Never look into the Nine-Son Succession War until you watch this video!

Behind the grandeur and solemnity of the Forbidden City, a place that should have been the most orderly of all. In the late Kangxi era, a bloody struggle for the throne erupted among the princes, throwing the imperial court into violent turmoil. Though the outcome of that struggle is known, the tragic ending and the mysteries before, during, and after the succession edict was announced, have repeatedly led historians and the Chinese people to revisit and investigate. In the end, who was truly Kangxi's chosen successor? Welcome to the 8 Emperor's Chinese History Records. A Bitter Decision Initially, Emperor Kangxi designated Crown Prince Yingring as his future successor, as he was the eldest surviving prince to reach adulthood, and the only direct imperial son of Kangxi. He was also Kangxi's only surviving son with On June 16, Lunar Calendar, 1674, when Yingring was just 10 days old, the Empress passed away. The Emperor, grieving for his young, motherless son, personally raised and taught the heir, thanks to his father's education, which was renowned for its immense erudition, and later the guidance of famed scholars such as Zhang Yi, Li Guangdi, and Xiang Sili. Yingring early on became a prodigy, known from childhood for his intelligence, love of learning, and mastery of both civil and martial arts. He was not only versed in the classics, poetry, and various schools of thought, but also proficient in Manchu and horsemanship. Fluent in Chinese, Manchu, and Mongolian, and early on displayed talent for statecraft. As he grew, he several times acted as regent, relieving some of the burden on Kangxi. This reassured Kangxi, who then decided to appoint Yingring as Crown Prince. On December 13, Lunar Calendar, in the 14th year of Kangxi, that is 1675. At the age of not yet two, a grand ceremony was held at Taihe Hall to invest Yingring as Crown Prince. It was thought that from then on, Yingring's future as Emperor was secured. But soon after, as his younger sons came of age, and the Emperor assigned them various posts, they earned merits and gathered their own followings. That was also when the tension between the Emperor, the Crown Prince, and the Princes grew increasingly intense. In the 42nd year of Kangxi, that is 1703, Su Ertu, a loyal subordinate of the Crown Prince, was convicted of discussing state affairs and forming cliques for reckless actions. His entire family was imprisoned and he later died. The ministers Ma Ertu, Xiao Gan, and Dong Bao were also imprisoned on grounds of participating in the Crown Prince's faction. Anyone even remotely connected to the Crown Prince's clique could not escape punishment. Yingring gradually fell out of favor. The trendy incident occurred in the 47th year of Kangxi, that is 1708. In May, Emperor Kangxi went on a tour outside the passes. Among the retinue was Crown Prince Yingring. The relationship had long been strained when a number of incidents pushed the bond between Emperor and Crown Prince ever deeper toward the abyss. The Princes continuously accused the Crown Prince of brutality, inhumanity, freely beating princes, bails, and ministers, and embezzling tribute from Mongolia. He indulged his wet nurse's husband, the General Manager of the Imperial Household Department, Lingpu, in extorting and plundering from subordinates. Then during the journey, the 18th Prince fell acutely ill, Emperor Kangxi was extremely worried, but the Crown Prince, by contrast, showed utter indifference. Kangxi witnessed this and painfully recalled that in the 29th year of his reign, July 1690, he himself had fallen ill, and the Crown Prince had shown no concern. All this came to a head. In anger and bitterness, the Emperor ordered the Crown Prince back to the capital ahead of him, while he himself would handle the remaining matters. Yingring not only refused to accept criticism, but also flew into a rage and defiantly argued with his father. On the way back to the capital, Emperor Kangxi discovered that Yingring approached his tent at night and peered inside through a crack, leading him to believe Yingring intended to usurp the throne. This only strengthened Kangxi's resolve to depose the Crown Prince immediately, which happened only four months after the tour, on the 18th day of the ninth lunar month, 1708. Unexpectedly, the deposition of the Crown Prince set off a struggle among the princes to determine who would be the new master of the throne after Kangxi's demise. The situation was already in chaos, and Kangxi still hoped that after his deposition, Yingring might have learned his lesson. In March of the following year, 1709, he restored Yingring to his position. However, Yingring remained unchanged, and even became more stubborn. Just one year later, that is the 50th year of Kangxi, 1711. In October, Emperor Kangxi heard reports that Crown Prince Yingring had been in contact with disaffected officials, and intended to force his father to abdicate so that he could ascend the throne himself. Emperor Kangxi was enraged and launched the infamous Number One Case of the Reign, leading to dozens of officials in the Crown Prince's faction being executed, dismissed, or exiled. Though he regretted the years of effort spent grooming him, and despite his talents, Kangxi resolved once and for all to depose the Crown Prince, ignoring the minister's fierce objections. In the 51st year of Kangxi, 1712, the Emperor returned from the Northern Tour. That same day, he summoned his sons and announced Yingring's deposition and confinement in the Xiannan Palace. With the Crown Prince's position vacant, other princes vied openly for it. Like hungry tigers, Kangxi's 24 sons quickly plunged into the succession struggle. Gradually, the fight centered on nine, the 1st Prince Yingji, the 2nd Yingring, the 3rd Yingji, the 4th Yingjun, the 8th Yingzhi, the 9th Yuantang, the 10th Yingyi, the 13th Yingxiong, and the 14th Yingti. Looking back, one can only sigh and say, the nine princes' succession struggle. The brutal contest had barely begun before blood was drawn. When Yingring was deposed, the eldest prince, Yingji, firmly believed he would surely be made heir. To secure this, Yingji openly offered to kill Yingring. I wish to kill Yingring today, no need for father to act. Kangxi was curious upon hearing this. You are brothers, not cuckoos, how dare you plot such an unfilial, treasonous act. He then ordered Yingji stripped of all titles and confined to his mansion. Thus, through impatience, Yingji eliminated himself from the succession race. Later, at Changchun Garden, Kangxi summoned his ministers and ordered them to select a suitable crown prince. Among the princes, the eldest Yingji and others openly bickered, nearly neglecting all court affairs. At this point, the 8th Prince Yingzhi's faction rose swiftly. This faction gained strength largely from many high ministers joining, including Alina, Alundai, and Gaisai. Moreover, through various means, the other princes aligned against Yingzi. Such as the 10th Prince Yining, the 13th Yingxiang, and the 14th Yingti. As did the entire Great Prince Yingzhi's faction, all sided with Yingzi. Moreover, Yingzi had been favored by Kangxi since childhood, though his mother was only a noble consort of low status. Yingzi was granted his title at 17, the earliest among his brothers, yet from that point began his true decline. Kangxi grew alarmed as Yingzi's influence in court steadily increased. In his old age, Kangxi was prone to suspicion. Meanwhile, Yingzi combined the very faults that had doomed his two elder brothers. Building too large a power base before the time was right, and even harboring ambitions to replace his father as regent. Fearing a coup, Kangxi once ordered Yingzi executed after hearing a diviner's pronouncement. The order was revoked only when the 9th and 14th Princes pleaded together. In the end, Yingzi kept his life but lost all titles, never again permitted to attend court. The fall of the 8th Prince meant the 9th Prince Yuntang, the 10th Prince Yini, the 13th Prince Yingxiang, and even the Great Prince Yingji had also lost their struggle. At this point, the 14th Prince Yingdi emerged as the leading candidate for the throne. When Yingzi was accused of framing the Crown Prince with intent to murder, Yingti and Yuntang knelt and petitioned for mercy. Emperor Kangxi was furious and wanted to execute both of them. Only after the other princes cowed out and begged did Kangxi relent, coldly ordering the two out. The 9th Prince was given 20 strokes of the cane. Yet after this, Kangxi felt Yingjun showed true loyalty to his brothers. And for his straightforward, consistent character, the emperor grew even more fond. In the 48th year of Kangxi, Yingjun was made a bail, in the 52nd year, 1713, he officially received his fief. In the 57th year, 1718, Yingdi took part in military campaigns, securing many Qing victories against the Dzungars in Tibet. Kangxi thereupon showered special favor on Yingti, though his rank was only bail, he was treated with the honors of a prince. In these final years, no prince could compare to Yingti and Kangxi's affection. At that point, it seemed the highest seat of China's feudal rule was all but decided. Yet then, on the very day of Kangxi's death, an unexpected twist occurred. One that has left the Qing court and all of China in shock, with endless unanswered questions to this day. The suspected will alteration, in the 61st year of Kangxi, 1722, on the 13th day of the 11th lunar month, December 20th in the solar calendar. Emperor Kangxi passed away at the Chongqing Garden in Shuntian Prefecture, aged 69, having reigned 61 years. Making him the longest-reigning Qing emperor in Chinese history up to that time. At the moment the will was announced, those present must have been shocked by the outcome, the throne passed to the fourth son, Yinzhen. Thus the final choice for succession was the one who had always been the most inconspicuous in this struggle. Immediately, both unofficial and official Chinese histories dove into investigation, and the suspicion of will alteration emerged. The question arose, among those permitted to visit the ailing Kangxi, Longkodo was the only high official allowed in and out. Longkodo, however, was aligned with the fourth prince's faction, that of Yinzhen. It is possible that to place his master on the throne, Longkodo altered the character 410 into that 4U. Thus the will, instead of appointing the 14th prince Yingti, named the fourth prince. Some even suggest that Yinzhen poisoned his father to seize the throne. Yet according to official Qing history, these views are merely folk rumors. This tale reveals a misunderstanding of Qing dynasty protocol, the will supposedly read transmit the throne to the 14th son Yingti, and was altered by Yinzhen and Longkodo to transmit to the fourth son Yinzhen by changing 10 to U. According to Qing rules, the character Huang, imperial, must precede the ordinal number, so Yinzhen must be written as Huang Xizi, imperial fourth son. Yingti is Huang Xizi, imperial 14th son. Thus the original will, per protocol, must have been, transmit the throne to imperial 14th son Yingti. And after alteration, it would have become, transmit the throne to imperial U4th son Yinzhen. But that would render the text grammatically nonsensical. Moreover, this was an imperial decree, not a private document. The succession will have to be written in both Chinese and Manchu scripts. Yinzhen could have altered the Chinese text, but he could not alter the Manchu version. Furthermore, historians observe that Kangxi likely arranged for Yinzhen's succession through the following actions. First, he assigned Yinzhen tasks that only the crown prince would perform. There is evidence as follows. In the 60th year of Kangxi's reign, 1721, Yinzhen was sent to offer sacrifices at the Three Great Mausoleums, the ancestral tombs of the Qing imperial house in Xinjing. In the 61st year, 1722, Yinzhen performed the winter solstice ritual at the southern altar on behalf of his father. This was a major state ceremony. A prince replacing the emperor to worship heaven, earth, and ancestors was nearly a covert designation as successor. He was also sent to oversee flood relief and civil order in Jiangnan, then plagued by floods and unrest. One spring, Kangxi visited Yuanming Garden to see flowers. He saw Hongli, Yinzhen's fourth son, clever and lively. Delighted, he brought the grandson to the palace and taught him personally. Everyone understood Kangxi intended to pass the throne to Yinzhen, because to make Hongli emperor, his father must first become emperor. He arranged capable officials to assist him later, especially three, Nian Gengyao, Long Kodo, and the thirteenth prince Yinsheng. Long Kodo was the younger brother of Kangxi's consort, making him an uncle to the princes. His illustrious family helped him hold many key posts. Under Kangxi, he was commander of the Nine Gates, controlling the capital's military. He was one of Kangxi's most trusted ministers in his later years. Nian Gengyao was a fierce general who had fought in many western campaigns and also controlled military grain supplies, giving him great influence. This raised suspicion that Kangxi was positioning officials to guard his son, not Yinzhen's own design. Unofficial histories say that, knowing his time was short, Kangxi tested Long Kodo, then commanding all infantry forces by giving him many jewels and gold and silver. In particular, Kangxi also gave Long Kodo an imperial decree with the following content. If Long Kodo becomes a prince's ally, incites chaos, and harms the people, execute him without trial. After reading the decree, Long Kodo was terrified and knelt begging for mercy. Emperor Kangxi did not want to kill him, but only to warn that if he did not loyally support the next emperor, he would be executed. Thanks to Kangxi's brilliant scheme, after his death, Long Kodo played a crucial role in Yinzhen's smooth succession. As for Nian Gengyao, entrusting him with the army's provisions and controlling Yingti's return route was clearly meant to prevent Yingti from rebelling. With such an ambiguous and dubious succession edict, Yingti would surely march back from the northwest to demand answers and stir up trouble. And most importantly, Yinzhen very skillfully concealed his ambitions among his brothers. A man who knows how to hide his intentions and movements like that indeed is the necessary ruler for a great empire. Anyway, amid numerous accusations and doubts. On the 20th of November, which corresponds to December 27th in the solar calendar, according to the edict, the fourth prince, Prince Yong, Yinzhen, succeeded to the throne. Starting in 1723, he adopted the reign title Yongzhen. Even brothers from the same mother clash, seated on the throne, he still feared his rivals among his brothers. Yongzhen thus committed acts of great treason and impiety, making him the most controversial emperor in Chinese history. He framed and harmed all his brothers and rivals without exception. After ascending, Yongzhen had Kangxi's close eunuch Zhaochong killed. Right after Zhaochong's death, rumors spread that he had held great influence. Emperor Yongzhen, fearing Yunzhen's abusing power, sentenced Zhaochong to death. It was also rumored that Zhaochong was executed. Because this eunuch knew the true reason for Kangxi's succession change. And the secrets surrounding the event that Yongzhen feared would be exposed. Thus, right after Kangxi's demise, Yongzhen had Zhaochong executed. It is known that right after executing Zhaochong, Yongzhen made public Zhao's crimes, including having many spies secretly watch Yongzhen's every move. He had dealings with the deposed crown prince Yingren, exchanging gifts like a fire striker, and stole 5,000 tales of tax silver from the national treasury. Next, the defeated prince Yingji and the deposed crown prince Yingren continued to be kept under house arrest, on the pretext of following the late emperor's orders. The hardest task was to break up Yingzi's faction, including Yingzi, the 9th prince Yuntang, the 10th prince Yini, and their followers, and to isolate prince Yingzhen from his own close associates. Yingzi, who held the posts of minister of works and prince of Lian, was closely monitored by Yongzhen. Yuntang was sent to Qinghai to support the army, but in fact was under the control of Yongzhen's subordinate, General Nian Bingyao. Yini was accused of siding with the 8th prince's faction and was stripped of all titles in May 1724 and exiled to the north, to Inner Mongolia. The 14th prince, Yinti, the blood brother of Yongzhen, was sent to guard the tombs of the former emperors. In the early years of Yongzhen's reign, his support increased markedly, leading Yinti to use his position and status to repeatedly pressure the emperor, aimed to make the emperor issue misguided policies, though Yinti outwardly still supported him. Yinti and Yuntang, who had backed Yinti for heir, were stripped of all titles and positions and imprisoned until their deaths in 1727. After purging the imperial clan, Yongzhen also had to consolidate power and eliminate powerful ministers, even those who helped him ascend. Nian Bingyao was Yongzhen's top confidant for years before he took the throne, having won many battles in Xinjiang. However, after several successful campaigns, Nian became corrupt, accepting bribes for promotions, prompting Yongzhen to repeatedly demote and threaten him, forcing Nian to commit suicide by poison in 1726. Longkodo was the commander of the entire Beijing garrison. At the time Yongzhen ascended the throne, later, Longkodo fell out of favor, and by 1728 he died under house arrest. Even in the Great Righteousness Record it is written that the rebellious document mentioned the Empress Dowager's name. This shows that rumors about Yongzhen's mother were widespread at the time. His birth mother was Empress Sayagongren, Lady Wuya. She bore three sons, Yingjun, Yanzu, who died at five, and Yingti. Among them, the fourth prince Yingjun, later Yongzhen, was her eldest son. Historical records also note that after Yingjun succeeded, he summoned Yingti back to Beijing and later had him imprisoned. Lady Wuya wanted to see Yingti, but Yongzhen refused. In anger, she struck her head against a pillar and committed suicide. Given that the brothers were at odds, and the youngest was imprisoned by the eldest, her fury was inevitable. Thus, the mother's suicide and Yongzhen's imprisonment of his younger brother are inevitably linked. The rumor that Yongzhen forced his mother's death also came from this, but regardless, one thing is certain, Yongzhen had ascended the throne. And in the later years, despite controversies, he contributed greatly to China, helping the country prolong its prosperity until his end.