What did the Jiaqing emperor do to Heshen after Qianlong died?
Following the death of the Qianlong emperor in 1799, the Jiaqing emperor immediately moved to dismantle the influence of the corrupt minister Heshen.12
Jiaqing took the following actions against Heshen:
* Arrest: He ordered the immediate arrest of Heshen and relieved him of all his governmental responsibilities.13
* Confiscation: He ordered the seizure of Heshenâs vast estate, which reportedly included immense quantities of silver, furs, and other luxury goods.23
* Execution: He forced Heshen to commit suicide. This was granted as a final favor due to Heshenâs blood ties to the imperial family through the marriage of his son to the Qianlong emperorâs favorite daughter.23
These actions were taken to address the rampant corruption and financial mismanagement that had occurred under Heshenâs influence, which had severely undermined the authority of the Qing dynasty and hampered the military response to the White Lotus Rebellion.12