Volume 278 Biographies 65: Mu Tianyan, A Shan, Ga Li

列傳六十五

Biographies 65

慕天顏阿山噶禮

Mu Tianyan, A Shan, and Ga Li

慕天顏，字拱極，甘肅靜寧人。順治十二年進士，授浙江錢塘知縣。遷廣西南寧同知，再遷福建興化知府。康熙九年，擢湖廣上荊南道。總督劉兆麒疏言天顏習邊海諸事，請調福建興泉道。尋擢江蘇布政使。十二年，喪母。總督麻勒吉、巡撫瑪祜疏言：「天顏廉明勤敏，清積年逋賦，釐剔挪移，事未竟，請令在官守制。」十三年，入覲，疏言：「江南田地錢糧有隱佔、詭寄諸弊，臣飭州縣通計田額，均分里甲；又因科則不等，立徵收截票之法，每戶實徵錢糧分十限，於開徵日給限票，依限完納截票。逾限未截，按數追比，吏不能欺民。」下部，著為令。

Mu Tianyan, styled Gongji, came from Jingning in Gansu. A jinshi of Shunzhi 12, he was made magistrate of Qiantang in Zhejiang. He was moved to subprefect of Nanning in Guangxi, then promoted to prefect of Xinghua in Fujian. In Kangxi 9 he was raised to the Shang-Jingnan circuit in Huguang. Governor Liu Zhaoqi reported that Tianyan was experienced in maritime border matters and asked that he be transferred to the Xing-Quan circuit in Fujian. Soon after he was made Jiangsu provincial treasurer. In Kangxi 12 his mother died. Governor Malaqi and Governor-General Ma Hu wrote: "Tianyan is honest, capable, and energetic. He is clearing long-standing tax arrears and untangling misallocated payments, but the task is unfinished. We ask that he be permitted to observe mourning without leaving his post." In Kangxi 13 he had an audience with the throne and reported: "Jiangnan land taxes suffer from hidden occupation, false registration, and similar abuses. I have ordered the prefectures and counties to calculate the full field quota and spread the burden evenly across li and jia units; and because tax schedules varied, he instituted a stub-receipt system: each household's actual levy was split into ten installments, tickets were issued when collection opened, and taxpayers paid by installment and surrendered each stub on completion. Missed deadlines triggered exact collection, so clerks could no longer cheat the taxpayers." The memorial went to the ministries and was promulgated as standing regulation.

十五年，擢江寧巡撫。疏進錢糧交代冊，上嘉其清晰，命布政使交代當以此為式。尋以節減驛站錢糧，加兵部侍郎。師徵吳三桂，大將軍貝勒尚善請造船濟師，下天顏督造送岳州。敘勞，加太子少保、兵部尚書，仍兼右副都御史。時諸道兵應徵發，舳艫蔽江，夫役牽挽，動以千萬計。天顏疏言：「縴夫募諸民間，夫給銀一錢。民爭逃匿，計裡均派，先期拘集，飢寒踣頓。及兵既到，計船給夫，兵與船戶橫索財物，鞭撻死傷。臣擬軍赴前敵，仍給縴夫；其凱旋還京，並各省調遣歸標官兵，每船應夫若干，以其直給船戶，令僱水手。」上從之，命下直省，著為令。

In Kangxi 15 he was made governor of Jiangning. He submitted a handover register for tax and grain accounts. The emperor praised its clarity and decreed that all provincial treasurers should use it as the standard. Soon after, for cutting courier-station expenses, he received the additional rank of vice minister of war. During the campaign against Wu Sangui, Grand General Prince Shangshan asked for transport vessels, and Tianyan was ordered to build them and send them to Yuezhou. For his service he was made Junior Guardian of the Heir Apparent and minister of war, while continuing as vice censor-in-chief on the right. Troops from every circuit were being mobilized; the river was thick with boats, and the trackers hauling them ran into the millions. Tianyan wrote: "Tracking crews are drafted from the populace at one mace of silver per man. People flee and hide; quotas are levied by li, men are rounded up ahead of time, and many collapse from hunger and cold. When troops arrive, trackers are assigned boat by boat; soldiers and boatmen extort goods by force, beating people to death or crippling them. I propose that troops marching to the front should still receive trackers; but for victorious returns to the capital and for garrison troops recalled from the provinces, each boat should receive a fixed allowance paid to the owner to hire sailors instead." The emperor agreed and ordered the rule sent to every province.

江南水道交錯，天顏為布政使時，請於巡撫瑪祜，濬吳淞江、劉河淤道。十九年，江南困霪雨，疏言：「附近吳淞江、劉河諸州縣水道通暢，旋溢旋消。宜興、常熟、武進、江陰、金壇諸縣水無出路，或要口湮塞，致積雨成壑。常熟白茆港為長洲、崑山、無錫諸水出海要道，武進孟瀆河為丹陽、宜興、金壇諸水歸江要道，請動帑疏濬。」上從之。於是濬白茆港四十三里達海，濬孟瀆河四十八里達江，皆建閘以時啟閉，費帑九萬有奇。又嘗疏請減浮糧，除版荒、坍沒公佔田地，部議坍沒許豁除，版荒令覆勘。二十年，疏請募民墾版荒，六年後起科。

Jiangnan's waterways form a dense network. As provincial treasurer, Tianyan asked Governor-General Ma Hu to dredge the silted Wusong and Liu rivers. In Kangxi 19 Jiangnan was battered by endless rain. He reported: "Near the Wusong and Liu rivers the channels are open and floods rise and subside quickly. In Yixing, Changshu, Wujin, Jiangyin, Jintan, and other counties water has nowhere to go, or critical outlets are choked, so the rains have turned fields into lakes. Baimao Harbor in Changshu is the main outlet to the sea for Changzhou, Kunshan, and Wuxi; the Mengdu River in Wujin is the main route to the Yangtze for Danyang, Yixing, and Jintan. He asked for treasury funds to dredge them." The emperor approved. Baimao Harbor was dredged forty-three li to the sea and the Mengdu River forty-eight li to the Yangtze; sluice gates were built and operated on schedule, at a cost of more than ninety thousand taels. He also asked to cut excess grain levies and remove tax on abandoned, collapsed, and illegally occupied land. The ministry allowed write-offs for collapsed fields but ordered fresh surveys for abandoned land. In Kangxi 20 he asked to recruit settlers for abandoned land, with taxation deferred for six years.

揚州知府高德貴虧帑數万，既劾罷，旋卒；天顏疏銷草豆價，戶部覈減七千有奇，天顏檄追德貴家屬。京口防禦高騰龍，德貴族也，與參領馬崇駿以天顏奏銷浮冒訐於將軍楊鳳翔，鳳翔格不行。總督阿席熙劾崇駿、騰龍婪取，上遣郎中圖爾宸、鍾有德會天顏勘治。崇駿、騰龍叩閽訟天顏奏銷浮冒，惡其訐告構罪狀，唆總督劾奏。上命圖爾宸、鍾有德具獄，崇駿、騰龍婪取罪至死，天顏以草豆價戶部覈減諉罪德貴，當左遷。得旨，如議。

Yangzhou Prefect Gao Degui had embezzled tens of thousands from the treasury; after impeachment and dismissal he soon died; Tianyan asked to write off inflated fodder accounts; the Board of Revenue cut more than seven thousand from the claim, and Tianyan ordered Degui's family pursued for the balance. Jingkou garrison commander Gao Tenglong, Degui's kinsman, and adjutant Ma Chongjun petitioned at the gate that Tianyan had written off inflated claims; General Yang Fengxiang refused to act. Governor A Xixi impeached Chongjun and Tenglong for extortion; the emperor sent Directors Tu Erchen and Zhong Youde to investigate with Tianyan. Chongjun and Tenglong petitioned at the gate, accusing Tianyan of writing off inflated claims and of hating their whistleblowing so much that he fabricated charges and incited the governor to impeach them. The emperor ordered a full report. Chongjun and Tenglong were sentenced to death for extortion. Tianyan, for blaming Degui after the Board cut the fodder claim, was to be demoted. The emperor approved as recommended.

天顏將去官，疏列成勞，且言：「夙夜冰兢精白，不意遭誣訐，蒙鑑宥不加嚴譴。」上以天顏未聞有廉名，乃自言「冰兢精白」，非是，命嚴飭。二十三年，起湖北巡撫，复諭之曰：「爾前為巡撫，未能潔己率屬。今宜痛改前非，廉謹自持，以副任使。」旋移貴州。

On leaving office Tianyan listed his achievements and wrote: "I have served day and night with scrupulous integrity, yet I was falsely accused; I am grateful Your Majesty did not punish me severely." The emperor said Tianyan had never had a reputation for integrity, so to call himself "scrupulously pure" was improper, and ordered him sternly admonished. In Kangxi 23 he was recalled as governor of Hubei. The throne told him: "As governor before, you failed to keep yourself clean and set an example for your staff. Reform thoroughly, hold yourself in integrity and caution, and justify the trust placed in you." He was soon transferred to Guizhou.

二十六年，授漕運總督，疏言：「京口至瓜洲，漕船往來，風濤最險。請仿民間渡生船，官設十船，導引護防。」部議非例，不允。上曰：「朕南巡見京口、瓜洲往來人眾，備船過渡，有益於民。其如所請行。」天顏疏陳江南、江西累年未完漕項銀米請恩貰，上命盡免康熙十七年以前積逋。江南揚州、淮安所屬運河東瀕海諸州縣地卑下，謂之下河，頻歲被水。上先用湯斌議，遣侍郎孫在豐疏濬下河。河道總督靳輔議起翟家壩迄高家堰築重堤，束堤堰溢出之水北出清口，謂疏濬無益。天顏仍主疏濬，並修築高家堰，與不協。上遣尚書佛倫、熊一瀟，給事中達奇納、趙吉士會勘，佛倫等主用輔議，天顏、在豐議與輔異。天顏密疏力爭，輔疏劾天顏與在豐有連，欲在豐建功，故堅阻上游築堤。下部議，奪天顏職，而輔亦為御史郭琇、陸祖修，給事中劉楷交章劾罷。初，輔請於仲家莊建閘，引駱馬湖水，別鑿中河，俾漕船避黃河之險，天顏亦議為無益。上命學士開音布、侍衛馬武往視，還奏天顏令漕船毋入中河，上以責天顏，逮下獄。天顏反覆申辨，副都御史噶爾圖舉天顏訴辭先後互異，坐奏事上書不以實論罪，上追錄天顏造舟濟師，特寬之。三十五年，卒。

In Kangxi 26 he became director-general of grain transport and reported: "Between Jingkou and Guazhou, where grain boats pass, the wind and waves are most dangerous. I ask that the government set up ten rescue boats, like the civilian ferries, to guide and protect traffic." The ministry said it was unprecedented and refused. The emperor said: "On my southern tour I saw how many people cross between Jingkou and Guazhou; ferry boats would help the people. Do as he asks." Tianyan asked grace for Jiangnan and Jiangxi grain-transport arrears; the emperor remitted all debts before Kangxi 17. East of the Grand Canal along the coast under Yangzhou and Huai'an the land is low—called the Lower River region—and floods every few years. The emperor first adopted Tang Bin's plan and sent Vice Minister Sun Zaifeng to dredge the Lower River. Canal Director Jin Fu proposed heavy dikes from Zhujiaba to Gaojiayan to channel overflow north through Qingkou, arguing dredging would not help. Tianyan still favored dredging and repairing Gaojiayan; they clashed. The emperor sent Minister Folun, Vice Minister Xiong Yixiao, and Secretaries Daqina and Zhao Jishi to inspect. Folun's party backed Jin Fu; Tianyan and Zaifeng disagreed. Tianyan argued forcefully in a secret memorial. Fu impeached him for colluding with Zaifeng to block upstream diking so Zaifeng could claim credit. The ministries ruled: Tianyan was dismissed, and Fu was impeached in turn by Censors Guo Xiu and Lu Zuxiu and Secretary Liu Kai and removed. Earlier Fu had proposed a sluice at Zhongjiazhuang to draw Luoma Lake water and cut a Middle Canal so grain boats could avoid the Yellow River; Tianyan had called that useless too. The emperor sent Academician Kaiyinbu and Guard Ma Wu to inspect; they reported Tianyan had barred grain boats from the Middle Canal. The emperor blamed him and had him jailed. Tianyan argued repeatedly. Vice Censor-in-Chief Ga Ertu noted contradictions in his testimony and convicted him of false reporting. The emperor recalled his boat-building for the Wu Sangui campaign and showed special leniency. He died in Kangxi 35.

天顏歷官有惠績，嘗疏請有司虧帑雖逾限，於發遣前清償，仍貰其罪。獄囚因逸犯株連，待質已三年者，於秋審時開釋；獄囚無親屬饋食，月給米三斗：皆卹下之政。在江南，興水利，蠲積逋，而請免縴夫，甦一時之困，江南民尤頌之。獨劾嘉定知縣陸隴其不協於輿論，左都御史魏象樞疏言：「天顏劾隴其，稱其操守絕一塵，德有餘而才不足。今之有司，惟操守為難；既知之矣，何不留以長養百姓？請嚴飭諸督撫大破積習，勿使廉吏灰心，貪風日長。」會詔舉清廉，象樞遂以隴其應，語具隴其傳。

Throughout his career Tianyan did real good. He once asked that officials who cleared treasury debts before exile, even past the deadline, still receive pardon. Prisoners held three years awaiting trial because a fugitive had implicated them were released at the autumn assizes; and prisoners without families to feed them received three dou of rice a month—all measures to ease hardship below. In Jiangnan he promoted waterworks, remitted arrears, and abolished tracking labor, easing immediate distress; the people there especially praised him. Only his impeachment of Jiading Magistrate Lu Longqi went against public opinion. Censor-in-Chief Wei Xiangshu wrote: "Tianyan impeached Longqi yet called his integrity spotless and his virtue ample though his talent was limited. Among officials today, integrity is the hardest thing; knowing this, why not keep him to serve the people? I ask that governors be sternly warned to break old habits, lest honest men lose heart and corruption spread." When an edict called for nominations of honest officials, Xiangshu nominated Longqi; the full account is in Longqi's biography.

阿山，伊拉哩氏，滿洲鑲藍旗人。初自吏部筆帖式歷刑部主事、戶部員外部。康熙十八年，授翰林院侍講，七遷至戶部侍郎。三十年，命治賑西安、鳳翔二府，明年還京。上聞流民有至襄陽者，以問阿山。阿山言正月已得雪，民無流亡。上曰：「正月雖雪，二、三月雨不時，麥收未可望。流民至襄陽甚多，汝未之知耳。」坐奉使不盡心，左授郎中。三十三年，擢左副都御史。三十五年，上親征噶爾丹，阿山從。授阿密達為將軍，逐噶爾丹，阿山為參贊。師還，授盛京禮部侍郎。三十六年，授翰林院掌院學士。

A Shan, of the Irarai clan, belonged to the Bordered Blue Banner. He rose from a clerk in the Board of Personnel through secretary in the Board of Punishments to department director in the Board of Revenue. In Kangxi 18 he became a Hanlin expositor and was promoted seven times to vice minister of revenue. In Kangxi 30 he was sent to manage famine relief in Xi'an and Fengxiang; he returned to Beijing the next year. Hearing that refugees had reached Xiangyang, the emperor questioned A Shan. A Shan said snow had fallen in the first month and there was no flight of the people. The emperor said: "Snow in the first month does not change that the second and third months brought untimely rain and a poor wheat harvest. Many refugees have reached Xiangyang—you simply did not know." For neglecting his mission he was demoted to director. In Kangxi 33 he was made vice censor-in-chief on the left. In Kangxi 35 the emperor campaigned in person against Galdan; A Shan accompanied him. Amida was appointed general to pursue Galdan, with A Shan as his deputy. After the campaign he became vice minister of rites at Mukden. In Kangxi 36 he became chancellor of the Hanlin Academy.

三十九年，授江南江西總督。安徽布政使張四教以憂去官，巡撫高永爵劾四教擅動庫帑，下阿山察奏。阿山言四教動庫帑為公用，請免議，上復命具實狀以聞。阿山乃言：「三十八年上南巡，四教發庫帑十一萬供辦，議令各官扣俸抵補。各官皆自承，臣不敢隱。」上責阿山徇情沽譽，命漕運總督桑額鞫四教，論如律。阿山當奪職，上寬之，命留任。

In Kangxi 39 he was made governor-general of Jiangnan and Jiangxi. Anhui Treasurer Zhang Sijiao left on mourning leave; Governor Gao Yongjue impeached him for unauthorized use of treasury funds, and A Shan was ordered to investigate. A Shan said Sijiao had used the funds for public business and asked that charges be dropped; the emperor ordered a full factual report. A Shan then reported: "In Kangxi 38, during Your Majesty's southern tour, Sijiao spent one hundred ten thousand taels from the treasury on arrangements; officials agreed to repay it from their salaries. Each official has admitted as much; I dare not conceal it." The emperor rebuked A Shan for favoritism and ordered Transport Director Sang E to try Sijiao, who was sentenced under the law. A Shan should have been dismissed; the emperor spared him and ordered him to remain in office.

四十三年，阿山劾江西巡撫張志棟大計不公，志棟及布政使李興祖、按察使劉廷璣、道員韓象起等皆奪職。阿山又言大計志棟主之，請復興祖等官。給事中許志進劾阿山恩威自擅，阿山疏辯，且詆志進為淮安漕標營卒子，素行不端，為志棟報復。志進亦追論阿山庇張四教，並收屬吏賄賂，盜倉穀不問，貪婬惡跡，縱妾父生事。疏並下部議，部議皆奪職。上复寬阿山，命留任如故。四十四年，疏劾江寧知府陳鵬年貪酷，並以妓樓改建講堂，凟聖諭，大不敬。命會桑額及河道總督張鵬翮集讞，坐鵬年罪至斬，上特命來京，事具鵬年傳。

In Kangxi 43 A Shan impeached Jiangxi Governor Zhang Zhidong for rigging the grand evaluation; Zhidong, Treasurer Li Xingzu, Judge Liu Tingji, Intendant Han Xiangqi, and others were all dismissed. A Shan then said Zhidong had controlled the evaluation and asked that Xingzu and the others be reinstated. Secretary Xu Zhijin impeached A Shan for arrogating reward and punishment. A Shan defended himself and smeared Zhijin as the son of a Huai'an transport garrison soldier, habitually corrupt, acting in revenge for Zhidong. Zhijin countered that A Shan had shielded Zhang Sijiao, taken bribes from subordinates, ignored granary theft, and indulged greed, lust, and his concubine's father's abuses. Both memorials went to the ministries, which ruled both men should be dismissed. The emperor again spared A Shan and left him in office. In Kangxi 44 he impeached Jiangning Prefect Chen Pengnian for greed and cruelty, and for converting a brothel into a lecture hall—profaning the sage's teaching, a grave offense. He was ordered to join Sang E and Canal Director Zhang Penghe in judgment; Pengnian was sentenced to death, but the emperor ordered him brought to Beijing instead—the full account is in Pengnian's biography.

阿山與桑額、鵬翮議自泗州開河築堤，引淮水至黃家堰，入張福口，會出清口，是為溜淮套，疏請上臨視。四十五年，授刑部尚書。四十六年，上南巡，臨視溜淮套，諭曰：「阿山等奏溜淮套別開一河，分洩淮水，繪圖進呈。朕策騎自清口至曹家廟，見地勢甚高，雖成河，不能直達清口，與所進圖不同。且所立標竿多在民塚上，朕何忍發此無限枯骨耶？」命鵬翮罷其事。下九卿議，阿山及桑額、鵬翮皆奪職；上以阿山主其議，命但坐阿山，遂奪職。五十一年，江蘇布政使宜思恭以虧帑坐譴，因列訴總督噶禮等頻向需索，阿山亦受節餽，下部議，上以阿山老，寬之。五十二年，萬壽，復原品。逾年，卒。

A Shan, Sang E, and Penghe proposed a canal and dikes from Sizhou to channel Huai water to Huangjiayan, through Zhangfukou to Qingkou—the Liuhuaitao project—and asked the emperor to inspect it in person. In Kangxi 45 he became minister of punishments. In Kangxi 46, on his southern tour, the emperor inspected Liuhuaitao and said: "A Shan and others proposed opening a separate channel to divert Huai water and submitted drawings. I rode from Qingkou to Caojiamiao and found the ground too high; even with a canal it could not reach Qingkou as drawn. And the survey stakes stand on people's graves—how can I disturb so many dead?" He ordered Penghe to abandon the project. The Nine Ministers ruled that A Shan, Sang E, and Penghe should all be dismissed; but since A Shan had led the proposal, the emperor punished only him and stripped him of office. In Kangxi 51 Jiangsu Treasurer Yi Sigong was punished for a treasury shortfall and accused Governor-General Ga Li and others of repeated extortion; A Shan had also accepted gifts. The ministries deliberated, but the emperor spared him because of his age. In Kangxi 52, at the imperial birthday celebration, his original rank was restored. He died the following year.

阿山故精察，上嘗問大學士李光地：「阿山在官何若？」光地奏：「臣嘗與同僚，廉幹，果於任事。其失民心，獨劾陳鵬年一事耳。」上頷之。

A Shan had always been sharp-eyed. The emperor once asked Grand Secretary Li Guangdi: "How is A Shan as an official?" Guangdi replied: "I once served with him. He is honest and capable, and bold in action. He lost popular support only over impeaching Chen Pengnian." The emperor nodded in agreement.

噶禮，棟鄂氏，滿洲正紅旗人，何和哩四世孫也。自廕生授吏部主事，再遷郎中。康熙三十五年，上親征噶爾丹，次克魯倫河。噶禮從左都御史於成龍督運中路兵糧，首達行在，召對，當上意。尋擢盛京戶部理事官。歲餘三遷，授內閣學士。三十八年，授山西巡撫。噶禮當官勤敏能治事，然貪甚，縱吏虐民。撫山西數年，山西民不能堪。會潞安知府缺員，噶禮疏薦霍州知州李紹祖，紹祖使酒自刎，噶禮匿不以奏。上聞之，下九卿議罪，擬奪噶禮職，上寬之。御史劉若鼐疏論噶禮貪，得贓無慮數十萬，太原知府趙鳳詔為其腹心，專用酷刑以濟貪壑事。下噶禮復奏，得辨釋。

Ga Li, of the Donggo clan, belonged to the Plain Red Banner and was a fourth-generation descendant of Heheli. Through hereditary privilege he became a secretary in the Board of Personnel and was twice promoted to director. In Kangxi 35 the emperor campaigned in person against Galdan and halted at the Kerulen River. Ga Li followed Censor-in-Chief Yu Chenglong in supplying the central route, was first to reach the imperial camp, was summoned to audience, and pleased the emperor. Soon after he became commissioner of the Mukden Board of Revenue. Within a year he was promoted three times and made a Grand Secretariat academician. In Kangxi 38 he was made governor of Shanxi. Ga Li was diligent and capable in office, but extremely greedy and let his clerks oppress the people. After several years governing Shanxi, the people could not endure him. When the Lu'an prefecture fell vacant, Ga Li recommended Huozhou Magistrate Li Shaozu; Shaozu, drunk, killed himself, and Ga Li concealed it without reporting. When the emperor learned of it, the Nine Ministers proposed dismissing Ga Li, but the emperor spared him. Censor Liu Ruonai charged that Ga Li was corrupt, having taken bribes of hundreds of thousands, with Taiyuan Prefect Zhao Fengzhao as his henchman using torture to feed his greed. Ga Li was ordered to respond and cleared himself.

平遙民郭明奇等以噶禮庇貪婪知縣王綬，走京師詣巡城御史袁橋列訴。橋疏聞，並言「噶禮通省錢糧加火耗十之二，分補大同、臨汾等縣虧帑，餘並以入己，得四十餘萬；指修解州祠宇，用巡撫印簿勒捐；令家伶赴平陽、汾州、潞安三府迫富民饋遺；又以訟得臨汾、介休富民亢時鼎、梁湄金；縱汾州同知馬遴；庇洪洞知縣杜連登，皆貪吏；隱平定雹災」，凡七事。上命噶禮復奏，山西學政鄒士聰代太原士民疏留噶禮。御史蔡珍疏劾士璁「職在衡文，乃與巡撫朋比。且袁橋疏得旨二日後，太原士民即具呈，顯為誣偽。噶禮與士璁同城，委為不知，是昏憒也；知而不阻，是幸恩也。請並敕部議處」。尋噶禮復奏，以明奇等屢坐事走京師誣告，並辨橋、珍所言皆無據。下九卿察奏，明奇等下刑部治罪，橋、珍坐誣譴罷。

Pingyao commoners Guo Mingqi and others, because Ga Li had shielded the corrupt magistrate Wang Shou, went to Beijing and petitioned City Patrol Censor Yuan Qiao. Qiao reported the case and charged that Ga Li had added a twenty-percent surcharge on provincial taxes, using part to cover county shortfalls in Datong and Linfen and keeping more than four hundred thousand for himself; under the pretext of repairing the Xiezhou temple, he used the governor's seal register to force donations; he sent household actors to Pingyang, Fenzhou, and Lu'an to extort gifts from wealthy families; through lawsuits he obtained gold from wealthy men Kang Shiding of Linfen and Liang Mei of Jiexiu; he indulged Fenzhou Subprefect Ma Lin; he shielded Hongtong Magistrate Du Liandeng—all corrupt officials; he concealed the hail disaster in Pingding"—seven charges in all. The emperor ordered Ga Li to respond. Shanxi Education Commissioner Zou Shicong petitioned on behalf of Taiyuan gentry and commoners to retain Ga Li. Censor Cai Zhen impeached Zou Shicong: "His duty is to examine candidates, yet he factions with the governor. Two days after Yuan Qiao's memorial received a response, Taiyuan's petition was already ready—clearly fabricated. Ga Li and Zou Shicong share the same city; to plead ignorance is stupidity; to know and not stop it is to presume on imperial favor. I ask that both be referred to the ministries for punishment." Ga Li soon replied that Mingqi and others, repeatedly convicted, had fled to Beijing to lodge false charges, and rebutted Qiao and Zhen as groundless. The Nine Ministers investigated: Mingqi and others were sent to the Board of Punishments, and Qiao and Zhen were dismissed for false accusation.

四十八年，遷戶部侍郎，旋擢江南江西總督。噶禮至江南，益恣肆，累疏劾江蘇巡撫於準、布政使宜思恭、按察使焦映漢，皆坐罷。知府陳鵬年初為總督阿山劾罷，上復命守蘇州；及宜思恭罷，署布政使。鵬年素伉直，忤噶禮。噶禮續劾宜思恭虧帑，又論糧道賈樸建關開河皆有所侵蝕，遂及鵬年覈報不實，鵬年復坐罷。噶禮复密疏鵬年虎丘詩怨望，上不為動。

In Kangxi 48 he became vice minister of revenue and soon governor-general of Jiangnan and Jiangxi. In Jiangnan Ga Li grew more unrestrained still, impeaching Jiangsu Governor Yu Zhun, Treasurer Yi Sigong, and Judge Jiao Yinghan until all were dismissed. Prefect Chen Pengnian had first been impeached and dismissed by Governor-General A Shan; the emperor restored him to Suzhou; and when Yi Sigong was dismissed, he acted as provincial treasurer. Pengnian had always been upright and outspoken and clashed with Ga Li. Ga Li continued impeaching Yi Sigong for treasury shortfalls, charged Grain Intendant Jia Pu with embezzling on canal works, and extended the charge to Pengnian for false verification; Pengnian was dismissed again. Ga Li also sent a secret memorial claiming Pengnian's Tiger Hill poem showed resentment; the emperor was unmoved.

巡撫張伯行有廉聲，至則又與噶禮忤。五十年，伯行疏言本科江南鄉試取士不協輿論，正考官副都御史左必蕃亦檢舉同考官知縣王曰俞、方名所薦士有不通文字者。上命尚書張鵬翮如揚州會噶禮及伯行察審。鵬翮至，會讞，既得副考官編修趙晉及曰俞、名諸交通狀，伯行欲窮其獄。噶禮盛怒，刑證人，遂罷讞。伯行乃劾噶禮，謂輿論盛傳總督與監臨提調交通鬻舉人；及事發，又傳總督索銀五十萬，許不竟其事：請敕解任就讞。噶禮亦劾伯行，謂：「方會讞時，臣正鞫囚，伯行謂臣言不當，臣恐爭論失體，緘口結舌。伯行遂陰謀誣陷，以鬻舉人得銀五十萬汙臣，臣不能與俱生。」因及伯行專事著書，猜忌糊塗，不能清理案牘。時方有戴名世之獄，又言：「南山集刻板在蘇州印行，伯行豈得不知？進士方苞以作序連坐，伯行夙與友，不肯捕治。」並羅列伯行不職數事。

Governor Zhang Boxing had a reputation for integrity; when he arrived he clashed with Ga Li again. In Kangxi 50 Boxing reported that the Jiangnan provincial examination selections did not match public opinion; chief examiner Vice Censor-in-Chief Zuo Bifan also reported that associate examiners Magistrates Wang Yueyu and Fang Ming had recommended candidates who could barely write. The emperor sent Minister Zhang Penghe to Yangzhou to investigate with Ga Li and Boxing. When Penghe arrived they held a joint hearing; once bribery by associate examiner Compiler Zhao Jin, Yueyu, Ming, and others was established, Boxing wanted to pursue the case fully. Ga Li flew into a rage, tortured witnesses, and the hearing was adjourned. Boxing then impeached Ga Li, saying public opinion held that the governor-general and supervising examiner had sold degrees through bribery; and when the scandal broke, rumor said the governor-general had demanded five hundred thousand taels and promised to drop the case: he asked that Ga Li be relieved and tried on the spot. Ga Li also impeached Boxing, saying: "During the hearing I was interrogating a prisoner when Boxing challenged my words; fearing an undignified quarrel, I held my tongue. Boxing then plotted to frame me, charging that I sold degrees for five hundred thousand taels; I cannot share the world with such a man." He also charged that Boxing devoted himself to books, was suspicious and muddled, and could not manage his paperwork. At the time of the Dai Mingshi case, he added: "The woodblocks of Nanshan Ji were printed in Suzhou—could Boxing not have known? Jinshi Fang Bao was implicated for writing a preface; Boxing had long been his friend and refused to arrest him." He also listed several counts of Boxing's dereliction of duty.

疏入，上並命解任，令鵬翮會漕運總督赫壽察奏。獄具，晉、曰俞、名及所取士交通得賄，當科場舞弊律論罪；噶禮劾伯行不能清理案牘事實，餘皆督撫會銜題諮舊事，苞為伯行逮送刑部，南山集刻板在江寧，皆免議；伯行妄奏噶禮鬻舉人，當奪職。上切責鵬翮、赫壽瞻徇，又命尚書穆和倫、張廷樞覆讞，仍如鵬翮等議。上諭曰：「噶禮才有餘，治事敏練，而性喜生事，屢疏劾伯行。朕以伯行操守為天下第一，手批不淮。此議是非顛倒！」下九卿、詹事、科道察奏，复諭曰：「噶禮操守，朕不能信；若無張伯行，江南必受其朘削且半矣。即如陳鵬年稍有聲譽，噶禮欲害之，摘虎丘詩有悖謬語，朕閱其詩，初無他意。又劾中軍副將李麟騎射皆劣。麟比來迎駕，朕試以騎射，俱優。若令噶禮與較，定不能及。朕於是心疑噶禮矣。互劾之案，遣大臣往讞，為噶禮所製。爾等皆能體朕保全廉吏之心，使正人無所疑懼，則海宇蒙昇平之福矣。九卿等議噶禮與伯行同任封疆，互劾失大臣禮，皆奪職；上命留伯行任，噶禮如議奪職。

When the memorials arrived, the emperor relieved both men and ordered Penghe and Transport Director He Shou to investigate. The case concluded: Jin, Yueyu, Ming, and their candidates were convicted of bribery under the examination-fraud statute; Ga Li's charge that Boxing could not manage paperwork was upheld; the rest were old joint reports by governors; Bao was sent to the Board of Punishments; the Nanshan Ji blocks were in Jiangning—all were dropped; Boxing was to be dismissed for falsely charging Ga Li with selling degrees. The emperor sharply rebuked Penghe and He Shou for favoritism, then ordered Ministers Mu Helun and Zhang Tingshu to rehear the case; they still followed Penghe's line. The emperor said: "Ga Li is talented and efficient, but he loves to stir trouble and has repeatedly impeached Boxing. I consider Boxing's integrity the finest in the realm and have personally rejected those memorials. This finding reverses right and wrong!" The Nine Ministers, Court of Imperial Studies, and censorate investigated. He said again: "I cannot trust Ga Li's integrity; without Zhang Boxing, Jiangnan would have been drained of at least half its wealth. Even Chen Pengnian, who had some reputation, Ga Li tried to ruin by seizing on irreverent words in his Tiger Hill poem—I read the poem and saw no ill intent. He also impeached Central Army Vice Commander Li Lin for poor horsemanship and archery. Lin recently came to welcome me; I tested his riding and archery and found both excellent. Ga Li could certainly not match him in a contest. At that point I began to doubt Ga Li. The mutual impeachment case, when ministers were sent to judge it, was manipulated by Ga Li. If you all share my wish to protect honest officials so upright men need not fear, the realm will enjoy true peace. The Nine Ministers ruled that Ga Li and Boxing, sharing frontier responsibility, had violated ministerial decorum in mutual impeachment and both should be dismissed; the emperor kept Boxing in office and dismissed Ga Li as recommended.

五十三年，噶禮母叩閽，言噶禮與弟色勒奇、子幹都置毒食物中謀弒母，噶禮妻以別戶子幹泰為子，縱令糾眾毀屋。下刑部鞫得實，擬噶禮當極刑，妻論絞，色勒奇、幹都皆斬，幹泰發黑龍江，家產沒入官。上令噶禮自盡，妻從死，餘如部議。

In Kangxi 53 Ga Li's mother petitioned at the gate, charging that Ga Li, his brother Seleqi, and son Gandu had poisoned her food; his wife had adopted Gantai from another household and incited a mob to destroy the house. The Board of Punishments found the charges true: Ga Li was sentenced to death, his wife to strangulation, Seleqi and Gandu to decapitation, Gantai exiled to Heilongjiang, and the family property confiscated. The emperor ordered Ga Li to take his own life; his wife died with him; the rest followed the ministry's recommendation.

論曰：廉吏往往不獲於上，豈長官皆不肖，抑其強項固有所不可堪歟？隴其之廉，天顏知之而不能容。鵬年初扼於阿山，繼挫於噶禮，皆欲中以危法，抑又甚矣。伯行與噶禮互劾，再讞不得直。幸賴聖祖仁明，隴其復起，鵬年致大用，伯行亦終獲全。二三正人詘而得申，人心風氣震盪洋溢，所被至遠。噶禮不足以語此，蓋天顏、阿山亦弗能喻也。

The commentator says: Honest officials often fail to please their superiors—is every superior unworthy, or is their stubborn integrity sometimes unbearable? Tianyan knew Longqi was honest yet could not tolerate him. Pengnian was first blocked by A Shan, then crushed by Ga Li; both tried to trap him with capital charges—an even graver wrong. Boxing and Ga Li impeached each other; twice reheard, justice was not done. Fortunately the Sage Ancestor was benevolent and clear-sighted: Longqi was restored, Pengnian rose to high office, and Boxing ultimately survived unscathed. When a few upright men, though bent low, could still prevail, public morale and moral tone surged and spread—the influence reached far. Ga Li is not fit to speak of this; Tianyan and A Shan cannot be compared either.

Cite this Chapter