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列傳一百三十八
Biographies 138
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沈初金士松鄒炳泰戴聯奎王懿修子宗誠黃鉞
Shen Chu, Jin Shisong, Zou Bingtai, Dai Liankui, Wang Yixiu (and his son Zong Cheng), and Huang Yue
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沈初，字景初，浙江平湖人。 少有異禀，讀書目數行下，同郡錢陳群稱為異才。 乾隆二十七年，南巡，召試，賜舉人，授內閣中書。 明年，成一甲第三名進士，授編修。 三十二年，直懋勤殿，合寫經為皇太后祝釐。 逾年，大考翰詹，以直內廷未與試，詔褒初學問優美，特晉一秩，擢侍講。 三十六年，直南書房，督河南學政，未赴任，丁祖母承重憂。 服闋，遷右庶子。 累擢禮部侍郎，督福建學政。 遭本生父憂，服闋，起兵部侍郎。 尋以母病乞歸終養。 後起故官，督順天學政，調江蘇。 任滿回京，調吏部，又督江西學政。
Shen Chu, courtesy name Jingchu, came from Pinghu in Zhejiang. As a boy he showed unusual talent and could read several lines at a glance; Qian Chenqun of his prefecture hailed him as a prodigy. In Qianlong 27, during the emperor's southern tour, he was summoned for a special examination, granted the rank of provincial graduate, and appointed drafter in the Grand Secretariat. The following year he finished third in the jinshi examinations and was appointed a Hanlin compiler. In Qianlong 32 he served in the Hall of Assiduous Cultivation, copying scriptures with others to invoke blessings for the empress dowager. When the Hanlin triennial examinations came around, he was exempted because he was serving in the inner palace; the emperor commended his scholarship and promoted him one rank to Reader-in-Waiting. In Qianlong 36 he served in the Southern Library and was named Henan educational commissioner, but before he could take up the post he went into mourning for his grandmother. After mourning he was made Right Vice Supervisor of the Heir Apparent. He rose to Vice Minister of Rites and served as Fujian's educational commissioner. After mourning his biological father he returned to office as Vice Minister of War. He soon petitioned to retire home to care for his ailing mother until her death. Later recalled, he served as Shuntian educational commissioner and then was transferred to Jiangsu. After his term he returned to the capital, moved to the Board of Civil Appointments, and later served as Jiangxi educational commissioner.
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初以文學受知，歷充四庫全書館、三通館副總裁，續編石渠寶笈、秘殿珠林，校勘太學石經。 嘉慶元年，與千叟宴，充會試知貢舉。 擢左都御史，授軍機大臣，遷兵部尚書，歷吏、戶二部。 四年，以老罷樞務，免直內廷，充實錄館副總裁。 未幾卒，諡文恪，祀賢良祠。
Known for his scholarship, he served as deputy chief compiler for the Complete Library of the Four Treasuries and the Comprehensive Administrative Codes projects, helped continue the imperial art catalogues, and collated the academy stone classics. In Jiaqing 1 he attended the Thousand Elders Banquet and presided over the metropolitan examinations. He was promoted to Left Censor-in-Chief and Grand Councillor, served as Minister of War, and later held the Civil Appointments and Revenue portfolios. In Jiaqing 4, on grounds of age he left the Grand Council and inner-court service and became deputy chief compiler of the Veritable Records. He died soon afterward and was posthumously titled Wenge and honored in the Temple of Worthies.
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金士松，字亭立，江蘇吳江人，寄籍宛平。 舉順天鄉試，改歸原籍。 乾隆二十五年，成進士，選庶吉士，授編修。 遷侍讀，直懋勤殿寫經。 典福建鄉試，督廣東學政。 直南書房，累遷詹事，以生母憂歸。 服闋，會高宗南巡，迎鑾道左，回京督順天學政。 以寄籍辭，詔免迴避，聯任凡七年。 累擢禮部侍郎，調兵部。 五十年，帝御乾清宮，賜千叟宴。 士松年五十七，未得與，特命試詩，賞賚同一品。 調吏部，直講經筵，校勘石經，遷左都御史。 嘉慶元年，再與千叟宴，遷禮部尚書。 二年，調兵部，罷直書房。 五年，扈蹕謁裕陵，途次嬰疾，遣御醫診視。 還京，卒，諡文簡，祀賢良祠。
Jin Shisong, courtesy name Tingli, was from Wujiang in Jiangsu but registered his domicile at Wanping. After passing the metropolitan provincial exam he reverted his registration to his native prefecture. In Qianlong 25 he passed the jinshi examination, entered the Hanlin Academy as a bachelor, and was appointed compiler. He was promoted to Reader and assigned to copy scriptures in the Hall of Assiduous Cultivation. He presided over the Fujian provincial exams and served as Guangdong educational commissioner. After serving in the Southern Library and rising to Grand Tutor, he went home to mourn his birth mother. After mourning he greeted the Qianlong Emperor during a southern tour and, on returning to Beijing, took charge of Shuntian education. He tried to decline because of domicile rules, but the emperor waived the conflict-of-interest requirement and let him serve seven years straight. He rose to Vice Minister of Rites and was then transferred to War. In Qianlong 50 the emperor held the Thousand Elders Banquet in the Palace of Heavenly Purity. At fifty-seven he was too young for the banquet, but the emperor had him compose a poem and rewarded him as if he ranked among the guests. He moved to Civil Appointments, lectured at the imperial classics sessions, collated the stone classics, and became Left Censor-in-Chief. In Jiaqing 1 he attended the Thousand Elders Banquet again and was promoted to Minister of Rites. In Jiaqing 2 he was moved to War and released from library duty. In Jiaqing 5, on the way to pay respects at the Yuling Mausoleum, he fell ill and the emperor sent a court physician. He died after returning to Beijing, was posthumously titled Wenjian, and honored in the Temple of Worthies.
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鄒炳泰，字仲文，江蘇無錫人。 乾隆三十七年進士，選庶吉士，授編修，纂修四庫全書，遷國子監司業。 國學因元、明舊，未立辟雍，炳泰援古制疏請。 四十八年，高宗釋奠禮成，因下詔增建辟雍。 逾兩年，始舉臨雍禮，稱盛典焉。 尋超擢炳泰為祭酒。 累遷內閣學士，歷山東、江西學政。 嘉慶四年，授禮部侍郎，調倉場，剔除積弊。 坐糧廳顏培天不職，劾去之。 六年，京察，特予議敘。 軍船交糧掛欠，已許抵補，後至者復然。 炳泰慮年年積欠，與同官達慶意不合，自具疏奏，詔斥其偏執使氣，鐫級留任。 又奏監督輪值宿倉，倉役出入滋弊，宜令於倉外官房居住，從之。 十年，擢左都御史，遷兵部尚書，兼署工部，管理戶部三庫。 十一年，兼管順天府尹事。 十二年，調吏部。 十四年，加太子少保。 倉吏高添鳳盜米事覺，坐久任倉場無所覺察，褫宮銜，降二品頂戴，革職留任，久乃復之。 十六年，署戶部尚書。 尋以吏部尚書協辦大學士。
Zou Bingtai, courtesy name Zhongwen, was from Wuxi in Jiangsu. A jinshi of Qianlong 37, he entered the Hanlin, served as compiler on the Complete Library project, and rose to Vice Director of the Imperial Academy. The academy still followed Yuan and Ming models and lacked a ceremonial hall; Bingtai memorialized citing ancient precedent. In Qianlong 48, after the emperor's ceremonial offerings at the academy, he ordered construction of the Hall of the Circular Moat. Two years later the emperor presided at the academy for the first time—a ceremony hailed as grand indeed. Bingtai was soon promoted ahead of schedule to Chancellor of the Imperial Academy. He rose to Grand Secretariat academician and served as educational commissioner in Shandong and Jiangxi. In Jiaqing 4 he became Vice Minister of Rites, took charge of the granaries, and cleared away long-standing corruption. He impeached Yan Peitian of the grain office for neglect of duty and had him removed. In Jiaqing 6 the capital personnel review singled him out for commendation. Transport boats that delivered short were allowed to make up the deficit—and later arrivals did the same. Fearing endless accumulated shortfalls, he clashed with colleague Da Qing and memorialized on his own; the emperor rebuked his obstinacy, demoted him one rank, but kept him in office. He also argued that supervisors sleeping inside the granaries invited graft and should live in the outside quarters—the emperor agreed. In Jiaqing 10 he became Left Censor-in-Chief and Minister of War, acted as Minister of Works, and supervised the three revenue treasuries. In Jiaqing 11 he also oversaw the Shuntian prefect's office. In Jiaqing 12 he was transferred to Civil Appointments. In Jiaqing 14 he received the title Junior Guardian of the Heir Apparent. When granary clerk Gao Tianfeng's theft came to light, Bingtai was blamed for failing to detect it during his long tenure; he lost his honorific rank and second-rank insignia, was dismissed but kept on, and eventually had them restored. In Jiaqing 16 he acted as Minister of Revenue. He soon served as Associate Grand Secretary while holding the Civil Appointments portfolio.
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炳泰在吏部久，尤慎銓政。 十八年，銓選兵部主事有誤，同官瑚圖禮徇司員議，回護堅執。 炳泰力爭曰：「吾年已衰，何戀戀祿位？ 不可使朝廷法自我壞！」 自具疏白其故，上韙其言，卒罷瑚圖禮。 既而有降革官捐复者二人，準駁不當，侍郎初彭齡論與不合，疏聞，上斥炳泰無定見，鐫級留任。 又盜劫兵部主事姚堃於昌平八仙莊，詔以地近京畿，官吏闒茸，不能治盜，罷炳泰兼管府尹事。 及教匪林清變起，逆黨多居固安及黃村，追論炳泰在官不能覺察，以中允、贊善降補。 尋休致，歸。 二十五年，卒。
Bingtai had long served at Civil Appointments and was famously meticulous about personnel decisions. In Jiaqing 18 a War Ministry appointment went wrong; colleague Hutuli sided with the staff and refused to back down. Bingtai protested: "I am old—why should I cling to rank and salary? I cannot be the one to break the court's law!" He memorialized the emperor himself; the emperor approved, and Hutuli was dismissed. Later he mishandled two demoted officials seeking reinstatement by purchase; Vice Minister Chu Pengling disagreed, and the emperor rebuked Bingtai's inconsistency, demoted him one rank, and kept him on. When bandits robbed War Ministry secretary Yao Kun near Changping, the emperor blamed local incompetence so close to the capital and stripped Bingtai of his concurrent prefectural duties. When Lin Qing's sectarian rebellion broke out—many rebels lived in Gu'an and Huangcun—the court held that Bingtai should have known; he was demoted to middle academicianship and tutor. He soon retired and went home. He died in Jiaqing 25.
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柄泰自初登第，不登權要之門，浮沉館職，久之始躋卿貳。 屢掌文衡，稱得士。 立朝不苟，仁宗重之，而終黜。
From his first degree onward Bingtai never cultivated powerful patrons; he lingered in Hanlin posts long before reaching vice-ministerial rank. He presided over many examinations and was known for finding talent. He was upright in office and valued by the Jiaqing Emperor, yet was ultimately dismissed.
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戴聯奎，字紫垣，江蘇如皋人。 乾隆四十年進士，選庶吉士，授編修。 聯奎少從邵晉涵受經學，既通籍，以清節自厲，在翰林久不遷。 大學士嵇璜掌院事，將保送御史，列聯奎名，滿掌院學士曰：「吾未識其人，何以論其才否？」 璜以語聯奎，使往見，聯奎漫應之，不往。 及京察舉一等，又列聯奎名，復言如前，終不得與，璜乃益重之。 和珅為掌院，訪時望傅其子丰紳殷德，或薦晉涵及聯奎，晉涵移病歸，聯奎亦堅辭。 循資累遷至內閣學士。 嘉慶九年，遷兵部侍郎，歷禮部、兵部、吏部。 二十一年，擢左都御史。 逾年，擢禮部尚書，調兵部。 二十五年，失行印，坐降三品京堂，補太常寺卿，督浙江學政。 道光元年，擢禮部侍郎，又擢兵部尚書。 召還京，未至，卒。
Dai Liankui, courtesy name Ziyuan, was from Rugao in Jiangsu. A jinshi of Qianlong 40, he entered the Hanlin Academy as a bachelor and was appointed compiler. Liankui studied classics under Shao Jinhan as a youth; once in office he held himself to strict integrity and lingered in the Hanlin without advancement. When Grand Secretary Ji Huang, as academy chief, listed Liankui among censor nominees, the Manchu chancellor objected: "I do not know him—how can I judge his ability?" Ji Huang told Liankui to call on the chancellor; Liankui gave a vague reply and never went. At the next capital review he was again nominated, and the chancellor repeated the same objection; Liankui was passed over again, and Ji Huang respected him all the more. When Heshen headed the academy he sought tutors for his son Fengshen Yinde; Shao Jinhan and Liankui were suggested, but Jinhan pleaded illness and went home and Liankui firmly refused. He rose by seniority to Grand Secretariat academician. In Jiaqing 9 he became Vice Minister of War and later served in Rites, War, and Civil Appointments. In Jiaqing 21 he was promoted to Left Censor-in-Chief. The next year he became Minister of Rites and was transferred to War. In Jiaqing 25 he lost an official seal while traveling, was demoted to third rank, appointed Director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, and sent as Zhejiang educational commissioner. In Daoguang 1 he was promoted to Vice Minister of Rites and then to Minister of War. He was recalled to the capital but died before he arrived.
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王懿修，字仲美，安徽青陽人。 乾隆三十一年進士，選庶吉士，授編修。 入直上書房，授慶郡王永璘讀。 典陝西、廣東、江西鄉試，督廣西、湖北學政，洊擢少詹事。 五十四年，引病歸，終父母喪始出，复乞病在告。 嘉慶元年，舉行千叟宴，懿修與焉，被御製詩刻、玉鳩杖、文綺之賜。 七年，起授通政司副使，歷光祿寺卿、內閣學士。 八年，擢禮部侍郎，督順天學政。 十年，擢左都御史，回京供職。 尋擢禮部尚書，管戶部三庫事。 十二年，充上書房總師傅。 十四年，萬壽慶典，加太子少保，典會試。
Wang Yixiu, courtesy name Zhongmei, was from Qingyang in Anhui. A jinshi of Qianlong 31, he entered the Hanlin as a bachelor and was appointed compiler. He served in the Upper Library as tutor to Prince Qing Yonglin. He presided over provincial exams in Shaanxi, Guangdong, and Jiangxi, served as educational commissioner in Guangxi and Hubei, and rose to Junior Tutor of the Heir Apparent. In Qianlong 54 he retired on grounds of illness; after completing mourning for both parents he briefly returned, then again took sick leave. At the Jiaqing 1 Thousand Elders Banquet he received an inscribed imperial poem, a jade dove staff, and brocade. In Jiaqing 7 he was recalled as Vice Commissioner of the Transmission Office and later served as Director of the Court of Imperial Entertainments and Grand Secretariat academician. In Jiaqing 8 he became Vice Minister of Rites and Shuntian educational commissioner. In Jiaqing 10 he was promoted to Left Censor-in-Chief and returned to duty in the capital. He was soon promoted to Minister of Rites and put in charge of the three revenue treasuries. In Jiaqing 12 he became Chief Tutor of the Upper Library. At the Jiaqing 14 longevity celebration he received the title Junior Guardian of the Heir Apparent and presided over the metropolitan examinations.
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懿修持躬端謹，製作雅正，甚被仁宗眷遇。 十八年，以老致仕。 逾二年，年八十，賜壽，謁宮門謝，逢上出禦經筵，親解佩囊賜之。 二十一年，卒。 諡文僖。
Yixiu was upright and careful in conduct, wrote in an elegant and correct style, and enjoyed great favor from the Jiaqing Emperor. In Jiaqing 18 he retired on grounds of age. Two years later, on his eightieth birthday, he came to the palace to give thanks for the imperial birthday gift; the emperor, on his way to the classics lecture, personally took off his purse and gave it to him. He died in Jiaqing 21. He was posthumously titled Wenxi.
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子宗誠，字廉甫。 乾隆五十五年一甲三名進士，授編修。 嘉慶中，歷典雲南、四川、陝西鄉試，督河南、山東、江西學政，洊擢禮部侍郎，歷工部、兵部，典會試。 道光二年，擢兵部尚書，歷署禮部、工部尚書，兼管順天府尹。 當懿修為侍郎時，宗誠已官學士，尋隨父扈蹕東巡，侍宴翰林院，父子同席。 高宗實錄成，賜宴禮部，懿修以尚書主席。 懿修致仕後，宗誠繼直上書房，海內推為榮遇。 上亦以其兩世官禁近，皆能清慎，特優睞焉。 道光十七年，卒。
His son Zong Cheng, courtesy name Lianfu. In Qianlong 55 he placed third in the jinshi examinations and was appointed a Hanlin compiler. Under Jiaqing he presided over provincial exams in Yunnan, Sichuan, and Shaanxi, served as educational commissioner in Henan, Shandong, and Jiangxi, rose to Vice Minister of Rites, held posts in Works and War, and presided over the metropolitan examinations. In Daoguang 2 he became Minister of War, acted as Minister of Rites and Minister of Works, and also oversaw the Shuntian prefect's office. While Yixiu was a vice minister, Zong Cheng was already an academician; he later joined his father on an eastern tour and, at a Hanlin banquet, father and son sat at the same table. When the Qianlong Veritable Records were completed, the court held a banquet at the Ministry of Rites with Yixiu, as minister, presiding. After Yixiu retired, Zong Cheng continued in the Upper Library—a succession widely hailed as a great honor. The emperor also favored them specially, noting that for two generations they had served close to the throne with integrity and discretion. He died in Daoguang 17.
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黃鉞，字左田，安徽當塗人。 乾隆五十五年進士，授戶部主事。 時和珅管部務，鉞不欲趨附，乞假歸，不出。 嘉慶四年，仁宗親政，硃珪薦之，召來京。 入見，上曰：「朕居籓邸時，知汝名久矣，何以假歸不出？」 鉞以實對，荷溫諭，尋直懋勤殿。 九年，改贊善，入直南書房，未補官，命與考試差，典山東鄉試。 十年，督山西學政，累遷庶子。 十五年，差滿，仍直南書房，遷侍講學士。 十八年，复典山東鄉試，留學政，擢內閣學士。 是年，滑縣教匪起，蔓延山東，劾罷失察武生習教之菏澤訓導宋璇，請卹擊匪陣歿之曹州學錄孔毓俊、生員孔毓仲，獎勵手擒賊渠之金鄉生員李九標。 十九年，召回京，仍內直，擢戶部侍郎，尋調禮部。 充秘殿珠林、石渠寶笈續編總閱、全唐文館總裁，書成，並邀賞賚。 復調戶部。 二十四年，擢禮部尚書，加太子少保。 二十五年，命為軍機大臣，尋調戶部尚書。
Huang Yue, courtesy name Zuotian, was from Dangtu in Anhui. A jinshi of Qianlong 55, he was appointed a secretary in the Board of Revenue. Heshen then controlled the ministry; Yue refused to court him, took leave, went home, and stayed out of office. In Jiaqing 4, when the emperor took direct rule, Zhu Gui recommended him and he was summoned to Beijing. At audience the emperor said: "When I was still a prince I had long known your name—why did you take leave and stay away?" Yue answered frankly, received a warm response, and was soon assigned to the Hall of Assiduous Cultivation. In Jiaqing 9 he became a mentor, entered the Southern Library, and before a regular post was confirmed was sent to preside over the Shandong provincial exams. In Jiaqing 10 he served as Shanxi educational commissioner and rose to Vice Supervisor of the Heir Apparent. In Jiaqing 15, when his term ended, he returned to the Southern Library and was promoted to Reader and Academician. In Jiaqing 18 he again presided over the Shandong provincial exams, stayed on as educational commissioner, and was promoted to Grand Secretariat academician. That year sectarian rebels erupted in Huaxian and spread into Shandong; he impeached Heze instructor Song Xuan, a military licentiate who had joined the rebels and escaped detection; sought honors for Kong Yujun and licentiate Kong Yuzhong of Caozhou, who died fighting the rebels; and rewarded Jinxiang licentiate Li Jiubiao for capturing a rebel leader. In Jiaqing 19 he was recalled to Beijing, resumed inner-court duty, became Vice Minister of Revenue, and was soon transferred to Rites. He served as chief reviewer for continued volumes of the imperial art catalogues and as director of the Complete Tang Prose project; when each was finished he received imperial rewards. He was transferred back to Revenue. In Jiaqing 24 he became Minister of Rites and received the title Junior Guardian of the Heir Apparent. In Jiaqing 25 he was appointed Grand Councillor and soon became Minister of Revenue.
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鉞受仁宗特達之知，久直內廷，書畫並被宸賞。 習於掌故，持議詳慎。 宣宗即位，始畀樞務，甚優禮之。 道光四年，以年老罷直軍機。 累疏乞休，六年，始許致仕，在籍食半俸。 二十一年，卒，年九十二，贈太子太保，諡勤敏。
Yue enjoyed the Jiaqing Emperor's special favor; he served long in the inner court, and both his calligraphy and painting won imperial praise. Well versed in court precedent, he deliberated with care and thoroughness. When the Daoguang Emperor acceded, Yue was first given a seat on the Grand Council and treated with great deference. In Daoguang 4 he left the Grand Council on grounds of age. He repeatedly petitioned to retire; in Daoguang 6 he was finally allowed to do so and received half pay at home. He died in Daoguang 21 at ninety-two, was posthumously made Grand Guardian of the Heir Apparent, and received the posthumous title Qinmin.
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論曰：國家優禮詞臣，迴翔禁近，坐致公卿。 沈初、金士松，高宗舊臣，獲恩禮終。 王懿修父子同朝，尤稱盛事。 黃鉞以不附和珅，特邀殊遇，改授館職，馴參機務。 鄒炳泰、戴聯奎皆有耿介之操，晚節枯菀乃殊，要不失為端人焉。
The commentators observe: The state honors literary officials; service near the throne readily leads to the highest offices. Shen Chu and Jin Shisong, veterans of the Qianlong reign, enjoyed imperial favor to the end of their lives. Wang Yixiu and his son serving together at court was especially celebrated. Huang Yue, for refusing to follow Heshen, won special favor, was transferred to Hanlin service, and eventually joined the Grand Council. Zou Bingtai and Dai Liankui were both men of upright character; their late careers ended differently, yet both remained men of integrity.