Lin Zexu (林則徐) | 24 Histories

Overview

The translated histories identify Lin Zexu as an administrator, diplomat, general, and judge. This record brings together 59 passages from 13 chapters across 1 history, with names, dates, relationships, offices, and events preserved as source-backed claims.

Names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Personal	Lin Zexu	林則徐	Lin Zexu
Title	Governor-General of Guangdong and Guangxi	兩廣總督
Surname	Lin	林	Lín
Alternate	Lin	則徐
Surname	Lin	林	Lin
Personal name	Lin Zexu	林則徐	Lin Zexu
Personal	Lin Zexu	林則徐
Personal name	Lin Zexu	林則徐	Lín Zéxú
Personal	Lin Zexu	林則徐	Lín Zéxú
Personal name	Lin Zexu	林則徐
Courtesy name	Shaomu	少穆	Shǎomù
Posthumous name	Wenzhong	文忠	Wénzhōng
Given	Zexu	則徐	Zéxú
Given	Zexu	則徐	Zexu

Identity

Historicity: Historical
Identification: Named
Sex: Male

Sex: male
Explicit · qingshigao:340:s0082, qingshigao:373:s0011, qingshigao:379:s0172, qingshigao:392:s0020, qingshigao:396:s0140
Sex: male
Strongly inferred · qingshigao:364:s0188, qingshigao:378:s0050, qingshigao:382:s0059, qingshigao:384:s0001, qingshigao:389:s0120, qingshigao:393:s0041, qingshigao:393:s0042, qingshigao:394:s0050
Value: male
Explicit · qingshigao:369:s0001

Roles

Administrator
Diplomat
General
Judge
Official
Statesman
Strategist

Life and dates

Death

Manner: died on the journey / 道卒 · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 咸豐元年 · Western Year: AD 1851
Explicit · qingshigao:392:s0020
Place: Chaozhou / 潮州 · Manner: illness · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 文宗嗣位後 · Western Year: AD 1850
Explicit · qingshigao:369:s0110
Date Context: Source Date: Text: 道光三十年 · Western Year: AD 1850 · Manner: died en route / 卒於途
Explicit · qingshigao:393:s0042

Age

Age: 20 · Reckoning: sui · Context: passed provincial examination
Explicit · qingshigao:369:s0003

Attested activity

Source Date: Text: 道光二十二年 · Regnal Year: 22 · Western Year: AD 1842
Explicit event contextual date · qingshigao:382:s0047, qingshigao:382:s0059
Source Date: Text: 道光二十五年 · Regnal Year: 25 · Western Year: AD 1845
Explicit event contextual date · qingshigao:382:s0064, qingshigao:382:s0071
Source Date: Text: 二十一年 · Western Year: AD 1841
Explicit event contextual date · qingshigao:373:s0011
Source Date: Text: 十七年 · Western Year: AD 1837
Explicit event contextual date · qingshigao:392:s0067, qingshigao:392:s0068
Source Date: Text: 十九年 · Western Year: AD 1839
Explicit event contextual date · qingshigao:378:s0050, qingshigao:378:s0049
Source Date: Text: 咸豐元年 · Western Year: AD 1851
Explicit event contextual date · qingshigao:392:s0019, qingshigao:392:s0020
Source Date: Text: 嘉慶十六年 · Western Year: AD 1811
Explicit · qingshigao:369:s0005
Source Date: Text: 嘉慶至道光 · Western Interval: Start: AD 1819 · End: AD 1850
Strongly inferred · qingshigao:396:s0002, qingshigao:396:s0140
Source Date: Text: 文宗嗣位 · Western Year: AD 1850
Explicit event contextual date · qingshigao:369:s0109
Source Date: Text: 既而林則徐亦至戍 · Western Year: AD 1841
Explicit event contextual date · qingshigao:384:s0093, qingshigao:384:s0092
Source Date: Text: 道光三十年 · Western Year: AD 1850
Explicit · qingshigao:393:s0041, qingshigao:393:s0042, qingshigao:394:s0050
Source Date: Text: 道光二十一年五月 · Western Year: AD 1841
Explicit event contextual date · qingshigao:369:s0091
Source Date: Text: 道光二十一年春 · Western Year: AD 1841
Explicit event contextual date · qingshigao:369:s0089
Source Date: Text: 道光二十七年 · Western Year: AD 1847
Explicit event contextual date · qingshigao:369:s0099
Source Date: Text: 道光二十九年 · Western Year: AD 1849
Explicit event contextual date · qingshigao:369:s0107
Source Date: Text: 道光二十二年 · Western Year: AD 1842
Explicit event contextual date · qingshigao:369:s0092
Source Date: Text: 道光二十五年 · Western Year: AD 1845
Explicit event contextual date · qingshigao:369:s0096, qingshigao:389:s0120
Source Date: Text: 道光二十八年 · Western Year: AD 1848
Explicit event contextual date · qingshigao:369:s0103
Source Date: Text: 道光二十六年 · Western Year: AD 1846
Explicit event contextual date · qingshigao:369:s0098
Source Date: Text: 道光二十四年 · Western Year: AD 1844
Explicit event contextual date · qingshigao:369:s0094
Source Date: Text: 道光二十年九月 · Western Year: AD 1840
Explicit event contextual date · qingshigao:369:s0084, qingshigao:369:s0086
Source Date: Text: 道光二十年五月 · Western Year: AD 1840
Explicit event contextual date · qingshigao:369:s0069
Source Date: Text: 道光二十年春 · Western Year: AD 1840
Explicit event contextual date · qingshigao:369:s0068
Source Date: Text: 道光二年 · Western Year: AD 1822
Explicit event contextual date · qingshigao:340:s0081, qingshigao:340:s0082, qingshigao:369:s0010
Source Date: Text: 道光元年 · Western Year: AD 1821
Explicit event contextual date · qingshigao:369:s0009
Source Date: Text: 道光六年 · Western Year: AD 1826
Explicit event contextual date · qingshigao:369:s0014
Source Date: Text: 道光十一年 · Western Year: AD 1831
Explicit event contextual date · qingshigao:369:s0017
Source Date: Text: 道光十七年 · Western Year: AD 1837
Explicit event contextual date · qingshigao:369:s0036
Source Date: Text: 道光十九年七月 · Western Year: AD 1839
Explicit event contextual date · qingshigao:369:s0054
Source Date: Text: 道光十九年春 · Western Year: AD 1839
Explicit event contextual date · qingshigao:369:s0043
Source Date: Text: 道光十九年至二十一年 · Western Interval: Start: AD 1839 · End: AD 1841
Explicit event contextual date · qingshigao:364:s0188, qingshigao:364:s0191
Source Date: Text: 道光十二年 · Western Year: AD 1832
Explicit event contextual date · qingshigao:369:s0020
Source Date: Text: 道光十八年 · Western Year: AD 1838
Explicit event contextual date · qingshigao:369:s0040, qingshigao:369:s0041
Source Date: Text: 道光十年 · Western Year: AD 1830
Explicit event contextual date · qingshigao:369:s0016
Source Date: Text: 道光十年前後 · Western Year: AD 1830
Explicit event contextual date · qingshigao:379:s0172, qingshigao:379:s0173
Source Date: Text: 道光四年 · Western Year: AD 1824
Explicit event contextual date · qingshigao:369:s0012

Family

Immediate source-linked family. Drag to pan, scroll or pinch to zoom, and select a person to open their record.

Child of Father of Lin Zexu (林則徐之父)
Kinship Term: father / 父 · Parentage: biological · Subject Role: son · Object Role: father
Kinship Term: father / 父 · Parentage: biological · Subject Role: father · Object Role: son
Child of Mother of Lin Zexu (林則徐之母)
Kinship Term: mother / 母 · Parentage: biological · Subject Role: son · Object Role: mother
Kinship Term: mother / 母 · Parentage: biological · Subject Role: mother · Object Role: son

Career and standing

Label: acting governor-general of Shaanxi and Gansu / 署總督 · Action: acted-as
Explicit · qingshigao:382:s0071
Label: Governor-General of Yunnan and Guizhou / 雲貴總督 · Action: appointed · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 二十七年 · Western Year: AD 1847
Explicit · qingshigao:369:s0099
Label: Governor of Shaanxi / 陝西巡撫 · Action: appointed · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 二十六年 · Western Year: AD 1846
Explicit · qingshigao:369:s0098
Label: Acting Zhejiang Salt Transport Commissioner / 署浙江鹽運使 · Action: appointed · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 二年 · Western Year: AD 1822
Explicit · qingshigao:369:s0010
Label: Intendant of the Huaihai Circuit / 淮海道 · Action: appointed · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 二年 · Western Year: AD 1822
Explicit · qingshigao:369:s0010
Label: Governor-General of the Eastern River Conservancy / 河東河道總督 · Action: appointed · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 十一年 · Western Year: AD 1831
Explicit · qingshigao:369:s0017
Label: Governor-General of Huguang / 湖廣總督 · Action: appointed · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 十七年 · Western Year: AD 1837
Explicit · qingshigao:369:s0036
Label: Governor of Jiangsu / 江蘇巡撫 · Action: appointed · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 十二年 · Western Year: AD 1832
Explicit · qingshigao:369:s0020
Label: Financial Commissioner of Hubei / 湖北布政使 · Action: appointed · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 十年 · Western Year: AD 1830
Explicit · qingshigao:369:s0016
Label: Bachelor of the Hanlin Academy / 庶吉士 · Action: appointed · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 嘉慶十六年 · Western Year: AD 1811
Explicit · qingshigao:369:s0005
Label: Compiler / 編修 · Action: appointed · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 嘉慶十六年 · Western Year: AD 1811
Explicit · qingshigao:369:s0005
Label: Acting Financial Commissioner / 署布政使 · Action: appointed · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 四年 · Western Year: AD 1824
Explicit · qingshigao:369:s0012
Label: Acting Governor of Guangxi / 署廣西巡撫 · Action: appointed · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 文宗嗣位 · Western Year: AD 1850
Explicit · qingshigao:369:s0109
Label: Imperial Commissioner / 欽差大臣 · Action: appointed · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 文宗嗣位 · Western Year: AD 1850
Explicit · qingshigao:369:s0109
Label: Acting Governor-General of Shaanxi and Gansu / 署陝甘總督 · Action: appointed
Explicit · qingshigao:369:s0097
Label: Censor / 御史 · Action: appointed
Explicit · qingshigao:369:s0007
Label: Financial Commissioner of Jiangning / 江寧布政使 · Action: appointed
Explicit · qingshigao:369:s0015
Label: Governor-General of the Two Jiangs / 兩江總督 · Action: appointed
Explicit · qingshigao:369:s0062
Label: Imperial Commissioner / 欽差大臣 · Action: appointed
Explicit · qingshigao:369:s0043
Label: Intendant of the Hang-Jia-Hu Circuit / 杭嘉湖道 · Action: appointed
Explicit · qingshigao:369:s0008
Label: Judicial Commissioner of Jiangsu / 江蘇按察使 · Action: appointed
Explicit · qingshigao:369:s0011
Label: Judicial Commissioner of Shaanxi / 陝西按察使 · Action: appointed
Explicit · qingshigao:369:s0014
Label: Acting Salt Controller of the Two Huai / 署兩淮鹽政 · Action: declined · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 六年 · Western Year: AD 1826 · Negated: false
Explicit · qingshigao:369:s0014
Label: fourth-rank Court Officer / 四品卿銜 · Action: granted · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 二十一年春 · Western Year: AD 1841
Explicit · qingshigao:369:s0089
Label: Acting Governor-General of the Two Jiangs / 署兩江總督 · Action: held · Count: 2
Explicit · qingshigao:369:s0035
Label: Governor-General (successor verifying Lan case) / 總督 · Action: held · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 十七年 · Western Year: AD 1837
Explicit · qingshigao:392:s0068
Label: governor / 巡撫 · Action: held
Explicit · qingshigao:379:s0172
Label: provincial judge / 按察使 · Action: held
Explicit · qingshigao:340:s0082
Label: former governor-general of Guangdong and Guangxi / 前兩廣總督 · Action: previously-held
Explicit · qingshigao:382:s0059
Label: Financial Commissioner of Henan / 河南布政使 · Action: transferred
Explicit · qingshigao:369:s0016
Label: Financial Commissioner of Jiangning / 江寧布政使 · Action: transferred
Explicit · qingshigao:369:s0016
Label: Governor-General of the Two Guang / 兩廣總督 · Action: transferred
Explicit · qingshigao:369:s0062
Honor: fourth-rank vice-minister rank / 四品卿銜 · Action: granted · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 道光二十一年 · Western Year: AD 1841
Explicit · qingshigao:364:s0191
Label: Grand Guardian of the Heir Apparent / 太子太保 · Action: granted
Explicit · qingshigao:369:s0106
Label: peacock feather / 花翎 · Action: granted
Explicit · qingshigao:369:s0106
Label: Grand Tutor of the Heir Apparent / 太子太傅 · Action: posthumously-granted
Explicit · qingshigao:369:s0112
Status: recalled · Action: entered · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 二十五年 · Western Year: AD 1845
Explicit · qingshigao:369:s0096
Status: exile · Action: entered · Place: Yili / 伊犁 · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 五月 · Western Year: AD 1841
Explicit · qingshigao:369:s0091
Status: dismissed · Action: entered · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 道光二十年 · Western Year: AD 1840
Explicit · qingshigao:369:s0087
Status: mourning · Action: entered · Relation: for-father
Explicit · qingshigao:369:s0015
Status: mourning · Action: entered · Relation: for-mother
Explicit · qingshigao:369:s0013
Status: retired · Action: entered
Explicit · qingshigao:369:s0108
Status: exile · Action: in
Explicit · qingshigao:382:s0059
Action: dismissed before being recommended again
Explicit · qingshigao:364:s0188, qingshigao:364:s0190
Status: exile · Action: entered · Place: Yili / 伊犁
Explicit · qingshigao:384:s0093
Label: severe deliberation and dismissal / 嚴議革職 · Action: suffered · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 九月 · Western Year: AD 1840 · Authority Person Id: Daoguang Emperor (道光帝)
Explicit · qingshigao:369:s0086, qingshigao:369:s0087

Places and affiliations

Label: Qing / 清 · Relation: served
Strongly inferred · qingshigao:369:s0005
Label: Qing / 清 · Relation: served
Explicit · qingshigao:373:s0011
Polity: Qing / 清 · Relation: served
Explicit · qingshigao:364:s0188, qingshigao:378:s0002
Place: Houguan, Fujian / 福建侯官
Explicit · qingshigao:369:s0001
Place: Zhenhai, Zhejiang / 浙江鎮海 · Relation: posted-to · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 二十一年春 · Western Year: AD 1841
Explicit · qingshigao:369:s0089
Place: Guangdong / 廣東 · Relation: posted-to · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 十九年春 · Western Year: AD 1839
Explicit · qingshigao:369:s0043

Learning and skills

Credential: Presented Scholar / 進士 · Action: earned · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 嘉慶十六年 · Western Year: AD 1811
Explicit · qingshigao:369:s0005
Credential: provincial graduate / 舉人 · Action: earned
Explicit · qingshigao:369:s0003

Works and attributed material

Kind: speech · Role: speaker · Action: said-no-permanent-fan-policy · Provenance: Mode: quoted-speech
Explicit · qingshigao:382:s0138
Kind: memorial · Role: author · Quoted: true · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 十八年 · Western Year: AD 1838
Explicit · qingshigao:369:s0041
Kind: counsel · Role: speaker · Other Person Id: Yishan (奕山)
Explicit · qingshigao:373:s0011, qingshigao:373:s0012
Kind: memorial · Role: author · Quoted: true
Explicit · qingshigao:369:s0025, qingshigao:369:s0026, qingshigao:369:s0027, qingshigao:369:s0064, qingshigao:369:s0065, qingshigao:369:s0066, qingshigao:369:s0074, qingshigao:369:s0075, qingshigao:369:s0076, qingshigao:369:s0077, qingshigao:369:s0078, qingshigao:369:s0079, qingshigao:369:s0215, qingshigao:369:s0216
Kind: memorial · Role: author
Explicit · qingshigao:392:s0068
Kind: proclamation · Role: author · Other Person Id: Charles Elliot (義律)
Explicit · qingshigao:369:s0046
Kind: speech · Role: speaker · Quoted: true
Explicit · qingshigao:369:s0116

Events and relationships

Kind: administrative · Role: advisor · Action: advised-reclamation · Other Person Id: Buyantai (布彥泰)
Explicit · qingshigao:382:s0059
Kind: legal · Role: commissioner · Action: burned opium at Guangdong
Explicit · qingshigao:378:s0050
Kind: military · Role: commander · Action: burned-supply-ships · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 二十年春 · Western Year: AD 1840 · Other Person Id: Guan Tianpei (關天培)
Explicit · qingshigao:369:s0068
Kind: military · Role: commander · Action: coastal-defense-ops · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 七月 · Western Year: AD 1839
Explicit · qingshigao:369:s0054, qingshigao:369:s0059, qingshigao:369:s0060
Kind: legal · Role: commissioner · Action: destroyed-opium-at-Humen · Place: Humen / 虎門 · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 十九年 · Western Year: AD 1839 · Other Person Id: Charles Elliot (義律)
Explicit · qingshigao:369:s0046
Kind: administrative · Role: donor · Action: donated-Aqiwusu-reclamation
Explicit · qingshigao:382:s0059
Kind: administrative · Role: director · Action: famine-relief · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 四年 · Western Year: AD 1824
Explicit · qingshigao:369:s0012
Kind: personal · Role: subject · Action: returned-home-for-father-illness · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 道光元年 · Western Year: AD 1821
Explicit · qingshigao:369:s0009
Kind: administrative · Role: assistant · Action: sealed-Yellow-River-breach · Place: Kaifeng / 開封 · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 二十二年 · Western Year: AD 1842
Explicit · qingshigao:369:s0092
Kind: military · Role: appointed official · Action: sent to the Zhejiang army but not effectively employed · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 道光二十一年 · Western Year: AD 1841
Explicit · qingshigao:364:s0191
Kind: military · Role: commander · Action: suppressed-Yunnan-unrest · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 二十八年 · Western Year: AD 1848
Explicit · qingshigao:369:s0103, qingshigao:369:s0104, qingshigao:369:s0105
Kind: administrative · Role: inspector · Action: surveyed-Aksu-Ush-Khotan
Explicit · qingshigao:382:s0060, qingshigao:382:s0062
Kind: administrative · Role: overseer · Action: Xinjiang-colonization · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 二十四年 · Western Year: AD 1844 · Other Person Id: Buyantai (布彥泰)
Explicit · qingshigao:369:s0094, qingshigao:369:s0095
Relation: recommender-of · Person Id: Yao Ying (姚瑩)
Explicit · qingshigao:384:s0147
Relation: colleague-of · Person Id: Tao Shu (陶澍)
Explicit · qingshigao:379:s0172
Relation: recommender-of · Person Id: Yang Fang (楊芳)
Explicit · qingshigao:369:s0039
Relation: colleague-of · Person Id: Deng Tingzhen (鄧廷楨)
Explicit · qingshigao:369:s0044, qingshigao:369:s0150
Relation: superior-of · Person Id: Guan Tianpei (關天培)
Explicit · qingshigao:369:s0045

Assessments and attributes

Assessment: benchmark for administrative excellence; Wu Wenrong ranked second to him · Provenance: Mode: historian-judgment
Explicit · qingshigao:396:s0140
Assessment: planning crucial to Bu Yantai's successes · Provenance: Mode: historian-judgment
Explicit · qingshigao:382:s0134
Assessment: talent and judgment exceptional; subordinates eager to serve; outstanding results in every post · Provenance: Mode: historian-judgment
Explicit · qingshigao:369:s0114

Source notes

Historicity: historical
Explicit · qingshigao:373:s0011

References in the histories

Open any source group to read the Chinese and English passage in context.

Draft History of Qing, Chapter 340Volume 340 Biographies 127: Wang Jie, Dong Gao, Zhu Gui · 1 passage

Open chapter

時林則徐為按察使，治海防，甚倚之。 At that time Lin Zexu was provincial judge overseeing coastal defense and relied on him heavily.

Draft History of Qing, Chapter 364Volume 364 Biographies 151: Ruan Yuan, Wang Tingzhen, Tang Jinzhao · 3 passages

Open chapter

林則徐既罷，琦善主撫，復不得要領。 Lin Zexu had been dismissed; Qishan favored appeasement yet again failed to grasp essentials.

一日召對，上從容問廣東事可付諸何人，金釗以林則徐對，上不悅。 One day at audience the emperor casually asked whom Guangdong affairs could be entrusted to; Jinzhao named Lin Zexu; the emperor was displeased.

至二十一年，事且益棘，詔予則徐四品卿銜赴浙江軍營，亦未果用之。 By year 21 affairs grew urgent; an edict gave Lin Zexu fourth-rank vice-minister rank and sent him to the Zhejiang army, yet he was still not effectively used.

Draft History of Qing, Chapter 369Volume 369 Biographies 156: Lin Zexu, Deng Tingzhen, Da Hong A · 36 passages

Open chapter

林則徐，字少穆，福建侯官人。 Lin Zexu, styled Shaomu, was a native of Houguan in Fujian.

先是總督陶澍奏濬三江，則徐方為臬司，綜理其事，旋以憂去。 Earlier, Governor-General Tao Shu had proposed dredging the Three Rivers. Lin, then serving as judicial commissioner, had overseen the project, but soon left office to mourn.

至是黃浦、吳淞工已竣，則徐力任未竟者，劉河工最要，撥帑十六萬五千有奇，白茆次要，官紳集捐十一萬兩，同時開濬，以工代賑。 By then work on the Huangpu and Wusong channels was complete, and Lin took charge of what remained. The Liu River was the priority, funded with more than 165,000 taels from the treasury; the Baimao River was secondary, with officials and local gentry contributing 110,000 taels. Both projects were dredged at once, with labor substituted for direct relief.

湖南鎮筸兵悍，數肇釁，巡閱撫馭，密薦總兵楊芳，擢為提督，移駐辰州，慎固苗疆屯防。 The garrison at Zhenqian in Hunan was unruly and had repeatedly stirred up trouble. Lin toured the region, restored discipline, and privately recommended Brigade Commander Yang Fang for promotion to provincial commander with headquarters at Chenzhou, tightening the defenses of the Miao frontier.

則徐請用重典，言：「此禍不除，十年之後，不惟無可籌之餉，且無可用之兵。」 Lin called for harsh penalties, writing: 'Unless this scourge is uprooted, within ten years the state will lack not only funds to levy, but soldiers fit to fight.'

則徐知水師提督關天培忠勇可用，令整兵嚴備。 Lin judged Naval Commander Guan Tianpei loyal and capable, and ordered him to ready the fleet and tighten defenses.

檄諭英國領事義律查繳煙土，驅逐躉船，呈出煙土二萬餘箱，親蒞虎門驗收，焚於海濱，四十餘日始盡。 He ordered British consul Charles Elliot to surrender all opium and expel the receiving ships. More than 20,000 chests were turned over; Lin personally supervised their receipt at Humen and had them burned on the shore, a process that took more than forty days to complete.

義律請令赴澳門載貨，冀囤煙私販，嚴斥拒之，潛泊尖沙嘴外洋。 Elliot asked to be allowed to load cargo at Macao, evidently intending to stockpile opium for illicit sale. Lin refused him sharply, and Elliot lay at anchor secretly off Chunshui Tsui.

會有英人毆斃華民，抗不交犯，遂斷其食物，撤買辦、工人以困之。 When a British subject beat a Chinese man to death and refused to surrender the culprit, Lin cut off their supplies and withdrew purchasing agents and workers to isolate them.

疏聞，帝喜悅，報曰：「既有此舉，不可再示柔弱。 When Lin's report reached the throne, the emperor was pleased and replied: 'Now that this stand has been taken, you must not show weakness again.

御史步際桐言出結徒虛文，則徐以彼國重然諾，不肯出結，愈不能不向索取，持之益堅。 Censor Bu Jitong argued that demanding written pledges was mere empty form. Lin replied that since the British prized their word, their refusal to sign made the demand all the more necessary, and he held his ground more firmly.

先已授則徐兩江總督，至是調補兩廣。 Lin had already been appointed governor-general of the Two Jiangs; he was now transferred to the Two Guang.

則徐疏言：「自斷英國貿易，他國喜，此盈彼絀，正可以夷制夷。 Lin memorialized: 'Since we have cut off trade with Britain, the other nations are pleased. One side gains what the other loses—this is precisely the moment to play foreign powers against one another.

則徐上疏自請治罪，密陳兵事不可中止，略曰：「英夷所憾在粵而滋擾於浙，雖變動出於意外，其窮蹙實在意中。 Lin memorialized asking to be punished and privately argued that the war must not be stopped. In summary he wrote: 'The British grievance began in Guangdong, yet they are now spreading trouble into Zhejiang. The turn of events may be unexpected, but their desperation is not.

七月，義律至天津，投書總督琦善，言廣東燒煙之釁，起自則徐及鄧廷楨二人，索價不與，又遭詬逐，故越境呈訴。 In the seventh month Elliot reached Tianjin and wrote to Governor Qishan, blaming Lin and Deng Tingzhen for the Guangdong opium burning, claiming they had refused compensation and driven him out, and had therefore come north to petition.

時英船在粵窺伺，复連敗之蓮花峰下及龍穴洲。 Meanwhile British ships were lurking off Guangdong, and Lin defeated them again below Lianhua Peak and at Longxuezhou.

捷書未上，九月，詔曰：「鴉片流毒內地，特遣林則徐會同鄧廷楨查辦，原期肅清內地，斷絕來源，隨地隨時，妥為辦理。 Before the victory report reached court, an edict issued in the ninth month declared: 'Opium poisons the empire. Lin Zexu was specially dispatched with Deng Tingzhen to eradicate it at home and cut off its source, handling the matter properly as circumstances required.

乃自查辦以來，內而奸民犯法不能淨盡，外而興販來源並未斷絕，沿海各省紛紛徵調，糜餉勞師，皆林則徐等辦理不善之所致。」 Yet since the campaign began, smugglers at home have not been fully suppressed, the source abroad has not been severed, and coastal provinces have been mobilized at great cost in funds and manpower—all because Lin Zexu and his colleagues handled the affair badly.'

下則徐等嚴議，飭即來京，以琦善代之。 Lin and the others were referred for severe punishment, ordered to come at once to the capital, and Qishan was appointed in Lin's place.

二十一年春，予則徐四品卿銜，赴浙江鎮海協防。 In the spring of 1841 Lin was given fourth-rank court officer status and sent to Zhejiang to help defend Zhenhai.

五月，詔斥則徐在粵不能德威並用，褫卿銜，遣戍伊犁。 In the fifth month an edict rebuked Lin for failing to combine persuasion and force in Guangdong, stripped him of his court rank, and banished him to Yili.

二十四年，新疆興治屯田，將軍布彥泰請以則徐綜其事。 In 1844 colonization projects were launched in Xinjiang, and General Buyantai asked that Lin oversee them.

則徐主止分良莠，不分漢、回。 Lin held that officials should distinguish the good from the bad, not Han from Hui.

逾年，文宗嗣位，疊詔宣召，未至，以廣西逆首洪秀全稔亂，授欽差大臣，督師進剿，並署廣西巡撫。 The next year, after Emperor Wenzong succeeded to the throne, repeated summons reached him, but before he could arrive Hong Xiuquan had long been in rebellion in Guangxi. Lin was appointed imperial commissioner to lead a punitive expedition and also served as acting governor of Guangxi.

則徐威惠久著南服，賊聞其出，皆震悚，中道遽歿，天下惜之。 Lin's authority and benevolence had long been famed in the south, and the rebels were terrified when they heard he was coming. His sudden death on the road was mourned throughout the empire.

遺疏上，優詔賜卹，贈太子太傅，諡文忠。 When his final memorial reached the throne, the emperor granted generous posthumous honors, made him Grand Tutor of the Heir Apparent, and gave him the posthumous name Wenzhong.

則徐才識過人，而待下虛衷，人樂為用，所蒞治績皆卓越。 Lin's talent and judgment were exceptional, yet he treated subordinates with genuine openness, and men were eager to serve him. Every post he held yielded outstanding results.

道光之季，東南困於漕運，宣宗密詢利弊，疏陳補救本原諸策，上畿輔水利議，文宗欲命籌辦而未果。 In the late Daoguang era the southeast was crippled by the grain-transport system. When the emperor privately asked about remedies, Lin memorialized on fundamental reforms and submitted a plan for waterworks in the capital region. Emperor Wenzong intended to put him in charge, but the plan never came to fruition.

海疆事起，時以英吉利最強為憂，則徐獨曰：「為中國患者，其俄羅斯乎！」 When trouble on the coast began, most feared Britain above all. Lin alone said: 'The power that will truly threaten China—is it not Russia?'

十九年，林則徐奉命至廣東，廷楨與之同心協力，盡獲躉船積煙，焚之，嚴私販之罪； In 1839 Lin Zexu arrived in Guangdong on imperial orders. Deng worked with him in full concert, seized all opium stored on receiving ships and burned it, and imposed severe penalties on smugglers;

臨以兵威，屢戰皆捷，事詳則徐傳。 backed the policy with military force and won repeated victories. The details are given in Lin's biography.

九月，詔以廷楨等在粵辦理不善，轉滋事端，與林則徐同奪職。 In the ninth month an edict blamed Deng and his colleagues for mishandling affairs in Guangdong and provoking further trouble. He was dismissed from office together with Lin Zexu.

二十一年，琦善撤沿海兵備，虎門失守，复追論廷楨久任兩廣，廢弛營務，與則徐同戍伊犁。 In 1841 Qishan withdrew coastal defenses and Humen fell. Deng was again blamed for lax military administration during his long tenure in the Two Guang and was banished to Yili together with Lin.

論曰：林則徐才略冠時，禁煙一役，承宣宗嚴切之旨，操之過急； The commentators say: Lin Zexu's talent and strategic vision were unmatched in his day. In the opium suppression campaign he carried out Emperor Xuanzong's stern orders, but pressed the policy too hard;

則徐瀕謫，疏陳：「自道光元年以來，粵關徵銀三千餘萬兩，收其利必防其害。 On the verge of dismissal, Lin memorialized: 'Since 1821 the Guangdong customs have collected more than thirty million taels of silver. Whoever reaps such profit must also guard against its harm.

鄧廷楨與則徐同心禦侮，克保岩疆。 Deng Tingzhen worked in full concert with Lin to resist foreign aggression and successfully defended the coastal frontier.

Draft History of Qing, Chapter 373Volume 373 Biographies 160: Zong Shiyishan, Long Wen, Zong Shiyijing, Wen Wei, Te Yi Shun, Yu Buyun · 1 passage

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英艦橫亙省河，奕山問計於林則徐，則徐議先遣洋商設法羈縻，俾英艦暫退； British warships blocked the provincial river. Yishan sought Lin Zexu's counsel; Lin urged that foreign merchants first be used to stall the enemy so the British fleet might pull back for a time;

Draft History of Qing, Chapter 378Volume 378 Biographies 165: Huang Juezi, Jin Yinglin, Chen Qingyong, Su Tingkui, Zhu Qi · 1 passage

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林則徐至粵，盡焚躉船存煙，議外國人販煙罪。 Lin Zexu reached Guangdong, burned all the opium stored on the receiving ships, and pressed charges against foreign traffickers.

Draft History of Qing, Chapter 379Volume 379 Biographies 166: Zhao Shenzhen, Lu Kun, Ceng Sheng, Tao Shu · 1 passage

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後在總督任，與巡撫林則徐合力悉加疏濬，吳中稱為數十年之利，語詳則徐傳。 Later, as governor-general, he and the governor Lin Zexu worked together to dredge them all thoroughly; the people of the Wu region called it a benefit not seen in decades—the details are given in Lin Zexu's biography.

Draft History of Qing, Chapter 382Volume 382 Biographies 169: Hu Song E, Bu Yan Tai, Sa Ying A · 6 passages

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時前兩廣總督林則徐在戍所，布彥泰於墾事一以諮之，阿齊烏蘇即由則徐捐辦。 Former governor-general Lin Zexu was then in exile; Bu Yantai consulted him on every reclamation matter, and Aqiwusu was credited as Lin's donation.

事既上聞，命布彥泰傳諭則徐赴南路阿克蘇、烏什、和闐週勘。 Once the report reached court, Bu Yantai was told to send Lin on an inspection circuit through the southern prefectures of Aksu, Ush, and Khotan.

布彥泰疏留喀喇沙爾辦事大臣全慶暫緩更換，與則徐會勘。 Bu Yantai asked to keep Karashahr minister Quanqing in place temporarily to survey with Lin.

惠吉籌辦未有緒，歿於任，乃以布彥泰代之，未至，命林則徐先署總督，並授達洪阿西寧辦事大臣，同治其事。 Before Huiji could organize the response he died in post; Bu Yantai was named to succeed him, but Lin Zexu was first ordered to act as governor-general, with Da Hong'a as Xining minister to manage the campaign jointly.

布彥泰新疆開墾，西寧平番，胥賴林則徐之擘畫。 Bu Yantai's Xinjiang reclamation and Xining fan pacification both depended on Lin Zexu's designs.

林則徐謂治番自古無一勞永逸之計，亦慨乎其言之也。 Lin Zexu had said that since antiquity no policy toward the fan had ever been permanent — a verdict that still rings true.

Draft History of Qing, Chapter 384Volume 384 Biographies 171: Lin Peihou, Li Xiangkun, Li Zongchuan, Wang Fengsheng, Huang Mian, Yu De Yuan, Yao Ying · 3 passages

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裕謙死難，冕牽連遣戍伊犁，既而林則徐亦至戍，議興屯田，冕佐治水利有功，赦還。 After Yuqian died in battle, Huang was implicated and exiled to Yili; when Lin Zexu was sent to the same frontier and colonization was proposed, Huang helped manage the irrigation works with distinction and was eventually pardoned and allowed to return.

冕仕宦初為陶澍、林則徐所知，晚在籍為駱秉章所倚任。 Early in his career he won the notice of Tao Shu and Lin Zexu; in later years, while living at home, he was entrusted by Luo Bingzhang.

先後疆吏趙慎畛、陶澍、林則徐皆薦其可大用。 Frontier governors Zhao Shenque, Tao Shu, and Lin Zexu in turn recommended him for high office.

Draft History of Qing, Chapter 389Volume 389 Biographies 176: Bai Jun, Lin Kui, Rui Chang, Quan Qing · 2 passages

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召還，未行，會回疆興墾，伊犁將軍布彥泰疏留全慶偕林則徐往勘。 He was recalled but had not yet left when reclamation began in the Muslim frontier; Ili General Buyantai asked that Quan Qing stay to survey the land with Lin Zexu.

至是復偕則徐詳勘，疏言：「庫爾勒應於此大渠南岸接開中渠，引入新墾之地，分開支渠二。 He then surveyed again with Lin Zexu and proposed: "At Korla a middle canal should be opened south of the main canal to bring water to newly reclaimed land, with two branch canals.

Draft History of Qing, Chapter 392Volume 392 Biographies 179: Sai Shang A, Ne Er Jing E · 2 passages

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時廣西匪亂方熾，巡撫週天爵、提督向榮會剿，不能制賊，起用林則徐，未至，道卒。 At that time the rebellion in Guangxi was blazing; Governor Zhou Tianjue and Regional Commander Xiang Rong campaigned together but could not contain the rebels; Lin Zexu was brought back into service but died on the journey before he arrived.

尋以正樽已被鄉勇毆斃，奏下繼任總督林則徐確查虛實，則徐疏言鄉勇毆斃三賊，有正樽在內，以衣物為證，詔斥衣物出於事後呈驗，不足信，褫訥爾經額職，予三等侍衛，充駐藏辦事大臣。 Soon word came that local militia had beaten Zhengzun to death; the report was sent to his successor Lin Zexu for verification; Lin wrote that militia had killed three rebels, Zhengzun among them, citing clothing as evidence; the court rejected this, saying the clothing had been produced only afterward and was not credible; Ne'erjing'e was dismissed, given third-class bodyguard rank, and appointed commissioner in Tibet.

Draft History of Qing, Chapter 393Volume 393 Biographies 180: Li Xingyuan, Zhou Tianjue, Lao Chongguang · 1 passage

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會廣西匪亂方熾，起林則徐督師，卒於途，命星沅代為欽差大臣。 Just then the rebellion in Guangxi was raging; Lin Zexu had been recalled to command the campaign but died en route, and Xingyuan was appointed Imperial Commissioner in his stead.

Draft History of Qing, Chapter 394Volume 394 Biographies 181: Xu Guangjin, Ye Mingchen, Huang Zonghan · 1 passage

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詔廣縉赴廣西剿辦，尋起林則徐督師，命廣縉剿捕廣東遊匪。 The court ordered Guangjin to Guangxi to suppress the rebels; Lin Zexu was soon recalled to take command, and Guangjin was told to clear the roving bandits of Guangdong.

Draft History of Qing, Chapter 396Volume 396 Biographies 183: Wu Wenrong, Pan Duo, Deng Erheng · 1 passage

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論曰：吳文鎔由卿貳出膺疆寄，凡十餘年，風采嚴峻，時推其治行亞於林則徐。 Commentary: Wu Wenrong went from vice minister to frontier service for more than ten years; his bearing was stern and severe, and contemporaries ranked his administrative record second only to Lin Zexu.