ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the interactions between the Kangxi and Yongzheng emperors and the He family. In particular, it shows how these two emperors utilized the mathematical talents of He Junxi’s sons—the famous court astronomers He Guozong, He Guozhu, and He Guodong—and manipulated their careers. The He brothers, whose talents and loyalty could be guaranteed by their father’s service records, became the Kangxi emperor’s favorite candidates for testing his vision of mathematics. However, the Yongzheng emperor, who was famous for his tremendous attention to administrative affairs, grew concerned about the expansion of the He family’s powers. Within years of the Yongzheng emperor’s accession, the fortunes of the He brothers declined precipitously.
