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列傳五十八
Biographies 58
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徐-{乾}-學，字原一，江南崑山人。 幼慧，八歳能文。 康熙九年，一甲三名進士，授編修。 十一年，副蔡啓僔主順天鄕試，拔韓菼-{於}-遺巻中，明年魁天下，文體一變。 坐副榜未取漢軍巻，與啓僔-{並}-鐫秩調用。 尋-{復}-故官，遷左贊善，充日講起居注官。 丁母憂歸，-{乾}-學父先卒，哀毀三年，喪葬一以禮； 及母卒，如之。 爲讀禮通考百二十巻，博採衆説，剖析其義。 服闋，起故官。 充明史總裁官，累遷侍講學士。
Xu Qianxue, whose style was Yuanyi, came from Kunshan in Jiangnan. Precocious as a boy, he could already write essays at the age of eight. In Kangxi 9 he took third place in the top tier of the jinshi examination and was made a Hanlin compiler. In year 11 he served as associate examiner with Cai Qipu for the Shuntian provincial exam and picked Han Tan out of the discarded papers; Han took first place nationwide the following year, and examination prose was transformed overnight. They were demoted and transferred for failing to admit any Han Army Banner papers on the supplementary list. He was soon reinstated, promoted to Left Assistant to the Heir Apparent, and made a Daily Lecturer and Recorder at court. When his mother died he went home to mourn; his father had already passed away, and for three years he wore himself out in grief, observing every funeral rite to the letter; when his mother died he did the same. He produced the Comprehensive Study of Ritual Reading in 120 juan, drawing widely on scholarly opinion and dissecting each point with care. When his mourning period ended he returned to his former post. He was appointed chief compiler of the History of Ming and rose step by step to Reader-in-Waiting.
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二十三年，-{乾}-學弟元文以左都-{御}-史降調，其子樹聲與-{乾}-學子樹屛-{並}-舉順天鄕試。 上以是科取中南皿巻皆江、浙人，而湖廣、江西、福建無一與者，下九卿科道磨勘。 樹屛等坐斥舉人。 是年冬，-{乾}-學進詹事。 二十四年，召試翰詹諸臣，擢-{乾}-學第一，與侍讀韓菼、編修孫-{岳}-頒、侍講歸允肅、編修喬萊等四人-{並}-降敕褒獎賞賚。 尋直南書房，擢内閣學士，充大淸會典、一統-{志}-副總裁，教習庶吉士。 時戸部郎中色楞額往福建稽察鼓鑄，請禁用明代舊錢，尚書科爾坤、-{餘}-國柱等議如所請。 -{乾}-學言：「自古皆新舊兼行，以從民便。 若設厲禁，恐滋紛擾。」 因考自漢至明故事，爲議以獻。 上然之，事遂寢。
In year 23 Qianxue's brother Yuanwen was demoted from Left Censor-in-Chief; Yuanwen's son Shusheng and Qianxue's son Shuping both passed the Shuntian provincial exam. The emperor saw that every successful candidate from the southern examination papers in this session came from Jiangsu or Zhejiang, while Huguang, Jiangxi, and Fujian had none at all, and ordered the Nine Ministers and censorate to scrutinize the papers again. Shuping and the others were stripped of their juren degrees. That winter Qianxue was promoted to Junior Mentor in the Heir Apparent's household. In year 24 the Hanlin and Household corps were tested at court; Qianxue placed first, and he, Reader Han Tan, Compiler Sun Yuebin, Lecturer Gui Yunshu, and Compiler Qiao Lai all received imperial commendation and gifts. He was soon posted to the Southern Study, raised to Grand Secretariat academician, made associate chief compiler of the Qing Institutions and the Comprehensive Gazetteer, and put in charge of instructing Hanlin probationers. Selenge, a director in the Ministry of Revenue, was then inspecting minting in Fujian and asked to outlaw Ming-era coin; Ministers Kelun, Yu Guozhu, and others agreed with his proposal. Qianxue argued: "Throughout history old and new coin have circulated side by side for the people's convenience. A harsh ban would only stir up trouble." He researched precedents from Han through Ming and submitted a memorial setting out his case. The emperor agreed, and the proposal was shelved.
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詔採購遺書，-{乾}-學以宋、元經解、李燾續通-{鑑}-長編及唐開元禮，或繕寫，或仍古本，綜其體要，條列奏進，上稱善。 時-{乾}-學與學士張英日侍左右，凡著作之任，皆以屬之。 學士例推巡撫，上以二人學問淹通，宜侍從，特諭吏部，遇巡撫缺勿預推。 未-{幾}-，遷禮部侍郎，直講經筵。 朝鮮使臣鄭載-{嵩}-訴其國王受枉，語悖妄。 -{乾}-學謂恐長外籓跋扈，劾其使臣失辭不敬，宜責以大義。 上見疎，獎，謂有關國體。 已而王上疎謝罪。 二十六年，遷左都-{御}-史，擢刑部尚書。 二十七年，典會試。
When the court ordered the acquisition of rare books, Qianxue submitted Song and Yuan classical commentaries, Li Tao's Continuation of the Comprehensive Mirror, and the Tang Kaiyuan Rites—some freshly copied, some in antique editions—with a synopsis of each; the emperor commended his work. Qianxue and Academician Zhang Ying were then in daily attendance on the emperor, and every literary commission was given to them. Academicians were usually put forward for provincial governorships, but the emperor ruled that these two scholars were too valuable at court and expressly told the Board of Personnel not to nominate them for such posts. Soon he was made Vice Minister of Rites and took a regular place lecturing at the Classics Colloquium. The Korean envoy Zheng Zaisong petitioned that his king had been treated unjustly, speaking in terms that were insolent and absurd. Qianxue warned that such talk would embolden tributary states; he impeached the envoy for disrespectful language and urged that he be sternly lectured on proper subordination. The emperor read the memorial, praised it, and said it touched the honor of the realm. The Korean king soon sent a memorial of apology. In year 26 he became Left Censor-in-Chief and was promoted to Minister of Justice. In year 27 he served as chief examiner for the metropolitan civil service examination.
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初，明珠當國，勢張甚，其黨布中外，-{乾}-學不能立異同。 至是，明珠漸失帝眷，而-{乾}-學驟拜左都-{御}-史，即劾罷江西巡撫安世鼎，諷諸-{御}-史風聞言事，-{臺}-諫多所彈劾，不避權貴。 明珠竟罷相，衆皆謂-{乾}-學主之。 時有南、北黨之目，互相抨撃。 尚書科爾坤、佛倫，明珠黨也，-{乾}-學遇會議會推，輒與齟。 總河靳輔奏下河屯田，下九卿會議，-{乾}-學偕尚書張玉書言屯田所佔民地應歸舊業，科爾坤、佛倫勿從。 -{御}-史陸祖修因劾科爾坤等偏袒河臣，不顧公議，-{御}-史郭琇亦劾輔興屯累民，詔罷輔任。 湖廣巡撫張汧亦明珠私人，先是命色楞額往讞上荊南道祖澤深婪贓各款，-{並}-察汧有無穢跡，色楞額悉爲庇隱。 -{御}-史陳紫芝劾汧貪黷，命副都-{御}-史開音布會巡撫-{於}-成龍、馬齊覆訊，汧、澤深事倶實，-{復}-得澤深交結大學士-{餘}-國柱爲囑色楞額徇庇及汧遣人赴京行賄狀，下法司嚴議。 時國柱已爲琇劾罷，法司請檄追質訊，-{並}-詰汧行賄何人，汧指-{乾}-學。 上聞，命免國柱質訊，戒勿株連。 -{於}-是但論汧、澤深、色楞額如律，事遂寢。 -{乾}-學尋乞罷，疎言：「臣蒙特達之知，感激矢報，苞苴餽遺，一切禁絶。 前任湖北巡撫張汧橫肆汙衊，縁臣爲憲長，拒其幣問，是以銜憾誣攀。 非聖明在上，是非-{幾}-至混淆。 臣備位卿僚，乃爲貪吏誣構，皇上覆載之仁，不加譴責，臣-{復}-何顏出入禁廷，有玷淸班？ 伏冀聖慈放歸田裡。」 詔許以原官解任，仍領修書總裁事。
Earlier, when Mingzhu dominated the government, his faction was everywhere and Qianxue had not dared to oppose him openly. By then Mingzhu was falling from favor, and Qianxue, suddenly made Left Censor-in-Chief, immediately brought down the Jiangxi governor An Shiding, encouraged censors to speak on rumor, and the remonstrance offices attacked many powerful men without flinching. Mingzhu was finally driven from office, and most people credited Qianxue with orchestrating his fall. Court factions were then labeled Southern and Northern, and they assailed one another relentlessly. Ministers Kelun and Folun belonged to Mingzhu's faction; whenever Qianxue sat with them in council or nomination meetings, they were at odds. Jin Fu, director-general of the Yellow River, proposed garrison farming in the lower reaches; the Nine Ministers were convened, and Qianxue with Minister Zhang Yushu argued that seized farmland should be returned to its owners; Kelun and Folun dissented. Censor Lu Zuxiu impeached Kelun and his allies for favoring the river official over public opinion; Censor Guo Xiu attacked Fu for garrison farming that oppressed the people; the emperor dismissed Fu from his post. Huguang Governor Zhang Gan was another of Mingzhu's clients; Selenge had earlier been sent to try Zu Zeshen, intendant of Jingnan Circuit, on charges of corruption and to look into Zhang Gan as well, but Selenge covered up everything. Censor Chen Zizhi impeached Zhang Gan for corruption; Vice Censor-in-Chief Kaiyinbu was sent with Governors Yu Chenglong and Ma Qi to reinvestigate; both men's guilt was confirmed, and investigators also uncovered Zeshen's dealings with Grand Secretary Yu Guozhu to secure Selenge's protection and Zhang Gan's bribery agents in the capital; the judiciary was ordered to rule severely. Yu Guozhu had already been impeached out of office by Guo Xiu; the judiciary asked to summon him for questioning and pressed Zhang Gan on who had received his bribes; Gan named Qianxue. The emperor heard of it, exempted Guozhu from being summoned, and warned against widening the net. Only Zhang Gan, Zu Zeshen, and Selenge were punished according to law, and the affair was closed. Qianxue soon asked to resign, writing: "I owe Your Majesty exceptional favor and would repay it with my life; I have refused every gift and bribe offered to me. Former Huguang Governor Zhang Gan has slandered me wantonly; as his superior in the censorate I refused his gifts, and he bears a grudge and has falsely dragged me in. Had Your Majesty not been on the throne, truth and falsehood might have been utterly confused. I hold ministerial rank yet have been framed by a corrupt official; Your Majesty's mercy has spared me punishment—how can I still walk the inner court and disgrace the pure service? I beg Your Majesty's compassion to let me return home." The emperor allowed him to step down from active duty while keeping his rank and continuing as chief compiler of the official histories.
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二十八年，元文拜大學士，-{乾}-學子樹-{穀}-考選-{御}-史。 副都-{御}-史許三禮劾-{乾}-學：「律身不嚴，爲張汧所引。 皇上寬仁，不加譴責，即宜引咎自退，乞命歸-{里}-。 又-{復}-優柔-{系}-戀，潛住長安。 乘修史爲名，出入禁廷，與髙士奇相爲表裡。 物議沸騰，招搖納賄。 其子樹-{穀}-不遵成例，朦朧考選-{御}-史，明有所恃。 獨其弟秉義文行兼優，原任禮部尚書熊賜履理學醇儒，乞立即召用，以佐盛治。 -{乾}-學當逐出史館，樹-{穀}-應調部屬，以遵成例。」 詔-{乾}-學-{復}-奏，-{乾}-學疎辨，乞罷斥歸田，-{並}-免樹-{穀}-職。 疎皆下部議，坐三禮所劾無實，應鐫秩調用。 三禮益恚，复列款訐-{乾}-學贓罪，帝嚴斥之，免降調，仍留任。
In year 28 Yuanwen became Grand Secretary, and Qianxue's son Shugu passed the selection examination for the censorate. Vice Censor-in-Chief Xu Sanli impeached Qianxue: "He has not kept his conduct strict and was named by Zhang Gan. The emperor has been merciful and has not punished him; he should accept blame and withdraw, begging leave to go home. Instead he wavers and clings to power, secretly remaining in the capital. Under cover of editing the histories he comes and goes within the palace, working hand in glove with Gao Shiqi. Public outrage is widespread; he trades on influence and takes bribes. His son Shugu was irregularly passed in the censor selection, plainly counting on powerful protection. Only his younger brother Bingyi is outstanding in learning and conduct; former Minister of Rites Xiong Cilu is a true Neo-Confucian master—I urge that he be recalled immediately to help perfect the reign. Qianxue should be driven from the History Bureau and Shugu reassigned to a ministry post, as precedent requires." The emperor ordered Qianxue to respond; he memorialized in his own defense, asked to be dismissed and sent home, and requested that Shugu be stripped of his post. Both memorials went to the ministries for review; Sanli's charges were found baseless and he was to be demoted and transferred. Sanli, furious, drew up a new list of corruption charges against Qianxue; the emperor rebuked him sharply, spared him demotion, and let him keep his post.
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是年冬，-{乾}-學复上疎言：「臣年六十，精神衰耗，祗以受恩深重，依戀徘徊。 三禮私怨逞忿，幸聖主洞燭幽隱。 臣方寸靡-{寧}-，不能复事鉛槧。 且恐因循居此，更有無端彈射。 乞恩終始矜全，俾得保其衰病之身，歸省先臣丘隴，庶身心閒暇。 原比古人書局自隨之義，屛跡編摩，少報萬一。」 乃許給假回籍，降旨褒嘉，命攜書籍即家編輯。 二十九年春，陛辭，賜-{御}-書「光焰萬丈」榜額。 未-{幾}-，兩江總督傅-{臘}-塔疎劾-{乾}-學囑-{託}-蘇州府貢監等請建生祠，复縱其子侄交結巡撫洪之傑，倚勢競利，請敕部嚴議。 語具元文傳。 上置弗問，而予元文休致。
That winter Qianxue memorialized again: "I am sixty years old and my strength is failing; only the depth of Your Majesty's favor has kept me lingering on. Sanli pursued a private vendetta; fortunately Your Majesty saw through his malice. My mind is no longer at peace and I cannot again devote myself to scholarship. I fear that if I stay on, more baseless attacks will follow. I beg Your Majesty's mercy from first to last, that I may preserve my failing health, return to tend my parents' graves, and find some peace. I would follow the ancient custom of taking the editorial office home, work on the histories in seclusion, and repay even a fraction of Your Majesty's kindness." He was granted leave to return home; the emperor issued a commendatory edict and ordered him to take the books with him and continue editing there. In the spring of year 29, at his farewell audience, the emperor bestowed his own calligraphy, "Radiance Ten Thousand Zhang," as a plaque. Soon the Liangjiang governor-general Fulata impeached Qianxue for arranging tribute students in Suzhou to petition for a living shrine, and for letting his sons and nephews collude with Governor Hong Zhijie to trade on influence for profit; he asked the ministries to investigate severely. The full account appears in Yuanwen's biography. The emperor ignored the charges against Qianxue but allowed Yuanwen to retire.
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三十年，山東巡撫佛倫劾濰縣知縣硃敦厚加收火耗論死，-{並}-及-{乾}-學嘗致書前任巡撫錢鎯庇敦厚。 -{乾}-學與鎯倶坐是奪職。 自是齮齕者不已。 嘉定知縣聞在上爲縣民訐告私派，逮獄，閲二年未定讞。 按察使髙承爵窮詰，在上自承嘗餽-{乾}-學子樹敏金，至事-{發}--{後}-追還，因坐樹敏罪論絞。 會詔戒内外各官私怨報-{復}-，樹敏得贖罪。 三十三年，諭大學士舉長-{於}-文章學問超卓者，王熙、張玉書等-{薦}--{乾}-學與王鴻緒、髙士奇，命來京修書。 -{乾}-學已前卒，遺疎以所纂一統-{志}-進，詔下所司，-{復}-故官。
In year 30 Shandong Governor Folun charged Weixian magistrate Zhu Dunhou with illegal surcharges and sought his execution, also citing Qianxue's letter to former governor Qian Hao shielding Zhu. Qianxue and Qian Hao were both stripped of their posts for this. From then on his enemies never let up. Jiading magistrate Wen Zaishang was denounced by local people for illegal levies, thrown into prison, and after two years still had no final verdict. Surveillance Commissioner Gao Chengjue pressed the case hard; Zaishang admitted he had once given gold to Qianxue's son Shumin, though he tried to return it after the scandal broke; Shumin was convicted and sentenced to death by strangulation. An edict then warned officials against pursuing private vendettas, and Shumin was permitted to commute his sentence. In year 33 the emperor told the Grand Secretaries to nominate men of exceptional literary and scholarly talent; Wang Xi, Zhang Yushu, and others recommended Qianxue along with Wang Hongxu and Gao Shiqi, and the court ordered them to Beijing to work on the histories. Qianxue had already died; his last memorial presented the Comprehensive Gazetteer he had compiled; the emperor ordered it forwarded to the proper offices and posthumously restored his former rank.
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翁叔元，字寶林，江南常熟人。 康熙十五年，一甲三名進士，授編修，館試第一。 累遷國子監祭酒，洊擢吏部侍郎，遷工部尚書。 部例，毎有工作，先計其直上之，名曰「料估」。 工完多冒破，所司不敢以聞，有十年不銷算者，大工至四十三案。 叔元蒞部甫半載，積牘一淸。 調邢部，移疾歸，卒。 叔元愛-{才}-而褊隘，何焯在門下，初甚賞之； 叔元疎劾湯斌，焯請削門生籍，叔元擯之，竟不得成名。 以是爲世所誚-{雲}-。
Weng Shuyuan, whose style was Baolin, came from Changshu in Jiangnan. In Kangxi 15 he took third place in the top tier of the jinshi examination, became a Hanlin compiler, and placed first in the academy examination. He rose through the ranks to Chancellor of the Imperial Academy, was soon made Vice Minister of Personnel, and then Minister of Works. Ministry rules required every project to have its costs estimated and reported upward first—this was called the "material estimate." When projects finished, officials often padded expenses, and the responsible clerks dared not report it; some accounts sat uncleared for ten years, and major works alone left forty-three open cases. Shuyuan had headed the ministry only six months when he cleared the entire backlog. He was transferred to the Ministry of Punishments, resigned on grounds of illness, and died at home. Shuyuan loved talent but was petty; He Chao studied under him and was highly regarded at first; when Shuyuan impeached Tang Bin, Chao asked to be struck from his register of disciples; Shuyuan cast him out, and he never won recognition. For this the world held him in contempt.
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王鴻緒，初名度心，字季友，江南婁縣人。 康熙十二年一甲二名進士，授編修。 十四年，主順天鄕試。 充日講起居注官。 累遷翰林院侍講。 十九年，聖祖諭獎講官勤勞，加鴻緒侍讀學士銜。 時湖廣有硃方旦者，自號二眉山人。 造中説補，聚徒橫議，常至數千人。 自詡前知，與人決休咎。 巡撫董國興劾其左道惑衆，逮至京，得旨寬釋。 及呉三桂反，順承郡王勒爾錦駐師荊州，方旦以佔驗出入軍營，巡撫張朝珍亦稱爲異人。 上密戒勒爾錦勿爲所惑。 方旦乃避走江、浙，會鴻緒得其所刊中質秘書，遂以奏進，列其誣罔君上、悖逆聖道、搖惑人心三大罪。 方旦坐誅。
Wang Hongxu, originally named Duxin and styled Jiyou, came from Lou County in Jiangnan. In Kangxi 12 he took second place in the top tier of the jinshi examination and was made a Hanlin compiler. In year 14 he served as chief examiner for the Shuntian provincial exam. He was made a Daily Lecturer and Recorder at court. He rose step by step to Lecturer in the Hanlin Academy. In year 19 the Kangxi Emperor commended the lecturers' diligence and granted Hongxu the titular rank of Reader-in-Waiting. At that time a man named Zhu Fangdan in Huguang called himself the Hermit of the Two Eyebrows. He wrote a supplement to the Doctrine of the Mean, gathered disciples, and preached boldly to crowds that often numbered in the thousands. He claimed to know the future and told people's fortunes. Governor Dong Guoxing charged him with heterodox doctrines that led the people astray; after he was brought to Beijing, the emperor ordered him released. When Wu Sangui rose in rebellion, Prince Le'erjin of Shuncheng encamped at Jingzhou; Zhu Fangdan went in and out of the army camps practicing divination, and Governor Zhang Chaozhen also hailed him as a man of extraordinary powers. The emperor secretly admonished Le'erjin not to let himself be deceived. Fangdan fled to the Jiangsu and Zhejiang region; Wang Hongxu happened to obtain the esoteric work Zhongzhi Mishu that Fangdan had published, presented it to the throne, and charged him with three capital offenses—deceiving the emperor, violating the sage Way, and subverting popular sentiment. Zhu Fangdan was executed.
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二十一年，轉侍讀，充明史總裁。 累擢内閣學士、戸部侍郎。 二十四年，典會試。 二十五年，疎請回籍治本生母喪，遣官賜祭。 二十六年，擢左都-{御}-史。 疎劾廣東巡撫李士楨貪劣，潮州知府林杭學嘗從呉三桂反，乃舉其淸廉。 士楨坐罷，杭學奪職。 會靈-{臺}-郎董漢臣疎陳時事，以諭教元良、愼簡宰執爲言。 -{御}-史陶式玉劾漢臣摭拾浮言，欺世盜名，請逮治。 鴻緒疎言：「欽天監靈-{臺}-郎、博士等官，不擇流品，星-{卜}-屠沽之徒，粗識數字，便得濫竽。 請敕下考試，分別去留。」 下部議行。 漢臣及博士賈文然等十五人-{並}-以詞理舛誤黜。 初，以式玉疎下九卿集議，尚書湯斌謂大臣不言，慚對漢臣。 漢臣既黜，鴻緒偕左都-{御}-史璙丹、副都-{御}-史徐元珙合疎劾斌務名鮮實，-{並}-追論江-{寧}-巡撫去任時，巧飾文告，以博虚譽。 上素重斌淸廉，置弗問。
In year 21 he was made a Hanlin Reader and appointed chief compiler of the Ming history. He rose step by step to Grand Secretariat academician and Vice Minister of Revenue. In year 24 he served as chief examiner for the metropolitan civil service examination. In year 25 he asked to return home to mourn his birth mother; the court sent officials with offerings for the funeral rites. In year 26 he was made Left Censor-in-Chief. He impeached Guangdong Governor Li Shizhen for corruption, yet praised Chaozhou Prefect Lin Hangxue—who had once joined Wu Sangui's rebellion—as upright and honest. Li Shizhen was removed from office and Lin Hangxue was dismissed. Around this time Dong Hanchen, a director at the Astronomy Bureau, submitted a memorial on state affairs urging proper education for the crown prince and careful selection of chief ministers. Censor Tao Shiyu charged Dong Hanchen with peddling empty talk to win fame and asked that he be arrested. Wang Hongxu wrote: "At the Astronomy Bureau, directors and doctoral fellows are not chosen for merit; fortune-tellers, butchers, and hawkers who barely know their numbers still slip into office. He asked the emperor to order examinations and weed out the unqualified. The ministries deliberated and carried out the proposal. Dong Hanchen and fifteen others, including Doctor Jia Wenran, were all dismissed for defects in their written submissions. When Tao Shiyu's memorial was first referred to the Nine Ministers, Minister Tang Bin declared that senior officials who held their tongues should be ashamed before Dong Hanchen. After Dong Hanchen's dismissal, Wang Hongxu joined Left Censor-in-Chief Kuang Dan and Vice Censor-in-Chief Xu Yuanqi in impeaching Tang Bin for cultivating a reputation without substance, and for having, as Jiangning governor on leaving office, dressed up his farewell proclamations to win hollow acclaim. The emperor had long esteemed Tang Bin's integrity and took no action.
12
鴻緒論各省駐防官兵累民，略言：「駐防將領恃威放肆，或占奪民業，或重息放債，或強娶民婦。 或謊詐逃人，株連良善； 或收羅-{姦}-棍，巧生扎詐。 -{種}--{種}-爲害，所在時有。 如西安、荊州駐防官兵紀律太寬，牧放馬匹，驅赴邨莊，累民芻秣； 百十成群，踐食田禾，所至驛騷。 其他苦累，又可類推。 請嚴飭將軍、副都統等力行約束。 緑旗提、鎭縱兵害民，以及虚冒兵糧者，不一而足，請飭督撫立行指參。」 上命議行。
Wang Hongxu memorialized on how provincial garrison troops oppressed the populace: "Garrison officers abuse their authority—seizing people's property, lending at crushing interest, or forcing commoners' wives into marriage. They falsely accuse runaway bondsmen and entangle innocent families; or they gather ruffians and contrive blackmail. Such abuses appeared everywhere. At Xi'an and Jingzhou, for instance, garrison discipline was slack: troops pastured their horses in villages and forced locals to supply fodder; bands of a hundred or more trampled the crops and spread unrest wherever they marched. Other burdens, he said, were much the same. He urged the generals and lieutenant-generals to enforce discipline strictly. Green Standard brigade and regimental commanders who let their men prey on civilians, and officers who padded the muster rolls, were legion; he asked governors and governor-generals to impeach them at once. The emperor ordered the ministries to act on his recommendations.
13
未-{幾}-，以父憂歸。 二十八年，服闋，將赴補。 左都-{御}-史郭琇劾鴻緒與髙士奇招權納賄，-{並}-及給事中何楷、編修陳元龍，皆予休致。 語具士奇傳。 嘉定知縣聞在上爲縣民訐告私派事，按察使髙承爵按治。 在上言嘗以銀餽舉人徐樹敏，至事-{發}-退還，因坐樹敏罪。 巡撫鄭端覆訊，在上言嘗以銀五百餽鴻緒，亦事-{發}-退還。 端乃劾-{乾}-學縱子行詐，鴻緒竟染贓銀，有玷大臣名節，乞敕部嚴議。 上特諭曰：「朕崇尚德教，蠲滌煩苛。 凡大小臣工，-{咸}-思恩禮下逮，-{曲}-全始終； 即因事放歸，仍令各安田裡。 近見諸臣彼此傾軋，伐異黨同，私怨相尋，牽連報-{復}-； 雖業已解職投閒，仍-{復}-吹求不已，株連逮-{於}-子弟，顛覆及-{於}-身家。 朕總攬萬機，已三十年，此等情態，知之甚悉。 媢嫉傾軋之害，歴代皆有，而明季爲甚。 公家之事，置若罔聞，而分樹黨援，飛誣排陷，迄無虚日。 朕-{於}-此等背公誤國之人，深切痛恨。 自今以往，内外大小諸臣，宜各端心-{術}-，盡蠲私忿，共矢公忠。 儻仍執迷不悟，复踵前非，朕將窮極根株，悉坐以朋黨之罪。」 時鴻緒方就質，詔至，得釋。
Soon afterward he went into mourning for his father and returned home. In year 28, when his mourning period ended, he prepared to resume office. Left Censor-in-Chief Guo Xiu charged Wang Hongxu and Gao Shiqi with trading in influence and taking bribes, and also named Supervising Secretary He Kai and Compiler Chen Yuanlong; all were forced to retire. The full account appears in Gao Shiqi's biography. Jiading magistrate Wen Zaishang was denounced by local people for illegal levies; Surveillance Commissioner Gao Chengjue investigated. Wen Zaishang admitted he had once given silver to the provincial graduate Xu Shumin; after the scandal surfaced he tried to return it, and Xu Shumin was convicted on that basis. Governor Zheng Duan reopened the inquiry; Wen Zaishang also admitted he had once given Wang Hongxu five hundred taels of silver, which he likewise returned when exposed. Zheng Duan then charged Xu Qianxue with letting his son practice fraud and Wang Hongxu with accepting tainted silver, arguing that both had disgraced the standing of senior ministers and asking the ministries for a severe ruling. The emperor issued a special edict: "I value moral cultivation and seek to remove petty harassment from government. Every official, high or low, should remember that imperial grace extends downward and that the court wishes to see them through from start to finish; even those sent home on some charge are still expected to live quietly in their home districts. Lately I have watched officials tear one another down, attack outsiders and reward their own factions, nurse private grievances, and pursue vendettas without end; even after a man has resigned and withdrawn from office, his enemies still hunt for new charges, ruining his sons and bringing disaster on his entire household. I have held the reins of government for thirty years and know these habits all too well. Factional jealousy has plagued every dynasty, but nowhere more ruinously than in the late Ming. They ignored the business of the state, built party networks, and filled the air with slander and intrigue without a day's respite. I despise men who betray the public interest and harm the realm. From this day forward every official, within the capital or beyond, should purge private spite and devote himself to public duty. If they persist in these errors, I will trace every connection and punish the whole clique. Wang Hongxu was under investigation when the edict arrived, and he was released.
14
三十三年，以-{薦}-召來京修書。 尋授工部尚書，充經筵講官。 四十七年，調戸部。 其年冬，皇太子允礽既廢，詔大臣保奏儲貳，鴻緒與内大臣阿靈阿、侍郎揆敘等謀，舉皇子允禩，詔切責，以原品休致。
In year 33 he was recalled to Beijing on recommendation to work on the histories. He was soon made Minister of Works and a lecturer at the imperial classics lectures. In year 47 he was transferred to the Ministry of Revenue. That winter, after Crown Prince Yinreng had been deposed, the emperor ordered senior ministers to nominate a successor; Wang Hongxu joined Inner Court minister Aring'a, Vice Minister Kui Xu, and others in backing Prince Yunsi; the emperor rebuked them sharply and sent them home at their former rank.
15
五十三年，疎言：「臣舊居館職，奉命爲明史總裁官，與湯斌、徐-{乾}-學、-{葉}-方靄互相參訂，僅成數巻。 及臣回籍多年，恩召重領史局，而前此纂輯諸臣，罕有存者。 惟大學士張玉書爲監修，尚書陳廷敬爲總裁，各專一類：玉書任-{志}-，廷敬任本紀，臣任列傳。 因臣原銜食俸，比二臣得有馀暇，刪繁就簡，正謬訂譌。 如是數年，匯分成帙，而大學士熊賜履續奉監修之命，檄取傳稿以進，玉書、廷敬暨臣皆未參閲。 臣恐傳稿尚多舛誤，自蒙恩歸田，欲圖報稱，因重理舊編，搜殘補闕，-{復}-經五載，成列傳二百八巻。 其間是非邪正，悉據公論，不敢稍逞私臆。 但年代久遠，傳聞異辭，未敢自信爲是。 謹繕寫全稿，齎呈-{禦}--{鑑}-，請宣付史館，以備參考。」 詔兪之。
In year 53 he wrote: "I once served in the Hanlin Academy as chief compiler of the Ming history, working with Tang Bin, Xu Qianxue, and Ye Fang'ai; we completed only a few fascicles. After I returned home for many years the court graciously recalled me to head the history project, but most of my earlier colleagues were gone. Only Grand Secretary Zhang Yushu served as supervising compiler and Minister Chen Tingjing as chief compiler—Zhang handled the treatises, Chen the annals, and I the biographies. Because I still drew my original salary, I had more time than the other two to prune redundant passages and correct errors. After several years the biographies were assembled, but Grand Secretary Xiong Cilü, who had succeeded to the supervising post, requisitioned the draft biographies for submission without Zhang Yushu, Chen Tingjing, or myself having reviewed them. Fearing the drafts were still flawed, I took up the old materials at home and spent five more years completing two hundred and eight fascicles of biographies. Throughout I followed received opinion on right and wrong and never let private prejudice intrude. Yet the events were distant and sources conflicted, and I cannot claim complete certainty. I therefore submit the full fair copy for the emperor's inspection and ask that it be deposited in the Historiographical Bureau for reference. The emperor approved the request.
16
五十四年，-{復}-召來京修書，充省方盛典總裁官。 雍正元年，卒-{於}-京。 -{乾}-隆四十三年，國史館進鴻緒傳，髙宗命以郭琇劾疎載入，使-{後}-世知鴻緒輩罪狀。
In year 54 he was summoned again to Beijing and made chief compiler of the record of the imperial southern tour. He died in Beijing in the first year of the Yongzheng reign. In Qianlong 43 the Historiographical Institute submitted his biography; the Qianlong Emperor ordered Guo Xiu's impeachment memorial appended so posterity would know Wang Hongxu's offenses.
17
孫興吾，進士，官吏部侍郎。
His grandson Sun Xingwu, a jinshi, rose to Vice Minister of Personnel.
18
髙士奇，字澹人，浙江錢塘人。 幼好學能文。 貧，以監生就順天鄕試，充書寫序班。 工書法，以明珠-{薦}-，入内廷供奉，授詹事府録事。 遷内閣中書，食六品俸，賜居西安門内。 康熙十七年，聖祖降敕，以士奇書寫密諭及纂輯講章、詩文，供奉有年，特賜表裡十匹、銀五百。 十九年，复諭吏部優敘，授爲額外翰林院侍講。 尋補侍讀，充日講起居注官，遷右庶子。 累擢詹事府少詹事。
Gao Shiqi, whose style was Danren, came from Qiantang in Zhejiang. As a boy he loved study and wrote well. In poverty he entered the Shuntian provincial exam as an academy student and was assigned to the scribes' roster. His fine calligraphy won him Mingzhu's recommendation; he entered the inner court as a personal attendant and was made a recorder in the Heir Apparent's household. He was promoted to Grand Secretariat drafter on a sixth-rank salary and given a house inside Xi'an Gate. In Kangxi 17 the emperor issued an edict praising Shiqi's years of service copying secret orders and compiling lecture materials and verse, and rewarded him with ten bolts of silk and five hundred taels of silver. In year 19 the emperor again ordered the Board of Personnel to promote him specially to extra Hanlin Lecturer. He soon became a full Reader, was made Daily Lecturer and court recorder, and was promoted to Right Vice Director of the Heir Apparent's household. He rose step by step to Junior Vice Director in the Heir Apparent's household.
19
二十六年，上謁陵，-{於}-成龍在道盡-{發}-明珠、-{餘}-國柱之私。 駕旋，値太皇太-{后}-喪，不入宮，以成龍言問士奇，亦盡言之。 上曰：「何無人劾奏？」 士奇對曰：「人孰不畏死。」 帝曰：「若輩重-{於}-四輔臣乎？ 欲去則去之矣，有何懼？」 未-{幾}-，郭琇疎上，明珠、國柱遂罷相。 二十七年，山東巡撫張汧以齎銀赴京行賄事-{發}-，逮治，獄辭渉士奇。 會奉諭戒勿株連，-{於}-是置弗問。 事
In year 26, during the imperial tomb visit, Yu Chenglong on the journey laid bare the secret dealings of Mingzhu and Yu Guozhu. On the return journey the Grand Empress Dowager died; the emperor did not enter the palace but, on Chenglong's prompting, questioned Shiqi, who told everything he knew. The emperor asked, "Why has no one submitted an impeachment memorial? Shiqi answered, "Who is not afraid to die? The emperor said, "Do you think those men outweigh my four chief ministers? If I want them gone, they are gone—what is there to fear? Before long Guo Xiu's memorial arrived, and Mingzhu and Yu Guozhu were removed from office. In year 27 Shandong Governor Zhang Qian was caught bringing silver to Beijing to bribe officials; when the case broke he was arrested, and the testimony implicated Gao Shiqi. Just then an edict warned against widening prosecutions by association, and the charges against him were dropped. This case
20
詳徐-{乾}-學傳。 士奇因疎言：「臣等編摩纂輯，惟在直廬。 宣諭奏對，悉經中使。 非進講，或數月不覲天顏，從未-{乾}-渉政事。 不獨臣爲然，前入直諸臣，如熊賜履、-{葉}-方靄、張玉書、孫在-{豐}-、王士禎、硃彝尊等，近今同事諸臣，如陳廷敬、徐-{乾}-學、王鴻緒、張英、勵杜訥等，莫不皆然。 獨是供奉日久，嫌疑日滋。 張汧無端疑怨，含沙汚衊，臣將無以自明，幸賴聖明在上，誣構難施。 但禁廷淸秘，來茲萋斐，豈容仍玷淸班？ 伏乞賜歸田裡。」 上命解任，仍領修書事。 二十八年，從上南巡，至杭州，幸士奇西溪山莊，-{御}-書「竹窗」榜額賜之。
The full account appears in Xu Qianxue's biography. Gao Shiqi then wrote: "We compilers work only in the direct halls of service. Imperial orders and memorial audiences all go through palace eunuchs. Unless we are lecturing, we may go months without seeing the emperor and never touch state policy. Nor was I alone: earlier men who served in the direct studios—Xiong Cilü, Ye Fang'ai, Zhang Yushu, Sun Zaifeng, Wang Shizhen, Zhu Yizun—and recent colleagues such as Chen Tingjing, Xu Qianxue, Wang Hongxu, Zhang Ying, and Li Dun'e all followed the same rule. Only my long service has bred mounting suspicion. Zhang Qian nursed groundless resentment and smeared me with innuendo; I could not have cleared my name but for the emperor's clear judgment, which thwarted the slander. Yet the inner precincts demand spotless reputations; how can I remain among the court's purest ranks if slander pursues me? I beg leave to return to my home district. The emperor dismissed him from office but left him in charge of the historical compilation. In year 28 he accompanied the emperor on the southern tour; at Hangzhou the emperor visited Gao Shiqi's villa at Xixi and bestowed his own calligraphy, "Bamboo Window," as a plaque.
21
未-{幾}-，左都-{御}-史郭琇劾奏曰：「皇上宵旰焦勞，勵精圖治，用人行政，未嘗-{纖}-毫假手左右。 乃有原任少詹事髙士奇、左都-{御}-史王鴻緒等，表-{里}-爲-{姦}-，植黨營私，試略陳其罪。 士奇出身微賤，其始徒歩來京，覓館爲生。 皇上因其字學頗工，不拘資格，擢補翰林。 令入南書房供奉，不過使之考訂文章，原未假之與聞政事。 而士奇日思結納，諂附大臣，攬事招權，以圖分肥。 内外大小臣工，無不知有士奇者。 聲名赫奕，乃至如此。 是其罪之可誅者一也。 久之羽翼既多，遂自立門戸，結王鴻緒爲死黨，給事中何楷爲義兄弟，翰林陳元龍爲叔侄，鴻緒兄頊齡爲子女姻親，倶寄以心腹，在外招攬。 凡督、撫、籓、臬、道、府、廳、縣及在内大小卿員，皆鴻緒、楷等爲之居停，哄騙餽至，成千累萬。 即不屬黨護者，亦有常例，名之曰'平安錢'。 是士奇等之-{姦}-貪壞法，全無顧忌，其罪之可誅者二也。 光棍兪子易，在京肆橫有年，事-{發}-潛遁。 有虎坊橋瓦房六十馀間，-{價}-値八千金，餽送士奇。 此外順成門外斜街-{並}-各處房屋，令心腹出名置買，寄頓賄銀至四十馀萬。 又-{於}-本鄕平湖縣置田産千頃，大興土木，杭州西溪廣置園宅。 以覓館餬口之窮儒，忽爲數百萬之富翁。 試問金從何來？ 無非取給-{於}-各官。 官從何來？ 非侵國帑，即剝民膏。 是士奇等眞國之蠹而民之賊也，其罪之可誅者三也。 皇上洞悉其罪，因各館編纂未竣，令解任修書，矜全之恩至矣！ 士奇不思改過自新，仍怙惡不悛，當聖駕南巡，上諭嚴戒餽送，以軍法治罪。 惟士奇與鴻緒愍不畏死，鴻緒在淮、揚等處，招攬各官餽送萬金，潛遺士奇。 淮、揚如此，他處可知。 是士奇等欺君滅法，背公行私，其罪之可誅者四也。 王鴻緒、陳元龍鼎甲出身，儼然士林翹楚； 竟不顧淸議，依媚大臣，無所不至。 苟圖富貴，傷敗名教，豈不玷朝班而羞當世之士哉？ 總之髙士奇、王鴻緒、陳元龍、何楷、王頊齡等，豺狼其性，蛇蠍其心，鬼蜮其形。 畏勢者既觀望而不敢言，趨勢者-{復}-擁戴而不肯言。 臣若不言，有負聖恩。 故不避嫌怨，請立賜罷斥，明正典刑，天下幸甚。」 疎入，士奇等倶休致回籍。 副都-{御}-史許三禮复疎劾解任尚書徐-{乾}-學與士奇姻親，招搖納賄，相爲表裡。 部議以所劾無據，得寢。
Before long, the left censor-in-chief Guo Xiu submitted an impeachment memorial, saying: "Your Majesty rises early and retires late in anxious toil, striving to govern with vigor; in appointing officials and conducting state affairs, you have never yielded so much as a hair's breadth of authority to those beside you. Yet there remain the former junior mentor Gao Shiqi, the left censor-in-chief Wang Hongxu, and others, who are righteous in appearance yet treacherous at heart, who have formed factions and pursued private gain. I venture to outline their crimes briefly. Shiqi was born to humble station. At first he walked to the capital and found work as a tutor to earn his living. The emperor, impressed by his accomplished calligraphy, overlooked formal qualifications and appointed him to the Hanlin Academy. He was assigned to the Southern Study to serve at court, merely to collate literary works; he was never meant to be drawn into matters of policy. Yet day by day Shiqi sought connections, fawned upon high ministers, grasped at business and courted power, all to carve out his share of illicit gain. Throughout the bureaucracy, great and small, none could fail to know of Shiqi. His fame blazed so high that it reached this pitch. This is the first count on which he deserves punishment. In time his followers multiplied; he founded a faction of his own. He bound Wang Hongxu to him as a die-hard ally, took He Kai, a supervising secretary, as a sworn brother, treated the Hanlin academician Chen Yuanlong as kinsman in a patron–nephew bond, and linked his children's marriages to Hongxu's elder brother Songling. All became his trusted agents, recruiting backers throughout the empire. Whether governors-general, governors, princes' establishments, provincial surveillants, circuit intendants, prefects, department heads, county magistrates, or great and petty officials at court—all relied on Hongxu, Kai, and the rest as go-betweens. Deceived and squeezed, they paid tribute that mounted to tens and hundreds of thousands. Even officials outside their factional protection paid a standing levy, called "peace money." Thus Shiqi and his circle betrayed the law through treachery and greed, utterly without scruple—the second count deserving punishment. One Yu Ziyi, a local bully who had long tyrannized the capital, fled in secret when the affair came to light. He owned more than sixty tiled houses at Tiger Bridge, worth eight thousand taels in gold, which he presented to Shiqi. Besides these, on the lane outside Shuncheng Gate and in other districts he had agents purchase property under other men's names, stashing bribe silver totaling more than four hundred thousand taels. He also acquired a thousand qing of farmland in his native Pinghu County, undertook grand construction, and bought up estates and villas at West Brook near Hangzhou. A destitute scholar who once tutored for his bread had overnight become a man of millions. Whence came this wealth? None of it but wrung from officials. And whence came their wealth? Nothing but embezzled state funds or wrung from the people's substance. Shiqi and his accomplices are veritable borers in the state timber and brigands against the people—the third count deserving punishment. Your Majesty saw through their guilt; because the palace compilation projects were unfinished, you merely relieved them of office and kept them on to edit books—a mercy that went to the utmost! Shiqi did not repent or reform. He persisted in his wickedness. When Your Majesty made the southern tour, you decreed a strict ban on gifts, with military law for offenders. Only Shiqi and Hongxu still defied the prohibition without fear of death. In Huai, Yang, and other regions Hongxu solicited gifts of ten thousand taels from officials and secretly forwarded them to Shiqi. If this was done in Huai and Yang, the rest may be imagined. Thus they deceived the throne and nullified the law, betraying the public good for private gain—the fourth count deserving punishment. Wang Hongxu and Chen Yuanlong had risen as palace graduates and stood among the foremost scholars of the realm; yet they spurned public opinion and fawned upon great ministers to the utmost. To grasp at riches and rank while trampling the norms of propriety—does this not dishonor the court and shame the scholars of the age? In sum, Gao Shiqi, Wang Hongxu, Chen Yuanlong, He Kai, Wang Songling, and the rest have the nature of wolves, hearts of scorpions, and faces of ogres. Those who fear power hold their tongues and watch from the sidelines; those who court power rally to them and will not speak out. If I remain silent, I fail Your Majesty's grace. Therefore, heedless of enmity, I beg that they be dismissed at once and punished according to law, to the great good of the realm." When the memorial was received, Shiqi and the others were all allowed to retire and return to their home districts. The vice censor-in-chief Xu Sanli submitted a further memorial impeaching the retired minister Xu Qianxue, who was related to Shiqi by marriage, for taking bribes and colluding with him as partners inside and outside the court. The ministry ruled that the charges lacked evidence, and the case was dropped.
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三十三年，召來京修書。 士奇既至，仍直南書房。 三十六年，以養母乞歸，詔允之，特授詹事府詹事。 尋擢禮部侍郎，以母老未赴。 四十二年，上南巡，士奇迎駕淮安，扈蹕至杭州。 及回鑾，-{復}-從至京師，屢入對，賜予優渥。 上顧侍臣曰：「朕初讀書，内監授以四子本經，作時文； 得士奇，始知學問門徑。 初見士奇得古人詩文，一覽即知其時代，心以爲異，未-{幾}-，朕亦能之。 士奇無戰陣功，而朕待之厚，以其裨朕學問者大也。」 尋遣歸，是年卒-{於}-家。 上深惜之，命加給全葬，授其子庶吉士輿爲編修。 尋諡文恪。
In the thirty-third year of the Kangxi reign, he was recalled to the capital to work on the compilation. When Shiqi arrived, he again served on duty in the Southern Study. In the thirty-sixth year he asked leave to return home to care for his mother. The emperor granted it and specially appointed him junior tutor in the Heir Apparent's household. He was soon promoted to vice minister of rites but did not take up the post because his mother was elderly. In the forty-second year, when the emperor toured the south, Shiqi met the imperial procession at Huai'an and accompanied it to Hangzhou. When the emperor turned homeward, Shiqi again accompanied him to the capital, was received in audience many times, and was granted lavish favors. Turning to his attendants the emperor said: "When I first began to study, eunuchs taught me the Four Books in their original text, so I could write examination essays. It was only when I found Shiqi that I learned the true approach to learning. When I first saw Shiqi take up a piece of ancient poetry or prose and identify its period at a glance, I marveled at it; before long I could do the same myself. Shiqi won no laurels in war, yet I have treated him generously because he has done so much to advance my scholarship. Soon afterward he was sent home, and that same year he died there. The emperor grieved deeply, ordered a full state funeral subsidy, and appointed his son Yu, then a Hanlin bachelor, as compiler. He was soon given the posthumous name Wenke.
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論曰：儒臣直内廷，謂之「書房」，存未入關前舊名也。 上書房授諸皇子讀，尊爲師傅； 南書房以詩文書畫供-{禦}-，地分淸切，參與密勿。 -{乾}-學、士奇先-{後}-入直，鴻緒亦以文學進。 乃憑藉權勢，互結黨援，納賄營私，致屢遭彈劾，聖祖-{曲}-予保全。 -{乾}-學、鴻緒猶得以書局自隨，竟編纂之業，士奇亦以恩禮終，不其幸歟！
The historians observe: Scholar-officials who served directly in the inner court were called "study rooms," preserving the pre-conquest nomenclature. The Upper Study instructed the princes and was held in honor as their masters; The Southern Study supplied poetry, prose, calligraphy, and painting for the emperor's use. Its station was eminent and close; its members took part in confidential deliberations. Qianxue and Shiqi entered service in turn; Hongxu also rose through literary accomplishment. Yet they leaned on power, formed factions, accepted bribes, and pursued private gain, and were impeached again and again; the Kangxi Emperor bent the law to preserve them. Qianxue and Hongxu were still allowed to keep their place at the compilation bureau and finish their editorial work; Shiqi too died with imperial favor intact—is this not extraordinary fortune?