Emperor Jiaqing was assassinated in Shenwumen. What happened in the Qing Dynasty?

The so-called "prosperous period of Kanggan" experienced more than 100 years after the Qing Dynasty entered the customs, and there were signs of prosperity and decline in the late Qianlong period. During the prosperous period of Kanggan, due to the rapid population growth, a large number of people could not engage in agricultural production and lost their jobs. The prevalence of folk secret associations and peasant uprisings, such as the famous Anbailian Uprising in Qianlong and Jiaqing years, showed the ruling crisis of the Qing Dynasty. Although the assassination of Emperor Jiaqing in the eighth year of Jiaqing was an accidental case, it was inevitable.

Portrait of Emperor Jiaqing

On February 20th, the eighth year of Jiaqing, Emperor Jiaqing returned to the Forbidden City from Yuanmingyuan to fast. On the same day, Emperor Jiaqing took a royal sedan chair from Shenwumen as usual, ready to enter Shunzhen Gate. At this moment, suddenly a big man with a knife came out of the west wing of Shenwumen and rushed to the royal sedan chair of Emperor Jiaqing. At this time, Jiaqing Emperor's entourage followed 100 people, but no one came forward to stop him. The man approached Jiaqing emperor, crackling. Wang Mian, the nephew of Emperor Jiaqing, got engaged and rushed forward. Someone stabbed Mianen with a knife, and Mianen bled profusely. Mian En stepped forward to protect the Lord and bought time for other guards and followers. Imperial guards Zaktar, Jurkhana, Harqin Gongdanbadoji and others swarmed around him. Emperor Jiaqing's royal sedan chair can get off smoothly and enter Shunzhen Gate. Harqin Gongdanbaduoqi was injured in three places. After fierce fighting, the man was finally captured.

Restoration map of Yuanmingyuan

Afterwards, the news of Jiaqing Emperor's assassination spread like wildfire. In the Forbidden City, the most heavily guarded city in the Qing Dynasty, there was an assassination of the emperor. At that time, from princes and ministers to ordinary people, it was natural to talk about it. Emperor Jiaqing ordered the Minister of Military Affairs and the Ministry of Punishment to strictly investigate this person and related personnel. It turns out that this man's name is Chen De, a Beijinger, and he was born in poverty. His wife died and he has two sons. Unable to find a job for a long time, Chen Deben intended to take the initiative to die, but in order to die vigorously, he had the idea of assassinating the emperor. On the 20th, Chen De and his eldest son went to Shenwumen. After seeing the arrival of Emperor Jiaqing, Chen De stabbed to death with a short knife, ready to be hacked to death by guards. Chen De's eldest son ran home in a panic.

Today's Forbidden City Shenwumen

Interrogation ministers did not believe the absurd reason why Chen De assassinated him. Torture him day and night and ask him if he has inspired him. Chen De insisted that he had no choice but to die. When the case was closed, Emperor Jiaqing believed Chen De's confession and attributed it to "the world is big and ubiquitous". In this case, Emperor Jiaqing only ordered the execution of Chen Deling and his two sons, and did not implicate nine tribes. Judging from the intention of Emperor Jiaqing to this case, he did not take this case to heart, but still wanted to be a benevolent monarch who was diligent and loved the people. However, Chen De is just one of countless unemployed people, who are born in poverty and have no way out. This case is a warning to the crisis of the Qing dynasty, which is inevitable by accident.