Is Hong Chengchou a "traitor" or a "heritor"?

Hong Chengchou, once carried a lot of notoriety, such as "traitor" and "traitor", even Emperor Qianlong classified him as a "second minister". Naturally, there are praises and criticisms for his evaluation. Here are a few:

Huang Daozhou: "His Bi Liufang, although he is not famous, he can finally be law; Hong En is majestic, and he cannot avenge the country and become an enemy."

Xiao Yishan: ""It has been a long-standing reputation for a long time, and it is rare to see faults in his life. Once he turns, it will be unexpected. If we judge from the concept of a nation-state, it seems to be human nature, but in the era of autocratic monarchy, we will inevitably be ashamed of the second minister. "

Sun Yat-sen: "The five races compete for the big festival, and the Chinese are brilliant. No one knows how good a creature is. After returning to the Central Plains, the Han Dynasty lived for a long time. Wen Xiangtao's strategy, An Yi changed his clothes. ”

……

But in different eras and different historical environments, the same person is often evaluated differently. With the declining national prejudice, the Chinese nation’s big family concept is becoming stronger, Hong Chengchou His historical notoriety has gradually disappeared, and his historical achievements have gradually become known. Objectively speaking, Hong Chengchou has made certain contributions to the country and the people after entering the Qing Dynasty.

Zhaofu Jiangnan, and his success

After Qing entered the Pass, Li Zicheng's army ran to Henan and Shaanxi. After retreating from Huguang, the regent Dorgon, in March of the second year of Shunzhi (1645), ordered the Prince of Henan, Duoduo, who was in Henan, to lead his army south to attack Nanming. In May, the Qing army wiped out the regime of King Nan Mingfu. The good news spread to Beijing, and Dorgon was dazzled by the victory. He believed that the world had already been set. Apart from renovating palaces and deciding official uniforms, he brazenly implemented a national high-pressure policy. Mandatory implementation of the haircut order to show that the people of the Central Plains were all surrendered to the Qing Dynasty.

Although the Manchu aristocratic ruling group made the wrong decision to enforce the haircut order, it also made a deliberate decision. It was to appoint Hong Chengchou to Jiangning to preside over the recruitment affairs.

The appointment of Hong Chengchou was negotiated by the kings Baylor. In the early Qing Dynasty, when Dorgon was regent, the Conference of Kings Baylor played a decision-making role on major issues of the Qing court. The appointment of someone to recruit and care in the south of the Yangtze River is of course subject to the consent of the king of political affairs, and it is not an arbitrary decision by Dorgon. There are roughly several reasons for this choice:

1, Hong Chengchou is a Jinshi A scholar from Jiangnan

Hong Chengchou was born in Nan'an, Quanzhou, Fujian (now Nan'an City, Quanzhou), and was ranked 17th among the top two scholars in the forty-fourth year of Wanli (1616). Hong Chengchou. After graduating from the Jinshi, he served as the chief of the Ministry of Criminal Affairs in the capital. During the Tianqi years, he served as a scholar in Liangzhe and was in charge of the education and examination of students in Liangzhe. In other words, Hong Chengchou was an examiner for the students of Liangzhe and was among Jiangnan scholars. Has a certain prestige.

2, Hong Chengchou is an influential scholar

Hong Chengchou is the previous principal, scholarship, and envoy of the Ming Dynasty Participate in meetings, supervise food and politics. In the fourth year of Chongzhen (1631), governor of the three sides of Shaanxi; supervised military affairs in Shanchuan Lake, Henan for seven years, added the title of Prince Taibao and the Ministry of War; 12 years, he was appointed Governor of Jiliao. Visible, Hong Chengchou He had a lofty status in the Ming Dynasty. Because Hong Chengchou had irreplaceable influence from others, the Manchu aristocratic ruling group asked him to go and caress Jiangnan.

3, Hong Chengchou has been tested and regarded as a credible person by the Qing court.

After Hong Chengchou was captured and brought to the Qing Dynasty, his "utility" soon became apparent, and Zu Dashou took the initiative to surrender. Later, Wu Sangui's haircut and return in the battle of Shanhaiguan had a considerable influence.

After the Qing Dynasty entered the customs, in view of Hong Chengchou's significant effectiveness, the Qing government ordered him to "still use the Ministry of War as a book with the inner court to assist in military affairs." In this way, Hong Chengchou, who was a prisoner of war, entered the central organization of the Qing court. This is even higher than his position as manager and governor in the Ming Dynasty.

Hong Chengchou worked as a bachelor of the Academy of Internal Secretary together with Fan Wencheng in the central administrative organization of the Qing court. He was in charge of drafting edicts and foreign documents and became a trusted scribe in the Qing court. In June of the second year of Shunzhi, the Qing government formally ordered that "Hong Chengchou, a scholar, recruits Jiangnan provinces", and casts the "Seal of Zhaofu Southern Governor of Military Affairs University".

Later, Dorgon issued an edict to Hong Chengchou, granting him extensive powers, such as misconduct against his officials in war or political affairs, "Civil officials below grade 5 and military officers below deputy generals are all engaged in military law. Dao and other officials, Fei Zhang participated in the contest." It was clearly stated: "Jiangning, Jiangxi, Huguang and the provinces in the future will be subject to restraint." Among the Han officials in the early Qing Dynasty, Hong Chengchou was a high-ranking and prominent.

After Hong Chengchou arrived in Jiangning, the fight against the Ming clan’s restoration activities became his top priority in appeasing Jiangnan. In the Ming Dynasty, the king of Tang Dynasty Zhu Yujian ruled Fujian, the king of Lu Zhuyi regained Shaoxing, the king of Gaoan Zhu Changqi ruled Huizhou, and the clan ruled Raozhou in the name of King Jinhua, ruled Liyang in the name of King Le'an, and prospered in the name of King Ruichang. Hua, Jintan, united with certain forces in the north and south in an attempt to capture Nanjing.

In February of the third year of Shunzhi, Hong Chengchou used troops to lure the second son of "Fanshan King" Zhu Shukai and cut him off. King Le'an, King Ruichang, and others joined forces with 20,000 to attack Nanjing. Hong Chengchou resolutely counterattacked and won the victory. After persuasion was invalid, his leader was executed.

These actions show Hong Chengchou's loyalty to the Manchu aristocracy, and also make it difficult for the conservative Manchu aristocracy to fault. However, it is impossible for Hong Chengchou, who is a prisoner of war, to be the minister of the military state and sit on his side. It is impossible to get the full understanding and support of the Manchus, especially the nobles, especially the mentality of the military aristocrats is more difficult to balance. Soon, the conservative nobles finally had the opportunity to "provoke" Hong Chengchou.

Stuck in the trial, standing undefeated

In April of the fourth year of Shunzhi (1647), Bashan, the commander of the Eight Banners Army stationed in Jiangning, intercepted the Minglu Wang Feng Hongcheng, and killed the Eight Banners general. The anti-interview letter was reported to the court. The Qing court said: "Because Qing and others are all powerful ministers of our country, we are trying to sink in the dark. How can I fall into this villain's plan?" This statement is still trusting in Hong Chengchou.

In October, Bashan seized the monk letter issued by Hong Chengchou to the pass, and brought the letter from King Nanming Fu to Hong Chengchou for interrogation. This provocation put Hong Chengchou in a passive and disadvantaged position. He brought the matter to the court and said he avoided the case.

This case is different from the previous one. It involved Hong Chengchou personally issuing the certificate. The Qing court handed Hong Chengchou to the ministry, and the official believed that he was dismissed because of his dismissal. Dorgon was still higher, with Hong Chengchou's commendable performance, and decreed that he should be exempted. Although sanctions were exempted, this important minister was undoubtedly a blow.

In view of this, Hong Chengchou, "using all the invaders in the south of the Yangtze River and the seas to be flattened", asked his father to be relieved of his filial piety on the grounds that he died of illness in his hometown. Go back to work as a bachelor. It should be said that this is a decision made by the Qing court and Hong Chengchou to understand each other.

In December of the seventh year of Shunzhi, Dorgon died of illness, and Emperor Shunzhi was in charge. Emperor Shunzhi immediately declared Dorgon a crime and cut off his party members. Hong Chengchou, as an important minister of Dorgon, was detached from the internal struggle of the Manchu aristocratic ruling group. In February of the eighth year, Hong Chengchou was appointed to the Imperial Palace. But soon after, a dispute within the officialdom came to him.

In May of the eighth year of Shunzhi, someone impeached Hong Chengchou without request and sent his mother back to his hometown of Fujian, and then accused him and Shangshu Chen Mingxia and others for "confidential escape". The Emperor Shunzhi ordered a thorough investigation. Although the sentence of fleeing was nothing, it was true that he sent his mother home without a request. The final result is "retaining responsibility for the aftereffects", which is another beating against Hong Chengchou.

Lao Ji Fu Ting, Ping Ding Southwest

In July of the Ninth Year of Shunzhi (1652), the Qing army captured Guilin and Kong Youde, King of Dingnan, was forced to commit suicide. In November, General Dingyuan Cautious Prince Nikan died in an ambush in Hengzhou. The death of the two princes caused a severe blow to the Manchu ruling group, and it was necessary to select important ministers to preside over military affairs in the southwest. Emperor Shunzhi had to take advantage of the banner of Hong Chengchou to grant him the title of the five provinces of Hunan, Guangdong, Guangxi, Yunnan, and Guizhou.Historical title in order to implement military and political power.

When Hong Chengchou accepted this appointment, he felt that: "The minister is more than sixty years old, and it is reasonable to retire. It is a special appointment to the manager." , he knows why the Qing court values ​​himself more He also understands the status of the word "Fu" in Pingding Southwest.

"Keep away from the thief party and break the heart of the other side" is an important strategy for Hong Chengchou to calm the Southwest. At that time, after the Daxi peasant army won a certain victory in the struggle against the Qing Dynasty, internal conflicts intensified. Zhang Xianzhong's adopted descendants were expected to be defeated by Li Dingguo. Because of the high reputation of Hong Chengchou, he asked Hong to surrender. Sun Kewang was once named the King of Qin by Emperor Yongli of Nanming, and he was quite famous in Nanming and the peasant army.

Although Hong Chengchou requested permission to return to Beijing due to his illness, he still took the matter as a major issue. He reported the matter to the court and immediately reported it to the Eight Banners General, asking him to find out the situation and deal with it together. In the end, Sun Kewang came to the Qing Dynasty and was renamed the "King of Righteousness". In this way, the Qing court decided to take this opportunity to quickly march into Guizhou and Yunnan, and hit the enemy's confidant.

In addition, Hong Chengchou also attached great importance to fighting for the upper-class members of ethnic minorities such as Tusi. He also enlightened the Tusi who temporarily attached to the Western Army or held a wait-and-see attitude towards the Qing Dynasty to urge them to submit. Obviously, in the eyes of the chieftains, Hong Chengchou was the banner of their submission to the Qing court. They quickly gave up resistance and returned to the Qing dynasty after receiving Hong Chengchou's enrollment.

In the military struggle to pacify the southwestern region, Hong Chengchou also tried to reduce the burden of food and labor servitude of the Han people and brothers, and compensated. This kind of generous economic compensation ensured the supply of food for the troops, and also pacified many local fraternal peoples, and enabled the Qing army to advance smoothly and establish local power.

Lao Jimao, received the feudal position

On the first month of the sixteenth year of Shunzhi (1659), the army of the Qing court entered Yunnan and declared victory in Pingding Southwest. However, the rest of Li Dingguo had not completely lost combat effectiveness, and Emperor Yongli was also on the run. For the five provinces, there was still much to do. In October, Hong Chengchou pleaded with eye disease to be relieved of his managerial appointment and was allowed to return to Beijing. For Hong Chengchou, it was an important decision to accept as soon as he saw it, and it was far-sighted, and it drew a clear line with Pingxi Wang Wu Sangui's disobedience.

In the first month of the eighteenth year of Shunzhi (1661), Emperor Shunzhi died of illness. Emperor Kangxi was young and was governed by four ministers. In May, Hong Chengchou requested retirement. The court agreed and decreed that: "Hong Chengchou has worked in Jiangnan, Huguang, Yungui and other places since Taizong's enlightenment for many years. Remuneration should be compatible with hereditary official positions."

This is already very rare for the four ministers. At that time, the Manchu aristocratic group was correcting the atmosphere of reusing Han officials, but it still wanted to grant Hong Chengchou the world position. In the decree, Hong Chengchou was called Taizong's "graciousness" is actually the euphemism for captives. However, because of his "prosperous work", he was only awarded the title of "Guardian of Fu, underpaid" just like other Han scholars. According to the ministerial meeting, Hong Chengchou was finally awarded the third-class Adahhafan, which was translated into the third-class captain of light vehicles.

Obviously, this third-class captain of the light car is very low for Hong Chengchou's merits, but in the view of the Manchu nobles, giving a grace to the Han is an exception. In February of the 4th year of Kangxi (1665), Hong Chengchou died in Beijing. The Qing court gave a burial and posthumous posthumous title Wenxiang according to the rule. As a banner of the union of Manchu and Han, Hong Chengchou served as an example.

Said at the end: Hong Chengchou rebelled against Ming and surrendered to Qing. From the perspective of traditional concepts, it is a big loss. But from another point of view, he conformed to the trend of the times, and in the process of enrolling and facilitating the south of the Yangtze River and calming down the southwest, he relatively reduced the poison brought by the war to the general public. In exchange for a person's "notoriety" for the well-being of thousands of people, why not even a "traitor"?