1
慶桂，字樹齋，章佳氏，滿洲鑲黃旗人，大學士尹繼善子。 以廕生授戶部員外郎，充軍機章京，超擢內閣學士。
Qing Gui, whose courtesy name was Shuzhai, belonged to the Zhangjia clan, came from the Manchu Bordered Yellow Banner, and was the son of Grand Secretary Yin Jishan. Through hereditary privilege he received appointment as a vice director in the Ministry of Revenue, served on the Grand Council staff, and was then promoted ahead of schedule to Grand Secretariat academician.
2
乾隆三十二年，充庫倫辦事大臣，遷理籓院侍郎。 三十六年，授軍機大臣。 居二載，出為伊犁參贊大臣，調塔爾巴哈台。 哈薩克巴布克詭稱阿布勒畢斯授為哈拉克齊，偕阿布勒畢斯之子博普來貢馬。 慶桂以博普未至，巴布克狡詐不可信，斥之。 上嘉其有識，曰：「尹繼善之子能如此，朕又得一能事大臣矣！」 四十二年，授吏部侍郎。 調烏里雅蘇台將軍，授正黃旗漢軍都統，以病回京。 逾年，授盛京將軍，調吉林，再調福州。 四十九年，入覲，授工部尚書，仍直軍機，調兵部。 逾年，署黑龍江將軍。 時陝甘總督福康安赴阿克蘇安輯回眾，上以慶桂練邊事，命帶欽差關防，馳往甘肅，暫署總督。 尋授塔爾巴哈台參贊大臣。 五十一年，召授兵部尚書，歷署盛京、吉林、烏里雅蘇台將軍。 五十七年，廓爾喀平，予議敘，圖形紫光閣，上親制贊。
In Qianlong 32 (1767) he served as commissioner at Khüree and was then transferred to vice minister of the Court of Colonial Affairs. In Qianlong 36 (1771) he was appointed a Grand Council minister. After two years on the council he was posted out as assistant commissioner at Ili and then transferred to Tarbagatai. The Kazakh leader Babuk falsely claimed that Abulibis had named him Harakchi and arrived with Abulibis's son Bopu to present tribute horses. Qing Gui dismissed the claim because Bopu had not appeared and Babuk was too deceitful to be trusted. The emperor praised his judgment, saying, "Yin Jishan's son can show such discernment—I have gained another capable minister!" In Qianlong 42 (1777) he was appointed vice minister of personnel. He was transferred to general at Uliastai, appointed commander-in-chief of the Chinese Plain Yellow Banner, and returned to the capital because of illness. The next year he was appointed general at Mukden, then transferred to Jilin and afterward to Fuzhou. In Qianlong 49 (1784) he came to court, was appointed minister of works, remained on the Grand Council, and was transferred to the Ministry of War. The next year he served as acting general of Heilongjiang. At that time Shaanxi-Gansu Governor-General Fuk'anggan had gone to Aksu to pacify returning populations; because Qing Gui was experienced in frontier affairs, the emperor ordered him to carry the imperial commissioner seal, hurry to Gansu, and serve temporarily as governor-general. He was soon appointed assistant commissioner at Tarbagatai. In Qianlong 51 (1786) he was recalled and appointed minister of war, and in succession acted as general at Mukden, Jilin, and Uliastai. In Qianlong 57 (1792), after the Gurkha campaign was settled, he received merit evaluation, had his portrait placed in the Hall of Purple Splendor, and the emperor personally wrote his commendation.
3
兩淮鹽運使柴楨私挪課銀彌補浙江鹽道庫藏，命偕長麟赴浙按治，得巡撫福崧婪索侵蝕狀，讞上，福崧、楨俱伏法。 尋授荊州將軍。 逾年，召授正紅旗蒙古都統，命勘南河高家堰石工。 嘉慶四年，授刑部尚書、協辦大學士，复直軍機。 授內大臣，監修高宗實錄，加太子太保。 拜文淵閣大學士，總理刑部。 裕陵奉安禮成，晉太子太傅，管理吏部、理籓院、戶部三庫事。 七年，三省教匪平，以贊畫功，予騎都尉世職，賜雙眼花翎。 九年，授領侍衛內大臣。 高宗實錄成，賞紫韁，晉太子太師。 十六年，扈蹕熱河，以腿疾免從行圍，予假回京。 十七年，晉太保。 上念其年老，罷直軍機處，仍授內大臣。
When Chai Zhen, salt transport commissioner of the Two Huai circuits, privately diverted tax silver to cover shortfalls in the Zhejiang salt treasury, Qing Gui was ordered to go to Zhejiang with Chang Lin to investigate. They uncovered Governor Fu Song's extortion and embezzlement, submitted the case for judgment, and both Fu Song and Chai were executed. He was soon appointed general at Jingzhou. The next year he was recalled and appointed commander-in-chief of the Mongol Plain Red Banner, with orders to inspect the stone works at Gaojia Embankment on the Southern Canal. In Jiaqing 4 (1799) he was appointed minister of punishments and associate grand secretary and again took a seat on the Grand Council. He was appointed grand minister of the imperial household, supervised compilation of the Veritable Records of the Qianlong reign, and received the additional title of junior tutor to the heir apparent. He was appointed grand secretary of the Wenyuan Pavilion and placed in overall charge of the Ministry of Punishments. After the interment ceremony at Yuling was completed, he was promoted to senior tutor to the heir apparent and given charge of the ministries of personnel and colonial affairs and the three revenue treasuries. In Jiaqing 7 (1802), after the sect rebels in the three provinces were pacified, he was rewarded for his planning with a hereditary commandant of cavalry fief and granted double-eyed peacock feathers. In Jiaqing 9 (1804) he was appointed chief grand minister of the imperial bodyguard. When the Veritable Records of the Qianlong reign were completed, he was rewarded with a purple bridle and promoted to preceptor to the heir apparent. In Jiaqing 16 (1811) he accompanied the court to Rehe; because of a leg ailment he was excused from the hunting encampment and granted leave to return to the capital. In Jiaqing 17 (1812) he was promoted to grand tutor. Mindful of his advanced age, the emperor removed him from the Grand Council but still appointed him grand minister of the imperial household.
4
慶桂性和平，居樞廷數十年，初無過失，舉趾不離跬寸，時咸稱其風度。 逾年，命以原品休致，給予全俸。 二十一年，卒，諡文恪。
Qing Gui was mild and even-tempered; he served on the Grand Council for decades without a single lapse, and his conduct never strayed from propriety—contemporaries all praised his bearing. The next year he was ordered to retire at his original rank with full salary. In Jiaqing 21 (1816) he died and was posthumously titled Wenge.
5
劉權之，字云房，湖南長沙人。 乾隆二十五年進士，選庶吉士，授編修，累擢司經局洗馬。 四十三年，督安徽學政。 預修四庫全書，在事最久，及總目提要告成，以勞擢侍講。 五十年，大考二等。 逾年，擢大理寺卿，遷左副都御史。 疏言：「大挑舉人多夤緣，請於事前一日簡派王大臣，聞命即宿朝房，以杜弊竇。」 於是命在午門蒞事，御史監視，護軍巡察，步軍、五城一體嚴查，著為令。 尋督山東學政。 五十六年，擢禮部侍郎。 六十年，典江南鄉試，留學政。 嘉慶二年，調吏部。
Liu Quanzhi, whose courtesy name was Yunfang, came from Changsha in Hunan. In Qianlong 25 (1760) he passed the metropolitan examination, entered the Hanlin Academy as a bachelor, was appointed compiler, and rose in succession to reader in the Directorate of Astronomy. In Qianlong 43 (1778) he served as educational commissioner of Anhui. He took part in compiling the Complete Library in Four Branches and served on the project longer than anyone else; when the General Catalogue and Abstracts were finished, he was promoted to reader in recognition of his labor. In Qianlong 50 (1785) he ranked second class in the grand evaluation. The next year he was promoted to president of the Court of Judicial Review and transferred to left vice censor-in-chief. In a memorial he wrote that many graduates selected in the great civil-service placement secured posts through connections, and asked that princes and grand ministers be specially assigned one day beforehand and lodge overnight in the court offices upon receiving orders, so as to block abuses. Thereupon the court ordered that the selection be conducted at the Meridian Gate with censors supervising, guards patrolling, and the infantry and Five Cities conducting joint strict inspection—this became a standing regulation. He soon served as educational commissioner of Shandong. In Qianlong 56 (1791) he was promoted to vice minister of rites. In Qianlong 60 (1795) he presided over the Jiangnan provincial examination and remained as educational commissioner. In Jiaqing 2 (1797) he was transferred to the Ministry of Personnel.
6
四年，擢左都御史，典會試。 疏言：「買補倉穀，地方官奉行不善，在本境採買，不論市價長賤，發銀四五錢。 花戶不原納穀，惟求繳還原銀，加倍交價。 富戶賄吏飛灑零戶，轉得少派。 善良貧民深受其累。 官以折價入己，仍無存米。 遇協濟鄰省，令米商倉猝購辦，發價剋扣，起運勒掯。 請飭遇應買補，向豐稔鄰縣公平採辦，不得於本縣苛派，嚴禁胥吏舞弊。」 又言：「社倉大半藉端挪移，管理首事與胥吏從中侵盜，至歉歲顆粒無存，以致殷實之戶不樂捐輸，老成之士不原承辦，請一律查禁。」 詔韙之，飭各直省嚴禁，民得免累，湖、湘間尤稱頌焉。
In Jiaqing 4 (1799) he was promoted to left censor-in-chief and presided over the metropolitan examination. In a memorial he reported that when officials purchased grain to replenish granaries, local magistrates carried out the policy badly: they procured within their own jurisdictions and paid four or five cash in silver regardless of whether market prices were high or low, grain contractors refused to deliver grain and only sought to return the original silver at double the price, wealthy households bribed clerks to shift assessments onto scattered households and thereby received lighter levies, while honest poor commoners bore the heaviest burden. Officials pocketed the discounted payments for themselves, and still no grain was stored. When aid to neighboring provinces was required, grain merchants were ordered to purchase hastily; disbursements were withheld and transport was extorted at shipment. He asked that whenever replenishment purchases were required, procurement be conducted fairly in neighboring counties with good harvests, that harsh levies within one's own county be forbidden, and that clerk malfeasance be strictly prohibited." He also reported that most community granaries were largely diverted under pretexts, that managing heads and clerks embezzled in the process, so that in years of scarcity not a grain remained, with the result that prosperous households were unwilling to contribute and seasoned elders were unwilling to manage them, and asked that all such cases be investigated and prohibited. The emperor approved his proposals and ordered all provinces to enforce strict prohibition; the people were spared the burden, and he was especially praised in Hunan and Hubei.
7
編修洪亮吉上書王大臣言事戇直，成親王徑以上達，權之與硃珪未即呈奏，有旨詰問，自請嚴議。 上以權之人品端正，平時陳奏不欺，寬其處分。 尋遷吏部尚書。 五年，典順天鄉試。 六年，命為軍機大臣。 越一歲，會川、楚、陝教匪戡定，權之入直未久，上嘉其素日陳奏時有所見，疊予褒敘。 在吏部久，疏通淹滯，銓政號平。 九年，失察書吏虛選舞弊，因兼直樞廷，薄譴之，調兵部。 十年，以禮部尚書、協辦大學士，加太子少保。 軍機章京、中書袁煦者，故大學士紀昀女夫也，入直已邀恩敘，權之於昀有舊恩，至是復欲以袁煦列薦。 同官英和議不合，已中止，英和密請晏見，面劾權之瞻徇。 上不悅，兩人同罷直，下廷議革職，念權之前勞，降編修。 未幾，擢侍讀，遷光祿寺卿，歷遷兵部尚書。
When Compiler Hong Liangji submitted a blunt memorial to princes and grand ministers, the Prince of Cheng reported it directly to the throne; Quanzhi and Zhu Gui had not presented it immediately; the emperor demanded an explanation, and Quanzhi asked that he himself be severely punished. The emperor, considering Quanzhi's upright character and his habit of truthful memorials, lightened his punishment. He was soon transferred to minister of personnel. In Jiaqing 5 (1800) he presided over the Shuntian provincial examination. In Jiaqing 6 (1801) he was appointed a Grand Council minister. A year later, when the sect rebels in Sichuan, Hubei, and Shaanxi were pacified, Quanzhi had not long been on the council; the emperor praised his memorials as often insightful and repeatedly granted him commendation and promotion. He served long in the Ministry of Personnel, cleared backlogs, and his appointments were known as fair. In Jiaqing 9 (1804) he failed to detect clerks' fraud in fictitious selections; because he also served on the Grand Council he received a light reprimand and was transferred to the Ministry of War. In Jiaqing 10 (1805) he served as minister of rites and associate grand secretary and received the additional title of junior guardian to the heir apparent. Grand Council clerk and secretariat drafter Yuan Xu was the son-in-law of the late Grand Secretary Ji Yun; upon entering the council he had already sought preferential promotion; Quanzhi owed Yun an old debt of gratitude and now again wished to recommend Yuan Xu for preferment. His colleague Ying He disagreed and the matter had already been stopped; Ying He secretly requested an informal audience and in person impeached Quanzhi for favoritism. The emperor was displeased; both men were removed from the council; the court deliberated dismissal from office, but mindful of Quanzhi's earlier service, he was demoted to compiler. Before long he was promoted to reader, transferred to president of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, and in succession rose to minister of war.
8
十五年，協辦大學士，典順天鄉試。 是年，帝以秋狝幸熱河，明年，幸五台，並命留京辦事，拜體仁閣大學士，管理工部，復加太子少保。 十八年，目疾乞假，遣御醫診視。 會逆匪林清為變，事定，朝臣衰病者多罷退，詔以原品休致回籍，給半俸。 二十三年，卒於家，年八十，諡文恪。
In Jiaqing 15 (1810) he served as associate grand secretary and presided over the Shuntian provincial examination. That year the emperor went on the autumn hunt to Rehe; the next year he visited Wutai; both times Quanzhi was ordered to remain in the capital to handle affairs, was appointed grand secretary of the Tiren Pavilion, placed in charge of the Ministry of Works, and again received the additional title of junior guardian to the heir apparent. In Jiaqing 18 (1813) he requested leave because of an eye ailment, and an imperial physician was sent to examine him. When the rebel Lin Qing raised a disturbance and the affair was settled, many aged and infirm court officials were dismissed; an edict ordered Quanzhi to retire at his original rank and return home with half salary. In Jiaqing 23 (1818) he died at home at the age of eighty and was posthumously titled Wenge.
9
戴衢亨，字蓮士，江西大庾人。 父第元，由編修官太僕寺卿。 衢亨年十七，舉於鄉。 乾隆四十一年，召試，授內閣中書，充軍機章京。 四十三年，成一甲一名進士，授翰林院修撰，典試湖北。 叔父均元、兄心亨並居館職，迭任文衡，稱「西江四戴」。 尋命仍直軍機。 秋狝扈蹕，射狍以獻，高宗賜詩美之。 累典江南、湖南鄉試，督山西、廣東學政，歷遷侍講學士。
Dai Quheng, whose courtesy name was Lianshi, came from Dayu in Jiangxi. His father Di Yuan rose from compiler to president of the Court of the Imperial Stud. Quheng passed the provincial examination at the age of seventeen. In Qianlong 41 (1776) he was summoned for examination, appointed a grand secretariat drafter, and served on the Grand Council staff. In Qianlong 43 (1778) he placed first in the first class of metropolitan graduates, was appointed Hanlin compiler, and presided over the examination in Hubei. His uncle Junyuan and elder brother Xinheng both held academy posts and in turn served as literary examiners—they were known as "the Four Dai of the Western River." He was soon ordered to resume service on the Grand Council. On the autumn hunt he accompanied the imperial procession, shot a roe deer and presented it, and the Qianlong Emperor bestowed a poem in praise. He repeatedly presided over the Jiangnan and Hunan provincial examinations, served as educational commissioner of Shanxi and Guangdong, and rose in succession to Hanlin reader.
10
嘉慶元年，授受禮成。 凡大典撰擬文字，皆出其手。 二年，命隨軍機大臣學習行走，以秩卑，特加三品卿銜。 累遷禮部侍郎，調戶部。 四年，仁宗始親政。 衢亨以病乞假； 假滿，兼署吏部侍郎。 六年，擢兵部尚書，兼管順天府尹、戶部三庫。 川、楚、陝教匪以次削平，以贊畫功，屢荷優褒。 七年，大功戡定，詔嘉其知無不言，言無不盡，克盡忠悃，加太子少保，予雲騎尉世職。 九年，失察順天府書吏盜印，罷兼尹。 十年，調戶部，兼直南書房，典會試。 十二年，協辦大學士，兼翰林院掌院學士，典順天鄉試。 十三年，偕大學士長麟視南河。 時河事日敝，帝銳意整頓，中外臣工議不一，特命查勘籌議。 衢亨叔均元方以總河謝病家居，許便道省視，遂與長麟三疏陳治河要義，斟酌緩急，停修毛城鋪滾水壩，复天然閘東山罅閘壩，以減黃濟運； 於王營減壩西，增築滾壩、石壩，普培沿河大堤，以淮、揚境內為尤急。 雲梯關外八灘以上，接築雁翅堤以束水勢。 高堰、山盱石堤加築後戧土坡，為暫救目前之計，徐辦碎石坦坡以護石工。 智、禮二壩加高石基四尺，以製宣洩。 疏上，帝深韙之，命嗣後考覈河工以為標準。 十四年，萬壽慶典，晉太子少師。
In Jiaqing 1 (1796) the succession ceremony was completed. All drafting for major state ceremonies came from his hand. In Jiaqing 2 (1797) he was ordered to study and serve alongside Grand Council ministers; because his rank was low, he was specially given the additional title of third-rank academician. He rose in succession to vice minister of rites and was transferred to the Ministry of Revenue. In Jiaqing 4 (1799) the Jiaqing Emperor began to rule in person. Quheng requested leave because of illness; when his leave ended he concurrently served as acting vice minister of personnel. In Jiaqing 6 (1801) he was promoted to minister of war and concurrently managed the Shuntian intendant and the three revenue treasuries. The sect rebels in Sichuan, Hubei, and Shaanxi were pacified in succession; for his planning merit he repeatedly received exceptional commendation. In Jiaqing 7 (1802), when the great campaign was settled, an edict praised him for speaking without reserve and fulfilling loyal devotion, granted him the additional title of junior guardian to the heir apparent, and bestowed a hereditary Cloud Cavalry Captain fief. In Jiaqing 9 (1804) he failed to detect Shuntian clerks' theft of seals and was removed from the concurrent intendant post. In Jiaqing 10 (1805) he was transferred to the Ministry of Revenue, concurrently served in the Southern Studios, and presided over the metropolitan examination. In Jiaqing 12 (1807) he served as associate grand secretary and concurrently as chancellor of the Hanlin Academy, and presided over the Shuntian provincial examination. In Jiaqing 13 (1808) he went with Grand Secretary Chang Lin to inspect the Southern Canal. At that time river affairs were growing daily worse; the emperor was determined to put them in order, but court and provincial officials disagreed, and he specially ordered investigation and planning. Quheng's uncle Junyuan had just resigned as director-general of rivers because of illness and was at home; permission was granted to visit him along the way; he and Chang Lin then submitted three memorials setting forth the essentials of river control, weighing urgency, halting repairs to the overflow dam at Maochengpu, and restoring the sluice dams at the Natural Gate and Dongshanxia to reduce Yellow River water entering the transport canal; west of the reduction dam at Wangying they proposed building additional overflow and stone dams and broadly reinforcing the great embankments along the river, with the Huai-Yang region regarded as most urgent. Above the eight shoals outside Yunti Pass they proposed joining and building wing-shaped embankments to restrain the water's force. At the Gaoyan and Shanxu stone embankments they proposed adding rear earthen slopes as a temporary measure, with gravel slopes to be undertaken gradually to protect the stone works. The Zhi and Li dams were to have their stone foundations raised four feet to regulate discharge. When the memorial was submitted, the emperor strongly approved it and ordered that hereafter river works be evaluated by this standard. In Jiaqing 14 (1809), at the longevity celebration, he was promoted to junior preceptor to the heir apparent.
11
衢亨性清通，無聲色之好。 朝退延接士大夫，言人人殊，不置可否，而朝廷設施，有見之數月數年之後者。 柄政既久，仁宗推心任之。 給事中花傑疏論長蘆欠課，衢亨方筦戶部，議下鹽政覈辦。 傑乃劾衢亨與鹽商查有圻姻親，餽送往來，助營第宅，不免徇庇； 又廷試閱卷，援引洪瑩為一甲一名，有交通情狀； 薦週系英、王以銜、席煜、姚元之入南書房，與英和陰附結黨。 衢亨疏辨，下廷臣察詢，命二阿哥監視洪瑩覆寫試策，無誤，迭詔為衢亨湔雪； 惟斥其令部員劉承澍在園寓具稿，致招物議，予薄譴，鐫級留任； 坐傑污衊，承澍漏洩，降黜有差。 因調衢亨工部。 復以凡部臣有直軍機者，遇交議，同官每向探意旨，事後輒相推諉，特諭申儆焉。 十五年，拜體仁閣大學士，管理工部，兼掌翰林院如故。
Quheng was clear-minded and penetrating, without fondness for music or women. After court he received scholars and officials; each spoke differently, and he neither affirmed nor denied—yet court measures were sometimes seen to bear fruit months or years later. Having held power for a long time, the Jiaqing Emperor entrusted him with complete confidence. Censor Hua Jie memorialized on arrears in the Changlu salt tax; Quheng was then managing the Ministry of Revenue, and the matter was referred to the salt administration for investigation. Jie then impeached Quheng for kinship by marriage with the salt merchant Zha Youqi, for gifts exchanged back and forth and assistance in building a residence, and for inevitable favoritism; also in reading palace examination papers he had advanced Hong Ying to first place in the first class, showing signs of collusion; and for recommending Zhou Xiying, Wang Yixian, Xi Yu, and Yao Yuanzhi to the Southern Studios and secretly forming a faction with Ying He. Quheng submitted a defense; the court ministers were ordered to investigate; the second imperial son was ordered to supervise Hong Ying in rewriting his examination paper—no error was found—and repeated edicts cleared Quheng; only rebuking him for having ministry staff member Liu Chengshu draft documents at his garden residence, which drew public criticism, granting a light reprimand and demotion in rank while retaining his post; Jie was punished for slander, and Chengshu for leaking information, with differing demotions. Quheng was accordingly transferred to the Ministry of Works. Moreover, because ministry officials who served on the Grand Council had colleagues probe their intentions during joint deliberation and afterward shift blame, a special edict warned them. In Jiaqing 15 (1810) he was appointed grand secretary of the Tiren Pavilion, placed in charge of the Ministry of Works, and continued to head the Hanlin Academy as before.
12
十六年春，扈蹕五台，至正定病，先回京。 尋卒，年五十有七。 溫詔優恤，稱其謹飭清慎，實為國家得力大臣，親臨賜奠，贈太子太師，入祀賢良祠，諡文端。 子嘉端，年甫十一，賜舉人，襲雲騎尉。
In the spring of Jiaqing 16 (1811) he accompanied the imperial procession to Wutai; at Zhengding he fell ill and returned to the capital ahead of the court. He soon died at the age of fifty-seven. A warm edict granted exceptional condolence, praising his scrupulous integrity as a truly effective minister of state; the emperor personally bestowed funeral offerings, granted him posthumous rank as grand preceptor to the heir apparent, enshrined him in the Shrine of Worthies, and gave the posthumous title Wenduan. His son Jiaduan, only eleven years old, was granted the rank of provincial graduate and inherited the Cloud Cavalry Captain fief.
13
戴均元，字修原。 乾隆四十年進士，選庶吉士，授編修。 遷御史，迭典江南、湖北鄉試，督四川、安徽學政。 嘉慶三年，由安徽任滿還京，兄子衢亨先已超授軍機大臣，故事，大臣親屬任科道者，對品迴避，均元例改六部員外郎，特命以鴻臚寺少卿候補。 累擢工部侍郎。
Dai Junyuan, whose courtesy name was Xiuyuan. In Qianlong 40 (1775) he passed the metropolitan examination, entered the Hanlin Academy as a bachelor, and was appointed compiler. He was transferred to censor, repeatedly presided over the Jiangnan and Hubei provincial examinations, and served as educational commissioner of Sichuan and Anhui. In Jiaqing 3 (1798), when he returned to the capital after completing his term in Anhui, his nephew Quheng had already been promoted ahead of schedule to Grand Council minister; by precedent, when a grand minister's relative held a censorial post, he was to avoid the corresponding rank—Junyuan was normally to be transferred to vice director in one of the Six Ministries, but was specially ordered to await appointment as vice president of the Court of Imperial Entertainments. He rose in succession to vice minister of works.
14
八年，偕侍郎貢楚克扎布察視張秋運河及衡家樓決口工程。 歷戶部、吏部侍郎。 十年，南河黃流奪運，高堰石工壞，特命馳視籌度。 明年，詔以湖、河異漲，高堰堤工賴先築子堰，保衛無虞，清水暢注，河口積淤刷滌，已復三分入運、七分入黃舊制，為河事一大轉機，嘉均元盡心宣防，特復正、副總河舊制，授南河總督，以舊督徐端副之。 在任三年，堵合黃河周家堡、郭家坊、王營減壩、陳家浦，及運河二堡、壯原墩，築高堰義字壩，拆修惠濟閘，以減壩合龍，加太子少保。 病，乞解任，尋愈，因事降三品京堂，授左副都御史，督順天學政。 未幾，遷倉場侍郎。 十八年秋，河決睢州，出為東河總督。 詔以均元曾任南河，許便宜調用工員，責速堵合。 明年春，以吏部侍郎內召，途次擢左都御史。 尋遷禮部尚書，調吏部。 二十年，協辦大學士。 逾年，授軍機大臣，充上書房總師傅。 二十三年，拜文淵閣大學士，晉太子太保，管理刑部。 二十四年，河決武陟馬營壩，自秋徂冬尚未啟工，奉命馳視，還報購料未集，詔嚴斥在事諸臣以示儆。
In Jiaqing 8 (1803) he went with Vice Minister Gunchukezhabu to inspect the Zhangqiu Canal and the breach works at Hengjialou. He served in succession as vice minister of revenue and vice minister of personnel. In Jiaqing 10 (1805) the Yellow River seized the transport canal on the Southern Rivers and the Gaoyan stone works were ruined; he was specially ordered to hurry there to inspect and plan. The next year an edict stated that because lake and river rose at different times, the Gaoyan embankment works relied on the previously built subsidiary embankment for protection without mishap, clear water flowed freely, accumulated silt at the estuary was scoured away, and the old ratio of three-tenths into the canal and seven-tenths into the Yellow River was restored—a great turning point in river affairs; Junyuan's devoted flood control was praised, the former system of director-general and deputy director-general was specially restored, he was appointed governor-general of the Southern Rivers, with the former governor Xu Duan as his deputy. During three years in office he closed breaches in the Yellow River at Zhoujiabao, Guojiafang, the Wangying reduction dam, and Chenjiapu, and on the canal at Erbiao and Zhuangyuandun, built the Yizi dam at Gaoyan, dismantled and repaired the Huiji Sluice, and when the reduction dam was joined received the additional title of junior guardian to the heir apparent. He fell ill and requested release from office; he soon recovered, but because of an affair was demoted to third-rank metropolitan official, appointed left vice censor-in-chief, and made educational commissioner of Shuntian. Before long he was transferred to vice minister of the granary administration. In the autumn of Jiaqing 18 (1813) the river breached at Suizhou; he was sent out as governor-general of the Eastern Rivers. An edict stated that because Junyuan had formerly served on the Southern Rivers, he was permitted to deploy laborers as circumstances required and charged to close the breach swiftly. The next spring he was recalled to the capital as vice minister of personnel and en route was promoted to left censor-in-chief. He was soon transferred to minister of rites and then to the Ministry of Personnel. In Jiaqing 20 (1815) he served as associate grand secretary. The next year he was appointed a Grand Council minister and served as chief tutor in the Upper Study. In Jiaqing 23 (1818) he was appointed grand secretary of the Wenyuan Pavilion, promoted to senior guardian to the heir apparent, and placed in charge of the Ministry of Punishments. In Jiaqing 24 (1819) the river breached at the Maying dam in Wuzhi; from autumn to winter work had not yet begun; he was ordered to hurry there to inspect; on return he reported that materials had not been assembled; an edict sternly rebuked the officials involved as a warning.
15
二十五年七月，扈從熱河，甫駐蹕，帝不豫，鄉夕大漸。 均元與大學士托津督內侍檢禦篋，得小金盒，啟鐍，宣示御書立宣宗為皇太子，奉嗣尊位，然後發喪。 洎還京，因撰擬遺詔有「高宗降生於避暑山莊」之語，誤引御製詩注，樞臣皆被譴鐫級，均元與托津並罷直。 道光二年，裕陵隆恩殿柱蠹朽，距修建甫二十年，承辦工員俱獲罪。 均元以在事未久，從寬罷管部務，奪宮銜，責同賠修，工畢復之。 漳水北徙，命均元馳視。 次年，因漳水下流潰直隸元城紅花堤，塞之則元城北境水無所洩，不塞則山東館陶受其害，復命均元往視。 議展寬舊有引河，俾積水穿堤入衛水，別就堤下新刷水溝挑成河道，分流洩入館陶境，築堤防溢。 复偕巡撫程祖洛勘上游，議：「漳水自乾隆五十一年南徙合洹水後，衛水為所格阻，頻年沖決，由於合則為患。 今漳水北徙，與洹水分流入衛，當因勢利導，各完堤防，使漳、洹不再合。」 疏上，詔從之。 四年，予告回籍，食全俸。
In the seventh month of Jiaqing 25 (1820) he accompanied the court to Rehe; the emperor had just halted the procession when he fell ill and by evening grew gravely worse. Junyuan and Grand Secretary Tuo Jin supervised the eunuchs in inspecting the imperial casket, obtained a small gold box, opened the lock, proclaimed the imperial writing establishing the Xuanzong Emperor as heir apparent, installed him on the succession throne, and only then announced the mourning. When they returned to the capital, because the drafted testamentary edict contained the phrase "Gaozong was born at the Mountain Villa for Escaping Summer" and mistakenly cited an annotation to an imperial poem, the Grand Council ministers were all rebuked and demoted in rank; Junyuan and Tuo Jin were both removed from the council. In Daoguang 2 (1822) the pillars of the Long'en Hall at Yuling were found worm-eaten; only twenty years had passed since construction, and all the contracting officials were punished. Because Junyuan had not long been involved in the matter, he was leniently relieved of ministry duties, stripped of court rank, charged to share in compensation for repairs, and restored when the work was completed. When the Zhang River shifted northward, Junyuan was ordered to hurry there to inspect. The next year, because the lower Zhang breached the Honghua embankment in Yuancheng, Zhili—if sealed, the northern Yuancheng region would have no outlet for water; if not sealed, Guantao in Shandong would suffer harm—Junyuan was again ordered to go and inspect. They proposed widening the old diversion channel so accumulated water could pass through the embankment into the Wei River, and separately excavating a channel from the newly scoured ditch below the embankment to divert water into Guantao territory, with embankments built to prevent overflow. He again went with Governor Cheng Zuluo to survey the upper reaches and proposed that since the Zhang had shifted south in Qianlong 51 and joined the Huan River, the Wei River had been obstructed and breached year after year—because when they joined they became harmful. Now that the Zhang had shifted north and entered the Wei separately from the Huan, they should guide them according to their courses, complete each embankment, and keep the Zhang and Huan from joining again. When the memorial was submitted, an edict approved it. In Daoguang 4 (1824) he was granted leave to return to his native place with full salary.
16
先是建萬年吉地於寶華峪，均元相度選定。 帝敦崇儉樸，命偕莊親王綿課、協辦大學士英和監修，面戒規制一從節減。 迨七年，孝穆皇后梓宮奉安，帝親視，嘉其工程堅固，晉均元太子太師。 及是，地宮有浸水，上震怒，嚴譴在事諸臣，褫均元職，逮京治罪，擬重闢，念其耄老，免罪釋歸。
Earlier the eternal auspicious burial site had been established at Baohuayu, and Junyuan had surveyed and selected the location. The emperor upheld frugality and simplicity, ordered him together with Prince Zhuang Mianke and Associate Grand Secretary Ying He to supervise construction, and in person admonished that all regulations be reduced to the minimum. By Daoguang 7 (1827), when the coffin of Empress Xiaomu was interred, the emperor inspected in person, praised the works as solid, and promoted Junyuan to grand preceptor to the heir apparent. At this time water seeped into the underground palace; the emperor was enraged, sternly rebuked the officials involved, stripped Junyuan of office, had him brought to the capital for punishment, proposed heavy execution, but mindful of his great age, pardoned him and released him to return home.
17
均元歷官五十馀年，叔侄繼為樞相，家門鼎盛。 自在翰林，數司文柄，及躋卿貳，典順天鄉試一，典會試三。 晚歲獲咎家居，世猶推為耆宿。 二十年，卒，年九十有五。
Junyuan served in office for more than fifty years; uncle and nephew in succession were Grand Council chancellors, and the family reached its zenith. From his time in the Hanlin he repeatedly held literary authority; after rising to vice minister he presided once over the Shuntian provincial examination and three times over the metropolitan examination. In his later years, after punishment he lived at home, yet the world still regarded him as an elder statesman. In Daoguang 20 (1840) he died at the age of ninety-five.
18
托津，字知亭，富察氏，滿洲鑲黃旗人，尚書博清額子。 乾隆中，授都察院筆帖式，充軍機章京，累遷銀庫郎中。 改御史，遷給事中。 嘉慶元年，命解餉銀赴達州。 五年，授副都統，留治四川軍需。 疏請軍餉先一月預撥，忤旨召回。 及至京，於餉數、軍事無所陳告，褫職，予頭等侍衛，充葉爾羌辦事大臣。 七年，調喀什噶爾參贊大臣，复授副都統。 八年，召為倉場侍郎。
Tuo Jin, whose courtesy name was Zhiting, belonged to the Fuca clan, came from the Manchu Bordered Yellow Banner, and was the son of Minister Boqing'e. During the Qianlong reign he was appointed a censorate copyist, served on the Grand Council staff, and rose in succession to director of the silver treasury. He was transferred to censor and then to supervising secretary. In Jiaqing 1 (1796) he was ordered to transport pay silver to Dazhou. In Jiaqing 5 (1800) he was appointed vice commander-in-chief and remained to manage Sichuan military supplies. He memorialized requesting that military pay be disbursed one month in advance, offended the imperial will, and was recalled. When he reached the capital he made no report on pay amounts or military affairs; he was dismissed from office, granted the rank of first-class imperial bodyguard, and appointed commissioner at Yarkand. In Jiaqing 7 (1802) he was transferred to assistant commissioner at Kashgar and again appointed vice commander-in-chief. In Jiaqing 8 (1803) he was summoned as vice minister of the granary administration.
19
十年，調吏部，命在軍機大臣上行走。 偕直隸總督吳熊光往湖北，按訊鹽法道失察岸商抬價，及錢局鼓鑄偷減，治如律。 時總督百齡被訐在廣東索供應、造非刑，命托津偕總督瑚圖禮治其獄，請褫百齡職。 十一年，調戶部，偕侍郎廣興按東河總督李亨特勒派廳員，奪亨特職，遣戍。 十二年，偕侍郎英和按訊熱河副都統慶杰貪婪，褫職遣戍。
In Jiaqing 10 (1805) he was transferred to the Ministry of Personnel and ordered to serve alongside Grand Council ministers. Together with Zhili Governor-General Wu Xiongguang he went to Hubei to investigate the salt commissioner for failing to detect shore merchants raising prices and the mint for secretly reducing coinage; both were punished according to law. At that time Governor-General Bailing was impeached for demanding supplies and inventing illegal punishments in Guangdong; Tuo Jin was ordered with Governor Hutuoli to try the case and requested Bailing's dismissal. In Jiaqing 11 (1806) he was transferred to the Ministry of Revenue; together with Vice Minister Guangxing he investigated Eastern Rivers Governor-General Li Hente for forcibly assigning bureau staff, stripped Hente of office, and sent him into exile. In Jiaqing 12 (1807) he went with Vice Minister Ying He to investigate Rehe Vice Commander-in-Chief Qingjie for greed; Qingjie was dismissed and sent into exile.
20
十三年，偕尚書吳璥勘南河。 先是，雲梯關外陳家浦漫決，由射陽湖旁趨海口，疆臣、河臣請改河道徑由射陽湖入海。 托津等疏言：「馬港口、張家莊漫水西漾數十里，始折歸北潮河。 如果地勢建瓴，何以轉向西流？ 北潮河已匯流數月，水未消涸，顯見去路不暢，改道斷不可行。 請仍修故道，接築雲梯關外大隄，收束水勢，較為得力。」 又言：「河口高堰各工，因運河西岸堵築漫缺，頭、二壩口門較寬，不能擎托暢注，請速補築。」 皆如所議行。
In Jiaqing 13 (1808) he went with Minister Wu Jing to survey the Southern Rivers. Earlier, outside Yunti Pass at Chenjiapu there had been an overflow breach trending toward the estuary beside Sheyang Lake; frontier and river officials had requested changing the channel to enter the sea directly through Sheyang Lake. Tuo Jin and others memorialized that at Magangkou and Zhangjiazhuang overflow water spread west for several tens of li before turning back to the North Tidal River. If the terrain sloped steeply downward, how could it turn and flow west? The North Tidal River had collected flow for months without the water subsiding, clearly showing the outlet was blocked—changing the channel was absolutely unfeasible. They requested restoring the old channel and joining and building the great embankment outside Yunti Pass to restrain the water's force, which would be more effective. They also stated that at the estuary and Gaoyan works, because overflow breaches on the west bank of the canal were blocked up, the first and second dam gates were relatively wide and could not support and channel flow freely, and rapid repair was requested. All was carried out as proposed.
21
十四年，往江南讞獄。 金山寺僧志學與王兆良爭墾沙地械鬥，斃多人，依律治罪。 請以蔣家沙洲歸公佃種，歲給寶晉書院及金山寺租銀各千兩。 倉場書吏高添鳳舞弊，通州中、西二倉虧缺，命偕福慶勘訊，坐以姦吏骫法罪。 既而，部鞫添鳳，復得私出黑檔領米狀，托津亦以久任倉場，譴責分賠。 浙江學政劉鳳誥代辦鄉試監臨，有聯號弊，偕侍郎周兆基、少卿盧廕溥往按得實，論鳳誥遣戍。 山西署布政使劉大觀劾前任巡撫初彭齡任性乖張，偕侍郎穆克登額往按，彭齡，大觀俱被嚴議。 十五年，擢工部尚書，調戶部，兼都統。 偕盧廕溥往四川按事，總督勒保寢匿名揭帖，據實上聞，罷勒保大學士職。 又偕府尹初彭齡往南河清查工帑。 十六年春，兩江總督松筠調任，命托津暫代。 尋回京，加太子少保，兼內大臣。
In Jiaqing 14 (1809) he went to Jiangnan to try cases. The monk Zhixue of Jinshan Temple and Wang Zhaoliang fought over reclaimed tidal land with weapons, killing many; they were punished according to law. It was requested that Jiangjia Sandbar be returned to public lease farming, with annual rent of one thousand taels each to Baojin Academy and Jinshan Temple. When granary clerk Gao Tianfeng committed fraud and the central and western granaries at Tongzhou showed deficits, Tuo Jin was ordered with Fu Qing to investigate and convict him of corrupt clerk violating law. Later, when the ministry tried Tianfeng, it was further found that he had privately issued black-ledger rice receipts; Tuo Jin, for having long served in the granary administration, was also rebuked and charged to share compensation. When Zhejiang Educational Commissioner Liu Fenggao, acting as supervisor of the provincial examination, was involved in linked-examination-number fraud, Tuo Jin went with Vice Minister Zhou Zhaoji and Junior Minister Lu Yinpu to investigate, found the charge true, and sentenced Fenggao to exile. When acting Shanxi provincial administration commissioner Liu Daguan impeached the former governor Chu Pengling for willful perversity, Tuo Jin went with Vice Minister Mukedeng'e to investigate; both Pengling and Daguan received severe punishment. In Jiaqing 15 (1810) he was promoted to minister of works, transferred to the Ministry of Revenue, and concurrently served as commander-in-chief. He went with Lu Yinpu to Sichuan to investigate affairs; Governor-General Lebao had suppressed an anonymous denunciation; Tuo Jin reported the facts to the throne and Lebao was removed from his grand secretary post. He again went with Intendant Chu Pengling to the Southern Rivers to audit works funds. In the spring of Jiaqing 16 (1811), when Liangjiang Governor-General Songyun was transferred, Tuo Jin was ordered to act temporarily in his place. He soon returned to the capital, received the additional title of junior guardian to the heir apparent, and concurrently served as grand minister of the imperial household.
22
十八年，扈蹕熱河，教匪林清逆黨闌入禁城，命托津回京察治。 林清就獲，詔優獎，授協辦大學士。 時匪黨李文成據河南滑縣，山東、直隸皆震動。 那彥成督師，遷延未進，托津往代。 既而那彥成連戰皆捷，命托津赴開州、大名督率提督馬瑜剿匪。 十九年，授正白旗領侍衛內大臣，拜東閣大學士，管理戶部，晉太子太保。 侍郎初彭齡劾兩江總督百齡、江蘇巡撫張師誠受餽送，布政使陳桂生冊報蒙混，命偕尚書景安往按。 彭齡坐劾未實，被譴。 二十一年，那彥成前在陝甘總督任與布政使陳祁挪賑事覺，命托津往按，那彥成逮京，即代署直隸總督，尋回京。
In Jiaqing 18 (1813) he accompanied the court to Rehe; when sect rebel Lin Qing's faction broke into the Forbidden City, Tuo Jin was ordered to return to the capital to investigate and handle the matter. When Lin Qing was captured, an edict granted exceptional commendation and appointed him associate grand secretary. At that time rebel leader Li Wencheng held Huaxian in Henan, and Shandong and Zhili were both shaken. Nayancheng commanded the army but delayed without advancing; Tuo Jin was sent to replace him. Before long Nayancheng won successive battles; Tuo Jin was ordered to go to Kaizhou and Daming to direct Regional Commander Ma Yu in suppressing the rebels. In Jiaqing 19 (1814) he was appointed chief grand minister of the imperial bodyguard of the Plain White Banner, appointed grand secretary of the Eastern Pavilion, placed in charge of the Ministry of Revenue, and promoted to senior guardian to the heir apparent. When Vice Minister Chu Pengling impeached Liangjiang Governor-General Bailing and Jiangsu Governor Zhang Shicheng for receiving gifts, and Provincial Administration Commissioner Chen Guisheng for confused reporting in the registers, Tuo Jin was ordered with Minister Jing'an to go and investigate. Pengling was punished because the impeachment was not substantiated. In Jiaqing 21 (1816), when Nayancheng's earlier diversion of relief funds with Provincial Administration Commissioner Chen Qi while Shaanxi-Gansu governor-general was discovered, Tuo Jin was ordered to investigate; Nayancheng was brought to the capital, and Tuo Jin immediately acted as Zhili governor-general, then soon returned to the capital.
23
仁宗綜覈庶政，知托津樸誠，於行省有重事大獄，率以任之，無一歲不奉使命。 二十二年，管理理籓院。 二十四年，萬壽慶典，賜雙眼花翎、紫韁。 二十五年，仁宗崩於熱河避暑山莊，事出倉猝，托津偕大學士戴均元手啟鐍盒，奉宣宗即位。 尋因遺詔引事舛誤，詔切責，托津、均元並以年老罷軍機大臣，降四級留任。 道光元年，命題仁宗神主，晉太子太傅。 二年，與玉瀾堂十五老臣宴，繪像，御製詩有「立朝正色」之褒。 調管刑部。 以子婦乘轎入神武門中門，坐治家不嚴，奪紫韁、雙眼花翎，尋復之。 十一年，致仕，食全俸。 十五年，卒，年八十有一。 帝親奠，賜金治喪，贈太子太師，祀賢良祠，諡文定。
The Jiaqing Emperor reviewed all government affairs and knew Tuo Jin to be plain and sincere; whenever provinces had major affairs or great cases, he was usually entrusted with them—not a year passed without his receiving an imperial commission. In Jiaqing 22 (1817) he was placed in charge of the Court of Colonial Affairs. In Jiaqing 24 (1819), at the longevity celebration, he was granted double-eyed peacock feathers and a purple bridle. In Jiaqing 25 (1820) the Jiaqing Emperor died at the Mountain Villa for Escaping Summer in Rehe; the affair arose in sudden haste; Tuo Jin together with Grand Secretary Dai Junyuan personally opened the locked box and installed the Xuanzong Emperor on the throne. Shortly afterward, because the testamentary edict contained erroneous citations, an edict sharply rebuked them; Tuo Jin and Junyuan were both removed from the Grand Council on account of age, demoted four ranks, and retained in office. In Daoguang 1 (1821) he was ordered to inscribe the spirit tablet of the Jiaqing Emperor and was promoted to senior tutor to the heir apparent. In Daoguang 2 (1822) he attended the banquet of fifteen elder ministers at the Hall of Jade Ripples; portraits were painted, and an imperial poem praised him with "upright in court." He was transferred to manage the Ministry of Punishments. Because his son's wife entered the central gate of the Divine Martial Gate in a sedan chair, he was punished for lax household discipline; his purple bridle and double-eyed peacock feathers were stripped, then soon restored. In Daoguang 11 (1831) he retired with full salary. In Daoguang 15 (1835) he died at the age of eighty-one. The emperor personally offered funeral libations, granted gold for the funeral, posthumously granted him grand preceptor to the heir apparent, enshrined him in the Shrine of Worthies, and gave the posthumous title Wending.
24
章煦，字曜青，浙江錢塘人。 乾隆三十七年進士，授內閣中書，充軍機章京，累遷刑部員外郎。 屢典鄉試，督陝甘學政，任滿仍留刑部，改御史。 嘉慶六年，擢太僕寺少卿。 詔以軍事方殷，煦習機務，仍留直。 七年，三省教匪平，始罷直供本職。 偕侍郎那彥寶往雲南按布政使陳孝升等冒銷軍需，治如律。 歷太僕寺卿、順天府尹。 十年，出為湖北布政使。 逾年，擢巡撫。 十三年，召為刑部侍郎。 偕侍郎穆克登額往雲南按事。 貢生任澍宇誣訐官吏冒銷軍需不實，論反坐。 授貴州巡撫，未至，調雲南，署雲貴總督。 十四年，調江蘇巡撫，署兩江總督。 時議行海運，下煦籌議，疏陳不便，寢之。 十七年，入覲，乞改京秩，授刑部侍郎，偕侍郎景安往直隸讞獄。 十八年，河南教匪起，直隸總督溫承惠赴剿，命煦代攝。 尋擢工部尚書，調吏部，仍留署職。 捕教匪馮克善械送京師，加太子少保。
Zhang Xu, whose courtesy name was Yaoqing, came from Qiantang in Zhejiang. In Qianlong 37 (1772) he passed the metropolitan examination, was appointed a grand secretariat drafter, served on the Grand Council staff, and rose in succession to vice director in the Ministry of Punishments. He repeatedly presided over provincial examinations, served as educational commissioner of Shaanxi-Gansu, and after his term ended remained in the Ministry of Punishments and was transferred to censor. In Jiaqing 6 (1801) he was promoted to vice president of the Court of the Imperial Stud. An edict stated that because military affairs were pressing and Xu was versed in council business, he was to remain on the council. In Jiaqing 7 (1802), when the sect rebels in the three provinces were pacified, he was first removed from the council and returned to his regular post. He went with Vice Minister Nayinbao to Yunnan to investigate Provincial Administration Commissioner Chen Xiaosheng and others for falsely claiming military supplies; they were punished according to law. He served in succession as president of the Court of the Imperial Stud and Shuntian intendant. In Jiaqing 10 (1805) he was sent out as provincial administration commissioner of Hubei. The next year he was promoted to governor. In Jiaqing 13 (1808) he was summoned as vice minister of punishments. He went with Vice Minister Mukedeng'e to Yunnan to investigate affairs. When tribute student Ren Shuyu falsely impeached officials for fictitious military supply claims, he was sentenced under the law of counter-impeachment. He was appointed governor of Guizhou; before arriving he was transferred to Yunnan and served as acting governor-general of Yunnan-Guizhou. In Jiaqing 14 (1809) he was transferred to governor of Jiangsu and served as acting Liangjiang governor-general. At that time sea transport was under discussion; Xu was ordered to plan it, memorialized that it was impracticable, and the proposal was shelved. In Jiaqing 17 (1812) he came to court for an audience, requested transfer to a capital post, was appointed vice minister of punishments, and went with Vice Minister Jing'an to Zhili to try cases. In Jiaqing 18 (1813) sect rebels rose in Henan; Zhili Governor-General Wen Chenghui went to suppress them, and Xu was ordered to act in his place. He was soon promoted to minister of works, transferred to the Ministry of Personnel, and still retained his acting post. He captured the sect rebel Feng Keshan and sent him in bonds to the capital, and received the additional title of junior guardian to the heir apparent.
25
十九年，回京，典會試。 山東金鄉竊賊聚眾拒捕，巡撫同興以邪教馀黨聞。 煦偕那彥寶往鞫，得狀，依律論罪。 知州袁潔誣報，褫其職。 上知山東吏治廢弛，命煦等嚴察以聞，遂劾同興玩洩，以致地方凋敝，倉庫空虛，及布政使硃錫爵徇私廢公狀，並褫職，命煦署巡撫，清查虧空。 尋以陳大文調任，同治其事，責煦議定章程。 疏言：「嘉慶十四年清查，原奏虧銀一百七十九萬有奇。 今查十四年以前實虧三百四十一萬有奇，十四年以後又續虧三百三十四萬有奇。 擬請清釐籓庫，嚴交代，定徵解分數，以杜新虧； 立追繳及分賠限期，催徵民欠，以懲延宕； 覈減提款，確查無著之虧，以示體恤； 覈攤捐案，據估變流抵產物扣抵，先侭正項倉庫一律籌補，軍需墊解，查明方許列抵，以防朦混。」 凡十四條，下部議行。
In Jiaqing 19 (1814) he returned to the capital and presided over the metropolitan examination. In Jinxian, Shandong, thieves gathered a crowd to resist arrest; Governor Tongxing reported them as remnant sect followers. Xu went with Nayinbao to try the case, obtained the facts, and sentenced them according to law. Prefect Yuan Jie had made a false report and was stripped of office. The emperor knew Shandong administration was lax; Xu and others were ordered to investigate strictly and report; he then impeached Tongxing for negligence leading to local decline and empty treasuries, and Provincial Administration Commissioner Zhu Xijue for favoritism and neglect of duty; both were stripped of office; Xu was ordered to act as governor and audit deficits. Shortly afterward Chen Dawen was transferred to take charge; together they handled the matter, and Xu was charged to draft regulations. In a memorial he stated that in the Jiaqing 14 audit, the original report showed a deficit of more than 1,790,000 taels of silver. Investigation now showed an actual deficit before year 14 of more than 3,410,000 taels, and after year 14 a further deficit of more than 3,340,000 taels. They proposed clearing provincial treasuries, enforcing strict handover, fixing collection and remittance quotas, and blocking new deficits; establish deadlines for recovery and shared compensation, press collection of popular arrears, and punish delay; verify reductions in withdrawals, thoroughly investigate unaccounted deficits, and show compassionate consideration; audit apportioned contributions, deduct according to estimated conversion of movable and immovable property, first make up regular treasury items uniformly, allow military supply advances to be listed only after investigation, and prevent concealment. In all fourteen articles; referred to the ministries for deliberation and implementation.
26
二十年，偕侍郎熙昌往湖北、廣東、江蘇、安徽讞獄：襄陽人吳煥章誣告易成元、易登朝等勾結謀逆，反坐論罪； 襄陽知縣週以焯濫押斃命，遣戍。 雷州府經歷李棠誣訐兩廣總督蔣攸銛，遣戍； 雷瓊道胡大成苛派屬員，褫職； 貴縣知縣吳遇坤刊書詆毀上官，遣戍； 洋商盧觀恆濫祀鄉賢，黜之； 江蘇知縣王保澄誣訐上官諱匿邪書，遣戍； 阜陽捻匪糾搶殺人，論如律。
In Jiaqing 20 (1815) he went with Vice Minister Xichang to Hubei, Guangdong, Jiangsu, and Anhui to try cases: Wu Huanzhang of Xiangyang falsely accused Yi Chengyuan, Yi Dengchao, and others of conspiracy to rebel—they were sentenced under counter-impeachment; Xiangyang Magistrate Zhou Yichao had abused detention causing death and was sent into exile. Leizhou assistant prefect Li Tang falsely impeached Liangguang Governor-General Jiang Youxian and was sent into exile; Lei-Qiong circuit intendant Hu Dacheng harshly levied on subordinates and was stripped of office; Guixian Magistrate Wu Yukun published a book slandering superiors and was sent into exile; the foreign merchant Lu Guanheng had improperly enshrined a local worthy and was removed; Jiangsu Magistrate Wang Baocheng falsely impeached superiors for concealing heterodox books and was sent into exile; Nian bandits in Fuyang gathered to rob and kill; they were sentenced according to law.
27
二十一年，調禮部尚書，授軍機大臣。 調刑部，管理禮部。 二十二年，病免。 尋授兵部尚書、協辦大學士，兼管順天府尹事。 二十三年，拜東閣大學士，管理刑部。 萬壽慶典，晉太子太保。 二十五年，以足疾累疏乞休，予告致仕，食全俸。 居家久之，道光四年，卒，諡文簡。
In Jiaqing 21 (1816) he was transferred to minister of rites and appointed a Grand Council minister. He was transferred to the Ministry of Punishments and placed in charge of the Ministry of Rites. In Jiaqing 22 (1817) he was relieved on account of illness. He was soon appointed minister of war and associate grand secretary and concurrently managed Shuntian intendant affairs. In Jiaqing 23 (1818) he was appointed grand secretary of the Eastern Pavilion and placed in charge of the Ministry of Punishments. At the longevity celebration he was promoted to senior guardian to the heir apparent. In Jiaqing 25 (1820), on account of foot ailment he repeatedly memorialized requesting retirement; leave was granted for retirement with full salary. After living at home for a long time, in Daoguang 4 (1824) he died and was posthumously titled Wenjian.
28
煦久任樞曹，練習政事，易攵歷中外，數治大獄。 晚始參樞務，未久病去，再起管部，以盡心刑事，京察特被獎敘焉。
Xu served long on the Grand Council, was practiced in government affairs, served at court and in the provinces, and repeatedly handled great cases. He joined council affairs only late, was removed before long on account of illness, then rose again to manage ministries; for his devoted attention to criminal matters he was specially commended in the capital evaluation.
29
盧廕溥，字南石，山東德州人。 祖見曾，康熙六十年進士，官至兩淮鹽運使。 父謙，漢黃德道。
Lu Yinpu, whose courtesy name was Nanshi, came from Dezhou in Shandong. His grandfather Jianzeng passed the metropolitan examination in Kangxi 60 (1721) and rose to salt transport commissioner of the Two Huai circuits. His father Qian was a Han Chinese circuit intendant of Huangde.
30
見曾起家知縣，歷官有聲。 為兩淮鹽運使，以罪遣戍，復起至原官。 當乾隆中葉，淮鹺方盛。 見曾擅吏才，愛古好事，延接文士，風流文采，世謂繼王士禎。 在揚州時，屢值南巡大典，歷年就鹽商提引，支銷冒濫，官商並有侵蝕。 至三十三年，事發，自鹽政以下多罹大辟。 見曾已去官，逮問論絞，死於獄中。 籍沒家產，子孫連坐，謙謫戍軍台。 廕溥甫九歲，貧困，隨母歸依婦翁，讀書長山。 越三年，大學士劉統勳為見曾剖雪，乞恩赦謙歸，授廣平府同知。 廕溥刻苦勵學，至是始得應科舉。
Jianzeng began as a county magistrate and gained renown in successive offices. As salt transport commissioner of the Two Huai circuits he was sent into exile for a crime, then restored to his former office. In the mid-Qianlong period Huai salt was at its height. Jianzeng excelled in administrative talent, loved antiquities and fine pursuits, received literary men, and in elegant culture was said by the world to succeed Wang Shizhen. While at Yangzhou he repeatedly encountered the great southern tours; year after year salt merchants advanced funds and disbursements were falsely inflated; both officials and merchants embezzled. By Qianlong 33 (1768) the affair broke; from the salt commissioner downward many suffered capital punishment. Jianzeng had already left office; he was arrested, tried, sentenced to strangulation, and died in prison. Family property was confiscated; descendants were punished by association; Qian was banished to the military colonies. Yinpu was only nine; in poverty he followed his mother to rely on his father-in-law and studied at Changshan. After three years Grand Secretary Liu Tongxun cleared Jianzeng's name, begged imperial grace to recall Qian, and appointed him sub-prefect of Guangping. Yinpu studied diligently; only then was he able to take the civil examinations.
31
乾隆四十六年，成進士，選庶吉士，授編修。 阿桂為掌院，激賞其才。 五十六年，大考，降禮部主事。 阿桂言廕溥能事，改部可惜。 帝曰：「使為部曹，正以治事也。」 累司文柄，典山西鄉試，督河南學政。 嘉慶五年，充軍機章京，川、楚軍事，多所贊畫。 八年，孝淑睿皇后奉安山陵，故事，皇后葬禮無成式，禮臣所議未當。 廕溥回直儀曹，考定禮文，草撰大儀，奏上，如議行。 數隨大臣赴各省按事，累擢光祿寺少卿。 十六年，大學士戴衢亨卒，仁宗以廕溥諳習樞務，數奉使有勞，加四品卿銜，命在軍機大臣上行走。 歷通政司副使、光祿寺卿、內閣學士。 十八年，擢兵部侍郎，調戶部。 扈從熱河，會教匪起，滑縣林清入犯禁城，夜半聞報，至行在面進機宜，越日從駕還京。 事平，優敘，賜子本舉人。
In Qianlong 46 (1781) he passed the metropolitan examination, entered the Hanlin Academy as a bachelor, and was appointed compiler. Agui was chancellor of the academy and greatly admired his talent. In Qianlong 56 (1791), in the grand evaluation, he was demoted to director in the Ministry of Rites. Agui said Yinpu was capable and that transferring him to a ministry was a pity. The emperor said, "Making him a ministry official is precisely so he may handle affairs." He repeatedly held literary authority, presided over the Shanxi provincial examination, and served as educational commissioner of Henan. In Jiaqing 5 (1800) he served on the Grand Council staff and contributed much to planning in the Sichuan and Hubei campaigns. In Jiaqing 8 (1803), when Empress Xiaoshurui was interred at the imperial mausoleum, by precedent there was no established form for a queen's funeral rites, and what the ritual officials proposed was inadequate. Yinpu returned to duty in the ritual office, verified ritual texts, drafted the great ceremony, submitted it, and it was carried out as proposed. He repeatedly accompanied grand ministers to investigate affairs in the provinces and rose in succession to vice president of the Court of Imperial Entertainments. In Jiaqing 16 (1811) Grand Secretary Dai Quheng died; the Jiaqing Emperor, considering Yinpu versed in council affairs and repeatedly meritorious on commissions, granted him the additional title of fourth-rank academician and ordered him to serve alongside Grand Council ministers. He served in succession as vice commissioner of the Office of Transmission, president of the Court of Imperial Entertainments, and Grand Secretariat academician. In Jiaqing 18 (1813) he was promoted to vice minister of war and transferred to the Ministry of Revenue. He accompanied the court to Rehe; when sect rebels rose and Lin Qing of Huaxian broke into the Forbidden City, at midnight he heard the report, went to the traveling palace to present strategy in person, and the next day returned to the capital with the imperial procession. When the affair was settled he received preferential commendation and his son was granted the rank of metropolitan graduate by imperial favor.
32
二十二年，擢禮部尚書，調兵部。 上以廕溥實心任事，特加太子少保。 尋調戶部，兼署刑、吏兩部尚書。 二十三年，館臣撰進明鑑，未合上意，命廕溥偕托津、章煦、英和、和瑛為總裁，遴擇翰林才識兼長者，重加核改，書成，詔褒之。 工部主事潘恭辰監督琉璃窯，不受漏規，馭吏嚴，吏誣訐侵冒，下獄。 恭辰貧而無援，文書證據不得直，罪且不測，輿論憤之。 上微聞，命廕溥詳鞫，得其狀，釋恭辰，置吏於法。 後恭辰至雲南布政使，以清操名。 二十五年，典會試，會元陳繼昌，故大學士宏謀玄孫也，鄉試、殿試皆第一。 有清一代科舉得三元者，惟乾隆中錢棨及繼昌兩人。 上製詩，命廕溥等賡和，以紀盛事。 是年秋，帝崩，因撰擬遺詔不慎，降五級留任。 尋調工部。
In Jiaqing 22 (1817) he was promoted to minister of rites and transferred to the Ministry of War. The emperor, considering Yinpu devoted in service, specially granted him the additional title of junior guardian to the heir apparent. He was soon transferred to the Ministry of Revenue and concurrently acted as minister of punishments and minister of personnel. In Jiaqing 23 (1818) the academicians submitted the Mirror of Ming, which did not meet the imperial intent; Yinpu was ordered together with Tuo Jin, Zhang Xu, Ying He, and Hewei to serve as chief compilers, select Hanlin scholars of combined talent and discernment, revise it thoroughly, and when the book was completed an edict praised it. Works Director Pan Gongchen supervised the colored-glaze kilns, refused leaked bribes, governed clerks strictly, and was falsely impeached for embezzlement and imprisoned. Gongchen was poor and without backing; documents and evidence could not clear him; punishment was uncertain, and public opinion was indignant. The emperor heard faint reports, ordered Yinpu to try the case in detail, obtained the facts, released Gongchen, and punished the clerks according to law. Later Gongchen rose to provincial administration commissioner of Yunnan and was known for integrity. In Jiaqing 25 (1820) he presided over the metropolitan examination; top graduate Chen Jichang was the great-great-grandson of the former Grand Secretary Hongmou and placed first in both the provincial and palace examinations. In the entire Qing dynasty only two men achieved the triple first in the examinations: Qian Duo in the Qianlong reign and Jichang. The emperor composed a poem and ordered Yinpu and others to compose matching verses to commemorate the great occasion. That autumn the emperor died; because the drafted testamentary edict was careless, Yinpu was demoted five ranks and retained in office. He was soon transferred to the Ministry of Works.
33
道光元年，調吏部，兼管順天府尹，罷軍機大臣。 次年，猶以直軍機久，調任後亦能盡心，加恩予優敘。 七年，協辦大學士。 十年，拜體仁閣大學士，管理刑部。 十三年，以疾乞休，加太子太保，食全俸。 十九年，重宴鹿鳴，晉太子太傅。 尋卒，年八十，贈太子太師，諡文肅。
In Daoguang 1 (1821) he was transferred to the Ministry of Personnel, concurrently managed the Shuntian intendant, and was removed from the Grand Council. The following year, because he had long served on the council and after transfer still served devotedly, grace was granted with preferential commendation. In Daoguang 7 (1827) he served as associate grand secretary. In Daoguang 10 (1830) he was appointed grand secretary of the Tiren Pavilion and placed in charge of the Ministry of Punishments. In Daoguang 13 (1833) he requested retirement on account of illness, was granted senior guardian to the heir apparent, and received full salary. In Daoguang 19 (1839) he attended again the Luming banquet and was promoted to senior tutor to the heir apparent. He soon died at the age of eighty, was posthumously granted grand preceptor to the heir apparent, and given the posthumous title Wensu.
34
論曰：仁宗綜覈名實，樞臣中戴衢亨最被信用，衢亨亦竭誠贊襄，時號賢相，晚遭彈劾，而睠注不移。 均元繼之，卒以顧命嫌疑，不安於位。 豈盈滿之不易居耶？ 慶桂、劉權之並以老成雍容密勿，托津、章煦、盧廕溥則奉使出入，數按事決獄，寄股肱耳目之任。 因人倚畀，蓋各有所專焉。
The commentator states that the Jiaqing Emperor weighed names against realities; among council ministers Dai Quheng was most trusted, and Quheng also devoted himself in support—at the time he was called a worthy chancellor; though late he suffered impeachment, imperial favor did not shift. Junyuan succeeded him but in the end, because of suspicion surrounding the testamentary succession, could not rest secure in office. Is it not that fullness is hard to sustain? Qing Gui and Liu Quanzhi both were valued for seasoned composure in confidential council work; Tuo Jin, Zhang Xu, and Lu Yinpu went out on commissions, repeatedly investigated affairs and decided cases, and were entrusted with tasks like arms, legs, eyes, and ears. The court relied on each according to his strengths—each had his own specialty.