1
白鎔，字小山，順天通州人。 嘉慶四年進士，選庶吉士，授編修，典福建鄉試。 十八年，大考二等，擢贊善。 督安徽學政，詔密詢地方利弊，疏言：「安徽錢糧，惟鳳陽、泗州遭湖、河之害，積逋較巨。 遇豐稔之年，循例帶徵舊額。 在小民以一年而輸數年之賦，雖樂歲不免拮据； 而官吏懼譴，規避多方，積重難返。 與其存徵之名，緻小民日受追呼，國計依然無補，何如核徵之實，使官吏從容措理，舊額尚可漸清。 請嗣後二屬錢糧，每年祗帶徵一年，儻遇歉收，再行遞緩，民力漸紓，催科者自顧考成，行之必有效。」 詔允行。
Bai Rong, styled Xiaoshan, came from Tongzhou in Shuntian. In 1799 he received his jinshi degree, entered the Hanlin Academy as a bachelor, was appointed compiler, and presided over the provincial examination in Fujian. In 1813, ranked second class in the triennial academy evaluation, he was promoted to tutor in the Eastern Palace. As educational commissioner for Anhui, he received an imperial order to report confidentially on local conditions. In a memorial he wrote: "Among Anhui's land tax and grain levies, Fengyang and Sizhou alone suffer from flooding by lakes and rivers, and their accumulated arrears are exceptionally large. In good harvest years the usual practice was to collect current levies together with past arrears at the old rates. Commoners had to pay several years' worth of taxes in a single year, and even in bountiful seasons they still struggled to make ends meet. Officials, fearing censure, dodged responsibility by every means, and the arrears grew so heavy they could not be recovered. Keeping collections on the books only meant commoners faced daily harassment while state revenue gained nothing. Better to collect what could actually be recovered, let officials work at a manageable pace, and gradually clear the backlog. He proposed that for these two districts only one year of arrears be added to the annual levy; in years of poor harvest further deferrals could be granted. This would ease the burden on the people, give tax collectors incentive to meet their quotas, and would prove effective in practice. The emperor approved the proposal.
2
青陽有孝子曰徐守仁，幼孤，事母孝。 母沒，廬墓三年，鎔造廬贈賻，題請旌表。 訪求明臣左光斗遺裔，取列縣庠。 按試所至，集士人講學，以正人心厚風俗為本。 累遷少詹事。 道光元年，督廣東學政。 歷詹事、內閣學士。 七年，擢工部侍郎，調吏部。 九年，偕尚書松筠赴直隸按外委白勤被誣冤斃獄，護理總督屠之申以下降黜有差。 督江蘇學政。 尋偕侍郎寶興勘視南河垛料，舉實以聞。 十一年，擢左都御史，召還京，未至，命查勘江南災賑。 時尚書穆彰阿、硃士彥亦奉命勘湖、河汎溢狀，穆彰阿先回京，鎔遂偕士彥履勘沿河閘壩工程，與總督陶澍定議以工代賑。 赴安徽，週曆太平、寧國、池州、安慶、廬州各郡，先後疏劾飾災侵賑諸弊。 次年，回京，署翰林院掌院學士，典順天鄉試。 十三年，擢工部尚書，典武會試。 故事，武闈雙好不足額，始取單好。 是科雙好不盡取中，坐降大理寺卿。 十九年，乞病歸，卒於家，年七十四。
In Qingyang lived a filial son named Xu Shouren, who lost his father early and devoted himself to caring for his mother. After his mother's death Xu observed three years of mourning in a hut at her grave. Bai Rong built the hut, sent gifts of condolence, and recommended him for official recognition. He sought out descendants of the Ming loyalist Zuo Guangdou and enrolled them in the local schools. Wherever his inspection tours took him, he gathered scholars for lectures, making moral cultivation and sound local customs his guiding principle. He rose through successive promotions to junior tutor of the heir apparent. In 1821 he became educational commissioner for Guangdong. He held the posts of tutor to the heir apparent and Grand Secretariat academician. In 1827 he was promoted to vice minister of Works and transferred to Personnel. In 1829 he joined Minister Songyun in Zhili to investigate the wrongful imprisonment and death of the petty official Bai Qin. Acting governor-general Tu Zhisen and subordinates received demotions of varying degrees. He served as educational commissioner for Jiangsu. He then joined Vice Minister Baoxing to inspect grain stockpiles along the Southern Grand Canal and reported what they found. In 1831 he was promoted to left censor-in-chief and recalled to Beijing, but before reaching the capital was dispatched to inspect disaster relief in Jiangnan. Ministers Mujiang'a and Zhu Shiyan had also been sent to assess flooding on lakes and rivers. Mujiang'a returned first, whereupon Bai Rong and Zhu Shiyan inspected sluice and dam projects along the waterways and, with Governor-General Tao Shu, adopted relief work in place of direct grain distribution. In Anhui he toured Taiping, Ningguo, Chizhou, Anqing, and Luzhou, submitting successive memorials impeaching officials for falsifying disaster reports and embezzling relief funds. The next year he returned to Beijing, served as acting chancellor of the Hanlin Academy, and presided over the metropolitan provincial examination. In 1833 he was promoted to minister of Works and presided over the military metropolitan examination. By established rule, when candidates excelling in both archery and mounted archery failed to fill the quota, candidates with a single excellence were admitted. That year not all dual-excellence candidates were passed, and for this Bai Rong was demoted to chief judge of the Court of Judicial Review. In 1839 he resigned on grounds of illness and returned home, where he died at the age of seventy-four.
3
鎔事母孝，教子弟嚴。 宣宗嘗嘉其家法之善，以勉朝臣雲。
Bai Rong was devoted to his mother and strict in the upbringing of his children and nephews. The Xuanzong Emperor once praised his household discipline as a model for encouraging other court officials.
4
孫桓，字建侯。 同治二年進士，授吏部主事。 累遷郎中。 掌選，清嚴慎密，吏不能欺，為時所稱。 光緒中，洊擢兵部侍郎，綜覈一如為司官時。 十七年，因病乞休，尋卒。
Sun Huan, styled Jianhou. In 1863 he received his jinshi degree and was appointed a principal clerk in the Ministry of Personnel. He rose through successive promotions to department director. As head of personnel selection he was rigorous and scrupulous, leaving no opening for clerks to manipulate the process, and won widespread esteem. During the Guangxu reign he was promoted to vice minister of War, handling reviews with the same thoroughness he had shown as a clerk. In 1891 he retired on grounds of illness and died soon afterward.
5
史致儼，字容莊，江蘇江都人。 家酷貧。 甫冠，為諸生，學政謝墉器其才，給膏火，居尊經閣讀書。 薦預召試，未與選。 嘉慶四年，成進士，選庶吉士，授編修。 督四川學政。 累遷右庶子。 二十一年，督河南學政。 自滑縣匪平，猶有伏莽，密詔偵察。 疏陳彰、衛二郡民間習邪教猶眾，州縣編查保甲，有名無實，撰敦俗篇，刊布以化導之。 商丘廩生陳忠錦以不濫保被毆，知府、經歷受賕，反加斥責，忿而自經。 疏劾，譴罪有差。
Shi Zhiyan, styled Rongzhuang, came from Jiangdu in Jiangsu. His family was desperately poor. Shortly after coming of age he enrolled as a student. Educational Commissioner Xie Yong recognized his ability, provided him a stipend, and allowed him to study in the Zunjing Pavilion. He was recommended for a special palace examination but was not chosen. In 1799 he received his jinshi degree, entered the Hanlin Academy, and was appointed compiler. He served as educational commissioner for Sichuan. He rose to right vice tutor of the heir apparent. In 1816 he became educational commissioner for Henan. Although the bandits in Huaxian had been put down, hidden outlaws still remained, and he received a secret order to investigate. He memorialized that heretical sects remained widespread in Zhang and Wei prefectures, that county officials maintained the baojia system in name only, and he compiled and published an essay on cultivating customs to guide reform. Chen Zhongjin, a government stipend student in Shangqiu, was beaten for refusing to give false guarantees. The prefect and his assistant took bribes and rebuked him instead; in anger he hanged himself. He submitted an impeachment memorial, and the guilty parties received punishments of varying severity.
6
道光元年，典湖北鄉試。 累遷內閣學士。 三年，擢刑部侍郎，調禮部。 五年，督福建學政。 奏分台灣舉人中額，增所屬四縣學額。 漳、泉諸郡習械鬥，諸生與者，屏不與試，悍風稍息。 九年，偕侍郎鍾昌赴山西鞫獄，平定知州故出人罪，鞫實，論兇犯如律，褫知州恆傑職。 調刑部，歷左都御史，遷禮部尚書。 兩典順天鄉試。 調工部，又調刑部。 勤於其職，竟日坐堂上閱案牘，揅析論難，視司員如弟子。 任刑部凡四年，京察，以刑名詳慎，被議敘。 十八年，乞解職。 尋卒，年七十九，贈太子太保，祀鄉賢及名宦祠。
In 1821 he presided over the provincial examination in Hubei. He rose to Grand Secretariat academician. In 1823 he was promoted to vice minister of Justice and transferred to Rites. In 1825 he became educational commissioner for Fujian. He memorialized to set aside a separate quota of juren for Taiwan and increase the school enrollment quotas for four subordinate counties. Armed feuding was common in Zhang and Quan prefectures; students who took part were barred from examinations, and the violent customs gradually subsided. In 1829 he joined Vice Minister Zhong Chang in Shanxi to try a case in which the prefect of Pingding had improperly released criminals. The facts were established, the assailants were sentenced according to law, and Prefect Heng Jie was dismissed from office. He transferred to Justice, served as left censor-in-chief, and was promoted to minister of Rites. He twice presided over the metropolitan provincial examination. He was transferred to Works and then back to Justice. Diligent in his duties, he sat in court all day reviewing case documents, analyzing and debating them, and treated his subordinates like disciples. After four years in the Ministry of Justice, he received a favorable rating at the metropolitan performance review for thoroughness and caution in legal matters. In 1838 he requested to resign. He died soon after at the age of seventy-nine. He was posthumously granted the title Grand Guardian of the Heir Apparent and enshrined in local temples of worthy men and eminent officials.
7
那清安，字竹汀，葉赫納喇氏，滿洲正白旗人。 嘉慶十年進士，授戶部主事，遷翰林院侍講。 累遷內閣學士。 二十四年，授禮部侍郎，歷刑部、工部。 道光元年，命赴直隸讞獄，擢左都御史，管光祿寺事，兼都統。 尋遷兵部尚書，調刑部。 四年，出為熱河都統，偕左都御史松筠等赴土默特讞獄，事竣，疏言：「蒙古惡習，常有移屍訛詐，為害滋甚。 蒙古律例，凡軍流徒犯，罪止折枷，情重法輕。 請嗣後遇有假捏人命詐財者，所擬軍流徒罪即行實發，不准折枷，以懲刁惡。」 下所司議行。 六年，召授左都御史。 逾年，復任熱河都統，召對，詢知其母年老，命仍還左都御史任。 十一年，复授兵部尚書，典順天鄉試及會試。 十四年，以疾乞解職，允之。 尋卒，贈太子太保，諡恭勤。
Na Qingan, styled Zhuting, of the Yehenara clan, was a Manchu of the Plain White Banner. In 1805 he received his jinshi degree, was appointed a principal clerk in the Board of Revenue, and was transferred to Hanlin lecturer. He rose to Grand Secretariat academician. In 1819 he was appointed vice minister of Rites, later serving in Justice and Works. In 1821 he was dispatched to Zhili to review criminal cases, promoted to left censor-in-chief, put in charge of the Imperial Household Department of Delicacies, and concurrently served as banner general. Soon after he was promoted to minister of War and transferred to Justice. In 1824 he went out as commander of Rehe and, together with Left Censor-in-Chief Songyun and others, reviewed criminal cases in Tumed. Upon completion he memorialized: "Among Mongol bad customs, moving corpses to extort money is common and the harm is increasingly severe. Under the Mongol legal code, offenders subject to military exile, banishment, or penal servitude received only commuted cangue punishment—the crime was serious but the penalty light. He proposed that henceforth those who fabricated deaths to extort money serve their full sentences of exile or penal servitude without commutation to the cangue, to punish the cunning and wicked. The memorial was referred to the responsible offices for deliberation and implementation. In 1826 he was recalled and appointed left censor-in-chief. The following year he again served as commander of Rehe. Summoned for audience, the emperor learned his mother was elderly and ordered him to return to his post as left censor-in-chief. In 1831 he was again appointed minister of War and presided over the metropolitan provincial and metropolitan examinations. In 1834 he requested to resign due to illness and was granted permission. He died soon after. He was posthumously granted the title Grand Guardian of the Heir Apparent and given the posthumous name Gongqin (Respectful and Diligent).
8
那清安工為館體應制詩，時皆誦習。 因與穆彰阿同榜成進士，晚乃受宣宗知，迭秉文衡。 既卒，會兵部以慶廉送武會試有殘疾，為監試御史所劾。 先是那清安為監射大臣，曾以慶廉殘疾扣除，上追念其持正，予其子全慶加二級。 全慶，光緒初官大學士，自有傳。
Na Qingan excelled at composing regulated verse for imperial occasions, and his poems were widely recited. Having passed the jinshi examination in the same year as Mujiang'a, he won the Xuanzong Emperor's favor only late in life and repeatedly held examination offices. After his death, the Ministry of War sent Qing Lian to the military metropolitan examination despite his physical disability, and he was impeached by the supervising censor. Earlier, when Na Qingan had served as supervising archery officer, he had disqualified Qing Lian for disability. The emperor recalled his integrity and granted his son Quanqing a two-grade promotion. Quanqing became a grand secretary in the early Guangxu reign and has his own biography.
9
昇寅，字賓旭，馬佳氏，滿洲鑲黃旗人。 拔貢，考授禮部七品小京官。 舉嘉慶五年鄉試。 累遷員外郎，改御史。 疏言學校為人才根本，請嚴課程，務實用，戒奢靡； 又疏陳防禁考試八旗生懷挾冒替諸弊：從之。 改右庶子，累遷副都御史。 二十一年，授盛京禮部侍郎，署盛京將軍。 調刑部，召為工部侍郎，又調刑部。 道光六年，出為熱河都統。 以蒙古各旗招內地遊民開採煤礦，往往生事械鬥，疏請諭禁，從之。 八年，命赴甘肅偕總督鄂山按寧夏將軍慶山、副都統噶普唐阿互劾事，罷慶山，即以昇寅代之。 歷成都、綏遠城將軍。 命鞫鄂爾多斯京控獄，奏言：「蒙古京控日繁，請自後各部落封禁地樹立界牌，以杜私墾； 蒙古阿勒巴圖禁止餽贈，以息爭端； 扎薩克王、貝勒等毋用內地書吏，以免教唆； 各旗協理台吉，會同盟長選舉，以昭慎重； 盟長會盟需用烏拉，應明定限制，以免浮索：庶積弊清而獄訟息。」
Sheng Yin, styled Binxu, of the Majia clan, was a Manchu of the Bordered Yellow Banner. Selected as a tribute student, he passed examination and was appointed a seventh-rank clerk in the Board of Rites. He passed the provincial examination in 1800. He rose to department vice director and was transferred to censor. He memorialized that schools were the foundation of talent and requested strict curricula emphasizing practical utility and curbing extravagance. He also memorialized on preventing cheating, impersonation, and smuggling of notes among banner students in examinations, and the proposal was approved. Transferred to right vice tutor of the heir apparent, he rose to vice censor-in-chief. In 1816 he was appointed vice minister of Rites at Mukden and served as acting general of Mukden. He transferred to Justice, was recalled as vice minister of Works, and then transferred back to Justice. In 1826 he went out as commander of Rehe. Because Mongol banners recruited inland migrants to mine coal, often provoking violence and armed feuds, he memorialized requesting a prohibition, which was approved. In 1828 he was sent to Gansu with Governor-General Eshan to investigate mutual impeachments between Ningxia General Qingshan and Vice Banner General Gaputang'a. Qingshan was dismissed and Sheng Yin replaced him. He served as general at Chengdu and at Suiyuan. Ordered to try an appeal case from Ordos at Beijing, he memorialized: "Appeals to the capital from Mongolia grow daily. Hereafter boundary markers should be erected on sealed tribal lands of each league to prevent illegal cultivation. Gifts among Mongol common soldiers should be prohibited to settle disputes. League princes, beile, and others should not employ inland clerks, to avoid instigation. Assistant princes for each banner should be jointly elected by league chiefs to ensure careful selection. The ula required for league chiefs' assemblies should have clearly defined limits to avoid exorbitant demands, so that accumulated abuses could be cleared and lawsuits cease."
10
十一年，召授左都御史，兼都統。 十二年，署工部尚書。 京畿旱，疏請發米，設十廠煮粥以濟災民，從之。 十三年，偕侍郎鄂順安按西安將軍徐錕貪縱，得實，議褫職。 十四年，命閱兵山東、河南，就鞫桐柏知縣寧飛濱故出人罪，治如律。 命赴廣東、湖南按事，授禮部尚書，未至，卒於途。 優詔賜卹，稱其老成清介，贈太子太保，諡勤直。
In 1831 he was recalled and appointed left censor-in-chief, concurrently serving as banner general. In 1832 he served as acting minister of Works. When drought struck the capital region, he memorialized requesting grain distribution and ten soup kitchens to aid disaster victims, and the proposal was approved. In 1833 he joined Vice Minister Eshun'an to investigate Xi'an General Xu Kun for corruption and indulgence. The facts were established and dismissal was recommended. In 1834 he was ordered to review troops in Shandong and Henan and, en route, tried the case of Tongbai magistrate Ning Feibin, who had improperly released criminals, sentencing him according to law. He was ordered to investigate affairs in Guangdong and Hunan and was appointed minister of Rites, but died en route before reaching his destination. The emperor granted special relief and praised his maturity and integrity. He was posthumously granted the title Grand Guardian of the Heir Apparent and given the posthumous name Qinzhí (Diligent and Upright).
11
子寶琳，直隸保定知府，濬定州洿澤，有治績； 寶珣，同治中，官兵部侍郎、山海關副都統。 孫紹祺，咸豐六年進士，由編修官至理籓院尚書； 紹諴，光緒中，山西布政使，從治鄭州河工，終駐藏大臣； 紹英，宣統初，度支部侍郎，內務府大臣。
His son Baolin served as prefect of Baoding in Zhili, dredged the marshes of Dingzhou, and achieved notable administrative results. Baoxun, during the Tongzhi reign, served as vice minister of War and vice banner general at Shanhaiguan. His grandson Shaoqi, a jinshi of 1856, rose from compiler to minister of the Court of Colonial Affairs. Shaoxian, during the Guangxu reign, served as financial commissioner of Shanxi, assisted in managing the Zhengzhou river works, and ended his career as resident minister in Tibet. Shaoying, in the early Xuantong reign, served as vice minister of the Board of Revenue and minister of the Imperial Household.
12
李宗昉，字芝齡，江蘇山陽人。 嘉慶七年一甲二名進士，授編修，典陝甘鄉試。 大考二等，擢贊善。 督貴州學政，累遷侍讀學士，督浙江學政。 歷詹事、內閣學士。 道光元年，授禮部侍郎。 次年，典會試，又典江西鄉試，留學政。 值大水，歲饑，與巡撫籌賑務，多所全活。 調戶部侍郎。 初，宗昉督學貴州時，巡撫議丈全省田為增賦計，民情惶駭，會檄學官徵集圖書，得御史包承祚奏疏，乾隆初，學政鄒一桂請丈田，而承祚奏駁之，極言黔中山多平地少，民每虛佔不毛之地，胥吏高下其手，以丈高下不可準之田，賦未必增，民受其害。 部議停止，宗昉持以示巡撫曰：「此事學臣嘗奏之，被駁。 今必解其所駁乃可。」 巡撫亦悟，事得寢。 至是，官戶部，署巡撫麟慶因復奏上其事，部援故事詳覆之，乃定議不行。 歷工部、吏部侍郎，兼管國子監、順天府尹事。 自七年至十年，典順天鄉試二，會試一，浙江鄉試一，得士稱盛。 擢左都御史、禮部尚書。 二十四年，以疾乞休。 二十六年，卒，依例賜卹。
Li Zongfang, styled Zhiling, came from Shanyang in Jiangsu. In 1802 he ranked second among the top three jinshi graduates, was appointed compiler, and presided over the provincial examination in Shaanxi and Gansu. Ranked second class in the triennial academy evaluation, he was promoted to tutor in the Eastern Palace. He served as educational commissioner for Guizhou, rose to reader of the Hanlin Academy, and became educational commissioner for Zhejiang. He held the posts of tutor to the heir apparent and Grand Secretariat academician. In 1821 he was appointed vice minister of Rites. The following year he presided over the metropolitan examination, then the provincial examination in Jiangxi, and remained as educational commissioner. When severe flooding and famine struck, he worked with the governor-general to organize relief and saved many lives. He was transferred to vice minister of Revenue. Earlier, when Zongfang was educational commissioner in Guizhou, the governor-general proposed surveying all land in the province to increase taxation, terrifying the populace. When educational officials were ordered to collect documents, he found a memorial by Censor Bao Chengzuo. In the early Qianlong reign, Educational Commissioner Zou Yigui had requested land surveys, but Chengzuo had memorialized in rebuttal, arguing that Guizhou had more mountains than flat land, that people often falsely claimed barren plots, that clerks manipulated the process, that surveying uneven terrain would not necessarily increase revenue, and that the people would suffer. The ministry deliberated and halted the plan. Zongfang showed the document to the governor-general and said: "An educational commissioner once memorialized on this matter and was rejected. You must resolve the grounds of that rejection before proceeding." The governor-general understood as well, and the matter was dropped. By then serving in the Ministry of Revenue, he found that acting governor-general Lin Qing had again memorialized on the matter. The ministry cited precedent in a detailed reply, and the proposal was finally rejected. He served as vice minister of Works and Personnel, concurrently managing the Imperial Academy and the Shuntian prefect. From 1827 to 1830 he presided over two metropolitan provincial examinations, one metropolitan examination, and one Zhejiang provincial examination, selecting scholars widely acclaimed for their talent. He was promoted to left censor-in-chief and minister of Rites. In 1844 he retired on grounds of illness. In 1846 he died, and relief was granted according to regulation.
13
姚元之，字伯昂，安徽桐城人。 嘉慶十年進士，選庶吉士，授編修，典陝甘鄉試。 入直南書房。 給事中花傑劾戴衢亨、英和援引，詔元之文字本佳，斥傑詆訐，尋亦罷元之入直。 十七年，大考一等，擢侍講。 復以武英殿刊刻聖訓有誤，仍降編修。 十九年，督河南學政，疏禁坊刻類典等書以杜剿襲； 又密陳河南與安徽、湖北交界地多捻匪，陳州、汝寧鹽運迥殊，土匪把持：並嘉納之。 累遷內閣學士。
Yao Yuanzhi, styled Bo'ang, came from Tongcheng in Anhui. In 1805 he received his jinshi degree, entered the Hanlin Academy, was appointed compiler, and presided over the provincial examination in Shaanxi and Gansu. He entered service in the Southern Library. Censor Hua Jie impeached Dai Quheng and Yinghe for patronage. The emperor declared that Yuanzhi's writing was excellent and rebuked Jie for slander, but soon dismissed Yuanzhi from Southern Library service as well. In 1812, ranked first class in the triennial academy evaluation, he was promoted to Hanlin lecturer. He was again demoted to compiler because the Wuying Hall edition of the Sacred Instructions contained errors. In 1814, as educational commissioner for Henan, he memorialized prohibiting commercially printed reference books to prevent plagiarism. He also confidentially reported that Nian bandits were numerous in the borderlands where Henan met Anhui and Hubei, that salt transport in Chenzhou and Runing differed greatly, and that local bandits controlled the trade. The emperor commended and accepted all these reports. He rose to Grand Secretariat academician.
14
道光十三年，授工部侍郎。 疏陳台灣營務積弊，窩娼聚賭，械鬥殺人，操演僱人替代，詔下閩督嚴察整頓。 調戶部，又調刑部。 迭典順天、江西鄉試。 督浙江學政，未滿，十八年，擢左都御史，召回京。 尋以南昌知府張寅為江西巡撫裕泰劾罷，元之為寅疏辯，臚陳政績，請查辦，詔斥冒昧，降二級調用。 二十一年，海防方亟，疏陳廣東形勢，豫籌戰守，下靖逆將軍奕山等採行。 授內閣學士。 二十三年，京察，以年衰休致。
In 1833 he was appointed vice minister of Works. He memorialized on accumulated abuses in Taiwan garrison affairs—harboring prostitutes, gambling, armed feuds and killings, and hiring substitutes for drill practice. The emperor ordered the Fujian governor-general to strictly investigate and rectify the situation. He was transferred to Revenue and then to Justice. He successively presided over the provincial examinations in Shuntian and Jiangxi. As educational commissioner for Zhejiang, before completing his term, in 1838 he was promoted to left censor-in-chief and recalled to Beijing. Soon after, Jiangxi Governor-General Yu Tai impeached and dismissed Nanchang Prefect Zhang Yin. Yuanzhi memorialized in Zhang's defense, enumerating his achievements and requesting an investigation. The emperor rebuked him for presumption and demoted him two grades for reassignment. In 1841, with coastal defense urgent, he memorialized on Guangdong's strategic situation and proposed advance plans for offense and defense. The memorial was sent to General Yishan and others for implementation. He was appointed Grand Secretariat academician. In 1843, at the metropolitan performance review, he retired due to advanced age.
15
元之學於族祖鼐，文章爾雅，書畫並工。 習於掌故，館閣推為祭酒。 愛士好事，穆彰阿素重之。 後以論洋務不合，乃被黜。 咸豐二年，卒。
Yuanzhi studied under his clan elder Nai. His essays were refined and elegant, and he was skilled in both calligraphy and painting. Well versed in institutional precedents, he was acclaimed in the Hanlin as its leading authority. He loved scholars and enjoyed doing good deeds, and Mujiang'a had always valued him highly. Later, because his views on foreign affairs did not accord with policy, he was dismissed. In 1852 he died.
16
何汝霖，字雨人，江蘇江寧人。 拔貢，考授工部七品小京官。 中式道光五年舉人，充軍機章京，累遷郎中。 歷內閣侍讀學士、大理寺少卿。 偕侍郎恩桂按事浙江，查勘南河料垛。 命在軍機大臣上行走，歷宗人府丞、副都御史。 二十二年，授兵部侍郎，調戶部。 偕大學士敬徵勘東河工程。 二十五年，擢兵部尚書。 值太后七旬萬壽，汝霖母丁年九十，五世同堂，賜御書扁額，尋以母憂歸。 江蘇大水，命在籍襄治賑務。 先是，總督陶澍於江寧立豐備倉以備荒，縣令虧挪穀價，大吏許以他款抵。 汝霖曰：「倉穀以備兇。 今荒像如此，汝霖不敢欺朝廷，當各為奏上。」 乃以給賑用。 服闋，命以一品頂戴署禮部侍郎，尋署戶部尚書，仍直軍機處，授禮部尚書。
He Rulin, styled Yuren, came from Jiangning in Jiangsu. Selected as a tribute student, he passed examination and was appointed a seventh-rank clerk in the Board of Works. In 1825 he passed the provincial examination, served as a Grand Council clerk, and rose to department director. He served as Grand Secretariat reader and vice president of the Court of Judicial Review. He joined Vice Minister En Gui to investigate affairs in Zhejiang and inspect grain stockpiles on the Southern Grand Canal. He was ordered to serve under the Grand Council ministers and held the posts of vice director of the Imperial Clan Court and vice censor-in-chief. In 1842 he was appointed vice minister of War and transferred to Revenue. He joined Grand Secretary Jingzheng to inspect the Eastern Grand Canal works. In 1845 he was promoted to minister of War. When the empress dowager's seventieth birthday was celebrated, Rulin's mother Ding was ninety years old and five generations lived under one roof. The emperor bestowed an imperial inscription, and soon after Rulin returned home upon his mother's death. When Jiangsu suffered severe flooding, he was ordered to assist in relief work while at home. Earlier, Governor-General Tao Shu had established the Fengbei Granary in Jiangning to prepare for famine. The county magistrate embezzled grain funds, and senior officials permitted offsetting with other funds. Rulin said: "Granary grain is stored to prepare for famine. Famine is now so evident that I dare not deceive the court. Each of us should memorialize separately." The grain was then used for relief. After mourning ended, he was ordered to serve as acting vice minister of Rites with first-rank insignia, soon served as acting minister of Revenue while continuing in the Grand Council, and was appointed minister of Rites.
17
汝霖久襄樞務，資勞己深，尚書陳孚恩由章京躋大臣，駸用事，厭汝霖居其前。 汝霖年逾七十，一日在直，觸火爐幾僕。 孚恩笑曰：「人當避爐，爐豈能避人？」 汝霖知其諷己，咸豐二年，以足疾乞罷直，許之。 未幾，卒，諡恪慎，祀鄉賢。 子兆瀛，浙江鹽運使。
Rulin had long served in Grand Council affairs and his seniority and merit were deep. Minister Chen Fu'en had risen from clerk to minister, gradually wielded power, and resented Rulin ranking above him. Rulin was over seventy. One day while on duty he bumped into the brazier and nearly fell. Fu'en laughed and said: "People should avoid the brazier—can the brazier avoid people?" Rulin knew he was being mocked. In 1852 he requested to leave Grand Council duty due to a foot ailment and was granted permission. He died soon after. He was given the posthumous name Ke Shen (Respectful and Cautious) and enshrined in the local temple of worthy men. His son Zhaoying served as salt transport commissioner of Zhejiang.
18
季芝昌，字仙九，江蘇江陰人。 父麟，直隸鉅鹿知縣，居官慈惠。 嘉慶十八年，捕邪教，焚其籍，免株連數千人。 坐捕匪不力，戍伊犁。
Ji Zhichang, styled Xianjiu, came from Jiangyin in Jiangsu. His father Lin served as magistrate of Julu in Zhili and was benevolent in office. In 1813 he arrested members of a heretical sect, burned their registers, and spared several thousand people from implicated punishment. For failing to suppress bandits effectively, he was exiled to Yili.
19
芝昌年逾四十，成道光十二年一甲三名進士，授編修，散館第一。 未幾，大考第三，擢侍讀，督山東學政。 十九年，大考复第三，擢少詹事，晉詹事，典江西鄉試，督浙江學政。 母憂歸，服闋，擢內閣學士。 二十三年，授禮部侍郎，督安徽學政，調吏部，又調倉場。 二十八年，命偕定郡王載銓籌辦長蘆鹽務，清查天津倉庫，疏陳：「蘆鹽積累，各商憚於承運，懸岸至四十餘處。 請將河南二十四州縣仿淮南例改票鹽，先課後引。 直隸二十四州縣限半年招商招販，無商販即責成州縣領運，或由鹽政遴員官運。 支銷浮費及官役陋規，永遠裁汰。 每年應完帑利，灘及通綱額引，與正課一律徵收。 其協濟補欠充公等項加價名目，概行革除。 並於各引鹽加斤免課，每斤准其減價敵私。」 詔依議行。
Zhichang was over forty when he ranked third among the top three jinshi graduates in 1832. He was appointed compiler and ranked first upon leaving the Hanlin Academy. Soon after, ranked third in the triennial academy evaluation, he was promoted to reader and became educational commissioner for Shandong. In 1839, again ranked third in the triennial academy evaluation, he was promoted to junior tutor, then tutor, presided over the provincial examination in Jiangxi, and became educational commissioner for Zhejiang. He returned home upon his mother's death, and after mourning ended was promoted to Grand Secretariat academician. In 1843 he was appointed vice minister of Rites, served as educational commissioner for Anhui, transferred to Personnel, and then to the grain depot. In 1848 he was ordered, together with Prince Ding Zaiquan, to manage Changlu salt affairs and inspect Tianjin granaries. He memorialized: "Changlu salt has accumulated; merchants fear undertaking transport; suspended salt yards number more than forty. He proposed that twenty-four prefectures and counties in Henan follow the Huainan precedent and adopt ticket salt, collecting tax before issuing transport permits. Twenty-four prefectures and counties in Zhili were given half a year to recruit merchants for salt sales. If no merchants came forward, prefectures and counties would be held responsible for transport, or the salt commissioner would select officials for government transport. Extravagant expenses and corrupt customary fees of officials and clerks should be permanently abolished. Each year treasury profits, beach levies, and general quota transport permits due should be collected uniformly with regular tax. All surcharges under names such as mutual aid, deficit compensation, and confiscation should be entirely abolished. Moreover, for each transport permit salt should have added weight exempt from tax, and each catty should be sold at a reduced price to compete with smuggled salt. The emperor approved the proposal.
20
二十九年，偕大學士耆英赴浙江閱兵，並清查倉庫，籌辦鹽務。 途經東河、南河，查詢節浮費、裁冗員事宜，奏減東河正款二十萬兩，裁泉河通判、歸河通判，南河每年用款以三百萬兩為率，減省五六十萬兩，並揚運通判於江防廳，改為江運同知，裁丹陽縣丞、靈壁主簿、呂梁洪巡檢，從之。 耆英病留清江浦，芝昌獨赴浙江，疏陳變通鹽務章程七事：杭、嘉、紹三所引鹽，分別加斤，止令完交正課； 松所引鹽，酌裁科則； 虛懸口岸，選商接辦，並籌款收鹽； 緝私責成官商，由運司審覈； 緝獲私鹽，分別充賞，及補課作正配銷； 禁革引地陋規； 覈裁巡驗浮費。 尋查州縣倉庫，統計實虧之數，多至三百九十餘萬，請將虧數最多之員，革職，勒追； 不足，則由原任上司按成分賠，或由本省各官分成提補； 其有欠在胥吏者，尤嚴補追，毋任倖免：並從之。
In 1849 he joined Grand Secretary Qiying in Zhejiang to review troops, inspect granaries, and manage salt affairs. En route through the Eastern and Southern Grand Canals, he inquired into reducing extravagant expenses and cutting redundant posts. He memorialized reducing the Eastern Canal regular appropriation by 200,000 taels, abolishing the Quanhe and Guihe assistant prefect posts, setting the Southern Canal annual expenditure at 3,000,000 taels as standard and saving 500,000 to 600,000 taels, transferring the Yangyun assistant prefect to the river defense office as river transport sub-prefect, and abolishing the Danyang assistant magistrate, Lingbi registrar, and Lülianghong inspector posts. The proposals were approved. Qiying fell ill and remained at Qingjiangpu. Zhichang went alone to Zhejiang and memorialized seven reforms to salt regulations: for salt under transport permits from the Hang, Jia, and Shao offices, add weight separately and require only regular tax payment. For salt under transport permits from the Song office, appropriately reduce tax rates. For suspended salt ports, select merchants to take over operations and raise funds to purchase salt. Anti-smuggling efforts should be assigned to officials and merchants, with review by the transport commissioner. Seized smuggled salt should be rewarded accordingly, and deficit taxes applied as regular quota sales. Corrupt customary fees in transport permit areas should be prohibited and abolished. Extravagant expenses for inspection patrols should be reviewed and cut. He then inspected prefecture and county granaries and tallied actual deficits exceeding 3,900,000 taels. He requested dismissal and compelled repayment from officials with the largest deficits. If recovery proved insufficient, former superiors should compensate proportionally, or officials throughout the province should contribute shares to make up the deficit. Where debts lay with clerks, recovery should be especially strict with no one permitted to escape. All proposals were approved.
21
授山西巡撫，未一月，召署吏部侍郎，命在軍機大臣上行走。 尋授戶部侍郎。 三十年，擢左都御史。 咸豐元年，出為閩浙總督。 艇匪在浙洋劫掠山東兵船，被剿遁閩洋，遣水師截擊，賊眾畏罪投誠，分別安置。 二年，兼署福州將軍。 疏請停罷捐納舉人、附生之例； 又奏禁鹽商代銷官運，以杜取巧：並從之。 尋以疾乞休。
Appointed governor-general of Shanxi, within a month he was recalled to serve as acting vice minister of Personnel and ordered to serve under the Grand Council ministers. Soon after he was appointed vice minister of Revenue. In 1850 he was promoted to left censor-in-chief. In 1851 he went out as governor-general of Fujian and Zhejiang. Boat bandits in Zhejiang waters plundered Shandong military vessels and, pursued to Fujian waters, were intercepted by naval forces. The bandits surrendered in fear of punishment and were separately resettled. In 1852 he concurrently served as acting general of Fuzhou. He memorialized to abolish the practice of purchasing juren and supplementary student status through donations. He also memorialized prohibiting salt merchants from reselling government-transported salt on behalf of officials to prevent exploitation, and the proposal was approved. He soon retired on grounds of illness.
22
芝昌以文字受宣宗特達之知，嘗曰：「汝為文，行所無事，譬之於射，五矢無一失。」 及查辦長蘆、兩浙鹽務稱旨，遂驟進膺樞務。 甫數月，宣宗崩，文宗猶欲用之，畀以外任。 未一歲，謝職歸。 久之，卒於家，未予卹典。 光緒初，署閩浙總督文煜奏陳政績，追諡文敏。 子念詒，道光三十年進士，官編修。 孫邦楨，同治十二年進士，官至福建布政使。
Zhichang won the Xuanzong Emperor's exceptional favor through his writing. The emperor once said: "When you write, you proceed without obstruction, like shooting—five arrows, not one miss. His inspection of Changlu and Liangzhe salt affairs pleased the emperor, and he was suddenly elevated to Grand Council affairs. After only a few months the Xuanzong Emperor died. The Wenzong Emperor still wished to use him and gave him an outside appointment. Within a year he resigned and returned home. Long afterward he died at home without receiving posthumous honors. In the early Guangxu reign, Acting Governor-General Wen Yu memorialized his achievements, and the posthumous name Wenmin was granted. His son Nianyi, a jinshi of 1850, served as compiler. His grandson Bangzhen, a jinshi of 1873, rose to financial commissioner of Fujian.
23
論曰：承平，士大夫平進而致列卿，或以恪謹稱，或以文學顯，固不能盡有所建樹； 或餘澤延世，子孫復繼簪纓，若白鎔、那清安、升寅諸人是也。 季芝昌晚遭殊遇，已值宣宗倦勤之年，暫任兼圻，奉身而退，其見幾知止者耶？
In peaceful times, scholar-officials who rose by regular steps to high ministerial rank were sometimes known for diligence and caution, sometimes distinguished for literary talent—yet not all could achieve notable accomplishments. Others left virtue that extended through generations, with descendants continuing in official rank, as with Bai Rong, Na Qingan, Sheng Yin, and the like. Ji Zhichang encountered exceptional favor late in life, already when the Xuanzong Emperor was weary of governing. He briefly held concurrent provincial command, then withdrew from office—was this one who saw the moment and knew when to stop?