Background
Born in the southern province of Hunan in 1679, Zen Jing repeatedly failed the civil service examinations and, like thousands of similar unsuccessful preparation made a living by teaching. During the early years of the Yongzheng emperor's reign (1722-35), Zeng Jing sent a student to collect Lu Liuliang's other writings, which were filled with anti-Manchu statements and allusions. Arrested and tortured, Zeng Jing quickly broke down and confessed, also naming like-minded friends who were quickly rounded up. Convicted of treason by the book, the bodies of the long-dead Lu Liuliang, Lu's dead son, and a dead disciple were exhumed for posthumous beheading.
Zeng Jing was pardoned by the Yongzheng emperor, providing a point-by-point rebuttal of the anti-Manchu opinions revealed by this case. Zeng Jing was released back to his native province of Hunan, but his good fortune was short-lived. Zeng Jing was rearrested and executed in 1736.