Kangxi Emperor: Strife Within the Walls
Ling Jiefang2000
No rating yet- Word count
- 330K words
- Chapters
- 1
- Series
- The closing volume of Er Yuehe's emperor novels, it handles the administrative decay of Kangxi's late years and the nine princes' fight for the throne with good pacing. The appeal is the interweaving of court intrigue, river works and salt administration, and the princes' factional strife, with figures like Yu Chenglong, Yinzhen, and Wu Sidao each distinct. Suited to readers who prefer serious historical fiction. The drawback is the dense information and large cast at the start, a slower pace, and little light reading.
Tags
History Historical FictionModern and Contemporary China Official ReformSuccession StruggleYu ChenglongBrotherly StrifePalace IntrigueComplex HumanityPatriotismAncient HistorySummary
Volume Four of Kangxi Emperor. In Kangxi's late years abuses multiply: officials take bribes and pervert the law, wrongful cases pile up, and imperial relatives and old nobles borrow from the state treasury until it runs a deficit; land taxes are unequal, land is concentrated, and the people suffer. Crown Prince Yinreng is weak, lustful, and ignorant of state affairs, and Kangxi appoints and deposes him twice. The other princes seize the chance to form factions and vie for the heirship, brothers turning against one another. Fourth Prince Yinzhen, in the guise of the "Cold-Faced Prince," rectifies officialdom and, with the help of his advisor Wu Sidao, gradually wins Kangxi's approval and finally receives the throne, setting the stage for Yongzheng's accession. The book interweaves episodes such as Yu Chenglong borrowing grain for disaster relief, the treasury silver audit, and the Fengtai mutiny, showing imperial power struggles and administrative reform.Editor's review
The closing volume of Er Yuehe's emperor novels, it handles the administrative decay of Kangxi's late years and the nine princes' fight for the throne with good pacing. The appeal is the interweaving of court intrigue, river works and salt administration, and the princes' factional strife, with figures like Yu Chenglong, Yinzhen, and Wu Sidao each distinct. Suited to readers who prefer serious historical fiction. The drawback is the dense information and large cast at the start, a slower pace, and little light reading.Who it's for
A good fit for
- Lovers of historical fiction
- Readers interested in the Qing court and the nine princes' succession struggle
- Readers who like intrigue and serious dramatic narrative
Not a good fit for
- Readers who prefer fast-paced power fantasies
- Readers impatient with large casts of historical figures and official titles
Reading tips
- It is best to know the main threads of the first three volumes of Kangxi Emperor before reading this one.
- Watch the threads of Yu Chenglong and Yinzhen; they link the two main lines of administrative reform and succession struggle.
- Look up official titles and institutional terms as needed; it won't affect understanding of the main plot.
Contents
- Kangxi Emperor
FAQ
Which volume of the Kangxi Emperor series is this?
Volume Four, mainly about Kangxi choosing an heir in his late years and the nine princes' struggle for the throne.Can I read it without the first three volumes?
Yes, but reading the first three first will make the characters and background more familiar.Is this book finished?
Yes, it is complete, about 330,000 characters in total.This site is an index: you start “Search all sources” in your browser, and the entries it lists all point to third-party sites; please judge their availability yourself.
About the author
Ling Jiefang Author · Chinese · 1945–2018February River, whose real name was Ling Jiefang, was born in Xiyang, Shanxi, in 1945 and lived for many years in Nanyang, Henan. He died on December 15, 2018. A renowned contemporary writer of historical fiction, he served as a member of the Presidium of the Chinese Writers Association, honorary chairman of the Henan Provincial Federation of Literary and Art Circles, and dean of the School of Literature at Zhengzhou University. He began writing at the age of 40 and is best known for his "Emperor series" of novels, including Kangxi Emperor, Yongzheng Emperor, and Qianlong Emperor. The library holds 42 of his works, such as Yongzheng Emperor: Nine Princes Contend for the Throne, Yongzheng Emperor: The Bow and the Wolf, and Kangxi Emperor: Seizing the Palace. Drawing on Qing dynasty imperial politics and court life, his novels feature grand narratives and vivid characters; many have been adapted into TV dramas and have exerted wide influence at home and abroad.