Historical Studies (Chinese Edition)

No.2, 2013

 

The Investigation of Local Government Deficits in the Yongzheng Emperor’s Reign-with a Discussion of Interest Relationships in Bureaucratic Politics

(Abstract)

 

Liu Fengyun

 

Politics under the Yongzheng Emperor was well-known for its strictness and severity. Many of the political and economic reforms of the period are regarded as important measures in the Golden Age which extended from Kangxi to Qianlong. Among these measures, the investigation of fiscal deficits was the one pursued with the greatest force. Premised on assuring state interests, it was a large-scale economic investigation that targeted fiscal deficits and official corruption. The investigation represented a major economic audit of bureaucratic cliques in a process that reflected the multiple interest relationships in bureaucratic politics. Interest relationships not only embody economic relationships, but are also the foundation of political relationships. Taking the political process as an important concept in political analysis and, on this basis, dynamically exploring the investigation's actual facts and political measures and tactics will help us to gain a deeper knowledge and understanding of bureaucratic politics.