules!” Bumbutai exclaimed. “It is a good practical handbook. I wish there were a Manchu translation of it so that our clansmen and Court officials could read it too.” She did not expect her grandson to take her comment to heart.
“Oh, Nana, I wanted to tell you that I plan to issue an edict banning the practice of foot-binding. It puzzles me as to how such a barbarous custom could be allowed to thrive for so long among the Hans. I pity the Han women.”
“Xuanye, I feel much the same way as you. Traditional dogma is a terrible thing, especially when it does obvious harm to people. You have your Nana’s complete support on this.”
Looking at the young lad’s effervescent face, she could perceive an amalgam of Hong Taiji’s brawny audacity, Shunzhi’s agile wit, his mother’s poetic nature and her own equine free spirit. He was the epitome of the finest traits of the three cultures and for the first time she saw in him a glinting ray of hope for a better and more harmonious future for Manchus, Hans and Mongolians alike. It filled her with a pride that she had never felt before. She now could also see more clearly her own role, standing beside her grandson.
In the summer of the fifth year after Shunzhi’s death, Bumbutai decided she must make a move to allow Kangxi to acquire his full imperial powers. She summoned Hung Chili, a Han scholar from the Hanlin Academy and Kangxi’s Chinese teacher, and requeste
d him to draft a memorial proclaiming that on reaching the age of thirteen the following year, Kangxi should follow the precedent set by the late Shunzhi Emperor and be vested with full ruling powers. She specifically instructed him not to mention when the regency should end, so as not to ruffle Oboi. Hung was skilful with words and the memorial was approved by all Four Regents without adverse comment.
The following spring, Sonin’s health deteriorated and one day in late summer, he lost his battle against chronic illness and passed away. Just nine days later, Bumbutai called a meeting of the remaining three Regents together with Kangxi in Cining Palace to discuss the transition of power. Kangxi spoke first.
“On the day before he died, Sonin instructed me with his last breath to prepare myself to take the full powers of Emperor. I have since consulted with the Venerable Grand Empress Dowager, and she has given her approval. As each of you have indicated your consent to the memorial on this topic, I am now seeking your confirmation so that the proper rituals can be arranged.”
Suksaha, who had become tired of the constant dueling with Oboi, was only too glad to support Kangxi.
“Your Imperial Highness,” he said. “I have been waiting impatiently for this day to come for a long time. You have been married now for two years, and I see no reason for further delay.”
Oboi was silent for a long while. Then he snarled: “If that is Your Imperial Highness’s wish, so be it.”
His curt declaration was echoed by Ebilun, who was over all a cautious man. Bumbutai then added a note of caution:
“The Kangxi Emperor is still an inexperienced youth,” she said. “He will need the assistance of all of you.”
To that remark, the three Regents vowed to give whatever support and advice was needed. Grasping that as a cue, Bumbutai immediately summoned Hung Chili, and when he appeared invited him to select an auspicious day for the ceremony to mark Kangxi’s assuming full reigning powers.
Having been well prepared and feeling confident in the presence of the Grand Empress Dowager, he promptly named the day four days hence. Oboi, teeth clenched, made no comment.
On the appointed day, thirteen-year-old Kangxi was bestowed with full imperial power in an elaborate ceremony held in the Hall of Supreme Harmony, in the presence of the Grand Empress Dowager, the Empress Dowager, the three Regents, the full Court, the Eight Manchu, Mongol and Han Banner Chiefs and the Aisin Gioro clansmen. With that accomplished, Suksaha immediately wrote a letter to the Emperor begging to be allowed to retire to his hometown due to ill health. With Sonin, his only ally, gone, he thought it best to withdraw from the Court battlefield. But in a twist of fate, his letter fell into the hands of one of Oboi’s spies planted in Suksaha’s residence.
Oboi had long hated Suksaha because of his opposition to the land exchange policy. With Suksaha’s injudicious letter now in hand, he was ready to fabricate charges against his enemy, using the Privy Council to give the semblance of legality to the proceedings. He ordered the Privy Council members to conduct an investigation into Suksaha’s “motives” for requesting retirement, and in the end, they came up with twenty four criminal charges, including the treasonous charges of “breaching the trust of the late Emperor” and “being contemptuous of the young Emperor”. The Council found Suksaha guilty on all twenty four charges and recommended that both he and his son and heir be executed by slicing, while his other sons and grandson should be beheaded. It also recommended that their respective family members be enslaved and to have the Imperial Guards under Suksaha demoted to the ranks.
In the Audience Hall, the Privy Council presented its findings and recommendations on Suksaha’s case to Kangxi. And so the young Emperor found himself facing his first test in Court politics.
With his keen eyes, he could easily see through Oboi’s tricks. Yet he was stumped when the Privy Council claimed the charges were substantiated by so-called witnesses, who undoubtedly belonged in Oboi’s venal cabal. At his tender age, he had never encountered anyone more vicious than Oboi. Inexperience made him hesitate, but all eyes were on him and he had to make a decision.
“Suksaha has served me well as a Regent,” he said “He does not deserve to die.”
Oboi responded with a contemptuous smirk.
“Your Imperial Highness is too young to know right from wrong,” he shouted. “You should respect the decision of your Privy Council.”
The young Emperor leapt from his dragon throne, rage at Oboi’s impertinence inflaming his face.
“I am the Emperor!” he shouted. “You will do as I say. I find Suksaha not guilty of any of the charges brought against him. That is all!” He strode angrily out of the hall and back to his temporary residence in Wuying Hall.
Oboi grinned slyly. The Imperial Jade Seal was still with him, and he had control over many of the Banner troops and had allies at all levels of government. The Emperor had no power over him. With no hesitation, he issued an edict in Kangxi’s name affirming the Privy Council’s guilty verdict and sentences. In order to make the edict look more like it had come from the Emperor, he added a clause of mercy commuting the sentence from death by slicing to death by strangulation. But whatever the method of execution, Suksaha and his male heirs perished, and his followers under the Plain White were ruthlessly purged.
When Kangxi heard of what had happened, remorse and guilt roiled inside him. He knew he had acted too impetuously in the Audience Hall. Crushed by his error, he now called to mind his Nana’s written advice: “Be cautious in your behavior and words”. By losing his temper, he had caused unjustified deaths and suffering. For the first time, he felt the massive weight of responsibility that came with the throne .
Having thus learned a harsh lesson in Court politics, he swore to himself that he would from now on move as cautiously as a steppe wolf. He remembered reading in Genghis Khan’s journal that “Victory does not come to the one who plays by the rules; it comes to the one who makes the rules and imposes them on his enemy”. He was going to defeat Oboi his own way.
The following year, the Emperor’s Residence in the Palace of Heavenly Purity was ready for occupation and Kangxi moved back into it. By now Songgoto’s team of young guards, whose first duty was to protect the Emperor from any possible action that Oboi might initiate, were trained to perfection in agility and physical prowess. In order to allow Oboi to become accustomed to the presence of the young guards, Kangxi purposely arranged for them to practice buku inside the Audience Hall on a daily basis, even when Court meetings were in session. He would often join in the practice, which was made to look like a sportive game for youngsters. Oboi’s initial circumspection gradually gave way to cynical dismissal, regarding them as a bunch of frisky kids indulging in mindless romps.
Twenty-six
Bumbutai knew there was deep dissatisfaction amongst Han officials with Oboi, as he had tried his utmost to limit their influence and cut their numbers in Court.
In one of their early morning meetings in her garden, Bumbutai listened to Kangxi’s lament over the deaths of Suksaha and his family, and she posed him a question.
“Xuanye, you know very well who your enemy is. But do you know who your friends are?”
“I don’t feel like I have any friends, Nana. Sometimes I feel very alone. It seems everybody is afraid of speaking up in Court.” The young Emperor was dejected, his brow wrinkled.
“My dear child, you always have Nana right behind you. I will always be your best friend. There is no reason to feel alone. Have you forgotten that your enemy himself has many enemies? His enemies cannot but be your friends.” She patted his hand lightly.
“You mean the Han officials in Court?”
“Yes. All they need is your tacit support and they will rally to you. Trust me, they have been longing to be your friend and ally. But unless you take the initiative, they will never dare to show their devotion, lest you should rebuff them. They are not without influ
ence on judicial and administration matters.”
“How come I never thought of that before! Nana, you are a life saver! And on the military side, I have Gabula, Songgoto, Mingju and Tuhai, who are all very loyal to me.”
Kangxi’s eyes glittered with excitement, his self confidence beginning to bounce back.
Bumbutai then suggested he call on Father Verbiest to conduct a full investigation into Father Schall von Bell’s case in order to exonerate the latter, so that Shunzhi’s Mafa could be given a proper state funeral. Such an investigation, apart from being justified, could also be a cover for a counter-attack against Oboi’s allies.
“This is all for the purpose of laying the ground work, Xuanye. Ultimately, our single most important objective is to bring down Oboi. He and his clique hang over us like a dagger.”
“I know, Nana. I’m only waiting for the right moment.”
“When the need arises, don’t hesitate to use his own dirty tricks on him. If he can plant spies, so can you, Xuanye,” she said, lightly sowing the idea in his mind.
In the months that followed, Kangxi quietly gave orders to Scholar Hung from the Grand Secretariat to gather evidence of Oboi’s corruption, his rigging of bureaucracy appointments, his interception of memorials to the Emperor and his organization of a private clique to deliberate on state matters. He was to write a memorial listing all of Oboi’s crimes, elaborating on how such crimes had led to a demoralized and non-functioning Court, and suggesting sweeping reforms.
When the memorial was read out in Court, Oboi appeared unfazed.
“Your Imperial Highness, who was it that wrote this memorial?” he asked in his usual condescending manner.
“It was Scholar Hung from the Grand Secretariat.”
“I request that Your Imperial Highness order the immediate execution of this insolent character, “ Oboi shouted, his eyes smoldering with fury. “How dare he insult me and smear my name thus? I once saved your grandfather’s life on the battlefield and risked my own in numerous battles. Have you forgotten that? Is this how you treat an old loyal servant?”
