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卷232 列傳十九 希福 范文程 甯完我 鲍承先

Volume 232 Biographies 19: Xi Fu, Fan Wencheng, Ning Wan Wo, Bao Chengxian

Chapter 232 of 清史稿 · Draft History of Qing
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1
滿 使 滿
Xi Fu was of the Hesheri clan. His clan had long lived at Duying'e before moving once more to Hada. After the Taizu Emperor had conquered Hada, Xi Fu came over with his elder brother Shuo Se at the head of their followers. Before long, Xi Fu's command of Manchu, Chinese, and Mongol writing earned him a post on the staff of the Literary Bureau. He was dispatched repeatedly to the Mongol tribes and honored with the title "Bakshi." When the Eight Banners were formally organized, he was assigned to the Manchu Plain Yellow Banner.
2
使 宿 使
In the second year of Tiancong, Hong Taiji marched against the Chahar and dispatched Xi Fu to the Khorchin to muster troops. Tushetu Efu Oba urged him to turn back: "Enemy cavalry have sealed the roads—where do you mean to go? If something goes wrong, who will answer for it?" Xi Fu replied: "How can one refuse an imperial order? Death is death—but the task must not fail." And he went. Two days later he reached the court and reported that the Khorchin would not muster, and that Tushetu Efu Oba was off raiding with his forces and would join only when the raiding was done. The emperor was furious and sent Xi Fu back, attended by eight brave men. Four days and nights later they met enemy forces on the road, killed more than thirty, and finally reached the Khorchin and brought their troops into the rendezvous. The following year Oba came to pay tribute. The emperor had Xi Fu and secretariat officials including Kuruchan rebuke him. Oba acknowledged his fault and sent camels and horses in apology. For his service he was promoted to Beyu. He joined the campaign against the Ming, drew near the Ming capital, and routed Ming forces beneath the city walls. When Dalinghe was besieged and relief came from Jinzhou, he vied with Tan Tai to lead the charge and crushed the relief force. On the march home he again fought fiercely and beat off pursuers, and was promoted to guerrilla colonel.
3
使
In the first year of Chongde the Literary Bureau became the Three Inner Courts, and Xi Fu was made chancellor of the Inner History Court. He was soon made grand secretary of the Inner Council of Culture and promoted to second-rank jalan gūsa-i janggin. In the second year he urged a ban on seditious rumor, with penalties for violators, and the measure was promulgated as law. In the third year he joined Grand Secretary Fan Wencheng in recommending a formal organization for the ministries and courts. Though Xi Fu served the throne as a scholar-official in the inner courts and handled weighty affairs of state, he was often dispatched to the Chahar, Khalkha, Khorchin, and other tribes to register households, establish niru, promulgate laws, and adjudicate disputes fairly; at times he went to the front to explain strategy, survey the terrain, verify commanders' battle records, distribute rewards, and convey the emperor's benevolent intent to those who had submitted. Every report he brought back won the emperor's approval. In the first year of Shunzhi the translation of the Liao, Jin, and Yuan histories was finished; he presented it to the throne and the Shunzhi Emperor rewarded him generously.
4
Xi Fu had long been at odds with Tan Tai and often ridiculed him as feeble and slack. Tan Tai was close to the Prince Regent Dorgon; he and his younger brother Tan Bu then framed Xi Fu for falsely attributing words to the prince, alleging extravagant court banquets, slandering senior ministers, and fomenting disorder in government—an offense punishable by death; the prince ordered him dismissed, stripped of his hereditary rank, and his property confiscated. In the second month of the eighth year the Shunzhi Emperor assumed personal rule, cleared his wrongful conviction, restored him as grand secretary of the Inner Council of Culture, and reinstated his hereditary rank. In the ninth year the emperor noted that Xi Fu had served the Taizu and Taizong emperors at a gallop on every commission, giving his utmost. When the capital had been fixed at Beijing his merits had gone unrewarded because he had been disgraced; now within a single year he was promoted three times to third-rank jingqini hafan, hereditary. He died in the eleventh month of that year and was posthumously made Grand Tutor with the posthumous name Wenjian. His eldest son Qitata inherited the title. Early in the Qianlong reign the family rank was fixed as third-rank zi.
5
便 便 便 宿 西
Shuaibao was Xi Fu's second son. Early in the Kangxi reign the emperor, remembering Xi Fu's long service to the founding court, followed the precedent set for Fan Wencheng and Esheihei and exceptionally appointed Shuaibao bachelor of the Inner History Court. In the sixth month of the eighth year he was made vice minister of personnel. In the seventh month he was appointed director-general of grain transport. In the ninth month he memorialized: "The land and water route at Huai'an has three customs posts within fifteen li; Banzha has a transit duty office and Huai'an a granary tax, both under the Ministry of Revenue; Qingjiang has a tax station under the Ministry of Works. Clerks and runners are too numerous, and merchants lose money and time. I ask that the three be reduced to one, the tax quotas merged, clerks cut, and commerce eased. The memorial was referred for deliberation; the Ministry of Revenue favored merging the granary tax with the transit office; the Ministry of Works objected that the tax station levies ship-material and other duties to repair grain-transport vessels, and that merging it with the transit office would be impractical. The emperor favored Shuaibao's proposal and ordered the Nine Ministers and the censorate to reconsider; in the end his request was granted. In the first month of the ninth year he memorialized: "Huai and Yang have been flooded; Gaoyou, Suqian, Taoyuan, Yancheng, and Ganyu have suffered especially severe damage. Arrears in tribute grain must by rule be collected in full, but the people cannot bear the burden." The memorial was referred for deliberation; the ministries proposed commutation to silver but still insisted on collecting the arrears. The emperor, noting that these counties had suffered repeated disasters and the people were in dire straits, ordered further deliberation; more than thirty-one thousand shi of old tribute-grain arrears were remitted. In the first month of the twelfth year he joined River Director-General Wang Guangyu in asking that, once the grain transport season was complete, the old practice of commending and impeaching subordinate civil and military officials be restored. Once his request was granted, he recommended Shandong grain intendant Chi Rixun, Henan grain intendant Fan Zhou, Wuxi magistrate Wu Xingzuo, and others, and impeached Liyang magistrate Wang Xifan and others. In the thirteenth year Wu Sangui's forces invaded Jiangxi; in the tenth month Shuaibao was ordered to move his command to garrison Nanchang. In the twelfth month Prince An Yuele's army arrived and he was ordered to stand down and return. In the seventeenth year Yuele marched into Hunan and Shuaibao was again ordered to garrison Nanchang. In the ninth month he moved his headquarters to Ji'an. In the third month of the eighteenth year he induced more than fifty of Wu Sangui's generals and more than ten thousand troops to surrender. In the eighth month of the nineteenth year Shang Zhixin was arrested for investigation; Shuaibao was ordered to garrison Nanxiong and Shaozhou. In the tenth month he was ordered to stand down and return. In the fifth month of the twentieth year he was made minister of works. In the twelfth month he was transferred to minister of rites. He died in the twelfth month of the twenty-third year. His son Heyi rose from the imperial guard through successive promotions to minister of works.
6
使
Songsou was Xi Fu's great-grandson. He passed the jinshi examination in the first year of Yongzheng, was selected as a Hanlin bachelor, and appointed revising compiler. In the second year of Qianlong, when the investiture of the king of Annam, Le Duy Vi, was performed, he served as chief envoy in the capacity of reader-in-waiting and was granted first-rank court dress. He rose through successive promotions to grand secretary of the Grand Secretariat. In the fourteenth year he proclaimed an edict in Korea and was promoted to vice minister of rites. In the nineteenth year he inherited the first-rank zi peerage. He died in the twentieth year.
7
殿 西
Fan Wencheng, style Xiandou, was the seventeenth-generation descendant of the Song Guanwen Hall grand secretary and Duke of Gaoping, Fan Chunren. His ancestors had been banished from Jiangxi to Shenyang in the early Ming and thus became Shenyang natives, living at Fushun garrison. His great-grandfather Juan was a jinshi in the Zhengde reign, rose to minister of war, and has a biography in the History of Ming.
8
西
From youth Wencheng loved books; he was quick-witted, steady, and resolute, and he and his elder brother Wencai were both licentiates of the Shenyang county school. In the third year of Tianming, after the Taizu Emperor had taken Fushun, Wencai and Wencheng together presented themselves to him. The Taizu Emperor was struck by Wencheng's bearing; he spoke with him, took him in favor, learned that he was Juan's great-grandson, and turning to the princes said: "This is the descendant of a famous minister—treat him well!" When the emperor campaigned against the Ming, took Liaoyang, crossed at Sancha to attack Xiping, and captured Guangning, Wencheng was with the army throughout.
9
西
When Hong Taiji acceded, Wencheng was summoned to attend at his side. In the third year of Tiancong he again joined the campaign against the Ming, entered Jimen, and captured Zunhua. Wencheng led a detached force against Panjiakou, Malanyu, Santunying, Malanguan, and Da'ankou—all five places fell. Soon afterward Ming forces besieged the army at Da'ankou; Wencheng attacked with firearms and broke the siege. Hong Taiji personally led a thrust toward Yongping and left Wencheng to hold Zunhua; when the enemy struck by surprise, Wencheng led the charge, fought fiercely, and drove them off. For his service he was granted the hereditary rank of guerrilla colonel. In the fifth year the army besieged Dalinghe and the city surrendered; but some Mongol surrendered troops had secretly killed their officers and rebelled. The emperor was furious; Wencheng calmly remonstrated and more than five hundred men condemned to death were spared. A Ming detached general still held the crest of West Mountain, relying on the terrain; Wencheng rode alone to his camp, explained the stakes, and the general then asked to surrender. The emperor was pleased and gave all the surrendered men to Wencheng.
10
便 使
In the sixth year he joined the raid on the Ming frontier; Wencheng, together with his Literary Bureau colleagues Ning Wanwo and Ma Guozhu, memorialized on military affairs, arguing that penetrating Xuan and Da was inferior to striking Shanhai Pass. When the army reached Guihua, the emperor planned a deep thrust and summoned Wencheng and the others to counsel him. Wencheng and the others memorialized: "Judging the mood of our troops, every man wishes to press deep. We should strike straight for Beijing to settle peace or war, break the water gates of Shanhai Pass on the return, and thereby display our military might. Of the routes inward, only Yanmen is convenient—the road is clear and the inhabitants along the way are prosperous enough to supply our grain. If Your Majesty fears the campaign lacks a pretext, you should openly announce to their people that the Chahar khan has fled, his tribes have submitted to us, the road is too long to march on foot, we have come to negotiate peace with your state, and we ask to borrow your horses to convey our newly submitted followers. If peace is concluded, compensate the value of the horses; if not, when we raise the army again and, favored by Heaven, bring their territory under our rule, all whom military action has disturbed should have their taxes remitted for several years as appropriate. This is what is meant by a grand and righteous campaign. Otherwise, write to the frontier generals and officials, have them request peace negotiations from their sovereign, and set a deadline for a decision. Their courtiers will quarrel within, frontier generals will shift blame without, and delay will pass the deadline—then our army may seize the opening and strike. When our army advances, the advantage lies in pressing deep; if not, the advantage lies in a swift return; to turn back halfway gains nothing. When the memorial reached him, the emperor warmly approved it.
11
使
In the seventh year Kong Youde and others opened negotiations, but Ming forces pressed them hard; the emperor ordered Wencheng to accompany the princes in leading troops to their relief; Wencheng proclaimed the emperor's gracious intent, and Youde and his followers then submitted with their troops. Thereafter, whether in taking Lüshun, recovering Ping Island, campaigning against Korea, or pacifying the Mongols, Wencheng was consulted on every major decision.
12
In the first year of Chongde the Literary Institute became the Inner Three Courts; Wencheng was appointed grand secretary of the Inner Secretariat Court and advanced in hereditary rank to second-class jalan-i janggū. When the banner system was first fixed, banner commanders were established. The ministers wished to nominate Wencheng first; the emperor said: "Secretary Fan's talent truly surpasses this post, yet a banner command commands only one army; I am now relying on him as my right hand. Nominate someone else." Wencheng handled confidential affairs; each audience lasted many hours before he emerged; sometimes he was summoned back before he had eaten or rested. The emperor valued Wencheng highly; whenever policy was discussed, he would ask: "Has Secretary Fan been told? If something seemed amiss, he would say: "Why not consult Secretary Fan? The ministers would reply: "Fan agrees." The emperor would then approve it. When Wencheng once reported ill, routine business piled up and orders were held until Secretary Fan recovered to decide them. All letters and edicts comforting and instructing the various states were drafted under Wencheng's supervision. At first the emperor still reviewed them; later he ceased to examine them closely and said: "You will make no mistake." Wencheng brought his father Nan home to care for him; once, while attending the emperor at a meal, he saw a rare delicacy and, thinking his father had never tasted it, hesitated and did not eat. The emperor understood and immediately had the dish sent to Nan; Wencheng bowed twice in thanks.
13
忿
When the Shunzhi Emperor acceded, Wencheng was registered in the Bordered Yellow Banner. When Prince Regent Dorgon led the army against the Ming, Wencheng wrote: "The people of the Central Plains, scattered in war and ruin, have suffered every misery and long for a worthy ruler under whom they may live in peace. We once abandoned Zunhua, slaughtered at Yongping, and twice marched deep into their territory only to withdraw. They must believe we lack great ambition and care only for gold, silk, and captives, and so they doubt and waver. Now we must enforce strict discipline and harm nothing; proclaim our intent to take the Central Plains—officials shall keep their posts, the people their livelihoods, the worthy shall be employed, the helpless relieved. North of the Great River, the land may be won by proclamation alone. When Li Zicheng's rebels took the Ming capital and word arrived, Wencheng was convalescing at Gaizhou's Tangquan springs; an express summons brought him to counsel. He said: "The Dashing Bandit has ravaged the Central Plains and killed the imperial house—he is an enemy who must be destroyed. Though he commands a million men and rampages without restraint, three paths lead to his defeat: he forced the emperor to his death—Heaven is enraged; he tortured and humiliated the gentry and extorted their wealth—the scholar-officials are furious; he seized goods, violated women, and burned homes—the people hate him. With these three defeats prepared and arrogance in his conduct, he can be broken in one battle. Our state is united, our arms are honed; proclaim his crimes, march against him, comfort his gentry, and rescue his people. An army that fights in the name of justice—what can it not accomplish? He also said: "Cherishing life is Heaven's virtue; never in antiquity did one who delighted in slaughter gain the realm. If the state only wishes to rule east of the Pass, so be it; but to unify the realm, the people must be governed and secured." The next day he rode to the army and drafted a proclamation to Ming officials and people: "This righteous army comes to avenge your ruler and father, not to kill the people; only the Dashing Bandit will be punished. Officials who submit shall have their posts restored; the people who submit shall resume their livelihoods. The army marches under strict discipline and will not harm you." Every proclamation bore Wencheng's rank and name.
14
After Beijing fell and government was being built anew, they followed Wencheng's advice: funeral rites for the Chongzhen Emperor, relief for survivors, reinstatement of dismissed officials, search for recluses, review of records, revision of laws, opening of channels for remonstrance, recall of bureau clerks, and collection of registers. Late-Ming tax quotas had been raised repeatedly, and the registers were destroyed in the turmoil; only Wanli-era records survived. Some proposed ordering the provinces to compile new registers. Wencheng said: "Even these old quotas may burden the people—how can we seek more? The proposal was dropped." For his service he also received an amnesty promotion to ashan i hafan with toosyaha hafan and the title Bakshi. He was further advanced to second-class jingkini hafan.
15
In Shunzhi year two, after the lower Yangzi was pacified, Wencheng memorialized: "To govern the realm one must win hearts; the gentry are the leading people. Win the gentry and you win the people. He asked that provincial and metropolitan examinations be restored and advancement broadened. The court agreed. In the first month of year five the Inner Three Courts were made chief among civil officials; Wencheng, Ganglin, and Qi Chongge were granted pearl finials and jade belts. In year seven Prince Regent Dorgon died. In year eight Grand Secretaries Ganglin and Qi Chongge were executed for following the Prince Regent in falsifying the Taizu Veritable Records. Wencheng should have been implicated, but because he had not sided with the Prince Regent, the emperor ordered only removal from office with a fine in lieu of punishment. That year his office was restored. In year nine, on an amnesty, he was advanced to first-class jingkini hafan, appointed deliberating minister, and charged to supervise the Taizong Veritable Records.
16
西西 便 使
Provincial grain and tax revenues often fell short; in one year the deficit exceeded four million taels, leaving pay in arrears. Wencheng memorialized: "In Huguang, Jiangxi, Henan, Shandong, and Shaanxi—provinces long ravaged and thinly settled—establish military colonies: two circuit intendants and four sub-prefects, with governors selecting honest, capable men, and judging governors by the quality of those appointments. Official salaries: in the first year paid from colony seed funds; in the second year repaid from the harvest. Thereafter all came from the harvest—more officials without burdening the treasury. Oxen, seed grain, and farm tools for the colonies should be issued from prefectural and county storehouses on the intendant's order. At first troops would garrison the colonies; prioritize waste land with good water access, then the remainder. Ownerless land, or land owners had abandoned, became official colonies. Peasants who wished to farm but lacked means would receive oxen or seed; one-third of the harvest went to the state; after three years the land became theirs. Organize baojia for mutual watch and to suppress banditry. Those without means should receive wages from the government. As famine threatened, refugees would gather in great numbers. First-year grain and fodder could be stored by colony officials, rotated stock for new, and used as seed capital the next year; surplus could supply nearby garrisons—without using quotas as an excuse to extract more. By the third year, as harvests grew, hire transport to deliver provisions for army pay. Colony officials, peasants, and oxen should not be conscripted for transport. Local officials in colony districts would answer to the intendant; diligent colony officers would advance two ranks after three years at frontier pay; the incompetent would be impeached by governors; favoritism would be punished together—true reward and true punishment." The emperor warmly approved the plan.
17
滿
In year ten he joined his colleagues in memorializing: "Let ministers of the third rank and above in every ministry recommend those they know—Manchu or Han, new or old, high or low rank, kin or foe—on merit alone, each in a separate memorial with verified facts, for timely audience before the throne. Judge their speech and deeds, and note who recommended them; the emperor will know early whether they are fit and appoint them when posts open. If they succeed, reward them in proportion—and reward the recommender likewise; if they fail, punish in proportion—and punish the recommender likewise. The emperor granted the request.
18
滿 使
The emperor was diligent in government, often visiting the Inner Court to consult his ministers at leisure. Wencheng, as senior minister, received his instructions and answered to the emperor's satisfaction. Once at the Dragon Boat Festival the ministers left early; the emperor said: "Heaven grants rest and we seek ease—such is human nature. But leisure must follow labor; only when the realm is secure will joy endure. Otherwise pleasure is fleeting." He continued: "Who is without fault? The beauty lies in reform. King Tang's greatness was his willingness to correct his faults. When the Ming Wuzong played without restraint and blamed his ministers—was that how a ruler cultivates himself and governs others?" Wencheng replied: "When ruler and minister are both worthy, they must encourage each other—only then can they enjoy Heaven's favor and serve the state." The emperor said: "Well said. From now on, whenever I err I shall correct it. You too must strive—do not fail to counsel me!" The emperor once ordered officials sent to the provinces to review punishments; Wencheng said: "Earlier tours by Manchu and Han grand ministers disturbed the people and were stopped. Now floods, droughts, and disasters afflict every region and the people are not yet at rest—envoys should not be sent. Heavy criminals are already restricted; let each governor examine cases and memorialize where mercy or doubt applies. The emperor agreed. In policy Wencheng favored what was essential and brief, held to the larger pattern, and mostly counseled in this vein.
19
調
In the eighth month of year eleven the emperor honored his assisting ministers and advanced Wencheng to Junior Guardian and Grand Guardian of the Heir Apparent; Wencheng thanked him and, citing age and illness, asked to retire. In the ninth month the emperor issued a gracious edict, advanced him to Grand Tutor and Grand Preceptor of the Heir Apparent, and granted retirement. As a founding minister of great service, he was treated with exceptional honor: when ill, the emperor personally prepared medicine for him; sent painters to his home to paint his portrait for the inner treasury; and bestowed imperial robes and gifts beyond number; Because Wencheng was tall and imposing, the emperor also had robes and caps custom-made to fit him well. When the Kangxi emperor acceded, he specially sent Wencheng to announce the news at Hong Taiji's tomb; Wencheng threw himself to the ground in grief and could not get up. He died on the gengxu day of the eighth month of Kangxi 5, aged seventy. The emperor wrote the elegy himself and sent Vice Minister of Rites Huang Ji to conduct the sacrifice; he was buried at Hongluo Mountain in Huairou, with a stele recording his deeds, posthumous title Wensu, and an imperial inscription for the shrine reading "Founding Minister, Lofty Integrity." Wencheng's sons were Chengyin, Chengmou, Chengxun, Chengbin, Cheng Lie, and Chengzuo; Chengmou has a separate biography.
20
西 便 𢗝
Chengxun, style Sugong, was Wencheng's third son. Through hereditary privilege he rose to censor and bureau director. In Kangxi 19 Tan Hong rebelled; the emperor sent Chengxun and Director E'erhetu to Yiling to urge General Garhan into battle and supervise grain transport for the army in Huguang. In year 20, as the army pushed into Yunnan, he was ordered to expedite the forces and oversee supplies as before. In year 22 he returned to the capital and supervised the Chongwen Gate customs. In year 23 the emperor ordered the Nine Ministers to recommend incorrupt officials; Chengxun was chosen and appointed Grand Secretariat academician. In year 24 he was made governor of Guangxi and memorialized to waive tax arrears still being collected in Rong county and Yulin after rebel occupation; and fixed grain levies in the subordinate districts to combined payment in kind and commuted silver. In year 25 he was promoted governor-general of Yunnan and Guizhou, fixed encampments for the two relief brigades in Yunnan, abolished fifteen guards and ten posts in Guizhou and merged them into prefectures and counties, and created seven new counties. In year 27 there was mutiny in Huguang; Yunnan was minting coin annually, cash piled up unused, and a third of army pay was issued in coin, which the troops disliked. When the Left Brigade was ordered to Xundian the men mutinied; garrison troops in the provincial capital were about to join; Chengxun executed twenty-one ringleaders and the trouble subsided. He memorialized to stop Yunnan's mint and pay troops in silver. In year 28 Fan A'suo killed native officer Lu Jie, who fled to the Dongchuan woman of the An clan; Fan A'suo led raids that preyed on the people. On report the emperor sent Director Wen Bao with Chengxun and others to Dongchuan to demand that the An clan hand over A'suo, who was beheaded.
21
巿
Garrison land-tax arrears in Yunnan dating from Wu Sangui's rebellion through year 27 were due for collection; Chengxun asked to recover them in installments; the emperor ordered a full remission. In year 29 he fixed Yunnan's autumn grain to combined kind and commuted payment; when Guizhou commissioner Ma Sanqi proposed silver commutation for army pay, Chengxun wrote: "Low rates hurt the troops, high rates hurt the people; the rate should be adjusted as conditions change. At harvest each prefecture should check market prices and collect in kind and silver together." In year 31 he established Yongbei garrison, abolished Erhai camp, and added posts to guard Dali city. In year 32 he came to the capital for audience.
22
西 西
In year 33 he was made Left Censor-in-Chief. In the sixth month Fulata, governor-general of Jiangnan and Jiangxi, died; finding no suitable successor, the emperor appointed Chengxun. He added: "Chengxun is steady and straightforward; he should serve well." Chengxun took office and memorialized to move the Fengyang Pass superintendent to Zhengyang Pass. Jiangxi taxpayers had paid "porters' fees" for clerks to carry grain to the provincial capital; when these were ordered confiscated as illegal, Chengxun asked to halt collection; the ministry refused, but the emperor granted his request. Jiangnan's low, damp terrain spoiled stored grain easily; Chengxun asked that each spring and summer Jiangsu and Anhui sell one tenth to two tenths of granary stores at fair price to rotate stock. Because Jiangnan's tax burden was heavy, he also asked that collection quotas vary with how much each district had cleared its arrears. Arrears after Kangxi 18 should be recovered in installments, easing pressure on officials and taxpayers. All were approved. In year 35 flood struck the Huai, Yang, and Xu districts; he released one hundred thousand piculs from provincial granaries and drew on wheat held at Jingkou and Feng for relief, saving many lives. In year 38 he was appointed Minister of War. In year 39 he was ordered to oversee repairs on the Gaojiayan dikes. In year 43 the work was finished and he was made Grand Guardian of the Heir Apparent. He died in year 53.
23
西
When Chengxun was first appointed governor of Guangxi and came to take leave, the emperor warned him: "Your father and brothers served the state; keep yourself honest, care for the people, do not trust secretarial staff, and do not court reputation by reckless acts." When he returned from Yunnan-Guizhou for audience, the emperor was visiting the Xiaoling tomb; Chengxun met him at Miyukou. The emperor said: "Your father and brothers were ministers of the founding court; your brother Fu died in loyal service. Seeing you reminds me of your brother, and my heart aches. I have not seen you for eight or nine years, yet your hair has turned so white. It is bitter cold in the suburbs; take the sable cap, sable jacket, and white-fox fur I wear myself. Do not change clothes yet, lest you catch cold. Tomorrow you may wear them to give thanks." Remembering old debts to Wencheng and Chengmou, the Kangxi emperor treated Chengxun with such warmth.
24
使
Shiyi was Chengxun's son. Early in Yongzheng he rose in three steps from zuoling to Malan garrison commander. In year 4 he was made acting governor-general of Liangjiang. That year he became dutong of the Chinese Bordered Blue Banner. In year 5 he was transferred to Chinese Bordered White Banner dutong while remaining acting governor-general. In the twelfth month Shiyi memorialized that henceforth poll tax in Jiangsu and Anhui should be merged into the land tax. Combined land-and-poll collection began with this measure. In year 6 he was made Minister of Revenue while remaining acting governor-general. In office he once proposed culverts at the Tongzhou canal mouth to regulate storage and release. He planned Yangzhou waterworks, dredged the estuary, cleared the Chelu, Baitu, and Haigou channels, and diked Taizhou's salt canal. At Yancheng, Rugao, and other outlets to the sea he built sluices and culverts. He reformed the Lianghuai salt administration and added troops and clerks to the Miaowan and Yancheng transport garrisons. All were referred to the ministries and approved. Because banditry was rife in Suzhou and Songjiang and Shiyi proved weak at suppression, the emperor assigned cases in Jiangsu's seven prefectures and five subprefectures to Zhejiang governor-general Li Wei. Li Wei arrested the Jiangning man Zhang Yunru on charges of sedition through charms and sorcery; because Shiyi had associated with Zhang, Li Wei impeached him. In year 8 the emperor ordered Minister Li Yongsheng to investigate; Zhang was executed and Shiyi was removed. He was recalled to the capital and put in charge of the Taiping Valley imperial tomb site. Soon he was again assigned to Hedong river works; when Hedong governor-general Tian Wenjing impeached him for faulty construction, the emperor wrote: "I promoted Fan Shiyi as the descendant of a meritorious minister. Zhu Hongxu once said Shiyi was honest but could not make ends meet; I was moved and gave him extra integrity stipends. Later I learned he never failed to take what regulations allowed. I still increased his grain allowance, hoping to make him truly honest and devote himself to his post. Yet he favored private associates and sheltered criminals; I secretly told Li Wei to protect him when he could. Of the Fan great officials only Shiyi and his cousin Shijie remained; as meritorious descendants they had fallen on hard times, and I spared no effort to preserve them. When he was again assigned to river works, at the height of flood season he sat idle, treating state affairs lightly and people's lives cheaply. Betraying imperial favor and neglecting duty is intolerable in anyone—how much more in Shiyi? He was arrested; the ministry recommended execution under the Zhang Yunru precedent, but the emperor pardoned him. He was appointed vice dutong of the Chinese Bordered Blue Banner. In year 10 he was made Minister of Works and Chinese Bordered Yellow Banner dutong. In year 12 he was dismissed as minister. In year 13 the guardsman Baozhu impeached him for bribery; sentencing was referred to the ministry, but he was soon amnestied. He died in Qianlong 6.
25
Chengbin, Wencheng's fourth son, inherited first-class jingkini hafan. He died.
26
西 西 西
Shijie was Chengbin's son. He rose from canling to regional commander of Shaanxi and Ningxia. In Kangxi 57 he acted as Shaanxi-Gansu provincial military commissioner. In Yongzheng 1 he was made governor of Shaanxi. In year 3 he became Chinese Bordered White Banner dutong. In year 5 Nian Gengyao fell; because Gengyao had once recommended Shijie, Yongzheng implicated Shijie, removed him as dutong, and made him a guardsman. In year 8 he was made minister without portfolio and assigned to guard the imperial tombs. When his cousin Shiyi was dismissed for faulty Hedong river works, Yongzheng, finding no Fan descendant in high office, made Shijie acting Gubeikou commissioner with Zhili commanders under him and urged him to reform. Soon he was transferred to Guyuan commissioner in Shaanxi. In Qianlong 1 his rank was changed by regulation to first-class viscount. In year 2 illness brought his recall and appointment as minister without portfolio. He died in year 3.
27
Jianzhong, Shijie's grandson, inherited first-class baron. He rose from deputy canling to vice dutong and vice minister. In Jiaqing 4 he was made Minister of Revenue and acting Chinese Plain Yellow Banner dutong. Soon he became Left Censor-in-Chief and was posted as Hangzhou garrison general. He died in year 5, with posthumous title Ke-shen.
28
使 西 西 使
Shishou was a grandson of Wencheng. Under Yongzheng he rose from Grand Council clerk to director in the Ministry of Revenue. Early in Qianlong he rose again to Hubei administration commissioner. In year 16, as acting governor of Hunan, he reported that Xiangyin, Yiyang, and other counties had over a thousand qing of private reclamation along Dongting, all just harvested after drought, and asked to defer taxing the new fields. Private embankments around Dongting were choking the waterways; he urged a ban on further construction. The memorial was approved. In year 18 he became governor of Jiangxi but was soon relieved due to illness. In year 21 he was recalled as Vice Minister of Revenue and acting dutong and asked to serve on the western colonial frontier. In year 24 Vice Dutong Ding Chang accused Shishou of profiteering through soldiers; an investigator was sent. Shishou had not used soldiers himself—only his servants had exploited their position. He was stripped of rank and placed under Ding Chang's supervision to redeem himself. In year 26 he became a First-class Bodyguard and rose to Chinese Bordered Blue Banner vice dutong, Vice Minister of Personnel, and Halsar commissioner. In year 31 he became Left Censor-in-Chief but kept his Halsar post. In year 32 he was made governor of Hubei. At audience the emperor judged Shishou too frail for a frontier post; in year 33 he was restored as dutong and Left Censor-in-Chief. In year 35 he became Minister of Works. The following year he was dismissed. He died in year 47.
29
使 滿
Shiji was another of Wencheng's grandsons. Early in Qianlong he entered the Ministry of Works as a hereditary appointee. After four promotions he served as acting Guangdong surveillance commissioner. In year 25, at the end of his salary term and court audience, he was told the Fan clan had no senior ministers and was made Chinese Bordered Red Banner vice dutong. In year 26 he became Vice Minister of Works. In year 27 he asked to open farmland south of the capital for rice; Zhili Governor Fang Guancheng was ordered to inspect local conditions and proceed accordingly. He moved repeatedly among vice-ministerial posts at the Granary, Revenue, and Rites. In year 42, on account of age, he was reassigned as vice dutong. He died soon after.
30
Yiheng was Shishou's son. Under Qianlong he rose through five posts from the procession guards to regional commander of Fujian's Funing Garrison. In year 47 he became Chinese Plain Blue Banner vice dutong. In year 57 he became Vice Minister of Works. In Jiaqing 1 he became Minister of Revenue. He died in year 2.
31
滿
Wencheng's great-grandson Yiqing, of the Xing branch, served as Mukden Vice Minister of Works under Qianlong; and fourth-generation descendant Jianfeng was Vice Minister of Personnel under Jiaqing—all of them holding Manchu posts as Chinese Bannermen, which for a time was hailed as an extraordinary exception.
32
Ning Wanwo, style Gongfu, was from Liaoyang. He submitted in the Tianming era, served in Prince Sahalian's household, and was enrolled in the Chinese Plain Red Banner. In Tiancong 3 Hong Taiji learned that Wanwo was learned in letters and history and summoned him to the Literary Bureau. At audience Wanwo recommended several acquaintances for promotion with him; Bao Chengxian was among them. He was soon made a brigadier general. In year 4, after Yongping fell, he and Dahai were ordered to proclaim the victory and pacify the region. He also took part in the siege of Dalinghe and the pacification of the Chahar, earning merit each time, and was granted a hereditary company commander's rank. In the seventh month of year 5, when the Six Ministries were first set up, scholar-officials honored as "Bangshi" could keep their old titles; the rest were called "bitchi shi."
33
退 '''' 滿 滿使
Wanwo spoke his mind on every issue; he once helped define the bureaucracy and distinguish official dress. In the twelfth month he memorialized: "Since antiquity, kings have not created offices out of love of display. They feared affairs of state would lack order, and so set up the Six Ministries; they feared the ministries would grow partial, and so set up the Six Offices of Scrutiny; they feared the ruler's mind would lack wise counsel, and so set up academicians; they feared the people's voice might be stifled, and so set up the Office of Transmission. Each depends on the others; not one can be spared. Your Majesty has not established remonstrating officials, saying only that in our state everyone may speak up—so why need censors? I beg Your Majesty to see the difference: the Six Ministries are in place—has anyone ever stood up to impeach or debate? In such silence, can the realm truly have no wrongs to report? The whole court nods along: craftiness passes for tact, concealment for fairness, timid retreat for refinement—what joy can Your Majesty take in such a scene while striving to govern well? And are those in power today all upright and principled? Subordinates dare not criticize their chiefs, and who outside the inner circle dares question the powerful? I know what happens in the state, and Your Majesty sometimes hears of it too—but that is only the old game of secret denunciation. How is it not better to appoint censors, purge abuses and advance the good, and let everything be said in the open? Once censors exist, even the sovereign may be criticized—what further restraint need others feel? So long as they are not corrupt or deceitful, let them speak freely without restraint—this is how ancient kings kept their eyes bright and their ears keen. If one blames the censors of the Ming for ruin, the fault lay in the ruler's poor judgment—not in the institution itself. In our state the 'bitchi shi'—in Chinese, 'study rooms'—what use has the court for study rooms? Officials and clerks are thrown together; titles and ranks are unsettled. Without the Office of Transmission, the voice below is choked off above—what becomes of earnest government? As for dress regulations, nothing is more urgent for forging unity between Manchu and Chinese. Your Majesty greets Chinese officials with warm and earnest kindness, yet our own people bully them in turn. Chinese officials do not know Manchu and are often humiliated for it; some have wept in grief—how then are distant men to be won and made one with us? That is why I say distinguishing dress by rank matters profoundly; I pray Your Majesty not to neglect it again. We lack talent; only our stubborn loyalty, unchanged to the death. Last year Brigadier General Gao Hongzhong left to command an ala; I memorialized asking that he stay; now Guerrilla Colonel Fan Wencheng has been posted to the Board of Punishments—I fear I too cannot long remain at the Literary Bureau. If two or three of us are all removed, who will speak boldly and exhaust himself for Your Majesty?" The memorial was largely approved, and the emperor ordered its measures carried out step by step.
34
使 調 西西 西 ''
In the first month of year 6 Wanwo memorialized: "On the ninth of the eleventh month last year, as the army returned from Dalinghe, Your Majesty spoke in advance of this year's campaign with utmost sincerity and compassion, heart open and trust complete, kindly as father and son under one roof. How could I not exhaust my mind to offer what little strength I have? I have heard it said: to fight a thousand li from home is defeat even in victory. In recent years officers and soldiers have grown greedy and deceitful as never in the Former Emperor's day; the habit must be broken and turned about. Your Majesty keeps this close at heart, yet has never shown a clear way to turn the tide. Unless hearts are tempered, you cannot command men as you would your own arms and legs. Splitting the army for garrison duty is impossible to harmonize; even if Zhuge Liang were reborn, he could do nothing. Moreover wasps and scorpions have their sting; trouble may breed at your elbow: the disloyal Zu Dashou leads Ning and Jin's wounded masses, watching from hundreds of li away—a man's idle dread, yet it cannot be ignored." In the third month the emperor decided to lead the campaign against the Chahar himself; Wanwo believed the Dalinghe surrendered troops were ripe to bolt, urged securing Shanhai Pass first and then retaking Jinzhou, and memorialized against the plan. In the fourth month the army marched west, crossed the Greater Khingan, and halted at the Dule River; scouts reported Ligdan Khan had fled westward. Wanwo, with his Literary Bureau colleagues Fan Wencheng and Ma Guozhu, jointly renewed their earlier counsel: "The army has crossed the Greater Khingan; the Chahar flee before our name; Your Majesty's fame blazes abroad. I judge that Your Majesty will soon halt the western campaign and turn south. Your Majesty will pity the soldiers' hardship and be unable to drive deep; you will carry off only women, children, and bags of gold and silk. If it comes to that, the great enterprise is lost! Once the failure on the Liao frontier was blamed on the Former Emperor; the loss of Yongping on the Second Prince. On whom will blame fall now? Trust must cover the realm—only then can the realm be won. We have laid plans for Your Majesty: let each Mongol in the army choose two or three headmen with a dozen followers to march south with you, and send the rest back to their tribes. Then enforce our laws strictly, proclaim them to all, and wherever the army marches forbid killing and looting; plant virtue and nurture benevolence and widen the road ahead. On this campaign soldiers sold oxen for horses and pawned their clothes to equip themselves, leaving home ever farther behind; if they see wealth and do not seize it, their hearts slacken—and if they seize it, they tread the old rut again. Will not Your Majesty say, 'I have strictly forbidden looting—who would dare disobey'? What reaches your eyes and ears perhaps none dare violate; what lies beyond them—who can guarantee? Mongol chiefs and princes alike will harass the people in small ways, and resentment will fall on Your Majesty—that is what you must ponder deeply. Better to keep your elite strength in reserve and take Shanhai than to drive exhausted troops deep into Xuan and Da. We know we go against your intent, but having seen this much we cannot hold our tongues." By then the emperor had already decided on war at Xuan and Da; in the fifth month he halted at Guihua and summoned Wanwo and the others to counsel him. Wanwo and the others memorialized on strategy; the full text appears in Wencheng's biography. The next day the emperor instructed the Mongol tribes and princes to enforce military discipline, largely adopting Wanwo's earlier counsel.
35
' '
In the first month of year 7 Wanwo memorialized: "Lately ties with Korea grow strained, peace with the Ming is unsettled, Mukden cannot long remain the capital, war cannot wait, and opportunity will not come twice. Emperor Gaozu of Han was beaten again and again—why did he become emperor? Xiang Yu swept the realm—why did he fall? Yuan Shao held all Hebei—why was he broken? Liu Bei met setback after setback—why did he still rise to hegemony? The difference is only this: using strategy or not, seizing opportunity or not. The realm is a great vessel—won by wit, not by brute force. I would compare it to go: a master keeps attack and defense in his breast and wins a hundred games in a hundred. Winning the realm is no trifle—how can one trust to careless luck? Ruler and minister have always needed each other. Under the Former Emperor, the Five Great Ministers knew only the throne, not private ties; only the state, not private families—so he rose with a handful of men and won the realm. Your Majesty looks about the court—how many men equal the Five Great Ministers? When they attend you in council, one hears no remonstrance—only flattery; they seek only easy expedients and shun labor and blame. What good does that do the state? What good does it do you? Set hooks to lure them, shake the court to stir them—I beg Your Majesty to act between dawn and dusk. The ancients said: 'A Qiji's cramped stride cannot match a draft horse's steady walk; Meng Ben's hesitation cannot match a common man's sure arrival; Even Yao and Shun's wisdom, chanted but never spoken, cannot match a mute's gestures. That is praise for doing, not merely knowing. I risk my life to speak; may Your Majesty judge and choose."
36
滿調 使滿
Among Wanwo's other proposals, on translation he argued: "Besides the Jin History, translate the Classic of Filial Piety, Great Learning, Doctrine of the Mean, Analects, Mencius, the Comprehensive Mirror, and the like." On the civil examinations he wrote: "Greed and sloth run too deep here to break by pen alone—purge bad habits before the exam and inspect conduct afterward. Every Manchu and Han officer in the Six Ministries and every Dalinghe garrison commander should sit the exams too—so you can gauge their talent and so all rise by the same road, not as sworn enemies." On the Six Ministries he urged: "They still follow Ming forms; Han staff cling to the Great Ming Statutes—weigh both traditions, think hard, and draft a new code for our own day. Shake off inertia, move toward Chinese institutions, and when we hold the Central Plains we will not founder in our own confusion. When Han succeeded Qin, Xiao He made the laws and Shusun Tong the rites. They were only men, with no precedent—yet they made laws and rites; now that we have models before us, why can we not adapt them? Place an interpreter with each Han administrator in the Six Ministries, and keep translators at your side so you can summon them—let no one plead ignorance of Manchu." Wanwo memorialized again and again, and the sovereign adopted his counsel each time. He also recommended Li Shuaitai and Chen Jin, both of whom rose to high office. On military affairs alone he insisted on striking Shanhai Pass from Ningyuan and Jinzhou, not on a drive through Xuan and Da; When Kong Youde and Geng Zhongming surrendered, Wanwo urged absorbing their troops into the Ujen Cooha; later he called them brutal and talentless, their men mostly miners who would turn bandit when provisions failed—none of which pleased the throne.
37
In the second month of year 9 Fan Wencheng argued that patronage had grown too loose; even without joint punishment, recommenders should face review and penalty. Wanwo asked that merit and fault be judged together, writing in brief: "You opened recommendation to officials and commoners to gain talent—but the ignorant seize the chance; the two ministries already hold forty or fifty such men, which shows how loose it has become. Enforce joint liability: if a nominee succeeds, the recommender shares the reward; if the nominee fails, the recommender shares the blame; if a man turns traitor at the end, let the recommender confess and be spared. Adopt this, and within three days nine in ten will withdraw their nominations; those who remain will be true talent indeed. The emperor approved both memorials.
38
Wanwo long handled state secrets and spoke his mind; he was twice promoted in hereditary jalan rank, inherited six times, and received estates and slaves. The throne relied on him ever more, yet he loved wine and dice. On the first Ming campaign he was ordered to help hold Yongping; Li Bolong, Vice Minister of Rites, and Guerrilla Tong Zheng impeached him for gambling; the emperor admonished him and pardoned him. In the second month of year 10 he gambled again with Liu Shiying, a surrendered Dalinghe jalan; Shiying's slave denounced him, his hereditary rank was stripped, his gifts seized, and he was sent back to Sahalian's household. That year the era name became Chongde; the Literary Bureau became the Inner Three Courts. Xifu, Wencheng, and Chengxian became Grand Secretaries—Wanwo, disgraced, was left out.
39
調祿滿
When the Shizu Emperor fixed the capital at Beijing, Wanwo was restored as an academician. In the fifth month of Shunzhi 2 he became Grand Secretary of the Inner Hongwen Court and chief compiler of the History of Ming. That year and again in years 3 and 6 he served as chief metropolitan examiner. He supervised the Veritable Records of Taizong, translated the Records of the Three Kingdoms, the Hongwu Precious Instructions, and other works, and was again granted a second-grade adaha gūwa. In the intercalary second month of year 8 Grand Secretaries Ganglin and Qi Chongge fell; Wanwo should have been dismissed for knowing the Prince of Rui had altered Taizu's Veritable Records without reporting it—Prince of Zheng Jirhalang and others reviewed the case and acquitted him. In the third month he moved to Grand Secretary of the Inner Historiography Court, with rank, precedence, and salary equal to the Manchu grand secretaries. Soon he was named a Deliberating Minister.
40
稿簿 輿 滿
In the third month of year 11 he impeached Grand Secretary Chen Mingxia for faction and treachery, citing seven counts: tampering with draft memorials, altering edicts, shielding allies, letting his son's clients terrorize their home district, and more; He added: "Since antiquity, traitors and villains cannot act until their faction is formed. Why? Lacking talent, deeds, and merit, they must form cliques to manufacture reputation. To build a faction they shield their own, however vile, and hate outsiders, however worthy—given time, the clique swells. Unless you weigh local reputation and judge by deeds, the clique cannot be broken. I reflect: in my prime I was rash and shallow and failed the Former Emperor—I was cast aside for ten years. When Your Majesty fixed the capital I entered the inner court, kept my post in silence another ten years, biting back my nature. Yet I am blunt by nature and flare when wrong is done—I dare not play the martyr who blocks the wheel or patches the palace gate; but to join a faction for private gain I would rather die. Your Majesty did not dismiss me for age but ranked me among the Manchu grand ministers; on your birthday you summoned me to the inner palace and poured imperial wine yourself. I am not wood or stone—how could I not give you my utmost? Mingxia's treachery worsened daily; his faction hardened daily. All saw Zhang Xuan's fate and held their tongues; I do not fear this broken body if it serves my lord." Mingxia was condemned on these grounds and executed. In the eighth month he was made Junior Guardian of the Heir Apparent. In year 13 he was made Junior Tutor and concurrently Grand Tutor of the Heir Apparent.
41
In the ninth month of year 15 he begged leave on account of age; a gracious edict let him retire. In the first month of Kangxi 1 the Sacred Ancestor, remembering Wanwo's service to Taizong and Shizu, appointed one son an academician. In the fourth month of year 4 he died; his posthumous name was Wenyi (Cultivated and Resolute). In the seventh month of Yongzheng 6 the Shizong ordered Wanwo's line recorded; a great-grandson Lan was found, given a vacant valiant-cavalry captaincy, a house, and five hundred taels of silver.
42
西 退 退 西
Bao Chengxian was from Yingzhou in Shanxi. Under Wanli he rose through the ranks to brigadier general. In Taichang 1 he followed Generals He Shixian and Li Bingcheng in defending Shenyang, then became deputy commander of the New Braves on Kaiyuan's eastern route, still holding the walls. Grand Coordinator Xiong Tingbi memorialized to reward the generals; Chengxian was included and received the brevet rank of regional commander. That year was Tianming 5. Taizu had taken Kaiyuan and advanced on Shenyang by the Yilu and Puhe routes. Chengxian, Shixian, and Bingcheng left the city to man outposts; when Taizu's army appeared, all withdrew without a fight. The emperor sent the Left Wing to pursue them to north of Shenyang, took more than a hundred heads, and withdrew. In the third month of year 7 the emperor took Shenyang and Liaoyang; Shixian fell in battle and Chengxian fell back on Guangning. In the first month of year 8 Xiping Fort fell; Chengxian marched from Guangning with Bingcheng, Liu Qu, Qi Bingzhong, and others to relieve it; Qu and Bingzhong were killed, Chengxian and Bingcheng fled, and the whole force was wiped out. Grand Coordinator Wang Huazhen abandoned Guangning and fled inside the passes; Guerrilla Sun Degong and others surrendered the city. Chengxian hid several days, then came out with the rest to surrender and was again made deputy commander.
43
使
In Tiancong 3 Hong Taiji led the campaign against Ming through Longjing Pass; Chengxian followed Prince of Zheng Jirhalang in raiding Malan Valley, repeatedly routing Ming forces, and by letter induced its commander to surrender. The army pressed the Ming capital; Chengxian again won over the horse-pasture eunuch and took his horses and mules to supply the host. Ming Grand Coordinator Yuan Chonghuan marched twenty thousand men from Ningyuan to relieve the capital, camped outside Guangqu Gate, and used the terrain for ambush. Prince Hoge struck their right wing and won repeated victories. Chengxian had entered the Literary Bureau on Wanwo's recommendation; the next day the emperor forbade a general assault, summoned Chengxian and Deputy Commander Gao Hongzhong, and gave them a secret ruse—seize a bound Ming eunuch near the lines, sit beside him, and whisper aloud: "Today's withdrawal is the best plan. I just saw the emperor ride alone toward the enemy; two men came out, spoke with him at length, and left. Yuan Chonghuan must have a secret pact—this can be settled at once." The eunuch Yang pretended to sleep and listened; the next day they let him go; he told the Ming emperor, and Chonghuan was executed.
44
退
In year 4 the army took Yongping; Chengxian followed and by letter persuaded the Qian'an gentry Zhu Jiantai and Bu Wenhuan to surrender, then took Luanzhou. The emperor ordered Chengxian and Deputy Commander Bai'e to hold Qian'an with the Bordered Yellow and Bordered Blue banners, built five tower-forts, and beat back Ming attacks. Ming Superintendent Zhang Chun, Zu Dashou, and others besieged Luanzhou; Prince Amin sent Chengxian's Qian'an garrison to hold Yongping. When Luanzhou fell, Amin abandoned Yongping, led the army out Cold Pass, and marched east to Shenyang. The emperor fixed penalties for generals who abandoned ground; Chengxian and Bai'e, having held Qian'an, finished the walls, and repulsed the enemy, were excused. In year 5 he joined the siege of Dalinghe and reduced Zhujia Fort.
45
In the eleventh month of year 6 the emperor questioned the Literary Bureau, ranking each ministry's translating secretaries for promotion or dismissal. Chengxian, Wanwo, and Wencheng memorialized: "Judge them by what they say—whether they serve the state in earnest or fob off duty with clever words—and keep or dismiss them accordingly. In the fifth month of year 7, Kong Youde and Geng Zhongming surrendered and moored their fleet at Zhenjiang. Chengxian memorialized: "Strike Ming by sea now, before they build a fleet to meet us—delay, and the chance is lost. That July, after Lüshun fell, he urged moving the Zhenjiang squadron to Gaizhou, bringing in the outlying islands and winning their people with clemency.
46
使 使
In the fifth month of year 8 the emperor marched on Ming Datong; Ming Governor Zhang Zongheng and General Cao Wenzhao sent Chengxian's son Tao with a letter seeking peace. When Chengxian had first defected, the Ming had held Tao in Yingzhou jail; now they freed him to carry the letter. On the mountain road he ran into Tuxietu Jinong's men, who took his horse and cut down Tao and his escort—all were left for dead. When the soldiers had gone, Tao came to. A man named Feng Guozhen brought Tao to Prince Daishan's camp, reunited him with Chengxian, and had him presented to the emperor. Seeing Tao badly wounded, the emperor kept him with the army and sent Guozhen back with the reply.
47
使
In the first month of year 9 Chengxian wrote: "I see Marshal Kong Youde and General Geng Zhongming were allowed to issue patents to their own men at their discretion. Founding a dynasty begins with honoring the insignia of rank—high and low have their proper ritual. If you wish to court distant allies warmly, have the Board of Personnel petition to issue patents, so favor comes from your own hand. The emperor disagreed and said: "The marshal brought his men by sea from far away—that is no small service. The Book of Yu says, "Appoint the worthy and do not doubt them." I deal with my men in good faith; my word is already given—would you have me break it? Chengxian himself fled and sued for mercy—yet he still stands among my great ministers, favored with patents and stipends. Shall those who crossed the sea to join me be told they have done nothing? I do not mean this as rebuke to you, Chengxian—you spoke in earnest, and I answer in earnest."
48
滿 退
When the Yuan imperial seal was taken from the Chahar, Chengxian had the Board of Works fashion a reliquary, chose a lucky day, and led the court in a suburban ceremony to carry it into the palace; he also urged an edict to proclaim the seal to Manchus, Han, and Mongols alike—and the emperor agreed. Then Chengxian and the Literary Bureau joined the princes, officials, and generals in asking the emperor to take a regnal title. In Chongde year 1 the Literary Bureau became the Inner Three Courts, and Chengxian became Grand Secretary of the Inner Secretariat. In year 3 he was made Right Vice Commissioner of the Board of Personnel. In year 4 the Han Army Eight Banners were organized, and Chengxian was placed in the Bordered Red Banner. In year 5 he joined Prince Zheng Jirhalang in the siege of Jinzhou and was posted to defend Guntai. During the harvest Ming raiders struck our peasants; Chengxian fell back too late to help and was sentenced to death—the emperor spared him. He soon resigned for illness. In Shunzhi year 1 the Shunzhi Emperor made Yanjing his capital; Chengxian entered the Pass with him and received silver, coins, and horses. He died in year 2; Grand Secretary Fan Wencheng was charged with his funeral rites.
49
使
His son Jing received third-rank ashan i hafan and became Commander-in-chief of Hebei. In Kangxi year 4, chasing the rebel Hao Yaoqi, he failed to pursue and was demoted four ranks. He was later restored as Commander-in-chief of Datong. He was recalled to serve as Master of Ceremonies in the Imperial Procession Guard. He died.
50
使 '' 滿 滿便滿滿 ' '' '
Gao Hongzhong shared a shift with Chengxian in the Literary Bureau. After the Yongping quadrant fell, Chengxian helped hold Qian'an and Hongzhong Luanzhou—training the Literary Bureau in war. Hongzhong was soon made a jiala ejen. In Tiancong year 5 the Six Ministries were set up, and he became Minister of Punishments. In year 6 he listed four reforms for the Board of Punishments: "Patents that grant ministers immunity from death should first have that immunity struck on a first offense; only repeat offenders forfeit the patent—not instant confiscation. Ministers today are fined at once for any crime—that is not ancient practice; and fines follow rank, not guilt—there should be fixed standards. When a Manchu awaits trial, his niru chief or master sits in court with the judge, breeding chaos—he urged fixed penalties and a written law. Mixed Manchu and Han benches strain litigants—let Manchu judges hear Manchu cases and Han judges hear Han cases. He soon memorialized again on policy. The emperor told the Literary Bureau: "Petitioning with advice must not be suppressed. Hongzhong's memorials often faulted the ancients. Genghis Khan's son Chaghan once carved a tamarisk whip with his knife and said: 'Our realm was my father's work; this willow whip I carved with my own hand. His minister Okur Secen replied: 'Had the late emperor not forged this knife, could you shave willow with a finger or bite it with your teeth? All this land, these people, every institution—were the late emperor's creation. You bangshi should take this story to heart—do not lightly fault your predecessors.' He memorialized again on war: "The best strategy is to threaten the Ming capital; the next is to seize Shanhai Pass first. Enforce discipline: no violating women, no killing without cause, no looting. Do not heed those who, grown rich on long campaigns, plead to go home. In year 9 his registered households had declined, and he was dismissed.
51
使
The historian remarks: Under Taizu, scholar-officials had no formal bureau. In Tiancong year 3 they were divided into two shifts—the "Literary Bureau," also called the "Study"; an office existed, but no dedicated posts—all were breveted regimental or brigade commanders, called bangshi; those without military rank were "xiucai," or "lord secretary." With the Chongde era came the Inner Three Courts; Xifu, Wencheng, Chengxian, and Ganglin became Grand Secretaries—the first true premiers. Xifu went on dangerous embassies again and again, loyal in peril, pacifying vassal peoples; Wencheng set the grand strategy and aided at court—his founding merit was supreme; Wanwo's blunt loyalty survived every setback and won the emperor's trust at last; Chengxian entered the Literary Bureau on Wanwo's word; Wanwo reached the premiership first, but Chengxian shared in war planning. Each time they brought down an enemy leader, they showed true statecraft. In founding a realm from nothing, they scarcely fall short of Xiao He, Cao Shen, Fang Xuanling, and Du Ruhui.
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