1
=竇光鼐=竇光鼐，字元調，山東諸城人。 乾隆七年進士，選庶吉士，散館授編修。 大考四等，罰俸。 高宗夙知光鼐，居數月，擢左中允。 累遷內閣學士。 二十年，授左副都御史。 督浙江學政。 上南巡，臨海縣訓導章知鄴將獻詩，光鼐以詩拙阻之。 知鄴欲訐光鼐，光鼐以聞。 上召知鄴試以詩，詩甚拙，且言原從軍。 上斥其妄，命奪職戍闢展。 後數年，上欲赦知鄴還，而知鄴妄為悖逆語，欲以陷光鼐，上乃誅之。
Dou Guangnai, whose courtesy name was Yuandiao, came from Zhucheng in Shandong. He took his jinshi degree in the seventh year of the Qianlong reign, entered the Hanlin Academy as a bachelor, and after completing his term there was made a compiler. On the triennial evaluation he was graded fourth class and fined a portion of his salary. Emperor Gaozong had long been acquainted with him; within a few months he was promoted to Left Vice Director of the Hanlin Academy. He rose in due course to Grand Secretary of the Inner Court. In his twentieth year of service he was appointed Left Vice Censor-in-Chief. He was put in charge of education in Zhejiang as provincial education commissioner. During an imperial southern tour, Zhang Zhiying, the county instructor of Linhai, prepared to present a poem to the throne; Guangnai blocked him, judging the verse too poor. Zhiying tried to impeach Guangnai, who reported the matter to the Emperor. The Emperor summoned Zhiying and tested him with a poem; the verse was wretched, and he admitted he had once hoped to enter military service. The Emperor denounced his effrontery, stripped him of office, and sent him into exile at Bichan. Years later the Emperor considered pardoning Zhiying and recalling him, but Zhiying spoke treasonous words in an attempt to entrap Guangnai, and the Emperor had him put to death.
2
光鼐學政任滿，還京師。 秋讞，光鼐以廣西囚陳父悔守田禾殺賊，不宜入情實； 貴州囚羅阿扛逞兇殺人，不宜入緩決：持異議，簽商刑部，語忿激。 刑部遽以聞，上命大學士來保、史貽直，協辦大學士梁詩正覆覈，請如刑部議，且言光鼐先已畫題，何得又請改擬。 上詰光鼐，光鼐言：「兩案異議，本屬簽商，並非固執。 因會議時言詞過激，刑部遽將簽出未定之稿先行密奏。 臣未能降心抑氣，與刑部婉言，咎實難辭，請交部嚴加議處。」 上以「會讞大典，光鼐意氣自用，甚至紛呶謾罵而不自知。 設將來預議者尤而效之，於國憲朝章不可為訓」。 命下部嚴議，當左遷，仍命留任。 光鼐疏言：「事主殺竊盜，律止杖徒。 近來各省多以竊盜拒捕而被殺，比罪人不拒捕而擅殺，皆以鬥論，寬竊盜而嚴事主，非禁暴之意。 應請遵本律。」 議行。
When his term as Zhejiang education commissioner ended, Guangnai returned to the capital. At the autumn assizes Guangnai argued that Chen Fu of Guangxi, who had killed a thief while guarding his standing grain after repenting of earlier wrongdoing, should not be classified as a capital case; and that Luo Agang of Guizhou, who had murdered in deliberate brutality, should not be entered for deferred execution. He dissented, signed his views for consultation with the Board of Punishments, and spoke with angry vehemence. The Board of Punishments hurriedly reported the matter. The Emperor ordered Grand Secretaries Laibao and Shi Yizhi, together with assisting Grand Secretary Liang Shizheng, to reexamine the cases. They recommended following the Board's decision and noted that Guangnai had already signed the draft—how could he now ask that it be revised? The Emperor questioned Guangnai, who replied: "My objections in both cases were meant for signed consultation, not stubborn obstruction. Because my words at the conference were too sharp, the Board of Punishments hastily submitted the endorsed but still undecided draft in a secret memorial. I failed to restrain my temper and speak courteously with the Board of Punishments. The fault is truly mine, and I ask that the matter be referred to the ministry for strict punishment." The Emperor declared: "At the great assize conference Guangnai acted on wounded pride, quarreling and even hurling abuse without realizing it. If future deliberators follow his example, it will set a ruinous precedent for the laws of the realm and the discipline of the court." He ordered the ministry to deliberate strictly; demotion was called for, yet Guangnai was allowed to remain in office. Guangnai memorialized: "When a householder kills a thief, the code provides only beating or penal servitude. Lately many provinces have treated a thief killed while resisting arrest the same as an offender killed without resistance—both as cases of mutual combat—thereby lenient toward thieves and harsh toward householders, which defeats the purpose of restraining violence. I ask that the original statute be followed." The proposal was approved and implemented.
3
二十七年，上以光鼐迂拙，不勝副都御史，命署內閣學士。 授順天府府尹。 坐屬縣蝗不以時捕，左遷四品京堂，仍留任。 旋赴三河、懷柔督捕蝗，疏言：「近京州縣多旗地，嗣後捕蝗，民為旗地佃，當一體撥夫應用。」 上從所請，以諭直隸總督楊廷璋。 廷璋言自方觀承始設護田夫，旗、民均役。 上復以詰光鼐，召還京師，令從軍機大臣入見。 問：「民為旗地佃，不肯撥夫應用，屬何人莊業？」 光鼐不能對，請徵東北二路同知及三河、順義知縣質證。 退又疏請罷護田夫，別定派夫捕蝗事例。 上以光鼐所見迂鄙紕繆，下部議，奪職。
In the twenty-seventh year the Emperor judged Guangnai too rigid and impractical for the vice censorate and appointed him acting Grand Secretary of the Inner Court. He was made Prefect of Shuntian. Because locusts in his subordinate counties were not destroyed in time, he was demoted to a fourth-rank capital post but kept in office. He soon went to Sanhe and Huairou to supervise locust eradication and memorialized: "Near the capital many counties contain banner estates; hereafter, when commoners who tenant banner land join in locust campaigns, labor should be levied from them on the same footing as others." The Emperor approved the request and relayed it to Zhili Governor-General Yang Tingzhang. Tingzhang replied that field-guard laborers had been instituted under Fang Guancheng, with bannermen and commoners sharing the burden equally. The Emperor again pressed Guangnai, recalled him to the capital, and ordered him to appear before the Grand Council. He asked: "When commoners tenant banner land and refuse to furnish labor, whose estate is involved? Guangnai could not answer and asked that the sub-prefects of the northeast routes and the magistrates of Sanhe and Shunyi be summoned to testify. After withdrawing he memorialized again to abolish field-guard laborers and establish separate rules for levying men to catch locusts. The Emperor judged Guangnai's views crude and confused, referred the matter to the ministry, and stripped him of office.
4
居數月，諭光鼐但拘鈍無能，無大過，左授通政司副使。 再遷宗人府府丞。 复督浙江學政，擢吏部侍郎。 浙江州縣倉庫多虧缺，上命察覈。 光鼐疏言：「前總督陳輝祖、巡撫王亶望貪墨敗露，總督富勒渾未嚴察。 臣聞嘉興、海鹽、平陽諸縣虧數皆逾十萬，當察覈分別定擬。」 上嘉其持正，命尚書曹文埴、侍郎姜晟往會巡撫伊齡阿及光鼐察覈。
After a few months the Emperor ruled that Guangnai was merely slow-witted and inept, not guilty of grave misconduct, and demoted him to Vice Commissioner of the Office of Transmission. He was soon promoted again to Vice Director of the Imperial Clan Court. He was again appointed Zhejiang education commissioner and promoted to Vice Minister of Personnel. Granaries and treasuries throughout Zhejiang showed heavy deficits, and the Emperor ordered an audit. Guangnai memorialized: "Former Governor-General Chen Huizu and Governor Wang Danwang were exposed for corruption, yet Governor-General Fulehun did not investigate rigorously. I have heard that shortfalls in Jiaxing, Haiyan, Pingyang, and other counties each exceed one hundred thousand taels; they should be audited and adjudicated separately." The Emperor praised his integrity and sent Minister Cao Wenhan and Vice Minister Jiang Sheng to join Governor Yiling'a and Guangnai in the audit.
5
旋疏劾永嘉知縣席世維借諸生穀輸倉； 平陽知縣黃梅假彌虧苛斂，且於母死日演劇； 仙居知縣徐延翰斃臨海諸生馬寘於獄； 並及布政使盛住上年詣京師，攜貲過豐，召物議； 總督富勒渾經嘉興，供應浩煩，餽閽役數至千百。 上命大學士阿桂如浙江按治。 阿桂疏言盛住詣京師，附攜應解參價銀三萬九千馀，非私貲； 平陽知縣黃梅母九十生日演劇，即以其夕死； 仙居諸生馬寘誣寺僧博，復與鬥毆，因下獄死。 光鼐語皆不仇。 光鼐再疏論梅事，言阿桂遣屬吏詣平陽諮訪，未得實，躬赴平陽覆察。 伊齡阿再疏劾光鼐赴平陽刑迫求佐證諸狀，上責光鼐乖張瞀亂，命奪職，逮下刑部。 光鼐尋奏：「親赴平陽，士民呈梅派捐單票，田一畝捐大錢五十； 又勒捐富戶數至千百貫； 每歲採買倉穀不予值。 梅在縣八年，所侵穀值及捐錢不下二十萬。 母死不欲發喪，特令演劇。」 上以光鼐呈單票有據，時阿桂已還京師，令復如浙江秉公按治，並命江蘇巡撫閔鶚元會讞，以光鼐質證。 阿桂、鶚元疏言梅婪索事實，論如律。 上以光鼐所奏非妄，命署光祿寺卿，阿桂、文埴、晟、伊齡阿皆下部議。 旋擢光鼐宗人府府丞。 遷禮部侍郎。 复督浙江學政。 再遷左都御史。
He soon memorialized against Xi Shiwei, magistrate of Yongjia, for borrowing grain from licentiates to fill the public granary; Huang Mei, magistrate of Pingyang, for fabricating deficits to justify harsh levies and staging an opera on the day his mother died; Xu Yanhan, magistrate of Xianju, for beating the Linhai licentiate Ma Zhen to death in prison; and also Provincial Administration Commissioner Sheng Zhu, who on his journey to the capital the previous year carried an suspiciously large sum of money, arousing gossip; and Governor-General Fulehun, who while passing through Jiaxing demanded extravagant hospitality and tipped gate servants by the hundreds and thousands. The Emperor ordered Grand Secretary Agui to go to Zhejiang and conduct a full investigation. Agui reported that Sheng Zhu had carried more than thirty-nine thousand taels of ginseng-price silver due for remittance to the capital, not private wealth; Huang Mei of Pingyang had staged an opera for his mother's ninetieth birthday, and she died that same night; the licentiate Ma Zhen of Xianju had falsely accused a temple monk of gambling, fought with him, and died in custody as a result. None of Guangnai's charges matched the facts as Agui found them. Guangnai memorialized again on Huang Mei, saying Agui's subordinates had inquired in Pingyang without uncovering the truth, and that he had gone there himself to reinvestigate. Yiling'a memorialized again, accusing Guangnai of going to Pingyang and using torture to force testimony. The Emperor denounced him as reckless and muddled, stripped him of office, and sent him to the Board of Punishments. Guangnai soon reported: "I went to Pingyang in person; local gentry and commoners presented Huang Mei's levy receipts, showing a levy of fifty large cash per mu of land; he also extorted contributions from wealthy households running to hundreds and thousands of strings of cash; each year he requisitioned granary grain without paying for it. In eight years as magistrate Mei had embezzled grain and extorted levies worth no less than two hundred thousand taels. When his mother died he delayed the funeral and instead ordered an opera staged." The Emperor found Guangnai's receipts convincing. Agui had already returned to the capital, so Guangnai was sent back to Zhejiang to investigate impartially, with Jiangsu Governor Min E'yuan to join the trial and take Guangnai's testimony. Agui and Min E'yuan reported that Huang Mei's extortion was proved and sentenced him according to law. The Emperor ruled that Guangnai's charges were not groundless, appointed him acting Director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, and referred Agui, Cao Wenhan, Jiang Sheng, and Yiling'a to the ministry for disciplinary review. Guangnai was soon promoted to Vice Director of the Imperial Clan Court. He was transferred to Vice Minister of Rites. He again served as Zhejiang education commissioner. He was promoted again to Left Censor-in-Chief.
6
六十年，充會試正考官，榜發，首歸安王以铻，次王以銜，兄弟聯名高第。 大學士和珅素嫉光鼐，言於上，謂光鼐迭為浙江學政，事有私。 上命解任聽部議，及廷試，和珅為讀卷官，以銜復以第一人及第，事乃解。 命予四品銜休致。 卒。
In the sixtieth year he served as chief metropolitan examiner; when the results were announced, Wang Yiyue of Gui'an placed first and Wang Yixian second—the brothers topping the list together. Grand Secretary Heshen, who had long resented Guangnai, told the Emperor that because Guangnai had repeatedly held the Zhejiang education post, the examination had been tainted by favoritism. The Emperor ordered Guangnai removed pending ministry review; at the palace examination Heshen served as reader of papers, and Wang Yixian again placed first, clearing the suspicion. He was granted a fourth-rank honorary title and allowed to retire. He died.
7
=李漱芳=李漱芳，字藝圃，四川渠縣人。 乾隆二十二年進士，授吏部主事。 再遷郎中。 三十三年，授河南道監察御史。 巡視中城，尚書福隆安家奴藍大恃勢縱恣，挾無賴酗酒，橫行市肆間。 漱芳捕治，論奏，高宗深嘉之，命戍藍大，以福隆安下吏議。 尋擢工科給事中。 三十九年，壽張民王倫為亂。 漱芳疏陳奸民聚眾滋事，為飢寒所迫； 又言近畿亦有流民扶老攜幼，遷徙逃亡，有司監盧溝橋，阻不使北行。 給事中範宜賓亦以為言，請增設粥廠。 上命侍郎高樸、袁守侗率宜賓、漱芳往盧溝橋及近畿諸城鎮省視，初無流民。 倫亂定，俘其徒檻致京師廷鞫，命漱芳旁視，無言為飢寒迫者。 問歲事，對秋收尚及半。 上責漱芳妄言，代奸民解說，心術不可問，不宜复居言路，為世道人心害，宥罪，降禮部主事。 四十三年，禮部請以漱芳升授員外郎。 故事，郎中、員外郎員缺，選應升授者，擬正、陪上請。 至是，獨以漱芳請。 上不懌，責尚書永貴擅專邀譽，涉明季黨援朋比之習，奪其職。 漱芳久之乃遷員外郎。 卒。
Li Shufang, whose courtesy name was Yipu, came from Quxian in Sichuan. He took his jinshi degree in the twenty-second year of the Qianlong reign and was appointed a principal clerk in the Ministry of Personnel. He was promoted again to director. In his thirty-third year of service he was appointed investigating censor for the Henan circuit. While inspecting the central city he found Lan Da, a bondservant in Minister Fulong'an's household, abusing his master's power, gathering ruffians to drink, and terrorizing the markets. Shufang arrested and punished him and memorialized the case; Emperor Gaozong greatly approved, ordered Lan Da exiled, and referred Fulong'an to the ministry for review. He was soon promoted to supervising secretary of the Board of Works. In the thirty-ninth year Wang Lun of Shouzhang led a rebellion. Shufang memorialized that the rioters had gathered because hunger and cold had driven them to it; he also reported refugees near the capital supporting the elderly and carrying children as they fled, while officials at Lugou Bridge blocked their northward passage. Supervising Secretary Fan Yibin made the same argument and asked that more relief kitchens be opened. The Emperor sent Vice Ministers Gao Pu and Yuan Shoutong, with Fan Yibin and Shufang, to inspect Lugou Bridge and nearby towns; at first they found no refugees. After Wang Lun's rebellion was suppressed, his followers were brought to the capital in cages for interrogation; Shufang was ordered to watch, but none claimed hunger or cold had forced them into revolt. Asked about the harvest, they replied that the autumn crop was still at least half intact. The Emperor rebuked Shufang for reckless speech, saying he had spoken for wicked men and that his motives were suspect; he should not again hold a remonstrance post lest he harm public morals. His life was spared, but he was demoted to principal clerk in the Ministry of Rites. In the forty-third year the Ministry of Rites nominated Shufang alone for promotion to vice director. By precedent, when director or vice director posts fell vacant, eligible candidates were nominated as primary and alternate choices for imperial approval. On this occasion only Shufang was put forward. The Emperor was displeased, accused Minister Yonggui of acting on his own to win favor, and said the nomination smacked of late-Ming factional patronage; Yonggui was stripped of office. Only much later was Shufang promoted to vice director. He died.
8
=範宜賓=範宜賓，漢軍鑲黃旗人，大學士文程後也。 以廕生官戶部郎中，歷御史給事中，累遷太常寺少卿。 出為安徽布政使，與巡撫胡文伯不相能，兩江總督高晉以聞。 上召宜賓還，授左副都御史。 宜賓奏言屬縣蝗見，屢請捕治，文伯執不可。 上為黜文伯，而宜賓亦以捕蝗不力下吏議，當左遷。 上以宜賓舊為御史尚黽勉，命仍為御史。 宜賓疏言籓臬有所陳奏，輒呈稿督撫，當禁飭。 上以整飭吏治，要在朝廷綱紀肅清，自無扶同蒙蔽之事，不在設法峻防，置其議不行。 及與漱芳同被譴，上以宜賓漢軍世僕，乃敢妄言幹譽，特重其罰，奪職，戍新疆。
Fan Yibin, a Han Bannerman of the Bordered Yellow Banner, was a descendant of Grand Secretary Wencheng. Through hereditary privilege he became a director in the Ministry of Revenue, served as censor and supervising secretary, and rose to Vice Director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices. He was posted as Anhui provincial administration commissioner but clashed with Governor Hu Wenbo; Liangjiang Governor-General Gao Jin reported the friction to the throne. The Emperor recalled Fan Yibin and appointed him Left Vice Censor-in-Chief. Fan Yibin reported locusts in his subordinate counties and repeatedly asked that they be destroyed, but Hu Wenbo obstinately refused. The Emperor dismissed Hu Wenbo on this account, but Fan Yibin was also referred to the ministry for failing to control the locusts effectively and was due for demotion. The Emperor, remembering Yibin's earlier service as a censor and his continued diligence, allowed him to keep that post. Fan Yibin memorialized that when provincial officials memorialized the throne they habitually showed their drafts first to governors-general and governors, a practice that should be forbidden. The Emperor replied that sound governance depended on discipline at court, not on elaborate safeguards against collusion; Yibin's proposal was set aside. Punished together with Shufang, Fan Yibin was judged more harshly because, as a Han Banner bondservant by birth, he had dared speak recklessly for reputation; he was stripped of office and exiled to Xinjiang.
9
=曹錫寶=曹錫寶，字鴻書，一字劍亭，江南上海人。 乾隆初，以舉人考授內閣中書，充軍機處章京。 資深當擢侍讀，錫寶辭。 大學士傅恆知其欲以甲科進，乃不為請遷。 二十二年，成進士，改庶吉士。 以母憂歸，病瘍，數年乃愈。 三十一年，散館，改刑部主事。 再遷郎中。 授山東糧道。 衛千總寧廷言子惠以索逋殺千總張繼渠，錫寶下部議。 上巡山東，召見，命來京以部屬用。 以大學士阿桂奏，令入四庫全書館自效。 書成，以國子監司業升用。
Cao Xibao, whose courtesy names were Hongshu and Jianting, came from Shanghai in Jiangnan. In the early Qianlong reign he entered service through the provincial graduate route as a Grand Secretariat secretary and Grand Council clerk. When seniority made him eligible for promotion to reader, Xibao declined. Grand Secretary Fu Heng, knowing he hoped to rise through the jinshi examination, did not seek a promotion for him. In the twenty-second year he passed the jinshi examination and became a Hanlin bachelor. He went home for his mother's mourning, was stricken with ulcers, and took several years to recover. In the thirty-first year, after leaving the Hanlin Academy, he was made a principal clerk in the Ministry of Punishments. He was promoted again to director. He was appointed grain intendant of Shandong. Ning Hui, son of garrison corporal Ning Tingyan, killed corporal Zhang Jiqu while pressing for repayment of a debt; Xibao referred the case to the ministry. During an imperial tour of Shandong the Emperor received him in audience and ordered him to the capital for appointment in a ministry. At Grand Secretary Agui's recommendation he was assigned to the Complete Library of the Four Treasuries to redeem himself through service. When the project was finished he was promoted to Vice Director of the Imperial College.
10
居三年，上以錫寶補司業無期，特授陝西道監察御史。 時協辦大學士和珅執政，其奴劉全恃勢營私，衣服、車馬、居室皆踰制。 錫寶將論劾，侍郎南匯吳省欽與錫寶同鄉里，聞其事，和珅方從上熱河行在，馳以告和珅，令全毀其室，衣服、車馬有踰制，皆匿無跡。 錫寶疏至，上詰和珅。 和珅言平時戒約嚴，或扈從日久漸生事，乞嚴察重懲。 乃命留京辦事王大臣召錫寶問狀，又令步軍統領遣官從錫寶至全家察視，無跡，錫寶自承冒昧。 上召錫寶詣行在面詰，錫寶奏全倚勢營私，未有實跡，第為和珅「杜漸防微」，乃有此奏。 复諭軍機大臣、大學士梁國治等覆詢，錫寶又承「杜漸防微」語失當，請治罪。 下部議，當左遷。 上手詔略言：「平時用人行政，不肯存逆詐億不信之見。 若委用臣工不能推誠佈公，而猜疑防範，據一時無根之談，遽入人以罪，使天下重足而立、側目而視，斷無此政體。 錫寶未察虛實，以書生拘迂之見，託為正言陳奏。 姑寬其罰，改革職留任。」 五十七年，卒。
After three years, with no opening for him as vice director, the Emperor specially appointed him investigating censor for the Shaanxi circuit. Assisting Grand Secretary Heshen was then in power; his bondservant Liu Quan used his master's influence for private gain, with clothing, carriages, and a residence all beyond what regulations allowed. Xibao prepared to impeach Liu Quan; Vice Minister Wu Shengqin of Nanhui, a fellow townsman, learned of it. Heshen was with the Emperor at Rehe; Shengqin rode posthaste to warn him, and Heshen had Quan tear down his house and hide every item that exceeded regulations. When Xibao's memorial arrived the Emperor questioned Heshen. Heshen said he ordinarily kept strict discipline, but that perhaps after long service on tour Quan had gradually misbehaved, and asked that he be strictly investigated and severely punished. The Emperor ordered a minister in Beijing to question Xibao and sent officials with him to search Quan's house; nothing was found, and Xibao admitted he had acted rashly. Summoned to the traveling palace, Xibao said Quan had certainly abused power though no proof remained, and that his memorial had been meant to help Heshen "nip evil in the bud." Questioned again by Grand Secretary Liang Guozhi and other Grand Councilors, Xibao admitted the "nip evil in the bud" formula was improper and asked for punishment. The ministry recommended demotion. The Emperor's personal edict said in part: "In appointing officials and governing the realm I refuse to harbor habitual suspicion and distrust. If I cannot deal openly with my ministers yet suspect and fence them off, and on a moment's baseless rumor rush to convict a man so that the empire walks in fear—that is no government I would accept. Xibao had not verified his facts; in bookish narrowness he had dressed rash speech as loyal remonstrance. His punishment was waived; he was transferred to another post and kept in service. He died in the fifty-seventh year.
11
仁宗親政，誅和珅，並籍全家，乃追思錫寶直言，諭曰：「故御史曹錫寶，嘗劾和珅奴劉全倚勢營私，家貲豐厚。 彼時和珅聲勢薰灼，舉朝無一人敢於糾劾，而錫寶獨能抗辭執奏，不愧諍臣。 今和珅治罪後，並籍全家，貲產至二十馀萬。 是錫寶所劾不虛，宜加優獎，以旌直言。 錫寶贈副都御史，其子江視贈官予廕。」 錫寶，一士從子，再世居台省，敢言名。 家有甕，焚諫草，江嘗乞諸能文者為詩歌，傳一時雲。
When Emperor Renzong personally assumed rule he executed Heshen and confiscated his household; recalling Xibao's bold memorial, he said: "The late Censor Cao Xibao once impeached Heshen's bondservant Liu Quan for abusing power and amassing great wealth. At that time Heshen's influence filled the court and no one dared impeach him, yet Xibao alone spoke out—a true remonstrating minister. Now that Heshen has been punished and his household confiscated, his property exceeds two hundred thousand taels. Xibao's charges were not false; he should be specially rewarded to honor honest speech. Xibao was posthumously made Vice Censor-in-Chief, and his son Jiang received hereditary privilege according to that rank. Xibao was a nephew of Yishi Cong; for two generations the family served at court and was known for outspokenness. The family kept an urn for burning draft memorials; Jiang once asked literary men to compose poems about it, which circulated widely for a time.
12
=謝振定=謝振定，字一齋，一字薌泉，湖南湘鄉人。 乾隆四十五年進士，改庶吉士，散館授編修。 五十九年，考選江南道監察御史。 巡視南漕，漕艘阻瓜洲，振定禱於神，風轉順漕艘，人稱「謝公風」。 六十年，遷兵科給事中。 巡視東城，有乘違制車騁於衢者，執而訊之，則和珅妾弟也，語不遜，振定命痛笞之，遂焚其車。 曰：「此車豈堪宰相坐耶？」 居數日，給事中王鍾健希和珅意，假他事劾振定，奪職。 和珅敗，嘉慶五年，起授禮部主事。 遷員外郎，充坐糧廳，監收漕糧，裁革陋規，兌運肅然。 十四年，卒。
Xie Zhending, whose courtesy names were Yizhai and Xiangquan, came from Xiangxiang in Hunan. In the forty-fifth year of Qianlong he took his jinshi degree, entered the Hanlin Academy, and after leaving the academy was made a compiler. In the fifty-ninth year he was selected investigating censor for the Jiangnan circuit. Inspecting southern grain transport, he found vessels blocked at Guazhou; Zhending prayed to the river god, the wind turned fair, and the fleet moved—people called it "Secretary Xie's wind." In the sixtieth year he was made supervising secretary of the Board of War. Inspecting the eastern city he seized a man driving an illegal carriage at speed—it was Heshen's brother-in-law. When the man was insolent, Zhending had him beaten and burned the carriage. He declared: "How could a carriage like this be fit for a grand secretary?" Days later Supervising Secretary Wang Zhongjian, seeking Heshen's favor, impeached Zhending on another charge and he was stripped of office. After Heshen's downfall, in the fifth year of Jiaqing he was recalled as principal clerk in the Ministry of Rites. Promoted to vice director, he served in the grain-receipt office, supervised tribute grain collection, cut abusive fees, and transport became orderly. He died in the fourteenth year.
13
道光中，振定子興嶢，官河南裕州知州。 以卓薦引見，循例奏姓名、裡貫。 宣宗問：「爾湖南人，乃能為京師語，何也？」 興嶢對言：「臣父振定官御史，臣生長京師。」 上曰：「爾乃燒車御史子耶？」 因褒勉甚至。 明日，語軍機大臣：「朕少聞燒車御史事，昨乃見其子。」 命擢興嶢敘州知府。
In the Daoguang reign his son Xingyao was magistrate of Yuzhou in Henan. Recommended for outstanding service he was presented at court and, by precedent, gave his name and native place. Emperor Xuanzong asked: "You are from Hunan—how is it you speak the capital dialect?" Xingyao replied: "My father Zhending served as a censor; I grew up in the capital." The Emperor said: "Then you are the son of the carriage-burning censor?" He praised and encouraged him warmly. The next day he told the Grand Councilors: "I heard of the carriage-burning censor in my youth; yesterday I saw his son." He ordered Xingyao promoted to prefect of Xuzhou.
14
=錢灃=錢灃，字東注，雲南昆明人。 乾隆三十六年進士，改庶吉士，散館授檢討。 四十六年，考選江南道監察御史。 甘肅冒賑折捐事發，主其事者為甘肅布政使王亶望，時已遷浙江巡撫，坐誅，總督勒爾謹及諸府縣吏死者數十人，事具亶望傳。 陝西巡撫畢沅嘗兩署陝甘總督，獨置不問。 灃疏言：「冒賑折捐，固由亶望骫法，但亶望為布政使時，沅兩署總督，近在同城，豈無聞見？ 使沅早發其奸，則播惡不至如此之甚； 即陷於刑闢者，亦不至如此之多。 臣不敢謂其利令智昏，甘受所餌，惟是瞻徇回護，不肯舉發，甚非大臣居心之道。 請比捏結各員治罪。」 上為詰責沅，降秩視三品，事具沅傳。
Qian Feng, whose courtesy name was Dongzhu, came from Kunming in Yunnan. In the thirty-sixth year of Qianlong he took his jinshi degree, entered the Hanlin Academy, and after leaving the academy was made a reviser. In the forty-sixth year he was selected investigating censor for the Jiangnan circuit. When the Gansu fraudulent relief and diverted-grain scandal erupted, the chief figure was Provincial Administration Commissioner Wang Danwang, by then Zhejiang governor; he was executed, Governor-General Le'erjin and dozens of prefectural and county officials died—the affair is detailed in Danwang's biography. Shaanxi Governor Bi Yuan had twice served as acting Shaan-Gan governor-general yet was left untouched. Feng memorialized: "The fraud was certainly Danwang's doing, yet when Danwang was provincial commissioner Bi Yuan twice acted as governor-general in the same city—could he have known nothing? Had Yuan exposed the crime early, the evil would not have spread so far; nor would so many have been condemned to death. I do not say he was bribed, but in shielding wrongdoing and refusing to report he failed the standard of a great minister. I ask that he be punished like the conspirators." The Emperor rebuked Bi Yuan and reduced him to third rank; the affair is recorded in his biography.
15
四十七年，灃疏劾山東巡撫國泰、布政使於易簡吏治廢弛，貪婪無饜，各州縣庫皆虧缺，上命大學士和珅、左都御史劉墉率灃往按。 和珅庇國泰，怵灃，灃不為撓。 至山東，發歷城縣庫驗帑銀。 故事，帑銀以五十兩為一鋌，市銀則否。 國泰聞使者將至，假市銀補庫。 灃按問得其狀，召商還所假，庫為之空。 复按章丘、東平、益都三州縣庫，皆虧缺如灃言。 國泰、易簡罪至死，和珅不能護也。 上旌灃直言，擢通政司參議。 四十八年，遷太常寺少卿。 再遷通政司副使。 出督湖南學政，灃持正，得士為盛。 五十一年，任滿，命留任。 湖北荊州水壞城郭，孝感土豪殺饑民。 上責灃在鄰省何不以聞，下部議。 諸生或匿喪赴試，又有上違禁書籍者。 灃按治未竟，聞親喪去官，以事屬巡撫浦霖。 霖遂並劾灃，坐奪職。 上命左授六部主事。
In the forty-seventh year Feng impeached Shandong Governor Guotai and Commissioner Yu Yijian for ruined governance and insatiable greed; treasuries throughout the province were short. The Emperor sent Grand Secretary Heshen and Left Censor-in-Chief Liu Yong with Feng to investigate. Heshen protected Guotai and tried to intimidate Feng, who would not bend. In Shandong they opened the Licheng county treasury to verify the silver. By rule treasury silver was cast in fifty-tael ingots; market silver was not. Learning the investigators were coming, Guotai borrowed market silver to pad the treasury. Feng established the facts, made the merchants reclaim their silver, and the treasury stood empty. They inspected Zhangqiu, Dongping, and Yidu as well; every treasury was short, just as Feng had charged. Guotai and Yijian were sentenced to death; Heshen could not save them. The Emperor praised Feng's honesty and promoted him to Vice Commissioner of the Office of Transmission. In the forty-eighth year he became Vice Director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices. He was promoted again to Vice Commissioner of the Office of Transmission. Posted as Hunan education commissioner, Feng was strict and just and produced many excellent scholars. In the fifty-first year, when his term ended, he was ordered to stay on. Floods destroyed the walls of Jingzhou in Hubei; in Xiaogan local bullies killed famine victims. The Emperor rebuked Feng for failing to report these events though he was in a neighboring province, and referred him to the ministry. Some licentiates hid deaths in the family to sit for examinations, and some submitted forbidden books. Feng had not finished the investigation when he left on his father's death and left the matter to Governor Pulín. Pulín then impeached Feng too, and he was stripped of office. The Emperor demoted him to principal clerk in one of the six ministries.
16
五十八年，灃服除，詣京師，授戶部主事。 引見，即擢員外郎。 复除湖廣道監察御史。 時和珅愈專政，大學士阿桂、王杰，尚書董誥、福長安與同為軍機大臣，不相能，入直恆異處。 灃疏言：「我朝設立軍機處，大臣與其職者，皆萃止其中，庸以集思廣益，仰贊高深。 地一則勢無所分，居同則情可共見。 即各司諮事畫，亦有定所。 近日惟阿桂每日入止軍機處； 和珅或止內右門內直廬，或止隆宗門外近造辦處直廬； 王杰、董誥則止於南書房； 福長安則止於造辦處。 每日召對，聯行而入，退即各還所處。 雖亦有時暫至軍機處，而事過輒起。 各司諮事畫，趨步多歧。 皇上乾行之健，離照之明，大小臣工戴德懷刑，浹於肌髓，決不至因此遂啟朋黨角立之漸。 然世宗憲皇帝以來，及皇上御極之久，軍機大臣萃止無渙，未嘗纖芥有他。 由前律後，不應聽其輕更。 內右門內切近禁寢，向因有養心殿帶領引見事，須先一兩刻預備。 恩加大臣，不令與各官露立，是以設廬許得暫止。 不應於未辨色之前，一大臣入止，而隨從軍機司員亦更入更出。 為日既久，不能不與內監相狎。 萬一有無知如高雲從者，雖立正刑闢，而所絓已多，杜漸宜早。 至南書房備幾暇顧問，俟軍機事畢，入直未遲； 若隆宗門外直廬及造辦處，則各色應差皆得覘聽於外，大臣於中治事，亦屬過褻。 請敕諸大臣仍照舊規同止軍機處，庶匪懈之忱，各申五夜； 協恭之雅，共勵一堂。 其圓明園治事，和珅、福長安止於如意門外南順牆東向直廬，王杰、董誥止於南書房直廬，並請敕更正。」 上為申誡諸大臣，並命灃稽察軍機處。
In the fifty-eighth year, after mourning, Feng came to the capital and was appointed principal clerk in the Ministry of Revenue. At audience he was immediately promoted to vice director. He was again made investigating censor for the Huguang circuit. By then Heshen dominated government; Grand Secretaries Agui and Wang Jie and Ministers Dong Gao and Fu Chang'an sat on the Grand Council with him but could not work together, each keeping to a separate office. Feng memorialized: "The Grand Council was established so that all ministers who shared its duties would gather in one place, pooling counsel to assist the throne. One location prevents divided power; shared quarters let intentions be seen plainly. Even routine consultation and drafting have fixed places. Lately only Agui enters the Grand Council daily and remains there; Heshen sometimes stays in the duty room inside the inner right gate, or in the room near the construction office outside Longzong Gate; Wang Jie and Dong Gao remain only in the Southern Study; Fu Chang'an stays only at the construction office. Each day they enter together for audience, then withdraw to separate quarters. They may visit the Grand Council briefly, but leave as soon as the matter is finished. When various offices brought business for consultation and drafting, officials came and went by many different routes. The Emperor's vigor and clarity inspire awe throughout the bureaucracy; this reform will not, as feared, open the door to factional rivalry. From the Yongzheng Emperor to Your Majesty's long reign, Grand Councilors have always gathered together without the slightest friction. Precedent should not be lightly overturned. The duty room inside the inner right gate lies close to the imperial residence; because audiences at the Hall of Mental Cultivation require advance preparation, an hour or two of lead time is needed. Out of consideration for great ministers, who should not stand exposed with ordinary officials, lodges were provided for brief rest. Yet one minister should not enter before dawn while Grand Council clerks stream in and out. Over time they cannot avoid growing familiar with palace eunuchs. Should another fool like Gao Yuncong appear, even immediate execution would come too late; evil is best checked early. The Southern Study serves for informal consultation; entering duty there after Grand Council business is finished would not be late; but duty rooms outside Longzong Gate and at the construction office let all manner of attendants eavesdrop while ministers work inside—an improper intimacy. I ask that the ministers return to the old rule and remain together at the Grand Council, keeping vigil through the night watches; and sustaining cooperative harmony in one hall. At the Yuanming Garden, Heshen and Fu Chang'an should not remain only in the east-facing lodge south of Ruyi Gate, nor Wang Jie and Dong Gao only in the Southern Study lodge—I ask that these arrangements be corrected too. The Emperor admonished the ministers and ordered Feng to inspect the Grand Council.
17
和珅素惡灃，至是尤深嗛之。 上夙許其持正，度未可遽傾，凡遇勞苦事多委之。 灃貧，衣裘薄，宵興晡散，遂得疾。 六十年，卒。 或謂灃將劾和珅，和珅實酖之。
Heshen had long hated Feng; from this point his hatred deepened. The Emperor had long valued his integrity and would not let him be destroyed outright; difficult tasks were often assigned to him. Feng was poor and thinly clad; rising before dawn and working until late afternoon, he fell ill. He died in the sixtieth year. Some say Feng was preparing to impeach Heshen and that Heshen poisoned him.
18
=尹壯圖=尹壯圖，字楚珍，雲南昆明人。 乾隆三十一年進士，改庶吉士。 散館，授禮部主事。 再遷郎中。 三十九年，考選江南道監察御史，轉京畿道。 三遷至內閣學士，兼禮部侍郎。
Yin Zhuangtu, whose courtesy name was Chuzhen, came from Kunming in Yunnan. In the thirty-first year of Qianlong he took his jinshi degree and became a Hanlin bachelor. After leaving the academy he was made principal clerk in the Ministry of Rites. He was promoted again to director. In the thirty-ninth year he was selected investigating censor for the Jiangnan circuit and transferred to the capital circuit. He rose through three promotions to Grand Secretary of the Inner Court, concurrently Vice Minister of Rites.
19
高宗季年，督撫坐譴，或令繳罰項貸罪，壯圖以為非政體。 五十五年，上疏言：「督撫自蹈愆尤，聖恩不即罷斥，罰銀若干萬充公，亦有督撫自請認罰若干萬者。 在桀驁者藉口以快其饕餮之私，即清廉者亦不得不望屬員之佽助。 日後遇有虧空營私重案，不容不曲為庇護。 是罰銀雖嚴，不惟無以動其愧懼之心，且潛生其玩易之念，請永停此例。 如才具平常者，或即罷斥，或用京職，毋許再膺外任。」 上諭曰：「壯圖請停罰銀例，不為無見。 朕以督撫一時不能得人，棄瑕錄用，酌示薄懲。 但督撫等或有昧良負恩，以措辦官項為辭，需索屬員； 而屬員亦藉此斂派逢迎，此亦不能保其必無。 壯圖既為此奏，自必確有見聞，令指實覆奏。」 壯圖覆奏：「各督撫聲名狼藉，吏治廢弛。 臣經過地方，體察官吏賢否，商民半皆蹙額興嘆。 各省風氣，大抵皆然。 請旨簡派滿洲大臣同臣往各省密查虧空。」 上复諭曰：「壯圖覆奏，並未指實。 至稱經過諸省商民蹙額興嘆，竟似居今之世，民不堪命。 此聞自何人，見於何處，仍令指實覆奏。」 壯圖再覆奏，自承措詞過當，請治罪。 上命戶部侍郎慶成偕壯圖赴山西察倉庫，始大同府庫，次山西布政使庫，皆無虧。 壯圖請還京治罪。 上命慶成偕壯圖再赴直隸、山東、江南諸省。 慶成所至，輒遊宴數日，乃發倉庫校覈，歷直隸布政使及正定、蘭山、山陽諸府縣，皆無虧。 上寄諭壯圖，問途中見商民蹙額興嘆狀否。 壯圖覆奏，言目見商民樂業，絕無蹙額興嘆情事。 上又令慶成傳旨，令其指實二三人，毋更含糊支飾。 壯圖自承虛誑，奏請治罪。 尋复察蘇州布政使庫，亦無虧。 還京，下刑部治罪，比挾詐欺公、妄生異議律，坐斬決。 上謂壯圖逞臆妄言，亦不妨以謗為規，不必遽加重罪，命左授內閣侍讀。 繼又以侍讀缺少，改禮部主事。
In the Emperor's later years, punished governors-general and governors were sometimes allowed to pay fines instead of facing dismissal; Zhuangtu held this was unsound. In the fifty-fifth year he memorialized: "When governors-general and governors err, instead of dismissal the court accepts fines of tens of thousands of taels, and some officials volunteer such fines themselves. The corrupt use this to feed their greed; even honest men must lean on subordinates for help. Later, when serious cases of embezzlement arise, they cannot but cover for one another. Fines may look severe, yet they neither inspire shame nor deter wrongdoing; I ask that the practice be abolished. Mediocre officials should be dismissed or kept in the capital, not sent out to the provinces again." The Emperor replied: "Zhuangtu's objection to fines is not without point. Because suitable governors are hard to find, I overlook faults and impose light fines. Yet some may abuse the system, extorting subordinates under the pretext of raising official funds; and subordinates levy and flatter in turn—this too cannot be ruled out. Since Zhuangtu has raised this, he must have evidence; I order him to report specifics. Zhuangtu replied: "Governors-general and governors are notorious; governance is in ruins. Traveling through the provinces I observed officials and found merchants and commoners knitting their brows and sighing. The condition is much the same everywhere. I ask that Manchu ministers be sent with me to investigate deficits secretly in each province." The Emperor replied again: "Your reply still names no one. To say merchants everywhere knit their brows and sigh makes it sound as if the people cannot endure their lives. From whom did you hear this and where did you see it? Report facts again. Zhuangtu memorialized again, admitting his words were excessive and asking for punishment. The Emperor sent Vice Minister Qing Cheng with Zhuangtu to inspect Shanxi treasuries, beginning at Datong and then the provincial treasury—both were sound. Zhuangtu asked to return to the capital for punishment. The Emperor ordered them to continue to Zhili, Shandong, and Jiangnan. Qing Cheng feasted for days at each stop before inspecting treasuries; through Zhili and numerous prefectures and counties, all were sound. The Emperor asked Zhuangtu whether he had seen merchants knitting their brows and sighing along the way. Zhuangtu replied that merchants were prospering and he saw no such distress. The Emperor again ordered him to name two or three specific men and stop equivocating. Zhuangtu confessed he had lied and asked for punishment. They also inspected the Suzhou provincial treasury; again no deficit. Back in the capital he was tried by the Board of Punishments and sentenced to decapitation for fraud and reckless dissent. The Emperor said Zhuangtu had spoken rashly, yet honest error might still serve as remonstrance; he was demoted to Grand Secretariat reader rather than executed. When a reader's post fell vacant he was made principal clerk in the Ministry of Rites.
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壯圖以母老乞歸。 嘉慶四年，仁宗親政，召詣京師。 壯圖仍以母老乞歸，上賜其母大緞兩端，加壯圖給事中銜，賜奏事摺匣，命得上章言事。 壯圖未行，复上疏請清覈各省陋規，明定科條，上以為不可行。 既歸，疏請拔真才，儲實用，大要謂：「保舉未定處分，當下吏部嚴立科條； 科埸或通關節，當將房考落卷送主司搜閱。 其尤要者，謂六部滿洲司員案，文義多未曉暢，當嚴督令習經書通文理； 鄉會試加廣名額，司員先侭科甲挑補。」 下軍機大臣議，奏謂惟房考落卷送主司搜閱，事近可行，補入科場條例。
Zhuangtu asked to retire because his mother was elderly. In the fourth year of Jiaqing, when Emperor Renzong personally assumed rule, Zhuangtu was summoned to the capital. He again pleaded his mother's age; the Emperor gave his mother silk, granted him supervising secretary rank, a memorial folder, and permission to memorialize the throne. Before leaving he memorialized to abolish abusive provincial customs; the Emperor ruled it impracticable. At home he memorialized on selecting true talent, urging among other things that "when recommendations are pending punishment, the Ministry of Personnel should set strict rules; if examination fraud occurs, rejected papers should be sent to the chief examiner for review. He especially urged that Manchu clerks in the six ministries, often unable to grasp case documents, be made to study the classics; examination quotas should be enlarged and clerks chosen first from degree holders. The Grand Council found only the rejected-paper review feasible and added it to examination regulations.
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雲南巡撫初彭齡乞養歸，壯圖疏請留，上不允。 別疏復申前議，謂滿洲子弟十五六歲前專責習經書通文理，再習騎射繙譯。 上謂：「壯圖以前嘗駁飭之事復行瀆陳，更張本朝成法。 下雲南巡撫伊桑阿傳旨申飭。」 八年，疏言：「天下萬幾，皆皇上獨理。 內外諸臣不過浮沉旅進旅退之中，無能匡扶弼亮。 請於內之卿貳、翰詹、科道，外之籓、臬、道、府，慎選二十人，輪直內廷。 每日奏章諭旨，盡心檢校，有疏忽偏倚之處，許就近詳辨可否。」 上責：「壯圖言皆迂闊紕謬，斷不可行。 若如所奏，直於軍機大臣外復設內軍機，成何政體？」 因及雲南布政使陳孝升、道員薩榮安方以冒銷軍需被罪，令巡撫那彥寶詰壯圖，何無一言奏及。 壯圖言以不得孝升等確據，未敢入告，仍請議處，上命寬之。 十三年，卒。
When Yunnan Governor Chu Pengling asked to retire to care for his parents, Zhuangtu asked that he be kept; the Emperor refused. In another memorial he again urged that Manchu boys before fifteen or sixteen study the classics first, then riding, archery, and translation. The Emperor said Zhuangtu was repeating rejected proposals and seeking to overturn dynastic law. He ordered Yunnan Governor Yisang'a to rebuke him by edict. In the eighth year he memorialized: "All affairs of state are handled by the Emperor alone. Ministers within and without merely drift with office, unable to support or counsel. I ask that twenty men be chosen from vice ministers, Hanlin, censors, governors, and prefects to serve in rotation inside the palace. Each day they should review memorials and edicts and discuss errors of negligence or bias on the spot. The Emperor rebuked him: "Everything you say is impracticable nonsense. As you propose, I would have an inner Grand Council beside the Grand Council—what government would that be?" He noted that Yunnan officials were being punished for fraudulent military supplies and asked why Zhuangtu had not reported it. Zhuangtu said he lacked proof and had not dared report; he still asked for punishment, and the Emperor pardoned him. He died in the thirteenth year.
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=【論】=論曰：高宗中年後，遇有言事者，遣大臣按治，輒命其參與。 光鼐既將坐譴，卒得自白，阿桂之賢也。 灃劾國泰發庫藏掩覆，論者謂劉墉密與灃商榷，蓋亦有力焉。 漱芳、錫寶、壯圖皆不能實其言，大臣怙寵亂政，民迫於飢寒，卒成禍亂。 嗚呼，古昔聖王兢兢，重畏民碞，良有以也！
The commentary says: In his middle years, whenever someone memorialized the throne the Gaozong Emperor sent ministers to investigate and usually ordered the memorialist to take part. Guangnai was on the verge of punishment yet finally vindicated himself—credit Agui's integrity. Feng's exposure of Guotai's padded treasury is said to have had Liu Yong's secret support. Shufang, Xibao, and Zhuangtu could not prove their charges; favored ministers corrupted government, and people driven by hunger and cold finally rose in rebellion. Alas! The ancient sage kings trembled before the people's complaints—and rightly so!