Volume 270 Biographies 57: Hao Yu, Yang Suyun, Guo Xiu

列傳五十七

Biographies 57

郝浴子林楊素蘊郭琇

Hao Yu; Zilin; Yang Suyun; Guo Xiu

郝浴，字雪海，直隸定州人。少有志操，負氣節。順治六年進士，授刑部主事。八年，改湖廣道御史，巡按四川。時張獻忠將孫可望、李定國等降明，為桂王將，據川南為寇，師討之，郡縣吏率軍前除授，恣為貪虐。浴至，嚴約束，廉民間疾苦，將吏始斂跡。九年，平西王吳三桂與固山額真李國翰分兵復成都、嘉定、敘州、重慶。已而兩路兵俱敗，三桂退駐綿州。浴在保寧監臨鄉試，可望將數万人薄城，浴飛檄邀三桂，激以大義，謂「不死於賊，必死於法」。踰月，三桂乃赴援，可望等引去。

Hao Yu, styled Xuehai, came from Dingzhou in Zhili. From youth he was ambitious and unyielding in principle. He took his jinshi degree in Shunzhi 6 and was made a principal clerk in the Ministry of Punishments. In year 8 he became Huguang circuit censor with a tour of inspection in Sichuan. Sun Kewang, Li Dingguo, and other Zhang Xianzhong lieutenants had gone over to the Ming and fought for the Prince of Gui from bases in southern Sichuan. While imperial forces pressed them, local officials were often commissioned in the field and abused their power without restraint. Yu tightened discipline, investigated popular distress, and the military and civil staff finally curbed their excesses. In year 9 Wu Sangui, Prince Who Pacifies the West, and Li Guohan, gushan ejen, led separate columns to retake Chengdu, Jiading, Xuzhou, and Chongqing. Soon both armies were beaten and Sangui fell back to Mianzhou. Yu was in Baoning overseeing the civil examinations when Kewang approached with tens of thousands of men. He fired off urgent messages to Sangui, appealing to honor: "Either I die fighting the bandits, or I die under the code." After a month Sangui finally marched to relieve the city, and Kewang withdrew.

浴在圍城中，上詔詢收川方略，疏言：「秦兵苦轉餉，川兵苦待哺，故必秦不助川而後秦可保；川不冀秦助而後川可圖。成都地大且要，灌口一水，襟帶三十州縣。若移兵成都，照籍屯田，開耕一年，可當秦運三年。所難者牛種，倘令土司出牛，撫臣與立券，豐年還其值，當無不聽命。嘉定據上游，饒茶、鹽，令暫易穀種，則牛、種俱不難辦也。臣故謂開屯便。川所患者滇寇也，滇寇所恃，不過皮兜、布鎧、鳥銃、濩刀，善於騰山踰嶺。蜀中土官土兵，其技尤嫻於此。若拔其精銳為前茅，以滿洲驍騎為後勁，疾雷迅霆，賊必鳥獸散。臣故謂用土兵便。」上以其言可採，下部議。部議謂戰守事當聽三桂主之，遂報寢。浴又言：「土賊投誠，給劄授官，恣行劫掠為民害。請嗣後原歸伍者歸伍，原為民者，令有司造冊編丁，免牛租，除雜派，就熟地開徵，俾有定額。」疏議行。

During the siege the court asked how Sichuan might be recovered. Yu wrote: "Shaanxi armies are worn down moving grain, and Sichuan armies are worn down waiting for rations. Shaanxi can only stay secure if it stops feeding Sichuan; and Sichuan can only be won if it does not count on help from Shaanxi. Chengdu is broad and vital: the Guankou channel alone ties together more than thirty prefectures and counties. Shift the army to Chengdu, register households for garrison farms, and one year's planting would replace three years of grain shipped from Shaanxi. Oxen and seed are the hard part—but if chieftains lent cattle and the governor issued notes redeemable in good years, they would comply. Jiading upstream is rich in tea and salt; allow temporary barter for grain and seed there, and both cattle and seed become manageable. That is why I urge garrison farming. Sichuan's scourge is the Yunnan rebels, who rely on little more than leather shields, cloth armor, muskets, and broadswords—and on moving like goats over mountains. Shu's native officers and militia are even better at it. Take their best as the van, Manchu horse as the hammer behind, and strike like thunder—the rebels would break like startled game. That is why I urge using native troops." The emperor found this worth pursuing and sent it to the ministries. The ministries ruled that war and defense were Sangui's to decide, and the proposal died there. Yu added: "Bandit chiefs who submit receive warrants and posts, then loot at will and plague the people. Let those who were soldiers return to the ranks; let those who were civilians be registered, freed from ox rent and extra levies, and taxed on cultivated land at fixed rates." This memorial was approved and carried out.

三桂入四川，浸驕橫，部下多不法，憚浴嚴正，輒禁止沿路塘報。浴上言：「臣忝司朝廷耳目，而壅閼若此，安用臣為？」及保寧圍解，頒賞將士，三桂以冠服與浴，浴不受。疏言：「平賊乃平西王責。臣司風憲，不預軍事，而以臣預賞，非黨臣則忌臣也。」因陳三桂擁兵觀望狀，三桂深銜之。浴劾永寧總兵柏永馥臨陣退縮，廣元副將胡一鵬驕悍不法，並命奪官逮治。降將董顯忠等以副將銜題授司道，恣睢虐民，浴复疏劾，改原職。三桂嗾顯忠等入京陳辨，浴坐鐫秩去。

Once Sangui was in Sichuan he grew arrogant; his men broke the law freely. They feared Yu's rigor and repeatedly cut off courier reports along the road. Yu protested: "I am supposed to be the court's eyes and ears—if information is choked off like this, what am I here for? After Baoning was relieved and rewards were handed out, Sangui offered Yu ceremonial dress; Yu refused. He wrote: "Crushing the rebels is the Prince's duty. I oversee discipline and took no part in the fighting—yet I am rewarded. That flatters me or it marks me for suspicion." He went on to describe Sangui hoarding troops and holding back. Sangui never forgave him. Yu impeached Bai Yongfu, Yongning commander, for retreating in battle, and Hu Yipeng, Guangyuan vice commander, for arrogance and abuse of power; both were stripped of rank and arrested. Surrendered generals such as Dong Xianzhong had been promoted to circuit posts with vice-commander titles and tyrannized the people. Yu impeached them again and they were reduced to their former ranks. Sangui sent Xianzhong and the others to Beijing to plead their case, and Yu was demoted and dismissed.

十一年，大學士馮銓、成克鞏、呂宮等交章薦浴，三桂乃摭浴保寧奏捷疏有「親冒矢石」語，指為冒功，論劾，部議當坐死，上命寬之，流徙奉天。大學士馮銓、成克鞏、呂宮皆以薦浴罣吏議。浴至戍所，益潛心義理之學，嗜孟子及二程遺書，以「致知格物」顏其廬，刻苦厲志。康熙十年，聖祖幸奉天，浴迎謁道左，具陳始末，上為動容，慰勞良久。

In year 11 Grand Secretaries Feng Quan, Cheng Kegong, and Lü Gong recommended Yu in turn. Sangui seized on Yu's Baoning victory report and the phrase "personally braved arrow and stone," accused him of false credit, and impeached him. The ministries called for death; the emperor commuted the sentence to exile in Fengtian. Feng Quan, Cheng Kegong, and Lü Gong were censured for having backed him. At his place of exile he threw himself into moral philosophy, devouring Mencius and the Cheng brothers, naming his lodge "Investigate Things, Extend Knowledge," and living with austere purpose. In Kangxi 10 the emperor visited Fengtian. Yu met him by the road, told his whole story, and moved the emperor to long and heartfelt consolation.

十二年，三桂反，尚書王熙、給事中劉沛先薦浴，為部議所格。十四年，侍郎魏象樞复疏言：「浴血性過人，才守學識，臣皆愧不及。使在西蜀操尺寸之權，豈肯如羅森輩俯首從逆？臣子立朝，各有本末。當日參浴者三桂也，使三桂始終恭順，方且任以腹心。浴一書生耳，即老死徙所，誰復問之？今三桂叛矣，天下無不恨三桂，即無不憐浴。浴當三桂身居王爵，手握兵柄，不畏威，不附勢，致為所仇。三桂之所仇，正國家之所取，何忍棄之？」上乃召浴還，复授湖廣道御史。

In year 12 Sangui rebelled. Minister Wang Xi and supervising secretary Liu Pei recommended Yu first, but the ministries blocked it. In year 14 Vice Minister Wei Xiangshu wrote again: "Yu's courage is extraordinary; in talent, integrity, and learning I cannot match him. Had he held even a little power in western Shu, would he have bowed to rebels like Luo Sen? Every official's story has a beginning and an end. The man who attacked Yu then was Sangui—and if Sangui had stayed loyal, the court would still have trusted him with everything. Yu was only a scholar. He could have died in exile unnoticed. Now Sangui has rebelled. The empire hates Sangui—and pities Yu. When Sangui held a princely title and an army, Yu neither feared him nor curried favor—and Sangui made him an enemy. Whom Sangui hated is exactly whom the throne should want. How can we abandon him?" The emperor recalled Yu and restored him as Huguang circuit censor.

時陝西提督王輔臣叛應三桂，浴疏言：「大兵進剿平涼，宜於西安、潼關用重兵屯駐，以待策應。用鄖陽之兵攻興安，調河南之兵入武關，直取漢中，逆賊計日可擒。」上然之，下其疏諸帥。復請禁苛徵，恤民困，止督、撫、提、鎮坐名題補之例。章十數上，皆中時弊。十六年，命巡視兩淮鹽政，嚴剔宿蠹，增課六十餘萬。淮、揚大饑，發倉米賑救，全活甚眾。十七年，擢左僉都御史，遷左副都御史。

Wang Fuchen, Shaanxi commander, had joined the rebellion. Yu wrote: "As the main force moves on Pingliang, hold Xi'an and Tong Pass with strong garrisons ready to support it. Send Yunyang troops against Xing'an, bring Henan troops through Wuguan straight into Hanzhong, and the rebels will fall in days." The emperor agreed and sent the plan to the field commanders. He also urged an end to harsh exactions, relief for the distressed, and the custom by which governors and commanders filled posts by nominal nomination. He filed more than a dozen such memorials, each hitting a live abuse. In year 16 he was sent to inspect Liang-Huai salt, purged entrenched corruption, and raised revenue by more than six hundred thousand taels. When famine struck Huai and Yang, he opened granaries and saved countless lives. In year 17 he rose to Left Assistant Censor-in-Chief, then Left Vice Censor-in-Chief.

十九年，授廣西巡撫。廣西新經喪亂，民生凋瘵，浴專意撫綏，疏陳調劑四策，請裁兵、汰馬、防要害、簡精銳；復請停鼓鑄，改米徵銀，复南寧、太平、思恩諸府縣行鹽舊制：上輒報可。時南疆底定，滿洲兵撤還京師。浴疏言撫標兵不宜裁減，下部議，留其半。又請為死事巡撫馬雄鎮、傅弘烈建祠桂林，知府劉浩、知縣周岱生為孫延齡所戕，疏請予卹。二十二年，卒官。喪歸，士民泣送者數千里不絕。

In year 19 he was made governor of Guangxi. Guangxi was just recovering from war; the people were exhausted. Yu focused on relief and proposed four reforms: cut troops, cull horses, guard key points, and keep elite units; halt minting, collect grain tax in silver, and restore the old salt system in Nanning, Taiping, Si'en, and elsewhere. The emperor approved each request. The south was pacified and Manchu troops returned to Beijing. Yu argued that the governor's troops should not be cut; the ministries left half in place. He asked for temples at Guilin to Ma Xiongzhen and Fu Honglie, governors who died in service, and posthumous honors for Liu Hao and Zhou Daisheng, killed by Sun Yanling. In year 22 he died in office. As his coffin went home, mourners lined the road for thousands of li.

初，傅弘烈以軍事急，移庫金七萬有奇、米七千餘石供餉，浴請以庫項扣抵。及卒，布政使崔維雅署巡撫，劾浴侵欺，命郎中蘇赫、陳光祖往按，如維雅言。部議奪官追償。上知浴廉，諭所動錢糧非入己，從寬免追。二十五年，子林訟父冤，復原官，賜祭葬。

Earlier, with the campaign urgent, Fu Honglie had taken more than seventy thousand taels and seven thousand shi of grain from the treasury for supplies; Yu had the treasury entries adjusted to match. After his death Cui Weiya, acting governor, accused Yu of embezzlement. Investigators Su He and Chen Guangzu confirmed it. The ministries called for posthumous dismissal and repayment. Knowing Yu's integrity, the emperor ruled the funds had not enriched him personally and waived repayment. In year 25 his son Lin cleared his father's name; Yu's rank was restored and state funeral honors granted.

林，字中美。康熙二十一年進士，授中書科中書，歷吏部郎中，亦以廉正稱。累遷禮部侍郎，加尚書銜。致仕，卒。

Lin, styled Zhongmei. He took his jinshi in Kangxi 21, served as a Secretariat secretary and a Personnel director, and was likewise known for integrity. He rose to Vice Minister of Rites with ministerial rank. He retired and died.

楊素蘊，字筠湄，陝西宜君人。順治九年進士，授直隸東明知縣。東明當河決後，官舍城垣悉敗，民居殆盡，遺民依丘阜，僅數十家。素蘊至，為繕城郭，招集流亡，三年戶增至萬餘。山東群盜任鳳亭等剽掠旁郡，擾及畿南。素蘊設計降其渠，散其脅從。十七年，舉卓異，行取，授四川道御史。疏言：「臣言官也，宜以言為事。然今天下所患，正在議論多而成功少。國家建官分職，各有所事。誠使司舉劾，籌財用，任封疆，理刑獄，各舉其職，則平天下無餘事。更原皇上推誠御物，肅大閒，寬小眚，俾人人得展其才，尤端本澄源之要也。」

Yang Suyun, styled Junmei, came from Yijun in Shaanxi. He took his jinshi in Shunzhi 9 and was made magistrate of Dongming in Zhili. After the Yellow River burst its banks, Dongming's offices and walls were in ruins and almost no homes remained—only a few dozen families on the hillocks. Suyun rebuilt the walls, brought back refugees, and within three years households topped ten thousand. Shandong bandits led by Ren Fengting raided neighboring prefectures and reached the capital's southern approaches. Suyun engineered the surrender of the ringleaders and broke up their bands. In year 17 he was cited for excellence, brought to the capital, and made Sichuan circuit censor. He wrote: "I am a censor; my job is to speak. Yet the realm's trouble is talk without results. The state sets up offices, each with its charge. Let censors impeach, ministries manage revenue, governors guard the frontiers, courts judge cases—each doing its work—and pacifying the realm needs nothing more. And let Your Majesty meet the world with sincerity, be strict in great matters and lenient in small faults, and let every man use his gifts—that is how to set things right at the source." (End of memorial.)

時吳三桂鎮雲南，郡縣吏得自闢署，謂之「西選」。漸乃題用朝臣，無復顧忌。素蘊疏言：「三桂以上湖南道胡允等十員題補雲南各道，並有奉差部員在內，深足駭異。爵祿者人主之大柄，綱紀者朝廷之大防，柄不可移，防不可潰。前此經略用人，特命二部不得掣肘，亦惟以軍前效用及所轄五省各官酌量題請，從未聞敢以他行省及現任京官坐缺定銜者也。且疏稱求於滇省既苦索駿無從，求於遠方又恐叱馭不速，則湖南、四川距雲南猶近，若京師、山東、江南相去萬里，不知其所謂遠者更在何方？皇上特假便宜，不過許其就近調補。若盡天下之官，不分內外，不論遠近，皆可擇而取之，何如歸吏部銓授，尤為名正言順。縱或云、貴新經開闢，料理乏人，諸臣才品為籓臣所素知，亦宜請旨令吏部簽補；乃徑行擬用，不亦輕名器而褻國體乎？人臣忠邪之分，起於一念之敬肆。籓臣易攵歷有年，應知大體。此舉為封疆計，未必別有深心，然防微杜漸，當慎於幾先。祈申飭籓臣，嗣後惟力圖進取，加意撫綏，一切威福大權，俱宜禀自朝廷，則君恩臣誼兩盡其善。」疏下部。

Wu Sangui then held Yunnan and appointed local officials at will—the "western selection." He soon began nominating capital officials without restraint. Suyun protested: "Sangui has nominated ten men, including Hu Yun of upper Hunan circuit, for Yunnan posts—even ministry officials on imperial commission. This is shocking. Ranks and rewards belong to the throne; discipline is the court's rampart. Neither may be given away. When the frontier commissioner appointed men, the ministries were told not to interfere—but only for men who had proved themselves in the field or within his five provinces. No one had ever filled vacancies in other provinces or capital posts from afar. His memorial says Yunnan yielded no men and distant provinces might arrive too late—yet Hunan and Sichuan are near. If Beijing, Shandong, and Jiangnan are "too far," what place is farther still? The discretion Your Majesty granted was only for local transfers. If every post in the empire, near or far, civil or military, may be filled at will, better return the power to the Ministry of Personnel, where it belongs. Even if newly opened Yunnan and Guizhou lack administrators and Sangui knows these men's talents, he should still ask the throne and let the Ministry of Personnel appoint them; to appoint them directly—is this not to cheapen office and insult the state? Loyalty and treason in a minister begin with a single thought of reverence or arrogance. The frontier lord has held his post for many years; he should know what propriety demands. This move may have been meant for the frontier alone, not some hidden plot—but small wrongs grow large; one must act at the first sign. I ask that the frontier lord be warned: hereafter let him press forward and soothe his people, and let every grant of power come from the court—so sovereign and subject both do what is right. The memorial went to the ministries.

十八年，聖祖即位，輔臣柄政，出素蘊為川北道。三桂見素蘊前奏，惡之，具疏辨，並摘「防微杜漸」語，謂意含隱射，語伏危機。詔責素蘊回奏，素蘊言：「防微杜漸，古今通義。臣但期籓臣每事盡善，為聖世純臣，非有他也。」下部議，坐素蘊巧飾，當降調，罷歸。

In year 18 the emperor took the throne; the chief ministers were in charge and sent Suyun to the northern Sichuan circuit. Sangui read Suyun's earlier memorial, took offense, and replied at length, seizing on "guard against the subtle and stop the gradual" as a veiled threat. The throne ordered Suyun to respond. He said: "To stop trouble at the first sign is a principle as old as government itself. I only wanted the frontier lord to do everything well and be a loyal servant of a sage reign—nothing more. The ministries found him guilty of clever evasion, ordered demotion, and sent him home.

居十年，三桂反。尚書郝惟訥、冀如錫，侍郎楊永寧交章請起用，惟訥詞尤切，略言：「素蘊首劾三桂，雲當防微杜漸。在當日反狀未形，似屬杞憂。由今觀之，則素蘊先見甚明，且為國直陳，奮不自顧，其剛腸正氣，實有大過人者！亟宜優錄。」乃命發湖廣軍前，以原品用。會丁父憂，服闋，乃赴軍前。總督蔡毓榮題補湖廣提學道，部議當以現辦軍務參議道題補。康熙十七年，題補下荊南道。時襄陽總兵楊來嘉、副將洪福等叛應三桂。大軍運餉，自襄至房、保路險C7，舟車不通，歲調襄陽、安陸、德安三郡丁夫擔負，餉苦不繼。素蘊訪知穀城有小溪可通舟，乃按行山谷開餉道，由是水運通利，省丁夫什九，軍乃無乏。遷山西提學道。二十四年，任滿，薦舉擢通政司參議，累遷順天府尹。二十六年，授安徽巡撫。會歲饑，上疏請賑。甫拜疏，即檄州縣開倉賑給，全活甚眾。

Ten years later Sangui rebelled. Ministers Hao Weina and Ji Ruxi and Vice Minister Yang Yongning asked that he be recalled. Weina wrote most urgently: "Suyun was the first to attack Sangui and warned that trouble must be stopped at the first sign. Then rebellion had not yet shown itself—it looked like needless worry. Looking back, his foresight is plain. He spoke straight for the state and risked everything—his integrity truly stood above other men! He should be honored and restored at once. He was sent to the Huguang front at his former rank. He was in mourning for his father; when mourning ended he reported to the army. Governor-General Cai Yurong nominated him for the Huguang education circuit; the ministries said he should fill the military affairs post he was already handling. In Kangxi 17 he was appointed to the lower Jingnan circuit. Xiangyang commander Yang Laijia, vice commander Hong Fu, and others had joined the rebellion. Supplying the army from Xiangyang to Fang and Bao meant a road too steep for carts or boats. Each year laborers from Xiangyang, Anlu, and De'an were pressed to carry grain on their backs, and rations still ran short. Suyun found a stream at Gucheng that could take boats, surveyed the hills, and opened a water route—cutting corvée by nine-tenths and keeping the army fed. He was transferred to the Shanxi education circuit. In year 24, when his term ended, he was promoted to Transmission Office vice director and then metropolitan governor of Shuntian. In year 26 he was made governor of Anhui. Famine struck; he memorialized for relief. Before the memorial even arrived he had ordered granaries opened; countless lives were saved.

尋調湖廣巡撫。夏逢龍亂初定，脅從尚眾，人情恇擾，一夕數驚。素蘊首嚴告訐之禁，反側以安。二十八年，大旱，疏請蠲免武昌等屬三十二州縣錢糧，上遣戶部郎中舒淑等會督撫勘災。舒淑至武昌，素蘊適患暑疾，令布政使於養志從總督丁思孔往勘。尋稱病乞休，上疑其託疾，奪官。命甫下而素蘊已卒。

He was soon transferred to governor of Huguang. Xia Fenglong's rebellion had just ended; many who had been forced to follow were still at large, and the people panicked at every rumor. Suyun strictly forbade malicious informing, and unrest subsided. In year 28 a great drought struck. He asked remission of taxes for thirty-two counties around Wuchang. The emperor sent Shu Shu of the Revenue Ministry and others to survey the damage with the provincial leadership. When Shu Shu reached Wuchang, Suyun was ill with summer fever and sent Commissioner Yu Yangzhi with Governor Ding Sikong to inspect. He soon asked to retire on grounds of illness; the emperor thought he was feigning and dismissed him. The order had barely gone out when Suyun died.

先是，湖北郡縣疾苦最甚者，如沔陽、江陵、漢陽、嘉魚濱江地陷未蠲賦額，咸寧、黃陂、景陵谷折，江夏、崇陽、武昌、通城、漢陽、漢川、雲夢、孝感、應城穀田科重，監利一年兩賦，為民害數十年。素蘊得其實，條為兩疏。未及上而病革，口授入遺疏，曰：「此疏行，吾目瞑矣！」

Among Huguang's worst abuses: Mianyang, Jiangling, Hanyang, and Jiayu still taxed land swallowed by the river; Xianning, Huangpi, and Jingling used short measures; Jiangxia, Chongyang, Wuchang, Tongcheng, Hanyang, Hankou, Yunmeng, Xiaogan, and Yingcheng bore crushing levies on good land; Jianli paid two taxes in one year—decades of injury to the people. Suyun verified the facts and drafted two memorials. Before he could submit them he was dying. He dictated a final memorial: "When this is enacted, I can close my eyes! (End of memorial.)

郭琇，字華野，山東即墨人。康熙九年進士。十八年，授江南吳江知縣。材力強幹，善斷疑獄。徵賦行版串法，胥吏不能為奸。居官七年，治行為江南最。二十五年，巡撫湯斌薦琇居心恬淡，蒞事精銳，請遷擢。部議以琇徵賦未如額，寢其奏，聖祖特許之，行取，授江南道御史。時河督靳輔請停濬下河，築高家堰重堤，清丈堤外田畝以為屯田，謂可增歲收百餘萬。巡撫於成龍議不合，上令尚書佛倫往勘，主輔議。下九卿覈奏，尚書張玉書、左都御史徐乾學力言屯田擾民。二十七年，琇疏劾輔治河無功，偏聽幕客陳潢阻濬下河。上御乾清門，召諸大臣，下琇疏，令會同察議。尋輔入覲，復召諸大臣與議。琇申言屯田害民，輔坐罷，而擢琇僉都御史。

Guo Xiu, styled Huaye, came from Jimo in Shandong. He took his jinshi in Kangxi 9. In year 18 he was made magistrate of Wujiang in Jiangnan. He was forceful and decisive in difficult cases. He collected taxes by the plate-and-tally method, leaving clerks no room for fraud. After seven years his record was judged the best in Jiangnan. In year 25 Governor Tang Bin praised his calm integrity and sharp administration and asked for his promotion. The ministries blocked the nomination because tax collection had fallen short, but the emperor overruled them, brought Xiu to the capital, and made him Jiangnan circuit censor. Grand Canal Director Jin Fu wanted to stop dredging the lower reach, build up the Gaojia Weir dikes, and turn dike-side fields into garrison farms, claiming a million taels in added revenue. Governor Yu Chenglong disagreed. Minister Folun was sent to inspect and sided with Jin Fu. The Nine Ministers reviewed the plan. Zhang Yushu and Xu Qianxue argued forcefully that garrison farms would harm the people. In year 27 Xiu impeached Jin Fu for failing to control the river and letting his secretary Chen Huang block dredging of the lower reach. The emperor met the ministers at the Gate of Heavenly Purity, circulated Xiu's memorial, and ordered a joint inquiry. When Jin Fu came to court the ministers were summoned again for deliberation. Xiu again argued that garrison farms harmed the people. Jin Fu was dismissed and Xiu was made Censor-in-Chief.

大學士明珠柄政，與餘國柱比，頗營賄賂，權傾一時，久之為上所覺。琇疏劾明珠與國柱結黨行私，詳列諸罪狀，並及佛倫、傅拉塔與輔等交通狀，於是明珠等降黜有差。琇直聲震天下。遷太常寺卿，再遷內閣學士。二十八年，复遷吏部侍郎，充經筵講官，擢左都御史。疏劾少詹事高士奇與原任左都御史王鴻緒植黨為奸，給事中何楷、修撰陳元龍、編修王頊齡依附壞法，士奇等並休致回籍。

Grand Secretary Mingzhu ruled with Yu Guozhu, took bribes freely, and dominated the court until the emperor noticed. Xiu impeached Mingzhu and Guozhu for faction and corruption, listed their crimes in detail, and exposed collusion by Folun, Fulata, and Jin Fu. Mingzhu and the others were demoted. Xiu's reputation for integrity resounded across the empire. He became Director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, then Grand Secretariat academician. In year 28 he became Vice Minister of Personnel, lectured at the Classics Colloquium, and was made Left Censor-in-Chief. He impeached Junior Mentor Gao Shiqi and former Censor-in-Chief Wang Hongxu for forming a corrupt clique, with He Kai, Chen Yuanlong, and Wang Xuling as their allies. Shiqi and the others were sent home in retirement.

未幾，御史張星法劾山東巡撫錢鎯貪黷，鎯奏辨，因及琇嘗致書囑薦即墨知縣高上達等，卻之，遂挾嫌使星法誣劾，下法司訊。獄未具，琇疏言：「左都御史馬齊於會訊時多方鍛鍊，必欲實以指使誣劾罪。」詔責琇疑揣。尋法司奏琇請託事實，當奪官。上以琇平日鯁直敢言，改降五級調用。二十九年，吏部推琇通政司參議，上命改令予琇休致。江寧巡撫洪之傑以吳江縣虧漕項，事涉琇，牒山東追琇赴質。時佛倫為山東巡撫，因劾琇違例逗留希進用，請奪官逮治；又劾琇世父郭爾印乃明季御史黃宗昌家奴，琇父郭景昌原名爾標，嘗入賊黨伏法，琇私改父名請誥封，應追奪。部議如所請，逮赴江寧勘治。坐侵收運船飯米二千三百餘石，事發彌補，議遣戍，詔寬之。

Soon Censor Zhang Xingfa impeached Shandong Governor Qian Heng for corruption. Heng replied that Xiu had once asked him to recommend Jimo Magistrate Gao Shangda and that he had refused—so Xiu had Zhang bring false charges. The case went to the judiciary. Before trial ended Xiu wrote: "Censor-in-Chief Ma Qi is fabricating evidence at the inquiry to convict me of directing a false impeachment. The emperor rebuked Xiu for suspicion and surmise. The judiciary soon found solicitation proved and called for dismissal. Knowing Xiu's usual integrity, the emperor reduced the penalty to demotion by five ranks. In year 29 Personnel recommended him for Transmission Office vice director; the emperor ordered retirement instead. Jiangning Governor Hong Zhijie cited a grain-transport deficit in Wujiang involving Xiu and summoned him from Shandong to stand trial. Folun was then Shandong governor and impeached Xiu for lingering unlawfully in hope of office, asking that he be arrested; and claimed Xiu's uncle had been a Ming censor's slave, that Xiu's father had been a bandit executed under another name, and that Xiu had falsified his father's name to obtain honors—all to be revoked. The ministries agreed; he was arrested and sent to Jiangning for trial. He was found to have taken more than twenty-three hundred shi of transport-boat rations, made restitution when exposed, and was sentenced to exile—but the emperor commuted it.

三十八年，上南巡，琇迎駕德州。既還京師，諭大學士阿蘭泰等曰：「原任左都御史郭琇，前為吳江令，居官甚善，百姓感頌至今。其人有膽量，可授湖廣總督，令馳驛赴任。」琇上官，疏言：「黃州、武昌二府兵米二萬七千有奇，運給荊州、鄖陽汛地，懸隔千里，輓輸費不貲，請改折色。江夏等十三州縣有故明籓產，田瘠賦重，數倍民糧，請一律減徵。江夏、嘉魚、漢陽三縣瀕江地，水齧土陊，有賦無田者三百餘頃，請豁免。」皆允行。

In year 38 the emperor toured the south and Xiu met him at Dezhou. Back in Beijing he told Grand Secretary Arantai: "Former Censor-in-Chief Guo Xiu served Wujiang well—the people still praise him. He has backbone. Make him governor-general of Huguang and send him posthaste. On taking office Xiu wrote: "Huangzhou and Wuchang send more than twenty-seven thousand units of military grain a thousand li to Jingzhou and Yunyang garrisons at ruinous cost—let it be commuted to silver. Thirteen counties including Jiangxia still hold former Ming princely estates taxed several times heavier than common land—reduce them uniformly. In Jiangxia, Jiayu, and Hanyang more than three hundred qing along the river are taxed though the land is gone—exempt them. All were approved.

三十九年，入覲，因奏言：「臣父景昌，即墨縣諸生，有冊可稽。邑匪郭爾標本無妻室，安得有子？不知佛倫何所據，誣臣並及臣父。」時佛倫為大學士，上詰之，以舛錯對，命仍予誥軸。琇陛辭，奏請清丈地畝，並言湖南地廣人稀，恐清丈後賦當差減。上問：「當減幾何？」琇言：「當減十分之三。」上曰：「果益民，雖倍於此，亦不惜也！」尋條陳三事：一，嚴定築堤處分；一，停造無用糧船；一，通融調補苗疆官吏。又疏禁徵賦諸弊政。上嘉其實心除弊，並允行。時紅苗就撫，琇陳善後之策，請頒詔敕，令勒石永遵。

In year 39 he came to audience and said: "My father Jingchang was a Jimo licentiate—there are records. The bandit Guo Erbiao had no wife—how could he have had a son? On what grounds did Folun slander me and my father? Folun was now a grand secretary. The emperor questioned him; his answers were wrong. Xiu's honors were restored. Bidding farewell, he asked to survey land and warned that Hunan was vast and thinly settled—taxes might need to fall after survey. The emperor asked: "By how much? Xiu said: "By three-tenths. The emperor said: "If it truly helps the people, I would give twice that without hesitation! He soon proposed three reforms: first, strict penalties for dike work; second, stop building useless grain boats; third, flexible posting of officials on the Miao frontier. He also memorialized against tax abuses. The emperor praised his sincerity and approved all. The Red Miao had submitted. Xiu proposed pacification measures and asked for an edict carved in stone for permanent observance.

四十年，以病乞休，上曰：「琇病甚，思一人代之不可得，能如琇者有幾人耶？」給事中馬士芳劾湖廣布政使任風厚久病，巡撫年遐齡徇庇不以聞。遐齡奏風厚實無病。風厚入覲，上見其未衰，因曰：「任風厚若不堪任使，郭琇豈肯徇庇耶？」未幾，琇以病劇再疏求罷，仍慰留。黃梅知縣李錦催科不力，琇委員摘印。錦得民心，民閉城拒之，乞留錦。御史左必蕃劾琇，部議當奪官，上以清丈未畢，緩之。

In year 40 he asked to retire on grounds of illness. The emperor said: "Xiu is gravely ill. I cannot find a replacement—how many men are there like him? Supervising secretary Ma Shifang impeached Commissioner Ren Fenghou for chronic illness; Governor Nian Xialing had shielded him and not reported it. Xialing reported that Fenghou was not ill at all. Fenghou came to audience looking hale. The emperor said: "If Ren Fenghou were unfit for duty, would Guo Xiu have protected him? Soon Xiu, gravely ill, asked again to step down—and was again kept in office. Huangmei Magistrate Li Jin was slow in collecting taxes; Xiu sent an agent to remove him from office. Li had the people's loyalty. They shut the city gates and begged that he stay. Censor Zuo Bifan impeached Xiu. The ministries called for dismissal, but the emperor deferred it until the land survey was done.

四十一年，鎮筸諸生李定等叩閽奏紅苗殺掠，總督、巡撫匿不以聞；而給事中宋駿業亦劾琇向騖虛聲，近益衰廢，持祿養癰。乃命侍郎傅繼祖、甘國樞，浙江巡撫趙申喬往按。會琇報清丈畢，乞罷任。上責其清丈稽延，與前奏不合，行不顧言；並及匿報紅苗殺掠與黃梅拒命事。琇自陳老病失察，請治罪。初紅苗犯鎮筸，游擊沈長祿往剿，至大梅山，守備許邦垣、千總孫清俱陷賊，長祿私贖之歸，諱不報；而副將硃紱報苗已就撫，琇據以入告。繼祖等勘得狀，琇與提督林本植並奪官。五十四年，卒。尋祀鄉賢，並祀吳江名宦。

In year 41 students at Zhenqian petitioned at the palace gate that the Red Miao were killing and looting while the governor-general and governor concealed it; and supervising secretary Song Junye impeached Xiu for chasing reputation, growing negligent, and holding office while nursing his illness. The emperor sent Vice Ministers Fu Jizu and Gan Guoshu and Zhejiang Governor Zhao Shenqiao to investigate. Meanwhile Xiu reported the land survey complete and asked to resign. The emperor rebuked him for delaying the survey, contradicting his earlier promises, and failing to match deed to word; and cited his concealment of Red Miao raids and the Huangmei rebellion. Xiu confessed that age and illness had dulled his oversight and asked to be punished. When the Red Miao attacked Zhenqian, guerrilla commander Shen Changlu marched to suppress them. At Damei Mountain garrison commander Xu Bangyuan and battalion commander Sun Qing were captured; Changlu ransomed them secretly and said nothing; Vice Commander Zhu Fu meanwhile reported that the Miao had submitted, and Xiu passed that report to the throne. Jizu and the others confirmed the facts. Xiu and Commander Lin Benzhi were both dismissed. In year 54 he died. He was soon enshrined among local worthies and among Wujiang's honored officials.

論曰：郝浴、楊素蘊秉剛正之性，抗論強籓，曲突徙薪，防禍未形，甘竄逐而不悔。郭琇抨擊權相，有直臣之風，震霆一鳴，僉壬解體。蓋由聖祖已悟其奸，而琇遂得行其志。然以浴之廉，蒙議於身後；素蘊居官愛民，不終於位；琇則橫被誣陷，廢置十年，始獲申雪。得君如聖祖，猶不克善全，直道難行，不其然哉？

The historian comments: Hao Yu and Yang Suyun were men of stern integrity who spoke against powerful frontier lords, warned of trouble before it appeared, and accepted exile without regret. Guo Xiu struck at the powerful minister like a true remonstrator; one thunderclap and the faction crumbled. The Sacred Ancestor had already seen through the minister's treachery, and so Xiu could act. Yet Yu's integrity was questioned even after death; Suyun loved the people in office but did not finish his term; and Xiu was framed, cast aside for ten years, and only then vindicated. Even under a ruler like the Sacred Ancestor they could not come through unscathed—the straight path is hard; is that not the truth?

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