The Words and Images of a Dynasty

In the summer of 1731, Emperor Yongzheng sent the chief censor of his cabinet, Shi Yizhi, out west to head a delegation that would visit provinces supporting the war effort against the Junggar tribes of Xinjiang. Shi and two other imperial envoys, Hang Yilu, assistant minister of rites, and Zheng Chanbao, director of the Department of Imperial Household Affairs, led three separate groups. Each represented a separate prong to address sectarian deviance: The Hanlin (Imperial Academy of Scholars and Clansmen), the Six Cabinet Ministries and the Second-Degree Scholars from the Imperial College. The three leaders were instructed to visit Shaanxi and Gansu Provinces to "enlighten the ignorant and instruct the ill-educated."

(Yongzheng recognized that his plans to root out the disloyal began with popular support)

The emperor believed the growing dissatisfaction of the people in Shaanxi and Gansu needed to be addressed to ensure the stability of the local governments which had been supporting the war with the Junggar tribes. Future governments in the region would depend on a successful propaganda campaign.