Volume 292 Biographies 79: Gao Qizhuo, Yang Zongren, Kong Yuxun, Fei Xian Du, Tang Zhiyu, Yang Yongbin

列傳七十九

Biographies 79

高其倬金鉷楊宗仁子文乾孔毓珣裴幰度子宗錫

Gao Qizhuo, Jin Hong, Yang Zongren, Zi Wenqian, Kong Yuxun, Pei Xiandu, and Zi Zongxi

唐執玉楊永斌

Tang Zhiyu and Yang Yongbin

高其倬，字章之，漢軍鑲黃旗人。父廕爵，官口北道。其倬，康熙三十三年進士，改庶吉士，散館授檢討。尋兼佐領。五遷內閣學士。五十八年，河南南陽鎮兵挾忿圍辱知府沈淵，命偕尚書張廷樞按治，誅首事者，總兵高成等論罪有差。

Gao Qizhuo, courtesy name Zhangzhi, belonged to the Han military Bordered Yellow Banner. His father held an inherited noble rank and served as Koubei Circuit commissioner. Qizhuo earned his jinshi degree in Kangxi 33, entered the Hanlin as a bachelor, and after completing his academy term was appointed reviser. He soon took an additional post as assistant banner commander. After five promotions he rose to Grand Secretariat academician. In year 58, Nanyang garrison troops in Henan, nursing a grievance, besieged and humiliated Prefect Shen Yuan. Qizhuo was ordered to investigate with Minister Zhang Tingshu, execute the ringleaders, and mete out differing punishments to Regional Commander Gao Cheng and others.

五十九年，授廣西巡撫。鄧橫苗叛，其倬親撫之降。六十一年，世宗即位，擢雲貴總督。疏言：「士司承襲，向有陋規，已嚴行禁革。諮部文冊，如無大舛錯，請免駁換。」得旨嘉獎。青海台吉羅卜藏丹津叛侵西藏，其倬以中甸為入藏要道，檄諸將劉宗魁、劉國侯等嚴為備。並遵上指，令提督郝玉麟將二千人自中甸進駐察木多，副將孫宏本將五百人赴中甸為聲援。雍正二年，師定青海，中甸喇嘛、番酋等率三千五百戶納土請降。上嘉其倬能，予世職拜他喇布勒哈番。其倬規畫安撫中甸，疏「請設同知以下官：番酋營官外，又有神翁、列賓諸號，聽堪布、喇嘛指揮，請改授守備、千把總劄付，聽將吏統轄。僧寺喇嘛以三百為限，收兵械入官。沿江數百里及山谷曠土，招民開墾。舊行滇茶，視打箭爐例，設引收課」。魯魁山者，自國初為盜藪，夷、倮雜處，推楊、方、普、李四姓為渠。有方景明者，挾倮、夷掠元江。其倬遣兵擊破之，擒景明，殲倮、夷數百，疏請於其地駐兵，號普威營。參將駐普洱，守備駐威遠、茶山，改威遠歸流，設同知以下官。土官刁光煥及其孥移置會城，而以新開二鹽井充新設兵餉。設義塾，教夷人子弟。元江府學額外增額二名，待其應試。勸夷人墾田，旱田十年後、水田六年後昇科。貴州仲家苗酋阿近及其弟阿臥為亂，其倬使撫定傍近諸苗寨。阿近等失援，遣兵擒戮之，並按治定番、廣順諸苗酋不順命者。疏請改設定廣協，分置營汛，防定番、廣順及西孟、青藤、斷杉樹、長寨、遮貢、羊城諸地。又移都勻守備駐獨山，改湖廣五開衛為縣，移隸黎平。並言貴州地連川、楚，奸人掠販貧家子女為民害，請飭地方官捕治，歲計人數為課最。貴州民間陋俗，被人劫殺，力不能報，則掠質他家人畜，令轉為報仇；不應則索贖，謂之「拏白放黑」。請加等治罪。土司貧困，田賦令屬苗代納，請清察，責執業者完賦。土司下設權目人等，請令報有司，有罪並懲。詔悉如所請。

In year 59 he was appointed governor of Guangxi. When the Dengheng Miao rose in revolt, Qizhuo went in person to pacify them and brought about their surrender. In year 61, upon the Yongzheng Emperor's accession, he was promoted to governor-general of Yunnan and Guizhou. In a memorial he stated: "In the succession of native chieftains there have long been corrupt practices, which have already been strictly forbidden and abolished. When the documents sent to the ministry are consulted, if there are no serious errors, I request that they be exempted from rejection and replacement." The throne responded with commendation. When the Qinghai taiji Lobzang Danjin rebelled and invaded Tibet, Qizhuo judged Zhongdian the key route into Tibet and ordered Generals Liu Zongkui, Liu Guohou, and others to prepare defenses in earnest. Following the emperor's instructions, he ordered Provincial Commander Hao Yulin to march two thousand men from Zhongdian to garrison Chamdo, and Vice Commander Sun Hongben to bring five hundred men to Zhongdian as support. In Yongzheng 2, after the army pacified Qinghai, Zhongdian lamas and tribal chiefs led thirty-five hundred households in surrendering their lands. The emperor praised Qizhuo's ability and granted him a hereditary rank as Baitalabuleha fan. Qizhuo planned the pacification of Zhongdian and memorialized: "I request the appointment of officials down to the rank of subprefect; besides the tribal chiefs' camp officers there are also titles such as shenweng and liebin, who take orders from khenpos and lamas—I request that they be reappointed with commissions as garrison commanders, battalion officers, and platoon leaders, subject to the command of military officers. Monks and lamas in temples were limited to three hundred, and weapons were confiscated for the government. For several hundred li along the river and on vacant land in the valleys, settlers were recruited to open cultivation. Yunnan tea was formerly traded; following the precedent of Dajianlu, transit permits were established to collect duties." Lukui Mountain had been a bandit stronghold since the dynasty's founding, with Yi and Luo peoples intermingled; the Yang, Fang, Pu, and Li clans were its recognized leaders. One Fang Jingming led Luo and Yi raiders against Yuanjiang. Qizhuo sent troops to rout them, captured Jingming, and killed several hundred Luo and Yi. He memorialized for a garrison there, named the Puwei Camp. A brigade commander was posted at Pu'er and garrison commanders at Weiyuan and Chashan; Weiyuan was brought under direct rule and officials were appointed down to subprefect. Native official Diao Guanghuan and his family were relocated to the provincial capital, and two newly opened salt wells were assigned to fund the new garrison. He set up charity schools to educate tribal youths. Two extra examination places were added at the Yuanjiang prefectural school for them to compete. He urged tribal people to open fields, with dry land taxed after ten years and paddy after six. In Guizhou the Zhongjia Miao chiefs Ajin and his brother Awo rose in revolt; Qizhuo sent agents to pacify neighboring Miao villages. Cut off from support, Ajin and his followers were captured and executed; Qizhuo also punished disobedient Miao chiefs in Dingfan, Guangshun, and other districts. He memorialized to reorganize the Dingguang Brigade and post garrisons to guard Dingfan, Guangshun, Ximeng, Qingteng, Duanshan shu, Changzhai, Zhegong, Yangcheng, and other sites. He moved the Duyun garrison commander to Dushan, converted the Huguang Wukai Guard into a county, and placed it under Liping. He also reported that Guizhou bordered Sichuan and Huguang, where criminals kidnapped and sold poor people's children. He asked that local officials be ordered to arrest them and that annual rescue counts be used in merit evaluations. A vicious Guizhou custom held that when someone was robbed and killed and the family lacked strength to retaliate, they would seize hostages from another household—people or livestock—and force them to take revenge; if they refused, ransom was demanded—this was called "seizing the white and releasing the black." He asked that penalties be increased by one degree. Impoverished native chieftains often shifted land tax onto subordinate Miao; he asked for an investigation requiring those who actually farmed the land to pay. Deputies such as quanmu served under native chieftains; he asked that they be required to register with civil authorities and be punished when they committed crimes. An edict approved all his requests.

三年，進兵部尚書銜，加太子少傅，調福建浙江總督。瀕行，疏言：「鄧川、嵩明、騰越、太和、浪穹諸州縣土軍丁銀，起明嘉靖、萬曆間，遣民防夷，立太和、鳳梧二所，丁徵賦一兩。是於本貫已完民賦，請豁除軍糧。」詔從之。四年，疏言：「福、興、漳、泉、汀五府地狹人稠，無田可耕，民且去而為盜。出海貿易，富者為船主、為商人，貧者為頭舵、為水手，一舟養百人，且得餘利歸贍家屬。曩者設禁例，如慮盜米出洋，則外洋皆產米地；如慮漏消息，今廣東估舟許出外國，何獨嚴於福建？如慮私販船料，中國船小，外國得之不足資其用。臣愚請弛禁便。」下怡親王會同大學士九卿議行。五年，台灣水連社番為亂，其倬遣兵討之，擒其渠骨宗等，諸社悉降。尋以李衛為浙江總督，命其倬專督福建。迭疏請整飭鹽政，改造水師戰船，釐定營汛，並下部議行。入覲，加太子太保。

In year 3 he was given Minister of War rank, named Junior Tutor to the Heir Apparent, and transferred to governor-general of Fujian and Zhejiang. On the eve of departure he memorialized: "The native militia service silver of the prefectures and counties of Dengchuan, Songming, Tengyue, Taihe, and Langqiong dates from the Jiajing and Wanli reigns of the Ming, when civilians were dispatched to guard against tribes; the two posts of Taihe and Fengwu were established, and each man was levied one tael. This is in addition to the regular civilian tax already paid in their home districts; I request exemption from the military grain levy." The throne approved. In the fourth year he memorialized: "The five prefectures of Fu, Xing, Zhang, Quan, and Ting are narrow in land and dense in population; with no fields to till, the people are turning to banditry. Overseas trade employs the wealthy as ship owners and merchants, the poor as helmsmen and sailors; one vessel supports a hundred men and yields surplus profit to support their families. Former prohibitions were imposed: if one feared grain being smuggled overseas, foreign seas are all rice-producing regions; if one feared intelligence leaks, Guangdong merchant vessels are now permitted to sail abroad—why should Fujian alone be treated more strictly? if one feared illicit sale of ship timber, Chinese vessels are small and would be of little use if obtained by foreigners. Your servant humbly requests that the prohibitions be relaxed for convenience." The memorial was referred to Prince Yi, the Grand Secretaries, and the Nine Ministers for deliberation. In year 5 the Taiwan Shuilian she tribes rebelled; Qizhuo sent troops to suppress them, captured ringleader Guzong and others, and all the communities surrendered. Soon Li Wei became governor of Zhejiang, and Qizhuo was ordered to oversee Fujian alone. In repeated memorials he called for salt reform, rebuilding of naval warships, and reorganization of garrison posts; these were sent to the ministries for action. On presenting himself at court he was named Grand Tutor to the Heir Apparent.

上以其倬通堪輿術，命詣福陵相度。其倬還奏：「陵前左畔水法，因溢流更故道，弓抱之勢微覺外張。當順導河流，方為盡善。」下大學士等，如所議修濬。八年，調江南江西總督。復召至京師，令從怡親王勘定太平峪萬年吉地，進世職三等阿思哈尼哈番。命署雲貴廣西總督。十一年，普洱屬思茅土把總刁國興糾苦蔥蠻及元江夷為亂，攻普洱，通關大寨夷复附苦蔥蠻，渡阿墨河攻他郎。其倬檄提督蔡成貴等分道捕治，擒其酋並所屬五百餘，亂乃定。是歲春，命其倬回兩江總督。秋，命以總督銜領江蘇巡撫。十二年，坐徇知縣趙昆珵償海塘工款，部議降調，即授江蘇巡撫。

Knowing Qizhuo was skilled in geomancy, the emperor ordered him to survey the Fuling Mausoleum. Qizhuo returned and reported: "The water formation on the left before the mausoleum, because overflow changed the old course, makes the embracing-bow configuration seem slightly outward-flaring. The river should be guided smoothly—only then will it be fully correct." The Grand Secretaries and others carried out dredging and repairs as he proposed. In year 8 he was transferred to governor-general of Jiangnan and Jiangxi. He was recalled to the capital to join Prince Yi in selecting the auspicious burial site at Wannian in Taiping Valley, and his hereditary rank was advanced to third-class Asihaniha fan. He was appointed acting governor-general of Yunnan, Guizhou, and Guangxi. In year 11 the Simao native company commander Diao Guoxing of Pu'er stirred up the Kuchong tribes and Yuanjiang Yi in revolt, attacked Pu'er, and the Yi of Tongguan Dazhai again sided with the Kuchong, crossed the Amo River, and attacked Talang. Qizhuo ordered Provincial Commander Cai Chenggui and others to pursue them on separate routes, captured the chiefs and more than five hundred followers, and the rebellion was quelled. That spring he was ordered back to his post as governor-general of the Two Jiangs. In autumn he was ordered to serve as governor of Jiangsu while retaining governor-general rank. In year 12 he was censured for favoring Magistrate Zhao Kunyu over repayment of sea-dike funds; though the ministry recommended demotion, he was immediately appointed governor of Jiangsu.

乾隆元年，召還京師，复授湖北巡撫，調湖南。討平城步、綏寧二縣瑤亂。三年，擢工部尚書，調戶部。其倬詣京師，過寶應，疾作，卒於舟次，賜祭葬，諡文良。

In Qianlong 1 he was recalled to the capital, reappointed governor of Hubei, and transferred to Hunan. He suppressed Yao rebellions in Chengbu and Suining counties. In year 3 he was promoted to Minister of Works and transferred to the Ministry of Revenue. While traveling to the capital, Qizhuo fell ill at Baoying and died aboard his boat; the court granted funeral rites and the posthumous name Wenliang.

金鉷，字震方，漢軍鑲白旗人，世居登州。父延祚，從世祖入關，官至工部侍郎。鉷初自監生授江西廣昌知縣，洊升山西太原知府。雍正五年，擢廣西按察使，尋遷布政使。六年，就擢巡撫。討平西隆州八達寨叛苗。以汛兵少，粵土蕪不治，奏開屯田，與民牛，招之耕，教以技勇。每名給水田十畝，一畝為公田；旱田二十畝，二畝為公田：存公田租於社倉。行之數年，闢田數万畝，倉廩亦實。又奏請召商開桂林屬諸礦，及採梧州金砂供鼓鑄。乾隆元年，提督霍升劾鉷言躁氣浮，失封疆大臣之體，高宗召入京，授刑部侍郎。鉷瀕行，裝不治，以印券囑蒼梧道黃岳牧借銅務充公銀千二百，巡撫楊超曾論劾，奪官，交刑部嚴訊。上以非正項錢糧，鉷以印券支借，岳牧以印冊申解，非侵蝕比，命免罪，毋追所借銀。五年，授河南布政使，而鉷已卒。

Jin Hong, courtesy name Zhenfang, belonged to the Han military Bordered White Banner; his family had long lived in Dengzhou. His father Yanzuo followed the Shizu Emperor through the pass and rose to Vice Minister of Works. Hong first entered service as magistrate of Guangchang, Jiangxi, from the student registry, and was promoted in due course to prefect of Taiyuan, Shanxi. In Yongzheng 5 he was promoted to Guangxi provincial judge and soon became provincial treasurer. In year 6 he was promoted directly to governor. He suppressed the rebellious Miao of Badazhai stockade in Xilong Prefecture. With too few garrison troops and much Guangdong land lying fallow, he memorialized to open military colonies, provide oxen, recruit farmers, and train them in arms. Each colonist received ten mu of paddy, one mu reserved as public land; or twenty mu of dry land, two mu reserved as public land, with public-field rent stored in the community granary. After several years tens of thousands of mu had been opened and the granaries were full. He also asked that merchants be invited to open mines under Guilin and to gather Wuzhou gold sand for minting. In Qianlong 1 Provincial Commander Huo Sheng impeached Hong for rash, arrogant conduct unbecoming a frontier official; the Gaozong Emperor summoned him to the capital as Vice Minister of Justice. Before leaving office Hong had not settled his accounts and, by sealed warrant, asked Cangwu Circuit Intendant Huang Yuemu to borrow 1,200 taels from copper-service funds for public use. Governor Yang Chao impeached him, stripped his rank, and sent him to the Ministry of Justice for interrogation. The emperor ruled that this was not regular revenue: Hong had borrowed on sealed warrant and Yuemu had reported it properly—not embezzlement—and ordered him pardoned with no recovery of the silver. In year 5 he was appointed Henan provincial treasurer, but Hong had already died.

鉷才通敏。自太原入覲，方議耗羨歸公，鉷奏曰：「財在上不如在下。州縣親民官，寧使留其有餘，養廉不能胥足，一遇公事，動致侜張。上意豈不曰凡是官辦，皆許開支正供？但從司院按覈以至戶部，層層隔閡，報銷甚難，從此州縣恐多苟且之政。上意在必行，臣請養廉外多增公費，或存縣，或存司，庶於事有濟。」上乃敕直省覈定公費。及為廣西布政使，奏請州縣分衝、繁、疲、難四項，許督撫量才奏補，上嘉納之。州縣缺分四項自此始。

Hong was talented and quick-witted. On audience from Taiyuan, when the policy of returning surcharge silver to the public treasury was under discussion, Hong memorialized: "Wealth is better kept below than above. Prefectural and county magistrates are officials close to the people; it is better to let them retain a surplus. Integrity allowances cannot fully meet their needs; when public business arises, they are driven to irregular expedients. Does not Your Majesty's intent mean that whatever officials handle may be charged to regular revenue? But from the provincial administration's audit down to the Ministry of Revenue, barriers at every level make reimbursement very difficult; from this the prefectures and counties will likely resort to many perfunctory expedients. Your Majesty's intent must be carried out; your servant requests that beyond integrity allowances additional public-expense funds be added, kept either at the county or at the prefecture, so that affairs may be managed effectively." The emperor then ordered every province to set public-expense allocations. As Guangxi provincial treasurer he proposed classifying prefectures and counties into four categories—critical, busy, worn, and difficult—and letting governors recommend appointments by talent; the emperor approved. The fourfold classification of prefectural and county posts dates from this proposal.

楊宗仁，字天爵，漢軍正白旗人。監生。康熙三十五年，授湖廣慈利知縣。苗酋虐，其眾走縣境，苗酋求之，不與。上官檄與之，宗仁持不可，乃止。調藍山。八排苗為亂，巡撫趙申喬遣兵討之，將不恤兵，兵將為變，宗仁單騎撫定之。舉卓異，四遷甘肅西寧道。五十三年，授浙江按察使，丁父憂歸。五十七年，起廣西按察使，署巡撫。旋擢廣東巡撫。聖祖以各直省錢糧多虧空，諭督撫清理。宗仁疏言：「廣東虧空現正嚴飭追完。至防杜將來，惟有督撫、司道、府廳交相砥礪，勿藉事勒索。州縣正雜錢糧，當責知府不時察覈，毋許虧缺。倘敢徇縱，本官治罪，上司從重議處，庶上下皆知儆惕。地方有不得已事，當以督撫等所得公項抵補。不敷，則濟以公捐，必不使課帑虛懸。」下部議，如所請。

Yang Zongren, courtesy name Tianjue, belonged to the Han military Plain White Banner. He entered service from the Imperial Academy student registry. In Kangxi 35 he was appointed magistrate of Cili in Huguang. A Miao chieftain oppressed his people; they fled into the county, and when the chieftain demanded their return, Zongren refused. Superiors ordered him to hand them over, but Zongren insisted he could not, and the matter was dropped. He was transferred to Lanshan. When the Bapai Miao rebelled, Governor Zhao Shenqiao sent troops to suppress them, but the generals neglected the men and a mutiny nearly broke out; Zongren rode out alone and pacified them. Rated outstanding in merit review, he was promoted four times to Gansu Xining Circuit intendant. In year 53 he was appointed Zhejiang provincial judge and returned home to mourn his father. In year 57 he was recalled as Guangxi provincial judge and served as acting governor. He was soon promoted to governor of Guangdong. Because revenue deficits were widespread across the provinces, the Kangxi Emperor ordered governors to clear them up. Zongren memorialized: "Guangdong's deficits are now being strictly pursued to completion. To guard against the future, governors, provincial officials, and prefectural staffs must encourage one another and must not use any pretext to extort. Regular and miscellaneous revenues of prefectures and counties should be made the prefect's responsibility to inspect from time to time, with no deficits permitted. If any dare to show favoritism, the official himself shall be punished and his superiors dealt with more severely, so that all levels may know to be vigilant. When localities have unavoidable expenses, they should be covered from public funds received by governors and others. If insufficient, public contributions should supplement them, and revenue must never be left in deficit." The ministries deliberated and approved as he requested.

六十一年，世宗即位，授湖廣總督。雍正元年，丁母憂，命在任守制。宗仁疏停本身封廕，為父母求諭祭，許之，仍給封廕。尋賜孔雀翎。疏言：「湖廣舊習，文武大吏收受所屬規禮，致州縣橫徵私派，將弁虛兵冒餉，兵民挾比逞私，不敢過問。臣今概行禁革，庶驕兵玩吏錮習潛消。各官貪得鹽規，鹽價增長，民間嗟怨，總督鹽規漸次加至四萬。臣亦行禁革，令商平價以惠窮民。」上深嘉之。又疏言：「官有俸，役有工，朝制也。湖廣州縣以上，俸工報捐已十餘年，官役枵腹，安能禁其不擾民？請自雍正元年起，俸工如額編支。從前有公事，令州縣分捐，實皆轉派於民。令州縣於加一耗羨內，節省二分，交籓庫充用，此外絲毫不得派捐。」上諭曰：「所言皆是。勉之！」尋薦廣東南海知縣宋瑋擢湖南寶慶知府，廣州左衛守備范宗堯改湖北漢陽知縣，上允之，命後勿踵行。

In year 61, upon the Yongzheng Emperor's accession, he was appointed governor-general of Huguang. In Yongzheng 1 he mourned his mother and was ordered to observe mourning while remaining in office. Zongren asked to suspend his own ennoblement to obtain imperial sacrifices for his parents; the request was granted and the ennoblement still conferred. He was soon granted a peacock feather. He memorialized: "In Huguang the old custom was for civil and military grandees to accept customary gifts from subordinates, leading prefectures and counties to levy arbitrarily and impose private surcharges, officers to pad rolls and draw false pay, and soldiers and civilians to band together for private ends—none dared intervene. Your servant now forbids and abolishes all of this entirely, so that the entrenched habits of arrogant troops and negligent officials may quietly disappear. Officials greedily took salt surcharges, salt prices rose, and the people groaned in resentment; the governor-general's salt surcharge had gradually reached forty thousand. Your servant has also forbidden and abolished this, ordering merchants to sell at fair prices to benefit the poor." The emperor greatly commended him. He also memorialized: "Officials have salaries and clerks have wages—this is the court's system. In Huguang, for more than ten years prefectures and counties and above have reported salaries and wages as donations; officials and clerks go hungry—how can they be forbidden to harass the people? I request that from the first year of Yongzheng salaries and wages be budgeted at full amounts. Formerly when there was public business, prefectures and counties were ordered to share donations—in fact all was shifted onto the people. Order prefectures and counties to save two fen from each tael of the ten-percent surcharge and deliver it to the provincial treasury for use; beyond this not a fraction may be levied as donation." The emperor instructed: "All you say is correct. Press on!" He soon recommended Nanhai Magistrate Song Wei for promotion to Baqing prefect in Hunan and Guangzhou Left Guard Commander Fan Zongyao for transfer to Hanyang magistrate in Hubei; the emperor approved but ordered that such direct recommendations not be repeated.

宗仁病作，請以子榆林道文乾自侍，上加文乾按察使銜，馳驛速往，並遣御醫診視。宗仁力疾視事，飭諸州縣編保甲，立社倉，罷荊州關私設口岸百五十處。三年，加太子少傅。尋卒，贈少保，予拜他喇布勒哈番世職，賜祭葬，諡清端。

When Zongren fell ill he asked that his son Yulin Circuit Intendant Wenqian attend him; the emperor gave Wenqian provincial judge rank, ordered him to travel post-haste, and sent an imperial physician. Despite illness Zongren forced himself to work, ordered prefectures and counties to organize baojia, established community granaries, and abolished 150 private checkpoints at Jingzhou Pass. In year 3 he was named Junior Tutor to the Heir Apparent. He soon died and was posthumously named Junior Guardian, granted a hereditary Baitalabuleha fan rank, given funeral rites, and posthumously named Qingduan.

宗仁砥節矢公，始終一節，上為製像贊，謂「廉潔如冰，耿介如石」。嘗言：「士當審其所當為，嚴其所不可為。」其馭屬吏寬平忠厚，務安上全下，使各稱其職而止。

Zongren honed his integrity and devoted himself to public duty with one consistent principle throughout; the emperor composed an inscription for his portrait, saying he was "pure as ice in integrity, upright as stone in character." He once said: "A scholar should discern what he ought to do and be strict about what he must not do." In governing subordinates he was lenient and sincere, striving to secure the court above and the people below and to let each fulfill his duties and no more.

文乾，字元統。以監生效力永定河工。康熙五十三年，授山東曹州知州，遷東昌知府。舉卓異，遷陝西榆林道。雍正元年，加按察使銜，命侍宗仁任所。三年，宗仁病有間，入謝。上問湖廣四鎮營製及設鎮始末，文乾具以對，上嘉其詳審，擢河南布政使。未幾，遷廣東巡撫，入謝，賜孔雀翎、冠服、鞍馬。宗仁卒，命在任守制。

Wenqian, courtesy name Yuantong. As an Imperial Academy student he served on the Yongding River works. In Kangxi 53 he was appointed prefect of Caozhou, Shandong, and later transferred to Dongchang prefect. Rated outstanding, he was transferred to Shaanxi Yulin Circuit intendant. In Yongzheng 1 he was given provincial judge rank and ordered to attend Zongren at his post. In year 3, when Zongren's illness eased, he went to court to give thanks. The emperor asked about Huguang's four garrison towns; Wenqian answered in detail, and the emperor commended his thoroughness and promoted him to Henan provincial treasurer. Soon he was transferred to governor of Guangdong; on presenting himself at court he received a peacock feather, court dress, and saddle horse. When Zongren died he was ordered to observe mourning while remaining in office.

廣東省城多盜，文乾令編保甲，以滿洲兵與民連居，會將軍編察，疏聞，上嘉之。廣東歲歉米貴，文乾令吏詣廣西買穀平糶。滿洲兵閻尚義等群聚掠穀，文乾令捕治。將軍李枚庇兵，文乾請遣大臣按治。上命侍郎塞楞額、阿克敦往勘，枚及尚義等論罪如律。文乾蒞政精勤，多所釐正。疏言：「廣東民納糧多用老戶，臣令改立的名，杜詭寄、飛灑諸弊，民以為便。丁銀隨糧辦者十四五，餘令布政使確核，盡歸地糧。」得旨嘉獎。又疏言：「廣東地狹人眾，現存倉穀一百六十餘萬石，為民食久遠計，應加貯二百餘萬石，擇地建倉貯穀。」下廷議，令於海陽、潮陽、程鄉、饒平、海豐、瓊山加貯穀三十四萬石，從之。又疏言：「廣東公使銀歲六七萬，取諸火耗。臣為裁省，歲計需四萬餘。擬以民間置產推糧易戶例納公費及屯糧陋規兩項充用。州縣火耗，每兩加一，實計一錢三四分有奇，十之五六留充州縣養廉，十之七八為督撫以下各官養廉。」上諭之曰：「但務得中為是。民不可令驕慢，屬吏亦不可令窘乏。天下事惟貴平，當徹始終籌畫，慎毋輕舉。」

Guangdong's capital had many thieves; Wenqian organized baojia, had Manchu soldiers live among civilians, and jointly with the general conducted inspections; the emperor commended his memorial. When Guangdong suffered a poor harvest and rice prices soared, Wenqian sent clerks to Guangxi to buy grain and sell it at fair prices. Manchu soldiers led by Yan Shangyi gathered in bands to plunder grain; Wenqian ordered their arrest. General Li Mei shielded the soldiers; Wenqian asked that a high minister be sent to investigate. The emperor sent Vice Ministers Sailenge and Akedun to investigate; Li Mei, Yan Shangyi, and others were sentenced according to law. Wenqian administered with diligence and corrected many abuses. He memorialized: "Guangdong people mostly paid grain tax through old household registers; your servant ordered registration under actual names, stopping abuses such as false registration and scattered assessment, to the people's convenience. Only fourteen or fifteen in a hundred of poll-tax silver was collected with grain tax; the remainder I order the provincial treasurer to verify strictly and merge entirely into land tax." The throne commended him. He also memorialized: "Guangdong is narrow in land and dense in population; granaries now hold more than 1.6 million shi; for the people's long-term food supply an additional 2 million-plus shi should be stored, with sites chosen to build granaries." Court deliberation ordered an additional 340,000 shi stored in Haiyang, Chaoyang, Chengxiang, Raoping, Haifeng, and Qiongshan, and this was approved. He also memorialized: "Guangdong's public-service silver amounts to sixty or seventy thousand a year, drawn from meltage. Your servant has cut expenses; the annual need is a little over forty thousand. It is proposed to cover this from two sources: the customary public fee when common people register property and shift tax liability, and corrupt practices in garrison grain. Prefectural and county meltage, nominally ten percent per tael, actually amounts to one mace and three or four fen odd; five or six tenths remain for prefectural and county integrity allowances, seven or eight tenths for integrity allowances of governors and officials below them." The emperor instructed him: "Only seek the mean—that is right. The people must not be allowed to grow arrogant, but subordinates must not be left in want either. In all affairs under heaven balance is prized; plan thoroughly from start to finish and do not act rashly." (end of imperial instruction)

五年，乞假葬父。福建巡撫常賚劾文乾徵粵海關稅，設專行六，得銀二十餘萬；又疏劾文乾匿粵海關羨餘銀五萬餘，縱綢緞出洋，得銀萬餘，番銀加一扣收，得銀四萬餘，選洋船奇巧之物入署，令專行代償，又銀二萬餘，又以銀交鹽商營運。上嚴諭文乾，令愧悔痛改。尋以福建倉庫虧空，命文乾與浙江觀風整俗使許容等往按，而移常賚署廣東巡撫。文乾令分路察核官虧民欠，分別追納，不敷，責前巡撫毛文銓償補。上獎文乾秉公無瞻顧。文乾疏言：「福建府、州、縣各官都計八十員，前後劾罷五十餘員。新補各官，守倉庫有餘，理繁劇不足。請選熟諳民事者，詣福建補繁要州縣。」上為敕各督撫各選謹慎敏練之吏諮送福建。

In year 5 he requested leave to bury his father. Fujian Governor Chang Gai impeached Wenqian for collecting Guangdong maritime customs duties through six exclusive agents and obtaining more than two hundred thousand taels; he also accused Wenqian of concealing more than fifty thousand taels of customs surplus, allowing silk to be exported for over ten thousand taels, taking an extra ten percent on foreign silver for over forty thousand, having agents pay for curios from foreign ships for another twenty thousand-plus, and lending silver to salt merchants for profit. The emperor sternly admonished Wenqian to repent and reform thoroughly. Soon, because Fujian's granaries were in deficit, Wenqian was ordered to investigate with Zhejiang Commissioner Xu Rong and others, while Chang Gai was transferred to act as Guangdong governor. Wenqian ordered separate investigations into official deficits and popular arrears, recovery by category, and where funds fell short held former Governor Mao Wenquan responsible to make up the difference. The emperor praised Wenqian for acting impartially without favoritism. Wenqian memorialized: "Fujian's prefectural and county officials number eighty in all; more than fifty have been impeached and removed before and after. The newly appointed officials are adequate for guarding granaries but insufficient for handling busy and difficult affairs. I request that those well versed in civil affairs be selected and sent to Fujian to fill busy and important prefectures and counties." The emperor ordered every governor to select careful, capable officials and recommend them to Fujian.

文乾強幹善折獄。初知曹州，有婦告夫為人殺者。文乾視其屨白，問曰：「若夫死，若預知之乎？」曰：「今旦乃知之。」曰：「然則汝何辦白屨之夙也？」婦乃服以姦殺夫。五人者同宿，其一失金，訟其四，文乾令坐於庭，視久之，曰：「吾已得盜金者，非盜聽去。」一人欲起，執之，果盜金者。曹民有偽稱硃六太子者，挾妖術惑愚民，朝命侍郎勒什布、湯右曾按治。檄至，文乾秘之，密捕得送京師。在東昌，請運糧饋軍出西寧，先期至，以是受知於世宗。

Wenqian was forceful and skilled at deciding cases. When he first served as Caozhou prefect, a woman reported that her husband had been murdered. Wenqian noticed her shoes were white and asked: "If your husband died, did you know beforehand?" She said: "I only learned of it this morning." He said: "Then why did you prepare white shoes so long ago?" The woman then confessed to adultery and murdering her husband. Five men lodged together; one lost gold and sued the other four. Wenqian had them sit in the court, watched a long while, and said: "I have found the thief of the gold; those who did not steal may leave." One man started to rise; Wenqian seized him, and he proved to be the thief. A Caozhou man falsely called himself the Vermilion Sixth Prince and used sorcery to delude the people; the court ordered Vice Ministers Leshibu and Tang Youzeng to investigate. When the order arrived, Wenqian kept it secret, secretly captured the impostor, and sent him to the capital. At Dongchang he volunteered to transport grain to supply the army in Xining and arrived ahead of schedule, thereby winning the Yongzheng Emperor's notice.

然頗與同官多齟《齒吾》。赴廣東，途中疏劾布政使硃絳倚總督孔毓珣有連，虧帑三萬餘。毓珣疏先入，上命文乾毋聽屬吏離間。既上官，疏言盜案塵積，請概為速結。上諭曰：「孔毓珣緝捕盜賊甚盡力。彼擒之，汝縱之，恐汝不能當此論。縱虎歸山，豈為仁政？宜加意斟酌。」在福建，毓珣入覲，上命侍郎阿克敦署兩廣總督。文乾疏言盜劫龍門營軍器，阿克敦令從寬結案；將軍標兵窩盜，將軍石禮哈袒兵，謂告者誣良。既，上命常賚還福建，而以阿克敦署廣東巡撫。六年，文乾還廣東，劾阿克敦勒索暹羅商船規禮，布政使官達縱幕客納賄，皆奪官。命文乾與毓珣會鞫，未及訊，文乾卒，賜祭葬。子應琚，自有傳。

Yet he had much friction with colleagues. On his way to Guangdong he impeached Provincial Treasurer Zhu Jiang, who relied on ties to Governor-General Kong Yuxun and had embezzled more than thirty thousand taels. Kong Yuxun's memorial arrived first; the emperor ordered Wenqian not to heed subordinates' attempts to sow division. After taking office he reported that theft cases had piled up and asked that they all be concluded quickly. The emperor instructed: "Kong Yuxun has exerted himself greatly in arresting bandits. He captures them and you release them—I fear you cannot bear this criticism. To release a tiger back to the mountains—is that benevolent government? You should deliberate with extra care." In Fujian, when Kong Yuxun went to court, the emperor ordered Vice Minister Akedun to serve as acting governor-general of the Two Guangs. Wenqian reported that bandits had robbed military equipment from Longmen Camp and that Akedun had ordered the case closed leniently; The general's banner troops were harboring thieves; General Shi Liha shielded his men and claimed the accuser had falsely implicated the innocent. Shortly afterward, the emperor ordered Chang Gui back to Fujian and made Akedun acting governor of Guangdong. In the sixth year, Wenqian returned to Guangdong and impeached Akedun for extorting gifts from Siamese merchant ships and Provincial Treasurer Guan Da for letting his staff accept bribes; all were dismissed. The emperor ordered Wenqian and Kong Yuxun to investigate jointly, but Wenqian died before the inquiry could begin and was granted funeral rites and burial honors. His son Yingju has his own biography.

孔毓珣，字東美，山東曲阜人，孔子六十六世孫。父恩洪，福建按察使。康熙二十三年，上幸曲阜釋奠，毓珣以諸生陪祀，賜恩貢生。二十九年，授湖廣武昌通判。舉卓異，遷江南徐州知州。徐州民敝於丁賦，毓珣在官七年，拊循多惠政。三十九年，河道總督張鵬翮以毓珣熟於河務，薦授邳睢同知。四十三年，遷山西平陽知府，未上，改雲南順寧。四十六年，調開化，以母憂去官。五十年，服終，除四川龍安。毓珣歷守邊郡，皆因俗為治，弊去其太甚，邊民安之。再舉卓異。五十五年，遷湖廣上荊南道。築堤捍江，民號曰孔公堤。

Kong Yuxun, styled Dongmei, was a native of Qufu in Shandong and a sixty-sixth-generation descendant of Confucius. His father Enhong had served as provincial surveillance commissioner of Fujian. In Kangxi 23, when the emperor visited Qufu for the sacrificial rites, Yuxun participated as a student and was granted the status of enriched gongshi. In the twenty-ninth year he was appointed sub-prefect of Wuchang in Huguang. After being rated outstanding, he was transferred to serve as prefect of Xuzhou in Jiangnan. The people of Xuzhou were worn down by poll taxes and corvée; Yuxun served seven years there, governing with many compassionate measures. In the thirty-ninth year, River Works Director-General Zhang Penghe recommended Yuxun for his expertise in river management, and he was appointed sub-prefect of Pi and Sui. In the forty-third year he was transferred to prefect of Pingyang in Shanxi, but before he could take up the post he was reassigned to Shunning in Yunnan. In the forty-sixth year he was transferred to Kaihua but resigned when his mother died. In the fiftieth year, after mourning ended, he was appointed to Long'an in Sichuan. Through successive frontier posts, Yuxun governed according to local custom, removing the worst abuses without going too far, and the border people lived in peace. He was again rated outstanding. In the fifty-fifth year he was transferred to Upper Jingnan Circuit in Huguang. He built dikes to hold back the river, and the people called them Prefect Kong's Dike.

五十六年，遷廣西按察使。廣西地瘠民悍，瑤、僮為民害。靈川僮酋廖三屢出焚掠，毓珣白巡撫陳元龍，遣兵捕得置諸法，諸苗讋服。五十七年，授四川布政使。西藏方用兵，毓珣轉餉出察木多，不以勞民。重築灌江口堰，四川民尤德之。六十一年，擢廣西巡撫。雍正元年，加授總督。廣西提鎮標空糧，毓珣飭募補。疏言：「各官俸不足自贍，請於定例外量加親丁名糧。」上命酌中為之。廣西諸州縣舊有常平倉，毓珣議：「春耕借於民，秋收還倉，年豐加息，歉免息，荒緩至次年還本。日久穀多，分貯四鄉，建社倉，擇里中信實者為司出入。」又言：「地多盜，瑤、僮雜處，保甲不能遍立。諸鄉多有團練，令選誠幹者充鄉勇，得盜者賞，怠惰者罰。」又言：「廣西邊遠，鹽商多滯運，民憂淡食。請發籓庫銀六萬，官為運銷。行有贏餘，本還籓庫，並可量減鹽價。」並從之。柳州僮莫貴鳳出掠馬平、柳城、永福諸縣，毓珣遣兵捕治，毀其寨，置貴鳳於法。來賓僮覃扶成等出掠，未傷人，毓珣令予杖荷校，滿日，充撫標兵，散其黨類。疏聞，上嘉其寬嚴兩得。

In the fifty-sixth year he became provincial surveillance commissioner of Guangxi. Guangxi was poor and its people fierce; the Yao and Zhuang plagued the common folk. The Zhuang chieftain Liao San of Lingchuan repeatedly raided and plundered; Yuxun informed Governor Chen Yuanlong, sent troops to capture him and punish him by law, and the tribes submitted in awe. In the fifty-seventh year he was appointed provincial administration commissioner of Sichuan. While Tibet was at war, Yuxun transported supplies through Qamdo without overburdening the populace. He rebuilt the weir at Guanjiangkou, earning special gratitude from the people of Sichuan. In the sixty-first year he was promoted to governor of Guangxi. In Yongzheng 1 he was additionally made governor-general. Grain rations in Guangxi's provincial and garrison banner units had empty places on the rolls; Yuxun ordered recruitment to fill the gaps. He memorialized: "Officials' salaries are insufficient for self-support; I request that household grain allowances beyond the fixed quota be added in moderate measure." The emperor ordered a moderate adjustment. Guangxi's prefectures and counties had permanent granaries; Yuxun proposed: "At spring plowing, lend grain to the people; at autumn harvest, return it to the granary. In good years add interest; in poor years waive interest; in famine years defer principal repayment until the following year. Over time grain accumulates; distribute it to storage in the four townships, build community granaries, and select trustworthy village elders to manage receipts and disbursements." He also said: "Banditry is widespread; Yao and Zhuang live intermixed, and the baojia system cannot be fully established everywhere. Many townships already have militia corps; select capable men to serve as village braves, reward those who capture bandits and punish the idle." He also said: "Guangxi is remote; salt merchants often delay delivery, and the people fear a shortage of salt. I request six hundred thousand taels from the provincial treasury to transport and sell salt under official auspices. Any surplus from operations shall return principal to the provincial treasury and can also be used to reduce salt prices moderately." All were approved. The Zhuang leader Mo Guifeng raided Maping, Liucheng, Yongfu, and other counties; Yuxun sent troops to capture him, destroyed his stockade, and executed him. The Zhuang Tan Fucheng and others from Laibin had raided but harmed no one; Yuxun had them beaten and placed in the cangue, then after their term enrolled them in the governor's banner troops and dispersed their followers. When the memorial arrived, the emperor praised his balance of leniency and severity.

二年，授兩廣總督。上諭之曰：「廣東武備廢弛，劫掠公行，舉劾官吏，百無一公，爾當盡心料理。」毓珣疏請釐定鹽政，灶丁鹽價、船戶水腳增十之一，並免埠商羨餘；設潮州運同、鹽運司經歷。大金、蕉木兩山產礦砂，東隸開建、連山，西隸賀縣、懷集。舊制，懷集汛屬潯州協，毓珣請改屬梧州協，賀縣、開建、連山並增兵設汛。廣東香山澳西洋商舶，毓珣請以二十五艘為限。皆下部議行。潮州田少米貴，民賴常平倉穀以濟。毓珣請提鎮各營貯穀借兵，散餉時買還，概免加息，上特允之。三年，加兵部尚書銜。

In the second year he was appointed governor-general of the Two Guangs. The emperor instructed him: "Guangdong's defenses are lax, robbery runs rampant, and memorials impeaching officials are rarely fair—you must exert yourself in managing affairs." Yuxun memorialized to reform salt administration, raise prices for salt workers and freight rates for boatmen by one tenth, and abolish surplus levies on port merchants; he also proposed establishing the posts of Chaozhou transport intendant and salt transport bureau registrar. Dajin and Jiaomu mountains produce ore sand; the eastern slopes lie in Kaijian and Lianshan, the western in Hexian and Huaiji. Under the old system the Huaiji garrison came under Xunzhou Command; Yuxun asked to transfer it to Wuzhou Command and add garrison troops and posts at Hexian, Kaijian, and Lianshan. For Western merchant vessels at Xiangshan Ao in Guangdong, Yuxun asked to cap their number at twenty-five. All were referred to the ministries for deliberation and implementation. Chaozhou has little farmland and expensive rice; the people depend on permanent granary grain for relief. Yuxun asked that each garrison camp store grain to lend to troops, to be repurchased when pay was issued, with all interest waived; the emperor approved this specially. In the third year he was granted the honorary rank of minister of war.

四年，毓珣請入覲，上以毓珣習河事，令詳勘黃、運諸河水勢，協同齊蘇勒酌議。毓珣疏言：「宿遷縣西，黃河與中河相近，舊有汰黃壩。運河水大，引清水刷黃，黃河水大，引黃水濟運。舊時黃水入中河不過十之一二，今河南岸沙漲，逼水北行，水流甚急。齊蘇勒議收小汰黃壩口以束水勢。臣詳勘南岸漲沙曲處，宜濬引河以避此險。仍俟齊蘇勒相度定議。」又陳江南水利，言：「吳淞、劉河、七浦、白茆諸閘，宜令管閘官役隨潮啟閉。江蘇地形四高中下，宜令力勸築區立圩。濱河諸地民佔為田廬，其無甚害者，姑從民便，餘宜嚴禁。支河小港，宜令於農隙深濬，即取土培圩。」並敕部議行。又言：「道經宿州靈壁，見溝洫不通，積雨成潦，請飭安徽巡撫疏濬。」上嘉毓珣實陳。

In the fourth year Yuxun requested an audience; recognizing his expertise in river affairs, the emperor ordered him to inspect the Yellow and Grand Canal rivers in detail and confer with Qi Sule. Yuxun memorialized: "West of Suqian County, the Yellow River and Middle River lie close; there was formerly a sluice to drain Yellow River water. When the canal water was high, clear water was drawn to scour the Yellow; when Yellow River water was high, Yellow River water was drawn to supply the canal. Formerly Yellow River water entering the Middle River was no more than one or two tenths; now sand has built up on the Henan south bank, forcing the water northward, and the current is very swift. Qi Sule proposed narrowing the sluice mouth to restrain the water's force. Your servant, having inspected in detail the sand buildup along the south bank's curves, believes a diversion channel should be dredged to avoid this danger. I await Qi Sule's on-site survey for a final decision." He also addressed Jiangnan water works, saying: "The sluices at Wusong, Liu River, Qipu, and Baimao should have their managing officials open and close them according to the tides. Jiangsu's terrain is high on four sides and low in the center; the people should be vigorously encouraged to build polder fields and dikes. Where people along the rivers have encroached to build fields and dwellings, if no serious harm is done, provisionally accommodate the people's convenience; the rest should be strictly forbidden. Branch rivers and small channels should be deeply dredged during farming slack season, using the excavated earth to heighten the dikes." All were referred to the ministries for deliberation and implementation. He also said: "Passing through Su Prefecture and Lingbi, I saw drains blocked and accumulated rain forming floods; I request that the Anhui governor be ordered to dredge and clear them." The emperor praised Yuxun for reporting candidly.

五年，還廣東，巡撫楊文乾劾署巡撫阿克敦、布政使官達，上命通政使留保等往按。毓珣失察，當下吏議，上命寬之。尋調江南河道總督。上以天然壩洩水，慮溢浸民田，命毓珣相度築堤束水歸湖。毓珣疏言：「天然南、北二壩分洩水勢，年年開放，堤口殘缺。當如上指築堤束水，請於南岸王家庵至趙家莊築新堤一道。舊堤尾距湖尚二十餘裡，請於南岸馬家圩至應家集、北岸周家圩至李艮橋，各築新堤一道，並將南北舊堤加培高廣，庶兩堤夾束湍流，無患旁溢。」上又以高家堰為蓄清敵黃關鍵，發帑百萬，命毓珣籌畫。毓珣疏言：「高家堰石堤，自武家墩至黃莊，地高工固，惟侯二門等四壩，及小黃莊至山盱古溝東壩，當一律加高。」又言：「各堤加培高廣，宜視地勢緩急、舊堤厚薄，分年修增，期三年而畢。嗣後仍按年以次加培。」又請修築宿遷鈔關前、桃源沈家莊河堤，瓜洲由閘上游濬越河一道，並建草壩束水。諸疏入，並報可。毓珣積瘁遘疾，上賜以藥餌，命其子刑部郎中傳熹偕御醫馳驛往視。未至，毓珣卒，賜祭葬，諡溫僖。

In the fifth year, on returning to Guangdong, Governor Yang Wenqian impeached acting Governor Akedun and Provincial Treasurer Guan Da; the emperor dispatched Privy Council Secretary Liu Bao and others to investigate. Yuxun was liable for failure to detect the wrongdoing and should have faced disciplinary proceedings; the emperor ordered leniency. Soon afterward he was transferred to director-general of Jiangnan river works. Concerned that the Tianran Dam's discharge would flood farmland, the emperor ordered Yuxun to survey the site and build dikes to channel the water back into the lake. Yuxun memorialized: "The Tianran south and north dams divide and discharge the water's force; they are opened every year and the embankment mouths are worn and broken. As the emperor directed, dikes should be built to constrain the water; I request building a new dike from Wangjia'an to Zhaojiazhuang on the south bank. The old dike end is still more than twenty li from the lake; I request new dikes from Majiawei to Yingjiaji on the south bank and from Zhoujiawei to Ligeng Bridge on the north bank, and that the old north and south dikes be raised and widened, so that the two dikes will constrain the turbulent flow and there will be no fear of side overflow." The emperor also saw the Gaojia Weir as crucial for storing clear water against the Yellow River, allocated a million taels, and ordered Yuxun to plan the project. Yuxun memorialized: "The stone dike at Gaojia Weir, from Wujiadun to Huangzhuang, is on high ground and solidly built; only the four sluices including Hou'ermen and the eastern sluice from Xiaohuangzhuang to the ancient trench at Shanxu need uniform raising." He also said: "In raising and widening the various dikes, urgency should depend on terrain and old dike thickness; repairs should be phased over years, to be completed in three years. Thereafter annual additions should continue in sequence." He also requested repairs to the river dike before the Suqian toll station and at Shenjiazhuang in Taoyuan, dredging a bypass channel upstream of the Guazhou sluice, and building grass weirs to channel the water. All the memorials were approved. Worn down by years of labor, Yuxun fell ill; the emperor sent medicine and ordered his son Fu Xi, a director in the Ministry of Punishments, to accompany an imperial physician post-haste to his bedside. Before they arrived Yuxun died; he was granted funeral rites and burial honors with the posthumous title Wenxi.

裴幰度，字晉武，山西曲沃人。少為諸生，工詩，能書畫。入貲為主事。康熙三十五年，授刑部主事。洊擢戶部郎中。四十九年，授雲南澂江知府，調廣南。以大計入覲，聖祖聞其能詩，命題應制，稱旨。五十五年，遷河東鹽運使，尋改兩浙。海寧築塘，巡撫徐元度檄幰度董其事。潮大至，撼塘，塘欲裂，幰度據地坐督役力護，久之乃定。幰度自是中濕，病重膇，終其身。五十九年，遷湖北按察使。六十年，遷貴州布政使。

Pei Xiandu, styled Jinwu, was a native of Quwo in Shanxi. As a young man he was a student, skilled in poetry and adept at calligraphy and painting. He purchased office and became a director. In Kangxi 35 he was appointed a director in the Ministry of Punishments. He rose repeatedly to director in the Ministry of Revenue. In the forty-ninth year he was appointed prefect of Chengjiang in Yunnan and transferred to Guangnan. At the triennial assessment he came to court; the Kangxi Emperor, hearing of his poetry, set a topic for an impromptu poem, which pleased him. In the fifty-fifth year he was transferred to salt transport commissioner of Hedong, then soon to the Two Zhe. When sea dikes were being built at Haining, Governor Xu Yuandu ordered Xiandu to supervise the work. A great tide shook the dike until it nearly broke; Xiandu sat on the ground directing the laborers and held the line until, after a long time, it held. From then on he suffered chronic dampness at the waist, severe edema afflicting him for the rest of his life. In the fifty-ninth year he was transferred to provincial surveillance commissioner of Hubei. In the sixtieth year he became provincial administration commissioner of Guizhou.

雍正元年，擢江西巡撫。九江舊設關榷稅，後徙湖口。湖口當江、湖衝，水急，商舟時覆溺。幰度疏言：「九江舊關，上有龍開河、官牌夾，下有老鶴塘、白水港，地勢寬平，泊舟安穩。離湖四十里曰大姑塘，為商舟所必經，水漲則有女兒港、張家套，皆可泊舟；水落則平湖一線，夾岸泥沙，無風濤礁石之險。請仍移關九江，而於大姑塘設口分抽。」上令會同總督查弼納料理。南昌、袁州、瑞州三府賦額，明沿陳友諒之舊，視他府偏重。順治間、減袁、瑞二府賦額，而南昌未及。幰度疏言：「常賦未易屢更，同省實難歧視。請將南昌賦額視袁、瑞二府同予核減。」下部議減南昌浮額七萬五千五百兩有奇。

In Yongzheng 1 he was promoted to governor of Jiangxi. Jiujiang once had a customs station for tax collection; it was later moved to Hukou. Hukou lies where river and lake meet; the current is fierce and merchant vessels often capsize. Xiandu memorialized: "The old Jiujiang customs station had Longkai River and Guanpai Gorge upstream and Old Crane Pond and Baishui Harbor downstream; the terrain is broad and level and mooring is secure. Forty li from the lake is Dagutang, which merchant vessels must pass; when water is high, Nü'er Harbor and Zhangjia Bay can both moor vessels; when water is low, there is only a narrow strip of flat lake; the banks are sand and mud, without the danger of wind, waves, or reefs. I request that the customs station be moved back to Jiujiang, and that a branch collection point be set up at Dagutang for fractional levy." The Emperor ordered Governor-General Zhabina to take charge of the matter jointly. The tax quotas for Nanchang, Yuanzhou, and Ruizhou had been set in the Ming along Chen Youliang's old schedule and weighed more heavily than those of other prefectures. Under Shunzhi the quotas for Yuanzhou and Ruizhou were cut, but Nanchang's had not yet been adjusted. Xiandu memorialized: "Regular land tax is not easily changed repeatedly; within one province it is hard to apply unequal treatment. I request that Nanchang's quota be reviewed and reduced on the same basis as the two prefectures Yuan and Rui." The ministry approved a reduction of Nanchang's excess quota by more than 75,500 taels of silver.

福建、廣東流民入江西，就山結棚以居，蓺靛葉、煙草，謂之「棚民」，往往出為盜。萬載溫上貴、寧州劉允公等，皆以棚民為亂，幰度捕治論如律。上令編保甲，幰度疏言：「棚民良莠淆雜，去留無定，或散居山箐，或為土民傭工墾地。臣飭屬嚴察，凡萬五千餘戶，編甲造冊，按年入籍。」上獎勉之。上聞江西里長催徵累民，民多尚邪教，諭幰度禁革。幰度疏言：「臣察知里長累民，已勒石永禁，令糧戶自封投櫃。距城較遠畸零小戶，原輪僱交納者聽其便，仍嚴防不得乾累。邪教自當捕治，醫卜星相往往假其術以惑民，雖非邪教，亦當以時嚴懲。」上深嘉之。

Migrants from Fujian and Guangdong entered Jiangxi, built shed settlements on the mountains to live, cultivated indigo leaves and tobacco, and were called "shed people"; they often turned to banditry. Wen Shanggui of Wanzai and Liu Yungong of Ningzhou led shed-folk rebellions; Xiandu captured them and punished them by law. The Emperor ordered the organization of baojia; Xiandu memorialized: "Shed people mingle good and bad; they come and go without fixed residence, some scattered in mountain ravines, some hired by local people to reclaim land. Your subject has ordered subordinates to investigate strictly; in all more than fifteen thousand households have been registered in baojia, books made, and enrolled year by year." The Emperor commended and encouraged him. Learning that Jiangxi village heads' tax collection was oppressing the people and that heterodox cults had wide following, the Emperor instructed Xiandu to ban and reform the practice. Xiandu memorialized: "Your subject has found that village heads oppress the people; I have had a stele carved to forbid this permanently and ordered grain households to seal and submit payment themselves at the chest. For scattered small households far from cities who originally took turns hiring others to pay, they may continue as convenient, but strict guard must be kept against improper impositions. Heterodox cults should of course be arrested and punished; medicine, divination, and physiognomy often use their arts to mislead the people; though not heterodox cults, they should also be severely punished in season." The Emperor warmly commended him.

總督查弼納議開廣信封禁山，諭幰度酌度。幰度疏言：「封禁山舊名銅塘山，相傳產銅，然有名無實，故自明封禁至今。順治間有議採木者，郡縣力陳不便，勒碑永禁。臣揆查弼納意，或以棚民巢穴在此山中，故為破巢搗穴之計。此山荊榛充塞，稔毒滋藏，並非有梗化頑民盤踞在內。臣詳度此山開則擾累，封則安寧，成案俱存，確有可據。」諭曰：「當開則不得因循，當禁則不宜依違。但不存貪功之念，實心為地方興利除害，何事不可為？在卿等秉公相度時宜而酌定之。」仍封禁如初。

Governor-General Zhabina proposed opening Guangfeng's Fengjin Mountain; the Emperor told Xiandu to weigh the matter and decide. Xiandu memorialized: "Fengjin Mountain was formerly called Tongtang Mountain; tradition says it produced copper, but the name did not match reality, hence it has been sealed and forbidden since the Ming. During Shunzhi there were proposals to harvest timber; the prefecture and counties strongly stated the inconvenience and had a stele carved to forbid it permanently. Your subject surmises Governor-General Zhabina's intent: perhaps because shed people's nests are in this mountain, hence a plan to destroy nest and lair. This mountain is choked with thorns and brambles where poisons fester; there are not obstinate unreformed people occupying it within. Your subject has fully considered: opening this mountain brings disturbance and burden; sealing brings peace; decided cases all exist and are indeed supportable." An edict said: "When it should be opened, one must not procrastinate; when it should be forbidden, one must not vacillate. But without harboring thoughts of greedy merit-seeking, if one sincerely promotes benefit and removes harm for the locality, what cannot be done? It rests with you to weigh the times impartially and decide accordingly." The mountain remained closed as before.

四年，遷戶部侍郎，擢左都御史。上遣侍郎邁柱勘江西諸州縣倉穀，命幰度留任。邁柱疏言：「倉穀虧空甚多，例定穀一石折銀二錢，州縣交代，按此數接收，不敷糴補。」上奪幰度及歷任布政使張楷、陳安策官，命以所存摺價買穀還倉。十年，事畢，釋還裡。乾隆五年，卒。

In the fourth year he became vice minister of Revenue and was promoted to left censor-in-chief. The Emperor sent Vice Minister Maizhu to audit granary grain in Jiangxi's prefectures and counties and ordered Xiandu to stay in office. Maizhu memorialized: "Granary grain is greatly deficient; by regulation one shi of grain converts to two mace of silver; at prefectural and county handovers this rate is used for receipt, and shortfalls are bought to replenish." The Emperor stripped Xiandu and former provincial commissioners Zhang Kai and Chen Ance of rank and ordered them to use their saved salary to buy grain and refill the granaries. In the tenth year, when the matter was settled, he was released and sent home. He died in Qianlong 5.

子宗錫，入貲為同知。十五年，授山東濟南同知，屢遷轉。二十八年，授直隸霸昌道，遷直隸按察使。疏言：「古北口外山場產菠蘿樹，此即橡樹，葉可飼蠶。臣在濟東，飭屬通栽，頗有成效。請令用東省養蠶法，廣栽試養。」命交總督方觀承試行。三十二年，以母憂去官。宗錫在任，誤應驛站車馬，部議當降調。總督楊廷璋諮部，言宗錫當自行檢舉。上諭曰：「宗錫，朕知其為人，頗可造就。按察使管理驛站，偶有一二誤應，原屬公過。今已丁憂，安得自行檢舉？廷璋乃令作此趨避，愛之適以害之也。」三十五年，宗錫服將闋，仍授直隸按察使。

His son Zong Xi bought office and became an assistant prefect. In the fifteenth year he was appointed assistant prefect of Jinan in Shandong and moved through several posts. In the twenty-eighth year he was appointed Baxing Circuit intendant of Zhili and then provincial surveillance commissioner of Zhili. He memorialized: "Beyond Gubeikou the mountain lands produce boluo trees; these are oak trees whose leaves can feed silkworms. When your subject was in eastern Ji, I ordered subordinates to plant them widely, with considerable success. I request orders to use Shandong's silkworm-rearing method, plant widely, and trial rear." The court ordered Governor-General Fang Guancheng to try the scheme. In the thirty-second year he left office to mourn his mother. While still in office Zong Xi had mistakenly furnished post horses and carts; the ministry recommended demotion and transfer. Governor-General Yang Tingzhang consulted the ministry, arguing that Zong Xi should have reported himself. The Emperor instructed: "Zong Xi — I know his character; he is quite capable of cultivation. A surveillance commissioner manages post stations; an occasional mistaken supply is originally a public lapse. Now he is in mourning; how can he report himself? Tingzhang thus had him make this evasive move — loving him only to harm him." In the thirty-fifth year, as his mourning was nearing its end, Zong Xi was again appointed provincial surveillance commissioner of Zhili.

俄擢安徽布政使，就遷巡撫。疏言：「安慶瀕江舊有漳葭港，上通潛山、太湖、望江三縣，下達江，漕艘商舶往來停泊，淤久漸成平陸。前巡撫張楷於上游別開新河，地高水急，重載逆上，遇風每虞覆溺。請仍濬漳葭港故道。」命總督高晉履勘，如宗錫議行。又疏言：「鳳、泗所屬州縣，高地宜多作池塘，低地宜厚築圩圍，以備灌溉、資捍禦。鳳陽地多高岡曠野，不宜五穀，令視土宜種樹。」諭獎其留心本務。

He was soon promoted to provincial administration commissioner of Anhui and immediately made governor. He memorialized: "Anqing borders the river and once had Zhangjia Harbor, linking upstream to the three counties Qianshan, Taihu, and Wangjiang and downstream to the river; grain transport and merchant vessels moored there, but after long siltation it gradually became flat land. The former governor Zhang Kai opened a new canal upstream; the ground is high and water swift; heavy loads going upstream, they often feared capsizing when wind struck. I request restoring dredging of Zhangjia Harbor's old channel." The Emperor ordered Governor-General Gao Jin to inspect on site and carry out Zong Xi's plan. He also memorialized: "In the prefectures and counties under Feng and Si, high ground should have more ponds dug, low ground should have thicker dikes and embankments built, to prepare irrigation and aid defense. Fengyang's land has many high hills and open wastes, unsuitable for the five grains; order planting trees according to soil suitability." The Emperor praised his attention to the fundamentals of governance.

四十年，調雲南。旋命署貴州。疏言：「貴州地處邊圉，請敕部撥銀三十萬貯司庫。」從之。又疏請增設鎮遠稅口，上嚴斥不許。又疏言：「貴州額輸京師及湖廣白鉛歲七百餘萬斤，鉛廠僅三處，年久產絀。臣察知松桃廳巴壩山、遵義縣新砦產鉛，近水次，已飭設廠，歲各得鉛百餘萬斤。分撥京師、湖廣，歲節省運費銀四萬三千有奇。」得旨嘉允。又疏言：「貴州古州有牛皮大箐，亙數百里，列屯置軍，應將箐內平曠之土開墾成田，寓防於屯，安屯養軍。丹江雷公院地平衍，可墾四五百畝，歐收、甬荒高箐二地畸零，可墾三四百畝，應令附近震威堡屯軍派撥試墾，並於丹江營移撥千總一、兵五十，入箐設卡駐守。」時上已命宗錫還雲南，命交後政圖思德如所議行。四十四年，以病乞解任。旋卒，賜祭葬。

In the fortieth year he was transferred to Yunnan. He was soon ordered to serve as acting governor of Guizhou. He memorialized: "Guizhou lies on the frontier; I request imperial orders to the ministry to allocate three hundred thousand taels of silver for storage in the provincial treasury." The request was approved. He also asked to add a tax station at Zhenyuan; the Emperor sharply refused. He also memorialized: "Guizhou's quota delivery to the capital and to Huguang of white lead is more than seven million jin per year; there are only three lead works, long worked and yielding short. Your subject has found that Baba Mountain in Songtao Department and Xinzai in Zunyi County produce lead, near waterways; works have been ordered established, each yielding more than a million jin of lead per year. Allocated to the capital and Huguang, this saves more than forty-three thousand taels of transport costs per year." The Emperor approved and commended the plan. He also memorialized: "In Guizhou's Guzhou is Niupi Great Ravine, spanning several hundred li; garrisons and troops are deployed in rows; the flat open land within the ravine should be opened and reclaimed as fields, combining defense with colonies, settling colonies to support troops. The level ground at Leigongyuan in Danjiang can be reclaimed as four or five hundred mu; Oushou and Yonghuang Gaojing are scattered plots where three or four hundred mu can be reclaimed; troops from nearby Zhenweibao colony should be assigned for trial reclamation, and from Danjiang garrison one company commander and fifty soldiers should be moved in to set up checkpoints and garrison the ravine." By then the Emperor had already recalled Zong Xi to Yunnan and ordered his successor Tusi De to carry out the plan. In the forty-fourth year he asked to resign because of illness. He died soon after and was granted state funeral honors.

唐執玉，字益功，江南武進人。康熙四十二年進士，授浙江德清知縣。德清盛科第，多鉅室，執玉執法無所撓。將編審，吏以例餽金，執玉卻之，而罪其吏。召縣民親勘，有田無糧者令自首，有糧無田者除之，富無隱糧，貧無賠累。行取工部主事，考選戶科給事中。五十八年，疏言：「戶部錢糧款項最易作弊，當先驅除作弊之人。乃有所謂'缺主'者，或一人佔一司，或數人共一省，佔為世業，句通內外書吏，舞文弄法，當嚴行查禁。」因劾山西司缺主沈天生包攬捐馬事例，下九卿議，逮治。六十年，遷鴻臚寺卿。歷奉天府府丞、大理寺少卿。雍正二年，歲三遷禮部侍郎。五年，擢左都御史。

Tang Zhiyu, styled Yigong, was a native of Wujin in Jiangnan. A jinshi of Kangxi 42, he was appointed magistrate of Deqing in Zhejiang. Deqing produced many degree holders and wealthy families, yet Zhiyu enforced the law without yielding. Before a cadastral review a clerk offered the customary bribe; Zhiyu refused it and punished the man. He summoned the people to survey the land in person: holders of untaxed land were told to confess, tax entries without land were struck off, the rich could not hide grain dues, and the poor were spared wrongful burdens. Selected for the Ministry of Works as a director, he was then chosen by examination as a supervising censor in the Revenue Bureau. In the fifty-eighth year, he memorialized: "The Ministry of Revenue's money and grain items are easiest to tamper with; one must first drive out those who tamper. There are so-called 'post masters' who occupy one bureau alone or several share a province, making it hereditary trade, colluding with inside and outside clerks, twisting documents and manipulating law — this must be strictly investigated and forbidden." He impeached Shen Tiansheng, post master of the Shanxi bureau, for monopolizing the donated-horse quota; the case went to the Nine Ministers and Shen was arrested. In the sixtieth year he became chief minister of the Court of State Ceremonial. He served successively as vice prefect of Fengtian Prefecture and vice minister of the Court of Judicial Review. In Yongzheng 2 he was promoted three times within a single year to vice minister of Rites. In the fifth year he was promoted to left censor-in-chief.

七年，命署直隸總督。執玉治事勤，州縣稍歉收，必籌畫賑恤。隆平報產瑞禾三十三本，執玉於報秋成摺附奏，上嘉之。適貢荔支至，命以賜執玉，方有疾，治事如常。時宗人府府丞冀棟以醫進，上命視執玉疾，賜人葠，諭令：「愛養精神，量力治事。若欲棟料量方藥，保定咫尺，可再命之來也。」熱河徵落地稅，司其事者議增歲額，並於榜什營等地設口徵稅。下執玉議，執玉言：「商稅多寡，視歲收豐歉，故止能折中定額。榜什營距一百八十餘裡，已收落地稅，又抽進路鈔銀，恐商賈不前，正稅反缺，請如舊便。」議乃寢。長蘆巡鹽御史鄭禪寶以商人虧帑，請增鹽價，上以詢執玉。執玉言：「上於商民無歧視。諸商不謹身節用，先公後私，乃至虧帑。欲增鹽價厲民，臣以為非宜。」亦罷不行。

In the seventh year he was ordered to serve as acting governor-general of Zhili. Zhiyu was a tireless administrator; whenever any prefecture or county reported even a modest harvest shortfall, he organized relief. Longping reported thirty-three stalks of auspicious grain; Zhiyu attached the report to his autumn harvest memorial and the Emperor commended him. Tribute lychees had just arrived; the Emperor ordered them sent to Zhiyu, who though ill continued governing as usual. At that time Ji Dong of the Imperial Clan Court entered as physician; the Emperor ordered him to treat Zhiyu's illness, bestowed ginseng, and instructed: "Cherish your spirit, govern within your strength. If you wish Dong to prescribe medicines, Baoding is close at hand; he can be ordered to come again." When Rehe land tax was being collected, officials proposed raising the annual quota and adding collection points at Bangshiying and elsewhere. The matter was sent to Zhiyu for deliberation; Zhiyu said: "The amount of merchant tax depends on harvest abundance or scarcity; thus one can only fix a median quota. Bangshiying is more than one hundred eighty li distant; land tax has already been collected, and to levy transit-route silver again would fear merchants not coming forward and the regular tax falling short; I request keeping the old arrangement." The proposal was dropped. Changlu salt censor Zheng Chanbao, citing merchant losses against the treasury, asked to raise the salt price; the Emperor consulted Zhiyu. Zhiyu said: "Your Majesty shows no discrimination between merchants and common people. The merchants did not restrain themselves and economize, putting public before private, until the treasury was depleted. To raise the salt price and burden the people — your subject considers this inappropriate." That proposal too was rejected.

八年春，入覲。灤、盧龍、遷安、撫寧、昌黎、樂亭諸州縣米貯喜峰口倉，虧二千五百餘石，執玉請視通州中、西二倉例免追償。部議不許，上特允之。密雲城臨白河，舊築土木堤壩盡圮，僅存石堤。上游有積土斜出，激水使怒，俗謂之「土嘴」。執玉疏請疏治，使水得暢流；仍築土堤，務堅厚，用榆囤載石為基，使輔石堤護縣城。上褒其妥協，命於夏月水漲前竟工。遷兵部尚書，仍署總督。是歲秋，積雨，永定、滹沱諸水皆盛漲。執玉疏報災，上命侍郎牧可登、副都統阿魯等分往治賑。執玉奏言：「諸州縣被水，消長不一。有上諭所及，而水消未成災者；有上諭所未及，而水大成災，田廬被淹，急須拯卹者：請飭治賑諸臣勘實。」上特允之。

In the spring of the eighth year he came to court. In Luan, Lulong, Qian'an, Funing, Changli, and Laoting, grain stored at Xifengkou granary was short by more than 2,500 shi; Zhiyu asked that recovery be waived as it had been for Tongzhou's middle and west granaries. The ministry opposed the request, but the emperor approved it himself. Miyun city lay on the Bai River; its old earthen and timber dikes had all fallen into ruin, leaving only a stone embankment standing. Upstream there was accumulated earth jutting obliquely, stirring the water to rage; the common people called it an "earth snout." Zhiyu memorialized asking that the obstruction be cleared so the river could run freely again; He further proposed building a sturdy earthen levee on a foundation of stone-filled elm cribs to buttress the stone dike and shield the county seat. The emperor commended his prudent plan and ordered the work completed before the summer rise. He was promoted to Minister of War while continuing to serve as acting governor-general. That autumn, prolonged rains sent the Yongding, Hutuo, and other rivers into full flood. Zhiyu reported the flooding, and the emperor dispatched Vice Minister Mu Kedeng, Vice Lieutenant General Aru, and others to oversee relief in the affected areas. Zhiyu memorialized: "The prefectures and counties struck by water vary in ebb and flow. There are those covered by imperial edict whose waters have receded without becoming a disaster; There are those not covered by imperial edict where the water has become a great disaster, fields and homes inundated, urgently needing relief: I request that the officials sent to administer relief be ordered to investigate on the ground." The emperor approved the request at once.

國初以民地予滿洲將士，謂之「圈地」。民地既圈，以鄰近州縣地撥補，糧額從舊貫，於是有寄糧；佃租戶移新地，於是有寄莊。歷年既久，百弊叢起。上令執玉勘察，更除改正，並舉懷安、宣化、萬全、寶坻、豐潤、三河諸縣為例。執玉奏言：「此外所在皆有，如晉州武丘村、孔目莊，趙州馬圈村糧有在讚皇者；蔚縣夾道溝、細賢莊糧有在宣化者；宣化井頭莊糧有在西寧者：官苦追呼，民勞跋涉。凡地在此處，糧寄彼處，皆令從地所在，糧隨產轉，此收彼除，不使有交錯之病，亦無庸存代徵之名，經界各正，田賦悉清。」直隸驛馬一，每歲雜支大率至十兩。執玉奏定馬一每歲雜支三兩六錢。昌平、延慶、宣化諸驛事煩，撥僻地馬協濟，而牧養仍責原驛。執玉奏請改隸受協州縣牧養。皆下部議行。

At the founding of the dynasty, civilian lands were granted to Manchu officers and soldiers; this was called "land enclosure." When land was enclosed, neighboring counties would supply replacement plots while grain quotas stayed tied to the original registrations, creating what were called "attached grain quotas." Tenants relocated to new plots as well, giving rise to "attached estates." Over the years, abuses multiplied without number. The emperor directed Zhiyu to investigate and reform the system, using Huai'an, Xuanhua, Wanquan, Baodi, Fengrun, Sanhe, and other counties as illustrative cases. Zhiyu memorialized: "Beyond these, such cases exist everywhere, as at Jizhou's Wuqiu Village and Kongmu Estate, where grain tax from Mazquan Village in Zhaozhou is registered in Zanhuang; In Yu County's Jiadougou and Xixian Estate the grain tax is registered in Xuanhua; In Xuanhua's Jingtou Estate the grain tax is registered in Xining: officials suffer from the strain of collection, the people from the toil of long journeys. Wherever land lay here and grain tax was attached there, all were ordered to follow the land's location, with tax shifting with the property; what was collected here was removed there, so there would be no disorder of overlap, nor any need to retain the name of proxy collection—boundaries were each set right, and field taxes all cleared." Each relay horse in Zhili had been costing roughly ten taels a year in miscellaneous expenses. Zhiyu fixed annual overhead at three taels six qian per horse. Busy stations at Changping, Yanqing, and Xuanhua borrowed horses from quieter posts, yet the home stations still bore the cost of upkeep. Zhiyu asked that horses on loan be placed under the care of the counties that used them. All these proposals were referred to the ministry for approval and enactment.

直隸耗羨歸公，自雍正三年始。部議元、二年耗羨在三年補納者，州縣充公用，仍當追償。霸、文安等七州縣民借倉穀，逋米二萬一千石、穀一萬六千石各有奇，部議責州縣追償。執玉言：「元、二年耗羨在未著令歸公以前，前督臣許州縣充公用。今欲追償，是為小費而失大言。」又言：「倉穀民欠歷年已久，人產胥絕。今欲追償，此數十年官州縣者無慮百數，悉逮其子孫而加以追比，於情可憫。」上並如執玉議，寬之。

Since Yongzheng 3, surplus grain-shipping fees in Zhili had been remitted to the public treasury. The ministry ruled that surpluses from the first two years, paid in during the third and already spent by local governments, must nevertheless be recovered. In Ba, Wen'an, and five other counties, peasants who had borrowed state grain still owed more than 21,000 shi of rice and 16,000 shi of millet; the ministry ordered local officials to collect the debts. Zhiyu said: "Surpluses from years 1 and 2, before the order requiring remittance to the public treasury, the former governor-general had permitted counties to use for public expenses. Now to seek recovery is to grasp at small expense and lose great credibility." He also said: "The people's debts of granary grain extend over many years; persons and property are utterly exhausted. Now to seek recovery—in these decades there have been no fewer than a hundred officials who served these counties; to seize all their descendants and press for collection is pitiable in human terms." The emperor accepted Zhiyu's recommendations and waived the debts.

九年，以病甚乞解任，許之。十年，病少瘳，命領刑部尚書。十一年春，復命署直隸總督，力辭，上勉之行。三月，卒於官，賜祭葬。

In the ninth year he petitioned to resign on account of grave illness, and the request was granted. In the tenth year, somewhat recovered, he was appointed Minister of Punishments. In the spring of the eleventh year he was again ordered to serve as acting governor-general of Zhili; though he pleaded illness, the emperor pressed him to accept. He died in office that third month and was granted state funeral rites.

執玉重民事，每請從寬大，疏入輒報可。執玉嘗曰：「吾才拙，政事不如人，可自力者勤耳。勤必自儉始。」養廉歲用十三四，餘歸之司庫。

Zhiyu cared deeply for the welfare of the people; his pleas for leniency were almost always granted. Zhiyu once said: "My talent is dull; in governance I am not the equal of others—what I can exert is diligence alone. Diligence must begin with frugality." He spent only thirteen or fourteen taels of his annual integrity stipend and returned the rest to the provincial treasury.

楊永斌，字壽廷，雲南昆明人。康熙三十八年舉人。以知縣發廣西，補臨桂知縣，以廉能聞。遭喪去，服除，授直隸阜平知縣，署平山，調大城，皆有惠政。以捕治內監陳永忠未即獲，奪官。大城民乞巡撫疏留，會世宗即位，知永斌賢，許复官。遷涿州知州。

Yang Yongbin, styled Shouting, hailed from Kunming in Yunnan. He earned his juren degree in Kangxi 38. Assigned to Guangxi as a county magistrate, he served at Lingui and won a reputation for probity and ability. After mourning his parents he was posted to Fuping in Zhili, served acting posts at Pingshan and Dacheng, and earned praise for humane governance at each. He lost his post when he failed to capture the eunuch Chen Yongzhong promptly enough. The people of Dacheng petitioned the governor to keep him in office; when the Yongzheng Emperor came to the throne, recognizing Yongbin's merit, he was restored to rank. He was promoted to prefect of Zhuozhou.

雍正三年，特諭永斌才守俱優，授貴州威寧知府。威寧界滇、蜀，諸土司虐使其眾，時出掠境外。烏蒙祿萬鍾、鎮雄隴慶侯尤強悍。永斌被檄定界，單騎入諭其渠，陰使人偽為商賈，分道圖地形。鄂爾泰督雲、貴，永斌以圖上，且曰：「二酋不懲，終為邊患。萬鍾幼，諸土司未附。今四川總督劾萬鍾不職，請發兵壓境，召萬鍾出就質。不出，以兵入。烏蒙平，鎮雄勢孤，亦且降。」鄂爾泰從之，召萬鍾不至，令游擊哈元生與永斌督兵入。萬鍾走鎮遠，與慶侯同詣四川降。凡三十三日而事定。米貼土婦陸氏為亂，鄂爾泰遣兵討之，永斌語元生曰：「賊以冕山、巴補為後路，事急則渡金沙江而逸。以重兵扼其前，奇兵越江攻之，賊可殲也。」元生用其策，克米貼。

In Yongzheng 3 the emperor singled out Yongbin for both talent and integrity and appointed him prefect of Weining in Guizhou. Weining lay on the borders of Yunnan and Sichuan, where native chiefs oppressed their subjects and often raided neighboring territory. Lu Wanchong of Wumeng and Long Qinghou of Zhenxiong were particularly formidable. Ordered to fix the frontier, Yongbin rode alone to parley with the chieftains while secretly dispatching agents disguised as merchants to survey the terrain. Ortai governed Yunnan and Guizhou; Yongbin submitted the maps and said: "If these two chiefs are not punished, they will be a border trouble in the end. Wanchong is young; the other native chiefs have not yet submitted. Now the Sichuan governor-general has impeached Wanchong for malfeasance and requested troops be sent to press the border and summon Wanchong to come out for questioning. If he does not come out, send troops in. Once Wumeng is pacified, Zhenxiong isolated in strength will also submit." Ortai agreed; when Wanchong ignored the summons, he ordered Ranger Ha Yuansheng and Yongbin to lead the invasion. Wanchong fled toward Zhenyuan and, with Qinghou, surrendered in Sichuan. The campaign was concluded in thirty-three days. Lady Lu of the Mitie native office raised rebellion; Ortai sent troops to suppress her; Yongbin told Yuansheng: "The rebels use Mianshan and Babu as a rear route; when pressed they will cross the Jinsha River and escape. With heavy troops blocking their front, and surprise troops crossing the river to attack them, the rebels can be annihilated." Yuansheng adopted the plan and took Mitie.

鄂爾泰疏薦永斌可大用，擢貴東道，旋調糧驛道，署按察使。朝議加稅軍田畝五錢，永斌議曰：「軍田糧以屯租為準，已數倍於民田。且今轉相授受，與民田交易無異。名為軍屯，實皆民產，而畝稅之，是重科也，民必不服。當多事之秋，增剝膚之患，驅之為亂耳。」鄂爾泰以聞，事乃寢。七年，遷湖南布政使。湖南方議清察軍田計畝，未定，永斌援貴州議以請，亦得免。

Ortai recommended Yongbin for higher office; he was promoted to Guizhou East Circuit intendant, then grain-and-relay intendant, and appointed acting provincial judge. The court debated adding five qian tax per mu on military colony fields; Yongbin argued: "Military colony grain tax, reckoned by garrison rent, is already several times that of civilian fields. Moreover, today they pass from hand to hand in succession, no different from transactions in civilian fields. Called military colonies in name, in fact all are the people's property—yet to tax by the mu is double exaction; the people will surely not submit. In a time of many troubles, to increase afflictions that flay the skin is only to drive them to rebellion." Ortai relayed the objection, and the proposal was dropped. In the seventh year he became treasurer of Hunan. Hunan was considering the same per-mu levy on military land; Yongbin invoked his Guizhou precedent and secured exemption there too.

九年，調廣東。十年春，命署巡撫，是秋真除。廣東生齒繁，民不勤稼穡，米值高。永斌飭諸州縣勸墾，高亢不宜禾，令藝豆麥，諸山坡麓栽所宜木。又以惠、潮兩府民最悍，招墾官田，租入充粵秀書院膏火。奏聞，嘉獎，命勘明墾地畝數。尋又奏言：「勘明可墾地六千八百餘頃，此外或山深箐密，或夾沙帶鹵，體察民情，恐磽地薄收，糧賦無出。臣思瘠田產穀雖少，若多墾數十萬畝，年豐可得數十萬石，即歉歲亦必稍有所獲，事益於民。察通省糧額，新寧斥鹵，輕則畝徵銀四釐有奇、米四合有奇。擬請凡承墾磽瘠之地，概準此例，十年起科。」下部議行，於是墾田至百十八萬餘畝。

In the ninth year he was transferred to Guangdong. In the spring of the tenth year he was made acting governor; he received formal appointment that autumn. Guangdong was densely populated yet its people farmed little, keeping rice prices high. Yongbin ordered local officials to promote reclamation, planting beans and wheat on uplands unsuited to rice and orchards on hillsides and slopes. In Huizhou and Chaozhou, where the populace was especially unruly, he opened official land for settlement, dedicating rent to the Yuexiu Academy. The emperor praised the initiative and ordered a survey of reclaimed acreage. Soon he memorialized again: "Survey has clarified more than 6,800 qing of reclaimable land; beyond this, some areas are deep mountains with dense ravines, some sandy and salty—observing popular sentiment, I fear barren land with thin harvests cannot yield grain tax. Your subject considers that though poor fields produce little grain, if several hundred thousand mu more are reclaimed, in abundant years several hundred thousand shi can be obtained, and even in lean years something will surely be gained—the matter benefits the people. Examining the provincial grain quota, Xining's saline wasteland is taxed lightly, at a little more than four li of silver and a little more than four he of rice per mu. I propose requesting that for all who undertake reclamation of barren and poor land, this precedent apply uniformly, with taxation beginning after ten years." The ministry approved, and eventually more than 1.18 million mu were brought under cultivation.

乾隆元年，兼署兩廣總督。上命除落地稅，因請並免漁課、埠稅，革粵海關贏餘陋例未盡汰者，上悉從之。永斌在廣東數年，坦懷虛己，淬厲諸將吏。獲劇盜餘猊、陳美倫數十輩置之法，收曲江乳源諸峒瑤歸化。西洋估舶互市至者，悉令寄椗澳門，不得泊會城下。粵民頌其績。二年，調湖北，兼署湖廣總督。令嚴保甲，繕城堡，課農桑，實社倉，興學校，諸政畢舉。

In the first year of Qianlong he served concurrently as acting governor-general of the Two Guang. When the emperor abolished the landing tax, Yongbin also asked to lift fishing and wharf duties and purge remaining corrupt surcharges at the Guangdong customs—and the emperor agreed to all of it. During his years in Guangdong, Yongbin governed with openness and humility while hardening his officers and staff. He broke up bands led by the outlaw Yu Ni and Chen Meilun, putting dozens to justice, and brought Yao communities in Qujiang and Ruyuan back under the fold. Western trading vessels were required to anchor at Macau rather than the capital's harbor. The people of Guangdong sang his praises. In the second year he was transferred to Hubei, also serving as acting governor-general of Huguang. He tightened household registration, repaired fortifications, promoted sericulture, stocked community granaries, and revived schools—implementing reforms across the board.

未幾，調江蘇。按行奉賢、南匯、上海、寶山四縣海塘，以築塘取土成渠，塘根浸損，議於塘內開河，南接華亭運河，北達寶山高橋。又察華亭金山嘴、倪家路，寶山楊家嘴地當衝要，議視地所宜，或增築石壩，或就舊塘加築寬厚，或改築石塘。又請於寶山建海神廟。並從之。三年，以老病乞休，召詣京師，署禮部侍郎。尋授吏部。四年，致仕。五年，卒。孫，廕生，初授主事，官至江蘇按察使。

He was soon transferred to Jiangsu. Inspecting sea walls in Fengxian, Nanhui, Shanghai, and Baoshan, he found that quarrying soil for repairs had undercut the embankments; he proposed digging an interior canal linking the Huating canal in the south to Gaoshan in Baoshan in the north. At critical points such as Jinshan Mouth and Niijia Road in Huating and Yangjia Mouth in Baoshan, he recommended stone groins, thickened embankments, or new stone seawalls as terrain required. He also proposed a Sea God temple at Baoshan. All were approved. In the third year he retired on grounds of age and illness, was recalled to the capital, and appointed acting vice minister of Rites. He was soon made vice minister of Personnel. In the fourth year he retired from office. In year 5 he died. His grandson entered service by privilege as a department director and rose to Jiangsu provincial judge.

論曰：其倬、宗仁、毓珣，皆聖祖所擢用，丕著勳勚；世宗畀以兼圻，忠誠靡懈，恩禮始終，宜矣！幰度居官不擾民，執玉、永斌尤懃懃施惠，文乾、宗錫能濟其美。世宗治尚明肅，諸臣皆以開敏精勤稱上指，為政持大體，與夫急功近名，流於谿刻，重為世詬病者，固大異矣。

The commentator writes: Qizhuo, Zongren, and Yuxun were all raised up by the Kangxi Emperor and won great distinction in office; the Yongzheng Emperor entrusted them with broad jurisdictions; their loyalty never slackened and imperial favor endured to the end—as was only fitting! Xiandu governed without harassing the people; Zhiyu and Yongbin were especially diligent in bringing benefits, and Wenqian and Zongxi helped complete their good work. Yongzheng's reign prized clarity and severity; these officials were quick, perceptive, and diligent in meeting his intent and held to the larger principles of government—quite unlike those who chased quick fame, slid into harsh pettiness, and drew heavy censure from their own age.

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