Chapter 96: The Dim‑Witted Monarch List, Rank Ten — Aisin Gioro Hongli

The Great Tang, during Li Shimin's reign.

Li Shimin stroked his beard, puzzled, and said:

"The Qing dynasty, Aisin Gioro? Is that a Hu surname? It seems not my Han dynasty."

"This Qianlong Emperor, being able to ascend the Central Plains as a Hu, must have extraordinary qualities; how could he rank tenth on the list of dim‑witted monarchs?"

Fang Xuanling pondered, "Your Majesty, perhaps it is precisely because of his Hu identity and poor governance that he receives such an appraisal."

Du Ruhui shook his head, "Without seeing his faults, we cannot conclude; let us see what the heavens say."

Cheng Yaojin laughed boisterously, "Whether Hu or Han, being on the dim‑witted monarch list is disgraceful; old Cheng loves to watch this!"

【Reason for ranking: Qianlong, this emperor who boasts of being the "Ten‑Complete Elder" of a flourishing age, is actually the Qing Empire's "primary responsible party" for its shift from prosperity to decline.】

He personally squandered the national strength accumulated over the Kangxi and Yongzheng generations, covering the fatal wound of "closed‑door isolation" with the hollow fame of "Ten‑Complete Martial Arts," thereby laying the groundwork for a century of humiliation in modern China.】

"Ten‑Complete Elder? What a bold claim!"

Ying Zheng first sneered, "I alone eradicated the Six States, unified the world, standardized script and wheels, yet I never dared call myself 'Ten‑Complete.' What virtues or abilities does this man have?"

Liu Bang smacked his lips, "The primary responsible party for the shift from prosperity to decline? That's a harsh assessment, pinning him straight onto the pillar of disgrace."

"The Kangxi and Yongzheng generations? Looks like his ancestors did well, but he squandered it? Tsk tsk, a typical prodigal."

Liu Che's eyes were sharp, "Squandering reserves? That is a grave taboo for a ruler!"

"With an empty treasury, how can one raise troops, repel enemies, or provide disaster relief? Foolish!"

Li Shimin, however, seized another point,

"Laying the groundwork for a century of humiliation in modern China? Modern China? A hundred years of humiliation?"

His expression grew solemn, "Future generations of China, to face such calamity? Is it linked to this man?"

Wei Zheng immediately said, "Your Majesty! This is a warning bell; if governance is flawed, the disaster will be bequeathed to later ages, and even a fleeting prosperity cannot escape eternal infamy!"

Qing dynasty, during the Kangxi era.

"Bang!"

Kangxi slammed his fist onto the imperial desk, shaking the brushes, ink, paper, and inkstone into a chaotic jitter.

"Scoundrel, 'Ten‑Complete Elder'? Who gave him the face to call himself ten‑complete!"

"Squandering the national strength of the Kangxi and Yongzheng generations? Kang… is me, Yong…"

His fierce gaze suddenly shot toward Yinzheng.

Yinzheng (Yongzheng) felt a buzzing in his mind at that moment: Kangxi and Yongzheng generations, Yong… could it be himself?

The hard‑won legacy he painstakingly built, was it squandered by that wayward son Hongli…?

And become the primary responsible party for the shift from prosperity to decline?

His vision went black, and he almost lost his footing.

Crown Prince Yinreng's face turned utterly expressionless,

Although the heavens did not name 'Yong,' his father's gaze…

He furtively glanced at his expressionless fourth brother, and a strange sense of balance rose within him,

"Old fourth, oh old fourth, your son really gave you a 'long face'!"

The other princes also caught on, their gazes toward Yinzheng filled with sympathy, relief, and an unmistakable appetite for the spectacle.

You always pretended to be diligent and serious, a capable figure, only to produce a 'primary responsible' son!

This truly is… hilarious!

Even though one cannot laugh out loud, it's so hard to hold it in!

【Mistake One: Closed‑door isolation, locking the nation's destiny

Qianlong's greatest blunder was his outright refusal in 1793 of the British Macartney mission's request for trade.

Facing the wave of the Western Industrial Revolution, he chose the arrogance of the 'Celestial Empire,' shutting the world out.】

"1793? Britain? Macartney? Industrial Revolution?"

The wise of each dynasty quickly grasped these unfamiliar terms.

Ying Zheng frowned, "Britain, a western country? Why refuse a trade request? Commerce and trade, prosperous mercantilism, are the foundation of a strong nation."

"In former times, merchant‑kings valued agriculture and trade; this fellow actually turned away commerce that came to his door? Foolish!"

Liu Bang scratched his head, "What is an Industrial Revolution? Sounds impressive—steam engine? Heat water and the machine moves on its own?"

"If that's true, how much labor would be saved in farming, weaving, and transporting goods!"

"Is Qianlong a fool? Refusing good things?"

Liu Che, however, keenly seized the military point,

"British warships are equipped with cannons, while the Qing forces still wield cold weapons? Half a century later… the Opium War?"

He suddenly rose, a cold glint flashing in his eyes,

"Passively opening the national gates, signing unequal treaties, losing power and national dignity?!"

"Future China fell to this state precisely because of refusing trade and self‑secluding?"

Wei Qing and Huo Qubing also wore solemn faces; as strategists, they knew all too well the decisive impact of equipment disparity in war.

Li Shimin was deeply distressed,

"Foolishness, how foolish!"

"In my earlier years I established the Honglu Temple to welcome all nations, to exchange goods, for only then could the Tang have its grandeur!"

"This Qianlong shut the world out, arrogance and ignorance—this is a path to death!"

He turned to Wei Zheng and others,

"Gentlemen, a blood‑stained lesson for posterity! Our great Tang must never repeat the same mistake!"

Wei Zheng bowed deeply, "Your Majesty is wise! Openness and tolerance are the true path of a strong nation. Closing off and defending oneself is nothing but self‑destruction of the Great Wall!"

Cheng Yaojin muttered: "That Qianlong old fool must have had his brain squeezed in a door—others bring fun things to his door, and he drives them away?"

"If I, Old Cheng, came across such a good thing, I'd have snatched it… uh, I mean, I'd have invited them in!"

Great Ming, Zhu Yuanzhang's era.

Zhu Yuanzhang was so angry his bristles stood straight up,

"Closing the gates and locking the country, locking our fate? Our Great Ming also had a sea ban, but it was mainly to guard against Japanese pirates!"

"This Qianlong, on the other hand, simply barred all foreigners from entering!"

"The Western Industrial Revolution… sounds like a great flourishing of craftsman's techniques—this is an opportunity to become strong! Yet he missed it entirely."

"How could we have such a dimwitted descendant? No, he's a Tatar emperor, not our descendant—bah!"

Zhu Biao pondered: "Father Emperor, it seems that in foreign relations we need balance—we must guard against danger beforehand, yet we cannot give up eating because of a choke, missing good opportunities."

Zhu Di's eyes gleamed: "Western… cannons… warships… I, your subject, feel that overseas there is great potential!"

The seed of his longing for the sea in his heart began to grow wildly.

Qing dynasty, during the Kangxi years.

"1793… that was over a hundred years later."

Kangxi murmured, his face dark enough to drip water,

"Refusing British trade… the Industrial Revolution… technological lag… military backwardness…"

Each word struck his heart like a heavy hammer.

"My grandson… the emperor of the Great Qing… just because of arrogance, refused the chance to understand the world and learn advanced ways?"

"Then he let his descendants fight foreign cannons and warships with spears and halberds, ending up forced to sign a treaty that surrendered sovereignty and brought humiliation?"

Kangxi's voice trembled, the manifestation of extreme anger.

"Grandfather Emperor, calm your anger! This is merely later generations' commentary, not necessarily true!"

Yinreng quickly urged, although he himself felt these words were pale and powerless.

"Not necessarily true?"

Kangxi glared at him fiercely, his eyes blazing with fury,

"The heavenly record is divine; earlier, when listing the supreme emperors of all ages, every entry was factual. Now, when listing the dim rulers, how could it be false!"

"Yinreng! Even now you still defend your rebellious son?!"

Yinreng was terrified out of his wits, kowtowing repeatedly: "I, your subject, dare not! I, your subject, dare not!"

Yinzhen (Yongzheng) clenched his fists tightly, nails digging into his palms.

"Hongli… you not only ruined the family, you also misgoverned the state, you have placed our Huaxia in what position, you have made my Aisin Gioro clan become eternal sinners!"